Bayou Woods Elementary
35614 Liberty Drive
Slidell, Louisiana 70460
985-641-1901- Phone 985-639-0923 – Fax
Mrs. Kathy McDowellMrs. Sheryl Thomas
Principal Assistant Principal
Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide a safe nurturing environment where
Learning is Fun and Learning is Forever
BayouWoodsElementary School
Vision Statement
Bayou Woods strives to create a supportive learning environment, which promotes the development of lifelong learners who will emerge as successful citizens in the 21st century. We achieve this by
Ensuring developmentally appropriate education in Pre-K
through 3rd grade
Building student’s self esteem
Promoting engaging and motivational learning activities
Providing a safe learning environment
Our Student Handbook is available online
and may be updated if needed throughout the school year.
School Hours: Instructional Day: 8:40 AM – 3:41 PM
Office Hours: 8:15 AM – 4:10 PM
School Lunches:Full Price:$1.30 per day $6.50 per week
Reduced:$ .40 per day $2.00 per week
(Make checks payable to Bayou WoodsCafeteria or use online payment
(“My Payments Plus on stpsb.org website)
Breakfast:Full Price:$.75 per day$3.75 per week
Reduced:$ .30 per day$1.50 per week
Both Breakfast & Lunch: Full Price: $10.25per week Reduced: $3.50 per week
Milk – 50 cents
Visitor: Breakfast $1.65Lunch$3.45
Supply Fee: $10.00-cash or checks payable to Bayou Woods Elementary or pay online at My Payments Plus -
It is important that EMERGENCY CARDS ARE RETURNED and UPDATED. When updates are needed, please notify in writing BOTH your child’s teacher and the office. (See address and phone changes)
Please note that Liberty Drive is one way from 7 AM – 9 AM and from 2 PM – 4 PM on school days.PLEASE ENTER FRONT PARKING AREA FROM WEST SIDE. THE BUS LANE IS FOR BUSES AND HANDICAPPED DROP OFF ONLY and should not be entered anytime during the school day.
STUDENTS WHO ARRIVE IN CARS OR WALK TO SCHOOL (from their home of record) ARE NOT TO ARRIVE AT SCHOOL BEFORE 8:10 A.M. All car riders are to enter through the car ramp unless you have a handicapped permit. CAR RIDERS ARE TO BE PICKED UP AT 3:41P.M.from the car ramp area. A Name Card, which is requested through your child’s teacher, should be clearly displayed on dashboard. If you do not have a name card or your child does not have a permit to be a car rider, you will be requested to go to the front office to sign out your child and show your ID. PLEASE DO NOT ENTER BUS LANE. ALL CARS WITHOUT PERMITS MUST DRIVE THROUGH THE CAR RAMP DROP OFF AND PICK UP AREA.
Students are not to be checked out early on a regular basis. Check Out must be prior to 3:15 PM. Changes made for student’s transportation MUST be done in person or in writing prior to 3:15 PM. If a child is dropped off early or not picked up at dismissal by 4:00 PM, contacts from the emergency card will be called in order of listing on the emergency card. After all attempts have been made, child will be placed in Gator ELO with payment due upon pick up and/or authorities will be contacted.
Bayou Woods Elementary School
Attendance
Prompt and regular attendance is essential in order for children to take advantage of all instructional time. Students may not arrive at school before 8:10 AM unless riding on the bus. Teachers are not on duty until that time. Please be sure your child arrives by 8:35 AM. Children who eat breakfast at school should arrive no later than 8:25. The instructional day begins at 8:40 AM.
The tardy bell rings at 8:40 AM. Any student arriving after the tardy bell must be signed in by an adult in the office before reporting to class. Students should then take their tardy slip with them as they walk to class or if needed the student will be escorted to the classroom by an employee/volunteer in order to decrease interruptions to instruction. Even missing the first few minutes of class can be a problem. Many teachers give the first assignment immediately so students may begin work during roll call. Please allow your child to get off to a good start by arriving on time. Excessive/frequent tardiness/frequent check-out will be discussed with a parent or guardian.
Please do not check your child out early on a regular basis. This is disruptive to your child’s education and that of others since instruction continues until the last minutes of the day. An early check out is loss of instructional minutes and will be indicated on JPAMS just like a “tardy.”
The Louisiana Department of Education requires all students to attend school a minimum of 165 days. Students who have more than 5 non-exempt absences per semester may be retained in their present grade. It is important to write excuses for your child’s absences and send any doctor’s excuses to the teacher so that missed assignments may be made up. Absences are considered exempt with a verified doctor’s note, a death in the immediate family etc. Students with excessive non-exempt absences will need to make up instructional meetings (seat time) at designated times, before school, after school and/or Saturdays. Excused absences are still counted in the total number of absences. You will be called by the district automated system anytime your child is absent or is checked in past the reporting time.
Act 103 (See Appendix 1) of the 1994 State Legislature states that a student shall be considered habitually absent or tardy after the fifth unexcused tardy within any month or if a pattern of five (5) absences a month is established. The Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance must be informed of habitual absenteeism or tardiness. Policies and Procedures for Act 103 as stated in the Handbook on Attendance, Discipline, and Student Records will be enforced at Bayou Woods Elementary. Parents must inform themselves of this policy.
The school day ends at 3:41 PM. Car riders will be dismissed first. Children who ride a late bus will wait in their assigned area. Children who ride in a car must bepicked up or dropped off at the car ramp. Students should remain in class until dismissal at 3:41 PM. Frequent early checkouts are disruptive to the learning process and can be detrimental to your child’s progress. Check Outs are entered into JPAMS to indicate loss of instructional time. Please do not check your child out early unless absolutely necessary, i.e. doctor’s appointment. Parents should wait in the Office for the child to exit. If you must pick up your child early, do not park in the bus lanes even for a brief time. Visitor parking spaces are provided.
Breakfast and Lunch
Our cafeteria once again received the Gold Award of Distinction as designated by Healthier US Schools in 2015-16. Our staff prepares breakfast and lunch for our school each day. Parents are encouraged to pay for student meals by the week or month. The chart below lists prices for payment convenience. All money collection is computerized. Lunch and breakfast money can be paid with one check or through “My Accounts Plus” @
Each student has his/her individual account number and all money goes into their account. ALL CHECKS SHOULD BE MADE PAYABLE TO BAYOU WOODS CAFETERIA.
Lunch and breakfast money must be sent to school in a sealed envelope with the child’s name, teacher name, computer number and amount of money clearly written on the front. Lunch/breakfast money is to be sent in only on Mondays or on the first day of the school week. Charges are not allowed. If a student is absent or brings lunch, money not used remains in the account to be used when the student does eat.
Applications for free and reduced meals are available online at stpsb.org. Filling out this form is encouraged as this is the deciding factor for Title I funding. You are responsible for all charges incurred before notification of approval is made. Notification of approval or disapproval will be sent to all applicants.
Children who bring lunch from home may purchase milk for $.50 if desired. Payment is made through the lunch line on the day needed. No canned drinks, glass containers, or fast food lunches are allowed in the cafeteria by either children or adults. Menus are sent home monthly with the teacher newsletters. Menus are also posted on our school website.
If parents wish to join their child occasionally for a meal at school, please notify the cafeteria(985-641-1970) no later than 9:00 a.m. on the day they wish to come. This will ensure that enough food is prepared.
Lunch:Full Price:$1.30per day$6.50 per week
Reduced:$ .40 per day$2.00 per week
Breakfast:Full Price:$ .75per day$ 3.75 per week
Reduced:$ .30 per day$ 1.50 per week
Both Meals:Full Price:$10.25 per weekVisitor: Breakfast$1.65
Reduced:$3.50 per week Lunch$3.45
Milk: 50 cents
Arrival and Dismissal
Each student riding a bus to school must ride only his/her assigned bus. If a student needs to ride a different bus, he/she must bring a note, written and signed by a parent, to the office. A bus pass will be written for the child to give to the bus driver.
Students must stay seated while the bus is moving. Students must exhibit good behavior at all times while riding the bus. Children who misbehave on the bus will be brought to administration for discipline which may result in suspension of bus privileges.
The front driveway of the school is reserved for bus/handicapped car riders (with permit) drop off and pick-up and emergency vehicles. There is NO PARKING IN THE RED ZONE AREA AT ANYTIME DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. Students may not be DROPPED OFF BY A CAR IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING. CARS MUST USE THE CAR RAMP TO DROP OFF OR PICK-UP STUDENTS. The Car Ramp will open at 8:10 AM and will close at 8:35 AM when the first bell rings. Walkers are defined as any student who can walk to his/her home of record as listed by the school district. All other students must be dropped off and picked up at the car ramp. Walkers will be dismissed after late bus riders.
Students are NOT allowed AT SCHOOL BEFORE 8:10 A.M.TEACHERS WILL NOT BE ON DUTY UNTIL THAT TIME.
**ANYTIME YOUR CHILD WILL GO HOME A DIFFERENT WAY THAN USUAL, A NOTE MUST BE SENT TO THE CHILD’S TEACHER. IF A CHILD IS UNSURE ABOUT HOW HE/SHE IS GOING HOME, THIS BECOMES QUITE UPSETTING TO THE CHILD AND THE TEACHER AND CAUSES TRANSPORTATION DELAYS. PLEASE PUT ALL TRANSPORTATION CHANGES IN WRITING (IN THE TAKE HOME NOTEBOOK OR FOLDER) IF AT ALL POSSIBLE. THIS WILL ALLOW ANY CONFUSION TO BE CLEARED UP EARLY IN THE DAY BEFORE DISMISSAL. Please do not e-mail teachers. They may not be able to check their e-mail during the day so may not get the message. FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS, CHANGES MAY NOT BE MADE BY PHONE. IN AN EMERGENCY, YOU MAY FAX (985-639-0923) or EMAIL (call the office to request e-mail address) A COPY OF YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE AND A NOTE BEFORE 3:15 P.M.
If your child is a car rider, he/she will be given a windshield name card which should be displayed on the dash in the front passenger’s side of the windshield when picking up your child at the car ramp. Parents are not permitted to park in the parking lot and walk over to pick up a student.
In Louisiana, the law requires all children under the age of 12 to ride in the backseat of a vehicle. Therefore, students must enter the car through the back door nearest the curb unless this is not possible. Also, please remember that cellphone use by the driver is not allowed within school zones. Additional reminders for parents and students will be included with the name card. Please review these safety precautions with your child.
If a child is dropped off early or not picked at dismissal by 4:00 PM, contacts from the emergency card will be called in order of listing on the emergency card. After all attempts have been made, students will be placed in Gator ELO and payment will be expected upon pick up and/or authorities will be contacted.
Address and or Phone Number Change
Please help us keep all address information and phone numbers current both in the computer system and on your child’s emergency card. If you have a change of address, please bring 3 current proofs of residency (such as a utility bill, mortgage payment, proof of insurance) to the office. We must have copies of these before the information can be changed at the district level. Please note: updating/changing an emergency card, does not change official district information.We must have official documentation from you in order to make a change in the system.
Buses
The St. Tammany Parish School Board makes bus transportation available to all students who attend school. We encourage all students to take advantage of this 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 TransportationDepartment, 898-3373, with questions regarding bus routes, stops, and times. Parents should make sure that they know their child’s bus number, driver’s name and have their contact number. If you have a child riding a regular education school bus, the driver is not required to wait for an adult to meet the student at the bus stop. The bus driver should be contacted for any route information, times or issues that may arise while the student is on their bus.
Occasionally there are bus changes or bus delays. We appreciate your calling to inquire about the delays; however due to the high volume of calls into the school and our teachers/staff remaining on duty to care for the students, we are not able to contact you unless it is an emergency. You will be notified as soon as possible anytime there is an emergency situation.
Students should always follow bus safety rules to ensure the safety of all riders. For the safety of your child and everyone on the bus, security cameras are present and 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.
• Talk in a respectful low (normal) tone of voice.
• Use only the bus and bus stop assigned.
Check Ins/Check Outs
If your child is late for school (after 8:35 AM) you must accompany him/her to the office to get a late slip.Please do not drop them off at the front door and leave. The only excuse for tardiness will be for sickness or doctor/dentist appointments with a Return to School note from the physician. In order to be counted present for the day, a child must be checked in before 10:45 A.M.
If you must check your child out of school before 3:41 P.M., please come to the office and sign him/her out before 3:15 P.M. The secretary will call the child’s teacher and the child will report to the office. Because of the large number of students we have at Bayou Woods, we will not be able to call for them after 3:15 PM. Parents may not go into the hallways or directly to the classroom to get their child. Please wait in the office for your child. In order to be counted present for the day, a child cannot be checked out before 12:15 P.M. If a student leaves between 10:45 A.M.-12:00 Noon, one half day of absence will be counted. Please do not call the office and ask to have your child waiting in the office for pick up. The procedure is for the child to remain in the classroom as long as possible. Please do not check your child out early on a regular basis. Avoiding the line at the car ramp is not reason for consistently checking your child out early. Please remember that checking a child out early is disruptive to instruction.
Only those people listed on your child’s emergency card will be allowed to check him/her out. A picture identification is needed. When circumstances change, please update your child’s emergency card accordingly. If a particular person should not check out your child, please notify the office.
For safety reasons, we cannot accept transportation changes over the telephone. All changes in the way your child goes home or where they are to go must be given to the teacher in writing at the beginning of the day. IN AN EMERGENCY, YOU MAY E-MAIL (call the office to request e-mail address) or FAX (985-639-0923) A COPY OF YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE AND A NOTE BEFORE 3:15 P.M.
Child Sexual Abuse Prevention
Education and Reporting Program
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. All materials that will be used in the instruction may be previewed by contacting the school administration. We would also like to encourage you to talk with your child about this topic as well as other general safety issues.