School Wide Student Expectations

Give a HOOT!
High Expectations
Others Matter
Outstanding Respect
Think Safety

Positive Behavior Intervention Support

Balls Creek is implementing a strategy of behavior management called "Positive Behavior Intervention Support."  The foundation of this concept is that there are school-wide expectations of every person that lives in our school community, both students and adults.  Those school wide expectations are stated above.  Over and above this, we have taken those expectations and broken them down to determine what each of them look like in various settings around the school.  A matrix of this is breakdown is located in this student handbook and we strongly encourage each parent to take time to go over this information with their child(ren).  We firmly believe that the consistency and continuity that comes with this type of behavior management system will only continue to make Balls Creek Elementary School a positive and nurturing environment for all students, parents and teachers.

School Wide Classroom Consequences

The following is proposed as a means of standardizing the consequences for inappropriate behavior in our school.  All teachers are asked to adopt this sequence of consequences into their classroom and grade level behavioral plans.  Grade levels are encouraged to cooperate with the implementation of the "bounce" portions of this list.

The School Wide Consequences list is for use when minor intractions take place.  Major infractions should be referred directly to the office.

Major infractions are those that are defined by:

• Possession of a weapon as defined by NC general statute
• Possession of a controlled substance or alcohol as defined by NC general statute
• Physical assault on a staff member or student
• Malicious destruction of school property
• Leaving the school campus without permission
• Major theft
• Harassment/Bullying/Sexual Harassment

All other infractions would be considered minor in nature for the purposes of using this consequences list.

Our classrooms will work on the "Five Star System" for behavior and consequences.  Each student will begin each day with "5 stars."

5 stars = All Good
4 stars = Warning
3 stars = Silent Time
2 stars = Bounce to another class
1 star = Guidance Visit
0 stars = Office visit

This process will repeat daily for all students.  Parents will be notified in the student's agenda of number of stars a student ends the day with.

Each student will have opportunity to earn a star back during the day with a period of good behavior.

Success Celebrations

At the end of each nine weeks we will have a Success Celebration where we will recognize and celebrate good behavior and responsibility during the nine weeks period.  Students must qualify to attend the Success Celebration.  In order to qualify, students must:

• Have no office or bus discipline referrals.
• Have at least an S- on their conduct grade.
• Have no more than 2 un-excused tardies for the nine weeks.
• Have no more than 2 un-excused absences for the nine weeks.

Agendas

Every student in grades PK-6 has a student planner.  The purpose for this book is to help the student understand expectations, create timelines, set goals, monitor progress and communicate between home and school.  The planner provides student with one place to record assignments in an effort to help them be prepared for class the next day.  The bulk of the book is the organizer section.  We hope that through the use of this tool, we can all help our students at Balls Creek reach their fullest potential.  Students are expected to bring their planner to school every day and take it home every night.

The student's first agenda will be free.  If a student loses or misplaces their agenda, they will need to purchase an additional agenda for a cost of $5.00.

Early Arrivals

Supervision for students is not provided for students until 7:30 am in the cafeteria, unless they are in the before-school program, which is held in the basement of the gym.  The front door of the school will not be opened until 7:30 am for this reason.  Any student who arrives before 7:30 am will need to be supervised until the door is unlocked.

Tardy

Students who arrive on campus after 8:00 am will be considered tardy.  These students should report to the office to receive a tardy slip.  Parents are encouraged to have their children at school on time.  Be sure to allow enough time for the congested traffic that is often in front of the school in the mornings, as well as the inevitable difference in clocks.  Also, please be aware than 3 unexcused tardies during a 9 week grading period makes a student ineligible to attend the Success Celebration.

Early Dismissal

Parents who wish to pick a child up before 2:55 need to come in the office and sign the child out of school.  He/She will be called to the office to be dismissed.  Please do not go directly to the classroom.  In order for a child to be picked up by someone other than a parent, permission must be given by sending a note or making some other form of identifiable contact with the office staff.  Please do not be offended if we ask to see some form of identification.  This is for the safety of our children.

Please be aware than any student leaving school before 11:30 am and not returning to complete a half-day will be counted absent for the day.  Any student arriving after 11:30 am will be counted absent.  Please remember that time lost due to tardies and early dismissal can hurt your child's achievement.

Early Check Out

Parents are reminded that instruction and summative activities continue until the students are dismissed for the day.  Please try to schedule appointments so that students will not need to leave school before the end of the day.  Please do not be offended if you are invited to a conference due to frequently signing your child out of school early.

Afternoon Departure

We strongly discourage parents from walking up and picking up students from the car rider area after school.  Supervision and safety of the students is of the utmost importance to us and this practice make both much more difficult.  If you must pick your child up from the car rider area, you will be required to sign them out in the office.

For the safety of our children, no private vehicle traffic will be allowed in the bus parking lot at any time.

Attendance

Good attendance by students in school is a cornerstone of good academic achievement.  Please note that if your child has a total of 10 absences from school, we may require parents to produce a doctor's note in order for any other absences to be coded as lawful.

Homework

Homework is meant to be a natural extension of the learning that begins in the classroom.  It may be assigned to reinforce a new concept that might otherwise be forgotten overnight.  Also, homework can be used a preparatory work, as is the case when studying for a test.  Work that is not completed during the allotted class time may be assigned as homework.  We do not advocate the assigning of homework for punishment or to "keep the students busy."  Any homework that is assigned will be grounded in the concepts that have been taught in the classroom.

If a child is sick and you would like to pick up his/her work at school, simply contact the school office and make arrangements for this to happen.  Please do not go to the classroom to pick up assignments.  This disrupts the classroom and takes instructional time away from the students and the teacher.

Library Policies

Students in grades PK-K are allowed to check out one book at a time.  Students in grades 1-6 may have 2 books checked out.  Students have daily access to the Media Center for returning and checking out books.

School Lunches

Our cafeteria manager uses a computer to keep track of lunch accounts.  Parents may send a check or cash to be deposited into their child's account or enroll in www.lunchprepay.com to view student lunch charges and make convenient online payments.  The money/check should be in an envelope with the amount, child's name, lunch number and teacher's name on the front.  You may complete a permission form that will allow your child to purchase "extras" with money in the account.  If you deny such privileges, your child may pay cash for such items at the time of purchase.

Children who forget their money will have their lunch charged.  Money should be paid the next day.  The cafeteria has a $5.00 charge limit.  Once this limit has been reached, the following procedure will be implemented:

• parents will be called to make arrangements for the child's lunch.
• Extra items such as cookies, ice cream, etc. cannot be charged.

Please understand that if your child gets two bowls of the same item, the second bowl is considered an extra and will be charged as such.  Also, please understand that if your child touches a bowl while going through the lunch line, child nutrition policies state that they must take that item and are charged accordingly for it.

All lunch visitors must sign in at the office before joining your child's class.  Parents are asked not to bring fast food meals to the school cafeteria.