At Wallace A. Smith
Elementary we believe:
·
that every student can and will learn when given
the instructional support and parental encouragement to do so.
·
that we educate the whole child by developing the
cognitive, social, emotional and physical well being.
·
that educational experiences should provide varied
opportunities for learning.
·
that we measure student learning through a variety
of assessments to determine student needs and modify instruction
accordingly.
·
that teachers, staff, and parents are the
facilitators of learning.
·
that collaborative decision-making empowers an
effective instructional team.
·
that a school should be a safe, supportive
community.
·
that it is our responsibility to meet the
policies, rules, regulations, and requirements set forth by
state, district, and federal governing bodies.
Wallace A. Smith
Elementary strives to ensure that a diverse population of
learners will have the skills, knowledge, and character needed
for the development of a well-educated citizenry. We are
committed to prepare every student to score proficient or
advanced on the TCAP Achievement Test and Writing Assessment.
We are a community of learners that embrace the dignity and
unique qualities of every student.
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Wallace A. Smith
Elementary School will provide successful educational
experiences to develop lifelong learners who value the pursuit
of knowledge.
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Wallace A. Smith
School is blessed with an active and very supportive Parent
Teacher Association. Parents who participate in the PTA are
highly motivated to help the school in many ways. The
activities in which they engage have a direct effect on programs
for children. All parents, grandparents, and friends are
encouraged to join the Smith PTA and to become active in it.
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Volunteers are very
important to our school. They do many jobs that might otherwise
be left undone. In addition to gaining a tremendous sense of
satisfaction, volunteers do a great job helping children. We
know that everyone has a busy schedule but the rewards of being
a volunteer make it well worth finding the time. Though
schedules vary and we do not have the same talents, everyone can
help in some way. Some areas in which you can volunteer are
tutoring individual students, directing traffic, copying
materials, assisting in the library, landscaping, and helping
during lunch in the cafeteria.
The PTA Volunteer
Coordinator for our school is Wendy Dotson. Parents who have
questions about volunteering may call her. Also, look for more
information about this program throughout the school year.
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To maintain the best
learning conditions at Wallace A. Smith Elementary School, we
are asking that all parents and other visitors report to the
school office, sign in, and wear a name tag before going to
another area of the building. Please sign out when leaving.
Parents and other
visitors may not go directly to a classroom without first coming
through the office.
Each teacher has voice
mail. If you have a question, you may leave a message by
dialing 344-1468 and follow the menu directions.
Parent-teacher
conferences must be scheduled so as not to conflict with
instructional time. If you call the school to request a
conference, the principal, secretary, or teacher will call back
as soon as possible to confirm a time that will be convenient to
all. In addition, this will allow the teacher or principal time
to gather any needed information and to organize thoughts to
make the conference more beneficial to all. Your child will
benefit from this procedure.
If you would like to
observe in your child’s class, please make arrangements at least
one day in advance.
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Wallace A. Smith
Elementary School is one of the most attractive schools in
Hamilton County. The pride of students, teachers, parents, and
the community as a whole has helped maintain its beauty. We
strongly encourage your support to continue to keep the school
an asset to our community.
Please help us teach the
children to walk on paved or designated walkways, to place waste
paper and trash in appropriate containers, and to take personal
pride in keeping their school neat and clean.
To promote school
loyalty, Friday is designated as “School Pride Day”.
Students wear school
colors, school t-shirts, etc.
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Every student entering a
Hamilton County school for the first time is required to provide
the following information prior to being admitted to class:
1. BIRTH
CERTIFICATE
2.
TENNESSEE CERTIFICATE OF IMMUNIZATION
3. PHYSICAL
EXAMINATION
4. SOCIAL
SECURITY CARD
5. TWO
PROOFS OF RESIDENCE
To enroll at Wallace A.
Smith Elementary a student must reside in the designated zone.
Due to overcrowding, new families from outside the zone will not
be permitted to enroll children at Smith.
If residency changes
during the school year, children will be permitted to remain at
Smith Elementary for the remainder of that school year only.
The following August the child must be enrolled in his/her zoned
school.
Only the legal
guardian may register a child in school.
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Children entering
Kindergarten must be 5 years of age on or before September 30th
of the year enrolled.
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Regular attendance is
essential to a student’s success in school. When children are
absent too often they experience a genuine hardship for overall
learning. The importance of daily attendance during the
foundation years of school cannot be over emphasized.
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An absence is recorded
whenever a child misses more than ½ day of school.
Excused absences: Personal illness of the student
(including appointments for the doctor or dentist), death in the
immediate family, and recognized religious holidays.
As important as daily
attendance is, it is just as important that a child be kept home
when ill. Please do not send your child back to school
following an illness until he/she has been fever free (without
the aid of a fever reducing medicine) for 24 hours. This is for
your child’s health as well as for the protection of other
students in the room.
Documentation
of
Absence:
A note of explanation from a parent or guardian must be sent the
day a student returns to school following an absence. If a note
is not sent the absence is recorded as unexcused.
Unexcused
Absences:
Absences which do not meet the stated criteria for being
considered “excused” or
for which there is no written statement from the parent
are recorded as unexcused. Out of town business or personal
trips, for example, are unexcused.
STATE LAW (TCA 49-6-3007 (E)
(1)
Requires that schools
notify the social worker/attendance officer when a child is
absent for any 5 or more days (not necessarily consecutive) of
unexcused absences.
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Prompt arrival at school
is expected of all students. School begins at 8:10 a.m.
Therefore, you child will be considered tardy after 8:15 a.m.
Parents are required to sign their children in if they are not
in class at 8:15 a.m. According to Hamilton County Board policy
3 tardies equal 1 absence and a perfect attendance certificate
will not be given. WAS policy states that 3 early dismissals
will count as an absence.
Tardiness and frequent
dismissals will prevent a child from serving on safety patrol.
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School Hours
Official school hours
are from 8:10 a.m. until 3:15 p.m. Students arriving between
7:50 and 8:10 a.m. are gathered together in the cafetorium or
the gymnasium. Following morning announcements, students will
be dismissed to the classroom.
Each grade level will
have a designated section in the cafeteria and gymnasium to
sit. This will help them feel more at ease in the large group
waiting there.
When students arrive at
their classrooms they are expected to put all supplies away
(coats, book bags, lunch, etc.) and begin with the morning work.
Students who arrive
after 8:15 a.m. are already at a disadvantage. The day should
begin in a pleasant, easygoing manner for children. Parents are
urged, therefore, to be certain their children arrive at school
no later than 8:10 a.m.
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344-1489
Hamilton County’s School
Age Child Care Program provides safe, educationally enriching,
and quality care for students. Wallace A. Smith Elementary
School has a program for before and after school child care.
The service is intended to help parents who must leave early for
work and those who arrive home late in the afternoon.
SACC opens at 6:00 a.m.
to provide child care until the school day begins. The
afternoon session begins as soon as the school day ends and
remains open until 6:00 p.m.
Students may not
arrive at school prior to 7:50 a.m. unless they are enrolled in
the child care program.
The SACC program
operates daily during the school year including teacher
in-service days. It is closed, however, on the following
holidays:
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Eve Day
Christmas Day
New Year’s Day
M.L. King Day
A booklet providing more
detailed information and rates is available from SACC staff.
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Field trips are an
important means of supplementing classroom instruction. To be
eligible to participate in field trips, students must have an
established pattern of behaving appropriately.
Hamilton County Board of
Education Policy requires written permission, in advance, for
students to be permitted to leave the school on a field trip.
Verbal permission cannot be accepted to permit a child to
participate. Teachers will send permission forms home well in
advance of the field trips to allow ample time for parents to
sign and return them. Students must ride the bus to and from
the field trip in order to cover the cost of transportation.
Students may only be dismissed by signing them out at
school. In order to receive a refund on a field trip
your child was not able to attend, a doctor’s note is required.
When a charter bus is used, refunds for transportation will not
be possible.
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Homework is important.
It is an extension of the learning that takes place in school.
The practice the homework provides reinforces classroom learning
and can provide opportunities for independent study, research,
and creative thinking. Generally, children need a quiet,
comfortable place in which to work. Parents can help by setting
aside the time needed for homework and by seeing that the
assignments are all neatly and accurately completed.
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Excused absences (as
defined by State Law) entitle students to make up work missed.
The student or parent may request that the work be assigned and
will be allowed five days to complete it.
For an unexcused
absence, make-up work may be assigned at the teacher’s
discretion.
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The school requires
notes from parents explaining the following:
·
Absences
·
Requests for Early Dismissal
·
Requests to miss recess or PE
·
Permission for Field Trips
·
Permission to go home with another student after
school
·
Prolonged absences from school (trips,
hospitalizations, etc.)
·
Changes in the usual method of transportation home
·
Changes in personal information
·
Address changes
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Specific skills and
techniques can make learning easier and more enjoyable. The
following guidelines will help strengthen study habits and make
learning more enjoyable:
1.
Come to class prepared with pencil, paper, and other
needed materials.
2.
Be an active participant in class. Listen attentively
and take part in class discussions.
3.
Ask questions to clarify problems.
4.
Plan your day and schedule time for homework.
5.
Use what is learned and apply it to new situations.
6.
Strive to do the very best work possible.
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When appointments with a
dentist or doctor cannot be made outside of regular school
hours, the student may be dismissed during the school day.
Students may not leave early for parent convenience or for
outside lessons or activities such as piano or tennis. Early
dismissals will be recorded as absences on report cards when the
accumulated time exceeds ½ day. Please observe the following
procedures for early dismissal of students:
·
Send a note to the teacher the morning of the
desired early dismissal.
·
Upon arriving at school to pick up a child, the
parent must come to the office to sign the dismissal card.
·
The child will be called to the office. Parents
may not go to the classroom to pick up the child.
·
Unauthorized persons will not be permitted to
dismiss a child from school.
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The teaching and
learning of a particular subject is known as a discipline. As
people, we are all faced with the job of learning to live
comfortably with ourselves and with others. To live comfortably
with ourselves it is important that we develop and maintain deep
feelings of self-respect. To live comfortably with others we
must learn to recognize where our own rights end and the rights
of others begin. In the school setting, instruction in these
skills is designed to help children learn to exercise
self-control in their personal behavior and in the ways that
they interact with others.
There are many things we
do to help a child learn both social and academic skills. They
are based on the character traits established by the school
system:
RESPECT-an appreciation for the person,
feelings and property of others;
RESPONSIBILITY- the exercise of reasoned
behavior including the ability to tell right from wrong and to
meet age-appropriate expectations in school through the
increasing development of self-control;
HONESTY-the exercise of personal
standards of character that value trustworthiness in all
behaviors;
PERSEVERANCE-refusing to give up, the
ability to work or complete a task;
CITIZENSHIP-the development of behaviors
which are characteristic of contributing members of society;
SELF-DISCIPLINE-demonstrating hard work,
controlling your emotions, words, actions, impulses and desires;
CARING-showing concern and love for your
peers, elders, and community;
Following are some of
the behaviors expected of Smith Elementary School students:
·
Demonstrate respectful behavior toward other
children and to all adults.
·
Use appropriate language at all times.
·
Keep hands and feet to oneself.
·
Respect the property of others and the school.
·
Follow all classroom rules.
·
Walk in a quiet and orderly manner throughout the
school.
·
Use playground equipment safely and appropriately.
·
Use good manners and low speaking voices in the
cafeteria.
·
Follow the instructions of all adult personnel in
the school (including cafeteria, playground, bus and other
areas.)
·
Remain seated and use quiet voices on the bus.
·
Observe all rules of safety, especially during
arrival and dismissal when traffic is heavy.
·
Be a good example for others and represent Wallace
A. Smith Elementary School well while on field trips and other
outings away from school.
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If a student chooses not
to go by the rules the following steps may be taken. However,
the steps may vary depending on the circumstances. Each teacher
will provide you with a copy of the classroom behavior plan.
First Step – Warning – Name on board or
card taken down.
Second
Step – Fifteen minutes of recess or free
time is lost.
Third
Step – Entire recess is lost.
Fourth
Step – Firmer disciplinary action may
include telephone call to parents, parent conference, exclusion
from a classroom activity, or referral to the principal.
Fifth
Step – Principal’s office (may include
any of the above and suspension in or out of school.)
There are some
actions/behaviors which result in suspension without going
through the above steps.
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1.
Willful and persistent violation of the rules of the
school or truancy.
2.
Immoral or disreputable conduct or vulgar or profane
language.
3.
Violence or threatened violence against the person or any
personnel attending or assigned to the school.
4.
Willful or malicious damage to real or personal property
of the school, or the property of any person attending or
assigned to the school.
5.
Inciting, advising, or counseling others to engage in any
of the acts listed above.
6.
Marking, defacing, or destroying school property.
7.
Possession of a pistol, gun, or firearm, real or
look-alike, on school property.
8.
Possession of a knife or other weapon(s) on school
property.
9.
Possession of any chemical, such as tear gas or mace,
which has the capacity to injure or make individual defenseless.
10.
Assaulting a school administrator or teacher with vulgar,
obscene, or threatening language.
11.
Unlawful use or possession of any item which federal law
prohibits dispensing without a prescription from a licensed
doctor, dentist, or veterinarian.
12.
Any other conduct, prejudicial to good order or discipline in
the school.
Students who obey the
rules will only gain a greater respect for themselves and
others. Each student will begin each school day with a clean
record. There will be no carry over for rules broken on the
previous day. Since this is a school-wide policy, rules broken
in music, library, PE, other special classes, or the cafeteria
will be accumulated during the course of a day.
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The following
information is to be provided to all Hamilton County Schools.
The Hamilton County
Board of Education has set penalties for the possession of
drugs, alcohol, and weapons on school property or at school
sponsored events. Drugs and weapons include both real and look
alike.
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Hamilton County Board Policy
6.307
Students will not possess,
distribute or be under the influence of illegal drugs or
alcoholic beverages in school buildings or on school grounds, in
school vehicles or buses, or at any school-sponsored activity at
any time, whether on or off school grounds.
Students will not market
or distribute any substance which is represented to be or is
substantially similar in color, shape, size or markings to a
controlled substance in school buildings or on school grounds,
in school vehicles or buses, or at any school-sponsored activity
at any time, whether on or off school grounds.
Upon information that a
student is suspected of violating this policy, the principal of
the school shall be notified immediately. If it is determined
that board policy has indeed been violated, the principal shall
notify the student’s parent or guardian and the appropriate law
enforcement officials. A student who unlawfully possesses any
narcotic, stimulate, prescription drug or other controlled
substance shall be subject to suspension for a period of not
less than one (1) calendar year. The director of schools shall
have the authority to modify this suspension requirement on a
case-by-case basis.
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Hamilton County Board Policy
6.309
In order to ensure a
safe and secure learning environment, the following offenses
will not be tolerated:
Weapons and Dangerous Instruments
Students shall not
possess, handle, transmit, use or attempt to use any dangerous
weapon in school buildings or on school grounds at any time, or
in school vehicles and/or buses or off the school grounds at a
school-sponsored activity, function or event.
Dangerous weapons for
the purposes of this policy shall include, but are not limited
to a firearm or anything manifestly designed, made or adapted
for the purpose of inflicting death or serious bodily injury or
anything that in the manner of its use or intended use is
capable of causing death or serious bodily injury.
Violators of this
section shall be subject to suspension and/or expulsion from
school.
Firearms
In accordance with state
law, any student who brings or possesses a firearm on school
property shall be expelled for a period of not less than one (1)
calendar year. The director of schools shall have the authority
to modify this expulsion requirement on a case-by-case basis.
Drugs
In accordance with state
law, any student who unlawfully possesses any drug including any
controlled substance or legend drug shall be expelled for a
period of not less than one (1) calendar year. The director of
schools shall have the authority to modify this expulsion
requirement on a case-by-case basis.
Battery
In accordance
with state law, any student who commits battery upon any
teacher, principal, administrator, any other employee of the
school, or school resource officer, shall be expelled for a
period of not less than one (1) calendar year. The director of
schools shall have the authority to modify this expulsion
requirement on a case-by-case basis.
Notification
When it is determined
that a student has violated this policy, the principal of the
school shall notify the student’s parent or guardian and the
criminal justice or juvenile delinquency system as required by
law.
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Any student who
possesses tobacco products shall be issued a citation by the
school principal/resource officer. The director of schools, in
cooperation with the juvenile court and the local
(police/sheriff’s department), is responsible for developing
procedures for issuance of the citations which shall include the
form and content of citations and methods of handling completed
citations.
All uses of tobacco and
tobacco products, including smokeless tobacco, are prohibited in
all of the school district’s buildings. Smoking shall be
prohibited in any public seating areas, including but not
limited to, bleachers used for sporting events, or public
restrooms.
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344-1427
All Hamilton County
Schools participate in the National School Lunch Program. To
make it easier for the cafeteria staff, students are encouraged
to deposit money into their accounts weekly.
Lunch prices for 2008 – 2009 are:
Student
- $2.25 per day
Student -
$11.25 per week
Visitor Adult
–
$4.25
Visitor Special Holiday -
$5.00
Milk
- $0.50
Ice Cream -
$.050
Breakfast will be served
from 7:50 a.m. – 8:10 a.m. to students who were not able to eat
breakfast at home. Due to lack of space in the morning, we
encourage students to eat breakfast at home. If your child
arrives at school by car and would like to eat breakfast, they
must arrive by
8:00 a.m.
Breakfast prices for 2008 – 2009 are:
Student -
$1.00
Students may deposit
money in their accounts in the cafeteria from 7:45 – 8:00 a.m.
Monday through Friday. Lunch charges may be obtained or paid
for in the cafeteria during that same time. Parents will
receive notification when a child’s lunch account has a negative
balance.
When depositing money
into accounts or paying lunch charges by check, parents should
make the check payable to:
Hamilton County Food Service or HCFS
Each student who brings a lunch
is encouraged to eat a nutritious, well-balanced meal. Soft
drinks are not permitted at lunch. Parents are reminded that
children may not bring carbonated beverages or any glass
container or sharp object. You are discouraged from bringing
fast food to school (Hardees, McDonalds, Taco Bell, etc.)
Parents are welcome to eat lunch
in the cafeteria with their children. Please send a note to
notify your child’s teacher that you plan to eat lunch at
school.
Some families qualify for free or
reduced price lunch for their children. A form is provided in
the registration packet for this program. Read it carefully.
If you think you might qualify, fill out the form and return it
to your child's teacher or the school office. We will forward
your application to Hamilton County’s Food Service Division
for processing.
Each student is expected to
practice the general rules of good manners that one should find
at home. Students are expected to observe some reasonable rules
of courteous behavior that make lunch a pleasant and relaxed
time.
Students are expected to:
1.
Sit appropriately, facing forward with feet under the
table.
2.
Use indoor voices when talking to others.
3.
Keep hands and feet to oneself.
4.
Keep food and paper off the floor.
5.
Remain seated unless it is time to return a tray or place
waste in a trash can.
6.
Remember that sharing food is not permitted.
7.
Refrain from throwing or flipping food, paper, or other
items.
8.
Ask permission to return to the serving line when
something has been forgotten or to leave the cafeteria for an
emergency.
9.
Carefully wash off the table when assigned that
responsibility.
Students may not:
1.
Save seats except for parents or other guests.
2.
Bring non-food items to the cafeteria.
3.
Bring carbonated beverages, or glass containers.
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Parents who bring their
children to school in the morning and pick them up in the
afternoon must use extreme caution. Young children are often
unpredictable, so it is very important to be very careful,
especially when backing up. Parents having business at the
school during the day are asked to park in designated areas
rather than in front of the building (in the drive through
area.)
During the school day,
all parents and other visitors must enter the building through
the front doors near the office. All students must be dropped
off and picked up according to the Kiss and Go policy. Children
should have backpacks, books, and other materials in hand so
they can quickly exit their vehicles. Parent volunteers, or
parents needing to come into the school for any other reason,
may then park their cars in the front parking lot only and enter
the building.
Parking at the side and
in back of the building is for staff and buses only.
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The following guidelines
outline the acceptable school attire for students. Your
cooperation in following them is appreciated.
ALL GRADES
No tank tops, fishnet
shirts or jerseys, halter-tops, bare midriffs, spandex biker
shorts, hats, scarves, bandanas, or shirts with writing,
pictures or patterns that are offensive, suggestive or
revealing. In addition, no chains of any kind. For safety
reasons, we request that children wear only tennis shoes or
loafers. No tennis shoes with wheels are allowed. Flip-flops or
boots are not appropriate at school. Make-up is not allowed
with daily attire. Chap stick (not lip gloss) is permissible.
GRADES K-2
Shorts are permitted but
not short shorts.
GRADES 3-5
Only walking shorts are
permitted, no short shorts. When the dress code is broken,
parents will be notified.
The Hamilton County
Board of Education and school administration reserves the right
to add to or delete from the dress code in order to maintain a
proper educational environment.
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“It is the policy of the
Hamilton County Board of Education not to discriminate on the
basis of sex, race, national origin, creed, age, or religion in
any of the programs or practices in the school system. A
complaint may be filed by anyone who has a grievance regarding
discrimination as set forth in one of the following statutes:
The Rehabilitation Act
of 1972, Section 504
Title VI of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, or
Title IX of the
Educational Amendments of 1972.”
Dr. Marvin Lott is the
Title VI and Title IX coordinator for Hamilton County Schools.
He may be reached by calling (423) 209-8538.
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A registration form and
two dismissal cards for each student is kept on file in the
school office. The information is used to contact parents in
the event of illness or accident. In the event any information
(phone numbers, place of work, etc.) changes, it is very
important that the parent or guardian provide the new
information to the school so that this record is up-to-date.
Although dangerous or
rough activity is not permitted, injuries on the playground can
sometimes occur.
In case of emergency,
the school will always attempt to contact a parent first.
However, in the event a parent cannot be reached, the student
registration form and
dismissal cards provide space to indicate a person or persons
who should be contacted. This information is critical because
the school is not permitted to act in the place of the parents
for treatment of injuries unless they are life threatening.
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Should your child suffer
from asthma, allergies, a heart condition, or any other
potentially serious health condition, be sure to indicate this
on the Medical Alert form. In addition, make it a point to give
your child’s teacher a doctor’s statement describing the
condition and the appropriate steps to take in an emergency.
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School personnel are
permitted to dispense long-term prescription medicines such as
Ritalin in accordance with the following regulations:
1.
The Parent Medication Consent Form has been
completely filled out and signed by both the parent and the
doctor.
2.
Medication is brought to school by a parent in an
original prescription bottle.
3.
The Parent Medication Consent Form must be updated
and signed by both the parent and doctor for a change in the
dosage or time for medication to be dispensed.
4.
Students may keep asthma inhalers, epi-pens, glucose
tablets, etc. in their possession in a designated location.
A complete copy of the policy will be available in the school
office.
Location
An AED is located in the
front entrance hall outside the office.
Indications for Use
The LIFEPAK CR Plus
Defibrillator is indicated for use on patients in cardiac
arrest. The patient must be unresponsive (unconscious), not
breathing normally, and showing no signs of circulation (for
example, no pulse, no coughing, or no movement). With
Infant/Child Reduced Energy Defibrillation Electrodes, the
LIFEPAK CR Plus Defibrillator may be used on children up to 8
years old or 25 kg (55 lb).
About AED’S
When electrode pads are
applied to the patient’s chest, the AED analyzes the patient’s
heart rhythm. If a shockable rhythm is detected, the AED will
either deliver an intense pulse of electricity (shock) to the
heart muscle (fully automatic model) or direct the responder to
deliver the shock (semiautomatic model). The shocks are
delivered through the electrode pads on the chest.
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Hamilton County provides
school bus service to students who reside outside a 1.5 mile
radius of the school they are zoned to attend. Each bus follows
a predetermined route with designated pick up and drop off stops
to safely and efficiently transport children to and from
school. Each student must ride the bus designated to serve
him/her and get on and off the bus at the designated stop.
For questions regarding
bus services, call
209-5555.
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In the event of a need
to change the way a child is to go home, a written note from the
parent must be sent to the teacher so that we are aware of the
change. This includes taking a different bus, getting off at a
different stop than that designated for the student, going home
with a friend, or riding in a car rather than the normal way.
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During the first few
days, bus schedules are often delayed and some children do not
know where to get off the bus. If possible, a parent should be
at the stop to be certain his/her child gets off, especially if
the child is in grades K-2.
As drivers and children
become more accustomed to the routes, the schedules will operate
more efficiently. In addition, after the Kindergarten phase-in
period there will be a few additional riders on each bus, which
may have a small effect on the schedules, too.
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Behavior on the school
bus is to be the same as in the classroom. For the safety and
welfare of all students, the bus driver cannot tolerate any
misconduct on the bus. It is the driver’s responsibility to
report unacceptable behavior to the school principal. The
principal or assistant principal will apply the Hamilton County
policies regarding such behavior with results as severe as
suspending the offending student(s) from riding the bus.
A REMINDER
Please
. . . All parents, volunteers, and other visitors- Report to the
School Office before going to any classroom.
Thank you!
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Hamilton County provides
several programs that enrich the curriculum and enhance learning
for students. All students participate in them on a regularly
scheduled basis.
Library:
The Wallace A. Smith Elementary School library is a rich
source of reading material and information. Students visit the
library at least once each week for instruction in library
skills, to listen to a story read to them, and to check out
books for personal enjoyment.
Books and other
materials checked out by a student become that student’s
responsibility. Students are responsible for the proper care
and timely return of these items. Overdue reminders will be
issued when necessary and the student will have to pay the
resulting fines. Fines for overdue books will be five cents per
day. Ten overdue notices will result in a student being placed
on a list restricting
his/her use of the library. Should this occur, the parents will
be notified. For lost books, the student will be required to
pay the replacement cost.
At the beginning of the
year, grades 3-5 will be permitted to check out two books each;
Grades 1-2 will be permitted to check out one book each; after
Christmas, Kindergarten children will be permitted to check out
one book each.
Music:
Students receive music instruction weekly. These classes
are part of the curriculum and provide excellent opportunities
in reading and appreciation of music. In addition, children
develop some rhythm skills and enjoy movement and singing.
Physical Education:
PE classes are part of the academic curriculum and
provide learning experiences in movement, group cooperation, and
wellness. Instruction compliments learning taking place in the
regular classroom.
The physical education
program provides developmental instruction for children. In the
primary grades, the emphasis is on coordination and large muscle
development (gross motor skills). In the upper elementary
grades, there is more instruction dealing with small muscle
development (fine motor skills). Modifications are made for
special needs and adaptive physical education is provided to
children as needed. If your child is ill but well enough to
come to school, please send a note to the PE instructor so that
your child’s program can be modified until he/she is fully
recovered.
Guidance:
The elementary guidance program is an integrated part of the
total educational process. Guidance activities are designed to
address typical personal, social, and academic concerns faced by
all children.
Guidance service
includes classroom instruction; small group counseling;
individual counseling; career awareness; and consultation with
parents, teachers, and administrators. To speak with the
guidance counselor, a student needs only to notify the teacher
or principal. A parent may call the counselor at 344-1468, Ext. 266 to request an appointment.
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Payments to School
When you send cash or
a check to school with your child (especially grades K-3) it
would be wise to put it in an envelope with your child’s
name, teacher, and the purpose for sending it.
When paying by check
please write separate checks for the cafeteria, the school, fund
raising, pictures, field trips, and other items. We would like to be able to
accommodate the writing of one check for all items but are
unable to do so because of separate accounts. For example, the
cafeteria is on a central account with Hamilton County; picture
payments go directly to the photographer; field trips must be
accounted for separately and by teacher; and the PTA has its own
account.
We will only accept cash
payments after May 6, 2009.
Instructional Supply Fees
Supply fees are used to
purchase workbooks as well as for manipulative and instructional
materials for your child’s use. Your child’s teacher will give
you a list of items included in the supply fee.
In addition, you will
receive a list of materials that each child needs to bring for
classroom use.
Textbooks are provided
through state and local funds.
Fund Raising
Each year fund raising
brings in substantial amounts of money to support the school
program. Whether done by the school or the PTA, money raised
goes to support and enhance instruction in each classroom and to
provide needed equipment in the school and on the playground.
Fund raising also helps keep supply fees as low as possible.
The success of fund
raising efforts is tied directly to family participation.
Clearly, it is intended that children NOT go door to door to
sell anything. Active parent involvement is the primary
moving force in these events. While our goal is that 100% of
our families contribute to the overall success of these
programs, it must be understood that no one is required to
participate in any fund raising event. Your support and active
participation are, however, greatly appreciated.
School Accident Insurance
Forms to purchase school
accident insurance will be available through the school office
and during registration. Parents who wish to buy the insurance
should complete the form and mail with the required premium as
soon as possible.
Emergency Closing of School
During adverse weather, Hamilton County may be forced to close
schools. Usually this will occur before school begins for the
day. Sometimes, it may occur during the school day. In either
instance, please listen to local radio or television news for
notification. Announcements are made as soon as possible to
ensure children’s safety.
Classroom Telephone Use
Students are permitted
to use the classroom telephone only with permission
from the teacher. Please make sure your child understands
transportation arrangements for the day before arriving at
school. This will avoid causing confusion and anxiety for your
child. Otherwise students will be expected to follow the usual
dismissal routine - bus, car, after school care, etc. unless the
teacher receives a written statement from the parent. If the
normal dismissal procedure changes unexpectedly during the
school day, a parent may call
344-1468
and leave instructions on the specific
teacher’s voice mail. This information will be given to the
student prior to the end of the school day.
Developing skills in
organization and responsibility are part of a child’s
education. Using the telephone to retrieve forgotten items such
as homework, notes, and lunch money does not foster these
life skills. Therefore, it is reasonable that students should
learn to establish a routine that assures he/she is prepared for
the day rather than making a telephone call to solve an
immediate problem.
Communication with Staff
344-1468
Each staff member has a
personal voice mail account. To access an individual’s voice
mail, dial 344-1468 and wait for instructions. If you
know the extension, you will be prompted to dial it. Otherwise
you will be given instructions for accessing the voice mail by
name. Teachers will check voice mail daily and will return
telephone calls within a reasonable time. If an unexpected
change in your child’s dismissal routine occurs during the
school day, leave a message on the teacher’s voice mail as soon
as possible. Teachers will check before dismissal daily to
relay any changes to students. Classroom teachers are busy with
students making final preparations for homework and dismissal at
the end of the school day. Messages left after 2:45 p.m.
may not be retrieved and delivered before the school day is
over. Please limit these messages by making dismissal changes
known to your child before arriving at school whenever possible.
Classroom telephones
will be set to forward calls to voice mail during instructional
time to prevent disruption of teaching and learning. If an
emergency arises you may always reach the office staff by
dialing 344-1425.
Communication between
school and home is essential for optimum success for your
child. We welcome an opportunity to discuss your child’s
progress or your concerns. Please feel free to leave a message
requesting contact with school staff members whenever you need
us. The telephone system is a valuable tool in strengthening
the home-school partnership.
Moving to Another School
Should it become
necessary for a family to relocate during the school year,
parents should call or send a note to school a few days before
they wish to have their child(ren) withdrawn. This will allow
us time to circulate the student withdrawal form and provide
copies of immunization records and birth certificates to assist
in enrolling in the new school.
If your family relocates
outside the Wallace A. Smith Elementary School zone, your child
will be required to enroll in his/her zoned school the following
school year.
Report Cards
Students receive report
cards quarterly. Parents are asked to be aware of when to
expect the report card to be brought home. It is important that
parent and student review the card together and discuss each
grade on it. This is a time for encouragement as well as a time
to recognize success and solid effort. Parents are reminded
that report cards are an important indicator of
how well a child is
doing in school. Should a parent have questions or concerns
he/she should call for an appointment with the teacher.
School Pictures
Individual and class
pictures are made during the school year. Parents will receive
advance notice of the dates photos will be taken and may
purchase pictures as desired.
Homeroom Parents
Each teacher will ask
for homeroom parents to volunteer to help them as requested
during the year. Serving as a Homeroom Parent is an excellent
opportunity to become involved and be of service to our school.
Parties
Two parties per year are
the maximum allowed. Designated parties are December and
February.
Birthday parties are
not permitted at school. We discourage the distribution of
birthday or other invitations at school.
Lost and Found
All clothing found on
the campus, regardless of its value, is placed in the lost and
found area located near the back of the cafeteria. Please
label your child’s clothing. Periodically, unclaimed items
are given to charity.
Money, jewelry, or other
articles of value are held in the office. Students may claim
them after proper identification.
Academic Honors
Second and third graders
will be recognized for academic achievement every nine weeks.
Students who have earned grades 86 or above and have no “N”
or “U” on the report card will be academic achievers
for that grading period.
Star and Honor Roll
Fourth and fifth graders
who earn all “A’s” and have no “N’s” on the report card will be
recognized on the Star Roll.
Fourth and fifth graders
who earn all “A’s” and “B’s” and have no “N’s” or “U’s” on the
report card will be recognized on the Honor Roll.
A reminder that frequent
tardiness and early dismissal will prevent a student from
receiving this recognition.
Discipline Based Arts Education
Comprehensive arts
education is a necessary part of the education for all
students. The arts lead to knowledge and understanding of both
our history and ourselves and bring about knowledge of other
cultures in a way no other discipline can. Through aesthetic
discussions and problem solving, children are challenged into
viewing their world in important ways. Classroom discussion of
aesthetics leads to higher order thinking skills. Using art
criticism, children become better writer and thinkers; art
history brings about knowledge of our history and the history of
other cultures. The process of creating through production and
performance can happen for every child. In March 1997, Smith
Elementary was chosen
as an Arts Partner
School and awarded a five-year grant, “Transforming Education
through The Arts”. This grant was awarded to thirty-six schools
in the nation. Through this grant, arts education (visual arts,
music, and theatre) have become an integrated component of the
core curriculum.
In the 2005-06 school
year, Wallace A. Smith Elementary was accepted into the Allied
Arts School Program. We received grant funding and support from
Allied Arts to extend and enhance our students’ education in the
arts. Our Allied Arts funding
will help provide art
lessons for every student from a professional artist and
movement instruction entitled Brain Dance.
PLAYGROUND RULES
1.
Make sure the swing has come to a stop before getting
off. Children should always swing in a back and forth motion.
Never twist the chains or swing sideways.
2.
Plastic bats or balls, nerf (soft) balls, rubber
playground balls, basketballs, and soccer balls are acceptable
sports equipment for playground use. For safety reasons
footballs, baseballs, softballs, small rubber balls such as
super balls, and wooden or aluminum bats are not permitted.
3. Equipment designed specifically for handicapped children
should be limited to use by students with special physical
needs.
4.
Children should play running games outside the railroad
tie perimeter.
5. Children should always make sure to keep hands and feet
to themselves. Pushing and shoving, even as part of a game, are
not allowed.
6. Children should conduct themselves in a nonaggressive
manner while on the playground. Play fighting is not acceptable
behavior.
7. Children should use the slide in one direction only -
DOWN. Never walk, climb up, or jump off the slide.
8.
Please leave all toys at home. The only exception to
this would be when an item from home is being used for a
classroom project.
9.
The only objects which should be thrown on the playground
are balls or acceptable equipment designed for throwing.
10.
Children should remain in the designated playground area during
recess and play in areas away from the building where they are
clearly visible to the supervising teacher.
TOYS
No playing cards,
baseball cards, or any type of cards are allowed at school. CD,
cassette players, and radios are not allowed at school. Toys of
any type are not allowed and will be taken from the child. The
parent may come to school and take the toy home. This will help
the children focus on school work.
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Car Dismissal Procedures
Please remember:
When leaving our
classrooms:
1. We cooperate with the teachers and patrols on duty.
2. We walk in a single line following a teacher to the outside
waiting area.
While waiting for our cars:
1. We sit quietly in our designated areas.
2. We keep our hands, feet, and objects to ourselves.
3. We listen for our car number.
4. We walk directly to our cars when our numbers are called.
Bus Dismissal Procedures
Please remember:
When leaving our classrooms:
1. We cooperate with the teachers and patrols on duty.
2. We walk in a single line following a teacher to the bus
loading area.
While waiting for our buses:
1.
We are seated quietly if the bus has not yet arrived.
2.
We keep backpacks on the floor.
3.
We have something to read or an assignment to complete.
4.
We keep our hands, feet, and objects to ourselves.
5.
We use a whisper voice.
When departing to our buses:
1.
We walk in a single line.
2.
We keep our hands, feet, and objects to ourselves.
3.
We stay where we are in line waiting our turn to board
the bus.
4.
We sit quietly in our seats facing the front of the bus.
5.
We obey the directions of the bus driver.
RESTROOM PROCEDURES
Please remember:
1. We are quiet in the restroom.
2. We respect the privacy of others.
3. We flush the toilet.
4. We wash our hands with one squirt of soap.
5. We turn the faucet off when finished.
6. We activate the paper towel dispenser one time.
7. We put paper towels in the trashcan.
HALLWAY PROCEDURES
Please remember:
1. We walk quietly in orderly lines.
2. We walk on the right side.
3. We keep our hands and feet to ourselves.
4. We wait for other classes to pass.
CAFETERIA PROCEDURES
Please remember:
1. We enter the cafeteria through the side doors.
2. We walk single file to the serving line or directly to our
assigned table with our lunch boxes.
3. We say “please and thank you” to those helping us.
4. We eat our own food.
5. We speak with a quiet voice to those near us at our table.
6. We leave the table one time to deliver our trays and trash.
7. We wash our table and clean the floor under it before
dismissing.
8. We walk in quiet, single file lines to meet our teacher at
the front door when dismissed.
Thank you for supporting
and following the rules.
Thank you for treating
others with respect and taking care of our school property.
Thank you for using
self-discipline to make responsible choices.
Thank you for respecting
each other and those who work in our school.
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