Greetings! We look forward to another successful year at OES as we focus on supporting each individual student to reach their full potential. We believe in challenging our students to become successful learners by holding students to a high standard in both academic and character development. Our mission statement of Character + Community + Commitment = Successful Learners supports this endeavor.

It is our primary goal to continue building strong two-way communication between the school, families and the community. Throughout the school year, various opportunities will be available for dialogue to occur between all stakeholders. PTA newsletters and the Owl News will provide details on these events. You may receive information via e-mail by signing up at http://www.fcps.org and clicking on “Get E-mail News” located beside the FindOutFirst icon. Then subscribe to the service. If you have received this service in the past you will also want to update your profile. This will allow you to receive information related to your child’s specific grade level and school information. Hard copies will only be available for those families without internet access at home. Every dollar we can save in printing (toner, paper, etc.) is another dollar we can spend purchasing materials that will go directly into the hands of your son and/or daughter!

As you read through this handbook and the FCPS Calendar Handbook, many important issues and questions are addressed. If you should need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact the school.

We look forward to an exciting and productive year!

Kim Clifford Principal

Ellen Hanner Assistant Principal

Oakdale Elementary School

Vision

Education is the foundation of our community. The Oakdale Elementary community educates its students to become caring, respectful and responsible citizens and family members. Our commitment to this vision will result in successful learners.

Students look forward to and attend school each day. “They take full advantage of the rigorous academic curricula and strive to develop their talents. They utilize the power of technology to explore a world of new ideas and information. They acquire the knowledge and skills to achieve and the confidence to succeed.” Students are then prepared to access the wide choice of opportunities found in secondary education.

Through community involvement and inspirational teaching, the students of OES will become productive and conscientious citizens in a global society.

Mission

Character + Community + Commitment = Successful Learners

School Cash Online Our school offers School Cash Online as a platform to pay for field trips, sports fees, spirit wear and more. School Cash Online is: • Convenient and Easy to Use—Available 24/7 from everywhere with Internet access • Safe—Best in Class security, avoids having students carry cash and checks, and remembering (or not!) to turn them in at school • Saves Time—Shows your payments and order history in one place and eliminates teacher time collecting them School Cash Online is our preferred method for paying for school related needs. Please register now at: https://frederickcounty.schoolcashonline.com so you will be ready when you need to make a school related purchase.

Birthday Celebrations Please take note of the FCPS Wellness Regulation (400-82): For health and safety reasons, parents/visitors are only permitted to bring in food that is intended for consumption by their individual child and also for health and safety reasons, students are only permitted to bring in food for their personal consumption. Thus, we are unable to permit food (i.e. cupcakes, cookies, etc.) to be distributed in recognition of birthdays or other events to share with students other than your own child. We appreciate your compliance with this regulation; please note that if edible treats are brought on campus we are unable to distribute them to students. We will continue announcing student birthdays on the morning broadcast and handing out birthday pencils in the office.

Lunch Program and Prices All children may either bring a lunch from home or purchase lunch from the cafeteria. The lunch charge for elementary students is $2.35, and reduced lunch is $.40. Milk and snacks are sold in the cafeteria in addition to breakfast for $1.45 or at a reduced rate of $.30. Parents who feel their family may qualify for free or reduced-price meals may contact the FCPS Food and Nutrition Services office (301-644-5061) for more information about the program. Meals may be prepaid online at www.myschoolbucks.com, or by sending in a check made payable to ‘Oakdale Elementary School Cafeteria’, or made via cash. Prepayment of meals is preferred as it protects against forgotten or lost money, and it allows students to move through the serving lines in an efficient manner. Menus will be available on the FCPS website and on channel 18.

If you do not want your child to purchase snacks, simply indicate this when you send in your check/cash or when you prepay on-line. IF YOUR CHILD HAS FOOD ALLERGIES, PLEASE LET THE SCHOOL KNOW. Students are not permitted to share lunches or food because of life threatening medical concerns. Families are always welcome to join us for lunch!

Parties Two parties are held each year decided upon by our leadership team. This information will be communicated through your child’s classroom teacher. Homeroom volunteers, in cooperation with the classroom teacher, will plan and coordinate snacks as well as games and/or crafts. Homeroom volunteers will solicit donations from families near party dates. Please refrain from sending in snacks unless they have been planned with the teacher to ensure they are safe for all students in the classroom. Birthday Invitations Distributing birthday/party invitations at school will only be permitted when an entire class is included as the distinction between an invited and uninvited child becomes apparent. Families are encouraged to use the student directory provided by the PTA for the purpose of sending invitations.

Homework Homework is an important part of the learning experience. It provides opportunities for practice, preparation, extension and integration.  Encourage and support your child, but your child should be able to complete assignments with minimal assistance  Set and maintain a daily homework time  Provide the space, time, and materials needed to complete assignments  Plan breaks and use a timer to break difficult tasks into chunks  Response to homework is welcomed by your child’s classroom teacher. Be sure to let the classroom teacher know if your child is not able to complete homework within a reasonable time allotment. 4

Recess If the temperature falls below 20 degrees, including the wind chill factor, recess will be held indoors. Please be aware of the weather forecast and see that your child(ren) comes to school wearing appropriate clothing for cold weather activities. It is recommended that hats, gloves, scarves and jackets be labeled with your child’s first and last name.

Volunteers Volunteers are invited to work with our teachers and students in many ways. Some may want to work in classrooms, do clerical tasks, tutor students, help in the media center, or work from home. Volunteering is a fantastic way to make a difference in a child’s life, so please consider this opportunity! We will be sending home a form for you to complete if you're interested in becoming a volunteer. The school will set up an orientation session during the first few weeks of school that all volunteers will need to attend prior to volunteering on campus. We gratefully accept any time you can offer and look forward to seeing you! If you have any questions about volunteering, please contact our volunteer coordinators: Karen Johnson at [email protected] and/or Jessica Haupt at [email protected].

Arrival and Dismissal Students should arrive between 8:45 and 9:15; classes begin promptly at 9:15. Do not drop off students prior to 8:45 as adult supervision is not available. Dismissal will begin at 3:45.

ARRIVAL: WALKERS: Students coming from the southeast should cross Oakdale School Road and cross with the assistance of the crossing guard at the raised crosswalk north of the OMS bus loop. Students coming from the northeast should follow Oakdale Village Road to the four-way intersection with Oakdale School Road and cross with the assistance of the crossing guard. Be sure to look both ways before crossing and make eye contact with drivers before proceeding. All students should follow the sidewalk around the parking lot to the front entrance of the building. The placement of crossing guards will be reevaluated as needed. CAR RIDERS: Drivers are encouraged to enter on Oakdale Village Road (as soon as construction is complete) and proceed to the four-way stop at Oakdale School Road to allow buses to circulate. Please be vigilant as we will have walkers this year. Pedestrians have the right of way. Car riders are to be dropped off at the second front entrance. Drivers should remain in their cars and wait in a single file line as children are unloaded. Staff members will be on hand to open car doors and greet students. The front parking lot cannot be used to unload unattended children. This creates a dangerous situation for you and your child. If you need to exit your car to enter the building, please find a parking space and walk with your child. To ensure a safe and orderly arrival/dismissal, we ask that you do not leave your car unattended in the loading/unloading zone between 8:45-9:15 am or 3:30-4:15 pm. All visitors that need to enter the building during these times should park in an assigned parking space in our parking lot. Please remember that we have children as young as three years old attending Oakdale Elementary and it can take some time to unbuckle children from their car seat and help them gather all of their belongings. Please remain in a single file line for the entire drop off routine and DO NOT drive around cars that are in front of you unless a staff member has directed you in this manner. Exercising a little patience and care will ensure all students arrive and dismiss safely. BUS RIDERS: Bus riders will be dropped off in the morning at the school’s side entrance and enter through the cafeteria. There will be a staff member on duty to greet and monitor students. LATE ARRIVALS: Students arriving after 9:15 should enter with a parent/guardian through the main entrance as they will need to be signed in by an adult in the front office for a late pass before going to class.

DISMISSAL: WALKERS: Follow the sidewalk around the parking lot and cross at the four-way intersection with the assistance of the crossing guard. Students going to the southeast should remain on the west side of Oakdale School Road and cross with the assistance of a crossing guard at the raised crosswalk near the OMS bus loop. Students going to the northeast should follow Oakdale Village Road. Be sure to look both ways before crossing and make eye contact with drivers before proceeding. The placement of crossing guards will be reevaluated as needed. CAR RIDERS: Please be vigilant as we will have walkers this year. Pedestrians have the right of way. Drivers should make a double line and pull their cars up to the far end of the front driveway, remaining in their cars and waiting in one of the two lines. At this time, a staff member will start at the beginning of the car line and identify the child(ren) who is to ride in that car. After the first 20 cars are filled, this group will be released and the next 20 cars will move up. Staff will escort those students out to their cars. To expedite the process, please place a piece of paper with the name of the child(ren) you are picking up in big, bold letters in your front 5

dashboard prominently displayed. Please keep safety the number one priority as we dismiss students; do not move forward (vehicles should remain in park) until a staff member directs your vehicle for dismissal.

Dismissal Changes:  If you need to change the way your child(ren) is normally dismissed, we request the change in writing or by calling the office. Please refrain from communicating dismissal changes via email as they may not be accessed until the end of the instructional day after students are dismissed.  If students are to go home with someone other than a parent/guardian, we must have a note stating this. No child will be allowed to leave school with anyone other than a parent or guardian unless written permission is presented to the office. The individual with whom the child leaves must sign out in the office. Because we have your child’s safety as a priority, we ask for picture identification from individuals we don’t recognize even when it is a parent or guardian. If written permission and/or identification are not provided, we may refuse to allow your child to leave.  If a student is going to another student's home after school and rides the bus or is a car rider, we must have a note from BOTH families involved. Make arrangements with your child before they leave for school so they are aware of the change in dismissal. Please note that when buses are at maximum capacity and/or other extenuating circumstances are present, students will not be permitted to ride home on another bus. It is the family’s responsibility to communicate with the bus driver to determine if there is availability for a specific bus.  If you need to pick up your child during the school day, you must report to the office. No child will be dismissed directly from the classroom. Please do not ask to have your child waiting in the office for pick up during the school day, as this is against school policy. Your child will be called down to the office when you arrive, so plan to arrive early enough to accommodate this process.

Attendance School law requires all children to be in school each day. The school year consists of 180 regularly scheduled school days (see the Calendar Handbook). School is officially in session from 9:15 am to 3:45 pm (students may enter the building as early as 8:45 to prepare for the day). Students are expected to be in class, unpacked and ready to learn by the 9:15 bell.

Regular attendance is vital for a successful school experience. Statistics show that student achievement and prosocial peer relations are directly correlated with attendance patterns. Encourage your child to take pride in their attendance. If your child is reluctant to attend, please contact our School Counselor so we can address any problems together.

In an effort to recognize exemplary attendance, we place stickers on Thursday folders each month that a child has perfect attendance, starting for the month of September. We will also include a reward coupon when they are available.

Notification of Excessive Absences/Tardies/Early Dismissals: Families of students accumulating excessive absences/tardies/early dismissals will be notified routinely by letter, phone call, conferences and/or home visits from a member(s) of our attendance committee. Once a student has missed ten days of school, doctor's verification may be required for additional absences to be marked lawful. These decisions are made by the attendance committee on a case by case basis after considering multiple factors including attendance history from previous years, and extenuating circumstances related to the absences.

Dress Code Students have the responsibility to dress and groom themselves in a manner that is safe, healthy, non-disruptive, and appropriate to the elementary classroom and school procedures. Clothing should not depict activities or situations of violence, advertise alcoholic beverages or drugs, and should provide adequate covering. If a student wears an article of clothing that is inappropriate, s/he may be asked to turn his/her shirt inside out, to wear a shirt/pants provided by the school, and/or call home for a change of clothing. Students will be asked to hang all outerwear in their lockers. Hats are not to be worn in the building except on special, announced occasions or to accommodate religious practices and/or extenuating circumstances.

Emergency Closings and Delays Occasionally, inclement weather or other safety/health conditions require us to delay or close all or some schools. This decision involves careful evaluation of a variety of factors in a compressed time period. Decisions are generally made by 5:30 AM for morning closures and delays and, 6 whenever possible, by 11:30 AM for early closures. FCPS notifies over 30 local and regional TV and radio stations in these situations. For the fastest, most reliable information, check the following:

 FindOutFirst notification (sign up at www.fcps.org, click on FindOutFirst and complete your profile)  TV: Cable Channel 18  Radio: WAFY 103.1 FM, WFMD 930 AM, WFRE 99.9 FM, WTHU 1450 AM  Internet: http://www.fcps.org

For safety reasons, pre-arrange emergency back-up care for your child in the event schools close unexpectedly. Teach your child what to do in case you are not home when school closes, and note the name and number of someone nearby on the Student Information Card who will be available when you are not accessible.

Conferences Parent-teacher conferences will be held in November to discuss your child's progress in achieving the essential curriculum in each subject. Other items of interest and concern may be discussed as well. During the conference, you will have an opportunity to examine samples of work to determine your child’s strengths and needs. We encourage parents to provide input and ask questions concerning your child's program. Refer to the school calendar in the county handbook for specific dates.

Additional conferences with your child's teacher(s) may be held at the request of either the family or the teacher at any time to discuss school performance. Please contact your child’s classroom teacher to arrange such a conference. If an interpreter is required for conferences/events, please notify the school at least one week prior to the conference/event so we can make appropriate arrangements.

Communication Each of our staff members has access to voicemail and email during the school day. Feel free to access these avenues of communication should they be viable options for you. Our school profile and web site can be accessed at www.fcps.org. Editions of the Owl News (school wide newsletter) will be uploaded to our school website on a regular basis, and the home page will display upcoming events to assist with your accessibility to pertinent information.

It will be important that you sign up for OES FindOutFirst messages (an electronic information system) in order to receive school wide newsletters and other pertinent information in a timely manner. Information will be sent to you via email if you sign up at http://fcps.org and access the “Get E-mail News” tab located on the left side of the web page. Complete the profile information and emails will be automatically sent to you.

Twitter is also used as a means for announcements and to showcase classroom instruction and other important events. Follow us on Twitter: @OakdaleES

Thursday Folders Thursdays will be our ‘take-home day’ when all written information, flyers, and newsletters that are sent via hard copy will be sent home. So make sure you check those backpacks every night, but especially on Thursdays for important information! We would like to extend a tremendous thank you to our PTA for providing Thursday Folders for our students again this year!

Report Cards Report cards will be sent home at the end of the four marking periods. Your child's teacher may also send home an interim report between report card dates. These interims indicate areas of strength and/or areas in need of improvement, and/or unsatisfactory performance. You will be asked to sign the interim and return it to the teacher.

Student Information Card Your child will bring home 2 Student Information Cards for you to complete. BE SURE WE HAVE CURRENT INFORMATION INCLUDING WORK ADDRESSES, PHONE NUMBERS, AND THREE EMERGENCY NUMBERS IN CASE YOU CANNOT BE REACHED. PLEASE KEEP US UPDATED ON THIS INFORMATION THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IF THERE ARE CHANGES TO YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION! If your child is in day care, be sure to indicate that information on the card. If there are any custody arrangements, it is imperative that copies of pertinent and current court documents be provided to the school.

Health Program 7

Oakdale’s Health Technician performs under the direction of a Frederick County Health Department registered nurse; building administrators do not supervise health staff. She/he will provide the following services:  Administer medication  Provide health care and monitor the health room  Chart each student's visit  Monitor immunization records  Perform checks for Pediculosis control

In the event your child has a serious injury, a persistent illness, or an elevation of temperature at school, you will be contacted via telephone. Families are considered to have primary responsibility for their child's health. In view of this, it is imperative that we always have your current, correct address and phone number, and an emergency name and number in the event you cannot be reached. PLEASE KEEP THIS CURRENT and notify us of any changes in address and/or phone numbers.

Usually when children are sick enough to stay home, they are not able to complete school work. However, if you desire work for your child, please make this request by calling or emailing your child’s classroom teacher. Generally, a 24-hour turnaround time is required to process this request.

Medications (prescribed and over the counter): To dispense medication at school, we must have:  WRITTEN PARENTAL CONSENT (Part I/Authorization to Administer Prescribed Medication Form)  PHYSICIAN'S STATEMENT (Part II/Authorization to Administer Prescribed Medication Form)  PRESCRIPTION BOTTLE with LABEL (and/or an unopened container of over the counter medication)

All medication must be brought to the office by an adult. Children should never have any drug in their possession on a school bus or on school grounds.

Any dosage changes must have written notification from the attending physician. Authorization to Administer Prescribed Medication forms are available in the school office. Most Frederick County physicians also keep these documents in their office. It is a good idea to have your doctor complete one of these forms when s/he prescribes the medication. We request that you administer the first day's dosage of any new medication in case there are any side effects.

Medication dispensing: Classroom teachers are prohibited from dispensing medication.

Health Screening: Students in kindergarten will receive hearing and vision screenings as mandated by Maryland State Law. Notices will be sent to you prior to the screening. Parents will be notified if further medical examinations are indicated by the screening.

Emergency Situations: In the event of an emergency that requires immediate medical attention beyond what we can do at the school level, you will be notified immediately, and we will make arrangements to transport your child to Frederick Memorial Hospital's Emergency Room. If you have not arrived at the school prior to transportation of your child to the hospital, an administrator or their designee will accompany your child to the emergency room and wait with him/her until your arrival.

Special Health Situations: If your child has any special health conditions (asthma, diabetes, allergic reactions, etc.), please contact our Health Technician with specific details and treatment directions. This information will be shared with appropriate staff by the Health Technician.

‘Allergy Reduction’ Table: Please inform the health nurse and your child’s classroom teacher if your child should be required to sit at an ‘allergy reduction’ table in the cafeteria. Students sitting at this table are not permitted to pack food containing nuts of any kind (tree nuts or peanuts). Additionally, they may not have food items made in a facility that also processes nuts. We thank you for your help keeping all students safe!

Items Not Permitted In School 1. Valuable personal possessions 2. Chewing gum 3. Toys 4. Tobacco products--smoking is not allowed at any time on school property 5. Alcohol 6. Weapons or look-alike weapons 8

7. Drugs 8. Laser pointers 9. Electronic devices not registered through our Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) initiative 10. No decals or decorations are to be affixed or placed on student lockers

School Security After 9:15 AM, all doors to the building will be locked. Entrance to the building will be possible by using the doorbell near the front door and visitors will be “buzzed” in after they have been asked to state their name and reason for visit. Even known visitors must be screened prior to being granted entry to the building, so it is important that visitors do not hold doors open for others behind them. Visitors must report directly to the main office and sign in after they have been buzzed in. Any visitor not recognized will be asked for identification before a visitor’s badge is issued. Anyone in the school building without a visitor’s badge will be asked to report to the office. Please know that even though these procedures may seem cumbersome, they are in place for the sole purpose of establishing a safe environment for all of our students, staff and community.

OES Standards and Consequences Students are expected to follow certain rules/standards and show respect to the Oakdale community--staff, visitors, and each other. OES adopted the following Oakdale School Expectations, and you will see these posters displayed in each classroom and throughout the building. We will work with our students to foster understanding and internalization of these as well as the Character Counts! pillars to build caring, responsible students:

We build a caring community by . . . Respecting Yourself Use time wisely Come to school prepared Always show Pride of Product (P.O.P) Tell the truth Stay on task

Respecting Others Follow directions the first time Wait your turn– raise your hand Keep hands and feet to yourself Listen and be open to others’ ideas Be kind to others through your words and your actions Let others learn

Respecting Property Ask permission to use materials Use school materials properly Return materials to their proper place Keep lockers, desks, and bathrooms neat and clean

School staff will use the following strategies to promote appropriate behaviors:  Positive reinforcement  Rewards and incentives  Problem solving  Individual behavior plans  Individual and class recognition  Home communication  Team interventions  Educational opportunities to explicitly teach expectations  Quiet timeout periods

In situations where a student's inappropriate behavior is infringing on the rights of others and/or creating an unsafe or disruptive learning environment, an office referral may be written. An administrator or designee will investigate the situation and determine the appropriate course of action. (See the Calendar Handbook for detailed information.) Families will be contacted and/or a copy of the office referral will be sent home which must be returned with parent/guardian signature.

Discipline for Off-Campus Activities: Students can be disciplined for off-campus activities where there is a reasonable belief that the health and/or safety of others in school could be in danger or that school operations or activities may be disrupted.

Please refer to the Frederick County Public School’s 2017-2018 Calendar Handbook for additional topics and/or more detailed information.

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