GeneralInformation

School Telephone Numbers

OFFICE...................972/882-7060
ABSENTEE LINE ....972/882-7079
CAFETERIA..............972/882/7066
COUNSELOR...........972/882/7064

Absences and Attendance

Regular attendance at school is very important. Please help your child develop a commitment for regular school attendance and getting to school on time. If it is necessary for your child to be absent, call the school at 972/882-7079 or send a note upon your child's return to school. If your child is absent for 3 consecutive days, a doctor's note must be received in order for the absences to be considered excused. Family trips etc. that require an absence of more than 3 days must receive prior approval from the principal in order for the absences to be considered excused. Trips to the doctor or dentist during the school day must be documented with a note from the doctor or dentist's office.
State law requires that a student be in attendance 90% of the school days. When a student accumulates 3 unexcused absences in a four-week period or 5 unexcused absences in a six-month period, a warning letter from the school will be mailed to the student's parents. After the 10th unexcused absence, the school will file truancy charges against the parent and student in municipal court.

Accident and Emergency Information

In the event of a serious accident or illness at school, parents will be called. If we are unable to reach you, emergency numbers will be called. When you registered your child, you filled out a health card indicating emergency phone numbers of a least 2 neighbors or relatives who would be responsible for your child it you could not be reached. Please be sure those neighbors or relatives are aware that you have given their numbers as emergency contacts. If at any point during the school year this information should change, please notify the school immediately so that we are able to update our records.

Arrival Procedures

Students are allowed in the building at 7:20 each morning. Students in grades K,1 and 2 are to go to the cafeteria. Students in grades 3-6 are to go to the gym.

Bicycles

Students are permitted ot ride bicycles to school with parental knowledge and permission. Students should walk their bikes while on the school grounds and should lock their bikes in the bike racks. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen bikes. For safety reasons, skateboards, roller skates, or in-line skates may not be used on school grounds.

Books

Textbooks are furnished by the school district. Fines are assessed for lost or damaged books. The amount of the fine depends on the condition of the book and/or the degree of damage.

Texas Public School Nutrition Policy

You may have heard in the news that there have been some changes to the Texas Public School Nutrition Policy this year. According to guidelines from the Texas Department of Agriculture, which regulates the school lunch program, elementary schools may no longer provide access to Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value (FMNV) or competetive foods at any time during the school day. FMNVs include soda waters, frozen ices (unless they contain fruit juice), chewing gum, and candies. Competitive foods are any meals not prepared and served by our school cafeteria. Students may still bring any foods you choose in their own lunches; however, they may not share these with friends. This means that we can no longer allow class pizza parties or other instances in which we provide a meal for all students unless it is done through our food service personnel. At teacher discretion, students may bring a nutritious snack to have in the morning or afternoon. Please be aware that this must be a nutritious snack. For ideas on nutritious snacks, please refer to www.squaremeals.org. We all realize this is a big change, and we're looking for ways to continue to do special things for children which meet these new requirements. Please feel free to contact the Texas Department of Agriculture at healthykids@abr.state.tx.us with your questions or comments. If we can answer any questions for you, please give us a call!

The Texas Department of Agriculture has recently changed their policy on allowing cupcakes, cookies, etc. for classroom birthday parties. Students may bring a treat to share with their classmates for their birthday. These will be eaten outside during recess or later in the day in their classroom.

The policy revisions will also allow us to offer snack items at Shaw Shop. These will be placed in a bag for students to have at the end of the school day. We cannot allow students to eat these at school.

Breakfast

Breakfast is served from 7:20-7:35. Students must arrive prior to 7:35 to receive a breakfast tray. After breakfast, the students are asked to move to the cafeteria or gym until 7:45 when they are dismissed to go to the classrooms.

Lunch

Each class is assigned a 30-minute lunchtime. It may be necessary for the lunch schedule to be rearranged because of field trips, etc.

Family members may eat lunch with their student at the guest tables after checking in with the office and receiving a visitor's badge. We request that parents not sit at the class lunch tables.

Cafeteria conduct is reflected in the classroom conduct grade.

It is impertinent that parents be aware of their child's lunch account balance. The cafeteria and office do not lend money for lunch. If a child does not have enough money to purchase the tray lunch, they will receive an alternate tray.

Cafeteria Accounts

Each student has a cafeteria account in which parents can deposit money for lunch and/or breakfast. Each child will received a PIN number at the beginning of the year that they will use to access their account. When writing a check for a child's account, please write the child's PIN number, the parent's driver's license number and birth date on the top. Students are asked to give checks or large cash deposits to their teacher. The teacher will then send the deposits to the cafeteria. If a child does not have money in their account, an alternative lunch/breakfast may will be given. The cafeteria and office do not lend money for lunch or breakfast.

Change of Address

It is very important that you inform us immediately of any changes in your telephone number, address, or the person we should notify in case of an emergency. Please notify the office in advance of a planned move from our school. See the procedures for withdrawing students under that heading in this handbook.

Conferences

Each year, parent/teacher conferences are held in the fall and again in the spring. Teachers and parents are encouraged to hold additional conferences at any time during the year when there are questions or concerns about a child's progress.

Dismissal Procedures

Regular dismissal times are:
Kindergarten: 2:55
Grades 1-6: 2:55
Students are not allowed back in the building for any reason. It is important that students remember to take all supplies and assignments with them when they are dismissed from their classrooms.

Dress Code

In order to maintain an effective learning environment, school clothing should be neat, clean, and appropriate. Any problems with the dress code will be handled on an individual basis. *See the Student Code of Conduct book for further details concerning the district's dress code.

Early Release

While we encourage parents to schedule dental or medical appointments after school, we know that it is not always possible. For your child's protection we require that you sign your child out in the office and wait for them there. If someone other than a parent or guardian picks up the student for an appointment, that person must be listed as an emergency contact in the school records. Teachers will not release a student from their room unless instructed to do so by the office. When returning to school, the student must check in with the office and present an excuse from the dentist or doctor.

Excuses

All students will be expected to participate in P.E. unless the school has a written note from a doctor requesting that the child not go outside or participate in P.E. class. Parents may request their be kept indoors for a day or two following an illness by sending a note to the P.E. teachers. Any request beyond 2 days must come from a doctor.

Field Trips

Field trips are planned as additional education experiences for our students. You will always receive advance notice and information about upcoming field trips. Occasionally, teachers will contact parents to assist in supervising on a field trip. These parents must have completed the criminal history background check and must be on the district's approved list in order to be able to go on a field trip. Field trips to MISD facilities do not require parent permission, only parental notification of the trip.

Health and Medication

Parents should bring special health concerns to the attention of teachers and the school nurse. The nurse is at Shaw daily from 7:40-3:40. During these times, she is available for Shaw students as needed for emergencies, to administer medications, and to discuss health concerns with parents. It is extremely important to keep the emergency cards accurate and complete with the person to be called in case of an emergency, your doctor's name, and any special health concerns (such as epilepsy, asthma, allergies, etc.).
District policy prohibits the school from administering over the counter medications without a doctor's note. All medications must be in the original container labeled with the child's name, drug name, dosage, time to be given, and doctor's name. There is a "Permission to Administer Medication" page that must be completed by the parent before the prescription can be administered. If a student evidences a contagious condition or illness, the nurse will notify the parents and the child will be sent home from school. In the event of a field trip, a designee of the nurse will dispense medication.

Inclement Weather
If you are not sure if there will be school due to weather conditions, please listen to 88.5 FM (Mesquite ISD radio)

Library

All students are encouraged to check out library books. Books may be kept for 2 weeks, or may be returned before the due date. If a student has not finished reading a book, the book may be renewed for another 2-week period. If a library book is lost, the student is required to pay for the lost book. If the book is later found and returned in good condition, a refund check will be issued. Students who return books that are damaged will be asked to pay for the replacement of the book.
We ask for everyone's help in the proper care and handling of the library books.

Lost and Found
Lost and found articles are turned in to the cabinet located in the gym. Wallets, jewelry, and other valuable objects are kept in the office. Have your child check the cabinet to recover lost items or to turn in items that they find. It is important that you:
* Label your child's backpack, coat, etc.
*Encourage your child to be responsible for his/her personal property.
*Leave all valuables and money, other that for breakfast/lunch, at home.
Clothing items left in the cabinet at the end of each semester will be donated to the Mesquite Clothes Closet.

Make-up Work

When it is necessary for a student to be absent a parent may call the school and request to pick up the homework after 2:55. Once a child returns to school, he/she is five 1 day to make up the work for every 1 day that he/she was absent.

Parking Lot

For the safety of our students and staff, we request that parents form one line in the lane closest to the school building in the front parking lot to drop off and pick up students. Do not leave vehicles unattended in the drive through lanes, as this impedes the flow of traffic. Please park in designated spaces only.

Parties

Parties are planned and organized in cooperation with PTA. Two parties a year are scheduled. If you are interested in assisting with a party, contact the classroom mother.

Personal Property at School

Students are not allowed to bring electronic games, radios, collectibles, trading cards, or other such objects to school. Such items will be confiscated and held until the last day of the school year.

Planners

Each student in grades 3-6 receives a planner at the beginning of school. Planners are considered school property. The first planner is provided free of charge. A replacement planner will cost $4.00. Students who withdraw from Shaw Elementary are required to turn in the planner with their other textbooks, etc.

Safety Patrols

Sixth grade students are utilized as safety patrols for aiding with student arrival and dismissal. These students are selected by their homeroom teacher based on grades, citizenship, and responsible behavior.

Tardies

Students reporting to their classrooms after 7:55 a.m. will be considered tardy.

Toys

Toys of any kind are not permitted at school. This includes Game Boys and electronic equipment.

Vandalism

Any persons willfully damaging Shaw Elementary property will be assessed the total cost of all replacement or repairs.

Visitors

Safety for all of our students is a priority at Shaw Elementary. All visitors are required to sign in at the office and obtain and war a visitor's badge. Parents and guests are encouraged to make arrangements with the teacher prior to visiting the classroom. Parents and guests are asked to enter our building through the front doors only.

Volunteers

We encourage and welcome volunteers to help with tutoring or assisting in the workroom. If you are interested in being a volunteer, contact the PTA volunteer coordinator. All volunteers are required to complete the criminal history background check and be on he district's approved list before volunteer work can begin.

Withdrawing a Student

The following procedures must be followed if you are planning to withdraw your child from Shaw Elementary School.
* Notify the office of the date your child will be leaving.
*Ensure that all books including textbooks, library books, and the planner are returned and any fees or fines are paid.
Gathering the withdrawal paperwork and obtaining all necessary information will take one day. Allow the school at least one day to have all of the papers ready for you to take to the new school.