Bloomington Public Schools Mission Statement The Bloomington Public School district is an educational leader developing in ALL of our learners the ability to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Westwood Elementary School Mission Statement Westwood Elementary is committed to meeting the needs of our Pre-K through fifth grade students. The environment in our school is safe, friendly, and respectful. We value our community partnerships, our diversity, and our commitment to life-long learning. Everyone works together to provide meaningful learning experiences that support student success. We Believe: All children can learn and produce quality work. All children benefit from developmentally appropriate materials, practices, strategies, up to date curriculum, and technology to prepare them for life in the 21 st century. School is not just about children: it encompasses families, parents, community, stakeholders, society, the environment, and the world. Respect, Responsibility, and Safety are the foundation for all that we do, teach and learn. Children are more than test scores. Children thrive when expectations are high and self-esteem is higher. Children learn best in an environment that supports and promotes wellness through good nutrition and regular physical activity. August 2012 Dear Families, Greetings from Westwood! As the principal of Westwood, may I be the first to welcome you back to school for the 2012-13 school year! You will find a Welcome Letter from your child s teacher. The Westwood staff is anxious to meet your family and invite you to come to an Open House on Thursday, August 30 th from 5:30-7:00 p.m. to meet your teacher and see your new room. Teachers will be in classrooms to meet you from 5:30-6:30. After visiting the classrooms you are invited to come to the gym where each grade level will have a display highlighting the activities and special events for the year. The PTA will be serving a treat in the cafeteria and you will have a chance to catch up with friends. School start and end time have changed this year. School now begins at 8:45 a.m. and ends at 3:05 p.m. Parents Can Help This is a list of things parent can do to support the school and ensure the best possible experience of student success during the school year. Always call about absences 952-806-7202 Set aside personal time to spend with each child reviewing the contents of Thursday folders. Help your child organize his/her belongings. Assign a place to collect these things that is secure and dependable. Monitor the time your child leaves school. If he/she arrives too early, there is too much unsupervised activity. Free breakfast is served at 8:20 to 8:40 for all interested students. Remind children to treat all creatures with respect and dignity. Teach responsible stranger awareness. Should ANY concern arise, call your child s teacher first. The education of your child is always a priority. If you do not express a concern we cannot intervene.
Check for accuracy when students tell stories. Information is sometimes distorted when it is interpreted by a child. If you are ever in doubt, call your child s teacher. Plan to support the school s discipline expectations. This gives the child a clear message of a strong school partnership. Schedule a time for homework. If the child does not have any, keep the scheduled time and read a book of his/her choice. Provide well-balanced meals, planned after school physical activities, and the opportunity for an adequate amount of sleep each night. Become actively involved in all facets of your child s school and education as possible. Studies have shown that an actively involved parent gives a caring and powerful message to a child about the importance of education. The message translates more broadly to all the students in a school, and achievement improves. If you have the time, come to school. We can always find a small task to be completed almost any time. Remain interested and educated about the state legislature impact on our district. If you are requested to vote upon an educational issue GO! Those of us with a powerful commitment to the children of this community can powerfully influence opportunities available to them if we make an effort to be heard. We are looking forward to your return on September 4, 2012! Sincerely, Carolyn Hartwigsen Westwood Elementary School 3701 West 108 th Street Bloomington, MN 55435 952-806-7200 Attendance: 952-806-7202 8:25 a.m. Busses arrive 8:20-8:40 a.m. Free breakfast served to all interested students. 8:35 a.m. First bell 8:45 a.m. School begins 11:15 a.m. Morning Kindergarten dismissed 12:35 p.m. Afternoon Kindergarten begins 3:00 p.m. Kindergarten dismissed 3:05 p.m. School dismissed District Office 952-681-6400 Transportation 952-681-6300 Kids SAFARI 952-806-7206 Westwood Fax 952-806-7201 Office Hours: 7:30am 4:00 pm Carolyn Hartwigsen, Principal 806-7250 Marcy Checco, Secretary 806-7203 Filomena Sherratt, Office Clerk 806-7213 Health Office Nurse 8:50 am 3:05 pm Leanne Docherty, Health Service 806-7208 Media Center Kathy Kero, Media Center Director 806-7209 Filomena Sherratt, Media Clerk 806-7224 Food Service Joan Hubbard, Lead Cook 806-7204 Christine Miller, Food Service Helper Lisa Steward, Food Service Helper Custodians Gerry Berens, Chief Custodian 806-7205 Tom Haas, Andy Wheeler, Night Custodians
Classroom Teachers Kindergarten Room 121 Stephanie Johnsoon 806-7246 Room 123 Dyan Otten 806-7245 Room 124 Kristin Schulz 806-7255 1 st Grade Room 118 Cory Wade 806-7247 Room 120 Kristen Fett 806-7257 Room 122 Sara Derus 806-7256 2 nd Grade Room 306 John Bauer 806-7226 Room 314 Kate Walton/Kelsey Jones 806-7227 Room 316 Kristine Goodwin 806-7228 Room 317 Kristin Hoerdt 806-7229 3 rd Grade Room 307 Carole Bennett 806-7232 Room 309 Denise Brommer 806-7231 Room 315 Sonya Meyer 806-7230 4 th Grade Room 203 Lori Klass 806-7235 Room 213 Kathy Schneider 806-7237 Room 402 Bill Smallfield 806-7241 5 th Grade Room 214 Deb Kaiser 806-7223 Room 215 Leanne Wasleske 806-7238 Room 402 Bill Smallfield 806-7241 ADSIS Teachers Room 303B Becky Frey 806-7233 Room 303A 806-7233 Title 1 Room 101 Rebecca Schulz 806-7265 Student Services Room Sarah Schroepfer, Social Worker 116 806-7259 Joe Meuwissen, Psychologist 303A 806-7233 Deanna Ohm, COTA 112 806-7260 Leta O Neil, ADPE 106 806-7262 Sue Rud, ASD 109 806-7253 Angela Salo, ASD 101 806-7222 Lisa Schenkelberg 304 806-7225 Denise Snyder, Sp/Lang 42 806-7214 Paris Solberg, O.T. 112 806-7260 Washburn Clinic, Liz Vu 126 806-7251 Helen Wells, DCD 107 806-7254 Debra Wynn 304 806-7225 Specialists Room Rick Ballew, Inst. Music 408 806-7084 Janelle Blasingame, PE 106 806-7261 Kelli Heckman, Inst. Music 408 806-7084 Dorothy Jones, PE 106 806-7261 Kathy Kero, Media 51 806-7209 Jennifer Kiel, Art 404 806-7242 Jon Peterson, Music 406 806-7243 Sandy Wagner, Inst.Music 408 806-7084 Julia Wiessner, ESL 127 806-7249 Paraprofessionals Jan Bedeaux, Student Services 806-7225 Sarah Cramer, Recess Michelle Dunbar, Quiet Room 806-7216 Heidi Gustavson, DCD Classroom 806-7254 Kim Healy, DCD Classroom 806-7254 Andrew Larsen, Recess Cheryl Moreno, ASD Classroom 806-7230 Joy Mudgett, Student Services Justine Reger, DCD Classroom 806-7254 Megan Swartout, ASD Classroom 806-7252 Nancy Turnquist, ASD Classroom 806-7252 Literacy Coordinators AmeriCorps Ann Nelson Alissa Swain
Kids SAFARI Tracy Bomberg, YFC 806-7207 Diane Walker 806-7206 Early Learners Heidi Belair 806-7258 Molly O Brian GENERAL INFORMATION ATTENDANCE Research supports that regular school attendance and punctuality are directly related to success in academic work, benefits students socially, provides opportunities for important communications between teachers and students and establishes regular habits of dependability important to the future of the student. The purpose of this guideline is to encourage regular school attendance. It is intended to be positive and not punitive. The following guidelines also recognize that class attendance is a joint responsibility to be shared by the student, parent or guardian, teacher and administrators. This guideline is intended to involve all parties in promoting regular attendance and punctuality. The district policy for attendance is described below for your review. According to the No Child Left Behind requirements followed by the State of Minnesota and Bloomington Public Schools, all children should have a 95% attendance record. Bloomington School District Attendance Guidelines based on policy #541 School Attendance, states the following: Parents are legally responsible to make sure that their children attend school unless they are lawfully excused. Excused absences are verified by a phone call or note from a parent or guardian. These include: a. Personal illness. b. Serious illness or death in student s immediate family. c. Medical/dental appointments (partial day). d. Major religious holidays. e. Legal matters, court appearances. f. Other activities as approved by the school (including vacation up to 15 days submitted in writing for pre-approval by the principal). Children age 12 and under 3 unexcused absences a letter from the Principal will be sent as a warning 6 unexcused absences a referral will be made to the Hennepin County Attorney s Office 9 unexcused absences the school will make a child protection report to the Hennepin County Attorney s Office Tardiness Students are expected to be in their assigned areas at designated times. Failure to do so constitutes tardiness. Tardiness for oversleeping, transportation problems, running late, parental issues are not excused. For children 12 and under, (3) tardies equals (1) unexcused absence. Legal Reference; Minnesota Stat: 120 A.22 (Compulsory Instruction) Consequences of Excused Absences Students whose absences are excused are required to make up all assignments missed or to complete alternative assignments as deemed appropriate by the classroom teacher. Missed assignments will be saved and given to students upon the return to school. If your child is absent for an extended period or on a recurring basis, the school social worker or teacher will contact your family to discuss the situation and how the school might help. If the absences are caused by illness, the building health service associate may ask for medical verification. Unexcused Absences Truancy: An absence not approved by the parent and/or the school district. Missing the bus. Work or babysitting at home Over-sleeping.
Vacations not pre-approved by the principal or their designee. Excessive absences in the judgment of the school without medical verification. Consequences of Unexcused Absences Students whose absences are unexcused are required to make up all assignments missed or to complete alternative assignments a deemed appropriate by the classroom teacher. Days during which a student is suspended from school shall not be counted in a student s total cumulated unexcused absences. The parent/guardian of a student who has accumulated three (3) unexcused absences within a school year will be mailed a letter requesting a conference with the school social worker and/or principal. * 3 tardies equals 1 unexcused absence. In cases of 6 unexcused absences, a referral will be sent to the Hennepin County Attorney s Office. Tardiness Definition Students are expected to be in their assigned area when a class period commences. Failure to do so constitutes tardiness. *3 tardies equals 1 unexcused absence. Reporting Tardiness Students tardy at the start of school must report to the school s designated area for an admission slip and to sign in. Students who ride a bus that is late are not marked Tardy or Absent. Excused Tardiness Valid excuses for tardiness are: Illness. Serious illness in the student s immediate family. A death in the student s immediate family or of a close friend or relative. Medical or dental appointments, treatment, or therapy. Please make every attempt to schedule these after school. Court appearances occasioned by family or personal action. Physical emergency conditions (excludes weather). Any tardiness for which administrator or faculty member has excused the student in writing. Religious holidays/observances. Unexcused Tardiness An unexcused tardiness is failing to be in an assigned area by the final bell without a valid excuse. (Examples of unacceptable excuses include overslept, missed bus, late ride, eating breakfast at school.) When Students Miss A Significant Part Of A Day A student who missed two or more hours of school is marked a halfday absent (excused or unexcused depending upon the situation). In half-day kindergarten, if a student misses one hour of their day, they are marked a half-day absent (excused or unexcused depending upon the situation). Absence Reporting: The following procedure has been developed to provide parents with assurance that their child has arrived at school each day. If the student is absent and no message has been recorded, a parent will be contacted at home or work to ensure that your child is safely accounted for. A telephone recorder will be in service 24 hours each day. Call the Attendance line at 952-806-7202 and give the following information: Students name, Homeroom teacher s name, Reason for student s absent. If you wish to talk to our Health Associate, leave your home or work phone number and she will return your call. Early Dismissal or Late Arrivals: Parents requesting an early dismissal time, or if a student will be arriving late, must send a note to the classroom teacher indicating the purpose and time. Students will be released during the school day only through the office to persons with proper identification and on prior arrangement. Please come to the office when picking up your child for medical appointments, etc, and sign them out on the appropriate form. Office personnel will call the teacher and have your child sent to the office. Sign your child back in if they return to school. Please remember, the semi-circular driveway in front of our building is a Fire Lane and that parking, even short term, is NOT allowed. If you will be dropping your child off before, during, or after school, please park in
the slotted spaces in front, on the street, or in the parking lot west of the building. Also, if your child is participating in after school activities, the same rules apply. The main entrance off 108 th street will be the only door unlocked from 6:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Please do not leave students at the south doors off 109 th street after the buses have gone. They will be locked out and will then have to walk around to the main entrance unsupervised. Other Health Conditions: If your child shows any symptoms of illness such as fever, vomiting, unidentified rash, diarrhea, sore throat, etc., please keep him/her home until you can determine how serious the condition may be. This will help reduce the spread of infection throughout the school. If you do keep your child home, call the Attendance Line. Students should remain at home 24 hours after vomiting or fever ends. If your child has a chronic problem, such as heart condition, diabetes, ADHD, hearing or vision problem, please contact the Health Associate s office or teacher right away in the fall so that this information is recorded on your child s health record and procedures for managing this condition are used in working with your child. If any changes in the health status of your child occur during the school year please notify the Health Associate s office. It is very important that all communicable diseases, such as strep throat, chicken pox, or head lice be reported. Health Emergencies: In case of emergency the school will call your home. If there is no answer the numbers on the Green Emergency Form will be called. It is, therefore, essential that you complete and return this important form to school early in the fall. This must include emergency contacts in addition to parents. If, during the school year you change address or telephone number, please let the school office know of the change. If you have an unlisted telephone number, indicate this on the form. Unlisted telephone numbers will be kept strictly confidential. Immunizations Minnesota state law requires full immunizations for all school children. Please keep a permanent record of your child s immunizations and send updated information to school. Health Screenings: Vision and hearing screenings at school help identify children with poor vision and/or suspected hearing loss. At Westwood, a vision screening is given to every student and a hearing screening is given to students in grades 1, 3, and 5. Abnormal results on any of the screening procedures will be called to the attention of the parents/guardians and further evaluation recommended. If you do not hear from our Health office, you can assume the test results were normal. Screenings are a quick way of finding students who may need further checking by a health professional. It does not replace a thorough exam by a health professional. When children have problems with vision and/or hearing, they often have problems with learning. Bloomington children ages 31/2 to 5 years must be screened once before kindergarten. For a free appointment, call the Bloomington Family Center, 952-681-6200. Medication: NO DRUGS (including aspirin or ibuprofen) may be administered without a physician s order, which must include the physician s signature, and be accompanied by a written request from the parent. Medications are to be sent to school in the prescription container received from the pharmacy, labeled with the student s name, classroom teacher, prescription number, directions for administering, and the doctor s name. Students ARE NOT to bring ibuprofen or any other kind of pills to administer to themselves at school. This practice is designed to protect children. Youngsters sometimes experience allergic reactions to medications. Field Trip Medication Administration Procedure The following procedures are designed for staff of ISD 271 to meet the medication needs of students on field trips or during school sponsored activities. The staff person accompanying the student during the field trips will be responsible for security of the medication, administration, and documentation. Health service staff does not routinely accompany field trips. After School Day or Overnight Field Trips 1. Parent/guardian will notify the Kids Safari office in advance of the field trip in order to coordinate with their physician in obtaining the authorization for all medications needed on a 24-hour basis. 2. Bring in the original medication bottle(s) from home.
3. Return the school permission form(s) along with appropriate medical information for medical emergencies, and authorization for administration of medication forms. 4. Meet with school personnel to discuss medical needs of the student and the arrangements for medication administration. Additional Information If a liquid medication is to be dispensed, the original container and a device for measuring the medication must be taken on the trip. Non-prescription medications must be in the original bottle and have a manufacturer s label with directions for age-specific doses, along with the appropriate authorization for administration of medication. If a medication is not given as it is ordered, the person responsible for overseeing the medication administration on the field trip must complete a medication error report, available in the school health office. Healthy kids are better learners! Weather/Emergencies Announcements of school closing and/or late starting times are made by 5 a.m. whenever possible, on Connect-Ed WCCO Radio- 830 AM KSTP-TV Ch. 5, KARE-TV Ch. 11 & WCCO-TV Ch.4 BEC-TV Ch. 15 Bloomington Channel 14 The website www. Bloomington.k12.mn.us If schools close early because of weather or for other emergencies, the announcements will be made on the same stations. It is important for each family to establish an Emergency Plan for the child in case school is released and then review this plan with students frequently. Young people especially should have clear instructions of what to do and where to go if parents are not at home when school is dismissed. It is advisable to have a person in the neighborhood designated to supervise him/her if they can t get in the house. TRANSPORTATION Buses: Bus transportation is provided by Bloomington Public Schools for students who qualify by distance and/or hazardous crossing. Large buses use a dedicated area on 109 th Street to drop off and pick up students. Also, the smaller buses that transport students with special needs drop off and pick up students in the Northeast corner of our parking lot. Do not park in either of these areas when children are arriving or leaving Westwood. Bus Routes: Bus routes are established during the summer by Transportation Department and are mailed to the student s residence prior to the start of the school year. Children should be at the bus stop at least five (5) minutes early. A.M. Kindergarten buses leave school at 11:20 a.m. and afternoon buses leave school at 3:15 p.m. If you move to a new address and need a change in your bus stop, please let the school office staff know as far ahead of the move as possible. Bus Rules Riding the school bus is a privilege, not a right. All school rules are in effect while a student is riding the bus and/or at the bus stop. The bus rules are required to protect the safety of all students. Failure to follow these rules may result in the loss of bus riding privileges. Follow the driver s directions the first time. Stay seated-keep aisles clear. Keep hands, feet and objects to self. Be respectful of others and school property. No loud or profane language or obscene gestures. No eating or drinking on the bus. If your child is having problems on the bus, talk to the driver or call the principal. Bus drivers provide the principal with a Students Bus Conduct Report when a student does not follow the rules. The first and second reports are discussed with the students and parents are notified. The third report may result in suspension from bus riding privileges. Continuous bus reports can lead to loss of riding privileges for the remainder of the school year. If a child loses their bus riding privileges, it is the parent s responsibility to bring their child to school. Also, any severe infractions of rules could result in suspension from school. The decision of whether or not a student is able to ride a school bus, including extracurricular and co-curricular activities, will be at the sole discretion of the school district. If a student s misconduct results in the damage of property, the student will be responsible for paying to repair or replace the damaged property.
Bus Guests: Children may have school friends ride home with them only with preapproval. Parents need to send two notes one for the teacher and one for the office. Students are to bring the note to the office and they will be issued a green Westwood Student Permission Slip. Students cannot ride on a different bus or get off at a different stop without a permission slip. Morning Supervision Our staff and WSST students will be stationed at each wing door to assist students. Unless they re in Kids Safari, students walking to school or dropped off by parents should not arrive before 8:20 a.m. COMMUNICATION Telephone: This handbook provides the direct line phone numbers for all adults working at Westwood. Our system automatically defaults to voice mails giving the caller the option of dialing O to speak to someone in the office for urgent messages. We request that students use the school phones only in an emergency. Connect-Ed Community telephone message outreach system - School to parent communication service. Messages will be sent to your primary phone numbers various times during the year. Notices and Newsletter: Westwood has a Thursday Take-home Envelope. Notices, newsletters, notes from teachers, and student work are generally sent home each week in this envelope. There may be exceptions, so please check your child s backpack every day. Mrs. Hartwigsen sends a school newsletter home once a month. The Bloomington School District and Westwood both have a website. You can link to Westwood s website from the following address: Http://www.bloomington.k12.mn.us Conferences & Report Cards: We have two formal parent/teacher conference periods each year. The parent or the school may request additional conferences. If you wish to have an additional conference, please call the classroom teacher or write a note requesting a date and time. We send report cards home two times each yearonce at the end of the semester in January and the final report card at the end of the school year. FOOD SERVICE Breakfast Program: Westwood has been designated an eligible site for free breakfast for all students. Cereal and toast are offered and there is a different hot entrée each day. Kids Safari has breakfast from 8:00 to 8:15; all other students eat from 8:20 to 8:40. Lunch Program: Lunch for Westwood students is 30 minutes daily (15 minutes for lunch and 15 minutes for recess). Students may purchase hot lunch from school or bring lunch from home. Elementary Lunch Price $ 2.45 Reduced Lunch Prince $.40 Milk $.45 Adult lunch $ 3.50 Free/Reduced Prices Educational Benefits: Interested families can receive a free/reduced price meal application from our school office. After completing the form, please return it to our office or directly to the Food Service Department at the Educational Services Center, 1350 West 106 th Street. This information is confidential. Dietary Restrictions: If your child has any special medical requests, a note from your doctor stating your child s dietary needs must be on file in our Health Service Office. Please deliver your note or stop in personally so we may assure your child s dietary needs are met. Lunch Menu: Monthly lunch menus are sent home with students during the last week of each month. Also, our KDWW broadcasters announce each morning what the menu for the day is. Information is also available by: Turning into The Brain-Channel 96 Cable TV http://bloomington.k12.mn.us The Food Service Department at Educational Support Services 1350 W. 106 th Street Bloomington, MN 55431 952-681-6570
If your child is bringing a bag lunch, please pack a nutritious, well-balanced meal that aligns and supports our healthy foods environment. Payment: Payment for all meals can be made at Westwood, at the Food Service Office, 1350 W. 106 th Street, or online via credit card at www.bloomington.k12.mn.us. If a child has a zero balance in her/his account, a confidential reminder slip will be sent home. Write the student s first and last name on the memo line when paying by check. Checks should be made out to ISD 271. Check Writing: When writing any checks to the Bloomington Public School or Westwood, please know that the Bloomington Public Schools is using a service to electronically recover any insufficient fund checks returned to the School District along with a $30.00 state allowed fee. Returned checks are sent to Paytek, a check collection company, which processes all returned checks for ISD #271. In the event that a check written to any ISD 271 campus, club, or organization is retuned unpaid by said bank, Paytek will redeposit the check electronically. Additionally, it is understood and agreed that Paytek may electronically collect a returned check fee of $30.00. The use of a check for payment is the acknowledgement and acceptance of this policy and its terms. Check writers can contact Paytek with questions regarding their returned checks at 800-641-9998. Volunteer Kitchen Helper: A wonderful and fairly easy way to volunteer any extra time you have at school is to help serve lunch for our students. Our kitchen staff is always in need of volunteers, so please contact Mrs. Joan Hubbard, 952-806-7204. Lunch with Your Child: Parents are welcome to have lunch with their children at any time. Adult s lunches may be purchased for $3.50. Our staff requests you please pay in cash on the day of your visit. Also, be sure and stop in the office to obtain a visitor s nametag. Cafeteria Rules Lunch is a very important social time for students. To ensure that all students have a pleasant and enjoyable meal, the following are cafeteria rules we follow daily. Speak in quiet voices. Always walk. Follow directions of lunchroom supervisors and staff. Remain seated until excused. Never throw food. When entering and leaving the lunchroom, line up in an orderly fashion. Students may not leave the lunchroom without permission. Respect others and school property. Recess: Westwood believes recess should not be viewed as a reward but a necessary educational support component for all children. Students should not be denied recess as a means of punishment or to make up work. Alternative solutions will be found to address individual needs. Recess will be before lunch this year. All students will have an opportunity to clean their hands before eating. We also have a full-time supervisor in the lunchroom every day. Recess Rules: All students go outside on the playground for 15 minutes before lunch for fresh air and exercise, except when weather prohibits. A child benefits greatly from outdoor play as it increases alertness for class work and promotes good health. We ask that you do not request your child be kept indoors unless your family doctor feels it would be harmful for them to be outdoors. It is vital that your child has appropriate clothing for the weather. In the winter and on cold days, this includes a hat, gloves/mittens, boots, coat and snow pants. Students should line up for recess in a quiet manner. Students should use the recess equipment like an obstacle courseuse something and then move on. Do not pick up or throw objects, stones, snowballs, etc. Be respectful of others and school property. Wait for a turn, and give swings and equipment enough space to operate safely. Do not climb on the outside or up the inside of the tunnels. Do not play games on any equipment. Failure to follow recess rules will result in students losing their playtime privilege. All students actively participate in daily recess. STUDENT NUTRITION & PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GUIDELINES
Belief Statement Westwood Elementary is committed to providing an environment that supports and promotes wellness through good nutrition and regular physical activity as an integral part of the school-learning environment. Through the support and promotion of good nutrition and physical activity, children learn and participate in healthy lifestyle practices. Schools play an important role in contributing to the basic health of children, and in doing so optimize student academic performance. Rational Statement The link between nutrition and learning is well documented. Healthy eating practices are essential for students to achieve their full academic potential, full physical and mental growth, and lifelong health and wellbeing. Healthy eating reduces the risk of childhood obesity and the prevention of chronic disease such as diabetes. Schools have the responsibility to help students acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to establish and maintain lifelong healthy practices. Schools also have a responsibility to help students establish and maintain lifelong practices of being physically active. Regular physical activity improves overall health. Active students learn better and have increased attention, which leads to academic success. Goals for Nutrition Education Students in grades kindergarten through grade 5 will receive nutrition education through the integration of school subjects including math, science, language arts, physical education, health and social studies. Eating habits are established at an early age, and to achieve positive changes in students eating behaviors, it is important to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to adopt healthy eating behaviors. Nutrition education shall be integrated into standard based lesson plans in these subject areas, which will reinforce knowledge and skills. Students shall receive consistent nutrition messages throughout classrooms, the cafeteria, homes, community and media. Goals for Physical Activity Education Students in grades kindergarten through grade 5 will participate in some form of physical activity each day. Physical activity may include stretching exercises, walking, running, balancing, jumping and dance movements. Physical activity will be a minimum of 50 minutes per week (10 minutes per day) in addition to recess and the students scheduled physical education class. The physical education curriculum is aligned with the Minnesota Standards with a special emphasis placed on promoting high levels of physical fitness and an active lifestyle. Students in kindergarten through 5 th will participate in 15 minutes of daily-supervised recess before lunch, weather permitting. The school will encourage families to actively engage in providing physical activities with their children beyond the school day. Activities may include use of the school playground, enrolling children on sports teams in the community, utilizing area parks and bike trails and walking or riding their bike to school. We also encourage families to participate in Family Fun Night events at the school. Goals for Other School Based Programs or Activities Parents/Guardians shall be provided information to help them incorporate healthy eating and physical activity in their children s lives. This information may be provided in the form of handouts, postings on the school website, information provided in school newsletters, presentations that focus on healthy lifestyles and any other appropriate means available for reaching parents. Organizations will be encouraged to raise funds through the sale of items other than food. Fundraisers involving the sale of foods not meeting nutritional standards may not be sold during the regular school day. Snacks served during the school day will make a positive contribution to children s diets and overall health with an emphasis on serving fruits and vegetables as the primary snacks and water as the primary beverage. Students are encouraged to bring individual water bottles for their personal use during the school day. The school believes in supporting a healthy school food environment and role modeling healthy behaviors and eating habits for children. Therefore, we ask that parents/guardians send healthy treats or bring a special book or game to school for birthday celebrations and special occasions. The following is a list of food and beverages that are consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans:
Healthy Snack List/Special Occasions (see below Tasty Snacks for Healthy Kids) Raw vegetable sticks or slices with low fat dressing of yogurt dip Fresh fruit wedges-watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple, oranges, etc. Dried fruits-raisins, cranberries, apples, apricots Single serving applesauce Trail mix Pretzels of reduced fat crackers Goldfish or Wheat Thins Granola bars, graham crackers, fig bars Fat free or low fat pudding cups Bottled water All of the items listed above are consistent with the intent of our school wellness guidelines to promote student wellness through good nutrition. To support these guidelines, we are asking families to provide healthy snacks, healthy lunch choices, and healthy treats for celebrations. Food Alternative Suggestions for parents/guardians: Send your child s favorite story book/music CD (all topics/lyrics must be appropriate) to school to share with classmates for the day Send a collage of baby pictures to share or Make a small poster with pictures of the family for child to share Donate seeds, posts and soil to plant a birthday flower or vegetable Thank you for supporting and promoting our school environment of wellness. Carolyn Hartwitsen, Principal Tasty Snacks for Healthy Kids Some Preparation Required: Veggies & Dip: baby carrots, cucumber slices, red pepper slices, chopped broccoli, cherry tomatoes, or celery sticks served with hummus, low fat salad dressing, or other low fat dip Vegetable Sticks with Spread: celery or carrot sticks with 2 tablespoons peanut butter or low fat cream cheese Snack Kabobs: veggie or fruit chunks skewered onto thin pretzel sticks Sweet Potato Fries: baked sweet potato wedges, tossed lightly w/olive oil and salt Low Fat Cottage Cheese or Yogurt with Fruit and/or Granola: try using fresh grapes, berries or canned peaches Apple Treats: sprinkle apple chunks with cinnamon and/or raisins or granola, then mix in 1 tablespoon peanut or almond butter Homemade Popsicles: made with 100% fruit juice or low fat yogurt Chips & Salsa: use whole grain baked pita chips or baked tortilla chips. Also try chips with low fat bean dip Taco Roll-up: small whole wheat tortilla rolled w/low fat cheese, beans & salsa Turkey Roll-up: lean turkey slice rolled up with low fat cheese Mini Pizzas: toast pita bread or half of a whole wheat English muffin w/tomato sauce, cheese and chopped vegetables Mini Bagel with Spread: try 1 tablespoon light cream cheese, peanut butter or hummus Mini Sandwiches: use 1 slice whole wheat bread, pita bread, or several whole grain crackers. Fill or top with: peanut butter & jelly, low fat cheese & cucumber slices, or tuna salad made with low fat mayonnaise No Prep Snacks: Whole Fruit: grapes, apples, bananas, etc. Fruit Salad: ½ cup store-bought, fresh fruit, unsweetened canned fruit or snack cup Frozen Fruit: ½ cup berries, etc. Dried Fruit: 1/3 cup Apple Sauce: 1 snack cup (unsweetened) Nuts: 1/3 cup of nuts such as almonds, peanuts, cashews or mixed nuts Cheese: low fat string cheese, or 2 slices low fat cheese (like Cabot Creamery) Yogurt: 1 squeezable low fat yogurt (like Stonyfield Farm) or 1 low fat yogurt container (6 oz.) Pudding: 1 nonfat or low fat snack cup Granola/Fruit bar: 1 low fat, whole grain bar
Cereal: 1 cup whole grain cereal (like Cheerios or Multigrain Chex) Trail Mix: 1/3 cup made with nuts, seeds, low fat granola and dried fruit Pretzels: about 20 tiny twists Popcorn: 2 cups light: microwave popcorn (without butter) Baked Chips: (like Frito-Lay potato chips or Doritos) Cookies: Frookie Animal Frackers (10-15 cookies) or 3 Fig Newtons, Teddy Grahams (1 snack pack or 24 grahams) Fruit Smoothies: store-bought (like Silk or Stonyfield brand) or homemade with fresh or frozen fruit and low fat milk or yogurt Beverages: Water Milk (1cup low fat milk or soy milk) 100% Fruit Juice (no more than 6 oz. a day) 100% Fruit Juice with Club Soda/Seltzer Kids are active and growing and may need a snack between meals (about every 3-4 hours), if they get hungry. Discourage kids from eating snacks before meals and eating when they are not hungry. Help kids develop good habits by modeling healthful eating behaviors, and providing opportunities for physical activity (at least 1 hour every day). Guidelines: Keep beverage choices healthful. Choose low fat milk (1 cup serving) water, and moderate amounts of 100% fruit juice (the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than a 4-6 oz. serving of 100% fruit juice a day for ages 1-6 and no more than 8-12 oz. serving for ages 7-18). Flavored low fat milk or soymilk is also a great alternative. Avoid soda, sweetened juice drinks, and sports drinks! Look for snacks that have at least 2 grams of fiber per serving listing on the nutrition label. Choose whole grain snacks as much as possible. Look for the word whole as one of the first ingredients on the produced label. Keep fresh fruits and veggies readily available. Wash and prepare snacks such as carrot and celery sticks ahead of time, then keep in the refrigerator for easy snacking later. Choose low fat dairy products (for children over age 2), like low fat cheese, cottage cheese, sour cream, yogurt and milk. Aim for snacks low in fat, sugar and sodium. The Mayo Clinic recommends choosing snacks that have close to 5% of the daily value for fat, sugar and sodium, and not more than 20% (this is listed on the nutrition facts label) except nuts and nut butters, as they contain a healthy type of fat. Snacks that include at least two of the major food groups are best (grains, meats & beans, milk, fruits and vegetables). For example, an apple with peanut butter, cottage cheese with peaches or carrot sticks with hummus. Make it a good habit for kids to brush their teeth or at least rinse their mouths with water after they finish eating snacks. Sugary snack foods that stick in the teeth pose the greatest risk for tooth decay. Food Allergies: Some people have food allergies or intolerances. Food allergies or intolerances an cause reactions such as sneezing, coughing, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hives, rapid heart rate, shortness of breath and rashes. People who have severe food allergies may not be able to touch or be in the same room with the food allergen. People with mild food allergies usually only need to refrain from eating the food, but can be near it. Food allergies are most often caused by proteins in milk, eggs, corn, nuts (especially peanuts), seafood, soy products, and wheat. Other foods frequently identified with bad reactions include meat and meat products, fruits and cheese. Food intolerances are caused by an individual s inability to digest certain foods. Intolerances have adverse reactions to food that do not involve an allergic response. Generally, larger amounts of a food are required to produce the symptoms of intolerance than to trigger allergic symptoms. DISCIPLINE All students are entitled to learn and develop in a proper setting which promotes respect of self, others and property. Proper positive discipline can result only from an environment that provides options and stresses students self-direction, decision-making and responsibility. Although this policy emphasizes the development of self-discipline, it is recognized that there are instances when it will be necessary to administer disciplinary measures. It is the position of the Bloomington Schools that a fair and equitable district-
wide student discipline policy will contribute to the quality of the student s educational experience. Harassment and Violence: The Bloomington Public School believes that all students have a right to be in a school that is free of any form of emotional or physical abuse, violence and/or harassment. Examples of violence could be racial, sexual or religious. Types of harassment are racial, sexual, religious, gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental disabilities and national origin. The District and Westwood will investigate all complaints or allegations within the school environment. Also, the school district will discipline any student who retaliates against persons who report alleged harassment, abuse, or violence. The right to confidentiality will be respected to the extent allowable by school district policies and law. Westwood sets clear expectations for our students. Students who do not follow school rules or fail to demonstrate respect will receive appropriate consequences. Parents will be notified of incidences their child has been involved in. Weapons Possession Policy: A student in possession of a gun, a replica of a gun or dangerous weapon, whether on their person, in their locker, in their desk, on school grounds, at school functions, or in the proximity, will serve a mandatory suspension from school on the principal s authority. Expulsion will be considered. The student may also be referred to the police for legal disposition, and/or referred to an appropriate evaluation team for educational disposition. Dress Code: Students are expected to dress in an appropriate manner that is not disruptive to the educational process. Student dress that is not acceptable includes: Bare midriff tops, pants that sit more than one inch below the waist line, shoes with rollers in the soles, chains, du-rags and bandanas hanging from belts, and clothing that expresses obscene language or symbols of sex, drugs, gangs, alcohol or tobacco. Hats are not to be worn in classrooms. Spiked or studded bands of any kind are not permitted. Reminder: Our children are outside before school and during lunch on days weather permits. For their safety and comfort, please make sure they are dressed appropriately. Trading Cards, Gameboys, Cell Phones, IPods, Cameras, Electronic Devices: Students are NOT permitted to have any sort of trading cards, Gameboys, cell phones, IPods, cameras or any other electronic devices at school. Students may not use cell phones or others electronic devices to take photos, videos, or other recordings at any time at school without a teacher s or administrator s approval. Violation of this policy may result in other disciplinary action. Teachers will remind students of this new rule at the beginning of the school year. Quiet Room: Our Quiet Room provides a quiet setting for students who require time to complete class work, make up tests or to finish homework. Monitors behavior and supervises children who need a break from the regular classroom to get their behavior under control. Serves as Westwood s In-School Suspension. HELPFUL INFORMATION Security and Visitors: It is essential that Westwood be as safe and secure an environment as possible. To that end, all doors are secured during the day except the main door (on 108 th ). All visitors to the building should use this entrance and go directly to the office to sign in and obtain a nametag. Please wear either a Westwood nametag or volunteer badge at all times during the school day so that all staff and students can recognize you. School Visits: Volunteering is a major reason Westwood students are successful. If you would like to visit your child s classroom please communicate your request to the teacher 24 hours in advance. Animal Policy: Animals can be used as excellent teaching tools with some advance planning. To ensure the health and safety of all Westwood students and staff, please review the following:
Please contact your child s classroom teacher a week before you wish to bring your pet to school. Visits to classrooms are at the discretion of the teacher. Animals will not be allowed in the classroom if a student or staff member has a known allergy. All animals brought to school must be healthy and up to date with animal s vaccinations. The day of the visit please bring pet health immunization records and show them to the office secretary before visiting the classroom. Pets must be on a leash or in a cage, and the animal s owner will supervise all interactions between the animal and our students. Treats at School : Westwood believes in supporting a healthy school food environment and role modeling healthy behaviors and eating habits for children. Therefore, we ask that parents/guardians send healthy treats to school for birthday celebrations and special occasions. Please see the attached list of suggested Tasty Snacks for Healthy Kids. Fire, Tornado and other Emergency Drills: All staff members and students are instructed in the proper procedures to use in the event of emergencies. Unannounced periodic drills take place throughout the school year in order to reinforce previous safety precautions taught and to reduce any anxiety that a child may have regarding these situations. Bicycles The recommended age for riding to school is grade 3. Bicycles may be ridden to school with permission from parents. Please send a note to the school office stating your child has permission to ride their bike to and from school. Bicycles parked at school are expected to have a license and be locked in a bicycle rack. We encourage all riders to wear a helmet for safety. The Bloomington Public Schools and Westwood Elementary are not responsible for stolen or damaged bicycles. Skateboards Skateboards may be ridden to school with permission in grades 3, 4 and 5. They must be carried on school property and stored in a locker during the school day. All Westwood Students will earn incentives for positive behavior. School Testing The Bloomington Public Schools administer two sets of tests during the school year. The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) is given to all third, fourth, and fifth graders in Minnesota. The test will be administered in April/May. The second test is the District MAP test NWEA, which may be given during September or early October and again in May for students in grade two through grade five. Homework Homework is a part of school. The purpose of homework is to provide: Parental Involvement: To directly involve parents in their child s learning. Communication: To inform parents of the type and level of work their child is doing. Remediation: To work on material currently being taught. Enrichment: To expand on material currently being taught and to pursue independent projects. Makeup: To finish assigned work not completed. Responsibility: To teach and establish personal accountability for lifelong success in school. Study Development: To develop good study habits, responsibility and time management. Every student is responsible for his/her homework. Parents and teachers establish expectation, assist and encourage. There is a strong correlation between a student s success at school and the involvement of parents in the learning process. Classroom Supplies Lists are distributed to families each year with report cards in June and it also can be found on our website. Extra copies are available in our school office. Additionally, students in grades 1-5 will purchase Science notebooks for $1.00 each, and grades 3, 4 and 5 will need to purchase a Student Planner for $5.00. Science notebooks will be purchased from the teachers, and the Student Planners will be on sale in the office before the beginning of the school year and in our School Store after the start of the school year. School Store Paw Pride Awards