PRINCIPAL’S LETTER OF WELCOME

Dear Parents:

Welcome to AndersenElementary School. Whether you are a new student/parent or have been attending Andersen in the past, we want to keep everyone informed and up-to-date on the policies, rules, regulations and daily routine at Andersen Elementary.

In an endeavor to become more efficient in our communication efforts with our Andersen families, as well as being more cost effective, we ask that you register on our school website (Schoolwire’s)@ Be sure to subscribe to the home page in order to get our newsletters and/or any alert(s) we may be sending out. We will use the email you provide during the registration process to send school information (weekly newsletters, flyers, cafeteria menus, etc.) through email rather than sending the vast majority of information home with students. Procedures for registration may be found in the appendix section of this packet. Feel free to call our front office for assistance at any time.

The Andersen Elementary School Handbook is a comprehensive and informative guide for parents and students to review. Many of your questions will be answered throughout the year by referring to this booklet.

Please visit Andersen’s website often during the year for updated information.

We are asking that as a parent, you read and discuss this handbook with your child. Please sign the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT below and return it to your child’s teacher during the first week of school.

If you have any questions regarding this information, please give us a call at 480-812-6000.

Sincerely,

Dr. Shannon Hannon

Principal

Return this page to your child’s teacher by Friday of the first week of school.


ANDERSEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

2017-2018

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

Principal’s Letter of Welcome______1

(To be signed by a parent and returned to AndersenElementary School)

Handbook cover______2

Table of Contents ______3 - 4

Student Insurance Notification______4

Staff Listing______5

Mission Statement______6

School Song______6

Core Values______6

Important Phone Numbers______7

Daily Schedule______7

Attendance______8

Visitor Regulations______8

Student Release Procedure______8

Courtesy Counts______8

Cosmic Café______8

Lunch Schedules______8

Cafeteria Expectations______8

Code of Conduct______9

Arizona State Law ARS 13-3620______10

Dress Code______10-11

Health Services______11-12

Safety Drills______12

High Heat Policy______13

CUSD Returned Check Policy______13

Student Expectations______13-14

  • Bicycles/Skateboards/Rollerblades/Scooters
  • Corridors

Playground______14-15

School Cleanliness______15

Volunteers______15-16

Parent Teacher Organization______16

School Tax Credit Information______17

Student Extra Curricular Activities______17

Field Trips______17

Traffic Pattern and Directions______18

Student Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures ______19-21

CUSD School Calendar______Attachment A

Student Violence/Harassment/Intimidation/Bullying ------Attachment B

How to register for Parent Portal (see grades and pay fees) ______Attachment C

STUDENT INSURANCE

Your child's school does not provide medical insurance coverage for school accidents. This means that you are responsible for the medical bills if your child gets hurt during school activities. The student accident/health insurance plans, which you received the first day of school, are offered to help you pay those bills.

You may enroll online at and click the ‘Enroll Now’ button. This insurance is serviced by K&K Insurance Group, Inc. and their phone number is 855-742-3135.

Please read the insurance brochure carefully. If you have any questions, please call the plan administrator.

With the signing of receipt of this handbook, you are acknowledging you have been notified of this matter.

ANDERSENELEMENTARY SCHOOL

STAFF LISTING

2017-2018

Shannon Hannon, Principal

Kindergarten

Christina Cruz

Angie Wagner

Beth Padilla

Christen Morton

First Grade

Rina Paulk

Danielle Williams

Christina Lopez

Deborah Couturier

Second Grade

Ana Casillas

Melinda Miller

Taylor Wilson

Dede Grau

Third Grade

Jessica Colker

Pam Coffaro

Lori Levine

Shelley Dow

Monique Jaffe

Fourth Grade

Valerie Zieglowsky

Kimberly Marlar

Rebekka Heredia

Christie Clemente

Fifth Grade

Alana Jobe

Torie Brown

Barbara Richardson

Diana Searer

Music Department

Jessica Chastain, General Music

Scot Lewis, Band

Pam Rheaume, Orchestra

Physical Education

Garrick Parker

Instructional Aides

Pamela Watkins

Naomi Leany

TBD

TBD

VISION/SONG/VALUES

______

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

Office:(480) 812-6000

Health Office:(480) 812-6002

Attendance:(480) 812-6003

Cafeteria:(480) 812-6004

School website

DAILY SCHEDULE

7:50 PlaygroundBell

8:05 First “warning” morning bell

8:10 School begins

2:35 Kinder & daycare van dismissal bell

2:40 School ends

NOTE: Supervision is not available before 7:50 am and students are not to be on campus before that time unless they are either enrolled in the ‘Kids Express’ before school program or planning to purchase breakfast.
Studentswishing to purchase breakfast in our cafeteria may arrive at 7:45 am. Those students must remain in the cafeteria until the 7:50 am playground bell sounds.

______

ATTENDANCE

As a parent or guardian, please prioritize attendance and help your student develop a sense of responsibility and good habits by arriving at school on time. Students should arrive no earlier than 7:50 AM with the exception of the Kids Express enrollees and those having breakfast in the cafeteria. The playground bell will signal students that it is safe to arrive at 7:50 AM. The line-up bell rings at 8:05 AM and the tardy bell rings at 8:10 AM. Arriving after the last bell will affect your child’s attendance record. He/she will need to report to the office and obtain a late pass before going to class. If your child is absent, please remember to call the attendance line recorder(480-812-6003), and report the reason for absence.

Appointments: Please make every effort to schedule family vacations during intersession breaks. Medical and dental appointments should be made before or after school hours whenever possible

PARENT/VISITOR CAMPUS SECURITY REGULATIONS

Campus visitors are required to sign in and out at the office and wear a badge while on campus.NO EXECPTIONS to this policy. Thank you.

STUDENT RELEASE PROCEDURE

When it is necessary for a student to leave prior to 2:40 pm, the student must be checked out at the office front counter. Written permission, signed by a parent/guardian, must be provided to the school office before your child will be released to anyone other than those individuals listed on your child’s Emergency/Health Card. Please make sure you bring your ID in order for us to release your child early.

COURTESY COUNTS

If you have advance notice that it is necessary to check your child out before dismissal time, please send a note to your child’s teacher in advance so that homework and instruction may be prepared in advance. Whenever you call the office to request homework for an ill child, please allow up to 24 hours to pick up your child’s missed work. Your child’s success is our utmost concern and any work missed must be completed.

Cafeteria

Parents are always welcome to eat lunch with their children. Please call the cafeteria at 812-6004 to reserve your entree selection. Please check this link for information regarding pricing, menu choices, etc.

Nutritious school meals are available free or at a reduced price depending on family income and size. For more information, talk with the Cafeteria Manager or school office personnel.

LUNCH SCHEDULES

Lunch/Playground Hours
Grade / Time
5 / 11:00 - 11:40
K / 11:15 - 11:55
1 / 11:30 - 12:10
4 / 11:45 - 12:25
2 / 12:00 - 12:40
3 / 12:40 - 01:00

Note: These times are approximate. Call our

Office for current times.

CODE OF CONDUCT

CAMPUS

Student agrees to:

1. Respect the rights and individual differences of others.

2.Attend school regularly and arrive on time.

3. Complete work assignments.

4. Be prepared for school with homework completed.

5. Respect property.

6. Respect and cooperate with school staff.

7.Be kind to others.

8. Obey school rules as follows:

* Play together without fighting or wrestling.

* Refrain from harmful activities.

* Keep hands, feet and objects to self.

* Use only appropriate, respectful language.

* Gum chewing is not allowed.

* Use playground equipment safely and appropriately.

* Eat only in cafeteria or designated area.

* Refrain from bringing personal property to school.

(Sports equipment, toys, electronic items, etc.)

* Cell phones must be off and kept in the backpack during

schoolhours. Cell phone cameras may not be used on campus.

* Walk on the right side of the sidewalk only.

Recording Devices:

All electronic recording devices are banned at the elementary and junior high schools. These devices include but are not limited to: cameras, PDA’s, camera phones and camcorders. If there is evidence of possession or use, the device will be confiscated, returned to the parent/guardian at a later date and disciplinary action will follow.

Schools have the right to discipline students who use these devices as stated under Board policy JIC Student Conduct –disruption of the educational environment and threatening the educational institution.

We are required to report to law enforcement agencies all violations of law. According to ARS Statute 13-3019, it is unlawful for any person to knowingly photograph, videotape, film, digitally record, or, by any other means,uses a device to secretly view or record another person without that person’s consent when in the restroom or where a person has a reasonable expectation of privacy. Violation of this statute is a felony.

Behavior Intervention:

Each teacher will implement his or her own classroom discipline procedures. The primary focus is to catch students while they are following the rules. When a teacher has exhausted his or her classroom discipline procedures, he or she may implement the school-wide discipline program. Consequences for students who choose to disregard school expectations are:

  1. Warning
  2. 30-minute after-school detention
  3. 1-hour after-school detention
  4. 1-day In-school suspension (assigned to alternate room)
  5. Out of school suspension (student not allowed to be on campus)

ARS 13-3620

In following ARS 13-3620 and district policy, our school will report to the proper authorities:

  • Suspected child abuse
  • Sexual assault
  • Child molestation, incest, prostitution
  • Physical neglect
  • Threats(rumors or real)
  • Physical assault (any kind of visible injury)
  • Sexual harassment
  • Possession of or threatening the use of any weapon
  • Student Violence/Harassment/Intimidation/Bullying (PDF 2 of this packet)

As outlined above, Arizona state law requires schools to report all non-accidental injuries, threats, and rumors of threats to the local law enforcement office. Please discuss with your child that purposefully hurting another student or making threats will result in this reporting to police in addition to other consequences at school as outlined in our code of conduct guidelines. The Chandler Unified School District code of conduct is included in the Elementary Handbook and Calendar which is distributed to all students on the first day of school along with Andersen Elementary’s student handbook. Parents are asked to return the district front acknowledgement page along with page one of this handbook by the first Friday after receipt.

ELEMENTARY STUDENT DRESS AND GROOMING EXPECTATIONS

Student Dress

The responsibility for appropriate dress rests with students, parents, or guardians. Students are to adhere to student dress expectations during the regular school day as well as during all school sponsored events. At all times clothing shall provide adequate covering of the body.

The following clothing is not acceptable:

  • Short shorts or skirts (short is defined as higher than mid-thigh), spaghetti straps, tops or dresses with straps less than 1 inch in width, bathing suits, halter or midriff tops, tube tops, mesh, fishnet or sheer garments, low cut tops or strapless tops.
  • Clothing that exposes the back or midriff when hands are raised above the head.
  • Sagging pants, visible underwear, hanging belts, see-through jerseys, overly large jerseys or tops worn without undershirts, bandanas, sweatbands, headbands, wristbands, chains or cords hanging from clothing.
  • Clothing with obscene, vulgar or inappropriate language or graphics, gang related clothing and symbol’s, clothing that promotes racism, clothing that advertises illegal substances, tobacco, or alcohol.
  • Clothing that is disruptive in appearance, contrary to good hygiene, detrimental or distractive to classroom or campus order.

The following footwear is not acceptable:

  • Shoes with built in wheels, bare feet, shoe heels exceeding one inch in height.

Note: Flip flops are not recommended for daily wear and are not acceptable on P.E. days.

Student Grooming

The responsibility for appropriate grooming rests with students, parents, or guardian. Students are expected to keep themselves well groomed during the regular school day as well as at all school-sponsored events.

The following is not acceptable:

  • Un-natural hair color
  • Grooming or hair styles that may create a health hazard during school activities
  • Grooming that is disruptive in appearance, contrary to good hygiene, detrimental or distractive to classroom or campus order.

Note: Elementary students are discouraged from wearing makeup.

Hats and sunglasses

Hats and sunglasses may be worn while outside. They must be removed while indoors. Exceptions will be made for students with medical needs.

Corrective Action by School Staff

All school personnel have the right and responsibility to enforce school rules, including dress and grooming expectations. Students who do not comply with dress or grooming expectations will be referred to the school health office or to the school principal. Parents will be contacted and asked to provide alternative clothing. If parents are not available, students will be given alternative clothing to wear for the remainder of the day. Parents will also be contacted concerning grooming issues. Arrangements will be made with parents to correct grooming issues as quickly as possible.

HEALTH SERVICES

Andersen Elementary has a full- time health aide on staff. Health services are provided to students and families to understand good health practices and the effect they have on the present and future life of a student. Students who become ill or injured in school are given emergency treatment by the health office. A registered nurse is “on call” at all times. Hearing and vision testing is conducted during the first semester of the school year.

It is the belief of the Board of Education that medication should be administered at home. However, under certain conditions, it is in the best educational and health interests of the child to take prescribed medications during the school day. We ask for your cooperation regarding giving medication in the schools. Because of the responsibility placed upon the staff for giving the correct medications, we ask that you comply with the following guidelines:

  1. The prescription medication must be prescribed by your child’s physician/licensed prescriber and the written order signed by the prescriber returned to school before that medication will be given byschool personnel. Medications to be given two and three times a day are not administered at school unless specifically ordered by the doctor to be given during the school day. One dose of medication to be given four times a day can be given at school.
  2. A new written order form must be presented for changes of any medication.
  3. PARENT OR GUARDIAN MUST SIGN PARENTAL PERMISSION on the physician’s order sheet.
  4. The medication is to be brought to school by the parent or other responsible adult in a properly labeled container from the pharmacy. You may want the pharmacist to label two containers: one for the school and one to keep at home. Medications will not be sent home with students.
  5. The student is responsible for coming to the health office to take the medication.
  6. Non-prescription medicines including aspirin substitutes will be dispensed by health office personnel to students who have written permission from a parent or guardian to receive medication at school, as needed, for a maximum of three consecutivedays. To ensure that use of this medication is not masking symptoms of a serious condition in the student, a doctor’s order must be submitted to the school health office for administration beyond this three-day period. In order to minimize the possibility of a drug overdose, non-prescribed medications will not be dispensed during the first and last hours of the school day.
  7. We would appreciate it if you would please pick up your child’s medication on the last day of school. Any medication that is not picked up will be discarded within three (3) days at the end of the school year.
  8. A new order form is required for each school year.

SICK CHILDREN BELONG AT HOME

WELL CHILDREN BELONG AT SCHOOL

One of the problems most often confronting parents of school-age children occurs when a child complains of not feeling well on a school day. A decision must be made as to whether the child stays home or goes to school.

Do not send a sick child to school for the health aide or teacher to decide whether s/he should be in school. If in doubt, call the family doctor or check with the nurse at a local clinic.

SAFETY DRILLS AND PROCEDURES

We conduct a fire drill once a month. Each semester we conduct safety lock- down drills and bus evacuation drills. These drills are conducted during class time. Students periodically review exit routes and safety procedures for evacuating the building and the lock-down drill procedures. Perimeter gates open from inside of campus but are locked for outside entry when closed. Please come to the front entrance (north) gate when visiting the campus. All visitors must come to the office and sign in and obtain a badge before proceeding to their campus destination.