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Policies & Procedures |
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The following policies and procedures can also be found in the Gallman Elementary School Student Handbook.
School Hours The school opens at 7:20 a.m. Please do not drop off your child before 7:20 a.m. Students enter the classroom at 7:20 a.m. The tardy bell rings at 7:45 a.m. The dismissal bell rings at 2:30 p.m.
Car Riders Students should be dropped off and picked up in the traffic circle at the front of the building. For safety reasons, students should not be dropped off in the parking lot. Please have your child prepared to be dropped off and please do not stop and leave your automobile in the traffic circle. Parents coming into the school should park in the available Visitor Spaces. Due to liability issues, students are not to arrive before 7:20 a.m. All students should be picked up immediately after school. Parents picking up car riding students should remain in their cars and come around the traffic circle to pick up their students. We respectfully ask that you do not park and come into the school to ask that your child be called at dismissal. Teacher supervision ends at 3:00 p.m. Parents will be required to come in and sign out students not picked up by 3:15 p.m.
Dismissal If your child must be dismissed early from school, a note must be sent to the teacher indicating the time for the dismissal. It is necessary then for the parent/guardian or designated person to come into the office and sign out the student. For the safety of your child, only the persons on the authorized list filled out by the parent will be allowed to pick up your child. The school may ask to see a picture ID before releasing a student. Please make every effort to schedule medical/dental visits after school hours or on school holidays. Please do not make it a habit to pick up your child early from school. *** If a student is to change the way he/she is to go home, please notify the school in writing. *** The school cannot approve a student riding a bus other than the one to which he/she is assigned. *** Any request to ride a different bus to and from school must be approved by the school bus office at 321-1002.
Notes Required From Parents The school requires notes from parents explaining the following:
Field Trips Educational field trips are planned to provide experiences that correlate with subjects studied in the classroom. Students must have parents' written permission in order to go on the trip. All trips are chaperoned by school personnel and parent volunteers. Fees for the trip must be paid in full by the deadline so that all arrangements can be finalized.
*** Communication *** Gallman Elementary School wants to keep you informed throughout the school year. We strive to provide communication in a variety of formats. Information is often sent home in your child's homework planner. Notes from school are sometimes mailed, and if we have your email address on file we can communication with you electronically. Information is also available on the website. Children should bring home school papers every Wednesday. School newsletters will be sent home to keep parents informed of all school activities. Parents and students are encouraged to read the newsletter in order to support our school programs.
Change of Address or Phone Number Students or parents should report changes of address or telephone number to the main office immediately at 321-2655.
Telephone Messages The telephone is used for school business. An adult staff member will deliver emergency messages to students at an appropriate time. Students will not be allowed to use the school telephone except for emergencies.
Homework/Student Planner Parents please check your child's Student Planner for EACH day's assignments. It contains an area for parent/teacher comments in order to keep the lines of communication open.
Gallman Elementary's Schoolwide Rules
Any student disrupting the learning process for other students will immediately be removed from the class for a period of time through our intervention procedures. Parents will be notified if the student is removed for an extended period of time. Other methods of correction may include loss of recess, after school detention (with prior parent notification), parent conferences, and/or counseling referrals. Any behavior listed in the School Behavior Code (listed on pages 5 and 6 of the Student Handbook) that is not corrected by school and parent intervention may result in suspension from school for one or two days. A Student Discipline Report will be sent home with any student assigned to In School Suspension, or Out of School Suspension. In most instances, students will be required to bring a parent with them in order to return to school. Every effort will be made to inform parents by phone/mail of all punishable offenses. Reminder: Students are not to bring knives, look-alike weapons, or any item that could be used to harm someone. This is an expulsion offense.
Inappropriate Items Radios, headphones, hand-held games, toys and etc. should not be brought to school. These items will be taken from the student and a parent must come to school and pick up these items to be taken home.
Textbooks Students are issued textbooks. There is no charge for using textbooks. Students who lose books are required to pay to replace them. Students are also required to pay for any unusual or intentional damage to books. Students may not write in or on books. If fees are assessed, they must be paid before the final report card is issued.
Tardiness Students are expected to come to school on time. Students arriving after 7:45 a.m. must report to the office to sign in and get a pass before going to their classroom. Letters will be sent to parents of students who are tardy 5 or more times. The attendance caseworker will visit homes of students with numerous tardies in an effort to improve attendance.
Parent-Teacher Conferences Every effort is made to provide parents with access to teachers. To avoid confusions and conflicts, all requests for parent-teacher conferences should be made through the school secretary at 321-2655. Teachers are only free during the day at activity times to meet with parents. We ask that parents not interrupt instruction by going to the classroom unannounced. The district plans a fall parent-teacher conference day. Parents will be notified of the date of the conference. Parents should make every effort to attend so that accomplishments and concerns can be shared.
Parent Volunteer Program All parents, grandparents, and guardians are encouraged to become involved with school programs. Parent volunteers are needed on a regular basis. We welcome all persons interested in the progress of our school and students to spend time assisting in the educational process. Contact our full-time parenting coordinator (Mrs. Merchant) at 321-2655 if you are interested in our parent volunteer program.
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) The Gallman Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is a vital part of the school. The PTO plans activities and sponsors fundraising efforts. All parents are encouraged to actively participate in the activities of the PTO. Mrs. Vicki Hamm is PTO President for the 2004-2005 school year. She can be reached at Gallman Elementary School at 321-2655.
School Improvement Council (SIC) The School Improvement Council is composed of at least two parents elected by the parents of the children in the school, at least two teachers elected by the faculty, other representatives of the community, and persons elected by the principal. The elected members of the council shall comprise at least a two-thirds majority. The term of office for all elected members is 2 years. The Council makes recommendations to the principal on school and community matters and reviews the Annual School Report. A summary of the School Improvement Report will be sent to you by the beginning of the second semester. This report will summarize the school's activities for the previous year. SIC elections will be held early in the school year to replace members whose terms are expiring. The SIC members will also serve on the Title One Planning Team.
Visitors Parents are WELCOME to visit Gallman Elementary School at any time. We require that parents and all other visitors report to the office immediately upon entering the the campus to get a visitor's sticker and sign the visitor's log. All parents and other visitors are asked to report to the office before reporting for teacher conferences or visiting any other part of the campus. This is to help us monitor who is on the campus and/or make sure the persons you wish to visit are available to meet with you. Parents may come and observe classes at any time as long as their presence in the classroom is not distractive. So that instructional time is not disturbed, we request that parents plan conferences AHEAD of time. If you need to deliver something to your child or give him/her a message during the school day, please see the office personnel. The office staff will make sure the message is delivered at an appropriate time.
Use of Technology Our school is equipped with the latest technology and Internet access. All classrooms have Internet access and receive support from our media specialist and district technology staff. We expect our students to become powerful users of information as we provide the latest technological tools within their reach. Students must have a Technology Use Agreement signed by the parent (and on file in the office) before they will be allowed Internet access. Violations to this agreement are serious and have consequences.
School Pictures Individual student pictures are made twice during the year. A convenient package is provided for the student to purchase. Class pictures are taken in the spring. The school receives a percentage of all sales and the money is used to support school programs.
Money at School Whenever possible, payments should be made by check for food services, school pictures, PTO purchases and the like. However, sometimes students with to bring money (cash) to school for specific purposes such as purchasing pencils, ice cream, etc. All students, especially young children, should place such money in an envelope with his/her name written on it as well as the amount enclosed and its purpose. Neither the teacher nor the school can be responsible for lost or misplaced money.
Lost and Found All clothing found on campus, regardless of its value, is placed in the lost and found box in the office. Money, jewelry, or other articles of value are turned in to the office. Students may claim them after proper identification. Items not claimed at the end of the school year will be donated to charity. The student's NAME should be in caps, coats, etc. so that misplaced items can be promptly returned to the student.
Parties Students come to school to gain an education. We feel that they should be allowed to have some fun and socialize, too. At Gallman Elementary School, we allow only 2 class parties a year, one during the winter holidays and one at Valentine's Day. Other parties are not permitted except by permission of the Principal.
Snacks at School Students are allowed to bring snacks for recess. We encourage healthy snacks and drinks. Chewing gum and bubble gum are not allowed in the school, on the playground, or on school buses.
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