Kindergarten, First and Second Grade: Students are expected to meet the standards of the end-of-the-year K-2 Reading and Mathematics Assessments, receive favorable teacher grades, and attend school regularly.  Please see additional standards noted in the chart below.

Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade: Students are expected to meet the standards of the end-of-the-year Reading and Mathematics Assessments, receive favorable teacher grades on report cards, and attend school regularly.  Please see additional standards noted in the chart below.

All staff are required to follow regulations developed by administration and approved by the superintendent.  The following has been issued by the superintendent for the implementation of Board Policy 3420, Student Promotion and Accountability.

Promotion Requirement Standards

Regular and consistent student attendance is critical for success at all grade levels. Attendance will be recorded daily. After 10 absences, medical documentation is needed to be considered an excused absence. 

It is important that we recognize the accomplishments of our students throughout the year. 5th grade students will receive awards during our EOY Award Celebrations at a specified location. K-4th grade teachers may have an EOY Awards Celebration in their classroom. Teachers may also choose to give additional awards, as appropriate, throughout the year. 

Awards may include:

• Principal’s List: Students in grades 2-5 who make all A’s on their report card 
• Grades 2-5 Honor Roll: Students in grades 2-5 who make all A’s and B’s on their report card
• Perfect Attendance: Students who have not been tardy (including early check-outs) and who do not have any absences (including excused and unexcused).

New Hope Elementary School participates in the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) system to support and guide students toward improved social and behavioral outcomes. NHES will recognize students for meeting or exceeding PBIS expectations while on campus and in the school building.  PBIS recognitions may include:

• Weekly Armored Knights recognition for bus students and classroom students
• Knight of the Month who exhibits our specific character trait of the month
• Ongoing classroom recognition for students who contribute to positive classroom norms
• Recognition for students with exemplary behavior (no office behavioral referrals, including bus) and 6 or fewer combined tardies/absences per nine weeks. 

All students assigned to a bus for transportation are informed and cautioned through class instruction of the responsibility of the individual passenger for conduct and safety.  Parents will be notified when disciplinary action is taken regarding bus misbehavior. All school bus riders are required to maintain good behavior while in route on the bus, at the bus stop, and walking to and from the bus. When the bus driver or others report instances of misconduct on a school bus by a passenger, the school administration will complete an investigation and appropriate disciplinary procedure for any passenger per Board of Education Policy # 4300.

1st Offense: Parental notification and counsel with the student; may receive up to 3 days off the bus.

2nd Offense: May receive up to 5 days off the bus.

3rd Offense: May receive up to 10 days off the bus.

4th Offense: May receive up to 10 days off the bus or may be suspended from the bus for the remainder of the school year.

Changes in the bus route or bus stop are not permitted unless they are due to a change of address. In order to change the route stop, the proof of address would be required and turned in to the office. Notes asking for students to be dropped off at a friend’s house or other unauthorized stops are not accepted because that stop is not the student’s permanent residence. 

Riding to and from school is a privilege. Each rider must be a responsible passenger. When meeting the school bus, passengers should:

• Be on time.

• Stand on the side of the street or highway and in no way interfere with traffic

• Cross the road under the protection of the bus stop arm and hand signal from the driver.
• Wait for your turn to get on the bus.

On the bus, passengers should:

 ● Quietly take your assigned seat and remain seated while the bus is moving.

 ● Keep the bus clean (no drinking, eating, or gum).

 ● Keep the aisle clear and hands/arms inside the bus.

 ● Talk softly - Silent Bus may be enforced for safety per the driver 

 ● Sit facing forward with both feet on the floor, hands to yourself, and personal items in your book bag.

 ● Noise levels should be low so the driver can hear.

                                               Calendar Info and Important Dates to Remember 2026-2027

Click HERE to view the WCS Student Calendar, Testing/Assessment Calendar, and other available WCS Calendars.  These calendars are subject to change, so please visit often.

All students continue to be eligible for breakfast at no cost.  Breakfast will continue to be served “grab & go” style and will be consumed in the classroom.   At  New Hope all students are covered under the CEP grant; therefore, lunch is provided free of charge to all students.   Additional snacks, desserts, and drink items are available for purchase.

Please see the following expectations regarding food and drinks at New Hope: 

1. All food and drink items must be consumed at lunch and disposed of at the conclusion of the lunch period.
2. Open containers of liquid are not permitted; a thermos or sealable bottle is ok, but not cans, as they can spill and cause a mess.
3. Students may not sell or barter food items.
4. Students may not use microwave ovens at school.  Staff will not heat food for students in the microwave.
5. At lunch, parents are invited to sit with their child only at the visitors’ table.  Due to space limitations and safety concerns, please do not ask another student to sit with you and your child.
6. At no time during the school day, are children able to receive food delivered by door dash or similar delivery services

If a parent is in possession of a valid court order that limits or removes the rights of one parent regarding custody or other school-related matters, a copy of that order must be on file in the school office. New court orders should be shared with the school as soon as possible.  Existing court orders should be provided at the beginning of each new school year, and also at any time changes are made to the order. If no valid court order is provided, it is assumed that both parents have equal rights.  The school cannot “take the word” or verbal direction of one parent over another.  We must have a valid order in our possession to proceed accordingly.

If applicable, parents must provide schools with specific parenting time schedules in order for our school to comply.

We strongly encourage parents with court orders to meet with the teacher and principal to discuss and review.

New Hope Elementary takes student discipline seriously. Misbehaviors disrupt the learning environment and must be addressed for safety and security. Student Discipline will be handled in accordance with the Wilson County Schools Board Policy 4300: Code of Student Conduct. 

Students must comply with the Code of Student Conduct in the following circumstances:

1. while in any school building or on any school premises before, during, or after school hours;

2. while on any bus or other vehicle as part of any school activity;

3. while waiting at any school bus stop;

4. during any school-sponsored activity or extracurricular activity;

5. when subject to the authority of school employees; and

6. at any other place or time when the student’s behavior has or is reasonably expected to have a direct and immediate impact on the orderly and efficient operation of the schools or the safety of individuals in the school environment.

Change of Transportation: All changes in transportation must be provided in writing. A note should be sent to the homeroom teacher no later than the morning of the change in transportation. 

2:30 Rule: Students shall not be checked out after 2:30 pm. At the end of the day, an elementary school becomes a very busy place. Cars are lining up, buses are preparing to leave, and teachers are finishing the instructional day with students. We respectfully ask if you need to pick your child up early from school, you do so before 2:30 pm. 

Please ensure that you have current contact information listed with our school’s Data Manager AND your child’s teacher.  We need no less than three emergency contact numbers (your personal and workplace numbers, a relative and/or friend [at least 2] who is authorized by you to pick up your child). Additionally, if you have an email contact, please list this with us as well.  During an emergency situation (i.e., early release due to inclement weather, etc.), we would need to be able to contact you regarding the event.  Additionally, please ensure that you always update your contact list information so that it remains valid/current in our records.

Wilson County Schools’ Policy 4700 and Administrative Regulation 4700-R outline the right for parents and guardians to opt-out of sharing directory information.  More information about your FERPA rights may be viewed HERE. 

Schools use directory information to publish items such as yearbooks, honor roll, newsletters, and graduation announcements. This also includes information about opportunities for scholarship programs and colleges to be sent to you. A school may disclose directory information to third parties for non-commercial use only.

Schools will never sell information to third parties for commercial purposes.  Directory information will only be used for official purposes and to colleges and universities if you so choose.

When appropriate, grade levels may utilize field trips to enrich our classroom instruction.  Please consider volunteering as a chaperone for these events.  Chaperones must be approved on the WCS Volunteer Tracking System powered by Raptor.  Sign up by visiting www.wilsonschoolsnc.net and enter volunteer in the search bar!   Approved chaperones will be assigned a small group to supervise during the trip.  School field trips are considered an extension of the school day; therefore, applicable policies, rules, and procedures apply to field trips just as they do during the regular school day.  Please see 3320-R School Trips and 3320 School Trips for more information.

To ensure the safety of all, we adhere to the following guidelines:

• When appropriate, educators may utilize field trips to enrich and extend instruction. Any parent who wishes to attend or chaperone a field trip must be approved through the district volunteer tracking system, which requires a clear background check. Sign up by visiting www.wilsonschoolsnc.net and entering " volunteer” in the search bar! The volunteer application should be completed at least one month before the field trip.  Pending applications and expired approvals will not be honored.
• We encourage parents to consider volunteering as a chaperone when appropriate. At the administration's discretion, approved chaperones may be assigned a small group of students to supervise during the trip. Field trips are considered an extension of the school day; therefore, applicable policies, rules, and procedures apply for the duration of the field trip. Please see Wilson County Schools Board Policy and Regulation 3320 School Trips for more information.  
• Approved volunteers who do not serve as chaperones may not be able to participate in the field trip activities due to venue limitations. If tickets must be purchased in advance for a trip, the school will secure only tickets for the adults volunteering as chaperones. Older or younger children/siblings/cousins, etc., who are not members of the class are not permitted to attend field trips.
• Field trips are non-refundable.

Because students complete assignments at varying paces, it is difficult to determine the actual length of time a student will need to complete a homework assignment.  For this reason, it is expected that teachers will use sound judgment in determining the amount of homework assigned each night.  The table below provides general guidelines for the amount of time a student should spend on homework nightly. This does not include 20 minutes of nightly reading to continue to build student stamina and fluency in reading and comprehension strategies.

All inappropriate items brought onto school property (including the school bus) will be confiscated and dealt with accordingly as it pertains to Board Policy 4300. If needed, law enforcement will be contacted. 

Inappropriate items include but are not limited to:

• Tobacco Products: including but not limited to cigars, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, vape pens, vaporizers, snuff, chew packets, and smokeless tobacco
• Prescription or non-prescription medication that we do not have on file with the school nurse with required WCS documentation from a licensed physician
• Fireworks or Ammunition
• Any Weapon or any instrument that reasonably looks like a weapon or could be used as a weapon such as, but not limited to, knives, razors, BB guns, slingshots, blackjacks, brass knuckles, destructive devices, metal knuckles, stun guns, gasoline, kerosene, flammable liquids, firearms of any sort 
• Illegal drugs or Alcohol including, but not limited to, narcotic drugs, hallucinogenic drugs, amphetamines, marijuana, alcohol

All weather-related school closings, early releases, or late starts will be shared by Wilson County Schools’ central office via phone and email, as well as posted on the district’s website at: http://www.wilsonschoolsnc.net/?DivisionID=20293.

WCS may elect to utilize a remote learning format in emergencies, such as inclement weather, power outages, or other events. 

• Students may enter the building beginning at 7:30 AM.  Breakfast is served in the classroom beginning at 7:30AM.
• Students who arrive after 8:00 AM and/or leave before 3:00PM are counted tardy.  These students must be checked in at the front office by a parent/guardian via our check in system.
• Help us maintain student safety! Please do not drop your child off in the morning before adults are outside on supervision duty or after staff have left the carpool area.  Our doors lock promptly at 8:00 AM!  Please do not place your child at risk by dropping him/her off unattended.  Parents who are unable to bring their children to school or pick them up on time should utilize other means of transportation.  Many area daycares provide transportation for their enrolled students to our school.  WCS also provides morning and afternoon daycare, as available, for interested parents.  For more information regarding the WCS Before-School or After-School Care programs, contact Amy Deans at amy.deans@wilsonschoolsnc.net or 399-7714. 
• Breakfast: In order to increase the opportunity for students to begin their day with a healthy breakfast, Wilson County Schools has implemented BIC (Breakfast in the Classroom). This voluntary program allows students to eat breakfast in their classrooms taking no more than 15 minutes to eat. This program will allow teachers more instructional time with students than the traditional breakfast format and will also ensure all students get a chance to eat. Breakfast will begin at 7:30 and ends at 8:00 each morning. If your child arrives late they will be unable to get breakfast.
• Conferences: There are several things we must do in order to be ready when students arrive. Because of this we are unable to conduct impromptu conferences in the morning. We respectfully ask that parents schedule a time to meet with the teachers via email or telephone. 

All medication administered during the school day must follow Wilson County Schools guidelines, as outlined by the Superintendent and based on state health recommendations.

School staff may administer prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications only when proper authorization is on file. This includes a completed Medication Administration Permission form signed by both the parent and a healthcare provider (except for short-term prescriptions of two weeks or less, which only require parent signature).

Medications must be in their original containers, labeled with the student's name. Students are not allowed to share medications. Certain emergency and chronic condition medications (e.g., asthma inhalers, EpiPens, insulin) may be carried and self-administered by students, if approved by the healthcare provider, parent, school nurse, and principal.

All medications are stored securely unless they are emergency medications that must be immediately accessible. Unused medication must be picked up by the parent at the end of the school year or it will be properly disposed of.

Parents may administer medication to their child at school if needed. Please contact the school nurse or main office with questions or to obtain required forms.

At New Hope Elementary we will participate in a morning meeting. These meetings will take place each morning from 8:00 am to 8:15 am and will be an integral part of our daily schedule.

The purpose of these meetings is to:

• Foster a sense of community and belonging among students
• Set a positive tone for the day
• Discuss important announcements and upcoming events
• Encourage social and emotional learning through structured activities

We believe that these morning meetings will help create a more cohesive and supportive school environment, ultimately benefiting your child's educational experience.

The Wilson County Board of Education and New Hope Elementary School believe that the education of children is a cooperative effort between parents and schools. Parents are their children’s first teachers, and parental involvement improves the educational achievement of their children. We believe that the involvement of parents increases the effectiveness of the program and contributes significantly to the success of the children.  The New Hope School staff will strive to involve parents in activities throughout the school year.  

We invite parents to give input into the development of their children’s instruction programs. Input is solicited through surveys, ConnectEd phone calls, and other means.  Parents are invited to confer with teachers and administrators. Parents are asked to be active members of various committees at the school level.  Parents are also encouraged to serve as volunteers in school activities.  

Additional ways to promote parental involvement include:

• Notes/letters sent to parents 
• Notification of student progress every nine weeks
• Phone communication through the ConnectEd system
• Written, electronic, and/or phone messages soliciting volunteers and committee members
• Parent-Teacher conferences
• Teacher websites and web pages
• District-level initiatives
• Special Events
• Report Card Conferences

Parent Portal is a statewide student information system that gives parents and students access to real-time information, including attendance, grades, and assignments.  With the Parent Portal, powered by Infinite Campus, everyone stays connected:  Students stay on top of assignments, parents are able to participate in their child's progress, and teachers can instantly share information from their gradebook with parents and students.  Families with multiple students can also set up their accounts to view all of their students at one time, with one login. 

We encourage parents/guardians to be involved in and support the educational program of our school.  Active parental participation increases student learning and enhances your child’s elementary school experience.  Sometimes, it is necessary or desirable for parents to visit their child’s classroom.  Parents are welcome to observe and learn about the educational program at school subject to reasonable rules developed by school administrators (WCS Policy Code: 5020 Visitors to the Schools).  Therefore:

Initial Requirement to Observe/Visit the Classroom:  All parents/guardians who wish to observe or visit in classrooms must be approved on the WCS Volunteer Tracker system.  Please visit the WCS website for more information.  Pending applications and expired approvals will not be accepted. 

Who May Visit the Instructional Setting:  The privilege of observing a child’s instructional program during classroom time resides solely with a child's parent, legal guardian, or foster parent and does not extend to non-custodial grandparents, other interested close relatives, or caregivers.

Who May Be Observed: The sole purpose of a classroom visit by a parent is to observe their student and the instructional program being presented.  At no time should a parent’s motive for or focus of a classroom visit be to observe another student or students in the classroom.  If the Principal has knowledge of or suspects that the focus of a parent's classroom visit is to observe another student, he/she reserves the right to deny a requested visit or to end a visit in progress.

Scheduling: Visits must be scheduled in advance through the Principal or designee for a time and date convenient to the parent, teacher, and Principal/designee.  No visits will be allowed while students are  participating in assessments. Some other activities may be exempt from observation, as well.  Same-day requests for classroom visits will not be honored unless initiated by the teacher and approved by the Principal or designee. In order to protect the learning environment for all, the Principal or designee may be present during the parent observation.  Parents should plan to conference with the Principal or designee immediately following the observation.

Duration: To minimize potential interruptions and distractions during instructional time, the principal or designee reserves the right to limit the duration of classroom observations.  

Conduct During Classroom Visitation:  Parent visits to classrooms will be scheduled to begin and end in a manner that will not interrupt the instructional activities in progress.  While visiting the classroom, the teacher will designate an area for parents to sit, generally in the back of the classroom.  Parents are asked NOT to sit with or interact with their student or the teacher during the observation, unless specifically requested by the teacher to do so.  Unnecessary noise or movement creates a disruption to the learning environment and must be avoided. Parents may NOT discipline their student during the classroom visit or while in the presence of other students.  Parents who fail to observe the stated guidelines during their visit may be asked to leave the room if their presence or conduct interferes with the orderly operation of the classroom. 

Parents wishing to discuss their student’s behavior or academic progress after observing him/her during class should schedule a parent conference with the teacher.  Any other concerns or complaints may be addressed directly to the classroom teacher after regular school hours or to the Principal.

No Audio or Video Taping of Classroom: To protect the privacy rights of all students, video and or/audio recording of classroom visits by the parent or guarding is prohibited.  Electronic devices that could be used to video or audio record, including but not limited to cell phones,  should not be visible or operational during the visit.  Violation of this guideline can result in dismissal from the classroom visit and/or the school site.

To protect instructional time and maintain a safe and secure campus,  visitors will not be permitted to visit classrooms during the instructional day without being approved on the Volunteer Tracking System and having a prior arrangement with the teacher and/or principal to participate in a classroom event or assist the teacher with assigned tasks.  If a parent would like to observe the classroom, prior approval must be given in advance, and same-day visit requests will not be approved.

Parents may bring cupcakes or a small treat for their child’s birthday if they wish, but it is not a time for a birthday party to occur, and it is not an approved class event.  Snacks will need to be dropped off at the front office, and the office personnel will deliver the snacks to the child’s classroom.  Cupcakes/treats are to be given after our cafeteria’s operating hours (generally after 2:00 PM). All treats must be commercially prepared; due to state laws and regulations, no homemade goodies are allowed!

Please do not send (or arrange delivery of) gifts to students at school. Items, including but not limited to flowers, balloons, and gift baskets, create distractions and will not be shared with students at school or at school events.  Items delivered to school for students by florists and/or other vendors will not be accepted.  Many local vendors are aware of this policy and will not accept orders to be delivered to the school.

Parents who wish to visit classrooms and/or assist with parties and celebrations must be approved via the WCS Volunteer Tracking System.  Please visit the WCS website for more information.  Pending applications and expired approvals will not be accepted. 

At New Hope, all students are expected to behave in a manner conducive to learning.  High standards have been established for students to conduct themselves in a way that is respectful and that builds a climate essential for learning.  Students can expect school staff to reinforce and model positive behaviors.  Our PBIS Matrix gives examples of appropriate behaviors and expectations.  At NHES, we promote positive behavior strategies and support to maintain a healthy culture for our students to learn and grow. Our teachers will use intervention strategies and approaches in their classrooms to maintain order and an appropriate learning environment. 

However, in the event that a student is continuously disruptive or behaves in a manner that is not supportive of learning, teachers and/or school administrators must intervene with the student in an appropriate manner to ensure that learning can occur. 

New Hope staff takes discipline very seriously. We will maintain an orderly school so that all students can learn in a safe environment. No one student has the right to take away learning opportunities from another. Students who misbehave will be redirected and taught proper behavior. Teachers and administration will follow WCS policies and procedures when applying disciplinary consequences for misbehavior.

The New Hope staff encourages all parents to join our PTO.  While a separate entity from the school, we do depend on our PTO as a major source of financial and human assistance.  Our PTO is very supportive of our school and throughout the years has provided us with computers, SmartBoard screens and projectors, furniture, grounds beautification, field trip and special event funding, tutoring, and other essential resources.  Please be on the lookout for information about joining New Hope‘s PTO.

Students who do not live in the New Hope School district must apply for reassignment in order to remain for the school year. Reassignment must be completed every school year. In order to be approved for reassignment, students must be in good standing academically, behaviorally, and through attendance. If a child does not meet the criteria it will be recommended to the board of education that the student return to their homebase school. Transportation is not provided for students who attend on reassignment. 

Wilson County Schools has adopted the “I Love U Guys” Foundation’s Standard Response Protocol (SRP). Students and staff will be training, practicing, and drilling the protocol.

The Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is based on an all-hazards approach as opposed to individual scenarios. Like the Incident Command System (ICS), SRP utilizes clear common language while allowing for flexibility in protocol. The premise is simple - five specific actions can be performed during an incident. When communicating these, the action is labeled with a “Term of Art” and is then followed by a “Directive.” Execution of the action is performed by active participants, including students, staff, teachers, and first responders. The SRP is based on the following actions: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter.

The possession of wireless communication devices is a matter of convenience and safety for students and parents, but the use of these devices can also be a disruption of the instructional process. The following rules apply at New Hope regarding student use of communication devices: 

• Wireless communication devices include, but are not limited to, cellular telephones, electronic devices with internet capability, paging devices, two-way radios, or any similar device.

• Students are permitted to possess such devices on school property so long as the devices are not activated, used, displayed, or visible during the instructional day or as otherwise directed by school rules or school personnel.
• The school principal may develop and make available a plan for specific times and locations when students may access their wireless communication devices without consequences. 
• The use of cellular phones and other wireless communication devices is prohibited on school buses.
• Students who participate in after-school programs are prohibited from using wireless communications devices during such programs.
• If students chose to bring a personal device for school use, rather than a school issued device, they need to complete a BYOD Form and return it to the media specialist.
• NHES/WCS is not responsible for personal devices at any time nor will we investigate any incidents of loss, theft, or damage. 
• Please see the WCS Board of Education Policy # 3225/4312/7320 for more information.

Personal Devices

Students are free to use their own personal devices.  They will connect to the WCS Guest Network daily.  WCS is not responsible for personal devices at any time nor will investigate any incidents of loss, damage, or theft. 

If students chose to bring a personal device for school use, rather than a school issued device, they need to complete a BYOD Form   BYOD in Spanish and return it to the media specialist. The media specialist will then submit a help desk ticket to receive a personalized password for their account.

Student At Home Agreement

Before students take home a device and charger, they will need to complete the Chromebook at Home Agreement along with a parent signature. Chromebook at Home Agreement in Spanish       

Acceptable Use Policy

Students will be signing their AUP electronically by using a Classlink account. No paper copies of AUP are necessary.

https://www.wilsonschoolsnc.net/departments/accountability-and-testing/testing-information-for-parents

All threats made at New Hope are taken seriously.  If a student creates a direct and immediate threat to the safety of other students or staff, a minimum of three days of out-of-school suspension will be assigned. Depending on the severity of the threat, additional protocols may be administered, such as notifying law enforcement. In all cases, a behavior threat assessment protocol will be followed to determine the severity of the threat. 

We will follow all safety precautions during the arrival and dismissal of students.  Please use our front carpool line to drop off your child each morning between 7:30 and 8:00 AM. Follow the directions of the adult on duty. Let students out at the front drop-off area only if there is a staff member stationed outside the front of the school at the carpool area. Please do not park in the bus parking lot, as this lot is for buses, staff, and other pre-approved persons only.  Designated parking for K-5 parents is the front parking lot. Please use this lot to park if you have an early morning appointment with your child’s teacher.

Our self-contained students may be dropped off in the bus parking lot. Please park in the designated parking lot spots provided and walk your student to the side breezeway, where you will be met by a staff member who will walk your student into the building. 

Students who arrive late (after 8:00) or are picked up early (before 3:00) are considered tardy. 

Our exterior doors automatically lock upon closing.  For safety reasons, parents should not drop tardy students off at the closed/locked front door area, but instead, should park, then enter the building to sign the child in at the office.  If you are unknown to our office staff, an ID will be required for entry into the building. For safety reasons, please do not drop your child off unattended at the front locked door, as you will be leaving your child outside and unsupervised.

If you must pick up your child from school for any reason during the regular school day, please enter through the front door of the school and ask for your child before 2:30 pm. The secretary will call for your child when you arrive on campus, and you will sign him/her out at the front desk. There will be no early check-outs between 2:30 and 3:00 pm due to the high volume of traffic in the office and the continuous interruption to classrooms and instructional time.

To ensure smooth traffic and protect students, parents should remain in their cars and follow the traffic flow into the school grounds each morning and afternoon to drop off and pick up their children.  In the AM carpool line, there will be 2 lanes of traffic from the main entrance.  In the afternoon, there will be three lanes, and students will be walked to their cars by a staff member.  Parents MAY NOT park in an adjacent lot or across the street and walk over to pick up their child, as this creates a dangerous situation. 

Parents must pick up their children on time at the end of each school day.  Parents who are late in picking up students from school must come into the office to sign out their child.  Students should not remain on campus after carpool unless participating in a school-sponsored activity.  Persistent tardiness in picking up your child at carpool will necessitate a meeting with the principal and/or social worker, with appropriate follow-up actions.  Parents who are consistently unable to pick up their child promptly should consider alternative transportation or after-school childcare.

Students require a written, signed, and dated note from a parent or guardian to change their method of transportation to or from school.  We do not accept phone calls for changes in transportation.  You may email a request to virginia.stancil@wilsonschoolsnc.net or Dojo the teacher or administration.  Please give us a call to let us know that you are sending a request via email or Dojo.  Email or Dojo requests are not accepted after 1:00 PM.  Requests for same-day bus changes are not guaranteed.  Students must ride the bus to which they are assigned and may not ride a different bus to go home with someone for a visit.

We welcome and encourage parents to volunteer and visit our school by eating lunch with their child(ren), assisting with class celebrations, and participating in special events.   In order to maintain a safe environment for all, it is necessary to establish and adhere to protocols for visitors on campus.  Therefore: 

• All visitors should enter through the front office, sign in on our Raptor system, and receive a pass/badge for scheduled appointments and to eat lunch. Photo ID is required for entry.
• At lunch, parents may sit with their child only at the visitors’ table.  Due to space limitations and safety concerns, please do not ask another student to sit with you and your child. 
• Mornings are a very busy time for teachers, and we ask that you schedule an appointment to speak to the teacher before school. Students will walk to class independently each morning. Parents may walk students into the office/lobby area; however, students should walk independently to class.
• Do not enter or exit through side doors.  Use the front main entrance only.
• Remember, adults are role models and need to dress and behave appropriately. 
• No cell phone use inside the building. 
• Please schedule appointments with teachers by note, e-mail, or phone call.  All teachers have voicemail where you can leave messages.  Please do not leave time-sensitive voicemails for teachers, as they are not required to check voicemails until after students have left campus for the day.  As a reminder, requests for transportation changes must be made in writing.  
• Classroom observations require approval from the principal and should not interfere with instruction.   No other children may accompany adults during a classroom observation.  Observers must be approved via the WCS Volunteer Tracking system. 
• The right to observe a child’s instructional program during classroom time resides solely with a child’s parent, legal guardian, or foster parent and does not extend to grandparents, other interested close relatives, or caregivers.
• All visitors to classrooms must be approved via the WCS Volunteer Tracking System.  Parents who wish to observe and/or volunteer at New Hope must register and gain approval via the Volunteer Tracker system. 
• School administrators are expected to develop and implement plans and procedures for utilizing school volunteers.  New Hope, teachers shall seek administrative approval before the use of volunteers in the classroom/instructional setting and must share the nature of work, duration, frequency, etc for which the volunteer will be used.  Volunteers shall not be allowed to grade, file, or view student work (excluding that which is posted for general view), as this violates the students’ right to privacy.  All school volunteers are expected to be professional and dependable in their volunteer activities and are bound by the same standards of conduct and ethics that govern school employees.  The principal reserves the right to assign volunteers to roles/locations in the school.  The continuation of the services of a volunteer shall be at the principal’s discretion.  See WCS Board Policy # 5015: School Volunteers for more information.

New Hope Elementary School participates in all required local and state assessments, including End-of-Grade (EOG) Testing for Grades 3, 4, and 5. The End-of-Grade testing window begins on May 20th. It is imperative that your student is present to take their assessments, as this is one criterion that is considered for promotion.

Please view the WCS Testing Calendar by clicking HERE.

Several WCS Board Policies may be of interest to parents throughout the school year.  Several policies of note are linked below:

• Student Behavior Policies (Policy 4300) 
• Student Dress Code  (Policy 4316)  
• Homework (Policy 3135) 
• Evaluation of Student Progress (Policy 3400)    
• Evaluation of Student Progress (Regulation 3400R)
• Student Promotion and Accountability (Policy 3420)  
• Student Promotion and Accountability (Credit Recovery)(Regulation 3420B-R)
• Administering Medications to Students (Policy 6125)   
• Administering Medications to Students Regulation 6125-R)
• Attendance (Policy 4400)  
• Student Records / Release of Directory (Policy 4700)  
• Student Records / Release of Directory (Regulation 4700-R)
• Technology in the Education Program (Policy 3220) 
• Technology in the Education Program (Regulation 3220-R)
• Technology Responsible Use (Policy 3225/4312/7320)
• Internet Safety (Policy 3226/4205)
• Internet Safety (Regulation 3226-R/4205-R)  
• School Safety (Policy 1510/4200/7270) 
• Interscholastic Athletic Eligibility (Policy 3621)
• Discrimination, Harassment and Bullying Complaint Procedure (Policies 1720/4015/7225)