Students arrive between 7:45 and 8:00 AM and go directly to the bookstore or homeroom. Because of the lack of supervision, students are not permitted on campus before 7:45.

Walkers enter the building through the parking lot doors; bus and bike riders through the front doors.

Based on Board policy, students cannot ride any bus other than the assigned one (without exception) and may not get off the bus at any stop other than the regular one.

Bike riders, car riders, and walkers are dismissed at 3:00. Bikes are walked on campus and they are secured to the bike rack with a lock. Safety is taught and practiced on our campus.

To keep dismissal safe and moving quickly, parents arrive at dismissal time and follow the directions of our adults directing traffic. Car riders are issued a number for pick up. Students not picked up by 3:15, are brought to the office.

Bad Weather Note: When rain occurs at dismissal time, it is upsetting for everyone. Traffic backs up and our buses must run on time. To stay dry, keep an umbrella, raincoat, or poncho in your book bag.

Car Rider Procedures are as follows:

1. Please put your car in PARK when loading or unloading your child.

2. Watch for the signal from the teacher who is directing traffic before you move your car from PARK to DRIVE and move forward.

3. Please do not use cell phones while in the car rider line.

4. Wait for Safety Patrol to come to your car and open the door for your child. Please do not allow them to exit the car until a Patrol member has arrived.

5. Please make sure that your number is displayed in the front windshield of your vehicle so that your child can be loaded in an organized manner.

6. Please make sure that your child is ready to unload as soon as the door is opened for them. If you need to take care of any business, please park so that the line can continue to move smoothly.

7. Please do not allow your child to go to the back of your vehicle and remove items while in the car rider line.

When weather changes occur or if anything unusual should happen, a special plan is used to determine how students will get home. Consider all the options before deciding what to do. For example, if many parents chose to pick up their children, traffic around the school would become impassable. Emergency Dismissal plans are completed at the beginning of the year. If you need to make changes during the year, please notify the teacher in writing of any changes.

Remember: Students may not ride another bus; use the phone; and we cannot accept changes over the phone.

1. Students are tardy after 8:00 AM or if late to class without teacher permission. An admit slip must be obtained from the office.

2. A note explaining absence, tardiness, or early dismissal is required. The note should include the date(s) absent, name, parent's name, and the reason for the absence, tardiness, or early dismissal. In the event of excessive absences we do have the option of requesting a doctor's excuse.

3. Shelby County Schools' Policy 6108 defines excused/unexcused absences. They are:

Excused Absences

•Illness •Death/Serious illness within immediate family •Representing school •Religious holiday •Legal court summons •Extenuating circumstances as approved by principal

Unexcused Absences

•Overslept/alarm problem/electricity went off •Missed bus/ride did not show up •Personal/family problems •Flat tire/out of gas/traffic problems/wreck •Out of town/vacation •Lessons (dancing, gymnastics, etc.) •Parents day off •Out of town guests •No parking place •Unprepared for class/didn't do homework •Class is too hard/class is boring

Make-up work is done at the teacher's discretion. If a parent wants assignments, they should contact the teacher, not the office. The best way to get school assignments is to have a study buddy to get your assignments to you when you are absent.

Every nine weeks, HAT Kids are recognized because they are Here All the Time (HAT), every minute of every school day. On a designated day, they wear a special hat to school to highlight this accomplishment.

Good grades are recognized in many ways, including Honor Rolls.

Scholars - All A's & E's in academic subjects with E, G, or S in MAPS, conduct, and handwriting.

Honors - At least three A's (E's in lower grades) and the rest B's in academic subjects with E, G, or S in MAPS, conduct, and handwriting.

Citizenship - All E's in Conduct

Perfect Attendance - No absences, tardies, or early departures. (Even on snow days.)

HAT Kids - See description under Attendance

As a service to parents, the YWCA offers an on campus after school program (ending at 6 PM) for Oak students. Information is available during registration or by calling the YWCA office.

The Y-Care program is not available if school is dismissed due to inclement weather.

To keep parents informed, some type of communication is sent home every Tuesday. Parents are encouraged to check our web page for upcoming activities. Teacher web pages are updated regularly with important classroom information.

Parent -Teacher conferences are encouraged. They are scheduled before or after school through the teacher; not the office. It is helpful to state the reason(s) for the conference so adequate preparation can be made. A parent conference record form is used to record the minutes of each conference.

Every student is expected to comply with our school wide discipline plan which has been developed and is used in all classes. To ensure compliance, assertive discipline plans are developed by students and teachers. These plans include positive rewards and negative consequences and have one purpose, to improve learning.

Maintaining a learning classroom takes everyone's help and cooperation. A copy of the discipline plan is sent home at the beginning of the year to let parents know what to expect and to ask for their suggestions.

If students choose to disregard the expectations, progressive discipline will be used to improve your conduct. This includes being sent to the office with a Disciplinary Referral Form. This is our way of telling parents the offense is serious and they may be called. Effective discipline is corrective and does more than punish students. This requires home/school cooperation.

We do not administer corporal punishment at Oak. Conduct grades will reflect a visit to the office for disciplinary reasons (severe infraction or consistent, inappropriate behavior).

Please refer to Shelby County Schools Handbook - Discipline, Corporal Punishment, Suspension, Expulsion, for further information.

Dress Code

All Shelby County students (K-12) are expected to dress and appear in a manner which meets reasonable standards of health, cleanliness, modesty, and safety. The dress code guidelines are provided in Policy 6205.

Acceptable attire includes:

Note: These are not inclusive

-Pants of appropriate size worn at the waist

-Belts must be worn if pants have belt loops

-Shirts must be tucked into clothing

-Waist length sweaters and appropriate sized light weight jackets can be worn inside school for warmth as long as appropriate shirt is tucked underneath

Unacceptable attire includes:

- Spandex shorts, and skirts

-Shorts, skirts, dresses, or slits in dress more than 4 inches above the knee

-Tight tops, pants, or dresses

-Sleepwear/pajamas

-Barebacked or bare midriff tops, shirts, or dresses

-Low cut apparel, tank tops, tube tops , spaghetti straps , or fishnet mesh shirts

-Any transparent clothing

-Hats, hoods, and headgear may not be worn in the school building or where prohibited

-Shower shoes

-Sunglasses without appropriate doctor's note and approval of principal

-Facial jewelry (includes tongue piercing)

-Any clothing that advertises substances that are illegal by law for minors or that depicts violence, profanity, or is sexually suggestive in nature , or promotes any gang or gang activity or displays language or symbols that create a disruptive environment.

If your clothing conflicts with this policy, a phone call will be made to parents. The principal makes the final determination.

To enrich our curriculum, students take field trips to various places. Parents are notified of the time, place, and cost. Students who do not participate, will be assigned to another classroom. Parents selected to go on these trips will join and leave us at the Field Trip site. Siblings are not included. All money and permission slips must be turned in no later than the day before the field trip.

Any food that is to be shared with students must be store bought. This eliminates potential health and safety problems. All birthday treats (store bought only) are shared during the lunch period. It is not acceptable to treat the entire class to lunch because it conflicts with school and system policies. Oak is a gum free - sucker free campus. We are encouraging healthy choices. Please consider alternative treats to sugary snacks.

The school administers medication only when absolutely necessary and only under the conditions in the Shelby County Schools Policy Manual.

Under exceptional circumstances requires the medicine be a prescription (in its original container and with an appropriate completed form #Rev-03-84--39PS).

Additionally, the ONLY time non-prescription medicine is given at school is with the required form listed above and a statement from the doctor.

Medication cannot be refrigerated nor can it be kept in the classroom unless it is an inhaler. Students cannot take/bring medicine to school (Policy 6405)

To ensure medical needs can be met, phone numbers of doctors and emergency friends are required.

As part of our respect for others; to keep our areas quiet; and to increase learning, a Voice Level Index is used.

Level 0 silence (hallways, cafeteria line-up, and restrooms)

Level 1 quiet whisper (classroom)

Level 2 regular conversation voice (classroom, cafeteria)

Level 3 over talking (speaking to a group, playground)

Level 4 loud talking (playground)

Parents are welcome to eat lunch with us any time, except for the last day of each semester.

Lunch visitors cooperate with our program by signing in at the office and getting a name tag. It is requested that visitors wait inside the cafeteria rather than in the hallway. Special seating is provided for lunch visitors and their children. This provides a place for quality time to be spent together and also helps the cafeteria teachers maintain order.

Oak Elementary has an active, nationally recognized PTA. Parents are encouraged to join this fine organization.

When your parents have questions or concerns about Oak, we encourage you to talk to us. We listen to all parental concerns.

Please:

1. Talk with the teacher first.

2. Talk to the administrator assigned to that grade.

3. Ask for a conference with the teacher, Assistant Principal and/or Principal.

Parents will be given an opportunity to make comments or suggestions about our programs. Parent input is one of the reasons we have been so successful!

Students who need extra practice or reinforcement with a particular skill will benefit from the tutoring program. Volunteers work one on one with a student.

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All items should be labeled with the student's name. Every year clothing and supplies are turned in to Lost & Found and never claimed.

For various reasons, gameboys, radios, electronic devices, trading cards and related items, toys, or valuable items are not permissible at school.

Birthday balloons, surprises, and party invitations cannot be delivered or passed out at school. In the school building, they create a disruption and on the bus, they can become a safety hazard. Limos create problems also, check with Mrs. Rowland before ordering one.

Our program increases endurance strength, and coordination. Soft sole shoes are needed for participation and a doctor's excuse is needed if students cannot participate.

We want to respect your parent wishes; therefore, we must have a letter on file each year if you have special circumstances: i.e. limited custody, etc.

We cannot release students to persons not listed on your registration form without parental permission and ID's are required. It is the parent's responsibility to notify the office (in writing) of changes in student/parent information.

The fourth week of the nine weeks period, students will take home an Interim Report. The purpose of the Interims is to let parents know how students are doing in school. Go over the Interim with your child and contact the teacher if there are any questions. Report cards are sent home each nine weeks on a computerized form (grades 1-5) and a tri-fold card for kindergarten. Curriculum Overview listing the topics for the next nine weeks are listed on the school web site.

Anyone entering our building must sign-in at the office. The only person(s) who can "check" a student out of school must be on the attendance screen and must be prepared to show a picture I.D.

Lunch and breakfast are served daily and they may be paid for in advance for any amount of time. Applications for free and reduced price meals are available in the school office.

Please consider keeping money on your child's account to avoid charging.

Snacks are available for purchase. Parents may send a note to the cafeteria limiting the number of snacks or the days that the snacks may be purchased.

Oak has 2 activities a year, Winter Celebration (K-5) and Valentine's (K-3). To ensure our parties focus on our children and safety is maintained in our building, these guidelines are followed.

-Space, security, and attention to the children are compromised when there are too many others in the room; therefore, only 3-5 adults (no siblings) may attend.

-The privilege of attending the party is rotated.

-Everyone who wants to attend a party should have an opportunity to be selected. (Pulling names from a hat is a way to select attendees.)

-Food/ activities are selected by the students.

-Party time is 2:00-2:45. Parents must check-in for visitor/party badges at the appropriate grade level table set up in each hallway. Only those with badges will attend the parties.

-The teacher is the adult responsible for what occurs in the room.

-Parents selected to attend will receive a letter outlining expectations, which is signed and returned.

Many programs are offered to help develop a well-rounded individual and to encourage involvement in our school. Participation is encouraged.

Textbooks are issued with the understanding they will be properly cared for and returned at the end of the school year or when a student leaves. Book covers (which do not mutilate covers or interiors) are required to keep books in good condition. If your book(s) exhibits more than normal wear, fines will be assessed. Student records are held when debts or fines are not paid.

With the number of students at our school, our phones stay very busy; therefore, students are not allowed to use the telephone.

Because arrival and departure times are especially critical for us, we ask parents not to call school requesting messages be given to their children. If it becomes necessary for a parent to leave a message at school, the person taking the message will ask if this is an emergency.

Our school is always open and we are proud to share the exciting things we do each day. However, to keep our classrooms safe and purposeful, the law requires all visitors enter through the front door; sign in at the school office; and wear a visitor's badge. Any person on campus without authorization is considered criminal trespass.

Visitors are not admitted to classrooms unless: a visitor's badge is issued through the office and prior arrangements are made through the office and the teacher.

Before and after school, visitors should not go to the classroom unless a conference has been scheduled with the teacher.

Visitors should not be offended if the teacher cannot visit when they "drop by" at arrival or dismissal. These are critical times for us and require full attention be given to our students.

Pets are not allowed in our building, in our classrooms, or on our campus.

A parent volunteer program is available with opportunities that serve the school in many important ways.

A form with over 50 opportunities for involvement is sent home the first week of school. The activities are diverse and offer something "for everyone".

Parents are encouraged to become a part of a program that has volunteered hundreds of thousands of hours in the service of children.