Absences

When your child is absent from school, please send a written statement to his/her teacher the next day explaining the absence.  The written statement must be received within 3 days of the absence.  The written statement must provide the following information: Date of written statement, child’s name, date of the absence, reason for absence, and signature of the parent/guardian or medical provider.  A parent may submit notes for undocumented absences for no more than five (5) days per school year.  All other absences must be documented medically or legally or they shall be unexcused.  If you child leaves before 11:45 a.m. he/she will be counted absent.  Makeup work arrangements should be made with the teacher.

School Visitors

All visitors are asked to use the front parking lot and report to the office.  Once you have signed in, pick up a visitor’s pass. Please make sure you sign your name as the person picking the child up (ex. Please sign as John Doe instead of father or mother).  Your child’s safety is our first priority.  For security purposes, the side door will be locked from 8:00 am—2:45 pm.

Personal Property

1. Students should not bring personal items to school unless his/her homeroom teacher has given special permission.  Items brought to school and lost or damaged will be the responsibility of the parent.

2. Students are not allowed to sell any items at school.  This interferes with the smooth operation of the school.

School Volunteers

If you would like to do volunteer work at Blandy Hills, please notify the school principal, assistant principal, or your child’s homeroom teacher.

Arrival at School

There are no personnel on duty before 7:05 A.M.; therefore, children should not arrive before this time.  Children may not enter the building BEFORE  7:05 A.M.  Our school cannot be responsible for your child’s safety prior to 7:05 A.M. so please cooperate with this policy.

Children arriving at school before 8:00 A.M. who wish to eat breakfast are to report directly to the cafeteria.

Children who arrive between 7:05 A.M. and 7:45 A.M. and who are not eating breakfast should sit in the hallway outside their classroom or in their classroom’s designated hall area.

At 7:45 A.M. children who are not eating breakfast may enter their classrooms.  No breakfast will be served after 8:00 A.M. so that students will not miss the first instructional period of the day.

Daily Schedule

School Begins	7:45 A.M.
Tardy	8:00 A.M.
Early Buses	2:45 P.M.
Car Riders Dismissal	2:45 P.M.

Transportation

Bus Riders: If your child is transported by school bus, please make sure that he/she knows the bus number.  Bus riders will load and unload buses from the rear gym doors.  All students should be aware of the bus driver’s regulations since “riding the school bus is a privilege and not a right.”  Students who do not conduct themselves appropriately will lose the privilege of being transported by the school bus.  In this event, the parent/guardian must provide transportation. If a child misses his/her bus, a parent will be called to pick up the child.  Each student is responsible for going directly to the bus as soon as the bus number is called. 

Car Riders: Please pick up your child at 2:45 p.m. from the front entrance.  Students should be signed out early only in the event of an emergency or appointment which cannot be scheduled for a later time.  All students should be picked up no later than 3:05 p.m.  Students not picked up by 3:05 p.m. will be taken to the After School Program and a $5.00 fee will be assessed per child per day.

Any change in the normal transportation of your child should be noted in writing and given to your child’s homeroom teacher.  Students without a note will be sent home by bus.  For the safety of your child, avoid calling and leaving messages regarding transportation.  The office will not except transportation changes after 2:00 p.m.  Please do not call the office after this time.

Discipline Plan

Purpose:   At the heart of community life is respect for the rights of others, and the responsibility to live a life of self discipline.  In a free society such as ours, rules and regulations must exist for the protection of everyone’s rights.  It is the student’s individual responsibility to know and to abide by these rules.  It is the responsibility of parents and staff to provide guidance and direction, and enforce the rules.

Rules:

1. Respect ALL adults, yourself, peers, and school property.

2. Display POSITIVE behavior in all areas of the school.

3. Come to school on time, be prepared and do your best.

4. Dress appropriately at ALL times.

Consequences:

1. Warning

2. Removal from the group (In class time out)

3. Removal of privileges (ice cream, playtime, etc.)

4. Parents are called

5. In-school Suspension (ISS)

6. Office referral

Students who continuously disrupt the learning environment after unsuccessful classroom modifications may receive the following consequences:

Time Out: Students may be assigned to Time Out three (3) times during each quarter (9 weeks).  Time Out segments increase by 30 minute increments with parental notification of each placement.

Detention: After three (3) trips to Time Out, students will be assigned to detention for disruptive behavior.  Students may be given detention twice per quarter.  Detention will be held twice per week.  Students who do not attend mandatory detention will be given ISS immediately the following day.  Teachers are also allowed to assign after school detention to students who misbehave, do not complete homework/class work, etc.

ISS:  Students may be assigned to ISS only three times during a quarter (9 weeks).

Out of School Suspension (OSS):  OSS will be used for major disruptions at school such as fights or other major inappropriate behavior.  Students who have gone through the discipline outlined above may also receive OSS.

STAR:  If all of the above consequences are ineffective, students will be assigned to STAR.

Second Chance:  The principal may assign students that are continuously disruptive to Second Chance: Elementary Alternative Program.  Assignments are 3-6 weeks each.

School Store

Basic school supplies are available for purchase from the school store.  The School store is open from 7:30 a.m. until 7:45 a.m. each day.

Student Attire

Attire should be appropriate for the school setting.  Clothes should be suitable for the classroom and for physical education activities.  Students should be neatly groomed at all times.  See Appropriate Dress in Baldwin County Policies and Information.
 

Telephone

The school telephone is restricted to emergency use only.  Student must have written permission from a teacher before being allowed to phone home.  Our school population and staff are much to large to permit unwarranted use.  Parents also need to keep this in mind when calling the school regarding messages for students.  Please do not call unless the message is any emergency.

Health Services

Blandy Hills Elementary has a part time nurse.  The school nurse cares for students with injuries or illnesses that occur at school.  If a child becomes ill during school hours, parents are expected to make arrangements to have the child picked up from school right away.

Physical Education

Blandy students participate in the school’s physical education program two days per week; therefore, it is important that children dress accordingly.  Tennis shoes are highly recommended.  Cowboy boots, flip flops, and backless sandals are not permitted in physical education class.

If a girl wears a skirt or dress, she should bring a pair of shorts to wear under the skirt/dress during physical education class.  Skirts and dresses often interfere with a child’s performance during P.E.

P.T.A.

All parents are urged to join the Blandy Hill’s P.T.A.  In order for Blandy to be a true “school home” for your children, you need to be involved in the activities of the school.  Participation of all parents in P.T.A. insures strong parent, teacher, and student rapport.  The costs for P.T.A. membership is $3.00 per parent.  A goal for the 2006-2007 is for EVERY Blandy student to have at least one family member join P.T.A.

Honors Day

During the last week of school students will be recognized for outstanding achievement in the areas of academic achievement, physical fitness, good citizenship, top accelerated reader, and perfect attendance.  Parents are invited to join us on these special days.

Beta Club

Fifth grade students who have an overall 90 average for the fourth grade the first semester of fifth grade will be invited to join the  Blandy Hills Elementary School Jr. Beta Club.

Safety Patrol

Fifth grade students are selected to serve on the school’s safety patrol based on grade and behavior requirements.

Snacks

Any snacks brought by students should be healthy food such as fruit.  Gum is not permitted at Blandy Hills.

Drill Team/Chorus

These after school performance groups are sponsored by teachers without pay or funding of any kind.  Students are selected to participate by auditioning and meeting all grade and behavior requirements.  Students who participate must make arrangements for transportation home promptly at the conclusion of practice at 3:30 p.m.  Students who are picked up after 3:45 on two occasions will not be allowed to continue to participate in these programs.  Students not meeting the grade and behavior requirements will be dropped from these programs.

Lost and Found

Please mark your child’s clothing so that coats, sweaters, caps, gloves, etc., lost at school can be returned to owners.  Unclaimed items are placed in the “Lost and Found” box.  At the end of each semester unclaimed items are donated to a local charity.

Media Center

The goals of the Media Center are that:

1. Students will read for pleasure and knowledge.

2. Students will be successful and responsible library users.

The rules of the Media Center are:

1. Respect others

2. Follow directions

3. Speak softly

4. Walk

5. Wear your ID

6. Handle books with care

Consequences:

Students who break a rule will first be given a warning.  A second offense will result in the loss of library privileges for that day.  Severe behavior problems will be discussed with the principal or assistant principal.

Operating Procedures:

1. Students may check out one book at a time, except with permission for a special project.

2. Books may be checked out for one week and renewed for an additional week, if needed.

3. Students are expected to take care of the books and return them by the due date.  Problems will result in the following:

   Lost books—full price of book at time of purchase (new books are quite expensive)

   Damages—amount assessed according to degree of damage.

   Overdue Fines—5 cents per school day.  Overdue notices will be sent out one day per week.  The student is responsible for returning the book on time.

    

4. Students who owe fines or have not yet paid for lost books may not check out another book until their obligations are cleared.

5. Students must wear an ID to conduct library business. If lost, the cost to replace is $1.00 for a card and $.50 for a clip or lanyard.

School Goals

To raise achievement in math, language arts, writing, and reading for all students.

To become a standards-based school.

To increase communication with parents.

To improve the use of technology in the classroom to enhance student achievement.

To promote positive character education.

To accomplish these goals, our students will utilize Compass Learning in the regular classroom and the computer lab.  Creative writing will be included across the curriculum.  The Accelerator Reader Program will also be a part of the reading curriculum.