Frequently Asked Questions
Click on one of the categories above to
find out more information.
Visiting the School
Is it OK to eat lunch with my child?
Absolutely! We love it when parents visit the school, and
you're more than welcome to eat lunch with us. All you
have to do is arrive just prior to lunchtime, report to
the office, and obtain a visitor's badge. You can then
wait near the cafeteria doors for your child's class to
arrive.
What if I want to observe in the classroom?
You are welcome to observe in the classroom; however we do
ask that you make arrangements with the teacher prior to your
observation. Sometimes the presence of parents can be distracting
to the students, and the teacher can tell you the best time
to visit.
How would I go about picking up my child during the school
day?
First, please check your child out during the day only when
it is absolutely necessary. Believe it or not, we have so
much to teach that instruction must go on until the very
end of the day. You can help by making appointments after
school hours and avoid checking out a
child simply as a convenience factor. However, if you do
need to check your child out of school, you must do this
through the office. Let the office staff know you need your
child to be sent to the office, have your driver's license
ready to be scanned, and wait while your child is checked
out through the computer system. Under no circumstances should
parents report directly to the classroom and try to take
the child without going through the office.
My child's birthday is coming up. Can I have a party in
the class, bring a cake for lunch, or send flowers to school
that day?
The district's Student Handbook specifically states that parties,
refreshments, or flowers/balloons for student birthdays
are not allowed. In fact, this policy applies to any sort
of special occasion or celebration. This may seem strict,
but think of it this way: we have over 700 students in our
school, and that many celebrations would amount to an unreasonable
number of disruptions. In order to protect the instructional
program, we simply cannot allow it.
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Becoming Involved
How can I go about becoming a parent volunteer?
Volunteer applications are available in the front office,
or you can contact the assistant principal, Mrs. Evans,
at 832-668-8079 for more information on becoming a volunteer.
Does our school have a parent organization, and how can
I join?
Yes, our school has a PTO (Parent Teacher Organization).
The PTO Executive Board meets regularly to discuss ways
to support the school. The PTO also acts as an advisory
group for the principal. If you are interested in learning
more about how to become involved in PTO, simply contact
Mrs. McLaughlin at 832-668-8000.
Does our school have any sort of campus decision-making
committee, and are parents allowed to participate?
Our school has a Campus Improvement Committee (CIC) that meets
monthly to make decisions that affect the school as a whole,
such as budget, staffing, and curriculum issues. The CIC is
often asked to provide input to the district-level decision-making
committee. The CIC is made up of teachers, administrators,
community members, business leaders and parents. Meetings
are open to anyone who would like to observe the process.
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Attendance and
the School Calendar
What is your policy on attendance?
Students must be in school every day unless they are ill
or have another excused absence. School districts are
required to monitor student attendance and take action
if attendance falls below the mandatory level. According
to state law, students are required to be in attendance
at least 90% of the time in order to be promoted to the
next grade level. That means if your child is not present
90% of the days in the school year, he/she is in danger
of retention. Excessive absences can also be referred to
the truancy officer and/or the legal system for prosecution.
At what time would my child be considered tardy?
Students should be in class by 7:45 a.m. Arriving on time
is very important to your child and contributes to a smooth
start to the day. Students who are tardy not only miss out
on important instruction, they disrupt the beginning of the
day for the teacher and the other students in the classroom.
If we do arrive late, what time is too late to be considered
present for the day?
Your child should be at school at 10:00 a.m. in order
to be considered present.
What if my child has been to the doctor, and then reports
to school later in the day?
If you have visited the doctor that day and bring verification
from the doctor's office, your child will be counted present
regardless of what time you arrive.
Who decides on what the school calendar is going to be
each year?
The district has a committee comprised of teachers, administrators,
parents and community members. Input from each campus is given,
then the committee works together to come up with a calendar
that reflects the wishes of the community as a whole.
How can I keep up with what days the district will observe
as holidays?
Each year the district publishes a calendar, which is distributed
to all students. At Deer Park Elementary we also have a weekly
newsletter that is very helpful in keeping you informed of
school events, holidays and other important dates. You can find a link to each of DPE's monthly calendars on the DPE Homepage.
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Working with Teachers
What should I do if I need to talk to the teacher?
Obviously, teachers can't take phone calls during class time.
The best thing to do is call the office and request to
be transferred to a teacher's voicemail or ask someone
in the office to take a message.The main
school number is 832-668-8000. If
what you want to discuss is too lengthy to take care of
in a phone call, the teacher can set up a conference with
you.
Can I e-mail the teacher?
Yes, in fact many teachers appreciate it when parents use
this form of communication. A list of teachers and their
e-mail addresses is listed under Teachers on the web page.
What steps should I take if I don't agree with a class
policy or have a concern about something?
The first and most important step you can take is to get in
touch with the teacher and present your concerns openly and
honestly. If something that is going on in the classroom is
being perceived negatively by you or your child, that is something
every teacher wants to know. Teachers appreciate the opportunity
to hear from your directly, and most of the time problems
can be worked out at that level. If, however, you still have
a concern after talking with the teacher, you may contact
the principal or assistant principal.
I've heard there is some kind of intradistrict transfer
policy. What's that all about?
Students in Deer Park ISD can apply for a transfer to the
campus of their choice as long as there is room at that school
for additional students in your child's grade level. Once
a transfer has been approved, the student must meet district
guidelines regarding
(1) attendance, (2) tardiness, and (3) discipline in order
to remain at the school.
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Curriculum
Does our school teach phonics?
Yes. We believe a solid foundation in phonics is extremely
important to increase fluency and reading comprehension.
However, phonics is not taught in isolation, but rather as
part of a balanced literacy approach.
When I was in kid, Kindergarten was mostly playtime. Why
are expectations for Kindergarteners so high now?
There has been a drastic increase in Texas regarding the standards
of learning we are required to meet at every grade level.
The learning expectations are rigorous, and we can't afford
to wait until first grade to begin. We must start early to
make sure every child is able to meet those standards. What
is TAKS? TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills) is
the state mandated test administered to students beginning
in grade three. The items measured on the test are directly
aligned with the TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills)
that we must teach at each grade level.
I've heard lately that all schools do is teach TAKS. Is
that true?
The TAKS is the test that measures whether or not we have
taught, and the students have mastered, the skills (TEKS)
necessary for that particular grade. TAKS skills are not
taught separately; they are taught within the context of
the overall curriculum. If children do poorly on the test,
that's an indication they have not mastered the skills for
that grade level and are in danger of failure. The stakes
for your child are high; third grade students must pass
the reading test in order to go on the fourth grade. In fifth
grade, they must pass both the reading and math portions
of the test in order to be promoted to junior high. Mastery
of the Exit Tests in high school is a requirement for graduation.
We are doing a disservice to our students if we do not adequately
prepare them for this important test.
I've seen our school is rated as "Exemplary" most years
and recently we are "Recognized".
What does that mean?
Each year the Texas Education Agency reviews information about
schools through something called the Academic Excellence Indicator
System. Information such as attendance, dropout rates, and
the test scores are used to determine each school's rating.
Students are looked at as a whole, and also as sub-groups
based on ethnicity and economic factors. In order to have
an Exemplary rating, 90% or more of your students in all of
the groups must pass all portions of the test. There are three
other ratings a school can receive, and each rating requires
different passing percentages. A Recognized rating requires
75% or higher, Acceptable requires 65% or higher, and the
Low Performing category is for any school that has achievement
levels lower than 65%.
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Special Programs
What should I do if I think my child may have a disability?
If you are concerned your child may have a disability, you
should contact our counselor, Kim Graham, at 832-668-8003.
She will conference with you about your child's situation
and the different types of services that are available. Examples
of programs include dyslexia, special education, speech therapy,
and accommodations under Section 504 of the 1974 Disabilities
Act. If you feel your child might require any of these, you
can request that a referral be initiated. Information regarding
your child would be gathered and sent to a committee to determine
if further testing is warranted.
How are children identified for the Gifted and Talented
Program?
There is quite a bit of differentiation that goes on in each
classroom to make sure each child is challenged to his/her
full potential. We also conduct regular screening activities
to try and identify those students who might qualify for our
Gifted and Talented program. Students who pass the screening
level are assessed further, and the information is then presented
to a committee to determine if the child meets the district
criteria for the program. Students who are identified as Gifted
and Talented are placed with a teacher who has G/T certification,
and also receives weekly services through our district's G/T
itinerant teacher.
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