Handbook

Sewell's Handbook
Mission Statement
We are here to promote a nurturing and enriching environment where every student develops the skills, abilities and attitudes necessary to achieve academic success and social responsibility.

Registration Procedure
Students entering Sewell at any grade level shall provide the following at time of registration:
Original Birth Certificate
Immunization record
Proof of residency within our attendance/school boundaries
Parent/Legal Guardian picture identification

School Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:25a.m. to 2:35p.m.
Wednesday 8:25a.m. to 1:35p.m.

Sewell students should not arrive at school before 8:00 a.m. Playground supervision is provided from 8:00a.m. to 8:25a.m. Breakfast is served from 8:00 a.m. to 8:25 a.m.

A warning bell will ring at 8:25 a.m. each morning.

***It is extremely important that all Sewell students be picked up on time (2:35 p.m.) after dismissal daily.

***Sewell staff is not responsible for students not picked up on time. If for any reason you are not able to pick up your child on time, please notify the front office before 2:00 p.m.

If you drive your child to school or need to pick up your child after school, please use the drop off areas on Sahuara or the south side of the parking lot on Sahuara.

Please do not drop off your child on the front walk way. Please use the designated student drop off area only. Do not drop children off at the entrance to the parking area. Please pull around to the side past the dumpster area.

Attendance
Student’s daily attendance is vitally important. Excessive absences often result in poor academic achievement. Students are expected to be in school daily except in cases of emergency or personal illness.These are the steps to follow when a student is absent from school:
Call the office the morning of the absence 584-7200 before 10:00 a.m.
Send a note when the student returns to school stating the reason for the absence.
Parents are urged to leave their children in school during school hours. Doctor and or other appointments should be scheduled after school hours or on days when school is not in session. If a student needs to be dismissed early from school a parent must come to the front office to sign them out. The front office staff will call the student out of class.

Tardiness
Our school day begins at 8:25 a.m. If your child is late, he or she is missing valuable instruction. Any students arriving at school after 8:25 a.m. must report to the office for a late pass.

****PLEASE NOTE:****

Student’s excessive absences (more than 3 unexcused absences) and excessive tardies (3 tardies in a week) will be dealt on a student by student basis.

Attendance Recognition
Sewell students are recognized for their commitment to daily school attendance. Students are recognized for perfect attendance at the end of the quarter, at the end of the semester and for the entire school year.

Crossing Guard
There will be a crossing guard at East Fifth St. and Chantilly Dr. Please instruct your child to always use the crosswalk when crossing Fifth St.

Emergency Green Card
The office should be notified immediately of any changes regarding address and phone number. Please be sure that the office has all of your current emergency contact numbers on the student green card.

Open Enrollment Information
Open Enrollment requests must be made starting in November of each school year. Priority will be given to students who are currently attending Sewell. Priority will also be given to students whose siblings currently attend Sewell. Open Enrollment requests must be made each school year to the office of School Community Services.
Students attending Sewell on Open Enrollment are our guests. The following criteria must be followed in order to continue as Open Enrollment students at Sewell.
Attendance: Be on time on a daily basis. (8:25 a.m.) No unexcused absences or tardies.
Academics: All school work/homework should be completed and shall meet or exceed grade level standards.
Discipline: Any referral for rules infraction will jeopardize continuing as an Open Enrollment student at Sewell.
Refer to the TUSD website for more information.

Sewell Office Hours
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Phone number 584-7200
Fax number 584-7201

Sewell Visitors
Safety is always a priority at Sewell. Please remember that all doors to the school except the front doors will be locked during school hours. All visitors to Sewell must come to the front office to sign in and get a visitor’s pass.
All visitors to Sewell must wear their visitor’s pass while on campus.

Student Dismissal
We ask that parents do not wait in the halls before dismissal. Teachers will designate a meeting place for you and your child.

Child Custody
In many cases, divorced parents continue to have equal rights to information about their children. If you have a court order that limits the rights of one parent in matters such a custody, visitation, or access to school information, please bring in a copy of the court order to the school office for your child’s records. Unless the court order is on file with us, we must provide equal access of information to both parents.
Important School Lunch Information
Free or reduced lunches are available to families meeting the needed qualifications. Please fill out a lunch application to see if your family qualifies.

FOOD SERVICES WILL NOT ALLOW STUDENTS TO CHARGE SCHOOL LUNCHES. IN THE EVENT THAT A STUDENT DOES NOT HAVE MONEY FOR LUNCH, WE WILL ALLOW HIM/HER TO CALL HOME FOR LUNCH MONEY OR LUNCH.

Every Monday you may pay in advance for your child’s weekly meal card (debit system). You may also pay for more than one week at a time. Please see Cafeteria personnel for more information.

Sewell Lunch Times
Kinder & 1st grades - 11:15 to 11:50
1/2 combo, 2nd & 3rd grades - 11:50 to 12:25
4th & 5th grades - 12:25 to 1:00

Health Office Procedures
The health office is staffed by a Health Assistant Monday through Friday and a registered nurse one day a week.
When your child will be taking medication while he/she is at school the following procedures must be followed:
Medication must be prescribed by the child’s physician.
Prescription drugs must be in the original container labeled with the name, date, medication dosage and the time of day it should be taken.
Non-prescription medication is not to be given unless a physician has indicated a need.
The parent/guardian must leave all medication in the health office and complete a medication form.
Medication must be given in the presence of the school nurse, health assistant, principal, or other designated person.

Sewell’s 4 School Rules
Safe Hands.
Safe Feet.
Kind Words.
Smart Choices.

Homework
At Sewell Elementary we believe that homework can assist students in the development of responsibility and study skills. It also promotes communication between parents, teachers and students. Your child’s teacher will contact you regarding his/her homework policy.

Contacting Your Child’s Teacher
If you wish to speak to your child’s teacher we ask that you call 584-7200. If the teacher is available (non-instructional time), he/she will speak to you. If the teacher is not available, the office staff will be happy to take a message and forward it to the teacher.

Student Dress Code
We take pride in the way we look and dress at school. All students are expected to dress in clothes that are suitable for school activities. If students are not dressed appropriately, they will be required to change clothes.

Shirts which advertise tobacco, alcohol or drugs are not permitted nor are those with obscene language, gang-related logos, symbols, or any other identifying gang affiliations.

Children are not allowed to wear any clothing items which show any part of their shoulders. This includes shirts with spaghetti straps and tank tops which show the shoulder area.

It is required that all students wear shoes to school. Flip flops are not recommended to be worn to school.
Please read Tucson Unified School District Guidelines for Student rights and responsibilities.
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