Student Handbook

                                                                               Apple with the letters SAC on it and a picture of a historical school house.

 

ABSENCES AND TARDIES

  • Parents should call the school on the day of the absence and send a note in when the child                 returns.  Sending a note is a state law.  229-458-7391
  • Excused absences will be granted for personal illness, death of a relative, established religious holidays, emergencies, and for educational purposes or other justifiable reasons as approved by the principal upon request of the parent/guardian.  A note must be given to your child’s teacher              requesting an excused absence.
  • Students shall be responsible for all work and assignments missed during the absence.  Arrangements should be made with the teacher to make up work that has been missed.
  • Unexcused absences - Suspension, truancy, avoidable absence, and family vacations or trips are considered unexcused absences.
  • Tardiness and early sign outs are part of absenteeism.  Every effort should be made to have children in their classrooms on time.  Parents should send a note with their child when they are tardy.  Students should be in their classrooms no later than 7:55 am.  Six (6) tardies and/or five (5) absences in one quarter will be considered excessive when reviewing attendance.
  • Perfect attendance:
  • Students with perfect attendance will be recognized at the end of the year.Three tardies and/or three early departures combined will prevent a student from receiving a Perfect Attendance Award.
  • We are required by the Lee County School Board to contact parents for excessive absences (5 days per quarter) and develop a plan of improvement through the Attendance Review Committee, even if we have received notes or contacts from home.

 

ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL POLICY

  • PARENT DROP-OFF, WALKERS, OR BIKE RIDERS
  • Students may arrive on campus at 7:25.No supervision of students is provided prior to that time.Any child dropped off before 7:25 will be placed in the fee-based morning program and charged a daily fee of $3.00.All classrooms will be open at 7:25 am.
  • Students arriving after 7:55 am will be marked tardy.Any tardy child will have to be walked into the school by an adult because the front doors will be locked.You must press the intercom button to gain access.
  • Students are dismissed at 2:10 pm.After school care is available from 2:10 to 6:00 p.m. for a fee of $11 a day.
  • Walkers will be dismissed from the bus ramp after busses leave at 2:30.If you are picking up with a car, you are not a walker and will be asked to use the front car ramp located off of Santa Barbara Blvd.

 

  • PARENT PICK UP
  • Car Ramp Procedures & Policies
  • Morning: (7:25 A.M. – 7:55 A.M.)
      • For the safety of ALL of our students, parents must drive through the parent pick up loop during drop off times.  We have adults on the sidewalk helping to direct students into the building safely.  Please do not park and walk your child into the building.  The parking lot is reserved for parents that need to come in and speak to office personnel in the morning. Thank you for your cooperation.
  • School starts promptly at 7:55 A.M. Your child will be marked tardy after this time.
  • Dismissal: (2:10 P.M.-2:30 P.M.)
  • ALL PARENTS must drive through the car line to pick up their child (ren).
  • All parent pick up cars must have a Cafferata Car Tag with the child’s name on it.
  • If you do not have your car tag, you will be asked to park and come in to the office to show an ID.We will verify your name with those on the emergency card.
  • Please stay in your car during parent pick up time.If you park and walk up to the car ramp, you will be asked to return to your car and get back in the line.
  • We load two lanes of cars at a time, so please wait until directed to move.Students will be asked to load once all cars have stopped.Parents will wait until all cars are loaded before driving away.Safety comes first!
  • Dismissal begins at 2:10 P.M. Any child picked up after 2:25 P.M. is considered a late pick-up and will be charged the same fee as students in the after school program.
  • Special Needs Car Pick Up
  • If your child has a special need and it is unsafe for him/her to wait outside on the car ramp, special accommodations will be made with you through the ESE teacher.
  • Rainy Day and Inclement Weather During Drop Off or Pick Up
  • If there is lightening within 10 miles of the school or there are torrential rains during drop off or dismissal, we will do the following:
  • Dismissal may be delayed if the lightning is in close proximity
  • If inclement weather occurs during dismissal, all walkers and bike riders will be held in the media center until you pick them up or the weather subsides.
  • Parent pick up will load via a single lane instead of a double lane so that your child can stay dry.
  • All car riders will be held inside and called by intercom and placed in your car when you pull up.

BIRTHDAY TREATS

Some parents like to send birthday treats in with their child on his/her birthday.  The teacher will give out the treats at a time that will not interrupt academic instruction.    Treats must be store bought with an ingredients label to protect our students with food allergies; cookies or cupcakes are preferred.  We ask that you not send balloons, party favors, hats, pizza, or anything other than a simple treat.  If a parent chooses to come in to eat lunch with his/her child, the parent will have to follow the new lunch policy of signing the student out and eating with him/her at our designated outside picnic area.

 

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH

Cafferata Elementary has qualified for Community Eligibility Provision.  Breakfast and lunch are provided to all students free of cost.  Please feel free to send a lunch with your child if he/she is a picky eater.  If a packed lunch is provided from home, please focus on nutrition.  Soda, candy, and high sugar snack foods are not permitted.

 

 

BUS TRANSPORTATION

You can track your child’s bus with www.Wheresthebus.com.  Signing up is free and the app is secure as all parent and guardian information is checked and validated.  The directions are on the inside cover.

 

The school office can assist you with bus stop changes.  If you have a bus problem before or after hours, you can contact Transportation West at 239-772-2349.

 

 

  • BUS RULES
  • Be at the stop at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled time.Wait in a safe place clear of traffic and off roadway.
  • Students shall keep assigned seats at all times with arms and head inside the bus.If the bus is equipped with seat belts, students are expected to use them riding to and from school.It’s the LAW!