Whittier English Parent Handbook 16-17 (1)

Whittier Elementary 2016-2017 School Year Calendar August 24 First Day of School - *Early Release K-12 September 5 Labor Day - No School K-12 September 21 Open House 5:30pm-6:30pm Octo

Whittier Elementary School

Home of the

Vikings

Parent/ Student Handbook

2016-2017

Viking Values

Respect Responsibility Ready Safe

Principal: Dr Fernanda M Brendefur Assistant Principal: Erika Velasco

Whittier Elementary School

301 N 29th Street Boise, Idaho 83702 PHONE ~ (208) 854-6630 FAX ~ (208) 854-6631

Whittier Elementary School

301 North 29 th Street  Boise, ID 83702  Phone: (208) 854-6630  Fax: (208) 854-6631

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome back to a new and exciting school year We are excited to begin working with your students and providing them with the best educational experiences possible

This handbook contains important information about school expectations, schedules, policies, and available services Please take time to review the entire handbook with your child

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding anything in our handbook

Go Vikings!

Sincerely,

Dr Fernanda M Brendefur

Principal

Erika Velasco

Assistant Principal

Whittier Elementary Daily Schedule

First Bell:9:10 Tardy Bell:9:15 Kindergarten 9:15-12:00 1:00-3:45

A M Recess

10:00-10:15 Kinder 10:15-10:30 1st & 2nd

10:30-10:45 3rd

10:45-11:00 4th & 5/6 combo class

11:00-11:15 6th

Lunch Schedule

1 st -11:55-12:40

2 nd -12:10-12:55

3 rd -12:15-1:00

4 th -12:30-1:15

5 th & 6 th -12:45-1:30

P.M Recess

2:00-2:15 1st & 5/6 combo class

2:15-2:30 4th & 5th

2:30-2:45 Kinder & 2nd

2:45-3:00 3rd & 6th

Dismissal for All Students

3:45

Whittier Elementary 2016-2017 School Year Calendar

August 24 First Day of School - *Early Release K-12

September 5 Labor Day - No School K-12

September 21 Open House (5:30pm-6:30pm)

October 6 - 7 State In-service Days - No School K-12

October 28 End of First Quarter – No School K-6

November 2 No Kindergarten classes - Parent Conferences

November 3 No K-6 Elementary classes - Parent Conferences

- Evening conferences will be held Wednesday, Nov 2 and Thursday, Nov 3

November 4 No School K-12

Nov 21 - 25 Thanksgiving Holiday Break - No School K-12

December 21 *Early Release K-12

Dec 22 – Jan 3 Winter Holiday Break - No School K-12

January 4 School Resumes

January 16 Martin Luther King Jr Day - No School K-12

January 20 End of First Semester - *Early Release K-6

February 17 No School K-12

February 20 Presidents' Day - No School K-12

March 9 Kindergarten Registration 3:30 - 5:30 p.m

March 24 End of Third Quarter - *Early Release K-6

March 27 - 31 Spring Break - No School K-12

May 29 Memorial Day - No School K-12

June 2 Last Day of School - *Early Release K-12

*Please remember that we are a late start school All early release times will be at 1:45 p.m

Home of the Vikings

Whittier Elementary School Field Trip

Permission Form

has permission to attend field trips during the 2015-2016 school year These trips will be learning experiences that will supplement their classroom

learning.

Parent Signature

Teacher’s Name

Please sign and return to your child's teacher.

Whittier Elementary Attendance Policy

Attendance is important!

Why?

 Kids who come to school every day get better grades

 The school district gets funding based on how many students are in school

 We like your kids and we want to see them everyday!

What happens when kids come to school?

 Your child will get a better report card

 He or she will have more time with friends

 Your child will be better able to keep up and be ready for the next grade

What happens when kids don’t come to school?

♦The elementary schools in the Boise District are currently participating in a new attendance policy modeled after the secondary schools The policy was set by the Board of Trustees in June 1997 and states that “all students are required to be in attendance at least ninety (90) percent of the time school is

in session during each semester The Board may deny a promotion to the next grade to any student

who is not in school at least ninety (90) percent of the days that school is in session.” This means that

students who miss more than nine (9) days in a semester or eighteen (18) days during the school year may be denied a promotion to the next grade level As part of this policy, you and your child

will be notified when total absences reach five (5), eight (8), and ten (10) days during the semester (Extraordinary absences may be taken into consideration by the building principal in administering the policy.) As a part of this policy, if a child exceeds 10 days in a semester, he/she will be withdrawn from school pending a parent conference and the case may be referred to Attendance Court, which is a function of Ada County Juvenile Court System

_I will help my child be at school every day and on time.

Parent/Guardian signature

_I will be at school every day and on time.

Student signature

Please sign and return to your child’s teacher Thanks!

Positive Behavior Intervention Supports The following matrix outlines our expected behaviors in each area of the school setting The

matrix is based on our overall Viking Values of Ready, Respectful, Responsible, Safe.

SETTINGS & ROUTINES Arrival/

All students are

outside before

school, unless

they have a pass

Electronics are

put away and off

Hang coats and

backpacks on

hooks

Exit school when

dismissed

Enter and exit orderly Eyes and ears

on the speaker Show me a V for Viking Electronics are put away and off

Line up in an orderly manner

Be ready to order Face forward in line

Electronics are put away and off

Be on time Keep toys home Come in quietly and be seated Permission needed to use electronics Have supplies ready

Be ready to learn

Need a pass to

be in the hallway

Electronics are put away and off

Bring appropriate clothing

Electronics are put away and off Keep toys at home

Have a bathroom pass Electronics are put away and off

Stand in bus line

or waiting area

Enter and exit

buses orderly

Hats only worn

outside

Sit on your bottom Clap and laugh when

appropriate

Use an inside voice Listen and respond

politely

Respect differences

Use quiet voices

in the hallway Treat other as you want to be treated

Pick up and put away the

equipment you use Include others Hats only worn outside

Treat others the way you want to be treated

Be on time to

school

Keep your

belongings with

you

Be a positive

examples for

others

Be a positive example for others

Clean up your space

Stay in your seat Raise your hand

to be excused (1 st

and 2 nd ) Put your lunch bag in the classroom container, before going to recess

Do your best work!

Keep your work area clean

Walk to the right Line-up quietly

when the bell rings.

Teacher will be on time to pick up students

Be involved in an activity

Be a good sport

Return to class quietly and promptly

Keep your hands,

feet and body to

yourself

On the bell, go

to your

designated area

Keep your hands, feet and body to yourself Follow directions the first time given

Keep your hands, feet and body to yourself

Hold tray with all possible digits Use both hands when carrying your tray Walk safely to the playground

Keep your hands, feet and body to yourself Walk in the classroom

Face forward and walk quietly in line

Keep your hands, feet and body to yourself

Keep your hands, feet and body to yourself

On Double

Whistle

Stop-Look-Listen

Go-Wash-Leave Keep your hands, feet and body to yourself

Positive Behavior Intervention Supports-Continued

Our PBIS matrix is taught to every student in each classroom during the first week of school

This year we will be continue working on creating a system where rewards and consequences will be

defined The following consequences are subject to change once that process has been completed

If rules are not followed, and the offense is minor, a student may receive any or all of the following:

Warning

Time Out

Natural Consequences

Detention for 30 minutes

Conference with School Personnel

Notice to Parent

More serious offenses include fighting, defiance of school staff, bringing a weapon to school, bullying,

harassment, criminal acts or any other act for which the student could be charged by law in school or

out of school Consequences may be:

Parent Conference at School

Conference with Resource Officer

In school or out of school suspension

Expulsion

BUS CONDUCT

In order to ensure safety for your child while riding the bus we ask for your help in reminding your

student(s) to follow all the rules of the bus In the event that rules are not followed consequences will

be given The following consequences will be given to students who are given a bus conduct report

from a bus driver:

*In case of physical aggression a student will be suspended from bus even if it is the first offense.

1st Offense: Verbal warning from Principal or Assistant Principal & Call home to parents, Copy of

Conduct Report sent home

2nd Offense: Loss of morning, lunch and afternoon recess, Call home, Copy of Conduct Report sent

home

3rd Offense: Call home, Bus Suspension - 3 days, Copy of Conduct Report sent home

4th Offense: Call home, Bus Suspension - 5 days, Copy of Conduct Report sent home

5th Offense: Call home, Bus Suspension for the remainder of the year

We appreciate you taking time with your child to discuss respectful and responsible behavior on the bus

Student Attire

We depend on your good judgment to help your child in selecting appropriate clothing for school Some examples of inappropriate clothing include: short shorts – shorts should be fingertip length or longer, low riding pants, tank tops/narrow shoulder straps, midriff tops, see-through shirts, clothing with unacceptable messages, and clothing with advertisements for alcohol, drugs or tobacco Hats or any type of head covering may be worn

OUTSIDE the building Students who arrive at school with inappropriate clothing will be asked to make

arrangements to get more suitable clothing.

TOYS AT SCHOOL

Please reinforce with your students that we do not allow toys at school, this includes recess If staff sees a toy the first time, it will be taken by the teacher and kept until the end of the day Repeat offences can be turned into the office and returned to parents or students at the administration’s discretion

CELL PHONES/ OTHER ELECTRONICS AT SCHOOL

Electronics are only to be used at the teacher’s discretion in the classroom for educational purposes

At all other times during the day electronics need to be out of sight, this includes in the hallway and at recess Students are allowed to have cell phones only to place emergency phone calls on the way to and from school.Cell phones must be turned off and kept in student backpacks Students who violate this policy will have their devises confiscated until it is picked up by a parent.The school is not responsible for lost or stolen devises

WEAPONS AT SCHOOL

Students may be suspended or expelled for bringing a weapon – real or toy - to school, even if the student is young and he or she did not intend to use the weapon to hurt anyone Please discuss the importance of this with your child

HEALTH REQUESTS

At Whittier, one of our primary goals is to ensure the physical and emotional safety of your child, inclusive of health related issues After consulting with other schools in the Treasure Valley and our District Office, we have implemented a new policy regarding parent requests to keep students in at recess If you request that a student stay in for recess, we will honor your request for up to 3

consecutive days If the request extends beyond this time period, a note from a medical provider will

be requested and required in order for the student to continue staying indoors Please note the

following:

1 The student might be required to stay with staff other than his/her teacher

2 This requirement does not apply to students who have chronic conditions such as asthma

3 The health office staff might communicate with you about the request

EMERGENY/SAFETY PROCEDURES

The safety of students, staff, and visitors is a top priority Students and staff regularly practice Fire, Hall Check, and Lockdown Drills You can help us in the following ways:

*Sign in and obtain a Visitor’s Badge every time you volunteer during school hours

*Make sure we have up-to-date emergency contact information Notify us immediately of address, telephone, employer, child care, or medical providers changes

*Don’t call the school during an emergency as this disrupts communication with emergency personnel Local media will keep parents and the public informed

If needed, we will escort students to an alternate assembly site, depending on the situation:

*Whitewater Park Apartments (365 N Whitewater Park Blvd Boise, Id 83702)

EXTRA-CURRICULUAR ACTIVITIES

Students are encouraged to participate in after school sports and other activities offered at Whittier Students who participate in evening events or who come to watch sporting events must be

accompanied by their parents or be under the supervision of another adult Please do not send your children to evening or after school sporting events unsupervised This is for your child’s safety

MEETING WITH TEACHERS

If you want to meet with your children’s teachers, please don’t just drop in while volunteering or dropping off/picking up your children Please do make an appointment so teachers can plan their day accordingly Please sign-in at the office and allow our office staff to call the classroom to make sure teachers are available to meet with you Teachers rely on the time before and after school and their prep periods to post concept and language boards, prepare materials, review curriculum, tutor students, etc Your understanding will ensure that students benefit as much as possible from the learning time available

PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION (PTO)

All parents are encouraged to join and attend meetings of Whittier’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Sign up to be on their email list or look for PTO announcements in Whittier’s monthly

newsletter or Facebook page If you can’t attend PTO meetings we’d still love to have you as a parent volunteer

TITLE I PROGRAM

Whittier perates a schoolwide Title I program to benefit all of our students Title I funding pays for Title I Tutor salaries, additional instructional materials, equipment, and professional development Title I staff work closely with classroom teachers and other programs to help all children be successful

in reading and math Title I Tutors may assist teachers with large group instruction, they might work with small groups of students, or one-on-one with a child Students also benefit from professional development, which teachers receive, and instructional materials purchased with Title I funds

_I will help my child understand the importance of following all school rules

I will tell my child what a weapon is and that no weapons, toy or real, should ever be taken to school Parent/Guardian signature

_I will follow school rules

Student signature _

Please sign and return to your child’s teacher Thanks!