Johnsonville  Elementary School

Home of the Eaglets

2026-2027 Student/Parent NC Pre-Kindergarten Handbook

18495 Hwy 27 West

Cameron, NC 28326

919-499-4912(Phone)

919-499-1856(Fax)

Renee Gilmore, Principal                 Dawn Knight, Assistant Principal

            rgilmore@harnett.k12.nc.us            drivera1@harnett.k12.nc.us

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Johnsonville Elementary School

Welcome!

On behalf of the faculty and staff at Johnsonville Elementary School, I would like to welcome our students and parents to the 2026-2027 school year. We are very excited about this school year and looking forward to working with our students. Together, we will make sure every student has a successful, happy school year!

Instruction is our top priority at Johnsonville Elementary School!

Vision Statement    

Johnsonville empowers all students to demonstrate self awareness, ownership, accountability and respect while embracing the cultures and ideas of others.

Mission Statement

Johnsonville Elementary is committed to educating global citizens that have a passion for learning, respect for self and others, and appreciate individual differences.

Our Values

• Students learn best through encouragement and involvement in experiences.
• Students are valued as individuals and educated to their fullest potential.
• Education is a lifelong process and a shared community responsibility.
• Students have the right to learn in a safe and secure environment.
• At Johnsonville, we believe all students can demonstrate self awareness, ownership, accountability and respect while embracing the cultures and ideas of others.

This handbook covers many important items and expectations to ensure students learn in a safe and nurturing environment. We encourage students and parents to read this handbook together. The first part of the handbook contains information that is specific to Johnsonville Elementary School. The second part of the handbook contains the Harnett County Schools Student Code of Conduct as well as county policies and procedures. These rules and guidelines will be the basis for decision making by administration and faculty at JES.  This handbook is electronic; however, if you need a hard copy of the handbook, contact the office.  If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me at 919-499-4912 or rgilmore@harnett.k12.nc.us. For further information, please check out our web page at https://www.harnett.k12.nc.us/jes  or http://www.harnett.k12.nc.us.

Renee Gilmore

Principal

Staff

ADMISSION
Children are selected by the Harnett County Partnership for Children and assigned to a site in their school attendance area. All children chosen for the NCPK program must be four (4) years old by August 31st and must have completed all necessary paperwork for admission to the Pre-Kindergarten program.

No transportation is provided by the Harnett County School System.  Parents are responsible for the pickup and drop off of their child each day.

FEES
No fees are charged to your child for daily services, and snack is included each day. In order for your child to be considered for free/reduced breakfast and lunch, an application must be sent into the Harnett County Schools Child Nutrition Department.

TEACHER’S ROLE

It is the role of the teacher to facilitate a child’s successful exploration of the environment by providing support, focused attention, physical proximity and verbal encouragement.  Teachers recognize that children learn from trial and error and that children’s misconceptions reflect their developing thoughts.  The teacher can accomplish these goals and facilitate children’s involvement by asking questions, making suggestions or adding material or ideas to a situation.  The classroom must be arranged in such a way that the child is encouraged to choose and explore areas of interest.  A spacious environment with well-defined centers encourages children to interact with the environment, as well as their peers and adults.   Teachers emphasize language that accompanies the children’s developmental concepts.

Teachers and other school staff provide your child with a clean and safe environment.  Cots for rest time are provided by the school.  Parents are encouraged to send a blanket for rest time.  The blanket will be sent home each Friday for washing.

GUIDANCE POLICY

Guidance techniques used in the classroom are:

• Setting clear, consistent and fair limits for children’s behavior.
• Redirecting children to more acceptable behavior or activity.
• Using behavior as a learning experience
• Using natural and logical consequences so children learn that their behaviors have repercussions.
• Children may be given an opportunity or time away from the group to calm down and cool off after a frustrating situation.

DAILY SCHEDULES

A developmentally appropriate daily schedule established to meet the needs of children  will be posted in the classroom.  The schedule is flexible and will include the following:  learning through play and learning centers, group times for music, movement, stories, etc. snack and lunch, outside play, and quiet time.

COMMUNICATIONS

Classroom Dojo messages from teachers provide information about activities occurring in your child’s class.  Ideas and suggestions from parents  are welcome.  Lesson plans, a daily schedule and the snack menu are found posted on the classroom information bulletin board.

Please tell your child’s teacher about anything special or different about your child’s day such as: early pick up for an appointment; an approved substitute picking up your child; if your child is not eating breakfast, etc.  Writing this information down is also encouraged to ensure the teacher understands the instructions completely.

CURRENT ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBERS AND EMERGENCY INFORMATION

If your address, home or work numbers, or emergency contacts change, please notify the teacher immediately.

CONFERENCE/PARENT VISITS

Individual parent/teacher conferences are held each year.  Other conferences may be scheduled by appointment.

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

As instructors of young children, Johnsonville  Elementary School believes children must be protected from any form of child abuse or neglect including physical, sexual, emotional maltreatment or lack of supervision.  We will report any suspected child abuse or neglect to the school principal along with the Child Protective Services and the Division of Child Development, if appropriate.  It is considered the school's responsibility to report any suspicious or allegations immediately or within twenty-four (24) hours of any incident or suspicion of abuse or neglect.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE

A parent or authorized adult must bring the child to school between 8:00 am-8:30 am. Children must be picked up each day between 2:30pm-2:45 pm. (Monday – Friday). Please make verbal contact with the teacher and sign the child in and out upon arrival and departure.

Please call the school to let the teacher know if your child will arrive later in the day, is going to be absent, or needs to leave early.  Please indicate who will pick up the child.  Only those persons authorized by the parents may pick the child up.  Parents must notify the school in writing, by fax or email if anyone other than those names on the child’s application form will pick up a child.  The staff will require photo identification from anyone picking up a child.  If an adult comes to pick up a child without parent/guardian permission and the adult is not listed as an emergency contact, we will not release the child until a parent/guardian is contacted.

NUTRITION:  BREAKFAST AND LUNCH

Nutritious breakfast, lunch and snacks are served each day.  Foods high in sugar, fat, or additives are not served.  A beverage of 2% milk for preschoolers, 100% fruit juice, fresh fruit or water is served with the snack. No canned sodas or glass containers are used.

A child’s special diet, food allergies, restrictions, etc. must be noted on the Enrollment Form in writing and discussed with your child’s teacher.  In cases of severe allergies, the school requires the parent and the physician to complete an Allergy Action Plan.  Special requirements or the Allergy Action Plan will be posted in the child’s classroom and in the cafeteria.  This plan must be updated annually.

HAND WASHING

State policy dictates that children must wash their hands upon entering the classroom.  The school expects the parents to supervise this activity before leaving the classroom, as teachers are busy interacting with all children at this time.

IMMUNIZATIONS

A current immunization record signed by a healthcare provider must accompany enrollment.  Each child must receive all immunizations required by the state of North Carolina at the entry unless the child has a Medical Exemption granted by the NC Department of Health and Human Services Immunization Department.  When a child receives immunizations, the school should be provided with current documentation.

WELLNESS POLICY

In order to protect the children in our school and offer excellent care, we need to ensure that we have policies in place addressing health and safety standards. Please help us by cooperating with the following policies for dealing with sick children in a group care setting. Please call the school if a child is going to be absent due to illness. If he or she has been diagnosed with something that may be contagious, we especially need to know so other parents can be notified if necessary. In some instances a fact sheet will be provided so parents can be prepared for what symptoms may appear, how it is treated, and what the incubation period is. Once parents are notified that the child has become ill during the day, they will be expected to pick them up promptly. If parents cannot be reached or cannot leave work, we will notify the people designated to pick the child up in an emergency. Please keep in mind that, although a child's symptoms may subside, they may still not feel well enough to return to group care. Children who cannot fully participate in school activities should not return to care. Our exclusion from care is based on recommendations from the public health department and include, but are not limited to the following:

Fever:  Children should be kept at home if they run a temperature of 101 degrees or more.  They may return to school after being fever free without medication for fever reduction for at least 24 hours.

Vomiting: A child who cannot hold stomach contents down, must be excluded from school until they have had normal meals and the vomiting has subsided for at least 24 hours.

Diarrhea: This is defined as loose watery stools that cannot be contained. If a child has three stools in a period of 2 to 3 hours that cannot be contained in the clothing, parents will be notified. Numerous germs can be passed through feces and if it is uncontainable there is greater danger that it will spread, potentially infecting several children. The child may return to care once they have normal stools while eating regular meals.    

Nose & Eye discharge: Children who have thick, green, excessive discharge will need to be excluded from care until they have seen a doctor and it is under control.  

Conjunctivitis: Commonly known as pink eye, this is a condition that is very contagious. A child whose eyes are inflamed, red, itchy or draining with mucus needs to be removed from care. They may return once the child is on medication for 24 hours and there is no further drainage.

 Open blisters or sores: Any open place on a child's skin that is bleeding or oozes bodily fluid can be hazardous. The child needs to be excluded until the skin is crusted over.

Skin rashes: All skin rashes need to have a doctor's note indicating that the child is not contagious in order to return to school.

Sore Throat: A child who has a sore throat especially if accompanied by fever or swollen glands should be kept at home. A child with strep throat must have had at least 24 hours of an antibiotic to return to the school.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Respiratory Symptoms: This includes difficulty in breathing, or continuous coughing to the point that the child cannot rest comfortably. If the child is sent home one day because symptoms appear that require exclusion from school, they may not return the following day. Please understand we do not have adequate facilities and staff to meet the needs of both the ill child and the other children in the group. Therefore we have no choice but to exclude ill children from group care. This also serves to protect all the children and staff members in the school from contagious diseases. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Medications: Children with non-contagious conditions may require medication during school hours. Prescription medicine must be in the original bottle and labeled with the child's name, date, and dosage, the name of the medication and the doctor's name. Doses of non-prescription medication cannot exceed the recommended dosage for any age without a doctor's written consent. Written permission and directions from the parent are required before administering any medication. The medicine is kept in a locked cabinet that is inaccessible to the children. Please give all medications to the school office to ensure proper storage. Never leave medication out on the counter or in a child's bag. If routine or extended periods of medication are necessary, arrangements for administration must be made with the principal and teacher. (Examples of conditions include, but are not limited to, diabetes, asthma and hemophilia.) When a child is enrolled, parents complete forms authorizing emergency medical aid and list a minimum of two local emergency contacts other than the child’s parents.

Injuries: For minor injuries, first aid is administered and an “Incident Report” is completed and sent home.  Parents are contacted immediately in the event of serious injury to a child.  If the parents, contact persons, and the doctor are unavailable, the child may be taken to the designated hospital emergency room.  If a child is treated by a medical professional for an injury that happened at the school, we are required to mail an Incident Report to the Division of Child Development within seven (7) days.  Parents are asked to sign this form.  

CLOTHING AND PERSONAL BELONGINGS

All children need to have at least two complete sets of clothing that is to be kept in the classroom in case of accidents, spills, etc. The clothes should be in a ziplock bag with the child's name on it and should be seasonally appropriate. All clothing and objects brought from home should be clearly marked with the child's name.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AND HOLIDAY PARTIES   

Simple birthday celebrations are welcomed. Please schedule the celebration ahead of time with the child's teacher. We ask parents not to leave birthday invitations for private parties in children's folders or cubbies. If all children in the class are not included, it may result in hurt feelings or risk that the invitations may be lost. The Harnett County Health Department requires that all foods consumed by groups of children must be obtained from sources that comply with the laws relating to food and food labeling (ie. packaged foods purchased in stores or bakeries that have health inspections).