Montague Village Parent and Student Handbook 2019 – 2020 · Web view2019-09-25 · Montague...

Montague Village Elementary School

Killeen ISD

8/19/2019

Montague Village Parent and Student Handbook 2019 – 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………. 2General Information ............................................................................................................3School Hours .......................................................................................................................3Arrival / Drop-Off Procedures.............................................................................................3Attendance ..........................................................................................................................4Audience Etiquette ..............................................................................................................5Awards Ceremonies.............................................................................................................5Bicycles/Scooters/Skateboards/Skates/Rollerblades ..........................................................6Cafeteria ..............................................................................................................................6Cell Phones .........................................................................................................................7Child Abuse ........................................................................................................................7Choir....................................................................................................................................7Classroom Interruptions ......................................................................................................7Commercial Deliveries........................................................................................................8Conferences .........................................................................................................................8Crosswalks...........................................................................................................................8Discipline/Student Expectations .........................................................................................8Dismissal Procedures ........................................................................................................10Emergency Drills...............................................................................................................11Immunizations ...................................................................................................................11Inclement Weather ............................................................................................................11Lost and Found Articles ....................................................................................................12Newsletters ........................................................................................................................12Parking Lots ......................................................................................................................12Parties/Celebrations of Learning .......................................................................................12Pets.....................................................................................................................................13Pictures ..............................................................................................................................13Progress Reports/Report Cards .........................................................................................13Prohibited Items.................................................................................................................13Snacks ...............................................................................................................................14

RTI/504/Special Education………………………………………………………………14Tardies ...............................................................................................................................15Textbooks ..........................................................................................................................15Title I/No Child Left Behind .............................................................................................16Visiting Campus.................................................................................................................16Volunteers / Field Trip Chaperones...................................................................................16Withdrawing a Student .....................................................................................................17Fort Hood Out of School / Youth Supervision Policy .................................................18-20Standard Dress Policy ..................................................................................................21-23

Parent and Family Engagement Policy ………………………………………………24-25

Montague Village Elementary School Handbook * 2019-2020 Page 2

Montague Village Elementary School

Information

Welcome to Montague Village, the home of the Longhorns, “The best in the West!”We are so happy to be able to work with your children. They are our future and we take our responsibility very seriously! Let me share with you some of our values and beliefs here at Montague.

We believe that each child is capable of growing in his/her educational journey. We focus on a growth mindset here, where growth is celebrated. Did you know that research suggest that we learn best when we have a productive struggle? Can you think of a time when you were learning how to do something that was new and a little difficult? With some guidance and help you learned how to accomplish the task. We tell the children that you don’t know it yet, but you can try and learn. The State of Texas requires that we teach the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. You can find what the standards are by grade level on the Texas Education Agency web page in grades kindergarten through 5th grade.

We believe that students need to be active participants in the learning, so our teachers provide lessons which require students to think and provide evidence for their thinking. Students are asked to turn and talk to each other about their thinking in all subject areas. This is an important life skill as future employers seek out qualified applicants who not only have the knowledge, but also the skills to work with others and solve problems. We are preparing students for jobs which don’t even exist yet! When your child comes home and talks about hard tasks, the best advice you can give them is to keep trying, you haven’t learned it yet, but you will if you work hard.

We believe that all students will grow up to be great citizens and future leaders. This can occur in the army, a hospital, a school, a department store, a lawyer’s office, a computer company or as President of the United States! A leader who does the right thing even when someone is not watching. We work hard at helping students to be kind, caring, considerate, and compassionate to each other as these traits will prepare them for future success.

We believe that teaching and learning is hard work. All of our teachers work hard before school, and after school to ensure your child has the best lesson’s prepared daily. We spend our nonpaid summers to take classes to learning the best techniques for teaching math, reading, science, writing and social studies. We expect our students to try and work hard as we believe that education is the key to future success of reaching their dreams. Education can change a life. It takes hard work and commitment. Together we can support your child to reach and fulfill his/her dream for the future.

We are looking forward to a great year with your family!


GENERAL INFORMATIONMontague Village Elementary School is a pre-kindergarten through fifth grade campus. We offer a number of programs to meet the individual needs of each child at our school. By offering these programs, we hope each student will achieve to his/her fullest potential.

To register a child for school, parents must bring the child's birth certificate, immunization record, the child's social security card and proof of residency. Students must be current on all shots within the first 30 days of enrollment. Failure to become and remain current with shots will result in students being excluded from attending school. This is a Texas law, and all KISD schools comply with these requirements. Copies of any school records, report cards and testing information are helpful, but not required.

SCHOOL HOURS Breakfast………7:00 - 7:20 a.m. prek-5th

First Bell………. 7:30 a.m.Tardy Bell……..7:35 a.m.

Dismiss al PreK3……………………………………… 2:45 p.m.PreK4 ….…………………..…………….. 2:50 p.m.Kindergarten………………………….. 2:50 p.m.Grades 1 – 5…………………………... 3:00p.m.

ARRIVAL / DROP-OFF PROCEDURESStaff members are on duty at 7:00 a.m. Children may not arrive earlier than 7:00 a.m. Official agencies will be contacted if a student consistently arrives before 7:00 a.m.

If you are driving through the front parking lot to drop off your child, please stay in the left lane until you pass the cones. Then you may pull into the right lane to unload. Students unloading in the right lane may go directly to the sidewalk. If your child unloads in the left lane, he/she must walk up to the crosswalk to cross safely. See the map on the inside back cover for important drop-off information.

The bus lane is reserved for students who ride the bus and for Prek3 students. Please do not use this lane unless you have a pre-k3 student. We have assistants ready to greet them and ensure that they get to the correct room. If you are parking in this lane to help your child out of their car seat, please be mindful of the traffic behind you and return to your vehicle as quickly as possible so that all parents can unload in a timely manner. If you are behind a parked car, please do not go around it. We need to make sure parents and students are safe in the drive up lane.


Between 7:00 and 7:30 a.m., the entrances on the north and south sides of the building will be supervised by staff members, and children may enter through either of these doors. If a student arrives after 7:30 a.m., he/she must enter through the front door with a parent to sign them in.

For your safety, and the safety of our students, please observe these policies: Always use designated crosswalks when walking. Walk on sidewalks; do not walk through the parking lots. Do not stop or park your vehicle in any crosswalk. Do not double-park. Handicapped parking spaces are reserved for cars with a handicapped placard. Do not park in the bus lane unless you are unloading in the morning for pre-k3. Do not drive behind the school at any time. Do not leave your vehicle unattended in the fire lane. Do not leave children unattended in your vehicle during drop-off or pick-up.

Before SchoolBreakfast will be served each morning from 7:00 to 7:20 a.m. After eating breakfast, students will sit outside their classrooms. During this time, they may read or complete homework. This serves as a time to reflect and begin preparation for the school day. School begins at 7:30. Math in all grades starts at 7:35.

ATTENDANCE Good school attendance is very important for a student to be successful. If you know your child will not be at school for any reason (doctor's appointment, emergency leave, etc.), please notify the school by calling the office staff at 254/336-2230.

As a safety precaution, teachers will provide the office staff with a list of students who are absent by 8:00 a.m. each day. If you have not contacted the office, we will contact you by phone regarding the absence. It is very important you provide accurate telephone numbers so we are able to reach you.Any time a child is absent from school, a written note from you or a doctor should be sent with the child. This note should include the date(s) of the absence and the reason for the absence. If we do not receive a note, the absence is considered unexcused. A computer-generated letter will be sent to you regarding unexcused absences. PLEASE submit documentation for each absence. Excessive unexcused absences can cause a child to be retained in his/her current grade level.

While pre-kindergarten and kindergarten are not mandatory programs in our state, once you have enrolled the child, the attendance policy will be enforced.

STUDENTS LEAVING DURING THE DAYMontague Village Elementary School Handbook * 2019-2020 Page 5

Every minute of instruction time is valuable. If at all possible, children should remain in class for the entire school day. For the safety of our students, all parents, guardians, baby-sitters, and/or emergency contact persons must provide a government-issued photo ID, and his/her name must appear on the student's enrollment card when checking out a child. This procedure will be used every time a child is picked up. Students will only be released to authorized persons. This includes releasing younger students at the end of the day. Please make sure that the person we are to release your child to at the end of the day is on the enrollment card. If you send a note to the teacher for another person to pick up your child, that person must be on your emergency contact list. The emergency contact list has six places for alternate pick up permission. You may change the information on his/her card at any time, but it must be done in person. We cannot take this information over the phone. Always bring a picture ID to pick up your child. This is a safety requirement. All teachers are asked to check ID’s daily at pick up time.

Please do not call the office and ask for your child to be called to the office to wait for you. We cannot be sure how long it will take you to arrive at the school, and every minute of instruction is important. Students may not be signed out after 2:30. Students will not be called out of class prior to the end of the day. Many important things occur in the classroom at dismissal time. We teach up until the bell at 3:00. The principal or assistant principal may visit with you if signing out students becomes a habit.

AUDIENCE ETIQUETTEStudents in the Killeen ISD elementary schools are taught standard audience manners for use at performances. Please set a good example for our students by observing the following guidelines:

Talking, whistling and excessive noise are inconsiderate and inappropriate.

Electronic devices, including cell phones, should be silenced.

The audience should hold their applause until the designated time.

When taking pictures, please do not block the view of others.

Please enter and leave the auditorium in a manner that does not distract from the program.

Talking while the principal is talking

Students have worked hard and are thankful for your attendance and support. We also appreciate your careful observation of audience etiquette.

Special Note: If children under your care are creating disturbances, we ask that you remove them to the foyer.

AWARD CEREMONIES Montague Village Elementary will hold academic awards ceremonies at the end of each semester for students who receive grades. These are students who are in first through 5th grade. The purpose of these ceremonies is to recognize and reward students who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement.


Students are also eligible for awards for perfect attendance. Perfect attendance awards will be given to students who have no absences and excessive tardies.

BICYCLES / SCOOTERS / SKATEBOARDS / SKATES / ROLLERBLADES Students living in the neighborhood may ride bicycles and scooters to the property line of our school. Fort Hood Housing regulations state that: STUDENTS MUST WEAR HELMETS.

Bicycles and scooters must be walked while on school grounds. This includes the parking areas and the sidewalks.

Students are prohibited from using, displaying, or possessing skateboards, skates and rollerblades at school.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONSBirthday cupcakes must be store bought, and may be brought to the front office. The cupcakes are shared in the classroom at the end of the day. Please make sure enough cupcakes are purchased for the class. The cupcakes will be delivered by our secretaries to the appropriate class. Birthday parties in the class are not allowed. It is not a requirement for cupcakes to be brought, it is a family decision.

BIRTHDAY INVITATIONSBirthday invitations may not be passed out at school unless all students in the class are invited. Please talk with your child’s teacher and she will put them in student mailboxes if all students are invited. When all students are not invited, feelings get hurt. We understand that parties are an expense and it may not be feasible for all students to be invited. If this is the case, please send out the invitations at home.

CAFETERIACafeteria accounts may be paid to the lunchroom staff between 8:00 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. You may also send money with your child for his/her lunch, and the money will be credited to his/her account. Parents are encouraged to put money in the account for 10 or 20 days, but students may pay for lunch on a daily basis. It is a parent's responsibility to ensure their children bring a lunch or have money to purchase a lunch.

If you do not wish for your child to purchase additional food items (milk, chips, ice cream, etc.) with his/her food account, please be sure you have made arrangements with the cafeteria staff. This information needs to be updated in writing annually. Also, please make sure your child is aware of the limits you have placed on the account.

A peanut butter sandwich and milk will be served to students who do not bring a lunch or do not have money in their account. Our teachers use their own personal money to purchase peanut butter and bread for our students so that no child goes hungry.

Because we believe everything that happens at school should be an opportunity to learn, the cafeteria is also a learning place. It is a place where students can enjoy eating, but it is also structured so that student safety is continuously and closely monitored. We expect students to sit appropriately and use their manners.


CELL PHONESStudents may possess cell phones at school, but they must be in their backpacks and turned off during the school day. If the use of a cell phone is abused: the teacher, or other school official may confiscate it. It will be returned to the student after an appropriate period of time determined by the principal. Parents will be notified and may need to come pick up the phone. (See KISD Student Code of Conduct)

We also ask that you do not talk on your cell phone in the front office as there are other parents and children in the office. You may step outside to take your call if needed.

CHILD ABUSEThe reporting of suspected child abuse is a state law that teachers and administrators must observe. Our school is most interested in the health and safety of our children, and Montague Village Elementary will abide by the state law.

CHOIRStudents in the third, fourth, and fifth grades will be allowed to participate in our choir. The choir is open to any student who is committed to participation, has good behavior, and is passing all subjects.

CLASSROOM INTERRUPTIONSTexas Education and Administrative Code and local school board policy limit the number of classroom interruptions. We will only interrupt a class if it is absolutely necessary or in an extreme emergency. If you need to leave a message or an item for your child, please leave it with the office. We will deliver the message or item to the classroom.

CLINICMedicine must be prescribed by a doctor and a form completed by the doctor for students to be given medication at school. Parents are called if a child has a fever or is vomiting to be picked up from school. Students are able to return to school once they are fever free without medication. If a child is hurt during the school day, the teacher will send him/her to the clinic for the nurse to evaluate. The nurse will call home if she feels it is appropriate. If you want to be called every time your child visits the nurse, please let the clinic know. We are not allowed to give any medications at school without doctor’s orders.

CODE OF CONDUCT Students who interrupt the educational process may receive a referral, and the assistant principals, or principal will conduct an investigation. If the child has not followed the student code of conduct, the assistant principal or principal will decide on the appropriate consequence and inform the parent. The parent will receive a copy of the referral in the mail. During an investigation of a referral, a student may be placed temporarily in the ISS room under adult supervision until administration can conclude his/her investigation. For more information on the student code of conduct, you can visit the district web site at www.killeenisd.org.


http://www.killeenisd.org/

COMMERCIAL DELIVERIESDistrict policy prohibits the commercial delivery of food, flowers, balloons, etc. while your child is at school. If these items are delivered to the school, your child’s teacher will be notified, and the item will be held in the office until the end of the school day.

COMMUNICATIONTeachers use various ways for communication. Each child has a folder- pre-k3 and pre-k4 and kinder through fifth have a binder with a planner. Teachers will make any notes in the planner to parents if needed. You may also email the teacher any questions or concerns you may have. Teachers may not email or text you during the day unless it is on their conference time or after school as they are busy teaching. Sometimes during their planning time, they are meeting so they may not get to respond to you until after school.

COMMUNITY IN SCHOOLS and MFLACWe are fortunate to have a Community in Schools and MFLAC program at our campus. The program provides resources to help families. The only requirement is that you sign a paper stating that your child can participate. Some activities provided are: small group lunch with the social worker, providing glasses for those who qualify, track meet in the spring, food baskets for needy families and many other needs. Just ask in the front office about completing a form. This program is a great resource for our families.

CONFERENCESParent/Teacher conferences will be held at least twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. Teachers will schedule these conferences with each parent. You are always welcome to set up a conference with your child’s teacher if at any time you have questions or concerns about your child's progress. Please contact the school to make an appointment for a conference. To request a conference, you may call the school office (254/336-2230), send a note, and email to the teacher or indicate your desire on the report card. You must make an appointment.

CROSSWALKSCrosswalks with trained personnel are provided for the safety of students coming to and from school. These crosswalks are the only place students should cross the street to get to school. Please encourage your child(ren) to use the designated crosswalks, as these are the safest places to cross. When coming to a stop at a crosswalk, please make sure your vehicle is not in the crosswalk.See the map on the inside back cover for important drop-off information.

DISCIPLINE / STUDENT EXPECTATIONS The KISD Student Code of Conduct is posted on the KISD website at www.killeenisd.org. It thoroughly describes the district and state policies regarding discipline. Any questions regarding discipline should be directed to the assistant principal and principal. ALL students are expected to comply with the following expectations:



Longhorn Expectations1. Be on time and prepared for learning each day.2. Follow directions of adults in the school.3. Keep hands, feet, mouth and objects to yourself.4. Show respect toward yourself, others and the school.

Cafeteria Expectations1. Stay with your class.2. Keep hands, feet, mouth and objects to yourself.3. Walk and carry your lunch with two hands.4. No sharing of food or drinks.5. Speak quietly to friends next to you.6. Stay seated and raise your hand if you need help.

Playground Expectations1. Play and stay in the area designated by your teacher.2. Leave rocks, pebbles, sand, grass and all other outdoor objects on the

ground. No kicking rocks or pebbles. If it is on the ground, it stays on the ground. We don’t want anyone to get hurt.

3. Walk on the concrete and around the equipment. Running is only allowed on the grass.

4. Bars are to be used for chin-ups and pull-ups only. Climbing, sitting, and standing on top of the bars is not allowed.

5. Do not hang upside down or do flips on any of the equipment.6. Keep hands to yourself. 7. Travel in one direction on the horizontal ladder.8. Do not walk in front of or behind the swings. Do not walk or stand in front of the slide.9. Sit on the swing, hold onto the swing with both hands, and dismount only after you come to a

complete stop.10. Swing in a forward/backward motion only (no twisting).11. Gum, candy, etc. must not be consumed during recess or on the playground due to the

possibility of choking.12. Balls going over the fence will not be retrieved by the children.13. Climb up the slide ladder one at a time, and slide down while seated. Climbing up the slide is

not allowed. 14. No climbing or sitting in trees.15. Safety procedure for lining up on the playground. (1 whistle means stop. 2 whistles mean stop

and stoop down to listen for directions. 3 whistles mean to line up quickly.)

DISCIPLINE PROCEDURESIf a child receives a referral or is involved in an investigation concerning discipline, an assistant principal or principal may interview the student. During the investigation of a referral, a student may be placed temporarily in the ISS room under adult supervision until administration can conclude his/her investigation. If a child receives a discipline referral, the parent or guardian will be notified by a phone call within 24 hours and a copy of the referral will be mailed home outlining what happened


and the consequence. If the parent could not be reached, a voicemail will be left if possible, and the attempt will be noted on the discipline referral. Parents are welcome to call and discuss the incident with the assistant principal. Remember that the word discipline means: to teach. We want to help you teach your child how to treat others in the school environment. According to the KISD Student Code of Conduct: The principal or assistant principal has the authority to investigate and interview students when alleged misconduct may have occurred. Students may need to provide written statements (if able) as needed and may be questioned regarding the student’s own conduct of the conduct of other students. Investigatory proceedings will be conducted without delay, and there is no right to representation in such proceedings.

Some consequences for referrals may include but are not limited too: In school suspension, out of school suspension, lunch detention, Saturday detention, loss of recess, or loss of privileges. All students from pre-k3 to 5th grade are expected to behave as good citizens daily at Montague Village Elementary School. This is to ensure safety and uninterrupted instruction so that all students can learn and teachers can teach.

DISMISSAL PROCEDURESStudents are to immediately leave the campus after school. Arrangements should be made in the morning with your child as to what he/she is to do after school. If it is different from the established routine or from what you have told the teacher, please write a note to ensure that your child arrives safely at his/her destination. If someone else will be picking up your child, they must be on your registration card. We cannot accept change of pick up over the phone. We want to make sure all students get home safely with the proper adult.

Students are picked up at various places after school. Please make sure you talk with your child’s teacher about the proper place to pick up your child at the end of the day.

Teachers will not discuss behavior or academics in detail at dismissal time. This is private information and should be shared in a conference. You can always schedule a conference with the teacher. We use student binders or folders for the younger children as a communication tool. Please check your child’s binder or folder every day for notes, homework etc. Every child in kinder through 5th grade has a homework binder purchased by the school so that parents and teachers can communicate.

Please pick up your child from school at the scheduled time. If a student in pre-kindergarten through first grade has not been picked up on time, we will attempt to contact the parents and/or the emergency contact person. School personnel will not transport students. If your child is persistently picked up late, other official agencies will be contacted (refer to Fort Hood Out of School / Youth Supervision Policy on page 14).

As it states in the Fort Hood Out of School / Youth Supervision Policy, children in pre-k through first grade must be picked up and have direct supervision by an adult, parent, or legal guardian.


EMERGENCY DRILLSIn order to comply with district safety guidelines, we conduct one fire drill per month, one shelter-in-place/lockdown drill per semester, and at least one severe weather drill each semester. Evacuation maps and safety guidelines are located in every room on campus. Visitors on campus are expected to follow the drill instructions. Students may not be checked out during this time and everyone must exit the building.

EMERGENCY CONTACTSIt is imperative that you have emergency contacts. Throughout the year those contacts may change. We receive many calls stating that a parent needs their child picked up because of an emergency, but their neighbor or friend is not on the contact sheet. We cannot release students with a phone call. Please be proactive and keep all contacts current. You must come in person to update your contact list. You may place six people on your child’s enrollment card as emergency contacts.

FACEBOOK PAGEThe school has a Facebook page which is called Montague Village Elementary School with our logo next to it. This is the official page where we post reminders about upcoming events, rainy day dismissal and other pertinent information occurring during the day.

GIFTED EDUCATIONAnyone may nominate a child to be tested for gifted education. The coordinator for this program is Mrs. Baumann. She can be reached at 336-2230. There is also a link on our website about the district’s gifted education program.

IMMUNIZATIONSAll students are required to be current on their immunizations. A 30-day grace period is permitted, but once this time period has expired, students will not be allowed in school. Your assistance with this matter is critical to your child being successful in school.

INCLEMENT WEATHERShould severe weather develop during the day, we will monitor its status and take appropriate action.

If it is raining when school dismisses, the following procedure will be used: Students will be dismissed from their regular doors to their parents or legal guardians. Please talk with your child(ren) about the rainy day plans. Make sure your child(ren) know

if they should walk home or if you will pick them up from school. If it is storming outside, we will let parents in to pick up their children from the classroom

doors. Please go to your youngest child’s class first and then to the older children as pre-k 3, pre-k4 and kinder are dismissed earlier than the other grades. You may have to wait outside of the classroom door until the teacher is ready to dismiss. Please remember that at the end of the day there are a lot of routines and final lessons that need to be accomplished before dismissing. Wait outside the door until the teacher opens it.


If inclement weather (ice or snow) occurs during the night, parents should watch the television, listen to the radio, or go to www.killeenisd.org for cancellation notices. In an emergency, we will contact you using our mass communication alert system. It is extremely important that we have the most current contact information for you and your emergency contacts – this includes telephone numbers as well as e-mail addresses.

LIBRARYStudents in all grades will visit the library with their class. First through fifth graders may also visit the library during the school day with teacher permission. Students in second through fifth grade will be allowed to check out two books, and students in Pre-k3 through first grade may check out one book. Students are responsible to return books in two weeks in good condition. Torn, damaged or lost books need to be paid for before additional books can be checked out. Parents may also check out books under their child’s name. The library does host three book fairs a year.

LOST AND FOUND ITEMS Please clearly mark all of your child's personal items. This will help us as we try to determine to whom things belong. If a student loses anything, he/she should immediately report the item missing to his/her teacher and check the lost and found area located in the cafeteria. Clothing, lunch boxes, and other similar items are placed in the lost and found. Valuable items such as watches, jewelry and eyeglasses are kept in the office. All unclaimed items are donated to a worthy agency at the end of the school year.

NEWSLETTERSThe Longhorn Ledger (our campus newsletter) will be sent home to parents each month. The newsletter will give parents an idea of the topics students will be studying during the next month as well as any special projects and/or upcoming events. Should a parent have questions or concerns based on the information in the newsletter, a conference with the teacher is encouraged. We also have a school Facebook page where we post announcements and reminders as well.

PARKING LOTSStudent safety is our top priority. Please drive your vehicle safely and slowly on and near school property. Arrival and dismissal times can be hectic and require extra attention and courtesy from all drivers and pedestrians. We know our parking is limited. Thank you for your patience as you deliver and pick up your children.

PARTIES/CELEBRATIONS OF LEARNINGAccording to the Nutrition Policy of the state, we are allowed three parties a year. If you would like to help your child's teacher with the parties, please notify him or her. Parents who do not wish for their child to participate in class parties may pick him/her up early on these days.

All items provided for parties or for snacks must be commercially prepared. Homemade items are not allowed. This ensures that all food students receive at school meets certain food preparation



standards and prevents possible illnesses that may result through improper or unsanitary preparation. This is a district policy as well.

Birthday and farewell parties are not permitted. Cupcakes may be brought to the office to be given out at the end of the day. If your child has allergies and may not have cupcakes for any reason, please let the teacher know so that they will not be given one.

PETSFor safety reasons, no pets are allowed in the school building or on the school grounds, even if on a leash or carried. Pets are not allowed for science projects and studies.

PICTURESSchool pictures will be taken two times during the year. Individual pictures are taken during the fall semester. During the spring, individual and class-group pictures are taken. Dates will be announced at a later time. Notices will be sent home prior to pictures being taken. You are under no obligation to purchase pictures. On picture day, students will be allowed to wear standard dress or an outfit of their choice as long as it meets KISD’s dress code policy.

PROGRESS REPORTS/REPORT CARDSMontague Village Elementary School is on a nine-week grading system. Progress reports will be sent home for all students at the mid-point date of each nine-week grading period. Students will receive report cards at the end of each nine- week grading period. Students in grades first through 5th will receive grades according to KISD grading policy. You may check your child’s grades using Home Access Center. Please inquire about the username you will need for Home Access Center in the front office if your child is in 1st through 5th grade.

PROHIBITED ITEMSAny item, which causes a distraction to learning, will be confiscated. Please see the KISD Student Code of Conduct for an extensive list of prohibited items. Prohibited items include, but are not limited to:

Knives, picks with metal tines Toys Radios, cassette tapes/players, MP3 players, iPods, C.D.s, headphones Skateboards, skates and rollerblades Laser light devices Sports cards, Pokémon (and similar type) cards Electronic games Shoes with skates Chemical dispensing devices Gang-related items Weapons (real or look-alikes) Chewing gum Bullet casings Jewelry containing bullet casings Firecrackers


PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND MUSICStudents have PE and music daily. It is important that they wear appropriate shoes to run in daily in PE. Students will attend music and then transition to PE, or PE and then music. Students also receive movement breaks during the school day and during lunch recess (weather permitting, and proper supervision is available)

RESPONSE TO INTERVENTIONWhen a student is struggling with behavior or academics, we try various interventions in the general education setting to help the student. The teacher and the Curriculum Specialist tracks the progress of the various interventions. Parent conferences are held as well with the teacher to determine how parents and teachers can work together to help the student. The point of contact is the Curriculum Specialist.

SECTION 504Our 504 program is handled by our assistant principals. If you need a 504 plan for your child, please do not hesitate to ask. If a 504 plan is needed, we will be happy to work with you to determine the appropriate academic plan for your child.

SNACKS Because of strict food and nutrition guidelines developed by the Texas Department of Agriculture, we are very limited as to what kinds of items are allowed for snacks. If you are providing an individual snack for your child, please remember to send in snacks that are healthy. Students may have water to drink, and there are water fountains in the classrooms. Soda and juice is not allowed during snack time. Students should bring in an individual serving size and snacks cannot be shared with classmates.

SPECIAL EDUCATIONIf a student is new to our school and already has an IEP, the paperwork will be shared with the diagnostician, assistant principals, teachers and principal. After reviewing the plan, the district will match services as closely as possible. Please make sure you share your child’s IEP right away so that we can begin to follow your child’s services as soon as possible. Students who have an IEP will be served by special education teachers and special education assistants based on the individual plan designed to help the student.

If a child is not in the special education program, and they are struggling with behavior or academics, we will follow our response to intervention plan. The teacher will track the interventions tried in the general education setting first. If these interventions are not successful, then we may suggest that your child be tested for the special education program. Parents will be informed of the process and consent must be given before special education testing may begin. After the testing is completed, parents will be contacted to review the results in an ARD meeting. The assistant principals are the contact for special education issues and questions.

STUDENT COUNCIL


Students in third, fourth, and fifth grades can participate in student council. Elections are held during September, and students elected will serve for the entire school year. Students must have parent permission to participate. Please see the counselors for more information.

TARDIESAttendance expectations are intended for all students to include Pre-k and Kindergarten. The law, as it is written in the Texas Education Code, states:

Texas Education Code-Sec.25.085. Compulsory School Attendance- A child who is required to attend school under this section shall attend school each day for the entire period the program of instruction is provided. On enrollment in prekindergarten or kindergarten a child shall attend school.

Please work with us by enabling your child to be on time each day. We understand that at times there are circumstances beyond your control; however, your child’s attendance is important for their current and future success.

The school day begins at 7:30. The tardy bell rings at 7:35. Students who arrive after the tardy bell will be counted tardy unless they have a medical excuse. Office staff will sign them in and hand them a tardy pass for their classroom teacher. When arriving late, a parent or guardian must escort the student into the office to receive the tardy slip and sign them in. You may receive an automated phone call stating your child was tardy if you signed them in late, or if they are not present in the classroom at 7:35. The calls are based on the teachers’ early morning attendance at 7:35. Please do not be upset with the attendance secretary. This is a district expectation for student accountability and safety.

The Student Code of Conduct, which all schools within Killeen ISD are obligated to follow, requires us to address tardies as they are considered interruptions to the instructional day. We start problem solving in all grade levels at 7:40 right after announcements. When your child is late, they are at a disadvantage for completing his/her work.

If there continues to be excessive amounts of tardies, the student’s name will be turned over to the District Attendance Officer and he/she may receive a referral. Our goal is to provide an uninterrupted experience-rich learning environment for our students and teach them that being on time is a life-long skill. Please help us achieve this by ensuring your child is at school on time every day.

TEXTBOOKSStudents are provided textbooks free of charge.Parents are ultimately responsible for any damage or loss of textbooks and other schoolbooks that may be sent home. Fines or replacement costs will be required if a book is damaged or lost.

TITLE ONE


We are a title one school which means that we receive some federal funding to help our students. Each year at the Fall Open House, the principal reviews the campus plan to share achievement and how funds are spent with parents.

TUESDAY FOLDERSEach week students will bring home a Tuesday folder which has any graded papers, announcements, reminders and the newsletter which is sent home once a month. Please take time to look at your child’s work and upcoming events each week.

TUTORINGWe provide tutoring during the instructional day. This is called intervention time. Each grade level has a different intervention time. Teachers and instructional coaches work with students who are having difficulty. It is important that students are here every day all day long so that they do not miss their intervention time for extra reading and math instruction in small group.

VISITING CAMPUSParents are welcome to visit the classroom with the principal’s approval; however, uninterrupted instruction is vital to student learning. Any parent or visitor causing disruption to student learning will be escorted off campus. If you would like to visit your child’s classroom, you will receive and sign a visitor policy in the front office after you have made an appointment with the teacher.

When students are new to our school, the parents may walk them to their classroom for a few days at the discretion of the principal or assistant principal. Please help us to build confidence in your child as they learn how to find their class. There are lots of adults in the hallways who help our little ones to get to class daily.

For the safety of our students, ALL visitors, including parents and guardians, must report to the office when visiting the campus. A government-issued photo ID is required of all visitors.

All KISD campuses use Smart Check 3 -- a computerized visitor management and alert system. This system reads all personal identification cards such as driver’s license, military ID, etc. with machine-readable data. It automatically compares the person’s data with the U.S. Department of Justice National Sex Offender Public Website, which records information from all states. Visitors identified as registered sex offenders will be denied entrance and will be personally managed in reference to student needs. Visitors who do not alert the system will be issued a visitor badge and allowed to proceed. Visitor badges must be worn at all times while on campus.With the exception of the main entrance to the school, all other entrances are kept secured for safety reasons. All parents and visitors must ALWAYS use the front entrance when entering and exiting the building. We are happy to see you in the front office!

VOLUNTEERS / FIELD TRIP CHAPERONES Parents and other members of the Montague Village Elementary School family are encouraged to volunteer. Volunteers make significant contributions to our school. Without this partnership, we would not have the tremendous student success we have experienced. Volunteers do a variety of


jobs including working in the library, preparing bulletin boards for teachers, cutting laminating film etc. Parents will not volunteer in their own child’s classroom.

If you volunteer as a chaperone for a field trip, you must complete the district background check. Chaperones will follow in their cars behind the bus. Bus seats are limited to the number of students attending the field trip.

If you are interested in being a volunteer, please contact our school counselors who coordinate the volunteer program. Please be aware that all volunteers and field trip chaperones are required to undergo a criminal history check prior to volunteering or serving as a chaperone. To submit a request for a background check, please go online to www.killeenisd.org, select the “Sp Programs Volunteer App” link and follow the on-line directions. After you are approved, the counselors will conduct the volunteer orientation with you as required by the school district.

WITHDRAWING A STUDENTWhen withdrawing a student, parents must notify the office and should allow at least five days for the preparation of records. A withdrawal form will be provided to parents when a student withdraws. For transfers within the district, records will not be released to parents. If you intend to hand carry records to your new assignment, you must sign the necessary release in the office after giving proper notification. All fines, textbooks and library books must be cleared before records will be released. Additionally, as part of military out-processing, a form must be signed by a school official indicating that the student has cleared all the necessary fines and books. Records will be requested at your next school and our records’ secretary will ensure that they are received by the requesting school.



Out of School/Youth Supervision Policy


Out of School/Youth Supervision Policy (con’t)


Out of School/Youth Supervision Policy (con’t)


Montague Village Elementary

Standard Dress Policy2019-2020

Criteria for Shirts/Blouses: Solid colors only and any colored polo shirt/blouse with a collar. Must have a collar unless it has a Montague Village design t-shirt. Short or long sleeves Plain, without logos, stripes, words, or trim Montague Village spirit t-shirts are permitted any day of the week If undershirt is visible, it must be school colors (red, white, blue, black or grey undershirts are

acceptable as well)

Criteria for Sweaters/Vests/Sweatshirts: Solid colors only. Plain, without logos, stripes, words, or trim Sweaters and sweatshirts (in school colors) may be worn over an acceptable shirt Sweaters and sweatshirts may have a hood but the hood may not be worn on the head inside

the building Montague Village spirit sweatshirts are acceptable any day of the week A light jacket, sweater or vest may be worn in the classroom. Heavy coats may not be worn in

the classroom as students tend to fall asleep and have a difficult time writing.

Criteria for Pants: Solid colors only (navy blue, khaki beige, or black) without designs, logos, or glitter. Sweat and other exercise pants are not allowed. Tights and leggings may not be worn as pants. They may be worn only if under a dress or skirt. Leggings and tights may be any color or design appropriate for school. Pants and shirts must be appropriately sized. Students may wear capris in acceptable colors/sizes. Sagging, holes or torn/frayed styles are not permitted. Jeans are permitted on the last school day each week (Spirit Day). Jeans must follow the same guidelines as regular pants (size, color, style).

Criteria for Shorts/Skirts/Skorts/Jumpers: Follow same guidelines for pants (size, color, style, material) Length shall be no higher than 4 inches above the knee even when worn with tights or

leggings Shorts should be worn under skirts for modesty purposes during PE/recess and other activities

Montague Village Elementary


Standard Dress Policy2019-2020

Criteria for Shoes: Athletic shoes appropriate for physical activity are required at all times and must be fastened

with laces or Velcro Students participate in PE daily Wheels are not permitted Socks or tights must be worn with shoes. Socks must be solid color. If the shoes have lights, then lights must be turned off while at school.

Criteria for Coats/Jackets/Overcoats: Sized appropriately Color is optional for heavy coats Heavy coats may not be worn in the classroom as students tend to fall asleep. Sweaters and Sweat jackets may be worn in the classroom and in the hallway if they are red,

white, blue, black, light blue, or grey with no designs.

Grooming Guidelines: Body and hair must be neat, clean, and well-groomed. Appearance should not distract or disrupt the learning environment. Hair color must be natural human colors (blonde, brunette, auburn, or black). Hair may not be green, blue, pink, purple, bright red, or any other color which distracts or is

disrupting to the learning environment. Headbands and barrettes are permitted. Head coverings, bandanas (in any manner), hoods, scarves, sweatbands, wristbands, or hats

may not be worn inside the building. Mohawks (or hair patterns resembling mohawks), shaved patterns (on head or eyebrows), and

spray-on hair dye are not permitted. No tattoos, make-up, and artificial nails. Clothing may not be worn tied around the waist Any manner of grooming, which by virtue of color, arrangement, trademark, symbol, or any

other attribute, disrupts, distracts, or interferes with the learning environment may be prohibited at the discretion of the campus administration. The student will be given a dress code reminder in his/her agenda, or the parent may be called to bring a change of clothing.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT STANDARD DRESS

Standard dress is voted on by the parents every three years according to KISD school board policy. It is not decided by the principal. The staff enforces the standard dress policy. If your child is in violation of standard dress, they may receive a note in the folder/planner or a call from the assistant principal. Historically at Montague Village, each time the standard dress comes up for a vote it has been passed by a majority of parents who are in favor of keeping standard dress. It truly is a


community decision! If your family qualifies for free or reduced lunch, you may be reimbursed for some of the expense of purchasing uniforms. Please talk to the school secretary about this program.


Montague Village ElementaryParent and Family Engagement Policy

2019-2020

At Montague our mission is to “Educate Students” and our vision is “To make them future leaders in our world”. We know that parents and family members are important for the success of academic achievement at Montague Village Elementary School.

CommunicationCommunication between home and school is an important part of student success. We do this in various ways such as: providing and using student planners, Tuesday Folders, homework binders, monthly newsletters, campus website, Connect Ed automated phone calls, emails, letters, and our school Facebook page.

Parents and family members may contact us through phone calls, notes, letters, emails, and through the student’s planner. If you have a concern, we encourage you to contact the teacher so that we can work together for the benefit of the student. Please remember that teachers start their teaching day at 7:45 and are teaching all day. They are provided a conference time daily. During this time, they may have prescheduled conferences or meetings. It is advised to please contact the teacher to schedule an appointment. You may also call the front office and leave a message for the teacher as well. Written materials will be sent home in both English and Spanish. If we need to translate things into another language, please contact the school office. We will do our best to accommodate you.

Parent and Family Member LearningWe will help you understand the challenging Texas academic standards, give you information about STAAR, MAP results and Circle results concerning your child. We will explain how to help your child and monitor their progress during parent conferences. You may request a parent conference at any time. We have scheduled parent conferences in the fall and the spring. We understand that our parents work, attend school, or have other responsibilities that limit their schedules. To encourage parent involvement, we try to schedule key meetings and or classes during the day and also in the evenings. You may send learning topic suggestions to our parent volunteer coordinator Heather Hamilton at 336-2230. You may also contact the principal, Mrs. Cue, at 336-2230 about any suggestions you may have to help your child to be successful at Montague Village Elementary.

Wee ReadersOur wee readers program is a fun program provided for the younger siblings of our Longhorns who are not attending school yet. Our counselor provides some activities to make learning fun and gives parents tips on early reading/math activities to do at home. It is also a great time to get to know other families in the village as well.

Annual Title One MeetingMontague Village is a Title I School. This simply means that we receive additional funds to help our students achieve their educational goals. Our annual title one meeting is held in September or early October of every school year. This meeting is offered at flexible times that are convenient to parents. All parents and family members are invited to attend. We want everyone to know about Title One, what it entails, and how we use these funds to ensure that students are successful, academically. The principal also shares data to show how the students at Montague are achieving with state and district assessments. The Parent and Family Engagement Policy will be discussed as well as the Home-School Compact. The presentation also involves “Parents’ Right to Know” and how you can be involved in your child’s education. You will also learn about the curriculum we use daily with our students. A copy of the CIP plan, the Parent and Family Engagement Policy, and the Home School Compact will be distributed with our handbooks at the beginning of each year, and will be available year round on our official school website.

Title One Program EvaluationThe Site Based Decision Making (SBDM) committee reviews our title one program several times a year by providing input to our Campus Improvement Plan. The committee must have at least one parent representative that provides input about how the Title One funds are spent. If you would like to serve on SBDM, please contact the principal, Mrs. Cue. For parents unable to participate in SBDM, an annual evening meeting is held for the purpose of evaluating the plan and gaining parent input on changes for the upcoming year. Note: if for some reason the CIP is not satisfactory to parents, comments about the CIP will be submitted to KISD Special Programs department. Once finalized, parents can find a copy of the CIP on Montague’s official website accessible on KISD’s site.

Parent and Family Engagement Policy and Home School CompactMontague Village Elementary School Handbook * 2019-2020 Page 25

We must review our current Parent and Family Engagement Policy and Home-School Compact every spring. Parents and family members are a part of this process. We meet together to discuss and make any changes to these documents for the next school year. Your input is important to us. Both of these documents will be posted on our campus website so that parents, family members and the community have access to them. Our website will allow you to translate any posted information into 107 different languages. The parent policy is also made available during our Annual Title One Meeting and is included in our Student Handbook. The Home School Compact is discussed during parent conferences as well as information about your child’s achievement. Parents have a right to participate in decisions relating to their child’s education. You may also review your child’s progress by using Home Access Center though the KISD website. If you would like to have access to your child’s grades, our secretaries can give you the username and number needed to access the information. As mentioned earlier, each of these documents will be available year round on our official school website.

Volunteer OrientationAt the start of every new school year, and throughout the year, our volunteer coordinator conducts an orientation to outline KISD policies. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Mrs. Hamilton at 336-2230.Volunteer opportunities include: media center visits for teaching supplies to be created, library, at home projects such as cutting out laminated items and creating instructional materials as needed, cafeteria lunch monitoring of students, working with students in the classroom, book fair. Volunteers do not typically help in their child’s class unless the teacher has a special project she may need help with.

Staff AwarenessOur campus staff receives training each school year about the value of parents and family members to increase student achievement at Montague Village. We encourage staff members to reach out to parents to partner in his/her child’s education. Our staff is kept up to date on various parent programs, their role in the implementation of the programs and how to encourage parents to participate.

KISD Parent and Family Member ClassesKISD provides free of charge for English as a Second Language, computers and GED preparation. Empowered Parents workshops and the Parent Academy are also available. Parents may also participate in the KISD Parent Advisory Council as well. Contact the Special Programs Department for more information if you are interested, at (254) 336-0240


Date post:	05-Jan-2020
Category:	Documents
Upload:	others
View:	2 times
Download:	0 times

Montague Village Parent and Student Handbook 2019 – 2020 · Web view2019-09-25 · Montague...

Documents