Legal Requirements and District Regulations

Kindergarten Entrance

Birth Certificates

Attendance

Absence

Lunch Procedures

Visiting School

Dress Code
School Hours

School Pictures

Telephone Use

Lost and Found

Distribution of Materials in School

The Board of Education in conformance with the State of Illinois requirement shall maintain kindergarten for the instruction of children. Students who are residents of the district and who attain the age of five years on or before September 1 of the year of enrollment shall be eligible to attend. Please notify your school office by the spring conference of any eligible kindergartner for the following fall.

All students enrolling in District 203 must show proof of birth. An official certified birth certificate must be presented to the school office. The office will make a copy of the birth certificate and return the original to you. Hospital certificates will not satisfy this requirement.

Early childhood/
Kindergarten AM

Early childhood/
Kindergarten PM

First through fifth grade

8:15 - 10:45

12:00 - 2:30

8:15 - 2:30

Truant – A “truant” is a child subject to compulsory school attendance who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for a school day or portion thereof.

Valid cause for absence - A child may be absent from school because of illness, observance of a religious holiday, death in the immediate family, family emergency, situations beyond the student's control as determined by the Board of Education or such other circumstances which cause reasonable concern to the parent for the safety or health of the student.

Chronic or habitual truant - A "chronic or habitual truant" is a child who is subject to compulsory school attendance and who is absent without valid cause from such attendance for 10 percent or more of the previous 190 regular attendance days,

Truant minor - A child to whom supportive services, including prevention, diagnostic, intervention and remedial services, alternative programs, and other school and community resources have been provided but who has failed to cease chronic truancy or who has been offered such services and has refused them.

The School District will determine if the student is a truant, chronic or habitual truant, or a truant minor. The Superintendent shall direct the appropriate School -District staff to develop diagnostic procedures to be used for identifying the cause(s) of unexcused student absenteeism. The diagnostic procedures shall include, but not be limited to, interviews with the student, his or her parent(s)/guardian(s), and any school official(s) or other people who may have information.

If a high school student has four (4) incidents of truancy from a class, he/she may be dropped from that class and lose credit for the class.

A notification system will exist to inform the students and their parent(s)/guardian(s) of these incidents of truancy or tardiness. This notification system will provide that due process procedural fights are being accommodated.

The following supportive services may be offered to truant or chronically truant students:

parent-teacher conferences

student and/or family counseling

information about community agency services

If truancy continues after supportive services have been offered, the Building Principal shall refer the matter to the Superintendent or designee. The Superintendent may call upon the resources of outside agencies, such as the juvenile officer of the local police department or the truant office of the Educational Service Region of DuPage County. The Board of Education, Superintendent, School District administrators, and teachers shall assist and furnish such information as they may lawfully furnish to aid truant officers.

No punitive action, including out-of-school suspensions, expulsions, or court action shall be taken against a chronic truant for his or her truancy unless available supportive services and other school resources have been provided to the student.

A student's parent(s)/guardian(s) must: (1) upon his/her child's enrollment, provide telephone numbers to the Building Principal and update them as necessary, and (2) authorize all absences and notify the school in advance or at the time of the child's absence.

If a student is absent without prior authorization by the parent(s)/guardian(s), the Building Principal or a designee shall make a reasonable effort to notify the parent(s)/guardian(s) of their child's absence within two hours after the first class by telephoning the numbers given.

The Superintendent shall develop procedures, and present them to the Board of Education for its approval, for excusing from attendance those students necessarily and lawfully employed.

Since there is a positive relationship between regular attendance and academic success, it is of the utmost importance that students be present in class. Regular attendance and punctuality are essential if students are to make use of the educational opportunities that school offers. Parent(s)/guardian(s) have the responsibility for the children's regular attendance.

An attendance cap has been created to deal with students who are excessively absent from school during a semester. A student who has accumulated ten days absence will be considered excessively absent. Teachers and administrators are expected to follow, in sequence, the collaborative process outlined below in steps A through H. These steps are initiated with the first occurrence of truancy or ten days of accumulated absence per semester.

E. Development of an attendance contract between teacher, student, parent,
dean.

F. At the student's tenth (I&) absence a meeting will be convened involving
the student, parent/guardian, and dean.

G. At the fifteenth (I 5h) absence the student will be withdrawn from class and placed in a study hall, no credit will be given and withdrawn pass/fail will be listed on the transcript.

Exceptions to the absence cap must be submitted to the attendance center with accompanying documentation prior to the date of absence. Eligible reasons may include:

-Religious holidays
-Extended illness verified by doctor's statement addressing the inability of the child to attend school.
-Death in the immediate family
-Field trips
-Hospitalizations
-Suspensions
REVISED: May 17,1999

If your child will not be in attendance at 8:15 a.m. (afternoon kindergarten, 12:00 p.m.), whether ill or attending a dentist, doctor or other appointment, please call the Health Office in your school and give the reason for the absence as well as the child's name, teacher's name and date. Absences must be reported each consecutive day either on the Health Office recorder or through a call to the Health Technician during school hours. if the Health Technician does not receive a call from the parent/guardian, she will call you.

When your child is going to be absent due to a trip or extended illness, please send a note or phone the Health Office with the dates. The Health Office will then pass the information on to the classroom teacher. Requests for homework should go directly to the teacher as per the homework procedures outlined in this handbook.

Regular attendance and punctuality are necessary to establish positive attendance patterns and to aid in academic success. School personnel will be monitoring attendance and contacting parents when absences/tardies become too frequent as outlined in the District 203 Attendance Policy.

Students are to be in their rooms and ready to begin instruction when the bell rings at 8: 15 a.m. Punctuality is an important part of the child's development. Parents will be notified in case of excessive tardiness on the part of the student. If you are aware your child will be late in arriving at school, please call the absence line or send a note the previous day.

We ask that your children not arrive at school before 8:00 a.m. (afternoon kindergarten, 11:50a.m.). They will remain on the playground until the bell rings. Teachers will meet students as they enter the building.

If students arrive before 8:05 a. m. (afternoon kindergarten, 11: 50 a. m.), their homeroom teachers will remind them of the requested arrival time and ask them to arrive closer to that appointed time. If students continue to arrive early, the homeroom teacher will refer the student(s) to the principal. If the student(s) continue to arrive early after their conference with the principal, your students will contact you by phone, and the principal will also talk with you.

As stated earlier, your assistance and cooperation are essential. The time before school is very precious to us for planning purposes. At the same time we want students to enter the building and have some time to share experiences with their teachers before classes start. We think this plan will accomplish both purposes.

If a student arrives late at school or leaves school other than at regular hours (8:15 a.m.-2:30 p.m.), it is important that the student sign in or out in the health office. If possible, we would prefer that a parent/guardian sign the student in or out. Our attendance accounting is computerized and it is essential that we have accurate attendance information.

There are lunch periods totaling 40 minutes in each elementary school. The times for lunch are outlined in the building supplement pages of this handbook.

Children may take advantage of the 40 minutes and go home for lunch. We ask that they sign out in the office before leaving school and sign in when they return. If you wish your child to go to another child's home for lunch, please send written approval to the classroom teacher/school office.

The Home and School Association in each building provides a "hot lunch" program some days during the school year. Check with your school office about the program/prices in your school.

Naperville Community Unit School District 203 serves free milk and meals in each school daily to qualifying students. All meals served must meet patterns established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

If you now receive food stamps or AFDC for your child(ren), your child(ren) can receive free milk and lunch.

If your total household income* is the same or less than the amounts on the Income Chart provided on the application, your child(ren) can receive free milk and lunch.

Income is defined as any monies earned before any deductions such as income taxes, social security taxes, insurance premiums, charitable contributions, and bonds. Examples of income earnings are listed on the application form.

The application with instructions for free milk and/or lunch is available in your school office.

We encourage parents to visit our school. However, the Board of Education requires that all persons entering the school buildings stop in the office area and identify themselves prior to the visit. AD visitors are asked to sip in at the office and secure and wear a visitor's badge. Upon leaving, sip out and return the badge to the office.

We request a prior contact be made with the classroom teacher when you wish to visit a classroom. Visitations in classrooms are discouraged during the first three weeks and final three weeks of school and during testing sessions. We suggest classroom visits be limited to a 30 - 60 minute period and that preschoolers not accompany the visitors. A visitation does not necessarily infer a parent conference. Should a conference be desired, an appointment should be made for a before or after school time.

Children who are not regularly enrolled in school are not permitted to visit or join classes during school hours. They may accompany their parents on a visitation before or after to school. We wish to avoid interruptions in the instructional day.

Visitors and volunteers should be aware that they may be exposed to contagious diseases when visiting or working in schools. Persons who may be pregnant or have a poor immune system are most at risk. Please direct questions to the school nurse or health technician if you have reasons to be concerned.

It is our feeling that any dress 'code' begins at home. The decision as to the style of clothes a child wears to school is primarily the parents' choice, It is suggested that you review the Student Conduct Policy included in this handbook regarding clothing items. If you would like our personal opinion, please call the school office. Please be sure your child is dressed for the weather of the day. Remember also that the buildings are air- conditioned. We will assume that students have worn what you consider appropriate for outside recess. If there is a drastic weather change during the day, we will take that into consideration as we plan for recess. Please make sure your child's clothes are labeled clearly.

Students in each elementary school will have their picture taken at school in the fall of the year for the student files. You will be given the opportunity to purchase a picture package. Information about school pictures is sent home from each school office.

It is important that classroom interruptions be kept to a minimum. It is the responsibility of the student to check at the office for forgotten lunches and/or homework. Students will not be called from class to answer phone calls or to pick up forgotten items. Messages will be delivered in case of emergency.

Calls to teachers should be limited to before and after school. Teachers will not be called from their classrooms to answer the telephone except in emergencies, If you find it necessary to call at a time other than before or after school, a message will be taken and the teacher will call you back at his/her convenience.

Students should not expect to make general use of the telephone. It is needed for parents and teachers to use. This rule will be strictly enforced. After school activity arrangements should be made prior to arrival at school.

A "Lost and Found" is located in a designated area of each school building. If a child is missing an item, please have him/her check the lost and found location. Glasses, jewelry and other found items of value will be kept in the main office of the school. The number of items that accumulate is unbelievable. Items in the lost and found at the close of school in December and June will be given to a worthwhile charitable organization.

DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS IN NAPERVILLE
COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT 203 SCHOOLS

District-wide distribution of all materials must be approved at the Administration Center,
203 West Hillside, Naperville, Illinois 60540. The following criteria will apply to all materials for distribution and/or announcements:

1 .     Only Naperville community organizations that are non-profit or not for
          profit will be allowed to distribute materials. Distribution of materials for
          commercial or religious organizations will not be permitted. An
          organization may be asked to submit a rationale seeking permission to
          distribute materials district-wide.

2.      All activities or information must be appropriate for students. Activities
          should relate to school function, event or purpose, or relate to an agency
          that offers widely appealing program options for students.

3. Activities should not conflict with public tax supported efforts already in
effect.

4.      Activities should accommodate a community-wide need and must be
          significant for the portion of the population served by the boundaries of
          District 203.

5.      Application should be made ten days prior to the distribution date and one
          copy of the proposed announcement must accompany the request for
          distribution.

7. The District will not endorse anything that requires solicitation for local
service organizations.

8.      MATERIALS THAT ARE SENT HOME ARE FOR DISTRIBUTION
         ONLY - AND DOES NOT IMPLY DISTRICT 203 ENDORSEMENT OF
         THEM.