School Policies

Students may arrive on campus at 8:30 a.m. when the first bell rings. Students are to enter the campus through the side gates. The line-up bell rings at 8:50 a.m. Instruction begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. Students, who arrive after the 9:00 a.m. bell, must report to the office to obtain a tardy slip before being admitted to class. School personnel do not provide supervision before 8:30 a.m. or after 3:21 p.m. Student tardiness is a serious disruption to the educational process. Tardiness interrupts the learning process for the student who is tardy and infringes on the educational rights of other students. A student is to be marked tardy who is not physically present in the classroom at the start of the instructional day. Tardies in excess of five will result in disciplinary action.

Students are dismissed at 3:11 from their designated line-up dot on the playground. Students not picked up by 3:21 will be escorted to the office and signed in. A parent or guardian will need to sign the student out in the office. Students who are not picked up by 3:30 will be transported by a CCSD Attendance Officer to the Jackie Gaughan Boys & Girls Club on the UNLV campus. Safekey is available for students from 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. and from 3:11 – 6:00 p.m. For more information, please call the Safekey’s office at 455-8251.

All parents and/or legal guardians must report to the front office when arriving on school grounds. To ensure your child’s safety, students will only be released to the person(s) listed on the student enrollment form provided by the parents and/or legal guardians, juvenile authorities, or law enforcement officials. Pictured identification will be required each time a student is released early from class and the student must be signed out on the office computer. Please do not send an older sibling into the school to pick up a student. We appreciate your cooperation in making our school the safest environment possible for students. No early dismissals will be allowed after 2:45 p.m.

The Clark County School District Regulation 5113 Attendance Enforcement states that student attendance is a shared responsibility between CCSD and the student’s parent and/or legal guardian. Elementary students shall be recorded as absent for half of the day, if more than one hour and fifty-five minutes of the instructional day are missed, and recorded as absent for the entire day, if more than three hours and forty-five minutes of the instructional day are missed.

Excessive absenteeism for elementary students who exceed twenty (20) unapproved absences during the school year may result in retention. Therefore, it is imperative for students to be at school everyday in order to gain the greatest benefit from the educational opportunities being provided by Ferron Elementary. All prearranged absences in excess of ten (10) during a school year shall be considered unapproved. Prearranged absences for which the makeup work was not completed and submitted as specified by the teacher shall be considered unapproved.

If your child is absent from school, you will need to send a note to the teacher on the first day of his/her return to school explaining the absence. Notes must be submitted to the teacher within three (3) days of the absence in order to be marked as excused. It is the responsibility of the family to contact the teacher to obtain appropriate makeup following the absence. Students shall be allowed a minimum of three (3) days to complete makeup work.

ACADEMICS

Students in grades kindergarten through two will be provided with home/school folders for homework and communication between home and school. If your child loses his/her folder, he/she will have the option to purchase another one for $2.00 while supplies last. Students in grades three through five will be provided with a published, spiral bound student planner. If your child loses his/her student planner, he/she will have the option to purchase another one for $5.00 while supplies last. It is important that they bring their planners to school every day to record homework and class work. Please take the time to review the contents daily. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to write a note in the planner or to give your child’s teacher a call.

The Clark County School District provides most of the supplies and textbooks necessary for the educational program. Each grade level will provide a list of additional personal supply items that they recommend students bring to school. Textbooks and library books are loaned to each student. Textbooks, library books, and other educational materials, which are lost or damaged, must be paid for by the student responsible for them.

Homework enhances and reinforces skills learned during class, provides students an opportunity to practice skills independently, and helps students build personal responsibility. Homework is assigned Monday through Thursday. Primary students in grades K, 1, and 2 should expect to spend approximately 30 minutes each night completing homework assignments. Intermediate students in grades 3, 4, and 5 should expect to spend approximately 60 minutes each night completing homework assignments. Students should be reading on a daily basis either to themselves or having someone read to them. This activity has a positive effect on student achievement.

Report cards are distributed on a trimester basis. Grades are assigned based on student achievement on grade level standards, not on effort. Progress reports will be sent home on a bi-weekly basis in an effort to keep you informed of your child’s progress prior to receiving a trimester report card. If you have questions or concerns related to your child’s grades, please contact the classroom teacher as soon as possible.

Parent and/or legal guardian input is expected and encouraged. However, the principal and teacher in joint agreement will have final authority to retain a student. The following will be included in the determination of a retention decision: student achievement data and progress, attendance, and effect of retention on student’s educational improvement.

STUDENT BEHAVIOR

We strive to provide a nurturing environment in which all children can flourish and grow, and enhance their self-worth. In order to accomplish this, we have established five behavioral expectations that teachers and staff are responsible for enforcing at all times.

The “Falcon High 5” are as follows:

Students who make poor choices or behave in a manner that is not consistent with our school wide expectations will incur natural and logical consequences in accordance with their behavior.

Dress Code

The Clark County School District reserves the right to insist that the dress and grooming of students are within the limits of generally accepted community standards. The following dress and appearance guidelines from the Clark County School District Regulation 5131 Dress and Appearance will be enforced:

Students violating the dress regulations will be asked to correct the problem or call their parent and/or legal guardian to bring appropriate clothing to school.

The Clark County School District and William E. Ferron Elementary have a zero tolerance level for acts of harassment and physical aggression. Harassment is any verbal, visual, or physical conduct, which is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it adversely affects, or has the purpose or logical consequence of interfering with the student’s educational program or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive school atmosphere.

While many types of conduct may show evidence of harassment, common types include, but are not limited to: unwanted touching, blocking a person’s normal movements, threats, slurs, epithets, verbal abuse, derogatory comments, drawings, pictures, or gestures, unwelcome jokes, teasing, or propositions, graphic comments about an individual’s body, spreading rumors about a person, purposefully limiting a person’s access to educational tools, displaying sexually suggestive objects in the educational environment, or any act of retaliation against an individual who reports a violation.

Students are not permitted to bring toys, electronic devices, or personal items of any kind to school. Addtitionally, items such as roller blades, skateboards, scooters, or “heelies” are not allowed on the school campus. These items will be confiscated and brought to the school office where they can be picked up by a parent. The school does not assume liability for any personal item brought to school.

Cellular Phones

Cellular phones must be turned off and remain off during the instructional day in compliance with CCSD Policy 5136. Phones left on vibrate/silent modes are subject to seizure. Cellular phones should be stored in a non-visible location (backpacks, pockets, purses). Phones confiscated in violation of these guidelines will only be returned to a parent/guardian during non-instructional hours. As a condition of possessing a device on campus, the student agrees to a search of the device’s content if reasonable suspicion of violating the cell phone use policy exists.

For those children who bring bicycles to school, the following rules must be observed:

GENERAL INFORMATION

We are especially proud of our school and take great pride in keeping the building and grounds in quality condition. We do our best work in clean and orderly surroundings. Please help us by keeping our campus clean. Immediately report any acts of school vandalism to the Clark County School District’s School Police at 799-5411 or contact the school office at 799-7720.

Parents and/or legal guardians are permitted to visit their child’s classroom. A 24-hour notice is appreciated and encouraged for classroom visits during instructional time. All visitors must report to the front office to obtain a visitor’s pass and sign in and out. Parents and/or legal guardians who wish to conference with a teacher are asked to write a note or call the teacher to schedule.

The following are district approved celebrations: Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day. No other celebrations are allowed during the instructional day. Students who bring in treats for their birthday may pass them out at lunchtime or at dismissal. Please send only single serving items and no red drinks. Please do not bring in balloons or flowers. These items cannot be delivered to the classrooms as they are a distraction to the learning environment.

The school nurse assigned to Ferron Elementary is part-time. A First Aide Safety Assistant (FASA) is scheduled to be on campus daily when students are present. The parent and/or legal guardian must complete a Clark County School District Medication Release form for any prescription or over-the-counter medication to be administered to any student during the school day. The medicine container must be labeled by the pharmacist and include the student’s name, prescribing doctor’s name, instructions for its administering, and name of the medication. Students are not allowed to keep any type of medication, including over-the-counter, on their person. A child with an elevation in temperature and/or other signs of illness should be kept home.

It is essential for the school to have your current home telephone number, emergency telephone numbers, and your address so that you may be notified immediately in case of an accident or illness. Please notify the office immediately when home address, home telephone number, or parent and/or legal guardian work information changes. Your cooperation is of vital importance.

Students’ use of the telephone is limited to emergency situations. Forgotten homework, books, lunch money and/or permission to stay after school are not considered emergencies. We ask that you do not call the school to speak to your child. However, in an emergency, a message may be left for your child.

Our Parent Teacher Association (PTA) works to bring a closer relationship between the school, parents and/or legal guardians and teachers. Executive Board meetings are held throughout the school year and parents are welcomed visitors. General meetings are held and all parents are encouraged to attend. Volunteers are always needed for special activities such as fundraising projects, picture days, field day, and tutoring. We are proud of our active PTA and urge you to become involved.

Parents and/or legal guardians are encouraged to pre-pay for lunches weekly or for longer periods of time. Lunches can be purchased between 8:30 – 8:50 a.m. in the lunchroom. A lunch menu will be sent home with students monthly. Checks are to be made payable to the Clark County School District. Only two unpaid lunches may be allowed at a time. Letters will be given to students who have unpaid charges. Check your child’s backpack regarding balances due.

Prices, which may be subject to change, include milk and juice with breakfast and milk only with lunch. School meal prices for this year are $1.00 for breakfast and $1.50 for lunch. An application for reduced meals or free meals may be obtained in the office. A new application must be submitted each year for each child. Questions related to the nutritional program are to be directed to Ferron’s cafeteria manager, Ms. Lillian Torok, at 799-7720, ext. 4012. She will be available between 8:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

Accessibility Notice and Process

The CCSD is committed to nondiscrimination in its programs, activities, and services, and to providing facility accessibility. Parents, students, staff, or other members of the public, who are seeking information or have questions about the existence and location of accessible services, activities, and facilities in the district, should contact Dr. Beaird who will respond to the inquiry within a reasonable period of time.

Dr. Beaird may, if necessary, refer the person to one or more of the following individuals, who will respond to the inquiry within a reasonable period of time.

Employee or Public Access/Services:     Diversity / Affirmative Action Compliance
                                                            Title IX Coordinator
                                                            799-5087

Student Programs/Services Access:       Compliance Officer
                                                            Office of Compliance and Monitoring
                                                            Student Support Services Division
                                                            799-1020

Student Athletics/Activities Access:        Instructional Support/Student Activities
                                                            Executive Director
                                                            799-8493

If parents or members of the public have additional concerns or complaints regarding their inquiry, they may initiate a formal review by completing a Public Concern Form and trigger the public concern process as outlined in CCSD Regulation 1213.

Ferron Falcon School Song

We are Ferron Falcons and we’re built to succeed.
We all do our best when we’re put to the test.
In our class we make sure that we work real hard
And give our teachers respect so we can fly very far.

(Chorus)
Stomp….stomp…..do the Ferron Falcon.
Stomp….stomp…..do the Ferron Falcon.
Stomp….stomp…..do it today.
Do the Ferron Falcon today, today. Do the Ferron Falcon today.

We Falcons here at Ferron are all super and bright.
We earn a “high 5” when we are a delight.
The Falcon is a bird that soars above and beyond.
So we will spread our wings and reach for the stars.