Policies and Procedures
Parental Involvement
Our goal is to meet the needs of the whole child. This is a developmental program and we will never move forward until a child is ready. We will always accept each child as an individual and never expect an entire group to have the same successes at the same time. The well being of each child is always of the utmost importance. Because all children are at different levels and have different interests, we encourage parents to work closely with us to help each child develop at his own rate.
The Cartersville City Schools Kids and Company Program has a parental involvement component. The parent is encouraged to attend all parent meetings and volunteer four times in the classroom. These meetings are designed to address the concerns of you the parent. Examples of possible topics include: nutrition, discipline, continuing education, child development, self-esteem issues for children and adults, relationships, employment, budgeting and various other topics. It is also a time for planning activities that promote learning in the home and to have guest speaker’s present information and discuss issues of concern to the participants.
Parent groups provide a time for caregivers to share experiences and ideas with each other. New friendships are often formed within these groups as the adults learn from and support each other.
Parent and Child Together (PACT) activities are scheduled monthly. Parents and teachers are involved with the children in activities in the child’s classroom. Sessions emphasize that parents are the child’s first and most important teachers. Under the supervision of the Pre-Kindergarten teacher, strategies for developing readiness skills through play are presented.
A Parent Resource Library is available at the Pre-K Center. A variety of materials are available for check out, such as videos and literature to assist parents or other caregivers in their parental roles.
Discipline
Our goal is to help children learn acceptable behaviors while still feeling good about themselves. A sense of partnership and good communication between teachers and parents will help the adults involved to understand and address any behavior problems. Teachers and the Site Director should be told of any unusual events or circumstances or behaviors at home to aid them in dealing with a situation a child may be facing. Several techniques may be used for discipline. The first step is to utilize problem solving with the child. Many times this technique works well. However, when the inappropriate behavior becomes consistent and problem solving is not successful, other techniques will be utilized. This may include, but not limited to; time out, loss of privileges, notes sent home, a telephone call to the parent, and/or parent conferences.
If a child is not benefiting from the program, and is being chronically disruptive or is causing harm to himself or others, removal from the pre-kindergarten may be requested.
In order for children to learn, they must be provided with a safe, secure, and happy environment. Please discuss the following rules with your child and impress the importance of obeying school rules.
1. We will be kind to each other and our teachers. 2. We will help each other and our teachers. 3. We will help take care of our school. 4. We will try to solve our problems without hurting other people or things. 5. We will stay in our seats at all times on the school bus. 6. We will clean up after ourselves. 7. We will listen for directions and follow them.
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Attendance
The Kids and Company program is a 160 day Monday through Friday program. The children are to arrive at school between 7:45 and 8:00 a.m. The school day ends at 2:15 p.m. The four-year-old program is a full day program. In order for your child to learn, it is important that they attend on a regular basis. If illness occurs, a written excuse is required when your child returns. Excessive unexcused absences may result in your child’s removal from the pre-kindergarten program.
Absences will be documented and the school will require written excuses from the parent. Any child having 5 or more absences per 9 weeks must provide a doctor’s excuse thereafter. This is a system policy.
Each pre-kindergarten class begins and ends on time. It is extremely important for your child to be on time and to stay the full day. A child is considered tardy anytime after 8:00 a.m. Once tardy the child must be signed in to the office by the parent. Children who do not attend on a regular basis, are routinely late, or routinely leave the program early may be subject to dismissal from the program. Chronic tardiness is defined as late arrival or early departure more than once per week. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing more than two days per month without medical or other reasonable explanation. We feel that every minute of pre-kindergarten is too valuable to miss.
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Pickup and Early Dismissal
EARLY PICKUP If your child must leave before the end of the school day, a note must be sent to the teacher. Leaving school early should be done only when absolutely necessary. It is important for your child to be here all day, everyday.
It is our policy to release children ONLY to a parent or guardian unless otherwise notified in writing. No child will be released to anyone whose name is not on the child’s record. Parents needing to pick up their child prior to regular dismissal time must report to the office and sign for the child. Parents are to wait in the office area for their child.
LATE PICKUP If you are late picking up your child by car, your child will be sent to the After School Program and you will be charged a fee. All children riding the school bus must have a responsible party at home when they arrive. No child will be left at home unaccompanied by a responsible party. The child will be transported back to the Primary School where they will attend the After School Program at your cost.
EARLY DISMISSAL It may be necessary to close school early because of snow, ice, or other emergency conditions. When conditions require that a student be dismissed early and sent home, announcements are made over the local radio and TV stations as soon as possible in order to give parents time to make arrangements to meet and care for their children when they arrive home. Parents are strongly encouraged to keep up-to-date information and emergency phone numbers on file with the teacher and the office.
School Crisis Plan
In the event of a crisis situation such as a tornado, chemical spill, etc., certain procedures shall be followed. Children will be kept at school until the crisis is determined to be over. Children will be released to parents who come to school to get them. Do not phone the school and tie up lines needed for emergency use. When a person other than the parent comes to get a child, school personnel will first check the child’s record and then a record will be kept of the person who picked up the child. If there is any doubt the parents want the child released, the child will be kept at school. The school is one of the safest places that children may be located during most crises or natural disasters.
Visitors
All visitors to the school are to report to the front desk upon entering the building. Parents are considered visitors and are welcome to attend at any time. Under no circumstances are parents to go to the classrooms without first signing in at the office. This is for the protection of all children.
Medication Policy
To ensure the safety of all students in our Pre-K Center, the following guidelines should be followed when medications are to be sent to the school.
All medications (prescription and non-prescription) must be taken directly to the front desk for safe storage. Students cannot keep any medication with them in their pockets, purses, book bags, etc.
1. All medications, both prescription and over the counter, must be brought to the school by the parent or guardian. Parent/Guardian must fill out a Request for Medication Administration form or a note of permission, which is dated and has complete directions (including time, dose, and name of medication).
2. All medications must be in the original container. Prescription medications must be in the labeled prescription bottle. Medications stored in envelopes, baggies, etc. will not be administered.
3. Administration of prescription and over the counter medicine (even for a short period of time) is discouraged. Parents should check with their physician regarding the need for medications to be administered during school hours. Medication prescribed for three times daily often can be given before school, after school and at bedtime.
Healthy Students
The Cartersville School Board, the Bartow County Health Department, and/or the Georgia Department of Human Resources have the authority to require immunizations or other preventative measures including quarantine, isolation and segregation of persons with communicable diseases or conditions likely to endanger the health of others. These agencies may require quarantine or surveillance of carriers of diseases and persons exposed to or suspected of being infected with infectious disease during such period until they are found free of the infectious agent or disease. It is the School Nurse's function to help determine the immediate health of a student and assess the impact and effect on the student's attendance at school.
As a general rule of thumb, it is not appropriate for students to attend or remain at school under the following circumstances: • A student who has a fever of 100 degrees or higher as determined by the school nurse. Students should be free of fever for 24 hours (or the next school day) before returning to school. • A student who has diarrhea/watery stools in excess of two times during the school day. • A student who is vomiting. If a student is sent home, they should not return for 24 hours or the next school day. • A student with drainage or weeping lesion that cannot be contained with a dressing. • A student with a diagnosed communicable illness until released by a physician.
Field Trips
Many field trips have been planned for the school year. In order for your child to participate on these field trips, written permission from their parents or guardians are required. A general permission slip is a part of the Pre-K application.
Due to the system’s insurance policy and the limited number of seats available, only the Pre-K student and teachers will be allowed to ride school buses on field trips. We encourage parent participation on all field trips. In order to spend quality time with your pre-school child it is encouraged that only parents, guardians or grandparents attend field trips.
In an effort to make our field trips as wonderful as possible for the children and their families, we have established the following guidelines:
1. The field trips are an excellent opportunity for your child in the program to have "special" time with you. Students are expected to conduct themselves in an acceptable manner while on the trip.
2. If the parent chooses not to allow their child to ride the bus on field trips, the parent must write a note to the teacher stating that they are assuming responsibility for transporting their child.
3. Parents are also asked not to bring other siblings on school field trips. Younger siblings interfere with and detract form the education value of the field trip de singed for the class and Pre-K Student.
4. We must all observe the bus rules -- we are not allowed to eat, drink or smoke on the bus. Smoking is prohibited on all field trips.
5. Please observe the common courtesy of not using profanity, vulgarity, or any other form of obscene language. We are on a school field trip with children and other families.
6. School regulations do not allow smoking on the property of the Board of Education.
Disregarding the guidelines will result in your not being allowed to accompany us on future field trips. Your cooperation in following these guidelines will greatly help ensure that everyone will benefit from the field trips.
Nutrition
Participating in the school food service program is a required component of the school’s Pre-Kindergarten program. We encourage our students to participate in the breakfast and lunch program; however, students will be allowed to bring sack lunches. There are four payment plans from which you can choose. Prepayment may be made on a weekly or monthly basis. A free/reduced payment program is available to those students who qualify. The necessary forms are available at the school. A free/reduced form must be filled out each year.
PLAN 1 Lunch Only $ 10.00 per week
PLAN 2 Breakfast and Lunch $16.25 per week
PLAN 3 Breakfast Only $ 6.25 per week
After School Program
Pre-kindergarten children are eligible to participate in the after school program at Cartersville Primary School. The after school program is designed to provide a safe, relaxed, and enjoyable environment for all students. The program operates until 6:00 p.m. on the day’s children attend school. The cost of the program is $8.00 per day. Parents must complete registration prior to their child attending ASP and pay a $10.00 registration fee. Registration forms may be obtained from the Cartersville Primary School. Children must be picked up before 6:00 p.m. Late charges of $1.00 per minute will apply after 6:00 p.m.
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