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Parent Handbook
School Hours SCHOOL HOURS Arrival and departure by foot
Morning Drop-off: You may drop off your child between 8:15 and 8:30 in the drop-off lane next to parking lot. Please do not park here. Arrival and departure by bicycle Radio: WBZ(1030), WEEI, WHDH, WCRB, WXKS, WKOX, WNTN, WMJX, WCDJ, WRKO, WROR, WVBF, WBCN. Telephone: 446-6200 for a recorded message Emergency Closings If it may be necessary to close school before regular dismissal time due to power failure, sudden storms, etc. We make every effort to reach parents through telephone chains initiated by room parents. If you cannot be reached, the school will refer to alternate numbers listed on your child’s emergency card which you filled out at the start of school. Please keep this information up to date during the year. If parents feel uncomfortable with this procedure, they should write a note and send it in to school indicating alternative methods they would like followed. This note will be attached to the child’s emergency card. Methods of Communication Backpack: One of your child's most important possessions is his or her backpack. As well as carrying your child’s lunch, schoolwork and extra clothing, it will carry information that is your daily link to Sprague School. Use your child’s backpack to send and receive notes from your child’s teacher, the Principal, the PTO and specialist teachers. Progress reports will also arrive home this way. In addition, parents will receive two publications via backpack: The Sprague School News (on Fridays), and the Sprague PTO Newsletter (the first Friday of each month). All school-wide notices will be sent home with the youngest student of the family. If you do not receive a newsletter, duplicate copies are available in the school office. Email: Every staff member has an access to email system. The format of the email is initial of the firstname followed by lastname @postal.wellesley.mec.edu. For example, the principal’s email address is ddanknerpostal.wellesley.mec.edu Homework One of the school’s functions is to help children become increasingly independent. This goal is partly accomplished through our program of homework whereby children become accustomed to planning and doing their own work. The intent of homework is to reinforce previously learned skills, preview new material, or assess what a child can do independently. The teacher designs homework to fit with current class work and students’ needs. The homework load gradually increases from occasional and unscheduled for Kindergartners to 60 minutes daily plus 30 minutes of reading for fifth graders. Student Records The following is an abbreviated summary of the Student Records Regulations relevant to elementary level students. The purpose of these regulations is to protect parents’ and students’ rights of confidentiality and access to this information. The Records: The student record consists of a transcript and a temporary record. The transcript contains the following information: name, address and phone number of the student and of the parent (or guardian), the student’s birth date, grade level completed and year completed. The temporary record consists of other information not in the transcript which is of importance to the educational process, including standardized test results. Progress reports are part of the child’s temporary record. Access: The parent(s) shall have access to the student record and may have copies of any information in the record. Authorized school personnel shall have access to student records. No information contained therein shall be disseminated without the specific informed written consent of the parent (as applicable). School Snacks and Lunches All children have a daily snack time which they bring from home. Kindergartners have lunch only on their stay days. You have several lunch options for your child. You may pack a lunch with a drink; pack a lunch and have your child purchase milk; or, your child may use his lunch card to purchase a lunch with milk. A school lunch menu is sent home monthly. 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 the children wishing to buy lunch and sends the count to the office. If your child is tardy and wants to purchase lunch, he/she will need to order lunch when he/she checks in at the school office upon arrival. Payment: Payment will be on a prepaid basis only. Parents should prepay for meals they expect their children to eat during the month. Checks should be mailed to:
Please include the bottom half of your invoice with your check and write Sprague and your child’s name on the check so that the correct account can be credited. It is important that you mail payments to the address above. Do not send any cash or checks to school with your child. It is important that you maintain a credit balance in your child’s account sufficient to cover the meals that your child will purchase for the upcoming month. If you underestimate the number of meals that your child will purchase 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 note the accounts should have a credit balance. Accounts that are unpaid or that consistently have a negative balance will be closed until such time as money is put into that account. At the end of the school year, account balances will be transferred ahead to the next year with no refund of money. Children are allowed to order 2 lunches if they wish (e.g.-2 slices of Pizza). Please discuss this with your child so you know if s/he is ordering a double lunch. Sometimes parents are puzzled for more lunches than days in school! Statement: A monthly statement listing the number of meals bought and the current account balance will be sent home with your child. Any monthly under or over payments will be included in the beginning balance of the following month’s statement. Lost and Found Please label all clothing (and other items such as lunch bags and backpacks) to facilitate return of lost articles. The “Lost and Found” box is currently in the office. All Occasion/Birthday Books If you would like to donate a book to the school library for any special occasion including in honor of your child’s birthday, please see the school librarian for details. A book plate with your child’s name will be placed on the inside cover. HEALTH SERVICES The Wellesley school nurses follow standards established by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. For latest information, please go to the Sprague School website at http://www.wellesley.mec.edu/wes/sprague/index.htm and click on Nursing Services. Guidelines regarding Illness, Injuries, and school attendance. 1. Absence - notify the school when your child will be absent due to illness or injury. Students receiving antibiotics for a contagious condition (such as strep throat, bacterial conjunctivitis, etc.) must stay out of school until 24 hours of antibiotic therapy has been completed. 2. Injury - any student who has sustained an injury that has been treated by a physician or in an emergency room and will now have restricted activity for a limited period of time (stitches, sprains, fractures, etc.), must bring a note from the physician stating the nature of the restrictions and when the student can resume participation in physical education class. The student will not be allowed to return to physical education until this note is received. If your child sustains an injury, or you feel (s)he should limit her/his activity for 1 - 2 days; or that will affect her/his school performance, you will need to send an explanatory note to the nurse. 3. Fever - If your child has a temperature of 99.4 degrees or above (taken orally) in the morning, it is recommended that (s)he remain home. Students should remain home for 24 hours after a fever has subsided. If your child develops a fever during school hours, (s)he will not be allowed to return to the classroom; and will remain in the health office until dismissed to a parent or the parents’ designee. 4. Chicken Pox - If your child develops chicken pox, please inform the school nurse. She will advise you about the appropriate time for your child’s return to school. 5. Dismissal - students who become ill or injured at 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 law requires that students be fully immunized against DPT, Polio, Measles, Mumps, rubella, Hepatitis B; and Varicella. 7. Physical Examinations - examinations by the student’s primary care provider are required for kindergartners, new entrants; and for all students in grades 3, 6, 9. A Massachusetts School Health Record is maintained for each student. 8. Emergency Cards - please keep the information on your emergency care current to facilitate contacting you if your child is ill or injured. 9. Allergy - Nurses and trained non nursing personnel can administer Epi-pen to students with identified severe allergic reactions. In regard to lunches and snacks, we strongly recommend that your child bring food from home. To help with the immediate recognition of your child, we recommend that he/she wear a Medic Alert bracelet; and we would also appreciate a recent photo so that we can post this with their Emergency Plan in the nurses office. 10. Step Throat - Children with a positive strep test are not allowed to attend school until they have been on antibiotics for a full 24 hours. General Illness If your child has an illness that will temporarily restrict his/her activity during the school day, you need to send a note to the school nurse explaining the illness and the extent of the restrictions. Generally, children who are well enough to come to school should be able to participate in all activities, including outdoor recess. Health Status Changes Please keep the nurse informed of any changes in your child’s health status. This includes prescription medication intended for long-term use. Emergency First Aid Emergency first-aid treatment is performed at the school. It is the school’s practice to notify the parent when any injury is more severe than a minor bump, cut or scratch. In the event of a serious emergency, your child will be transported by ambulance to the hospital accompanied by an adult. Please note: If you cannot be contacted in an emergency, school personnel will refer to your child’s “emergency card” and will call the emergency contact. Please be sure to submit this card at the start of school and keep it current during the year. Do not forget to complete the “Special Condition” area. This should include any medical conditions such as allergies, medications and medical diagnoses. In case of an emergency, a copy of this card will accompany your child to the hospital. Head Lice Checks Head lice screening is conducted at the beginning of each school year and periodically at the nurse’s discretion. Wellesley schools adhere to a “no nit” policy. It is a fact of life that children get head lice, regardless of how clean they are or how often they wash their hair. Because head lice are highly contagious, children should be discouraged from sharing hats, combs and brushes or any clothing that touches the hair. Parents are encouraged to do weekly lice checks at home. If lice are found, please notify the school so that classmates can be checked. Unless all cases are identified and treated immediately, the problem may continue and your child could be re-infested. Medication At School 1. Medication must be supplied to the school nurse in its appropriate dosage and in the original pharmacy container. No more than a 30 day supply should be maintained at the school. 2. A written “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 to the school. This applies to inhalers, Epi-Pens and medications administered ‘prn’ (as needed), as well as daily medications. 3. If short-term (10 day) prescription medication is to be administered during the school day, the original pharmacy container will serve as the written “Order” from the health care provider. A “Consent” form signed by parent or guardian is still required, however. 4. Medication is administered only by the school nurse and is stored in a locked cabinet. The nurse may delegate administration of student medication during a field trip. 5. For their own safety, students should never transport medication to and from school; or keep medicine, except an inhaler, in their possession during the school day. 6. Nurses and trained non nursing personnel can administer Epi-Pen to students with identified severe allergic reactions. WELLESLEY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ELEMENTARY BEHAVIOR CODE Suspension Policy While suspension is rare in an elementary school, a principal may make the decision to suspend a student as a consequence for behavior that endangers other students or interferes with the learning of others. Suspension will take place after the student has talked to the principal and the principal has spoken with parents. Suspension may be the consequence for any of the following behaviors: Theft Destruction of property Use of tobacco Pulling the fire alarm Profanity Threats or intimidation of others Harassment of another student Hitting an adult Endangering the safety of others including fighting, biting, possession of drugs or alcohol, possession of matches, cigarette lighters, cigarettes or firecrackers, brandishing a weapon (including pocket knives), arson. In-house suspension In some cases the principal may recommend an in-house suspension. The student will be supervised by an available teacher or teaching assistant. The classroom teacher will provide the work for the student during this time. The student is expected to stay in the suspension area for the entire day, including during lunch and recess. (Lunch can be brought to the student.) Sprague School Dress Guidelines for Gr. 4 and Gr. 5 Given the earlier onset of pre-adolescent bodies in upper elementary school, the following dress guidelines have been implemented for grades 4 and 5:
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