PUTNAM COUNTY/

GEORGE WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY

ATTENDANCE POLICY

In accordance with Putnam County’s Attendance Policy, we would like to remind you of the following:

1.    All absences must be verified by a written excuse from parent

      or doctor.

2.   Written excuses must be sent to school within 3 days of the student

     returning to school.

3.   Excused absences include the following:  illness/injury verified by

      a medical excuse; death in the immediate family (limited to three

    days per death); legal or religious obligation; failure of bus to

     run (note from bus driver or parent) required); or approved school

     activities.

4.   After acquiring five unexcused absences you will be notified in

     writing from the school, and after  ten unexcused absences you will

     receive a legal notice from the School Board of possible

     consequences.

5.   If attendance continues to be a problem, a petition may be filed with

     the Circuit Court against the parent or guardian for neglect.

6.   Habitual tardiness and early departures will be considered an a

     attendance problem.

7.   Missing more than one hour of instructional time is considered ½ day

     absence.

8.   There is a sign-in/sign-out sheet in the office for early departures or

      late arrivals.

9.    A student must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and report

     to the office when arriving late.

Students with exceptionally good attendance records will be recognized.

ATTENDANCE INCENTIVE

At the completion of each month there will be an assembly to recognize

students with Perfect Attendance for the month.  As well as receiving a

certificate, the students will be awarded with a prize.  Each month the

prize will be randomly selected from a container.  The following is a list

of the prize the students may win:

McDonald’s Coupon, Crazy Hair Day, P.J. Day, Hat Day, Wendy’s

Coupon, Crazy Socks Day, Dairy Queen Token, Lollipop Day, 

DISMISSAL FOR APPOINTMENT

If your child must be dismissed early for an appointment, you will need to come to the office to sign him/her out.  Children are never released directly from the classroom.  They will be called for and released from the office.  This is done for the safety of your child.

PLEASE NOTE: If any person other than the parent or guardian is to pick up the child, the school must have this name on file or a note from the parent specifying the necessary information.

AFTER SCHOOL DISMISSAL PROCEDURE

For the safety of the children, we are implementing the following after school dismissal procedure:

à        Parents are to remain outside the building at the end of the day.  You may wait in your cars and the teachers will bring the students to the car. Parents’ cars form a line and as each car reaches the front of the line, the children are placed in the cars.  Please do not come into the building to get your child.

à        Students being picked up by parents or walking home will be escorted outside by their teachers. If you walk to the door to pickup your child, please do not walk in front of the cars in line to your car.  You may cross into the parking lot in front of the car that is being loaded.  This will allow the cars in line to continue moving and not slow down the pickup process.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Students are expected to conform to the following student code of conduct:

         Attend school faithfully, complete assignments on time, and work

         to their full potential;

         Behave in a manner that does not disrupt classroom learning or

         the operation of the school;

         Obey teachers, principals, and others in authority;

         Refrain from aggressive or threatening behavior toward fellow

         students, teachers, or others;

         Refrain from the possession or use of weapons, illegal drugs,

         alcohol, or tobacco products.

LIFE THREATENING ALLERGIES

George Washington Elementary is a Peanut/Nut Aware school.  Three of our students have a life threatening allergic reaction when exposed to any peanut products.  To reduce the risk of exposure GWE will be PEANUT/NUT AWARE.  All snacks for our Kindergarten classes will be provided by the school.  We ask the students not to bring any snacks to school.  Since lunch is eaten in the cafeteria, children may bring peanut products or peanut butter for lunch.  All students with cold lunch will eat together and the students with the allergies will always eat with the hot lunch students, since the cooks are trained in keeping peanut products out of the hot lunch food.  This plan will help to maintain safety in the classroom while allowing non – allergic classmates to enjoy peanut products in a controlled environment at lunch.  Following lunch, the children bringing cold lunch will wash their hands and drink water to rinse their mouths, prior to returning to the classrooms.  The tables will be cleaned with soapy water and designated towels after lunch. 

Your support of these procedures is greatly appreciated.  Our staff will continue working together to provide a safe learning environment for all our students.  When you visit our school please do not bring peanut products.  If you have eaten any peanut products, please wash your hands and rinse your mouth.

CUSTODY ISSUES

If circumstances occur in which only one parent has custody of a child, and the other parent has no legal right to the child, the custodial parent is required to provide court ordered papers to be kept on file in the office.

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PROGRAM

 Nutritious breakfasts and lunches are served everyday that school is in session.  Meals are planned for all Putnam County schools by the Director of Food Services and meet federal and state nutrition guidelines. Free and reduced meals are provided for those who qualify.  Applications are sent home with every student the first day of school and are available in the school office any time during the year.  Do not hesitate to apply for free or reduced meals for your child(ren) at any time you feel they qualify.  All students have identical meal tickets and, unless a child tells, no one knows who receives free or reduced meals.

SYSTEM FOR PAYING:  All meals are charged on a monthly basis and are billed from and payable to the county office.  Call 586-0500, Exit 119 for questions about billing of school meals. 

Milk and water are included in the price of meals and, can also be charged (20 cents) by students who bring a cold lunch or wish to buy an extra milk or water.  Carbonated beverages cannot be brought to school or any drink in a glass container.  Parents must present verification in writing from a doctor of any food allergies.  Meal menus are sent home monthly

LUNCH VISITORS:  Students may have guests for meals at any time except holiday’s meals.  To enable all students to have guests for a holiday meal, kindergarten and third grade students may have guests at Thanksgiving, first and fourth graders at Christmas, and second and fifth graders at Easter.  Watch for school menus and weekly newsletters for exact dates and reservation forms for holiday