Gulf Elementary School
Student Handbook 2020-2021
Attendance
ATTENDANCE
Students have the right to a free and appropriate public education, but they assume the responsibility and are expected to attend regularly and on time. Parents/guardians are responsible for the attendance of their children. Parents have the responsibility to inform the school of their child’s absences and to explain the cause of each absence. Regular school attendance promotes academic success. Tardies and Early Sign-Outs deprive students of important instructional time. Excessive tardies may result in disciplinary action.
ABSENCES
ABSENCES-ATTENDANCE POLICY
● When your child is absent please ensure you do ONE of the following:
● Send an email informing of the absence either to your child’s teacher or directly to the attendance manager (ellymk@leeschools.net)
OR
Upon your student’s return, a written note or doctor’s note should be sent in with your student.
Please include with all emails and written excuses:
● Your child’s name
● Your child’s teacher
● Date of the absence(s)
● The reason for the absence
Please note:
● A PHONE CALL WILL NOT be accepted to excuse an absence.
● An email or a written note from the parent or guardian is a request that the student’s absence be excused and may be denied at the discretion of the principal.
● When a student is absent 4 or more consecutive days for illness; a doctor’s note is required for the absence to be excused.
ABSENCES-EXCUSED ABSENCES
Absence from school may be excused by the principal or designee for the following reasons:
● Illness of the student
● Illness of an immediate family member
● Death in the immediate family
● Religious holiday of the student’s own faith
● Required court appearance or subpoena
● Schedule medical or dental appointment
● Special event: Examples of special events include important public functions, conferences, state/national competitions as well as exceptional cases of family need. The student must request and receive permission from the principal at least five days prior to the event.
ABSENCES-EXCUSED TARDIES AND EARLY SIGN OUTS
Any amount of loss of instructional time, including leaving before 3:10 PM is considered a tardy/early sign-out. A tardy or early sign-out will be excused by the principal for the following reasons:
● Sickness or injury(leaving from the clinic only)
● Long term illness verified by a physician’s note
● Medical or dental appointments, only when a physician’s note is provided
● Death in the family
● Student meeting scheduled by the school
● Required court appearance or subpoena
● Other unique situations as presented on a case by case basis to the principal
Absences -Unexcused Absences, Tardy or Early Sign-Out
ABSENCES-UNEXCUSED ABSENCES, TARDY OR EARLY SIGN-OUT
An unexcused absence, tardy, or early sign out is any absence which has not been prearranged and approved by the principal and is not defined as excused in this policy.
● An absence from school without notice from a parent or guardian
● Trips or vacation
● Truancy
● Absences due to communicable disease requirement beyond the stated duration of communicability.
● Failure to comply with the necessary medical enrollment criteria unless specifically. explained in a physician’s note.
An unexcused tardy or unexcused early dismissal shall be given, but not limited to, for the following reasons:
● Over sleeping, missing the school bus, shopping trips, sport games, or picking up your child early to avoid a long wait, or personal reasons.
● A continued medical reason and the physician’s note does not stipulate that the medical condition justifies the student’s tardiness or early sign-out.
ABSENCES-EXCESSIVE ABSENCES, TARDINESS OR EARLY SIGN-OUT
● All unexcused absences, excused absences where a student is at-risk academically, unexcused tardies, and unexcused early dismissal from school shall be considered when studying excessive absences.
● Five (5) or more unexcused absences within 30 day period shall be deemed excessive.
● Six (6) or more tardies per quarter shall be deemed excessive.
● Excessive early sign-outs will be addressed on a case by case basis to determine if there is a pattern on non-attendance.
● Unless excused under the provisions of the school’s policy, accumulated early sign-outs will be recorded as unexcused absences.
● When a student accumulates an excessive number (19) of absences (excused or unexcused) and additional absences occur, a written statement from a physician verifying the absence was caused by an illness must be submitted.
ABSENCES-RETENTION DUE TO EXCESSIVE ABSENCES, TARDINESS, AND/OR EARLY DISMISSAL FROM SCHOOL
If a student accrues nineteen (19) or more excused or unexcused absences or excessive tardies (6 or more in a 9 week period) where the student is at risk academically within a school year, the student may be referred to the Child Study Team to be considered for possible retention. When a student’s name is referred to the Child Study Team, all absences and all unexcused tardies, as well as early sign-outs, will be reviewed. (School Board Policy 4.16)
ABSENCES- MAKEUP WORK
Missed school and homework, due to an absence, may be requested only if the child has been out two (2) or more days. Please inform the school as early as possible if you request work. Schoolwork may be picked up after dismissal. This allows the teacher time to gather the child’s books and assignments.
The teacher shall work with the student to allow the student to make up any missed assignments, tests, homework, etc., whether for excused or unexcused absences.
The missed school work is due in the same number of days that the student was absent plus 1 additional day (i.e. missed two (2) days the student has three (3) days to turn in the work).
Immediately upon returning to school from an absence, the student shall be given the number of days missed plus one additional day to submit make-up work for full credit.
ACCELERATED READER
The Accelerated Reader program is a tool for teachers and students to track and assess students’ reading comprehension, and is based on reading in school and at home. Students and teachers use this program to monitor independent reading at the student’s personal reading level. The purpose of the program is to motivate students to read more and read increasingly more challenging books.
Key Features of Accelerated Reader (AR):
● Students select and read a book, then take an objective A.R. test of 5, 10, or 20, multiple-choice questions.
● Points are earned if 60% or more of the questions are answered correctly.
● Students are also recognized for the levels of comprehension they attain throughout the year.
Benefits:
● Motivates students to read more.
● Increases comprehension and vocabulary skills.
● Provides practice at students targeted independent reading level.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
Lost & Found
Students should check the “Lost & Found” periodically for misplaced articles. It is recommended that all personal property items be labeled. If the items are not claimed by winter break or by the end of the school year, they will be donated to a local charity.
Homework Policy
Homework supports and reinforces the curriculum being taught in the classroom, takes into account students’ abilities and needs, and strengthens the connection between home and school.
All students may have homework Monday through Thursday. The times listed below are approximate and include independent reading time. Occasionally, a teacher may assign a long term project and homework over the weekend.
Grades K, 1, 2: 20 minutes maximum
Grades 3, 4, 5: 30 minutes maximum.
School Counselor
Elementary counselors are involved with students and their needs. They work closely with school and outside resource personnel to provide support for your children. Our School Counselor program allows for ongoing involvement with students, as well as counseling and consulting functions that allow for very specific involvement as the need arises. If you have questions or concerns, please call Gulf Elementary for an appointment to speak to one of our school counselors.
Field Trip Policy
In order for any student to participate in any field trip it is important that everyone understand the criteria for participation. All students participating on field trips must comply with the conduct required by School Board Policy and the Code of Conduct for Students. Field trips are a privilege and must be earned by each student invited to participate. If a student is unable to successfully comply with the guidelines in the classroom then school cannot risk the behavior during the special circumstances that occur during field trips. Since it is our belief that all students should receive the opportunity to attend the field trips, each child will be allowed to attend unless the following criterion is not followed:
1. Students must show a pattern of following directions at
all times.
2. Students must show respect for authority.
3. Students must work together as a team member and avoid aggression.
4. Students must be able to be safe at all times. If there are any safety situations medical or otherwise, the Principal will confer with the parent.
Students who miss a field trip because of inappropriate behavior may earn the right to attend the next field trip by demonstrating the correct behavior. Any student who chooses to conduct themselves inappropriately on the field trip will either be sent home at the parent’s expense or not be allowed to attend the next field trip.
PRINCIPAL WILL MAKE THE FINAL DECISION ON ANY CHILD PARTICIPATING IN A FIELD TRIP.
SUNSCREEN/CAPS – PROTECTION
Studies show that exposure to the suns ultra–violet rays can be very damaging to our skin. With this in mind, we want to stress to you the importance of students wearing baseball caps/hats with a visor during P.E., field trips, field days or outdoor play.
Sunscreen with a 15 SPF or higher (sun protection factor) should also be used along with some form of a hat. Applying sunscreen before leaving home for school would also help. Sunscreen should be applied one hour before going into the sun. This allows the sunscreen to soak into your skin.
Remember, if you wear the same style cap regularly, a four-inch brim will lower your lifetime chance of getting skin cancer by forty percent (40%). The rule is that each inch of brim lowers your risk by ten percent (10%) over not wearing a hat. Remember skin safety!
Clinic
When a student is not feeling well or is injured, the student will be sent to the clinic. If a child has a fever or the illness is serious, the parents will be called. Please come as soon as possible to pick up your child. There is a limited amount of room in the clinic for sick children.
Students with a temperature of 100 degree or higher must remain home for at least 24 hours after their fever is gone (without the use of fever reducing medicine such as Tylenol). Also, students should stay home 24 hours after they have vomited or have had diarrhea.
If your child needs to take medication during the school day, it is your responsibility (not your child’s) to bring the following to the Clinic: the medication (in a labeled prescription container) and the permission forms, which are available in the IB Office or the Clinic. Please check with the clinic prior to your doctor’s visit to receive doctor permission forms. Any kind of medication a student may need to take will require a doctor permission form signed and dated prior to distribution of medicine. This also includes over the counter medicine. The clinic does not carry any over the counter medicine and is not allowed to administer any type of medicine without a doctor permission form.
Lice
Anyone may get head lice. Parents are responsible for treatment of the head lice by shampoo (pediculicide) and nit removal (special comb). A student may ONLY re-enter school after treatment and he/she reports to the clinic with a parent. Student must be LICE/NIT FREE to re-enter school.
DISCIPLINE
Gulf Elementary follows the School District of Lee County Code of Conduct for behavior. Our school-wide expectations:
● Engage in Learning
● Act Responsibly
● Give Respect
● Let Others Learn
● Encourage Safety
Teachers set a tone of caring in their classrooms by setting classroom rules that reinforce the school-wide expectations, so that learning may occur. These expectations and rules will be posted in each classroom so that they are clearly seen and understood. Rewards and consequences are built into each classroom plan. Many opportunities are also available school-wide for recognitions and rewards.
We believe that students who struggle to behave may need some instructional assistance. In order to strengthen their social and emotional learning skills and equip them with the strategies and foundation needed to meet behavioral expectations at school, every class will have Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) instruction and we will also provide more supports for those students who need the extra assistance.
School-wide consequences will be implemented for serious rule infractions. Students will be sent to the office for serious offenses including:
1. Physical assault or dangerous physical behavior (fighting)
2. Insubordination/disrespect to any staff member
3. Bullying
4. Any illegal act
Consequences for Office Referrals:
All discipline issues will be handled by following the
District’s Code of Conduct for Students.
PROGRESS REPORTS
Progress reports (interim) will post every 4½ weeks in FOCUS with the exception of a report card every 9 weeks. Third quarter interims note any possible retentions.
MOVING/CHANGE OF ADDRESS
When an address change is necessary you must notify the school and provide proof of your new residence and new telephone number(s). Acceptable proof of your new residence is a copy of any one of the following:
● Signed lease agreement
● Mortgage acceptance letter
● Electric, water, cable or landline telephone bill
● Living with relatives or friends: a letter from them listing your name and the names of your children, stating that you are living at their address, AND a copy of one of the documents listed above verifying their address.
If a new bus pass needs to be issued because of a new residence, it will be necessary to provide the proof of address before the bus pass can be issued. It may take several days before a bus stop can be activated at the new address so please plan accordingly.
WITHDRAWALS
If it is necessary to withdraw your student, within the school year, please notify the office as soon as possible. If you require copies of records to take with you we must have 3 days’ notice prior to the withdrawal.
Gulf Elementary School
Email: Kimberlyav@leeschools.net
Website: www.gfe.leeschools.net
Location: 3400 SW 17th Pl, Cape Coral, FL, United States
Phone: 239-549-2726
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Gulf-Elementary-School-162975793873545/
Twitter: @GulfElementary
DISCLAIMER
By no means is this handbook all-inclusive. The school retains the right to alter or vary the application of these rules. This handbook is intended to help parents, students, and school personnel work together. Many guiding statements are included in this document but by no means does it cover every situation.
As new policies or regulations are developed by the school board, the State, or Federal Statutes, additions and/or deletions will be made to this manual. Every effort will be made by school employees to help students understand what is expected of them.