Rex-Rennert Elementary School
Rex-Rennert Elementary School
2013-2014
PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK
“Buffalo Pride”
REX-RENNERT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
11780 Rennert Road
OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL Shannon, NC 28386 TELEPHONE: 910/843-5298
“Teaching Today for Tomorrow”
GREETINGS FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Welcome to the 2013 – 2014 school year at Rex-Rennert Elementary School. We are looking forward to working with you and your children. Our goal is to provide students with academic understanding and skills necessary to succeed in a global society. In order to accomplish this goal, parents, students and teachers must collaboratively communicate concerns and questions that relate to the education of our students. Students must take responsibility for doing the work required of them to get a good education. Parents must actively work with students and stress the importance of education and learning.
We believe that our partnership between the school, community, PTA and Advisory Council will allow us to be successful in all our endeavors. There are many goals set that will allow the students at Rex-Rennert Elementary School to reach their potential. Some of these are: improving the technology of our school, increase learning skills through Test Magic, Accelerated Reading/Math Programs, Waterford/Successmaker, classroom libraries, and maintain a positive student environment/attitude.
This handbook has been designed to help you understand Rex-Rennert Elementary School procedures. The handbook explains an outline of various programs and activities. Questions or concerns dealing with our school can be easily found in this handbook. Please use it as a guide as you journey through this 2012-2013 school year.
Should you have additional questions, or concerns please contact me at (910) 843-5298. We invite you to become actively involved with your child’s education and visitations are welcomed!
Sincerely,
Paul N. Locklear, Principal
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF ROBESON
COUNTY MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Public Schools of Robeson County is to educate all students by building a foundation for learning in an ever-changing global society.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF ROBESON
COUNTY STATEMENTS OF BELIEF
Realizing the trust placed in us by the people of Robeson County to educate all students, we set forth the following beliefs:
· Learning is a life-long process.
· High expectations yield higher results.
· Students learn best in a safe and orderly environment.
· Students can and will learn and experience success.
· Students must be active in the learning process.
· All students are unique.
· All students are respected for their self-worth.
· It takes the whole community to educate the student.
· There is a high correlation between effort achievement.
· Healthful living supports the learning process
Rex- Rennert Elementary School
Mission Statement
“Teaching Today For Tomorrow”
VISITORS
All parents/visitors must report to the office before visiting a classroom. Minors or outsiders are not permitted to visit students in classrooms during the day.
ATTENDANCE/TARDINESS
Regular attendance by every student is mandatory. (G.S. 115C-378)
Good Attendance and punctuality is essential to the academic success of students. Though assignments missed can often be made up, much insight is lost when a student misses classroom instruction. The school day begins at 7:30 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. At 8:00 a.m. students are considered tardy and must be signed in at the front office by parent/guardian. To be considered in attendance, a student must be present in the school for at least one half of the school day or at a place other than the school with the approval of the appropriate school official to attend an authorized school activity. These activities include:
1. Field Trips sponsored by school.
2. School-initiated and scheduled activities.
3. Athletic events requiring early dismissal from school.
4. Serving as a page for the governor or legislature.
5. In-school suspension.
6. Attendance at a state or national event approved by the Superintendent.
The number of times that a student misses class for school-sponsored activities should be kept to an absolute minimum. The principal shall closely scrutinize and monitor such absences. Any assignment missed by a student as a result of involvement in school-sponsored activities shall be completed by the student and are due on the day the student returns to class, unless additional time is granted by the classroom teacher.
Ref: NCAE 16-6e 0101 Approved by the Board of Education August 16, 1994
EARLY ARRIVALS
Rex-Rennert Elementary School does not allow students on campus prior to 7:30 a.m.
ABSENCES AND EXCUSES
Regular and punctual patterns of attendance are expected of each student enrolled in the Public Schools of Robeson County.
The Superintendent, principal or teacher shall have the right to excuse a child temporarily from attendance at school due to sickness or other unavoidable cause which does not constitute unlawful absence as defined by the State Board of Education.
According to the Compulsory Attendance Law (G.S. 115C-381) the principal or his/her designee shall notify the parent, guardian, or custodian of their child’s excessive absences after the child has accumulated three (3) unexcused absences in a school year. After not more than six (6) unexcused absences, the principal shall notify the parent, guardian, or custodian by mail that he/she may be in violation of the Compulsory Attendance Law and may be prosecuted if the absences cannot be justified under the established attendance policies of the Board and the State Board of Education. Additionally, after ten (10) accumulated absences, a report shall be sent to the Office of the District Attorney. Once the parents are notified, the school attendance counselor shall work with the child and his family to analyze the causes of the absences and determine steps, including adjustment of the school program or obtaining supplemental services, to eliminate the problem.
In addition to the above process, after ten (10) accumulated unexcused absences in a school year the principal shall review any report or investigation prepared under G.S. 115C-381 and shall confer with the student and his parent, guardian, or custodian, if possible, to determine whether the parent, guardian, or custodian has not, he shall notify the district attorney. If he determines that the parent, guardian, or custodian has, he may file a complaint with the juvenile intake counselor under G.S. 7A-561 that the child is habitually absent from school without a valid excuse.
A. Excused Absences
The following shall continue as valid excuses for the temporary non-attendance of a child at school provided satisfactory evidence of the excuse is provided to the appropriate school official:
1. Illness or injury
2. Quarantine
3. Death in the Immediate Family – For purposes of this regulation, the immediate family of a child includes but is not necessarily limited to, grandparents, parents, brothers, and sisters.
4. Medical or Dental Appointments, Court or Administrative Proceedings
5. Religious Observances – An absence may be excused if the tenets of a religion to which a child or his parent adhere require or suggest the observance of a religious event not to exceed five days.
6. Educational Opportunity – An absence may be excused when it is demonstrated that the purpose of the absence is to take advantage of a valid educational opportunity, such as travel. Approval for such an absence must be gained prior to the absence.
a. Such trips normally would not include absence for: hunting, fishing, visiting-relatives, going to beaches, shopping, skiing, subsequent trips to same area, attending athletic events, etc.
b. All students in grades five and above shall provide the principal with a full agenda of any planned trips prior to approval of the trip.
c. All students in grades five and above shall maintain a daily diary and submit a written report t the principal upon return. The report may include brochures, pictures, etc.
d. Written approval to excuse an absence for any trip shall be requested by the parent.
If a student is absent for any reason, a written statement from the parent, guardian, or other acceptable documentation of such absence shall be submitted to the principal or designee upon return to school. The absence may be excused and the student permitted to make up all graded work missed. Class work missed due to absence will normally be turned in within five (5) days of the student’s return to class unless additional time is granted by the teacher.
B. Unexcused Absences
All absences for reasons other than those defined above shall be considered as an unexcused absence.
C. Excessive Absences
Anytime a student is absent for three days or less and without a valid excuse, the principal or designee shall notify the appropriate school attendance counselor who shall investigate the cause of the absence and report such to the principal and Superintendent or designee. Legal Ref.: G. S. 115c-381
D. Written Excuse
All excuses for absence must be written and signed by the student’s parent. Forged parental signatures shall result in further disciplinary action against the student.
E. Homebound
For attendance purposes, the students served by the homebound teacher shall be considered as the student’s presence in school and shall be coded as a student in school.
F. Class Roll
The teacher will check their class roll and sign excuses each period.
G. Tardiness to Class
A student who is tardy to class shall be answerable to the classroom teacher. When tardiness becomes a disruptive factor to classroom instruction, the problem shall be referred to principal.
H. Elementary School Level
Matters relating to students absences at the elementary school level shall be the responsibility of the homeroom teacher. Problem cases shall be referred to the principal.
I. Appeals Procedure
1. Students/parents in grades K-12 may appeal absences to a committee made up of the principal, homeroom teacher, and guidance counselor. The Appeals procedure is not optional for schools and is not replaced by Saturday Academy in grades 9-12.
2. A student absent from school on his/her return to school furnish a written excuse from the parent, guardian, or doctor stating the dates and reason for absences.
3. After three (3) consecutive or five (5) accumulated absences in a semester, the principal may require a written doctor’s excuse for any additional absences.
4. A written excuse shall be submitted to the principal upon return to school.
5. In grades K-8, absences in excess of ten (10) days constitute a valid reason for retention.
6. A student who is tardy to school must sign in through the school office. A late admission slip will be issued to the child by the principal or his/her designee.
7. For attendance purposes, the minimal instructional day will be five and one-half hours. However, in order for a child to be counted present, he/she must complete three (3) hours instructional time.
8. The student served by the homebound teacher shall be considered the same as students in school and shall be counted present.
9. Students who forfeit credit through absences may appeal their cases to the appeals board. Appeals may be made for the following reasons:
1. Bad weather causing the bus not to transport the student to school.
2. Extended illness with a statement from a doctor verifying that the illness and necessary care exceeded ten days K-8.
3. Hospitalization for an injury which prevented the student to miss school for more than ten days.
4. Conditions in the home which required the student to miss school. The parents must appear before the appeals board to justify these absences.
5. Prearranged absences relating to religious holiday and retreats.
10. No student shall be excused for outside activities, such as music lessons, dancing lessons, etc. because of the required minimum length of the school day.
Legal Ref.: G.S. 115C-378
Early Dismissal
All parents or legal guardians requesting early release of a child prior to the normal dismissal time must sign for the child in the school office at which time the principal or his/her designee will summon the student to the office. Parents may not pick up a child at the classroom. Excessive requests for early dismissal shall be handled in the same fashion as excessive absences.
Emergency School Closing
When school must be canceled or delayed as a result of weather condition, an announcement will be made through media. Unless an announcement is made, schools will be open. Most announcements are delivered to the media by 6:00 a.m. You should listen to your local television and/or radio stations for an announcement. Usually, the following radio and television stations will announce school delays and closings for inclement weather.
WECT-TV Channel 6 WTVD-TV Channel 11 WBTW-TV Channel 13 WRAL-TV 5
WWAY-TV Channel 3 WAGR 1340-FM Lumberton WJSK 102.3 Lumberton
BOMB THREAT OR HOAX
Any student will not, by any means of communication make a report, knowing or having reason to know the report is false, that there is located on any school premises a devise designed to cause damage or destruction by explosion, blasting or burning. No student shall place on any school premises, with the intent of perpetrating a hoax, any device which would appear to a reasonable person to be a bomb or similar instrument capable of causing injury or damage.
First Offense: Recommendation for long-term suspension Legal Re. G.S. 14-692. 115C-391
Student Book Bags
The 1997-1998 General Assembly enacted legislation General Statute 115C-46, which involves Safe School Planning. At the beginning of eh 1998-1999 school year, each school generated a Safe School Plan that does involve all sectors of the community and work toward the goal of providing a safe and orderly environment for all students, faculty and staff. Effective January 1, 2000, students are required to have school bags that are clear or nylon mesh only.
Care of textbooks, library books, computer equipment and etc.
Students are responsible for all textbooks and library books issued to them during the school year. All lost or damaged books must be paid for. All monies collected are recorded by the school treasurer and paid to the proper fund for replacement purposes. If a lost book is found, money will be refunded.
BUSES
Conduct while riding the bus must be exemplary. Each student is specifically prohibited from using obscene language, exposing obscene literature, or exposing obscene pictures on a bus. Each student is specifically prohibited from carrying or possessing on a bus any explosives, firearms, knives, sharp instrument, or other weapons of this nature.