{"id":5016,"date":"2022-08-16T16:06:21","date_gmt":"2022-08-16T21:06:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schools.risd.org\/ArapahoCM\/elementary-handbook\/"},"modified":"2022-10-26T10:55:52","modified_gmt":"2022-10-26T15:55:52","slug":"elementary-handbook","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/schools.risd.org\/ArapahoCM\/elementary-handbook\/","title":{"rendered":"Elementary Handbook"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year. Education is a team effort. Through the teamwork of parents, students, teachers, and other staff members we can make this year wonderfully successful for our students. Below is the 2022-2023 ACM Parent\/Student Handbook. During the year as questions arise about school procedures and policies, please refer to this handbook. Students and parents also need to be familiar with the Richardson Independent School District Student\/Parent Guidebook and Student Code of Conduct.\u00a0<\/em>Both handbooks are available on the Student Services Policies Page<\/a>.\u00a0Please read through the\u00a0ACM Parent\/Student Handbook\u00a0<\/em>with your child.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> If you plan on assisting\/volunteering with any school activities this year, please create a Voly account at risd.voly.org<\/a>. A background check must be conducted on ALL school volunteers every year. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the school office at (469) 593-6400.<\/span><\/p> Thank you for supporting ACM and for being involved in your child’s education. We are going to have a great year!<\/p> Sincerely,<\/p> Kristin Strickland<\/p> Principal<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t At ACM, we provide engaging learning experiences so that our students become creative thinkers, effective communicators and socially responsible citizens.<\/p> \u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t 90% ATTENDANCE ACCOUNTING RULE<\/strong><\/p> A student must be in attendance 90% of the days class is offered in order to receive credit for that grade level. Students who accumulate excessive absences during a school year can be considered for retention, as decided by the Principal and Campus Attendance Review Committee. If a student accumulates enough absences for the 90% rule to take effect, a mandatory meeting must be convened between the parent and the attendance committee. During this meeting, a plan is required to be completed to help students attend school regularly. Unless special circumstances exist, all absences after the 90% rule will be required to have a doctor’s note for the absence to be excused.\u00a0<\/p> OFFICIAL ACM ATTENDANCE TIME<\/strong><\/p> The official attendance time for ACM is 7:50am – 3:10pm. Students arriving after 7:50am are counted tardy. Classes begin promptly at 7:50am. If your child is tardy, they are missing valuable instruction. Students arriving after 8:05am will be considered to have missed part of the school day and are no longer counted tardy – it will be a partial day absence. Unless a note is sent explaining the absence\/late arrival, all partial day absences are unexcused. Make every effort to have your child at school by the first bell at 7:50am. Students arriving at or after 9:00am are considered absent for the day.\u00a0<\/p> TARDY PROCEDURES<\/strong><\/p> Establishing a morning routine which allows ample time for your child to wake up, eat breakfast and get ready to start the academic day is not only essential for success as a student at ACM, but instills lifelong patterns which will aid your child in his\/her future successes.\u00a0<\/p> MEDICAL APPOINTMENT INFORMATION<\/strong><\/p> Students who miss part of a single school day for a medical appointment should bring a note from the doctor, dentist, or medical provider, on their stationary, with the appointment date and time to be eligible for the following expectations:\u00a0<\/p> ABSENCES<\/strong><\/p> EXCUSED ABSENCES<\/strong><\/p> Some examples of excused absences are:\u00a0<\/p> UNEXCUSED ABSENCE<\/strong><\/p> Some examples of unexcused absences are:<\/p> NO WRITTEN EXCUSE FROM THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN AUTOMATICALLY DETERMINES AN EXCUSED ABSENCE.\u00a0<\/p> RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS<\/strong><\/p> Students who are absent for religious holy days, that are a tenet of their faith, are not counted absent if a note is received from the parent, guardian, or place of worship. If this required note is received, the student will be given an unexcused absence.\u00a0<\/p> The above lists are intended as guidelines and are\u00a0not<\/span> all inclusive. The principal makes all final determinations concerning absence excuse notes.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t MORNING DROP OFF<\/strong><\/p> Parent drop off will take place in the front and back circle drives of ACM from 7:30-7:50am.\u00a0<\/strong>This is the area where staff and safety patrol students are on duty to assist students out of their car and safely into the building. Students who are dropped off on the south side of Cypress (across from ACM) must follow the directions of the crossing guard posted at the intersection. Students and parent should always use the crosswalk when crossing the front drive and when crossing Mimosa and Cypress.\u00a0Student safety is our top priority.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> In an effort to allow all students timely access to the building, please pull as far into the driveway as traffic flow will allow before your child exits your car. This may require some students to backtrack to their entry door, but this will allow our traffic to flow as smoothly as possible and minimize backup on Mimosa and Arapaho. We will have ample staff on hand out front and in hallways to support students in making it to their classrooms.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> Walkers, bike riders, and bus riders will all enter the front\/main doors of ACM and should never walk around the building to enter the B Hall\/Gym doors.\u00a0<\/p> The doors will open each morning at 7:30am. Students will go directly to the cafeteria for breakfast or the gym upon arrival. The morning tardy bell will ring at 7:50am. Please try to arrive by 7:40am if you are planning to drive your children to school.\u00a0There is no supervision provided prior to 7:30am.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p> LATE ARRIVALS\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> Students who arrived after 7:50am MUST be dropped off in the front circle drive and enter through the main doors.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> All students who ride bicycles are encouraged to follow the safety rules:\u00a0<\/p> AFTERNOON DISMISSAL PROCEDURES<\/strong><\/p> AFTERNOON PICK UP<\/strong><\/p> We will dismiss all\u00a0carpool\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>children at 3:05pm. Parent pick up will take place in the front of the building for all students. Please always pull all the way up to the car in front of you in line. This will help us get more cars through the line faster. Place the carpool tag so that it is visible in your windshield\/window for a staff member to see. As you drive through the pickup line, staff will read your child’s number, call your child from their designated waiting area inside or outside the building, and escort them to your car.\u00a0<\/p> If you need a carpool number number or tag, we will get those to you on the first day or send them home with your child.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p> Walkers will be dismissed at 3:10pm and should immediately leave the campus. All walkers will be expected to cross the street at the corner of Mimosa and Cypress. A crossing guard on duty for the safety of our students. Please explain this safety precaution to your child and support our efforts to keep all children safe.\u00a0<\/p> Students that are picked up by a bus will exit the back of the building to board their bus.\u00a0<\/p> Students who attend the xPlore Program will be taken directly to the Cafeteria, or grade level assigned location when the dismissal bell rings.\u00a0<\/p> Often in the first few days, our younger students are confused about whether they are being picked up by their parents or if they are to ride the bus. Please do your best to help them be sure of how they are getting home. Students are to provide their classroom teacher with a NOTE from their parent\/guardian if there is a change in their dismissal procedure.\u00a0<\/p> Please do not enter the office between 2:30pm and 3:00pm to pick up your student.<\/span> If a situation arises in which you need to pick up your student between 2:30pm and 3:00pm, please give the front office as much notice as possible.\u00a0<\/p> Parents are asked to remain in their cars during drop off and dismissal. We recognize that parents enjoy visiting with one another and their child’s teachers during these times, but in an effort to keep the carpool line and traffic moving and keep all students safe, we are requesting that parents remain in their cars and allow our staff to support your children in entering and exiting the building. If you are a “walker” and drop off\/pick up your child by foot, we ask that you do so efficiently. We kindly ask that parents not congregate on the front porch or in the front of the school.\u00a0<\/p> ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL SAFETY REMINDERS<\/strong><\/p> STUDENT BEHAVIOR & PBIS EXPECTATIONS<\/strong><\/p> Students at ACM demonstrate Falcon PRIDE.<\/p> General Information \/ Purpose<\/strong><\/p> In order for any school to be successful the environment must be conducive to learning. Successful schools have clearly defined rules of operation, are consistent in the application of those rules, and display a conscientious attitude on the part of its students, staff, and community in complying with those standards.<\/p> Each grade level executes a discipline plan that is age appropriate and meets the standards of the school. Teachers will be instructing students on the discipline plan the first week of school. Parents will have an opportunity to see the discipline management plan at Teacher\/Parent Orientation on August 25.<\/strong><\/p> When students fail to meet these behavioral expectations, teachers will handle the student(s) according to the defined discipline system. Persistent misbehavior and any major offense will be submitted to the principal\/asst. principal for an office referral. Principal\/asst. principal discretion will apply to the consequence for these actions.<\/p> HALLWAY EXPECTATIONS<\/strong><\/p> CAFETERIA EXPECTATIONS<\/strong><\/p> PLAYGROUND EXPECTATIONS<\/strong><\/p> RESTROOM EXPECTATIONS<\/strong><\/p> If you would like to celebrate your child\u2019s birthday at school, please bring non-food items such as pencils, erasers, etc. to share with the class.<\/strong> Food items will not be permitted in the cafeteria or classrooms. Birthday party invitations will not be distributed at school unless the entire class is invited.<\/span> We strive to build community and do not want problems to arise because of hurt feelings. Your support is greatly appreciated. Flowers\/balloons\/etc. may not be delivered to the classroom during the instructional day. If delivered to the school, these items will be kept in the office and sent home with the student at the end of the day.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t We strive to prevent bullying, however, should an incident occur, we identify and intervene immediately upon the knowledge of the situation. We follow the RISD guidelines for bullying as identified in the Richardson ISD Code of Conduct. Please review that document (link attached on page 1) to be informed about the process.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t The Richardson Independent School District serves nutritious meals every school day. Students may buy lunches for $2.80 and breakfast for $2.10. A monthly menu for breakfast and lunch can be found here.<\/a><\/p> Please take advantage of the options to prepay your student’s meal accounts. Prepaid meal accounts help the lunch lines go faster and give students more time to eat, relax, and visit with friends. It also removes the inconvenience of looking for lunch money every day or worrying that it might get lost, stolen or used for things other than lunch.<\/p> Online payments are a simple, safe and secure way to make payments to your students account 24 hours a day at your convenience. Visit the website Pam\u2019s Lunch Room at www.paypams.com.<\/a> At Pam’s Lunch Room, you can prepay for your child’s account.<\/p> You can always bring money personally or send it with your student. Please place it in an envelope marked clearly with your student’s name, their ID #, their teacher’s name, the $ amount and the check #. Turn in prepaid deposits to the cafeteria cashier(s) or school office. Checks must include the check writer\u2019s birthdate and driver\u2019s license number.<\/strong><\/em><\/p> The District participates in the National School Lunch Program and offers free or reduced-priced meals based on a student’s financial need. To apply for free or reduced-price meals, parents must complete an application, sign it, and return it to the school. You may also apply for free or reduced school meals online. RISD Free and Reduced Application<\/a><\/p> \u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Visitors are welcome to join their student for lunch. Lunch visitors will need to check in through the front office upon arrival and are expected to meet their child in the cafeteria. Junior high and high school students are not permitted to visit at lunch unless accompanied by a parent or guardian. Guests must finish their visit by the end of the scheduled lunch time so that students do not miss instructional time. There will be no lunch visitor the first three weeks of school. This will allow students the opportunity to learn the cafeteria rules, procedures and build relationships with their classmates.<\/p> Due to space in our cafeteria we are asking that parents who wish to have lunch with their child do so on the designated days. Fridays will be reserved for students to have lunch with their Houses, so we ask that visitors not visit on Fridays. <\/strong><\/p> Monday and Wednesday- Kindergarten, 2nd grade, 5th grade and 6th grade <\/strong><\/p> Tuesday and Thursday- 1st grade, 3rd grade and 4th grade<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t RISD Student Cell Phone Guidelines: To promote the best possible learning and social environment in Richardson ISD, students will not use their cellphones\/electronic devices during the school day, unless provided permission from an authorized district employee during the instructional day. The intent of the cell phone policy is to establish a cell phone-free environment and avoid cell phones\/electronic devices distracting from learning as well as causing a loss of instructional time.<\/p> Staff will confiscate cell phones being used by students during the school day. Parents will be contacted. Continued violations will result in disciplinary actions.<\/p> Electronic communication devices include but are not limited to:<\/p> Class instruction will not be interrupted to deliver lunches, water bottles, glasses, sweaters, etc. Any items that need to be delivered will be handled by front office staff. Any items that are dropped off in the office need to be clearly labeled with student and teacher names. Students will not be allowed to make or receive phone calls during instructional class time. Messages for students will be placed in the teacher\u2019s mailbox and the teacher will deliver the message to the student. In order to ensure your student receives the message, please contact the office before 2:30. Students will only be called to the office in the case of an emergency.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t