Student Handbook

It is our hope that each of you will read the handbook thoroughly and refer to it any time you have a question about any phase of our school program. We invite you to contact us if you feel something more should be added to this handbook to make it more complete.

This accumulation of information has been compiled to assist all associated with Grant Street to gain a clearer understanding of our rules and policies. Please keep the handbook handy so that school related questions that come up may quickly be answered.

One of our on-going goals at Grant Street is to keep the lines of communication open between home and school. You will be constantly updated on school events through school and classroom newsletters, conferences, phone calls, etc. We welcome and encourage parent and community participation in our school through membership in PTA, volunteering, school functions, and visitations.

Your interest, support, and cooperation will make learning more meaningful for your child and will strengthen the educational program at Grant Street School.

Sincerely,
Grant Street Staff

TIMES, DATES AND OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION

8:45 Students begin to arrive - Breakfast service begins
9:05 School begins
11:45 Morning Kindergarten dismissal
Lunch served 11:30 - 12:25
3:15 Dismissal

WEDNESDAY EARLY DISMISSAL FOR STUDENT ACTIVITIES AND STAFF TRAINING:

Full day Kindergarten and Grades 1-2 are dismissed 2 hours early, at 1:15 p.m., every Wednesday (except for conference Weeks - when school is dismissed at noon, and September 7 and June 14 - when school is dismissed at 3:15) for student activities and staff training. Each quarter, students will be given an opportunity to sign up for a variety of activities, including swimming, scouting, art, foreign language, and other options.

EARLY DISMISSAL DAYS

School is also dismissed at 1:15 on a number of early dismissal days. These are the days before vacation, Rhody Friday, and the last two days of school. On the LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, there is a 4 hour early dismissal. See the district calendar for those specific dates.

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCE WEEKS

Parent-teacher conferences are held for grades 1 and 2 during the weeks of November 14-18, 2005, and March 20-24, 2006. School will be dismissed for grades 1 and 2 at 12:00. Special bus routes will be in effect to take all-day kindergarten students home at 3:15.

Kindergarten parent teacher conferences will be held the week of February 6-10, 2006. There will be no classes for half-day kindergarten, and all-day kindergarten will be dismissed at 12:00. Special bus routes will in effect to take all-day kindergarten students home at 12:00

EMERGENCY CARDS /NUMBERS

Emergency card information sheets are sent home at the beginning of the school year. It is required that we have completed information on every child. In the event of an emergency or accident the phone numbers given on the card will be used to notify parents.

Emergency phone numbers must be provided. Please notify the school of any changes.
**Only persons listed on the student's emergency card or with written permission from the parent will be permitted to pick up children.

ATTENDANCE / ABSENCES

Regular attendance is required by state law. Illnesses, medical appointments, family emergencies, and religious observances are legally excused absences. You can report absences via voice mail 24 hours a day by calling 379-4500, ext. 8222. A written note must be given to the teacher when the child returns to school. If you need to take your child out of school to travel during the school year, the principal may excuse absences for such trips in advance, provided that the absence does not adversely affect the child's learning.

EARLY ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL:

For the welfare and safety of all students, students should not arrive at school any earlier than 8:50 AM because there is no student supervision prior to 8:50. This is especially important for those children who walk, ride bicycles, or are dropped off by parents. Students not eating school breakfast should arrive about 10 minutes prior to the beginning of the school day.

TARDINESS

Children are expected to be in class when school begins at 9:15 AM. Students may arrive at school at 8:50 a.m. Please do not permit them to arrive earlier; no one is on supervision earlier. If you arrive late please check in with the office before going to class.

TEACHER AVAILABILITY:

Grant Street teachers are available for telephone calls or conferences from 8:15-9:10 each morning and from 3:20-3:45 in the afternoon. If it is necessary for you to speak directly to the teacher, the morning and afternoon time listed above are the best, or you can leave a voice mail message, send a note or call the school office.

Please call Grant Street School if you have any further questions at 379-4535. Our office hours are from 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

EAGLE CAFE (Lunch menu)

To find out what is being served for hot lunch at Grant Street School call the district voice mail at 379-4500 and dial 8202.

LUNCH COSTS:

Multiple or single lunches can be purchased by giving your child the proper amount of money or a check.

Free and reduced lunch applications are available at the school office.

• Individual hot lunch (includes milk): grades K-2 $2.00
• Reduced price lunch $0.40
• Milk: Grades K-6 $0.35
• Breakfast Grades 1-5 $1.00
• Reduced Breakfast $0.40

LOST AND FOUND

A lost and found box is maintained in the hallway by the library. Many valuable articles remain unclaimed in June and are given to charitable organizations. Please check out the lost and found box when you are in the building and also proper identification on coats and other articles is helpful.

RECESS

Recess is an important part of the school day as it provides children with a much needed break in the school routine. Please make sure children are properly dressed for being outside prior to leaving for school.

TRANSPORTING STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL

Grant Street does not provide a large enough parking lot to accommodate staff and parents. Therefore, parents must use extreme caution when dropping off or picking up children around bus traffic. Please escort your child across Grant Street to or from the school building USING THE CROSSWALK.

SAFE WALKING ROUTE TO SCHOOL

Please review with your child the safest route to school. Children are expected to practice good citizenship and obey school rules on the way to and from school. Students must use sidewalks and crosswalks.

RIDING THE BUS other than your regularly scheduled bus requires a dated, signed note from home stating the bus number and stop where your child will be getting off. Please include the address.

*A signed note from home is also required for any changes in the regular routine at the end of the day regarding being picked up, walking etc.

*During severe weather conditions the Port Townsend School District has established snow routes for the safety of your children. To find out if your child's bus is running on emergency schedule, or the possibility of school closure or delay call your BUS HOT LINE at 379-4500 EXT 4600. In addition to the bus hot line, you may also call transportation at 732-4040. Also closure information may be heard on AM Radio Stations KOMO (1000), KIRO (710), KVI (570), KING (1090) or KOMO TV channel 4.

*Questions about BUS TRANSPORTATION? Call 732-4040

*Bicycle Helmets are required when riding a bike to and from school.

OTHER INFORMATION

LEAVING SCHOOL GROUNDS DURING SCHOOL HOURS.

No child is permitted to leave school during school hours unless accompanied by an adult. If it is necessary for you to pick up your child during school hours, please sign him or her out at the office. Students will be signed out only to persons listed on the student emergency card unless they have a signed note from the parent. Please let your child's teacher know early in the day (before school is best) if you intend to pick him or her up early. In this way, the teacher can plan for the child's absence.

TELEPHONES AND MESSAGES

The office will always try to relay telephone messages received (prior to NOON is helpful) to your child. To prevent continually interrupting classes during instruction, we request that these be of an emergency nature only. Students should only use the office telephone in case of an emergency.

CONCERNS:

If you have a question or school-related concern, we suggest the following procedure whenever possible. First, contact the teacher to discuss your concern. Then if necessary, get in touch with the principal. If you still have a concern, you may contact the Superintendent at 379-4502. Please remember if you cannot talk directly with the teacher or the principal, leave a message with the office and the teacher will contact you during time away from the students.

GRANT STREET PTA:

The PTA organization at Grant Street works to advocate for students in the school. They will strive for excellence in education as well as enhancing home life through education for parents and meeting the ever-changing needs of today's families. You are invited to join the PTA and help as a volunteer in some of the many activities PTA is involved with throughout the school year.

ARE YOU MOVING?

If you move during the school year, please notify the school prior to your move. This helps us prepare the necessary paperwork to be sent to your child's new school.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

ILLNESS AND ACCIDENTS

In the event of illness or accident during school hours, parents will be contacted using the numbers provided on the emergency card. If the school is unable to contact parents, other persons listed on your child's emergency card will be contact.

If your child feels ill in the morning, please do not send him/her to school, especially if she/he has a fever. A general rule is that a child should never come to school until 24 hours has passed since a fever has subsided.

MEDICATION

All school districts in the State of Washington are required to have the approval of physicians to allow the school district personnel to administer medication to students on school premises. The law goes even further to say that without doctor and parent approval we are not allowed to administer prescription medication nor any other over-the-counter medications. This permission must be given for each instance and permission must be given for each instance and the permission statement is not to be a blanket statement. The Port Townsend physicians have these forms in their office or you can pick them up at the Grant Street School office.

CONTAGIOUS DISEASE

Students with a contagious or infectious disease should be kept at home for their own and other's protection. The school should be notified if a child contracts a communicable disease. Notices will be sent home with the students to classroom parents when their child has been exposed to chickenpox, measles, mumps, whooping cough or head lice. Student with nits or head lice will be sent home until all nits have been removed.

SPECIAL HEALTH PROBLEMS

If your child has a special health problem, please contact the school office, and teacher. It helps us to have your emergency procedures in writing so we can be informed on the best way to help your child.

LEGAL AND/OR CUSTODY CONCERNS

If there are any court-ordered limitations on access to children by members of their families, please let us know about the situation. (In order for us to support court orders we must have a dated copy of the order on file at school.)

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES

The Grant Street School staff is dedicated to providing all students a safe and orderly environment in which to learn and grow. Parents, we appreciate your continued support of our plan listed below. The teamwork between the home and school create a positive and exciting atmosphere at Grant Street. For more information about our discipline plan please contact the school office.

Grant Street School
Assumptions and Beliefs

The following beliefs of developmentally appropriate practices have been compiled by the Grant Street staff.

1. Children learn at different rates and in different ways. Classroom instruction meets the needs/styles of diverse learners and ability levels.
2. Children acquire skills, knowledge and ability through hands-on, active learning opportunities.
3. Children learn through interactions, and by making choices. Adults and children share control throughout the classroom routine.
4. Integrated curriculum relates various subject areas.
5. Each child should realize his/her potential, feel successful, and experience the joy of learning in a safe and caring environment.
6. Children learn best when information is relevant to their experiences.
7. Education includes promoting maximum individual growth in basic learning skills.
8. Each classroom reflects diverse ability, culture, and race, as represented by the community. Diversity is accepted and appreciated.
9. Education involves interaction and is a shared responsibility between school, home, and community.
10. Within the school setting, the most critical element in the success of a child's education is the teacher, and the training and skills the teacher possesses.
11. We respect the diversity of styles and needs of staff members as well as those of students. Therefore we expect to see these beliefs implemented in a wide variety of ways.

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