Dear Parents,
Welcome to Runnels Preschool! Whether your child
is entering preschool for the first time, or he/she is an
“upperclassman” among the little ones, this will be an
exciting adventure. We appreciate the opportunity to be
the “tour guides” and to share the joy of discovery with
your child.
It is during these early years of schooling that
seeds of important attitudes and impressions are
planted. Our faculty and administration strive, most of
all, to create a warm and enthusiastic environment for
the nourishing of these seeds. We promise to be conscientious
gardeners, helping your little one experience the
thrill of learning.
Please join us in this endeavor. Working together,
we will succeed!
Sincerely,
Gladys Runnels
Principal
FOREWORD
A school is successful when its students succeed.
When the students succeed in mastering academic skills, in
achieving true friendships, and in participating in the total life
of the school community, then the parents and faculty join the
students in the joy of success.
The purpose of this guide is to help Runnels School
students, with the assistance of their parents, realize these
successes. A clear understanding of our school’s goals and
expectations is an important first step toward school success.
No set of rules, however, can ever be either perfect or
complete. At Runnels the worth of an individual person has
always been held more precious than any set of rules. As
Runnels continues to grow and flourish, may it always adhere
to this principle.
Children Learn What They Live
If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, she learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, she learns to feel guilty.
If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, she learns to be
patient.
If a child lives with praise, he learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, she learns justice.
If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval, she learns to like herself.
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns
to find love in the world.
Dorothy Law Nolte
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What is Runnels? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Little People Are Interesting . . . . . . 7
Philosophy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Enrollment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Traffic Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Curriculum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Home/School Communications.. . . 14
General Policies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
WHAT IS RUNNELS?
The oldest independent school in Baton Rouge, Runnels
was founded in l965. It began as a preschool, and grew into an
elementary school in 1970. The Junior-Senior High School began
in 1983.
Runnels School is an independent, non-sectarian, coeducational,
nonprofit institution whose purpose is to provide a
college preparatory program of studies to students from age 2
through grade 12. The school - its faculty, administration, and
curriculum in all programs - is fully accredited by the State
Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Our students take part in the fullest kind of learning -
the kind that encourages not only academic skill and curiosity,
but initiative and responsibility as well. This is the type of
education that sets students on a course toward productive
lives. Whether in the classroom or on the playing fields, they
are made ready for the challenges yet to come.
We believe that what happens to us in youth sets a
pattern for the way we choose to live the rest of our lives. At
Runnels School, we help young people make the most of this
time, and the best of themselves.
LITTLE PEOPLE ARE INTERSTING!
No two preschoolers are exactly alike in every way, but
they do have many common characteristics. What are some of
these characteristics?
Physical Characteristics. Preschoolers suffer from growing
pains. They are noisy, restless, squirming bundles of energy.
They play hard, tire easily, and can sit still only a short time.
They are undergoing physical changes that improve
eye-hand coordination, although they are still awkward with
pencil and scissors. They are clumsy, fall often, and need help
with zippers.
Mental characteristics. Preschoolers show an increasing
sense of self. They reach out for more than they can handle.
They learn by participation and exploration. They must touch,
handle, explore, and touch again. They change their minds
frequently and are highly dependent on adult direction.
Emotional Characteristics. Preschoolers are easily excited
and their emotions range from the extremes of happiness to the
depths of despair. They find it hard to accept responsibility for
their own acts. They thrive on praise and approval.
Social Characteristics. Preschoolers are highly individualistic.
They want to show off, to win, and to be first. They are
changeable in their relationships to others, and they hate rules
and regulations.
The Runnels Preschool Program is designed to help
fulfill and meet the needs of your preschool child - physically,
mentally, emotionally, and socially.
PHILOSOPHY
The Runnels School is a comprehensive school dedicated to
the emotional, intellectual, social and physical growth of the students
in our preschool through high school programs. We believe that
education is a cooperative effort among students, parents, faculty,
administration and staff, designed to stimulate the creativity and
academic achievement of the individual.
We believe in the importance of the individual and the value
of a personal approach to education. We help each student to
develop a realistic and positive self-image. We seek to develop
self-discipline by encouraging positive behavioral traits. We respect
the dignity of the individual and strive to discipline in a fair, consistent
and caring manner.
We believe that a young person learns from his or her total
experience in the school setting. Accordingly, we provide opportunities
for social and physical growth in both the curriculum offerings
and extracurricular activities.
We recognize that increasing in technical academic knowledge,
social graces, and physical well-being is not enough for a
complete education. We believe that a very important part of a
child’s growth is developing an appreciation of the arts. We strive
to inspire this appreciation in many ways, and also provide an
opportunity for self-expression in the arts.
We feel that each young person entrusted to us is important,
and we consider it an honor and a privilege to be allowed to be a
part of his or her life.
Enrollment
Admission to Runnels Preschool is based only on the
availability of space in the program. (The admission procedure
at the kindergarten level and higher includes an entrance exam
and submission or records from previously attended schools.)
Continuing enrollment throughout the Runnels system is based
on satisfactory academic progress and acceptable social development
of the student, on the parents’ fulfillment of financial
obligations to the school, and on the school’s continuing ability
to meet the needs of the student. In matters of judgment on
these issues, final responsibility rests with the principal.
Traffic Procedures
Parents should at all times follow the traffic plan (explained
in detail and mailed to each family before the start of school each
year). Please call the main office to request an additional copy of
our “Traffic Plan” (for the Jefferson Highway campus).
A teacher will open the car door and receive your child.
Normal arrival time is 8:15-8:30 a.m. This schedule allows our
shuttle bus to the Harrell’s Ferry campus to be gone before
your child arrives. With permission, however, your child may
be delivered between 7:45 and 8:15 a.m. if the needs of your
personal schedule warrant early arrival. An example would be
carpooling with a shuttle bus rider.
Please line up as directed in the traffic plan at all times -
morning, noon and afternoon. Do not park and leave your car in
the bus zones between 7:45 and 8:00 a.m., or between 3:00 and
3:45 p.m.
A teacher will supervise morning arrivals until 8:00 a.m., and
dismissal between 3:15 and 3:45 p.m. At other arrival and departure
times, please escort your child to, or meet him/her in the
designated classrooms. Details about exact locations for delivering
and picking up children will be explained at the beginning of each
school year.
Curriculum
There are separate programs for each of the three segments
of our preschool: two-year-olds, three-year-olds and four-yearolds.
Although the comments are general in nature and apply to all
of our preschool programs, the daily activities and content are
appropriate for the needs of each group of students. Not all of the
skills are introduced to the two- and three-year-olds.
Group Work
During the school day, we have classes in which the children
participate in small groups in a variety of subjects and activities.
The following descriptions of the various classes focus on content.
The methods and structures of the group lessons are designed to
involve the children in age-appropriate activities which lead them to
discover that learning is fun!
Reading, Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies,
Art, Handwriting, Music, and Storytime are the subjects included
in our curriculum.
All students receive individual attention in both reading
and math (in addition to their group reading and math lessons).
Each teacher is assigned a certain number of children with
whom she will be doing individual work on a daily basis. A
report of your child’s individual work progress will be sent to
you monthly.
Group Reading involves lessons using various activities
and strategies that introduce the idea of sound/symbol correspondences,
develop vocabulary, and lay the groundwork for
reading comprehension. The young students are involved in
reading readiness until they are ready to approach the skills of
reading. All children will have the opportunity to explore and
experiment with reading at their levels of readiness and interest.
Group Math involves the children in a variety of mathematical
investigations. They participate in activities which introduce
them to mathematics concepts, recognition of numbers and their
uses. They will have opportunities to discuss their discoveries and
see how mathematics is part of everyday life. Some will become
competent in performing basic computations with speed and
accuracy.
Language Arts provides opportunities for children to think,
listen and talk with one another - an important way children learn.
Through direct involvement with communication in action, young
student refine their language skills, build their vocabularies, learn to
formulate ideas, and develop some understanding of the power and
limitations of language.
Science presents our students with opportunities for investigating
the exciting world around them. They will learn just how
fascinating science is, through observing, listening, exploring ideas
together and through a variety of hands-on-science activities.
Social Studies involves the children in activities relating to
what they know and see every day. These activities allow them to
practice taking turns, to exchange ideas, to share materials, and to
interact with adults and other children.
Music naturally delights and moves children. We hope to
help them continue to grow in their appreciation of the beauty of
music, because as they do, they will acquire a gift that will bring
them great pleasure. Their music experiences at school will be
enriched through song interpretation, rhythmic activities, developing
musical listening skills and playing informal rhythm instruments.
Storytime familiarizes the children with a variety of literature
and gives our teachers an opportunity to model joy in interpretive
reading.
Handwriting is designed, at this level, to help the children
become comfortable in the correct use of writing media (pencils and
paper) and in assisting them to master the basic forms used in
handwriting, such as lines and circles. Many of the four-year-olds
begin writing letters and words.
Through the entire preschool curriculum we are developing
the intellectual abilities of our students in the following areas:
Visual Discrimination - perceiving likenesses and
differences in letters, words, sizes, shapes and colors.
Visual-Motor Perception - developing skill in eye-hand
coordination.
Auditory Discrimination - hearing likenesses and
differences in sounds of speech.
Thinking Abilities - learning and interpreting facts,
building understanding of concepts, solving problems.
Oral Language Facilities - using language to communicate
ideas.
Developing Interest in Reading - showing importance
and use of pictures and books.
Individual Work
Young children love to learn and can learn at a very
rapid pace. The value of early learning has been central to the
Runnels School since its inception in 1965. These precious
moments spent in individual lessons with your child are perhaps
the most important moments of his school day. All
students receive individual attention in both reading and mathematics.
Each teacher is assigned a number of children with
whom she does individual work. This is done on a daily basis,
and details of each day’s lesson are noted on Daily Record
Sheets filed in each child’s folder. Each student’s progress is
assessed periodically.
Individual Reading and Individual Math will be reported
on a monthly basis. This written report (which will be
sent home) reflects specific academic progress noted in the daily
individual mathematics and reading lessons only. The material
included in our program of individual lessons is indicated in an
abbreviated form in the following sections on mathematics and
reading. Children progress through the program at different rates.
We allow their interest, ability and maturity to take the lead. Our
teachers provide daily motivation, instruction, encouragement and a
positive experience in “Individual Lesson time.”
Mathematics
A’s are counting to 100 by ones, tens, fives, and twos. B’s
are flash cards. C’s are numbers shown on fingers. D’s are addition
flash cards. E’s are subtraction flash card. F’s are working
with objects to show number relationships. In Individual Math all
children will begin work in Branches A, B, C, and F.
Branch A - Counting to 100 (orally)
A1 = by ones
A2 = by tens
A3 = by fives
A4 = by twos
Branch B - Number Recognition (flash cards)
B1 = 0,1,2,3,4,5
B2 = 6,7,8,9,10
B3 = 11,12,13,14,15
B4 = 16,17,18,19,20
B5 = 21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29
B6 = 10,20,30,40,50,60,70,80,90,100
B7 = 30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39
B8 = 40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49
B9 = 50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59
B10 = 60’s
B11 = 70’s
B12 = 80’s
B13 = 90’s
B14 = 100,200,300...900
B15 = 1000,2000,3000...10,000
B16 = 109,208,307...901
B17 = 180,270,360...990
B18 = 124,235,346...913
B19 = 1000,1100,1200...1900
B20 = 1200,2300,3400...9100
This progression continues through millions and proper
fractions.
Branch C - Finger Manipulation (“Show me ____ fingers”)
C1 = 0-5
C2 = 6-10
C3 = 11-15
C4 = 16-20
C5 = 21-30
C6 = 30’s
C7 = 40’s
C8 = 50’s
C9 = 60’s
C10 = 70’s
C11 = 80’s
C12 = 90-100’s
Branch D - Addition Facts (flash cards)
Branch E - Subtraction Facts (flash cards)
Branch F - Object Manipulation (Child is requested to arrange
a specified number of objects.)
Reading
Individual Reading consists of the use of flash card and
books. These flash cards are made from a list of 1223 words.
The words are divided into sets of ten cards each. Sets 1-5
consist of letter recognition (upper and lower case alphabet).
Beginning with set 6, the sets consist of sight vocabulary words
which correspond to the vocabulary words found in the books
selected for this program. The order of the words in our vocabulary
list coincides with the order in which we read the
books. After a student has learned a certain number of words,
he or she begins reading in a book. The teacher determines
when a student is able to begin a book. At no time is a child
“held back” in his/her learning because of age, and at no time is
a child pushed beyond his/her own interest and desire to move
ahead in the lessons. Each child sets his/her own pace.
In the monthly progress report sent home, the reading
sets are mentioned as well as the name of the book your child
is currently reading. Example: Sets 10,11, Now I Read.
Home Readers
When your child is ready, he or she will be issued
Home Readers (or word cards to study.) The home readers
play an important part in developing your child’s reading skills.
Please take time to listen to him or her read each day.
Sharing the joy of reading with your child is one of the
nicest gifts you can give to a son or daughter.
These readers are geared to your child’s current level of
reading in his individual work; they are not meant to be the
only books your child reads at home. Continually encourage your
child to look at other books and make frequent trips to the library
to spur his/her interest in reading.
When your child brings home his/her first Home Reader, he/
she will bring an accompanying letter which gives some suggestions
for the best procedure for helping “little ones” with reading at home.
When your child completes a reader, it must be returned in
order to receive a new one. When the reader is returned, please
make certain that your child’s name is noted on a marker placed in
the book, or on the folder containing the book.
Home/School Communication
We do want the parents of our students to be aware of and
actively involved in the education of their children.
Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences are not scheduled on a regular
basis. However, if your child is having difficulty with lessons or if
his/her behavior is interrupting classes, you will be notified. If you
have any questions about school in general or about any part of
your child’s preschool experience, please call the principal at the
main office (751-5712) during regular school hours; or call the
preschool director during the afternoon (927-5803). If you need to
speak to a teacher about your child, office personnel will ask the
teacher to return your call, or they will help arrange a conference if
that is your preference. We want to work with you an any problems
which may arise and we want to make certain that any questions
you have are answered.
The Runnels Newsletter
The school publishes and mails a newsletter to parents. The
purpose of this publication is to keep you in touch with what is
going on in the various programs of our school. It contains announcements
of general interest as well as reports from different age
groups about special activities. Parents and teachers are encouraged
to contribute articles or announcements which would be of
interest to others in the school family. Please direct articles or
information for articles to the Newsletter Editor.
We feel that The Runnels Reporter is an important vehicle
of communication and hope that you enjoy reading it.
School Papers
All school papers go home on Friday, except those held to
be placed in the children’s scrapbooks/portfolios (which are given
to the children at the end of the school year). Remember that some
of the most important learning experiences for preschool children
happen during “hands-on” activities - experimenting, discovering,
interpreting, sharing, and interacting with others. To measure how
much the children are learning by the number of “pages” seen would
be discounting the most valuable parts of a preschooler’s day!
School Pictures and the School Yearbook
Pictures of individual students are taken by a professional
photographer, and you will have the option to buy your daughter’s
or son’s. Each year we prepare a yearbook containing individual
pictures of all students attending Runnels School, as well as candid
snapshots. You will have the opportunity to order a yearbook
during the yearbook sales campaign.
Open House
In the early fall you will be invited to attend Open House.
Please take this opportunity to meet your child’s teachers. The
exact date, time and details will be announced in the school newsletter.
Organizations for Parents
Several organizations foster greater parental participation in
school affairs. The Runnels Parents Organization (R.P.O.) is
involved in a wide variety of activities to serve the school. All
parents are welcome to participate in projects of the R.P.O. There
are no dues. There are many ways you can be involved, and the
school newsletter will inform you of meetings and events of this
organization.
The Booster Club focuses on events to further the athletic
programs of the school. Any Runnels parent is welcome to join, but
there are membership dues. The newsletter will announce meetings,
events and projects sponsored by this parent organization, also.
The Runnels Schools, Inc., is the non-profit corporation
responsible for the policies and direction of the school; membership
is open to all friends of the school. Costs include an
initial membership contribution and annual dues set by the corporation
members at their annual dinner meeting. Corporation members
elect the Board of Trustees, responsible for the business affairs of
the school, including tuition costs and faculty salary schedules.
For further information on any of these organizations, call
the school office (751-5712), and ask to speak with Dr. or Mrs.
Runnels.
School Records
If there is a change of address, phone number at home or
work, emergency number, or any data on your Family Information
Form, please notify the school as you bring your child, or by
phoning 751-5712.
Information on the Runnels Schools
The staff of the main office at the Elementary, Junior High
and High School location (17255 South Harrell’s Ferry Road) is
here to serve you. If you would like a guided tour of our facility, or
would like to speak with the principal or headmaster, please call for
an appointment. You are welcome to call or visit either of our
campuses if you would like to learn more about the other divisions
of our school, or just to get acquainted.
Our school maintains two websites, one, for information to
the general public. You might enjoy visiting this website
(www.runnels.org) to learn more about all of the programs offered
at Runnels. Another website, “STAR” — “School Talk At Runnels”
(www.runnelsstar.com ) was created to serve those within
our school family. This website includes more specific information
about things going on during the year and is updated frequently.
General Policies
School Hours
The school day begins promptly at 8:30 a.m. and ends at
12:00 p.m. Dismissal time for the all-day program is 3:00 p.m.
Our teachers have other responsibilities following school hours and
we must ask parents to have children picked up promptly at dismissal
times.
On occasion, due to various reasons, parents may be late
picking up their children. Any child remaining on the Jefferson
Highway campus after 3:45 p.m. will be conveyed to the After-
School Care personnel for safekeeping, and parents will be billed a
fee to help defray the cost of maintaining the after-school service.
Please call in advance if you know you will be detained.
Extended After-School Care (held at both school campuses)
is available as an optional service each regular school day
for the convenience of parents and students (for a monthly fee
charged by Runnels School Services). This service, available from
3:00 - 6:00 p.m., includes activities appropriate for the students’
ages and with regard to weather conditions. Supervised play
outdoors and indoors, a snack period, and study time (for older
children) are part of each afternoon’s daily schedule. For additional
enrollment information and program details, contact personnel in the
business office at the main campus.
Disciplinary Policy
It is the policy of Runnels School that corporal punishment
in any form will not be used as a disciplinary measure.
We use a discipline program with a positive focus. We
teach even our youngest students that they are responsible for
their actions. With gentleness, kindness and patience, preschool
teachers reward children who cooperate and have ageappropriate
consequences for those who do not choose to
cooperate. “Time-out” and “gentle talks” are the most frequently
used consequences. If a child repeatedly chooses not
to cooperate, or if his/her misbehavior is severe and disruptive to
the other children, the preschool director or the principal may call
you to arrange a conference. Sometimes a joint effort by parents
and teachers can help a little one learn acceptable behavior.
Temporary suspension from school or expulsion are other
possible consequences of serious misconduct, although rarely
necessary.
Authorized Drivers
We will not allow unauthorized persons to pick up your
child. Please call the school or send a note to indicate that a
different identified driver has your permission to pick up your
child. If that substitute driver is not known to us, we will
require identification to be shown before we allow your child
to leave.
Naptime
The children enrolled in the afternoon program (12:00 -
3:00 p.m.) will have a naptime immediately after lunch on their
personal “rest” pads. These pads, provided by the parents, can
be a plastic pad that is covered or a sleeping bag. “No Nap”
options are available for 3’s and 4’s (for those who do not nap).
School Health Policies
The obvious general rule is that the child must be well and
completely recovered from any illness before returning to school. It
is not fair to the other children or the teachers to expose them to
contagious disease. Sometimes a disease can be far more serious
than it appears, to some children if not to others.
Some reasons to keep your child at home
1. A temperature of 100.5 or greater within a 24 hour
period. A child with this kind of temperature is considered to
be ill and may be contagious. For the child’s comfort and to
prevent spreading illness, children will not be permitted in
school with a temperature 100.5 or higher.
2. Persistent/Disruptive cough. This type of cough may
not only be contagious but is also disruptive to other students
in the classroom.
3. Head Lice/Nits. If a child is known to have a head
lice infestation he or she will not be permitted in school until
the child is nit free. Any child with lice must be treated along
with their environment and be nit free before returning to the
classroom.
4. Chicken Pox. A student with chicken pox may return
to school after all lesions are scabbed over and all coughing has
subsided.
5. Untreated strep throat. A beefy red swollen throat
with white patches or ulcerations characterizes strep throat and
is usually accompanied by a temperature. These symptoms are
usually present but not always. Strep is very contagious and
potentially can cause serious complications. If your child
complains of a sore throat, these complaints may warrant a
throat culture at your doctor’s office. If your child is found to
have strep throat he or she may return to school after being
treated for 24 hours and is afrebrile (no temperature).
7. Vomiting and/or diarrhea. Obviously, any child should be
kept home if vomiting or actively having diarrhea.
8. Conjunctivitis or “pink eye”. Conjunctivitis is very
contagious. The sclera or the white of the eye is pink and
glassy in appearance with purulent drainage. In the morning the eye
is typically glued closed. The student will be permitted to return to
school after being medicated and the absence of purulent drainage.
9. Very young children,, especially those children in preschool,
with green nasal drainage are very contagious because they
are not able to effectively remove this drainage. They wipe their
secretions with their little hands and pass on those germs to the
other children via the toys and other handled objects in their environment.
Keep them home until their nasal drainage is clear in
color.
Your cooperation will be appreciated. This policy
applies to all students and protects all of the children. If you
have any questions regarding your child’s particular illness,
please call the clinic at 756-5837.
Medication Policy
If your doctor advises that your child may return to
school while still taking medicine, you must be responsible for
administering it. In this case, consider administering the
medicine before leaving for school and on returning home to
avoid having to come to school to administer the medicine.
Health Form and Authorizations for Emergency
Medical Treatment and First Aid Treatment
It is important every year that your child have on file at
school a current and complete immunization record. This card
(which is available from your doctor) MUST BE AT SCHOOL
BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. This form must be
signed by a doctor. It is also necessary that the “Authorization
for Emergency Medical Treatment” form and the “Authorization
for First Aid Treatment” form mailed to each parent in
the summer, BE COMPLETE AND ON FILE AT SCHOOL
BEFORE THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
We are required by the State Department of Health and
Human Resources to report on the immunization records of our
students. We must have on file an up-to-date Health Form on each
student BEFORE THE OPENING DAY OF SCHOOL. More
detailed information concerning medical and health policies will be
given to parents at the beginning of each school year.
School Clothing
Please dress your child in clothes he/she can manage easily when
going to the bathroom. Overalls and big belts are often the cause of
“accidents” when a child realizes too late that he or she needs help
before using the bathroom.
Please do not send your child to school in western boots.
Tennis shoes (sneakers) seem to work best as footwear for
preschoolers because they do not slip as much on playground
equipment, stay on feet better, and the children seem to have fewer
problems with blisters, footaches, and kicking accidents during
activities.
Personal Belongings
Each child is assigned a labeled locker at school. PLEASE
LABEL all coats, hats, sweaters, gloves, and other clothing generally
removed at school. Please also label your child’s lunch box.
Tapes, books, and toys may be brought to school for “show-andtell”
but PLEASE LABEL these also. (Children are never to bring
toys from home, except for “show-and-tell”.) Other children may
have duplicates of what your child brings to school, and if the items
are not labeled we will have no way of knowing who the owner is.
Your child should not bring toys or money to school,
except for a special occasion by request of the teacher. If your
child needs to bring money to school for a special program or trip,
send the money in a sealed, clearly labeled envelope.
Field Trips
Special permission forms must be signed by the parent or
guardian before a child may go on any field trip. A note stating the
details of the trip and a permission form will be sent home in advance
of any outing.
On the days of field trips, students must be at school by
8:30 a.m. If you do not wish your child to go on a particular field
trip in which the entire student body will be participating, it will be
necessary for you to keep your child home from school that day.
Please contact the school if you have any questions regarding field
trips.
Birthdays
Birthdays may be celebrated at school if advance arrangements
have been made with teachers. Parents may bring refreshments
to be shared at this time. Personal gifts should not be brought
for your child’s birthday.
Parties and Special Events
We have many parties throughout the year. Parents’ help is
greatly appreciated. Preschool party coordinators will contact you
at the beginning of the school year to give you an opportunity to
participate. We traditionally celebrate Thanksgiving, Hanukkah,
Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras, and Easter. There are also
many other special events - such as “Pizza Parties” in the fall, Open
House Evenings, Book Fairs, and Spring Picnics. You will receive
details about special events through the year.
Emergency Procedures
When there is a severe weather emergency threatening
our area, we will conform to any early-morning (or nightbefore)
decisions of the East Baton Rouge Parish School system
to close schools for that day. We reserve the right, however, to
exercise our own judgment to cancel classes even if the public
school classes remain open, to remain open for the remainder
of a school day even if the public schools close, or to re-open
sooner than the public schools following a closing.
If you are unsure of the situation, please attempt to call
the school office, listen to radio and television, or check our
STAR (www.runnelsstar.com) website.
In the event of a forced school closing, all school extracurricular
activities for that day will also be cancelled.