Gervais Elementary School Student Handbook 2017-2018 School Year 503-792-3803 Ext. 1030 Dear Parents and Students, This handbook has been prepared to provide you with some basic information about our schools, staff, and programs. We hope that you will spend time going through it with your child. If you want additional information, please do not hesitate to call the school. We believe that the most effective education occurs when the school, parents and student are working together. Clear communication between the school and home is actively encouraged. Please feel welcome to visit the school or arrange for a conference with your child’s teacher. There are also opportunities for parents to participate in various school activities or serve as volunteers in the classroom. Our school office staff will be happy to assist in finding you an opportunity to serve. For more information call the Gervais Elementary school office. We are looking forward to a full and challenging year, and hope that you will join with us to make this the most productive yet for your child. Gervais School District #1 Mission Statement We, with the involvement of our culturally rich and dynamic community, will provide an educationally creative, enriching and safe learning environment, that will instill a desire to become life-long learners, ready to enter the 21th century workforce and to be a responsible citizen. Vision Statement Gervais Elementary School is committed to providing our community a safe and nurturing learning environment that focuses on academic achievement and fosters a spirit of respect and perseverance. Essential Skills for All Students The Gervais School District, in recognition of its educational responsibilities, has developed curriculum goals and benchmarks for guiding the learning program. These goals have been developed through involvement of staff, parents, community members and state educational agencies. These goals will be reviewed periodically and, when appropriate, modified. The learner will demonstrate in a responsible and respectful manner the ability to: 1. Reason and apply knowledge critically, creatively and reflectively in making decisions and solving problems. 2. Communicate through reading, writing, speaking and listening to a variety of audiences. 3. Apply Math and Science concepts to systems within our world. 4. Apply healthy behaviors that maintain personal wellness. 5. Be a self-directed learner. 6. Deliberate on public issues as a politically and culturally literate citizen. 7. Recognize the dignity, rights and worth of all individuals. 8. Use appropriate technology to enhance product or process. 9. Be a contributing team member to attain group goals. 10. Interpret human experience through literature, visual and performing arts. NONDISCRIMINATION NOTICE Gervais school District does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, sex or age in providing or access to benefits of education services, activities and programs in accordance with Title Vl, Title Vll, Title lX and Other civil rights or discrimination issues; Section 504 of the rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and the American with Disabilities Act. The following has been designated to coordinate compliance with these legal requirements and may be contacted at the Gervais School District Office for additional information and/or compliance issues: Title ll Coordinator, Title lx Coordinator and Section 504 Coordinator: Director of Special Programs 290 First Street Gervais, OR 97026 503-792-3803 Gervais School District has established the following policy for accepting checks and collecting bad checks For a check to be an acceptable form of payment it must include your current, full and accurate name, address and telephone number. When paying by check you authorize the recovery of unpaid checks and recovery of the state allowed fee ($30.00) by means of electronic re-presentment. For assistance please contact Paytek at 866-399-4101 Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse All district employees are required to notify the Oregon Department of Human Services who has reasonable cause or reasonable suspicion to believe that any child has suffered about of neglect as defined by state law. Gervais School District K-5 Program School-Wide Expectations Be Respectful . Use kind words and kind actions. Use appropriate voice level. Ask permission. Listen and follow directions. Be Responsible . Be where you are supposed to be. Be ready. Take care of personal belongings. Take care of school property. Contribute to the group. Turn in completed assignments on time. Be accountable for choices and accept consequences. Listen and follow directions. Be Safe . Walk when entering and leaving the building. Walk in the building. Maintain personal space. Keep hands and feet to self. On the bus, sit seat-to-seat and back-to-back. Do not stand up. If a parent is picking you up from school, wait by the office. Wait until busses leave before walking into the parking lot. Work and play safely GENERAL POLICIES Entrance to First Grade or Kindergarten The child must be five years of age to be admitted to kindergarten or six years of age to be admitted to first grade on or before September 1st. The following information is required: a. Child’s birth certificate or hospital record should be furnished to verify age at time of registration. b. Child’s immunization record. The state requires a record of all immunizations. A doctor or public health official must sign this information. The new law (HB 2139) requires exclusion if immunizations are not up to date. 3 School Attendance: Absence from School: Oregon State Law requires student attendance at school. The state recognizes the following for excused absences; • Medical, Dental and Counseling Appointments, student illness, religious holidays, family emergencies that require student presences or a death in family. • Parent’s knowledge or approval of student’s absence does not excuse the absence except as provided under ORS 339.065, see above. • Illness – parents are responsible for contacting the school office. • For an excused absence, students are required to return with a parental note. • Absences, family trips, may be excused in advance by school officials. • Student’s homes will be contacted when a pattern of irregular attendance is identified and a meeting will be scheduled with the school and the family. • Irregular attendance is considered to be 4 unexcused absences in any four week period. The School Day: The regular school day at Gervais Elementary is scheduled from: • 8:00 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. for grades K-5. Breakfast starts at 7:25 a.m. • On Early Release Wednesdays, students are released at 1:05 p.m. Students not riding the school bus should not arrive to school before 7:25 a.m. or remain at school after 2:20 p.m. unless the student is enrolled in an after-school program. When calling to change your child’s release routine please be sure to call prior to 1:15 p.m. Bus students are excused at 2:20 pm and leaving on the bus by 2:30 p.m. Students getting picked up or walking are excused at 2:20 p.m. Wellness Policy Procedures for Other School Based Activities Classroom rewards, room parties, celebrations, etc. Schools will be encouraged not to use food or beverages as rewards for academic performance or good behavior, especially candy or other foods of non-nutritional value. Foods offered should meet Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Schools and classrooms will be encouraged to limit celebrations that involve food during the school day to one party per class per month. Such parties should be scheduled sometime after the student’s lunch period. Foods brought from an outside source must be in the original packaging or be prepared in a County Health Department approved facility. 4 Fundraising/School Sponsored Events Any school sponsored on campus fundraisers involving food or drink sales will meet District Wellness Guidelines. Specifically, half of the items offered must meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (see Policy EFA-AR) In keeping with the district’s nutrition program goals, all classroom reward, incentives, celebrations and parties, involving food items are reviewed for approval to ensure that the foods served meet the requirements of the district’s nutrition policy and regulation (i.e., all foods served fit in a healthy diet as recommended in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and contribute to the development of lifelong healthy eating habits for the district’s students). Foods brought from an outside source must be in the original packaging or be prepared in a County Health Department approved facility. Report Cards There will be four grading periods this year. Notices will be sent home in the school newsletter telling parents when to expect Progress Report Cards and teachers will meet with parents in October; however any parent is invited to arrange a conference with a teacher at anytime throughout the year, by appointment. An appointment is necessary because of teachers’ meetings or other prior commitments. Food Service Program The breakfast program will begin at 7:25 a.m. There will be no charge for students eating breakfast or lunch. Parents, grandparents and other significant adults are encouraged to join us for lunch. Adult lunch is $3.50. Arrangements must be made in advance to enter the cafeteria and eat with the children. Students are sent home with a lunch menu every month. It is also available on the district web site. Parental Involvement / School Volunteers Parents are encouraged to visit/volunteer school and classes. Arrangements must be made with the teacher. Please check in at the office upon entering the building. Volunteer forms need to be filled out and approved before visiting/volunteering at least 3 weeks prior. Citizens who voluntarily contribute their time and talents to the improvement and enrichment of public schools’ instructional programs are valuable assets.