MERIDIAN COMMUNITY UNIT SCHOOL DISTRICT #223
SCHOOL DISTRICT PHILOSOPHY
The School District, in an active partnership with parents and community, will promote excellence in a caring environment in which all students learn and grow. This partnership shall empower all students to develop strong self-esteem and to become responsible learners and decision-makers. The School District is committed to developing and using a visionary and innovative curriculum and a knowledgeable and dedicated staff.
ADMINISTRATION
Mr. Bob Prusator
Meridian Superintendent of Schools645-2606
Mr. Michael Mandzen
Stillman Valley High School Principal645-2291
Mr. Steve Stewart
High School Athletic Director645-2291
Mr. Jeff Voltz
High School Assistant Principal645-2291
Mr. Bill Davidson
Meridian Junior High School Principal645-2277
Mrs. Leslie Showers
Meridian Junior High Assistant Principal645-2277
Mr. Adam Zurko
Monroe Center Grade School Principal393-4424
Mr. Mike Coulahan
Highland Elementary School Principal645-8188
Board of Education - Meridian Unit District #223
Mr. Ron Steenken - PresidentMrs. Barb Reeverts - Vice-President
Mrs. Debra BonneMr. Bruce Larson
Mr. Tim JagielskiMr. Tim King, and
Mr. Kevin Glendenning
The Board of Education meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month at
7:00 P.M. in the District Boardroom at Meridian Junior High. Check the district
web page at for specific dates and times.
2008-2009 School Personnel
Highland Teaching Staff
Early Childhood- Ms. Kristin Kendzie
Pre-Kindergarten- Mrs. Allison Hickerson
Kindergarten (KJ)- Mrs. Courtney Jones
Kindergarten (KS)- Mrs. Jacqui Shaver
Kindergarten (KB)- Mrs. Angel Ballard
Kindergartern (KBO)- Mrs. Julie Boelkins
Kindergarten (KR)- Ms. Cindy Raimer
First Grade (1A)- Ms. Laura Allton
First Grade (1C)- Mrs. Ellen Cook
First Grade (1CO)- Mrs. Angela Collins
First Grade (1M)- Mrs. Nicole Martinez
First Grade (1WE)- Mrs. Jean Welker
First Grade (1W)- Mrs. Jaime Williams
Second Grade (2E)- Mrs. Darci Eisele
Second Grade (2G)- Mrs. Diane Griffith
Second Grade (2H)- Mrs. Lisa Hilliard
Second Grade (2LI)- Mrs. Sarah Lindwall
Second Grade (2R)- Ms. Renie Rippel
Second Grade (2S)- Mrs. Deb Simmering
Resource/LD Teacher- Mrs. Elizabeth Rodriguez
Bilingual Teacher - Mr. Ryan Brown
Grant Counselor - Mrs. Stephanie Haugh
Counselors- Ms. Noelle Herzel, Mrs. Linda Marini, and Mrs. Heidi Oltmanns
Title I Reading Teachers- Mrs. Patricia Burke and Mrs. Julie Foss
Physical Education- Mr. Richard Fritz
Speech- Mrs. Michele Schaub
Music- Mrs. Diane Knight
Art- Ms. Monika Wolarek
School Psychologist - Ms. Jennifer Derricks
Librarian- Mrs. Dana Brooks
Education Support Personnel
Office Manager- Mrs. Jody Bennett
Administrative Assistant- Mrs. Kim Rippentrop
Instructional Assistants- Mrs. Dawn Typer, Mrs. Libby Meyer,
School Nurses - Mrs. Kim Flynn and Mrs. Joyce Turnipseed
School Cooks- Mrs. Gina Person and Mrs. Janet Hake
Library Aide- Mrs. Judy Uchno
Head Custodian- Mr. Dave Babcock
Night Custodians- Mr. Victor Bozzi and Ms. Cathy Bozzi
Prekindergarten Assistant- Mrs. Sue Grebener
Early Childhood Assistant- Mrs. Karen Feldhaus
English Second Language Asst. - Mr. Victor Teran
Individual Student Assistants- Mrs. Leigh Whitmire, Mrs. Carla Regez, Mrs. Danielle Ducey
Mrs. Christine Horton, and Mrs. Renee Szymanski
Lunch/Recess Assistants- Mrs. Tammy Pierson and Mrs. Claire Winter
Highland Elementary School Calendar
2008-2009
August 14 & 15Teacher’s Institute
August 18Half-day attendance for students
August 19First Full Day of School / Full Day all students
August 29School Improvement Day / Early Release at 12:00 noon
September 1Labor Day - No School
September 11Highland Open House and Book Fair
September 24School Improvement Day / Early Release at 12:00 noon
October 10Teachers’ Institute – No School
October 16 Picture Retake Day
October 17 End of First Nine Weeks
October 28Parent-Teacher Conferences
October 31Halloween Parade - 2:00 p.m., Party - 2:30 p.m.
November 3Parent–Teacher Conferences
November 7 School Improvement Day / Early Release at 12:00 noon
November 11Veteran’s Day – No School
November 26-28 Thanksgiving - No School
December 19Holiday Party – 2:30 p.m.
December 19End of First Semester
December 20- January 4Winter Break - No School
January 5School Resumes – Begin Second Semester
January 19Martin Luther King’s Birthday – No School
February 13School Improvement Day / Early Release at 12:00 noon
February 16Presidents’ Day – No School
March 3Spring Picture Day
March 6 End of Third Nine Weeks
March 23- 27 Spring Break - No School
March 30 School Resumes
April 9School Improvement Day / Early Release at 12:00 noon May 20
April 10Good Friday – No School
May 21Teacher’ Institute - No School
May 22Last Day of School / Report Card Day (Later - If snow days used.)
*Snow days will be made up as needed.
5 Emergency days would end the school year on Monday, June 1, 2009
THE MERIDIAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT #223 IS A NON-DISCRIMINATING SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SCHOOL FEES
Parents frequently ask why we have a book fee and what the fee supplies. State law forbids school boards from distributing textbooks to students without charge unless the voters have approved a special enabling referendum. Voters in District #223 have not been asked to approve such a referendum. School fees are payable registration day. These fees defray the cost of the hard and soft covered books used by the students.
Kindergarten fees are $35.00.
First Grade and Second Grade fees are $40.00.
Checks should be made payable to the Meridian Unit District #223.
NOTICE TO PARENTS
This is to advise you that you may be eligible for a waiver of student fees if you receive public aid; if your gross household income is under that set out in federal guidelines for free lunches; or if you are otherwise able to establish that you cannot afford to pay these fees. Applications requesting waiver of fees should be submitted to the principal at the time of registration. Forms for submission of such requests are available in each principal’s office. The use of false information to obtain such waiver is a felony under Illinois law. Any inquiries should be directed to the principal of the building in which your child is enrolled.
SCHOOL HOURS
Kindergarten 8:50 A.M. to 1:20 P.M.
Early Childhood and Prekindergarten 8:50 A.M. – 11:20 A.M. or 12:50 P.M. – 3:20 P.M.
Grades 1 and 2 8:50 A.M. to 3:20 P.M.
ARRIVAL TIME
Every parent should see that the children do not arrive at school before 8:40. We do not have available play areas inside the building nor adequate supervision to permit children to come to school long before school starts. Bus students will be admitted upon their arrival to school.
Arrival by Car
Parents driving children to Highland School should drop off their students on the East side of the building. Parking is available in the East parking lot (lot closest to the high school). Prekindergarten and early childhood students must be escorted into the building by an adult.
BEFORE SCHOOL RULES
- Students should arrive at school after 8:40 a.m. unless special arrangements have been made. Outdoor supervision is limited before school.
- Quiet and orderly behavior is expected in the main lobby.
- After the bell rings, students will walk to their rooms.
Admission
Requirements for entering Kindergarten:
1. Verification of birth date (Birth certificate)
2. Submission of a completed physical and dental examination
3. Five (5) years old on or before September 1 of the current school year
4. Requirements for entering first grade: same as above if entering school for the first time, except that the child must be six (6) years old on before September 1 of the current school year.
Birthdays
Birthdays are a time of celebration! Your child may provide a treat for his or her classmates in honor of the occasion. Check with your child’s teacher to confirm a good time for enjoying the treat.
Birthday party invitations are to be mailed from or distributed from home. Invitations may be distributed at school only when all children in the class are invited.
CAFETERIA RULES
- Follow directions.
- Enter, remain in, and leave the cafeteria in a quiet orderly manner.
- Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
- Use appropriate table manners at all times.
- Students must wait for the supervisor to dismiss them before they clean up and properly dispose of all items on the table and floor in their area before leaving the cafeteria.
- After cleanup activities are completed students are to exit the cafeteria to the lineup area.
- Hot lunch students are expected to keep their food on their plates.
- Parents may have lunch with their child at school as long as the office is notified by 9:00 a.m. to add the adult to the lunch count.
LUNCH PRICES
A hot lunch will be served daily in the school cafeteria. Lunch prices will be $1.35 for students and $2.00 for adults. Milk is 25¢ each. All hot lunches must be paid for in advance (no charges.)
LUNCH PROGRAM
Checks for payment of lunch fees should be made payable to Meridian Community Unit #223.
Lunch Program
(From the School District Office)
Meridian Community School District #223 has completed four years of using a food service payor account program. The payor needs to be the same person listed as guardian on the registration form.
All students are given a lunch card with a barcode. The lunch card is wanded and items purchased are then subtracted from the payor account. This system is used like a debit card, not a credit card. Therefore, money needs to be in your account. This is a prepaid program. Meridian C.U.S.D. #223 realizes that for families with more than one student, it may be easy to lose track of how much may be left in your payor account. The cost of the lunch at Highland and Monroe Center is $1.35, which is $6.75 per week. The cost of the lunch at Meridian Junior High and Stillman Valley High School is $1.50, which is $7.50 per week. Lunch includes 1 milk: additional milk is $.25. If your student eats ala carte items, prices of ala carte items vary from $.15 to $1.65. Payor balance notices are distributed to your student(s) at each school about twice a month. Remember to ask your student(s) to give you your payor balance sheet when they get it. If you would ever want more detailed account information, please contact your student’s school.
Money can be deposited into your payor account at any of the schools your student(s) attend. There is a 5% incentive for any amount deposited over $20.00. So, for a $20.00 deposit - $21.00 is added to your payor account, $25.00 deposit - $26.50 is added to your payor account, etc. No incentive is added for negative balances.
FREE LUNCH PROGRAM
Free lunch applications are available registration day or may be picked up in the school office. The Superintendent of Schools follows established federal guidelines for the free and reduced lunch program in determining a family’s eligibility for the program.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION CLASSES
All students are required to participate in organized physical education classes. This year, students will be required to participate in physical education five days a week. The policies pertaining to these requirements follow.
1. All boys and girls are required to have tennis shoes for physical education classes. They should be marked with the student’s name.
2. If a student is physically unable to participate in physical education class or if certain restrictions are required due to poor health, a note from the student’s doctor should be presented to the physical education teacher as soon as this condition is evident. The doctor’s note should indicate the restriction specifically.
3. A daily excuse from gym must be accompanied by a parent’s note and presented to the gym teacher before gym class. It is strongly urged that parents use discretion in providing this type of excuse. Often, physical activity serves a therapeutic purpose for students who don’t feel up to par or who are returning to school after an illness. In such cases, the parent’s request will be honored.
OFFICE HOURS AND POLICIES
The school office is officially open from 7:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. each day, Monday through Friday. Your principal plans an “Open Door Policy.” This means that all may feel free to come in to discuss matters with the principal at any time. Many times a school administrator is required to be out of his office for different reasons. For your convenience, it might be wise to call to make an appointment prior to coming. If you do not mind taking a chance on waiting to see the principal, you may come at your convenience.
USE OF SCHOOL PHONE
Messages will be taken for students and teachers, but it is not always possible to deliver these immediately. Parents wishing to confer with teachers on the phone are requested to limit their calls to before school, noontime, and after school. Students are not allowed to use the school phones except in cases of emergencies.
BOOK REFUND POLICY
Any student entering Highland Grade School during the first semester shall pay the full year’s price for books. A student entering during the second semester will pay one-half the full year’s price for books.
One-half the full year’s price will be refunded to anyone leaving during the first semester. A student leaving during the second semester will not receive a refund for books. All partially used books will be returned to the office so they may be used for new students entering school.
ADDRESS CHANGE
It is important that we have at all times your address and telephone number. This information is especially important in cases of emergency. Please notify Mrs. Bennett or Mrs. Rippentrop in the school office immediately upon changing your address or telephone number.
TRANSFERS
When a child is to be transferred from Highland Grade School to another district, please notify the school office at least one week in advance. This will enable the teacher to complete necessary records. A transfer slip will be prepared which the parent or child may pick up the last day of the child’s attendance. School records will be forwarded upon request by the receiving school.
HOMEWORK
Our policy is limited or controlled homework. The purpose of homework is to strengthen or increase skills. Homework is in the nature of enrichment activity, such as specific practice or drill, i.e. the multiplication tables, etc. Children in grades 1 and 2 will have some homework.
Homework Policy for Excused Absences
For each day a student is absent, the student will have one school day to complete missed work. Homework will not be sent home for children who are sick until they have missed two (2) consecutive attendance days. Homework sent home must be completed when student returns to school.
Homework Policy for Vacationing Students
Students requesting homework due to vacations should make the request a week before leaving. Completion of this work is expected upon returning from vacation. Unforeseen circumstances will be taken into consideration.
Sick Policy
Completion of schoolwork missed due to illness should be turned in within a reasonable amount of time after the student's return to class. A request for homework for students who are ill should be made by 11:00 A.M. of the second day they are absent. This work should be picked up at the end of the school day. Special requests for homework will be accommodated when possible.
ATTENDANCE
It is essential for children to attend school regularly in order to obtain maximum benefit from their education. Our school district State Aid reimbursement to schools is determined by our school’s average daily attendance. It is the responsibility of parents or guardians to see to it that their children attend school regularly.
The Highland Grade School absence policy has the following classifications:
Excused absence - personal illness, contagious disease in a family, emergencies in a family - these constitute a satisfactory excuse to be fully credited when made up.
If your child is ill and will not be attending school, please call the school and report his/her illness prior to 9:00 A.M. The school nurse will call your home or work by 9:30 am if you have not called in.
Attendance Guidelines
Kdg.Less than 120 minutes- 0 day credit
120 or more - ½ day credit
1STLess than 120 minutes - 0 day credit
120 or 239 minutes - ½ day credit
240 or more - 1 full day
2ndLess than 150 minutes - 0 day credit
150 to 299 minutes - ½ day credit
300 or more - 1 full day
Please note that 2nd grade is required by IL State Law to attend more minutes than Kdg. and 1st.
IMPORTANT – DO NOT COUNT LUNCH TIME OR NOON RECESS ATTENDANCE MINUTES. Example: if a child comes in at 10:00 and leaves at 2:00, attendance would be four hours minus 40 minutes, or 3 hours and 20 minutes.
PARENTS SHOULD SEND A WRITTEN EXCUSE ON THE CHILD’S RETURN TO SCHOOL CLEARLY STATING THE REASON FOR EACH ABSENCE OR TARDINESS.
Unexcused absence –
- Vacation days in excess of five are considered unexcused absences.
- 2 tardies or 2 early outs are considered as ½ day unexcused absence.
- Doctor or dentist’s notes are to be turned in upon return to school or the absence is considered
unexcused.
- Take your Child to Work Day is considered an unexcused absence.
- When a student is sent home due to pediculosis (head lice), the first day of absence is considered excused. Children must be treated that day and sent back to school the next day or that day is considered unexcused.
After 9 unexcused absences, a referral will be made to the Ogle County Truancy Outreach Program. It is the policy of the school that time and work missed because of an unexcused absence or tardiness must be made up to the satisfaction of the teacher in a reasonable length of time. However, full credit cannot be given when absence from a class is unexcused.
EARLY DISMISSAL
Teachers have been instructed not to excuse any child without a written or personal request from parent or guardian, nor to permit any child to go from the school premises with an unidentified person. This has been done in order to help protect your child. The exception to this will be for scheduled events. When a child leaves early the office should be notified when that child is leaving the building. Two early dismissals shall count as ½ day unexcused absence.