Absence Policy

When a student returns to school after an absence, please send a signed note to the office explaining the absence. A call to the office will also be acceptable. If your child will be absent for more than two consecutive days, please contact the office.  Please plan family vacations during built-in holidays.  We encourage you to schedule medical/dental appointments outside school time whenever possible. If your child has a medical appointment during school hours be sure to get a note from the doctor and send it with your child when he or she returns to school.  A parent can excuse no more than seven absences without a doctor’s note.   Habitual absenteeism will be reflected in student grades.  

After 11 days unexcused absence, the parent will receive notification of a pre-court hearing.  After the pre-court hearing the student's attendance will be monitored by the Attendance Specialist.  If parents fail to attend the pre-court hearing, they are automatically referred to the Salt Lake County District Attorney's office for prosecution.

Accidents and Illness at School

If a student is injured on the school grounds, and the injury is other than what appears to be quite minor to the school staff, parents will be notified and asked to pick the child up for their own observation or for examination by the family physician. Parents will be notified promptly of all injuries not considered minor including any head injuries. The school is allowed to administer only minor first aid.

If the student becomes ill during school, the school will contact the parent, and the child will be brought to the sick room. Parents will be asked to take the child out of school.

The school must have information on whom to contact and how contact can be made in the case of an emergency.  PLEASE, KEEP THIS INFORMATION CURRENT on the child's registration card. If your home or work phone number changes, please let the office know right away. The student may be released only to persons listed on the registration card unless prior arrangements are made with the office staff.

Arrival at School

Students are asked not to arrive at school before 8:45 a.m. unless they are coming for breakfast at 8:30 a.m.  Assistance is available 15 minutes before school and 15 minutes after school if students have emergency needs.  A student needing assistance should immediately go to the office.  When weather is extreme, students will be invited into the multi-purpose room at 8:45 a.m. 

Assemblies

Students are expected to show respect to the people performing at our school.  Students should go to the restroom before going to an assembly.  All students should enter and exit as quietly as possible.  Listening is the best way to show good manners and respect for our assembly performers, as well as applauding politely. 

Disruptive students will be removed from the assembly.  Disruptive classes will be asked to return to their classrooms.  

Attendance

School attendance is required by State Law.  Students should be in school unless they are ill.  If a student becomes ill at school, we will contact the parents. A child is not permitted to leave school or the school grounds before regular dismissal without prior written consent of the parent or guardian. Notes for early dismissal of students for the purpose of medical/dental appointments are required.  Parents (with identification) must check students out through the office in all cases of early departure.

Bicycles, Blades, Scooters, and Skateboards

Students are welcome to ride their bicycles to school. Once on school grounds, students are to get off and walk their bikes to the designated bike racks. Students are to lock their individual bikes (with their own locks) to the racks provided. Students bringing their bikes or any other personal property from home (including balls, books, etc.) are responsible for those items. Truman Elementary does not assume responsibility for loss or damage to bicycles or other personal property. Bike registration is available through city/county law enforcement agencies.

It has been our experience that blades, scooters, and skateboards are disruptive at school. In addition to the accidents associated with these modes of transportation, it is difficult to find storage space for these items at school. Please encourage your child to leave blades, scooters, and skateboards home.  Please remember that walking students have the right-of-way on the sidewalk.  STAY ALERT AND BE CAREFUL!

Cell Phones and Electronic Devices

Students who carry cell phones or electronic devices must keep them out of sight and turned off.  Students who violate this policy during the school day, including recesses and lunch, will have the phone or electronic device confiscated, and parents will be required to pick the item up from the office.  The school assumes no responsibility for lost, stolen, or damaged phones or electronic devices.

Change of Address or Withdrawals

Please notify the school office of any change of address or telephone number.  Having a current list of telephone numbers is very important in the event of an emergency.  We also need to be notified of plans to withdraw a student from Truman.  All books must be accounted for before a final report card will be issued.

Classroom Treats

Students and parents may bring treats to school parties and for birthdays or other special recognitions. However, treats must be commercially packaged. State Law mandates treats prepared at home are not to be brought to school for consumption. The PTA is familiar with these regulations and can give you further information as needed.

Conferences

Parents will receive notice of student's progress.  Report card grades will be given at the end of each trimester at SEP conferences. Additional information on the student's progress may be sought by the parent at any time throughout the year. However, progress inquiries should be made before or after school, not during instruction time.  Grades can be checked online through the school webpage at www.trumansoars.org at any time.

Parents have the right to express concerns freely and openly, without fear of retribution from the school personnel. Concerns about the classroom should be brought to the teacher's attention first and then to the principal’s attention next.  Experience has shown that discussing serious concerns with friends or neighbors does not serve the child or the school.

Early Entrance

Students should plan on leaving home at an appropriate time so as to arrive at school close to the first bell.  When students come to school early (no earlier than 8:45 a.m.) on inclement weather days, they are to enter the multi-purpose room quietly where supervision will be provided.  Students are not allowed to play in halls or restrooms. 

Early entrance rules are:  1) be seated; 2) talk quietly or read a book; 3) once in, stay in; 4) must have a restroom pass to go to the restroom; 5) at the bell, leave the multi-purpose room using the appropriate exit.

Students are not to enter the building before the first bell on days of appropriate weather.

Hall Pass

Students should have a hall pass at all times when out of the classroom without a teacher’s supervision. 

Lunchroom Procedures

Students are expected to have quiet voices and calm bodies while in the lunchroom.  Students are to sit on their pockets facing into their assigned tables. When finished eating, students are to clear their trays and garbage and return to their tables until dismissed.

Medication

Parents need to inform the office staff of any medication a student is taking during school. If medications are to be taken during school hours, a form must be completed, signed by the parents and the student's physician, and submitted to the office with the medications to be administered. A daily log is then established for the student, and every dosage administered by school staff is recorded.

No medications (including aspirin, cough drops, eye drops and inhalers) can be taken at school without this signed form and daily log (unless administered in person by the parent).

Pedestrian Safety

Students should use the recommended walking routes while traveling to and from school. Please show respect for the property of others when walking or riding to and from school.  Students should avoid cutting across lawns, picking flowers, littering in the neighborhood, etc.

Pets and Other Neat Things at Home

The law requires that all dogs be confined by leash or fence. Loose dogs that visit school, except for show-and-tell, will be turned over to the county animal control center.

Pets, toys, and other neat things should be left at home. If a pet (or toy) is to be displayed for show-and-tell, arrangements should be made between the parent and the teacher as to the appropriate time to bring the pet (or toy). The pet (or toy) should arrive with the parent, and should leave with the parent.

Truman Elementary does not assume financial responsibility for loss or damage to personal property (iPods, CDs) brought from home.

Items deemed by school personnel to be disruptive (e.g. iPods, Games, toys etc) to the learning/safety of students will be confiscated. Confiscated items will be returned to the student’s parent.

Safe School Policy

Granite School District has adopted the following "Safe Schools" policy prohibiting:

·      Any threat or act of violence

·      Possession of a real weapon, explosive, noxious or flammable material

·      Actual or threatened use of look alike weapons

·      Any form of organized gang activity

·      Any type of criminal behavior

·      Destruction or defacement of school property

·      Conduct at locations away from the school that threatens or does harm to the school or persons associated with the school

Consequences for violation of this policy may include but is not limited to:

·      Mandatory parent/guardian conference at school and/or district offices

·      Suspension from school

·      Referral to law enforcement

·      Placement in alternative educational programs

·      Severe consequences may be imposed for any incident involving weapons

·      Other consequences and action steps appropriate for the specific circumstance  (Board Policy IX-D-2)

School Safety

The following expectations should be adhered to for a safe-school environment:

·      No hard balls or bats – wood or metal

·      No tackle games of any kind

·      No wheels except for bikes, which are to be locked up on school grounds

·      No snowballs—snow stays on the ground

·      No toys or equipment from home without the teacher’s permission

·      No playing in the parking lots

·      No swearing or fighting

Sexual Harassment

Students must keep hands, feet, and other objects to themselves and refrain from any conversations or actions that are sexual in nature.

Stay in from Recess

If a student has been ill or has some other medical reason not to go outside for recess, please provide a note from home.  Students staying in will be asked to read a book in the hallway outside the classroom. 

The community council has decided the school will hold a mandatory “in-day” if the temperature is below 20 degrees.

Student Dress

Sanitation and safety factors directly relate to proper dress and grooming. A real and reasonable connection exists between proper dress/grooming and the successful operation of the school with respect to discipline as well as student achievement.

Students should wear clothing that is appropriate for school.  Student dress should be modest, clean, and suitable for the various learning activities going on at school. As students dress each morning, particular attention should be paid to safety, comfort and weather.

If a student's clothing creates a substantial disruption for the student or for the school, parents will be contacted and the student will be required to change into more appropriate attire.

Students will not be allowed to wear clothes that are mutilated, cut off, or immodest such as short shorts or mini skirts (measured by finger tip length down the leg), bare midriffs (measured by arms up in the air), halter tops, or tank tops.  All shirts must cover the student’s shoulders

Hats and scarves are not to be worn in the building.

In the interest of school curriculum such as PE, proper footwear should be worn at all times.  Students may not wear flip flops.  Gang-related colors, clothing and paraphernalia will not be allowed in school. Clothing that promotes or celebrates violence will not be allowed.  Clothing that advertises cigarettes, alcohol or drugs is prohibited by Granite District policy.  Clothing should be free from anything that is vulgar or that degrades or demeans others.

For health or safety reasons, students may be required to wear certain types of clothing in connection with specialized activities (e.g. Field trips).

Tardiness

School starts at 9:00 a.m. each day.  Students are expected to be seated in their classrooms when the next bell rings at 9:05 a.m.