Our Vision Statement
Riverchase Elementary, in partnership with our families and community, will develop students who meet or exceed the local and state standards needed to successfully transition to middle school and to take advantage of the highest educational opportunities available.
After School Programs and Activities
Students participating in “After School Programs” must be picked up on time (4:00 p.m.) at the back of the school or they will be dropped from the program.
Arrival
Car riders will enter the school in the mornings through the back doors by the gym. The building opens at 7:00 a.m. for students to eat breakfast. Breakfast ends at 7:30. Anyone not eating breakfast will report to the gym until released by a teacher. Please do not drop your student off at the front of the building as they cannot enter this way before 7:30. The gym doors will be locked at 7:30 a.m. Bus and daycare riders will be dropped off at the front of the school and a staff member will open the cafeteria doors. If your child is tardy please bring them in the front entrance. PLEASE DO NOT DROP YOUR CHILD OFF ALONE!
Attendance
Did you know we are funded by the state based on daily attendance? Every effort should be made to make sure that students are in school daily and on time. Please call the office (972)968-2900 on the day they are out or send a written note the next day describing the reason for the absence. Students are tardy after the 7:40 a.m. bell and should report to the office for a tardy note. Eighteen yearly absences may result in grade retention.
Birthday Celebrations
At Riverchase Elementary, we celebrate each student’s birthday. Their name is announced on Eagle TV and they receive a special birthday card. Parents may drop off store bought birthday treats in the office to be given at the end of the day, 20 minutes before dismissal (2:35 p.m.).
Cell Phones
Cell phones brought to school need to be turned off and kept in backpacks. If the phone is out of the backpack, the teacher will collect it and parents will need to pay the $20 district fee at the front office to retrieve the phone. Students are only allowed to use their personal cell phone/electronic devices with teacher permission or during BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology) lessons.
Delivering Messages and other items to Students:
To avoid disrupting instruction, we will only deliver eyeglasses to students during the day.
Discipline Procedures
Rules are an important part of school learning and activities. This year Riverchase is implementing a positive reinforcement discipline program that builds teamwork and recognizes those students who are being responsible citizens. The school will be divided into three “houses” – each assigned a Latin name that translates into courage, adventure and friendship. Students will be assigned a house for the entire school year. During the first week of school, expectations of behavior will be explained in each homeroom by the teacher. When a student is seen doing something “right”, they can earn points from any staff member which will be tallied into their house – kindergarten through fifth grade. Students can lose points for their house if they fail to follow school expectations.
Points will be updated weekly in the cafeteria on a large display showcasing the three houses. Once a month there will be a celebration for the house with the highest amount of points, then the points start all over for the next month. We know there are a majority of students who work hard and they need to be acknowledged and rewarded. It is our hope that this system encourages that idea.
Riverchase is using Class Dojo school wide this year. Class Dojo is an online program that records how amazing a student is doing and in what areas they need improvement. It is especially designed to help connect parents to what is going on in the classroom.
The students will be given points that will reflect their behavior in the classroom, and parents who sign up will have immediate access to view how their child is doing. Often times when parents are contacted about behavior, it’s usually about negative behavior. With Class Dojo, we’re hoping that parents will also see a better reflection of things their students are achieving and doing well.
A student who seriously disobeys the Code of Student Conduct may be sent to the office for further consequences.
**Refer to the C-FB Code of Student Conduct and Student/Parent Handbook for further information.
Dismissal
Students should be picked up promptly at 2:55 p.m. dismissal. Car riders will exit through the back doors by the gym. Parents, please drive up to the front of the circle by the gym and stay in your car. Bus and day care riders will be picked up at the front of the school. Westbound walkers will exit the building through the doors by the counselor’s office and eastbound walkers will exit through the gym doors. *If a student is not picked up by 3:05 p.m., the student will be taken to the area in front of the office. A parent will be called to pick up the student. Parents must come inside and sign them out.
Health Guidelines
Students should not come to school if they are ill with fever, diarrhea or vomiting. Students should stay home at least 24 hours (1 day) after the symptoms are gone without taking a fever reducing medication, i.e. Acetaminophen, Ibuprofen. We have a certified school nurse to see students who become ill during our care. Parents should contact the school nurse with any health concerns/changes such as surgeries, broken bones, allergies, ring worm and head lice.
Leaving Before Dismissal
In order to maximize instructional time, no child will be allowed to leave after 2:30 p.m. If your child has an appointment, you will need to come to the office and sign them out prior to this time. Please allow at least five minutes before you need to leave in order to give us time to get your child to the office. To minimize loss of instructional time, we will not send for your child until you arrive.
Lockdown
If a situation occurs and our school building is in “Lock Down,” we will not be able to release your student to you. Please listen to local media for updates.
Lunch
Students who forget their lunch money may borrow and receive an IOU for lunch. If IOU’s exceed the district limit, the child will receive a “light” lunch consisting of a vegetable tray.
Now you can apply for free or reduced school meals online! Log onto: www.cfbisd.schoollunchapp.com. You may use a school computer to apply if needed. This must be done yearly.
Lunch Family Visiting Days
Please feel free to eat lunch with your child at your convenience beginning September 08, 2015. We will use the first two weeks of school to help students learn the procedures for lunch. To protect the integrity of the instructional day, office staff will not be able to deliver lunches to classes. Lunches that are dropped off for students will be put in the homeroom teacher’s bin in front of the office. Students will be taught to look in the bin for their lunch. We ask that if younger siblings attend, they remain seated at the family lunch table.
PTA
PTA stands for Parent Teacher Association. This is an organization of parents and staff at Riverchase Elementary. PTA sponsors educational activities for parents and students while also providing support to our teachers, students, and staff. Our PTA is also responsible for several gifts to school (Rug in the front of the school, books for the Reading Library, iPads, Laminator). Membership is $10.00 per parent per school year and forms are available in the front office.
Uniform
Riverchase has a standardized dress policy and all students are expected to follow the campus guidelines. Shirts must be knit polo style with a collar in solid white, navy or hunter green (if a long-sleeved shirt is worn under the polo shirt, it must be white, black or hunter green). Pants, shorts, skirts, skorts and jumpers may be worn in navy blue or khaki. On Fridays students can wear jeans and they must be solid blue jeans with no type of embellishments. Girls may also wear plaid jumpers if purchased from www.landsend.com. Our preferred school code is 900055435. All cardigans, jackets, or sweaters must be hunter green or navy with no hood. These may be purchased through the school as well as through Lands’ End website. Please make sure you write your child’s name on the tag. This will help us get them back to the correct student if lost. Please remember that parents will be called to bring appropriate uniform if the student is not in dress code.
Visitors
Anyone wishing to enter the building to conduct business will enter through the front doors and sign in at the desk with our clerk or secretary to receive a visitor’s badge. This badge must be worn where visible while in the school building. All badges must be returned to the clerk/secretary upon your exit. Teachers are not available at this time as they are working with students.
You must have a picture ID to check in at the office and when you take a student out of school.
Volunteers, Safety, and Security Procedures
Parents and other visitors are always welcome to visit the school. To volunteer, everyone must complete and pass the background check at www.cfbisd.edu under the parent tab. The background check must be completed each year. When students are present, parents/visitors are not allowed in the classrooms or on field trips until the background check is completed and passed.
This is important in order to maintain building security and keep our students and staff safe.
Parking lot safety is also extremely imperative. Please drive safely (slow, no texting/talking on phones, etc.). During school hours, cars should not be left unattended unless in a parking space.
School Dress Code
Uniform Dress
Tops: Hunter Green, Navy or White Polo
Bottoms: Navy or Khaki Pants, Shorts, Skirts/Jumpers, Solid Blue Jeans(Fridays)
Approved Plaid skirts and jumpers can be purchased through Lands’ End
Sweaters and Jackets: Navy or Hunter Green
Socks: Navy, Hunter Green, Black or White
School Colors
Hunter Green & Navy
Mascot
Eagle