Parent Handbook 2018-2019 2 | P a g e

Table of Contents Vision Statement

Mission Statement Shared Beliefs About Our School General Information

Car Riders Classroom Visits Early Dismissal Medication

Tardies Visitor Check-in

Volunteering

Walkers

Attendance and Tardy Policy Classroom Visit Policies and Procedures

Observations Parent/Teacher Meetings

Discipline Policies and Procedures Title 1 Parent Policy Title 1 Learning Compact

Transportation Policies and Procedures Arrival Dismissal Early Dismissal Bus Information

Uniform Policy

Vision Statement “Students at Winding Springs Elementary will achieve the essential academic, interpersonal, and

leadership qualities necessary to contribute as effective and successful citizens in an ever-changing

society.”

Mission Statement “The mission of Winding Springs is for staff, students, and partners to work together for the success of

every child, every day.”

Shared Beliefs old high expectations for student achievement and growth

instructional practices

hould be based upon what is best for each child

About Our School

in the General’s Point neighborhood located off of Gibbon Road, right near the Metrolina Expo

-Kindergarten through 5th grade ip qualities in

all students

International Faculty and Education Partners International programs iation and expand our community

partnerships

technology lab, media lab, iPad carts, and Chrome books available for teaching and learning ucation process to the meet the needs of individual students:

o Based on the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, which includes the Common Core and Essential Standards o Utilizes a balanced literacy approach to develop strong reading and writing skills o Math Investigations curriculum focused on exploration and problem-solving o Special Area classes, including Technology, Media, Art, Music, Physical Education, and Enhanced literacy learning through Dance

o Upper Elementary Drum Line o Competitive Dance Team o Chorus o Math Olympiad o Girls on the Run General Information The Winding Springs Elementary bell schedule is 8:15 a.m. until 3:15 p.m. Front office hours are from 7:45 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Please note the following:

a.m., no earlier. drop your children off early. There is no adult supervision prior to the 7:45 a.m. opening

and this creates an unsafe situation. Families leaving students prior to the opening of school will be contacted by administration to seek resolution to the problem. Families who continually ignore safety protocols by leaving students unattended should note the school may make a report to law enforcement and/or the Department of Social Services. Car Riders

m up in the car pool line only. Car riders should be picked up at 3:15 PM. We understand that emergencies do happen and expect an occasional late pick-up when necessary. However, we cannot provide safe supervision for your child on a regular basis after 3:45 PM. For families unable to pick students up on time, the school does offer an After School Enrichment Program.

Classroom Visits

peak with you whenever you have a question or concern. Please remember that the teachers are very busy with your children most of the school day and may not be available to meet with you if you show up unexpectedly. You are welcome to observe in your child’s classroom with prior approval from administration. If you leave a message in the office, they will be happy to contact you and arrange a mutually convenient time to meet.

detailed information. Early Dismissal

every effort to limit the need for early dismissal.

e in the agenda or parent communication folder. All parents must report to the office to sign students out through the electronic system. Please do not go directly to the classroom to get your child.

S!

Medication

your child needs to take medication of any kind at school, we must have a form completed by your doctor with specific instructions on dosage. Forms are available from the nurse. This includes over 6 | P a g e the counter medications, prescriptions taken on a daily basis and prescriptions taken on a temporary basis. Tardies

into the office with the child to sign in. Please make every effort to have your child at school on time. We begin classes promptly at 8:15 a.m. and every minute they are late results in lost instruction.

Visitor Check-In

tors must stop at the front office. In the office you will be required to sign-in and wear a visitor pass. No person is permitted access to the building without this visitor pass. All non-registered volunteers must be escorted by a staff member at all times. Volunteering

as a volunteer on the CMS website. You may register as a volunteer by visiting the CMS website at http://www.cms.k12.nc.us, then click on the Volunteers & Partners tab and scroll down to CMS Volunteers. Follow the prompts to enter information and complete the registration process. Walkers

-3 must have an older student or adult escort. They may not walk alone. Students in grades 4-5 may walk independently. All walkers should be picked up from a supervising adult in the carpool area.

Attendance and Tardy Policy Full-day student attendance and timely arrival to school are essential for student success. When students are absent for all or a portion of the day, they are missing important instructional opportunities. Therefore, it is important for all students to arrive on time and attend school every day when they are healthy. North Carolina statute § 115C-378 states that “Every parent, guardian or custodian in this State having charge or control of a child between the ages of seven and 16 years shall cause the child to attend school continuously for a period equal to the time which the public school to which the child is assigned shall be in session.” Therefore, in order to aid our students in developing the necessary academic and life skills to prepare them for college, career, and beyond, Winding Springs

Elementary will follow the procedures listed below in response to student truancy: Students who arrive late to school must report to the main office with a parent and be signed in. A child is considered late if he or she is not in the classroom by 8:15 a.m. ready to begin the school day. An EXCUSED

repetitive offenses must have documentation by the physician) ional and/or court appearance

provides a written explanation for the absence. The school may request formal documentation from medical professionals should absences or tardies become excessive. The following steps will be implemented should students be absent or tardy for unexcused reasons:

# of Unexcused Absences or Tardies/Early Checkouts

Action Steps:

3 absences

Parents will receive a 3 day absence letter 6 absences

Parents will receive a 6 day absence letter Parents will be contacted for a meeting with school administration to implement an absence action plan

10+ absences

Parent will be contacted for a meeting with school administration to review absence action plan and make contact with outside supports Parents will receive a certified 10 day absence letter School will make a referral to School Resource Officer for address verification School will follow procedures to report the case to the Juvenile Court

3 tardies/early checkouts

Parents will receive notification from the classroom teacher

6 tardies/early checkouts

Parent will be contacted for a meeting with school administration to review transportation and/or other issues and to develop an action plan

10+ tardies/early checkouts

Parent will be contacted for a meeting with school administration to review the action plan School will make a referral to School Resource Officer for address verification School will follow procedures to report the case to the Juvenile Court for truancy

We look forward to partnering with you to ensure students attend and remain in school as mandated by North Carolina law. If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thank you and we look forward to great success for each and every student at Winding Springs Elementary.

Classroom Visit Policies and Procedures Winding Springs Elementary firmly believes that education is a shared responsibility between families and the school and encourages active engagement and participation by parents/guardians. At times, parents/guardians may wish to observe in a classroom. Charlotte Mecklenburg Board of Education Policy KI addresses Opportunities and Requirements for School Visitors (copies of this policy are available on the CMS website and in the school office). In compliance with the Board of Education policy, the principal may establish and enforce reasonable rules in regards to school visits by parents or other visitors in order to ensure a safe and positive educational environment. Guidelines for Winding Springs Elementary classroom observations and parent/teacher meetings are listed below: Observations

must be received at least one day in advance. Visits may not occur during assessments.

the teacher’s schedule and classroom atmosphere and reserves the right to decline the request for classroom observation if it is determined that such an observation would cause undue disruption in the educational process.

and indicate the name of the teacher or destination before proceeding to contact any other person in the building or on the school grounds. Visitors will be escorted to and from classrooms at all times. All visitors are asked to sign out when leaving the building.

protect the learning environment, the parent/guardian should be the only visitor in the classroom during the observation. Observers other than the parent/guardian must be approved by the principal and have written consent from the parent/guardian describing the reason for the observation. Out of respect for the teaching environment, parents/guardians are asked not to bring younger siblings or children or to utilize electronic equipment such as cell phones while in the classroom. Observers should not disrupt the learning environment by engaging students or the teacher in conversation. A follow-up meeting may be scheduled as needed to answer questions or concerns.

ing in order to accommodate follow-up discussion or clarify questions that may arise.

Parent/Teacher Meetings

cipants must sign in at the office, receive visitor tags, and receive directions to the meeting location. All visitors must sign out when leaving the building.

t remain in the office until it is determined whether the teacher is available for an unscheduled meeting. If the teacher is available, the parent will be directed to the location of the classroom or office for the unscheduled meeting. The parent must sign out when leaving the building. If the teacher is unavailable, the parent must contact the teacher via phone or through written communication to set up a meeting. Discipline Policies and Procedures

Winding Springs Elementary holds high standards for student academic achievement and character

education. Students who engage in behaviors that disrupt the school environment or impede their own

learning or the learning of others will be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the Charlotte

Mecklenburg Schools Code of Student Conduct. The Code of Student Conduct may be accessed here:

http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/parents/resources/pages/handbooksformsandnotices.aspx.

All disciplinary actions will be implemented as defined by the Tiers of Infraction listed in the Code of

Student Conduct. Listed below are some specific guidelines in regards to the assignment of In-School

and Out-of-School suspensions:

-School suspension for a Tier One or Tier Two infraction and/or the referral

is the student’s first infraction. Students may also be assigned an In-School suspension for Tier Two

infractions when an In-School suspension will provide more structure and weight as a consequence than

an Out-of-School suspension. This decision will be at the discretion of school administration.

-of-School suspensions are implemented for Tier II or higher infractions as detailed in the Student

Code of Conduct. Determination of Out-of-School suspensions will be based on a variety of data points,

including: Student history, documentation of prior interventions, progress monitoring data, and

individual student circumstances. All decisions regarding Out-of-School suspensions will be at the

discretion of school administration.

-School suspensions and Out-of-School suspensions of one to ten days are at the discretion of the

principal and may not be appealed to the superintendent or Board of Education. Students receiving

suspensions that are picked up before 10:30 a.m. will serve the suspension on the same day. Students

receiving a suspension who are picked up after 10:30 a.m. or go home via bus transportation will serve

the suspension the following school day.

-of-School suspension must participate in a

conference with a school administrator. This conference may take place at the time of pick-up or when

the student returns to school. Suspension conferences will be held in person. In the event of extremely

extenuating circumstances, such as job or transportation difficulties, the suspension conference may be

conducted via phone, based on the determination of administration. In the event that a parent or

guardian refuses to participate in a return from suspension conference, the student committing the

behavior infraction will not be allowed to participate in off-campus special events until the suspension

conference has occurred.

the Code of Student Conduct rules should be followed at all times. Students violating these rules and

endangering themselves and others may be suspended from the bus for a duration deemed sufficient by

school administration. Continual violation of the Code of Student Conduct on the school bus may result

in the revocation of bus-riding privileges.

Title 1 Parent Policy

The purpose of the Title 1 Parent Policy for Winding Springs Elementary is to encourage each parent to

become actively involved in their child’s education. During the 2015-2016 school year, the following

activities and strategies will be implemented in order to strengthen our family/school connection:

to be involved in the educational process. This document will also be available on our website.

for grades K-5. The compact will be distributed at Open House, the Title 1 meeting, and during

parent/teacher conferences. This agreement between the parent, student, teacher and school

administration outlines each member’s responsibility in the learning process.

explanation of Title 1, a description of parent rights as related to Title 1 schools, assessment

information, and available opportunities for parents to be involved in their child’s education.

the School Leadership Team.

A comprehensive communication plan will be implemented and will include:

ol-wide calendars and grade level newsletters (English and Spanish) will be distributed in

paper and web-based formats.

afternoons.

PrincipalWSE) will be used to communicate updates, reminders, and positive

praise about school events.

-way daily

communication between families and the teacher.

ly Support and Community Involvement strategies will include:

-time, Spanish-speaking Translator/Interpreter.

ings focused on implementation of school improvement plan tasks.

Title 1 Learning Compact

The Title 1 Learning Compact details the responsibilities of all involved parties to ensure the success of

students in a Title 1 school. The complete compact is shown below:

Parent and Family Responsibilities

Make sure my child attends school every day on time and completes his or her homework every day.

-teacher conferences, PTA meetings and workshops whenever possible in order to help my child learn.

minutes every day. My child can read aloud, be read to, or read to him or herself.

rs or staff when I am concerned or have a question about my child.

home/school communication.

make sure my child is well rested. th

materials and learning opportunities for my child, in the home or through the library, church or community.

possible

Provide a safe, welcoming environment for students and families.

do math. Provide challenging opportunities for learning. Address students’ individual needs, whether basic or advanced, and offer special assistance whenever needed.

eir children learn to read, write and do math. Communicate with parents and families about resources, materials and workshops.

families about children’s literacy and math skills. Provide information about how children are doing as well as ways they can help at home with reading, writing and math.

-teacher conference annually.

-home books at appropriate reading levels; or, for non-readers, books that can be read to the students, in order to permit 20 to 30 minutes of reading a day.

-development programs on reading, writing, math and other topics.

Student Responsibilities

school.

Principal Responsibilities

Set high standards and implement effective programs in reading and math throughout the school.

, teachers, families and school staff about the importance of daily reading and the partnership approach of the compact. Report on reading and math performance and create programs to encourage achievement in these areas.

t high standards are met for all students.

students learn reading and math.

Transportation Policies and Procedures Winding Springs Elementary has established transportation procedures in order to provide the safest environment for our students. Please help us insure the safety of everyone by adhering to the following: Arrival

Walkers should stay on sidewalks and in designated crosswalks to ensure safety.

flowing in the car pool lane by pulling up as far as possible before your student exits the car. DO NOT DROP STUDENTS PRIOR TO THE SCHOOL OPENING TIME OF 7:45 A.M. If you need care before school, please contact the ASEP program at 980-343-5140.

o Parking in marked spaces only.

o Not passing other vehicles in the parking lot or car pool lane.

o Allowing students in the drop-off lane to exit on the passenger side of the car only. o Parents should not walk students beyond the main office (exception: Pre-K students) Dismissal

teacher.

home by themselves will be escorted across the parking lot to the sidewalk.

number and directed into the loading zone. Please pull up as far as possible to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.

Early Dismissal

buzzing sound to alert you that the door is open.

-up so disruption to classroom instruction is minimized.

p.m.

wishing to change their student’s regular mode of transportation must send a note to the student’s teacher. Calls made to the office to change transportation will not be accepted after 2:00 p.m. Students without permission will follow their normal transportation routine.

encourage daily reading and/or math practice at home or after school.

families and include and encourage families with low literacy or math skills and/or limited English proficiency. Also ensure that translators or equipment are available so that all families can participate.

Bus Information

ride the bus or need to make changes to bus transportation must do so through the bus transportation website located on the CMS webpage - Departments – Transportation.

specified in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Code of Student Conduct.

tion.

Uniform Policy Please note that Winding Springs Elementary is a uniform school. In an effort to make uniforms easily accessible and easy to care for, we have added navy collared shirts to this year’s school uniform. In addition, tennis shoes with colors will also be allowed. While there may be certain days where the school has a “dress down” day, it is expected that all students will be in uniform each day. Uniform guidelines will be communicated via the school website, Connect Ed messages, and in each of the grade level Welcome letters. In the event a student arrives to school out of uniform, the following responses will be implemented:

– The parent or guardian will receive a reminder note or call from the student’s teacher. Dependent on the school’s uniform closet, the student may be loaned a uniform item to wear during the school day.

– The parent or guardian will be contacted to bring correct uniform attire to the school.

– The parent or guardian will be contacted by school administration for a conference regarding uniform expectations. Girls:

o Shirts – White, hunter green, or navy blue

collared shirts, short or long-sleeved

o Bottoms – Khaki skirts, skorts, jumpers,

pants, or capris

o Tights – White, hunter green, navy blue, or

black tights – no patterns or colors other than listed

o Shoes – tennis shoes or black rubber-

soled Mary Janes – no boots or heels of any kind

Boys:

o Shirts – White, hunter green, or navy blue

collared shirts, short or long-sleeved

o Bottoms – Khaki shorts or pants

o Shoes – tennis shoes only – no boots of

any kind

o Belt – if needed (no sagging pants are

allowed)

All Students:

o Outerwear – Hooded sweatshirts are not allowed to be worn in the school building

o Sweaters – White, hunter green, or navy blue may be worn in the school building