Parent/ Student Handbook

Please read this handbook carefully and completely with your student(s). We recommend you save/bookmark it for future reference as well. It is your guide to Pleasantdale Elementary. It will provide impor­tant school information and will answer many of your questions. This handbook will be revised as policies are developed or amended. We reserve the right to provide revisions as necessary.

For answers to questions and concerns not covered in this handbook, please use the link below to access our “whom to contact” resource and our website with contact information.

WHOM TO CONTACT- English

WHOM TO CONTACT- Spanish

SCHOOL WEBSITE

The Pleasantdale staff appreciates your interest, cooperation, involvement and continued support of our outstanding elementary school program.

As a student at Pleasantdale it is your responsibility to:

1. Be respectful. Treat others how you would like to be treated.
2. Be courteous. Show consideration for the other students and our school staff.
3. Be punctual. Get to school and to class on time.
4. Be prepared. Bring all materials that you need for your classes.
5. Be proud. Our school is special and so are you!
6. Be honest. If you see something, say something.
7. Be yourself. YOU are important to our school.
   

The rights of the individual student to learn will be protected at all times. Any student behavior which interferes with this right will be subject to the appropriate disciplinary action.

Most people are faced with unpleasant or seemingly unfair situations in life. These are often the result of conflicts. There are many ways to handle such situations. Some choices are against rules and regulations. Some choices are not effective. The following are some suggestions and ideas to improve the choices you make.

• Before taking any action, calmly review the situation.
• Consider if the choice you are about to make is worth risking the consequences of the action.
• It is not the situation that your peers will remember, but rather, it is how you handle the situation.
• If you see something, say something. We can’t help if we don’t know something is wrong.
• No one enjoys being criticized in public. Talk about problems in private with the help of an adult.
• Touching another student, even when "playing", is inappropriate in school.
• Fighting is not a mature way to handle problems.
  
• Treat other people as you would like to be treated. Bullying/harassment is not tolerated.
• Ask for adult assistance or mediation when a conflict occurs.

Our goal is to maximize instructional time and minimize distractions, therefore phones and headphones are not allowed to be used during school, unless specifically directed by their teacher for instructional purposes only.

We recognize that students carry phones in their bookbag as a safety measure and we understand the need for parents to call/text during emergencies. We ask for students to keep their phones in their bookbags throughout the day if they choose to bring them to school. Pleasantdale is not responsible for personal devices brought to school.

Students with serious medical conditions or other unusual circumstances may be given special permission by the school principal to use an electronic device if it is determined to be essential for the health of the student.

If you need to contact your child during instruction, please call the main office at 678-874-3502.

Please help us support our students by maximizing our instruction and limiting cell phone distractions.

• For emergency drop-ins, a registration fee ($25) and a daily drop-in fee ($15) will be charged, for a total of $40. This must be paid on the day of arrival in cash only.

  
  

• The weekly tuition payments for all elementary schools are $60 for one child, $110 for two children, $165 for three children, and $220 for four children. Three or more days of attendance constitute a full week.

  
  

• The After School Extended Day Program is a prepaid program. Payments for the week’s session are due on Monday or Wednesday. If tuition is not received on Wednesday, a late payment fee of $5 may be added to the tuition payment. If payments are not received by Wednesday, you may ask the bookkeeper and principal to resolve them. Otherwise, your child may be withdrawn from the program.

  
  

• Cash, cashier checks and money order payments are the preferred methods of payment. Please make money orders payable to Pleasantdale Elementary School. Any money over the exact amount will be credited to the next week’s tuition. You must request any After School Extended Day Program refunds in writing by the last day of the student’s school year. No credits will be carried over to the next school year.

  
  

• The ASEDP hours are 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM on the days school is in session. A late fee will not exceed $1 per minute per child or family. This charge begins at 6:31 and must be paid in cash upon arrival [only cash payment accepted].

  
  

• We expect all children to behave properly. The same behavior expectations of the regular school day apply in the After School Extended Day Program. Students may be suspended or withdrawn from the After School Extended Day Program for the following reasons:

• a. Excessive Late Pick-ups

• b. Discipline Problems

• c. Nonpayment of Tuition and/or Late Pick-up Fees

After the third time, your child or children will be dismissed from the After School Program.

We require attire that supports the learning environment. Pleasantdale will follow the DCSD dress code as detailed in the Code of Conduct. We will provide the link and information once it is made available.

Parents, we ask for your support in maintaining dress code. If necessary, parents will be called to deliver an appropriate change of clothes or one will be provided by the school if possible. Our goal is that students DO NOT miss any class time for dress code violations.

During the first week of school, students will be provided a Chromebook and a charger. Each student is responsible for the care of each item provided. Please do not place stickers or adhesive décor on the devices. Students will return the devices at the end of the school year.

School-issued devices allow for access to Canvas (see below), textbooks, and many more academic resources. Students are expected to use the devices responsibly for academic purposes only. The misuse of technology can result in a violation of the DCSD code of conduct and can be subject to consequences. Please note DCSD monitors the use of the devices.

The DeKalb County Policy states:

Students shall be responsible for careful stewardship of school property. Students who lose or destroy school property shall be required to reimburse the DeKalb County School Board of Education for the current replacement value of the item(s). Students who return school property which exhibits wear in excess of that which could be attributed to normal use shall be assessed for damages.

Immediate written notice shall be sent to parents/guardians when a student needs to make restitution for lost, destroyed, or damaged school property.

Food/drinks are prohibited at all times in our gym. In classrooms, teachers have discretion and will share their expectations at the start of the year. Students with medical needs and/or required accommodations will be supported.

Deliveries of outside food/drinks are not allowed. Water bottles are welcome and we have water bottle stations available for refill.

Parents may not bring restaurant food for students to eat during lunch. This includes restaurants like Chik-Fil-A, Burger King, Pizza Hut, etc. This upsets other students whose parents cannot afford such luxuries.

Homework and make-up assignments may be obtained from each individual teacher and accessed in Canvas or the Panther Folder. It will be the student’s responsibility upon return­ing from an absence to speak with their teachers to determine what assignments were missed and the deadline for making them up. Please check the “attendance” section of this guide for what constitutes an excused absence.

The number of days of excused absence determines the length of time the student has to make up academic work. Normally, stu­dents receive one day of make-up time for each day absent. Arrangements must be made with each teacher if a parent/guardian would like to pick-up any make-up work during the school day. Teachers only address makeup work during their planning period(s), before or after school. Please help us ensure instruction is not interrupted to secure assignments.

The library/media center, is open each day from 8:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M., and is designed to enrich our students. Ms. Wagner sees students in classes twice a month to teach lessons on library use and literacy. It also provides a pleasant atmosphere for leisure reading and listening.

You must have a pass to visit the media center. Book checkout is for two weeks and two books can be checked out at one time. Sometimes fewer books are allowed for younger students. Fines are charged for late or lost materials.

DCSD has adopted Canvas as our digital learning management platform, which will replace Google Classroom. Similar to Google Classroom, each class that is listed within the student’s schedule will be included in Canvas. Teachers will add their syllabus, class information, assignments, due date, etc. Please note that while grades may be visible in Canvas, we strongly encourage the continued use of Infinite Campus to view updated grades.

During the first week of school, we will work with students to learn how to navigate CANVAS. In grades K-2, CANVAS is used infrequently. However, starting in third grade, students will learn how to turn in assignments, access class materials, view deadlines, etc.

Parents have access to view each platform as well and we strongly encourage you to monitor both Canvas and Infinite Campus regularly. For tutorials and guides for the Canvas website and the app, please click here. For tutorials and guides for the Infinite Campus website and the app, please click here. If you need additional support for either platform, please contact our counseling office.

Pleasantdale Elementary takes pride in its guidance and counseling programs. Services offered are social and emotional, academic, career and group support, and guidance. Our counseling team will visit classrooms for guidance lessons throughout the year. In addition, the counselor can assist in providing resources to parents about outside agencies and support.

Students wishing to see the counselors are encouraged to ask their teacher for a pass. Parents are welcome to contact our counselors for any support needed for their student as well.

All fundraising conducted by school personnel, students, or Booster Clubs, must be approved by the Principal. Students selling/buying candy or any unauthorized items may be subject to consequences through our DCSD code of conduct. There is no selling/buying during school hours of any kind without principal approval.

Fighting is a no-no! All participants will receive a disciplinary referral. If you choose to fight, you can count on being suspended and losing privileges to our school-wide social events.

Written permission must be provided by the parent or guardian requesting the school to comply with the administration of medication. Pleasantdale employees cannot dispense any medication of any kind without the appropriate training and clearance. Students cannot carry medication on them without explicit school permission.

Please use this link to complete the paperwork needed for medication and provide the completed documents to the school between 7:30am and 1:00pm during the week.

If you a student is injured while participating in any school activity, they need to notify their teacher immediately. The teacher will send them to the clinic. Any first aid which is necessary to meet the immediate emergency will be done. Parents will be contacted as well.

Student accident insurance is offered through T.W. Lord & Associates. This coverage provides protection against medical expenses resulting from accidental injury to your child. The link contained on the District's website to the specifics regarding this program can be found here.

Drop-Off may occur as early as 7:00am.

• Students may not enter the building until 7:00am.

• Students will wait in the cafeteria from 7:00-7:15am. At 7:15am, they are released to their homerooms.

Parent Pick-up must occur no later than 2:30pm.

All students who remain after 2:30 P.M. must be participating in a school activity under the supervision of a teacher or admin­istrator and must have made prior arrangements for transportation home at the conclusion of the activity.

Bus routes can be found here. Please be sure students write down their bus route before the first day of school.

Important reminders for arrival/dismissal:

• We have 750+ students, please be patient and expect traffic. The first two weeks of school and during inclement weather, our carpool line wait can average 20 minutes or more. Please consider the bus if you prefer not to wait.

• Help us have a smooth carpool experience by pulling up all the way to the next car in front of you. Gaps and spaces create delays for those behind you.

• Please be mindful of the school environment with speed, loud music, and cell phone use in our carpool lane.

• Our security officers and teachers are present for safety. Please be courteous and follow directions.

• The no pick-up/drop-off zones are for the safety of your child. We do not have the personnel to supervise these areas and ask that you use our carpool lane ONLY for pick-up/drop-off.

• The bus environment and the bus stops are considered an extension of school. Appropriate behavior is an expectation. Any violation of our code of conduct will be subject to consequences.

• We often have buses running 2 routes. Be patient for the bus to arrive. You can also access EduLog to track your student’s bus.

The map below displays our school arrival and dismissal areas with directions.

Regular and prompt attendance is the responsibility of the student and the parents. The only valid excuses are illness and medical appointments, a death in the immediate family, mandated court appearances, or an emergency outside the control of the student or student's family.

Absences for reasons other than the above listed ones will be classified as unexcused. Examples of unexcused absences include, but are not limited to, babysitting, car trouble, oversleeping, truancy/skipping, and family vacations.

If your student must be absent, please have your student bring a signed note to school with the date of absence and reason for absence. The note needs to be turned into the attendance office upon return. Notes written in your home language are welcome.

There is a direct correlation between good attendance and good academic performance. Ensure your child values school by coming to school everyday!

Students are expected to be in school and in class on time. Students who DO NOT have an excuse and arrive at school after 7:45am will be marked tardy.

All students who arrive at school after 7:45am must sign in with our front office staff or counselors. Counselors remain by the car rider line until approximately 7:50am. After that time, cars are directed to the front office for check in. Tardies will be recorded in Infinite Campus by homeroom teachers.

Admin is closely monitoring tardiness, so please be on time. Tardiness is a clue to us that you no longer live nearby and we will be asking for an updated proof or residency. Chronically tardy students in the DLI program are subject to dismissal from the program.

Any student leaving the school campus during the day must complete all check-out procedures in the Front Office. A secretary or administrator must talk with your parent to verify a student's check-out. Students must go through the lobby to exit the school; not the glass doors.

Check-out Procedures:

• Early Check-Out: Students may not be checked-out after 1:30 p.m., unless a confirmed appointment has been made with the front office (see below). Students will be released at normal dismissal if a parent/guardian arrives after 1:30pm for check-out.

• Confirmed Appointments: Confirmed appointment notes with your parent's signature and telephone number should be given to the homeroom teacher the morning of the appointment. Parents will be able to sign out their student at the scheduled time in the Attendance Office. Proper I.D. must be presented as the person authorized to check out. Any designated adult must be 18 or older.

• Illness or Other Emergency: If a child must leave school during the school day because of illness or other emergency, you must complete all check-out procedures.

We will only release students to contacts you have provided in Infinite Campus! If someone arrives to pick up your child who is NOT on the list, we will NOT release the child. Be sure to have the person picking up the child present their ID to front office staff. We will NOT release students to adults without proper identification.

When entering the building, visitors must always come to the main entrance and sign-in. Please use the Ring button to notify our office staff you have arrived. They will ask how they can help and determine entry to the building. You will be asked to sign in and receive a visitor's pass. Please keep the visitors' pass on you at all times while in the building. All outside doors are locked for security reasons.

Deliveries of forgotten items to students cause interruptions to instruction. In addition to classroom disruption, we do not have enough staff or volunteers to see that forgotten items are delivered in a timely manner. Therefore, such deliveries will be made only if a true emergency exists. Students may check in the office between classes for forgotten lunches, assignments, Chromebook, etc. Balloons, flowers and outside food (e.g. delivery of fast food) may not be delivered to students during the school day. Pleasantdale supports families' efforts in teaching responsibility to students; therefore, we do not deliver non-emergency items.

Lost and Found items are put on the stage for students to grab during lunch. Parents are always welcome to come look for lost items after checking-in at the front office. Unclaimed items are donated monthly to charitable organizations. Students are encouraged to keep their books, purses, jackets, and other personal items in their bookbags or with them at all times. In addition, these items should be clearly marked with the student's name. Pleasantdale Elementary is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen personal items.

Students should never bring toys to school.

Throughout a semester, a student and his/her parents/guardians will be informed about his/her progress. Formal progress reports will be issued at the midpoint and end of each nine-week connection rotation. Progress reports will be issued to students in their homeroom class. If a student does not receive their progress report, please contact their homeroom teacher.

Teachers are required to notify parents if a child is at-risk of failing their class. We do this in the form of deficiency reports sent out with progress reports. This report outlines how your child can improve their grade before the class concludes.

Report cards are distributed at the semester mark. If you have any questions related to grades, please contact the teacher first.

CLASS DOJO

Our primary way to communicate with families is through Class Dojo. Make sure you have the app on your phone and you are checking both the school story and the teacher page frequently.

SCHOOL MESSENGER

Often the Admin team will send information through School Messenger. This is sent to the phone and email you have in Infinite Campus. If this information changes, please contact our front office staff to update your phone, email, and address.

PANTHER FOLDER

Get in the habit of checking your student's Panther Folder nightly. Any paper communication will be sent in this folder. You may also send notes to the teacher in the folder. All students receive a Panther Folder when they enroll. Paper homework will also be sent home in the Panther Folder.

We STRONGLY encourage parents to take an active role at Pleasantdale Elementary School. Parent involvement is crucial to student success. Volunteer opportunities are available for all parents. For information on available opportunities, please visit our PTO website at xxxxxxxx

We also have a strong Principal’s Advisory Council (PAC)! The purpose of the Principal Advisory Council is to bring parents, school employees, students and community members together to create a better understanding of and mutual respect for each other’s perspectives and share ideas for increasing student achievement and performance.