Birthday Parties Reference MNPS policy # IM 4.146 Appendix A
Birthday parties are not allowed during school hours. If parents wish, they may send in store bought cupcakes (See policy at www.mnps.org) to be eaten during lunchtime in the cafeteria. Birthday party invitations may not be given out at school, unless invitations are brought for every child in the classroom.

Cell Phones
Students are not permitted to have cell phones on during school hours. If students come to school with a cell phone, they should put the phone in their locker until the end of the day. If students are caught on their phone during school hours, the phone will be confiscated and held until a parent/guardian comes to the school to retrieve it.

Conferences
The faculty is ready to discuss any concerns you might have about your child and his/her experiences at our school. To protect the instructional time of our students, please call and arrange a convenient time to meet with your child’s teacher. All conferences must be set up in advance.

Custody
Custodial parents are encouraged to provide the school with all current and relevant legal documentation showing any restrictions to a natural parent’s visitation. If this is not provided, a parent proving legitimate connection to a student has parental rights under the non-custodial legal provisions of access. This includes all student records and could involve release of the student, if we have not received documents proving otherwise.

Illness
• Your child’s health is extremely important to us, and we need your help in maintaining a healthy environment for all of our children. Please be protective of your child and other children by not sending your child to school if he/she exhibits any of the following signs of illness: fever above 100 degrees, diarrhea, vomiting. Any child with these symptoms must be kept at home a full 24 hours without symptoms before returning to school.

• Covid-If your child experiences any symptoms of Covid, please keep your child home. If your child comes to school, you will be contacted to pick your child up from school.

• Head Lice – If your child should become infested with head lice (live bugs), it is the policy of the district that he/she may not return to school until you have obtained a statement from your physician or the Health Department stating that your child is lice free. You may visit Lentz Health Center for a health care release (free of cost). A student’s absence will only be excused for three days following being sent home for infestations.

• Strep Throat – Students should not return to school until at least 24 hours after beginning antibiotic therapy and being fever free.

• Communicable Disease – If a child develops chickenpox, mumps, measles, strep throat, or “pink eye”, your child must have a doctor’s statement stating the child is not contagious and may return to school.

Liability for Textbooks and Other School Materials It is the responsibility of the school principal to protect school properties including textbooks, technology devices, musical instruments, electronic gear, and other loaned materials and equipment. The principal or principals’ designee may apply any or all of the following sanctions against pupils who refuse or fail to pay for lost or damaged materials at the replacement cost.

Lost and Found
 Retrieve lost articles in the Lost and Found, which is located in the front office.
 Report articles as soon as they are missing
 Please have your child check the bin for their missing items.

Medication Reference MNPS policy # SP 6.129
A student may not take medication at school without written permission from the parent and a doctor on the medication form. Specific instructions of the the amount and time of dosage must be clear and they must match the label. Medication must also be in its orginal container. Permission slips are available in the office. We discourage bringing antibiotics to school. Most can be given conveniently before a child comes to school and then immediately after getting home in the afternoon.

Money
Please do not allow your child to bring money to school for anything other than snacks, supplies, field trips, bookstore purchases, or school-sponsored fundraisers. When sending money to school, please secure it in a sealed envelope with the following information on the outside on the envelope: Child’s name, Teacher’s name, Amount enclosed, Purpose of sending the money.

Checks are permitted. Any checks returned for insufficient funds will eliminate that family’s privilege of writing a check to the school or the cafeteria. A significant fee will also be charged by our check collection agency.

Outside Food
Staff will not deliver outside food brought into students. Students may not eat outside food from restaurants unless it is brought in by the student with their lunch.

PTO
We encourage all parents to join our PTO. We need your support! Please join us for the meetings.

Snow Days
When it is necessary to dismiss early or close schools, local radio and television stations will notify the community. Please do not call the school office and tie up the phone lines. These should be kept open for emergencies. We encourage you to go over emergency plans for your child in the event of an early dismissal. Teachers need a record of your plan, as well.

Student Verification Form
The Student Verification Form is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. Please return it as soon as possible. Telephone numbers, cell phones, work phone, pagers, and emergency contacts are especially important in the event of illness or emergency. Should these numbers change during the school year, please notify the school office immediately, so that we may update our records.

Tardiness
Students are expected to arrive on time for school each day at 8:00 a.m. Excessive tardiness and early dismissals are documented and may be turned over to our social worker if deemed necessary.

Toys
Toys, games, trading cards (of any kind), music players, game players, headphones, and other like items, should not be brought to school unless requested by a teacher IN WRITING for special purposes. If an item of this nature is brought without the teacher’s permission, the item will be held at school until picked up by a parent. At the end of the school year, all unclaimed items will be discarded. The school is not responsible for any toys that are lost or stolen.

Visitors
All MNPS schools use the Raptor System for visitors. Visitors must show a picture ID to receive a visitor’s badge. Visitors must sign out in the office before exiting the building. Only visitors serving an educational need or purpose will be allowed in the building during the school day.

Amqui Elementary School

Families

2024- 25 School Year Amqui Parent Handbook

Amqui Family and Community Engagement

Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)