Longfellow Academy Student Handbook Marlayna Randolph - Principal Jack Johnson Assistant Principal School Year 2015 2016 1
Dear Parents, WELCOME the information in the handbook be read and remembered by our students and parents. The administration and staff would like to welcome you and your child to Longfellow Academy I and II. We are looking forward to working with you and your child/children. It is our goal to provide a safe and conducive environment where teaching and learning can/will take place every day. Our school day is 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Please feel free to contact Administration to schedule an appointment with any questions or concerns if they may arise. Being involved in your child s education is critical. We will be engaged most of the day in observing classrooms and visiting with students. However, we will be available both before and after school and for some time during the day. If you need to leave a message regarding a situation, please allow us to return the call after the school day is over. Again, welcome to the Longfellow. Together we can make your child s experience a rewarding one. Dayton Public Schools Mission Statement To equip our students to achieve success in a global society by implementing an effective and rigorous curriculum with fidelity. Important Visiting Longfellow Academy Parents, grandparents and guardians are always welcome to visit the school. However, we do ask that all visitors report to the office first to sign the Visitor s Book and to receive a Visitor s Pass. If you wish to speak with your child s teacher or the principal, please call the school (542-6910) to set up an appointment time for a conference. This is to ensure that your child and classmates do not miss valuable instructional time. It also guarantees an uninterrupted conference. Longfellow Phone Extensions Please feel free to contact us with any problem or concern. Each classroom has its own direct phone number to enable you to contact the teacher or to leave a Voice Mail message. Some important numbers are: Longfellow Main # 937-542 - 6910 Attendance/Records 937-542 - 7024 Expulsion Officer 937-542 - 3126 Student Assignment 937-542 - 5555 FAX # 937-542 - 6911 Transportation 937-542 - 4010 Hall Pass Students are not to be in the hallway during class time without a pass. All reasons for needing to be in the hallway require a pass. Any student without a pass will be subject to disciplinary action. This student handbook has been prepared to provide essential information to the students of Longfellow Academy and their parents/guardians. It is important that all of 2
District-Wide Grading Scale The Dayton Board of Education has approved a district-wide grading scale. This scale is used in all Dayton PreK-8 and high schools. Students progress will be recorded on report cards in letter grades according to the following scale: A=90-100 B=80-89 C=70-79 D=60-60 F=0-50 Attendance Policy Students are expected to attend school daily and to arrive on time. Unless notified by phone or note, absences and tardies are not excused. Notification of absence must be by the parent or guardian on record. Three consecutive days of absence require a note from the doctor. Excessive absence and tardiness deny students valuable instruction time. Ohio law requires consistent attendance and promptness. A notice will be sent from the school notifying you of an existing attendance problem. Continuing attendance problems will be referred to the Student Services Department, which, in turn, will present the issue before the court. If you have instructed your child to wait for pick-up rather than ride the school bus, a note must be provided to the office.. Without such notification, your child will be put on the bus. Please be prompt when picking your child up from school. Tardiness Students are expected to arrive on time for school. All late students should report to Ms. Steward s office for a tardy slip. Reasons for Excused Absences 1. Illness of the student or an immediate family member 2. A death in the family 3. A valid family emergency Criteria for Habitually and Chronically Truant Students Habitually Truant A) 5 consecutive unexcused absences B) 7 unexcused absences in one month C) 12 unexcused absences in one school year Chronically Truant A) 7 consecutive unexcused absences B) 10 unexcused absences in one month C) 15 unexcused absences in one school year Bad Weather During the months when bad weather is possible, there may be times when the school schedule is affected. If bad weather conditions exist, we advise you to tune in to the DPS Channel or local news on television and radio for announcements regarding school schedules. Please do not assume that the weather is too bad for school to be in session. Rely upon the local media for announcements and please do not call the school to ask if we are in session. If You Move If you move during the school year, come into the main office to complete an address change form. You will need proof of residency (utility bill, rental lease agreement) for verification of your new address. The new address form must be completed in order to change transportation for your child. It would also be helpful to 3
the teacher if you called the school to inform us of the move, as absences due to rearrangement of transportation are excused. If you move out of the Dayton Public School District, make sure that all textbooks and library books are returned. Also, make sure to fill out a withdrawal form with our school secretary in the office. Homework Policy Students at Longfellow should expect to be assigned homework with the understanding that this is a vital activity of the total learning experience. Homework is assigned to: Review and reinforce skills and concepts which have been taught in the classroom Finish incomplete class work and/or projects Make-up work from a period of excused absence or work assigned during suspension Provide teachers with an additional means of evaluating a student s progress Breakfast and Lunch Breakfast and lunch provided free of charge to all students. are No food or drink is to be taken out of the cafeteria at any time. Bags of potato chips, Hot Fries, etc. brought from home must be eaten while in the cafeteria and may not be taken back to classrooms. Discipline Policy and Procedures All Levels I, II and III as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct will be adhered to. Student cell phones are only to be used in the cafeteria. Cell phones are not to be utilized in any hallway including during class changes. No phones are to be charged in the classroom. Dress Code The uniform policy for your daughter/son at their previous school will continue here at Longfellow. The dress code policy for all students attending Longfellow is as follows: I. Shirts/Blouses Must have Collars (short or long sleeve) and Turtlenecks and Sweatshirts may be worn No halter/tank tops, midriff, or mesh (see through) tops, All shirts must be tucked inside pants No wrapping of sweaters, coats, and/or sweat shirts around waist II. Pants/Shorts/Skirts (Acceptable Length 3 Fingertips above knees) Capri Pants and Skorts may be worn by girls No spandex, jeggins, stretch pants, or leggings Must be at/on waist (Wearing pants below the waist is not permitted.) Not too tight and not too loose Belts must be worn with belt-looped pants, shorts, capris, skorts** III. Shoes No open-toe, flip flops, or open-back shoes IV. Headwear No headgear (No picks, combs, scarves, bandannas, do-rags, ski masks, hats) 4
Transportation Information Walkers All walkers need to leave the premises immediately after dismissal. Bus Riders You will receive information from Transportation regarding bus route, stop and times. During the first couple weeks of school or during bad weather there may be unexpected delays on the route. Students are to be at the bus stop 10 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time and wait at least 10 minutes after their scheduled time before contacting Transportation. The phone number for Transportation is: 542-4010 Students waiting for the bus are expected to stand quietly, without horseplay or running around. This is for the students own safety. Caution your bus rider to stay in the seat until the bus has arrived at school. Your child is expected to obey the bus rules at all times. Shouting, jumping around, throwing things, putting things or arms out of the bus windows only endangers your child and all the other students on the bus. Misbehavior on the Bus Bus riders will receive a written bus referral for: Disrespect of the driver or other students Defiant and disobedient behavior Moving from seat to seat or standing while the bus is in motion Loud, disruptive and dangerous behavior Fighting, pushing, shoving, passing licks, wrestling and/or horseplay Having any item on the bus that is not permitted in school Upon receiving a third bus referral, the student will be suspended from riding the bus and a parent conference will be held. Fighting on the bus will result in an automatic 3-day bus suspension. Transportation of suspended bus riders becomes the responsibility of the parent. Absences due to bus suspensions are not excused. Please read and discuss these safety rules with your bus rider: Get on and off the bus ONLY at its designated stop and in an orderly manner. Ride only the assigned bus and get off only at the regular stop. Riders MUST keep all objects and body parts inside the bus. If a child needs to cross the street at the regular stop, cross AT LEAST 10 FEET IN FRONT OF THE BUS and only at the signal from the driver. At dismissal riders must go directly to their bus. There is a short amount of time before the busses will depart 7minutes). Health Service Oral Medication Policy It is recognized circumstances arise which require medication to be administered at school. The Parent Release for the Administration of Oral Medication at School form may be obtained from the school nurse or office and must be filled out by both the parent/guardian and the child s physician. This form must be on file before any medication is administered at school.. No school personnel shall be responsible for administering injections, eye drops, applying ointments or changing dressings. Over-the-counter medications will not be administered. The specific medication listed on the form is to be brought to school by the parent of legal guardian in an 5
officially labeled container. Medication ordered for temporary illness is to be administered at home or by the parent coming to school to administer it. Student Health Guidelines Every day counts toward academic success. Students should rarely miss school. If your child has a chronic health condition, please contact the school nurse. The nurse may be able to provide help and resources so that your child can attend school regularly. Please complete an Emergency Medical Authorization form each year. Your child s immunizations must be kept up-to-date according to the requirements of the Ohio Department of Health. Provide the school nurse with an updated immunization record whenever your child receives immunizations. Children whose immunization records are not complete will receive an exclusion notice and have two weeks to comply. Unless a routine medication is timespecific, it usually can be given at home. We must have orders from your child s healthcare provider for any medication to be given at school. This includes over-thecounter medication. Students are not allowed to self-carry medication without a healthcare provider order. Minor injuries will be treated in the health office and the student will return to class. Parents or designated adults will be contacted for more serious injuries and illnesses. It is best practice for a parent or designated adult to pick up their child if the school determines that the student should not remain at school due to illness or injury. 911 (and the parent/guardian) will be called for emergency situations. Health screening is done for students in preschool, kindergarten, first, third, fifth, seventh and ninth grades. For most grades this includes vision, hearing, and dental. Scoliosis screening is done in sixth grade. If you do not want your child to participate in the health screenings, you must send a written note to the school nurse. Parents will be informed in writing if their child needs to have a medical evaluation for a possible problem. Students who are suspected of having a contagious disease will be excluded by the school nurse. Please do not hesitate to contact the school nurse for question or concerns. Are we able to reach you in case of emergency? Please be sure the school has your most current phone numbers and correct contact information. Longfellow Bell Schedule: School Day - 7:30 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Breakfast Tardy Bell Dismissal 7:10 to 7:25 A.M. 7:30 A.M. 2:00 P.M. 6