HANDBOOK

FOR

PARENTS AND STUDENTS

J.E.B. STUART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Home of the Stuart Stars

WHERE WE PROVIDE

THE ULTIMATE LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Mrs. Jennifer K. Moore Ms. Jacqueline D. Drye

Principal Assistant Principal

2016 – 2017

WELCOME

Welcome to J.E.B. Stuart Elementary School,“where we provide the ultimate learning experience.” The staff of J.E.B. Stuart Elementary School looks forward to working together with you to make this the best year ever for your child!

Your support of the school’s goals is critical and we value you as a partner in the education of your child. We encourage your participation in the PTA and appreciate any time you may have to share with us at school.

Your expectations are vital to your child’s future success. Expect the best and you will get the best. You cannot study for your child, or learn for your child, but you can help develop a dream in your child’s mind about what the future holds, and it will have a great influence on what your child becomes.

Your participation in the PTA and/or other volunteer capacity with us in the education of your child is most important in setting expectations.

We, too, help develop dreams and have expectations. When the home and school are in harmony, the result is success for the child. Let’s work together to make this the best year ever for your sons and daughters.

VISION STATEMENT

J.E.B. Stuart Elementary School is a school where each child is recognized and accepted for his own worth and dignity. Activities are based on the needs and interests of the students as we prepare them to live in a highly technological world. J.E.B. Stuart Elementary School provides an educationally enriched environment and opportunities for students’ self-motivation.

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of J.E.B. Stuart Elementary School, a foundation-building, National Blue Ribbon School, is to lead our students in developing responsibility, compassion, and the ability to think critically, while advocating crucial life skills, by creating an engaging environment through the partnership of passionate parents, innovative educators, and community connections.

UNITY

I dreamt I stood in a studio

And watched two sculptors there.

The clay they used was a young child’s mind

And they fashioned it with care.

One was a teacher – the tools he used

Were books, music, and art;

The other, a parent, worked with a guiding hand,

And a gentle, loving heart.

Day after day the teacher toiled

With touch that was deft and sure,

While the parent labored by his side

And polished and smoothed it over.

And when at last, their task was done

They were proud of what they had wrought,

For the things they had molded into the child

Could neither be sold nor brought.

And each agreed they would have failed

If each had worked alone,

For behind the teacher stood the school,

And behind the school, the home.

Author Unknown

ATTENDANCE

Please make every effort to have your child arrive at school before the bell rings at 9:00 a.m. Students who are tardy have a difficult time with their studies and general adjustment. If your child is tardy, he/she should report to the office to sign in. Students who are tardy 5 times will not receive a perfect attendance awards at the end of the year.

TELEPHONE NUMBERS

Please keep us informed of changes in telephone numbers, both work and home. This is extremely critical in case of an emergency.

PARKING FACILITIES

State law prohibits parking in front of any school from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Students must not walk in the parking lot at any time unless accompanied by an adult. Do not leave cars parked in the middle of the street while you get out picking up or dropping off a child. Please park in the appropriate areas.

VISITS TO THE SCHOOL

During the school day, all outside doors remain locked. Please ring the doorbell at the south door when visiting us. Always stop by the office to make your presence known in the building. All visitors must report directly to the office upon entering the school. We will work together to limit interruptions to instructional time. Please arrange for a conference with the teacher at least one day ahead so the teacher may be prepared to talk with you.

SCHOOL GUARD

Students must cross at the corner of Crawford and Fendall where the school guard or police is stationed. Parents should not walk children across the middle of the street. No students willbe allowed to cross the street in the middle to get in a vehicle. Fendall Avenue is a well-traveled street by vehicles. It is unsafe for a student to cross in the middle of the street. Please help us to keep your child safe from harm.

MEDICAL INFORMATION

School records must show that a student has been properly immunized and has met state requirements regarding medical attention before he/she can enter or remain in school. Of particular importance is the recent regulation regarding a measles vaccination for rising 6th graders. Students are not admitted into middle school until this vaccination is recorded. The school nurse maintains these records and will contact you if there is concern.

MEDICATION AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS AT SCHOOL

In order for school authorities to know what medication a student is taking in case of an emergency, and in an effort to prevent the misuse of drugs, no student may have in his possession any medication or prescription drug, even if recommended or prescribed for the student’s use. “Medication shall mean any drug or other substance used in treating diseases, healing, or relieving pain, including all over-the-counter drugs such as aspirins, cough syrups, gargles, caffeine pills, and the like.”

When your doctor prescribes medication that must be taken at school, have him/her complete a form requesting that the medication be given and specify the time and amount. Medicine that is sent to the school must be brought to the nurse’s office by an adult so that it can be kept safely until time for the child to take it. It must be in the original container, with the amount and times for each dose listed on it.

We cannot give medicines that are not prescribed by a doctor, such as cough syrup or pain medication. Please talk with our school nurse for more information about any of these or other medical concerns.

Consequences: For an initial violation, out-of-school suspension shall be assigned for up to five (5) days. For serious or repeated violations, the student shall be suspended out of school for any length of time or expulsion may be recommended.

WELLNESS POLICY

In an effort to provide our students with a healthy learning environment, the J.E.B. Stuart Wellness Policy includes the following:

  1. No birthday parties will be permitted without prior notification to the teacher and office.
  2. Birthday cake and ice cream are not allowed to celebrate birthdays. The following are suggestions for substitutions:
  3. Birthday pencils
  4. Fruit cups and/or Jello
  5. Arts and crafts activities
  6. Small gift bags
  7. Limited amount of candy for special events excluding birthday parties.

PARTIES/TREATS/GIFTS

J.E.B. Stuart allows for two parties each year, which are usually in December and June. No balloons, flowers, etc. are to be sent to the children while at school. No private birthday invitations may be distributed at school.

We have students with serious and, in some cases, life-threatening food allergies. As part of the school wellness policy, we also hope to promote healthy nutrition. For these reasons, no food other than that specifically requested by the teacher may be brought or sent in to be distributed to students in the classroom, in the cafeteria, or any other area of the school. This includes birthday treats.

TEXTBOOKS

All students of the Richmond Public Schools shall be furnished, free of charge, the necessary textbooks for their respective grades and subjects. These books are to remain the property of the school and to be loaned to the students.

Students will be charged with each book and shall be required to return the same in good condition, moderate wear and tear expected, at the end of the semester, or at such time as may be required by the principal of the school. Any book which is lost, destroyed, and/or needlessly defaced while in the use of the student shall be replaced or paid for by the student or his/her parent or guardian at a price proportionate to the condition of the book. All books are to be returned if a student moves during the school year. A replacement fee will be charged for lost books and no books will be issued until the fee is paid.

SUPPLIES

At the beginning of the school year a list of supplies needed by your child will be sent to you. Please remember that items such as pencils, paper, crayons, etc. will need to be replenished during the school year. Supplies will not be issued by the school.

HOMEWORK

Homework is assigned regularly by each teacher. This is an important part of your child’s learning since it helps to reinforce the things that are being learned in the classroom. Homework is to be done by the child independently. If you find that you need to give too much help, talk with your child’s teacher. A parent should review the homework after it is completed and sign it. Time spent at home by students on such things as recognizing the alphabet, spelling words, learning the addition/subtraction facts or the multiplication/division facts, reading aloud to you or being read to by you or an older brother or sister can be very valuable. There are many good educational television programs available which will enhance a student’s learning. All of these activities can help improve a student’s progress in school. Homework must be completed and returned to the teacher. Homework that is not completed and returned will have a negative effect on your child’s grade.

VOLUNTEERS

We welcome parents who have the time to volunteer in our school. More than 100 parents per year spend time at school helping in such ways as accompanying classes on field trips, assisting with Book Fairs and helping in the classroom. We value this participation and encourage you to offer your services when time is available.

CONTACTING THE SCHOOL

When you have a question or concern, please feel free to contact the appropriate person at the school. The following list of names and job titles may assist you. You may want to add your child’s teacher and room number to this list.

Principal Mrs. Jennifer K. Moore

Assistant PrincipalMs. Jacqueline D. Drye

Secretary Ms. Charmaygne Simmons

NurseMrs. Lisa McNamara

Counselor Mrs. Denise Turner

Media SpecialistMs. Carrie Bruner

My child’s teacher ______Room No. ______

The School’s telephone number is 804-780-4879.

Website: web.richmond.k12.va.us/jses

STUDENT SCHOLASTIC RECORDS

A student record is maintained on each student enrolled in Richmond Public Schools. The record contains the student’s name, address, and date of birth, the name and address of the parent, test scores and attendance figures, filed as a cumulative folder with information added each year as needed. Confidential information such as reports connected with Exceptional Education is kept in a separate folder in school.

Access to records is limited to persons who have responsibility for students or who have a legitimate interest in the education of the student. You may request to see your child’s record. It will be granted within five working days of your request. A record of persons gaining access to each record is kept within the record. You can request that it be changed. If your request is denied, you have the right to a hearing.

Student names are not released for commercial purposes or to anyone who might use the information for commercial gain. If you wish to have parts or all of the record released to someone such as a doctor or counselor, you may submit a request in writing to the school.

If you have any questions concerning records, please contact the counselor or principal for further information.

SCHOLASTIC STANDOUT

Each year the cumulative record of each fifth grade student is reviewed to determine our top ten students and the Scholastic Standout. The criteria for this honor includes: grade point average, good attendance, excellent behavior and strong leadership skills. The committee will also consider the amount of time enrolled inJ.E.B. Stuart ElementaryandRichmond Public Schools.

REPORTING STUDENT PROGRESS

Keeping you informed of your child’s progress is done in several ways during the school year.

  1. Weekly progress reports will be provided for students in first through fifth grades. Students in kindergarten will receive daily progress reports. Read the report and address any concerns with the teacher immediately.
  2. An interim report cardis sent mid-way between each marking period to keep you up to date on your child’s progress. These reports do not become a part of the school record; they are only for your information.
  3. A formal report cardis sent home every nine (9) weeks. A copy of this report does go into your child’s cumulative folder.
  4. In addition to these written reports, severalparent-teacher conference days are scheduled throughout the year for face-to-face talks between you and the teacher. The teacher will have a folder of examples of work that show what your child can do in relation to the objectives for the grade level.
  5. You may also request a conference when you feel the need for one or you may receive a request for a conference from the teacher.

Parent Teacher Conference dates, as well as report card distribution dates can be found on pages 22 and 23 of this handbook.

The Grading Scale for Richmond Public Schools

Kindergarten Grades 1-5

E=Exceeds ExpectationsA= 100-90

S=SatisfactoryB= 89-80

N=Needs More Time to DevelopC= 79-70

U=UnsatisfactoryD= 69-60

F= 59-0

P/F=Pass/Fail

DRESS CODE

Students’ dress and appearance must be neat and conducive to learning.

  • All shoes must be properly laced or fastened.
  • No hats, do rags, bonnets, and/or headbands will be worn in the building.
  • Girls and boys must wear shirts, T-shirts, etc. on the inside of skirts or pants for safety and security reasons.
  • Girls and boys must wear belts to hold their pants up on their waist.
  • No student will be allowed to wear pants hanging below the waist.
  • All coats, jackets hooded sweatshirts and book bags must be placed in the classroom closet.
  • Students should bring a sweater to school because the climate in the classroom is controlled from a central location.
  • Girls and Boys must not wear clogs, flip flops, or strapless sandals.
  • Girls must not wear short shorts or halter tops. All shorts for girls and boys should be no more than three inches above the knee.
  • Girls may wear leggings, however, they must also wear a shirt/blouse that is long enough to cover all appropriate areas.
  • No clothing of a questionable nature will be allowed (profanity, violence, gang related, wrestling moves, etc.)

During the 1992-1993 school year, through the efforts of the Parent-Teacher Association, parents voted to have school uniforms for the students at J.E.B. Stuart.

Again this school year, students and staff are required to participate in the wearing of uniforms on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday of each week. On Tuesday and Thursday of each week students may wear their regular school clothes. Shirts and blouses are always tucked into pants and skirts.

UNIFORM

Shirts and blouses should be white.

Pants and skirts should be navy blue.

We request your help in making the uniform program a success.

J.E.B. STUART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION

J.E.B. Stuart Elementary School has an active PTA, affiliated with the City, State and National PTA. Its primary goals are to serve the students, parents and teachers of J.E.B. Stuart Elementary School through an effective organization. You are urged to become a member of the PTA by sending your dues for adult members. Even if you cannot attend the meetings regularly, your membership helps the PTA to be a strong force for children.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PTA

  1. To promote the welfare of children and youth in the home, school, and community
  2. To raise the standards of life
  3. To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth
  4. To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth
  5. To develop between educators and the general public such unified efforts as well as secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, and spiritual education

The PTA sometimes sponsors fund-raising activities to provide money for school projects. Your participation in these activities means a great deal to the school, but we ask you to bear in mind that state law prohibits any door-to-door solicitation by children. Fund-raising activities should be carried out by adults except where family members are the customers.