Parent Handbook
Dear Parents and Students:
Welcome to Champion Schools: Summit Elementary. We are looking forward to an exciting and successful school year. It is our purpose to provide a dynamic, content rich, standards-based curriculum with a focus on athletic development. This includes vigorous exercise for motor skills development and a variety of sports activities. In addition, students will enjoy Spanish, Art, Music and Technology Classes.
This handbook will acquaint you with the schedule, policies and procedures of the school. Our goal is to give students the best educational opportunities possible to live and learn in an ever-changing world. Please take the time to read this handbook. If you have any questions, feel free to call the school.
On behalf of the staff, I would like to extend the invitation to participate. Your participation in the school gives it assets more valuable than the fanciest computer or high-tech gym. Your enthusiasm …involvement …energy …and time provide students with the best possible learning environment.
We are happy to have you and your children with us and we are looking forward to a great year!
Sincerely,
Ms. Sawyer, MA
School Principal
Philosophy
We believe that:
-Every child has a natural desire to learn and we are committed to encouraging the progress of ALL students.
-ALL students must have excellent attendance and be punctual to be successful at school.
-Good academic achievement and behavior should be rewarded.
-Our group learning model maximizes the opportunity for students to explore, search and learn new skills.
-Students who take part in more vigorous physical activities do better in core classes in Reading, Math, Social Studies and Science.
-Athletic Training and Activities during the school day reduces boredom and helps keep kids attention in the classroom.
-Students find new ideas and solutions by interacting with others in the midst of this group learning model.
-Basic skills acquisition is accomplished by presenting concepts in a sequential and systematic way.
-Students learn by doing activities relevant to today’s world. Students develop citizenship skills by solving issues that are personally meaningful.
-Students need to experience self-evaluation as primary and evaluation by others as supportive. This creates new confidence and validation of accomplishment.
School Hours
Office hours are from 7:30am-4:30pm
Assistant Principal by appointment 7:00am to 3:00pm
Principal by appointment from 9:00am-6:00pm
Teachers’ hours flex from 7:30am-4:30pm
School begins at 8:00am. Students arriving after 8:10am are marked late and are asked to report to the school office for a tardy slip before being admitted to class. Students are allowed on the school property after 7:45am. It is an issue of safety that requires NO student to be on campus prior to 7:50am unless they are involved in the Before School Care program available from 7:00am-8:00am.
Special Schedule Note:
Summit Elementary will have 12:00pm dismissal for all students on Wednesdays to allow the faculty to meet for Staff Development. The Supplemental Education Services (S.E.S.) program will provide childcare on Fridays beginning at 12:00pm.
Daily Schedule
Kindergarten - 6th grade classes are from 8:00am-4:00pm
Upon dismissal, all students are released to parents or other authorized persons. If a person picking up a student is not listed on their emergency card, written permission from the parent and picture ID are required to be shown in the school office. Students enrolled in the S.E.S. program are released to the care provider. If a student remains longer than 15 minutes after dismissal time, they will be asked to go to the S.E.S. program.
Please notify the office in advance and advise the teacher if there is to be a change in your child’s routine. If no notification is received, your child will follow his/her regular dismissal routine.
After School Care
Students may participate in this program from 7:00am-8:00am and after school until 6:00pm. This program is not part of the regular school day. A separate information packet is available in the school office.
Attendance
Attendance is important to the success of the students’ achievements. Each time your child is absent, the school is penalized financially.
All absences must be reported to the office on the day of the absence. Absences of three days or longer due to illness or a family emergency must have a note from a doctor or parent to be excused. After 10 unexcused absences in a row, students will be automatically withdrawn from the school.
Communicable diseases must be reported to the school office immediately. (ie: strep throat, chicken pox, measles, lice and etc.)
Tardy and/or Absent
Being tardy and/or absent can interfere with students learning. Teachers want your students to do their very best. Students who arrive late to school miss important information. Being tardy can have a negative effect on a students’ performance throughout the day. Students who are tardy will have Silent Lunch
Students receive awards for Perfect Attendance. However, if a student is tardy 3 times it will equal an absence and will affect a student’s Perfect Attendance.
If a student has more than 5 unexcused absences, they will miss an ALL Day Field Trip or 2 Half-Day Field Trips. If unexcused absences continue, students may lose other privileges i.e.: recess, special classes or events. An excused absence requires a note from a doctor or dentist given to the School Nurse. If a student has 10 unexcused absences in a row, state law requires the school to automatically withdraw that student.
Promoting Good Study Habits
AWARDS are given to students who show good study habits. We believe that a student must come to school on time everyday with homework completed to be successful in school. Students who do this will receive the following AWARDS:
| Perfect Attendance |
$5 per term, $20 per year
Total: $35 per year! |
| Perfect Punctuality |
Gift Certificate for a Treat
and a Tardy Pass |
| Perfect Homework |
Homework Pass (priceless)
|
Students who have a combination of excellent attendance, consistent punctuality, complete their daily homework AND have good behavior will receive the REWARD of being eligible to attend the STAR STUDENTS TERM PARTY. This party is scheduled at the end of each term and includes activities like, bowling or a movie.
To discourage excessive absences, tardiness and missing homework there are CONSEQUENCES. School starts at 8:00. We have a “grace period” until 8:10. After that a student is LATE to school. If a student arrives LATE and/or with homework not complete, student will have the following CONSEQUENCE: Silent Lunch and Loss of Lunch Recess
Withdrawal of Students
If you are withdrawing your student from school, please call or come by the school a few days prior to the withdrawal date. This will give ample time to complete the necessary paperwork. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Students Leaving School
We encourage you to try and schedule your students’ doctor and dental appointments after school hours. It is very important that our students’ educational day go uninterrupted. If this is not possible, you must come to the office first to check your student out of school. For your students’ safety, the teacher will not release a child to anyone who has not obtained an early dismissal slip from the office.
Visitors on Campus
Visitors are welcome at Summit Elementary and are asked to sign in at the office before entering a classroom. Even if you are helping a teacher or accompanying a class on a field trip, please sign in at the office. All visitors to any classroom are asked to contact the teacher at least one school day in advance.
Accidents/Illness
If your student is injured or ill at school, he/she should report to the office. Parents will be contacted if necessary. If you cannot be contacted, we will contact the emergency numbers that you list on the student information card.
Immunizations
Arizona State Law requires that students must have proof of receiving current, age-appropriate immunizations against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, measles, mumps, and rubella before he/she enters school. Immunizations must be updated and are required by law for the student to remain in school. Free immunizations are available from the Maricopa County Health Department.
Medication
Your cooperation is needed when it is necessary for medication to be taken during school hours. A prescription medication must be in the original container prepared by a U.S. pharmacist with instructions stating patient name, name of medication, dosage, and time to be given. An over-the-counter medication must be in the original U.S. manufacturer’s packaging with all directions, dosages, compound components, and proportions clearly marked. All medication is to be kept in the office and taken under supervision, including cough drops.
Telephone Messages
Phone messages through the school office to students are limited to emergencies only. To relay routine messages during class time is an interruption to the instructional day. These messages will be relayed to your child at the end of the school day.
School Lunches
Students must be prepared to buy a lunch or bring a lunch to school. Fast Food may NOT be delivered to the school for students’. MICROWAVE OVENS will not be used to heat food for students due to safety risks. CANDY AND SODAS ARE PROHIBITED.
School Dress
School uniforms are available but not mandatory, except on days when students are going to the YMCA, they must be dressed in a School T-shirt. Students should be clean and dressed appropriately for physical activites. Girls may wear dresses, skirts, jeans, shorts or slacks. Boys may wear jeans, shorts or slacks. Shorts and jeans must be belted and worn at the waist. Gang clothing and midriff tops are prohibited. Please make sure that shirts and tops with logos or comments printed on them reflect good taste and positive school attitudes. Jewelry is limited to earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and rings only.
Valuables
THE SCHOOL ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LOSS OF MONEY AND/OR OTHER VALUABLE ITEMS BELONGING TO STUDENTS. One of the best ways to avoid the loss of personal items is not to bring them to school. Students will be advised not to bring toys or other items not needed for the instructional program. Radios, electronic games, and personal playground equipment are not permitted.
Please label your students’ lunch box, sweaters, jackets, backpacks, etc.
School Volunteers
If you are interested in becoming a school volunteer, please call the school office at 602-252-7727. We have many areas where parental help is encouraged and needed. Please feel free to get involved with as many activities that fit your schedule.
Parent Participation
Classroom participation is encouraged. Please see your student’s teacher for information on volunteering. As a participating parent, you can help set the tone for the overall atmosphere of the classroom. Make sure you are modeling a positive attitude and appropriate behavior at all times.
Participation in the classroom is not a chore-it is a gift you can give your student that will enhance their achievements and self-confidence beyond measure. Education experts have long said that parental involvement in school is one of the most critical factors in a child’s success. Seeing you at school tells your students learning is important…..special…..and fun!
School Report Cards
Report cards will be issued to the students three times per year. Report cards contain both academic and citizenship comments. Parents will have the opportunity to have a parent/teacher conference twice per year or upon request at any time.
Progress is reported using standards reflecting basic skills mastery. Using rubrics rather than letter or percentage grades gives more detailed information on actual student performance.
Discipline Procedures
DISCIPLINE IS A CLIMATE---NOT JUST A SET OF RULES
Summit’s philosophy supports an atmosphere in which students are encouraged to learn to control themselves and their actions. For students to succeed, they must believe that we care about them and have confidence in their ability to solve problems. They must also experience mutual respect. The stronger the relationship, the easier it is to resolve differences. Our discipline policy will be enforced in a calm and respectful manner using responsible thinking processes that can build that relationship. We encourage self-discipline through responsible thinking.
Playground, Classroom, Field Trips and Study Tour Rules
Respect all adults
Respect other students
Respect all school buildings and property
No
- Foul Language
- Chasing
- Roughhousing
- Shoving or pushing
- Throwing rocks or equipment
- Fighting
Refusal on the students’ part to cooperate with a staff member or participating adult will result in a report to their classroom teacher.
When a teacher sends a student to the School Office, a Discipline Referral will be completed. The Office will keep a Record of ALL Discipline Referrals and students will be required to complete Community Service depending on the number of Referrals they have received. After three referrals to the Office, students will be required to meet with Coach Jackson. He will determine if the student will have other privileges suspended. He may also refer the student to the Principal for a meeting that student and his or her parents.
Consequences
Referral to Principal’s Office will result in the following progression of actions:
Step 1-Written Statement: Teacher fills out a Discipline Referral Form that will be sent home to parents.
Step 2-Conflict Resolution: This process includes statement of the rules and consequences and/or hearing both sides in the case of a fight between students. Students may need a cooling-off period.
Step 3-Apology: Student must apologize for actions toward adult or other students who were offended by the students’ action.
Step 4-Community Service: Student must perform a work/job as restitution for having broken school rules.
Step 5-Suspension of Privileges: Principal may suspend recess privileges of students for one week on the second referral to the Principal’s Office.
Step 6-In-House Suspension: Student will be suspended from class for an entire day, remain on school grounds and perform a work/job all day in addition to losing recess privileges.
Step 7-Probation: Second in-house suspension will result in student being put on probationary status at school. Further discipline problems will result in a long term suspension.
A conference with the teacher and/or School Principal may be called at any step in the discipline process by parent or staff.
Field Trips and Study Tours
Learning experiences outside the classroom are important. Our classes have numerous field trips and study tours throughout the year as appropriate for each grade level. These trips are carefully planned to be relevant to the curriculum. Parents are encouraged to assist in all aspects of fund-raising, preparation and supervision. This is a great opportunity to share group experiences with your student.
Field trips and study tours are for students only. No siblings or friends can participate. Students must be in good standing in their classroom in order to participate. Homework assignments, projects and other classroom criteria must be met. Students must be in good health and physically able to participate in the field trip or study tour that is scheduled.
Students may be required to wear school T-shirts on field trips or study tours. Shirts are available through the school office for $10.00. Students must wear appropriate footwear or jackets if required.
Students who pose a safety threat to themselves or others may not attend field trips or study tours. They may be disqualified up until departure time for these behaviors.
Overnight Study Tours
Our students have a unique opportunity to experience study tours that take them to a variety of destinations. Health and safety is of utmost concern on these trips. All other field trip criteria applies with additional requirements.
It is mandatory for all parents whose students are going on the trip to meet with the teachers beforehand. Pre-Tour Parent Meetings will be scheduled.
- Students and Parent Chaperones must attend entire study tour from departure to return as planned.
- All permission slips, medical emergency forms and donations must be in by deadline indicated in Study Tour Guidelines. No changes in study tour arrangement can be made after this deadline. No refunds will be given unless cancellation is prior to deadline.
- Each student may have a maximum of one Parent Chaperone.
- Student and Parent Chaperones must stay with Study Tour group at all times.
- Parent Chaperones must exhibit appropriate behavior and be available at all times to supervise and assist students.
- Parent Chaperones must help with chores such as cooking, serving students and cleaning up as required.
- No alcohol or narcotics are allowed on school field trips or study tours.
- Parent Chaperones must sign an agreement to adhere to the rules put forth in the Study Tour Guidelines provided by teachers at Pre-Tour Meetings.
- If Parent Chaperones choose to violate these guidelines, they may be prohibited from participating in subsequent study tours and will be notified in writing.
Study Tours are structured and carefully planned to prevent risk to students. These requirements are designed for health and safety reasons. Students who do not attend a field trip or study tour for any reason will attend school as normally scheduled on campus. Regular instruction will be provided.
Dear Parents,
Please read this Handbook with your child/children. After you have read the Handbook and discussed any of the contents your child/children may not understand, please detach this page, sign and return to your child/children’s Classroom Teacher. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Ms. Sawyer
School Principal
By signing this page you acknowledge that you understand and promise to abide by the rules at Champion Schools: Summit Elementary.
Student’s
Signature_____________________________________________
Teacher’s
Name________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian
Signature_____________________________________________
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