Handbook School Policies
ASSIGNMENT TO CLASSROOMS
One of the primary concerns of the school administration is the placement of each student in an educational setting which fosters the maximum development of his/her abilities. Careful consideration is given in the placement of students. The school administration must reserve the right to make the final decision in terms of what is best for each student and the school as a whole.
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ATTENDANCE
Daily attendance of students is essential. Illness and emergencies are the only legitimate reasons for absence. A minimum of one hundred sixty (160) days of attendance must be reflected in the student’s records for promotion to the next grade to occur at the end of the year.
Pre-K (Four-year-old Program)
The attendance policy is different for the four-year-old program, which does not have mandatory attendance. The hours for the program are 8:30-11:00 for the morning session and 12:30-3:00 for the afternoon session. Wednesdays have a different schedule for students. The morning session is 8:30-10:30 and the afternoon session is 11:45-1:45.
Promptness in drop-off and pick-up is essential because of the number of students involved and the teaching of two sections each day.
Absences
Parents are requested to advise the school office in writing, by a phone call, or e-mail when students are going to be absent from school. If the parent fails to notify the school, the school will attempt to contact the parent/guardian to see if
the child is with them and why they are absent.
Students are required to bring a written statement from their parent/guardian when returning to school after an absence. With an excused absence, school work for the students will be made up after the return to school.
Release of Students
Any child leaving school during the school day should be signed out by the parent/guardian. A sign out sheet will be maintained in the school office.
Picking children up from school: Parents/guardians should report to the office to sign out their child. Upon showing identification, office personnel will fill out a release slip that will be given to the teacher. NO CHILD WILL BE RELEASED FROM CLASS OR REMOVED FROM A BUS WITHOUT A SLIP.
Only parents/guardians or emergency contacts will be allowed to pick up students. If there is a custody dispute, legal paperwork must be on file to prevent a parent from picking up a student. Please make the school aware of any custody or restraining orders as soon as possible.
If there is a question about the pick-up location of a child, please go to the office for assistance.
Ft. Rucker Schools are in accordance with installation policies on warnings and drills. Therefore, in the event of severe weather, please refrain from removing students from the building. However, parents may sign in at the office and wait in the hallways with their child until the warning is lifted.
If your child is NOT picked up at the appropriate time, appropriate authorities will be notified to intervene or transport your child.
Please refrain from early-outs. These absences will be noted on the report card (FRPS).
Tardiness
Primary School - students will be in the classroom by 8:15 each day.
Elementary School - students will be in the classroom by 7:45 each day.
Excessive tardiness will result in the principal contacting the parent and/or sponsor’s supervisor.
Perfect Attendance
In order for a student to be recognized for Perfect Attendance, they must spend the whole day at school - no late arrival or early departure.
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School Day
Primary School
4-year-old students: 8:30-11:00 or 12:30-3:00. On Wednesday, the hours will be 8:30-10:30 or 11:45-1:45.
Kindergarten & First Grade 8:15 -3:00. On Wednesday, the hours will be 8:15-1:45
FRPS students participating in the breakfast program should report to the cafeteria upon arrival, but not before 8:00. The cafeteria stops serving breakfast at 8:15.
In the afternoons, please meet your child on the walkway by 2:55 at FRPS. Please note: There is no adult supervision for students after 3:00.
Elementary School
Grades 2-6 7:45-2:30
Wednesday 7:45-1:15
Students participating in the breakfast program should report to the cafeteria upon arrival, but not before 7:30. The cafeteria stops serving breakfast at 7:45.
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Child Abuse
State and federal laws make it mandatory for school personnel to report all cases of suspected or known child abuse and/or neglect. Therefore, all school personnel at Fort Rucker Schools will report to the responsible authority any and all instances of suspected or known child abuse and/or neglect.
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Child Nutrition Program
The Child Nutrition Program is available to students in Pre-Kindergarten through Sixth Grade. The charges for a meal including milk are
Breakfast $0 .70 - $.30 reduced
Lunch $1.50 - $.40 reduced
Milk $0.30
Parents/students/staff are not allowed to bring condiments such as ketchup, mustard, etc., to the school cafeteria during breakfast/lunchtime. Commercial fast foods and sodas are also not allowed in the school cafeteria– for example: Burger King, McDonalds, Coke, etc.
The Child Nutrition Program is operated on a prepay/debit computerized accounting system. There will not be student borrowing. Parents are responsible for keeping accounts current. If the debit balance reaches $3.00, an attempt to contact the sponsor will be made by telephone. If the sponsor cannot be contacted after three attempts, a letter will be mailed requesting that the outstanding charges be paid. If the balance is not paid within five (5) working days, the assistance of the sponsor’s military commander will be sought. You may call for an account balance at any time.
Monies may be sent with the student in an envelope with the student’s name and teacher, or parents may come to the cafeteria to make payments. Please do NOT come to make a payment during serving hours. Menus are distributed to students once a month and are published on the website.
Parents/guardians making payments for more than one student in the family should indicate the names of the students and teachers. Please write separate checks for each school, made payable to “Dependents School Lunch Fund”. Personal checks submitted for payment of activities that have insufficient funds will be charged a $25.00 service charge and will be electronically collected.
Please notify the Child Nutrition Program if you have a child beginning school this year whose sibling was in the Free/Reduced Lunch Program last year. Free/Reduced Lunch Applications for those children who were in our system last year must be renewed each year.
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COMPUTER REGULATIONS
DoD Instructions prohibit loading individually owned software onto a government owned computer. Privately owned, licensed software may be used from a disk but under no conditions should it be loaded to the hard drive of a government computer.
Students using the Internet will require parental consent. A “firewall” is in place on the file server to block specific sites from loading onto school computers.
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DISCIPLINE
Ft. Rucker parents, students and staff participate in a unique partnership that includes sharing responsibilities and meaningful communication among one another. Responsible behavior by all is an integral part of this partnership and is reflected in the following:
• Treat each other with courtesy and respect at all times.
• Treat each other with kindness.
• Take responsibility for our own actions.
• Cooperate with others.
At the beginning of the academic year, parents will receive a detailed letter of responsible behavior expected at each grade level. Parents and students in second through sixth grades will be requested to sign and return the accompanying acknowledgment form.
If a student’s behavior becomes unsatisfactory, the parent/guardian may be called to remove the student from school. A conference with the student, parent, teacher AND the principal may be required before allowing the child to go back to class.
Corporal punishment is not used in the Fort Rucker Schools.
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ELIGIBILITY
Students can attend the Fort Rucker Dependents’ Schools only if they fall into one of the following categories:
• Sponsor resides in permanent housing on post.
• Sponsor has been notified of availability of post housing within 90/180 school days and presents a letter obtained from housing showing the estimated waiting time.
Registration is on-going throughout the school year. New students should be registered at school as soon as possible after parents/guardians know they will be moving on the post.
Any student who begins the school year may complete the year, regardless of the sponsor’s status. If a family is not in permanent housing within 90/180 school days OR if housing is refused, students must be withdrawn from school.
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ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS
• Proof of Age: A certified birth certificate from the Department of Vital Statistics. The certificate must include the parents’ names and cannot be a pocket card or hospital/congratulatory certificate. A child enrolling in -
Pre-school must have attained the fourth birthday on/before September 1.
Kindergarten must have attained the fifth birthday on/before September 1.
First grade must have attained the sixth birthday on/before September 1.
• Immunization Record: An Alabama Certificate of Immunization indicating that required shots have been received.
• Social Security Number: Enrollment regulations require that student’s social security number be furnished.
• A copy of current orders and/or extension assigning service member to the installation must be retained. Dependent must be listed on orders or service member must obtain a letter from the unit personnel officer verifying dependent eligibility. If orders are more than 36 months old at registration, service member must provide extension orders or obtain a letter from the unit personnel officer explaining why member has been extended but orders not issued or amended.
• Telephone numbers are required at registration. Please keep all phone numbers and contact information up-to-date.
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FIELD TRIPS
Field trips are an integral part of the instructional program and students are expected to participate. Parents will be notified of all field trips and parental permission requested in advance.
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HOMEWORK
In order for the student to be successful in school, homework may be given and should be completed on a daily basis as appropriate to grade and age level. Long term research projects are an exception to this rule.
Homework is a reinforcement of activities undertaken that day and should be completed after the subject matter is presented.
After an absence, the child and/or parent are responsible for requesting make-up work immediately upon the child’s return to school.
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LOST ITEMS
Student Valuables
It is suggested that removable articles of clothing, such as coats, sweaters, caps, etc., be labeled with the student’s name to facilitate return of lost items. Many articles must be discarded each year for lack of identification.
A box for “lost and found” items is kept in the office. Students and parents should check it whenever items have been lost at school.
Please place your child’s name on ALL of their property.
Library Books
If a library book is lost, students are expected to reimburse the school for the price of the book. If a book is later found, no refund from the library will be given; the book becomes the property of the student.
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PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
Parent-Teacher Association
An integral part of the school program is an active Parent-Teacher Association. Within this organization, there is the opportunity for parents and teachers to work together toward the common educational good of the student. Three meetings are held annually. Proceeds from PTA fundraising events are used to provide services and/or materials for the enhancement of the school program.
Classroom Visits
Parents are always welcomed into the Fort Rucker Schools. However, as a safety precaution, ALL visitors must sign-in and show picture identification. Parents/guardians’ visits to the classroom are limited to the classes in which they have children enrolled and are to be coordinated through the principal and teacher.
To engage a teacher in conversation during a classroom session interferes with the instructional process. For this reason it is requested that parents schedule a conference to discuss any concerns that may exist involving the individual student. The teachers welcome and encourage parental interest at all times. A conference may be scheduled after school or during teacher planning periods.
Parents are cordially invited to visit for lunch and eat with students occasionally. Please call the school office to make arrangements.
Exterior doors at both schools are secured throughout the day. Please enter and exit through the front doors only.
School Board
Ft. Rucker Schools has an elected school board that serves in an advisory capacity to the Superintendent. Interested residents of Ft. Rucker should contact the superintendent’s office.
Volunteer Program - Promoting Excellence Together
Parents are encouraged to share in the varied activities of the school through participation in the Promoting Excellence Together (P.E.T.) volunteer program. This program allows parents to share their individual talents with the students and teachers at Fort Rucker Schools. Children are not allowed to accompany volunteers while working.
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PARTIES/GIFTS
Invitations to private parties, birthdays or other celebrations will not be delivered at school.
It is the custom of the Fort Rucker Schools to have no exchange of gifts among students. At Christmas time, favors are normally provided by parents at the class party.
Balloons and other gifts for special occasions are not to be delivered to students during the school day.
Birthday celebrations at school are limited to food only.
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PROBLEMS AND CONCERNS
When parents/guardians have problems, concerns, or complaints with teachers or other school personnel, it is extremely important that these issues be addressed and resolved with the teacher or person involved. When this has been tried without success, the supervisor of the teacher or other person involved should be contacted. When these two steps still fail to resolve the parental concern, it should be brought to the attention of the superintendent.
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SAFE SCHOOLS
School safety is a priority in the Ft. Rucker Schools. The Safe School Initiative implements preventive measures to assure that every student and adult will feel secure in the school environment. Throughout the year, the schools review plans and practice procedures for crisis management.
Management of student behavior is a component of the Safe Schools. As a result, Fort Rucker Schools have a “zero tolerance policy” for weapons and threats. No person shall possess, transport, or otherwise bring any firearm, explosive, fireworks, or weapons on any school property, building, bus, or vehicle being used to transport a person for a school-sponsored event.
Threats by students or other individuals will not be tolerated. Ft. Rucker Schools provide our students and community with the proper information, prevention strategies, and defenses needed to create a safe environment for all.
No animals are allowed on school property.
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SCHOOL CANCELLATION NOTICE
Fort Rucker Schools will be open every day unless the base is closed. Once the school day has begun, students will not be dismissed until the end of the school day except in cases of extreme emergency. The Fort Rucker School System is NOT a part of the Alabama Public School System.
In the event of possible cancellation, please listen to radio station WKMX, 106.7.
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SCHOOL PROPERTY
Students are expected to take proper care and safeguard all school property assigned to them such as textbooks, library books, teaching aids, or supplies. School property which is willfully or negligently damaged must be replaced or repaired by the student or his/her parents/guardians.
Students are expected to be good housekeepers. Periodic inspections will be made of students’ desks and lockers.
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SEVERE WEATHER
During severe weather warnings, parents are welcome to sit with their child and encouraged to shelter in the schools as needed. However, a Liability Release Form is required for release of students during severe weather warnings.
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STUDENT PROGRESS
Progress/Report Cards
There are four reporting periods which last nine weeks each during the school year. Report cards are distributed at the end of each period.
A mid-term deficiency report or conference will be issued when a student is not working to his fullest potential.
Promotion/Retention
A student’s promotion from one grade level to the next must depend on the student’s academic progress, attendance, and social, emotional and behavioral readiness to profit from instruction at the next grade level. Academic and personal progress shall be measured in terms of achievement of the schools’ goals and objectives.
The decision to promote or retain a student will be made in the best interest of the student. Parents/guardians will be requested to meet with the teacher and
principal if their child is being considered for retention. The principal may request additional staff members to evaluate and review the student’s progress. The decision to promote or retain a student is the responsibility of the school, with input from the parents.
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STUDENT TRANSPORTATION
Bicycles/Skateboards/Roller Blades and Scooters
Riding a bicycle is a privilege. It is the student’s responsibility to follow the bicycling rules listed below:
- One passenger per bicycle; unless it is a tandem bicycle.
- Obey ALL traffic laws.
- NO reckless driving (wheelies, no hands, “chicken”, etc.)
- Park bicycles at the APPROPRIATE rack.
- All bicycles MUST be locked!
- ONLY ONE bicycle per lock.
- Helmets ARE required by post regulations.
- WALK bicycles in the WALKING ZONE.
- NO skateboards, skateshoes, roller blades, or scooters are allowed.
The use of skateboards, rollerblade skates, and scooters is considered hazardous for all pupils. These items will be taken from pupils who ride them to school and parents will be required to pick up this equipment.
Bus Transportation
All school-aged students at Ft. Rucker Primary School are transported, if requested.
Students attending the Elementary School and living one (1) mile from school are eligible for transportation. Students who abuse the privilege by misconduct while riding the school bus will be denied bus service. Suspension of bus privileges does not mean that the student is suspended from school attendance. It does mean that parents must provide the transportation to and from school.
The school cannot be responsible for incidents occurring at bus stops before the bus arrives. Parents are responsible before bus arrival and after bus drop off at the stops. Parents of four-year-old students MUST meet their children at the bus stop. Unattended FRPS students will be reported to Family Advocacy (FACMT) and the chain of command if necessary.
The safety and well being of students is a major concern of the school and bus drivers. Being able to ride the bus is a privilege, not a right. Students will be assigned a seat on the bus at the discretion of the bus driver or principal. They will be expected to occupy that seat until it becomes necessary to move as deemed by the driver or the principal.
In the event of severe weather while transporting students, the buses will pull off the road until an all clear signal is given.
Student’s regular transportation will not be changed without a written note from parent or guardian. Phone calls are not acceptable, however, you may fax or E-mail transportation changes
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TELEPHONE USE
(Elementary School)
Students must have permission from their teacher in order to use the phone. Students and parents should have an understanding of the activities for the day, before students leave home for school. Plans for rainy afternoons should be made in advance.
Classes will not be interrupted to deliver messages except in an emergency.
No cellular phones are allowed for students.
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TOYS/ Electronic Devices
Students are not allowed to bring toys or electronic devices to school. If the toys are brought, they will be removed from the child.
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VISITORS
Upon arriving at school, all visitors must sign in and exchange a picture identification for a visitor badge. The picture ID will be exchanged again up visitors signing out and departing the building. Visitor badges are required to be worn in the building at all times for your child’s safety.
Visits to classes are limited to the classes in which the dependent children are enrolled and are to be approved by the principal. If parents wish to have a conference, teachers are available by appointment after school or during planning periods. Please do not ask a teacher to engage in conversation while class is in session as this detracts from the instructional process.
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WITHDRAWAL FROM SCHOOL
The classroom teacher should be notified five days in advance of the withdrawal of the students. This will allow the school records to be brought up to date. Records will not be released the last 10 days
