Paul Cuffe Math Science & Technology Academy 8324 S. Racine Avenue Chicago, IL 60620 T: 773.535.8250 F: 773.535.3497 Principal: Ms. Lakita Reed Assistant Principal: Mr. Marcus Ware Chicago Public Schools School Year 2014 2015 Network 11
VISION We envision Cuffe School as a diverse student- centered learning environment where all students reach their full potential, become active members of the community, and become College and Career Ready. MISSION Students, Parents, Staff and all other stakeholders will collaborate as a professional learning community to implement research- based practices for teaching and learning.
Welcome Welcome back to the 2014 2015 school year! This school year promises to be better than ever. We have the opportunity to serve our students and the community. We want everyone to adopt the belief at Cuffe that ALL students can learn and become life- long learners. We know that without dedicated teachers at Cuffe, our mission would never be accomplished. We invite and encourage you to continue to educate the finest students in the city and in the Englewood Gresham Network. Should you have any questions, by all means, ask!!! We are looking forward to an exciting School Year! Let us know when we can assist you, as we want to be successful and for our students to excel.
Focus Our focus continues to be on moving students from below to meets and from meets to exceed in Reading, Math and Science. We will continue to provide our students with rigorous instruction and lessons that will prepare them to be college and career ready individuals. In addition, this year we plan to improve student attendance. We know that when students are absent, they are missing the needed skills and strategies that will help them to receive a quality education to become life- long learners. Classroom Environment Bulletin boards are to be changed regularly. Attractive classroom bulletin boards are to be maintained with current skills and themes of student work. Anyone entering your room should know what is being taught without asking based on the content posted of the students work and activities. A schedule for hall bulletin boards will be distributed to staff. Faculty and staff, please remember to place your name and room number in the bottom corner of the board. All pertinent information regarding classroom procedures and school wide procedures should be displayed such as: Time Distribution Sheet Fire Drill Procedures Disaster Drill Procedures Master Schedule Classroom and Lunchroom Procedures Entrance and Exit Procedures Washroom Schedule
Discipline & Classroom Management Good classroom management is the key to the reduction of inappropriate behavior. Chicago Public School Board Policy confirms that student discipline is the teacher s responsibility. A teacher that is prepared and provides interesting lessons and activities can manage a classroom with fewer discipline problems. The administration is available to assist you in emergencies, or in cases of chronic misbehavior. The first week of school will set the tone for the entire school year. Notify parents immediately if students are having serious problems adjusting. Keep accurate documentation of students misbehavior and of your contact with parents. Establish classroom rules that are in accordance with Uniform Discipline Code. Be consistent, positive and fair! Students are not to be placed in the hallway or outside the classroom. If administration is required, notify the office for security to come and escort the student from the classroom. A misconduct referral must accompany the student indicating the severity of the offenses and the remedial action(s) that has been taken in the classroom. Discipline must be meaningful. Writing lines or similar tasks should be avoided. A student cannot be told to stay at home in connection with the discipline procedure; e.g. Stay at home until your mother comes up! Review the Uniform Discipline Code and also review it with the students. Keeping a student after school without parental and administrative approval is not permitted.
No Hall Passes Students are not to be in the corridors unescorted by an adult. Therefore, students are not to be seen walking in the hallways without adult supervision. We do not issue passes for student use. If students are found in the hallways or elsewhere unescorted by an adult this will automatically be considered insubordination. We would like everyone to work to achieve fewer chances for incidences caused by lack of teacher supervision. Bathroom Schedule Each classroom should have scheduled bathroom breaks. Schedules should be created jointly by grade level teachers. Students with special bathroom problems are required to bring a Doctor s statement, stating the medical issue. There should only be one classroom at a time scheduled for a bathroom break on both ends of the hallway. Custodial Services You can obtain a request for custodial services form from the office for all custodial services/needs. There is a notebook on the counter in the main office that contains these forms. A copy is also available in the office forms section of this handbook. After completing the form, put it in the engineers mailbox for approval.
Homework Kindergarten 30 minutes per day Grades 1 st 2 nd & 3 rd Grades 4 th & 5 th 45 minutes per day 60 minutes per day Grades 6 th 7 th & 8 th 90 minutes per day Teachers are responsible for planning and implementing the homework policy in their classroom. Homework assignments should be reinforcement, practice, application, enrichment, and creative. Teachers are to share their homework plan with students and parents, as well as provide instructions for appropriate study habits and strategies. Gradebook All teachers must input two (2) grades per week, per subject into Gradebook. All grades are due every Friday by 5:00 p.m. Supplies Supplies will be distributed once a month. This task will be completed in the first two days of each month by Mr. Woodhouse.
Lesson Plans Your lesson plans must be kept current on a weekly basis. Copies of your lesson must be turned in every Friday by 5:00 p.m. Plans will be evaluated based on the following minimum criteria: Up to date Standards must be identified Aligned to Common Core Standards Daly activities varied, interesting, motivational and rigorous Homework indicated Use of technology indicated Differentiated activities and enrichment activities included Evidence of differentiated small group instruction Assessments Emergency Plans Emergency plans are to be on file in the office by August 28, 2014. Plans should include the following: Updated class list Seating chart Lunch schedule Students leaving the class for other service Bus students Any other pertinent information that will be helpful to the substitute should also be included. You must update these after each use. Emergency Forms Each teacher should have an updated emergency form for each student on file in the office and in the classroom. Teachers are to pass out emergency forms to each student in their classroom on the first day of school and require the student to return the emergency form Thursday, September 4 th. Teachers should follow- up daily until every student has returned a completed form. These are expected to be updated periodically.
Morning Opening Exercise The Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem are required by state law and are mandated by the Chicago Board of Education. (Children have rights not to participate due to religious beliefs). 2 nd 8 th grade classrooms will be assigned a week to lead the morning exercises. Students are expects to report to the main office by 7:55. Morning Entrance Classroom teachers are expected to be standing at the classroom door at 7:45 a.m. upon the entrance of the students, supervising their entrance into the classroom and at the lockers. Non- classroom teachers will be assigned duties in the halls to supervise the entrance of students. An orderly entrance sets the tone for the rest of the day. It takes everyone doing his/her part to make this happen on a daily basis. Everyone is expected to be punctual in arrival for duty and supervision. Dismissal Walk your students all the way outside and see that they leave the building via the assigned exit. Do not dismiss your students from the classroom door or from the top of the stairs. (Preschoolers should be the only students picked up from the classroom at dismissal time by their parents.) All students should be dismissed at the same time, except bus students (2:35). Do not leave students in your classroom ding chores while you are dismissing others. No students are to be dismissed before 2:45 p.m. Students going to the gymnasium must exit the building and enter at the back/gymnasium door entrance only.
Signing In & Out Teachers are required to personally swipe in immediately upon entering the building. ALL teachers start at 7:45 p.m. If tardiness is unavoidable, please call the school to inform us of your expected tardiness. After three consecutive tardies, a written explanation must be provided and given to the Principal for discussion. If the school has not been notified, it will be assumed that you will be absent and a substitute teacher will be requested for you to assume your duties for the day. It is the teacher s responsibility to request a cause of absence report. If you leave the building for any reason other than the regularly scheduled time, you must request permission from the Principal. You are responsible for swiping personally each time you enter the building. Swiping out prior to dismissal (2:45) requires the Principal s permission to be excused from duties. Early Dismissal & Half Day Absences Staff members are discouraged from requesting ½ day absences and early dismissals. If you must make an appointment, please schedule it after your work hours or take the entire day off. It disrupts personnel schedules when staff members request early dismissals. The early dismissal frequently requires cancellation of staff preparation periods, or disruption of other programs to cover the class/program of a staff member who wishes to leave early. Obtaining a substitute for a half- day is impossible. Request for early dismissals should be made FOR SERIOUS EMERGENCIES ONLY.
Office Decorum The office should always maintain a professional image. Please do not go behind the counter unless requested. Due to there being personal and private documents in the back workroom, absolutely no one except office staff is allowed. Remember to be courteous toward the office staff. When there is a need to consult with administration, you must make the request with the office staff, sign- in and the staff member will call the person for you. Every staff member s important and as is your issues, however, we might be in the midst of something else, equally as important. So remember patience, respect and courtesy! Telephone Calls Incoming telephone calls, with the exception of emergency situations, will be placed with a note in your mailbox. The office will only call you to the telephone in an emergency. Please advise friends and family to only call for emergency situations. All school related telephone calls should be made on the telephone in Room 209, third floor office room or in PAC office located on the first floor. If you do not reach the person of contact, please leave a message stating a specific time you can be reached. This in turn will STOP returned calls that come to the office.
Money Collected All money collected from students must be receipted and should be turned in to Ms. Blackshire by 1:00 p.m. daily. Do not leave money or valuables in your room unsecured. Avoid incidents of theft by not providing an opportunity for theft to take place. Once you accept money from the students, it is your responsibility to turn it in and to obtain a receipt. DVD s, Films and Video Policy Educational films, DVD s and videos have a valid place in the curriculum. They should not be used for entertainment purposes or as a baby- sitter. All audio visuals should be planned in advance, related to what you are teaching, and included in your lesson plan. T.E.A.M. Together Everyone Achieves More We are all team members!!