CLAYTON PARENT POWER

Parents are a key ingredient for the success of Clayton students. You can be a part of the Clayton school community by working daily with your child at home, reading with him/her, and asking questions that connect with his/her learning experiences.   In addition, you can further participate in the following ways:

1)   JOIN AND ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN PTA. Many parents who work inside and outside of the home find creative ways to share their time with children at Clayton.   PTA membership can help to facilitate participation and additional volunteerism at our campus or on behalf of our school in the community. Click here to visit the Clayton PTA's website for more information.

2)   VISIT THE CAMPUS OFTEN. You are WELCOME to visit us at Clayton.   When planning to visit the classroom, please try to make an appointment at least one day in advance with your child’s teacher.   This helps us avoid scheduling conflicts, especially when extended visits are planned. Classroom visits are typically limited to thirty minutes per visit.   Longer visits may cause disruptions to learning.   If you desire a conference with your child’s teacher, please call or send a note in advance to schedule the conference.   A planned conference with the teacher provides the optimal conditions for positive and productive interaction.  

Unfortunately, teachers cannot stop teaching to visit with parents who ”pop in.”   Visiting parents need to sign in at the office and pick up a badge before going to the classroom or other teaching areas.   Please limit your visit to 30 minutes or less, and do not bring younger children to the class with you.   Teachers will be happy to discuss what you observed during your visit at a mutually convenient time.  

Again, all visitors must register at the office .   Teachers have been instructed to ask anyone who has not registered in the office to do so before a child is released to him/her.   Thank you for remembering this and for complying.

3)   HAVE LUNCH WITH YOUR CHILD. Adults are welcome in our cafeteria.   Check your child’s lunch schedule and sign in at the office before joining your child in the cafeteria for lunch.   Please meet the class at the cafeteria, not in the classroom.

4)   READ CLAYTON NEWSLETTERS. Every week watch for the “Clayton Chatter” newsletters sent electronically to the Clayton Googlegroup.   They contain important articles to keep you informed about events, routines and activities at Clayton Elementary. To join the Clayton Google Group, enter your email address in the box to the left. Click here to read previous issues of the Clayton Chatter.

THE DAILY SCHEDULE    

Help your child build the valuable behaviors of…  

PUNCTUALITY & REGULAR ATTENDANCE  

ATTENDANCE

Few would argue with the fact that there is a direct correlation between good attendance and success in school--and later in life, too!   Please do all that you can to ensure that your child is at school whenever possible.   Illness, family emergencies, and other unavoidable reasons for absences are understandable.   Vacations, extended trips, and other recreational activities, which can be scheduled during holidays or during the summer, should be avoided during instructional time.   AISD now requires a note from the parent explaining reason for absence.   Please send a note with your child when he/she returns to school.

Students are expected to attend school regularly and to arrive punctually.   Official attendance is taken at 10 a.m. daily.   To be considered “present” for the day, a student must be physically present on campus at this time.   If a student is not present at 10 a.m., the student is counted absent unless he/she returns to school the same day with a note from a medical professional indicating that the absence was due to a doctor’s appointment.    

Model Outstanding Punctuality – When arriving at school, students go directly to the cafeteria (Pre-K-2) or gym (3-5), find their class row, and be seated. Students should read, study, write or draw until the school-wide assembly begins on Mondays at 7:35 or until they are released to their classrooms on all other weekdays.   Please try to have your students here by that time.   Students are not permitted to wait outside the classroom while Monday morning assembly is going on or prior to being released to their teachers.   Please instruct your children to go to the cafeteria or gym on all days up until 7:35.   On Mondays, morning assembly is our opportunity to build our school community, make important announcements and celebrate our successes.   On other weekdays, we will share such community via daily news and announcements.   Children arriving after 7:45 are tardy and should check in at the office accompanied by a parent.

Rewarding Perfect Attendance – Students who earn perfect attendance will be rewarded each nine weeks and at the end of the school year.   Perfect attendance is a goal all of us strive for in our business and school careers.   However, when students are running fever and ill, it is important that they stay home to rest and get regular doses of medications.   A fever is a temperature of 100.4 or higher.   If your child has a fever, they should not return to school until they are fever free for 24 hours with NO medication.   Please check your child’s temperature the night before and the morning of the day they return to school to be sure there is no fever.   Please help your child’s recovery and keep other students well by keeping your sick children at home.

Absence – When a student must be out because of illness or family business, please send a note stating the reason for the absence the day your child returns or the absence will be considered unexcused.   In case of extended illness (more than 3 days), work missed will be provided.   Teachers need at least 24 hours notice to prepare assignments for students who are absent.   Per AISD policy, leaving early constitutes a partial day absence.

Religious Holy Days – The State Board of Education has specified that students shall be excused from attending school for the purpose of observing religious holy days when it is a tenet of their faith that they must be absent from school during such time, provided a written request is sent in advance by the parent or guardian.   Students are not counted in attendance and will be given the opportunity to make-up work.

Trips/Vacations – Many families take vacation throughout the school year.   Be advised these absences are unexcused absences (per district policy) and cannot be approved as “excused.”

VOLUNTEERS (PARENTS & OTHERS)

Parents are needed to assist with parties, class enrichment activities, study trips, and refreshments.   Parent volunteers are given advance notice of activities so that working parents who want to participate may do so.   The PTA encourages assistance from all parents--whether it is through baking, telephone calling, driving, contributing items, or other tasks.   Small sacrifices can make large differences in our children’s education.   We could never do everything that we currently offer without the assistance of our parents and other volunteers!

If making copies for teachers, volunteers are respectfully asked to relinquish the use of the copiers to teachers and other staff members should they need them.   Sometimes these individuals have a limited period of time in which to make needed copies.   Your understanding and cooperation are always appreciated.

Volunteers sometimes need to work in the workroom or kitchen area.   The actual teacher workroom/lounge is intended for faculty and staff use only during the school day.   Please work in the classroom, in the VIP room, or in another acceptable location if you are cutting out things, drawing, painting, or making other items.   We ask that all parents when visiting/volunteering to sign in at the office and put on a Visitor’s Badge.

Preschoolers who come with volunteers are welcome at Clayton.   However, we ask that they not disrupt the classroom setting.   Preschoolers should not be in the workroom or kitchen area and they should be closely supervised at all times.   We care about their safety, too!