FIVE POINTS ELEMENTARY STUDENT HANDBOOK
ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL
Classes will begin at 7:45. Students should not arrive on campus before 7:15. If your child is participating
in the breakfast program, he/she MUST be at school in the dining room by 7:25.
The tardy bell rings at 7:45 a.m. Students should be in class before the tardy bell rings. Any child arriving
after the tardy bell should report to the office with his parent to receive a pass before going to the
classroom.
Dismissal begins at 2:20 p.m.
Students should not be picked up early except in the event of an unavoidable emergency situation. A
written request for early dismissal should be sent on the morning of the dismissal. The time and reason for
early dismissal should be included. When possible, appointments should be scheduled after school hours.
Students may only be dropped off or picked up by car at the designated car drop off area in the grassy lot.
Please do not place your child in a dangerous situation by dropping him/her off in an unauthorized or
unsupervised area. Students may not be picked up or dropped off anywhere else for safety reasons. Cars
are not allowed in the bus zone.
ARTICLES BROUGHT TO SCHOOL
No student, teacher, or parent is allowed to bring any animal, dead or alive, to school or school-sponsored
activities without prior written permission of the school principal. (School Board Policy)
Students are not allowed to have alcohol, drugs, or tobacco (or facsimiles) in any form in their possession
while on school property. Any student who brings a gun or knife or any other item intended as a weapon
may be suspended or dismissed from school. Toy guns are not allowed at school. Laser pointers are not
allowed at school.
Toys, trading cards, radios, electronic games, beepers, tape players, etc. are not allowed at school.
Chewing gum and hard candy should not be brought to school for any reason.
Glass containers should not be brought to school for safety reasons and are not allowed on the school bus.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
The importance of regular attendance cannot be overemphasized. Students should be in class every day that
they are physically able. It is extremely difficult to keep up with class work if attendance is irregular.
PERFECT ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATES ARE AWARDED TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE BEEN AT
SCHOOL 180 DAYS.
Absences are excused only in case of sickness, death, or approved religious holidays. A parent, guardian, or
custodian may document up to ten (10) days excused absences for personal illness or injury each YEAR.
Absences for personal illness shall be excused when absence is covered by a note signed by a doctor or
parent within TWO (2) days after a student returns to school.
Tardies and early dismissals are also to be limited because they interfere with a student’s academic
progress. After 15 tardies, students and parents are referred to TIPP. If truancy continues, and more than
10 additional tardies occur, this information is turned over to the courts for action.
The state of Florida has passed a new law (CCS/HB751) imposing stricter guidelines regarding school
attendance. Students who have 5 or more unexcused or unexplained absences in a calendar month or 10
within 90 calendar days must be monitored closely and interventions must take place. If the school
determines that a pattern of absences exists, and parents are making little effort to see it improves, this
information is forwarded to the Superintendent who may turn it over to the Department of Children and
Family Services or to the courts for action.
With excused absences, the student will have two (2) days allowed for each day of absence to complete all
makeup work.
Unexcused absences (including tardies and early dismissals) will result in a zero for work missed during
the period of time not in attendance. Shopping trips, pleasure trips, and vacations are unexcused. (School
Board Policy)
BEHAVIOR AND DISCIPLINE
We believe all students can behave appropriately while at school. We will not allow a student to stop the
teacher from teaching or prevent other students from learning. Each student and his or her family receive a
Code of Student Conduct and a Five Points Elementary School Discipline Plan which detail expected
behavior and consequences of misbehavior. Developing values including trust, respect, responsibility,
honesty, and cooperation is a high priority of Five Points Elementary. Parents are encouraged and expected
to work with teachers and administrators to develop positive character traits and appropriate behavior for
their child(ren) at school.
BIRTHDAY PARTIES
A parent with a child in PK, K, or 1st grade may bring cupcakes and juice to school for a party during recess
time or at the end of lunch. Arrangements must be made in advance with the teacher. Parents are
encouraged to donate their child’s favorite book to the classroom library in honor of the birthday child. No
balloons on campus. No flower delivery will be accepted for a student.
DRESS CODE
Students should dress appropriately for school activities, which include physical education and playground
activities and activities that require students to sit on the floor.
Girls wearing dresses or skirts to school should wear shorts underneath.
Comfortable shoes, such as sneakers or tennis shoes, should be worn. All shoes must have a back or back
strap for safety on the playground equipment. Flip-flops, heelies, cleats, and high heels of any size are not
allowed.
Short shorts, tight shorts, short skirts, or tight skirts are not appropriate in the school setting.
Halter-tops, short shirts, see-through jerseys, and tank tops are not allowed.
Head coverings (hats, caps, scarves, bandanas, etc.) are not allowed for boys or girls.
No over-sized or “grunge” clothes may be worn. Jeans and trousers for boys and girls should be fitted and
worn at the waist. Belts must be worn through belt loops.
Pants must be fastened, straps for overalls must be worn over both shoulders, and long shirttails should be
tucked in.
Long, dangly earrings may not be worn. Rings or studs in other body orifices such as the nose, fingertips,
eyebrows, lip, etc. will not be worn at school. No distracting or unsafe jewelry may be worn that interferes
with learning or is a safety issue.
Make-up is not appropriate for elementary-age children and is not allowed.
Long nails, including artificial nails, are not safe and are not allowed at school.
Hair dyed different colors is distracting in the class and not allowed at school.
Inappropriate pictures or words on clothing, notebooks, or lunch boxes are not acceptable.
Please label your child’s sweater, jacket, lunch boxes, etc., with his/her first and last name in permanent
ink.
Students are encouraged to bring a large shirt to wear over their clothing in art.
Teachers and administrators will make the final decision on the appropriateness of clothing worn to school.
No clothing, jewelry, etc. may be worn to school, which causes a distraction from the learning process or is
a safety hazard to the student or others.
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
Please keep us up-to-date on any changes of address or phone numbers (home, cell or work) so parents can
be reached quickly in case of emergency. An unexpected illness or accident may make this very important.
It is essential that an emergency phone number be on file for each student. Should your address, telephone
number, or place of work change, please notify the school immediately to be sure that the school has a
quick way to reach you.
FIELD TRIPS
Only children enrolled as students at Five Points Elementary may be transported by bus for field trips. Only
students enrolled in the classroom whose teacher is sponsoring the trip may go on the trip.
His parent must give permission for a student to attend a field trip or guardian on the Columbia County
School Board approved permission form by the deadline set by the teacher.
ALL CHAPERONES MUST HAVE A VOLUNTEER APPLICATION ON FILE, BE SCHOOL BOARD
APPROVED AND ATTEND AN ORIENTATION BEFORE ACCOMPANYING A CLASS ON A
FIELD TRIP.
Smoking or use of other tobacco products is not allowed on field trips or on school campus by adults or
students.
All students must ride the school bus to the field trip destination. They may not be transported to the
destination by parents, guardians, friends, or others. A student who arrives late to school and misses the
field trip bus will remain at school in another teacher’s classroom. If you want to check your child out from
the field trip destination, this must be requested in writing and approved three (3) days in advance by the
principal.
GRADING SCALE
Kindergarten
S – Satisfactory
SI – Skills Improving
N – Needs Improvement
Grade 1
E – Excellent
S – Satisfactory
N – Needs Improvement
S+ - Very Good
S- - More Effort Needed
U - Unsatisfactory
Grades 2 – 5 will use computer-generated reports with:
A (90-100)
B (80-89)
C (70-79)
D (60-69)
F (0-59)
I Incomplete
NG No Grade Given
Report Cards will be issued on the dates listed below:
October 22
March 20
January 12
May 29
HOMEWORK
Homework is given at the discretion of the teacher. Please plan to set aside time each evening to supervise
your child’s assigned homework, work on his/her spelling or math facts, or read with your child. Students
in grades 3, 4, and 5 should record their daily, weekly, and long-term assignments in their planner. The
book will help students manage their time and homework assignments. All students are expected to read or
to be read to at least 15 minutes each night. A reading log will be sent home to record nightly readings.
LEGAL NAME
All students will be enrolled by their legal name that appears on their birth certificate. The legal name of
the student must be used on all official school documents until the name is changed by court action.
LOST AND FOUND
Lost items can be more easily returned when they are properly labeled. EVERYTHING brought to school
should be labeled with the child’s first and last name.
MEALS
Breakfast is served daily from 7:15 to 7:45. The full-price cost for student breakfast is $ 1.10, reduced price
is $ .30. The cost for a full-price student lunch is $1.75. Reduced price lunches are $ .40. Extra milk is $
.50. Parents may want to eat lunch with their child occasionally. Adult lunches cost $3.00. No food will be
eaten in the classroom and breakfast cannot be brought to school. Please avoid sending soft drinks with
your child’s lunch. There will not be a way to heat lunches brought from home.
Parents are encouraged to pay for their child’s meals in advance, weekly or monthly. Please place money
for meals in a sealed envelope, with your child’s name, teacher’s name, lunch I.D. number, grade level,
amount of money included or you can pay online at www.mealpayplus.com or by calling 1-866-243-0331.
MEDICATION
Only the school nurse or authorized office staff may administer any kind of medicine to students and only
after the parent has completed a form requesting that the child be given the medication. The form is
available in the school health clinic. Only medications prescribed by a physician may be given at school.
Aspirin, cough medicines, or other over-the-counter medications may not be given unless prescribed by a
doctor. All medicines must be kept in the clinic, not in the classroom.
PARENT INVOLVEMENT
Students whose parents are actively involved in their child’s education are usually the most successful. We
welcome and encourage parent involvement at Five Points Elementary.
Parents are encouraged to get to know their child’s teacher and to stay in regular contact with him/her.
Conferences may be arranged during the teacher’s planning time and after school. Please make
appointments in advance.
Everyone is invited to become a member of the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
Parents interested in serving on the School Advisory Council (SAC) should contact the principal. Parent
representatives will be voted on by other parents and will meet with school and community representatives
to guide school improvement.
Volunteers are needed in many areas of the school. If you are willing to help, please contact our Volunteer
Coordinator.
PHONE CALLS AND MESSAGES
Students will be allowed to use the telephone ONLY in case of emergency. They will not be allowed to call
to get permission to go home with another student, to ride a different bus, or to have homework or
permission slips brought to them. Learning responsibility is very important for all children. Telephone
messages will not be delivered to students except in emergency situations. All transportation arrangements
or changes in routine should be made before school and cannot be accepted after 2:00 p.m.
For safety concerns, no flowers, balloons, candy, etc. will be accepted by delivery or should be brought to
school for students in the classroom because it disrupts instructional time.
SCHOOL PROPERTY
Parents are responsible for any damage their child does to school property (furniture, building, etc). The
student must pay for lost or damaged textbooks or library books. Students should take care to keep all
books clean, dry, and out of reach of younger children and pets.
SCHOOL VISITORS
We are happy to have visitors at Five Points Elementary, but when arriving on campus, ALL VISITORS
(INCLUDING PARENTS) MUST REPORT TO THE OFFICE and show identification. This includes
visitors eating in the cafeteria, attending a conference, or coming to pick up a child. This is for the safety
of all our children.
Parents and all others MUST report to the office and show identification before going to a classroom.
No student visitors are allowed in classes. (School Board Policy)
STUDENT PICKUP
STUDENTS WILL BE RELEASED ONLY TO A PARENT OR GUARDIAN UNLESS THE SCHOOL
HAS BEEN NOTIFIED IN WRITING THAT SOMEONE ELSE HAS PERMISSION TO PICK UP THE
CHILD. Once dismissal procedures/process has begun, NO EARLY dismissals after 2:00 p.m. Students
must be picked up at designated pick-up area.
FOR SECURITY REASONS CHILDREN MAY NOT BE PICKED UP FROM THE CLASSROOM!!!
ALL PARENTS MUST SIGN OUT AND REQUEST STUDENTS FROM THE OFFICE.
TRANSPORTATION
Students transported by bus must obey all safety rules and show respect for bus drivers. To find out about
bus numbers, stops, or times, parents should call the bus shop at 755-8060.
Bus students must present written permission signed by their parent or guardian to the principal and the bus
driver EACH TIME they wish to ride on a different bus or in a car. “Blanket” notes for the year are not
sufficient.
A parent must appear in the school office to sign a Bus Affidavit if the parent wishes their child to ride a
bus to a destination other than his home for a period of time designated by the parent.
ANY TIME THERE IS A CHANGE IN A STUDENT’S REGULAR MODE OF TRANSPORTATION;
THE TEACHER MUST BE NOTIFIED IN WRITING.
All notes should be presented to the school office and/ or teacher immediately upon the student’s arrival on
campus.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOUR CHILD LEARN
A. Start each day right; a calm beginning at home makes the school day much better.
B. Encourage your child to have a good breakfast and lunch. Make certain that your child sleeps at
least eight hours each night.
C. Praise your child each day for something he/she has done. Have a special place to put schoolwork
or notices, announcements, etc., that are brought home from school.
D. Laugh and talk with your child about school experiences and listen attentively to what is said
about your child’s school day experiences.
E. Stress school attendance. If the child is ill, home is the best place; otherwise, your child needs to
take advantage of every school day.
F. Keep the lines of communication open between yourself and your child’s teacher. Inform the
teacher of any family situation, which could influence your child’s behavior. Also, if your
child is reluctant to go to school, let the teacher know so that together you can find the reason.
G. Take your child to the library and encourage reading for pleasure and reading for information.
H. Stress organization of school notebooks, materials, etc.
I. Provide pencils and paper for your child to use.
J. Review at home skills taught at school. Practice reading, learning math facts, spelling words every
night at home.
K. Read to, or with your child at least 15 minutes daily.