TABLE OF CONTENTS

MISSION STATEMENT           --------------------------------------------------------------------2

INTRODUCTION

PARENT EXPECTATIONS

SCHOOL DAY INFORMATION -------------------------------------------------------------------3

Age Requirements

Asbestos Plan

Attendance Policy              ---------------------------------------------------------------------4

Building Use                         --------------------------------------------------------------------5

Breakfast                           

Closures

Elementary Dress Code     

Health Procedure                 --------------------------------------------------------------------6

Medication                           --------------------------------------------------------------------7

Hours                                    

Internet - Student Use        ---------------------------------------------------------------------8

Locking Outside Doors

Lunch Tickets                                                                                                                     

Medicaid Billing                  

Parent-Teacher Conferences -----------------------------------------------------------------9

Personal Property                               

Physical Education                                                                                                            

Recess Excuses

Snow Policy for Early Dismissal      

Telephone Use                     ------------------------------------------------------------------10                                                  

Video Camera Policy                                                                                                         

Visitation                              

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES ------------------------------------------------------------------------------10

Birthday Treats and Invitations

                Class Parties                                         ------------------------------------------------------11

Field Trips                                 

SPECIAL SERVICES                          

Advanced Learning Plans

Beginning Instrumental Program

Bully Proofing Program                      ------------------------------------------------------12

Discipline                                              

Hearing and Vision Screening          

            Library and Classroom Books                                                                                         

Lost and Found                                --------------------------------------------------------13

Parent Concerns

Special Education                             

Speech/Language                                              -------------------------------------------14

Student Assessment/Grading       

                Title I Reading                                    

PLAYGROUND RULES, BEHAVIOR AND CONSEQUENCES    -------------15-16

BUS RIDER RULES/CONDUCT               -----------------------------------------------16-18

SUPPLY LISTS                                    ----------------------------------------------------19-20

FORMS TO RETURN CHECKLIST   --------------------------------------------------------22

 

 


 

MISSION STATEMENT

 

The Mission of Calhan School District is to create, through a collaborative effort, an accepting, supportive and safe learning environment that encourages growth in each individual. Our purpose is to promote high standards of educational achievement and social responsibility and to develop lifelong learners with the skills, the knowledge, and the understanding necessary to succeed in the twenty-first century.

 

“Promoting high standards and social responsibility”

 

INTRODUCTION

 

Welcome to Calhan Elementary School.  Each student who passes through our doors will be challenged and experience success.  Education is a combination of the home, school, and community.  In order to prepare students for the future, we must work together to ensure academic and social success for our students.  This booklet contains guidelines for parents and students of Calhan Elementary.  Please discuss each category with your child.  If  I can be of help to you in any way or if you have additional questions, please feel free to contact me, Sharon Green, Elementary Principal, at 347-2766.  I will be most happy to explain and help provide any additional information.  In addition, a monthly newsletter (Chalk Talk) is published to keep you informed about events happening at our school.  If you are not receiving the Chalk Talk and would like to, call the Central Administration Office at 347-2541.  Let’s work together to make your child’s educational career a success. 

 

PARENT EXPECTATIONS

 

In order for your child to learn, you need to provide a healthy environment.  A healthy environment means:

 

A.  Your child is clean, groomed, and dressed properly.

B.  Your child receives a nutritious breakfast.

C.  Your child is well rested.

D.  Your child is on time. Attendance is a priority. 

E.  Your child is given academic support at home.

F.  Your child understands that a partnership between the parents and teachers exists to provide him/her with the best education possible.

 

If any element is missing and the child’s education is affected, you will be contacted by the school. Let’s work together to ensure success for our children.

 


SCHOOL DAY INFORMATION

 

AGE REQUIREMENTS (JEB)

 

Children must be four (4) years of age on or before August 1, or qualify as a special needs student and be at least three (3) years of age, in order to enroll in preschool.

 

Children must be five (5) years of age on or before August 1 in order to enroll in kindergarten.  Younger students shall be accepted if they are transferring because of a family move from a kindergarten in another public school.

 

Children must be six (6) years of age on or before August 1 in order to enroll in first grade.  Younger students shall be accepted: 1) if they are transferring from a first grade in another public school or 2) at the discretion of the principal.

 

A legal birth certificate and immunization record are required of all children entering school for the first time.

 

ASBESTOS PLAN

 

The school district has an approved asbestos plan on file at the Central Administration Office.  This plan is available for inspection upon request.

 

ASSESSMENTS (ILBA/ILBB)

 

The District will use a variety of assessment tools to determine student achievement including the Measurement of Academic Performance (MAP).  MAP is a computerized adaptive assessment that provides educators the information they need to improve teaching and learning.  Educators use the growth and achievement data from MAP tests to develop targeted instructional strategies and to plan school improvement.  The Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) is a state mandated test that measures whether our students are learning what we expect them to learn, and to find out what we need to do to help them achieve at higher levels.

 

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY (JH and JH-R)

 

Attendance is a vital part of the educational process.  If a student is absent, then he/she loses valuable instruction and evaluation time in our elementary school.  Although make-up work is given, the student misses the actual class time during which he/she receives individual help or participates in a variety of learning activities.  Attendance is extremely important.  Our Elementary goal is 98 percent.

 

PROCEDURES:

1.            If your child is absent, please call the office at 347-2766 or send a note excusing him/her with the date of the absence. The office will keep these notes on file until the end of the year. If we do not receive a note or phone call, then the school will be contacting you.

2.            If your child knows he/she will be absent in advance, then the child must let the teacher know, and we will try to make up the work before the absence.


3.       Scheduling of trips during school are discouraged, but if you anticipate an extended absence for a trip, then please contact the principal and teacher for notification. Then the parent, student, and teacher will work together to make up as much of the work as possible before the absence.

4.            Make-up work is at the teacher’s discretion.  The amount of work and the length of time to complete work will be determined by the instructor.  It is the responsibility of the student to find out what the make-up guidelines are.

5.            If a student misses an unusually large number of days, the parent will be contacted and the principal, parent, student, and teacher will meet to discuss options to improve attendance, to ensure the student has met the standards to pass the grade, to discuss retention, and to determine a plan to improve attendance with agreed upon options.  The majority of elementary absenteeism is due to ill health.  The school nurse can also be involved in developing this plan of improvement.  This documentation will be placed in the child’s file.

6.       Tardiness.  The same guidelines for tardiness will be followed as listed in point 5.

7.            If your child is sick, please keep him/her home and help your child recover and return as soon as possible.  We do not want to infect other children and have an epidemic in our elementary school.

 

 

 

BUILDING USE (KF)

 

All children in the building should be supervised at all times including before and after school and during any activity school sponsored or otherwise. The adult contact for all after school activities must be made known to the office.

 

BREAKFAST  7:45 – 8:00 am

 

For those who do not have the time, appetite, or household income necessary to eat before arriving at school, the School Breakfast Program provides an excellent opportunity for students to start the day with a healthy morning meal.  A good breakfast gives children the energy they need to succeed in school.  More than 15 studies show that children who eat a good breakfast everyday learn better, behave better and do better than children who don’t eat breakfast.   Participating in the School Breakfast Program has been associated with increased math grades, decreased school absence rates, tardiness rates and decreased emotional and behavior problems. 

 

 

CLOSURES (EBCE)

 

When weather or other factors necessitate the closing of school, an announcement will be made on the following stations:

KOA

850 AM

 

KKTV

Channel 11

KKCS

1460 AM & 101.9 FM

 

KOAA

Channel 5 & 30

KKFM

98.1 FM

 

KRDO

Channel 13

KKLI

106.3 FM

 

KCNC

Channel 4

KVOR

1300 AM

 

 

No extra-curricular activities will take place on days that school is not in session due to closing.

 

ELEMENTARY DRESS CODE (JICA)

 

Students will come to school clean and practice personal hygiene.  If a family needs help, please contact the school.

1.       Coats, gloves, and hats--students are expected to come dressed for outside weather.  We will be going outside for the majority of recess time.  20°F  or above = outside recess

2.            Students are discouraged from wearing clothes that cause disruption in the classroom.  If an article of clothing causes a disruption, then the student will be required to change.

3.       Students are prohibited from wearing clothes that support the sale of alcohol or tobacco.

In addition, articles of clothing which show disrespect toward self or others will be prohibited.


Students need to come to school prepared and ready to learn.  Both attendance and dress are key factors in a successful educational career.  The school and home must work together to make sure each child has the greatest opportunity for success.  These policies are not designed as punishment; instead, they are designed to provide a positive learning environment.  The faculty of Calhan Elementary appreciates your cooperation.

 

HEALTH PROCEDURE

 

It is the parent’s responsibility to inform the office of any health problems that we need to be aware of in order to ensure the health and safety of the students.  Parents are asked to notify the office of any changes on their child’s emergency card.

The elementary P.E. program involves rather strenuous activities at times.  The teacher and office should be notified of any health problems that would affect the health and safety of student participation in these activities.

 

When can a sick child return to school?

 

Chickenpox

 

Six days after the rash breaks out or when all the blisters are scabbed over, whichever is sooner.

 

Conjunctivitis

(Pink eye)

 

If the eyes are watery or itchy but there is no fever, the child doesn’t have to stay home at all.  If the eye discharge is thick and white or yellow, the child should stay home until the discharge has stopped.

 

Diarrhea

 

When diarrhea has stopped.

 

Hepatitis A

 

One week after the illness or yellow color starts.

 

Cold sores

 

When sores are dry and crusted.

 

Impetigo

 

24 hours after the child starts using antibiotic medication.

 

Measles

 

5 days after the rash breaks out.

 

Mumps

 

9 days after swelling starts.

 

Whooping cough

 

After the first five days of taking antibiotics.

 

Tuberculosis

 

When the child’s doctor or the local health department says the infection is no longer catching; in children this happens soon after medication is started.

 

Strep Throat

 

24 hours after antibiotics are started.

 

Pin Worms

 

24 hours after treatment.

 

Ringworm

 

24 hours after treatment.

 

Rubella

(German Measles)

 

6 days after the rash appears and the health department says it’s safe. Advise any staff member who is pregnant to see her doctor.

 

Diphtheria

 

When the health department says it’s safe.

 

Hand-foot-mouth

 

Children with an open, draining sore on the hand and those with disease mouth sores, if the child drools, should be kept out of day care.  They can return when sores heal or drooling stops.

 


MEDICATION (JLCD and JLCD -R)

 

By law, all medication, prescription or non-prescription, must be in the original container properly labeled with the name of the drug, dosage, and student’s name.  All medication must be in the school office with a dated and signed note from the parent and doctor giving the child’s name, dosage amounts, specific dosage times, and other instructions if necessary.  Students are not to keep medication on their person or ask teachers to keep it for them.  Medication will be given by trained office personnel and/or the school nurse.  Parent cooperation is necessary and greatly appreciated.  The same procedures apply to Prescription and Non-Prescription medications. A prescription from the doctor and a parent’s signature are required by law for school personnel to dispense medication.  A student with asthma, severe allergies or other related life-threatening condition may possess and self-administer medication to treat the student’s asthma, anaphylaxis or other related life-threatening condition.

 

HOURS

 

The school is open during school days from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.  Students are not to be on the premises before 7:45 a.m. as there is no supervision before that time.  Students are to leave directly upon dismissal.  Classes are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  We now have an all day Kindergarten program!  Kindergarten hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Preschool is a half day program from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Preschool is four days a week, Tuesday through Friday

 

 

INTERNET - STUDENT USE  (JS)

 

The Board of Education believes the internet should be available in school as a learning resource to educate and inform. 

 

 

LOCKING OUTSIDE DOORS

 

For security reasons, all doors will be locked during the day.  During school hours, in order to be admitted into the building, visitors, parents, and students must use the entry bell located at the main doors under the covered walk-way.  All guests must check in at the office and pick up a visitor pass after signing in.

 

LUNCH TICKETS

 

Grades 1-12        $1.75/Daily       $7.00/Weekly         $35.00/20 days

 

It is recommended that weekly or monthly tickets be purchased rather than daily.  It eliminates having to send money every day and the risk of losing the change.  If a student should forget lunch money, the student will be allowed to charge a lunch.  However, charges must be paid promptly.  A charge limit of $3.50 will be allowed.  Free and Reduced breakfasts and lunches are available.  Please fill out the application and return it to the office.  All information is confidential.  No pop for snacks or lunches is allowed unless provided by the teacher for special occasions. 

 

MEDICAID

 

As a Medicaid provider, the Calhan Public Schools will access Medicaid eligibility information for students enrolled in the Calhan Public Schools from Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF).  HCPF is the designated Medicaid agency in the state.  Directory information of names, date of birth, and gender will be released to HCPF to verify Medicaid eligibility of students in the District.  With consent, the description of health and health-related services delivered to Medicaid eligible students will be released to Medicaid and/or the district billing agent for proper administration of the program.  A dated record of all transactions will be kept on file at the Calhan Central office.  Parents may revoke their consent at any time.

 

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

 

Conferences between students, parents, and teachers are set up twice a year to discuss student progress.   Elementary Conferences will be held September 18th and February 12th.  If additional conferences are needed, please call the school to set up a time to meet with your child’s teacher. Communication prevents problems.  Please request a conference at the first sign of concerns.

 

PERSONAL PROPERTY

 

We highly recommend that items such as athletic equipment, dolls or toys should not be brought to school.  If these items are brought to school, they are the responsibility of the child.  Any loss or damage is not the responsibility of the school.  Any knives, firearms or any items deemed dangerous to the safety of students shall be confiscated and the child may be suspended or expelled.

 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

 

Students need gym shoes to be worn only during Physical Education to protect the hardwood floors.  In order for students not to participate in P.E. for one day, a note from the parent is needed.  Extended absences from P.E. require a doctor’s note.  Grades come from consistent participation.

 

RECESS EXCUSES

 

All students are expected to go outside for recess.  Parents should make sure their children are properly dressed for the weather conditions.  To help in the recovery of lost items, mark your child’s name in his/her clothing.

 

If your child is recovering from an illness and needs to stay in during recess, please send a written excuse for that specific day or your child will be expected to go out.  Note: Students will be kept in during recess only during extreme conditions (20ºF or below).

 

SNOW POLICY FOR EARLY DISMISSAL

 

All parents will fill out an emergency form that tells the school where to send children in the event school is dismissed early due to snow or other unforeseen events.  This information needs to be kept updated!  No child will be allowed to go to any place other than home unless a written letter is delivered to the office, the parent is there to pick up the child, or a phone call is received from the parent.  Review this procedure with your child so they know where to go and what to do in case of early dismissal.

 

TELEPHONE USE

 

The school phones are for school purposes and must be kept open.  To reduce the need for telephone use, make sure your children know daily how they will get home.  If any changes happen to this normal routine, a parent must send a note to the child’s teacher to notify him or her of the change.  The phones in classrooms will not be answered during instructional time.  If you need to contact the teacher regarding your child’s dismissal, please call the main office at 347-2766 and they will transfer you to the teacher’s voice mail.  No cell phones allowed!


 

VIDEO CAMERA POLICY (EEAEF)

 

The District has installed video recording equipment in the school building and on school buses to monitor student activity. Tapes will be reviewed as necessary by the principal, and evidence of student misconduct will be documented.  Students found to be in violation of the District’s conduct rules will be notified and disciplinary action will be initiated under the Board adopted Code of Conduct and Discipline.  Board Policy JIC and JK.

 

VISITATION  (KI)

 

For the safety of all students, parents are required to stop at the office to get their visitor pass before going to the classroom.  Parents are always welcome and encouraged to come in to visit their child’s class.  We request that you make prior arrangements and check in at the office.  Any other guest must also make prior arrangements with the principal. 

 

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

 

BIRTHDAY TREATS AND INVITATIONS

 

Children may bring birthday treats to school if it is arranged with the teacher in advance.  Birthday party invitations should be mailed to a child’s home rather than brought to school.

CLASS PARTIES

 

Calhan Elementary schedules three parties each year.  Teachers depend on parent volunteers to plan and prepare for the following classroom parties: Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day.  Gifts will be exchanged in each room for the Christmas parties.  The teacher and students of each class will determine the price.  A schedule for party helpers will be sent home.  Most parents help with a party once during the year.  In the event that snow prevents a planned party, the party will be canceled.  The treats planned for the party will be distributed at the end of the next regularly scheduled school day.

 

FIELD TRIPS K-5 (IJOA)

 

Field trips are designed to provide an outside educational experience to enhance what students have learned throughout the year.  Teachers have the option to provide field trips throughout the year.  If a class plans a field trip, students will bring home a permission slip to be signed and returned.  Remember you are representing Calhan School. Your best behavior is always expected. Any suspensions throughout the year may result in forfeiting your field trip privileges.


 

SPECIAL SERVICES

 

ADVANCED LEARNING PLANS (ALPs)

Advanced Learning Plans (ALPs) will be created and considered in educational planning and decision making for those students identified as gifted.  The ALP will guide the student’s progress toward specific academic performance goals.  The ALP is initiated after comprehensive assessment, developed by teachers and parents, and supported by the instructional staff and the school principal.

 

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