Parent Handbook

 

 Click here to download the Sprague Handbook 

 

Sprague Elementary School

401 School Street

Wellesley, MA 02482

 

Dr. Steve Goodwin, Principal

Lennie Becker, Secretary

  

Phone 781.263.1965

Report Student Absence 781.263.1969 ext 8

No School Announcement 781.446.6200

PTO website http://www.spragueschool.org

 

 

Thisdirectory is published solely for the information and personal use of SpragueSchool families. No member of the Parent Teacher Organization nor any employeeor representative of the school system is permitted to give a copy of thisdocument to any person or organization which solicits or is engaged in anycommercial or charitable purpose. The Sprague PTO and the Handbook/DirectoryChair are not responsible for any mistakes or errors.

Table of Contents

School Calendar 4

School Staff / Phone Numbers 5

School Hours 7

Kindergarten 7

Grades 1-5 7

Arrival Time 7

Attendance 7

Visitors 8

Arrival and Departure 8

By Foot 8

By Bicycle 9

By Auto 9

By Bus 10

Dismissal Changes 11

School Information 11

Contact Information 11

Safe Arrival/Student Absence Program 11

No School Announcements 12

Emergency Early Dismissals 12

Communication Guidelines 12

Student Records 14

School Snacks and Lunches 14

Homework 15

School Council 15

Health Services 16

Illness, Injuries, and SchoolAttendance 16

Medication Policies 18

Strive For Five 19

Wellesley Public Schools Elementary Behavior Code 20

Suspension Policy 20

In-house Suspension 20

Sprague School Behavior Rules 20

Technology Network Acceptable UsePolicy 21

Sprague School Dress Guidelines forGrades 4 - 5 21

General Information 21

Electronic Equipment 21

Lost and Found 21

Pets 21

Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) 22

Goals 22

Executive Board 22

Social Committee 23

Ways and Means 24

Communications 26

Enrichment 27

Community Service 29

Town-Wide Programs 31

Important Numbers and Sites 33

 

Students are dismissed each Wednesday at 12:00 noon.

The final day ofschool will be adjusted depending on days lost because of bad weather. Teacherswork 184 days; students attend 180 days.

School Staff / Phone Numbers

The format of the staff email is:
first name_last name@wellesley.k12.ma.us
(e.g.donna_dankner@wellesley.k12.ma.us).

 

School Phone: 781-263-1965
School Voice Mail: 781-263-1969
School Fax: 781-263-1963
Report student absence: 781-263-1969 ext.8
No School Announcement: 781-446-6200

 

 

 

 

FUNCTION NAME EXT

Principal Donna Dankner 501

Secretary Lennie Becker 500

KB Katie Bender 507

KG Lindsay Barrett 506

KM RobertaMaguire 510

1C ChristinaCooney 509

1G DaraGaul 511

1S KristinStoetzel 508

1/2 M LisaMortarelli 513

2C KimCasalena 521

2L KarenLindquist 520

2T KristanTaylor 514

3B Jayne Byrne 558

3C PennyCopplestone 559

3O JenniferOsganian 561

4J JillHeckman 554

4M Moe Henzel 565

4T Taryn Drake 553

5B EllenBanthin 573

5H Bevin Hale 572

5M HeatherMaffei 566

Office Assistant Cheryl Moy 503

Special Educators Amy Glennon 581

Susan Hanno 581

Lisa Licata 555

Jamie Morrison 581

Barbara Ohanian 579

Patti Weismer 580

Art Jennifer Stabnick 551

Library Ellen Mandel - Librarian 570

Beth Kauczka - Aide 570

Music Brian Hagar-McKee 582

Nurses Sharon Kahn 502

Marianne MacLean

Occupational Therapist Kate Dienel 527

Margo Zelermyer 527

PhysicalEducation Therapist Margaret Flitsch 524

PhysicalTherapist Beth Quinty 527

Psychologist Elana Wolkoff 575

Literacy Katharine Odell - LitSpecialist 577

Kathy Bonsall 577

Speech/Language Amy Chesin 560

Shanna Macauda 580

Technology Brian Allieri 577

Leslie Hunter 577

Kitchen Leanne Hough 530

Custodian Scott Grady - Head 532

Robert Carter

Jack Glorioso

School Hours

Kindergarten

All kindergarten students attend school daily from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

 

Kindergarten fulldays are called stay days. The teacher will inform you of your child's stay dayassignments. Refer to the school calendar to note when stay days begin.

Grades 1-5

Monday, Tuesday,Thursday and Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 3:05 p.m.

Wednesday: 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Arrival Time

Playground supervision begins at 8:15 a.m. For safety reasons, childrencannot arrive unsupervised at school any earlier than this time. The supervisedplayground is adjacent to the school building near the fields. Children play onthe playground until the whistle blows at 8:30 a.m. At this time, children lineup for each class and proceed into school.

 

Suggested optionsif drop off is needed before 8:15 is to enroll in the Early Morning Drop OffProgram at school or to make other arrangements for car pools. Note thatyounger siblings of students dropped off for early music lessons should not beunsupervised.

 

If the weather is bad, look for ahanging red flag with stars at the entrance by the School Office, near theparking lot. Children should enter the building upon arrival and meetsupervising staff members in the cafeteria. Kindergartners sit on the benches alongthe gym wall. All students remain here until 8:30 for school start.

Attendance

Please be on time for school.Promptness ensures the smooth running of class time for students and variousschool functions. Vacations should be scheduled during school vacation weeksonly to ensure students are not missing aspects of the curriculum.

Visitors

Only students and authorizedpersonnel are allowed on school grounds during school hours. All visitorsshould sign in at the Office and obtain a visitor pass. Massachusetts GeneralLaw c.71 s.38R requires any volunteers interacting with students to have a CORI(criminal record information check) form on file at the school. Please see theOffice if a form has not been completed. Volunteers should respect theconfidentiality of students and staff.

 

Please ensure children are not unsupervised on school property outsideof school hours.

Arrival and Departure

The following rules and regulations were developed to ensurethe safety of the children and efficiency of procedures. Your cooperation isessential. Please exercise greater caution during winter months when visibilitymay be poorer due to snow banks and the parking lot more congested.

 

A designated dismissal plan is completed for each student atthe start of the school year. Staff members supervise students in the buildingas they travel to dismissal lines. Please wait for children in your designateddismissal area to be certain they will be able to locate you. Dismissal is inorder of walkers, car line, and bus. Any students not picked up timely willwait in the Office where attempts to contact parents will be made.

By Foot

Children who walkto school should be instructed by parents on pedestrian safety rules. Childrenyounger than grade 3 should not walk alone. Children should only cross thestreet in designated crosswalks and with crossing guards whenever possible.They should never cross the street from between parked cars. Please discusssafety rules for walking to and from school regularly.

 

Pedestrian arrivaland departure can use the Oak Street entrance. Please say goodbye to childrenbefore they enter the building. Staff members are available to assist childrenwith belongings in lockers and to prepare for the day.

 

Kindergartenstudents are dismissed from their classroom doors by the swings. All otherstudents are dismissed from the side of the building facing the playground andfields. Parents should wait outside the building on the playground or in thepicnic table area. Staff members will make certain students, especiallykindergarteners, meet their families.

By Bicycle

With parentalpermission, children in grades 3 through 5 may ride their bicycles to school.As recommended by the Wellesley Police, children younger than grade 3 may ridewhen accompanied by an adult. Bike racks are placed near the playground andfield side of the building and by the Oak Street entrance for use. Bicyclelocks should be used.

 

Riders must wearhelmets in compliance with Massachusetts General Law c.85 s.11(b). Bicyclesshould be registered with the Wellesley Police Department. Bicycles should bewalked and not ridden on school property.

By Auto

Car line, thedrop-off and pick-up lane, is by the entrance to the School Office, next to theparking lot. The rotary turn-around circle is used only by buses duringdrop-off and pick-up. Do not park on or use Oak Street for drop-off andpick-up.

 

Students should enter and exit cars in car line only in the areasdesignated by staff members on duty. Parents should not exit cars in car lineStaff members are available to help. Please park in the lot if it is necessaryfor the parent to get out. Please do not park in non-designated parking spots. Donot leave your car or park along the car line during drop-off and pick-up. Pleasewait for cars in front of you to begin driving before you exit the car line

 

Please do not haveyour child(ren) walk to or from the parking lot by themselves for drop-off orpick-up. The high level of traffic at these times is considerable anddangerous.

 

Morning drop-off between 8:15-8:30: You may drop off your child in thedesignated areas near the entrance to the School Office. Please do not drop offstudents near the playground or in the parking lot. It is important to keep theline moving at all times to expedite drop-offs and get students into school ontime.

 

Afternoon pick-up at 3:05: Please make an identification card with thelast name of the student(s) you are picking up to rest on your dashboard,easily visible from a distance. Personal identification must be available ifrequested, especially for those picking up children with changed dismissalplans.

 

Drive to the carline, moving down as far forward as possible. Cars should not idle more thanfive minutes. Do not block crosswalks connecting the fields to the parking lot.Children wait with staff members in the school gym. Staff members readidentification cards, communicate via walkie-talkie, and escort students tocars and help with seat belts if needed. It is helpful if children are able tobuckle seat belts. Students only enter cars when called by staff members, onlyfrom the curbside, and only in the designated pick-up area. Parents should notexit cars.

 

Remind car line students to go directly to the gym waiting area. If yourchild is not in the car line group, you will be asked to circle around again tokeep the car line moving. Use of cell phones in a moving car line can delay thedismissal process. If you are late picking up your child, he or she will betaken to the office to wait for you.

 

If you are parkingto escort your child at pick-up, please use the crosswalk nearest the fields toreach the parking lot. This will decrease the congestion near the crosswalk atthe bus circle and expedite car line

 

In support ofgreen initiatives and to alleviate traffic congestion, please consider walkingto school, taking the bus, or forming carpools.

By Bus

Eligible students are contacted by the WPS Transportation Department forbus enrollment. Eligible students who use the bus will receive information bymail indicating local pick-up and drop-off locations and times. Bus routes forall students are also published in The Wellesley Townsman twoweeks before school opens.

 

Due to insurance liability, children who are not regular bus riders,including play dates of bus children, are not allowed to ride the bus. Childrenare also not allowed to switch buses for play dates. Alternative pick-uparrangements must be made in these cases.

 

Bus eligible kindergartners may ride the morning and the 3:05 bus aswell as a bus/van to take home from school at noon dismissals. Kindergarten children must be met at theirbus by a parent or designated adult. The bus driver will bring a child back toschool if a parent/adult is not at the bus stop.

 

Sprague School Behavior Rules and the Bus Conduct Rules forTransportation apply on the bus. Sprague School Behavior Rules are forwarded tofamilies at the beginning of the school year. Bus Rules are forwarded to busparticipating families from the Transportation Department. Transportationprivileges may be revoked if such action is necessary for the safety of otherstudents.

Dismissal Changes

Complete a Change in Dismissal Plan form for the day and send it to theclassroom teacher. This written form is preferred to ensure changes are notedand processed timely. If the change occurs after your child is in school, youmust call the office no later than 1:30 p.m. to ensure the teacher is informedtimely for dismissal. Do not leave a voice or email for the teacher as it maynot be received in time. Sprague School Change in Dismissal Plans forms aremailed to families at the start of school or available from the Office.

 

Going to a friend's house after school? For kindergarten and grades 1 to2, notes should be sent both for the child who is going to another child's homeand from the child who is hosting that friend. For grades 3 to 5, only thechild who is departing from his or her regular dismissal plan requires a notefrom the parent. Bus students must make alternative pick-up arrangements.

School Information

Contact Information

Various student information forms such as contactinformation, health updates, emergency contacts, etc. are to be completed atthe start of the school year. Any changes during the year should becommunicated timely to the Office to ensure updated information is always onhand.

 

Please provide email contact informationthat is checked consistently and frequently to facilitate school widecommunications and to support green initiatives.

Safe Arrival/StudentAbsence Program

The voice mailsystem enables Sprague personnel to verify all students' attendance each day.If your child will be late or absent, you should call and leave a message usingthe voice mail system phone number, 781-263-1969 ext 8. Parents of children notaccounted for will be notified by the school as soon as attendance is taken andvoice mail checked. When reporting a late student, please indicate whether thestudent intends to buy lunch, as lunch count is needed by 9:00.

 

Following an absence you must send a note tothe teacher stating the date and reason for the absence.

No SchoolAnnouncements

When weatherconditions place the safety of students in jeopardy, the Superintendent'sOffice will notify parents of school cancellations in the following methods:

Email	(updated parent emails must be included in contact information)
Television	Channel 4
Radio	WBZ(1030), WEEI, WHDH, WCRB, WXKS, WKOX, WNTN, WMJX, WCDJ, WRKO, WROR, WVBF, WBCN
Telephone	781-446-6200 for a recorded message
Internet	Your favorite news website likely tracks school closings. The PTO website www.spragueschool.org has a link to one.

 

Please do not callthe school or the Police or Fire Department for this information.

Emergency EarlyDismissals

If it is necessaryto close school before regular dismissal time due to power failure, suddenstorms, etc., we make every effort to reach parents through emails and viatelephone chains initiated by room parents. If you cannot be reached, theschool will refer to alternate numbers listed on your child's emergency cardwhich you filled out at the start of school.

 

We must haveupdated current information and alternate pick-up contacts on file. Pleaseinform the school of any changes during the year. If parents are uncomfortablewith this procedure, they should write a note indicating alternative methodsthey would like followed and forward it to the child's teacher. This note willbe attached to the child's emergency card.

CommunicationGuidelines

Simple guidelineshave been established for home/school communication. The goal is to establish acommon understanding so that school personnel would be available forcommunication with parents, that schools would feel like there is apartnership, and yet that there would be an acknowledgment of other demands onteachers' times.

 

Teachers willcommunicate their individual classroom preferences for communicationsprocedures at the beginning of the year at the Open House presentation (forexample, e-mail, phone messages, etc.) Drop-off and pick-up times are not goodtimes for a conference.

 

Email: Every staffmember has access to the email system. The format of the email is first name,underscore, last name, then @wellesley.k12.ma.us. For example, the principal'semail address is donna_dankner@wellesley.k12.ma.us.

E-mails should beconcise. Receipt of an email will be acknowledged, if the response is to bedelayed. There should be a 2-school-day turnaround time for actual response toan email. An FYI notation in an email indicates that there is no need torespond.

 

Backpacks: One of yourchild's most important possessions is his or her backpack. As well as carryingyour child's lunch, schoolwork and extra clothing, it will carry informationthat is your daily link to Sprague School.

 

Use your child'sbackpack to send and receive notes from your child's teacher, the Principal,the PTO and specialist teachers. Progress reports will also arrive home thisway.

 

SchoolNotices: All school-wide notices are sent home with the youngest student of thefamily via backpack. If you do not receive a notice, duplicate copies areavailable in the Office. Parents need to read the school and classroomnewsletters and review the WPS Web site www.wellesley.k12.ma.us.

 

Parents receive three periodic school communications: the Email Blast weekly on Sunday nights, theGood Day Sprague newsletter every other Friday, and the SpragueHeartbeat on the first Friday of each month. The Email Blast and Heartbeatare PTO generated and come via email. A hard copy of the Heartbeat may berequested if preferred. The Good Day Sprague is from the School Office and notgenerated if it falls on the same day as a Heartbeat issue.

 

Notes and Forgotten Items: Notes dropped off during the day and allforgotten items should be given to the Office rather than taken directly to theclassroom. They will be delivered to your child's teacher.

 

Urgent Messages: Urgent messages regarding information related tothat day should be called into the Office. Do not leave a voice mail or emailwith the teacher as it may not be received in time.

Student Records

The following is anabbreviated summary of the Student Records Regulations relevant toelementary-level students. The purpose of these regulations is to protectparents' and students' rights of confidentiality and access to thisinformation.

 

Records: The student record consists of a transcript and atemporary record. The transcript contains the following information: name,address and phone number of the student and of the parent (or guardian), thestudent's birth date, grade-level completed and year completed. The temporaryrecord consists of other information not in the transcript which is ofimportance to the educational process, including standardized test results.Progress reports are part of the child's temporary record.

 

Access: Parents shall have access to student records and may have copies of anyinformation in the record. Authorized school personnel shall have access tostudent records. No information contained therein shall be disseminated withoutthe specific informed written consent of the parent (as applicable).

School Snacks andLunches

All children have adaily snack time during which they can consume a snack they bring from home.Kindergartners have lunch only on their stay days.

 

You have threelunch options. You may pack a lunch with a drink; pack a lunch and have yourchild purchase milk or juice; or allow your child to use the debit lunch systemto purchase a lunch with drink. A school lunch menu is sent home monthly andavailable on-line.

 

Food Service ID Cards: Every Sprague student has a food service barcode assigned to him or her. Each morning the teacher takes a count of thechildren wishing to buy lunch and sends the count with bar code to the office.If your child is tardy and wants to purchase lunch, he or she will need toorder lunch when he or she checks in at the school office upon arrival. Pleasecall ahead if your child will arrive after 9:00.

 

Payment: Payment is on a prepaid basis only. Parents shouldprepay for meals they expect their children to eat during the month. Checksshould be mailed to:

Food Service Department

Wellesley Public Schools

40 Kingsbury St.

Wellesley, MA 02481

 

Please include thebottom half of your invoice with your check and write Sprague and your child'sname on the check so that the correct account can be credited. It is importantthat you mail payments to the address above. Do not send any cash or checks toschool with your child.

 

It is important that you maintain a credit balance in your child'saccount sufficient to cover the meals that your child will purchase for theupcoming month. If you underestimate the number of meals that your child willpurchase and there are insufficient funds in the account, your child will still receive a lunch.You will be billed the following month for any outstanding meals. Please notethe accounts should have a credit balance. Accounts that are unpaid or thatconsistently have a negative balance will be closed until such time as money isput into that account. At the end of the school year, account balances will betransferred ahead to the next year with no refund of money.

Homework

One of the school'sfunctions is to help children become increasingly independent. This goal ispartly accomplished through our program of homework whereby children becomeaccustomed to planning and doing their own work. The intent of homework is toreinforce previously learned skills, preview new material, or assess what achild can do independently. The teacher designs homework to fit with currentclass work and students' needs. The homework load gradually increases fromoccasional and unscheduled work for kindergartners to 60 minutes daily plus 30minutes of reading for fifth graders.

School Council

School councils were established with the Education Reform Act to ensurethe contributions of staff, parents, and community representatives with theprincipal. The charge of the Sprague School Council is to discuss initiativesand procedures that support education and to develop a comprehensive schoolimprovement plan that identifies goals to enhance instructional excellence.Please contact representatives to share your ideas.

 

2009-2010 representatives include the following:

Principal: Donna Dankner

Teachers: Lindsay Barrett, Christina Cooney, PennyCopplestone, Jill Heckman, and Jen Stabnick.

Parents: Richard Garber, Kate Klenk, Margaret Lyne, SueMaggioni, and Catherine Mirick

Community: school resource officer Brian Spencer

PTO: Julia DePeyster and Charmaine Hartnett

Health Services

The members of theNursing Department collaborate with parents and staff to provide the fullestpossible educational opportunity for all students by providing services tosupport their health, well being and safety in school.

 

The comprehensiveschool health program includes screening procedures, protocols to prevent thespread of communicable diseases, emergency care; and procedures to facilitateschool attendance of children with special health care needs. The nurse may actas liaison between schools and physicians and/or refer students to appropriateresources either within the school or community.

 

The purpose of thecomprehensive school health program is to encourage the best possible healthoutcomes for each student and to teach concepts that help students makeresponsible decisions regarding their own health in the future.

Illness, Injuries,and School Attendance

1. Absence - Notify the school when your childwill be absent due to illness or injury. Students receiving antibiotics for acontagious condition (such as strep throat, bacterial conjunctivitis, etc.)must stay out of school until 24 hours of antibiotic therapy has beencompleted.

2. Injury - Any student who has sustained aninjury that has been treated by a physician or in an emergency room and willhave restricted activity for a limited period of time (stitches, sprains,fractures, etc.), must bring a note from the physician stating the nature ofthe restrictions and when the student can resume participation in health andfitness class. The student will not be allowed to return to health and fitnessclass until this note is received.

If your child sustains an injury, or you feel (s) he should limither/his activity for 1 - 2 days; or that will affect her/his schoolperformance, you will need to send an explanatory note to the nurse.

3. Fever - If your child has a temperature of 99.4degrees or above (taken orally) in the morning, it is recommended that (s) heremain home. Students should remain home for 24 hours after a fever hassubsided. If your child develops a fever during school hours, (s) he will notbe allowed to return to the classroom; and will remain in the health officeuntil dismissed to a parent or the parents' designee.

4. Chicken Pox - If your child develops chickenpox, please inform the school nurse. She will advise you about the appropriatetime for your child's return to school.

5. Dismissal - Students who become ill or injuredat school will be dismissed to a parent or her/his designee from the office.(S) He will not be allowed to walk home alone.

6. Immunizations - Massachusetts state lawrequires that students be fully immunized against DPT, Polio, Measles, Mumps,rubella, Hepatitis B; and Varicella.

7. Physical Examinations - examinations by alicensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant are required forkindergartners and new entrants at any grade. These examinations shall bewithin one year prior to entrance to school or within 30 days after schoolentry. Examinations are also required for all students in grades 4, 7 and 10.In order to participate in any interscholastic sport, documentation of aphysical examination within the last 13 months by the student's primary healthcare provider must be on file with the school nurse prior to tryouts. AMassachusetts School Health Record is maintained for each student.

8. Screenings

a)     Vision andHearing Screenings are conducted according to guidelines provided by MDPH. Uponentering Kindergarten or within 30 days after school entry, parent or guardianof each child shall present certification that the student within the previous12 months has passed a vision screening including stereopsis conducted bypersonnel approved by the MDPH.

b)     Posturalscreening is conducted annually in collaboration with the Health and FitnessDepartment for students in Grades 5 through 9. A report from the student's PCPis required in order to be excused from the school screening.

c)     Body Mass Index (BMI) and correspondingpercentile is calculated and recorded following guidelines from the MDPH foreach student. Results are reported directly and confidentially to a parent orlegal guardian.

9. Religious Objection- A student shall be exemptfrom physical examinations or screenings on religious grounds, upon writtenrequest of the parent or legal guardian, except with respect to communicablediseases. ( M.G.L. c.71,s.57)

10. Emergency Cards - please keep the informationon your emergency card current to facilitate contacting you if your child isill or injured.

Medication Policies

1. Medicationmust be supplied to the school nurse in the appropriate dosage and in theoriginal pharmacy container. No more than a 30-day supply should be kept at theschool.

2. Awritten "Order" from the student's licensed health care provider and a written"Consent" form signed by the student's parent or guardian must be submitted tothe school nurse. This applies to daily medications and those medications takenon an as needed basis such as inhalers and EpiPens.

3. Atthe Wellesley middle and high schools, nurses may administer ibuprofen oracetaminophen to an individual student once during the school day for dentalpain, headache, menstrual cramps or muscle soreness, if parent/guardian hassigned a consent form. The middle school and high school supply ibuprofen andacetaminophen in tablet form only. Parent/guardian must provide chewable orliquid medication, if their child is unable to swallow tablets.

4. Ifshort-term (10 day or less) prescription medication is to be administeredduring the school day, the original pharmacy container will serve as thewritten "Order" from the health care provider. A "Consent" form signed byparent/guardian is still required.

5. Elementarynurses may administer children's acetaminophen and/or ibuprofen for dentaldiscomfort to an individual child once during school day. Parent/ guardian mustprovide written consent and medication in its original container.

6. Schoolnurses may administer allergy eye drops to an individual child once during theschool day for treatment of allergy symptoms. Parent/guardian will providewritten consent and medication in its original container.

7. Schoolnurses may administer decongestant and/or cough suppressant to an individualchild once during school day for up to three days. Dosage will be determined bydosing chart on the container. Parent/guardian must provide written consent andmedication in its original container.

8. Herbaland/or homeopathic medication will not be administered in school.

9. Medicationis administered only by the school nurse and is stored in a locked cabinet inthe nurse's office. The nurse may delegate administration of student medicationduring a field trip.

10. For their own safety, students should nevertransport medication to and from school or keep medicine in their possessionduring the school day. The exception to this policy is that students may carrytheir personal inhaler and/or EpiPen and self-administer but only with consentfrom their physician and parent/guardian.

11. School nurses and trained non-nursingpersonnel can administer Epinephrine by auto-injector to students withidentified severe allergic reactions.

Strive For Five

The National CancerInstitute and the Center for Disease Control recommends that we consume atleast 5 or more servings of fruits or vegetables each day. Fruit and vegetablesprovide essential nutrients that foster growth and development, boost the immunesystem, prevent disease and reduce the risk of many cancers. Fruit andvegetables are low in calories and fat, and high in vitamins, minerals andfiber - and they taste great!

 

Studies have shownthat life-long eating habits form in childhood. By teaching children to includea variety of fruit and vegetables in their daily food choices, we are trulypromoting a healthier lifestyle. Monthly ‘Strive For Five' calendars will comehome so that students can keep a written record of their daily fruit and vegetableintake; this should consist of 3-5 fruits and vegetables per day for at least20 days. Once the 20-day requirement has been met, the form should be returnedto school - with a parent's signature - to Ms. Flitsch's attention.Participants will receive special recognition at the end of each month.

 

PhysicalEducation Teacher: Margaret Flitsch 263-1965 X524

Wellesley Public Schools
Elementary Behavior Code

Suspension Policy

While suspension israre in an elementary school, a principal may make the decision to suspend astudent as a consequence for behavior that endangers other students orinterferes with the learning of others. Suspension will take place after thestudent has talked to the principal and the principal has spoken with parents.

 

Suspension may bethe consequence for any of the following behaviors:

• Theft
• Destruction of property
• Use of tobacco
• Pulling the fire alarm
• Profanity, inappropriate bad language
• Threats or intimidation of others
• Harassment of another student
• Hitting or biting
• Endangering thesafety of or causing harm to others including fighting; possession of drugs,alcohol, or cigarettes; brandishing a weapon (including a pocket knife); arson.
• Bringingdangerous objects to school grounds, including sharp items or anything whichmay be used as a weapon, matches or lighters, firecrackers
• Damagingcomputers or files or using the internet inappropriately

In-house Suspension

In some cases theprincipal may recommend an in-house suspension. The student will be supervisedby an available teacher or teaching assistant.

The classroomteacher will provide work for the student during this time. The student isexpected to stay in the suspension area for the entire day, including duringlunch and recess. (Lunch can be brought to the student.)

Sprague SchoolBehavior Rules

Sprague SchoolBehavior Rules are forwarded to families at the beginning of the school year.Rules are reviewed by students and parents and signed and dated to indicatethey have been read and understood.

Technology NetworkAcceptable Use Policy

A student agreement is forwarded to families at thebeginning of the school year for grades 2-5. The rules for using theinstructional computer network in WPS are reviewed by students and parents andsigned and dated to indicate they have been read and understood.

Sprague School DressGuidelines for Grades 4 - 5

Given the earlier onset of pre-adolescent bodies in upperelementary school, the following dress guidelines have beenimplemented for grades 4 and 5:

• Nohalter tops or spaghetti strap tops unless a shirtwith shoulders is wornover them(girls)
• Nomidriffs and bellybuttons showing
• Tanktops are OK, but none that are deliberately ripped or that have very low cutarm holesthat show most of the chest (boys and girls)
• Underwearcannot show (boys and girls -- no very low pants or very short skirts)

General Information

Electronic Equipment

Any electronic equipment including cellphones, IPod's or MP3's, games such as Nintendo's or PSP's, etc. should not bebrought to school. Any such items seen by staff members will be confiscated andheld by the Office. If a student needs a cell phone for an after-schoolactivity, it should remain in the student's backpack or locker until the schoolday has ended and the student is outside of the school setting.

Lost and Found

Please label allclothing (and other items such as lunch bags and backpacks) to facilitatereturn of lost articles. The Lost and Found area is in the cafeteria. Items maytake up to two weeks to get there and are periodically cleaned out and donated.

Pets

Please leash petswhile on school grounds to ensure the safety and well being of children who mayhave allergies or are scared of animals.

Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)

Goals

The mission ofthe Sprague Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is to provide education-relatedsupport and services to Sprague faculty and staff. Specifically, the PTO'sobjectives are:

• To provide services to the School that will enhancethe educational climate
• To improve communication between home, school, theSchool Council and the Town of Wellesley
• To provide information regarding School Committeepolicies and budgets
• To provide financial and other volunteer supportfor the activities and needs of the School
• To increase understanding of children and theireducation, in order to guarantee the best education possible for our children.

The Sprague PTO has established the following committees to support itsobjectives.

Executive Board

The Board isresponsible for the planning, appropriation and expenditure of funds necessaryto the organization's activities.

Social Committee

The Social Committees areresponsible for activities which help build the Sprague Community.

Ways and Means

The Ways and Means Committees are responsible for administering programsthat provide financial support for implementing PTO activities.

Communications

The CommunicationsCommittees are responsible for all PTO related communications.

Enrichment

The Enrichment Committees are responsible for supporting activities thatenhance the educational climate.

*Environmental Education - The EnvironmentalScience Program provides hands-on outdoor experience that enhances theclassroom's science curriculum. Volunteers lead small groups of children onnature walks. Kindergartners observe seasonal changes around the schoolyard,studying plants and exploring living things near Sprague. First Graders learnabout habitats and what animals need to survive and grow, focusing on birds andbird habitats, and asking themselves if Sprague has a sustainable habitat.Second Graders extend the study of plants begun in Kindergarten, learning toidentify plants by their leaves and other plant parts and exploring varietiesof seed travel. Third Graders discover and observe insects and other minicreatures. Fourth Graders go on a geology field trip.

Community Service

The Community Service committees are responsible for providing volunteersupport which help strengthen the Sprague Community.

Town-Wide Programs

The town-wide program liaisons are responsible for supporting town-wideactivities and for communication between the organization and the SpragueCommunity.

*Committee 21 (Committee forEducation in the 21st Century)
Committee 21 is a volunteer-run, non-partisan, citizen organizationcomprised of a Board of Directors, representatives from each of the WellesleyPublic Schools and school supporters throughout the Wellesley community. TheCommittee 21 mission is to actively support the goals of the Wellesley PublicSchools and to advocate for resources to achieve these goals by:

• Informing Wellesley residents of key issues facingour public schools
• Serving as an information resource on the schoolbudget and other important School Committee decisions
• Organizing and mobilizing support for criticaldecisions
  Volunteers support Committee 21's efforts by making get out the vote calls,holding political signs, and attending school committee meetings or viewingthem on cable.

**METCO (Metropolitan Council forEducation Opportunity)
METCO is a voluntary integration program funded by the Commonwealth. SpragueFamily Friends are Sprague families who volunteer as hosts for a Boston childwho is part of the METCO program. The Family Friends overall goal is to supportthe successful integration of Boston students into the Sprague school communityso they can fully benefit from available academic and social opportunities.This program creates a wonderful partnership between Wellesley and Bostonfamilies.
Sprague Family Friends host the Boston child on the first Wednesday afternoonof October, November, December, February, March, April, May and June from 12:00to 3:00 p.m. At 3:00 p.m., the host family brings the child to HunnewellSchool, where he or she is picked up by bus (at 3:15 p.m.) and transportedhome. Family Friends also serve as emergency contacts and resources for Bostonfamilies for questions about school projects, assignments, etc.
Sprague Family Friends are looking for Wellesley families who are willing tomake an ongoing commitment so that students can benefit from a consistent andcaring presence. Generally, Family Friends host a child that is in the samegrade as the host family's child.

Important Numbers and Sites

Central Office Administration 446-6210

Website: www.wellesley.k12.ma.us

 

Ms. Bella Wong, Superintendent of Schools x4505

Ms. Carol AGregory Assistant Superintendent x4503

Ms Ruth Q. Berdell, Business Manager 446-6200 x4510

Mr. Liam Huley, Assistant Business Manager x4515

Ms. Linda Waters, Director of Student Services x4529

Ms. RebeccaMcFall, Director of Curriculum Instruction x4502

Ms. Beth Brown,Elementary Special Ed Dept. Head x4526

Mr. Deane McGoldrick, TransportationCoordinator x4514

Ms. Bernard Darcy, Director of Food Services 446-6250 x4108

 

School Committee

Email: school_committee@wellesley.k12.ma.us

 

Ilissa Povich, Chairman

Suzi Newman, ViceChairman

KC Kato, Secretary

 

Wellesley Web Sites

 

Sprague School PTO www.spragueschool.org

Town of Wellesley www.ci.wellesley.ma.us

Town of Wellesley Free Library www.wellesleyfreelibrary.org

Wellesley Channel www.wellesleychannel.tv

Wellesley Public Schools www.wellesley.k12.ma.us

Wellesley Townsman www.wickedlocal.com/wellesley