McGilvra Elementary School

Lunchroom

All students are expected to eat either the school lunch or one brought from home, in the lunchroom. Prepaid lunch and/or breakfast tickets may be purchased before school in the lunchroom.  Please make checks payable to Nutrition Services.  Applications for free and reduced lunch were mailed home in August.  Additional forms are available from the lunchroom manager.  A new form is needed each year.

Please note that free/reduced lunch numbers are used to determine budget allocations.  The higher the number, the more money allotted to the school budget.  If you think you qualify, even if you don’t intend to purchase school lunches, please apply so that our number can be at a maximum.

The lunchroom is no longer allowed to extend credit if milk/lunch money is not in hand.  Please be sure to keep your lunchroom account current and/or send milk/lunch money with your child whenever milk/lunch is to be purchased.

Breakfast is served between 8:40 A.M. and 8:55 A.M.  Lunch is served in three shifts, the first beginning at 11:55, the second at 12:05 and the third at 12:15.

Breakfast/Lunch Price List

Student Breakfast   $  1.25

Adult Breakfast        $ 2.25

Reduced Breakfast  No Charge

Student Lunch         $ 2.25

Adult Lunch             $ 4.00

Reduced Lunch        No Charge

Student Milk            $  0.50

Adult Milk                $  0.50

Early Dismissal From School

If you need to take your child out of school before the regular dismissal time you must come to the office and sign your child out on the Early Dismissal Sign Out Sheet in the notebook located on the front counter.  After you have signed your child out, the secretary will call the classroom for your child to meet you in the office.  A student will not be allowed to walk home alone before the regular dismissal time.  Please speak with the principal if you need further clarification on this procedure.

Telephone

It is necessary to limit student use of the telephone. Important/urgent messages will be communicated to a student.  When traffic or various other circumstances cause parents to be delayed, first call your child’s room.  If you get voice mail, call the office to report the delay or change, as voice mail may not be checked in time.

Use of cell phones on campus by students is not allowed, as phones are readily available in classrooms and the office for any reasonably necessary use.  If you want your child to have a cell phone for before/after school use, please send a letter to the principal.  Cell phones must be turned off during school hours.

Absences

When a child is not feeling well enough to participate fully in the regular school program, he/she is advised to stay home.  A child returning after any absence should bring a written note if his/her parent did not call the school and report the child absent.  Please notify the school if your child will be absent so that we can be sure your child is safe.  You may call directly to report an absence by calling 252-3164. Each day after attendance is taken in the classroom, we will call the home of students who are absent but whose parents have not yet notified the school, to make sure all of our students are accounted for and safe.  It helps us tremendously if you call the school to let us know of your child’s absence prior to the first bell at 8:55 A.M.  Please be sure the school office always has your current telephone numbers, including work and emergency phone numbers. If your child is late for school, please call or send a note telling us that you are aware of the tardiness.

Please schedule trips, vacations and other extended absences to take place during school breaks and not while classes are in session

Instrumental Music Classes

An instructional program in instrumental music is available to 4^th and 5^th grade students.  There is no cost for the instruction and some instruments are available to students on loan.  The instrumental music teacher will provide more information to 4^th and 5^th grade parents within the first few weeks of school.

Parties at School

Please check with your child’s teacher before planning any school birthday party.  Parents are asked to mail private party invitations rather than distribute them at school.

Progress Reports

Student progress reports are issued 3 times per year.  They are sent home with the students at the end of each trimester.  Parents are asked to sign the report envelope and return it to school so we know that it was received.  While valuable, the reports can’t substitute for personal contact with teacher and principal.  Parents are encouraged to talk regularly with school staff.

Conferences

There is one scheduled parent/teacher conference during the month of November.  However, parents should feel free to confer with the school staff any time.  Please make an appointment for these additional meetings directly with the teacher.

Preparation-Conference Planning Time (PCP)

Teachers receive a 30-minute period each day for instructional preparation, conference, and lesson planning.  Parents are encouraged to contact teachers to discuss student concerns or plans during that time.

Homework Policy

District policy requires that homework be assigned to all elementary students.  Homework provides valuable time to practice, maintain, complete, make-up, or enrich classroom activities.  It also helps develop independent study habits and appreciation for learning.  The following is a suggested range of minutes for homework per student.  Of course, individual students may require more or less time to complete assignments.

Grade K-2     5-10 minutes/day or 20–40 min/week

Grade 3-4     10-20 minutes/day or 40–80 min/week

Grade 5         20-40 minutes/day or 80–160 min/week

Homework Guidelines

In order to insure consistency, fairness, and flexibility, the following guidelines will be followed by all McGilvra staff when assigning homework:

• Homework will emphasize practice in skills previously taught by the teacher, make for lessons missed, remedial activities, or learning enrichment.
• Homework will be appropriate to the age, maturity, and needs of the student.
• Special consideration will be given to limiting assignments over weekend, holiday and vacation periods.
• Homework will not be used as a disciplinary measure.

Suggestions for Parents Regarding Homework

• Provide a regular time for homework in a place with minimal distractions.  Emphasize that homework is an important job that deserves respect from the rest of the household. This means that TV or other distractions will not disturb students.
• Praise your children for doing their job.  Remember that learning is not always easy, and they get tired, too.  A little encouragement can be a big help.
• Understand that children can get frustrated.  Let them know that this feeling is natural and part of the learning process.  Be patient.  Use your judgment as to when to stop.  We don’t want to teach children to quit as soon as the going get a little rough.  At the same time, we don’t want to overwhelm them either.
• Communicate concerns and questions to your child’s teacher immediately.