Welcome to Laurel Hill 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 (703-551-5300) or e-mail Parent Liaison Melanie Crosby Hardy.

 

 

Administration

Principal: Suzie Montgomery

Assistant Principal: Evi Hickman (Grades K, 1, 5 & 6)

Assistant Principal: Dave Stratuik (Grades 2, 3 & 4)

 

Counselors

Kori Coleman - Grades 3, 4, 5 & 6

Marianne Reznikoff - Grades K, 1 & 2

 

Office Staff

Principal’s Administrative Assistant: Kim Frawley

Registrar: Gloria Leckner

Office Assistants: Sonya Finney, Sarah Orlick, Kathy Rudnicki

Parent Liaison: Melanie Crosby Hardy

Health Room Aide: Lee Maguire

 

School Hours - NEW for 2012-2013!

Laurel Hill is an elementary school that serves students in Kindergarten through 6th grade. Our school hours are:

Mondays                                           9:10 a.m. to 1:20 p.m.
Tuesdays through Fridays                    9:10 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.

Breakfast • 8:40 to 9:05 a.m. Children may eat breakfast if they arrive in the cafeteria between 8:40 and 9:05 a.m.

Too Early • before 8:50 a.m. Children who do not eat breakfast will be supervised starting at 8:50 a.m. Walkers and car riders should arrive at school no earlier than 8:50 a.m.

On time • 9 a.m. Children may go to the classroom at 9 a.m. This gives them time to put away their things and get ready for the day.

Tardy • 9:10 a.m. A child arriving after 9:10 a.m. is recorded as tardy. Parents need to sign the child in at the office. If your child is going to be late or absent for the entire day, please call the school attendance line (703-551-5353) before 9:10 a.m. If the school does not receive a call from the parent, the absence is considered unexcused.

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.

 

Important Numbers

Main Office  Attendance Line School Health Room Fax Number FCPS Hotline for Weather     & Emergency Messages

703-551-5300 703-551-5353 703-551-5310 703-551-5397   1-800-839-FCPS (3277)

 

 

 

Read through our entire handbook, or click on a link below to go immediately to a specific topic.

Absences & Attendance	Arrival & Dismissal	Bicycles, Skateboards & Scooters
Birthdays	Bringing Things to School	Cafeteria
Cell Phones	Contact Information	Dress Code
Field Trips	Homework	Inclement Weather
Parent Communications	PTA (Parent Teacher Association)	Safety Concerns
School Health Room	Transportation	Visiting & Volunteering

 

 

If your child is going to be late or absent for the entire day, please call the school Attendance Line (703-551-5353) before 9:10 a.m. to report the absence. The Fairfax County Health Department asks that we get specific information about child illnesses. This information is explained on the recording. If your child is absent and we do not receive a phone call from you, you will receive an automated phone call about the absence.

Absence for the following reasons is considered excused:

Absence for these reasons is considered unexcused:

* Note: We encourage you to schedule family trips during regular school vacations. We strongly discourage such trips during the school year because these extended absences bring a halt to sequential learning in many subject areas. Teachers do not give work to be done during these absences. Any child who is absent from school for 15 days or more must be withdrawn from our enrollment. Upon the child’s return, the parent must official re-enroll him/her.

For more information on County attendance policies see School Board Policy 2232.3.

 

 

Our school hours are Monday – 9:10 a.m. to 1:20 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday – 9:10 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.

The best time to arrive each day is 9 a.m. Children may go to their classrooms at that time. This gives them time to put away their things and get ready for the day.

Breakfast is served from 8:40 until 9:05 a.m.  Children may eat breakfast if they arrive in the Cafeteria between 8:40 and 9:05 a.m.

Please do not drop off your children too early. There is no supervision for them until 8:50 (8:40 for children who eat breakfast).  Walkers and car riders should arrive at school no earlier than 8:50 a.m. Upon arrival after 8:50, children will report to the Cafeteria or the Gym and wait until their teachers pick them up at 9.

A child arriving after 9:10 a.m. is recorded as TARDY. If your child arrives after 9:10 a.m., you must park your car, bring your child into the Main Office, and sign in him or her in the Tardy logbook.  If your child is going to be late or absent for the entire day, please call the school attendance line (703-551-5353) before 9:10 a.m. If the school does not receive a call from the parent, the absence/tardy will be recorded as unexcused.

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 the main entrance (1) and parents are asked to wait for them there. Please note: Kindergarten walkers will be dismissed through the Cafeteria.

• Kiss & Ride students will exit through the Cafeteria and will be called by number when their parents arrive at the front of the line. Numbers are issued at the beginning of the school year and should be displayed clearly on your windshield. Please see the Kiss & Ride section for more information.
  

• Buses depart from the parking lot on the west side of the school. Please do not park in this lot during the school day.

  
  

Temporary Changes in Transportation
If there is a temporary change in your child’s dismissal routine, such as going home with a friend or meeting a parent at Kiss & Ride, send a note to your child’s teacher on the morning of the change. Changes called into the office must be made by 3 p.m. (12:30 p.m. on Mondays) and will be approved by an administrator for emergencies only. If your child is going home with another child, both children should bring a note from their parents.

 

Picking up Your Child Early
Please bring a picture ID when picking up a student during school hours. Children will not be called to the office until the parent/guardian arrives in the office, so please plan your arrival time accordingly. Students can only be released to a parent or guardian unless written permission for someone else to pick up the child comes from the parent/guardian.

If picking your child up early, please do so before 3:30 p.m. (before 1 p.m. on Mondays). If you come to pick up your child after 3:30 p.m. (or 1 p.m. on Mondays), we will ask you to wait until dismissal at 3:50 (1:20 on Mondays).

Please see our Kiss & Ride section for information on arrival and dismissal by car.

 

 

Only walkers may ride bicycles, skateboards, or scooters to school.  There is no space for these items inside the school.  A bike rack is provided in the back of the school to lock these items with personal locks. Laurel Hill Elementary School and Fairfax County Public Schools assumes no responsibility for bicycles, skateboards and scooters brought to school.

For more information on riding bicycles to school, see the Office of Safety & Security’s Bicycle Riding to School Fact Sheet.

 

 

Parents who want to provide a class treat for their child’s birthday are asked to do the following:

PLEASE NOTE: Birthday treats will be distributed in the Cafeteria at lunch only. Personal party invitations will only be distributed in the classroom if every child is receiving an invitation.

 

 

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 should not be brought to school:

Any prohibited items brought to school may 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.

 

 

Both breakfast and lunch are available at Laurel Hill daily. The cost of breakfast is $1.50; the cost of lunch is $2.65. Menus will be sent home monthly. You can also access them online at http://www.fcps.edu/fs/food/food_at_school/.

Your child may also bring lunch from home and buy milk or juice. Children who bring lunch from home should also bring the necessary fork, spoon, napkin, or straw to eat/drink what they bring. These items are not sold separately. Canned sodas and bottled beverages may not be brought from home.

 

How to Pay
FCPS Food Service accounts work like debit-card accounts. All students have their own unique pin numbers to use when buying breakfast or lunch at school, and the cost of each meal is automatically deducted from a child’s account at the time of purchase.

Students are encouraged to pay for their lunch in advance by maintaining a balance in their account. To open or add to a meal account, parents can send money (check payable to “Laurel Hill Cafeteria”) with the child in the morning. Please indicate on the memo portion of the check if your child is to get breakfast and lunch only and no “extra” items. When an account has only 2 lunches left, the cashier will give your child a sticker that says money is needed. If a student does not have money for lunch, peanut butter sandwich and milk will be provided to the student by the PTA. Money will be deducted from the next payment to reimburse the PTA.

Parents can add money to a foodservice account, view account balances, and see what has been purchased on their child’s 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. Please note: You will need your child’s Student ID number to register or access information on myLunchMoney.com.

 

Join Your Child for Lunch!
Parents are always welcome to visit their children at lunchtime. No advance notice is needed; just check-in in the main office and meet your child in the Cafeteria. We do ask that you not bring meals purchased in restaurants into the Cafeteria for you or your child (or other children) to eat. Please bring healthy food from home or purchase an adult lunch at school.

 

 

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.

 

 

Your emergency contact information is a key piece of paper in our office. Where we go, it goes. Even on field trips, one of our procedures is to take these emergency contact forms. This information is vital to us and to you. Phone numbers, addresses, and the names of those adults you permit to take your child from school should all be kept current. (If we don’t have your written permission through that form or other written means that allows us to verify your signature, we will not release your child to another adult.) You can update your information by calling our office (703-551-5300) 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!

 

 

The Fairfax County Public Schools’ dress code is explained in the Student Responsibilities & Rights policy book given to every student at the beginning of the school year. Here at Laurel Hill we have some additional requirements, in order to ensure student safety.

Clothing worn to school should fit, be neat and clean, and conform to standards of decency. We prohibit:

Note: Rubber-soled tennis shoes are required for PE and recess. Please make sure your child wears appropriate shoes for PE and recess to school each day.

Please write your child’s name on all clothing. Our Lost & Found get very full!

For more information on the FCPS Dress Code, see Regulation 2613.5, Student Dress Code in Public Schools.

 

 

During the school year classes may take field trips that relate directly to the regular instructional program. Field trips are paid for by the PTA, but parents may be asked to contribute funds to the cost of the trip.

Parents are often asked to help chaperone field trips, but the number of chaperones may be limited. Chaperones must be at least 21 years old. Younger siblings may not attend field trips.

If you are interested in chaperoning field trips for your child’s class, please contact your child’s teacher. For more information on FCPS field trips, see Regulation 5790, Field Trips—Planning and Conducting.

 

 

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 homework, click here.

 

 

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 Laurel Hill'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:

• School will open at 11:10 a.m. and dismiss as usual at 3:50 p.m. UNLESS it is a Monday. In that case, school will still open at 11:10 a.m. but there will be no early release; school will dismiss at the regular Tuesday-Friday time. On all late-start days (Monday - Friday), breakfast will be canceled.

• If FCPS decides to close two hours early, school will start at the normal time but dismiss at 1:50 p.m. This dismissal time applies to Mondays as well. After-school activities held on school grounds are also usually canceled.
  

• 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.shtml, 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/emerg.shtml.

 

General School Communication
At Laurel Hill, we strive to create an open communications policy that works both ways. We know you want to hear from us regularly, and we’d like to hear from you as well.

Each week, the school sends home Wednesday Folders. This folder contains graded student work, teacher notes, school announcements, PTA fliers, and other valuable information. It is important to check your child’s folder each week, sign it, and return it to school for use the following week.

Laurel Hill will send general communications such as newsletters and school fliers home in digital form through Keep in Touch (KIT) each week.  All families who have an e-mail address on file will be added to the distribution list.   If your family does not have an e-mail address on file, you will receive paper copies through your youngest child’s Wednesday folder. All documents sent home via e-mail will be posted on the school website (www.fcps.edu/laurelhilles) for easy access and printing at home. Forms that must be filled out and returned will still be sent home on paper for your convenience. 

Our school website (http://www.fcps.edu/laurelhilles) has become one of our major methods of communication. It is updated regularly with school information and announcements and contains links to helpful information from other FCPS and County organizations. Please check the site on a regular basis.

 

Communication with Teachers
All of our teachers develop their own classroom communication plans, which may include notes, newsletters, e-mails, or contact through room parents.

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 staff directory can be found on our school website. Teachers usually respond within 24 to 48 hours, although they may also ask to schedule to 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
The school year is divided into four nine-week grading periods. At the end of the first grading period (the beginning of November), we schedule a conference between you and your child’s teacher to discuss your child’s progress. At the end of each grading period, you will receive a printed Progress Report. Contact your child’s teacher anytime if you have a concern or if you would like to schedule an additional conference.

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.

 

Please get involved and help support our school. For more information, call the school office at 703-551-5300 or visit the LHES PTA website at http://sites.google.com/site/laurelhillespta.

 

Check-In Required
We welcome parents in our school. You are welcome to have lunch with your child and volunteer in the classroom or other areas of the school. In order to ensure a safe environment for students and staff members, all visitors must follow certain procedures every time they come to school:

These procedures allow us to know who is in the building, where they are in the building, and the reason for their visit. This information not only helps us protect everyone in the building, but it also is critical in case there is an emergency, such as a fire. Please remember to sign out on the computer when you leave the building.

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.

 

 

Laurel Hill 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.

An Ounce of Prevention
Our School Health Room works to control and manage student exposure to contagious diseases. Children with symptoms such as rashes, watery and inflamed eyes, sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea should stay home until a doctor evaluates their symptoms and determines whether or not they are contagious. A child with a fever must remain home fever-free (without the help of medication) for 24 hours after an illness prior to returning to school.

A Physician’s Note
To limit the spread of illness, please notify the school office if your child gets the flu, head lice, strep throat, chicken pox, or any other contagious illness. Some rashes, pink eye, impetigo, ringworm, and scabies can be passed from one student to another. To protect all of our children, please bring a note from your physician stating your child is not contagious if your child is exhibiting any of these symptoms and is cleared by the doctor to return to school.

Taking Your Child Home
We will call you if your child exhibits symptoms of illness, so you may pick up and give him or her proper care. A child needs to remain home fever-free (without the aid of medication) for 24 hours before returning to school.
 
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.

Medication Guidelines
Prescription and over-the-counter medications require strict adult supervision. Forms to authorize school staff to administer medication are available in the school office or online at www.fcps.edu/DIT/forms/se63.pdf. Medication will only be administered following required procedures:

If you have further questions about your child taking medication at school, please call our School Health Room at 703-551-5310.

For more information about School Health Room services, see Regulation 2102, First Aid, Emergency Treatment, and Administration of Medication for Students.

 

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
If there is a temporary change in your child’s dismissal routine, such as going home with a friend or meeting a parent at Kiss & Ride, send a note to your child’s teacher on the morning of the change. Changes called into the office must be made by 3 p.m. (12:30 p.m. on Mondays) and will be approved by an administrator for emergencies only. If your child is going home with another child, both children should bring a note from their parents.

 

Picking up Your Child Early
Please bring a picture ID when picking up a student during school hours. Children will not be called to the office until the parent/guardian arrives in the office, so please plan your arrival time accordingly. Students can only be released to a parent or guardian unless written permission for someone else to pick up the child comes from the parent/guardian.

If picking your child up early, please do so before 3:30 p.m. (before 1 p.m. on Mondays). If you come to pick up your child after 3:30 p.m. (or 1 p.m. on Mondays), we will ask you to wait until dismissal at 3:50 (1:20 on Mondays).

Please see our Kiss & Ride section or our Bicycles, Skateboards, and Scooters section for information on those types of transportation.

 

Please note: Visitors may not visit or watch children on the playground without signing in in the office.

 

Volunteers
Laurel Hill School enjoys the support of an extensive volunteer program. Volunteers may work with students, assist in the library, help with classroom projects, perform clerical jobs, prepare instructional materials, or work on PTA programs and projects. Volunteers can also work on projects sent home with their child. There are MANY ways to help, and volunteers are always welcome!

Contact your child’s classroom teacher, our parent liaison, the school office, or the PTA to find out how you can participate. You can also find a current list of volunteer opportunities on our school website’s Volunteers page.