Download a copy of the Student Handbook here. (.pdf file)Student Handbook
| General School Information |
Student Safety |
Student Services |
Miscellaneous Informantion |
School Day
Excused Absences
Unexcused Absences
Makeup Work
Check-Out
Conferences
Enrollment Procedures
Homework
Campus Leadership Committee |
Dismissal Policy
Automobile Traffic
Walkers and In-Line Skaters
Bicyclists and Scooter Riders |
Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability
Child Find
Student Study Team
Special Education Programs |
Park Cities YMCA
Parties and Gifts
Parenting Education Committee
Hyer PTA |
General Information
The School DayPupils should arrange to leave home each morning so that they will arrive at school after 7:55a.m. Teachers are not on duty until 7:55a.m. Pupils are to go directly to their rooms on arriving at the school each morning. No play is permitted on the grounds or in the halls before school in the morning. Pupils are not supervised before 7:55a.m.
Classes are scheduled for the following times:
Kindergarten 8:15a.m. - 2:30p.m.
Grades 1-2 8:15a.m. - 3:00p.m.
Grades 3-4 8:15a.m. - 3:30p.m.
Pupils are expected to leave school each afternoon immediately after being dismissed. Officers are on duty for a reasonable length of time at designated intersections. Parents should require pupils to get home in a reasonable time after dismissal.
Please do not call the school office for information pertaining to football, basketball, etc. Sports programs are operated through the Park Cities YMCA. Their phone numbers are listed at the end of this section.
Please have an understanding with your child as to what he/she is to do on rainy days as to their method of getting home.
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Excused AbsencesAn excused absence is defined as any absence resulting from personal illness, illness or death in the family, observance of a religious holiday, or for a cause which may be determined to be uncommon or unavoidable by the principal or his designee. Students may also be excused for medical and dental appointments, but parents shall be encouraged to schedule such appointments outside of school hours whenever possible. If appointments cannot be scheduled outside of school hours, parents are urged to avoid having the appointment occur repeatedly during the same class.
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Unexcused AbsencesAn unexcused absence is defined as any absence which is not excused in accordance with the definition cited above. Absences involving trips, college visitations, participation in non-school activities and other similar absences will be classified as unexcused in accordance with Education Code 21.035. For an absence to be appropriately classified as excused or unexcused, the reason for the absence must be stated in writing and signed by the parent or other person standing in parental relation to the student. In accordance with HB72, a student shall not be given credit for a class or for the completion of a grade level if the student has more than five days of unexcused absences during a semester. Additionally, students may not participate in any school-related activities on or off campus that would require, permit, or allow a student to be absent from class in any course more than five times during each semester of the academic year.
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Makeup WorkNo makeup work will be approved for absences resulting from activities of youth organizations such as scouts, Young Life, church, or other youth organizations. Absences for family trips taken for pleasure or recreational purposes will also be denied makeup privileges.
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Excuses, Check-Out and Absence Procedures- Pupils are not to leave the school without permission. If pupils are to leave school before the regular dismissal time, the parent or guardian must check out the child at the office.
- Procedure for checking pupil out during the school day:
- Parent or guardian should send a note with the date, time and reason for leaving directly to the homeroom teacher.
- Pupils will meet parents or guardians in the principal’s office at the given time.
- Parents or guardians are expected to sign out their son or daughter in the principal’s office.
- Students returning to school must be checked-in by parent in the office before returning to class.
- Authorization for any person or relative other than the parent or legal guardian to check student out during the school day must be made in writing by the parent or guardian prior to the check out. Authorization may also be made on the enrollment card. Telephone calls cannot be accepted for this purpose.
- Any special requests for release time from school must be made to the principal.
- Written excuses for absences should accompany the child returning from an absence. The note should contain the pupil’s full name, date of absences, and reason for absences. Absences will be classified as unexcused until the teacher receives a written note.
- Excuses for non-participation in physical education should be submitted as a separate note directly to the PE teacher.
- Any child arriving after 8:15a.m. must sign in at the office before going to class. The teacher should be alerted if a child will be absent or late by:
- sending a note to school with a sibling, or
- calling the school office between 7:45 - 8:15a.m.
- calling another child in the same room so he can inform the teacher
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ConferencesConferences with teachers are encouraged except for the last week of the semester. Teachers may be contacted by leaving a message in the school office, by sending a note directly to the teacher, or through district email. Each faculty member's email can be found on the school website. It is not practical to call teachers to the office phone during the day. Conferences should be scheduled during the teacher’s conference period or at other prearranged times. Please do not try to confer with the teacher during the period from 7:55a.m. to 8:15a.m. Notify the teacher if you are unable to keep an appointment.
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Enrollment ProceduresIn order to enter First Grade in the first semester, a child must be six years of age on or before September 1. In order to enter Kindergarten, a child must be five years of age on or before the 1st of September.
Birth certificates are compulsory for all children upon entering school for the first time. Proof of immunization, validated by a physician or public health clinic, is required for children in Kindergarten and grades 1-4. See school health services for exact immunization requirements.
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Parties and GiftsIndividual gifts for teachers are not encouraged. However, if you feel that you would like to give your child’s teacher a gift, please remember that small tokens are appreciated.
Parties, showers, etc. for the teachers are not encouraged. Exceptions should be cleared with the principal.
Birthday cakes or cupcakes may be brought to school during the lunch period. Please do not bring any birthday favors to school.
Party invitations should not be distributed at school.
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Park Cities YMCAHot Line for Cancellations (972) 738-9400
Sports Schedules for Practice & Games (214) 526-7293
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HomeworkHomework assignments are an extension of classroom learning time. Parents are not expected to instruct children. They are expected to assist if the need arises. Children should understand what they are to do and be able to complete the assignment in a short period of time. Drill-type activities will be ones that should be completed quickly. Project-type assignments will require more time. Primary children should generally spend no more than thirty minutes on homework. Intermediate students should spend forty-five minutes to one hour on homework.
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Hyer Campus Leadership CommitteeHyer’s Campus Leadership Committee (CLC) is a site-based management team comprised of campus teachers, staff, parents, and community leaders. These members gather monthly to discuss issues and concerns of the community and school. This broader-based decision-making process allows the faculty and community members to meet on common ground, thus making campus decisions more compatible to our children.
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Parenting Education CommitteeThe Parenting Education Committee, formerly known as DEC, is a district wide service designed to help students and families in difficult situations whether at home or at school. At Hyer, it will focus on “Making Good Choices.” Positive self esteem and good choices will be the emphasis of Red Ribbon Week held in October. Feel free to contact our Hyer Counselor, Nancy Theriot.
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Hyer PTAThe Hyer PTA meets five times each year. Please see the Hyer Calendar page for specific dates and times. All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend. “The Constitution and By-Laws” of the Robert S. Hyer P.T.A. is available to read in the school office.
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Student Safety Issues
Dismissal PolicyAll 1st graders will be released on Caruth, 2nd graders will be released on Colgate. Carpools that include both 1st and 2nd graders should make dismissal arrangements with their teachers.
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Automobile TrafficTraffic flows in a clockwise direction around Hyer. Caruth is a one-way street westbound from 7:30a.m. to 4:00p.m. on weekdays. Colgate is one-way eastbound. Please use the right hand lane for drop-off and pick-up only between 7:30 and 9:00a.m. and between 2:30 and 4:00p.m. Pull as far forward as possible. The center lane is for moving traffic only, not for the pick-up and drop-off of children. If you plan to leave your car, please park in the left-hand lane. Due to parking and traffic concerns, do not drop off or pick up children on Pickwick Lane.
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Walkers and In-Line SkatersCross the streets only at intersections. Please do not walk behind parked vehicles. Cross major intersections at designated school guard crosswalks.
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Bicyclists and Scooter RidersFollow guidelines as stated for walkers. For the safety of bicyclists and walkers, bicycles and scooters should be walked (not ridden) while on the Hyer campus.
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Assurance For Student Services
Nondiscrimination of the Basis of DisabilityHighland Park ISD does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to its programs, services, or activities, treatment of individuals with disabilities, or in any aspect of its operations. The term “disability” under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) means, with respect to an individual, a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual (e.g. walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, learning); a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment. This notice is provided pursuant to Title II of the ADA, and is also available in large print, on audio tape, and in Braille. The District’s policies implementing the ADA include grievance procedures. For more information regarding the ADA, contact Mary Jane White, the ADA Coordinator for Students, the Director of Personnel, 7015 Westchester Drive, Dallas, TX 75205, (214) 780-3000.
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Child FindThe District has a Child Find system for identifying, locating, and evaluating all children with disabilities (from birth through 21) residing in the District, including children with disabilities attending private schools, regardless of the severity of their disabilities, and who are in need of special education and related services. For more information, contact the Special Education office at (214) 780-3090.
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Student Study TeamThe Student Study Team (SST) meets each week on each campus to consider the individual needs of students. The SST may include an administrator, counselor, diagnostician, psychologist, and nurse, as appropriate, to consider the needs of students referred to the Team. Students may be referred to the SST by an administrator, classroom teacher, counselor, or parent. The SST considers referrals for supportive counseling, crisis intervention, Talented and Gifted (TAG), English as a Second Language (ESL), and ADA eligibility and accommodations such as the STARS/Jump Start program for students with dyslexia.
The SST also may refer students for a special education evaluation. The SST is designed to comply with the requirements of Child Find and the ADA. Questions, complaints, or requests for more information may be directed to Nancy Theriot, Hyer School Counselor.
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Special Education ProgramsThe Highland Park ISD provides a free appropriate public education, including special education and related services to students with disabilities who, due to the disability, demonstrate an educational need for such services. To be eligible, a student must have been determined to have one or more of the disability conditions under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The comprehensive special education programs of Highland Park ISD include a continuum of services and placements. Once eligibility is determined, the student will be provided with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) determined by an Admission, Review, and Dismissal (ARD) Committee, which will include the parents. Students with disabilities will be educated with nondisabled students to the maximum extent appropriate to meet the student’s IEP and overall needs, including academic and developmental areas such as language and social skills. For more information, contact the Special Education office at (214)780-3090 or your campus counselor.
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