SPEEDWAY

ACADEMIES

SOARS TO SUCCESS

School Policy Handbook

2014-2015

Atiba Buckman, Principal

701 South Orange Avenue, Newark,, New Jersey 07106

Office: (973) 374-2740 Fax: (973) 374-2152 School Website:

Contents

Introduction

School Vision

School Mission

Law Refresher: “It Goes Without Saying”

ACADEMIC INTERVENTION SERVICES (AIS)

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

ANECDOTAL RECORDS (See Attachment)

ASSEMBLIES

ASSESSMENT (See Attachment)

ATTENDANCE POLICY

BOOK OF THE MONTH (See Attachment)

BREAKFAST PROGRAM

BUILDING HOURS

BULLETIN BOARDS (See Attachment)

CHAIN OF COMMAND (See Attachment)

CHANGE OF ADDRESS/TELEPHONE NUMBER

CHANGE OF SCHEDULE

CHILD ABUSE (See Attachment)

CHILD STUDY TEAM (CST)

CLASSROOM CELEBRATIONS

CLASSROOM AND HALLWAY DISPLAYS

CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT TIPS

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

COMMON PLANNING PERIOD

DISCIPLINE

DISMISSAL

DRESS CODE

DUPLICATION

E-MAIL

EMERGENCY HOME CONTACT FORM

FACULTY CONFERENCES

FAX MACHINES

FIRE DRILLS

FIRST AID

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL IS SEPTEMBER 4, 2014

ALL OTHER SCHOOL DAYS

FLOW OF THE DAY PROCEDURES / LESSON PLANS

FOOD/BEVERAGES

FRONT DOOR SECURITY

FURNITURE

GLOVES

GUIDANCE REFERRALS

GUM CHEWING

HALL PASSES/STUDENT HALL TRAFFIC/USE OF RESTROOM

HOMEWORK POLICY

INCIDENT REPORTS

In case of an incident or accident, whether to a child, staff member or visitor, an incident report is to be completed immediately following the occurrence. File an incident report for all school incidents no matter how minor. Indicate all details and statements from adults (teaches, aides present, etc.)

INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM (IEP)

INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING PLAN (ILP)

INTERNET (See Attachment)

INTRUDER ALERT

KEYS

LATE PICK UP OF CHILDREN

LATE PICK UP OF FACULTY

LETTERS TO BE SENT HOME

LETTER TO THE FILE PROCEDURES

LUNCH PERIODS

LUNCHROOM PROCEDURES

MAILBOX PROCEDURES

MAINTENANCE COPY REQUEST

MEDICATION PROCEDURES

MEET YOUR TEACHER

TEACHER’S AIDES, 1-1 AIDES, PARAPROFESSIONALS, CLASS ASSIGNED NURSES

PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION (PTO)

PARENT CONFERENCES

PARENT/TEACHER AFTERNOON CONFERENCES

PARENT LIAISON

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

PERSONAL PROPERTY

PHOTOS OF STUDENTS (Media Consent Form Attached)

POTENTIAL HOLDOVERS

PREPARATION PERIODS

PRINCIPAL’S MONTHLY CALENDAR

PRINCIPLES OF LEARNING (For Effort-Based Education)

PROFESSIONAL SPACE

PROGRAM CARDS

PROMOTION POLICY (See Attachment)

PUBLISHING CELEBRATIONS PROCEDURES

READING RESPONSES

REPORTING OF INCIDENT

RESERVING SPACE

ROOM DECOR

SCHOOL BULLETINS/TEACHING BULLETINS ETC. (See Attachment)

SCHOOL-WIDE ROUTINE TEACHING PROCEDURES

SPEEDWAY ACADEMIES ONLINE

SPECIAL EDUCATION REFERRALS / SST

SST COMMITTEE (Intervention and Referral Service)

STAFF ABSENCE POLICY (See NTU Handbook)

STAFF EMERGENCY CONTACT FORMS

STAFF LATENESS POLICY

STAFF WORKROOM

STORM DAY PROCEDURES

STUDENT ABSENCE/ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES

STUDENT BILL OF RIGHTS (See Attached)

STUDENT/PARENT HANDBOOK

SUBSTITUTE TEACHER PLANS

SUPERVISORY VISITS

TEACHER EVALUATION / NEW FRAMEWORK (See Attachment)

TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT

TELEPHONE / CELLULAR PHONE USAGE

TELEVISION

TIME-ON TASK

TRIPS

VIDEO AND AUDIO IMAGE RELASE

WINDOWS/DOORS

WORK FOLDERS

Dear Faculty and Staff:

Welcome back to another year of teaching and learning. As we revisit the intent of this handbook, it is important that you utilize its contents for effective daily functioning at Speedway Academies. In most cases, the guide lists policies and procedures that have been in place for many years. However, there are some changes to these policies and procedures, and they should be noted. Some of the policies and procedures will be modified as the school year progresses. Please refer to the handbook when necessary and direct all questions to the Vice Principals or the Principal.

In closing, I would like to wish each and every staff member a healthy, active and successful year of teaching and learning. As part of the SPEEDWAY ACADEMIES community, we all know that our students can achieve success and go on to become productive citizens in our community and society.

In Service with Kids,

Atiba Buckman

Principal

Introduction

The SPEEDWAY ACADEMIES Staff Handbook has been prepared to acquaint you with important policies, procedures, rules, and activities of SPEEDWAY ACADEMIES. It has been made as inclusive as possible. You are encouraged to read the entire handbook. Please take time to read the book & retain it for future reference, since it is important that you follow the procedures & rules that have been established.

School Vision

To cultivate a school community that honors the talent and differences of each student, culminating in lifelong learners and productive citizens, competitive in a global economy.

School Mission

SpeedwayAcademies will collaborate with our parents, community members, staff, and students to create a safe, supportive, and diverse environment, promoting high expectations and standards through professional development, workshops and rigorous tasks, ensuring that all students meet their potential.

Law Refresher: “It Goes Without Saying”

Please review the online Discipline and Policy PDF documents outlined as follows:

Discipline CodeP.16-21
Discipline PolicyP. 34-36
Weapons PolicyP. 41
Student Rights & ResponsibilitiesP. 74-85
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Illegal Substances PolicyP. 89-95

Cell phone Agreement (Students)P. 104

Student Attendance PolicyP. 105

In addition, please review the following documents, which are attached:

  • Safety and Security
  • Professional Decorum
  • Student Discipline Code
  • Absent/Lateness Policies
  • Student Bill of Rights
  • Trip Regulations
  • Harassment Policy

These entire documents are available for your review in the Main Office.

ACADEMIC INTERVENTION SERVICES (AIS)

Academic Intervention Services must be provided for all students not meeting the standards for the grade.

Remember: All students can learn, but not at the same rate.

It is the teacher’s responsibility to maintain the evidence of providing a differentiated curriculum for students who are below grade level and in need of academic intervention services. All work done with assistance is to be marked “AIS”.

AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Often classrooms are used for an after school activity. If a classroom is used for a program, the teacher assigned to the room for the day school program will be unable to remain in the room after the class is dismissed.

ANECDOTAL RECORDS (See Attachment)

An anecdotal record documents incidents of behavior. It tells what the child did or said, describes concretely the situation in which the action or comment occurred, and tells clearly what other persons did or said.

Please fill out the Anecdotal Record at:

ASSEMBLIES

  • Monthly assemblies will be held throughout the school year. Teachers are expected to actively supervise their students during an assembly.
  • Each class or combined classes on a grade will be scheduled to perform a literature-based assembly program. Parents will be invited to these presentations.
  • Classes are to be seated as they arrive in the auditorium. They are to use seats from the end of the row and continue using seats until the entire class is seated. Classes are to sit in their designated seats unless directed otherwise.
  • Children are not to be permitted to leave the auditorium during an assembly program unless it is an absolute emergency.
  • Teachers are required to situate themselves with the class and are expected to constantly enforce and review proper auditorium behavior with their class. Remind the students that we show our appreciation for something we like by applauding or clapping our hands; we do not use our voices. Also, remind students that if we do not like something they are to sit quietly and not boo.

ASSESSMENT (See Attachment)

Assessment measures how well students are doing in school. In addition to giving actionable feedback on students’ progress, assessment provides important information to school staff and parents to guide them in helping students meet promotion standards and earn promotion to the net grade. Assessments are provided in English and/or the student’s native language where appropriate and available.

What Types of Assessments are Used?

Across the different grade levels various types of assessments are used:

Data binders, portfolio assessment, Teacher’s College Reading and Writing Assessment, Running Records, Benchmark, SRI, MAP, and A-NET are some of the assessment tools used at different grade levels to monitor student progress towards mastery.Instructionally targeted Assessments are all essential to effective instruction. Each assessment focuses on individual performance standards and gauges student progress and achievement.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

  • Daily attendance must becompleted by 9:00 AM
  • Grades 5-8 must do “in–room” daily attendance per period in a log book. If a student is cutting class, notify security.

BOOK OF THE MONTH (See Attachment)

BREAKFAST PROGRAM

Breakfast is served in the Cafeteria daily from 7:45– 8:10 AM. Students enter the cafeteria from the side entrance and are picked up by their teachers promptly at 8:05 from their assigned places on the playground at the side of the building (grades K-2) and in the back of the building (grades 3-8). In the event of inclement weather, K-2 students will eat and remain in the cafeteria while students in Grades 3-8 will pick up their breakfast from the cafeteria and take it up to the gym where they will remain until their teacher picks them up at 8:05. At no time should breakfast be served in the classroom.

BUILDING HOURS

The building is open from 7 AM to 4 PM daily for staff. Entry is ONLY through the main doors at the front of the building.

BULLETIN BOARDS (See Attachment)

Bulletin Boards are an opportunity to promote the school program and your classroom progress and accomplishments through an advertising medium – the parents and the children. It is advised that the principles set forth below be applied to classroom and hallway bulletin boards.

A good color scheme provides eye appeal. It is attractive and artistically harmonious.

Bulletin boards are to be well arranged so content can be easily viewed.

Hallway bulletin boards are to be changed monthly – no later than the 5th of each month. Incomplete bulletin boards on the 5th must be labeled as “under construction.”

Mount work on colored construction paper.

Use a smart title with some punch to it. Titles and subtitles make each part stand out. Make sure to label the bulletin board with the appropriate performance standard. (e.g. a response to literature).

Use letters that are large enough to be seen by viewers at a distance.

Bulletin boards should reflect your present instructional program.

Use students’ work as the main subject.

A bulletin board is an invitation to read and look. It should be attractive and hold children’s interest.

Label hallway bulletin boards with classroom number and teacher responsible for the work posted.

All children’s work is to be current. Papers on display should not be more than three weeks old.

To prevent damage to walls, use sticky tack or blue painter’s tape when attaching items directly to wall.

CHAIN OF COMMAND (See Attachment)

In emergency situations, it is of the utmost importance that there be a smooth decision making process if the principal is not present in the building. The absence of clear direction could lead to confusion and panic, which could endanger life. Activation of security measures is based upon the decision of the principal. If the principal is not present in the building, the alternate assumes responsibility i.e. the Vice Principal. In the event that they are absent, you will be informed of the assumption of responsibility. The chain of command is posted in the Main Office and in the school safety plan.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS/TELEPHONE NUMBER

Please notify the School Operations Manager, Mr. Cruz, or his delegate, if you learn a student has changed address or phone number.

CHANGE OF SCHEDULE

Any change in the daily schedule will be posted on the office bulletin board each morning.

CHILD ABUSE (See Attachment)

CHILD STUDY TEAM (CST)

The Child Study Team (CST) consists of a social worker and a school psychologist. The CST Team evaluates a student who has been referred to Special Education and makes a recommendation regarding the best possible program for the students.

CLASSROOM CELEBRATIONS

The Main Office and the Principal must be notified in writing of scheduled celebrations with a minimum of one week’s notice. Birthday parties are not allowed without permission of the Principal in writing.

CLASSROOM AND HALLWAY DISPLAYS

All work displayed must meet the standards. Work that has errors in it should indicate the process, along with the revised artifact in order to display growth.

CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE

Discipline plays an important part in classroom management and procedures. It is the teacher’s responsibility to teach discipline. Teachers will only be as successful as their classroom procedures allow them to be. If a teacher cannot handle their students, they will not be effective as a classroom teacher. Behavior in or around school is an extension of classroom discipline. Discipline and the handling of students are very important during the entire year, but it is essential during the first few months of the school year.

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT TIPS

  1. Desks must be cleared before each lesson and only pertinent material should remain on the children’s desks.
  2. Instruct the children to line up appropriately.
  3. Instruct the children to begin to work promptly upon arrival.
  4. Instruct the children to use the uniform heading:

SpeedwayAcademies / Name
Class / Date

Develop sound routines and good work habits in maintaining notebooks. Remember parents usually review their child’s notebooks daily. Please remember to make actionable feedback comments regularly. Comments should be written in full sentences in order to model proper sentence structure.

Line-Up Routines aka ‘HALLS’

  1. Establish where in the room the children will line up. There should always be only 1 line with the teacher walking/monitoring from the back of the line
  2. Set up an orderly procedure for getting on line. (e.g., leaving space for those who line up in front of you; way to walk on line, etc.)
  3. No talking, pushing, etc. on line.
  4. Establish a routine with the class that will allow you or another adult to pass your line on the staircase or in the hall.
  5. Establish a routine for standing on the staircase (e.g. one child per step). Encourage children to use the banisters.
  6. Establish a walking routine that includes designated stopping points, i.e., a doorway, a corner, a tier in the stairwell.
  7. Grades 3-8 teachers should always be in the hallway with their class when locker logistics are taking place during the school day.

Establish Classroom Standards

  • Develop a code of behavior. Display the rules in the classroom.
  • Establish consequences for breaking an established rule. Included may be the following:
  • Raise hands in class – no calling out.
  • No talking during class or on line.
  • Establish a procedure for leaving the room.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

To avoid conflict, all dates and times for committee meetings are to be cleared with the principal. The principal will enter them on the master calendar and place them on the bi-weekly bulletin. All committee meetings are open meetings and must be posted on the daily notice bulletin board.

COMMON PLANNING PERIOD

Grade conferences will be held weekly during a common preparation period. These are professional conferences and all teachers are required to attend on time.

DISCIPLINE

Teaching cannot take place unless children are interested and attentive. Children must be taught to be attentive. Children are not to be sent on errands except in an emergency. Establish definite classroom rules.

Do not send for a supervisor for a minor infraction. THIS SHOULD BE YOUR LASTRESORT.

Do not blow whistles in classrooms, hallways, and/or on staircases.

Document all serious offenses or recurring incidents.Don’t wait – keep anecdotal record if you suspect a problem.(See Section on Anecdotal Records).

  • Do not use the lunchroom or gym as punishment.
  • The behavior took place in your classroom and discipline is your responsibility; not the responsibility of the person in charge of the lunchroom or gym.
  • A teacher is never permitted to place a child in the hallway or the corner of the room for discipline purposes. Establish an in-classroom reflection or cool down area.
  • Teachers are responsible for addressing behavior issues in all school areas.
  • Student behavior is an extension of classroom discipline.
  • Teachers may not call parents to pick up their students, as a discipline measure, without administrator approval.

To refer a student to after-school detention, please contact the Dean of Students (Mr. Johnson). After-school detention is offered three times a week, separated by grade level.

DISMISSAL

NO CHILD IS TO BE DISMISSED ALONE

  • Line up your class only 1-2 minutes before dismissal time. Longer waiting periods reduce disaster.
  • Never dismiss your class prior to scheduled dismissal time.
  • Bus students will be escorted to their specified dismissal area at 3:30 pm.
  • Dismissal is at 3:30 PM. K through grade 2 will dismiss through the cafeteria doors. Grade 3 will dismiss through Stairway 5. Grade 4 will dismiss through Stairway 4. Grades 6 – 8 will dismiss through Stairway 3 to the gym to Stairway 2.
  • Teachersare to escort the class to the exit during dismissals, using standard “Line-Up Routines / HALLS” procedure.
  • Do not line up on the staircase before dismissal time waiting to dismiss your class.
  • Keep a list of children who are picked up by parents, baby-sitters, siblings, etc.
  • Children who are not picked up by an adult or older sibling are to be brought to the cafeteria and left under the supervision of the staff member on duty.
  • The staff will contact the parents of the child and only release the child to a parent/guardian who is listed on the emergency record.
  • If the parent/guardian is not listed on the emergency form, a supervisor must be notified for approval to dismiss students.

Teachers are not to allow unauthorized adults to enter the school through the side or rear entrances. Instruct them to enter the building via the main entrance on South Orange Avenue.