WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL!
A Message from the Principal:
Welcome Back and Hello! I am thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful school and community! I look forward to working with you to continue the develop a learning community that is focused on improving student achievement and community involvement in a safe, caring, and service-oriented environment.
Our students are our most important asset and the future of our community! Therefore, I am committed to providing a learning climate that fosters an instructional program that will meet the academic, physical, social, and emotional needs of all students. This commitment requires the support and efforts of everyone, parents, students, faculty, staff, administration, and the community. Throughout the year, I will be working closely with our School Improvement Team, P.T.O., teachers, parents, and other stakeholders in developing a learning community that is focused on meeting these needs.
Your presence is always welcome at Forest Heights Academy. I invite you to visit, observe, conference, volunteer and to become an active participant in your child's education. With your help our children will succeed!
Your Partner in Education,
MyraVarmall
Principal
ARRIVAL TIME: Students may not be dropped off before 8:00 A.M. Proper supervision will not be provided until that time. Students arriving after 8:25 A.M. are considered tardy and must be signed in by an adult before they will be admitted to class.
CHECKING OUT STUDENTS: Parents must sign the student sign-out book when checking a student out of school. Please notify the office prior to 2:45 if you will be checking out your child so that we can relay the message to your child's teacher.
NO CHECK-OUTS: We are requesting that parents please refrain from checking their child/children out of school after 3:25 P.M. However, we realize that issues do come up and must be attended to during the school day. To assist with the regular school business, we ask that students are not checked out after 2:45 P.M. Students may not be called up to sit in the front office. Your assistance with this is greatly appreciated.
VISITORS: All visitors MUST report to the front office to sign in and get a badge. This is for your child's safety! Parents are welcome to observe in their child's classroom but we ask that you schedule a conference with the teacher to discuss any concerns you may have. I ask that all visits be limited to no more than 45 minutes. Teachers cannot conference with parents during instructional times.
PRINCIPAL CONFERENCES: We are requesting that parents schedule conferences with the principal only between the hours of 8:00 A.M.- 9:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. This enables the principal to spend more time in classrooms.
SCHOOL WEBSITE: Visit the Forest Heights Academy Website at www.forestheights.ebrschools.org for information on school events, policies, etc. Also, check out our new PARENT LINK. It provides parents and students with a new helpful hint each day.
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT TEAM: If you are interested in serving on the 2009-2010 School Improvement Team, please fill out the attached form and return it to your child's teacher by Friday, August 28, 2009.
CHERRYDALE FUNDRAISER: Win AWESOME prizes just for participating in our Cherrydale Fundraiser! Cherrydale Fundraiser will officially kick-off on August 29th and will run through September 5th.
OPEN HOUSE: Mark your calendars! Open House is Wednesday, August 26th at
6:00 P.M. We look forward to seeing you there!
PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION (P.T.A.): If you are interested in running for a P.T.A. officer position (President, Vice-President, Secretary), please complete the attached form and return it to your child's teacher by Friday, August 28, 2009.
CAFETERIA NEWS: Please send all lunch monies in a sealed envelope with the following information on the outside: Child's Name, Teacher's Name, Amount Enclosed and label it "LUNCH MONEY". You may pay by the week, month, or year. In order to protect instructional time, please send monies on Mondays only.
STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOKS: Student/Parent Handbooks are being sent home this week. Important information concerning dress codes, clubs, homework, discipline, etc. can be found here. Please take time to read this booklet and discuss it with your child. Also, please sign and return the forms found at the front of the book to your child's teacher tomorrow.
SCHOOL WORKPACKETS: Student Work packets will be sent home on
August 26th. Please look over your child's schoolwork, sign the envelope and return the packet and papers the next day.
STUDENT ASSEMBLY: The principal will hold assemblies with all students in grades Pre-K - 5 regarding appropriate playground, bus, and school expectations, policies and procedures. Please assist us in this effort by reviewing the Student/Parent Handbook and the Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook with your child/children.
STUDENT INCENTIVES
LION BUCKS: Students can win awesome prizes on Fridays by earning Lion Bucks for outstanding behavior and/or work habits. All tickets are placed in a weekly drawing.
ATTENDANCE
Parents, please send a note if your child is absent from school. Written statements from a parent, legal guardian or physician stating a reason for absences should be given to proper school personnel within five (5) school days after the student returns to school. After five (5) school days, the absence will have to be excused by the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance.
E.B.R.P. PROMOTION POLICIES FOR KINDERGARTEN - GRADE 5:
- In kindergarten, if a child does not reach the prescribed level of 70% in both language and mathematics, the child may be recommended for extended year if one is available, and shall be recommended for retention if pupil progression standards are not met.
- Kindergarten retention must include parental involvement in the decision.
- The decision for promotion following a summer program will be made by the appropriate school staff at the school where the child will attend the new school year.
- To be promoted in grades 1 through 5, a student must have:
- An annual average of 70% (D average, one quality point without rounding) in both reading and mathematics and two other subjects.
- A "D" or higher must be earned during the third or fourth nine weeks periods.
- Any student not meeting these criteria may be required to attend the extended year program, if available, to be considered for promotion.
- In addition, students in grade four must score at or above the Basic combination in English/Language Arts and Mathematics on LEAP 21 to be promoted.
- Parents must be given a review of their child's progress at each conference period and be encouraged to be a part of the team to plan interventions to accelerate progress when needed.
- To ensure that individual needs are met and continuous progress occurs, alternatives to retention with documented efforts, may include the follow: Special Auxiliary Programs, Looping, Transition Classes, Extended Day, and Extended Year.
- The Grading Scale for Achievement in Grades 1-5 is:
- The Progress Reports for grade K will be marked with the symbols E, S and U.
- Elementary students shall be in attendance a minimum of 160 days a school year. In this context elementary stands for grades K-8.
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES: This TEACHER CONFERENCE REQUEST form may be used at any time that you feel a conference with a teacher is necessary. Please indicate what dates and times are convenient for you. The teacher will confirm the meeting date and time.
TEACHER CONFERENCE REQUEST
PARENT'S NAME: __________________________ Work Phone: _________________
STUDENT'S NAME: _________________________ Home Phone: ________________
TEACHER'S NAME: _______________________________
1st Choice- Conference DATE: _____________________ TIME: _____________
2nd Choice- Conference DATE: _____________________ TIME: _____________
If there is a conflict with the above dates/times, the teacher will call you to reschedule.
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School Improvement Team Nominations
Forest Heights Academy 2009-2010
We need volunteers to serve on the Forest Heights Academy Improvement Team. Parents are asked to volunteer (1) hour once a month to suggest and help implement activities that could help our school be the best it can be. Interested parents are asked to complete and return this form to their child's teacher by Friday, August 28, 2009.
Forest Heights Academy School Improvement Team 2009-2010
Name: __________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________
Phone Number: _______________(Home) _______________(Work)
Child's Name: __________________________________________
Teacher's Name: __________________________________________
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Parent/Teacher Association Officer Nominations
Forest Heights Academy 2009-2010
If you are interested in serving in an officer position on our P.T.A. board, please complete and return this form to your child's teacher by Friday, August 28, 2009. I am interested in running for the following P.T.A. Officer position:
- President
- Vice-President
- Secretary
Name: __________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________
Phone Number: _______________(Home) _______________(Work)
Child's Name: __________________________________________
Teacher's Name: __________________________________________
