The Bobcat Way: 100% of our students will graduate and be fully prepared for a post-secondary education. Mt. Wolf Elementary Welcome Letter Dear Parents and Students, It is my pleasure to welcome you and your child to our school. The Mount Wolf Elementary School’s administration, faculty, and staff are looking forward to another exciting year of new experiences and lots of fun! It is during the first years of life that children form attitudes about themselves, others, learning, and the environment. These attitudes last a lifetime, so we work very hard to find ways to help children develop positive attitudes. Educating a child is successful when families and schools work together in the best interests of the child. We welcome your input and assistance in educating your child; after all, you are your child’s first teacher! Valuing education and the opportunities it provides is an important first step. We are hopeful that you will find time to participate in some of our school functions. We are always in need of parents to help with daily activities and special events. Going to school is one of the most important experiences in a child’s life. School can be an exciting place where children meet new and different people and participate in many new and different experiences. We promise to work diligently to provide your child with wonderful experiences that help them to feel good about themselves and their school and eager to learn. We are anxious to work with you and your child during this school year. If I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact my office. Sincerely, Randi Beth Payne Randi Beth Payne, Ed.D. Principal 2 PTO President’s Welcome! Dear Mt. Wolf Parents, On behalf of the PTO Executive Board and Committee Chairpersons, I would like to welcome you to the 2011-2012 school year. The PTO, in partnership with the school, is proud to present you with this handbook. It will be a valuable reference guide for you and your family. Please take time to read its contents. Throughout the year we will be asking for PTO members to volunteer to help us with our many school projects. The PTO stands for Parents (that’s you) and Teacher Organization. Please fill out a membership form and return it to school with your child (Membership dues are $5 per family). PTO members are welcome to join us at our monthly PTO Meetings. Check your school calendar for dates and times. The PTO Board is very enthusiastic about this school year. Many exciting events have been planned. We look forward to having YOU, the parent, be a part of your child’s learning experience at Mt. Wolf Elementary. Sincerely, Wendy Latshaw PTO President 3 PTO Officers President Wendy Latshaw Kira (3rd) & Isabella (K) Vice-President Tammy Barlett Stephen (2nd) & Allison(1st) Treasurer Donna Orvis Angela (3rd) & Anthony (K) Recording Secretary Stacy Kurilla Haylie (1st) & Rylie (1st) PTO Committee Chairpersons Book Fair Annie Gerber Abigail (3rd) & William (2nd) Fundraising Tammy Barlett Stephen (2nd) & Allison(1st) Angie Lucabaugh Savannah (2nd) Holiday Event Heather Knappenberger Parker (3rd) Homeroom Coordinator Jenn Hoopes Mady (2nd) Hospitality/Membership Shannan Adams Ethan (1st) Memory Book Wendy Garman Griffin (2nd) Teacher Representative Teresa Wilson PTO Board Meetings are held in the library on the first Monday of the month (generally). They follow a scheduled agenda and are approximately 1 hour in length; beginning at 6:00 pm. Any person who is a PTO member is welcome to attend. Monthly meeting minutes are available in the office. 4 Descriptions of Mt. Wolf PTO Committees for 2011-2012 Membership: This committee is needed from the beginning of the school year until the end of October. The purpose of this committee is to get the information out to parents to obtain memberships to the PTO. This committee also has to keep records of who has joined. Usually a display is put up and maintained in the school and a classroom competition occurs to see which class has the highest percentage of PTO memberships. Fundraising: This committee needs to distribute sale flyers, collect & check orders and money, set delivery dates and sort and distribute the products. Fundraisers already planned for the 2011-2012 school year include Wolfgang Candy sale (Christmas). Hospitality: This committee is in charge of BINGO night (Jan. 25), Teacher Appreciation (May) and VIP Breakfast (May 24). Yearbook: This committee will be taking pictures and arranging the layout of the yearbook. The yearbook is assembled using an online program with School Annual Publishing Company. In addition to doing the yearbook, this committee also has to distribute the order sheets and track orders. The distribution of the yearbook is at the end of the year. Book Fair: This committee will work with Scholastic Books to organize the set-up of our book fairs in the fall (October) and spring (April). They will also organize volunteers to assist the students on the days of the book fair. Homeroom Coordinator: The Homeroom coordinator is in charge of organizing the Fall Costume Party (October) and Valentine Party (February) by procuring volunteers for each classroom/activity, purchasing necessary items and overseeing the actual events. 5 Mount Wolf PTO Calendar – 2011-2012 School Year AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 15 PTO Mtg., 6 pm 6 PTO Mtg., 6 pm 3 PTO Mtg., 6 pm 18 Kindergarten 12 Open House, 26 Book Fair (during Orientation, 4 pm grades 1-3, 6:30 pm the day) 23 Building Preview, 29 Fall Picture Day 27 Book Fair and Grades k-3, 4-6 pm Costume Party, 6-8 24 First day for students NOVEMBER DECEMBER JANUARY 4 Elementary Report 5 PTO Mtg., 6 pm 9 PTO Mtg., 6 pm Card Distribution 7 PTO Mtg., 6 pm 14 Concert, Grades 24 Elementary 2-3, 6:30 pm Report Card Distribution 17 Picture Retake 25 Family BINGO Day Night 6:30 18 Parent Visitation Day FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL 6 PTO Mtg., 6 pm 5 PTO Mtg., 6 pm 2 PTO Mtg., 6 pm 10 Valentine Parties, 30 Elementary 26 & 27 Book fair 2 pm Report Card (During the day) Distribution 15 Kindergarten (2012-13) Informational Meeting for Parents, 7pm @ CRO MAY JUNE 1 Spring Concert, 4 PTO Mtg., 6 pm Grades K&1, 6:30 pm 7 PTO Mtg., 6 pm 5 Fun Day 6 MAY JUNE 10 Grandparents’ 13 Elementary Day Report Card Distribution 16 “Fun”damentals of Kindergarten, 6:30 pm @ MW 24 VIP Breakfast, 8:00 am 7 Mt. Wolf Elementary School iRules Mt. Wolf Elementary School iLearn Pledge 8 Mt. Wolf Elementary Belief Statements Attendance Every child of compulsory school age and having legal residence in Northeastern School District is required to attend either a public, private or parochial school unless he/she is excused according to regulations covered in the School Code. 9 Absences and Excuses Please remember to call the school office when your child is going to be absent or late for school. Your cooperation in helping us account for every child’s safety is appreciated. If your child is going to be absent for several days, let us know. By doing that, you need not call every day. Remember: calls do not replace a written excuse for absence. It is the parent’s responsibility to send a written excuse for each absence. If an excuse is not received, the absence will be recorded as unexcused. Additionally, a written note from a parent does not indicate that the absence will automatically be excused. For example, “visiting,” “overslept,” and “away from home,” are not considered excused absences. Please use the Excuse Blanks found in the back of your handbook. Each excuse note must contain the following information: the child’s full name, the grade, the teacher’s name, the reason for the absence, the dates of the absence and the parent’s signature. An absence from school, which is not supported by a written note from the parents within one week of the absence, will be marked as unexcused. It is our hope that parents understand and promote the importance of daily school attendance. Naturally, there are times when a student is ill and unable to attend school. Please see the Nurse’s Information to assist you in making that determination. Work Missed During an Absence Students are permitted and are encouraged to make up all work that is missed during their absence. The student must arrange to make up the missed work within three days after returning to school. The length of time that will be given to make up work will be determined by the individual teacher based on the length of absence. Homebound instruction is provided when a lengthy absence is anticipated. Address and Telephone Number Changes Please notify the school if your address, telephone number, or emergency contact numbers have changed. It is very important that our information be kept up to date, especially in the event of an emergency. Homebound Instruction If a student is absent for an extended period of time (longer than 2 weeks), the parent should notify the school principal to secure the proper forms. When a 10 student is absent for a time less than this, the parent should contact the classroom teacher to secure assignments. Excused Absences for Travel The school district recognizes that students may have the opportunity to participate in pre-planned trips and educational experiences with their parent or guardian during the school year. It is recommended that contact with the child’s teacher or principal is made in advance before making final arrangements for an educational trip.