Board Approved – April 2016 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. WELCOME • Elementary School Mission Statement ...................................................... 4 • W.C.C.S. Mission & Core Values ............................................................. 4 • Lifelong Guidelines ................................................................................... 4 • Life Skills .............................................................................................. 4-5 II. PARENT/STUDENT GENERAL INFORMATION • School Day and Office Hours ................................................................... 5 • School Delays and Closings ...................................................................... 5 • Change of Address .................................................................................... 5 • Guidance .................................................................................................... 6 • Telephone Usage ....................................................................................... 6 • Textbooks and Fees ...................................................................................... 6 • Elementary Food Nutrition Services ......................................................... 6 • WCCS Meal Charge Procedures ........................................................... 6-7 • Recess ........................................................................................................ 7 • Visitors ...................................................................................................... 7 • Social Invitations ....................................................................................... 7 • Lost and Found .......................................................................................... 7 • Adult Volunteers ................................................................................... 7-8 III. ATTENDANCE • Attendance ................................................................................................. 8 • Reporting Student Absences ..................................................................... 8 • Tardiness ................................................................................................... 8 • Truancy ...................................................................................................... 8 • Withdrawal from School ........................................................................... 9 • Transferring Within WCCS ....................................................................... 9 IV. SCHOOL WIDE PROCEDURES • Arrival / Departure Procedures .................................................................. 9 • Dismissal Procedures .............................................................................. 10 • Hallway Procedures ................................................................................. 10 • Cafeteria Procedures................................................................................ 10 • Accidents ................................................................................................. 10 • Insurance ................................................................................................. 10 • Clinic / Medication Procedures ............................................................... 10 V. TRANSPORTATION • Drop-Off and Pick-Up ............................................................................. 11 • School Bus Rules .................................................................................... 11 • Bus Disciplinary Referrals ...................................................................... 11 • Requests to Ride Different Buses ............................................................ 11 • Visitor Parking ........................................................................................ 11 2 VI. EMERGENCY INSTRUCTION/DRILLS • Fire .......................................................................................................... 12 • Tornado ................................................................................................... 12 • Lockdown ................................................................................................ 12 VII. STUDENT PERFORMANCE • Grade Cards, Grading Scale and Mid-term Reports ................................ 12 • Honor Roll ............................................................................................... 12 • Study Tips for Students ..................................................................... 12-13 • Homework ............................................................................................... 13 • Make-up Work ........................................................................................ 13 • Response to Instruction Process .............................................................. 13 • Promotion, Placement and Retentions ..................................................... 14 • Release of Records .................................................................................. 14 VIII. STUDENT CONDUCT • Behavior .................................................................................................. 14 • Responsible Use of Technology ........................................................ 14-15 • School, Playground and Cafeteria Behavior ........................................... 18 • Personal Grooming and Dress ................................................................. 18 • Harassment/Bullying ............................................................................... 19 • Guest Teacher Guidelines ....................................................................... 20 IX. ADDITIONAL POLICIES • Indoor Air Quality ................................................................................... 20 • Pest Control and Use of Pesticide ..................................................... 20-21 • Non-Discrimination Policy...................................................................... 21 FERPA .............................................................................................................................. 22 3 WHITLEY COUNTY CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS ELEMENTARY HANDBOOK WELCOME Welcome to Whitley County Consolidated Elementary Schools. We hope and expect that our schools will be a source of pride for everyone. Please become familiar with the contents of this handbook. It is designed to help explain the services and policies at our elementary schools. Your child’s elementary years will be a time for growth, exploration, and learning. A key to success will be practicing the Lifelong Guidelines and Life Skills as listed below. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT Whitley County Consolidated Elementary Schools will prepare its community of learners for the challenges and opportunities of today and tomorrow. WCCS is a safe, dynamic educational environment empowering students to become educated, productive, responsible citizens. The Core Values of Whitley County Consolidated Schools are: Safe and secure school environment. Highest student achievement. Professionalism, compassion, dedication, flexibility, and accountability. Continuous growth through intentional practices. Strong relationships and partnerships. Dynamic, rigorous curriculum and diversity of opportunities. Financial plan aligned to the Core Values that supports the goals of the corporation. Lifelong Guidelines Be Truthful Be Trustworthy Be an Active Listener Do Not Use Put Downs Do Your Personal Best Life Skills Integrity: To act according to a sense of what’s right and wrong. Initiative: To do something of one’s own free will, because it needs to be done. Flexibility: To be willing to alter plans when necessary. Perseverance: To keep at a task. Organization: To plan, arrange, and implement in an orderly way. To keep things 4 orderly and ready to use. Sense of Humor: To laugh and be playful without harming others. Effort: To do one’s best. Common Sense: To use good judgment. Problem Solving: To create solutions in difficult situations and everyday problems. Responsibility: To respond when appropriate, to be accountable for your actions. Patience: To wait calmly for someone or something. Friendship: To make and keep a friend through mutual trust and caring. Curiosity: A desire to investigate and seek understanding of our world. Cooperation: To work together toward a common goal or purpose. Caring: To feel and show concern for others. Courage: To act according to one’s beliefs. Pride: To achieve satisfaction from doing one’s personal best. Resourcefulness: To respond to challenges and opportunities in innovative and creative ways. PARENT/STUDENT GENERAL INFORMATION SCHOOL DAY AND OFFICE HOURS Coesse Elementary 7:35 A.M. – 2:20 P.M. Little Turtle Elementary 7:50 A.M. – 2:35 P.M. Mary Raber Elementary 7:45 A.M. – 2:30 P.M. Northern Heights Elementary 7:45 A.M. – 2:30 P.M. All Elementary office hours are 7:00 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. SCHOOL DELAY INFORMATION Weather delays may be either two (2) or three (3) hours in length. Based upon weather conditions a weather delay may progress from two (2) hours to (3) hours in length. Weather delays may be upgraded to a school closing. An automated phone message will be used to notify households with updated phone numbers on file. The following radio and TV stations will also broadcast the delays: WOWO 1190 FM; WBTU 93.3 FM; WBCL 90.3 FM; WAJI 95.1 FM; WMEE 97.3 FM; WLZQ 101.1 FM; and WQHK 105 FM; WJHS 95.1; TV Channels 15, 21, 33, and 55. Families / students may sign