GO DRAGONS!

DRAGON

 

Parent Handbook

SCHOOL HOURS

  • Office Hours 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
  • Grades Kindergarten, 1-5 8:50 a.m. - 3:05 p.m.
  • Pre-K 12:25 p.m. - 3:05 p.m.
  • Pre-K Language 12:25 p.m. - 3:05 p.m.
  • Pre-K Language 8:05 a.m. - 3:05 p.m.
  • Early Dismissal 12:35 p.m.

Students are expected to arrive on time, but no earlier than 8:40 a.m. Please DO NOT leave your children at school prior to 8:40 a.m., as NO ADULT SUPERVISION is available. Children are considered tardy after 8:50 a.m.

TRAFFIC SAFETY: PARKING

Please obey the traffic rules and signage while driving in the parking lot. The following signs are posted to help you adhere to the rules: no parking, bus lane, handicapped spaces, reserved spaces, and one way. Please do not leave cars unattended along the curbs. If you are going to come into the building, use marked parking spaces.

STUDENT ARRIVAL

Please walk your child to the entrance doors and then allow him/her to walk to class by him/herself. This allows for a much smoother start and routines to be established from the first day. We will have staff throughout the building to direct students, as needed. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

ABSENCES

If your child will be absent, please call the school office as soon after 8:00 a.m. as possible. In addition to the call, please send a dated note stating the reason of the absence. Excused absences from school include: illness, doctor or dentist appointment, death in the immediate family, observance of a religious holiday, or a court order.

EARLY DEPARTURE

Children who need to leave school during the day must give the teacher a written excuse in the morning. The parent must sign the child out when he/she leaves school, and sign in if he/she returns.

LATE ARRIVAL

Children who arrive late to school are expected to sign in at the office.

LUNCH/RECESS

The lunch/recess period is one hour. Menus are sent home monthly. Free or reduced lunches are available to eligible students. Guidelines and application forms are available in the school office. In an emergency it is possible for a child to borrow money for lunch. A limited fund has been set up for this purpose. Because the fund is limited, once a child has accumulated a borrowed total of $5.00, he/she will be given cereal and milk at the cost of 65 cents until the money has been repaid.

VISITING CLASSROOMS

All visitors to school during the student day are required to report to the office to sign the log book and receive an identification badge, secure consent upon arrival prior to initiating any school-related business, and sign out at the conclusion of any designated school-related business. We welcome parents to visit their child(ren)'s classroom. Parents are encouraged to arrange the visit ahead of time by calling the teacher or principal since the class may be having a test or be out on a field trip. While visiting, please remember that an observation visit is not the time to talk to teachers. If you wish to discuss a matter with your child's teacher, make a separate conference date.

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

Parent-teacher conference appointments will be scheduled in November. These conferences provide a planned opportunity for parents and teachers to discuss a child's achievement and to plan cooperatively for continued student progress. Parent conferences will be held on November 11 and 12, 2009.

EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING

In case of emergencies, which make it impossible for Montgomery County Public Schools to open, information will be broadcast over local radio and television stations, beginning at 6:00 a.m. Please listen to local news and weather stations for updates instead of calling the school.

DELAYED OPENING

In the event of snow or other hazardous weather conditions, school may open two hours later than usual. All students who normally ride school buses will be picked up two hours later than their regularly scheduled pick-up time on delayed opening days. When a two-hour delayed school opening is called, A.M. Pre-K Language and A.M. Pre-K classes will be cancelled.

EARLY DISMISSAL

When early dismissal is necessary, school will close 2 ½ hours early. A.M. Pre-K Language, and students in grades K to 5 will ride their regular buses home. ( Pre-K and Pre K Language typically depart at 10:30 a.m. K-5 departs at 12:35 p.m.) The lunch period will be scheduled for students prior to dismissal. Announcements of early closings will be made on local radio and television stations. Parents are urged to tune in to local news stations to find out about school closings. In the event of an early closing, it is essential that children know what they are to do and where they are to go. Parents should give children specific instructions, which should also be on file at the school. If changes are made in these instructions, the school should be notified. Pre-K Language and Pre-K do not meet on early dismissal days.

TELEPHONE CALLS

Teachers and students will be called to the telephone from classrooms only for emergencies in order to protect instructional time.

PAYMENTS CHECK

Payments for class activities and field trips may be submitted by personal check or cash. Checks must be made payable to Mill Creek Towne Elementary School or MCTES. (Please note there is an Insufficient Fund Fee NSF) of $35.00 per returned check.)

WITHHOLDING OF FINAL REPORT CARD

Students who have not fulfilled all financial obligations or who have not returned all books will have the final report card withheld until all obligations are met. After obligations are met, final report cards may be picked up in the school office by parents.

CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR SCHOOL EVACUATION

In the event of an emergency evacuation of the school for a sustained period of time, students will walk with their teachers or be transported to Shady Grove Middle School. This constitutes a portion of our contingency plan for unusual circumstances far beyond the usual and routine fire drill procedures. It is urgent in the event of an emergency or disaster that we have up-to-date emergency information on your child. Please keep the school office informed of any changes in emergency contact, day-care arrangements, etc.

MEDICATIONS POLICY

In the event that your physician decides that your child needs to receive medication at school during the school day, MCPS Form 525-13- Authorization to Administer Prescribed Medication, must be completed and on file. Forms are available in the Health Room. Medication must be brought to the school by the parent/guardian. Under no circumstances will medication be given which is brought to school by a student. Medication must be properly labeled by a pharmacist.

BEHAVIOR/DISCIPLINE

The discipline policy will be distributed on the first day of school. Please review the policy with your child.

SAFETY: BUSES

At the elementary level, parents are responsible for student safety at bus stops (school safety patrols assist). Students who wish to go home with a classmate after school (either walking or riding a different bus) must bring a note to the office in the morning for verification. Without a note, students will be required to go home as usual.

HOMEWORK POLICY

The homework policy will be distributed on the first day of school. Please review the policy with your child.