• General Information

    WILLS VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

    PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK

     

    2024-2025

     School Bus

     

    Mrs. Sally Wheat, Principal

    Ms. Ellie Pitts, Assistant Principal

    Mrs. Regina Boatwright, Counselor

     

     

    Wills Valley Elementary School

    4111 Williams Avenue NE

    Fort Payne, Alabama 35967

    Phone:  256-845-3201 Fax:  256-845-2909

  • Academics

    • ACADEMICS

      PROMOTIONS- Promotional standards vary from one grade to another

      • Standards based report cards will be utilized in kindergarten, first grade and second grade. Students not mastering at least 60% of standards at the end of the school year in reading or math could be retained. 

      REPORTING STUDENT PROGRESS

      • Grades are derived from test scores, daily work, and homework.  Report cards are sent home every nine weeks.

      ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION

      • Wills Valley Elementary School will provide individual student academic achievement results and interpretation of the results in a language that the parent(s) can understand. If a parent needs assistance to better understand test results, an interpreter will be available. 

  • Accidents

    ACCIDENTS

     INJURIES

    • If your child is injured at school, we will make him/her comfortable and then call you immediately if the injury is of a serious nature. If you cannot be reached, we will attempt to contact the emergency numbers that you listed on your enrollment forms. 

  • Arrivals/Dismissals

    ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE

    MORNING ARRIVAL TIME FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 2ND GRADE

    • The instructional day begins at 7:45 a.m. and dismisses at 2:50 p.m. Students must be in the building by 7:45 a.m. or they will be considered tardy. The school doors will open at 7:10 a.m. Students may not be dropped off until 7:10 a.m. at which time school personnel will come outside to the drop-off location.

    MORNING DROP-OFF FOR CAR RIDERS

    • Our primary concern with regard to the traffic flow during drop-off is the safety of the children. We ask that parents familiarize themselves with drop-off procedures. Parents who are dropping off students should drive up to the covered awning, and students should exit the vehicle on the side of the car closest to the covered sidewalk/curb (passenger side). Students should not exit on the driver’s side. Please pull forward so that several cars can drop off at the same time. Staff members will be available each day to help students as they enter and exit the building. We encourage students to be prepared to exit the car carefully and quickly. We will have teachers to help, however it is difficult to open every door for every child and keep the car flow moving. If your child is able, please encourage them to open the door and hop out. Please do not drop-off students at other areas causing them to cross or be within the flow of traffic. 

    AFTERNOON DISMISSAL TIME FOR KINDERGARTEN - 2ND GRADE

    • Students who ride an early bus will be dismissed at 2:50pm. Students who are being picked up by car will be dismissed at 2:55pm. Students who ride a late bus will be dismissed as the late buses arrive (3:10pm-3:30pm). 

     

    AFTERNOON PICK-UP FOR CAR RIDERS

    • Our primary concern with regard to the traffic flow during pick-up is the safety of the children. We ask that parents familiarize themselves with the pick-up procedures.
    • Parents who are picking up students should drive up to the covered awning and pull forward as far as possible.
    • Please display the PAW PASS in the lower right area of the windshield.
    • Students will be called in the order cars arrive. Staff members will be supervising students as they are being picked up from school.
    • Parents may not wait inside the building during dismissal. You must stay in your car until all children are in their assigned space.  Please do not wait directly outside of the doors because it blocks the entrance. You will not be able to get your child until all students are in their assigned space and the teacher has seen your Paw Pass.
    • Parents may not wait outside in the bus loop area to pick up a child that is in line to ride the bus.  This is for your child’s safety.  Bus drivers and supervising teachers do not have the authority to allow you to take your child off the bus or out of the bus line. Once a child has gotten in the bus line, they must ride the bus home.

  • Attendance

    ATTENDANCE

    ABSENCES

    • Regular attendance is necessary for optimum growth academically and for the development of responsible school attitudes and work ethics. Whenever a child must be absent, a written note explaining the absence is required. This note can be a parent note or a doctor’s excuse and should be sent to your child’s teacher within three days. If a note is not turned in within the three days, the child’s absence will be considered unexcused. Only 10 days/tardies/check-outs can be excused with a parent excuse per school year. Unexcused absences will be handled in accordance with the Fort Payne City Schools Truancy Policy. This policy is located inside the Code of Conduct document located on the school system’s website at www.fpcsk12.com

    TARDINESS AND CHECK-INS

    • Research shows that children are more receptive to learning early in the morning while they are rested and fresh. Teachers begin teaching and reviewing first thing every morning. Every time your child is late you are sending a message to the child that school is not important enough to get there on time. Please make every effort to see that your child is at school every morning by 7:45 a.m. 
    • Excessive tardiness will be judged according to the school code of conduct. If your child is tardy, a parent must accompany the child to the office to check the student in late. In order for a tardy or check-in to be excused, the parent must provide written documentation in the form of a doctor’s note or parent note. Only 10 occurrences (absences, check-ins, check-outs) can be excused by a parent note. 

    CHECK-OUTS

    • Parents are asked NOT to check their child out of school unless there is a medical or family emergency.  In order for a check-out to be excused, the parent must provide written documentation in the form of a doctor’s note or parent note. Student check-outs cannot be done after 2:30 p.m. Students are already lining up in designated areas for car, bus, extended day, late bus, etc. Once a child is in line to ride a bus, they must ride the bus, and cannot be removed from the bus. This is a safety and procedural issue. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding as our goal is to dismiss 800 young students in the safest way possible.  

    MAKE-UP WORK

    • Students are responsible for making up work missed due to an excused absence.  Parents may pick up assignments or have another child, designated by the parent, pick up the work.  Requests for make-up work should be made in advance so as to give the teacher ample time to get it together and not to interrupt the classroom. 

  • Breakfast/Lunch/Snack

    BREAKFAST/LUNCH/SNACK

    BREAKFAST

    • A nourishing breakfast is served each day. We encourage each student to eat breakfast to ensure his or her best daily performance. Your child must arrive at school by 7:30 if you want them to eat breakfast. Breakfast is not served after 7:40am. Breakfast WILL be provided FREE of charge for 2024-2025 school year FOR ALL STUDENTS.

     LUNCH

    • A Federally Subsidized Lunch Program is provided for all children who want to participate.  A nutritious well-balanced menu is planned weekly. Menus are posted on the school website at www.fpcsk12.com as well as the Fort Payne City Schools Child Nutrition Program Facebook and Instagram page. All food is prepared, stored, and served according to Health Department guidelines.
    • Meals will be FREE for all students. Lunch forms will not need to be completed

    SNACK

    • Snack time at school varies according to the grade level and the time the class eats lunch. Students can bring a nutritious snack from home or they may purchase snack at school. Candy is discouraged and cokes/soft drinks are not permitted.  Do not send drinks or snacks in glass containers, as this could be hazardous. 

  • Bus Transportation/ Regulations

    BUS TRANSPORTATION/ REGULATIONS

    • Students are to conduct themselves on the bus as they are expected to in the classroom.
    • Bus misbehavior is not tolerated and repeat offenders will be suspended or expelled from riding the bus. Further information concerning bus regulations can be found in the student code of conduct.  

  • Closing of School

    CLOSING OF SCHOOL

    Early Dismissal

    • The superintendent of schools has the authority to temporarily close schools or dismiss early in the event of severe weather, inadequate heat or other conditions that threaten the safety and well-being of students. 
    • When the decision is made to close schools or dismiss early, an announcement will be made on the local radio stations and TV stations as early as possible.  The superintendent will also use the School Notification System (SNS) to notify parents.  It is imperative that you keep your SNS accounts up-to-date with current phone numbers at all times. 
    • Please be aware that your child will need to follow the same transportation method as they normally do on a daily basis. 
    • If your child is a bus rider, he/she will be a bus rider on the early dismissal day. You will need to ensure that someone is at home when the bus arrives. SOMEONE MUST BE AT THE STOP, or the bus driver will not let the child off the bus.  
    • If your child is a car rider, he/she will be a car rider. 
    • If your child attends EDP, he/she will be a car rider.  
    • We ask that parents do not rush to the school to check students out. We have around 800 students and it can be very difficult to check out mass numbers of students at the same time. It is best for someone to meet the child at the normal bus stop.  

    Delayed Start

    • During winter months, there is a chance that school could be delayed due to inclement weather. When the superintendent sends out a message that school will be delayed, this is the schedule that we will follow at Wills Valley Elementary School. 

    School Delay Schedule                   

    1 Hour Delay                                                                                       

    Teachers on Duty Report           8:05 AM

    Doors Open                              8:10 AM

    Teachers Report                       8:30 AM

    School Starts                            8:45 AM

    *Buses will run 1 ½ hours later than normal

    2 Hour Delay                                                                                       

    Teachers on Duty Report           9:05 AM

    Doors Open                              9:10 AM

    Teachers Report                       9:30 AM

    School Starts                            9:45 AM

    *Buses will run 2 ½ hours later than normal

    2 ½ Hour Delay                                                                                   

    Teachers on Duty Report           9:35 AM

    Doors Open                              9:40 AM

    Teachers Report                       10:00 AM

    School Starts                            10:15 AM

    *Buses will run 3 hours later than normal

     

    3 Hour Delay                                       

    Teachers on Duty Report           10:05 AM

    Doors Open                              10:10 AM

    Teachers Report                       10:30 AM

    School Starts                            10:45 AM

    *Buses will run 3 ½ hours later than normal

  • Deliveries

    DELIVERIES

    • Wills Valley will not be able to accept special occasion gift or balloon deliveries for students from flower shops, stores, parents, etc.

  • Discipline

    DISCIPLINE

    • Students enrolled in the Fort Payne City School System are subject to the Code of Student Conduct during the time they are being transported to or from school or a school-sponsored activity, during the time they are attending school and during the time they are on the school premises. 

    CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR/DISCIPLINE

    • Grade level teachers set specific classroom behavior rules. The rules and the consequences of violating them are discussed initially with the students. The individual teacher takes disciplinary action.  The principal handles reoccurring violations that threaten the welfare and safety of others.  Behavior that causes a disruption in the classroom and to the child’s own education will be reported to the parents.  Disciplinary actions are recorded and kept on file with the teacher and the principal.  All students are disciplined according to the Fort Payne City Schools Student Code of Conduct.  No student is exempt from corporal punishment as a response to a violation of the code of conduct, unless otherwise stated in an IEP. 

    DISCIPLINE BY ADMINISTRATORS

    • Alabama Statutes delegate specific authority and responsibility to school officials concerning the control and discipline of students. A school principal or his/her designee has the authority, by law, to administer corporal punishment to students. School principals also have the authority to suspend students from school and/or from riding a school bus, and to recommend for expulsion those students who seriously disrupt the school environment. 

  • Dress Code

    DRESS CODE

    All students will be expected to be clean and neat in appearance.  Students should not wear anything that would attract undue attention, disrupt the learning process or be hazardous to the health and safety of students and/or teachers.  The teachers and principal have the authority to determine whether or not a student’s attire is disruptive.  Any of the following will be a violation of the dress code

    • Garments which expose midriff
    • Garments advertising drugs, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes or any other suggestive, vulgar or profane words
    • Short shorts
    • Caps and hats (unless there is a medical reason or special class activity).  Hats cannot be worn on school buses.  They must be in backpack while riding a bus.
    • Shoes with wheels (HEELY’S or any other brand)

    Comfortable shoes should be worn at all times for safety, health, and appearance purposes.  Shoes with non-marking soles would be a great help in keeping the floors clean and attractive.

  • Field Trips

    FIELD TRIPS

    • Due to the young age of our students, most of our field trips are conducted within the Fort Payne City limits.  Field trips cannot be taken the first two weeks or the last two weeks of school. A permission form must be completed and signed by a parent or legal guardian before a child will be allowed to participate in any field trip. 

  • Insurance

    INSURANCE

    A school accident insurance policy is available for all students. Students are able to sign up for the policy at the beginning of the school year. Students have an option of two forms of school insurance. They are as follows: 

    1. School-time coverage
    2. Round the clock coverage

    If you wish to purchase the insurance, checks should be made payable to the insurance company. Please read the policy benefits carefully. If you do not have family health coverage, you may want to consider this service. 

  • Library

    LIBRARY

    • Library classes are scheduled on a bi-monthly basis for all grades with instructional and free exploration periods. Students may check out three books weekly and they may be renewed for an additional week if the student brings the books in on the due date. Students/parents are required to pay for lost or damaged books. 
    • Students are responsible for library books issued to them during the school year. Reimbursement must be made for all lost and damaged library books. All monies collected are recorded by the school bookkeeper and paid to the proper fund for replacement purposes.  

  • Lost and Found

    LOST AND FOUND

    • Lost and found items are turned into the school office with the exception of coats that are placed on hooks attached to the wall near the gym.  Students should check there for missing coats.  Parents should make sure that their child’s name is written on all clothing and other valuable items. Each year, hundreds of coats are left at school and go unclaimed because there is no way to identify who it belongs to without a name.