Hunters Creek Elementary

Addres= s/Phone Number Changes

· = Notify the front office, if you have a change in address, home phone, or work phon= e.

· = Notify the front office if there are any changes to your Student Enrollment Card a= nd the Clinic Emergency Card. Th= is information is critical in case a child becomes ill or injured.<= /span>

Arriva= l and Dismissal

· Arrival Times: -- Students may enter the classrooms at 7:50 a.m. Students in grades K-2 arriving be= fore 7:50 a.m. wait in the cafeteria where staff is on duty to supervise them. Students in grades 3-5 arriving be= fore 7:50 a.m. wait in the gym. Students may not arrive before 7:30 a.m. since no one will be on duty to supervise them.&nbs= p; At 7:50 a.m., students are lined up in an orderly fashion and dismissed to their classroo= ms.

· Students Arriving by Bus: -- Buses enter the driveway off of Wa= de Hampton and deliver students between 7:30 a.m. and 7:50 a.= m. The buses generally run on time, b= ut if a bus should be late, the students riding that bus will not be counted tardy.

· Students Walking or Biking to School: -- Walkers should = use the Beinhorn entrance to the school, always crossing with the crossing guards. Walkers who live nort= h of the school should enter from the track.&nb= sp; Students biking to school should bring a lock to secure their bicycl= es while on campus. <= /span>

· Students Arriving by Car: -- Students transported to school by = car should be dropped off and picked up only at Parent Drive off of Flint River. Faculty, parent volunteers, and student patrols will be on duty at Parent Drive to assist students. Numbered cones will be used to designate drop-off points. Cars should enter Parent Drive and proceed through the parking lot to the farthest available cone. Students should exit the cars quic= kly in order to keep the line moving.

· Congestion in Parent Drive: --To avoid the congestion in Parent D= rive and prevent being tardy, please arrive as close to 7:30 a.m. as possible. Also, to help ease the congestion = and traffic, parents are strongly encouraged to use the buses and form carpools= . In addition, limousines are prohib= ited from using Parent Drive.

· No Drop Off/Pick Up Zones: -- To keep the students safe and prev= ent disruption of traffic, students should not be dropped off on the streets surrounding the school, including Flint River, Wade Hampton, and Beinhorn, or in the parking spaces along Beinhorn. Beinhorn has been striped indicati= ng this policy. Pulling into and backing out of the parking spaces along Beinhorn greatly impedes the flow of traffic. Under no circumstanc= es should the handicap parking spaces be used for drop-off or pick-up if you a= re not in an identified handicapped vehicle.&= nbsp; Any stopping or standing on Beinhorn is a hazard, and the City of Hunters Creek Village has asked that we keep the traffic on Beinhorn flowing. The driveway off of = Wade Hampton is reserved for bus use only.

· Students Arriving Late: -- There will be no staff member on duty in = Parent Drive after 8:00 a.m. Students in grades 1 – 5 arriving after 8:00= a.m. should proceed to the office for a tardy slip before going to their classro= oms. Kindergarten students who are tardy should proceed directly to their classroom, where the teacher will record t= he tardies and forward them to the office.&nb= sp;

· Dismissal: -- For dismissal, teachers from each grade level will group the students into three categorie= s: (1) bus riders, (2) walkers, and (3) students departing through parent drive. Each group shall be es= corted by a teacher to the appropriate dismissal area. No student shall be allowed to rem= ain behind.

· Students Departing by Bus: -- Bus riders and daycare riders will= be taken to the driveway off Wade Hampton.&nb= sp; Students will wait in bus lines until they are instructed to board t= he school buses or daycare vans. Students in the bus line will not be released to an adult without proof that the chi= ld has been checked out through the office.

Students Walking or Biking Home: -- Kindergarten wa= lkers are required to wait in the hallway of the kindergarten wing until an adult arrives to pick them up and walk them home. Older students will be escorted and= released by a grade level teacher to the front of the school for those living south = of Beinhorn or to the back of the school for those living north of the track.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Parents of walkers are urged to ha= ve their child walk home with a friend for safety.

· Students Departing Through Parent Drive: -- Students depart= ing by car will be taken to the covered hardtop for pick-up at Parent Drive. Faculty responsible for Parent Dri= ve will place the students in lines according to grade level. Numbered cones a= re used to designate pick-up spots. Parents will be directed to a cone by a staff member with a megaphone. Parents should proceed to the desi= gnated cone to pick up their child. =

· Car Decals for Parent Drive Pick-Up:-- All HCE families will be assigned t= wo decals to visibly hang from the vehicle’s mirror for identification purposes. This is an added measure for student safety. Students will only be placed into a car with this recognition piece. The decal can be shared with anyone authorized by the parent to pick-up their children (grandparents, nanny, neighbor). However, if a car = does not have the decal, then the driver will need to proceed to the front offic= e to pick up the child. Additional decals may be purchased in the office for a cost of $2.00.

· Hardtop: -– For the safety and accountability of all childr= en, parents should refrain from walking to the hardtop to pick up their childre= n. Students who remain on the hardtop= after the carpool line has been completed will be taken to the office by a teache= r. Dismissal through Parent Drive begi= ns at 3:00 p.m. and usually is completed by 3:15 p.m.

· Changes in Dismissal Method:

o&nb= sp; Planned: If there i= s a change in your child’s usual method of dismissal, please send a dated= and signed note to your child’s teacher.= This note should specifically state how your child will be going home that day. If a student will be going home with another student, that student’s parent should also se= nd a note. If your child regularly attends a Day Care program after school and a change of dismissal is needed, please contact the Day Care to inform them of the change as well.

o&nb= sp; Students will be expected to follow the normal routine unless a written note is sent= by a parent.

o&nb= sp; Unexpected: If a chang= e of transportation is necessary during the school day, please notify the office, prior to 2:00 p.m. by FAX at 713-365-4937 or by e-mail to bo= th nancy.hastings@spring= branchisd.com and susan.gaines@spring= branchisd.com.

· Early Dismissal Days: –- Students are dismissed at 12:00 p.m. on district early dismissal days. All buses run= their normal routes on these days. = Be sure to make arrangements for your child on these days.

Refer to the district calendar for the specific dates of elementary early dismissal.

· Handicap Spots: –- Certain parking spots have been designated for handicapped persons only.&n= bsp; If a vehicle occupies a handicap space, proper identification is needed. These parking spots a= re monitored by SBISD and Village police.&nbs= p; As a courtesy to the HCE community, please abide by this policy.

· Flag Pole: –- The flag pole has been designated as an area in which parents will meet their child after school. For safety reasons, no child will = be dismissed from the flag pole to a car parked on any campus street. For safe= ty reasons during dismissal, parents will not be permitted to wait for their c= hild on the benches outside of classrooms doors.

Attend= ance and Absences

· Absence Policy: -- Students are required to be present 90% of the school year. For any child reaching 18 absences in a given year, whether excused or unexcused, the sch= ool will hold a Grade Placement Committee meeting to determine promotion. Members of the committee will deci= de if the child is able to be promoted to the next grade level based on the amoun= t of academic loss that has taken place due to the absences. Parents are a part of this committ= ee, along with teachers and administration.&nb= sp; These meetings are held in late spring.

· Attendance Recorded: -- Attendance is taken at 9:00 a.m. In order to be considered present, a child must be in his/her classr= oom at 9:00 a.m. Please consider scheduling appoint= ments after 9:00 a.m. for attendance purposes.

· Calling in an Absence: -- For safety reasons, parents of students w= ho are absent should phone the front office by 9:00 a.m. If no notification is received by = 9:45 a.m. on the date of th= e absence, then the registrar will call parents. A note/e-mail will still be required for attendance/absence note purposes.

· Checking Students Out of School: -- No student will= be released from school except to a parent, guardian or designee, as indicated= on the yellow Student Enrollment Card or white Student Information Form. When taking a child out of school,= the parent, guardian or other designee, must first come to the school office and sign the student out, specifying the reason for early dismissal. Anyone taking a child from school = will be asked to show proper identification.

· Excused/Unexcused Absences: -- Please refer to the SBISD Elementa= ry Student/Parent Handbook to determine whether an absence is excused or unexcused.

· Tardy Policy: -- The school bell rings at 8:00 a.m. Any child not in the classroom aft= er the bell has rung, is considered tardy. Children receive a tardy if they arrive at school anytime between th= e 8:00 a.m. and the 9:00 a.m. bell. Hunters Creek does not differentiate between excused and unexcused tardies. Under special circumstances, a Principal may excuse all tardies for the campus. These circumstances can include inclement weather and/or a campus emergency. Please note that children arriving= to school on a late bus are permitted to enter class without being considered tardy. SBISD excuses these ta= rdies automatically.

Because tardies are considered a “part of the day”, we follow the Texas Education Code regulations for reporting absences and tardies. The regulations state that ten (10) tardies in a 6-month period are excessive.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> At HCE, our Assistant Principal wi= ll send you an initial letter if your child is tardy approximately 6 times in a 6-month period. A second lett= er will be sent home if you reach the regulation limit of 10 tardies in a 6-mo= nth period. At this point, it is necessary to call our campus to talk with the Assistant Principal. Finally, HCE will refer your case = to the SBISD Truancy Department if the number of tardies reaches 15 or more so tha= t we are compliant with all regulations.

· Withdrawal: -- Student must have a note from the parent/guardian sta= ting the reason and date of withdrawal from school. The HCE registrar requires a 24-ho= ur notice before a student can be withdrawn.&= nbsp; The student’s textbooks must be returned, and all other accoun= ts must be cleared before the student’s records will be sent to another school.

&= nbsp;

Bell Schedule

&n= bsp; 7:50 a.m. Students to classrooms<= /span>

= 8:00 a.m. Class starts/tard= y bell rings

= 9:00 a.m. Attendance entered by homeroom teachers

= 3:00 p.m.<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'> Dismissal to buse= s, walkers, parent drive, and daycare

Benchm= arks

Students in grades 1-5 participate in District created assessments at various times of the year. These benchmarks are designed to a= ssess mastery of curriculum and are not recorded in a teacher’s grade book.= These tests are used as a diagnost= ic tool for instructional purposes only. District policy does not allow Benchmarks to be sent home; however, = test scores will be shared with students.

&= nbsp;

Bus

· Kindergarten= Bus Riders Student Behavior:-- Students will be expected to sit facing forward with closed backpacks in their laps while waiting in line for the b= us.

· Rules: -- School bus transportation is a privilege, not a right. The Administration may suspend a student from riding t= he school bus for any violation of the following rules and regulations:

o&nb= sp; Students shall obey the driver's guidelines and help the driver to assure safety at = all times.

o&nb= sp; The student must ride only the bus he/she is assigned. Buses will load and unload only at designated stops.

o&nb= sp; Students are to keep feet on the floor and out of the aisles. Head, arms, and hands are to be ke= pt inside the bus.

o&nb= sp; Students must not shout or throw objects at passing persons or

vehicles.

o&nb= sp; Fighting and profane language are not permitted.&nb= sp;

o&nb= sp; No animals are allowed to ride buses.

o&nb= sp; Parents are not permitted to ride buses unless they are a designated chaperone for a field trip.

o&nb= sp; Students must remain seated during the entire duration of the bus ride.

o&nb= sp; Parents are responsible for supervision of the bus stop area prior to the arrival of the bus.

o&nb= sp; Should you have a concern about an incident that occurred on the bus, please notif= y Belinda Henry, AP, and/or SBISDTransportation @713-251-1060.

Cafete= ria

· Student Behavior: -- = The following behaviors are expected to be displayed by all students during the= ir visit to the cafeteria for lunch:

o&nb= sp; Use a quiet (6-inch) voice to communicate with peers

o&nb= sp; Raise hand for assistance and all questions

o&nb= sp; Remain in seat unless given permission to move from the table

o&nb= sp; Use appropriate table manners

o&nb= sp; Clean up eating area

o&nb= sp; Sharing of food is prohibited

· Eating With Child: -- <= /span>One or two persons m= ay eat with a child in the cafeteria.

o&nb= sp; K-5^th Due to limited space, a separate table has been designated as the parent table.

· Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value: -- Four categories of foods and beverages are restricted by t= he US Department of Agriculture under the child nutrition programs, including soft drinks, water ices, chewing gum, and certain candies. In order to adhere to this policy, students are not permitted to pac= k a soft drink for lunch or bring chewing gum to school. In addition, we discourage the consumption of water ices and candy on campus.

· Lunch Money: -- Student lunches can = be paid for on a daily basis or in advance.&n= bsp; Methods of payment include cash, checks, or on-line transactions. Sending large amounts of cash with= a child is highly

discouraged.&= nbsp; Checks may be written to SBISD and labeled with the child’s lu= nch number. A student’s lun= ch number is the assigned ID number given at registration. This number will remain with the s= tudent as long as she/he is enrolled at a SBISD school. HCE lends children a “Borrow” limit of $5 to their lunch account any time an account reflects

an amount owed greater than $5. The child will be provided a cheese sandwich for lunch until the debt is paid.

Cell P= hone

For students needing to have a cell phone on campus, all phones must be turned off and remain in backpacks during school hours. Should a cell phone ri= ng or be taken out during the day, it will be confiscated by staff and given to t= he Assistant Principal. The Principal may ban the use of cell phones on campus= any time they cause a disruption.

Chaper= ones on Field Trips

The guidelines for chaperones on grade level f= ield trips are as follows:

· Principal will approve all chaperones.

· Ratio of 1 chaperone per 10 students will be enforced.

· Chaperone must be an approved district volunteer.

· Chaperones may ride SBISD buses, if space permits.

· Chaperones may travel in personal vehicles.

· Chaperone does a head count of students frequently during the trip.=

· Each child should have their ID badge on at all times.

· Chaperones should not buy items for students during the trip.

· All chaperones will be given a form from the classroom teacher on the day of the trip with specific guidelines of the duty to be performed.

&= nbsp;

CIT (C= ampus Improvement Team)

The HCE Campus Impro= vement Team (CIT) is composed equally of school and non-school personnel. School CIT members are elected by = a vote of their peers in February. Non-school CIT members are selected by lottery, in conjunction with = the school CIT member elections. = The non-school portion

of the CIT is made u= p of parents, a business representative, and a community representative. According to district policy, the = Campus Improvement Team's

role is to advise the Principal on decisions in the areas of goal setting, curriculum, budgeting, staffing patterns, and school organization. Copies of the SBISD Site-Based Management Plan are available from the Superintendent's Office at the Administration Building, = 955 Campbell Road.

&= nbsp;

Clinic=

The school nurse is = in charge of the clinic. She will assist students if they are sick or injured or if they need to take medicat= ion at school. Students are encou= raged to go to her with health-related problems or concerns. Students are never permitted to ta= ke medication (even aspirin) unless they are in the clinic and supervised by t= he nurse.

· = Immunizations: -- Please refer to the SBISD Student/Parent Handbook for a complete list of immunization requirements.

· Prescription/Medication: -- Prescription medication can be administer= ed at school only when there is a request to administer it. This request must be signed (no st= amps accepted) by the physician (or dentist) and parent. The medication must be = in the original container and properly labeled by the pharmacy. The request mu= st give the name of medication, dose, time and dates to be given.

· Non-prescription medications: -- Can be administered at school if t= he medication is provided by a parent with an accompanying written =

request signed by the parent giving the name of the medication, dose, time and dates to be administered. The medication mus= t be in the original container. No medication will be administered that is not in its

original packaging, labeled by the manufacturer. For medications= given on an ”as needed” basis, the note must state how often they can= be given (how many hours between doses).

· Medication may not be sent with a child in a lunch or backpack for “self-medicat= ing” at school.

· Sick Child at School: -- When a child becomes sick or injured at school, the nurse will reference the Clinic Emergency Card for contact information. A child will rem= ain in the clinic until a parent or designated person comes to the school to addre= ss the situation. A child should= be fever-free for 24 hours before returning to school.

&= nbsp;

Commun= ication to Home

Communication is valued at Hunters Creek. Information is given in a variety of ways, including weekly folders, student planners, emails, the phone call-out system, the school newsletter, the school website, and the school marquee.<= /span> <= /span>

&= nbsp;

Counse= lor

· Developmental Guidance Program: -- Hunters Creek h= as a Developmental Guidance Program where all children have the opportunity to enhance the skills necessary to help them become responsible, successful le= arners. Our full time counselor implements the Texas Guidance Curriculum. This curriculum is designed to help students acquire age-appropriate knowledge and skills within the following = content areas:

o&nb= sp; Self-confidence development

o&nb= sp; Motivation to achieve

o&nb= sp; Decision-making, goal setting, planning and problem solving

o&nb= sp; Interpersonal effectiveness

o&nb= sp; Communication skills

o&nb= sp; Cross-cultural effectiveness

o&nb= sp; Responsible behaviors

· Role of Counselor: -- The focus of the counseling program is to help build a supportive and caring environment so that students will achieve academic and personal success. The counselor is available to help parents a= nd teachers understand normal developmental growth stages

of children, as well as to work with students = in classroom guidance lessons, small groups and individually. Students may self-refer or be referred by teachers, parents or other school personnel.

&= nbsp;

Discip= line Management

If a child has demonstrated unacceptable school behavior, consequences shall be based upon a careful assessment of the circumstances of each case. Disciplinary action will follow guidelines set in the Student Code of Conduct section of the Elementary SBISD Student/Parent Handbook.=

&= nbsp;

Dress = Code

In order to maintain an academic focus, the following dress code is in effect at Hunters Creek and is required anytime a student is on school property, including the bus.

· Clothing should be neat and free from distasteful slogans

· Spaghetti strap tops and tank tops are not permitted

· Flip flop shoes are prohibited

· Caps, visors and bandanas may not be worn

· Tennis shoes are required for health fitness

· Pants and shorts are to be worn above the hipbone

· Shorts and skirts must be lower than fingertips extended down the student’s = side

The district prohibits any clothing or grooming that, in the principal’s judgment, may cause disruption of or interference with normal school operations.

&= nbsp;

Field = Trips

Forms and Rules: -- The school dist= rict usually provides one major field trip per grade level per year. The school or teachers may schedule other field trips. A student = must have a permission slip signed by the parent/guardian in order to attend any field trip.

All school and bus r= ules will be followed on every school-related field trip.

&= nbsp;

G/T Pr= ogram

Gifted programs provide a differentiated, enri= ched academic environment for students with advance learning abilities. The purp= ose of the SBISD Gifted and talented program is to identify students who exhibit characteristics of high general intellectual ability and to meet their spec= ial learning needs. General intellectual ability giftedness is seen in students= who show behaviors in three general clusters of characteristics: above average ability, task commitment and creativity.

Our gifted and talented program for kindergart= en, first and second graders is called PGP or Primary Gifted Program. From third through twelfth, the program is called SPIRAL, Spring Branch Program for Improving Reasoning and Accelerating Learning. Students identified for the primary gifted program (PGP) participate in a pull out program facilitated by the librarian. Third, fourth and = fifth grade students travel to the Bendwood Campus one day each week for SPIRAL classes.

Identification for the gifted and talented pro= gram takes place in the spring for elementary students. Parents, teachers and students themselves may nominate potential candidates. Students new to the district must be tested and qualify for the program unless they have been i= n a comparable gifted program in another school district with similar identification requirements.

Parents who are considering nominating their c= hild are strongly urged to discuss this recommendation with current and previous teachers before a recommendation is made to the counselor. Teachers are trained professionals= and can provide valuable feedback to parents regarding the characteristics of giftedness. Parents nominating their child for screening should send a note or email requesting the screen= ing to the school counselor.

&= nbsp;

Grading System

&n= bsp; Kindergarten reporting is conducted= using the following system:

· 1 =3D Needs Development

· 2 =3D Developing as Expected

· 3 =3D Advanced Development

First-Fifth grade conduct is reported using the following system:

· E =3D Excellent

· S =3D Satisfactory

· N =3D Needs to Improve

· U =3D Unsatisfactory

Second-Fifth grade academic progress is report= ed using the following numeric system:

o&nb= sp; A =3D 100-90

o&nb= sp; B =3D 89-80

o&nb= sp; C =3D 79-75

o&nb= sp; D =3D 74-70

o&nb= sp; F =3D 69-50

· Conduct: -- Conduct grades are given by both classroom teachers a= nd specialists. Please see your classroom teacher as to any grade level policies determining your childR= 17;s conduct grade.

· Honor Roll: –- Students in grades 2-5 participate in Honor Rol= l. To receive this acknowledgement the student must have all A’s or all A’s and one B. Additionally, the report card must contain no N’s. A child= ’s handwriting grade does not count towards Honor Roll status.

· Perfect Attendance: –-Students receiving perfect attendance recognition at the end of each 9 weeks have zero recorded absences. Only one tardy per nine weeks is permissible to still maintain perfect attendance.

· Progress Reports: –- Progress Reports are usually issued during the 4th week of each grading period. They are sent hom= e with students and must be signed by the parent/guardian and returned to school t= he next day. The Progress Report informs the student and parent/guardian of

grades and conduct in each subject.

· Promotion Requirements: -- In order to be promoted from one grade le= vel to another, a student must:

o&nb= sp; Maintain an average of an E or S in language arts and mathematics (Grade 1).

o&nb= sp; Maintain an average of 70% in the areas of language arts, mathematics, social studies and/or science (Grades 2-5),

o&nb= sp; Pass Reading TAKS in 3^rd and 5^th grade.<= /p>

o&nb= sp; Pass Math TAKS in 5^th grade.

When a child does not meet promotion criteria, school personnel and parents will meet as a committee, called the Grade Placement Committee, to make promotion or retention decisions.

· = Report Card Schedule: –- Report cards are distributed to stud= ents at the end of each nine weeks.

· = Retest Policy: -- If a student makes below 70% on a test, he= /she will have the opportunity to retest. Retesting should take place within one week af= ter the failed grade has been received. Re-take tests are given only once.&= nbsp; Teachers will then average the original score and re-test grade to determine a new final grade. = This final grade can not exceed 75%.

Homework

Homework is an out of classroom learning experience assigned by a teacher to enhance student learning. HCE Homework practice is aligned with the SBISD Homework Policy (= EIB local). Specific grade level Homework practices will be shared with parents= at Curriculum Night.

Roles and Responsibi= lities

·Students shall be responsible for:

· Completing assigned homework.

· Ensuring that he/she clearly understands the homework assigned, including assignment= s, expectations, and requests for clarifications or assistance from the teacher when homework assignments and/or expectations are not clear.

· Managing time and materials to complete any assigned homework.

The family shall be encouraged to:<= /p>

· Provide an environment for successful completion of assigned homework;

· Provide encouragement and support for successful completion of assigned homework without doing the homework for their child; and

· Contact the classroom teacher if their child is not consistently able to do the homework by him/herself or if challenges or questions arise.

Teachers shall be responsible for:<= /p>

· Encouraging a partnership with family and students that promotes timely, regular communication;

· Designing homework assignments that clearly articulate the purpose and expected outco= me;

· Sharing expectations regarding homework with students and parents at the beginning = of the school year;

· Ensuring that any homework assigned is directly related to classroom instruction and consists of clear, purposeful, and engaging activities;

· Assigning homework that is appropriate to the student’s age, developmental leve= l, learning style, skills, and individual needs;

· Teaching the skills necessary for the student to complete the homework and to become= a successful, independent learner;

· Articulating and carefully planning homework in partnership with other teachers both wit= hin and outside of the teacher’s subject area;

· Collecting, checking, grading, and otherwise processing homework and providing feedback= in a timely manner in accordance with preset expectations; and

· Estimating the amount of time it takes to complete homework when planning.<= /span>

Campus leadership staff shall be responsible f= or:<= /p>

· Communicating the school’s homework practices to teachers, parents, and students at= the beginning of the school year;

· Providing information to parents on the purpose of effective and purposeful homework;=

· Providing information to parents demonstrating how to support their children with homework, including but not limited to newsletters, websites, and open hous= es;

· Adopting building practices to ensure the coordination of major assignments due on t= he same day, including quizzes, tests, and projects; and monitoring the implementation of homework policies and regulations.

Hunters Creek Creed

“I promise to accept responsi= bility for my actions and to do my best in my classroom. Through teamwork and respect for o= thers, I will help make Hunters Creek a safe and friendly school in which everyone= can be successful.”

Identi= fication Badge

· All adults on campus are required to wear identification badges at all times. All Spring Branch Independent School District staff, including teachers, maintenan= ce workers, substitute teachers, and other district personnel, are required to wear district-issued badges. =

· Parents and other visitors are required to report to the office and show proper identification upon arrival at the campus to sign in and obtain a visitor’s badge. Any ad= ult who is not properly identified either by a district or visitor’s badg= e will be immediately directed to the office.&nbs= p; Parents dropping off students between 7:35 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. or picking up students between 2:50 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. are not required to sign in or wear a badge.

Issue Resolution Procedure

There may be a time during the year when you h= ave questions or concerns about your child, an issue with your child’s teacher, or the teaching and learning taking place in your child’s classroom. The first step to = take, when a situation like this occurs, would be to talk directly with your child’s teacher. Hopefully resolution with the issue can be reached at this initial meeting. If this conference setting is not successful, then the next step would be to involv= e an administrator. Most times, me= eting with the teacher can bring about clarification and resolution. If the matter needs to be addressed= with administration, a conference with all parties can be scheduled.<= /span>

&= nbsp;

Librar= y

The Hunters Creek Library is open to all Hunters Creek Elementary staff, students, and family members. Daily hours are from 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. <= /span>The mission of the library is to promote information literacy, support curriculum-based collaborative teaching, and endorse literature appreciation so that all students become self-directed lifelong learners and effective community citizens. Students come to the library to hear stories and book-talks, conduct research for class projects, learn how to use the library, and check out bo= oks.

&nb= sp;

The library has an = open checkout policy enabling students, with a pass, to check out new books throughout the day aside from their weekly scheduled library time. Each student has a library card with= a barcode, which is used to check out books. Parents and community members are encouraged to obtain their own library barcode from the librarian, so that they, too, can access and check out books from the HCE library on their own account. If a book is not ret= urned or renewed weekly, it becomes an overdue book. Reminder slips for overdue book/s = are sent home on a weekly basis. = Students must pay for lost books. If t= he book if found and returned, the student is reimbursed

&nbs= p;

Parent volunteers are an integral part of the HCE library program. They plan and staff two annual book= fairs and the Summer Reading Program, manage the Friends of the Library book dona= tion program, help shelve books, read to classes on occasion, and assist at the checkout desk.

The HCE library resources include an online public access catalog and= the SBISD Library Resources Page, both of which can be accessed from home. Passwords for the subscription databases on the Library Resources Page can be obtained from the librarian.= The HCE Library maintains a Web sit= e at this address: http://library.springbranchisd.com/sbisd=

library/Schools/Hunters%20Creek/hunters_creek.htm. <= /span>

Lost a= nd Found

Most lost and found = items are kept in the cafeteria in designated boxes. If however you do not find your ar= ticle there, please check with the office personnel and/or custodians. The recommendation to all families is to label all clothing items with the chil= d’s name. HCE and SBISD are not responsible for lost or stolen property.&n= bsp; Students are encouraged to keep expensive personal items at home and should carefully guard their possessions while on school grounds. Unclaimed items will be donat= ed to charity at mid-year and at the end of the school year.

&= nbsp;

Make-u= p Work

If a student misses class due to an excused absence, he/she is permitted to make up the work. A student must make arrangements w= ith the teacher to make up all assignments, including tests, class work, homewo= rk, and projects. A s= tudent has up to three days to complete missing assignments.

&= nbsp;

Office= Hours

7:= 30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Parkin= g

Parents and visitors may park in the spaces al= ong Beinhorn and in the lot off of Flint River. We encourage all families to use Storywood for parking purposes. Other staff designated parking spots are clearly labeled around campus. We ask that you respe= ct the parking places reserved for staff. <= /span>Parking for school events on Wade Hampton and Flint River is to be on one side of the street to allow for emergency vehicles to pass easily into the neighborhood.

&= nbsp;

Partie= s

· Birthday: -- Children with birthdays are acknowledged by coming to= the broadcast studio on their special day to be announced on TV. In addition classroom teachers have small tokens or moments of appreciation.&n= bsp; Birthday treats are not to be shared among the children. This policy was implemented in ord= er to be consistent with the nutrition guidelines. Please do not bring any treats to = be eaten during the day. Finally= , in order to keep an academic focus at school, we do not allow students to distribute birthday invitations during class time. This activity can be completed out= side of school hours.

· Classroom: -- District policy allows for two parties per year. Hunters Creek recognizes Winter Br= eak and Valentine’s Day as the two designated celebrations.

Pets on CampusFor the safety of all persons, especially children, we do not allow pets on campus, even those on a leash.=

Planne= rs

· = Grades 2-5: -- In order to help students with organizatio= nal skills and long-range goal setting, planners are issued with the pre-packag= ed school supplies, Students use = their planners in all classes to record their daily assignments, homework, and long-term projects. If a

student loses his/her planner or does not purchase the pre-packaged school supplies, he/she may purchase a planner from the school front office for $5.00.

&= nbsp;

Playgr= ound and Equipment

· After School Use of Premises: -- Visitors, students and parents may access the playground and/or track after 3:00 p.m. Students are required to check-in at home prior to playground use after hours.

· Track Usage: -- The track and playground are reserved for school use during school hours. Signs setting forth these restrictions are posted.=

Program Assembly Guidelines

Parents/guardians and community members are welcome to attend all school programs and assemblies. Every effort will= be made to keep parents/guardians informed of coming events. Please read the HCE PTA newsletter= and watch the school's marquee for program listings. The principal will be available to discuss parental or student concerns about programs.

· Parent Behavior: -- Parents are asked to be respectful of oth= ers during all programs. Please r= efrain from excessive talking and interfering with another’s line of vision = due to photography purposes.

· Sibling Rule: -- Siblings in other grade levels are not permitted to be taken out of class to view a program.

Recess

Recess is a daily activity afforded to all stu= dents, K-5. Parental presence at recess is discouraged.

· Recess Communication: -- To facilitate communication regarding stu= dent safety on the playground and track, several teachers carry a campus two-way radio during the outdoor time. Should an emergency arise on the playground, the office and/or nurse= are immediately informed of the situation in case assistance is needed.

&= nbsp;

Regist= ration

For information on registering new students, please call HCE at

(713) 251-6000 and a= sk to speak to the Registrar.

&= nbsp;

Safety= on Campus

· Locking Classroom Doors: -- Classroom doors must be kept locked throughout the school day whether the students are in the classrooms or elsewhere on campus.

· Individual Student Movement: --The “buddy system” is required for kindergarten students who need to leave their class during the day. Teachers must provide any students leaving the class with a clip-on badge/hall pass.

· Student supervision: -- Students on campus are supervised at all times. Kindergarten and First= grade students form two lines, with “paws in place” while transitioni= ng around school. Second through Fifth graders walk in one line, with hands at their sides, when moving around campus. Teachers walk at the back of their lines for supervision purposes. Students are prohibited from staying behind= in the classroom. =

· Lock down and fire drill procedures: -- Hunters Creek st= udents and staff participate in Lock Down drills and Fire drills which address the unlikely occurrence of incidents that are potentially dangerous to student = safety. All staff members are trained in b= oth procedures associated with these critical issues.

· AED:-- The Automated External Defibrillator is located in the front office.

&nbs= p;

· Safety Log and Incident Reports: -- The Assistant Principal will keep a log book that will report all incidents in which stud= ent safety is potentially compromised in order to accurately provide constructi= ve feedback regarding safety on campus.

School= Day Interruptions

Parents or visitors may not proceed to the classrooms without first checking in at the office and receiving permission. No interruptions = to the school day will be permitted except those of an emergency nature. Parents are required to bring forg= otten items or items needing delivery to students to the office. Office staff members will deliver = the items to the classrooms without interrupting instruction. Delivery of forgotten homework is = not permissible. Middle school st= udents may not visit campus during the day. All visits by former students must take place after school hours.

&= nbsp;

Sidewa= lks and Walkways

No one shall be permitted to ride bicycles, razors, skateboards, or roller blades on sidewalks or walkways before, duri= ng, or after school in order to maintain a safe environment for all staff and othe= rs walking on campus.

&= nbsp;

STAT

STAT, or Student/Teacher Assistance Team, is a campus level intervention team, which mainly consists of parents, teachers,= and administration. All may initi= ate a referral for a STAT meeting. = The Assistant Principal is the campus contact person to request a meeting. Common reasons to conduct a meeting regarding a child are:

· Below district and/or state academic performance

· Sudden change in grades or in behavior

· Poor grades in one or all subjects

· Poor conduct

· Poor organization or study skills

&= nbsp;

Student Directory

The HCE PTA publishes a new student directory = each fall. Each youngest child rec= eives a directory. Directory inform= ation comes from the Student Enrollment Card.

Student Leadership Opportunities:

· Broadcast Studio: -- Under the direction of our technology specialist and 5^th grade student= s, daily school announcements are made via the television. Children celebrating their birthda= y are welcome to come to

the studio at 7:40 a.m. so that they may be acknowledged on our an= nouncements.

· Leadership Council: -- Leadership Council consists of one representative from each third, fourth and fifth grade classroom. These representatives lead campus-= wide community service projects and provide opportunities for all students to sh= are ideas and opinions about school matters.&n= bsp; Council members are elected by their peers.

· Safety Patrols: -- Fifth grade students are afforded the opportunity to serve as safety patrol persons throughout the year. Some duties include escorting youn= ger children from cars, raising of the school

flags, assisting in bus drive area, and organi= zing playground equipment. Students serve nine week terms.