Attendance | Health Information | Emergency Procedures | Safety
Bus Safety and Conduct | School Breakfast and Lunch Programs | Discipline
Dress Standards | Miscellaneous Information | Student Services

ATTENDANCE

Absence Regular attendance at school provides children with the best chance for success and it is required by law. Students should bring a note explaining their absence each time they miss school. Teachers will call home after three consecutive absences. Excessive absences (10 or more) will be referred to the principal. If a student is ill and must be absent from school for an extended period, the parent is encouraged to contact the teacher who will work cooperatively with you in outlining activities and assignments for your child.

Tardiness Students are expected to be at school on time. Tardiness is counter productive to all parties concerned.

Withdrawal/Transfer If you are moving and need to withdraw your child(ren) from school, please come to the office before 12:00 P.M. Mrs. Bushman will fill out the transfer papers while you check out with teachers, the library and the lunchroom. Please note that most schools require a transfer form when registering midyear.

Student Check Out Students should not leave the school grounds from the time school begins in the morning until it ends in the afternoon unless they are going home for lunch (requires a permission note) or are being checked out by a parent. Parents taking students form school during the day must sign the check out log in the office before taking the child.

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HEALTH INFORMATION

Health Sheets An Emergency and Health Information Sheet should be filled out and returned to the office for each family each year. This information is critical in case of accident, injury, illness or emergency and should be kept up to date. Please call when changes occur.

Immunizations State law requires students be current on immunizations before they can attend school, unless exempted by the county health department.

Student Insurance The Board of Education now requires that all students purchase school insurance unless they are covered by their parents insurance plan. If you have your own insurance, you must sign the insurance waiver on the bottom of the student health sheet. Insurance can also be purchased through the school district.

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EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

You will receive an Emergency Release Form that our school will use in the event that school had to be evacuated for an emergency. The information on the form would allow us to release your children with individuals that you have authorized in case you are unable to pick them up yourselves. Each teacher will have the release forms for the students in their classes and they will keep record of who picks the students up. Please refer to the attached map which shows where each grade level is located.

In the event that we needed to evacuate the grounds as well, our alternative site to assemble would be the Garden Stake Center located on 1100 North. In the event of a major disaster, during regular school hours, all teachers and staff members will remain at the school to care for the students until they have been picked up by parents or authorized individuals. Students who ride the bus will be delivered to their normal bus stops. If they do not have access to their homes or emergency homes they will be delivered back to the school until they have been picked up by parents or authorized individuals.

Emergency Closing Before Starting Time The decision to close schools will be made by the superintendent and local authorities. You may tune to one of the following radio stations or local television stations if there is question whether or not school will be in session.

KSL 1160 AM KFMY 960 AM KZOL 96.1 FM
KCPX 99 FM KALL 910 FM KMGR 107.5 FM

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SAFETY

Students should be safe coming to school, while at school, and returning from school.

To and From School Students Should:
* Know the route you want them to take.
* Obey traffic laws at all times.
* Be extra careful around cars and buses (especially in bad weather).

Riding the Bus Students should take care of:
* Their bodies (back to back, seat to seat, feet down, etc.)
* Their voices (no yelling, screaming, arguing etc.)
* Anything they bring to school on the bus.

Riding Bicycles Students who ride bikes should:
* Obey the same traffic rules as cars obey.
* Park bikes in the bike rack on the east side of the school and lock them.
* Not ride bikes during school hours.

Cars and Buses Buses and cars should load and unload in front of the school in designated areas only. Please refer to the loading zone map in this packet.

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BUS SAFETY AND CONDUCT

Students are expected to exercise good behavior while waiting for and riding the school bus. They must realize that riding the bus is a privilege, not a right. This privilege can be revoked for good cause. Although the school is not directly involved in the transportation of students, we have great concern that students arrive at school and return home safely. If you have busing questions or concerns, please contact the Transportation Department at 763-7072.

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SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PROGRAMS

Hot breakfast and lunch is available to all students in grades 1 - 6. Students may pay for their meals on a cash basis at .80 cents per breakfast and $1.30 per lunch or may purchase a 20 meal breakfast/lunch ticket for $26.00.

(Lunches purchased twenty or more in advance have a $.05 discount). When a student’s account runs out their hand will be stamped to notify parents that a deposit is needed. Lunch menus will be published monthly in the school newsletter.

Those who qualify for free or reduced lunches should return applications, with verification on income, to the school as soon as possible. They will then be forwarded to the district office if this program is desired. Approved reduced applicants can purchase 20 lunches for $8.00 Approved free lunches are automatically renewed as long as a family qualifies for them.

The school lunch program will be handled by the lunchroom personnel. If you have any questions about the program, please feel free to contact our lunchroom staff or Ilene Carter at the district office. (796-3101)

Fourth, fifth and sixth grade students may be asked to work in the lunchroom on a rotating basis. This is not a requirement, but is a good experience for the students and is a great help to the school. If you prefer that your child not work in the lunch room, please inform your child’s teacher.

If you desire your child to come home for lunch either daily or occasionally, please write a note to your child’s teacher indicating your approval. This note will be kept on file by the teacher and needs to be done only once each year.

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DISCIPLINE

In order for people to learn, live and work together in a productive, safe and comfortable environment, appropriate behavior is necessary. Alpine School District, Mount Mahogany Elementary and each class has established realistic and reasonable guidelines for all students to follow, so learning can take place without disruption. Minor problems are handled by the classroom teacher through discussions with the student. Repeated disruptive incidents will be referred to the principal. Please refer to the discipline policy for further information.

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DRESS STANDARDS

Students should come to school properly dressed for learning. What a person wears frequently influences the person’s behavior. Clothing should be clean and in good repair.

We would like all students to comply with the Alpine School District Personal Grooming Standards. The following is the Standards of Dress and Grooming; Policy no. 5152:

1.2 District Guidelines

1.2.1 Hair should be clean and well groomed. Hair styles distracting in appearance or needing constant attention are not acceptable.

1.2.2 Clothing

1.2.2.1 All students are required to wear appropriate footwear to school. Footwear must not mark or damage floors.

1.2.2.2 Clothing which is ragged, tattered, or deliberately distracting in appearance must be avoided. Short shorts, very short skirts, halters, bare midriffs, cutoffs, and jeans of a “grubby” type are not acceptable. Vulgar words, profane or obscene slogans and pictures or advertisements for alcohol, tobacco, and drugs on clothing will not be tolerated.

1.2.2.3 Head wear should not be worn in the building. This includes boys and girls. Students may wear ball caps outside during recess, during other outside activities and on certain designated days. We would appreciate your support with this policy.

PLEASE NOTE: IF THE ITEM OF CLOTHING IS QUESTIONABLE BEFORE THE STUDENT LEAVES HOME FOR SCHOOL, IT IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE QUESTIONABLE WHEN THE STUDENT ARRIVES. WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS MATTER.

Lost and Found Clearly label jackets, coats, book bags, lunch boxes etc. Every year there are dozens of these items lost which we give away if we cannot find the owner. Please check our lost and found box.

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MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION

Visitors - Parents are welcome to visit school any time, however, please be careful not to interrupt the teacher during instructional time. If you are visiting we ask that you check in at the office. Also, we ask that you do not bring or ask to bring school age children visiting at your home to school. Each year we receive a few calls requesting permission to bring friends or relatives to school for one or more days. This can create some very uncomfortable situations for teachers and students.

Family Reps - Occasionally, information and other notices will be sent home with a family rep. Unless you designate otherwise, the family rep will be the youngest or only child in your family attending Mount Mahogany. The school/PTA newsletter will be sent home on a monthly basis through the family reps.

Phone Calls - School phones are for school business and emergencies only. Students will be allowed to call for illness, lunch charges and other emergency situations. They will not be allowed to call for permission to go home with a friends and other social situations.

Problems or Concerns - If your child has a problem or you have a concern, please let us know. Most problems have to do with miscommunication and can be quickly resolved. Visit with the teacher first, then with the teacher and principal together.

Student Supplies - All necessary supplies will be furnished by the school. We encourage children to have a book bag or a back pack to carry materials to and from school.

Fees and Donations - There is no assessment for fees for elementary school students. However, donations will be requested from time to time to help fund programs that would otherwise not be available. Examples of such programs are assemblies, field trips, plays and craft projects.

Homework - Homework should be an extension of class work. Assignment should be well planned by the teacher and fully understood by the students. Parents can help by giving their children a quiet place and time to work.

Grades - Grades are posted on report cards three times a year and a final grade is posted on each child’s permanent record at year end. Students in 3rd - 6th grades will receive A, B, C, D, or F letter grades. Students in K - 2nd grade will receive O,S, or N. Teachers explain their individual grading procedures in their disclosure documents and at Parent - Teacher conferences.

Pets - Pets should not be brought to school without prior approval of the teacher. Parents should take the pet home immediately after showing it to the class. No animals are permitted on the bus.

School Pictures - A professional photographer visits the school once a year to take each child’s picture. Notice is given well in advance of the date. If you wish to have your child’s picture taken, please send the money (check) in the envelope attached to the announcement.

Field Trips - Field trips may be planned for students which relate to classroom learning and activities. Parents will be notified in advance of field trips.

Toys At School - Please do not allow children to bring toys of any kind to school. They distract the children and do not enhance the educational process. Frequently these items can be lost or damaged by other children. The school cannot accept responsibility for the safety of these types of items.

Keeping Students After School - No student shall be kept after school without prior approval of the parents. All students should leave the school and grounds immediately following school since no formal supervision is provided.

PTA - The Parent Teacher Association is committed to helping children by working closely with the local school to assist teachers in every way possible. As a school we strongly support the PTA and encourage every parent and teacher to join and support the Mount Mahogany PTA. Volunteer help is always welcome and appreciated. If you would like to become involved in the PTA, please contact our PTA President.

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STUDENT SERVICES

Resource - Resource is available for those students that have been found eligible for special education services. A TAT team works with the parents to plan a program for these students. The qualified student is placed in the Resource Room for a portion of the school day for teaching in specific areas and remains in the regular classroom for the remainder of the day.

Speech/Language Pathologist - This staff member helps to identify and remediate a student’s articulation (incorrect speech sounds), fluency (stuttering), or voice disorder (hoarse or nasal qualities), problems.

School Psychologist - The school psychologist helps determine eligibility for special education programs. He/she participates in collaborative consultations with classroom teachers.

School Nurse - A public health nurse is at each school one day a week to see students who are referred or who request to be seen. She also compiles information regarding immunizations.

Vision Screening - Vision screening is done annually in grades K - 6. Vision screening is carried out by the school nurse and PTA volunteers.

Hearing Testing - Hearing testing is done annually in 1, 3, and 5 grades.

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