Online Handbook

511 Coles Ferry Pike
Lebanon, TN 37087
Phone: 615-443-1946
Fax: 615-443-0215
http://www.colesferry.org

It is our pleasure to welcome everyone to Coles Ferry Elementary. The faculty and staff join us in saying we are happy to have you as part of the Coles Ferry family. We look forward to a year of discovery and academic growth for all of our students.

Our students in second through fourth grades use agenda books. These first few pages contain important information that will familiarize you and your child with our policies and procedures. We suggest that you review these pages together.

The Coles Ferry agenda book has been designed to assist your child in organizing his/her assignments. We hope that this program will improve organizational skills and promote responsible, independent learners. In addition, we feel that this book will serve as a useful source of continued communication between school and home. We ask for your participation and support as we work together to educate the children of this community.

JULY 27                                                         Registration Day
JULY 28 -29                                                   Workday/No School
JULY 30                                                         Stockpile Day/ No Students
JULY 31                                                         Workday No Students
AUG 3                                                            First Full Day of School
SEPT 4                                                            Stockpile/ No Students
SEPT 7                                                            Labor Day/No School
OCT. 5-16                                                                         Fall Break
NOV 25-27                                                     Thanksgiving
DEC 18                                                           Abbreviated day
DEC 21-JAN 1                                               Christmas holiday
JAN 4                                                              Stockpile Day/No Students
JAN 18                                                            MLK Birthday
FEB 15                                                            Presidents’ Day
MAR 8-19                                                                         Spring Break
April 2                                                             Good Friday/No School
May 7                                                              Stockpile Day/No Students
May 27                                                            Last Full Day of School
May 28                                                            Workday/No Students
May29                                                             Abbreviated Day/Report
May 31                                                            Memorial Day

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Students entering school for the first time must have the following required documents;

(4) DPT (Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus), (4) Polio, (2) MMR (Measles/Mumps/Rubella)
(3) Hepatitis B (required effective July 1, 1999)

You are encouraged to check with your doctor or local health department early to avoid last minute problems for school entry. If you are transferring from out-of-state, you must furnish a Certificate of Immunization before entering school. This can be obtained from your doctor or local Wilson County Health Department.

BUILDING SECURITY/VISITORS
For the safety of our students and staff, all visitors and parents are required to stop by the office upon entering the building. Please enter through the front door, as other entrances to the building will be locked. You will be asked to sign a visitor’s form and wear a visitor’s badge while inside the building. Whenever you are ready to leave the building, please go by the office and return your badge. Any time you are picking up your child early, we will call him/her to the office to be signed out by you.

You are welcome to visit your child’s classroom at any time; however, the teacher cannot take time to discuss your child’s progress at that time. The teachers at this school remain at school until 3:15 every afternoon, or later if necessary for parent conferences. At this time a student’s progress or any problem the student might have may be discussed. The conferences are private and confidential. Appointments with teachers may be made through the office. Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled each fall for the benefit of student education.

RECORDS:
Please notify the school immediately if you have a change of address or telephone number during the school year. It is extremely important that the school maintain up-to-date phone numbers and addresses of its students. Please be sure that the school has phone numbers and names of at least two other people who may be contacted in cases of emergency or mix-up in communication. Each student has a permanent Attendance and Scholarship Record; only school personnel and parents have access to these official records.

COURT DOCUMENTS:
If parents are divorced, the custodial parent must furnish a legal document granting custody and/or guardianship to the parent or guardian. If custody is not permanent, a Temporary Custody Order is required. Due to circumstances involving individual matters, other legal documents may be required.

CANCELLATION OF SCHOOL:
LSSD will utilize School Messenger, our parent notification system, for all inclement weather. You will be asked to designate a specific phone number for school messenger to contact you with recorded information regarding closures, early/late dismissals, and any other emergency situations. We will also notify all the local TV Stations and W.A.N.T. Radio 98.9 in Lebanon. Please remember that we cannot release your child to go home with a neighbor or friend unless you have placed them on the contact list in the office so we may contact you regarding the release of your child.

EMERGENCIES:
If emergencies occur system wide or at your school, you will be notified by School Messenger. School officials will not interrupt classroom instruction to deliver a message to a student or to call a student out of class except for emergencies. However, in case of an emergency, we will be glad to assist you in any way. Because emergency situations can arise, we must have current emergency numbers for each student. Please be sure to include the name and phone number of two emergency contacts on your child’s enrollment form. If this information changes during the school year, please call the school office at 443-1946 so we can update our records as needed.

ATTENDANCE:
Students are required by state law to be in school a majority of the day to be counted present. This means that during a regular day, the students must be in school for at least three hours and thirty-one minutes. Please keep this in mind when planning early dismissals for your child.
The law requires that school officials report to the juvenile court any student who is unlawfully absent from school excessively. In the state of Tennessee, that is defined as five days of unexcused absences in the school year. There are five reasons that we consider to be excused absences/tardies:
                  1.Personal illness (a doctor’s note may be required)
                  2. Death in the family
                  3. Religious observance
4. When unique opportunities for a trip should occur, teachers should receive at least two weeks notice to prepare make-up
    work. The days missed will be counted as absences.
5. Circumstances, which, in the judgment of the principal and/or designee, create emergencies over which the student has
    no control.

Should a student find it necessary to be absent from school, he/she should have his/her parents or guardian notify the school. In the event the school is not notified, the office may attempt to contact the home to find out the reason for absence. When a student is absent and returns to school, he/she must bring a note signed by the parent to explain the absence. Otherwise the absence will be considered unexcused. Unexcused absences may result in “O’s” for the work missed during the absence. Students with excessive excused and unexcused absences may be required to appear before the attendance board. If a student is absent for more than three consecutive school days or in excess of five days per nine weeks, a doctor’s note, including diagnosis may be required. However, if you have attended an Attendance Board meeting within a school and your child is in another grade, you will not be required to attend another Attendance Board meeting and may be referred to court.

Skipping school is not condoned under any circumstances. Any student caught skipping school is subject to suspension.

Date of Return to school
(Student Name) was absent on (Date of Absence) due to (Reason for Absence).
(Parent Signature)

An absentee form will be given to the student when he/she returns to school. This slip will be necessary for admission to any class missed while absent.

CONSEQUENCES FOR UNEXCUSED ABSENCES:
A letter will be sent to the parent notifying them that the student has five days of unexcused absences. The parent and the student will be required to appear before the attendance board which may include teachers, the attendance officer, guidance counselor, principal and/or designee, and possibly a law officer. The student and parent will sign a contract which will commit them to no more unexcused absences. Failure to appear before the board, or comply with the attendance contract will result in automatic referral to the Juvenile Court. If the student and the parent comply with the attendance board’s contract, they may be able to avoid referral to court. However, if you have attended an attendance Board meeting within a school and your child is in another grade, you will not be required to attend another attendance Board meeting and may be referred to court. However, five days of unexcused absences constitutes a Juvenile Court referral if necessary.

Our school hours are from 7:50 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. Students are not allowed in the building before 7:00 a.m. because there is no one to supervise the students. Once students enter the building, they will go directly to the gym. They will be dismissed to their classrooms at 7:30. Students are not allowed to go to the classroom before 7:30. Students who are eating breakfast may go to the cafeteria between 7:15 and 7:40 in order to eat and get to class on time.

It is absolutely necessary that the students be on time for school. Students who arrive after 7:50 a.m. must report to the office before going to their room so we may correct the attendance records. Three unexcused tardy notices will count as one unexcused absence and may result in parent and student having to appear before the school attendance board. The attendance policy will then apply to these absences. Please see the attendance policy for consequences of unexcused absences.

Early pick-up is discouraged. Time out of class is a disruption to the academic process. Whenever possible please try to schedule appointments, trips, and other events so that instructional time is protected. When early release cannot be avoided, parents/guardians must come into the office to sign out a student. Only those persons listed on the student’s registration form may sign them out. This Release Authorization must be completed at the time of registration. Please notify the office and update the information as soon as possible when changes to the information are necessary. Anyone who picks up a child must be eighteen or older. Identification may be required.

With safety as our foremost concern, we have developed the following system for dropping off and picking up students. We strongly encourage
each parent to follow these procedures. When followed, we believe it will allow for a timely and safe arrival and departure from school.

Dropping students off in the morning
1.           Parents of all students need to drop off children in either the front or the back of the building before 7:50. After 7:50 parents MUST park in a designated, lined parking space and bring students in the front entrance and sign in at the office. Parking in the grass is prohibited.
2.           The lane closest to the building is the drop-off lane. Please drop off your child and move forward to exit.
3.           The outside lane should not be used for drop-off or moving traffic.
4.           The outside lane should be used for travel to handicap or parking only. Do not allow your child to get out of the car while you are in this lane. Stop at crosswalks to check for pedestrians.
5.           If you must get out of the car with your child, you MUST park in a designated, lined parking space.
6.           Students will not be allowed to enter through a teacher’s outside door.

Afternoon Pick-up
1.           Dismissal will begin at 2:50. (Kindergarten at 1:50) Students will not be dismissed prior to this time. Please do not interrupt the instructional day by arriving early to pick up students. (Students dismissed early for doctor appointments and other events MUST be signed out in the main office.)
2.           All cars picking up students need to pull into the pick-up area and form two lines as you approach the building.
3.          Each car will need to have the student’s name strip provided by the teacher displayed in the front (loading side) windshield of the car.
              A. Kindergarten and first grade will load at the front of the building.
              B. Second grade will load at the side of the building outside of the second
                   grade hallway.
C. Third grade will load at the covered area in front of the new wing on the
      right side of the building.
D. Fourth grade will load in the back of the building.
4.           Teachers will begin loading cars as the car riders are dismissed.
5.           No cars will move until all are loaded, and a teacher blows the whistle or motions for traffic lanes to exit one group of cars at a time.
6.           Once the first group of cars leaves, the next group will enter the loading zone and the same process as mentioned above will take place.
7.           If your child is not out front when you are in the loading zone, you will be asked to circle back around and get in line again. If you have siblings who will need to load together, you may want to allow a little extra time for the older student to get to the loading area.

Safety policy for arrival and dismissal
1.           Students should never run to or from their cars.
2.           Parents do not need to leave their cars to come and get their children. Please obtain the attention of a teacher if your child has not loaded your car after the first whistle is blown.
3.           There is to be absolutely no loading while traffic is in motion.
4.           Campus speed is 10 MPH.
5.           Students who have siblings at Coles Ferry will load with the youngest sibling. Elementary students are not to be in any of the parking areas unattended.
6.           All cars should remain in park while students are being loaded into cars.
7.           Elementary students may not walk across the loading area to be picked up.
8.           If a teacher comes to your car window, please tell the name and the grade of your child.
9.           Teachers will not search for children in the lunchroom or gym. All students need to be outside by 3:00 p.m.

CAFETERIA
The school cafeteria is operated for the students. All food, whether purchased in the cafeteria or brought from home, is to be eaten in the cafeteria. A definite time for eating will be assigned each student. After eating each student is to return his/her tray to the tray window before leaving. No carbonated drinks, cans or glass containers are permitted in the cafeteria.

FREE/REDUCED LUNCHES
Every student is given an application for free-reduced lunch at the beginning of the school year. Applications are always available in the school office.

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH INFORMATION
Meals may be paid daily or in advance weekly or monthly. It is recommended that you pay in advance if possible. Please keep your child’s lunch account up to date. Any charges are expected to be paid within the week of that charge.

MEAL PRICES: Extra milk is $.25 & Adult drink is $.25
Breakfast                                                                         Lunch
Student                       $1.00                                             Student                       $1.55
Reduced                     $.30                                               Reduced                     $.40
Adult/Staff                 $.1.50                                            Adult/Staff                 $2.10
Visitor                        $2.00                                             Visitor                        $.3.00

Students have twenty-five minutes to eat lunch. We begin serving at approximately 10:30 a.m. and go at five minute intervals until all are served. Parents are welcome to eat with their children and will pay for their lunch in the cafeteria. Please call or send a note the morning you plan to eat with us.

Rules of good conduct apply in the cafeteria as in the classroom. Students may not get out of their seats without permission from the cafeteria monitor or educational assistants. Misconduct in the cafeteria will be reported to the teacher/principal.

PLAYGROUND RULES:
Good conduct is expected on the playground at all times. The following guidelines will be used:

BUS RIDERS:
The Rules and Regulations formulated by the State Board of Education for all public schools in Tennessee, in accordance with Tennessee Code Annotated 49-6-2102, state:
“A pupil shall become ineligible for pupil transportation when his behavior is such as to cause dissension on a school bus, or when he disobeys State and Local Rules and Regulations pertaining to pupil transportation.”
The following are violations in which your child could receive a bus suspension:
Getting out of seat, Pushing/Tripping, Excessive Mischief, Eating/Drinking/ Littering, Disobeying Driver, and Hands/Head out of Window, Destruction of Property, Fighting/Assault, Smoking/Use of Tobacco, Rude/Discourteous/Unacceptable Language, Throwing Objects, and Yelling/Hollering/Other.
Any other conduct prejudicial to good order on the bus such as attitude and/or foul language towards the driver shall result in a bus suspension for a time period to be determined by the principal. These following rules are the guidelines regarding bus stops to further ensure their safety: Please discuss with your child the following guidelines regarding bus stops to further ensure their safety.

“RIDING THE SCHOOL BUS IS YOUR PRIVILEGE”
DON’T LOSE YOUR PRIVILEGE.

BIKES:
Bicycle riders are to park their bicycles in the bike rack by the school. Bicycles should be locked since the school is not responsible for any vandalism or stolen property.

REPORT CARDS:
Reports cards will be issued to students approximately one week after the end of each nine weeks. Report cards should be promptly returned with the parents’ signature.

All honor rolls and principal’s lists will be published in the Lebanon newspapers. (as space allows)
1. Principal’s List – All A’s on report card. (3rd & 4th only)

CONFERENCES:
A Parent-Teacher conference day is scheduled each year, but a parent may request a conference at any time with their child’s teacher. Also, a teacher may find it necessary to ask a parent to come to school for a conference. We strongly encourage frequent communication between the school and home. However, we do not encourage or allow unscheduled hallway conferences concerning problems. These tend to interrupt scheduled activities and are not very productive.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND RECESS:
Children must present a doctor’s statement if they insist on remaining in the room frequently at playtime. In general, a teacher is to use her/his judgment for letting a child miss physical education or recess for health reasons.

PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION:
Our PTO is most supportive in so many ways. Programs and special events are provided in order to promote a close school family relationship. Parents volunteer to help with various activities and projects during the year. This help is encouraged and greatly appreciated.

NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND:
Under the No Child Left Behind law, every parent has the right to request information about the qualifications of classroom teachers and or teacher assistants working with children. You may contact the central office to find out if a teacher has met state qualifications and licensing requirements for the grade level and subject areas being taught; if the teacher is teaching under a waiver; what kind of degrees are held by the teacher; and if the child is provided services by a teacher assistant, what the assistant’s qualifications are.

TEXTBOOKS:
Textbooks are furnished at no cost to students. At the beginning of each year, parents sign a statement of responsibility for damaged or lost textbooks and library books. If this occurs, parents are responsible for the cost of the book.

HOMEWORK INFORMATION:
Students are to write their assignments for each class each day in their agenda book. Teachers and parents may communicate with each other through the agenda book. Parents have access to each homework assignment through the agenda book. Students should carry the agenda book home each day.

MISSING ASSIGNMENTS AND LATE WORK:
Students are expected to complete and turn in assignments by the due date. Students who have late work may receive one day to complete the assignment. This late assignment, however, may have dropped one letter for being late. If students have not completed this assignment by the following day, the assignment may result in a grade of zero.

ACCELERATED READER PROGRAM:
The Accelerated Reader program is a computerized program that motivates children to read. Students read books from the library and then take tests on the computer, earning points. This program is offered to any student grades 1-4 who is ready for it. Students receive special recognition at school through several awards. Awards Assemblies are scheduled at the end of each nine-week grading period.

WITHDRAWALS:
Parents of any student withdrawing from school should notify the school in advance. Teachers will summarize the student’s progress and prepare the student’s records for forwarding to the new school. When a student transfers to another school outside of the Lebanon Special School District or Wilson County Schools, a transcript of student records will be sent to the new school. If the transfer is within the Lebanon Special School District or Wilson County Schools, the entire permanent record is sent to the new school. These records are sent through the U.S. Mail since parents are not permitted to hand carry them.

PROMOTION/RETENTION:
Retention is sometimes necessary. It is our goal for all students to have reasonable achievement before leaving each grade. A pupil may be retained at any grade level and should be if it is deemed to be in his/her best interest. In the event that promotion is doubtful, the teacher and the principal shall make the final decision.

GENERAL CONDUCT:
All students are expected to conduct themselves as ladies and gentlemen in all circumstances and towards all people, in and out of school. Coles Ferry is as respected as the students who attend it and only as good as we desire it to be.

Bring only supplies needed for school. Leave at home: knives, gum, toys, firecrackers, glass containers, skating equipment, and all communication devices including cell phones.

Any threat concerning bodily harm or the killing of a student or staff member will be taken seriously and could result in some form of suspension.

Students behavioral policies apply at all times on school grounds, school related trips, off school grounds, at any school activity or event, or while students are being transported to and from school or school related activities.

CLASSROOM RULES:
Individual teachers will share information about classroom rules, procedures and consequences at the beginning of the school year.

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THE STUDENT RULES MAY RESULT IN THE FOLLOWING CONSEQUENCES:

Teacher counseling
Loss of privileges such as recess
Time-out in classroom or another classroom
Parent or guardian contact
Incident report filled out and sent with the student to the Principal for intervention. Possible interventions include: corporal punishment, in-school suspension, or out of school suspension.
The parents of a student who has received multiple incident reports during any one school year may be required to participate in a professional intervention team (PIT) meeting. The PIT meeting will include the parent(s), teacher(s), principal, and guidance counselor. This team will devise a plan to help the student with his or her behavior.

CONSEQUENCES:
Disciplinary action will vary according to the nature and severity of the problem/infraction.
This will range from consultation to corporal punishment. If a parent/guardian objects to corporal punishment, a written statement should be given to the teacher, and a copy should be kept in the office. Other punishment will be administered. In-school and regular suspension may result. Most serious cases may result in suspension for a definite or indefinite period of time, or the student may be expelled from the school system. Suspensions and expulsions are used as a last resort. They signify that the student’s behavior has been so disruptive that the only reasonable way to deal with the situation is to remove the student from the school environment. The student may apply in writing for readmittance signed by the student and parents. The principal will schedule a meeting at the earliest practical time. After the hearing, the principal may readmit the student or continue the suspension.

POSSIBLE DISCIPLINARY ACTION:
Corporal Punishment
Corporal punishment may be administered by the principal, assistant, or professional employee, according to provisions of the Lebanon Special School District Board Policy.
Corporal punishment is administered:
                  … Only after more positive actions have been taken
                  … Privately in the presence of a witness
                  …In a manner which is not degrading or embarrassing to the student being disciplined
                  …Humanely, with reasonable restraint, and never in anger
                  …So that no part of the head or face is struck

Parental objection, medical statement, or statement by a psychological examiner indicating the possibility of risk to a student’s well being may be filed with the school at any time within a given school year. The objection will be honored.

Suspension
Suspension of a student is denial of admittance to school grounds or activities until agreement is reached in conference with the parent at which time permission is given for readmittance. The principal or his/her designee is authorized to suspend a student from attending school or any school-sponsored activity as well as from riding a school bus.

Suspensions may be given for the following reasons:
                  …To impress upon the student the consequences of negative behavior, and to involve the parent in helping to change such behavior.
…To allow a period for reflection by the student, to protect safety and well being of the student or others with whom he or she is in
    contact.
…To permit a student to remain at home until psychological and/or medical examination can be arranged to assist educational
    planning in the best interest of the student.

Expulsion
Expulsion of a student is denial of enrollment in any school of the school system for a period not to exceed one (1) school year, except in violation of the Gun-Free Schools Act in which the student is subject to a period of not less than one (1) year.

The Board of Education may exclude a student on the recommendation of the school principal and superintendent.

After consulting school staff members, parents and other persons who can offer advice about appropriate plans for the student, the principal may complete a recommendation for expulsion and forward it to the superintendent. The parent(s) or guardian(s) will be notified of the action and have an opportunity to reply if they wish.

HOW PARENTS CAN HELP WITH DISCIPLINE:
Parents take an interest in all aspects of the student’s life in school or away from school. Each parent is responsible for the student’s behavior in school and is asked to work cooperatively with the school staff to maintain good relationships. Parents are asked to help in the following ways:

To take initiative in learning school rules for good behavior and to help the school in making clear to the student the behavior expected.
To communicate with school personnel to be sure the student is adjusting to school regulations and maintaining acceptable behavior.
To take every opportunity to visit the school, to talk with school personnel, and to get firsthand information concerning the student’s progress in each area of his or her school life.
To respond promptly to the school’s request for parent/staff conferences, and to examine all details of any problem or situation in which the student is concerned.
To exchange telephone numbers with the staff members for quick assistance with problems or questions.
To assist the school in deciding and reinforcing suggested remedies to identified problems.

SEARCHES:
TCA 49-6-4204 Search of Lockers; School lockers and desks, which have been assigned to a student, are and remain school property. School officials may inspect them at any time. The search may be in the student’s presence or in the presence of other members of the faculty. (Acts1981, ch.368.2)

TCA 49-6-4206 Search of Persons; In an emergency situation where a student has used or displayed a dangerous weapon or drug, the principal may conduct a search as is necessary under the circumstances, including search of the student’s person, to locate and recover such dangerous weapon or drug before any student can be harmed (Acts 1981,ch.368.2)

TCA 49-6-4206 Search of Containers; In other situations, a student’s pockets, purses, or other container may be required to be emptied if a search of a locker or other area used for storage by the student has disclosed the presence of a dangerous weapo9n or drugs. If it seems probable to a principal, from the results of a locker search or from information received from a teacher, staff member, or other student, that a particular student has a dangerous weapon or drug concealed on his person, he shall be subject to physical search. (Acts 1981, ch.368.2)

TCA 49-6-4206 Search of Vehicles: If, as an accommodation to students’ parking spaces of facilities are provided for students’ use or parking by students is allowed on school property, then as a condition to such parking privilege, vehicles owned, operated, or used by such students and parked on school property shall be subject to search for dangerous weapons or drugs if the student is otherwise found to be in possession of a dangerous weapon or drugs through a search authorized under this part and there is reasonable cause to believe that dangerous weapons or drugs may be in a vehicle owned or operated by that student, or in which that student is carried as a passenger, and such vehicle is located on school property (Acts 1981, ch. 368.2)

TCA 49-6-4209 Report of probable cause by principal to law enforcement officer. It shall be the duty of the principal of a school who has probable cause to believe, either as a result of a search or other wise, that any student is committing or has committed any violation of 39-4901, or 52.1498-52-1448 upon the school ground or within any school building or structure under his supervision to report such probable cause to the appropriate law enforcement office. (Acts 1981…368.2)

TELEPHONE:
The office telephone must, out of necessity, be used for school business only. Please try and make your child aware of any transportation arrangements before they arrive at school. Cellular phones are not to be used at school or on school buses.

CHEWING GUM:
Due to the unsanitary conditions created by the improper disposal of gum, students are not permitted to chew gum during the school day. Students who violate this regulation will be subject to disciplinary action.

SMOKING:
The use of tobacco in the building or on school grounds is strictly prohibited. Discipline will be determined by the administration. Any student on a school trip is considered at school. This includes the use of cigarettes, snuff, chewing tobacco, and any tobacco product. Parents, guests, and school personnel are not allowed to use any tobacco products in the school building or on a school trip.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES:
The possession of cell phones and other electronic devices is greatly discouraged. Should a student carry any electronic device to school, the device must be in the off mode and must be kept in the backpack, purse, or similar carry-all and may not be used during school hours. A device used outside these parameters shall result in the confiscation of the device until a parent/guardian can come and pick it up. A student in violation of this policy is subject to related disciplinary action. The school will assume no responsibility for these devices should they become lost, damaged, or stolen.

LOSTAND FOUND:
There is a lost and found area (in the commons area at each school). If something is found, please turn it into the office. If something is lost, check in the office to see if it has been turned in. Any unclaimed articles will be disposed of at mid-year and at the end of the school year.

Personnel of the Lebanon Special School District will not routinely administer medication of any form. Medication will be administered in unique situations, as determined by the principal and/or school health nurse, and limited to those required during school hours and where as the child’s health is dependent upon medical aid.

The following guidelines shall be followed within the district’s medication policy:

All medication must be brought to the principal’s office by the parent/guardian in the original pharmacy labeled container;
All medication requires parental consent;
All prescription drugs given in school shall be prescribed by a licensed medical provider;
Prescription medication brought into school must have a signed doctor’s order and parental consent. The form will be available at each school;
The following written information is required by the medical provider before the administration of medicine by school personnel

Child’s name
Name of medication
Name of physician and phone number
Time to be administered
Dosage
Any known possible side effects
Termination date for administering medication
Parental/guardian permission

Medication will only be administered by the principal, school nurse, or principal’s designee;
Each dosage of medication administered shall be documented with the initials* of the person administering or assisting the child in self-administration (*signature kept on file);
Children are not to self-administer drugs at any time without parental consent, school system personnel supervision, and appropriate authorization from a health care provider (if prescription);
Children are not to carry medications of any kind on their person with the exception of asthma inhalers, Epi-Pens or insulin delivery systems with written permission from a parent and authorization by a medical health care provider;
Any long-term prescription medication being administered at school must be reviewed at least annually by the licensed medical provider, and any changes shall have written authorization from the medical provider;
All non-prescription drugs are encouraged to be given by an alternative dosage schedule to minimize medication in school; however, parents/guardians may provide written request for with the following requirements:

Child’s name
Name and signature of parent/guardian and phone numbers (home and work)
Name of medication, dosage, route to administer, frequency and time to administer (any medication identified as to give “as needed” shall require a phone call to parents prior to administration);
Discontinue date
Reason medication is needed
Medication in small unopened bottle

The school system retains the right to reject the request for administering non-prescription medications;
School nurses will monitor the administration, documentation, and storage of all medications on a regular basis; and
The parent is responsible for picking up any unused mediation at the end of the treatment or at the end of the school year. Any medications not picked up shall be destroyed.

ILLNESS OR INJURY:
School personnel/school nurse will administer first aid treatment for minor injuries. If emergency medical treatment is needed, parents will be contacted. If parents cannot be contacted, local physicians and/or hospital personnel will administer medical assistance. At times it is necessary to call parents to pick up a sick child. This is another reason the school needs the names and telephone numbers of at least two people who are authorized to pick up a child if parents are not available.

SCHOOL CLINIC:
Our clinic is staffed with a school nurse. At the beginning of each year parents are asked to fill out a clinic card which supplies the school with important medical information; on this card a record is kept of all visits to the clinic. This record contains the date, complaint, medication given, and the name of the staff member who assisted your child.

INSURANCE:
At the beginning of each school year, school insurance is offered to each student. Parents pay the total cost. Forms are available on registration day and in the school office.

HEAD LICE:
When students are found to have head lice, we are required to send them home for treatment. In order to prevent the spreading of lice to others, students must be free of lice and nits before returning to school.