Welcome to Myrtlewood Elementary School. We are looking forward to an exciting and successful school year! We encourage all parents to be involved in their child’s education. By working together as a team we can help your child reach their fullest potential!
Myrtlewood Elementary
1407 Gainsville Road
Fosters, AL 35463
Telephone: 205-342-2658
Fax: 247-4185
Lunchroom: 752-5654
Weather Hot Line: 342-2900
Web site: www.tcss.net
Arrival and Departure
It is very important that your child is at school each day. Class begins at 8:00 AM and ends at 2:45 PM. Your child is tardy after 8:00 and must be signed in at the office.
Attendance is essential in your child’s education. Please make being on time and staying all day as a top priority this year.
The buses unload at the first set of doors, car riders at the second set of doors. Please do not arrive at school prior to 7:30. This is a safety issue. All K-2 students go immediately to the cafeteria if they are not eating breakfast. Students in 3-5 that are not eating breakfast will report to the hallway outside of the library. Breakfast begins at 7:30 and the children are dismissed to their classrooms at 7:45.
Dismissal Times: Bus Riders – 2:40
Car Riders – 2:45
Extended Day Students - dismissed to the cafeteria after the
bus riders and car riders leave
Please make sure your child and his/her teacher knows how to get home each day. Students will go home based on the information provided on the registration form. If your child needs to go home in a way different from his/her normal routine, we must have a note. We cannot accept telephone calls to make changes in transportation. A note or fax must be given to the school. This is a safety issue.
If your child plans to go home with another student, both parents are required to send a note from home informing the teachers of the change in routine.
Birthday Parties
You may organize a class birthday party for your child as long as you communicate with the teacher and schedule a time. Any treats you bring must be store bought, not homemade. Drinks must be 100% juice, milk or water. Snacks must be one serving size and low in sugar.
Birthday party invitations may be passed out at school to your child’s friends only under the following conditions:
*If everyone in the class receives one
*If all the girls receive one
* If all the boys receive one
If invitations are to be passed out only to a select few group of students, they may not be given out at school. This is to avoid hurting other students’ feelings.
Clothing
Students must dress in a manner that is in good taste and appropriate for school. Clothes should be neat and clean. Shorts and skirts need to reach fingertips. No tank tops or halter tops are appropriate. Sagging pants are not permitted. No spaghetti straps, no low cut shirts, or suggestive logo prints. Identification should be put on all clothing.
We strongly encourage students to wear tennis shoes to school each day. Students must have on tennis shoes to play in PE.
Electronic Devices
Please do not allow your children to bring electronic toys to school. These are distractions in the classroom and will be taken up by the teacher.
Daily Communication
Communication between parents and teachers is essential to providing your children a quality education. Assignment books and folders are sent home daily. Please check these each night for communication concerning homework and other important information. Teachers will provide parents with an email address to aid in communication.
Field Trips
Field trips serve an important function in the education process. Grade levels are encouraged to plan at least one trip each semester. Permission forms will be sent home in advance of the trip. Please return this form and the requested amount to the school by the due date. We encourage parent participation on trips. However, siblings are not permitted to participate.
Holiday Parties
Classrooms will have parties or refreshments throughout the year. All refreshments must be approved by the classroom teacher and meet nutritional requirements of the Tuscaloosa County Wellness Policy.
Medicine
Over the counter medications may be dispensed during school hours by the school nurse with a completed medication form signed by the parent. Any medicine needed for longer than 10 days will require a physician’s letter. Medicine must be in the original container and properly labeled with the following: Student’s name, date and time to be administered, name of medication, and dosage.
Prescribed and daily medications require a medication form and physician’s signature.
Money
Throughout the year, there will be several times that you need to send money to school for lunch, snack, fieldtrips, etc. Money sent to school should always be in a sealed envelope and include your child’s name, the amount of money and the purpose of the money. Please keep in mind that we do not keep money in the school so we have no way of making change. Also, do not group money together. For example, you cannot write one check to cover lunch and extended day. Everything must be separate.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Teachers are always glad to conference with parents. In order to get the most out of conferences please follow these simple guidelines: (1) Do not go to the classroom first thing in the morning and expect to have a meaningful discussion with the teacher. This is a very important time of the day, when the teacher must attend to what his/her students are doing, take care of attendance, lunch count, and organize the instructional day. (2) Call, or send a note by your child, indicating you would like a conference. The teacher will get in touch with you to schedule a time.
Leader in Me
Myrtlewood Elementary will be implementing The Leader in Me and the 7 Habits of Happy Kids principles to motivate students to recognize the importance of leadership, good behavior and citizenship. Our three major habits to focus on this year will be the following:
Be Proactive
· I am in charge of my actions.
· I am in charge of my attitudes and my mood.
· I stop and think before I react.
· I do the right thing without being asked.
Begin with the End in Mind
· I plan ahead and set goals.
· I do things that make a positive difference.
· I am an important part of my school.
· I am a good citizen.
Put First Things First
· I spend my time on things that are important.
· I say no to things I should not do.
· I make a plan and finish what I start.
· I am organized
School wide and classroom rewards will be earned by students exhibiting these habits. Various incentives including free desserts, pencils, coupons, special lunch privileges, and free play will be incorporated into classroom and school wide plans.
Each teacher will develop classroom rules to support these habits. Individual plans will consist of rewards and consequences. Teachers and all staff members are encouraged to recognize positive behaviors by giving tickets to those students caught exhibiting these habits, and following procedures and rules. These tickets will be kept in the individual classrooms for student recognition and reward throughout the day.
Parent Involvement
Parent Involvement is a vital part of life at Myrtlewood Elementary School. Our Parent Involvement committee plans many worthwhile and enriching activities for our students. We appreciate our awesome parents! Looking for a way to support our school? Join our parent involvement committee and volunteer your time and talents!
Snack
Classroom teachers regulate the frequency of classroom snacks. Remember, snacks brought from home must be low sugar and drinks must be 100% juice, water or milk and must be store bought.
Tuscaloosa County Board of Education
Student/Parent Information Guide
At the beginning of each school year each student is provided a Student/Parent Information Guide to examine. Myrtlewood Elementary adheres to all policies and procedures included within this guide.
Visitation
Parents are encouraged to eat lunch with us on any given day of school. The cost for visitors is $3.25. All parents/visitors must sign in at the office. Please enter the building using the front door. The office will provide you with a Visitor badge. This is to ensure that our school is a safe place.
Parents are welcome to observe in the classroom as long as it does not interfere or interrupt daily activities/lessons. Please schedule your observation in advance.
