Coleman Elementary

Family

Handbook

style

Coleman Elementary School

3312 Beck Road

St. Joseph, MO 64506

Phone: 816-671-4100

Fax: 816-671-4101

Table of Contents

I. Coleman Rules, Procedures, PBS Information & Matrixp. 3-14

II. SJSD Elementary Handbookp. 15-45

III. Title I Informationp. 46

a. Parents Right to Knowp. 47

b. NCLB Complaint Resolution/Proceduresp. 48

c. Parental Information & Resource Centerp. 49

General Attendance Information:

Arrival Time: 7:55 a.m.

Breakfast Served: 7:55-8:15 a.m.

School Begins: 8:15 a.m.

Tardy Bell: 8:15 a.m.

School Dismisses: 3:15 p.m.

Arrival: Students not arriving on the bus are to plan their arrival for 7:55 a.m. We do not have staff on duty until 7:55 a.m., therefore students are not admitted into the school prior to that time. Please do not bring your child to school before 7:55 a.m.

If a student intends to eat breakfast, they need to make plans to arrive between 7:55 and 8:15 a.m. K-3 students will pick up their breakfast and go to the cafeteria to eat. Students in grades 4-6 will pick up their breakfast from a kiosk outside the 6th grade classroom and report to their classrooms.

If students are not eating breakfast, they are not required to arrive before 8:15 a.m. If students arrive between 7:55 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. and they are not eating breakfast, students in grades K-3 will report to the gym and students in 4-6 will report to their classrooms.

When dropping off your students in the morning, please make sure to drop them off them off in the lower parking lot (East of the main school drive). The students can walk up the stairs to the front door. The loop in front of the school is reserved for the busses, only.

Tardies: Prompt arrival at school is expected of all students. Late arrival disrupts class and causes a loss of instructional time. Any student who arrives after 8:15 a.m. is considered tardy. A parent should accompany their child to the office to sign him/her in if they are tardy. Consistent tardiness may be referred to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. Tardiness does effect perfect attendance.

Dismissal: Dismissal will begin at 3:15 p.m.

During dismissal of car riders and walkers in the lower parking lot, we appreciate your help in forming two lines to create an easier flow for traffic. We will have staff that will assist your children in getting to the car in a safe manner.

If you must get out of your car to pick up your child, please park in a space. This will help the traffic flow to allow other parents to get into the lot to pick up their children.

Student Dismissal Precautions/Requests:

1. The building principal or designee shall not excuse a student before the end of the school day without a request for early dismissal by the student’s parent or guardian.

2. When a parent has to pick up a child early due to an illness or an unavoidable appointment, you will be requested to report to the office first. The secretary will call the student to the office while you sign the child out. All students must be signed OUT by an authorized person and signed IN (if they return before the end of the day) with office personnel in the school office.

3. Children of estranged parents will be released only to the parent when the court holds directly responsible for the child, and who is the parent or guardian registered on the school records unless the custodial parent grants permission. Please provide the school with appropriate legal documents regarding custody rights.

4. Students must have a note from home each time they are going home a different way than their normal plan. This would include having a note if they intend to go home with friends from both sets of parents.

5. Students without a note will be required to go home at the end of the day following their designated routine. Notes are required for the safety of your child.

6. Any student that is not picked up during dismissal will be brought to the office to contact their parents for pick up. For your child’s safety, parents will have to come into the office and sign their child out upon arriving at the school.

Picking Up Your Child After School: For the safety of your child and the consideration of classroom teachers, please arrange to meet your child outside the school building when picking him/her up after school. This causes fewer classroom interruptions, less congestion in the hallways, and provides for the safety and security of our students. Your respect and consideration of this request is appreciated.

Parents/Visitors Before or After School: Parents or visitors are not allowed to stand by classrooms waiting for school to begin or after school to pick up their student. Any parent wanting to come early must make an appointment with a particular teacher or wait outside the building until the office opens. If a parent comes to pick up their child early, the parent must come to the office to sign the student out.

Attendance/Absences: Regular attendance is essential for student success in school. The daily classroom experience, presentations of skills and materials, collaborative group work, and student/teacher interaction cannot be made up with make-up assignments. The learning experience is more than a passing grade on a final test or paper.

We thank you in advance for making every effort to see that your child is in school on time each and every day that school is in session. If for any reason your child is going to be absent, parents should notify the school by phone (671-4100) between 8:00-9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence. The school secretary will contact all parents who have not notified the school by 9:00 a.m. Excessive absences will be referred to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Students who are absent are expected to make up their work. Homework may be picked up at the end of the day if a parent makes a request through the school office. Otherwise, students will need to get their homework from their classroom teacher upon their return to school.

Any time that a student is not in the building between 8:15 a.m. and 3:15 p.m., it will be marked against their attendance.

See page13of the handbook for information about the SJSD Attendance Policy.

Perfect Attendance: For students to qualify for perfect attendance, they must be at school each day, on time, and cannot leave early for any reason, i.e.: doctor appt.

Withdrawal of Students: If you are moving and withdrawing your child from Coleman School, please contact the school a few days prior to the withdrawal date. This will give staff time to complete the necessary paperwork and to get school supplies ready to send home. Please make sure that all books are returned to school prior to withdrawal.

Inclement Weather: In case of inclement weather, please do not contact the school office. Parents and students will be informed of school cancellation or early dismissal by the local television and radio stations.

KQTVChannel 2/10Television

SJSDChannel 41Television

KSJQ92.7 FMRadio

KKJO105.5 FMRadio

KFEQ680 AMRadio

KGMN1270 AMRadio

KSFT1550 AMRadio

As a rule, school cancellations are decided by 7:00 a.m. and early dismissals are decided by 12:00 p.m. This may vary, however, due to weather conditions.

PLEASE, instruct your child as to where they are to go in the event of an early dismissal due to inclement weather.

Safety and Security: This continues to be a priority for our school. All doors will be locked during the school day for the safety and protection of Coleman’s students and staff. All visitors are required to sign in and out in the office on the Visitors Log and wear a Visitors Badge. The staff has picture ID badges to wear for identification purposes and to allow them access into the school.

We ask that you help us with this rule that is intended for the safety of the students and staff. Staff members and safety patrols have been asked to refrain from opening doors for parents that are knocking on the doors requesting to be let in. At the end of the day, office staff will be unable to buzz people in from 3:00 p.m. until dismissal so that messages can be given to students and end of day announcements can be completed.

Safety Patrol: Coleman Safety Patrols will be on duty each morning from 7:50-8:10 a.m. and each afternoon from 3:15-3:30 p.m. The following intersections and crosswalks will have patrols:

Beck and 33rd Terrace

Bus Loading Zones

Fifth and sixth grade students serve at Safety Patrols. Students may apply at the end of their 4th grade year to serve as a regular or substitute patrol. Mrs. Brennan and Mrs. Pierson are the Safety Patrol Sponsors. Students and parents are expected to respect the requests of the Safety Patrols.

Items Brought From Home: Students come to school to learn. Trinkets and toys distract from the learning process. No items shall be brought from home without prior approval of the teacher or the principal. This would include toys, pets, MP3 players, iPods, electronica games, tracing cards, CD players, coins, anything of value, etc. The school will not be held responsible for the loss or damage of such items. These items will be held by the principal or teacher and may be picked up by a parent after school.

Cell Phones: Students are discouraged from bringing cell phones to school and cell phones are not allowed to be used during school hours. The school will not be held responsible for the loss or damage to cell phones.

Parents, please be respectful of the learning environment and turn your cell phones to vibrate while in our building.

Dangerous Items: Dangerous items including, but not limited to, ammunition, knives, matches, lighters, or toy weapons are not to be brought to school. If such items are found to be a in child’s possession, items will be confiscated by the principal and the child’s parents will be notified. Consequences will be handled following school board policy as outlined on pages20, 21, and 24in this handbook.

The use and/or possession of drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or firearms are prohibited. Any student who violates this rule is subject to the provisions of the School Board Policy found on pages 18, 23, and 24. The rules apply on the way to and from school, at the bus stop, during lunch, and at school sponsored activities.

Vandalism: ALL writing in books, on walls and furniture, rough treatment, damage or misuse of equipment or facilities is considered vandalism. This could result in logical consequences and/or reimbursement by parents for repairs or replacement of such items.

Accidents and Illness: Every precaution will be taken to prevent accidents. If a child is injured or becomes ill at school, a parent will be contacted immediately. If a parent cannot be reached, the nurse or other designated personnel will use the emergency contact information provided earlier by the parent on the Registration and/or Medication Information Sheets. Please make sure the person designated has agreed to assume this responsibility. In the case of an emergency, if a person cannot be reached, an ambulance may be called if necessary.

Parents are discouraged from sending their children to school if they have been ill that morning, even if they feel better. If you child has a temperature, we ask that you keep him/her home until they are fever free for 24 hours. Also, students should be vomit and diarrhea free for 24 hours before returning to school.

Discipline Information and Student Behavior: It is the purpose of the St. Joseph School District to establish and maintain a safe, orderly environment in which students can learn and grow. In order to maintain that environment, rules and regulations are established by the school district, the building, and within each individual classroom. Coleman students are expected to follow the rules that have been established. When student behavior becomes disruptive, harmful to property/others, or interferes with learning, teachers or the principal will notify parents about the incident, responsibility, and consequences.

It is our desire to keep parents informed and involved in the needs of their children. When in-school discipline is necessary on a frequent or regular basis, parents will be notified. Advance notice and confirmation regarding after-school detention will be obtained.

If a student receives a discipline notice, it is to be signed by the parent and returned the next day.

Note: There are certain circumstances under the Missouri Safe Schools Act (Missouri Law 1996) that requires police to be contacted and school disciplinary action is mandated.

Homework Policy: Any assignment not completed at school during the school days is considered homework. Nightly reading is also considered homework. Homework is the responsibility of each student. Parents will be notified if their student has difficulty with taking care of this responsibility.

Suggestions for completing assignments:

1. Write assignments in your agenda.

2. Collect everything you need to complete the assignment and take it home with you.

3. Complete the assignment in the time allowed.

4. Turn in assignment as required.

If your child is absent due to illness or an excused absence, make-up work will be provided. Students or their parents are responsible for requesting the make-up work.

1. Parents should request the work by 10:00 a.m. to pick it up at the end of the day, between 3:15-4:00 p.m., or by special arrangement.

2. You may make arrangements beforehand to have other students pick up the schoolwork for your child.

Textbooks and Library Books: All textbooks are furnished free of charge to students who attend the St. Joseph Public Schools. Library books are available for Coleman students for check out. Students are expected to exercise reasonable and proper care while using the district owned textbooks and library books. In the event that a book is lost or damaged, cost for repair or replacement will be charged when appropriate.

Telephone: The office telephone is a business phone and is not to be used by the students except in an emergency. Students are not allowed to use the phone to make personal arrangements, such as requesting permission to go to another student’s home after school, homework, band instruments, etc. The office staff may make exceptions as necessary.

Parents are reminded to communicate clearly to their children regarding after school activities and transportation before the child arrives at school each day. Students are expected to the follow their “normal plan” unless the school is otherwise notified. This avoids confusion on the part of the student and staff and keeps our phone lines open for emergencies.

Coleman Breakfast, Lunch, and Cafeteria Information: Coleman School has a computerized accounting system in which parents can deposit money on-line or send the money/check to school in an envelope with the student name, teacher name, and amount enclosed. Free and Reduced Lunch Applications will be sent home at the beginning of the year. During the year if family circumstances change, additional applications are available in the office.

We ask that no glass bottles, jars or metal containers with sharp lids, including canned drinks be brought to school in the student’s lunches they bring from home. Also, students are not allowed to have soda or other carbonated beverages with their lunches.

Low balance notices will be sent home with students every week. Please make sure to submit payment in a timely fashion. Our kitchen staff is eager to answer any questions your may have regarding your child’s lunch account.

Parents are invited to join their children for lunch anytime. We ask that you notify the school office in advance to order your lunch. Parents will need to bring exact change or use their child’ lunch account.

Child BreakfastChild Lunch

Full Price: FreeFull Price: $2.40

Reduced Price: FreeReduced Price: $0.40

Lunch Schedule: May be subject to change if need be.

11:00-11:30 Kindergarten

11:10-11:40 5thGrade

11:20-11:50 2nd Grade

11:40-12:10 6thGrade

11:50-12:20 3rd Grade

12:00-12:30 1st Grade

12:10-12:40 4th Grade

Gum and Candy: Students are not to have gum or candy at school, on the busses, or playground UNLESS this treat is provided by the teacher, principal or PTA.

Holidays and Birthdays – Treats and Food: PTA sponsors two special parties per school year. This number and the time limits are set by school district policy.

Many students request to bring treats to school on their birthdays to share with their classmates. Permission must be obtained from the classroom teacher prior to the treats being brought to school. Healthy treats are encouraged. Please do not send gum. All items that are used as class treats, whether for a birthday or room party, must be commercially prepared and packaged. No food items are to be baked or prepared in a private home and brought to school for distribution.

Invitations for Parties Outside of School: Students who want to send out invitations for home parties should only send invitations to school when all of the students in the class or at least all of the boys or all of the girls will be getting one. We want to avoid hurt feelings for those not invited.