Hutchison Hornets,

The first semester has officially come to an end. We look forward to welcoming students back on Wednesday, January 4.

School Calendars and Hours Information & Survey

The survey window for the 2023-2024 Instructional Calendar and School Hours is 12/1-1/6.

On December 1, parents will receive an email from K-12 (LCISD survey company) with the survey information.

Below you will find the Instructional Calendar and School Hours Information, along with the survey link for parents.

https://survey.k12insight.com/r/2324ParentAcademicCalendar

Thank you to the December Parent Volunteers that came to make copies, fill teacher boxes, cut out laminating, and help in the morning car line. Please complete the sign up sheet if you are interested in volunteering for January . Volunteer opportunities will be communicated monthly.

Picture Day is coming up on January 26, 2023! Order before Picture Day to receive free shipping to the school. Order online at inter-state.com/order and enter Order Code 75949J.

At Hutchison Elementary, we value our student's attendance as it is important in building responsibility which leads to success. When students miss school, they miss a valuable opportunity to learn. The staff at Hutchison understands that illness happens and parents must follow district guidelines to care for their sick child at home. Additional concerns have come forward that students are being checked out early or absent for a number of reasons unrelated to being ill, such as taking vacation or trips for an extended period, when school is in session. Students who do not meet the compulsory attendance laws will receive written documentation from the school about next steps if needed.

Please take a moment to review attendance requirements:

2022 - 2023 ELEMENTARY STUDENT HANDBOOK ATTENDANCE LAWS

OFFICIAL ATTENDANCE-TAKING TIME The district must submit attendance of its students to Texas Education Agency (TEA) reflecting attendance at a specific time each day. Official attendance is taken every day at 9:45 a.m.

DOCUMENTATION AFTER AN ABSENCE When a student is absent from school, the student upon arrival or return to school, and within 5 days of the absence must bring a note signed by the parent, medical professional, or court official giving the date(s) of the absence(s) and describing the reason for the absence. The campus will document in its attendance records for the student whether the absence is considered by the district to be excused or unexcused. Please note that, unless the absence is for a statutorily allowed reason under compulsory attendance laws, the district is not required to excuse any absence, even if the parent provides a note explaining the absence. (If a student needs to attend a medical appointment, please obtain an excuse for missing class from the doctor's office.)

DOCTOR’S NOTE AFTER AN ABSENCE FOR ILLNESS Upon return to school, a student absent for more than five consecutive days because of a personal illness must bring a statement from a doctor or health clinic verifying the illness or condition that caused the student’s extended absence from school. Otherwise, the student’s absence may be considered unexcused and, if so, would in violation of compulsory attendance laws. Should the student develop a questionable pattern of absences, the principal or attendance committee may require a statement from a doctor or health clinic verifying the illness or condition that caused the student’s absence from school in order to determine whether the absence or absences will be excused or unexcused.

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE School employees must investigate and report violations of the state compulsory attendance law. A student absent without permission from school; from any class; from required special programs, such as additional special instruction, termed “accelerated instruction” by the state; or from required tutorials will be considered in violation of the compulsory attendance law and subject to disciplinary action. A court of law may also impose penalties against both the student and his or her parents if a school- aged student is deliberately not attending school. A complaint against the parent may be filed in court if the student: Is absent from school for ten or more days or parts of days within a six-month period in the same school year.

Breakfast & Lunch visits: Parents may visit breakfast but may not interact with other students Please sit at the designated parent tables for breakfast. Lunch visits may take place at your student assigned lunch time and in the side room in the cafeteria.

Smart Tags: IMPORTANT UPDATES

If a student does not have his/her Smart Tag ID badge for five (5) consecutive days, the Lamar CISD Transportation Department will contact the school/campus or parent to request that a Smart Tag replacement card be purchased.

When a student receives the maximum number of warnings allowed by the school, the student may be subject to disciplinary action which may include the suspension of transportation service.

Transportation will track students via a Smart Tag "report" twice weekly. On Thursday mornings the week of and Monday mornings, looking back at the previous week. Once a student reaches 3 consecutive days, we will give the parent and student a courteous reminder that 2 more consecutive days will result in a conversation between our Discipline Team, Campus Administrators, and the parent(s) of the student regarding discipline going forward.

REPEAT: All students have received a Smart Tag with their picture on a lanyard. Smart Tag Information. Students are required to wear their Smart Tag daily regardless of their grade or method of transportation. Hutchison has provided Smart Tags for each student. Any replacement Smart Tags can be purchased for $5 from the front office. We encourage all parents, mandatory for bus riders of students in PK/K, to sign up for the Smart Tag Parent Portal. Smart Tag Login

Car riders: Our doors open at 7:00am. Please do not drop your child off before this time. There is no adult supervision before 7:00am. Arrival prior to 7:15 is encouraged. We appreciate your patience.

Bus riders: LCISD Transportation is highly recommended for all students who are eligible. The buses are the first mode of transportation to leave each day. PK and K students will only be released to an authorized adult listed in the SMART Tag System. (see the link above)

Daycares: We have the Gingerbread after school program on campus this year. Registration is available by emailing twkaminski@sbcglobal.net or visiting the website at www.gbhdaycare.com.

Transportation changes: Transportation changes MUST be made before 2:00 PM. Please call the office to indicate a change for the way your child normally goes home. These are delivered to the classrooms at 2:00pm. Therefore, we cannot accept changes after 2:00 pm. If you want to check your child out early for appointments, it must be done by 2:00 pm. We will not release students for early pick up after 2:00 pm. This information is in the LCISD Student Handbook. Please try and keep the way your child goes home as consistent as possible. This decreases the likelihood of a mistake occurring.

Walkers/Bikers: PK/K students will be released to a parent/guardian only. Parents are not allowed to walk up to the school to meet your children. If your child is a walker, you are saying that they are responsible enough to get home on their own without adult assistance. If you do not want your child to walk home without an adult, please make sure to communicate that with the teacher prior to the first day of school. If they have older/younger siblings that they will walk home with, please communicate that information to the teachers as well.

Dress Code

Hutchison Elementary has a dress code policy which should be adhered to daily. Please ensure that your student is following the policy. Reminder letters will be sent home with students who do not meet the policy.