Hawthorne ES Student/Parent Handbook

Hawthorne
Elementary
School

2535 Caladium Drive NE

Atlanta, GA 30345

STUDENT AND
PARENT HANDBOOK

MISSION STATEMENT
The Mission of Hawthorne
Elementary School is to establish a
partnership between home and
school that maximizes students'
social, emotional, and academic
growth.
HAWTHORNE ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL CREED
I believe I can achieve and succeed
at anything I set out to do.
I know that what I do today will
influence what I become tomorrow.
I will be a good listener. I will not
hinder my own or my classmates
learning in any way.
I am smart.
I am unique.
I have potential.
Its my decision:
I can learn and I will learn!

HORNET
HANDBOOK

Lisa Limoncelli,
Principal
Stephanie Brown-Bryant,
Assistant Principal

SCHOOL HOURS:
7:10 a.m. Students report to cafeteria
7:40 a.m. Students report to homeroom
7:50 a.m. Tardy Bell/Instruction begins
2:25 p.m. Dismissal begins

Dr. Tarnisha Woods,

Counselor
Raylene Lowe, Counselor

Office: (678) 874 2802

Fax: (678) 874 2810
Clinic: (678) 874 2807
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Hawthorne ES Student/Parent Handbook

SCHOOL DROP OFF AND

PICK UP PROCEDURES:

parental permission form and be supervised

by a staff member at all times. Failure of
the parent to pick the student up on time
will result in the student being removed
from special activities.

ARRIVAL PROCEDURES:
Building will open for bus riders at
7:05 a.m.
In the morning, all students report
directly to the cafeteria. Students
are dismissed to homerooms at 7:40
a.m.
Breakfast service is provided in the
cafeteria from 7:10 a.m. to 7:40 a.m.
Students school day is from 7:50
a.m. until 2:20 p.m.
Carpool lane assistance is available
from 7:20 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.
Students arriving at school at and
after 7:50 a.m. are considered tardy
and must be signed in by a parent in
the main office prior to going to the
classroom.

Bus riders are dismissed at 2:25 p.m.

Car riders are dismissed at 2:30 p.m.
Please wait in the carpool line on Caladium
Drive until the buses leave campus AND a
staff member directs you to drive forward
into the carpool lane.
Families and carpools will be given a
car rider tag on the first day of
school. School issued car rider tags
must be visible for staff members to
match students to cars.
Anyone picking up a child in the car
rider area MUST display the car rider
tag issued by the front office.
Should you not have the appropriate
tag displayed on the dash, you must
park in an available parking space
and come to the front office to show
ID and pick up your child.

AFTERNOON DISMISSAL:
Families must develop a consistent plan
for students to go home the same way
every day. When it is necessary to change
your childs dismissal plan for the day,
please write a note to your childs teacher
and send it to school that morning. If an
emergency occurs and sending a note is
not possible - please notify the front office
no later than 1:00 p.m. of the change to the
dismissal plan to ensure that the message
is given to the supervising teacher. You will
be asked to send an email or fax confirming
the temporary dismissal plan to the FRONT
OFFICE. Do not send an e-mail or leave a
voicemail for the teacher, since those
messages may not reach the teacher
before dismissal time.

Walkers are dismissed at 2:35 p.m. A

student is considered a walker if he/she
walks home or if a parent or guardian walks
into the lobby to retrieve the child.

Cafeteria: (678) 874 2828

www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/hawthorne

Note: Students will not be dismissed to

parents and guardians from the office
between 1:50 p.m. and 2:35 p.m. in order
to facilitate the safe and timely departure of
our buses and maintain the safety of all our
students. Walkers, car riders, and day care
riders will be dismissed only after the buses
have exited the driveway.
CARPOOL LANE PROCEDURES:
Bike Riders Please prepare to stop and
walk your bike on the sidewalk beginning at
the yellow ramp/crosswalk area before the
entrance to the school. Thank you for
helping to keep everyone safe.

Students are to leave at the proper time

each afternoon. Students in a schoolsponsored activity must have a signed
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Hawthorne ES Student/Parent Handbook

Car Riders Load and unload your child

only after pulling into the car pick up and
drop off area. Students MUST NOT be
dropped off on public streets. Between
7:25 and 7:50 am, all exiting traffic will be
directed to turn right from the driveway.
The goal is to get our students into school
safely and as quickly as possible.
1. Be considerate of others time and park
in a visitors space if you need additional
drop-off time.
2. Please discontinue any cell phone use
while in the car rider line during drop off
or pick up to avoid any unnecessary and
unsafe distractions.
3. Do not speed through the parking lot.
The speed limit is five (5) mph. Children
may be exiting cars that are parked in
the spaces in front of the school.
4. DO NOT get out of your car if you are
waiting along the curb. If you need to
unlatch a car seat or get your childs
materials from the trunk, you will need to
find a parking space. Do not block the
car lane. Unescorted students should
not cross lanes of traffic in the parking
lot.
5. Children must exit/enter vehicles on the
curbside closest to the school. Please
plan accordingly.
6. Try to close all gaps and pull as far
forward as possible before allowing your
child to exit the car.
7. Buses and cars share a lane at
Hawthorne. NEVER go around a car
or bus ahead of you unless waved to
do so by a Hawthorne staff member or a
crossing guard.
8. Students should remain in their cars
until they arrive in the unloading area
that starts at the corner of the school
building. Carpool lane assistance ends
at 7:45 a.m.

appointment or arrive after 7:50 a.m. If a

parent must park and enter the building,
Please make sure to adhere to safety
regulations and utilize the crosswalks
provided for the safety of all children.
Please help us maintain a safe school
climate by not bringing your dog or other
pets onto the school campus.

INSTRUCTIONAL POLICIES
AND PROCEDURES:
BOOKBAGS:
Students are allowed to carry book bags
that are appropriate for elementary school
(no inappropriate or offensive slogans.)
Students are encouraged to keep book
bags tidy and cleaned out each night.
CONFERENCES WITH TEACHERS:
Communication is an essential part of our
educational program. It is vital for parents
and teachers to communicate if problems
persist in academic, behavioral, or social
areas. The parent, teacher, student, or
administrative
team
may
initiate
conferences. Normally, conferences may
be held during the teachers planning time.
If necessary, conferences may be arranged
in the morning before school begins or after
school on any day except Wednesday,
which is reserved for faculty and staff
meetings.
Requests for conferences can be
scheduled by contacting the teacher via
email or voicemail message. The teacher
will contact you to schedule a time. You
may also write a request including your
daytime phone number in the agenda
planner. Please do not make visits without
appointments or interrupt a class to speak
with a teacher. This includes students
arrival time in the mornings. Teachers are
responsible for supervising and assisting

Note: Instruction begins promptly at

7:50 a.m. daily. Please plan accordingly.
Parents should not escort their student into
the building unless they have an
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Hawthorne ES Student/Parent Handbook

students during this time and are not

available to conference with parents.

Center. A student who does not bring in a

permission slip will be kept at school. If a
parent decides that a child is not to go on a
field trip, the student will remain at school
and will be given an alternative assignment.

The DeKalb County School District

operates on the semester system. The
school will schedule two formal evening
conference nights per semester. The dates
and times will be announced.

The administration reserves the right to

deny participation in field trips and
assign an alternative activity to students
experiencing trouble in conduct and/or
attitude.

COUNSELING AND CHARACTER

EDUCATION:
Hawthorne Elementary School supports a
vision and a mission that develops
leadership and character development in
the children and adults in our school. Our
counseling department will provide ongoing
services for character education, leadership
development, personal growth, individual
responsibility, and general support of the
academic activities. Our counseling staff is
available for parents, students, and
teachers to promote and support our vision
and our children.

HOMEWORK:
Homework is used to reinforce instruction,
to stimulate independent study habits, to
develop responsibility and self-direction.
Homework is the childs responsibility.
Parents may support students by providing
a suitable study area, supervision, and
appropriate
assistance
as
needed.
Homework will be required Monday through
Thursday as part of the course of study.
Homework will not be assigned on
weekends, PTA nights, school related
activity nights, standardized testing nights
or prior to any holiday unless it is a longrange assignment.

DEFICIENCY REPORTS:
Deficiency reports are a means of reporting
to parents that a student is not progressing
satisfactorily either in academic work or in
conduct. If a student receives a deficiency
report, he or she is in danger of failing a
subject. Teachers are encouraged to send
deficiency reports as soon as a student is
experiencing academic or behavioral
difficulties. These deficiencies should be
signed by the parents and returned to the
teacher.

Teachers at Hawthorne Elementary School

follow the homework policies and guidelines
established by the DCSD Department of
Elementary Teaching and Learning. This
policy may be found in detail on the DCSD
website.
Each team will clearly
communicate the method by which their
students get daily homework assignments.
Please review the minimum and maximum
time allotments for elementary homework
by grade level.

FIELD TRIPS:
Educational field trips have a proper place
in the instructional program and will be
used as a delivery model to teach the core
curriculum or as an extension of classroom
activities.
We want all children to
participate in these trips. Participation in
most off-campus field trips require written
permission from the parents. This is in
addition to the general permission signed at
registration for trips to Fernbank Science
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Hawthorne ES Student/Parent Handbook

Kindergarten
st

1 Grade
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
4th Grade
th

5 Grade

maintaining
or
performance.

15 to 30 minutes of content
homework plus additional
reading practice
20 to 30 minutes of content
homework plus additional
reading practice
20 to 40 minutes of content
homework plus additional
reading practice
30 to 45 minutes of content
homework plus additional
reading practice
40 to 60 minutes of content
homework plus additional
reading practice
50 to 75 minutes of content
homework plus additional
reading practice

improving

academic

INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPLIES:
The DeKalb County School District will
furnish each student with all instructional
supplies needed except for personal
supplies such as pencils, pens, paper, glue,
notebooks, rulers, and crayons. A list of
specific supplies for each grade level is
available at registration. Please keep your
child supplied with adequate materials and
check with your child to replace items as
they are consumed.
MEDIA CENTER:
The mission of the Hawthorne Elementary
Library Media Center (LMC) is to ensure
that all students are effective users of ideas
and information. The LMC offers students
flexible access to space, resources, and
services each school day. Our certified
teacher-librarian is assisted by numerous
parent and student volunteers. Information
literacy and technology skills are taught
through collaboration with grade level
teachers in content areas, and students are
encouraged to read a wide array of material
for a variety of purposes.

HONORS AND RECOGNITIONS:

PRINCIPALS LIST All As in every subject
area. All Ss in Conduct. This includes all
specials classes with no in-school or out-ofschool suspensions. This is the highest
honor.
HONOR ROLL All As and Bs in core
academic subjects. Conduct is not a factor.
CITIZENSHIP AWARD One boy and one
girl from each homeroom will be awarded
as the good citizens based on their
conduct, work-study habits, and positive
peer interactions. These students stand out
as role models for the entire class.
INSTRUCTIONAL COUNSELING:
All students will work with the counselor to
develop skills in goal setting, test taking,
organizational strategies, study skills, and
decision-making. The administrative team,
counselors, and instructional staff will
counsel
with
students
and
their
parents/guardians when students are not
achieving up to their potential. Specific
goal setting strategies will be utilized for
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Hawthorne ES Student/Parent Handbook

Hours

Circulation
Limit
Circulation
Period

Mon, Tues, Thurs:

7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Wed & Fri:
7:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Pre-K - Kindergarten- 1 item
1st- 2nd Grade - 2 items
3rd-5th Grade - 3 items
Parents - 5 items (on childs
record)
2 weeks (items may be renewed
only once)

Hawthorne ES Student/Parent Handbook

Overdue
Charges
Overdue
Notices

$0.05 per item per day AFTER

5-day grace period
emailed weekly to HR teacher
printed
and
distributed
through Tiger Papers

Per DeKalb County Board of Education

Policy IFA-R(1), failure to compensate the
media center for the loss of materials will
result in the student being denied the
privilege to check out any materials from
any DeKalb County schools media center.
Notice of overdue books will be filed in the
students permanent record. Students and
parents can check the status of a students
account by logging into the Destiny website
(Media Center website) using their DCSD
student number.

S - Satisfactory
N - Needs Improvement
U - Unsatisfactory
X - No Evaluation
PROGRESS REPORTING:
The school makes a sincere effort to keep
parents informed of what is going on at
school. The school uses agenda planners,
teacher web pages, emails, Hornet Express
envelopes, telephone calls, conferences,
notes, teacher-generated progress reports,
etc. to keep parents informed.

All students will participate in an orientation

session at the beginning of the school year.
Please visit the Library Media Center page
on the Hawthorne Elementary School
website for more information.

The parent also shares a responsibility to

stay informed of his/her childs progress by
initialing the agenda planner, checking the
weekly Hawthorne Hornet Express, and
monitoring grades on Parent Assistant.

PETS:
As part of our continual efforts to keep
Hawthorne Elementary students safe,
family pets are not allowed on the HES
campus and grounds. Please help us
maintain a safe school climate by not
bringing your dog or other pets onto the
school campus.

Parents should frequently log into the online

grade book called Parent Assistant to keep
up with students current progress.
Resources about how to log in are available
from the DCSD website.
If a parent wishes to have materials sent to
them through the mail, they will need to
provide self-addressed and stamped
envelopes for that purpose.

PROGRESS/REPORT CARDS: DCSD

Progress reports will be sent home every
4.5 weeks during each semester. Report
cards are issued at the end of each
semester. The DeKalb County Board of
Education has adopted the following
grading scale:
A
90-100
Excellent
B
80-89
Good
C
71-79
Fair
D
70
Passing
F
Below 70
Failing
In addition, students receive grades for
conduct and effort:
E - Excellent

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH

EDUCATION:
Physical Education is an integral part of the
instructional program.
All children are
required to participate. If your child cannot
participate on a particular day, please send
a signed note to your childs teacher and an
alternate P.E. assignment will be given. A
daily note will be satisfactory for up to three
(3) consecutive days. After that time, a
doctors statement will be required if daily
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Hawthorne ES Student/Parent Handbook

activities are to be restricted in any way.

Athletic type shoes are required for P.E.

3. Have your child eat a healthy

breakfast.
4. Talk with your child about the
importance of doing his or her best
on
the
test,
but
do
not
overemphasize the test as this may
add unnecessary stress to the
situation.

CLASSROOM OBSERVATION/VISITS:
Please call ahead and schedule a time
when you would like to visit. All visits, of
any length and for any reason, must
begin in the Main Office. Classroom
observations are scheduled for a maximum
of 20 minutes in length, and visitors will be
accompanied by a staff member.
All
visitors will be asked to sign in and will
be given a visitors ID tag to wear.
Please return to the Main Office to sign out
when you leave.

TEXTBOOKS:
Textbooks are furnished to your child by the
DeKalb County School District on a loan
basis and should be treated as borrowed
property. It is the students responsibility to
protect textbooks. Parents must pay for
lost or damaged textbooks. Students who
lose textbooks shall be assessed according
to the DeKalb County listed price for the
lost textbook.
Students who return
textbooks that show wear more than what
can be attributed to normal use will be
assessed according to the damage.

Visitors should not interrupt instruction by

talking to the teacher during classroom
visits/observations.
Quick
questions
distract students.
Visitors should not
distract the teacher or request information
when the teacher is teaching or is on an
assigned duty.

AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES:

Clubs and other school related activities
may be sponsored before or after school.
Information will be provided to students
regarding these clubs.
Parents are
encouraged to work with staff members in
the organization and implementation of
clubs.
Students must have written
permission to stay for any after school
activity. Arrangements must be made
before coming to school.

LUNCH WITH YOUR CHILD:

If you want to eat lunch with your child,
please follow the sign-in procedure outlined
above. Food from an outside vendor is not
appropriate to bring to the cafeteria.
Please do not bring food from an
outside vendor or canned drinks.
STANDARDIZED TESTING:
Standardized tests are given each school
year. Testing dates and times will be
posted on our school calendar. Parents
will be notified of the specific testing
times, dates, and schedules for each
test.

ATTENDANCE POLICIES AND

PROCEDURES:

What can parents do to help their children

during test taking sessions?
1. Make sure your child is present
and on time every day during the
testing period.
2. Make sure your child gets plenty
of rest before the test.

DAILY ATTENDANCE:
Students are expected to attend school
every day. According to DeKalb County
Board of Education Policy, all pupil
absences shall be classified as unexcused
or unlawful except for the following
reasons:
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Hawthorne ES Student/Parent Handbook

1. Personal illness
2. Death or illness in the immediate
family
3. Instances where attendance would
be hazardous as determined by the
DeKalb County School District
4. Religious holiday
5. Serving as a page for the Georgia
General Assembly
6. A student whose parent or legal
guardian serving in the U.S. military
may be allowed up to five days per
school year to visit with the parent or
legal guardian either prior to the
parent
or
legal
guardians
deployment or while the parent or
guardian
is
on
leave
from
deployment.
7. Students in foster care shall be
counted present when attending
court proceedings relating to their
foster care.
Parents are encouraged to schedule
medical and dental appointments at times
that will not interfere with school instruction.
After five days of unlawful truancy, the
Solicitor Generals Office may be notified for
action through the juvenile court system.
After ten (10) days of unlawful truancy or
absences, the student may be required to
appear before the Student Evidentiary
Hearing Committee for possible school
disciplinary action.

absent. Parents need not respond to the

call; this is just an informative messaging
system.
EARLY DISMISSAL:
Students will not be checked out the last
30 minutes of the day.
When it is
necessary for a student to be dismissed
during the school day, the parent or
guardian must come to the office, present
identification, and sign out the student.
Students will not be released from or called
out of an instructional program until a
parent or guardian is present with proper
identification. A student will be signed out
only to adults listed on the registration form
for that student, and only to those adults
who show proper identification. This is
for the protection of the child. Please send
a note to your childs teacher if you know in
advance of check out time. Indicate the
time your child is to be picked up and by
whom. All dismissals are handled through
the Main Office.
No student will be
released directly from the classroom. Early
dismissals are discouraged in all cases
unless extreme circumstances exist.
TARDINESS:
Students are expected to be seated in their
homeroom and ready to begin work at 7:50
a.m. It is important that students be at
school on time each day. If a student
enters the building after 7:50 a.m., the
parent must escort and sign their child in at
the Main Office. Students who are tardy
are required to sign in with a parent and
are given a tardy slip to admit them to
class. Parents are not to escort children
directly to class. Students arriving to
class after 7:50 will be instructed to
return to the office for a tardy slip.
Tardiness not only has a negative impact on
the student, but it also interrupts classroom
instruction.

Students must bring a note from a

parent and/or doctor when he or she
returns to school following an absence.
The student is expected to make up any
work missed during his/her excused
absence.
Students must be present every day of
the year to be recognized for perfect
attendance. Students who are tardy to
school or class more than five times will
not be eligible for the Perfect
Attendance Award.
DeKalb Countys computerized call system
will notify parents when students are

Medical and dental appointments are

examples of an excused tardy to class.
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Hawthorne ES Student/Parent Handbook

Examples such as traffic, oversleeping, and

car trouble will result in an unexcused tardy
to class. Students late to class six (6) or
more times will result in a referral to a
counselor, a warning letter sent to parents,
and a possible referral to the school social
worker or Solicitor Generals Office.

students. It is expected that EVERYONE

will enter the cafeteria in an orderly manner
and exhibit consideration for the performers
or speakers as well as for other people.
Conversation, walking around, and leaving
younger
children
unattended
during
programs show a lack of consideration and
are not permitted.

MAKE-UP WORK FOR EXCUSED

ABSENCES:
It is the students responsibility to
secure and complete any assignments
missed due to an excused absence. In
the case of an excused absence, students
will be allowed three (3) school days to
make up missed assignments. In the event
a student has an extended absence, the
parent should contact the teacher and
request the assignments. Please allow 24
hours for teachers to prepare the
assignments.
Teachers
will
send
assignments to the front office in a folder
with the childs name on it; parents may
pick up assignments from the front office.

BULLYING:
State law prohibits bullying. It is extremely
important that the school is notified as early
as possible if you suspect your child is
being bullied. Early detection, notification,
and intervention are the best strategies to
providing a safe school for all of our
children.
The District (Policy JCDAG) expressly
prohibits the bullying, harassing, or
intimidating of any student, by any means
or method, at school, on school property, or
at school-related functions; while traveling
to or from school on a school bus; offcampus when the behavior results in a
disruption to the school environment; or by
use of data or software that is accessed
through a District computer, computer
system, computer network, or other
electronic technology of the District.

WITHDRAWAL FROM SCHOOL:

A note should be sent to the students
homeroom teacher at least three (3) school
days before withdrawal. The note should
state the childs last day, new address, and
new school that the child will attend.
Parents or guardians must come to the
front office to complete documentation and
get all forms prepared so your childs
records can be sent to the proper place.
Please make sure all textbooks are
returned, all library books are returned and
any fines paid, and all lunch charges are
paid in full.

The DeKalb County School District will not

tolerate bullying and other forms of
harassment and, therefore, reserves the
right to punish students after the first
incident and upon the finding of guilt. Such
punishment may include:
Loss of a privilege
Reassignment of seats in the
classroom, cafeteria, or school bus
Detention
In-school suspension
Out-of-school suspension (through
appropriate due process hearing)
Expulsion (through appropriate due
process hearing)

DISCIPLINE POLICIES AND

PROCEDURES:
ASSEMBLY CONDUCT:
Students and parents are invited to
programs presented by the PTA and fellow
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Hawthorne ES Student/Parent Handbook

Assignment to an alternative school

(through appropriate due process
hearing)

is expected to carry a hall pass, travel with

a partner and go directly to his or her
destination, and return promptly.

CARE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES:

Students are expected to assist in
maintaining cleanliness in the classrooms,
lunchroom, halls, restrooms, and grounds,
and to exercise proper care in the use of
school furniture, books, and equipment. A
student will be expected to pay for
deliberate damage to school property or
work to correct the damage.

PERSONAL BELONGINGS:
Students should not bring money, toys,
jewelry, or expensive items to school. The
school is not responsible for such items that
are lost or stolen at school.
PLAYGROUND and OUTDOOR
CONDUCT:
Students are expected to refrain from all
bodily contact while on the playground
or in the gymnasium. Students should
adhere to a hands-off policy to prevent
problems. This means no hitting, wrestling,
punching, pushing, or any other contact of
an insulting or provocative nature.
Students are expected to use good
judgment regarding the safety of everyone
on the playground and remain in view of the
teacher on duty at all times. It is especially
important, for safety reasons, to stay with
the class in the main play area. Students
should not climb the bank behind the
basketball blacktop area. The nature trail is
off limits during school hours unless
accompanied by a teacher.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES, RADIOS, CELL

PHONES:
Radios, mp3 players, electronic games, and
toy-like items are not to be brought to
school. If these items are present and
visible at school, they will be collected and
held for parents to pick up. If a student has
a need to bring a cell phone to school, it
must remain off and in his/her book bag
during school hours. If a cell phone
becomes a distraction, it will be confiscated
by the teacher or administrator and only
returned to a parent.
No one is allowed to take pictures or
video of other persons at school without
the expressed permission of the
principal.

REMOVAL FROM CLASS:

Based on state law (O.C.G.A. 20-2-738),
a teacher may remove from class a student
who repeatedly or substantially interferes
with the teachers ability to conduct
instructional activities, provided the student
has previously been reported or the teacher
determines that the behavior of the student
poses an immediate threat to the safety of
the students classmates or the teacher.

FIGHTING:
Fighting is clearly defined in the Student
Rights and Responsibilities Handbook.
Students who are involved in fighting will
face disciplinary action, which may result in
out-of-school suspension. The parents and
student will be required to attend a meeting
with an administrator before the student will
be allowed to return to school.

STUDENT BEHAVIOR:
The primary responsibility for the conduct of
each student rests with the student and the
students parent/guardian. Students have
the primary responsibility to insure their
own proper behavior while in the school
environment. Appropriate conduct will be

HALL CONDUCT:
To maintain an atmosphere conducive for
learning throughout the school, halls should
be quiet at all times. If a student is
authorized to leave the classroom, he/she
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Hawthorne ES Student/Parent Handbook

expected at all school related and schoolsponsored activities (assemblies, after

school activities, school festivals, field days,
field trips, PTA meetings, etc.).

Hawthorne Elementary School endorses a

high standard for student appearance.
Students must at all times adhere to the
DeKalb County School District dress
expectations.
Student
dress
and
appearance should always be neat, clean,
and appropriate. It is a reflection of both
home and school.
The local school
administration reserves the right to make
the final judgment on matters relating to the
appropriateness of any item of dress,
make-up, hair, jewelry, or any matter
relating to school appearance. Clothing
that is in any way disruptive to instruction
and/or classroom management, will be
considered inappropriate.
All students
attending Hawthorne Elementary School
are to maintain an appearance that best
represents themselves and our school.

A consistent discipline policy is followed as

stated in the DeKalb County Schools Code
of Student Conduct. Each student will
receive a copy of this Code of Conduct and
sign indicating he/she has received a copy.
Please read and review this document with
your child at the beginning of the year so
you know your childs rights and
responsibilities.
No student has the right to interfere in
any way with his/her fellow classmates
right to learn. All students deserve a safe
and nurturing environment. Parents will be
informed of their students misbehavior.
Please discuss with your child the
importance of the need for good behavior
and a good attitude while at school.

Hats are not to be worn in the building

unless specified by special spirit day or for
medical/religious reasons.
Shorts and
skirts must be no more than 2 inches from
the knee.

The administration and faculty will make

and enforce such rules as are necessary for
the safe and efficient operation of the
school. Each grade level and instructional
team will support and consistently enforce
the
Hawthorne
Elementary
School
expectations, policies, and guidelines.

Examples of unacceptable attire include

short shorts, mini-skirts, bike pants,
spaghetti straps, tube tops, midriff tops,
backless apparel, tank or halter-tops, hip
huggers, bare feet, flip-flops, bedroom
shoes, tops with inappropriate pictures,
writing, or profanity.

Local school officials have broad discretion

to determine consequences for student
misconduct at the local school level. The
range of consequences that can be
assigned by a local school administrator for
misconduct may include, but will not be
limited to: student conference, parent
conference, silent lunch, before or after
school detention, in-school suspension, outof-school suspension for up to ten days,
referral to the Student Support Team, or
referral to the Student Evidentiary Hearing
Committee, which may result in long term
suspension or expulsion.

Students who fail to adhere to the dress

expectations will be required to call home to
have appropriate garments brought to
school. It is a strain on the childs academic
day to miss any instructional time while
being redirected to adhere to the Dress
Expectation of Hawthorne Elementary
School.
THE SCHOOL BUS:
School bus transportation is provided for all
students who reside at least 1.5 miles from
the school. Students are to ride only the
bus assigned to them. Unruly behavior on

STUDENT DRESS EXPECTATIONS:

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Hawthorne ES Student/Parent Handbook

the bus will not be tolerated. The safety of

all students on the bus is jeopardized when
one student misbehaves. A student who
refuses to abide by the rules may be
suspended from riding the bus.

parent/guardian at registration and may be

purchased at any time during the school
year. No other insurance is provided for
students by the school or school district.
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM:
Hawthorne Elementary School offers
an
After School Extended Day Program.
Information regarding planned activities is
available at open house in August or in the
front office at any time during the school
year. The program does not operate on
teacher workdays or school holidays, or in
cases of inclement weather.

WEAPONS:
No explosives, knives, guns or other
weapons are allowed at any time.
Possession of such weapons is a violation
of Georgia law and will result in a local
formal hearing and possible expulsion from
school.
(Refer to the DCSD Student Code of
Conduct for a complete list of restricted
items under the weapons clause.)

BIRTHDAYS AND PARTIES:

Class celebrations and parties will be held
two times per year for each classroom:
before Winter Holidays and in spring for the
end of the year. All parties are planned by
the room parents.
The teacher must
remain in the classroom and must
maintain complete control of the class
during the party. At the end of the party,
children are to clean or straighten the room
before leaving.

GENERAL SCHOOL POLICIES

AND PROCEDURES:
ACCIDENTS:
Despite all precautions and supervision,
accidents will occur. In the event your child
is injured, school personnel will provide first
aid if needed, every effort will be made to
make him/her comfortable, and then
contact the parent immediately. In cases of
serious injury, action will be at the direction
of parents if they can be contacted. In the
event the school is unable to contact a
parent or guardian, 911 may be called for
medical emergencies. For the safety and
security of your child, it is vital that the
office has updated telephone numbers
on file at all times.

Student Birthdays: Parents may send in

one pre-cut and individually proportioned
birthday treat (cupcakes) for each student
in the class. The birthday treat will be
passed out during the last few minutes of
lunch. Parents must contact the homeroom
teacher at least one (1) day prior to bringing
any treat into the cafeteria and follow
certain additional guidelines to ensure the
safety of all students regarding food
allergies and any other dietary concerns.

ACCIDENT INSURANCE:
Parents may purchase student insurance
for their child.
A reputable insurance
company designated by the DeKalb County
School District provides this insurance. The
insurance covers a student from the time
he/she leaves home in the morning until
he/she returns home in the afternoon. A
preferred plan and a basic plan are
available for purchase. Applications and
cost of coverage will be provided to each

Parents are not allowed to bring balloons or

photograph children in the cafeteria.
Parents are encouraged to participate in the
Hawthorne Media Center Birthday Books
program by donating a book to the school
library in your childs name. Check the
Media Center website for more information.

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Hawthorne ES Student/Parent Handbook

CAFETERIA PROGRAM:
The cafeteria staff offers a nutritionally
balanced breakfast and lunch daily. Hot
meals are available at each meal and
salads, cut fruit and grab and go options
will be made available during lunch.
Meal Prices:
Breakfast
$ 1.40
Reduced
$ .30
Lunch
$ 2.50
Reduced
$ .40
Payment for meals can be made daily or in
advance by the week or month. Parents
are encouraged to maintain a record of
meal payments and usage. If you are
paying for more than one day, please put
your check or cash in an envelope with the
students first and last name, teachers
name, and amount printed on the outside of
the envelope. If you are writing a check for
more than one child, the envelope should
list each childs name, each homeroom
teachers name, and the amount of the
check. Checks should be made out to the
Hawthorne Elementary Cafeteria. Checks
returned for insufficient funds are liable for
service charges and may result in criminal
action.

Due to food allergies, no food may

be given away, traded, or shared
from home lunches or school trays.
Beverages in glass containers are
prohibited.

If a child forgets lunch money or runs out of

money on his/her account, that child will be
served an alternative lunch. Students are
no longer allowed to charge their meals.
CHANGE IN FAMILY SITUATIONS:
It is vital that you notify the school as soon
as possible when any change in the family
situation occurs that affects the custody of
the child either permanently or temporarily.
Please make sure that the school has
current telephone numbers (at least two)
and email addresses where the
parents/guardian can be reached at any
given time. Any court documents
containing custody information and
visitation rights must be on file at the
school in the Main Office. Any
information regarding who may and may
not pick-up the child must be on file in the
Main Office, and the classroom teacher
needs to be notified.

Parents may also pay for meals in advance

online at www.mylunchmoney.com using
a credit card.

COMMUNICATIONS:
Hawthorne Elementary School will maintain
a website where we will post a large
amount of communication information for
students,
parents,
and
community
members. The PTA will post a weekly
newsletter labeled The Hornet Express.
Print versions and versions in other
languages will be available in the front
office.
Newsletters and flyers will be sent home
with students on Thursdays. This will come
in the students individual Hawthorne
Hornet Express envelope. This envelope is
provided free of charge to each student.

All students need to eat lunch. Proper

diet plays a major role in student
academic and behavioral success.
Please contact your childs teacher or a
school administrator if your child is
abstaining from eating for religious reasons.
We will make every effort to honor those
requests discretely.
LUNCHES FROM OUTSIDE VENDORS
MAY NOT BE BROUGHT TO SCHOOL.
Students may bring a lunch from home.
Food is to be eaten only by the
owner.

EMAIL USE:
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Hawthorne ES Student/Parent Handbook

Personal email use at school is prohibited.

All fifth grade students will be provided an
email account with a login, password, and
storage space through our Outlook 365
Internet/Intranet mail service. This is a
web-based service and can be used at
home or at school. Outlook 365 and all
technology provided by DeKalb County
Schools must be used in accordance to the
Internet Acceptable Use Guidelines. (See
Internet and Intranet Acceptable Use
Agreements below.)

aspirin, to any student except as authorized

by the parent/guardian in accordance with
the following guidelines:
1. The
appropriate
personnel
must
administer medications, and students
generally are prohibited from carrying
and self-administering medications. In
accordance with state law, however, a
student may carry asthma medication,
auto-injectable epinephrine, and insulin
upon written authorization by the
students physician and consent of the
students parent or guardian.
2. For prescription medication or over the
counter medication, a medication
consent form must be signed by a
doctor and given to the clinic nurse.
3. Medicine containers must be clearly
labeled
by
the
pharmacy
or
manufacturer. Do not send medicine to
school in containers other than original
packaging.
4. Medication
MUST
BE
HAND
DELIVERED to the office by the
parent/guardian.
5. Special arrangements are made for
medications on field trips.

ILLNESS AT SCHOOL:
Any child showing evidence of illness
should be kept at home. If a child becomes
ill at school, the parent/guardian will be
contacted and must come get their child.
Students that are running a fever must be
kept at home until they are fever free for a
minimum of 24 hours without assistance of
fever reducing medicine.
INTERNET ACCEPTABLE USE
AGREEMENT (Policy IFBG):
DeKalb County School District complies
with the Childrens Internet Protection Act of
2000. Parents must consult the DeKalb
County Code of Student Conduct for
specific guidelines and rules regarding this
policy.

PERMANENT RECORDS:
Parents must maintain accurate and up to
date information on your child for our
permanent records file. This information
must be provided every year and updated
when needed.

LOST AND FOUND:

Any article of clothing or book found on the
school grounds is taken to the lost and
found bins located in the cafeteria. All
unclaimed articles are donated to a
charitable organization. Because of this,
parents are strongly urged to clearly label
student personal possessions, and to check
the lost and found bins to retrieve any lost
items. All textbooks turned in are returned
to the grade level chairperson for that
grade.

Please see the list below for items parents

must update every year:
Proof of Residency supporting
documentation must include photo ID and
the following:
One (1) current utility bill dated within
the last 30 days (gas, electric, or
water only no phone bills), AND
Signed lease of residence or
Signed home mortgage contract or

MEDICATION:
Hawthorne School staff is prohibited from
administering any medication, including
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Hawthorne ES Student/Parent Handbook

children and provides a means of

communication between parents, children,
and teachers. Students in grades 2, 3, 4
and 5 at Hawthorne Elementary School
must have and use their agenda planner. If
the planner is lost, a replacement one may
be purchased at school.

Affidavit documentation

Immunization Requirements must be

met for the issuance of the Georgia School
Immunization Certificate (Form 3231).
Information on the specific immunizations
required for each grade level may be
obtained by calling the school office or the
local health department.
Students not
properly immunized may be denied
registration or withdrawn if they are already
enrolled. Form 3231 must be kept on file
and available for inspection by public health
officials as long as the child attends this
school. If the child transfers to another
school, the certificate will be forwarded.

SUDDEN EMERGENCIES:
DeKalb School officials deal with sudden
emergencies caused by storms or
tornadoes with efficiency and concern for
safety of students and staff members.
However, it is important that parents be
aware that they are responsible for their
children if dismissal from school takes
place.

Note: Form 3231 forms cannot have an

expiration date. There must be an X in
the Complete for School Attendance box in
the top right corner of the form.
Birth Certificate A certified birth
certificate must be on file. Students new to
DeKalb must have this document in order to
enter school.

When a severe weather watch has been

announced,
immediate
emergency
procedures are taken for student safety in
schools or to dispatch students to their
homes. The DeKalb County School
Superintendent, or his or her designee,
makes the final decision as to whether or
not to dismiss school. The DeKalb County
School District never dismisses students
without this authorization.
The school
principal makes essential decisions about
the safety of all personnel and students
under his/her supervision.

Hearing, Vision, and Dental screening

results must be recorded on Georgia Form
3300. If you are coming from another state,
this information will need to be transferred
onto Georgia Form 3300 by the Public
Health Department or a private physician.
Social Security Number or a waiver is
required to be on file.

TELEPHONE:
The school number is 678-874-2802.
Teachers have individual phone numbers
and voicemail accounts to receive
messages.
Taking and delivering
messages
to
students
consumes
valuable work and instructional time and
is disruptive to classes in session.
Please do not ask the office staff to
deliver messages or bring students to
the telephone unless it is a REAL
EMERGENCY. Messages will be placed in

Field trip and Photography permission

a signed permission slip is required to be
on file.
STUDENT AGENDA PLANNER:
The student agenda planner is provided for
students to help them organize their time,
plan for activities, and prioritize their
responsibilities. This planner also develops
a sense of individual responsibility for the
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Hawthorne ES Student/Parent Handbook

the teachers mailbox. A parent may leave

a number for teachers to call when they
have an opportunity, but do not ask to have
a teacher called to the phone.

The students are also drilled on other

emergencies such as tornadoes.
VISITORS AND VOLUNTEERS:
All visitors and volunteers must report to the
Main Office and sign in before they will be
allowed on campus or in a classroom. At
that time, you will be given an identification
badge to wear while you visit or volunteer
with our children.
Once your visit is
complete, you must sign out with the Main
Office and return the identification badge.

TORNADO AND FIRE DRILLS:

Every precaution will be taken to ensure the
safety of your child during school hours.
One safety measure practiced is monthly
fire drills. Schedules, exits, and methods of
procedure are part of this important phase
of school. The administrative team and
additional staff members are in position to
aid in a safe, quick evacuation. Routes of
exit are posted in each room of the building.

This handbook is subject to change.

The Hawthorne Elementary School Handbook is printed months before each new school
year begins. Local school rules may change after printing. DeKalb County Board of
Education policies, Georgia State Law, and Federal Laws may change after printing. All
necessary changes from this edition of the student handbook will be announced and
revisions provided to each child.
A successful working relationship between the family and the school is critical to
student success.
Families have an obligation to demonstrate a positive and
constructive attitude toward resolving conflicts and concerns. Hawthorne Elementary
staff members are committed to student success and welcome the opportunity to work
with you. Please call the office or the teacher for an appointment to see your childs
teacher or an administrator at any time.

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