General Information
School Hours
All Grades - 8:45 - 3:15
Work Day – School Personnel
Principal 8:00 - 4:00
Assistant Principal 8:00 - 4:00
Secretary 8:00 - 4:00
Teachers 8:30 - 3:45
Morning Arrival
Students should not arrive prior to 8:15, as staff members are not on duty to provide supervision. For your convenience, the Department of Parks and Recreation operates a Before-School Program. Please contact the Department of Parks and Recreation at 706-653-4178 for hours of operation and fee information.
Students participating in the Breakfast Program should report directly to the cafeteria upon arrival (after 8:15).
Upon arrival, bus students should report directly to their classrooms and sit quietly and orderly outside the class until the teachers open the doors.
Students are tardy if they come into the classroom after the 8:45 bell. Please make every effort to have your child at school on time. Students who are not in the classroom at 8:45 miss instructional time which impacts academic success. If your child arrives later than 8:45 park your car in a designated parking space and bring your child into the office to sign in.
By Car: Upon entry onto school property proceed slowly through the paved drive-thru nearest Lynch Road, yield where this lane intersects with the bus drive-thru and day care lane and then proceed slowly to the drop-off area at the covered walk way at the south end of the building.
Please remain in your car. School student patrols and a staff member will be posted at 8:15 to receive students. Please do not arrive prior to 8:15 to drop off your child.
If it is necessary for you to walk your child into the building, please park your car in either front parking area, walk your child into the front doors and say goodbye there.
If special circumstances require you to walk your child to his/her room, it will be necessary for you to sign in at the office, obtain a visitor’s pass, and wear it while you are in the building. If your visitor’s pass is not visible, expect a staff member to stop you and ask you to return to the office to sign in.
Teachers are not available for conferences at the beginning of the school day unless a conference has been scheduled in advance.
To Check a Student Out of School During the School Day
The office staff will call the room to advise the teacher to send the student to the office to check out. Teachers know that students are never to be released directly to a parent or anyone else without being notified by the office. In most cases, at least one of the office staff will know the parent or person who arrives to check the student out of school, but if the person in the office does not know the individual, two things will happen; first the student’s records will be checked to see if the person who is attempting to check the student out is on the authorized list, and second the person will be asked to provide picture identification. If at anytime someone other than the person who registers the student comes to check him/her out, please make sure that you have included that person on the list of people authorized, and let them know that they should be prepared to show identification.
Dismissal Procedures(For Students Transported by Car)
In the afternoon, if you pick up your child, please drive slowly through the newly paved drive-thru near Lynch Road. Yield to buses and day care vans. Then proceed slowly to the circular drive at Parent Pick-up. Please remain in your car. Student patrols and paraprofessionals are on duty to help load students into cars.
Please be prompt in arriving to pick up children, as teachers and staff members have other duties and responsibilities at the end of the day, and are not available to supervise students. For your convenience, the Department of Parks and Recreation operates an After School Program. Please contact the Department of Parks and Recreation at 706-653-4178 for hours of operation and fee information.
Children need the security and consistency of knowing how they are to go home each day. Please arrange a plan in order to provide this consistency. If at any time there is a change in the plan, please send a note in writing to the child’s teacher. Except in case of an emergency, please avoid calling the school to change transportation plans.
During the School Day
If you come to the school during the school day, please park in one of the marked parking spaces in the parking lots, and not in the fire lanes at the entrance.
For security purposes all doors, including the front entry doors are kept locked during the school day. To gain entry into the building ring the doorbell near the door and school personnel will admit visitors and parents. Upon arrival in the office, visitors are asked to sign in and take a visitor’s badge to have access to the building.
Reminder: Drivers should never enter the school property through the exit!
Student Absences
Students are required to attend school regularly. The only excused absences are for (1) personal illness, (2) serious illness of an immediate family member, (3) death in the immediate family, and (4) observance of a religious holiday.
Upon returning to school following an absence, a student must bring a written excuse signed by the parent stating the cause of the absence. Absences are marked “unexcused” until the student brings the note. If the absence was for one of the four excused absences, the absence will then be changed to “excused”.
In order to be promoted to the next grade, students in elementary school must be present a minimum of 165 days in a school year. All absences are counted, whether they are excused or unexcused. When the number of absences reaches 16 days, the student is retained.
Parent - Teacher Conferences
Mathews' teachers welcome and encourage parent conferences. Please do not hesitate to call the school to request a conference with your child’s teacher. In order to maximize instructional time, teachers are not available for conferences during the school hours. Dropping by after school to see the teacher does not always result in a conference. Teachers have duty, workshops, meetings and other responsibilities immediately after school. To avoid the frustration caused by not being able to see the teacher, please make appointments in advance so the teacher can give you her full attention. These appointments should be limited to a thirty-minute time frame.
From time to time, you may be invited to school for a conference concerning your child. This does not indicate a problem, but is an attempt on the part of the school to better the education of your child.
Volunteers
Volunteers are always welcome at Mathews Elementary School! Volunteers serve in many different capacities. Room readers, tutors, and room mothers are only a few jobs that need to be done. Volunteers are asked to stop at the office before going to classrooms or other locations to sign in and obtain a pass.
We strongly urge all parents to join the Mathews PTA. Your help is always needed. At the beginning of the school year you will have an opportunity to sign up as room parent in your child’s classroom. Please consider taking advantage of this opportunity. The PTA offers many opportunities during the school year to volunteer your time to help. Your child will enjoy having you at school, but you will probably enjoy it even more!
Classroom Parties
The Georgia Department of Education requires a specific amount of time each day to be used for instructional purposes. This time requirement allows for physical education time, lunchtime, and a variety of other instructional activities. There will be a variety of celebrations conducted during the year which support and enhance the instructional program. As much as we would like to have the time to celebrate each child’s birthday with a party, the time needed for instruction will not allow this. We ask that parents limit birthday celebrations to cupcakes or cake that can be served as part of the regularly scheduled lunchtime. Please feel free to visit for lunch on your child’s birthday and any time it is convenient for you.
Party invitations may not be distributed at school unless all students in the class are invited.
To Withdraw A Student
If a student is to be withdrawn from Mathews Elementary School we request that parents notify the school office two days in advance in order to provide the school staff adequate time to complete the records collection (grades, textbooks, lunchroom account, and media center records) process.
School Telephone
The school telephone number is 706-569-3656. The school telephone is a business phone and can be used by the students only in the case of illness or emergency. The following suggestions are made for parents:
1. Feel free to call the school to deliver a message to your child in case of any emergency or a real need.
2. Have an understanding with your child in the morning as to what to do in the afternoon (bus or parent pick-up).
3. Students will not be allowed to ask if they may go home with a friend. If you wish your child to go home with someone, that arrangement should be made ahead of time and communicated in writing to your child’s teacher.
Student Accident Insurance
The Muscogee County School District offers student accident insurance to all students in the Muscogee County School District. This insurance is available to you at a nominal fee. Information regarding accident insurance will be provided at registration, or may be obtained from the school office. If you do not wish to take out Student Accident Insurance, your child’s health insurance is your responsibility. The Muscogee County School District does not carry health insurance on students.
Emergency Procedures
Fire and disaster drills are a necessity and are not to be treated lightly. These drills will be held at irregular and unannounced intervals. All signals are rehearsed with students to provide the safest actions in the case of an emergency. In case Muscogee County is placed under a TORNADO WARNING, we ask that parents NOT come to pick up students or call the school during the WARNING. Emergency procedures will be followed. Please be aware that if Muscogee County is under a TORNADO WARNING at dismissal time, dismissal will be delayed until the threat has passed. Shelter areas have been have been assigned to each classroom and all Mathews Elementary personnel know what procedures to follow in an emergency. The driveway in front of the school and the telephone line must both be kept clear for emergency use during such time.
Field Trips
Field trips are an important part of the educational program, and at Mathews Elementary we make every effort to schedule at least one trip each year for each of the grades. Transportation is provided via Muscogee County School District buses, driven by licensed MCSD transportation personnel. When a field trip is scheduled, your child will bring home a Field Trip Permission Form which gives specific information about the date, destination, and time of the trip. Parent/guardian signatures are required in order for students to participate in field trips.
If students are away from school during lunch, the school will provide sack lunches for all students at regular lunch prices. This will insure that all students will be fed and proper precautions are taken to keep food and drinks safe from spoilage.
If your child has medication at school (prescription or non-prescription) and a Medical Form on file in the office, the medicine will be taken on the trip and administered by the teacher, along with a copy of the medical form.
Drug/Smoke Free School Zone
Legislation enacted by the General Assembly of Georgia makes it unlawful to manufacture, distribute, dispense, or possess a controlled substance in, on, or within 1000 feet of a school. Violation of this law is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and/or up to a $20,000 fine. The Muscogee County School Board has enacted a policy making all school grounds smoke free zones. Smoking is not allowed by employees, students, or visitors. The no-smoking policy also applies in cases where school functions are held off campus, such as Field Day.
Student Records
A cumulative record is kept on every child within the school district. The Muscogee County School Board of Education adheres to the “Protection of the Rights and Privacy of Parents and Students” section of Public Law 93-380. If you have any questions about your child’s records, please fee free to contact us.
Technology Acceptable Use Policy
Each student, parent, and staff member must read, sign, and agree to abide by the Technology Acceptable Use Policy Guidelines before gaining access to the school’s network, Internet, and computer work stations. Students shall not alter or attempt to alter school or private property including technology hardware and software.
Students are not permitted to bring software or hardware equipment (disks, CD-ROM’s, external hard drives, etc.) to school without prior approval of the technology specialist and school administration.
Student Testing and Assessment
Kindergarten students will take the Georgia Kindergarten Assessment Program-Revised (GKAP-R) to determine school readiness and for placement purposes.
During the month of April, all students in grades 1 – 5 are required to take the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT). These tests are utilized to assess how well students have learned essential competency skills mandated by the state of Georgia. In Grade 3, students must score a minimum score of 800 in reading before they will be promoted to the fourth grade. In Grade 5, students must a score a minimum score of 800 in reading and 300 in math prior to promotion to the sixth grade.
In addition, other assessments are given throughout the school year to enable teachers and staff to monitor students learning and assess teaching practices. All third and fifth graders take the Iowa Test of Basic Skills in the fall and the Georgia Writing Assessment. In addition, third graders take a basic intelligence quotient test in the fall.
Gifted Education
Gifted education is provided for all students, K-12, who have the potential for the Gifted. The parent should complete the “Parent Request and Consent for Evaluation Form” and return it to the school. The student will be scheduled for evaluation after these forms are received. Forms are available from Mrs. Shields, School Counselor.
Lost and Found
Please label all of your child’s clothing, footwear, lunch boxes, book bags, etc. If your child has lost something, please check the school’s lost and found. All items that are left after the school year will be donated to the Sara Spano Clothing Bank.
Library/Media Center
Mrs. Beth Beasley, Media Specialist and Mrs. Judy Hawk, Media Clerk staff our library and encourage students to use the library. Students may check out a book when they return one. It is the student’s responsibility for the care of the borrowed book(s) and students will be required to pay for a book if it is lost or damaged.
Accelerated Reader Program
The Accelerated Reader (AR) Program was designed to encourage students to read. First, students read an AR book, and then they take a test on the computer in the media center, in their class room or the computer lab. The test is designed to assess the student’s comprehension of the book they have read. Each AR book in the library has the reading level and number of points the test is worth. As the student takes tests, he/she earns AR points. At different times during the year, students are recognized for accumulating AR points. A complete list of AR books housed in the school media center may be accessed at the Mathews Website (www.mathews.mcsdga.net).
Electronic Devices by Students
It shall be the policy of the Muscogee County School District Board of Education that possession of an electronic communication device by a student in school shall be permitted as specifically prescribed by this policy.
Students shall not be permitted to use any personal electronic communication device, including cellular phones or two-way radios during the school day. Students are prohibited from using any electronic device during the operation of a school bus, including, but not limited to, cellular phones, pagers, audible radios, audible tape or compact disc players, or laser light in a manner that might interfere with the school bus communication equipment or the school bus driver's operation of the school bus.
For the purposes of this policy, the day begins when the student boards the bus, enters the school building, and ends when school is dismissed. Cellular phones/pagers are not permitted to be visible on the person.
Elementary students are not permitted to have a cellular phone.
School administrators shall handle violations of this policy in accordance with rules specified in the student handbook.
The principal or designee of each school is authorized to provide for exceptions to this policy such as in the case of medical emergencies.
The Muscogee County School District will provide deployed parents or guardians and their children access to a dedicated telephone line for communication in the Guidance Office. It is the sense of the Board of Education that every effort be made to support and facilitate such parent/child communication.
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