Dear Barnwell Student,

Welcome to a new school year that we hope will be exciting and challenging for you.  We encourage you take advantage of everything that is offered to you to help you meet your goals and be the best that you can be.  We are here to help you in any way we can.  With you and your parents, we will make a great team!

The handbook pages of this planner explain what you need to know to make this year a successful one.  Please take time to read these pages with your parents.  Your teacher will provide additional classroom information in a separate student/parent information packet. 

This planner is provided to you by Barnwell Elementary School and the Barnwell PTA.  If it is lost, you are responsible for replacing it.  Planners can be purchased at the school store for $5.00.

General Information

The Barnwell Phone Number:  770-552-4960

My teacher’s name is _____________________   My Grade is ________

We have new starting and ending times this year.  For 2010-11, school begins at 7:45 AM and ends at 2:25 PM.  Students are expected to be in their classrooms, organized and ready to begin the day at 7:45 AM.  Students may enter the building as early as 7:20 AM , when supervision is available.  According to Fulton County policy, students are considered tardy after 7:45 AM.  Your parents must accompany you to the office and sign you in if you arrive after that time.  Please try not to be late, since it really helps you get your day started right when you arrive on time.

Students who need to leave school early must be signed out at the school office by their parents before 2:00 PM.  We will only release students to those people listed by the parent on the registration card. 

For your safety, we monitor all visitors to our school.  They must sign in at the front office and get a name tag before moving through our building.

If you have any specific questions after reading this handbook, please ask your teacher, or one of our school leaders.

We wish you all the best for a wonderful year that is all you want it to be.  We know that our Barnwell staff will do their very best to help you have a wonderful experience.  You will achieve that if you want it and work for it.  We want every student to be as proud of himself/herself, and of Barnwell, as we are. 

We’re excited that you’re here.  Let’s get started!

Mrs. Arnett,

Principal

Student Handbook

Attendance

Regular and punctual attendance is an important key to a student’s success in school.  Students are expected to come to school on time every day unless ill.  Tardiness is not acceptable.  Since a student is considered tardy if s/he is not in her/his classroom when the bell rings at 7:45 AM, students need to arrive at school with sufficient time to get to class.

The following guidelines related to absences/tardies must be observed:

1.  Excused Absences:  Fulton County Board of Education policy states that students may be temporarily excused from school for: personal illness; serious illness or death in the student’s immediate family; observance of religious holidays necessitating absence from school; compliance with a court order; conditions rendering school attendance impossible or hazardous to one’s health or safety; or situations in which attendance would be detrimental to the health of the student or others.  This list is not comprehensive.  For a more complete list, you may reference school board policy JBD at www.fultonschools.org. 

Within three days of returning to school from an absence, the student must present the teacher with a written excuse for providing the dates and the reason for the absence, and signed by the parent or guardian .  This note alone does not excuse the absence, however. The reason for the absence will be reviewed to determine if the absence can  be excused or not, based on school board policy.  We will accept emails from parents temporarily if they are followed by a hand-written signed note within three days.  Please note that vacation or family trips are not excused unless preapproved by the principal in writing (see below).

2.  Unexcused Absences:  An unexcused absence is any absence not covered in the definition above, or the more complete policy of FCS.  A student accompanying a family member on a business trip or vacation during the regular school calendar is unexcused unless approved by the principal in advance due to special circumstances that are aligned with board policy.

3.  Make-up Work Due To Absences: Parents may call the school before 9:00 AM to request make-up work on the second day of an absence (excused or unexcused).  Requested assignments may be picked up in the school office after 2:30 PM or sent home with another student as designated by the parent.  When students are absent, the teacher will make a list of all important work missed and give it to the student with a deadline for completion upon return to school.

4.  Late Arrivals:  The parent is responsible for ensuring that the student gets to school on time, unless the tardy is due to a late bus.  When a student is late, classroom instruction is missed and a distraction to other students is created.  Parents must accompany tardy students to the office and sign them in.  In any twenty consecutive school days, a student who is tardy five times without a satisfactory excuse will be referred to the school social worker/visiting teacher.

5.  Early Dismissal:  To maximize instructional time and minimize interruptions of instruction for all students, parents are requested to refrain from checking their child(ren) out of school early except in the case of an emergency.

Bus Conduct

Safe school transportation is an important part of our school program.  Riding the bus is a privilege based on appropriate and courteous behavior.  The Fulton County Board of Education recognizes that safe school bus operation is possible only with the cooperation of students, parents, and school staff. 

While students are riding the bus, students are expected to:

1.  Observe quiet conduct.

2.  Stay in their seats while the bus is in motion.

3.  Not throw any objects at any time.

4.  Keep hands and feet to themselves.

5.  Not have any food or drinks while on the bus.

6.  Cooperate and be respectful of the bus driver at all times.

7.  Act in a courteous and respectful manner at all times.

8.  Not operate any electronic devices while on the bus.

Discipline:

1.  Riding the bus is a privilege.  Students who violate safety rules may be suspended from riding the bus for one or more days, or permanently, if need be.

2.  The bus driver is in charge of the bus at all times.

Students must get on and off the bus at their own bus stops.  Any change to regular transportation (car-rider or bus) requires a written request from the parent/guardian of the student.  Permission for a child to ride a different bus and/or to be let off at a different stop is considered only for a special circumstance involving child care or a family emergency.  All requests must be approved by the principal or assistant principal. 

Cafeteria

Breakfast is served beginning at 7:20 AM in the cafeteria.

Breakfast and/or Lunch Meal Tickets can be purchased any morning in the cafeteria.  Students can purchase meal tickets for a minimum of two weeks (10 days).  Parents may also prepay for student meals by credit or debit card online through MealpayPlus at www.mealpayplus.com or by calling 1-866-243-9535.  

Barnwell’s cafeteria conduct standards are intended to provide a pleasant environment for eating.  Proper table manners, courtesy, and adherence to Barnwell behavior standards are expected.

Lunches brought to school by parents will be placed on a table inside the entrance of the cafeteria for students to pick up when they arrive for lunch.

We request that lunches from outside vendors (McDonalds, Chick-fil-A, etc.) not be brought to school for students.

Calendar

A parent handbook/calendar of important information and dates will be included in the Barnwell Student Directory.  This information is also available online at the Barnwell website (http://www.BarnwellElementary.org).

Car Riders

The car rider entrance is supervised each morning from 7:20-7:45 AM.  Parents are requested to remain in the car rider line and drop students off in supervised areas only.  In consideration of the safety of our students, parents are not permitted to park their cars and walk students across the driveways.  No student should be dropped off at the front of the school (the bus entrance) at any time.  Students are considered tardy if they are not in their classroom when the bell rings at 7:45 AM.  Parents are required to sign tardy students in at the front office. 

Afternoon pick-up is supervised by assigned staff members from 2:20-2:45 PM.  Parents picking up students are to remain in their cars in the car rider line.  For the safety of our students, parents are requested not to park their cars and walk students across the driveways.  Students are to remain at the entrance under the direct supervision of assigned adults until the appropriate vehicle is in position.  Passing cars in the car rider line is dangerous and, therefore, not permitted.  Late arriving parents (after 2:40) may pick up their children in the front office.   All driveways on the Barnwell campus are cell free zones.

Cell Phones
According to Fulton County Board of Education Policy and Procedure concerning Disruption and Interference with school: "Elementary students are prohibited from possessing cellular telephones at any time."  

Change Of Address/Phone

We must keep accurate records so that we can contact parents in an emergency.  Please send a note to your child’s  teacher and the front office indicating any changes in address, phone numbers , or emergency contact people as soon as possible.

Clinic

The clinic is staffed by a clinic aide to help with emergencies and to dispense medication.  This person is trained by FCS, but  is not necessarily a trained nurse, and does not diagnose illnesses or conditions.  She will provide parents with relevant information about a child’s health, however.  If a student has been throwing up at home or has had a fever within the prior 24 hours, he should remain at home.  Students must have a clinic pass signed by the teacher in order to go to the clinic.  (See Medicine)

Discipline

Fulton County discipline guidelines are sent home with every student during the first week of school.  Parents and students must sign and return the form in the Student Code of Conduct handbook stating that they have reviewed the discipline policies of Fulton County Schools.  

Additionally, each teacher sends home classroom expectations on the first day of school.  Students and parents should read and review the guidelines of both Barnwell Elementary School and Fulton County.  We believe that students should develop responsibility for their behavior and academic success.  It is our duty to help them make good choices.  Parental support and open communication enable us to maintain a positive learning environment that promotes success for all students. 

Emergency Closing Of School

It is vital that students and parents have a plan to accommodate an emergency closing of school during the day.  Please discuss emergency plans with your parents so you will know what to do in case of an emergency and what you would need to do if your parents are not home.  In the event of bad weather,  you may tune to WSB radio AM750, or WSB on TV, for the latest information on school closings.

Food & Beverages

Any snacks or meals sent to school from home should be nutritious.  Students are not permitted to bring carbonated drinks, drinks in glass containers, candy or gum.  Food from outside vendors (Chic-fil-A, McDonald’s, etc.) is not permitted in the cafeteria.  Therefore, parents joining their children for lunch are requested to adhere to this rule, as well.

Homework

It is the student’s responsibility to know what the homework assignments are and to complete all homework assignments on time.  Homework is assigned Monday through Thursday.  Some assignments are long range and require additional planning time at home for completion.  Teachers will communicate expectations with students and parents through frequent newsletters, as well as Open House and Curriculum Nights.  Students are expected to check at the front office for homework assignments, projects, and/or instruments which may have been delivered by a parent.  Office phones may not be used by students to phone home to request forgotten items. Once school has been dismissed, students WILL NOT be allowed to re-enter the classrooms to get any forgotten items.

Internet Protection

Internet access in support of the instructional program is available at Barnwell. The Fulton County School System complies with the Children's Internet Protection Act. Filtering is in place that blocks access to material that may be inappropriate for children. Web sites are permitted or denied upon review of the school Media Committee. Acceptable use of the Internet is established in Board Policy / Procedure IFBGA, Electronic Network Access. The Policy & Procedure may be viewed in the school media center or at www.fulton.k12.ga.us.

Lost And Found

All clothing and personal items should be marked with the student’s name to assist with returning them to the proper owner. There are two lost and found areas in the school.  Smaller items, such as rings, wallets, and keys are located in the office.  Larger items, such as coats, sweaters, lunchboxes, backpacks, etc., are located on the racks behind the Media Center.  Lost and Found articles are taken to local charities at the end of each semester.

Medicine

Students who need to take medication during the school day must follow these guidelines:

1.  Fulton County School System policy states that no student is allowed to hand-carry medications to or from school; parents are required to deliver medications to the office in person. 

2.  Prescribed medication in the original container and the Authorization For Prescription Medication form, signed by both the prescribing doctor and the parent, must be taken by the parent to the office immediately upon the student’s arrival at school.  An authorized school employee will assist in administering all medications.  Students may not keep any medications in the classroom, and teachers are not permitted to dispense medications to students.  A copy of the required form is sent home at the beginning of the school year.  Additional copies are available in the clinic.  The completed form must accompany the medication.

3.  Non-prescription medicines are to be given to the clinic along with an Authorization For Non-Prescription Medication form completed by the parent.  Again, no medications are to be kept in the classroom.  A copy of the required form is sent home at the beginning of the school year.  Additional copies are available in the clinic.

Parent / Teacher Communication

Open communication between school and home is essential. Parent conferences, phone calls, grades, newsletters, samples of classwork, student planners and progress reports are all ways that parents are kept up-to-date with the progress of their children.  When student work is sent home for review, parents are requested to go over the work with their child, sign the packet, and return it the following day.  Parent signature verifies acknowledgment of all papers attached. Parents who have concerns or questions are encouraged to contact their child’s teacher.

Parties / Food In Classroom
Barnwell celebrates a Winter Holiday Party and an End of Year Party in each classroom. Arrangements for these events will be coordinated by the teacher and room parents.  Healthy snacks are strongly encouraged.  The teacher has the ultimate responsibility for final approval of all activities and snacks.  Snacks should accommodate the dietary needs of all students in the classroom.

Birthday parties are not school functions. However, parents may contact their child's teacher concerning refreshments and/or recognition of these events. No personal party invitations may be distributed at school.

Phone Usage

Students are not allowed to use the phone unless the teacher or principal deems the request an emergency, such as clarification of dismissal.  Students may not use the phone to request forgotten items such as books, homework, signed papers, planners, instruments, field trip permission forms, contracts, etc.  Our goal is to assist our children in the development of responsibility.

Report Cards

Report Cards are issued every nine weeks.  In addition, a progress skills checklist will be sent home three times each year (fall, winter, and end of year). Grades of S, N, U, and NG will be used for students in grades K and 1; numerical grades will be used for students in grades 2 through 5. 

Student Planners

Each student in grades 1-5 will receive a Student Planner provided by the Barnwell PTA and Barnwell Elementary.  Planners are used to record assignments and as a means of communication between school and home.  Should a student lose the planner, the student is expected to purchase a replacement from the school store for $5.00.

School Dress Code

According to Fulton County Administrative Procedures JD-Student Dress, students are expected to dress and groom themselves in such a way as to reflect neatness, cleanliness and safety.  Students are to dress in such a manner that does not interfere with the educational program or the orderly operation of the school.  Extremes in dress will not be permitted.  Examples are:  lack of cleanliness in person or dress; shoelessness; “short-shorts;” “running shorts;” “bike shorts;” bare midriffs; tank tops; “see-through” clothing or apparel which designates gangs or similar groups.  All clothing, shirts, and T-shirts must be in good taste.  Shorts and skirts must be at least fingertip length even with leggings.  Hats are not permitted inside the building unless a special event has been authorized.  Parents and students will be notified of any exceptions to the dress code, such as field days, special event days, etc.

School Store

The School Store is open every morning from 7:15-7:40 AM for students to purchase materials they may need for school use.  Items include, but are not limited to, pencils, erasers, notebooks, crayons, markers, rulers, and student planners.

Textbooks / Library Books
Textbooks and library books are the property of Fulton County Schools. They should be used with care and returned in good condition. Students are financially responsible for books which are lost, stolen, or damaged beyond use.

Toys, Games, Valuables

Students are not to bring toys, games, cards, portable CD players, radios, or any other such items to school at any time.  Additionally, students are requested not to bring anything considered “valuable” to school and be put at risk of losing or misplacing the item.  Parents are asked to be aware of what students bring to school, and if in doubt as to acceptability, contact the teacher.  School personnel cannot be responsible for lost or broken personal items.

Visitors / Classroom Visitation
We do invite and encourage visitors, however we must ensure the safety of our students and protect against disruption of instruction.  To that end, we ask that visitors check in and out through the office, and wear a visitor sticker that identifies them by name while they are in the building. Parents may observe classes by arranging these visits with the teacher in advance. Classroom observations are limited to 20-30 minutes and should not interrupt instruction.  This is not a time for a private conference with the teacher.

Weather Conditions, Extreme:

1. At all times, information from the National Weather Service is monitored by office staff. 

     A weather radio provides the most current information and special weather alerts.

2. The safety of all students is our primary concern.  Please understand that communication with the school may be difficult, if not impossible, in emergency situations. 

3. Students will be moved to designated areas in the building for safety during a tornado.

4. Bus drivers are trained in procedures to ensure the safety of children during inclement weather.

5. Parents should listen to local radio and television for current information.