Withrow Elementary School
Parent/Student Handbook
2011 – 2012
THE BASICS Address:10158 122nd Street N
Hugo, MN 55038
Phone Numbers:
Main Office 651-351-8800
Absence Line 651-351-8838
Health Para 651-351-8838
Minnesota Central (Bus) 651-430-3311
Withrow Website:
http://withrow.stillwater.k12.mn.us
District website:
http://stillwater.k12.mn.us
Hours:
Office – 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
School day – 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Building opens for students – 8:50 a.m. / TABLE OF CONTENTS Staff Directory & Voicemail page 2 School Beliefs & Hours page 3 Discipline & Behavior Expectations page 3 Lunch Program page 4 Getting to School page 5 Health Issues page 6 School Policies page 7 Communications page 8 Miscellaneous Information page 9 Background Check Form page 10
School Calendar page 11
WEA Parent Group Information page 12
Staff Directory & Voicemail v
Superintendent of Schools – Dr. Corey Lunn – 651-351-8301
Principal Lynn Bormann 351-8806
Secretary Barb Witschen 351-8805
Head Custodian Jim Anderson 351-8820
Custodian Don Swanson 351-8820
Health Para Lynda Kemp 351-8838
Kindergarten Roberta Ehret 351-8819
First Grade Alane Stickan 351-8816
First Grade Christine Besch 351-8807
Second Grade Brenda Linkert 351-8840
Third Grade Jill Kostynick 351-8813
Fourth Grade Kirsten Wilson 351-8808
Fifth Grade Robby Hazelroth 351-8815
Sixth Grade Scott Sirek 351-8822
Special Education Jennifer Weber 351-8814
Psychologist Amy Coad 351-8843
Librarian Norma Wilson 351-8809
Speech Dierdre Worrell 351-8817
Student Advocate Jessica Stephenson 351-8843
Read With Me Brigid Sandager 351-8814
Media/Tech Para Joann Lucks 351-8811
Paraprofessional Karen Shoemaker 351-8800
Paraprofessional Jackie Patrick 351-8800
Paraprofessional Bridget Sundgaard 351-8800
Paraprofessional Rachel Roushey 351-8800
Preschool Libby Stanton 351-8832
Music/Band Megan Holroyd 351-8833
Phy Ed Karla Krick 351-8829
Orchestra Laura Hebert 351-8800
Kitchen Traci Monsour 351-8812
Adventure Club Juli Pertz 351-8821
Adventure Club Ronni Collison 351-8821
School Beliefs & Hours v
District #834 Mission Statement
To ensure a rigorous and relevant education where all learners are valued, positive relationships are developed, and students are prepared for life-long learning in a global society.
Academic Year and Hours
The school year is 175 days long. School hours are 9:00 AM through 3:30 PM for grades K-6. On Late Start Days, school begins at 11:00 AM, with the normal hot lunch schedule (see calendar for specific dates).
School Arrival
For the safety of students, if you are dropping off students before school or picking them up after school, please use the parking lot on the east side of the school and wait until buses have departed.
Discipline Behavior Expectations v
School Rules
· Respect Self
· Respect Others
· Respect Property
Attendance
Minnesota State Statute requires that children attend school. For students under the age of 12, it is presumed that it is a parental responsibility. If a child is going to miss a school day, the parent or guardian must notify the school (see more information under Communications section). If a child is absent without lawful excuse on three or more days, school personnel must intervene with the help of parents. After 7 unexcused absences the child will be considered habitually truant and a report will be made to Washington County Community Services.
Discipline at Withrow School
Students at Withrow School are expected to act in a responsible manner that will reflect positively on our school. We ask that you work with school staff in establishing expectations for your child’s behavior that will result in positive habits both in school and at home. Inappropriate student behavior disrupts the educational program of all students. Each classroom teacher will review and explain the school rules. For a description of district discipline policy, please contact the school office.
Dress Code / School Attire
Although we have no specific dress code at Withrow School, we expect that children dress in a manner that does not disrupt the learning environment. Clothing with inappropriate language, advertising, or drawings is unacceptable. Hats are not to be worn in school nor are shoes with rollers that pop out to permit a student to roller-skate.
Homework
The assignment of homework is encouraged only when it can be seen to be beneficial to the student. Homework often grows out of a student’s interests or needs. Considerations must be given to child development, home responsibility and outside activities.
Textbook Loss / Damage
Textbooks issued to students become the responsibility of the student. Loss or unreasonable wear and tear will result in the student being charged for the replacement cost, minus normal depreciation. Please join us in our efforts to encourage your child / children to be responsible for the care of all school property. Please be sure all school owned text and library books are returned. In the event of loss or damage, please make compensation to the school district promptly.
Lunch Program v
Hot Lunch Program
Starting in September 2012 all schools will have new meal regulations to follow. For a meal to be sold students MUST have at least 1/2 cup of fruit or vegetable on their tray.We will encourage all students to take a full lunch, however,if the required amount of fruits or vegetables is not chosen students will be charged ala carte prices for that meal.
Please encourage your child to takea nutritious, well-balanced meal that includes fruits and vegetables.It's still the best deal around!
All students have the option of eating a hot lunch or bringing a bag lunch from home. There is a computerized meal system, which is handled through the Food Service Department. All students will receive a card with their Personal Identification Number (PIN). The number will remain the same from year to year. We encourage students to prepay for a week or more. The costs at this point are (although they are subject to change):
$ 2.30 for one meal
$ 11.50 for five meals
$ 46.00 for 20 meals
$ .45 for Milk or additional Milk
Students eligible for free or reduced meals should check the pricing outlined in the approval letter from the District. Please place checks or cash in an envelope with your child’s name, PIN number, teachers name and amount enclosed. There is a mail box in the lunchroom for the envelopes. Deposits will be made to the student’s account if they are received before 9:30 AM that day. When a child’s balance is less than $ 3.00, he/she will be reminded to bring money and may elect to have a stamp on his/her hand as another reminder. Note: Adult meals are available for $3.40 each.
An easy method to pay your child’s meal account is ALWAYS AVAILABLE!
You can make payments to your child’s meal account via the internet. Payments can be made by going to www.PayPams.com and setting up your account. You will need to have your credit card information, and your child’s pin number or student ID (email us at: if you need assistance.)
All services on PayPAMS are offered free of charge to parents. There are no per-transaction fees for making online payments or for accessing any of the features on PayPAMS!
Additional features available at no charge:
· Schedule automatic payments based on meal account balance
· Access account balance and account history online
· Receive e-mail notification on balance status
· Receive e-mail confirmation for online payments
· Register multiple students under one account
For more details, please go to www.stillwater.k12.mn.us/834 and click on
Departments then Food Services.
Getting to School v
Waiting for the Bus
1. Students must be at the bus stop before the bus arrives.
2. Students will form a single line at the bus stop. Jumping this line or reserving places for those who arrive late will not be permitted.
3. Students should respect the property rights of those people who own homes adjacent to bus stops by not trespassing on their lawns.
4. Students should not engage in horseplay while waiting for the bus.
5. Students must stand at least ten feet from the bus as it arrives at a given bus stop and remain there until the door opens.
Bus Behavior
1. The bus driver is in complete charge of student conduct on the bus except on field trips when another supervisor is in charge.
2. Students must follow the driver’s instructions relative to seating arrangements.
3. All students must be seated while the bus is in motion.
4. Students should keep their head, hands or arms inside the bus.
5. Unnecessary yelling, swearing or bad manners will not be tolerated.
6. Eating, drinking, or smoking, are never permitted on the bus.
7. Vandalism to the bus, its equipment or the property of other students is inexcusable.
Students responsible for willful damage to property are
expected to make restitution.
Bus Discipline Policy
1. The school bus driver will remind students when they are not following school bus rules. Bus drivers may require students to sit in assigned seats if their behavior warrants.
2. A student who does not follow the bus rules and/or continues to argue with the bus driver will be referred in writing to the school principal.
3. Any bus problem referred to the building principal will be considered a serious problem. In all cases, the principal will discuss the incident with the student, the bus driver, and student’s parents.
4. After three bus violations, the student may lose bus privileges. However, if the bus violation is severe, the principal may suspend bus riding privileges after one or two violations. The school bus driver does not have the authority to suspend riding privileges but may make a recommendation to the school principal. The building principal will make the decision that the student should lose riding privileges for a period of time. Parents will be notified of such action prior to actual revocation of privileges.
5. Once the student has lost his/her bus privileges for a period of time and then regained them, the student may be suspended from the bus for longer periods of time upon receipt of another bus violation referral.
Students must ride only on the bus designated by the director of transportation, unless the student brings a written note from home and the principal approves the riding of an alternate bus.
Bicycles
The Withrow School area is not a safe area for bike riding by younger children. Therefore, we strongly recommend that only those students in grades four through six ride their bikes and only when the weather is suitable. Students who are riding their bike home may leave the school grounds after the buses have cleared the parking lot. Students must bring a note, signed by a parent/guardian if they wish to ride their bikes to/from school. The school district assumes no responsibility for students who ride bikes to school.
Skateboards and skates of any kind are not permitted at school! Scooters and bicycles can be ridden ONLY to and from school, and are not to be used on school property.
Health Issues v
Illness/Injury at School
When a student becomes ill or injured at school, they are evaluated by health office staff. The parent/guardian or designated emergency contact will be notified if the student needs to go home or if parent/guardian consultation is needed. It is essential that the school have current contact information on file in the office. In an emergency situation, 911 will be called.
Illness - A student should stay home with:
ü Upper respiratory/cold symptoms, with frequent coughing and/or runny nose with green or yellow drainageü Diarrhea/vomiting within the last 24 hours
ü Strep throat (out until 24 hours after start of antibiotic
ü Fever of 100 degrees or greater within the last 24 hours, without the use of fever reducing medication
ü Ear pain with drainage
ü Head lice – child will be excluded from school until treated and no live lice are seen / ü Chicken pox until the pox are crusted over – approximately 7 days after eruptions appear
ü An open wound that cannot be covered
ü Impetigo or ringworm until a physician’s
permission is provided
ü Measles – a minimum of 5 days after rash appears
ü Mumps – until swelling and fever are gone
For any questions, please call the school health staff.
When a child becomes ill at school, we contact parents requesting the child be taken home. For those occasions when the parent can’t be reached by telephone, we contact the person identified in the child’s enrollment information as the one who will be responsible for the care of the child. It is important that the school be given information in case of illness or other emergency. If a student must leave school because of illness, parents are expected to furnish transportation.
Health Assessment & Immunization Requirements
Each student, upon entering Kindergarten, shall submit a report of physical examination to the school health room. If a parent or legal guardian objects to such physical examination on constitutional grounds, they shall notify the principal of such in writing. Per Minnesota State Law 121A.15, any child entering a Minnesota public school must submit a statement from a physician or public clinic which states that the child has received adequate immunizations against measles, rubella, mumps, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, chicken pox and hepatitis B. All immunizations must include the day, month, and year for each immunization. A parent/guardian may decide not to have their child immunized due to conscientiously held beliefs. If so, a notarized statement must be submitted to the school. If a student is medically exempt from receiving an immunization, a physician signed statement must be submitted to the school. No student may be enrolled or remain enrolled in any elementary or secondary school within District 834 until the student or the students parent or guardian has submitted the required information.
Medications
Diagnosis and treatment of illness and the prescribing of medication are never the responsibility of school personnel. The following procedures must be completed before a medication (either prescription or over the counter) may be administered to a student at school:
a. A written authorization from parent/guardian and
b. A signed order from the licensed prescriber stating the name and dose of medication,