Welcome to Helena Intermediate School

1. Welcome to Helena Intermediate School 2010-2011 A tradition of excellence continues� for our 10th year!

2. Important items you will receive and KEEP today: HIS Parent-Student Handbook Shelby County Schools Code of Conduct Mylunchmoney.com student number Be an AR Star! Information Sheet Publix Partners in Education receipt sheet

3. Important items you will receive and RETURN* today: Transportation/Inclement Weather form Bus Rules and Emergency Information Sheet HIS Planner and Folder Payment Form Textbook form HIS Volunteer Form * (HIS needs YOU!) Classroom Donation Form * ($0.00 from state) PTO Membership Form * (Table at main entrance) (*optional but greatly appreciated!)

4. What�s new this year at HIS??? Be an AR Star! (15 points per 9 wks) Be an AR Superstar!! (30 points) Be an AR Megastar!!! (40 points) Recognition at an assembly and rewards will be given for each level of accomplishment! AR Stars will receive a free food/gift coupon! AR Superstars will receive a special invitation to a school party/event! AR Megastars will be entered into a drawing for the grade level grand prize (such as an Ipod)!

5. What�s new this year at HIS??? HIS Publix Partners in Education receipt sheet Use your HIS Publix Partners card every time you shop. Cut off the bottom of the receipt and list your receipt total Collect $1,000 in total receipts and participate in a Publix Popsicle Party! (or other special events to be announced)

6. Parent-Student Handbook Please read carefully and completely! (Most questions regarding our daily school operation are answered inside.) Please note: On the first day of school you are asked to let your child come to school and go home from school his/her �regular way� if possible. Parents are asked NOT to walk their children inside. Let your child develop responsibility and independence. Extra staff will be on hand to assist all students the first day.

7. Arrival/Dismissal Early morning care (EMC) is available from 6:30-7:00 A.M. at a cost of $2.00/day for early arrivers. Students may attend EMC daily or on an �as needed� basis. Register with EMC before sending your student. See the office for forms. If you are dropping off/picking up a child at HIS and another school (HES, HMS, PHS) in the morning or afternoon, you should come to HIS as your FIRST stop due to our early start time (7:45) and dismissal time (2:35). Students must be picked up by 2:50 each day. (Our car rider line moves very quickly and smoothly!)

8. Arrival/Dismissal Tardies will be excused for doctor�s appointments or car breakdowns. Oversleeping and traffic are NOT excused reasons for tardies. (Traffic will be accepted as an excused reason for a tardy only if we have a bus that is also late due to traffic, or if there is other administrative approval given.) If a student collects three or more tardies during a calendar month, a student will be assigned to Early Morning Detention (7:00-7:30)

9. Arrival/Dismissal For the first few days of school, we will begin preparing early for dismissal. We will assist students in going to their designated areas prior to dismissal time. Please note that our car riders are NOT assigned numbers. Our students watch for their car rides under the supervision of staff. Parents of 3rd grade car riders (or other students new to our school) should use the INSIDE LANE closest to the sidewalk until students become familiar with procedures.

10. Arrival/Dismissal Be sure your child knows afternoon transportation arrangements before coming to school each day. Send a note of any changes in transportation to the teacher by your child. (Do NOT email transportation changes since it may not be seen prior to dismissal). If you should need to make an emergency change, contact the school office at 682-5520 prior to 11:30 each day. PLEASE minimize emergency phone calls to the office regarding transportation changes.

11. Conduct We believe in the importance of helping our students become good citizens in our school community and in our world. Throughout the school year, we will randomly recognize and reward students for good character by giving them �Character Catchers.� Throughout the school year, selected students will receive a special lunch invitation to �Character Island� where we will celebrate their outstanding demonstration of character!

12. Conduct Minor behavior issues will be addressed within the classroom between the teacher and student. Consequences that may be used include classroom isolation or isolation in another teacher�s classroom. A conduct chart will be used to communicate with parents regarding significant or repeated behavior issues.

13. Conduct If a student receives a conduct mark, the student will miss the next recess time. (We DO have recess at HIS because we think it�s important for students to have time to play�but recess is a privilege�not a right!) If a student receives a conduct mark, he/she must have the parent initial the conduct chart that evening. If a student receives three conduct marks in a week, or if a student has a major behavior issue, the student will receive an office discipline referral.

14. Conduct An administrator will follow up on the discipline referral. Consequences that may be assigned include Morning Detention (held from 7:00-7:30 A.M.), In School Suspension (ISS), Out of School Suspension, or other consequences as outlined in the Shelby County Schools Code of Conduct. Morning detention will be held on Friday mornings from 7:00-7:30. Parents are responsible for transportation. It is important for parents to support our classroom and our school by having high behavior expectations for all students.

15. Attendance A note for any excused absence(s) must be turned in within three days of the child�s return to school. A doctor�s note must be provided for any absences beyond 12 days (not counting absences previously documented with a doctor�s excuse or court excuse). Children who show a fever must stay home and remain fever-free for at least 24 hours (without the aid of a fever reducing medicine). A child running a fever at school MUST BE PICKED UP IMMEDIATELY for the health of other students and staff.

16. Dress Code Students are not allowed to wear clothing, jewelry, or hairstyles that are disruptive to the educational process. Only natural hair colors are permitted. Clothing should be neat, clean, and not in �noticeable disrepair� (no rips, tears). Shorts should be �mid-thigh or longer.� We do not take the time to change shoes before/after PE. Appropriate shoes for PE should be worn to school (no sandals or flip flops).

17. Reading Information Students should make time to read at home everyday. As part of our AR Star! Program, we will soon be sending information home to allow parents to instantly receive an email reporting their child�s AR test results and points earned. Each student will be have a minimum goal of eight AR points for each grading period. Hopefully, we will have some AR Stars, AR Superstars, or AR Megastars in our classroom.

18. Math Information It is important that students work to develop a mastery of basic math facts. Midterm and end of nine weeks timed fact tests will be given to assess mastery of these basic facts. The timed fact tests each nine weeks will count 20% of the total math grade. Practice tests may be given in class throughout the nine weeks grading period to encourage mastery. Please work with your child at home on the mastery of basic facts.

19. PTO Our PTO supports our school in many ways and enables us to do many EXTRA things for our students. We express special appreciation to our PTO for the upcoming year. We hope to involve many parent volunteers this year in supporting many school events. Please consider joining PTO before leaving today ($10 membership dues payable to HIS). The PTO Membership Table is in the front lobby. (HIS Calendar with each membership)

20. If you need to contact a teacher�. You may email the teacher or call the office and leave a message. Emails and phone calls will ordinarily be returned within at least 24 hours. If circumstances are an emergency, call the school office and leave a message. The primary means of communication with parents will be the Weekly Class Newsletter (email or hard copy) and graded papers.

21. Important items you will receive and RETURN* today: Transportation/Inclement Weather form Bus Rules and Emergency Information Sheet HIS Planner and Folder Payment Form Textbook form HIS Volunteer Form * (HIS needs YOU!) Classroom Donation Form * ($0.00 from state) PTO Membership Form * (Table at main entrance) (*optional but greatly appreciated!)

22. Thank you for coming today and we look forward to a great year together!

23. Important items you will receive and RETURN* today: Transportation/Inclement Weather form Bus Rules and Emergency Information Sheet HIS Planner and Folder Payment Form Textbook form HIS Volunteer Form * (HIS needs YOU!) Classroom Donation Form * ($0.00 from state) PTO Membership Form * (Table at main entrance) (*optional but greatly appreciated!)