MMoosshhaannnnoonn VVaalllleeyy EElleemmeennttaarryy SScchhooooll SSttuuddeenntt HHaannddbbooookk 22001122--22001133 “To provide each student the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills, and values to become life-long learners.” Moshannon Valley Elementary School 5026 Green Acre Road Houtzdale, PA 16651 PHONE: (814) 378-7683 School Board Approved August 20, 2012 MOSHANNON VALLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 5026 Green Acre Road Houtzdale, PA 16651 Parents: The Moshannon Valley Elementary Student Handbook may be accessed from the Moshannon Valley website @ www. movalley.org. (click Elementary, Student Handbook) Inside this Student Handbook you will find useful information that you and your child will need during the 2012-2013 school year. You will find information on the School Calendar, the Free and Reduced Lunch Program, Attendance Regulations, Dress Code, Discipline Rules for the School and the Bus and other information on the day to day procedures of the school. Please read and bookmark this handbook for future reference. Please return this completed page to your child’s teacher as soon as possible. If you have any questions please call 814-378-7683. Thank you. I have accessed the Moshannon Valley Elementary School Handbook & the Locker/Desk Search Policy. ____________________________________ __________ Parent/Guardian Signature Date ____________________________________ ______________ Student Signature Grade Please make every effort to access the Student Handbook online. However, if you do not have internet access please request a copy of the Student Handbook by written notice. Please include your child’s name and teacher. Thank you. Connie Chihon-Godin Elementary Principal (814) 378-7683 (814) 378-5988 FAX School Board Approved August 20, 2012 Page 1 SCHOOL CALENDAR August 27 & 28, 2012…………..…………………..Teacher In-Service Days August 29, 2012………………………… ………………….First Student Day September 3, 2012………………………………………………..…Labor Day October 8, 2012………………….…………………....Teacher In-Service Day November 12, 2012……………………….……………………….. Act 80 Day November 22-23, 2012……………….………………..…Thanksgiving Break November 26-27, 2012………..………………………………..…Deer Season December 24, 2012-January 2, 2013………………………..Winter Vacation January 21, 2013…………………………………………….……..Act 80 Day February 14-15, 2013………………………………Winter Break February 18, 2013…………………………………Teacher In-Service Day March 28-April 2, 2013………………………..……….Spring Vacation May 27, 2013………………………………………..Memorial Day June 6, 2013…………………………….………..Teacher In-Service Day June 7, 2013…………………………………….Last Student Day Days missed due to inclement weather will be made up in the following order: February 14, April, 2 March 28, April 1, and June as needed. EARLY DISMISSALS: 1 hour early the last day of school prior to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter Holidays June 7 – 1:15 EMERGENCY CLOSING: PARENTS SHOULD ESTABLISH WITH THEIR CHILD(REN) THE PROCEDURE TO BE FOLLOWED IN THE EVENT OF AN EARLY DISMISSAL. BE CERTAIN CHILDREN KNOW WHERE THEY ARE TO GO IF THIS SITUATION SHOULD ARISE! BACK TO SCHOOL/PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCE NIGHTS September 12, 2012..……………...Open House…………………..……. 6:00 to 8:00 PM November 15, 2012 ………..Parent/Teacher Conference ...................... 3:35 to 5:35 PM March 27, 2013……...…..….Parent/Teacher Conference ...................... 3:35 to 5:35 PM School Board Approved August 20, 2012 Page 2 Daily Schedule 8:55 to 9:00 Homeroom and Opening Exercises 9:00 to 9:03 Class Change 9:03 to 9:46 1st Period 9:46 to 9:49 Class Change 9:49 to 10:32 2nd Period 10:32 to 10:35 Class Change 10:35 to 11:18 3rd Period 11:18 to 11:21 Class Change 11:21 to 12:04 4th Period 12:04 to 12:07 Class Change 12:07 to 12:50 5th Period 12:50 to 12:53 Class Change 12:53 to 1:36 6th Period 1:36 to 1:39 Class Change 1:39 to 2:22 7th Period 2:22 to 2:25 Class Change 2:25 to 3:08 8th Period 3:08 to 3:11 Class Change 3:11 to 3:30 Homeroom 3:30 Dismissal 11:18 to 11:48 Gr. K, 1 Lunch 11:58 to 12:28 Gr. 2, 3,4 Lunch 12:38 to 1:08 Gr. 5, 6 Lunch School Board Approved August 20, 2012 Page 3 ATTENDANCE There is a strong relationship between regular school attendance and academic success. Students who develop regular attendance patterns early in their school experience continue these successful practices as they progress through their public schooling. Compulsory attendance is required by the Pennsylvania Public School Code. The Moshannon Valley School Board has adopted an attendance policy (Board Policy #204) in accordance with the School Code and Department of Education Regulations. The Moshannon Valley School Board offered the following guidelines for elementary attendance: A. Excuses are classified as ―Excused‖, ―Unlawful‖, or Unexcused‖ according to the reason for absence. The School Laws list the following reasons as excused absences: 1. Illness, 2. Quarantine, 3. Recovery from accident, 4. Required court attendance, 5. Death in family, 6. Family educational trips, 7. Educational tours and trips. All other absences are listed as unlawful including those for which no written excuse is presented within three days. B. Once a pupil has accumulated 10 absences, doctor’s excuses will be required for each additional absence. At that point, any additional absence without a doctor’s excuse will be considered ―unlawful‖ or ―unexcused‖. C. On the first day of return to school following an absence, students will be given an excuse, which should be returned the next day. The excuse should indicate the reason for absence and dates of absence. Failure to provide a written excuse within 3 days of the absence will lead the school to assume that the absence was unexcused (illegal) and will be recorded as such in the student’s attendance record. D. Procedures for three or more unexcused (illegal) absences will be in accordance with the Pennsylvania School Code (regulations provided upon request). The principal will cooperate with the District Court to enforce any violations of the Compulsory Attendance Law. E. Attendance/Extracurricular – No student is permitted to practice or participate in an activity unless they have been present all day. Only bonafide doctor’s excuses or other urgent circumstances will be considered by the principal in waiving this policy. Special circumstances must be approved by the principal. F. A student is marked one half day absent if they arrive at school after 12:00 p.m. or are excused from school before 12:00 p.m. Arrivals and Early Dismissals Parents/guardians are required to sign-in students who arrive to school late. If you find it necessary to bring your child to school, rather than ride the bus, be reminded that students are not to arrive at the elementary school prior to 8:30 a.m.. Homeroom and Opening Exercises commence at 8:50 a.m.. Therefore, students should arrive between 8:30 – 8:50 a.m. If the student is planning to have breakfast at school they should arrive no later than 8:40 a.m.. Students may leave with a parent/guardian prior to the dismissal time (3:30 p.m.). Parents/guardians are required to meet the student in the office and sign the early dismissal register. When you are planning to pick your child up at school please send a note providing the time and reason for the early dismissal. A note is required to be sent to the office for those students who will be transported by private transportation. If this will occur EVERYDAY one NOTE may be sent for the entire school year. Otherwise, the NOTE should be sent on the morning of the scheduled dismissal, no phone calls please. Approved Educational Trips (Not School Sponsored) The Superintendent of the Moshannon Valley School District has authorized the Principal of each building to determine if tours or trips are of sufficient educational value to warrant an excused absence. The Principal will use the following criteria in making this decision. Exceptions to these criteria will require the Superintendent’s attention. A. The parent/guardian shall submit to the building a written request (Educational Trip Form) including all necessary dates, destinations, etc., that may be required. B. The student shall meet the following guidelines: School Board Approved August 20, 2012 Page 4 1. Have a good attendance record 2. Have satisfactory grades 3. Have a satisfactory citizenship record 4. Speak with his/her teachers to have a general idea of the work that will be covered during the absence C. The student must be under the supervision of an adult personage acceptable to the Principal and to the parents/guardians of the student concerned. D. School days missed shall be recorded as excused absences. The above guidelines are excerpted from the Moshannon Valley School District Administrative Regulations. Complete copies are available upon request. Family Education Trips Guidelines In accordance with School Board policy, family trips for educational purposes will be considered within the context of school purpose and school law. Parents who plan to take their children on an educational trip when school is in session may request an absence for the student(s). Such requests are dependent on these conditions: 1. No more than 5 school days or less or 10 days within 2 years will be approved, on a case by case basis, for any student. 2. It is recommended that family educational field trips not be scheduled during the first 5 or last 5 days of school. 3. An educational trip will not be granted for the same student if the student experienced the same trip during a previous school year. 4. The purpose, itinerary, and relationship to our educational purpose must be clearly explained as justification for the trip (to be noted on the request form). 5. Requests for educational field trips shall be made 5 school days prior to the student’s planned absence using the proper form available in the school principal’s office.