September 1, 2015 Hello Leverett
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Welcome-1 September 1, 2015 Hello Leverett students and families! It is with great excitement that I welcome you all to the 2015-2016 school year at LES! This year the school is welcoming a number of new faces, both students and staff, and we all look forward to getting to know each other as the year progresses. Along with several new teachers and staff, we also welcome our new Union #28 Superintendent, Jennifer Haggerty. You will be seeing her at school events throughout the year! We also have some changes in the schoolhouse itself, including a new Parent Room, located in the front of the building near the office. This Handbook contains important information that we hope will assist you and your family during the course of the year. Please take some time and read through it carefully. The school administration and School Committee have worked hard to make the handbook both comprehensive and comprehensible, but if you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please let us know. All of the staff at LES are dedicated professionals who are committed to providing your children with the best possible educational environment in which to learn, grow and thrive. One of the great aspects of this school is its wonderfully close and supportive community of families. Family involvement in school events and activities is crucial both to student success and that of the school as a whole. Your input is valued and valuable, and your participation in school activities is critical to all of our success. This year there are many options for voluntary participation, including the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO), which organizes events and raises funds for field trips and other important school programs. The School Committee also welcomes family and community input and participation. We meet on the first Monday of every month, at 6:00 p.m., in the LES library. The minutes of each meeting are published on the school website as well as in the back of the Friday Post each month. You can find more information about the roles and responsibilities of the School Committee on page 45 of this Handbook. We encourage you to reach out to us regarding policy issues affecting the entire community. Questions or concerns regarding specific classroom practices or individual situations, however, should be addressed by way of the process outlined on page 34 of this Handbook. Please do not hesitate to contact me or any other member of the School Committee with any questions, concerns, or ideas you may have. The members’ contact information is listed on page 7. Once again, welcome, and on behalf of the School Committee I wish you all a joyful and successful 2015-2016 school year! Sincerely, Sarah Dolven LES School Committee Chair 2-Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION TO THE LEVERETT SCHOOL Welcome Letter from School Committee 1 Table of Contents 2 Mission Statement and School Improvement Goals 5 LES School Staff 6 Committees and Contacts 7 Calendar 8 GENERAL SCHOOL INFORMATION School Hours 9 Attendance 9 Breakfast, Lunch and Snack 9 Recess 10 Toys at School 10 Birthday Parties 10 After School Plans/Permission Slips 11 The Friday Post 11 Lost and Found 11 Visiting Our School 11 Emergency Procedures 12 Special 911 Instructions 13 GETTING THERE, BEING HERE, AND GETTING HOME Riding the School Bus 14 Cars 15 Routines for Picking Up Children 15 Bicycles 16 Walking 17 Delayed Opening/School Closing 17 ACADEMIC INFORMATION Reporting Children’s Progress 18 Standardized Testing 18 Homework 19 Field Trips 19 Report Cards/Parent Conferences 19 BEHAVIOR AND DISCIPLINE Safe & Respectful School 20 Behavior Expectations 21 Discouraging Inappropriate Behaviors 21 Due Process/Suspension 24 Disciplining Students with Special Needs 28 Table of Contents-3 BULLYING PREVENTION PLAN 30 SCHOOL PROGRAMS Early Childhood/Preschool/Kindergarten 31 Specialist Programs Adventure Program 31 Art 31 Computer Lab 31 Instrumental Music 31 Library 32 Music 32 Physical Education 32 After School Program 32 Community Network for Children 33 PARENT/GUARDIAN INFORMATION How to Handle a Concern 34 Communication with Teachers and the School 34 Discussion of Sensitive Topics 34 Transfer of School Records 35 Rights of Divorced or Separated Parents 35 HEALTH INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS School Nurse 36 State Immunization Law 36 Physical Evaluations 36 Medication Policy 36 Emergency Information Form 37 Emergency Transportation Policy 37 Accident Insurance 37 Communicable Diseases 37 Head Lice Protocols 38 Vision, Hearing, BMI, and Postural Screenings 39 Medical Excuses 39 Biting 39 Head Injuries 39 INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORTS Instructional Supports 40 Response to Intervention 40 Individual Student Success Plans 40 “Warning” Results on MCAS Testing 40 4-Table of Contents SPECIAL EDUCATION/504 Special Education Law 41 Eligibility for Special Education Services 41 Section 504/ADA 42 Administrator of Special Education 42 PARENT/GUARDIAN INVOLVEMENT PTO 43 Volunteering/Confidentiality 43 Special Education Parent Advisory Council 43 School Council 44 Safety Committee 44 Field Trip Chaperones 44 LEVERETT SCHOOL COMMITTEE Function of the School Committee 45 Meeting Procedures 45 Public Participation at Meetings 45 Agenda Items 46 Concerns 46 POLICIES, REGULATIONS AND LAWS Policy on Discrimination and Harassment 47 Grievance Procedures 47 Life Threatening Allergy Policy 48 Head Lice Policy 49 Names, Addresses on School Lists 49 Preschool/Kindergarten Bus Route Policy 50 Student Contract for School Internet Use 50 Student Record Regulations 51 Building Use Policy 52 Library Material Selection 52 Parental Notification Relative to Sex Education 52 School Choice Policy 53 Student Absences and Excuses 53 Tobacco-Free School Policy 54 PUBLIC NOTIFICATIONS Asbestos Management Plan 55 Water System 55 Integrated Pest Management Program 56 Compliance 56 LES Mission and Goals-5 LEVERETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL “LES IS MORE!” Leverett Elementary School Mission Statement The mission of Leverett Elementary School is to educate all students to their fullest potential, providing a foundation of academic skills and subjects in a safe, positive and enriching environment that fosters a love of learning. In cooperation with families, teachers, and community, LES aims to prepare all students to be lifelong learners and responsible citizens of the world, with individual accountability and respect for others. SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT GOALS* 1. Strengthen communication among staff, students, and parents in order to support teaching and learning. 2. Successfully adopt Writer's Workshop as the writing curriculum in Kindergarten through Grade 6. 3. Facilitate parent awareness of school curriculum by showcasing student work. *New School Improvement goals are being formulated by the LES School Council, and are expected to focus on building Response to Intervention to help the learning of every child, as well as increasing involvement of LES parents and the entire Leverett town community in the school and school events. The new School Improvement Plan will be presented to the School Committee for approval in early November, 2015. 6-LES Staff LEVERETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STAFF Principal Special Education Aides Margot Lacey Debhra Brazeau Marla Cromwell Secretary Debora Fritz Marilyn Putnam Jonathan Lambert Kate Rice Kathy Martin Classroom Teachers Instructional Aides Ruth Love Barer, Preschool Carol Allis, Preschool Amanda King, Kindergarten Sherri Goodwin, PS-Grade 1 Alissa Alteri Shea, Grade 1 Martha Guilmette, Kindergarten Lisa Kuerzel, Grade 2 Tracey Supple, Grade 3 Nurse Lisa Echevarria, Grade 4 Karyn Briand William Stewart, Grade 5 Jill Roberts Alyson Bull, Grade 6 After School Program Director Specialist Teachers Michael DeRosa Lani Blechman, Library Susan Boss, Art Cafeteria Staff Karin Gravina, Technology Molly Snedden, Food Service Director Heidi Renauld, Music Tabatha McLellan Victoria Shaw, Adventure Program Richard Trowell, Physical Education Custodial Staff Dawn Marvin Ward, Greenhouse Wayne Cromack, Head Custodian Christopher Cole Special Education Teachers Joe Sobieski Lori Castagna Aris Etheridge Christopher Geiling Essential Skills Teachers Vivian Kucinski Christine Paglia Baker Psychologist Bethany Politylo Speech and Language Karen Gallagher Occupational Therapist Marianne Vinal Committees and Contacts-7 LEVERETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND CONTACTS LES School Committee Sarah Dolven, Chair 549-6235, [email protected] Kip Fonsh, Regional Rep. 548-9053, [email protected] Audra Goscenski 549-3994, [email protected] Alan Mully 367-2817, [email protected] Bethany Seeger 256-6739, [email protected] LES School Council Margot Lacey, Co-chair Caroline Aller, parent Craig Cohen, parent Emily Hodos, parent Phyllis Herda, community rep Lani Blechman, teacher TBD, teacher Parent Teacher Organization Theresa Gahagan, president Kate Rice, treaasurer Join us!! Erving School Union #28 Composed of the school districts of Erving, Leverett, Shutesbury, and New Salem/Wendell (Swift River School). Jennifer Haggerty, Superintendent School Union #28 18 Pleasant Street Erving, MA 01344 413-423-3337 8-School Calendar CONFERENCES ERVING SCHOOL UNION #28 CONFERENCES 1:05 Dismissal ACADEMIC CALENDAR 1:05 Dismissal 2015-2016 October 28 and 29 April 6 and 7 November 3 and 4 LEVERETT ELEMENTARY April 12 and 13 SCHOOL AUGUST 2015 SEPTEMBER 2015 (20) OCTOBER 2015 (20) Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 13 14 15 16 17 18 19