To:
From:
Date:
Re:
Parents
Donna Hopkins
September 15, 2015
Parent Information
Upcoming Dates:
 September 15
 September 15
 September 17
Beta Blood Drive
Book Fair Family Night 3:30 to 7:00 in the library
Clara vs Beat Four (H)
COKE FUNDRAISER
The COKE fundraiser ends Wednesday, September 16. Please send the order form and money to the school with your
child Wednesday. I will send a letter letting you know what day to pick up the cokes you sold. Thank you for your
help. We will have a new scoreboard soon. GO WHIPPETS!!!!!
BETA BLOOD DRIVE
The Beta Blood Drive will be September 15 from 1:00 to 7:00 pm. Please help us help others by donating blood. I
have been assured that United Blood Services will start on time and have enough nurses/equipment to make the blood
drive a success. Remember if your child has two donors to give, he/she will be invited to a pizza party. Please support
Clara!!!!
NO PEP RALLY
Clara School will not have a pep rally Thursday. The students have been great during the pep rallies, but behavior
during the school day is unacceptable. Talking in class, refusing to do homework or classwork, misbehaving on the
bus, texting and making calls during the school day, making excessive noise in the hall and cafeteria are just a few
reasons why there will not be a pep rally. Please talk to your child about his/her behavior.
HONORING 8TH GRADE ATHLETES
All 8th grade students who participate in football, cheer, dance, and band will be honored Thursday night before the
game begins. These festivities will begin at 5:30. Parents will walk onto the football field with his/her child.
ID BADGES
Your child must wear his/her ID badges to school EVERY DAY. This badge is used for breakfast/lunch and to check
out books in the library. Please make sure your child has his/her ID badge each day. Please help your child remember
his/her ID badge.
GENERAL INFORMATION
 Please do not call the school and change where your child is going in the afternoon unless an emergency
arises.
 Tardy 7:30 You must sign your child in if he/she is tardy.
 Morning carbell 7:05-7:30. Carbell afternoon 3:05.
 No checkouts after 2:00
EXCUSES
Many students are not turning in excuses within the three day time frame allowed by the WCSD policy. Please make
sure that your child is turning in his/her excuse the day he/she returns to school. If a student gets 5 unexcused
absences, the parent will be turned in to the truant officer. Please help us make sure this doesn’t happen.
TARDIES
If your child is tardy, you MUST come to the office and sign him/her in for the day. Otherwise, we will have to call
you and ask that you come back and sign your child in for the day. After 2 tardies, your child will be sent to ISS (In
School Suspension). Please make sure you bring your child on time. TARDY IS AT 7:30.
PARENT PORTAL
Clara School will have parent portal training for any parent that needs help logging on to check his/her child’s grades.
If you do not need assistance, you may come by the school and ask for the login information for your child. We
cannot send that information home. You must come to the school to receive that information. PARENT PORTAL
training is Wednesday, September 2, from 8:00 until 2:00. With Parent Portal, you will be able to check your child’s
grades from home.
DRESS CODE POLICY FOR 2015-2016
Leggings and/or jeggings can be worn IF the shirt/dress/skirt is no shorter than 2” above the knee. This will be strictly
enforced especially in grades 5-8. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD’S CLOTHING MEETS DRESS
CODE.
EXCUSES
If your child is absent, please send the excuse within three days. If you do not send the excuse within three days, the
absence will be marked unexcused. It must contain the student’s name, grade, date he/she was absent, reason for
absence, and parent signature. If you do not have all of the above information, the excuse will be marked as
unexcused. (This is because of an audit by the Mississippi State Department.)
BUSES/CARBELL
Do not call the school about a change in your child’s ride in the afternoon. Please make sure your child knows where
he/she is going in the afternoon. YOU CANNOT CALL BUS DRIVERS WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING. IT IS
AGAINST THE LAW FOR BUS DRIVERS TO ANSWER CALLS WHILE DRIVING.
TARDY
If you bring your child after 7:30, you must come into the school and sign him/her in for the day. Do not drop your
child off and leave, or you will be called to come back to the school and sign.
PROOFS OF RESIDENCE
Every student must have two proofs of residence that include a date for the current school year. Even though you have
not moved or changed residence, you must still send two proofs. IF YOU HAVE NOT TURNED IN YOUR
PROOF OF RESIDENCE DO SO IMMEDIATELY.
EXCUSES
If your child is absent, please send the excuse within three days. If you do not send the excuse within three days, the
absence will be marked unexcused. It must contain the student’s name, grade, date he/she was absent, reason for
absence, and parent signature. If you do not have all of the above information, the excuse will be marked as
unexcused. (This is because of an audit by the Mississippi State Department.)
DRESS CODE POLICY FOR 2015-2016
 Leggings and/or jeggings can be worn IF the shirt/dress/skirt is no shorter than 2” above the knee. This will be
strictly enforced especially in grades 5-8.
 No stretch pants, bicycle pants, or skin tight pants can be worn.
 No sagging pants.
 All shirts must have a minimum three inch strap.
 Shirts cannot be excessive low under the arm. This includes muscle shirts for boys.
 IF YOUR CHILD COMES TO SCHOOL WITH INAPPROPRIATE CLOTHING, HE/SHE WILL
CALL AND REMAIN IN THE OFFICE UNTIL APPROPRIATE CLOTHING IS BROUGHT TO
THE SCHOOL.
These can include gas bill, electric bill, water bill, phone bill, and/or insurance statement. The proof must have the
date of the current school year, current name of parent or guardian legally responsible for the student, and current
address of the parent or guardian.
-OUT
If your child gets checked out during the day, even if we call you, you must send an excuse the next day. If your child
checks out before 63% of the day is over, he/she will be counted absent the entire day.
we call you and know you child is sick. It is your responsibility to send an excuse for your child when he/she is
checked out for the day.
5-8 DRESS CODE
Please make sure your child is following the dress code. We realize that summer time is here, but your child must
follow the WCSD handbook concerning dress code. If you have any questions, call me at the school.
ID BADGES
Please be sure that your child has his/her ID badge before leaving for school. This is part of the school dress
code. We will follow policy as mandated by the Wayne County School Board. As stated in the policy, a student must
have his/her badge to be on any school campus and failing to do so results in a dress code violation. If your child
forgets his/her badge, he/she will be sent to detention after the second time and sent to In-School-Suspension (ISS)
after the third time.
CARBELL
When you drop your child off in the morning, he/she will go to the new school. At 7:30 (according to C-Spire time),
all school personnel will go into the building. If there is no one on carbell duty outside, you MUST come into the
building and sign your child in for the day. All outside doors will be locked; therefore, your child will be unable
to get into the building if you do not come and sign in for the day. For afternoon carbell, please DO NOT enter
the parking lot until instructed to do so.
ABSENCES/EXCUSES
Your child must have an excuse when returning to school after missing a day(s). K-2 students turn in the excuse to
their teachers. 3-8 students bring their excuses to the office first thing in the morning. Your child has only 3 days to
turn in his/her excuse before the absence becomes unexcused.
CALLS
We can no longer take phone calls to change the mode of transportation for your child. You must send a written note
stating that your child can ride a different bus or go to carbell. See page 35 of the WCSD handbook.
ABSENCES/EXCUSES
Your child must have an excuse when returning to school after missing a day(s). K-2 students turn in the excuse to
their teachers. 3-8 students bring their excuses to the office first thing in the morning. Your child has only 3 days to
turn in his/her excuse before the absence becomes unexcused.
DRESS CODE FOR THE YEAR (K-8)
 Shirt straps at least 3 inches
 Shorts/Skirts must be no shorter than 2 inches above the knee.
 No bike shorts, stretch pants, jeggings, leggings or any skintight pants can be worn
 No pants with holes that shows skin
 (This is just a partial list. Please look in your handbook on pages 36-37 for a complete list)
PARENT PORTAL
To keep updated on your child’s grades and absences, you can use the Parent Portal. This site is on the district’s
website under PowerSchool. Please check to see what your child is doing at school. AS WE NEAR THE END OF
THE SCHOOL YEAR, THE REMAINING GRADES GIVEN FOR THIS 9 WEEKS AND THE NINE WEEK
TESTS COULD MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN YOUR CHILD PASSING OR FAILING. IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT TO KEEP A CHECK ON YOUR CHILD’S GRADES.
DRESS CODE
As you begin to buy clothes for the upcoming season change, please remember the dress code stated in the WCSD
handbook (page 38-39)
 Shirts must have a minimum three-inch strap.
 Shorts and skirts shall not be shorter than two inches above the knee.
 No stretch pants or leggings can be worn unless the shirt or dress worn over them is no shorter than 2” above
the knee. (This includes any skin tight pants.)
 Hats/Caps shall not be worn on campus.
 No sagging pants will be allowed.
 No pants with holes are permitted.
If your child wears an article of clothing that does not meet dress code requirements, you will be called to bring a
change of clothing.
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Lisa Smith, Clara’s Teacher of the Year.
PARENT PORTAL
To keep updated on your child’s grades and absences, you can use the Parent Portal. This site is on the district’s
website under PowerSchool. Please check to see what your child is doing at school.
SAFETY
Our district is very concerned with the safety of all students. A policy that has been implemented will help improve
safety at the school. If you need to visit your child’s classroom, the library, the cafeteria, or anywhere on campus, you
must leave your car keys or your driver’s license with the secretary or you will not be allowed on campus. This is for
the safety of all students. Thanks for your cooperation.
PERFECT ATTENDANCE
For the third 9 weeks, we will honor every student who has perfect attendance.
 Tea and ice cream at one meal
 Name will be put in drawing to win $50 dollars
 Homeroom with highest percentage of perfect attendance will receive a pizza party.
CHECK-OUTS
According to the WCSD board policy, students cannot be checked out after 2:00 p.m. Please keep that in mind when
you send grandparents, relatives, or other people that you listed on your checkout permission form to pick up your
child. Also if you check your child out before 63% of the day is finished, he/she will be counted absent for the entire
day.
PHONE CALLS
According to the WCSD handbook (page 21), you cannot call the school to change bus drop-off location. Only
written notification from the parent will be accepted. Also you cannot call after 2:00 p.m. to change your child from
bus to carbell. Because of the high number of calls, the office personnel cannot notify students of the change if the
parent calls after 2:00. Thank you for your help in this matter.
TARDIES
The gate closes at 7:30. After this time, you must walk your child to the office and sign him/her in for the day. We
must have documentation that your child was present for the day. According to the WCSD handbook, after two
tardies your child will be sent to ISS.
AFTERNOON CARBELL
This is a reminder that carbell begins at 3:05. It is not necessary that you come early. Please do not block any
entrances or exits as you line up for carbell. PLEASE DO NOT STOP ON HIGHWAY 63 FOR CARBELL.
CHECK-OUTS
According to the WCSD board policy, students cannot be checked out after 2:00 p.m. Please keep that in mind when
you send grandparents, relatives, or other people that you listed on your checkout permission form to pick up your
child.
PEP RALLY
If you would like to attend the pep rally, the gate in front of the gym will be opened at 2:15. You may park across the
road and walk to the gym. No cars will be allowed inside the gate for safety of the students. If you wish to take your
child after the pep rally, you may get him/her inside the gym and walk together across the road. You must be back
across the road with your child before carbell begins at 3:05. No parents are allowed to go to the classrooms
before the pep rally. If sponsors need help, you will be notified.