Elementary School

2007-2008 Handbook for Elementary School Parents

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Discipline Guidelines & Dress Code

AR (Accelerated Reader)

Accelerated Reader (AR) is an innovative computerized learning information system that provides teachers with an easy and effective way to increase literature-based reading practice. AR focuses attention on careful reading of books, which improves students’ critical thinking skills and builds an intrinsic love of reading. It is as easy as 1 – 2 – 3. (1) Student reads a book. (2) Student takes AR test. (3) Student/Teacher/Parent gets information and feedback.

Attendance

A student should not come to school when he has had a fever unless he has been without a fever for twenty-four hours. When a child comes to school sick, he may expose students and teachers to the infection. Please keep your child at home until he is no longer contagious. Please notify the school nurse if your child has been diagnosed with a communicable disease such as chicken pox or measles.

When a student misses a class, he must make up both class work and homework. If he is sick and is absent one day, he has one day in which to make up work. If he is absent two days, he has two days, three days, three days..., etc. In case of extended absence due to illness, teachers will confer with the parents to determine the best schedule for making up schoolwork.

If your child is absent and you have called the elementary school office to request assignments before 9:00, the homeroom teacher will send them to the office by 2:55 pm. Please do not call and ask to pick up books and assignments earlier unless there are extenuating circumstances.

A student must arrive at school by 11:30 a.m. to be considered present for the day. A student who leaves before 11:30 a.m. will be considered absent. Please remember that all students need to be at school if they are well. Although class work can be “made up,” some learning activities cannot. Many valuable lessons and learning experiences are missed when a student is absent. Students who are absent frequently fall behind. Whether their grades fall significantly or not, their education suffers. Students missing 15 or more days of school may be considered for retention.

School Clinic policy on illness and returning to school after an illness

If your student is running a fever please do not give them fever reducing medicine and send them to school. Your child must be fever free, (under 100) without fever reducing medicine for 24 hours before returning to school. If the clinic nurse determines your student has returned too early, you will be contacted and asked to pick up your student within an hour.

If you child has a confirmed case of the flu he/she must stay home until they are fully recovered. Most confirmed flu cases require the student to be out of school for 4-7days. If the clinic nurse determines your student has returned too early, you will be contacted and asked to pick up your student.

If you child is sent home with a questionable highly contagious illness/rash you must present a Dr’s note stating that he/she has been seen and doesn’t have a contagious illness/rash; or he/she was diagnosed with a contagious illness/rash, has been treated by your Dr and can return to school.

If your student is vomiting, please do not send them to school.

Please contact the school clinic if your child has been diagnosed with a highly contagious condition.

All students must bring all medications (over-the-counter or prescription) to the clinic. The nurses will store the medication in the clinic cabinet for your student.
Your student will be allowed to leave class and come to the clinic for his/her medication. All prescription medications must be in the original labeled prescription bottle, and a medication authorization form signed by a physician is required... Ask your pharmacist to provide you with a second labeled bottle. Under certain circumstances, a student with a life threatening condition (i.e. asthma, diabetes, or allergic reaction) may be granted permission to carry medication on his/her person. Such permission will only be granted in response to a written statement from the student’s physician that such a need exists based on a life threatening condition, and a completed and signed authorization from the parent or legal guardian.

All parents are asked to provide all available phone numbers where you can be reached during the day. If your child needs to go home we ask that you retrieve them within an hour of the time we contacted you. Please provide emergency contacts that live within the area of the school, and are able to pick up your child if you are not available.

8. A student that comes to the clinic feeling sick, but not sure if he/she needs to go home, will be allowed to rest in the clinic for 30 minutes. If after 30 minutes the student has not improved, and the school nurse feels it is necessary for the student to go home you will be asked to pick your student up from school.

Academic Probation

A student can be placed on Academic Probation. Academic Probation will be issued when report cards are given out each quarter for any student who is failing in one major subject and has a 1.5 or lower grade point average in a second major subject. The student will be placed on probation for the following quarter. Should the student fail to raise his/her grades during this time, his/her progress will be reviewed and removal from LCS will be considered. Academic Probation may also be utilized as deemed necessary by the teacher/administration.

Bible Memory Verses

The formation of a Biblical worldview by students is one of the primary goals of Landmark Christian School. A vital part of this goal is Bible memorization. Encourage your child to memorize his verses each week to support this purpose.

Birthday Parties and other Parties

Birthdays are special. We do not have birthday parties during the school day; however, a student may bring a treat to share with all of his classmates and teachers at the end of lunch time, if he chooses. Goody bags may not be sent to school for birthdays.
Keeping the Golden Rule in mind, we encourage a student to include all of the students in his class or grade when he is having a party. If all students have been included in your child’s plans, invitations may be given out at school; otherwise, invitations must be mailed from home.

Please be aware that any items delivered to the school for the children will be held in the Elementary School office until the end of the school day.

Bus Information

Bus transportation is currently provided at designated areas. Bus information may be obtained by calling the school’s Transportation Director at 770-692-6791. Appropriate bus rules must be followed by all riders.

Calendar

A calendar for the next month will be provided with the monthly newsletter. Please add this to your refrigerator’s decorations, and highlight the items that are appropriate for your child.

Chapel

Chapel will be held weekly for all elementary classes. This service is an important time of spiritual growth for both students and faculty. During chapel, there is time for worship through testimony and teaching. Student participation is desired and expected at all times.

Special speakers will be visiting throughout the year, and students are to demonstrate courtesy and respect. Chapel is a time of worship and praise, and students are expected to show reverence to the God we serve. Parents are welcome to attend.

Chaperones

Field trips are an important part of the Landmark curriculum. Parent volunteers are needed to chaperone these events. The duties of a chaperone will include monitoring the welfare and behavior of all the children assigned to the chaperone’s care by the teacher for the duration of the trip. Specific details are available for each trip under the direction of the supervising teacher.

Chewing Gum

Chewing gum is never allowed at school or at any school party, field trip, or other function.

Communications

Papers to be signed and important notices are sent home on Mondays in 1st – 5th grades and on Fridays in K4 – K5 in a pocket folder. Please sign the appropriate papers, and return them in the folder on Tuesday.

There may be times when you would like to speak with the teacher about your child’s progress or discuss another concern. Please send a note or call the school secretary requesting a return call from the teacher. He/she will be happy to call you at a convenient time. Each teacher will also provide his/her email address to allow for timely communication. Conferences can also be scheduled with the teacher through the school office.

Conferences

There are two regular conferences scheduled per year. If you are asked to come to school for a special conference, it is because we care about your child and want you to understand our concerns. We always ask that both father and mother be present at special conferences. Such conferences are called because we have concerns which we need to address with you in person.

Conflict

If you are concerned about an incident involving your child’s teacher, talk to the teacher before addressing your concerns with the elementary school principal. Your child’s teacher wants to be approachable and responsive, and he/she will listen to your concerns. Be open to hearing a different side of the story. Without meaning to tell lies, children may exaggerate because they don’t see the whole picture.

Parents often think that if they complain to a teacher, the teacher will “take it out” on their child. We all love your child and have his best interest at heart. He is the reason we are teaching in the first place! Please come talk to us. We know that if we all work together in harmony, your child will flourish. If there is a conflict between home and school, your child does not reap the full benefit of our program and will often “act out” in response.

In order to insure adequate time for discussion of your concerns, please contact the school office to schedule an appointment with the teacher.

Disciplinary Actions

Please refer to separate Elementary Discipline Guidelines.

Dismissal

Elementary dismissal will be as follows:

Fairburn		Peachtree City
K4-K5 1st -2nd 3rd-5th Wednesday	2:30 3:00 3:15 2:30 1st-5th 2:15 K4-K5	K4-K5 1st-2nd 3rd-4th Wednesday	2:15 2:45 3:00 2:15 dismissal for all

To ensure the children's safety we ask that you please be sure to follow the dismissal procedures outlined on Registration Day.

Early Dismissal / Checkout

Your child’s teacher has a full schedule and will be teaching until the end of the day, so we ask that you do not request an early dismissal unless absolutely necessary. If he leaves early, your child will miss valuable classroom time. We do, however, understand that it is sometimes unavoidable. Always stop by the office when picking up a child early. The secretary will call your child to have him meet you. Students will not be dismissed from the classroom without notification from the office.

During regular daily dismissal, please wait for your child at the designated pick up site. Please arrive on time. A student who is not picked up by 3:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and by 2:45 on Wednesday will be sent to the Afterschool Program, in which case, applicable fees will be added to your school account.

Dress-As-You-Like Days

Certain days during the year will be specified as Dress-As-You-Like Days. Students will be allowed to wear items meeting the following guidelines:

Shirts must have short, 3/4 or long sleeves and must be tucked in at all times (no tank tops)
Pants may include blue jeans / Capri length pants
Skirts / dresses must be no shorter than 2 inches above the knee
Shorts must be no shorter than finger tip length (middle finger/arms straight down by sides)
Hats may be worn outside only
No sandals – Tennis shoes with socks are allowed
No inappropriate advertisements on clothing
When given the privilege of wearing non-uniform items including blue jeans, please remember that those items must not be tattered, cut off, frayed or have holes.

Any student unable to comply with these guidelines in part or whole may still wear uniform items on these days.

Dress Code

Please see the information regarding uniforms and dress code. If a student comes to school without the proper and complete uniform guidelines set forth in the Discipline Code will be implemented.

Drills

Fire/Disaster drills are held periodically. Fire and disaster procedures are posted in every classroom. When the signal is given, all class activities will cease and the teacher's instructions must be followed immediately and silently.

Extra Credit

Please do not ask for extra credit to help raise your child’s grades. We want your child to meet acceptable standards of performance as much as you do. If he is not doing so, a problem is indicated by his low grades. This problem needs to be addressed by parents, teachers, and the student. Raising grades through extra credit work only masks the problem and gives parents and students a false sense of accomplishment.

Field Trips

Field trips that expand and enhance the curriculum at your child’s grade level are arranged each year. Field trips enable teachers to expand children’s learning beyond the walls of the classroom and make a valuable contribution to a child’s education. They provide children with experiences that cannot be duplicated in the school but are nonetheless an integral part of school instruction. Teachers will integrate field trips with the curriculum, in part, by carefully selecting activities for students to do before, during and after the trip. Completion of learning activities will be required of all students. Any student who does not attend a scheduled trip is expected to be present at school during the trip and will have learning activities provided at school in a classroom setting. These assignments may or may not relate to the field trip because the experiences from a field trip cannot be duplicated in the classroom.

We depend on parents to help us drive for all in-town field trips. When you do drive a group on a field trip, please cooperate with the teacher and abide by the following school guidelines:

Each student must wear a seat belt at all times.
Make no unplanned stops (i.e., at fast food restaurants, gas station, etc.)
Feel free to correct children in your group who are unruly.
A specific route may be designated. If so, please follow the leader.

Grades 1-5 will also have an overnight field trip. At any time the teachers or administration may review a student’s conduct to determine whether they may participate in the overnight field trip. Parents may be required to accompany their child. Please understand that we cannot allow students or chaperones to fly on stand-by or special passes for overnight group trips. The purpose of this overnight trip is for a bonding time for the students.

Please note that failure to be current on your child’s student billing account may prevent them from being eligible to participate in field trips.

Fundraising

We ask that neither you nor your child sell anything at school without permission from the elementary principal.

Grades

Your child is the student. It is his responsibility to earn his own grades. Grades are an indication of what your child has learned, but much is learned in a day which is never reflected in a grade. Please strike a balance between encouraging your child to make good grades and pressuring him to make certain grades. Avoid, at all times, doing your child’s work for him. (Especially tempting are your child’s projects. Resist temptation. Please let your child earn his own grade.)

Papers are sent home each week to be signed. We hope that parents will take note of the grades on these papers and will require their children to give these papers to them at a time when the papers can be examined instead of during the morning rush to school. At the same time, we encourage parents not to over-emphasize grades.

Homework

Homework should reinforce and supplement classroom instruction. Independent practice assigned for homework should follow monitored, guided practice in the classroom. Assignments should always be reasonable in both difficulty level and time requirements. Likewise, expectations should be made clear to the students.

An accepted rule of thumb for the elementary school is for a homework assignment to require no more than ten minutes per grade that the child is currently in. For example, a third grade student would have a thirty-minute assignment. Remember that there are benefits for students in having a responsibility to complete an assignment; yet an excessive amount of homework can be detrimental to the schooling process. Homework as a punitive measure is prohibited in the elementary school.

INTERNET USAGE POLICIES

Landmark Christian School is committed to providing access to the Internet to enhance our students' opportunities for research and learning. Use of the Internet requires wise decisions and good judgment on the part of students. Even with our extensive security and blocking capabilities there is still a possibility of accessing objectionable material. Since computers are available for student use in the Library and in many classrooms, it is vital for parents to understand Landmark’s Internet Usage Policy. Permission for a student to access the Internet and E-mail at Landmark Christian School is dependent upon both the parent and student signing an Internet Authorization Form, indicating agreement with the following rules:

The Internet usage in the Library Media Center is allowed with the permission of the staff or faculty member who is overseeing the class.
E-mail is not allowed in the Library Media Center except to send academic information home, to another student or to a teacher; library computer use is for RESEARCH only; NO GAMES allowed.
No visitation to chat rooms will be permitted at any computer in the school.
Inappropriate material will not be accessed for oneself or to show others.
No student will transmit computer viruses or any other malicious programs.
No student will intentionally damage or make changes to LCS computer equipment.
No ordering of materials via the Internet will be permitted.
No downloading of files may occur without the permission and assistance of the Media Center staff or classroom teacher.
Internet usage in the Elementary and Middle/High School Computer Labs or classrooms is allowed with the permission of the classroom teacher.
LCS reserves the right to log network use and to monitor file server space and Internet sites.

Use of the LCS Internet is a privilege. Inappropriate use of the Internet by a student will result in immediate termination of access, disciplinary action, and possible consideration of expulsion. A student's violation of the Internet policy may also result in the student being charged for any expense or costs incurred as a result of that violation.

Please discuss this policy with your student. In order to use the Internet at Landmark, each student is required to have an “INTERNET USEAGE – AUTHORIZATION FORM” signed by both student and parent. This signed permission form will stay on file in the main Library Media Center as long as the student is enrolled at Landmark, unless it is revoked by request of a parent.

Library

Landmark's Library Media Center is designed to complement and enrich the curriculum. It contains not only books but also magazines, vertical files, music and reference CD's, videocassettes, and computers for electronic CD-ROM sources and Internet research. In addition to the main library area, including the checkout desk, there is a Junior Library which houses books, magazines and research files for the younger Landmark students. The center will be open
before and after school to allow students and faculty the opportunity to use its resources on a regular basis.

Students may check out books for two weeks and renew them for additional 2-week periods. Notices regarding fines and overdue books will be distributed weekly. Fines will be charged on books that are turned in late. Replacement cost will be required of any student who loses material checked out to him. Because Landmark seeks to develop personal responsibility in our students, we require all library fines or lost book fees to be cleared at the end of each semester. Middle or Upper School students will not be allowed to take exams without clearance from the library. Elementary students' report cards will be held until fines are paid.

Lost and Found

Uniforms which are unlabeled and unclaimed will be placed in Lost and Found. Once a month articles (other than uniforms) which have been unclaimed are bundled up and given to a Christian ministry. Please label all clothing.

Lunch

Parents are welcome to come and eat with their children anytime. Please let the teacher know in advance. Details concerning prices and method of payment are announced at the beginning of each school year.

Medicine

All medicines that a child is required to take during school hours must be kept and dispensed by the school nurse. School staff cannot dispense any medication, prescription or over-the-counter, without written authorization from the parent/guardian. There must be a current Medication Authorization form on file in the nurse’s office for each medication that needs to be taken at school. These forms are available from the school nurse.

Morning Arrival

Please do not drop children off before 7:30 a.m at the Fairburn campus and 7:15 a.m. at the Peachtree City campus. Supervision begins in the chapel area in Fairburn and the foyer in PTC for those children whose parents need to be at work early. No supervision is available before this time. Any student arriving after school has started will be counted tardy that day.

Playground

Parents should never leave their children on the playground unsupervised.

If you have an extended visit at school, your children may not go outside to play without adult supervision.

Re-enrollment

Re-enrollment contracts must be signed and returned by the due date each year to ensure your child’s placement for the following school year. These contracts may be held for a probation period after evaluations regarding academic and behavioral performance. It is school policy that grade level placement will be based on the current teacher recommendation and parent / administrator input. Re-enrollment contracts are issued according to that recommendation. Re-enrollment is not considered complete until the re-enrollment deposit has been received.

Snow and Ice

Landmark’s official public information source for rescheduling school hours or cancellation due to bad weather will be WSB Radio (98.5 FM or 750 AM) and TV Channel 2. If an ice storm threatens during the school day, parents should pick up children as quickly as possible to avoid being on icy roads in traffic.

Student Records

From time to time there is a need for parents to have information contained in their child's permanent record. Please contact the office for help in this area.

Tardiness

Punctual attendance is important. Students should come to school on time each day to prevent missed instruction and class interruption. Four tardies will result in a parent being contacted by the office.

Textbooks

All textbooks are rented from the school. They must be handled with care and kept mark free except for the student's name in ink in the space inside the front cover. Your child is responsible for taking care of his textbooks as well as his supplies

Toys

Gadgets, games, and toys should not be brought to school.

Trips

Parents occasionally have an opportunity to take their child on a special trip. We believe that students learn much while traveling, and we try to help your child take advantage of the educational opportunities that arise through travel. If possible, try to arrange special trips during school holidays. If the special trip cannot be arranged during school holidays, we ask that you
notify the elementary principal and the teachers in writing ahead of time so that the student’s work can be given in advance. (At the beginning of the school year this may not be possible. In this case, work will have to be made-up upon the student’s return to school.)

A student should either do his work in advance or he should plan to take it with him in order to continue his lessons during his trip. Make-up tests will be scheduled as soon as possible upon the student’s return. The student should hand in all written work on the first day of his return to school. When your child returns to school, please do not send the teacher a note excusing him from handing in his work.

The students in grades 1-5 have the opportunity to take overnight trips with their teachers and classmates. These trips are designed to provide an opportunity for the students to mature while on their own. They are carefully planned for a limited number of chaperones. The children come home with a whole new perspective of their own capabilities.

Visitors

All visitors to the elementary school must sign in with the office and receive a visitor’s pass. Thank you for your help in this area.

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Discipline Guidelines & Dress Code