Students are expected to attend school daily; however, please do not send your child to school if they are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

· Fever of 100.4 or higher

· Vomiting

· Diarrhea

Students must be symptom free for 24 hours without the use of medication in order to return to school. If your student becomes ill during the school day, a parent or guardian will be notified to check out the child for the remainder of the school day and remain home until all symptoms are gone. For more information about illness policies, visit the STPSB.org website or contact our nurse Susan.Eisman@stpsb.org. Please make sure we always have the most up-to-date contact information.

Attendance Policy

Compulsory Attendance

The State of Louisiana requires that all children from their fifth to their eighteenth birthdays must attend a public school, nonpublic day school, or must participate in an approved home study program.
School attendance is imperative, not only to satisfy requirements of the law but to help ensure student achievement and success. Every missed day of school is a missed opportunity to learn. As per State policy, St. Tammany Parish Public schools are responsible for enforcing the following requirements:

· Students are expected to be in attendance every student activity day scheduled by the St. Tammany Parish School Board.

· Schools must administer attendance regulations in accordance with State and locally adopted policies.

· Elementary students may not have more than ten (10) days of unexcused absences, and/or suspensions/expulsions per year. Students in grades K-8 who miss more than three (3) hours of instructional time during the school day will be considered absent for the entire day.

· Students participating in school sponsored activities/field trips that necessitate their being away from school shall be considered to be present and shall be given the opportunity to make up work.

Types of Absences and Attendance

There are three types of absences a student may obtain: Type One: Excused; Type Two: Unexcused; and Type Three: Suspensions/Expulsions. A student who is absent (excused or unexcused), including a suspended student, shall be allowed to submit missed assignments and tests, and shall be eligible to receive the same academic credit and grades originally available when work is completed satisfactorily. However, the final grade/course credit can be withheld if the minimum seat time requirements have not been met. The number of days allotted for make-up work is equal to the total number of consecutive school days the student was absent. After the student receives the missed assignments, the student has the same number of days to complete the work as the number of days missed.

Type One Absence: Excused

Excused absences are not considered for purposes of truancy, including absences incurred due to extenuating circumstances and will not be counted against students in determining whether a student meets attendance requirements.

The excused absences are defined in the attendance policy as the following:

Extended personal physical or emotional illness as verified by a physician or nurse practitioner licensed in the state.
Extended hospital stay as verified by a physician or nurse practitioner licensed in the state.
Extended recuperation from an accident as verified by a physician or nurse practitioner licensed in the state.
Extended contagious disease within a family in which a student is absent as verified by a dentist or physician licensed in the state.
Quarantine due to prolonged exposure to or direct contact with a person diagnosed with a contagious, deadly disease, as ordered by state or local health officials.
Observance of special and recognized holidays of the student’s own faith with documentation provided.
Visitation with an immediate family member who is a member of the United States Armed Forces or the National Guard of a state and such immediate family member has been called to duty for or is on leave from overseas deployment to a combat zone or combat support posting with proper documentation. These absences shall not exceed five days per school year.
Travel for educational purposes. These absences must be approved prior to the travel with the supporting documentation submitted to the principal. Verification of the educational experience must be submitted upon return to school.
Death in the immediate family with documentation. These absences shall not exceed five days.
National catastrophe and/or disaster.
A student may be absent related to the student’s mental health for up to three days in any school year, and such absences shall be excused when documentation/verification is submitted in accordance with the student handbook. The student shall be given the opportunity to make up missed work. Upon the return to school following the second day of mental health absence in any school year, the student shall be referred to the appropriate school support personnel for guidance in addressing the underlying issue, which may include referral to medical services outside of the school setting.
Student personal illness or serious illness in the family.

Type Two: Unexcused Absences

Unexcused absences are any absence not meeting the requirements set forth in the excused absence definition, including but not limited to absences due to any job (including agriculture and domestic services, even in their own homes or for their own parents or tutors) unless it is part of an approved instructional program. These absences count against the student when determining whether the student meets attendance requirements.

Type Three: Suspensions/Expulsions

Suspensions/Expulsions are absences in which a student is not in attendance in the regular instructional setting due to disciplinary actions imposed by the school. The absence is not considered for purposes of truancy unless the student was assigned to an alternative site and is not in attendance at the assigned alternative site. These absences count against the student when determining whether the student meets attendance requirements and truancy; if the student was assigned to an alternative school, but was not in attendance.

Absences Procedures

Excuses for all absences must be presented in writing to the school principal or designee within five (5) school days of the absence. The note must include the student’s full name, days of absence, reason for absence and/or doctor’s verification, parent/guardian signature and date of signature. Failure to send the note within five (5) school days of the absence will result in an unexcused absence.

In elementary through junior high school, when a student accumulates their third (3), fifth (5), and tenth (10) unexcused absence, notification will be made to the parents/guardians that their child may have to make up seat time based on the number of unexcused absences accumulated. Students who have 10 or more unexcused absences will be required to make up seat time and their missing assignments in order to retain their course grade/credit.

Seat Time Recovery Requirement

Students in danger of failing due to excessive unexcused absences may be allowed to make up missed seat time held outside of the regular school day. The makeup sessions must be completed before the end of the current semester for high school students and the end of the year for elementary/junior high students.

Truancy

Parents will receive notification of the State truancy policy at the beginning of the school year. Any juvenile student who is habitually absent or tardy from school will be reported as a truant child to the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance, the family and/or juvenile court according to the provisions of Louisiana Children’s Code regarding families in need of services. Louisiana law requires the parent or legal guardian of a truant student shall ensure that the student makes up missed school work by attending after-school tutoring sessions, weekend make-up classes, or other remediation opportunities, as determined by the school board until the student has caught up with his/her school work. The parent shall also attend meetings at the school on at least a monthly basis relative to the student’s progress until the student has caught up on his/her missed work.

Tardiness

Students who frequently arrive late for school lose valuable instructional time, learn unproductive work habits for the future, and create needless disruption to the school and classroom setting. The district has a policy for tardiness that is enforced to help ensure the maximum, high-quality instructional time for all students at the school. Parents are urged to support the academic success of students by requiring and assisting students to be on time for school every day. Students arriving after instructional time begins at 8:20 are considered tardy. Tardy students must be signed in by a parent at the front office. Parents must park their vehicle and walk the student inside to check them in when tardy. A parent conference with administration will be required for any student with excessive tardies or absences.

Additional Honey Island Policies

Parents may contact the school to arrange a pick-up for missed work. The work will be ready after a 24-hour window.

We strongly encourage you to schedule medical and dental appointments, vacations, etc. during school holidays or after school hours to minimize school absences.

*Please refer to the St. Tammany Parish School Discipline Policy Handbook given to you at the beginning of the school year for a more thorough explanation of the Attendance Policy.

Student Checkout

· Sign students in/out at the front office.

· Valid picture ID is required

· Must occur prior to 3:15 p.m. After 3:15 p.m. you may use carline for student pickup. (A car tag is required for pick up)

· Anyone checking a student out must be listed on the Emergency Card.

· If checking out for doctor, dentist, etc. appointment, unless the appointment takes the entire school day, students are expected to attend class both before and after appointment.

· Submit a physician note to the front office for the check-out to be excused.

· Please limit check-outs to emergency situations and/or appointments. Instructional time is valuable to the success of our students. Students checking out will not be pulled from the classroom until the parent/guardian is present in the front office.

*During crisis situations such as Shelter in Place, Evacuation, or Lockdown, students will remain in their safe place. For the safety of our students, checkouts will not be processed during the immediate crisis.

Emergency Cards

It is essential that the school has updated information for each child. This information is written on the emergency cards each school year and kept in the office in case of emergencies. We must have current phone numbers for each student in the case of emergencies. Please notify the school immediately if you have any changes including phone numbers, addresses, contact names, custody, or any additional changes. Parents or guardians must come to the school office to make changes to the emergency card. This includes information about who is allowed to check students in/out of school or pick up students in car line. This information cannot be changed over the phone.

Campus Security & Crisis Plans

Security cameras are currently installed throughout our campus. The cameras have been installed in strategic areas and monitor our school campus 7 days per week/24 hours per day. A School Resource Officer (SRO) will be on campus during the instructional day.

Honey Island maintains a Crisis Plan to be used in the event of an emergency. During the school year we will practice each drill-Evacuation, Shelter in Place, and Lockdown-several times as required by law. We work closely with our local law enforcement, fire department, and school district liaison to constantly evaluate and make adjustments to the plans as necessary.

Keyless access card entries have been installed on all of our exterior doors. All outside doors will remained locked during the day, as well as, all our classroom doors. When parents or visitors arrive, a video system has been put into place which will allow entry. A visitor’s pass is required to volunteer or to have breakfast/lunch with students. Parents/Visitors are not allowed on the playground during our recess times.

Before & After Care

Before and After Care programs are available. Please see Honey Island’s website for more information about our child care programs. Payments must be made on My Payments Plus.

Cell Phone Policy

Beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, no student shall possess, on his person, an electronic device throughout the instructional day. If a student brings a device in any public elementary or secondary school building during the instructional day, the electronic device shall be turned off and properly stowed away for the duration of the instructional day. It is prohibited for the device to be turned on and used during the instructional day. Pockets are not acceptable places to stow an electronic device under the new law.

Child Sexual Abuse Prevention, Education, & Reporting Program

As mandated by the St. Tammany Parish School Board, students in grades K-8 will receive instruction on the topic of Child Sexual Abuse Prevention, Education, and Reporting. All materials used in the instruction may be previewed by contacting the school administration. We encourage you to talk to your child about this topic as well as other general safety issues.

Counseling

Counseling services are available through our school counselor or on-campus Mental Health Provider. Please contact the office to speak with these professionals or to get more information.

Field Trips

Field trips will be scheduled for the Fall and Spring Semesters. You will get field trip notices in your child’s folder, on the teacher newsletter, and on the school’s website. All field trip payments must

be made on My Payments Plus.

Food Services/Cafeteria

Menus are posted on our school website. Free and Reduced lunch forms are no longer available since all breakfast and lunches are free through the 2025-2026 school year. Parents may attend breakfast and lunch with their students after checking in with the office. The cafeteria will have snacks such as chips and cereal bars for student purchase. We encourage you to put funds on your child’s “My Payments Plus” account, and snack payment will be deducted from that account. For more information, you may contact our cafeteria manager, Mrs. Yesenia Ruiz @ Yesenia.Ruiz@stpsb.org. When visiting your child for breakfast or lunch, outside food items will not be allowed.

Grading Policy

Students will receive report cards each nine week grading period. The final, 4^th quarter report card will be mailed to the address on file. Report card grades will be used in determining promotion/retention based on the district’s Pupil Progression Plan. Failing grades in Reading and/or in Math will result in failure for the school year.

Our grading policy is as follows for reading, language, math, science, and social studies:

A=90-100 B=89-80 C=79-70 D-69-60 F=59-below.

Conduct and work habits will be reported using the following:

O-outstanding S-satisfactory N-needs improvement U-unsatisfactory.

Homeless Act: McKinney-Vento Act

The McKinney-Vento Act is a federal law passed in 1987 to help people experiencing homelessness. The Act requires states and school districts to make sure students in homeless situations can attend and succeed in school. The McKinney-Vento Act applies to all children and youth who do not have a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including all children who are living in the following situations:

· Doubled-up housing with other families or friends because they lost their home or their family is having temporary financial problems

· Living in a motel/hotel because of economic hardship or loss of housing

· Living in an emergency or transitional shelter, domestic violence shelter, or in a runaway/homeless youth shelter

· Living in a vehicle of any kind; campground without running water and/or electricity; abandoned building; substandard housing; bus/train station.

· Abandoned in a hospital.

Children and youth in homeless situations have the right to the following:

· Attend and succeed in school no matter where they live or how long they have lived there

· Enroll in a school despite the lack of a permanent address or lack of school and immunization records or birth certificates and other documents

· Receive services comparable to those offered to non-homeless children and youth

· Get transportation to school, if feasible

· Access educationally related support services

Should you or your child meet these qualifications, please contact your school’s main office or guidance office to complete a form for consideration.

Leader In Me

Overview:

Leader in Me is a PK–12 evidence-based model focused on leadership, culture, and academics that equips students, educators, and families with the leadership and life skills needed to thrive in a dynamic world. (www.leaderinme.org). Honey Island Elementary is a Leader in Me school.

Leader in Me Core Paradigms:

Everyone can be a leader.

Everyone has genius.

Change starts with me.

Empower students to lead their own learning.

Educator and families partner to develop the whole person.

The 8 Habits of Highly Effective People:

Be proactive.

Begin with the end in mind.

Put first things first.

Think win-win.

Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

Synergize.

Sharpen the saw.

Find your voice.

LEAD Expectations:

Students will be taught and expected to follow LEAD expectations in all settings of our school.

L-Lead always

E-Encourage others

A-Act Safely

D-Dream big

Behavior Communication Calendar:

We are committed to partnering with our students’ families to ensure a successful school year for all. Teachers will utilize a behavior communication calendar to provide families with daily communication about their child’s progress toward meeting our school-wide LEAD expectations. This calendar is not used for disciplinary purposes, but rather, to enhance the communication between school and home.

Change Starts with Me Reflection Tool:

At HIE, we will use a behavior reflection tool to help students understand the impact of their behavior and find alternative solutions. Families will be notified if their student completes a reflection tool.

Discipline

Discipline will be handled in a fair and consistent manner to help ensure that a proper climate for learning exists. All student disciplinary decisions are confidential and are not shared with other students or families of other students. Please see the district handbook for more information about our discipline policy. We will adhere to all policies in the district handbook. The district handbook can be found at www.stpsb.org. Please note that no weapons (real or fake) are allowed on school campus. Please also note that all verbal and/or written threats will be reported to administration and the school system’s policies will be followed.

My Payments Plus

All payments must be made through My Payments Plus. Cash and checks will not be accepted. This includes payments for Chromebook insurance or fines, before and after care fees, library fines, field trips, and after school clubs. Visit MyPaymentsPlus.com to set up your child’s account.

Parent/Guardian Involvement

At Honey Island, we recognize the importance of having involved parents with their child’s education and we encourage parent and family involvement. There are many opportunities for you to become involved with your child’s education, including coming for breakfast or lunch, daily homework, field trips, class parties, volunteering for PTA-sponsored activities, family engagement night activities, etc. Please consider joining our PTA to get involved. Parents may have lunch and breakfast with their child.

Restroom Policy

Students have planned restroom breaks throughout the day, but are also allowed to visit the restroom with a restroom buddy. Our students are not withheld from using the restroom when needed.

Transportation

Morning Carline Procedures:

Students begin to exit the car line when the 7:50 bell rings. Students move towards the cafeteria entrance, where they can either have breakfast or continue on to their homerooms. Students will be supervised at all times prior to the start of school.

Afternoon Carline Procedures:

Students are called to the carline at 3:31 when our dismissal bell rings. Parents are asked to have their student name cards visible so duty teachers can read them. If you do not have a car tag, you must come in to the office with your ID and one can be printed for you. Students will not be released to a car without a car tag. This is to ensure the safety of your child. Duty teachers load three students at a time to keep the line moving. Car line is usually over at 3:50. If students are not picked up by 3:50, they are sent to after care and a drop-in fee will be charged. All students enter and exit vehicles on the right side next to the carline walkway. Students may not exit or enter their vehicle from the left side due to safety reasons.

Bus Behavior:

Please talk with your child about the importance of safe behavior on the school bus. All children must comply with the bus drivers’ rules. Misbehavior on the bus will result in discipline consequences.

Transportation Changes

Changes will only be accepted with a handwritten, signed note from the parent/guardian on the day of the change. Phone calls and emails to the teacher will not be accepted. In the event of an emergency, we will accept a signed fax or email that includes a copy of the parent/guardian’s driver’s license. Our fax number is (985) 649-1367. If a transportation change is faxed or emailed, it is the parent’s responsibility to contact the office no later than 3:00 to ensure the change has been received. EMERGENCY transportation changes should be for emergency use only. Please do not fax/email daily with changes. This policy is for verification purposes to keep your child safe.

Uniform Policy

Bottoms: Plain tan/khaki cotton twill long pants, capris, fingertip length shorts, jumper, skirt, or skort.

Tops: Maroon or white polo collared shirt (with school logo or emblem or without).

*On Fridays (Spirit Days) students may wear Honey Island Spirit T-shirts.*

Weather Emergencies

Notifications about closings and re-openings are made through recorded emergency phone calls, the School System website, www.stpsb.org, the School System mobile app, STPPS Facebook and Twitter accounts and the local media. All STPSB severe weather guidelines will be adhered to in case of emergency conditions during school hours.

St. Tammany Parish Public Schools

Title I

Parents’ Right to Know

Parent and Family Engagement Best Practices

PARENTS’ RIGHT TO KNOW

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires school districts to inform parents and families about their right to receive information on the professional qualifications of their children’s teachers.

Parents and families have the right to know:

· Whether all employed personnel have met state qualification and licensing criteria for the position they hold within the school

· If any personnel is employed under provisional status where state qualification or licensing criteria have been waived

· All college degrees and general areas of certification held by teachers, and qualifications of the paraprofessionals

· Whether their child receives services by paraprofessionals and their qualifications

Teacher Certification/Degree Information can be verified at www.teachlouisiana.net

PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT BEST PRACTICES

St. Tammany Parish Public School System believes that Parent and Family Engagement (PFE) is important for children to achieve success. Parents and families are key partners with the schools. PFE includes programs, services, and activities at the school and district level.

District Responsibilities

School Responsibilities

· Involve families in developing and reviewing the district's PFE Plan

· Hold yearly Federal Programs, PFE Stakeholders’, and PFE activity planning meetings

· Support STPPS Title I schools in planning and carrying out their PFE activities

· Annually review and monitor PFE activities and school-wide programs outlined in the School Improvement Plans

· Provide a Title I PFE resource page and presentations for school personnel use

· Develop Title I PFE survey to evaluate PFE plans and use results to plan future PFE programs and adjust PFE policies and procedures

· Invite parents to a school meeting highlighting their school's educational programs, curriculum, and PFE opportunities

· Offer PFE activities at various times which support learning goals at home

· Involve parents in the planning, review, and implementation of PFE programs

· Provide parents with timely information about the school PFE policy

· Provide families with opportunities to volunteer, participate, and observe in the school and classroom

· Maintain 2-way communication with families

· Provide each student with the Compact for Student Success outlining responsibilities of students, parents, and teachers in the educational process

· Support all students in their effort to achieve success