~ Richard P. Kunzi, Principal

Children should NOT arrive at school earlier than 8:05 AM

Emergency Information:
Emergency Information MUST be on file for your child to attend school.  Please keep this updated.  It is imperative that the school is notified immediately of any change in the following:
 w Home Address
 w Telephone Numbers
 w Persons to be contacted in case of emergency when a parent can not be reached.
It is requested that you discuss with your children the procedure to follow when an unannounced early dismissal of school takes place.

Explanation for Pupil Absences:
Children are required to bring a written explanation, signed by a parent, to their teacher upon returning to school after being absent.  In cases where your child has a communicable disease, please notify the school immediately so that the necessary precautions may be taken.  Please notify the teacher if your child is going to be absent for an extended period of time by note or phone.  All half-day absences should be reported to the teacher or by calling the school if the child is not returning that afternoon.

School Attendance:
We can not stress enough the importance of regular school attendance.  Punctual and regular school attendance is an essential pre-requisite for satisfactory achievement and progress in school.  We discourage early dismissal from school as a practice because it is disruptive to our classes, deprives the child involved of needed instructional time, and sets an unacceptable precedent for a sound and effective attendance policy.

Tardiness:
Promptness to school and classes is very important.  Teachers are required to keep a record of tardiness.  If the problem becomes habitual a principal/parent conference will be scheduled.

Transportation:
Only students attending McDowell School are permitted to ride the busses.  The safety of all students riding school busses is of the utmost importance.  Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that anyone riding the school bus conduct himself/herself in the safest possible manner and that he/she extend complete cooperation to the driver at all times.
Students who come to school on the bus should return on the bus. Riding the bus is a privilege.  Improper conduct on the bus will result in that privilege being denied.  Bus drivers are the authority on the bus.  A signed note from home is required before a pupil is permitted to ride a different bus or walk home, if he or she is a bus rider.  These notes must be presented to the teacher and must have office approval.

Bicycles and Bus Riders:
Children who are scheduled bus riders are not permitted to walk or ride their bicycles to school unless authorized by the principal and the parent/guardian.

Lost Children:
Sometimes we have children who do not go directly home after school dismissal.  Often they visit or go to a neighbor's house.  Either send these children directly home or notify parents where they are.  Also, do not pick-up children of your friends and neighbors without the immediate expressed permission of the parents.  What is meant to be a neighbor's gesture of friendship, sometimes develops into a panic situation for parents when they can not find their child at the bus stop or at school.

Injuries or Illness:
All injuries or illnesses during the school day are handled though the office.  Parents are notified as soon as they can be contacted and are requested to pick up their child in the office.

Medications:
If it is necessary for your child to take medication during school hours, a written request to administer and directions must be presented to the school office with a statement from the child's doctor.  A doctor's statement and parental authorization is required for all medications.  Your child's medication must be in a prescription bottle listing his/her, the amount to be given and the time necessary,  Forms are available in the school office for this purpose.  All medications are kept in the office.  Self-administration of medication is permissible under certain circumstances.  Inquire at the office for information.

Excuse from School Activity:
Unless a child has a doctor's note stating that for health reasons he/she is not to participate in a scheduled school activity, he/she will not be excused.  It is assumed that if a child is able to attend school he/she is able to take an active part in all scheduled activities.  The above policy also applies to outdoor recess.

Physical Examinations:
Children entering the Taylor School system for the first time must submit proof of having a physical and submit a shot record that they have been immunized or protected against smallpox, diphtheria, pertussis, poliomyelitis, chicken pox, hepatitis B, measles, mumps and rubella.

Clothing:
It would be helpful if the clothing that children take off and put on (example: coats, hats, gloves, etc...) while at school was labeled with the child's name.  Items of clothing found and unclaimed will be deposited in the "Lost & Found" collection area.

Student Dress:
It has been a practice of our school to encourage children to wear clothing which is most appropriate for the activities in which they are involved.  Fingertip length shorts are permitted during the months of May, June, August and September.  We believe that there is a definite relationship between the way children present themselves and the way they behave.  Children who dress neatly and in good taste generally demonstrate their best behavior.

School Visitation:
School visitation by children not enrolled in our school is not allowed. Parents and visitors must report to the office when entering the building.  We use a sign-in procedure and an identification badge to ensure the safety of all students and staff.  We have several children enrolled pending custody hearings, guardianship, etc.  It is only though this procedure that the school can maintain control and guarantee the safety of all.  Release of students during school hours is handled through the office only.  Teachers are instructed to never release a child directly from the classroom.  This policy protects your child and prevents undue disruption of the operation of the class.  Parents are requested to remind their older children (Jr. High students) that they are not permitted on school premises during the time that school is in session.  Your cooperation in this matter will be greatly appreciated.

Pupils Excused From School:
Children are not allowed to leave the school grounds without their parent's consent and knowledge.  Pupils will be excused from school with the written permission of their parents, or when parents come to school for them.  We can not accept telephone requests for children to leave school.  The release of students during school hours is handled
through he school office only.  Students must be picked up at the office and signed out.

Reporting to Parents:
Report cards are sent home with the children following each ten week marking period.  Also, an interim report will be sent home at anytime if the child is experiencing difficulty and the teacher feels the parents should be notified.  Scheduled parent-teacher conferences, in addition to regular report cards are held in all Taylor School during the year.  Parents may request additional conferences with the teachers or the principal at any time.  Please contact us whenever you have a question or problem relative to the school.

PTO:
You will be notified of the dates and times that meetings will be held.  Make plans to attend and encourage your neighbors to come with you.  We are looking forward to a very profitable year for the children, parents and teachers.

Volunteer Opportunities:
We welcome and need your help in many ways at McDowell School.  We hope that you will drop by and discuss these needs with us.  Teachers are responsible for the actual technical instructional program, but there are many ways that parent volunteers can contribute to their children's learning and welfare.

School Playground:
Our school playground is open to our students and the public after school hours and on weekends.  However, during school hours, use of the playground is limited to school use only.  We hope that the equipment will be used properly.  This playground is an asset to our community.  We solicit your help in reporting any acts of vandalism.  All motor vehicles are prohibited from using any part of the school's play area.  This includes mini-bikes, motorcycles, go-carts and snowmobiles, as well as automobiles.

Notice of Leaving:
Parents who plan on enrolling children in another school should follow this procedure:
 w Notify the classroom teacher and the office a few days before moving with the following information:
          w New Address
          w Date of Leaving
          w Name of School/ City where child will enroll.
 w  Return all classroom texts and library books.
 w  Take all personal items
The children's records will be sent by mail when requested by the new school.  When enrolling your child in another Taylor School, you will need two items showing proof of residency (I.e, morgage agreement, rental agreement, driver's license showing the new address.)  The proof of residency must be shown at the Taylor School District Pupil Accounting Department.