OMS Student/Family Handbook
OAKLAND MEADOW SCHOOL
Students and Families Handbook 2025-2026
Principal: Amy Lazic
Assistant Principal: Stephanie L. Archer
Assistant Principal: Sonya Lacy
Assistant Principal: Sandra Lisic
Oakland Meadow School
590 Old Snellville Hwy
Lawrenceville, GA 30046
770-513-6800
Gwinnett County Public Schools Vision
Gwinnett County Public Schools will become a system of world-class schools where students acquire the knowledge and skills to be successful in college and careers.
Gwinnett County Public Schools Mission
The mission of Gwinnett County Public Schools is to pursue excellence in academic knowledge, skills, and behavior for each student, resulting in measured improvement against local, national, and world-class standards.
Oakland Meadow Vision
Our vision is to be exceptional at providing all students with an individualized education and the necessary supports to be successful in college, career, and life.
Oakland Meadow Mission
Our mission is to provide research-based, innovative, and individualized learning opportunities for all students to acquire the knowledge and skills to be successful in life.
Our Commitment to Learning
At Oakland Meadow School we are committed to providing an exceptional day of learning to each and every student that we serve every day!
Our Motto
Oakland is LOVE!
The Oakland Meadow School Handbook for Students and Families contains information that is particular to Oakland Meadow School. Please make sure that you thoroughly review the Handbook Information for Students and Families and Student Behavior Conduct Code on the GCPS website.
Arrival and Dismissal
Therapeutic Day Program: Instruction for the day begins at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 2:45. Students who are not in their classrooms by the 8:15 bell will be marked tardy and tardy students must be signed in at the front lobby desk by their Families. Students are not counted tardy if their GCPS bus arrives late.
SID/PID and SID/PID Transition Programs: Instruction for the day begins at 9:15 a.m. and ends at 3:45 p.m. Students who are not in their classrooms by the 9:15 bell will be marked tardy and tardy students must be signed in at the front lobby desk by their Families. Students are not counted tardy if their GCPS bus arrives late.
Bus Transportation
Each student must have a transportation tag attached to his/her book bag per Gwinnett County policy, which should not be removed, by the Families or the students for the entire school year. This helps us to ensure that each child gets home safely. If your child gets a new book bag or the tag comes off, please let their teacher know asap to have their tag replaced. Bus drivers require transportation tags for every student. Please be aware that approval for a change in transportation may take up to 10 school days.
Car Rider Transportation
If a parent/guardian must transport their child to or from school by car, they will need to adhere to the following pick-up and drop- off times.
| Therapeutic Day Program: Drop-Off 7:45-8:15 Pick-up 2:45-3:00 |
SID/PID and Transition Programs: Drop-Off 8:45-9:15 Pick-up 3:45-4:00 |
Check-in and Check-out must occur in the front office. Families must accompany their child into the building and check in at the front desk. Families will need to wait with their child until someone arrives to receive their student. At the end of the day, if a child is not picked up, and no parent/guardian is reached, the school resource officer will be contacted to guide the school on how to proceed.
Clinic (Telephone # 770-339-0892)
The Oakland Meadow School clinic is staffed by a registered nurse. Families/Guardians will be called if a child is too ill to remain at school. Students with a fever of 101 or higher will be sent home and need to be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school. Families should report to the front office to sign out a child from the clinic if they are contacted within a reasonable amount of time (Approx: 1 hour). Designated personnel are authorized to administer medications to students when the proper paperwork is completed by the parent/guardian. Medications should always be in the original containers when brought to or picked up from school by an adult. These procedures are a safety precaution for your child, both when on the bus and when visiting the clinic. Families should inform the school if their child has a contagious disease. Please do not send your child to school when he/she is feeling ill and there is risk of infecting others. When your child is ill or running a temperature, please do not send him or her to school and risk the health of others.
Clubs
Oakland Meadow School offers students a variety of clubs during the school day. Students have the opportunity to participate in 1 club monthly during their school day. Clubs are sponsored by OMS staff members each month.
Communication from/with the school
Student work and parent communication from the teacher or the school will be sent home in the communication folder and/or via ParentSquare. Families should review the items in their child’s folder, remove contents and/or sign and return any documents requiring such and send it back the next morning. Teachers and Families are encouraged to send brief notes to one another via this notebook as well as through ParentSquare.
Current Student/Parent Information
It is extremely important that you keep the school informed of any changes in your home, work and/or cell phone numbers as well as address. Providing local phone numbers are important to ensure ease when trying to contact you. When changes occur, you can simply send a note in with your child or email the teacher to let them know and they in turn will let the office know. A change of address requires new proof of residence. The front office needs this information to ensure these changes are reflected on your child’s emergency dismissal card, clinic card, and updated in our electronic student records database. You are also encouraged to keep emergency contact names and numbers up to date so your children can be released, in an emergency, to those individuals you have designated.
Dress Code
Students are encouraged to dress in age & weather appropriate attire. Shoes should preferably be sneakers or sandals that can be fastened to the foot. Flip-flops are strongly discouraged as they are not appropriate for Gym or daily recess and can cause unnecessary accidents. Short skirts, short shorts or abdomen bearing shirts (halter tops/crop tops) are not appropriate dress for school. Students are required to dress appropriately for school. In addition to the requirements established by the local school, prohibited dress shall include any attire that depicts, promotes, or advertises gang affiliation, illegal activity, illegal drugs, alcohol or tobacco, sexual references, offensive words or designs, and other clothing which is disruptive to the learning environment.
Early Check Out
Early check out by Families or guardians must take place prior to 2:30 daily for students in the Therapeutic Day Program and 3:30 daily for SID/PID students. You will be required to show a picture I.D. prior to having a child released to exit the building. Teachers are not permitted to release students from the classroom, even at parent/guardian request. All check-outs must be facilitated from the front office. Families are encouraged to try and schedule student medical appointments outside of the school day, in an effort to maximize the students’ opportunity for learning.
Early Release
Students will be dismissed on 4 Early Release days (see calendar for dates) for Parent-Teacher Conferences.
| Below are the Early Release Times: Therapeutic Day Program 12:15 pm SID/PID Program 1:20 pm |
| Below are the Early Release dates: 10/22/2025 & 10/23/2025 03/04/2026 & 03/05/2026 |
Emergency Drills
Fire drills are held monthly throughout the school year in accordance with the laws of the State of Georgia. Severe weather drills are held on the date designated by the State of Georgia during Severe Weather Awareness Week. Hard Lockdown Drills will be held 2 times per school year.
Emergency Information for Families
If a situation of a serious nature occurred at school, families would be notified by way of ParentSquare. It is imperative that the school has all up to date telephone information.
Emergency Situations
If there were an emergency where students had to be evacuated from Oakland Meadow School, Families may be reunited with their child at Sunrise Baptist Church, 3000 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville, GA 30045. All Oakland Meadow students will be transported there by Gwinnett County School buses and children will be released to Families/guardians after proper identification has been made. The release of children to Families and guardians needs to be an orderly process so please stay in your cars and follow all instructions when you arrive at Sunrise Baptist Church.
Family Involvement
Families are strongly encouraged to attend local school events and volunteer their time at the school. Please contact the school if you would like to volunteer.
ParentVue
Please make sure to download the ParentVue app to your phone. Information on ParentVue can be found on the district's website within the Handbook Information for Students and Families and Students Behavior Conduct Code. The ParentVue app gives parents access to grades, assignments, and more. You can also upload absence notes to ParentVue.
Phone Messages
Should you wish to contact any staff member for any reason, simply call the main phone line and our receptionist will be happy to take a message. Teachers are not able to come to the phone during instructional hours, so it is best to leave a message. You may also send a ParentSquare message or email to your child's teacher. Please know that teachers have 2 school days to respond to all communication. If it is an emergency, please call the front desk at 770-513-6800.
Phone messages are not taken or given to students, unless it is an emergency.
Positive Behavior Intervention & Supports (PBIS)
PBIS consists of three main components: teaching appropriate behavior in all settings, providing interventions when behavior expectations are not met, and recognizing students when behavior expectations are met. Oakland Meadow School PBIS focus is for all to be Respectful, Responsible, Role Models. We recognize student successes in these areas by giving out Black Knight Bucks which can be cashed in for items of interest. These students’ successes are also celebrated once a month.
School Nutrition Program
The school cafeteria is maintained as a service to students and Families and is a vital part of our health program. Meals for students who attend Oakland Meadow School are provided by the Winn Holt Cafeteria. To encourage good nutrition, a well-balanced lunch and breakfast are served daily. Free & Reduced meal applications can be obtained during Registration, from the school cafeteria manager, or online.
Meals can be paid for online through My Payments Plus.
- Student breakfast: Free through the Universal Breakfast School Program
- Student Lunch: $2.50
- Reduced Lunch: $0.40
- Milk: $0.40
- Adult breakfast: $2.50
- Adult lunch: $4.75
Student Awards Ceremonies
Students are recognized for their achievements during the school year. Information on the recognition ceremonies will be communicated to families ahead of time.
Student Birthday Recognition
Families are welcome to send in or bring treats to the school to celebrate their child’s birthday. Birthday celebrations will occur during student lunches. Families must notify their child’s classroom teacher in advance. Treats must be pre-packaged, or store bought. No nuts allowed. Homemade baked good, or treats are not permitted due to unknown food safety standards in home kitchens. The school maintains the right to inspect and approve any treats prior to students being offered them.
Textbooks
Textbooks and other instructional materials including Chromebooks are assigned to your student. It is the student’s responsibility to manage these materials. Textbooks, library books, digital devices, and other school materials must be paid for if lost, stolen, or damaged.
Title IX Notice
If you believe your child is a victim of sex discrimination or sexual harassment, you may file a complaint with the local school's Assistant Title IX Coordinator or with the Office of Employee Relations/Title IX. Stephanie L. Archer is the Title IX Coordinator for Oakland Meadow School. Please contact Ms. Archer at 770-513-6800.
Transportation Changes
If your child’s mode of transportation changes, whether permanently, or only for a single day or group of days, your child must provide your request, in writing, with your signature, to their teacher when they arrive at school in the morning. The teacher will then communicate the change to administration and the front office. No verbal requests from a child will be honored, nor will parent/guardian phone calls be accepted as we have no way of verifying ID over a phone. These practices are for the safety and security of your child. No changes should be sent over e-mail for the same reason, and teachers may not receive it prior to dismissal time. In an emergency, an emailed note with your signature and photo ID will be considered by administration on a case-by-case basis.
Visitation Policy
Families should not escort students to the classroom in the morning. To protect instructional time, please notify the teacher 24 hours in advance if you would like to make a classroom visit. Please know that a social worker or administrator will accompany you during the observation. All observations are conducted from the observation booth. If you wish to discuss the progress of your child, you should call, send an email or make a conference appointment at a time when class is not in session. Therapeutic Day Program Staff hours are 7:30-3:30 and SID/PID staff hours are 8:15-4:15. Only Families and/or legal guardians are allowed access to enrolled students. Families and/or legal guardians who come in without an appointment will be asked to return at another time, mutually agreed upon by the teacher.
Families/guardians are welcome to come and have lunch with their child during the scheduled lunch time. For the safety and security of all students however, no other students will be allowed to join you. Food from restaurants is not permitted to be consumed on the premises. This is discouraged as we want to be sensitive to those students whose families are unable to visit them during lunchtime and/or bring them restaurant meals.
*The officers, employees, and officials identified in this handbook are charged with using their personal judgment and deliberation in executing the functions and tasks set forth herein and nothing in the procedure/process/practice/manual/handbook should be construed or interpreted to create any ministerial duties on behalf of any officer, employee or official.