New Principal Says Welcome Back
by John Barr
July 28, 2010
HUFFMAN SCHOOL
600 St. Robert Drive
Cahokia, IL 62206
618-332-3720
618-332-3782 Fax
Melissa Rebmann, Principal
rebmannml@stclair.k12.il.us
July 28, 2010
Dear Huffman Parents,
Welcome back to a new and improved year at Huffman School. I hope you had a relaxing and enjoyable summer. Many new smiling faces will be entering Huffman School this year, all eager to teach and reach each and every child.
School begins on Tuesday, August 10, 2010. Students will be dismissed at 11:45 a.m. the first day only. No breakfast or lunch will be served on the first day of school, both will begin the following day. Students begin normal hours on Wednesday, August 11, 2010, 9:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Discipline Policy and Procedures
- The PBIS expectations are: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe. A matrix has been designed to address these expectations in each location of the building.
For grades K-3 the Card System will be as follows:
- Blue = Excellent Day (Pawsitive stamp in agenda)
- Green = Warning
- Yellow = Parent Contact and Optional Teacher Discretion
- Red = Minor Referral with teacher assigned consequence or Office Discipline Referral
For grades 4-8 the Check System will be as follows:
- Star = Excellent Day (Pawsitive stamp in agenda)
- One Check = Warning
- Two Checks = Parent Contact and Optional Teacher Discretion
- Three Checks = Minor Referral with teacher assigned consequence or Office Discipline Referral
Drop-off and Pick-up:
8:40 – 9:10 a.m. Walkers and non-bus riders eat breakfast
9:10 a.m. Students line up with their classes.
9:15 a.m. Classes begin
3:30 p.m. Students dismissed for the day
Bus Riders: Please review the enclosed bus schedule to locate your child’s bus stop and pick up time. It is a good idea to put a name tag with address, phone number, and bus number on first grade students during the first week of school. School transportation is a privilege and is not to be abused. Please stress to your child the importance of staying in his/her assigned bus seat and keeping his/her hands to themselves inside the bus. Children also need to know that they must not dart out into the street while waiting for the bus. If a child continually misbehaves on the bus, suspension from the bus is likely.
Students who walk to school: Students who walk to school should line up to enter the building through the back doors and arrive no earlier than five minutes before school starts unless eating breakfast at school. Please honor this request.
Parent Pick-up: If you pick up your child(ren) after school, please park in the Parent/Visitor lot to the right of the school. Walkers and pick-ups will exit through the end doors. Please wait outside for your child. Do not go to the classroom. Do not park in front of school.
Visitors: For the safety of our children, all visitors must buzz the intercom at the front door to enter the building. Once inside, you must report to the office and obtain a visitor’s pass before visiting classrooms.
Lunch and Milk: The cost of a hot lunch with milk is $1.25 for all grade levels. Students may bring a lunch and purchase a carton of milk at the cost of 65 cents. There is no free milk if your child brings his/her lunch to school. Lunch money can be sent each day or prepaid weekly. Reduced lunches cost 40 cents. Glass bottles, sodas, or candy are not allowed in the cafeteria. Any unpaid fees from the cafeteria must be paid in full or students will receive peanut butter sandwiches for lunch.
Breakfast Program: Students who walk to school, or who are dropped off must report to school between 8:40 – 9:10 a.m. to eat breakfast. Arrivals after 9:05 a.m. will be unable to eat. Breakfast costs 65 cents. Students who receive a breakfast at reduced cost pay only 30 cents. There is no charge for breakfast for students who receive a free lunch. If s student has a carry over charge from last year to this year, they only have 1 week grace and then they will receive an alternate lunch.
Identification: It would be very helpful if you would write your child’s name on his/her gym shoes, coat, backpacks, and other personal items with a permanent marker. This will help identify items that may be lost. Huffman staff is not responsible for any lost items.
Uniform Policy: School uniforms are mandatory for students. It is district policy that male students cannot wear earrings to school. Parents will be notified if student is not in uniform.
Required Immunizations: State law requires all students entering Kindergarten and all students new to the district to have a physical examination and eye examination, including a TB skin test, prior to their enrollment for the school year. Proof of a lead screening is required on all students entering Kindergarten. All 6th grade students must have a series of the Hepatitis B shots completed (three shots over a 4-6 month period). The immunization portion of the school health form should be completed by your doctor at the time of the examination. All students will need to show proof of having a second measles shot. Call your physician for an appointment, the School Based clinic at 337-3112, St. Clair County Health District at 337-4178, or 874-4713. Your child will be excluded from school until proof of physical/immunizations is furnished.
Medication at School: We encourage parents to administer prescription drugs to children at home immediately before and/or after school. If your child must receive medication during the school day, please obtain a medication form from the school secretary and have it completed and signed by your physician. No medication can be given at school until this form is received.
21st Century Program: The 21st Century program will resume for the 2010 – 2011 school year. More information will be available at a later date.
Fee for Consumable Supplies: The fee for consumable supplies is $20.00 for grades 1-8 and Special Education. You may pay this fee at the school any weekday before school starts between 9:00-11:30 a.m. and 1:00-3:00 p.m. Checks should be made payable to Cahokia School District.
Tardy Policy/Absences: It is very important that all students arrive at school on time. Students that are tardy must stop in the office and sign in with a parent/guardian. If your child is going to be absent, please call the school office. If you do not call the school office, State law requires us to call your home. If no one is reached, the absence is unexcused. After 3 unexcused absences and/or 10 tardies, our truancy officer will be notified and the absences will be investigated.
Health Concerns: At times, we encounter students who have childhood illnesses, such as chicken pox, measles, ringworm, mumps, pink eye, impetigo, and head lice. If your child has one of the illnesses listed, he/she will not be allowed to return to school until a note is provided by a physician. Please refrain from sending your child to school when he/she has a fever until 24 hours after the fever has broke.
Emergency Information/Phone Numbers: It is very important to contact the school secretary and your child’s teacher to inform us of any changes in your address and/or telephone numbers (home, cell, work, and emergency). Emergency cards are available in the office and will be sent home with students within the first week of school. These need to be complete and turned in to your child’s teacher immediately.
Open House: Huffman’s Open House “Chat n’ Chew” will be on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Refreshments will be provided. Please plan to attend to meet your child’s teacher and the staff at Huffman. (See attached flyer!)
We are here each day if you have any questions. Please call us and we’ll be happy to discuss any concerns with you. Welcome back and I can’t wait to see all of your children. This year will be a promising, positive experience for everyone!
Sincerely,
Melissa Rebmann
Principal
P
wsitive Praise pays
At Huffman school
