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SCHOOL HANDBOOKS
CHS HANDBOOK | CMS HANDBOOK | GRTS HANDBOOK FIELD HANDBOOK | CENTRAL HANDBOOK | DEWEY HANDBOOK | GARRISON HANDBOOK |
| Please call Dewey
School at 660-646-4255 to obtain a print copy of the handbook. This
handbook updated August 22, 2007.
Also see... CHILLICOTHE R-II SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLIC NOTICES CHILLICOTHE R-II MISSION STATEMENT The Chillicothe R-II District’s mission is to provide a comprehensive educational program encompassing pre-kindergarten through grade 12 and post-secondary education, meeting the needs of each student to insure each student is ready to begin and succeed in school and graduate with the skills necessary to continue with his or her ambition. DEWEY SCHOOL MISSION AND GOAL STATEMENT We recognize that every student that attends Dewey School is a unique and special individual. We accept, as our mission and goal, the responsibility to help each student attain his or her highest learning potential. We propose to accomplish our mission and goal by: A. Setting standards of basic instructional skills required of all students Our emphasis will always be on student success. STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION The Chillicothe R-II School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or handicap in admission or access to, or treatment of employment in its programs and activities. Inquiries concerning the application of the school district’s policy or non-discrimination should be directed to Mr. Dale Wallace, Superintendent, Park Center, telephone 660-646-4566. WE CARE ABOUT YOUR CHILD DEWEY STAFF – See School Directory THE IMPORTANCE OF READING ALOUD TO CHILDREN Why read aloud? To reassure, to entertain, to inform or explain, to arouse curiosity, and to inspire. Reading takes you anywhere you want to go… Reading is the key to success 1. It helps the child make sense of his world. It helps the child better understand casual relationships. 2. Books can take them around the world. They can visit places they’ve never seen. Their experiences become doubled. 3. Vocabulary development and listening comprehension are increased. With everyone being so busy there seems to be lack of discussions at home anymore. Listening vocabulary becomes a “storehouse” from which children retrieve words when they read. 4. It creates a positive attitude toward reading and learning. “Magic of reading” 5. Books can stimulate language development in infants. Brain research shows that reading to infants actually helps the brain grow. 6. Reading aloud helps children become familiar with story language and helps establish the reading and writing connection. 7. Reading aloud can help create, nourish and expand a child’s imagination, curiosity, and creativity. 8. Family relationships become stronger when parents read to children. It shows they value reading. In a world of high-tech, e-mail, electronics, and cyberspace, it’s easy to forget about the importance of human contact. 9. Reading to children helps them hear what good reading sounds like. They can carry that sound in their ear as they learn to read themselves. It provides good role models. 10. Reading aloud to children and talking about values in books helps children learn right from wrong. Jim Trelease says literature “educates” the heart. He means that empathy, moral values, love, justice, and compassion can be taught in stories. Anonymous, “The love of literature is caught, not taught.” The Responsibilities of Parents as Prime Educators The primary responsibility for the education of children belongs to the parents. Though shared with the school, the parents' responsibility remains paramount. Children tend to emulate their parents. The greatest single factor in building a child's intellectual, emotional, and moral attitudes is the example parents provide in the home. Some examples of the parent's responsibilities are: 1. To provide a diet and balance of sleep and exercise. Homework Homework, if used effectively, can benefit students and teachers in many ways. Homework can reinforce new skills, teach responsibility, and involve parents in the learning process. In addition, it gives parents some special time with their child. Homework is expected of all students, but should last no more than 30 minutes. Because many families attend church activities on Wednesday evening, we will try to keep that evening homework-free. Check-In/Visitors If you would like to visit a classroom, please contact the teacher previous to the visit to set up a time. When you arrive, check in at the office, sign in and get a "visitor's tag". To provide safety, the exit/entrance doors by Polk Street will be locked at 8:30 a.m. each day. School Hours The school day is from 8:05 a.m. until 2:59 p.m. The first bus students will be dismissed at 2:59 p.m. At 3:00, parents in the lobby may pick up their child in the classroom. The bell for the 2nd bus students rings at 3:07. Walkers will be dismissed by bell at 3:10. Those students who walk will need to cross the street only at the crosswalks. Volunteers will be on hand to assist those students and to insure safety. (If you are interested in volunteering, please let us know.) Parents will need to pick up and drop off students on the east side of Dickinson Street so students do not have to go across traffic. According to a city ordinance, it is illegal to drop off, pick up, or park on the west side of Dickinson Street during school hours. This is to avoid traffic congestion on Dickinson and more importantly to keep students from crossing traffic. Please post your school calendar and pay close attention to early out days and days that school is not in session. **NOTE: If at all possible, students who walk to school or are brought by their parents should not arrive at school before 7:45 a.m. unless they need to come early for breakfast. Otherwise, they have too long a wait before school beings. Attendance Parents have the responsibility for seeing that their child attends school on a regular basis. Please avoid unnecessary absences and tardiness for your child. School personnel will contact the home if students have prolonged or questionable absences. When a child reaches 5 days of absences per quarter, the parents will be notified. If further absences are due to a medical condition, a doctor’s excuse may be required. If a student has excessive absences, the proper authorities and the school resource officer will be contacted. Therefore, we ask that you inform the school by note or call the school office, as to the reason for your child's absence. After 5 tardies and 10 tardies the principal will contact the parent with a tardy letter. Following the principal’s letters, excessive tardies will be addressed by the school resource officer. If your child does not arrive at school by 8:50 a.m., and you have not called us to tell us your child is ill or for some reason will not attend school, the teacher or someone from the school will be contacting you. We realize that a parent could send a child to school at 8:05 a.m. and if something happened on the way, may not know it until late in the day. By developing this policy, everyone is informed and knows what to do. School Dress Proper dress at all times is encouraged. We encourage students to look neat in their dress. Caps and hats should not be worn in the building. Writing on T-shirts and caps should be non-distracting, non-suggestive and must be acceptable for school. Please make sure your child is sufficiently dressed for outside recess in cold weather. No head kerchiefs are allowed in the school building. No roller shoes. Shoes appropriate for safety and comfort should be worn. Change of Address or Route **The school should always have an up-to-date home address, home phone number and emergency numbers on file. Please keep the school informed of changes. Dismissal Procedures We ask both kindergarten and first grade parents to wait in the main lobby on the 1st floor to pick up their children. This is for safety reasons. It allows teachers to get students where they need to be at the end of the day without too much congestion in the hallways. Thanks. We ask both kindergarten and first grade parents to wait in the lobby on the 1st floor to pick up their children. At 3:00 you will be allowed to go to the child's classroom. At 3:10 the remaining "walkers" will be dismissed to parents waiting in vehicles. This is for safety reasons. It allows teachers to get students where they need to be at the end of the day without too much congestion in the hallways. Procedure:
Bus Zone Communication Our goal is to have an open line of communication between the school and home. This can be accomplished in several different ways. Notes or letters sent home by teachers or school personnel should be read by parents and if a response is requested, parents are asked to do so as soon as possible. If you need to talk with your child’s teacher, another staff member, or the principal, please call and if that individual is unavailable, leave your name and number and your call will be returned.
Conferences and
Reports Report cards will be sent home at the end of the second, third, and fourth quarters. Informal reports and informal conferences will be sent or held as needed. If, at any time, you feel that there is a need for a teacher-conference, send a note or call your child’s teacher. Daily Schedules
Music and PE Classroom Rules To be set by each individual teacher.
Inclement Weather (Snow Day) and School Cancellation The Bad Weather Policy for the Chillicothe Public Schools states that the Superintendent of Schools is responsible for the announcement of school dismissal because of bad weather. This announcement will be made on KCHI, KMZU, and KTTN radio at approximately 6:00 a.m. on the mornings that school is to be dismissed. In the event of inclement weather during the day that necessitates the early dismissal of school, announcements will be made over the same radio stations. Insurance Parents may purchase accident insurance for either school-time or full time coverage. Envelopes and forms will be sent home at the beginning of the school year or are available through the school office. Lunch and Breakfast Breakfast will be served daily from 7:35-8:00 a.m. Prices will be 75 cents regular, 30 cents reduced and free. Class A School lunches are served daily at a cost of 1.35 cents per meal, 40 cents per day for reduced. Extra milk is 25 cents. The menu will be published in the local newspaper and given by KCHI. Please do not send soda pop or glass containers in your child’s sack lunch. Money for lunch and/or breakfast can be sent weekly, monthly, etc. Please put the money in an envelope, labeled with the amount, your child’s name, and teacher. These are collected and entered into the computer. Each child has a computerized lunch ticket that is scanned daily. Parties Three parties will be held during the school year for the following holidays: Fall Celebration , Winter Celebration, and Valentine’s Day. A student will not be required to participate if religious or moral convictions would intercede. Please let the teacher know so alternative options can be arranged. We request no balloons, candies, or flowers be delivered to your student here at school. Students are not allowed to have these items in the classroom nor on the school bus. If items are delivered to your student here at school, they will not receive them until the end of the day, and you will be responsible for making sure they are transported home or they will be held in the office until a parent can pick them up. Thank you in advance for your understanding regarding this matter. *As recommended by the Health Department, in order to prevent the spread of germs and disease, all treats sent to school at the elementary level need to be purchased rather than homemade. This policy is to provide the best protection for all students. Unless the whole class is invited to a birthday party parents are asked not to bring invitations to school. If you need your child’s class list, please let the teacher know. Your child needs to attend at least one-half day of school to be eligible to participate in holiday parties or programs. Volunteer Programs Dewey School does have a parent or grandparent volunteer program for parents who are interested in donating some of their time each week. Sign-up sheets will be sent home early in the school year with additional information. Teachers will also need room mothers. Please let the teacher know if you are willing to help. DISCIPLINE POLICY Assault Plan for Dewey School The Chillicothe R-II School District, in accordance with the “Safe Schools Act” recognizes that there are certain behaviors that cannot be tolerated in any public school setting. In support of this effort, the Chillicothe R-II Board of Education has adopted a “Zero Tolerance Policy” in this area of violence. Our School Resource Officer speaks to the students at the beginning of the year to talk about threats, assault, and stealing. ACTS OF VIOLENCE: Students shall not commit any act which in its commission is intent to do physical injury to another person or that creates substantial risk of death, disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any part of the body. Assault of a teacher or staff may result in immediate suspension from school. Trying to seriously injure another student may result in immediate suspension from school. When a child assaults another child (kicking, hitting, biting,…) and there was no serious injury, the following Assault Plan will be followed: 1st Assault 2nd Assault 3rd Assault 4th Assault 5th Assault Threats When a student makes a threat to another student or staff member... 1st Offense 2nd Offense 3rd Offense Stealing 1st Offense 2nd Offense 3rd Offense 4th Offense 5th Assault RULES FOR SCHOOL School Rules: 1. Students must walk in the hallways and classrooms Consequences:
Lunchroom Rules: Recess Rules: HEALTH The school has the responsibility for the health and welfare of all students. School district policy mandates that students with a contagious disease or those suspected of having a contagious disease are excluded from school as outlined in the State’s health standards practices. School personnel can request a doctor’s excuse prior to the readmittance of a student to school if there is a suspicion of a communicable disease. Please make sure that you leave a local phone number for our file in case of emergency. The school nurse or school personnel will attend to minor scrapes and bruises, but students will be sent home if:
Before returning a child to school, the child should be FREE OF TEMPERATURE FOR 24 HOURS without fever-reducing medication. MEDICATIONS IN SCHOOL PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION: The school will administer medication only after we have a medication authorization form completed by both the parent and physician. The form will be effective for the entire school year unless the medication or dosage changes. All medication must come to school in the current prescription bottle. Please send only a 30-day supply at one time. NON-PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION: Children’s Tylenol/Motrin will be supplied by the school and dispensed as needed for minor pains and fever. This is the ONLY oral over-the-counter medication that will be dispensed without a doctor’s written order. Questions regarding the Medication Policy may be directed to the school nurse or principal. Your cooperation, as a parent, is greatly appreciated. HEAD LICE Head lice is a recurring health problem. To prevent further spread in the school, this condition should be treated at once. The Chillicothe R II School district enforces a NIT-FREE POLICY. This means that children are sent home with not only live head lice, but if there are any signs of infestation including nits (eggs). The school will send specific instructions with the student, which must be followed before re-admittance of the student is allowed. A PARENT OR ADULT MUST ACCOMPANY YOUR CHILD TO THE NURSE’S OFFICE FOR A RECHECK PRIOR TO BEING ADMITTED BACK INTO SCHOOL. IF AT THAT TIME THE CHILD CONTINUES TO HAVE SIGNS OF INFESTATION IN THE HAIR, SHE/HE WILL BE SENT HOME. Parents are advised to contact the school if they find head lice on their child. All information will be handled in strict confidence. Thank you for your cooperation. This procedure should save time for parents, school personnel, and save lost classroom time for our students. ILLNESS AND RECESS We feel it is important for the students to spend time outside each day to get fresh air and run off energy. They are then better able to concentrate in the classroom. However, if you feel your child needs to remain inside because of illness, we will allow them to do so for a short period of time. After three days, we will require a medical excuse from your doctor. If the temperature or wind-chill is below 20 degrees, students will remain inside for recess. IN SUMMARY... Every student attending Dewey School is expected to learn and to do his/her best. The staff is committed to helping each student achieve to his/her highest potential. To accomplish this goal, it is most important that as parents you be involved. Whenever a concern or question arises, find out the facts, call the school, and make an appointment with the teacher or principal. Please see to it that your child completes homework assignments, review with your child his/her daily work, take time to listen, and most of all become active partners with the school in the education of your child. |
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