Important School Phone Numbers:

Eisenhower/XinXing Office952-988-4300 (7:30 am – 4:30 pm)

Attendance Line952-988-4310

Fax Line952-988-4314

Nurse952-988-4304

Kids & Company952-988-4274

Transportation952-988-4115

School Bus Hotline952-988-5320

School Closing Weather Line952-988-4019

School Nutrition-Royal Cuisine952-988-4060

Welcome to Eisenhower Elementary/XinXing Academy! We are so pleased that you will be part of our community this year. Research shows that when families are involved in their children’s education, children do better in school. We look forward to an active partnership with parents and families, and our staff is dedicated to building strong relationships with mutual trust and commitment. We have compiled this booklet as a handy reference for parents and students. It includes important contact information, programs and services, and policies and procedures. If you have any suggestions to make this handbook more useful, please let us know!

It is very important that we create a school community that will prepare children to thrive in our global society. As our society continues to grow and change, it is important that we keep up with the fast-paced needs of our children. At Eisenhower Elementary/XinXing Academy, we are constantly analyzing our programs to ensure the highest level of student achievement. Our goals are revised annually based on student performance and family and community needs. In recent years this process has guided us in continuing to develop our common vision of one school with two programs, creating a safe and positive learning environment that is grounded in cultural competence and equity, implementing instructional strategies that ensure personalized learning and academic achievement, and strengthening our family and community partnerships. This dedication to success ensures that students at Eisenhower Elementary/XinXing Academy continue to grow and excel academically and socially.

Every family in our community is important to us! We welcome your involvement and participation in our school. When families and schools work in partnership, the possibilities for students are endless. We are fully committed to working closely with you in support of your child’s success. If you have questions about anything contained in this handbook, please feel free to reach us through any of the contacts in this booklet.

We believe that education is the gateway to the future in this ever-changing world. Through our partnership and continued dedication to excellence, we will prepare our children for a successful future. We are looking forward to an amazing year!

Sincerely,

Paul DomerSara Schmidt

PrincipalAssistant Principal

A complete list of Hopkins School Board Policies can be found at

Part I: General Information

Arrival and Dismissal

We have over 800 students in the building so safety must be our number one priority. To ensure student safety, please follow these procedures:

Students should not arrive at school before 8:45 am. At this time school staff will provide supervision. School begins at 8:58 am. School end time is 3:30 p.m. Please make sure you child is picked up at that time. All Students must be picked up by 3:45 p.m. as there is no student supervision after that time. If these hours are difficult for your family please consider Kids and Co. as a before and/or after school option.

If it is necessary for your child to leave school early for an appointment, you must come to the school reception area and sign your child out. The receptionist will call the classroom for your child. Please do not go directly to the classroom or expect your child to be waiting in the office. Allow time for these transitions for the safety of your child as well as others. Sending a note to the teacher prior to an appointment is helpful and appreciated.

When your child returns during the day from an appointment, he/she must stop in the office and let the office staff know he/she has returned.

Absence Reporting Procedures

In the event that your child will not attend school or will be tardy on a particular day, please leave a message on the attendance voicemail line before the start of the school day. Please leave the following information:

• Student’s name • Teacher’s name• Reason for absence or tardy

If your child is absent and you have not left a message, you will be contacted by our Connect Ed system. It is very important to call the school to make sure your child has excused absences or tardies.

The attendance number for Eisenhower/XinXing is 952-988-4310.

Regular attendance at school is very important, however, there are times when a child should be kept home. Please check our Health Service section for guidelines in determining whether your child should remain home and for a list of communicable diseases that must be reported to the school nurse.

Students are expected to make up work missed because of tardiness or absences. If your child will be absent due to travel or some reason other than illness, please contact the school office and your child’s teacher before the absence.

Buses

Prior to the start of the school year you will receive a mailing with student’s information on their assigned bus stops, bus number and approximate pick-up time. If you have questions regarding bus transportation, please call the transportation office at 952-988-4115.

If your child is to ride a bus other than his/her own assigned bus, a note from home should be sent to your child’s teacher, who will fill out forms for the office and for the bus driver indicating permission has been granted for this change from routine. Changes to a child’s transportation home must be made in advance to insure the child’s safety.

After-school activity rides should be set up in advance so that a phone call home is not necessary. If there is a change of plans for your child to ride the bus home, please call the office by 2:00 pm to let us know of the changes. Teachers are not able to answer the phone while teaching and may not receive the message on time.

Whether your child rides a bus to and from school, or only on field trips, the goal of the Hopkins School District is for every child to have a safe, comfortable, and orderly ride. Please discuss with your child basic guidelines for safe bus behavior found in Section III of this handbook. Remember, school bus transportation is a privilege, not a right, and will be withdrawn for inappropriate behavior.

For the safety of all students, parents may not pick up their child from the bus-loading zone.

Calendar

The school board adopts the school calendar annually. A copy of the school calendar can be found on the district’s website at

Class Assignments

A team of teachers, the counselor, and the principal develops classroom assignments of students. The process aims to develop classes that are balanced in terms of students’ abilities, strengths, and needs. Tentative class lists are developed in the spring and finalized the week before school starts after adding students from summer registrations. In the spring, parents/guardians may become part of this process by sharing information about your child, such as academic strengths and weaknesses, special abilities, specific needs and social concerns. If desired, parents/guardians may complete a form that is available in the office to communicate this information to the class placement team.

Communication

Regular communication between school and families is a hallmark of our learning community. Our staff initiates communications via phone calls, notes, student achievement reports, and conferences. The school newsletter is sent out every 2 weeks to parent email accounts and in some cases in student backpacks. Other notices are sent out in your child’s backpack in their “Friday Folder” or may be found in our Electronic Backpack at The Hopkins District web site: is another source of information about school events for families with INTERNET access.

If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher, the principal, or the office. The successful learning of our students is dependent upon our communication. Teachers’ and staff telephone numbers are listed in the school directory and on the Eisenhower/XinXing web site: You may also call the office to be transferred to the teacher’s voice mailbox. Please note that classroom phones do not typically ring during the school day so instruction is not interrupted. If you need to get a message to your child, contact the school office before 3:00 pm to allow time for your message to be delivered before the end of the school day.

Employment Background Checks – Board Policy 404

The purpose of this policy is to maintain a safe and healthful environment in the School District in order to promote the physical, social and psychological well being of its students. To that end, the School District will seek a criminal history background check for applicants who receive an offer of employment with the School District or other background checks as provided by this policy. The School District may also elect to do background checks of volunteers, independent contractors, and student employees in the School District.

Events

A calendar of school district events is available for reference on the Hopkins web site at Frequent updates on upcoming events are also sent home through separate flyers or in the school newsletter. Listed below are some of the annual Eisenhower/XinXing events to look for:

  • Concerts and performances occur throughout the year in vocal music, band and orchestra.
  • Fall Festival is the major family event of the year. Games, food and fun are all part of this Fall Festival.
  • The Reading Event is an opportunity for your child to discover the fun of reading by participating in activities relating to a school-wide theme and keeping track of time spent reading done at home.
  • The Imagination/Art Fair occurs in March. Students use their creativity to create something they would like to share. Every student is encouraged to participate.
  • Spring Fling is a school community celebration for both traditional Eisenhower and XinXing Academy programs. The focus is on visual art and music performance. Every student, grades PreK-6, will have an original piece of artwork hanging in the hallways, as our school transforms into an art gallery for the evening. Also, students in grades 1-4 will sing song selections in the school theater. Dinner is available for purchase, each student can use a coupon for a free treat, and there is a scavenger hunt throughout the museum for free prizes too.
  • Field Day is a school-wide community day of fun, supporting physical activity and building team and school spirit. During Field Day, grade levels are out on the field together, rotating through five stations. Stations are run by parent volunteers and include games such as costume relay, tug-of-strength, water bucket relay, pizza box relay, and potato sack relay. All students enjoy some fresh fruit after heading back into class.

Fees – Board Policy 555

The School Board is dedicated to the principle that the acquisitions of an education in the public school system should not be dependent upon the ability of a student or family to pay school fees.

Food in the Classroom

Children may bring a healthy snack to school each day. Teachers allow time during the day for children to have a healthy snack. Snacks high in sugar and/or caffeine are discouraged. We recommend a snack from one of the food groups rather than a high-energy treat. If you chose to send a birthday treat with your student, it must be non-edible.

Food Services

Meal Prices: Breakfast - Free for all students

Lunch - $2.70 elementary students; $3.70 adult lunch

As per new state guidelines “Free/Reduced” price is $0.

The Royal Cuisine Department creates healthy and exciting meals for students as well as nutrition education opportunities. We’re going back to the basics by cooking meals from scratch and offering more fresh products, including an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. The Royal Cuisine department is committed to its mission statement: As a nurturing culinary team, we are committed to providing learners with healthy and diverse choices and nutritional and sensory experiences through education, and will foster community involvement and partnerships while providing extended culinary services.

Students may purchase a lunch consisting of an entrée, along with fruit, vegetable, bread, and milk. Another option is the daily salad or sandwich special. For students who bring lunch, milk is available for purchase. Menus and meal prices may be found on the Web at

Our school’s student dining department uses a computerized accounting system. After going through the lunch line, each child enters his or her Personal Identification Number (PIN) on the keypad. Students will receive their PIN the first day of school. Families may put money into their student’s lunch account any day of the week. To put money into accounts, send a check (made out to Hopkins Royal Cuisine) with your child. Please place check in an envelope labeled “lunch money,” with the student’s name and teacher’s name. You may also use the Automated Payment System or PAMS Lunchroom, the web-based account system. Information regarding these options is available on the Web at The phone number for the automated payment system is 888-994-5100 or online

Students approved for free lunches will automatically receive one lunch per school day. Free or reduced lunch applications are available in the school office. Families must fill out a new form each year. Please keep track of the amount of money your student has remaining in his/her account.

When your child uses their last lunch credit, his or her hand will be stamped. This will be a signal to you that your child has no lunch credits left in his or her account. A borrowing system is in place for those occasional urgent situations when a child needs it. Payment may be made the next day for these emergencies. Please avoid repeated use of this borrowing system because funds are limited.

We strive to make our mealtimes enjoyable and relaxing for our students. The following are the expectations for students in the cafeteria.

  • Students are expected to remain seated in the cafeteria – moving from table to table is not permitted.
  • Students are expected to maintain a reasonable tone of conversation.
  • After picking up the table area, students will be excused by our lunchroom supervisor.
  • Trash must be recycled in the appropriate containers.

We cordially invite family members to join us for lunch when it is convenient for you, you do not need to make “reservations.”

Lost and Found

The lost-and-found area is located near the entrance to the lunchroom. Please check the area periodically for misplaced articles of clothing or school supplies. Small or expensive articles are brought to the office. We will donate unclaimed items to a charitable organization 2-3 times per year. Parents will be notified before the date of donation.

Media Center and Technology

Eisenhower/XinXing features an outstanding media center and staff. Our media center and technology resources enhance the learning experiences of all members of our learning community. We have a licensed media specialist who works with students and staff. The Media paraprofessional assists both students and staff in the media center. Our technology specialist helps to coordinate our laptops, iPads, and computer lab maintenance, the computer network, and software. We have an excellent book collection that includes a growing collection of Chinese books. The library collection complements our curriculum and meets needs of all reading levels. Eisenhower/XinXing media resources feature electronic access to encyclopedias, interactive books, eBooks, and online resources used for students’ research projects and learning. Students and staff avail themselves to many different technologies; all classrooms are linked by both computer and video networks. Watch as we continue to use media and technology to strengthen learning, instruction, and curriculum. For more information please call the Eisenhower/XinXing Media Center (952) 988-4292, or visit the Eisenhower/XinXing Media Center web site that is accessed through the district web address,

Book Replacement

As we purchase library books, we make selections we hope will serve Eisenhower/XinXing students for a number of years. Due to the sizable investment we make in learning materials, we ask that you reimburse the school for the replacement cost of lost or damaged books. This will insure

the availability of materials for current and future students.

Internet Use

Computers and technology are important resources in our children’s learning. Our students and teachers have many materials available to them via technologies that enhance, enrich, and extend learning experiences and the district curriculum.

The Internet is a resource that students may use for research and information. These resources provide many excellent sites for our students; however, there are places on the net that are not appropriate for children.

Our goal is our children’s safe and appropriate use of the computer and technology resources. Our school district has installed a filtering program that blocks sites that are deemed inappropriate. While these filtering programs are effective, an important part of our technology education program is teaching our students the proper, appropriate, and ethical uses of these resources. Our classroom teachers, media specialist, and school staff do this on an ongoing basis. We emphasize education, supervision by staff, clearly defined expectations, and user agreements.