Central Park School

STUDENT/PARENT

HANDBOOK

2007-2008

 

Mission Statement:

At Central Park, we are committed to:

Central Park School Roster
Principal: Jim Sawin jsawin@asd5.org
Secretary: Diana Dunn ddunn@asd5.org
School Phone Number: 538-2170

 Grade                          Name                           email address
Kindergarten                 Mrs. Kienenberger         mkienenberger@asd5.org
1st                                 Ms. Seek                      mseek@asd5.org                     
2nd                                Mrs. Wentworth             mwentworth@asd5.org
3rd                                 Mrs. Chicano                 cchicano@asd5.org
3rd/4th                            Mrs. Potter                    kpotter@asd5.org
4th                                 Mrs. Reed                     mreed@asd5.org
5th                                 Mrs. Teel (.5)                 steel@asd5.org
5th                                 Mrs. Wisdom (.5)           rwisdom@asd5.org
6th                                 Mr. Hendrickson            phendrickson@asd5.org
Resource/LAP               Mrs. Lake                      clake@asd5.org
PE                                Mrs. Moore                   cmoore@asd5.org
TOSA                           Mrs. Teel                       steel@asd5.org
General Music               Mr. George                   tgeorge@asd5.org
Band                            Mrs. Koski                    wkoski@asd5.org
Orchestra                      Ms. Miekle                    kmiekle@asd5.org
Counselor                     Mrs. Beck                     kbeck@asd5.org
Nurse                                                               

Library Technician:
     Mr. Teel, gteel@asd5.org

Para Educators:
     Mrs. Furubotten, sfurubotten@asd5.org
     Mrs. Hendrickson, nhendrickson@asd5.org
     Mrs. Parson, kparson@asd5.org
     Mrs. Sherman, jsherman@asd5.org
 
Custodians:
     Mr. Parson
     Mrs. Dell

Cooks:
     Mrs. Shay
     Mrs. DeNotta

District Superintendent:
     Mr. Marty Kay, 538-2006

School District Office Number:
     538-2000

School Board
     The Aberdeen School District Board of Directors is made up of 5 at large representatives elected from the citizens who reside within the school district boundaries.  A current listing of the Board of Directors can be found on the Internet at www.asd5.org or by calling the Aberdeen School District office at 538-2000.  The board represents the people of the school district.  Board members welcome comments and questions from the public.  The Board of Directors meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month during the school year at 7:00 at the district office at 216 N. G Street in Aberdeen.  A copy of the summer meeting schedule can be obtained from the district office.

A Message from the Principal
Dear Parents,

This booklet has been developed and sent to you in an effort to make sure you know how Central Park School operates. The mission of Central Park School can only accomplished when parents, students and staff work together in a cooperative effort. I believe my role, as principal, is to help facilitate the cooperation of all members of the Central Park community. If you have any questions about any of the information, please contact me at school and I will be happy to personally discuss the information with you. I am always willing to listen to suggestions, please share them with me. Together, we can make school a good place for children to learn and grow.

Thank you,
Jim Sawin
 
Central Park Schedule
2007-2008 School Year

Procedures
Welcome to School!!!
The staff of Central Park School welcomes you to your school. We are dedicated to providing each of our students with the best education possible. If you have any questions or concerns of any kind, we invite you to come to school or give us a call. We hope this handbook will answer many of your questions about how your school operates.  If you have any questions, please ask.

Meal Accounts
Students need to deposit their lunch and milk money before school in the cafeteria or school office. Student lunch cost is $1.75, breakfast is $1.10 and milk is $.35. Parents may purchase an adult lunch ticket and eat with their child.  Please let the office know by 9:00 if you would like to eat with your child. Please be aware that students can not charge lunch or milk.

Temporary Dismissal
Students must bring a note or parents may call the school office if a student has a doctor or dentist appointment. No student will be allowed to leave the school grounds without first checking with the office. Parents need to report to the office to sign your student out. Students will be called to the office to meet their parents when the parent arrives.

Insurance
Our school district offers an optional student insurance plan. We will send home information on this plan soon after school starts. If you do not have insurance on your child, we urge you to review this policy.

Bicycles, Scooters and Skateboards
If parents wish, students may ride bicycles, scooters or skateboards to school. We have bicycle racks for storage.  Students are urged to lock their bikes in the racks that are provided. Students with scooters and skateboards are to keep them in a safe place.  Intermediate grade students may use their lockers for storage.  Primary grade students will need to develop a plan with their teacher for safe storage.  The school is not responsible for lost or stolen bikes, scooters or skateboards.  All students must follow the laws regarding bike, scooter and skateboard riding.  This includes wearing a helmet.  Students need to wait until they have left the school grounds and safely crossed the street with the crossing guard before they begin to ride.  Failure to obey the laws regarding the riding of bikes, scooters or skateboards will result in a loss of privilege to ride them to and from school.  No bicycle, scooter or skateboard riding is allowed on the playground during school hours.

Lost and Found
A lost and found area is provided in our school for unlabeled, unclaimed clothing. During conferences, items are placed on tables for easy identification by parents. Unclaimed items are given to the local clothing bank.  Items that are labeled with the student's name are returned to the student.

Music
Band is offered as an elective to our 5th and 6th grade students during the school year. Orchestra is an elective for our 5th and 6th grade students. Our instrumental music teachers will be sending home more information on this program. Vocal music instruction is provided for all students in grades K - 6.

School Records Update
Please provide our office with your correct contact information. We need to know where you can be reached during the school day in case of emergencies while your child is in school.  Many times we can not reach parents when their child is sick or is in need because of incorrect and out of date contact information.  This is frustrating to a sick child.

Student Arrival Time
Students are not to be dropped off before 8:30 in the morning.  We have no supervision or activities at any place on our site prior to that time.  In the past, students arriving early have caused considerable difficulties for staff.  It has made an unpleasant start of the day for both the students and staff.  Some students have arrived before staff has arrived.  

Picking Up Students After School
If you pick up your student after school, please make arrangements to meet him/her outside. It would help our traffic problem, if students were picked up away from the bus/daycare van areas. Students who are not picked up on time are taken to the office to wait.  If a parent does not arrive before 3:45, Child Protective Services and the Police are notified.  Please make arrangements to pick your child up at 3:20 PM, as we do not have staff available to watch them.

Students Late to School
In the event students are late coming to school, they need to check in with the office. Students will not be admitted to class unless they have been to the office. It is important that each student makes every effort to be on time. Most teachers begin with critical instruction at the start of the school day as soon as the attendance is taken. It is an interruption in the school program when students arrive late to class. Students who are tardy may be required to make up time during recesses on the day that they are tardy. Students will either work on missed assignments or read.  Medical, counseling and court appointments do not count as a tardy, but all other late arrivals do count as a tardy regardless if the parent has excused the child or not.  Students who are late from eating breakfast are considered tardy unless the buses have arrived after 8:50.  Your cooperation in this matter is appreciated.

Birthday Parties/Invitations/Items to be Sold
Invitations to after school or weekend birthday parties are not to be distributed at school.  When some students are not invited this can cause hurt feelings.  Also not all parents can afford or want to have parties for their child.  Please be aware that items to be sold by students at school for non-school fundraisers are not permitted.  In the past many students have lost money or merchandise.

Use of the Telephone
Our school phone is for business and emergencies. Before coming to school, students need to make arrangements about where they are to go after school and what activities they are going to attend. We do not allow student to use the phone to arrange after school activities.  We do allow use of phone in emergencies.   

Student Absences
Please call the school each morning before 10 AM if your child is absent. As time permits, we try to contact parents of students who do not call, but this is not always possible due to the level of activity in the office.  Students who are absent may not participate in any school-sponsored activities on the day of their absence.  On occasions, there are exceptions to this policy, exceptions to this policy must be cleared in advance with the principal.   

Medicines
The parent and physician must complete medication forms if your child is to take medication of any type including over the counter during school hours. All medication (including over the counter) and completed forms must be turned into the office. School staff will supervise the administration of the medication. Copies of the required form may be picked up in the office. Please do not send your child to school with any medication (such as aspirin, cough syrup, etc.)...It may get into the wrong hands.

Communicable Diseases/Parasites
Please notify the school if your child should contract a communicable disease, such as; head lice, fifth's disease, measles or chicken pox. If your child attends school with head lice or nits, he/she will be sent home. A notice is sent home with the student explaining the situation and how the child may return to school. The students in a class with a student with head lice will also be notified so the parents can be looking for signs of head lice on their child. Head lice are a common problem that can be kept in check if the school and parents work together cooperatively.

Treats at School
The health and nutrition of our students is one of our primary concerns.  We have numerous children and adults who suffer from various allergies; some are life threatening.  In addition, our district has adopted a policy to limit the number of non-nutritional snacks offered at school.  Before you bring a treat for your child’s birthday, please check with your child’s classroom teacher to see what is permissible in that particular classroom.  In some cases, teachers have opted to not have birthday treats and have limited the types of treats that may be served at their two parties during the school year.  If a treat is permissible, please remember, all treats to be distributed at school must be commercially made and fruit must be cut and processed in a commercial kitchen.  We can not distribute home baked goods or home cut fruits due to potential problems with Hepatitis and other infectious diseases.

Weapons Policy
It is a violation of district policy and state law for any person to carry a firearm or dangerous weapon on school premises, school-provided transportation or areas of other facilities being used exclusively for school activities.  It is also a violation of district policy for any person to carry or use in a threatening or disruptive manner any device, which resembles or is intended to look like a dangerous weapon.  Any such violations shall be taken seriously by school officials and will be subject to corrective action or punishment.  School officials shall notify the student’s parents or guardians and the appropriate law enforcement agency of known or suspected violations of this policy.  Students who violate this policy shall be subject to discipline, including a one-year expulsion for a violation involving a firearm.  The superintendent may modify the one-year expulsion on a case-by-case basis.

Tobacco Policy
District policy prohibits the use of tobacco by students, staff or visitors on school district property.  Possession or distribution of tobacco products by minors is prohibited.  School district property includes all district buildings, grounds and district-owned vehicles.  Students are subject to discipline for violations of this policy.

Central Park PTO
The Parent/Teacher Organization at Central Park is a busy, dedicated group. You are welcome to be a part of the group and we welcome each of you. This group is directly responsible for our Carnival. They also sponsor our Library, Family Bingo Nights, Assemblies, Field Trips, Playground Equipment, and MORE! If you would like to help or want more information, please contact one of the officers listed below or the school office.

     President – Brenda Finlayson
     Vice President – Shannon Bunnell
     Secretary – Kristi Norberg
     Treasurer – Renee Quinn
     Staff Liaison – Stephanie Teel

Student Government
We elect student body officers twice each year. They participate in our Associated Student Body affairs. These students meet and decide special events for our school.

School Mascot/Colors
Our school mascot is the cougar and our colors are royal blue and gold. We encourage students and staff to wear these colors on special days.

Volunteers
We are always interested in having parents and community members work in our school. Volunteers are needed for both long and short-term projects. We also have things that can be done at home. If you would like to volunteer your time and talents, please contact the school office. School volunteers must complete a Washington State Patrol background check prior to beginning to help at school. Information and the forms are available in the school office. All volunteers must check in at the office and pick up a visitor's button before entering the classroom buildings or a classroom. The visitor's button identifies authorized visitors for our staff and students.

Special Programs
Central Park offers two programs for students who need special assistance learning. One program is resource. This program provides assistance for students with learning disabilities and handicaps. Students who qualify for this program receive assistance through the resource room in qualified subject areas. To qualify for resource, students must be referred for testing and meet state standards determined through individualized testing administered by the school psychologist. The second program offered is the Learning Assistance Program (LAP). LAP offers assistance to students who are not performing up to grade level standards in the areas of reading or math. To qualify for LAP, students must be referred by their classroom teachers and meet a predetermined criteria based on the student's performance in reading or math.

Counseling Services
Counseling services are available to all students.  Our counselor provides a number of classroom lessons and guidance activities.  Students may also see the counselor from time to time in a group or individual setting.  The focus of group or individual meetings is to help a student acquire the skills needed to succeed in a school setting or to help resolve a conflict.  Please remember if a child discloses information that they or someone else is being harmed or harming others there is the duty to report to the proper authorities/agencies.  If requested by the court systems information may be released.  Information gained during counseling sessions may be shared with parents/guardians or other necessary school personnel when deemed appropriate.  Information will not be shared with other students or other families. 

Dress Policy
Students should be dressed appropriately each day for the variety of activities that they may participate in which includes PE and recess.  Appropriate dress includes: shoes, pants (or skirts/dresses for girls), shirts, underwear and a jacket or sweatshirt for outside.  Clothing should be clean and fit properly.  Shirts/tops for boys and girls need to cover their backs, stomach area and shoulders.  Sleeveless shirts may be worn only on days when the temperature is predicted to be over 70 degrees outside.  This warm weather provision does not include halter tops or spaghetti strap shirts.  Pants that are too loose and sag below the student's waist are not permitted.  Care needs to be taken when selecting low rise pants to b e sure the child’s shirt will cover their back when sitting.  Pajamas are not appropriate attire for school for boys or girls.  Clothes need to be without reference to drugs, alcohol, violent or sexual themes.  Neither girls nor boys may wear hats and bandanas in the school building or on the playground without permission of the principal.  Girls should refrain from wearing high heels or have a change of shoes to use during PE.  In addition, girls should be cautious about the length of their skirts on days that they have PE.  Students will be asked to change if their clothing does not match the school dress policy.  We have a limited amount of clothing for students to borrow if their attire is not appropriate for school.  Sometimes what we have does not fit the child.  In those cases, the parent will need to bring a change of appropriate clothes before the student may return to school activities.  Parents will be contacted if their student's dress interferes or disrupts the overall learning atmosphere at school.

General Information
1. If a student has been ill and parents are requesting that he/she not be allowed outside for recess or noon playtime, PLEASE send a dated note to your student's teacher each day. In general terms, if a child is too ill to participate in all school activities, including recess and PE, they are too ill to come to school.
2. Students eating breakfast are not to arrive at school before 8:30 in the morning. Arriving early usually leads to problems. There is no supervision available for them before 8:30. All students are to report to the designated area prior to the start of school. Teachers will meet their students in the designated area at the start of school. Students are not allowed to wander the campus prior to the start of the instructional day.
3. Students who walk home after school are asked to leave as soon as school is dismissed. Our school has a large group of bus students waiting for buses and we request that walkers not stay to play.
4. An adult crossing guard assist the students crossing at School Road. Students should the cross streets where there are crosswalks so injuries can be avoided.
5. Parents are encouraged to visit school whenever they can.  If you want to visit your child’s classroom, please call the principal a day in advance to arrange the visit.  All visitors must check in at the office and pick up a visitor's button before entering the halls or a classroom. All visitors must wear a visitor's button. This identifies authorized visitors for our staff and students.
6. Parents visiting the school must enter through the main entrance. The other street entrances will remain locked during the school day. This will help monitor adult visitors to insure student and staff safety.
7. If you have something to deliver to your child, please bring it to the office and we will see that he/she gets it.
8. Parents or any other persons are NOT to wait for their children in the halls outside classrooms before class ends. Please meet your child outside the school or go to their room at the end of the school day. This helps to maintain a quiet and undisturbed learning atmosphere through the end of the school day. We do not permit children in grades K, 1 and 2 to wait for their parents outside the school building unsupervised as there could be an accident or mishap.

Student Discipline Guidelines and Procedures
District Wide Discipline Procedure
All students will be expected to obey all rules at school. When a student breaks a rule, he/she can expect to be disciplined. Depending on the rule that has been broken and the circumstances surrounding the problem, one or more of the following will occur:
1. An individual conference with teacher or para-educator is the first step. Punishment may be a verbal warning, loss of school privileges (i.e. recess, lunch playtime), after school detention, suspension or expulsion. The principal will be involved in all cases requiring suspension or expulsion and most cases involving detention.
2. In case of detention after school, the parent will be notified 24 hours in advance.
            3. The student may be referred to the principal (this option can be exercised by teachers or para-educators). The adults will then work together to determine the best plan.
            4. General guidelines: The Aberdeen School District believes that schools and families work together for the good of the students.  Early involvement of parents when discipline issues arise is essential to a student's successful school career. When students know that home and school expect the same behaviors and believe the student capable of good behavior, the more likely the student is to make good choices.  The principal’s role in supporting the student is also essential.
            5. If a student receives a written conduct violation from a staff member, the child will meet with the principal.  The principal will write a brief report outlining the violation and the steps the school has taken or is taking to correct the behavior.  Parents will receive a copy of the report and it will need to be signed and returned to school.  If the violation is serious enough to warrant a suspension either in school or out of school, the parents will be contacted immediately.    
            6. Always, if any parents have concerns or questions, they are encouraged to contact the principal or classroom teacher.

Building, Playground and Game Rules
At Central Park School, we have 4 (four) simple building and playground-wide rules.  We expect these rules to be followed by every member of our school community, including students, staff, and any visitors to our building.  These rules are learned and practiced in each classroom, and are posted in each room and classroom in the building.  They are in place in classrooms, on the playground, in the hallways, lunchroom, and bathrooms.

We pledge the following:

Some definitions:
Respect for SELF means: 
I do my best and make good choices, play and work safely, and take good care of myself.
Respect for OTHERS means:
I treat others as I wish to be treated, with kindness and compassion. It means I accept differences in others and value those differences.
Respect for PROPERTY means:
I take care of our school and our materials.  It means I clean up after myself, and help others take care of our home, school and community.

On the playground we expect that everyone does the following:

We also have some specific game rules made to help keep everyone safe and having fun!
These will be taught to all students by Mrs. Moore, our P.E. teacher, the first two days of school.

Mrs. Beck will go to each classroom to review the Recess Rodeo game rules, check for questions and then have each student sign a Recess Contract which is a pledge that they understand and will follow all rules.
If you would like a copy of the specific game rules, please let the office know.  We can email them to you or send home a paper copy.    

An Important Reminder
In life, natural consequences face us each day, in every decision we make. School is a safe place where children learn which decisions are the most productive: those which produce positive natural consequences.  Thus, even playground and social situations are vast learning grounds for making good decisions.  Therefore, logical ‘natural consequences’ are used when less positive decisions are made.  This could include being “out”, receiving a short time-out, a conference with a supervisor, the counselor, teacher, or sometimes the principal.  All of these consequences have the same positive goal: to help each child learn to make good decisions.

In the rare event when a child participates in bullying, intimidation and harassment not corrected by discussion or the above measures; parents will be involved and district discipline procedures will be used.  These instances are very rare; the policies and procedures pertaining to this are covered in the District Policy and Procedure manual which is sent home each year. 

Expectations
     1. Rock throwing, assaultive behavior, harassment of any kind, use of bad language, bothering others' belongings without permission, disorderly conduct, damaging school property, disobedience, or defiance have no place at school and will result in disciplinary action.
     2. Students may not bring any personal play items to school (this includes balls, electronic devises and make-up or finger nail polish). The school will issue playground equipment for use on the playground.
     3. Please deposit lunch money into your account before school starts.
     4. Students may not be on the playground prior to 8:30; there is no adult supervision.
     5. We will provide equipment to use at recess.  Please do not bring toys or equipment from home to use at recess (including skates, bikes, skateboards and electronic devises).  In the past, personal items brought to school have been lost, stolen or broken.  The school takes no responsibility for unauthorized items brought to school.    

Student Cafeteria Expectations
In order for lunchtime to be pleasant for everyone, I will show respect for myself, others and property by:

 
Bus Students
While waiting for the bus I will show respect for myself, others and property by:
      1.   Lining up in the covered area as soon as school is dismissed. 
      2.   Keeping my hands and feet to myself. 
      3.   Being polite to others. 
      4.   Not fighting.

Aberdeen School District Parent Involvement

The board believes that the education of children is a joint responsi­bil­ity, one it shares with the parents and the community. To insure that the best interests of the child are served in this process, a strong program of communication and/or collaboration between home and school must be maintained. The board believes that it is the parents who have the ultimate responsibility for their children's in‑school academic achievement and behavioral conduct. During school hours, the board, through its designated staff, shall strive to serve the interests of parents in providing for the safety, health and welfare of their children.

The board directs the superintendent to develop activities that will enhance home‑school cooperation. Such activities may include, but not be limited to:

A.    Conducting parent‑teacher conferences which facilitates two‑way communication between home and school;
B.    Holding open houses which provide parents with the opportunity to see the school facilities, meet the staff and review the program on a first hand basis;
C.    Disseminating building and room newsletters to parents on a regular basis;
D.    Conducting meetings of parents and staff members to explain and discuss matters of general interest with regard to child‑school, child‑home, or child‑school‑home relationships;
E.    Conducting meetings of staff member(s) and individual or groups of parents of those students who have special abilities/aptitudes, disabilities, needs or problems;
F.    Sponsoring or co‑sponsoring special events of a cultural, ethnic or topical nature, which are initiated by parent groups, involve the cooperative effort of students and parents, and are of general interest to the schools or community;
G.    Collaborating with parents, students and staff in school improvement planning, development and implementation; and
H.    Providing interested parents of preschool children with information and/or training on successful parenting practices.

For the benefit of children, the board believes that parents have a responsibility to encourage their child's performance in school by:

A.    Supporting the schools in requiring that the children observe all school rules and regulations, and by accepting their own responsi­bility for children's willful in‑school behavior;
B.    Sending children to school with proper attention to their health, personal cleanliness and dress;
C.    Maintaining an active interest in the students' daily work and making it possible for the student to complete assigned homework through pro­viding a quiet place and suitable conditions for study;
D.    Reading all communications from the school, and signing and returning them promptly when required;
E.    Cooperating with the school in attending conferences set up for the exchange of information on the child's progress in school; and
F.    Participating in in‑school activities and special functions.

Central Park Parent Involvement Policy

Annual Learning Assistance Program (LAP) Parent Meeting

During a PTO meeting in the fall, the LAP plan will be presented.  Changes in the plan from the previous year will be highlighted.

Yearly Parent Meetings and Activities

We strive to involve families in a variety of meaningful meetings and activities.  These meetings include but are not limited to:
Open House
PTO Meetings
Family Activity Nights
School Concerts and Performances
Assemblies

School Performance Profiles
Each year a school performance profile made available to parents.  Also available is a more comprehensive profile using information gather by the School Improvement Team.  The data collected and reported by the School Improvement Team includes information regarding student achievement and behavior.

Assessment results are shared and explained during parent-teacher conferences.  Letters are also sent home inviting parents to arrange conferences with the principal for further explanation and planning regarding assessment results.

Testing, curriculum and student standards are reviewed during Open House, PTO meetings and specially called meetings.

Student-Parent-School Compact
During the fall of each school year students, parents and school staff will be asked to sign the student-parent-school compact.  The compact explains the responsibilities of each party in regards to student achievement. 

As a school, we will:
…know your child’s needs and try to meet them.
…communicate regularly with families.
…provide a safe and positive learning environment for your child.
…provide meaningful learning activities both in and out of school.
…assist your child in the selection of reading materials.

As a parent/guardian, I will:
…attend one evening school function and all regularly scheduled student-parent-teacher conferences.
…help my child read at least 15 minutes at the minimum of four nights a week.
…visit the library on a monthly basis with my child or provide a source of new reading material for my child.
…send my child to school on time and make sure he/she is well rested.
…talk to my child about school and assist with all homework.

As a student at Central Park School, I will:
…respect myself, my school and all others.
…read at least 15 minutes a day or more.
…complete and turn in all my schoolwork on time.
…go to bed at a reasonable hour and eat a healthy breakfast and lunch.
…come to school on time and ready to learn.

We agree that students will have the greatest opportunity to succeed in school when we work together to accomplish these things.

(student signature)                                                (parent/guardian signature)                 (teacher signature)                                (date)