BLOSSOM GULCH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
PARENT AND STUDENT HANDBOOK
2011-2012
Coos Bay School District
P.O. BOX 509
333 South 10th
Coos Bay, Oregon 97420
Telephone (541) 267-1340
FAX # (541) 267-7109
Web Page:
http://www.blossom.cbd9.net/
Jodi O’Mara, Principal
Jared Olsen, Assistant Principal
Blossom Gulch Staff
2011-2012
Kindergarten
Stephanie Hoyer Room 18
Carli Ainsworth Room 20
Cindy George Room 21
Sara Stewart Room 22
First Grade
Laura Means Room 23
Nicole Ault Room 24
Amelia Edd Room 25
Lauren Chan Room 26
Jan Ward Room 28
Misty Howerton Room 30
Second Grade
April Harsh Room 3
Dayna Inskeep Room 5
Nita Young Room 6
Tim Connick Room 8
Jackie Souza Room 10
Third Grade
Karla Delgado Room 7
Jeff Logan Room 9
Terri Kinnaird Room 11
Becky Armistead Room 12
Kara Davidson Room 13
Rick Edgar Room 14
ELL
Rochelle Weiss Computer Lab
RBD Classroom
Cheryl Schindele Room 1
Assistant TBA
Life Skills/RPATS
Heather Pedigo Room 2
Assistants TBA
Office
Jodi O’Mara, Principal
Jared Olsen, Assistant Principal
Jennie Nelson, Secretary
Chris Leach, Secretary
Kay Anderson, Secretary (half-time)
Resource Room
Carol Su’a, Teacher Room 29
Connie Cleveland, Assistant
Michelle West, Assistant
Title I
Teacher, TBA Room 27
Traci Howerton, Assistant
Beth Handley, Assistant
Barb Keller, Assistant
Anabel Gregory, Assistant
Tia Koster, Assistant
Penni Fields, Assistant
Speech
Tammy Beasley, SLP Room 4
Joanna Cobb, SLPA
Library
Carol Smith, Librarian
Custodians
Margie Creamer, Head Custodian
TBA, Custodian
Cooks
TBA, Head Cook
Message from the Principal
Dear Blossom Gulch Families,
I am so excited to begin my fifth year at Blossom Gulch. I am especially excited to welcome our Bunker Hill families to Blossom Gulch. We all know this can be a very challenging and tough transition for families. Our goal is to make the transition to Blossom Gulch as smooth as possible everyone.
I encourage each and every one of you to become involved in your child’s education. While I know many of you can’t commit to volunteering within the classroom, there are other ways you can participate in your child’s education. We have a very active Parent Teacher Association that raises money to directly benefit our students, we have Back-to-School Nights and can always use help on field trips and in our SMART reading program.
At Blossom Gulch, we believe that communication between parents, students and staff is essential. Please feel free to contact us with your questions and suggestions. Our telephone number is 267-1340. You can also check out our website at: http://www.blossom.cbd9.net/
Happy Trails,
Jodi O’Mara, Principal
Board of Directors District Office Staff
Rocky Place Dawn Granger, Superintendent
James Martin Cathy Chenail, Curriculum/Title 1 Director
Jill Christiana Lisa DeSalvio, Director of Special Programs
Adrian DeLeon Rod Danielson, Fiscal Director
Jack Bushmaker
Charlene Moore
Randy Miles
Blossom Gulch School Hours
*Children should arrive no earlier than 7:30 a.m.
*Children should go directly home after school at 3:05 p.m.
*School office hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Grades 1-4
School begins 8:00 a.m.
Dismissal 3:05 p.m.
Kindergarten
AM Kindergarten 8:00 a.m. – 11:10 a.m. (Optional sack lunch to take home.)
PM Kindergarten 11:55 a.m. – 3:05p.m. (Optional lunch at 11:35 a.m.)
Breakfast
~We serve breakfast beginning at 7:30 a.m. every morning. Breakfast is free for every child here at Blossom. If you bring your child to school in the morning or they walk, please make sure they are here by 7:45 a.m. if they eat breakfast in the cafeteria.
PM Kindergarten Lunches
~If your afternoon kindergartener eats lunch in the cafeteria, please make sure they are here by 11:35 a.m. Afternoon kindergarten begins promptly at 11:55 a.m. and we want to make sure they have enough time to eat and arrive in the classroom on time. If you are bringing your child to afternoon kindergarten, please make sure they arrive no earlier than 11:45 a.m. (unless they eat lunch in the cafeteria), as there is no supervision for kindergarten students prior to 11:45 a.m.
Emergency School Closure
1) If the school is closed for the entire day: When emergency conditions cause school to be closed for the entire day, announcements are broadcast on local radio stations. No other announcements are official. The major radio stations are:
KSHR 97.3FM KBBR 13.4AM KACW 107.3FM
KSHN 12.3AM KOOS 94.9FM KWRO 63.0AM
2) Please take some time to visit our district website at http://www.cbd9.net/ and subscribe to Flashalert.net. You will receive email and/ or text messages alerting you to the latest news and alerts including closure information. Subscribing is free and you’ll receive alerts instantly on your email or cell phone. You can either go to the district website to register or go to the following link to register. http://flashalert.net/news.html?id=1374
3) If school opens normally but must close during the day: You should develop a plan with your child so he/she knows where to go if school closes early. This plan should not involve using the school telephone. A neighbor or friend’s house to which your child could walk is suggested. Please share the plan with all the people involved. In the event we would need to evacuate our building, students and staff would evacuate to Marshfield High School.
School Records
~The law requires that student records are kept confidential, but parents or legal guardians may request to see their own child’s records.
Child Custody
~Should a change in custody or family status happen, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to notify the school and provide us with copies of the legal documentation that reflects that change.
~Parents having concerns about a non-custodial parent contacting the school must give a copy of a current restraining order or court document to the school. Other persons not listed in the child’s records will not be permitted access to the child without written permission from the parent.
Discipline
~We have a school-wide behavior program here at Blossom called PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Support). Our three school rules are:
Be safe
Be respectful
Be responsible
We actively teach, model and reinforce positive behavior here at Blossom. Please see the attached Elementary Behavior Expectations.
Dress and Grooming at Blossom Gulch
~Below are the guidelines for students from the Coos Bay Public Schools Student/Parent Guide regarding Dress and Grooming:
*Your dress and grooming should not interfere with the learning process.
*Your dress and grooming should not constitute a health or safety hazard.
*You should not wear revealing clothing, or those with obscene, suggestive, or highly offensive words, pictures, or graphics.
*You should not wear, carry or display gang-related clothing or paraphernalia.
~In an effort to apply the policy here at Blossom Gulch we have the following guidelines:
*When a student’s arms are at their sides, their shirt must meet their pants (no bare tummies or backs)
*Pants should not inhibit free movement (no saggy pants)
*No make-up
*No dangling chains
*Shoes need to be appropriate for running in dry and wet weather (no ‘skate’ shoes, flip flops, open toes or high heels including platforms)
If you have questions or need assistance in providing shoes or clothing for your child, please do not hesitate to call us here at Blossom Gulch 267-1340.
Absences
~Coos Bay Public Schools require students to bring a written excuse signed by the parent or guardian within three days when returning to school after being absent or tardy. If your student is absent for an extended period and you wish to get school work, please call the school in the morning so your child’s teacher has time to compile any necessary assignments. Absence from school may be excused under the following circumstances.
1. Illness
2. Illness of an immediate family member
3. Emergency situations
4. Field trips and school-approved activities
5. Medical or dental appointments (confirmation of appointments may be required)
6. Other reasons deemed appropriate by the school administrator when satisfactory arrangements
are made in advance of the absence
Getting to School/Going Home
~Our staff places a strong emphasis on safety as we do not want to see any youngsters injured.
Children who are walking or riding their bikes to and from school need to be very alert to traffic.
Walking to School If your child walks to school, please teach them to:
*Use the safest route.
*Use the crosswalks.
*Respect other people’s yards, property, and flowers.
Bicycles Students using bikes for transportation must:
*Stop riding when they reach the crosswalk leading to the school.
*Walk their bikes on school grounds.
*Use the bicycle racks provided at school.
*Lock their bikes to the rack.
*Always wear a helmet.
Visitors
Student Visitors
~Ordinarily we do not allow student visitors. Visiting children can be a distraction in the classroom.
Adult Visitors
~We encourage adult visitors to our school. There are back-to-school nights and other “special” events for which you will receive invitations. You are welcome to visit your child’s classroom or have lunch with your child. If you are planning to visit a classroom, kindly make arrangements with the teacher in advance. When you arrive, please check in at the office. We have an automated visitor and volunteer check-in system which utilizes a computer at our front counter. Please sign in and you will receive a visitor’s tag. We know that having parents visit and volunteer is a key component to building a connection between home and school. We also know it is important for children to become independent so we ask that parents not stay all day everyday.
Library/Media Center
~Our library is full of interesting materials for children to enjoy. Each class will have a regularly scheduled library time. During this time, the children are introduced to a variety of literature. They become familiar with the library arrangement and learn simple library skills. We stress responsible behavior in the handling of various types of library material and encourage the children to check out books they can read. However, it is extremely beneficial if you read to your children. Please help your child use his or her library materials carefully and see that he/she returns them in good condition. Replacement of lost or damaged material (books, periodicals) is the parents’ responsibility.
Telephones
~Each teacher has a phone is his/her classroom. Phones are for parent communication, school business or emergency use. Teachers are available via their classroom telephone from 7:15-7:45 and 3:15-4:00. Students are expected to make social arrangements at home!
After School Activities
~After school activities such as scouting and sports are available in our area. While Blossom Gulch School does not sponsor these activities, we do encourage student participation and we regularly distribute information from the various organizations.
~The Boys and Girl Club offers after school programs, athletic programs and Saturday Academy Classes. Their telephone number is 267-3635.
Insurance
~The school supplies forms for student insurance. The school is not the agent. We only distribute forms as an optional service to parents. If you do not already have medical insurance covering your child for illness and accident, you may want to purchase student insurance.
Tardies
~Start your child’s day off on the right foot by getting him/her to school on time. Coming to school late can interrupt such morning procedures as classroom directions and taking attendance. If he/she is late, they miss important directions and instructions. Tardiness will not be excused without a signed note from a parent or a telephone call to the school. Tardy students must check in at the office to obtain a classroom admittance slip.
Communication with Parents
~The Blossom Gulch staff wants to communicate with you on a regular basis. School newsletters will be sent home every Thursday. Please emphasize to your child the need to bring home all handouts. In order to transport these messages as well as school books and the student’s work, please provide a backpack or a book bag for your child.
~You can also visit our website at: http://www.blossom.cbd9.net/. A copy of the weekly newsletter will be posted on the website each week.
Curriculum
~You will have opportunities during the year to learn about your child’s curriculum. These opportunities include the Back-to-School Night and Parent/Teacher Conferences. If you want more specific information, please make an appointment with your child’s teacher or the principal.
Commercial Movies and Videos
~Educational movies are used as an integrated part of the classroom curriculum. It is the policy of Blossom Gulch to only show “G” rated commercial movies/videos.
Leaving After School
~Any student who is to go home in any manner other than his/her usual way must bring a note or a parent/guardian must call the school. Please call the school by 2:45pm.
~If your child does not bring a note or we do not receive a telephone call, he/she will be sent home in the usual manner. When you arrive to pick up your child, please meet your child in the gymnasium. For your child’s safety, we ask that he/she wait inside the building. Classrooms will not be disturbed between 2:45-3:05. Important instructions are being given at this time.
Withdrawing From School
~If you plan to transfer your child to another school, please notify the office so that we can help make the transfer as smooth as possible. The new school will ask you to sign a form requesting our office to forward your child’s records.
Progress Reports
~Your student’s progress is reported to you through conferences that are scheduled twice during the school year (see the attached calendar). Additional conferences may be requested, either by the parent or the teacher. Report cards are sent home twice a year.
General Rules
· Be safe.
· Be respectful.
· Be responsible.
Illness or Injury
~For the well being of all students, please do not send your child to school if he/she is ill.
~Many of our staff members are trained in first aid. If your child becomes ill or injured at school, he/she will be seen by a qualified person. If more extensive care is needed, you will be contacted. If you cannot be reached, the principal will take whatever action she deems reasonable.
Medication for Students
~If a student is required to take medication during the school day, a parent must bring it to the office.
~The medication must be in the original prescription container with the doctor’s orders. We also need to have both the parent’s and doctor’s signed consent to administer the medication. A form is available at the doctor’s office and/or the school nurse’s office.
LUNCH
Lunch prices are as follows:
1 Day 5 Days 20 Days
Student Lunch $1.85 $9.25 $37.00
Student Milk $ .50 $2.50 $10.00
Juice $ .50 $2.50 $10.00
Reduced Lunch $ .40 $2.00 $ 8.00
Adult Lunch $2.65
Adult Breakfast $1.60
~You may pay daily, weekly, or monthly amounts, whichever works for you. Checks should be made payable to Blossom Gulch. Unused lunch money will be refunded or rolled over to the following year.