Mike Parman, Principal

Andrea Guzak, Assistant Principal

Hunters Bend Elementary School

2121 Fieldstone Pkwy

Franklin, TN 37069

(615) 472-4580

www.wcs.edu/hbes

School Hours                      8:35 a.m. to 3:35 p.m.

8:00 am          Students may enter and go to the cafeteria or assigned area (i.e. jump rope practice)

8:25 am          Students are dismissed to classrooms by the bell.

8:35 am          Class begins.

3:25 pm          Student dismissal begins.

Students are tardy if they are not in their classrooms by 8:35am.

The Williamson County School System requires written parental or medical documentation for all absences, tardiness, and early dismissals.  Student academic success requires students to be present each school day possible.  Excused absences include: (1) illness, (2) death in the family, (3) recognized religious holiday, (4) doctor or dentist appointment, or (5) Principal approved emergency or exceptional circumstances.  Students are not allowed to make up work for unexcused absences.

Dress Code

Students should dress appropriately for comfort, the weather, and learning.  At times, changes occur in the dress code for Williamson County Schools, be sure to update yourself by referring to the Williamson County Student Policy Handbook (available on the website www.wcs.edu) for details.  As a feeder school to Grassland Middle and Franklin High School, we comply and follow their dress codes.

Students are required to wear appropriate shoes at all times; “Roller Shoes” are not acceptable for school. Tennis shoes with non-marking soles are required for physical education and recess. Since students participate in recess and/or physical education each day, they need to wear safe, comfortable shoes each day.  Instructional time is lost if students change shoes at school.  Hats, caps, stocking caps, and hoods are not worn inside the school building. Any clothing, appearance, or personal hygiene and grooming practices that bring an inordinate amount of attention to the individual student are considered inappropriate for school. An unkempt or sloppy appearance is not appropriate in the learning environment of school. Students are to wear clothing in the manner it was designed to be worn. Students are not to wear clothing that reveals the body in an inappropriate manner. All clothes should be in a state of good repair. All students are required to wear their hair in such a manner that is not considered unkempt, unclean or impairing vision. Students are not to wear hair sprayed or dyed in unnatural colors (i.e.: blue, pink, yellow, green etc) Students are not to wear jewelry, ornaments or accessories that distract from the educational program. T-shirts or other clothing or personal item bearing an inappropriate message will not be permitted. Students may wear shorts to school under the following stipulations: Shorts must be hemmed. Old worn/torn shorts or cut-offs are not permitted. Shorts, dresses, skirts etc are required to be no more than 6 inches above the knee. (Flat hand, the hem of the clothing should be below the child’s finger tips) Clothing should not display words, slogans etc on the seat of the pants

Arrival begins at 8:00 am

·        ALL vehicles should use the lane closest to the building. For safety, only one (1) lane of traffic is permitted.

·        Each vehicle, REGARDLESS of weather, should pull down to the yield corner.

·        All children should exit on the SIDEWALK (passenger) side of the vehicle.

·        All “drop-offs” should take place through the CAR RIDER LINE.

·        Once your child has exited the vehicle, you are RELEASED.

·        PARENT ESCORTS from the parking lot are permitted, however no “drop-offs” should occur in the parking lot.

·        To conserve instructional time, please refrain from escorting your child to class, unless you are assisting with a large project

·        Please follow the instruction and be courteous to the staff present.

·        Please remember that, parking is not allowed in traffic areas.

Dismissal begins at 3:25pm

• Use one of the three lanes. CARS ONLY should use the lane bordering the building. We ask that Vans, Trucks and SUVs use the outer lanes so not to impede vision of exiting students.
• Once your vehicle is stopped, please place in PARK and TURN OFF your engine once children exit the building.
• STAY in your car or feel free to STAND by your car.
• Students will exit from a side location, ESCORTED by teachers and released to the cars accordingly.
• No students will be permitted past the loading sign, yield corner or parking lots.
• Students will WAIT on the grassy island near the yield corner.
• Cars will be RELEASED allowing a second movement of cars to pull forward, and stop at the yield corner.
• Once your vehicle is stopped, please TURN OFF your engine.
• Students will be ESCORTED back towards the building and released accordingly.
• After the conclusion of the second group, students will be POSTIONED under the covered area by last name. Siblings will be located together. CAR POOL will also be located together by last name of the driver picking up for the day. (Be sure your kids know who will be picking them up!)
• As always, please yield to the buses passing.

In the Event of INCLEMENT WEATHER

• Students will be escorted from a side exit
• Released accordingly and escorted back to the front of the building
• Students will be POSTIONED under the covered area by last name.
• When told to do so, parents may approach and escort their child back to the car, INCELEMENT WEATHER is the only exception to the current policy

Thank you in advance for complying with these procedures and directions of the educators present. By doing so, you set an example for our students in following directions and ensure a safe and speedy transition.

AGAIN, for safety reasons, students will not be released to parents parking in other areas and walking over to pick up students.  Please refrain from “flagging” your child to you, while cars are moving, or from the parking lot. In addition, your child will not be released to walk over and meet you in the parking lot. Your patience and consideration for the safety of students and courtesy to staff is appreciated.

Early Dismissal (before 3:00)

Early dismissal may be excused for the following reasons: (1) illness, (2) death in the family, (3) recognized religious holiday, (4) doctor or dentist appointment, or (5) Principal approved emergency or exceptional circumstances.  Students will not be dismissed early after 3:00 (except in the case of an emergency) due to safety issues and the interruption of instructional time.  Keep in mind; the instructional time at the end of the day is an extremely valuable time to reflect on the day’s learning and to prepare homework assignments, materials, and announcements.  Whenever a student is dismissed early, the entire class is interrupted. Parents please send a note to the classroom teacher the morning of the request for early dismissal (except for an emergency situation) with the following information:

1)      Student’s name and teacher’s name

2)    Date and time child needs to be dismissed

3)    Reason for early dismissal

The parent must sign the student out in the office at dismissal time stating time and reason, and office personnel will call the student to the office. Please note a student will not be released to any adult who goes to the classroom. Photo identification and permission on the emergency card must be given prior to student release.  Students will not be allowed to make up work due to unexcused early dismissals.

Absences

When a student returns to school after being absent, the student must bring a note to the teacher with the following information: Child’s Name, Teacher’s Name, Date Absent, Reason for Absence, and Parent’s Signature.

Students who return to school without an absence note will be unexcused.

Notes are kept on file for the school year. 

Excessive unexcused absences/tardiness/early dismissals may result in a letter to the parents, a parent conference, or filing a petition with Juvenile Services in accordance with Williamson County School policy.  Families are discouraged from planning trips when school is in session.  However, if you plan on taking a family trip, please have this approved by the principal, PRIOR TO THE TRIP in order for the student to make up essential work that may be missed. Please complete the appropriate student travel form PRIOR to missing school time. Students may not make up work when absent for a non-approved trip, however, work will be provided for missed work for trips that have been pre-approved by the teacher and administration

If a child is ill or otherwise unable to attend school, homework will be given upon the child’s return to school.  An excused absence allows the child to receive credit for work that is made up.  The amount of time a child has to complete make up work is three days from the time of return.  This policy may be amended due to extended illness only. 

1)     Your child’s work may be retrieved from the office after 3:15 pm and only if your child’s classroom teacher has been notified before noon

2)     Additional copies will NOT be issued after the initial set of paperwork has been given

3)     Your child will have three days from their return to complete and submit all missing assignments, this may be amended due to extended illness

4)     A parent signature is requested on the absent homework form

Bus Riders

Students are expected to behave in a safe and respectful manner and to follow directions given by the bus driver.  All students will receive a Williamson County School bus policy. We ask you to read it with your child.  This policy will be strictly followed for the safety of all children. For their safety, students are to stay in a forward facing seated position on the bus, demonstrating self-control while talking quietly.  Riding the school bus is a privilege. Any inappropriate behavior will result in disciplinary action, which may include suspension from riding the bus.  Specific questions about bus routes and times for bus arrival should be addressed to the school system transportation department (472-4905). In addition, you can confirm your child’s route by visiting the district website, www.wcs.edu. In the event of a tardy bus, the transportation department will contact you through the Hound Dog (Ed-Connect) alert system.

Bus Changes

Please plan ahead.  If a student is to ride a different bus (space must be available on the bus) on a specific date, the parent must send a note stating the bus change, date, and reason to the teacher.  Please remind your child to give this to the teacher. A bus pass will be issued for the student that must be shown to the bus driver.  Only make changes by phone in cases of emergency. If a phone call is necessary for an emergency bus change, it must be communicated by 2:00.  Students without written permission will be sent home by their standard dismissal. 

Switching from Bus to Car or Car to Bus

Please plan ahead.  Send a note with your child to their teacher indicating any change in transportation for that day (from car to bus, bus to car, or regular bus to different bus).  Only make changes by phone in cases of emergency.  If a phone call is necessary for an emergency transportation change, it must be communicated by 2:00.  Parents are not allowed to take children off of school buses.  Students without written permission for a transportation change will be sent home according to their daily dismissal procedure. 

Walkers

We would like for the children from our neighborhoods to walk as an option.  A crossing guard will help your child cross Fieldstone Parkway or they are able to use the tunnels.  Children are encouraged to walk in small groups or pairs. Please remind your child, once they are dismissed they are to go home immediately and not remain on school grounds.

Each afternoon at dismissal, walkers are dismissed from the gym. Your child must have a current walker permission form, prior to departure. This must be renewed each year. In the event of inclement weather, at dismissal time, walkers will be placed on the bus for their neighborhood route.

As a parent, if you choose to walk with your child, please meet them at the gym door exit.

Bike Riders

We would like for the children from our neighborhoods in grades 3-5 to ride their bike as an option.  A crossing guard will help your child cross Fieldstone Parkway or they are able to use the tunnels to cross Hillsboro Road.  Children are encouraged to bike ride in small groups or pairs. Please remind your child, once they are dismissed they are to go home immediately and not remain on school grounds.

Each afternoon at dismissal, bike riders are dismissed from the gym. Your child will have Bike Safety training before they will be permitted to ride; this is conducted during the first month of school by the Harpeth Bicycle Club or Williamson County Sheriff Department.

Your child must have a current bike riding permission form, prior to departure and a helmet. This permission form must be renewed each year. In the event of inclement weather, at dismissal time, bike riders will be placed on the bus for their neighborhood route. Racks will be provided allowing your child to safely lock and secure their bike; however, Williamson County Schools is not responsible for theft or damage to any bicycle. In addition, parents assume responsibility for the proper fit of the helmet, as well as overseeing the proper maintenance of the bicycle in order maximize safety.

Bike riding is permitted daily for third, fourth and fifth grade students only. There are no exceptions and siblings in younger grades are NOT permitted to ride their bikes. Bike riders must wear approved safety helmets before departing school. In the event your child does not have the correct safety helmet, they will need to contact an adult to bring them a helmet or for pick up.

As the parent of a third, fourth or fifth grader, if you choose to ride with your child, please meet them at the gym door exit. Keep in mind, siblings that ride together must be in one of the three given grades. No child below third grade will be allowed to ride a bike under any circumstances, even with a parent present. Please adhere to this restriction.

Finally, electric scooters, skateboards, scooters, skates etc. are not permitted and do not comply with this policy.

Switching from Walkers to Car or Bus

Please plan ahead.  Send a note with your child to their teacher indicating any change in transportation for that day.  Only make changes by phone in case of emergency.  If a phone call is necessary for an emergency transportation change, this change must be communicated by 2:00pm.  In the event of inclement weather near the end of the school day, walkers will be placed on their assigned bus and transported safely to home.

Our school has four rules all students are expected to follow:

q       Be Ready

q       Be Respectful

q       Be Responsible

q       Be Safe

These rules have been reviewed and taught to all students by the classroom and specials teachers. In addition, these rules apply to all areas of the building, playground and bus.

School safety policies are established:

1)      Only the main school doors near the office are used for entry. They remain locked during the school day. To enter, please ring the doorbell, have your ID ready.

2)    Parents, visitors, and volunteers must sign in and out at the foyer reception desk and wear either a visitor sticker. THIS INCLUDES AT LUNCH.

3)    Parking is only allowed in designated parking places.

4)    Parents and visitors must schedule appointments to visit classrooms in the event of a conference or volunteering in the classroom.

5)    Volunteers or school personnel escort visitors touring the school.

6)    Our school’s nurse, Ruthie Mulliniks staffs the clinic and notifies parents by phone when a student has an accident or becomes ill.

7)    Medication policies established by the school system are followed. Additional copies are available upon request.

8)    Students are expected to follow safety guidelines established by the school and classroom teachers.

9)    Students must have written permission from parents to change the bus the student rides at dismissal.

10) Office personnel must verify the identification of individuals when releasing a student.  Parents must communicate, preferably in writing, the permission for someone to pick up a student other than the parent.

11)  Office personnel will ask for a driver’s license as an ID when someone comes to school to check out a student.

12) Teachers and teacher assistants follow safety policies as they supervise students and direct traffic during arrival and dismissal times. Please be respectful of them.

13) The custodial and maintenance staffs work to keep the school clean and free from safety hazards.

14) The Franklin Fire Marshall inspects the school to ensure fire safety policies are followed.

15) A fire drill is conducted every month.

16) Tornado drills are conducted throughout the school year.

17) Other emergency drills are also conducted throughout the school year.

18) A student information card is on file in the office with the student’s updated emergency information. Please ensure we have a local contact.

19) An emergency dismissal form is on file with the dismissal plan for students in the event that school is dismissed early due to weather conditions, power failure, or hazardous conditions.

20)Parents will also be contacted using the Hound Dog Ed-Connect Phone/Email Alert System. (Please ensure your contact information is correct.)

Parents, Visitors, and Volunteers

Parents and the community are welcome at Hunters Bend Elementary school!  To ensure safety, all parents, visitors, and volunteers must sign in and out of the foyer reception desk and wear an identification sticker.  Please remember to sign out!

The school is required to document volunteer hours for the school year so it is extremely important to record all volunteer hours (during school and out of school) on our volunteer sheet.  Classroom volunteers must schedule work dates and times with teachers.  Volunteers are asked not to bring young children to the classrooms or teacher workroom for safety, furthermore, this removes any distraction from the current instruction taking place.

Children in the Lounge and Teacher Workroom

The teacher workroom has machines that are very dangerous for young children.  The staff lounge is a private area for our school team to eat and relax.  Regardless of age, children are not allowed in the lounge or workroom.   

Class Celebrations

The room parents and party planners for each classroom organize classroom celebrations and coordinate the plans with the teachers. Parties will begin at designated times coordinated by individual grade level teams. 

Birthdays

Parents may bring or send cupcakes or other healthy alternatives for the birthday student to share at the lunchtime only. Instructional time may not be utilized for this purpose. When sending party invitations, please invite everyone in the class, however, if every student is not invited, please mail directly to the child’s home, addresses can be found in our HBES directory. Please note, due to privacy laws, the office can not share student addresses and phone numbers.

Field Trips

Teachers will notify parents concerning field trips and send home permission forms for parent signature. There will be some opportunities in which parents will be able to act as a chaperone. Each teacher will share the number of chaperones needed for each trip, keep in mind each parent may desire an opportunity to join their child. The school must have on file written permission from the parent before a student may go on a field trip.  Students will travel by bus to and from all trips; any exceptions to this procedure must be pre-approved by the principal.  For the safety of our Hunters Bend students, no siblings are allowed on school field trips.

Finally, at certain field trips there may be gift/novelty shops open to the public. Students WILL NOT be permitted to shop in these areas, regardless of parent attendance.  

Homework

Homework is an integral part of the daily school curriculum and may be used for practice or may be the continuation of a class project.  Therefore, if a child is ill or otherwise unable to attend school, homework will be given upon the child’s return to school.  An excused absence allows the child to receive credit for work that is made up.  The amount of time a child has to complete make up work is three days from the time of return.  This policy may be amended due to extended illness. 

1)     Your child’s work may be retrieved from the office after 3:15 pm and only if your child’s classroom teacher has been notified before noon. Should this request not be made, the teacher will provide work upon the student’s return.

2)     Additional copies will NOT be issued after the initial set of paperwork has been given

3)     Your child will have three days from their return to complete and submit all missing assignments, this may be amended due to extended illness

4)     A parent signature is requested on the absent homework form.

Protecting Instructional Time

Parents can help protect instructional time in the following ways:

1)      Check to be sure students have needed items for school each day.

2)    Ensure that students arrive to school on time to be in their classrooms by 8:30 a.m.

3)    Try not to schedule appointments for students during the middle of the school day.

4)    Plan family vacations when school is not in session.

5)    Only visit classrooms when scheduled with teachers.

6)    Meet your child at the cafeteria when having lunch at school and say “goodbye” to your child in the cafeteria.

7)    Do not go to classrooms during arrival and dismissal times.

8)    Avoid early dismissal whenever possible.

9)    Keep trading cards (i.e.: Poke Man), game boys, cell phones, ipods and c.d. players etc at home.

Lunch and Lunch Tickets

Students may bring cash to purchase a school lunch for $2.25 or students may purchase “lunch days”. Lunch days are sold in multiples of 10 and maintained electronically through our cafeteria computer system.  Send a check made out to Hunters Bend Elementary School to purchase lunch days.  Please place your child’s name in the memo and send in a sealed envelope marked: child’s name, teacher’s name and lunch money. Students each have a 4 digit number they use to confirm receipt of lunch each day. You might document on your home calendar how many “lunch days” were purchased on a specific date so you will know when to purchase additional days. When your child reaches their last “day,” a note will be sent from the cafeteria. In addition, if your child forgets their lunch money, or is out of “days” they will be able to charge a lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwich, milk and fruit.

Price List

Student Lunch: $2.25 Adult Visitor: $3.25, Milk: $ .50, Ice Cream: $ .50, Soft Pretzel: $ .50, Slush Puppies: $.75, Chips: $ .50, Cereal: $ .50, Pop Tarts: $ .50, Juice: $ .60, Bottled Water (small/large): $ .50/ $1.00, Fruit Roll Ups: $ .50

Please send items in your child’s lunch that can be easily managed by the child.  Carbonated drinks are not permitted in the cafeteria.

Parents are Welcome for Lunch!

Parents are welcome to eat lunch with their child.  To preserve instructional time, parents are asked to wait at the cafeteria to join their child for lunch and to say “goodbye” to their child in the cafeteria.  In the best interest of all students, we ask that adults not bring in “fast food” for lunch. This is also a violation of Health Department policies.  We appreciate your understanding of this request. Don’t forget to sign in and out at the guest table and use a visitor’s badge!

Medication Policy

Medication procedures are consistent with State of Tennessee Law 49-5-415 and are being implemented in schools countywide.  The intent of this legislation is to assure the safe administration of medications to children in school who require them.  Please be aware of the following:

1)      The school must have an authorization form completed by the physician and the parent.  These forms are available in the office.

2)    Parents, or legal guardians, must bring their child’s medication into school.  Students are not allowed to bring in their own medication.  This includes prescription as well as non-prescription medication.  Empty prescription bottles may be given to the student to take home, unless you inform the school otherwise.

3)    No medication will be given unless it is in a properly labeled pharmacy bottle and matches the doctor’s orders exactly. If your child is taking an antibiotic, which is prescribed for three times per day, parents should administer the medication before school, after school, and at bedtime.  DO NOT send the antibiotic to school.

4)    If you are supplying over-the-counter medication, you must fill out the authorization form available in the school office.  All non-prescription drugs need to be in the original manufacturer’s bottle with the child’s name affixed to the bottle.  For now, you can supply a bottle for the school year.

5)    The school is required to designate school personnel to give students medications on field trips.  However, if you do not want your child to receive medication on a field trip, you will need to put the request in writing.

6)    When sending cough drops please send them to the clinic to be labeled with your child’s name and held. Your child may give a few to their classroom teacher to give as needed; however, we ask that your child not keep them on their person in the event of a choking hazard for younger children or allergies.

Parent-School Communication

Ongoing communication from school to home and from home to school is essential to working together as partners in providing excellence in education for all students.  Your ideas, questions, and concerns are important to the entire HBES Team.  We welcome your notes, calls, and visits.  Listed below are our ways we work to communicate with parents:

1)      HBES Parent Orientation, coordinated by grade level

2)    HBES Open House, come and go procedure

3)    HBES Parent Handbook

4)    Monthly PTO meetings and newsletter

5)    HBES home school folders, agendas and notebooks, sent weekly or daily at the classroom teachers’ discretion

6)    Teacher/Classroom newsletters ~ Curriculum Letters

7)    School newsletter, Around the Bend

8)    Letters from the Principal

9)    School Web Page – http://www.wcs.edu/hbes

10) Informal Administration ~ Parent Coffees

Student Progress

Report cards are sent home each nine weeks.  Williamson County Schools offers opportunities for parents to schedule formal conferences on September 26, 2007 and March 26, 2008, although parents and teachers may request conferences at any time during the school year. Progress reports will be sent home the fourth week of the nine week grading period.

School Closing

The School System Cable Channel 3 will broadcast the closing of school related to weather situations.  You will also be contacted with the Hound Dog (ED-Connect) Alert System. Please check this channel or other TV or radio stations before calling school.  School phone lines are not adequate to accept a multitude of calls.  The school will follow the dismissal plan on each child’s emergency dismissal card on file in the office if school is dismissed early due to weather or other emergency conditions.  Again, you will receive a recorded message at each given number for emergency dismissals.

E-mail Policy

All teachers will have published e-mail addresses.  Although you may wish to communicate with your child’s teacher by e-mail, please be aware that e-mail is not always confidential.  Please do not send time sensitive information by e-mail as the system is occasionally down and teachers’ instructional schedules do not allow for immediate response. In the event you are communicating dismissal information, please include our school secretary Dianne Stoker in your email. Her address is diannes@wcs.edu.

Voice Mail Policy

All teachers will have published voice mail extensions that can be accessed by calling 472-4580.  Please do not leave time sensitive messages by voice mail, as teacher’s instructional schedules do not allow for immediate response.  In an effort to keep in communication with parents, teachers will check their voice mail before and after school each day.

Hound Dog Alert System

Our Hound Dog Alert is a notification system of both email and phone. This is used to notify parents about school and district events, attendance concerns and emergency notification.

The transportation department will be calling you if your child’s bus is running more than 15 minutes late in the afternoon.

We will continue to use our email feature, doubling your communication. The Hound Dog Alert System will call up to six phone numbers in case of an emergency. Other messages will be sent to the main number listed

To assist in making this effective, please ensure that important contact information such as phone numbers and email addresses are correct and on file in the school office.

Toys, Games and Items from Home

Students are not allowed to bring computer games, game boys, CD players, cell phones, ipods, toys, virtual pets, trading cards, etc. to school.  We are working to keep students focused on learning.  The student’s classroom teacher will communicate to parents any exceptions to this policy for that specific classroom.  The teacher will state when it is appropriate to bring items from home and what those specific items may be.

Lost and Found

Lost and Found items are located in the hall near the cafeteria.  Check these items when you have lunch with your child.  They will also be available to review during specific school functions. To assist, please label student’s clothing.  At the end of the semester, lost and found items without children’s names are given to charity. 

YMCA Fun Company

The Y-Fun Company offers before (beginning at 7:00) and after school (until 6:00) care at Hunters Bend. The Y also has a summer program.  Call the Franklin YMCA at 591-0322 for information.