Welcome to the 2014-2015 School Year! We are delighted that you have chosen Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary for your child and your family. This year we will be celebrating 30 years of service to the West Ashley area. We are very grateful to Charleston County School District and the West Ashley area for the wonderful support we have had over the last 30 years. Ashley River is such an exciting place. There is always something happening that will expand your children’shorizons. Our space has provided wonderful opportunities for learning, performances, and experiences and we anticipate great events in the coming year. The ARTS focus at Ashley River creates this engaging learning environment. We love watching your children grow and thrive in this environment. The theme for the year is , “The Art of Rock and Roll.” We hope you will join us as we celebrate 30 years of Rock’n with the ARTS!

Our office doors are always open to you if you need us for any reason. Please feel free to call or stop by if you have any concerns, ideas, or suggestions. We urge you to get involved with the PTA and the School Improvement Council. Volunteer in the classroom if you can. Children love to see their parents involved in their school

Please hang this calendar on the refrigerator, update it, and use it. We pledge to communicate with you about events and happenings at the school. Look for Friday folders, eBlasts, website updates, and phone calls to give you information. This is your handbook, so use it asa reference for your family. Make sure you go through all the pages with your children, so everyone knows the rules of the school and follows them. Safety is always a priority for us and rules are created to help keep 600 students and 70 adults safe. We ask that you model how to follow the rules for our students. We are thrilled that AshleyRiver is your school home. We look forward to a stimulating year together.

Cathie Middleton and Curtis Pelham

CCSD Mission Statement

The mission of the Charleston County School District, a dynamic system of challenging educational choices, is to increase student achievement overall and close achievement gaps in order to prepare all students to compete in a global economy and make a positive contribution to our community and nation.

Mission Statement for Ashley River

Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary School, in partnership with families and community, provides students with a strong academic curriculum infused with the arts.

Philosophy

We have some basic beliefs that make us who we are at ARCAE. These beliefs are:

  • All children have worth, dignity and are unique.
  • All children can learn and be successful through an arts infused curriculum.
  • A safe, positive, and challenging climate is necessary for learning.
  • All decisions must be based on what is in the best interest of all our students.
  • Family, students, educators, and the community must be partners in the educational process.
  • All must value the diversity of our school population.
  • The home environment plays a critical role in a child’s development.
  • The quality of the future depends on the success of our children.

In our strategic plan for Ashley River Creative Arts, our goal for all students is to demonstrate mastery of the South Carolina State Standards in the areas of English/Language Arts, andMath,Science, Social Studies, and the Arts. We believe the arts enhance that learning.

Vision 2016

Our handbook is in a format that is aligned to the Charleston County School District Vision 2016. The Vision is that every child will graduate from CCSD with the critical skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college and the 21st Century global workforce. The values for the district include: Results for student outcomes. All priorities help shape student achievement for all students. Access: All students will be provided with excellent instruction, enriching opportunities, and challenging courses. Partnerships: Student success depends on partnerships between schools, families, and communities. Diversity: Diversity is a strength and an asset. We seek to foster an environment of dignity and respect.

The three goals of the Charleston County School District are:

  • Close the Achievement Gap
  • Elevate the achievement overall
  • Raise the graduation rate

As a part of the CCSD family, we play an important part is achieving these goals and hope this handbook will help communicate the district’s plan and how it relates to Ashley River Creative Arts and our mission.

The four Focus Areas are:

  • Literacy Based Education
  • Educator Effectiveness
  • Innovative Schools and Systems
  • Partnerships

Ashley River supports this focus through units of study that are based on South CarolinaState Standards and National standards. Teachers write these units and use “Big Ideas” from Social Studies and Science to base the unit. All literature will be aligned with the State Standards, which help create confident readers and writers through reinforcing content knowledge. Ashley River is a Magnet School for the West Ashley area of Charleston with a focus on the Arts. This means that we teach the South Carolina State Standards through the arts.

We believe that the Arts are a powerful approach to teaching. Not only will our students use the Arts to learn in the regular classroom, but they will have additional opportunities for experiences with two classes in art, music, drama, Spanish, computer, and PE each week. Students may also sign up for Balletand Suzuki Violin. Students in fourth and fifth grade are also encouraged to audition for a group or club that meets during the school day at 2:10 on specific days of the week. These groups include: Drama Troupe, Chorus, Garden Gourmet Club, Jazz Troupe, Creative Writing, Art Guild, Clay Club, Photography Club, Green Team, Drumming Group, Robotics, Helping Hands, Student Council, Guitar, Robotics, and Yoga Club. They work on projects and prepare for performances. This is a great example of Literacy Based Education but also Innovative Schools and Systems.

The focus at AshleyRiver is not to create artists, but to enhance the learning for every child and help children have an appreciation for the arts. We aim to create opportunities for students to learn at a very high level and have fun in the process. We hope to help students learn what their strengths and weaknesses are and to use the strengths to build up the weak areas. Through the arts, we are able to educate the whole child and meet the needs of all learners. Learning for us means that students have opportunities to construct, experience, reflect, collaborate, and problem-solve.

You will also hear us talk about Differentiated Instruction. Not all children learn at the same rate and in the same way. Arts Infusion and other strategies help us meet the needs of all learners. Information and data is gathered and students will be grouped for English/Language Arts and Math according to the data. Students love “Walk to Read”and “March to Math” times. Teachers will keep you posted on the progress of your child.

Textbooks are owned by the state of South Carolina. They are on loan to students for the year. Every book has a bar code on them and can be tracked to each child. Lost or damaged books (including missing bar codes) must be paid for by parents in order to have a new book issued and receive a report card. Take care of your books. We have to use them for many years. Please do not remove the bar code! Questions regarding textbooks should be directed to Mr. Pelham.

Extended Classroom Trips are an important part of each unit of study. Teachers plan field trips to extend learning and make it more relevant, memorable and meaningful. It is part of the curriculum and all students are expected to be part of the field trips. Permission slips will be sent home to be signed and sent back. Parents are asked to chaperone when there is space available. When classes are away from campus, students must use their best manners and behavior. Students are representing AshleyRiverCreativeArtsElementary School and we want others to see what wonderful students we have here.

During assemblies that are StudentPerformances or a Visiting Artist, students are expected to use appropriate audience behavior. Here are some tips for being a great audience wherever you are:

  • Go to the restroom before entering the performance area. Only leave the performance if you have an emergency.
  • Enter the room quietly.
  • Never talk during the performance.
  • Sit facing the stage with hands and feet to yourself. Feet should be on the floor, not in the seat.
  • It is NEVER polite to make noises such as booing.
  • Clap at the end of the performance. Wait a few seconds to make sure they are finished and not just pausing.
  • Show respect and be polite to the performers by being attentive.
  • Heads should never be down during the performance.
  • Stay for the entire performance. If several groups are performing, stay for the entire show.
  • Food or drink are not permitted in the performance, and please clean up after the performance is over.

Many times we have performances during the day for students and at night for families. We ask that the number of people attending daytime performances be limited so we can have seating for the students. All adults must sit in the back for these performances so the students can see.

Supplies help the classroom run smoothly. Parents are asked to provide their child with the necessary supplies from the supply list and replenish them as needed. Anartssupply fee of $40 for all grades is charged to help cover the cost of additional instructional supplies for the classroom.

Every parent and student will be asked to sign theTechnology/Internet Guidelines that will be sent home in thefirst day packet. It must be returned for your child to obtain internet access.

Homework is practice for what you learned in class. It is the student’s responsibility to do the work and return it to school when assigned. Students in grades K-3 should have 20-30 minutes a night and grades 4-5 should have 45 -60 minutes a night (average times.) This may be in addition to the 15 minutes of free reading. Make sure there is a special place and time to do homework. Parents are encouraged to check to see if it is done and correct. (Students make sure youunderstand the assignment before leaving school.) Homeworkwill be posted on the school website or students can call a study buddy.

Partnerships are very important. We especially want you to see how we value you and your part in your child’s education. We try very hard to use effective systems to make things simple and easy to do. We are always looking for better solutions, so please share your ideas for ways to improve with us. You will receive a report every 4.5 weeks – Interims and full report cards. You will also have papers coming home every Friday. Please call or email the teacher if you have any concerns or feel you need more information about how your child is doing.

Free and Reduced Lunch forms come home at the beginning of the year and need to be returned as soon as possible, if applying. Students must pay for their lunch until official notification of approval or if free or reduced last year, they automatically qualify for the first 10 days of school.

Our cafeteria serves breakfast and lunch each full day of school. Our manager, Ms. Stubbs, serves healthy meals or you can bring your lunch from home. A menu will be posted on the website. NO FAST FOOD, glass bottles, or CARBONATED drinks are allowed. Milk costs $.50. Lunch is $2.25 each day and breakfast is $1.40 and is served from 7:30 – 7:50.We invite you to come occasionally and eat lunch with your child. Just let your teacher know ahead of time so she can order a lunch for you. As part of the Healthy Foods Program,please do not bring in fast food for your child. Adult lunches are $3.50. Please keep your child’s account paid ahead. After 5 days of charging lunch, your child will be given a sandwich to eat until you have cleared up the account.We ask you to use wonderful manners in the cafeteria and to pick up after yourself. Tables need to be cleaned after each class.

Our Healthy Foods/Wellness Program is one way in which Ashley River Creative Arts, with help and support from parents and families, is making sure that our students stay healthy and have a balanced diet during the school day. This is why we ask parents to leave all unhealthy snacks, treats, fast food, candy, etc., at home. For birthday’s and classroom celebrations please send in healthy treats. NO FAST FOOD. Please let other family members know this if they come and eat with your child.

All checks for school events or activities will be made out to Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary School unless otherwise stated on the order form. (ex. Pictures) We do use the CheckCare system for returned checks. Refunds will be mailed to parents when they are requested.

Teacher Effectiveness also means making sure we have a system where students, parents, teachers, and the administration are responsible for the academic success of each child. Wehave many methods that will be used to evaluate and monitor the academic growth of each child and offer support if a child is having trouble academically or socially.

Attendance is very important! It is a requirement for promotion. Ten unlawful or unexcused absences put the student in danger of retention. The school office must receive a valid excuse, written by the parent or guardian, withintwo (2) daysafter the student returns to school. This excuse must contain: student’s name, teacher’s name, date(s) of absence, specific reason for absence and signature of parent or guardian. Attendance conferences will be held with parents of children who exceed the South Carolina Attendance Regulations Laws. Students who attend every day will be honored at the end of the year Award’s Day.

Arrival/Dismissal/Early Dismissal are areas that require many directions for safety. Students may arrive on campus starting at 7:30 am. Breakfast will be served from 7:30 – 7:50 in the cafeteria. Kindergarten students will go directly to their rooms. Students in Grades 1 through 5 will sit in the hallway and read until the first bell at 7:50. They will be supervised by staff members as they read silently and get prepared for the day. The tardy bell rings at 8:00.ALL students must be in their rooms by 8:00. There is an extended day program if a student needs to come before 7:30. Students must be enrolled. Contact Teresa Platt for more information.

If a student istardy coming to school the student must sign in at the front office. Parents must come in and sign their child in if they are tardy. Each teacher will have a page in the sign-in book. The first part of the day is very important. Everyone needs to work very hard to be ontime for school so your day will begin well. Please plan ahead. Thisis an area we need to make sure we work on this year. Attendance does affect academics.

Early dismissal requests must be in writing and signed by the student’s parent or guardian. NO requests will be taken after 2:30 each day by phone. Students will be called to the office when the parent comes in and signs them out. We will ask for identification if we do not know the person signing the student out. Only individuals on the emergency card have permission to sign students out of school. NO STUDENTS will be dismissed between 2:30 and 3:00. We need to restrict traffic in the parking lots and in the office during this time. Early dismissals are counted as a tardy. The end of the day is a very important time for students to get organized and for teachers to connect learning.

Dismissal is at 3:00pm. Students will ride a bus, go to car line, or go to the AfterSchool Program. Buses will be loaded and will leave the parking lot before the car riders will be dismissed. Teachers will walk students to the buses and load them. Car riders will walk quietly with a teacher to the hallway. Parents in cars will line up through the parking lot and around the bus loop. Special Needs parents will line up at the entrance on the south side or the Kindergarten wing. Teachers will call students from the car line and they will come outside and a teacher will put them in your car. Please make sure you are in line by 3:15. All students not picked up by 3:20 will be brought to the office.AfterSchool students will go very quietly to the cafeteria and will be picked up from there before 6:00 pm. Always use the crosswalks and be very careful crossing the streets. Safety is a major concern as we have cars and buses in the parking area.Please do not ever pass on a double yellow line or in front of the school during car line. See the PTA website for a very informative video about car line procedures.