JohnsCreek Elementary

2013-2014

Student-Parent

Handbook

Welcome to Johns Creek Elementary, home of the Jaguars. Our dedicated and highly trained faculty and our PTA board, work collaboratively to provide a challenging, structured, engaging, and enjoyable learning environment for our students. We are committed to providing a professional learning community that embraces high academic standards, character development, leadership skills, and social skills. Our policies, procedures, and school rules are based on what we believe are best for our students.

You will find Johns Creek Elementary a very special place because of the large number of parent and community volunteers as well as Partners in Education who donate their time to support our school. These volunteers, community members, Partners in Education, and our faculty members model the same values and standards expected of our students. In addition, we have several mentors who contribute a great deal to our learning environment.

The Johns Creek faculty and administrative team welcome you to the 2013-2014 school year. We look forward to working together throughout the school year to make Johns Creek Elementary the best!

Alyssa Degliumberto, Principal

JohnsCreekElementary School

JohnsCreekElementary School

Vision, Mission, and Belief Statements

Vision:
Challenging and Engaging Learning for All

Mission:

The mission of JohnsCreekElementary School is to create a safe, vibrant, and supportive community where everyone is actively engaged in the learning process.

Belief Statements:

We believe…

every attempt should be made to maintain the dignity of both adults and students at all times.

all educators must routinely collaborate to make certain the work designed for our students reflects differentiation and addresses a variety of learning styles to meet the needs of all students.

a positive relationship and consistent communication with all stakeholders enhances our students’ learning.

accountability for all stakeholders, contained within a safe yet challenging and engaging environment, results in the acceleration and lasting acquisition of knowledge and skills.

students should know their decisions determine their achievements and their consequences.

students should be guided in their decision making processes.

students should be given the opportunity to make decisions and live with the results whether the consequences are good or bad.

poor choices and misbehavior should be viewed as an opportunity for individual problem solving and preparation for the real world.

all stakeholders should follow the Forsyth CountyCode of Conduct.

L.C. (Buster) Evans, Superintendent

Ann Crow (District 1)

Kristin Morrissey (District 2)

Tom Cleveland (District 3)

Darla Light (District 4), Board Chairperson

Nancy Roche (District 5), Vice Chairperson

Main Phone: 770-887-2461

Transportation Phone: 770-888-1234

Email:

Website:

Johns Creek Elementary School

6205 Old Atlanta Road

Suwanee, Georgia 30024

Phone: 678-965-5041

Fax: 678-475-1725

Alyssa Degliumberto, Principal

Barbara Clement, Assistant Principal

Counselors:…………………………………………………………………………Onalee Flynn

……………………………………………………………………………………….Rachel Langley

School Nurse:……………………………………………………………………….Pat Klosinski

Lunchroom Manager:………………………………………………………………Ellen LaChat

Head Custodian:……………………………………………………………………Martha Cox

All staff members may be reached by telephone or email. For a complete list of numbers and/or addresses, refer to the school web page.

School Colors...... Blue and Gold

August 6 8
19
20
28 / Open House
First Day of School
Curriculum Night (K, 2, 4) / PTA Mtg.
Curriculum Night (1, 3, 5) / PTA Mtg.
Early Release Day/Prof. Dev. (Students Released at 12:30 p.m.)
September2
13
17
18
27 / Labor Day (No School)
All Pro Dads & Lambert / Elementary School Spirit Night
Fall Pictures
Early Release Day/Prof. Dev. (Students Released at 12:30p.m.)
PTA: Fun Run Event
October3
4
14
16-17
18 / New Family Brunch with Dr. Evan, Superintendent – Guest Speaker
Fun Run (Rain Date)
Reflections Gallery / Book Fair / PTA
Parent Conference, Early Release (Students Released at 12:30 p.m.)
Student/Staff Holiday
November8
15
25-29 / All Pro Dads
PTA Family Fun Night
Thanksgiving Holiday (No School)
December7
20-31 / Holly Jolly Jubilee 10-2 p.m. (Formerly Breakfast w/Santa)
Winter Break (No School)
January1-3
6
13
20 / Winter Break (No School)
Prof. Dev. – Student Holiday
Family Fun Night / PTA
MLK Day (No School)
February7
14
17
21
28 / All Pro Dads
Prof. Dev. (Student Holiday)
President's Day (No School)
Heritage Night / PTA Mtg.
Spring Pictures
March 10-14
13
14
17
31 / Spring Book Fair
Celebration of Arts (Art Show, 1st & 3rd Musicals), Book Fair evening time TBA
Early Release (Students Released at 12:30 p.m.)
Inclement Weather Day (#1)
Spring Break (No School)
April 1-4
11
21
22/29 / Spring Break (No School)
All Pro Dads
Inclement Weather Day (#2)
April PTA Mtg. - TBA
May 23 / LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
K / GKIDS / Ongoing Portfolio Collection during the year
Fall Window: August 8 – September 20, 2013
Spring Window: March 19 – May 8, 2014
2-5 / FCS Interim Assessment / ES Pre-Assessment Window: September 10-12, 2013
ES Post-Assessment Window: February 25-27, 2014
2-5 / FCS Performance-Based Assessment / Winter Window: December 2, 2013 – January 24, 2014
3 / Grade 3 Georgia Writing Assessment / Ongoing portfolio collection during the year
March 18-27: Final Summary of Assessments
3–5 / CRCT / April 9: Reading
April 10: Language Arts
April 15: Math
April 16: Science
April 17: Social Studies
May 20-21: Gr 3 Reading Retest
Gr 5 Reading & Math Retests
3–5 / CRCT-M*
*Documentation of CRCT-M eligibility by subject must be included in the IEP by December 19, 2013. / April 9: Reading
April 10: Language Arts
April 11: Math
May 20-21: Gr 3 Reading Retest
Gr 5 Reading & Math Retests
5 / Gr 5 – Georgia Writing Assessment / March 5, 2014: Main Administration
March 6, 2014: Make-up Administration
K, 3, 4, 5 / GAA / September 3 – March 7: Ongoing portfolio assessment
K-5 / ACCESS / January 21– March 4: Student assessment window
4 / NAEP / TBA

2013-2014 Elementary School Assessment Calendar


Everychild. Onevoice.

The PTA Mission is threefold:

  • To support and speak on behalf of children and youth in the schools, in the community, and before governmental bodies and other organizations that make decisions affecting children;
  • To assist parents in developing the skills they need to raise and protect children; and
  • To encourage parent and public involvement in the public schools of the nation.

The Purposes of the PTA are:

  • To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, and community, and place of worship;
  • To raise the standards of home life;
  • To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth;
  • To bring into closer relation the home and the school, that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the education of children and youth; and
  • To develop between educations and the general public such united efforts as will secure for all children and youth the highest advantages in physical, mental, social and spiritual education.

The PTA at Johns Creek Elementary is a very active group of parents. There is room for any person to find a committee to join. We encourage your involvement in PTA.

PTA Officersfor 2013-2014

Polly Benson resident

Tami Sherrick,, Secretary

Leah Burns reasurer

Joan Barker P Academic Enrichment

Nithya Shakthy, P Family Engagement/ Events
Cheri Proels o-VP Fundraising
Kim Daffron o-VP Fundraising

Karen Surio PCommunity Involvement
Mandy Sattler, P Communications/Branding

Accreditation

Johns Creek Elementary School is accredited by the Georgia School Standards Commission and by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL:

Johns Creek Elementary School hours are from 8:20a.m.–3:00p.m. Students may start entering the building at 7:50 a.m. Students should not arrive to school before 7:50 as no supervision is provided before this time. Students not in their classroom by 8:20 a.m. will be considered tardy. Students arriving late because of bus difficulties will not be marked tardy.

For the safety of your child, all individuals (including parents) who have permission to check out your child must be listed on the check out card kept in the front office and must provide identification at time of checkout. Students will not be released without proper identification. All checkouts are to occur in the office. No checkouts in the classroom are permitted.

Student checkout is not available between 2:40-3:00.

Change in dismissal plans: A signed, dated note from the parent or guardian must be received in order for a student to be dismissed in any way other than the usual manner. This includes being picked up by someone other than the parent or guardian. For safety reasons transportation routines will not be altered with only the child's verbal request. Transportation changes will not be taken over the telephone, fax or e-mail, unless an emergency arises. Should an emergency arise during the school day and dismissal plans must change, please contact Alyssa Degliumberto, Principal or Barbara Clement, Assistant Principal directly to discuss. If you do not get one of them directly, please contact the receptionist. Parents must understand the school’s responsibility in ensuring the safety of our students. Students will not be allowed to ride a different bus home nor can they get on/off at any stop but their assigned stop.

ATTENDANCE:

Regular attendance is essential to success in school. As permitted under the Georgia compulsory education law and Forsyth County Board of Education policy, students may be excused for the following reasons:

  • Personal illness or attendance in school that endangers a student’s health or the health of others.
  • A serious illness or death in a student’s immediate family necessitating absence from school.
  • A court order or an order by a governmental agency, including pre-induction physical examinations for service in the armed forces, mandating absence from school.
  • The observance of religious holidays, necessitating absence from school.
  • Conditions rendering attendance impossible or hazardous to student health or safety.
  • A scheduled medical, dental or eye examination of the student.
  • Registering to vote or voting.
  • Visiting with a parent or legal guardian who is in the military service in the armed forces and has been called to duty for or is on leave from overseas deployment to a combat zone or combat support post. The student may be excused for a maximum of 5 days per school year.

Non-school related activities and vacations are considered unexcused.

  • Students shall be counted present when they are serving as a page in the Georgia General Assembly.
  • Foster care students are to be counted present at school when attending court proceedings related to the student’s foster care.

Absences:

It is the responsibility of the parent(s)/ guardian(s) to contact the school office, by 10:00 a.m. to report the student's absence. Students must submit a note or parents must fax or e-mail the attendance office within five (5) school days for the student’s absence to be considered excused. Attendance Fax Number: 678-475-1725 or Attendance e-mail: . The parent/guardian must write the note, fax or e-mail stating the student’s name, the date(s) of absence(s), and the reason for the absence. The principal may require students to present appropriate medical or other documentation upon return to school for the purpose of validating that absences are excused.

In case of extended illness, hospitalization or injury, the parent should apply for hospital homebound service. Hospital homebound service should be applied for immediately when absences of ten (10) days or more are anticipated for the student.

A Medical Note will be required for any student who has 10 absences whether excused or unexcused.

Consequences:

If a student has excessive absences, early check-outs, and/or late check-ins, the student and/or the parent may be referred to the School Social Worker, Juvenile Court, State Court, and/or Department of Family and Children Services. A parent/guardian who violates the compulsory education law shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine not less than $25.00 and not greater than $100.00, imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, community service, or any combination of such penalties at the discretion of the court having jurisdiction. Each day’s absence from school is considered a violation.

Late Check-in or Early Check-out:

An unexcused late check-in or early check-out is defined as any time a student arrives late to school or leaves school early for a reason other than those defined by the State Board of Education as an excused absence. A combination of three unexcused late check-ins and/or early check-outs will be considered one unexcused absence. Students who miss more than half of the time in any class will be considered absent for that class period. When possible, medical and dental appointments should be made outside of school hours. If a student is being checked in or checked out for a doctor’s appointment, a parent note, physician’s note, or appointment card is required within 5 school days to be considered excused. After the tenth late check-in or early check-out, a physician’s note or appointment card is required within 5 school days to be considered excused.

Check-in:Parents must sign their child in upon late arrival.

Check-out:If it is necessary for a student to check-out early due to illness, the student must be seen by the school nurse. Parents or authorized persons on the check in/ check-out card may sign a child out.

Make-up Work:

It is the student’s responsibility to turn in make-up work, when he/she is absent from school. Parents/guardians and students are encouraged to email the child’s teacher to retrieve make-up work. The student has five (5) school days to make-up work. The teacher has the discretion to grant a longer period to make up work if there are extenuating circumstances.

BEFORE AND AFTER-SCHOOL CHILD CARE:

Before and after-school care will be provided through the Learning Bridge. Jim Riddle is in charge of the Johns Creek Elementary program and may be reached by phone at 678-513-428. Please register your child in advance. Enrollment forms are available in the Johns Creek office.

CAFETERIA PROGRAM:

The Johns Creek Elementary Cafeteria offers both breakfast and lunch. Breakfast is served from 7:50-8:20 each morning. Parents are welcome for lunch without prior reservations. Parents who plan to come in and eat with their child(ren) will have table space to do so in the Multi-Purpose room. Parents must keep their child and younger siblings seated at all times. Ice cream is prepaid; therefore, there are no cash ice cream sales during lunch.

CLASS PLACEMENT:

Each year, administration works collaboratively with teachers, test/assessment data and other relevant information to develop a balanced class placement for all students. This is a multiple-criterion decision that is based on a variety of research-based best practices as well as differentiated instructional considerations. While parents are welcome to share general information regarding their child and their learning, specific teacher requests by name will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Should a parent have a concern regarding a student placement at any point in the year, the following procedure will be followed:

  • A minimum of two teacher-parent conferences directly focused on the area of concern with administrative support and presence.
  • At that initial and follow up conference, a written plan to address concerns from that point forward will be drafted and agreed upon by all parties to protect the child and children from unnecessary transition.
  • Follow up by administration over the coming weeks, via contact with both parents and teacher, to ensure the sustained efforts and success of the plan are moving forward.
  • Final assessment of progress during this period regarding the area of concern by the principal.

Adjustments to any students assigned to classrooms will be by extreme exception and only considered by the principal after it has been clearly determined that joint efforts were made by both parties to resolve any concern. Furthermore, that there is clear evidence that a move to another classroom will directly address the lingering concern after the above attempts have been made to resolve the issue.

CLINIC:

Johns Creek Elementary clinic is located in the administrative office area and is staffed five days a week by a registered nurse. In case of illness or injury, a student will be cared for temporarily by the school nurse or a member of the school staff. School personnel will render first aid treatment only. If emergency medical treatment is necessary the parents will be contacted. If parents are not available an ambulance may be summoned. Remember, an emergency telephone number where parents can be reached and the name and telephone number of the student’s family doctor must be on file at the school.

If a child is really sick, he/she should be kept at home. This helps stop infection of other children and your child will be much happier and more comfortable in your care. Sometimes the best way to treat a sick child is to keep them home from school. The following are some guidelines for keeping a sick child home. Children should not attend school when:

temperature is 100 or above

they have had diarrhea in the last 24 hours

they have vomited in the last 24 hours

they have a rash with fever

they have pink eye (red or pink eyes with white or yellow discharge), they may not return until 24 hours after treatment has begun

they have tuberculosis, they are not allowed to return until a physician states the child is not infectious

they have impetigo, until 24 hours after treatment has begun

they have Strep throat – they may not return until after 24 hours of treatment and without fever

they have head lice – they must be treated with a lice shampoo, the school nurse must be notified, and proof of treatment (the box top) must be returned to school

they have ringworm, they may return after 24 hours of treatment

they have chickenpox, they must stay out of school 6 days after the onset and until all lesions have crusted over

Medications

All medications (prescription and nonprescription) must be brought to school by the parent/ guardian. No student will be allowed to bring medications to school. Students may not have medication in their possession, except with a physician’s order for emergency situations only. Medications brought in bags or other unmarked containers will not be given. Prescription medication must be in the pharmacy container labeled with the child’s name, date, name of medication, name of prescribing physician, time(s) the medication is to be given and name of pharmacy filling the prescription. Please ask the pharmacist to provide two labeled prescription bottles so that parents/guardians have one bottle at home and one at school. Do not send medication to the school that needs to be given only once daily or two/three times a day unless the physician specifically states a time during the school day for the medication to be given. If medication can be given at home, please do so.