PARENT HANDBOOK Cotting School Revised October 2019 WHERE WE CAME FROM: A BRIEF HISTORY OF COTTING SCHOOL ....................................... 6 WHO WE ARE: MISSION AND VISION, PURPOSE, AND PHILOSOPHY ..................................... 7 Cotting School Mission and Vision ........................................................................................................... 7 Purpose and Philosophy ............................................................................................................................. 7 GENERAL INFORMATION SHARING ................................................................................................. 8 Absences, Late Arrivals, and Early DisMissals .................................................................................... 8 Long TerM Absences .................................................................................................................................... 9 School Cancellations ..................................................................................................................................... 9 Annual Consents and InforMation ........................................................................................................... 9 Pets and Other AniMals on CaMpus ...................................................................................................... 10 STAFF-TEACHER COMMUNICATION .............................................................................................. 10 Expectations .................................................................................................................................................. 10 Phone Contact ............................................................................................................................................... 10 Email ................................................................................................................................................................ 11 Planning a Meeting ..................................................................................................................................... 11 School/Classroom Observations ............................................................................................................ 11 Resolving Complaints and Grievances ................................................................................................. 12 ACCESS TO STUDENT RECORDS ...................................................................................................... 14 Reviewing Records ..................................................................................................................................... 15 Maintaining Records .................................................................................................................................. 16 Legal Status of Students ............................................................................................................................ 16 TRANSPORTATION ............................................................................................................................. 16 Cotting School Transportation Policy and Arrival / Dismissal Process ................................... 17 Morning Arrival Process ........................................................................................................................... 18 Afternoon DisMissal Process (After Regular School Day and Supplemental Services) ....... 18 Medical and Safety Issues on the Bus ................................................................................................... 19 Other Considerations ................................................................................................................................. 19 WELLNESS AND SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICES ............................................................................. 20 Wellness ......................................................................................................................................................... 20 Dental and Vision Clinics .......................................................................................................................... 20 School Medical Services ............................................................................................................................ 21 ImMunizations ............................................................................................................................................. 21 Health Screenings ........................................................................................................................................ 22 Medication Administration ...................................................................................................................... 22 Privacy of Student Health InforMation ................................................................................................ 23 Sick Child Exclusion/Return Policy ....................................................................................................... 24 Post-Hospitalization Procedures for Returning to School ............................................................ 25 Illness Occurring Prior to a ComMunity Trip .................................................................................... 25 Bathroom Use ............................................................................................................................................... 25 Toileting ......................................................................................................................................................... 26 NURSES IN THE COMMUNITY .......................................................................................................... 26 Nursing for Project Bridges ..................................................................................................................... 27 Toileting Off-Campus ................................................................................................................................. 27 FOOD AND NUTRITION ..................................................................................................................... 28 General Food Allergy Guidelines ............................................................................................................ 28 2 EDUCATIONAL AND THERAPEUTIC PROGRAMMING AT COTTING ....................................... 30 Curriculum ..................................................................................................................................................... 30 Professional DevelopMent and Training ............................................................................................ 30 IEP or Individualized Education Plan ................................................................................................... 30 Three Year Re-Evaluations ...................................................................................................................... 32 SUPPORTS FOR LEARNING ............................................................................................................... 33 Therapies ....................................................................................................................................................... 33 Assistive Technology .................................................................................................................................. 34 Literacy and Math Intervention Blocks ............................................................................................... 34 Tutorial Services .......................................................................................................................................... 35 ComMunity Inclusion ................................................................................................................................. 35 Project Bridges ............................................................................................................................................. 35 DETERMINING AND REPORTING STUDENT PROGRESS ........................................................... 35 Progress Reports ......................................................................................................................................... 35 Standardized Assessments ....................................................................................................................... 35 Grade Designation ....................................................................................................................................... 36 Grading Policy .............................................................................................................................................. 36 SENIOR STATUS AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS .............................................................. 36 High School Diplomas & Certificates of Attendance ........................................................................ 37 Credit Requirements for a Diploma ...................................................................................................... 37 Cotting School Certificate Requirements ............................................................................................ 38 TRANSITION ........................................................................................................................................