| Carman Trails Elementary School is dedicated to the educational
development of all students as they become lifelong learners.
The Carman Trails Learning Community believes: -Our school will provide a safe, open and supportive atmosphere based on mutual trust and respect -Parents are the children's most important teachers -Communication between home and school is essential -Volunteers are important |
| ATTENDANCE |
| Regular attendance and punctuality relate positively toward school achievement and a child's self-worth. Tardy students should report to the office and obtain a late pass for their teacher. If your child is absent, please report the absence by phone to the office. The absence may be called in from 4:00 PM until 9:00 AM at (314) 415-6126. After 9:00 AM please contact the office at (314) 415-6100. For prolonged absences, (more than four weeks), contact the principal, assistant principal, counselor or school nurse regarding home-bound instruction. |
| BICYCLES |
| Carman Trails does not permit students to ride bicycles to and from school due to safety concerns. Thank you for your cooperation. |
| BUS TRANSPORTATION |
| Parkway and Voluntary Interdistrict Program provide transportation
for students residing one-half mile or more from Carman Trails School.
Hazardous routes, as designated by the Board of Education, exclude the
one-half mile limitation. Students must comply with the following
regulations and responsibilities when riding the bus:
1. Obey the bus driver. Repeated offenders forgo the right to ride the bus. Your child is to ride on their assigned bus. Exceptions can be made with the parent's written consent to the office. The student delivers this request to the office before school begins. The office will then assign a special bus pass for that day. If a student should miss the bus, he/she may call home from the office. The school requires the parent's written permission for students to walk home after school. |
| CAFETERIA |
| Our cafeteria offers a balanced breakfast and lunch for a reasonable
charge.
Breakfast is $1.75 for students and $2.00 for adults. Lunch is $2.50 for students and $2.75 for adults. Extra entrees are $2.00. Extra beverages are $0.50. Menus can be found on the web site. Students approved for FREE/REDUCED meals during the past school year are eligible for them through September of this year. Application for this can be obtained through the office. A new application needs to be approved during September of each school year in order for students to receive this service. Student use a PIN number when buying meals. Returning students will retain the same number. You may contact the Parkway Food Services Dept. at (314) 415-8248 for your child's pin number. Classroom teachers and the school office will also have students' PIN numbers. Any balance in a student's account will carry over to the following year. Parents are encouraged to write a check made payable to the Parkway School District for a week/month at a time. |
| EMERGENCY CONTACTS |
| Carman Trails sends home a Census Verification Form each fall for parents to correct and update. This information is critical for daily operations and emergencies. Please complete these forms thoroughly for your child's best interest. Please update the office and your child's teacher when phone or address information changes. Our automated service is called "Alert Now" contacts all of our parents and staff members with information if our school or district needs to close early. If you receive a message saying we are closing early and you want your child to do something different than what his or her teacher has on file, please call the office. |
| EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING |
| School may close unexpectedly due to severe weather, power failure, heating problems, etc... If school dismisses early, does your child know what to do if you are not at home? Please have a plan rehearsed with your child, that includes going home on a bus or a safe, familiar home. Weather and other emergencies may not permit a child to wait for you at school until you can pick up your child. You will be asked to complete an EMERGENCY DISMISSAL FORM each fall so that the office may have this information on file. |
| GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM |
| Parkway's gifted and talented program is multifaceted. In keeping
with safety guidelines, the program's goal is to provide experiences that
service the needs of formally identified students. Curriculum includes
exposure to the arts, sciences, mathematics, and forms of communication.
Carman Trails has a full-time certified gifted and talented teacher on staff who strengthens the students' critical thinking skills while nurturing their creative abilities. |
| HOMEWORK REQUEST - ILLNESS |
| You may request homework through the school office or Dial safe number for students who are ill more than one day. This should be done prior to 10:00 AM on the second day of absence. The individual teacher prepares the assignments pending the student's needs. You may pick up homework at the office after school or request it to be sent home with another student. |
| INCLEMENT WEATHER |
| Listen to local media or consult the internet for Parkway school closings
or schedule adjustments during inclement for Parkway school closings or
schedule adjustments during inclement weather or emergency situations. Refer to above topic, Emergency Contacts.
These radio stations will inform listeners between 7:00 and 9:00 AM: |
| INTERNET |
| The Parkway district offers access to the district computer network.
Each classroom has at least one updated computer with internet access.
On the Census Verification Form, there is a box for parents to
indicate that they do not want their child to access the internet.
Network access enables students to explore thousands of libraries, databases, and bulletin boards. We believe that the benefits to students in the form of information resources and opportunities for collaboration, exceed any disadvantages. Ultimately, parents and guardians of minors are responsible for setting and conveying the standards that their children should follow when using media and information sources. To that end, the district supports and respects each family's right to decide whether or not to apply for access. Our staff supervises internet access with students focused on the pertinent area of research at all times. |
| LIBRARY MEDIA |
| Carman Trails has an excellent Library Media Center (LMC), for student and adult research or recreational reading. The electronic "card catalog" aids students in the location of materials within the center and any Parkway library media center. The LMC is open daily for students and teachers to access the internet , check out books and non print materials, work on projects and generally use the library resources. |
| LOST AND FOUND |
| Label all items your student brings to school. Our lost and found is located in a small room around the corner from the west library stairs. Students and parents may peruse the assortment to retrieve lost items. Charitable organizations receive unclaimed belongings. |
| MEDICATION AT SCHOOL AND NURSE |
| The Parkway School Board of Education policy discourages the administration
of medication during school hours. It restricts the administration
of medications to those not offered on an alternate dose schedule.
Medicine administered by the school must be accompanied by: - a label affixed by a pharmacy showing the child's name, the dosage and schedule of administration. |
| PARTIES |
| Three seasonal parties occur during the school year. The PTO's Room Mother Chairperson sets the general party guidelines. Grade level room parents organize the parties which run from 2:00 to 3:00 PM. The PTO contributes annually toward these parties. Watch for dates and times in the monthly principal's newsletter. |
| PROGRESS REPORTS |
| The school year is divided into three reporting periods. Parents receive Student Progress Reports after the completion of each trimester. New students must be in attendance 20 school days before the end of a trimester to receive a written report. Several days prior to conferences, teachers send home schedules with individual conference times for your student. Schedule additional conferences via phone or in person as necessary. |
| SCHOOL HOURS |
| Classes for Carman Trails begin at 8:55 AM. Students should not arrive at school before 8:35 AM. Dismissal is at 3:50. The school is not responsible for children on the school grounds before or after school hours. |
| STUDENT PLACEMENT |
| In the spring, the teachers of each specific grade level confer with the
counselors, principal, reading specialists and resource room teachers to
compose the upcoming year's teacher/classroom rosters. Classes are
formed considering the following: - The combination of teacher and student for specific needs - Equal distribution of boys and girls and varying achievement levels - Care that every teacher has a balanced, heterogeneous group of students - Attention is given to placing each child with one or more friends |
| TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLIES (click here for complete 20011-2012 supply list) |
| The district provides most items including text books that students require for school. Parents need to furnish certain items that are consumed by students (i.e. - pencils, paper, erasers, scissors and crayons). |
| VISITATION |
| The welcome mat is always out at Carman Trails for a visit. Please check-in at the office to receive visitor identification. To visit your child's classroom please make arrangements for classroom visits or observations with the teacher in advance. Because teachers must give their attention to students during class time, they are unable to visit with parents at that time. |
| VOICE MAIL |
| To reach a staff member, dial them directly. If a teacher is unable to answer, a message may be left on their voice mail. If a teacher does not have a direct number, you can reach them by calling (314) 415-6125. A complete listing is given on the Staff Directory Page. |
| VOLUNTEERS (see Involvement Opportunities) |
| BACK TO CARMAN MAIN PAGE |