Woodbrook Elementary School
Parent-Student Handbook
2011-2012
Woodbrook Elementary School
100 Woodbrook Drive
Charlottesville, VA 22901
(434) 973-6600
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Welcome 1
About Woodbrook 1
Philosophy 1
School Improvement Plan 2
School Board Members 2
ACPS Vision, Mission, Goals, & Values 3
Objectives 4
Woodbrook Vision Statement 5
Educational Programs 6
Organizing for Instruction 7
Support Programs 7
Physical Education 7
Library/Media Center 7
Music 7
Art 8
Gifted Services 8
Special Education 8 Intervention, RtI, and School Based Intervention Team (SBIT) 9
Speech/ Language 9
Guidance 10
EDEP (Extended Day Enrichment Program) 10
Assessments 11
Standardized Tests 11
School Policies
Enrollment Procedures 12
Registering a Child 12
Kindergarten Registration 12
Attendance 13
Absences 13
Tardiness 13
Early Dismissal 14
Withdrawals 14
Student Placement in Class/ Teacher Requests 15
Emergency School Closings 15
Emergency Care Card 15
Home-School Communication 16
Classroom Visitation 17
Student Conduct 17
Student Dress 17
Discipline Procedures 18
Behavioral Expectations 18
Playground Rules 19
After School Use of the School Playground 20
Safety 21
Woodbrook Homework Policy 21
School Security 22
Student Health 22
Illness or Accident at School 22
Medication at School 22
Notification to Parents 23
Additional Procedures 23
Allergies and Other Conditions 23
Student Illness 24
Immunizations 25
Vision Check 25
School Hours 26
Hours for Students 26
Office Hours 26
Management of Student’s Scholastic Records 26
Procedure to Inspect Education Records 26
Buses 28
Bus Schedules and Routes 28
Bus Drivers and Rules 28
Bus Safety 28
Change to Regular Bus Procedure 29
Parking 29
Students Who Walk to School 30
Student Bicyclists 30
Change in After-School Plans 30
Picking-Up and Dropping-Off Students 30
Morning Drop Off 30
Afternoon Pick-Up 31
School Pictures 32
Lost-and-Found 32
Class Parties 32
Private Party Invitations 32
Student Birthdays 32
Fund Raising 32
Student Use of Telephones 33
Animals in the Classroom 33
Toys 33
Assemblies 33
Field Trips 34
Food Services 34
Parents and the Cafeteria 35
Change of Address & Phone Information 35
Acceptable Use of Technology 36
Computer Literacy 37
Use of Cellular Phones and Electronic Devices 37
Parent Involvement 38
PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization) 38
Parent Volunteers 38
Parent Advisory Positions 38
In Conclusion 39
Introduction
Introduction
Welcome
Welcome! We are delighted to have the privilege to foster the growth and development of your child as a student at Woodbrook Elementary School. This handbook is a guide to the policies, principles, and practices that we follow at Woodbrook. We are very proud of our school and the successes of our students. We look forward to working with you and your child throughout the school year.
About Woodbrook
Woodbrook Elementary School is one of 16 elementary schools serving Albemarle County students in grades PK-5. Woodbrook Elementary School opened its doors in 1966 and the school plant is located within the confines of the Woodbrook sub-division. There are 22 classrooms and 2 resource rooms within the school, as well as, three learning cottages. Approximately 300 students are enrolled at Woodbrook coming from a variety of neighborhoods. Woodbrook, like other elementary schools in our School Division, follows the policies and regulations of the Albemarle County School Board and the Superintendent of Schools. All ACPS policies may be accessed at k12albemarle.org. As you will see cited in this handbook, we have developed guidelines, policies, and practices to provide your child with the best educational environment possible.
This handbook is designed to help you become familiar with our school operation. Our philosophy is one of continuous improvement, so these practices do change from time to time. We welcome your suggestions.
This handbook is not all-inclusive. If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to ask for further clarification.
Philosophy
The educational philosophy of Albemarle County Public Schools embraces the concept that a school organization must be a community of learners. At Woodbrook Elementary School, children are our first consideration. Each child is unique. We strive to provide an environment that promotes intellectual, physical, emotional, and social growth.
We expect positive attitudes within our school population. Teachers, support staff, administrators and parents provide exemplary models for children. When all members of an educational organization are committed to the process of learning, children develop into confident contributing members of society.
School Improvement Plan
Like each school in Albemarle County Public Schools, Woodbrook has its own School Improvement Plan that outlines specific actions and intended outcomes as we strive for continuous improvement. This plan is updated quarterly and may be accessed through both the Woodbrook and ACPS websites. It is also available in the main office. We welcome feedback regarding the plan and its implementation.
School Board Members
NAME / DISTRICT / PHONE / MAIL ADDRESS / E-MAILJason Buyaki / Rivanna / (434)
973-7026 / 2914 Blue Haven Farm
Keswick, VA 22947 /
Steve Koleszar
(Chair) / Scottsville / (434)
293-7262 / 142 Scarborough Place
Charlottesville, VA 22903 /
Diantha McKeel / Jack Jouett / (434)
296-4931 / 103 Smithfield Court
Charlottesville, VA 22901 /
Barbara Massie
Mouly / White Hall / (434)
465-5156 / PO Box 22
Greenwood, VA 22943 /
Pamela Moynihan / Rio / (434)
973-4464 / 3974 Deep Woods Road
Earlysville, VA 22936 /
Eric Strucko
/ Samuel Miller / (434)
973-3815 / 1029 Tilman Road
Charlottesville, VA 22901 /
Harley Miles
(Vice-Chair) / At-large / (434)
977-4352 / 1579 Beckoning Ridge Rd
Charlottesville, VA 22901 /
To e-mail all members of the School Board at once, address your message to .
School Board Office Contact Information
Jennifer Johnston, Clerk
401 McIntire Road, Room 345
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: 434/972-4055 Fax: 434/296-5869
ACPS Vision, Mission, Goals, & Values
Vision
All learners believe in their power to embrace learning, to excel, and to own their own future.
Mission
The core purpose of Albemarle County Public Schools is to establish a community of learners and learning, through rigor, relevance, and relationships, one student at a time.
Goals
Albemarle County Public Schools has identified five collective strategic goals to guide our work. We believe that these five goals will help us work together to become more focused on our core work, more diverse in how we provide instruction, broader in our approach to teaching and learning, and more stable and relevant within the various communities. By accomplishing these goals, we will assist all students to achieve high levels of learning and to pursue their dreams for their future.
Goal 1: Prepare all students to succeed as members of a global community and in a global
economy.
Goal 2: Eliminate the Achievement Gap.
Goal 3: Recruit, retain and develop a diverse cadre of the highest quality teaching personnel,
staff and administrators.
Goal 4: Achieve recognition as a world class educational system.
Goal 5: Establish efficient systems for development, allocation, and alignment of resources to
support the Division’s vision, mission, and goals.
Values
Excellence
Young People
Community
Respect
Objectives
In support of the Albemarle County Public Schools vision, mission, goals, and values, the Woodbrook School staff will:
· Adhere to Albemarle County Public Schools and Commonwealth of Virginia guidelines.
· Provide each child with a comfortable and safe environment designed to enhance learning.
· Assess each child's progress with various techniques and standards compatible with individual abilities and keep parents and students informed of that progress.
· Utilize appropriate instructional materials and resources for supplementing and enriching the learning experiences of each child.
· Provide opportunities for each child to work independently and cooperatively on basic instructional and enriching tasks.
· Help each child develop a wide range of interests.
· Encourage each child to develop a sense of personal worth and dignity.
· Help each child acquire a genuine appreciation for the fine arts.
· Help each child develop a cultural awareness of our country and other countries.
· Help each child develop positive attitudes and habits concerning physical fitness.
· Encourage a positive parent-teacher-child relationship through parent and other adult involvement in the school program.
· Create a stimulating and supportive classroom environment.
· Reinforce the child's success through appropriate recognition.
· Help each child to develop self-discipline and become a contributing and responsible citizen.
Woodbrook Vision Statement
We envision:
· A school where staff, parents and community members share the responsibility for providing learning opportunities for the students and where open communication is facilitated by regular opportunities to interact and coordinate these efforts.
· A school environment which fosters learning and encourages trust, security, risk-taking, decision making and creativity for both teachers and students and where educational opportunities are valued and encouraged for the entire school community.
· A school where student success regarding intellectual, physical, emotional and social growth is individually recognized, encouraged, and expected.
· A school in which staff, parents and students take PRIDE (Personal Responsibility in Daily Excellence): and where everyone is respected for their unique contributions.
· A school where all community elements show a positive interest in the school through contributions of time and service for the benefit of our children.
In order to help us achieve the above we take great care to create a learning environment that promotes positive behavior, a risk-free learning environment where a community of learners come together to support each other in their learning. Woodbrook Elementary School is working to become a “trained” Responsive Classroom school. We currently have twelve of our sixteen classroom teachers, plus our Music, Library and Art teacher trained in the Responsive Classroom practices.
Responsive Classroom is based on 3 Foundational Teaching Practices:
1. Our best knowledge of how children learn developmentally, culturally, and individually
2. Awareness that social and academic learning go hand-in-hand
3. The belief that ALL children want to learn and can learn
Guiding Principles:
· The social curriculum is as important as the academic curriculum
· How children learn is as important as what they learn
· The greatest cognitive growth occurs through social interaction
· Knowing the children we teach—individually, culturally, and developmentally-is as important as knowing the content we teach.
· Knowing the families of the children we teach is as important as knowing the children we teach
· To be successful academically and socially, children need to learn and practice specific social skills. The five most important being: cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-control. (C.A.R.E.S.)
· How we, the adults at school, work together is as important as our individual competence. Lasting change begins with the adults.
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Educational Programs
Educational Programs
Organizing for Instruction
The regular instructional program at Woodbrook includes Pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The majority of instruction occurs in heterogeneous, self-contained classrooms or across grade-level classrooms, with a team-teaching approach. Some subjects are ability grouped to assure that students’ needs are being met appropriately. Teachers on each grade level work as a Professional Learning Community (PLC) where they meet together to share ideas, discuss curriculum and student concerns, analyze data, and share teaching materials in order to best meet their students' needs.
Albemarle County Public Schools utilizes a Framework for Quality Learning to guide instruction. This model encourages active, project-based instruction with students taking ownership of their learning by setting goals for themselves and keeping track of their own progress. The Framework also spells out Lifelong-Learner Standards and effective instructional practices that are expected in all Albemarle County classrooms. Lifelong learning places emphasis on results. To develop the skills and habits associated with lifelong learning, students must: learn beyond the simple recall of facts; understand the connections to and implications of what they learn; retain what they learn; and, be able to apply what they learn in new contexts. The nine most effective instructional strategies that have been identified in educational research as having the most impact on student achievement are indicated in the chart below. They are in order from top to bottom in relationship to the one having the highest impact on achievement:
Strategy / % of Gain in AchievementIdentifying Similarities and Differences / 45
Summarizing and Note Taking / 34
Reinforcing Effort and Providing Recognition / 29
Homework and Practice / 28
Nonlinguistic Representations (Graphic organizers and other ways to present material than verbally) / 27
Cooperative Learning / 27
Setting objectives and providing feedback / 23
Generating and Testing Hypotheses / 23
Questions, cues and advance organizers / 22
You will be seeing your child engaging in these activities throughout the year and we wanted to assure that our parents understood the rationale for why we were using such strategies.
Support Programs
Teachers and students receive valuable assistance from numerous support programs that are offered in our school. These programs may be a part of our regular curriculum for all students or may be in addition to the regular program for children with special needs.
Physical Education
All students receive 120 minutes of planned physical education activity per week under the direction of certified physical education teachers (Ms. Lynda Lutz and Mr. Brett Maynard). The program is conducted in accordance with the school system's physical education curriculum. It is expected that all students fully participate in the physical education program and are dressed appropriately (sneakers) on their designated PE days. A doctor’s note is required if a student needs to temporarily be exempted from PE class for an extended period of time.
Library/ Media Center
Our school has a well-equipped library/ media center managed by a full-time media specialist (Ms. Allison Carver). The library/ media center offers many resources for teachers, students, and parents such as books, DVDs, filmstrips, cassette tapes, CDs, computers, etc.
The media specialist, in addition to providing instruction for students in the use of the library and study skills, works very closely with teachers in planning special activities and in providing materials to enhance instruction. Students go to the library/ media center at least once a week for a minimum of 30 minutes. Upper Elementary (3-5) has additional blocks to assist with research and reference skills.