Policies and Procedures

Fifth and sixth grade students are given an opportunity of either vocal music or instrumental music instruction as an elective.  Information will be sent home with all interested students at the beginning of the school year.  Students involved in these classes are responsible to make up any work missed in the regular classes.

We want to celebrate your student. To protect instructional time, birthday celebrations should be brief and approved by the classroom teacher in advance. Parents wishing to provide treats should contact the teacher before sending items to school. Birthday celebrations will be scheduled.

The meals served daily are nutritionally balanced and meet one-third of the daily minimum nutrition requirements. We strongly urge you to take advantage of the school lunch program. Students may bring lunch from home or purchase a school lunch. Fast food, canned and/or bottled drinks, and toys are not allowed in the cafeteria. Items purchased during school snack sales must be consumed during the designated time approved by the teacher. Parents/Guardians are welcome to come and eat lunch with their students. Please check in at the front office and then sit at the visitor table in the cafe. No other students will be allowed to join you and your student. Please contact the cafeteria manager at 985-605-5527 between the hours of 6:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. if you have any questions.
 

Students shall be allowed to possess an electronic communication device on a school campus during the instructional day or on the bus to and from school provided the device is turned to the off position, completely stowed away, and not in use. Stowing of electronic communication devices is defined as being placed in the student’s locker, school bag or purse and shall not be displayed in view using any type of clip or other device. Electronic communication devices cannot be stowed in a pocket.  If a student is found using an electronic communication device, displaying an electronic telecommunication device, or in possession of an electronic communication device on their person during the instructional day or on the school bus, the disciplinary procedures as outlined in the District Handbook for Students and Parents shall be utilized as a consequence. 

Parent conferences are encouraged and can be arranged at any time during the school year.  To request a conference with a teacher, call the school office (643-1605) or email the teacher on his/her school email account to set up an appointment. 

The St. Tammany Parish School Board (STPSB) 1:1 Chromebooks for learning deployment is to promote high levels of student engagement for all students. Increasing access to technology is essential to build upon college and career readiness skills. 

All parents in Grades K-6 must complete the STPSB Responsible Use Policy form.  The form will be sent home on the first day of school and can also be found on the Florida Avenue web page.  The policies, procedures, and information within this document serve as information for students and parents/guardians. Teachers may set additional requirements for Chromebook use in their classroom. 

Distribution of the Chromebook:  Chromebooks will be distributed near the beginning of the school year. The procedure for distribution of Chromebooks will be established at each school. Logging into a Chromebook:   Students will log into their Chromebooks using their school issued account. Students should never share account passwords with others. 

An STPSB Chromebook is being loaned to the student for educational use during the school year.  This device is the property of STPSB and must be returned at the end of each school year. Instructions for such will be given at that time. A student transferring out of the District will be required to return the Chromebook. If a Chromebook is not returned, the parent/guardian will be held responsible for payment in full. It is understood that the intentional failure to return the Chromebook to the school may constitute theft of district property and will be reported as necessary. 

An optional insurance policy can be purchased in the beginning of the school year and it covers any accidental damages to a student’s Chromebook. The $25 insurance payment can be made on My Payments Plus. If no insurance is on file, the parent or guardian will be liable for any damage costs associated with a damaged Chromebook. Replacement fees will be charged for any missing or damaged chargers as well as damaged cases.  Chargers and cases are not covered by insurance. 

Limitation of Liability:  STPSB is not responsible for damage or harm to persons, files, data or hardware. Chromebooks employ filtering technologies and other safety and security mechanisms, but there is no guarantee as to their effectiveness. STPSB will not be responsible, financially or otherwise, for unauthorized transactions conducted over the device or the school network. 

Guidance and Counseling services are available to help our children become aware of their abilities, aptitudes, interests, and attitudes.  The school counselor and mental health provider (MHP)  can assist in the following areas:

• to help children develop to their fullest potential
• to help children maximize their self-esteem
• to provide opportunities for problem solving, etc.

Please call or email our school counselor or MHP if you feel your child could benefit from this service.

Student Behavior Process: Florida Avenue Elementary uses a progressive behavior system to support positive student behavior and encourage reflection and growth. Teachers begin with a Reflection Sheet to reteach expectations and provide students with an opportunity to pause, reflect, and make better choices. If behaviors continue, a Student Behavior Report (SBR) is used to communicate concerns with families. Repeated or more serious behaviors may result in an Office Behavior Referral, where administration will determine appropriate interventions or consequences based on the nature and severity of the behavior. Our goal is to partner with families while helping every Tiger Cub learn from mistakes, demonstrate responsibility, and LEAD with Pride.

During the first week of school, your child’s teacher will be sending home a Student Emergency Card for you to complete and return. Having this information returned promptly and correctly is of the UTMOST importance. A record of this information is kept in the school office in case you need to be contacted. Please make sure all telephone numbers and addresses are accurate and clearly written. Remember to put the name and telephone number of a person who can be contacted in case you cannot be reached. Please notify the school if you change your address or telephone numbers at any time during the school year. It is very important that our records are kept updated. Students may only be checked out of school/picked up by a person listed on the Student Emergency Card.

Trips are planned to enrich learning. Classes may participate in field trips during the school year as arranged by each grade level. Information and cost of trips will be sent home prior to any trip. Students are not required to attend a field trip. Assignments will be given to any child who remains at school. The work will be done under the guidance of another classroom teacher. Students attending field trips must ride the school bus. We encourage parents to attend our field trips as chaperones. All chaperones will provide their own transportation to and from field trips. All students must ride the bus to and from field trips and cannot be dismissed from field trips with parents. To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all students, the following expectations apply during school-sponsored field trips:

• Only authorized chaperones may attend.
• Siblings may not accompany field trips. 
• Smoking, vaping, alcohol, and tobacco products are prohibited.
• Parents, chaperones, and visitors should not photograph or post images of students other than their own child.

If your child becomes ill or injured, our school secretaries will contact you using information on file.  In the event you are called, please make arrangements to pick up your child as soon as possible.

For respect to the classroom learning environment, classes will not be interrupted for messages. Forgotten lunches, homework, and/or transportation arrangements are not considered emergencies and students will not be called to the front office for these items. Forgotten items may be dropped off at the front office during the day and will be placed in the teacher’s mailbox. 

Leader in Me is a PK–12 evidence-based model focused on leadership, culture, and academics that equips students, educators, and families with the leadership and life skills needed to thrive in a dynamic world. (www.leaderinme.org).  Florida Avenue Elementary is a Leader in Me school.

Leader in Me Core Paradigms:

Everyone can be a leader.

Everyone has genius.

Change starts with me.

Empower students to lead their own learning.

Educators and families partner to develop the whole person.

The 8 Habits of Highly Effective People:

Be proactive.

Begin with the end in mind.

Put first things first.

Think win-win.

Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

Synergize.

Sharpen the saw.

Find your voice.

LEAD Expectations:

Students will be taught and expected to follow LEAD expectations in all settings of our school.

L-Lead always

E-Encourage others

A-Act Safely

D-Dream big

Do not send medication, prescribed or over the counter, to school.  Teachers are not allowed to administer medication to students at school.  

EXCEPTION:  If your child is on long-term prescription medication, you may request a St. Tammany Parish Medication form from the school office and have it completed by your physician.  The medication can then be administered through the office.  This medication must be brought to school by the parent.  Students are never to bring medication to school.

Parents/guardians are responsible for informing the school of any medical conditions, allergies, or health concerns that may affect their child’s school day. Medical conditions requiring accommodations or restrictions must be supported by appropriate medical documentation.

Notifications about closings and re-openings are made through recorded emergency phone calls, the School System website, www.stpsb.org, the School System mobile app, STPPS Facebook and Twitter accounts and the local media.  All STPSB severe weather guidelines will be adhered to in case of emergency conditions during school hours.

Regarding snacks, students are not allowed to bring “family size” or “jumbo size” snacks. The snack is intended to be eaten quickly, and it is not a meal. Students are encouraged to bring heathy snacks, as well as snacks that do not make a mess in the classroom. Students may not share snacks. Outside drinks, such as store bought coffee and/or various drinks (Starbucks, PJs, energy drinks, etc.) are not allowed on campus.

The St. Tammany Parish Public School System believes in maintaining the best possible communication with our parents and caregivers. The Student Progress Center is a tool that allows you to review your child’s schedule information (including teacher pages and calendars), grades, attendance, discipline, transcripts, and testing data online as well as maintain parent/guardian phone numbers and email address. The School System also uses the system for emergency communications and school updates using phone numbers you provide to your child’s school. The Student Progress Center is a tool for your child as well. Your child will access the Student Progress Center, using the same login information used at school, to access their schedule information (including teacher pages and calendars), grades, attendance, discipline, transcript, and testing data. If you have a child returning to the St. Tammany Parish Public School System and you previously registered for the Student Progress Center, there is no need to re-register.  If you registered a child using the Online Registration System (ORS), you will use the same username and password to access the Student Progress Center.  Parents and caregivers can use the same login ID and password from year to year and school to school.  For more information about the Student Progress Center visit stpsb.org.

Students are expected to keep in good condition, all textbooks, library books, and other materials issued to them.  Any lost or damaged items will need to be replaced.

Bus Service 

Call the Transportation Department, 898-3373, with questions regarding bus routes, stops, and times.

For the safety of your child and everyone on the bus, security cameras are present and appropriate bus behavior will be strictly enforced.  Students are expected to always:

• Remain seated facing the front of the bus.
• Keep their hands and feet to themselves and inside the bus.
• Talk in a respectful low (normal) tone of voice.
• Use only the bus stop assigned.

Bus Transportation Bus routes and stops are planned and established by the St. Tammany Parish School Board Transportation Department. Parents can find all of this information by visiting the STPSB website and selecting the tab Bus Transportation on the homepage.

Students who ride a bus are expected to follow behavior guidelines, which are posted on each bus. The bus driver will also send home a flyer with additional information.  Students are not allowed to be dropped off at a different bus stop by their parent/guardian. They must catch the bus at their assigned stop only. Students cannot be dropped off at a stop other than at the stop nearest to their home. Students who are found to be dropped off at a stop that is not their place of residence and are picked up by parent/guardian in a vehicle will be reported to transportation and Child Welfare and Attendance. Safety is always our number one concern.

Bike Riders

Drop off and pick up procedures for bike riders:

Review bicycle safety with your child and remind him/her to wear a bike helmet and obey all traffic regulations when traveling to and from school.  Students are to enter the campus no earlier than 7:35 on Sixth Street via the Bus Ramp.  The bike rack is located there.  Students will walk their bikes while on sidewalks and paths on campus. Students will need to cross the street by the crossing guard located at the intersection of Sixth Street and Florida Avenue.  The school assumes no responsibility for bicycles.  Students are not allowed to ride electric scooters to school per school system guidance.  Students riding bicycles should leave campus promptly once dismissed.

Car Riders

Drop off and pick up procedures for car riders:

Our drop off and pick up line forms on Sixth Street and Florida Avenue.  You will need to enter Sixth Street from Michigan Avenue.  Sixth Street is one way during school hours entering from Gause Blvd.  Reminder Sixth Street is a one way street during arrival and dismissal.  No right turns onto Florida Avenue are allowed.  If your student is a car rider, we will send home signage for you to display for the car line.  YOU MUST HAVE THIS SIGN DISPLAYED IN ORDER TO PICK UP YOUR CHILD IN THE CARLINE.  The signage will help the car line run smoothly and quickly.   Students may be dropped off beginning at 7:35. Students cannot be dropped off before 7:35 or before the car line duty team is outside.  All students going home by car should be picked up no later than 3:25 p.m. For the safety of all students, loading and unloading procedures must be followed at all times.

• Students should enter and exit vehicles only from the passenger side of the vehicle.
• School personnel are not responsible for buckling or unbuckling student seat belts

Walkers

Drop off and pick up procedures for walkers:

We will continue the walker pick up from the Bus Ramp on Sixth Street.  Students walking should leave campus promptly once dismissed. If you are meeting your child to escort them home, please be at school for 3:05.  You will need to pick up your child from the bus ramp on Sixth Street and use the available crosswalk by the Crossing Guard who is located at the intersection of Sixth Street and Florida Avenue to leave campus.  

School Uniforms are mandatory for all students. Our uniform consists of:

• Solid white or forest green, collared, polo shirt (logo optional), or Florida Avenue Elementary T-Shirts (purchased from school).
• Solid khaki uniform pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, or jumpers.
• The minimum length for uniform bottoms is at the fingertip when standing erect with arms extended down the sides as stated in the St. Tammany Parish Handbook.
• Tennis shoes should be worn on Physical Education days. Slip-on style shoes, or high heeled shoes or boots, are not allowed during regular school hours except for designated dress-up days such as picture days. All shoes must have a strap across the back, including crocs. Crocs may not be worn during PE classes, as the crocs increase the risk of injury.
• When sweatshirts or outer garments are worn over the uniform, the outer garment may not hang below the hem of shorts, skirts, and/or skorts. Uniform bottoms must be visible at all times. Sweatshirts or jackets may not be a distraction, as deemed by administration. They should be solid or with very minimal graphics.
• Hoods, hats, caps, and bandanas are not to be worn on campus during regular school hours. Hoods or winter hats may be worn outdoors while on campus during inclement weather, but must be removed when entering the building.
• Please review the STPSB Handbook for other policies.

Parents are encouraged to become involved in our school activities.  We need volunteers for many aspects of our educational program.  For the safety of our children, we must know who is on our campus at all times.  All visitors to the school must sign in at the office and receive a visitor identification badge.  All students leaving the building during school hours must be signed out through the office.

Students are to be officially dropped when moving from Slidell or transferring to another school in Parish (due to change of address), please contact the school several days before the planned move.  This will allow the office and teachers time to complete the necessary paper work.  All textbooks and library books must be returned and all fines must be paid. The issued Chromebook and charger must also be returned.