Fern Creek Handbook
Dear Fern Creek Families,
On behalf of the faculty and staff, I welcome you to an exciting school year at Fern Creek Elementary School. In order to provide the best education possible for your child, it takes your participation. Together, we can move mountains – we can make a difference in the lives of ALL of our children and each other.
This handbook outlines school policies and procedures. Please take the time to review the important information and discuss appropriate parts with your child.
We are looking forward to a year of academic and behavior excellence. Please join the PTA for only $5.00 and complete an ADDitions form to volunteer in a classroom, on field trips, or to mentor a child. Whether it a little or a lot, your time with our children can change lives.
As a “School of Promise” we are committed to providing a healthy start, safe place, caring adult, marketable skills, and opportunities to serve. Thank you, in advance, for your support. I look forward to working with each of you and your child this year.
Dr. Julie Paradise
Principal
School Hours
School begins promptly at 8:45 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. On Wednesdays,
school ends at 2:00 p.m. Students who arrive between 8:15 and 8:35 a.m.
should go to the cafeteria if he/she is eating breakfast or otherwise go
to the auditorium.
| Office Hours | 7:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. |
| Teacher Hours | 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. |
| Breakfast Program | 8:15 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. |
| First Bell | 8:35 a.m. |
| Tardy Bell | 8:45 a.m. |
Important Information
1. For your child’s safety, it is critical that the school has accurate,
up-to-date addresses, phone numbers, and emergency information. Please be
sure the student information card is turned in to the office and the emergency
medical form is turned in to the clinic. If you change jobs or phone numbers,
please inform the office and the teacher in writing immediately.
2. For safety reasons, we will not change the way a child is to go home unless we have a written note from a parent. For example, a child who is listed as a bus rider will not be allowed to wait to be picked up by car just because she/he says, “My mom told me to be a car rider today.” We are sorry, but we cannot change the way a child goes home by phone. An administrator will review emergency situations individually.
3. Only those adults who are listed on the student information cards or emergency medical forms will be permitted to pick up students from school. We will strictly adhere to this policy and will require a picture I.D. from any adults who are not personally known to our office staff.
4. Please do not permit your children to bring candy, cell phones, beepers, toys/games, playing or trading cards to school (not even in his/her backpack). The school reserves the right to confiscate any items that cause disruption. The school is not responsible for personal items that are damaged, lost or stolen. Please do not permit your child to bring extra money or valuable family items to school.
5. Please read and return the following forms included in this folder: School Compact, Free/Reduced Lunch form, P.E. Participation form, Parent Involvement form, Consent to Video form, Internet Permission form (gr. 2-5), Emergency form, Office card, and Code of Student Conduct form.
Tips for Completing Homework
Select an appropriate place for home study (i.e., table or desk, free from
distractions, good lighting).
Try to complete homework and study in the afternoon or early evening, so you are alert and awake.
Avoid interruptions in your study time. Do not make phone calls, watch T.V., listen to the radio, or visit with friends until your work is finished.
If your homework/study time is long, take a short break. Stretch, walk around and get a drink or water or a healthy snack.
When your homework and studying is finished, put your assignments in your notebook or folder and put it immediately in your backpack and place your backpack by the door. This process will help you remember to take everything to school the next day. Children are expected to read and practice their math facts every night. Please use the following grade level guide as you set you up your child’s schedule:
Grade |
Minutes |
PreK-1 |
10-15 |
2-3 |
15-20 |
4-5 |
20-30 |
Hot Topics A-Z
Attendance/Absences
All students are expected to attend school regularly and be on time. When your child returns to school following an absence, a note must be received stating the reason for the absence. Excused absences are limited to personal illness, serious illness or death of a family member, religious holidays, or conditions rendering school attendance impossible due to hazards that would effect the health/safety of the child. All other absences and absences without a parent note are UNEXCUSED. Excessive absences or tardies are required to be reported to our school social worker. If your child has more than 15 unexcused absences, it is unacceptable. He/she is considered a habitual truant and may be reported to the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Activity Hotline
Please call 407-897-6410 and Press 1 to obtain information on school activities.
Bus Riders
Students and parents are reminded that riding the bus to school is a privilege.
Only registered bus riders will be permitted to utilize this service. Students
are expected to follow bus rules and safety procedures, and must ride the
correct bus. Appropriate behavior at the bus stop is also expected. There
is to be no running, yelling or other inappropriate or dangerous behavior
while waiting for the school bus. Parents are asked to supervise their children
at the bus stop. If a child is suspended from the bus, he/she is expected
to get to school on time, however he/she is NOT permitted to ride any school
bus. If you allow your child to take the city bus, you must write the teacher
a note and provide your child with money. If you live out of our attendance
zone, you are NOT permitted to ride the school bus to school. The Transportation
Services Department phone number is 407-317-3800.
Car Riders
When dropping off or picking up your child, please enter the school grounds
from Morris Avenue and drop off/pick up by the sidewalk near the office.
Please do not drop off or pick up students in the bus zones in front of
the school, across the street on a side street, or the rear entrance of
the cafeteria.
Clinic/Medication
The clinic attendant and other trained school personnel will be the only
staff members to administer medication or provide first aid to children.
In the event that medication needs to be administered at school, a special
authorization form must be completed by the parent and kept on file in the
clinic. Medication will not be given without this form. Medication must
be in the original prescription bottle that includes the doctor’s
name and dosage information. It is unsafe to send medication with children.
Parents are asked to bring the medication to the office. Clinic/office personnel
will supervise the child when taking his/her medication. Aspirin, cough
drops, cough syrup etc. cannot be given at school without written parental
authorization.
In cases of illness at school, temperatures are taken. The staff will make every attempt to contact the parents/guardians of children with high fevers. Please be certain that the clinic has an up-to-date emergency form on your child. In the event of an emergency at school, administration must be able to reach a parent/guardian quickly.
Communication Between Parents and Teachers
Communication between parents and teachers is required and should be frequent. It is the responsibility of both the parent and teacher to keep communication lines open. Please talk to the teacher prior to coming to the administration. Many times a teacher and parent can bring light to an issue and easily avoid miscommunication. Always go to the teacher first. Suggested communication methods include: conferences, notes, weekly envelopes, and Fall and Spring Report Card Pick-Up/Conference Nights. Please call the school or send a note to the teacher to schedule other conferences. Remember to schedule conferences before or after instructional hours so that valuable class time is not interrupted. Parents, teachers and the children must work together as a team!
Code of Conduct
Included in this folder is the Orange County Code of Student Conduct that
outlines the rights and responsibilities of O.C.P.S. students and the rules
they are expected to follow. The code also outlines the range of consequences
for not following district/school rules. Review the packet with your child,
sign the form and return to school by the end of the second week of school.
Each quarter the document will be reviewed with all students at an assembly.
Review the Code of Conduct with your child regularly. This code will be
adhered to when a student receives a discipline referral for a behavioral
infraction.
Dress Code
A copy of Fern Creek Elem. School’s dress code is included in this
folder for your review. Monitor what your child is wearing to school to
make sure it is in compliance with this code. For the safety of the students
and to reduce school disruption, the dress code will be strictly enforced.
Students wearing inappropriate dress will call home to request appropriate
clothing be brought to school. The child will complete his/her work in the
alternative room until the dress code is met. Repeated dress code offenses
of will be considered repeated misconduct and the consequences will follow
accordingly.
Early Dismissal
We ask that you make every attempt to refrain from picking up your child
before the school day is over. Please allow your child the opportunity to
benefit from uninterrupted learning. In the event that a child needs to
leave campus during the school day, the authorized parent/guardian must
come to the office and sign the child out. The child will be dismissed at
the regular school time if a parent gets to school at 2:30 p.m. or later
(1:30 on Wed.) No child will be excused directly from the classroom. Telephone
requests for children to be dismissed early from school are not allowed.
An administrator will review emergency situations individually.
Extended Day
Fern Creek Elementary School has a morning extended day program Monday -
Friday beginning at 7:00 A.M. The students meet in the computer lab and
work on the computers, read, study and play games. To register your child
a $55 deposit is required. This includes a $10 registration fee for each
child enrolled in the program, $30 deposit equal to two week's tuition for
each child enrolled and $15 for the first week's tuition. For more information,
call Mrs. Leahy at 407-897-6410, x229.
Field Trips
Students will be involved in taking educational field trips during the year.
All field trips require a signed permission slip in order for the child
to participate. Students without a signed permission slip will not be allowed
to participate, due to the liability incurred. Please adhere to field trip
deadlines on all forms sent home. If you have an interest in chaperoning
a field trip, please speak to your child’s teacher. Chaperones must
fill out an ADDitions application to be eligible to serve as a chaperone.
The form is delivered to the county where the application is reviewed. This
process takes a few weeks so please fill out the application in August.
A new application must be filled out each year; this is a county policy,
as they have to update their records yearly. Chaperones cannot bring any
other children with them on a field trip, including siblings from another
grade level or other siblings not yet enrolled in school.
Grading System
The state and school grading scale is as follows:
A |
90-100 |
B |
80-89 |
C |
70-79 |
D |
60-69 |
F |
59 and below |
Head Lice
The presence of head lice is a concern for all schools. Having head lice
is not a sign of uncleanliness, nor should it be cause for embarrassment.
They are a fact of life where groups of people gather and have contact.
Our health assistant will regularly check classes for head lice. If you
find head lice on your child, please treat the child and notify the health
assistant or your child’s teacher so that the other students may be
checked. Students found to have head lice while at school must be picked
up from school immediately. The child, other family members, and the home
environment must be treated with the appropriate medication and lice. District
policy states that students may not attend school if they have lice or nits
in their hair. All nits must be removed before a student will be allowed
to return to class. The health assistant must clear students returning to
school after a head lice incident before returning to class.
Lost and Found
Any items for our lost/found area will be held in the office. Unclaimed
items will be displayed periodically during the year. Encourage your child
to check the lost/found for any misplaced items. Due to space limitations,
unclaimed items will be donated to charity after a reasonable amount of
time has passed.
Lunchroom – Orange Blossom Café
ALL STUDENTS MUST HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EAT LUNCH EVERYDAY. The school
lunch program offers students a low-cost, balanced and nutritious lunch
designed to meet one third of a child’s daily nutritional requirements.
The school lunch menu will be sent home monthly.
Children cannot trade or share food. No food items may leave the lunchroom. In some cases, students may be eligible for free or reduced price meals. The family may file an application with the school to determine eligibility. Even if you received free or reduced lunch price last year, an application must be submitted again this year in order for it to continue. NO CHARGES will be allowed. Your child will receive a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Children who purchase a school lunch by the week are encouraged to make advance payment each Monday. Send a check (payable to the Orange Blossom Café at Fern Creek Elem.) or cash for your child’s lunches in a sealed envelope clearly marked on the outside with the following information: child’s name, teacher, grade, date and amount enclosed. If you enclose cash, please send the exact amount, as making change is difficult.
If you prefer to pack your child’s lunch, please remember that glass containers and metal or aluminum pop-up cans are not safe and therefore not permissible. Gum, candy, and soft drinks should not be packed in school lunches.
This year the children will receive choices as they go through the lunch line. Once your child makes his/her choice, he/she will not be able to make a change. Please talk to your child about making choices quickly as to not hold up the lunch line.
Students are expected to display good manners in our lunchroom so that lunchtime is a pleasant experience for everyone. Teaches will review lunchroom procedures and expectations with all students.
Our lunchroom will provide a Fine Dining experience three times during the year. A decorated cafeteria, centerpieces and a special meal will create a “restaurant atmosphere”. Students are asked to dress up for Fine Dining Day and specific grade levels will be asked to invite their parents to join the Fine Dining experience.
Parent/Teacher Association (PTA)
The principal, faculty and PTA encourage all parents to join PTA and attend the meetings. The school needs your assistance and support! It only costs $4.00 to join. When you join, the name(s) of your child(ren) will be placed on a paw print and displayed in the cafeteria. Classes will be competing to see who can get the most PTA membership. WE NEED YOU!
Parties
In accordance with the School Board policy, only two parties will be permitted
in each class during the year. These parties are scheduled before the winter
holidays and at the end of the school year. PLEASE DO NOT PLAN A CLASS PARTY
IN HONOR OF YOUR CHILD’S BIRTHDAY. However, you are welcome to provide
a class treat, to celebrate your child’s special day, during lunch
in the cafeteria. No candles permitted.
Physical Education
A well-planned, organized program of physical education is provided for
each child. Please fill out and sign the P.E. Consent form that has been
sent home in this folder and return it to school by end of the second week
of school. A copy of the special area schedule is included in this folder.
Please place this schedule on your refrigerator and make sure your child
wears appropriate shoes and clothing on P.E. days. Except in case of illness
or injury, all students are expected to participate. A student will be excused
from P.E. ONLY is he/she is ill and when a teacher receives a written note
from the parent providing an acceptable reason for the non-participation.
The doctor’s statement must be provided for any student who has conditions
that prohibit regular participation. Please inform the P.E. coach, in writing,
of physical limitations or medical conditions that may affect participation.
Our policy is to have non-participating students sit outside in the fresh
air and watch the P.E. instruction that is taking place. If the child must
remain indoors, this must be specified on the note that is sent to school.
Rainy Day Dismissal
If your child is a walker or bike rider, please make arrangements, in advance,
for rainy days. On those days, you may wish to pick your child up from school.
In the event that your child will have to walk or ride his/her bike, regardless
of weather conditions, please expect that he/she may be delayed in getting
home. The administration retains the right to delay dismissal of walkers/bike
riders until the weather is less threatening.
Report Cards
Progress Reports and Report cards are issued four times a year. We ask that
parents meet with teachers for a report card conference night two times
a year.
Retention
he state holds the school accountable for not socially promoting students
when he/she has not yet mastered the expected grade level standards. The
teachers teach the Sunshine State Standards and the students are expected
to master the expected benchmarks for each grade level in order to be promoted
to the next grade level. Children in 10th grade have six chances to pass
the FCAT in order to receive a high school diploma. If the students are
behind, they are expected to be retained and complete an additional year
in the grade level to meet the required standards.
Safety Patrols
Selected 5th graders will serve as school safety patrols. These students
are trained to instruct other students in safety and direct student movement
on school grounds. Please encourage your child to be responsive to patrol
members in the interest of safety. The patrol sponsor is Mr. Conner.
School Advisory Council (SAC)
The School Advisory Council is composed of the administration, faculty members, parents, and community members. All parties work together to set goals, objective, and action plans for each school year. We encourage parents to become active SAC members!
School Pictures
Students will be photographed on two occasions during the school year. Both
sittings will be for individual pictures and one of the sittings will include
a class picture. All pictures will be available for purchase. Information
regarding Picture Day will be sent home throughout the year. A portion of
the picture monies that are collected go directly to the school. Thank you
for your support!
School Procedures
Teachers will be consistent in their expectations and will teach and reteach
school procedures. Students are expected to adhere to all school procedures
or receive appropriate consequences.
Special Area Classes
All students at our school receive instruction in the following special
areas: Physical Education, Art and Music. All students will also be able
to utilize the school’s media center and computer lab at scheduled
times.
Special Education Services
The following services are available to students with special needs:
Educable Mentally Handicapped Program (EMH)
Emotionally Handicapped Program (EH)
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
Gifted Program
Hearing/Vision Screenings
Hospital/Homebound Instruction
Physical/Occupational Therapy
Specific Learning Disabilities Program (SLD)
Speech and Language Therapy
Trainable Mentally Handicapped (TMH)
Tardies
The tardy bell rings at 8:45 A.m. daily. Students arriving after this time
must report to the office to receive a pass to class. Children who arrive
late due to the late arrival of a school bus are not considered tardy. Medical
and dental appointments are excused tardies. Please bring a doctor’s
statement verifying the appointment. Excessive tardies will be reported
to the school social worker.
Telephone Usage
When calling the school, an automated attendant, who will direct you to
a menu of options to answer your call, will greet you. A voicemail system
is operational and you may leave messages when you call the main phone number
(407-897-6410). DO NOT LEAVE EMERGENCY MESSAGES IN A VOICE MAILBOX. Press
0 and speak to a live person so that the message can be relayed as quickly
as possible.
The school telephone is a business phone and is not to be used by students to make arrangements to go home with a friend, call for rides, or to call for permission for field trips or forgotten homework. These arrangements should be made at, in advance. Students will not be permitted to leave their classroom to receive phone calls. Emergency calls will be directed to the administration.
Fax |
407-897-2417 |
Office |
407-897-6410 |
Cafeteria |
407-897-6412 |
Textbooks
The school furnishes textbooks. Students are accountable for the proper
care of books and other materials provided by the school. The student must
pay for lost or damaged books. Please note that students who are not responsible
in paying for his/her lost or damaged textbooks and library books will not
be permitted to attend his/her “end of the year” class parties.
The children are expected to be responsible.
Visitors
For the safety of our children, any and all visitors, parents included,
must report to the school office and receive a visitor’s badge. If
you are coming for a conference, please check in at the office so we can
notify the teacher of your arrival.
Volunteer Opportunities
We welcome parents and others to become a school volunteer through our ADDitions Program. Contact the office for more information. For the safety of the youngsters, please do not bring siblings when volunteering. Please note that parent/guardians who volunteer to chaperone trips must be registered with the ADDitions program.
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The School Board of Orange County, Florida, does not discriminate in admission or access to or treatment or employment in its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, marital status, handicap or any other reason prohibited by law. The equal opportunity supervisor responsible for compliance is Emma Brown-Newton and she may be contacted at (407) 317-3239.
