John James Audubon Elementary School

JOHN JAMES AUDUBON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Bernard Tassin
Principal
200 West Loyola Drive
Kenner, LA 70065
FAX: (504) – 464-1901
Telephone: (504) - 466-0525
Child Care (504) – 466-0526
SCHOOL HOURS 9:00 A.M. – 3:50 P.M.
MISSION STATEMENT
The Audubon Elementary community will provide all students developmentally appropriate and challenging instruction that promotes life-long learning and creates productive citizens.
STUDENT HANDBOOK 2008-2009

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

It is with great pleasure that we take this opportunity to welcome you to John James Audubon Elementary School. The faculty and staff join me in saying we’re happy to have you as part of the Audubon Family. We are extremely proud of the programs we offer our students, and we encourage you to make the most of your time with us. We hope this will be a successful and satisfying year for you.

Whether you are joining us for the first time or have been with us for a number of years, we encourage you to become an active participant here at Audubon. In an addition to providing an excellent academic foundation, Audubon Elementary is a Title I school which is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Our “commitment to excellence” is our promise to you and our expectation of every student.

This agenda/student handbook has been developed by our faculty and administration in an effort to help you learn as much as possible about school policies and procedures and the services we offer students. We ask that you check the agenda on a daily basis. You should see what homework assignments have been given and any messages from your child’s teacher. There is also a comment section for parents, which we encourage you to use. We hope this agenda will improve your child’s organizational skills. In addition, we feel that the handbook will serve as a helpful reference for parents as they seek to provide academic support at home. Audubon Elementary’s parents are our partners in the important job of educating the children.

Audubon is governed by state and federal law and by all JPPSS policy guidelines. Please refer to the Procedures & Policies for Parents & Students issued each year. This booklet is sent home with your child at the beginning of the year. Parents must sign the first page & promptly return it to school.

We welcome your participation and support during the school year and solicit your membership in the P.F.O. Working together, we will be able to reach our collective and individual goals. It is the intent of the faculty to lead students toward being disciplined, productive, informed, and fulfilled individuals. To achieve these ideas, mutual respect and understanding must be present in the learning process on the part of all participants-the faculty, students, and parents.

We look forward to this school year with great excitement and hope all of our students will have a rewarding and successful year.

SCHOOL HOURS: 9:00 – 3:50

Students may not arrive before 8:45 a.m.

1. First bell rings at 9:00 a.m. At 9:05 students are considered tardy.
2. Kindergarten students and walkers are dismissed at 3:40 p.m.
3. Bus students, car riders and child care students are dismissed at 3:50 p.m.

ATTENDANCE

Students are expected to be in school except in cases of emergency, illness, or school-approved absences. If your child is absent, please do the following:

1. Call school before 10:00 to report the absence.
2. Send a parent note to the homeroom teacher stating date(s) and reason for the absence.
3. A doctor’s statement is required for the absence to be excused.

A student who has seventeen (17) or more unexcused absences for the year may not be promoted to the next grade.

1. Make immediate plans to do all makeup work. Failure to do so may be reflected in student grades.
2. If absences are due to work, travel or some other reason, parent or guardian should notify the principal prior to the absence.

TARDY POLICY

If your child arrives to school after the 9:05 bell, a parent/adultmust come in to the office to check the student in. You will be asked the reason for the lateness of the child. Consequences are as follows:

1st - 4th tardy to school – WARNING

5th tardy to school –LETTER sent home

10th tardy to school – UPC Suspension

CHECK-OUT PROCEDURES

1. If a student leaves campus during theschool day, parents must check him/herout in the office. (The person checkingstudent out must be named on theemergency card.)

2. Parents are encouraged to make dentaland medical appointments after schoolhours.

3.Students are not to be checked outafter 2:30 p.m. unless an emergencyarises. Make arrangements for how yourchild will go home before coming to school.

4. Keep the Emergency Card updatedincluding cell phones and beepers.Report ALLchanges promptly and in person to theoffice.The school must be notified promptly ofchanges in address, phone, or persons allowed to sign out or pick up your child.

5. If necessary to send a taxi for the child,the parent/guardian must notify theoffice giving the name of the taxi serviceand also giving the school verbalpermission to release the child to thetaxi service. The taxi service must sign the sign out book with the name andnumber of the cab.

THE SCHOOL WILL NOT RELEASE YOUR CHILD TO ANYONE UNLESS HE/SHE IS SO DESIGNATED ON THE EMERGENCY CARD.

BUS REGULATIONS

Students who come to school on the bus MUST return home on the bus to which they are assigned.

Rules and policies of the school also apply while waiting for and riding the bus. Only regularly scheduled bus students are to ride the school buses to which they are assigned.

Bus students are to always ride their assigned bus unless a note is sent from the parent requesting otherwise and it is approved by the other bus driver and the principal. The note is subject to verification by the school, thus it must be signed by the parent and include both the home and work phone numbers of the parent. This note must be presented to an administrator for approval before 12:00 noon.

CAR POOL

Please drop off and pick up car rider students in theWentwood Playground parking lot at the rear of the school.

DO NOT stop along the sidewalk or in the middle of any street to drop off or pick up your child. This is a very hazardous practice. DO NOT DROP OFF AT MILSAPS AND W. LOYOLA DR.

Parents of students who walk to school are asked not to go to the classrooms without signing in at the office and securing a Visitor’s Pass.

At afternoon dismissal, please do not enter the campus to pick up your child unless you follow the safety policies

Read and follow the Traffic Plan that will be sent to you at the beginning of the school year. It reinforces items in this section.

SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY

PARENTS: FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR CHLD, PLEASE ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING SCHOOL RULES:

CARPOOL DRIVERS: DO NOT ALLOW YOUR CHILD TO GET OUT OF A CAR IN THE WENTWOOD PLAYGROUND PARKING LOT AT THE REAR OF THE SCHOOL IN ORDER TO WALK INTO THE BACK GATE. OTHER CAR DRIVERS ARE MOVING AND A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD OCCUR. WE CANNOT OPEN THE GATE BEFORE 8:45 A.M. THE CARPOOL LINE MOVES QUICKLY AND IF EVERYONE IS PATIENT, WE CAN GET THE JOB DONE.

In the Wentwood Playground parking lot, there shouldbeNO PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC between

8:30 – 9:15 a.m. and 3:15 – 4:00 p.m.

THE WALKER’S GATE AT THE FRONT OF THE SCHOOL IS FOR THE STUDENTS WHO MUST WALK HOME.DO NOT USE THE FRONT WALKER’S AREA AS A CARPOOL PICK-UP.

CAFETERIA

A well-balanced meal is provided at breakfast and lunch. In order to qualify for free or reduced meals, federal guidelines require that the proper forms be completed. Prices for 08-09

Cost: Breakfast: Full Pay $1.00

Reduced Pay 30 cents

Lunch: Full Pay $1.50

Reduced Pay 40 cents

EXTRA MILK .50 cents

Students will be giving lunch ID cards and MUST have them each day. One card will be issued, lost cards will cost $5.00. Any student attempting to use an unauthorized card may be suspended.

Student behavior in the dining room should be basedon courtesy, good manners, and cleanliness.

Students are not permitted to bring any snack foods, fast foods or soft drinks into the cafeteria. Students are to remain in the cafeteria until they are dismissed. Running is NOT permitted in the cafeteria.

No food, drink, napkins, straws, forks/spoons, etc. which is issued by the cafeteria may be taken out of the cafeteria.

TRANSFERRING TO ANOTHER SCHOOL

A parent or guardian must appear in person to withdraw a child from Audubon and to request a transfer form to another school. NO RECORDS will be issued or forwarded to another school unless all student indebtedness has been satisfied and all books have been returned to the school.

Please give 3 days notice for a transfer request.

LOST AND FOUND

All articles found are to be turned in to the office or nearest teacher. Small items (keys, glasses, purses) that have been turned in are kept in the office. Jackets, sweatshirts that have been found are kept in the Lost and Found box in the cafeteria. The school is not responsible for private property on school grounds. Any student found in possession of a lost or stolen article that does not belong to them will be disciplined.

MARKING PERSONAL PROPERTY

In order to assist in the recovery of lost or stolen items it is necessary that all students mark their property where it can be easily seen. Coats, book bags, binders, notebooks, books and other articles should be clearly marked with the student’s name.

PARENTAL CONFERENCES

For appointments with teachers, please send a note to the teacher requesting a conference. If you need to see an administrator, please call the office at466-0525, to schedule an appointment.

If you have a concern, please contact the teacher first. If the problem is not resolved, then call the administration.

EMERGENCY DRILLS

Audubon holds regular drills to teach students to respond calmly in the event of an emergency. Fire drills are conducted on a monthly basis and tornado drills are conducted each semester. Crisis plan drills may also be conducted.

Evacuation plans are posted inside each classroom and other appropriate areas. Each class has an escape route to an outside area a safe distance from the building. During tornado drills each classroom goes to a designated area within the building until the all clear is sounded.

We also have a school safety plan which was developed and is implemented for our school. In the event of emergency closing of school or early dismissal of students from school, announcements will be made over the news media regarding this decision. WWL-870 a.m. has been selected as the official radio station to carry announcements from the Superintendent regarding school closings.

ASBESTOS

We have asbestos floor tile, which is reviewed monthly by the principal and plant manager.

NO problems have been noted and it is considered to be in safe condition. This is in compliance with PUBLIC LAW 99-519.

Monthly updates appear in our school newsletter.

CARE OF SCHOOL PROPERTY

Audubon is our school! We are all responsible for keeping it clean and neat at all times. If you see anyone damaging or defacing it, please report him/her to the office (or the police if after school hours.)

MESSAGES

Telephone

We do not call students out of class for phone calls. We will take an important message and give it to a child. Only in a bona fide emergency will a student be called from the classroom.

HOMEWORK

Homework is a vital part of the learning process. It is an extension of classwork. It provides reinforcement and additional practice of the fundamentals being taught and relates directly to the mastery of a subject. Each grade level will send home homework information regarding that grade level.Please help your child develop good homework habits and monitor his/her work.

ACCIDENTS AND ILLNESSES

If a student becomes too ill to remain in class, we will reach you by phone and request that you come to school and pick up your child. If your child is ill, please do not send him/her to school.If your child has a contagious disease or condition, such as pink eye, chickenpox, ringworm, impetigo (Indian fire,) he/she will be sent home and must remain home until a physician’sstatement is sent to school.

If a child is sent home with pediculosis (head lice or nits) he/she may not return to school until the condition has been treated, all nits removed, and the form signed stating what kind of shampoo was used.

It is very important that we have an updated, working phone number so that we may contact you in case of an emergency.

Students are to immediately report to the teacher or the administrativeoffice anyaccidents or illnesses. If the student is ill, parent/guardian will be contacted immediately.. If parent/guardian cannot be reached then the person(s) designated on the Emergency Card will be notified. Arrangements will be made with the parent/guardian/designee to officially sign the student out for the day. No student will be dismissed unless a parent/guardian/adult designee comes to pick up the student.

PLEASE KEEP YOUR CHILD’S EMERGENCY CARD UPDATED!

No pupil who is feeling ill may leave campus without following the above procedure. Failure to comply with this regulation will be interpreted as truancy.

If a student has a chronic condition of which we should be aware, the parent must put it in writing along with a doctor’s certificate. These must be turned in to the office within five (5) days of registering or at the beginning of the illness.

In order for an absence to be excused, the parent must provide a verification of illness from a medical doctor and/or verification of extenuating circumstances within five (5) school days of the absence. Death in family must be verified with a death notice/program to be excused.

AN ORIGINAL (NOT A PHOTOCOPY) DOCTOR’S CERTIFICATE IS MANDATORY FOR A STUDENT TO BE EXCUSED FROM SCHOOL AND/OR PHYSICAL EDUCATION.AUTHORIZATION FOR FILMING AND INTERVIEWING

Throughout the year, we will have filming and interviewing done by T.V., newspaper media or to use on our website.If you DO NOT give your permission for your child to participate, you MUST send a letter to the principal stating that you DO NOT give permission and this will be kept on file for the current school year. A new letter must be submitted each year.

TEXTBOOKS/ LIBRARY BOOKS

Textbooks MUST BE COVERED and are to be kept clean and handled carefully. If textbooks/library books are lost or damaged, parents will be responsible to pay for them at full replacement cost.

LIBRARY: The library has books, magazines, and pamphlets for assigned study and recreational reading. It is open for use during the entire day. A fine of five (5) cents per day for each overdue book or material will be charged. Disciplinary action may be taken for any student who continually fails to return overdue library books.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

A copy of the supply list for each grade level was sent home in the report card at the end of the school year. It was also given out at registration. Additional copies are available in the office. Each student should come to school prepared with the necessary school supplies.

Please mark child’s name on supplies.

REMEMBER TO HAVE YOUR SCHOOL SUPPLIES EACH DAY.

REPORT CARDS/ INTERIM REPORTS

Report cards are distributed every nine (9) weeks. Letter grades of A, B, C, D, and F reflect their performance against grade level requirements.

Students are retained if they do not pass basic skill objectives at their grade level according to the JPPSS Promotional Policies. Interim Progress Reports will be issued during each grading period to those students who need them.Interim Reports and report card jackets must be signed by the parent or guardianand returned to the homeroom teacher. A discipline referral may be written by the teacher if a student fails to return the signed report card jacket or interim report.

DRESS CODE

Audubon Elementary School has a MANDATORY school uniform policy. Uniforms are to be worn every day and on field trips. JEANS ARE NOT ALLOWED AT ANY TIME.

1. BOYS – Navy Blue long pants or shorts, Audubon’s red tee or red polo shirt with Audubon’s logo, Audubon’s red field day/fun run shirt.

GIRLS – Navy Blue skirt, pants, jumper or shorts/skorts. Audubon’s red tee or red polo shirt with Audubon’s logo, Audubon’s red field day/fun run shirt.

1. Red, navy blue or white sweaters may be worn.
2. For cool weather, students may wear navy blue sweat pants and navy blue or red sweatshirt with their red uniform shirt underneath.
3. Student should wear tennis shoes and white socks every day. Hard sole shoes CANNOT be worn in the gym. Backless shoes ARENOT permitted.

5.Nylon jogging pants are prohibited.

1. PANTS ARE TO BE WORN WITH ABELT AT THE WAIST.. SHIRTS ARETO BE TUCKED IN SO THAT BELTLOOPS/WAISTBANDS ARE VISIBLE..

7. In the interest of child safety,BAGGIE/OVERSIZED PANTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.