Policies

KALEY LAKE COMO PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK INFORMATION

INTRODUCTION Welcome to Kaley Lake Como Elementary (KLCE).  This handbook provides you the information you and your child/children need about the daily operation of KLCE. 
 
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT Kaley Lake Como Elementary emphasizes the student performance and achievements. We intend to build upon our successes by meeting the individual needs of all students. Our resources are focused on providing a safe learning environment conducive to teaching and learning. The instruction is geared to meeting the academic needs of your child. In order for your child to be successful, we need your help at home. You, as parents, are your child’s first teacher. Take the time to talk with your child about his/her day at school and provide the time and a quiet space to complete assigned homework. Also, reading with your child on a daily basis helps reinforce the learning that is taking place in the classroom. Together we can do more! 
 
RENAISSANCE Renaissance is our “philosophy” for academic and behavior recognition at Kaley Lake Como Elementary for staff and students. The 5 R’s of Renaissance are: Respect, Rewards, Recognize, Reinforce, and Results. The 5 R’s are incorporated in everything we do at Kaley Lake Como Elementary School! Renaissance students and staff accomplishments will be recognized throughout the school year and at the end of every nine weeks with a celebration.  Each student also receives a Renaissance t-shirt to show pride for this honor. Funding for this self-supporting program is dependent on our parents, community members and businesses. If you are interested in assisting, please contact Ms. Angela at (407) 897-6420 or [email protected]. Our goal is that all KLCE students will strive to be a Renaissance student!  
 
STUDENT HOURS are 8:15 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. except on Wednesday when student hours are 8:15 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 
 
ARRIVAL In the mornings, parent drop off for Pre K, Kindergarten is at the Harding Street entrance. First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade students are dropped off in the Kaley Street parking lot. Please note that all cars entering must enter by making a right had turn off of Kaley Street. We will not allow vehicles to make a left hand turn into the parking lot. Supervision for students on school grounds begins at 8:05 a.m. The Media Center will be open for students.  Parents who drop off their students before 8:05 a.m. will be contacted to make other arrangements. YMCA extended day program is available beginning at 7:00 a.m. for students who need early arrival and after school until 6:00 p.m. for students needing to stay after dismissal.  
 
NOTICE: School’s Supervisory Responsibility of Students on Premises Pursuant to Florida Statute Section 232.25 (1). Orange County Public Schools employees are not responsible for supervising students not in attendance at school or students not authorized to participate in school sponsored activities. (2). Orange County Public Schools employees are not responsible for supervising students arriving on these premises more than 30 minutes before school sponsored activities begin or students remaining on these premises more than 30 minutes after the end of school sponsored activities. (3). Under no circumstances should parents or guardians rely upon Orange County Public School employees to supervise students outside of the scope of this statute. 
 
No early dismissal or change in mode of transportation will be permitted after 2:00 p.m. daily; Wednesday 1:00 p.m. 
 
CHANGE OF TRANSPORTATION It will be necessary to send a dated, written note if you change your child’s mode of transportation. The school will not allow the student to alter his/her method of going home without this written notification. Last minute change in mode of transportation will not be approved. Phones calls changing transportation will not be accepted. Voice verification cannot be established over a phone. A dated, written note must be received by the office. In cases involving court ordered custody of children, the school MUST have on file the appropriate legal documents of the custody in order.  
 
DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP OF STUDENTS Parent drop off for Pre K, Kindergarten is at the Harding Street entrance. First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade students are dropped off in the Kaley Street parking lot. Please note that all cars entering must enter by making a right had turn off of Kaley Street. We will not allow vehicles to make a left hand turn into the parking lot.  This policy is in effect for the safety of all students and will be strictly enforced. We ask for your support and cooperation as we work together to ensure the safety of all students. 
 
STUDENTS LEAVING DURING THE SCHOOL DAY/ABSENCES Children must be signed out through the school office when leaving during the school day. You are asked to fill out the dismissal form in the office when signing your child out of school. If someone other than you needs to pick up your child, you must send written permission, and they must be on the dismissal form. A phone call is not acceptable. All person(s) picking up children will be required to show their identification.  
 
Absences are excused due to illness and other special circumstances. School Board Policy requires parents notify the school by phone on the day of your child’s absence and in writing when they return to school. Students who leave early or are absent for any reason do not qualify for the Perfect Attendance Award presented quarterly to qualifying students.  
 
WALKER DISMISSAL To minimize interruptions and promote conditions for optimal learning time, parents/guardians should wait at the front (by the flag pole) of the school for dismissal of students who are walkers. Students are not supervised after 2:45 p.m., and 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday. All parents picking up students must have a yellow walker card. These are available in the front office. 
 
CAR RIDERS  Students being picked up by car from school will be waiting at the designated car loop according to your child’s grade level. Every car will be provided with a window tag from the office. These MUST be displayed on the passenger side of the windshield of the vehicle. Students not picked up by 2:45 p.m. (1:45 p.m. on Wednesday) will return to the office and will be dismissed once they have been signed out.  
 
BIKE RIDERS A bicycle rack is provided for bicycles. Please ensure your child brings a lock to secure the bicycle. All students ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR HELMETS WHEN RIDING THEIR BIKES. 
 
BUS RIDERS Bus transportation is provided to students living more than two miles from the school.  Students must obey the bus rules and follow the driver’s directions at all times. Students may be suspended from the bus for violations of the bus rules. Please take the time to discuss the rules with your student. 
 
1) Stand off the roadway while waiting for the bus. 2) Remain in your seat at all times. 3) Keep body parts and belongings inside the bus at all times. 
4) Talk in a normal tone of voice at all times. Do not talk when the bus is crossing railroad tracks or when the driver turns on the overhead lights. 5) The bus driver may assign students to seats. 6) There is no eating or drinking on the bus. 7) You must be at your bus stop on time. The driver cannot wait. 8) Students who violate the school rules at the bus stop are subject to discipline action.  
 
Students not following bus rules may receive disciplinary actions resulting in suspension from the bus.  Repeated serious misconduct may result in indefinite suspension from the bus. 
 
Questions about the bus routes and stops should be directed to the Transportation Department at  (407) 317-3800.  If your student rides the bus and for some reason should not ride the bus that day, a written note from the parent is required. Otherwise, the student will ride the bus home.  
 
SCHOOL LUNCH/BREAKFAST PROGRAM Breakfast is served daily beginning at 7:50 a.m. Bus riders will enjoy breakfast when they arrive on campus. Kaley Lake Como students will enjoy breakfast and lunch free of charge for the 2017-2018 school year. School lunches offer the students nutritious meals, which are designed to fulfill one-third of daily nutritional requirements.   
 
DRESS CODE Students are requested to wear comfortable, appropriate clothing. Unsafe footwear, such as sandals or other shoes, not tied or strapped, are not permitted at school. This type of footwear does not provide adequate protection for your child’s feet. T-shirts which have obscene/suggestive slogans and/or refer to drugs and/or alcohol may not be worn to school.  Shirts or blouses that expose the body (mid-section) may not be worn to school. Students not dressed appropriately will be provided a change of clothes, or we will call you to provide a change of clothes. Pants need to be worn around the waist. Shoes with wheels are not permitted. The following are also not permitted: thong sandals, cleated shoes, and backless shoes. All students will adhere to the OCPS dress code found in the Student Code of Conduct. 
 
VISITATIONS AND CUSTODY OF CHILDREN School board policy requires that all visitors check in the office with a state issued photo ID when entering the campus. All visitors, including parents and volunteers must wear a KLCE visitor’s badge which you can obtain in the front office. This helps keep KLCE safe for our children. Parents/Guardians are welcome to visit their child’s classroom, but we ask that you contact your child’s teacher in advance to schedule your visit. To schedule visits to classrooms other than your child’s, you must contact the front office. Children who do not attend KLCE must visit with your child after school hours. 
 
School personnel are required by law to release children to either of their natural parents unless we have on file a copy of a court order which grants custody to one parent or the other, or to a third party. Parents are responsible for notifying the school with a court order should custodial status change during the year.  
 
EDUCATIONAL RECORDS  Parents and other authorized persons have the right to review the contents of the child’s educational records. Arrangements to review the records may be made in the school office. 
 
CURRICULUM AND HOMEWORK  Our goal is to offer a rigorous curriculum which prepares your child for today’s world. We concentrate on reading, math, writing, science and technology. In order to accomplish this goal, your child is assigned homework on a regular basis. The objective of homework is to practice what is taught in class and to complete long-term projects and assignments. Should you have any questions about your child’s curriculum or homework, please contact your child’s teacher.  
REPORT CARDS/PROGRESS REPORTING TO PARENTS Parents receive periodic progress reports. Report cards come home for your signature every nine weeks and progress reports are sent at the mid-way point for all students. We schedule conferences in the fall and spring to discuss your child’s progress. You will be contacted by the teacher and receive academic notices if your child is having academic or behavioral problems in class. The grading scale and letter grades used will be sent home during the first week of school. Please take time to read the information.  
 
SCHOOL-WIDE STUDENT BEHAVIOR PLAN Students play an important part in making KLCE a positive learning environment. Every student is expected to take responsibility of his/her own behavior, follow KLCE rules and look out for his/her fellow student. Students are also expected to follow the directions of the KLCE staff and not engage in severe/disruptive behaviors such as fighting, using abusive language or defying adults. Disruptive behavior in the classroom is not tolerated and the student will immediately be removed. Teachers and administration work with you and your child to ensure a positive and productive learning environment for all students.  
 
TELEPHONES Students’ use of the telephone is discouraged except in cases of emergency and requires permission from office. Emergencies DO NOT include forgotten homework, books, permission slips, etc.  In the event a student receives a call, he/she will be called out of the class only in the case of an emergency.  Please make rainy day plans with your child ahead of time. 
 
TEXTBOOKS Textbooks are furnished by the State of Florida and become the responsibility of the student to whom they are assigned.  Students will be expected to care for the books issued to them and are expected to pay for those books that are lost or damaged.   
 
LIBRARY BOOKS Our library books are a part of your child’s education and very important to all of our students. If your child does not return a library book, he/she will not be allowed to check out another book until it is returned. If your student loses a library book, you will receive a notice regarding the book and the cost. All books and/or payments must be received by the end of the school year. If there are any outstanding books/balances, you may not receive the report card until payment is received or the book is turned in.    
 
PHYSICAL EDUCATION  Physical Education is a required part of the instructional program in Florida public schools; therefore, all children are expected to participate. Students need to wear tennis shoes to prevent accidental injury that can occur if proper footwear is not worn for P.E. Those under a doctor’s care, who present a written statement of their condition, are temporarily excused from participating in P.E. 
 
HEALTHROOM/CLINIC Orange County is now calling school clinics “health rooms.”  The school has responsibility for First Aid Only.  In case of illness, the student will be cared for until the parent arrives or the student is returned to class.  In case of minor injury, attention will be given, and the student will return to class.  In the event of head lice, you will be contacted immediately with instructions for treatment.  The district maintains a “no-nit” policy on all students. 
 
EXISTING ILLNESS, ILLNESS/INJURY & HEALTH ROOM Please notify your child’s teacher and the office if your child has an existing illness such as asthma or seizures. The health room is open school hours for students. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT YOU NOTIFY THE SCHOOL ANYTIME THERE IS A CHANGE IN YOUR PHONE NUMBER OR EMERGENCY CONTACTS. IT IS CRUCIAL THAT WE ARE ABLE TO CONTACT YOU IN THE CASE OF ILLNESS OR INJURY. 
 
MEDICATION   School Board policy prohibits the dispensing of medicine to students without written authorization from parents. This form is available in the office.  When bringing medication to school, it must be in a properly labeled prescription bottle (recent date, child’s name, directions for giving, and physician’s name), accompanied by the completed authorization form.  A new form is required whenever there is any change in your child’s medication.  Only designated school staff may dispense medication to your child. Non-prescription medicine also requires the written authorization form.  The medicine must be properly labeled and in the original bottle. ALL medications must be checked in by a parent/guardian. Students are not allowed to self-medicate ANY ITEMS, INCLUDING aspirin, cough drops and medicated creams while at school.  However, parents may come to school to administer medication.   
 
ACCIDENT INSURANCE The school district does not automatically provide accident insurance for students. However, insurance is available for all students at the beginning of the school year for a nominal cost. This insurance covers the child during the school day and for an hour after school. Around-the-clock insurance to cover a child 24 hours per day is also available at a higher rate. The application will be sent home with your child the first week of school.  
 
TITLE I Title I funding enables Kaley Lake Como Elementary School to provide high-quality curriculum and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment that enables the students to meet Florida’s rigorous academic achievement standards. Title I funds assist the school in providing services respective to school-wide, group instruction, small-group instruction and one-on-one tutoring when necessary to students in need of academic remediation, counseling services and  physiological needs. Moreover, Title I funds ensure active engagement of parents in school operations through the Parental Involvement Plan which is jointly developed with parents, staff, administration and community members. Because of Title I funding, parent capacity is increased through activities such as Curriculum Nights for Reading, Math and Science and an FSA Parent Night. Our Parent Engagement Liaison is Delanie Magee. She can be reached through email at [email protected].  
 
PTA/SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL The Kaley Lake Como Elementary School Parent/Teacher Association is an integral part of the school. Parents assist in setting a direction for our school, provide school-wide and individual classroom support and periodically sponsor activities at the school. The PTA meetings are a time for parents and teachers to come together and discuss the school’s successes and opportunities. We encourage every parent to become part of the PTA and the activities. The School Advisory Council (SAC) assists with the development of the school improvement plan and monitors progress in achieving our goals. Parents are encouraged to get involved by serving on the Council.  
 
VOLUNTEERS/ADDitions Parents and other members of our Kaley Lake Como Elementary School community help us in many ways. If you want to work with smaller groups of children, go on field trips, speak to classes, assist in caring for the school grounds, or offer any other type of assistance to our students, teachers and/or staff, you must have an approved ADDitions application on file. This must be done at the beginning of each school year. The website is https://www.ocps.net/es/cr/resources/Pages/ADDitions.aspx.  
 
LOST AND FOUND Children should assume responsibility for the care of their belongings.  To assist your child, parents are urged to label personal belongings (e.g. lunchboxes, eyeglasses) for the purpose of identification. Items of clothing and other personal items found in the school will be placed in the Lost and Found in the cafeteria.  Unclaimed items will be donated to charity twice a year.    

FIELD TRIPS Educational field trips are planned as a part of the school program.  Permission slips are required for each field trip, except those which are county-wide and are considered a part of the curriculum for every Orange County Student (Orlando Museum of Art and Symphony).  Written notice will be sent home prior to the trip for any countywide field trip. If you are interested in being a chaperone, you must be an approved ADDitions volunteer. 
 
EXTENDED CARE PROGRAM YMCA is a licensed program offering quality childcare from 7:00 a.m. until the first bell (school start) with dismissal at the end of the day at 6:00 p.m.  Registration Fee: $12.00 per student. Rates: Morning only- $18/week; Afternoon only- $36.00/week; Morning & Afternoon - $48.00/week. For more information, please visit [email protected]
 
PARTIES Each class is permitted two parties during the school year, one prior to the winter holidays and one at the end of the school year.  A 5th grade party is held at the end of the year. 
 
SAFETY PATROLS Fourth and Fifth grade students will be selected as Safety Patrols.  They will promote a safe climate at Kaley Lake Como Elementary School.  Encourage your child to respect and follow the instructions given by our safety patrols. 
 
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES It is important that the parent/teacher/student work as a team in the educational process. Conferences with your child’s teacher are encouraged.  They may be requested by the teacher or parent.  The best way to arrange a conference is to send a written request to your child’s teacher, email or call the school office and leave a message on their voice mail.  The teacher will contact you.  We encourage you to meet regularly with your child’s teacher.  Our goal this year is to have 100 percent participation in parent/teacher conferences! 
 
 
IMPORTANT NUMBERS 
KLCE    407-897-6420 
Transportation 407-317-3800 
YMCA      407-897-6420 Ext 3452245