•  Complete Student Handbook

School Hours

The first bell rings at 8:45 AM and students are marked tardy at 8:50. School ends at 3:20 PM every day. Teacher hours are 8:15 AM until 3:45 PM. Students may not be on campus prior to 8:15 AM and should depart promptly at dismissal time. Should students need to be dropped off at the campus prior to 8:15 AM, or remain past dismissal, they MUST be enrolled in the extended day program. This is for safety reasons since our teaching staff is not required to be on duty until 8:00 AM and they finish at 3:45 PM. If students need to be picked up prior to dismissal, parents must come to the office and sign them out. Parents or designees must bring picture ID in order to pick up before dismissal. Teachers will not release students early unless the proper procedure has been followed.

* We do not allow changes in the way students go home unless we have a written note with a parent signature. POSITIVELY NO STUDENTS WILL BE DISMISSED DURING THE LAST 20 MINUTES OF ANY DAY.

Attendance

Regular school attendance is essential for good academic progress.  School begins promptly at 8:45 AM. Students not in their seats will be counted tardy.  To avoid interruption of the education process, doctor and dental appointments should be made outside the school day whenever possible.  A note or doctor’s excuse containing the following information must be sent with the child upon returning from an absence:

• your child’s name
• teacher’s name
• date/s of absence
• specific cause of absence
• signature.

If you phone in the absence please call the office with the information listed above as soon as possible the morning the absence occurs.  Requests for excused absences due to vacations or trips need to be submitted on the form available in the main office.  This must be turned into the Principal’s office a minimum of two weeks prior to the expected leave. Students must be in attendance at least three (3) hours during a day or they will be marked absent.  

Please remember that arriving late and leaving early are very disruptive to the class. Students should not be tardy or be checked out early except in a true emergency. 

Dress Code

Students are expected to be neat, clean and well groomed. Dodgertown has a dress code policy, which is part of the School Advisory Council initiative. A complete copy of the dress code is included as part of the student folder. The dress code standards are strictly enforced and parents are called to bring appropriate clothing items to school when the child is out of code. The following items are essential:  

• Collared shirts need to be either: navy blue, light blue, red, or white
• Bottoms need to be kahki or navy blue
• All skirts, skorts, and shorts must beyond finger length.
• Closed toe shoes with backs are required for safety.
• Jeans can ONLY be worn on Friday with a spirit shirt or collared shirt

The administration of the school shall have the authority to judge whether the appearance of any student is disruptive to the educational function of the school or school activity.  

Extended Day Program

Child care is provided in the Extended Day Program after school until 6:00 PM, and/or before school beginning at 7:00 AM, Monday through Friday.  The ED program is supervised by trained professionals.  Staff members receive training in childcare techniques and some are certified teachers.  Please call Adult Ed (772-564-4970) for information.  Students not enrolled in the ED Program may not be dropped off before 8 AM and must be picked up promptly at dismissal.

New Address, Phone Number, Custody

It is very important that the school office be notified IMMEDIATELY when there is a change of address, phone number, or custody. A student will be released to either natural parent unless a copy of a court order granting sole custody is on file. To insure your child’s safety and well being, please keep us informed. We release students only to those persons listed on the demographic cards. Please be sure to fill in the names of everyone that you want to be allowed to pick up your child.

Transportation

Bus service is provided to students residing outside a two-mile area. Bus riding is a privilege and may be denied if misbehavior occurs. Bus riders must follow the rules on the transportation sheet included in the student folder. For safety reasons, car riders must arrive and depart from the parent pick-up area. All questions or concerns regarding transportation should be directed to the transportation department. Please call 978-8801.  

Parent-Teacher Conferences

During the school year, parents will be invited to meet with their child’s teacher for an individual conference.  Parents are invited to arrange conferences at any convenient time during the year.  Conference night will be held in November and February.  Notices and schedules will be sent home.

Field Trips

Official field trip permission slips must be completed, signed and returned to the student’s teacher before the date of the planned trip or the student will not be able to participate.  Parents wishing to chaperone must fill out a chaperone form available in the office.  The form must be completed at least two (2) weeks BEFORE the trip in order for the Principal to be able to approve it.  Please make special note of both the time a trip plans to leave school and to arrive back.  It is your responsibility to make arrangements for prompt pick-up from field trips.  We try to charge only what will be needed for each trip, but in the event money is left over, it will be used for classroom supplies or incentives.