John Durkee Elementary
Parent Handbook
2012-2013
We believe that our Parents are our Partners!
Common Decency is a core value that we believe in; treat each other with integrity and
respect. WE are here to serve your child’s educational needs and goals. We strongly
believe that working together will improve your child’s academic success while at
Durkee Elementary.
We have come up with an acronym for D.U.R.K.E.E. to exemplify what we are all about.
The D.U. stands for Developing Understandings, the R.K. is for Reaching Kids, and the
E.E. is for Educating Everyone.
Our School Motto is “We Share! We Care! We Dare!”
We share your child. We both provide for your child. WE offer a lifetime of loving
to learn. WE teach your child how to think about learning. WE challenge your child to do
their best. WE expect you to be our partners in educating your child. WE expect your
child to read on grade level and to behave their best at all times. We expect your child to
have perfect attendance all year long.
Please do the following:
Make sure your child goes to bed early on a daily basis at a reasonable hour.
Research states that children need 10 to 12 hours of sleep every night.
Make sure your child gets to school on time on a daily basis. Our school wide goal is
to have 98% or better student attendance on a daily basis. School starts at 7:40 a.m.
everyday. Breakfast is served from 7:45 to 8:00 in your child’s classroom. Breakfast in
the classroom should be over by 8:00 a.m. The breakfast is free to all the students.
Research states that children who eat breakfast have higher achievement scores than
children who do not eat breakfast.
Please make sure that you check your child’s backpack on a daily basis. K-2 students
will have Homework Folders and 3-5 students will have academic planners. Please use
these tools to communicate with your child’s teachers.
Please review your child’s homework on a daily basis. The expectation is that all
students will be given some type of homework and parents/guardians review their child’s
work before turning it in the next day of school.
Please have your child read to someone on a daily basis for at least 20 minutes. Your
child should read with fluency and understanding of what he/she reads. It is going to take
everyone’s help to ensure that your child is reading on grade level or above grade by the
end of the school year. When a child is able to read and understand, then they are
prepared to do their best.
The instructional day starts at 7:40 a.m. We need your child here every day!
We care about your child!
Please let us know if your child has any medical conditions that we need to know about
such as food allergies, medications taken, etc. We want your child to feel safe at school.
If you have any concerns, please speak to your child’s teacher first. Your relationship
with your child’s teacher should be one of professional trust, communication, and
guidance.
We have implemented a variety of school wide procedures to ensure your child’s safety
while at school. These are campus procedures and policies that we must adhere to.
Visitor’s Badges
All persons coming into our school must report to the main office and receive a visitor’s
badge to enter the classrooms. Please provide your Texas driver’s license or Texas
Identification card to the office personnel. They will run your name through the Raptor
system and print you a visitor badge. Please wear your visitor’s badge near your chest
area. The visitor’s badge must be visible to all employees.
Student ID Badges
Your child will be given a student identification badge for school use. You child is
responsible for taking care of his/her ID badge. He/She will use the ID badge to go
through the lunch line and when checking books out of the library.
If your child’s ID badge gets damaged, cut, written on, destroyed, or lost, then it will cost
$3.00 to replace your child’s ID badge. The ID badge will be sent home at the end of the
year. Your child should wear their ID badge while at school everyday. Your child’s
teacher will collect the ID badges at the end of the instructional day and distribute them
to the students in the morning.
Birthday Celebrations
Parents are not allowed to bring food items such as cakes or cupcakes. Food items cannot
be given to students according to Federal Food of Minimal Nutritional guidelines during
the instructional day. If you would like to send some treats to celebrate your child’s
birthday, then you may send some treat bags for the teacher to distribute as the students
are dismissed to go home. We are only allowed to have food served to students with
minimal nutritional value three times a year. We usually reserve those days for winter
celebrations, the International Festival, and the end of year celebrations.
Drop Off
In order to ensure your child’s safety please do not drop your child off at school before
7:30 a.m. No one is on duty to watch your child until 7:30 a.m.
Please drop off your child in front of the cafeteria on a daily basis. Parents are not
allowed to wait with their children due to space limitations in the cafeteria and main
hallway areas. All K-2 students are to go to the cafeteria and sit in their designated areas
in the cafeteria. All 3-5 grade students are to walk through the cafeteria or front doors to
sit in the main hallways. Our teacher assistants and teachers are assigned to supervise the
areas accordingly. All students are dismissed (and escorted by a teacher) by 7:45 to go to
their classrooms for breakfast. All students must be in their classroom by 8:00.
Early Pick Up
Parents are allowed to pick up their child from school for medical purposes. Please
provide the office personnel with your ID (driver’s license or identification card).
Students will not be released parents after 2:30 p.m. Parents or adults picking up the
child(ren) must be listed on the Emergency Contact Form.
After School Pick Up Procedures
All students will be dismissed at 3:15 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. We
have early dismissal (1:00 p.m.) on Wednesdays. Please adhere to our school dismissal
procedures. All car riders will be given color coded tags for parents to display on their
windshields. All car riders must report to the cafeteria and wait to be called. Parents
please teach your child to listen for their color tag and number.
Please be mindful that we are working as to ensure that all our students make it home
safely at the end of every school day. Please be courteous to our staff by following their
instructions.
All students who are walkers will be dismissed through the front doors of the school.
Please wait for them outside under the covered sidewalk area.
Please do not double park on Corwin Street to pick up students and then drive off. ALL
students who are car riders are expected to have CAR TAGS and to go through the pick
up lane in front of the school.
Updating Current PHONE NUMBERS
Parents it is your responsibility to keep us informed whenever you change your home or
cell phone numbers. Please call us at 713-696-2835 to change your contact information
on the computer system. We need to have updated phone numbers in case of an
emergency. We have had many instances in the past, when we could not reach parents
when their child was ill at school. Also, teach your child their phone number and address.
You can also write your current phone number in your child’s agenda or homework
folder.
Parent Dress Code
Parents please come to school dressed appropriately. Your child has to endure what other
kids say about you when you are wearing your night clothes to school. Coming to school
in your pajamas does not constitute appropriate attire for adults to wear to school.
Student Dress Code
WE require uniforms for all students. All students are to wear khaki or navy blue bottoms
(shorts, skirts, skorts, or pants) with a navy, red, or white polo style shirt. School shirts
are also allowed. All tops are to be tucked in. Belts are optional. No blue jeans may be
worn.
Free Dress Days will occur with advance notice to parents. All Free Dress Days must be
pre-approved by the principal, Ms. Tanguma.
Students do not have to wear school uniforms on picture days or on Awards Day at the
end of the school year. We encourage the students to dress up for these special occasions
but must adhere to appropriate school attire.
Parent Conferences
We expect all of the parents to attend parent/student/teacher conferences. All
parents are expected to meet with their child’s teacher on these dates. It is important for
your child to see that you care about what they are learning and how they are performing.
These dates are Progress Report and Report Card dates.
We have monthly Second Cup of Coffee meetings with the Principal every second
Tuesday of each month at 8:00 a.m. in the cafeteria. These meetings are designed to
address parent concerns and to get immediate feedback from the principal.
WE strongly encourage parents to get involved with our Parent Teacher Organization.
The PTO is responsible for hosting events and raising funds to benefit all of our students.
The PTO meetings are held on the second Tuesday evening of the month from 5:30 to
6:30 p.m. Please join us!
Parent Volunteers Needed
We expect parents to volunteer at school events. If you would like to be a Volunteer in
Public Schools (VIPS) member please see Ms. Sanchez in the main office. She will assist
you in getting you signed up to be a VIPS member.
WE need parents to assist with cafeteria duty during lunch, traffic duty in the mornings
and afternoons. Check with your child’s teacher to see how you can assist him/her in the
classroom.
Parent Concerns
Please call 713-696-2835 to schedule an appointment with your child’s teacher. Let the
office personnel know that you need to speak to your child’s teacher and they will inform
you of the time the teacher is available. Please speak to the teacher first before speaking
to the principal about the concern. Contact the school principal, Ms. Tanguma, if you
cannot resolve the issue with the classroom teacher (Call 713-696-2835 or email at
dtanguma@houstonisd.org.). The principal should be the person that you contact after
you have spoken to the teacher. All parent concerns will need to be resolved at the
campus level this year.
Grades
Parents can log onto the GRADE SPEED system to see how their child is performing.
Please contact your child’s teacher to get their student identification number. They will
also assist you on showing you how to log onto the system to check on your child’s
grades. You can access the link at www.houstonisd.org to view daily grades,
assignments, and progress reports. Simply complete the six step on line registration
process.
Cell Phone Usage
DO NOT use your cell phones while driving in our school zone. It is against state law to
use your cell phones in a school zone. Please be vigilant with our students while driving.
Speaking on your cell phone and/or texting takes away from being observant and alert in
a school zone. Please adhere to this new state law for the safety of all our students and
staff members on duty.
Pay for Meals Online
Parents you can pay for your child’s lunch online by linking on the www.houstonisd.org
website. You can create an account and pay from home or work.
Free or Reduced Lunch Applications
Parents if you would like to apply for free or reduced lunch for your child(ren) please
complete the application process. See Ms. Maria Sanchez in the main office if you need
assistance in completing the application. The sooner your application gets processed and
approved the better. You can also complete the application process on line by accessing
the HISD portal at www.houstonisd.org.
Sack Lunches
Please send sack lunches with your child(ren) if your lunch applications have not been
approved at the beginning of the school year. The office staff will not deliver sack
lunches to students during the day. It is the parent’s responsibility to pack and send the
sack lunch with the student before getting to school.
Eating Lunch with your child
We have designated days in which parents are invited to come and eat lunch with their
child(ren). These days are the GRANDPARENT’S Day Luncheon and
THANKSGIVING Day Luncheon.
Students may not be released to parents after school events
Students may not be released to parents after school events such as Awards Day,
Thanksgiving Luncheon, Grandparent’s Day Luncheon, Field Day, etc. Students must
stay at school to finish the instructional day.
Textbooks & Library Books
It is the parent’s responsibility to pay for lost, damaged, stolen textbooks or library
books. Parents will be notified about any books missing during the school year. It is the
responsibility of the student to take care of the books issued to them and to return them in
good condition. If you cannot afford to pay for a book then you will need to work out an
installment plan to pay for the lost, damaged, or stolen textbook or library book. The
school cannot afford to lose any inventory of its textbooks or library collection.
Field Trips
Parents must return signed permission slips for students 3 days before the scheduled Field
Lesson/ Field Trip (No Exceptions). If the monies or permission slips are not submitted
prior to the third day before the Field Lesson/ Field Trip, the student will not be permitted
to go (No exceptions). All student monies need to be documented on an AF104 form by
the classroom teacher. The classroom teachers are responsible for submitting all of the
class permission slips and monies 3 days prior to the Field Lesson/ Field Trip (NO
EXCEPTIONS).
T-Shirts Sales
We will be selling Durkee T-Shirts for students. Please contact the main office for prices
and sizes.
School Pictures
Parents will have the option to buy fall and spring individual pictures of their child. The
students will also take class photos in the spring semester. Please contact Ms. Toni
Cervantes at 713-696-2835 for more information.
School Wide Fundraisers
The PTO usually asks that students take a brochure home to sell items. It is the parent’s
choice if they want to participate. Parent participation is strongly encouraged because this
is how the PTO earns a portion of the profit from the total sells. The money is used to
benefit all of the students.
Grade Levels usually host fundraisers for their grade levels. Flyers of the sells and or
plans will be sent home prior to the scheduled fundraiser. This may include pictures with
Santa, the Easter Bunny, etc. Please check your child’s backpack on a daily basis.
Communication Tools
All students in K-2 will receive a take home folder on a daily basis. The folder will
contain a pocket for returning items to school and a pocket for items to stay at home. The
first folder is provided to the student free of charge. If the student loses his/her folder, the
cost to replace the folder is $2.00. Please contact Ms. Ledbetter, in the main office, for a
replacement folder.
All students in 3-5 will receive a planner. The students are to record their daily
homework assignments in the planner. The students are to take the planner home
everyday and return it to school the next day. The first planner is given to the student at
no charge. If students lose their planners, the cost to replace the planner is $10.00. The
student planners are used for the teachers to write notes to the parents if needed and
parents may do the same. Please contact Ms. Ledbetter to replace lost student planners.
We also send home monthly calendars, newsletters, and display events on the marquee in
front of the school. Please check your child’s backpack on a daily basis.
At times, you will also receive phone messages from the school. Please keep your phone
numbers updated.
The expectation is that all parents have a good working relationship with their child’s
teacher and together we will achieve. We are here for your child!
We DARE!
We will do whatever it takes to academically advance your child. Our school has been
rated by the Texas Education Agency as a RECOGNIZED school for the last three years.
We want to be an EXEMPLARY school! WE will need your parental support to get us
there! We are counting on your support to get us to EXEMPLARY! We are here for your
child. Learning is our main focus and we will add academic value to your child’s
learning. We will increase your child’s academic rigor. WE will have all of our teaching
staff Gifted and Talented trained. WE will also implement Conscious Discipline
strategies school wide. WE are committed to meeting the needs of your child and doing
whatever it takes to get them to learn!
John Durkee Elementary
Parent Acknowledgement Form
I have received a copy of the Parent Handbook for Durkee Elementary. I will do my best
to adhere to all of the policies and procedures listed in the Handbook.
Print Parent Name ______________________________________________
Parent’s Signature ______________________________________________
Print Student’s Name _____________________________ Grade _______ Teacher ____________
Please keep the Parent Handbook at home but return this form to your child’s teacher.