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Handbooks
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Dear Parents & Guardians,
We thank you for choosing École Saint-Landry for your child's educational journey. We are honored to offer your student a world-class French immersion education in Saint Landry Parish.
You are currently viewing the Parent Handbook section of our website's terms and conditions. My team and I believe you will find the contents of our Parent Handbook to be helpful for all parents—whether you are considering École or already have active, enrolled students at École. To that end, you can find the Parent Handbook anytime in the header above, by clicking the tab labeled "Parents."
The information we've prepared in our Parent Handbook contains key dates, helpful reminders, daily deadlines, and policies with tips related to meals from home, transportation, uniforms and more.
Please review it in its entirety by clicking each expandable subsection below. Please share the Parent Handbook with trusted family members who may be contacting us as a student's guardian, emergency contact, legal-age sibling, or trusted adult.
All questions and inquiries about the Parent Handbook or our site's terms are kindly directed to Le Bureau (our Front Office) via our website's chat tool (Messagerie) or by sending an email to Office@EcoleStLandry.org.
We wholeheartedly look forward to welcoming your student(s) and family at École Saint-Landry.
Bienvenue !
Lindsay Smythe
Directrice • Principal
École St-Landry
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Use our campus map to familiarize yourself with the general layout of our primary campus.
BEFORE YOU ARRIVE
Our primary campus is located on the western end of the town of Sunset, approximately 3 minutes from I-49, 18 minutes from downtown Lafayette, and 20 minutes from Lafayette's Airport. Our 270+ students come on foot from local neighborhoods and by bus and car from all corners of Saint-Landry Parish.
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Address
671 Napoléon Avenue, Sunset, LA 70584
Email
Visiting Hours
9:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Visitors are people of all ages, from visiting diplomats and guest speakers, enrichment teachers and other professionals, to parents and siblings — both prospective and active alike.
In the spirit of providing our highest level of service, we ask that all visitors wait until 9:00 AM — unless otherwise instructed by a school admin or administrative personnel. This allows our front office staff to prioritize morning arrivals, tardies, and other businesses presented by parents or guardians of active students from 8:30 - 9:00 AM.
Planning Your Arrival
From 9:00 AM until 2:30 PM, visitors of all types may park in the public parking lot adjacent to Le Bureau (Front Office) and ring the door bell located to the left of the door labeled "Le Bureau • Front Office." Identification may be required by admins and/or administrative personnel.
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Use this section to reference École St-Landry's policy on school uniforms.
TOPS
Our uniform policy requires one of two categories of tops on any day of the week: Polo or Spirit Wear. Both short- and long-sleeved Polos are allowed and must be hunter green in color. École's embroidered logos are allowed, optional, and not required. Examples of Spirit Wear include but are not limited to spirit tees, sweatshirts, and hoodies. No other logos, stripes, or other decorations are allowed.
BOTTOMS
Common examples include shorts, pants, jumpers, skirts, skorts and polo dresses. Required colors are khaki, navy blue, or plaid #83 with the exception of polo dresses, which require navy blue or hunter green. Belts are allowed, encouraged, but not required. Cargo pockets are not permitted on any bottom article of clothing and all uniform bottoms must be finger-tip in length or greater.
Recommended: Undershorts
Falls happen when children play. Anyone wearing a jumper or skirt will appreciate an under-layer or pair of athletic undershorts, so their underwear is not exposed to others.
SHOES
École's uniform policy with regard to footwear is broad: Socks and tights should be school-appropriate. Shoes must be closed-toe, closed-heel, comfortable, non-distracting shoes.
The following restrictions are enforced by brand, style, and similar characteristics: Birkenstocks, Crocs, sandals, boots, high heels, and flip flops.
COOL WEATHER
In classrooms and during cooler months, students may opt to wear a sweater, sweatshirt, hoodie or similar outer layer over their uniform's top. Any such outer layer must be lightweight in nature and hunter green or navy blue in color. Please label an inside tag of the garment with the student's initials for the sake of avoiding lost and found.
OUTERWEAR
Outwear has no restrictions in terms of color, style, or features but must be school appropriate. . Out of courtesy for others and for the sake of space, please avoid sending students to school with large or unnecessary winter outerwear. From coats, jackets, and scarves, to gloves and hats, all outerwear must be removed and placed out of the way as soon as the student goes indoors.
- 06
Each morning, students arrive at École from all corners of Saint Landry parish. Some come on foot, some by bus (just under 50%), and all others by car.
Use this section of the Parent Handbook to plan your mornings each day.
The following times indicate important benchmarks for each school day's morning. Please help your students understand what's expected of them by sharing the following information with them often and as needed.
7:00 AM
Doors open for morning Lion Care: Parents may opt to drop off students from 7:00 AM - 7:45 AM using the public parking lot (nearest to the front office) and both may enter the main building through the door on your left. All vehicles not belonging to staff members will be cleared from the public parking lot at 7:45 AM. All students in Lion Care will remain in the Lion Care room under Lion Care staff's care until 8:00 AM, when students are admitted to report to homeroom.
Heads-Up
Any student dropped off or arriving (foot, bus, car) on École's campus between the hours of 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM will be placed in Morning Care and charged $5/student per morning.
7:45 AM
Our next benchmark is 7:45 AM, which is the earliest time our car rider line may begin forming streetside along Napoléon Avenue. While advancing through the line, please keep nearby streets, intersections, and our neighbors' driveways in mind by keeping them free of blockages.
8:00 AM
École opens its doors to all students and parents thereof. Throughout the campus, staff are posted at all entrances and main thoroughfares to greet, welcome, and direct students through campus daily. Whether the student is on campus for Morning Care, arriving on foot, by bus, or car, all students must report first to their homeroom classroom to drop off their belongings and prepare for the day.
Car Riders
When prompted by staff, drivers in the car rider line will begin entering the public parking lot's loop and mobilizing their passengers to exit the vehicle for morning drop-off. Staff are standing by to open your door, greet your student, and assist in the student's transition from the vehicle to campus. All students are expected to exit willingly and remain mindful of others waiting in the car rider line.
Breakfast
From 8:00 AM until 8:25 AM, students can pick up a tray in their classroom and get free breakfast, which is served in Kinder building. Breakfast is enjoyed at their desks until 8:25 AM. During this time, students can visit the restroom and wash their hands.
Attendance
Students are required to know and respect the morning schedule outlined here each school day. Otherwise, students accrue penalties like unexcused absences, tardies, and lost classroom time (minutes, hours). Avoid late check-ins by arriving at school at or around 8 AM.
8:25 AM
Students clean their desks, clean and stack their trays, and return to their desks to take their seats prior to the tardy bell (8:30 AM).
8:30 AM
The tardy bell rings. Class begins. Attendance is taken. All students not present in their classrooms are counted as absent.
Questions? Contact us on chat ('Messagerie') or send an email to: Office@EcoleStLandry.org.
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OVERVIEW
As you might imagine, the transfer process differs from one parish to another. We're always excited to welcome new faces to our campus. Use this section to learn about and get resources pertaining to transferring a student or students to École St-Landry (École) from a school within Saint Landry Parish (SLP) as well as from schools in other parishes.
Unfortunately, there is currently no guarantee that your request will be approved by your parish's local school board or other decision-makers.
If you need additional help, contact our administrative staff via email to set up a virtual or in-person appointment to learn more about your family's options based on where you currently reside:
SAINT LANDRY
Perhaps you simply prefer École, maybe you work or live closer to Sunset than your zone's nearest school. If you are a current resident of SLP this , you'll first need to identify your current school zone and zoned elementary school by filtering all zones using your current address. If École is not in your zone, complete the Transfer Request (Google Form) available through Saint Landry Parish School Board.
LAFAYETTE
Transfer requests are processed by Lafayette Parish School Board's office of Child Welfare and Attendance Department. The out-of-zone transfer request form includes an option for both in-parish and out-of-parish transfers. For more information, use the following contact for this office:
Jerome Robinson, M.Ed
Director of Child Welfare and Attendance jdrobinson@lpssonline.com
The LeRosen Elementary Building 516 East Pinhook Road, Lafayette, LA 70508 7:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Other Phones
For additional assistance, please call:
• (337) 521-7090
• (337) 521-7089
• (337) 521-7094
ACADIA The attendance zone policy of the Acadia Parish School Board requires students to attend school in their prescribed zone. Only in extreme cases will hardships be approved, such as but not limited to documented physical, psychological or family problems. Students who do not reside in Acadia Parish as well as those students who reside in Acadia Parish, but who are zoned for another school within the parish must have school and district level approval to attend an out-of-zone school.
Permission may be denied or revoked due to a number of variables included but not limited to overcrowding or capacity. If a serious attendance or discipline problem exists during the hardship, this may be reason for the student to return to his/her home school zone.
If approved, transportation becomes the responsibility of the parent or guardian. A new form must be filled out for each school year for new or renewal requests.
INSTRUCTIONS
Click, print, and complete the fields indicated on Acadia Parish's transfer form* (PDF). Then, fax the form or send by mail with enough time to meet this parish's April 22nd deadline.
• Fax 337-785-8810
• Mailing Address 2402 North Parkerson Avenue, Crowley, LA 70526
*Always reference Acadia Parish's website as the definitive source for deadlines, requirements, and any information related to your transfer(s).
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Use this section to plan your transfer and learn about these critically important, time-sensitive steps required to successfully withdraw students.
The following form (Step 1) is required to successfully initiate the withdrawal process with École's front office. We never accept phone calls or emails as sufficient notice. Following this policy will help all parties avoid delays, truancy, and penalties on student records (such as but not limited to unexcused absences). Parents, guardians, and the new school's contacts may reach our Front Office via email anytime using:
STEP 1
Parents and guardians are required to log in to this website and complete École's Withdrawal Form.
STEP 2
To avoid delays and penalties, begin the enrollment process with your new school immediately after step 1. Your student(s) cannot be released officially from École until École's Front Office receives an email from your new school requesting the student's records. Provide the front office email above when registering your student with your new school.
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OVERVIEW
Attendance is incredibly important in all schools, but it is even more important at an immersion school because most of our students do not have family members in the home who speak French. Simply put: We cannot teach a student who is absent.
According to La. R.S. 14:92.2: Improper Supervision of a Minor, a parent shall be charged with criminal negligence if a minor is allowed to be habitually absent or tardy from school pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 17-233 without valid excuse.
Therefore, it is the legal responsibility of the parent to enforce a child's attendance at school and civil penalties may occur if the student is determined to be habitually absent, habitually late, or habitually leaving school early.
Use this resource to learn more about attendance, get tips, and read the parish's attendance policy, as well as our attendance policy.
SAINT LANDRY PARISH
attendance policy
After 5 combined unexcused absences and tardies, the Saint Landry Parish School Board automatically reports the family to the St. Landry Parish Parish Municipal Court as a family non-compliant with state policy and school interventions.
Acquiring 11 or more unexcused absences, tardies, early check-outs, or a combination of all three, may result in your child being retained.
ÉCOLE ST-LANDRY
attendance policy
Excuses is a term we use to encompass any letter, note, slip, or similar notification created by a Professional (medical, legal, or other) citing a medical visit or visits and ultimately the dates of care of a student in question.
Vacations
Before you buy: Time away from school for family trips, vacations, long weekends will not be excused.
Tardies
Late Arrivals and Parental Check-Ins are considered tardies as well as absences in the class(es) missed.
Make-Up Work
The student shall request makeup work for days missed due to temporarily excused absences or extenuating circumstances.
3-Day Rule
An excuse from a medical professional is required of any student who absent for three or more (3+) consecutive days.
5-Day Rule
Doctor's notes, medical notes, and similar notices ("Excuses") from a parent, legal guardian, or medical professional must be submitted to École within five (5) days of a student's returns to school.
10-Day Rule
Students will not be allowed to exceed ten (10) absences in a given school year.
Absences of two or fewer consecutive school days due to personal illness or serious illness in the family may be validated by a parent written excuse note.
Vacations or other family trips will not be excused.
The law states:
LA Compulsory Attendance Law
Subpart C. School Attendance
RS 17:221
§221. School attendance; compulsory ages; duty of parents; excessive absences; condition for
driving privileges
A.(1) Every parent, tutor, or other person residing within the state of Louisiana having control or
charge of any child from that child's seventh birthday until his eighteenth birthday shall send such
child to a public or private day school, unless the child graduates from high school prior to his
eighteenth birthday. Any child below the age of seven who legally enrolls in school shall also be
subject to the provisions of this Subpart. Every parent, tutor, or other person responsible for
sending a child to a public or private day school under provisions of this Subpart shall also
assure the attendance of such child in regularly assigned classes during regular school
hours established by the school board and shall assure that such child is not habitually
tardy from school pursuant to the provisions of R.S. 17:233.
(2) Whoever violates the provisions of this Subsection or R.S. 17:234 shall be fined not more
than two hundred and fifty dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both. The
court shall impose a minimum condition of probation which may include that the parent, tutor, or
other person having control or charge of the child participate in forty hours of school or
community service activities, or a combination of forty hours of school or community service and
attendance in parenting classes or family counseling sessions or programs approved by the court
having jurisdiction, as applicable, or the suspension of any state-issued recreational license.
(3) Whoever violates any other provision of this Subpart or any other provision of law which
provides for the penalty provided for in R.S. 17:221 shall be fined not more than fifteen dollars,
and, for such violations, each day the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
(4) Visiting teachers or supervisors of child welfare and attendance, with the approval of the
parish or city superintendents of schools, shall file proceedings in court to enforce the provisions
of this Subpart.
RS 17:233
§233. Cases of habitual absence or tardiness referred to juvenile or family court; denial or
suspension of driving privileges
A. Any student who is a juvenile and who is habitually absent from school or is habitually tardy
shall be reported by visiting teachers and supervisors of child welfare and attendance to the
family or juvenile court of the parish or city as a truant child, pursuant to the provisions of Chapter
2 of Title VII of the Louisiana Children's Code relative to families in need of services, there to be
dealt with in such manner as the court may determine, either by placing the truant in a home or in
a public or private institution where school may be provided for the child, or otherwise.
B.(1)(a) A student shall be considered habitually absent or habitually tardy when either
condition continues to exist after all reasonable efforts by any school personnel, truancy
officer, or other law enforcement personnel have failed to correct the condition after the
fifth unexcused absence or fifth unexcused occurrence of being tardy within any school
semester. (b) The parent or legal guardian of a student shall enforce the attendance of the student at the school to which the student is assigned.
(c) The principal of the school, or his designee, shall notify the parent or legal guardian in writing
on or before a student's fifth unexcused absence or unexcused occurrence of being tardy, and
shall hold a conference with such student's parent or legal guardian. This notification shall include
information relative to the parent or legal guardian's legal responsibility to enforce the student's
attendance at school and the civil penalties that may be incurred if the student is determined to
be habitually absent or habitually tardy. The student's parent or legal guardian shall sign a receipt
for such notification.
(d) The parent or legal guardian of any student in kindergarten through grade eight who is
considered habitually absent or habitually tardy pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be
in violation of the provisions of Subparagraph (b) of this Paragraph and shall be punished as
follows:
(i) A first offense shall be punishable by a fine of not more than fifty dollars or the performance of
not less than twenty-five hours of community service.
(ii) Any subsequent offense shall be punishable in accordance with R.S. 17:221(A)(2).
(iii) For purposes of this Subparagraph, an offense means a violation of this Subsection by the
parent or legal guardian of a child who is habitually absent or habitually tardy; multiple offenses
may result from violations involving different habitually absent or tardy children of that parent or
legal guardian.
(iv) In any case where the child is the subject of a court ordered custody or visitation plan, the
parent or legal guardian who is lawfully exercising actual physical custody or visitation of the child
shall be responsible for the child's attendance at school on those days and shall be solely
responsible for any absence or tardiness of the child on such days. The parent or legal guardian
not exercising actual physical custody or visitation on the day of the absence or tardiness shall
not be in violation of this Section.
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It's no secret: Learning is a journey. We all spent years babbling, crawling, and mimicking others around us. Young or young at heart, whether you're a beginner, know a little, or you speak French but never learned to read or write, explore these options to begin interacting with your child in our heritage language (and your child's new learning language!).
This website offers individual classes for all ages and a two-person class, so students can either study with a sibling online or with another French student, virtually, anywhere else in the world as a virtual pen pal!
Alliance Française de Lafayette
Alliance Française de Lafayette offers group and individual classes, as well as special classes in Louisiana French (aka 'Cajun' or 'Cadien'), Kouri-Vini (Louisiana Créole French), and French classes for parents of French immersion students.
Apps • Mobile & Tablet
There are a number of language-learning apps you and your children can use at home to learn French or to make faster progress. Why not start learning together over the summer, for example, to help your child get ready for school? Different apps exist for different people's learning styles, so you'll have to find the one that works best for you, but we've used Duolingo and Babble and are happy with them.