CHERAWINTERMEDIATESCHOOL

421 Chesterfield Highway

Cheraw, SC29520

Phone: (843) 921-1030

Fax: (843) 921-1036

Scott Eddins- Principal

Mission Statement:

The mission of CherawIntermediateSchool is to motivate students to learn and to encourage character development in a positive, nurturing environment.

General Information

For assistance, please contact the following staff members at 921-1030.

Principal- Scott Eddins, ext. 22

Assistant Principal- Karen Ellerbe, ext. 27

Guidance Counselor- Layvonne Byrd, ext. 30

Media Specialist-Kayla Edwards, ext. 31

Food Service Manager- Denise Garvin, ext. 32

Secretary- Loretta Rogers, ext. 26

Attendance Clerk- Brenda Myers, ext. 23

Daily Schedule

7:20 AM Students are allowed in the building. (Please do not drop students off prior to 7:20.) Students who eat breakfast go by their classroom to drop off their bookbags and then report to the cafeteria. Students who do not eat breakfast should go directly to their classroom and sit quietly in the hall until their teacher invites them into the room.

7:20-7:50AM Breakfast is served in the cafeteria. Students are to go to their homeroom as soon as they finish their breakfast.

8:00 AMSchool begins.

8:05 AM Tardy bell rings. Any student arriving to school after this bell must report to the office for a tardy pass.

2:50 PM Dismissal of early bus riders,walkers, and car riders.

2:55PM Dismissal of late bus students.

3:10PM All car riders should be picked up by this time.

*Parents of students who cannot be picked up by this time should consider placement in our After School Care. (More information about After School Care is provided on page 6.)

Car riders, walkers, and bike riders will enter the building through the main entrance or the fourth grade wing.

Early dismissal interrupts the learning process of your child and others. Please cooperate with your school by not signing out students to avoid the afternoon traffic.Please refrain from signing students out of school after 2:00 unless it is absolutely necessary.

Supervision is not provided at neighboring businesses. For the safety of your child, please arrange for pick-up at designated areas on campus. CIS is not responsible for students in unauthorized areas.

Attendance

There are many studies linking attendance to student achievement; therefore, good attendance in stressed and encouraged at CIS. If attendance becomes an issue, the following guidelines will be implemented:

  • After 3 unexcused absences, a letter of notice is mailed.
  • After 3 consecutive unexcused absences, 5 unexcused absences, or 10 total absences, a conference with school administration is required, and a Truancy Intervention Plan is developed.
  • Upon 3 additional unexcused absences (after the Truancy Plan is in place), a conference with the district truancy officer is required.
  • If absences continue, a hearing in Family Court will be scheduled.

*IMPORTANT! Please be aware that Attendance Truancy Plans are carried over to the following school year.

Tardiness

Promptness to school is very important. Students are to be in their classes ready to work at 8:00 AM. Students who are tardy must be signed in by their parent/guardian in the office. A record of tardiness for each student will be documented and maintained on file.

Tardies are coded as unexcused unless accompanied by a doctor’s note. Five (5) unexcused tardies is considered excessive and may be subject to disciplinary action.

Car Riders- Loading and Unloading

Teachers will be on duty at 7:20 each morning in strategically located areas. Children are not toarrive until 7:20 to ensure that proper supervision is provided. When walking to school, children should cross streets only at crosswalks and under the direction of the crossing guard. Students are to approach the school building by way of the sidewalk (never cut across the parking lot for any reason). Bicycle riders must walk their bikes from the street to the front of the school. Bikes are to be parked in the rack provided. All bikes should be secured because the school is not responsible for theft or damage to any bicycle.

Report Cards/Interim Reports

Report cards and interim reports are issued every nine weeks. Report cards will be issued on October 28, January 13, March 23, and May 26. The district grading scale is:

Grade A93-100 ExcellentGrade D70-76Below Average

Grade B85-92 Above AverageGrade FBelow 70Failing

Grade C77-84Average

Media Center Information

All students go to the MediaCenter on a regular schedule to learn about various authors and illustrators, to participate in shared reading sessions, and to become familiar with the vast array of information sources that are available for their use. Students are allowed to check out three books initially. However, as needs arise, students may increase their weekly check-out to as many as five books provided they are in good standing with the media center. If they read the books before the next scheduled period, they may return and exchange them for other books. We want to make this a very pleasant experience for students in order for them to form lifelong habits of selecting, reading, and enjoying books.

Text Books

The state provides free textbooks for all students in elementary schools. If a textbook is lost or damaged by a student, the student must pay the assessed amount. Please encourage your child to take care of and be responsible for his/her textbooks.

Internet Use in the Classroom

The following information outlines the expectations of all Cheraw Intermediate students using the internet in the classroom or Media Center.

Appropriate Use means that you agree to:

  • Use network resources for educational purposes.
  • Use computers, programs, and files only with a teacher’s permission, supervision, and with appropriate log on procedures.
  • Not reveal personal information such as anyone’s full name, address, or telephone number in any network communication unless authorized by a teacher.
  • Not tamper with or vandalize components of the network or use the network in any manner, which creates disruptions for other users.

Respect for Others requires that you agree to:

  • Be polite, use appropriate language, and exercise network etiquette.
  • Not create/pass on threatening, vulgar, obscene, offensive, or harassing material.
  • Not read, modify, or delete files owned by others; respect the privacy of electronic communication but understand that this privacy is not guaranteed.
  • Yield use of the computers to students and staff with specific research needs related to instructional assignments.

Ethical Conduct requires that you agree to:

  • Not use the network for commercial or political purposes.
  • Access only educationally appropriate sites consistent with your assignment.
  • Comply with all copyright laws regarding software use and avoid plagiarism.

Dress Code for Students

Neatness and cleanliness are expected of all students at all times. Clothing items must fit properly. Excessively small fitting or large fitting clothing items are not permitted.

  • Midriff tops, halter-tops, revealing sun dresses, tube tops, tank shirts, or clothing that excessively reveals parts of the body will not be allowed.
  • No hats or sunglasses will be worn in the building.
  • All pants/shorts will be worn at the waist (no sagging).
  • All shorts and skirts must be worn at fingertip length or below with arms extended.
  • No unfastened clothes or belts allowed.
  • No clothing promoting profane language or pictures,the use of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco products are permitted.
  • All other items that may be considered inappropriate for school will be determined by the administration.

Care of School Property

The staff at CIS works hard to maintain a beautiful and inviting campus. Therefore, any damage done to school property must be repaired or replaced at the expense of the offender. The cooperation of parents is required in helping to teach children to respect school property, materials, furnishings, and equipment.

Lost and Found

Lost items are turned in to the office. Parents are strongly encouraged to write your child’s name on the label of coats,gloves, sweaters, lunch boxes, etc. for proper identification.

Discipline Policy

Please refer to the student folder for the detailed outline of the discipline procedures. A student can bereferred to the office for the following offenses:

  • Physical aggression/fighting
  • Vandalism
  • Dishonesty (cheating, stealing, etc.)
  • Possession of a weapon or controlled substance of any kind
  • Classroom misconduct
  • Truancy (cutting class and cutting school)
  • Disrespect
  • Bus violations

Items Prohibited in School

Items which are hazardous to the safety of others or interfere in some way with school procedures may not be brought to school by children. Weapons or objects used to inflict bodily injury upon another include, but are not limited to, guns, knives, brass knuckles, blackjacks, and razor box openers. Administrators will take action;Chesterfield County School Board of Education has a zero tolerance policy for weapons or other dangerous objects brought on campus. Possession of a weapon or other dangerous items may result in immediate suspension with a recommendation of expulsion for the remainder of the school year, as well as law enforcement may be contacted.

CIS prohibits the disruption of school by telephones, Ipods, or other electronic devices during the school day. These electronic devices will be confiscated by school administration and returned when the parent comes to the school.

CIS is not responsible for loss, damaged, or stole items (including phones, Ipods, tablets, or any other valuable item) brought to school by a student without the permission of his/her teacher.

After School Care Program

A carefully supervised after school care program is provided for students from dismissal until 5:00 PM. Children are provided a snack, time to complete homework assignments, and the opportunity to play educational and recreational games. The program ends at 5:00 PM; ONLY parents who work until 5:00 are allowed to pick up their students by 5:15 PM. The cost is $20.00 per week.

Food Programs

  • The Chesterfield County School District participated in a program which provided free meals (breakfast and lunch) to all students. Since our cafeteria sells a la cart items like ice cream, students still may bring money to deposit in their lunch accounts to purchase these items.
  • For students who bring their lunch, please do not include glass containers or carbonated drinks.

Students Owing Fees/Fines

Students who owe money to the school for lunch fees, lost books, fundraiser debts, instructional fees, etc. may not be allowed to buy extra treats in the cafeteria or from the snack wagon and may be prohibited from attending field trips until the money owed is paid. The school is very willing to work with parents who have difficulty paying all the money owed at one time.

Medication

If a student needs to take any type of medication at school, the proper forms (available in the school office) must be filled out and signed by the parent. If it is a prescription, the doctor’s signature is also required. All medication must be sent in the original container with the prescription label. School system policy will be followed for dispensing all medication. (Medications include all over the counter pain relievers and ointments.)

Change of Address

It is necessary that the school has a current address and phone number for each student at all times. This information is especially important in case of an emergency. Please notify the school immediately if any address or telephone number changes occur.

Withdrawal

Students needing to withdraw from Cheraw Intermediate School must contact our attendance secretary and receive a clearance form signed by the appropriate teachers and staff. Student records will not be forwarded until all books have been returned and fees have been paid.

Visitors

Cheraw Intermediate has an open-door policy. Parents and special guests are welcome to visit and eat lunch with their child; however, THE ENTRY POINT TO CHERAW INTERMEDIATE IS THE MAIN OFFICE. Visitors will be issued a visitor sticker signifying to our teachers that all guests are registered in the main office. Drop-in/unscheduled conferences are strongly discouraged as teachers are responsible for instructing and supervising students during the academic day. A conference with the teacher can be scheduled before or after school, or during the teacher’s planning period.

School Telephone

The school number is (843) 921-1030. Messages will be taken for students and teachers and delivered as soon as possible. Neither students nor teachers will be called to the telephone, except in an emergency. Parents wishing to talk with teachers on the phone are welcome to contact the school after 3:00 PM or during the teacher’s planning period. Teachers are unable to leave their classrooms for telephone conferences during instructional periods.

Cancellation/Delay of School

Whenever decisions are made to modify the entire school system’s schedule, notice is given to all major radio and television stations. Please monitor the local radio and television stations for more information, or call the district office at 623-2175 when there is inclement weather. An important “Action Plan for Early Dismissal” form is to be completed and returned to the school office at the beginning of the school year. This plan will serve as official parental direction for release of students in the event school is dismissed early.

Testing

Your child will be assessed with several types of testing – Fountas and Pinnell (F&P), , MAP, and a standardized test to be determined by the state. This testing is important because it is used to monitor academic growth and progress in relation to the grade level standards. F&P is a reading test given by the teacher to one student at a time. MAP testing is a computer-based program given 3 times during the year, and it measures reading, language, and math skills. Standardized testing is used by our state to assess grade level standards for all students in grades 3-8. It measures reading, writing, math, science, and social studies.

The F&P and MAP tests are all very useful; they provide specificinformation for our teachersto use to helpprepareour students for the standardized test. By identifying the individual strengths and weaknesses of each child, the teacher can developlessons and activities that will specifically address your child’s needs.

For more information on the F&P and/or MAP tests, please contact your child’s teacher or an administrator. (Grade level equivalence scores are also available upon request.)

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