“Soaring for Success”

2019-2020 Parent / Student Handbook

Hay Branch Elementary School 6101 Westcliff Rd

Killeen, Texas 76543 Main Number (254) 336-2080

This handbook is subject to change pending KISD policy changes and changes to Texas law pertaining to education. Any changes made to the handbook will be communicated to parents in a timely fashion. Updates

will also be posted to our website.

Our Mission At Hay Branch Elementary, we will commit to providing and maintaining a setting of high expectations in a safe, orderly environment to prepare all learners for a

diverse and changing world.

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Hay Branch Elementary Letter from the Principal

Hello Hawk Families, Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year! The staff and I are so excited to welcome our students back to school. It is going to be another great year! We will continue to work toward academic excellence, finding our talents, and demonstrating good character. Communication between the school and home is critical. In order to improve communication, we are adding a Remind 101 for our campus. Please follow the directions below to join. This allows school administration to send quick and short messages to our families. Joining Hay Branch Elementary Remind 101: Option 1: Text @haybranc to 81010 Option 2: Email: haybranc@mail.remind.com

Option 3: Download the Remind 101 App and join @haybranc Please use this handbook to guide you through the policies and procedures that guide the work that we do within Hay Branch Elementary and KISD. If you have questions, please contact our front office for assistance. The Hay Branch Hawks welcome you to the 2019-2020 school year! We would also like to thank you for your love and support of HBES! Soaring for Success! Sincerely, Dr. Cassandra Spearman Principal

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HAY BRANCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SONG

Hay Branch Elementary, That is where we like to be Like a Hawk our spirits soaring high, All together we can reach the sky.

Hay Branch Elementary, That is where we like to be Teacher, students working side by side,

To find our Hay Branch pride! Working together, that is what we do

Learning new things each day the whole year through Reading, writing, math, music and PE

Respect yourself and others, say thank you and please Hay Branch Elementary, That is where we like to be

Teachers, students working side by side To find our Hay Branch pride!

Hay Branch HAWK Student Pledge

Today I pledge to be a person of character. I will be worthy of trust, be respectful and responsible, doing what I must.

My choices will affect me and those around me. I will show that I care and always do my share. TEAMwork makes the DREAMwork!

HAWKS are Honest

work hard to Achieve make Wise choices

show Kindness with respect and make Safe decisions

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Welcome to Hay Branch Elementary School!

Hay Branch is a Pre-Kindergarten through fifth grade school. Our campus enrollment is on average between 670-700 students. We have more than 40 teachers, with a total staff of about 95. Various programs are in place, which address the special needs of individual students and all student groups. Some of these programs include:

● Compensatory programs assist students who need additional intervention in reading and/or math.

● Special Education services are provided for students who qualify. ● GT (Gifted and Talented) curriculum requirements are met for students who are identified

through GT testing. ● ELL (English Language Learners) addresses the needs of students who are making the

transition from their language of origin to English. ● Counseling services are an integral part of the curriculum; individual, classroom, and group

counseling services are regularly extended to all students. Parents are encouraged to call the school if there are changes in the family that might disrupt a child’s learning.

DATES TO KNOW 2019-2020 The district calendar can be found at https://www.killeenisd.org and accessing the quick links. For your convenience we will list some important dates for you to put on your calendar. Other school events will be sent home to you in a monthly newsletter and put on our school website. August 26....................1st Day of School September 2................Holiday (Labor Day) October 14....................Student Holiday October 18..................End of 9 Weeks (Early Out) November 11..............Holiday (Veterans Day) November 25-29.........Holiday (Thanksgiving) December 20..............End of 9 Weeks (Early Out) Dec 23 - Jan 3............Holiday (Holiday Break) January 20..................Holiday (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day) February 17................Holiday (President’s Day)/Bad Weather Make up March 6 .....................End of 9 Weeks (Early Out) March 9-13...............Holiday (Spring Break) April 10……………… Holiday/Bad Weather Make up May 25 ......................Holiday (Memorial Day) May 28………………..Last Day of School/End of 9 Weeks (Early Out) Reporting Periods 1st.......August 26 - October 18 ............38 Days 2nd......October 21 - December 20.......39 Days 3rd.......January 7 - March 6 .................42 Days 4th.......March 16 – May 28...................52 Days

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Bad Weather Make-Up Days February 17 and/or April 10 School Hours

● Breakfast - 7:35 – 8:05 am ● First Bell - 8:05 am ● Tardy Bell - 8:15 am ● PK/K Dismissal - 3:25 pm ● 1st/2nd Grades Dismissal - 3:30 pm ● Skills buses leaving - 3:35 pm ● 3rd/4th/5th Grades Dismissal Bell - 3:35 pm

o Early dismissal for all grade levels - 1:30 pm ● Office closed daily from 3:05 - 3:35 pm

We want you to feel free to visit our school and talk with us at any time. Please call for an appointment or come by the school to set-up an appointment. All visitors are required to check-in at the front office and receive a visitor’s pass. For the safety of our students, we ask for your cooperation. Our campus is 100% ID check all of the time. We look forward to getting to know you better. The instructional school day begins at 8:05 am. No student may be on school grounds before 7:35 am unless they are part of the Latch Key program (YMCA). Our staff begins their duty at 7:35 am. We closely supervise students so that we can keep them as safe as possible. Please do not allow your children to come to school before 7:35 am if they walk or are dropped off. Again, no staff member is on duty at this time, and we want your child to be safe. Please cooperate with this effort, and we thank you in advance for your support. School breakfast is served from 7:35 until 8:05 am. All students at our campus will be offered a free breakfast daily, regardless of whether your child qualifies for free or reduced lunch. When students get to school, they are expected to go immediately to their breakfast line and head to their designated area in the building to eat breakfast. The tardy bell rings 8:15 am. Students arriving after 8:15 am will checked in through front office with parent and will be counted tardy. Please help your child be on time for school. Hay Branch is committed to providing the best education for your child; instruction begins immediately after the bell rings. For more information, please refer to the KISD Code of Conduct. School is dismissed at 3:35 pm (To assist with traffic at dismissal, PK/K is dismissed at 3:25, 1st/2nd grades at 3:30 and 3rd -5th grades at 3:35 pm). Students must leave the campus as soon as their day is finished unless they are involved in an after school event. Teachers have conferences, planning, staff development meetings and other duties during this time. The YMCA offers an on-site before and after school program. If you need that service, please contact them at 634-5445. We appreciate your help with this matter. Tardy Policy Excessive tardies are considered a minor violation of the KISD Code of Conduct. Students may be issued an office referral with consequences given as listed in the discipline matrix (see KISD Code of Conduct book). School administrators will determine if tardies are excused or unexcused. Since we are aware that some tardies are not the fault of the student, parents can opt to volunteer in the cafeteria

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during the school lunch hour in lieu of them serving certain consequences issued. Tardies will be excused only when they’re accompanied by a doctor’s note. Please help your child develop good school and work habits by being on time and present for school. Time that students miss being in the classroom for instruction adds up quickly. It’s very important for their learning that they are in school. Sign In/Out During the School Day Please understand that for your child’s safety, we will ask you to show your ID daily, even if we know you. Students are not permitted to leave school grounds unless they have been properly signed out through the front office. If you decide to sign your student out during the school day, you must do the following:

1. Come to the front office. 2. We are a 100% ID check school. The secretaries will not release to anyone not on the

student’s registration card. Please do not send anyone to school to pick up your child that is not on the card. You may list as many people as you want on the card; changes must be done by the guardian/parent in person. Please understand, for your child’s safety, we will check for IDs even if we know you.

3. Wait in the office until your child joins you. We do not call students to the office to wait for you. We only call them down once you are present to check them out.

4. Hay Branch does not release students to minors under the age of 18. 5. Children will NOT be released during the last 30 minutes of the school day. During this time,

the teacher is getting the entire class ready to leave and to dismissal areas. As a result, the front doors will also be locked daily from 3:05pm - 3:35 pm.

Please cooperate with these procedures. In our school, your child is the most important person. All of this is done to protect your child. Bad Weather Days Parents, students, and staff members are asked to tune in to the radio and television broadcasts for information in the event of inclement weather conditions or other emergencies that may necessitate the closing of schools. In the event that schools must be closed, the superintendent will make the decision, and the information will be disseminated as soon as it becomes available via our automated phone system. KISD will post the decision on the website and on KISD Channel 17. Early Release Days On those days, all students will be released at 1:35 pm, and buses will run accordingly. Please make appropriate arrangements for your child. Refer to your school calendar, information in your child’s folder, the automated phone system, and the marquee for specific dates/reminders.

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Arrival & Dismissal We have staff on duty in the morning and afternoon to help with your child’s safety. Please comply with the following so that we do not have to report you to authorities:

● Drive carefully and slowly in the parking lot and in the school zone. (The speed limit is 5 miles per hour.)

● Do not park in the fire/bus lanes and display courtesy and respect for our children and other drivers. Fire lanes are painted red.

● Do not stop or park in the crosswalk. ● No double parking. ● You may be issued a ticket by police for illegal parking in a fire lane. ● Follow staff members’ directions when assisting traffic and crosswalk areas.

The parent/guardian must fill out a transportation form that explains how your student will go home. The school will use this form until you change it in person. We cannot accept a verbal change from your child or a parent. Any requests for changes in dismissal plans must be submitted in writing. All designated car riders will exit from the front of the building. All designated walkers will be escorted to the crosswalk area. Students who are designated as walkers are not to be picked up by drivers on school grounds without a written change of plan submitted to the office. Attendance Texas law requires children ages 6-17 to attend school (TEC, 25.085b). A child who is required to attend school under the law (TEC, 25.85a) shall attend school each day for the entire period the program of instruction is provided. On enrollment in Pre-Kindergarten or Kindergarten, a child must attend school (TEC, 25.085c). However, if a child has not reached mandatory compulsory attendance age (6 years old as of September 1 of the current school year) the child’s parent or guardian may withdraw the student from school, and the child will not be in violation of compulsory attendance rules. Attendance is critical to student success at all grade levels! There is a direct correlation between attendance and achievement. Please make sure that your child attends daily and is not tardy. When enrolled, all attendance becomes mandatory and will be monitored to ensure the state guidelines for attendance are being met. Please call when your child is absent at (254) 336-2084 (available for call-in 24 hours a day). A written note that is signed by the parent or legal guardian is required for every absence, if not using a doctor’s note, so the absence will be excused. Please be sure to submit a note or doctor’s note within 5 days of being absent. If we do not hear from you, our automated attendance system will contact you. It will also call you if your child is marked tardy for the first attendance round. It is very important that you provide us with accurate information. Please make sure that you update your student’s registration card and phone numbers. In an emergency situation we need the most recent phone numbers, addresses, and emergency contacts. Also included in absence provisions, along with doctor’s appointments, are court appearances or Religious Holy Days.

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All work missed during the time the student is absent from school must be completed (refer to the district’s attendance policy found in KISD section of this handbook). At Hay Branch, students will receive three school days to complete work missed while absent upon date of return. Students with perfect attendance are recognized at our academic awards assemblies. Excessive and unexcused absences can cause a child to be retained in their current grade level. Student transfers can also be revoked due to tardies and/or absences. Attendance - Unexcused Absences Absences with parental knowledge for reasons such as missing the bus, shopping, babysitting, visiting relatives, vacations, moving, extended holidays, etc. are documented as UNEXCUSED. Students who miss all or any portion of a school day without the parent’s knowledge will be considered TRUANT and will be disciplined accordingly. Truancies will count toward excused absences. Disciplinary action may include mandatory attendance at Saturday detention. When students accumulate unexcused absences from school, attempts will be made to notify parents as a courtesy. The person discharging the duties of attendance officer of the school may investigate any case in which an excused absence is requested. Announcements Each morning we begin with our Pledge of Allegiance, Texas Pledge, Hay Branch Hawk Student Pledge, followed by a moment of silence and any campus information. Awards Students can earn perfect attendance, A/B honor roll, A honor roll, B honor roll, and Hawk awards. A/B, B, and A honor roll are earned by obtaining the appropriate grades in math, science, social studies, and ELAR (combination of reading and written oral). Award ceremonies will be held for your child’s grade level (1st-5th grades) at the end of each 9 weeks. Additionally, a Kindergarten Celebration will be held in May. Bicycle Rules Students are permitted to ride their bicycles to school. There are bike racks located near the front side of the school. Students must secure their bikes at these locations should they ride their bikes to school. Students are to walk bicycles across the street and on school property. This includes sidewalks, parking lots and playground areas. Students not walking bikes on school property may have bicycle privileges revoked. Absolutely no skateboards, rolling shoes, or roller skates will be allowed at school. Students are responsible for their bicycles. Birthdays Store bought cupcakes are permitted after 2:30 pm for birthday celebrations. Please, no balloons or other celebratory items. Items may be dropped off at the front office. Classroom parties are not permitted. Party invitations given to students at school are acceptable as long as they are given to the whole class. Bus Transportation District policy states that elementary students must live one or more miles from the school to be eligible for bus transportation. Policy also states that students cannot ride the bus to the babysitter’s home or place of business. Students who do not meet this criterion are NOT allowed to ride the bus or

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accompany a friend. The district will establish which areas are considered extremely dangerous and modify the rule. Students who do not comply with bus rules may be removed from the bus for 1 to 3 days. Those students with consistent misbehavior may be removed for the remainder of the school year. Bus students who move out of the school’s attendance area during the school year, but remain at Hay Branch, may not ride the bus. Parents are responsible for their transportation. Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) This program allows your child to bring their personal technology from home and use it in the classroom at the teacher’s discretion. Of course, this is completely optional and not a requirement. Students not able to bring their personal devices will still participate by using campus-owned devices. Please know that not all classrooms are participating in this exciting adventure at this time, so if you have multiple children at this campus, this program is only extended to the students in the classrooms implementing BYOD. Access is a privilege, not a right, and carries with it responsibilities for all users. Misuse will not be tolerated. Misuse means any violation of the acceptable use agreement as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct under the acceptable use policy. This policy can be located on the KISD webpage under the “Student and Parent” tab or at the following URL: https://www.killeenisd.org/departmentDocs/c952/documents/StudentCoCEnglish.pdf Please know that Hay Branch and KISD will not be responsible loss, theft, or damage of the devices brought from home, and we will follow the Student Code of Conduct for any misuse of the equipment. With teacher approval, students will be able to use their devices in the classroom and access the Internet using the KISD network. A form with conditions, required equipment information, and parent approval will be sent home. Before your child can participate, documentation about the device, as well as the teacher form must be signed and on file. More to come from the teachers participating in this program. Cell Phones As stated in the KISD Student Code of Conduct, students may not display, turn on, or use a cellular telephone or other telecommunication devices on school property during the school day. Violators are subject to having the device confiscated by a teacher or other school official for a period of time deemed appropriate by the principal and are subject to disciplinary action. Neither the campus nor the district assumes responsibility or liability for loss or damage to a device or the unauthorized use of the device. Character Trait of the Month Our campus counselors will work with teachers to acknowledge one student per classroom to receive an award for displaying various characteristics. Class Assignments Some changes in initial class placement may be necessary during the first two weeks of school. Many students enroll throughout the summer months, and we find that some have moved without notifying us. Therefore, our enrollment numbers could be unstable the first few days of school. Once we are more certain of our actual enrollment, class numbers may need to be adjusted. Occasionally enrollment warrants forming a new class section or deleting a class section. Should your child need to be changed to a different class, you will be notified promptly.

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Classroom Observation and Policy of Visitors All visitors to our school must report to the front office upon entering the building. A visitor must present ID. It will be scanned using the Smart Check system (KISD visitor identification system), and further access will be granted or denied based on the result of the scan. A visitor who cannot provide the required identification shall be restricted to the front office and may not go to other parts of the building. If further access is granted, the visitor’s ID will remain in the front office and a visitor’s pass will be issued, which must be worn at all times on campus. All visitors must return the pass and check out of the front office prior to leaving. All visitors who go to other parts of the campus must comply with any other access rules established for the campus. Persons who are identified as registered sex offenders shall be denied access to the campus. Any person seeking review of this prohibition may pursue an administrative grievance through board policy online FNG (local) or GF (local) at www.killeenisd.org. Classroom observations require the approval of the teacher and administration. Parents or legal guardians who wish to observe their child in class must set-up an appointment with the teacher in advance, and the teacher will confirm with the parent and notify administration. The teacher must comply with the access rules. Anyone offending or abusing the observation policy will be denied access to the classroom.

● No cell phones or electronic devices are to be used during an observation. ● No children are to accompany any adult into the room for observation purposes. ● No talking to your child or to the teacher during the observation. ● Please sit in the back of the classroom. ● The set amount of observation time is agreed upon by the teacher and administration. ● During the first two weeks of school, we ask that you not visit the classroom or

cafeteria so the teacher can establish routines and procedures. ● No visitors during state mandated STAAR testing

Please be aware, the campus is closed to visitors during state mandated STAAR testing days. Child Abuse The reporting of suspected child abuse is a state law that teachers, administrators, and staff must observe. Our school is most interested in the health and safety of our children and will abide by the state law. Conferences A conference can be held either during the teacher’s conference time or after school when the teacher is available. Please communicate with your child’s teacher to request a conference at any time. Teachers will conference as academic and behavior needs arise. They will also share student progress and achievements. Delivery Policy For all schools

● No commercial deliveries of food will be made to any campus. ● No deliveries of any nature will be made directly to classrooms.

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● Parent deliveries, of any nature, will be made to the office. For Elementary and Middle Schools

● No commercial deliveries will be made to students. ● Approved commercial deliveries to teachers are to be made to the office.

Discipline Plan The Hay Branch discipline management plan is based on the district guidelines for discipline. Teachers will post student expectations in their rooms and discuss them. Goal setting will be a major component of our program. Students will set goals with their teacher, and these goals will be reviewed frequently. Possible consequences for students who do not meet campus-wide expectations will be discussed with students and parents, that is documented and handled separately. The safety of students is the primary goal of our school. All students have a right to learn and teachers must be able to teach in a meaningful and supportive environment. Disruptive students will not be allowed to prevent the teacher from teaching and consequences may be issued. Students must be able to accept responsibility for their own behavior so they can learn self-control and social skills. We want our children to become independent thinkers, problem solvers and responsible citizens. The following are some of the behavior expectations we have for our students: ● Students show self-discipline by keeping hands and feet to themselves. ● Students leave inappropriate items at home (see prohibited items). ● Students practice respect for adults, personal belongings and property of others, school property. ● Students demonstrate good citizenship in the classroom, hallway, bus, cafeteria, and on the

playground (ex: showing their work, following all school/bus rules, etc.) ● Students will utilize our “Check 4” protocol when walking throughout the building.

○ Check 4 - hands behind your back, eyes forward, voices off, move at a low speed The plan may include, but is not limited to the following: ● Setting of classroom goals with students ● A visual for tracking positive student progress of goals achieved ● Once a goal is achieved by the student it cannot be taken away, they’ve earned it - this is tracked

separate from negative behavior ● Incentives earned are given for achieving set classroom goals that are agreed upon by classroom

teacher/administration ● Parent, teacher, student conference ● Thinking time away from activities (refocus time) ● Time away from classroom for change of environment (buddy room) ● Loss of recess (issued by the classroom teacher) ● Involvement of the counselor for behavioral guidance - our counselors may place a student in a

small group or see the student for individual counseling to aid the student in improving behavior ● Office Referral and consequence issued by administration (i.e. detention; Saturday SAC (3rd-5th

grades at KISD designated campus; in school suspension; out of school suspension) ● Students may qualify for a referral to an alternative campus (DAEP) after an accumulation of

serious discipline office referrals and/or a very serious single incident occurs that requires automatic removal from campus

● Serious violations may require an automatic discipline referral to the office Consequence System:

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● Warning (we take grade levels into consideration, so the number of warnings given to a PK student may look different than it would for a 5th grade student)

● Refocus time in the classroom (students use this time to reflect about their behavior – what they did and what they need to do to improve)

● Visit the Buddy Room (communication is made with parent by teacher during the teacher’s conference time and/or after school; the student is removed from the classroom and placed in another classroom for a short period of time)

● Office Referral (student visits with an administrator about their negative behavior; communication is made with the parent by administration)

● Negative behavior, depending on severity, will be communicated by the teacher and/or administration via telephone and/or in daily folder or agenda

● Negative behavior will no longer be tracked on a visual in the classroom (ex: loosing your color or moving your clip down); we want to promote positive behavior/thinking and that will be tracked for all students to see when they earn their goals; negative behavior will follow the consequence system

● The severity of a discipline incident may require an automatic referral to the office Positive Reward System: ● Positive behavior will be tracked with a visual in the classroom to promote a positive climate ● Students will earn positive points towards their set goals that are agreed upon by the teacher and

approved by administration (ex: showing your work, active participation, etc.) ● We want our students to be motivated and work towards set goals to earn incentives/rewards ● Incentives for each grade level/classroom will be approved by administration and grade level

teachers; they will occur frequently throughout the year and your child’s grade level will communicate this with you

● Positive behavior will be communicated to the parent daily via the student’s folder or agenda This plan is for the classroom. PE & Music will continue to institute their classroom management plans and communicate those with you at the start of the school year. Per KISD Conduct Committee: “During an investigation of a referral, a student may be placed temporarily in the ISS room under adult supervision until administration can conclude his/her investigation.” Dress Code Students shall be dressed and groomed in a manner that is clean and neat and that will not present a health or safety hazard to themselves or others. Clothing will be worn as it is designed to be worn. All dress code issues will be subject to the campus administrator’s judgment. Students who are considered to be in violation of the dress code shall be advised by the campus administrator and shall be given an opportunity to comply. The opportunity to comply may take a variety of forms. In most cases the student will be allowed to call parents for a change of clothes. While awaiting the change of clothes, the student may be required to (a) wait in the office; (b) attend ISS; (c) go to class (if not a severe violation); or (d) any other option deemed necessary or appropriate by the administrator. Those who then fail to comply or who repeatedly violate the code shall be subject to disciplinary action. Exceptions to the dress code include students who wear principal approved uniforms on designated dates and who participate as members of official school groups or organizations. Certain elective courses or extra-curricular activities may require more stringent dress or appearance standards than for the general student body. The district prohibits pictures, emblems, or writings on clothing that:

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• Are lewd, offensive, vulgar, or obscene. • Advertise or depict tobacco products, alcoholic beverage, drugs, or any other prohibited substance. • Contain derogatory remarks concerning any identifiable race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, gender, or disability. The following standards of dress and grooming apply except as noted: 1. Pants, slacks, and jeans are acceptable attire. Spandex pants or shorts, boxer shorts, “cut-offs”, and shorts or pants with holes any higher than 4” above the knee are not permitted (HBES – Good rule of thumb to follow – Shorts, skirts, or dresses should not be shorter than where your child’s fingertips start when their arms are straight down by their side). Pants or shorts shall not be more than one size too large, and must be worn at the waist, with no “sagging.” Shirts and blouses shall be appropriately sized and may not be worn in any way that reflects gang affiliation or may conceal contraband. Shirts may not extend beyond the student's fingertips when worn outside the pants or a skirt. 2. “Sagging” (wearing pants below the waistline or showing underwear) is not permitted. 3. As a general guideline, dress/skirt length and shorts should be no shorter than 4 inches above the top of the knee, and must allow students to walk, stoop, kneel, and sit with modesty (HBES - Even if students wear leggings or tights, all bottoms must meet KISD requirement. Leggings, regardless of color/print, are not considered pants that are appropriate for school). 4. Apparel designed for recreation, such as tank tops, fishnet (mesh) shirts, etc., is unacceptable. ELEMENTARY ONLY: Tank tops and similar apparel may be worn by students in grades Pre K-2, especially in hot weather. 5. Apparel designed as underwear or nightwear may not be visible or worn as outer garments. 6. Tight and/or revealing clothing or accessories that may draw undue attention to the student is prohibited. Clothing which is of transparent and/or see-through material should not be worn. Students must wear tops that cover the upper body (ex. no halter tops, tube tops, spaghetti straps, etc.) and shoulders, and extend beyond the midriff leaving no skin exposed in the normal activities associated with school. 7. Head coverings, bandanas (in any manner), hoods, and sweatbands may not be worn inside the building. The campus administrator must approve any exceptions to this policy for religious or medical reasons. 8. Students must wear footwear, which is appropriate for school. Examples of inappropriate footwear, although not inclusive, are the following: house slippers, shoe skates, water shoes, sock shoes, and shoes with metal spikes. 9. Hair must be neat, clean, and well groomed. Facial hair, if worn, must be neat and well-trimmed. 10. Types of apparel, including jewelry, trench coats, emblems, badges, symbols, signs, or other items or manner of grooming which, by virtue of color, arrangement, trademark, symbol, or any other attribute indicates or implies gang membership or affiliation, or would substantially disrupt, distract, or materially interfere with the school environment, activity, and/or educational objectives, are prohibited on school grounds, or at any school-related activity, regardless of time or location. Discipline Plan for Dress Code Violations:

1. Conference with student 2. Conference with parent (if needed with student present) 3. Consequence issued (ex: loss of recess, lunch detention) 4. In School Suspension (ISS) 5. Out of School Suspension (OSS) 6. Request parent transfer child (for those on a transfer request - parent will provide

transportation)

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Emergency Drills Hay Branch has a comprehensive crisis plan developed by KISD. The plan addresses a variety of potential crisis situations. This is required by law for the safety and protection of students and staff. Directions are provided to staff members in their handbook on how these drills are conducted, and teachers practice these drills with their students prior to an actual drill. If you happen to be present during a drill, you will be asked to fully participate for the duration of the drill. Students will not be allowed to be checked in or out at this time, and the front doors may be locked during drills. Extracurricular Activities Hay Branch offers extracurricular activities for students to participate in. They vary depending on the grade level throughout the school year. For any after school club participation, siblings may not wait for each other unless they are also in clubs. Only students participating in clubs/tutoring may remain on campus after school. Home Access Center Parents are able to look at their child’s current grades online using eSchool Plus’ “Home Access Center”. You may sign up for access online, or you can contact the school office for more information. https://esphac.killeenisd.org/HomeAccess/Account/LogOn?ReturnUrl=%2fhomeaccess Lost and Found Articles If a student loses anything, he/she should check the lost and found immediately. It is possible that the lost article has already been returned. Valuable items, watches, eyeglasses, etc., are kept in the office. All unclaimed items are donated to a charitable organization at the end of the year. Lunchroom The cafeteria staff, under the direction of the KISD Food Services Department, handles all lunch purchases and student accounts. Students will need to memorize their pin number as quickly as possible, because they are required to enter the number each time they receive a lunch. NEW this school year - Hay Branch will provide a FREE lunch to all students regardless of income qualification. Parents may still add money to their child’s cafeteria account so that they can purchase A La Carte items. The cafeteria is a place where students can enjoy eating, but it is also structured so that student safety and behavior can be closely monitored at all times. Student Cafeteria Expectations

• Wait in line quietly to get your tray • Walk quietly to your assigned table and stand behind the chair you will sit in • Wait for your classmates to arrive so that you can all sit and eat lunch together • Eat your lunch • Stay in your seat • No talking while the cone is up • Use your whisper voices when the cone is down • Clean up after yourself • Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself • Raise your hand to ask for help

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• Walk to line up quietly • If a student chooses not to follow the above expectations, they will lose recess time • Food is not to be traded from one student to another Students bringing drinks from home should bring nutritious drinks, such as juice. Food purchased in the cafeteria must be eaten by students; it cannot be carried out of the cafeteria.

Parent Cafeteria Expectations

For the 2019-2020 school year, our campus will provide breakfast to all students. In order to accommodate this, some grades will eat breakfast in the cafeteria, while others eat in their classrooms.

● During breakfast, all parents are to eat at the “parent table” with their student in the cafeteria, regardless of grade level

● Unless the parent is purchasing a tray, parents are not to go through the line with the student; this will help us ensure that we can move our students through the line more quickly

● Parents cannot eat off of the student’s tray; you must purchase your own ● When eating with your student, if any concerns with other students arise, please notify

the nearest Hay Branch staff member so they can address the situation ● Parents are not to reprimand students other than their own ● Parents are not to take students out of the cafeteria without letting a staff member on

duty know where their taking the student

Lunch Program Accounts: ● KISD is currently using the computer automated breakfast/lunch card program; parents

may deposit money into their child's account at anytime (www.pamslunchroom.com, or call (888) 336-5100 to set up an account); however, Hay Branch Elementary offers free breakfast and lunch to all students regardless of financial need or status

● Students still utilize their assigned personal identification numbers and may purchase extra food items each day with them; for any questions about any of the expectations above you may contact our campus or the KISD Nutrition Department

Medicine and the School Nurse Teachers are NOT allowed to administer any medicine; neither can students. The clinic staff must give ALL medication. Parents must fill out a form for administration of medication, and the medicine must be kept in the nurse’s office. It is extremely important that you keep your current address and phone number on file in case of an emergency. If parents cannot be contacted in case of an emergency, 911 will be called. KISD Wet/Soiled Clothing Policy (see VII-V at end of handbook) Pets No pets allowed on campus unless it is pre-approved by administration for learning purposes only. Physical Education (P.E.) Students must wear appropriate shoes so they can safely enjoy and participate in physical education class and outside play. PE grades are based on participation and behavior and will be lowered if the student misbehaves to the point that he/she cannot take part in the activities. PE teachers will send

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discipline notes home. If the child cannot play because of illness or injury, send a note to the teacher. For three or more days of non-participation, parents need to present verification of illness or injury from a physician. Prohibited Items on Campus Items such as electronic or video games, knives of any kind, hammers, CD and MP3 players, trading cards, toy guns or other entertainment items are not allowed on school grounds. Possession of such items is subject to confiscation. School Pictures School pictures are taken in the Fall and Spring. Notices will be sent home in your child’s folder/agenda prior to picture day. Information about cost, etc. will be provided at that time. Services for Students (Intervention Plans, Special Education, 504, Dyslexia etc.) Students may be screened for a variety of support services, based on data from objective and subjective assessments or screening tools. Parents will be informed about the district’s overall general education referral or screening system for these support services. Students having difficulty in the regular classroom will be considered for Response to Intervention (RtI), a federally mandated program that requires documentation of a number of interventions being used to assist the student. For more information, contact the school at (254) 336-2080 and ask for the assistant principal over your child’s grade level. Talented and Gifted Students may be nominated for the gifted and talented program at any time by teachers, counselors, parents, or other interested persons. Written parental consent shall be obtained before any special testing or individual assessment is conducted as part of the screening and identification process. A selection committee shall evaluate each nominated student according to the established criteria and shall select those students for whom gifted program placement is the most appropriate educational setting. For more information, contact the school at (254) 336-2080 and ask for the guidance counselor over your child’s grade level. Volunteers Hay Branch has a volunteer program that is coordinated by our parent liaison. If any parent/guardian, grandparent, or citizen is interested in volunteering, please contact our parent liaison or the front office for more information. All volunteers are required to fill out a background check form for the safety of our students. Generally, parent volunteers do not volunteer in their child’s classroom. Wednesday Folders Every Wednesday your child will bring home what we call a “Wednesday Folder”. In it you will receive information such as: graded papers, notes from the teacher, progress reports, report cards, grade level newsletter, and campus information. Watch for this to come home to you weekly. Withdrawing a Student When withdrawing a student, parents must notify the office and allow for time (up to three days) for the preparation of records. A withdrawal form will be provided to parents. For transfers within the district, records will not be released to the parent. If you plan to hand carry your records to your new assignment, you must sign the necessary release in the office after proper notification is given and all fines, textbooks, and library books are cleared.

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Thank you for taking the time to thoroughly read through this handbook. If you have any questions, suggestions, or solutions for improvement, please feel free to contact us by telephone or email. We

hope that you and your child have a blessed school year!

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Hay Branch Elementary Elementary School Parent and Family Engagement Policy

2019 – 2020

At Hay Branch Elementary, we are focused on doing what is best for students in order to create a challenging, positive learning environment where every ‘Hawks’ grow every day. A thriving education is at its best when there is a solid

foundation of communication between home and school. Hay Branch Elementary pledges to offer parents and family members various opportunities to be involved. Communication At Hay Branch Elementary, we strongly believe that frequent communication is the strong foundation for a solid partnership with our parents and family members. We will aim to communicate through various means to include:

� Individual and group phone calls � Campus website � Face-to-Face Conferences � KISD Channel � Outdoor marquee � Teacher monthly newsletters/weekly updates

� Newspaper announcements � Students planners and weekly take-home folders � Fliers and letters � Email � Online grades

We strongly encourage parents and family members to contact their student’s teacher when there is a concern by making an appointment to meet with the teacher. Written materials will be sent home in English and Spanish. If we need to translate letters into another language, please contact the office. We’ll do our best to assist you. Parent and Family Member Learning We will provide learning opportunities through our Reading, Math, and Science Family Nights. We’ll help you understand the challenging Texas academic standards, give you information about STAAR and KISD assessments, explain how to monitor your child’s progress, and how to work with teachers as a team to help your student. We’ll offer additional classes, including how to stay current with new technology. To encourage parent involvement, we strive to schedule key meetings and classes at flexible times and dates to include a morning and an afternoon/evening session. Send suggestions for learning topics to Ms. Donna Campbell (Parent Liasion) at 336-2080. Kinder Kollege Siblings of Hay Branch students and their parents are invited to Kinder Kollege on Thursdays. During Kinder Kollege, our parent liaison provides activities that make learning a fun experience and gives parents tips on early reading activities to do at home. Annual Title I Meeting Our annual Title I meeting is held in October of every school year. This meeting is offered at flexible times and dates that are convenient to parents. All parents and family members are invited to attend. We want everyone to know about Title I and how we use these funds to ensure that students are successful. We’ll discuss the Parent and Family Engagement Policy, the Home-School Compact, “Parents Right to Know” and how you can be involved in your child’s education. You’ll learn about the curriculum we use, academic assessments, and what our latest STAAR scores look like. We’ll even feed you a snack! Title I Program Evaluation Our Title I program is evaluated several times a year by our Site Based Decision Making committee, which must include at least one parent representative. SBDM provides input on our Campus Improvement Plan and assists in making decisions about how Title I funds are spent. If you would like to serve on SBDM, please contact Dr. Spearman. We value your opinions and welcome all parents who would like to serve. For parents unable to participate in SBDM, an annual evening meeting is held for the purpose of evaluating the plan and gaining parent input on changes for the upcoming year. Note, if for some reason the CIP is not satisfactory to parents, parent comments about the CIP will be submitted to KISD. Parent and Family Engagement Policy and Home-School Compact We will review our current Parent and Family Engagement Policy and Home-School Compact every spring. Parents and family members are a crucial, required part of this process. We meet together to discuss and make any changes to these documents for the next school year. We must have your input. Publicity about this meeting will be available in April. Both of these documents are posted on our campus website so that parents, family members and the community have access to them. Our website will allow you to translate any posted information into any one of 107 different languages. The parent policy is also made available during our Annual Title I Meeting and is included in our Student Handbook. Your child’s teacher will contact you soon to arrange a conference to discuss the Home-School Compact and to give you more information about your child’s achievement. Parents have the right to participate in decisions relating to their child’s education. Volunteer Orientation At the start of every new school year, and throughout the year, our volunteer coordinator conducts a volunteer orientation to outline KISD policies. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Donna Campbell at 336-2080. Staff Awareness Our campus staff receives training each school year about the value of parent and family member contributions at school. Our staff is kept up to date on our various parent programs, their role in the implementation and coordination of the programs, and how they can encourage parent and family participation. KISD Parent and Family Member Classes KISD offers classes free of charge for English as a Second Language, computers, and GED preparation. Empowered Parents workshops and the Parent Academy are also available. In addition, parents may attend and participate in the KISD Parent Advisory Council. Contact the Special Programs Department for more information at 336-0240.

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