School
Handbook
"The door of opportunity is wide open
if you are prepared. "
                                                    

Documents Needed to Register: To complete the registration of your child, you must:

1. be the parent or legal guardian

2. present the original birth certificate (no copies accepted)

3. present the original social security card

4. present the immunization record

5. present proof of residence. Strict enforcement of court-ordered attendance zones requires parents/legal guardians to provide proof of the domiciled residence (where you live) that coincides with their 911 address. Example: a rental lease agreement, utility deposit receipt, current utility bill (electricity or natural gas) with the service location, homestead exemption receipt.

Emergency Procedures: Current address, telephone numbers, three additional emergency numbers, and necessary emergency information are required at the beginning of the school year. If any information changes during the school year, your child's teacher and the school office should be notified immediately.

Attendance Requirements: Absences, tardies, and early checkouts are recorded in the computer on a daily basis. A computer letter is sent to the parent/guardian at regular intervals if valid, written excuses are not received for days missed during the school year. It is important to send written documentation of your child's absences.

School Arrival: Private transportation students are taken to the south gate on West McClellan Street by the gym to enter the campus. No students will be allowed to enter before 7:55 a.m. A duty teacher will be there to assist the students to go to the waiting area in the gym or the breakfast program. Bus students are received by the duty teacher at the West Ash Street gate beginning at 7:55 a.m.

School Dismissal: Students are taken to the gym to line up in the proper bus line or to go to parent pick-up for the 3:15 dismissal. Students receive a name tag to wear indicating name, teacher, and bus number, or parent pick-up. Students should wear this tag for at least two weeks at the beginning of school. Parents are requested to place the blue Parent Pick-Up sign on the right side of the car's dashboard. Students will not be released to automobiles which do not display this card. The card may be obtained from the school office.

Tardy/Early Checkout: Parents/guardians must report to the office with their child to get an admittance slip if arriving after 8:25 a.m. If a student needs to be released before the 3:15 dismissal, he/she must be checked out through the school office. Children will be released only to persons who are authorized, in writing, to pick them up. Identification my be requested.

Transportation Changes: Students riding buses may not change bus assignments without written permission from the principal. Forms may be obtained from the school office. If a student needs to change from bus transportation to parent pick-up or vice-versa, a note must be sent to the classroom teacher in the morning. If an emergency occurs during the day, or an unforeseen change is needed, a written request must be submitted and signed by you before 2:00 p.m., or you may check out your child in the school office by 2:45 p.m. Due to safety reasons, change of dismissal procedures will not be granted over the telephone.

Breakfast / Lunch: Breakfast and lunch are served in the school's cafeteria. Cost information and free or reduced applications are given to parents at the beginning of each school year. Proper verification for qualification must be submitted with the completed form. Lunches are paid on a monthly basis. You will receive a bill the first week of each month. Days absent are subtracted from the next month's bill. Total amount due is payable within five days. Students may also bring bag lunches. Please direct all questions concerning breakfast/lunch to the Perrin Early Learning Center cafeteria billing clerk at (985) 386-0187.

Illness/Accidents: Parents are notified immediately when a child is sick or has had an accident. Please make sure your home telephone number and at least three working numbers are correct and on file at school. In extreme emergencies, the principal, teacher, or school nurse will give emergency first aid. Parents are notified. The fire department EMT, family physician or 911 may be called when the situation dictates.

Medication Policy: Only trained personnel are allowed to give medication if a request for Administering Medication at School and Release from Liability form has been completed by the parent and physician. Forms may be obtained from the school office to gain permission for treatment of chronic disabilities or illness. No medication is to be transported by a student and/or on a school bus. Parents are responsible for bringing properly labeled medication (by a pharmacy) directly to the school office. Parents may bring medication and administer it to their own child.

Head Lice: Children are checked periodically throughout the year for any signs or symptoms of head lice. Head lice can come from anywhere - a classmate, an upholstered seat in a movie theater or an automobile, or another child's sweater or hat. Any child suspected of having head lice will be excluded from school until the child's hair has been treated with lice shampoo and all nits (eggs) have been removed. A parent must accompany the child to school to receive an admit slip from the office.

Dress Code: All students must wear school uniforms. All pants, shorts, jumpers, and skirts must be khaki color twill. Pleats, belt loops, and pockets are optional; however, if belt loops are on the garment, a belt must be worn. No brand labels may be displayed on any part of the uniform. No khaki-colored twill jeans may be worn. Shirts may be long or short sleeve, polo style with collar or oxford style button up in white, navy or forest green. All shoes must have a closed back and front. Jackets worn outside the classroom may be of any color and hoods are optional. These garments must be removed once inside the classroom. Appropriate outerwear for inside the classroom would be a sweater or windbreaker (with or without buttons or zipper) or a sweatshirt (without zipper). These garments must be white, navy, or forest green.

Discipline: Students at Perrin Early Learning Center are expected to be well-behaved and follow the school's rules and procedures. Prevention of problems through knowledge of rules and procedures is the goal of Perrin Early Learning Center. Minor infractions are handled by the classroom teacher in accordance with established classroom and discipline policies. Students are sent to the principal/assistant principal for major or continuous problems.

Report Cards: Report cards are sent home the week following the end of the six week period. Parents are to keep the grade sheet, and sign and return the report card envelope to the teacher.

Visitors/Conferences: All visitors must report to the school office to sign in on the office roster and receive a visitor's pass. Parents/visitors are not allowed to interrupt class instruction unless permission is granted by the principal. Parents who wish to volunteer services may notify the teacher. Playground duty and other areas of supervision are the responsibility of authorized personnel only. Parents are encouraged to schedule conferences when needed with a teacher, the principal, or both. Appointments should be made at least one day in advance by sending a note to your child's teacher.

Telephone and Correspondence: Your help and cooperation are needed in checking your child's book bag on a daily basis for correspondence sent home. Monthly calendars, notices of holidays, school closures, special events, etc. are sent home from the school office. Notes regarding collection of money (example: pictures) should be reviewed carefully and payment sent in on time so that proper credit will be given.

School Pictures: Individual student pictures are made in the fall and spring. Group pictures will be made in the late spring.

Field Trips: a permission note will be sent home if field trips are planned. It must be signed and returned before the field trip. Teachers may ask parents to help with field trips.

Birthday Parties: No birthday parties are allowed at school. A special snack may be sent by the parent and served by the teacher. No candles, gifts, balloons, flowers, etc. are allowed.

Snacks: Arrangements for snacks, such as a "snack calendar," will be sent home by your child's teacher. Please have your child's name and teacher's name clearly marked on the outside.

Custody Situations: If custody situations exist where only one parent or guardian has the right to pick up a child, please inform the office personnel. A copy of the legal custody papers must be on file. It is the parent's/guardian's responsibility to keep the school informed where these situations or potential problems could exist.