PRESCHOOL - FIFTH GRADE PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK 2019-2020
El Dorado Private School 2019-2020
2
August 5, 2019
Welcome Students and Parents!
We are excited to be celebrating our 50th year educating children in the Valley! We are a family owned and operated school where our teachers and staff are professional educators who are focused on helping every student learn in a caring and challenging environment. We want to bring out the best in each child, helping each one to be all they are capable of being.
This Parent/Student Handbook has been compiled to provide the parents of our students with basic information about the policies, practices, and procedures of El Dorado Private School. We hope that you will find the booklet useful in providing answers questions you may have about our school. This handbook is designed to serve as your one source of information to explain our different school policies. It is important that parents and students understand the expectations our school has for each student.
Student success is made possible by the combined efforts of the home and the school partnering together. We enjoy effective communication with the parents/guardians of our students. It’s obvious by our students’ achievements that our parents are involved in the lives of their children, help them with their homework, keep the lines of communication open with teachers, and positively support the school.
We believe our school runs smoothly when our parents are involved in their child’s education. It is our hope that we can work together to provide the best learning environment for your child. Our goal at El Dorado Private School is to give your child a positive school experience through continuous improvements in teaching and learning. Thanks for your support as we learn together!
We extend our best wishes to our parents and students for another successful school year. Whenever questions or concerns arise, please don't hesitate to call or stop in the front office. I believe in an open-door policy with the students, staff, and parents of El Dorado Private School, and look forward to the opportunity to meet or talk with each of you in person!
Sincerely,
Linda L. McDermott Director of School
El Dorado Private School 2019-2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
The items in this handbook have been arranged in alphabetical order for easier reference and not in order of importance.
Contact Information ...... 6 Telephone Extensions ...... 6 Staff Email Addresses ...... 6 Accounting ...... 7 Admission Policy ...... 7 Admission Requirements ...... 7 After School Dismissal ...... 8 After School Programs ...... 8 Animals ...... 8 Attendance ...... 8 Backpacks/Book Bags ...... 9 Bathroom Accidents ...... 9 Birthdays/Celebrations ...... 10 Campus ...... 10 Classroom Observation ...... 11 Classroom Placement ...... 12 Classroom Volunteering ...... 12 Communication ...... 12 Conferences...... 13 Conflict Resolution ...... 13 Discipline ...... 13 Emergency Response Plan ...... 17 Extended Care ...... 17 Family Directory ...... 17 Field Trips ...... 17 Fire Drills/Lockdowns ...... 17 First Day of School ...... 17 Food ...... 18 Front Gate ...... 19 Grades/Grading System ...... 19 Health/Immunization Records ...... 20 Homework ...... 20 Illnesses ...... 21 Insurance ...... 21 Lost and Found ...... 21 Lunch Bunch ...... 22 Medication ...... 22 Morning Arrival ...... 22 Network/Internet Use ...... 23 Newsletters ...... 23 Officer Resource Program ...... 23 Parent Action Committee (PAC) ...... 23 Pest Control ...... 23 Playgrounds ...... 23 Priority Re-enrollment ...... 24 Prohibited Items ...... 24 Rainy Day/Heat Advisory Dispersal ...... 24
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School Hours...... 24 School’s Right to Amend ...... 24 State Agencies ...... 24 Student Records ...... 24 Telephone/Cell Phone and Email Use ...... 25 Textbooks ...... 25 Uniforms/Dress Code ...... 25 Valuables ...... 26 Withdrawal ...... 26 Yearbook ...... 26
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CONTACT INFORMATION
El Dorado Private School 20624 N. 76th Street Scottsdale, Arizona 85255 Office – (480) 502-6878 Fax – (480) 502-8044 www.eldoradops.com
TELEPHONE EXTENSIONS
Every classroom has a voicemail extension for parents to utilize when needing to leave a message for a classroom teacher. At no time should a parent dial directly into the classroom. This is a disruption to the academic process. In the event of an emergency, please contact the front office at ext. 225, and request that a message be immediately forwarded to the classroom for a response. Below is a list of pertinent extensions. To reach an internal extension, dial the school’s main phone number, (480) 502-6878, and press the appropriate 3-digit extension at the voice prompt.
Director of School 226 Room 1 101 Front Office/Dir. of Admissions 225 Room 2 102 Director of Operations 232 Room 3 103 Health & Records 227 Room 4 104 Accounting 200 Room 5 105 Lunch Counter 229 Room 6 106 Extended Care 221 Room 7 107 Library 221 Room 8 108 Art 112 Room 9 109 Music 115 Room 10 110 Physical Education 119 Room 11 111 Technology 120 Room 13 113 Room 14 114 Room 15 115 Room 16 116 Room 17 117
STAFF EMAIL ADDRESSES
Staff members at El Dorado Private School all have their own school email address, which can be used to communicate with parents and students in a professional manner. If you wish to contact a staff member via email, please refer to FACTS Family Online or the Faculty page on the El Dorado Private School website at www.eldoradops.com.
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ACCOUNTING statement can be directed to can be directed to the Discounts Accounting Manager at (480) 502-6878, ext. 200. Discounts off the annual tuition payments are available under the following circumstances. Payments Sibling Discount Monthly tuition payments are due on the first of If two children from the same immediate family each month from June 1 through April 1. Tuition th are enrolled in the program during the same payments received after the 10 of the month th school year, a 5% discount off the total annual (regardless of what day the 10 may fall) will be tuition amount is available. If three children are charged a late fee of $25.00. If tuition/invoices enrolled, the discount is 10% and four children should be more than 45 days late, the credit bureaus enrolled from the same family receive a 15% may be notified of the late account, and the student discount. will be unable to attend class until account is paid in full. Should the student/family account become Annual Prepayment Discount delinquent (i.e., tuition, Lunch Bunch, Extended If the annual tuition payment for any or all Care, spirit shirts, field trips, etc.), students will not children is paid IN FULL prior to June 1, a 3% be allowed to attend class parties, kindergarten and pre-payment discount is available. For children eighth grade graduation, field trips, etc. Should an who register in the program after June 1, the account be terminated due to non-payment, it will pre-payment discount is ONLY available if the be turned over to a collection agency or legal annual tuition amount is paid IN FULL at time of services. enrollment. Parents may not choose to pre-pay Non-sufficient funds: if two checks are returned by the annual tuition once the first monthly parent’s bank, parent must pay the remainder of the payment has been made. Annual prepayment of school year by “CASHIER CHECK” or CASH only. tuition can be paid by cash, check or money order only. ADMISSION POLICY Fees El Dorado Private School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or sex, national and ethnic All fees are due immediately upon receipt of a bill origin in administration of educational policies, from the Accounting Office. Fees may be paid by athletic, and other school administered programs. cash, personal or business check, money order, or credit card. El Dorado Private School accepts, The administration has the right to determine American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and VISA. whether current students may re-enroll. This decision will be determined after careful review of a Enrollment fees are due at time of enrollment, and student’s academic and behavioral during the course these fees, once paid, are non-refundable and non- of the academic year. transferable from child to child. Education is a partnership. The parent is the primary In addition to tuition fees, there are a variety of educator, and the school supports the parent in this additional charges that can be placed on a student endeavor. However, if in the view of the account. Extended Care charges, spirit shirts, and administration, there is a breakdown in this Lunch Bunch are just a few such items. Invoices for partnership; parents may be asked to remove the these additional services are sent out every two child from the school. weeks and are due in full upon receipt.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS Invoices New families interested in enrolling their child(ren) The Accounting Office sends out invoices every two at El Dorado Private School must first complete an weeks. Payment is due upon receipt of statement. Online Application for Admission. Once all relevant Refer to the previous Fees and Discounts sections for documents have been received by the Admissions information on payment methods. A late fee of Office, the application is submitted to the $25.00 will be assessed on bills not paid within 10 Application Committee for consideration. Accepted days of bill date. Any questions regarding a applicants will be notified within five days of receipt of the completed application and all relevant
7 El Dorado Private School 2019-2020 documents. New students must also provide a copy child not picked up at the conclusion of an after- of their birth certificate and a completed school program will be sent to Extended Care and Emergency/Immunization card. More detailed will be billed accordingly. information about this card can be found under the section Health/Immunization Records. New students ANIMALS may be asked to participate in a “shadow day” prior to admission at the discretion of the Application No animals are allowed on campus for the safety of Committee. all the students at school unless permission has been obtained from the school director. Existing students are always given priority enrollment consideration from one year to the next during the designated priority enrollment period ATTENDANCE only. An enrollment fee is due at time of re- Regular attendance is a key to academic success and enrollment, and this fee is non-refundable and non- is the responsibility of both the parents and transferable. students. Since much of the schoolwork completed in the classroom (i.e., discussions, participation, in- AFTER-SCHOOL DISMISSAL class projects, etc.) cannot be made up, students should remain out of school only when necessary. El Dorado Private School’s dismissal procedures Every attempt should be made to schedule provide for an easy, convenient, and expedient way appointments and vacations around the school to disperse children at the end of the school day. schedule to minimize the impact on your child’s Detailed instructions regarding after school dismissal academic experience. Refer to the absence policy are provided to every family prior to the start of the regarding makeup work. school year. It is vitally important that parents abide by these procedures whenever picking up children at If your child should ever resist going to school, their regular dismissal time. If you are picking your acknowledge his/her feelings. Encourage your child Preschool child up before 3:00pm, you must sign to talk about it. Proceed to school. Talk with the your child out on the classroom assigned sheet with classroom teachers about the problem, preferably your FULL name and the time of departure. Do not outside of normal school hours. Share as much park along the curb in front or on the side of the information as possible. Together, we should be able school. Once dispersal has started, please do not get to identify the basis for your child’s loss of out of your car for any reason. All cars parked in confidence in school. Allowing your child to stay dispersal areas must have drivers present in their home will not solve the problem or address the vehicles. Please direct any questions about dismissal issue. to the front office. Any student that is not picked up by the end of that Absences grade level’s dispersal will be sent directly to After If your child is not going to be at school for any Care and billed accordingly. Half day students not reason, it is necessary to call Health & Records at picked up by 11:30am (or 12:30pm if staying for (480) 502-6878, ext. 227, and report the child’s Lunch Bunch) will be placed in the front office and name, grade level, and nature of the absenteeism. billed $2.00 per minute. A child who arrives after 12:00pm or is picked up for the remainder of the day prior to 12:00pm will AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS be considered absent for one full day. This absence In addition to our supervised Extended Care will be counted in the cumulative total number of program, a variety of after-school programs are absences for that student for the academic school available each semester at an additional cost. These year. programs are provided as additional enrichment activities to the students of El Dorado Private School. Early Release Information regarding these programs is provided If a situation arises where you need to retrieve your during ‘Meet the Staff Day’ at the beginning of the child(ren) before their regularly scheduled dismissal school year, along with the opportunity to enroll time, you must stop into the front office first and your child in any of the available programs. Many of sign the Early Release Dismissal Log. Only at that these programs begin at 3:15pm or 3:30pm. Any
8 El Dorado Private School 2019-2020 time will your child(ren) be called from the Perfect Attendance classroom. Please do NOT call the front office while A student will be considered for the Perfect en route to the campus to try to expedite the Attendance Award only if they have attended every process. This places an unnecessary burden on the school day and have received three or less tardies. administrative staff members, who may be attending to other duties. Temporary Absence from Group (Preschool) A child who leaves after 12:00pm for any reason will be considered absent for one half (1/2) day. Anytime a preschool student is temporarily absent This absence will be counted towards the cumulative from the group activity area, a yellow sticky tab is total number of absences for that student for the placed by the preschool student's name. When the academic school year. student returns to the group activity area, the yellow sticky tab is removed. The staff member taking the student from the group will also write the student's Late Arrival/Tardy name on a yellow sticky note and carry it with them A little late is too late! Children who arrive after the until the student returns to the group. scheduled start time for their classroom are required to first stop by the front office and fill out a tardy slip. These slips are then sent with the student into BACKPACKS/BOOK BAGS the classroom. When students are tardy, it not only All students from three-year-olds to eighth grade are affects them; everyone else around them is required to bring a backpack/book bag to school disrupted. The number of times your child is tardy everyday. Preschool children should have a full-sized each quarter will appear on the Progress Report. backpack. Since tardiness interferes with a student’s progress and is a distraction to the class, it should be avoided. Six tardies in a quarter may result in a meeting with BATHROOM ACCIDENTS the school director, the parents, and teachers to El Dorado Private School's Preschool is licensed by discuss this problem. Excessive tardiness will result the Arizona Department of Health Services. As a in a SNAP Form being issued to the student. result, children entering our Early Bird Three-Year- Olds and Three-Year-Old programs must be fully Missed Assignments/Tests bathroom trained and cannot be sent to school in When the student arrives back at school after an any type of transition undergarments (diapers, Pull- absence, it is the student’s responsibility to check Ups, etc.). While we understand that during the first with the teacher(s) concerning schoolwork missed few weeks of school, certain children may during this time. A student will have one day for experience bathroom related accidents, the each day absent, plus one extra day, up to a total of following policy has been implemented to help five days, to turn in missed assignments and class parents understand the school’s position on children work that were assigned on the day(s) missed. with multiple bathroom accidents: (Previously assigned work is due on the day the Each time a child has a bathroom accident, a student returns to school.) Missed quizzes and tests note will be sent home to the parents to inform must be scheduled with teacher(s) and taken within you that an accident occurred. the same time frame. Some assignments and tests After three accidents, the parents may be cannot be made up due to the nature of the work. required to conference with the child’s Assignments, class work, tests, and quizzes not made classroom teachers to discuss ways that El up in the allotted time will result in the student Dorado Private School can help your child have receiving a zero for the missed work. successful “dry” days at school. Class work and homework will not be given out in After five accidents, a call to the parents will be advance of any planned or unplanned absence. placed by the Administrative Office. If six accidents occur, the child may be asked to be withdrawn from school. If a child is asked to be withdrawn because of multiple bathroom accidents, the cancellation policy
9 El Dorado Private School 2019-2020 regarding tuition payments would apply. See your Grayhawk. Opened in September 1996, it houses Tuition Agreement for more information regarding over 20,000 sq. ft. of classroom, multi-use, and this policy. administrative office space. Currently, the campus has 15 academic classrooms, a Multi-Purpose Room, Library, Technology Lab, Science Room, Music Room, BIRTHDAYS/CELEBRATIONS Art Room, Outdoor Classroom, Multi-Use Field, and Birthdays are special! Children are invited to two playgrounds. celebrate their birthdays by bringing treats to share with their classmates. Please refer to the Food section of this handbook for proper procedures Administration Office regarding distribution of treats on campus and what The Administration Office houses Admissions, the types of foods are allowed. School Director’s Office, Health & Records, Accounting, and the Staff Lounge. Any comments, questions or concerns should be directed to the Birthday Parties/Invitations front office and the school director. Private birthday parties are best held on non-school days. Please do not schedule a private party immediately following school unless every child in Art Room the class has been invited. Birthday party invitations The Art Room is located within the Multi-Purpose or thank you notes may not be distributed in the Room. Students from kindergarten through eighth classroom. We ask that you distribute invitations grade attend weekly art classes. outside of school to prevent any hurt feelings. Individual invitations may be mailed directly to the Classrooms families using the Family Directory, which can be found in FACTS. We also ask that any gift exchange The campus is divided into two main sections: be done privately. Preschool/Kindergarten and Elementary/Middle School. While each section is overseen by the school
director, different governing bodies provide rules Special Celebrations and regulations. Our Preschool program is inspected In addition to birthdays, we learn and discuss about annually by the Arizona Department of Health a variety of holidays throughout the year. Special Services. Additional information about government attention is usually given to Halloween, offices can be found in the handbook under State Thanksgiving, Columbus Day, Hanukkah, Christmas, Agencies. Kwanzaa, MLK/Civil Right’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Preschool through second grade classrooms each President’s Day, and Mother’s and Father’s Day. contain a student restroom and drinking fountain. Preschool and kindergarten children may celebrate Elementary and middle school classrooms have some holidays with classroom parties to individual drinking fountains and common area commemorate the occasion. Siblings are not allowed restrooms for student use. at the classroom parties. Only students enrolled in that classroom may attend. Students may host parties and/or learn more about the traditions of Library these special days. Please check with your child’s Our library currently contains over 10,000 volumes classroom teachers to find out more information available for student and staff use. Each about party days and volunteering time in the kindergarten and elementary classroom has a classroom to assist with such an occasion. To scheduled time each week to check out library minimize disruption to the academic schedule, books. Middle school students may do so before or kindergarten and elementary classes may only after school or during their lunch recess. celebrate these occasions at the end of the school day, starting no earlier than 1:30pm. Lunch Counter
The Lunch Counter handles the distribution of our CAMPUS catered lunch program, and offers hot lunches at an El Dorado Private School is situated on 4.25 acres in additional cost, a service provided by a third-party the master-planned residential community of
10 El Dorado Private School 2019-2020 caterer. Detailed information about food services CLASSROOM OBSERVATION can be found under the Food section. El Dorado Private School has an open-door policy. However, all parents and visitors need to sign in and Multi-Purpose Room receive a Parent or Visitor’s Pass from the front office. This is for the safety of all students on our Our Multi-Purpose Room (commonly referred to as campus as well as for the safety of visitors in the the MPR) is scheduled for a wide variety of events event of a campus emergency. This allows us to throughout the school year. This space is also used account for all people present on our campus at that for many after-school programs, which may include time. A parent arriving at a classroom without a dance, cheerleading, martial arts, and gymnastics. visitor’s/parent’s tag will be referred to the office to Music classes are held in the MPR or in a dedicated sign in and acquire one. classroom for kindergarten through eighth grades.
Guidelines for Parental Class Observation: Music Room After 8:30am (Elementary & Middle School) and Our Music Room is used for most of our 9:00am (Preschool & Kindergarten), ALL visitors kindergarten through fifth grade music classes and must leave the classrooms to allow classes to music elective classes. conduct morning activities. Any visitors remaining on campus must sign in and obtain a Outdoor Classroom Visitor’s Pass from the front office. Our Outdoor Classroom is an area designed for There is a limit of two parents observing in the hands-on learning in a natural environment. The classroom at a time unless otherwise specified classroom can be used by all grade levels. by the classroom teacher. Visitors are asked to sit at the perimeter of the classroom unless Parking otherwise directed by the teacher. This enables the teachers to teach and establish a rapport The campus has limited parking for parent use. If the with the children and minimizes disruption to parking lot in front of our school is full, additional your child’s education. parking can be found in the Grayhawk Park parking Please only help the teachers at their request. lot on 76th Street, north of our facility. It is illegal for parents to park along fire lane curbs (painted in red), Preschool parents should be aware that it is or along the south fire lane on the property. Parking inevitable that there may be a crying child. in either of these locations at ANY time could result Separation anxiety is expected and is a healthy in a parking ticket, payable to the Scottsdale Police behavior. Although this may be unsetting to the Department. observer, please understand and allow the teachers to handle the various situations. If your help is needed, we will ask for your assistance. Science Room The first month of school will be challenging and The Science Room contains lab stations and has a exciting for children, teachers, and parents. The dedicated Science teacher. Our middle school implementation of our plans will be adjusted to students use the Science Room allowing for hands- meet the needs of the children as the days on experiments that enhance and go along with the unfold. The children will feel a sense of routine science curriculum. The Science Room may also be after this initial adjustment period. used by our elementary classes as desired. Please allow teachers to observe and monitor children on the playground without disruption. Technology Lab If you need to meet or talk with a teacher, schedule an appointment at another time so Our Technology Lab contains 20 iMac computers for they can properly supervise the children on the use as part of our comprehensive technology playground. program and during Extended Care. Students in preschool through eighth grade attend technology Siblings are not allowed in the classroom when classes in this lab at least once a week. This program observing. is taught by a dedicated technology instructor.
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CLASSROOM PLACEMENT Communication from the school regarding your A child’s final placement in the classroom is the child, school events, and other pertinent information determination of El Dorado Private School. is handled in the following of ways: If you are new to El Dorado Private School, your child’s initial class placement will be based on actual EDPS Website age. Class placement for continuing students is The El Dorado Private School website based on both a child’s age and teacher (www.eldoradops.com) provides a wealth of recommendations. information about the school and curriculum All incoming students must be age-wise eligible expectations. A monthly Newsletter is also provided, before September 1 for the appropriate placement detailing all campus-related events and is available except for the Early Bird Three-Year-Olds class. They for parents to view and/or download. must be three by December 31. Final placement of children entering our Email Kindergarten, Elementary, and Middle School El Dorado Private School provides parents email programs is decided by input from the teachers communication from the school, thereby eliminating (current and upcoming grade level), school director, most paper communication between the parent and and admissions director. Many factors are school. Emails from the campus will be sent on a considered when placing a child, including but not regular basis, providing continuous updates on limited to academic ability, social skills, events, student progress, and other vital teacher/student personalities, and classroom information. School-wide emails are sent to all dynamics as a whole. Please remember that our custodial parents as listed in FACTS. interests as an educational institution are to provide the best experience for your child, both academically and socially. Parent/Teacher Conferences Parents of children in kindergarten through fifth CLASSROOM VOLUNTEERING grade will schedule a parent/teacher conference with their child’s teachers at the conclusion of the El Dorado Private School believes in parents being first and third quarters. Additional meetings are on active in their child’s education. We appreciate your an as-needed basis. Conferences may be scheduled participation in your child’s classroom. Look for the at any time by contacting your child’s teachers. Parent Volunteer Sign Up information from your Depending on the situation, the school director may child’s teacher for specific times when volunteers be asked to be present. Notes may be taken at are being requested. conferences by an EDPS staff member. Parents will All parents wishing to volunteer at school must read receive a copy if notes are taken. and sign the Volunteer Guidelines at the start of the year. Please be certain if you are volunteering at school that you receive a Parent Volunteer Badge FACTS Family Online (formerly RenWeb) from the front office. Classroom teachers are In FACTS Family Online, you will find instructed to send all parents back to the office to announcements, a school calendar, special events, receive a Parent Volunteer Badge. This enables us to and other information and correspondence provide a safe campus environment. Siblings are not regarding school events and activities. You may also allowed in the classroom when volunteering. use FACTS to email staff.
COMMUNICATION Written/Paper Communication El Dorado Private School firmly believes in keeping Most pertinent information about your child’s an open line of communication between the parents progress, campus events, and after school activities and staff. If there is ever a situation that you feel are sent home in email form. At times, some written requires the attention of a teacher, office staff information will be sent home as well. This member, or the school director, please do not information may be sent home with the student or hesitate to communicate those feelings through the mailed to the student’s primary custodial household school director.
12 El Dorado Private School 2019-2020 as listed in FACTS. It is the parent’s responsibility to I will come to school on time and prepared for keep informed of activities that pertain to their child. learning. I will act responsibly and accept the CONFERENCES consequences for my actions. See the Communication section of this handbook. Preschool Discipline Policy CONFLICT RESOLUTION If a conflict occurs between two parties (i.e. parent, Preschool Discipline Philosophy teacher, student(s)), the following measures should Young children are individuals, eager to learn and be adhered to in an effort to attain conflict responsive to love, attention, and guidance. By resolution: nurturing and respecting each child, we foster 1. The parties should try and address the issue development of a child’s sense of well-being. Each with each other in a respectful, calm manner. child’s emotional and social growth is nurtured by El 2. If successful resolution of the conflict does not Dorado Private School’s caring staff as he/she feels occur, the matter should be brought to the uniquely accepted, safe, and important. Each child feels he/she can make friends and can be an integral school director. The school director will then determine which parties need to be present at part of the class. Physical skills using both large and the meeting to attain successful resolution of small muscles are practiced so that children become the conflict. A meeting will be scheduled as competent and feel good about their bodies. The development of cognitive skills is an important part expediently as possible, considering the schedules of the parties whose presence is of our curriculum. Through learning games, planned needed to achieve resolution. activities and lessons, children learn language skills, pre-reading and reading skills, beginning math, 3. The meeting will occur, and a resolution shall be science, and social studies. Since children learn reached. through discovery and exploring in their play, we El Dorado Private School is comprised of a small, offer an environment conducive to such exploration. close-knit community of families. Like most families, Activities and modalities such as art, sand, and water there is not always agreement among members. As play are just a few things we utilize to stimulate the part of our family, we ask that when a conflict senses. Our goal is for each child to feel confident occurs, that it remains solely between the parties about him or herself and his abilities. Each child is involved. Gossip, speculation, and rumors are hurtful encouraged to contribute his or her own strengths to those involved and make for an unhappy family and ideas in a warm, safe, nurturing environment. environment. Preschool Discipline Guidelines DISCIPLINE Discipline is a way of teaching and is a necessary and El Dorado Private feels all children have the right to positive part of our preschool program. Children attend school in a positive, constructive learning need to know what is expected of them and they environment. If a student interferes with another’s need to learn this from the adults with whom they right to learn in a safe, positive environment, that interact. Our preschool presents an environment student will receive consequences commensurate that facilitates positive behaviors, safe play areas, with the transgression and may be considered for cognitively stimulating activities and an expulsion. individualized school curriculum to diversify our school days. The guidelines for Preschool are as El Dorado Private School Code of Conduct follows: I will treat everyone with respect. The teachers set up clear, easy to understand expectations. They will be repeated as many I will treat personal and school property with times as necessary during the year. We avoid respect. saying words such as “No” or “Don’t” when I will create and maintain a positive and safe redirecting a child. The Preschool classrooms school environment.
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use a “Good Choice/Poor Choice” system for If a child is harming other children continuously discipline. or disrupting the general atmosphere of the Children are reinforced positively when they are classroom and if the school feels that it is not following an expectation by describing what is meeting the needs of a particular child, the seen, i.e.: “I see you remembered to line up school reserves the right to have that child no quietly. Good job!” This results in a “Good longer attend the Preschool. Choice” note. When a negative behavior occurs, the positive Pre-Kindergarten Discipline System expectations will be stated first, and the child The pre-kindergarten classes use a red, green, and will be redirected. If he/she cannot be yellow code system. Green means “good to go”, the redirected, consequences such as being child is making good choices in following classroom removed from the immediate area may occur. rules; yellow means “slow down and think about The child will be spoken to privately and good choices”; and red means “stop”, the child has expectations will be explained. A “Poor Choice” not been following the class rules. note will be sent home. The four-year-old classes will use the red, green, or The teachers help preschoolers to problem solve yellow stick system. Each child will have a color- with each other, giving them words and coded stick. If a child is making poor choices in directions when necessary to facilitate the following the class rules, he/she will turn the stick to process. Children will be included in the yellow. The child will have the opportunity to change problem-solving process as the teacher guides the stick back to green if improvement is shown. If a the process towards successful problem child is repeatedly having difficulty in following class resolution. The child will be guided back to the rules, the stick will be turned to red. A red stick activity they were asked to leave when they are cannot be changed back for the balance of that day. deemed ready to participate. The child will be At the end of the week, your child will bring home a observed closely to ensure that they are ready certificate corresponding to the color of his/her to join the group/activity. stick. Special rewards may be given to the children El Dorado Private School has a strict “hands-off” whose sticks are green for the week. If a child’s stick policy. If a child’s behavior is harmful to others, is red three out of four weeks, teachers will request the child will be removed from the immediate a parent/teacher conference so that teachers and area where the conflict is occurring and sent parents might discuss how best to modify the child’s home for the remainder of that academic day behavior. All sticks will be turned back to green to and the next scheduled day of attendance. A begin the next day. child sent home may not participate in after school programs on those days. This Kindergarten – 5th Grade Discipline Policy corresponds with the Level II SNAP form school- wide policy. Kindergarten – 5th Grade Discipline Policy Goal If a negative behavior continues and the above steps are not successful, a parent conference El Dorado Private School is proud of its students and with the teachers and school director will be accomplishments. High standards are set both held to discuss the child and negative situations behaviorally and academically. Students, parents, that occur frequently. It is expected that the and teachers are expected to follow a clear set of parents and teachers will work together to make standards of behavior through a comprehensive school a successful experience. school wide discipline plan. This plan is designed to create a positive learning environment by If a negative behavior continues, another encouraging all students to behave in such a manner conference will be called to discuss problems that they are a credit to themselves, their parents, and seek further solutions. These may include and their school. Each teacher will develop and seeking outside interventions to help the child. implement specific classroom discipline plans that If a parent does not follow through with the are consistent with the school wide discipline plan. recommendation of the school for such an The goal of this discipline plan is to create a positive, intervention, the school reserves the right to ask orderly, and respectful learning environment in the child to leave the school.
14 El Dorado Private School 2019-2020 which all students’ potential for learning is If your child receives a SNAP, discuss what maximized and all children feel safe at school. transpired with a focus on how to improve the behavior so it does not occur again. You will be notified of your child’s behavior on the SNAP Kindergarten – 5th Grade Discipline Philosophy form. The El Dorado Private School discipline philosophy is After three Level I SNAP forms, the fourth based upon the beliefs that: becomes an automatic Level II. Self-confidence develops as one develops self- Level II - Greater Offenses control. These offenses include, but are not limited to, As self-control increases, accepting blatant disrespect for a teacher, any hands-on responsibilities for one’s actions also increases. incidents, harassment, lying, stealing, Mutual respect implies that others have rights inappropriate language or gestures, cheating on which should be honored. class work, destruction of school property, The first week of school, all teachers will develop graffiti, and deliberate destruction of another classroom rules for their class and introduce the El person’s property, and improper use of the Dorado Private School Code of Conduct. Internet. If a child receives a Level II offense, the parent Students Needing an Action Plan (SNAP) will be notified on a SNAP form and the child and staff member will place a phone call to the Violations of classroom rules will be written up on a parent explaining behavior. A parent is required SNAP (Students Needing an Action Plan) form. A to immediately pick the child up from school. child will be written up when they are asked to stop The child will miss school for the remainder of a behavior and they do not comply. Please note, for that school day and a minimum of one a school wide behavior plan to be successful, ALL scheduled day of school, based upon behaviors will be written up if they create a administrative decision. The child will be disruption to the classroom. responsible for any work missed as a result of The SNAP form is a communication tool utilized to misbehavior. Prior to leaving the school inform parents about a behavioral occurrence/ premises, a brief meeting with an administrative transgression that has occurred. On the SNAP form, staff member, parent, and student may occur to there are three levels of offenses that are discuss the incident, review the length of delineated, based on the severity of a child’s suspension, and to determine other behavior. The severity of the behavior dictates not consequences that may result from the only the level of offense but the severity of the situation. consequences. The SNAP form is in checklist format When called to pick your child up due to to allow the teacher and student to immediately disciplinary transgressions, please respond as identify both behavior causing difficulty and the promptly as possible. action needed to rectify the behavior. Typically, staff members will write a description of the situation After three Level II SNAP forms, the fourth that occurred to warrant a SNAP form. In addition, at becomes an automatic Level III. the end of the school day, the staff member(s) may contact the parent to provide more details regarding Level III - Severe Offenses what occurred that warranted the SNAP form. A child receiving a Level III offense will be Level I - Mild Offenses immediately sent home and be a candidate for These typically consist of repeated expulsion. Level III offenses include but are not noncompliant behavior. These include, but are limited to possession of drugs, tobacco, alcohol, not limited to, repeated minor disruptive illegal activities, and bullying. Weapons on the behavior in class such as talking, out of seat, school premises or situations that deem a threat disturbing others, disruptive behavior on the to person(s) on campus will result in immediate playground, and running or making loud noises removal from school grounds, pending an near classes in session. investigation to gather information regarding the situation.
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If necessary, appropriate authorities will be b. Is the student receiving infractions from a notified and appropriate measures will be taken certain teacher? to ensure the safety of those involved. Pending c. Is the student receiving infractions on a specific results of the investigation, a student may be day of the week? expelled from school as a result of a Level III d. Is the student exhibiting the same behavior offense. Expulsion will be immediate and at the throughout the day? discretion of the administration. e. What infractions is the student receiving? Can
these be worked on? An example would be that Basic SNAP Information if the student is missing supplies in each class, The SNAP form(s) will be sent home at the end of parents/teacher can devise a plan to keep the the same school day. It will be returned on the next student organized. school day with a parent signature or the child misses recess and/or free time until the form is Bullying, Harassing, and Intolerance returned. If the SNAP form is not returned at the end of two school days, a phone call home will be placed El Dorado Private School does not tolerate bullying, on the second day. The child will continue to miss harassment, and intolerance. These offenses result recess until the form is returned. in immediate suspension and a student may be expelled from school as a result of these behaviors. Level I, Level II, and Level III incidents accumulate Expulsion is at the discretion of the school over the course of the entire school year. administration. Discipline is a necessary part of teaching children Bullying is defined as repeated, intentional that their decisions and actions result in infliction of injury or discomfort on another consequences. These can be either positive or in the person through physical contact, words, or in case of a transgression, negative. All consequences other ways that cause harm. These include, but given out will be based upon factors such as: the are not limited to, saying hurtful things, making severity of the transgression, the age of the student fun of others, overlooking others, hitting, and the frequency of the incident(s). This will be kicking, telling lies, spreading false rumors, determined by school staff prior to the student’s sending mean notes, and deliberately excluding departure on the day the suspension begins. someone from a group.
Harassment is defined as behavior that is th Kindergarten – 5 Grade Infraction System unwelcome, is directed at, or is offensive to The Infraction System supplements and compliments someone, consists of objectionable conduct, the SNAP program. Infractions are given for minor comment, material or display that demeans, behaviors that, in-and-of-themselves, do not belittles, intimidates, or humiliates another warrant a SNAP form. Before negative habits form, person. Furthermore, the person committing students are immediately informed that their choice the act knows, or ought reasonably to know, has earned them an infraction. that his or her behavior is unwelcome. If a student receives five infractions in a week or five Harassment may include the misuse of of the same type of infraction in a quarter, a SNAP authority, intimidation, threats, coersion, and form will be issued. blackmail; it may be either personal or sexual in This system is quick and simple to use. Student’s nature. conduct grade on their Progress Report or Report Intolerance is defined as repeated or harmful Card corresponds more accurately to their actual displays (oral, written, or demonstative) which behavior because there is an objective record. are not directed at any specific individual or any Infraction information is useful during parent specific group of specific individuals, and which conferences because it contains the daily record of a are directed toward race, sexual orientation, student’s behavior. Questions about behavior gender, religion, or physical disabilities, and (probably affecting academics) can be examined. which has an effect that could demean, belittle, For example: intimidate, or humiliate another person. a. Is the student receiving infractions during a certain part of the day?
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EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN FIELD TRIPS El Dorado Private School has an ‘Emergency El Dorado Private School does not schedule field Response Plan’ to handle a wide variety of trips for children in preschool. In their place, we do potentially dangerous and/or threatening situations, offer on-site programs and special interest visitors on campus, locally and abroad. Regardless of the during the school year to enrich our curriculum. type of situation that occurs, your child’s safety is Kindergarten through middle school classes have our utmost concern. Depending on the specifics of scheduled field trips throughout the school year. the situation, all persons on campus will either be Notification and permission slips will be sent to evacuated to a safe location (evacuation) or kept on parents prior to each field trip. A completed, signed campus while securing the facility to prevent outside permission slip must be received prior to departure. intrusion (lockdown). In the event of either All students going on field trips MUST wear the El occurrence, parents will be notified by telephone or Dorado Private School uniform (unless stated other electronic communication to be completely otherwise on the Field Trip Permission Form). informed of their child’s status in the event of an Transportation for most field trips will be provided emergency. utilizing the El Dorado Private School Activity Bus. This 24-passenger bus is equipped with 3-point seat EXTENDED CARE belts for every passenger and is driven by staff Supervised Extended Care is available for parents members who possess a Commercial Driver’s who need an extended day environment. This License. From time to time, it may be necessary to program can be used on an as-needed basis or as an ask for parent volunteers to chauffeur students, and annual program. Drop-in fees are billed to the a request will be made prior to the trip to ask for parents based on the following schedule: volunteers. Before school care is available from 7:30 – Only students in the classroom may attend the field 8:45am at a rate of $10.00 per day. trip. Siblings may not attend field trips. After school care is available from 3:00 – 5:30pm at a rate of $15.00 per day. FIRE DRILLS/LOCKDOWNS A student may be enrolled in Extended Care for the Fire drills are held at irregular, monthly intervals entire school year. Enrollment in this annual throughout the school year. Lockdowns are held at program is required. A 10-Month Extended Care irregular quarterly intervals. These drills are held so Enrollment Form must be completed to enroll in the that students, parents, and staff will be familiar with program. Please check the front office for a form. procedures in the event of a real emergency. A $2.00 per minute fee will be assessed for any child picked up after 5:30pm. These fees will be billed FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL separately from tuition. See the Accounting section The first day of school, for any child, is always a for more information. special occasion. For a preschool student, it is a momentous day in their life. They must deal with FAMILY DIRECTORY separation from a parent or guardian. They have to The Family Directory can be accessed through FACTS adjust to a new environment, new routine, new Parent Online. Information provided within the caregivers, and other children their age that they Family Directory is for personal use only! Under no have never seen before. It can be a difficult circumstances is the directory to be used for transition, even for those children accustomed to telephone or postal mail solicitations. Information being left with a babysitter. Separation issues can shown in the directory is chosen by parents using also be upsetting to the parents, who often do not RenWeb and is considered strictly confidential. realize or anticipate the strength of their own Reproduction of any kind, in any form, is absolutely emotions. prohibited! Anxiety and emotions associated with the first day of school are perfectly normal. If these feelings are occurring in your child, try not to be overly
concerned. Our staff members are fully accustomed to it and are prepared to deal with a variety of
17 El Dorado Private School 2019-2020 personal situations. Chances are the classroom and leave quickly and confidently. You are teachers have worked through the process certainly welcome to call the front office during themselves and have already assisted many other the day to see how your child is doing. parents and children with the same situation. They Arrive promptly at dismissal time. Your child will will be able to offer many suggestions to help ease feel more secure if you arrive when other the transition. parents do. Below are some tips that you may find helpful in Children usually adapt to new situations very quickly. preparing both you and your preschool child for However, on some occasions, it may take several those first days of school: mornings before you and your child can part Talk with your child beforehand about preschool comfortably from one another. Try not to judge and some of the things that he/she will be doing yourself, or your child. If it appears that your child is while at El Dorado Private School. Talk about the not ready for the preschool experience, even after teachers, using their names. Drive by the school several weeks, you may want to take the time to talk and show your child what it looks like. with the teachers and/or the school director about Attend ‘Meet the Staff Day’ before the start of delaying enrollment. the school year and take the time to introduce your child to the teachers, the classroom, and FOOD potentially, some classmates. A third-party caterer is responsible for distribution of Plan to be available during the first morning (or the hot lunch program. afternoon) of school. If possible, you may want to take the day off work. That way, if your child should end up needing a shortened day, you will Lunches already be available to pick them up. Our campus offers a hot lunch program, provided by Make sure to allow plenty of time to get ready a third-party caterer. Participation in the lunch for school on the first morning. Both you and program and all payments are made directly through your child will be more anxious if you are rushed the caterer. Participation information and pricing for time. can be found on the school website. Refunds will not be given for missed lunches for absenteeism, or Be prepared to deal with your own feelings as a cancellations of any kind. parent. Remember to smile and act confident. The hot lunch meals are prepared in accordance Body language can sometimes communicate with all State and Health Department regulations more than your words. and provide a well-balanced meal with all food If your child should express apprehension, groups represented. El Dorado Private School is accept those feelings and tell your child that you inspected annually by the Arizona Department of understand. Continue to be positive about the Health Services. Parents preparing sack lunches for experience and remind them of how wonderful children attending Preschool are required to be in it is going to be for them. compliance with regulation #R 9-5-512-N, which When walking to the classroom, remember to states that either milk or 100% fruit or vegetable walk side-by-side with your child, and try to juice must be provided in the child’s lunch. If you avoid carrying him/her in your arms. This will do not wish to provide milk or 100% juice, we must help minimize the physical separation. have a dated, signed written statement verifying It is our policy that all children entering a your choice of a drink substitute on file in the Lunch preschool classroom are separated from the Counter. A standardized form is sent out with parent outside the classroom door or on the Student packets, delivered during ‘Meet the Staff playground. Please do not enter the classroom Day’ before the start of the school year. with your child. In the event that an emotional If a student forgets his/her lunch and has not situation arises, the disruption to the ordered one, the student will be given a lunch. The classroom will be minimal if you remain lunch will consist of what is being offered through outside in the preschool courtyard. the caterer minus the hot options. A $5.00 charge Try not to linger. It is best to say goodbye at the will be placed on your child’s account. door, tell your child that you will be back soon,
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Preschool Snacks FRONT GATE The Arizona Department of Health Services is Please note that the main gate will be closed responsible for approving snacks and preparation of between 9:00am and 3:30pm. All visitors will have to food for our Preschool students. Only items from an enter through the front office during these times in approved source can be served to the children. order to get to any other part of the campus. All Monthly sign up sheets for snacks are located on visitors are required to sign in and put on a Visitor’s the door of your child’s classroom. Snacks are Badge. All parents on campus after 9:00am need to based on the Arizona Health Guidelines. Please come to the office and get a Parent Volunteer abide by the guidelines below. They were Badge. This policy is implemented to ensure the developed to ensure your child’s safety. safety of all those on campus and allows us to Transmittable diseases, such as salmonella, and determine who is on campus in the event of an hepatitis can be spread very easily. These and many emergency. other diseases are the result of improper hand washing or improper food preparation or handling. GRADES/GRADING SCALES Since the condition under which a parent prepares Preschool snacks is unknown, we must abide by the following directions for snacks and/or parties. Progress reports for the three-year-olds and pre- kindergarten are given out at the end of each 1. All food and drinks must be brought in their semester and use the following grading scale: original, unopened container. Glass bottles are not allowed. Fruit juices must be 100% juice. B Beginning 2. Fresh fruits and vegetables must be brought in D Developing whole. (Sliced fruits and vegetables may be M Mastered brought in if packaged in the deli or grocery N/A Not Applicable store.)
3. Muffins, breads, cookies, cakes, etc., must be purchased from a commercial bakery. (We These marks are used to denote progress cannot serve homemade bakery items to throughout the year. In accordance, these grades preschool students.) will indicate improvement over a period of time. By the end of the year, our goal is for students to be 4. Licensing regulations for nutritious snacks must receiving scores of Mastered. be observed.
The regulations limit food handling and nd preparation. For example, if you wish to provide Kindergarten through 2 Grade crackers and cheese, both the crackers and the Progress report grades for kindergarten through processed cheese must be brought in their original second grade are given out at the end of each sealed containers. quarter and use the following grading scale: Preschool snacks should be dropped off in the Academic Grading Scale student’s classroom before class begins. 3 Mastered 2 Making progress towards Special Occasions the end of the year standard 1 Not making adequate progress Children celebrating birthdays or other special towards the end of the year occasions are welcome to bring a special treat for standard their classmates. These items should be delivered to - Did not meet the end of the year the classroom. If a student has a food allergy that standard precludes him/her from sharing in a party treat, the parent must provide a box of individual snacks for Effort Grading Scale the child which the teacher will keep in the O Outstanding classroom for the student. G Good N Needs to Improve
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El Dorado’s K-2nd progress report is representative of HEALTH/IMMUNIZATION RECORDS the student’s progress in relation to El Dorado’s end Arizona state laws dictate necessary immunizations of the year grade level goals and objectives. In the for children prior to entering an academic facility. beginning of the year, a student cannot have These immunizations differ based on the age of your mastered most areas as not everything in a given child, and most current information can be found in objective has been covered. For example, in first the front office, or on the ADHS website at grade math one objective is “Identifies coins and www.hs.state.az.us. Children who are not properly their values”. In the first quarter, only pennies are immunized or have a pending doctor’s appointment covered. Nickels and quarters are covered later in to receive necessary immunizations will not be the year. Since we only evaluate the parts covered, a allowed into the classroom. This is for the safety of mark of a “3” cannot be given in “Identifies coins and all children and staff members. In some cases, their values” until nickels and quarters are immunization exemptions may be filed. These forms introduced. If a student has shown an understanding must be completed, signed, and on file in the Health of pennies, the student is given a “2” at the end of and Records office. A completed “Emergency the first quarter for this category. So far, the Information and Immunization Record Card” must student’s progress in identifying coins and their be completed in its entirety and signed by BOTH values is on track to be mastered come the end of parents and/or guardians. In addition to the school year. If a student is having difficulty with immunization information, this card also requires pennies, the student is given a “1” at this time. parent contact information, at least two alternate A student is considered to have mastered a concept contacts in the event of an emergency, and child if he consistently completes a task with at least 80% allergy information. Students without a completed proficiency. card on file prior to the start of school will not be admitted into the classroom. 3rd through 5th Grade HOMEWORK Academic Grading Scale El Dorado Private School recognizes the need for practice at home to improve academic skills. As such, Letter Grade Percentages students in kindergarten through the middle school grade levels will be required to do homework. The A+ 96.5 – 100.00 homework assignments will vary in length and the A 92.5 - 96.49 content may vary from student to student based on A- 89.5 - 92.49 academic ability and teacher discretion. B+ 86.5 - 89.49 The purposes for homework are: B 82.5 - 86.49 1. To reinforce the skills taught in the classroom B- 79.5 - 82.49 2. To encourage the growth of student C+ 76.5 - 79.49 responsibility and initiative for their own C 72.5 - 76.49 progress C- 69.5 - 72.49 3. To provide parents an opportunity to participate D+ 66.5 - 69.49 in the child’s scholastic growth D 62.5 - 66.49 4. To develop awareness that studying (review for D- 59.5 - 62.49 a test, reading assignment) is as valid an F Below 59.5 assignment as written homework When applicable, nightly homework must be turned FACTS – Online Grades (3rd through 5th Grade) in to the teacher at the beginning of the day in which El Dorado uses FACTS as its online grading program it is due. Homework not turned in at the beginning beginning in third grade. Assignments and grades of the day will be considered late resulting in the can be viewed for all classes. lowering of one letter grade. To receive any credit, late homework not completed in lunch study hall,
must be turned in at the beginning of the next day. If homework is not turned in the next day, no credit will be given.
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Please refer to the Attendance section for polices Consult your child’s pediatrician if you ever question regarding missed homework/tests due to student whether your child should return to school. If one of absence. the classroom teachers observes signs of illness, he/she may suggest that your child be seen by a member of the Health & Records office before being ILLNESSES admitted to the classroom. To preserve the health of all children and staff If your child has been exposed, or is ill from a members, we ask that you not send a sick child to contagious disease, we require that you contact the school. Small children are especially prone to Health & Records office so that all students and infection because their immune systems are not fully parents in your child’s classroom can be put on alert. developed. Just one sick child in the classroom We notify students and parents in a classroom of places all other children at risk. certain illnesses as required by the Health If your child is absent due to illness, please call the Department. Health & Records office at (480) 502-6878, ext. 227, Upon confirmation from a medical professional that and leave your child’s name, room number, date, your child has one of the above diseases, please and reason for absence. This will enable us to inform contact the Health & Records office at (480) 502- necessary staff of your child’s absence. 6878, ext. 227, and leave a voicemail message with Any child who has a fever should not be sent to your child’s name, room number, and type of school under any circumstances! A child who is disease. listless or shows active signs of illness should also be If your child develops symptoms of an illness while at kept at home. If your child has any of the following school, he/she will be sent to the Health & Records symptoms, please keep them at home until office and a parent or guardian will be called. If a investigated further by a medical professional: parent has not responded within 30 minutes after persistent stomachache the first contact attempt, an office staff member will diarrhea then try and reach an alternate emergency contact vomiting person as listed within RenWeb first and then on the blue “Emergency Information and Immunization deep or hacking cough, even if a fever is not Record Card”. When called to pick your child up due present to illness, please respond as promptly as possible. continuous runny nose Sick children are more comfortable in their own yellowish or greenish mucus home surroundings. In addition, it is imperative that we do not inadvertently spread any infectious an undiagnosed rash diseases. Any child that has been sent home ill by pink, swollen, matted and/or runny eyes that the Health & Records or office personnel will not be have not been treated by a physician permitted to attend school the entire following day A child may return to school after an illness under including any activities before and after school. these conditions: fever and/or vomiting is gone, and temperature INSURANCE has been normal for at least 24 consecutive El Dorado Private School carries liability insurance of hours without medication at least $300,000.00. Upon request, a parent can energy level has returned to normal for at least view the certificate. 24 consecutive hours no symptoms or signs of diarrhea for at least 24 LOST AND FOUND consecutive hours without medication Many student items become misplaced while at active signs of illness are no longer present school. We cannot assume responsibility for losses. Children do not have to stay at home until all We have a Lost and Found in the front office area for secondary symptoms of an illness disappear. As an items that have been turned into the office. example, some forms of nasal and bronchial Valuable items turned into the office will be kept congestion may linger for several weeks following a there. Any items left at the end of each quarter will cold or flu, but the child is no longer contagious. be donated to a local charity. Please check the Lost
21 El Dorado Private School 2019-2020 and Found regularly. Please mark clothing, Records office and be dispensed by the Health and backpacks, and lunchboxes with your child’s name. Records personnel or a designated staff member.
LUNCH BUNCH PROGRAM Special Consent to Carry and Self-Administer Preschool students enrolled in a half-day program Medication: may extend their day for one hour (11:30am – Permission may be granted for a student to carry 12:30pm) to include the lunch hour. The cost for and self-administer life-saving medication only after staying during this time is $6.00 per day which does the following process has been completed and is on not include the cost of food. This fee is billed file in the Health and Records Office. These according to the Fees subsection of this handbook medications may include, but are not limited to, (under Accounting). If a child is not picked up at inhalers, diabetic supplies/insulin and Epi-pens. 12:30pm, a late charge of $2.00 per minute will be 1. A physician’s written statement regarding the billed. Please notify the classroom teachers on the student’s medical condition, medications, and morning the student stays for lunch and check the dosage have been received and understood by appropriate box on the sign-in sheet posted next to the health and records personal. the classroom door. 2. A Medication Consent Form has been completed, signed, and received by the Health MEDICATION and Records office. El Dorado Private School has a certified medical 3. The parent(s)/guardian(s), student(s), director, assistant on staff. All our staff is certified in CPR and and Health and Records personnel are aware of first aid. Minor medical situations will be handled by the needs of a student and are comfortable with the designated school office staff. When a student the cognitive ability and maturity of the becomes ill or is injured in school, he/she will be student(s) to appropriately carry and self- evaluated and/or treated by the Health & Records administer life-saving medication only. personnel or a designated staff member. If it is 4. The student(s) and teacher(s) is/are made aware necessary for the student to be sent home or to a of the needs of a student and the student(s) doctor, parents will be contacted and requested to may be in possession of life-saving medication. pick up the child. No child will be released from 5. The above policy shall not be interpreted to campus without an adult to accompany them. allow a student(s) to carry non-life-threatening In case of an emergency, both the Fire Department medication. paramedics and the parent will be called. Should a 6. This policy is for life-saving emergency life-threatening situation exist, the child will be medication only. taken to the nearest emergency facility.
For medication to be dispensed, a parent or guardian must first complete a medication card MORNING ARRIVAL provided by the office. Prescription and over-the- When arriving on campus for any reason, please counter medications cannot be dispensed without make sure that you park your vehicle in designated written parent permission. The school will only parking spaces only. Parent vehicle parking is not dispense prescribed medication that is in the original permitted in any crosswalk, along any fire lane labeled container and displays the child’s full name, (painted in red), or along any part of the fire lane on attending physician, etc. Over-the-counter the south edge of the property. Parking in either of medication must be received in the original sealed these locations at ANY time could result in a parking container or it cannot be dispensed. Students ticket from the Scottsdale Police Department. needing an Epi-Pen must provide two for school use. First through eighth grade students dropped off One Epi-Pen will be kept in the Health and Records before 8:15am will be directed to Extended Care, Office and the other will be locked in a medication and you will be billed accordingly. The playground box in the student’s classroom. Students may NOT area is not supervised prior to this time, and keep their own medication, regardless of type (i.e.: students are prohibited from entering the inhalers, Tylenol, aspirin, cough drops, etc.). ALL playground area without proper El Dorado Private medications must be kept in the Health and School staff supervision. Children in kindergarten
22 El Dorado Private School 2019-2020 through eighth grade do not need to be signed in OFFICER RESOURCE PROGRAM when arriving on time. Due to the size of our parking El Dorado instituted its Officer Resource Program in lot, please be courteous and only park your vehicle if 2012. The program uses off-duty police officers from you are attending to other business; otherwise, the Scottsdale Police Department. An officer is on children may be dropped at the front gate and campus daily from 8:15am – 3:45pm. allowed to walk to their classroom without parental supervision. PARENT ACTION COMMITTEE Preschool and kindergarten children are not allowed to arrive prior to 8:45am without being sent to The Parent Action Committee (PAC) is made up Extended Care or Sibling Care. All preschool children exclusively of El Dorado parents who volunteer their arriving between 8:45am and 9:00am must be time, talents, and materials for the benefit of El signed into the classroom by the parent or legal Dorado Private School and its students. PAC guardian. Sheets are posted daily outside the organizes many activities and fundraisers throughout classroom door. Next to your child’s last name, the year to foster community and help fund please put the time of arrival and sign your FULL initiatives to add to the strength of El Dorado’s name. If you are picking your child up before academic program. 3:00pm, you must sign your child out on the If you have any questions, require additional assigned sheet with your FULL name and the time of information, or would like to volunteer to help with departure. If your child is enrolled in a half-day PAC activities please send an email to the PAC program and will be attending Lunch Bunch that day, president. A list of the PAC board members can be please place a check mark in the appropriate found on the PAC page of the school website. column. PEST CONTROL NETWORK/INTERNET USE El Dorado Private School contracts with a pesticide The purpose of internet access is to enhance company. A parent may request to view a list of instructions and support students’ learning. The chemicals the company uses on our campus. A internet offers unique resources to students that notice is posted 72 hours prior to any application. allow them to access electronic libraries, search topics in almost any field and obtain information PLAYGROUNDS otherwise not available on a local, immediate level/format. Student usage of the internet shall only Our preschool and elementary playgrounds have be for educational purposes consistent with the been designed to provide equipment and curriculum of the school. Usage for entertainment or accessories that are developed for the ages of recreation is generally prohibited. Inappropriate use children that will be using them. Children are not of the internet may result in cancellation of allowed access to either playground unless proper privileges and students may face disciplinary and/or staff supervision is provided. AT NO TIME IS A legal action including, but not limited to, criminal PARENT ALLOWED TO SUPERVISE CHILDREN ON prosecution under local, state and federal laws. THE PLAYGROUNDS WITHOUT THE PRESENCE OF A Parents are strongly encouraged to attend meetings STAFF MEMBER. The elementary playground does related to child safety and the internet. Students or not open until 8:15am, with the preschool parents may not post school related pictures, logos, playground opening at 8:45am. Do not release your audio clips, etc. on You Tube or other Internet child(ren) to the playground prior to these times. Websites. Any inappropriate use of the internet IS a Any child found on the playground before they open school matter. will be sent to Extended Care and your account will be appropriately billed. Please do not engage in
conversation with teachers while they are on NEWSLETTERS playground duty for the safety of all students on the Monthly newsletters are published on the school playground. web site and can also be found in FACTS. Hard copies of these newsletters are not sent home.
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PRIORITY ENROLLMENT/RE-ENROLLMENT Elementary (Grades 1-5) Priority enrollment/re-enrollment for the following 8:30am – 3:15pm school year is provided for current El Dorado Kindergarten families. The priority enrollment period will occur in 9:00am – 3:00pm December and generally lasts for two weeks. Priority enrollment/re-enrollment is for currently enrolled All-day Preschool students and siblings of family members already in 9:00am – 3:00pm attendance, providing space is available. Half-day AM (3 & 4 yr olds) Current families must re-enroll within the allocated 9:00am – 11:30am timeframe or risk losing their roster position for the following school year. Half-day PM (3 yr olds) 12:30pm – 3:00pm PROHIBITED ITEMS The following items are prohibited on school SCHOOL’S RIGHT TO AMEND grounds at any time. Possession of these items on The administration of El Dorado Private School school property will result in immediate expulsion: retains the right to amend the handbook. Parents tobacco (in any form) will be notified in writing if changes are made during the school year. intoxicating liquor
drugs (dangerous or narcotic) STATE AGENCIES weapons (of any kind; this includes both real The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is and play items) the governing body that oversees our preschool explosives programs and Lunch Counter procedures. If you fireworks have any questions about rules, regulations, or other smoke or stink bombs procedures, you may contact the front office or ADHS directly. any illegal or dangerous items Arizona Department of Health Services Bicycles, scooters, rollerblades, skateboards, radios, Office of Child Care Licensure walkmans, iPods, electronic games, and gum are 150 North 18th Avenue Suite 400 prohibited on school grounds without permission Phoenix, Arizona 85007 from the school administration. (602) 364-2539 www.hs.state.az.us RAINY DAY/HEAT ADVISORY DISPERSAL Arizona Department of Education In the event of rain during any dispersal time or an 1535 West Jefferson Street issued heat advisory by the National Weather Phoenix, Arizona 85007 Service, parents are required to PARK their cars and (602) 542-3111 PICK UP their child in their classroom. Please pick up www.ade.state.az.us your child and leave the campus as quickly as possible to allow all parents to find nearby parking in the inclement weather. To help with some of the STUDENT RECORDS congestion, students may be picked up no more than It is extremely important that all student records be ten minutes early on these days without being kept current and up to date. Any changes to student recorded as a half day absence. or parent information, including home address, contact phone numbers, emergency contact information, and special instructions, should be SCHOOL HOURS changed through FACTS as soon as possible. In the The campus is open 7:30am – 5:30pm every day unlikely event of an emergency, it is imperative that school is in session. School hours are as follows: we have correct contact information. Middle School (Grades 6-8) Student records are kept in the Health & Records 8:30am – 3:30pm Office. If your child is transferring to another school,
24 El Dorado Private School 2019-2020 a request for transfer of records must be delivered relationship between student dress and success, to our campus from that institution, and all school pride, the safety and general welfare of the necessary information will be sent directly to the students and staff, and the accomplishment of the inquiring school when all books are returned, and curriculum goals and educational objectives. School accounts are paid in full. At no time will records be uniforms are mandatory for kindergarten through released to parents or guardians. eighth grade. (Preschool students are not required to dress in uniform.) Each Friday is a Spirit Uniform day in which students may participate. The last day TELEPHONE/CELL PHONE and EMAIL USE of each month is a casual, “free dress” day. Students Office and classroom telephones are not to be used are not required to wear uniforms on these days, but by students, except in an emergency. Students are still must adhere to the Dress Code. not permitted to call home or email parents for forgotten book assignments, gym clothes, or to schedule after school activities with their friends. If Uniform Requirements a student must use a phone to contact their Students who are wearing the school uniform must parent/guardian, they must get permission from adhere to the following dress standards: administration to use a phone in the front office. Tops must be burgundy, white, or navy blue Students may not use a classroom telephone. collared school shirts with El Dorado Private Student cell phones or smart watches are not School logo, except on Fridays when approved allowed on campus. If students need to use a phone Spirit Shirts may be worn. to contact their parent/guardian, they must receive Except for the El Dorado Private School logo, a phone slip from their homeroom teacher to use emblems, logos, insignias, etc. are not permitted the phone in the front office. on any item of clothing. Students’ school email is for academic purposes Bottoms must be solid, plain colored khaki or only. Students may not use their school email navy blue pants, Capri pants, skirts, skorts, address for personal reasons. jumpers (with El Dorado Private School logo) or mid-thigh shorts. Embellishments or designs are not permitted. Only middle school girls may TEXTBOOKS wear the plaid skirt and plaid skort which must El Dorado Private School provides all textbooks for be no shorter than 3” above the knee. Blue students. Needed textbooks are checked out to jeans, cargo pockets, or leggings worn as pants, students at the beginning of the school year and/or or any legging-type pants are not permitted. semester. All textbooks must be covered. Making This includes yoga pants. (Leggings worn under covers out of paper shopping bags is allowed. skirts/dresses are permitted if they are in the Students must return their textbooks at the end of plain school uniform colors of burgundy, white, the school year in an acceptable condition. The cost or navy blue.) of damaged textbooks will be billed to the family’s All socks must be white. Small logos are account. permitted. Other designs or embellishments are Third through fifth grade students are also given not. access to an online Saxon math textbook for the Outerwear (sweaters, jackets, sweatshirts, etc.) school year. These students may be required to must be in the plain school uniform colors of leave their assigned math textbook at home and use burgundy, white, or navy blue. While having the their online textbook in class via an iPad. These El Dorado Private School logo is preferred, it is students would also be able to use a computer in the not mandatory on outerwear. Technology Lab to access their textbook during Extended Care. Dress Code (Non-Uniform)
All students must adhere to the following standards UNIFORMS/DRESS CODE when a uniform is not required: El Dorado Private School recognizes that student dress and grooming are generally a matter of personal choice; however, there is a documented
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No tops that expose the chest or abdomen are Change into clothing that is provided by the to be worn. See-through material is also not school. permitted. Have other clothing brought to school and No backless or razor-back apparel or tube tops. change. (Tank tops must have straps of at least two Leave school and return in proper attire. inches in width.)
Shorts must be mid-thigh. Biker shorts are not Dress Code for Extracurricular Activities permitted. For certain field trips, teachers may recommend a Skirts/skorts need to be no shorter than 3” certain type of apparel to be worn or may allow the above the knee. trip to be “uniform optional”. In all other instances, Inappropriate or offensive lettering or designs for all El Dorado Private School sponsored field trips, will not be permitted on clothing (i.e., profanity, students will be expected to wear their uniforms, alcohol, tobacco products). even if the trip falls on a casual, “free dress” day. For Close-toed shoes shall be worn at all times. each El Dorado Private School sponsored special Students must wear rubber-soled shoes, which event, the sponsor will issue the standards for must remain tied at all times. Shoes with open appropriate dress. toes or open heels are not allowed. “Crocs” and boots are not allowed on campus, even during VALUABLES casual, “free dress” days. Athletic shoes must be School administrators and staff are not responsible worn during P.E. classes. For safety reasons, for valuables students bring to school. It is students wearing shoes that are deemed to be recommended that students leave all valuables at unsafe for certain activities will be asked to call home. Common sense and consideration is the best their parents to bring appropriate shoes to guide in determining whether to bring personal school. possessions to school. In general, students should Hats are not to be worn indoors. not bring toys or unusual items to school unless they Current fashions are permitted as long as are intended for a specific purpose in the classroom decency is maintained. EDPS will determine and have been requested by the teacher. If a student decency. brings one of these items to school, it will be placed in the front office for the parent to pick up. Student’s hair should be colored and styled in such a way as that it appears natural. Hair must be groomed in a manner which does not disrupt WITHDRAWAL the education of the student or others. If you need to withdraw your child from school, an Sweatpants or athletic pants are not allowed Official Notice of Withdrawal must be completed. except on special days (i.e., Health Week, Field Prorated tuition (less a cancellation fee equal to one- Day, etc.). half month’s tuition) will be granted by El Dorado Pants may not be oversized or baggy. Private School if the withdrawal from the school is an allowable reason within the school’s cancellation
Leggings worn as pants, or any legging-type policy to be released from your tuition agreement. pants are not permitted. This includes yoga Please refer to your Enrollment Contract and Tuition pants. (Leggings worn under skirts/dresses are Agreement. permitted.)
Torn or cut garments are prohibited. YEARBOOK Make-up and jewelry should be minimal, worn Yearbooks are pre-ordered in August through mid- in good taste, and should not be distracting. September and distributed in May. A specific day will Blue jeans may only be worn on casual, “free be designated for student yearbook signing. dress” days.
Students who violate these dress standards will be asked to do any of the following:
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