Program Information

Program Information

Kennedy Krieger Institute Mission Statement

To transform the lives of children with disorders of the brain through groundbreaking research, innovative treatments, and life-changing education.

Lois T. Murray PS #313 Mission Statement

We serve families with students who have severe to moderate disabilities to ensure that they develop functional life skills to the best of their ability and learn appropriate academic skills. We are committed to enabling students the opportunity to communicate their needs and wants and have control over their lives. We intend to provide this service in a Positive Behavior Support environment that recognizes the intent of the child’s behavior as a means of communication.

Lois T. Murray PS#313 Values

Helping students learn and grow to the best of their ability using BEST PRACTICE strategies and techniques for teaching that are data driven

•Enabling students’ opportunities to have control over their lives by providing opportunities for choice and MULTIMODAL COMMUNICATION options

•Recognizing behaviors are a form of communication and using a POSITIVE BEHAVIOR SUPPORT philosophy to assist with behavior changes

•Maintaining open communication between the school and families in order to ASSIST FAMILIES with better understanding regarding their child’s needs

•Using TEAMWORK and COLLABORATION to best serve our students and their families

Program Description

The Kennedy Krieger Institute, through a partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools, provides special education and related services to eligible students in grades preK-8 who attend Lois T. Murray (LTM), PS #313 in a public separate special day school. Life skills instruction is based on goals and objectives as provided on students’ Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and is aligned with the State Curriculum areas of instruction as well. All students participate in the Maryland State Alternate Assessment (MSAA) at appropriate grade levels. Enrollment in LTM includes students from all areas of Baltimore and is based on a referral from Baltimore City Public Schools. LTM meets all city requirements including the administration of assessments that are included and reported in the BCPS summary. Lois T Murray is a public school program. As such,Baltimore City Public Schools

  • Retains operation of the school building and provides custodial services as well as building maintenance.
  • Provides services in the cafeteria including the services of the Nutrition Manager as well as all food.
  • Provides transportation services for students through the yellow bus which is part of all student IEPs.

Highlights of the Program:

  • Community-based Instruction
  • Individualized and group instruction
  • Use of technology to advance student learning
  • Participation in statewide assessments (ALT-MSA and /or NCSC)

Disabilities Served:

  • Intellectual limitation in the moderate to severe/ profound range
  • Multiple Disabilities
  • Other Health Impairments

Related Services provided per the IEP:

  • Speech/Language Pathology
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Physical Therapy
  • Adapted Physical Education
  • Assistive Technology *
  • School Health Services
  • Social Work
  • Psychological/behavioral services
  • Audiology
  • Vision services *

*These services are provided by BCPS; others are provided by KKI

School Calendar

Students at LTM follow the BCPS School calendar. A copy of this calendar is sent home each school year and can be accessed online at Quarterly newsletters are sent home that provide updated calendar information. Reminders about special dates are sent home throughout the year to assist families with planning. When BCPS is closed, LTM is closed.

Contacting the School

The office at LTM is open for parent calls during all days of the BCPS school calendar. There is someone to take calls at the front desk (410-396-7463/64) daily between 7:30-4:30. Administrators are often able to take calls later into the evening but the end of day time varies. A phone message machine can take your call after hours. In order to reach any of our staff, please call the main number and your call will be directed.

You may also contact the school in writing. Each student will be asked to provide a communication book that will go home each day so that teachers can send notes about student progress or needs. Parents are encouraged to communicate in this book so classroom staff know about daily events (e.g., not feeling well today), family occurrences (e.g., family member is ill and household routine is different), or any updates (e.g., child started new medication today). Please be sure to check your child’s backpack every night for any information or forms the school sends home.

All school staff have email accounts at work. If parents prefer email communication, please share your email contact information with those whom you intend to communicate via this method. A fax machine is also available should you need to send information by fax. The fax number is 410-435-2178.

Parking at LTM

Parking spaces are limited and the lot is frequently full. Feel free to pull into the middle of the lot if your stay will be brief. If you arrive during bus times (8:30-9:15 in the morning or 3:30-4 in the afternoon), be sure to keep the driveway clear so buses can get in and out. Never park in the fire lanes as you risk being ticketed.

Parking is available on the street near the school (Fenwick Ave or Arlington Ave). Be aware that there is a one hour limit for such parking and tickets are given. If you park on one of the streets, please be very careful with your child when walking into the parking lot.

Procedures for Picking Up & Dropping off Your Child

The school day at LTM begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m.If you are dropping off your child, please do not arrive before 8:30 a.m. Teachers are involved in a variety of meetings until this time and cannot be responsible for students. When you drop off your child, you must stop in the office first to sign them in on the clipboard designated for this purpose. Please accompany your child to their classroom or be sure there is school staff to do so.

If you need to pick up your child earlier than 3:30, please communicate with the school (either send a note or call). It is helpful for staff to know that a child needs to leave at an earlier time. Whether picking up at end of day (3:30) or earlier, you must sign the student out on the clipboard designated for this purpose. Early dismissal procedures are designated by BCPS and parents are required to comply. Parents are asked to

  1. Limit the need for early dismissals

2. Send a note to alert the school when this will be necessary and provide the reason in writing.

3. Complete city paperwork when arriving at the school to pick up the student.

If someone other than the parent or guardian will be picking up or dropping off your child please inform the school in writing, or by phone 410-396-7463, of the person’s name. In addition, please note that upon arrival to Lois T. Murray the person picking up your child will need to show picture identification. This helps us maintain safety for all students.

Visiting the School

Parents are invited and encouraged to visit the school and to join in all announced activities. ALL visitors must first stop at the front office and provide a photo ID to receive a visitor badge.

Parent visits to the classroom are most successful when prearranged. You can send a note to the teacher letting them know when you would like to observe or you can call the front desk and leave a message. Parents are asked to comply with the following guidelines when visiting:

  • Be sure you are expected- if plans were not made prior to arriving to the school, ask to speak with an administrator. Please realize you may have chosen a time that the class is out on a walk, or engaged in special instructional activities.
  • Sign in as a visitor
  • Select a seat in the room that is not disruptive to students or staff who are working
  • Refrain from interacting with students and staff
  • Do not bring additional guests with you. This is especially important regarding other young children who may find it difficult to sit quietly without the opportunity to interact with the other students.
  • Do not attempt to engage the teacher to ask questions or gain information. Arrange for a conference to do this at a later time.
  • Keep your visit brief so that student schedules can be maintained.

Students sometimes have difficulty when their family members visit their classrooms. If your presence provides a disruption in the classroom- either for your child or for others, it will be necessary to create some alternative plans for observing. LTM can arrange for a camera in the classroom to allow viewing by television at another location where students do not realize a parent is observing. Use of this technology requires advance planning so please make these arrangements ahead of your visit.

Parent conferences cannot be completed on a drop-in basis. If you would like to have the opportunity to speak with your child’s teacher or any other provider, please call or write a note so a conference can be arranged. We want to hear from you and address any concerns you have! Help us by communicating your needs to plan a mutually convenient time to talk.

Parent Conferences

We are eager to speak with you, to share information about your child’s school program, and to work with you as part of our team. Teachers will maintain regular contact through phone calls and written communication. There are also 4 scheduled ‘parent conference days’ in the school calendar. These are arranged individually with the teacher or related service providers. Please be sure phone numbers are accurate so we can reach you. Any time you want to speak with your child’s teacher or service providers, please call the school or send a note so a mutually convenient time can be arranged.

Inclement Weather

In cases of inclement weather, Lois T. Murray operates on the Baltimore City Public School System closing and late opening schedule. Radio and television stations provide comprehensive information regarding closings and delays. In addition, internet sites that will post updated information include wbal.comand

City Schools has a procedure for sending out messages to all families at one time. These calls may be made through the Parent Link system to send messages about closings or other changes to the expected schedule. Please be sure your phone contacts are up to date so you can benefit from these calls.

Parent Responsibilities

Parent Responsibilities

Registration

If your child is new to LTM you will need to provide registration information to the school. The school will contact you with a list of required items and invite you in for a registration meeting. In some cases, students who have transferred from other schools have incomplete registration packets. If you are contacted to provide documentation, we will appreciate your cooperation in doing so. Some of these items (e.g., verification of vaccinations) are required for school attendance.

Parent Contact Information

It is very important that the school be able to reach all parents at any time. In order for the LTM staff to communicate about your child’s progress, special school events, needs that may arise during the school day or most importantly for emergencies, it is very important for the school to have your current contact information, including a working phone number. This information is requested at the beginning of the school year. Any time there is a change in your contact information, it is important that you notify the school immediately to update the names and phone numbers provided. Parents are responsible for having a working number where they can be reached. If your personal phone is not working, be sure to designate someone who can reach you in the event of an emergency. Keep the school AND the bus company informed of all changes since either may need to reach you and need a way to do so reliably.

In the event that we need to contact you and cannot do so: We will refer to the emergency contact information you provided to us. When selecting an emergency contact person, be sure this person has the ability to come to the school for your child if needed and hopefully is also able to reach you.

Parent Signatures (required on many forms!)

In the beginning of the school year you will receive a packet of information requiring your signature or completion of questions for a variety of purposes. Each is important and required for your child’s full participation in the school program. This paperwork will include but is not limited to:

  • An emergency contact card
  • A health card (some of this information seems duplicated but is used in different areas of the building)
  • Medication form allowing the school nurse to administer OTC (‘over the counter’) medications as needed (these include Tylenol for fever, etc). Your doctor will need to sign this form.
  • Lunch application if required by BCPS. Starting SY 15/16 they have suspended applications and will provide free lunches to all students (but this could always change to the previous system requiring completion of lunch applications).
  • Permission slip for class walks
  • Behavior management policy at LTM- your signature indicates you have been made aware of these procedures

In addition, you will receive forms throughout the year that require your attention and signature. This will include but is not limited to:

  • Field trip permission slips (for every trip your child is going to take)
  • Forms related to assessment (if your child is in the 3rd-8th grades)
  • IEP information and related MA billing authorization
  • LTM Parent Group communications often asking for your input or vote on various topics

Glasses and Hearing Aids

Does your child need hearing aids or glasses? Please send them to school daily! We want your child to be able to participate in the school program to the best of their ability. Staff will work to be sure that your child uses glasses or hearing aids successfully in the school program. Please communicate with your child’s teacher regarding the plan for transporting them home each day (in the book bag or the child wearing them, etc.)

Clothing

We encourage you to send your child dressed in clothing that they can wear comfortably for the variety of activities that take place at school. Girls do well with slacks but if wearing a dress or skirt, please be sure it is appropriate for school. Safe shoes are a necessity (tennis shoes are great!). Flip flops are not allowed for daily wear. When the school has special activities, you will be notified so you can plan clothing accordingly. Classrooms like to go outdoors even in winter to get some fresh air. Please send warm hats, mittens, etc during the colder months.

Please send an extra set of clothing that can be kept at school for emergencies. If your child soils his or her clothes while at school, staff will make every effort to clean the items. However, sometimes this is not possible and the clothes will be returned without being completely washed and dried.

The school tries to maintain a small ‘clothes closet’ for extra emergency clothing. In the event that your child needs to borrow clothes from the Lois T. Murray clothes closet, please return the items the next day. This clothing is being loaned to you and other children may need to use the item at a future time.

If your child wears a diaper or pull up or if your daughter needs sanitary supplies for menstrual needs, these must be sent in to school regularly. It is best if you can send in a supply to last at least a week. Daily supplies can also be sent but we need to receive whatever your child will need. The school does not provide these items. We want your child to be comfortable and to have appropriate clothing and personal items as needed.

Food

Your child will be offered breakfast (upon arrival) and lunch at school each day (lunch is served in two shifts: 11:30-12 and 12-12:30). The school’s cafeteria provides a nutritious meal that is planned and prepared by the school system. Menus will be sent home monthly so you will know the food choices that are available. Your child’s teacher will let you know the lunch shift for your child.

Many children have strong food preferences. Staff will work with the students to help them try foods that are offered. If you prefer to send lunch in with your child, the food needs to be ready to eat (if it is hot food, it needs to be in a thermos). It is the Baltimore City Health Department’s policy that staff are not allowed to prepare or heat up food for the students. Purchased food from fast food restaurants that is brought to school is not preferred; if this is the food sent in, the child is not permitted to eat in the cafeteria with the rest of the school since it causes conflict with the other students eating school lunches. Lunch is finished at 12:00 or 12:30, depending on the lunch shift. If a student is brought to school after this time, lunch will no longer be available so please ensure your child is fed lunch prior to dropping him off.