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Waller Mill Fine Arts Magnet School Student/Parent Information

Absences	Please notify the school if your child is absent due to illness. An answering machine is available at 220-4060 for messages outside of school hours. Parents/Guardians should discuss with the school principal any absences with exceptional circumstances. Fifteen days of consecutive absences will result in withdrawal of the student from the attendance roll in accordance with state regulations.
Attendance and Promptness	The student day is from 8:45-3:26. Tardy students must report to the office before going to their classrooms. Parents are encouraged to accompany the student to the office.
Automobile Safety	Parents bringing children to school in the morning or picking children up after school are asked to unload or load from the side-parking lot. Please park and accompany your child into the building.
Bus Rules	Students have the privilege of using transportation provided by the county. Safety standards are in place and all students are expected to act accordingly. Children are assigned to a bus and may not ride another bus unless a note is provided and signed by the child’s teacher. If a student is riding home with another student, both parents must send in a note granting permission. (see Bus Safety page for the established York County Bus Safety Rules)
Cafeteria Prices	" Breakfast" $0.85 student "Lunch" $1.75 student $2.50 adult $0.30 milk $0.45 ice cream
Child Care	Before and After school program for interested parents is provided by The Medallion School Partnerships. Please call(757) 595- 8702 for details. School Hours for the program are 6:45 AM to 8:45 AM 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM
Conferences	A conference day is built into the county calendar and is scheduled for: November 11 Teachers are available for conferences throughout the school year. Please arrange a mutually convenient conference time by sending a note, an email, or a message on their classroom phone.
Early Dismissal	If your child needs to leave school early, please follow the procedures listed below: 1. Send a written note to the teacher stating the date and time. 2. Come to the office and sign the form for Early Release of Students. Office personnel will contact the classroom teacher and have the child sent to the office. Please do not go directly to the classroom. To ensure that the child doesn't miss valuable instructional time the child will not be called to the office until the parent arrives . 3. When it becomes necessary for someone else to pick up your child, a note granting permission, accompanied by a name and phone number, must be sent to school.
Dismissal	1. Students are sent to after school care or put on the bus per parental instructions. 2. Parents picking up students must sing them out in the office. Office staff will check photo identification until they know the parents by face. 3. On your student’s emergency card, please list all persons authorized to pick up your child. If this changes during the year, please notify us in writing. 4. If you need someone else to pick up your child, please send in a note with the child. That person must present photo identification. 5. If circumstances arise during the school day, an you need to change your pick up plan, please call the office at 220-4060 as early as possible. Give us the name of the child and the name of the person picking up the child. That person must be listed on the emergency card and he/she must present photo identification. 6. No child will be released to a third party without prior written notification from the parent and presentation of photo identification. The parent will be called to pick up the child. 7. If a student will be riding his regular bus but will be getting off at a different stop, please send a note in with the child indicating what stop he/she will be getting off at and with whom. 8. If a student will be riding a different bus with another student, a note must be received from both students indicating both students’ names and bus route.
Early Morning Drop Offs	Parents must have permission from the principal prior to dropping off a child before the first bell (8:45). Staff members are not available to supervise before school hours. If needed, the Medallion School Partnerships offers before and after school care in the cafeteria.
Field Trips	Prior for field trips, teachers will send home permission slips. Students must have a signed permission slip to participate in field trips.
Fire Drills	Fire drills will be conducted on a regular basis. Students are expected to exit the building in an orderly manner to the location designated by their teacher. If the alarm rings when students are in the hallway, they are to move to the nearest exit and evacuate the building. If a student pulls the fire alarm, law enforcement will be notified.
Grading Criteria	Academic (K-2) S = Satisfactory P = Progressing N = Needs Improvement V = Not Evaluated (3-5) A = 92-100 B = 84-91 C = 75-83 D = 67-74 F = 66 0r below Citizenship/Conduct/Work Habits (K-5) O = Outstanding S = Satisfactory N = Needs Improvement
Honor Roll	Principal’s Honor Roll Grades 3,4,5 Criteria = All A’s: No N’s in Citizenship A/B Honor Roll Grades 3,4,5 Criteria = A’s and B’s: No N’s in Citizenship
Homework Policy	Homework is intended to be an extension of the instruction that a student receives in the classroom. The specific amount of homework may vary. The following are suggested amounts: K-2 (10 - 45 minutes per night) 3-5 (30 – 60 minutes per night) Classwork that is not completed at school may be assigned to be completed at home. Please contact the classroom teacher if the student repeatedly exceeds the recommended time frames.
Illness and Injury	The clinic staff will notify parents immediately if a student has an accident or becomes ill during the school day. Please provide us with an emergency telephone number.
Interim Reports/ Report Cards	Interim reports are sent home to all students midway through the quarter. October 12 December 14 March 8 May 17 Report Cards will be sent home on the following dates: November 14 February 1 April 5 June 21
Lost and Found	The school is not responsible for lost articles. Lost and found articles may be claimed in the cafeteria. Unclaimed articles will be donated to a local charity in January and June.
Medication	Medication to be dispensed at school must be in the original container. A note must be sent indicating the name of the doctor, the name of the medication, the amount, and time it is to be taken. Please do not send in medication in baggies, tissues, or tin foil. Students are not allowed to carry medication to and from school. Any questions, please call the school nurse at 220-4062.
Parking	Parking is available in front and behind the school. Please avoid parking directly in front of the school during posted bus arrival/dismissal times.
Phone Calls	Parents are asked to make after-school arrangements with children before they leave home. Students will not be called from class to receive personal phone calls. Messages will be taken and delivered to students and teachers. School Phone Numbers: Office: 220-4060 Clinic: 220-4062 Cafeteria: 220-4572 Guidance: 220-4571 Transportation: 898-0344 Fax: 220-4063
Physical Education Excuses	Physical education is an integral part of the curriculum. Children will not be excused from physical education activities unless a note is received from a parent. A note from a physician is required for long-term exclusion from physical education activities. A note is required to return to physical education activities after long-term exclusion.
P.T.A.	All parents and teachers are urged to become members and to become active participates. Dues are $5.00. Each year, the PTA sponsors several fund raising projects. With the help of all parents, these projects have been very successful and allow the PTA to fund many important activities at the school.
Registration Requirements	Students must register at the school they are zoned to attend before beginning classes. Click here for complete specifics.
School Hours	Student Hours: 9:00 AM – 3:26 PM (M-F) Teacher Hours: 8:15AM – 3:30 PM (M-F) Office Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (M-F)
School Pictures / Yearbooks	Individual pictures are taken in the fall and spring. Group pictures are taken in the spring. Yearbooks will be available for purchase in the spring.
Severe Weather Day Plans/ School Closings	Local Radio & TV Stations Daily Press "1" Line 928-1111 Cat (7669) Internet / Local TV Stations or Our School Site Parents and students are urged NOT to call local schools or administrative offices for this information. Also, parents should have an emergency plan in place in case school is closed early for non-controlled situations. It is very important that the school has emergency contacts and accurate phone number.
Student Recognition	Waller Mill Fine Arts Magnet School students are recognized for achievement in many areas. Honor Rolls recognizing academic achievements are posted and published at the end of each quarter. An Awards Assembly is conducted at the end of the year to provide public recognition for accomplishments.
Visitors	All visitors and volunteers must report to the office where they will be issued a Visitor’s Pass. Students from other schools inside or outside the county are forbidden to come on the campus of another school without a specific reason.
Volunteers	We welcome your help as a volunteer! Many opportunities are available. Please contact the school or the PTA for more information.

If you have any other questions about our school or your child’s class, please call the school office at 220-4060. You may, also, go to your child’s Grade Level Web.