FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IF MY CHILD IS ABSENT?
If your child has been absent (even for a portion of one day) they must report to the office for a permit to reenter class. The permit should be obtained before the first bell in the morning. If a student is absent, parents should notify the school by note, giving the reason for the absence. Without a notification, the absence is automatically considered unexcused.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN EXCUSED AND AN UNEXCUSED ABSENCE?
An excused absence is if, for any valid reason, a student is absent and notification has been made by a parent/guardian, the student will be allowed to make up any work missed and given a reasonable amount of time to complete work. Valid excuses are sickness, doctor/dentist appointment, or family emergencies. If a student misses school without a valid excuse, he/she will not be allowed to make up work missed and his/her grades will reflect this. A child will be counted absent for the day regardless of whether it was an excused or unexcused absence.
WHAT ARE THE SCHOOL HOURS?
Students should not be dropped off before 7:30 a.m. The building will open at 7:30 a.m. with all students reporting to the cafeteria for breakfast or to the auditorium. Students arriving after 8:05 must go to the office for a tardy slip before being admitted to class. The school day ends at 3:00.
WHAT IF I NEED TO PICK MY CHILD UP EARLY FROM SCHOOL?
If you need to pick up your child before regular school dismissal, go to the office to sign your child out. No student will be dismissed from the classroom unless the teacher is called over the intercom from the front office. This is a protective measure both for your child and school personnel.
WHAT CAN I EXPECT REGARDING MY CHILD'S HOMEWORK?
Whitebead students have regular homework assignments. It is best to set aside a study time every night. This creates good study habits. When students are given an assignment, they are usually given some time to work on it in class. If it is not completed, then they may take it home to complete for the next day with teacher approval.
WHEN WILL MY CHILD RECEIVE THEIR REPORT CARD?
We send out report cards on Thursday following each nine-week period. Third through eighth grade teachers will also send a Progress Report to parents during the fifth week of each nine-week period.
WHAT ARE THE WHITEBEAD SCHOOL RULES?
There are four basic rules here at Whitebead. They are: 1) Be prepared for school and learning, 2) Respect yourself, others, and Whitebead School, 3) Follow all teachers directions, 4) Do your best every day. If students follow these rules they will make the most of their years at Whitebead! (For more specific school rules and consequences for breaking them, students will be given information on the first day of school.)
WILL A SCHOOL BUS PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM SCHOOL FOR MY CHILD?
Free transportation in district-owned buses is furnished to students who reside one and one-half miles or farther from school. All the rules that apply in school also apply on the bus and on field trips.
IS THERE A LOST AND FOUND?
Any articles that are found will be placed in the lost and found box. Please have your child check the box when they lose something. Articles not claimed will be given to any student wanting it at the end of each nine-week period. Parents, please use name labels or some form of identification on items of clothing so that your child or others will recognize it.
CAN MY CHILD USE THE TELEPHONE AT SCHOOL?
Because of the rapid growth in school enrollment, some limitations have been placed on the use of the school telephone. We hope parents will help us by working out an agreement with their child at the beginning of the term as to where the parent will meet the child during inclement weather, thus saving everyone some telephone calls. Also, all outgoing calls are to be made only in cases of emergency, such as illness or inclement weather. Permission to visit a friend does not constitute an emergency. Students will only be called to the telephone in cases of emergency and we discourage parents calling their children at school or asking office personnel to deliver messages unless it is an emergency. Students are not allowed to have cell phone at school or school functions, so please don't allow your child to bring them.