Student Handbook Snippets - School Counseling & Health Services

SCHOOL COUNSELING PROGRAM

Round Top Elementary offers a comprehensive, developmental school counseling program that has been recognized at the national level by the American School Counselor Association’s Recognized ASCA Model Program Award.  The school counseling program is implemented through classroom lessons that address state and national standards, small group counseling sessions, and individual counseling sessions.  Classroom lessons offered by the school counselor include, but are not limited to the following topics:  understanding and expressing feelings appropriately, self-esteem, LIFESKILLS and 7 Habits, manners, conflict resolution, anti-bullying,  decision-making, goal-setting, coping strategies, career awareness, personal body safety (good touch/bad touch), understanding and appreciating diversity, and basic social skills.

HEALTH SERVICES

The health of all students is a vital concern if children are to reach their maximum learning potential. The school's health program is designed to help students develop good health habits. The school is staffed with a registered nurse five days a week. The health room is staffed by school personnel who have been trained in CPR and First Aid by the American Red Cross, and functions under the supervision of the school nurse. The nurse coordinates the health program (i.e. vision and hearing screenings) and acts as a liaison between school personnel, community organizations and medical resources. If a child becomes sick at school, a parent will be contacted and will be responsible for taking the child home or to the doctor. It is extremely important that the school have on file the home and business telephone numbers of both parents and an emergency name and phone number in the event of an emergency situation.  Please be proactive and make sure we have your correct contact information to create a win-win situation for everyone.

Student Handbook Snippets - Parent Conferences & Grades

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

Regular conferences between parents and teachers provide an opportunity to discuss details about your child's school experience, which cannot always be conveyed through report card grades. Regular contact between the home and school will help each child see that parents and teachers care about their progress and success. Conferences may be requested by either the teacher or the parent, in order to share knowledge about the child and gain a better understanding of his/her needs and interests. Conferences provide a perfect opportunity for adults to use Habit 5 – Seek First to Understand, then to be Understood (listen before you talk).  

Please note:

• All conferences must be scheduled. Drop-in conferences or visits are not permitted, either before, during, or after school hours.
• Parents wishing to request a conference should contact their child’s teacher via email or telephone. 
• Always allow up to 48 hours (or two school days) for a response from any correspondence. If you need further assistance, you may also call the school at 691-8676.
• Parent-teacher conferences will be scheduled to avoid conflict with instructional time.

Check out this parent resource: "5 Keys to a Great Parent-Teacher Conference."

STUDENT ASSESSMENT

Student grades and quarterly report cards can be accessed by logging in to Parent Portal, located on www.richland2.org. Parents of students in 2^nd through 5^th grades can monitor their child’s progress daily by registering for a Parent Portal account.  Student assessment, both formal and informal, is an on-going process. Interim reports will be accessible in the middle of each report period. Interims and report cards are printed only upon request. Check the RTE school calendar for dates report cards will be issued.

Student Handbook Snippets - Visitors and Volunteers

VISITORS TO Round Top

Safety is our #1 priority. RTE requires all visitors to sign in through our Lobby Guard system and receive a visitor tag before entering any other part of our building. Please understand that any visitor who is not appropriately identified will be viewed as a potential intruder. Our staff is required to redirect visitors back to the office if they are not properly identified with a visitor's badge. We appreciate your cooperation with this very important matter. We encourage and enjoy having our parents and other members of the community visit our school regularly.  When visitors follow our safety procedures and guidelines, a win-win situation is created for everyone.

CLASSROOM VISITS

While we encourage parents to visit and volunteer often, RTE does have procedures in place for parent and family visitors. Here are some frequently asked questions:

·    Is it OK to visit my child’s classroom? Well, yes and no.  While we welcome visitors to RTE, it is always best if you plan your visits around your child’s lunch time. As unobtrusive as you mean to be while in the classroom, even just being in the room can be a distraction for some of the other children, altering the dynamic of learning in the classroom.  Please be proactive and plan your visit ahead of time.  Alert your child’s teacher and the main office.

·    But I really want to see my child in action!  We understand that it is fun and exciting to watch your student learn each day! If you choose to visit, your observation will be limited to 20-30 minutes. Please remember that your role as observer is “fly on the wall” status and not an active participant in the classroom. To speak with the teacher, you will need to schedule a follow up appointment at another time. 

·   What if I want to volunteer in the classroom? Wonderful! Please schedule this prior to your arrival with your child’s teacher. This way he/she can have materials and instructions planned for you. This way, both your time and their time is maximized and utilized fully – a win-win for everyone!

·   Can I take photographs and/or record video while in the classroom?  In order to preserve the special dynamic that exists in classrooms and also to protect the confidentiality of all students, we do not allow parents and/or visitors to take photographs or record video while in a classroom without prior permission from an administrator.

VOLUNTEERS MAKE A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE

Parents are encouraged to become actively involved in their children's education. If you would like to volunteer, please go to the Richland 2 website and follow this path: Explore / I’m a Richland 2 Student or Parent / Volunteer Services (read the information provided) and then click the button that accesses the Secure Volunteer Site. In order to have a safe school, all volunteers must sign in through the office using our Lobby Guard system and wear a volunteer sticker. There is a SLED check form completed on each individual signing up as a volunteer.  Keep in mind that some of your volunteer time may be needed in areas other than your child's classroom. Always remember to record your volunteer hours with the main office as these hours are reported annually to the South Carolina State Department of Education.