Staff Handbook 2011-2012
-1-
The Mission of Sandy Ridge Elementary The Mission of Sandy Ridge Elementary is to provide a positive, interactive, and nurturing environment where the teacher’s role is to facilitate learning, empowering the student to be accountable for their own actions. Through active collaboration and partnership with parents, community, and other professionals, we will differentiate instruction to meet the needs of each individual student. Students will be expected to reach their highest potential as they are given the tools and strategies to become a good citizen and lifelong learner.
??????? Fourth Grade
Tracey Kerstetter Sheila Fleming Heather Lingerfelt Kelly Nicoletti Ciara McNally Kathie Giordano
Fifth Grade
Pamela Carlton-Smith Robert Vincent Heather Newton Sharon Mitchell LaRae Biggerstaff Brandon Kerstetter Polly Kiger
EC/Resource
Susan Risk Catherine Spivey Erika Eichhorn May Jane Morsch Pam Carlton
School Mascot Sandy Ridge Rams
Faculty and Staff—2010--2011 Principal
Cindy Croffut
Assistant Principal
Tricia Yetter
Kindergarten
Christi Kubeck Cathy Dwyer Laura Kiger Laura Lee Izer Kristin Rinebold Michelle Millendorf Kimberly Varieur
First Grade
Psychologist
Jeni Kusherman Vonda Haney Kristina Mueller Heather Burch Lauren Strickland Kelly Pascarella
Second Grade
April Peck Kimberly Spencer Dawn Fell Kari Martin Velva Watts Chelsea Clemens
Third Grade
Nicole Shelley Laura Harlick Nancy Chorney Gerri Krise Allen Webb
Aml Lohavichan
AIG
Susan Sweeney Nancy Glenham
Music
Melissa LoPresto
Art
Carl Trosch
P.E.
Alison Belk
ESL Media
Donna Ko
Assistants Renee Guffey Terri Young Denise Kisko Kathy Aiello Robin Randall Cathy Tarwater Jeff Aten Jessica LaCroix Rene Roldan Druanna Strong Renee Soter Darlene Kingston Kathryn Singleton Speech
Cheryl Hamilton
Counselor
Allison Parkhurst
Curriculum Coord. -2-
Leslie Feeley Michelle Marti Tracey Gilfillan Tina McSheehan Susan Wint Brenda Lyles
Lisa Austen
Office Man. /NCWISE
Debbie Jackson
Bookkeeper
Beth Chadwick
Secretary
Kim Alexander
Custodians
Ricky Price Wanda Laney Imaccula Ledoux Carron Southon
Cafeteria
Rose Mager
After School Care
Tammy Helms
School Nurse
Cheryl Herberg
-3-
Schedule Morning Schedule 7:00
Buses and cars unload; Students eat breakfast or report to classrooms.
7:25
First Bell
7:30
TARDY; ANY student coming in your room after the bell rings must come to the office for a tardy slip.
A.M. /P.M. Duty Schedule Location
Staff
Morning
Location
Staff
Afternoon
Car rider (Front)
Guffey (team 1)
Car rider (inside)
Lyles
Car rider
Young (team 1)
Car rider (inside)
Singleton
Car rider
LoCroix (team 1)
Car rider (caller)
Kingston
Car rider
Kisko (team 1)
Car rider
Ko
Car rider
Aiello (team 1)
Car rider
Wint
Car rider & Bus
Martin (team 1)
Car rider
Sorter
Car rider & Bus
Randall (team 1)
Walkers
LoPresto
Cafeteria
Trosch
Walkers
Aten
Cafeteria
LoPresto
Bus Lot
Belk
Ctyd Orange
Feeley (team 2)
Bus Lot
Trosch
Ctyd Blue
McSheehan(tm2)
Cross Orange
Roldan (team 2)
Cross Blue
Strong (team 2)
Mobiles
Tarwater(team 2)
Bus Lot
Gilfillan (team 2)
Crossing Guard
Aten
Crossing Guard
Belk
Lobby
Parkhurst
Lobby
Austen
*Team 1 and Team 2 will rotate every 3 weeks. Rotation Schedule: th Sep. 12 rd Oct. 3 th Oct. 24 th Nov. 13 th Dec. 5 th Jan. 9 Jan. 30th th Feb. 20 th Mar. 12 nd Apr. 2 th Apr. 30 st May 21
Teacher Afternoon Bus Duty The bell for students to leave will ring at 2:00 p.m. Students who are car riders/after school and bus riders will be escorted to the designated areas by the teacher. Each teacher will walk students down the line of buses. Upon leaving the bus lot, each teacher will place the daily transportation form in the transportation folder on the front office counter -4-
Teachers should board the bus and help the driver make sure students are seated and no one is standing as the bus pulls off.
Professional Expectations Arrival to/Departure from School The work day officially begins at 7:00 a.m., unless assigned duties begin before. All exceptions, beyond emergencies, shall be discussed with the principal ahead of time. Licensed staff must work a minimum 7.5 hour day unless taking annual, personal, or sick leave. The required day officially ends at 2:30 p.m., unless duties adjust your individual starting/ending times. All teachers are responsible for securing their rooms prior to leaving for the day.
Dress All staff will dress in a professional manner. Jeans or shorts (above the knee) are not appropriate during regular school days. Sweat suits or fleece suits are also inappropriate attire. Please recognize that while sandals are acceptable, flip flops are not to be worn to school. If sleeveless shirts are worn, straps should be appropriate. On teacher workdays, please feel free to dress more casually, however, that does not include flip-flop style shoes. On parent conference days and other special events, please dress professionally.
Instructional Time Instructional time begins at 7:30 and ends at 2:00 each and every day, including days before holidays, end-of-year, etc. Fill those minutes wisely! Daily Plan Books and Lesson Plans Good teaching results from good planning. Classroom teachers are required to develop weekly lesson plans, which shall reflect one or more objectives, activities, homework assignments, and based upon the needs of students. Teachers should also have a way of monitoring student progress. Lesson Plan Expectations: Easy to read and follow (organized) Completed for the whole week NCSOS objective number listed Evidence of math strategies being used for hands-on math instruction beyond the textbook Teaching point listed for reading workshop Teaching point listed for writing workshop Plans include what the teacher is to do or model Plans include what the students are to complete Plans include the assistant’s role or responsibility during the lesson Evidence of higher order thinking skills Evidence of leveled literacy groups related to DRA’s, benchmark assessment, or anecdotal notes Variety in lesson format (whole class, group/partner, small group, individual work, etc) Use of science kits for hands-on-instruction -5-
Evidence of a balanced literacy program: strategy groups, conferences, guided reading, independent reading, mini-lessons, shared reading, read aloud with accountable talk, word study
Teachers are to keep daily lesson plans one week in advance. Planning books are provided for teacher use, but any alternative each teacher may choose to employ is acceptable, assuming it can be followed and understood by others. Lesson plans not only should reflect the grade level programs outlined in the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, but also be developed using anecdotal records (conference notes), formal and informal assessments to address the various needs of the students. Plan books should be in view on teacher’s desks at all times. Grade level planning should take place during scheduled grade level planning time and notes should be downloaded to Moodle weekly. Workroom/Supply Room Expectations Be accountable for use of materials and clean up after yourself. Supplies will be available upon request. Submit any requests to Bookkeeper, Beth Chadwick. Requests will be filled within 2 days if the supply is in stock. If something of large quantities is needed, approval from administration is needed. Following approval, a request should then be submitted to Beth Chadwick so it can be ordered. Leveled Book Room The leveled book room is located in the orange hall. The leveled book room contains leveled books, novel sets, and big books. Teachers should always properly check out any materials. It is important that all staff members be accountable for materials borrowed and clean up after themselves. K-2 teachers should limit themselves to 10 packs of books at a time. 3-5 teachers should limit themselves to 6 packs of books at a time. Returned materials should be left in the designated location. DO NOT RESHELF THE MATERIALS. Deadlines It is important that all staff meet deadlines that are set. Not completing things on time impacts the jobs of others. Telephone Calls Telephones are available to be used for professional purposes by the employees. It is important that the phones be used for school business and emergencies. There should be no personal calls while in charge of students, including those on personal cell phones. Unless a true emergency exists, staff members will not be called to the phone. A message will be put through to voicemail. When a voicemail is left, the phone in the classroom will blink to notify that a message was left. In the event of a true emergency, messages will be hand delivered. Long distance phone calls from the school must be school-related. administration.
Any exceptions must be approved by
In the event of a life-threatening emergency when time is of the essence, the phone restrictions are suspended; please notify the office immediately. Exercise the highest level of judgment when placing an emergency call. No teacher should be using a cell phone while supervising students. Confidentiality of Student Records The Family Educational Right to Privacy Act of 1974 forbids the release of information regarding student records, whether written or verbal, to anyone other than that student’s immediate guardian, except in extremely limited -6-
circumstances. All staff shall refrain from discussing student achievement outside the educational setting unless with the child’s legal guardian, or on some other professional basis. When in doubt, simply say, “I cannot talk about that.” It’s not only good practice, it’s the law. No appraisal or evaluation of students’ achievement should be provided to anyone except the legal guardians of the child and those who have a professional right to such information and share in the educational program of the student. Communication with Parents All teachers K-5 shall provide regular communication home regarding assignments on a weekly basis, minimum. Parent Communication Requirements: Update class website twice monthly Use agendas to communicate as needed Use email, phone calls, or conferences as needed Send home class notices via enews. Parent Conferences Parent conferences should occur as needed. It is expected that the teacher has contacted the parent about any concerns before a conference is scheduled. Encore and/or Support staff should be an active participant in parent/teacher conferences as necessary. It is essential to have samples of work to support student performance. Parent conferences should always begin with a positive point and end with a positive point. Parents may contact administration; however, parents are encouraged to discuss concerns with the teacher before involving administration. If the teacher and parent cannot reach a resolution then administration will become involved.
Work Hours and Absences Specific To Classified Personnel In accordance with federal employment law, all classified employees (non-licensed/non-salaried) must be compensated in money or compensatory time for each hour worked in excess of regular and customary expectations. Teacher assistants must be compensated in excess of 40.0 hours per week. Custodians must be compensated when in excess of 40 hours per week. Assistants should not work over 40 hours. All overtime must be approved in advance by administration. Absences form Work Attendance is crucial for all staff. It is imperative that teachers and support staff are here each day to that school runs smoothly. Please make every attempt to take care of business or personal commitments outside of school hours. If you must be absent from work, please give as much notice as possible. Please follow these procedures, in order: 1. Teachers ONLY-Call STEMS; payroll will verify with STEMS data. Request or designate sub-teacher for regular school days. 2. Call the school (704-290-1505) and leave a message in the general voice mail to notify the school in addition to using STEMS. 3. Assistants, Curriculum and Office Support Staff ONLY-If using annual or sick leave, you must call STEMS. If you call STEMS, the leave will be charged against your official leave balances. -7-
4. Contact the principal at any time to discuss potential absences especially long-term absences. Generally, the earlier we know about the absence, the better we can plan. The bottom line is that we must be informed. 5. All planned absences, i.e. professional development, should have secured substitutes prior to the day of absence. 6. Personal days need pre-approval. Each teacher should have 2 days of very specific emergency substitute lesson plans. These should be clear enough that any qualified substitute could teach your class with absolutely no further input from you. Your substitute folder should be turned in to Lisa Austen. Please update as needed. If you do not have plans and are relying on a person to check their email, please call the school at 7 am to ensure the substitute gets the plans in a timely manner. Sick Leave Sick leave may be granted for: 1. Actual period of temporary disability caused or contributed to any personal illness, injury, or other temporary disability, which prevents an employee from performing his/her usual duties. 2. Illness in the employee’s family that necessitates the employee’s attendance. Immediate family is defined as spouse, children, parents, and other dependents living in the household. 3. Death in the immediate family. Immediate family is defined as spouse, children, parents, brother, sister, mother-in-law, father-in-law, daughter-in-law, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, grandmother, grandfather, grandson, granddaughter, stepmother, stepfather. 4. Medical appointments for the employee only.
Maternity Leave Plans Please adhere to rules governing plans for absences. Plans must be highly detailed, span the length of leave being taken, and be reviewed by Lisa Austen prior to taking leave. Each grade level impacted by maternity leave should have a “go to” teacher who is knowledgeable about the plans left for the substitute.
School Discipline Each teacher will follow the school-wide discipline plan. The administration will be more than happy to aid you with discipline problems. However, you set the general discipline pattern of your class, and it is your responsibility to maintain an orderly, well-disciplined classroom. Begin the first day setting the expectation and enforcing your classroom rules. Teachers should attempt to resolve discipline issues at the classroom level and communicate issues with parents/guardians. If the matter requires administration, a detailed written referral must accompany the student to the office.
Health and Safety Health Room If a student needs to see the nurse, please write down a note explaining the need.
-8-
Accidents and Insurance All accidents (staff or student) must be reported to the office on the same day on which the accident occurred and all necessary forms filled out. Forms are located in the Health Room. A staff member should always accompany students to the office that has been injured. Please submit the events in writing should a parent call acquiring information the incident. Teachers and assistants should always have rubber gloves in their room, when they go outside, and when they are on a field trip. The First Response Team will be ready to assist you with any emergency situation. (Send a message to the office that you need help.)
Student Allergies Every teacher should be mindful of students with allergies. Check records for medical plans/504s for pertinent information. As a precaution: Do not serve any food item with peanuts!
UCPS Safety Zones Guidelines Purpose The purpose in having UCPS Safety Zone Guidelines at each elementary school is to ensure consistent supervision (i.e. the number of staff supervising students, location of staff on the playground) of all children in order to make certain that all UCPS students are safe and secure on the playground. Playground Safety Zone Guidelines
Each playground should be divided into at least two, but preferably four safety zones, with staff positioned in each zone. There may need to be more zones depending on the number of students on the playground. Two staff members should be present in each safety zone area at all times. One of these staff members should be from the classroom that occupies the playground to ensure having a faculty member who recognizes the students. To ensure that two staff members are present at all times on the playgrounds for grades 3-5, two classes should occupy the playground unless a teacher’s assistant can assist with supervision of one class. Staff should be positioned on opposite sides of the playground in order to maximize visibility of all children. Safety zones should be organized so staff members are placed between parking lots, wood lines, streets and other potentially hazardous areas. There should be no more than four classes on each age-appropriate playground area at any time. Teachers should stick to their schedule. Principals should be notified immediately if there is an insufficient number of staff to cover the number of students on the playground. At least one staff member on the playground should have a two-way communications device with the capability of contacting the front office. This should not be a cell phone because of the inconsistency in cell signals. When possible, teachers for children with disabilities should schedule their playground time when the playground has the least number of classes on the playground. Children with disabilities should have the same ratio of supervision on the playground as in the classroom. DO A HEADCOUNT BEFORE AND AFTER RECESS. -9-
Supervision of Students The supervision of students is among the most important tasks of the teacher and teacher assistant. Students should never be left unsupervised because the teacher would be liable for any incident, which might harm a student during the lack of supervision. If an emergency arises, call the office and someone will be sent to supervise your students. Every teacher should strive to provide a high quality of supervision of students. During classroom activities the teacher should maintain a constant awareness of the conduct of students and take precautions under certain circumstances to provide barriers to prevent disruptive behavior. Students should be taught to go from place to place in an organized manner. As students enter the building they should respect others who are learning and always avoid loud and unnecessary noises. Physical Education Periods No children can stay inside unsupervised while the class is at recess. NCDPI Policy requires that all children have at least thirty (30) minutes of SUPERVISED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY each day. For this reason all children, unless excused because of illness or bad weather will be outside at recess. Each class needs to be supervised by their teacher or assistant. Teachers should promote outside group activity and supervise students carefully. A good job cannot be done unless the teacher shows interest in the activity. This interest is indicated by the teacher giving instruction in skills, keeping score, and settling any arguments when they arise. A teacher should not be casually paying attention while talking to another teacher; this is how accidents happen. The teacher should not be seated but moving about offering encouragement and praise while motivating the students. Following any activity, equipment should be accounted for and students should be lined up and taken back to the building in an orderly fashion. **UCPS does not allow “dodge ball,” and discourages activities by which students are eliminated from participation as a consequence.
Grading There will be no plus or minuses on the report cards or cumulative folders. A check is used only to show below grade level in Grades 3-5. Grades K-2 The primary teachers will follow the grading scheme appearing on the report card to indicate the performance of the student. Please grade all items appropriate for your grade level. Use the space provided for teacher comments. Grades 3-5 On the elementary report card, the grading code appears in letter form with corresponding percents. Numeric grades are to be documented on the report card. This is the grading code: “A” excellent (100-93), “B” good (92-85), “C” average (84-78), “D” poor, (77-70), “F” unsatisfactory (below 70). Do not use pluses or minuses on the report card. Please understand that 69 is failing (69.4 rounds down to 69); 70 is passing (69.5 round up to 70). Elementary teachers will grade all subjects listed. Use the space provided for teacher comments. This is the “something extra” which speaks well of the teacher’s work. All comments should reflect the actual quality of work during that grading period. - 10 -
Grades should be a reflection of grading work and grading rubric should be a large component to the grade earned on the report card. Grade levels should meet to create consistency across the grade level. Grades K-2 and grades 3-5 should meet to create consistency across K-2 and 3-5, respectively. Please don’t artificially inflate grades. Let the students earn all their grades. Keep them aware of how well they are doing so that a “D” or “C” will be no surprise to the student. Philosophically, please understand that it is quite impossible for all students to accomplish “above average” and “well-above average” work; “average” is the general mean of the work your students are doing in your classes. A middle “C” average is somewhere in the 8082 range. If your students all get A’s (or all F’s!), something is probably out of kilter. All teachers should evaluate and mark personal and social progress each six weeks.
Honor Roll Criteria “A” HONOR ROLL 1.
Students must have all “A’s” in Reading, Math, Social Studies and Science/Health. They must also have a “2” or”3” in written composition.
2.
Students must have an “S in the following areas:
3.
Spelling Art Music Physical Education Spanish Computer Technology
Students must have an “S” in all areas of Citizenship & Work/Study Habits “A-B” HONOR ROLL
1.
Students must have “A’s” or “B’s” in Reading, Math, Social Studies and Science/Health. They must also have a “2” or “3” in written composition.
2.
Same criteria as in #2 for “A” Honor Roll.
3.
Same criteria as in #3 for “A” Honor Roll.
In order to qualify for Honor Roll, the student must be working on grade level in all subject areas. NOTE: E.C. Students are held to the same standards for Honor Roll as regular education students.
- 11 -
General Guidelines for Promotion/Retention Philosophy The promotion or retention of any student should be determined on the basis of the individual pupil. Many factors relating to the individual must be considered when the question of promotion/retention arises. The final decision as to whether or not a particular student will be promoted or retained should be based not only on academic accomplishments and ability, but on what will result in the greatest good to the total development of the individual. The decision to promote or retain any child shall be made jointly by the teacher(s), the parent(s) and the principal. Joint parent/teacher/principal involvement in the decision making process may elicit more positive feelings about the final decision. Some disagreements between the parties on the advisability of promotion or retention of a child are inevitable. When this happens the final decision legally rests with the principal. Professional/Parental Involvement Factors Retention is utilized when it is genuinely felt by both school and home to be in the student’s best interest. Parent commitment to any placement is important. At all times communication should exist between parents, students, and teacher(s) concerning the child’s lack of progress. Parents should be informed of their child’s lack of progress or problems at the earliest time possible. A phone call or letter from the teacher to the parent about poor progress will distribute the responsibility of helping our children between the home and school. The classroom teacher is responsible for recommending promotion or retention; the principal is charged with determining grade placement. If a child is not passing his work by the end of the first semester (January), the parents shall be notified by Parent Alert Letter (duplicate copy retained in school files) that their child is not progressing as the teacher feels he/she should be. The letter shall indicate that retention is a possibility if the child’s work does not improve. A parent conference should be scheduled following the letter. Parents have an obligation to seriously consider the recommendation of their child’s school and teacher. If a child’s parents insist that their child be placed in the next higher grade even though the child’s work, in the judgment of his teacher, is below grade level or below his capability, a written statement signed by the parent indicating their intention and the school’s recommendation is required. The statement shall become part of the child’s cumulative record.
Student Attendance/Tardies Attendance The school must be provided written documentation within three days after the student returns to school explaining all student absences. Excuses are kept on file in the office until the end of the year. All excuses are to be sent to the office with the daily attendance folder. Teachers must maintain an awareness of excessive absences and report such occurrences to the principal or counselor. Letter concerning excessive absences will be generated from NCWISE and mailed home from the front office. The absence should be coded and recorded as follows: Code 1 – Lawful: The following are lawful reasons for school absences: 1. Illness or injury 2. Death in the immediate family 3. Medical or dental appointments 4. Court or administrative proceedings - 12 -
5. Religious observances 6. Educational opportunity – prior approval by Principal 7. Quarantine Code 2 – Unlawful: All absences that are not classified as lawful Code 3 – Out of School Suspension (OSS) Please have your attendance in the computer by 8:30 a.m. daily. Teachers need to sign attendance sheets weekly. Union County Tardy Policy All tardies/early leave will be addressed on a school-by-school basis. Attendance in school for all classes the full time allotted for classes is essential for student success. However, at the 10th unexcused tardy or early leave, the student will be referred to the school attendance counselor for discussion with parents. At the 15th unexcused tardy or early leave, the student and his/her parents will be required to meet with the school principal to determine a plan that allows the student to be on time and in school all day. A student who has been tardy/early leave 20 times (unexcused) may be referred to Truancy Court.
Field Trips Field Trip Policy 1. The teacher will be responsible to make sure that their field trip is related to the curriculum. 2. Each class may participate in 1 field trip per year beyond those trips arranged by UCPS (i.e. Fred Ingold Music Festival, Ag. Day, etc.…) 3. Obtain a field trip packet from Kim Alexander. Complete appropriate forms for the type of field trip – yellow bus, activity bus, charter bus - and return to Kim Alexander. 4. Field trips should be approved and scheduled by October 1, 2011. a. Regular bus drivers are available from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. 5. Plan to cover the entire cost of the field trip which may include the following: a. Using a map service (e.g. Map Quest), find the total mileage to and from the destination and add 20 miles from the bus garage. Then, calculate cost by multiplying total mileage by $2.15/mile. b. For non-charter bus trips, calculate the total number of hours for the bus drivers- be sure to add 1 hour per driver for transit to and from the bus garage. The current driver rate is $12/hour. c. Factor into your cost, an estimation of how many students will be unable to pay and adjust the cost per student accordingly to cover the deficit. d. If charter bus is used, have quoted price. 6. EMAIL Kim Alexander - the date, destination, time of departure from school, the time of return to school, and the number of adults and students. This will hasten securing buses and drivers. For charter bus trips, the teacher in charge of the trip is to secure buses through the current approved list of carriers. 7. It is the teacher’s responsibility to see that all students have the parent permission slip signed. No verbal permission is to be accepted except by the principal. 8. Only approved volunteers are allowed to go on the trip; sponsors must check with the volunteer coordinator for the latest “level” updates on the day before the trip. When in doubt, check with the front office. 9. The number of chaperones for most trips should be determined by the number needed to adequately monitor the students, not by the number who wish to go. Please be judicious in your planning. 10. “Two-Deep” Rule: When assigning groups of students to chaperones, there shall always be at least two adult chaperones per group, and preferably no less than 4 students. In the event of a problem or questionable situation, this protects the interest of both students and adults in the group. - 13 -
11. No siblings of students are allowed on field trips. Please indicate this on the additional notes of the field trip permission form. 12. No prepayments will be made with school money. 13. Monies must be turned in to Beth Chadwick two weeks prior to the field trip. 14. Lunch information must be turned in to the cafeteria manager (eating or not eating lunch) two weeks prior to field trip. Field Trips: General Info A field trip provides the opportunity for students to learn from the actual visitation site. Proper arrangements for the visit should be made ahead of time by the teacher. It is important to remember that a field trip is a classroom outside the confines of the regular classroom. This fact requires just as much planning and preparation as a class within the classroom. For example: The field trip may be used to conclude a study or introduce a study. Therefore, students should be prepared for what they will study or be exposed to on the trip. It is advisable to assign written work to be done relative to the purpose of the field trip. Some of this work may be done during the trip. The extent of written work would be dependent on such factors as grade level, site of field trip and purpose of trip. The teacher should also jot down important facts on the trip as follow-up information when returning to the classroom. A field trip is not just a pleasure outing. It is an outing to study and learn. Occasionally, the teacher may plan a trip to a place not previously visited. Whenever this happens students can write their questions during the trip and answers can be obtained as follow-up when returning to the classroom. Pencils and paper, study questions, descriptions, pictures, maps, objects to look for, etc. should open doors for student investigations. Students are charged a fee for riding the bus and would pay any required admittance fees. A UCPS Activity Bus will transport 60 passengers, 3 per seat. This enables two classes to go together on some trips; however, at times it is much better for groups to go separately, particularly on short trips. Some trips will require additional supervision. Parents of your students are not always the best ones to invite. They hesitate to supervise forcefully, but at the same, time you need extra help. Whenever you have extra help give them exact responsibilities. Write a few rules for them to be aware of so they will feel needed and have a purpose. When taking a yellow bus, parents must drive separately. Do not encourage students to take extra money. If money is needed, give them the exact amount for them to take. If your class were to have lunch at a fast food service restaurant prescribe what items should be purchased and the amount of money necessary. Do not allow eating food or chewing gum on the bus. If you enforce these rules you establish better classroom similarities. Following your visit a note of appreciation should be written by the students and/or the teacher. Any exceptions to riding the bus by parents must be documented and communicated to administration. When you plan a field trip, make sure you send Mrs. Croffut or Mrs. Yetter a copy of the letter you send home to parents. Please include in her copy of the letter who to make the check payable to when writing check for field trip. The teacher responsible for arranging the trip is also the one responsible for making sure Beth Chadwick has this information and a receipt on your return to school. Please return receipt to the office as soon as you can.
- 14 -
TEACHERS, PLEASE DO NOT OVER- OR UNDER-CHARGE ON FIELD TRIPS. BETH CHADWICK WILL HAVE A SEPARATE ACCOUNT FOR EACH TEACHER FOR FIELD TRIPS SO THAT WE MAY KEEP TRACK OF THIS. When receipting field trip money, indicate somewhere on the receipt the amount you are charging for transportation, admission and lunch (if students were charged for each). As of now the amount for transportation is $ 2.40 per mile. This is subject to change- check with Mrs. Yetter. When planning a field trip, keep in mind a time frame for collecting money. We would like to have all the money collected and in the bank at least seven to ten days in advance of the trip-most of the time this will work. There may be an occasion when we would not have the time, but usually teachers plan trips well in advance so this should not be happening. On the day of the trip, the teacher must leave in the office an exact list of the names of the persons going on the trip.
Cafeteria The cafeteria provides an excellent learning and teaching situation. Walk your class to the cafeteria for lunch. While at the cafeteria see that all children eat quietly and mannerly. Designate the first 10 minutes to have quiet eating time. Students are to stay at their table until excused. When all students have finished lunch walk them back to the room. Be prompt in arriving and leaving the cafeteria so others will not be delayed. Teachers should encourage students to eat everyday but not force anyone to eat. *Microwaves are not available for student personal use under any circumstances. Staff may be asked to heat certain items for special situations (allergy, medical, etc.) on rare occasions, but only with the expressed consent of an administrator. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ADHERE TO YOUR SCHEDULED TIMES.
Teacher Assistants The teacher assistant serves an invaluable purpose in the classroom. Such services should be aimed directly toward enhancing the educational achievement of the learner. Every possible moment of time when learners are present should be directed toward learning experiences. When students are present, time should not be diverted to clerical duties, record keeping, bulletin board preparation, etc. Helping students learn is the primary goal and affords the most benefit for the appropriated funds. Teacher assistants are a vital part of the total school program. Just as teachers must respect the confidentiality of student progress and behavior, the teacher assistant must do the same. Student affairs and sensitive school business are inappropriate topics at community gatherings. It is never permissible to share privileged information with outsiders. *It
is the teacher’s job to communicate with the assistant what you expect the assistant to do. It is highly recommended that you involve the assistant in planning and make out a daily plan for him/her. The assistant’s role should be reflected in the teacher’s lesson plans. Teacher assistants will need to convene a meeting during the first days of school to create a substitute/fill-in schedule in the event of an assistant’s absence and provide a copy of the plan to administration.
- 15 -
Bookkeeping Guidelines for Purchasing Purchases by staff members without prior approval of the principal shall not be made. Staff members shall discuss proposed purchase orders with the principal prior to the preparation of a purchase order. No staff member will be reimbursed for any expenditure. **All items purchased (or reimbursed) by the PTA or Sandy Ridge Elementary are the permanent property of Sandy Ridge Elementary and the Union County Public Schools (consumables excepted). Receipting Monies It is imperative that you write receipts when necessary. If you do not know if monies received should be receipted, ask Beth Chadwick. When writing receipts, be sure to sign your own name. Receipt money for:
All field trips Yearbooks
Do not receipt money for: School insurance Pictures Turn in the school insurance money envelope unopened to the office and it will be mailed directly to the insurance company. Turn it in on the day received, as that is the day their insurance becomes effective. FOR ALL MONEY, turn in a money analysis form and your receipt book when turning in money to the office. This protects both you and the school if money should ever go missing, or if questions arise about money handling practices; it does happen, and in the best of places. Without the analysis form, your money will be returned to you until these items have been completed. If you take up money for a field trip, money for admission, and transportation, these must be itemized in separate amounts on the report form. The receipt book will be audited, initialed by the treasurer, and returned to your mailbox. A receipt from the bookkeeper will follow. ALL MONIES MUST BE TURNED IN BY 9:30 a.m. Other Bookkeeping Notes for 2011-2012 Beware of free trial subscriptions. We are still billed, sometimes before you get your 30 day trial subscription. As Teacher’s Accounting Guidelines states “you will be responsible for orders placed without following proper procedures”. A 3 day notice is needed for all check requests, including Teachers Fund. DO NOT keep money in your room overnight. All money collected should be in office by 9:30 with a deposit form. If a receipt is voided white copy must be attached and write “VOID”. All receipts must be accounted for during year-end audit. No blank yellow copies should be in book without white copy. You must clock into the TACS payroll system when you arrive and clock out before you leave. You are also required to clock in and out on workdays.
- 16 -
We must follow proper Workers’ Compensation procedures. See Mrs. Croffut, Mrs. Yetter, or Mrs. Chadwick if you are injured while at work. In the case of an emergency we would bring paperwork to the care facility.
Who To Call Payroll/Benefits http://www.ucps.k12.nc.us/forms_manager/documents/Payroll-Benefits%20Who%20to%20Call%20List%20409.pdf Finance Dept. - http://www.ucps.k12.nc.us/forms_manager/documents/Who%20To%20Call%20AP%2007.07.09.pdf Payroll Calendar http://www.ucps.k12.nc.us/forms_manager/documents/Payroll%20Calendar%2009-10.pdf Workers Compensation
Staff Meetings Staff meetings will be scheduled on Wednesday afternoons at 2:30 p.m. Please reserve this afternoon each week to avoid conflicts. Meetings of a special or emergency nature may be called on other afternoons. Please bring note-taking materials to all meetings.
PTA All certified staff shall attend PTA meetings. Anyone taking evening classes must notify the professor of these dates as you will be expected to attend all PTA meetings. 2011-2012 PTA meetings are scheduled for the following dates at 6:30 p.m.:
Tuesday, September 20th Tuesday, January 24th Tuesday, May 29th
PTA Board of Directors: President: Valerie Secker Treasurer: Lori Maple Secretary: Stacey Thomson VP Committees: Beth Warren VP Fundraising: Melissa Hardy
Additional Information Parties No more than 2 parties per year. Holiday or Success celebration dates and guidelines will be determined by the grade level teachers and approved through administration. Celebrations should have a minimal impact on classroom instruction. Please be aware that as a public school, we do not serve students of only one cultural or - 17 -
religious background. We ask that staff be inclusive and equal in their celebrations. School is an environment where children should learn about many cultures and traditions. All food should be as healthy as possible, being mindful of nutritional value and needs i.e. allergies etc. of all students within a class. All food items must be store bought. Food offered in the classroom shall never supplant lunch; it should be offered after lunch. Please notify the office of any scheduled parties at least 1 week ahead of the party date. Invitations to student parties can be sent through the classroom; however, invitations must be sent all inclusive. Teacher permission must be given ahead of time if snacks or treats are to be brought to school to celebrate the child’s birthday. Party treats must be commercially prepared and packaged. Parents may not bring balloons into school. Birthday treats may only be given out during lunch time. Birthday parties are not to occur in the classroom, and there should be no change to the instructional day. Teachers should send a letter home advising parents if there are any food allergies in the room. Instructional Videos Instructional videos are to be used very sparingly and for instructional purposes only. All video must be preapproved by the principal, correlate to the NCSCOS, and comply with copyright law. I would like to urge all of you to exercise good judgment and caution when using videos. It is imperative that these videos be previewed to make sure that they are both appropriate in language and in content. United Streaming has been pre-approved by the county but must still directly correlate to your grade’s standard course of study. Projects Projects geared toward students’ capabilities are excellent enhancements to classroom learning. Projects that combine in-school research and writing, and a component to be completed at home are an excellent way to monitor students’ work. Teachers are requested to give ample time for project completion and avoid assigning projects over student breaks. It is strongly suggested that students be given time at school to work on projects. Projects done exclusively at home are often products of parent work rather than student work. Homework Homework is an important part of a student’s education. However, it is only one part of an overall picture of how a student is performing in school. Homework alone will not be used to decide whether a child passes or fails a particular subject or grade but will help school staff determine a student’s overall ability level and readiness for the next grade. Listed below are some general reflections regarding homework.
Homework should be a reinforcement of what has already been taught in school.
Homework should include some independent reading on a regular basis.
Parent input should be minimal. Parents should concentrate on making sure homework is completed and not on whether homework is correct.
If a student struggles to complete an assignment, the teacher should know this.
Homework is feedback for the teacher as to who has mastered the concepts and who will need additional help.
Completed homework should be checked by the teacher.
The length of homework assignments should be as follows: Grades 3-5: maximum 60 minutes, 2nd grade maximum 45 minutes, K and 1st maximum 30 minutes. (including independent reading)
Homework is academic in nature therefore, the consequence for not completing homework should be limited to a reduction in the students overall grade. *Consequences such as silent lunch or loss of recess should not be used as a punishment for failure to complete homework assignments. - 18 -
Classroom Walkthroughs Administration will visit classrooms frequently. Teachers will be given feedback following the walkthrough. The purpose of classroom walkthroughs is to establish patterns across grade levels and teams of areas that are going well and areas for improvement. Below is a list of things looked for during walkthroughs: Differentiated instruction Level of engagement Evidence of balanced literacy Current student work displayed Neat and orderly classroom Student arrangement i.e., student desks arranged to encourage collaboration Effective classroom management Objectives and schedule posted School rules posted and students consistently following rules Assessment of student understanding throughout the lesson Classroom environment reflective of current units of study Classroom environment supporting independence i.e., anchor charts, word wall etc. Role of the teacher, i.e., conferring, circulating the room, working with small group etc. Level of student work Committees All staff members will sign up and serve on a committee. Each committee will meet monthly. All members of the committee are to be active participants and equally contribute. Site Based meetings and all committee meetings are scheduled to meet the last Tuesday of each month.
Sandy Ridge Elementary School Improvement Team 2011-2012 Name Rotate Off Michelle Millendorf 2012 Kristina Mueller 2011 Dawn Fell 2011 Gerri Krise 2012 Tracey Kerstetter 2012 Brandon Kerstetter 2011 Michelle Martin 2012 Tracy Gilfillan 2011 Lisa Auten 2011 Donna Ko 2012 ???? 2012 Encore 2010 Susan Sweeney 2011 Renee Nigro Tricia Perry Tabitha Sturgis Larissa Dixon Kristy Maher ----------Cindy Croffut ----------Tricia Yetter -----------
Position Kindergarten 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade Teacher Assistant Teacher Assistant Instructional Support Media Specialist Encore EC AIG Parent Parent Parent Parent Parent Principal Assistant Principal *Other committees include: Globalization Committee, Community Relations Committee, Social Committee, Technology Committee, Student Support Committee - 19 -
Dates to Remember September 20, 2011 – PTA/Curriculum Night Saturday, December 3, 2011 – Winter Solstice Festival Tuesday, January 24th – PTA Meeting Tuesday, May 29th - PTA Meeting Bank Days/Additional Required Workdays September 16, 2011 – Bank Day October 10, 2011 – Required Workday October 21, 2011 – Bank Day November 10, 2011 – Bank Day November 23, 2011- Required Workday January 23, 2012 – Required Workday February 10, 2012 – Bank Day February 24, 2012 – Bank Day March 9, 2012 – Required Workday April 27, 2012 – Required Workday Grade Level Chair Meeting- Last Wednesday of each month August 31, 2011 September 28, 2011 October 26, 2011 November 30, 2011 January 25, 2012 February 29, 2012 March 28, 2012 April 25, 2012 May 39, 2012
- 20 -