NORTH SALISBURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Student Handbook 2018 – 2019
Home of the Marvelous Mustangs
North Salisbury School is proud to be recognized as a designated school for
Excellence in Gifted and Talented Education
1213 Emerson Ave. Salisbury, MD 21801 Website: http://nss.wcboe.org 410-677-5807 Facebook: North Salisbury School
NORTH SALISBURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
FOREWORD
The staff of North Salisbury Elementary School is pleased to have you as a member of our school family, and we hope your time with us is a pleasant and rewarding experience. This handbook provides information that we think will answer questions you may have about school policies and procedures. We encourage you to read it and file it for future reference.
MISSION STATEMENT:
We are committed to providing a safe and engaging learning environment. Families, educators, students, and community members will work together to ensure our school’s success.
BELIEF STATEMENTS:
• All students can learn and will be challenged to reach their full potential, becoming confident self-directed, life-long learners. • Education is multicultural. • Students learn in different ways and should be provided with a variety of effective instructional approaches including the integration of emerging technologies to support learning. • Positive relationships and mutual respect should be the norm between students, parents, educators and the community. • A safe and physically comfortable environment promotes student learning. • Students, parents, educators, and the community share the responsibility for advancing the paired school mission.
#WE R NORTH SALISBURY
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North Salisbury Elementary School
A Brief History
North Salisbury School was unique right from the start! When it opened its doors in 1939, it was heralded as the first all-concrete building to be erected on the Eastern Shore. Federal money was used from the depression-fighting Public Works Administration (P.W.A).
This upcoming school year marks 80 years since its opening. The January 1939 Opening featured students and staff walking from the two replaced schools, Chestnut Street School and Bell Street School. These 250 North Salisbury students were in the capable hands of a flagship staff of 7 teachers, one of whom was a teaching principal.
History repeated itself on April 18, 2006, as students and staff walked to their newly renovated school from Isabella Street to 1213 Emerson Avenue.
Construction completed, the school is reoriented so that the front now faces Emerson Avenue and established the most technologically advanced school in the county. Rededication Ceremony held on April 19th, 2006 marked a new page in the proud history of North Salisbury and a look with pride into our future.
In February 2013, North Salisbury School became the first school on the entire Eastern Shore of Maryland to earn the prestigious Excellence in Gifted and Talented Education award. (EGATE) North Salisbury School is committed towards excellence in education for all students.
In May 2015, North Salisbury School became the first school in Wicomico County and one of only 64 schools in the United States to be named a National School of Character for 2015.
North Salisbury is proud to serve students in grades 3 – 5 where high achievement is expected for all.
North Salisbury School Vision Statement
We will work together to grow academically as respectful, lifelong learners in a positive school community.
Academic Excellence
• North Salisbury is dedicated to meeting the needs of each student with diverse instruction strategies: o High levels of achievement are accomplished through measurable academic progress aligned with the Maryland College and Career Readiness Standards (MDCCRS). o Focus is placed on character development which incorporates; caring, citizenship, respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, and fairness o The concept of teamwork through academic and extra-curricular activities is developed
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Staff
• North Salisbury School is committed to hiring and retaining effective and dedicated staff members who: o Encourage colleagues and students in an atmosphere of support and respect o Are enthusiastic towards teaching and learning o Are invested in student improvement through the use of best practices
Students
• North Salisbury challenges students to be successful through behavior, character, and academic achievement: o Exhibit respectful behavior toward other students and adults o Encourage each other in an atmosphere of support o Accept responsibility for their learning and their actions
School Climate
• North Salisbury provides opportunities for students to develop and practice PRIDE: Politeness, Responsibility, Improvement, Discipline, and Encouragement. o We keep our building and classrooms conducive for learning o We stimulate thinking with colorful and informative student work
Leadership
• Effective administrators and staff are the driving force behind any successful endeavor. These leaders have established a clear vision and take steps to ensure that the vision becomes a reality: o We provide a child centered environment which promotes creativity and encourages life-long learning for a changing world. o We establish priorities that provide an outline for the direction of our school. o We encourage the staff to participate in the decision-making process. o We establish positive relationships between community members, parents, staff, and students.
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COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS:
Student Agendas
On the first day of school, students will receive an agenda. This agenda will be a vital part of communication between home and school. The agenda will include all homework assignments, notes to parents from teachers, and a monthly calendar of upcoming events. Students will be taught how to use their agendas effectively during the first weeks of school. Please take the time to sign your child’s agenda daily to insure good communication between home and school.
Organization
One of our major goals is to help your child develop good organizational skills. For that reason, we try to be clear, specific, and consistent with our expectations. Students will be told when folders or student purchased organizers, should be cleaned out, so please do not remove papers without their say so. Many papers in the folders can be “works in progress”. Therefore, it is very important that they are not removed. In general, folders may be emptied as designated below but not without prior permission from your child’s teacher:
❖ Math- after completion of unit ❖ Science/Social Studies- after completion of unit ❖ Spelling- Every Friday ❖ Language- after completion of unit ❖ Notebook Paper- should be filled nightly with notebook paper ❖ Take Home Pocket- emptied nightly
Thursday Folders
These plastic blue folders will be sent home every Thursday and may contain newsletters, completed student work, and general information regarding school events and important dates to remember. We ask that you sign these folders each week and send them back to school with your child on Friday.
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SCHOOL POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND GENERAL INFORMATION
ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL TIMES Students may not travel from school with anyone other than their planned, authorized 7:45 -- School opens for Magnet students transportation provider. 8:15 -- School opens for Traditional students & instruction begins for Magnet students LATE ARRIVAL 8:45 --Instruction begins for Traditional students Students who arrive late for school must 2:15 – Magnet students’ dismissal bring a note to the office and be signed in 3:15 – Traditional students’ dismissal by an adult. They must obtain a late slip Magnet students should not arrive at school before going to the classroom. The late slip before 7:45 and Traditional School students must be presented to the classroom teacher should not arrive before 8:15 a.m. Students may before being admitted to the class. enter the building when the bell rings. Our staff reports at 7:45 and 8:15 and will not be able to EARLY PICK-UP provide supervision for your child until the scheduled arrival times. If you are picking up your child, please come to
the office and your child’s teacher will be called. Students being delivered to or picked up from You will be asked to wait in the office while we school should use the school driveway in the front of the school building on Emerson Ave. If call them for you. you prefer to park your car during arrival and dismissal times, we ask that you walk your child ATTENDANCE to and from the school sidewalk due to the high level of traffic in the car riders’ lane. Students Coming to school every day is very are not to be picked up or dropped off on Union important. Our goal is to have 100% Ave., as that parking lot is reserved for the participation of students attending school school buses only. every day. We are asking you to help us
If students must leave early or go home reach this goal by scheduling trips, differently from the way (s) he arrived, a note appointments, etc. at times when school is must be sent to the school. IF A CHILD DOES not in session. This will allow your NOT HAVE A NOTE, THE CHILD WILL BE SENT son/daughter to come to school every day HOME HIS/HER NORMAL WAY. We appreciate your support of ensuring your child’s safe unless they are ill. transport to and from school. Phone calls are no longer accepted to make transportation BIRTHDAYS changes. Children love to celebrate their birthdays Walkers must cross the street on Union Avenue with classmates. Feel free to bring in pencils, utilizing the crossing guard. stickers, or items of a similar nature to honor
your child’s birthday. If you desire to bring Students are expected to refuse any gifts or rides from strangers. All such incidents should in edible birthday treats for your child’s be reported to the office immediately. class, you may distribute them at your child’s lunch time in the cafeteria. Individual items, i.e. cupcakes or cookies, are preferred due to the limited time available Page | 6 during lunch. **ALL food must be store- assist teachers and bus drivers by being bought and include nutrition and ingredient familiar with the bus rules: labels on the package. Homemade food ➢ Your driver has absolute control of the may not be distributed at school. Please bus and of the conduct of those on it. understand that this school policy is a safety You are expected to obey your driver. measure for our children due to the number ➢ If you have to cross the street when of children with various food allergies. boarding of leaving the bus, WALK IN FRONT OF THE BUS. Look both ways BREAKFAST before crossing the road. Breakfast is served in the classroom. All ➢ Enter and leave by the front door. students will receive a nutritious meal to eat The rear door is for emergency use at no charge. Students will have the choice only. Do not touch it except in the as to whether they eat the food that is case of an emergency. provided. Breakfast is NOT served when ➢ Promptly take the seat assigned to there is a two-hour delay. you. ➢ Sit facing forward. Keep your hands, BUS NOTES arms, legs, and head away from the Students who come to school by bus should window. Keep feet, legs, and books return home the same way, unless they have out of the aisle. notes verifying they are to go home in a ➢ Do not eat on the bus. different way. These notes should be shown ➢ Help your driver keep the bus clean. to the bus drivers and given to the children's ➢ Cooperate during a bus emergency teachers. Teachers will send these notes to drill. the office in the morning. We do not accept ➢ Ordinary conversation is permissible. verbal messages from students regarding ➢ Students who fail to abide by the bus changes in their dismissal. Parents are rules will be disciplined. Bus drivers asked to not call the office with the phone have the right to suspend a student requests to change a student’s dismissal from riding the bus for a period of procedure. one day. Administration may suspend students for additional days. Parents will be notified of suspensions before they go into effect. Discipline procedures are as BUS RULES/BUS SAFETY follows: Riding a school bus is a privilege. With this ➢ 1st offense: Referral to principal’s privilege comes responsibility for good office. Discipline at the discretion of conduct, proper care of the bus and respect the principal or designee. for the rights of others. Parents can best
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➢ 2nd offense: Referral to principal’s While it is necessary that a trip cannot be office. Discipline at the discretion of considered a legal reason to be absent from the principal or designee. school. It is felt that under the following ➢ 3rd Offense: Referral to the circumstances, no punitive actions would be Transportation office. Conference taken: with supervisor of transportation, ▪ Parents should complete and submit parent, student, and driver if the “Non Emergency Absence” form deemed necessary. well in advance of the trip, th ➢ 4 offense: Automatic 30 school days designating the length of the off the bus. absence. These forms can be found ➢ 5th offense: Automatic removal for in the main office. the remainder of the year. ▪ All arrangements for homework, tests, quizzes, etc. should be worked out with the individual teacher a EMERGENCY INFORMATION week in advance. Students are expected to complete all make-up Personal Data/Emergency Information work within a reasonable length of sheets will be sent home with the back to time, which will be determined by school letter that is mailed to each student the teacher. in August. It is imperative that all sheets be ▪ The trip should have an apparent and returned and fully completed. defined educational value for the Emergency situations can arise rather student. frequently in a school this size. For your HOMEWORK child’s health and safety, it is CRUCIAL that we have CURRENT emergency contact A good homework assignment is one that information. Please remember that it is makes use of the creative potential of the imperative that a new form be completed student. It should vary from one grade level with each family/household change. to the next in the amount of time required. To be meaningful, the assignment must be consistent with the attention span of the FAMILY TRIPS learner. Please try to schedule trips during times Homework is an extension of work when school is not in session. These introduced by the classroom teacher. When absences interfere with the students’ your child does have a homework learning process and hurt the school in our assignment, you can assist by doing the attempt to achieve our required attendance following: percentage for the school and state. The county guideline for elementary students is ▪ Provide a quiet work space with all as follows: necessary supplies.
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▪ Set a time and routine for doing MEDICINE FOR STUDENTS homework each night. ▪ Check to see if assignments are North Salisbury has a full-time nurse on duty. completed in a neat and All prescriptions and non-prescription conscientious manner medication must be brought to the school by ▪ Help when necessary but do not take an adult and dispensed by the school nurse. over the assignment. A doctor’s order for the medication must
accompany all medication, including over-
Individual Home & School Group PROJECTS the-counter medications, for the nurse to dispense it. Students may not carry medications in school without proper
authorization from the school nurse and prescribing physician. A note from the In class groups and pairs will be assigned or student’s parent is not sufficient for the agreed upon by the teacher. nurse to dispense either prescription or Remember: We are teams and must work together with everyone. Rubrics will be over-the-counter medication. given for the scoring of projects. RECESS/PLAYGROUND EXPECTATIONS Weather permitting; students enjoy a time to HOMEWORK FOR ABSENCES release the energy of youth on our school For absences of one day we ask you to let playground each day. Teachers monitor this free your children get the assignments they miss. play time, and enforce the playground rules Upon returning to school the following day which are reviewed with the students during the first month of school and periodically after an absence, teachers will try to get the throughout the year. assignments upon request. Please remember that for most of the day teachers Behavior expectations: are involved with the direct instruction of students and cannot stop to prepare work. ➢ Good sportsmanship must be We ask that you make your request for displayed in all game activities. homework before lunch so that teachers ➢ Body contact games (wrestling, have time to get it together for you to pick karate, tackle football, etc.) are up at the school office between 2:30 p.m. prohibited. and 4:00 p.m. Also, if you wish to have ➢ Climbing on the backstop, swing another student bring the work home for support, and sliding support is your child, it will be necessary for you to prohibited. make those arrangements with that child ➢ Playing with or throwing sticks, and his/her family. stones, or dirt is prohibited. ➢ There should be no playing in water puddles or wet areas.
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Equipment Safety: WOCQ 104 FM WOLC 102.5 FM
Swings - The following behaviors are WQHQ 104.7 FM WLVW 105.5 FM encouraged on the swings: WMYJ 106.5 FM WMDT-TV CH47
➢ The swings are to be used in a SCHOOL DELAYS seated position only. ➢ Students are to swing forwards and There may be delays throughout the school backwards. year due to weather conditions such as fog, ➢ Students are to stand clear of the snow, ice, & etc. Please understand that swings that are in use. there is no adult supervision available prior ➢ Only one person is to use a swing at to the delayed openings so we ask that a time. students be brought at the assigned times. ➢ Refrain from pushing students on One hour delay Two hour delay the swings. (Breakfast will be served.) (No breakfast is served.) Magnet – 8:45 Magnet – 9:45 Sliding Board – Practice the following Traditional – 9:15 Traditional – 10:15 behaviors:
➢ Only one person may slide at a time. SCHOOL MESSENGER ➢ Sliding in a sitting position is AUTOMATED CALLING expected. ➢ Use the steps for climbing up the Our School Messenger system is used to sliding board. keep you informed about upcoming school events and keep you updated on school SCHOOL CLOSINGS/CANCELLATIONS news.
Occasionally school must open late, close early or be cancelled. Announcements concerning any changes in the regular school schedules will be made on the School Messenger System, the Wicomico County STUDENT LUNCHES Public Schools’ website (www.wcboe.org), the WCBOE Facebook page A nutritional lunch is prepared and served in (www.facebook.com/wcboe/) and the our cafeteria to ensure that your child will following radio and television stations. have a daily balanced meal. Milk is served with each platter or can be purchased WBOC 102.5 FM WICO 1320 separately. Ice cream may also be WDIH 90.3 FM WICO 94 FM purchased. A lunch menu and prices are sent home each month. WSBY 98 FM (Y99) WKHI 95.9 FM
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LUNCH MONEY
You can help us by seeing that each LUNCH PROCEDURES student has lunch money or a packed CAFETERIA EXPECTATIONS lunch each day. If a child forgets to bring their lunch or money they may borrow ➢ Good table manners are to be displayed against their account and reimburse the at all times. food service manager the following day. ➢ Conversations will be conducted We do not allow children to call home for quietly. forgotten lunch money, just as we do not ➢ Students are to sit in assigned areas and let them call for homework, etc. We are move through the serving line in an orderly manner. trying to develop a real sense of ➢ Students are responsible for the responsibility in students and our cleanliness of their areas and should experience shows us that children who place all trash in the receptacles are permitted to call for forgotten items provided. continue to forget them. We hope you ➢ Students should raise their hands and will support us in this endeavor. ask permission to get up from their *We also encourage you to use our seat. school district’s online payment system ➢ Sodas and glass containers are not which will allow you to put money on permitted. your child’s account and monitor their TRANSPORTATION CHANGES account usage. This can be accessed through the county website, If you require a change in transportation www.wcboe.org. for your child, please send a note to the school notifying your child’s teacher. *In order to ensure your child’s safety, phone calls will not be accepted as a
means to change transportation for LUNCH NUMBERS your child.
Every student will receive an identification VISITORS TO SCHOOL number to be used when purchasing lunch or breakfast. Please make sure that these When anyone visits schools in Wicomico County, they must first stop and check in at numbers are practiced and memorized by the school office. All visitors must enter children. This will really help with the speed through the school office to gain entrance and flow of students moving through the into the school building. All visitors must lines. have a driver’s license or state issued identification. Doors and/or gates around
the building will not be opened to allow
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This is most important for the protection and safety of all students. This reminder is posted on each entrance door of our school. Remember that the education and safety of children are our first concerns. Visitors will receive a pass after signing in at the office. We ask that you wear your Visitor Pass in a visible location throughout the duration of your visit to the school.
In order to keep potential interruptions to instruction at a minimum, we ask that you do not take small children in the classroom setting. If it is necessary to see a student throughout the course of the instructional day and younger siblings are with you, we will gladly call the student to meet you in the office. Finally, we ask that you turn off all cell phones and refrain from using them during your visit.
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CONSISTENT ATTIRE PROGRAM (CAP)
North Salisbury Elementary School is one of nine elementary schools participating in the Consistent Attire Program. This program is designated to identify what may be worn in school during the regular school day. All students should take pride in their appearance with dress and grooming that contribute to the health and safety of the individual without disrupting the orderly educational process. The Consistent Attire Program Policy is in effect during the instructional day and during academic and professional activities outside the school day when students are representing the school. This policy is not subject to interpretation. It is intended to eliminate questions on what can and cannot be worn.
Students will wear a consistent attire of dress based upon the following standards:
Tops: Long sleeve/short sleeve oxford, polo shirt, turtleneck in solid white, navy, light blue, gray or school color* (elementary only). (1). All shirts must have a collar and must be tucked in or worn at mid hip. During normal routine activities like raising arms or bending over, no skin or undergarments should be visible between the waistband of the pants and the bottom of the shirt. (2). Crewneck, Cardigan, V-neck sweaters, vest or fleece pullovers in navy blue may be worn with the appropriate collared shirt underneath. (3). Solid color turtlenecks (white, navy, light blue, gray, or black) are permitted under the appropriate collared shirt. (4). No logo or writing is allowed on the shirt. (School Mascot Logos are permitted.) (5.) All tops should be of appropriate size so as not to cause stretching or gapping of the material. Tops should not be tight to the skin or baggy. *The schools approved for CAP have selected one individual school color for shirts in addition to the standard colors of white, navy blue, light blue, and gray: North Salisbury School’s individual color is ROYAL BLUE.
Bottoms: Navy blue, black, gray or Khaki style pants, capris, walking shorts, skirts, skorts or jumpers: (1). Skirts, dresses and jumpers (being no shorter than 3” above the top of the knee while standing), skorts and shorts (no shorter than 5” above the top of the knee while standing) can be worn. (2). Clothing items must be worn at the natural waist (above the hips). (3). A solid color belt must be worn if clothing item has belt loops. Belts may not be accessorized, have adornments or have decorative belt buckles. (4). Clothing items must not be cargo style, have multiple zippers or pockets, or have any adornments. (5). All bottoms should be of appropriate size so there is not stretching or gapping of the material. Bottoms should not be tight to the skin or baggy. (6). Jeans are not permitted.
Legwear: (1). No restrictions on legwear colors of socks, tights, or pantyhose. (2.) Leggings and tights are not appropriate bottoms.
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Footwear: (1). Shoes must be worn at all times. Footwear must be appropriate for the student’s designated activity- such as tennis shoes for PE and shoes that are safe for running and climbing on the playground. (2). Shoes that are closed in the back or have a back strap. (3). Slippers and flip-flops are not permitted.
Clarifying Statements: (1). Sleeveless shirts, t-shirts, tank tops, lounge wear, or pajamas are not permitted. (2). Hats, head coverings, visors, scarves or sunglasses are not to be worn in the building unless for religious or medical reasons (documentation required). (3). Cut-offs, frayed seams, and holes are not permitted on any clothing. (4). Students must remove and store all outerwear in the place designated by their teacher when they enter the building. (5). Store or brand logos or signs are not permitted to be visible on tops. (6). Jeans are not permitted as bottoms.
School Pictures:
School pictures are taken twice a year. When pictures are taken students have a choice of wearing their consistent attire or dressing in Non-Consistent Attire as long as it follows the Wicomico County Dress Code Policy.
After School Activities: (1). Students who attend activities directly after school (MAST, Kids Club, etc.) should continue to wear the clothing that was worn during the school day. (2). When students return to school in the evening, their parents may choose whether they wear the apparel they wore to school that day or if they wear Non-CAP attire. If Non-CAP attire is worn, it must meet the Wicomico County Dress Code Policy. (3). Some activities, such as concerts, may specify a different type of clothing.
Physical Education Classes: (1). Athletic shoes or tennis shoes are required. (2). Skirts or jumpers should not be worn unless shorts are underneath. (3). Students will wear the clothing for class that they wore to school that day.
Non-CAP Attire Days:
Administrative decisions will be made for school-wide incentives. CAP attire is required on ALL SCHOOL DAYS unless announced in advance by administration, or as noted above for school picture days. Any time Non-CAP attire is permitted, students must wear clothing that complies with the WCBOE Dress Code Policy that applies to Non-CAP schools. This policy is available at www.wcboe.org.
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Consequences for Violation (Adopted from WCBOE Dress Code Policy):
First Offense:
➢ Student conference with administrator to discuss the violation and review the Consistent Attire Program. ➢ Parent contact by the administrator to discuss the violation of the policy and subsequent consequences should more violations occur. ➢ Change of clothing by student to rectify the violation (provided by the student or parent). Student will be placed in ISS until appropriate clothing is secured.
Second Offense:
➢ Student conference with an administrator to discuss the violation and review the Consistent Attire Program. ➢ Parent contact by the administrator to discuss the violation of the policy and subsequent consequences should more violations occur. ➢ Change of clothing by student to rectify the violation (provided by the student or parent). ➢ Student discipline disposition at the discretion of the administrator. ➢ Student will be placed in ISS until appropriate clothing is secured.
Third and Additional Offenses:
➢ Student conference with an administrator to discuss the violation and review the Consistent Attire Program. ➢ Parent contact by the administrator to discuss the violation of the policy and subsequent consequences should more violations occur. ➢ Change of clothing by student to rectify the violation (provided by the student or parent). ➢ Student assignment to in-school or out-of-school suspension: day(s) (at the discretion of the administrator while utilizing progressive discipline). ➢ Student will be placed in ISS until appropriate clothing is secured.
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