Policies and Procedures

Student Pledge

I will act in such a way that I will be proud of myself and others will be proud of me, too.
I came to school to learn.  I will learn.  I will have a great day!

School Mascot & Colors
Our school colors are navy and gold.  The school mascot is the “Little Lion.”

Book Bags
To ensure safety, rolling book bags are not permitted.

Media Release
Media release forms are sent home the first week of school.  Students may only be photographed, videotaped, put in the yearbook, etc. for publication if this form is signed and on file in the school office. If for any reason you do not want your child photographed, please call this to our attention verbally as well.  

Internet Access Release
Internet access forms are also sent home to newly enrolled students. If a form is not signed or returned, the student will be denied internet access.

Chromebook Policy
Each student in PK-3 will be issued a Chromebook for use at school.  A Chromebook policy use agreement must be signed in order for the student to be assigned a Chromebook.  Chromebook Device Coverage Form

School Pictures
Individual pictures are made by a professional photographer twice a year.  Class pictures are taken once a year.  The purchase of pictures is optional.

Emergency cards must be completed and returned to school immediately. They must be updated throughout the year if changes occur.  At least two local phone numbers need to be provided throughout the school year in case of emergency.

School Hours are 8:20 a.m. - 3:36 p.m.

Absences

Student Attendance
The fundamental right to attend the public schools places upon the students the accompanying responsibility to be faithful in attendance. Regular attendance can be assumed to be essential for a student’s successful progress in the instructional program.

Children from their seventh to their seventeenth birthdays shall attend a public school, a private day school, or participate in an approved home study program. In St. Tammany Parish, the individual schools will be responsible for enforcing the following requirements:

1. Students are expected to be in attendance at school every day scheduled by the St. Tammany Parish School Board.
2. Schools will take attendance every day in accordance with State and local adopted policies.
3. Students in grades K-8 who miss more than three (3) hours of instructional time during the school day will be considered absent from school.
4. The days absent for elementary school students will include excused absences, unexcused absences, and suspensions.
5. Students will be excused for personal illness, serious illness in the family (not to exceed one (1) week), or for recognized religious holidays of the student’s own faith. Students with excused absences will be given the opportunity for makeup work.
6. Students will not be excused for any absence other than those listed. Students with unexcused absences will not be given the opportunity for makeup work and will be given failing grades for work missed.
7. Students will not be excused from school to work on any job, including agriculture and domestic service, even in their own homes or for their parents or guardians.
8. Students missing school as a result of any suspension will be counted as absent and will be given failing grades for work missed. There will be no makeup work allowed.
9. Students participating in school approved activities that require them to be away from school will be considered present and will be given the opportunity for makeup work.

 

The only exception to the attendance regulations will be the extenuating circumstances that are verified by the Coordinator of Child Welfare and Attendance. The following are those circumstances:

• Extended personal, physical, or emotional illness verified by a physician or dentist;
• Extended hospital stay as verified by a physician or dentist;
• Extended recuperation from an accident as verified by a physician or dentist;\
• Extended contagious disease within a family as verified by a physician or dentist;
• Prior St. Tammany School Board approved travel for education;
• Death in the family (not to exceed one week);
• Natural catastrophe or disaster;

For any other extenuating circumstance, parents must make a formal appeal in accordance with the due process procedure established by the St. Tammany Parish School Board.

Students who are verified as meeting extenuating circumstances, and who are eligible to receive grades, shall not receive those grades if they are unable to complete makeup work or pass the course.

Excuses for absences must be presented in writing to the school principal or designee within two (2) days of absence. The note should include the student’s full name, the day(s) absent, the reason for the absence, parent or guardian’s signature, and the date. Failure to send the note will result in the student not being able to make up work. Failing grades will be given for work missed. Excuses will not be accepted after two (2) days of the student’s return to school.

When the student returns to school, it is their responsibility to work out a schedule with the teacher(s) for making up work missed during the absence.

Any student who is a juvenile and who is habitually absent or tardy will be reported by the Coordinator of Child Welfare and Attendance to the family or juvenile court of the parish as a truant child, pursuant to the provisions of Louisiana Children’s Code relative to families in need of services. A student will be considered habitually absent or habitually tardy when either condition continues to exist after all reasonable efforts by the principal and teacher have failed to correct the condition after the fifth unexcused absence or tardy within any month, or if a pattern of five (5) absences a month is established. The new guidelines will not allow students to be excused for vacations or other family trips. As a result, parents should schedule vacations and necessary appointments during school breaks. The 2022-2023 School calendar includes sample breaks for travel plans.  Seat time may be required for habitually tardy and/or late students.

Arrival

Our school day begins at 8:20. Students arriving in cars are to arrive no earlier than 7:50 unless registered in Before School Care. Teachers are not on duty until 7:50 a.m.  Anyone dropped off before 7:50 a.m. will be sent to Before School Care, and be assigned a monetary charge.  If the tardy bell rings, you may not drop students off at the front and leave – there is not a duty teacher on duty after the tardy bell rings.  This is very unsafe for your child.  You must come into the school and sign your child in.  Children who eat breakfast at school should arrive by car no later than 8:15 am.  After 8:15, and before the tardy bell, a “grab and go” breakfast will be available for the student to eat in the classroom.   

Between 7:50-8:20, parents may not park and walk their child up to the school in the morning.  Children need to be dropped off in the carline in their car.  

Tardiness

Students are tardy after 8:20.  Any student arriving after 8:20 must report to the office with an adult in order to be marked present for the day.  Tardies are recorded daily.  You will be notified of excessive tardies.  You are considered tardy if you are not in the building when the bell rings. Being tardy disrupts the teacher and the other students.  In addition, it creates more paperwork in the front office, and the teacher has to go back and change her records.  Because it is our job to help you adequately prepare our young people for the real world, we will expect promptness.  If a child is habitually late for school, the administration will attempt to contact you to discuss the situation.  Should the problem continue, his or her name will be turned over to the Office of Child Welfare and Attendance, and/or seat time may be required.

Dismissal

Early Checkout
Students being checked out early must be picked up no later than 3:15, or the student must wait until the bell rings at 3:36.  We will not check students out between 3:15 and 3:36 p.m. unless it is an emergency.  This is a very hectic time of the day.  Making changes this late in the school day can cause errors in the “go home” routine. When checking out your child, please remain in the front office until your child arrives.  

Please do not be offended if we ask for identification when checking students out. It is merely a protective measure.  No student will be checked out unless a parent, legal guardian, or designated person signs the child out in the office.  No parent may pick up their child from any area other than the school office.

If a student is to be picked up by anyone other than the legal custodial guardian listed on the student’s records, the person picking up the child must be listed on the Emergency Card.  This person must be able to show identification upon arrival.

There will be some events throughout the school year which students may be checked out through the classroom teacher.  Parents will be informed of these events.  The person checking out the child must be on the emergency card.

We encourage you to use bus transportation provided by the St. Tammany Parish School System. Often, the car line “backs up” causing your child to be tardy, so make sure you allow enough time for prompt arrival.  

Changes in Transportation

Any student that needs to use a different method of getting home in the afternoon must have a written note from the parent. For the safety of your child and the school, your child’s teacher must receive written notification of a change regarding the manner in which your child gets home. If notification is not received, your child will follow his/her regular method of getting home.  Changes in transportation at the end of the day must be made no later than 2:30.  We cannot rely on verbal notification from the child or parent/guardian.  Note must state child’s full name, bus driver’s name, teacher’s name, bus number, grade and must be signed by a parent/guardian. 

**We will NOT accept transportation changes via fax, email or telephone.  

  

Bus Conduct

Transportation by bus is a privilege, not a right.  Specific student behavior expectations are established for the safe and effective operation of the school district transportation system in accordance with state laws and regulations.  Transportation is considered an extension of the regular school program, and students who violate behavior expectations while riding a bus are subject to suspension from riding the bus and/or all other penalties established for misbehavior while students are not on the school premises.  A copy of the bus referral will be sent home and a phone call will be made to parents by an administrator and bus driver.  Students are also expected to use appropriate behaviors at the school bus stops while waiting for the bus.  If inappropriate behavior continues, a child can be removed permanently off the bus.  Bus suspensions are necessary and given based on severity of the referral and at the principal/assistant principal’s discretion.  

Car Riders

Parents dropping off or picking up in cars will do so on S. Jackson in front of the school.  You will not be allowed to enter onto S. Jackson Street from 19th Avenue from either direction after 7:50 each morning or 3:30 each afternoon.  You are to enter onto S. Jackson from 21st Avenue. (by the Parish Library)

Students arriving in cars must be dropped off and picked up ONLY in the car line. A CES faculty member will help your child in and out of your vehicle.  Parents may not drop children off across the street or in the parking lot. We feel the safety of your child is worth the short wait you may have with this policy.  Unless you arrive late, it is not necessary to walk your child on campus because we have teachers on duty.

Please have your child ready to exit the car upon stopping. Time spent gathering bags, coats, and giving last minute hugs makes the line move more slowly.  Please do not arrive early and park your car to get your child.  It is not safe for your child or those waiting in car line or buses that are trying to exit the school.   Students who are permanent car riders will be given a student ID tag during the first days of school. Place this on your rear view mirror.  This tag keeps the line moving smoothly.  Use the card all year because duty teams rotate. If more than one name tag is needed, please notify the office and an additional one will be given to you.  If a carline sign is NOT visible, you will be asked to show your ID or come into the office to get your child.  If your child is not picked up by 4:06, he/she will be placed in After Care and charges will apply.

Walkers

A walker is a child that lives within walking distance from the school and where bus transportation is not provided.  Walkers will exit through the gate between the main and Kindergarten halls in the front of school after parents/guardians have signed the child out.  If you do not live within walking distance of the school, the child must use the carline and/or bus transportation.

The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal law passed in 1987 to help people experiencing homelessness.  The Act requires states and school districts to make sure students in homeless situations can attend and succeed in school.  The McKinney-Vento Act applies to all children and youth who do not have a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including children and youth who are living in the following situations:

• Doubled-up housing with other families or friends because they lost their home or their family is having temporary financial problems;
• Living in a motel because of economic hardship or loss of home;
• Living in an emergency or transitional shelter, domestic violence shelter, or in a runaway/homeless youth shelter;
• Living in a vehicle of any kind; a trailer park or campground without running water and / or electricity; abandoned building; substandard housing;  bus/train station;
• Awaiting foster care placement; or
• Abandoned in a hospital.

Children and youth in homeless situations have the right to the following:

• Attend and succeed in school no matter where they live or how long they have lived there;
• Enroll in school despite the lack of a permanent address or lack of school and immunization records, or birth certificates and other documents;
• Receive services comparable to those offered to non-homeless children and youth;
• Get transportation to school;
• Access educationally related support services;
• Make sure that disagreements between students and schools are resolved quickly.

Identification
All visitors/volunteers are required to sign in and secure a visitor’s pass.  To receive a visitor’s pass, you must present a picture ID in the office.  If you do not have a picture ID, you will not be allowed further onto school campus.  If you do not have a visitor’s pass, you will be asked to return to the office and receive one.  All visitors need to arrive and depart through the main office doors.  Visitors will not be allowed into classrooms during instructional times.  

Field Trips & Chaperones
Children will not be allowed to go on a field trip without a signed permission slip.  Ample time is given for permission slips to be signed and returned to school along with any fees.  All field trip money and permission slips MUST be returned at least two days before the field trip (or by the deadline).  Parents may be asked to help chaperone. Many factors will decide the number of chaperones needed.

Chaperone Restrictions:

• May not bring siblings on field trips.  The purpose of a chaperone is to supervise a class group of 4-6 students. We ask that chaperones give their total attention to the students.
• May not take your child from the field trip location.  School policy is that students leave for field trips together and return together on the bus.  Please do not put your child’s teacher on the spot and ask for permission to allow your child to leave with you.
• May not smoke or use tobacco products while on school grounds or while chaperoning on a school related field trip.
• May not take pictures of other children besides your own child. 

Student Illness
Students will be sent home from school for the following conditions:

• Temperature greater than 100ºF
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Suspected Communicable Disease
• Unexplained Rash
• Pink eye
• Ring worm

If any of these conditions occur, the parent is notified and asked to remove the child from school to seek medical attention.  Children sent home due to fever, vomiting or diarrhea are not allowed to return to school until they have been symptom free for 24 hours.  

Medication
The St. Tammany Parish School Board has imposed strict guidelines for administering medications at school.  If your child is taking long term medications, or emergency medication, you may request a St. Tammany Parish medication form from the school nurse and have it completed by your physician.  View a copy of this form and the official St. Tammany Parish School Board guidelines online or through the office.

The medication will then be administered through the office.  If there are any changes in medication, a new form must be completed by the parent and doctor before a new medicine or dosage is given.

Do NOT send cough syrup, cough drops, aspirin, or any other over the counter medication to school with any child.  Parents may come to school, sign in, and administer medicine if necessary.

Health Conditions
If your child has any health conditions that require additional information or special directions, you MUST have a doctor’s note indicating the condition and the procedure to be followed. Oftentimes, parents tell us that their child has allergies, and we have no doctor’s note indicating such. In order for us to be prepared, give medication, and keep your child safe, we must have official doctors’ orders on file.

School Nurse
A full-time nurse is assigned to Covington Elementary School.  She conducts vision and hearing screenings annually for kindergarten, first and third grades.  She monitors health records and informs parents if medical attention is needed. 

Counselors & Mental Health Providers
The need for expanding school counseling programs has become more acute due to the teaching profession’s increased understanding of how non-academic forces impact the school’s learning environment.

Covington Elementary School offers services of a full-time guidance counselor AND full-time guidance services through a mental health provider (MHP). We have these services available as needed or requested by parents for individual, small group, and large group activities.

As mandated by the St. Tammany Parish School Board, students in grades K-8 will receive instruction on the topic of Child Sexual Abuse Prevention and Education.

All materials used in the instruction may be previewed by contacting the school administration. We would also like to encourage you to talk to your child about this topic as well as other general safety issues.

View Behavioral Health Resources for Parents provided by St. Tammany Parish Public School System.

Insurance
Student accident insurance is available for CES students.  Cost and coverage information will be available at the beginning of school.  Get more student insurance information.

Parent/Teacher Conferences
Only when a child feels there is understanding, appreciation, and active cooperation between home and school, he/she can do his/her best in school.  Through conferences, parents and teachers gain a better insight into the child’s needs, interests, potential, and growth, as well as any particular difficulties he/she may have.

If at any time a child would benefit from a parent / teacher conference, the faculty is available immediately before school or after school by appointment.  Please email or send a note to the teacher to schedule a conference. Please do not ask teachers to conference with you on a “drop-in” basis, before or after school without an appointment, or during parties or other school functions.

The administration asks that if you have concerns regarding your child, please conference with the teacher first before contacting an administrator.  You may contact your child’s teacher by calling the school office, sending a note with your child, or making contact through his/her e-mail.

Newsletter
A newsletter by the teacher will be sent home weekly and posted on their website.  The newsletter will contain calendars of events and classroom news as well as timely information from the administration. Watch for them!

School Website
Covington Elementary School maintains a school website, which provides 24 hour access to important information, such as:

• School Events, Important Dates, School Closures, School Calendar for the Year, District Calendar
• Staff Information: Names, Pictures, Grades/Subjects & Links to Teacher Websites
• Cafeteria Information: Menus, Payment Options, Fees, Applications for Free & Reduced Lunch
• Photo Gallery of Events Throughout the Year
• Access to Student Progress Center
• Information about State Standards & STPSB Guaranteed Curriculum
• History of School
• Contact Information
• Important Parent Information, Documents, Forms, & Links
• Information regarding our Title I program and all comments are welcome and directly linked to Principal

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The purpose of the CES Parent Teacher Association provides an excellent opportunity for establishing better communication between parents and teachers. This is one of the best opportunities for a parent to learn about school life. We encourage and appreciate parent participation. All volunteers must sign in at the office for security reasons.

Reporting To Parents – Report Cards
Formal report cards containing an evaluation of pupil progress are sent home each 9 (nine) weeks. Interim reports, if needed, are sent home in the middle of the grading period.

Report cards are designed to inform you of your child’s level of instruction, academic progress, and growth in desirable habits and attitudes.  The report card provides a means of communication between you and your child’s teacher which is very important to his/her success and happiness in school.  You are encouraged to request conferences as needed.

Abusive language, Profanity, Inappropriate language - High Intensity instance of inappropriate language including swearing, name calling, or use of other inappropriate language.

Alcohol - Student in possession of or is using alcohol, alcohol containers or imitations.

Combustibles - Student in possession of substance/object readily capable of causing bodily harm and/or damage (lighters, matches, firecrackers, gasoline).

Defiance/disrespect, Insubordination, Non-compliance - High Intensity: refusal to follow directions, talking back, and/or socially rude interactions.

Fighting/physical, Aggression - Actions involving serious physical contact where injury occur (hitting, punching, kicking, pulling hair, scratching, etc.).

Other Drugs - Student is in possession of or is using illegal drugs/substances or imitations.

Property Damage - Student participates in an activity that results in substantial destruction or disfigurement of property.

Tobacco - Student is in possession of or is using tobacco.

Violation of Bus Rules - See Safe Procedures for School Bus Riders

Bullying - Physical, verbal, emotional, and or sexual (See Parish Discipline Handbook)

Misuse of Technology - Searching inappropriate things, going to unapproved sites, purposefully breaking Chromebook.

Sexual - Student subjects an individual to lewd sexual gestures or exposing private parts.

Any major infraction will result in documentation on the Louisiana Department of Education Discipline Form.  Depending on the nature of the infraction, one or more of the following disciplinary actions may occur:

1. Student Reprimand 
2. Teacher-Student-Parent-Administrative Conference
3. Referral to Counselor, MHP, SAT
4. In School Suspension (Second Chance) Suspension
5. Exclusion
6. Recommendation for Expulsion

Abusive language, Inappropriate language, Profanity - Low Intensity instance of inappropriate language including swearing, name calling, or use of other inappropriate language.

Defiance/disrespect, Insubordination/Non-compliance - Brief or Low intensity failure to respond to adult requests

Disruption - Low intensity, but inappropriate disruption

Habitual dress code violation - Student habitually wears clothing that does not fit within dress code guidelines practiced by the School District.

Fighting/physical, Aggression - Not serious, but inappropriate physical contact

Property Damage - Low intensity misuse of property

Theft - Student in possession of, having passed on, or being responsible for removing someone else’s property.

Violation of Bus Rules - See Safe Procedures for School Bus Riders Bus Rules

Tease/Taunt - Student delivers disrespectful message (verbal or gesture) to another person.

Other - Any other minor behaviors that do not fall within the above categories.

1. Teacher will move closer to student and provide verbal or nonverbal warnings.
2. Brief student/teacher conference away from peers.
3. Loss of Privileges
4. Removed from classroom to a Buddy Teacher
5. Review of Expectations Power point that was not followed
6. Parent conference (Face to Face and/or Phone Conference)
7. Campus Restriction
8. Repeat Violators will meet with administration.

Arson - Student plans and/or participates in malicious burning of property.

Bomb Threat - Student delivers a message of possible explosive materials being on campus, near campus, near campus, and/or pending explosion

Weapons - Student is in possession of knives or guns (real or look alike), or other objects readily capable of causing bodily harm.

Leaving School Grounds (runaway) - Student leaves campus without permission.

Students found using, possessing and/or concealing a knife, a firearm or a weapon which may discharge a projectile, or other dangerous instrument which may cause bodily harm shall be immediately suspended and recommended for expulsion.  Police notification shall be made immediately.  Upon the recommendation for the expulsion, a hearing shall be conducted by the Superintendent or his/her designee. Students in grade five or lower who have been found in the hearing process, of using, possessing and/or concealing a weapon, or look alike weapon shall be disciplined in accordance with the decision made by the Superintendent or his/her designee. Any case involving a student grade five or lower found in possession of a firearm on school property shall be referred to the School Board through a recommendation for action from the Superintendent.

(Please refer to the “Safe Procedures for School Bus Riders” pamphlet for specific safe riding practices. This pamphlet is given to parents at the beginning of each school year.)

1. First Offense – Warning, student conference, bus referral
2. Second Offense – Warning, student conference, paw print, parental contact, and bus referral
3. Third Offense – Conference, parental contact, and bus suspension for up to three days.

**Administration reserves the right to suspend a student from riding the bus on any offense depending on severity.**