Gateway Elementary School

Student Handbook

2007-2008

 “GATEWAY TO THE WORLD OF LEARNING”

229 Gateway Avenue

Conneaut, Ohio 44030

(440)593-7280

 

Welcome to Gateway School!

The responsibility for quality education and student achievement rests with everyone involved in the Gateway School community. There is much that could be said about the fine staff, pleasant students and supportive parents that make up the Conneaut school system. It is our hope that the tradition of cooperation and diligence will continue as we strive together to provide excellence in educational opportunities. Let us commit ourselves to this task.

We are aiming at three overall goals:

• To assure high achievement for all learners
• To maintain a safe and orderly learning environment
• To use our resources effectively and efficiently.

The rules, procedures and information in this handbook will help us attain these goals. Please read and discuss them with your child.

                                                                                          Respectfully,

                                                                                       James C. Lutes

                                                                                            Principal

Conneaut Area City Schools

Gateway Elementary School

Our vision:

To be a high-performing, results-driven school district, a model of best practices, led by effective, efficient individuals who create opportunities and accept challenges to advance learning for all children and adults.

We believe:

1. child-centered education is a process which nurtures a child’s interest in life-long learning and develops positive self-image.

2. students who attend school regularly, behave within boundaries and are accountable for their actions will develop a good character, strong work ethic and responsibility.

3. each student is unique and shall be given the opportunity to learn to his/her fullest potential through teaching strategies which address the learning style and specific needs of the child.

4. safe and clean facilities enhance the learning process.

5. the educational experience should include opportunities for interaction between the school and the community.

6. active involvement and support of all parents are vital to the educational process.

7. all school personnel contribute to creating a learning environment that encourages mutual respect and provides for student success.

8. all school personnel should maintain a professional demeanor.

Here’s how to call us:

Office……………….…593-7280 (8:00 AM- 4:30 PM)

Nurse’s Aide…………..593-7284 (8:30 AM- 3:30 PM)

Administration Bldg…..593-7200                              Bus Coordinator..…593-7204

Office of Special Services…..593-7206

Daily Schedules

“We enter to learn. We leave to achieve.”

         8:00           Teachers’ planning/conference time.

         8:45            Entry bell- Students should not arrive before this time.

         9:00            Tardy bell

        11:30           Lunch periods begin (Schedules vary by grade level)

         3:00            Dismissal for bus students (As buses arrive)

         3:20            Dismissal for non-bus students (Students dismissed to west parking lot)

Student Conduct Code and Discipline Policy

Appropriate student behavior fosters learning and creates an orderly and safe school environment. The following pages contain this school’s rules, policies and procedures. This information will allow students to understand what is expected of them.

Rules for Gateway Elementary School

1. Respect for others: Students will demonstrate respect for school staff and other students. Verbal or physical threats, inappropriate language, refusing to follow staff directives, or ‘talking back’ are behaviors that are unacceptable. Students may not take, damage, or be in possession of another person’s property.

2. Arrival: Students should not arrive at school before 8:45 AM. Breakfast is available beginning at the entry time. Students are expected to be orderly and patient while waiting for the entry bell. Use of the playground is prohibited at this time. Students who arrive early must report directly to the gymnasium.

3. Dismissal: Students will leave the school grounds immediately upon dismissal and go directly home. Parents who are picking up students at dismissal should park in the visitors’ parking lot (west end of building) to wait for dismissal. Parents may not wait inside the building. Traffic and parking are of particular concern and some special rules apply. These are listed later in this handbook. Use of the playground is prohibited at this time.

4. Dress: Appropriate school dress is expected and good taste is the guide. The following represents a list of clothing that may not be worn to school:

• hats, visors, bandanas, etc., and jackets may not be worn in the building

• short shorts, pants or shorts that sag below the waist or hips

• cropped tees or tops, spaghetti strap tops

• clothes printed with inappropriate language or pictures or slogans relating to tobacco, drug or alcohol products or violence

• flip-flop sandals and Heelys (Open-toed sandals and ‘platform’ shoes or boots are discouraged for safety reasons.)

Tank shirts may be worn underneath another shirt.

Sneakers are required for physical education classes.

Student should dress for the weather conditions. It is helpful to remember that Gateway School is air conditioned and heat controlled.

5. Bicycles: Students are not permitted to ride bikes to school.

6. Toys, etc.: The decision regarding bringing toys and games for use at recess rests with parents. These items can become distracting and disruptive, and may be taken away from the student if used during class time. Also, the school will not be responsible for these if they are broken, lost or stolen. Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh (or other collectible) cards, radios, Gameboys or other handheld electronics, CD or MP3 players, headsets, pagers, and cell phones are not permitted at school.

7. Playground: SAFETY FIRST! The following guidelines are established so that, at recess, nobody gets hurt and nobody gets angry!
   • Fighting is prohibited.
   • All playground equipment is to be used as it was designed to be used.
   • Nothing is to be thrown at or against the building.
   • Hardballs, yo-yo’s, batons, skateboards, scooters and skates are prohibited.
   • Roughhousing (games or play that involve pushing, wrestling, grabbing, tackling, etc.) is strictly prohibited!
   • Students may not play on the stoops or walkways.
   • Students may not throw or kick snow and ice. Sliding on icy patches is discouraged.
   • Students may not climb on the playground fences, nor go outside the fence without permission.
   • A ball that goes over the fence or into the parking lot must remain there until the playground supervisor assigns a student to retrieve it.
   • The playground monitor is to be obeyed immediately…no questions asked or comments offered!
   • Students must play within the areas assigned by their playground monitor.
   • Use of the playground immediately before and after school is not permitted.

8. Lunchroom:
   • Students are expected to be patient and orderly while waiting in line to be served.
   • Cutting into the line is prohibited
   • Students will remain seated.
   • Students may talk with those at the same table, however, reasonable and calm speaking voices (indoor voices) will be required.
   • Students must receive permission to leave their seats.
   • Students will be certain their table area is clean before leaving the lunchroom.
   • Courteous and mannerly behavior is expected of all students.
   • Students will walk in the lunchroom.
   • Students may not leave the lunchroom without permission. They may not return to the classroom for any reason.

9. Indoor recess: Sometimes inclement weather makes it necessary for students to have their recess break inside. Students will be expected to remain seated and occupied with quiet games or schoolwork. Games from home are acceptable. Eating, drinking, ball games and loud noises will not be permitted. It is helpful to remember that other classes will be in session during this recess break. (During the winter months, recess will be held indoors on any day that the temperature is below 20 degrees F.)

10. Homework: Effective learning requires responsible work habits. It is the responsibility of each student to complete all assigned work on time.
    • Incomplete or late work may result in grade reduction and the loss of recess privileges.
    • Parents will be contacted when a student neglects homework assignments.
    • Students, in the fall, will be given a homework assignment folder or agenda and be expected to keep it current. Parents should check this assignment record each night to assure that the student is finishing necessary assignments. (The replacement cost for a student agenda is $5.)

11. Textbooks and library materials: Students will be expected to take proper care of textbooks and library materials. Writing in or on books is prohibited. Book covers are required for hardbound texts. Any damage to or loss of textbooks should be reported immediately to the classroom teacher.

Students may check out books from the library each week. Books are due the following week. The library clerk will limit the number of books a student may check out. Students with overdue books will not be permitted to sign out new material until the books are returned.

Loss or damage to textbooks or library materials will result in fines.

12. Attendance: Attendance is an important factor in student success. We realize that illnesses and family situations occur which require the student to miss school. However, regular school attendance should always be a priority for students and parents.
    • Parents are requested to call the school before 9:30 AM if their child will be absent that day. Otherwise, the nurse’s aide will call the absent child’s home for information from the parent regarding the child’s absence.
    • A written excuse from the parent/guardian must be submitted on the day following an absence. (Verbal communication is not adequate.) This excuse should state the date(s) and reasons for the student’s absence.
    • The following schedule will be applied to situations of repeated and/or chronic absenteeism:

5-9 days missed: A letter of concern will be sent to parents. A parent conference may be required to review the absenteeism.

9 or more days missed: The student will be notified of being placed on ‘legal warning’. A doctor’s excuse will be required for each absence hereafter.

20+ days missed: The school administrators will review student’s attendance situation. They may file notice with Juvenile Court of Ashtabula County for excessive absenteeism.

• Parents who are planning vacations which will cause a child to be absent must submit a written request for the absence to be excused. This request must be made in advance of the absence either to the principal’s or the superintendent’s office. (Generally, we discourage requesting the child’s work in advance to take on the trip. Any parent wanting to do this must pre-arrange with the teacher.)
• Good (1-3 days missed and less than 3 tardies) and perfect (0 days missed and no more than 3 tardies) attendance records will be rewarded at the end of each grading period.
• Students are granted a grace period to turn in work and assignments that were missed due to excused absence. The grace period is two days of make-up for each day of absence. In some cases, teachers may provide assignments for parents or siblings to pick up on the same day as the student’s absence. However, this is not always possible and the parent should arrange this with the child’s teacher at the start of the day.

13. Tardiness: The tardy bell rings at 9:00 AM. Students arriving after that time must report to the secretary’s office before going to class.
14. Class placement for next year: Requests by parents regarding a child’s placement in a particular teacher’s class for the next school year must be submitted in writing by the last day of the current school year. All written requests will be considered, however the principal reserves the right to decline requests.

General Policies of Conneaut Area City Schools

Board of Education

The Board of Education establishes the following as violations of Policy 550 (District Conduct Code) that will result in disciplinary action:

• disruption of school
• damage to school property
• damage to private property
• assault
• theft
• truancy and tardiness
• insubordination
• possession of drugs and/or alcohol
• smoking or possession of tobacco
• possession of dangerous weapons
• profanity and obscene language
• gambling
• extortion
• sexual harassment
• threats of violence
• repeated violations of rules

Details, definitions and language of this policy are available to parents at the superintendent’s office and on the district website (www.conneautschools.org).

Rules for Bus Riders

Pupils who ride the bus are expected to get on and of the bus at their assigned stop. When pupils are on the bus, the driver has complete charge and his/her orders must be obeyed. Only those students assigned to a school bus may ride. We reserve the right to make the final decision regarding requests for a bus change. The decision will be based on the bus routes, stops and size of loads. It is the responsibility of the pupils and parents to understand the following bus rules and regulations:

• Students will be seated immediately upon entering the bus and remain seated throughout the ride.
• Students will not be loud or use improper language at any time.
• Windows and vents will not be adjusted without the permission of the driver.
• The center aisle of the bus must remain clear--- no hands, feet, etc., or belongings (e.g., bookbags) in the aisle.
• Students may not eat or drink on the bus.
• No student will attempt to get on or off the bus until it has come to a full stop.
• Students should be ready when the school bus approaches.  It is not necessary for students to be at a bus stop more than five minutes before the bus is due. Students should not stand in the road while waiting for the school bus.
• Students should not talk to the driver unnecessarily while on the route.
• Students will conduct themselves on the bus as they would in a classroom, except that reasonable visiting and conversation are permissible. Students should demonstrate good manners on the bus.
• The driver has the same authority over passengers on the school bus as the teacher has over students in the classroom.
• Waste paper and rubbish should never be dropped on the floor of the bus.
• Never throw anything within the bus or out the windows.
• All students are to be quiet at Railroad Crossings while the bus is crossing the tracks.
• Animals are not permitted on buses.
• Glass containers are not permitted on the bus.
• CROSS IN FRONT OF BUS AT ALL TIMES!

Students who misbehave on the bus may receive a Bus Incident Report from their driver. The disciplinary actions that result from these reports are decided by the principal. These range from warnings to bus suspensions. A copy of the Incident Report is sent home with the student. Another copy is sent through the mail to parents. A student who is serving a bus suspension may not ride ANY school district bus for the duration of the suspension.

Information for Parents

1. When visiting the building during the school day, parents must use the front lobby entrance and will go first to the secretary’s office. Please do not go directly to the classroom.

Parents who need to have a child dismissed from class early will report first to the office to sign an Early Dismissal slip. (It is also helpful to notify the teacher at the start of the day when a child will be leaving early.) The secretary will page the child or a staff member will go to the classroom to get the student. Parents who are delivering something for their student should leave the item at the office. The student will be paged or a staff member will make the necessary delivery.

2. To set up a conference with a teacher or the principals, please call to make an appointment. This can be scheduled with teachers before school (8:00 AM) or after dismissal (3:30 PM). Discussions regarding students should not take place in the hallway or classroom when students are present. Making an appointment will ensure a more effective conference for parents and staff.

3. Newsletters are typically printed once a month. These will be sent home with students. Newsletters are also available on the web at www.conneautschools.org.

4. Changes in home address or phone numbers should be reported immediately to the school office. We must always have a way of reaching parents/guardians during the school day.

5. Medications for students are to be given to the nurse’s aide. These must be in the original bottle and any instructions put on file in writing. This includes non-prescription medicines (aspirin, cough remedies, etc.).

6. Lunch menus and costs are printed monthly in the school newsletter and weekly in the local newspaper. An elementary student will be permitted to charge lunch when he/she forgets to bring lunch money. After five days of unpaid charges, the student will only be provided a peanut butter or cheese sandwich and milk for lunch. The school will notify parents of outstanding charges. Lunch and breakfast bills are to be paid daily or in advance.

7. Additional money can be sent with students for the purchase of cafeteria snacks, pencils, gel pens and notebooks. We ask parents to limit the amount of extra money their student brings to school and be very clear in directing the student as to the use of any money sent in.

8. Invitations to parties at a student’s home may not be distributed at school unless every student in the class is being invited. Also, a student may bring a small treat for his/her classmates to mark a birthday. The classroom teacher should be notified well in advance of the day the treats will be brought. These will be distributed during the last 30 minutes of the school day. Birthday “parties” for individuals will not be hosted at school.

9. School closings due to inclement weather will be announced on the Conneaut radio station. This information is also available by calling the district bulletin board at 593-8135.

10. Parking at the school: There is no parking or stopping in the front drive. Parents may park in the visitors’ lot on the west side of the building. This lot has a lane for pick-up and drop-off of students. This lane should help keep entry and dismissal traffic flowing. Do not park in this lane. Parents should be careful to obey the traffic signs, no parking zone, bus stop and crosswalk markings. Also, parent vehicles must not be parked near the front drive entrance. (A wide entrance space must be maintained so buses can turn in from both directions.) Staff will be on duty at dismissal to guide safe crossing and for pick up students and parents.

The front drive is reserved for buses and emergency vehicles. The lot on the east side of the building is reserved for staff.

11. The Parent-Teacher Committee is an excellent way for parents to get involved at the school. This is a ‘working committee’ which undertakes a wide variety of school projects. Parents can choose the time commitment that best fits their individual schedules. Students are very proud to have parents who are involved in the school. Staff members always appreciate the support demonstrated by parent involvement. The impact of a thriving, active PTC can be evident at Gateway. There’s something for every interested parent to do! Consider joining and getting involved!

12. Room parents are arranged by the PTC. Interested parents should contact the classroom teacher or a PTC representative. These folks can discuss responsibilities with parents individually.