• All Georgia resident students shall have attained the age of five on or before September 1 in order to be eligible for admission into the kindergarten program.
• All Georgia resident students shall have attained the age of six on or before September 1 in order to be eligible for admission into the first year program.

Birth Certificate:

• Kindergarten and first year students must present legal birth certificate prior to entry into the Cobb County Public Schools. This shall apply to kindergarten and first year students transferring into the Cobb County School System during the year.

Immunizations:

• The law states that all children entering or attending school MUST have certificates of immunization BEFORE starting school. This certificate (GA Form 3231) must be obtained from a private physician or a local health department.

Certificate of Ear, Eye and Dental Examinations:

• All students entering a Georgia Public School for the first time must have the completed Ear, Eye, and Dental Screening form in the folder (kindergarten, first grade, out-of-state, etc.). The record must be for the dental screening portion of the form. The eye/ear screening will be done in the local schools as in the past.

Social Security Numbers:

• The Georgia General Assembly passed a bill that requires parents to provide Social Security Numbers for children who are enrolled in a public school in Georgia.

Custody Papers:

• Prior to enrollment of a student not living with both natural parents, proof of custody shall be provided to the local school principal.

REGISTRATION/PLACEMENT OF NEW STUDENTS

• All students will be enrolled through the school office. Students will be assigned to homeroom classes by administration and grade chairperson.
• Students will be placed according to former school records. Testing will be completed as needed. Parents are counseled that initial placement is tentative.
• If the student is assigned to a classroom prior to the attendance report being sent to the office, the teacher will add the student's name at the bottom of the attendance roster on the day of entry. If the student enters after that time, the office will place the student on the attendance roster.
• A registration card will be completed for each student. The card will be retained in the office.
   

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

• Verification of Residence (Warranty Deed or Lease)
• Certified Birth Certificate
• Georgia Immunization Certificate (Form #3231)
• Dental Certificate (Form #3300)
• Social Security Card
• Custody Papers, if applicable
• Child must be five (5) years old on or before September 1st to be eligible for Kindergarten, and must be six (6) years old on or before September 1st to enter First Grade.

Homework Guidelines and Suggestions for Parents

The purpose of homework is to reinforce and extend what your child has learned in class and to develop a sense of self discipline, personal responsibility, and independent thinking. As a rule new material is not assigned for homework.

We hope the following information and suggestions will be helpful for homework.

In order to give pupils an opportunity to develop various kinds of skills, teachers will give many types of homework assignments, some of which may not be written assignments. They may be to read, to cut out, to collect, to interview, to do research, to listen to a particular radio or TV program.

The school's policy is, generally, not to give homework on weekends. The reason for this is to give pupils a reward for a week's work well done and to allow them time to take part in family experiences such as trips, visits, outings, etc. Approximate Time Allotments:

• First year - about 15 minutes a day
• Second year - about 20 minutes a day
• Third year - about 30 minutes a day
• Fourth year - about 40 minutes a day
• Fifth year - about 50 minutes a day

1. Provide your child with a quiet place -- at a table or desk -- to write.

2. Set a regular time for doing homework each day and stick to it. Good times are just before or just after dinner. (Children should be given play time after school, before homework time).

3. See that he brings home assignments clearly written down in his homework pad or in the back of his notebook.

4. Assist by offering helpful explanations and by seeing that homework is neat and complete. Never do an assignment for the child.

5. Offer encouragement; avoid pressure.

6. Have it understood that homework comes before TV.

7. Check with your child's teacher if an assignment is not clear.

Encourage parents to consult the school whenever there is a question about homework, which, after all is intended to be a help, not a burden.

DAILY SCHEDULE

Students are to arrive at school by 7:50 a.m. Students must be present at least one-half of their instructional school day in order to be counted present. If a student signs in after 11:30, he/she will be counted absent that day for attendance purposes. If a student comes to school and has to leave prior to 11:30 and does not return, he/she is also counted absent. If the student leaves and returns and is present the required one-half day, there will be nothing reported on the attendance record. Students cannot sign themselves out. A parent or other responsible adult must sign them out in the office. If your class is on the playground and an adult comes and asks for a child, please make sure that he/she has a note from the office indicating the child has been signed out. No student will be permitted to ride another bus or go home in cars with another student without a written request from the parent and approval by the principal.

STUDENT'S USE OF PHONE

Students must always obtain permission to use the telephone. Students will not be permitted to use the phone to make arrangements for after school activities unless directed by a teacher. Please give the student a special phone pass when sending them to use the phone.

SCHOOL PARTIES

Treats are not to be provided for students unless they are related to a unit of study. There can be only one party during the school year. This party is held during the last hour of the day before winter holidays. Gift exchange procedures will be established each year.

DRESS CODE

• (1) The Cobb County Board of Education recognizes that the dress and grooming of students, both individually and collectively, are significant factors in the successful operation of the educational program. The Board intends to create an awareness within students that appropriate appearance and hygiene are conducive to their personal well-being of others.

• (2) All students of the Cobb County System shall be required to maintain the level of personal hygiene necessary to ensure a healthful school environment and to refrain from any mode of dress which proves to contribute to any disruption of school functions.

• (3) All students of the Cobb County School System are encouraged to observe a standard of grooming and dress consistent with the level of formality of the school situation.

• (4) Administrators and teachers shall enforce the dress code policy, and the principal or his designee shall be the final judge as to the appropriateness, neatness and cleanliness of the wearing apparel, or whether or not apparel is disruptive, distractive or in violation of the dress code.

• (5) The required standard of dress for students shall be as follows:
  • Shoes shall be worn.
  • Caps or hats are not to be worn in the school building during the school day unless there is a special activity during which they are deemed appropriate by the administration.
  • Clothing or ornamentation displaying or advertising substances illegal for minors is prohibited. Suggestive phrases, designs, marking, or profanities are also prohibited.
  • All students shall maintain an acceptable standard of dress. No midriffs for girls or tank tops for boys.

OFFICE REFERRAL

• When a student is referred to the office for intervention by the administration, it is necessary for the office to know what has transpired and why the student has been sent. When a student is sent to the office, administration will keep a card on the student and will use this card in determining the consequences for the offence(s).

LOST CLOTHING

• A large number of children's clothing such as sweaters, coats, gloves, shoes, hats, etc., are lost each year and never claimed. Suggest to students that they put labels or their names in their clothes. All lost items are turned in to the Lost and Found. Items left on buses are sometimes, but not always, brought in by the bus driver. Ask students to check with the bus driver if he/she thinks something might have been left on the bus.

STUDENT HEALTH CARE

• MEDICATION
  • If a child has to take prescribed medicine at school, have him bring the medicine in its original container with a note signed by parent giving specific directions. Have student bring medicine to office. Medicine will be distributed by the clinic at designated time. It is the student's responsibility to go to clinic for medication.

  STUDENT ILLNESS

  • In the event a student becomes ill, teacher should send the student to the clinic. The clinic attendant will determine if the student should go home and will call the parent(s).

  ACCIDENTS

  • In the event a student is injured in any way, an accident report MUST be completed the day the accident occurred.

  MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

  • (1) If a child is seriously injured, your number-one priority is to maintain an open airway. This is critical. If the airway is blocked by the tongue, another object, or blood, irreversible brain damage and death can occur in minutes. Here is what to do:
    • If the child has no injury to the neck or bank, place him on his back and gently tip his head back; this should open the airway. Listen for breathing, and watch the child's chest movement. If you can see an obstruction, clear out the child's mouth with your finger or cloth.

      If the child's neck or back are injured, don't move him or tip his head back; this could cause further injury. Instead, gently lift up his chin to open his airway.

    (2) When a child is choking, you should find out if the child can speak. If he can't speak, he can't breathe either. Use the Heimlich maneuver to try to dislodge the object that is blocking the airway.

    • If the child can speak, he can also breathe, and you don't need to intervene.

    (3) You can usually control severe bleeding by applying pressure directly to the wound. Any other method will be ineffective, and possibly harmful.

    (4) If you suspect a child's limb is broken, you should keep the limb still. This won't be hard; the child won't want to move because of the pain. You will do more harm by trying to move, or splint, the limb. You can apply an ice bag to minimize swelling and to relieve pain by numbing the area. But don't apply heat; at this point it will only increase the swelling.

    (5) If a child is scalded with hot liquid, you should run cool water over the burned area or apply a clean bandage, either wet or dry. Never apply a lubricant, antiseptic spray, or oil of any kind to a burn. It introduces a foreign substance that can cause infection. It also holds the heat in and allows the burning to continue. Not only that, the child will be in more pain later when the hospital staff has to remove the substance before treating the burn.

    • Instead, for burns without blisters, hold the burned area under cool running water until the temperature of the area matches that of the rest of the skin.

      For burns with blisters, cover them loosely with a clean, wet or dry cloth or bandage, then find a doctor immediately.

    (6) To stop a nose bleed, pinch the child's nostrils together for a few minutes. Don't have the child lie down; swallowing blood that trickles down the back of the throat will cause nausea and vomiting. Applying a cold compress or ice to the back of the neck will have no effect on the nose, although applying it to the bridge of the nose may help a little.

    (7) Your first action for a child who is having a seizure is to keep the child from hurting himself. Do not do this by holding him down. Do cushion his head with a coat or sweater, and clear the area of hazards (desk, chair, sharp objects, hot food). Loosen tight clothing, if you can. Wipe away any saliva or blood, but don't put anything in the child's mouth; he won't swallow his tongue, but he could choke on the object. Don't leave to call an ambulance; have someone else do that. As the seizure subsides, calm the child by talking gently to him, telling him to take slow, deep breaths, and reassure him about where he is and what happened.

    (8) If a child you know is diabetic becomes sweaty, confused, pale, and cool to the touch, but is still conscious, offer some granulated sugar, jelly, syrup, orange juice, or other non-solid sweet to counteract his low blood sugar. Don't give anything solid, as it may block the airway if the child loses consciousness. Then quickly get medical help for the child.

    • If the child is unconscious, don't put anything in his mouth. Instead, quickly get medical help.

    (9) When a child has swallowed something poisonous, call the local poison control center immediately for directions. (589-4400) Don't follow directions on any label; product ingredients change, and the directions may be inaccurate.

    (10) Not helping an injured child may be considered irresponsibility. Certainly, doing nothing is better than doing the wrong thing. And no one expects you to substitute for a doctor or nurse. But even as a lay person, you're expected to act responsibly and to use common sense. That includes keeping your head, sending for help, staying with the injured child, and supplying the most basic first aid.

  HEAD LICE

  • When you suspect that a student has head lice, please send him to the office with a note. The office staff will recheck the hair for lice and/or nits. If the student does have head lice, we will notify the parent of the student that the child must be picked up from school. A letter will be sent with the child giving information and directions for treatment. You will then need to check the other students in your class for lice and/or nits and then send home an informational letter regarding lice with each student.

    If the student has brothers or sisters enrolled in the school, those teachers will be notified so that these students may also be checked for lice.

    Before a student may be readmitted to school, he must show proof of treatment (Example: box top from medicated shampoo).

  THE FACTS OF LICE: WHAT EVERY ONE SHOULD KNOW

  • Many families will be affected by head lice (pediculosis) infestation this school year in Georgia, generating anxiety greatly out of proportion to the troublesome condition. To help you "Check aHead" we invite you to read this following information:

    WHAT ARE HEAD LICE:

    • The head louse (pediculus humanus capitis) is a parasite insect that lives primarily on humans. It does not breed on dogs or cats. Lice usually live on scalp hair, preferring the area behind the ears and at the nape of the neck. The louse is small, about the size of a sesame seed, and varies in color from pale honey-color to dark reddish-brown. Lice cling to hair shafts with their six hook-like claws.

    HOW DO THEY REPRODUCE:

    • During her short life of thirty days, a female louse will deposit 3-4 eggs (nits) each day. Nits are tiny grayish-white or yellowish-white oval egg cases which are firmly attached to the hair shafts by a cement-like substance secreted as the egg is deposited. Eggs hatch in 7-10 days. The immature crawling louse is able to reproduce when two weeks old. Nits on hair which has been shed from the scalp remain viable until hatched and then move quickly to the nearest person to take their first meal. Nits remain capable of hatching up to 10-12 days. Head lice can be transferred by inanimate objects and clothing, can survive up to 8 hours between feedings, and can do so off the body. They can travel up to 12 inches per minute, so that lice hiding in clothing (on coathooks or in lockers) can quickly move to the next warm garment placed nearby through the school day.

    HOW DO THEY FEED:

    • Newly hatched immature and adult lice feed on their human host's blood about every 5 hours. The louse stabs an opening through the skin and deposits its saliva to prevent clotting of the blood, then sucks blood into its digestive tract. Lice may continue feeding for a long time if not disturbed and excrete feces onto the scalp, which appear a reddish-black specks and are easily spotted on persons with blond or fine, thin hair.

    SYMPTOMS OF INFESTATION:

    • The itching that occurs when lice feed from the scalp is a primary symptom of infestation, although not everyone will experience itching. Children seen scratching their heads frequently should be examined by their parents and teachers. Often red bite marks or scratch marks can be seen on the scalp or the neck. In severe infestations, a child may develop swollen glands in the neck or under the arms.

    HOW ARE LICE TRANSMITTED:

    • Lice are incapable of hopping, jumping or flying and are primarily acquired by coming in direct contact with an infested person. Wearing clothing recently worn by an infested person (such as a hat, coat, or scarf), using an infested comb or brush, or lying on infested furniture, carpeting, or bedding can also result in a case of head lice.

TREATMENT OF THE INDIVIDUAL WITH HEAD LICE

• Before one family member is treated, all should be examined. Those showing evidence of infestation should be treated at the same time. Individual treatment is a 2 step process involving the use of a medicated shampoo and a combing tool manufactured for the purpose of nit removal.

  (1) Remove your child's shirt and provide a towel to cover the eyes. DO NOT TREAT IN THE BATHTUB OR SHOWER, but have the child lean over a sink so the medicated shampoo is confined to the scalp and neck.

  (2) Use one of several louse remedies available at your drug store. Some are available without prescription; some require prescription and can be obtained by calling our office during regular office hours. Use all products carefully, observing all safety guidelines. DO NOT USE THESE PRODUCTS ON INFANTS without first contacting our office. Read all package information before using these products. Avoid personal lice sprays.

  (3) Although it can take time and sometimes be difficult, REMOVE ALL NITS to insure complete treatment. Louse products rarely kill all the nits, and survivors will hatch into crawling lice in 7-10 days causing self-reinfestation. Nit removal can be accomplished with a special combing tool manufactured for this purpose and available from your drug store, or by picking them out with your fingernails or tweezers. Nit combing is best accomplished with the hair dry or slightly damp. A vinegar and water solution to towel soak the hair may loosen the nit "cement" and make removal easier.

  (4) Following nit removal, have the child put on clean clothing.

  (5) A daily nit check is advisable for at least 10 days following treatment. You may have to retreat in 7-10 days if there is evidence of new nits or crawling lice. Remember, regardless of your careful precautions at home, reinfestation from others can still take place.

TREATMENT OF PERSONAL ARTICLES AND ENVIRONMENT:

• (1) Machine wash in hot water all washable clothing and bed linens which have been in contact with the infested person during the last three days. Dry clothing in a hot dryer if not harmful to clothing. Non-washables can be put in a hot dryer only for 20 minutes if the heat will not harm them. Things which can not be washed or dried can be sealed in a plastic bag for 14 days or vacuumed carefully.

  (2) Combs, brushes, etc. can be soaked in louse shampoo for one hour, or in 150 degree water for 5-10 minutes. Don't let the heat damage any of these items.

  (3) Rugs, upholstered furniture and mattresses should be carefully vacuumed to pick up any living lice or nits attached to fallen hairs.

  1. THE USE OF INSECTICIDAL SPRAY IS NOT RECOMMENDED AND STRONGLY DISCOURAGED AS IT MAY BE HARMFUL TO FAMILY MEMBERS AND PETS AND IS OF QUESTIONABLE BENEFIT.

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