Bus Riders

Our school bus carrier is Illinois Central Bus Company. At Bell School,  Ms. Sharer (Options program) coordinates the bus procedures. The Department of Student Transportation at CPS can be reached at (773) 553-2860.

Breakfast, Lunch and Recess

Breakfast and lunch are offered to students daily, and students can choose either or both meals. All students must have a supplemental meal form (distributed during the first week of school) completed and on file. Please complete the form even if you believe you do not qualify for free or reduced lunch, because certain school funding is based on these forms.

Breakfast cost is FREE this year. Lunch cost is $2.25. Milk alone (for students who bring their lunch) costs $0.35. Payment is made for breakfast in the lunchroom at the time of service; parents and siblings are welcome to accompany the student for breakfast. Students pay for lunch or milk in the classroom each morning.

The breakfast and lunch menus are sent home via backpack mail at the beginning of each month.

Lunch hours including outside recess (weather permitting) are as follows:

• Kindergarteners eat in the lunchroom from 10:50-11:10.

• 1st & 3rd graders eat in the lunchroom from 11:10-11:35 and then have recess on the north (1st) or south (3rd) playgrounds until 11:55.

• 2nd & 4th graders have recess on the north playground at 11:10 and then eat in the lunchroom from 11:35-11:55.

• 5th & 7th graders eat in the lunchroom from 11:55-12:15 and then have recess on the south playground until 12:40.

• 6th & 8th graders have recess on the south playgrounds at 11:55 and then eat in the lunchroom from 12:15- 12:40.

Morning recess is held every day, weather permitting, at 10:15 a.m. Students may bring basketballs, nerf balls, tennis balls, and jump ropes on the playground. For safety reasons skate boards and scooters are never permitted on the playground. During inclement weather, recess is held indoors, either in the classroom or in the auditorium.

Health

Health records: According to Illinois law, all children entering school for the first time, in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten, must provide a record of physical examination, immunization history and dental records. In addition, all fifth grade students must have a complete medical examination prior to the beginning of the school year.

Immunizations: Illinois law requires proof of immunization for each student from the following diseases: Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus, Poliomyelitis, Rubella, Mumps, and Chicken Pox. All Kindergarten and 5th grade students must have a Hepatitis B vaccination, which consists of a series of 3 doses or shots over the course of 6 months. The Chicago Board of Health also mandates that all students must have a second measles shot, and that all students 6 years old and under must take a lead screening test.

Proof of immunizations and testing must be on file prior to the beginning of the school year. These records are kept on file in the nurse's office.

Medication: All student medication must be kept in the nurse's office. If your child uses an inhaler, the nurse determines where it will be kept safely in school. A completed doctor's permission form must be on file for any medication to be administered to your child.

Food allergies: If your child has food allergies, please notify the classroom teacher as well as the nurse's office at the beginning of each school year.