Parent Power Newsletters are distributed by the Parental Involvement office associated with Federal Title I Programs.

November 2009

Be ready for the 2009-2010 school year! This SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST shows what you'll need.

The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board requires all elementary school students to wear uniforms.  Uniforms are available at several area stores.  The following are the basic guidelines for dress and grooming:

1.   Acceptable garments include navy blue uniform pants, shorts, Capri pants, skirts, skorts or jumpers that are not more than five (5) inches above the knee.  Dresses do not fit uniform guidelines.  Jeans, biking shorts, stretch pants, sweat pants, windsuits, jogging suits, and Cargo pants are not acceptable.  (Navy corduroy pants are allowed for winter wear.)

2.   Plain burgundy shirts or blouses that have a collar are mandated.  Burgundy shirts that have the official school crest on the upper left chest area are acceptable.  T-shirts (white/short-sleeved only) may be worn under uniform shirts/blouses. Colored under-shirts are not to be worn under uniform shirts.  (Collared plain burgundy long-sleeved shirts, blouses or turtleneck shirts are acceptable during the winter season to offer protection from cold weather.)

3.   Footwear must be sneakers or Oxford style shoes with closed toes and closed heels.  Sandals, flip-flops, Croc-style shoes, open heels, pointed-toe boots and cleats are not acceptable. Roller skates, and/or shoes with skates, are not permitted to be worn by our students while on our campus during the school day.  All shoes must be safe and durable for rigorous play during recess and physical education.

4.   Solid color black, brown, navy blue or white belts must be worn with clothing that has belt loops.

5.   Shirts and blouses must be “tucked in.”

6.     Plain navy blue or burgundy coats, jackets, sweaters, parkas, sweatshirts, etc. are permitted as outerwear inside the building.  In addition, navy blue or burgundy official school logo jackets/windbreakers may be worn inside the building to provide extra warmth.  Burgundy or navy blue official school logo sweatshirts may be worn inside the building if they have a burgundy collared shirt underneath.  Other colors of outer winter garments may be worn outside the building. 

7.     Hair must be neat, clean and styled so that it does not present a disruption to the instructional climate of the school.  Bangs, or hair length that covers the eyes, must be “clipped/pinned” away from the face.  No hair curlers should be worn at school.  Hair colorings, styling and cuts may not create/cause classroom disruption.

8.     Nails must be short in length.  Acrylic/artificial nails are not permitted.

9.     No sunglasses may be worn unless prescribed by a physician.  Documentation will be required.

10.  Make-up is considered inappropriate for elementary students and is not allowed to be worn or carried on campus.

11.  Caps/hats are not allowed at school.  Permission from the principal, will be given for caps/hats to be worn for documented medical and/or religious reasons or special occasions.  Hoods/winter coverings are allowed on the playground during inclement weather but may not be worn inside the building.

12. Approved club uniforms for scouting organizations, etc., may be worn on club

      meeting days.  (Team uniforms for sporting activities are not acceptable.)

13. Authorized School Spirit Shirts may be worn with uniform garments each

      Friday.

14.  Any clothing accessories such as socks, scarves and jewelry are not to be worn if they present concerns related to safety or classroom disruption.  Therefore,

        a) Earrings may not be larger than the ear lobe and may not loop or dangle.

        b) Hair ribbons, etc. may not extend past the shoulders.

        c) Leggings must be solid black, navy blue or white, and

        d) Socks that extend above the ankle/crew length must be solid black, navy blue or white.

15.  The Dress and Grooming regulations will be applied to all students.

Yearbook – The final DEADLINE to order the ALL COLOR yearbook is Friday, January 15^th at 3:00 p.m. No extra books are ordered, so place your order today.  Forms are available at school and you may also order online @ http://jostensyearbooks.com?REF=A02959840.  Please contact Tomi Bartel at 753-9236 or Brandy Gabel at 752-1542 with questions.

Carnival -  Save the dates.  Carnival is May 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th.  Since it is Mother’s Day weekend we are planning something special for Mom. 

Confetti Eggs –We need your cleaned egg shells for Carnival. So while you’re cooking for the holidays, save your egg shells.  Wash them out with soapy water, let them dry, and put them back in the carton.  When your carton is full, write your Child’s name and teacher’s name on the outside and send it in!  We are also looking for confetti egg stuffers, so if you want to something to do while watching television or to keep your kids busy over the holidays just contact Jennifer Schneider at 752-9870 or kevjen@cox.net.  She will provide you the eggs, tape and confetti.

Box Tops for Education – Please send in your Box Tops sheet to be entered into another Webkinz drawing that will take place after the Christmas holidays.  We are also having a classroom contest.  The class that brings in the most box tops will receive a popcorn party!  The deadline for entries to be counted for the party is December 15th. Print a boxtop collection sheet here.

Community Coffee Labels – YES!  We are still collecting Community Coffee UPC labels.  Just send them in and we will take care of the rest. 

Ink Cartridges - We are still saving the ink cartridges. Simply place them in a plastic bag and send them to school.

Pizza night – Thursday, December 4th - Order from any Papa John’s location and don’t forget to mention your teachers name and Shenandoah. The class with the most sales will get a pizza party.

Talent Show – Start thinking about your act.  Talent Show is February 25, 2010.  We will be sending home information before the Christmas Holidays.

Skate Night - Come on out on December 17th and celebrate the beginning of the Christmas holidays!  Skate night is from 6:30-8:30pm at Skate Galaxy 12828 Jefferson Highway. We earn a percent off all skate rentals. Skate rental is only $8 and the rink is reserved just for Shenandoah. See you there!

Please review the following standard practices that we have in place.

• The canopy area is only for our children and duty teachers.
• All children who are transported away from school by vehicle should be picked up in the carpool line.  Walking up to get your child to load a car parked in front or at the side of the school is strongly discouraged.  Our carpool line moves quickly and provides a safe area for dismissing the carpool children.
• Parents who usually walk their children home are asked to have a specific meeting place to greet their children.  Campus areas that we want to designate for parent/child connection are by the flagpole, bicycle racks, or in the grassy area that is by the Kindergarten fence.  Those children and parents should follow a consistent routine so the child is not confused about the way to go home each day.
• When you leave campus, stay on the sidewalk and do not walk to cross the street between parked cars.  Only cross at the entry and exit areas of the parking lot.  In addition, walkers should cross streets with Crossing Guards.
• Children should always go home as usual unless a parent sends us a letter or calls us to make a change.

Please know that the street areas on the side and front of the school are no parking zones.  Parish law enforcement officers can ticket or tow violators.  If you must park on the street, park along the curb and stay off of the grass of our neighbors.  Left turns into the parking lot are forbidden by law between 8-9 a.m. and 3-4 p.m.  Violators may be ticketed.  As a reminder, the safety rules for traffic flow and student drop off should also be followed during morning arrival.  Children should always be dropped of under the canopy area.  Vehicles should not pass parked/standing vehicles that are unloading in the car pool line. 

Thanks for your continued support and cooperation.

Part of the strength of our school comes from the wonderful support of our volunteers.  We would love to have some extra classroom and library help.  If you can donate time to school efforts, please let us know.  We will find a place for you.  In addition, we appreciate the many parents who spend time at home working on school activities in support of teacher requests.  Those hours should be recorded in our Volunteer Log.  We appreciate all efforts.  Thanks!!

Our school is participating in the Albertson’s Community Partners Program.  Each family received a community partner card.  This is how the program works: Whenever you are shopping at any Albertson’s store, simply remind the store cashier to scan your card anytime DURING your order.  Our school has been given an identification UPC number and when your purchase/transaction is properly recorded, our UPC number will be on the receipt.  Albertson’s will contribute money to our school based on the amount of sales we transact at their stores.  We hope you will use your card to help our school.  If you know you will not use an Albertson’s Partner Card, please return it to us so we can give it to someone else.  If you have any questions, please call the school office at 753-3560.

Please note this new state law. 

A student shall be considered habitually absent or habitually tardy when either condition continues to exist after all reasonable efforts by any school personnel, truancy officer, or other laws enforcement personnel have failed to correct the condition after the fifth unexcused absence or fifth unexcused occurrence of being tardy within any school semester. 

The parent or legal guardian of a student shall enforce the attendance of the student at the school to which the student is assigned.

The parent or legal guardian of any student in kindergarten through grade eight who is considered habitually absent or habitually tardy pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be in violation of the provisions of Subparagraph (b)  of this Paragraph and shall be punished as follows.

(i)                  A first offense shall be punishable by a fine of not more than fifty dollars or the performance of not less than twenty-five hours of community service.

(ii)    Any subsequent offense shall be punishable in accordance with R.S. 17:221(A)(2).

For purposes of this Section, the term “tardy” shall include but not be limited to leaving or checking out of school unexcused prior to the regularly scheduled dismissal time at the end of the school day but shall not include reporting late to class when transferring from one class to another during the school day.

ACT 745 REGULAR SESSION (2008) – LRS 17:233