Johnson Elementary School

Handbook


2014-2015

Derick Edwards, Principal

2S700 Continental Drive

Warrenville, IL 60555

630-393-1787

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STUDENT SAFETY INFORMATION

We expect your child to use his/her usual means of transportation (walking, busing, and riding in car with parent or neighbor) unless you notify us in writing of a change. If you find it necessary to change the manner in which your child goes home after school (i.e., you will drive him instead of having him/her ride the bus), we require you, the parent, to notify the teacher or office staff by written note.

RULES FOR WALKERS

  • Use sidewalks wherever provided.
  • Walk with others.There is safety in numbers.
  • Cross only at crosswalks or corners.
  • Cross Continental Drive and Batavia Road with the crossing guard’s assistance.
  • Follow the directions of the Student Safety Patrol.
  • Stay on the sidewalk when going to the car.
  • Never walk between parked cars.
  • NEVER take a shortcut across the lake.

“FLOW ZONE” CAR RIDER RULES

The drop off/pick up in back of the building is designed to be a “flow zone”.If you need to come into the building, please park in the appropriate parking space.

  • Cars are not to be left unattended in the drop-off zone during school hours.

Students may only enter and exit cars parked at the curb.

  • Children should be seated and wearing their seat belts whenever the car is in motion.Children weighing less than 80 pounds should be in a car seat or a booster seat.

BIKE RULES

“Walkers” in grades three through five may ride their bikes to school. (We strongly encourage all bike riders to wear helmets.)

  1. Ride single file on the edge of the street with traffic.
  2. Use proper hand signals.
  3. Ride directly to the crossing guard, dismount, and wait there at the corner for permission to walk bikes across the street.
  4. Walk the bicycle to the nearest bicycle rack.Lock your bike and leave it there until the end of the school day.

CROSSING GUARD SCHEDULES

Batavia Road & Continental Drive

8:45 am - 9:15 am

3:45 pm - 4:00 pm

Batavia Road & Shaw Drive

8:45 am - 9:15 am

3:45 pm - 4:00 pm

Continental Drive & Shaw Drive

8:50 am - 9:25 am

11:40 am -1:05 PM

3:30 pm - 3:50 pm

Continental Drive & Harvard

8:50 am - 9:20 am

3:20 pm- 3:50 pm

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SCHOOL ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL

SCHOOL DAY HOURS

9:05 am First Bell – Students allowed on campus

9:10 am Students enter building

9:15 am Tardy Bell - Students in class

3:30 pm Student released for day

Kindergarten AM 9:15am – 11:45 am

Kindergarten PM 1:00pm – 3:30 pm

STUDENT ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL

Students may NOT arrive on the school grounds before 9:05am unless participating in the breakfast program because outside door supervision is not available until then.Once on the grounds, students should wait at their appropriate entrances.If your child’s teacher requests attendance at an earlier hour than indicated, students will be given a pass to enter the building by the teacher.

Students must be in their rooms and ready to begin instruction when the bell rings at 9:15 am.If a student is tardy for school for any reason, he/she must first report to the office for a “Tardy Pass.”

Punctuality is an important part of the child’s development.Parents will be notified in case of excessive tardiness on the part of the student.

SCHOOL DISMISSAL

Students will leave the school by their assigned doors.If children are meeting siblings or friends, they are to meet at the designated dismissal areas.Bus students will leave by their assigned doors and proceed to their bus route.All children are asked to clear the halls and leave the building and grounds by 3:45 pm. unless they have received teacher permission to stay for after-school activities.

NORMAL SCHEDULED DISMISSAL

Parents need to make arrangements to meet their children at designated areas outside the school building.

STUDENT DROP OFF/PICK UP AREAS

Parents may DROP OFF OR PICK UP students at school in one place:

  • Next to the curb in the back of schoolSEE DIAGRAM NEXTPAGE.DO NOT LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE UNATTENDED.Park in designated parking spaces or along the street if you need to enter the school;

OR

  • If you are dropping a student(s) off after the 9:15 am bell, please drop that student(s) off in the front of the building. After 9:15 am, there will no longer be adult supervision in the back of the building.

WALKING

Parents who walk with their children to school should say good-bye at the entrance to the building.

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SCHOOL ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL


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BUS STOP AND BUS RIDING EXPECTATIONS

BUS STOPS

Student conduct at the bus stop is primarily the responsibility of the students and the parents in cooperation with the school.The school will work with parents to maintain order at the bus stops.We are requesting parent support in implementing the following guidelines:

  • Show respect for property.Please wait on the sidewalk or parkway area.Climbing on trees or running through bushes is not allowed.
  • Do not throw objects.Objects might include snowballs, baseballs, etc.If children are playing ball at the bus stop, that is a certain sign they are arriving too early.
  • Arrive at the bus stop no more than five minutes before the bus is scheduled to depart.Ten minutes may be necessary during the first two weeks, but after that, five minutes is adequate.
  • Stand in line patiently and board safely without pushing or shoving.Books or bags don’t hold places.People do.
  • Do not step into the street or attempt to retrieve an object that falls under a bus.Alerting the bus driver to what is missing and where it fell is the appropriate course of action.
  • Respect each other.The bus stop is not a place for rough play, bad language or name-calling.

BUS RIDERSHIP

The school and the bus company work together to make the student’s bus ride safe.Students are to observe the following rules to maintain an orderly atmosphere of the bus:

  • The driver is in charge while students are on the bus.Follow the driver’s requests and instructions.
  • Get on and off the bus at the assigned bus stop.Changes in bus stops may be granted only if the request is in writing.
  • Students must remain seated while on the bus.Some students and/or the entire bus may have assigned seats.If so, students are to remain in their seats.
  • Use polite language to other students and adults.Talk quietly so the bus driver is not distracted and refrain from yelling out the window.
  • Students must keep their head, arms, feet and personal items inside the bus.Windows must not be lower than the line marking their opening.No items are to be thrown out the window.
  • Food, chewing gum or drink is not allowed on the bus.
  • Refrain from bringing toys or electronic devices onto the bus.
  • The same general rules of conduct for the school are also in effect while students ride the bus.

Students who do not follow these rules will face the following consequences in an effort to gain their compliance:

1st reported offense:

  • Conference with Principal and/or Assistant principal
  • Copy of Passenger Behavior Report sent home.

2nd reported offense:

  • Conference with Principal and/or Assistant Principal
  • Copy of Passenger Behavior Report sent home.
  • Phone conference with parent(s)

3rd reported offense:

  • All of above
  • Suspension from the bus not to exceed ten school days
  • Parent(s) will be asked to come in for a conference with the Principal and/or Assistant Principal and the student

4th reported offense:

All of the above and the student may be referred to the Board of Education for additional consequences.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE

SERIOUSNESS OF THEOFFENSE MAY NECESSITATE AMORE SEVERECONSEQUENCE.

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GENERAL INFORMATION AND POLICIES

STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES

Since there is a positive relationship between attendance and academic success, it is of the utmost importance that students are in class. Regular attendance and punctuality are essential if students are to make use of the educational opportunities that school offers.

To report a student absence, please call the Johnson School attendance phone line between the hours of 4:30 pm and 9:30 am.The attendance phone number is 393-7850. Please provide the following information:Student’s Name, Grade/Teacher, and Homework Requests.

If we are not notified of an absence, the attendance office will make every effort to contact the parents.This communication is important to verify each student's security and safe arrival at school.

Please refer to the white pages under “School Attendance and Absences” for more complete information in this area.

Please leave a message for your child’s teacher if you wish to request homework during your child’s absence.

ABSENCE DUE TO REASONS OTHER THAN ILLNESS

Parents are expected to plan vacations in accordance with the school district’s calendar.A prearranged absence is to be made by written parental request at least five days in advance.At the discretion of the classroom teacher, homework may be assigned before or after the absence.Students may have up to 1 day for each day absent to make-up their work.

HOMEWORKThe assignment of homework begins early in the student’s elementary schoolexperience and is the logical extension of the regular schoolwork.Homework is defined as independent

Homework is defined as independent practice of skills learned in the classroom.Other types of homework assignments may be designed to supplement or enrich the regular school curriculum.

Assigned homework should be considered as an integral and ongoing component of the curriculum.

The amount of homework should be appropriate for the individual student and, whenever possible, scheduled to avoid unreasonable expectations.

LUNCHTIME/PLAYGROUND SUPERVISORS

Johnson School seeks the assistance of lunch/recess supervisors each year.These individuals play animportant role during the school year.Supervisors are paid employees of the school district.Their primary role is to provide supervision for students during the noon hour.All students are expected to treat lunch/recess supervisors as any other Johnson staff member.

LUNCH AND RECESS RULES

We want our lunchroom to be a place where everyone can peacefully eat his or her lunch.Controlof noise levels and limiting the amount of movement will create healthy and safe conditions for all students and staff members.

Our 3 school rules apply to everything we do at Johnson School.We expect students to demonstrate respect, responsibility, and kindness during recess as well as every other part of the school day.Please refer to our school behavior policy below.

JOHNSON SCHOOL BEHAVIOR POLICY

Students and parents are expected to sign and follow the Johnson School Behavior Policy.This policy lists our three school and classroom rules and dictates the procedures we follow if students break those rules.Parents and students should keep a copy of the policy at home.

Our policy focuses on three principles that we believe encompasses everything needed to ensure a happy, secure, and structured learning environment.Those three principles are

KINDNESS, RESPECT,

AND RESPONSIBILITY

We appreciate your support in promoting these characteristics along with us as we work together to make sure that Johnson School is a great place to learn.

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

We, the staff at Johnson School, strive to “catch kids being good”.We know that positive reinforcement can lead students toward continued success.When students are “caught” showing

KINDNESS, RESPECT,

AND RESPONSIBILITY

they are rewarded with an incentive that can lead to a special prize from the office.

VIOLATION OF SCHOOL RULES

When students break one of our three school rules there are negative consequences.Students will be given a Reflection form.This form will be filled out by a the student and a Johnson School staff member, sent home for parent signature, and is expected to be returned to school the following day.We believe that in many cases this parent notification is punishment enough, because of your follow up at home.But in some instances an additional consequence will be given.This will be included, in writing, on the Reflection form.

GUM AND CANDY

Children are prohibited from bringing gum to school.Candy is permitted in the classroom at the teacher’s discretion.Absolutely no gum or candy is allowed on school buses or on the playground.

SCHOOL SAFETY PATROL

Safety Patrols are fifth grade students who help supervise and direct student traffic at designated locations selected by the principal, bus supervisor, and patrol supervisor.

JOHNSON SCHOOL PTA

Johnson School has an open, friendly, and active PTA.You are invited and we also encourage you to become involved in Johnson School Parent Teacher Association.PTA meetings are held monthly.The PTA newsletter, The Johnson JOTS, is distributed monthly. The PTA has a webpage on the Johnson website and also a Facebook page.

PTA volunteers work with classroom teachers to plan three class parties a year.The PTA collects party money at registration.

SNACK TIME

Depending on schedules, some classroom teachers find snack time beneficial.Parents are requested to send individually wrapped nutritious/healthy snacks.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS

Active parent involvement is highly valued and encouraged at Johnson School.Parents that are willing and able to volunteer to work with students should contact their child’s teacher, PTA President, Parent Liaison or school administrators.

BIRTHDAYS

Children are permitted to bring a non-edible treat to the classroom on their birthdays.Parents are required to contact the classroom teacher regarding birthday treats.Invitations to birthday and other parties may not be distributed at school.

CLUBS AND SPECIAL ACTIVITIES

Each year a variety of clubs and special activities are offered to students at Johnson School.Check the PTA and school newsletters for information.

SCHEDULING APPOINTMENTS WITH TEACHERS

If you need to speak with your child’s teacher, please call the office, leave a voicemail, or write an email or handwritten note.The teacher will contact you to make an appointment.Please do not try to meet with a teacher when students are entering the building or at dismissal time.

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GENERAL INFORMATION AND POLICIES

READING- “RtI Tier 2”

The Reading Specialist demonstrates and teaches reading and writing strategies in the classroom.As a member of the Problem Solving Team, she is available as a resource to teachers and parents concerning individual student’s reading progress.She works with individual students and small groups to diagnose reading progress and provide intervention strategies, remediation or enrichment.

Students, who qualify for “RtI Tier 2” intervention services receive small group or individual instruction from highly qualified reading instructors.This is specifically scheduled within our school day so that students do not miss valuable classroom instruction.

TITLE I

Title I services are provided in collaboration with the classroom teacher.It is for all students who are experiencing difficulty in reading.Standardized test scores and teacher referral determine eligibility.

P.A.C.E.

Accelerated math and accelerated reading are offered in grades three, four and five.The goals of the program are to meet the unique needs of intellectually talented and gifted students.

ESL (ENGLIGH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE)

The ESL program serves children who have a home language other than English and who are not yet proficient in the English language.

BILINGUAL

Bilingual education offers our English Language Learners whole language instruction in their native language. General goals focus on children building strong pre-reading skills, practicing letter formation, enhancing listening and communication skills, getting an introduction to basic math concepts, and acquiring an active interest in the world.

BAND AND ORCHESTRA

Orchestra lessons are provided for interested fifth grade students.Band lessons are provided for interested fifth grade students during the school day.Students are taken individually or in small groups from their classes for these lessons. Students also practice before school as well.

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