Parent Handbook

Celebrating the present and preparing our students for the future within a nurturing and caring educational environment, we…

Cherish Childhood

Provide joyful experiences that include play- and passion-based learning

So that our students...

Build Academic Foundation

Supporting the Mission Statement and the Program and Pedagogy Pillars is the School’s Pledge of Excellence.

We believe that for the total development of children there must be mutual respect and cooperation between the School and home. Enrollment of children indicates that parents understand and accept the basic philosophy under which the School operates. The Board of Trustees, Administration, faculty, and staff encourage open communication.

TRINITY SCHOOL promises that:

Eligibility
Trinity School (“Trinity” or “the School”) seeks economic, social, racial, and religious diversity in its student body. The School does not discriminate based on race, color, or national and ethnic origin, religion or creed, gender, sexual orientation, family composition, or economic status in the administration of our admission and educational policies, in the extension of financial aid, or other school-administered programs. A birth date prior to September 1 determines age eligibility. Applicants for the Early Learners, Pre-K, Kindergarten, and First Grade programs with birthdays between May 1 and September 1 will be placed in the grade level determined to best fit their social, emotional, and academic needs.

To fulfill application requirements, as specified in the admissions material, a family must:

General Considerations
The Admissions Office considers, among other matters, the following:

Immunizations
Trinity adheres to the state of Georgia’s immunization requirements for children. Current Georgia residents must submit the GA 3231 at the time of enrollment. Out-of-state or country students must submit their current state record or form at the time of acceptance for evaluation. The immunization record will be added to the online Student Medical Record. Vision, hearing, and dental screening (GA 3300) is required of all entering students of appropriate age. Initial screening begins at age four. The screening records will be added to the online Student Medical Record.

Drop-off begins at 7:30 AM for Early Elementary Division and Upper Elementary Division students. Trinity’s school day begins at 8:05 AM for all students. For safety, students remain in cars until a teacher or staff member assists in opening the door. Entrance and exit for all children will be under the covered drop-off area. The only exception is for Fifth and Sixth Graders’ morning carpool and carpools with four or more Trinity students, who may unload in the Visitor Lot.

Regular Attendance
Regular attendance is very important at every grade level. If a pattern of absences develops, the Division Head will contact the parents to rectify the situation.

If your child has had a fever (100.0 or higher), keep her or him at home until s/he has been fever free for a full 24 hours without taking any fever-reducing medicine. Keep your child at home if he or she has had vomiting or diarrhea within 24 hours. Also keep your child home with symptoms of a cold or any other communicable disease. 

Children may be sent home on the determination of school staff. It is very important that you let the School know if a child will be out by sending an email to studentout@trinityatl.org. Please include the reason for your child's absence, including symptoms or diagnosis. For more information, please reference “Child Too Sick for School?” on the Health Information tile in MyTrinity, or contact the School Nurse at 404-231-8108 or nurse@trinityatl.org.

Tardy to School
Arriving on time positively impacts students, providing time for organization, socialization, and preparation for the day. Conversely, late arrival can cause children to feel rushed or behind, which starts their day negatively. The school day begins at 8:05 AM, and students who arrive after that time will be marked tardy. If a pattern of tardiness develops, the Division Head will contact the parents to rectify the situation. Please note that parents must sign in students who are tardy at Reception so that they are not marked as absent for the day.

Extended Absences
When parents are aware of planned absences, the School asks for written notice one week in advance so that appropriate preparation can be made. The School cannot assume responsibility for academic loss that occurs as a result of extra days of vacation. Parents who are going out of town during the school year should notify the School before their departure as to who the emergency contact person will be during their absence.

Trinity School places great emphasis on character education as it affects both the individual and the community as a whole. We are a learning environment that supports the teaching of character and values education and its daily integration into the life of the School. Most components of behavior and decorum are taught through direct instruction, modeling, and situations that arise in the school community. Harmonious and civil relationships among students, faculty, staff, and parents in the Trinity community are the expectation. This should be demonstrated by a respect for others’ views and a supportive attitude.

Parent Cooperation
Parents choose Trinity in part for its emphasis on values. All students and all adults are expected to conduct themselves with civility and respect, even during times of differing viewpoints and opinions. Concerns, problems, and miscommunication should always be addressed between adults with common regard. Teachers’ behavior is held to a high standard at Trinity, as is parents’ behavior. It is rare that a Trinity parent becomes disrespectful toward a teacher, administrator, or another parent. If a parent does display blatant disregard for others, that individual will be directed to review the following point in the Online Enrollment Contract: “When the School feels parent dissatisfaction is such that the child’s and/or the School’s best interests are being harmed, Trinity may ask the parent to withdraw the child from the School.” Likewise, as a result of inappropriate behavior, a parent may be asked by the Head of School to remain off-campus though the child may still attend school.

Citizenship
No other aspect of school life carries more significance than citizenship. Cooperation, courtesy, respect, and consideration of others contribute immensely to the daily life and spirit of the School. Although education is the School’s major goal, responsibility to others is fundamental in our life together, with each student being responsible for his or her own actions.

Discipline of Students
Discipline at Trinity is designed to maintain a community in which each member is safe and respected. We seek to promote an atmosphere of honesty, integrity, and care for one another in the mutual spirit of cooperation and respect between students and faculty. In order to help students become self-directed and cooperative members of a larger group, we are clear about both the behaviors that support learning within a group setting and behaviors that are inappropriate. Both forms of behavior have results or consequences. The positive results are easily seen in the child with strong self-discipline, self-motivation, a respect for self and others, and a willingness to cooperate and learn.

Negative behavior has its consequences as well. The disciplinary code stated below delineates those behaviors that are not acceptable in the Trinity community and the consequences that follow such behaviors.

From time to time, there will be situations that arise that require consequences. In most cases, it is our hope that these consequences will be logical and natural and will be positive learning experiences for the students. At other times, a teacher may deem that an offense requires more than a natural consequence. In these instances, the following system applies.

General Student Expectations

Minor to Moderate Offenses
Teachers and students annually develop classroom agreements and procedures, which often include the following minor to moderate offenses:

The appropriate consequences for such offenses will be determined by the teacher based on the offense and the individual student. If a pattern of behavior emerges, the Division Head and parents will be notified and involved in any additional consequences or next steps.

On rare occasions, young children bite. In such instances, parents of the biting child will be contacted to implement a home-school behavior modification plan. In the case of excessive or repeated biting, procedures for serious offenses will be followed.

Serious Offenses
Major behavioral disruptions will be communicated to the Division Head, who then will determine next steps, which typically include contacting parents and the Head of School. These infractions include:

Any one of these infractions may result in a serious consequence, up to suspension and expulsion. Depending on the circumstances, on-campus or off-campus suspension may occur as determined by the Division Head in discussion with the Head of School. If a child continues such behavior, the parents may be asked to withdraw the child from school. The final decision in all matters of discipline is based on the discretion of the appropriate Division Head and the Head of School.

Peer Aggression
One of the hallmarks of Trinity School’s education is the cultivation of respect, responsibility, and positive relationships. However, administrators and teachers at Trinity School realize that negative social behavior can and does occur at Trinity, just as it does at any school. Responding to it constructively requires the collaborative support of students, teachers, administrators, and parents. With collaboration, a commitment to decreasing negative social behavior will be maximized.

What separates peer aggression from the typical interpersonal development experienced by children learning to navigate their social world is that peer aggression is intentional, repetitive, and involves an imbalance of social power.

Trinity does not believe that a “zero-tolerance” policy works with children. Reports of peer aggression are taken seriously and addressed expeditiously. In a peer aggression situation, the well-being of all children involved is paramount. Young children need the opportunity to learn from mistakes. Individual consequences need to be applied depending on the personal circumstances of each child.

Teachers and division heads deal directly with students who engage in negative social behavior. Depending on circumstances, consequences may include forms of apology, referrals for professional support, suspension, and, in extreme cases, expulsion from the School.

Please read this section very carefully as it includes very specific information that is necessary for each driver to contribute positively to carpool.

These procedures are designed with the primary goal of ensuring the safety of everyone in our community, especially our students. Secondly, these procedures allow for an efficient carpool. Please respect them and understand that we must all work together to keep everyone safe. The Trinity campus must be an area where drivers slow down and act with civility. The Head of School or the Director of Operations may contact drivers who exhibit risky behavior.

If there is someone who is never to pick up your child, it is imperative that you notify the Head of School with all the relevant information.

Trinity School utilizes an automated campus management system called SchoolPass, which is available online as well as an app. This system incorporates car tags with RFID technology to track when cars enter and exit campus. For the School’s four formal carpools, SchoolPass automatically registers cars as they enter the carpool line. SchoolPass procedures can be found on the SchoolPass tile in MyTrinity.

Parent Guidelines for Carpool

If your child is to go home with someone other than the regular driver, please make the changes through SchoolPass by 8:30 AM on the day of the change. Confusion can ensue with last-minute changes and the time it takes for thorough communication to teachers and staff who open doors. Confusion also causes anxiety when someone else—a nanny, spouse, relative, or friend—is to pick up a child but the family hasn’t thoroughly communicated that information. The School reserves the right to hold a child and make a call to the parent to confirm if we are in doubt about a driver.

After the first week of school, children who are not picked up at the end of their carpool will be escorted to Extended Programs (EP). Parents will be charged a rate for this drop-in care of $20 per hour. At this point, children will be considered part of EP when they stay late and will be charged accordingly.

Placing children in their classrooms each year requires balancing the needs of each child with the needs of the whole group. Teachers work collectively to make recommendations to the Division Heads. In the spring, a form is available for parents to share information with the Division Heads about their child. Please do not request a specific teacher. The Administration makes the final determination of class placement, thoughtfully weighing the needs of all students.

Division Heads and teachers make decisions about class placements with great care. Just as you know your child at home, we know your child as a Trinity student, given the many hours we spend with them throughout the school year. We aim for classrooms that are diverse and balanced, keeping individual needs and group dynamics in mind. Retaining students is rare and considered under extenuating circumstances when the School believes it is in the child's best interest. The Division Head in conjunction with classroom teachers will communicate with parents regarding retention if necessary.

If school is closed or delayed, the information will be posted on the School’s website and communicated to all families through Trinity’s emergency notification system.

School closings or delayed openings will also be announced on the following TV stations: WSB TV, Fox 5 Atlanta, and 11Alive.

If school will open on time, there will be a notification on the School’s website. During winter weather, please be prepared to pick up your child(ren) before the roads become unsafe. If in doubt, call Extended Programs at 404-231-8117 to ascertain the status of EP closing time. The School wants to avoid having anyone stranded on the roads or at Trinity School.

If the School is under a crisis or weather alert at carpool dismissal time, students will return to the interior of the building until the site is safe. Students will be dismissed only to their parents, not to a carpool driver. Carpool drivers will be asked to come into the building.

Positive and open communication between the home and the School is the foundation of a good partnership for each student’s benefit. Going to the source of an issue can help dispel rumors or misunderstandings. While speaking directly to a teacher about a child is the best way of resolving issues, Grade Level Representatives are also available to talk about other issues in a particular grade.

When a parent has a concern about his or her child in the classroom, it is essential to first contact the teacher involved. This step often alleviates concerns that otherwise might escalate. The appropriate Division Head is the next step if a conversation between the teacher and the parent does not reach resolution. If necessary, speaking with the Head of School is the next step in the process. The Administration is always willing to talk to parents as needed.

Information at Trinity School travels quickly, and it is important for everyone involved that it be as accurate as possible and that it be kept in perspective. Never hesitate to call the School or a TSPA officer and ask about accurate information.

The School makes every effort to communicate as clearly and as thoroughly as it can about those matters affecting the community. Also, please be considerate and respectful by not telephoning teachers at their homes or on their cell phones. Instead, use their school email unless there is an emergency. Because a teacher's primary duty is instruction, please do not expect an immediate response to email during the school day. If you need to send an email to any of the Receptionists, please send the email to reception@trinityatl.org.

At Trinity School, we understand that our students are growing up in a digital world. This reality brings new promises as well as new cautions. We embrace the positive aspects that the digital world has to offer to the elementary education environment. We believe that technology holds enormous promise to help foster lifelong skills, including social and emotional skills.

Technology at Trinity personalizes learning, complements what happens in the classroom, and extends learning opportunities to students that might not be within reach in the classroom. Trinity is committed to ensuring that the entire school community (i.e., students, teachers, and parents) has access to the necessary resources to ensure appropriate technology use at school and at home.

From our youngest learners to our Sixth-Grade leaders, digital responsibility has become a necessary component of Information Age education. It is important for our students to learn on modern technological tools, and we value student safety first and foremost. Students in Early Learners though First Grade have access to a Trinity managed and secure iPad during the school day. Each student in grades 2–6 is provided a Chromebook. The students and teachers in the Upper Elementary division use the collaborative and productive tools of Google Workspace for Education. Trinity provides a school-managed Google account for each student and teacher to use for education purposes within a secure learning environment. Every student is protected on campus with a robust firewall and antivirus software. In addition to our firewall and web filter, each Upper Elementary student device is protected on and off campus through Go Guardian, which allows the Technology Department to view each Chromebook’s engagement data based on each student’s browsing activity. This adds an additional layer of security for our community.

We encourage parents to let the technology team know if an issue arises with the student laptops at home and to attend digital safety discussions on campus to learn how to best oversee children’s digital usage.

Students who bring a phone to school must keep it turned off and stored in their backpack or locker from the time they arrive on campus until they are picked up from carpool. Teachers may ask students to remove and store Smartwatches if they are used inappropriately during the school day or cause a distraction, including during carpool.

Trinity School requires students in Kindergarten through Sixth Grade to wear uniforms. Uniforms are optional for Early Learners and Pre-K students. All students are required to wear non-marking athletic shoes daily. Trinity's uniform vendor is Lands' End. Visit the online Lands' End Uniform Store to order clothing and review a listing of approved items. Trinity's Lands' End Preferred School Number is 900071762. A link to the Lands’ End online store can also be found on the School Uniforms tile in MyTrinity.

Early Learners and Pre-K GENERAL APPEARANCE GUIDELINES
Children in Early Learners and Pre-K classes should be dressed according to the following guidelines. Please understand that young children at Trinity may get messy and dirty.

Trinity School keeps the best interest of children utmost in any determination of policy and strives to communicate fully with each parent of Trinity students. Ideally a child’s parents (even if divorced) each take an interest in and remain informed about the child’s school experience. The following policy for dealing with split families is based on that assumption. Should a legal divorce settlement prohibit the involvement of the non-custodial parent with his or her children, then Trinity School expects either or both parents to so inform the School. Parents must provide the Head of School with an updated copy of the legal custodial agreement. Barring a legal prohibition, Trinity will respond to all split families according to the following policy.

The following may be available upon request to the Registrar for mailing to the non-custodial parent.

The School Administration and teachers will continue their efforts to welcome the non-custodial parent’s involvement in all parent activities. However, the School cannot adjudicate between parents as they are determining the level of involvement by the non-custodial parent that will be best for the child.

Only the custodial parent will be listed in the online school directory, except in cases where the custodial parent has indicated on the enrollment agreement that the non-custodial parent should be listed. Otherwise, the non-custodial parent will not be listed. Generally speaking, the online directory is a listing of the students and their permanent addresses and telephone numbers. Grade-level parents often maintain their own email lists. The School cannot be responsible for that communication.

Trinity is committed to serving as an advocate for what is best for each of our students. It is hoped that every child at Trinity can be as successful as possible. Accordingly, if a student does not meet the minimum academic standards at his or her grade level, the following process will be initiated.

This procedure should ensure a beneficial placement for the student for the next school year.

If a student is not making the academic progress that the School deems necessary to successfully complete the academic year, he or she can be placed on academic probation. Grade average at the appropriate grade levels is one of the determining factors of the probation. The stipulations of such probation will be delineated on an individual basis, with careful monitoring of progress and close parent communication. If significant effort and progress are not evident throughout the term of the academic probation, a child can be asked to leave the School at the Division Head and Head of School’s discretion.

The Learning Team is a professional group of people committed to supporting students who need additional assistance or enrichment. With the support of the Learning Team, Trinity School strives to understand the uniqueness of children’s learning profiles in order to most effectively meet students’ educational needs. Trinity School supports the premise that a systematic procedure must be followed in dealing with children with special needs. Students will be referred to the Learning Team when additional support or challenge is recommended and needed. On some occasions, the Learning Team, upon the approval of the Early Elementary or Upper Elementary Division Head, may ask for a psychoeducational evaluation of a child. After that evaluation, parents must supply a full copy of such testing so the student can be fully supported. Failure to cooperate may result in services not being provided, and, at the discretion of the Head of School, the child may not be enrolled the following year. The Head of School and the appropriate Division Head will be kept informed of the special needs and educational guidelines for the students.

Before a recommendation for any outside evaluation is made by Trinity to parents, the appropriate Division Head must be notified. When the evaluation report is sent to the School, the teacher(s) and Division Heads will study the findings. A conference with parents to discuss the test results, as well as its impact on the child at school, generally is appropriate at this time. Our consulting psychologist may sit in. If parents initiate an outside evaluation for a child, the full results must be shared with the School to assist in educational planning. These results are held in the strictest confidence and will not be forwarded to any other institution when a student leaves Trinity or graduates. When full evaluative information is not shared, it is far more difficult for the School to provide focused support for the child.

Trinity School offers after-school care until 6 PM to all Trinity students.

Extended Programs is available from 12:30 to 6 PM. For your convenience, Extended Programs offers three carpool times on Monday through Thursday: 2 PM, 3 PM, and 4 PM, and two carpool times on Friday: 2 PM and 3 PM. A late fee will be charged if pick-up is past 6 PM (see Late Pick-Up Policy).

Extended Programs consists of three types of classes: Core Classes, Special Classes, and Private Lessons. Registration for these classes occurs twice a year through a link that is provided at the time of registration. Changes during the add/drop period can be made by contacting the EP office at kwhitmer@trinityatl.org. A $20 change fee will apply for each change.

Students can drop in to Extended Programs at any time for a fee of $20 per hour. If your child drops in for Lunch Bunch (12:30 to 2 PM), the charge is $30. To change your child’s normal pick-up time or arrange for drop-in care, you must notify the School via SchoolPass, which is available as an app and linked on MyTrinity, by 8:30 AM on the day of the change. It is not necessary to make a reservation or contact the Extended Programs office if the carpool change is made within SchoolPass. This is the best way to ensure your child is brought to the correct place at the correct time. The drop-in fee will be charged on the next month’s billing cycle.

CAMP DAYS | HALF-DAY AND FULL-DAY CAMPS
Childcare is available for a fee of $50 for a half day and $100 for a full day during conferences. Lunches and snacks are provided. There are no carpools. Parents must check in at Reception and sign their children out from Extended Programs. Due to staffing requirements, parents must register their children for this service in advance using CampBrain. Camps Days fill up quickly and are of After parents receive their registration confirmation, they need to make a change (Camp Day) in their child's SchoolPass account to reflect their dismissal change. Regularly scheduled EP classes will not be held on conference days.

CONFERENCE DAY CHILDCARE
Drop-in care at no cost is available for up to one hour for Trinity students during the time of your child’s parent-teacher conferences. Childcare rates will apply if students are left longer than one hour per conference.

CHANGES AND CANCELLATION POLICY
Class changes or cancellations may be made before the add/drop date. Please note the $20 fee for each change or cancellation. Once the add/drop date has passed, there will be no rebates, changes, or prorated fees. Trinity School reserves the right to cancel a Special Class before the add/drop date. Refunds will be issued if a class is canceled.

Should you need to add a Core Class after the add/drop date, either the full semester rate or $20 drop-in fee per hour ($30/hour for Lunch Bunch), whichever is less expensive, will be charged.

Late payment for EP charges: Accounts two months or more in arrears will result in the student not being able to attend Extended Programs until the payment is settled with the Business Office. Upon payment, enrollment may be reinstated with applicable paid tuition and fees.

LATE PICK-UP POLICY
Extended Programs closes at 6 PM. A $20 late fee per child will be charged from 6:01-6:10 PM. After 6:10 PM, the late fee rate is $2 per minute. The fee will be billed and charged to the student's CampBrain account.

CARPOOL PROCEDURES for EXTENDED PROGRAMS
After the first week of school, students who are not picked up at the end of carpool will be escorted to Extended Programs (EP). Parents will be charged a rate for this drop-in care of $20 per hour. These charges will be billed and charged to the student’s CampBrain account. Parents should walk in to pick up the child(ren) or arrange for the child to join a later carpool via SchoolPass.

Extended Programs Special Classes ending at times other than the scheduled 2, 3, and 4 PM carpools will dismiss at the covered drop-off area at the end of class. The students will be escorted and supervised by the Special Class instructor. If students are not picked up after 15 minutes, they will be escorted to EP where they will be signed in for drop-in care and supervised until a parent arrives. Drop-in fees will apply.

The primary function of classroom and auxiliary space is for the advancement of Trinity student learning. Requests for use typically include implications for custodial help, security, supervisory personnel, and wear-and-tear, all of which add financial as well as human costs. The Administration attempts to weigh all requests carefully and make decisions that are reasonable for those involved. Trinity typically does not grant requests for use from individuals or groups that have no direct association with the School.

The following guidelines are intended to provide direction for decisions about the use of school facilities.

Early Learner and Pre-K students do not go off-site for field trips.

The School utilizes buses for field trips. On rare occasions, the School depends on parents to drive for some of the field trips. On most occasions, costs incurred are the driver’s responsibility. All drivers are asked to abide by the following guidelines.

Trinity School is a food allergen aware environment. All food prepared by the School’s food service provider, Flik, is peanut and tree nut free. Only food processed and provided by Flik is permitted in the kitchen and Dining Halls. Food-related and other allergies are serious and, in some cases, life threatening. Trinity takes a two-part approach to reducing the risk of accidental exposures for children. Food-related activities are kept to a minimum, and most of the food is consumed within more controlled environments, such as the Dining Hall and the child’s base classroom.

The School strives to promote good nutrition in our students. In our effort to achieve this goal, the amount of sugar products consumed at school needs to be controlled. Just as we want our students to be as intellectually fit as possible, we want them to be as physically healthy as possible. School staff and parents also work together to support and empower children to become advocates for their own health, safety, and well-being as they develop into self-sufficient adolescents. The support and participation of the entire Trinity community is necessary to ensure that students can enjoy a safe educational environment. The School’s administration works with parents, staff, students, and physicians throughout the school year to reduce risks as outlined in the following guidelines.

Guidelines

Responsibilities of Parents and Guardians
Formally notify the School Nurses of your child’s allergies by completing the Magnus online health form. Your child’s information in Magnus should be updated annually and when there are changes to your child’s medical conditions.

Work with your child’s classroom teacher(s) to develop a plan that reasonably accommodates the child’s needs throughout the school day, including in the classroom and the cafeteria, for special events, and on school trips. This plan should include a current allergy action plan with a healthcare provider and parent signatures and at least two emergency contacts.

Depending on the severity of your child’s food allergy, you may find it important to meet with the School’s food service provider, Flik, to discuss safe and healthy options that align with your child’s needs. The Chef Manager is available to meet with parents on an appointment basis. You may schedule an appointment by emailing Flik at flik@trinityatl.org.

Extended Programs provides snacks to students who are staying in Explorations (3–4 PM). If your child participates in any Extended Programs, please contact Director of Extended Programs Kayleen Whitmer at kwhitmer@trinityatl.org to draft an allergy action plan for your child while in the care of the Extended Programs staff.

Provide properly labeled medications and replace medications after use or upon expiration. Examples: Epinephrine auto-injector, Benadryl, Albuterol inhaler.

Support your child in the age-appropriate self-management of their food allergy, which include making safe and unsafe food choices, strategies for avoiding exposure to unsafe foods, recognizing symptoms of allergic reactions, how and when to tell an adult that they may be having an allergy-related problem, and how to read food labels.

Responsibility of School Administrators, Faculty, and Staff
School administrators, faculty, and staff will comply with all applicable federal and state laws, including FERPA regulations. They will include food-allergic students in school activities to the best of the School’s ability. Students should not be excluded from school activities solely based on their food allergy. Administrators, staff, and teachers should be mindful of students with food allergies when planning events and activities.

The student’s base classroom teacher will act as his or her primary advocate throughout the school day, helping to ensure a safe environment and minimize the student’s day-to-day risk of exposure to harmful foods.

The School will ensure that teachers and staff who interact with the student on a regular basis understand his or her food allergy; can recognize symptoms; know what to do in an emergency, including administration of emergency medications; and work with other school staff to eliminate the use of allergens in the allergic student’s meals, educational tools, arts and crafts projects, or incentives.

Trinity’s School Nurses play a vital role in management of all health-related issues concerning students. They are responsible for ensuring that the School’s policies and procedures function effectively and minimize risk of exposure for students with severe food allergies. These responsibilities include:

Classroom Procedures
Practice good hygiene, including handwashing. Base classroom teachers will ensure that activities, parties, or events that involve food align with allergy action plans. Specials teachers must get the appropriate Division Head’s approval prior to any event.

Guidelines for Food at Class Parties
Parents bringing food into the classroom must communicate with the classroom teacher to ensure that appropriate foods are brought to campus. As some students have allergies and are sensitive to even traces of allergens in food, pre-packaged food is strongly recommended. Trinity recommends the Snack Safely Guide (downloadable PDF) as a useful resource for identifying safe party foods.

Food Service
Trinity School utilizes Flik Independent School Dining Services for all meals prepared for students on campus during the school year. All foods served by Flik are peanut and tree nut free. The Chef Manager is also available to meet with parents of children with severe food allergies to discuss reasonable alternative food choices that can be made available. Parents may contact Flik at flik@trinityatl.org to schedule a time to meet.

Environmental Guidelines
Trinity School recognizes that the environment plays a major role in managing allergies, whether food-related or not (e.g., air quality, latex, animals). Consideration for this is reflected in the Trinity School Maintenance Plan and Procedures. In support of the school allergy policy:

It is very important that a child is kept home when sick, both for the child’s health and for the well-being of other students. Trinity School has a full-time registered nurse who manages the daily operations of the school clinic and renders first aid and subsequent treatment to injured or ill students, faculty, and staff. The Nurse may be reached during school hours at 404-231-8108 or nurse@trinityatl.org.

MEDICATION POLICY
At Trinity School, the School Nurse must oversee the administration of any and all medications. This includes over-the-counter and prescription medications. Students are not permitted to have any medication in their possession on campus (including cough drops and diet supplements), with the exception of inhalers, diabetic supplies, and/or an EpiPen (requiring parent or guardian written permission).

HEALTH FORMS and IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS
The Trinity Student Medical Record must be completed and submitted by the date stated in the enrollment packet. A routine medical exam is not required. To accomplish this, the parent or guardian must enter the student’s health information into an online Student Medical Record that will be accessible only to appropriate Trinity personnel and the parent or guardian.

Important Note Regarding Georgia State Law: In accordance with state and federal health regulations, any child who does not have a completed health record by the first day of school will not be permitted to attend school until the record and all requirements are fulfilled, including complete and current immunization certification.

The Magnus system will send email reminders at least weekly until your child(ren)'s health records have been completed. If you receive a reminder for a requirement that you think you’ve completed, or if you believe your family will require an extension on submitting your annual paperwork after the due date, please contact the School Nurse at nurse@trinityatl.org at your earliest convenience.

CONCUSSIONS
Trinity School recognizes that concussions and head injuries may occur to students who participate in physical education classes and playtime. Trinity School requires all nurses, teachers, Division Heads, and P.E. teachers to complete training on the recognition and management of concussions or head injuries. For further information on the School’s policy, please visit the Health Information tile in MyTrinity.

CONTAGIOUS DISEASES
It is the policy of the School that any child with a contagious disease must be kept at home until a healthcare provider has medically cleared him or her. For a list of contagious diseases and the School’s policy, please visit the Health Information tile in MyTrinity.

HEAD LICE
Head Lice is an issue in virtually every elementary school, but it is not a health or hygiene issue. No one should miss class time due to head lice. Trinity School follows the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Policy. For further information, please visit the Health Information tile in MyTrinity.

TOILETING INDEPENDENTLY
In order to protect the health of the community, students must be able to independently recognize and manage toileting activities. In the event of toileting accidents, parents will be called and may be asked to pick up their child. As stated in the Contagious Diseases Policy, students exhibiting signs of diarrhea must be picked up from school immediately and remain home for 24 hours. In other instances, parents may be asked to pick up their child after repeated accidents. In extreme instances, parents may be asked to keep a child at home until independent toileting is more regular.

WEATHER GUIDELINES
Trinity’s Weather Guidelines are designed to protect students from having heat- or cold-related illnesses or problems. The guidelines are for coaches and teachers to use when making decisions to modify and/or suspend outdoor activities. Students should be dressed appropriately for the weather. For further information on the School’s policy, please visit the Health Information tile in MyTrinity.

ADDITIONAL EVALUATION and MEDICATION NEEDS
A medical exam may be recommended to determine if there is a physical cause for an educational problem, as in the case of Attention Deficit Disorder. At no time does an individual at the School make a recommendation for medication. When a student is placed on a medication that requires ongoing observation, evaluation, and other follow-up, a conference (in person or by phone) will be held whenever appropriate. The purpose of the conference is to discuss dosages and behavior patterns and to establish a communication plan regarding the monitoring of medication.

Once effective dosages are reached, reevaluation with the School Nurse and teachers should be done on an individual basis with input from Specials teachers. The parents should share the reports of that reassessment with the monitoring physician.

Trinity seeks to provide outstanding daily challenge, creativity, and care for each of its students at all grade levels. We also provide excellent preparation for the future. As a school that focuses on the whole child, we know that children also need time to reflect, to play, to read, to engage in after-school activities, and to enjoy their families.

Intelligent problem solving, sophisticated decision making, productive teamwork, and critical and creative thinking are most inspired by active engagement with teachers and peers during the school day. Homework at Trinity is age-appropriate and purposeful, enriching learning without being an undue burden. Learning that occurs during the school day outweighs the quantity of work done at home.

Preparing for the next grade or next school occurs best when children are challenged and engaged in ways that are responsive to their development. Research does not support the notion that rigorous homework at the elementary level increases achievement or responsibility. In fact, rigor for the sake of rigor can diminish a student’s love of learning. Formal learning that occurs during the day is extremely important; so is the informal learning that takes place within the family and through constructive and balanced activities. Teachers always monitor student learning and progress. Limiting homework will not decrease student success.

Your child’s teacher can provide more details about homework and about the role parents can best play in supporting their child’s learning. The School’s Homework Policy can be found on the Parent Resources tile in MyTrinity.

All homework assignments in Fourth-Sixth Grade are posted on Classroom Pages in MyTrinity.

The cost of hot lunch for all children at School is included as either part of tuition or as part of the Extended Programs class price. All children who eat lunch at school are expected to eat in the Dining Hall.

No lunches should be brought from home. Menus may be found on MyTrinity.

Parents are invited to have lunch with their child during the designated lunch period at the cost of $6 per meal. Please call Reception in advance to make a reservation and to ask about grandparent and special friend lunches.

As a reminder, each classroom has a designated daily snack time. Please plan to send a healthy snack for your child. Please do not send items that are high in sugar, such as cookies, candy, and sweetened beverages. During Back-to-School Night, the classroom teacher will provide more specific information regarding snacks.

The School’s kitchen staff is mindful of allergies and other food-sensitive matters. Parents should meet with their child’s teacher and, if necessary, the School Nurse and the Chef Manager to review dietary restrictions and other precautionary measures.

The purpose of Trinity’s outdoor learning spaces is to use the undeveloped natural land on the School’s campus with the same intentionality as the developed land. All learning experiences are enhanced with deliberate effort placed on having as little negative environmental impact as possible on the outdoor area.

The outdoor area is to be used primarily for students, faculty, and staff during the school day and is not available for birthday parties or overnight camping. Scouts who meet at Trinity during the day may speak to the Director of Operations about use of the trails for scout activities.

In order to ensure a distraction-free learning environment for all Trinity children, the following guidelines are set forth.

To provide a safe and secure environment for children, the following are highlights of the Trinity School security system.

Those interested in further details may contact the Director of Operations at 404-240-2279.

Trinity School uses information and technology in safe, legal, and responsible ways, and expects faculty and staff members to abide by reasonable standards, as their actions reflect on the School. The following guidelines refer to the use of social media sites including, but not limited to, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube.

Parent Expectations
Trinity parents are encouraged to engage in conversations on the School’s social media outlets. The School asks that parents avoid listing current students’ last names and current locations for the safety of our students. Parents are also asked to avoid posting negative or inappropriate comments on the School’s social media outlets or tagging the School in any context that does not align with the School’s mission and philosophy.

Parents are requested not to call students or teachers during school hours. Emergency messages will be received and delivered by the Receptionist. Classes will only be interrupted for urgent reasons.

Trinity School is very interested in keeping in touch with parents about the progress of their children. Parents wishing to schedule a conference with a teacher are asked to contact the teacher to arrange a suitable time. All after-school visitations must be prearranged.

Any serious matter must be handled by an individual conference at the school where records are available. Please be considerate and respectful by not telephoning the teachers at their homes. Instead, please use their school email or voicemail unless there is an emergency. A TSPA member, Room Parent, or Grade Level Representative, as appropriate, can answer questions about school social activities.

Trinity School Parents’ Association Mission
All parents of Trinity students are members of the Trinity School Parents’ Association. Parent involvement at Trinity is vital to the School’s success, and the strong working relationship between the School’s parents and its faculty and staff strengthens the Trinity Experience for the entire community.

TSPA is dedicated to upholding Trinity School’s mission and goals; supporting the School’s faculty, staff, and administration; and fostering a parent community that values and embodies respect, empathy, diversity, and unity. TSPA aims to create an inclusive environment in which Trinity parents have opportunities to meet one another and work together to contribute to the needs of their children and the School. The Association’s volunteers enrich student experiences, coordinate special programs and activities, and help communicate policies and information to the Trinity parent community.

TSPA Dues
TSPA dues are much appreciated as they allow the organization to allocate the necessary funds across different initiatives and events. These dues are utilized for the following.

In addition to these initiatives, TSPA dues contribute to the Holiday Gift Fund, School-wide Special Events, Condolences, and TSPA administrative expenses.

Trinity’s website (www.trinityatl.org) and MyTrinity—the School's secure, password-protected location for internal resources used by Trinity School parents, faculty, and staff—are the primary hubs of school information for parents and other constituents. Calendars, events, updates, and other time-specific activities are noted on both. Class-specific information will be communicated by teachers and Room Parents.

Please reference the Publicity Agreement section for the use of student images to further communicate learning at Trinity.

Resources you will find when you log in to MyTrinity include: