LOWER SCHOOL HANDBOOK 2014-15 ACADEMIC POLICIES AND COURSE OFFERINGS STER N SC I H M O
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A T A L A N T
FOUNDED in 1951, Westminster is a Christian, independent day school for boys and girls from Pre-First through Twelfth Grade. Westminster’s express mission is
“to develop the whole person for college and for life through excellent education.”
The outstanding faculty and challenging curriculum cultivate within each student the knowledge and skills necessary for successful continuing education, sound personal values, and a commitment to service. The school is also committed to providing the finest possible extracurricular programs, which help students discover and improve their individual talents. With its traditions and philosophy rooted in the Christian faith, Westminster encourages each student to develop an informed and personal religious belief. Westminster actively seeks and welcomes students from various racial, ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds.
2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Mission Statement ...... 4 Alma Mater ...... 4 Motto ...... 4 Honor ...... 4 Direct Dial Numbers ...... 5 Communications ...... 5 Emergency Communications ...... 5 Faculty/Staff Directory ...... 6 Love Hall Map ...... 7 Visitor Parking ...... 8 Arrival and Dismissal Times ...... 9 Tardy Policy ...... 9 Carpool and Traffic Information ...... 9 Arrival ...... 9 Dismissal ...... 10 Late Pick-up ...... 11 Lunch Schedule and Guidelines ...... 12 Healthy School Snacks ...... 13 The Westminster Schools Food Allergy Awareness Protocol ...... 17 After-School Activities ...... 20 ASK! (After School Kids!) ...... 21 After-School Activities Schedule ...... 22 Policies and Procedures ...... 23 Conduct for Students and Parents ...... 23 Dress Code ...... 26 Reporting Schedules ...... 27 Physical Education Uniforms ...... 28 Infirmary Information ...... 29 Medications ...... 29 PAWS in the Lower School ...... 30 Community Service Opportunities ...... 30 Lower School Diversity and Inclusivity Committee ...... 32 Lower School Library ...... 32 Publications ...... 34 Standardized Tests ...... 34 Counseling Services ...... 34 Lower School Guidelines for Use of Technology ...... 35 Student Responsible Use Policy ...... 37 Electronic Equipment Statement of Understanding ...... 38
3 MISSION STATEMENT
Westminster is a Christian, independent day school for boys and girls, which seeks to develop the whole person for college and for life through excellent education.
Westminster is an independent, non-denominational Christian preparatory school. The faculty and administration of the school are dedicated to helping each student realize maximum development – intellectual, spiritual, emotional, and physical.
Toward this end, the school offers a strong college preparatory academic curriculum, numerous opportunities for creative exploration and expression, and a full program of general education, individual and team sports. Westminster admits students of any race, creed, ethnic or economic background. Basic precepts of Judeo-Christian morality and ethics, such as honesty, integrity, individual responsibility, and service, are emphasized.
Keith Evans, President Scoot Dimon, Assistant Headmaster for Student Life Jere Wells, Assistant Headmaster Whitcliff A. McKnight Jr., Head of Lower School
SCHOOL MOTTO
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man. Luke 2:52
ALMA MATER
In wisdom, stature, love for man, and grace from God above, We give our arms, our hearts, our minds, our alma mater’s goal to find, Westminster, praise we thee; Westminster, praise we thee.
And as we leave these halls behind, these friendships of our youth We breathe our prayer of gratitude, we forward go with faith renewed, Westminster, love we thee; Westminster, love we thee. words by David T. Lauderdale Jr. (1921-1978)
Colors - Forest Green and White Mascot - Wildcat Campus - 180 Acres
MOTTO
What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8b (New International Version) HONOR
Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
Honor must be at the heart of every community – and certainly in a community of young learners. Honor is the sustaining force, the underlying foundation needed for the building and maintaining of true community. Elements
4 that comprise honor are taught and learned over a lifetime. Our goal is for all students to internalize what honor is and how they can live honorable lives.
Honor is... honesty integrity respect for God, people, nature, property
We believe that learning to be an honorable citizen is an important part of teaching the “whole child.” Through stories, devotionals, Bible verses, and other experiences, we want to help our students learn to be:
compassionate prudent considerate resourceful consistent respectful courageous self-disciplined grateful trustworthy honest unselfish obedient wise
As David T. Lauderdale Jr. so wisely said at the conclusion of a reflection on honor written in the 1940’s: “Honor – it is you!” LOWER SCHOOL DIRECT DIAL NUMBERS
Head of Lower School – Whitcliff A. McKnight Jr...... 404-609-6120 Director of Operations and Communications – Lauren DuPriest ...... 404-367-5084 Administrative Assistant – Yvonne Spiotta ...... 404-609-6298 Administrative Assistant – Susan Kahn ...... 404-609-6299 Director of Lower School Admissions – Robert Spiotta ...... 404-609-6326 Admissions Assistant – Sally Starr ...... 404-609-6300 Director of Student Life – Becky McKnight ...... 404-367-7902 Director of Teaching and Learning, Pre-First through Second Grade – Brooke Hight ... 404-609-6418 Director of Teaching and Learning, Third through Fifth Grade – Laura Kopp ...... 404-367-7905 Coordinator of Specialized Student Services – Nancy Lamb ...... 404-609-6456 Counselor – Kate Strother ...... 404-609-6158 Community Service Coordinator – Julie Boggs ...... 404-609-6108 Lower School Diversity Coordinators Julie Boggs ...... 404-609-6108 Nyvette Gray...... 404-609-6424 Kevin Soltau ...... 404-609-6473 Fax ...... 404-609-6408 Infirmary – Keri Caldwell and Frances Seminara ...... 404-609-6365 Library Circulation Desk ...... 404-609-6309 ASK!(After School Kids) ...... 404-609-6387 COMMUNICATIONS
Parents in each division receive the Weekly Parent Update via email every Thursday. This email includes important information including division-wide and grade-level announcements, community service opportunities, links to lunch menus, the schoolwide calendar and more.
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION FROM THE SCHOOL In the event of a weather-related closing, delayed opening, or other emergency, the school’s automated dialing system will be activated. Parents are encouraged to visit the school’s website for updates.
5 LOWER SCHOOL FACULTY AND STAFF
Faculty and staff are listed below by classroom number. For teachers’ voice mail numbers, please refer to The Westminster Schools Directory, or call 404-355-8673, press 9 and follow the automated instructions.
ADMINISTRATION/FACULTY/STAFF 31 Ivy Carroll and Annie Heller 7 Director of Teaching, Pre-First through Second 33 Stephanie Frame and Emily Lancaster Grades, Brooke Hight 39 Janet Lee and Patricia Shande 26 Director of Teaching, Third through Fifth Grades, Fifth Grade Laura Kopp 22 Peggy Jagger 35 Director of Student Life, Becky McKnight 23 Scottie Jackson 37 Counselor, Kate Strother 24 Beth Plunkett 38 Comm. Service/Diversity Coord., Julie Boggs 25 Brett Alberty 54 Coord., Specialized Student Services, Nancy Lamb 27 Jill Allen 58 Head of Lower School, Whitcliff A. McKnight Jr. 29 Jennifer Villasana 59 Administrative Assistant, Yvonne Spiotta SPECIAL AREA CLASSROOMS 60 Dir. of Operations and Communications, Lauren 14 Design Thinking, Sue Davenport and Marlene DuPriest Getzendanner 61 Administrative Assistant, Susan Kahn 15 Science, Chanisse FItchett 63 Infirmary, Keri Caldwell/Frances Seminara 16 Science, Matt Sottnick SGL2 Admissions Assistant, Sally Starr 18 Science, Nash Sultan SGL3 Dir. of Lower School Admissions, Robert Spiotta 20 Science, Shelly Linkon SGL4 Head Librarian, Ron Martin 38 Bible Values/Diversity/Admissions/ SGL6 Librarian, Debbie Cushing Community Service, Julie Boggs CLASSROOMS 66 Music, Becky Doster Pre-First 67 Music, Maxine Smith 1 Caroline Bonin and Allison Clarke 68 Art, Lauri Jones and Julia Myrick 2 Laura Arledge and Parker Cunningham 69 Art, Kevin Soltau and Elizabeth Tozzer 3 Katie Dick and Heather Widness SGL7 French, Tami Brook and Manuela Kelly 4 Jennifer Griffith and Kimberly Rimmer Spanish, Gabe Marulanda and Elena Sabates First Grade SGL6 Academic Coaches, Stacy Chalmers and 6 Alicia Henson and Shoie McCarthy Cynthia Montgomery 8 Karen Anderson and Leigh Anne Schlafly Gym P.E., Bill Mosley, Kahlil Boyette and 10 Sara Chapman and Andrea Haan Sharon Throckmorton 12 Maury Hitchcock and Ginny Lovern Band Tim Howard and Freddy Martin Second Grade Orchestra Rebecca Colberg-Frederick and Jim 50 Barbara Roland and Lee Steele Plondke 51 Ann Tedesco and Dorothy Padgett OTHER ROOMS 52 Stephanie Hines and Gayle Hartness 45 Video Production Room 53 Lee Bradway and Angela Shelton 57 PLC Office Third Grade OTHER BUILDINGS 41 Millie Pryles, Virginia Gilbert and Clarissa Bradham Large Field House P.E., Patty Johnson, Brent 42 Ami Kadaba and Jeanne Lucey McGuire, Andy Dunn 46 McKinley Bandy and Nyvette Gray Annex ASK! Program, Amy Rouse, Kate Vepraskas, 47 Mary Riddick Stallworth and Emily Wilkinson Kathleen Summers Fourth Grade 30 Mary Sadler and Caroline Mahoney
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LOVE HALL MAP
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7 VISITOR PARKING
8 ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL TIMES
The hours for the school day are as follows:
Arrival time (for all students): Between 7:30 a.m. and 7:50 a.m. Late bell - 7:55 a.m.
Dismissal times Pre-First: 2:00 p.m. Monday-Thursday 1:00 p.m. Friday
First Grade: 2:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday 1:30 p.m. Friday
Second through Fifth Grade: 3:15 p.m. Monday-Thursday 2:00 p.m. Friday
If conditions require a 10:00 a.m.arrival time, dismissal and after-school activities will take place as regularly scheduled.
TARDY POLICY It is important that students arrive by 7:55 so that they can get settled and begin the day with their classmates during Morning Meeting. Being on time allows for a better start to the day for your child.
Any time a child arrives in the morning after the tardy bell (7:55 a.m.), an adult must come to the office to sign in the child. Your child may then walk to the classroom unassisted; someone in the office will walk with a Pre-First child if desired. CARPOOL AND TRAFFIC INFORMATION
For your child’s safety, please study the following information. It is necessary to have a controlled and orderly carpool and traffic plan to prevent accidents and unnecessary delays.
Every family in the Lower School must have a carpool number. Carpool registration is completed electronically during the spring and summer for the next school year, and carpool numbers are assigned prior to the beginning of school. Numbers are essential for the orderly loading of students. Please be sure your child knows his or her carpool number and carpool area on the first day of school. Carpool numbers should be clearly displayed in the upper right-hand corner (passenger side) of the front windshield. Families displaying carpool numbers from multiple schools should purchase a “W” to place after their Westminster number.
To leave the Love Hall carpool areas, children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. To save money, gas, and the environment, please turn off your ignition while waiting for carpool to begin.
ARRIVAL There is no adult supervsion at Love Hall before 7:30 a.m. No morning activities will begin before this time. Students may not be dropped off before 7:30 a.m. Please note the digital clock at each carpool. Please turn off your cell phone during carpool.
Always pull as far forward as possible along the curb in front of the building before stopping to unload. Children are to unload from the RIGHT side of the car only. No one may unload from the driver’s side of a vehicle. Under no circumstances should anyone walk across the carpool line to approach the building.
Carpool Area “A” Area “A,” the south entrance to Love Hall (closest to West Wesley Road), is the drop-off point for all carpools that do not include a Pre-First or First Grade student. Students should enter the building through the courtyard. Between 7:30 and 7:50 a.m., Second Grade students should go to the library and Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade 9 students should go to the cafeteria for supervised quiet reading/study time. Between 7:50 and 7:55 a.m., Second through Fifth Grade students should enter the building through the courtyard and go directly to their classrooms. Students arriving after 7:55 a.m. must be brought to the office by a responsible adult to sign in before going to their classrooms.
Carpool Area “B” Area “B,” the north entrance to Love Hall (closest to the Middle School), is the drop-off point for all carpools that include a Pre-First or First Grade student. Students arriving at Area B between 7:30 and 7:50 a.m. should enter the building through the door between the library and the art rooms. Pre-First and Second Grade students should go directly to the library. First Grade students should go to the music rooms. Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade students should go to the cafeteria for supervised quiet reading/study time. Between 7:50 and 7:55 a.m., Pre-First and First Grade students may enter the building through the door at the end of the Pre-First and First Grade wing and go directly to their classrooms. Between 7:50 and 7:55 a.m., Second through Fifth Grade students should enter the building through the door between the library and the art rooms and go directly to their classrooms. Students arriving after 7:55 a.m. must be brought to the office by a responsible adult to sign in before going to their classrooms.
DISMISSAL s 4EACHERS WILL DISCUSS DISMISSAL AT 0ARENT /RIENTATION $AY s )T IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOUR CHILD KNOW HISHER CARPOOL NUMBER AND DESIGNATED AREA ON THE lRST DAY OF school. s !LL STUDENTS SHOULD GO DIRECTLY TO THEIR ASSIGNED CARPOOL AREA IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING DISMISSAL UNLESS they are involved in an after-school activity (band, chorus, intramurals, orchestra, robotics) or the ASK! program. Students may not wait for parents in the library, hallways, or areas other than carpool.
Again, please turn off your cell phone during carpool.
Students will not be dismissed from the building until the stated dismissal time. Please consider time needed for pick-up before you schedule any outside activities; allow sufficient time to elapse before afternoon appointments and activities so that you and your child are not rushed.
Carpool Area “A” Drivers arriving at Area A before dismissal should pull forward all the way down the driveway. A teacher will come out before dismissal to write down carpool numbers of those cars that are “down the hill.” Children will be loaded on the RIGHT side of the car only. No one may load on the driver’s side of a vehicle.
Parents are not to park in the parking area at Area A and walk across the carpool line to pick up their child. As a car approaches Area A, the carpool number will be called, and the child/children with that number will be instructed to walk to a specific pick-up area. Pick-up areas are color-coded and designated with colored parking cones. Please do not stop until reaching the assigned area.
Carpool Area “B” Always pull as far forward as possible along the curb. Children will be loaded on the right side of the car only. No one may load on the driver’s side of a vehicle. When approaching the building on foot from the parking lot at Area B, please use the crosswalks provided. Under no circumstances should anyone walk across the carpool line to approach the building.
Unless exceptions are needed to balance the carpool lines, Area A will be the afternoon carpool location for all carpools that do NOT include a student participating any day of the week in the portion of the After School Kids (ASK!) program that dismisses at 3:15 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and 2:00 p.m. on Fridays.
Area B will be the afternoon carpool location for all carpools that include a student participating ANY day of the week in the portion of the After School Kids (ASK!) program that dismisses at 3:15 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and 2:00 p.m. on Fridays.
10 No adjustments will be made to carpool assignments (changing numbers) until all after-school activities have started for the school year.
LATE PICK-UP When the carpool line has ended, all remaining students in all grades at all dismissal times, including after-school activities, detention, extra help, and study hall, will be taken to the ASK! building to wait to be picked up. The ASK! staff will provide supervision. In the event of a late pick-up before 6:00 p.m., a fee of $1.00 per minute per carpool will be charged after a five (5) minute grace period. Starting at 6:00 p.m., there will be no grace period, and a late fee of $5.00 per minute per carpool will be charged. The ASK! staff will have a form for you to sign which will indicate the number of minutes for which you will be charged a late fee. All late fees will be billed to the carpool driver at the end of the month. Drivers will need to park their car in a marked space in the parking lot and go into the ASK! building to get their child/carpool. Do not pull into the driveway by the ASK! building to pick up a child from ASK!
AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES PICK-UP Chorus, intramural, and orchestra pick-up is at Area B. Band and Robotics pick-up is at Area A. Pick-up procedures will be detailed in information pertaining to each activity.
SCOUT PICK-UP All scout leaders (boys and girls) should park at the far end of the parking lot at Area B and walk to the building to meet their scouts. First Grade scouts should meet their leaders outside the hallway doors by the First Grade coat hooks. Second through Fifth Grade scouts should meet their leaders outside the hallway doors leading from the cafeteria to the ASK! building.
PARKING FOR PARENTS AND OTHER VISITORS Visitor parking is available at both Carpool A and Carpool B, with handicapped spaces reserved at Carpool B. All visitors should check in at the office before going to other areas of the building.
RULES FOR STUDENTS FOR CARPOOL DISMISSAL Please read carefully and discuss with your children.
Dismissal is NOT the time to talk with friends, play, or run around. Please follow the rules for a SAFE, fast, and pleasant dismissal.
1. Once you leave the building, do not go back inside. 2. Go directly to your assigned spot, sit down, and do not talk. 3. CARPOOL A: Upon arriving at Carpool A, check the carpool numbers written on the boards to determine if your car is down the hill. If your car is down the hill, walk down the sidewalk to your car. If your carpool number is not listed on the boards, sit down on a carpool spot designated by a green wildcat paw print painted on the cement. Face the driveway and do not talk. Remain seated until your carpool number and pick-up area (color) are called. 4. CARPOOL B: Upon arriving at Carpool B, sit down at your carpool number area, face the driveway, and do not talk. Remain seated until your carpool number and pick-up area are called. The only reason to stand is if the cement in the dismissal area is wet. 5. Stay at your carpool spot; do not wander around. 6. Listen for your carpool number and watch the driveway for your car. 7. Keep your bookbag packed. 8. Do not eat or drink during carpool. 9. Under NO circumstances will the following be tolerated: a. Swinging bookbags (or anything else) b. Throwing anything c. Destroying grass, trees, or personal items of others d. Any other behavior that is disrespectful to teachers, other students, or school property 10. When you hear your carpool number, walk, don’t run, to the loading area. 11. Never try to get into a car that is not at the sidewalk area. 12. Do not get into the car until it is completely stopped. 11 13. Get into the car as quickly as possible; wait to talk until after the door is closed. 14. Remember to fasten your seat belt. LUNCH SCHEDULE
Second Grade: 11:00 - 11:25 Pre-First: 11:20 - 11:45 First Grade: 11:40– 12:05 Third Grade: 12:05 – 12:30 Fourth Grade: 12:15 - 12:40 Fifth Grade: 12:40 - 1:05 LUNCH GUIDELINES
Parents are welcome to join their children for lunch. Visitors are limited to relatives of the student, unless approved by the office.
GOALS: Manners are an important aspect of an enjoyable dining atmosphere. Saying “please” and “thank you” are common courtesies expected of everyone. Respect for lunchroom staff, teachers, students, property, and food is expected.
In keeping with the above goals, please remind students to observe the following guidelines:
1. Follow the appropriate colored arrows as you approach the steam table and dish return window. 2. Always walk, never run, in the lunchroom. 3. If you would like food from both the hot line and the cold fruit and yogurt bar, go through the hot line first and then get in the back of the line for fruit and yogurt.
12 4. While waiting in the food lines, students should act appropriately. 5. Get your food before you sit down. Take your tray directly to your table. No “saving” places. 6. Once you sit down, do not move to another seat. 7. Trays leaving the hot line always have right-of-way priority. 8. One dessert per day, when available. 9. Straws are for milk or juice cartons only. 10. Remember to put your napkin in your lap. 11. Talk quietly to the people at your table only. 12. Remember that visiting at other tables is not allowed. 13. Do not take your tray back until you are finished eating. You MUST have a tray if you are eating or drinking ANYTHING. For health reasons, each time you return to either line for more food, you should take your first tray to the dish window and get a clean tray. 14. When returning trays to the dish return window, please form a single file line, entering the dish return area from the steam table side of the window and exiting the area from the opposite side. 15. Remember to put silverware in the silverware slot and place your tray carefully in the window. 16. Students are responsible for cleaning their class area. Tables and chairs should be cleaned with the pre- moistened cloths that are provided. Debris should be picked up from the floor around the table. Chairs should be pushed under the table. HEALTHY SCHOOL SNACKS
TIPS FOR SNACKS The following are rules of thumb that apply to most children, but you should tailor them to your child, taking into account lifestyle, activity, age, and desires.
Frequency: Children should eat something every 3-5 hours during the day. A typical day may look like this: breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, and dinner. It can feel like children are eating all day long but this is normal.
Calories: School-aged children require about 100-200 calories per snack.
Beverages: Drinking calories, such as milk, fruit juice, or sports drinks, does not make children feel satiated the same way that food does. Limit caloric beverages and make milk or water the drinks of choice during snack time.
Fruits and Vegetables: Keep in mind that fresh fruits and vegetables do not stay in the stomach very long. If children need something to “tide them over” until lunch/dinner and lunch/dinner is in one hour or less, fresh produce is a great choice. If the meal is more than one hour away, pair the fresh produce with something more substantial, such as cheese, or a healthful dip (e.g. hummus). Keep appropriate portion size in mind for these “tide me over” snacks.
Super Snack Combo: A super snack should be a mixture of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats to make your child stay full longer. Combining a high-fiber carbohydrate with some protein or fat will make your child stay full longer.
Healthy Grain and Yogurt Snack Lists: Healthy Grain and Yogurt Snack Lists are sourced from Nutrition Action Health Letter by the Center for Science in Public Interest (CSPI). These are simply meant for guidance on brands CPSI has analyzed based on the criteria noted on each list. There are plenty of other brands that you already enjoy that are just as healthy, so please continue to enjoy those or try some new things from these lists!
SUPER SNACK COMBOS s h#EREAL IN A "AGGYv CEREAL DRIED FRUIT s ,OW SODIUM LUNCH MEAT ON WHOLE GRAIN CRACKERS s #HEESE AND WHOLE GRAIN CRACKERS s (ARD BOILED EGGS ON WHEAT TOAST s 7HOLE GRAIN PRETZELS DIPPED IN CHEESE s 9OGURT MIXED WITH DRIEDFRESH FRUIT s &ROZEN YOGURT hSQUEEZERSv 13 s (OMEMADE MUFlNS AND MILKCHEESE s 4ORTILLA WITH CHEESE OR HUMMUS s 'RAHAM CRACKERS WITH CHEESE s #OTTAGE CHEESE AND FRESH FRUIT s !PPLES AND CHEDDAR CHEESE
HEALTHY BEVERAGES s 7ATER PLAIN SELTZER SPARKLING s 3KIM OR ,OW FAT MILK s &RUIT *UICE #ARROT ORANGE TOMATO LOW SALT GRAPEFRUIT PRUNE PINEAPPLE CRANBERRY COCONUT WATER pomegranate, grape, apple (juices are ranked from highest to lowest order in the amount of vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, and fiber in a cup serving). s 3OY OR 2ICE $RINKS
FRUITS s #UT OR WHOLE &RUIT !PPLES PEARS BANANAS BERRIES RASPBERRIES BLUEBERRIES STRAWBERRIES GRAPES MELON peaches, pineapple, plums, raisins, oranges, watermelon s $RIED &RUIT 2AISINS APPLES CRANBERRIES PINEAPPLE PAPAYA s &RUIT #UPS PACKED IN JUICE s !PPLESAUCE UNSWEETENED
VEGETABLES s #UT OR WHOLE VEGETABLES COOKEDRAW WITH HUMMUS TZATZIKI SAUCE LOW FAT SALAD DRESSINGS OR BEAN DIP s "ROCCOLI CARROTS CELERY CUCUMBERS PEPPERS STRING BEANS MUSHROOMS ZUCCHINI EDAMAME SUGAR SNAP peas
LOW-FAT DAIRY s #HEESE STRING CHEESE CHEESE ROUNDS CHEESE SQUARES s 7EIGHT 7ATCHERS ,IGHT 3TRING 4RADER *OES 0ART 3KIM -OZZARELLA OR ,ITE 3NACK 3TICK -ILD #HEDDAR #ABOT 2EDUCED &AT 3ERIOUS 3NACKING (ORIZON /RGANIC 0ART 3KIM -OZZARELLA 3TICK s #OTTAGE #HEESE LOOK FOR LOW SODIUM s 9OGURT 'REEK OR 2EGULAR LOW FAT OR FAT FREE 30g of sugar per 8oz. container
HEALTHY GRAINS 4RY TO SERVE WHOLE WHEAT OPTIONS ,OOK FOR THE WORD hWHOLEv WHEN DESCRIBING THE WHEAT AND MAKE sure it is the first ingredient on the ingredient list. Aim for grains that are 8g or less of sugar per serving, low in SATURATED FAT LESS THAN OF CALORIES AND HAVE NO TRANS FATS IF YOU SEE ANY VARIATION OF THE WORDS hPARTIALLY hydrogenated” oils on the ingredient list and the nutrition facts panel still states 0 trans-fats, the product still contains trans-fats. Manufacturers are only required to list trans-fats if the product contains 0.5 or more grams of trans-fats per serving).
s 7HOLE GRAIN PITA WEDGES OR MINI BAGELS WITH LOW FAT CREAM CHEESE s 7HOLE GRAIN TORTILLAS OR %NGLISH MUFlNS WITH HUMMUS OR BEAN DIP s 7HOLE GRAIN CRACKERS s "REAKFAST #EREALS ,OOK FOR CEREALS THAT HAVE GRAMS OF SUGAR OR LESS PER SERVING MIX WITH DRIED FUIT s 7HOLE GRAIN RICE CAKES s 7HOLE GRAIN PRETZELS s (OMEMADE MUFlNS s 0OPCORN ,OW FAT s "AKED TORTILLA CHIPS WITH SALSA OR BEAN DIP LOOK FOR LOW SODIUM BRANDS s 7HOLE GRAIN CEREAL OR SPORTS BARS s G OF PROTEIN s G OF lBER s ,ESS THAN OF $AILY 6ALUE FOR SATURATED FAT AND SODIUM
14 Yogurt (Regular and Greek) Best Bites are plain yogurt. Honorable Mentions can have added fruit and/or sugar. Yogurts are evaluated on calories, saturated fat, protein, and calcium. REGULAR YOGURT Best Bites Honorable Mentions Dannon All-Natural Non-Fat Plain Brown Cow Non-Fat and Low-Fat Dannon All-Natural Low-Fat, Plain Dannon Activia Stonyfield Organic 0% Fat, Smooth and Creamy Dannon All-Natural Lowfat, Plain Stonyfield Organic Lowfat, Smooth and Creamy Dannon Fruit on the Bottom Whole Foods 365 Non-Fat, Plain Dannon All Natural, Coffee, Lemon or Vanilla Stonyfield Organic B-Well or B-Healthy Stonyfield Organic 0% Fat, Chocolate Underground Stonyfield Organic 0% Fat, Fruit on the Bottom Stonyfield Organic 0% Fat, Smooth and Creamy, All Flavors Stonyfield Organic Probiotic Trader Joe’s French Village and Organic Lowfat, All Flavors Wallaby Organic Lowfat, All Flavors Weight Watchers Brands Whole Foods 365 Nonfat, All Flavors Whole Foods 365 Organic Nonfat, All Flavors Yoplait Original and Thick and Creamy Yoplait YoPlus
GREEK YOGURT Best Bites Honorable Mentions Brown Cow Greek, Plain Athenos Greek Strained, All Flavors Chobani 0%, Plain Brown Cow Greek Strawberry on the Bottom Dannon Greek, Plain Brown Cow Greek, Vanilla Smooth and Creamy Fage Total 0%, Plain Chobani 0%, All Flavors Siggi’s Plain Dannon Greek, All Flavors Stonyfield Organic Oikos, Plain Fage Total 0%, 1%, and 2%, All Flavors Skyr.is Plain Siggi’s, All Flavors Trader Joe’s Organic Greek Style, Nonfat, Plain Stonyfield Organic Oikos, All Flavors Yoplait Greek, Plain Skyr.is, All Flavors Trader Joe’s Greek Style Nonfat, All Flavors Yoplait Greek, All Flavors
15 Wise Crackers The grain in the Best Bites column is whole, and 1 oz. of crackers has no more than 100 milligrams sodium. Honorable Mentions are all whole grain or have whole grains as the main ingredient, with up to 150 milligrams of sodium. Both categories have less than 1 gram of saturated fat. Best Bites Honorable Mentions Kashi Heart to Heart Ak-Mak 100% Whole Wheat Kavli Crispy Thin Back to Nature Harvest Whole Wheats Kavli 5 Grain, Golden Rye, Hearty Thick Finn Crisp Thin Crispbread, Plus 5 Wholegrains Lundberg Brown Rice Cakes Lundberg Organic Brown Rice or Wild Rice Cakes, Lightly Salted Lundberg Brown Rice Cakes, Salt-Free Nabisco Wheat Thins Crunch Stix, Honey Wheat Manischewitz Matzo, Whole Wheat Nabisco Wheat Thins, Hint of Salt Nabisco Triscuit, Hint of Salt Ryvita Dark or Sesame Rye Quaker Rice Cakes, Lightly Salted Ryvita Multi-Grain Quaker Rice Cakes, Salt-Free Wasa Hearty Ryvita Fruit & Seed Crunch Wasa-Light Rye or Whole Grain Ryvita Light Rye Wasa Sourdough Ryvita Pumpkin Seeds and Oats Wasa Whole Wheat Ryvita Rye & Oat Bran Ryvita Sunflower Seeds and Oats
16 THE WESTMINSTER SCHOOLS FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS PROTOCOL
The focus of the Westminster Food Allergy Protocol is prevention, education, awareness, communication, and emergency response as it relates to life-threatening food allergies. The management plan creates a balance between health, social normalcy, and the safety needs of the individual student with life-threatening food allergies and the education, health and safety needs of all students.
WESTMINSTER FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS MANAGEMENT GOALS The goals of the Westminster Food Allergy Management Plan include:
1. To maintain the health and protect the safety of children who have life-threatening food allergies in ways that are developmentally appropriate, promote self-advocacy and competence in self-care, and provide appropriate educational opportunities. 2. To ensure that interventions and individual health care plans for students with life-threatening food allergies are based on medically accurate information and evidence-based practices. 3. To define a formal process for identifying, managing, and ensuring continuity of care for students with life- threatening food allergies across all transitions (Nursery and Pre-First to Grade 12).
WESTMINSTER FOOD ALLERGY AWARENESS MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES The Westminster Food Allergy Management Procedures comprise a comprehensive policy for the management of life-threatening food allergies at school and school-associated settings, while recognizing that procedures may shift as children advance through the primary grades to the middle and upper schools. The procedures manual will address each of the following areas: A. Identification of students with food allergies and provision of school health services B. Individual written health management plans C. Medication protocols: storage, access, administration D. Healthy school environments: Classroom, Cafeteria, Buses, Extracurricular Activities E. Professional development and training of school personnel F. Awareness education for students G. Awareness education and resources for parents/caregivers
PROCEDURES A. Identification of students with food allergies and provision of school health services 1. The parent will submit food allergy information as part of the online enrollment/re-enrollment process. Based on this information, the Allergy Emergency Care Plan will be forwarded to the parent for submission to and completion by the student’s physician. The parent is responsible for notifying the nurse of any changes in the student’s allergy status or any allergic reaction outside of school. 2. The nurse and/or nutrition personnel will meet in person or via telephone with the families of children with food allergies to discuss our commitment to their children’s safety and answer any questions. 3. At the beginning of the school year, the nurse will alert all appropriate personnel of a student’s allergy. This list will include administrators, teachers, trainers, food service, and After School Kids (ASK!) personnel. 4. The nursing staff and/or nutrition personnel will annually review standard operating procedures for the identification of students with food allergies. B. Individual Allergy Emergency Care Plan 1. The nurse’s office will maintain the Allergy Emergency Care Plan to address the student’s medical needs and any special accommodations. This plan addresses the day-to-day management of food allergies and includes the student’s personal identification information, allergens, signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction, emergency contact information, instructions to activate emergency services, and other details necessary to effectively manage the student’s food allergy/allergies at school. The nurse is responsible for establishing and monitoring successful implementation of the individual care plan. 2. In the event of an exposure, personnel involved in the incident will file a report detailing the allergy and/ or anaphylactic reactions, medication administration, and other medical procedures performed. The report will be filed in the student’s health record and shared with the parents of the impacted student. C. Onsite medication protocols: storage, access, and administration 17 Medication will be managed to allow for quick access when needed and to protect the safety of students and medication. 1. Medication will be stored in a safe, appropriate, and secure, yet accessible location that will allow for rapid access during an emergency situation. i. Love Hall and ASK! 1. The parent will supply an Epi-pen for onsite storage 2. Medication is stored in an unlocked cabinet marked “Emergency Supplies.” Medication is clearly marked with the student’s name. 3. The infirmary has a supply of emergency Epi-pens. ii. Middle and Upper Schools 1. Students will carry an Epi-pen within prompt access. The Pressly Infirmary has a supply of emergency Epi-pens. 2. The nursing staff at Love Hall, Pressly Hall and the school personnel at ASK! are responsible for monitoring expiration dates and re-stocking/re-filling the medication as necessary. 3. Parents are responsible for providing the school with unexpired emergency medication in a timely manner. 4. If available, all school personnel are authorized to administer auto-injectable epinephrine (Epi- pen) to a student upon the occurrence of an actual or perceived anaphylactic adverse reaction by the student, whether or not the student has a prescription for epinephrine (see GA House Bill 227 at http://www1.legis.ga.gov/legis/2011_12/versions/hb227_HB_227_APP_9.htm). Training on how to use an Epi-Pen can be found under the Health and Safety section at http:// www.westminster.net/wildcat_web/resources/index.aspx. D. Healthy School Environments Each environment within Westminster requires special attention to protect the safety of students with food allergies. Although there are commonalities across school environments, some specific needs are identified below. 1. Classroom i. Limit or reduce allergens in the classrooms by encouraging parents and teachers to reduce the use of foods with potential food allergens both at snack time and special events (e.g. birthday celebrations, holiday parties, etc.). ii. Implement proper hand washing procedures before and after snack and lunch periods (use of hand sanitizers is not effective in removing the residue from food allergens). iii. Communicate rules and expectations around bullying related to food allergies in the classroom and cafeteria, including appropriate conduct, consequences, and related disciplinary actions. 2. Cafeteria i. Train school nutrition staff and/or contracted food service in allergy awareness and basic prevention/ risk reduction procedures including preventing cross contamination during food preparation, recognizing an allergic reaction, and reading product labels to identify food allergens. ii. Enforce responsibilities of the school nutrition staff and/or contracted food service staff to review menu items, identify potential allergens, and make appropriate accommodations (substitutions or modifications) as outlined by the licensed health care provider and parents of the individual. iii. With parental consent, post a current photograph of the student with identified life threatening food allergies behind the food service counter for use by school nutrition staff and/or contracted food service only. 3. Off Campus Trips i. Lower School 1. Per the Trip Packet, the faculty member in charge will obtain the Health Forms and first aid kit (includes spare Epi-pen). The Health Form should be carefully reviewed noting students requiring prescribed emergency medication. The nurse will send the emergency medications along with the Emergency Care Plan for the at-risk student(s). If eating occurs during transit, there will be assigned seating as necessary to support the safety of the individual student. ii. Middle and Upper School 1. Per the Trip Packet, the faculty member in charge will obtain the Health Forms and Pressly first aid kit, (includes spare Epi-pen). The Health Form should be carefully reviewed, noting students requiring prescribed emergency medication. The at-risk student will not be allowed to
18 leave the property without his/her emergency medications. If eating occurs during transit, there will be assigned seating as necessary to support the safety of the individual student. iii. Athletes on or off property 1. In addition to having a copy of the first page of the athlete’s Westminster/GHSA Physical Form, at the beginning of each season the trainer will give the coaches a roster of the athlete medical alerts on their team. Athletes will be required to give the coach their emergency medication to hold during a practice or competition whether on Westminster property or an opponent’s field. Athletes may not practice or participate without emergency medication on the field of play or on the bus when traveling to an away game. If eating occurs on the bus, the trainers or coaches will encourage seating to support the safety of the individual student. Westminster trainers will carry a back-up Epi-pen. E. Professional Development and Training for School Personnel Food allergy awareness education is part of Westminster’s annual professional development training for school personnel so that they may be effective in supporting students with food allergies and responding to an emergency. The training will include the following: 1. Basic information regarding the signs, symptoms, and risks associated with food allergy and anaphylaxis. 2. Awareness of food and non-food items (e.g. art and craft supplies) that might present risk. 3. Basic food handling procedures, including proper hand washing, sharing of utensils and food in all school environments, and cleaning and sanitizing surfaces to prevent cross contamination. 4. Bullying prevention, including the responsibility to address harassment and enforce consequences. 5. Skill instruction and practice on how to administer epinephrine in an emergency situation. F. Awareness Education for Students Food allergy awareness education is part of Westminster’s annual classroom orientation that occurs during the opening of school. The curriculum will be provided to the teachers by Westminster administration and will include: 1. Knowledge of potential allergens and the signs, symptoms, and potential for a life-threatening reaction. 2. Awareness of food and non-food items (e.g. art and craft supplies) that might present risk. 3. Basic food handling procedures, including proper hand washing, sharing of utensils and food (in all school environments), and cleaning and sanitizing surfaces to prevent cross contamination. 4. Bullying awareness, including reporting any harassment to appropriate school personnel. G. Awareness Education and Resources for Parents/Caregiver To increase the understanding of the special needs of students with food allergies, parent education in the form of written communication will be provided to educate parents on the potential food allergens and how to take precautions to mitigate risk in the school environment. Westminster awareness education will recognize the balance between the individual students with food allergies and the general population.
LOWER SCHOOL CLASSROOM PARTIES PROCEDURES
The purpose of these procedures is to assist parents as they plan classroom parties so they are aware of the most common food allergens. Food and beverages served at any party should be simple and child friendly. While parents planning a classroom party are asked to be sensitive to the children with allergies, they are not expected to provide treats for each specific allergy need.
The procedures below should be followed for every class party:
1. No items containing peanuts or tree nuts may be served. 2. Other allergens to be avoided, if possible, are: s MILK s EGGS s lSH s SHELLlSH s SOY s WHEAT
19 3. Parents planning a party should email all the parents of children in the class at least a week prior to the party. The email should list all food and beverage items to be served at the party. For example: frosted sugar cookies, pretzels, Hershey’s Kisses, lemonade, etc. 4. If a parent does not want their child to eat what is to be served at the party, the parent is asked to send in an alternate treat for their child to have on the day of the party.
BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS Birthdays are a special time for celebration in Love Hall. Each homeroom has a unique way of celebrating individual student birthdays, which does not involve food, so parents do not provide a special treat for their child’s birthday. These celebrations occur in the classroom on or near the student’s birthday (or half birthday). Once a month the entire Lower School gathers for a community birthday celebration. Students and faculty whose birthday occurs during the month being celebrated are individually called forward, given a green birthday lei, and the entire school sings “Happy Birthday” to the group. Students with summer birthdays are celebrated in the month of their half birthday. This is a festive time with music over the intercom, balloons, birthday names scrolling on the wide screen in the main hallway, and impromptu dancing! A special birthday dessert is served to everyone at lunch on the day of the monthly celebration.
The dates for the monthly birthday celebrations are published in the Weekly Parent Update, and parents are invited to join us on these occasions. AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
After the the school year begins in August, students will be given the opportunity to sign up for Band, Chorus, Intramurals, and Orchestra.
20 With the exception of the ASK! program, after-school activities are automatically cancelled if they fall on the day before a school holiday. Notice of cancellation at any other time should come directly from the faculty member in charge of that activity.
If a child is not picked up at the designated ending time for an after-school activity, he/she will be taken to the ASK! building for supervision. The normal late pick-up policy, including late pick-up charges, will be enforced.
ASK! (AFTER SCHOOL KIDS!) The ASK! program is designed to offer after-school options for Westminster Lower School students. Operating as an extension of the school day, the program exists in a Christian environment, seeking to develop the whole child through programming excellence. Parents have several registration options from which to choose and may elect to participate from one to five days per week in any or all of the three sessions. Registered students may join the ASK! program at the completion of any other after-school activity. Fees are detailed in the ASK! brochure and on the school’s website. In the event of a late pick-up before 6:00 p.m., a fee of $1.00 per minute per carpool will be charged after a five (5) minute grace period. Starting at 6:00 p.m., there will be no grace period, and a late fee of $5.00 per minute per carpool will be charged.
The program options are as follows: Pre-First Partial Day 2:00-3:15 p.m. M-Th, 1:00-2:00 p.m. Friday Pre-First Full Day 2:00-6:00 p.m. M-Th, 1:00-6:00 p.m. Friday First Grade Partial Day 2:30-3:15 p.m. M-Th, 1:30-2:00 p.m. Friday First Grade Full Day 2:30-6:00 p.m. M-Th, 1:30-6:00 p.m. Friday Second-Fifth Grades 3:15-6:00 p.m. M-Th, 2:00-6:00 p.m. Friday
The three sessions for the 2014-15 calendar for Pre-First through Fifth Grade are as follows: Fall - Thursday, August 14 – Friday, November 21 Winter - Monday, December 1 – Friday, March 6 Spring - Monday, March 16 – Wednesday, May 20
ASK! will follow the regular Westminster Lower School calendar. Parents must make alternative arrangements for partial school days and holidays. Please remember that if your child is absent from school, he/she may not attend ASK! that day.
BAND Band is offered to Fifth Grade students. With the assistance of our band staff, students select their instruments and meet on Thursday, first in small groups during the school day, and then as a full band after school from 3:15 -4:15 p.m. Band members study the techniques for their specific instrument and learn to perform in a group setting.
CHORUS Open to all Fourth and Fifth Grade students, chorus meets after school on Wednesdays from 3:15-4:30 p.m. Approximately 90 boys and girls participate in an off-campus concert at Christmas and the Spring Choral Program.
INTRAMURALS This optional program for Third through Fifth Grade boys and girls meets once a week after school from November to January, from 3:15 to 4:00 p.m. Students enjoy activities that parallel units in physical education class and cooperative fun-filled activities led by Westminster teachers. The wide range of activities encourages participation at all skill levels.
ORCHESTRA Beginning in Third Grade, students may elect to join the Allegro (Beginner) or Presto (Intermediate) Orchestra. Each orchestra meets once a week after school from 3:15 -4:30 p.m. and once a week during the school day. The instruction is designed to teach techniques of playing, music reading, and group performance based on the individual ability of each student. More advanced students may also perform as a group for festivals, school concerts, and other events in the Atlanta area.
21 AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES SCHEDULE After the school year begins in August, students will be given the opportunity to sign up for Band, Chorus, Intramurals, and Orchestra.
ASK! Pre-First-5th Daily 2:00-6:00 p.m. M-Th 1:00-6:00 p.m. Fri.
Band 5th Grade Thursday 3:15 – 4:00 p.m. (Band classes are also scheduled once a week during the school day.)
Chorus 4th, 5th Wednesday 3:15 – 4:30 p.m.
Intramurals 4th, 5th Monday (Nov. 3 – Jan. 26) 3:15 – 4:00 p.m. 3rd (4th who are in Orchestra) Thursday (Nov. 6 – Jan. 29) 3:15 – 4:00 p.m.
Orchestra 3rd, 4th, 5th Allegro (Beginner) Monday 3:15 – 4:30 p.m. 3rd, 4th, 5th Presto (Intermediate Tuesday 3:15 – 4:30 p.m. (Orchestra classes are also scheduled once a week during the school day.)
22 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
CONDUCT FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS Teachers and staff are charged with ensuring that students meet standards of behavior and discipline. It is essential that the guidelines established to govern behavior are based on principles that enhance and maintain a community where learning and teaching can be nurtured. The moral and ethical values that enhance courtesy, kindness, mutual respect, personal courage, and good character are central elements of The Westminster Schools’ disciplinary philosophy. It is the intent that discipline be fair and instructive but also protect the health, safety and wellbeing of the Lower School community.
If a child consistently has difficulty following school rules, he or she will meet with either the Head or Associate Head of the Lower School. If the behavior continues to be disruptive, the parents will be asked to confer with the Head, Associate Head and the teacher. If there continues to be no change in the child’s behavior, the child may be suspended for a given period of time.
Either the child’s enrollment may be immediately terminated, or s/he may not be invited to return the following year, if the Head of Lower School believes it to be in the best interest of the child or the school. Lastly, as partners in our quest to reinforce this philosophy, parents are expected to act in a manner that is cooperative, reasonable, supportive, and respectful of the school, and our administration and staff.
As stated in The Westminster Schools enrollment agreement,
“We and our child agree to abide by the academic and behavioral rules, policies, and standards of the School, published in the Student Handbook and available on the website. We understand that failure to abide may, at the sole discretion of the School, result in sanctions up to and including separation from the School, with any outstanding financial obligation for the remaining portion of the school year immediately due and owing.”
CELL PHONES Students are not to bring cell phones or any other electronic devices to school. Students may ask to use a school phone in the event that they need to contact a parent during the school day. Those students with extenuating circumstances should contact the Head of the Lower School in advance.
BUILDING SECURITY All exterior doors are locked at 8:00 a.m. and remain locked for the entire school day. Each family is assigned an access code to be used to enter the building 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and 8:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Friday. All other visitors to the building must request access by “buzzing” the office. All exterior doors can be easily opened from the inside. Family codes should not be shared with children.
SAFETY PROCEDURES The Westminster Schools take the safety of our students, faculty, and staff very seriously. Our safety procedures are practiced on a regular basis so all are thoroughly familiar with the appropriate action to take when necessary. Below you will find a brief explanation of each of these procedures.
Fire Procedure: Fire drills are practiced monthly, as required by law. Each room in the Lower School has a map displayed on the wall indicating the correct evacuation route to be taken in the event of a fire. Faculty members instruct students in fire safety at the beginning of the school year. When the fire alarm sounds, students, faculty, and staff exit the building quickly and quietly and gather in designated areas away from the building until such time when they are allowed to return to the building. Before leaving the building, a small group of staff members “sweep” the building to ensure that everyone has exited.
Tornado Procedure: Tornado drills are practiced twice a year during tornado season, as required by law. Each room in the Lower School has a map displayed on the wall indicating the area where students and faculty from the particular classroom should assemble during a tornado. All assembly areas are in the interior of the building away from exterior doors and windows as recommended by the American Red Cross. Faculty members instruct their students in tornado safety at the beginning of the school year. When the tornado siren sounds, students and faculty move quickly and quietly to their assigned area. Students sit with their backs against the wall, their heads 23 down, and their arms covering their heads. Students, faculty, and staff remain in their assigned areas until notified that they may resume regular activities.
Severe weather conditions are monitored by the school’s security department as well as by the Lower School office staff.
Code Green: A “Code Green” calls for the complete evacuation of the building and moving away from the building to a location beyond what would be appropriate for a fire. A Code Green would be used in the event of a bomb threat, chemical spill, or some other cause that would require such an evacuation. In the event of a Code Green, students are taken to the tennis courts on the back side of the campus. Before leaving the building, a small group of staff members “sweep” the building to insure that everyone has exited. It is important to note that in the event of a Code Green, security personnel close both gates to campus.
Code Red: A “Code Red” calls for the complete lock-down of a building. A Code Red may be called for a specific building or for the entire campus. In the event of a Code Red, security personnel close both gates to campus. A Code Red alert is practiced several times a year. Faculty members instruct students in the appropriate procedures to be followed. In the event of a Code Red, teachers immediately gather their children into the room, lock the doors, turn off the lights, lower the window shades, cover the window in the hallway door, and position the children on the floor underneath the windows where they will be less likely to be seen by anyone looking in the exterior windows. Once the classroom is completely secured, teachers e-mail the Lower School administrative office to give the status of the room. Before moving to a safe location, a small group of staff members “sweep” the building to make sure rooms are locked and that no one is left in the hallways or restrooms. Students, faculty, and staff remain in lock-down mode until the Code Red has been lifted.
ATTENDANCE POLICY The school discourages children from missing classes unless absolutely necessary. Excused absences include medical issues, religious holidays, and attendance at family weddings, funerals, and graduation ceremonies. If students need to be absent for any reason not related to medical issues, a letter describing the reason for the absence should be given to the homeroom teachers prior to the absence. They teachers will pass the letter along to the Head of the Lower School for approval.
Parents are asked to email or leave a voicemail message for the homeroom teachers when a child will be tardy or absent for the day. The tardy bell rings each day at 7:55 a.m. Habitual tardiness may affect your child’s classroom performance.
VISITING THE SCHOOL DURING THE SCHOOL DAY Upon arrival, all parents and other visitors must come to the office to sign in and put on a name tag. Parents and other visitors should not be in classroom areas or at a scheduled recess without a specific invitation from a teacher. This includes arrival and dismissal times as well. The only exception to this is in grade levels that have established a program for parents to assist at recess.
Large carpool groups (scouts, teams, playgroups, etc.) should not gather outside the classrooms at dismissal. Before leaving the building, parents and other visitors must sign out in the office.
PICKING UP YOUR CHILD DURING THE SCHOOL DAY Please avoid making medical or dental appointments for your child during the school day. If it is necessary to do so: 1. Send a note, email, or voicemail to let the teacher know when your child will be picked up 2. Come to the office to sign out your child – do not go to the classroom. 3. Wait at the office for your child. Someone in the office will retrieve your child if he or she does not come at the appointed time. 4. Upon returning to school, come to the office to sign your child back in. Your child may return to the classroom unassisted, or office staff will escort a Pre-First child back to class.
WHEN YOUR CHILD IS LATE TO SCHOOL Any time a child arrives in the morning after the tardy bell (7:55 a.m.), an adult must come to the office to sign the child in. Your child may walk to the classroom unassisted, or office staff will escort a Pre-First child. 24 LEAVING ITEMS FOR CHILDREN If you need to bring something to your child during the school day, please bring the item to the office with your child’s name on it, and the item will be taken to your child’s classroom. Items brought in for delivery to students should be limited to things needed during the school day.
PICKING UP HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS If you wish to request missed work for a student who is absent, please leave a voicemail for the teacher. The work may be picked up from the table in the reception area (not in the classroom) any time after 3:00 p.m. Please do not ask teachers to have work ready before 3:00 p.m.; please call by noon or earlier.
REPLACEMENT OF LOST SCHOOL MATERIALS Children are responsible for the safekeeping of textbooks and other school materials. If materials are lost or damaged, a letter will be sent home to indicate the replacement cost. The child’s end-of-the-year report card will be held until this obligation has been met. Within three months of receiving payment, a refund will be issued for any materials that are subsequently found and returned in good condition.
MESSAGES FOR STUDENTS Please call the front office in order to relay a message to your child. Please do not leave messages for students unless they are of the utmost importance. Try to arrange your child’s daily schedule before your child leaves home in the morning, but call the office if there are any changes.
MESSAGES FOR TEACHERS Please remember that interrupting a teacher during the school day takes valuable instructional time away from all students. It is not appropriate to go to a classroom during the school day to have a conversation with a teacher unless an official conference has been scheduled. You may communicate with a teacher in these ways:
1. Leave a voicemail for the teacher (see numbers listed in school directory). Teachers have their own telephones and are able to check their voicemail regularly during the day. 2. Write a note to the teacher and send it with your child. 3. Each teacher has an email address at school (fi[email protected]) 4. In case of an emergency, call Susan Kahn at 404-609-6299 or Yvonne Spiotta at 404-609-6298.
LOST AND FOUND The Lost and Found for large items (i.e., books, clothing, and bookbags) is located in the ahllway outside the cafeteria. Small items are held with Lauren DuPriest in the main office. Please label clothing with your child’s first and last name. Articles which are labeled will be returned to the owner. Be sure to check the Lost and Found regularly as all unclaimed items are periodically donated to children’s shelters.
GIFT GIVING POLICY Gift giving at any time during the school year is entirely voluntary. Whatever you do, we urge you to keep it simple and to involve your child. Money is not to be collected for teacher gifts, nor is money to come from the class treasury for teacher gifts. This is a Westminster policy.
INVITATIONS Party invitations shall not be distributed at school.
Most child experts agree that 10-to-12-year-olds are not ready for boy-girl parties unless these involve a well- organized and closely supervised activity, such as roller-skating. Westminster discourages boy-girl parties at this age. From experience, we have learned that children’s feelings are often hurt and the school atmosphere is disrupted. Most elementary-age children are not emotionally mature enough to handle such sophisticated social activities.
ATTENDANCE POLICY FOR ATHLETIC EVENTS Students must sit with their parents or another responsible adult at Westminster athletic events. Adequate supervision must be provided throughout the event. If students are not able to remain seated for the entire event, 25 parents are advised to attend for only a portion of the event. These guidelines have been established for the safety and wellbeing of everyone. It is important that those who come to watch the event be able to do so without unnecessary distractions.
NON-WESTMINSTER STUDENTS VISITING SCHOOL Visits from non-Westminster students are inappropriate as they may be disruptive to instruction. Any visit of this type must be pre-approved by the administration.
STUDENT-RELATED FORMS FOR TEACHERS Parents must deliver forms for teachers to forward to professionals or other schools to the Lower School office. Please do not deliver forms directly to your child’s classroom teachers. Parents must sign a release form at the time of delivery giving Westminster permission to send the forms to the appropriate place. All forms will be mailed directly from Westminster to the school or to the professional and will not be returned to parents.
DRESS CODE In order to maintain a positive learning environment and to provide for the health, safety, and wellbeing of our students, the following principles form the foundation for the Lower School’s Dress Code.
General Guidelines 1. We ask that dress be moderate and not a distraction to the learning process. 2. Students are expected to be well-groomed and appropriately dressed while on campus and while representing the school off campus (for example: on field trips, for which specific dress guidelines will be given depending on the nature of the field trip). 3. Clothing must be neat, clean, and in good repair. 4. Shoes with manufactured backs must be worn at all times. For safety reasons, shoes must be tied or strapped. It is important that shoes be comfortable, practical, and in good repair. Gym shoes are recommended. 5. Extremely oversized clothes are not suitable. 6. No baseball-style caps may be brought to school. 7. Grooming obviously includes clean and combed hair. 8. Students are expected to wear “church attire” on days designated as “Dress Up Day.”
26 Girls 1. Makeup is not appropriate for Lower School students. 2. Large, dangling earrings and other items of jewelry (such as dangling bracelets, etc.) are distracting to the student who is wearing the items, to other students, and to teachers. Hence, these items are to remain at home. Students have occasionally lost jewelry of significant monetary or sentimental value to them. Please help us to avoid these disappointments by not allowing your child to wear such items to school. 3. Shirts should be fashioned for girls and tucked in when appropriate. Tank tops and spaghetti straps are not acceptable school attire. The length of the top should be sufficient to prevent the midriff from showing when the arms are raised. 4. Shirts and blouses may not have any writing or pictures, the only exception being approved Westminster or college logos and names. Shirt manufacturing company logos without writing are allowed (e.g., alligator or horse emblem). 5. Gym sweatpants and athletic shorts are not acceptable school attire. 6. The length of shorts or skirts should be at least as long as the point where the student’s fingertips touch the upper leg when the arms hang fully extended to the side of the body. 7. Safety factors must be considered in selecting shoes since our students walk up and down stairs, to the playground, and to and from gyms. High-heeled shoes are not acceptable.
Boys 1. Third through Fifth Grade boys must wear collared shirts; shirttails must be tucked in. Collared shirts with a small manufacturer’s logo are acceptable; however, shirts with writing or large logos are not acceptable school attire. 2. For Pre-First through Second Grade boys, shirts with a small manufacturer’s logo are acceptable; however, athletic shirts and shirts with writing or large logos are not acceptable school attire. 3. Shirts may not have on them any writing or pictures, the only exception being approved Westminster or college logos and names. Shirt manufacturing company logos without writing are allowed (e.g., alligator or horse emblem). 4. Gym sweatpants and athletic shorts are not acceptable school attire. 5. The length of shorts should be at least as long as the point where the student’s fingertips touch the upper leg when the arms hang fully extended to the side of the body. 6. Boys’ hair should be neat, clean, well-groomed, and should not extend below the collar in the back, eyebrows in the front, and ear lobes on the side.
At appropriate times and at various grade levels, other specific guidelines may be given. We are not attempting to discourage individual tastes and individuality or dictate every clothing situation. We also realize that styles in clothes vary from year to year. Our goal remains to maintain and strengthen our learning environment. In addition, we encourage your support in instilling in your children a sense of pride in how they look – not in wearing the latest fashions or the most expensive clothes, but rather in being well groomed and appropriately dressed. When children dress sloppily or carelessly, their behavior often reflects these same attributes. We will continue to emphasize having respect for ourselves and others. Dress is one facet of overall respect and self-confidence. The motto “Look sharp. Be sharp.” is appropriate. In marginal situations, the faculty and administration will make decisions regarding appropriateness of clothing and will enforce the dress code.
REPORTING SCHEDULES The school year is divided into three 13-week grading periods. The following reporting schedules will be used:
First 13 weeks: August 14, 2014 - November 5, 2014 Second 13 weeks: November 6, 2014 - February 18, 2015 Third 13 weeks: February 19, 2015 - May 6, 2015
Progress reports will be sent at the end of each 13-week period.
An Interim Concern(s) Report will be sent home any time a teacher has concerns in one or more of the following areas: work habits, conduct, academic progress, homework responsibility, attendance, tardies, and/or social/
27 emotional development. Parents will sign the Interim Concern(s) Report and return it to the teacher. Direct communication is always important.
The fall parent/teacher conference day is Friday, November 14, 2014.
The spring parent/teacher conference day is Friday, April 17, 2015.
All of us are concerned with your child’s growth and development at Westminster and hope that these methods of communication prove helpful and effective.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION UNIFORMS Students in Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade are required to wear uniforms in physical education class. The uniform is purchased from The Westminster Campus Store and consists of the Westminster gray shorts, green t-shirt, gray sweat bottoms and gray hooded sweatshirt. Only one set may be purchased at the beginning of the year. If pieces are lost, they may be replaced through the Campus Store. Students should be aware of which pieces of uniform they may already have and which pieces need to be purchased.
Uniforms may be purchased at the Campus Store for the 2014-15 school year on August 11, 12 and 13 from 9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Students should wear gym shoes (for safety, tied shoes are preferred) and white or black socks. Uniforms will be kept in the students’ gym lockers. Approximately every two weeks, the students will be instructed to take their uniforms home to be laundered.
If your child is unable to participate in P.E., a written excuse from a parent is needed. After one week, a doctor’s excuse is needed.
Students in Pre-First through Second Grade do not have P.E. uniforms but should wear tennis shoes on the days they have physical education class. Please check teacher blogs for the schedule.
28 INFIRMARY INFORMATION
The Lower School Infirmary is staffed each school day by a registered nurse during school hours. Please do not hesitate to call or drop by with any problems, questions or concerns.
MEDICATIONS Any medications – prescription or “over-the-counter” – will be dispensed only by the nurse with written permission from the parent.On the Health Form, we ask for your permission to administer Tylenol, Advil, Tums, Sudafed, and Benadryl. The Infirmary stocks these medications. If a student is to receive any other type of medication at school, the medicine is to be brought to the nurse and the following are required: 1. Written authorization by a parent that identifies the medication, dose, purpose of the medication, and time to be administered. If a medication is to be administered for longer than two weeks, written authorization from the prescribing physician must also be provided. (Authorization forms are available in the Infirmary.) 2. Medication must be provided in a prescription bottle with the following information on the bottle: s .AME OF STUDENT s .AME OF MEDICATION s $OSAGE s %XPIRATION DATE
SPECIAL DIETARY NEEDS If your child has a physician-documented medical condition requiring a special diet, please contact the nurse at Love Hall (404-609-6365). The cafeteria staff, with aid from the nurse, the school dietician, and the parents, will plan appropriate meals for your child. Religious dietary requests will be accommodated through the school nurse. If preferred, parents may send a sack lunch from home for their child.
FEVER Any student who has a temperature of 100° or higher will be sent home immediately. A student must be fever-free (without the aid of fever-reducing medication) for 24 hours before s/he returns to school. This is one way we can work together to decrease the incidence of illness within the Lower School.
VOMITING Because vomiting and diarrhea are generally symptoms associated with a multitude of underlying contagious illnesses, we require students to be sent home should they become sick at school. Students should not return to school until 24 hours after their last episode.
HEALTH INFORMATION AND IMMUNIZATION RECORDS Westminster requires an annual physical for all students. Health information (which includes the student’s height, weight, and date of physical) is submitted online with the enrollment/re-enrollment contract. Please provide complete and accurate information. A current Georgia Certificate of Immunization (Form 3231) is required by law for every student. Once your child’s Certificate of Immunization is on file in the Infirmary, you do not need to re- submit a new one unless your child receives an additional immunization.
HEAD LICE POLICY/PROTOCOL When a case of head lice is diagnosed at school, the parent will be notified and advised that prompt treatment is necessary and in the best interest of the student. The parents of students in the classroom will be notified (maintaining confidentiality) and encouraged to carefully check their children at home and treat, if appropriate, before returning to school the next day.
Head lice are not a health hazard, sign of poor hygiene, or responsible for the spread of any disease. There will be no mass or routine screenings. Teachers will send any symptomatic student to the school nurse for a head check.
29 PAWS IN THE LOWER SCHOOL
The purpose of PAWS in the Lower School is to act as a communications link between the school and parents. PAWS in the Lower School also works closely with the Parents Association of The Westminster Schools (PAWS) on activities which involve Lower School families; the president of PAWS in the Lower School is a member of the executive board of PAWS.
PAWS in the Lower School is composed of an executive committee (president, president-elect, treasurer, VP Outreach, VP Events, VP Arts & Extra Curricular, VP Room Representatives, VP Service Social & Emotional Learning, VP Communications), a room representative from each classroom, a varying number of committee chairs, a representative from the Board of Trustees, the President of PAWS, the President of Westminster, the Head of the Lower School, and the Lower School Director of Admissions.
PAWS in the Lower School sponsors numerous projects and events throughout the year, including the Halloween Parade, Christmas Pageant, and Community Service collections. PAWS in the Lower School also assists the administration in the area of traffic management, links parents with the library program, and provides food, decorations, and other hospitality services when appropriate. Room representatives have direct responsibilities to the homeroom teachers; they assist as needed and coordinate class parties.
PAWS in the Lower School hosts Parent Coffee and Conversation gatherings six times a year. The meetings are open; all Lower School parents are invited to attend. The annual Volunteer Fair is combined with the September Parents Coffee and Conversation Meeting. A designated amount from each child’s classroom activity assessment is given to the Parents Council. As opportunities and needs arise, PAWS in the Lower School funds purchase appropriate gifts for the school and support special school projects.
For information on PAWS in the Lower School functions as well as other Lower School events, please check the calendar on the school website. COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
ANGEL TREE Angel Tree is an event that supports at-risk youth. Westminster children and families are able to “adopt” a child and make his/her Christmas special. Held each year, it is an opportunity for parents to impress upon their children the importance of helping others.
CHILDREN’S LITERATURE OUTREACH – ONGOING This ongoing, hands-on program is directed by Julie Boggs, Lower School Service Coordinator, and implemented by parent volunteers. Parents work in small groups with Third Grade students at Scott Elementary, an Atlanta Public School, to reinforce and develop their reading and writing skills. Thanks to this Wednesday morning commitment on the part of parent volunteers, Westminster is able to help foster a love and appreciation of good literature for the Scott Third Graders.
GRADE LEVEL COMMUNITY SERVICE SATURDAYS Each student in grades Pre-First through Fourth will have an opportunity during the school year to spend a Saturday with his/her grade level and family members in hands-on community service. These opportunities offer a chance for our students to serve and give of themselves both within the classroom setting and through off-site service experiences that families can elect to attend. Locations throughout Atlanta are chosen based on both age appropriateness and each grade level’s specific curricular interests in an effort to compliment the learning environment. Parents work alongside their children, sharing their time, energy, and talents with various community organizations. A tentative listing of weekend family service opportunities for each grade level is listed below. More specific information will appear in the Weekly Parent Update closer to each scheduled activity.
Pre-First: Buckhead Fire Station First: Jewish Home Second: Central Presbyterian Night Shelter Third: Atlanta Day Shelter for Women and Children Fourth: Trees Atlanta 30 All Fifth Graders participate in a year-long course on philanthropy called Urban EdVenture. Urban Ed culminates in a week-long community service event throughout Atlanta for these students.
READER-TO-READER BOOK COLLECTION Each year, the Lower School sponsors the Reader-to-Reader Book Collection Program. This community service project encourages our students who have many books to share a few of their gently used favorites with children who don’t have the same access to good literature. The books are collected at school, then covered and carded by parent volunteers. Classrooms and libraries in Atlanta’s inner city schools and many other educational institutions and hospitals in the United States and around the world are the beneficiaries of this yearly collection.
SHOWER FOR THE SHELTERS Shower for the Shelters is a community service project which the Lower School sponsors each year to support several family and children’s shelters in the Atlanta area. This project involves the collection of specific items such as baby supplies, classroom supplies, and personal care products which are needed by the shelters for day-to-day operations or for a family once they are in a home. Raising money and helping to shop for these items has proven to be a meaningful experience for our students.
WESTMINSTER FAMILY SERVICE DAYS There are additional opportunities for Westminster families to volunteer throughout Atlanta. The events for this year include: s (ANDS /N !TLANTA $AY AND 7ESTMINSTER &ALL &AMILY 3ERVICE $AY s -,+ 7EEKEND 3UMMIT s 7ESTMINSTERS 3PRING &AMILY 3ERVICE $AY
Specific dates for these events will be announced during the school year.
Please check the Weekly Parent Update and the school website for more information on these events and how to register. If you have questions about school-wide service days, please contact Stan Moor, Westminster’s Community Service Coordinator, at 404-609-6372.
31 LOWER SCHOOL DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY COMMITTEE
Every individual is unique. Helping children learn to celebrate and respect both similarities and differences in each other can be challenging, but doing so both strengthens a child’s self-concept and encourages positive peer relationships.
The goal of Westminster’s Lower School Diversity and Inclusivity Committee is to provide faculty, staff, students, and their families with experiences and activities which focus on the areas of global education and inclusivity. These programs are designed to assist the Lower School community in developing empathy, appreciation, and respect for each other and to foster a deeper understanding of socially significant similarities and differences. The Lower School faculty Diversity and Inclusivity Coordinators and the PAWS in the Lower School Diversity and Inclusivity Liaisons work together to promote social justice by encouraging the use of a wide range of multicultural resources within the curriculum and sponsoring a variety of events and activities throughout the year.
Examples of diversity events/activities:
DIVERSITY BULLETIN BOARD The Lower School Diversity Committee is responsible for overseeing displays on the diversity bulletin board each month. A variety of religious and cultural observances as well as geographical locations are highlighted in an effort to expand our Lower School community’s awareness of the world beyond our campus.
EVERYBODY COOKS RICE Everybody Cooks Rice is a multicultural potluck supper open to all families in the Lower School community. Each family is asked to prepare a rice dish to share that represents its cultural heritage or is a particular family favorite. Modeled after author Norah Dooley’s children’s book Everybody Cooks Rice, this event is held each spring to celebrate the diversity within our community.
2014-2015 LOWER SCHOOL DIVERSITY AND INCLUSIVITY COMMITTEE Diversity and Inclusivity Coordinators: Julie Boggs (404-609-6108), Nyvette Gray (404-609-6424), and Kevin Soltau (404-609-6473) PAWS in the Lower School Diversity and Inclusivity Liaisons: Nayla Elshihabi and Karishma Dantuluri LOWER SCHOOL LIBRARY
“Once upon a time” is a phrase that stirs excitement in the hearts of children of all ages in the Smythe Gambrell Library. They know immediately that they’re going to be treated to a story, one that will entertain them, inform them about their world, and tickle their imaginations. At the Lower School, literature is for all children, regardless of their ages or grade levels, and reading that begins in the home progresses through their school career into a lifelong experience. Books carry messages about life that are essential to complete a child’s proper growth and development. Hearing a variety of literature, students may experience vicariously the lives of others, different time periods, places, value systems, and the many cultures of the world. Our library is located in Love Hall and houses a collection of over 40,000 books and audiovisual materials. A variety of spaces designed for activities such as audiovisual presentations, small group project work, storytelling, and impromptu dramatic productions make the library an extension of every classroom. All three libraries at The Westminster Schools seek to enrich the intellectual life of the school and are essential to effective education for an information-based society. The library staff provides an organized collection of resources, as well as instruction in the use of these materials. The library program strives to be an integral part of the curricula, providing information support services to the academic program, library media skills instruction, and encouraging informal reading.
The library collection contains items of varying degrees of difficulty and offers a variety of formats to meet many learning styles and developmental levels. This ensures that all members of the school community have the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills and to use ideas and information effectively. The Lower School library’s instructional program enables students to begin developing the skills needed to locate, analyze, evaluate, interpret, and communicate information and ideas in our information-rich world. These skills are refined throughout the students’ progress in all three of The Westminster Schools’ libraries.
32 Weekly classes at the Pre-First level focus on library orientation skills, production of simple art projects that illustrate the main ideas of stories, and reading guidance. Students are assisted in selecting library materials which are appropriate to their own ability levels and which may be used for enjoyment, personal interest, and/or information. The basic underlying philosophy for the students’ library classes is that if children are to learn about the joy of reading and become proficient, lifelong readers, they need to know that books are fun. What could be more enjoyable than listening to a month of teddy bear stories in the library while having a teddy bears’ picnic one week, and sewing your very own teddy bears during the rest of the month? Literature read aloud allows students to begin to identify specific authors/illustrators and their works. The librarian uses a variety of literature-sharing techniques including dramatic readings, puppetry, storytelling, musical and audiovisual presentations, and games.
Students in First and Second Grade identify the classification of fiction materials and state the characteristics of various types of literature: biographies, mysteries, fables, fairy tales, folktales, and traditional rhymes and poetry. In Second Grade, students are introduced to research skills and use reference materials and nonfiction books to gather information. Classes are taught how to summarize articles using a main idea with supporting details, and the students compile data charts to take relevant notes using two different reference sources.
During their last years in the Lower School, students begin to identify and demonstrate comprehension of the Dewey Decimal Classification System for nonfiction materials, use the library’s electronic catalog to locate materials, and identify and define the parts of a book. Equipped with the basic skills gathered from six years of library instruction, students will begin functioning independently and productively in all types of libraries.
The library program is not only integral to and supportive of the school curricula, but also provides a mechanism for choice and exploration beyond a prescribed course of study. The Smythe Gambrell Library is a place where students may explore more fully classroom subjects that interest them, expand their imagination, delve into areas of personal interest, and develop the ability to think clearly, critically, and creatively. The Visiting Author Program provides opportunities for students to meet outstanding authors and illustrators. In addition, the library staff produces grade-specific summer reading lists to promote reading for pleasure during the summer months.
Borrowing privileges are extended to all students enrolled at Westminster, as well as their parents. Regular hours during the school year are 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday; 7:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m. on Wednesday; and 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on Friday. After daily dismissal, students visiting the library must be supervised by a parent. The library is also open from 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. on Wednesdays in June and July.
33 PUBLICATIONS
LYNX The school-wide yearbook is published by a team of Upper School students, faculty, and administration. Lower School students, faculty, and staff are featured in individual poses and candid shots. Each Lower School student will receive a copy of the yearbook at the end of the school year. All communications concerning the Lynx are handled by the Lynx office (404-609-6251).
WESTMINSTER DIRECTORY The Westminster Directory includes contact information for students, parents, faculty, and staff. It also includes listings of PAWS and Lower School Parents Council leadership and Lower School homeroom class listings. The directory is published by the Junior class as a fundraiser and is available for purchase in the Campus Store.
WESTMINSTER MAGAZINE Westminster Magazine is published twice a year by the Marketing and Communications department. It includes feature stories, campus activity and sports round-ups, and alumni news. Westminster Magazine is mailed to current families, faculty and staff, and alumni. STANDARDIZED TESTS
Standardized tests for Pre-First through Fifth Graders are part of the total learning program at Westminster and are one component in a varied assessment array.
Westminster teachers and administrators use the information from these tests for the following purposes:
1. To provide a standardized assessment of each child’s academic progress in various areas. 2. To determine academic expectations and to measure progress toward suitable individual goals. 3. To identify relative strengths and needs of each child so that materials and instructional procedures can be changed or adapted to meet these needs. 4. To assess strengths and needs in group performance in order to facilitate future curriculum planning. The results are only one measure for grouping or making educational recommendations. Any test is only an indicator of an individual’s success at the time the test is taken. Your child’s daily classroom performance, participation, and learning provide a more comprehensive picture than one standardized test.
You will receive information regarding the specific days for each grade level. A generous time limit is allotted each day. Since testing begins the first period of the day, it is especially important for your child to arrive promptly. As always, please see that your child gets adequate sleep and a nutritious breakfast prior to school. We will arrange for students to make up any section of the test if absences occur because of illness. Please contact Nancy Lamb at 404-609-6456 if you would like more information. COUNSELING SERVICES
When special circumstances arise, our school families may need counseling services, either for an enrolled student or for family counseling. Through the generosity of an endowed gift, Westminster is able to help cover the costs of off-campus counseling using pre-approved community mental health professionals. The school can cover up to $500 per individual or $1,000 lifetime per family during the time a student in the family is enrolled at Westminster (note: this is not an annual benefit). Appointments may be arranged by telephoning the counseling service directly or the mental health resources designated at the top of the next page. Callers should identify themselves as members of the Westminster family. All visits are completely confidential. The school has arrangements with the following counseling services:
34 Dr. Catherine O. Blusiewicz, Ph.D. Dr. Brian H. Thomas, M.D. (psychiatrist) Piedmont Center, Bldg. 11 Dr. Lisa Huber, M.D. (psychiatrist) 3495 Piedmont Road, Suite 202 Peachtree Psychiatric Professionals of Atlanta Atlanta, Georgia 30305 3520 Piedmont Road, NE, Suite 330 404-237-7511 Atlanta, GA 30305 Fax: 404-843-1988 404-351-2008 [email protected] Fax: 404-351-0243 [email protected] Dr. Mark Crawford, Ph.D. [email protected] Dr. Michael Lyles, M.D. (psychiatrist) 11111 Houze Road, Suite 320 Dr. Robert Margolis, Ph.D. (substance abuse) Roswell, Georgia 30076 Solutions Outpatient Program 770-993-0051 or 770-993-0052 1150 Upper Hembree Road [email protected] Roswell, GA 30076 678-624-0930 Dr. Andrea Stakes DeWalt Fax: 678-624-0730 3180 Peachtree Road [email protected] Atlanta, Georgia 30305 404-425-3417 Dr. Gloria Meaux, Ph.D. [email protected] 18B Lenox Pointe, NE Atlanta, GA 30324 Dr. Carol Matheson, Ph.D. 404-841-9293 2964 Peachtree Road, Suite 610 [email protected] Atlanta, Georgia 30305 678-571-7320 [email protected]
LOWER SCHOOL GUIDELINES FOR USE OF TECHNOLOGY
SAFETY AND PRIVACY s ) WILL PROTECT MY PERSONAL INFORMATION AND THAT OF OTHERS BY NOT POSTING OR DISTRIBUTING PRIVATE INFORMATION including full names, email addresses, street addresses and phone numbers. s ) WILL BE HONEST ABOUT MY AGE WHEN ONLINE AND ) WILL NOT USE SITES WHEN ) DO NOT MEET THE AGE REQUIREMENT IE facebook, personal google accounts and blogs). s ) WILL NOT USE PERSONAL SITES OR PERSONAL EMAIL ACCOUNTS AT SCHOOL s ) WILL ONLY USE MY SCHOOL ACCOUNTS IE 'OOGLE -OODLE FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES
DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP GUIDELINES s ) WILL ASSESS HOW MUCH TIME ) SPEND WITH DIGITAL MEDIA AND BALANCE THAT WITH OFmINE ACTIVITIES s ) WILL NOT POST ANYTHING ONLINE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL WOULD NOT WANT SHARED s ) WILL NOT POST PICTURES OR ANYTHING HURTFUL OR INAPPROPRIATE ONLINE WHETHER IN MY OWN NAME ANONYMOUSLY OR by using another identity. s ) WILL NOT POST ANYTHING ABOUT OTHERS THAT COULD COMPROMISE THEIR REPUTATION OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHERS 4HIS includes: s CALLING PEOPLE NAMES s INSULTING INDIVIDUALS FOR ANY REASON INCLUDING RACE RELIGION NATIONAL ORIGIN DISABILITY GENDER OR SEXUAL orientation. s 7HEN USING ONLINE COMMUNICATION TO COLLABORATE WITH OTHERS ) WILL INFORM A TRUSTED ADULT WHEN s TEASING CROSSES THE LINE AND IS HURTFUL s PEOPLE ENGAGE IN HATE SPEECH s ANY PHYSICAL THREATS ARE MADE s SOMEONE FEELS ISOLATED s AN INDIVIDUAL IS BEING EXCLUDED IN A HURTFUL WAY s A POSTING IS SEXUALLY EXPLICIT
35 s ) WILL NOT DAMAGE THE DIGITAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTY OF OTHERS
RESEARCH AND INFORMATION LITERACY s ) WILL ONLY USE TECHNOLOGY TO ACCESS SCHOOL APPROPRIATE ONLINE CONTENT s ) WILL CHOOSE THE APPROPRIATE METHOD FOR ACCESSING INFORMATION s ) WILL EVALUATE THE INFORMATION ) lND TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY CONSIDERING THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA s !UTHORITY )S THE SOURCEAUTHOR CREDIBLE s !CCURACY )S THE INFORMATION CORRECT s #URRENCY )S THE INFORMATION STILL CURRENT s "IAS )S THE INFORMATION OBJECTIVE s ) WILL USE INFORMATION ) lND ONLINE EFFECTIVELY AND RESPONSIBLY CITING SOURCES AND ADHERING TO COPYRIGHT LAW s ) WILL NOT COPY INFORMATION AND PRESENT IT AS MY OWN WORK PLAGIARISM NOR COPYDISTRIBUTE ILLEGAL SOFTWARE OR other materials such as downloaded music or videos (copyright violations).
NETWORK SECURITY s ) WILL NOT DAMAGE SCHOOL EQUIPMENT OR PROPERTY OF OTHERS NOR DISRUPT THE NETWORK s ) WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO ACCESS OR ALTER PARTS OF THE NETWORK THAT ) HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN PERMISSION TO USE SUCH AS another person’s files or network tools. s ) WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO BYPASS THE SECURITY RESTRICTIONS ON MY COMPUTER OR ON THE NETWORK s ) WILL REPORT TO MY TEACHERS ANY APPARENT PROBLEMS WITH VIRUSES OR SPYWARE AS SOON AS THEY ARISE s ) WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO USE ANOTHER PERSONS LOGIN OR GIVE MY LOGIN INFORMATION TO OTHER STUDENTS
CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES s ) WILL PRINT ONLY WHAT IS NECESSARY s ) WILL LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION ) STORE ON THE NETWORK AND KEEP IT SCHOOL RELATED
CARE OF LAPTOP s ) WILL NOT INSTALL ANY SOFTWARE WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION FROM THE TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT s ) WILL ONLY HAVE ONE DESKTOP s 7HEN MOVING ABOUT WITH MY LAPTOP ) WILL KEEP THE LID CLOSED SO THAT IT IS IN STANDBY MODE REMOVE JUMP drives, and transport it in an approved carrying case. s ) WILL PLACE MY LAPTOP IN A LOCKED SECURE LOCATION WHEN IT IS NOT IN MY POSSESSION s )F ) DAMAGE MY LAPTOP ) WILL REPORT THE DAMAGE TO MY CLASSROOM TEACHER OR TO THE +NOWLEDGE "AR AS SOON AS possible. Examples of misuse that can damage a laptop include: dropping, placing heavy objects on top of the laptop, or exposure to food, liquids, or excessive heat or cold. s ) WILL GET ASSISTANCE FROM A TEACHER TO CLEAN THE MONITOR SCREEN AND KEYBOARD OF MY LAPTOP s ) WILL NEVER USE A PENCIL ERASER OR OTHER OBJECT ON THE TRACKPAD OR TOUCH THE SCREEN WITH SHARP OR POINTED objects. s ) WILL ONLY DECORATE THE REMOVABLE PLASTIC COVER OF MY LAPTOP WITHOUT COVERING THE IDENTIFYING INFORMATION located there. s ) WILL NOT PLACE ANYTHING BETWEEN THE SCREEN AND THE KEYBOARD WHEN ) CLOSE THE COMPUTER s ) WILL USE MY LAPTOP ON A STURDY SURFACE THAT ALLOWS FOR ADEQUATE AIR CIRCULATION 0LACING THE LAPTOP ON A PILLOW during use or blocking the side air vents can cause it to overheat.
LAPTOP CARE BEST PRACTICES s ) WILL BACKUP MY DATA REGULARLY -Y CLASSROOM TEACHERS WILL TEACH ME HOW TO DO THIS s ) WILL CONSERVE BATTERY LIFE BY DOING THE FOLLOWING TURNING OFF THE KEYBOARD BACKLIGHT & TURNING DOWN THE screen brightness (F1), turning off Bluetooth and closing applications. s ) WILL SAVE AND CLOSE DOCUMENTS AND QUIT APPLICATIONS THAT ) AM NOT USING IN ORDER TO KEEP MY LAPTOP RUNNING optimally. s ) WILL RESTART MY LAPTOP AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK TO ENSURE THAT ) AM GETTING THE LATEST UPDATES
36 STUDENT RESPONSIBLE USE POLICY FOR THE WESTMINSTER SCHOOLS
A Westminster student is expected to exemplify the principles of the Honor Code and the Discipline Code at all times including when using technology.
SAFETY AND PRIVACY I will adhere to the age requirements and guidelines of all websites. I will protect my personal information and respect the privacy of others’ information. I will respect my teachers by keeping all communication school related. I will show respect for myself and others by accessing, posting and hosting information and images that reflect positively on myself and others.
DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP I will be honest about my identity when I represent myself in any online communication. I will use electronic devices appropriately, communicating and interacting with others in respectful ways. I will not access or use hate-based or sexually explicit materials, nor will I disparage others. I will show my respect for intellect and creativity by asking permission, giving credit and observing the law.
CLASSROOM USE I will follow all guidelines set by my teacher(s) regarding the use of electronic devices.
CONSERVATION OF RESOURCES I will respect and preserve resources by conserving paper, bandwidth and storage space.
NETWORK SECURITY I will respect the connected nature of our digital community and will not tamper in any way with electronic devices owned or operated by the school.
CARE OF COMPUTER I will care responsibly for the computer that has been entrusted to me, following the guidelines of proper care and use.
Westminster reserves the right to access, view, or monitor any information stored on or transmitted over the school’s technology resources, on or over personal equipment that has been brought to school or used to access the school’s network, and on or over personal equipment that violates any aspect of this policy.
37 Electronic Equipment Statement of Understanding
In acceptance of the digital equipment assigned to me (i.e. laptop, iPad, iPhone):
____ I agree to abide by the Responsible Use Policy listed in the handbook.
____ I agree to keep the school-issued protective case (or a personally purchased case) on the equipment at all times. Should the case be damaged or missing, you must replace it or your account will be charged and a new case will be provided.
____ I agree that if the equipment is damaged or stolen I will report it immediately to the Westminster Department of Technology.
____ I understand that insurance is provided worldwide for accidental damage or theft of my equipment with the following conditions:
____ I understand that any claims made against the policy will result in a $200 deductible for laptops and $75 dollars for iPads/iPhones.
____ I understand that subsequent claims on the same equipment will result in an increase of $200 for the deductible for laptops and $75 for iPads/iPhones (i.e. $400/$150 for 2nd incident, $600/$225 for 3rd incident, etc.)
____ I understand that this policy will not cover loss or damage that is caused by or resulting from theft from an unattended vehicle except when it is securely locked, its windows are fully closed, and there is visible evidence that entry into the vehicle was forced.
____ I understand that if equipment was stolen, I am required to notify the appropriate authorities, according to where the incident occurred, to obtain a police report.
____ Faculty Only: For equipment not assigned to a student or faculty member (laptop cart/iPad cart), I understand that accidental damage by staff or students is covered by the technology department. I must immediately report damage to the Department of Technology so that an insurance claim can be filed, equipment repaired, and if necessary a deductible assessed.
Staff/Student Name (printed) Parent Name (printed)
Staff/Student Signature Parent Signature
Date Date
Revised March 2014
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A T A L A N T Te Westminster Schools 1424 West Paces Ferry Road, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30327