

Cedar Hill News
May 20, 2024

Dear Cedar Hill Families,
We hope you are enjoying a fun and restful summer break! As we prepare to welcome your children back to school, here are a few important updates and reminders to help you get ready for the 2025–2026 school year.
No Need to Fight the Crowd for School Supplies
Thanks to our Title I funding, all student school supplies will be provided this year! That means you can cross those long lists off your to-do list and simply send your child ready to learn.
We will not be able to provide back packs- Just the consumable supplies like pencils/paper/crayons.
Speaking of our Title I Funds...
Complete Your Free & Reduced Lunch Application
Even if you don’t think you’ll qualify, completing the Free and Reduced Lunch Form is incredibly important. It helps us maintain our Title I status, which allows us to provide extra academic support and resources—like those school supplies! Forms will be available online and at Open House.
Details
Scan to complete the form.
Requested Items for donation
A Big THANK YOU to Our Custodians
We want to give a huge shoutout to our amazing custodial team who have worked hard all summer to clean and wax every floor in the building. Cedar Hill is sparkling and ready for our students thanks to them!
New cafeteria tables coming soon
Coming Soon... A New Playground
We are getting a new playground soon. We are very excited to get this new equipment and safe surface.
Open House – Save the Date!
Monday, July 28th | 4:00–7:00 PM
Come meet your child’s teacher, tour the classroom, and get ready for a great school year! This is a come-and-go event, so stop by anytime during those hours.
Class Lists Coming Soon
Class lists will be posted soon. Make sure your child is fully registered, or their name may not appear on the list. Contact the school office if you need help with registration.
A message will be sent on the final date of posting.
First Day of School – July 31st
Enjoy the rest of your summer, because the first day of school is Thursday, July 31st! We can’t wait to see all of our students back in the building, ready for a great year of learning and growth.
Important Policies and Rules to Remember
FOCUS Act
- Named the FOCUS Act (Freeing our Classrooms of Unnecessary Screens for Safety), this new law was passed by the Alabama Legislature in early May 2025, signed by Governor Ivey on May 14, 2025, and takes effect starting the 2025–26 school year
- This applies to all K-12 public schools.
Attendance Matters: Limestone County Schools Policy Update
Regular attendance is essential to your child’s success in school. Please take a moment to review our updated attendance policy:
🎯 Key Attendance Guidelines
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Chronic Absences
Students in grades K–12 who accumulate 18 or more absences—whether excused or unexcused—are considered “chronically absent.” They will be ineligible for non-academic events such as field trips, games, dances, and field day activities. -
Field Trip Eligibility
Any student with 3 or more unexcused absences in a semester, or 5 total absences per semester, will not be allowed to attend school field trips. Principals may consider exceptions for documented chronic illness. -
Excused vs. Unexcused
Excused absences include illness, medical appointments, court appearances, bereavement, inclement weather, religious observances, emergencies, or previously approved reasons. A doctor’s note is required after 10 days of excused absences per year; otherwise, the absence may be marked unexcused. Notes must be submitted within three school days of return. -
Truancy Procedures
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1st–2nd unexcused absence: You will receive a notification letter.
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3rd unexcused absence: A parent–administrator conference will be scheduled.
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5th unexcused absence: Attendance at a school “Early Warning” meeting is mandatory.
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7th unexcused absence: A petition may be filed with Limestone County Juvenile Court.
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Tardies (Tardiness negatively impacts learning.)
- 3 Unexcused Check-Ins and/or Check-Outs will result in the loss of one "Parent Note".
✅ What You Can Do
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Submit written documentation for absences within three days.
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Monitor your child’s absences and discuss any concerns with school staff.
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Support punctual arrivals at the start of the school day.
By working together, we can help ensure every student benefits from consistent attendance—and remains eligible for enriching events and learning opportunities.
If you have questions or need support, please contact us.
Thank you for your partnership!
School Day Times
Students must be in the building and ready for class by 7:40 or they are considered tardy.
Morning Drop Off
Buses release students into the building about 7:15 AM.
Car Line begins at 7:10 AM and will close at 7:35. This allows students to be in class and ready to learn before 7:40.
Car Line- Pick Up
Our Car Line Pick Up takes longer the first several weeks of school due to new students learning the procedures. Student safety is priority! Our staff is working as quickly and safely as possible.
Our students are not released from class until 2:45. We will begin calling students as quickly as possible.
Car Line Tags
This will be needed in order to pick up students in the afternoon car line.
LCS Communication App!
Download the free app then select which schools you would like to follow and receive notifications.
E-Learning Days
Student requirements to participate in E-Learning Days:
● Request to use an E-Learning Day made by parent/guardian a minimum of five (5) calendar days prior to the 1st day of online learning (Principals may use discretion. Forms may be found on district and school websites.)
● No unexcused absences for the entire school year, excessive absences (5 or more in a school year), or excessive tardiness (5 or more in a semester)
● Minimum average of 80 in each class prior to the request
● No Class II or Class III discipline write-ups during the semester the request is made
● Students may not take E-Learning Day during the first 5 days of the school year or during the last 10 days of both semesters.
Students have a maximum of five (5) days to complete and submit class assignments, acquire teacher signatures for submitted work, and submit E-Learning Day Form to front office. It is the student’s responsibility to acquire the signature of each teacher on the E-Learning Day Form once assignments are submitted. Once all teachers have signed the form, student will submit the completed form to the front office. If all requirements are met, the E-Learning Day will not count as an absence for the student.
Grading Information
Grades K-2:
4- Mastery: Full Achievement
3- Proficient: Achievement with Support
2- Approaching: Partial Achievement with Support
1- Unsatisfactory: Minimal Achievement with Support
Grades 3-5:
80-89 B Good
70-79 C Average
60-69 D Poor/Unsatisfactory
0-59 F Failure/Incomplete
80 – 100 S Satisfactory
60 – 79 N Needs to Improve
59 – below U Unsatisfactory
Grade 3 students will receive a numerical grade in the following subjects:
- English Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Physical Education
Grades 3 students will be given a letter grade of S, N, or U in Science and Social Studies
Grades 4-5 students will receive a numerical grade in the following subjects:
- English Language Arts
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Studies
- Physical Education
Grades K-5 students will be given a letter grade of S, N, or U in Visual Arts and Music
Student Suspension
Students who are assigned in-school suspension (ISS) for 4 or more incidents will not be allowed to participate in class or school field trips during that semester.
Bus Transportation
1) Observe classroom conduct.
2) Be courteous.
3) Do not use profane language.
4) Keep the bus clean.
5) Cooperate with the driver.
6) Do not use tobacco products of any kind.
7) Do not damage bus or equipment.
8) Stay seated.*
9) Keep head, feet, and hands inside the bus.
10) Do not fight, push, or shove.
11) Do not tamper with bus equipment.
12) Do not bring pets onto the bus.
13) Do not bring flammable materials onto the bus.
14) No food or drink will be permitted on the bus.
15) Only state approved item can be transported on the bus
*The bus drivers are authorized to assign seats.
Failure to follow the bus rules will result in disciplinary action.