Student Handbook

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Mountain View Policies and Procedures

Admission and Immunization
The building secretary or principal conducts all enrollments.
Entrance forms for new Port Townsend students are available in the school office. Washington State Law requires that all children admitted to public and non-public schools be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, rubella, and mumps as appropriate. A complete brochure of immunization requirements and information regarding personal or religious exemptions is available from the school office.

Attendance
Regular, punctual attendance is essential for successful progress in your child’s program. A child should be in school every day that he or she is physically able. To be tardy or miss a day may mean the child will miss the introduction or development of some necessary skill. After an absence a pupil must bring a note. The note should be dated and signed by the parent; should state the number of days absent; and should provide the reason for the absence. In case of tardiness a pupil will also be expected to furnish the office with a written excuse from the parent. Absences due to illness; a health condition requiring care or treatment; a religious observance; school-approved activities; or a family emergency will be excused. Absences for other reasons than listed above may be excused if pre-arranged and provided that the absence will not adversely affect your child’s educational progress.

Bicycles
Many students depend on their bicycles for transportation. Please make certain that your children know and follow traffic laws, which pertain to bikes, and that they wear a helmet! Bicycles may be ridden to and from school with the following guidelines:

1. No students riding bicycles should arrive before 8:50 a.m.
2. Bicycles must be walked while on campus.
3. Bicycles should be locked in the designated area. Our school is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged bicycles.
4. Every bicycle rider should wear a helmet.

School Buses
About one-half of our students ride the school buses. From a safety standpoint, it is imperative that proper behavior be rigidly adhered to at the bus stops as well as during the ride on the bus. Specific rules for students riding school buses are included in the booklet; “Procedures for Student Rights and Responsibilities” distributed to students at the start of the school year. These expectations are also presented to all riders at the start of every year. Parents will be notified of infractions and consequences.
All children will be expected to ride their assigned bus regularly. If it is necessary for your child to ride a bus other than a regularly assigned one, a note to this effect must be given to the office. A bus pass will be made out in the office for the child to give to the bus driver. Due to busloads, it may not be possible for students to ‘occasionally’ ride some bus routes.
The bus driver will verbally warn students not meeting expectations. Continued misbehavior will result in a written Incident Report Form. The following steps will occur for continued bus problems.

2nd step - Written Incident Report Form, Bus Driver will contact parent.
3rd step - Incident Report Form, conference with principal and/or bus driver, contact parents, suspension of bus riding privileges for 3-5 days.
4th step - Incident Report Form, conference with principal and/or bus driver, principal will contact parent, suspension of bus riding privileges for up to 10 days.
5th step - Bus riding privileges suspended for remainder of the semester, or at the discretion of the principal for the remainder of the year.

Homework Philosophy
Homework is designed to be a constructive tool in the teaching-learning process. Appropriate homework can be an aid to learning. Homework assignments should reflect the wide range of abilities in the classroom. Teachers determine the frequency of homework assigned depending on the needs of their particular classes.
Homework objectives include:

1. Helping pupils develop independent work habits
2. Reinforcing learning which has taken place at school
3. Bringing the home and school closer together
4. Relating school learning to out of school interests

Parents are encouraged to:

1. Show a positive interest in homework as well as all of your child’s schoolwork.
2. Provide children with a suitable place and a quiet time for homework.
3. Cooperate with the teacher to make homework more effective.
Serve as consultants about problems. Avoid doing homework for your child.

You may wish to pick up homework for a sick child. We’re happy to provide this but ask that you request the work by 12:00 p.m. and plan on picking it up after 3:30 p.m. Thanks!

Injuries and Illness
If a student is injured at school he or she will be administered first aid by school personnel when necessary. Parents will be contacted in those cases which are serious enough to warrant communication, and in the case of all head or eye injuries. If parents are unable to be contacted, your emergency numbers will be called to find someone to pick up your child.

Instrumental Music
Students in fifth grade participate in Band, Orchestra, or Choir. Information will be sent with students in the fall explaining the program. A very few school instruments are available for student use for a rental fee. Please contact the Band or Orchestra Teacher to determine availability.

Insurance
Our school does not provide accident insurance. You may purchase accident insurance at a nominal cost from private insurance carriers. A brochure and enrollment form will be sent home the first week of school. This information is also available in the office.

Library
Our library provides nearly 12,000 items, including media and about 10,000 books. We have the capability to access electronic media throughout the world from our classrooms and our library. Classes are regularly scheduled in the library for study, research, and book selection. Your child will have access to library materials and may check out these materials. We also have a small Parent section that offers information on ways to deal with kids more effectively! Students and their parents are responsible for any materials checked out to them.

Leaving Early
For the welfare and protection of your child your cooperation in the following areas will be appreciated:

1. Children leaving school during the day must bring a signed note from home permitting us to excuse them. (Not necessary if you’re picking them up.)
2. Anyone calling for a child must come into the office to sign the child out. People other than parents must be listed on the emergency card or have a note signed by the parents allowing them to pick up their children.

Lost and Found
Many students lose personal items at school. Though parents pay a great deal for some of these things, kids sometimes don’t try very hard to find what’s missing. Please label important personal items. When items are labeled we often get them back to the owner. Parents are always welcome to drop by and check out what has been turned in.

Medication
Washington State Law requires that we do not distribute medicine (including aspirin or Tylenol) without a permission form on file. These forms are available in the office and must be signed by parents and a physician. All medications need to be kept in the office and must be labeled with students’ names and directions. Prescriptions need to be in the original container

Newsletter
We send our newsletters home with students. Please require your child to bring home all notices and information from school. Current information is also displayed on our readerboard and on our school website.

The Optional Education Program = OPEPO
Our district offers an alternative educational program for students in grades 1-6. The program consists of approximately 50 students (grades 1-6) who are provided instruction in a multi-age setting. Practical application of basic skills and problem solving are emphasized rather than memorization and seatwork. Personal responsibility, respect for others and working together are stressed along with academic achievement.
Because there are two teachers and parents in the classroom, OPEPO can offer individualized attention and an unusually stimulating learning environment. The parents support OPEPO by being involved with the program in a variety of ways. An informational packet regarding OPEPO is available in our office.

Parking
Parking is provided for visitors and staff in the parking lot located to the west of the school. A bus only line is provided at the immediate front of the pool area. Our parking lot is designed to protect children from vehicular traffic. Please do not ask your children to cross the parking lot when buses are entering or exiting. We do not allow children to walk between the buses while they are loading or unloading. As adult role models, you should not do this either. Please pick up your children on Walker Street.

Personal Property
No expensive personal property should be brought to school. Items such as music players, radios, electronic games, and cameras present a temptation for thieves and can also be distracting at school. Please leave them at home. Students often have personal cell phones for communicating with parents and for emergencies. School policy requires that students keep cell phones put away during the school day.

Progress Reporting
Reporting a child’s progress is always on an individual basis. Aside from the many phone calls, notes and class work folders being sent home weekly, written progress reports are sent home at the conclusion of the first, second, and third trimesters. Formal parent conferences are held during the first trimester and again in the spring. If a parent or teacher feels that additional conferences are necessary, please call and arrange to meet. It is expected that you receive regular information about the progress of your child. If you have any questions or concerns please contact the school and request a conference.

School Schedule
School begins at 9:15 a.m. and dismisses at 3:30 p.m. Students should not arrive at school before 8:50 a.m.

School Counselor
Our school is fortunate to have a counselor available for consultation regarding school-related problems. Please feel free to call the principal if you need more information regarding the range of services that can be provided.

Special Services
Providing services to meet the needs of exceptional children are required by federal law. Diagnosis, instruction, therapy, and support are available for PTSD students who qualify under specific criteria. If you need more information or wish to make a referral please contact your child’s teacher.

Staff Training Activities
PTSD schools have about ten days each year on which students are dismissed two hours early so that teachers can work together. During these times PTSD staff are engaged in staff development or professional activities. The dates are on the school calendar and you can usually count on your child reminding you.

Statewide Testing
Our third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students take the Washington Assessment of Student Learning tests in the Spring. These formal tests are required by either State Law, Federal Law, or both. These tests can provide us with valuable information. We use this data to direct teaching and learning in every classroom. Examination of the data also helps us target improvement efforts and provides short and long-term information about the effectiveness of our school and instructional program.

Student Dress
Student dress may not be disruptive to our educational program or prohibit participation in activities. If student clothing causes a disruption parents will be asked to bring a change of clothes to school. We also request that students not wear clothing which endorses alcohol, tobacco, or drug use. We spend a significant amount of time and energy teaching students strategies to avoid drug abuse. Allowing the wearing of this type of clothing would be contradictory. Thanks for your cooperation!

Telephone Messages
The school phones are extremely busy. We allow children access to the phones only in cases of emergency. Students are not permitted to use the phone to request permission to visit friends after school. These arrangements must be made before school or after the student returns home.

Visiting School
Parents are always welcome to visit our school. All visitors however, must check in at the office when they arrive on campus. You will be asked to sign-in and be given a Visitor’s Badge. Conferences with teachers should not be attempted during class time since teachers are responsible for teaching children and adhering to schedules. An individual conference appointment may be made through the teachers for a time convenient to both the parent and the teacher. Students from other schools (visiting friends or relatives) are not allowed to visit our school without an accompanying parent.

Walking to and from School
Please review with your children practices for safe walking. This is especially important when routes to and from school don’t have sidewalks or students need to cross busy streets. Classroom teachers cover this information and review it before walking trips. Reviewing it at home will show your children how important their safety is to you. Please remember that no student should arrive at school before 8:50 a.m.