Vicenza Elementary School “Home of the Cougar Cubs” Student and Family Handbook School Year 2017-18 Department of Defense Education Activity Europe South District INTRODUCTION This handbook has been prepared as a source of information concerning school rules, regulations, policies, and procedures. If you have questions that are not covered in this handbook, please feel free to call the school for more information. Vicenza American Elementary School is one of 181 schools world-wide that make up the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) headquarters in Virginia. DoDEA is among the largest school districts in the United States. We provide a quality education for the eligible minor dependents of Department of Defense military and civilian personnel on overseas assignments, who are in kindergarten through grade twelve. The DoDEA Director is Mr. Thomas M. Brady The address is: Department of Defense Education Activity Office of Dependents Education 4800 Mark Center Drive Alexandria, VA 22350-1400 Commercial 001-(571) 372-0590 DoDEA Web Site Address: www.dodea.edu The Deputy Director, Europe, located in Sembach Germany, is Dr. Dell McMullan The address is: DoDDS Europe Office of the Director Unit 29649 APO, AE 09136 The telephone numbers are: Local: 0611-143-545-1503 From U.S.: 011 (49) 611-143-545-1503 DSN: (314) 545-1503 DoDDS-E Web Site Address: http://www.dodea.edu/Europe/index.cfm The Europe South District Superintendent, located in Vicenza, is Mr. Kent Worford The address is: Office of the Superintendent Europe South District Unit 31401 Box 11 APO AE 09630 The telephone number is: DSN 637-8504 Commercial: 0444-61-8504 Email Address: [email protected] 2 The Vicenza Elementary Administrator is Ms. Allison Peltz, Principal The Address is: Office of the Principal Vicenza Elementary School Unit 31401 Box 11 APO AE 09630 Her telephone number is: DSN 637-8646 Commercial 0444-61-8646 Email address is: [email protected] The Vicenza Elementary Administrator is Mr. Jonathan Daniels, Assistant Principal The Address is: Office of the Assistant Principal Vicenza Elementary School Unit 31401 Box 11 APO AE 09630 Her telephone number is: DSN 637-8646 Commercial 0444-61-8646 Email address is: Parents are encouraged to handle concerns directly with teachers first, and then with administrators if the problem is not resolved. However, if a matter cannot be resolved at the local level, parents have the right to access the above Chain of Command in order from bottom to top. We strive to resolve issues at the lowest level possible. 3 Welcome To Vicenza Elementary School 4 Table of Contents Academic Support Programs 42 All Star Student 32 Anti-Bullying Policy 28 Attendance 17 Birthdays 35 Cellular Phone Policy 35 Chain of Command 50 Change of Registration Information 19 Child Find 43 Child Supervision Policy 15 Closing of School and Emergency Evacuations 19 Community Relations, Communication 48 Community Strategic Plan 12 Continuous School Improvement (CSI ) 12 Counseling Services 39 Daily Schedule 15 DoDEA Mission Statement 11 Dress and Grooming 32 Early Dismissal 17 Enrollment 44 Entrance Requirements and Registration 15 Expected Student Behavior 27 Fire Drills 19 Gang Awareness and Prevention 30 Gifted Education Program 41 Going Home 15 Guidelines for Supervising Student Activities 33 Health 38 Homework 36 Host nation, Intercultural Program 40 Information Center 34 Italian Partial Immersion Classes 41 Kindergarten 44 Late Arrival 18 Letter from the Superintendent of the Mediterranean District 8 Letter from Vicenza Elementary School (VES) Administration 10 Lost and Found 48 Lunch and Recess Schedule 17 Messages, Use of Telephones 34 Newsletter 17 No Smoking Policy 39 Other Guidelines 18 Other Health Information 38 Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) 49 Pledge of Allegiance and Salute to the American Flag 20 Portfolio Conference 50 5 Progress Reports and Conferences 35 School Advisory Committee (SAC) 49 School Bus - Table of Consequences 23 School Bus Transportation 22 School Colors 11 School Improvement Goals 11 School Lunch Program 16 School Mascot 11 School Open House 49 School Phone Numbers 14 School Values 11 Special Education 42 Special Programs 39 Student Conduct and Discipline 25 Student Photographs 20 Student Placement 37 Study Trips 33 Sure Start Program 44 Suspension 28 SY 2016-17 Calendar 9 Terra Nova Standardized Testing 20 Textbooks 20 Transfer and School Clearance 19 Vision Statement for Vicenza Elementary School 11 Visitors to School and Classrooms 18 Volunteers 20 Weapons, Replicas, and Prohibited Items 29 Wednesday Folders 49 Appendix 51 USAG_Italy_Policy_Letter_15 52 USAG Italy Policy Letter#24 56 6 This handbook is not intended to create a contractual relationship with the student; rather, it is intended to describe the school, its current practices, procedures, rules, and regulations (code of conduct). The administration and faculty have established the rules contained in this handbook and may establish future rules and codes of conduct not included in this edition, that are consistent with those established by DoDEA. 7 Table of Contents 8 Table of Contents 9 Dear Parents, Welcome to Vicenza Elementary School, home of the Cougar Cubs! We are a school community that cares about our children and understands the sacrifices that our military families make. Our faculty and staff have shared values and a commitment to academic excellence. We believe strongly that children learn best when they have the opportunity to engage in authentic learning that will give them the tools to succeed in a constantly changing world. This year, in addition to continuing with our College and Career Readiness Standards for Math, we will be implementing the DoDEA College Career Readiness Standards for Science in grades Pre-Kindergarten through Five. What this means is that we will focus on giving our students the knowledge, habits and skills in science that will give them the foundation to be competitive as they compete for college and career opportunities. I’d like to invite our families to play an active role in their children’s education. We have a very active PTSA and School Advisory Committee. In addition, you are always welcome to volunteer in our classrooms. I am very proud of our school. It has a large student population but, a small school feel. Come join us as we work together to help your children succeed. Allison L. Peltz Principal, Vicenza Elementary Table of Contents 10 DoDEA Mission Statement Educate, Engage and Empower each student to succeed in a dynamic world. Vision Statement for Vicenza Elementary School VES=Values, Excellence, and Success. Building a strong foundation for life-long learning. School Improvement Goals • Goal 1: All students will increase reading comprehension. • Goal 2: All students will demonstrate improvement in the area of number sense. School Values Vicenza Elementary School values are Respect, Responsibility, and Compassion School Mascot Our school mascot is the cougar cub. School Colors Our school colors are black and gold. Table of Contents 11 CONTINUOUS SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT (CSI) Vicenza Elementary School, along with all other schools in DoDDS, is involved in a process in which our school is continuously examining our educational practices. All DoDDS schools undergo an accreditation process every five years. In April, 2015, VES was fully accredited by AdvancEd. The school had an exceptional review and we are extremely pleased with the results. Student achievement and success is the focus for this type of accreditation. Following the establishment of a vision statement at each school, target areas in which improvement is desired are identified in the initial phase of the evaluation process. Continual review and adjustment occurs and as goals are met, new target areas are identified. Over the years to come, constant change should be observed and improvements made in the achievement and success of all students of Vicenza Elementary School. This entire process coincides with the National Goals for Education, as well as the goals which are being established through the DoDEA Community Strategic Plan. The National Association of Education of Young Children (NAEYC) accredits DoDEA Sure Start programs. COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLAN (CSP) DoDEA is proud to present the Community Strategic Plan (CSP) for School Years 2013/14 – 2017/18. The CSP demonstrates DoDEA’s commitment to continuously improve in its efforts to educate and prepare military-connected students to excel in today’s increasingly competitive, global 21st Century environment. The CSP is provided in two volumes. Volume II establishes DoDEA’s immediate strategic direction, focusing the DoDEA community on our school system’s most essential strategic imperatives: 1) establishing an educational system that progressively builds the college and career readiness of all DoDEA students; and 2) establishing the organizational capacity to operate more effectively and efficiently as a model, unified school system. • Director’s Message • Strategic Priorities • Performance Measures Volume I establishes the foundation for the organization’s strategic plan. It provides the strategic plan’s enduring, foundational elements that define the desired levels of organizational reform. The foundational elements include DoDEA’s mission and vision statements, core values, and strategic goals. • Director’s Message • Vision and Mission Statement Table of Contents 12 • Core values • Strategic goals Together, the volumes provide the framework for putting the desired standard-driven reform in place in DoDEA. For more information go to: http://www.dodea.edu/CSP/ Table of Contents 13 SCHOOL PHONE NUMBERS Ms. Allison Peltz Principal 0444-61-8642 Mr. Jonathan Daniels Assistant Principal 0444-61-8659 Ms. Alisa Pehrson Administrative Office 0444-61-8640 Ms. Manuela DeMuri Registrar 0444-61-8645 Ms. Deanna Doughton School Secretary 0444-61-8643 Ms. Sonia Di-Crescenzo Personnel Secretary 0444-61-8644 Ms. Gisella Ferrari Office Automation 0444-61-8646 Ms. Diana Vidrini School Psychologist 0444-61-8650 Ms. Vacant Counselor 0444-61-8655 Ms. Chaun Burrus Counselor 0444-61-8648 Ms.