JAMES MADISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
1309 Madison Road
Manistee, MI 49660
231-723-5212
STUDENT – PARENT HANDBOOK
~2007 – 2008~
~JAMES MADISON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL~
1309 MADISON ROAD
MANISTEE MI 49660
Phone 231-723-5212 ~ Fax 231-723-1607
~The mission of Madison Elementary School is to develop confident, productive citizens through challenging curriculum, parental involvement and community support.~
Welcome to James Madison Elementary!
We look forward to working with you and your child to provide the best education possible. Our staff is dedicated to providing a safe and caring learning environment. By working together your child will have a happy and successful school year.
The information in this handbook will help you understand the rules and procedures that are established for all of our students. We are always looking for information that you feel is important to add to this handbook. Your opinion is welcome and appreciated.
If you have any questions and/or concerns with any part of this handbook, please call or visit the school.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Matson, Principal
James Madison Elementary School Staff
2007 – 2008
Principal Cheryl Matson
Secretary Vonni Mikula
Dana Dobis Kindergarten
Kim Fischer Kindergarten
Christine Slawinski Kindergarten
Rebecca Janney First Grade
Carol Keleher First Grade
Eric Solberg First Grade
Staci Johnson Second Grade
Betty Kran Second Grade
Scott Mathison Second Grade
Karen Snyder Third Grade
Jane Wojciechowski Third Grade
Darene Sutter Special Education
Scott Solberg Safenet
Linda Wright Safenet
Mary Chick Aide
Julie Froncek Mentoring Aide
Eleanor Kaminski Aide
Tanya Lindeman Aide
Randee Oleniczak Librarian Aide
Connie Rybicki Aide
Judith Shinn Aide
Kathy Thompsen Aide
Monte Kline Art
Mary Bartosiewicz Computer Lab
Mary Peterson Music
Jean Urban Physical Education
Mike Suriano Head Custodian
Mark Thrailkill Custodial Aide
Susie Bauman Food Service
Faye Patulski Food Service
SCHOOL HOURS FOR STUDENTS
Our school day is from 7:55 AM to 3:05 PM. Students should not arrive at school before 7:30 AM. Students are allowed to bring possessions into school and then proceed to the playground or to breakfast. Students arriving early will be supervised by an aide.
ATTENDANCE
When a student is too ill to attend school, phone the office at 723-5212 between 7:30-8:30 AM that day. All calls must be made by a parent/guardian (students are not allowed to excuse themselves). Students are granted an excused absence for illness. A student is considered TARDY between 7:55 to 8:40 AM. After 8:40 AM a student is considered absent for the morning. If the office has not received a call by 9:30 AM we will attempt to contact the child’s parent to verify the absence or tardy, otherwise that absence will be considered unexcused. After two or more consecutive days of absence, please call the office to arrange school work for your student to do at home.
Parents of students who will be absent for an extended period of time (i.e. family trip) will be required to notify the school at least one week in advance to request the school work which will be missed during that time.
TRUANCY
A student is considered truant if they miss SEVEN (7)) or more days per trimester. Two tardies will equal one (1) absence. If a student accumulates 7 absences a letter will be sent to the parent from the Manistee ISD and a copy to the School Liaison Police Officer. The School Liaison Police Officer will make a visit to the home. If Three (3) or more days are accumulated after the initial 7 days, the School Liaison Police Officer will issue an arrest warrant on the parents/guardians for truancy. Any student arriving late to school is to report to the office before proceeding to class.
EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSINGS
Local TV and radio stations will announce the closing of school as early as 6:00 AM. Please take advantage of these announcements, as it will prevent many unnecessary calls to the school.
LUNCH & BREAKFAST PROGRAM
Weekly $8.75
Daily $1.75
Reduced $ .40
Breakfast $1.00
Reduced Breakfast $ .30
Milk $ .35
Applications for free and reduced lunch are available at the school office and online.
If your student receives free or reduced lunch and they choose to bring a lunch from home, they must pay $.35 for their milk. Students are not allowed to consume pop during school hours. ALL BREAKFAST AND LUNCHES MUST BE PAID FOR IN ADVANCE. If a check is returned to us for insufficient funds, you will be charged a fee of $10.00 to offset bank charges and administrative costs. Students will not be allowed to accumulate more than 3 charges at any time. All questions regarding student balances should be directed to Karla Dietz at 723-3521.
MEDICATION
MAPS has established a policy that every student must have an Emergency Medical Authorization Form completed and signed by parent/guardian in order to participate in any activity on/off school grounds. The Emergency Medical Authorization Form is provided at the time of enrollment and at the beginning of each school year.
In those circumstances where a student must take prescribed medication during the school day
the following guidelines are to be observed –
1. Parents should with their physicians counsel, determine whether the medication
schedule can be adjusted to avoid administering medication during school hours
2 The Medicine Dispensing Form must be completed and filed with the principal
before a student will be allowed to take medication during school hours
3. All medication must be registered with the school office
4. All medication must be delivered by the parent/guardian to the school office with the bottle from the pharmacy which describes the dosage. Medication MAY NOT
be sent to school in a student’s lunch box, pocket or envelope
5. Unused medication unclaimed by the parent/guardian will be destroyed when a
prescription is no longer to be administered or at the end of a school year
6. Parents have sole responsibility to instruct their child to take the medication at the
scheduled time, the child has the responsibility for both presenting himself/herself on time and for taking the prescribed medication
7. A log for each prescribed medication will be maintained which will note the
personnel giving the mediation, the date and time. This log will be maintained with the physicians written instructions and the parent’s written permission release
Parents may authorize the school to administer a non-prescribed medication by signing the Medicine Dispensing Form at the office. A physician does not have to authorize such medication but all conditions described under prescribed medications will apply to non-prescribed medications.
GRADING
The school has a standard grading procedure as well as additional notations that may indicate work in progress or incomplete work. The purpose of a grade is to indicate the extent to which the student has acquired the necessary learning. In general, students are assigned grades based upon test results, homework, projects and classroom participation. Each teacher may place a different emphasis on these areas in determining a grade and will so inform the students at the beginning of the class work. If a student is not sure how his/her grade will be determined he/she should ask their teacher
Grades K-3 Standards Based Report Cards
Key to Reading the Report Card:
1=Mastery of Content Expectation
2=Developing Skills at a Rate to Master by Year’s End
3=Developing Skills at a Slower than Expected Rate
4=Beginning Skill Level
X=Not Assessed at this time
GRADING PERIODS
Students will receive a report card at the end of each trimester indicating their grades for each course of study for that portion of the academic term. When a student appears to be at risk of failure, notification will be provided to the parent/guardian so actions can be taken to improve poor grades.
1ST Trimester September 5 – November 21
2nd Trimester November 26 – February 29
3rd Trimester March 3 – May 23
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES
Conferences are scheduled twice during the school year. A progress report may be sent home prior to this if a child is not doing satisfactory work. If you desire a conference other than the scheduled times, please call the school at 723-5212.
PROMOTION, PLACEMENT & RETENTION
Promotion to the next grade is based on the following criteria
a. current level of achievement
b. potential for success at the next grade level
c. emotional, physical and/or social maturity
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
The assignment of homework can be expected. Student grades will reflect the completion of all work, including outside assignments. Homework is also part of the student’s preparation for the MEAP test and graduation. Homework will not generally be used for disciplinary reasons but only to enhance student learning.
WORK WITH SUSPENSION
A suspended student will be responsible for making up school work lost due to suspension. It is recommended that a student complete missed assignments during the suspension and turn them in to the teacher upon his/her return to school. Assignments may be obtained from the classroom teacher. Missed tests may be scheduled for make up upon the students return to school. The student will be given credit for properly completed assignments and a grade on any made up tests.
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
The American’s with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act provide that no individual will be discriminated against on the basis of a disability. This protection applies not just to the student, but to all individuals who have access to the district’s programs and facilities. A student can access special education services through the proper evaluation procedures. Parent involvement in this procedure is important and required by Federal (IDEA) and State law. For more information contact the building principal.
DRESS & GROOMING
The style and manner in which a student dresses while attending school shall be the primary responsibility of the parents. Dress should be safe, practical, non-offensive, and not distract the learning of others. Students should be clean and neat. Students are not permitted to wear half shirts, tank tops, halter tops/dresses and T-shirts with inappropriate pictures or words printed on them. Inappropriate dress and grooming will be dealt with on an individual basis and may include removal from school.
BIRTHDAYS
Birthdays are special days for children. Parents are invited to have lunch with their child on his/her birthday. If your child has a summer or weekend birthday, choose any day as birthday lunch day. Just call the school between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m. on the day you are coming so we can order your hot lunch, which will cost you $2.75. Flowers or balloons sent to a child in school are given to the birthday boy/girl just before dismissal time.
LOST & FOUND
All personal belongings should be marked with the student's first and last names. Items that are found without a name are placed in the "Lost and Found" near the office.
SCHOOL & BUS CONDUCT
We expect our students to conduct themselves in an orderly manner at school and on the bus. The following school wide rules are our plan to maintain a safe and orderly environment.
1. Attend classes daily.
2. Be on time.
3. Be respectful and courteous at all times.
4. Physical contact, profanity, and name calling is prohibited.
Our Madison School Pledge ~ The 4 B’s
I will listen. Be Courteous
I will follow directions. Be Kind
I will be honest. Be Busy
I will respect others. Be Safe
I will care for all property.
I can learn.
I will learn
The Madison staff will be following the Behavior and Educational Strategies Team (B.E.S.T.) model for student conduct. It is our philosophy that the parents are the most powerful influence in their child’s life. Parents and teachers working together can solve school related problems. The faculty and staff of our school are not interested in causing problems or stress in your home or on your job. We are only interested in solutions to the problem at hand. We teach for success, not failure. As part of the B.E.S.T. model the staff will be contacting parents when there is a concern regarding your child’s behavior or academics.
1st Step - Teacher contacts parent and the student will inform the parent of the area of concern. (Two-Minute Phone Call)
2nd Step – Teacher, Parent and Child conference to resolve areas of concern.
3rd Step – Teacher, Parent, Child, and Principal conference to resolve areas of concern. This may also include a behavior or academic plan to assist the child to be successful in school.
TRANSPORTATION
1. Students are not released to anyone other than the parent/caregiver without a request by phone or in writing. All regular bus riders must ride the bus. If there are changes in the bussing transportation of your child, please send notes to the bus driver and teacher/office.
2. Parents who drive their children to school should drop them off by the sidewalk on the oval in front of the school on the north side of the building. Please do not park in bus loading zones (oval driveway).
3. Parents picking up children after school should park in our regular parking lot on the west end of the building. Please do not park in bus loading zones (oval driveway).
Riding a bus is a privilege, not a right. The driver is responsible for student safety and may assign seating, or direct you in any reasonable manner to maintain that safety. Students riding to and from school, or on any school sponsored activities are required to follow basic safety and consideration rules:
~Be on time at the designated zone five minutes prior to the scheduled time for pick up.
~Let younger children enter the bus first. Assist them if you can.
~Wait until the bus is completely stopped before moving forward to enter.
~Refrain from crossing a highway until the bus driver signals it is safe.
~Go immediately to a seat and be seated.
~Remain seated while the bus is in motion.
~Keep your head, arms and legs inside the bus at all times.
~Do not leave litter on the bus, or throw anything out the bus window.
~Keep books, coats, and all other articles out of the aisle.
~Be courteous to the driver and all other passengers.
~Do not eat or drink on the bus.
~Do not tamper with the bus or any of its equipment.
~Remain seated until the bus has stopped.
Students who violate bus regulations will have transportation privileges suspended temporarily or permanently depending on the severity of the offense.
Bus conduct – First Offense – Warning
Second Offense – 2 days suspended from bus
Third Offense – 5 days suspended from bus
Fourth Offense (or more) – 10 days suspended from bus
All other reports: Double the amount of days previously suspended.
**The Principal reserves the right to suspend for longer or shorter times depending on the severity of the offense.
“20-20” READING PROGRAM
Madison Elementary is offering an “at home” supplemental reading program called “20-20”. We ask each student to read at home for 20 minutes a day, 20 different days each month throughout the school year. Everyday, your son/daughter will read to a parent, sister/brother, grandma/grandpa, etc. for 20 minutes, or if you would prefer, someone may read to your child for 20 minutes. How you want to do it is up to you, as long as your child is exposed to 20 minutes of literature a night, for 20 days a month throughout the school year. What you read is up to your child and you. You may choose from children’s books, poetry, magazines, newspapers, etc. The topics of reading do not matter, just as long as he/she is reading or being read to aloud for 20 minutes a day.
At the beginning of each month, your child will receive a blank calendar to record each day your
child reads for 20 minutes aloud. In each date you read for 20 minutes, you are asked to write
the following:
1. Book Title
2. Parent/guardian signature/initials
“Why we are doing this?” Well, the answer is simple, “For your child.” Here are several additional reasons:
◆ Reading skills are the most important skill that affects success in school.
◆ Gains in reading skills also increase writing skills.
◆ You spend additional quality time with your child.
◆ Reading increases vocabulary.
◆ Reading increases student’s interest in reading.
◆ The number one reason children learn to read is because they see their parents reading.
This program will be a lot of work for parents and students, but the academic rewards are priceless. If you need additional reading materials, please take advantage of our fabulous Madison Elementary Library or the Manistee County Library.
FIELD TRIPS
All students must have parental permission to go on a field trip. Forms will be provided by the school and must be returned when due in order for the student to go on the trip. Chaperones are permitted on field trips, but must be pre-approved to accompany the students and school personnel. Chaperones are not permitted to take siblings along on field trips. All students must ride the bus to and from the field trip. It is a privilege and not a right for students to go on a field trip. The school has the right to deny any student the opportunity to go on a trip due to any or all of the following reasons:
1. Persistent disobedience in school
2. Incomplete school work
FUNDRAISING
Students participating in school sponsored groups and activities will be allowed to solicit funds from other students, staff and members of the community in accordance with the following guidelines.
1. students may not participate in fund raising activities off school property without
proper supervision by approved staff, family or other adults
2. students may not engage in house to house canvassing for any fund raising activity
3. students may not participate in a fund raising activity conducted by a parent group, booster club or community organization on school property without the approval of the principal
RECESS
All students go outdoors for recess. They should wear appropriate clothing to school with this in mind. If a child is too ill to go outdoors, he/she may be too ill to be in school. If a medical condition exists which prevents your child from participating in outdoor recess a doctor’s slip may be requested. We encourage all students to enjoy themselves, participate in appropriate play activities, and not causing others harm or discomfort.
VISITORS
All parents and visitors must to report to the office upon entering the building. Visitor badges are available in the office.
STUDENTS LEAVING BUILDING DURING SCHOOL HOURS
All students who need to be excused from school early for any reason must be
signed out at the office by a parent/guardian.
PROBLEM PROCEDURE
If your child is experiencing a problem in school, parents should first contact the child's teacher by note or phone. In the event that the problem is not resolved to your satisfaction, then contact the principal, Mrs. Cheryl Matson at 723-5212.
ENROLLMENT
New students under the age of eighteen (18) must be enrolled by their parent/guardian. When enrolling parent/guardian must provide the school office copies of
1. a birth certificate
2. court papers allocating parental rights and responsibilities or custody
3. proof of immunizations
4. completed emergency medical authorization form
A student may be excluded from school until this requirement has been fulfilled. Students with specific health care needs should submit those needs, in writing and with proper documentation by a physician to the school office.
A student who has been suspended or expelled by another public school in Michigan may be temporarily denied admission to the district’s schools during the period of suspension or expulsion even if that student would otherwise be entitled to attend school in the district. A student who has been expelled or otherwise removed for disciplinary purposes from a public school in another state and the period of expulsion or removal has not expired, may be temporarily denied admission to the district’s schools during the period of expulsion or removal or until expiration of the period of expulsion or removal which the student would have received in the district had the student committed the offense while enrolled in the district. Prior to denying admission the superintendent shall offer the student opportunity for a hearing to review the circumstances of the suspension or expulsion and any other factors the superintendent determines to be relevant.
IMMUNIZATIONS
Students must be current with all immunizations required by law or have an authorized waiver from state immunization requirements. If a student does not have the necessary shots or waivers the principal may remove the student or require compliance with a set deadline. This is for the safety of all students and in accordance with State law.
HEARING AND VISION SCREENING
The local health department is required by law to provide hearing and vision screening to pre-school and school-age children. Technicians are in the schools providing this service at certain grade levels t