Políticas a lo largo
del Distrito para Escuelas Elementarías en Espanol
Dear
Parents
This handbook is intended to share information helpful to parents and students. Many of the provisions in the handbook are required to be shared with you under state or federal regulations. Unfortunately, the sheer volume and character of some of the provisions may give the impression of an overly formal school system rather than a friendly, personal one.
Therefore, our school board, district administration and school staff, in sharing this handbook, would like you to understand that we seek to cultivate an active partnership with you in the education of your children.
The information contained in this book is intended to enrich this partnership through understanding expectations for student conduct and your rights as parents (including guardians) or students.
What is more important than these written provisions, however, is maintaining open communication with you on issues affecting the progress and growth of students.
Administrators
and staff pledge to work cooperatively with you as parents and students, to
make the educational experience in the
Sincerely,
Vicki McNeal
Principal
District-wide Policies for Elementary Schools
Attendance/Absence/Tardies
Students need to be in school to be successful. Students who are frequently absent from school often fall behind academically and can struggle.
“All children of compulsory attendance ages
(7-16) are required to attend school. Attendance and punctuality are important
elements of the educational process for all students. Therefore, all enrolled
K-12 students are expected to be in school 100% of the time classes are in
session, unless they are participating in school related activities otherwise
excused by School Board Policy or Idaho State Law.”
If your child is going to be absent from school please call the school before 9 a.m. If we don’t hear from you, we are obligated to verify the absence. If you are having trouble getting your child to school on time, please contact us so we can identify resources that may be of assistance.
If your child has missed 5 days (excused or unexcused), the school will contact you; 7 days will result in a letter or phone call to you to schedule a conference; and if your child misses 10 days of school, the student will be referred to the Building Administrator and School Resource Officer to identify the next steps on truancy. Excessive tardies will be addressed by the administration as well.
Students will
have two days for every “excused” day missed to make up work. It is the
student’s responsibility to request make-up work. When a student has had an
excused absence for three consecutive days, the parent may request make-up work
be sent to the office to pick up. Requested work will be available the next
school day by 3:30 p.m.
Bicycles, Scooters, Skateboards,
Rollerblades
Students are welcome to use bicycles, scooters, skateboards or rollerblades to ride to school. Once the student arrives at school the bicycles, scooters, skateboards or rollerblades need to be immediately secured on bike racks or in designated locations. For their safety and to reduce wear and tear on school facilities, students wearing heelies (rollerskating tennis shoes) will be asked to lower or remove the wheels. We cannot replace stolen or lost items, so please use a lock.
Breakfast and
Lunch
Our school is committed to providing healthy, nutritious meals for
students. Menus are available from the schools and on the district website: www.nsd131.org. Students may buy meals each day or in
advance. The district provides meals at free or reduced priced to eligible
students. Applications are available at the office. Students who forget lunch
money may charge three times. If a student needs to charge again, he/she will
be served a main entree and milk. Parents are welcome to eat lunch with their
child (ren). To ensure we prepare enough food, please
call the school by 9 a.m. if you plan on joining your child for lunch.
Meal/food prices for 2007-08 will be available at the beginning of the school
year from the school and our website. Please make checks payable to Nampa Hot
Lunch Program.
Bullying
Our school is committed to providing a safe learning environment for students. This includes identifying and taking steps to prevent bullying among our students. Bullying occurs when a child is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more children. Bullies want the victims to feel: hurt, sad, mad, scared, or embarrassed. Bullying behaviors include, but are not limited to:
- Physical: kicking, shoving, hair pulling, hitting, slapping, biting tripping, stealing, spitting or damaging people’s possessions
- Verbal: name calling, taunting, put downs, teasing threats, rumors, sarcasm, gossiping, ethnic slurs, or betraying a confidence
- Emotional: mocking, laughing, imitating, rejecting, humiliation, excluding, social isolation, writing notes, emails, text messages, dirty looks, or hand signs.
Bus
Transportation
We provide transportation to and from school for eligible students. This service is provided by Brown Bus Company (466-4181). To ensure that your child has a pleasant and safe experience with our transportation system, we ask the following:
At the bus stop:
- The child should be ready to board at the designated bus stop 5 minutes before the buses’ scheduled arrival;
- While waiting, the child should stay out of the road and respect other people’s property;
- The child should refrain from horseplay, pushing, shoving, and harassing
On the bus:
- The child must follow the BUS SAFETY RULES. The rules will be provided at the beginning of the school year and reviewed with students.
- The child must follow the directions of the bus driver
- The child must have written permission slip to ride a different bus home or to get off the bus at a bus stop that is not their regular designated bus stop.
Parents of kindergarten students are asked to take additional measures to ensure the safety of these young children. Parents are asked to be present when their child boards the bus for school and when they get off the bus after school.
Bus Citations: The driver may issue bus warnings
and/or citations for inappropriate or dangerous behavior or vandalism on the
bus. Citations may result in suspension of bus riding privileges.
The administrator and/or Brown Bus Co., in agreement with the
Cell phones
Maintaining our school’s safe learning environment free of disruption requires that items not needed for teaching and learning be left at home, this includes cell phones and other electronic devices. The devices will be confiscated. Parents can pick them up from the office.
Dress Code
We ask for your support in providing a safe and orderly environment in which all children can learn. The purpose of the Dress Code is to encourage students to “dress for success” and come to school properly prepared to learn. Students should be well groomed and dressed in clothing that is appropriate to the learning environment and weather conditions. Students are not allowed to wear clothing that constitutes a health or safety hazard or is disruptive to the educational process.
Guidelines:
- Shoes must be worn at all times. Students should wear shoes appropriate for PE and outdoor play.
- Articles of clothing that advertise or promote drugs, alcohol, tobacco, violent acts, or demeaning, degrading or offensive to any person are not appropriate.
- Any clothing or paraphernalia that may be construed as gang or violence related including hats, bandanas, colors, sags, chains, etc. is inappropriate.
- Modest clothing is appropriate for school wear.
- Hats or headwear may be worn for inclement weather or for medical reasons but are inappropriate inside the school building. Hats may be permitted during special occasions approved by the school.
- Inappropriate skin art such as temporary tattoos that disrupts the learning environment must be covered or removed.
Field Trips
Students will bring home notification and permissions slips for all field trips outside of the school grounds. Students are not allowed to have other student visitors or siblings accompany them. A limited number of parent chaperones are usually requested. Contact your child’s teacher for more information.
Grading
Report cards will be sent home four times a year. Our school district operates on a 9-week grading period or 4 quarters. Parent conferences are scheduled twice a year. We encourage you to set up additional teacher conferences as needed.
Head Lice
Because head lice (pediculosis) are easily spread between students, it may be necessary to exclude a student found to have head lice including the presence of nits (eggs.) To control head lice, the following measures will be taken:
- A student suspected of having lice should be referred to the school office for inspection by the school nurse or other school official. If head lice or nits are found, the child may be sent home with a note to his/her parent/guardian explaining the condition and recommendations for treatment.
- After the child has been treated, he/she should be inspected at the school office and if the child is lice-free, he/she will be readmitted to class.
- Close contacts and friends of the initial case may also be examined for head lice and nits. If any cases are identified, they should be sent home as described above. Other students in the school may be examined at the discretion of the building administrator and the school nurse.
- In situations where a student has a chronic head lice problem, the school nurse may need to contact the family, possibly making a home visit to instruct them in appropriate treatment and resources. It also may be necessary for the Department of Health and Welfare and the School Resource Officer to be contacted in chronic cases.
Health/Illnesses
The health of your child is important. If your child suffers from a chronic condition such as asthma please let us know when registering your child. During the school year, if your child contracts anything contagious please let the school nurse know. A child should not attend school if he/she has any of the following:
- Temperature of 100 degrees or more
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Nasal discharge of yellow/green color
- Cough in combination with any of the above
- Any other contagious condition including conjunctivitis, head lice, etc.
- An unidentified rash
Home/School Communications
Essential to communication with you for routine situations and emergencies is current contact information. Please remember when your contact information changes to let the school know. This includes your phone numbers, address, and email.
Keeping you informed -- We want to keep you updated about your child’s progress and of school events. We will use this information to communicate you. We also will send notes, papers, and other information home often so please check your child’s backpack/folder regularly. We’ll share events and news about our school on our website, class newsletters, informational notes and calendar.
Answering your questions -- Your questions and concerns are important. We invite you to contact your child’s teacher or our school administration by note, phone message, or by e-mail. E-mail is the fastest way to reach a teacher or administrator. If you need an email address please visit our website or call the office. We also welcome face-to-face discussions; however, we ask that you make an appointment prior to visiting because administrators and teachers are working with students during the school day.
Delivering messages -- Our goal is to provide uninterrupted learning time for your child, because of this we will only interrupt a child learning for emergency phone messages. We know that occasionally a non-emergency message is necessary; we ask that you contact us no later than 30 minutes prior to the end of school. This provides time to locate your student.
Immunizations
Idaho State Law requires a parent/guardian of any child who
is to attend any public, private, or parochial school in
The following are required immunizations for children entering school:
· 5 doses of DTaP (preschool through 2nd grade; only 4 doses required if 4th dose given on or after 4th birthday). 4 doses of DTaP for 3rd through 12th grades.
· 3 doses of Polio
· 2 doses of MMR (preschool through 2nd grade; only one dose required for grades 3rd through 12th.
· 3 doses of Hepatitis B if born on or after Nov. 22, 1991.
· Or, have valid medical, religious, or personal exemption form completed and on file.
Idaho State Law requires that all students be immunized against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus (DPT), polio, measles, rubella, hepatitis B and mumps. Parents must submit a record of their child’s immunization status to the school upon enrollment.
Injury/Illness
School can provide simple First Aid, however, if your child becomes ill or injured at school, we will contact you to pick him or her up. Please ensure we have the most current home and day-time telephone number for you and for two emergency contact persons. In emergency cases, where parents cannot be reached, the school will call the paramedics. The cost of transport by paramedics and/or ambulance will be the responsibility of the parents (see insurance).
Insurance
Even with the greatest precautions and the closest supervision, accidents can and do happen at school. The school district does not provide medical insurance to automatically pay for medical expenses when students are injured at school. This is the responsibility of the parent/guardian. Inexpensive student medical insurance is available for individual purchase. Brochures outlining the coverage and premiums are sent home at the beginning of each year and are available at the school office. For information about other programs available contact the school nurse.
Medication Policy
Medication should be taken at home. However, if a child is to take prescription medication during school hours, an “Authorization to Administer Medication” form must be submitted to the school office. Forms are available at most doctors’ offices and in the school office. The form needs to be signed by the doctor and a parent or guardian. Also, an updated authorization form will be required each time a change is made in the prescription. Asthma multi-dose inhalers may be carried by the student, with the written permission of student’s physician, and parent. Non-prescription medication may only be given to elementary students per nursing judgment and parent/guardian permission. A written release must be on file and show: Medication name, strength, reason/instructions, dosage time to be administered, parent and physician signatures. This applies to all medications.
Medication must be delivered to school by the parent.
The medication must be in the original container with specific instructions for
administration. No more than one week’s supply is to be brought to school. All
medication will be kept in a secure area in the school office. Medication will not be kept in the classroom. This includes inhalers, except as noted above. It is
the student’s responsibility to come to the office at the appropriate
time to take the medication.
Newspaper, Radio, & Television
Throughout the course of the school year, the media may be in our schools or at school-sanctioned events to cover our activities. Often, they are present at our request to showcase our students and teachers engaged in exciting educational activities or extracurricular activities. At times, the media has requested to cover a particular story. The majority of the media coverage featuring students are considered “human interest” or “good news” stories that are neither controversial in nature nor contain sensitive subject matter.
In according with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, the Nampa School District includes in its classification of “directory information” students names and photographic images of students participating in regular classroom or school-authorized events, such as those noted above. This means that media may publish and/or broadcast the names and photographs of students participating in school related activities without prior consent.
While the district considers student names and photos as directory information, we understand that some parents have concerns about their child being identified by photo, video, and name in the media. If you object to having your student participate in media coverage, please complete the Media Access Registration Form. If you did not receive one during registration, it is available from the office. Our school will keep a record of the students who should be limited from media access. Please note, your permission will be assumed if the school does not have this completed form on file indicating your preference.
It is important to understand this practice applies only to the “human interest” stories mentioned above. In instances where the building administrator has a concern about maintaining student confidentiality or the sensitive nature of media-related stories, parent permission will be sought prior to allowing the student to participate.
Nutrition Services
The Nutrition Services Department is committed to preparing and serving nutritious, well balanced meals that meet USDA requirements to our students. The nutrition staff in our school would be happy to assist you with any questions you have regarding our meal programs or if you need assistance with the free/reduced meal application. Please do not hesitate to visit our cafeteria. You may get meal pricing from the cafeteria manager or cashier at our school.
Open Enrollment
If you move
you must notify the school office. If
your new address is outside of the current zoning boundary, you will need to
apply for open enrollment at the Nampa School District main office (619 S.
Canyon). According to
·
Transfer applications must be
completed and submitted before February 1 for the following school year.
·
Students cannot be accepted into an
out of zone school unless there is space available.
·
Schools must serve the students
within their zones first, consider in-district transfers next, and finally,
consider out-of district transfers if there is room.
After
receiving your open enrollment application, the school administrator will then
either accept it or deny it based on various factors as explained with the
application.
The
following factors also need to be considered before deciding to apply for open
enrollment:
·
The open enrollment is granted for
one academic year at a time. Therefore,
even if students have open enrollment status this year, their parents/guardians
will need to reapply for next year.
·
Parents need to be prepared to
provide transportation. No bus
transportation is available between school zones.
·
A student’s legal full-time
residence, not the address of his/her daycare, determines his/her zone school.
·
We make every effort to keep families
together in the open enrollment process, but we are unable to guarantee open
enrollment approval for all siblings.
Personal Property
Students are discouraged from bringing valuable personal property to school other than normal school supplies and personal clothing. The school cannot and will not assume liability for personal property loss due to fire or theft, nor for damage or destruction due to accidents, acts of vandalism, or any other cause, including all natural causes. Children choosing to bring personal property on school premises do so at their own risk.
Preschool
Our district provides preschool services for students who have a delay or disability in one or more areas: speech/language, motor, thinking skills, personal/social, vision, or hearing. Students must qualify under special education guidelines to participate. If you have a concern about your preschool child’s development please contact Parkview Preschool at 465-2728. The district also hosts screenings by appointment for children age 3 and 4. On the following dates, screenings will be held by appointment from 8:30 a.m. to noon:
- September 21, 2007
- October 19, 2007
- November 16, 2007
- January 4, 2008
- February 1, 2008
- March 7, 2008
Prohibited Items
Maintaining our school’s safe learning environment free of disruption requires that items not needed for teaching and learning be prohibited. Bringing some items may result in suspension from school. The following items are prohibited:
- Electronic devices including but not limited to cell phones, radios, music players, handheld games, cameras, laser pointers, etc.
- Toys, games, trading cards and recess equipment (unless approved by the teacher). Playground equipment is provided at school.
- Gambling devices including but not limited to dice, playing cards, etc.
- Drugs, alcoholic beverages, narcotics, cigarettes, cigarette lighters, matches, and look a-likes.
- Explosive devices, firecrackers, fireballs, cherry bombs, etc.
- Weapons, (items with the purpose of causing bodily harm or fear.)
- Toys that are realistic simulations of guns and knives.
- Gang identification paraphernalia including but not limited to beepers, shirts, gloves, rags or bandannas.
Food and drink are allowed
only in the cafeteria unless approved by staff. Gum is not allowed in the
building, on the playground or on the bus without administrative approval.
Racial/Ethnic/Sexual Harassment Policy
State law and
It is the policy of the
No student or employee of the Nampa School
District No. 131 shall, because of race, color, creed, national origin, sex,
disability, or religion, be excluded from participation in, be denied the
benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity
conducted by or sanctioned by Nampa School District No. 131. Nampa School District No. 131 recognizes that
different treatment on the basis of race is prohibited under Title 42, §2000d,
United States Code, in all programs and activities provided by Nampa School
District No. 131. Students and parents
are encouraged to bring formal and informal concerns of race discrimination by
District staff or student to appropriate personnel. These concerns should be made in
writing.
Procedures to Handle Complaints of Discrimination: Any student, employee, parent or guardian
complaining of discrimination, for any reason from one of the federally
protected groups (race, color, creed, national origin, sex, disability, or
religion), may report that complaint to the student’s Building Administrator or
Principal, within sixty (60) days of the alleged incident. The Building Administrator or Principal
should attempt to resolve the issues set forth in the complaint, within no more
than thirty (30) days from receiving the complaint. In the event the Building Administrator or
Principal is unable to resolve the complaint of discrimination to the
satisfaction of the complaining party, the complaining party will be referred
to the Principals within five (5) days for further action. Under the direction of the Principal a
thorough investigation will be made with an attempt to ascertain all relevant
facts.
At the conclusion of the investigation, within no
more than ninety (90) days from the previous step, the Chief Educational
Officer will meet with the complaining party and will review the results of the
investigation. In the event the Chief
Educational Officer makes a finding of discrimination, the Chief Educational
Officer has full authority to implement all required procedures to rectify that
complaint of discrimination.
Procedures to Handle Sexual Harassment and/or all
Other Types of Harassment: A
student may choose to report the complaint of harassment to any teacher or
school counselor. The teacher or school
counselor will forward the complaint immediately to the Building
Administrator. If the student chooses
not to report the complaint to a teacher or counselor, the student should
report the complaint to the Building Administrator. In the event an allegation of harassment
involves the Building Administrator, and if the student has not chosen to
report the complaint to any other teacher or counselor, the student may report
the complaint to the Superintendent of the School District, or his/her
designee.
A student should be made aware that in reporting
such complaints of harassment, while it is the intent to maintain discretion
and confidentiality, that in certain instances or circumstances, Nampa School
District No. 131 is required by law to report the incident either to Idaho
Department of Health & Welfare, Law Enforcement Agencies or other persons.
All reports of harassment should be reduced to
writing by either the student or the person receiving the complaint, and then signed
by the student. Students must report any
incidents within thirty (30) days so that a rapid response and appropriate
action may be taken. Due to the
sensitivity of these complaints, no specific time frames is instituted for
reporting sexual harassment and a late reporting of any harassment will not in
and of itself preclude any remedial action.
It is expected that any investigation will be
thorough, with an attempt to ascertain all relevant facts. The person conducting the investigation, at
his or her discretion, may interview the student, the student who is accused of
harassing, other students and/or employees who may have knowledge of the
incident. All interviews should be
documented as thoroughly as possible.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the person
conducting the investigation will make a report of the findings and recommended
actions to the Building Administrator.
Students determined to have improperly harassed another student and or
teacher, or a teacher harassing a student will be subject to disciplinary
procedures in accordance with the discipline policy and procedures of Nampa
School District No. 131.
If
an investigation determines that no harassment occurred, and that a student
falsely accused another of such harassment, either knowingly and/or
maliciously, that student may be subject to discipline under
Section 504 Notice
Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act (ADA)
prohibits discrimination against students and staff members with
disabilities. The
Included in the regulations is the requirement that students with disabilities be provided a free, appropriate public education. These regulations encompass identification, evaluation, the provision of appropriate services, and procedural safeguards.
Parents are entitled to have the opportunity to review
relevant educational records under the Family Education rights and Privacy Act
(FERPA). The Chief Academic Officer is
the 504 and ADA Compliance Officer for the
Student
Behavior and Code of Conduct
We are responsible for providing an environment in which all children can and do learn. To do this, we must be sure that our school is safe and orderly, and free of intimidation and harassment. It is important that each student behave in a manner that will help him/her receive the best possible education and that does not interfere with the educational opportunities of others. Our students:
· Arrive to school and class on time prepared and ready to learn.
· Are courteous during passing times and in interactions with other students and staff
· Resolve differences amicably and with positive intentions
· Seek help from staff in difficult situations
· Dress appropriately for a positive and safe learning environment
· Follow directions from all staff
· Treat our campus and school property with respect
Disciplinary
action will be taken for students who act inappropriately at school, on the bus,
or to/from school. Inappropriate behavior includes, but is not limited to
the following:
· Inappropriate Behavior (rough play, rule violation, disrespect, profanity or vulgar or offensive language)
· Bullying
· Harassment (threats nonverbal, verbal or written; teasing; name calling, intimidating other students)
· Fighting (physical assault aimed at another)
· Vandalism (destruction or defacing of school property)
· Insubordination (willful defiance or choosing not to act as instructed by staff or administration)
· Gang or hate group activity
· Possession or use of drug, tobacco or alcohol on school property
· Theft or possession of stolen property
· Excessive absences, tardiness or truancy
· Possession of a weapon: any object which could be used to injure another person and is not school-related, has no purpose for being in school or on school grounds and will be considered a weapon for purposes of this policy including, but not limited to, knives, guns, chemicals, sharp objects, toy-like guns etc.
Inappropriate behavior may result in removal from class, loss of recess privileges, after school detention, in school suspension, suspension from school, referral to a support team, community service, or other disciplinary action. In some cases, students may be invited to participate in peer mediation, or may be required to participate in an anger management or social skills group. Parents may be asked to participate in the Intervention Team Meetings. Severe misconduct may result in police intervention. The consequences will correspond with the severity of the offense.
We believe that students should behave appropriately. We teach students how to act with respect and responsibility in various settings including restrooms, assemblies, library, entering/exiting, before/after school, field trips, etc. In addition, each teacher has a discipline plan for managing his/her classroom.
Disciplinary Procedures:
Level I: Teacher
Level Management
Classroom management is the first phase of the behavior management process. Each teacher has a classroom/recess/school management plan that includes expectations for student behavior at school, consequences for inappropriate behavior, refocus procedures and provisions for student conferencing and parent contact. If the behavior becomes chronic or excessive, the child will move to Level II.
Level II: Team Level Management Level II (Parent, Student, Teacher)
Level II management involves repeated disruptive behavior and the continued violation of school/classroom rules. Such behavior disrupts the learning process and/or learning environment. Consequences may include counseling referral, informal intervention, daily behavior contract, recess or after school detention, and parent-student-teacher conference. Students who continue to disrupt the learning environment and/or process will be referred to the administrator and/or the Intervention Team.
Level III: Intervention Team and Administrative Level Management
Level III is considered SEVERE BEHAVIOR. Severe behavior is any action that threatens the safety or welfare of any person and/or significantly disrupts the learning process or environment. Referrals for severe behavior will be submitted to the administrator. Students may be referred to the Intervention Team, suspended in or out of school for up to five days and/or recommended for expulsion. A re-entry conference with the administrator, counselor, parent/guardian and student is necessary prior to returning to school.
*The Intervention Team involves the student, parent, teacher, administrator, and may include a Resource officer or Community Social Worker.
Examples of Behaviors & Possible Consequences
|
Behaviors |
*Consequences *Consequences
are decided on a case-by-case basis with teachers and administrators. All
office referrals will result in a conference with an administrator and parent
contact. |
|
Level 1: Minor (Inappropriate
behaviors)
|
Step 1: Possible Consequences for
Level 1 Behaviors:
|
|
Level
2: Inappropriate behavior directed toward others
|
Step
2: Possible Consequences for Level 2 Behaviors:
|
|
Level
3: SEVERE BEHAVIOR: Danger to self or to others
|
Step 3: Possible Consequences for Level 3 Behaviors or Chronic Level
2 Behaviors:
**Office Referrals may result in the
following:
|
Student Records/FERPA
Federal and state laws require school districts to maintain certain academic and behavioral records on students. The records allow the school staff to share progress information with parents and other educational institutions. They also document the eligibility of students for various federal and state mandated programs. Students frequently request copies of their records many years after they have left school to assist them in documenting school attendance and eligibility for certain programs.
The following information details parent and student rights with respect to student records.
Confidentiality of Student Records
All student records are confidential and may be opened for inspection only in accordance with applicable federal and state law and school board policy.
Directory Information
Directory Information means personally identifiable information contained in a student education record which is not generally considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released (such as: student’s name, address, telephone listing, date and place of birth, classroom teacher, officially recognized activities and sports participated in, weight and height [if on athletic team], dates of attendance, awards received and the previous school or program attended, photos, school newspaper, including yearbook and such categories of information as the superintendent shall designate.
Directory Information shall be released only with administrative direction according to state and federal law. Information will not be given over the telephone except in health and safety emergencies.
Parents will be notified annually (through the distribution of this handbook) and their student’s registration or verification form. The parent/student will be given the opportunity to limit the release of directory information by completing the new student registration form or updating the yearly verification form and returning it to the school.
Information on Teacher Qualification
Federal
law provides parents the right to request certain information about the
professional qualifications of
their child’s teacher or teachers. The information includes:
• Whether
the teacher has met state certification criteria for the grade level and
subject area in which
the teacher provides instruction.
• Whether
the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status through
which state
certification criteria have been waived.
• The
teacher’s college major and the field of discipline of any advance degrees
held.
• Whether
your child is provided services by any paraprofessionals such as educational
assistants,
and if so their qualifications.
If you are interested in this information, you may request it from the building principal or administrator.
Supplies
In an effort to reduce expenses for parents, the
Kindergarten*
□ Crayons – 3 boxes of
8 count □
Eraser
□
Pencils (pkg 10-12) □
White school glue 8 oz.
□ Kleenex □
Pocket Folders (2)
□ Container to hold supplies
(school box) □
1-box gallon baggies
1st & 2nd grades*
□ Crayons – 24 count □
Eraser
□
Pencils (pkg 10-12) □
White school glue 8 oz.
□ Kleenex □
Pocket Folders (2)
□ Ruler with metric
& standard rule □
1-box gallon baggies
□ Container to hold
supplies (school box)
3rd grade*
□ Colored pencils or
markers □
Eraser
□
Pencils (pkg 10-12) □
White school glue 8 oz.
□ Kleenex □
Pocket Folders (2)
□ Ruler with metric
& standard rule □
1-box gallon baggies
□ 3–spiral notebooks
(70 to 100 pages) □
Loose leaf paper – wide rule
□ Container to hold
supplies (school box/zipper pouch)
4th & 5th Grades*
□ Colored pencils or
markers □
Pens – pkg. blue or black
□
Pencils (pkg 10-12) □
White school glue 8 oz.
□ Kleenex □ Pocket
Folders (2)
□ Ruler with metric
& standard rule □
1-red pen or pencil
□ 3-spiral notebooks
(70 to 100 pages) □
Loose leaf paper – college rule
□ 1-box gallon baggies
□ Container to hold
supplies (school box/zipper pouch)
*Backpack, book bag or other
appropriate alternative is recommended for all grades.
Testing
Students will have various statewide tests throughout the year. The IRI (Idaho Reading Indicator) will be administered to grades K-3 in the fall, winter, and the spring. The ISAT (Idaho State Achievement Test) will be administered to students in grades 2-12 in the fall and the spring, with a winter test as optional by school. DMA (Direct Math Assessment) will be given to grades 4, 6, and 8 one time a year and the DWA (Direct Writing Assessment) to grades 5, 7, and 9 one time per year. Please help us in preparing your child for these formal tests. Check with your child’s teacher for ways to help.
Visitors
Visitors are welcome. But
to ensure the safety of our campuses, we require all visitors to check in at
the front office and receive a visitor’s pass. You may be asked to show
your identification. Parents who would like to visit a classroom should call or
email in advance to make arrangements. Students who do not attend the school
will not be allowed to visit during regular school hours.
Withdrawal
The procedure for withdrawal is as follows:
· Contact the office by phone or in person if you need to withdraw your child.
· Return all school and library books. Make sure all fees and fines are paid.
· Check with the kitchen for refunds or charges to be paid.
SUNNY RIDGE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Welcome to Sunny Ridge!
Our
administration and staff is dedicated to the success of all children in our
school. We realize that to achieve this
goal, we must partner with parents, recognizing that the parent is truly the
child’s first and most important teacher.
We invite parents to communicate openly with us as we work together to
provide the best possible educational program and to visit and work within our
school. Last year our volunteer
parents/guardians logged in over 4,500 hours to assist in classrooms and with
projects and activities here at Sunny Ridge.
In addition to volunteering, we urge parents to take an active role in
their child’s education by discussing with your child what was learned at
school daily, and by providing space, time and support for homework. It is also vital to read daily with or to
your child—at least 20 minutes per day.
We will, in turn, strive to provide the best learning environment and
best instruction possible. Working
together, we will help ensure that all children experience success as
learners. Please click on http://www.nsd131.org/admin/ncib/
to learn more about our school.
School Policies/Procedures
Accelerated Reader
For those students who LOVE to read or who enjoy a challenge, Accelerated Reader is for them. Accelerated Reader is a computer program that allows students, once they have read a book at home or at school, to take a comprehension test to earn “AR” points. Each book is worth points based upon the difficulty of the book. Once a child in grades 2-5 earns a specific number of points, determined by grade level, they will be awarded an AR plaque. Over the years, there have been some questions from both students and parents concerning the AR program, so, to answer those questions we will provide every child an Accelerated Reader Code of Ethics to be read with parents or guardians. This Code of Ethics must be signed by both the child and the parent in order for the child to be allowed to participate in the AR program.
First grade students who are already independent readers at the beginning of the school year may take the AR “STAR” test in September. If a child succeeds in taking the STAR test, he/she may then take AR tests for books read independently at home or at school. First graders who begin AR in September will be expected to earn 30 points with 80% accuracy to earn an AR medallion. Students who are not ready in September may STAR test at the start of the 2nd semester, and if successful, may begin to AR test at that time. They will need 15 points with 80% accuracy to earn an AR medallion. The points necessary to earn an AR plaque in grades 2-5 (with 80% accuracy) are as follows: 2nd: 50 points; 3rd 75 points; 4th 100 points; 5th 150 points.
AR testing will be available between 8:30 and 3:30 in classrooms and the computer lab, under the supervision of the classroom teacher or our computer teacher exclusively. Arrangements will be made for special needs students who may require assistance in reading the test.
Assets—Charater Virtues
Our school has identified the 40 Developmental Assets as the building blocks of healthy development that help young people grow up healthy, caring and responsible. We have narrowed those 40 assets into what we call the Six Pillars of Character: responsibility, respect, trustworthiness, fairness, caring and citizenship. Each month one of the character virtues is a focus and students are publicly honored for their efforts in demonstrating the traits at a school-wide assembly.
Birthdays
You may bring a store bought treat on the day of your child’s birthday. Please plan to give the treat to the teacher and it will be served at a convenient time during the day. In some cases the teacher may decide to celebrate birthdays on a specific day during the week. Notice: Due to hurt feelings, party invitations of any kind will NOT be distributed at school. Flowers or balloons will not be delivered to the classroom until the end of the school day and are NOT allowed on the bus.
Before and After School
We are concerned about student safety and do not want children on the playground unsupervised. Students may come on the playground after 8:05 a.m. Students are expected to enter the building from the playground, not the front doors of the school. Students are expected to exit the building and school grounds by the established exit route and not linger on the school grounds after school is released.
- Bikes, scooters, and skateboards are to be walked off the grounds.
- Bus pick-up is on the west parking lot.
- Parent pick-up is in the front of the school. Students will stand on the grass. Do not ask your child to meet you in a different place or to cross the parking lot in front of or between cars.
- For your child’s safety, students are NOT ALLOWED to cross the street in the middle of the block and will be directed to the CROSSWALK with our crossing guard.
- Students who walk home are expected to go directly home and to respect the property to and from home.
Checking Children out of Class or off the Bus or Bus Line
It IS important for your child to be in the classroom the entire day. Please make doctor, dentist and any other appointments later in the day. If in the case of an emergency you need to pickup your child during the school day, please follow the procedures below. For safety purposes, students will not be released to any person other than parent/guardian without written authorization from the parent/guardian.
- Sign student out on the checkout sheet at reception desk. Please DO NOT go directly to the student’s classroom.
- Provide identification (driver’s license) establishing your relationship with the child.
- If your name does not appear on the enrollment form, you may not pick up the child without written authorization from the parent/guardian.
·
Additional
measures may be necessary to establish permission to pick up a student. We
appreciate your patience with our safety measures. As we become familiar with
parents’ faces, identification may not be necessary each time for checkout.
·
If you wish to
check your child out when he/she is in a bus line or on the bus, please check
out the student with the office and obtain a pass to identify yourself to the
person on duty. Please call the office before 2:30 with messages for your
child so we can relay the information before dismissal.
Student Pick-Up Procedures
Students being picked up are
dismissed at 3:00 p.m. Parents picking
up students are to pull up in front of the building in one line, along the curb. Stay in
your car. Students will wait on the grass. As
cars reach the west end of the curb, the appropriate child/children will be
placed in the car and the family may head home. Stay
in your car. As the cars leave, other cars must move
up, in the single file line along the sidewalk until they reach the west end
and the students are picked up. NEVER
double park. Always stay in the car to keep the line moving. If you need to exit the car, please park in
a designated visitor spaces in the parking lot, not along the curbs or behind
other parked cars. NEVER LEAVE YOUR CAR UNATTENDED.
Class Parties
Class parties will be held for Christmas and Valentine’s Day only. Room mothers may contact parents to provide treats for these parties.
Compacts
The
“No Child Left Behind” Federal Law has requested that the school and home
develop a School/Parent/Student Compact that emphasizes the responsibilities of
students, parents, and schools to support each other. Please read over
this compact and discuss it with your child (found in the “Forms to Return”
Packet). It is important to remember that the new law has established testing
levels that ALL students need to pass. By signing this compact, you are
agreeing to take responsibility to help your child/children to learn in the
best way possible and open the lines of communication between school and home.
Bobcat Awards
Each
week teachers honor students who have achieved individual, class or school
goals or accomplishments with a Bobcat Award.
Our focus is to recognize and honor each child’s special qualities and
achievements.
Extra-curricular Activities
Sunny Ridge Elementary will offer a variety of extra-curricular events in which students may participate. You will receive further information regarding boys and girls basketball (grades 4-5), co-ed volleyball (grade 5), speed jump roping (grades 4-5), cup stacking (grades 4-5), girls/boys track (grades 4-5), and music concerts.
Dress Code
DRESS FOR SUCCESS. We expect students to be well groomed and dressed in clothing that is appropriate to the learning environment and weather conditions. Students are not allowed to wear clothing that constitutes a health or safety hazard or is disruptive to the educational process.
Guidelines:
· Shoes must be worn at all times. Students should wear shoes appropriate for PE and outdoor play. We discourage sandals and flip-flops at any time of the year.
· Articles of clothing that advertise or promote drugs, alcohol, tobacco, violent acts, lewd or sexual themes, or that are demeaning, degrading or offensive o any person, or offend general moral principles are not appropriate for school.
· Any clothing or paraphernalia that may be construed as gang or violence related including hats, bandanas, rags, colors, sags, chains, etc. is inappropriate. Clothing or accessories (including, but not limited to collars, bracelets, and books) with spikes or other potentially dangerous items.
· Modest clothing is appropriate for school wear.
o Not appropriate: halter, fishnet, tube or tank tops; spandex or tight fitting clothing, clothing that exposes the mi
o Shorts and skirts must be below the mid-thigh (to the end of fingertips)
· Hats or headwear, including scarves, may be worn for inclement weather or for medical reasons but are inappropriate
Inside the school building, for both boys and girls.
Food, Drink & Gum
Food and drink are allowed only in the cafeteria unless approved by a teacher or administrator. Gum is not allowed in the building, on the playground or on the bus without administrative approval. Students are discouraged from bringing soda pop to school with their lunch.
Fundraising
Our Booster Club
organization will sponsor up to two fundraisers a year and our annual
carnival. Please check our school
website to contact our Booster officers and for more information.
Hall Passes
Hall Passes are required of all students when they are out of their assigned class. Students without hall passes will be escorted back to class.
Library Books
Library books are checked out to students and may be taken home. Students are responsible to pay for lost and/or damaged books. A library checkout policy paper must be signed and returned before your child is permitted to check out books from the school library.
Literacy -- Fluency
Literacy is our top academic priority. Comprehension is the essence of reading and
to gain comprehension there are multiple skills that are foundational,
beginning long before a child attends school.
Our
Spring Words per Minute:
1st grade: 54
2nd grade: 94
3rd grade 120
4th grade: 140
5th grade: 150
Lost and Found
Please mark your child’s property (lunch boxes, backpacks, coats, hats and gloves) with their name. Check the lost and found periodically for missing items. Items that are left in the Lost and Found are donated to local charities at the end of each quarter.
Parent Teacher
Organization—Booster Club
All parents,
staff, and students are invited to join our Booster Club at Sunny Ridge
Elementary. We will meet approximately
once a month in the café. We encourage
you to join and participate in activities throughout the school year. To get involved, please contact the school
office for the Booster Club officers’ phone numbers.
School-wide Rules
- Keep hands, feel, body and objects to yourself
- Respect people, property and the learning environment
- Maintain 100% quiet hallways in order to respect others’ learning.
Expectations for Student Behavior:
·
Arrive to
school and class on time prepared and ready to learn;
·
Be
courteous during passing times and in interactions with other students and
staff;
·
Resolve
differences amicably and with positive intentions;
·
Seek help
from staff in difficult situations;
·
Dress
appropriately for a positive and safe learning environment’
·
Treat our
campus and school property with respect;
·
Follow
rules established for a variety of activities on and off our campuses; and
·
Follow
directions from all staff.
Specialist at Sunny Ridge
- Counselor
- Nurse (part time)
- Psychologist (part time)
- Resource Teacher
- Occupational Therapist
- Speech-Language Pathologist
- PE teacher, Music teacher, Computer Specialist, Librarian
- Reading Specialist
Student Transfer/Reassignments:
The following policy applies to all transfer and reassignment requests:
· Parents must submit a written request to the Principal stating the reasons for the transfer request.
· Our school must receive the written request at least 2 weeks prior to the end of the grading period.
· Transfer requests received with less than two weeks left in the grading period will be delayed until the end
of the next grading period
· Transfers and reassignments will only be made at the end of the 1st and 2nd nine weeks
· Parents must demonstrate/document that they have conferenced with the teacher (twice) in an attempt to
resolve concerns
· Parents will be given written notification as to whether or not their request for transfer/reassignment has been
approved before the beginning of the next grading period
Volunteers
We welcome and encourage
you to volunteer. Volunteers can he1p in a variety of ways including listening to
a child read, tutoring, updating bulleting boards, serving on our site
improvement team, supervising field trips or helping with the many other tasks
on a teacher’s TO DO list. Please contact any staff member or Booster Club
President if you can help. A volunteer ID and sign-in book are in the
school office.
IRI Test
(Grades K, 1, 2, 3)
The Idaho Reading Indicator, enacted by the Idaho Legislature, is intended to ensure that all children master the skills they need to become successful readers.
To fully comply with state law, Kindergarten through third grade students are tested three times each year: fall, winter, and spring. A test administrator, chosen and trained by the school district, will test students individually using the 10-minute Idaho Reading Indicator (IRI).
Teachers and administrators will review your child’s test results and will notify you if your child is having difficulty with any of the reading skills.
For more information about the IRI, please talk to your child’s teacher, the Title I teacher, and/or the Principal. You can also visit the state website at: www.sde.state.id.us/IRI or you can call toll-free at 1-800-432-4601.
Good reading skills are essential to success in school, and we want to make sure every child can read well. Parents are important partners in this work, and you can help in two ways. First, you can practice the skills that are tested. Second, you can take time to enjoy reading to, or with, your child every day.
Your interest sends a powerful message to your child: reading is important! Together, we can make sure our youngest readers have the advantage they need as they continue their studies.
ISAT
(Grades 2, 3, 4, 5)
We will be administering the ISAT tests to all students in grades 2-5 at our school this year. Please be sure your child is at school during this time. It is extremely important that all children are tested during the state-testing window. A brief overview of the ISAT is provided below.
What are the Idaho Standards Achievement Tests (ISAT)?
The Idaho Standards Achievement Tests (ISAT) are a series of tests that measure a child’s general knowledge in reading, language usage, and math. A child takes the ISAT starting in second grade, every fall and spring through high school. Some schools test the children in the winter as well.
What are the Idaho Standards Achievement Tests used for?
The ISAT measures a child’s progress or growth in school. You may have a chart in your home in which you mark your child’s height at certain times – such as on their birthday. This is their growth chart. It shows how a child has grown from one year to the next. The ISAT does the same sort of thing, except your child’s growth in reading, language usage, and math skills is measured.
How do the tests measure growth in learning?
The ISAT uses the scores to measure growth in reading, language usage, and math. Scores depend on two things: how many questions are answered correctly and the difficulty of each question.
Do all students take the same test?
Yes and no. All students take a computerized reading, language usage, and math test. Although every test has questions covering the same goal areas, not every test has the same questions, and the test questions vary in difficulty.
In a computerized adaptive test, the difficulty of the test is adjusted to the student’s performance so each student sees different test questions. The difficulty of each question is based on how well the student has answered the questions up to that point. As the student answers correctly, the questions become more difficult. If the student answers incorrectly, the questions become easier.
How important are the tests to students and to teachers?
These tests are important because they keep track of progress and growth in the basic skills. They let teachers know where students’ strengths are and if help is needed in any specific areas. ISAT is just one look at how students are doing. Teachers already routinely assign projects and tasks, administer other tests, discuss student work, and report grades. These are all very important ways of looking at student progress.
The best thing your child can do to prepare for testing is to work hard in school everyday. Regular attendance, good nutrition, and adequate rest are also important components for successful test performance.
Open Court Reading (K-5):
For more information: www.sra4kids.com
The
Everyday Mathematics (K-5)
For more information: http://everydaymath.uchicago.edu/
The