2016-2017 Parent Handbook 1
Newman School Daily Schedule 2016-2017 7:30-7:50 am..................................breakfast 8:00 am...................................... School Begins 10:45 11:20.................................. Kindergarten Lunch 11:00 11:35..................................1 st Grade Lunch 11:25 12:00...................................2 nd Grade Lunch 11:10 11:45.................................. 3 rd Grade Lunch 11:50 12:25.................................. 4 th Grade Lunch 11:35-12:10................................... 5 th Grade Lunch 12:00 12:35................................... 6 th Grade Lunch 2:00 pm....................................... K-3 rd Dismissal 3:45 pm....................................... 4-6 th Dismissal 20 Minute Lunch, 15 Minute Recess FOUNDATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS A Community United in Learning, Living, and Loving Houses: Forte, Valor, Innovation, Tenacity, Amity At Newman School, everyone is expected to be: Respectful We will be polite and kind in our time together. We will honor others differences and value one s self, others and our school Responsible We will be prepared for each day with our supplies, attitude, and mind, giving our best effort every day. We will own our own actions and always keep learning and caring the most important thing. Trustworthy - We will be sincere in our interactions and follow through with what we say. We will take care of the feelings amd property of others. Safe We will follow the rules and procedures so others are not hurt physically and/or emotionally. We will report when we see others being treated in a way that is not respectful, responsible, or trustworthy so we can all enjoy our time together. 2
BUILDING SCHEDULE Office hours are 7:30 AM-4:00 PM. Teachers arrive at school at 7:30 AM and leave school at 3:30 PM. The best time to contact teachers is from 7:30-8 AM and 3-3:30 PM. Messages will be taken during the school day so learning is not interrupted. We ask students to arrive no earlier than 7:30 for breakfast. ATTENDANCE Time missed is learning lost Students who are absent or tardy miss valuable learning time academically. They are expected to attend school regularly and be punctual for classes. Parents are asked to call the school office (281-6215) to report absences or tardies by 9:00 a.m. If we do not receive a call by 9:00 a.m., the automated system will attempt to contact the parent at home or work to let them know of the student s absence. If we cannot reach someone, we must contact the truancy office to have someone check the safety of the student. Students who are tardy must check in with the office to receive an admittance slip before going to class. Because learning is so important, students who are absent or tardy may get behind and find it difficult to keep up their work. This may require additional instruction to learn what has been missed. Therefore, those students may need to spend their lunch recess inside or stay after school to make up the missed instructional time. If a student misses school, the office may ask for a doctor s excuse, and if a student is absent for more than ten days without an excuse from a doctor, the student will be turned over to the Truancy Center. The staff at Newman School works very hard to bring the best possible education to your child. In order for your child to do well in school, he/she needs to be here every day AND be on time. You can help your child be here every day by scheduling appointments and vacations for non-school days or after school. It is state law that students must be in school, on time. Excessive absences or tardies will be referred to the Truancy Center (ten absences are considered excessive). 3
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL Students may arrive at 7:30 AM if they are eating breakfast. Breakfast is free for all Newman students. Teacher supervision on the morning tracks begins at 7:45. Please drop off/pick up students on Newman Lane. The parking lot is reserved for staff and the bus lane in front of the building is reserved for busses during arrival and dismissal times. There have been several incidents of students running between cars. They could be seriously injured. Buses cannot get in to drop off or pick up students if you park out front. Please drop them off and continue through the front loop or use Newman Lane. Always use Newman Lane during dismissal times. After school plans for students must be made in advance of the school day. Please let your student know where they need to go after school in the morning before coming to school. The office gets a tremendous amount of phone calls right before dismissal time and we do not always have time to deliver them before the students leave for the day. Students in grades kindergarten through third grade who attend the Boys and Girls Club will ride the bus to the club. On early out days, Newman staff will walk the primary students to the Boys and Girls Club. No one under the fourth grade will be allowed to walk there without adult supervision. Students are not allowed to ride the bus home after school with friends. If students are walking home, they must use the crosswalks where the crosswalk guards are stationed. This is necessary for the safety of our children. STUDENT CHECK OUT All students who need to leave during the school day must have a parent or authorized person check them out at the office before they are released. Students will only be released to parents and those listed on the contact list. Parents must notify the school for others to check out the student. All students will remain in class until they are checked out. 4
VISITORS For the protection of students all doors at Newman are locked once the school day begins. Parents, visitors, and guests must enter Newman at our main entrance along South Billings Blvd. The main entrance will have an access control measure. Please sign in at the office, and wear a visitor s badge. We encourage you to visit Newman on a regular basis. Items such as: lunches, money, instruments, books, assignments, etc., will be delivered to students by office staff to minimize disruptions to the classroom. IMMUNIZATIONS State law requires the following immunizations to be completed prior to school enrollment with documentation provided to the school: DPT 4 doses, one after 4 th birthday, 1 dose 7 th -12 th grade Polio 3 doses, one after 4 th birthday, MMR 2 dose, after first birthday, and 1 dose before entering kindergarten, and Tdap/Td Booster 1 dose, prior to entering 7 th grade. Varicella 2 doses or Medical documentation of having Chicken Pox These can be acquired at Riverstone Health Clinic, through your local physician, or www.immunization.mt.gov. **It is very important that school records include current home and work phone numbers. And, be sure to advise us of all allergies, chronic illnesses, and serious physical or emotional problems your child may have. MEDICATIONS AT SCHOOL All medicine (including Tylenol, Advil, etc.) must come to the school office in the original medicine container and be accompanied by a release form signed by the parent and/or physician. All medicines are locked in the office and students must report to the office to take their medicine under proper supervision. 5
CUSTODY ISSUES A dispute between divorced or separated parents often leads to a request for the school to monitor the child to prevent a parent from seeing the student. Non-custodial parents are entitled to school visits, conversations with teachers, copies of report cards, and other reasonable involvement at school. Our ability to intervene in these situations is very limited unless there is a legal document. The school must have a copy of the custodial portion of a divorce decree and/or a copy of any restraining orders before we can become involved. That information will be shared with the people the student is involved with at school. DISCIPLINE Discipline is an integral part of the learning process. A safe, orderly school in which every child can learn is vital for the students and staff. The following rules are based on the need for every student to respect other students, adults and themselves. In the event a child is unwilling or unable to follow the accepted standard of behavior, appropriate discipline measures will be taken. GENERAL SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS Students will maintain safe play and work practices. Students will maintain appropriate behavior to and from school. Children eating breakfast at school should not arrive before 7:30. If they are not eating breakfast, they should not arrive before 7:45. Keep hands, feet, and objects to self. Abusive, obscene, derogatory or profane language will not be tolerated at school. Students may not bring or use tobacco, alcohol, or drugs on the school grounds. Students who must take medication during school time will need to have a medication form on file in the office. If the medication is a prescription, the school must have a form signed by the doctor and medicine must be in the original container. Students may not leave the school or playground during the school day without specific permission from the office. No toys or personal items are to be brought to school. Students should go home directly after school. Gum, candy, and/or pop should not be brought to school without the permission of the classroom teacher. Weapons of any kind are not permitted on school grounds. Students, who bring any type of implement that could be used as a weapon, will be suspended. Students need to follow directions the first time they are given. Everyone at Newman is treated with respect. Name calling or teasing are not permitted. No fighting. Use equipment properly. 6
BREAKFAST/HOT LUNCH A school breakfast/lunch program is provided by the district and any student may purchase a lunch if they desire. Breakfast is FREE to all Newman students and begins every morning beginning at 7:30 AM in the gym. Free or reduced prices are available for those who qualify. Application forms are sent home at the beginning of each year. We believe that our children have the right to socialize and eat in peace so exemplary behavior is expected at all times. We love to see parents have lunch with their children. Please feel free to come. We only ask that you notify Mrs. Depriest, lunch clerk, at 281-6553 by 9:00am. Reminder: It is the policy of the food service provider to refuse lunch charges. In the event your child forgets lunch money, a peanut butter sandwich and milk will be provided. Regular Breakfast Prices: (Free breakfast for All Newman Students) Daily Free Weekly Free 20-Day Free Adults $1.25 Regular Lunch Prices: Daily $2.70 Weekly $13.50 20-Day $54.00 Milk $0.60 Adults $3.50 Reduced Lunch Prices: Daily $0.40 Weekly $2.00 20-Day $8.00 LUNCH SUPERVISION All students have a 35 minute lunch break. General Duty Assistants (GDA) are there to supervise children and promote positive play. We rely heavily on parents promoting good sportsmanship and positive peer interactions. All GDA s are aware of school policies and playground safety. Our lunchroom GDA s are members of our Newman staff and deserve the same respect as any faculty member. 7
SAFETY Crosswalk Guards: Guards are on duty before and after school. Students are expected to utilize the crosswalk at all times. Crosswalk Guards are positioned at the following locations from 7:30am - 8:30am and 2:20pm 3:20pm: South Billings Blvd. @ Calhoun and Phillip @ Phillip & Newman Lane Fire/Crisis Drills: Emergency evacuation drills will be held regularly throughout the school year. When the alarm sounds or signal is given, students will leave the room in an orderly fashion. These drills are practiced to save lives in case of a real emergency. They have a serious purpose and no horseplay will be tolerated. Crisis Response/Preparation: You can help us by: Always filling out the Student Information Forms that are sent home from school with your child. The information on these forms will be used in emergencies. (Please note that only those people listed on the forms will be allowed to pick up your child at a Parent/Student Reunification.) Always informing your child's school of any phone number changes, as the numbers on the forms will be the numbers called in an emergency. If you do not fill in a phone number, communication between you and the school may be delayed. It is especially helpful to identify which two phone numbers you want called first, as these numbers will be used by our district's computerized telephone system. Always notifying the school of any pertinent health information about your child. This information will be helpful if your child is in need of emergency medical attention. Refraining to going directly to your child's school during an emergency, until you are notified that it is safe to do so. Although this is a parent's first instinct, several extra panicking people will disrupt the response procedure that the staff and students have been trained to follow, possibly creating additional safety hazards for everyone involved. Refraining from taking your child from a line that is walking to another location. This action will disrupt the procedure and interfere 8
with student accountability at the relocation site. Instead, follow the instructions you receive on where to meet your child. Arriving at a Parent/Student Reunification station, with a picture ID ready to show. Although many school staff will recognize you, there may be volunteers who are helping with this process. Please share this information with any person you've listed as having permission to pick up your child. Bicycles: 1. Wear a helmet, it s the law 2. No passengers 3. Walk when crossing intersections 4. Lock bicycles to the bike racks 5. Walk bicycles when on school grounds and adjacent sidewalks 6. Parents will be contacted if students cannot ride responsibly. Scooters/Roller Blades/Skateboards: Newman School does not support nor discourage the notion of using these devices as means of transportation. This is a parental decision. All scooters, skateboards, and roller blades are stored at the office during the school day. PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES Parent/Teacher conferencing has a direct, positive impact on student achievement. Parent/Teacher conferences will be held for all students on November 2 nd and 3 rd. It is very important to attend your scheduled conference and we look forward to 100% participation for our Newman families. Please call and make an appointment with the teacher for all other conferences. REPORT CARDS / MID-TERMS / GRADING Report Cards: Report cards will be sent home at the end of every quarter with the following exceptions: Kindergarten and 1 st grade do not have report cards until the second quarter. Mid-Term dates (4 th -6 th Only): 1 st Quarter - September 30 th, 2016 2 nd Quarter - December 2 nd, 2016 3 rd Quarter - February 17 th, 2017 4 th Quarter - April 28 th, 2017 9
Quarter end dates: Report Cards dates: 1 st Quarter October 28 th, 2016 November 1 st, 2016 2 nd Quarter - January 13 th, 2017 January 20 th, 2017 3 rd Quarter March 24 th, 2017 March, 31 st, 2017 4 th Quarter June 2 nd, 2017 June 2 nd, 2017 K-3 rd Grade Scale 3 = Meets/Exceeds grade level expectations 2= Needs additional practice and support 1 = Falls below grade level expectations G = Above Average S = Average N = Needs Improvement I = Improving 4 th -6 th Newman Grade Scale: 98-100 = A+ 80-82 = B- 63-67 = D 93-97 = A 78-79 = C+ 60-62 = D- 90-92 = A- 73-77 = C 0-59 = F 88-89 = B+ 70-72 = C- 83-87 = B 68-69 = D+ Grades for 4 th -5 th grade students can be reviewed regularly on PowerSchool for parents and students. Passwords and set up instructions will go home with the first Mid Term on September 25, 2015. ASSEMBLIES / FIELD TRIPS At all times, student behaviors should be refined and courteous. An indication of the cultural level of our school is the conduct of our student body at an assembly or field trip. Each student is personally responsible for the impression made by the school as a whole. Unacceptable conduct may lead to exclusion from these events. LOST AND FOUND Make sure that all articles brought to school are labeled appropriately with your child s name. Unclaimed items are boxed and given to local charities. 10
CELL PHONES Students are allowed to bring cell phones to school as long as they remain off and are stored in the students backpack. Cell phone usage by students at any time during the school day or on school grounds is truly unnecessary. However, student cell phone usage on school grounds is governed by our District Acceptable Use Policy. Cell phones that disrupt learning will be confiscated for the remainder of the school day. Parents may be notified and required to pick the phone up. Newman School is not responsible for the theft of any cell phone or any incurred charges. HOMEWORK POLICY Educational research states that student achievement rises significantly when teachers regularly assign homework and students conscientiously complete it. Homework is an important part of student learning, and may be assigned regularly by your child s teacher. Homework may consist of reading at home, the review, reinforcement or practice of skills your child can complete independently, and the completion of school assignments. Time guidelines for homework are approximately ten minutes per grade level: K-1-10 minutes 2 nd 20 minutes 3 rd 30 minutes 4 th 40 minutes 5 th 50 minutes If students are exceeding the time guidelines regularly, please contact your child s teacher immediately. Homework tips for parents: Be a stage manager: Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit place to do homework. Make sure the needed materials (paper, pencils, dictionary, etc.) are available. Be a motivator: Homework provides a great opportunity for you to tell your child how important school is. Be positive about homework. The attitude you express about homework will be the attitude your child acquires. Be a role model: When your child does homework, don t sit and watch TV. If your child is reading, you read too. If your child is doing math, balance your checkbook. Help your child see that the skills he or she is practicing are related to things you do as an adult. Be a monitor: Watch your child for signs of failure and frustration. If your child asks for help, provide guidance, not answers. If frustration 11
sets in, suggest a short break. If frustration continues, contact your child s teacher. Be a mentor: When the teacher asks you to play a role in homework, do it. If homework is meant to be done alone, stay away. Homework is a great way for kids to develop independent life-long learning skills. Parental over-involvement can have negative effects on student learning. (*Taken from The Battle Over Homework by Harris Cooper) DRESS CODE POLICY We expect our students to be dressed appropriately at all times. If a student comes to school wearing something that is inappropriate or disrupts student learning, we will visit with the student and explain to them the inappropriateness of their dress. However, there may be incidences where students will require a change of clothing before returning to class. The following is a list of clothing that shouldn t be worn to school: any shirt that exposes the midriff, any tank top or spaghetti strap shirt worn without an appropriate undershirt, any clothing glamorizing or advertising alcohol, tobacco, drug use or gang affiliation, any shorts with an inseam less than two inches or any that expose the undergarments, any footwear inappropriate for class (No sandals or flip flops in PE), any offensive clothing or footwear, or any clothing or footwear that detracts from the educational experience. BPS ELEMENTARY COUNSELING SERVICES Elementary School counseling services are an integral part of the total school program and compliment learning in the classroom. Services are child-centered, proactive, and developmental. Counselors promote positive intellectual, behavioral, and emotional growth. These uniquely qualified professionals work directly with students in individual and group counseling sessions. Classroom guidance lessons are presented in grades K-6. Counselors also consult and collaborate with parents, teachers, and other professionals in the community. School counseling services are intended to enhance the potential of all elementary students. Our School Counselor is Jeff Hanser, 281-6551. 12
VOLUNTEERS At Newman, we want to develop a strong adult volunteer program. Volunteers work in the classrooms, library, office, and sometimes on the playground. If you would like to become involved in this exciting and rewarding experience, please call Jan at 281-6215. All school volunteers must sign a consent for a name based or fingerprint background check. Forms are available at the office or from your child s teacher. PARENT INVOLVEMENT We believe that the parents role in their children s education is to support the child and cooperate with the school. Parents and teachers should maintain an open line of communication and parents should lend support to policies they consider sound, question those that they do not understand or with which they disagree, and work actively and cooperatively for improvement of the school. To provide parents an opportunity to participate in the formal education of their children, you may expect Newman staff to: 1. Encourage parents to visit the school frequently and acquaint themselves with staff and programs. 2. Provide an open house in September for parents to meet their child s teacher. 3. Provide written information on the classroom management plan. 4. Schedule parent-teacher conferences in the fall and in the spring. 5. Encourage participation in the P.T.A. (Parent/Teacher Association), which welcomes all school parents as members. TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS All Newman Teachers meet the Highly Qualified Teacher Standards set forth in the Elementary and Secondary School Act. 13
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School Board policy dictates that all BPS students must be informed of certain policies annually. In the past, a District-wide Handbook of those policies has been printed one for each student and distributed at the beginning of the year. Since the cost of this process is quite costly and since this handbook is now available on the District web site along with ALL District policies and procedures, we are not printing a hard copy this year. However, there are copies available for parents at the school office if you wish to pick one up. To access the District web site go to www.billingsschools.org Once you reach the home page, click on District Policies. You will then be able to access a specific policy and/or procedure. For your convenience, listed below are the required policies/procedures that are included in the District-wide Handbook: Policy 3120 Attendance Policy Procedure 3120-P1 Attendance-Compulsory Attendance Procedure 3120-P2 Attendance-Attendance Rules Policy 3200 Student Rights and Responsibilities Procedure 3200-P1 Students Rights and Responsibilities-Due Process Rights and Responsibilities Procedure 3200 Student Rights and Responsibilities-Freedom of Expression Procedure 3200-P3 Student Rights and Responsibilities-Student Publications Policy 3205 District-Provided Access to Electronic Information, Services, and Networks Procedure 3205-P1 Student: Appropriate Use Procedure Form 3210-F1 Equal Educational Opportunity Procedure 3224-P1 Student Dress Policy 3225 Sexual Harassment/Intimidation of Students Policy 3231 Searches and Seizures Procedure 3231-P1 Searches and Seizures-Searches of Students and Their Property Policy 3225 Video Surveillance Procedure 3235-P1 Video Surveillance-Buses and Schools Policy 3250 Student Discipline Procedure 3250-P1 Student Discipline-Hazing Procedure 3250-P2 Student Discipline-Student Responsibilities Procedure 3250-P5 Student Discipline-Gun Free Schools Procedure 3240-P6 Student Discipline-Detention Procedure 3340-P1 Chemical Use and Student Activities 15
Procedure 3340-P1 Chemical Use Procedure: Questions and Answers Policy 3416 Administering Medicines to Students Procedure 3416-P1 Administering Medicines to Students-Procedures for Self-Administration and Administration of Medications Policy 3431 Emergency Treatment Policy 3600 Records Form 3600-F1 FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) Annual Notification (Attached-Appendix C) Procedure 3600-P1 Student Records-Maintenance of School Student Records Procedure 3600-P3 Student Records-Withholding Records for Unmet Financial Obligations Policy 2050 Entrance, Placement, and Transfer 16