Lane Elementary |
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7137 Beulah Street |
Phone: 703-924-7700 |
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Handbook for 2011-2012
Welcome to Lane Elementary School! We are very excited to have you as a member of our school community. Below you will find information on our policies and procedures. It’s important to understand our rules and follow them. They have been created to protect the safety of your child and promote a quality instructional environment. If you ever have questions about our policies, please don’t hesitate to call the Main Office (703-924-7700) or e-mail Parent Liaison Melanie Crosby Hardy.
The Basics School Hours Important Numbers Contact Information Keep In Touch Messages
Lane is an elementary school that serves students in Kindergarten through 6th grade. Our school hours are: Mondays 9:15 a.m. to 1:25 p.m. We follow Fairfax County Public Schools’ Standard Calendar for the school year. Our Kindergarten program is full-day, and kindergarten students attend school during the same hours as all other students.
Main Office 703-924-7700 Attendance Line 703-924-7777 School Health Room 703-924-7710 Fax Number 703-924-7797 FCPS Hotline for Weather 1-800-839-FCPS (3277)
Keep Us in the Loop! Your contact numbers are as important as ours. Emergency contact information is a key piece of paper in our office. Where we go, it goes. Emergency contact forms are even taken on field trips. The information is vital to us and to you. Phone numbers, addresses, and those adults you permit to take your child from school should all be kept current. You can update your information by calling our office (703-924-7700) or through a parent account on FCPS 24-7 Learning at www.fcps.edu. If you move or change your phone number, please notify the office staff as soon as possible. Current information is vital to us in case of an emergency!
Parents interested in emergency messages and other information about the school system can receive updates via e-mail. Parents can also elect to receive messages on cell phones and other text-messaging devices. You can set up individualized profiles and receive the most up-to-date information as soon as it is available. To sign up, visit the Keep in Touch web page (http://www.fcps.edu/kit).
Policies & Procedures Read through our entire handbook, or click on a link below to go immediately to a specific topic. Absences & Attendance Arrival & Dismissal Bicycles Birthdays Bringing Things to School Cafeteria Cell Phones Field Trips Homework Inclement Weather Kiss & Ride Parent Communications School Clothes School Health Room Transportation
If your child is going to be late or absent for the entire day, please call the school attendance line before 9:15 a.m. If you do not call the school, our office staff will call you to find out the reason for the absence. If they are unable to reach you in the morning, the absence is reported to FCPS, and you will receive an automated phone call and an e-mail from the County reporting the absence. Absences are considered unexcused until the absence or tardiness is explained. Parents have 48 hours to report a reason for the absence before the unexcused designation becomes part of the permanent record. Absence for the following reasons is considered excused:
Absence for these reasons is considered unexcused:
* As we value family time and opportunities to experience traveling, we encourage you to schedule family trips during regular school vacations as to not take away valuable instructional time from your child. Extended absences may interfere with your child’s sequential learning. Please note that students who are absent from school for 15 days or more will be withdrawn from our enrollment. Upon the child’s return, the parent will have to officially re-enroll him/her. Back to Policies & Procedures list
Our school hours are Monday – 9:15 a.m. to 1:25 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday – 9:15 a.m. to 3:55 p.m. The best time to arrive each day is 9:05 a.m. Children will walk to their classrooms between 9:05 and 9:15 a.m. This gives them time to put away their things and get ready for the day. Breakfast is served from 8:55 until 9:10 a.m. Children may eat breakfast if they arrive in the Cafeteria between 8:55 and 9:05 a.m. Please do not drop off your children too early. Children who do not eat breakfast will be supervised starting at 8:55 a.m. Staff members are busy preparing for the arrival of students in the morning and do not report to their duty stations until 8:55. Therefore, we appreciate you making the effort to arrive at school no earlier than 8:55. If your child is going to be late or absent for the entire day, please call the school attendance line (703-924-7777) before 9:15 a.m. If the school does not receive a call from the parent, the absence/tardy will be automatically be considered unexcused. See Absences & Attendance for more information. At the end of the school day, students will be dismissed from their classrooms on the basis of how they go home (SACC, bus riders, walkers, Kiss & Ride). Walkers will exit through Door #5 (near the gym) and parents are asked to wait for them there. Kiss & Ride students will exit through Door #2 and will wait along the Kiss & Ride lane until their parents arrive at the front of the line. Please see the Kiss & Ride section for more information. Buses depart from the parking lot on the south side of the school. Please do not park in this lot during the school day. Back to Policies & Procedures list
While we appreciate students wanting to ride their bikes to school, Lane/FCPS does not assume responsibility for any damage or loss of property. Please have a conversation with your child explaining to him/her that it is beneficial for them to wear a helmet, he/she must lock the bike at school, and that bikes are not to be ridden on school grounds. Prior to having your child ride his/her bike to school, please send a note giving your permission. Back to Policies & Procedures list
We value your excitement to celebrate your child’s birthday in a special way. It is important for us all to limit any disruption of your child’s instruction. Therefore, please do not send any flowers, balloons, gifts, clowns, gorillas, strolling minstrels, or any other form of entertainment that may cause a disruption. Parents who would like to provide a class treat are welcome to do so. Please follow these guidelines for a successful celebration:
PLEASE NOTE: Personal birthday party invitations distributed in class should include every child so no one feels left out. Back to Policies & Procedures list
The only time students should bring toys, games, etc., to school is when their teacher gives them permission to do so. The student assumes full responsibility for any item brought to school. The following items may not be brought to school at any time:
Any prohibited items brought to school will be confiscated by school staff and will be returned only to the parent. Please see the Cell Phone section for information on cell phones at school. Back to Policies & Procedures list
Both breakfast and lunch are available at Lane daily. The cost of breakfast is $1.50; the cost of lunch is $2.65. Menus will be sent home monthly. How to Pay Students are encouraged to pay for their lunch in advance by maintaining a balance in their account. Parents can send money (check payable to “Lane Cafeteria”) to the cafeteria with their child in the morning. When paying by check, please indicate on the memo portion of the check if your child is to get breakfast and lunch only and no “extra” items (pretzels, ice cream, etc.). Just write “lunch” or “lunch only” on that line. If your child is allowed to purchase these “extras,” do not make any notation on that line. When your child’s account balance drops to the equivalent of two lunches, the cashier will stamp his/her hand with “I need lunch money” or give him/her a sticker. You will also receive a Keep in Touch message from the food service department if your e-mail address is on file. Parents can add money to a food service account, view account balances, and see what has been purchased on the account at myLunchMoney.com. Parents can also receive an e-mail notification when the balance is low. More information is available at 1-800-479-3531 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Please note: You will need your child’s Student ID number to register or access information on myLunchMoney.com. The school cannot give students lunch if they do not have money. If a student does not have money for lunch, a peanut butter sandwich and milk will be provided to the student by the PTA. As the PTA is on a limited budget, it will be necessary to reimburse them. The PTA will send you a reminder about this process if your child needs their assistance for breakfast or lunch. Menus Your child may also bring lunch from home and buy milk or juice. If you send a lunch to school, please also send the utensils necessary to eat it. These items are not sold separately. At Lane we promote healthy lunches. Therefore, please do not send any canned sodas or bottled beverages with your child or bring any fast food with you while visiting your child for lunch or any other time. Back to Policies & Procedures list
Use of cell phones during the school day is strictly prohibited. Cell phones must be turned off and kept in the backpack at all times in school and on the school bus. If your child uses his or her cell phone or the phone rings during the day, the phone will be confiscated and returned only to the parent. Back to Policies & Procedures list
Classes may take field trips during the school year that relate directly to the regular instructional program. The school will send a permission slip home prior to the trip. Field trip permission forms must be returned to the school no later than the day before the scheduled trip. The school cannot accept verbal permission. All students must ride school-arranged transportation to and from the field trip destination. Parents are often asked to help chaperone field trips, although the number of chaperones allowed to attend may be limited by space constraints on the bus or at the venue. For safety and insurance reasons, younger siblings may not accompany chaperoning parents on field trips. If you are interested in chaperoning field trips for your child’s class, please contact your child’s teacher. Field trips are paid for by the PTA, but parents may be asked to contribute funds to the cost of the trip. For more information on FCPS field trips, see Regulation 5790, Field Trips—Planning and Conducting. Back to Policies & Procedures list
Homework reinforces skills taught in the classroom and enriches the school experience. Teachers consider the maturity level and abilities of the child when assigning homework. Contact the teacher if you have concerns about your child’s homework. For more information on how you can help your child with homework, click here. Back to Policies & Procedures list
Each winter, there are bound to be days when flakes are falling or ice is making travel difficult, and school schedules must be altered for the day. It's important to familiarize yourself with Lane’s inclement weather policies now and to make alternative plans to care for your child for days when school starts two hours late, ends two hours early, or is closed altogether due to bad weather. In the event of snow, ice or other dangerous weather event and FCPS decides to open schools two hours late:
If schools are closed, all services and events are canceled for the day. FCPS tries its best to make a decision about delayed openings or closures for the day by 5 a.m., so when storms blow in, be sure to tune in to local TV, radio, or the FCPS Emergency Announcement web page, http://www.fcps.edu/news/emerg.htm, to get the word as early as possible. You will also get e-mail notification if you have signed up for Keep In Touch on the FCPS homepage. Decisions about early closures are usually made by 10:30 a.m. to give parents time to make arrangements to pick up their children or be home when they arrive home from school. Because we have over 800 students, it is impossible to call parents in a timely fashion to notify them of an early school closing. Stay tuned to the media outlets listed above to get the word as quickly as possible when inclement weather threatens during the school day. More information regarding FCPS inclement weather policies and decisions about closings can be found at http://www.fcps.edu/news/weather.htm. Back to Policies & Procedures list
While we strongly recommend having your child ride the FCPS school bus, we know from time to time you will need to drive your child to school. For the safety of all our students, there will be one traffic pattern during arrival (8:55 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.) and dismissal (3:50 p.m. to 4 p.m.). All cars dropping off or picking up students will travel through the same Kiss & Ride line. Parents are asked to follow the signs and directions of adults at all times in the parking lot when children are present.
Kiss & Ride Tips:
Back to Policies & Procedures list General School Communication At Lane, we publish many of our communications (including newsletter and event fliers) to our “Virtual Wednesday Folder” to help us save paper and eliminate redundant materials. School and PTA fliers that are available electronically are posted on the Wednesday Folder page of our school website each Wednesday evening. Parents who sign up for our e-mail database receive weekly reminders about new postings and upcoming events. If you choose our Virtual Wednesday Folders rather than paper communications, it is still important to check your child’s paper folder each week, sign it, and return it to school. If you would prefer paper copies of our communications, you must write a note to parent liaison Melanie Crosby Hardy requesting such copies. Only one copy per family will be sent home (with the youngest child). Website Communication with Teachers If you have a question for your child’s teacher or a concern about your child, the best way to reach a teacher is via e-mail. A complete list of staff e-mail addresses can be found on our school website. Teachers usually respond within 24 to 48 hours, although they may also ask to schedule time to talk about the concern at length, in person or on the phone. Teachers are not able to take phone calls from parents during the school day. If you call the school to speak to your child’s teacher, you will be transferred to the teacher’s voice mail. Teachers usually respond to phone messages within 24 to 48 hours. Parent-Teacher Conferences All conferences must be scheduled in advance and are usually held before or after school. You will not be able to meet with your child’s teacher during the school day, except for certain pre-arranged meetings. Back to Policies & Procedures list
Clothing worn to school should fit, be neat and clean, and conform to standards of decency. For obvious reasons, we prohibit:
Students not abiding by the dress code will be removed from class and parents will be contacted to bring appropriate clothing for their child. Additional clothing articles not mentioned above but deemed inappropriate for school by an administrator will result in contacting parents for a change of clothes. Note: Rubber-soled tennis shoes are required for PE and recess. Please make sure your child wears or brings a pair to school each day. Back to Policies & Procedures list
School Health Room Services Lane operates an onsite School Health Room (or Clinic), which is staffed by a trained School Health Aide (SHA) provided by the Fairfax County Public Health Department. During the school day, the SHA evaluates symptoms of illness to determine if a student needs to go home, treats minor injuries, administers medication or performs other actions as outlined in a student’s health plan, and performs health screenings (such as vision and hearing). We also have a Public Health Nurse assigned to our school who oversees student health plans and coordinates with the SHA on a regular basis. Contagious Diseases: An Ounce of Prevention To limit the spread of illness, please notify the school office if your child gets head lice, strep throat, chicken pox, or other contagious illnesses. Taking Your Child Home If we cannot reach you when your child becomes ill, we will contact people listed on your child’s Emergency Care Form. This is why it is important to keep that list and your contact numbers up to date. In some extreme cases, if a parent cannot be reached, we will simply call 911 and arrange for emergency transport to the nearest hospital. Medications at School Medication guidelines:
If you have further questions about your child taking medication at school, please call our School Health Room at 703-924-7710. For more information about School Health Room services, see Regulation 2102, First Aid, Emergency Treatment, and Administration of Medication for Students. Back to Policies & Procedures list
Your child’s “transportation” is the way he or she gets to and from school on a regular basis. Whether they are walkers, bus riders, or Kiss & Ride passengers will be determined at the beginning of the school year. We must be notified, in writing, of any permanent changes to this routine. Temporary Changes in Transportation Picking Up Your Child Early Students will be released only to people other than a parent/guardian when the school has permission from the parent/guardian through listing on the emergency care form, a written letter, or a phone call to the school office. For information on riding bicycles to and from school see the Bicycles section. Back to Policies & Procedures list
Visiting the School & Volunteering Parents are welcome to visit our school! You can come have lunch with your child, attend class events, or volunteer in the classroom or other areas of the school. To minimize the interruption of instruction, we request that all classroom visits be scheduled in advance with the teacher. In order to ensure a safe environment for students and staff members, all visitors must follow certain procedures every time they come to school:
If office staff members see you enter the building and bypass the office, they will follow you and ask you to return to the office to complete our sign-in procedures. Lane enjoys the support of an extensive volunteer program. For information on volunteer opportunities, please contact your child’s teacher, Parent Liaison Melanie Hardy, the Front Office, or a PTA officer. Volunteers may work with students, assist in the library, help with classroom projects, perform clerical jobs, prepare instructional materials, or work with the PTA on special projects and events. Volunteers can also work on projects at home that are sent home with their children. There are MANY ways to help! |
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Home Last update: August 25, 2011 |
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DISCLAIMER: This website contains links to one or more web pages that are outside the FCPS network. FCPS does not control the content or relevancy of those pages. |
