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Park Avenue Elementary School 161 Park Avenue, Auburn, ME 04210 Office hours 7:30-3:30 Monday - Friday (207) 333-6657
Park Avenue Elementary School Website :http://parkavenue.auburnschl.edu/ or Auburn School Department Website: http://www.auburnschl.edu/
| Vision | Mission | Beliefs | Student Arrival and Departure | Attendance | Medications | Dress Code | Items from Home |
| Out of School Parties | Care of Books | Lockers/Cubbies | Bicycles, Skateboards, Scooters, Rollerblades | Release of Information | Evacuation Drills | | Visitors and Volunteers | Foster Grandparents | P.T.O. | Meals | Core Values | Discipline Guidelines | Homework | Extra Curricular Activities |
| Auburn School Department Health Protocol |
Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,
Whether you are a veteran family or a new comer to Park Ave. Elementary School we welcome you and offer this booklet as a means of communicating our procedures and expectations. Through our procedures and expectations we maintain a climate that ensures the physical, social, emotional and academic safety of all of our children.
This handbook contains information about our school that will be useful to you throughout the school year, so please keep it in a handy location. It is your reference for routine, factual questions and other helpful information. If you do not find the answers to your questions please feel free to call me at school. This handbook is one step in creating our partnership in your child’s education. Parents play an important role in a child’s education and I hope this handbook will help you as we work together to make a real difference in your child’s life each day.
The staff and I are looking forward to welcoming students and parents/guardians to an exceptional school year filled with learning and fun. We are proud of the programs and activities that are offered at Park Avenue Elementary School and encourage you to take an active role. Students and families who get the most out of the educational experience are those who actively participate.
The school is always open to you. If you have a concern or a question, please call or schedule a visit. Open communication is the key to a happy school community. An involved parent is an informed parent.
Our caring staff will provide quality education to all students in an environment conducive to learning. We invite you to be our partner in this rewarding journey.
Yours in Partnership,
Vickie Gaylord
Principal
The vision of the New Elementary School is for students to become critical thinkers, with the knowledge and skills to become responsible citizens who are empowered as life-long learners in our richly diverse society.
The mission of the New Elementary School is to guarantee a quality educational program for all students in a challenging and secure environment. We, as professional and caring educators, in a partnership with our families and community, will provide a relevant, integrated curriculum that addresses the needs of the whole child.
We believe that …
Regular school attendance is very important. It is required by Maine Law. These requirements make it necessary for us to have a note or a documented phone call from a parent or guardian when a student is absent. Frequent absences and tardiness are discouraged as both affect a student’s academic progress.
If a student is required to take prescription or over the counter medication while at school parents must bring the medication in its original container to school and fill out a permission form. All medications must be kept in the health office unless the school nurse and principal have granted special permission. For more information about this please refer to the Auburn School Department policy.
It is expected that children will dress appropriately for the weather and for school. Midriff and undergarments must be covered. Clothing may not have offensive messages. Items of clothing with names/logos representing alcohol, tobacco, and/or drugs are not allowed. Shoes with wheels, also known as Heelies, are not permitted. Parents will be contacted to provide alternate clothing if their child is dressed inappropriately.
Electronic devices, such as iPods, CD players, and handheld game systems, etc. should remain at home. All cards such as Pokemon, Magic, and/or Yu-Gi-Oh are not permitted at school.
Students are highly discouraged from bringing cell phones to school. However, if it is necessary for a student to bring a cell phone to school, it must be turned off and left in the child’s backpack until after school hours.
Out of school party invitations may be distributed in the classroom as long as every child in that classroom receives an invitation. In the event that only selected children are invited, we ask that these invitations be distributed from home. Although unintentional, children not included may be deeply hurt, and this unfortunate circumstance should not be part of any child's school day.
Please make sure that your child has a backpack or other similar protective carrier for books (library books and school textbooks). Hardcover textbooks should be covered. Students may be required to replace lost books or books damaged beyond normal use.
Each student in grades 3-6 will be assigned a locker in which to keep backpacks, coats, jackets, boots, etc. Every student is responsible for keeping his/her locker clean. No food should be left in lockers overnight.
Each student in Kindergarten - grade 2 will be assigned a cubby with hooks for backpacks, coats, jackets, boots, etc. No food should be left in the cubbies overnight.
Bicycles, Skateboards, Scooters, and Rollerblades
We highly recommend that students wear helmets when using bicycles, skateboards, scooters, and rollerblades. Students are responsible for the care and protection of their own bicycles, skateboards, scooters and rollerblades. For safety reasons, students must walk, not ride, while on the school grounds. Students must store their bicycles in the racks provided. Scooters, skateboards and rollerblades may be stored in lockers, space permitting.
Throughout the school year, students have pictures taken which may appear in the local newspaper or in a school newsletter. They may be videotaped and later broadcasted on our school television channel. If you do not wish for publication or release of photos/video of your child, please contact the office in writing.
In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, the Auburn School Department informs parents that periodically directory information will be released for publication. Directory information includes the student’s name, date of birth, activities, dates of attendance, photographs, and school attending. It is the intention of the Auburn School Department that this directory information be released only for school related functions. For more information about this please refer to the Auburn School Department policy.
· Ten evacuation drills will be conducted each year.
· Fire exits are to be kept clear of obstructions.
· Primary exit routes are to be posted in each room.
· Students must leave the building quickly, quietly and in an orderly fashion.
· Staff will take their class list with them to conduct a head count of the students under their supervision.
· Head counts are to be provided to the principal/designee immediately upon the evacuation of the building.
· Any missing students are to be reported immediately.
Upon entering the school all visitors and volunteers must sign in and pick up a nametag in the office. This practice is for the safety of all and also to ensure that learning in each classroom is not interrupted.
Our school is very fortunate to have foster grandparents who volunteer their time, effort, and energy working with our students. Foster grandparents meet with individual students or small groups working on various skills to support student learning.
The parent teacher organization concentrates its energy on providing enriching, educational experiences for students. As a parent or guardian of a child in our school you are already a member of this organization. The PTO meets each month at our school. Watch for flyers to be sent home from school with details about meeting dates and times. Childcare is provided. We encourage all parents and guardians to participate in P.T.O. activities!
Breakfast and lunch are served daily to students in the cafeteria. Meals are available to all students. If children bring lunch from home, they may purchase milk in the cafeteria. The lunch program is an automated system where each student has a numbered account. Payments and charges are recorded as they occur.
|
Schedule |
Grades 2 and multi 1/2 |
Grades 1 and K |
Grades 3 and 4 |
Grades 5 and 6 |
|
Lunch |
11:15-11:40 |
11:40-12:05 |
12:10-12:35 |
12:35-1:00 |
|
Recess |
11:40-12:05 |
11:15-11:40 |
12:35-1:00 |
12:10-12:35 |
Free/reduced price meal applications will be sent home the first week of school. Please fill out and return the form to school so that we may forward them to the district lunch office for processing. If you would like more information on qualifications for the free/reduced meal program, call the school office or district lunch program office (753-0122).
|
|
Full Price |
Reduced |
|
Breakfast |
$0.60 |
$0.30 |
|
Lunch |
$1.25 |
$0.40 |
|
Milk |
$0.35 |
n/a |
Auburn School Department’s Core Values
Fairness Responsibility Courage Respect Honesty Compassion
Our goal is to provide a learning environment where all students feel physically, socially, emotionally, and academically safe. The school rules are based on the Auburn School Department’s Core Values. Rules are shared with students on the first day of school and continuously reviewed. They reinforce developmentally appropriate expectations for school behavior. School rules set behavior expectations for common areas such as playground, hallways and cafeteria. Our school has a card system in place that provides consistency for recognizing and supporting student behavior. Please read below to understand our card system.
A Core Value Card is issued to recognize students for displaying behavior that demonstrates the Auburn School Department’s Core Values.
A White Card is issued for minor offenses. Examples of these behaviors might be: running in the hallway, using inappropriate language, or being unsafe on the playground.
Yellow Cards are issued for inappropriate body contact. This includes but is not limited to hitting, kicking, or pushing. A yellow card is also issued for threatening/harassing language or behaviors as well as repeated swearing. Students who receive yellow cards will meet with the principal or guidance counselor to process the incident. Parents will be informed of the situation. The consequences for yellow card offenses will be determined by the principal and may include the following: conference with student and parent, behavior plan developed, loss of recess, meeting with Officer Friendly, in-school suspension, or out of school suspension. Yellow cards must be signed by a parent or guardian and returned the next day.
We believe that homework is an integral part of student learning. It is expected that parents provide a homework space that is free of distractions. Parents should encourage their child to complete assignments thoroughly and on time. We ask that parents review their child’s homework each night. If for some reason there is difficulty with an assignment, parents should make note of the difficulty on the homework page and return the assignment to school so that the child may get additional help. Consequences for incomplete homework will be determined on an individual basis between the teacher and student. Individual teachers may establish additional homework expectations.
All students in kindergarten through sixth grade may have homework each night. The activities they will be asked to complete may be short assignments that are completed in one night, or longer assignments that take more than one night to complete. Approximate homework time expectations are as follows:
Kindergarten: 5 -10 minutes
Grade 1: 10-15 minutes
Grade 2: 20-30 minutes
Grade 3: 30-40 minutes
Grade 4: 45-60 minutes
Grades 5 & 6: 60-90 minutes
After School Programs/Activities
· Homework Club is a time when students can access additional academic help. Watch for details.
· Chorus/Chamber Singers allows students in grades 4-6 to expand their talents outside of weekly music class. Rehearsals take place once a week after school and students have numerous opportunities to perform throughout the year.
· Yearbook Club is a group that takes pictures throughout the year capturing special events and programs. They then format the pictures and put together a yearbook that is sold to students and staff at the end of the year.
· Odyssey of the Mind and Destination Imagination are creative problem solving teams. OM/DI is open to students in grades 4-6. Parent volunteers coach the teams.
· Civil Rights Team is a school-based proactive program that promotes peace and tolerance in our school. Students learn intervention techniques and peer mediation strategies that will help to support the climate of the school.
· Unity Project Student Unity Leaders, trained by the Center for the Prevention of Hate Violence, learn strategies and techniques to help decrease bully-type actions in the school.
· Intramural Sports and Activities various after school activities, funded by our PTO, may be offered.
Additional activities will be determined as the year progresses.
Special Family Programs
· Open House- Please join us, for an evening in September, to orient your family to our school.
· Art Show- This special evening showcases students’ artwork created throughout the year.
· Title One Evenings- Title One parent evenings are especially designed to keep parents informed and to offer training to help support struggling readers at home. Interactive activities are used to provide guided practice.
· Music Show- An evening of musical entertainment! All students, including the chorus and chamber singers, perform and display their talents at this special event.
· 6th Grade Promotion- This special ceremony celebrates the culmination of your child’s years of elementary education before moving to middle school.
Additional activities will be determined as the year progresses.
Auburn School Department Health Protocol
In order to ensure that school remains a safe and healthful environment, this health protocol has been developed by the Auburn School Department.
I. We cannot risk the possibility of infection to the other students when a sick youngster is sent to school or becomes ill at school. If your child has developed any of the following symptoms during the previous 24 hours, he/she should remain at home the next school day.
■ fever greater than 100 degrees F. The temperature should be normal for 24 hours before returning to school.
■ congestive cough
■ vomiting
■ diarrhea
■ discharge that is other than clear from nose, eyes, mouth, ears or any other areas.
■ skin rash
II. If a student arrives at school or develops any of the previously listed symptoms, you will be notified and expected to take your child home. If you cannot be reached, the available contact on the emergency card will be called. (If you have not provided the school with emergency contacts, please do so immediately.) Students sometimes are not able to specify what is wrong or how they feel. Thus, staff must use their own judgment to determine if the student can benefit from an educational setting at that time. When, in the judgment of the student’s teacher, principal, secretary and/or school nurse, a student shows signs of being in ill health or of suffering from infections or a contagious disease, the parent shall be notified and said student will be excused from school.
A student should not be in school and will be sent home if the following condition(s) are present:
■ The student has a fever of 100 degrees F or higher. The temperature should be normal for 24 hours before returning to school.
■ The student is unable to function/participate in the school activities due to observed health status.
■ The student wants to sleep during the day and appears listless.
■ The student has a discharge which is other than clear from nose, mouth, eyes, ears or any other areas.
■ The student is vomiting.
■ The student has diarrhea.
■ The student has a congestive cough which prevents him or her from meaningful involvement in the educational process.
■ The student has an open, draining sore and will not keep the bandage on.
■ The student had a previously controllable medical; condition and that condition has become unmanageable (e.g., asthma, seizures).
■ The student exhibits unusual pallor or a flushed face.
■ The student has an unknown skin rash.
■ The student has a strong offensive body odor suggestive of urine/fecal soiling or hygiene concerns.
III. Universal precautions is the practice of following certain safety measures when a school employee or student may be exposed to blood or certain other body fluids. In general, students whose clothing becomes bloodied should change into clean clothing. Exposure control is the practice of reducing the risk of infection with blood borne pathogens. If it has been determined that a student has an exposure incident, the parent will be notified. The student’s physician should then evaluate the situation in terms of prophylaxis as recommended by the Center for Disease Control. IV. The Auburn School Department Readmission Policy for sick children is as follows:
Every student returning to school following an absence will be required to present a note of explanation from the parent, guardian, or family physician to the teacher. Said note shall include the dates of absence and the reason.
■ The student should be on prescribed antibiotics for at least 24 hours prior to readmission to school.
■ When it is appropriate a student may return to school yet continue to administer that medication.
V. Parents who fail to comply with this protocol will be required to meet with the school principal. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your principal or school nurse. We are asking for your cooperation in the implementation of this protocol to protect your children.