Individual student pictures
The staff at Kaufman elementary contracts with a professional photography company to take individual photographs of the students. These pictures are taken during the fall, usually in September and retakes are usually done no later than the end of October. Order forms are sent home using the Tuesday folder system. Specific dates are available on the Calendar of Events. These pictures are available for parents to purchase and will also be used in the school yearbook. Permission for student's picture to be put into the yearbook must be on file at the school. These forms go home at the beginning of the school year or may be requested at the front desk. New students who miss having their picture taken at Kaufman may submit an appropriate photo to the yearbook coordinator by the first week of January.
Another opportunity for pictures is presented during the spring, usually in late February or early March. The staff at Kaufman elementary contract with a professional photography company to provide this opportunity.
Group pictures
The staff at Kaufman elementary also contracts with a professional photography company to take classroom photos - a picture of the entire class with their teacher. These pictures are taken in late November or early December and are available for parents to purchase. Order forms are sent home using the Tuesday folder system. Specific dates are available on the Calendar of Events.
Birthday celebrations
If you choose to celebrate your child's birthday during school hours, the Kaufman Elementary policy on birthday snacks requires that they be brought during the last 10 minutes of your child’s lunch time. This allows students time to eat a nutritious lunch before enjoying the birthday treat. Some suggestions for easily consumed treats are cookies, cupcakes and donuts. If your child has a summer birthday, discuss with your teacher the best date to bring treats.
Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value (FMNV) rules
The FMNV guidelines are nutritional rules mandated by the United States Department of Agriculture for school campuses. Any food that is listed as a FMNV cannot be given during normal school hours on any elementary school premises by any school, school or non-school organization, teacher, parent, or any other person or group during the school day. The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) has a web site where the entire policy can be accessed at www.squaremeals.org and going to Texas Public School Nutrition Policy.
FMNV foods are:
Soda water – any carbonated beverage
Water ices – any frozen, sweetened water and flavored ice with the exception of products that contain fruit or fruit juice
Chewing Gum
Certain Candies – hard candy, jellies and gums, marshmallow, fondant, licorice, cotton candy, and candy-coated popcorn.
Exemptions from the policy include
Birthdays may be celebrated during the school day at a time determined by school administration. Kaufman elementary allows birthday celebrations during the last 10 minutes of the child's lunch period.
FMNV may be used for any child with special medical needs.
Three school events determined by campus administration are allowed per school year. However, any FMNV may not be given during meal time in the areas where school meals are being served or consumed and regular meal service by the school food service department must continue to be available to all students.
Tuesday Folders
The Tuesday folder system is used to communicate important information to the parents of Kaufman elementary students. Forms can also be returned to the school by putting them into the Tuesday folder. All communications sent home in Tuesday folders must be approved by Kaufman administration. Please check these folders each week.
Box Tops
This program is organized by a parent volunteer who collects the Box Tops found on many General Mills products. All proceeds go to Kaufman Elementary. Box Tops can be sent in at any time during the school year, but they are mailed off for reimbursement once a quarter. The classroom with the most Box Tops turned in is rewarded with an ice cream party.
You can also contribute Box Top money for Kaufman by signing up at the Box Tops web site: www.boxtops4education.com.