Frequently Asked Questions concerning Gallatin Gateway School

1. Yes, a student's parent should explain the reason for an absence either by a written note or phone call, unless the absence has received prior Principal approval. Please notify the school office by 8:30 a.m. if your child will not be attending. If the school secretary does not hear from the family by 8:30 a.m. regarding an absence a phone call will be made to ensure the safety of the child(ren).

2. If a students plans to be absent from school, a parent should send a written message to the teacher. Students are to check out at the office when leaving, and check back in when returning. We encourage the use of early release days for health appointments.

3. You can drop your child off to go to the learning lab at 7:30 a.m. The playground is supervised between 8:00 a.m. and 3:25 p.m.

4. Yes, Gallatin Gateway School does provide an after-school program for children in grades Kindergarten through fifth grade. The after-school program is run by Gallatin Youth Group and operates from 3:15 pm to 5:30 pm Monday through Friday. For more information call the EAGLES program at 582-8667.

5. Gallatin Gateway accepts out-of-district students who meet the criteria of school policy #3141. Out-of-district families do have to pay tuition of $150.00/ family to attend Gallatin Gateway School. For more information about attending Gallatin Gateway School, please call 763-4415.

6. Students must sign in when entering the school late in the morning. They will be counted as tardy and must have an office pass to enter class. The following information explains when your child will be counted absent or tardy for the day:
Student attendance is recorded based on an entire day or 1/2 day. Therefore it will be calculated as follows:
1. Students arriving to class from 8:15-8:30 will be counted tardy.
2. Students arriving to class after 8:30 am will be counted absent for 1/2 day.
3. Students leaving school prior to 2:50 pm will be counted absent for 1/2 day.
4. Early Release days count as full day, therefore if a student is absent on an early release day it counts as one absence.

7. Yes, enrollment forms provide essential information for the office staff and teachers in the case of an emergency. We ask that the parents also provide updates to the office when information becomes outdated.

8. Yes, all children in grades K-8 will be provided lunch on early release days.

10. Yes, however, a student must have a physician's order, as well as, written authorization of a parent or guardian to receive medication at school. The medication must be stored in its original container and held by the school in a securely locked storage compartment. Please refer to the student handbook for more information and the “Permission for Medication to be Given” form can be downloaded on our website.

11. The learning lab is open from 7:30 a.m.-8:10 a.m. Monday thru Friday and 3:15 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Thursday. This lab is available to all students in grades Kindergarten through eighth Grades.

12. All meal accounts are prepaid. You can budget your child's lunch account by using the following as a guide:

Kindergarten Breakfast (11 days/month)
Breakfast
per day= $1.50
per month = $16.50
reduced per month = $3.30

Breakfast Grades 1-8
Breakfast per day= $1.50
per month = $30.00
reduced per month = $6.00

Kindergarten Lunch: (11 days/month)
Hot lunch per day = $2.25
per month = $24.75
reduced per month = $4.40

Lunch Grades K-8:
Hot lunch per day = $2.25
per month = $45.00
reduced per month = $8.00

Cold Lunchers:
Milk = 30 cents
per month = $6.00

There is a juice machine in the cafeteria, which costs $1.00.

13. Yes, you are always welcome to eat lunch with your child. The cost for an adult lunch is $3.50. Younger siblings are also welcome and the cost for them to eat is $2.25. You can pay for you meal at the office to the secretary.

14. Yes, we encourage all families to apply. Applications are available in the office and all information provided to the school is confidential. Free and reduced lunch can be used all year long, or month-to-month depending on your families needs. Many grants we apply for are awarded to schools based on the number of families that qualify for our breakfast/lunch program. Please remember that families that qualify don't necessarily have to participate in the program for the school to earn credit toward the grant.

15. Please visit the Partners in Education part of the website or talk to the classroom teacher. You may also , Superintendent.

16. During the 2008-2009 school year, the following days will be early release days for all students: September 18, October 31, November 5, November 6, November 8, January 23, April 3, and June 5.

17. On the early release days, all students will be released at 12:15 pm.

18. To see the school nurse, the parent or guardian must fill out a Primary Care Permission Slip and return it to the office. Once the form is returned, then an appointment can be made through the office 763-4415.

19. If your child has one of the following symptoms, they should be kept home:

FEVERS OF 100.5 OR GREATER
Children should be without fever for 24 hours before they return to school. (Exception: Children with fevers from vaccinations need not be excluded if they are able to participate in the daily activities.)
Children with VOMITTING OR DIARRHEA* should be excluded until these symptoms subside for 24 hours. (*Diarrhea is loose, watery stools, more than 3 times in 24 hours)
Children with the following BACTERIAL INFECTIONS should be excluded until they have been treated with antibiotics for 24 hours:
- Strep throat
- Impetigo
- Bacterial conjunctivitis (red eyes with colored, pus-like drainage). [Children with viral conjunctivitis should be excluded until eyes are no longer red and/or draining.]
- Other skin infection (draining burns, sores that can't be covered)
Children with GENERALIZED RASHES (over multiple parts of the body) should stay home from school until they have been seen and diagnosed by their health care provider as non-infectious.

Children with CHICKEN POX should stay home until their sores dry up. (usually 5-7 days)
Children with HEAD LICE should stay home until they have been treated and ALL NITS have been removed. Children with SCABIES should stay home until 24 hours after treatment.
Children with RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) need not be excluded unless they are ill enough to require more care than usual.

If your child has one of the following conditions, they may warrant exclusion from school:

A child who is ill with any symptoms and is unable to participate in the usual school activities.
A child who has thick green or yellow nasal discharge persisting longer than three days, if accompanied by any of the following symptoms: fever, persistent cough, eye drainage, or ear pain. You should have your health care provider evaluate your child and follow his or her advice about your child's return to school.
A child who is identified during a Health Department investigation who may be at risk for a communicable disease.

20. Yes, there is a way to find out your child's grades by checking Powerschool from the internet. In the fall, each student in grades 4-8 is given a password and an identification number that will allow you to check grades. If you do not receive the information or it gets lost, please call the school office and they will send a replacement form home.