UNITED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Dear Students, Parents and Guardians, Welcome back to the 2017-2018 United Elementary School Year. I hope it will be a good year for your child and your family, filled with learning successes. The entire elementary staff is looking forward to teaching and learning with your child. We believe that education is a shared responsibility between home and school and we will make every effort to involve you. Our staff members are well trained and prepared to meet the needs of all learners. We are proud of the tradition of excellence that exists at United. That is a tribute to everyone – students, staff and parents. Our handbook is designed to inform students, parents, and guardians of our school and district policies, procedures, expectations and calendar. We try to include a great deal of information in a concise and convenient manner. While our handbook covers most issues, changes that may occur during the school will not be reflected. During the year we will communicate with you in many ways through newsletters, our Education Connection call service, and on our school website (www.united.k12.oh.us). Please take advantage of these many ways to stay informed. Please feel free to contact us at any time for clarification or additional information as well as when any concerns arise. Please don't hesitate to contact your child's teachers with any questions or concerns or call me at school (330-223-8001) or by e-mail at [email protected] Sincerely, Tina Hughes Mrs. Tina Hughes Elementary Principal **Since you receive so many letters and forms on the first day of school, this checklist may help you organize the papers that need to be returned and the ones that need to be kept at home. Forms to be returned Optional Return Parent Signature Page (pg. 31) Free & Reduced Lunch Form Emergency Medical Authorization Healthy Start Classroom Requested Information Title Compact School Insurance Form Volunteer Form To be kept at home Forms Available Online www.united.k12.oh.us Teacher Introduction Letter Monthly Newsletter Student Handbook Kg-Gr. 2 Lunch Menu 1 Table of Contents Welcome 1 Mission Statement 2 School Calendar 3 About Our School – Schedule/Contact Information 4 To & From School 5-8 Arrival/Dismissal, Attendance Absences, Make-up Work, Tardies, Truancies, Vacations, Visitors, School Closings & Delays, School Bus Transportation Rules & Regulations Academics 8-10 Planners, Homework, Grades, Report Cards & Interims, Parent Assist, Conferences, Honor Rolls, Testing, Gifted Services, Promotion/Retention, Class Assignments Day-to-Day Guidelines 10-14 Activities, Breakfast & Lunch, Cafeteria, Cell Phones, Fees & Waivers, Field Trips, Fund Raising Raising Monies, Guidance, Invitations, Lost & Found, Lunch, Parent Teacher Organization, Parties, Recess, Physical Education, Prohibited Items, Surveillance Cameras, Tobacco Use by Students, Technology Use & Abuse, Telephone Use, Textbooks & Library Books, The Education Connection, Track & Field Fun Days Health & Safety 14-17 Health & Wellness Screenings, Defibrillators, Emergency Drills & Evacuation, Emergency Medical Authorizations, Hand Washing Protocol, Illness/Injuries, Immunizations, Lice, Medications Celebrations at United Elementary 18-20 Guidelines for Food/Snacks, Approved Snack Options, Not Approved Snack Options, Classroom Celebrations and Rewards, Inexpensive Examples of Non-Food Treats Discipline/ Code of Conduct 21-24 Dress Code, SOAR, Enforcement of Rules, Disciplinary Actions Appendix 25-31 Enrollment, Equal Opportunity Education, Student Records, Conceal/Carry, Custodial/ Non-Custodial Parents, Acceptable Use and Internet Safety Policy, Leader in Me Habits, Parent Signature Page and Education Connection Updates District Mission Statement The mission of the United Local School District is to assure that all children achieve their highest potential by providing and fostering educational opportunities in a caring and safe environment. Our school district, which is the heart of our community, will work in partnership with students, teachers, families, and businesses to equip our students with academic, technological, and social skills. This will enable our students to build positive relationships and become responsible members of our global society. United Elementary Mission that defines us 2 Building leaders one student at a time through…. Relationships * Rigor * Relentless * Results 2017-2018 School Calendar August 28 School Begins – First Day for Students September 1-4 Labor Day weekend – No School 20 Early Dismissal – 2:30 October 12 Parent Teacher Conferences (1:45-9:45 PM) Early Dismissal - 1:30 13 No School 18 Early Dismissal - 2:30 st 27 End of 1 Nine Weeks nd 30 Begin 2 Nine Weeks November 22-27 Thanksgiving Recess – No School 28 Classes Resume December 6 Early Dismissal – 2:30 21-Jan 2 Christmas Recess – No School January 3 Classes Resume 15 Martin Luther King Day - No School nd 19 End of 2 Nine Weeks rd 22 Begin 3 Nine Weeks February 7 Early Dismissal – 2:30 19 Presidents’ Day – No School March 8 Parent Teacher Conferences (1:45-9:45 PM) Early Dismissal - 1:30 9 No School 14 Early Dismissal – 2:30 rd 23 End 3 Nine Weeks th 26 Begin 4 Nine Weeks 30-Apr 2 Easter Break – No School April 3 Class Resume 7 11 Early Dismissal – 2:30 May 27 Graduation 28 Memorial Day – No School 31 Last Day for Students th End of 4 Nine Weeks * Make-up days, April 2, June 4, 5, 6, etc. if needed. 3 School Information United Elementary School 330-223-8001 www.United.k12.oh.us 8143 State Route 9 330-223-1521 [email protected] Hanoverton, OH 44423 330-223-1216 (Fax) Daily Schedule School Day 8:50-3:30 K Lunch 10:45-11:15 1-2 Lunch 11:20-11:50 3-4 Lunch 12:05-12:35 5-6 Lunch 12:40-1:10 Christina Hughes Principal [email protected] Andrew Trotter Assistant Principal [email protected] Amanda Medure Secretary [email protected] Kerri Ackler Guidance Counselor [email protected] Sue Laughlin School Nurse [email protected] Mary Alice Sigler Special Education Coordinator [email protected] Tom Clemens Building & Grounds [email protected] Jim Reinsel Transportation Director [email protected] Our Staff Marisa Bezon Abbie Joyce Tara Schonauer Katie Bibri Chris Kadvan Laura Shepard Kelsey Brown Ashley Kennedy Karesia Sisco Ashley Bussard Patricia Kober Alexandra Smith Janice Carson Sue Laughlin Jennifer Spillman Heather Connor Christine Leheny Sandy Tedeschi Lori Conser Marybeth Malone Karrie Varagliotti Regina Davis Rachael Markijohn Abigail Walkama Sherrie Denton Beth McGaffick Amy White Kelly DeVille Emily McIntosh Alison Williams Theresa DiAntonio Jennifer Paynter Lydia Wilmoth Sarah Garn Angela Phelps Erin Young Brittany Grimm Jordan Phillips Debra Grimm Sue Rickard County Personnel Andrea Groubert Kim Salmen Kim Johnson Tina Henceroth Brenda Sarchet Karen Rhodes Susan Schopfer Bobbi Ridel 4 TO & FROM SCHOOL Arrival / Dismissal Students should not arrive before 8:35 AM as there is no supervision provided until that time. Students may be dropped off at the entrance after 8:35 AM. If you are bringing your child to school after 8:50 AM, you must come into the building to sign in your child. Parents picking up children at the end of the school day must come to the office to sign their child out. Students may not leave school grounds with anyone other than a parent or guardian unless arrangements have previously been made in writing or by phone call and approved by the principal or assistant principal. High school students may not take elementary students from school during the school day without written permission of the parent and the principal. Students are dismissed at 3:30 PM. (Students may not leave school before 3:20 PM except for medical appointments) Unless we have been notified otherwise, all students will be dismissed following normal procedures. Students may not remain in the building following dismissal without adult supervision. Attendance Regular attendance is a significant factor for success in school. Regular attendance means that the academic learning process is not interrupted, less time is spent on make-up assignments, and students benefit from participation and interaction with others in the class. Many important lessons are learned through active participation in classroom and other school activities that cannot be replaced by individual study. (ORC 3321.04) 5 Absences Students may be excused from school for one or more of the following reasons and will be provided an opportunity to make up missed school work and/or tests: 1. Personal Illness 2. Illness in the immediate family 3. Death in the immediate family 4. Observation or celebration of a religious holiday 5. Quarantine 6. Other urgencies to be determined by the administration Student absences for reasons that are not deemed “legal” under the Ohio Revised Code and excused under School District Policy and procedures are considered unexcused. Notification of Absence If a student will be absent, the parents/guardians must notify the school at 330-223-8001 by 9:30 AM. If no phone call is received, the school will call your home using a recorded message. Two attempts will be made to reach your home. If no one is reached, a post card will be mailed to your home notifying you that your child was not in school that day. These steps are taken in order to comply with the Missing Child Act. A written excuse must be provided within 48 hours of the student’s return. The excuse must include the date, student's full name, reason for absence, dates of absence, and must be signed by a parent/guardian. When no excuse is provided, the absence will be unexcused. Make up Work Students are permitted to make up work if they are absent from school with a valid excuse.