Birth Certificates
All students entering school for the first time in K or 1st grade must present an official copy of the birth certificate at the time of registration. Children must be five years old on or before September 1 to participate in Kindergarten.

Immunization Certificate
All students enrolling in a Georgia school must have on file an official Georgia Department of Human Resources Certificate of Immunization. Any student without the required form will not be allowed to enter school until the form is on file. [State law O.C.G.A. 20-2-771(h).]

Hearing, Vision, Dental Certificate
All students entering a Georgia public school for the first time must present a certificate of ear, eye and dental examination by the health department, a physician and/or dentist licensed by the State of Georgia. This certificate must be an official Georgia Department of Human Resources form.

Proof of Residency
School officials must require the parent or guardian to provide proof of residency in the district at the time the student is initially enrolled in a Gwinnett County Public School. Proof of residency may be verified by two of the following documents: a sales contract, a lease agreement, deed and a utility bill.

Please note that if the home residence is not in the parent's name and if there is not a lease agreement, the parent must complete a Residency Affidavit. The living arrangements cannot be for the sole purpose of establishing school attendance eligibility. Untruthful statements are made under penalties of perjury and if the student's parents are found to not be legitimate residents, they will be legally responsible for the school district's cost to educate the student.

Withdrawal Procedures
Notify the teacher at least a week before the student is to withdraw from Cedar Hill Elementary. A “Record of Pupil Withdrawal”  form will be sent home on the last day of attendance and should be given to the new school upon enrollment. Upon receipt of a signed “Release of Records” from the former school, student records will be mailed to the new school.
 
 

Policies and Procedures

Arrival Time
Students may enter the building at 7:45 a.m. Prior to that time, teachers are involved in meetings and staff development and are not available to supervise students. Therefore, students may not be dropped off at the school before 7:45 a.m. Our official school day begins promptly at 8:10 a.m. Please be sure your child arrives on time.

Dismissal Time
Students who go home by car or daycare bus are dismissed at 2:45 p.m. It is very confusing to young children to alternate between daycare, parent pickup and buses. Should you need to change directions, do so in writing. In the absence of a note from you, your child will be placed on his/her usual transportation. If plans are changed during the day and you are going to have your child ride in a car rather than ride the bus, you must come in the office and sign your child out on the sign-out sheet. No sign-outs are permitted after 2:30 due to bus dismissal. Because of safety of your child is our primary concern, our office staff may check your child's locator card or request that you provide identification.

Car Riders
Parents who bring their children to school or pick up their children after school should use the drive at the back of the school. Cars are routed through the parking lot and school personnel assist children. Parent cooperation is requested in this matter. We make every effort to provide a safe procedure for your child's arrival and departure from school. Of course, all students are encouraged to ride the bus.

If you drop your child off after 8:10 a.m., you must park and walk your child into the office and sign them in. All students should be picked up by 2:45 p.m. each day. Parents not able to pick children up by 2:45 p.m. need to make other childcare arrangements.

Tardy
Tardiness is very disruptive to the learning of the entire class. Please be on time. When circumstances delay a student from arriving at school past the 8:10 a.m. starting time, parents must accompany their child into the office, sign them in and complete a tardy slip. All tardies and absences become a part of the student's permanent record and system database.

School Attendance
School attendance is important because it underscores the significance of learning and the importance of obtaining an education in our society. It teaches students responsibility and develops a work ethic. Regular attendance in school helps develop good habits that will carry over in life. Good attendance correlates very strongly with improved grades in school. School attendance is the responsibility of both parents and students. After 10 absences, students are documented on the “Critical Absentee List”.

According to the State Board of Education Policy JBD excused absences shall be defined by the policies and regulations of the school system Board of Education which are in accordance with authority granted by the compulsory school attendance law and the following guidelines: Students may be temporarily excused from school:
(1) who are personally ill and whose attendance in school would endanger their health or the health of others; 
(2) in whose immediate family there is a serious illness or death which would reasonably necessitate absence from school; 
(3) on special and recognized religious holidays observed by their faith; 
(4) students may be excused from school attendance when prevented from such attendance due to conditions rendering school attendance impossible or hazardous to their health or safety. Students shall be permitted to make up work when absences are excused. 

All of the reasons listed above affect the Perfect Attendance policy in that an absence is an absence regardless of the reason. A short-term absence is a duration of 1 to 3 days. A long-term absence is 4 days or more. All students should bring a note from their parent following an absence in order to be recorded as an excused absence. Absences without notes will be recorded as unexcused absences. Parents will be called any time a student is absent for three consecutive days. Students must be present for the majority of the day to be counted present. All tardies and absences become part of the student's permanent record and the system's database.

Perfect attendance will be awarded for students who are present for each day throughout the year. Students with early  check-outs or tardies will be allowed up to a total of five and still qualify for perfect attendance recognition if they are present the majority of the day (4 hours per day). Students who are tardy or leave early more than 5 times will not receive perfect attendance recognition. No exceptions will be made to this policy. (Please note: One hour of lost instruction time each day equals a total of 27 days out of school.)

Make-Up Work
Assignments missed during a short-term or long-term absence will be made up upon return. If the parent feels the student is able to work at home, a message requesting make-up work received before 9:00 a.m. can be honored. Requests for make-up work received later in the day (after 9:00 a.m.) will be honored the following day. Students who miss 10 days or more may be eligible for homebound instruction. Contact Beverly Smith for details concerning homebound instruction.

School Visitations
We encourage you to visit the school and participate in our many activities. Parents should check in at the office before locating students. As part of our security plan, you must check in at the office, show ID, state your purpose, sign the Visitor Log and complete a visitor's badge. Before leaving the building you should sign out at the office and return your badge. As a courtesy to teachers, please arrange conferences ahead of time.

Student Release
Children will not be released from school at any unscheduled time without written explanation from the parents. Any person other than a parent signing out a child must have a note from the parent even if that person's name appears on the clinic card. Any person checking out a student must show identification. Students are released only from the office. Do not go to your child's classroom to check him/her out. Teachers have been instructed not to release students to any adult without notification from the office. This is for your child's safety.

Parent-Teacher Conferences
In addition to progress reports, teachers report student progress to parents in the form of conferences twice a year. It is essential that parents attend these conferences. Teachers will make every effort to arrange them for your convenience. Non-attendance will be documented in the child's records.

In addition to these two planned conference times, parents, teachers, students or administrators may initiate additional conferences. For planning purposes, all conferences must be scheduled in advance. Parents can write or call the school to schedule appointments.

Change of Address or Phone Number
For emergency purposes, we must have updated information on each student. Please notify the school office and teacher in writing (preferably by email) if any changes in work or residential phone numbers or addresses occur.

The Cedar Hill Chest, PTA/School Newsletter
A PTA/school newsletter is published at mid-term of each grading period. News about the school will help you understand your child's school work. It will include an updated calendar section to keep you informed of school events. You can then add these dates and revisions to your monthly calendar. Reminders and special announcements may be sent home between newsletters.

Student Insurance
Student health and accident insurance is offered as an option and service to interested families at the beginning of the year. Purchases and claims are made directly to the vendor. Parents are responsible for providing insurance coverage or paying medical expenses in the case of an accident.

Lost and Found
Items found in hallways, playground, or cafeteria – other than eyeglasses, jewelry, money, or keys – are placed in the hallway next to the entrance to the cafeteria. Students should check this area to retrieve lost items. Unclaimed items are donated to charity organizations on the last Friday of each month. 

Avoiding Classroom Interruptions
It is important to keep interruptions to instruction to a minimum. If it is necessary to bring books, lunches or other supplies to your child during the day, please leave the items in the school office. There is a procedure in place for getting items to classrooms. Teachers are not available to confer with parents while they have students in their class.

School Parties
School system policy allows students to enjoy two parties per year: Winter Holiday and Valentine's Day. Please do not request that your child's teacher participate in a party at another time during the school year. No outside food or drink will be allowed in the classroom on the last day of the year.

Birthday Celebrations
Teaching and learning are our main functions at Cedar Hill. Even though most teachers recognize birthdays, we do not celebrate them at school. We believe that birthday celebrations are family functions that should occur on family time. Please do not send goodies, cupcakes, etc. to school for birthday celebrations. We also ask that you do not send invitations to be distributed at school. If the class has a class directory, parents should mail invitations according to their discretion.

Messages for Teachers
Phone calls will be received between 7:40 a.m. and 3:40 p.m. Messages will be taken so that teachers are not interrupted during instructional time. Phone calls will be returned as soon as possible. Teacher email addresses are available through the Faculty and Staff Connections page, however during the day teachers are working with students, so emails may not be read and/or responded to until the end of the day.

Calling the School
It is our hope to avoid obtaining a voice prompt answering system. You can help us continue to have a secretary answer the phone throughout the day by utilizing the school website at www.cedar-hill.org for informational questions such as lunch menu, upcoming events, etc.

Security Plan
Our school has established a security plan in an effort to provide a safe environment for our students. Portions of the plan remain confidential and portions are communicated to our public. Our plan requires that all visitors enter through the front doors and check in at the office before locating students or walking through the school building. Your cooperation is essential. Violators will be documented with school security personnel.

Parents will be informed about any unusual circumstances that may affect the majority of students. Parents may receive a letter the following day; a message will be left on the school's answering machine, and/or the principal will leave a message on the school's website – www.cedar-hill.org.

Individuals with Disabilities Services
It is the practice of the Gwinnett County Public Schools to provide instructional and related services appropriate to provide a free appropriate public education for individuals with documented disabilities. Individuals may contact their local school for information regarding such services.

Parent Rights
Under the Family and Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, parents have specific rights. These include: the right to inspect and review educational records of their child, the right to challenge the content of those records, the right to complain to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Office about the school's failure to comply with the law, and the right to be informed of the rights just listed. 

Copies of a student's educational record may be transferred to officials of other schools or school systems in which the student seeks to enroll. Unless parents express, at the time of enrollment in the Gwinnett County Public Schools, a need for additional notice of the transfer of student records, the records transfer to the enrolling school or school system will occur without further notice. School officials must require the parent or guardian to provide proof of residency in the district and attendance zone at the 
time a student is initially enrolled in a school.”

Student Records
Gwinnett County Public Schools provide the student and his/her parent with important rights pertaining to their student records through policy “JR.” These rights include:

The right to receive this information in a format understandable to the student and parent;

The right to inspect and review student records by parents (and in the case of students over the age of 18, by students) within 45 days of the request and the right to have the record explained;

The right to copies of student records;

The right to challenge the content of student records and the procedures for doing so, including the availability of formal proceedings to resolve these disputes;

The right to request that material be removed from student records and the procedures for doing so;

The requirement of parental or student consent and the methods of consent before the disclosure of student records except in certain specific circumstances;

The rights of separated or divorced parents and legal guardians pertaining to student record

The schedule of destruction of particular student records;

The content, location and particulars concerning permanent records, official records and supplemental records. 

Closing of School
In the event of severe weather or mechanical breakdown, the starting time of a school may be delayed or all schools may be closed. Announcements will be made over radio stations WSB and WLAW between 6:00 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. If no report is heard, school will be in session. The same conditions may also necessitate early dismissal. In the event of an early dismissal, all teachers will refer to the Emergency Dismissal for to determine where to send your child. It is imperative that this form be completed at the fall conference.

Fire, Tornado and Other Emergency Drills
Emergency drills are held throughout the school year. 

School Store
As a service to parents and students, our school store operates Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 8:10a.m. Our intent is to offer necessary school supplies in a convenient setting. 

School Pictures
Individual school pictures are taken in the fall; group and individual pictures are taken in the spring. These are offered as an option to students and parents.

School Nutrition Program

School Lunch Program
Our cafeteria serves a nutritious lunch of choices of entrees and vegetables daily. The cost of a student lunch is $1.50 per day, milk is $.35. (Additional ala carte items can be purchased each day. Check the School Nutrition page (lunch menu) for a list of items available.) Lunches for adults are $2.25. Children may pay daily or establish a lunch account utilizing our lunch cards. Children give checks/money to their teacher who sends a payment envelope to the cafeteria cashiers. Money for cards should be sent in a sealed envelope with the name of your child on the check and the teacher's name indicated.  Please send separate checks for each child. You may also pay for lunches and/or check balances online as well at www.mealpay.com.

An important part of our nutritional program is the modeling of healthy nutrition habits. We ask that children not bring soft drinks or glass containers to school. 

Breakfast Program
Cedar Hill Elementary provides an optional breakfast program for students. Breakfast is served from 7:45 a.m. – 8:10 a.m. only. The serving line will be closed at 8:45 a.m. No exceptions. If your child qualifies for free lunch, he/she also qualifies for free or reduced breakfast. The cost for breakfast is: Full Pay - $1.00; Reduced - $.30; Adults - $1.25; Extra Milk - $.35. Our breakfasts consist of simple quick items that will help start your child's day with a good breakfast and allow them to be in their classroom on time.

Monday – Wednesday – Friday
       Choice of different cereals
       Choice of fruit juice or fresh fruit

Tuesday
       Chicken biscuit
       Choice of fruit juice or fresh fruit

Thursday
       Sausage biscuit
       Choice of fruit juice or fresh fruit

Of course, as always, milk is required!

Students and adults will use their same cards as for lunch – it's one account with any amount of money deposited. If you plan for your child to have breakfast, be sure to deposit enough money in his/her account to cover breakfast and lunch. No charges will be allowed for breakfast.

Lunch Charges
We appreciate parental assistance in reminding students to bring lunch money and frequently checking with children about when additional payments are needed. It is upsetting to children to be without lunch money. Only two charges are permitted. After two charges, students will not be permitted additional charges. However, our cafeteria will provide the child with one item from the serving line and milk. Students receive a charge slip indicating the amount due and that additional money is needed the following day. No lunch charges are permitted the last two weeks of school.

Complete the e-mail notification form at Registration if you'd like to be contacted regarding low balances or charges. If a child does not have sufficient funds after two charges, or the charge cut off date, they will receive a peanut butter sandwich and milk in lieu of a regular lunch. 

Special Diet/Food Allergies
In order to substitute milk with juice as part of the regular daily diet, documentation from your physician indicating an allergy is required. Special diets should be provided from home.

Snack and Ala Carte Items
Various ice creams are sold after lunch for .50 - $1.00 each. Ala Carte lunch items are available for sale each day. A list of items and their costs are posted on the monthly menus and on the School Nutrition page of the Cedar Hill website.

Clinic
A clinic worker staffs our clinic each day. Basic first aid services are provided. Our clinic worker is not a registered nurse. Our clinic staff will administer minor first aid, prescription drugs, and long-term medication. Over-the-counter medication will be administered only when a parent request is furnished in writing for a specific reason and day. When parents bring medications to 
school, detailed written instructions should be provided along with the medication in the original container. Should your child require long term medication (several weeks to indefinite in length), our clinic staff will dispense medication only after your doctor has written specific instructions that include the exact dosage to be given. We also require that a document be provided to us giving us permission to administer emergency-type medication for specific known problems, i.e. bee stings.

No prescription or over-the-counter medications (Tylenol, aspirin, Pepto Bismol, etc.) should be sent to school via the students. According to school bus rules, students are not permitted to have tobacco, alcohol, drugs or any controlled substances (Ritalin, Adderall, etc.) on the bus. The safety of your child as well as other children is the primary consideration behind this rule.

Note: The clinic depends on donations for supplies such as Band-Aids, first-aid ointment, zip-lock sandwich bags, thermometer covers, and tissues. Monetary contributions may also be made as provided on the contribution form distributed on Registration Day or at any time throughout the school year.