Masons Cove Family Handbook
2024-2025
Your attention and cooperation is imperative to ensure the safety of all children.
Any change in transportation needs to be made by 1:30 p.m.
BUS TRANSPORTATION:
Safety- For the safety of all students who ride buses, appropriate and safe behavior is required at all times while on the bus. This includes speaking quietly, staying seated, and not disturbing the driver. Please refer to your Student Conduct Code (Student Transportation) and review bus safety rules/procedures with your child.
Bus Route- Specific bus routes can be found on the Roanoke County Public Schools website under Departments > Transportation > Bus Routes > Bus Routes > Masons Cove Elementary. If you need assistance finding information about your child’s bus route, or your PK-2nd grade student’s bus stop is not listed please contact the MCE front office at (540) 387-6530.
PK, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade students on the bus- Pre K, Kindergarten, and 1st grade students must have a parent, adult who is listed on the student's emergency card, or an individual who is at least 14 years of age at the bus stop (visible to the bus driver) in the afternoon to receive them. The parent must provide written permission, which is pre-approved by the school administration, for individuals not listed on the emergency card and for any minor (age 14 to 17) in the afternoon to receive them. If a parent, other adults listed on the student's emergency card, or the pre-approved adult or minor is not at the bus stop, the child will be kept on the bus and returned to the elementary school.
Bus changes- For safety reasons, a note or phone call from a parent is required for a student to ride a bus other than the one designated to them.
CAR RIDERS:
Morning Car Rider Drop Off Procedures:
In an effort to maintain a safe environment, we have established guidelines for the morning car rider drop off. These guidelines are for all students, PK through 5th grade.
1. Parents should go through the car rider line to drop off their student(s).
2. Parents should stay in their vehicle throughout the car rider drop off.
3. Whenever possible, children being dropped off at MCE should be seated on the passenger side of the vehicle so they can safety exit the vehicle onto the sidewalk.
4. We have several staff members assigned to car duty in the morning to expedite the process.
5. Students should be ready to exit the car when the school employee opens their car door.
*Do not pull around other cars in line.
- Walking your student to the school doors- If a parent wants to walk their child to the entrance of the school they can park in the spots closest to the playground and walk with their child to the front of the building using the side walk. Parents must stay with their child while walking to the entrance. Due to safety risk, parents should not walk their children across the car rider line.
Afternoon Car Rider Procedures
1. Car rider dismissal will begin after the buses have left the lot.
2. Parents or Guardians should line their cars up along the sidewalk.
3. An MCE Employee will come out to write down the car order.
4. Students will be called out to the cars 3 at a time.
Transportation Changes- Any change to a student’s afternoon transportation needs to be made by 1:30 p.m. We cannot make transportation changes after this time. Transportation changes can only be accepted by a note sent in with a student and a phone call answered by the office. Do not email teachers or school staff members with transportation changes. These changes must be through a written note or phone call to the office.
Other Dismissal Information-
• A child may be excused from the classroom only when the parent or adult designated by the parent comes to the office and signs the child out.
• When someone other than the parent/guardian picks a student up, a note or a phone call from the parent is required.
• For safety reasons, a picture ID may be required before a child is released.
Why the Concern in Elementary School?
Attendance has been increasingly the focus of attention among school divisions and educators. In fact, the Virginia Department of Education Standards of Accreditation includes chronic absenteeism a factor in determining if a school meets accreditation standards. According to research, regular attendance is a significant factor in a student’s success:
- Chronic absenteeism correlates to low academic achievement.
- Absenteeism is a powerful predictor of dropout rates.
- Absenteeism has been linked to poor outcomes later in life.
What is Chronic Absenteeism?
Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing ten percent or more of the academic year for any reason, including excused absences, unexcused absences, and suspensions. Based on a 180-day school year, that means approximately 18 days per year or 2 to 3 days per month.
Truancy is the act of accruing one or more unexcused absences, where the parent is unaware of or does not support the student’s absence, or where the parent’s provided reason for the absence is not acceptable to the school administration.
Missed instruction, regardless of the reason, can have significant academic consequences. Therefore, the broader emphasis is on improving attendance for every student.
Roanoke County Attendance Policy
Excused Absences and Tardies
Parents of students who are absent or tardy must inform the school in writing of the reason for the absence or tardy no later than upon the student’s return to school (emailed message is acceptable). School staff records the student’s absence or tardy for each day as “excused” or “unexcused”. Please be aware that, if absences and tardies that are excused solely by parent explanation become excessive, the school will require additional documentation in order to ensure compliance with the compulsory school attendance law.
Acceptable Excuses
1. Absences and tardies are excused for the following reasons with written explanation from the parent:
- illness of the student;
- approval from administration prior to the absence;
- death in family/funeral;
- school-sponsored activities; and
- observance of a nationally recognized religious holiday if such holiday is verified and the school is notified in advance.
2. Absences and tardies are excused for the following reasons with appropriate written documentation:
- hospitalization or extended illness (with documentation from physician);
- doctor or dental appointment (with documentation from physician’s or dentist’s office); or
- mandatory court appearance (with court documentation)
Excessive Absences or Tardies Without Adequate Written Documentation
If absences or tardies excused solely based on parent explanation become excessive, the school will require additional documentation in order to ensure compliance with the compulsory student attendance law. Such additional documentation may include written documentation from a physician treating the student for a chronic or extended illness or court documentation resulting from student involvement in a legal matter. School principals and school counselors regularly collaborate with school social workers to monitor student attendance and communicate with students, parents, and families regarding excessive absences unsupported by adequate documentation.
For the purposes of avoiding excessive tardiness to school that results in frequent loss of instructional time, five (5) tardies to or check-outs from school without adequate written documentation will be considered the equivalent of one (1) absence.
Roanoke County Public Schools respects students’ rights to express themselves in the way they dress. All students who attend Roanoke County Public Schools are also expected to respect the school community by dressing appropriately for a K-12 educational environment. Student attire should facilitate participation in learning as well as the health and safety of students and the adults that supervise them. This policy is intended to provide guidance for students, staff, and parents.
Minimum Requirements:
- Clothing must cover areas from one armpit across to the other armpit, down to approximately 3 to 4 inches in length on the upper thighs (see images below). Tops must have shoulder straps. Rips or tears in clothing should be lower than the 3 to 4 inches in length.
- Shoes must be worn at all times and should be safe for the school environment (pajamas, bedroom shoes or slippers shall not be worn, except for school activities approved by the principal).
- See-through or mesh garments must not be worn without appropriate coverage underneath that meet the minimum requirements of the dress code.
- Headgear including hats, hoodies, and caps are not allowed unless permitted for religious, medical, or other reason by school administration.
- Specialized courses may require specialized attire, such as sports uniforms or safety gear.
Additional Requirements:
- Clothing may not depict, imply, advertise, or advocate illegal, violent, or lewd conduct, weapons, or the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or other controlled substances.
- Clothing may not depict or imply pornography, nudity, or sexual acts.
- Clothing may not display or imply vulgar, discriminatory, or obscene language or images.
- Clothing may not state, imply, or depict hate speech/imagery targeting groups based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious affiliation, or any other protected classification.
- Sunglasses may not be worn inside the building.
- Clothing and accessories that endanger student or staff safety may not be worn.
- Apparel, jewelry, accessories, tattoos, or manner of grooming that, by virtue of its color, arrangement, trademark or any other attribute, denotes membership in a gang that advocates illegal or disruptive behavior is prohibited.
The administration at each school reserves the right to determine what constitutes appropriate dress. Students who do not adhere to these guidelines will not be allowed to attend class. Parents will be called if appropriate clothing is not available or the student refuses dress-code appropriate clothing.
Medications Prescribed for Individual Students
Employees of Roanoke County School Board may give medication prescribed for individual students only pursuant to the written order of a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner and with written permission from the student's parent or guardian. Such medicine must be in the original container and delivered to the principal, school nurse, or school division designee by the parent or guardian of the student. Parents must also deliver the necessary supplies with which to administer medications (ex. syringes, spacers).
Nonprescription Medications
Employees of Roanoke County School Board may give nonprescription medication to students only with the written permission of the parent or guardian. Such permission shall include the name of the medication, the required dosage of the medication, and the time the medicine is to be given. Such medicine must be in an unopened original container and delivered to the principal, school nurse, or school division designee by the parent or guardian of the student
Herbal Remedies and Over the Counter Supplements not approved by the FDA
Requests by a parent/guardian for a herbal remedy and/or over the counter supplement to be given to a student which is not approved by the FDA will require a written order from a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner along with written permission from the student's parent or guardian. The herbal remedy/over the counter supplement must be in an unopened, original container and delivered to the principal, school nurse, or school division designee by the parent or guardian of the student.
