Sharon Elementary School 2021-2022 Student-Parent Handbook STUDENT HANDBOOK 2021 - 2022 1 (802)763-7425 - FAX (802)763-2056 STUDENT HANDBOOK 2021 - 2022 2 (802)763-7425 - FAX (802)763-2056 Table of Content Letter From the Principal 5 Sharon Elementary School Staff 2021 - 2022 7 Sharon Elementary School - School Vision 9 Mission Statement 9 Core Beliefs 9 Learner Goals 10 Sharon Elementary School: General Information & Guidelines 11 After School Arrangements 11 After School Activities and Athletics 11 Age Requirement and Residency Requirement/Tuition for admission 12 Attendance - Absences/Tardies 12 Bus Transportation 12 Library Information - The Downer Memorial Library 14 Lost and Found 14 Music, Art, & School Concerts 14 Parent-Teacher Conferences 14 Report Cards 15 School Board 15 School Arrival, Dismissal & Calendar 15 School Closings and Early Dismissal 16 Student Contact Information 16 Student Records 17 Food Service Program 17 Free/Reduced Priced Lunch Policy 17 Breakfast Program 17 Field Trips 18 Nutrition 18 Local Purchasing Efforts 18 Healthy Food Choices 18 Counseling Services 19 Health Services 19 Health Screening 20 Immunizations 20 Medications 21 Organizations 23 Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) 23 Sharon Recreation Program 23 The Sprouty 23 Policies & Practices Affecting Students 23 STUDENT HANDBOOK 2021 - 2022 3 (802)763-7425 - FAX (802)763-2056 Alcohol, Drugs, and Tobacco 23 Appropriate Dress 24 Behavior Crisis Response Team 24 Harassment/Bullying 25 Items Not Allowed or Limited at School 26 Response to Rule Violation 26 Reporting to Parents 28 Policies 28 List of policies enforced at Sharon Elementary School: 28 Selected Sharon School Board Policies 30 Sharon Elementary Students planted 3 butternut trees, as well as some elderberry bushes and hazelnut shrubs on June 17, 2021. The planting of new trees on the school grounds stems from 350VT Rewild Vermont campaign that urges and helps people to plant trees in their communities. STUDENT HANDBOOK 2021 - 2022 4 (802)763-7425 - FAX (802)763-2056 Letter From the Principal Parents and Community Members, It is with great pleasure that I welcome everyone to our 2021-2022 school year. The staff and I are looking forward to providing a dynamic and joyful learning experience for all of our students. We aim to educate our students through various learning experiences that include classroom-based instruction and experiential learning beyond the classroom. With a heavy focus on the whole child, we work our hardest to meet the needs of each student with an understanding that every child is unique and valued. With that in mind, we strive to keep the connection between school and home vibrant and open. Our community is an integral part of our student’s learning experience, and we are thankful for all the support that we receive year in and year out. Speaking of community support, we lost a valuable member of our support system this summer. John Sears passed away from a logging accident. John volunteered his time for over 30 years at Sharon Elementary. He was a driving force behind many initiatives at school. He was instrumental in developing our cross country ski program, spending Friday afternoons each winter helping to guide students through the forest and helping them develop skills that will last a lifetime. In honor of John, we have started the John Sears scholarship program to help children access outdoor education and other opportunities. More information about this scholarship program will be coming soon. John will be dearly missed. I want to extend a warm welcome to our new families. Sharon Elementary prides itself on being a place of care. Please reach out if you have any questions in regards to your child’s educational program. A big thank you goes out to David Whitaker for all his hard work this summer getting our building ready for the upcoming school year. We have been short-staffed in the custodial department, and it’s put a little added pressure on Dave, but he’s taken it in stride, and our building will no doubt be ready to go. Our first day of school this year is September 2nd. You can find a copy of our school calendar on our website, www.sharonelementary.org. Please take a moment to look over the calendar and mark your calendars with dates that school is not in session and half days. Also, be sure to mark your calendars with our vacation dates. Finally, if you have any questions regarding this year’s calendar, please reach out. Our school day will begin at 8:00 am. Students may arrive at school no earlier than 7:30 am. Our breakfast program will run from 7:30 am until 8:00 am in the cafeteria. Students who do not wish to have breakfast, but arrive prior to 8:00 am, will be directed to our early morning recess until the start of our day. STUDENT HANDBOOK 2021 - 2022 5 (802)763-7425 - FAX (802)763-2056 At this point, we are still receiving guidance from the State concerning COVID procedures. The SU is working with the State to determine if folks need to be masked in school this year. As soon as we hear what the determination is, we will get that information to you. We learned many things last year as we navigated this pandemic. While we will not have morning health checks as we did last year, we will continue to have students dropped off in front of the school, similar to last year. Unlike last year, all students will enter through the main entrance of the building and either head to their classroom or early morning recess/breakfast. At the end of the day, students will be released similar to last year. Students who ride the bus will be released first and then students who are being picked up by parents. Parents will pick their child up in front of the school. Preschool will have a different procedure for drop-off and pick-up. If you are a Preschool parent, your child’s teacher will be in touch about drop-off and pick-up procedures. One Planet will once again be offering after-school programming. If you wish for your child to attend One Planet, be on the lookout for information about programming and how to sign up. We are happy to announce that once again, school breakfast and lunch will be offered for free to all students. We still ask that folks fill out the Free and Reduced lunch forms no matter what your income status is. By filling out this form we have the potential to receive funding back from the state that will help with our school budget. Your child’s teacher will be reaching out to you soon if they have not already done so. As stated before, communication between home and school is vital to your child’s educational success. Be sure to arrange a reliable communication process with your child’s teacher. Many classes use services such as ClassTag and Class Dojo to communicate with parents. Teachers can assist parents with setting up accounts. In closing, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions. I look forward to having a fantastic school year and can’t wait to see your wonderful children walk through our doors. Everyone at Sharon Elementary is grateful to have the opportunity to guide your child down their educational path. Sincerely, Keenan Haley Principal Sharon Elementary School STUDENT HANDBOOK 2021 - 2022 6 (802)763-7425 - FAX (802)763-2056 Sharon Elementary School Staff 2021 - 2022 Email individual staff members by using the following format: firstinitial+[email protected] (example: Carol Rousseau is [email protected]) Name Position Blaise Laing Preschool Teacher & Director Liz Spriggs Preschool Teacher Matt Moore Preschool Assistant & Childcare Faith Radicioni Preschool Assistant & Childcare Anna Rose Preschool Childcare Sue Rogers Preschool Childcare Rachel Piper Kindergarten Teacher Debra Walton-Strong Grade 1 Teacher Hayley Zoerheide Grade 2 Teacher Alex Brands Grade 3 Teacher Emma Murray Grade 4 Teacher Dulce O’Hare Grade 5 Teacher Andrew Evans Grade 6 Teacher Meg Hopkins Librarian Christine Meagher World Languages TBD Music Teacher Stephanie Jarrait One Planet Site Coord. Toni Phillip Special Education Paul Sadowski Compensatory Support Tanya Libby Art Teacher Casey Grimes Physical Education STUDENT HANDBOOK 2021 - 2022 7 (802)763-7425 - FAX (802)763-2056 Name Position Jill Lloyd Nurse Maura-Lynne Strance School Counselor Laura Lewis Interventionist Keenan Haley Principal Carol Rousseau Administrative Assistant Deb Boles Instructional Assistant Robbin Conway Instructional Assistant Sheila Clark Ferris Instructional Assistant Erin Crowley Instructional Assistant Linda Kent Instructional Assistant Linda Moore Instructional Assistant Carol Rogers Instructional Assistant Dyana Fletcher Instructional Assistant Linann Perry Food Service Manager David Whitaker Head Custodian Doug Cummings Night Custodian STUDENT HANDBOOK 2021 - 2022 8 (802)763-7425 - FAX (802)763-2056 Sharon Elementary School - School Vision Mission Statement Content of “Sharon Community Educational Commitment” grew out of a Community Forum held on February 4, 1995. Ideas from school staff and students were blended with community contributions. The resulting Mission Statement was approved by the voters at the 1996 School District Annual Meeting. This, then, is “The Sharon Educational Commitment”: The commitment of the Sharon community is to provide a caring and safe environment for our young people. We will promote quality education that emphasizes high academic standards, sound personal development and positive social growth – thus laying the foundation for lifelong learning and a personally fulfilling and productive life. This statement sets forth lofty ideals for the education and nurturing of our children. It is truly a “community” statement, thereby indicating that many have a role to play. Everyone who has contact with a growing child has an impact on, and a responsibility to that child.