Frequently Asked Questions

Students are not to arrive before 8:05 a.m.  There is no supervision prior to that time so it is not safe for your child to be at school before 8:05 a.m.

The tardy bell rings at 8:30 a.m.  Students should be inside their classroom when the 8:30 bell rings.  Students arriving on a late bus are not considered tardy.  If tardiness is frequent, the county’s Truancy Officer will be notified.

If a child arrives after 8:30 a.m., the parent is to bring the child to the office to get a pass before going to class.  Students should not just be dropped off to come in alone.

Please do not call the school to make other arrangements.  Students should bring a written note signed by the parent if the child is going home in a different manner.  The child should give the note to the teacher.  Not everyone who answers the phone recognizes a parent’s voice so it is a safety issue to make alternate arrangements by phone.

Charleston County School District is taking a tougher stance on attendance zones.  Students are to attend the school in the zone in which they live.  The only exceptions are for students who have petitioned the Constituent Board for the exception and received written permission.  The address required is for the parent or legal guardian and is verified through a light bill or rent/mortgage payment addressed to the parent at the street address. Post office boxes are not acceptable. 

Students enrolling in Child Development for three (or four) year olds must be three (or four) on or before September 1st.  Students in kindergarten must be five on or before September 1st.  These dates are established by state law; therefore, exceptions cannot be made.

Birth certificate, SC immunization, Social Security card, and proof of residence are needed to enroll a child in school.

When a student is absent from school, a note must be brought to the teacher upon his/her return to school within three days.  The note should include the date of the absence, reason for absence, and the parent’s/guardian’s signature.  Excused absences include illness, emergency medical appointment, serious illness or death in the family, and recognized religious holidays.  A student may be retained in a grade if they have ten or more unexcused absences.

Please notify the school at least two days in advance if it is necessary for your child to transfer during the school year.  This time is needed to process important paperwork your child will need to take to the next school.  Permanent record folders are mailed directly to the next school once a child has been registered.  It is the policy of Charleston County School District that permanent records are not given to the parent to take to the next school.

If at all possible, please do not pick up your child early.  Instruction takes place until 3:20.  If it is absolutely necessary, send a note to the teacher that morning stating the reason for early dismissal and who will be picking the child up.  The parent or designated person must sign the student out in the office.

Parents are asked to only bring wrapped healthy store-bought snacks at lunch time to celebrate.  Cake, ice cream, and balloons are appropriate for home.

All students eat breakfast and lunch for free as a result of the Community Eligibility Program (CEP).

Uniforms include navy or khaki pants, knee-length shorts, skirts (or skorts), or jumper-style dresses.  If the pants have belt loops, a belt is required.  Shirts should have collars and can be solid red, solid blue (navy or light blue), or solid white.  School tee shirts shirts are also allowed. Close-toes shoes are required, so crocs and flip flops are not allowed.  Please, no hoodies.  Head coverings are not allowed unless they are a recognized religious practice.

Students are not to bring items such as matches, firecrackers, sparklers, caps, knives, guns, baseballs, play guns, radios, tape players, skateboards, toys, Gameboys, CD players, cell phones, or other such items.  Any items which may cause a distraction to your child or a disruption to the class should be left at home.  The school is not responsible if these items are brought to school and they become lost or stolen.

Please do not send a child to school if they are running a fever of 100 degrees or higher, have diarrhea, or are vomiting.  If a child vomits at school or has a temperature of 100 degrees, we are required to have someone pick them up from school.

Medication prescribed by a physician must be in the properly-labeled original prescription container.  Long-term prescription medications (over 2 weeks) require receipt of the completed CCSD Medication/Procedure Doctor’s Order form signed by the parent/legal guardian and the child’s legal prescriber.  Short-term prescription medications (under 2 weeks) require written permission from the parent/legal guardian and the original, properly-labeled prescription container.  If medication is to be given three times per day, please give the medication in the morning before school, immediately after school, and at bedtime. Children are not allowed to take any medication on their own unless permission has been granted and proper procedures for self-administration has been followed.

Quarterly book checks will be done by the classroom teacher.  If a student does not have the textbook assigned to him/her, parents will be notified.  If the book cannot be located, it should be paid for so another can be issued.  Please keep the payment receipt so a refund can be given if the textbook is found.  Library books that are lost are required to be paid for as well.

Send a note with your child if you would like a conference with the teacher, counselor, or principal.  Your child should show the note to his/her teacher.  You can also call or email our principal, Ms. Logan, to set up a meeting.

You are welcome to observe in your child’s class.  We ask that you send a note and sign in at the office.  In the classroom please do not talk to other students and limit the conversation with your child if instruction is taking place.  If you wish to conference with the teacher, please set up a time later so you can have the teacher’s undivided attention.

Please send a note to the teacher if your number changes or the number of an emergency contact changes.  These are up-dated in our computer system.  School Messenger, the district’s emergency message system, uses the numbers in our computer to notify parents of an emergency situation so it is critical that we have current, working phone numbers.

Shared Responsibility is the process whereby parents may be required to attend school with their child as an alternative to suspension.  The first request may be for half day. Further requests may be for full day.  According to the Charleston County School District Code of Conduct passed by the Board of Trustees, a parent’s work schedule is not a reason not to participate in Shared Responsibility.  This information is in the packet received by all students on their first day at Jane Edwards Elementary School.