For Your Information
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Matthews Elementary Parents |
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Monthly Newsletters Click on a month to view our monthly newsletter.
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Attendance Policy Please call the school if your child is absent. You will be asked to give a reason as to why your child will be out for the principal to determine whether the absence is excused or unexcused. All absences should by reported the day of or by 9:00 a.m. the day after the absence occurs in order to be excused. In-school suspension will be assigned to any student having two or more unexcused absences.
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Early Checkout When a child is ill or has a doctor’s appointment, a parent/guardian or emergency contact person must report to school to sign out that child. When a child is checked out early, a note must be sent to the teacher stating when and why the child will leave. If your child has to be picked up early due to an after school appointment, please pick him/her up by 3:15 p.m. to keep dismissal running smoothly.
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Tardiness A successful student is one who comes to school every day on time. The learning goals for the day are set by the students and teachers upon arrival into the classroom. A tardy student misses this vital instruction. Any student who arrives after 8:30 a.m. must be signed in by their parent. Students who are tardy on a regular basis will be referred to a school truant officer. Reported tardy offenders will be reported to the school social worker and Juvenile Court.
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Getting Home Most days children go home the same way, i.e. ride the bus, walk, ride in a car. There will be times, however, when they may go home a different way than usual. When this happens, tell your child prior to school how they will be going home and SEND A NOTE TO THE TEACHER EXPLAINING THE CHANGE. Without a note, we will assume your child will be going home as usual. If you need to make changes during the day you will be asked for a reason because changed plans will mean interrupting the class.
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Phone Use Students are not allowed to receive telephone calls during the school day. Also, please do not call the school office and ask that a message be relayed to your child unless it is of extreme importance. Keep in mind that phone messages are relayed via intercom and disrupt classrooms during instruction. Telephone use must be approved by the secretary or principal.
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Breakfast
Breakfast will be served in the cafeteria beginning at 7:30 a.m. and
ending at 8:25 a.m. Students will be
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Inclement Weather
Students
and parents will be advised of any school closings due to
bad weather on
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When your child is ill
In order for students to receive an excused absence when they are ill, parents must call the school or send a note with their child when they return. If calling, the best time to call is before 9:00 a.m. the next day to avoid an unexcused absence. Please make sure that your child is fever free without any fever reducing medicine for 24 hours before returning to school.
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Parent Involvement Parent Involvement is believed to be imperative. Parents are encouraged to participate in the education of their children by talking with them daily about what they did in school. All parents should look at the work of their children daily and encourage them to do well in school. Parents are invited and encouraged to attend PTO meetings as well as Open House and Meet the Teacher nights. Parent Teacher conferences are held at the end of the first and third quarters where parents are given the opportunity to review their child's grades during a fifteen minute conference with the teacher. As always, parents are welcome to schedule a conference at other times whenever they have concerns.
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Foster Grandparent Program Matthews Elementary participates in the Foster Grandparent Program. Several classrooms have Foster Grandparents. They assist teachers in many ways with their primary responsibility being to assist students and enhance learning.
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Character Education Students participate in character education lessons that are provided by our school counselor. Areas that are discussed include the following: goal setting, respect, responsibility, self-control, caring, | honesty, patience, courage, integrity, and service. The counselor conducts guidance lessons twice a month.
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Visitors
Parents are welcome to visit the school. All visitors must check in at the office, and obtain a pass before proceeding to the classrooms - this includes 1st and 4th grade outside entrance classrooms . Please call ahead for an appointment if you wish to discuss your child's progress or any other concerns with the staff.
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Accelerated Reader
Accelerated Reader is a computer program that allows
students to take quizzes after reading in order to improve reading
skills through regular practice. Students are given a reading range
that determines which books they are allowed to choose for quizzes. Our
library and classrooms will all eventually have books coded so students
can find books within their reading ranges. Teachers and other faculty
can provide assistance finding books here at school if needed. The
Sikeston Public Library also has a list of quiz titles to help you
select books for your individual child. Students must score at least
60% on reading quizzes in order to receive any points. At the end of
the school year, a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
place medal will be given to students in each classroom with the most
points. The student in each grade with the most points will receive a
trophy in May. We hope this program promotes reading for all students
in an enjoyable and non-competitive way. |
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Student Achievement Student achievement is honored and celebrated in many ways at Matthews Elementary. First, we have the P.A.W.S award for the month. Students are awarded P.A.W.S. coupons for appropriate behavior and good character. Next, we have the Top Dog honor. Classrooms are given bulldog awards for good behavior by other teachers in the building. The class which receives the most bulldogs each month is treated to a pizza party during lunch. Next, we honor academic excellence each quarter with the Honor Roll assembly. Students are recognized in school and in the community for their academic success. Finally, Matthews Elementary uses the Accelerated Reading to celebrate quality literature. Students gain an appreciation for good literature as well as sharpen their reading skills in this program. Students earn points in Accelerated Reading for successfully completing comprehension tests over the books they read.
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