Student Handbook

STUDENT INFORMATION

School Hours:

Kindergarten A.M. 9:05 - 11:50
Kindergarten P.M. 12:50 - 3:35
Grades 1 - 5 9:05 - 3:35
First Bell 8:57
Tardy Bell 9:05
Bus Dismissal 3:35
Dismissal Bell 3:33

All children not riding the school bus should arrive on school grounds after 8:55 a.m. Teacher supervision does not begin until that time. For purposes of intramurals, band, chorus, or orchestra, or with special faculty permission, students may enter the building early. Please note that siblings may not accompany students who are enrolled in intramural programs.

Art, Music and Physical Education

Students will receive instruction in these special areas as scheduled. Necessary supplies, materials, and gym shoes are required to participate.

Kindergarten

• Art: 25 minutes one (1) time per week
• PE: 25 minutes one (1) time per week
• Music: 25 minutes one (1) time per week

Grades 1 - 5

• Art: 50 minutes one (1) time per week
• PE: 25 minutes three (3) times per week
• Music: 25 minutes two (2) times per week

P. E. Clothes

All students need a few basic supplies for P.E. All children (except kindergartners) should have a separate pair of gym shoes for P.E. use only. This is so we have dry shoes for emergencies and for changing when the ground is wet outside. Additionally, everyone should have a gym jacket or sweatshirt to leave at school. Girls should have shorts to wear when they are wearing a skirt or dress on gym days.

P. E. Participation

In the event your child is recovering from an illness, or you have concerns regarding P.E. participation, you may send a written request that your child not participate in P.E. for up to three (3) days. After the third day, a doctor’s note is required for exclusion. A note to the P.E. teacher to monitor participation will keep the P.E. teacher informed.

Extra Curricular Activities

Intramural activities will be offered this year. Activities may vary from sports to drama groups. Other activities will include band, orchestra, and chorus. Please watch for additional information about these activities.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Office Hours

The office is open each day from 7:50 a.m. until 4:20 p.m. If you have questions or concerns, please call 428-6900.

Visitors

• All visitors (even parents) are required by Illinois State Law to report to the office upon entering the building.
• Everyone must sign in/out and state the purpose of the visit.
• Each visitor will be issued a visitor’s tag to wear while in the building. All school doors will be locked promptly at 9:05 a.m., after students have entered the building. A buzzer system has been installed at the front door for visitors who wish to enter the building during school hours. If your children arrive at school after 9:05 a.m., you must bring them in the front doors and sign them in at the office. Please note that this precaution will help to insure the safety of our students.
• All visitors are required to make proper arrangements before visiting a teacher and/or classroom. It is most important that the classroom instruction not be interrupted for individual concerns.

Visitation/Conferences

Communication with your child’s teacher is vital to your child’s success in school. Parent-Teacher conference times are scheduled in November and February. If at any other time you feel the need for a conference, please contact the teacher.

School visitations by parents and other non-school personnel are encouraged under the guidelines of board policy #5380. These guidelines include:

Visitors shall pre-arrange visits to the school with the Building Principal at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the visit.

Absent unusual circumstances previously discussed with the Building Principal, school visits shall be limited to one (1) hour per day.

School visits shall generally be limited to adults. Parents should avoid visiting the school accompanied by siblings or other children.

School visits to individual classrooms should generally be made only when the regularly assigned teacher is present.

School and classroom visits shall not be disruptive or in any way interfere with the instructional program. All visits and visitors shall be subject to the authority of the Building Principal who may restrict or limit visitors as she considers necessary.

Visits to school by a student’s friends and associates are not permitted except by special permission or for special events.


Classroom visitations are discouraged during the first/last three weeks of the school year and during testing sessions.

Lost and Found
We regret that each year our lost and found box has many valuable items which are never retrieved by the proper owner. Help us avoid this problem by clearly labeling your child’s clothing and other articles with your child’s full name. Remind your child to check with the office for lost items. Feel free to come in to look for the lost items at any time during the year. Though staff members are happy to assist students in finding lost items whenever possible, maintaining personal items is the primary responsibility of students and parents.



COMMUNICATIONS
Home/School Communications
Please check your child’s book bag on a daily basis. Encourage your child to take responsibility for giving you informational items, community announcements, school schedules, and newsletters which your child may carry home in the book bag. Parent/child communications will be improved through jointly exploring school work and school communications each day.

Graham Newsletter
The Graham PTA publishes a monthly newsletter entitled "Falcon Flyer." The newsletter is only available online. Enjoy reading this and reinforcing school activities with your child.

Indian Prairie District 204 Handbook
Indian Prairie School District #204 provides a parent/student handbook that contains information pertinent to the entire school district organization. This handbook will be given out at the beginning of the school year.



STUDENT ATTENDANCE
Philosophy
The Graham educational program is built on the premise that regular attendance and punctuality is vital to a student’s success in school. Seeing that a student maintains regular attendance requires a cooperative effort by the student, parent(s) or guardian(s), and school personnel. The student who is frequently absent misses social interaction, as well as class instruction and discussion, even though written work is made up.

Exceptions
Graham expects parents or guardians to make reasonable efforts to ensure the regular attendance of their children, consistent with Section 26-1 of the Illinois School Code, and to inform the school of any absences and their causes. Graham will monitor each student’s attendance and punctuality and inform parents or guardians of any attendance problems or chronic tardiness.

PARENTS MUST REPORT ABSENCES TO THE OFFICE AT 428-6902 BY 9:20 A.M. (P.M. KINDERGARTEN 1:05 P.M.)

A parent should call the school each day their youngster will be absent at 428-6902 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. In the case of a known extended absence of one week or more, one call need only be made. If we are not contacted by 9:30 a.m., a parent will be called. If the sickness is interpreted to be a contagious disease, readmission to school should be by a back-to-school permit signed by a physician.

Excessive Absenteeism
Graham considers absenteeism excessive when it significantly interferes with a student’s learning, as reflected in academic performance or social development and/or is more than 10% of the days school has been in session. Excessive absenteeism includes excessive tardiness of 10% or more of the days school has been in session.

Tardiness
If a student arrives at school after 9:05 a.m., they should report to the main office for a pass. Please note that students enter the building at 8:55 a.m. and are in the classroom by 9:05 a.m. to begin the activities of the day. Please remember that your child is beginning to form life-long habits. We encourage students to be on time every day. Please help instill good habits in your child by insisting that your child arrives promptly at school each day.

Homework Policy - Graham Elementary School Philosophy
In establishing a philosophy for homework, the Graham Elementary School Staff looked primarily at its purpose. We have established that homework can be used for the following reasons:

To reinforce school activities

To extend/broaden school activities

To provide drill/practice for specific skills

To complete unfinished tasks

To provide parents with an opportunity to become involved in the child’s learning

To promote/foster regular study habits in children


General Guidelines: TIME ALLOTMENTS PER SCHOOL NIGHT
Grades K - 1: 20 Minutes MAXIMUM

Grades 2 - 3: 30 Minutes MAXIMUM

Grade 4: 40 Minutes MAXIMUM

Grade 5: 50 Minutes MAXIMUM


Most homework should be assigned Monday through Thursday with limited amounts assigned specifically for the week-end. When a test is assigned for a Monday, at least three school nights notice will be given.

Reasonable notice for the study of chapter tests (at least 3 nights) will be given.

Homework is assigned to children based on specific instructional purposes related to classroom activities/themes/objectives. Homework tasks should be appropriate to your child’s level of achievements. Adjustments to these guidelines are to be expected when dealing with children having special needs.


Absences/Late or Missing Work
Absences: If students are out of school due to illness, no work will be sent home until the student has missed three consecutive days of school. We feel it is important that instruction occur BEFORE assignments can be completed, therefore, no work will be provided ahead of time. Homework assignments will not be made before children leave for vacations which are taken during time school is in session. Children will be given additional time upon returning from vacation to make up any work which has been missed.

As a general guideline, students will be given an extra school day for each day missed to complete make-up work. Long term assignments will be handled on an individual basis by the classroom teacher.

Late or missing work: If your child does not turn in homework on time, each classroom teacher reserves the right to reduce the grade according to grade level guidelines. A clear statement of expectations for homework at each grade level will be included in the Curriculum Night parent packet.



Helpful Hints for Parents Who Want to Help with Homework
Check your child’s book bag, homework assignment notebook, homework folder, etc., each evening to ensure what your child’s tasks are and when they are due.

Keep a ready supply of homework materials on hand for your child to use. A plastic container or box of pencils, sharpeners, pens, crayons, glue, a dictionary, tape, etc. is necessary.

Encourage a regular homework routine. Set a time suitable to both you and your child for the completion of homework tasks. Structure the study time so that he/she knows how much study time you expect. Help children to develop a regular study schedule.

Choose a quiet, well-lit place for your child to work. To help foster concentration, avoid working near television, telephone, stereo, computer, etc.

Don’t take over your child’s tasks. Oversee assignments, ask questions, offer suggestions, but avoid doing research, writing the solutions, telling him/her what to do. Building independence and responsibility is a part of your child’s academic growth. Let your child know that homework is his/her job. Tell him/her you can help, but you won’t do the work!!

Praise all your child’s efforts!!

Be positive about the task at hand. Avoid negative comments that may affect your child’s attitude toward homework tasks. Talk to your child’s teacher if you have a question or concern.

Communicate to your child that homework is important and that extracurricular activities will not be an excuse for unfinished homework .

Recommend that your child work on tough assignments first, when his/her energy level is high.

Help students understand that homework is a personal responsibility.

Help your child with time management by showing him/her how to keep a calendar of deadlines.

Hold your child responsible for getting homework to and from school.

If your child has a good reason for not completing a homework task, send a short note to the teacher (teachers are understanding!!!).


Please refer to "Make-Up Work: Vacation, Emergencies, Illness" in this handbook.

INDIAN PRAIRIE SCHOOL DISTRICT 204 - Homework and the Educational Process
It is the practice of Indian Prairie Community Unit School District 204 to encourage the participation of parents in the education of their children. However, the responsibility for developing an appreciation of the value of education and insuring that educational progress is made is a joint responsibility of the child, the child’s parent(s) and the educators of the school District. Satisfying this joint responsibility involves two fundamental policies.

First, the School District and its teaching staff will maintain classroom programs of the highest quality that practical fiscal considerations will allow. Second, homework will be assigned at the professional discretion of the teacher.

The nature of the homework assigned in District 204 is described below:

Homework should grow out of class work experience and should expand and enrich that class work. Applications of such learning experiences--outside the classroom--are particularly valuable.

As student initiative and responsibility increases, voluntary assignments and adjustment of assignments based on student suggestions are encouraged.

Variety in homework assignments not only provides more student interest, but enhances motivation.

Some homework is enhanced by parent involvement and some is not. In both cases, however, teachers should inform parents of the appropriate involvement, in writing.

District 204 has standards for written communication at each grade level and those standards are applied by the entire staff. Parents are encouraged to learn and support these standards, because sub-standard homework is unacceptable at all grade levels.

Small group activities initiated at school can generate some of the most productive and highly motivated homework. Being responsible to one’s peers, which requires adjusting to each member’s individual strength and deficiencies, can provide a high level of incentive for completing the student’s part of the assignment.

The time spent on and the frequency of homework will vary according to each student’s abilities, grade level and the subject matter. However, the long-term goal of District 204’s staff and administration is to establish reasonably consistent homework applications at all schools and across all grade levels.

Parents of students of all grade levels are responsible for supporting their child’s educational achievement by establishing a home environment that is conductive to doing homework. This environment may include specific study times and a location for study with reasonable freedom from such distractions as radio, television, the telephone and other family members. Equally important is monitoring student work habits and showing interest in class work.

Parents and students are encouraged to communicate their observations and suggestions on this homework policy to the administration, staff and the Board.


Homework in District 204 will be assigned within the following board guidelines:

Elementary School (K-5)

Homework at the elementary level begins in an informal fashion but becomes more formal and requires more time and effort as the child progresses through each grade.

Parents are expected to be sufficiently interested in their child’s education to commit the time and energy needed to monitor/supervise the child’s home study and thereby insure that he/she makes a reasonable effort to complete homework assignments.

Make-Up Work
If a student is unable to attend school for three or less days, your child will receive make-up work upon returning to school and be given an appropriate due date. For extended emergencies/illness, a parent may call the office on the morning of the third day of absence to request make-up work. A parent may then come to the office the following morning to pick up homework. If the extended illness results in an absence of more than two (2) weeks, a homebound tutor will be available.

Medical Documentation
Under certain circumstances, parents or guardians may be required to present medical documentation of physical or emotional conditions causing a student’s absence.

Early Dismissal
Parents are asked to make every effort to schedule appointments for children during non-school times. Early dismissal requests for emergency situations and medical appointments should be sent to the classroom teacher prior to the dismissal. Board of Education policy #5060 states that students will not be released from school on a regular basis.

A request to have a child dismissed early should be sent in writing with the child on the morning of the dismissal. Parents must come to the school office. We will send for the child as you sign them out for dismissal. A child will only be released to their parents/guardians unless other arrangements have been made.

Vacations
Every effort should be made to have students in school when it is in session. When absence must occur due to a vacation, students will not receive homework in advance. Experience has shown that it is difficult at best for teachers to accurately predict homework and for students to do homework properly on vacation. Upon return to school, students will receive make-up work and an appropriate due date.



TRANSPORTATION
Private Vehicle Transportation
If your child will not be riding the bus on any particular day, please send a note stating that your child will not be riding the bus and who will be responsible for picking him/her up from school. Students who do not have a note will be asked to ride the bus home. If your child is eligible for bus service, but you will be driving him/her to school every day, please write a note which states that you will be providing transportation every day. You will then not need to write a note each day. It is district policy that students may ride only their assigned bus. For bus transportation procedures to and from permanent, in-home day care providers, please call the school or refer to the district handbook.

Please avoid calling the school after 2:00 p.m. to change transportation arrangements previously arranged with your child(ren). Last minute transportation changes can lead to confusion and are a serious safety concern.

Student safety is our primary concern. Please follow the following rules when picking up or dropping off students. Students who arrive or leave by private vehicle should be picked up in the circle drive at the west end of the school. These students will be released from exits in back of the school building. Please note that, regardless of the weather, the front of the building is reserved for buses before and after school (8:30 - 9:15 a.m.; 3:15 - 3:45 p.m.).

Students may enter your vehicle from the curbside only after you have pulled over to the right side of the drive. DO NOT stop on the left side of the drive to pick up students since it is a drive-through lane. Traffic flow is enhanced when all vehicles pull up as far as possible in the circle drive.

The parking lot located inside the pick-up drop-off line is closed daily from 3:15-3:45.

Bicycles
Students have the opportunity to ride bicycles to school. Bikes are to be walked on school property and locked in the bike racks during the school day. Children should obey all traffic rules when traveling to and from school. Safety helmets are strongly suggested. The riding of bikes to school is a privilege, not a right. Individuals who choose not to cooperate in following the rules will lose the privilege.

Skateboards and Walkman Radios
Skateboards and Walkman radios are NOT allowed at school.

Bus Transportation
A list of bus routes is available in the school office. Questions concerning routes should be directed to the Vancom Transportation Supervisor at 904-0900.

In order to provide the safest and most efficient transportation, the district has developed certain rules and expectations which will be enforced. We ask that students and parent familiarize themselves with the following information and encourage observance of these guidelines and regulations.

Remain in your seat.

Do not throw objects on or from the bus.

Keep head and hands inside the bus.

Do not eat or drink on the bus.

Obey the driver.

Be at your bus stop five (5) minutes before the scheduled time.

Be courteous to classmates and neighbors at bus stops and while traveling on the bus.

If a student violates a safety regulation, the following disciplinary action may be taken:

Disciplinary referral filed and parent notified.
Disciplinary action recommended:
1st offense - warning form which parent signs and returns to school.
2nd offense - warning form which parent signs and returns to school and bus privileges may be suspended for up to five (5) days.

3rd offense - bus privileges suspended for up to ten (10) days.
If it is deemed in the interest of the school and the safety of the students riding the bus, an immediate bus suspension may be imposed without the 1st offense warning.



DISCIPLINE/SCHOOL RULES
We believe and expect that all students can behave appropriately at school. We will not allow any student to disrupt teaching-learning time. We continually promote positive approaches by recognizing the students who behave appropriately. Our goal is to provide an organized and positive learning climate for all students and staff.

Classroom discipline plans are established by the teacher with rules and consequences. Please watch for this plan and review it with your child. Parental support is an important component of any discipline plan. As a guideline, parents will be called as an intervention for support and cooperation prior to scheduling a detention before or after school.

Severe disruptions or infractions will be referred to the school principal. Any activity which jeopardizes the safety of any student will be handled as a serious offense and may result in an out of school suspension. (i.e. Having, displaying, or transmitting any type of weapon or other dangerous instrument or object.)

General School Rules
Students should walk on the right side of the hallway, no running is permitted in our hallways.

Normal voices and tones should be used at all times.

Students should not be disruptive in the halls, stairs, or washrooms.

Hats/caps are to be removed when entering the building.

Dress and appearance should be tasteful and not be a health or safety concern or disruptive to the classroom. (See Board of Education Policy #5402 for minimum standards.)

Students will treat each other and staff members with respect.

Students may only bring personal items to school (i.e. radios and balls) when it has been authorized by a staff member.

Lunch and Lunchroom Rules
We will have a thirty-five (35) minute lunch period for grades 1-5. Sack lunches are needed except on the Graham PTA hot lunch days. Hot lunch days will be held on Wednesdays. Milk is available on a daily basis and may be paid for by the year.

We expect students in the lunchroom to respect the rights and property of others. Good manners are essential. Please review the following lunch and playground rules with your child:

Use proper table manners.

Walk in the lunchroom.

Maintain quiet voices.

Raise your hand and wait for help.

Never throw food.

Properly discard your food and waste, clearing the tables and floor in your area.

Recycle or reuse lunch containers and any other recyclable materials.

Recess/Playground Rules
Play in designated areas only.

Follow directions of supervisors.

No fighting or tackling.

Throw nothing on the playground except authorized equipment.

Play games that are not dangerous or unsafe.

Respect the rights and property of others.

STUDENT BIRTHDAYS AND PARTIES

Special parties are sponsored by the Graham PTA for designated holidays and celebrations. (Food must be store bought.) Other treats, birthday parties, and favors are not part of our school program. No birthday treats or gifts for students are permitted in grades K-5. We do, however, recognize pupil birthdays with special pencils obtained in the office. Individual teachers may occasionally plan a special activity and ask for parent participation.

Invitations to birthday parties are to be handled by you. Invitations will not be handed out at school. This is to avoid hurt feelings which can result for those children who do not receive an invitation. It also helps teachers to meet our board goals of maximizing instructional time. The PTA directory is an excellent tool to use for addressing such invitations. If you need a PTA directory, please contact the Graham Office. PTA directories are free when you sign up for PTA membership.

MESSAGES AND TELEPHONE USE

Our primary goal is to educate students. To help accomplish this goal, it is important to avoid classroom disruptions. It is for this reason that parent cooperation is requested in helping students be aware of dismissal procedures, after school events, and other special arrangements BEFORE coming to school in the morning. Please note the following:

Students should not expect to use the telephone.

Students will not be called from class to answer the telephone.

Messages will not be delivered unless it is an emergency situation.

Plans for after school should be made before school.

Teachers will not be called from class.

SAFETY AND HEALTH

Emergency Information

It is of the utmost importance that your emergency telephone numbers listed on the registration and health forms be current. As changes occur during the year, please contact the office to revise information.

Emergency School Closings

In cases of bad weather or dangerous road conditions, school closings or early dismissals may be announced over local radio stations. Please do not call the school. Tune into one of the following radio stations:

• WKKD 96 FM

• WGN 720 AM

• WMAQ 670 AM

• WYSY 1280 AM

Emergency Delayed Dismissal

If severe weather conditions (tornado warning, high winds, severe thunderstorm and lightning) exist during the dismissal times between 11:20 - 11:50 a.m. for Kindergarten (A.M.), and 3:20 - 3:35 p.m. for Kindergarten (P.M.) through 5th, consideration is given to announcing an Emergency Delayed Dismissal. If this occurs, students will remain in school until the dangerous weather conditions subside. The decision will be based upon weather conditions, warning systems, Laidlaw Transportation, and District 204 communication.

Procedure:

Announce to students and staff that there will be a delayed dismissal.

Students and staff are instructed to remain in safety areas or classrooms until the all clear signal is given.

Parents who wish to pick up students during this time are required to sign them out prior to their release. Parents should enter and assemble in the office hall for instructions. Please sign students out in the office and we will call the students from their classrooms or emergency positions.

Parents may only sign out their own child unless they have written permission from another parent.

No buses or vans will be released until the all clear is given.

An all clear announcement will be given to signal release time.

Directions given over the PA system will provide a smooth flow for release.

Graham staff will monitor and assist parents and students during this emergency delayed dismissal.

Fire and Disaster Drills

Fire drills and severe weather drills are practiced routinely throughout the school year to familiarize the students with the alarm sound and procedures. Fire and tornado exit guidelines are posted in all school areas.

Student Insurance

Student insurance is available for purchase during the time of registration. Follow the instructions provided on the insurance envelope.

Medication Policy

Administering medication to a child is the responsibility of the parent/guardian. If it becomes necessary for medication to be given at school, only medications prescribed by a physician, and under outlined procedures, will be administered. Please contact the school health office for procedures and details.

School Nurse Suggestions

The following are some health policies practiced at Graham Elementary School to maintain a healthy and safe school environment:

If your child is running a fever, the health department recommends the child’s temperature be normal (98.6) for 24 hours before returning to school.

Do not send your child with a consistent cough or running nose, as this infects other children.

Keep children home for 24 hours after vomiting and flu symptoms subside. This helps to ensure a healthy reentry into the classroom.

Please report all cases of strep throat and strep related infections to the school nurse or health aide.

All communicable diseases (chicken pox, head lice, impetigo, mumps, measles, etc.) are required to be reported to the school nurse. There are specific requirements and regulations for readmission to school after communicable diseases.

Please do not send children to school with diarrhea or vomiting.

A student who has been absent from school for more than five (5) school days or who has a communicable disease must present a physician’s release for readmission to school.

If a rash is present, it needs to be evaluated by a physician. A diagnosis of the underlying cause (doctor’s note) must be elicited before readmittance to school.

If there are signs of conjunctivitis ("pink eye") with matter/drainage in one or both eyes, itching, redness, or crust on the eyelid, the child needs to be evaluated by a physician. Antibiotic therapy needs to be maintained for at least 24 hours before readmittance to school.

If you have any questions regarding your child’s health or when to and when not to send him/her to school, please feel free to call the School Nurse. Your help and cooperation in maintaining a healthy school environment is most appreciated.

Playground Guidelines

For safety reasons, parents should be aware that the playground is not supervised before 8:55 a.m. or after 3:45 p.m. on school days.

During lunch recess students will be able to enjoy the playground, except for days of extreme weather. Please make sure your child is always dressed appropriately for outdoor activity. Students will be going outside unless there is precipitation or the temperature is below zero degrees, considering the wind-chill factor.

Money

Any money sent to school for hot lunch, field trips, book orders, or other appropriate reasons must be put in a sealed envelope marked with the child’s name, teacher’s name, purpose of the money, and the amount enclosed. Cash is highly discouraged!

Library Media Center (LMC)

Our LMC is integrated into the curriculum and is central to the learning process. The LMC is a service center for all students and includes a computer lab which is used by all students at various times of the week. Students will have the opportunity to learn about and effectively use the resources available in the LMC, as well as choose personal reading books.

Book Fines
Students who lose or misuse textbooks or library books will be charged an additional fee based on the decreased life of the book. Reasonable wear is accepted, but fines will be imposed for excessive wear, damage, or if lost.

VIOLENT THREATS AND/OR POSSESSION OF "WEAPONS"
IMPORTANT!!! IMPORTANT!!! IMPORTANT!!!

Please share with your children that, due to the current climate in which we live, Graham School WILL NOT tolerate violent threats or the bringing of "weapons" to school. The District #204 Policy Guide and Parent-Student Handbook covers this in much greater detail. However, Graham School WILL take seriously any matters involving threats of violence or the bringing of a "weapon" on Graham School property. Thank you for your support in this matter.