Attendance
Regular school attendance is essential for the student to make the most of his or her education, to benefit from teacher-led activities, to build each day’s learning on that of the previous day and to grow as an individual. As your child progresses through school, the work will become harder, longer and more difficult to make-up. It is the desire of the Early Childhood Center to work with you and your child to avoid unnecessary absences.
Students must be in attendance at least 90% of the required number of days that school is in session. Once a student is enrolled in school, the student MUST attend school and meet the 90% requirement. An attendance committee shall review all cases where a student falls below the required 90% attendance requirement. The Early Childhood Center Attendance Committee will review your child’s attendance record and reasons for absences and shall formulate a plan of action providing a reasonable opportunity for your student to regain compliance with this requirement. The committee may impose any of the following conditions to regain compliance with the 90% attendance requirement: completing additional assignments (possible pull-out from other activities to complete), maintaining attendance standards for the rest of the year, providing documentation when a student is absent, completion of all make-up work missed due to absences (possible pullout from other activities to complete), mastery of the required Texas learning standards for that grade level and summer school. In addition, please know attendance law requires the District Truant Officer to file, in a court of law, on parents and students for non-attendance.
When a student is absent from school, a parent needs to contact the Early Childhood Center office by phone (694-9036) and send a note with the student when he/she returns to school explaining the absence.
If a student attends school any portion of the day and brings a doctor’s note from a doctor’s appointment the same day the student will not be counted absent for the day.
Awards
All awards at Flour Bluff Early Childhood Center are based on the child’s achievements.
The Awards Assembly will be held in late May to recognize those students who satisfy the following criteria:
Achievement Award: - Certificates will be given for areas of improvement or achievements.
Reading Program Awards – Certificates will be given for several reading programs offered:
Camp Read-a-Lot, Summer Read-a-Thon, and Read to Me.
Perfect Attendance Award - Students who were not absent during the school year will receive a perfect attendance certificate. This award will include attendance at other schools, if the student can verify that perfect attendance was maintained there.
Participation Awards – Certificates will be given for voluntary participation projects: Math-a-Thon, Super Labels, Box Tops, etc.
Benchmarking
The Flour Bluff Early Childhood Center has regularly scheduled benchmark assessments embedded in to our instructional timeline. Aligned with our curriculum, these benchmarks have been designed to measure the students’ academic progress and to give our teachers the feedback they need to guide instruction and improve student achievement.
Cafeteria
Kindergarten and afternoon Pre-Kindergarten students will have a 30-minute lunch period. They may purchase a lunch or bring their own lunch. Students who bring a lunch may purchase milk. All students will have a cafeteria identification card to use when they proceed through the cafeteria line. Parents can purchase lunches, in advance, for any number of days (weekly, monthly, etc.) through the cafeteria or on-line at www.MyNutriKids.com. Student meal accounts, balances and purchases can also be monitored on line at www.MyNutriKids.com. Students who forget lunch money, or exhaust their prepaid lunch ticket, will be allowed to charge their lunch; however, parents need to promptly repay all charged meals. Families are encouraged to apply for free or reduced price meals when they meet eligibility guidelines. A new free or reduced price application must be submitted at the beginning of each school year.
All Kindergarten students and Pre-Kindergarten morning students receive a FREE breakfast served in the classroom from 7:40 a.m. to 7:55 a.m.
Parents are welcome to eat lunch with their child. A meal can be purchased in the cafeteria at the adult meal rate or parents can bring their own meal. Parents may only provide lunch for their own child. Additional information about the breakfast and lunch programs may be found in the District's Student/Parent Handbook.
Calendar – 2008-2009
New/ Late Kindergarten Registration - August 14
New PreKindergarten Registration - August 15
Staff Development Day (Student Holiday) -
August 13, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21,
Teacher Preparation Day (Student Holiday) - August 12 & 22
Classes Begin - August 25
Labor Day Holiday - September 1
Parent Conferences - October 13 (Early Release Day for Students)
Thanksgiving Holidays - November 24-28
Early Release Day - December 19
Christmas Holidays - December 22-January 1
Student Holiday/Weather Day - January 2
Classes Resume - January 5
Staff Preparation Day/Student Holiday - January 19
Spring Break - March 16-20
Good Friday Student Holiday - April 10
Memorial Day Holiday - May 25
Last Day of School/Early Release Day - May 28
Staff Preparation Day - May 28 (after early release)
Communities in Schools (CIS)
The mission of CIS of Texas is to help young people stay in school, successfully learn and prepare for life by coordinating the connection of community resources in the school setting. Students can be referred by any school personnel, or parent to participate. Parental permission is required.
Students are determined eligible for CIS services based on the TEA’s At-Risk Criteria (TEA Code 29.081) or other criteria (SB 1574). See the Principal for a Parent Consent Form.
Counseling
The Counselor plans, implements and evaluates a pro-active developmental guidance program and curriculum based on Texas Education Code 33.005. Counselor duties include counseling students to fully develop each student’s academic, personal and social abilities, consulting with school staff, parents and other community members, interpreting data (test and assessment), coordinating people and resources to assist students, and delivering age appropriate classroom guidance activities.
Classroom guidance lessons are taken from the “Second Step – A Violence Prevention Curriculum” which is used along with other supplemental materials that support the State’s goals and objectives. Units are presented to Kindergarten students on a weekly basis for thirty minutes and Pre Kindergarten students on a monthly basis for thirty minutes. In addition, the Boys Town education model for teaching social skills is implemented by all classroom teachers on a daily basis.
Testing for gifted and talented student searches are administered and interpreted by the counselor. Referrals for testing for special education services are managed by the counselor after the student has been referred through the Student Assistance Team and all campus services have been provided.
In addition, the Counselor also monitors the guidelines for income eligibility, active military, and limited English proficient students who qualify for the Pre Kindergarten program.
Dress Code
Early Checkout
Students are expected to attend school the entire school day (times will be discussed later in this handbook under Hours) so they do not miss any quality instruction. Occasionally parents/guardians find it necessary to check students out during the day. Only adults listed on the enrollment card as parents or emergency contacts will be allowed to pick up a child. A child will not be released to anyone other than those listed on the enrollment card. Please be prepared to show a picture i.d. when picking up a child during the school day. Since 10:00 a.m. is the time designated for the purpose of counting attendance, parents are encouraged to arrange doctor, dentist, therapist, and etc. appointments after this time.
Early Childhood Center Rules and Behavior Expectations
Students will be expected to be well mannered and abide by the rules established by the school district and ECC campus staff. It is our belief that through positive communications with parents and their support of the teacher, our students will only have positive experiences at Flour Bluff Early Childhood Center.
Positive Behavior Support, or PBS, will be utilized throughout the entire ECC campus. PBS emphasizes proactive strategies and the creation of a positive school atmosphere. Rather than presenting students with a list of rules, the PBS approach prevents challenging behaviors by actually teaching desired behaviors. Once appropriate behaviors are taught, strategies will be put in place to promote student engagement in desired behaviors.
The ECC will operate on the following schoolwide expectations:
“Bee” the Best Behavior Expectations
- “Bee” Safe
- “Bee” Respectful
- “Bee” Responsible
Grading/Report Cards
Report cards are sent home at the end of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th six weeks period during the school year. Progress reports are sent home at any time during a grading period, and at 3 weeks, for all students who are not performing satisfactorily. Teachers will schedule a parent/teacher conference at the end of the first six weeks grading period to discuss grade level curricular expectations, student assessments, report cards, behavior expectations and attendance.
Pre-Kindergarten
The Pre-Kindergarten curriculum is structured to provide opportunities to develop communication, cognitive, motor and social/emotional skills needed for academic readiness. In Pre-Kindergarten, grading will be based on mastery of the Texas Pre-Kindergarten Curriculum Guidelines.
Assessment in all areas is as follows: Blank = not introduced, I = introduced skill,
W = working on skill, M = mastered skill
Kindergarten
The Kindergarten curriculum is structured to provide an academic readiness for reading, mathematics and other basic subject areas. In Kindergarten, promotion to the next grade level shall be based on satisfactory completion of curricular grade level requirements (TEKS – Texas Essential of Knowledge and Skills).
Assessment in academic areas is as follows: Blank = not introduced, 3 = exceeds expectations 2 = meets expectations, 1 = below expectations
Assessment for number recognition, site words, letter recognition and
letter with sound association, is as follows: M = mastered
Incomplete Work: (Non-Absentee)
Assessment of incomplete work will be at the discretion of the classroom teacher.
Make-Up Work (Absentee)
Students who have been absent are given at least the same number of days absent to make up missed schoolwork.
Listed below are the report card distribution dates for the current school year:
1st six weeks ---------------Parent Conferences.
2nd six weeks---------------November 20, 2008
3rd six weeks ---------------January 22, 2009
4th six weeks ---------------March 5, 2009
5th six weeks----------------April 23, 2009
6th six weeks----------------May 28, 2009
Health Room
Our Health Room is operated as a first aid station only. We will dispense medicine with the following provisions:
1. All medication must be brought to the nurse’s office by a parent or guardian, immediately upon entry to the campus.
2. Prescription and non-prescription medicine must be in the original container. Prescription medicine must be in a container with the latest pharmacy label for that student.
3. All medication to be given during the day must be accompanied by a medical release form (obtained from the office), and signed by a parent/guardian giving authorized school personnel directions for its administration (time and dosage).
- If your child will be using asthma medication at school, the following rules apply:
For an inhaler, there must be a written note from your child’s doctor.
For a nebulizer, a special form (available from the nurse) must be
completed child’s doctor.
- School personnel will not give any medicine, including Tylenol, unless it
is provided by you, in the appropriate manner as stated above.
- It is very important that each student has on file in the Health Room an emergency physician and hospitalization card with a working phone number where parents can be reached at all times. The emergency card must be signed. Information on this card will greatly assist personnel in contacting a parent or physician if your child has an accident or becomes ill. If a child’s phone number changes during the year, please give the new number to the nurse and the office.
Home/School Transition
For the 1st two weeks of the current school year, parents may accompany their children into the Early Childhood Center to take them to the classroom. After this time period, please leave your child at the front entrance. Staff is on duty to assist the children within the building.
Hours
Kindergarten/Pre-Kindergarten (morning): The school day begins at 7:45 a.m. Kindergarten students who arrive before the school day begins will be asked to wait outside their classroom until the day begins. Pre-Kindergarten students will be asked to wait in the entry lobby until their day begins. Pre-Kindergarten students will be escorted to their classrooms by their teachers. All students will be supervised by school staff members between 7:00 a.m. and 7:45 a.m. Students should not arrive at school prior to 7:00 a.m. The school day ends at 2:45 p.m. Please make every effort to ensure your child’s attendance for the entire school day. Student’s who are brought in late or picked up early miss valuable learning (dismissal procedures are explained later in this handbook under Transportation).
Pre-Kindergarten (afternoon): The school day begins at 11:45 a.m. Pre-Kindergarten students that attend in the afternoon will be asked to wait in the entry lobby until their day begins. These students will go to lunch with their teachers. All students will be supervised by school staff members between 11:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. Students should not arrive at school prior to 11:30 a.m. The school day ends at 2:45 p.m. Please make every effort to ensure your child’s attendance for the entire school day. Student’s who are brought in late or picked up early miss valuable learning(dismissal procedures are explained later in this handbook under Transportation).
Insurance
Student accident insurance is available for those who wish to purchase such. Forms will be available during registration. The school is not financially responsible for accidents or insurance.
Library
The ECC Library houses books and a large variety of audiovisual materials that support and enhance the curriculum. Classes go to the library on a weekly basis and may check out books at designated “open” times.
Students have the book for a 1-week period and should return the book on time. Books may be rechecked, but must be brought to the library for rechecking. Parents must pay for lost library books. If a student withdraws before the end of the year, all fines, charges and lost library books must be paid before their withdrawal records can be finalized.
The library has several reading incentive programs for participating students; Camp Read-A-Lot for Kindergarten and Pre-Kindergarten students and Read to Me for Pre Kindergarten students.
Messages
When the need arises to contact your child during the school day, please come by or call the office for assistance. Requests for after-school transportation changes need to be written and signed by the parent/guardian. In the interest of child safety, phone requests for transportation changes will be verified before the change can be approved. The staff will deliver transportation phone messages to your child's classroom teacher. Please call by 2:00 p.m. to be sure your child receives the message prior to dismissal from school.
Notification to Parents of Teacher Qualifications
As a parent of a student at the Flour Bluff Early Childhood Center, you have the right to know the professional qualifications of the classroom teachers who instruct your child, and federal law requires the school district to provide you this information in a timely manner, if you request it. Specifically, you have the right to request the following information about each of your child’s classroom teachers:
- Does the teacher meet the State qualifications and certification criteria for the grades and subjects he or she teachers?
- Is the teacher teaching under emergency or provisional status because of special circumstances?
- What is the teacher’s college major? Does the teacher have any advanced degrees? What are the fields or disciplines of the certification or degrees the teacher possesses?
- What are the qualifications of any paraprofessionals working with the child?
If you would like to receive any of this information, please contact the campus principal at 694-9036.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
With parent help, teachers can do the best possible job of educating each child. The parent can supply information about the child that could be very useful to the teacher. The teacher can offer suggestions to parents on how they can help with the education process at home. For these reasons, parent-teacher conferences are encouraged. These conferences are scheduled during the teachers’ conference periods or at any other time convenient with the parent and teachers’ instructional time. Please call to schedule an appointment.
Physical Education
Kindergarten students will have PE for a 45-minute period every day. Students are encouraged to wear tennis shoes each day for safety purposes.
Grading: Students will earn two grades each grading period, one for participation and one for conduct (Blank = not introduced, 3 = exceeds expectations, 2 = meets expectations, 1 = below expectations.
Excuses: A student is not excused from PE for the day unless a note from the parent explains why they cannot participate or a teacher recommends such. A doctor’s note will be required for those students in attendance at school who must miss more than three (3) consecutive days of physical education. The note should indicate when the student can resume physical activity.
Recess
Students take a 20-minute recess break daily. Failure to follow the playground/recess expectations could result in removal from the playground area.
11
School-Parent Compact
Flour Bluff Early Childhood Center
Home of Bright “Bee”ginnings
SCHOOL – PARENT COMPACT
In order to envision the highest level of success at the Flour Bluff Early Childhood Center for every individual, we make this agreement to motivate, to challenge, to inspire each other, and to accomplish this, we hereby sign this compact to work together.
As a parent/guardian of a student at Flour Bluff Early Childhood Center I take responsibility
For his/her learning….
I will show my child that I value education.
I will ensure that my child attends school every day on time.
I will provide a home environment that will encourage my child to learn
and achieve academic excellence.
I will reinforce with my child the importance of classroom discipline, and
especially self-discipline.
I pledge to get involved and stay involved, for education is key to success,
and is the greatest gift I can give my child.
_________________________________ ________________
Parent/Guardian Signature Date
As a teacher at Flour Bluff Early Childhood Center, I take responsibility for my students’ learning….
I will have high expectations for myself, my students, and other staff members.
I will treat each child fairly, showing them respect and dignity.
I will establish and encourage open communication with parents about their child’s progress.
I will help each child reach his/her highest potential, socially and academically
because it is the greatest gift I can give any child.
I will provide a safe and orderly environment for learning.
I will be prepared to teach the state required curriculum.
_________________________________ ________________
Teacher Signature Date
As a student at Flour Bluff Early Childhood Center, I take responsibility for my learning….
I will come to school every day on time.
I will always do my best in school.
I will be respectful, I will be responsible and I will be safe.
_________________________________ ________________
Student Signature Date
School Sponsored Trips
Off-campus field trips may be scheduled during the school year. Permission slips are filled out at registration. Parents will be notified of field trips at least one week prior to the trip. A student will not be allowed to attend a field trip without a permission slip being on file. Parents may attend field trips with teacher approval and must have a background check submitted and approved by the district.
S.A.I.L. (Gifted and Talented Program)
The Flour Bluff Independent School District's gifted and talented program, S.A.I.L., is designed to serve identified students who need challenges and educational instruction beyond the regular classroom. The S.A.I.L. instructional program is differentiated to promote extension and enrichment for identified students.
SCREENING PROCEDURES
- Nominations are accepted at all times for the S.A.I.L. (Gifted and Talented) Program. Students are nominated by anyone, including parents, staff, community members, or through self-nomination.
- Students are assessed according to district timelines and procedures, which are posted on each campus.
- Each campus S.A.I.L. (gifted and talented) Committee meets to review assessment data, screen applicants, and to recommend placement of students, for whom the SAIL program is an appropriate placement, utilizing established criteria. Qualification is based on general intellectual ability, specific subject matter aptitude, and creative/productive thinking skills.
Parents receive notification regarding qualification. Students who qualify must submit a parent permission form in order to be placed and served.
FURLOUGHS
A student or parent may request a temporary leave from the program of not less than one semester or more than one year, for serious, extenuating circumstances. The circumstances are reviewed by the S.A.I.L./GT Campus Committee to determine if a furlough is appropriate for the student. The student’s eligibility to re-enter the S.A.I.L. program shall be reviewed by the ECC campus committee at the end of the furlough period.
EXIT POLICY
The ECC campus committee may exit a student from the S.A.I.L. Program upon the recommendation of the teacher and/or parent when the program fails to meet the student’s educational needs. Reasons for consideration of exit will include: evidence of working at a level of frustration, observable through performance and or behavior; demonstration of clear inability or unwillingness to maintain the standards of program performance by maintaining a below satisfactory grade average for two six weeks or more; failure to participate in the program in the appropriate grade level and course offerings for the areas in which the student is qualified; parent request for removal is automatic. (An Exit form requesting removal is signed and dated by the parent.) Procedures for exit will include a parent conference, a counselor/student conference, and a dismissal review by the ECC campus committee, to include input from the parent, teacher and ECC campus administrator.
APPEALS
Parents or students may appeal any final decision of the campus committee regarding selection for or removal from the S.A.I.L. program. Written notice of desire to appeal should be given to the campus administrator or curriculum supervisor. Appeal shall be made first to the campus committee within 10 days of notification. The Campus Committee then meets and reviews the appeal and makes a decision. Any subsequent appeals shall be made in accordance with FNG (LOCAL) in Board Policy.
Security
Security is a critical issue for the ECC campus. Our first concern is always the health, safety and emotional well being of our students. Access to the ECC will be through the FRONT ENTRANCE ONLY. To further facilitate student security, there is a designated area for parents who pick up their children.
VISITORS: All visitors/parents must sign-in with the building receptionist in the office. Visitors/parents will wear a visitor’s badge while on campus and sign-out before leaving the building. All parents/guardians must stop by the front office if they plan to pick up a child early. Parents/guardians/others that pick up children need to be prepared to provide proper identification (picture i.d.) before being allowed to remove a child from campus. The receptionist will call the teacher’s room and ask the teacher to send that child to the office. Parents/guardians may visit their child’s classroom for a period of up to 45 minutes. Additional visits will be discussed and approved by the building principal. Visitors of school age will not be allowed in the classroom. No pets or animals will be allowed without permission from the teacher and the campus principal.
DRILLS: The Early Childhood Center will conduct periodic safety alert drills to help students move quickly and orderly to safe areas in case an actual emergency occurs. Students are urged to listen to their teacher’s instructions when the alarm sounds or when the Principal announces the alert. Teachers will take their grade books and call roll in their assigned safety areas.
School Supplies
General school supply lists are available for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students. The list is not intended to be a complete listing of all supplies a student will need during the entire school year. It includes basic items that are needed by students to start the school year. Individual teachers will provide parents a supplementary supply list when and if additional supplies are required. Teachers will also notify parents when a student's supplies have been lost or consumed and need to be replaced.
Tardies
Punctuality is very important at the Flour Bluff Early Childhood Center. Students who consistently arrive tardy are unable to receive the maximum educational benefits available to them. Students arriving after 7:45 a.m. (Pre-Kindergarten morning and Kindergarten) or 11:45 a.m. (Pre-Kindergarten afternoon) must be signed in at the office by the parent.
Transportation
Morning Pick-up:
Morning school buses will make their first stop for Pre-Kindergarten through 6th grade students at 6:50 (Flour Bluff and N.A.S.) and 7:00 (Padre Island). The exact time a bus will reach a given address will depend on the number of stops the bus makes, and the number of students who board the bus at each stop. Secondary students (grades 7-12) may not ride the early bus routes designated for elementary students. The buses drop students off at each elementary school campus (Early Childhood Center, Primary School, Elementary School and Intermediate School). Only Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten students will be allowed to get off buses at the Early Childhood Center. Other elementary-age students must get off school buses at their campuses. Staff will assist students at the Early Childhood Center to find their classrooms once they enter the building.
Parents who bring students to school should drop them off at the main front entrance. The side entrance driveway is for school buses and faculty only.
Afternoon Dismissal - Please call by 2:00 p.m. for any changes to what your child will be doing after school.
* Buses - The classroom teacher must know the exact physical address where the student is to go after school (home, day care, baby-sitter, etc.). Buses will depart from the Early Childhood Center at approximately 2:55 p.m. Each bus will have a designated route and bus stop. Bus stops on the designated route will be modified as needed. Students will be allowed to leave the bus only at their designated bus stop. Parents and/or guardians MUST BE PRESENT to receive the child at the designated bus stop. If parents and/or guardians are not present and visible, the child will be brought back to school and the parent will be called to come and pick-up the child. Please be at the designated stop at least 10 minutes before/after the scheduled stop time in case the bus is running early or late.
* Pick-ups - Parents may pick up students in the lobby beginning at 2:45 p.m. Please notify the office if someone other than a parent will pick up your child (baby-sitter, other relative, neighbor, etc.). People, other than parents, must be on the enrollment card in order to pick-up a child. PLEASE, do NOT park in the fire lanes in front of the school.
* Walkers - Students living inside the area not served by school buses, and not picked up, will be classified as "walkers." The school will furnish a crossing guard and/or FBISD employee for walkers to cross Purdue Road, Waldron Road, and Glen Oak Drive.
* Latchkey/Campus Care – The classroom teacher will escort these students to the Latchkey and Campus Care drop off areas where there will be an adult to accept and supervise them.
Pre-Kindergarten Transportation
Bus transportation for Pre-Kindergarten students is provided for the a.m. route to school and p.m. route home only. Students attending the morning classes must be picked up by 10:45 a.m. and students attending the afternoon classes must be brought to school between 11:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. See afternoon dismissal procedures above for students attending afternoon classes. Parents should make every effort to pick up and deliver students on time. Students who consistently arrive late, or are consistently picked up late, will be withdrawn from the Pre-Kindergarten program.
Videorecording/Photographing
Students are occasionally videotaped/photographed by local news, print media and school personnel, for performances, showcasing work or honorable mentions. Permission to do so is included at enrollment time. If this exposure is deemed inappropriate by parents/guardians, please notify the office in writing.
Withdrawals
Students who are moving out of the district and/or enrolling in another school need to be formally withdrawn. Please contact the Early Childhood Center's office at least one day before the child's last day of school attendance to allow the staff an opportunity to collect withdrawal information. Students must return all school owned materials and/or pay all fines and charges owed the library, cafeteria or office before their withdrawal records can be finalized.
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