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SCHOOL
TIMES
School begins promptly at 8:10 a.m. each
day. NO CHILD CAN BE LEFT
AT THE SCHOOL BEFORE 7:20 A.M. To be included in our free breakfast
program students must be in their classrooms by 7:50 AM. Anyone arriving
after 8:10 a.m. will be marked tardy.
Perfect attendance awards will not be given for students with 5 or
more tardies for a nine week period or for 10 or
more for the school year. Please plan
your day so that your child can arrive at school on time. If you have an appointment or other emergency that
makes it necessary for you to pick up your child before the regular dismissal
time, please come in the school before 1:50 PM. Our Tutorial/Enrichment
Academy is held each day from 1:50 -2:20. Students will not be dismissed
until 2:20 PM after Academy. There are designated areas for dismissal of van
riders, bus riders, walkers and car riders. Staff members will supervise
students during dismissal until they have left school grounds. For safety
reasons, please follow the dismissal procedures for each area. SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS, NEWS and WEATHER
Information regarding any changes in the school
calendar, time of dismissal, etc. (except those concerning weather) will be
in the local newspaper, on local radio stations and the district website: www.gwd50.org. Your child will also bring
notices from school concerning changes. In the event that the weather is a threat to the
safety of the students and staff as they come to school and leave home, the
schools will be closed. You should
listen to your radio and television stations or check the district website
for information concerning school closings.
Please DO NOT call the
schools so that the lines can be free for the administrators to get the
information that they need for the welfare of all concerned. SCHOOL ATTENDANCE For
a child to experience success in school, it is most important for the child
to be present in school everyday. We
know that there are times due to sickness or unusual circumstances when a
child will have to be absent from school.
When your child is absent from school, please send a note the day your
child returns explaining the absence and any precautions that you would like
us to take. Included on the note
should be: 1.
The student’s name (at the top of the note) 2.
The date 3.
The date of the absence 4.
The reason for the absence 5.
Your signature Remember
that a child is permitted no more that 15 absences. MEDICATION AT SCHOOL
Medical permission forms are available in the
nurse’s office and must be completed and signed by the doctor and parent. THE FOLLOWING IS TAKEN
FROM Medication MUST be in original container. Oral medication, such as aspirin, will not be
administered to children under any circumstances by school personnel without
written permission. IF THE ABOVE
PROCEDURE IS NOT FOLLOWED COMPLETELY, MEDICATION CANNOT BE ADMINISTERED. The school nurse or school personnel will: 1. Inform
appropriate school personnel of the medication. 2. Keep a
record of the administration of the medication. 3. Keep
the medication in a locked cabinet. 4. Return
the unused medication to the parent only. The parents of the child must assume responsibility
for informing the school nurse of any change in the child’s health or change
of medication. HEALTH SERVICES Sick
Care: The
health room is equipped to temporarily care for illnesses and provide first
aid for injuries that occur at school.
We ask that children who are ill, have a contagious condition, or have
a fever be kept at home. Students
should be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school. Please make every effort to keep the school
informed of telephone number changes and changes in whom to call for an
emergency.
Heath
Screening: VOLUNTEERS
We need and encourage parents, grandparents, and
friends to get involved in our school.
Volunteering is a great way to do this. Volunteers assist teachers and students
with various activities and/or tutoring for a specific time. Volunteers also
help with special events such as Field Day or field trips. Please contact the
school office if you wish to volunteer. STUDENTS’ BIRTHDAYS
The birthdays of students are recognized daily by
a school-wide announcement on WMAT news and a small gift. We
DO NOT accept balloons, flowers, and/or other items that are delivered to
students for birthdays, other special occasions or holidays. These items are not sent to classrooms or
permitted on the school bus. This
helps minimize distractions in the classroom and on the bus. GRADING SYSTEM
The following grading system is used in the elementary
schools in Greenwood District 50: A 93-100 Excellent B 85-92 Above Average C 77-84 Average D 70-76 Poor
U/F 69 and below Unacceptable Report cards will be completed and sent home each
nine weeks At the
mid-point of each nine-week reporting period, interim progress reports will
be sent to parents. If necessary, a
progress report may be sent home at anytime. INSTRUCTION The faculty and staff of Mathews Elementary are committed
to providing quality, research-based instructional activities for our
students each day. A balanced literacy
approach, as well as hands-on mathematics activities, are
emphasized in instruction. Programs such as the SuccessMaker
® Computer Program, Larsons Math, Accelerated
Reader, Star Reading, Inquiry-based Science, and a Character Education
Program are also used
to support instruction.
We ask that parents support our efforts by reading to and with your
child each day. Encourage him/her to check
out books daily from the HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
Homework assignments are given on Monday through
Thursday to all students in grades one through five. Later on in the year, kindergarten students
will have homework each day. Your
child’s teacher will let you know about this.
In order for children to receive the maximum benefit from their school
experience, it is necessary for them to have practice on activities that
reinforce what is being taught in the classroom. Your child will never be given a homework
assignment on material that has not previously been introduced in the
classroom unless it is a project or an enrichment activity, and this will be
made very clear. It is most important that you see that your child
completes the assigned work each evening.
Frequently, especially in the lower grades, it will be necessary for
you to participate in this by listening to your child read, calling out
spelling words, or drilling arithmetic facts, vocabulary words, etc. Try to make homework time as pleasant a
time as possible and a real learning experience for your child. Show a real
interest in what your child is learning by being enthusiastic about your
child’s school experience as well as training for lifetime habits of
responsibility, self-discipline, continuous growth, and management of time
and energy. Students in grades 3-5 will be given an “Agenda”
notebook to record all homework assignments. Teachers will also write
comments to parents in the agenda. Please sign your child’s agenda each
night. You may write any messages you wish the teacher to see the next day. If a student is going to be out of school for
several days but feels well enough to keep up with the assignments at home,
please telephone the school and ask the teacher to get necessary books and
assignments for the student. Be sure
to give several hours notice and give the time that someone will come to the
school and get the materials. We will
make every effort to have this material in the office at the scheduled
time. Returning to school after being
out is always much easier on the child if lessons have been kept up. Anytime a child is out of school, some
things are missed, but certainly less if lessons are kept up at home. GREENWOOD DISTRICT 50 POLICY - HOMEWORK - IHB-R
Homework should be used as an integral part of
the school day. When implemented
consistently throughout the school, homework procedures can help establish
high expectations of students.
Assignments should be clearly specified with prompt feedback
and in harmony with the student’s needs and abilities. The amount of homework is of less
importance than the quality of assignment.
Homework is part of the application of the learning/instructional
process which reaches beyond the classroom. SCHOOL WORK SENT HOME
Frequently your child will bring home papers that
have been done at school. Always look
over these papers carefully. They will
help you know how and what your child is learning at school. Please praise your child for any and all
work that is satisfactorily done and assist him/her with anything that seems
to be a problem. Often the teacher
will request that you sign the papers and return them to school. Your prompt cooperation in this will be
appreciated. In bringing papers home
for you to see and in bringing them back on time, your child will be learning
to be a responsible person and will be learning that it is important and
helpful for the home to know what is being done at school. “The mission of think, dream, believe, and achieve to their fullest
potential.” STATEMENT
OF BELIEFS v
Education is the responsibility of students, family, school, and the
entire community working together. v
Children are valued as our greatest resource. v
Effective teachers are essential for educational success. v
Employees of our school are regarded as our most valuable asset in the
completion of our mission to educate all children to their fullest potential. v
All students can learn with quality instruction and high expectations. v
All students deserve a quality educational experience where
differences are recognized and respected. v
Everyone is entitled to a safe and nurturing environment and
appropriate educational facilities. v
Children learn best when basic human needs are satisfied. v
Learning is a lifelong process that improves the quality of life. Identifying
Our Goals This
past school year, Mathews engaged its stakeholders in a collaborative process
to develop a five-year school renewal plan that is aligned with the district
strategic plan. This is a requirement
of the Early Childhood Development and Academic Assistance Act of 1993 and
the Education Accountability Act of 1998. Performance
goals were developed to address the major areas of discrepancy found in the
needs assessment in key areas reported in the district and school report
cards. The goals are written in
five-year increments and address the following required areas of student
achievement, teacher/administrator quality, and school climate. Our
Performance Goals v
Increase the percentage of students who score proficient and above in
ELA as measured by the PACT assessment. v
Increase the percentage of students who score proficient and above in
Math as measured by the PACT assessment. v
Improve parent satisfaction with home-school relations. v
Improve stakeholders’ perception of the social and physical environment. v
Increase teachers’ ability to use technology to support and enhance
instruction.
There
are some of the most exciting books in the Mathews School Library. Please encourage your child to bring these
books home so that you can read them together. Children become better readers when parents
read to them daily. Also, it has been a tradition at Mathews to celebrate
birthdays by inviting parents to have lunch with their child and providing
books for purchase to donate to the library in honor of their child. DISCIPLINE
We
believe it is our responsibility to provide each child with the skills that
are necessary for success in our society.
It is the student’s responsibility to behave in such a manner that
does not endanger others or diminish their opportunities to receive
instruction and learn. Positive
reinforcement is used to encourage good behavior and students who exhibit the
characteristics of good citizens are recognized in many ways, such as
Positive Paws, Terrific Kids, Students of the Month, and special treats. Please
review the school rules and consequences with your child. Also, class rules will be communicated to
you by your child’s teacher. A copy of the school-wide discipline plan will
be given to every student and parent. SCHOOL RULES
1.
Follow all rules and directions that are given by an adult. 2.
Keep your hands, feet and objects to yourself. 3.
Walk quietly on the right side of the hall. 4.
Be respectful, kind, and helpful to
others. 5.
Take care of the school and use all
equipment properly. Hall Rules: Early Morning Students v Students
should report to the classroom in their grade level designated for early
students. v Students
will remain there until the 7:45 bell rings. Afternoon Dismissal v Students
will stay in their classrooms until their dismissal area or bus is called. v Students
should walk quietly on the right side of the wall to avoid traffic confusion. Cafeteria Rules: v Students
are to eat first, then whisper quietly when they are finished. v Students
are expected to use good table manners. v Students
are to clean tables and leave the cafeteria area neat for the next
class. BUS STUDENTS
If your child rides home on the bus, and there is
a change in this for a day or more, the school MUST have a note
explaining how your child will be getting home. CHILDREN
ARE NOT PERMITTED TO RIDE BUSES FOR WHICH THEY ARE NOT ASSIGNED AND MAY ONLY
RIDE TO THEIR OWN HOME. DRESS CODES
Students are expected to dress appropriately each
day. All pants should be pulled up and belts worn on all pants that have belt
loops. Halter tops or tops that expose the midriff will not be permitted.
Short shorts are not permitted. Appropriate disciplinary procedures will be
taken for those students who consistently do not follow the dress code. SCHOOL INSURANCE
SCHOOL
FEES The fee for consumable materials is $20.00 per
child for kindergarten through fifth grade. This fee will help pay for
materials that will enhance your child’s achievement in school such as workbooks. Please pay your child’s fee as soon as
possible so that the workbooks can be issued.
When sending money to school, please send it in an envelope with the
child’s name and the teacher’s name on it. NOTE: Students
who owe any type school fee, including lunch money, will not be allowed to go
on field trips, buy school pictures, participate in graduation festivities,
participate in PTA fund raising, or receive report cards at the end of the
year. Report cards are to be held by
the teacher until lost books are turned in or paid. FIELD
TRIPS
Field trips are planned to provide an extension
of the instruction that has occurred in the classroom. It is a wonderful opportunity for students to
relate the lessons which have been covered to real life experiences. Since these trips are a combination of your
child’s daily instruction, no child will be allowed to attend who does not
exhibit appropriate behavior each day.
If it is necessary for us to deny a child a chance to go on a field
trip because of a behavior problem,
and he/she has paid money, the money will NOT be refunded. Parents will be notified if this happens. Students should also remember that all school and
district rules apply on field trips.
Anyone who misbehaves will be referred to the principal for
disciplinary actions. LUNCH
and BREAKFAST
All parents will receive an application for free
or reduced price lunch and information relative to this. Please read this carefully. If you are interested, return the
application to school immediately. If
you are not interested at this time in applying for free or reduced price
lunch, but your circumstances change later in the year, please understand
that we will accept these applications at any time. Reduced lunch is $.40 per day. The cost for a child’s lunch will be $1.25 per
day, and $2.75 for adults. Your child
must bring money and it will be placed in an account for your child to charge
meals. When your child’s balance is
low, a letter will be sent home requesting funds for your child’s account. If
you send a check, please make the check payable to Our new “Breakfast in the Classroom” program
begins this year. ALL
students may receive a FREE
breakfast. Students must be in their classroom by 7:50 AM to participate in
the breakfast program. Breakfast will
be delivered to the classrooms. This will maximize our time for instruction. PARENT CONFERENCES
Parent conferences are scheduled throughout the
year to keep you informed of your child’s progress. Conferences will be scheduled with all
parents during the first nine weeks of school. At this time, test scores and other
information will be provided.
Additional conferences will be scheduled by teachers and or the
principal, as needed. Parents may
request conferences by calling the school at 941-5680 or sending a note to
your child’s teacher. PTO BOARD MEMBERS
Nicki Fuller President Sue Waters Vice-President Charlene Odom Secretary Lee Ann Gordon Treasurer Monty Richardson Sucker Sales and Teacher Liason Julie
Dykes Hospitality
Susan Nickles Box Tops Jennifer Lawson Fundraising SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL
Amy Marshall Catina Wideman Cindy Griffin Dr. Ray
Wilson Rev. Chris Lollis Doris
Watson Angela Williams Marie Roundtree Monty Richardson Amy Gillion, Co-Chairman Sandra Easley, Co-Chairman TITLE I
PLANNING COMMITTEE Polly Barrett Charlene
Odom Cleo Chamberlain Amy
Gillion Traci McKee Tonya
Durham Dottie Kinlaw Janell Alston Cheryl Moss Rose
Mary Wicker Beth Beale Doris
Watson Lori Cothern Susan
Nickles PARENTS RIGHT TO KNOW No
Child Left Behind Act of 2001 As a parent of a student in If you would like to receive any of this
information, request forms are available in every school and the district
office. After submission of the form,
the information will be sent to you. We
look forward to partnering with you this year as we work to provide a quality
education for you child. FAMILY
EDUCATION RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT
According to the Family Education Rights and
Privacy Act of 1988, the parent or eligible student has a right to: 1. Inspect
and review the student’s education records;
2. Request
the amendment of the student’s education records to ensure that they are not
inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise
in violation of the student’s privacy or other rights; 3. Consent
to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the
student’s education records, except to the extent that the Act and the
regulations in this part authorize disclosure without consent; 4. File with the U. S. Department of Education
a complaint under #99.64 concerning alleged failures by the agency or
institution to comply with requirements of the Act and this part; and 5. Obtain
a copy of the policy adopted under #99.64. If you do not want identifiable information
published as directory information, you must notify the school, in writing,
stating the specific information you do not want classified as directory
information. Mathews
Alma Mater Our gratitude to Where happy days we know; Where teachers’ love and helpfulness Uphold us as we grow. Oh, Mathews School, Oh, Mathews School, Your memory we’ll hold dear; And live our lives in faithfulness To all that we’ve learned here. |
