General Information:

Whatever it takes!

• Attendance Procedures

• Arrival and Dismissal

• Busing

• Cafeteria Notes

• Conferences

• Health Services

• Medication

• PE Notes

• Placement Criteria

• Student Insurance

• Supply Lists

• Volunteer Security Check

• Basic School Information

• Behavior Policy & Plan

• Field Trip Form

• Media Permission Form

• Photo/Likeness Permission Form

• Technology Access Policy

• Web Publishing Permission Form

• Permission Form For Photos, Videos, Interviews and Web Publication - English

• Permission Form For Photos, Videos, Interviews and Web Publication - Spanish

All students are expected to attend school regularly.  Students who are absent from school are required to have a legitimate excuse.  Within two (3) days of a student's return to school, he/she shall present a note signed by his/her parent/guardian to the designated school personnel.  Even if you call to inform the school of your child's absence, you still must send in a letter within two (3) days.  Absences without a note are unexcused and the child may not make up missed work for credit.  After ten (10) excused notes for illness have been sent to school, your child is required to have a doctor's excuse for all future absences. 

Arrival and Dismissal:
Classes begin at 7:45 AM for all students.  The earliest your child can enter the building is 7:15 AM.  Be sure your child is on time for school.  Pupils who are tardy must check in through the principal's office.  DO NOT take your child directly to the classroom if they arrive late to school.

Students will be counted tardy if they arrive at school after 7:45 AM.  If your child leaves before 2:35 PM, it will be an early checkout and will also affect your child's attendance.  An explanation of excused tardies and early dismissals can be found in Section XV of the Student Code of Conduct Book.  Reasons other than the ones listed will be considered unexcused.  Please help us by having your child at school on time and not picking children up before 2:35 PM unless it is absolutely necessary.

Dismissal is at 2:35 PM daily.  If your child is a walker, they will be dismissed after Buses and Car Riders.  Staff will escort all walkers across the street with the traffic guard. If you wish to walk home with your child, please wait for your child across the street. If you child has an appointment, please check  your children out before 2:15 p.m. so that we are able to dismiss and monitor the safety of all students. If it is necessary for your child to be at school later than 2:55 PM, please consider the YMCA Prime Time Program for after school care.  You may call 367-7333 for more information about the YMCA Prime Time Program.

Busing:

Students who regularly ride the school bus will be receiving a brochure covering school bus rider regulations.  Please review this brochure with your student, then sign the back page and return it to the student's bus driver as soon as possible.

Only in cases of emergency may a child ride another bus.  Meetings of scouts, brownies, piano lessons, parties, visiting, etc. are not considered emergencies.  Should there be a valid emergency, a bus permit may be obtained from the office

Bus Routes for the 2009-2010 School Year are currently available on FCPS Home Page.

Cafeteria Notes:

A hot lunch will be served each day in the cafeteria.  A directive from the Fayette County Food Service Department requests that fast food lunches such as McDonald's, Burger King, Subway, etc., not be brought to students as it causes disruption and equity concerns with the other students.

Students have a lunch number for use when purchasing lunch.  All students will use a lunch number regardless of paying status, i.e., free, reduced, or full pay.  While students still have the option of paying as they go through the line, we recommend making regular deposits in your child's lunch account to avoid charges.  The cost of a lunch is $2.00 per day.  A drink is included with each hot lunch, however your child may purchase an extra drink with their lunch.  In addition, Garden Springs offers a breakfast program from 7:15-7:40 AM each morning.  The cost for breakfast is $1.35 and can also be deducted from the student's account in the cafeteria.  All checks for lunch, extra milk, etc., should be made payable to Garden Springs School Cafeteria.

Students are encouraged to pay in advance for food purchases.  Any student who forgets or loses his/her money may charge a maximum of two (2) breakfasts and two (2) lunches.  If payment for charges is not received the next school day, a nutritious snack, but not a full meal, will be provided to the student.  If you have questions regarding the lunch policy, you may contact Mrs. Crain, the cafeteria manager.

Conferences:

Parent-teacher conferences should be scheduled in advance.  They should be scheduled after school, before school, during a teacher's planning time, or on designated conference days.  Teachers will not be available for conferences while classes are in session unless it is scheduled during their planning period.

Health Services:

Health services are available to your children on a regular basis.  The school nurse is scheduled at Garden Springs two half days each week and is available for consultation by phone at all times.  Every student entering pre-school or kindergarten must have an eye examination by either an optometrist or ophthalmologist before January 1.  If your child is entering either of the grade levels mentioned, please make sure these requirements are met by scheduling an appointment at your earliest convenience.

Medication:

Because of the liability involved, the policy of the Board of Education and this school prohibits teachers from administering any medication.  Pupils may take medicine that is brought from home with a written parental request provided the following conditions are met.  Please check with your child's physician to see if it is necessary to take medication at school.  Some medications that are supposed to be taken three times a day can be managed if taken before school, when the students gets home, and before bedtime.

1. Mediation shall be brought to school in the original prescription container, which includes the physician or dentist's directions for dispensing, or in the original over-the-counter container with the written orders of the physician or dentist attached
2. Information listed on the container shall include the student's name and the name of the medication as well as the prescribed dosage of the medicine.
3. All medications administered to the students will be centrally located in the school office.
4. Parents will be required to complete and sign a form with specific information concerning the child's medication before the school will administer it.  This form must be completed and on file in the school office before any medication can be administered by school staff.

Medications brought to school that do not follow the above policy will not be administered.  Due to the safety issue, students will not be allowed to transport medication to and from school due to the possibility of lost medication, broken containers, loose lids, etc.  Please assist us with this matter to insure the safety of all students.

P.E. Notes:

Tennis shoes are required for P.E.  Help your child remember them on days he/she is scheduled to have P.E.  Children may be excused from P.E. up to three days by written request of parents upon approval of the principal.  An extended excuse must come from the Department of Health or from the family physician in writing.

Overview
Garden Springs Elementary School opened in August 1964 as one of the first open-classroom schools in the nation. Additional space was added to the building in 1968. In early 1988, the school received extensive damage due to fire. The school was rebuilt with self-contained classrooms and opened for classes in August 1988.

KERA Implementation
Garden Springs began School-Based Decision Making effective July 1, 1992. The school staff has participated in KERA Professional Development and the school has totally implemented primary school with developmentally appropriate activities and ongoing assessment. Portfolio entries are an integral part of the KERA program at Garden Springs.