JOHN S. ARMSTRONG GENERAL INFORMATION

ARMSTRONG-BRADFIELD PRESCHOOL ASSOCIATION is open to mothers living in the Armstrong and Bradfield school districts who have children of kindergarten age and younger. General meetings with presentations by respected speakers promote training in parenthood and family living.

ASSIGNMENT REQUESTS: Student assignments should be requested by calling the office no later than 11:00 a.m. on the day of the child’s absence. Students who are absent two consecutive days or longer may request assignments on the second day. Parents may pick up the assignments. Students with excused absences have a period equal to the number of days missed to make up assignments. Absence for one day does not excuse a student from previously assigned work or tests due or occurring on the day of his/her return. It is the student's responsibility to check with the teacher concerning make-up work upon returning after an excused absence.

In cases of unexcused absence, the teacher will provide copies of any handouts or worksheets upon the student's return so that the student will be familiar with the concepts covered during the absence. It is the parents' responsibility to assist the student with completing the work. Please refer to your teacher’s hand out regarding specific makeup work policies.

Because teachers often make changes in assignments during the day, a student will not be given assignments prior to his/her absence.

ASSURANCE FOR STUDENT SERVICES: See HPISD Code of Conduct.

ATTENDANCE: See HPISD Code of Conduct, Appendix A: Attendance and Classification of Absences. In order to be counted present for the day, a student must be in attendance at 10:00 a.m. for an accounting period required by the State of Texas. If a student comes to school after 10:00 a.m. following a doctor's, dentist’s (or other health care professional's) appointment and with a note from the health care professional, that student will be given credit for the day. All other students should bring a written excuse for the absence upon returning to school.

ATTENDANCE GUIDELINES FOR ILLNESS: See HPISD School Health Services Health Packet or School Health Services pages in the school directory.

BICYCLES: See SAFETY.

BOOKS: The student is responsible for lost or damaged books. The school may not sell state-owned books; however, parents may purchase textbooks directly from local publishers if students wish to have a permanent copy.

BOXTOPS FOR EDUCATION: General Mills products' coupons, redeemable for ten cents each, may be placed in the collection box in the Media Center and help raise funds for the Armstrong Library-Media Center.

BUILDING ACCESS: See SAFETY.

CLASSROOM PLACEMENTS: Classes are composed of a well-balanced

mix of students while keeping the total number of students in each classroom

well within the limits allowed by the state.

CODE OF CONDUCT, HPISD: As required by the State of Texas, the HPISD has a written Code of Conduct, which is divided into two parts. The first

part states the overall behavioral expectations and provides information on

possible consequences of unacceptable behavior. The second part, in

Appendices A-D, provides procedures for specific actions. Each family receives a copy of the HPISD Code of Conduct on the first day of school each year.

CONFERENCES: Conferences with teachers are encouraged and may be arranged by sending a note to the teacher or leaving a phone message in the office. The teacher will contact the parents to schedule the conference.

COUNSELOR: There is a certified counselor on each elementary campus who conducts classroom guidance activities, as well as small group or individual counseling sessions. The counselor also works together with parents, students and faculty to enhance academic, social and emotional development.

DADS' CLUB: The Dads' Club meets for breakfast during the year to discuss school issues and help plan support for activities such as the Carnival and the Fall Auction. Members also work with the Principal and the PTA to appropriate funds that support instructional enhancements.

DRESS CODE: See HPISD Code of Conduct, Appendix D: General Policies, 5. Dress Code. As a common courtesy, hats and caps are to be removed when inside the building, except on designated "Hat Days." Final decisions on the appropriateness of school dress rest with the principal.

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (ESL): See HPISD Code of Conduct: Assurance for Student Services or call the Director of Special Programs at 214-780-3090.

EXPLORATIONS: See TALENTED AND GIFTED PROGRAM.

FIELD DAY: Students and parents honor Armstrong on Field Day by wearing school colors of green and gold. This annual event, usually held on the last day of school, allows each class to participate in a variety of games or field events. Volunteers help run the games. All parents are invited to attend and enjoy watching their children participate.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: In order to provide every student with the opportunity to participate in all aspects of the school program, PTA scholarship funds are available. Please contact the principal for further information.

FRIDAY FOLDERS: Graded assignments, notices of school events and communications from the faculty and PTA are sent home in the Friday Folder with each student. The Folder and your responses are returned to the classroom with the student each Monday. Any item to be included in the Friday Folder must be directly related to the HPISD, the Armstrong School PTA or Dads' Club.

GRADES: Report cards, issued every six weeks, are sent home in the Friday Folders to be signed by a parent or guardian and returned by the student. At the end of the school year, the parent retains the report card.

HEALTH SERVICES: See HPISD School Health Services Health Packet.

HOURS: Students may enter the building for tutorials at 7:45 a.m. if previously arranged with the teacher or they may enter the classroom at 8:00 a.m. to receive extra help, work on a project assignment, take Accelerated Reading tests or read quietly. Students may utilize the Library–Media Center from 7:45–8:15 a.m. or 3:00–4:00 p.m. for conducting Library business.

IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS: See HPISD School Health Services Health Packet.

JUMP START: See HPISD Code of Conduct: Assurance for Student Services or call the Director of Special Programs at 214-780-3090.

LIBRARY-MEDIA CENTER: Each class visits the Library-Media Center at a regularly scheduled time once a week. Books are checked out for a period of one week. Kindergarten students are allowed to check out one book. Students in grades 1 through 4 may check out two books. Parents may check out 6 books. After a one-week grace period, fines of ten cents per day are assessed to third and fourth grade students for late return of books. In addition to the class visits, students may make brief visits individually from 7:45 -8:15 a.m. or from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. While the library is inviting, it is not meant to serve as an area for children to wait on siblings or friends. The privilege of Library-Media Center utilization during these extended hours is limited to students taking care of library business: borrowing library materials, taking Accelerated Reader tests, or using library resources.

LOCKERS: A locker is issued to each student by his/her teacher at the beginning of the year and is to be used for storage of school materials and personal belongings. Students should not to keep money or valuables in lockers; the school does not assume responsibility for such items.

LOST & FOUND: Lost & Found items are placed in the Office and in the hallway by the Cornell entrance. Items not claimed are donated to charity.

MEDICAL EXCUSE FROM PE: Written excuses for non-participation in Physical Education classes should be given directly to the PE teacher. If the excuse is for more than five days, a note from a physician is required to excuse the absence and allow the student to return to PE Class.

MEDICATION: See HPISD School Health Services Health Packet or School Health Services pages in the school directory.

OPEN HOUSE: Open House is held twice a year. "Meet the Teacher Night" in August is for parents only. March Open House is for parents and students.

PARTIES: During the school year, classes are allowed a maximum of two parties lasting thirty minutes each. Room mothers/dads coordinate these parties with the teacher.

PHONE MESSAGES: Personnel may not leave the school office and/or clinic to deliver non-urgent messages to classrooms; the Texas Education Agency does not permit class interruption over the Public Address system to deliver personal messages. Non-urgent phone messages for students will be

placed in the teacher's box in the office, but the office cannot guarantee that messages will be picked up by a particular time.

PRE-SCHOOL ASSOCIATION: See ARMSTRONG-BRADFIELD PRESCHOOL ASSOCIATION.

PROBLEM RESOLUTION: The philosophy of district educators is that the needs of students are best served when a cooperative partnership exists among

teachers, students, and parents. To address concerns that may arise, please use the following steps:

1) Teacher/child conference - encourage your child to discuss his/her concerns with the teacher.

2) Teacher/parent conference, with the child included, if appropriate.

3) Teacher/parent conference, with the principal or counselor included.

"RAZORS": See SAFETY.

ROLLERBLADES: See SAFETY.

ROOM MOTHERS/DADS: Room Mothers and Room Dads are chosen by faculty from responses to the volunteer form in the First Day Packet, with special consideration given to those who have not previously had this opportunity. Room Mothers organize and recruit help for class parties and are a general point of contact for the teacher. Room Dads are responsible for Carnival set-up.

SAFETY: In the interest of children's safety, the main entrance to the building on Cornell will be the only point of access to the school after 8:15 a.m. on school days. Students and faculty are not allowed to open the other doors for you. Access to the building is not available after hours, on weekends or during vacations.

Students must obey the crossing guards, cross only at designated intersections and observe bicycle safety rules. Bicycles must be parked in the racks provided and should have locks. The school is not responsible for bicycle damage or theft. Bicycle safety is reviewed each year at the Bike Rodeo.

"Razors", roller blades (in-line skates) and skateboards, if ridden to school, may be stored in the lockers. It is absolutely forbidden to ride the "Razors" down the stairs inside the school or down the steps and wheelchair ramps outside the school. They may not be ridden on the sidewalks when school is dismissed and the sidewalks are crowded. Rollerblades must be removed before entering the building; it is absolutely forbidden to rollerblade or skateboard in the building.

Drivers must observe the no parking zones and Safety Committee Rules.

SCHOOL CANCELLATION OR DELAYED OPENING: If school is cancelled or delayed in opening, announcements will be made on local TV and radio stations as well as on the HPISD cable channel 16.

SCHOOL TOURS: See VISITORS.

SKATEBOARDS: See SAFETY.

SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES: See HPISD Code of Conduct: Assurance for Student Services, HPISD Special Programs Department Brochure, call the Director of Special Programs at 214-780-3090 or contact the Armstrong counselor.

STANDARDIZED TESTS: The school district administers standardized tests in accordance with TEA guidelines. Parents are notified of test dates in advance. The TAKS test is given in the Spring of the third and fourth grades. Other tests

are given to evaluate students for placement in Special Programs (see HPISD Special Programs Department Brochure).

STUDENT ASSISTANCE NETWORK SERVICE (SANS): SANS is a three phase program of cooperative effort between the home, parents' organizations, religious institutions and other community groups which strives to

promote the overall well being of each student. It is designed to assist students who have been identified by troubled behavior at school.

IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS: The Texas Education Agency requires school districts to use social security numbers, or a state-assigned number of equivalent length if the student does not have a social security number, as the

student identification number. The school is required to keep a photocopy of the student's social security card.

STUDENT STUDY TEAM: See HPISD Code of Conduct or HPISD Special Programs Department Brochure.

TALENTED AND GIFTED PROGRAM (TAG): This program serves identified students in accordance with state mandates. Procedures for identification are explained in the HPISD Talented and Gifted Program (TAG) Brochure. For further information, please refer to the HPISD Code of Conduct: Assurance for Student Services or the HPISD Special Programs Department Brochure.

TELEPHONE USE: The office telephone is for emergencies only. If a student is ill or injured, the school nurse or secretary will contact the parents.

VALUABLES: As a rule, valuables should not be brought to school. If a student brings a valuable item to use as part of a class demonstration, prior approval should be obtained from the teacher.

VISITORS: Visitors to the school must use the Cornell entrance and register at the office. Students are not permitted to bring visitors to class. Parents of Armstrong School students are always welcome to visit their child's classroom.

For families anticipating enrollment, parent volunteers conduct school tours, which may be scheduled by calling the office at 214-780-3100.

WITHDRAWAL: Advance notice should be given when a child is to be withdrawn from school so that all monies due for library books, lunch loans or other obligations may be repaid and academic records can be prepared to send to the new school.