Student Handbook

Dear Parents, Students, and Friends,

 On behalf of the staff at South Toe Elementary School, we welcome each of you to this new school year.

 As usual, we have many exciting, interesting activities and projects planned for this year.

 Our expectations and commitment to our students are very high.  We pledge our best efforts in creating learning environments that challenge and value your child.

 The involvement and support of the home is critical to student success.  Your interest in providing the time and resources necessary to promote learning both in and outside the school is invaluable.

 Together we can build a great school that fosters personal growth and achievement and creates a community of learners who care about and enthusiastically support the needs of each other.

 We thank you for your support and hope for your continued involvement.

 Very truly yours,
Doris B. Deyton, Principal

SCHOOL OPERATIONS POLICIES

SCHOOL HOURS

The school opens at 7:20 a.m.  Buses will unload at 7:30 a.m.  Breakfast is served from 7:40 until 8:00 a.m.  Academic instruction will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m.  It is very important that students arrive on time.

School is dismissed at 2:30 p.m.   Parents wishing to drop off or pick up students need to do so in the front of the school.  Only buses are allowed in back.

ATTENDANCE -TARDINESS AND EARLY PICK-UPS

Yancey County Board of Education believes that regular school attendance is of utmost importance to the educational achievement of each student.  Further, the Board affirms that the primary responsibility for regular attendance resides with the parents/guardians and the individual student.  The law recognizes this fact and mandates that children between the ages of seven and sixteen will attend school regularly.  The five and six year olds who register for kindergarten must now follow attendance procedures also.

Absences will be recorded as excused or unexcused.  Please make sure you notify the school by phone, in person, or by note the day you return to school from an absence.

Excusable reasons according to the North Carolina State Board of Education Compulsory Attendance Rules (NCAC2D.0400) are as follows:

1. Late or no bus;
2. In-school suspension;
3. Death or serious illness in the immediate family’
4. Student illness (proper signature);
5. Educational opportunities;
6. Legal procedures;
7. Religious observances; and/or
8. Circumstances beyond student control.
9. Yancey County Schools Attendance Policy  (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

EXCESSIVE ABSENCES

• are excused and unexcused absences that exceed 25 days per school year.
• three tardies and early pick-ups will result in one absence.
• may result in grade-level retention.

MAKE-UP DAYS

• Students may earn credit for days missed by attending after-school academic sessions (if funds are available for an after school program). 
• 5.5 contact hours equals 1 day. 
• This credit must be earned prior to the 170th day of school.

TARDIES OR EARLY PICK-UPS

For security purposes parents need to sign in the office when their child is tardy or when they are picked-up early.  A child will only be permitted to leave school with his/her parent or guardian unless the parent or guardian notifies the school that someone else is to pick up the child. 

PARENT NOTIFICATION LETTERS

• LETTERS OF CONCERN will be sent after the 3rd, 6th, & 10th unexcused absence; 15th and 20th excused and unexcused combined absence.
• A SUBJECT TO RETENTION letter will be sent after the initial 25th combined absence.
• AN APPEAL PROCESS is available for students who are retained under this policy.

TRANSPORTATION

Every effort is being made to provide safe, reliable transportation for students attending South Toe Elementary School.  The teacher should be notified in advance when you wish to pick up your child in the afternoon or have him/her ride a different bus.

RIDING A DIFFERENT BUS  / GOING HOME WITH ANOTHER STUDENT /BEING PICKED-UP BY A DIFFERENT PERSON

If a child is to ride a bus other than his/her regular bus, go home with another student, or be picked-up by a different person, he/she must present a note from the parent/guardian requesting this action.  Please do not call the school at the end of the day requesting a change.

BUS POLICY

All students who ride a school bus may be assigned to a seat.  The following procedures shall be followed in handling cases of misconduct on the bus:

First Offense         Conference and parents are notified by the principal that the student is placed on probation

Second Offense     Conference and a five-day suspension from riding the bus.

Third Offense        Suspension from riding the bus for ten days.

Fourth Offense      Suspension from the bus for nine weeks.

Students may be suspended immediately from riding the bus for actions of gross misconduct.

CAR RIDERS

If you bring your child to school by automobile, please circle and drop your child off at the front entrance to the building.  If you need to come in with your child, morning or afternoon, you are asked to park your vehicle in the parking space along the playground fence, not along the building where we are loading and unloading students.   We are limited in parking space so we truly need your cooperation.

AFTERNOON PICK-UP

Afternoon pick-up will be in the front.  Please circle around to the covered porch for pick-up. Place a sign with your child’s name on it on the windshield.  UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES will a student be allowed to leave with anyone in a private car without the permission of the parents.  You should provide the school with a list of names of persons who will be allowed to pick up your child.

STUDENT INVOLVEMENT AND EXPECTATIONS

STUDENT BEHAVIOR

Students are expected to respect the rights of others and to strive to do their best in all activities.  Each student’s behavior should include language and actions that do not offend or injure others or damage property and also promote a positive and supportive school environment. 

South Toe Elementary participates in the Positive Behavior Support Program.  We have developed school-wide expectations:  BE READY, BE RESPECTFUL, and BE RESPONSIBLE.  These expectations have been defined for each area of our school and our students have participated in lessons to help teach these expectations.  Incentive rewards will be used to encourage positive behavior throughout the school.

Disciplinary action shall be taken if a student’s behavior does not confirm to expectations.  If suspension from school is necessary, a parent conference is requested before a child can re-enter school.  The board has adopted Yancey County Schools’ Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.  (Please refer to enclosed information.)

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Students are expected to fulfill all assignments given by teachers, and it is the student’s responsibility to ask questions of the teacher if an assignment is not understood.

Students are expected to come to class with paper, pencils, and other required supplies, as requested by the teacher.  Pencil and paper are available for purchase at the school store.

STUDENT EVALUATION

Grades reflect a student’s ability and effort to achieve.  Homework reinforces skills learned during class time.  A parent must assume mutual responsibility with the student for completion of these assignments.  Report cards/progress reports will be issued for students every nine weeks.  K-2 students will receive a progress report rather than grades.  Students in grades 3-5 should earn a grade of 70 or better in language, reading, spelling, and math in order to be promoted to the next grade.   Weekly/Bi-weekly progress reports will be sent home on Fridays. 

HOMEWORK POLICY

At the Back- to- School Night meeting your individual child’s teacher will explain their homework expectations in greater detail.  Homework is considered to be a time for skill practice, enrichment, or more in-depth attention to a given unit of study or subject area.  Homework is usually begun in class.  In general, students have homework if they have not completed the assignment in class.  All students have reading for homework each night.  Written homework should be turned in each day.  If a student has not completed his/her homework, they will be asked to stay in at break and complete their work.  If a student has been absent, then make-up assignments may be completed and turned in within five days of the absence. If work is turned in after this date, it will be checked but credit will not be given.  Each student will be given a homework folder with their name on the front.  This is also a place for notes and information to and from school.  Please ask your student each day for their folder and help to see that assignments are completed and returned to school the following day.

VISITATION

If you are visiting our school, please use the main entrance only, stop by the office, and sign in with the secretary.  The front door is the designated entrance and exit for security reasons.  Do not go to classrooms to pick up students.  Disruptions during instructional time are costly to both teacher and students. OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IS TOBACCO FREE IN BUILDINGS AND ON THE GROUNDS.

PARENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATIONS

Parent-teacher communications are encouraged.  Through parents and teachers working together, your child’s school year can be a great experience. Parents need to keep teachers informed of things that can affect the child’s schoolwork, such as a death in the family or fears or concerns about school that are expressed at home. Teachers will keep parents informed about each child’s progress through notes, phone conferences (when necessary), and parent-teacher conferences.

We invite you to visit our school and your child’s teacher, however, we ask that you please schedule a time for a conference.  Disruptions during instructional time are costly to both teacher and students.  Please call between 2:40 and 3:00 p.m. to arrange a parent/teacher conference.

The phone number at school is 675-4321.  The address is South Toe Elementary School, 139 South Toe School Road, Burnsville, NC  28714.  Our website address is www.yanceync.net/stes.

PHONE ALERT SYSTEM

Yancey County Schools has a Phone Alert system which enables us to send messages to students and parents, and it allows access to hot line information.

VOLUNTEERS

Our school welcomes parent participation.  We encourage you to volunteer your talents by helping our students.  Please sign the volunteer log in the office.

TELEPHONE

The office telephone is a business phone.  The student will not be allowed to use the office phone unless it is an emergency.  The student will be accompanied by school personnel when using the telephone.

EMERGENCY AND SAFETY   REGULATIONS

MEDICATION POLICY

Yancey County has a medication policy (4224) to assure the safe administration of medication to students during the school day.  You must follow this policy.  Students may not transport or possess any medication at any time.  Medication may not be given at school unless correct forms/signatures are completed.

USE OF TOBACCO

OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM IS TOBACCO FREE IN BUILDINGS, BUSES AND ON THE GROUNDS. THIS INCLUDES VISITORS AND STUDENTS.

WEAPONS

In compliance with State Law (GS-115C391A), the Yancey County Board of Education is required to advise all parents and students of the following laws regarding criminal conduct occurring on public school property and of the Board’s intent to strictly enforce all of the laws as well as its own Board policies concerning misconduct.  No guns, knives, or any object that can be construed to be a weapon is allowed on school grounds.

FIRE AND DISASTER DRILLS

North Carolina law requires one fire drill each month and one during the first week of school.

In case of a fire or other emergency, the signal to evacuate the building will be continuous sounding of the fire alarm.  Tornado drills are announced by the principal.

There is an evacuation plan posted in each room which shows the route of evacuation for that particular room.  In case of an alarm, students will be directed to an exit area designated for their room.

SCHOOL CLOSING OR EARLY DISMISSAL OF SCHOOL DUE TO WEATHER

Decisions about school closing or early dismissal are made by the Central Office Staff.  The safety of all children is our first concern when deciding if school must be closed, delayed, or dismissed due to weather conditions.  In case of inclement weather (snow/sleet), listen to the area radio (WKYK) and television (WLOS-13) for school closing.  School closing numbers are 682-1322 or 682-7322.  The decision to close schools or delay opening will be made as soon as possible.

Weather conditions sometimes worsen during the school day.  If early dismissal of schools is necessary, local radio will make the announcement.  If in question, do not drop your child off at school!

Please make special provisions for childcare on days when school must be dismissed early.  Students should be informed before they arrive at school if possible where they are to go.  Your child should have an emergency place to go on any given day of school.  Fill out all early dismissal forms and contact forms your child’s teacher will be giving you.  If telephone numbers, address, or designated emergency contact person(s) change, please notify the school immediately.

YANCEY COUNTY SCHOOLS' ANNUAL FERPA DIRECTORY INFORMATION NOTIFICATION

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. §1232g: 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protests the privacy of student education records.  The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.

FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records.  These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level.  Students to whom the rights have transferred are “eligible students.”

Parents or eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student’s education records maintained by the school.  Schools are not required to provide copies of records unless, for reasons such as great distance, it is impossible for parents or eligible students to review the records.  Schools may charge a fee for copies.

Parents or eligible students have the right to request that a school correctly records that they believe to be inaccurate or misleading.  If the school decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student then has the right to a formal hearing. After the hearing, if the school still decides not to amend the record, the parent or eligible student has the right to place a statement with the record setting forth his or her view about the contested information.

Generally, schools must have written permission from the parent or eligible student in order to release any information from a student’s education record.  However, FERPA allows schools to disclose those records, without consent, to the following parties or under the following conditions (34 CFR &99.31):

School officials with legitimate educational interest;

Other schools to which a student is transferring;

Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes;

Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student;

Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school;

Accrediting organizations;

To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena;

Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies; and

State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific state laws

Schools may disclose, without consent, “directory” information such as a student’s name, address, date and place of birth, major field of study, most recent previous attended educational agency or institution,   participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of member of athletic teams, honors and awards, and dates of attendance.  This is notice informing parents and eligible students about directory information and allowing parents and eligible students a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them.