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This story was printed from Underwood Community Schools. Site URL: http://www.underwoodeagles.org. |
by Jeff Privia
November 15, 2004
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Underwood Community School District Mission Statement..
III. Personal and Emotional Development.
STUDENT DEPARTURE/PICKUP POLICY
MAINTENANCE OF STUDENT RECORDS
Report of child abuse by school personel 10
PARENT REQUEST FOR ROOM PLACEMENT 11
UNDERWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SUPPLY LIST 18
“The mission of the Underwood Community School District, as an extension of the community, is to nurture and guide our students by providing individual, comprehensive, stimulating, and diverse learning experiences for the challenges and decisions of tomorrow.”
(rewritten for elementary students 9/17/04)
The purpose of Underwood Community Schools, together with the community, is to offer many different learning experiences. We will care for and guide our students to help them make positive choices for their future
The Underwood Elementary School will provide a suitable atmosphere to meet the individual needs of all children. Opportunities will be provided to motivate each student toward the development of his/her ability to the greatest degree possible.
A solid background in all the curricular areas will be provided to all children to prepare them for future schooling, and to ultimately be a productive participant in economic and social life. A good communication line between parents, home, students, community, teachers, and administration will be encouraged and maintained.
Elementary School 566-2326
Fax # 566-2963
Middle School-Supt.Office 566-2332
Fax # 566-2070
High School 566-2703
Fax # 566-2712
A strong curriculum will be present to students to be able to:
1. Develop and expand their ability to read, listen, and comprehend.
2. Strive to expand written, reading, and oral vocabulary.
3. Strive for continual improvement in learning basic math facts and concepts and their application to real-life situations.
4. Provide each student with a background of science and social studies so they can function in this society with an understanding of the world around them.
5. Provide opportunities to develop awareness and an appreciation of the Fine Arts.
6. Grow in their ability to think rationally and creatively, both individually and in a group.
7. Develop to his or her full potential.
8. Aid the students in keeping abreast with our ever-changing society and its technology.
9. Help students realize that learning never ends.
We will:
1. Provide opportunities for physical development through physical activities and health education.
2. Provide testing of hearing, sight, and speech for all students.
3. Provide the opportunity for a balanced lunch.
4. Encourage students to practice health and safety rules.
We will provide and encourage all students to take advantage of the opportunity to:
1. Develop and maintain good mental health.
2. Establish his/her own personal goals.
3. Develop good work/study habits within groups and individually.
4. Respect the right to express ideas and feelings.
5. Utilize professional services beyond those provided within the classroom.
6. Develop and encourage expression in fine arts.
We will provide and encourage all students to take advantage of the opportunity to:
1. Develop respect for the rights of others and their property.
2. Accept responsibility as individuals, as members of a group, and as members of the community.
3. Develop courteous and respectful attitudes for others in work and play.
4. Present themselves and expect to be heard.
Education is a constant process. When attending school programs, you have the opportunity to help us as we teach your children about the proper conduct in a group setting. There are some points of etiquette, which we need you to reinforce. These will help ensure that the performers as well as audience members will be able to perform or enjoy the program without being distracted. Young children should be seated with their parents and not running back and forth across the floor, especially in front of the performing area. If it is absolutely necessary to leave your seat, please do so between songs during applause.
Audience members should be supportive of the efforts of the performers and limit conversational talk to a whisper level, again only between songs. Audience members show their support by being attentive listeners and applauding at appropriate times. Hooting, yelling, or shouting is never appropriate at a school program.
Underwood Elementary School’s academic program includes the underlying concept that each child is unique. Care and accommodation for the individual, in addition to constant progress through a disciplined and structured approach, are major concepts in our educational program. We work with parents to develop a good self-concept in children and an independent, responsible attitude toward school. Emphasis is placed on the development of basic math, reading, oral, and written language skills.
Each year the Underwood Community School district evaluates curricular areas, and new materials may be ordered for the following year. This is done to replace worn-out materials and to keep our materials and approach current. This annual textbook review often includes the purchase of a PK-5 textbook series. The following list shows the schedule of curricular areas to be reviewed and the year the review is to be conducted.2003-04-Standards and Benchmark Alignment
2004-2005—Fine Arts, Phys Ed., Health
2005-2006—Language Arts/Reading
2006-2007—Foreign Language, Guidance
2007-2008—Science
2008-2009—Vocational Areas A nominal textbook fee is assessed at August registration to help with the escalating costs of student textbooks and workbooks. Students may be assessed for any lost or damaged textbooks/workbooks.
Elementary classes begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 3:17 p.m. Children should not arrive at school prior to 8:10 a.m. nor linger on the playground after school is dismissed. Children who are a part of the Latch-Key Program are exempt from the regular arrival/departure rules. IF A CHILD IS TO GET OFF THE BUS AT A POINT OTHER THAN HIS/HER HOME, A WRITTEN NOTE OF PERMISSION IS REQUIRED.
It is best if a parent will call the school to let us know if your child will not be in school. If for some reason you do not contact the school, Mrs. Moore, the school nurse, will try to contact you. When a child is absent, we are thankful when a written excuse from the parent is sent when the child returns to school. Children are expected to be in school by 8:30 a.m. If children arrive after 8:30 a.m., parents are expected to sign their children in, in the office. PLEASE DO NOT DROP CHILDREN OFF AT THE CURB. Children will be counted tardy if they arrive at school after 8:30 a.m. but before 10:00 a.m. Arrivals after 10:00 a.m. will be counted one-half day absent. Children who leave school earlier than 2:15 p.m. on a school day will be counted absent for at least one-half day. Children who leave after 2:15 p.m. will be counted as attending a full day. The person picking them up must sign out all children who leave early, regardless of the time. If school is held, children will be expected to be in school and will be counted absent or tardy according to the above procedures. We feel it is important for children to be in school and actively involved in the educational process. A student’s academic growth is hindered when there is excessive absence or tardiness. The students’ opportunity to experience skill development is directly proportional to the amount of time they are in school. Absences that exceed 8 days per quarter seriously hinder a child’s academic growth. (Bd. Policy 501.1) It is for this reason that a teacher may consider a student unprepared to move onto the next grade due to excessive absences from school. We encourage parents to take the responsibility for student attendance at school seriously. A conference with the principal and classroom teacher will be requested when/if an excessive absence or tardiness situation occurs. This policy is intended to encourage good attendance and will not come into effect with hospitalization, documented doctor’s orders, or other emergency situations.
In the event school classes must be delayed or cancelled for the day because of weather (when heat and humidity are over 90 degrees there is a good chance of an early out), or other emergencies, official announcements will be made over the following radio or TV stations:
KMA 960 AM KFAB 1110 AM KNOD 105.3 FM
WOWTV Ch 6 KMTV Ch 3 KETV Ch 7
Please do not call the school. The time given for dismissal on the radio will be for the high school. The elementary time will be 13 minutes earlier. When school is cancelled for bad weather, all evening events will be postponed. In the event of a school event being postponed, it is usually rescheduled for the next available date.
The principal will conduct 4 fire and 2 tornado drills each school year. We usually conduct a fire drill each quarter and a tornado drill each semester. Classroom teachers are responsible for explaining evacuation drill procedures to their class each school year. Teachers will review and practice exiting drill techniques and safe area locations with their class quarterly. Tornado and fire drill evacuation signs are posted by all room and building exits.
Any student that leaves school during an unscheduled time will be required to go to the office and remain there until he/she is given permission to go or is picked up. This procedure will be in effect for those students sent to the office due to illness, appointments, etc. Children who are ill must see the nurse or another school official to determine if a call will be made to parents.
The decision will be made at this time if the child stays in school or goes home. This will require the person picking the child up to come into the office and sign the child out. When children arrive at school late or leave early for any reason, we would like parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, baby-sitter or the responsible adult to sign them in/or out. This policy is to assure the safety of the children of Underwood.
Anyone picking up a child early from school must do so before the buses arrive at school. Since buses line up by 3:15 p.m. each day, parents who want to take their children prior to bus departure should do this between 3:00 p.m. and 3:10 p.m. each day. If you miss this deadline, you will have to wait to pick up your child until after the buses depart around 3:25 p.m. All students riding home with parents or walking will stay within the building until buses have left. We are instituting this procedure because dismissal time can be very hectic, and we hope this plan adds increased safety measures, lessening the chances of a serious accident. We thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Student progress is measurable, but in the final outcome, grading is subjective (especially the effort grading) and thus relies on the discretion of the teacher. PK is not graded. Kindergarten grading criteria is detailed on its report card. O-S-N-U will be used for all subjects in grade 1. The following grading criteria shall be used by grades 2-5:
A+ 100% C+ 84-82%
A 99-97% C 81-77%
A- 96-94% C- 76-74%
B+ 93-91% D+ 73-71%
B 90-88% D 70-68%
B- 87-85% D- 67-65%
F 64% and below
Grades 2 and 3 will use the above scale for Reading, Math, English, and Spelling. The remaining subjects will use the O-S-U scale. Grades 3-4-5 will use the above scale for all subjects except handwriting and specials. These subjects will use the O-S-N-U scale.
It is the policy of our building to generally follow these guidelines in assigning homework:
• All combined daily homework assignments should require no more than a total of 20-30 minutes to complete. Exceptions would be long-term reports or make-up work.
• Students are normally given adequate in-school time to complete assignments. Those not utilizing their time efficiently at school will be expected to complete their work at home.
• Students in grades K-2 will normally not be given any homework except drill activities.
• Students in grades 3-4 may have short assignments dealing with drill in addition to research-type activities such as procuring pictures from magazines.
• Students in grades 5 will be expected to use some time at home for completing regular assignments.
An adequate and well-balanced meal is available to all students at a nominal cost. We use a computerized lunch system to track breakfast and lunch money. Money will be collected daily but we would encourage you to send money in weekly or monthly. Free and reduced-priced lunches are available for students whose family income is below government standards. If you have any questions as to whether or not your family might qualify for the free or reduced-price lunches, fill out an application form that is available from the secretary.
We want each child to enjoy a hot lunch each day or the sack lunch that you have provided. Please do NOT send pop or sugar drinks with your child if they are bringing a sack lunch. We do have occasions where a student’s money is expended and we have allowed charges on a limited basis because we do not want any child to go without eating. There had been a disturbing trend where people where taking advantage of this courtesy and have allowed their charges to run up to 15 or more before the charges are cleared up. This type of action creates a huge bookkeeping problem for hot lunch personnel. Hot lunch reminders are sent home as money expires alerting parents to send more lunch money. These notes are sent via the child’s book bag and it is the responsibility of parents to check the book bag daily. We will no longer allow a child to charge lunches once they exceed 5 charges or $5.00. We feel it is the parents’ responsibility to keep their child’s hot lunch account current. If a child is refused a hot lunch, a sandwich and milk will be provided, but not the regular meal.
Parents are encouraged to eat with their child anytime they like. Please make sure you stop by and pay the elementary secretary when you eat lunch at school.
We serve breakfast in the elementary school. Breakfast will be served daily from 8:05-8:30 a.m. in the elementary cafeteria. Free and reduced-priced breakfast tickets are available by filling out the appropriate forms at the August registration or anytime during the school year.
Underwood Elementary School sends home a monthly newsletter that is considered an important link between home and school. We also periodically send home announcements of changes in the calendar and upcoming events. We will send these communiqués home with all the children in the elementary. It is important that you read these items in order to be informed about school events. Your interest in reading them will encourage your child to continue bringing them home. Check the book bag daily.
Lost and found articles will be placed in a collection bin by the office. Articles that are not claimed will be given to a charitable organization. PLEASE LABEL AS MUCH OF WHAT COMES TO SCHOOL AS POSSIBLE.
Each school district is required by law to inform the public of its efforts to maintain confidential student records. The Underwood Community School district collects and maintains records on each student in order to facilitate the instructions, guidance, and educational progress of the student. The records contain information about the student and his or her education and may include but are not limited to the following types of records:
§ Records of achievement
§ Family background data
§ Aptitude tests
§ Educational and vocational plans
§ Identification data
§ Aptitude tests
§ Honor activities
§ Discipline data
§ Counselor or teacher ratings
§ Observations and external agency reports
The Superintendent, assisted by the professional staff, shall develop a system of maintaining and preserving the educational records of the students in the school system. As a parent you have the right to:
Ø Inspect and review your child’s educational records.
Ø Ask for an explanation of any item in the records.
Ø Have copies made at a reasonable cost.
Ø Be informed of types and locations of any record if you feel it is inaccurate, misleading or violates privacy rights.
Ø Have a statement of your concern placed in your child’s record, if the concern cannot be resolved.
Ø Request a hearing.
Ø Give or withhold consent to disclose your child’s records.
Ø Be told to whom information has been disclosed.
Ø Be informed when educational information contained in your child’s file is no longer needed to provide educational services.
The following information may be released to the public in regard to any individual student of the school district as necessity or desirability arises:
name, parent’s names, address, telephone listing, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, the most recent previous school or institution attended by the student, and other similar information.
Any student, parent, or guardian not wanting this information released to the public must make objection in writing to the principal or other person in charge of the school that the student is attending. It is desirable to renew this objection at the beginning of each school year.
The building principal may temporarily suspend a student for a period not to exceed 5 days for disciplinary reasons by following these due process procedures:
1. The student is entitled to know what he/she has done wrong or if any rules have been violated.
2. The student is entitled to present his/her version of the circumstance involved.
3. The student is entitled to know the disposition of the case.
4. The right of appeal to the Superintendent and subsequently the Board of Directors is available with the understanding that either may sustain or change any or all of a decision reached prior to that appeal.
5. The student may be suspended from school on presentation of sufficient evidence that implicates the student in any of the following offenses while attending school or participation in any school-related activity:
a. Disrespect for any or all school officials or employees. This includes abusive language such as profanity, or a child who kicks, hits, bites, or otherwise assaults staff.
b. Destruction of school property.
c. Use or possession of any alcoholic beverage, drug, or tobacco product.
d. Fighting.
e. Continuing behavior that seriously interferes with classroom instruction or other activities associated with the school.
f. Unsportsmanlike activities involving visiting school teams and their representatives.
g. Following the third removal from a class.
Expulsion is a serious consideration and Board Policy 502.3 will be followed when/if necessary.
Underwood Community School district will provide parents with information on human growth and development when requested, the chance to inspect instructional material prior to use in the classroom, and the chance for a parent or guardian to request, in writing, that a pupil be excused from this instruction.
Harassment of students by other students will not be tolerated in the Underwood Community School district. We have some very specific procedures that identify harassment and the due process procedures that will be taken if a harassment situation continues to occur. Harassment is defined as conduct of a verbal, physical, or written nature that is designed to embarrass, distress, agitate, disturb, or trouble students when such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with a student’s performance or creating an intimidating or hostile learning environment. A copy of the specific language of this policy can be requested from the principal’s office. (Underwood Board of Education Policy 502.9.)
REPORT OF
CHILD ABUSE BY SCHOOL PERSONNEL
Underwood
Community Schools recognizes that a situation could occur whereby a
parent/guardian could feel that their child has suffered abuse by a
school district employee either verbally, physically, sexually, or
in some other way. It is for this reason that the district
has a child abuse investigation team. This team consists of
Level I Investigators who will investigate the allegation to
determine if there is justification to take the complaint to Level
II. The Level II Investigator, a nonbiased professional
appointed by the board of education, wil refer the allegation to
the appropriate agencies seeking satisfactory resolution to the
complaint. Underwood Community
School has appointed Virginia Moore and Jeff Privia as Level I Investigators. They both can be reached at
566-2326 during school hours.
The Underwood Board of Education believes weapons and other dangerous objects in school facilities cause material and substantial disruption to the school environment and the safety of all present. Students who bring such items on school premises face severe consequences that could possibly include expulsion. All incidents will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. A copy of the specific language of this policy can be requested from the principal’s office. (Underwood Board of Education Policy 502.8.)
Retention is a serious consideration and should be carefully scrutinized. Teachers should be constantly aware of each student’s strengths and weaknesses; and if retention is a possibility, this matter should be discussed with the principal and parents by end of the first semester, and no later than the end of the third quarter. Academic deficiencies that could warrant retention are:
a) Consistently achieving below grade expectations in academic subjects.
b) A teacher’s objective/subjective evaluation of the student.
c) Parent considerations.
d) Student attitude, effort, and learning potential.
e) Excessive absences.
The final decision regarding retention will be explored with parent, teacher, and principal during the fourth quarter.
Retention may be an advantage to students who have poor study habits, are socially unready, or are experiencing instructional difficulty as they could benefit from the additional year instead of perpetuating their academic problems.
The Underwood Community School district does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, national origin, creed, age, marital status, or disability in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices, or as otherwise prohibited by statute or regulation. For more information or concerns regarding educational practices or civil rights grievance procedures, contact Superintendent Edward H. Hawks; Underwood Community School District; P.O. Box 130; Underwood, IA 51576. Telephone: 712-566-2332
The faculty, you, and I all believe that the placement of children in classes is a decision of great importance—one that affects your child’s life at Underwood for nine months. At the conclusion of a school year, the classroom teachers will place students into two or three groups according to the following criteria:
o Academic ability
o Reading ability
o Math ability
o Independent work ability
o Peer relationships
There are many factors that allow for a productive learning environment and every effort is made to find the right mix of students including the proper ratio of boy/girl numbers to provide quality-learning experiences. The teachers will then present each list to the Principal who will determine teacher assignments for each class.
Parents do have the opportunity to request a teacher for their child, but the request must be made prior to June 1st of the year preceding the fall placement. Parents who are interested in making such a request must stop in, write a letter, or call to talk this request over with the principal. Every effort will be made to honor the parent request, but the final placement will have to be governed by what the principal feels is the best learning environment for the child. It is important to remember that a request is not a guarantee but that it will be given consideration. Requests are not considered for Kindergarten.
You can be sure that throughout the placement process two concerns will be foremost in our minds:
1. Your child will be in a classroom in which he/she will flourish academically as well as socially, and
2. Your child will be in a classroom in which you can have confidence.
Underwood Community Schools is a participant in the State of Iowa Open Enrollment Act. We feel we offer a fine educational program that addresses the needs of all the children of our district and encourage everyone within our geographical limits to attend Underwood Community Schools.
Parents/guardians considering the use of the open enrollment option to enroll their child(ren) in another public school district in the State of Iowa should be aware of the following dates:
1. January 1, 2005—Last date for regular open enrollment requests for the 2005-2006 school year.
2. Third Friday in September—Last date for open enrollment requests for entering kindergarten students and those students falling under the “good clause” definition for the 2004-2005 school year.
3. Parents/guardians of open-enrolled students whose income falls below 160% of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible for transportation assistance. This may be in the form of actual transportation or in the form of a cash stipend.
For further details, contact the superintendent’s office at 566-2332.
On numerous days throughout the school year, we must decide if the weather and related conditions make outdoor recess inadvisable. Consideration will be given to the following factors in arriving at this decision:
Ø Temperature and wind chill
Ø Safety (presence of snow removal equipment, storm/lightning, icy playground).
Ø Numbers of day’s children have been without an outdoor recess (cabin fever).
Ø Whether or not the children have had a physical education class that day.
Ø Availability of the gym
Individual exceptions to the above outside recess policy include:
Ø Doctor’s requests to have the child remain inside for a period of time designated by the physician.
Ø We require a written parent’s request to keep a child indoors for a period not to exceed three school days following an illness.
Ø Student staying in to do homework.
Please do not send toys to school, as these will not be allowed out at recess. We provide recess equipment, such as balls, ropes, etc., but children do seem to enjoy bringing some of this type of equipment from home. Please realize that children do this at their own risk, and the school cannot be held liable for those items lost or damaged. We do remind children that we would rather they not bring equipment from home for three main reasons:
Ø Breakage
Ø Loss/Theft
Ø Arguments as to ownership or whose turn to play
We are most concerned about baseball/softball gloves, balls, and bats. The school has a supply of these adequate for student use. The only exception to this would be baseball/softball gloves and balls in season or a unit for Physical Education.
The school nurse must have written permission from a doctor to give any medication at school. When you take your child to the doctor for an illness, please ask for a note for the school nurse. The school nurse must also have a note from the PARENTS to administer medication at school. Medication sent to the school MUST be in the ORIGINAL CONTAINER from the pharmacy with the label stating the medication, the doctor, the amount to be given, and the time to be given. Many pharmacies will fill a second bottle to be sent to school on request.
NO OVER-THE COUNTER MEDICATIONS WILL BE GIVEN UNLESS WE HAVE A NOTE FROM A DOCTOR. Please feel free to call the school nurse (566-2326) if there are any questions or problems.
Procedures for dispensing medication in school will be as follows:
1. Medication must be prescribed by a licensed medical or osteopathic physician or licensed dentist.
2. The parent or guardian sends a note to have this prescribed medication dispensed to their child according to the written directions of the prescribing doctor as detailed on the prescription container.
3. The school nurse will be notified of all medication given during school hours.
4. All medications will be stored in a secured area.
5. The pupil’s name and medication(s), the amount given, and the initials of the person dispensing the dose will be recorded each time the medication is given at school.
6. At vacation time, end of the school year or end of dispensing time, any remaining medication will be returned to the parents or destroyed. This action will be noted on the health record. (If at any time the medication area is broken into, accounting of medication will be done immediately. The school administration will notify police and parents of the loss.)
THESE PROCEDURES APPLY TO ALL MEDICATION, INCLUDING NON-PRESCRIPTION SUCH AS ASPRIN, COUGH SYRUP, ETC. The above procedures follow the guidelines recommended by the State Department of Education. If there is any question regarding the procedures, please contact Mrs. Moore, our school nurse, at 566-2326.
The Special Education services are designed to provide both direct and indirect assistance for children with speech, hearing, physical, academic, emotional, and/or social problems. Direct services include individual diagnostic evaluations, therapy, counseling, and special classroom placement. Indirect services include consultation with teachers, other school personnel, and parents, along with providing in-service programs in all of the above areas.
Children involved in our Special Education program will be expected to adhere to the same rules and expectations of all students who attend the elementary school. If there is a concern that is directly related to the child’s handicapping condition or that poses a threat to the health and/or opportunity of others to learn in a safe environment, then we shall activate our Student Assistance Team to determine the appropriate student placement. Special Education students can and will be suspended if their behavior threatens the safety of others or the opportunity to experience quality educational experiences. For more information on these services, contact the elementary school.
Adult visitors to school must report to the office before making classroom visits. Students or relatives visiting from other schools are to do so only with advance approval of both the classroom teacher and the principal.
Parents are encouraged to visit classes, but are asked to inform the classroom teacher in advance. All visitors are encouraged to visit after the first two weeks and prior to the last two weeks.
1. Students are to be clean and neatly dressed. Teachers will also encourage good taste and appropriateness by word and example. Clothing parents believe is appropriate for students will generally be acceptable at school. Exceptions not permitted are: apparel with derogatory sayings, Anti-American implications, liquor or tobacco pictures/advertisements, or profanity.
2. Students participate in outside recesses all year long; so adequate clothing and boots are essential.
3. Students may wear shorts provided they meet the following criteria:
a. They are neat and clean with trimmed or hemmed cuffs.
b. They must be of adequate fit and length to cover undergarment.
c. Please be aware of clothing that children have outgrown. Many times this can be an embarrassment for the students as well as other.
4. Sandals are permitted.
5. Outfits with backless or strapless tops are not permitted, as well as tops that do not cover the stomach.
6. Shoes must be worn at all times.
7. Alterations of student dress may be allowed for special activity days, field trips, etc.
8. Students are expected to adhere to school dress when attending extra-curricular activities or participating in school activities.
9. Rubber-soled shoes are required for P.E. Other P.E. attire is at the discretion of the teacher.
Please monitor what personal property your child takes to and from school. It is not the intention to limit show-and-tell items or other appropriate uses of play material, but to curtail those items that may be lost, damaged, taken, or misused. Live animals should only be brought to and taken from school by parents. No animals are ever allowed on the school buses.
The maintenance of good discipline is essential to the educational process and is the dual responsibility of the home and school. In order for your child to receive the best possible education, it is felt that students should know appropriate school behavior. We work to establish a positive school environment that depends on compliance with just and consistent rules of behavior.
We believe that discipline in the elementary school has not been a serious problem. This is true because parents and school have worked cooperatively in dealing with problems as they have occurred. We request your continued assistance to maintain an environment that allows students to reach their full educational potential.
The basic discipline policy we use consists of three parts:
1. Behavior rules are stated explicitly in observable terms.
2. Positive reinforcement is used whenever a child or class behaves appropriately.
3. Negative consequences for breaking rules are provided every time a child breaks a rule.
Your child’s teacher will be sending home a copy of their discipline plan the first week of school. We believe that every child can behave appropriately, and when he/she does not, it is because he/she chooses to behave inappropriately. We expect your child to behave so teachers can teach and students can learn. It is in your child’s best interest that we work together to make his/her learning experience as meaningful as possible.
We expect all children to respect the rights and property of others. We also recognize that there may be times when a child chooses to ignore the rules that benefit us all and becomes involved in a conflict that may lead to a serious confrontation between children.
It is for a time like this that stronger measures seem appropriate. Children who are involved in a fight, hitting another child, poking with any objects (arm, leg, umbrella), or roughly pushing and shoving one another around, regardless of who started it, will be given an after-school detention on the night the incident is reported, or the earliest available night that an arrangement can be made with the parents. We all want our school and bus transportation operations to be safe and secure for all.
The Underwood Elementary School has adopted the Character Counts Social Skills program as yet another means by which teachers and students will work together to learn and develop behaviors that reflect acceptable social skills. The staff will focus on a specific skill every two weeks and encourage student participation through identification of skill behaviors, role-playing, and other classroom/building projects that hopefully will become part of every student’s regular interpersonal skills repertoire. We have included the term “Body Basics” that describes specific student behavior or movement throughout the building during times referred to as hallway transitions. Body Basics is head forward, hands to your sides, and lips together. Students are also expected to always walk when in the building. Specific lunchroom and recess rules are posted by every exit from the building and in the cafeteria. Voice Levels: O-No Voice; 1-Whisper; 2-Inside Voice; 3-Outside Voice.
The Underwood Elementary School Parents have a very active parent organization that is called PAC. This committee meets monthly to discuss current school issues and offers input to the principal when policies are under review or revision. This is your school, get involved and become an active member of PAC. Call the elementary office to find out details, or check the activity calendar for the next meeting, time, location, and come to the meeting. Everyone is welcome.
Teachers will be informing your child what school parties will be celebrated during the school year.
Private party invitations and details are to be handled outside of school to avoid loss of school time, peer competition, and feelings of being left out. An exception would be if invitations were going to be given to all the girls or all the boys within a classroom. Student directories are available for purchase to ease the communication problems for parents.
This is an area of school life in which parents and teachers must cooperate in encouraging responsible behavior on the part of the children. Transportation is a vital part of the Underwood Community Schools, and yet it is the most difficult to supervise. Bus drivers need to focus their full attention on driving and not having to cope with disciplinary problems. Please be sure your child(ren) know the reason for safety rules. The school will reiterate these safety procedures while the children are at school. Children are instructed to walk on sidewalks, not to cut across lawns or go through private property, cross streets only at intersections, obey school safety patrols, and refuse to ride with strangers.
Students are not allowed to ride their bikes to school. The amount of traffic around the school at the opening of school and dismissal make bike riding a potentially dangerous activity.
Skateboards are not allowed at school. Skateboards might be considered a safe form of transportation to some, but we have a concern about their place at school. Skateboards should never be skated on to school or transported to school on the bus for any after-school activity. The only exception to this would be if a teacher might assign a skateboarding assignment to the student.
The Underwood Community School District Board of Education has authorized the use of video cameras on the school district buses. The video camera will be used to monitor student behavior and to maintain order on the school buses to promote and maintain a safe environment. Students and parents are herby notified that the content of the videotapes may be used in a student disciplinary proceeding. The content of the videotapes is confidential student information and will only be retained if necessary for use in a student disciplinary hearing or other matter as determined by the administration. Parents may request to view the videotapes of their child if the videotapes are used in a disciplinary action involving their child.
We are required to have a least 2 bus evacuation drills each school year. Mr. Minssen and the bus drivers conduct these either on their routes or often bring a bus to the elementary parking lot so all students may experience bus evacuation drill procedures. Teachers teach a short unit on bus safety to all grades each school year.
• Students will be on time for the bus both morning and evening. Road conditions will cause a time deviation. If you do not plan to ride the bus, call the driver or a neighbor that gets on before you. (The driver will wait a reasonable amount of time if the student is on his/her way to the bus.)
• No student will be permitted to unload from his/her bus at any other location than the students home or school, or permitted to ride any bus except the one to which he/she is assigned, without a written dated request from the parents or school official.
• Students should wait for the bus on their home property or at their designated stop, not on the road or highway! Students shall not cross the road or leave the designated stop until the driver signals them to do so.
• The driver may assign each student a seat, for which each student will be responsible. If damage occurs, the student will be expected to pay for damages.
• School bus conduct slips given out in May, will count for this year and may be used as the first offense the following year. This is done to help improve bus behavior during May.
Bus service provided for the convince of the parents and students of the Underwood Community School District, and we will continue to extend this privilege as long as the student maintains proper bus behavior to insure the safe operation of the bus.
Each specific rule of good conduct cannot be listed; however, students riding in a school bus will observe the following rules:
Ø Follow directions the first time they are given.
Ø Sit in your seat and stay there.
Ø Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
Ø Talk quietly.
Ø The driver may assign students to seats.
Ø Loud and vulgar language is prohibited.
Ø Do not open the windows without the driver’s permission. Close them before leaving the bus. Nothing is permitted to extend from the bus window.
Ø Students shall keep the bus clean and refrain from damaging it.
Ø Allowing eating, drinking, and radios on the bus is a decision made by each driver.
Ø The aisle must be kept clear at all times.
Student and parents will be notified of unacceptable behavior by the issuance of a bus conduct report, which indicates the behavioral violation and the resulting punishment, as follows:
STUDENT’S NAME______________________BUS #___________DATE______________
NOTICE TO PARENTS:
Your child was involved in an incident, which jeopardized the safety and well being of other passengers. Students must understand that POOR BEHAVIOR is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Any disciplinary action described below was taken to encourage your child to obey school regulations.
______1. This is the first offense. The driver has talked to the student and building principal, and we trust the incident will not reoccur.
______2. This is the second offense. Parents are asked to contact the building principal by phone, or in person to discuss the incident.
______3. This is the third offense. Transportation privileges have been denied for five school day.
______4. This is the fourth offense. Transportation privileges have been denied and will continue to be denied until a conference has bee held with the Superintendent of Schools and the building principal.
SEVERE CLAUSE: Some instances may be severe enough to warrant an immediate 5-day suspension of transportation privileges, to be determined by the bus driver, building principal, and transportation director.
RULE BROKEN: Procedures and rules listed on the back:
_________Out of seat ______Yelling
_________Fighting ______Destroying Property
_________Unacceptable Language ______Other
COMMENTS__________________________________________________________________
SIGNATURE OF BUS DRIVER___________________________________________________
SIGNATURE OF PARENT_______________________________________________________
SIGNATURE OF SCHOOL OFFICIAL_____________________________________________
STUDENT SHALL RETURN REPORT, SIGNED BY APRENTS, BACK TO THE BUS DRIVER.
White copy to parents; canary copy to transportation director; pink copy to building principal
We are in charge of your most precious possession, your children. The education of children is an important task that involves all of us working cooperatively.
Be positive in your family discussions about the school and its staff. Children learn greatly from “off the cuff” comments. If you have questions regarding the school program or policy, get the facts and discuss them with your child’s teacher, principal, or superintendent. We welcome an opportunity to visit with parents about areas of concern.
Thank you!
(Subject to change)
8:10-8:30 Students arrive at school
8:30 Start of School
9:45-10:00 Morning recess 2nd grade South
10:00-10:15 Morning recess K-1 North; 3rd grade South
11:10-11:35 PK-2 Lunch
11:30-11:45 Recess K-1 North; 2nd grade South
11:40-12:05 3-5 Lunch
12:00-12:15 3-5 Recess
1:40-1:55 K-1 Recess North
2:00-2:15 2-3 Recess North; 4-5 South
3:17 Dismissal
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