ALL ABOARD:
RIDE THE KNIGHT TRAIN TO SUCCESS
2008-2009
Student-Parent Handbook
RTR Elementary School
Ruthton, MN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
RTR Staff 1
Attendance Policy 2
Absences 2
Attendance 3
Tardies 3
Truancy 3
Arrival at School 4
After School 4
Bike Safety 4
Birthday Treats 5
Books and Equipment 5
Bus Safety 5
Bus Passes 6
Child Abuse and Neglect 6
Community Use of Facilities 6
Computers and Technology 7
Conferences 7
Discipline 7
Behavior Expectations 8
Disciplinary Referral 10
Student’s Behavior Disciplinary Action Report 11
Dress 12
Electronic Use Guidelines 12
English Language Learner 12
Field Trips 12
Fire and Tornado Drills 13
Forbidden Items 13
Gym Shoes/Phy. Ed. 14
Harassment 14
Homework 14
Grading System 15
Immunizations 15
Instrumental Music Program 15
Insurance 16
Leaving School During the Day 16
Library 16
Lockers 16
Lost and Found 17
Lunch Program 17
Medication 17
Prescription Medication Administration 18
Parent Involvement 19
Parent Permission Slips 19
Recess 19
Report Cards and Student Progress 19
Special Education Services 20
School Bulletin and Newsletter 20
School Closings 20
School Day 20
School Enrollment 20
School Picture and Memory Book 21
School Registration Policy 21
School Security 21
Smoke Free Environment 22
Student Day 22
Student Health Services 22
Telephone 23
Title 1 Services 24
Valuables 24
Visitors 24
Volunteers 24
Weapons 24
Withdrawing a Student from School 24
SCHOOL HOURS
Fast Facts
Office Hours: 8 a.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Nurse Hours: 8:15 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Phone Number: 507-658-3301 – local calls
1-800-430-6429 – long distance calls
Fax Number: 507-658-3589
Internet Website www.rtrschools.org
Elementary Principal: Amy Christensen
Superintendent of Schools Bruce Houck
Transportation Supervisor Bruce Baartman & Leon Sand
RTR Middle School Phone 507-823-4371
RTR High School 507-247-5911
Board of Education RTR Mission Statement
RTR Elementary Staff
Kindergarten Amanda Press amanda.press@rtrschools.org
Danielle VandenBerg danielle.vandenberg@rtrschools.org
First Grade Kari Kidman kari.williams@rtrschools.org
Marilyn Mortland marilyn.mortland@rtrschools.org
Second Grade Deanna Larson deanna.larson@rtrschools.org
Betty Van Keulen betty.vankeulen@rtrschools.org
Third Grade Jeanne Norgaard jeanne.norgaard@rtrschools.org
Mary Wabeke mary.wabeke@rtrschools.org
Fourth Grade Deb Mikkelsen deb.mikkelsen@rtrschools.org
Teddy Smidt teddy.smidt@rtrschools.org
Fifth Grade Steve Borchert steve.borchert@rtrschools.org
Theresa Petersen theresa.petersen@rtrschools.org
Physical Education Jason Borman jason.borman@rtrschools.org
Art Tessa Dierks tessa.dierks@rtrschools.org
ECFE Pam Hansen pam.hansen@rtrschools.org
Heidi Buchert heidi.buchert@rtrschools.org
Special Education Anna Hesse anna.hesse@rtrschools.org
Tammy Kopacek tamara.kopacek@rtrschools.org
Jane Pickering jane.pickering@rtrschools.org
DHH Kari Nilles Kari.Nilles@swsc.org
School Psych Jay Trenhaile
Speech Jessica Robinson
Occupational Therapist Kathy Rupp kathy.rupp@rtrschools.org
Title 1 Bo Duncan bo.duncan@rtrschools.org
PARA Marian Feste
Brenda Johnson
Sue Kahler
Shirley Mortland
Christina Redepenning
Travis Bockelmann
School Health Coordinator Wendy Alsaker wendy.alsaker@rtrschools.org
Library Bev Anderson bev.anderson@rtrschools.org
Head Cook Luann Reber luann.reber@rtrschools.org
Cafeteria Delores Dagel
Doretta Vinson
Dar Garrow
ESL Program Karla Johnson karla.johnson@rtrschools.org
Music/Band Program Tiffany Bockelmann tiffany.bockelmann@rtrschools.org
Head Custodian Marlin Muenchow marlin.muenchow@rtrschools.org
Custodial Dept. Dennis Olson
Green Tree Senior Employee Rosmary Hartson
Secretary Amanda Lanners amanda.lanners@rtrschools.org
Elementary Principal Amy Christensen amy.christensen@rtrschools.org
The RTR Board of Education believes that regular school attendance is directly related to success in academic work, benefits students socially, provides opportunities for important communications between teachers and students, and establishes regular habits of dependability important to the future of the student. The purpose of this policy is to encourage regular school attendance and recognizes that class attendance is a joint responsibility to be shared by the students, parents or guardians, teachers and administration. Absences from school can never really be made up. Success at school requires – like success at any job – promptness, responsibility, and dependability. The school feels that the student must not only complete his/her schoolwork satisfactorily, but maintain a good attendance record as well.
Students in grades K-5 are allowed a maximum of ten absences per semester. On the eleventh absence, students may be required to make up time after school, attend summer school, or be retained in their current grade.
Examples as per Minnesota State Guidelines for Excusable & Unexcusable Absences are as follows:
Excusable absences:
Unexcused absences include, but aren’t limited to:
It is the parent’s responsibility to be informed of the number of absences accumulated during each semester. An attendance sheet and cover letter will be sent home quarterly to families exceeding the amount of excused/unexcused absences.
All students are expected to attend school regularly. Regular school attendance is closely related to success in school and is part of your child’s school record. Absences and tardies will be excused by presenting the teacher with a written excuse giving the date of the absence or tardy, reason and the parent’s signature. If your child will not be coming to school due to an illness or other unplanned circumstances, please notify the office by 9:30. This helps us to know that your child is safe and accounted for. We will call all students that are absent and unaccounted for after 9:30 a.m.
If you are planning a trip, or know in advance of an extended absence, please
make arrangements with the school prior to your leaving. We will prepare all materials that will be made up and have them ready for you. Failure to make preparations ahead of time may constitute an unexcused absence. All calls and notes must be received on the day of or the day following the absence. Calls and notes not received within three days following the absence will not be accepted and the absence will be considered unexcused. A doctor’s note verifying consecutive absences of three or more days may be required. The school reserves the right to request verification on all calls and notes.
Promptness is both courteous and respectful to staff and classmates, therefore we make it a high priority that students are on time for school. With our day starting at 8:15 a.m., students should be ready to go. If the students arrive in school after this time they will be assigned a tardy, three tardies equal one unexcused absence and will incur the same consequences which may include after school detention. A tardy is unexcused for the same reasons that an absence would be unexcused. Should you arrive late for school, please take a moment and come into the building and sign your child into class in the office. This is a requirement we must have to ensure the safety of all our students and it helps us to know who is coming and going in our building. Failure to sign your child in will constitute an unexcused tardy.
With ten or more absences in a semester, excused or unexcused, students may be required to make up time after school, attend summer school, or be retained in their current grade. The length of time being made up will be determined by the child’s teacher and principal. Children under the age of 16 who are absent from school without lawful excuse for seven days in a school year are considered truant. Truant students are referred to the County Attorney’s office. If the parent provides no excuse or an insufficient excuse, the absence is unexcused.
When an absence/tardy is anticipated, please tell us in advance so that your child’s teacher can help them plan for their absence/tardy. Whenever possible schedule dentist, doctor, and other types of appointments after school hours.
On occasion, you may have to take your child out of class for a short period of time or before the end of the school day. Please come to the office and we will send for your child. No child will be allowed to leave his or her classroom early without clearance from the school office.
In accordance with Minnesota State Statutes the following UNEXCUSED absences will be accumulated in the following manor:
ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL
Beginning at 7:50 a.m., students will have supervised play until 8:15 a.m. when they either go to breakfast in the cafeteria or to their classroom. No students will be allowed to roam the building unsupervised. Staff is not on duty prior to 7:50 a.m. Therefore there is NO SUPERVISION on the playground before that time. Please DO NOT send or drop off your child(ren) before that time.
The school day for students ends at 3:15 p.m. All students are expected to leave the building unless they are involved in a directed activity or are receiving assistance from a teacher or tutor program.
If parents approve, students may ride their bicycle to school. Children should follow
all bicycle safety rules, which include one person on a bike. We also encourage students to wear bicycle helmets. Students should park their bicycles in the appropriate bike racks. We recommend that only children in the third grade and up ride their bicycles to school.
Children are not permitted to ride their bikes during the school day. Bicycles should be locked in the bike rack, as it is not possible to guarantee their security.
You may send treats with your child to help celebrate their birthday. All treats must be commercially made. Please make sure that enough treats are sent for all classmates. In planning for a child’s home party, please do not ask the school to supply you with the addresses and telephone numbers of you child’s classmates.
Each
student is responsible for the good care and return of all books and equipment.
He or she should have a respect for all school furnishing. When a child has
books at home, it is expected that the parent will assist the child in the
proper care of the books and getting them to return the books as soon as
possible to the school.
Books and equipment that are lost or destroyed will be valued based on age. An appropriate fine will be charged to the student that has misplaced or misused the material, according to MN Statute 120.74, subd 1.
In Minnesota, riding a bus is a privilege and with that privilege comes responsibility. The students who ride the bus must work to create and maintain a safe riding environment. To help ensure your child’s safety we expect all of our student’s to abide by the bus rules. These are:
**Remember, bus riding is a privilege not a requirement**
Should a rule be broken, the consequences are as follows:
|
First offense |
Written warning by the bus driver, copies given to building principal, and parents. |
|
Second offense |
Three-day suspension from riding the bus. It will be the parent’s responsibility to transport the child to and from school. Written notice from the bus driver, copies given to building principal and parents. |
|
Third offense |
Five-day suspension from the bus. It will be the parent’s responsibility to transport the child to and from school. Written notice from the bus driver, copies given to building principal and parents. |
|
Fourth offense |
Ten-day suspension from the bus. There will be a meeting with parent. It will be the parent’s responsibility to transport the child to and from school. Written notice from the bus driver, copies given to building principal and parents. |
|
Further offense |
Individually considered. Students may be suspended for longer periods of time, including the remainder of the school year. |
All adult school personnel are required by law to report any suspected case of child abuse or neglect to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.
Community groups are encouraged to use school facilities when they are not being used for school or student events. We are proud of our school and would like you to see and use it. Call the school office at 507-658-3301 to request a facility scheduling form and ask about the guidelines.
The computer lab is equipped with Compaq IBM computers. Students are scheduled for weekly computer lab time. Internet access is available in the computer room. Students will be instructed on the district’s acceptable use policy for Internet use and will be subject to the district’s disciplinary procedures for misuse of programs or equipment. RTR School is committed to providing resources and instructions to enable students to effectively access and communicate ideas and information via technology.
Formal Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled once a year. They are scheduled for November 6 and 11. Parents are encouraged to establish open communication with their child’s teacher and teachers with each student’s parents. In addition to the schedule conference, parents and teachers are encouraged to have additional conferences as needed. Parents may request a conference at any time by calling the elementary office.
We at RTR Elementary School believe in encouraging students to do their best. This includes their behavior. Respect, cooperation, teamwork, and effort are concepts that help to reinforce positive behavior. As a staff, we believe that every student can and will act appropriately when he/she is in school. Every student at RTR Elementary School is accountable for his/her behavior. If a student chooses to behave in a way that is disrespectful to others, disruptive to the learning environment, violates the rights of others or make school unsafe, the student will experience the consequences for the behavior.
The basic Rules of Student Behavior at RTR School are:
1. Respect others.
2. Respect property and possessions.
3. Respect yourself.
Parental support is essential to maintain a positive learning environment.
Should a student choose to act in an inappropriate manner they will receive a warning. If a warning fails to correct the behavior, we then use our school wide discipline policy form to document the behavior and follow the consequences listed. These sheets are kept on file in the principal’s office.
Below you will find some general behavior expectations we believe are appropriate for all students. These cover areas other than the classroom. Classroom teachers have discretion in setting classroom behavior rules that are appropriate for their students. Classroom rules will be reviewed by the teacher periodically. It is extremely helpful to review these general behaviors periodically with your child. This reinforces their importance and it demonstrates that you support these school behaviors.
One note about school behaviors….please encourage your child to address a problem if it affects them. If your child experiences a negative behavior, they have a responsibility to bring this to the attention of his/her supervisor teacher, bus driver or principal. This is helpful and allows us to address the issue before it gets out of hand.
At RTR Elementary, we are proud of our students when they conduct themselves appropriately, showing pride in themselves and their school.
As a staff, our major goal regarding discipline is to accentuate the positive and to help students make good behavior choices. Our school rules and regulations are based on the following expectations for students:
All S.T.A.R. (Stop, Think, Act Responsibly) Policy
Responsibility
Respect
Readiness
Relationships
Respectful Talk
*Special note: Verbal abuse to teachers, students, or other staff will result in immediate removal to the office for appropriate disciplinary action.
Relationships/Kindness to Others (Physical)
*Special note: Physical abuse to students, teachers, or other staff will result in immediate removal to the office for appropriate disciplinary action.
We
believe that there is a positive relationship between dress and attitudes.
Students are expected to show good judgment in dress and grooming at all times.
We encourage students to dress in a neat and attractive manner that reflects
pride in themselves and their school. We urge parents to strongly discourage
attention-seeking departures from good taste when children attend school
classes. When grooming and/or appearance are detrimental to student safety or
of questionable taste, this will necessitate a change in appearance and/or
grooming. A simple rule is neatness and decency. The atmosphere and general
quality of the school is often judged by the action and appearance of the
students.
Our rule: If a student puts their arms at their side, the bottom of their shorts needs to be below their fingers. Tank tops/muscle shirts are allowed. Spaghetti straps and halter tops are NOT allowed. If a student breaks these rules, they will be asked to change.
* Be sure that your children are dressed appropriately for the weather. Children do go out for play and should be dressed each day with this in mind.
· Radios, stereos, walkman radios, pagers, cell phones, picture cell phones, iPods, MP3 players, electronic games, and other electronic items as determined by the administration or designee.
The school is not liable for the loss or destruction of these items. During school hours all electronic devices, deemed as inappropriate, must be turned off and securely stored (hall locker, car or office. Use of these items during school hours, unless approved by the principal or designee, will result in the following disciplinary action:
· 1st offense: warning – item brought to office to pick up after school and the parent is notified
· 2nd offense: item brought to office, parent needs to come with you to pick up item
· 3rd offense: item brought to office, parent needs to come with you to pick up item, after school detention (1 hour)
The ELL/ESL program is available to assist students whose first language is one other than English. Students qualify for services based on test scores as well as parent and teacher recommendations. Students who meet the qualifications receive help from an English as a Second Language Instructor.
As an example, students may not be able to attend a scheduled field trip if:
1) Students have missing assignments.
· They may not be turned in on the morning of the field trip.
· &