NathanielAlexander Elementary Student Handbook

WELCOME FROM THE PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:

Welcome to the 2012-2013 school year at Nathaniel Alexander Elementary! We challenge all students, parents, and staff to make this year their personal best yet.

This handbook is filled with important information regarding Nathaniel Alexander and CMS policies and procedures. Please take time to review the contents with your child/children together. If you have questions that remain unanswered after reading the handbook, we will be glad to answer those personally.

Students, use this agenda to set goals for yourself. Put forth your very best effort as you strive to learn. Even if the information you are trying to learn seems difficult, keep working. The teachers will continue to support you until you are successful in your work. This agenda will help you to set goals and check to see how well you are progressing toward reaching the goals you set.

Parents, we challenge you to support your child in the learning process. Use the agenda as a means of communicating with your child’s teacher. Make sure homework assignments are completed. Review your child’s goals, and discuss the progress that is being made to reach them. Read with, to, and in front of your child every night for at least 30 minutes. Be involved in your child’s school experiences.

Staff, you are challenged to provide a learning environment where students can be successful. You should challenge your students to become thinkers, to study, to ask questions, to want to learn more – to become scholars. Help them set high, but attainable goals.

We look forward to working with you this school year. By working together, Nathaniel Alexander students can truly achieve their greatest potential.

Yours in Education,

Mike Drye

Visionof Nathaniel Alexander Elementary:

All students will graduate from high school and be prepared for success in the global economy.

The Mission of Nathaniel Alexander Elementary School:

Nathaniel Alexander will prepare students to reach their maximum academic potential.

Guiding Principles of Nathaniel Alexander:

  1. Our children are the only reason we are here; all decisions will be made with their best interests in mind.
  2. The ability to read—well—is the single-most important academic skill for all students.
  3. Math, social studies, science, etc.—are allaffected and enhanced by reading.

Absences and Tardies

School attendance is essential to student success. Parents and guardians are responsible for seeing that their children attend school each day it is in session, according to Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education Policies JHBB, JHBB-R, and the NC Compulsory Attendance Law (N.C. G.S.-§115C-378). All unexcused absences and tardies will be addressed on an individual basis.

Students should plan to be in their classrooms by 7:40 a.m.,as instruction begins at 7:45 a.m. Students arriving to classrooms after 7:45 are tardy. Parents must walk their student into the school to sign them in at the Main Office when they are tardy. After 5 tardies, the school will send notification to the student’s parent or guardian.

All students are expected to be in attendance each day school is in session. Following any absence, a student is required to present written documentation from their parent or guardian stating the reason for the absence. Written documentation must be presented within three school days after the student returns to school; otherwise, the absence will be recorded as unexcused. After 3, 6, and 10 unexcused absences the school will send notification to the student’s parent or guardian. The absence will be coded and recorded accordingly.

Absences are excused for the following: Illness or Injury, Death in the Immediate Family, Medical or Dental Appointments, Quarantine, Religious Observances, Military Deployment for Immediate Family, Educational Opportunities as approved by the principal, or Court Proceedings.

Early Dismissal

Students must be in attendance 3 hours and 15 minutes to be counted present for the day (by 11:15). In the interest of student safety and orderly dismissal, students may not be signed out of school after 2:00 p.m. Parents needing students for early dismissal should sign-out students before this time. All students must be signed out in the Main Office and office staff must call for the student to be dismissed from the classroom. Parents may not go to the classroom to pick up their child.

Dismissal and Transportation

At the beginning of the school year, establish a transportation routine with your child. It is important for your student to know how they are getting to and from school each day. We understand that parents may need to occasionally change transportation. In any circumstance, a written note from the guardian MUST be presented to make any changes in transportation.

Students SHALL NOT be dropped off before 7:15 a.m. In the morning, students may be dropped off at school in the car rider line between 7:15 a.m. and 7:40 a.m. The students will then report to breakfast OR their classrooms. Car Riders wishing to eat breakfast should arrive no later than 7:30. Students who arrive after 7:43 a.m. must be escorted into the school by a parent. We strongly discourage parents from walking students to their classroom. We ask that you drop them off at the front of the building, as students are beginning their day. It is important for students to begin the instructional day responsibly and on time.

Afternoon dismissal begins at 2:45 p.m. Car riders are dismissed when the buses have departed, approximately 2:55 p.m. All students must be picked up by 3:10 p.m. Students not picked up by this time will be sent to the main office and held until parents arrive to sign them out. Families that accumulate 3 or more “late pick-ups” will be asked to enroll their children in ASEP. If a daycare pickup is habitually late, parents will be responsible for contacting their childcare provider to work out alternative arrangements.

Bus transportation is a privilege available to our students. Good behavior is required to retain the privilege, as stated in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. Bus riders will only be released from the bus at the student’s assigned bus stop for the safety of our students. Students may not, for any reason, ride a bus they are not assigned to.

Issues regarding bus discipline should be addressed to the school. Issues regarding bus routes or routing, assigned stops and stop times, and bus driver concerns should be addressed with the area transportation office at (980)-343-3665.

School Schedule

Instructional time is invaluable to both students and teachers. Students and parents are to adhere to the following bell schedule to make the most of each instructional day.

7:15-All staff on duty; building opens for students

7:30-Car riders wishing to eat breakfast must be at school by 7:15

7:45-INSTRUCTION BEGINS; students not in classrooms are now tardy, and must be signed into the office by a guardian; parents may not enter classrooms or interrupt instruction unless for a pre-arranged conference.

2:45-bus/daycare van-rider/ASEP dismissal begins

2:55-car rider dismissal begins (visitors may not enter building during dismissal process-car riders must remain in cars)

3:05+/-“walkers” (walk-ups) will be dismissed only after all car-riders have loaded and departed

Throughout the year various school-wide events take place in which all students have the opportunity to participate. Please look for further information on the following.

Fall Pictures Class Pictures

Fall and Spring Book Fairs Spring Pictures

PTA Meetings

Office Hours

The school office is staffed from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Should you need to retrieve homework for your child due to illness, you should notify the office no later than 9:45 a.m. to allow sufficient time for the teacher to get the items together. You may retrieve the assignments in the front office from 2:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., when the building closes.

School Closing

The decision to close school is made by the Charlotte-MecklenburgSchool District. In the event of a school closing, please watch the major television stations and listen to local radio stations. Information will also be posted on the Charlotte-MecklenburgSchool District website. Please do not call the school.

Emergency Procedures

In case of emergency, each student is required to have a file in the school office listing the people to notify. Please assist the school in keeping this source updated as changes may occur during the school year. We must always be able to contact at least one guardian in the event of emergencies.

After School Enrichment Program

Nathaniel Alexander Elementary School and CMS offers an After School Enrichment Program. The program is moderately priced alternative for families in need of after school care. Fees include all activities and a daily snack. There is a $25 family registration fee; a re-enrollment fee is charged anytime there is a break in service. The weekly fee for after school only is $65 a week. For before and after school care, the rate is $78. Payment may be made on-line with a debit or credit card. Check, money order or cashier’s checks are also accepted. Winter and Spring Break care are options as well. For more information call the school or you may visit ASEP website at:

School Visitors and Volunteers

All visitors and volunteers must report to the office, sign the visitor’s log, and be issued a dated visitor’s pass that must be worn while on campus. All visitors must wear a visitor tag for the duration of their visit. Volunteers must also sign-in at the office and receive a visitor’s tag. If visitors are on campus without a sticker, they will be directed to the main office. Failure to comply with this request will result in removal from campus, as it is for the safety of our students and faculty.

Parents are always welcome. Please understand that instruction begins at 7:45. If you need to talk with a teacher please do so before 7:45 after 2:45, or by appointment. If your student leaves a needed item at home and you wish to bring it to school, please leave it in the office and our staff will make sure that your child receives it.

The Charlotte-MecklenburgSchool District requires everyone who volunteers in the schools to have an approved volunteer application on file with the school system. Approved status is required for volunteering in the classroom or chaperoning a field trip. Apply to be a volunteer by visiting the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools website:

CMS volunteers are also asked to log into the CMS Volunteer Website at and log in their service hours.

Communication

Communication between the school and home is essential. The official method for home-school communication will be the student agenda. We ask parents to sign student agendas nightly to verify the completion of homework and to communicate with teachers. Agendas will be provided initially for students at no cost.Replacement Agendas will be $5.00. All students must have an agenda, take it home and bring it with them to school each day.

It is imperative that the school office and your child’s teacher have updated current contact information on file should an emergency arise. You can update your information at any time by logging on toParent Assistant at:

Connect-ED is an effective communication tool that NAES and CMS utilize to inform parents of important events through your home telephone number(s). NAES uses Connect-ED to notify you of school delays and closings, PTA meetings, and special announcements. Please make sure we have your current phone number(s) so you can receive our messages. It is also very important we have your correct e-mail address if you have one.

Timeliness of responses: All CMS staff is expected to respond to messages within 24 hours of receiving that message, or no later than end-of-business on the following day.

E-Mail: All staff check e-mail and mailboxes daily. Staff e-mail addresses may be found at: (

See page 8 for a list of “Key Contacts.”

Conferencesand Observations

If you would like to observe your child’s classroom or schedule a conference, please arrange an appropriate day and time with the classroom teacher. Upon arriving to campus, please be sure to follow visitor procedures. If any problems or concerns arise, the first contact should usually be your child’s teacher.

Parent-Teacher Partnerships

Nathaniel AlexanderElementary School is fortunate to have a vibrant and active PTA that is incredibly supportive of the school. Families are encouraged to participate in the organization. If you are interested in becoming a part of the PTA please call the school at 980-343-5268.

Cafeteria Information

The NAES Cougar Café welcomes your child to eat breakfast and lunch in our cafeteria. The Cougar Café serves at least two entrees plus vegetables daily, and the cold line is stocked with a variety of fruits. Bread, cakes and cookies are baked fresh daily, and Blue Bell Ice Cream is also available for purchase.

You may pay for meals by the day, week or month. “PayPAMS” (Parent Account Management System) is a secure on-line payment system that parents can use to pay for food services. We also accept cash, or personal checks with a printed name, address, and home phone number; no business checks can be accepted. We participate in the Federal Free/Reduced Lunch Program. Applications are sent home at the beginning of the school year, but are also available at any time throughout the school year. All information is kept confidential. You may contact our cafeteria manager, Ms. Maria Skordilisat 980-343-5799 if you have any questions.

Menus are distributed at the beginning of each month and are also availableon theschoolandcounty website:

The cafeteria staff may place limits on a child’s account only with written instructions from a parent or guardian. Special diet orders or allergy alerts require a doctor’s note. Breakfast begins at 7:00 A.M. Prices for food purchased in the cafeteria for the 2012-2013school year are as follows:

  • Pre-KStudent Breakfast: $1.00/ Lunch $1.80
  • Elementary Student Breakfast: $1.25/ Lunch $2.05
  • Adult: a la carte (prices vary)
  • Cupcakes and cookies (for birthdays, celebrations, etc.) are available for purchase in our school cafeteria.

The Cougar Café does have two requirements for students:

  1. Students must learn their lunch number by memory(we will help with this!)
  2. No talking while in the lunch line and during the 1st 10 minutes of lunch- students may talk after 10 minutes at their tables..

Parent-Student Lunches

Parents are invited to visit our school for the occasion of eating lunch with your student. In order to accommodate those who wish to visit for such an occasion, the following guidelines are to be followed without exception:

  • Parents MUST sign in at the front office first.
  • We strongly discourage parent-student lunches during the first three weeks of school in order to allow students the time to learn routines and expectations of eating in the cafeteria.
  • Parents will meet their students at the entrance to the cafeteria. Do not go to the classroom. Please do not arrive more than five (5) minutes before the assigned lunch time.
  • Visitor seating will be available in a designated area of the cafeteria. To allow for security and space considerations,eating with your child’s class may not be possible; students must be seated first.
  • Parents will limit the time they spend with their student to the amount of time the student’s class has in the lunch room. Students will not be allowed to arrive early or stay late with parents.
  • Sitting away from the class tables, parents may only dine with their own child(ren); other students must remain with their assigned lunch table.
  • Healthy foods and beverages are important for our students. We strongly encourage you to purchase a lunch at the school cafeteria to eat along with your student rather than bringing in food.

Food Products Brought to School

Per the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District Parent Student Handbook,pp. 22-25, (available on the web at:

The following cautions are to be followed in all schools in order to protect the health and safety of children and staff:

  1. Any food shared in school must be from an inspected commercial facility and must be labeled with its contents. (Ex: Harris Teeter cupcakes, with a printed list of ingredients from the HT bakery, or packaged crackers.)
  2. Products such as milk, cheese or fruit juice, which have not been pasteurized, may not be shared in the classroom or at school activities.
  3. The special diet and healthcare needs of all students should be addressed in a confidential and supportive manner by all staff.
  4. Federal School Lunch Regulations state that non-cafeteria food may not be sold or shared on campus at any time of day prior to the last child having lunch. Class rewards shall never replace lunch (e.g. pizza parties). All such rewards must be approved by the administration and cannot begin before the last lunch is served.

Birthday Treats

On the occasion of a student’s birthday, parents may order cupcakes from our own Cougar Café. If you choose to bring in another product, please be sure it follows our Food Product Policy(HOME BAKED GOODS ARE NOT PERMITTED). Each child should be offered a treat. These snacks may only be served at lunch time, towards the end of the lunch period after students have finished eating their lunch. Parents should be available to distribute the treats to students at the appropriate time. Please let the student’s teacher know in advance, as many of our students dietary needs preclude certain foods.

Classroom Parties