CLASSROOM RULES, SCHOOL BOARD POLICIES,
& STATE/FEDERAL LAWS
All schools within the Windham Northeast Supervisory Union recognize their responsibility to provide all students and employees with a working and learning environment that is safe and conducive to all. As a result, there are a series of policies to ensure that this type of environment is created and maintained. We are including a list of policies that are covered in the Windham Northeast Supervisory Policy Manual and/or are part of state and federal laws. These policies include:
1. Discrimination Policy
2. Internet Policy
3. Possession of Weapons / Dangerous Items
4. Sexual Harassment/ Harassment / Verbal or Physical Threat
5. Smoking and Possession of Tobacco
6. Alcohol and Drugs
7. Hazing
All schools will list policies within the Parent Handbook at the beginning of each school year. Teachers and administrators will review classroom and school rules at the beginning of the school year. All students are expected to follow these individual classroom rules at all times. These rules will be reviewed on a regular basis. These rules are based on local board policies and state and federal laws.
Copies of these policies can be obtained at any school or from the Office of the Superintendent. Each policy contains procedures to carry out the policy, including a grievance procedure for fairly and promptly investigating and deciding complaints of violations.
To request copies of policies, contact Kim Nace at Central School –
463-4346, or the Office of the Superintendent of Schools - 463-9958.
ATTENDANCE / TRUANCY POLICY
When a student has seven absences a letter will be sent to the parents from the Building Principal and a copy placed in the student’s cumulative folder.
After 15 absences, parents will be invited to a Family Support Team Meeting to develop a plan to remedy the attendance violations.
If this effort fails, the Counselor, School Nurse, and/or Building Principal will request a home visit. Should attendance continue to be a concern, documentation will be filed with the Superintendent and the Department of Children & Families. The school is authorized to contact the State’s Attorney for review and determination of prosecution of the parents.
SCHOOL ATTENDANCE:
Children are expected to be in school every day unless they are sick, or there has been an unforeseen emergency, or they have been excused in advance. Upon return to school after being absent, each child must bring a written excuse to his/her teacher. The excuse must give the reason for the absence and the dates and length of time your child has been out.
WHEN YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT:
It is essential that you call us on a given day that your child is absent. This will save us the time of having to call you. If your child is absent for more than 2 days, please come to the school to pick up work that can be completed at home. We would appreciate it if parents would try to make medical and dental appointments after school hours whenever possible.
TARDINESS:
Children who arrive at school after 8:00 a.m. should go to the office with a note from their parent and sign in before they go to their classroom.
When a child is late, classroom routines are disrupted and time is wasted for all. Chronic lateness is not a positive habit for children to have. We ask for parent’s cooperation and assistance in getting their children to school on time. If a pattern of lateness is developing, parents will be contacted.
Should your child get a late start to school, please send us a note or come in with your child so we can be sure you know he or she was late.
PUPIL ABSENCES for VACATIONS:
Students whose parents take them out of school to accompany the family on a vacation will not be penalized when arrangements are made in advance between the parents, teacher, and principal. Arrangements need to be made with the Superintendent if the vacation will keep the student out of school for more than 10 days.
Pupils will be asked to make up work ( with help from parents ) after consultation with the teacher. Teachers are not obligated to prepare assignments in advance.
EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS – THIS IS IMPORTANT!
Please be sure that we have a record of a telephone number of three friends or relatives that we can contact in case of an emergency, if we are not able to reach you at your home or your work telephone number.
If we are unable to reach you in the event of a serious emergency or incident, please be aware that the school is authorized to call the Police Department or other Community Crisis Services.
It is essential that you keep us up to date on any changes.
ARRIVALS EACH MORNING:
SCHOOL HOURS: 8:00 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
WALKERS and THOSE DRIVEN TO SCHOOL:
As we open school this year, we ask your support around our opening and closing times.
All children who walk or are driven to school should not arrive here at school before 7:40 a.m. There is no adult supervision on the playgrounds before that time. Students who arrive for breakfast should arrive at 7:40 AM. If you have a special situation, please contact the principal.
Parents are asked to discuss important safety issues with their walking children. Please emphasize to children the need to use crosswalks and to cross Atkinson Street at the crossing where it meets School Street.
Should any of your walking children encounter any difficulties with strangers or with other children, please call the school and the local police.
BIKE RIDERS:
Pupils are to park their bikes on the School Street Playground where we have a bicycle parking area. Bicycles should not be left in front of the building. Helmet use is suggested for safety reasons. Bikes should be locked and helmets brought into the building. We cannot be responsible for bikes that are left on the playground. Children should walk their bikes inside the fenced areas.
BUS RIDERS:
The purpose of the bus transportation system is to provide safe and efficient transportation so that students may enjoy the fullest possible advantage from the district’s curriculum and extracurricular program.
To accomplish these purposes, the cooperation of students riding the buses is needed and expected. The privilege of riding a school bus is extended to students who:
1. Obey the reasonable orders of bus drivers necessary to maintain discipline on the bus.
2. Remain seated while the bus is in motion, keeping all parts of the body within the bus.
3. Refrain from fighting or abusing other
people and their property while on the bus.
4. Refrain from the use of tobacco products while on the bus.
5. Refrain from swearing or verbally abusing others while riding the bus.
6. Meet all liabilities caused by destruction of public property associated with bus transportation.
Lack of cooperation in any of the matters will be brought to the attention of parents. The principal will complete a preliminary investigation of written complaints filed by bus drivers and the principal will take appropriate action including the suspension of bus riding privileges for students who fail to comply with the reasonable rules of conduct for bus students. Bus drivers have authority to suspend students from riding for flagrant violations of bus conduct until the principal has investigated the problem.
BREAKFAST AND LUNCH:
Central Elementary School offers a healthy, nutritious breakfast every morning from 7:40 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. School breakfast may include cold cereal, bagels with cream cheese, fresh fruit, milk, and juice. The cost of a full breakfast is only $1.00. Children who qualify for free or reduced lunches will qualify for breakfast as well.
Lunch is served every day. Your child will have two choices for lunch each day. Milk is included with your lunch choice. Menus are sent home monthly. The cost of lunch is only $1.55. Parents are encouraged to pay for their child’s lunches by the week, or, if they choose, by the month.
For students choosing to bring lunch from home, milk will be available each day. The cost of a separate milk is 40 cents.
USE of TELEPHONE:
STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO USE THE TELEPHONE EXCEPT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. Children may not leave the class to use the phone or for any other purpose without their teacher’s permission. Please plan visits and after school activities before coming to school, as the office phone is for school business and emergencies.
PARENTS: PLEASE USE EXTREME DISCRETION IN CALLING THE SCHOOL TO LEAVE MESSAGES FOR YOUR CHILD SO THAT INTERRUPTION IN SCHOOL PROCEDURE CAN BE KEPT AT A MINIMUM.
CELL PHONES ARE NOT PERMITTED AT SCHOOL.
LEAVING SCHOOL:
Pupils may not ride home with persons other than their parents unless we receive written permission.
A note is required to ride a new bus, walk or ride with persons other than their parents, or to go home with friends. Students with no note will be sent home their normal way.
Children are not to leave the school grounds any time during the school day without signing out in the office. No child will be permitted to leave school or return home during the school day without contact between the school and the parents. Children are not allowed to walk home alone during the school day.
SCHOOL CLOSINGS:
Should school be closed for an emergency, or bad weather conditions, it will be reported on the local radio stations: WCFR 1480AM; 93.5FM, WKNE 103.7FM, and WTSA 96.7FM beginning at 6:00 a.m. This information will also be available on the Sover.net Website.
VISITATIONS:
The welcome mat is always out at Central School. Teachers are expected to supervise their classes when they are assembled in their classrooms so they cannot hold a conference with parents at this time.
Our staff welcomes visits from parents anytime. Please stop by
the office before proceeding to your child’s classroom. Teachers will be available for conferences between 3:00 – 3:30 p.m. on most days. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at the school and we would be happy to arrange a conference time for you.
HEALTH:
Ms. Anita Carlson-Allen, RN and Pam Murray, RN will be sharing one full time position of school nurse at the Central Elementary School. It is important for them to know of any hospitalizations, illnesses, or operations that your child has had, to update the health record. Please be sure to notify the nurse if your child gets head lice or scabies so other children in the class can be checked. This is important to reduce the spread of head lice or other communicable conditions. Routine head checks at home are encouraged.
Rest, Nutrition, and Hygiene are important for the school aged child. A child should receive 8 to 10 hours of sleep at night. Late night outings and sleepovers with a friend are best saved for the weekend. Breakfast is the child’s “fuel” for the morning, so help the child plan for time to eat breakfast. Please send a nutritious snack for your child at school. Hygiene should be maintained daily and health habits developed in the home.
Recess: All children are expected to go outside for recess, weather permitting, each day. Children need to be prepared for the weather and wear footwear safe for physical activities. If a child is well enough to come to school, she/he is expected to participate in physical education and recess unless there is a special problem. Any such excuse must be approved by the principal or school nurse.
Annual Routine Screenings performed by the school nurse are vision and hearing, height and weight, blood pressure ( grade 1 only ), and immunization record review. Please notify the school nurse if you have any concerns regarding the routine screening or if you would like to refer your child for an early vision or hearing screening or a recheck.
Medications: It is more desirable for medication – both prescription and over the counter - to be administered at home whenever possible. However, any student who is required to take medication during the school day must comply with the following regulations:
1. The school must have on file written or verbal orders from a physician detailing the name of the drug, dosage, and when the medication needs to be given. This is for prescription and non-prescription medicines.
2. The school must have written permission from the parent or guardian of a pupil requesting that the school district comply with the physician’s orders.
3. The prescribed medication must be brought to the school in a container appropriately labeled by the pharmacy or the physician and delivered to the school nurse by a responsible adult.
4. The school nurse shall provide a locked cabinet for the storage of such medication.
Tylenol and Benadryl may be given with parent’s signed permission on medical information sheet sent home at the start of school.
MEDICATION cannot travel back and forth to school with the child.
ILLNESS: All well children are expected to be in school every day. Any child who has an elevated temperature or has nausea and vomiting should remain at home until symptoms are gone. During the flu and cold season, children should be reminded to practice good hygiene. Routine handwashing is the best preventive against virus and bacteria. Children should not carry cough drops, lozenges, cold pills, or Tylenol to school. These are considered medications and the medication policy must be adhered to.
The Rockingham School Board encourages parents to preserve and protect each student’s general health. The Rockingham School Board recommends that each child receive a physical exam before entering Kindergarten or First Grade. A preschool child may receive immunizations free of charge through the Vt. Health Department. To make an appointment for the immunizations, or to get information on Dr. Dynasaur, an insurance plan for children, please call 1-802-885-5778. The school nurse can also assist with accessing this information.
GUIDANCE:
Cathy Siano, Sylvia Wooton and Laura Hoskins are our guidance counselors. Ms. Siano will work with both Saxtons River and Central Schools. Laura Hoskins and Sylvia Wooton will work at Central School.
They will provide a wide range of services. If you or your children are experiencing any difficulties, please contact one of them and they will
try to head things in the right direction.
TITLE I
The Central Elementary School has a “School-Wide” Title I program. In a school-wide program, federally funded resources (such as Title I Teachers) are available to serve all students in ways that best meet the instructional needs of the whole school. We currently use Title I funds from the Windham Northeast Supervisory Union to employ several teachers: Gail LaHaise, Kathy Miller, Kirsten Larson, and Amy Rawling.
SPECIAL EDUCATION:
We have numerous programs to serve children with Individual Educational Plans. Under Public Law 94-142, all identified as handicapped have a right to a free and appropriate education. If there is such a handicapped child in your home or neighborhood, please let us know.
Should you have any questions about our Special Education Programs or policies, please call Kim Nace, Central School Principal, or Sue Degener, Marcia Weil, Darlene Petke, or Shenon Mager, Special Educators, at
463-4346.
REPORTING to PARENTS:
We are the trustees of your student’s records. You are welcome to review your child’s test results and permanent folder. Call your child’s teacher, guidance counselor, or the principal to make an appointment. You will be notified yearly about your Privacy Rights and your student’s records.
SCHOOL DRESS:
School clothing should be functional and reflect the attitude of the student toward his job–learning. Play clothes, such as halter tops and short shorts, should be reserved for those activities other than school. School personnel have confidence in the judgment of our parents in the selection of clothing that is appropriate for school. Safety reasons suggest that clogs and sandals without backs should not be worn to school. Long dresses or long skirts hinder activity on the playground and the gym. During changing and cold weather, children should have warm clothing, since they spend a part of the day in outside play. Clothing of a suggestive nature is not allowed at school. If a child comes to school wearing inappropriate clothing,
you will be contacted to bring them a change of clothing or we will provide them with other clothing.
VOLUNTEERS:
Volunteers are always needed and useful.
Your services as a volunteer would be appreciated.
Some areas where volunteers can assist are:
1. Classroom 4. Library
2. Preparation of material 5. Artwork
3. Reading & sharing books 6. Lunchroom
with children 7. Playground Supervision
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact your child’s teacher or the school office.
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