Student
Handbook
2007-2008
Developing the whole student.
Achieving excellence in academics, athletics, and the arts.
The
mission of the
The
Let
us, then, pledge to do what is right and good because we respect ourselves and
others.
The
I
will respect academic honesty in all
my scholastic efforts. I will at all times strive to reach the highest academic
achievement of which I am capable. I will not cheat, plagiarize,
represent the work of others as my own, or allow others to copy my work.
I
will respect others in all of my words
and actions. I will treat teachers, staff, students, and community residents as
I would want them to treat me. I will respect others’ privacy, and I will not
deprive them of their right to be happy and successful in the school community.
I
will respect property. I will take
pride in my campus and preserve its appearance. I will treat the property of
others as private.
I
will respect myself in everything I
do. I understand that my academic work, my conduct with others, my attitude
toward property, my personal honor, and the honor of my school community are my
personal responsibility. I will uphold this code by observing it myself and by
helping the school community to observe it, too. I understand that I have a
responsibility to report violations of the honor code.
I
will do the right thing because it is right.
Should
I break this pledge, I recognize that consequences will follow.
We
at
We
will care about each other, and be good citizens.
Above
all else, we will take responsibility for our actions, in our quest to build a
better you, a better me and a better school.
Office
hours
Teacher’s
Hours
Student
Arrival
Student
Dismissal
PLEASE NOTE
unless participating in the YMCA Day Care Program or an instrumental music
lesson, students may not enter the elementary school prior to
Regular
attendance is one of the most important factors for a successful elementary
education. Attendance has a stronger impact on academic progress than any other
factor. Attendance at school is
required by the Pennsylvania School Code until the student reaches age
seventeen.
The
day the student returns to school after an absence, he/she should submit to the
classroom teacher an excuse, signed by the parent or guardian.
Failure to submit an appropriate excuse note within three (3) days will
result in the absence being declared unexcused and unlawful.
According
to Public School Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Title 22, Chapter 11
Sections 24, 25 and 26 the only legal reasons for being absent from school are:
1.
Personal illness.
2.
Death in the immediate family.
3.
Quarantine.
4.
Religious holidays – approved by
the Department of Education.
5.
Educational trips – limited to 10
per year. Extended trips require a meeting with the principal for approval.
Educational trips must have prior approval from the principal. Please submit
your request in writing.
6.
Natural disaster or severe weather
conditions.
A letter will be sent informing parents
once a child has been absent a total of 8 days without a doctor’s excuse. After
12 days of absence without a doctor’s excuse,
a letter will be sent home requiring a doctor's excuse to deem any future
absences lega. Any
educational trips with prior approval and doctor’s excused absences will not
be considered excessive absences.
Students
accumulating two (2) unexcused/unlawful absences will receive a courtesy
notice. Students accumulating three (3) unexcused/unlawful absences will
receive a Notice of Illegal Absences. The Notice of Illegal Absences is an
official warning pertaining to future unexcused/unlawful absences. After the
Notice of Illegal Absences any unexcused/unlawful absences may result in legal
action taken by the local magistrate. The consequences of the legal action are
a hearing and a monetary fine based on 1333, Article XIII of the Pennsylvania
School Code.
A
student arriving late to school will be considered tardy until
To achieve perfect attendance for the year, a student must not have any absences, tardies, or early releases
Releasing a Student from School
Every
effort should be made to schedule appointments at times other than school hours.
If it is necessary to schedule an appointment during the school day, a
parent, guardian, or person designated by them is to pick up the student in the
school office. No student is allowed
to “wait outside.” The
person picking up the student must come to the office and sign the child out.
Do not wait at the classroom door for children.
If
you are intending to pick up your child at our
3:20 p.m.
dismissal time, you must come to the cafeteria to sign your child
out. Your child will be released
from homeroom and will meet his/her parents in the cafeteria. Any changes in
regular bus dismissal require a note from home to your child’s teacher.
All
visitors to the school building and property within the school district during
normal hours shall be required to register in the main office immediately upon
arrival and prior to leaving any school building.
All visitors in the building must wear a visitor’s badge.
Teachers
are pleased to discuss with parents any questions or concerns about their child
or educational program. However, the
educational program functions best with the fewest interruptions during the school
day. Parents are requested to make
appointments with teachers to discuss concerns.
In
the event of inclement weather, it is possible for school to be cancelled,
delayed, or dismissed early. The
following procedures are in effect:
1.
Public
announcements or decisions will be communicated via local radio, television and
newspapers as the situation requires or permits.
2.
In closing
schools for inclement weather, every effort will be made to make a public
announcement prior to
3.
During
some inclement situations, the district will use a two-hour
delay in opening. This will also
be communicated via local radio and television.
Buses would run two hours later than normal.
4.
If schools
are to be dismissed early due to emergency conditions, announcements will be
made via local radio and television as soon as the decision is made.
5.
Please discuss with your child, in the event of early dismissal, where
they are to go and how to get into the house if no one would be home.
An emergency dismissal form
should be on file with the office.
6.
Parents
should use their best judgment when sending students out in inclement weather.
7.
It is very
important to listen to the local radio and television stations in the above
situations. Do
not call the school. This only
causes tie-ups in our phone lines creating a very difficult situation.
8.
On any
morning where you have a question whether we will be having school or not
because of inclement weather you can call 474-2600. When the attendant asks you
for an extension, enter 9 and then 5-0-0-0. You will hear Mr. Larry Kessler’s
voice and the statement of school activity for the day.
The
following list of rules titled: “Don’t lose your riding privilege!” will
be posted in each school bus:
1.
Observe the same conduct as in the
classroom.
2.
Be courteous; use no profane
language.
3.
Do not eat or drink on the bus.
4.
Keep the bus clean.
5.
Cooperate with the driver.
6.
Do not be destructive.
7.
Stay in your seat.
8.
Keep head, hands, and feet inside
the bus.
9.
Bus driver is authorized to assign
seats.
The
building principal will take the appropriate disciplinary measures commensurate
with the offense. Due process
procedures will be followed; one copy of the form will be sent to the parents of
the student involved, one copy will be sent to the Director of Transportation,
and one copy will be kept on file by the building principal.
Point-Of-Service
The
Every
student in the district will have their own personal cafeteria account based on
their current student ID number. The account acts much like a debit card, where
after depositing money into the account the balance is reduced for purchases in
the cafeteria.
At
the
At
the
We
are encouraging parents to deposit money into their child’s account, although
they may still pay cash daily. When depositing money into your child’s
account, please place it into the envelope provided, with all information on the
front completely filled out. Please write your child’s ID number on your check
or if sending cash write their ID number on a slip of paper and enclose it with
the cash in the envelope.
If
your child/children qualify for free or reduced price lunches please be assured
that this information is securely contained within the system and the meal will
be processed just as it is for all other students.
If
you are concerned about a food allergy that your child has, please notify the
cafeteria with this information. A warning will appear on the cashier’s screen
for a quick review of the items on the student’s meal tray. If more serious
food allergies exist, please contact the school nurse.
If
you have any questions, please contact our Food Service Coordinator, Loriann
Squires at 474-2600 ext. 9 5237.
Parents
may choose to join their children for lunch in the cafeteria, beginning
the second nine weeks. Reservations must be made with the cafeteria /main
office the day prior to the lunch. This
is necessary to accommodate increased lunch counts that may result from
visitors. The National School Lunch
Program prohibits lunches purchased at fast food restaurants from being brought
to school and served to children where school lunches are provided.
Therefore, do not bring fast food to school for your student.
The
lunch period will be 30 minutes in length. This
will allow time for your children to be taken to and from the cafeteria.
Cafeteria rules are as follows:
1.
Be quiet in line and pay attention
to your tray.
2.
Keep hands, feet, and milk cartons
to yourself.
3.
Talk quietly at your table.
4.
Please pick up paper and anything
else you drop so that the next class has a neat place to eat.
5.
Be patient when taking your tray to
the window. Do not push or shove.
6.
Show respect for adults and others.
Birthday
Treats / Party Invitations
We
look forward to celebrating your child’s birthday at school. We make the day
special by announcing your child’s name on the loud speaker and having them
come to the office for a birthday pencil from Dr. Horn. Many of the younger
grade teachers recognize their students’ birthdays with a birthday crown. It
is not necessary that you send anything to celebrate this day, as your
child is saluted in a variety of other ways to signify their special day. If you
choose to send something, please select from the following items and it will be
distributed during the lunch period: pretzels, pre-cut veggies (carrots, celery,
etc.), yogurt sticks, cheese sticks, 100% juice, or popcorn.
Students
may bring party invitations to school ONLY when the entire
classroom is invited.
Teachers are not permitted
to pass out party invitations or give out phone numbers/addresses
to parents or students.
Children
are given the opportunity, weather permitting, for fresh air and exercise during
the school day. Please dress
accordingly. Boots, hats, snow pants
and gloves are necessary during the winter months. (Recess will be inside if the
wind chill factor falls below 20°.)
A
note should be written to the teacher if a child is to stay indoors during
recess because of illness.
1.
Obey the adult on duty.
2.
Play safely.
3.
Be kind to others.
4.
Use equipment properly.
5.
Get permission from the adult on
duty to enter the building.
The
primary goal of the school is to offer its students the best education possible.
This goal may only be achieved when student behavior and the general school
atmosphere allow teachers to teach and students to learn without disruption or
inappropriate behavior.
In
order to achieve this goal, a well-defined set of behavioral limits and
consequences is established throughout the school.
The objective of a behavior policy is the reinforcement of positive
behavior. Students must accept and acknowledge that they have a choice between
appropriate and inappropriate behavior. When
they choose to exceed the defined limits, they must accept the disciplinary
consequences of that choice.
Disciplinary
consequences are not punishments but the earned result of inappropriate
behavior. The goal of any
disciplinary action is the correction of unacceptable
behavior. Students must know what
kind of behavior is expected in the future.
The
primary responsibility for the classroom discipline rests with the classroom
teacher. The teacher must establish
and enforce consistent and justifiable
behavioral limits within the classroom based on the Respect Pledge and
reinforce positive behavior. In
addition, the teacher assumes the
responsibility of helping to enforce school-wide limits outside the classroom.
The
administration has the primary responsibility to work with the school in
reinforcing appropriate behavior. Communication
between the school and the home must be open and supportive in both directions.
Students have the responsibility to be familiar with the limits and
consequences defined by their teachers and to behave in a positive manner.
School
Rules: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be A Good Friend.
Consequences
encountered for inappropriate behavior increase in significance.
The teacher defines classroom consequences.
School-wide consequences include:
1.
Warning
2.
Time out
3.
Parent contact by telephone.
4.
Loss of recess
5.
Behavioral Contract / Behavioral Plan
6.
ISS – In School Suspension
7.
8.
Expulsion
Specific School-Wide Limits and
Consequences
Several
policies have been adopted by the School Board to cover specific areas of
behavior. Violations in these areas
(substance abuse/tobacco use, weapons, terroristic threat, sexual harassment)
will be handled in accordance with these policies. Please see the principal for
more information on these policies.
Lost and Damaged School Materials
Textbooks,
workbooks, and library books issued by teachers are the student’s
responsibility. If a student
destroys or loses any of these items and/or other district material, a
replacement cost will be charged to the student’s family.
Experience
indicates that there are real and reasonable connections between proper dress
and grooming and the successful operation of a school from the standpoint of
responsibility and applied seriousness to task.
Clothing
and hair that disrupts the educational environment of the classroom are not
permitted (i.e. short skirts, midriff tops, colored hair, etc.).
Parental good taste and judgment is welcome. Open toe sandals, flip
flops, sneakers with wheels, hats/bandannas/head coverings, chains may not be
worn in school. Administrative discretion is final.
Each
student’s name and grade, should be marked on all their belongings.
(Example: coats, gloves, book bags, etc.) This will assist in
returning lost items. Items found in
school are kept in the Lost and Found box in the office or hang on the coat rack
in the hallway. If you are missing
clothing items at home, it’s a good idea to check at school.
Students
are NOT permitted to use walkmans, radios, electronic games, pagers or cell
phones during school or in the school building. The school will not assume
responsibility for them. Trading cards and toys are not to be brought to school.
The administration encourages students to leave these items home.
Each
teacher is responsible for the grade a student receives which reflects the
student’s achievement in the subject according to his ability and efforts.
A
cumulative record/report card for each student, which includes yearly grades,
attendance information, and standardized test scores along with demographic
information, is maintained in accordance with the regulation governing
confidentiality and parental access. A
parent may request access to their child’s record by contacting the principal
or the guidance counselor. Any
request for providing records to outside agencies must be accompanied by a
signed parental release form.
Reporting
to parents is accomplished in the following ways:
1.
Reports
cards are issued four times per year at nine-week intervals in Grades K-4 in all
subject areas. Grades K-4 report
cards will be issued in November, January, April and June. The final grade will
be a composite of the total year’s work.
2.
Parent-Teacher
conferences are conducted at the end of the first quarter in Grades K-4.
Parents may schedule these conferences during open house.
3.
Interim
progress reports are sent to parents of students in Grades K-4 whose progress
for a given marking period has been unsatisfactory.
These are usually mailed to parents in the middle of each marking period.
They serve as a pro-active, preventative measure so that steps can be
taken to help a student improve and correct a situation that may lead to
failure.
The
grading procedures to be used by the elementary, middle, and high school will be
standard throughout the district whenever possible.
The grade classification of percentages for all subjects is as follows:
93-100
A
85-92
B
77-84
C
70-76
D
Below
70
F
Guidelines
for Student Placement
Assignment
of students to classes is a high priority in our elementary school. The
classroom assignment involves many factors focusing on the following guidelines:
1.
Educational factors (academic,
social, emotional, physical) will be the primary determinants in student
placement decisions.
2.
Attention will be given to
heterogeneous balance in each classroom regarding: the number of boys and girls,
the total number of students, and their learning needs.
3.
The professional staff will
recommend student placement. Final placement decisions will be approved by the
principal.
4.
Parents are welcome to complete a
parent involvement form to provide information. Any input that you provide will
serve as another source of information, regarding your child’s placement. You
may not request specific teachers. Care is given to each child’s
placement, whether or not written information is submitted by the parent.
5.
After placement decisions are made,
factors such as fluctuating enrollment, changes in teacher assignment, possible
teacher transfer/resignation/ retirement, schedule of classes and/or additional
educational information could alter an assignment.
Homework
is an important and integral part of the educational program of the
Homework’s
purpose is to enhance learning. Good homework assignments include the practice
of skills already developed, the study of materials presented in class, and
assignments that are extensions of class work. Homework may also include reading
a good book for information, doing a project, interviewing a resource person,
visiting a local historical site, writing a story or a research report, or
watching an educational program. These kinds of assignments can be exciting and
aid in classroom discussions.
Teachers
have a right to expect that homework assignments are completed promptly.
Teachers also have a responsibility to inform parents and to solicit their help
when homework assignments fall below the expectations of the teacher. Homework
will not exceed ten percent of the total quarter grade.
Students
are responsible for keeping a homework log or notebook, writing down and
completing homework as assigned; the parent is responsible to check each
student’s homework nightly.
Parental
responsibility regarding homework requires that a parent:
1.
Check
homework daily.
2.
Confer
with teacher if child is unclear about assignment.
3.
Show
interest.
4.
Take
assignments as a serious matter.
5.
Answer
questions.
6.
Assist in
planning time.
7.
Provide
proper atmosphere.
8.
Remove
distractions: i.e., radio/TV/music.
9.
Provide
necessary supplies.
10.
Save
magazines for reference.
11.
Look at
finished assignment for: *neatness *accuracy
*completeness.
12.
Contact
the teacher if you have any questions regarding homework or homework policies.
The
school district may excuse a pupil from school attendance in order to
participate in a non-school district sponsored educational tour or trip if the
following conditions are met:
1.
The pupil’s parents or guardian,
prior to the trip, must submit to the school district a written request for the
excusal,
2.
The pupil’s participation on the
trip or tour has been approved by the building principal,
3.
There is an adult who is directing
and supervising the pupil during the trip or tour who is acceptable to both the
parents or guardian and building principal.
Note: Students must obtain all class work and assignments in advance.
The
Kindergarten
- Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early
Literacy Skills Assessment (DIBELS)
Grade
1 – Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early
Literacy Skills Assessment (DIBELS); Stanford Achievement Test for
Grade
2 - Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early
Literacy Skills Assessment (DIBELS); Stanford Achievement Test for
Grade
3 – PSSA for
Grade
4 – PSSA Test for
A
full time guidance counselor is available to assist in the academic, personal,
and social development of your child. The goals of the elementary guidance
program revolve around coordinating services to make school an enjoyable and
successful experience. Referral for counseling services may be made by
contacting the counselor directly or through the Support Team
referral process.
Fairview
Elementary has a K-4 classroom developmental program which assists the children
in understanding themselves and others while supporting appropriate behavior and
social skills. The goals of the program are achieved through classroom lessons,
small groups, and individual counseling sessions. The focus of the classroom
lessons are K-4 conflict resolution model, 1-4 diversity education, and a Grade
3 career exploration unit.
The
hub of the instructional support system is the Support Team (ST) which
assists the classroom teacher in planning and implementing strategies that are
designed to produce success.
Referrals
to the ST are made by the classroom teacher, parent, or school personnel having
specific concern for the child. All referrals to the team are made through the
principal who is the designated team leader. The team meets twice a month to
process referrals and to initiate ST support services.
The
The
The
law allows parents to participate in these procedures and we encourage
participation in every phase of the educational process. These procedures
include an evaluation by a multi-disciplinary team, resulting in an
individualized education program (IEP) and on going planning and revision of
curriculum and instruction.
We
believe that students with special needs are best served in the mainstream
educational setting using special education resources to supplement and support
the regular education process.
When
a student is identified as exceptional and eligible for special education, a
curriculum is designed to meet these individual needs and is outlined in the
student’s “Individualized Educational Program.” Special programs tailored
to meet our students’ educational needs are: Gifted Support, Autistic Support,
Learning Support, Speech and Hearing and Emotional Support
The
Title I program of
The
Eligible
students are primarily identified by performance on standardized tests. Ongoing
assessments incorporated in the language arts program also provide added
information. All students are ranked advanced, proficient, basic or below basic
on these assessments. Students at a basic or below basic level are eligible for
Title I support and receive interventions in the classroom upon parent
notification.
As
a parent of a student who attends a school receiving Title I funds, you have a
right under federal law to request information about the professional
qualifications of the classroom teachers who instruct your child and the
paraprofessionals who assist them. The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 gives
you the right to ask for the following information about each of your child’s
classroom teachers and their paraprofessional assistants:
·
Whether the state has licensed or
qualified the teacher for the grades and subjects he or she teaches.
·
Whether the teacher is teaching
under an emergency license or other provisional status by which state licensing
criteria have been waived.
·
The teacher’s college major,
whether the teacher has any advanced degrees, and the subject of the degrees.
·
Whether any instructional aides or
paraprofessionals provide services to your child and their qualifications.