Ute V. Perkins Elementary

STUDENT HANDBOOK

“Hand In Hand” We Make A Difference

PERKINS INFORMATION FOR 2003-2004

This handbook has been prepared to provide students and parents with information regarding Ute V. Perkins Elementary School and the Clark County School District. Please keep it handy for reference throughout the year. We will be happy to talk with you at any time regarding policies and procedures of the school and the school district.

MASTER SCHEDULE 2003-2004

Bell Schedule: The bell schedule for the 2003-2004 school year is as follows:

8:30 a.m. Morning Playground Duty begins

9:00 a.m. 1^stBell/Flag Ceremony

9:05 a.m. Instruction Begins

11:35 a.m. (Kdg area) AM ECSE & Kindergarten Dismissal

11:40 a.m. Lunch Begins

12:25 p.m. PM Instruction Begins

12:46 p.m. PM ECSE/SPK Begins

3:16 p.m. Student Dismissal

Each classroom has an assigned location on the playground for student line-up. When a bell rings to end activities, students are to stop playing. Student then must walk immediately to their classroom line. Response to bells is expected of all students and should be reinforced by each teacher. When the bells ring to end morning and noon playground periods, teachers will meet students promptly at the assigned line-up area. Orderly passing of classes in the hallways is expected at all times.

HOLIDAYS:

September 1................LABOR DAY

Oct. 31.........................NEVADA DAY

Nov. 10, 11..................VETERANS’ DAY BREAK

Nov. 27, 28...........……THANKSGIVING BREAK

Dec. 22 thru Jan.2.......WINTER BREAK

January 19.......................MARTIN LUTHER KING

February 16.....................PRESIDENTS’ DAY

April 5 thru April 9….……SPRING BREAK

May 31.........................…MEMORIAL DAY

STUDENTS ARE NOT TO ARRIVE BEFORE 8:30 a.m. Supervision on the playground will begin at that time. When the first bell rings, students should proceed immediately to the designated area.

RIDING THE BUS: Students are to obey their drivers at all times. Students are expected to help keep buses clean and neat. Students must follow all safety and bus rules while riding the bus. Drivers have the authority to cite students for disciplinary actions which may result in a loss of riding privileges.

ENROLLMENT AND WITHDRAWALS: Students MUST be enrolled through the school office before they can attend classes. If they are enrolling from another Clark County School, a transfer form is required to enroll the child. Parents of kindergarten children and students new to the district MUST present verification of the date of birth and immunization at the time of registration. When you are planning on withdrawing a child, the office MUST have at least one day’s notice in order to prepare records. Library books and texts need to be returned before leaving.

ATTENDANCE: A phone call to the school office or a written excuse must accompany students on their return to school after an absence or tardy in the state of Nevada. It is the parent’s responsibility to see that regular attendance is maintained. If a student is going to be out of school for family trips or other personal reasons, advance arrangements should be made.

STUDENT INFORMATION: Parents must keep the school informed of any changes in address or telephone numbers (both home and work). This is essential in case of illness or emergencies.

ILLNESS AT SCHOOL: If medication is to be dispensed at school, parents must obtain a Medication-Legal Release form from the office. This must be completed and returned to the office before medication will be dispensed. Medication must be in the original container.

DISCIPLINE: The basic philosophy of discipline at Ute V. Perkins is that no student will stop a teacher from teaching or another student from learning. Students are held responsible for their actions. A Required Parent Conference (RPC) is mandatory for students involved in a fight. Parents will be contacted whenever their child is referred to an administrator for disruptive behavior. The “Behaving At School” brochure will be sent home for your review.

LUNCH AND BREAKFAST: The multi-purpose room is used for both lunch and breakfast. All students, whether purchasing school lunch or carrying a lunch, will eat in the lunchroom. Hot lunches and breakfast will be served in accordance with the menus and schedules provided by the Food Services Department. A monthly menu will be sent home with each child. Free and reduced lunch forms are available in the office and will be sent home in the beginning school packets.

BREAKFAST: $.80 LUNCH: $1.40 MILK ONLY: $.25

RESPECT AND CARE FOR SCHOOL PROPERTY AND THE PROPERTY OF OTHERS:

This responsibility includes the school building and grounds, furnishings, and books/materials. Students are expected to keep hands/feet/objects to themselves and show respect to others at all times.

CLASSROOM INTERRUPTIONS: It is the intent of the staff to maximize use of instruction time, and we ask for your cooperation. Messages to students will be limited to emergency situations only.

TELEPHONES: The office telephones are for school business only. Students need special permission from their teacher to use the telephone for emergencies only.

EARLY DISMISSAL: Anyone picking up children during school hours must check in at the office and sign the register. Parents or visitors should never go to the classrooms before signing in. The office staff will notify the teacher that the parent is waiting in the office for their child. Positively no student is to leave the grounds without getting permission from the school office.

PERSONAL POSSESSIONS, LOST AND FOUND: Do not allow students to bring items (toys) to school which are not a part of the educational program unless specifically requested by the teacher. KEEP CHEWING GUM, CANDY, RADIOS, TOYS, SKATEBOARDS, SPORTS EQUIPMENT AND HATS AT HOME. Please label your child’s possessions. In this way they can easily claim lost items. The school has a Lost and Found box located in the office.

VISITOR/PARENT VOLUNTEERS: All visitors, patrons, and parents are welcome and encouraged to visit the school. All visitors must report to the office first, sign our volunteer book, and obtain a visitor badge. Parents are encouraged to help in the classroom, lunchroom and the playground.

HEALTH SERVICES: Students who become ill at school should report to the health office. If the illness or injury is of such a nature that the student should go home, the parent will be notified. Students are not permitted to leave the school without permission from the school office.

SPECIAL DAY ACTIVITIES: In observance of recognized special days, teachers and students may prepare and carry out suitable educational activities. Please do not begin earlier than one hour before dismissal time. Activities are appropriate in grades K-5 for:

Halloween
Winter Holidays
Valentine’s Day

Birthday celebrations for students and/or teachers are not permitted at school during instructional time.

In the case of at-home birthday parties, invitations are not to be distributed at school unless there is an invitation for every child in the classroom.

Care should be taken not to schedule significant activities or examinations on other major religious holidays not identified above. (See CCSD Regulation 6113)

At no time should gifts between students be exchanged.

DRESS CODE: Student dress and appearance is expected to conform to Clark County School District’s Regulations. The following guidelines will be enforced:

1. Shoes with soles must be worn at all times. Open-toed footwear is discouraged due to safety concerns.

2. Shirts and blouses must be appropriately buttoned and the length must extend beyond belt level.

3. All attire must be hemmed or rolled up and be at least finger-tip length.

4. The following items are prohibited: hats, see-through tops, bare midriff and /or strapless clothing, low-cut clothing, clothing with slits, or tops and outfits that provide minimum covering.

5. Slogans or advertising which by their controversial or obscene nature disrupt the educational setting are prohibited.

Students violating the dress regulations will be asked to correct the problem or parents will be called to bring appropriate clothing to school.

STUDENT INSURANCE: Clark County School district does not endorse any particular Student Accident Insurance Program, however brochures containing the features of these programs are provided. Enrollment forms sent home with your child are to be mailed directly to the insurance company and not returned to the school.

OPENING CEREMONY

PERKINS REVEILLE: Each morning, students and teachers will gather at the designated line-up area for Perkins Reveille. At this time, appropriate patriotic music will begin to play on our sound equipment. As this music is played, the students will gather at the class dots. By the time the music ends, 4 members of the class in charge will display the American flags, one class member will lead the student body in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by another class member who will announce the beginning of the 30 Seconds of Silence. After these two required events, and the singing of an appropriate song, chosen by the class in charge, any necessary announcements will be made, and students, teachers and staff may be recognized from time to time for outstanding behavior or progress as determined by the Administration. When the Perkins Reveille ends, teachers will lead their students into the classroom and the day’s activities should begin immediately.

Patriotic Exercises

Children in the State of Nevada are to be taught that the American flag is to be accorded the respect befitting the loyalty and gratitude to the United States held by those who enjoy its benefits.

1. The ‘salute to the flag” will be conducted, as a school, outside on the blacktop.

2. The flag salute is to be conducted in a dignified and reverent manner.

3. Time should be taken to discuss what the flag and the salute represent.

4. Students are to be taught to recite the “Pledge of Allegiance.”

5. Students who have religious or conscientious objections to participating can be excused from participating, but should not be allowed to distract.

6. The American flag is to be appropriately displayed in every classroom and will be flown outside of the school on every school day.

Silent Contemplation

In accordance with Nevada Revised Statute, one-half minute will be set aside at the opening flag ceremony during which all persons must be silent for voluntary individual mediation, prayer, or reflection.

HOME/SCHOOL COMMUNICATION

It is expected that teachers, administrators, and office personnel will follow through on all communications sent home and/or all commitments made during parent contacts/conferences. It is assumed that if a situation was important enough to warrant communication (of whatever type) with the home, it is important to see that:

1. The communication, if written, will be sent home on the day designated.

2. Students will be held responsible for seeing that the communication indeed gets home.

3. If the communication is not returned, a follow-up phone call can be expected from the teacher.

Teachers will maintain a record of personal/telephone parent conferences. The principal will be kept advised of contacts made.

Teachers at Perkins Elementary are expected and encouraged to assign homework which should extend and expand the activities presented during the instructional day. As teachers determine the amount of homework given, they will give consideration to allow time for students to participate in out-of-school/home centered activities and responsibilities. Homework will ordinarily be assigned three or four times a week. No homework is to be assigned on Friday or a day prior to a holiday.

1. Time to complete homework will vary by grade level and student capability within a 15 minute to 1.5 hour time period. Students in Grades 1-3 should not be assigned homework for more that 15-30 minutes daily. In Grades 4-5, daily homework completion should not exceed 1.5 hours.

2. The teacher will insure that students understand the purpose of the assignment, what is to be accomplished, and how it is to be done.

3. All students will be held responsible for completing the work and returning it to the teacher for proper evaluation within the time frame identified by the teacher. Assigned homework must be within the capabilities and learning needs of individual students.

4. Students should be held accountable for a high standard of accuracy, legibility, spelling and punctuation.

Teachers will teach objectives stated in district curriculum guides, and student grades will be reported in relationship to achievement of those objectives.

The following letter grades are used for basic skill subjects, showing accomplishment relative to other students at the assigned grade level:

The following supplementary grading symbols are used for other subjects and sub-skill areas, showing accomplishment relative to individual potential:

Grades are not to be lowered for disciplinary reasons. Grades should report achievement and progress.

STATEMENT REGARDING STUDENT DISCIPLINE

At Ute V. Perkins Elementary we feel that good discipline is essential in the teaching/learning process. An educational environment based on respect, courtesy, care, and productivity in which teachers can successfully teach and children can comfortably learn with minimal disruptions and maximum satisfaction will be emphasized.

The entire staff will be involved in teaching and reinforcing appropriate student behavior. School-wide behavior incentive programs will be utilized to reward appropriate behavior. Students will be encouraged to consistently follow school rules of conduct, set a good example for others, and reflect upon how their behavior affects others. Throughout the school year, priority attention will be given to the teaching of self-discipline and the development of student self-responsibility. It is our belief that:

1. Students can and must be taught to respect the rights and property of others and to exhibit appropriate behavior.

2. Students should and can be taught to be responsible for their behavior. A level of expectancy must be established and maintained.

3. Discipline and school rules are necessary to assure an orderly, safe, and fun environment in which students may learn in harmony with others.

4. Appropriate student behaviors should be developed and reinforced in a positive environment.

5. Ideal discipline is self-directed and self-controlled. Responsibility for helping children develop self-discipline is shared between the home and school.

6. When self-discipline fails and self-control is lost, consequences must be imposed to protect the rights of others.

We believe that the success of a school discipline program is dependent upon your support and shared responsibility. With your cooperation and help we can provide a positive, productive learning environment for your child. Your involvement and support is respectfully requested. If at any time you have questions, please feel free to contact the school.

PHILOSOPHY/MISSION/GOALS

ACCOUNTABILITY PLAN: Schools will be held accountable for demonstrating progress toward meeting district-specified goals in four major areas:

The purpose of the internal accountability system is to establish a results-oriented educational system in which all educators and students (with parent and family support) are held accountable for student learning. The units of analysis and accountability are: the district, the region, the school/principal, the grade level/department, the teacher, and the student. Schools and students are to be held accountable for meeting the annual goals and targets set forth in CCSD Governance Policies and the CCSD Accountability Plan. Data-driven accountability decisions that will be made are the following:

2. Which students/teachers/grade levels/schools/curricular areas need to improve?

4. To what extent are Access, School Improvement, and School-Home Relations goals being met?

SCHOOL/HOME RELATIONS: The school will provide homework support for students before and after school and promote parental involvement in and support for students’ homework. The school will provide opportunities for parent-teacher conferences. The school will promote family/home activities that extend student-learning opportunities. The school will provide timely attendance and behavior related communication to parents. The school will provide timely achievement related communication to parents in regard to: