Calendar Handbook - Frederick County Public Schools
Calendar Handbook - Frederick County Public Schools
Calendar Handbook - Frederick County Public Schools
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The <strong>Calendar</strong> <strong>Handbook</strong> for 2011–2012 4<br />
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essential information for a Successful Year<br />
The School Day<br />
FCPS students have a 180-day school year in keeping with<br />
Maryland law. Generally, high schools have a 7:30 a.m. to<br />
2:20 p.m. schedule, and most middle school students attend<br />
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. With a few exceptions, elementary schools<br />
start at 9 a.m. and dismiss around 3:30 p.m. Check with your<br />
school for exact times.<br />
Students should arrive at school no earlier than 30 minutes<br />
before instruction begins and leave the grounds within 30<br />
minutes after instruction ends, except when participating in<br />
school-sponsored activities. ★<br />
Getting to School<br />
FCPS’ 400 yellow buses cover more than 32,000 miles every<br />
school day. About 29,600 students will be eligible to ride in<br />
2011–12.<br />
School system responsibility for students begins when they<br />
enter the school bus and ends when they step off the bus at the<br />
end of the school day. Students may ride only their assigned<br />
bus and must provide their own transportation if they are<br />
enrolled at a school outside their attendance area. More about<br />
bus transportation is on page 24. ★<br />
Medications/Treatments<br />
Students are encouraged not to take medication during the<br />
school day. If it is necessary for a student to do so, the parent/<br />
guardian must provide a written order from the student’s<br />
healthcare provider for all prescription and over-the-counter<br />
medications. Medications must be transported by an adult<br />
and provided to the school in the pharmacy bottle, correctly<br />
and completely labeled. Over-the- counter medication must<br />
be in the original, unopened container. Medications sent in<br />
envelopes, plastic bags or daily reminder containers cannot<br />
be administered. Any treatment required by the student also<br />
requires a written order from a healthcare provider. So appropriate<br />
arrangements can be made, please contact the school<br />
as soon as you know that your child requires a treatment. ★<br />
IMPORTANT!<br />
Student information Card and<br />
health and emergency Form<br />
On the first school day, students get important forms<br />
for parents to complete and return promptly. The school<br />
needs your child’s updated Student Information Card<br />
to reach you anytime there is an emergency, question<br />
or concern.<br />
The Student Information Card is personalized<br />
with the most current information in the FCPS database<br />
for your child, so you only have to verify and/<br />
or correct it. You must return the form even if there<br />
is no change!<br />
The Health and Emergency Form is separate and also<br />
easy to fill out. It’s online at www.fcps.org, too, for those<br />
who prefer to type, print, sign and send it in.<br />
Keep both forms updated, notifying the school in<br />
writing of any changes during the school year.<br />
Media in <strong>Schools</strong><br />
In the course of school activities, FCPS staff and<br />
the news media occasionally wish to interview, photograph<br />
or videotape students, display their work or<br />
publish their names or likenesses in print or on the<br />
Internet for instructional, promotional or news purposes;<br />
this includes honor roll lists. Unless parents or<br />
guardians indicate otherwise on their child’s Student<br />
Information Card, FCPS will assume that permission<br />
is given. (FCPS cannot control media coverage of<br />
events that are open to the public.)<br />
Military Access<br />
Parents and secondary students: Please note the<br />
procedure to opt out of having student directory information<br />
released to military recruiters (page 40). ★<br />
What’s on the Menu?<br />
FCPS students may buy lunch in the school cafeteria<br />
or bring lunch from home. All schools offer traditional<br />
school lunches and à la carte items approved by the U.S.<br />
Department of Agriculture. All schools offer breakfast,<br />
too. Milk is included with the traditional lunch or can be<br />
purchased separately. To find out what’s on the menu,<br />
check your school bulletin board, www.fcps.org, Channel<br />
18, local radio stations or subscribe to FindOutFirst<br />
e-mail at www.fcps.org. Prices are published on page 25.<br />
Prepaying for several meals can be helpful for all children.<br />
Families with limited ability to pay may qualify for free or<br />
reduced-price meals. More details about school meals are<br />
on page 25 and at www.fcps.org. ★