1 Bonne Ecole Elementary - St. Tammany Parish School Board

1 Bonne Ecole Elementary - St. Tammany Parish School Board

Bonne École Elementary
Student / Parent Handbook
Home of the Superstars
900 Rue Verand
Slidell, LA 70458
985-643-0674
985-847-1299 (fax)
http://bonneecoleelementary.stpsb.org
Welcome to the 2010-2011 School Year!
We welcome you and your child to Bonne École and hope that you will
have a successful school experience with us. Our goal is to provide a safe
and positive school environment where our students are actively engaged
and challenged with meaningful lessons.
It is essential that we make communication a top priority in order to
achieve the best relationship between home and school. Collaboration
between home and school is a necessary part of your child’s educational
experience. We look forward to meeting each of you and working with you
this school year.
This handbook has been compiled to provide you with an easy reference to
most of the policies and procedures of our school. We hope it will give you
the information necessary to prepare for this school year and that you will
refer to this when questions arise. Please feel free to contact our office for
any additional information.
April Owens
Principal
Kellie Ainsworth
Assistant Principal
[email protected]
[email protected]
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ACCELERATED READER/READING RENAISSANCE PROGRAM
Reading is essential to developing the critical-thinking and problem-solving abilities that ensure a life
long love of reading and learning. Students choose leveled books according to their performance on the
STAR assessment and read them at their own pace. A short quiz on the computer is then taken with
immediate, individualized feedback that helps to direct teacher instruction and ongoing reading practice.
ACTIVITIES
Information regarding our many clubs and programs will be sent home with eligible students. Bonne
Elementary offers a diverse range of opportunities for our students such as Student Council, Energizers
jump rope team, chorus, band, Green Thumb Society, Starlettes dance team, WBEE, Science and Social
Studies Fairs, book buddies, Accelerated Reader program, Suzuki strings, and Robotics Team.
ADMISSIONS
New kindergarten students must be 5 years old before October 1 of the school year in which they are
enrolling. First grade students must be 6 years old before October 1. The following documents are needed
for school registration:
• Certified Birth Certificate
• Social Security Card
• 3 Proofs of Residence or Assignment Letter
• The Student’s Last Report Card
• Name and complete mailing address of the former school
• Louisiana State Health Card (Form MCH 14A or revised 1/70) stating proof of immunizations
A Student Transfer Letter is required for all students transferring from other schools in parish.
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL
School begins at 8:05 a.m. Children should begin arriving after 7:35 a.m. each day. At that time, teachers
are on duty to supervise students. For your child’s safety, do not bring your child to school before 7:35
a.m. All students arriving after 8:10 a.m. are tardy and must check in at the office. Dismissal begins at
3:06 p.m. Students walking or riding bicycles should leave campus promptly. All students going home by
car should be picked up no later than 3:21 p.m. If at dismissal a child is to go anywhere other than home, a
written notice must be sent to his/her teacher. For security reasons, transportation changes may not be
made over the phone. In the event of an emergency, a fax or email may be sent to the office, along
with a copy of a driver’s license or photo ID.
Students who are designated car riders must be picked up in the carline. Parents picking up a
student in the carline must display the car rider sign in their windshield. These signs will be passed
out the first week of school.
Walkers and Bike Riders Inclement Weather Procedures: If it is sprinkling outside, students will
follow their regular procedure. If it is raining hard or lightning, parents must pick up their child in
the carline.
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ATTENDANCE
Elementary students are allowed 10 absences each year. Absences of two or fewer consecutive school
days incurred due to illness of the student or serious illness of the family may be excused by a note written
by the parent. If a student is absent for 3 or more consecutive days, a student must present a note from a
physician, nurse practitioner, or dentist. Excuses must be submitted within two days of the absences.
Make up work will only be provided for excused absences. Teachers must be given 24-hours notice when
asked to provide missed assignments. Late excuses for absences will not be accepted.
PLEASE NOTE: Act 103 of the 1994 State Legislature deals with student truancy and tardiness and
requires principals to report absences and tardiness to the child welfare supervisor. The Supervisor of
Child Welfare must refer a student who is absent or tardy without an acceptable excuse five or more times
in one month to the family or juvenile court. Policy also mandates the automatic retention of a student
who has been absent for 10 or more days in a school year (extenuating circumstances are taken into
consideration).
BALLOONS AND FLOWERS
No items of this type should be delivered to children at school. Such deliveries interrupt learning, cause
hurt feelings, and disturb order during dismissal.
BAND/CHORUS CLASSES
Fifth and sixth grade students are given a choice of either vocal music or instrumental music instruction.
Information will be sent home with all interested students at the beginning of the school year.
BICYCLE SAFETY
Review bicycle safety with your child and remind him/her to wear a bike helmet and obey all traffic
regulations when traveling to and from school. Students are to enter the campus through the small gate on
Independence or through the gate on Rue Verand. They are to stay off of the road/parking lot in the front
of the school. Traffic is heaviest in this area. Students will walk their bikes while on sidewalks and paths
on campus. The school assumes no responsibility for bicycles. However, provisions have been made to
safeguard bikes by requiring they be properly parked and locked in the school bike racks with a chain and
a combination lock. We suggest that you register your bicycle with the City of Slidell.
BUS SERVICE
Bus routes and stops are planned and established by the St. Tammany Parish School Board Transportation
Department. Please use bus transportation if available to your neighborhood. Call the Transportation
Department, 898-3373, or visit the website http://www.stpsb.org/transportation for questions
regarding bus routes, stops, and times.
If for any reason your child will ride a different bus home, the parent must send a note to the teacher that
must be signed by an administrator. For security purposes, phone calls will not be accepted to make
transportation changes.
For the safety of your child and everyone on the bus, appropriate bus behavior will be strictly enforced.
Students are expected to always:
• remain seated facing the front of the bus.
• keep their hands and feet to themselves and inside the bus.
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• talk in a low (normal) tone of voice.
• use only the bus and bus stop assigned.
Consequences for misbehavior on the school bus:
• First Referral: Student Conference with an administrator; parent is contacted for phone conference
• Second Referral: Student Conference with an administrator; parent is contacted for phone conference;
loss of bus privilege for 3 days
• Third Referral: Student Conference with administrator; parent is contacted for phone conference; loss of
bus privilege for 1 week
CAFETERIA
Our school is a National School Challenge Gold Award Winner. The meals served daily are nutritionally
balanced and meet one-third of the daily minimum nutrition requirements. We strongly urge you to take
advantage of the school lunch program. Collection procedures are as follows:
• All meals will be paid for in advance.
• Each child will be issued an identification number.
• Breakfast and lunch money should to be sent in an envelope and labeled as follows:
Name of student
Amount of money
Identification number
Teacher’s name
• Payment should be by check or money order payable to Bonne École Cafeteria. Please include
student name and identification number. Payments can also be made online using checks or credit
cards. A link is available on the school website.
Breakfast
Lunch
reduced $.30 paid $.60
reduced $.40 paid $1.00
Please contact the cafeteria manager, Mrs. Kris Lairsey, at 643-7876 between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and
2:30 p.m. if you have any questions.
Fast food, canned and/or bottled drinks, and toys are not allowed in the cafeteria.
CANCELLATION OF SCHOOL
Cancellation of school takes place only during extraordinary circumstances such as extreme weather,
equipment failure, or public crisis. The school board and administrators are aware of the hardship that can
be caused by an abrupt cancellation. Therefore, school will not be cancelled unless a significant safety risk
has been created by unusual circumstances. In the event of severe weather conditions, check local news
forecasts for information. Every practical means is used to notify parents of an impending cancellation
including radio, TV (Channel 13), the school board web site http://stpsb.org, and newspapers. In the
unusual circumstance where school must be cancelled during the school day, school personnel will remain
at school until all students leave campus.
CAR RIDERS
Students riding in cars must be dropped off and picked up in the car loading entrance/exit (circle drive on
south side of the building). For security reasons, please do not drop off your child by the office, and do
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not come into the building to pick up your child after the bell. Also, post a school car rider sign in the
front passenger windshield of you car. We feel the safety of your child/children is worth the car line wait
you may have by following the policy.
CHILD CARE
Child Care is available before school beginning at 6:35 a.m. The cost of this service is $20.00 per week.
After School Care begins at 3:06 and continues until 6:00 p.m. After Care cost is $50.00 per week. The
program is available to full time participants only and enrollment is limited. All Child Care participants
must be registered through the office and payment must be made in advance.
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION
As mandated by the St. Tammany Parish School Board, students in grades K-8 will receive instruction on
the topic of Child Sexual Abuse Prevention, Education and Reporting. Contact the school counselor if you
are interested in previewing materials used in the instruction. We encourage parents to talk to their
children about this topic as well as other general safety issues.
CONFERENCES
Parent conferences are encouraged and can be arranged at any time during the school year. To request a
conference with a teacher, call the school office (643-0674) to set up an appointment. Please give the
teacher at least 24 hours notice. After conferencing with the teacher, a conference with an administrator
may be scheduled if a problem still exists.
COUNSELORS
Guidance and Counseling services are available to help children become aware of their abilities, aptitudes,
interests, and attitudes. The school counselor can assist in the following areas:
• to help children develop to their fullest potential
• to help children set realistic goals consistent with their abilities and interests
• to help children to maximize their self-esteem
• to provide opportunities for democratic problem solving
• to provide experiences which will assist children in making wise choices
Bonne École has the services of our full-time guidance counselor, Mrs. Stacey Boitnott. Also, a mental
health provider Mrs. Sharon Wottrich, is provided by a grant designed to help students with problems.
The counseling department phone number is 645-8668. If the counselor is unavailable, you may leave a
message through voice mail. This is provided so that you may leave confidential messages directly to the
counselor without going through the main office.
DEBT COLLECTION PROCEDURES
Debts include, but are not limited to such things as lost/damaged textbooks, library books, unpaid
lunch/breakfast fees, childcare, etc. Parents will be notified in writing of the fees owed to the school. In
the case of a student transferring to another school, all financial obligations shall be met during
withdrawal procedures.
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DISCIPLINE
Effective instruction can take place only in a well-disciplined environment. We expect students to display
acceptable behavior at all times and expect parents to work with us to reach this goal. Our school-wide
expectations are to be positive, safe, responsible, and respectful. This method of teaching and modeling
expected behavior each day is aligned with the Positive Behavior Support (PBS) System. Positive
consequences awarded at Bonne Ecole’ include Superstar Reward Cards and Quarterly Fun Lunches.
Negative consequences range from white slips for minor behaviors and detentions and In School
Suspensions for major behaviors. The school guidance counselor and mental health providers are also
involved with counseling students that repeatedly demonstrate major behaviors.
In addition to our school-wide expectations, we take proactive measures when it comes to the issue of
bullying. Below is an overview of our parish policy on bullying which is actively followed at Bonne
École.
Bullying is a form of aggression, and it occurs when a person(s) willfully subjects another person (victim),
to an intentional, unwanted and unprovoked, hurtful verbal and/or physical action(s) at any school site or
school-sponsored activity or event. Bullying may also occur as various forms of hazing, including
initiation rites perpetrated against a student or a member of a team. Examples of types of bullying may
include, but are not limited to, the following examples. Physical bullying includes, but is not limited to,
punching, shoving, poking, strangling, hair pulling, beating, teasing, kicking, punching, or excessive
tickling.
Allegations of bullying will be promptly investigated, giving due regard to the need to confidentiality and
the safety of the alleged victim and/or any individual(s) who report incident(s) of bullying. An individual
has the right to report an incident(s) of bullying without fear of reprisal or retaliation at any time.
Retaliation in defined as meaning “to pay back (an injury) in kind.” When a person is accused of having
behaved in an inappropriate fashion, especially bullying, the common reaction of that person is to be
angry and want to pay the “alleged victim” back (retaliate). Retaliation must not occur and will not be
tolerated.
Proven allegations of bullying can have serious consequences for the person deemed guilty, including
verbal or written reprimand, in-school or out-of-school suspension, disciplinary reassignment, and/or
expulsion.
Victims of bullying have responsibilities. Victims should clearly tell the bullies to stop. If bullying
persists, victims should not ignore the incident(s) but should report immediately the incident to someone
at school. Students should tell their parent(s). If the bullying continues after having clearly told the bullies
to stop, students should make a written record of the incident including dates, times, witness or witnesses,
and parties involved in the incident. The incident should be reported immediately to an adult who has
authority over the bullies, for example, a teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal, or principal.
Victims should avoid being alone with the person(s) who attempted to bully them in the past. Victims of
bullying who feel uncomfortable reporting this fact to adult personnel at school should contact another
appropriate adult or friend who will report on their behalf.
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EARLY PICK UP
In the event of a medical appointment or if it is necessary to pick up a student before dismissal, please go
to the office. Students will be contacted in their classrooms and asked to come to the front office to be
signed out. Adults picking up students must present a valid driver’s license or state ID card and be listed
on the student’s emergency card.
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
Each student is required to have a card on file in the school office with the following information:
• Parent(s)/guardian(s) name(s).
• Complete and up-to-date address.
• Home phone and parent’s work number.
• Emergency phone number of friend /relative.
If during the year there is a change in any information, please notify the school office.
FIELD TRIPS
Trips are planned by teachers to enrich learning. Each class participates in one field trip per year.
Information and cost of trips will be sent home prior to any trip. Students are not required to attend a field
trip. Assignments will be given to any child who remains at school. The work will be done under the
guidance of another classroom teacher. Students attending field trips must ride the school bus and are not
allowed to ride with parents in cars. Siblings are not allowed to go on field trips. Students are not to be
checked out during field trips. Students not present on field trip days will be marked absent.
FIRST AID ROOM
If your child becomes ill, we will contact you as soon as possible. The First Aid Room is staffed, when
possible, with volunteer parents. If you have a few hours available to work as a volunteer at school,
working in the first-aid room is one of the greatest services you can do. Call the school office and sign-up
to help. In most cases a band-aid and some TLC will cure the problem.
FORGOTTEN ITEMS
Any items brought to school that were forgotten at home are to be delivered to the front office. The
secretaries will place those items in teacher mailboxes to be picked up. Secretaries cannot interrupt a
classroom due to loss of instructional time. This is also the procedure for special snacks.
HOMELESS STUDENTS
The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal law passed in 1987 to help people experiencing homelessness. The
Act requires states and school districts to make sure students in homeless situations can attend and
succeed in school. The McKinney-Vento Act applies to all children and youth who do not have a fixed,
regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth who are living in the following
situations:
 Doubled-up housing with other families or friends because they lost their home or their family is
having temporary financial problems;
 Living in a motel/hotel because of economic hardship or loss of housing;
 Living in an emergency or transitional shelter, domestic violence shelter, or in a
runaway/homeless youth shelter;
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Living in a vehicle of any kind; trailer park or campground without running water and/or
electricity; abandoned building; substandard housing; bus/train station;
Awaiting foster care placement; or
Abandoned in a hospital.
Children and youth in homeless situations have the right to the following:
 Attend and succeed in school no matter where they live or how long they have lived there;
 Enroll in school despite the lack of a permanent address or lack of school and immunization
records, or birth certificates and other documents;
 Receive services comparable to those offered to non-homeless children and youth;
 Get transportation to school;
 Access educationally related support services;
 Make sure that disagreements between students and schools are resolved quickly.
HOURS
Office Hours:
School Hours:
Child Care:
7:45 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
8:05 a.m. – 3:06 p.m.
Before School
6:35 a.m.
After School
3:06 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
INTERIM REPORTS
Interim reports on class progress are issued at midpoint during each grading period if a student is not
working at the level and/or rate that he/she is capable. During Open House, your child’s teacher will
explain plans for reporting student progress between required marking periods.
INVOLVEMENT
It is the policy of Bonne École Elementary to provide opportunities for parent participation in regular, two
way, and meaningful communication involving students’ academic learning and other school activities. It
is our policy to ensure that parents play an integral role in assisting in their child’s learning through
weekly teacher newsletters, school and teacher web sites, parent/teacher conferences, graded papers sent
home weekly, and quarterly interim reports and report cards. Parents are encouraged to be actively
involved in their child’s education at school through PTA meetings, attending Open House, and by
volunteering in classrooms, the library, and the first aid room. It is also our policy that parents are full
partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and for advisory
committees to assist in the education of their child. They have the opportunity to be a part of the Positive
Behavior Support Committee, the Uniform Committee, and School Improvement planning. Through a full
and active partnership between school and home, students will better grow academically, emotionally, and
socially.
 Create a homework space in your home.
 Read classroom newsletters.
 Ask your children to explain what they learned in school.
 Visit the school (bonneecoleelementary.stpsb.org) and PTA websites (beepta.org).
 Join PTA.
 Help your child's teacher with preparations and projects.
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Purchase healthy snacks for parties.
Clip and send in Box Top labels.
Purchase items to be used in the classroom.
Read to a class.
Participate in career day.
Tutor students in a particular subject.
Attend parent-teacher conferences.
Attend school events (i.e., PTA meetings, family nights, restaurant spirit nights, concerts).
Serve as a room parent, library assistant, field trip chaperone, event volunteer, PTA officer or
committee chair, cafeteria monitor, or first aid room assistant.
 Help create community partnerships with local businesses and organizations.
Community Involvement:
Our community partners play a key role in our school's success. Bonne Ecole’ Elementary appreciates the
support of our local organizations and businesses.
LENDING LIBRARY
A collection of information such as books and pamphlets is available for parents to check out. Topics
range from emotional/social growth, learning activities, parenting tips, etc. If you need information to
address a specific need with your child, please contact the school counselor.
LOST AND FOUND
All clothing found on the campus is placed in the lost and found box near the cafeteria. Please write your
child’s name on everything that is worn or brought to school. Students should not bring extra money, toys,
or valuable items to school.
MEDICATION
Do not send medication, prescribed or over the counter, to school. Teachers are not allowed to administer
medication to students at school. EXCEPTION: If your child is on a long-term prescription medication,
you may request a St. Tammany Parish Medication form from the school office and have it completed by
your physician. The medication can then be administered through the office. The medication must be
brought to school by the parent. Students are never to bring medication to school.
OPEN HOUSE VISITS
A formal Open House will be held once during the year. This event will allow you to meet with your
child’s teacher, hear about plans for the semester, learn about the curriculum requirements for the grade
and ask any questions you may have. Informational tables about the support services at Bonne Ecole’ will
also be available at 6:45 and 7:00 pm each night. Please make every effort to attend.
GRADES PK-K at 6:00 PM – AUGUST 30, 2010
GRADES 1 & 2 at 7:30 PM – AUGUST 30, 2010
GRADES 3 & 4 at 6:00 PM – September 1, 2010
GRADES 5 & 6 at 7:30 PM – September 1, 2010
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PTA
Bonne École is a PTA school. Our local AWARD WINNING unit has been highly involved in improving
our school. We are very proud of our affiliation with a parish, state, and national organization that
supports the total education of children. PTA encourages parental involvement, assists parents in
developing skills to raise, educate, and protect their children, and speaks on behalf of children in the
schools and before governmental agencies and other organizations that make decisions affecting our
children. A Bonne Ecole’ Elementary PTA membership costs just $6.00 for a single membership (1 adult
and all children enrolled at BEE) or $8.00 for a family membership (2 adults and all children enrolled at
BEE). For more information visit http://www.beepta.org/.
PROMOTION AND RETENTION
According to the St. Tammany Parish policy for promotion and retention, a child will be promoted if all
the following criteria have been satisfied:
• The child has been in attendance for a minimum of 160 days.
• The child has received passing grades in Reading and Math. (grades 2-6)
• The first grade student has received passing grades on level in Reading and Math during the last
quarter.
• The child does not fail two minor subjects. (grades 2-6)
• The child meets LEAP 21 promotions requirements. (grade 4)
Please refer to the St. Tammany Parish Pupil Progression Plan for a more detailed description.
http://stpsb.org/files/pupilprogressionplan.pdf
REPORT CARDS
Report cards are issued the week following the completion of each quarter. Final report cards for all
students will be mailed. Please carefully review your child’s progress and contact your child’s teacher if
you have questions regarding grades.
SAT – STUDENT ASSISTANCE TEAM
The Student Assistance Team (SAT) is comprised of various school staff members and may include an
administrator, counselor, resource helping teacher, referring teacher, and other appropriate personnel.
When a student is suspected of having significant learning difficulties, a conference is held between the
teacher and the parent. Specific concerns are documented and the classroom teacher may implement
appropriate interventions. If the interventions are not successful, a meeting is scheduled by the teacher
with the SAT committee which the parent is invited. At the SAT meeting, the committee reviews all
information and makes additional recommendations for interventions and/or screenings.
SMOKE FREE ENVIRONMENT
All public school campuses in our parish are smoke free environments.
TEXTBOOKS/LIBRARY BOOKS
Students are expected to keep in good condition, all textbooks, library books, and other materials issued to
them. Any lost or damaged books will need to be replaced by the parent/guardian.
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TOYS/GAMES/ELECTRONICS/ETC.
We ask that no toys be brought to school unless requested by the teacher. Cell phones are not to be
brought to school. Also to be left at homes are radios, iPods/headsets, and video games. If brought to
school, these items will be taken from the students and held in the office for parental pick-up.
UNIFORM POLICY
School Uniforms are mandatory for Bonne École students. The uniform consists of:
• solid red or white, collared, 3 buttoned polo shirt (school logo not required)
• solid navy blue uniform pants, shorts, skirts, or jumpers made of cotton, polyester or a
cotton/polyester blend
Shoes should be appropriate for the classroom and playground. Since PE is a regular part of the school
curriculum, and students participate in PE everyday, tennis shoes should be worn for safety reasons.
Students are not to wear caps, hats, or bandanas. Students not abiding by the uniform policy will remain
in the office area until a change of clothes is provided.
VISITORS
Parents are urged to become involved in our school activities. We need volunteers for many aspects of our
educational program. For the safety of our children, we must know who is on our campus at all times. All
visitors to the school must present a form of identification (driver’s license or ID card) at the office and
receive a visitor identification badge. All students leaving the building during school hours must be
signed out through the office. Teachers must hold these students in their classrooms until they’ve been
checked out through the office. Visitors must also check out through the office.
WEAPONS POLICY
Students found using, possessing and/or concealing a knife, a firearm, a weapon that may discharge a
projectile or other dangerous instruments that may cause bodily harm shall be immediately suspended and
possibly recommended for expulsion. Police notification shall be made immediately. Students using,
possessing and/or concealing any look-alike object that may have the appearance of a weapon or
dangerous instrument shall be immediately suspended from school and possibly recommended for
expulsion.
WEBSITE
The school (http://bonneecoleelementary.stpsb.org/) and PTA (http://www.beepta.org/) websites are
updated regularly. Each classroom teacher has a webpage that can be accessed through the school’s
website (click on “faculty and staff”). Parents and family members are encouraged to check the websites
for information on events, volunteer opportunities, announcements, etc.
WITHDRAWING A STUDENT FROM BONNE ECOLE’
If a student is moving from Slidell or transferring to another school in Slidell (due to a change of address),
please contact the school several days before the planned move. This allows the office and teachers time
to complete the necessary paper work. All textbooks and library books must be returned and all debts
must be paid.
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