LTES admits students of any race, color, nationality, or ethnic origin to all privileges, programs, and activities generally granted to students at the school.

Compatible with the philosophy of Learning Tree Elementary School, emphasis is placed on the spiritual, academic, physical, and social development of each student. Students will be helped to reach the following objectives:

 

 

 

·         Recognizing that life is a gift from God, students and staff will accept the responsibility of caring for their bodies through an understanding of healthful living.

 

·         Students and staff will work together to create an environment fostering appropriate social behavior which encourages community participation with a respect for cultural diversity.

 

·         Realizing the success of each student, and the entire school program, is dependent upon strong family involvement, parents will regularly participate in their child’s education, as well as a variety of school programs and activities.

 

 

 

Students of good character who desire to cooperate with the policies of Learning Tree Elementary School and are willing to adjust congenially to its religious, social, and academic atmosphere are encouraged to apply. Admission to LTES is a privilege and may be withheld or withdrawn by the school board at its discretion.

 

 

 

The classroom teacher and/or school principal will meet with the parent and child for an interview.

 

The following items are required for admission to Learning Tree Elementary School:

 

Students must be the following ages on or before August 15, according to Georgia state law:   Pre-K age four, Kindergarten age five, and first grade age six.

 

 

             Physical examination is required for all new students.

             Ear/Eye is exam required for all students.

 

·         Legal verification of immunizations – Physician’s signature required

 

 

The first month’s tuition plus entrance fee is paid at registration.

Tuition for the remaining nine months is due by the tenth of each month, September through May. A late fee of $25 is charged to any account not paid in full by the tenth of the month. Returned checks are assessed a $30service charge. 

 

For current tuition rates, please refer to the Financial Information Sheet provided from the office.   Parents must be active members of the Dalton Seventh-day Adventist Church to receive constituency rates. The church, through subsidy funds, provides for the decrease in tuition. Church members are encouraged to hold positions in the church, and are asked to faithfully tithe and give towards the combined budget. This helps replenish the church subsidy fund to assist in keeping tuition rates as low as possible.

 

The school finance committee regularly meets the second Tuesday of each month unless a special meeting is called. The finance committee consists of the school treasurer, school board chairperson, school principal, and finance chairperson.

 

 

Worthy student funds will be withheld from those receiving them if the parent’s portion is not paid.

 

 

If a student is absent, withdraws, or is dismissed from LTES, a full month’s tuition will be assessed for the month in question. If a student withdraws from LTES during or at the end of the first semester, a portion of the registration fee will be remitted.

 

In harmony with the policy established by the General Conference Department of Education of Seventh-day Adventists, transcripts of credit or diplomas will be issued only after the student’s account is paid in full.

 

Students with outstanding balances by the first of each month after such tuition is due will be unable to attend classes until the past due balance has been paid or payment arrangements have been made with the school finance committee.

 

Bible                                     Physical Education

Mathematics                         Computer

Science and Health               Music

Social Studies                       Art                                       

·         Reading

·         English

·         Spelling

·         Handwriting

Appropriate grade placement is important for a student’s success. Grade placement may need reevaluation as the student needs change. The following factors are considered in grade placement:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parent/teacher conferences are scheduled at the end of the first and third marking periods. Other contacts may be by phone or written communication as the need arises.

 

 

Parents are urged to take an active role in their children’s day-to-day work. While homework is not a requirement in all grades, it can be an important part of a student’s instructional program and may contribute to the student’s success by reinforcing, enriching, and maintaining skills taught in the classroom.

 

The following suggestions may be used to guide parents and family members as they help their child meet his/her potential.

 

·         Encourage your child to set and to reach realistic goals.

·         Encourage your child to take responsibility for his/her behavior and study skills.

·         Provide a regular quiet time and place for study. If there is no homework, the time could be used for recreational reading or other educational activities.

·         Summer Reading is an essential skill for success. LTES fosters the development of these skills through its summer program. Students are expected to meet the designated requirements for their grade level requirements for their grade level before entering school in August. A list of these criteria is available at the office.

 

 

Students are expected to observe all Learning Tree Elementary School guidelines. A student whose progress or conduct is unsatisfactory, whose spirit is out of harmony with the standards and principles of the school, or whose influence is found to be detrimental, may be dismissed at any time even if there has been no specific violation of any regulation. 

 

The following guidelines are provided to ensure the safety and happiness of our students and staff members.

 

 

     -     Literature that undermines Biblical  

            principles.

-          Fireworks, firearms, knives, laser pointers, or any other dangerous instruments.

-          Radios, disc and tape players, electronic games, televisions, I-pods, cell phones, or any other electronic devices. Such items will be confiscated by staff and may be kept until the end of the school year.

-          Backpacks, lunch boxes, clothes, toys, etc., which encourage violent, destructive play or interest in the supernatural and/or non-Biblical super heroes.

 

 * The school will not be responsible for any personal property that is lost, stolen or damaged at school.

 

 

Student dress can impact classroom atmosphere and behavior. Learning Tree Elementary School students are expected to willingly and consistently comply with the dress code as stated

in the school handbook. Students must dress in a neat, clean, and modest manner. All clothing must fit appropriately for the age and size of the student. Frayed, faded, or torn items are not allowed.

 

 

 

 

Sweatshirts and other jackets are not to be worn inside the school.

 

 

 

 

For field trips when casual dress is advised, on dress down days, or for PE class the following guidelines will be enforced:

·         Jeans: Jeans are to be free of holes and are not to be tight fitting, oversized, baggy or frayed.

 

·         Shirts: T-shirts with inappropriate slogans and logos are not permitted. Examples of shirts with logos that are not permitted are t-shirts illustrating video games, music, or movie/TV characters, etc. Slogan shirts that are not permitted are t-shirts with witty or snide phrases or messages. Sleeveless shirts and midriff-bearing shirts are also prohibited. Sports jerseys are limited to PE class only and are not to be worn during the day.

 

·         Shorts: Shorts are to be of modest length and should not be shorter than 2” above the knee. Athletic shorts are not permitted except during PE class.

 

Students should wear a navy blue polo shirt and navy blue

fleece with school logo and dark khaki uniform style pants

or shorts on all field trips, unless otherwise directed by the child’s teacher. Individual families must purchase navy blue logo shirts and navy blue fleeces from either Educational Outfitters in Chattanooga (423-894-1222) or from Land’s End (800-963-4816 or online at www.landsend.com).

 

In order to participate in scheduled field trips, students must wear the specified uniform on field trip days.

 

 

If a student is out of the dress code standards, parents will receive a phone call, or a note will be sent home from your child’s teacher. This note will need to be signed by both you and your child and returned to the teacher. If the item of clothing is worn again you will be called to come get your child or to bring appropriate clothes. 

 

 

As young people grow and mature, there comes a time when special friendships between girls and boys develop. At the elementary level such friendships should not include physical contact.

 

 

One goal of Learning Tree Elementary School is to teach the students the importance of punctuality and regular attendance. Students who enter the classroom late disrupt the educational process and miss worship, important announcements, and specific directions for schoolwork and assignments. Students who are absent put an added burden on themselves and the teacher.

 

Learning Tree Elementary School is bound by state laws to maintain accurate attendance records. Students who are not

in regular attendance may jeopardize their attendance at LTES and promotion.

 

Students that are not in the classroom when the 8:00 a.m.

bell rings will be marked tardy for that day. Students need

to remain at school until dismissal time at 2:30 p.m. Any student arriving late or leaving the school early must submit a written, signed note from the parent/guardian within 48 hours of returning to the school, indicating the student’s name, the date of tardy or early dismissal and the reason for tardy or early dismissal.

 

Training in punctuality and regularity of attendance is an important part of education. We understand there may be unavoidable circumstances that throw us off our routine; therefore we allow the student five unexcused tardies per quarter. When a student’s record accumulates five tardies in any nine-week period, parents will be notified.  For each additional unexcused tardy during that quarter, the student will be assessed a fine of $5.00 per tardy, which will be automatically deducted through FACTS on the next monthly statement. Those paying tuition in advance of the school year will receive an invoice from the school.

 

 

Absences for medical and legal appointments involving a student, emergencies, sickness, religious reasons and/or death in the family are considered excusable. 

 

Written excuses from a parent/guardian are required for all absences and will be kept on file until the end of the school year. The note must contain the student’s name, date, reason for the absence, and the parent’s/guardian’s signature and be submitted to the office within 48 hours. The administration will determine if the absence is to be excused. 

 

Class work missed must be satisfactorily made up per classroom policy. A student who misses more than 10% of the school days in a period (including excused absences) may forfeit his/her grade for that period.

 

 

 

 

Prearranged absences may at times be necessary. These are unexcused absences; however, students will not be penalized academically. When absences are prearranged, all plans for making up schoolwork must be made with the classroom teacher prior to absences. Early notification allows the teacher adequate time to prepare the needed homework materials for the child while he/she is absent.

 

 

Learning Tree Elementary School will make every attempt to remain open if weather conditions are uncertain. LTES will NOT automatically close when Dalton City Schools close. If you are unsure whether LTES will be in session, a recorded message may be accessed on the school phone beginning at 6:30 a.m. Information will also be available through television station WRCB, Channel 3. IF LTES opens for school and the roads in your area are hazardous, your child’s tardiness or absence will be excused; however, we encourage parents to make a reasonable effort to bring their child to school.

 

 

Recorded message at the school (706) 278-2736

WRCB, Channel 3 at (800)-943-8076

 

Parents finding it necessary to withdraw their child from school will need to follow these procedures:

 

·         Have a conference with the principal

·         Return completed Withdrawal Form (available in the office)

·         Tuition and other charges need to be paid in full before records can be sent to the new school. 

·         Students withdrawing before the end of any given month will be charged for that entire month’s tuition.

7:30 a.m. – Morning supervision begins

8:00 a.m. – Classes begin

2:30 p.m. – School dismisses

 

Supervision begins at 7:30 a.m. Students are not to arrive

before 7:30 a.m. When students enter the school building in the morning, they are to go directly to the supervising staff. There will be no playing in the gym before school begins.

 

Parents are allowed 30 minutes after school in which to pick up their children. Supervision ends at 3:00 p.m. Those picking up their children after 3:00 will be assessed a charge of $10.00 for every 15-minute interval, or fraction thereof that they are late. Parents will receive a letter of notification, and the fees will be automatically deducted through FACTS on their next statement. Those paying tuition in advance of the school year will receive an invoice from the school.

 

All prescribed medications brought to the school are to be given to the teacher for safekeeping. They must be in the original container with the student’s name, name of medicine, dosage, and time that each dosage should be taken. A completed Medication Administration form (available in the office) is to accompany all prescribed medications. The school does not provide non-prescription medications such as aspirin, cough medications, or over-the-counter allergy medications. These medications may not be administered to students by school staff.

 

Each student must have a current Consent to Treat form (available from the office) on file in the school office. All

Field Trip Consent forms (available from classroom teacher) also provide consent to treat verification. In the event of a medical emergency, the school will attempt to contact the student’s parents/guardians as specified on the form. If contact cannot be made, the school will exercise consent-to-treat permission to seek care for the student.

 

 

The school carries an accident insurance policy, which covers medical payments for school accidents. The

school’s insurance is secondary to the family or employer insurance. The school policy is in effect in the following situations:

 

·         If the student is injured on school grounds while school is in session

·         If the student is participating in a supervised, school-sponsored activity

·         If the student is traveling directly from home to school or from school to home on days that the student is in attendance at school.

 

If a student’s injury is covered by one of the conditions listed above, the parent/guardian of the student must complete the following:

 

·         File a report with the school within 24 hours of the accident.

·         File a claim and collect payment from the family or employer insurance.

·         Obtain a School Insurance form from the school office, if needed. Complete the form, include medical expenses, and send the form to your insurance company.

 

Learning Tree Elementary School is bound by State and Federal Law to report any suspected or reported cases of child abuse and/or neglect. In the event that teacher or administrators receive a report of or have reason to believe that a child is being abused or neglected, they must notify Child Protection Services.

 

The school’s employees are not to investigate to determine whether there has been an incident of abuse or neglect. LTES supports all efforts to end child abuse.

 

The administration and board of LTES reserve the right to formulate and implement policies, rules, and regulations throughout the course of the year in order to assure the safe and appropriate operation of the school. Those policies will be equal in force to the ones published in this handbook

 

Field trips are approved school functions. All students are encouraged to participate in school field trips. If you do not wish your child to participate in a school field trip activity, please keep your child at home. Your child’s absence will be unexcused. Any student absent from a field trip may, at the discretion of the teacher, be required to complete an assignment related to the subject matter of the field trip. Failing to participate in

the field trip or to complete the assignment may affect your child’s grade.

 

Students participating in school sponsored outings/trips represent the school, and as such, are to follow the dress and conduct guidelines set by the school board.

 

Parents may wish to assist teachers with supervision and transportation on field trips. Parents who assist with transportation must have a Driver’s Insurance Verification form on file in the office.

 

 

Items such as sweaters, jackets, and lunch boxes that

are left lying around the school will be placed in a

container marked “Lost and Found”. At the end of the

semester all unclaimed items will be donated to a charitable organization. Parents are encouraged to label items with the student’s name.

 

Lunch is an essential part of each student’s day. Each child is encouraged to bring a well-balanced, nutritious lunch. Vegetarian meals are encouraged. Pork products, shrimp, and caffeinated drinks are not permitted. Microwave ovens are available for student convenience. Please send foods that require short cooking times. Commercially prepared lunches will be available for student purchase. A schedule will be provided to you weekly.

 

Teachers and students are not to be called during school

hours, except in cases of emergency. Students may use

the telephone in cases of emergency after securing permission from a staff member. Student use of a phone without permission is a violation of the student conduct guidelines.

 

Parents are welcome to visit the school. Visitors must check with the teacher before entering the classroom. No student should bring relatives or friends without prior approval of the classroom teacher and administration. Visiting guests are to follow all school regulations, including the dress code.  Permission should be obtained from the teacher before bringing pets to school.

 

To keep classroom disruptions to a minimum, all items that need to be delivered to students during school hours should be left at the school secretary’s desk. 

 

Students will be allowed to pick the items up at their break times.

Helping your child grow and develop is a team effort. The student, parents, and teachers all need to take an active role. The teachers will help each child learn to make the right choices for themselves. All students will be required to sign a contract pledging to follow the school-wide discipline plan. If it is determined that the school is not getting the cooperation from the student that is needed, the parents will be contacted for help and support. 

 

If the student continues to make inappropriate choices, a meeting with the parents, student, and principal will be scheduled in order to discuss a discipline plan for the student. Some offenses are serious enough to warrant immediate suspension until a meeting time can be set. It is our goal to encourage each child to develop self-discipline and make positive choices based on Biblical principles.

 

If a parent or family has a concern they should meet with the teacher alone to deal with the concern. Under no circumstance is the issue to be discussed with any other party.

 

If the concern remains unresolved after this meeting, the unresolved issue is to be taken to the school principal for the purpose of securing assistance in finding resolution.

 

·         The principal is to keep minutes of the meeting, including all relevant issues and/or agreements discussed.

·         The minutes are to be reviewed by all parties prior to the completion of the meeting.

·         Should the concern involve the school principal, the school board chairman would serve as the facilitator and keep minutes.

·         Should the principal be involved, the Office of Education is to be notified.

 

At each instance in which a concern is registered, the teacher should have the right to address the concern directly. If the concern remains unresolved, it will be referred to the Executive Committee. At this point, a Conference Officer of Education representative is to be directly involved.

 

If these steps prove unsuccessful and the concern remains unresolved, a final appeal of the issue can be made to the School Board. In order to ensure fairness, the teacher is to be present at this meeting. A representative from the Conference Office of Education will be invited by the school board chairman to participate in the discussion of the issues. Should the parent be a member of the school board, he/she will remove himself/herself from the decision-making process relative to the issue at hand. A final resolution to the concern will be acted upon at this level. All parties are to be officially notified in writing.

 

*Or other individual with a concern about the teacher. All meetings with the teacher(s) and/or principal must be by appointment.