Deshler Public School

2015-2016

Rising STARS Early Childhood Program

Student-Parent Handbook

Rising STARS Early Childhood Educational Program-Deshler Site

Table of Contents

Accidents / 13
Animals or Pets At School / 12
Assessments / 9
Asthma Protocol / 13
Attendance Rules and Regulations / 10
Belief Is That Children Learn Best Through Play / 5
Belief Statements / 4
Birth Certificates / 7
Calendar / 9
Celebrations / 11
Child Abuse and Neglect / 9
Communicable Disease / 9
Custody Disputes / 10
Daily School Hours / 9
Emergency Forms / 10
Faculty and Staff / 5
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) / 5
Field Trips / 11
Guidelines for Administering Medication / 12
Home Visits / 11
Identification for Special Education Services / 6
Immunizations / 7
Immunization Chart / 18
Interviewing Students / 10
Literacy / 11
Mission Statement / 4
Money At School / 12
Mutual Respect / 9
Nondiscrimination Statement / 13
Notice Concerning Directory Information / 6
Parent Participation / 11
Readmission After an Illness / 11
Removal of Students / 10
Reports to Parents / 10
Rising STARS Early Childhood Program / 5
Rule 11 / 5
Rule 51 / 5
School Closings Notices / 13
Thursday Folders / 12
Toys / 12
Transportation / 7
Tuition / 7
Videos In The Classroom / 11
Welcome / 3

Welcome to Rising STARS Early Childhood Educational Program

Deshler-Site

Rising STARS Early Childhood Program offers high-quality learning and play environment for all children regardless of ability, income or previous preschool experience. The Rising STARS Program will assist children to reach their full potential and to increase the likelihood of children’s later success in school.

Deshler Public Schools believes in early interventionas an effective educational strategy in providing quality education to preschool students.Moreover, Deshler Public Schools believes in working towards providing every student an excellent and meaningful education. To be an effective school, the home and school need to work as a team which will help make the educational process a positive experience for your child.

A Parent-Student Handbook has been prepared to help you become familiar with the Rising STARS Early Childhood Program’s practices and procedures. It is intended to serve as a guide for parents, faculty, and members; and, therefore this handbook will not attempt to cover every detail needed as circumstances arise. This handbook does not create a “contract”. The administration of the Deshler Public Schools reserves the right to make decisions and make rule revisions at any time to implement the educational program and to assure the well being of all students. The administration will be responsible for interpreting the rules and practices contained in this handbook. The administration of the Deshler Public Schools reserves the right to amend policies in the handbook in order to enhance the educational experiences for Deshler Public Schools and Rising STARS Early Childhood Program students.

Faculty and staff ofRising STARS Early Childhood Programare sincerely interested in making this year one in which your child will attain the maximum in educational growth and development. Faculty and staff look forward in working with you in providing a quality education to your child or children.

A parent/guardian is asked to sign the acknowledgment of Rising STARS Early Childhood Program Parent-Student receipt page that is an insert and return the form to Mrs. Mohrmann. Thank you for being a part of Rising STARS Early Childhood Program!

Al Meier

Superintendent/Elementary Principal

Mission Statement

Deshler Public Schools provide students with opportunities to acquire knowledge, skills, and readiness to thrive in a global society.

Belief Statements

What we believe about each child

• Each child has unique experiences and strengths and can learn.

• Each child needs a comprehensive, interdisciplinary program which fosters

development.

• Each child needs high quality educational services in a safe and attractive

classroom setting.

• Each child needs developmentally appropriate curriculum and materials.

• Each child needs developmentally appropriate socialization.

• Each child needs positive, supportive, nurturing, caring, academically

competent teachers and aides.

• Each child needs complete and comprehensive health screenings and follow

up treatment as need indicates.

• Each child could benefit from a comprehensive developmental program

designed to meet his or her unique needs.

What we believe about their families:

• Families are the children’s first and primary teacher and remain the principal

influence on the child’s development.

• Families must participate directly in the child’s education.

• The child’s entire family as well as the community must be involved.

• Families must be connected to on-going services within the community.

• The child and the family’s sense of dignity and self-worth can be enhanced

through the program.

• The child and family’s ability to relate to one another and others will be

increased.

What we believe about the program:

• The program should strive to meet and exceed quality standards.

• Each child’s unique experiences and strengths should be maximized through

the program.

• The program is designed to increase each child’s social competence and help

to prepare the child to more effectively deal with their present environment

and the forth coming responsibilities of school and life.

• The program evaluates the effectiveness of its services for the family,

children, and community and makes the necessary adjustments.

We look forward to working with our families as we build the ability in children to get along with others and feel good about them.

OUR BELIEF IS THAT CHILDREN LEARN BEST THROUGH PLAY

Our definition is that play is not a random activity, but involves children in choosing their activities and directing their own attention and efforts into examining and manipulating objects, practicing their own body skills, and enacting their own ideas in the process. Our learning materials and equipment are appropriate for the children enrolled. Assessments of each child are ongoing to provide an individualized child development program.Dress your child in play clothes to give him/her complete freedom to learn. Because time spent outdoors is important to your child’s development, we will plan on going outside daily. Students should dress appropriately for the weather including coats, mittens/gloves, hat,snow pants or extra pants, and boots.

Please send your child to school well rested. Children need 10-12 hours of sleep each night.

If signs of illness appear, keep your child home from the center for his/her protectionand the protection of others. If a child becomes ill while at the center, the child will be isolated from other children with adult supervision. The child’s parent, legal guardian, or emergency contact will be notified that the child needs to be picked up from the center.

Rising STARS Early Childhood Program Faculty and Staff

Principal / Dr. Al Meier
Faculty / Mrs. Delinda Mohrmann
Staff / Dawn Buckles
Staff / Amber Kendall
Bus Driver / Vicki Fleming
Bus Driver / Linda Firley
Custodian/Bus Monitor / Marian Reece
Bus Monitor / Becky Kothals

Rising STARS Early Childhood Program

Telephone / 402-365-4220
Address / 1411 3rd Street, Deshler, NE 68340
Days / Monday through Thursday
Morning Session / 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Afternoon Session / 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Nutritional Services / Breakfast and Lunch
Extended School Year / May 31, 2016 through June 30, 2016 Monday through Thursday, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

RULE 11:

Rising STARS Early Childhood program meets Rule 11 criteria set by the State of Nebraska Department of Education

RULE 51:

Rising STARS Early Childhood Program for students with Individual Educational Plans meets Rule 51 criteria set by the State of Nebraska.

FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA):

Deshler Public Schools is required by Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), with certain exceptions to obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s education records.

NOTICE CONCERNING DIRECTORY INFORMATION

Deshler Public Schools may disclose directory information. The types of personally identifiable information that the Deshler Public has designated as directory information are as follows:

  1. Student’s Name, address, telephone listing(if not unlisted), and the name, address, e-mail address and work or other contact information of the student’s parent/guardian or other adult acting in loco parent or with authority to act as parent or guardian in educational matters for the student;
  2. School and dates of attendance;
  3. Student’s current grade;
  4. Student’s enrollment status (e.g. full-time or part-time);
  5. Student’s date of birth and place of birth;
  6. Student’s extra-curricular participation;
  7. Student’s achievement awards or honors;
  8. Student’s weight and height if a member of an athletic team;
  9. Student’s photograph; and
  10. School or school Deshler Public Schools the student attended before he or she enrolled in Deshler Public Schools.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Deshler Public Schools does not designate as directory information personally identifiable information from students’ education records where the Deshler Public Schools determines that the disclosure to the potential recipient poses a risk to student safety or well-being, including but not limited to circumstances where the potential recipient is a registered sex offender and the personally identifiable information would permit the potential recipient to communicate with or otherwise contact the student.

A parent or eligible student has the right to refuse to let the Deshler Public Schools designate information about the student as directory information. The period of time within which a parent or eligible student has to notify the Deshler Public Schools in writing that he or she does not want information about the student designated as directory information is as follows: two weeks from the time this information is first received. Please contact the Superintendent’s office indicate your refusal to have your child’s information designated as directory information. The Deshler Public Schools may disclose information about former students without meeting the conditions in this section.

The Deshler Public Schools’ policy is for education records to be kept confidential except as permitted by the FERPA law, and the Deshler Public Schools does not approve any practice which involves an unauthorized disclosure of education records. In some courses student work may be displayed or made available to others. Also, some teachers may have persons other than the teacher or school staff, such as volunteers or fellow students, assists with the task of grading student work and returning graded work to students. The Deshler Public Schools does not either approve or disapprove such teaching practices, and designates such student work as directory information and/or as non-education records. Each parent and eligible student shall be presumed to have accepted this designation in the absence of the parent or eligible student giving notification to the Deshler Public Schools in writing in the manner set forth above pertaining to the designation of directory information. Consent will be presumed to have been given in the absence of such a notification from the parent or eligible student.

IDENTIFICATION FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES:

Child Find procedures will be a continuous process with Deshler Public Schools personnel available for prescreening and formal assessment of children birth to 5 years of age throughout the calendar year. Referrals may be initiated by parents, physicians, or other agencies. Referrals for screening and/or assessment may be arranged at anytime during the calendar year.

Deshler Public Schoolsneeds prior approval from the parents before a formal assessment, completed by the assessment team, can occur. The team may consist of a school psychologist, speech and language pathologist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, physician reports, or other pertinent specialists.

TUITION:

Student enrollment is composed of verified and private pay students. Verified students have first priority. The remaining slots are filled with private pay students. A sliding scale is used to determine tuition charged to families’ whose children are attending Rising STARS Early Childhood Program. The sliding scale is based on National School Lunch and Breakfast Program guidelines. A family qualifying for free or reduced meals, tuition is eliminated or reduced. If you think your family qualifies for free or reduced meal prices under the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program guidelines, please call Julie Hoffmeyer at 365-7272.

Payments should be mailed to:

Deshler Public Schools

Attn: Superintendent’s Office

P.O. Box 547

Deshler, NE 68340

IMMUNIZATIONS:

Children are required to have up to date immunizations or show that they are in the process of getting them up to date. Required Vaccines: 4 doses of DTaP, DTP, or DT vaccine; 3 doses of Polio vaccine; 3 doses of Hib vaccine or 1 dose of Hib given at or after 15 months of age; 3 doses of pediatric Hepatitis B vaccine; 1 dose of MMR or MMRV given on or after 12 months of age; and, 1 dose of varicella (chickenpox) or MMRV given on or after 12 months of age; and, 4 doses of pneumococcal vaccine or 1 dose of pneumococcal vaccine given at or after 15 months was added as a requirement for preschool students. Written documentation (including year) of varicella disease from parent, guardian, or health care provider will be accepted.

Parents are urged to keep track of immunizations and booster shots. Please make certain the immunizations are kept up to date according to state law. A copy of current immunizations will be maintained in each student’s cumulative folder. Exceptions to this law are:

  • If the child did not receive the required immunizations because of a medical reason, the parent will need to have the physician sign the Refusal of Immunization for Medical Reasons form and turn it in to the school office before school begins.
  • If the child did not receive the required immunizations because of a religious reason, the parent will need to sign and have notarized the Refusal of Immunization of Student Religious Reasons form and turn it into the school office before school begins.

BIRTH CERTIFICATES:

Nebraska State §43-2007 mandates every student enrolled in school shall have a state certified copy of the birth certificate as part of their file within 30 days of starting services. You may call the office for information on obtaining a certified copy of your child’s birth certificate. Copies of the birth certificate will be placed in cumulative file at the elementary office or at RISING Stars.

TRANSPORTATION

Deshler Public Schools provides transportation to Rising STARS’s students attending daycares located within Deshler Public Schools Districtand to students residing in rural areas of Deshler Public Schools. Deshler Public Schools’ responsibility for each child begins when a childis met by a bus monitor and isterminated when the student is accepted by a parent, guardian, daycare provider, or permissible individual. Parents, guardians, or daycare providers are responsible for the safety and general conduct of the child between the home and the bus loading and unloading station.

Schedule Changes:

The Deshler Public Schools/Rising STARSrequire a dated, written note prior to a transportation schedule change. If your child is ill in the morning, please call Vicki Fleming at 402-768-8161 or Deshler Public Schools at 402-365-7272. If your child is ill in the afternoon, please call Linda Firley at 402-200-0118, or 402-365-7854, or 402-365-7272.

Rules for Safety

Pick Up

  1. Your child should be ready 3-5 minutes before the scheduled pick up time. Drivers are instructed to wait only 3 minutes at each location.
  2. Bus monitors escort students to the bus. Bus monitors accept a child at the door of daycare providers or a mutually agreed point. Bus monitors may accept a child under an adult’s supervision at the point a bus monitor meets an adult.
  3. Dress your child in clothing appropriate for the weather conditions.
  4. Talk to your child about safe behavior while riding, loading and unloading, crossing in front of the school minibus, and wearing seat belts.
  5. Do not send meals or snacks with your child to eat on the bus.
  6. Do not detain the bus driver since the driver is on a tight schedule.

Drop Off

  1. Bus monitors escort students off the bus.
  2. The bus driver has been instructed to wait 3 minutes for the adult/daycare provider to receive the student.
  3. Bus monitors will escort a child toa door of daycare providers or a mutually agreed point for a daycare provider to receive a child. An adult must receive his or her child outside their home.
  4. If the adult/daycareprovider does not come to receive a child within the 3 minute period, the driver or bus monitor will return to the bus with the student. The bus driver or monitor will notify the school to contact the parent/daycare provider.
  5. If a parent/daycare provide cannot be contacted, the student will be taken back to the school. The office will try and reach the parent. If that is not successful, the office may call Department of Social Services for assistance.

Expected Behaviors

  1. Students are to stay seated with the seat belts (or car seat harness) buckled up.
  2. Students are to keep hands and feet to self.
  3. Students are not to throw objects in the bus.
  4. Students are not to scream or shout. Swearing or use of vulgar language is not allowed.
  5. Eating food, gum, chewing, or drinking beverages are not allowed on the bus.
  6. Nuisance items on the bus are not allowed (water guns, toys, etc).
  7. Follow the directions of the bus monitor and driver. Drivers may assign seats whenever such action is appropriate.
  8. Adaptive equipment for students with special needs will be transported.

Additional Transportation Information

  1. If a child becomes ill at school, it is the parent’s responsibility to provide transportation home.
  2. Students will not be picked up or dropped off at parents’ work site.

A school loading and unloading zone is provided on the East side for the children’s safety. Deshler Public School buses use this zone for loading and unloading. Parents dropping off or picking up children may use the loading and unloading zone.