North Mercer R-III
School District
2016-2017
Elementary Student
Handbook
Dear Parents and Students:
WELCOME TO NORTH MERCER R-III ELEMENTARY!
This handbook has been prepared to help answer questions and to provide both students and parents with a better understanding of the rules and procedures of the North Mercer R-III Elementary School. We hope that this information will contribute to a close working relationship between the home and school to give each child the best possible education. This handbook will be given to all students entering North Mercer R-III School. Unless changes are made, it is to be kept for referral during the elementary grades (PK-6). If lost or destroyed, a copy will be on file at the Principal’s office for review. Our goal is to provide every child with the educational opportunities to develop to the maximum of his/her ability.
All parents are invited to visit school at any time. We welcome your calls concerning questions, problems or comments about your children’s education. The office phone number is 382-4214.
We look forward to working with you to make this school year an enjoyable and educationally profitable one for you and your children.
Sincerely,
Kim Palmer
NORTH MERCER R-III SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the North Mercer R-III School District is to inspire life-long learning.
The vision of the North Mercer R-III School District is to become a community that supports student growth so that all students have the skills to be successful citizens in our changing world.
To demonstrate these values, the school has made these collective commitments to our students and their parents:
The North Mercer R-III School District will ensure student learning through:
A. A safe and orderly school climate.
B. Instructional leadership demonstrated by the school principal.
C. High expectations of teachers for learning success of students.
D. Strong emphasis on academic achievement.
E. Frequent monitoring of student progress.
F. Supportive home-school relations.
G. Equal educational opportunities for every student.
H. Support for students who do not learn.
I. Enrichment when students do learn.
Revised Fall 2013
OUR BELIEF AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL
We believe that our school is a laboratory of learning where our teachers and your child work together to develop their ability and potential.
Through our contacts with you and your child, we expect to bring about changes. We believe that:
1. Each child should be equipped with knowledge of reading, writing, arithmetic, language, geography, history, etc., according to his/her level of development and become lifelong learners equipped to take an active role in society.
2. Each child should develop good work and study habits and should appreciate and respect the dignity of work.
3. Each child should develop emotional stability and become a happy, well- adjusted person.
4. Each child should respect the abilities and rights of others and learn to live well with other people.
5. Each child should develop an appreciation of beauty.
6. Each child should develop healthy habits and attitudes through a quality character education program.
NORTH MERCER R-III PUBLIC NOTICE
All responsible public agencies are required to locate, evaluate, and identify children with disabilities who are under the jurisdiction of the agency, regardless of the severity of the disability, including children attending private schools, highly mobile children, such as migrant and homeless children, and children who are suspected of having a disability and in need of special education even though they are advancing from grade to grade. The North Mercer R-III School District assures that it will provide a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) to all eligible children with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21 under its jurisdiction. Disabilities include autism, deaf/blindness, emotional disorders, hearing impairment and deafness, mental retardation, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairments, specific learning disabilities, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment/blindness and young child with a developmental delay.
The North Mercer R-III School District assures that it will provide information and referral services necessary to assist the State in the implementation of early intervention services for infants and toddlers eligible for the Missouri First Steps program.
The North Mercer R-III School District assures that personally identifiable information collected, used, or maintained by the agency for the purposes of identification, evaluation, placement or provision of FALPE of children with disabilities may be inspected and/or reviewed by their parents/guardians. Parents/guardians may request amendment to the educational record if the parent/guardian believes the record is inaccurate, misleading, or violates the privacy or other rights of their child. Parents have the right to file complaints with the U.S. Department of Education or the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education concerning alleged failures by the district to meet the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
The North Mercer R-III School District has developed a Local Compliance Plan for the implementation of State Regulations for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This plan contains the agency’s policies and procedures regarding storage, disclosure to third parties, retention and destruction of personally identifiable information and the agency’s assurances that services are provided in compliance with the General Education Provision Act (GEPA). This plan may be reviewed in the office of the Superintendent of Schools, 400 Main Street, Mercer, MO, during regular school hours on days school is in session.
Local school districts in the State of Missouri are required to conduct an annual census of all children with disabilities or suspected disabilities from birth to age twenty-one (21) that reside in the district. This census must be compiled by December 1 of each year. This information is treated as confidential and must include: name of the child; parent/legal guardian’s name/address; birth date and age of the child; the child’s disability; and the services provided to the child. If you have a child with a disability or know of a child with a disability who is not attending the public school, please contact Patty Stark, Special Education Coordinator, 660-382-4214.
North Mercer R-III School District is in compliance with all laws and procedures regarding nondiscrimination including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1974 and the American Disabilities Act (ADA). It is the policy of the school district that no person, on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or handicap, shall be discriminated against in employment, educational programs, and activities and admission. The school district will also provide an environment free of sexual harassment. All such policies include grievance procedures. Should a student, parent, staff member, or community person have reason to believe they have been discriminated against or sexually harassed, they should refer to the grievance procedure outlined in the Board of Education policy. All inquires regarding implementation of any guidelines of these programs should be directed to Superintendent of Schools, 22931 Main Street, Mercer, MO, phone 660-382-4214.
This notice will be provided in native languages as appropriate.
2016-2017 North Mercer R-III
School Calendar
August 12 Teacher In-service/Workday
August 15 Teacher In-service/Workday
August 16 Teacher In-service/Workday (Aides First Day)
August 17 First Day of School
September 2 Dismiss 12:30 – Labor Day
September 5 Labor Day – No school
September 16 Teacher In-Service/Workday
October 17 End of First Quarter
October 20 Dismiss at 12:30 - Parent/Teacher Conferences 2-8 p.m.
October 21 No School
November 11 Dismiss at 12:30--Teacher In-Service
November 23 No School – Thanksgiving Break
November 24 No School – Thanksgiving Break
November 25 No School – Thanksgiving Break
December 20 End of Second Quarter/First Semester
Dismiss 12:30 – Winter Break begins
December 21 No School – Begin Winter Break
January 3 Teacher In-Service/Workday
January 4 School Resumes
January 16 No School – MLK Day (Snow Make-Up Day)
January 27 No School - Teacher In-Service/Workday
February 17 No School– Teacher In-service/ Workday
February 20 No School – President’s Day (Snow Make-Up)
March 7 End of Third Quarter
March 9 Dismiss 12:30 - Parent/Teacher Conferences 2-8 p.m.
March 10 No School
April 14 No School—Good Friday/Spring Break
April 17 No School – Spring Break
April 18 No School - Spring Break
May 11 Dismiss 12:30 - End of Fourth Quarter – Last Day of School
May 12 Teacher Workday/In-Service (Snow Make-up Days)
May 15 Teacher Workday/In-Service (Snow Make-up Days May May 16-17 Snow Make-up Days
Student Days: 168 Teacher Aide Days: 174 Teacher Days: 179
North Mercer R-III Elementary School
Faculty and Staff
2016-2017
Superintendent: Mr. Dan Owens
Elementary Principal Mrs. Kim Palmer
Curriculum Director: Mrs. Lisa Prichard
Elementary Counselor: Mrs. Lauren Guilkey
Preschool: Mrs. Shandra Gibson
Kindergarten: Mrs. B.J. Passmore
First Grade: Mrs. Megan Martin
Second Grade: Mrs. Jody Owens
Third Grade: Mr. Doug Eldridge
4-5-6 SS/Science Ms. Janet Searcy
4-5-6 Communication Arts Mr. Wes Guilkey
4-5-6 Mathematics Mrs. Tara Martin
Art: Mrs. Jonnie Beavers
Library: Mrs. Lisa Prichard
Music: Ms. Jessica Gannon
Physical Education/Health: Mrs. Angie Couchman
Title One: Mrs. Krista Snow
Special Education Mr. Josh Stiles
Reading First Coach/Speech Implementer Mrs. Lori Hartley
Parents as Teachers: Mrs. Tori Hague
At-Risk Coordinator: Mr. Dan Owens
School Nurse: Mrs. Kelly Cowan
Paraprofessionals:
Title One/Library: Mrs. Ginny Niemeyer
Preschool: Mrs. Erin Nall
Special Education: Mrs. Kay Wyatt
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SCHOOL ADMITTANCE
In accordance with Missouri School Law, Section 160.051, a child must be five (5) years of age before August 1, to be eligible for Kindergarten during the current school year. A child entering first grade must be six (6) years of age before August 1. A copy of the official birth certificate of the child is needed for school records. All immunization records must be up to date.
BUILDING AND GROUNDS
The school building/grounds belong to you, your parents, your neighbors, and your friends. They are public property and are here for your use. We will do our best to keep them clean and in good repair. North Mercer is a small school with limited funds, thus, money spent on carelessness, damage, or loss, is taking away from the main purpose of the school, the best education possible.
SCHEDULE OF HOURS
The North Mercer R-III Elementary runs a class schedule from 8:10 AM - 3:14 PM for grades K-6. Students who ride the bus will be dismissed from class and will walk directly to the bus and become seated.
North Mercer R-III Elementary has a closed noon hour with a supervised lunch period and recess. There is NO break for children to leave the school grounds. Children may leave during school hours only if the parent or guardian picks them up. The adult will check out students with the principal before leaving the building. In the event that a student will be checking out, prior notice, written is ideal, is appreciated whenever possible.
Parents are asked to not interrupt student’s classes near the end of the school day. Please refrain from picking your child up from school during the last ten minutes of the school day. We ask for all parents to please wait for school to be dismissed before picking up your children. Waiting outside in the hallway of the classroom for your child to be dismissed is common and acceptable.
Students are not to remain in the school building after school hours, unless they are supervised by a teacher. School hours are as follows 7:45-3:30 Monday through Friday. The doors to the building will be locked except during those times. Please note, students will not be allowed into the building/cafeteria until 7:45 each morning.
In accordance with the district crisis management plan, all doors are subject to a lockdown at a moment’s notice. This decision will be made by the administration, and no one except an administrator is allowed to open these locked doors for any reason. This includes, but is not limited to, teachers, faculty, and staff.
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
Elementary Office 382-4214 Kim Palmer, Principal
BAD WEATHER AND EARLY DISMISSAL
The following radio stations will carry news of the closing of the North Mercer R-III Schools in the event of severe or bad weather. If school must be closed during the school day because of deteriorating weather conditions, the information will be provided to these stations one hour or more before the time to dismiss:
KTTN 92.3 FM--Trenton KAAN 95.5 FM/87AM--Bethany
If your elementary child must go somewhere other than home when school is dismissed early, please send a note to the teacher telling where the child is to go and which bus he or she must ride. Send the note so the teacher can make a list of all the children in the room who must ride a different bus. Please try to make this a permanent arrangement so you will not need to call when we dismiss early. The teacher and the principal will see that your child gets on the correct bus. Older children in grades 7-12 can find their own bus but should be told by you where to go if school is dismissed early.
There will be times when we will not have school at all the next day. If a decision is made for no school in the afternoon or evening, the announcement will be on the radio stations. They will begin announcing it about 6:30 a.m.
COMMUNITY CONNECTION
Farmer’s Bank of Northern Missouri, in cooperation with Mercer County schools, has developed Community Connection. You can sign up to receive important, community-related information sent as text messages directly to your mobile phone. Included are school cancellations, early dismissals, sports scheduling, etc. The messages will be sent as a text message to your cell phone. Sign up is very simple. Go to www.onlinefarmersbank.com and click on “More Info” of the Community Connection information box.
ABSENCES AND TARDIES
We cannot stress too greatly the importance of your child being in school every day on time to be successful with schoolwork. Each day’s absence makes it more difficult for the child upon returning. In the event that a child is arriving late to school, he or she must report to the principal with a note or accompanied by a parent. At this time the student will be taken to class by the building principal. In the event that a child is leaving early from school, he or she must report to the principal with a note or accompanied by a parent to sign out. If a child is leaving from recess the parent must notify the teacher on duty and be signed out so attendance can be kept correctly. If a student is showing a pattern of tardiness or poor attendance, the parents may be reported to the Division of Family Services for educational neglect.