701 Hibernia Place Telephone: (985) 303-4817
Houma, LA 70363 Fax: (985) 876-8504
VISION:
Grand Caillou Elementary has a commitment to engage, educate, and empower all students everyday. Through high expectations academically and behaviorally, we will develop future leaders who are both career and college ready.
MISSION:
Commitment to Excellence in Education for All
SCHOOL THEME:
GCE: Where Great Minds Grow
School Website: http://www.tpsd.org/gce/
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Emilee Casey Amanda Callahan
Assistant Principal Principal
Principal’s Message
As principal of Grand Caillou Elementary, my main goal is to support students, teachers, and parents to ensure student success and academic confidence. I hope to instill a love of learning and school in each child. Most of my days will be spent in classrooms interacting with students and staff members. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
This handbook will provide you with pertinent information concerning policies and procedures here at Grand Caillou Elementary. The rules and regulations were adopted for the health, safety, and welfare of every student attending our school. We want students and parents to be well informed. We urge YOU to take time now to read and discuss the enclosed information together.
Open communication between parents, teachers, the administrative staff, and the community is essential to ensure students' intellectual, emotional, physical, and social growth. During the school year, should you need our assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us. We invite you to visit our school, and look forward to seeing each of you.
We welcome your participation and support this school year and solicit your membership in the PTC. Working together, we will be able to reach our collective and individual goals and celebrate the achievements of our students. We hope this will be a successful and satisfying year for you.
Let’s have a GREAT school year!
A. Callahan
Amanda Callahan
GCE CORE BELIEFS:
✓Our core responsibility is to provide a positive and safe environment that is conducive to teaching and learning.
✓In order to ensure student success, teachers will participate in meaningful staff development activities that focus on data analysis.
✓Every student will be provided with educational experiences that are rigorous, engaging, aligned to state standards, and prepare them for college and/or careers.
✓Parent and community collaboration is fundamental to achieving and sustaining a positive culture and climate that focuses on student success.
GCE GOALS:
- Students enter Kindergarten ready to learn evidenced by DIBELS testing.
- Students will be proficient in basic literacy skills in Grades K-2 as evidenced by DIBELS.
- By the end of the 4th grade, students are proficient on statewide assessments in Reading, Math, Social Studies, and Science scoring Mastery or above.
Academics
Report cards are posted four times per year in the Student Progress Center, which can be located on our TPSD website. Students will be recognized for academic achievement based on the following grading scale:
A 90-100%
B 80-89%
C 70-79%
D 60-69%
F 59% or below
In calculating nine weeks and session averages, letter grades are assigned the following values:
A 4 points
B 3 points
C 2 points
D 1 point
F 0 points
Academic Honors
Grand Caillou Elementary School understands the importance of recognizing academic achievement and uses the following guidelines to identify our honor roll students:
- Principal’s List (A Honor Roll)
- 4.0 average in both academics and conduct
- Honor Roll (AB Honor Roll)
- A combination of A’s and B’s or all B’s in all academic subjects.
- A “B” or better in conduct in all subjects including PE.
- In non-academic subjects where grades of “S” or “U” are given, honor roll candidates must receive a grade of “S”.
- All incomplete grades must be made up before a student can be considered for the honor roll.
Honor roll lists are compiled at the end of each nine week period and at the end of the school year. These students are recognized for achievement at the 9 weeks and end of the year awards ceremonies.
Announcements
Morning announcements will be made five minutes after the take in bell. In order to preserve instructional time, announcements during other times in the day will be kept to a minimum.
Arrival Policy
Parents may drop students off at GCES no earlier than 8:00 A.M. Teachers assume supervisory duty positions at 8:00 A.M., so for student safety, no child should arrive at school prior to this time. Extenuating circumstances that affect arrival time should be discussed with the principal.
Parents dropping students off in the morning should not pass buses in the parking lot. Parent pickup will occur after the first load of buses has left. A duty teacher will signal when parents may move forward to drop students off.
Parental Involvement Policy
Goals and Activities
Communication Establish various forms of communication (school to home, home to school, central office to home and vice versa) that encourage regular discussion about school programs and children’s academic progress and behavioral management. |
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Parenting Provide information that supports families as they create home environments that value education and nurture children’s curiosity for learning. |
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Student Learning at Home Share information with parents about how to provide learning activities at home, help students with homework, and plan for success in school. |
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Volunteering Encourage and recruit parents’ participation in school activities both in and outside of the classroom, developing program ideas which respect the diverse needs of families. |
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School Decision Making and Advocacy Recruit and develop parents as leaders in school-based decision-making and in advocating for the welfare of students. |
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Collaborating with the Community Identify, enlist and welcome community resources–of all types– to strengthen schools, families, and student learning. |
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School Visits/Conferences/Classroom Visits
Upon arriving at school, parents and visitors MUST CHECK IN WITH THE SECRETARY OR AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL AT THE OFFICE. If you need to contact your child’s teacher, send a note to the teacher or call the school to set up an appointment to meet or talk with the teacher. Parent-teacher conferences can be set during recess, before or after school, or during a teacher’s planning hour. Conferences will not be set during instructional time. Teachers will not be called out of classes to meet with parents.
Parent Volunteers
Parent Volunteers are welcome to come and copy papers, cut out items, and complete tasks for teachers that are needed. Parent volunteers are not allowed to enter classrooms during instructional time and are allowed to volunteer for events as needed.
Attendance
Students are expected to report to school each day and be in their assigned classes on time. Students must be in attendance for 167 days of instruction in order to receive credit for promotion. It is the responsibility of the student and his/her parents to provide written documentation of absences to the school office (doctor’s note, court papers, parent letter). Excused absences include the following: medical appointments, court appearances, death of an immediate family member. Parental excuses are marked as unexcused. All absences, tardies, early check outs and late arrivals count toward perfect attendance.
Early check outs are not encouraged for any reason other than student illness and/or medical appointments. If you must check out your child, please report to the school office for assistance. In order to avoid traffic tie ups in the front driveway, please do not check your child out of school after 3:10 pm. Students being picked up from school after 3:10 will be dismissed with car riders. For security reasons identification is required prior to checking out students. ALL persons checking out students will be asked for ID.
Bus Transportation
Transportation is provided for all students at Grand Caillou Elementary School. Students are to be reminded that the time spent on the bus to and from school is an extension of the school day. Therefore all school rules must be adhered to on the bus. Students should be dressed appropriately and follow behavior expectations at any time they are on a TPSB bus (field trips, athletic trips, after school programs). Chronic misbehavior on the bus may result in the loss of riding privileges. Students are mandated to ride their assigned buses at all times unless they have an approved note from the office. Due to the new routing system, day-to-day bus notes will not be allowed.
Bus referrals are recorded as major office referrals.
Behavior Expectations
Grand Caillou Elementary School has adopted a plan for positive behavior intervention supports (PBIS). PBIS is the application of a behaviorally based system to promote appropriate and acceptable school behaviors. Attention is focused on creating and sustaining individual and school wide system of supports. The purpose of the PBIS program is to include all faculty, staff, and families in shaping student behavior. It is our belief that children learn inappropriate behaviors and therefore are completely capable of learning appropriate behavior as well. We believe that this learned skill is worthy of our time and energy and pays dividends in increased instructional opportunities for our children.
Our expectations include:
P Prepare Daily
- follow appropriate dress code at all times
- have hall pass when out of class during instructional time
- stay in assigned area and wait for teacher directions
A Accept Responsibility
- exit and enter all entrances of the building in a quiet and orderly manner
- request permission to leave your designated area
- line up single file facing forward
- to avoid traffic congestion, move only on the right side of the hallway
W Work for Excellence
- give 100% effort at all times
- be a positive role model by making good choices
- encourage your friends to follow expectations
S Show Respect
- keep hands, feet and unkind comments to self
- use appropriate language at all times
- use appropriate voice level
- sit quietly and appropriately while waiting for directions
- take care of the school environment by cleaning up after yourself
TPSB mandatory school uniform policy Philosophy
The Terrebonne Parish School Board believes that a mandatory school uniform policy will provide a more secure school environment, promote an atmosphere for greater discipline, and increase learning opportunities for students by removing many of the distractions and connotations associated with various types of clothing.
The policy of the School Board shall be that no mode of attire will be considered proper for school wear that distracts from or disrupts classroom and school decorum. The principals of each school will make the final decision as to what is considered proper or improper dress according to the guidelines provided. Any substantial complaint concerning the dress code shall be dealt with by the school administration.
Uniforms & Dress Code Regulations
Refer to the TPSD Student Uniform Policy/Code of Conduct
Dress Down Days
Students may receive dress down passes for Computer Programs, behavior incentives or for special events. During Dress Down Days students should wear school appropriate clothing. Students should never wear open-toe shoes or sleeveless shirts. Shorts and skirts should be no more than 5 inches above the knee. Students may not use a dress down pass for PBIS reward days.
For awards, students must present their dress-down pass upon entering the building. Students without passes or who dress inappropriately will call home for a change of clothes.
Drug and Weapon Free Zone
Drugs, drug paraphernalia, alcohol, cigarettes, and cigarette lighters (or matches) are not allowed on campus in any manner. Students found to be in possession of these items will be recommended for the most severe disciplinary action possible including expulsion and or arrest.
Field Trips
All field trips require parent permission via a TPSD permission form. Money is due for field trips the day of the trip. Parents are not allowed to ride TPSD buses and in some cases field trips are for students only. Field trips may be for educational or reward purposes. In the case of reward field trips, criteria is set before the trip and students are aware of goals.
Internet Usage
Students must adhere to the TPSD internet usage policy. Failure to adhere to this policy may result in the loss of computer usage privileges.
Library Use
Classes are scheduled to visit the library on a regular basis. Students must return books promptly and in good condition. Due to the volume of library use, books must be returned/renewed in a timely manner. In the event that a book is lost or damaged, students will be responsible for replacement cost. Students owing fines may not be able to check out additional books until the fine is fully paid.
Make-Up Assignments
Students are allowed to make-up missed assignments and tests within five days of returning to school. Students with excessive excused absences may work out a make-up schedule for more time with his/ her teacher. Only in extreme cases will more than one week be allowed to make-up work.
Medication
Medication is not allowed at school unless medical documentation is received from a physician and arrangements have been made through the school nurse. Students should not carry any medications on their person for any reason. Students in possession of any unauthorized medications (prescription and / or non-prescription) will be subject to disciplinary measures.
Collection of Money
Any money sent with students to school for a specific purpose should be in a sealed envelope and labeled by the parent. The office WILL NOT accept any money from parents. ALL money must be sent to the homeroom teacher to be logged and turned into the office. For auditing purposes, the office cannot log or collect money.
Lunch
Cafeteria meals will be provided daily. Grand Caillou Elementary students receive free breakfast and lunch daily. Students report straight to breakfast after exiting the bus. Students who do not wish to eat breakfast, report to class. All students report to the cafeteria for lunch. Students are given a twenty minute lunch period followed by recess. Students who are not finished eating upon dismissal can remain in the cafeteria if they chose.
Students bringing their own lunches to school should have water, juice or milk as a beverage. Soft drinks, Powerade, Gatorade, etc. are not allowed in the cafeteria. Students do not have access to microwaves to heat food.
Student Concessions
Student concessions will be sold at recess daily. The items sold meet the guidelines for healthy snacks and will only be sold after students have exited the cafeteria for lunch.
Student Deliveries
Flower, balloon, or candy deliveries will not be accepted for students at any time. Any snacks brought to school for classroom events should be scheduled beforehand with your child’s teacher.
Telephone Usage
Use of the office telephones by students is subject to approval by school officials and should be limited to emergency calls and school needs only. Calls for permission to attend parties and ride buses with friends will not be permitted. Please discuss plans and arrangements for after-school activities with your child before he/she leaves for school in the morning. Students will NOT be taken out of class to answer the telephone.
Students must have permission to use the school telephone and all phone calls will be monitored by school personnel.
Students are permitted to have cell phones on campus. While TPSD policy states students can have a cell phone in their possession, the phone must be turned off and not in use. Cell phones and other two-way devices used during school hours will be confiscated by school staff and returned only to the parent.
In order to maintain a quiet instructional environment, parents are asked to refrain from using cell phones while in the building.
Textbooks
Textbooks will be issued to students by subject area teachers. Students are responsible for the care and maintenance of their textbooks. Student names will be written in books by the teacher. The students are responsible for lost, stolen, and/or damaged books.
SchoolStatus
SchoolStatus is the new communication tool that the district has opted to use so teachers can communicate with parents/guardians. This program allows two-way communication between parents and teachers through the use of phone, email and text during school hours. If at any time your phone number changes, please contact the school so we can update this in our system.
The information in this handbook is not all-inclusive. All material in this handbook is subject to change based on changes in Board of Education policy, state and local laws, and individual circumstances. If you have questions that remain unanswered after reviewing this handbook, please contact the office at 303-4817 for clarification or additional information.