Mr. Jay Mortensen, Assistant Superintendent

ADMINISTRATION

Dr. Linda Besett, Superintendent

Mr. Jay Mortensen, Assistant Superintendent

Mr. Dennis Nicholson, Assistant

BOARD of EDUCATION

Mr. Randy J. Manning, President

Mr. Gary D. Ray, Vice-President

Mr. Stanley R. King, Secretary

Mr. Glen Duncan, Member

Mrs. Bernadette Todacheene, Member

NASCHITTI SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION

Ms. Pandora Bidtah, Principal, Naschitti Elementary School

Mrs. Malinda Morris, Secretary, Naschitti Elementary School

Mrs. Irene George, Receptionist, Naschitti Elementary School

MISSION STATEMENT

“Naschitti Elementary School is committed to providing education

excellence

in a safe and accepting environment where students make responsible

choices to

achieve their highest potential”

Naschitti Elementary School Faculty/Administration

Philosophy and Belief System

The Faculty/Administration believe it to be the responsibility of the school to educate each child should be accepted as an individual, with needs and capacities and motivated to achieve to the fullest of their individual capabilities, subsequently becoming a responsible member of our American society.

The school should provide a stimulating environment and an opportunity for learning experiences. These experiences should be designed to promote behavioral development that will effect a continuing, satisfactory adjustment to life. In a democratic society, the school is responsible for providing an adequate education program within which framework all student may become all they are capable of becoming.

Naschitti Elementary’s Philosophy and Belief Systems are both practical and applicable in that the faculty of an elementary school should be selected of such quality which is capable of efficient serv ice, thus insuring the carrying out of the purposes, the projection of worthwhile goals and attitudes in the student body. This curriculum should be carefully planned, so as to supply the basic knowledge needed by students to meet today’s challenges. The most outstanding feature is its flexibility. It is constantly changing to meet the needs of an advancing technological society. Effort is made in the area of Guidance and Counseling to help solve the many problems confronting the student body. The school attempts to balance the child’s social activities through a wholesome program of citizenship and recreation activities.

The school believes that it is one of the agencies of the community with the responsibility of contributing to the total education of the children. The individual should be developed in all aspects morally, physically, intellectually, emotionally, economically, spiritually and surrounding community, thus ensuring an individual that he may make his maximum contribution to our society as a cooperative, creative, contributory member of society whose own life enrichment is being realized.

Faculty Public Relations

Without a doubt, the first and best public relations are carried on the shoulders of the teachers. Keep in mind that each student is like a little newspaper taking home a complete report of everything that happened at school. Make every edition full of good news, untainted by derogatory remarks made about a student or other school personnel.

In order, to keep the public relations is a continuous process that demands day-by-day attention. Work hard to create a favorable climate of public opinion, then when needed, support will be forthcoming from friendly, well informed and highly interest public.

Teacher home visitations are encouraged to familiarize yourself with home environment and

families. The more you know about your students, the more you will be able to meet their needs.

School Education Review, Recommendation/Improvement Committee

The teachers automatically comprise the school’s educational review, recommendation and improvement committee. This is but one of many leader duties and functions. During the course of the school year, the teachers will systematically review, with the members of their respective departments, all school programs, instruction and all areas of curriculum. The resultant, written assessment, evaluation and recommendations are forward to the building principals who in turn assesses these important advisement and finds and uses as many of the recommendations as possible in the planning for the upcoming school year’s schooling and educational program. This input from teachers is most highly valued.

Open Day Information

Classrooms should be arranged in an interesting and attractive manner before school beings. Have bulletin boards posted and flags in place. The room should be pleasant and inviting to your student and should reflect your individuality and resourcefulness. Check out your textbooks and teaching materials early. Have all materials ready before they are needed. Students arrive on their first day with apprehension and enthusiasm. It is important that you display sensitivity and acceptance of all students, making them feel comfortable in their classroom.

1. From the outset be extremely clear and communicational with students, be firm, fair, and consistent. Establish an ordered classroom atmosphere via clear, consistent expectations and discipline, You can loosen up a bit later if needed, but you cannot tighten up later-remember this axiom of organization and management. Have children introduce themselves including where they live and determine what but they will ride, the bus number and the route.

1. Discuss and plan a general outline of the year’s curriculum and activities.

1. Introduce the children to their textbooks and proper use and care.

1. Acquaint the students with reference materials, maps, etc., available in the room.

1. Clarify and post in your classroom, your expectations of classroom behavior, state rules and consequences if rules are broken. Go over the student conduct code and student handbook with your students as a class with discussion. Review this each grading quarter.

1. Discuss schedules and daily routine, i.e., recess, lunch, special areas, bus schedules, and other programs

1. If there are children on your original class list who do not attend on the first day, please inform the office. Each morning, during the first week, send a complete list of students who are physically present in the your classroom.

1. State arrival time on your list
2. Send student attendance to the office

1. Teachers are to eat with students the first and last week of school. Plan accordingly.

Daily Patriotic Exercise

The classroom teachers and students will be scheduled throughout the school year to lead Rise and Shine daily every morning reciting the “Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag”, in both English/Navajo. Each teacher shall provide instruction to further the students’ understanding in the specific meaning and proper background of the salute and “Pledge of Allegiance”.

Some helpful administrative expectancies of teachers

1. Stay on your feet most of the time and move throughout the classroom while teaching/monitoring independent seatwork assignments. Be positive, enthusiastic, inspiring, supporting and reassuring.

1. Homework is good, if assigned in reasonable amounts. Likewise, homework must be utilized as an educational tool, and not as a means of punishment by threatening to lower grades, placing in detention or busy work. Be sure students understand the content before sending it home. FOLLOW the HANDBOOK “HOMEWORK” GUIDELINES.

1. Make a habit of checking the daily bulletin and your mailbox. Collect mail twice a day. Read the daily bulletin. Take note of items that pertain to you. This is a basic teacher responsibility.

1. Be considerate of classes next door by keeping student under control and keeping them on task. Keep self and students on-task. Maintain continuous control of students. Take the time of encourages and develops pride in our school. Be positive. Encourage student and others to be positive. Keep standards Folder/Portfolios current to share with parents.

1. The welfare of the students is to be considered first in all areas and phases of our total education program. A pleasant atmosphere is most conducive to learning and teachers are relied upon to set such an atmosphere. Supervise students at all times. If you cannot cover your duty. Arrange to have it covered. DO NOT LEAVE STUDENTS UNSUPERVISED AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON. BE ON ALL DUTY STATIONS PROMPTLY.

1. Confidential referral should be made immediately to the Counselor, Social Worker, or Principal of possible sight of hearing difficulties or abuse of students.

1. Room order and cleanliness are part of our curriculum. Avoid accumulating unnecessary materials, boxes, bottles, paper, etc., which are not included in your immediate room needs.

1. Respect and care for school property should be stressed. Light and that should be properly adjusted when the room decorations from light fixtures. Do no block heater vents.

1. Do not cover more than 20% of the total classroom wall and ceiling area with paper as per fire codes. Remove all room decorations from light fixtures. Do not block heater vents.

1. Visual aids are a great asset to instruction, but do not subject children to numerous hours of film or television watching. Review the Ten Commandments for Sound Film Users” in this handbook. Likewise do not subject student to numerous hours of dittoed worksheets and /or workbooks.

1. Plan ahead and effectively so that you do not interrupt other classes, teachers and students during the instructional day. BE AN ALL TOGETHER AND WELL PLANNED PERSON.

PLAYGROUND DUTY

Duty Assignments are an integral part of out School Program. Students are to be under constant supervision throughout the school day. Do not place students on the playground unsupervised for any length of time. Never be late for duty station: Be 2 or 3 minutes early.

Established playground areas will be designated and used at the building site. Be at your duty station promptly. Duty teachers are to move about their playground duty areas keeping constant watch on all activities and enforcing safety rules to prevent accidents. Report serious accidents immediately to the nurse and principal and follow it up with a written report.

Duty teachers are in charge of all students in their areas. It is imperative you take part in a supervisory capacity when on duty and not participate in any student games. Remain on duty until another teacher relives you. Children should leave the play areas and return to their rooms in a quiet, orderly manner; no running scuffling or ball bouncing should be permitted in the halls at any time. The playgrounds are a part of the curriculum and should be considered a teaching situation. Children are not permitted areas of construction at any time. When weather does not permit outdoor play, all teachers are responsible for the students in their classrooms. The gym will also be available for organized activities with supervision during inclement weather. Al personnel are responsible for pupil supervisor when on school grounds.

Education assistants, as well as teachers, will make arrangement to have their duty covered by another person when they are not able to do their duty.

When educational assistants do not have anyone to cover their duty stations, their classroom teacher will cover the students must be adequately supervised at all time.

Staff Meeting

Staff Members are expected to attend all meetings and/or in services, unless arrangements have been made with the principal ahead of time. A monthly calendar with indicated meeting dates and times will be distributed and placed in mailboxes in the lounge in a timely fashion, each and every month.

Visitor/Checkout Procedures/ Permission to leave class

All visitors are to sign in at the front office. Students that are not enrolled at the elementary school will not be allowed to attend classes for a day or more, due to the liability factor and the lack of insurance coverage. During the school hours a parent/guarding may come to the school office and sign a checkout form for the students stating the time and the purpose. No one other than the above names people may check out student. DO NOT RELEASE a student without first receiving the check out call from the office. Promptly report any observed irregularity, such as strangers attempting to behave wrongly or improperly with student or staff. Under emergency conditions, a student may leave the classroom for the purpose of visiting the nurse, going to restroom or the office. Permission will generally be granted to student to visit the nurse, counselor or the principal. Under NO other reconditions are student to be out of the classroom.

CERTIFIED STAFF

Teacher Liability

The position of a public school teacher is created by the legislature with the powers and duties fixed to a large extent by law. It has been established in New Mexico, as well as in many other states, that a teacher is not immune from liability because he is employed by a governmental agency. A teacher can be held personally liable for acts of negligence while performing his assigned dudes as a teacher. While, New Mexico Statute is help in some ways to the teacher, it is possible also for the teacher to be easily used by parents for misapplication of the statute. .

What the law requires of a teacher is that he exercises the same care and prudence any reasonably prudent person would have exercised in the same or similar situation. The legal aspects of a teacher’s relationship with pupils are contained in the phrase in loco parentis. This means, "in place of the parent". In the faithful discharge of such duties the teacher is bound by law to use reasonable care based on the existing relationship. Don't harbor any notions that the "in loco parentis" doctrine is a license to do whatever one pleases with a student. Don't forget that students have legal rights too (the list of which seems to be growing each day), and anyone found guilty of violating these rights may be liable, whether is be parent or teacher. Too, even though the "in loco parentis" doctrine permits the teacher to act in place of the parent one must remember that not all- parents use the same approach in dealing with their children. "In many cases, parents have brought suit against schools that were acting "in their places" but against their wishes. Gradually, in loco parentis is being replaced by state statutes and constitutional principles as guides for the school's treatment of students. (NJE.A/s Task Force Report).

A fundamental law governing the association of the teacher and pupils requires the avoidance of negligent conduct. What constitutes negligence is a question of fact in all cases with a jury determining whether or not the acts complained of age negligent. Failure of the teacher to act so as to protects others from unnecessary risks.

1. Failure of the teacher to act as a reasonably prudent and careful person under the circumstances involved.

1. Failure of the teacher to exercise due diligence or care.

1. Failure of a teacher to stop a student in the use of an object or in the engagement of an activity so as to create an unreasonable risk or harm to himself or others.

A concern for the immediate welfare of pupils is expected of teachers. Pupils often lack the maturity and experience necessary to make competent decisions. Positive actions by teachers are necessary. One of the most significant conditions of negligence is where a student is injured in the classroom, cafeteria, or playground during the absence of the duty teacher.

Teacher as Professional

This section might properly belong elsewhere in this handbook. However, I feel it is important enough to warrant special consideration here. If there is one single most important element in determining the success of the school program, surely the teacher's demeanor must be that element.

Webster defines demeanor as, "behavior toward others: Outward manner: I don't think there's any question but that the teacher's demeanor must be professional at all times toward all people who have an interest in the school, whether by be students, parents, colleagues, or someone else. Admittedly the preceding statement is far from profound.However,there's a world of difference between giving service to this idea and actually practicingit.

The word professional as it relates to teachers implies a set of behaviors and attitudes more sophisticated than those of the lay person. As educators, we must act professionally and dress professionally.

1. As a professional you do not permit your relationship with students to deteriorate to a physical

level by inflicting corporal pain or force upon students.

1. As a professional you do not permit your relationship with students to deteriorate to an emotional level

by shouting and screaming and otherwise verbally abusing students. In providing students a safe

environment, we protect our students from abuse at all times.

1. Finally, as a professional you do not permit your relationship with students to deteriorate to psychological abuse by subjecting students to scorn and ridicule.

When dealing with students we would all be well advised to remember the observations that one unknown author was moved to record:

Students are the most important people in our business.

Students are not dependent on us. . We are dependent on them.

Students are not an interruption in our work ... they are the purpose of it.

Students do us a favor when they call upon us... we are not doing them a favor when we serve them. Encourage "good student attendance" at all times as it enhances their education and pays school operation and pays salaries for teachers, staff and administrators!

Students are part of our business... they are not outsiders.

Students are not cold statistics ... they are flesh and blood human beings with feelings and emotions like our own.

Students are not names, faces, or numbers ... they're individuals.

Students are not people to argue or match wits with.

Students are people who bring us their needs... it's our job to fill these needs.

Students are the lifeblood of this or of any other business.

Students are the people who use our services, pay our salaries, and indirectly go to the polls and vote.

Students deserve the most courteous and attentive treatment we can give them.

Perhaps there's one final observation that should be mentioned. The teaching profession has often been equated to other professions such as the medical profession, the law profession, etc. The differences among the three professions are often humorously explained by describing what happens to the mistakes of each_ the doctor buries his mistakes, the lawyer's mistakes are sent to prison, but the teacher has to live with hers or his mistakes.