Cottonwood Creek ACTION School STUDENT HANDBOOK Lisa Vrvilo Principal 800 N. Seward Meridian Parkway Wasilla, AK 99654 Cottonwood Creek PRINCIPAL’S WELCOME ACTION Dear Parents and Students, School The faculty and staff of Cottonwood Creek ACTION School welcome you, and we Mission: The mission of Cottonwood Creek look forward to working with you this year. We ACTION School is to provide high quality have every reason to expect that this year will be academic instruction and character development fabulous---even better than the last! for our student’s future success. The District’s mission is..."To prepare students for success." Cottonwood will accomplish Vision: We envision a school in which all staff this mission via lessons designed to meet, and has a collective commitment to the school’s perhaps at times exceed, the Alaska State values, all students are vested in their own Standards and by providing quality direct learning, and all parents feel welcomed as equal instruction as well as hands-on experiences in the partners. classroom. Coupled with technology infusion and the Cougar Pause and PRIDE Citizenship program our teaching and learning at Values: In order to accomplish our mission and Cottonwood will be complete. become what we envision, we agree to: We assure you the staff at Cottonwood *Be a unified staff, sharing a common purpose will be prepared to teach your child according to "best practices." We have a focused mission and vision for our school (see left). Our classrooms *Use systematic direct instruction that builds will be vibrant, fun places to discover and upon the mastery of individual skills explore new knowledge. Nonetheless, we know we cannot successfully complete the task alone. *Teach school-wide citizenship that emphasizes Learning opportunities will be provided by the and promotes responsibility and good character school, but we ask that your child come to school ready to learn. With our combined commitment *Impart a nurturing environment within our own our students can seize every opportunity to learn. neighborhood community of students, staff, and parents Lastly, we hope to meet each and every one of you personally in the year to come. I *Commit to a focus on results for continuous know that in order to develop a productive review educational partnership, where the child is truly the beneficiary, our united support and *Ensure equal access to high academic standards communication are essential. and opportunities for students Sincerely, *Establish fluid ability grouping that allows students to learn at their instructional readiness levels Lisa Vrvilo *Provide access to the arts, music, technology and Principal physical activities during the school day. COTTONWOOD CREEK ACTION SCHOOL Communicate student absences with team teachers. Enter GUIDING BELIEF all absences on the school record via computer. Keep Cottonwood Creek Elementary focuses on high academic note/s in student folders. Communicate with parent/s & standards while using traditional forms of instruction. principal if excessive absences occur (5+). Specifically, our school believes that excellence in Office: Investigate serious absenteeism issues. Via education is achieved through 1) Systematic direct Connect ED (phone service)----home notification is made. instruction that builds upon the mastery of individual skills, 2) School-wide citizenship that emphasizes and BUILDING HOURS FOR STUDENTS promotes responsibility and good character, and 3) A Students in grades Kindergarten through 5th may be in the nurturing environment provided within our own building from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Students should neighborhood community of students, staff, and parents. not be in the building before or after those hours unless they are being supervised by staff. All supervising staff Our mission is expressed through our name and motto: must remain with students until they have been picked up Cottonwood Creek ACTION School (CC ACTION). This from school. While your children are encouraged to educational mission was discussed, designed, and participate in the activities we offer, it is important that articulated by a committee partnership of staff and parents. students leave the building when the practice or event is The ACTION refers to our focus on: over. Students who have no one supervising them after school may not stay after school. Often, staff will stay Academics after school to work with students on individual projects. When this is the case, the staff will notify you of the time Character your child will be supervised and what time you will need to pick up your child. Tradition & Technology GRADING In Grades represent an accurate evaluation of a student's achievement. Our teachers evaluate student work in Our relation to standards, which apply to all students at each respective grade level. Cottonwood Creek ACTION School is dedicated to giving grades based on impartial, Neighborhood consistent observation of the quality of the student's work and his/her mastery of course content and objectives as Cottonwood Office: 864-2100 demonstrated through classroom participation, class Cottonwood Fax: 864-2180 assignments, homework, and tests. Cottonwood PTO Officers: President: Alisa Parrent Kindergarten –Second grade will use the following grading Vice President: Colleen Seay system: Treasurer: Staci Yecker- Beauvais Secretary: Lisa Townsend 4 – Advanced level of performance 3 – Proficient level of performance 2 – Below proficient, but progressing ATTENDANCE 1 – Needs further intervention (not progressing at expected ABSENCE rate) Alaska State School Law, Section 14.30.045 requires compulsory school attendance for those students under the 3rd -5th grade will use the letter grading system based on age of sixteen (16). Students are expected to attend all percentages. 90 - 100% = A, 80 -89% = B, 70-79% = C, class periods of the school day unless other arrangements 60 -69% =D, and <60%= F have been made through the office. Citizenship and Effort Grades: Course work that was missed due to absences is expected Criteria for determining grades for citizenship may include to be completed. The student has a period of time equal to but are not limited to: the absence to complete the missed assignments. For *Student obeys rules and expectations example, if a student was out of school for two days, *Student respects public and personal property he/she will have two days to make up the work once he/she *Student works without interfering with others has returned to school. *Student is prepared for class In the event of an absence, it is the responsibility of the MOVIE POLICY student to approach his/her teachers for missed work. Following are the procedures for when an absence occurs: At Cottonwood Creek, students, on special occasions, may have the opportunity to attend a movie. This may be a Parent: Send note regarding student’s absence. culminating activity to a literature unit or as an incentive or Student: Give absence note to homeroom teacher. reward. Students may be invited to view G or PG movies Teacher: Collect the absence note from student/s. only. HOMEWORK POLICY Each school day, many children are transported to and Philosophy: Homework is defined as out of class tasks from school. Our prime concern is to have this complex assigned to students as an extension or elaboration of process occur as safely as is humanly possible. classroom work. There are three types of homework: Occasionally our normal schedule is disrupted by weather practice, preparation, and extension. Practice assignments conditions which make it hazardous in parts of the reinforce newly acquired skills. Preparation assignments Borough. help students prepare for activities that will occur in the classroom. Extension assignments are frequently long The following information is designed to help you and term, continuing projects that parallel class work. your family understand the District’s procedures, necessary cancellations, or closing of schools. Please keep it handy for reference when the weather is bad. Your cooperation Time and Frequency: Students are expected to do and support will help the District provide safe and efficient approximately 10 minutes of homework per grade level. transportation for your children. For example, a 1st grader should expect approximately 10 minutes of homework per night, a 5th grader 50 minutes. The following information is provided to answer questions This is for the average student who is on task during class regarding the School District’s school closure, road closure time. This timeline speaks to homework only, not in class and suspension of school bus transportation policies. work that is unfinished. If a student does not have assigned homework for an evening, free choice reading 1. How will the School District notify parents when should occur during the time allotted for homework. schools will be closed for the day or when the buses will not be running due to weather, road conditions, or for some Homework should be expected nightly, Monday through other reason? Friday. Exceptions may be made for special projects or Parents are encouraged to listen for radio announcements based on course requirements (i.e. advanced paced on the radio stations listed below beginning at 5:00 am for classes). school closure announcements and/or announcements that LUNCH school buses will not be running. If there is no Students will be given one-half hour to eat lunch in their announcement, school buses will run regular routes as classrooms. Students will be seated at their desk or table usual. KSKA 91.1 FM, KENI 550 AM, KHAR 590 and will need to clean their area and the floor underneath AM, KYMG 98.9 FM, KYAK 650 AM, (KMBQ 99.7 prior to being dismissed. It is the student's responsibility to FM RECOMMENDED), KFQD 750 AM, KWHL 106.5 clean up her/his own area before being dismissed by the FM, KGOT 101.3 FM teachers. Students will go outside for recess after eating In addition, a Connect Ed message will contact MSBSD lunch.