School Policies

Emergency Crisis Plan

Faculty and staff adhere to district safety policies. In case of a facility evacuation, students will be taken to Southside Methodist Church to await pickup.

Visitors

Visitors must sign in and out in the main office where they will receive a visitors badge that must be worn at all times. 

Articles Not Permitted in School (Items will be held for parent pickup.)

  • electronic devices such as hand held video games, tape players, radios, MP3 players, etc.
  • headphones
  • trading cards
  • toys including toy weapons

Attendance

When returning to school after an absence, students must present a written, dated excuse from a parent/guardian explaining the absence. Parents who wish to pick up their child during school hours must sign them out from the main office. No child is allowed to leave school without permission from the principal. Please remember your picture ID. 

Tardiness

Students arriving after 8:30 a.m. are tardy and must go directly to the main office accompanied by their parent/guardian for a tardy slip to permit classroom entry. Tardies are reflected on report cards and become part of a student's permanent record. Excessive tardies and early pick-ups will result in a referral to the Attendance Intervention Team and a parent conference will be scheduled.

Bicycles

Students in grade 3 and above may ride bicycles to school unaccompanied by a parent/guardian. Bicycles must be parked and locked in the designated areas. Bikes must be walked on campus - no riding. Helmet use is required by law.

Bus Information

Students whose permanent residence is two miles or more from Hendricks are eligible for transportation. Students must ride their assigned bus and may not change their assignment without prior approval from the principal. The principal may suspend any bus rider from the privilege for willful disobedience, use of obscene or profane language or other misconduct. Students disobeying the Student Code of Conduct face the following consequences:
  • 1st offense - warning, parent contact
  • 2nd offense - parent contact and a minimum of one-day bus suspension
  • 3rd offense - bus suspension of 3-5 days and mandatory parent conference
  • 4th offense - bus suspension of 5-10 days
  • 5th offense - expulsion from bus riding for the remainder of school year

Cafeteria

The cafeteria serves breakfast and lunch. Students qualifying may receive free or reduced meals. 

Please ensure that your child has a packed lunch or lunch money every day. Each child is responsible for his/her own lunch money. An account can be created for them online at My Lunch Money. Checks made payable to Hendricks Avenue Elementary are accepted for prepayment of weekly or monthly meals.

Students are expected to display acceptable cafeteria behavior and table manners. Please do not send candy and/or gum in your child's lunch. For safety reason, glass bottles should not be included in packed lunches.

Dress Code

All students are expected to comply with the student dress code as set forth in the Duval County Student Code of Conduct.

Conduct

Students are expected to behave in a manner that is conducive to learning. No student has the right to deprive another of the opportunity to learn. At all times, each student is expected to show respect for teachers, other school personnel and fellow students. Students not conducting themselves in the proper manner at school or on the bus will be disciplined in accordance with the Duval County Student Code of Conduct, which will be distributed and explained to each student early in the school year. Parents and students are asked to sign an acknowledgement verifying receipt of the code as well as the school behavior plan.

Medication

In the event that any student must take prescribed medication during the school day, parents must do the following:
  • Provide a copy of directions for administering the medication from a licensed doctor or dentist attached to the original medication container.
  • Sign a medication liability release form and have it filed in the main office.
  • Provide main office with the medication so that it may be administered by office personnel.

Medicine may not be brought to the office by students nor will medication be sent home with a student. For non-prescription medications, forms must also be completed, signed and filed in the main office.

Head Lice/No Nits Policy

Classrooms are inspected periodically for lice. Any child found to have live head lice or nits will be discreetly sent home. For readmission, students will be reinspected and the accompanying parent (mandatory) must bring empty container as treatment confirmation.

If lice is widespread in classroom, a letter will be sent home to all parents in that classroom with information on detection and treatment. 

Physical Education

All students are expected to fully participate in all parts of the physical education program. If a temporary illness or injury prohibits a student's participation, a written note from parents must be sent to the teacher. Verbal messages from students cannot be accepted. Extended limitations require a written note from a doctor.