Daily Schedule (may change depending on weather or upcoming school events)
- 2:50pm DISMISSAL Leopard’s Den students are picked up from each grade
- 3:00pm - 3:15pm Restroom and Handwashing break
- 3:15pm - 3:50pm Snack and Social Time
- 3:50pm - 4:50pm Homework Assistance
- 4:50pm - 5:50pm Free Play (Playground, Outdoor Games, Indoor Art & Games, Story Time, etc)
- 5:50pm - 6:00pm Dismissal time
Dismissal Door Entrance for Leopard’s Den
When picking up your child at anytime, you must use the entrance near the flagpole. All other doors will remain locked at all times. This door leads into the Multipurpose Room.
School Early Dismissal Days
Throughout the year, the school schedules early dismissal days (3 hours early). Leopard’s Den does NOT provide extended supervision for children on early dismissal days.
HISD Early Dismissal Dates for 2018-2019 Academic Calendar
Friday
9/27/19
|
Friday
10/18/19
|
Friday
11/8/19
|
Friday
1/17/20
|
Friday
2/14/20
|
Unavailable Dates
Leopard’s Den is NOT available the day before holidays, breaks and the last day of school. These dates are:
Friday
11/22/19
|
Thursday
12/19/19
|
Friday
3/13/20
|
Thursday
4/16/20
|
Friday
5/22/20
|
Friday
5/29/20
|
Parent Meetings
From time to time, Leopard’s Den will call a parent meeting to discuss policies, new projects or to give updates on program. In consideration of parents’ work schedules most meetings will be scheduled after 5:30 PM and kept to thirty minutes. Child supervision will be provided. Attendance is highly encouraged and may count towards volunteer hours.
Child Release Pick Up Policy
Children are only released to parents and those persons authorized by parents in the Brightwheel App and are able to enter the dismissal PIN (personal identification number) into the Brightwheel App. Please list anyone who may pick up your child during the entire academic year. In the event that someone not listed in the Brightwheel App must pick up a child, please follow this procedure:
- Notify Leopard’s Den via email at leopardsden@longfellowhisdpta.org that clearly indicates the individual that will be picking up the child(ren). Parents are responsible for making sure the staff receives the note.
- Proper identification will be required of each individual for any child to be released to if the person is unable to enter the dismissal PIN.
- Individual must abide by the Dismissal Time Policy and Late Pick Up Fee Policy.
Valuables
Students should not bring valuables, toys or excessive amounts of money to Leopard’s Den. When you are picking up your child please do not leave any valuables (purse, bags, etc.) visible in your car and be sure your car is locked.
DISCIPLINARY POLICY:
Children will be expected to treat their classmates, teachers, and parents with respect when they are in the program. Likewise, we want the children to feel secure while in the presence of their classmates and adults. Please keep this in mind when you are interacting with your child at school. Physical punishment, yelling or failure to supervise your child will not be tolerated. If you need assistance with your child’s behavior, please ask our staff.
We believe that young children need many opportunities to practice being independent thinkers. We will encourage the children to solve their own problems in an appropriate manner, and to develop adequate social skills.
When a child behaves inappropriately, we will observe the child and work with him/her to promote positive behavior. We will document the incident, the intervention used, and will inform you as the need arises. If the problem persists, we will call a parent conference. In the event that the behavior continues, the teacher will initiate a meeting with a PTA Executive Board member.
In a collaborative effort between parent and Leopard’s Den staff, a recommended behavior plan will be put in writing. The recommendations may include a time frame in which completion to maintain enrollment of the child in our program.
Leopard’s Den discipline policy is followed in conjunction with the Discipline Code set forth by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (Texas Administrative Code Title 40, Chapters 746 and 747, Subchapters L, Discipline and Guidance).
We expect children to behave as follows:
- Be responsible for personal belongings
- Participate in activities offered
- Be responsible for one’s own emotions and actions. Make an effort to be
- patient, grateful, polite and honest
- Follow proper safety procedures at all times, including:
- Keeping outside doors closed
- No leaving school without a guardian
- No taking photos or videos on a student’s phone
- No fighting or using foul language
- No Lying or Stealing from students, teachers or staff
- No running in school
- No playing in the restrooms
- No playing on or under the tables or chairs
- Using good table manners at snack time
- Throwing away trash and clean up after oneself
- No bringing or sharing cosmetics
- No toy guns, toy knives, dart/nerf guns
- No outside pets
- Respect for fellow students and staff
- Stay with your group & listen to your teacher at all times
- No wandering halls or going to a teacher’s class without checking in and permission
Children that exhibit any type of behavior which is thought to be unacceptable or unsafe by a teacher will be reminded of Leopard’s Den expectations for student behavior and an email, telephone call or MyBrightwheel message detailing the incident will be sent to their parent or guardian. There are no refunds for suspension or termination.
Unacceptable Behavior from students or parents/guardians (includes, but is not limited to)
- Foul language from students or parents.
- Watching violent or inappropriate material on electronic devices.
- Disrespect for another child, staff, or director in person, on phone or in an email
- Fighting, hitting, biting or throwing dirt onto another person
- Refusing to take part in activities
- Ignoring or disobeying rules of safety
- Public or inappropriate displays of affection
- Defacing property or vandalism
- Misuse of Longfellow Elementary School Property
- Lying and Stealing
DISCIPLINARY ACTION PROCESS:
1st Incident - Parent/Guardian will be notified verbally on the same day the incident occurred and the student’s profile will be notated of the incident in the Brightwheel App.
2nd Incident - Parent/Guardian will be notified verbally on the same day the incident occurred, the student will receive one (1) day suspension from the Leopard’s Den Program without a refund the following day and the student’s profile will be notated of the incident in the Brightwheel App.
3rd Incident - Parent/Guardian will be notified verbally on the same day the incident occurred, and the student will be suspended from the Leopard’s Den Program without a refund until the incident is reviewed by the Longfellow PTA Executive Board. The Executive Board will decide by vote what action is taken after a conference with the parent/guardian. This may result in continued suspension or full removal from the Leopard’s Den program with a refund.
Longfellow Elementary PTA Executive Board reserves the right to refuse service to any parent or child who chooses to not follow Leopard’s Den policies.
POSITIVE GUIDANCE:
- Using praise and encouragement of good behavior instead of focusing only upon unacceptable behavior;
- Reminding a child of behavior expectations daily by using clear, positive statements;
- Redirecting behavior using positive statements; and
- Using brief supervised separation or time out from the group, when appropriate for the child’s age and development, which is limited to no more than one minute per year of the child’s age.
WHAT WILL NOT OCCUR IN OUR PROGRAM:
- Corporal punishment or threats of corporal punishment;
- Punishment associated with food, naps, or toilet training;
- Pinching, shaking, or biting a child;
- Hitting a child with a hand or instrument;
- Putting anything in or on a child’s mouth;
- Humiliating, ridiculing, rejecting, or yelling at a child;
- Subjecting a child to harsh, abusive, or profane language;
- Placing a child in a locked or dark room, bathroom, or closet with the door closed; and
- Requiring a child to remain silent/inactive for an inappropriate period of time for the child’s age.
ONLINE REGISTRATION:
- For your convenience, you may register your child(ren) using this online form or fill out the paper forms on page 9, 10 and 11 and either scan or send a clear/legible photo of the completed forms to leopardsden@longfellowhisdpta.org, drop the hard copies in the PTA Welcome Center or hand them to a PTA Executive Board Member.
- You also must register as a parent on the Brightwheel website which is what will be used for billing, messaging and checking out your child(ren) at pickup.
FEDERAL TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:
- The Longfellow Elementary PTA Texas Congress 5016 federal taxpayer identification number is 76-0257653.
- The Longfellow Elementary PTA Texas Congress 5016 address is 3617 Norris Dr, Houston, TX 77025.
Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
Leopard’s Den is a Longfellow Elementary PTA program and supervised by certified Longfellow Elementary School Teachers. Leopard’s Den is NOT a daycare facility, but provides adult supervision for Longfellow Elementary students.
As a volunteer based non-profit organization, Longfellow Elementary PTA is dedicated to its community, school, students and parents by being transparent of all operations.
If you have any questions not answered within this handbook, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to contact us at:
Leopard’s Den iPhone: 713-303-4830
(2:50pm - 6:00pm)
School: 713-295-5268
PTA Welcome Center: 713-556-5716
leopardsden19-21@longfellowhisdpta.org
president19-21@longfellowhisdpta.org
vicepresident19-21@longfellowhisdpta.org
secretary19-21@longfellowhisdpta.org
treasurer19-21@longfellowhisdpta.org