Additional School Information

Field Trips

Parents will receive notices of field trips well in advance of the trip and will be asked to sign permission slips. Field trip fees must be paid in advance. Deadlines are set for field trip money.  We cannot accept late payments. Field trips require the school to send payments in advance; therefore, refunds will not be given for students or chaperones for any reason.

 

Parents are welcome to chaperone field trips. To help chaperone, parents must come into school with their driver’s license to receive a school issued ID tag.   There are a few other requirements: every parent reserves a spot with the teacher and pays in advance for the trip, provides his/her own transportation, assists, and monitors a small group assigned by the teacher for the whole trip, follow the school’s tobacco and drug policy, and conducts himself/herself in a respectful and professional manner. Photographs of other students are not allowed. Please respect the privacy of all students. 

 

No siblings or small children will be allowed to attend field trips. No check-outs will be allowed from an off-campus site. All students attending a field trip must return to school in the bus. Students will not be allowed to leave from field trips with parents. We are responsible for the children from the time they leave campus until they return to campus. Please do not ask for this policy to be changed.

 

parent volunteers/chaperones

Parents are not allowed to visit classrooms during the instructional day, but they may be invited to serve as a parent volunteer to help with various school activities. Parent volunteers must adhere to all school policies and procedures and ensure the privacy of all students. Many parents have time and talents to help at school with many of the jobs that teachers must do. Teachers greatly appreciate parents who take time to help in any way possible. It makes a job a little easier when a parent takes the time to help. If you wish to help, please contact your child’s teachers.

 

Volunteers may not use their cell phones on campus in the presence of students or use a cell phone to take pictures of students. Violation of these expectations will result in the parent not being allowed to volunteer at the school.

 

school spirit days and Jean days

Spirit Days

Spirit shirts may be worn with approved pants/shorts, skirts, etc., on such designated days as determined by the principal. The students have the option of wearing the spirit shirt or the standard school uniform. Blue jeans may be allowed (when designated by the principal) but must meet the same criteria as the uniform pants.

DESIGNATED JEAN DAYS

Only solid blue jeans are allowed on designated jean days. Jeans should not have holes, rips, or designs on them. Colored jeans are not allowed. Jeggings and joggers of any kind are not allowed.

 

Students will be allowed to wear jeans every Friday for $1. Colored jeans, jeans with holes, decorative print jeans, and denim leggings are not allowed. Jean shorts and skirts must be no shorter than 2-inches above the knee. Jean days serve as a reward for students as well as a fundraiser for specific causes. If a child comes to school in jeans without his/her money, detention may be assigned due to uniform violation. Students must arrive to school with jean money. Parents may not drop off jean money in the office. If students repeatedly come to school in jeans without $1, this is a violation of the dress code, and the privilege will be lost.

Yearlong Jean Pass

We will offer a yearlong jean pass for $25. Students with this pass may wear jeans every Friday. A onetime payment will be due at the beginning of the school year. Teachers will keep a log, so they know who does not need to pay each week.

school pictures

Students will take fall and spring pictures. A flyer will go home prior to the schedule date with more details. For fall pictures, students will wear uniforms. Fall pictures will used for the JCampus system. Students will be allowed to wear school appropriate clothing for Spring pictures. Sandals may be worn, but school appropriate shoes must be worn for the remainder of the day for safety reasons.

change in transportation

If there is a change in transportation, please inform the office immediately. If it is a permanent change, the office will inform the teacher so that the child can be dismissed correctly. If it is a temporary change, send a note with the child and/or call the front office.

Communication

J. B. Maitland is aware of the need to communicate quickly with the families of our students and to provide school-related information that is easy to find.

The two main sources of communication will be through our website: stmaryk12.net/maitland and Jtexts/Jcalls. Other communication will be in the form of monthly calendars, conduct charts, flyers, notes, or possibly a post on our Facebook page. Classroom teachers will set up Remind with their students. They will use the to communicate as needed. Please be sure to download the app to stay in touch with the teachers.

Homework Chart

A homework chart will be sent home weekly with test dates and homework for the week. Please look for this in their folder every Monday.

 

Conduct Chart

A conduct chart will go home daily to keep you informed on student behavior according to our school-wide discipline policy. The conduct sheet should be signed and returned daily. A color code system and conduct marks will be used to keep in touch with you daily on student behavior and participation in school.

 

JTEXT

JTexts is a type of communication that Maitland will use to inform parents of events, reminders, and emergencies. This system uses information from our JCampus system to send out text messages. If you do not receive these messages, please contact the office to ensure all accurate information is recorded in the system.

 

mobile app/school website

J. B. Maitland maintains an ad-free website that includes a copy of this handbook and information about our school, including contact information for faculty, staff, and administration: http://www.stmaryk12.net/maitland.

A free mobile app is also available from the Apple App Store and Google Play. This app can be customized to show information for your children’s schools. It can be found by searching for “St. Mary Parish Schools” in the app stores. The app icon will show the egret logo.

 

 

after school tutoring

The After-School Academic Tutoring Program includes tutoring in deficit skills, state assessment preparation, and enrichment activities. Students must qualify based on St. Mary Parish School board criteria. Tutoring will be held for one hour after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students will dismiss like regular dismissal. Bus transportation is offered for students in the program.

All St. Mary Parish attendance policies apply to this tutoring program and is supported by the St. Mary Parish Child Welfare and Attendance office. 

 

fundraisers

J. B. Maitland will sponsor fundraising activities to help finance school needs. When students participate in fundraisers, we ask parents to assist their children to ensure success of the sale and safety of their child. Items of the fundraiser become the responsibility of the student once issued to him/her. Items and money must be returned by the assigned date. Please deliver large amounts of fundraiser money to the office. Do not send large amounts of fundraiser money to school with your child. If a problem has occurred with fundraising in the past, the student will not be allowed to participate.

 

Family nights/speical events

Other events such as family nights will be held throughout the year. Flyers and announcements will be made to inform families of all events. We encourage you to join the Maitland family to create a learning community. All St. Mary Parish guidelines do apply.

school parties

Any approved class parties will be held at the end of the day at times the teacher deems proper, and the St. Mary Parish School Board approves.  Parents should check with their child’s teachers about refreshments prior to the day in question.

 

There have been changes concerning birthdays for students. No individual birthday parties will be allowed at any grade level. The office will not be accepting cupcakes, balloons, or any paraphernalia to celebrate birthdays.  It is time consuming, and it can be very overwhelming for the office staff and for teachers.  However, each child will still be able to celebrate his/her birthday on every first Wednesday of EVERY month beginning in August.  The children who celebrate their birthday, in any month will be given a cupcake and celebrated with an administrator in the cafeteria during their lunch break. This celebration is for students only.

 

Below you will find calendars at your disposal so that you will know the exact dates of each birthday recognition.  Please NOTE:  If a Wednesday falls on a day that we are not in school, the following Wednesday the birthday recognition day will be celebrated.  Thank you so much for your cooperation and understanding.

 

Date of Celebration	Month Celebrating
August 16	July and August
September 6	September
October 4	October
November 1	November
December 6	December
January 10	January
February 21	February
March 13	March
April 3	April
May 1	May and June

 

Snacks/Snack Sales

No gum, candy, chips, or sunflower seeds can be consumed in the classroom unless as a reward from a teacher.  We encourage students to buy snacks in the morning to enjoy during the afternoon recess.  Snack costs range from $0.25 to $0.50. Students must arrive at school with snack money. Snack money may not be dropped off in the office. Students may bring water to school. Water must be in the original clear water container. Flavor additives are not allowed. Slushes and popcorn will be sold on a designated Friday in the month.

 

clubs

Clubs will be offered starting in September. Please look for flyers for more information.

J. B. Maitland is excited to offer students extra-curricular activities in clubs and organizations. Please look for membership applications in September. Clubs are mostly free to participate though there may be minimal costs for some activities. Some clubs, such as National Junior Beta Club, may have a membership fee that may include a club shirt. All clubs will meet monthly on the first Monday from 3:05 p.m. to 4:05 p.m.

 

4-H will be offered, and the 4-H organization sets the fee and guidelines.

 

Band is offered for fifth graders. This allows fifth graders to grow in knowledge and appreciation of the world of instrumental music. Mr. Swiber, the MCHS Band Director, teachers band classes.

 

BETA Club is a selective organization with members who have met criteria based on previous and current years’ academic averages and behavior.