School Handbook
The Manchester Elementary School Community welcomes you to our school. The staff is committed to providing quality instruction for all students. The home/school relationship plays a crucial role in achieving this commitment. Honest and open communication contributes to a positive school experience for all our students and their families. If questions or issues regarding the classroom or instruction arise throughout the year, parents/guardians are encouraged to contact the teacher first with their concerns.
Office/School Hours
The school office is open daily from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
The school day begins at 8:45 a.m. and ends at 3:15 p.m. Students are expected to be in their classrooms at 8:40 a.m. Students will be allowed to enter the building once the buses start to arrive at 8:20 a.m. For security reasons, Manchester Elementary School doors are locked at 4:00 p.m. Staff has been instructed not to allow individuals in the building after that time. Only an administrator may make that decision. If a student is allowed back in the building, a staff member must accompany him/her to the classroom and back to the exit. Students should make sure they have all items needed for homework prior to dismissal.
School Visitation
School administrators must be accountable for the whereabouts of all visitors in the building. All parents and visitors must report immediately to the office upon entering the building. All parents/visitors must follow the procedures outlined below when visiting the school:
- Sign in and log all areas of the building you will be visiting.
- Receive a Visitor Badge from an office staff member.
- Badge should be worn in an easily visible spot.
- Sign out when you leave.
Teachers have many responsibilities in the morning as the students are arriving. If a parent has a scheduled appointment with the teacher or is helping the teacher/school with a project, he/she may go to the classroom after reporting to the office. If an emergency arises and it is necessary to speak with a teacher during this time, parents must report to the office. Office staff will contact the teacher and see if he/she is able to meet with you. Under no circumstances will anyone be permitted in the building or instructional areas without permission.
Visiting classrooms for extended periods of time is permitted only with prior approval of the administration. If such a visit is deemed to be disruptive to the instructional program for the children, permission will not be granted. Teachers should be contacted in advance to schedule a visit.
Emergency Procedure Cards
Each pupil should have emergency contact information on file in the main office and in the Nurse’s Office. Children will bring an emergency contact card home the first day of school. This emergency contact information helps us locate parents when a child is ill or is injured. Please return corrected and complete card to school immediately. Please keep us informed of telephone number and place of employment changes. Be sure to list all persons who are allowed to transport your child to / from school on the Emergency Contact Information. The school may not release a child to a person unless that person is a custodial parent, OR is listed on the Emergency Contact Card and has the custodial parent’s written permission or is contacted in an emergency by the school nurse and/or office staff. Anyone other than a biological parent can NOT sign a child out of school without written permission from the parent regardless of whether or not they are on the emergency card.
Medications
It is a violation of the Carroll County Board of Education Policy for students to transport medications of any kind to or from school. Medications must be brought to school by an adult. Students transporting medications are subject to suspension. The complete Drug and Alcohol Policy can be found in the Student Services Handbook.
Attendance
Students are required to be in school every day except in the event of personal illness, serious family illness, death in the family or quarantine. Absences due to these reasons will be excused once a note is submitted by parent/guardian stating the reason for the absence. Parents can send in a note upon the student’s return, send a note via fax or email, or phone the office. Unexcused absences will be recorded on students’ permanent records. Attendance data is monitored by the school and Student Services Department. If a student’s absences or times late for school approach the 15% level, the following steps are taken:
- Parent/Legal Guardian is contacted by teacher/counselor.
- Parent/Legal Guardian is contacted by an administrator.
- Parent/Legal Guardian is contacted by a Student Service Worker.
Any student arriving after 8:45 must report to the office and be accompanied by a parent or guardian. A explanation for the tardiness must be provided. Students arriving after 8:45 will be marked late. Students being dismissed prior to 3:15 will be coded as an early dismissal. Late arrivals and early dismissals will be reported on student Progress Reports as a tardy.
If a student is to be dismissed early, a note should be sent to the teacher stating the time of the dismissal and the reason for the dismissal. The note must be signed by the parent/legal guardian. If someone other then the parent/guardian will be picking the child up, their name should be stated in the letter. Students will not be called from class until the appropriate person arrives in the school office. Students being dismissed early will need to be signed out in the office.
When a student returns from an absence a written note or e-mail to the school stating the reason of the absence must be provided.
Transportation
Carroll County Public Schools Transportation Department requires that students have one permanent a.m. and p.m. bus stop. Stops or change in buses may only be approved in the case of an extreme emergency. Prior approval by a school administrator is necessary to change a stop or bus. Parents/Guardians are responsible for the behavior of students at bus stops. Inappropriate behavior while on the bus may result in a suspension from the bus. Parents will be notified if their child is displaying inappropriate behavior on the bus. Students receiving bus referrals for poor behavior choices will participate in “Bus Safety School.”
School Safety
School safety is a priority at Manchester. Please refer to the Board of Education’s Violent Act and Threats Of Serious Violence Policies found in the Student Services Handbook, Informational Calendar and on the CCPS Website
Car Riders
Students are encouraged to ride the bus to and from school each day. When it is necessary for a student to be transported to or from school by car, drivers must follow the directions of staff members on duty. If transporting children by car in the morning, please be sure they arrive at school by 8:40. If your child is going home by car, you will need to park and come into the building at the gym entrance. Car riders will be dismissed from the gym. Adult picking up the child must have a photo I.D.
Celebrations/Invitations
Due to many food allergies food items may not be brought to school to celebrate birthdays etc. Invitations to student parties may not be given out at school. Non-edible items such as pencils, stickers, etc. may be sent to school to remember a students’ birthday.
Late Starts/Early Closings
There are eleven, two hour and forty-five minute early dismissal days scheduled throughout the year for elementary schools. The dates can be found in the table below. Dismissal on these days will begin at 12:30 p.m.
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September 18
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February 5
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October 29
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March 15
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November 9
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April 1
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December 3
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May 11
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December 23
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June 10
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January 22
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If schools need to start late or close early due to emergencies or inclement weather, opening and closing times can be found in the chart below. When it is necessary for schools to open late or close early, announcements will be made on radio, television and cable channel 21.
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1 hour Late
Opening
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2 Hours Late Opening
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1 hour Early
Dismissal
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2 Hour Early
Dismissal
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K-5
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Schedule
9:45-3:15
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Schedule
10:45-3:15
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Dismissal
at 2:15
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Dismissal
at 1:15
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Perfect/Exceptional Attendance
Students who have not missed more than 1 day of school will receive a Certificate of Attendance on the last day of school.
Cafeteria
Students may purchase a school lunch from the cafeteria. A student lunch can be purchased for $2.00, milk $.50 and ice-cream $.75. Students may purchase only 1 ice-cream per day and ice cream may not be available every day or to all grade levels. Menus are sent home at the beginning of each month. The sharing of food or loaning of money by students is prohibited. If a child forgets his/her lunch or lunch money, a charge will be written by the cafeteria staff. Please make every effort to pay the charge the following school day.
Custody
Parents should keep the school updated in regard to custody documents. Unless there is a court document, both parents have equal rights in regard to access to students and student records. It is parental responsibility to produce documents for the school. When in doubt about custody issues and how the school will respond, schedule a conference with the principal.
Field Trips
Field trips are planned as extensions of various units of study. Chaperones must attend a Volunteer Training in order to be eligible to chaperone trips. Only parents, legal guardians or grandparents may serve as chaperones on any trip.
Parent Teacher Organization
Manchester has a very supportive PTA. All families of the Manchester Community are encouraged to participate in school activities. Please consider joining the PTA. Dues support educational initiatives for students.
Forgotten Items
Students will occasionally forget items such as lunches, instruments, homework etc. Forgotten items are to be brought to the office. Office staff will ensure students receive the items.
Dress Code
Students must follow the CCPS Dress Policy. This policy can be found in the Student Services Handbook, Informational Calendar and on the CCPS Website. Students may not wear flip flops or strapless sandals (these are a safety hazard).
General Information
Valuables such as extra money, sports equipment, radios, video games etc. are not to be brought to school.
The school cannot give out student names, addresses, and telephone numbers. Party invitations may not be distributed at school.
Toys, dolls, etc. are restricted to specific occasions designated by the teacher. When the item is not in use, it is to be stored in the child’s locker/cubby. Electronic toys / gadgets are not to be brought to school. This includes CD or tape players!
“Make a Buzz 4 the Bees”
Manchester Elementary is an active participant in the Positive Behavior Intervention Strategies Program. School wide behavior expectations are described in the Four Bees Program. Our “Four Bees” are as follows:
“Be Responsible” “Be Respectful”
“Be Prepared” “Be Safe”
