AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM The After School Program will be sponsored by the Family YMCA. Registration applications are available in the office. The program will be called PRIME TIME and will offer homework time, snack time, and physical education time.

ATTENDANCE Regular attendance and punctuality are essential in providing for the development of personal responsibility and for continuous growth in learning experiences. Time lost from the classroom can never be made up completely since many extras beyond textbook content and completion of assignments contribute to the learning process. (There is no substitute for actual daily participation in class!)
The Law: The Compulsory Attendance Law requires that all children in South Carolina between the ages of 5 and 17 attend school continuously. Also, the law affirms that the primary responsibility for regular attendance resides with the parents and/or guardians. Only 10 unexcused absences are allowed per year (5 per semester); however, after 5 unexcused absences, student will be coded as truant in the S.C. attendance system. Truancy status will remain on student’s record through twelfth grade.
Students, please remember that all absences, along with tardies, are recorded on your permanent record. Each student enrolled in the schools of the district shall be expected to attend school regularly. When a student has been absent from school, a written statement explaining the absence is required on the student’s first day back to school. The note should include the date of absence, reason for absence, and be signed by a parent or guardian. Absences are lawful or unlawful. The following conditions are considered lawful absences: (1) Student’s personal illness (a physician’s statement may be required). (2) Illness of an immediate family member which requires emergency help from the student. (3) Death in the immediate family. (4) Observance of a religious holiday established by the governing organization of the religion to which the student belongs. (5) Chronic, or extended illness, requires a certification of the illness from a physician or other health provider. The statement must be presented to the school at the time of registration or immediately following the medical diagnosis. Such statement will become a part of the student’s health file and will be placed in the permanent record. All absences in excess of ten (10) must be approved by the principal.
Unlawful Absences: An unlawful absence is defined as a student’s willful absence from school without the knowledge of the parents, or a student’s absence from school without an approved reason with or without the knowledge of the parents. The District Board of Trustees or its designee shall promptly approve or disapprove any student’s absence in excess of ten days. Excessive absences will be recorded and reported to the District Attendance Supervisor. The Supervisor will in turn contact the student’s parents or guardian. Unless a student is present in school for a minimum of three hours and fifteen minutes, he will not be counted present on that day. Policy requires that after ten absences (lawful or unlawful), a doctor’s statement will be required in order for further absences to be excused. A certificate will be presented to each student who maintains perfect attendance for the school year.
Tardies: Tardies to school are our school’s number one problem. This cannot continue! We cannot help you to educate your child without greater support from you. Please help us by insuring that your child arrives on time each day. Teachers begin their instruction at 7:45 each morning. Please have your child on campus no later than 7:35 to ensure that they are on time. Please be cognizant that when a child is tardy, it causes them to miss much-needed instructional information. It not only disrupts the class upon their entrance, it also causes the teacher’s scheduled instructional time to decrease due to the interruption and their having to allow the child to get settled in. The teacher must also go back and change the earlier-marked absence to a
tardy. The teacher has to ensure that the tardy child has the appropriate materials out and that they are in the appropriate place. The teacher then must take time to remediate the tardy child on what the child missed in the morning’s lesson. This causes the other students to lose their needed instructional time. It does not end there. The teacher then has to get the other students to refocus on the material that was being presented when the tardy student entered the classroom. Those students that continue to arrive late will be disciplined. We do not want to punish the child for what is the parents’ responsibility. Please note, we do not want to, but we will punish a child for their parents’ inability to be on time. The loss of recess time, suspension, and/or expulsion will be used on those that continue to be tardy.
In summation, if it becomes necessary to refer the parent to the courts, suspend, and/or, heaven forbid, recommend the child for expulsion, please know that we are as unhappy as you are with the situation. We must protect the right to an education for all children in our classes.

BICYCLES Bicycles are not encouraged, but are allowed. Parents should be extremely cautious in allowing students to ride bicycles to and from school.

BIRTH CERTIFICATE Pupils entering Kindergarten must be five years old on or before September 1. Pupils entering first grade must be six years old on or before September 1. A certified copy of the birth certificate must be presented before a student is officially enrolled in the school. A student entering 4-year-old Kindergarten must be four years old by September 1.

BUS TRANSPORTATION AND CONDUCT At the beginning of each school year, bus service generally follows the same pattern as that of the previous year. After bus surveys are made, and all factors taken into consideration, necessary route changes may be made by the local and state transportation offices. To provide maximum service and safety, school buses, and the personnel in charge, are governed by very strict state laws. It is essential that good conduct be maintained while the students are on the bus. Students must remain seated and conduct themselves in such a manner that they will not divert the attention of the driver from his/her duties. Any misbehavior will be reported to the appropriate office and disciplinary action will be taken. Each student shall be subject to transportation laws, rules, and regulations set forth by the state and Aiken County School District. The School Board authorizes principals to suspend or expel students from riding school buses for misbehaving on the bus or for violating the instructions of the driver. Reviews of such action are to follow the established appeal procedure. Bus drivers cannot suspend a student from riding the bus. This decision can only be made by the principal or his/her designee at the school the student attends—or by the principal of a school served by that bus. When, in the judgment of an authorized employee, any student’s behavior endangers the lives of bus students, then the employee may remove that student immediately and until said student has had a conference with his/her principal. Please note that riding a school bus is a privilege, not a right!
General Guidelines: First Offense—A warning is given to the student and a letter sent to parents advising them of the misconduct. If the offense is of a nature, which, in the judgment of school officials, warrants a suspension from riding the school bus, up to a one-week suspension may be given. Second Offense—The student may be suspended from riding the bus for a period of up to one week, depending upon the nature of the offense. In case a student has already been suspended once, the suspension may be for up to two weeks. A letter must be sent to the parents. Third Offense—The student may be suspended from riding the school bus for up to two weeks. At the end of this period, a conference is held with the student, parent, and school administrator, before bus privileges may be restored. Fourth Offense—If, after a third offense, a student persists in uncontrollable conduct while riding a school bus, the student shall be suspended from riding the bus for the remainder of the current school year. In such cases, all circumstances will be thoroughly reviewed by school officials before the action is taken. If the misconduct is of such a nature that the driver cannot finish the trip, he/she may return to school so that immediate correction may be made, or he may stop to telephone either the principal, or the bus supervisor, to come for the student. If, in the judgment of the principal, a first, second, or third offense so warrants, the student may be recommended for expulsion from the bus for the remainder of the current school year. Upon suspension or recommendation for expulsion from the bus, a letter shall be sent to the parents/guardians notifying them of the action taken, their right to appeal, and the appeal process (Policy JCDAD School District of Aiken County).

CARE OF SCHOOL PROPERTY The Gloverville Elementary School is an excellent school facility that will be kept clean, neat, and in good condition. A small number of students, for various reasons, assume the right to deface walls, desks, doors, walkways, and bathrooms. Very little patience will be used in dealing with students who demonstrate such behavior. Anyone who willfully destroys school property through acts of vandalism, arson, or larceny (or creates a hazard to the safety of students, faculty, and staff) will be referred to the proper law enforcement agency. All students should take pride in caring for school property. The school belongs to the public and all students are a part of the public! NOTE—STUDENTS, if you should accidentally damage or break something, please report it immediately to your teacher or to the office.

CHECKS All checks should be made payable to “Gloverville Elementary School”, with the exception of those for lunches. Checks for school lunches should be made payable to “School Food Service”. Please note that any check which is dishonored by the bank for non sufficient funds will be turned over to a collection agency and the maker of the check will be responsible for the check and all fees incurred. Also, school will no longer accept payment by check from anyone with returned checks. All checks must have name and account printed on them. We can not accept counter checks.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES It is the policy of the Board of Trustees to attempt to provide a safe and secure environment for all students and employees. If it is determined, based on sound medical evidence and in accordance with the procedures set in Policy Code JGCC-R, that any child with any communicable disease poses a significant risk to the health and safety of other students in his/her current placement, a determination will be made whether an appropriate adjustment can be made to the student’s school program to eliminate the risk. If such adjustments are not possible, an alternative educational program should be offered. This placement will continue, with periodic evaluation, until the risk to others has been abated. The Board reserves the right to require a satisfactory certificate from one or more licensed physicians that the student’s attendance is no longer a risk to the student or to others.
COMMUNICABLE DISEASES (Cont’d) In the case of acute tonsillitis (streptococcus), scabies, ringworm, or impetigo contagiosa, the student will be excluded from school during such illness and be readmitted only on the certificate or acknowledged telephone call of the attending physician or local health authority attesting to such recovery and non-infectiousness. A student infected with head lice may be readmitted under the following conditions: The parent must accompany the student to school and submit evidence of treatment (i.e., box, bottle, or receipt from purchase which list product name and date of purchase. The parent must remain present as a visual inspection of the student’s hair by the principal’s designee is preformed.
The names of parents/guardians who keep their child out of school four or more days without arranging for him/her to see a physician or other health agency will be reported to the Office of Student Services for appropriate action in line with attendance policy.

DAILY SCHEDULE The first bell will ring at 7:37 each morning and the tardy bell will ring at 7:45 AM. Early morning student supervision begins at 7:05 AM. Please do not bring your child to school before this time—there is no supervision prior to 7:05 AM. School will be dismissed each day at 2:25 PM for all students. Parents are strongly encouraged not to sign their child out early unless it is an emergency situation or a medical appointment. Students should not be signed out early just to avoid traffic at the end of the day! It is very important that all students are picked up on time.

DISCIPLINE CODE Every student is entitled to an education and every staff member is entitled to perform his/her responsibilities in a safe, secure, and positive environment. Our goal is to help every student grow in knowledge and personal strength by providing an atmosphere of warmth, respect, friendship, and order in which all individuals, staff, and students can function to the best of their abilities. It is necessary to establish basic rules that all students must follow in order to provide an environment that is conducive to effective learning. (1) Work: Students must study and work when instructed to do so by their teachers. Loafing and wasting time will not be allowed. Old Adage: The secret of educational success is not to do what one likes, but to try to like what one has to do! Old Adage: Education is not received—it is achieved! And, eternal happiness is a by-product of educational achievement. (2) Manners: Good manners and common courtesies are ways of showing thoughtfulness and consideration for others. Phrases such as “Please”, “Thank You”, “Pardon me”, “May I”, and “Excuse me” often seem unimportant and outdated, but they are not! All students and staff will be expected to use good manners throughout the entire school day! Note: Parents, please remember that children bring the manners to school that they have learned elsewhere! Old Adage: The hardest job for youngsters is to learn good manners without seeing an example in their own parents! (3) Honesty: Students are encouraged to practice honesty at all times on tests, reports, classwork, and homework. Whenever a student is caught cheating, the teacher will take the following action: --Collect the student’s work, --Mark a zero on the work, --Notify the parents, --Notify the Principal. Note: Parents, please help us teach your child that good character is more important than any results gained through cheating! Old Adage: You cannot lift your children to a higher level than that on which you live yourself! (4) Running: For safety purposes, running and playing will not be allowed in the building or around cars and buses on the school grounds. All running and playing will be confined to designated play areas during scheduled breaks or physical education times.
Students in all grades are provided copies of our School District’s Code of Student Conduct. Parents are requested to read and discuss the Code of Student Conduct with their children. The Code is to be signed by both parents/guardians and students and returned to the school.

DISMISSAL, EARLY Any student who is to be dismissed early must be signed out through the school office. A student will be dismissed only to the parents, legal guardians, or persons designated on the student’s registration card. Students dismissed prior to 11:00 AM will be counted absent. Early dismissal will not be allowed after 2:00 p.m. unless an emergency situation arises. Please be mindful that instruction continues until 2:25. Parents, please list all persons on the registration card that may be checking your child out of school.

DRESS CODE—STUDENT Students’ attitudes toward personal appearance are basic elements in their upbringing and in the educational climate of the school. You are asked to help your child establish personal habits of self-respect and respect for others by keeping clean and neat at all times. The following policy will be used for students of administrative area #3 concerning dress for the current school year. This policy was taken from the Policy Manual (File #JCDB) of the School District of Aiken County. The Board recognizes that students have the right to regulate their personal appearance. However, the Board reserves the right to bar from school those students whose personal appearance is disruptive to the educational process and orderly operation of the school.
Additional guidelines for students in attendance in administrative area #3, as approved by the Advisory Council of Administrative Area #3 on May 17, 1991 are: Students in grades kindergarten through grade five will be allowed to wear shorts (no short shorts, running shorts, bicycle shorts, or shorts with slits in the side). All students must be made to wear clothes to cover their fronts, backs, stomachs, and sides from the shoulder to the waist and appropriate attire from the waist down.
DRESS CODE (Cont’d) The administration of Gloverville Elementary reserves the right to determine when a student’s appearance is disruptive to the educational process or orderly operation of the school. Violation of the dress code will result in disciplinary action, as well as exclusion from classes until a change of clothing is acquired. Absences and/or tardies resulting from dress code violations will be counted as unexcused. Examples of dress that may be deemed inappropriate include, but are not limited to, the following: shorts which are shorter than mid-thigh; backless sun-dresses; tank tops or halter tops; mini-skirts or mini-dresses; pants with holes above the knee; bicycle shorts, boxer shorts, or gym shorts worn as outer wear or worn so that they hang below other clothing worn on top of them; clothing which depicts alcoholic beverages, drugs, and tobacco products; clothing which suggests sexual situations or language; clothing which expresses profane or obscene language; hats inside the buildings; clothing which exposes undergarments; any other clothing that the administration determines to be disruptive to the educational process or orderly operation of the school.

EDUCATIONAL RECORDS – CONFIDENTIALITY (CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS) Under federal law parents and students have a right to expect the confidentiality of student records. Educational agencies may act to declare certain aspects of a student’s educational records to be “directory information”, meaning information contained in such records which is not considered to be generally harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. The Aiken County Board of Education has previously determined that “directory information” could be released to third parties upon request, at the discretion of the school principal. Federal law and regulatory authority allows the release of such information without prior consent subject to certain conditions of pre-disclosure to parents or students. The purpose of this notice is to meet such pre-disclosure requirements.
Under District policy the following information is considered to be releasable: the student’s name, address, telephone number, date and place of birth, subjects of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, date of attendance (on both an annual and daily basis), diplomas and awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student. (Examples of the types of information frequently released include, but are not limited to, Senior Class Listings, Annuals/Yearbooks, Science Fair Winners, Students of the Month, Honor Roll Lists, National Honor Society, athletic event programs, etc.) A parent or guardian of a student attending Aiken County Public Schools who would prefer that any or all of the information designated above not be released without the parent’s or guardian’s prior consent should so notify the office of the Deputy Superintendent in writing (1000 Brookhaven Drive, Aiken, SC 29803) no later than the third week in August. If there are any questions, please contact Dr. William A. Gallman, Deputy Superintendent, at (803) 641-2514.

EMERGENCY CLOSING OF SCHOOLS The District Superintendent is empowered to close school in the event of hazardous weather, epidemics, or other emergencies which threaten the safety or health of students or staff members. Every possible means will be taken to notify school patrons as quickly as possible when an emergency closing is necessary. The release to any news media or information related to early dismissal of schools, or temporary non-opening of schools, shall be effected by the District Superintendent only. The District Superintendent shall relay such announcements to local radio and television stations. (It is the parent’s responsibility to stay abreast of conditions.) To permit the effective coordination of transportation services, any early dismissal action authorized in the District shall apply to all schools in the District.

FIELD TRIPS Field trips are planned to relate to instructional objectives. Transportation will be by school bus or chartered bus, depending on the distance involved. All students must begin and return to school on the same bus or car in which they began the trip. Supervision is provided by teachers and adult volunteers. Written parental/guardian permission is required before a student may participate in field trips. Students will not be allowed to participate in field trips if: (1) they have accumulated more than five (5) unlawful absences during a semester; (2) they have been suspended from school for any reason during the nine-week period, and the student is currently on probation (in-school or out-of-school suspension); (3) they have been involved in any discipline problem while on a previous field trip; (4) the principal and teacher determine that the student shall not be allowed to participate due to documented excessive behavior problems.

FIRE, EARTHQUAKE, AND TORNADO DRILLS All students will participate in a fire drill once each month, an earthquake drill once a year, and a tornado drill once a year. Students will be expected to participate in all emergency drills just as if a real emergency were occurring. All parents should impress upon their children the importance of maintaining a serious attitude towards all emergency drills—following proper procedures could save lives during an emergency! Students, please remember that all teachers have complete authority over all students during an emergency drill!

GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM IN AIKEN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS The Aiken County Public Schools serve identified gifted and talented students according to State Regulation R-43-220 and the policies of the local School Board. Gifted and Talented students are those identified in grades 3-12 as demonstrating high performance ability or potential in academic or artistic areas. The Gifted and Talented Educational Program (G/T) serves academically gifted students in grades 3-12 throughout the school year. Gateway serves artistically gifted students in grades 3-12 in a summer program.
Academically gifted students qualify for the Gifted and Talented Educational Program if they meet the criteria set forth in the regulations and meet two of following three dimensions. Identification is done at the local school, but may be appealed to the District Evaluation/Placement Team. Private testing may be used for referral purposes only according to state regulations, but not for identification. Parents, teachers and students may make student referrals to the program through the school’s G/T teacher or the school’s guidance counselor.
Dimension A: Reasoning Abilities. Students must demonstrate high aptitude (93rd national age percentile or above) in one or more of these areas: verbal/linguistic, quantitative/mathematical, non-verbal, and/or composite of the three. All students are tested in grade 2 to measure aptitude during spring testing.
Dimension B: High Achievement in Reading and/or Mathematical Areas. Students must demonstrate high achievement (94th national percentile and above or advanced status) in reading and/or math as measured by nationally normed or South Carolina statewide assessment instruments. Students in grades 3-8 are PACT tested yearly in the spring.
Dimension C: Intellectual/Academic Performance. Students must demonstrate a high degree of interest in and commitment to academic and/or intellectual pursuits. Students entering grades 7-12 meet this dimension if they demonstrate a 3.75 grade point average in language arts, math, science, social studies and foreign language. Students entering grades 3-6 demonstrate this dimension through a performance task assessment administered to students meeting one of the two Dimensions ( A or B) as given above. This performance assessment is given in the spring of each year district-wide.
Instruction in Gifted and Talented Educational Program classes exceeds the state standards for each grade level. The resource room model is used in grades 3-7 and the subject-based model is used in grades 8-12.
Artistically gifted students must apply for the Gateway program during the school year and complete the interview and audition process. The summer program serves qualified students.
The Aiken County Public School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or disability in, or employment in, its programs and activities. Inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies should be made to the Associate Superintendent for Administration (641-2609).
For more information on the Gifted and Talented Educational Program, contact your school principal or Michele Conner (641-2490).

GRADING SYSTEM In kindergarten, progress reports and parent conferences will be used to report student progress. In grades one through five, the grading scale listed below is uniform throughout the School District of Aiken County.

A 93 – 100 S
B 85 – 92 N
C 77 – 84 U
D 70 – 76
F 0 - 69

Satisfactory 77 - 100

Needs Improvement 70 - 76

Unsatisfactory Below 70

In elementary schools “S” for Satisfactory and “U” for Unsatisfactory will be used in art, physical education, music, and handwriting. In grades one and two a numerical grade is given in reading and math. In grades three through five a numerical grade is given in reading, English, spelling math, science, health and social studies. Conduct grades will be recorded as A, B, C, D, or F. No pluses or minuses will be used. The conduct grade is not reflected in academic grades and is recorded separately (Policy IHA adopted 5/00)

GUIDANCE Our school is served by a part-time guidance counselor. The counselor provides appropriate individual and group classroom guidance activities for our students. The guidance counselor, classroom teacher, and the principal work cooperatively with students and parents to provide needed guidance services.

HALL TRAFFIC Parents and Students, please walk quietly, properly, and always on the right side of the hall. Please be considerate and remember that classes are in session as you move along.

HOMEBOUND INSTRUCTION When it has been determined by a doctor that your child will need to be out of school for a long period of time due to illness or injury, please notify the school office immediately. If the child is able to receive homebound teaching services, a homebound teacher can be sent to your home at no expense to you.

HOMEWORK Homework will be assigned as needed to achieve maximum growth and development. The homework assigned will be purposeful and meaningful to students. The learning exercise assigned will be designed to accomplish a definite purpose. There will be reading homework assigned every day, including Fridays, with the exceptions of Thanksgiving, Winter Break, and Spring Break Holidays. Homework may be assigned for any of the following reasons: reinforcement, develop responsibility, organize skills, develop review and study skills, improve confidence, teach independence, offer a challenge, complete work not finished in class, give individualized practice on skills, or prepare for the next day’s lesson. Students will be expected to do assigned homework. Parents can help with their child’s homework by providing a quiet, well-lighted place for your child to do homework and by helping your child in planning a suitable time for completing his/her responsibilities. (Do not do homework for your child.) Your interest in listening to oral reports, reviewing spelling words, sharing your knowledge of a given subject, or helping your child search out information on a subject can be most helpful as your child develops independent work habits at home. Your interest in his/her tasks and your appreciation of his/her successes will reinforce his/her feelings about himself and herself and the worth of what he/she is doing.

HONOR ROLL, PRINCIPAL’S The Principal’s Honor Roll requirements are all “A’s” and “S’s” for each reporting period.

HONOR ROLL, SCHOOL No grade lower than a “B”.

HONOR WALL, STUDENT OF THE MONTH The following are the four requirements to be a Student of the Month: No absences for the month, no unexcused tardies for the month, must have an “A” average in conduct for the month, and must have turned in all homework and classwork on time for the month.

IMMUNIZATION Before a student shall be admitted to any public school, a valid South Carolina Certificate of Immunization must be presented. If the immunization certificate is conditional (all shots not completed), it is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to see that the student receives all necessary immunizations required to receive a completed certificate. A South Carolina Certificate of Special Exemption, signed by the school principal or his authorized representative, may be issued to transfer students while awaiting arrival of medical records from their former area of residence. A South Carolina Certificate of Exemption may be issued only once and shall be valid for only 45 calendar days from date of enrollment. Students who fail to secure the South Carolina Certificate of Immunization, or valid exemption, within the 45-day “grace period” will be denied admission to school until the appropriate certificate is obtained (Policy JGCB/JGCC School District of Aiken County).
Minimum Requirements: Four (4) doses of any combination of DTP, DT, Td, or DtaP vaccine with at least one (1) dose received on or after the fourth birthday.
Three (3) doses of any combination of oral or inactivated polio vaccine with at least one (1) dose received on or after the fourth birthday.
One (1) dose of rubella (measles) vaccine received on or after the first birthday, except that children admitted to any child development program under the control of the State Department of Education, or to kindergarten, the first, second, and third grade, must have two (2) doses of rubella (measles) vaccine with both doses received on or after the first birthday and separated by at least one month.
One (1) dose of rubella (German measles) vaccine received on or after the first birthday.
All children entering third grade must have a second measles shot.
4K-5th grade must have (1) dose Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine or must have had chickenpox.
4K-5th grade must have series of (3) shots for Hepatitis B.

INSURANCE The school offers students protection through Markel Insurance Company of Wheaton, Illinois. Additional information will be given out at registration time. The types of coverage available are:
School-time Protection * $ 8.50 $17.00 *All prices subject to change.
24-Hour Protection * $39.00 $ 78.00
Dental options are also available for an additional cost.

KINDERGARTEN Children must be four years old on or before September 1 to be eligible for the (4-year-old) child development program. A birth certificate, an immunization certificate, and a social security number are necessary for registration.
Five-year-old kindergarten attendance is compulsory for children in South Carolina who are five years of age on or before September 1. A birth certificate, an immunization certificate, and a social security number are necessary for registration.

LIBRARY The library program is designed to encourage and build every student’s interest in books and reading, and to develop library “use” skills. The library will be open from 7:20 AM – 2:45 PM each day. Quietness, manners, and good work habits will be expected at all times. Students who misbehave will lose library privileges. Each class will be scheduled to visit the library. Individuals and small groups will be permitted to use the library as often as necessary.

LICE A small number of cases of head lice were detected in some of our classrooms last year. These students were promptly removed from school and properly treated by their parents. Head lice do not normally carry or spread disease, nor does their presence indicate that a child is dirty; however, they can spread rapidly throughout a school and community if preventative measures are not taken as soon as the lice or their eggs have been detected. Head scratching and intense itching of the scalp are the main indications of head lice. Their presence can be more definitely confirmed by a close visual inspection of the hair and scalp under a good light with a strong magnifying glass. Look for tiny grayish crawling forms and tiny whitish oval eggs adhering to the hair shafts about ¼ inch from the scalp. You should not be overly alarmed if you discover the lice or their eggs, just take immediate action. In most cases, all that is required is shampooing with a good anti-lice preparation. A-200 Pyrinate Pediculicide Medicated Shampoo is extremely effective and available at your local pharmacy without a prescription. All persons in an infested individual’s household should undergo treatment with the anti-lice shampoo. All bed linen and personal grooming instruments (comb, hairbrushes) should be cleaned. Lice infections cut across all racial and economic groups and do not necessarily denote any lack of personal cleanliness. Infestations usually occur when infested people fail to report and treat the problem due to a misguided notion of a social stigma. Once detection, immediate reporting, and proper treatment procedures are instituted, the problem can be quickly and easily eliminated. Please instruct your child not to borrow personal items such as combs, brushes, hats, and articles of clothing from other students.
As soon as a child has been identified as having lice, the child is to be removed from the school and cannot return until treatment has been administered. Proof of treatment must be provided to the school and the parent must accompany the child to school and be present as school personnel execute a visual check of the child’s head. The Aiken County School District has a “No Nit” policy in effect. If a student has been treated and all nits (eggs) have not been removed, regardless of treatment, the student will not be allowed back in school until all nits (eggs) have been removed.

LITTER All students will be expected to help in keeping our building and grounds free of litter.

LOST AND FOUND Unlabeled articles of clothing, textbooks, and various other items, when found, will be taken to the office which is open daily from 7:30 AM-4:00 PM. Please label all clothing items, etc. with your child’s name.

LUNCH/BREAKFAST PROGRAM The lunchroom is provided for the benefit of each student. We encourage all students to use the lunchroom. Well-balanced meals will be prepared daily for each student. Monday is the basic lunch money collection day. Please place your child’s breakfast/lunch money in a sealed envelope with your child’s name and their teacher’s name written on the front of the envelope. Please send lunch money for the week on Monday. Students are not permitted to take lunch on credit. Please make an effort to send extra milk money for the week on Monday. All checks for lunches should be made payable to “Aiken County School Food Service”. Our breakfast program will be continued this school year. Breakfast will be served from 7:05-7:30 AM. The prices will be as follows: Breakfast Lunch
Regular $1.50 $1.90
Adult $1.80 $3.00
*Please note: Prices subject to change.

Students who are enrolled in our free and reduced lunch program will automatically receive free and/or reduced breakfast. Students must be on time if they wish to participate in the breakfast program. It is our hope that the breakfast program will greatly benefit participants.

MATERIAL FEES Instructional fees are necessary to provide materials vital to our educational program. It is expected that fees be paid for every student. These fees provide workbooks and other instructional materials that supplement the textbooks. The material fees should be paid promptly. Should a severe hardship exist, it will be the parents’ responsibility to construct a fee payment plan with the Principal or his/her designee. Material fees for this school year are: Kindergarten through Grade Five = $30. G/T students have an additional fee of $10.

NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT The School District is committed to equal opportunity for all of its students and patrons. District programs and activities shall be free from discrimination based upon race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, sex, age or any other unlawful consideration. Persons who believe they have been discriminated against should contact the principal of this school, the Area Office, or the School District’s Civil Rights Coordinator or Section 504 Coordinator at (803) 641-2428. Copies of applicable policies are available upon request.

ORAL MEDICATION IN SCHOOLS If under exceptional circumstances a child is required to take oral medication during school hours and the parent cannot come to the school to administer the medication, only the school nurse or the Principal’s designee(s) will administer the medication in compliance with the regulations that follow: (1) Typed instructions by the physician and permission by the parent must include (a) the child’s name, (b) name of medication, (c) time to be administered, (d) dosage, (e) possible side effects, and (f) termination date for giving medication. (2) The school reserves the right to refuse administration of any medication that is not presented using the guidelines noted above. (3) Medication will be accepted only from a child’s parent or guardian. Medication cannot be taken from or returned to children. (4) An Oral Medication Form will be provided by the school office when a parent requests one.

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES Our staff feels that it is most important that lines of communication be kept open between the home and the school. One of the best ways to do this is scheduling parent-teacher conferences. All members of our school faculty are available for conferences on an appointment basis. It is necessary to call in advance and make an appointment for a conference. All conferences should be arranged through the Principal’s office (phone 593-7280). A special parent-teacher conference will be scheduled on October 26th for the purpose of issuing report cards to parents and reporting progress. This conference will provide parents test results and information on student’s progress and needs noted during the very important first nine-week grading period. We encourage you to call for a conference whenever you need to discuss your child’s progress.

PARENT-TEACHER ORGANIZATION We invite you to become an active member of our school PTO and support its program throughout the year. Information regarding meeting dates is included in the school calendar. The PTO officers for the 2009-2010 school year will be nominated during the Open House/PTO meeting. Please check newsletter for date and time.

PROMOTION AND RETENTION POLICY To be promoted, a student must satisfactorily complete the minimum criteria established by the State Board of Education as mandated by the Educational Improvement Act of 1984, as amended and local requirements of the Aiken County Board of Education. Handicapped students: Identified handicapped students will be governed by the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). If objectives in the IEP are not met, the student will be considered for retention. Retention will be based on a case-by-case analysis by the Principal, teachers, and the appropriate support personnel (Policy IHE—R School District of Aiken County).

REPORT CARDS AND INTERIM REPORTS Report cards are sent to parents at the end of each nine-week period. All parents will receive a mid-nine week interim report that indicates student progress.
Report Card Schedule: Students will be receiving report cards on October 26, January 21, March 31, and June 3.
Interim Reports: Interim Reports are issued at the mid-point of each nine-week grading period. Reports are sent to all parents to notify them of student strengths and weaknesses. This is done so that parents may help their children make any needed adjustments before the end of each grading period. Students will be receiving Interim Reports on September 17, November 23, February 18, and May 3.

SCREENING NOTIFICATION During the school year, students in various grade levels are screened to detect problems in the areas of speech/language, hearing, and vision. The screening process includes: (1) Speech/language—all kindergarten, first, second, and third grade students, new students, referrals, and students for whom re-screening was recommended the previous year; (2) Hearing—all kindergarten, first, second, and third grade students, new students, referrals, and high risk students who have a medical problem associated with hearing impairment or who failed the re-screening the previous year; (3) Vision—all kindergarten, first, third, fifth, ninth, and eleventh grade students and referrals (you will receive a letter if your child is recommended for further evaluation in speech/language or fails the hearing or vision re-screening).

SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF STUDENTS According to the District Code of Student Conduct, engaging in sexual harassment of any student, staff member, or visitor, either male or female, on school property or while under the jurisdiction of the school, is considered a violation that is disorderly, disruptive, and/or criminal in nature and may result in disciplinary action, including suspension and/or expulsion in certain instances when it occurs while the student is on school property and/or under the
jurisdiction of the school, including while riding a school bus. Sexual harassment may be generally defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and written, spoken, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Students who feel they may have been subjected to sexual harassment are encouraged to report the matter to a parent and to a teacher, guidance counselor, principal, or any other school official with whom the student feels comfortable.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS Each student is required to have his social security number on file in the school office.

TARDINESS Tardiness has become an increasing problem for some students. Complete cooperation between the home and school is needed if we are to have our students at the right place, at the right time, ready for work. At 7:37 AM the first bell rings and school begins. The tardy bell rings at 7:45 AM. To ensure that your child is on time, please have him/her on campus by 7:35 AM.
Important: If a student is continually tardy, the parent will be notified by the school office and requested to comply with school policy. If the student continues to be tardy after a warning, the child will lose recess time and the child’s name and the parents’ name will be turned over to Student Services for possible court action.

TELEPHONE Telephones are maintained in the school for the prime purpose of conducting school business. Only messages of an emergency nature will be delivered to students. Other messages will be delivered at the end of the school day. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter. Students are not allowed to use the telephone. Students are not allowed to have cell phones at school.
Please be sure to notify the office if your telephone number changes during the school year. The office must have a working telephone number at all times in case of an emergency.

TESTING SCHEDULE, STANDARDIZED Standardized testing during the school year will be administered in accordance to Aiken County School District policy. Attendance during testing is mandatory by law. A doctor statement will be required for any absence occurring during testing.

TITLE I Our school has been named a Title I school and offers special programs for students who need additional instruction in the basic skills of reading and/or mathematics. Students receive assistance from aides, and teachers. A lab is also maintained to provide individualized computer assisted instruction. Our school has implemented a Parental Involvement Policy which consists of the following: Information from parents is gathered from parent surveys, conferences, PTO meetings, and the School Improvement Council; A Title I parent meeting will be held during PTO Open House which is scheduled during the second week of school. During this meeting, information will be given to parents explaining the Title I program; During the parent conferences scheduled in October, parents receive a copy of the individual score reports from the previous year’s testing (PACT). The guidance counselor will hold a workshop to explain testing results to the parents; Parents have the opportunity to meet with other parents and teachers during PTO meetings, conferences (before and after school) and at Title I parenting workshops; School/Parent Compact – Our school/parent compact includes our mission and vision statements. Parents will receive a copy of their child’s grade level expectations letter. These include responsibilities of parents, students and the teachers that will support the child’s learning. Each week students receive packets that include graded papers, progress reports, grade level information letters, conduct reports, and homework assignments. Our school has an open door policy that encourages parents to volunteer and participate in their child’s class. The staff at our school is easily accessible; A parent resource room has been established to provide parents with parenting guides, books, videos, and games.

TRAFFIC On School Street, the car loop (primary wing) will be used to drop off and pick up students in grades kindergarten, one, and two. The car loop is a one-way drive. Automobiles will come off of Pine Street onto School Street into the car loop. Parents of students in grades three, four, and five will continue to pick up students near the flagpole. Regular bus students will be unloaded in the mornings at the front of the building near the flagpole to be able to go directly to breakfast. Please do not park in this bus-unloading area. Bus students will be loaded in the afternoon at the rear of the building. Do not park in the designated bus parking area which is located in the back of the school near the bleachers. Please continue to help us as we strive to provide the greatest safety we can for your children, our students. Your cooperation will be appreciated.

TRANSFERS Students who transfer during the school year will be given a transfer form if all books have been returned to the school and all obligations are met to the satisfaction of the Principal. Please notify the school office immediately when you are planning to transfer your child from our school.

TRANSPORTATION, STUDENT Students are expected to be transported from school in the way which is stated on the registration card; i.e. bus rider, car rider, walk, daycare van, After School program. Any transportation changes must be submitted in writing prior to dismissal time.

VISITORS Gloverville Elementary has an open door policy to all parents/guardians of students attending our school. We welcome you. Please adhere to the “No Parking” signs along the front curb. Parking is allowed in designated visitor spaces or any other undesignated available space. We must require that when a parent/guardian visits our school or classroom while classes are in session that they must first stop by the office to check in and receive a visitor’s badge. To protect the instructional program we must insist that when visiting the classrooms that you do not bring younger children, older children, or extended family members. Over the years, having younger children, older children, or extended family members visit has proven to be a distraction to the other students in the class. Elementary children are naturally curious and are easily distracted by other children. To minimize distractions, we ask that upon arriving at the classroom, please enter quietly and take a seat in the back of the room. If you would like to talk with your child’s teacher, please do not do so while the teacher is instructing. We ask that you please call and set up an appointment to discuss your situation. We are not in anyway attempting to restrict our parents from visiting our school or their child’s classroom; we are trying to protect the instructional program and safety of all of our children.
The administration of our school reserves the right to deny individuals access to our building.

VOLUNTEERS Our school has seen an increase in the number of volunteers who are willing to help us in various ways. We are very appreciative of this support. All volunteers must complete the chaperone/volunteer information packet. Packets are available in the office. We hope you will consider becoming a volunteer and working with our staff to continually improve Gloverville School. Your support and assistance are very important.

ASBESTOS MANAGEMENT PLAN
The Aiken County Public School District is in compliance with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) U. S. EPA Asbestos Containing Building Materials (ACBM) in schools, 30 CFR Part 763, October 30, 1987. A Management Plan, which identifies and assesses the asbestos found in our facilities, has been prepared for each building.
A copy of the Management Plan has been approved by the State Department of Health and Environmental Control and distributed to each school or administrative office. The public may view the Management Plan for each facility during normal operating hours by contacting the school office or administrative office. The Management Plan lists the planned response actions for the ACBM, which are currently in progress.
The entire school system was reinspected for ACBM condition in October, 1998 and found to be in compliance with AHERA regulations. Any questions pertaining to the Management Plan may be directed to the Contract/Property/Environmental Specialist, Mr. David Clerc at (803) 641-2475.

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Gloverville Elementary is to prepare all students to become confident, academically proficient, responsible, and caring citizens by providing diverse and challenging learning experiences aligned with the state academic achievement standards. Our purpose is premised upon providing a nurturing environment utilizing the learner, school, home, and community as partners.

SCHOOL BELIEFS
All children can learn, build confidence, and be successful at an acceptable level as measured by federal, state, and local academic achievement standards.
All children should be prepared academically in a diverse and challenging environment.
Students should be prepared to become responsible citizens who value and are sensitive to individual, social, and cultural diversity.
Everyone should be provided a safe nurturing environment conducive to learning.
The learner, school, home, and community should form a partnership that enables all children to become productive members of society.

PERFORMANCE GOAL 1 Students will demonstrate proficiency in academic and readiness skills as measured by state and local assessments.
PERFORMANCE GOAL 2 Students will use technology to access and utilize information effectively and creatively as measured by performance on locally-developed technology-based tasks.

PERFORMANCE GOAL 3 Students will practice active, participatory citizenship as measured by school records.

DISCIPLINE PHILOSOPHY We believe there are three basic concepts of behavior that must be understood:
Students choose their behavior . . . . right or wrong.
The ultimate goal of student behavior is to fulfill the need to belong.
Students misbehave to achieve one of four immediate goals: attention, power, revenge, or avoidance of failure.
Assertive teaching/teachers will govern the students at Gloverville Elementary School. Our philosophy is, “We will not tolerate behavior that stops teachers from teaching and students from learning.” The means whereby this behavior will be controlled is “Assertive Discipline” process.

RULES TO BE FOLLOWED
Follow all directions
Treat others with respect
Keep hands and feet to yourself
Respect others’ property
Raise hand before speaking
No running in building

ACTIONS TAKEN
Warning to student and if warranted a telephone call to parents
Send home
Suspension
Expulsion

GLOVERVILLE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
MASTER SCHOOL SCHEDULE

7:05 AM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Early Morning Bus Duty Begins
7:05 - 7:30 AM. . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Breakfast Served
7:20 AM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Regular Bus Duty Begins
7:30 AM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Teachers Arrive
7:37 AM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . First Bell—Teachers Have Students in Class
7:45 AM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tardy Bell Rings
7:50 AM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Homeroom Ends

2:05 PM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .All Students Must be in the Building
2:25 PM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dismissal of Grades 4K – 5th
3:00 PM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dismissal for Teachers
4:00 PM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Office Closes

New this year – EARLY RELEASE DAY – The first Wednesday of the month has been designated as Early Release Day. Students will be dismissed at 12:25 on the first Wednesday of every month.

Area III Emergency Early Dismissal and Delay Start Times

Regular Start Time 1 hour delay 1 ½ hour delay 2 hour delay 2 ½ hour delay 3 hour delay 3 ½ hour delay 4 hour delay
start time start time start time start time start time start time start time
7:45 am 8:45 am 9:15 am 9:45 am 10:15 am 10:45 am 11:15 am 11:45 am

Regular Dismissal 1 hour early 1 ½ hour early 2 hour early 2 ½ hour early 3 hour early 3 ½ hour early 4 hour early
Time dismissal dismissal dismissal dismissal dismissal dismissal dismissal
time time time time time time time
2:25 pm 1:25 pm 12:55 pm 12:25 pm 11:55 am 11:25 am 10:55 am 10:25 am