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Welcome!

Dear Parents,

Welcome to first grade at David Lawrence Jr. K-8 Center!  I look forward to having your child in my class for the 2008-2009 school year.  I expect it to be a productive and exciting time for your child as we embark on a wonderful, educational journey through first grade.  Please make certain that you read all of the information provided so that your child's time in first grade will be both beneficial and fun.

Arrival/Dismissal:All first grade students should report to the hallway outside their classroom in the morning where I will pick them up at 8:20 a.m.

Dismissal will be at 2:00 P.M. each day.  Parents picking up students should do so in the designated pick up area on the side of the school.  Please remember to write your child's name on the car pick up tag (colored paper that was given to you at the beginning of school).  Please place this paper on your dashboard where it is easily visible.  Please be on time.  If you need to pick up your child earlier than the dismissal time you must go to the office and request his/her release.  (identification required).  Dismissal within 30 minutes of the end of the day is not permitted. Teachers are not allowed to dismiss students any earlier than the designated dismissal time without a pass from the office.  If there is a change in how your child will go home, please inform the teacher in writing.

Supplies

Please have your child bring in these supplies in at your earliest convenience: 1 box of tissues1 box of Ziploc bags1 box of wipes1 box of glue sticks1 container of hand sanitizer1 large box of pencils3 composition books (with their names on each)3 folders-1 blue, 1 red, 1 green  Please have your child bring these materials to school every day: 1 backpack or book bag (no wheels)Pencils with erasersGlue stickScissorsCrayonsZippered pouch for holding above supplies (please no plastic boxes as they fall from the desk and everything falls out) Please have these materials at home for use in completing home learning throughout the year: 1 box of crayons1 pair of scissors1 glue stickPencils with erasersPencil sharpener

 Uniform Policy

Please remember that uniforms are mandatory at our school.  Uniforms colors are blue and khaki.  Please make sure your child is appropriately dressed in his or her uniform each day.

Attendance

Attendance is very important.  When your child is absent, please send a note with him or her explaining why he or she missed school.  Please see School Board Rule 6Gx13-5A-1.041 for information regarding excused and unexcused absences.

 

Schedule

2008-2009 schedule not yet determined.

Class Rules and Procedures

Class Rules and Procedures

  Our classroom rules are few, but meaningful. They help keep students safe and on task when followed.  They are posted in the classroom and must be followed during school hours; in and out of school (i.e., field trips).  Class Rules 
  1. Treat others with respect.
  2. Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
  3. Stay in your seat unless you have permission to leave.
  4. Raise your hands and wait to be called on.
  5. Follow directions the first time.
 *Please note that toys from home are not allowed at school.  Any toys from home will be confiscated and placed in “June Jail”.  These items will only be returned on the last day of the school year. Cafeteria Rules 
  1. Enter and sit quietly.
  2. Sit properly at all times.
  3. Use quiet voices and appropriate language.
  4. Clean up your area.
  5. Always say please and thank you.
 Playground Rules  
  1. Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
  2. Sand stays on the ground.
  3. Walking only on the pavement.
  4. Treat others with respect.
 Behavior System This class has a behavior system of rewards for appropriate behavior and consequences for inappropriate behavior.  Each day your child will have the opportunity to earn “Manatee Money”.  Your child can earn a “Manatee Dollar” each day by following the school rules (class, cafeteria, and playground) and staying on task throughout the day. Other rewards for good behavior will include praise, positive notes or phone calls home, no homework passes, class game time, and various treats.  If your child fails to follow the rules, he/she will receive a “Manatee Memo”.  The type of inappropriate behavior exhibited by your child on a given day will be highlighted and comments may be written on the note so that you are aware of what occurred that day.  Inappropriate behavior will cause a student to be changed to one or one or more of the following colors, in the following order: 
  • Yellow – child is warned
  • Red- Manatee Memo and/or phone call home; child loses half of his or her class privileges for the day.
  • Orange- Manatee Memo and phone call home; child loses all class privileges for the day and receives “time out”.
  • Blue- Call home to schedule a day for your child to serve after school detention.  I will request a “behavior conference” with you so we can work together to help your child improve his/her behavior.
 If your child receives a “Manatee Memo” (red or orange), please sign it and return it the next day so your child may move his or her card back to “green”.  If it is not returned it will not be moved back to “green”.  A signature is required to maintain home-school communication regarding your child’s behavior.  Please encourage your child to bring home “Manatee Money”.  You might want to set up a reward system as an incentive.  Please have your child keep their manatee money in their wallet at home.  Once your child has earned twenty “manatee dollars” send them to school so your child can “purchase” an item from our class treasure chest. Please read and thoroughly discuss this behavior system and rules with your child.  These procedures will be followed every day in our classroom throughout the school year.  

Attendance Policy (School Board)

Class Attendance

Students are to be counted in attendance if they are physically present in class or have been excused by the teacher on a class-related assignment, or have been requested by a member of the school support staff for an approved school activity.

 Present, Tardy, Absent

The presence or absence of each student shall be officially checked during the designated class scheduled time. The attendance of students shall be reported as follows:

 

Present: Present is the presence of a student during the scheduled class in which school is in session. The student must be actually engaged in an educational activity which constitutes part of the approved school program for that student. Each student who is scheduled at a school center, and who is present or tardy, shall be considered present.  A student shall be deemed to be in attendance if away from school on a school day and engaged in an educational activity which constitutes a part of the school-approved instructional program for that student. Each student who is scheduled at a school center for instructional purposes for a partial day, and at a vocational-technical center, a vocational school, or a college for a partial day shall be reported as present, if present at one of these locations.

 Tardy: Tardiness is the absence of a student at the designated time class is

scheduled to begin, provided that the student is in attendance before the close of that class. A student who is tardy should never remain on record as being absent; especially as attendance eligibility is the basis for FTE (Full-Time Equivalent) funding.

 Absent is the non-attendance of a student on a day in which class is in session.  NOTE: The student is not present for any part of the class.

Early Sign-OutsEarly sign-out of students causes disruption to the academic performance of all students and may create safety and security problems. No students shall be released within the final thirty (30) minutes of the school day unless the principal or principal’s designee determines it is an emergency.

III. TYPES OF ABSENCES

 Excused AbsencesSchool Board Rule 6Gx13-5A-1.041, Student Attendance--Specific Responsibilities (see

EXHIBIT #7, Pages 50-55) defines Excused School Absence as:

 • Student Illness:Students missing five (5) or more consecutive days of school due to illness orinjury are required to provide a written statement from a health care provider.The written statement must include all days the student has been absent fromschool. If a student is continually sick and repeatedly absent from school due toa specific medical condition, he or she must be under the supervision of a health care provider in order to receive excused absences from school.

• Medical Appointment:If a student is absent from school due to a medical appointment a writtenstatement from a health care provider indicating the date and time of the

appointment must be submitted to the principal.

 

• Death In Family

 • Religious Holiday:Observance of a religious holiday or service when it is mandated for all membersof a faith that such a holiday or service be observed: The religious holiday mustbe listed on the district’s approved list of religious holidays (see EXHIBIT #2,

Pages 41-42). Note: To be updated annually.

 • School-sponsored Event or Educational Enrichment Activity:School-sponsored event or educational enrichment activity that is not a school sponsored event, as determined and approved by the principal or principal’sdesignee: The student must receive advance written permission from the

principal or the principal’s designee. Examples of special events include: public functions, conferences, and regional, state and national competitions.

 

• Subpoena by law enforcement agency or mandatory court appearance.

 • Outdoor Suspensions:

Outdoor suspensions are to be considered excused absences.

Course Make-upStudents granted an excused absence have the right to make up all course work within three (3) school days upon the return to school. After successful completion of all make-up assignments, the student cannot be penalized for that absence. School Board Rule 6Gx13-5A-1.041, Student Attendance--Specific Responsibilities.  Upon the request of the student or the parent/guardian make-up assignments will be provided within two days by the teacher for excused absences. It should be noted that failure to make up all assignments will result in lower assessment of the student's academicand/or effort grade.  Unexcused absences do not require that the teacher provide make-up work for the student.  However, the Attendance Review Committee may assign educationally-related activities to mitigate the loss of instructional time.

Unexcused AbsencesAny absence that does not fall into one of the above excused absence categories is to be considered unexcused. Any student who has been absent from school will be marked unexcused absence until he/she submits required documentation as specified above. Failure to provide required documentation within three (3) days upon the return to school will result in an unexcused absence.Unexcused absences include:• Absences due to vacations, personal services, local non-school event, program or sporting activity• Absences due to older students providing day care services for siblings• Absences due to illness of others• Absences due to non-compliance with immunization requirements (unless lawfully exempted).• Excessive AbsencesA student accumulating ten (10) or more class unexcused absences in an annual course or five (5) or more class unexcused absences in a designated semester course will have quarterly, semester and final grade(s) withheld pending an administrative screening and completion of assigned interventions by the Attendance Review Committee. Unexcused absences do not require that the teacher provide make-up work for the student. However, the Attendance Review Committee may assign educationally-related activities mitigate the loss of instructional time. Grades that are temporarily withheld will be reflected ‘NG’ on the report card and in ISIS.Course Make-up

Unexcused absences do not require that the teacher provide make-up work for the student. However, the Attendance Review Committee may assign educationally-related activities to mitigate the loss of instructional time.

 From http://attendanceservices.dadeschools.net/attendance.asp