Maple Lawn Parent/Student Handbook
Oscar Aponte, principal
Vision
Students will realize their unique potential and persevere through all challenges in order to become influential citizens of the community.
Mission
We seek to dismantle inequities by surrounding students with a talented and caring school community that allows all students to see their innate value and discover their chosen purpose. Our school models being influential citizens by practicing social emotional skills, perseverance towards goals, and critical thinking skills.
Core Values
Caring-- Family/Team--Passion/Purpose--Perseverance
Principled--Open-minded--Confidence
Dear Parent/Guardian,
We are pleased to have your child at Maple Lawn Elementary School. To help all of us with the various aspects of daily school life, we have compiled a handbook for students and parents. This handbook will provide you with needed information you and your child can use throughout the school year. Please review all parts with your child.
The information presented in the handbook is designed to help us all work together to provide the best education possible in a safe and positive environment. As we work to meet the needs of all students, we welcome suggestions that will improve the quality of our school. If you have questions or needs not presented here, please feel free to ask me or someone on the staff.
Sincerely,
Oscar Aponte
Principal
Bus Routes
SCHOOL 7:30 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
School begins promptly at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:20 p.m. Students should not report to school before 7:30 a.m. Students arriving prior to 7:30 will not be allowed in the building. Staff members are on duty at 7:30 a.m.
In cases of emergency, a parent or other care-taker must come to the front office to sign the student out. For the safety and security of all of our students, we do not allow parents to walk students to class in the morning. We also ask parents not to linger in the hallways or outside of teachers’ classroom doors. We have several staff members on duty who will help students get to class.
Please note that students are tardy after 8:00 am.
Please also note that during the last 30 minutes of the day--from 2:50 to 3:20 pm--every day, we will not release students early.
Students who are dropped off after 8:20 am or picked up before 3:00 pm will be cited for T99. This notation indicates that time missed from school is being tallied. Three tardies or early dismissals will count as an absence.
Dismissal will start promptly every day at 3:22 pm. Please see map for dismissal and arrival locations.
STUDENTS ARE UNSUPERVISED AFTER 3:30 P.M.
The school has two different free afterschool programs:
- Boys and Girls. Contact: Maricarmen Fierros 214-545-7979 (50 students only)
- Community in Schools. Contact: Fabian Rodriguez 682-306-2668 (75 students)
Parents who consistently send their children to school too early or pick them up late will be required to meet with the principal or an assistant principal.
Please be aware that we will contact Child Protective Services to report any parent who continues to miss the designated pick-up time (lateness by 15 minutes or more).
For safety and security, we ask all parents to wait outside of the building at dismissal time.
BUILDING SECURITY
Beginning at 7:15 a.m., we will welcome students into the building through the front door off of Inwood Road. All other doors remain locked until 8:00 a.m.
Visitors may enter the building through the front door between 8:05 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. All other doors will remain locked (from inside) during school hours. Students can exit doors, or course, but visitors must ring the bell to gain entrance.
ACADEMIC TUTORING
Boys & Girls Club and Communities in Schools (CIS) after school programs will start the first week of classes (the week of August 14th). CIS is free and boys & Girls requires a fee.
PARENT COMMUNICATION
Tuesday Folder & Discipline Folder
Teachers will send home a folder every Tuesday. Generally, this folder will contain a calendar of upcoming school activities, communication flyers, and any notices of disciplinary infractions.
Please review all of the information inside this folder.
ClassDojo
Please go to the following link to join ClassDojo for our school:
https://www.classdojo.com/invite/?s=53fc862517b3e76441083bc3
LUNCH AND RECESS SCHEDULE
Parents are invited to eat with students on Wednesdays only
Wednesday in the library for all grades
Once you arrive at the school, go to the main office to sign in before going to the library. When lunch time is over, please leave the school so that other parents can use the space to eat with their children. Please be aware that you can only eat with your own child(ren); you cannot eat with other relatives' or friend's children.
First Wednesday to have lunch with your children will be the first week of September 2023.
TEACHER PLANNING PERIOD/CONFERENCE TIMES
SPECIALS SCHEDULE
PARENT CONFERENCES
We encourage you to request periodic conferences. Inquire at the from office to arrange these conferences. We will not call teachers from their classrooms to meet for conferences that were not pre-scheduled.
Even if you do not contact teachers, when problems or concerns arise, or when they want to praise a student, teachers will contact you to schedule conferences. As a general rule, we will not schedule any conferences before 8:00 a.m.
TELEPHONE USE
Our school phone is a business phone. Please handle all pick-up or other arrangements with your child before he/she comes to school. If there is any change in the pick up arrangement, make sure you send a written note to the teacher the day the change will take place. Please do not call the office and ask for a message to be relayed to a student unless
it is a serious emergency. Students will not use the phone during the school day or after school. Students are not allowed to use their own cell phones during the school day (see District Student Handbook and Code of Conduct for more information about Cellphone Policy)
CELL PHONES
Although students are allowed to have cell phones on campus, they cannot use the phones during class or in the hallways. Staff will address cellphone-related disruptions. Depending on the disruption and at the discretion of staff, the cellphone may be confiscated.
Staff at the school are NOT responsible for lost or stolen cell phones or other electronic devices.
REPORT CARDS/PROGRESS REPORTS AND RECOGNITION
PK, K, First Grade
Each nine weeks, students in grades PreK, Kindergarten and First grade will receive a computer generated report card with grades of E, S, or N. In addition, students will receive three, 3-week progress reports. Parents are encouraged to review these carefully and set goals with their children for achievement.
The primary purpose of these grades is to inform parents and caregivers about students' progress with reading.
Tutoring will be provided for students who struggle to demonstrate mastery of grade-level standards.
Please note that at end-of-year ceremonies, students in PK and Kindergarten will not receive competitive achievement awards. PK students will be recognized on the last day of school with a promotion and a perfect attendance award if applicable.
Kindergarten students will receive Promotion, Academic Achievement, Citizenship, Maple Lawn Rocket Award, and Perfect Attendance awards when applicable.
1st grade students will be recognized with the following awards if students earned them through their effort and attendance: Social Studies, Science, Math, Reading, Citizenship, Maple Lawn Rocket Award, Most Improved, Academic Achievement, Perfect Attendance, and A.R. Award.
Grades 2-5
Each nine weeks, students in grades 2-5 will receive a computer generated report card with numeric grades. In addition, students will receive a two, 3-week progress report. Parents are encouraged to review these carefully and set goals with their children for achievement.
Progress reports are sent home the 4th and 7th week of every 9 weeks period. Please sign and return progress reports to school the following day. Report cards are issued at the end of each 9 weeks.
A=90 -100, B=80-89, C=70-79
Below 70 is failing
As educators, it is our goal to ensure that grades reflect performance levels and are aligned with the content and rigor of state and national standards. The following scoring weights are used in each grade:
50% Class work
(Limited homework will be sent home. Daily homework will be restricted to 30-60 minutes of reading, skip counting or multiplication chart, and/or skill drills sent by the teacher)
20% Tests/Quizzes
(Retake opportunity provided for failing tests)
20% Projects
10% 9 weeks test
Students will be given 2 days after each absence to makeup work without penalty. Grade penalties will be applied for other late assignments, as determined by the teacher. Tutoring will be required for students scoring below grade level standards.
Maple Lawn will host an annual Award Ceremony for students in 2nd – 5th grade. The following awards will be recognized only to students who have earned them through their effort and good attendance: Social Studies, Science, Math, Reading, Citizenship, Maple Lawn Rocket Award, Most Improved, Academic Achievement, Perfect Attendance, A.R. Award, and Achieve 3000. In addition, students in 4th and 5th grade will receive A Honor Roll and A/B Honor Roll. Contact the teacher to ensure you are aware of student progress (you should not be surprised on the day of awards if your child does not receive one).
CLINIC
Our students have access to services provided by our School Nurse, Ms. McClean. Services include:
- First aid for illness or injury, control of communicable disease, and health screening.
- Prescription medication may be administered by the nurse if the medication is in the original container with the prescribed dosage and physician’s name clearly marked.
- Non-prescription medication may NOT be given unless accompanied by a written order from a physician or dentist and a written note from the parent.
Due to COVID-19, when a student is not feeling well, the students will be sent to the nurse’s office. The nurse will perform the evaluation. This is also the procedure if a student enters the building and has an elevated temperature (more than 98.6℉). If the student has a temperature of 100.4 or higher parents will be notified to come to the school to pick up the student.
MEDICATION
Never send medication to school with a student. Parents and the child’s doctor must complete a special form (issued by the school nurse) for medicine to be administered at school.
TEXTBOOKS AND LIBRARY BOOKS
iPADS and CHROMEBOOKS
VISITORS
Every visitor must sign in at the office and receive a visitor’s pass before visiting any part of the school. Please be sure to have a state issued ID when you come to the campus. Your ID will be scanned through the raptor system in order to ensure the safety of our students.
PROBLEMS/CONCERNS
If you have any problems or concerns, please feel free to schedule a meeting with the principal or assistant principal assigned to the grade level. You should first address the problem with the teacher or other staff member. Front office staff will help to schedule a colleague-to-colleague conference if necessary. Due to an intensive schedule and high expectations for student success, the principal will not be able to meet with anyone who does not have an appointment.
Mr. Aponte will meet any day between 6:45 and 7:10 am or 5:30 to 6:15 pm only. You are welcomed to text him at 817-360-1866 any time (he will reply within 24 hours).
Assistant Principals
Mr. Atkins: Kinder, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades
Mrs. Babasola: PK, 4th, and 5th grades
PERSONAL POSSESSIONS
Label your child’s possessions so that lost items may be returned. The school is NOT responsible for lost or damaged items.
ATTENDANCE AND TARDIES
Mrs. Radford's email address: tradford@dallasisd.org
MAKE-UP ASSIGNMENTS AND ABSENCES
STUDENT DISCIPLINE
In order to establish a positive climate in which every student can achieve his or her potential, Maple Lawn has developed campus rules and expectations that address the behaviors that impede the educational process in the classroom and in the school.
Every student at Maple Lawn will be given a discipline folder the first week of school. This folder will be used to document daily behaviors, parent contacts, tardies, and absences. Please review the comments made in the discipline folder, sign it, make comments as needed and return it to school the following day.
SUSPENSION
If a student is suspended, the absences will be unexcused and the students cannot be on the school grounds during the time of the suspension. Students are expected to complete all assignments missed during his/her suspension. Assignments will be available upon return to school. Teachers are not required to provide assignments in advance for suspensions.
TESTING
During district and state assessments, schools are required to ensure test security and confidentiality. On testing days, visitors will not be allowed in the building. We are also required to limit all traffic and noise in the halls on these days. Please avoid scheduling doctors and dentist’s appointments on testing days, as attendance is imperative! Thank you for your support. Please refer to our school calendar for common assessment and STAAR test days.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS/TELEPHONE NUMBERS/EMERGENCY CONTACTS
Students who change their residence, mailing address, or telephone number should notify the office immediately. School records must be kept up to date in case of emergencies. If parents do not have a telephone, the school office should have a number available to call in case of an emergency. Telephone numbers on file in the office should be CURRENT.
TRANSFER FAMILIES
Maple Lawn is happy to serve many students on transfers when classroom space is available. Transfer renewal is contingent upon complying with the district’s requirements of:
Passing grades
Positive behavior
Good attendance and promptness (less than 4 excused absences or tardies)
Parent involvement
Each spring, a committee of Maple Lawn faculty members reviews each child’s progress according to each of the above criteria. Each criterion must be met for transfers to be approved for an additional year. Volunteering with the PTA is an important way to fulfill one of the criteria above while adding invaluable benefits to the school. We also encourage parents of transfer students to attend our parent seminars.
PTA
STUDENT ID NUMBERS
DAMAGED PROPERTY
Students will be required to pay for damaged or vandalized school property.
FIELD TRIPS
Students will not be permitted to attend field trips unless they return a signed permission slip to the teacher, no exceptions.
HOMEWORK
DRESS CODE (FNCA Local DISD policy)
In compliance with Local DISD policy, all students must follow the uniform dress code.
Students are required to wear solid navy blue (school preference), khaki or black bottoms and white or green shirts only from Monday to Friday. If the bottoms have a belt loop, a belt should be worn. Students may wear our Dress for Success uniform on Fridays or any other day (this is optional).
Shirts should have a collar and should be tucked in.
While inside the building, students may only wear blue solid sweaters. The school will provide one for each student enrolled in our campus.
Students may wear a long sleeved undershirt under their collared shirt, but it should be the same solid color as the collared shirt on top (white).
Girls who wear skirts and dresses may wear tights under their bottoms, but the tights should be a solid uniform color.
Students may not wear shorts, skirts, or dresses that are shorter than FINGERTIP length.
Students move about regularly during the day, at times sit on the carpet, participate in PE once per week, and will attend recess daily. Please keep this in mind when dressing your child so that he/she is comfortable doing these various activities.
We strongly recommend girls wear shorts under their skirts or dresses.
Please contact a counselor if you need assistance with uniforms.
DRESS CODE VIOLATION POLICY
Students are expected to abide by the campus dress code.
1st Offense - Student receives a verbal warning and remains in class.
2nd Offense - Counselor calls parent or sends home a request for a conference. (Student in class)
3rd Offense - Counselor refers student to administrator.
Every effort will be made to identify non-compliant students upon their entry into the building in the morning.
1st Consequence - Student receives a verbal warning.
2nd Consequence - Counselor calls parent to bring appropriate clothing. If a parent cannot be reached or is unable to appear, the student will receive an administrative request for a parent conference. The student is sent to class with a pass that indicates that the matter has been addressed.
3rd Consequence - Student is assigned detention.
2023-2024 Parent Compact
Parent Compact
I will make sure my child goes to bed early and gets a good night’s rest each day.
I will make sure my child has a quiet place to complete his/her homework and read each night.
I will make sure my child is on time for school and present before 7:30 a.m. in order to have breakfast at school.
I will make sure that I attend parent conferences.
I will make sure that my child is prepared each day with what he /she needs.
- I will check my child’s planner, folder or backpack every day.
I will sign up for the parent portal and ClassDojo so I can keep up with my child’s assignments and grades.
I will make sure that the school has a current phone number to call me if needed.
I will communicate with my child’s teacher to support my child’s learning.
Student Compact
I will obey all school rules.
I will respect school property.
I will go to bed early and get a good night’s rest each day.
I will complete my homework.
I will read each night.
I will be on time for school and present before 7:30 a.m. in order to have breakfast at school.
I will inform my parents of all school events and talk to them about school each day.
I will be prepared each day with all that I need.
I will share the contents of my planner, folder or backpack every day with my parents.
I will inform an adult when I need assistance or seek someone for help.
I will not remain silent when I see another person being harmed.
Teacher Compact
I will provide each child with a safe and welcoming environment.
I will provide effective instruction because it is most important in student achievement.
I will provide clear expectations for students and parents to support student learning.
I will accurately record student data and follow all policy and procedures of the school, district, and state.
I will provide opportunities for parent conferences.
I will ensure that each day is a new day for each child.
I will support the school’s core values.
I will be a partner in your child’s education with parents and other stakeholders.
I will send progress reports as needed for the student.
2023-2024 Parent Involvement Policy
Communication and Student Learning
ClassDojo
A Calendar of events and information for the upcoming month will be shared daily, weekly, or monthly through ClassDojo. Information will be emailed at the parents/guardian’s request. Some of the student’s work will be sent home. The student’s behavior for the week will be noted. Parents are asked to review ClassDojo and Parent Portal on a daily basis. Please return any forms that require parent response. In order to effectively and timely communicate information to parents, parents are encouraged to sign up for ClassDojo. Please submit your email address to the classroom teacher in order to sign up for ClassDojo.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parents may contact teachers/administrators to schedule individual conferences during teacher planning periods or before/ after school. The Title I Compact will be given during the first parent/teacher conference and for new students, at time of enrollment.
Report Card and Special Notices
The first report card will be issued during parent conferences. Report cards will be sent home at the end of each six-week period with students. The dates are indicated on the student calendar sent home with each student at the beginning of the school year. The calendar is also available on the DISD web site at www.dallasisd.org. Special notices will be sent with every student during the third week of each nine-week period.
Instructional Programs
Family Nights
There will be training sessions during the school year to share information with parents to help their child succeed in school. Our family nights and information session will include Student Success Initiative (STAAR Testing Information), Math Night, Literacy Night, and Science Night. Dates and times for these will be publicized and information will be sent home with the students (Also see school calendar for dates and times).
Visiting the School
It is very important that you sign in upon entering our campus in the main office. You will receive a visitor’s sticker in order to go to a designated area of the school. Due to COVID-19 there will not be visitors this school year while on level red or orange.
School Volunteers
We welcome the services of volunteers. A background check and training are required for volunteers. Please see counselor Mr. Bingamon for more information.
School Decision-Making and Community Collaboration
Site Based-Decision Making Committee (SBDM)
The SBDM is an advisory committee. Members are elected and appointed to serve on this committee. There will be at least 4 meetings throughout the year. They will be held at the school on Thursdays at 4:45. See school calendar for the scheduled meetings (YAG)
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
This organization will meet on designated dates (see school calendar for dates) at 6:00 p.m. in the school auditorium. Everyone, including community members, are welcome to attend and participate.