School and Office Hours

Office Hours:                                                                                      7:30 a.m to 4:00 p.m

 School Hours:            Grade Pre-Kindergarten through First        8:20 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

                                    Grades Second through Fifth                      8:20 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

All Grades are dismissed at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday

School Visitors

When parents visit the school, they are required to report directly to the main office for a pass to visit the school.  Only authorized person(s) will be permitted in the halls, rooms or on the grounds of the school.  If you need to bring anything to your child during the school day, please pass by the office prior to proceeding to your child’s room.  This is to ensure the safety and protection of our students, faculty and staff.

 Arrival and Line up Procedures

School begins promptly at 8:30 a.m.  Students who are having breakfast at school should go directly to the cafeteria.  Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.  After breakfast, students must assemble on the Physical Education (P.E.) court.

 Students not having breakfast at school must assemble in the P.E. court behind their assigned line up number for their class.  Supervision is provided on the P.E. court beginning at 7:30 a.m.  Students are not allowed in the hallways, courtyard or upstairs prior to this time.  Teachers will meet their students promptly at 8:20 a.m. and escort them to their classrooms.  Please do not bring your child to the teacher’s classroom in the morning.  Students arriving after 8:30 a.m. are TARDY and should report to the office to secure a pass to class.  Your cooperation will ensure a smooth, orderly and safe start of the school day.  On cold or rainy days, students will meet their teachers by the classroom.

 Dismissal Procedures

Students are expected to go directly home when dismissed.  Those students who are dismissed at 2:00 p.m. will not be allowed to wait for older brothers or sisters who are dismissed at 3:00 p.m.   On rainy days, students walking home or picked up by their parent must arrange to pick up their children within the allotted time.   For your convenience, Riverside Elementary has an after school care program, designed to provide care and tutoring for your child if you are unable to pick him/her up at dismissal time.  The hours of operation are from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  The program offers home learning assistance and a host of the other stimulating activities.  For additional information, please contact Ms. Celia Martinez and Ms. Christy Sanchez the After School Care Managers at (305)547-1520 ext.128 after 2 p.m.

 Early Dismissal

Students may be excused before the regular dismissal time with parent’s permission.  As a protection for your child, we cannot accept a telephone call as a satisfactory way of requesting early dismissal.  Children will not be given permission to leave the building early unless authorized by a parent or another person authorized on the Emergency Contact Card.  The parent or authorized person must come into the school’s main office with picture id to sign the student out.  Your child will not be released to another individual unless the individual’s name is listed on the Emergency Contact Card.  Please remember that identification is required in order to release the child to any individual.  Every effort should be made to schedule appointments outside of school hours.  However, when this is not possible, students will be excused for these special appointments.

Absences

It is the parent(s) responsibility to ensure that each student has good attendance at school.  Good attendance provides your child with the best possible opportunities for academic achievement, social and personal development.  An elementary student who accumulates ten (10) or more unexcused absences may have their school records subpoenaed by the Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office for review.  If your child is absent from school please send a note to the teacher, with the child, the day the child comes back so that the absence or absences may be excused.  School Board Rule 6Gx13-5A-1.04, Student Attendance – Specific Responsibilities defines Excused School Absence as: 

• Student illness.
• Medical appointment.
• Death in family.
• Observance of a religious holiday or service when it is mandated for all members of a faith that such a holiday or service is observed.
• School-sponsored event or activity previously approved.
• Other individual student absences beyond the control of the parent or student, as determined and approved by the Principal or designee.

Note:  If a child permanently leaving the school to enroll in another school the parent or legal guardian must notify the school so that the child may be withdrawn.

 Perfect Attendance Program

To encourage perfect attendance in our school, at the end of each grading period the Principal will reward the classes that have the highest number of days with perfect attendance per grade level.

 Tardiness

All students who arrive to school after 8:30 a.m. will be considered tardy.  Tardy students must report to the main office for a late pass in order to be allowed into their classroom.  NO EXCEPTIONS.

 Uniforms

Riverside Elementary Community School has a mandatory uniform policy.  Students must wear a uniform every day.  They are expected to come to school well groomed and neatly dressed in clothing suitable for school activities.  The uniform consists of a blue plaid dress or bottom for girls, navy blue or khaki pants for boys with yellow, light blue or white shirts or blouses.  There is a display of the school uniform in the main office.  The school uniforms maybe purchased from Ibiley Uniforms or any department store.  Students are encouraged to purchase a Riverside T-Shirt, from the PTA, which may be worn on Fridays and/on school field trips

 The following are not allowed:

• No metal cleats on shoes.  No clogs, thongs, sandals, or other shoes without back straps.  No tap shoes.

• No written messages, pictures or symbols on clothing that portray ideas which are inimical to health, safety, and welfare students (e.g., messages which are related to drugs, smoking, alcohol, sex and profanity).
• No clothes with metal studs, ornaments or other objects that can scratch furniture or damage property.
• No see-through blouses without a camisole or whole slip, bare backs, bare midriffs, and sleeveless undershirts.  No hats in the building except for those used for religious or medical reasons.
• No skin-tight, form fitting pants, short skirts, or short dresses.
• No dangling earrings, especially for safety reasons during physical education classes.

 Students wearing inappropriate clothing will be sent to the office.

 Illness

When children become ill at school, they are sent to the office where the parent/guardian is contacted.  Students too ill to return to the classroom will have to be taken home by a parent or person identified on the Emergency Contact Card.  Be sure that the school has current emergency information on how to reach parents/guardians so that there is no delay in a child receiving prompt medical attention should it become necessary.

 Medication

As per SCHOOL BOARD POLICY, a physician MUST fill out a special form in order to have any medication administered to a child by a school board employee.  See office personnel for this form.

 Parent Teacher Conferences

To ensure being able to see your child’s teacher, please make appointments for teacher conferences in advance.  Please do not walk into the classroom to talk to the teachers, this will interrupt instruction for the entire class.  We will be happy to schedule a conference to discuss your child’s progress in school.  Know your child’s teacher and give him/her an opportunity to know you.  Give your child the feeling of security and the cooperative spirit, which exists in friendly teacher- parent relationships.  Please do not go directly to a classroom unless you have an appointment.

 Procedure to file a complaint includes:

1. A conference with the teacher.
2. A conference with the counselor and/or assistant principal
3. A conference with the principal, who will study and evaluate the situation and make a decision.

 School Safety

School safety is our top priority.  Our faculty and staff are extremely dedicated in assisting all students in reaching their full potential.  Therefore, providing a safe environment is essential for the benefit of all students.  We are requesting that you spend a few minutes reviewing our daily practices in order to assist us in securing the school campus for everyone.

 Safety Patrols

Under the direction of our administration and staff, safety patrols are our first line of defense in providing assistance in helping us secure the building.  Please follow and adhere to the safety patrols directions.

 Faculty/Staff Parking Lot and Garage

Parents and students are not to enter the faculty and staff main parking lot.  Students should be dropped off on SW 2^nd street or SW 3^rd street to enter the school building.

Student Conduct

In order for significant educational progress to take place in school, some responsibility rests on the individual student. It is expected that students come to class with the necessary tools for learning. These may vary, but generally include: pencils, paper, textbooks, and homework assignments.

 Discipline: School is for learning and children come to school to learn. All school activities should be to enhance learning.  

1.      Show respect for all school personnel and fellow students.

2.      Use appropriate language-refrain from name calling.

3.      Come to school daily on time.

4.      Complete all classes and home learning assignments.

5.      Bring supplies to school daily and be prepared to work.

6.      Walk quietly and speak softly.

7.      Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.  No “fighting or horse playing”.

8.      Follow directions of all school personnel.

9.      Show respect for school property and the personal property of others.

10.  Leave the classroom only with a staff member’s permission.

According to School Board Rules, students may be suspended for repeated disruption or behavior which disrupts the orderly educational process. According to the Code of Student Conduct, suspension and expulsion by the School Board upon the recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools may result when the pupil has: 

• Used an article as a weapon or in a manner calculated to threaten any person.
• Committed a serious breach of conduct including, but not limited to, an assault on school personnel or on another pupil, a lewd or lascivious act, arson, vandalism, or any other act which disrupts or tends to disrupt a school activity.
• Engaged in less serious but continued misconduct including, but not limited to, the use of profane, obscene, or abusive language or other acts that are detrimental to the educational process of the school. Any expulsion recommendation based on such misconduct shall include a detailed report by the principal on the corrective measures taken prior to this recommendation of expulsion.
• Suspension can also occur for excessive tardies.

Items Not Permitted in School

1.      Pets – except on written invitation of the teacher. ¹ 

2.      Knives, guns, sharp objects, poppers (bang snaps), or any other objects that could be constructed as a weapon.  Students can be suspended and/or expelled for ten days regardless of the age.

3.      Money in large amounts.  Send only what your child needs for the day since the risk of lost money is ever present.

4.      Candy, gum, or soda, glass bottles.

5.      Toys, radios, computer games or sports equipment.

6.      Expensive jewelry, watches, etc. - we cannot assume responsibility should they be lost, broken or stolen.

 ¹ Parents are not to bring dogs and/or other pets to school.  Walking pets on school grounds are not allowed at any time, as there is a danger of a child or an adult being attacked.

 Cafeteria Rules and Conduct

Students are expected to conduct themselves in an orderly manner while going to, during, and returning from the cafeteria. No parents or visitors may enter or bring food during breakfast or lunch time or eat with their child in the cafeteria. Your full cooperation will allow us to maintain a smooth and efficient breakfast and lunch program. If it is necessary for you to see your child during the lunch period, you must got to the office and we will have your child brought to you.

 The following rules are expected to be followed by each student:

1. Enter cafeteria quietly.
2. Handle trays carefully.
3. Use good table manners.
4. Talk softly to persons sitting at your table.
5. Stay seated until you are dismissed.
6. Use your napkin, straw, and eating utensils appropriately.
7. Leave table/floor areas clean.
8. Line up quietly.

Lunch

Please be sure that your child understands how he/she is to have lunch daily.  We encourage weekly payments when possible.  The cafeteria is required to operate on a cash basis.  Students may buy their lunch for a cost of $1.25.  In addition; snacks may be bought for $0.25 - $0.50.  Parents may not enter or eat in the cafeteria during breakfast or lunch as per the recommendation of the Florida Department of Health.  Cafeteria monitors provide assistance to our students.

 Home Learning

The home learning policy is based on School Board Rule. Home learning assignment will relate to the objectives being taught in the classroom, clear and definite in purpose and an outgrowth of classroom instruction. The frequency and quantity of home learning will be, on the average, as listed below:

                         K-1      Monday – Friday       30 minutes

                        2-3      Monday – Friday       45 minutes

                        4-5      Monday – Friday       60 minutes

 Students are given home learning assignments every day.  To help your child keep track of his/her home learning assignments we are requiring that all 1^st – 5^th grade students have a school agenda.

 Grading Policy

Performance standards for reading, language arts, mathematics, science and social studies have been established for all schools in Miami-Dade County.

 Reading standards indicate that if a student is not working on grade level; he/she must receive a grade of “D” or “F” in reading and will receive a comment of “Working Below Grade Level” on their report card.  The Houghlin Mifflin Reading Program has two components: one being the grade level instruction program and the other the guieded reading component that addesses the students instruction.

 Mathematics, Language Arts, Science and Social Studies are taught according to the students’ grade level.  Report card grades in these subjects are determined by finding the average grade of each student based on the student’s written class work and assessments in each subject.  If the student’s average at the end of each semester is a D or F, that student will receive a comment of “Working Below Grade Level” on their report card.

                                         Grading Scale

                                                                                    A =   90 - 100%

                                    B =   80 - 89%

                                                                                    C =   70 - 79%

                                                                                    D =   60 - 69%

                                                                                    F =    0- 59%