Fountain Inn Elementary School:  Reaching for the Stars!
Welcome to the Fountain Inn Elementary School family!  We are all very excited and look forward to a positive year of working together with you and your student.  Throughout the year, there will be many activities for you to participate in.  Please take every opportunity to get involved.  We know that the best experience for your child is when we all work together as a TEAM. Please join us in our efforts to make this a successful and rewarding year for all. 
This handbook will provide you with a wealth of information about the expectations, regulations, and operations of Fountain Inn Elementary School.  If you have any questions that this handbook does not answer clearly, please feel free to call the school at 355-5100.

CONTACTING YOUR SCHOOL/TEACHER
The school telephone number is 355-5100. Parents will be able to leave a voice message and teachers are required to return the call within 24 hours. Parents wishing to confer with teachers on the phone are requested to limit their calls to before or after school. Students wishing to call home may use the school phone for emergencies only. Any change in the after-school routine needs to be given to the teacher in a note.

VISITING THE SCHOOL/CLASSROOM
We want you to feel free to visit our school anytime. However, for the safety of all students and school personnel, we do not permit parents or anyone else to be in the building or on school property without our prior knowledge and consent. All visitors are required to sign in at the front office and obtain a Visitor’s Pass.  Parents picking up students at the end of the day will be permitted to wait in the main lobby only.  Parents will not be allowed to wait in the hallways outside of their children’s classrooms nor outside of the gym and cafeteria areas.

PROTECTING INSTRUCTIONAL TIME
In order to continually increase student achievement, we must take steps to protect the instructional time in the classroom.  In order to do so, visitors will only be permitted to visit a child’s classroom if prior arrangements have been made with the teacher.  If you have not made prior arrangements with the teacher, we will be happy to set up an appointment with the teacherfor you.  Please feel free to contact our school administrators if you have questions or concerns.  Thank you for allowing us the time we need to provide quality instruction.

PATH to SUCCESS
Each Staff member at Fountain Inn Elementary School accepts responsibility for the maintenance of discipline and for the promotion of a program for the development of wholesome human relations.  A student’s behavior should conform to acceptable standards of conduct as established by the district wide Code of Conduct. To further assist students, the staff of Fountain Inn has established the following set of Lifelong Guidelines:

P:  Practice Safety
A:  Act Responsibly
T:  Treat Others with Respect
H:  Have a Willingness to Learn

CELL PHONES
Cell phones are not permitted by any student.  If a child does bring a cell phone to school it will be confiscated.  Parents may pick it up from the Principal’s office. 

WEAPONS
Weapons of any kind are illegal at school. These will be confiscated and the offender will be disciplined according to district policy.
The staff requests parental support in helping maintain appropriate conduct in the school.  Children’s behavior should reflect self -respect and consideration for the rights, feelings, and property of others.

GRADING SCALE
The School District of Greenville County's grading scale complies with statewide requirements. Elementary school students (grades 2-5) will receive a letter grade (A, B, C, D, or U) for each subject based on the new Statewide grading scale.
93 – 100+A    85 – 92=B    77 – 84=C    70 – 76=D    69 or below=F.  As a school we are addressing the issue of grading as it impacts our students.  Additional information will come home at the beginning of the school year.

AFTER HOURS With our desire to continually provide a safe environment for all, students and/or parents will not be allowed back in to classrooms once the school day has ended.  All teachers’ doors will be locked at the end of the day.  It is the responsibility of our students to be sure that they are bringing home all necessary materials each day in order to complete their homework and/or projects.

HOMEWORK and AGENDA BOOKS
Homework is a critical piece to your child’s success in school.  Homework will be assigned for the purpose of review and reinforcement of the day’s concepts that were taught.  It is expected that ALL homework assigned will be completed by the student.  Failure to complete homework could impact your child’s grades.  Homework will be attached to, or written in, your child’s daily work folder/agenda book.  All students will be held accountable for maintaining their daily work folders/agenda books.  Lost or stolen work folders/agenda books will need to be replaced by the family at the cost of $1.00 for folders and $5.00 for agenda books.

ARRIVAL PROCEDURES
For the safety and security of all students:

• All doors will remain locked throughout the school day.
• Students must arrive no earlier than 7:20 a.m. or have parent supervision while on campus.
• All students must come in to the building through the cafeteria if they arrive before 7:50 a.m..
• Students arriving after 7:50 a.m. are to use the main front entry to the school.
• After 8:00 A.M., the main front entry will be the only door unlocked.
• All students arriving after 8:00 a.m. must report to class with a tardy pass.
  

EARLY DISMISSAL OF STUDENTS
For the safety of each child, the parent must visit the office to properly release the student and notify the teacher. We will not release any student to anyone other than parents or legal guardians without express written permission from parents.  When picking up your child, please be prepared to show your photo ID.  This will be required at all times.

DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR CHILD-IF YOUR CHILD IS GOING HOME A DIFFERENT WAY THAN USUAL, THEY MUST HAVE A NOTE FROM THE PARENT TO THEIR TEACHER INDICATING THIS PLAN.

• The last early dismissal will be at 2:00 P.M.
• Parents may not call in to the office to change how a child is to go home.  Any changes must be expressed in writing.
• Bus and van riders will be dismissed from the bus and van pick-up area.
• Walkers and bike riders are to walk in a safe and orderly manner away from the school grounds using the sidewalks.
• Car riders are dismissed from the front of the school building. Parents are to follow a single lane of traffic and pick up their children in the designated covered area all along the front of the building. Cooperation in this procedure will help ensure the safety of your child. Do not ask your child to meet you in any other place on school property or to cross lanes of traffic.
•  Parents of students in kindergarten and first grade will be given a tag to place on their rear view mirror.  This will have your child’s name, grade, teacher, and ID number.  Parents must have the tag hanging in order to pick up their child in the K/1 loop.
• No students can be picked up from the gym doors.
• If you do not have your tag, you will need to pick up your child from the office.  There will be no pick up from the office between 2:00 - 3:00.  Parents will be asked to wait until children are brought in to the office.
• Students must be picked up no later than 3:00 P.M. Students picked up later than this time will need to be signed out from the office by the parent or guardian.

CAFETERIA PROGRAM
Our breakfast program runs from 7:20-7:50 a.m. Our lunch program begins at 10:30 a.m. and operates until 1:00 p.m.  Students may be eligible for free or reduced-price meals. An application may be obtained in the school office. All meals served must meet patterns established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, if a child has been determined by a doctor to have a special need which would prevent the child from eating the regular school meal, the school will make any substitution as needed. There will be no extra charge for the substitution. If you believe your child needs substitutions because of a special need, please get in touch with us for further information.  In fairness to all children, we request that parents who wish to eat lunch with their child refrain from bringing a meal from fast food restaurants. We encourage you to eat a school lunch with your child while at school.

DRESS CODE
The primary objective of the School District of Greenville County (TSDGC) is to provide a World-Class instructional program and learning opportunity for every student. The personal appearance of every student is an important component of establishing a safe environment for optimal learning and respect for one another. Students are expected to dress in an appropriate manner while on school district property or representing the school. Personal appearance shall be such that is does not disrupt student work or school order, become distractive to other students, or violate health and safety guidelines.
The following minimum standards apply throughout TSDGC and will be vigorously enforced. Principals may make additions to these standards.

• Student dress and grooming will be neat and clean.
• Shoes or sandals will be worn. Flip-flops (shower-type shoes) are not permitted. 
• No bare midriff shirts or blouses will be permitted.    
• No tank tops, spaghetti strap tops, halter-tops, or vests without shirts will be permitted.
• Shoulder straps have to be a minimum of 3 inches wide.           
•  No see-through or mesh garments may be worn.         
•  Hats, sunglasses, hair curlers, skullies, or do-rags may not be worn in the building.
• No clothing or jewelry will be permitted that displays profanity, negative statements about school, suggestive phrases, alcohol, tobacco, drug advertisements or other inappropriate phrases or symbols that could cause a distraction to the educational process.
• Shorts may be worn; however, they must be properly fitted and in good taste and may not be shorter than mid-thigh. Biker shorts or athletic shorts of any kind are not permitted.
• Skirts should fit and be in good taste and not be shorter than mid-thigh.          
• Clothing that inappropriately exposes body parts or underclothing is not permitted.
• Trousers/slacks/shorts must be worn at waist level. Because of safety reasons, excessively baggy trousers and clothing are not permitted.
• Non-human colored hair is not permitted.  If you have a question, please see the principal.
• Clothing may not drag on the floor.
• Extraneous articles hanging from clothing, such as chains or other articles are considered inappropriate, and will not be permitted
• Facial jewelry is only permitted to be worn on the ears.
• Heelies with wheels are not permitted.  If they are worn to school, they will be confiscated by the principal.

HEALTH ROOM VISITS
1. Written permission from the parent or legal guardian for each medication is required.                                                                          
2. Prescription medication and Inhalers require written documentation from a physician.
3. Unlabeled medication or medication sent without proper written permission Will Not Be Given.
4. If your child is sick, do not send him/her to school. If he/she has a fever greater than 100, the child should not come to school.
5.  Do not send medication to school with your child.  You must give it to the nurse yourself.
Notes from Home
The school requires notes from parents explaining the following:
1. absences
2. request for an early dismissal
3. request to stay in from recess or PE. due to illness
4. permission for field trips
5. permission to go home with another student6. change in usual method of transportation
7. authorization to administer medication or prescription drugs (form available in the health room)

FIELD TRIPS
Participation in field trips is subject to students having demonstrated acceptable classroom and school behavior. Students who have received multiple disciplinary referrals may not be permitted to participate in a field trip activity or a parent may be asked to attend.  If a student is denied participation due to disciplinary concerns, he/she should still attend school and complete alternative assignments that will be provided.  All chaperones must complete the National Offender Registry screening before being permitted to chaperone a field trip.

HOW MANY DAYS MUST MY CHILD ATTEND SCHOOL?
In accordance with the State Compulsory School Attendance Law, uniform rules for all schools have been adopted to assure that students attend school regularly. Students are counted present only when they are in school, on homebound instruction, or present at an activity authorized by the school principal. Questions regarding attendance rules should be directed to the principal.

• The school year consists of 180 school days. To receive credit, students must attend at least 85 days of each 90-day semester course and at least 170 days of each 180-day year course, as well as meet all minimum requirements for each course. Accrued student absences may not exceed ten (10) days during the school year. Any absence in excess of ten (10) days may cause the student to lose credit for the year.
• Because 170 days are the minimum required by the state, the first ten (10) absences may be lawful, unlawful, or a combination. All absences after the 10th day must be excused with a doctor’s note or by the principal.
• In order for a child to be considered present for a school day, he/she must be in school for a minimum of three hours (11:00 a.m.).
• Being in school for less than three hours on a given day will impact a child’s perfect attendance status.

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF STUDENTS WHO RIDE THE BUS?
To ensure safety of students who ride school buses, the School District of Greenville County has trained bus drivers in the Assertive Discipline Program. This program is based on bus riders' adherence to rules for appropriate conduct and certain consequences that will ensue if these rules are not followed. Principals, bus supervisors, and drivers have formulated these rules and consequences and will communicate them to students.
Each bus rider is expected to follow the driver's directions:
1. Sit in the assigned seat;
2. Keep hands, arms, legs, and objects to himself/herself;
3. Refrain from cursing, name calling, gestures, or loud talking;
4. Refrain from pushing, shoving, or annoying other students;
5. Refrain from eating, drinking, chewing gum, or littering;
6. Abide by the discipline code.
If a student violates these rules, certain consequences will follow:
1st incident - driver warns student;
2nd incident - driver will relocate the student to another seat;
3rd incident – driver will complete a bus suspension referral:                                                                                                                                                     
If you have bus concerns, please contact Transportation at 355-1289.                                                                                                                                                  
PROFANITY FREE SCHOOL ZONE:
Schools and other school system locations are profanity free zones.  Obscene, vulgar, and profane expressions of any kind are prohibited.  Any student using profanity while on school system property, attending a school-sponsored event, or representing the school or school system will face appropriate disciplinary action as outlined by the Code of Conduct.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IN EDUCATION
The School District of Greenville County does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, color, handicap, religion, or national origin in its dealing with employees, students, the general public, applicants for employment, educational programs activities, or access to its facilities.

AIR QUALITY POLICY
Fountain Inn Elementary has established a voluntary “anti-idling” policy.  We ask that drivers turn off their engines while waiting in their cars to pick up students or adults, weather permitting.  We hope to reduce respiratory problems for our students and staff and improve the air quality around our school.