Little Elementary School Student Handbook
ABSENCES
Please be sure to call the school (682-867-3300) by 10am whenever your child(ren) will beabsent from school. Reasons for excused absences can be found in the AISD Code of Conductbook available online at It is imperative to remember that excessive absencescan/may result in retention. In addition, please be aware that 5 tardies in the same semesterwill result in administrative action.
ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
Our front doors open at 7:45 am for all students. Please do not drop your child off before 7:45,since supervision is not provided. All students will go directly to the cafeteria if they arrive before 8:05. At 8:05, students are dismissed by grade level from the cafeteria to walk to class.
Students are expected to be in their seats and ready to learn at 8:20am.
ATTENDANCE
Research shows a strong correlation between good attendance and high academic achievement. We encourage and promote good attendance for all Little students. Please review the AISDStudent Code of Conduct for further attendance information.
BEFORE/AFTER SCHOOL CARE
Tarrant County Kids uses the Little gym for after-school supervision. For more information please call 817-468-0306 or visit
BIRTHDAYS/INVITATIONS
Birthdays are recognized daily on the morning announcements. If you should desire to sendflowers, balloons, etc…to the school, please keep in mind that these items will be held inthe office until the end of the day. If you wish to bring a treat for the class, the treat must bestore bought, should not contain peanuts, and the classroom teacher should be notified in advance. Please be mindful thatlunch is not allowed to be provided for the entire class. Birthday celebrations are to be keptminimal to a cookie or other treat. Invitations which are handed out at school must includeevery child in the classroom. All other invitations must be mailed.
BULLYING
Bullying is when a student or group of students engages in
written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or
physical conduct that occurs on school property, at a school-sponsored or
school-related activity, or in a vehicle operated by the district and a school
district’s Board of Trustees or the Board’s designee determines that the
behavior: defined as engaging in physical conduct and/or written or verbal
expression that the district determines: (1) has the effect or will have the
effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or
placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or of
damage to the student’s property; or (2) is to be sufficiently severe,
persistent, and or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an
intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for a student.
This conduct is considered bullying if it: (1) Exploits an imbalance of power
between the student perpetrator who is engaging in bullying and the
student victim through the written or verbal expression or physical
conduct; and (2) Interferes with a student’s education or substantially 88
disrupts the operation of a school.
Bullying will not be tolerated and should be reported to theassistant principal immediately. Refer to the AISD Student Code of Conduct for moreinformation.
BUSING
Buses are provided for eligible students at Little Elementary. Please call the transportationdepartment for that information. Field trips will be planned for the school year that willinvolve AISD buses. Students will be expected to follow all bus conduct rules while on fieldtrips. Refer to the website for more information
BYOT
Bring Your Own Technology information and Student Guidelines are available on the AISDwebsite.
CHOIR
All 4th-6thgrade students have the opportunity to participate in the before-school choirprogram at Little. For more information, please contact Little’s music teacher, Ms. Johnson.
CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT/DISCIPLINE
We believe in a firm, fair, and consistent method of school discipline based on Positive Behavior Intervention Supports. It is our belief that byworking together as partners, we can have minimal classroom disruptions. We strive to haveour students focused on learning, and to accomplish this, we need the support of parents inmaintaining high discipline standards for our students. A cooperative effort on the part of thestudents, teachers, parents, and administrators can achieve this goal. The key to maintaininggood discipline management is communication. We will work diligently to have a goodrapport with parents and communicate effectively.
CLINIC
The school nurse or trained assistant will be taking care of your child during any illness orinjury that occurs at school.
Your child must be kept home when:
1. Child has a temperature of 100 degrees or higher. *
2. Child has diarrhea or vomiting.
3. Child has rash of unknown origin.
4. Child has red, runny eyes or wakes up with eyes “glued” shut.
5. Child complains of ear pain with or without fever.
*A student with a fever of 100 degrees or more MUST be sent home. Students need to be fever
free for 24 hours without a fever reducer before returning to school.
Medications will be given under the following conditions:
1. Specific written requests are signed by a physician and parent.
2. Medication must be in the original container.
3. No medications can be kept in class.
Please keep emergency phone numbers current in the clinic. Your child may need you.
CONFERENCING
Parents are encouraged to conference with school staff as needed. Please contact the school toschedule all conferences. Please do not ask teachers to conference at the start of class or during the dismissal of students. It is the duty of the teacher to promptly begin classinstruction when the tardy bell rings. Please call the office or email the teacher to schedule aconference.
CONFIDENTIALITY STATEMENT
The Arlington Independent School District, in accordance with the Family Educational Rightsand Privacy Act (“FERPA”), restricts access to protected student records as required by law.
Directory information on students will be released upon request without a parent’s consent,unless the parent elects in writing to restrict directory information. The forms on whichparents can indicate their selection are sent home each year.
COUNSELING
Little is staffed with a licensed school counselor who provides classroom guidance, meetsstudent’s needs in small group setting, or individualized sessions as needed. Please contact theoffice to speak to the counselor.
CURRICULUM
Little teachers will utilize the state-adopted TEKS curriculum. Every school in the AISD usesthe same curriculum to ensure continuity across the district. For more information, contactyour child’s teacher, assistant principal or principal.
DRESS CODE
A student’s conduct is related to his/her clothing. Therefore, the school is directly concernedwith students’ clothing. The appropriateness of a student’s clothing for the school environmentshould dictate the choice of clothing and grooming practices on each given day.
All students are expected to adhere to common practices of modesty, cleanliness and neatness;to dress in a respectful manner within the acceptable standards of the community and in such amanner as to contribute to the academic atmosphere, not detract from it. Students who fail to
comply with this dress code may be sent home and may be subject to disciplinary actions.
Any clothing, accessories, symbols, jewelry or other paraphernalia, which depicts or suggestsassociation with a gang, secret society or fraternity, shall not be brought to school, worn atschool or in any way be present at any school-sponsored event. When helping your child dress,please remember that 4 year olds are present on our campus, and t-shirts should not depictsymbols that might be frightening to them.
Any other considerations will be determined by the individual school administrators. Theschool administration shall have the right to consider any current fashion to determine itsacceptability for school wear.
Clarification regarding apparel should be obtained prior to wearing it to school; this can beobtained from the school administration. Students in violation of this policy will be subject todisciplinary action as determined by the school’s administration.
Teachers are charged with the responsibility of enforcing student dress code in their classes aswell as on campus. Administrators and other school personnel share the same responsibility.
Teachers shall follow building procedure for discipline referral regarding dress code violations.
No attempt will be made to dictate fashion styles as long as they are in keeping with districtpolicies. It should be noted, however, that it is the responsibility of the student and parent thatthe student adhere to the dress code, as follows:
1. General
a. Any clothing, jewelry or accessories with decorations, patches, lettering
advertisements, etc. that may be considered obscene or offensive are not to be
worn to school. This includes any clothing, jewelry or accessories having
criminal street gang identifiers, accessories that may be used as weapons, and
accessories having drug, sex, tobacco, or alcoholic beverage references or
designs.
b. Form fitting garments such as Spandex may only be worn with another layer ofclothing, which meets the dress code.
2. Shirts and Blouses
a. Crop tops, tube tops, halters and spaghetti straps are unacceptable. (Anything
less than two inches is considered a spaghetti strap.) Strapless dresses without
jackets are unacceptable.
b. The display of cleavage is unacceptable. Low cut blouses, tops, sweaters, etc.
with plunging necklines are not allowed.
c. The length of an untucked shirt must be no longer than the tip of the longest
finger with the student’s hand fully extended down the side of the student’s leg.
d. Transparent and/or see-through material is considered unacceptable.
e. Shirts/tops must touch the waist of pants/skirts at all times (i.e.,when in
movement, when arms are extended or raised, and when in seated position, etc.)
f. A boy’s shirt should cover the entire crown of the shoulder.
3. Dresses, Skirts, Skorts
a. The length of a skirt/dress/skort must be a minimum of half the distance
between the fingertips and the top of the knee when the student’s hand is fully
extended down the side of the student’s leg.
b. When measuring skirts, dresses or skorts that have slits, the length will be
determined by measuring from the top of the slit.
4. Shorts
a. The minimum length of shorts must be no shorter than the tip of the longest
finger with student’s hand fully extended down the side of the student’s leg.
5. Pants
a. Torn, cut/slashed or frayed material that reveals any area of skin or
undergarment is considered inappropriate.
b. No pajama bottoms, sleepwear or lounge wear.
6. Sagging Pants
a. Students shall wear their trousers or overalls properly at the waist.
b. No sagging.
7. Accessories
a. All students must wear shoes at all times. Students participating in physical
education class shall wear athletic footwear to participate. House shoes and flipflopsare not acceptable for physical education. Heelies are not acceptable on
campus at any time.
b. Hair should be kept neat, clean and reasonably styled. Mohawks taller than 1 inch are not permitted. Hair should not be a distraction to the learning environment.
c. Any type of head covering is unacceptable.
d. Religious exceptions must be cleared by the principal.
e. Proper undergarments should be worn but not visible.
f. Facial hair should be neat, clean, closely trimmed and not be a distraction to the
learning environment.
g. Chains or spiked jewelry are unacceptable.
h. Campus Administration will determine the appropriateness of all piercings,
gauging, and mouth “grillz” for school.
EARLY PICKUP
If you need to pick up your child early, you must check them out in the office. In addition, we ask that you keepearly pick-ups to a minimum. It is crucial that students remain in class for instructionalpurposes. Students will wait in their classrooms until you arrive to pick them up.
EMERGENCY CONTACT
Although it happens infrequently, emergency situations do sometimes occur. Please be surethat our office has current, updated contact numbers to call in case of an emergency.
ENROLLMENT
In order to complete the enrollment process, by state law, we must have the followingdocumentation on file for each student:
1. Proof of residence: current lease agreement, purchase agreement or utility bill (gas,electric, water)
2. Social security card
3. Shot records
4. Birth certificate (for K students)
5. Last report card for grades 1-6
6. Any withdrawal form from the prior school
Please note that throughout the year you may be asked to provide current proof of residence.
If at any time during the school year your phone number changes, please contact the schooloffice with the new number.
FIELD TRIPS
Approved AISD field trips are part of the curriculum. Students will take field trips throughoutthe school year. Parents will be notified prior to any scheduled field trips. Any parent orguardian wishing to attend a field trip must be an approved volunteer.
§504 Child Find Notice
Pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the District has a duty to identify,refer, evaluate and if eligible, provide a free, appropriate public education to disabled students.
For additional information about the rights of parents of eligible children, or for answers to anyquestions you might have about identification, evaluation and placement into Section 504programs, please contact the District’s Section 504 Coordinator, Linda Rodgers (682-867-7465 or by email at
FREE/REDUCED LUNCH
The Arlington ISD participates in the federal school lunch program based on householdincome. If you feel your child(ren) would benefit from this program, please contact the school. Confidentiality will be maintained.
GIFTED/TALENTED PROGRAM
Little Elementary recognizes students who demonstrate learning abilities that are categorizedas “gifted” according to AISD policy. We have a staff member who serves as the G/T programliaison and works with teachers and staff to ensure that students who qualify are recognizedand appropriate intervention strategies are utilized. For more information, contact our schoolcounselor.
LUNCH & PARENTS
Parents are welcome to enjoy lunch with their child, during their child’s lunch time, whilesitting at the visitor’s table. Parents are not permitted to invite other children to sit with themat the visitors table. In addition, parents should respect the 30 minute lunch block and be suretheir children have finished lunch and are walking independently with their class back to theclassroom. If you desire your child to sit with another adult during lunch time, please send asigned note to your child’s teacher giving permission. We do not allow other children to sitwith adults who are not legal guardians without parent permission.
Parents are not permitted to eat lunch with their child during state assessments.
MEAL PRICES
The meal prices for the 2014-15 school year are:
Breakfast*:
Students $1.25 Reduced .30
Lunch*:
Students $2.35 Reduced .40
In the event that your child does not bring any money for school lunch, the AISD Food Service
Department will provide a “short meal”. * Prices are subject to change
To contact the Food Nutrition Service Department for AISD, you can visit their website at:
or call (682) 867.7880.
NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
The Arlington Independent School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,age, national origin, religion, or disability in educational programs, admissions/enrollmentdecisions or activities which it operates, as required by Title VI, Title IX, Title II and Section504.
OFFICE HOURS
Little’s office hours are:
7:50-4:20 Monday-Friday
Phone: 682-867-3300
Fax: 817-492-3305
Web:
ORCHESTRA
Fifth and Sixth grade students at Little have the opportunity to participate in the school’sorchestra program. For more information about this program, please Mrs. Lemin.
PARENT INVOLVEMENT
Parents are valued stakeholders and play a critical role in the school community. Support forour school can come in many different forms; it is not necessarily only volunteering your timeto run copies. There is significant research that shows parent involvement as the number one
predictor of academic success for children. Get involved with your child’s education today. Wevalue you and welcome you to share in the experience of educating our youth for tomorrow’ssuccess. Please remember that in order to be a school volunteer, you must first be on theapproved volunteer list. For more information go online to or contact our office.
PARENT SELF-SERVE
This system provides access to your child's attendance and grades. If you have more than onechild enrolled in AISD, only register once to gain access to all of your children’s data. Once youcomplete the registration, go to the school of the child you registered, show a photo ID andcomplete your authorization. After the school authorizes your account you will be able to see all
of your children’s data. Register with the first and last name you have on file with the district. You must also use the student's legal name to register. Additionally, you will need the student's ID number to register; this is the student's cafeteria number which can be found on ProgressReports or Report Cards. Instructions for registering and using the Parent Self Serve can be
found at
PTA
Little’s PTA is committed to its mission of providing the very best support for the entireLittle community. We encourage all our parents to join the PTA. The annual dues are only $7.00 per person.
To find out how to join the Little PTA, please contact the school or visit their website at-
You can also follow the Little PTA on Facebook!
PRE-KINDERGARTEN
LittleElementary offers a half-day program for students who will be at least four (4) years old
by September 1. This program is for students who qualify in one of two areas: family income or
language. Additionally, active duty military are eligible for this program.For more information on this program, please visit and click on thePre-Kindergarten Registration Tab on the left.
PROGRESS REPORTS
Progress reports are sent out to parents of all students after the 3rd week of each grading period. Thiscommunication tool allows parents to monitor their child’s progress in each academic subjectarea. Questions about your child’s progress should be directed to his/her classroom teacher. ProgressReports must be signed and returned to the homeroom teacher.