This handbook is designed to inform your family of our school and school system procedures, policies, rules, activities, expectations, and other information. We hope that this information will be useful to you and your family throughout the school session. Parents, please take time to read this handbook and go over it with your child.
If you have any concerns, questions, suggestions, or comments at any time, please do not hesitate to contact the school. Whe the school, home, community work as a team, great things can be accomplished.

School Hours
School hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:31 p.m. On half-day schedules, dismissal is 12:31 p.m. Students can not be on school grounds before 8:00 a.m. This does not apply to students who are enrolled in the before school care program.

 

Visitors
 All visitors must report immediately to the office when arriving at school. All visitors must sign the logbook and receive a visitor's pass. Before leaving, all visitors must sign our in the office. These rules must be followed for the safety of out students.
Registration

To register a new student, the parent or guardian needs to bring a certified copy of the student's birth certificate, a copy of the previous report card, the student's immunization records, proof of residence, and the student's social security card.

Transferring students coming to Chahta-Ima need to secure a letter from the St. Tammany Parish School Board Annex located in Covington or Slidell

All parents and students should meet with our guidance counselor, Ms. Downey, upon registering or at the earliest possible opportunity.

Withdrawal
 Please notify the school in person as soon as possible. Please return all textbooks and library books. Pay all fines and financial obligations. If the student is transferring within the parish, the sending school must issue a withdrawal form to the student. The parent must go to the St. Tammany Parish School Board annex for a letter of transfer.
Morning
Schedule
Students in grades preschool, kindergarten, T-1, and first grade will sit in the P.E. Room. Students in grades second and third will sit in the hallway by their classrooms. If a student eats breakfast in the cafeteria, he/she should first go to the cafeteria upon arrival at school. Students do not go to the classrooms until escorted there by the teacher. Morning meetings are scheduled for Friday mornings. Unless otherwise directed, all students will report to the P.E. room before school on Friday mornings.
Car Riders

A duty teacher is assigned to supervise this area before and after school. To ensure the safety of our students, please help us by following these arrival and dismissal procedures.

1. Children are not to be dropped off before 8:00 a.m. No one is on duty to supervise your child before that time.

2. Students are to be dropped off before school and picked up after school at the west end of the main building.

3. Children will not be permitted to be dropped off or picked up in the faculty parking lot at the rear of the school or in the bus zone in front of the school building.

4. While waiting in car line please do not block the gate to the parking lot or leave your vehicle to pick up your child. Please go to the end of the car line .

5. Dismissal time for car riders is 3:21. Please be prompt when picking up your child.

School Bus
 The school bus provides a convenient service for the students. Students should enjoy visiting quietly with friends and remember to sit, follow all bus rules, no eating on the bus, be courteous to other students, and respect the bus driver at all times. This will provide a safe trip to and from school. Parents must write a note to the principal to receive temporary permission to ride another bus, or if a student walks to school and would like to receive temporary permission to ride a bus.
Bell Schedule
 The school day begins at 8:30 a.m. with the ringing of the bell. The school day officially ends with the ringing of the bell at 3:31 p.m. Pupils are to remain in their classroom until the teacher dismisses them.

Tardiness

BE ON TIME!!!! When a student is tardy, a written excuse signed by the parent must be presented to the office for the tardy to be excused. Tardiness will be excused for the same reason as absences. Parents/guardians must bring the child to the office to check in. The student will receive a tardy slip to give to his/her teacher.

1. After the fourth unexcused tardy, the parent will be contacted.

2. After the fifth unexcused tardy, the student will reveive an after school detention.

3. After the sixth unexcused tardy, the student will reveive a Saturday detention.

4. The cycle will then start over again.

Absence Excuses
 Excuses must be received in the office within two days of the student's return to school. If a note is not received, the absence will be counted as unexcused.
Proper Working Tools

Each student is given a supply list at the beginning of the school year. They are expected to bring school supplies, textbooks, and assignments to class everyday as specified by the teacher.

****** REMEMBER ****** YOUR WORK REPRESENTS YOU!!!!! ******

1. Use a pencil! No ink.

2. Be sure your work is neat, unwrinkled and clean.

3. Check all papers before turning them in to the teacher.

4. All homework should be completed and turned in to the teacher on time.

5. All toys, games, and personal items should be left at home.

IF WORK IS NOT COMPLETED AND RETURNED TO THE TEACHER IN THE PROPER MANNER, APPROPRIATE CONSEQUENCES WILL BE GIVEN BY THE TEACHER.
Restrooms
 Each student must have permission from his/her teacher in order to go to the restroom. During recesses or while in the cafeteria, students must get permission from the teacher on duty. Proper behavior is expected when using the restrooms. Help keep the bathrooms clean. Remember to flush after using the toliets! Wash your hands after using the bathroom. If there is no soap in the bathroom, report it to your teacher. The teacher will report it to the office. Do not bring pens, pencils, crayons, markers, or anything used to write with into the bathroom.
First Aid and Medical Treatment

Students should report all injuries to their teacher. Injured students must be sent or brought to the office. No teacher or staff member can give medication to any student. In case of illness or injury to a student, the school will contact the parents or person designated by the parents to come to school to pick up their child.

All medications, both internal and external, must be checked in at the office. Students cannot administer medicine to themselves. Medication can not be brought to school by the student. Do not send medication to school with your child. The child's parents must bring all medication to the school's office and complete the required forms. No medication may be administered without written permission from a doctor. Forms may be picked up in the office.

Health Services
 The school nurse is scheduled to visit Chahta-Ima at least once a week. It is her responsibility to appraise and identify the health needs of students. The nurse has the authority to enforce school board policy regarding exclusion or readmission of students in connection with infectious or contagious illnesses. All children in kindergarten, first, and third grades receive a hearing and vision screening. Any student referred for a hearing or vision test by the classroom teacher will also be screened. Students failing the test are invited to a free vision or hearing test at the Health Unit or school nurse's office in Slidell.
Leaving the School Facility
Once a student has arrived at school, he/she cannot leave the school grounds without permission from the office. A student should notify his/her teacher if he/she becomes ill. The office will contact the person/persons designated on the emergency card. The authorized person must present a pictured identification card and sign the student out in the office. A person who is not on the emergency list cannot check out a student unless the office receives written permission from the parent or guardian. The office will follow up on this with a phone call to the parent/guardian.
Parental Custody
 There are cases where only one of the child's parents has custody of the child/children. In such cases, or where there is a restrining order against a parent or other individual, the custodial parent must present legal papers showing this.
Care of the Building and Grounds
 We are counting on you to take care of our restrooms (wall, floors, etc.) cafeteria, classrooms, halls, gym, and grounds. Any student who defaces and destroys school property will be properly disciplined.
Use of the Telephones
 No student is allowed to use the telephone except in the case of an emergency. An emergency DOES NOT include a request for homework or permission slips. No student will be called to the telephone except in the case of an emergency.
Library Books
 Students are encouraged to treat library books as their friends. Lost or damaged library books and delinquent fees must be paid before the student is allowed to check out another library book. The library will be open before and after school and during all recesses. All classes receive one or two scheduled library classs each week.
Report Cards
 Reports cards are sent out on a quarterly basis. If you feel that you need to discuss your child's report card with his/her teacher, please call for an appointment. Remember to praise your child for doing his/her best. Offer encouragement and assistance when needed.
Field Trips
 Field trips are used to instruct or enhance the students in a particular area of the day. These trips are directly related to the topic being studied in your child's classroom. After the school makes the arrangements for the field trip, a letter will be sent to parents explaining the purpose of the visit, place of the visit, cost of the trip per student, and the approximate time for leaving and returning to school. The cost will cover admission to the facility being visited and bus transportation. The students are chaperoned by teachers and selected parents. When the field trip is to a facility in Lacombe, the students and chaperones usually walk to the destination. For field trips outside of the Lacombe area, bus transportation is required. Only children who are enrolled in the class going to the field trip will be allowed to accompany the students and chaperones on the bus.
Bake Sale
 Bake sales are held as classroom fundraisers. Individual classes are assigned a specific date for having their bake sale. These are usually held on Fridays. Each teacher is responsible for organizing the bake sale and parents to help sell the items at the bake sale. The students in her class can supply the bake sale items on a voluntary basis. The teacher or her designee will count the bake sale money and submit all funds to the school secretary. This money will be placed in a special account for that classroom. The teacher will use the money to purchase instructional supplies and equipment for the students in her class to use or benefit from. Each class will have one bake sale per year.

Supplies Fee
 A supply fee of $10.00 per student is charged. This fee covers instructional supplies, materials, equipment, etc. used in the classroom and school. The instructional fee should be paid by parents/guardians as soon as possible.
Parent Involvement
CONFERENCES

Parent Meetings include Open House, Family Literacy Night, and Family Math Night. Additionally, parents of preschool students must attend monthly meetings. We are also encouraging parents to schedule individual conferences to discuss academics and behavior. Conferences may be scheduled with the teacher directly or through the secretary. Except for emergencies, all conferences must be scheduled in advance.
PTA
 It is vital that parents and teachers work together to help students to set goals and work to achieve those goals. P.T.A. meetings are held 4 times each year.


PLEASE JOIN THE P.T.A.!!!
Cafeteria Rules
WAITING IN LINE

Students should walk quietly into the cafeteria. Monitors will direct the movement of the lunch line. Students with inappropriate behavior will receive consequences.

RULES

1. Sit at the table quietly, feet under the table, without talking, playing or annoying other students.

2. Throw away unwanted food and trash in proper containers.

3. Use the proper manners.

4. Clean your area before you leave the table.

USE OF CONDIMENTS AND FOODS BAR

Students are expected to take from the food bar only the items and amount told to you by the cafeteria employee. If you forget an item or have a problem, raise your hand or tell a cafeteria monitor.
CAFETERIA DISMISSAL

Duty teachers will come to the cafeteria to receive their students. Students will remain seated until their class is released by a monitor or teacher.

Discipline Policy
SCHOOL RULES

1. I will show respect!

2. I will be kind to others!

3. I will share my resources!

4. I will try my best!
CONSEQUENCES
1. Reminder
2. Warning
3. Loss of recess, punish work or other consequences to be determined
and carried out by the teacher
4. Note home
5. Parent conference
6. After school detention (Upon being assigned the 2nd detention,
parents must schedule an appointment with the school counselor.
Upon being assigned the 3rd detention, the student must see the
principal.)
7. Student is sent to the principal.
CONSEQUENCES INCLUDE:
a. Conference with student and parent
b. After school detention
c. Saturday detention at Bayou Lacombe Middle School
d. In-House suspension at Bayou Lacombe Middle School (3rd grade students
only)
e. Suspension
Promotional Policies
Kindergarten
Kindergarten Students being promoted from kindergarten will be recommended for a transition first grade or a regular first grade. The DIAL 3, Dr. Richard Gentry's Spelling Assessment, teacher recommendation, and parental approval will determine recommendation for the transition class. The criterion for promotion to first grade for kindergarten students is the successful completion of the St. Tammany Parish Kindergarten Evaluation Report.

Grade 1
If a student in first grade receives a Needs Improvement mark in reading or
math as indicated on the fourth nine weeks grading period, the SBLC shall
review available data pertaining to the student's reading or math proficiency to
determine promotion or retention. The reading or math proficiency of the
student shall be determined by using the informal teacher assessment portfolio
checklist, which includes a collection of the following: DRA results in January
and May, vision screening, hearing screening, writing sample, word recognition
test, math computation assessment, spelling test, Yopp-Singer Test of
Phonological Awareness, and any other pertinent information.

Grades 2 and 3
A student will not be promoted in grades 2 or 3 if he fails:
(1) Reading
or
(2) Math
or
(3) Two of these subjects: Language, Science, Social Studies, Spelling

A parent/student/school compact that outlines the responsibility of each party will be required for students in grade 3 who are determined to be at risk.

Sexual Harassment
The purpose of the St. Tammany Parish School Board is to provide public education for the school aged children of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana. Sexual Harassment is a violation of the law and School Board policy and will not be tolerated, condoned, or overlooked. The Board requests and encourages persons associated with the School System who believe there are acts of harassment to be reported to the school principal or designee.
The Board through the school principal shall promptly, thoroughly, and fairly investigate reports of sexual harassment and take appropriate action that is consistent with the results of the investigation and legal requirements afforded by law. Inappropriate behavior will be handled according to the school's discipline procedures.
The School System and Board will not tolerate retaliation by anyone associated with the School System against one who files a complaint of sexual harassment.
Some acts of sexual harassment are considered criminal and are subject to prosecution. The Board and School System will fully cooperate with law enforcement agencies and the District Attorney in investigating and prosecuting such criminal offenses.

REPORTING OF INCIDENTS NEED TO BE MADE TO THE PRINCIPAL AT YOUR CHILD'S SCHOOL. A COPY OF THE POLICY IS AVAILABLE IN EVERY SCHOOL'S LIBRARY