ABSENCES

Instructional time in an elementary school is structured and sequential. Family vacations should be planned with the school calendar in mind to prevent children from missing essential skills. When a student is absent, he/she must bring a written signed excuse upon returning to school. Please indicate the following information: child’s name, teacher’s name, date(s), and reason for absence, signature of parent or guardian.

Excused Absences include:

· When personally ill and when attendance in school would endanger their health or the health of others.

· When there is a serious illness or death in their immediate family which would reasonably necessitate absence from school

· On special and recognized religious holidays observed by their faith

Absences from school grounds: Children will be released only to their parents and/or guardians unless the school has been authorized otherwise in writing. If a child must leave early, a parent or authorized adult must come into the office and sign the child out. The child will be called to the office to be released. Identification will be required.

The Cobb County Policy states that after five (5) absences, you will receive notification from your child’s teacher, after ten (10), you will receive a letter from the principal and after 15 a referral will be made to the school social worker who may then contact you.

ACCIDENTS & ILLNESSES

If a child has an accident during the day requiring outside medical attention, we will contact a parent. If a parent cannot be contacted, we will take the child to a local emergency room provided a medical release has been signed. Judgment in such cases is at the discretion of the school authorities, and parents assume financial responsibility. Please keep updated contact numbers on file in the front office.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Admission requirements for admission to Cobb County Schools are established in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia and policies of the Cobb County School System.

AGE

Children who are five (5) years of age on or before September 1 are eligible for kindergarten.

Children who are six (6) years of age on or before September 1 are eligible for first grade.

RESIDENCE

In order for a student to be admitted to Cobb County Schools, the parent/guardian shall provide proof of residency. Any one or more of the following will be required:

Home ownership title or security deed in the name of the parent/guardian

Lease or rental agreement

Current utility bill (gas, telephone, power, water)

Current Georgia’s driver’s license

Current bank, credit union or other financial institution documentation

Voter registration documentation from Cobb County

BIRTH CERFITICATE

A birth certificate with legal seal must be presented at registration.

GEORGIA CERTIFICATE OF IMMUNIZATION

It is required by law that your child be immunized. Immunization may be obtained through your private physician or the Cobb County Health Department. The state of Georgia now requires that all children born after January 1, 1992 receive a three (3) dose series of Hepatitis B vaccine prior to entering kindergarten.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS – Cont’d

EYE, EAR AND DENTAL CERTFICATE

It is also required by law that each child has this certificate. This can be obtained at a private physician or the health department.

CUSTODY PAPERS

We encourage parents to supply a complete set of custody papers for your child’s records.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER

Based on Georgia law (Official Code of Georgia Annotated, Code Section 20-1-150), parents must provide the Social Security number for children who are enrolled in public school in Georgia. If a parent wishes not to divulge the child’s social security number to the school, they must have a notarized waiver form on file. That form becomes a part of the student’s permanent record.

YOUR CHILD’S PREVIOUS YEARS STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES

You must present your child’s CRCT, ITBS, or other equivalent standardized test score from their previous school, if applicable.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

The After School Program (ASP) operates on the days that school is in session and will begin on Wednesday, August 10, 2004; hours are 2:20 pm – 6:00 pm Monday – Friday. It will function under the guidelines established by the Cobb County Board of Education. Registration for the program is required prior to attendance. Application forms are available in the front office. There is an annual registration fee of $10 per child. You must pay this fee and keep a credit balance in your child’s account in order for them to stay in ASP. This year ASP will cost $7 per day, per child. Parents are required to designate whether their child will attend ASP at Big Shanty or Kennesaw. They may NOT change sites during the school year unless a written request for a permanent change is approved by the principal of your home school. ASP transportation to your school of choice will be provided by Cobb County. They will only run one shuttle bus and students who miss that bus will remain in ASP at their home school and parents will be notified that they will have to pick them up at the home school and pay the $7.00 fee at that time. ASP services are available to parents on a pre-paid basis only. You must pay directly to the site where your child attends ASP. There will be absolutely no charges. It is advisable for parents to register and pre-pay one day of ASP for an emergency or last minute situations. If you need to use ASP and have not registered and paid the fee and do not have a credit balance in your child’s account, then your child will be sent home by their regular means of transportation. All unused funds will be refunded to the parents at the end of the school year when you make that request in writing to the bookkeeper.

ATTENDANCE

Regular school attendance is required by law for children between the ages of seven and sixteen. Regular attendance means actual attendance of a pupil during the entire day of school. We solicit your cooperation in planning appointments that do not interrupt school hours. The Cobb County Board of Education requires that schools keep proper attendance records on all students. These records shall be open to inspection by the school social worker. We promote prompt and regular attendance for all students.

BOOKS

Textbooks for the children are provided through the County and State funds without cost to the child’s parents or guardians. In compliance with the textbook policy, all charges for lost or damaged books must be paid in order to issue replacements or transfer records to other systems. All textbooks issued to children will be their responsibility should the books be lost, damaged or stolen.

BUS CONDUCT

All students transported within the Cobb County School System shall behave in a manner which is conducive to their safety and welfare. Behavior of students on school buses is considered an extension of the classroom behavior. Students who fail to respond to direction of the bus drivers shall be reported to the school principal who may deny the student bus transportation. Students shall observe the following code of conduct established for the Cobb County Public Schools:

1. Students must show proper respect to the driver at all times and obey all driver instructions.

2. Large toys, insects, glass bottles, animals, plastic bags, straight or safety pins, skateboards or objectionable items are not permitted.

3. Tobacco, illegal drugs, alcohol and weapons or look-alikes are prohibited.

4. Students will keep their arms and head inside the bus at all times.

5. Nothing is to be thrown in to or out of the bus.

6. The use of obscene language or gestures is prohibited.

7. Unnecessary noise is prohibited.

8. Destruction or defacing school property is prohibited.

9. Food, gum or drinks cannot be consumed on the bus.

10. Drivers are required to assign seats to elementary and middle school students.

11. Students must be seated at all times unless otherwise directed by the driver.

12. Students must be quiet at all railroad crossings.

13. When crossing a street is necessary, students will wait for the driver to signal to cross the street and then cross in front of the bus in full view of the driver.

14. The emergency door, windows and hatches are to be used only at the direction of the driver.

BUS CONDUCT- Cont’d

15. Students are to be at the bus stop five minutes prior to the scheduled time and are to wait in an orderly manner. The bus is not considered late until five minutes past the scheduled time.

16. Students may be allowed to ride a bus and to disembark at a bus stop other than that assigned for their residence provided the parent/guardian submits a request in writing to the principal for approval.

17. Any other disruptive behavior will be referred to the principal as deemed necessary to insure safe transportation of students.

CAR RIDERS AND DAY CARE BUS RIDERS

Car riders and children who ride day care buses are dismissed from Big Shanty and Kennesaw Elementary at 2:20 pm. Prompt pick up of your child is necessary. Children may not be sent to ASP unless they are registered, the fee paid and there are funds available in their account. Car riders are to be dropped off and picked up in front of the schools at the designated area. NO CHILD MAY BE DROPPED OFF BEFORE 7:15 AM. Cars may not be left unattended. Parents are asked to stay in one line in the car pool lane. Do NOT park and cross in front of the traffic with your students or dismiss your child in spots that are not designated. Please adhere to these rules for the safety of all of our staff and students.

CHARACTER EDUCATION

All schools in our district participate in Character Education instruction. (This year’s schedule is in this handbook). At Big Shanty and Kennesaw, we believe that Character Education is a continuous process of positive development which should reinforce the positive qualities we all want to see in today’s youth. Each week, we focus on a different Character quality. The first minutes of each day are devoted to teaching this program. Please take the time to discuss and review the character words with your child each week.

COMMUNICATION DEVICES

Students are not allowed to use or wear beepers, cell phones or other electronic communication devices at school during the regular school day or at school sponsored events. This includes “look-alikes”.

COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS/GUARDIANS

Both Big Shanty and Kennesaw have communication folders that go home each week with your student. This folder will be an important tool for communication between you and the teacher/school. Be sure to look over that folder each Thursday. Other forms of communication that each school provides are: announcements over the school intercom, placing information on the marquee, this handbook, phonemaster and the school’s websites. Please take the time to read this handbook and listen to phonemaster as that will be your sources of information for upcoming events at each school.

CONFERENCES

A conference with your child’s teacher is the best means of learning how your child is performing in school. Every parent is asked to attend a minimum of one scheduled conferences each year. Requests for additional conferences can be made by the parent or the teacher or by calling the school. We ask that you not drop in unannounced for a conference. The teacher may have a prior commitment. Fall conferences are October 16-20. There will be no Spring conferences per Cobb County. STUDENTS ARE DISMISSED TWO HOURS EARLY EACH DAY DURING CONFERENCE WEEK. Parents are always encouraged to discuss a classroom concern with the classroom teacher prior to addressing it with administration.

CLINIC

Each school maintains a sick room staffed by a paid clinic worker to deal with accidents and illnesses that occur during the school day. IF YOUR CHILD IS RUNNING A FEVER PLEASE DO NOT SEND THEM TO SCHOOL. We maintain a clinic card on each child. Please be sure that your child has one on file and all the contact numbers are kept up to date. Remember: If your child is throwing up, experiencing diarrhea, or a fever while at school, they must be picked up in a reasonable amount of time. By County regulation, they may not return to school for 24 hours following the time when the child last experienced these symptoms. You will be contacted to pick the child up if they return before the 24 hour time period has elapsed.

CONFLICT

Conflict is a very natural part of life. We do take the time to teach children conflict resolution sills. Parents are the most significant influence in a child’s life. We need parental support in teaching and promoting nonviolent management of conflict. If a child experiences a conflict for which he/she may need some help, our counselors are available to assist.

CONTRIBUTIONS, DONATIONS AND GRANTS

In conformity with the State Board of Education rules and regulations, voluntary contributions, donations or grants may be received from interested citizens for support of the educational program of the Cobb County School District. Incidental to this, citizens may contribute toward expenditures for materials, supplies, equipment and activities. No student may be charged either tuition or fees as a condition of enrollment or full participation in the instructional program. Pursuant to law ICGA 20-2-671, admission to all Cobb County Public Schools shall be gratuitous to all eligible children residing within the Cobb County District.

DISCIPLINE

Our objective at Big Shanty and Kennesaw is to teach students self-control and responsibility. We expect and insist on proper behavior and conduct so that optimal learning may take place. When necessary, we employ approved methods of dealing with unacceptable behavior.

DRESS CODE

Students’ dress should be neat and allow for maximum comfort and flexibility. Students’ dress should also allow us to maintain an environment that is conducive to learning. Therefore, students should adhere to the following dress code:

· Hats, caps, bandanas or headbands are not worn in school, unless announced for special occasions.

· Clothing with obscene or suggestive language is not permitted.

· Clothing which promotes violence, gangs or is racially insensitive is not permitted.

· Crop tops, halter tops, tank tops, or muscle shirts that expose the midriff are not allowed.

· Clothing that advertises alcohol, sex, drugs, or tobacco will not be allowed.

· The students attend PE on a regular basis and participate in daily outdoor activities, therefore, tennis shoes are recommended for their comfort and safety.

Students violating the dress code will be given the opportunity to change clothes or they may be sent home.

Additional guidelines may be provided by specific grade levels.

EARLY RELEASE DAYS

Opportunities for staff development for the teaching staff will be accommodated though three (3) early release days during the 2006-2007 school year. THE STUDENTS WILL BE DISMISSED TWO HOURS EARLIER THAN USUAL ON THESE DAYS. The additional staff development time will greatly benefit the teaching staff as we work to better define and monitor our progress in delivering a quality instructional program. Please see the calendar for dates and make appropriate arrangements to have your child picked up early on those dates.

EMERGENCIES

Should there be an emergency and you need to pick up your child, come to the school office. There is a sign out sheet. DO NOT go directly to the classrooms for students as the teacher will not release your child without office approval. Your child’s protection is our concern and we solicit your cooperation in following this procedure.

FIELD TRIPS

A field trip is defined as “a planned educational experience directly related to and correlated with a particular unit of study or a specialized function of the school.” We believe that there is a definite place for this educational experience in the instructional program. All field trips are approved by the principal based on their direct and meaningful relationship to the curriculum. Donations are requested from the parent for each field trip. No student will be denied the opportunity to attend because they are unable to make a donation but if adequate donations are not collected, the field trip may be cancelled. Please know that during extenuating circumstances, field trip plans may have to be changed at the last minute.

HOMEWORK

Homework is designed to benefit the student in the following ways: skills practice, review, reference work, special projects and reports. It also trains a child in good work habits, promotes responsibility and affords the opportunity for an increase in self-direction. Another goal of homework is to help a student learn to budget time. The amount and type of homework assigned is determined by the needs of the individual student. Homework grades may only be reflected in the work and study habits section of the report card.

We encourage active parent participation in their child’s progress through their support and supervision of homework assignments. It is a direct means of communication that tells parents a great deal about what is being done at school. Parents can also help with homework by providing the right atmosphere for studying.

INVITATIONS

All invitations to private parties should be handled outside of school. Invitations may not be distributed at school.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

When the Cobb County School System is going to be closed because of inclement weather, the decision for closing schools is usually made by 6:00 am and given to the radio and television stations. The closings are usually announced right after the headlines on the hour and continuously scroll along the bottom of the TV screen. In the event of early dismissal due to inclement weather, students will be sent home following the instructions on the inclement weather form. Each parent/guardian is responsible for completing this form and keeping it updated. The After School Program will be cancelled when there is an early school closing. Please do not call the school. Updates will be posted on each school’s website.

Executive Boards

PTA/PTSA Programs

Accelerated Reader

SCHOOL POLICIES AND PROCEDURES