Morehead City Primary School
4409 Country Club Road
Morehead City, N.C. 28557

Welcome to Morehead City Primary School 

ABC’s Exemplary Status School 

1997-1998    1999 - 2000   2000-2001
2001-2002

"Building Castles, Building Dreams" is the 2001-2002 theme for Morehead City Primary School.  Our dream is that all children learn and grow within a caring, safe community.  Our school will build the opportunities for them to do so here at our sandcastle through excellent teaching, active learning, and powerful relationships.

Our school has a tradition of vigorous parent involvement and support. We will continue to engage parents in every aspect of Morehead City Primary School. We invite each of you to become involved through the PTO, Advisory Council, or numerous opportunities for volunteering.  Together - parents and the school - we can build success of all of our children.

       Renne Newman                   Becky Misner
            Principal                        Assistant Principal

Table of Contents

Faculty and Staff

Overview of the School

Daily Schedule

A Safe, Positive Learning Environment
          Bus Safety Rules
          Policies

General Information
          Attendance
          Transporting Students To and From School
          Visitors on Campus
          Report Cards, Progress Reports and Assessments
          Student Accountability Standards
          Food Service
          School Fees

Student Health and Safety

Parent Involvement Opportunities

School Calendar

An Overview of Morehead City Primary School

Morehead City Primary School, which opened in 1994, serves approximately six hundred fifty children in Pre-Kindergarten through third grade. The attendance area encompasses the mainland town of Morehead City and adjacent neighborhoods, and the island municipalities of Atlantic Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, and Salter Path.

The mission of Morehead City Primary School is to meet the needs of each child by providing motivation, knowledge, and basic life skills. 

There are six beliefs that form the core of our school’s philosophy:

o        We believe that school should be a safe, positive
      learning environment for all children.

o        We believe that there should be close, positive 
      communication between home, school, and the 
      community.

o        We believe that it is the school’s responsibility to 
      meet children’s intellectual, social, emotional, and 
      physical needs while they are in our care.

o        We believe that we have a responsibility to help each 
      child develop his or her potential to live a successful, 
      productive life.

o        We believe that we have an obligation to help 
      children become productive citizens who appreciate 
      the opportunities and responsibilities of a diverse, 
      democratic way of life.

Morehead City Primary School affirms that children learn best through active involvement and first-hand experiences. Instruction in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study provides a strong emphasis in reading, writing, and math through themes, projects, and center activities.  Teachers balance direct instruction with student exploration as they install basic concepts and the skills of problem solving and reasoning. 

Daily Schedule

7:30 a.m.                     Teachers at Duty Stations to supervise arriving
                             students

7:35-8:05 a.m.            Breakfast in cafeteria (optional)

7:55 a.m.                     Teachers in classroom to greet students

8:05 a.m.                      First Bell; school begins

8:10 a.m.                      Tardy Bell

3:00 p.m.                      Dismissal for bus and car passengers

3:05 p.m.                      Dismissal for daycare vehicle passengers or
                                       attending YMCA

A Safe, Positive Learning Environment

Morehead City Primary School faculty and staff strive to provide a safe, positive learning environment in which all children can learn. Teachers work to teach children self-discipline and use Super Skills as a regular part of our curriculum.  These are:  respect, responsibility, confidence, cooperation, perseverance, and problem solving. 

Students are expected to show respect to others, themselves, and property. Behavior that prevents others from learning will not be tolerated. The following rules will be in place throughout the school. 

School Do's:
1.  Treat other people the way you like to be treated.
2.  Respect things that belong to the school or to other 
     people.
3.  Follow the directions of your teachers and other
     adults at school.
4.  Stay where adults are in charge.

School Don'ts:
1.  No weapons - real or toy.
2.  No fighting - real or play.  This includes hitting,
     kicking, pushing, tripping, or "bad" touching.
3.  No illegal things.  This includes drugs, tobacco,
     alcohol, knives, fireworks, matches, and lighters.

Students who fail to follow school rules will be subject to disciplinary action. Each teacher has a classroom management system and handles inappropriate behavior with that system. If a child exceeds the limits set by the teacher, he/she may be sent to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or referred to a school administrator.  The ICU is a room supervised at all times by an instructional assistant.  Students may be assigned a time-out in the ICU for a period of ten to twenty minutes.  When there, the child sits quietly in a chair.  When a student has been assigned to ICU, the parent is informed by either a letter or phone call. 

Bus Safety Rules

Bus rules are made to protect students while going to and from school. The following must be observed on all school and activity buses to ensure the safety of all passengers and drivers.

1.      No student will ride a bus unless assigned to it by the
      principal or assistant principal. For special situations,
      the principal may grant permission to ride a
      different bus if passenger space is available on that
      bus on that day.  Parents needing special permission
      should write a note to the principal for approval,
      specifying the special circumstances which warrant
      the request.  In extreme emergency situations,
      requests may be made by telephone. 

2.      Passengers will enter the bus, take their seats quickly,
      and remain seated. They will refrain from moving
      around or changing seats when the bus is in motion.

3.      Passengers will follow the verbal and written
      directions of the bus driver.

4.      Passengers will not eat, chew gum or drink on the
      bus.

5.      Passengers will not bring radios, games, toys, laser
      pointers, tobacco, alcoholic beverages, weapons,
      bottles, sticks, rocks, animals or anything considered
      unnecessary or dangerous on the bus. 

6.      Passengers will keep the aisle clear.

7.      Passengers will keep arms, feet, heads, etc. INSIDE
      the bus at all times. No objects will be released from 
      the bus window at any time.

8.      Passengers will remain seated until the bus comes to 
      a complete stop. They must use the "Safety Position": 
      facing the front with their backs completely against 
      the back of the seat.< 

9.      Passengers will not distract the driver’s attention in 
      any way. This includes language and / or actions
      which are rude, loud, annoying, or obscene. 
      FIGHTING — REAL OR PLAY — WILL NOT BE 
      TOLERATED.

10. Passengers will maintain complete silence at all 
     railroad crossings. 

11. Passengers will not mar or deface the bus in any way. 
     Students will be required to pay for any damage. 

Video cameras are periodically used to monitor the activity on a school bus.

Students who fail to observe the bus safety rules will be subject to immediate disciplinary action. Each driver will attempt to correct minor disciplinary problems. If the inappropriate behavior continues or is excessively dangerous, the students will be referred to the principal or assistant principal for the following disciplinary actions:  

      1^st referral:       a conduct report describing the incident will be 
                                   sent home as a warning. 

        2^nd referral:      a conduct report labeled "offense "2" will be sent 
                                   home and a school-base consequence assigned.

        3^rd referral:      a third offense conduct form will result in 
                                   suspension of bus-riding privileges for a stated 
                                   period of time. The period of time will be in 
                                   relation to the seriousness of the offense and the 
                                   student’s previous bus conduct offenses.

Additional Policies

In addition to the guidelines included in this booklet, the laws of the state of North Carolina and the policies of the Carteret County Board of Education govern Morehead City Primary School. All regulations and procedures of the Carteret County Board of Education are found in The Board of Education Policy Manual.  Two copies of this manual are available in the school - one in the principal's office and the other in the principal's office and the other in the media center.

There are a number of Carteret County Board of Education policies of which all students and parents should be aware. These have been published in A Parent’s Guide to Carteret County Schools Policies and Procedures. Each student will receive a copy on his/her enrollment.  If you need another copy, please request it at the school office. 

General Information

Attendance
Regular school attendance is essential for success at Morehead City Primary School. In order to be considered in attendance, the student should be present for more than half the day or at a place other than the school with the approval of school officials attending an authorized school activity (field trips, concerts, plays, etc.).

Excusable absences from school include: illness, injury, quarantine, death in the immediate family, medical and dental visits, judicial or administrative proceedings, religious observances, and alternate education opportunities (Title 16 NCAC.0404).  When the student returns to school, the parent or guardian should send the teacher a note stating the reason for the absence.  Absences for "alternate education opportunities" require prior approval from the principal.  To request such approval, please submit your planned activity in writing and briefly describe the student work which will be submitted after the activity such as a project or written report.

The student day begins at 8:05 a.m. with the first bell and ends at 3:00 p.m. with dismissal. Students should not arrive before 7:30 a.m. when staff is assigned to supervise them safely. If students arrive after the tardy bell at 8:10 a.m., their parent should bring them to the office for a tardy slip to ensure accurate attendance records. If a child needs to leave before the end of the school day, parents should sign the child out at the office and allow the office staff to call the child from the classroom.

Tardy and Early Check-Out Policy
To protect instructional time, parents and guardians are asked to avoid tardies or checking their child out early unless the child is ill, has a doctor's appointment, or any of the other excusable absences noted above.  During a nine-week period, any student who has 4 unexcused tardies and/or early checkouts will receive one day in Lunch Detention.  Five unexcused tardies and/or early check-out will result in After-School Detention.  Any student who receives further unexcused tardies and/or early check-outs will be assigned additional After-School Detention and their situation referred to the School Social Worker.

Parents who bring their child to school are asked to use one of two options. You may park your car in the front parking lot and walk with your child to the building. Please hold your child’s hand and use the designated crosswalk for safety. If you do not wish to park and bring your child inside, please use the "Student Loading Area" at the school's entrance.  Please allow your child to leave your vehicle only from the passenger side for their safety.  Observe the staff members who are directing traffic.  PLEASE WATCH FOR CHILDREN AT ALL TIMES.

At dismissal, parents are asked to wait out front for their child. Each teacher will safely escort the students to both the car pick-up and bus parking areas. When parents pick up their child, they may park their car in the parking lot and meet their child at the front to walk them safely back to their car.  Or they may wait in their vehicle at the student loading area for their child. 

Visitors on Campus
All visitors are asked to please check in at the office and secure an ID badge while on campus.  This is an important part of the personal safety strategies we teach our children.  We greatly appreciate your support.

Report Cards, Progress Reports and Assessments
Parents will receive information on their child’s progress frequently. Student work is sent home regularly for the parent’s review.

Parent-teacher conferences will be conducted at least twice a year. Please schedule a conference with your child's teacher whenever there is a question or concern on their progress.  For a conference, please send a note to the teacher or call the school at 247-2448.

Kindergarten progress reports are issued in January and again in June. Skills are marked as "Meets Expectations", "Not Yet", "Progressing", or "Not Assessed".

First and second grade progress reports are sent home at the end of each nine-week period. Skills are assessed in terms of Performance Levels. 

Level 1 — "Not yet meeting grade level expectations"; Level 2 — "Sometimes meets grade level expectations", Level 3- "Meets grade level expectations": and 
Level 4 - "Exceeds grade level expectations".

Third grade progress reports are also sent home at the end of each nine-week period and also reflect the Performance Levels noted above. In addition, third grade students receive a grade for reading, writing, spelling, and math.

Third Grade Grading Scale 
         A = 93-100      B = 85-92     C=77-84
         D = 70-76       F = Below 70 

Recognition is given to students in third grade for academic excellence. Third grade students who have made no grade lower than 93 will be noted on the Principal’s List. Students with no grade lower than 85 will be noted on the Honor Roll.  Principal's List and Honor Roll students rosters will be published in the local newspaper.

Tests and assessments are administered to all students to measure academic growth. All Morehead City Primary School students use the Carteret County Math Assessment and the North Carolina Literacy Assessment. Third grade students take a pretest at the beginning of the school year to determine their general instructional levels in math and reading.  Third graders also take the Test of Cognitive skills in February to determine intellectual functioning.  Third graders take the North Carolina End-of-Grade Tests in reading and math during May.  Parents receive copies of all test results for their child.

Student Accountability Standards are expectations for student achievement in all North Carolina public schools. Students must demonstrate a level of proficiency on the annual tests in order to be promoted to the next grade level.  

Food Services
Morehead City Primary School’s Jungle Café is operated for the well being of students and staff. A well-balanced breakfast and lunch are offered at reasonable prices, with free and reduced price meals provided for those who are eligible.

The computer system in the cafeteria allows parents and students to make payments in advance for meals or a la carte foods. This gives students a personal account from which to pay for meals and food items without having to bring money to school each day.

Cafeteria Prices

               Breakfast                             Lunch
            Paid         $.75                        $1.25
            Reduced    .30                            .40
            Adult       1.00                          2.00

For break students may purchase:  Milk                 $.30
                                                       Sunny Delight $.45
                                                       Juice                 $.25

If your child borrows lunch money from the cafeteria, please see that this is paid by the next school day. If your child prefers to bring a lunch, please include healthy food — no soft drinks.

To apply for free or reduced price meals for your children, you must complete an application and return it to the school. You need only one application for your household and may return it to any Carteret County School. Forms are available in the school office.

School Fees for 2001-2002

                 Kindergarten snack              $15.00
                 Optional student insurance 
                            24 hour coverage       $54.00
                            School time coverage $10.00

Please note:
The Carteret County Board of Education does not carry health and accident insurance on its students. Parents may purchase insurance for students from American Advantage Insurance for the fees noted above. Enrollment forms are distributed to all students at the beginning of the school year and are available at all times in the school office.

Student Health and Safety 
Immunizations are required of all students in the North Carolina public school system. A written record from a licensed physician or a health department stating that the student has had them must be presented within 30 days of the student’s enrollment.

The following basic immunizations are required: 

     5 DPT, DTap, or DT doses (If 4^th dose is after 4^th
       birthday, 5^th dose is not required; DT requires
     medical exemption.) 

       4 POLIO VACCINE doses (If 3^rd dose is after 4th
       birthday, 4th dose is not required.)

       1-4 Hib doses (Series complete if at least 1 dose 
      given on/after 15 months and before 5 years of age;
      not required after age 5.) 

       3 Hep B doses (Children born on or after July 1,
      1994 are required to have 3 doses.) 

       2 Measles doses (at least 30 days apart; 1^st does on /
      after 12 months of age) 

       1 Mumps dose (on /after 12 months of age) 

       1 Rubella dose (on /after 12 months of age)

Exemptions from N. C. State Immunization Law are allowed only for medical or religious reasons. Either a physician or a minister must render a written statement of the exemption based on the appropriate criteria. This statement will become part of their cumulative record.

Minor student injuries will be treated at school by the school staff, and parents notified. Parents or emergency contacts will be notified immediately of more serious injuries. Emergency contact telephone numbers are vitally important for all students.  Parents should provide this information and keep it updated as often as necessary. 

Prescription medicine can be administered by school personnel under the following guidelines:

2.  Parents must bring the medication to the school
     office in a bottle with pharmacist’s label designating 
     patient’s name, dispensing instructions, name of 
     drug, and name of physician. The office staff will 
     count medication received in pill form while the 
     parent observes.  

3.  Whenever medication is changed by the physician, 
     the parent is responsible for informing the 
     school by submitting a new form and delivering the
     new medication to the school.

4.  Over-the-counter medication is NOT kept on hand 
     in the office.  Should your child need such 
     medication, you will be contacted by phone and you
     may bring the medication to school to give to your 
     child.  Students may not have over-the-counter 
     medication in their possession.

Parent Involvement Opportunities

Classroom volunteers are always needed and welcomed! Parents will be invited to complete the volunteer information form provided at the opening of school to indicate your area of interest or you may contact: 

         Becky Bosse, Parent Volunteer Coordinator ,        
                              240-3281

        Anita Williams, Campus Volunteer Coordinator,    
                                  247-2448

The Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) is an active, energetic organization which provides support for the many programs and projects of Morehead City Primary School. For more information, please contact:

          Judy Wooten, PTO President, 808-3058  

The Advisory Council is a group of parents appointed by the Carteret County Board of Education to serve as a resource to the principal and to the Board. Please call the school for the next scheduled meeting date.
      
           2001 — 2002 Advisory Council Members
           Dana Cannon                      Larry Miller
           David Carr                           Gilda Parsons
           Cherie Collins                      Emily Renfrow
           Wayne Fluellen                    Lucy Rixey
           Ernie Giblin                         Maxine Sutton

WORKING TOGETHER

I dreamed I stood in a studio and watched two sculptors there, 

The clay they used was a young child’s mind, and they fashioned it with care. 

One was a teacher; the tools she used were books and music and art; 

One a parent with a guiding hand, and a gentle, loving heart. 

Day after day the teacher toiled with a touch that was deft and sure, 

While the parent labored by her side and polished and smoothed it o’er. 

And when at last their task was done, they were proud of what they had wrought, 

For the things they had molded into the child could neither be sold nor bought. 

And each agreed she would have failed if she had worked alone, 

For behind the parent stood the school, 

And behind the teacher, the home. 

      Author unknown