Overview

Extended Day Program

Hammett Bowen, Jr. Elementary houses the Community Extended Day Program for students before and after school.
This program is offered through the Marion County School Board's Community Education Department. Registration is during hours of operation.

Hours of Operation 

  • Morning: 6:30 AM to 7:15 AM
  • Afternoon: 2:05 PM to 6:00 PM

Fees

  • Morning: $10.00 per week
  • Afternoon: $40.00 per week or $50 for both
  • Early Release Day: An additional $5.00 charge per child

Cafeteria

The cafeteria serves a breakfast and a hot lunch every day using a computer system to track disbursement of meals. 

Breakfast is free for all students
Lunch is free for all students
Extra Milk = $0.25
Extra Juice (20 oz.) = $0.25
Yoohoo and Gatorade= $0.75 


Visitors

***Notice to Parents and Guardians*** Please be aware of our SAFETY PROCEDURES concerning signing in on campus. We use a computer system in the front office to enter your name and identify why you are here on campus. This system will automatically print out a name badge for you, so please allow for extra time signing in.

Also, remember to check out on the computer system. This allows us to keep a record of volunteer hours. If you are coming for a special event during the school day, please allow for extra time for checking in. Thank you for your patience!

Main office: 352-291-7900
Fax: 352-291-7901
Guidance: 352-291-7907
Cafeteria: 352-291-7916
Extended Day: 352-291-7917


Leaving the School Grounds

Once students arrive on the school campus they are under school jurisdiction and supervision. No student will be allowed to leave the campus - for any reason - without a parent first checking them out at the office.


How can I help my child?

Here are some websites to help assist parents as they seek to help their children reach their academic goals in school:


Health Services Program

During the school year, all students are eligible to participate in certain health services. Health screenings including, but not limited to, vision, hearing, and scoliosis will be conducted at various grade levels. Parents will be notified if these screenings indicate need for follow-up. If a parent does not wish for his/her child to participate in health screenings, they should send a written note to the principal on a yearly basis requesting their child be excluded from participation. 

Health services begin the first week of school. Parents are encouraged to call the school if they have health concerns regarding their child. The visiting health nurse provides health counseling, health education, and assistance with medical referrals and necessary follow-up. In case of a health emergency, "911" (emergency medical services) will be called and the parent/guardian will be notified immediately. In the event the parent/guardian cannot be reached, the person designated by the parent/guardian to call "in case of emergency" will be notified. School health insurance forms are available upon request in the main office.


Alert Now Calling System – Frequently Asked Questions

Below is an overview of common questions and issues regarding AlertNow broadcasts.

The message started playing and then stopped. Why?

AlertNow utilizes the industry's most Advanced Answering Machine Detection (AAMD) software. The system starts the broadcast immediately upon telephone pickup; simultaneously, it is listening for interruptions. If the system is not interrupted by noise or someone speaking within the first 3.5 seconds, the message is delivered. If the system detects a greeting longer than a few seconds, the system treats this as an outgoing message from an answering machine and will stop playing, wait for silence (usually after the beep), and then start the message over so that it can be recorded in its entirety. 

While the software is 98% accurate in distinguishing live vs. machine, errors can occur if the person repeatedly says "hello" or answers in a noisy environment (i.e. traffic, children playing, loud music or television, dog barking, etc.). Generally in these situations, the system stops playing the message. It is waiting for silence to start the message over. In a noisy environment, where silence is unattainable, call recipients can press the number 1 on their telephone and the message will play from the beginning without interruption.

What if the line is busy or there is no answer?

The AlertNow system will make up to four attempts (depending on account settings) to reach each number, with three minutes in between each call. If the message is not delivered by the fourth attempt, the school is notified of such in the delivery report.

 Why is my answering machine recording only half of the message?

If the answering machine greeting is sporadic with various periods of silence or does not start playing within 3 seconds, the system may read this as a live person and begin playing the message before the machine has started recording. This will result in a recording of silence (if the AlertNow message finishes playing before the machine begins recording) or of just the last portion of the AlertNow message. Parents can simply re-record their outgoing message so that there are no pauses.

Alternately, if the answering machine is set to record for a specific amount of time (e.g., 30 seconds) and the AlertNow message runs longer than that, this will also result in message cut-off. The recommended solution is to have parents set their machines to record for a longer period. For answering machines or voicemail systems where it is necessary to enter a mailbox number, AlertNow is unable to leave a message.

My caller ID showed that the school had called, but there was no voicemail. Why?

The system is will ring a line up to six times. If your answering machine is set to pick up on seven or more rings, the message may not be delivered to your machine. Therefore, we encourage you to set your machine to six rings or fewer. Another possibility is that there is a break or a substantial silence in your machine's outgoing message, causing the AlertNow message to play prior to the machine actually recording. Please make sure that the greeting is seamless to facilitate successful message delivery.

Why doesn't the school's name and/or phone number appear on the caller ID?

AlertNow passes the caller ID information to the local telephone carriers, but it is up to those carriers to pass it along to their customers. Furthermore, different local telephone companies process caller ID information differently. Some provide the name associated with the number, while others do not. For example, a telephone company may require an individual to subscribe to "Advanced Caller ID" in order to receive the school name along with the phone number. Unfortunately, we have no control over this feature.

Will the system call phone numbers with extensions?

The AlertNow system is capable of dialing extensions, but we cannot guarantee the success of such a call. First of all, strict rules must be followed when entering the number in the AlertNow system. It must be formatted as ten digits, a space, a lower case x, then the extension number. Secondly, if the phone system on the recipient's end requires menu navigation (such as, "Press 1 if you know your party's extension") AlertNow will not be able to deliver the call.


Medicine and Medication

If students are to take medication at school, an authorization form must be on file in the clinic naming the drug and the physician who prescribed the medicine, phone number of the physician, amount and times medication is to be given and the health condition requiring the medication. Students will not be permitted to take medication without a completed authorization form (including inhalers). The medicine is to be brought to school in the original container and kept in the clinic. Parents must bring medicine in - it may NOT be sent with a student on the bus. 

Students are not allowed to keep medication in desks, purses, etc., or on their person; however, a metered dose inhaler as prescribed by a physician for asthma is permitted. Upon arriving at school, students should bring the authorization form immediately to the clinic. Upon arriving at school, students should bring the authorization form immediately to the clinic. Parents should ask physicians to schedule medication for times other than school hours if possible. Over the counter drugs, such as aspirin, aspergum, cough lozenges, cough syrup, decongestants, etc., should not be brought to school.


Tips for Parent Conferences

Before the Conference

  • review schoolwork.
  • Write down questions.
  • Be aware of child's strengths and weaknesses.
  • Send questions to teacher ahead of time.
  • Bring any requested documents.

During the Conference

  • Not comfortable? ... take a friend or translator.
  • Ask teacher about child's progress.
  • Feel free to offer information.
  • Ask questions for clarity.
  • Ask what you can do to help.
  • Talk about ways to exchange news about the child.

After the Conference

  • Talk to your child about the conference.
  • Point out strengths and weaknesses discussed.
  • Discuss areas that need improvement and plans to work on weak areas with child.
  • Be consistent and follow through with plans.
  • Communicate child's progress to teacher. Call the school if you need help.
  • Praise child for effort.
  • Remind child of Parent/Child/School compact agreement.
  • Schedule another conference for updating progress.

Important Links


Grade Reporting

Report cards are sent home with the student at the end of each grading period. Interim Progress can be checked by parents at any time on the Parent Portal. If you do not have a username and password for the Parent Portal, please contact the school, and we will see that you get signed up. Parents are asked to please sign and return the acknowledgement slips for report cards.


Grading Scale

Kindergarten, 1st, & 2nd Grades

E = 90-100%, Excellent

S = 80-89%, Satisfactory

N = 79% and below, Needs Improvement

U = Unsatisfactory (conduct only)

NG = No Grades Given

3rd, 4th, & 5th Grades

A = 90-100%, Excellent

B = 80-89%, Above Average

C = 70-79%, Average

D = 60-69%, Below Average

F = 0-59%, Failure


Attendance

Good attendance is essential for satisfactory progress in school. Florida Statute 232.1 requires that an absence must be explained. A note from home is required following each absence and must be turned into the homeroom teacher within three days of return. Those absences not explained will be unexcused. Florida Statute 228.041 considers any student who has accrued fifteen or more unexcused absences within a 90-calendar day period to be a habitual truant and interventions leading to court action may occur.

Excused absences include personal illness, death or illness in the immediate family, a trip authorized in advance by the principal or assistant principal (form may be picked up in main office) and doctor or dental appointments. If a student is absent in excess of three days, the attendance clerk should be notified by the parent. If continuous or sporadic absences due to illness occur, then documentation from a physician may be required to excuse absences.

Absences are recorded on the report card and on permanent records. Students who skip school or classes are subject to disciplinary action.

When students are absent, their work is incomplete until it is made up. Responsibility for making up such work rests with the student. Also, it is the responsibility of the student to notify teachers of anticipated absences and make arrangements for completing assignments. When a student is ill and will be out three or more days, school work may be requested, and picked up, through the main office. It is asked that 24 hours notice be given to teachers.

For their safety, students arriving late to school must be escorted inside to the front desk to receive a tardy pass before going to class. According to the Marion County Code of Student Conduct, students are allowed three tardies each nine weeks. Excessive tardies to school may result in disciplinary action.

All students must be signed out in the main office by a parent, guardian or individual listed on the Critical Information Sheet before leaving campus during the school day. School personnel will require proper identification before releasing a student.

Board policy provides that a student who is assigned to a school in which his or her race is in the majority may request reassignment to a school where his or her race is in the minority. Applications based on this policy will be available at the school or at the School Board Office. The deadline for returning the completed application is June 30 of each year for the upcoming school year. 


Messages/Deliveries

Students will not be called to the telephone from class except in cases of an emergency. Telephone messages from parents or others cannot be delivered to students during the school day. Parents are asked to communicate and make the necessary arrangements with students before coming to school.

Flowers, gifts, balloons or any other items are not to be delivered to students at school as this procedure is a disruption to the educational environment.


Parties and Treats*

Throughout the year our students enjoy parties and numerous special treats* as rewards for good behavior, etc. We appreciate your thoughtfulness in wanting to provide treats for our students, but we would like to work your kindness into our existing reward system.

Please do not send food or other treats to school without first discussing it with your child's teacher. BIRTHDAY PARTIES ARE NOT PERMITTED, however, after talking to the child’s teacher, parents may send in a treat* to be distributed after lunch. Invitations brought to school for a private party may not be distributed in class unless there is an invitation for each child.

*TREATS- In this day and age of food allergies and health concerns, all treats sent to school for student consumption must come from a store or bakery, be in their original packaging and be appropriately labeled.


Money and Valuables

Students should not bring money to school other than amounts required for lunches or school supplies. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen valuables or money. Please use good judgment. 


Release of Information

The School Board reserves the right to release student directory information without prior permission of the parent. "Directory Information" includes the student's name, address, telephone number if it is listed, date and place of birth, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of athletic team members, dates of attendance and degrees and awards received. Parents objecting to this use of directory information concerning their child must notify the principal in writing within ten (10) days after the beginning of each school year.

The school system maintains permanent records on each student containing verifiable information of clear educational importance, including: the student's full legal name, date and place of birth, last known address, parents' or guardians' names, name and location of last school attended, demographic data, records of enrollment and attendance, courses taken and records of achievement. It may also maintain temporary information including health information, standardized test scores, honors and activities, personal attributes, work experience, teacher and counselor comments and special reports.


Breakage and Damage

Hammett Bowen, Jr. is your school, and you should be proud of it and care for it. Writing or otherwise destroying property reflects directly on the student body. Whoever willfully defaces or damages school property, in any way, shall be subject to disciplinary action appropriate to the misdeed.


Appropriate Student Behavior

We at Hammett Bowen, Jr. Elementary believe that if all students strive to develop the following character traits they will be productive members of our community:

  • ACHIEVEMENT
  • CHARITY
  • RESPECT
  • HONESTY
  • LOYALTY
  • INTEGRITY
  • TOLERANCE
  • RESPONSIBILITY
  • SELF-DISCIPLINE
  • THANKFULNESS

To do this, we all must observe the basic rules that are necessary for all of us to live together in our society. Those who cannot abide by the simple rules of good behavior should expect to receive the appropriate disciplinary action. Common courtesy is the mark of good home training and the school reinforces that training. The school expects good conduct to be displayed at school or at school-sponsored activities at all times; however, parents must accept the major responsibility for the proper conduct of their student at school and take appropriate action for any misbehavior.

Extreme noise or running in hallways, pushing, shoving, fighting, threatening to harm or infringing on the rights of others is not acceptable behavior on the campus. The public display of affection such as kissing, hugging or holding hands is inappropriate in the school setting and is therefore not allowed.