Paw Prints    

Tiftarea Academy’s Newsletter                  August 2008

ATTENTION PARENTS

Pre-planning for the faculty will be August 7– August 12.  This is a limited time for us to plan together and accomplish tasks necessary for the first days of school.  Open House is the scheduled time for visiting with teachers.  Teachers need uninterrupted time to work on these pre-planning days.  Please abide by this request.

 

IMPORTANT PACKET

Each student will receive an important packet either at Open House or the first day of school to be thoroughly read and completed by the PARENT.  (This includes high school students.)  Please do not let your student complete these forms.  This is permanent record information.

                       

 

 

Tuition and Bus Payments – Please Be Punctual

     In order for Tiftarea Academy to operate in the black, we MUST receive payments on time.

     Monthly tuition is due on the first day of each month June 1, 2008 – May 1, 2009.  Bus fees will be added in September if applicable.  Quarterly tuition is due Oct. 1, Feb. 1 and May 1.  Semi-annual payments are due Dec. 1.  Finance charges will be added after the 10th of each month on past due accounts.  Please put your child’s name(s) and grade(s) on your check.

 

Open House – ALL GRADES

     Parents are encouraged to attend Tiftarea Academy’s Open House on August 11. Please be seated by 6:00 p.m. in the home bleachers at the football field on Monday, August 11 for an important meeting with Mr. Drummonds.  You will be dismissed after the meeting to visit your child’s classroom.  Room assignments for students in K4 through 5th grade will be posted the night of Open House.  In case of rain or bad weather, go directly to your child(ren)’s building.

 

Text Box: Class Schedules 6-12 Students in grades 6-8 can pick up class schedules on Aug. 11 between 9:00am and 11:00am or at Open House. Grades 9 and 10 schedules will be available from 1:30pm-2:30pm and grades 11 and 12 from 2:30pm-3:30pm or at Open House. They can be picked up in Leebern Hall. Attendance Policy

     The State of Georgia’s Attendance Policy will be sent home for each family to read with a signature page to be signed and returned to your child’s homeroom teacher.

 

www.edline.net

   The faculty and staff would like to remind parents of the web site.  Parents and students can set up an edline

account and monitor their progress.  Parents will receive more details once school has begun.

 

Cell Phones and Electronic Equipment

     Cell phones and electronic equipment are not allowed on the Tiftarea Academy campus during school hours.  The use of cell phones and electronic equipment during school hours will result in that equipment being confiscated on the first offense and returned to a parent or guardian with a fine of $100.00.  The student will also be required to serve Saturday detention with a fee of $20.00 being assessed.  On the second offense, the punishment will be the same except the phone will not be returned for the reminder of the school year.

 

Field Trip Consent Forms – New for 2008-2009

     Students will receive a Parental Field Trip Consent Form in the packet that will be given out the first day of school.  It is MANDATORY that we have a signed consent form on file for each student.  This form will allow your student to participate in all field trips, practices off campus, etc.  With your signature on this form it will not be necessary for you to sign a permission slip each time.  However, you will receive information giving you the details concerning the trips prior to participation. 

 

School Hours and First Day of School

      School will begin this year at 8:20 a.m. and dismiss each day at 3:10 p.m.  Bus riders will be dismissed at 3:00 p.m. each day.  Wednesday, August 13 will be the first day of school.  This will be a full day.    

 

Tardies – VERY IMPORTANT – Be On Time

     Students need to be on time and in their classroom no later than 8:20 a.m.  Lunch count, attendance, devotionals, etc. are done first thing each morning.  Tardies interrupt this process.  STUDENTS WILL BE TARDY AFTER 8:20 A.M. 

If a student arrives after 8:20 a.m., he/she MUST come by the office, sign-in and get a tardy admission slip to class.  If the student is in grades K4 – 5th grade, the parent must come in and sign the student in.  DO NOT TAKE STUDENTS DIRECTLY TO THE CLASSROOM BEFORE THEY SIGN-IN AND RECEIVE AN ADMISSION SLIP.  STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ADMITTED INTO A CLASSROOM WITHOUT AN ADMISSION SLIP FROM THE OFFICE.

 

Red Flag at Jones Building (K4 – 2nd grade)

     All drop offs and pick ups at the Jones Building (K4-2nd) each morning and afternoon must be made at the FRONT entrance where there is supervision.  The end door of the Jones Building is not a drop off/pick up point for students.  This door will be locked.

     School starts at 8:20 a.m.  If your child arrives after

8:20 a.m., the red flag will be flying indicating that he/she is tardy.  Do not drop your child off if the red flag is out.  The parent (do not send an older sibling) must come to the office, sign his/her child in and pick up a permission slip before dropping the child off at the Jones Building. 

 

Messages for Teachers and Students

     If parents need to call the school for their student, we will give the student a message to return your call either at break or lunch.  Please do not ask for your child to be called out of class.  Teacher messages will be placed in the teacher mailboxes.  We cannot interrupt classes to give teacher messages.    Appointments with teachers may be scheduled through the office. 

 

Student Check-Out Procedure

     All students must be checked out through the office.  The student will then be called for check out on the intercom.  Parents are NOT allowed to go directly to the classroom to check-out or pick up a student.  Parents should not get their student  from the classroom and then come to the office to sign the student out.  The student must be called from the office.

     If a student is checking out early, it is very important that you send a note on the MORNING of check out.  Grades K4 – 5th will give notes to his/her teacher and students in grades 6-12 will bring notes to the office and will be given an early check out form.

 

Importance of Signing In and Out

     Attendance is recorded through the Guidance Office for report cards from the sign-in, sign-out sheet in the office.  For this to be accurate, students (or parents for K4 – 5th grade) MUST sign-in when arriving late and sign-out when leaving early.  Please pay close attention to the sign-in, sign-out sheet when completing.  Be sure you are completing the form under the correct columns with the correct times.

 

Visitor Passes – IMPORTANT – Please Read

     We have had some problems in the past with parents and vagrants entering our buildings without checking in at the office and getting a visitor’s pass.  We have also had problems with visitors interrupting classes prior to the end of the school day.  If you cannot abide by the visitation rules, you will lose your visitation privileges.  Please help us keep our school safe and interruptions to classrooms at a minimum.

      Passes are designed for parents who are doing volunteer work that has been PREVIOUSLY approved by the teacher and for parents eating lunch with their child.  They are not to be used for unannounced visits or to interrupt classrooms. 

     With our new security system, you will not be able to access any building without coming by the office FIRST to sign-in and get a visitor’s pass. If homework, PE clothes, medicine, etc. need to be dropped off at the school, bring these items to the office, and they will be delivered to the student. 

    

Dress Code

     A copy of the dress code is included with this newsletter.  Also a copy will be in your child’s packet.  When in doubt about any clothing, please do not wear it.  The dress code will be enforced.

 

Lunch Menu for First Week

     We will begin our lunch schedule with Week A.

A complete menu will be given to your child at open house.

     Lunches will be paid for daily in your child’s homeroom.

 

Car Riders

     Parents who bring students in the morning must NOT drive behind any building.  Each student is to be dropped off in the front of his/her building.  Car riders will be dismissed when the final bell rings in the afternoon.  If you arrive before this dismissal bell, do not leave your car unattended and go into your child’s building.  Classes are still in progress. 

     Parents must be on time to pick up car riders.  Car riders will be picked up in front of the building in which they are located.  No students will be allowed to leave his/her building to be picked up at another location.  If a young student rides with a high school student, the high school student must pick that student up in front of his/her building.  Students can not be dropped off or picked up in the back of any building.  Thank you for your cooperation in trying to keep traffic flowing as quickly as possible.

 

Student Drivers

     Student drivers are to have available on the first day of school a copy of his/her valid driver’s license and insurance card.  Mr. Drummonds will meet with all student drivers on the first day of school. 

 

Bus Riders

     Bus schedules will be available at Open House.  Bus charges will be posted to your account beginning in September and can be added to your tuition check September 1 – May 1.  These students will load and leave first in the afternoon.

Bus fees are:           1 student     $75.00 monthly

                                 2 students   $90.00 monthly

                                 3 students   $100.00 monthly

                                 4 students   $110.00 monthly 

    The bus cannot be charged on by the day.  If you ride the bus at any time during the month, you will be charged for the entire month.

 

TO BE COUNTED PRESENT

     In order for students to be counted present for the day, they must check in by 12:00 noon and can not check out before 12:00 noon.

      It is also very important to pay close attention when completing the sign-in/sign out form in the office.  Be sure you are under the correct column and putting the correct time.  The clock in the office will be the correct time.  

 

Parent Parking

     If a parent needs to go in a building before or immediately after school, you must park in the teacher parking lot at the south end of the school and sign in at the office to get a visitor’s pass before entering any building.  Parents are not to park in front of the school.  The traffic backs up when you park in front of the building and leave your car unattended.  Thanks for your help!

 

Lockers

     Lockers for high school students will be available for rent beginning Thursday, August 14 during homeroom.  Middle school students will be able to rent lockers beginning Friday, August 15 during homeroom.  Rental fees are:  $10.00 for all lockers.

 

Book Sox

     Book Sox (jumbo size) will be on sale during Open House and the first week of school for $3.00.  We encourage you to purchase the Book Sox at Tiftarea.  We have found the jumbo Box Sox from Walmart, Kmart, Staples, etc. have been too small and are damaging our textbooks.  Please help us with this problem.

 

Entrances and Exits

     Please observe the one-way and exit only signs.  This is for you and your child’s safety.

 

Email Addresses

     The school would like to stay in touch with parents through the use of email.  Please submit your email address to the office or send your email address to Barbara Bryan at bbryan@tiftarea.org .

 

Gifts in Memory or Honor

     Tiftarea Academy has a memorial gift program where contributions may be made as a memorial to a friend or relative who passes away.  Donations may also be made in honor of an individual.   These gifts are used to purchase books for the Tiftarea Academy Library unless a family specifies another area.  The contributions are tax deductible and the family of the person being honored is notified by the school.  Please send these gifts to the attention of Barbara Bryan. 

 

TAP (Teachers and Parents Organization)

     Parents, we need you to get involved!  Lou Davis will be the TAP President again this year.  You will have the opportunity to sign up for different committees the night of Open House.  Please volunteer!  Look for your TAP membership form in your child’s packet.  Let’s work together and make this a great year for Tiftarea Academy and TAP!

 

Send to school Campbell Soup Labels, Tyson Labels, Box Tops for Education, discarded Ink Jet Cartridges and Cell Phones.

 

Booster Club

     Listed below are the Booster Store hours for the night of Open House:

Open House, August 11                    6:00-8:00 p.m.

 

Tiftarea Academy Panther Blue and Gold Club

     The Booster Club has had questions concerning the different levels of the Blue and Gold Club.  The most commonly asked question is about the Booster Meetings.  All levels of the Blue and Gold Club are invited to the Booster Club Meetings.

     Levels for joining the Booster Club are as follows:

Platinum Panther (Corporate)                          $1000.00

Golden Panther (Family)                                    $  500.00

Silver Panther                                                       $  250.00

Bronze Panther                                                    $  100.00

     All parents are encouraged to support the Tiftarea Academy Booster Club!

 

Text Box: Homecoming Football Game – September 26 Senior Night – October 10 Recognition of 1988 State Football Championship Team – October 24 Reminders – Please Read Carefully

  • Be punctual with your tuition and bus payments.
  • Do not interrupt classes to see a teacher or a student prior to the end of the school day.  Classes do not need interruptions.
  • No cell phones or electronic equipment in any building during school hours.
  • For a student to have an excused tardy, he/she must bring a note from the doctor’s office when returning to the school from the appointment.
  • If a student is tardy in grades K4-5th grade, the parent MUST come to the office and sign in the student.  Do not send an older sibling to sign in a younger brother or sister.  Students in grades 6-12 can sign in themselves.
  • If items need to be dropped off at school, bring the items to the office, and they will be delivered.  Do not take items directly to your child’s room.
  • If your student is checking out early, send a note to the teacher (K4 -5) or office (6-12)  the morning of check out. 
  • Do not leave your car unattended in the car line.  This stops the flow of traffic.
  • Students must be checked out through the office.  Parents are not allowed to go directly to a classroom to pick up or check out a student.
  • Visitors (including parents) must get a visitor’s pass before entering ANY building.  This includes parents who are eating lunch with their child.
  • Volunteer work in the classroom must be approved by the teacher PRIOR to the activity.
  • In order to be counted present for the day, a student must check in by 12:00 noon and not check out before 12:00 noon.

 

 

First Day of School – Wednesday, August 13

 

Mr. Drummonds, Mrs. Diane Womack, Dr. Larry Creamer and all the faculty and staff of Tiftarea Academy are looking forward to a wonderful 2008-2009 school year.  Everyone is excited about having your child/children at Tiftarea Academy. Let’s make this the best year yet! Go Panthers!