Welcome to Pre-K

DAILY SCHEDULE

The official School Day begins at 7:55 a.m. Students who are not in their rooms by 7:55 a.m. are counted tardy unless they are on a bus that is late arriving to school. Parents/Guardians of tardy students must enter the building and sign their student in at the front office.

Bus dismissal is the following:

PreK at 2:50 p.m. with buses departing at 3:00 to go pick up at LCMS/LCHS. 

Car Riders will be dismissed at 2:50 and should be picked up by 3:05.

DRESS CODE

Students who take pride in their appearance generally behave better in school and are more likely to do well in class. The standards of appearance for students shall ensure that pupils are clean, neat, and properly dressed. It is the responsibility of each teacher and administrator to see that the dress and grooming of the students are not so disruptive as to interfere with the teaching and learning atmosphere. The following outlines the code:

1) Shorts must be fingertip length or longer.

2) Skirts must be mid-thigh or longer, with shorts under for smaller children.

3) No spaghetti straps, halters, or open back shirts for girls. Straps must be 1”.

4) No midriffs; stomach cannot be exposed when arms raised.

5) Pants, shorts, and skirts cannot be ripped above the knee.

6) No undergarments can be exposed.

7) Tennis shoes must be worn on P.E. days.

8) Cut out muscle shirts are not permitted.

9) Shirts must be positive and cannot display profanity, inappropriate and /or offensive pictures/ words.

Students who do not follow the dress code will be provided a school shirt to wear over their clothing for the day. If a student needs shorts /pants, a parent must bring a change of clothes to the school for the student.

LUNCH AND BREAKFAST

PreK students eat breakfast as a class after the school day begins. The students may purchase school breakfast or bring a small breakfast from home.

Students may bring their lunch if they do not wish to participate in the school nutrition program. Students electing to bring their own lunch should bring it from home in the morning. Food is not to be delivered to school or brought in to students from an outside vendor. Lunch and/or breakfast should be eaten in the cafeteria only.  The first tray for students is at no cost. 

Absences From School

School attendance is the responsibility of the students and their parents/guardians. There is a direct correlation between good attendance and success at school. It is imperative that each student makes every effort to be in class every day of the school year. A Student Attendance Protocol Committee has been established for each County in Georgia (O.C.G.A. section 20-2- 690-2), to ensure coordination and cooperation among officials, agencies, and programs involved in compulsory attendance issues; to reduce the number of unexcused absences from school; and to increase the percentage of students present to take tests that are required to be administered under the laws of the State of Georgia. This committee is responsible for writing the attendance protocol and the consequences for parents, guardians, or other persons who have control or charge of children and fail to comply with compulsory attendance (O.C.G.A. section 20-2-2690.1). A summary of the Attendance Protocol and the possible consequences and penalties for failing to comply is as follows.

PERSONAL ILLNESS

Medical absences beyond five days a semester will be excused only with an original medical excuse signed by a healthcare professional. Parents must retain copies of all documentation of medical excuses for the duration of the school year and must present them to the applicable agency or Court upon request. Parents or students who claim that the absence is properly

excused bear the burden of providing copies of the medical excuses and/or other documentation of excuses, which may be demanded to be reviewed at any time. Excessive absences may be referred to the Department of Family and Children Services and the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

PARENTAL NOTIFICATION

Upon the student’s third and fifth unexcused absence, the school will notify the parent or guardian of the absences. Any parent, guardian, or other person residing in this state who has control or charge of a child or children and who shall violate O.C.G.A. 20-2-690.1, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine not less than $25 and not greater than $100, imprisonment not to exceed 30 days, community service, or any combination of such penalties, at the discretion of the court having jurisdiction.

Excused Absence Documentation

Students who are absent from school for excused reasons may have up to a maximum of five(5) absences per semester excused by providing a written excuse stating the reason for the absence, signed by the parent or guardian. Additional written parent excuses beyond five (5) will be marked unexcused. Any absences beyond five (5) per semester must be accompanied by medical documentation from a healthcare provider in order to have the absences validated as excused. In the event that funeral/bereavement leave causes a student to miss more than five (5) days per semester, a copy of the obituary or verification of funeral attendance shall be submitted. All excuses should be submitted within three (3) days of return to school. The excuse

must note the reason for the absence. A student cannot excuse his or her own absence. Excuses that are received after the third day back to school may not be accepted and the absence will be considered unexcused. The statement must include the reason for being absent, the date, a telephone number where the parent or guardian may be reached, as well as the signature of the parent or guardian. In accordance to Georgia law, excused admittance slips will be issued for the following reasons:

1. Personal illness *

2. Death or serious illness in the immediate family

3. Family military leave up to five days

4. Religious holidays

5. Weather conditions that create health and safety hazards for students

6. Administratively approved absences

7. Court Ordered or when mandated by governmental agencies

8. To serve as a page for the Georgia Assembly (Must be 12 years of age)

*Students with excessive absences for illness will be required to submit a doctor’s note for verification. Absences for any other reasons shall be considered unexcused. Failure to bring a note will result in the absence being deemed unexcused. On the day following an absence, the student must report to the front office to acquire an admittance slip. A record of the admittance slips will be filed in the front office.

The following procedure will be followed regarding student absences:

• Three (3) Unexcused Absences:

  • The school will make documented contact with the parent or guardian informing them of the attendance policy and the total number of absences.

• Five (5) Unexcused Absences:

  • The school will send a letter to the parent or guardian informing them of the attendance policy and the total number of absences.

  • Consequences of (5) Unexcused Absences:

  • Student may not be eligible to attend field trips.

  • Student may not be eligible to participate in extra-curricular activities.

• Ten (10) Unexcused Absences

  • The school will send a notice to the parent/guardian by certified mail, return receipt requested

  • or first-class mail informing them of the attendance policy and the total number of absences.

  • An Attendance Support Team meeting will be arranged by the school counselor and contact

  • will be made by phone and letter requesting their attendance at the meeting.

  • An Attendance Support Team Contract will be agreed upon by the team.

  • Student will be referred to the Department of Family and Children Services.

• Subsequent Unexcused Absences

  • The parent shall be referred by the school to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office. The parent may face penalties including a fine, loss of custody of the student, or incarceration for each day missed. The school will maintain contact with the Department of Family and Children Services regarding status of school attendance.

TARDY/EARLY DISMISSALS

A student arriving late to school or wishing to leave school prior to the end of the school day must bring a note signed by the student’s parent/guardian stating the reason for the tardy or early dismissal. A telephone number where the parent/guardian can be reached must be on the note. This note must be brought to the front office by the student’s homeroom teacher. Only in the case of an emergency will students not bringing a note be allowed to call and get permission to leave school early. A student must remain in class until the parent/guardian or designated person arrives at the school to pick up the student. A student who leaves school without properly signing out and without having administrative approval will receive an unexcused absence and will face disciplinary consequences. Students signing out of school before the end of the school day are not allowed to return to school the same day except for the following reasons:

• Doctor’s visit

• Dentist visit

• Court ordered appearance

• Other special reasons approved by the administration

• Personal illness

• A serious illness or death in the student’s immediate family necessitating absence from school.

• A court order or an order by a governmental agency, including pre-induction physical examination for service in the Armed Forces, mandating absence from school.

• Observing religious holidays

• Conditions rendering attendance impossible or hazardous to student health or safety.

• Doctor or dental appointment with an excuse.

Consequences for being Tardy to School

The following interventions are for unexcused tardies per semester:

One (1) to nine (9) tardies or early dismissals - no consequences or interventions

Ten (10) tardies or early dismissals in a semester

o The student will not qualify for perfect attendance

o The student will not participate in extracurricular activities for the remainder of the semester, including : Morning Show, Attendance Incentives, Ensemble, Field Trips