Welcome
to Dawson-Boyd Elementary Schools
Dear
Parents and Students,
Welcome
to a new school year. The summer is winding down and we are anticipating the
start of another successful school year.
As
the new year begins there are some changes in our building that you should be
aware of:
§
NWEA
(a computerized evaluation system) will continue to be used as a tool to assess
the progress students and programming are making in our school. Please ask
questions about how the program works and the data you will receive on your
child’s progress.
§
Once
again Stevens Elementary has been awarded an Arts in Education grants to bring
artists-in-residence into our school to work with students and staff.
Thank you to the Minnesota State Arts Board and Southwest Arts and
Humanities Council for their financial support to our school district.
§
We
are excited bring a new reading program to our school. It is called Accelerated
Reader (AR). This is a reading incentive program to promote reading for all
students. Watch parent letters for more details.
§
Fall
will kickoff our Character Education program and Project Respect. Our first
theme for the year is respect. As part of this focus we will be conducting
Intergenerational Dialogues in all of the elementary classrooms. It will be a
great time for people of all ages to talk and make plans for our school and
community.
This
handbook has been designed to familiarize you with
Thank
you for the part you play in making the
Elementary
Principal
2005--2006
Bruce
Bergeson
Wayne Dahl
Mary
Helgeson
Kendall Stelter
Brad
Madsen
Superintendent
Keri
Bergeson
High School Principal
Valorie
Tuff Elementary Principal
Sue
Christopher
Kindergarten
Jennifer
Mork
Kindergarten
Carole
Femrite
First Grade
Sue
Lund
Second Grade
Diane
Peet
Second Grade
Karla
Erickson
Third Grade
Jeri
Popma
Third Grade
Chris
Lehne
Fourth Grade
Diane
Nevins
Fourth Grade
Patti
Mork
Fifth Grade
Tobi
Kemen
Sixth Grade
Becky
Thoen
Sixth Grade
Melanie
Benson
Music
Jeannette
Lund
Music
Andy
Kubat
Physical Education
Carla
Johnson
Physical Education
Becki
Schmidt
Keyboarding
Mary
Walsh
Talents Unlimited
DeAnn
Lund
Speech
Julie
Miron
Speech
Nichole
Andrews
Special Education
Sandie
Club
Special Education
Darla
Swedzinski
Social Worker
Darcy
Kallhoff
DB Preschool
MacKenzie
Weller
DB Preschool
Chesaray
Chester
DB Preschool Aide
Janet
Larsen
EC Special Education
Joy
Windingstad
School Nurse
Char
Schutz
School Secretary
Karen
Strom
Jason
VanEngen
Dianne
Wiegers
Deb
Gebur
Terry Litke
Shirley
Dove
Roger DeSoto
Gloria
Kerkaert
Allan Jenson
Kim
Lindblad
Sue
Roiger
Anna
Phillips
2005-2006
School Calendar
August
30-31
Staff Inservice/Workday
(No School)
September
1
1st day of school
September
5
Labor Day (No School)
October
20-21 MEA
(No school for students)
November
3
Last
Day of Quarter 1
November
4
Staff Inservice/Workday (No school for
November
21
Parent/Teacher
Conferences
November
22
Parent/Teacher Conferences 8 AM – 8 PM
November
23-25 Thanksgiving Break
Dec.
23-Jan. 2 Christmas
Break
January
16
Martin Luther King Day (No School)
January
20
End of Semester
1
January
23
Staff Inservice/Workday
February
17 & 20
Mid-Winter Break
March
7
Parent/Teacher
Conferences
March
30
Last day of quarter 3
March
31
Staff Inservice/Workday
April
14 & 17
Easter Break
May
29
Memorial Day
June
4
Commencement
June
6
Last day of School
June
7
Staff Inservice/Workday
8-12 am
3
snow days are built into this calendar—The final day of school is determined
by the number of snow days used.
GENERAL
INFORMATION
School
buses run a schedule that permits children to arrive at school at a regular
time. For
those children who do not ride the school bus, we ask that they do not come to
school until
Kids
Clubhouse is available for all students in grades pre-K through 6 that must
arrive outside of the regular school hours. The hours of operations are
Weather
Related-School Closing Information
1.
School opening and bus schedules may be delayed at any time due to changing
weather conditions.
2.
Announcements will be made before
3.
Do not send your child to
school if you think that weather conditions are a threat to the safety of your
child.
4.
Early dismissal announcements, due to rapidly changing weather conditions
may occur at any time. Please listen to the radio stations if conditions look
bad.
5.
Each bus student should have a place to stay in town if weather makes it
impossible to get home. Emergency
housing plans should be on file with the school office.
If a change needs to be made, please contact the office.
Attendance
Policy: Absence
from school can never really be made up. Success
at school requires, like success on any job, promptness, responsibility, and
dependability. The school believes
that the student must not only complete the school work successfully, but also
maintain a good attendance record.
Reasons
for absence, which may be considered, are:
-illness
or hospitalization
-religious observances
-death in the family or funeral
-school activities
-family trips (when advance notice is given
and the work is satisfactorily
completed)
-professional health and legal appointments
-a doctor’s recommendation that the student should not
attend school during an
illness
Some
reasons which may NOT be considered are:
-oversleeping
-hair appointments
-shopping trips
-suspension
-truancy
-undocumented absences
Absences/Excuse
for Absence and Tardiness: Please call the elementary school office before
Students
are required to be in the classroom at the beginning of each class session. All
tardy students will report to the office for a pass documenting the reason for
their lateness. Parents will receive written notice of this documentation after
the 5th pass is issued. If the tardiness persists, students may be
classified as “habitually tardy”. This may result in further action from the
elementary office.
Make-Up
Work: If
a
student cannot be at school, we appreciate having parents or other relatives
stop by to get make-up work. Any
work that is of such a nature that it can be done independently at home will
assist the child in keeping up. If
possible, please call in advance so we may have the make-up work ready for you.
Children must expect to do make-up work when they have been absent.
Usually this work is done during the regular day, at
Classroom
placements: All
registered students will be given their classroom placements with their final
report card of the year.
Classroom
teachers make suggestions for class lists for the following year based on the
academic needs, behaviors, and social skills of the students in that grade
level. This is done in May. Parent requests or concerns should be discussed with
the elementary principal by the end of April to allow teachers sufficient time
to make recommendations for class lists. A letter will be issued to each family
to allow for parental considerations.
Clothing:
We
believe that neat and proper clothing contributes to positive attitudes and
success in school. The school staff and administration will be responsible for
promoting appropriate dress. Children should wear clothing that is neat, clean,
and exhibits good taste. Halter and other tank tops with thin straps should
always have another layer of clothing worn with them. Clothing advertising
alcohol, drugs, tobacco, using profanity or are suggestive will not be
permitted. This is the joint responsibility of the student and the student’s
parent(s) or guardians(s).
Students
are not allowed to wear caps in school during normal school hours. The exception
will be with the approval of the principal for special events or if required by
a student in a medical situation.
Local
Newspaper: The
Dawson Sentinel is the newspaper used to communicate information about the
school to the community. Please contact the elementary office if you have
concerns about the use of names and photos in this publication.
Pets:
Children
who bring pets to school must do so with the teacher’s approval.
Pets cannot remain at school all day so an understanding must come
between the parent and the child as to when the pet is to be taken back home.
Lockers
and Desks: Lockers
and desks are school district property. School
district personnel may inspect the interiors of lockers and desks at any time.
Elementary school lockers do not lock nor are students to use padlocks on
lockers. Parents and students should
take note of this policy when personal possessions are involved.
The school is not responsible for replacement of personal items lost or
taken from lockers or desks.
Visitors:
Visitors
are always welcome in our school. Please
stop by the office before your visit to receive a visitor’s pass.
If you wish to have a special conference with your child’s teacher,
please make arrangements through the principal’s office.
Please do not interrupt during class time except to deliver something to
a child. If children who are
relatives or friends of students in the elementary school plan to visit,
arrangements need to be made through the elementary office BEFORE the child
comes for the visit.
Telephone
Calls: Children
are to make arrangements for after school activities before they arrive at
school each day. Use of the office telephone by students for social reasons will
be discouraged.
STUDENT
OPPORTUNITIES AND SPECIAL SERVICES
Field Trips: Class trips are sometimes scheduled to enrich units of work that are being studied in the classrooms. All class trips must be cleared and planned through the principal. You will be notified when your child’s class is planning a trip. You will be asked to give your permission for him/her to go with the group. The children will be asked to bring money to cover the basic costs of the trip.
School
Parties:
Three seasonal parties are planned on a cooperative basis by pupil and teachers.
Birthday parties must be organized outside the school hours to eliminate
hard feelings for youngsters not invited. Party
invitations must be distributed outside of school.
Children are permitted to bring their classmates a treat on their
birthday. Treats must be purchased
rather than homemade.
Music
Lessons: Students
may begin playing an orchestra instrument as early as 3rd grade.
Parents wanting information about the possibility of their child taking lessons
on a stringed instrument should contact the elementary office.
Jen Lund, the orchestra director, will then contact you.
If
your child wishes to start lessons on other band instruments, you should contact
Kevin Szumal at the high school office (769-2955).
Students are expected to pay for their musical supplies and a music fee
for program participation. Lessons begin the summer before the 6th
grade year.
The
participation fee for participation in band and/or orchestra is $10 per student.
All students must purchase their own practice books.
Lyceum/Program Attendance: Students can be excused from any lyceum or program. Parents must send a written and signed note requesting a student to be excused. Students must report to the elementary office during the excused period.
Written
parental consent must be provided at the start of each school year.
Guidelines
to keep in mind when using the school internet are:
*It
is a privilege, not a right, to access the internet in our school
*
While on the internet students should stay focused on the topic they are
researching, and log out when done.
*
Any information downloaded should be classroom related.
*Students
may not use impolite or abusive language via e-mail, etc.
*Students
must never give out any personal information over the internet.
*
No review or downloading of material that is obscene, vulgar, sexually
explicit or offensive in terms of race, sex, or religion will be tolerated.
Violation
of these guidelines may result in loss of access as well as other disciplinary
or legal action.
§
School
Social Worker:
The district employs a school social worker that is available to you and your
child. Parent having questions about what the school social worker can offer
please contact the elementary office.
§
Title
I—the
Title I Program is available for students in K-5 who qualify in the area of
reading and math. It offers
supportive instruction to those students needing an extra boos in these areas.
§
Assurance
of Mastery—the
Assurance of Mastery Program offers supportive instruction in reading and math
to students in grade 6.
§
Education
Express:
This is an after school and summer program for qualifying students for the
purpose of reinforcement of reading, math, and writing skills.
§
ILDA—ILDA
assistants are support staff instrumental in meeting the needs of students
grades K-3. They work with individuals and small groups to support classroom
instruction. They are utilized as the classroom supervisor deems appropriate.
§
Speech
services—are
provided in an individualized or small group setting.
The program focuses on the needs of the individual child, primarily in
the areas of articulation and total language development.
§
Adaptive
Phy Ed—the
regular physical education program is supplemented with adaptive skills for
students with special needs in this area.
§
Special
Education—special
education is provided for students who need those services.
In special education, a child’s program is planned cooperatively with
the classroom teacher, special education staff, and the child’s parents.
Social and emotional skills, as well as academics, are an important part
of these programs. Staffings are
held with staff and parents to evaluate progress and to plan the program
components.
§
Early
Childhood Special Education—a
pre-school program is provided for children, ages birth to kindergarten, who
have special needs. This is an
§
inter-agency
program for all qualifying children in the county.
This program is located in a facility directly east of the elementary
school.
§
Dawson-Boyd
Preschool—this
is a collaborative preschool program. It is co-sponsored through the joint
efforts of Dawson-Boyd Community Education and the Prairie Five Headstart. Full
and half day options are available for students. Information for this education
option can be obtained through Dawson-Boyd Community Education at 320.769.4590
or the Madison Headstart Office at 1.800.443.4283.
§
Early
Childhood Family Education (ECFE)—this
is another pre-school option funded through community education.
A
student will be excused from participation in physical activities only if a
written note from the parent is received. The
note should include a written explanation of why the student should be excused,
the date, and the signature of the parent.
FOOD
SERVICES
Lunchroom
Expectations:
Teachers will see that all students wash their hands before going to the
lunchroom.
Students
are encouraged to eat the food they take or receive on their trays.
If students don’t want something, they should say “No, thank you”
to the cook. Every student is
encouraged to say, “Yes, please” or “No, thank you.”
Students
must display good manners and appropriate behavior while in the lunchroom. They
must at all times follow the direction of the
No
one is to leave the lunch tables until the lunchroom supervisor dismisses them.
Food
Service Contact Information:
Questions about food services and billing may be directed to Peggy Hill,
Dawson-Boyd Food Service Manager at 769-4566 or to the elementary office.
Milk
With Sack Lunch:
Students bringing their own lunch may purchase milk for the cost of 30 cents a
carton. Students may either purchase a milk ticket or this amount can be
deducted from their lunch account.
Free and Reduced Lunch: Every family will receive a form for free and reduced lunch
in the August all school mailing. Every family is encouraged to fill out the
form regardless of income. This is a confidential form and only viewed by the
school official in charge of this part of the lunch program. Parts of school
funding are connected to the free and reduced lunch numbers. Qualifying families
may choose to accept or deny this financial assistance. We would appreciate
every family completing this paper.
HEALTH
SERVICE
Health
Records: State
law requires that a permanent health record be kept on file for each child in
attendance. A complete physical
examination before a child enters kindergarten is required by the school system.
State law requires that children have an MMR.The Minnesota Health
Department recommends the second MMR be given before kindergarten.
They must have the original three DPT’s in infancy, and two DPT
boosters and at least four polio immunizations.
Kindergarten students are required to have the hepatitis B shots (a
series of three doses).
Vision
and Hearing Screening:
Vision and hearing will be checked periodically at the school throughout
all 12 grades. The school nurse will
contact you if further attention is needed.
If you have any questions or wish to test your child at any time, feel
free to call Joy Windingstad at school (769-2221).
Her office is in the elementary school.
Outdoor
Play:
The school requires children to play outdoors during the
Medications:
If
your child must take any kind of medication during school hours, please notify
the school nurse and your child’s teacher.
The following is the procedure for medications, which are to be
administered to students at school.
1.
Students requiring medications at school should be identified by the
parents or a doctor. The school
should then be notified.
2.
Medications should be in the original bottle from the pharmacy.
On the bottle should be listed the doctor’s name, child’s name,
prescription name, and why the child is taking the medication.
3.
The school must receive permission from the parent for the student to
take the medication and a doctor’s written order.
Once head lice have been diagnosed or discovered on your child, it is important to respond quickly so that your child misses a minimal amount of school, and so the spread of lice to others can be prevented.
A.
The
School Nurse will check for evidence of live lice and/or nit eggs when students
have observable problems with their hair.
B.
Lice
checks will occur in the Nurse’s Office when done individually or in the
classroom when the entire class is checked.
C.
Each
lice check will be recorded, noting the date, time, student and result on a
sheet in the Nurse’s Office.
D.
If
live lice and/or or viable nit eggs are found by the nurse, the student’s
parents will be contacted and the students will be sent home for treatment.
E.
All
students returning to school after treatment at home, will be checked by the
school nurse on duty before going back to class. Results of this check will
follow the above policy.
STUDENT
SAFETY
Student
Release Forms: No
teacher is to allow a child to be released from school unless the party calling
for the child is known and properly identified and the Release Form has been
completed. The school and the home
are to teach children not to accept treats or rides from a “friendly”
stranger.
Emergency
Procedures:
Stevens Elementary will hold drills for emergency procedures during the school
day throughout the year. This will include but not be limited to fire drills,
tornado drills, and lock down procedures. Students should be aware of school
exits and proper procedures in each of these emergency situations.
Bicycles:
Please
discuss these bicycle safety rules with your children.
Students who violate these rules may lose this privilege.
1.
Bicycles must be left in the bicycle racks immediately
after arriving at school.
2.
Bicycles must not be ridden on the playground during the
times immediately before, during, and after school.
Snowballs:
Students may not throw snowballs on the playground. We regard it as a dangerous
activity. Students could be injured by chunks of hard snow and ice.
High
School Football Games:
No rough and tumble games will be allowed at High School football games.
Students footballs and other equipment will be confiscated.
Students can pick up their property at the end of the 3rd
quarter.
Leaving
School Grounds:
Once here, a student is expected to remain at school until dismissed.
Students are not allowed to return home for any reason once they have
arrived at school except with parent permission. Students may not return home to
get homework, swimsuits, etc. without the consent of an authorizing adult. A
note and/or a telephone call to release the child from school are necessary.
When the parent comes to pick up the child, it is necessary to pick up a
release from school form in the elementary office.
This form must be brought to the classroom teacher in order for the child
to be released. If the child is in a
class other than the regular classroom (such as p.e., library, music, etc.) the
release form need to be shown to that instructor, also.
When picking up your child, please use the main entrance to the
elementary building. WE
NEED TO KNOW WHERE CHILDREN ARE AT ALL TIMES.
STUDENT
BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS
Alcohol,
Tobacco, and Drug Policy: The
use and/or possession of alcohol, tobacco, and other controlled substances is
prohibited by the Dawson-Boyd School District at any time on school property or
at any school sponsored activity regardless of location. Violation of this
policy by underage users will result in appropriate consequences.
The
Complete policy is on file in the district office an available upon your
request.
We
respect each student’s rights and expect that the students will, in turn,
respect each classmate and staff member as well.
This includes cooks, custodians, teachers, assistants, Title I personnel,
We
also expect students to practice good manners in school.
We expect the following to become an important of every child’s
vocabulary: PLEASE, THANK YOU, I’M SORRRY, and YOU’RE WELCOME.
It helps a great deal if these words are stressed at home as well.
All
of the above can only be accomplished if there’s good cooperation between home
and the school. We NEED to work as a
team.
The
theme for Stevens Elementary this year will continue to be “WE CARE”. We
want to foster caring with classmates, our school, our community, and ourselves.
Consequences
for school bus/bus stop will be imposed by the Building Principal or his
designee. In addition, all school
bus/bus stop misconduct will be reported to the District’s Transportation
Safety Director. Serious misconduct
will be reported to the Department of Public Safety and may be reported to local
law enforcement.
A.
School Bus and Bus Stop Rules
The
B.
Rules at the Bus Stop
1.
Get to your bus stop 5 minutes before your scheduled pick up time.
The
school
bus driver will not wait for late students.
2.
Stay away from the street, road, or highway when waiting for the bus.
Wait
until the bus stops before approaching the bus.
3.
After getting off the bus, move away from the bus.
If you must cross the
street,
always cross in front of the bus where the driver can see you.
Wait for the driver to signal to you before crossing the street.
4.
No fighting, harassment, intimidation, or horseplay.
5.
No use of alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.
C.
Rules on the Bus
1.
Immediately follow the directions of the driver.
2.
Sit in your seat facing forward.
3.
Talk quietly and use appropriate language.
4.
Keep all parts of your body inside the bus.
5.
Keep your arms, legs, and belongings to yourself.
6.
No fighting, harassment, intimidation, or horseplay.
7.
Do not throw any object.
8.
No eating, drinking, or use of tobacco or drugs.
9.
Do not bring any weapon or dangerous objects on the bus.
10.
Do no damage the school bus.
D.
Consequences
Consequences for school bus/bus stop misconduct will apply to all regular and late routes. Decision