Policies and Procedures

New kindergarten students must be five (5) years old before October 1 of the school year in which they are enrolling.  First grade students must be six (6) years old before October 1.

The following documents are required for school registration:

• certified birth certificate
• social security card
• 3 current proofs of residence or assignment letter
• student’s last report card, if applicable
• name and complete address of the former school, if applicable
• Louisiana State Health Card (form MCH 14A or revised 1/70 stating proof of immunizations)
• student transfer letter if the student is transferring from another St. Tammany Parish School

Our school offers child care before and after school called Early Birds and Kitty Kats, respectively. Students are supervised by Cypress Cove faculty and staff.  Please contact the office for enrollment forms at (985) 641-3033 for more information. 

Early Birds Before Care Program

This program is from 6:30 a.m.-7:50 a.m. in the gym.  At 7:50 a.m. students needing breakfast will go to the cafeteria and the others with go to class. 

FEES – The rate for students enrolled on a regular basis will be as follows:

Registration Fee - $15.00

Weekly Fee - $30.00

Part-Time - $8.00 (per day)

Drop-In Rate - $10.00 (per day)

BILLING

Do not include this payment with other school payments.

Monthly payments – Due on the first school day of the calendar month.

Weekly payments – Due on the first day of the school week.

($5.00 late fee will be charged for each day after the due date.)

IMPORTANT! Money is non-refundable if the child leaves the program. ALL PAYMENTS MUST BE MADE THROUGH www.mypaymentsplus.com (NO CASH OR CHECKS PERMITTED.)

Kitty Kats After Care Program

This  program begins at dismissal and ends at 6:00 p.m. The students will be sent directly to the cafeteria from the classrooms. Activities will include the following: Check-in, snack, playground/gym activities, story time/games, art, and fun centers in cafeteria.

After Care will not be provided on half-days or holidays.

All payments must be made through www.mypaymentsplus.com. No cash or checks will be accepted.

Fees 

$15.00 non-refundable registration fee

$10.00 per day for full-time students

$15.00 per day for part-time students

*Part time students require a written schedule on the 1st of every month. If no schedule is received, the student may not attend that month.

*If your child comes for 3 or more days, you are considered full time and must pay monthly fee.

*All aftercare fees are prepaid on a monthly basis.

Due to our students’ young age and to avoid any confusion, we urge all students to attend after care every day.

Billing – Monthly fee is due on the first school day of the calendar month. A $10.00 per day late fee will be charged for payments received after the due date. If payment is not made by the 5th, the student will be removed from the program. All payments must be made by 6 pm on the first of the month.

IMPORTANT! Money is non-refundable. ALL PAYMENTS MUST BE MADE THROUGH www.mypaymentsplus.com (no cash or checks permitted.) Do not include this payment with other school payments.

Late Pick Up Fees - $10.00 per child will be charged for each 15 minutes after 6:00 p.m. Five late pick-ups will result in dismissal from the program.

Due to staffing requirements, no credit or refunds will be given for students who are absent for any reason.

Check Out Procedures – Only those people listed as emergency contacts on the After Care registration form will be allowed to check out your child. Photo I.D. is required. Parents are responsible for keeping the authorization list current. Please pick up your child at the cafeteria entrance to the schoolThank you for your interest in our “Kitty Care Program.” Any questions, please call 985-726-9338 during After Care hours - 3:31 pm – 6:00 pm.

Arrival:  7:50-8:20 a.m. School begins at 8:20 a.m.  All students entering the school after 8:20 a.m. will be marked “TARDY” and must be checked in through the office with an adult.

Dismissal begins at 3:31 p.m.  All students should be picked up from the car line no later than 3:50 p.m.

There are several half days written into the school calendar (see full calendar for exact dates).  On these days, expect that your child will arrive home three (3) hours earlier than usual.  This means, instead of dismissal beginning at 3:31 p.m., half day dismissal will begin at 12:31 p.m. If the half day requires that you change your child’s after school transportation, please let your child's teacher know.

Students will study art history and the elements of art as well as production and critique of work.  PreK, K, and first grade  students attend art one day per week.

Elementary students are allowed 10 absences each year. Absences of two or fewer consecutive school days incurred due to illness of the student or serious illness of the family may be excused by a note written by the parent.  Parents should send a written excuse immediately to the teacher if your child is absent.  Excuses must be submitted within two days of the absence for make-up work to be done.  Make up work will only be provided for excused absences.  Teachers must be given 24 hour notice when asked to provide missed assignments.  Late excuses for absences will not be accepted.

Excused absences are counted in the total number of absences. You will be called by the district automated system anytime your child is absent or is checked in past the reporting time.

PLEASE NOTE: Act 103 of the 1994 State Legislature deals with student truancy and tardiness and requires principals to report absences and tardiness to the child welfare supervisor.  The Supervisor of Child Welfare must refer a student who is absent or tardy without an acceptable excuse five or more times in one month to the family or juvenile court.  Policy also mandates the automatic retention of a student who has been absent for 10 or more days in a school year (extenuating circumstances are taken into consideration).

*Perfect attendance cannot be earned if a child reports late to school or is checked out early.

Pre-Kindergarten Attendance (LA4): Pre K absences require doctor’s notes in order to be excused.  Children may have no more than 2 unexcused absences per calendar month.  Excessive absences or partial day attendance may lead to removal from the program.

The meals served daily are nutritionally balanced and meet one-third of the daily minimum nutrition requirements.  Cypress Cove is also a “Team Nutrition School.”  This means that our school lunches are lower in fat and sodium, and include a wide variety of grains, vegetables, and fruits. 

School breakfasts and lunches will be provided for students. Menus are sent home monthly. Menus may also be accessed on the school website.

You may join your child for lunch on any day of the week.  But please be aware that for safety, visitors are not allowed on the playground or in the classroom during recess.

Please contact the cafeteria manager, at 641-8334 if you have any questions.

Students riding in cars must be picked up and dropped off at the car ramp.  Car ramp will open in the morning at 7:50 am and will close at 8:20 am when the second bell rings.  For safety reasons, students are not allowed on campus before 7:50 am because teachers will not be on duty at that time.

Car riders will be given a windshield name card which should be displayed on the dash in the front passenger’s side of the windshield when picking up your child at the car ramp.  Please be aware that line-up for carline starts at 2:45. There will be no early line-ups due to safety reasons.

Car line is finished by 3:50. After this time the students will be in the office.  After 4:00 the students will be in our aftercare program. Parents will be responsible for any after care fee.

Parents who do not have the car rider signs will be instructed to park and come into the office.  Remember, you must have our ID and be listed on the emergency card.  You will then return to the carline to pick up your child.

If you send someone to pick up your child, you must notify the office in writing that morning.  This person must come to the office, prior to 3:15 pm, present identification, and receive written notification for your child to be released.  They will then return to the carline to pick up the child.  The duty teacher will ask for the written authorization prior to releasing the child for dismissal.  No one is allowed to walk-up to the car dismissal room for pick-up.

NAME CARDS:

Students who are permanent car riders will receive a name card.  It must be placed in the front passenger window of your car. This identifies you and keeps the line moving smoothly.  Please use the name card all year because the duty team rotates.  You must show identification in  the office if you do not have the tag.  Thank you for parking and coming into the office.

If your child is an occasional car rider, you must send in a written note each time he/she will be picked up. Please include the date, the child’s first and last name and the teacher’s name in your note.

There will be no check outs after 3:00.

NEWSLETTER:

A monthly calendar will be published by the PTA and sent home once a month on light blue paper.  Watch for them!

HOMEWORK / INFORMATION SHEETS:

Each teacher sends home a weekly information sheet.  The purpose of the sheet is to provide parents with vocabulary lists, information about areas of study, and reminders about special activities or events. Individual teachers will let you know what day to expect their homework sheet so that you can check the backpacks for it.

CONFERENCES

Two conferences will be scheduled for parents of kindergarten, and first grade students during the school year.  We encourage you to attend.  In addition to the scheduled conferences, conferences can be arranged at any time during the school year.  Please do not ask for a conference during instructional time or attempt to see or make a phone call to the teacher during class time.

The instructional day begins as soon as the class enters.  DO NOT follow the class down the hall to stand and “chat” or conference with the teacher.  The teacher must attend to all children immediately.

We have a counselor and Mental Health Provider (MHP) based at Cypress Cove Elementary.  In addition to whole group responsibilities, she is available to assist individual students and parents.  You may contact her by calling the school.

Red shirt (collared, golf-type, short sleeve with 2 or 3 buttons). Shirts with the Cypress Cove Elementary eagle design are available, or the child may wear a plain red shirt (logo optional).

Khaki bottoms - pants, shorts, skirt, jumper - but not denim (shorts or tights can be worn under skirts or dresses.)

The red CCE t-shirt or sweatshirt (sold at school) may be worn on “spirit days” and on field trips. Sweatshirts can be worn any day.

Caps and hats are banned from school campuses during regular school hours. Caps worn to school during cold weather should be placed in book bags or with jackets during class.  Boys’ hair may not fall below the base of a collared shirt.  For safety, appropriate shoes should be worn daily for P.E. and playground activities. As per parish dress code policy, beach sandals or backless rubber thong sandals are not permitted.  See the district handbook for more details.

Children are not to be checked out after 3:00 p.m. 

Please make every effort to schedule doctor and dentist appointments outside of school hours.  When this is not  possible, students will be dismissed for these special appointments.  Please remember to present a note from the attending doctor when the child returns.

Frequently tardy or early check-out (3:00p.m. or before) students will be brought to the attention of the supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance.  Ex. If you check your child out at 3:00 p.m. for 1 week, your child has missed over 2 hours of school, which makes a difference!

The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal law passed in 1987 to help people experiencing homelessness. The Act requires states and school districts to make sure students in homeless situations can attend and succeed in school. The McKinney-Vento Act applies to all children and youth who do not have a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth who are living in the following situations:

•    Doubled-up housing with other families or friends because they         lost their home or their family is having temporary financial problems;

•    Living in a motel/hotel because of economic hardship or loss of housing;

•    Living in an emergency or transitional shelter, domestic violence  shelter, or in a runaway/homeless youth shelter;

•    Living in a vehicle of any kind; campground without running water and/or electricity; abandoned building; substandard housing;

bus/train station;

•    Abandoned in a hospital.

•    Attend and succeed in school no matter where they live or how  long they have lived there;

•    Enroll in school despite the lack of a permanent address or lack  of school and immunization records, or birth certificates and other documents;

•    Receive services comparable to those offered to non-homeless children and youth;

•    Get transportation to school, if feasible.

•    Access educationally related support services;

Should you or your child meet these qualifications, please contact the office to complete a form for consideration.

In case of emergency, each student is required to have on file at the school office the following information:

• Parent(s) or guardian(s) name(s).
• Complete up-to-date address.
• Home phone and parent(s) work phone number(s).
• Emergency phone numbers.  Please list several people that we could contact in case we can not reach you.
• CUSTODY - If this involves YOUR child,
• REMEMBER, we must have a copy of the custody agreement in the school office which has been signed by a judge. 
• FURTHERMORE, any changes must be presented in person.
• We must have a copy of any updated legal changes.
• Only persons listed on your child’s emergency card will be allowed to pick up your child.
• Changes in emergency information must be made in person.  This information will not be taken over the phone.

Field trips are planned by teachers to enrich the basic curriculum.  The information and cost of trips will be sent home throughout the school year prior to any trip.  No more than two (2) trips per year may be taken.  Remember no child will be allowed to go on a field trip without a written permission slip.  Also, all students must ride the school bus, even if his/her parent is following behind in a car.  Occasionally a parent chaperone may need to take his/her child after the trip, and this is allowed.  However, the parent must leave written notification in the office, and sign the child out of school before the trip.

PARENT CHAPERONES:

There can be no more than 5 chaperones per trip. Parent chaperones will be contacted by individual teachers prior to each trip.  We try to rotate so that every parent who is interested gets a chance to go. Younger siblings can not be taken on the trips, as the purpose of a chaperone is to supervise a class group of 4-6 students.  This can not be adequately done if a chaperone is chasing a toddler.  Parents who are not attending a particular field trip need to feel assured that their child is being well supervised.

A Chaperone may not buy treats and “extras” for “his or her group”.  Though your intentions are good, this is unfair to other children who are not receiving treats, and puts other parent chaperones in an uncomfortable situation.

Chaperones must pay for their own ticket, lunch, entry fees, etc.  This cost is, of course, depending on the particular trip.

*       Chaperones must refrain from smoking on all field trips.

*       Discipline problems must be brought to the teacher’s attention.If taking your child from the field trip and not returning to school please sign them out in the morning.  In order for a parent to chaperone on a field trip all fees for their child must be paid in full.  This includes: cafeteria, aftercare, and library.

In case of illness or injury, a child will be cared for temporarily by a member of the school staff or the school nurse if she is on campus. Parents will be contacted and ill children are expected to be taken home, ex. temperature of 100^o or above, vomiting or diarrhea. If parents cannot be contacted and emergency medical treatment is necessary, the child will be taken to the emergency room.  REMEMBER THE

IMPORTANCE OF ACCURATE, CURRENT EMERGENCY NUMBERS ON FILE IN THE OFFICE.

*            Remember, no child may be checked out without presenting an I.D.

*            A child will not be dismissed to anyone who is not listed on the emergency card.

State law requires that every child who is admitted to public school must have evidence of a vaccination for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio.  Also required is a rubella/rubeola vaccination and a tuberculin skin test, and the hepatitis series.

Each student spends time each week with our librarian.  They will hear stories and share in enrichment activities.

Children check out a book each library period.  Children who want books more than once a week can exchange books any morning before class.

Children are not charged for late or overdue books.  We request however, that you do help your young child remember to return the books on his or her library day, as he or she may not check out a new book until the current book is returned.

You WILL be charged for damaged or lost books.  The charge is based on the cost of individual books with a minimum replacement charge of $10.  A refund of fines paid will not be issued until the end of the school year.

All clothing found on campus will be placed in the “lost and found” bins.  Please label all jackets, sweatshirts, caps, etc. with your child’s first and last names. Money and jewelry found will be sent to the office.  Such items may be claimed with proper identification. Periodically, the items are collected and taken to a charitable organization.

Media release forms are sent home the first week of school. Students may only be photographed, videotaped, etc. for publication IF this form is signed and on file in the school office.  Sometimes the local newspapers drop by to photograph special events.  The pictures can not be used unless all students photographed have a media release form. Technology use agreements must be on hand so that teachers may use the internet to visit appropriate web sites with their class.

Parents please remember when posting pictures or videos of your children on social networking sites or internet to not include other Cypress Cove Elementary students.  Some parents have not signed a media release and they do not want pictures of their children on the internet.

DO NOT SEND ANY MEDICATION TO SCHOOL. TEACHERS AND STAFF ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ADMINISTER MEDICATION TO STUDENTS.

Exception: If your child is on long term medication (ex. Ritalin), you may request a St. Tammany Parish medication form from the school office and have it completed by your physician.  The medication will then be administered through the office. This does not include antibiotics, cough or pain medicine, ear drops, etc.

Please, only emergency messages can be relayed to teachers and students during the school day.  The entire class is disrupted and teaching is stopped each time a message is relayed to a classroom.

Please remember to provide your child with lunch money, library books, snacks, and supplies so that classrooms do not have to be disrupted.  Use the form at the end of this book to keep track of your child’s schedule.

REMINDER:  Changes in bus or car dismissal plans may not be done over the phone.  These must be put in writing and approved by the principal.  A written note must be sent to the teacher whenever there is any change in transportation.  The teacher will send the note to the office for approval.

Messages are sent home from the teacher to parents in the form of weekly information sheets, calendars, and individual notes at certain times.

Our music teacher provides music and movement activities and instruction to all PreK, K, and 1^st grade students once a week. Our music teacher also directs school programs.

My Payments Plus is an online payment processing system. This service may be used to pay school lunch, supplies, field trips, and after school care.  Parents may log on to the online pay service on the School system website at www.stpsb.org or Cypress Cove Elementary website http://cypresscoveelementary.stpsb.org/.

Parents may pay fees using echeck or Mastercard, Visa, or Discover cards.  You will not be charged a user fee and all school fees charged to parents will be the same whether paid online or at the school through checks or cash.  The payments can be made online by parents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  My Payments Plus does not save or store bank or credit card information.

**Please note that we are no longer accepting cash or checks. All payments must be made through My Payments Plus.

Heidi Boudin is a registered nurse assigned to Cypress Cove students.  She coordinates yearly vision and hearing screenings for kindergarten, and first grade students.  Dates for these screenings will be provided when scheduled.

She also monitors student health records and informs the parent if medical attention is needed.  She conducts “lice” checks periodically. ( NOTE:  If a child is found to have lice, parish policy requires that they be excluded from school.  They may not return until they have been cleared by one of the school nurses.)

The Cypress Cove Elementary faculty, staff, parents, and students share the responsibility for educating the whole child.  Parents are a key component in this process.  Communication between school and home is a vital link to ensure that students understand the importance of academic excellence.  Parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education through the many activities provided by the school and/or PTA. 

Parental involvement occurs in the following ways:

Family School Communication

•    School website

•    Weekly teacher newsletter

•    Monthly PTA Newsletter

•    Home & School Connection

•    Breakfast and Lunch menus

•    CCE Handbook

•    PTA meetings

•    PTA Board meetings

•    Parent Conferences

•    Telephone Conferences

•    Newspaper articles•  I.E.P.s.

•    SBLC

•    New Parent Spring Orientation

Family Involvement Activities

•    Fall Open House

•    Field Trips

•    Volunteering

•    Class Parties

•    Seasonal Family Art projects

•    Meet the Teacher

•    PTA Safety Poster Contest

•    PTA Reflections Contest

•    Daily live weather reports

•    Home & School Connections activities

•    CCE Spring Fling

Special Events encouraging Family Involvement

•    Mardi Gras Ball

•    Teddy Bear Tea

•    Easter Hat Parade

•    Grandparents’ Luncheons

•    Monthly Birthday celebrations

•    Buddy’s Breakfast

•    Character Awards

•    Class Programs

•    Kindergarten Programs

•    Library Book Fair

Cypress Cove Elementary encourages parent participation in all aspects of the school operation.  Volunteering is encouraged in order to enhance the effectiveness of all student learning opportunities.

REMINDER:  ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST SIGN IN AT THE OFFICE. EACH TIME YOU VOLUNTEER, YOU WILL BE GIVEN A STICKER TO WEAR IDENTIFYING YOU TO FACULTY, STUDENTS, AND STAFF AS A FRIEND AND A HELPER.

We will have three (3) parties this year.  Party time is in the afternoon from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.  Room mothers or fathers will contact parents for help with refreshments or games.

HALLOWEEN:

The Halloween party will have a “happy - not scary” theme.

CHRISTMAS:

Teachers handle this party with some variations, so specific details will be sent home from your child’s teacher at the appropriate time.

EASTER:

Depending on the weather, many classes choose to have egg hunts or relay activities outside.  Your child’s teacher will send specific information at the appropriate time.

BIRTHDAYS:

Some parents send in a birthday treat.  That is entirely up to you. However, keep it simple and be courteous by informing the teacher ahead of time.  Treats cannot be eaten before lunch.  Birthday party invitations should be taken care of at home unless the ENTIRE class is invited.  Balloons or flower deliveries to students are not allowed.

PBIS is a proactive way to deal with behaviors.  Students are taught how to behave or “going to school” behaviors.  This program is built on positive reinforcement of appropriate behaviors as well as consequences and learning opportunities for inappropriate behaviors. At Cypress Cove Elementary our expectations are: 

Care

Connect

Enjoy

PreK, K, and 1st grade students receive 150 minutes of Health or P.E. per week.  Sixty (60) minutes per week is spent with our P.E. teachers. Their program, “Every Child A Winner” encourages movement and creativity, in a non-competitive atmosphere.  

In 1994-95, Cypress Cove Elementary’s PTA became a new unit in the St. Tammany Parish District PTA organization.  Our goal is to continue the hard work and dedication that they exemplified.  They, through their affiliation with the Parish, State, and National PTAs, support quality education and a safe environment for our children.  We encourage you to join our Parent-Teacher team.

Notes from the PTA will be on light blue paper.  Check out the CCE website for the PTA link

Please put any receipt you receive from school in a safe place! If you need a refund from school for any reason, you must provide the ORIGINAL receipt.  We are not able to refund money with photocopies of receipts

Report cards go home at the end of each grading period.

GRADING AND PROMOTIONAL POLICY

Pre-Kindergarten

2^nd and 4^th quarter: Teacher will contact parents to schedule conferences to discuss progress.

Kindergarten

Content area grades are: Reading, Language Arts, Math, and Conduct.

2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th quarter:

O - Outstanding/Exceeds stated goals

S - Satisfactory/Meets stated goals

N - Needs Support/Progressing toward stated goals

First Grade

Content areas graded are: Reading, Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies. 

Grading scale is A, B, C, D, F for content areas and O, S, N, U for conduct.

Below are the rules for all areas of the school campus.

Cafeteria:

• Quiet
• Hands to self

 Hall:

• Quiet
•  Walk on line
• Hands to self

Bathroom:

•  Quiet
• Hands to self
• Flush and Wash

Playground

• Hands and Feet to self
• Be nice and take turns
• Freeze on Knees when bell rings
• Listen to duty teachers

MANDATED CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION

EDUCATION AND REPORTING PROGRAM

As mandated by the St. Tammany Parish School Board, students in grades K-8 will receive instruction on the topic of Child Sexual Abuse Prevention, Education and Reporting.  All materials that will be used in the instruction may be previewed by contacting the school administration.  The school counselor will keep you informed about dates regarding such materials.  We would also like to encourage you to talk with your child about this topic as well as other general safety issues.

Currently, we have three speech therapists.  They identify, evaluate, and service children in areas such as articulation and language development.  Most of their work is with small groups or individual instruction.

The Handbook on Attendance, Discipline, and Student Records clearly defines St. Tammany Parish’s policies in these matters.  Each student receives a copy of this publication at the beginning of each year. Please take the time to read these policies.

If a child is to go to anywhere other than their regular destination or is going home a different way, you must send a written request to his/her teacher.  This request will be sent to the office to be approved.

Telephone requests will not be accepted.

When sending someone to pick up your child from carline.  This person must come to the office prior to 3:15 pm, present identification, and receive written notification for your child to be released.  They will then return to the carline to pick up the child.  The duty teacher will ask for the written authorization prior to releasing the child for dismissal. Remember, no one is allowed to take a child from school unless he or she is listed on the emergency card.

Visitors are welcome at Cypress Cove Elementary, but we foremost want to ensure safety for your child.  The St. Tammany Parish School Board has implemented a system to confirm the identification of anyone checking into the office.  On your visit to the school, please be prepared to present your driver’s license to be scanned, which will produce a visitor’s pass.

•  All visitors must report to the school office immediately upon arrival.
•  No person shall go on school grounds or in any building without authority of the school office.
•  Visitors must receive an “official” visitor’s pass that must be worn the entire time while on campus.
•  Upon departing, visitors must report back to the school office to turn in the visitor’s pass.
•  Parents shall not visit the classroom unannounced for any reason.
•  Adult restrooms are located in the office for your use.

Please contact the school office several days prior to your move, as this allows the staff enough time to complete the necessary paperwork. You should check to see if library books, textbooks and lunch money are due.  This will save you time when you withdraw your child and will help to ensure that records can be sent without delay.  You must come to the office on the student’s last day to sign the Transfer/Withdrawal form.