Martin Grade School

Student Handbook

2015 - 2016

Mission Statement

Empowering our Students to reach their Full Potential

OUR VISION

The students, parents, staff and the community of the Martin Grade School are a partnership committed to creating:

  • A child centered school based on communication, cooperation, and involvement among all members of the partnership
  • A challenging school atmosphere that is safe and nurturing where all students achieve personal success, academic excellence and a desire to become life long learners
  • An enriched learning environment utilizing technology and an expanded curriculum, focusing on problem solving, creative and critical thinking and literacy for ALL
  • Students with healthy practices of integrity, honesty, responsibility, and respect for others regarding individual difference

PHONE NUMBERS

MGS Office685-6717Superintendent685-6112

High School685-6330Jr. High685-6343

SPED Office685-1151Bus Barn685-6109

WELCOME TO MARTIN GRADE SCHOOL

Hello Martin Grade School Families!

Welcome to a new and exciting school year! I hope you had a wonderful summer break, filled with opportunities to learn and grow. The staff is thrilled that you have entrusted your children’s education to us. We will make every effort to help your child achieve academically and socially this year.

Martin Grade School has an excellent teaching staff with a wealth of knowledge. The staff is dedicated to building a safe, compassionate community of lifelong learners who are scholars, creators, critical thinkers, and problem solvers. We continue to be committed to doing our part in ensuring your child achieves academic excellence; and we look forward to working with you to guarantee that our goal is achieved.

Our instructional program will be far more effective with your active participation. Please send your children to us on time, and ready to learn. INSTRUCTION BEGINS PROMPTLY AT 8:00 AM DAILY.We, in-turn will send them home to you prepared to meet the challenges of the future.

Parent involvement with school activities is vital to the success of our students. We welcome you to get involved by regularly conferencing with teachers, eating lunch with your child, assisting with homework, attending parent teacher conferences, Family Fun Nights, and volunteering in the classrooms. We appreciate your support!!

Attached you will find key information about the start of the school year. Please look over the Handbook, Behavior Guide, and Alternative Learning Program Guide. We strive to provide a safe learning environment for all children and these guides will help us ensure that all students are able to meet their full potential in the environment at MGS.

A PURPLE folder will used again this year and will go home with students each WEDNESDAY. Our staff will use it as a homework/communication folder. This folder will provide you with important school and classroom information that will keep you informed of your student’s progress. Assignment notebooks or class agendas are also available to students in grades 4-6. This helps students with organization and will also provide communication to parents concerning assignments and notes from the teacher.

The district monthly newsletter will be provided to each family in the district. It will contain information about events that will be happening that month. Other notes of great importance will come from the office on BRIGHT paper.

My staff and I look forward to working with each and every one of you.We invite you to call if you have questions or concerns at any time during the school year. You can reach me at 685-6717. Together we will make this an awesome school year!

Sincerely,

Amie Kuxhaus

MGS Principal

Board of Education

Todd Alexander

Kevin Hodson

Scott Huber

Mike Olson

Tiffany Petrak

Administration

Stacy Halverson……………………….………Superintendent

Amie Kuxhaus……...………………..…………MGS Principal

Belinda Ready……..…………………..…….Jr. High Principal

Federal Programs

Nick Redden…………………….……....High School Principal

Jolene Robinson/Karen Coyle…………..Business Managers

Martin Grade School Educational Staff

Cheryl Witt / Preschool
Christine Laverack / Transitional Kindergarten
Karis Pappenfuss / Kindergarten
Joyce Strain / Kindergarten
Kyla Alexander / 1st Grade
Shar Johnson / 1st Grade
Bonnie Risse / 2nd Grade
Gail Winter / 2nd Grade
Karen Goetzinger / 3rd Grade
Teresa Rise / 3rd Grade
Carol Risse / 4th Grade
Jamie Schomp / 4th Grade
Mary Kay Ford / 5th Grade
Terry Laverack / 5th Grade
Mike Anderson / 6th Grade
Julie Kaltenbach / 6th Grade
Mark Buchmann / Intervention
Melissa Byrne / Intervention
Ashley Kasner / Intervention
Erin Cox / Special Education
Tara Fanning / Special Education
Marlene Janis / Special Education
Donna McKay / Counselor
Lura Usselman / Speech
Anne Lyon / Music/Technology
Arielle Tiensvold / Band/Music
Joe Miller / PE
Marie Huether / Nurse
Tootie Moffit / Secretary
Linda Abernathy / Paraprofessional
Reed Ford / ALP
Faye Harris / Librarian
Carmen Livermont / Speech Paraprofessional
Donna Mattson / Paraprofessional
Jennifer Nelson / Paraprofessional
Shelly Siscoe / Paraprofessional
Kim VanderMay / Paraprofessional

SCHOOL HOURS (8:00 – 3:50) Monday – Thursday

School hours are from 8:00- 3:50 each day. Please have your child at school no later than 8:00 each day. School doors will not open until 7:25 a.m. each day. Supervision IS NOT being provided for students who arrive before 7:25. The above procedures are designed for the safety and well being of the students.

CLASSES START AT 8:00. Any student arriving after 8:15 is counted tardy (THREE TARDIES WILL COUNT AS A HALF-DAY ABSENCE). Students will need to get a tardy slip at the MGS Office.

Students will be dismissed for the day at 3:50; they are to leave the school as soon as their class has been dismissed. Teacher and parent permission is required for students to stay later.

ANIMALS AT SCHOOL

Please keep pets at home unless the classroom teacher and the principal have given permission. Pets brought to school (with permission and with an adult) should be taken home as soon as the approved activity is completed. Animals on the playground constitute a real hazard. For the students’ protection, it may be necessary that the school call the police department to transport animals that are on school property

unattended.

ASSESSMENTS / TESTING

You may receive a flyer from the school prior to some tests that may be administered explaining the test. Students in Grades kindergarten through sixth grade take the AIMSWEB test throughout the school year to provide guidance in reading and math instruction. Other assessments that occur may include STAR Reading, STAR Math, AIMSweb math, AIMSweb reading, and other curriculum specific tests. Students in Grades 3 – 6 are required by SD Law to take the Smarter Balanced assessment annually each spring. Dates and information about this test will be sent home prior to the testing dates. Results to Smarter Balance will be made available to all parents as soon as the results become available. Parents are welcome to come in for any explanations or clarification.

ATTENDANCE

Regular attendance is ESSENTIAL to success in school. Frequent absences may lead to poor academic work, lack of social development and possible academic failure. NO SINGLE FACTOR MAY INTERFERE WITH A STUDENT’S PROGRESS more quickly than frequent tardiness or absence. Students are counted absent for half a day if they arrive after 11:30 a.m. or leave before 2:30 p.m. According to state law, it is the obligation of every parent to insure that every child under his care and supervision receives adequate education and training, and if of compulsory age, attends school.

Parents must notify the school to clear absences in writing or by a phone call. Tardy slips need to be picked up at the office prior to returning to class. Parents will be notified when a student has been tardy and / or absent for FIVE DAYS ,TEN DAYS , FIFTEEN DAYS, AND TWENTY DAYS.

If a student accumulates more than twenty (20) absences in a year and a review of their academics shows the student behind, they may be retained. The parent or guardian may appeal the retention, with an initial meeting with the classroom teacher(s), building principal and superintendent. The Bennett County School Board will make the FINAL decision in the appeal.

Daily attendance of students is required per school board policy, state law, and the No Child Left Behind Act. Following are a few state statutes and a summary that deal with school attendance.

13-27-1Parents and guardians of children, ages 6 –18, are responsible for making sure students regularly attend school. This statute mandates compulsory attendance for children ages 6-18.

13-27-11 Parents/guardians that fail to send children, ages 6-18, are guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor for

the first offense. For each subsequent offense, the parent/guardian is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

13-27-14 School Boards are authorized to appoint Truancy Officers to enforce the compulsory attendance

laws.

Additional statutes dealing with Compulsory Attendance: 13-27-16; 13-27-19; 13-27-12; 13-27-15; 13-27-17; 13-27-18; and 13-27-20.

BAND

Students in grades five and six may participate in band. Lessons will be arranged with the band instructor for individual or small group sessions. Whole group band is scheduled to best meet the needs of each grade level.

BICYCLES/SKATEBOARDS/ROLLERBLADES/WHEELIES/SCOOTERS

Students may ride their bicycles to school, but it is not possible to provide supervision of the grounds at all times, the school cannot assume responsibility for the bicycles. We suggest the bikes be locked in some fashion. Skateboards can be placed in the student’s locker. Wheelies and rollerblades may not be worn inside the school. There is no riding of bicycles, skateboards or rollerblades on the playground or on school property except for arriving or departing from school.

BIRTHDAYS

Parents may recognize their child’s birthday at school by sending a treat to be shared by ALL students in the classroom. Since instructional time in the classroom is very important, please contact your child’s teacher to plan a time for the treat.Make sure to check with the classroom teacher or school nurse for food allergies that students may have in your child’s classroom.

DO NOT SEND INDIVIDUAL party invitations to school for students to pass out to other students.

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH PROGRAM

Breakfast and lunch are served at MGS. All students will be required to complete an application for free or reduced meals. Those students who do not qualify MUST PURCHASE A LUNCH TICKET OR PAY DAILY for their meals. There is NO CHARGING. Reduced breakfast cost is $ .30 and lunch is $ .40. Full price breakfast is $ 1.75 and lunch is $2.70 for grades K-12.

Menus are printed each month in the Bennett County School District Newsletter. The menu is also posted on the bulletin board by the front office and in the lunchroom.

Students who wish to bring a sack lunch to school may do so. We ask parents to provide a nutritious meal. NO pop is allowed in the lunchroom during food service hours by staff or students.

Parents who wish to eat with their child are welcome to do so. We ask that you please notify the office at MGS before 9:30 that day so that day your name can be added to the lunch count. There is a $3.50 charge for adults who eat at school. The lunch schedule will be sent home with students along with their daily schedule.

BUS RIDING PRIVILEGES

Riding a school bus is a privilege and should be treated as such. Students riding buses are expected to follow the guidelines established by the bus driver. These rules are posted in each bus. Any student who does not behave appropriately on the bus may lose bus privileges for a period of time or for the entire year. If seat belts are in the suburban or bus, they are TO BE WORN BY ALL students and the driver. Bus drivers are authorized to assign seats if needed to ensure the safety of all riders. Refusal to obey the driver may cause disruptions that could result in injury to the driver and passengers.

Students need to ride the bus to which they have been assigned. Space on all buses is limited and there is NO ROOM FOR EXTRA RIDERS. Students must ride their ASSIGNED bus unless the office has completed a GUEST STUDENT BUS PASS.

The office needs to be notified by 2:30 if there are any pick-up changes in order to notify teachers and students in a timely manner.

Questions or concerns dealing with the bus need to be directed to Bob Toczek, Bus Supervisor, or Wayne Semmler, Superintendent at 685-6112.

CARE OF CAMPUS

A student body, school or community is often judged by the appearance of the school property. Care of the grounds, classrooms, building and equipment is the responsibility of ALL students and staff. Any student found destroying/damaging school property will be referred to the office for further action.

Have pride in our schools and be proud to show them to your family and friends.

CELL PHONES

Cell phones may not be used in the building during the school day and must be turned off and out of sight. If students are in violation of this rule, the first time, the phone will be taken to the office and students can pick it up at the end of the day. The second time, the phone will be taken to the office a parent will be notified to come pick it up. The third time, the phone will be taken to the office and not returned until the end of the year. Students that must make a phone call may use the front office phone with permission. The Bennett County School will not be responsible for any cell phones brought to school that are lost or stolen.

CHILD CUSTODY

In most cases, when parents are divorced or separated, both parents continue to have equal rights where their children are concerned. If you have a court order that limits the rights of one parent in matters of visitation or custody A COPY MUST BE FILED WITH THE OFFICE for the school to follow the orders. Unless the court order is on file with the school, we must provide equal rights to both parents. All staff members who have contact with the child will be notified of any custody orders.

If BOTH parents REQUEST copies of their report cards, schedules, calendars, parent-teacher conferences, etc. those addresses need to be filed with the office and included in the registration packet.

COMMUNICATION

Communication between home and school is extremely important. This handbook was provided to give the major regulations, service information and details about Martin Grade School. It does not include everything that happens or may happen at school. Parents will be informed of their child’s progress through a variety of means. Each Wednesday ALL students will bring home a PURPLE folder that will contain completed student work notes from the office, and messages from the teacher on student progress, work missing, or behavior concerns. Please read through this information, contact the teacher for further information and/or sign off that you have gone through the folder with your child.

Students in grades 4-6 use a Daily Planner.This allows the student, the teacher and the parent to keep open communication on what the students are doing daily.

Classroom and grade level news will be sent home either in a note from the teacher or included in the Bennett County School District Newsletter.

Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled forSeptember 25 and February 12and at other times when necessary. Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher to schedule a conference should you have a question or concern. Please do not go to the classroom for a conference without an appointment as this disrupts the instructional time for all students.

COMMUNITY USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES

Community groups may use the school facilities when they are not being used for school or student events. Should you wish to rent / use the facilities please contact Ms. Haverson at 685-6112 for further information and scheduling.

COMPUTER USE/ACCESS

The Bennett County School District offers computers and network access to students and staff for educational purposes in various instructional activities. The Bennett County School District invites any parent to inform schools IN WRITING if there is an objection to the child using the Internet with these activities. In the registration packet there is an ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY form which ALL Bennett County School District students and staff must sign for computer / internet use.

CURRICULUM

Curriculum development is an ongoing project with staff reviewing materials, connecting the Common Core Curriculum Standards and assessments to student learning. Questions about curriculum can be addressed with the classroom teachers or Mrs. Kuxhaus. The Common Core Curriculum Standards can be found at

The curriculum of Martin Grade School encompasses learning experiences to meet the needs, abilities, interests and emerging self-image of each pupil. The curriculum will be broad in scope and provide a wide range of rate, readiness and potential for learning through a balanced instructional program. Core materials used for instruction include Open Court (reading), GoMath (math), Harcourt (social studies Grades 4-6) and McMillan/McGraw (science grades 4-6). Supplemental materials are used at all grade levels to meet the needs of each student and the standards being addressed