Beginning of the Year Information
August 2019
Assistant Principal: Mr. David Sanford
Welcome to the 2019-2020 School Year! Please read the following important information.
School Advisory Council
Box Tops 4 Education
FOREST LAKE ELEMENTARY SECURITY PROCEDURES
Dear Forest Lake Families,
Our school participates in regular Security Certification Standards. This training is conducted with teachers, staff and students in Volusia County in an effort to continue to provide a safe and secure school environment for our entire community. In addition, we have a School Guardian on our campus to help ensure the safety of our students, staff and stakeholders.
Forest Lake Elementary has Security Procedure Manuals specifically tailored to meet the needs of our individual school. The following sections are excerpts from our manual that are important for our families and visitors to know.
VISITORS
The main administration building (#1} shall serve as the central admittance point for all visitors. Visitors with a valid purpose for being on school campus will be asked to show a photo ID and sign in indicating their purpose and location while on campus. Each visitor will be issued a visitor's badge that must be worn at all times while on campus. Visitors on campus without an appropriate ID badge will be directed to the main office so that they may register. Identification badges are dated so they are only valid the day of issuance.
RELEASE OF STUDENTS TO PARENTS/ GUARDIANS
Early release is governed by a strict sign-out procedure that ensures students' safety. Any parent/ guardian requesting to have their child(ren) released prior to the close of the school day shall report to the main administration building (#1).The Parents/guardian shall complete an early release request and list the reason for the early release. The Parents/guardian will be required to show a driver's license as identification.
No child shall be released to an individual who cannot produce a photo I.D., if not personally known to the Principal or a faculty member(s). Prior to the release of any child, the student's emergency card will be reviewed to ensure that nothing would prohibit the parent/guardian from receiving the student. Students will only be released from the office. Students may not be released to any other individual unless permission is given by the legal parent or guardian.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT AND FAMILY POLICY GUIDE AND CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE HANDBOOK
Each student receives a copy of the handbook
mentioned above. Teacher s and administrators explain and reinforce the importance of the Student code of conduct throughout the year. Each student and parent signs an acknowledgement form indicating that they have received a copy of the STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT. This handbook also includes information about attendance, student medication, health services, homework, students' behavior on buses, and use of electronic equipment at school, dress code, bullying and harassment .
PARENTAL NOTIFICATION AND STUDENT SAFETY
Schools have an obligation to notify parents/guardians of issues that may affect a student's safety and well being. Statements or threats regarding suicide, gang activity, fear of harm from outside the school must be reported to the parent/guardian in addition to the appropriate law enforcement agency. If the issue involves other students, or adults on campus, the principal will conduct an investigation and take appropriate measures to provide adequate safeguards.
POLICE, CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE
Schools must comply with Florida Statutes
regarding Police and Department of Children and Family interviews, while at the same time, protect student and parent rights. Under Florida Statues. the Department of Children and Families does have the right to interview and/or take a child into custody WITHOUT THE PARENT'S PERMISSION.
EMERGENCY AND DISASTERS
Forest Lake Elementary staff and students have been practicing what to do in the event of an emergency such as a fire, bomb threat, intruder, hazardous weather, and hazardous material/toxic spills on or near our campus. If it were necessary to evacuate our campus due to a crisis, all students, faculty and staff would be relocated to either Osteen Elementary School or Discovery Elementary School.
Bus LOOP
For the safety and well being of students, parent and visitors, use of the bus loop area during morning arrival (7:00am - 8:20 am} or afternoon pick-up (1:45 pm-2 :30pm} is strictly prohibited. As per state requirements only buses may use the bus loop during those times.
CODES
Please discuss the following codes with your children. Fire drills and Code Red 2 drills are conducted monthly. All other drills are conducted in the fall.
CODE RED - LOCK DOWN
Students are kept inside and away from all windows. Windows and doors are locked and lights are off.
CODE RED 2 - WEAPON/HOSTAGE SITUATION
• RUN: Run (if safe to do so) to a safe area outside the building, away from the shooting.
• HIDE: Find a safe location {room),lock the door and turn off the lights CODE
CODE BLUE - BOMB THREAT
Students are evacuated to the front and back of the school.
CODE YELLOW - HAZMAT/TOXIC
Students are kept indoors with the windows and the doors closed.
CODE GREEN - SEVERE WEATHER
If a Code Green, tornado WATCH is announced, students are kept inside away from windows. If a Code green tornado WARNING is announced, students assume protective position.
FIRE
Students are evacuated to the front and/or back of the school to their assigned zone areas.
24 HOUR TOLL-FREE HOTLINE
An anonymous hotline is provided for students to report issues of crime and violence. This is the students Crime -Stopper Program and their number is 1-888-277-TIPS
YOUR COOPER ATION IS GREATLY APPR ECIATED
If you are on campus during a security drill or an actual emergency situation, you may be instructed by a staff member to follow the security procedure we are implementing at the time of the emergency situation. Our goal is to make your experience at Forest Lake Elementary a safe and enjoyable one. Parents and community leaders are invited to participate in meetings on school safety and other school procedures. These procedures are discussed at open house, SAC meetings, and PTO meetings. Please remember that parent input is always welcomed and appreciated at Forest Lake Elementary.
Sincerely,
The Forest Lake Elementary Faculty and Staff
For more information about Volusia county schools, please visit our district web site at http://vscedu.org
CLINIC NEWS
NEWS FROM THE NURSE
Welcome back parents and students! I hope you enjoyed your summer. Parents, this is just a reminder that if your child has any type of health condition that requires any type of medication (even over-the-counter) during school hours, you must have a Medication Authorization form completed by you and a physician. Some medications also require an Emergency Care Plan completed by you and that physician. If your child had these forms and medications in school last year, that paperwork does not carry-over so new paperwork must be done yearly (during July/August is best for the new school year). The medication must be brought to the clinic with the forms and logged in by an adult, not the student. If you have any questions, please feel free to the nurse any time from 8:00 AM to 2:15PM. Our school phone number is 386-575-4166, clinic extension 42798. Thank you and have a healthy and productive school year!
HEALTHY HABITS
“Did you wash your hands?” Students, how many times did you hear that today? Probably a lot! But why are adults so hung up on hand-washing? Why are they so in love with lather? Washing your hands is the best way to stop germs from spreading. Think about all of the things that you touched today. From the telephone to the toilet. Maybe you blew your nose in a tissue and then went outside to dig in the dirt. Whatever you did today, you came into contact with germs. It’s easy for a germ on your hand to end up in your mouth. Think about how many foods you eat with your hands. You can’t wear rubber gloves all day long, but you can wash your hands often so those germs don’t get a chance to make you or someone else sick. When germs go down the drain, they can’t make anyone sick.
So, when are the best times to wash your hands?
- When your hands are dirty
- Before eating or touching food
- After using the bathroom
- After blowing your nose or coughing
- After touching pets or other animals
- After playing outside
- After visiting a sick person
Now you have the when and why of hand-washing! But, did you know that a lot of people don’t know how to get their Panther Paws perfectly clean? The next time you’re told to step up to the sink and scrub up, remember these handy hints:
- Use warm water (not cold or hot)
- Use whatever soap you like. Antibacterial soap is okay but regular soap works just fine
- Work up a good lather on both sides of your hands, your wrists, between your fingers and don’t forget to wash around your nails where the germs like to hide
- Wash for about 10-15 seconds, about how long to sing “Happy Birthday” (sing it fast twice or slowly just once)
- Rinse and dry your hands with a clean towel and you’re done!
Here’s to a healthy school year!
FLORIDA KID CARE
GUIDANCE NEWS
Dear Forest Lake Elementary Parents, Guardians, and Students,
My name is Erica Jeria, and I am pleased to introduce myself as the Certified School Counselor at Forest Lake Elementary!
This year all classes will be participating in 15-minute meet ups in their classes with their teachers, where that will focus on Social Emotional Learning (SEL). SEL is the process by through which children and adults develop the fundamental skills for life effectiveness. These are the skills we all need to handle ourselves, our relationships, and our work effectively and ethically. By strengthening our SEL skills and competencies we can enhance our ability to connect across race, class, culture, language, gender identity, sexual orientation, learning needs, and age. By providing a foundation for safe and positive learning through SEL, we will enhance students' ability to succeed in school, careers, and life.
Counseling services in my office operate primarily from a solution-focused perspective to help your child to overcome developmental, personal, academic, and social issues that they may encounter. I will also be meeting with students through small groups. My goal is for your child to learn to become an effective and efficient problem-solver and to gain skills that they will be able to apply to future life situations.
Your child does not need to have a problem to meet with me! My door is always open and it is a judgment-free zone! I am looking forward to a wonderful school year and working with you and your child(ren). Please do not ever hesitate to contact me for any reason concerning your child.
Sincerely,
Erica Jeria
COMMUNITY NEWS
Volunteers and Business Partners
If you need to a volunteer form, please click here for the online application in English or here for Spanish. Schools will no longer have paper applications on site. If you or somebody you know needs to fill out a new online application but do not have access to a computer, there will be a computer available in our Parent Resource room.
Once applicants have been approved or denied, they will receive an email. Applicants may also check in with our front office to check on their status.
School Information
Website: http://myvolusiaschools.org/school/ForestLake
Location: 1600 Doyle Road, Deltona, FL, United States
Phone: 386-575-4166
Newsletter
Newsletters from here on out will be published the first Monday of every month. You may also access the newsletter on our school website at http://myvolusiaschools.org/school/ForestLake .