Absences
If
your child is going to be absent from school, you
may use Van Buren’s automated phone system to
report the absence. When you dial the school at 996-7100,
you will press #2 and follow the instructions for
reporting an absence. This system is available 24
hours a day. Excused absences include illness, doctor
and dental appointments and funerals. All other absences
are unexcused. Whenever possible, we request that
you make doctor and dental appointments outside of
the regularly scheduled school day so that your child
can benefit fully from classroom instruction. You
may, also, use the phone system to report a tardy.
Appropriate
School Dress
The
dress code for Van Buren School requires that children
dress in a manner that promotes safety and academic
learning. Street shoes, tennis shoes, and sandals
with back straps are acceptable. Shorts may be moderate
in length. Midriff shirts and spaghetti straps should
not be worn. Caps are not to be worn (exceptions
will be made for medical reasons). At all times,
clothing should be clean, neat and in good repair.
Arrival
Time
School
begins at 8:00 a.m. Students are not to be on the
school grounds before 7:30 a.m., when supervision
begins. Students are expected to be in their classrooms
at 8 o'clock. Those who are not on time will be considered
tardy and must go directly to the office before going
to class. Punctuality is a habit that needs to be
learned as an important life skill. If you have difficulty
getting your child out of the house on time in the
morning, consider moving some of your current morning
tasks to the evening before, such as setting out books,
homework, etc.; selecting school clothes; and packing
lunches. Also, having a specific place where students
can put the things they will be taking to school saves
time in the morning.
Bicycle
Riding
Students
in grades three through six may ride bicycles to school.
Students should bring some kind of lock for their bicycles
and should lock their bicycles up separately, not with
a friend’s. Students are to wear bicycle helmets
and follow the bicycle safety guidelines provided by
the police department. In addition, they may not ride
bicycles on the school grounds as this poses a safety
hazard for other students, parents and staff. We request
that parents discuss the safest routes to and from school
with their children and also bicycle courtesy. Bicycles
are the only "vehicle" children may ride to
school. Care
of Books, Desk, and Other Instructional Material
Each
student is responsible for the proper care of school
instructional supplies and equipment. Replacement
of items that are damaged by the child is the parent’s
responsibility. We would appreciate your discussing
this matter with your child.
Dismissal
from School
During
the school day, students must be dismissed from school
or returned to school through the office. Parents must
come into the office to sign the child out. At that
time, the teacher will be notified to send the child
to the office. A child will not be released at any
time to anyone other than the parent unless a signed
note from the parent/guardian has been sent in advance
to the teacher or the person is listed on the emergency
card. Dropping
Off and Picking Up Students
When
dropping off students in the morning, please use the
Valet Express or the drop off directly across the
street from the school in the white unloading zone.
We have two lines of traffic through the parking lot.
The right lane is for Valet Express, and the left
lane is for passing through the parking lot only.
We have set up the Valet program so that students
never walk between cars. Dropping students off on
Van Buren or on the cul-de-sacs across the street
force children to walk between parked cars. It is
also important that we be good neighbors and avoid
stopping in front of, or pulling into driveways of
homes near our school. The Valet Express has provided
a safe drop off in the morning and has helped the
traffic flow more smoothly. Cars parking in red zones
can be ticketed. These are school bus drop off areas.
The safety of your children is our priority!
Emergency
Information
It
is very important that the school be able to contact
the parent, doctor or other designated responsible adult
during the school day in case of an emergency or other
school need. Please keep the school updated at all
times regarding changes in emergency information. If
you have a cell phone or a pager, please be sure the
office has these telephone numbers on the yellow emergency
card. Health
Services
The
health clerk will be on campus regularly to keep track
of student health records and needs. Vision and hearing
screening will be conducted for students in Kindergarten,
second and fifth grades and for all special education
students.
Lunch
Program
Students
may purchase a balanced hot lunch, which includes
milk for $1.75 per day, payable to the cafeteria by
cash daily. They may also purchase milk separately
for $.40. Lunch tickets may be purchased any day
in the school office. You must purchase a minimum
of 10 lunches. Menus for the month will be sent home
with your child on the last school day of each month.
Medication
Many
children require medication during school hours. No
medication is given, including over-the-counter medication,
such as aspirin, liquid Tylenol, etc., unless we have
a signed statement from the parent and doctor. Forms
are available in the school office for this purpose.
In the case of short-term medication such as antibiotics,
medication may be given for up to ten days with a
signed permission slip from the parent only. All medication
must be given to the school in the prescription bottle,
properly labeled. As a safety measure, no medication
may be sent to school with a child.
Pupil
Progress Reports
Parent
conferences will be held at the end of the first quarter.
The majority of these conferences will be held during
the week of November 1st. Report cards
will be issued for the remaining three quarters. The
dates are Jan. 26th, April 6th
and June 14th. Additional parent conferences
with teachers are encouraged and should be arranged
during a time when the teacher is not on duty or in
the classroom. Feel free to contact your child’s
teacher to arrange a conference. This can be done
through our voice mail system.
Students
Going Home for Lunch
Students
may go home for lunch providing a note is on file
with the office to this effect. A student who does
not go home regularly for lunch must bring a note
from home on the day the parents grant this permission.
The following regulations have been established to
govern children going home for lunch:
a)
The student must be able to walk home, eat lunch,
and return within the allotted lunch period.
b)
A lunch pass cannot be issued for
purposes of allowing a student to go any place other
than his own residence.
c)
The student must sign out and back in at the office.
Weapons
Students
may not bring any item to school that looks like a
weapon or could be used as a weapon. In addition to
knives and guns, this includes sharp objects, explosives,
or toys that fire projectiles. Consequences for bringing
such items to school include suspension and possible
expulsion.
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