Poland Union Elementary School Student Handbook 30 Riverside Drive Poland, Ohio 44514 Phone: 330-757-7014 Fax: 330-757-3630
Welcome to Poland Union Elementary School This handbook has been prepared as a guide for you to use during your child s years at our school. It can answer many questions that you may have. When it does not, please do not hesitate to call us. Directory of the Poland Schools Poland Board of Education Phone: 757 7000 Superintendent: David Janofa Secretary: Barb Cooper Poland Union Elementary School Phone: 757 7014 Principal: Michael Masucci Secretary: Nancy Morrow Grades: K 2 Dobbins Elementary School Phone: 757 7011 Principal: Michael Daley Secretary: Michele Ciccone Grades: 3 4 McKinley Elementary School Phone: 757 7015 Principal: Edward Kempers Secretary: Terri Favarula Grades: 5 and 6 Poland Middle School Phone: 757 7003 Principal: Mark Covell
Secretary: Jan Decker Grades: 7 and 8 Poland Seminary High School Phone: 757 7018 Principal: Kevin Snyder Assistant Principal: Jeremy Gondol Secretary: Bev Hartman, Candy Fonagy Guidance Secretary: Bev Hobart Grades: 9 12 Special Services Phone: 757 7000 Director: Craig Sommers Secretary: Tammy Wagner Poland North Preschool and Afterschool Programs Phone: 757 0851 Preschool/Afterschool Director: Michael Masucci Preschool Secretary: Linda DeLost Afterschool Coordinator: Diane Dailey Rentals: Diane Dailey Poland Transportation Department Phone: 757 7022 Coordinator: Bill Amero Secretary: Bobbi Rokicki Poland Athletic Department Phone: 757 7021 Athletic Director: Brian Banfield Secretary: Bobbi Rockicki
Poland Union Elementary School offers a safe, warm environment where all students feel welcomed and appreciated. Our friendly, nurturing staff provides all students with opportunities to grow academically, socially and emotionally. The building s Parent Teacher Organization plays a vital role in the overall success of the building by supporting students and staff. Our school strives to inspire, engage and support students in a climate of respect, enthusiasm and kindness. Entrance Requirements When registering your child, please set up an appointment. You will need your child s birth certificate, immunization records, proof of residency and custody papers if applicable. Also, you will be asked to fill out various forms including but not limited to an emergency medical card, an enrollment form, an Internet access permission form, and a transfer of records form. Children who are five years of age before August 1, may be admitted to kindergarten. Parents may delay entrance into kindergarten by one year. Children new to the district and entering grade one must show proof of kindergarten completion. Daily Schedule The daily schedule is from 8:00 AM. to 2:00 PM. Students not in the building at 8:00 a.m. will be considered tardy. Buses will drop students off between 7:30a.m. and 7:50 a.m. If transporting your child to school, please do not drop your child off before 7:30 AM. There is no supervision before this time. When dropping your child off after 8:00 AM, you must come into the office with your child to sign him/her in. When picking up your child before 2:00 PM, you will need to sign your child out in the school office.
Visitors To the Poland Schools Persons visiting the Poland Schools must sign in at the school office. Upon signing in you will be given a visitor pass. Before leaving the building you will need to sign out. Parents who are simply picking up or dropping off their child from school will not need visitor passes. Anyone who is not an employee and who will be in the halls or classrooms will need to be wearing a school issued pass. Your support and diligence will be appreciated. Parents or their designees will not go to a classroom to remove a student or to drop off an item. Please come to the office and we will deliver the item(s) or send for the student when necessary. It is imperative that parents do not enter the classrooms without permission during the school day. It is our belief that students should not be disturbed during the school day. We ask that volunteers use the same guidelines. For the safety of all children and in order to give 100% attention to our school age children, we ask that siblings not be included in school activities unless invited. School Attendance Regular attendance is a key component of your child s success. Absences, tardiness, and early dismissals need to be kept to a minimum. In some cases, problems with any of the above will be turned over to the Mahoning County Attendance Officer. Under Senate Bill 18, a referral to Juvenile Court will be made once a student has exceeded 12 days of unexcused absence. When your child is going to be absent, please call the school between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM. A note from the parent is required by state law when the student returns to school. The note should contain the reason why the student was absent. If your child has been seen by a physician, please request a note for our school records in order to excuse the absence. Students who are tardy must report to the office before being admitted to class. Students must be signed in at the school office and not walked to class by parents. If a student reaches 12 days of unexcused tardiness throughout the year, a referral can be made for a hearing at Juvenile Court. In the case of absence or tardiness, all
notes(excuses) must be turned in 24 48 hours after the child returns to school. We encourage all vacations to be taken during designated school vacation times. However, we realize that this is not always possible. If you are taking a vacation during school time, please follow the following Board of Education vacation policy: Students may use five days of the school year for the purposes of family vacations, and/or visiting colleges, pursuing career plans. This is schoolwork that can be made up. The excused five days are the first five days missed for such purposes. No work may be made up for any days missed beyond these five days for vacation, etc. A grade of zero will be given for this missed work. All requests for vacation absence must be made in writing at least one week prior to the time the student will be absent. Transferring from the Poland Schools When a child is to be transferred from the Poland Schools, the parent should come to the school office and give the school secretary the necessary information regarding the new school and location. A release form must be completed before records can be forwarded to the new school. Withdrawal from the Poland Schools will not be complete until the records request has been made by the new school of record. Students no longer attending Poland Schools without the proper records request from a new school may be referred to Mahoning County truancy. Transportation All children in grades K 4 are eligible to ride a bus. Students who reside within 1.3 miles of the school are designated as walkers by State law. The Poland Schools, however, provide bus depots for all of these children. These depots are common stops for an area and finalized during the first few weeks of school. Also, State law mandates that all children must be picked up and dropped off at the same stop daily. The law further mandates that children must walk everyday or ride everyday. State law mandates that there can be no short term bus changes. By written request to the bus coordinator bus changes may be made for the entire school year. A student can not ride the bus one day and walk on another. It must be the same everyday. We anticipate that each student will ride the bus each day. If you wish for your child to be a walker/car rider, you need to inform the school.
Bus Rules Parents are asked to reinforce these rules with their children. 1. Obey instructions and requests of the driver. The bus driver may assign seats. 2. Be seated immediately upon entering the bus. 3. Remain seated until time to leave the bus. 4. Loud talking or screaming is not allowed. 5. Eating is not allowed. 6. No smoking is allowed. 7. No objects shall be thrown. 8. Marking of seats, tampering with parts, or damaging of the bus is not allowed. 9. Windows can only be adjusted with the permission of the driver. 10. Do not stand in the road while waiting for the bus. 11. Look both ways before crossing in front of the bus. When necessary, the bus driver will issue white slips to indicate a bus violation. The white slip is sent to the building principal who will meet with the student in violation. Progressive discipline will be taken and can include termination of bus services. Personal Appearance Students should wear clothing with an emphasis on modesty, neatness, and good taste and should be appropriate for the school setting. The school has the right to rule against specific articles of clothing and general appearance for reasons of safety, health, appropriateness, or disruption of the educational setting. Items not permitted to be worn in school are: hats(for boys and girls), short shorts, bare midriff or spaghetti strap tops, ripped or torn clothing, clothing with improper language, pictures, drawings, lettering and /or displaying alcohol, drugs, tobacco, or weapons. Shorts may be worn in September, October, May and June. Shorts must be an appropriate length for the school setting. Socks must be worn at all times.
Students must wear shoes with a back. Tennis shoes must include laces unless designed as a loafer which also includes a back. Crocs are be permitted in the elementary buildings due to safety issues. Sagging pants below waist level are not permitted. Any article of clothing, jewelry or other materials seen as being distracting to school learning or perceived as gang related are prohibited. Future new fads cannot be spelled out in the personal appearance guidelines, but as a general rule, any type of extreme dress or hairstyle that attracts undue attention or disruption to education is unacceptable. Personal Property All personal property should be marked with the student s name. Children are also discouraged from wearing expensive items such as jewelry. Students are prohibited from bringing items including but not limited to toys, games, playground balls, and electronic devices such as cell phones, tablets, etc. unless the classroom teacher instructs them to do so. If an item is not brought to school, it cannot be misplaced or stolen. The items mentioned will be taken from the student and returned to the student s parents. Code of Conduct The Poland Board of Education has adopted a Code of Conduct that governs students attending the Poland Schools. The Code of Conduct is posted conspicuously at various locations in the building. Simply stated, any conduct that causes a disruption with any school function or activity or interferes with the health, safety or rights of others is prohibited. This code of conduct is in effect while students are under the authority of the school personnel or involved in any school activity. This includes but is not limited to school buses and property under the control of school authorities, and while at interscholastic competitions, extracurricular events, or other school activities or programs. In addition, this Code of Conduct includes: 1) misconduct by a student that occurs off school district property but is connected to activities or incidents that have occurred on
school district property; and 2) misconduct by a student that, regardless of where it occurs, is directed at a district official or employee or the property of an official or employee. Anti Harassment, Anti Intimidation or Anti Bullying As Per Ohio Legislative House Bill 276, the Ohio State Board of Education ANTI HARASSMENT, ANTI INTIMIDATION OR ANTI BULLYING Model Policy, and this School District s Board of Education Policy: Harassment, intimidation, or bullying behavior by any student/school personnel in this school district strictly prohibited, and such conduct may result in disciplinary action, including suspension and/or expulsion from school. Harassment, intimidation, or bullying, in accordance with Ohio law, means any intentional written, verbal, graphic or physical acts including electronically transmitted acts i.e., Internet, cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), or wireless hand held device, either overt or covert, by a student or group of students toward other students/school personnel with the intent to harass, intimidate, injure, threaten, ridicule or humiliate. Such behaviors are prohibited on or immediately adjacent to school grounds, at any school sponsored activity, on school provided transportation or at any official school bus stop that a reasonable person under the circumstances should know will have the effect of: Causing mental or physical harm to the other student/school personnel including placing an individual in reasonable fear of physical harm and/or damaging of students /personal property; and, Is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for the other student/school personnel. Anyone who witnesses or suspects that a student or adult is being harassed, intimidated or bullied in any way should report it immediately to the building principal.
Prohibition Against Sexual Harassment The following policy applies to all Poland students: Students who engage in sexual harassment on school premises or off school premises at a school sponsored activity will be subject to appropriate discipline, which may include suspension or expulsion. Sexual harassment is any activity of a sexual nature that is unwanted or unwelcome, including but not limited to, unwanted touching, pinching, patting, verbal comments of a sexual nature, sexual name calling, pressure to engage in sexual activity, repeated propositions, and unwanted body contact. Injuries and Illnesses There is a clinic in the school. Students who are injured or become ill should let their teacher or supervising adult know immediately. If the injury is minor, the school nurse or designee will treat the child. If the injury or illness is of a serious nature, the procedure on the Pupil Emergency Card will be followed. Please notify the school if your child is diagnosed with a communicable/contagious illness. The Ohio Department of Health Guidelines are followed for communicable/contagious diseases. Students should be fever free without fever reducing medication for 24 hours before returning to school. Emergencies and accidents can happen at any time. Please have an alternative plan in the event you are not available to pick up your child. Dispensing of Medication at School There are some instances when a student must take medication during school hours. If and when this is necessary, parental permission authorizing the student to self administer and/or dispense said medication is required. In all such instances, the parent or guardian has assumed full responsibility. In instances where a medication must be taken during the school year, the following procedures are to be followed.
A. A medication form is to be completed and signed by the student s parent or guardian authorizing school personnel to witness the student s self administration of the medication, and agreeing they will (1) deliver the medication to the school, (2) notify the school if they change physicians, and (3) notify the school if the medication, dosage, or procedure has changed, or should be discontinued. A physician signature is required for all prescription medications administered at school. B. The written and signed physician s request for must identify: 1. The student 2. The medication and dosage or procedure required 3. The times required 4. Possible reactions which should be reported to the physician 5. Special instruction including storage and sterile requirements 6. Date when medication or procedure should be terminated 7. Physician s name, address, and phone number. C. A section on the form is to be completed and signed by the school principal and/or each person witnessing the student s self administration of the medication. D. Medication must be brought to the school office in the original prescription bottle. Health Screening The school nurse conducts routine screenings according to ODH (Ohio Department of Health) guidelines. Vision and hearing screenings can also be done at anytime upon request from parents or teachers. If a problem is detected, parents will be notified. School Lunch Program Nutritious meals are served each day and are paid for on a daily basis or through the Point of Sale(POS) system. The Point of Sale system allows parents to pay ahead for student lunches. If pupils prefer to carry a lunch, they may purchase milk in the cafeteria. The Poland Board of Education participates in a free and reduced lunch and breakfast
program and for families who meet federal guidelines. Application is to be made through the building secretary. In consideration of district s Wellness Policy, our students are not permitted to bring canned carbonated beverages for lunch. In addition, parents may not drop off fast food lunches to the children during the lunch periods. We also request that parents refrain from visiting and or eating lunch with their children during the school lunch periods because of the lack of space and inconvenience this causes in our lunchroom. School Fee The Poland Board of Education requires a general elementary fee for grades K 4. The fee helps defray the costs of workbooks, art supplies, etc. The fee is due during the first week of school. Please advise the school as soon as possible if you are unable to pay the fee. Textbooks/Library Books Textbooks and library books are becoming very expensive and we must make every effort to keep them in good condition. The typical textbook now costs over $70.00. Parents will be asked to replace lost or damaged text books or library books at replacement cost. Final report cards can be held until the cost is collected. Testing Program Each student will take ability, achievement, and diagnostic tests periodically throughout their school careers. All test scores become a part of the student s permanent record. The scores are used to help plan instructional strategies to meet the educational needs of each student. Reporting Academic Progress Students will receive report cards one week after a grading period ends with the exception of the last grading period. These report cards are sent home on the last day of school. Interim reports will be issued near the middle of a grading period for students
performing poorly or not up to their expected level. Grading Scale: O = 90 100% S+ = 84 89% S = 77 83% S = 70 76% NI = 60 69% U = 0 59% Parent Teacher Conferences Parents wishing to discuss the progress of their child with teachers are encouraged to do so. Please call the school and arrange an appointment to discuss your concerns with the teacher. Special times in November and February are planned for parent conferences. However, we strongly recommend that you contact the school whenever you have a question or concern. This way it can be handled properly and promptly. Teachers are available to schedule an appointment from 2:25 p.m. 3:15 p.m.. Homework Policy If you know that your child is going to be absent for two or more days and is well enough to do class work, feel free to contact the school prior to 10:00a.m. for make up assignments. Field Trips, Chaperones and Volunteers When volunteering at school, parents may not bring siblings. We count on your attention to the volunteer task and need our volunteers to be free of distractions. Due to liability issues, all school volunteers are to be members of the PTO. Each year we try to plan quality field trips for our students. In order to have proper supervision, parents are often asked to chaperone trips. Different trips warrant different numbers of chaperones. The school will determine the proper number of chaperones. We understand at this level many parents wish to chaperone field trips. However, it is possible to have too many chaperones. Also, field trips are not meant to be time spent with your child. As a chaperone, you will be asked
to take responsibility for several children. A field trip is not meant to be a family outing or a time for parent socialization. Cell phone use should be limited for emergencies only. Please understand that these requests are made so that students can be supervised properly. Smoking Smoking is prohibited at all of the Poland Schools. Birthdays Celebrating birthdays is permitted during school hours. A treat can be brought in for the entire class. The basic rule followed is that birthday celebrations should take a minimum amount of instructional time. Due to food allergies, each teacher may advise specific guidelines if necessary. Please inform your child s teacher prior to sending a class treat. The teacher will decide when the treat will be distributed. Also, the teacher will decide how much class time to take for the celebration. Please do not have items such as balloons or flowers sent to the school. We will not deliver them to the student. Invitations to parties outside of the school should not be distributed at school unless everyone in the class is invited. Pets Pets are not permitted in school unless the classroom teacher and principal grant special permission. Electronic Devices Students are not permitted to use privately owned communication devices (i.e. cellular phones ) at any time during the school day or while on school buses. The use of privately owned devices is strictly forbidden at all times in school locker rooms, school restrooms, and other areas within the school where privacy can be expected. Final Note: While we try very hard to include all situations in our handbook, there may be situations that arise when the principal will need to make a decision that is not included in this handbook, but is in the best interest of the school, students, and staff.