Absences

Alabama state law requires that students are present during school hours.  Parents will be notified of student absences by an automated telephone system and by written notification according to the following guidelines:

·        An automated telephone call will be made after each absence.

·        A letter will be sent home after a student has accumulated five unexcused absences to schedule a conference with school administration. 

·        After the seventh unexcused absence, a petition will be filed by the system’s attendance officer to the District Attorney’s office.

·        After the tenth unexcused absence the truancy case will be  turned over to the courts.

A written note must be provided within three days of the absence to be accepted and coded excused.  Please refer to the attendance section in the Student Code of Conduct and Parental Reference for any other concerns you may have about the attendance policies.  

In the event of an emergency, it may be necessary for school to dismiss early.  School closing information will be communicated via Notify Me, FaceBook, Twitter, local media outlets and teacher email distribution lists.  When the school is dismissed early, after school activities, including extended day services, will be canceled.  

For the welfare and protection of your child, your cooperation is appreciated in the following procedures:

·          It is important to let your child know his/her arrival and/or dismissal procedures from school each day.  

·          An adult who requests a child for check-out must show a picture ID. Verification will be made by school office personnel.

·          In order to checkout a student, the person must be listed as an emergency contact.

Tardies

Heritage will monitor tardies and schedule conferences as needed.  It is very important that your child be present at the beginning of the school day. 

Cyclists are to walk their bikes on school grounds and lock bikes at the rack provided in front of the building.  They will enter through the car rider entrance only.  The crosswalk must be used as access to and from the school.  Helmets are required on school grounds.  Skateboards and rollerblades are not permitted on campus.  Please provide written notification to the office if your child uses a bicycle for transportation anytime during the school year.

Bus Procedures

Madison City Schools provide bus transportation for all students.  Students are expected to show respect to other students and to the bus drivers at all times.  Repeated or at risk misbehaviors may result in the loss of the privilege to ride the bus.  

Expanded Day services are available to all students and include snacks, dedicated homework time, structured and unstructured play, Spanish, tutoring, computer access, art and other educational activities.  If you are interested, please contact the school office.  Registration forms are located on the school website.

f you wish to change your child’s normal transportation, the following methods will be accepted:

• Written communication to homeroom teacher.
• In cases of emergency only the front office will accept a phone call. 
• Please make all transportation changes before 1:45pm of that day.

All walkers must be escorted to the school campus by an adult.  Students are expected to stay on the sidewalk, respect the property of neighbors, cross at crosswalk and follow the directions of the crossing guard. Please provide written notification to the office if your child will be a walker anytime during the school year.  

Breakfast is served Monday through Friday from 7:15-7:35 A.M. A hot lunch is also served daily.  Menus are available via the school website. Free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch is available for those who qualify.  Each student is issued a lunch account and prepayments can be made for a week, month or an entire year.  We encourage you to use the prepay plan either by sending a check to your child’s teacher or by using the online payment method (PAMS) (see system website).  Also, PAMS  has a free APP for both Apple and Android cell phones that will allow you complete access to your child’s account. Please write your driver’s license number, child’s name and cafeteria number on the check.   Breakfast is $1.75 for students.  Lunch costs $2.65 for students and $4.60 for visitors.  Each time the child eats from the cafeteria, the cost of the meal is automatically deducted from the child’s account.  If there is money in your child’s account at the end of the school year, it will be carried over to the next or refunded upon written request.  

1.      Parents may send/bring food items to the classroom party (one per semester) based on the menu provided by the teacher, but these items must be store bought and follow the nutritional guidelines set forth by the Alabama Department of Education and the Food and Drug Administration. 

2.      No exception - homemade food items will not be allowed during classroom parties.

3.      The food provided during the party remained sealed until its arrival in the classroom. 

4.      Please check with the classroom teacher before purchasing food items for classroom parties due to the possibility of a student(s) in the class having a food allergy. 

 The faculty and staff appreciate your assistance in this matter.  As always, our top priority is the students and providing them with a productive school environment.  

1.      Parents may send/bring food items to the school that are only for  their own children and no one else. 

2.      Food items such as cupcakes, birthday cakes, cookies, candy, and etc. sent/brought to school will not be distributed to other students by parents or teachers.  

Media Center

Students must sign and return a Library Student Use form a the beginning of each school year stating that he/she will treat books with respect as well as attend an orientation discussing library procedures with our media specialist. Parents are required to pay for any lost or damaged library books.

All classroom textbooks are loaned to the students for their use during the school year.  Textbooks are to be kept clean and should be handled appropriately.  Parents are required to pay for any lost or damaged textbooks.

Cell Phones

Cell phones are permitted, but must adhere to the following guidelines: 

• Be turned off and kept in back packs during the day.  (School administrators may make exceptions based on extenuating circumstances.)
• The school will not be liable for cell phones if lost or stolen.  

Parents and visitors are always welcome. However, all guests should report to the office, sign in with a driver’s license or proper identification using the Lobby Guard, and receive a visitor’s badge. Instruction is valued and protected; therefore, the policy of Heritage is to limit ALL classroom interruptions. Please schedule ahead with the teacher for any classroom visit. No one should be in instructional areas without a valid reason and a visitor sticker.

Conferences

Heritage teachers offer conferences bi-yearly for every child to discuss their progress. Parents are welcome to contact the teacher for an additional conference if needed.   

Email
Parents are encouraged to contact their child’s teacher by email. However, email is not a recommended form of communication regarding confidential information. Many teachers do not have access to email outside of school hours. If teachers are absent, substitutes cannot access a teachers’ email. In the event of an emergency please contact the school via telephone as email is not a reliable form of communication. 

Phone Calls

The school phone is for school related communications. Students will be allowed to use the phone in an emergency only. Parents will be notified by school personnel of any emergency situation involving their child, as well as, behavioral issues that may result in a disciplinary action.