Meadowbrook Elementary School

85 Morningstar Road

Canton, NC  28716

2009-2010

Home of the
Bear Cubs

Office:
646-3445

Fax:
648-8506

Afterschool    648-8509

E-mail:  http://www.haywood.k12.nc.us

Mr. Travis Collins

Principal

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Dear Parents,

Thank
you for taking the time to read your child’s student handbook.  In doing so you will learn a great deal
about school policy that helps Meadowbrook work for all of our students. While
much of the material that we cover in this handbook primarily speaks to you the
parent, I ask that you review some of it with your child so that they have a
clear understanding of what is expected of them here at school.

As
a parent and former elementary classroom teacher I have attempted to keep this
document as short and sweet as possible.
I know that we cannot possibly answer all of the questions that you have
regarding your child’s education but I ask that you make yourself very
familiar with the information within this handbook and then call me if you need
clarification or additional information.
I also ask that you become involved with our PTO here at Meadowbrook.  This organization plays a vital role in
taking care of our teachers and staff and is one of the most supportive and
generous PTOs in Haywood County.

Finally
I’d like to say thank you.
Thank you for trusting us to take care of your child everyday.  I look forward to serving you as
principal and working with you to make this school the best place in the world
for children to grow and learn.

Sincerely,

Travis Collins

Principal

MEADOWBROOK MISSION
STATEMENT

To provide an environment
which maximizes learning experiences for children through the cooperative
efforts of the student, parents, educators, and community resources; thus
producing well informed learners and productive citizens.  A school for all seasons where we live,
laugh and learn!

SCHOOL SCHEDULE

7:30 a.m.                                              Doors
open.  DO NOT bring children before this time because there is no
one here to supervise them

7:30-7:45 a.m.                                      K-2
students need to go to the cafeteria lobby

3-5
students need to go to the gym

7:30-7:55 a.m.                                      Breakfast
served in the cafeteria

7:30-7:55 a.m.                                      Snack
for sale in the cafeteria

8:00 a.m.                                              All
students in classroom and tardy bell rings.  If your child is tardy they must stop at
the office and sign-in at the front desk.
If students are not in the
classroom by 8:00 they are counted tardy.

2:40 p.m.                                              Pre-Kindergarten
dismissal

2:50 p.m.                                              Kindergarten
students and siblings dismissed to bus lot.

2:50 p.m.                                              Walkers
dismissed

2:55 p.m.                                              Car
riders (Grades 1-5) and afterschool dismissed

3:05 p.m.                                              Bus
riders

FEES

There are no fees charged to
students of Meadowbrook.  Teachers
may request that special items be purchased to assist your child’s
learning process.  Students in
grades 3 through 5 are required to buy an agenda book.  The cost will be $5.00 per book.  Please make checks payable to
Meadowbrook. Your cooperation in this area is appreciated.  Damaged or lost materials must be paid
for.

REPORT CARDS

Report cards will be issued
at the conclusion of each nine-week grading period for grades 1-5.  In addition to this, grades 1-5 will get
a progress report each 4½ weeks.
Kindergarten students will not receive report cards or progress
reports.  You will be contacted by
the kindergarten staff to discuss your child’s progress.

STUDENT ACCOUNTABILITY GRADES K-5

·      Students in grades K-2 must achieve the minimum
expectation on the state benchmarks for the appropriate grade

·      Students must
score Level III or above on the state-mandated tests in communication skills
and mathematics in grades 3, 4, and 5

·      Students must
score 3 or better on the grade 4 writing assessment

·      Students must make a grade of “D” (70) or
above on communication skills and mathematics

·      Students not
meeting the standards above will have several options to redeem himself prior
to a final decision regarding non-promotion:

ongoing
remediation during the school year

retest
with remediation

retest without remediation

non-promotion

·      Per board policy
a school level committee shall be established at each school to review any
non-promotions.  The principal will
make the final decision.

·      Students must be
in attendance for a minimum of 165 days to be eligible for promotion.  In order to be counted present for the
school day, a student must be in attendance for at least one-half of the day
(11:30 a.m.)  See Board Policy A-5
below....

.     Students who receive a “U” or
“N” on their report cards in the area of behavior, or in their
specials classes (Art, Music, P.E., and Library) will not be eligible for the
honor roll for the nine weeks.
Students that receive an N or U in the same subject two or more times
will not be eligible for A or A/B honor roll for the year.

BOARD POLICY: A-5 (ATTENDANCE, MEMBERSHIP AND COURSE
CREDIT)

·      Once the parents
are notified, the school attendance counselor shall work with the child and
family to analyze the causes of the absences and determine steps, including
adjustment of the school program or obtaining supplemental services, to
eliminate the problem.

·      After ten (10)
accumulated unexcused absences in a school year, the principal shall notify the
district attorney and parent in writing of the Attendance Law violation.  Evidence showing that the parent,
guardian, or custodian were notified and that the child has

BOARD POLICY: A-5 (ATTENDANCE, MEMBERSHIP AND COURSE
CREDIT) con’t

accumulated
ten (10) absences which cannot be justified under the established attendance
policies of the local board shall establish a prima facie case that the
child’s parent, guardian, or custodian is responsible for the absences.  Letters
will be sent home after ten absences.

·      Excessive
Absences: Grades K-8

Students
exceeding fifteen (15) absences, or who are absent more than 8 percent (180
days x 8.4%=15 days) of the days enrolled in a school year shall not be
promoted to the next grade except by a determination of the principal/designee
upon review of the student’s record.
Non-promotion may be required when excessive absences interfere with the
student’s educational progress.
After school remediation and/or summer school may be required for a
student with more than the maximum number of absences per year to be
promoted.  All absences will be unexcused without a note from the parent.  Please send a note explaining the reason
for an absence the day your child returns.
If you are planning to be going
out of town you need to send a note ahead of time.  This must be excused by Mr.Collins.  It is important that we get absences
coded excused so work can be made up.

TARDIES AND STUDENT CHECKOUT

Attendance in
school for the full time allotted for classes is essential for student success.
However, at the 10th unexcused tardy or early leave, the student will be
referred to the school social worker for discussion with parents. At the 15th
unexcused tardy or early leave, the student and his/her parents will be
required to meet with the school principal to determine a plan that allows the
student to be on time and in school all day. A student who has been tardy/early
leave 20 times (unexcused) may be referred to Truancy Court.  If students are not in the classroom by
8:00 they are considered tardy.

If it becomes necessary to check your child/children out
of school during the day, please send a note or call so that the teacher can
plan accordingly.  For safety
purposes we ask that you stop at the office, sign the checkout log, and wait
there while office personnel call for your child/children to the lobby.  In an effort to provide as much
instructional time as possible, we ask that you keep checkouts to a
minimum.  Checkout time is 11:30
a.m.  If your child checks out
before this time, he/she will be counted absent unless they return to school.

MAKE-UP WORK

Students who miss assignments
as a result of excused absences have two (2) days to make-up work for each day
missed. Obtaining, completing, and turning in make-up work is the
responsibility of the student.
Teachers will strive to assist students in completing any missed
work.  Teachers expect all missed
assignments to be completed.

PARENT VISITATION

All visitors must sign-in on
the visitor sheet and get a visitor pass upon entry.  We ask that you do not come to visit
your child’s classroom during classroom time.  You are welcome to come eat lunch with
your child/children but please call and let us know ahead of time so that we
may inform our cafeteria staff.  All
visitors should enter through the front entrance, sign in and wear a

PARENT VISITATION con’t

visitor sticker, as all other
entrances will be locked.  This is
done for the protection of your child. Please do not plan on having
conferences with teachers during their instructional time or before school
begins.  If you need to have
a conference with the teacher please call or send a note to the teacher.

***You are welcome to walk your child to his/her classroom
during the first five days of school to help them (and you) with the transition
back.  After the first five days of
school, we ask that you simply drop them off in the regular car rider
line.  If you choose to walk your
child to his/her classroom, (during the first 5 days) we ask that you do so
quickly so that they can settle into their morning classroom rituals and
routines.

PTO

Officers for the Meadowbrook
PTO for the 2009-2010 year are: President-Tommy Cabe, Vice President-Jenny
Reece, Secretary-Anganette May, Treasurer-Kelly Clontz and Volunteer
Coordinator, Paula Brigman.  The
officers of the PTO encourage all parents to join this worthwhile
organization.  The cost of
membership is $1.00 per person.
Your support is vital to the success of our PTO and its fund-raising
efforts and projects.

TRANSPORTATION

Safety Guidelines

Morning Drop-off (K-5) and Afternoon Pick-up (1-5)

Car riders in grades 1-5 may be dropped off and picked up
at the front entrance.  We ask that
you please wait patiently in line when dropping off or picking up your
child/children.  Please let your
child/children out along the line closest to the sidewalk.  If you wish to come into the building,
you may park in a parking space and cross at the crosswalk.  School employees will supervise the
loading and unloading of students.
The car rider bell rings at 2:55.

We would also like to
remind you that North Carolina
State Law requires that
all children under 8 years of age, or who weigh less than 80 pounds must be in
a child safety seat.

Pre-Kindergarten students Pre-Kindergarten parents must walk students to the
classroom.  Pre-K is dismissed at
2:40 p.m. and picked up in the bus parking lot.

Kindergarten students and their
siblings may be picked up in the bus parking lot in the space closest to the
sidewalk.  Again, school employees
will supervise the afternoon loading of students along the sidewalks.  For the safety of everyone, please
remain in your car.  The car rider
bell rings at 2:55.

If your child’s
transportation arrangements change, please send a note.  It is important that we keep up with
these arrangements as closely as possible.
If you need to change your child’s transportation by phone, please
call by 2:30.  Transportation lists
will be sent to the teacher at 2:35.
Only emergency checkouts are
allowed after 2:30.  Please
refer to tardies and student checkout section of this handbook for
information.   We cannot allow
your child to change transportation unless we have a note or phone call from
you.  Any child not picked up by 3:15 will
be sent to Afterschool.  There will
be a fee of $8.00 charged for this service.

DISCIPLINE AND SAFETY OF OCCUPANTS OF SCHOOL BUS

1.  Be on time.

2.  Stand on the side of the highway and in
no way interfere with traffic, wait to cross the
road until the bus has arrived and stopped and the stop-arm is out and
the door of the
bus is open.

3.  Wait your turn while getting on the bus.

4.  Take assigned seat quickly.

5.  Do not
talk to or otherwise disturb the driver, no loud noises.

6.  Do not
extend hands or arms out of the window.

7.  Remain
seated while the bus is moving.

8.  Keep
the bus clean and sanitary.

9.  Do not
use profane or indecent language

10.  Never damage or deface
the bus.

11.  No eating on the bus.

12.
Keep legs inside
seat area and out of aisles.

13.
No electronics on
the bus.

14.
This is a smoke
free environment.

BUS INCIDENTS

1st incident -
warning

2nd incident - 1
day suspension

3rd incident - 2
day suspension

4th incident - 1
week suspension

5th incident - 2
week suspension

6th incident - off
bus for rest of year

Please stress to your child
the importance of good behavior and to follow safety rules for the bus.  We
cannot, and will not, jeopardize the safety of a busload of students for those
who cannot behave in an appropriate manner.  Misbehavior on the bus could result in
that student’s riding privilege being suspended

PERFECT ATTENDANCE  Revised 6-5-08

In order for a student to
have perfect attendance, they must be counted present for the entire school day
and not have any unexcused tardies.

VOLUNTEERS

Throughout the school year we
need your help to provide a full array of services to meet the needs of all of
our students.  By becoming a
volunteer, whether it’s one day a week or one day a year, your efforts
are valued and are critical in maintaining and adding to the sense of community
at Meadowbrook.  You can be involved
in a host of activities and learn how you can contribute to the life of your
child’s school.  If you would
like to become a volunteer at Meadowbrook, please contact the school for more
information.

USE OF TELEPHONE

All calls to teachers
will go to voice mail.  Teachers will check their voice mail
during the day and will return your phone call as soon as possible.  Students will not be called to the phone
unless there is an emergency.

SCHOOL FOOD SERVICE

A well-prepared hot lunch
will be available each day.
Breakfast is available from 7:30-7:55 a.m. There will also be extra
milk, juice, and ice cream.  Federal
assistance will be available for those families who find it difficult to
purchase breakfast and lunch.  Both
free and reduced price meal assistance is available.  Applications are available anytime in
the school office.  This greatly
helps your child and our school.
Every child is assigned a student lunch number to use at the register so
as to keep free and reduce lunch information confidential and not embarrass any
child or family.  Each child has an
account in the cafeteria and money can be put in this account for his/her lunch
and snack instead of sending money each day or you may create an online lunch
account by going to http://www.lunchprepay.com.  If there is an early dismissal your
child’s lunch schedule will be 10 minutes earlier.  Students
may charge meals but cannot charge for snacks.  The cafeteria manager will send parents a written notification of charges
that have accumulated during the week.
All charges must be paid promptly.
If you have any questions please contact the cafeteria manager at
646-3814.  Snacks may be purchased
from 7:30-7:55 a.m.  When students bring a lunch from home please
discourage them from bringing soft drinks or fast food.  Lunches from home will not be heated.

Prices: Paying student
lunch-$2.00…Paying student breakfast-$1.00…Adult lunch- À la carte …Adult breakfast- À la carte …Reduced
student lunch-$.40…Reduced student breakfast-$.30

BIRTH CERTIFICATES

A valid birth certificate
(register of deeds) and immunization record is required of each child enrolling
in North Carolina Public Schools.
You have 30 calendar days
from the enrollment date to turn in birth certificate, health history and
immunizations record.

MEDICATION

Haywood County Schools
discourages the taking of medications at school; however, if this is a
necessity for your child, the following procedures must be followed:

1.  Prescription medication must arrive in
the original container with the student’s name, doctor’s name, name
of medication and dosage on the label.
A parent’s permission form must also accompany the medication and
should include any special instructions such as needing refrigeration.

2.  Over the counter medication must arrive
in the original container with the student’s name attached.  A parent’s permission form listing
the dosage and reasons for giving (such as headache, leg cramps, etc.) must
accompany the medication.

3.  The medication should be brought by the
parent and left at the front office where it will be locked and dispensed by
the designated persons.  It is the
child’s responsibility to come to the office at the designated hour to
receive the medication.

4.  The person administering the medication
will record it in the school logbook.
You may contact the school office or the school’s nurse if you
have any questions or concerns.

IMMUNIZATION LAW

North Carolina Law, revised
January 1994, requires that children have the following immunizations before
enrolling in school:

·     5 DPT (diphtheria,
tetanus, pertussis) if 4th dose is on or after 4th
birthday, 5th dose is not required

·     4 oral polio (if 3rd
dose is on or after 4th birthday, 4th dose is not
required)

·     1-4 Hib-at least 1 Hib
on or after 15 months and before 5 years of age

(not
required after age 5)

·     2 MMR (measles, mumps,
and rubella) 1 dose on or after 1st birthday and second dose on or
after age 4.  Children who are older
than second grade may not have had the second MMR, and may still be admitted to
school.

·     Hepatitis B-3 doses

·     Varicella-one dose on
or after 12 months of age.

The law requires that the child be
excluded from school until the immunizations are obtained if written proof of
immunizations is not presented within 30 days of enrollment.  You may
call the school nurse if you have any questions.

FREE HEALTH CARE

Haywood County Health
Department provides a clinic for the preschool and school aged children who
meet the following criteria:

1.  Currently receives Medicaid

2.  Qualifies for free lunch or is the
sibling of a child qualifying for free lunch

3.  Certain other situations may apply.

Call the school nurse or
scheduling clerk at the Haywood County Health Department (452-6675) for more
information or to schedule an appointment.

HEALTH CHOICE INSURANCE FOR CHILDREN

Are you a working parent with
an income falling within the following limits?

Family Size                   Monthly
Income (gross)

2
$2,334

3                                        2,934

4
3,534

5
4,134

Add $567 for each additional
family member after 5.  Your
child/children may be eligible for some great medical insurance.  You may obtain an application at the
school office.

HEALTH EDUCATION

In May of 1996, the State
adopted a Revised Version of the Health curriculum for grades K-9, entitled FRAMEWORK for HEALTHFUL LIVING EDUCATION.  It combines the past Health curriculum,
the Alcohol and Drug curriculum, and also addresses House Bill 834 (the
“abstinence” bill).
Classes on self-esteem and puberty will be offered to students in grades
4-5.  A letter notifying parents of
the content and time of the classes will be sent home before this
instruction.  Please let the teacher
know if you do not wish for your child to participate.  As per state law, this new curriculum is
available for your review at each school and also at the Board of
Education.  Please call the Health
Education Coordinator at the Central Office.  (456-2400)

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

Parent/Teacher
conferences are important to each child’s success.  To schedule a conference, call the
office or send a note to your child’s teacher.  Each teacher has access to a
confidential voice mail, which allows you to simply call the school and leave a
message for the teacher.  He/she
will return your call as soon as possible.
It is important that our teachers and assistants tend to before school
and after school duties and daily lesson preparations.  Please be considerate of the
teacher’s time and schedule an appointment.  Conferences should not be expected
during school hours without an appointment.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Good behavior greatly
enhances a student’s opportunity to learn.  We feel strongly that each student
should have a learning environment with minimal disruptions and teachers need
to spend as much time as possible instructing, not disciplining disruptive
students.

EXPECTATIONS

·     Fighting or horseplay
on school grounds, walking to and from school or on buses is not permitted.

·     Profanity or vulgar language
is not permitted.

Threats - any and all threats will be
considered serious.  Threats are no
joke and will be dealt with in a serious manner.

·     Gum, soft drinks,
tobacco or alcohol in or around school are not permitted.

·     Students may not leave
school grounds without permission.

·     School staff, including
bus drivers, should be respected and obeyed at all times.

·     Destruction or defacing
school property will not be tolerated.

·     Behavior which is
disruptive in nature, including odor, dress, language, etc. will not be
permitted.

·     Behavior which
endangers life and property of others will be dealt with promptly.

·     No knives (including
pocket knives) or weapons of any kind are permitted on school grounds at
anytime.  Any and all weapon
violations will involve law enforcement.

·     Pants will be worn at
least up to students’ hipbones as not to expose any undergarments.  All shirts and tops must cover the
midriff area.  No disruptive
clothing allowed.

No
heelies, cell phones, or electronics are allowed on school property.

Every teacher will have an individual discipline plan.

Any violations of good and
expected behavior my result in the following:

1.      Teacher’s individual discipline plan

2.      Isolation in the classroom

3.      Visit to the Principal’s office

4.      Stay 30 minutes after school

5.      Call home

6.      Parent Conference

7.      Lunch detention (student lunch served in a separate
setting)

8.      Suspension from school (last resort).

Parents will be notified in writing if
corporal punishment is administered.

MEADOWBROOK AFTERSCHOOL/CAMP

Director
Kimsey Rex              648-8509

Meadowbrook offers an
afterschool program from 2:55 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day that school is in
session. Snack time will be at 3:20 p.m. everyday.  Snack will be provided during
afterschool and camp. If school is dismissed early for any reason, the afterschool
program will start when school is dismissed and run until 6:00 p.m.  Afterschool will provide lunch for your
child and the price will be the same as a regular camp day. Camp Meadowbrook
is open from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
You will be charged a late fee if
you pick up your child/children late (NO EXCEPTIONS).  During Camp Meadowbrook
your child needs to bring a lunch and a drink each day (no soft drinks or
lunches that need to be microwaved).
Breakfast will be provided each day, however, we only serve breakfast
until 8:30, so you must have your child here by that time.  ALL
children must be here by 8:30 each day or they will not be able to attend.  ALL
children MUST be walked into the building and signed in and picked up by an
adult (NO EXCEPTIONS).
Field trips are planned during camp and all children will go on all
field trips.

Rates: Fees are to be paid in full each week by Friday
(NO EXCEPTIONS) or your child may not be able to return until it is paid.

Afterschool: $35.00/ week
for first child

$25.00/week for additional child

$8.00/day (up to 2 days per
week)

Camp: $110.00/week for first child

$90.00/week for additional child

$25.00/day per child (up to 2 days per week)

Important Dates: Camp Meadowbrook will be open during
September, December, April, and summer breaks, and on teacher workdays, except
for the following dates.

·     Memorial Day

·     July 4th

·     Labor Day

·     Thanksgiving Holidays
– (Wednesday-Friday)

·     Week of Christmas

·     New Year’s Day

Camp will be OPEN when school
is closed for snow or bad weather unless an annual leave day is called.   During inclement weather if there
are less than six students in attendance at camp, then parents will be notified
to pick up their student and camp will be closed.

ANTI-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

In operation of the Haywood
County Schools, no child or employee shall be discriminated against because of
race, religion, color, sex, or national origin.  This is in compliance
with the Title IX of the Education Amendments of Prohibiting Sex Discrimination
in Education.  Any student and/or
employee compliance regarding Title IX should be directed to Dr. Anne Garrett
at the Board of Education Office, North
Main Street, Waynesville, NC.
(456-2400)

NOTIFICATION OF RELEASE OF ROSTERS

Student directory information
defined in PL93-568 may be available to those with legitimate interest in the
student.  Directory information
relating to students includes the following: name, address, telephone listing,
date and place of birth, major field of study, participation if officially
recognized activities and sports, height and weight of members of athletic
teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and the most previous
educational institution attended by student.

FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA)

The Family Education Rights
and Privacy Act is a federal law that governs the maintenance of student
records.  Under the law, parents/guardians
of students or students if they are at least 18 years of age have both the
right to inspect records kept by the school about the student and the right to
correct inaccuracies in the records.
Access to the records by persons other than the parents/guardians of the
student is limited and generally requires prior consent by the
parents/guardians and 18 year-old students under FERPA.  Copies of this policy may be found in
the Principal’s Office and in the assigned liaison teacher’s office
of your child.