Moose Lake Elementary Parent/Student Handbook 2016-2017

For current school and district information be sure to visit our website at:

http://www.mooselake.k12.mn.us Elementary Office: (218) 485-4834 Kraig Konietzko, Elementary Principal: Ext. 1141 Jackie Habermann, Elementary Secretary: Ext. 1140

Moose Lake Student Handbook Table of Contents

Moose Lake 2016-17 School Calendar...…………….…………….……………….. 3 Welcome Letter……………………………………………………………………. 4 Elementary Staff..………………………………………………………………….. 5 Absences and Attendance…………………………………………………………. 6 Appropriate Clothing…...……………………………………...…………………... 7 Assessments and Testing Dates………………………………...………………….. 7 Bicycles……….………………...…………………………………………………. 8 Birthdays.…….………………...………………………………………………….. 8 Bullying………………………...………………………………………………….. 8 Bus Information………………...………………………………………………….. 8 Cellular Phones/iPads/Personal Electronic Devices………………………………. 9 Dangerous Items/Weapons…..……………………………………………………. 9 Discipline…..………….…………………………………………………………... 9 Emergency Procedures…….……………………………………………………… 10 Emergency School Closing…….…………………………………………………. 10 General Information Phone Numbers…………………………………………….. 11 Harassment and Violence Policy…………………………………………………. 11 Headphones………….……………………………………………………………. 11 Health and Nurse’s Office Information…………………………………………… 11 Homebound Instruction..………………………………………………………….. 14 Home Made Treats…………………...…………………………………………… 14 Lockers…..…..……………………………………………………………………. 14 Lost and Found……………………………...……………………………………. 14 Lunch/Breakfast Program…..…………………………………………………….. 14 Money, Valuable Items, Electronics, and Toys……………………………….…… 15 NCLB Notice To Parents.………..………………………………...…………….. 15 Parent Involvement/Chaperoning…………………………………………………. 15 Parent/Teacher Conferences……………………………………………………… 15 Pets…..…..……………………………………………………………………….. 16 Pictures……………..…………………………………………………………….. 16 PTA…………………...………………………………………………………….. 16 Student Guests…………….…….……………………………………………….. 16 School Arrival Hours………….……..…………………………………………. 16 Student Messages……..…………………………………………………………. 16 Student Pick-up………………………………………………………………….. 17 Teacher Contact……….……..………………………………………………….. 17 Telephone Use.………….……..………………………………………………… 17 Tennis Shoes…………….……..………………………………………………… 17 Visitors……………….………………………………………………………….. 17 Various School Programs…..……………………………………………………. 17 Home Reading Focus …………………………….…………………………….. 20 2

Moose Lake 2016-17 School Year August 30- Ins/Workday 31- Ins/Workday September 1- Workday PM- Open House 5- Labor Day 6- Tri. 1 Begins 23- .5 day PLC

October

AUGUST S M T W 28 29 30 31

T

F

S

SEPTEMBER S M T W

T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

OCTOBER S M T W

T

F

S 1 24- Elem. & HS Conf. 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 27- Elem. & HS Conf. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

19- Full Day PLC

20-21 EdMN Conf.

NOVEMBER S M T W T F S 23- .5 Workday End First Tri 1 2 3 4 5 24-25 Thanksgiving 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 28- .5 Inservice 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 .5 PLC 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

JANUARY S M T 1 2 3 8 9 10 15 16 17 22 23 24 29 30 31

December 9- .5 PLC 22-30 Winter Break

DECEMBER S M T W

T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Key Inservice or Workday- No Students

January

W T F S 4 5 6 7 11 12 13 14 18 19 20 21 25 26 27 28

FEBRUARY S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 MARCH S M T

3- Classes resume 16- Joint Ins. (MLK) 30- .5 PLC Full day conferences

February 20- .5 PLC .5 In-service

March

W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

2- End of 2nd tri

APRIL S M T W T F S 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

April

November

29- 2nd Tri Begins

Approved 2/22/16

3- Full Workday 6-10 Spring Break 13- Begin 3rd Tri

13- .5 PLC 14- Break 25- HS & Elem Conferences

MAY S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

May

JUNE S M

June

T

W

6

7

No School for Students/Staff

4

Parent Conferences

5

T 1 8

F 2 9

S 3

28- Graduation 29- Memorial Day

1- End of Tri 3 2- Workday 5- .5 Workday

Early Release (12:30) - PLC's Open House Trimester Begins Trimester Ends

Moose Lake 2016-17 School Year August 30- Ins/Workday 31- Ins/Workday September 1- Workday

AUGUST S M T W 28 29 30 31 SEPTEMBER S M T W

PM- Open House 5- Labor Day

4

5

6

7

T

T 1 8

F

F 2 9

3

S

S 3 10

JANUARY S M T 1 2 3 8 9 10 15 16 17 22 23 24 29 30 31

Revised 1/4/16

January

W T F S 4 5 6 7 11 12 13 14 18 19 20 21 25 26 27 28

3- Classes resume 16- Joint Ins. (MLK) 30- .5 PLC Full day conferences

MOOSE LAKE COMMUNITY SCHOOLS Independent School District #97 • 413 Birch Avenue • Moose Lake, MN 55767

To: Parents of Moose Lake Elementary Students From: Kraig Konietzko, Principal ([email protected]) Re: Elementary Student Handbook Date: September 1, 2016

We are extremely excited about the opportunity to work with you to provide your child the best educational experience possible. Please feel free to stop by to meet us and visit your child’s classroom. Our school’s quality, reputation, and success rest on parent concern and involvement.

Moose Lake Elementary has the following expectations for students:  Attend school regularly with the proper materials and prepared to learn  Respect the rights and property of others  Behave in a manner that promotes a positive teaching/learning environment  Be respectful, courteous, and cooperative with school personnel and others Please take some time to review the information in this handbook with your child. Knowing the expectations and policies will help students be successful learners. If there is anything we can do to help your child, please do not hesitate to call. Thank you for your time.

Sincerely, Kraig Konietzko, Principal Moose Lake Elementary School

Moose Lake Elementary 2016-2017 Staff 4

Kraig Konietzko Jackie Habermann Maureen Gassert Shirley Carlson Olivia Bennett Nancy Hedin Ann Stephenson Joanne Unzen Brad Hubred Wyan McCausland Deb Butkiewicz Michelle Michaelson Erin Nordstrom Pam Erickson Charles Borak Trish Rodysill Shelly Olson Megan Nielsen Paul Olson Heidi Anderson Missy Gamst Cathy Robinson Juile Peaney TBD Genevieve Berthelot Ryan Hanson Terese Kill Joseph McDonnell Ann Haugen Renee Visser Jillian McGee Loretta Jurek Julie Duesler Loriann Olson Lucas Lekander TBD Joshua Rye Sue Caroline Vicki Radzak Yelena Tychina

Principal Secretary Nurse Kindergarten Kindergarten First grade First grade Second grade Second grade Second grade Third grade Third grade Third grade Fourth grade Fourth grade Fifth grade Fifth grade Sixth grade Sixth grade Title One SLD EBD DCD Speech Music Band Art PE PE PE Counselor ECSE Teacher ECFE Teacher ECFE Paraprofessional ECFE Tutor ECFE Family Education Psychologist Tech Support Community Education Kid’s Plus 5

Office Office Office Rm 34 Rm 33 Rm 39 Rm 36 Rm 35 Rm 27 Rm 29 Rm 26 Rm 43 Rm 43 Rm 41 Rm 42 Rm 38 Rm 40 Rm 31 Rm 32 Rm 37 Rm 24 Rm 39 Rm 3B Rm 20 Rm 9 Rm 11 Art Rm Gym Gym Gym Rm 21 Rm 110 Rm 25 Rm 25 Rm 25 Rm 25 Rm 113 Rm 44 Rm 3A Rm 3A

Margaret Maki Greg Sumner Mary DeYoung Nancy Zuk Susan Bustrak Karen Cisar Jen Collier Sara Crum Emily Danelski Mark Hollis Deb Indihar Barb Isaacson Melissa Monte Randy Peaney Allysha Sample Marcy Skog

COTA OT Librarian Literacy Tutor Paraprofessional Paraprofessional Paraprofessional Paraprofessional Paraprofessional Paraprofessional Paraprofessional Paraprofessional Paraprofessional Paraprofessional Paraprofessional Paraprofessional

Rm 110 Rm 110 Rm 48 Rm 17 Rm 3 Rm 3 Rm 3 Rm 3 Rm 3 Rm 3 Rm 24 Rm 37 Rm 3 Rm 3 Rm 3 Rm 3

Absences and Attendance 1. If your child is ill, please keep him/her home from school so he/she doesn’t expose the other children at school. 2. When your child returns to school, please send a note to his/her teacher briefly stating the reason for the absence and if we at school need to watch him/her or provide additional care resulting from his/her absence. 3. If your child is sick over 2 consecutive days, please call the school and let us know approximately how long you feel he/she may be absent. You also may wish to request student assignments so that you can stop and pick these up. (Please provide your child’s teacher at least 1/2 day to prepare these for you). 4. If you plan a family trip or need to take your child out of school for various reasons, please contact the child’s teacher as far in advance as possible. The teacher can arrange to have your child do some of his/her make up work in advance rather than waiting until he/she returns. (Please try to arrange trips over school scheduled holidays). Attendance - Minnesota state law requires that all children between seven and sixteen, mentally and physically fit, must attend school every day that school is in session. No child can be excused from compulsory school attendance. Meetings between the Carlton County Attorney’s Office and school district representatives have resulted in a uniform Carlton County truancy procedure. It is the express goal of the above parties to solve truancy problems in a cooperative manner with students and families, and to involve the court’s authority only when necessary. In the best interest of the students, we strictly enforce this rule at Moose Lake Elementary School. If your child is absent, we require a written excuse or a phone call to the elementary office at 485-4834. If the school does not receive any parental notice for the child’s illness then a child is 6

considered “unexcused”. Under Minnesota State Statute a child is considered “Continuing Truant” when he/she has three days of unexcused absences. He/she is considered “Habitual Truant” when the child accumulates seven unexcused absences in a school year. Students with ongoing health issues that may result in excessive absences will be required to bring a note from a physician either at the start of the school year or when the health issues first arise. The note shall state the health reasons the student may miss school. A note from a parent or guardian will also be required for each absence in order to be excused. Concerns about excessive absences will be dealt with by the principal on an individual basis in compliance with Policy 503. Tardiness – A student is considered tardy if he/she comes to school between the time of 8:25 – 10:30 am. If a student attends school after 10:30 am it is considered ½ day absent. Full Day Credit – A student is given a full day credit of attendance if he/she remains in school until after 1:00 pm. Excessive Absences - We reserve the right to request a doctor’s note for absences. We reserve the right to not excuse an absence. Appropriate Clothing Classroom: We like our students to wear comfortable, neat, and weather appropriate clothing. The students are not allowed to wear clothing having inappropriate messages, such as, tobacco or liquor messages. Our buildings are kept cool in the winter so it is a good idea to send an extra sweater with your child then. Please label all clothing items. Playground: In the winter we require that primary (K-2 grade) students wear hats, mittens or gloves, coats, snowpants and boots on the playground. We want them to be warm and dry as they enjoy the outdoors so they can learn as much as possible once they are back indoors. If the temperature is below zero, actual or windchill, the principal will make the decision as to whether or not the students will have recess inside or outside. We ask students to remove baseball caps/hats when they enter the school. Footwear: Tennis shoes are required for the gym. No black soled shoes, please. Note: “Shoes with wheels” are fine to wear, as long as the wheels are not used! Rolling around school property on “Heelys” or any other wheeled shoes is not allowed! Due to students doing a lot of running during PE class, flip-flops and “Crocs” type shoes are unsafe and should not be worn to PE class. It would be a good practice to have a pair of “gym” shoes at school if students typically don’t wear them on a daily basis. Fall Festival – Costume dress for the annual Fall Festival needs to be in “good taste” and must not include any fake blood or fake weapons. Assessments and Testing Dates Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments - Tests for the MCA’s will be for students in grades 3–6. Testing dates are typically in the months of April or May with specific days to be determined. Local District Assessments - FAST (K-Grade 1) and NWEA MAP Testing (Grades 2-6) will be conducted twice during the year. Our current testing months will be September or October and in May. Bicycles - Bicycles may be ridden to and from school and parked in the bike racks. However, during the school hours bikes will not be ridden on the school grounds. We 7

recommend that all bicycles be locked during the day. Birthdays - Birthdays are a special time for elementary children. In school: Please check in advance with your child’s teacher if you wish to bring treats for your child’s birthday. Note: Treats that are brought to school must be store bought (Minnesota Department of Health). If home made treats are brought to school, they will be sent back home. Parties at home: If you are having a party for your child at home, please mail the invitations or phone parents, unless you are inviting the entire class. We have hurt feelings if invitations are passed out in school and some children are excluded. Students going to the party must have a signed parental permission to do so. If there will be more than two students going to the party, parents should make arrangements to drive the students to the party rather than use the buses. Bullying - Bullying behavior is not tolerated at Moose Lake Elementary. Students need to feel emotionally and physically safe while at school. Students need to report instances of bullying to adults so they can intervene. Bus Information Routes: Bus routes are established by the district. If your child is starting kindergarten or is new to the district, you will be notified of bus times before the on-set of the school year. Bus routes for all returning students will remain the same unless notified otherwise. Pick up times vary, especially as weather changes, so be sure to have your child waiting at the designated location a few minutes prior to that listed on the schedule. Students are to take their assigned bus to and from school and are to be picked up at their assigned bus stop. Notes/Change of Buses: If your child will be riding a different bus or getting off at a different stop, a bus ticket “Ticket to Ride” form is required. These forms are readily available in your child’s classroom, each school office, and can be found on our district website under “Calendar/Resources.” The ticket should be shown to the teacher, stamped in the office, and then presented to the bus driver of the alternate route. Groups of children changing buses to attend parties must have prior approval from the bus driver to make sure that space is available for the extra students on the bus route. Bus Behavior: Please encourage your child to cooperate with the bus driver and to behave properly at the bus stop and on the bus. The safety and welfare of transported students is an absolute necessity. Misconduct in the following areas will be cause for disciplinary action. Misconduct is understood to be, but not limited to the following: 1. Failure to remain seated 2. Refusing to obey the bus driver 3. Disruptive behavior 4. Not respecting the rights of others 5. Lighting matches or lighters 6. Violation of approved district policies 7. Throwing objects out of or on the bus 8. Hanging out of windows 9. Pop, candy, gum, or lunches eaten on the bus without permission (If pop is 8

allowed on a field trip, use plastic bottles with screw tops. No cans allowed.) 10. Vandalism 11. No animals on the bus 12. No weapons or dangerous objects on the bus Cellular Phones/iPods/Personal Electronic Devices - Cell phones or other personal electronic devices are an efficient device to communicate quickly, but at times can be very problematic when used in the elementary school. Personal electronic devices are not allowed in the classroom, lunchroom, hallway, field trips, or on the playground. Devices used at inappropriate times may be taken from the student and a parent or guardian may need to pick them up at school. Students are not to use cellular phones for calling, text messaging, or picture taking during the school day unless specific permission has been granted by their teacher or the principal. Moose Lake Elementary will not be responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged personal electronic devices. Chromebooks/iPads or other tablet devices may be brought to school and used in the classroom under the direction and guidance of the classroom teacher. Dangerous Items/Weapons - Students are forbidden to use, possess, or distribute any item which could threaten or harm persons or property. The possession, use, or distribution of an identifiable weapon or “look-alike” weapon may result in consequences ranging up to expulsion. Discipline - Moose Lake Elementary is using a positive, school-wide discipline program. It is important that school and home together work to help children learn and develop appropriate behavioral skills. The goals are to ensure that children can function as independently as possible in their school/home community. The discipline plan used at the elementary ranges from verbal warning up to out-of-school suspensions depending on each individual situation. Behavior expectations for all students include the following: BE PROMPT AND PREPARED 1. Be on time 2. Come with appropriate materials 3. Come with assignments completed RESPECT AUTHORITY 1. Listen to authority 2. Follow directions promptly 3. Accept responsibility for your behavior RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS 1. Use appropriate voices 2. Listen to the speaker 3. Respect the opinion and point of view of others 9

4. Respect individual differences and sensitivities RESPECT PROPERTY 1. Respect personal property of others 2. Respect school property DISPLAY A CONCERN FOR LEARNING 1. Remain on task 2. Respect the rights of others to learn DISPLAY APPROPRIATE SOCIAL SKILLS 1. Accept disagreement, criticism, consequences, and compliments gracefully 2. Display courtesy 3. Display tact Emergency Procedures - Fire drills and tornado drills will be held regularly during the school year. Procedures for these drills will be reviewed with students so they are aware of what action is necessary. Emergency School Closing Before School: During severe winter storms when the superintendent deems it unsafe for our buses to run, school will be closed or will start late. INSTANT ALERT: Our school has an automated “Instant Alert” system that is able to send out important messages as they occur. All students’ families should receive a telephone/cell Instant Alert message notifying them if school will be closed or would be starting late. (If you know you have not received these recorded messages from the school, please call the school to verify that we have a correct phone number in our system.) Closings and late starts will also

be broadcast by: radio stations WEBC (56 AM), KDAL (610 AM), KRBR (102.5 FM), 96 Lite (95.7 FM), and KAT Country (98.9 FM) and television stations KDLH (Ch.3), KBJR (Ch.6) and WDIO (Ch.10). During School: When serious storms develop during the school day and the superintendent feels it would be better to send students home early, an Instant Alert message will be sent out to all students’ families. We will also have the radio and TV stations announce the closing. It is crucial that your child know where to go if this situation arises so we are not sending him/her to a locked or empty house.If the weather looks threatening and no one is home, call school to let us know where your child should go. Discuss ahead of time with your child a safe alternative if no one is at home. General Information Phone Numbers District Office - Phone: 218-485-4435 • Fax: 218-485-8110 Elementary Office - Phone: 218-485-4834 • Fax: 218-485-4351 High School Office - Phone: 218-485-4622 • Fax: 218-485-8681 Early Childhood Programs: Phone: 218-485-4834 ext 1025 • Fax: 218-485-4351 Mini Moose Lodge Daycare: Phone: 218-485-4834 ext 1028 • Fax: 218-485-4351 Community Education - Phone: 218-485-4834 ext 1003 • Fax: 218-485-4351 Transportation - Phone: 218-485-8266 • Fax: 218-485-8110 10

Harassment and Violence Policy - Everyone at the Moose Lake Elementary School has a right to feel respected and safe. Consequently, we want to familiarize you with our policy to prevent religious, racial, or sexual harassment, and violence of any kind. A harasser may be a student or an adult. Harassment may include the following when related to religion, race, sex or gender: name calling; jokes or rumors; pulling on clothing; graffiti; notes or cartoons; unwelcome touching of a person or clothing; offensive or graphic posters or book covers or; any words or actions that make you feel uncomfortable, embarrass you, hurt your feelings or make you feel bad. If any words or actions make you feel uncomfortable or fearful, you need to tell the principal or the Human Rights Officer, Jillian McGee. We take all reports seriously and will take appropriate actions based on the reports. The school district will also take action if anyone tries to intimidate the victim or take action to harm him/her because he/ she reported the situation. This is just a summary of the district’s policy against religious, racial and sexual harassment and violence. Complete copies are available in the Elementary School Counselor’s office and in the school offices. Remember: Religious, racial and sexual harassment and violence are against the law! For more information contact: Jillian McGee @ 485-4834 extension 1023. Headphones - For sanitary reasons, students are asked to provide their own headphones for use in the computer lab. Our computers use a standard plug-in used by other portable devices such as radios and CD players. Health and Nurse’s Office Information Student Illnesses Although good school attendance is important for learning, please keep your child at home when he/she is too ill to function properly or when he/she could place other students at risk. We occasionally have students who will feign illness to not attend school and in this case, keeping him/her home would not be in your child’s best interest. If your child should become sick at school, we will allow him/her to rest in the nurse’s office. If no improvement is seen and/or your child has a temperature, we will notify you, using the telephone numbers provided on your child's emergency card. Please keep the emergency card up to date and notify school if there are any changes. We have a full-time school nurse who is available for consultation. Accidents at school If your child is seriously injured at school, you will be notified. If emergency treatment is needed and we cannot contact you or anyone on the emergency card, we will call the ambulance. The school carries no insurance on students and is not responsible for accidental injuries. Be certain the emergency information card is up to date and complete in the nurse’s office. Emergency Cards At the beginning of the school year, emergency cards are sent home with the elementary students. At the first Parent/Teacher conference, parents of high school students will be asked to complete the high school cards. One card per family is all that is necessary, but please complete both sides of the card. The information is needed to call parents in case of illness or injury. The more numbers and contacts given us, the better chance we have of contacting someone quickly. If you do not have a phone, we ask that you give us 1 or 2 reliable names to call. If your phone numbers 11

change during the school year, please notify the nurse’s office as well as your child’s teacher. Exclusion from School - Students are automatically sent home from school when they: 1. Have a fever of 100 degrees or greater 2. Throw-up or have diarrhea 3. Have recurrent bloody noses or a nosebleed that cannot be controlled 4. Have a persistent cough 5. Have a communicable disease such as strep throat, chicken pox, impetigo, pink eye, etc. We ask parents to help control the spread of communicable diseases by doing the following: Keeping their child home for 24 hours from last episode of vomiting/diarrhea, last temperature of 100 degrees or higher, or from the 1st dose of medicine for strep throat, pink eye, impetigo, etc. Students may be sent home at the discretion of the School Nurse if they are not feeling well enough to concentrate on school tasks. Medications The Nurse’s Office does not supply Tylenol, cough drops, Tums, etc. The only medicine available is prescription medicine for students with health needs. Parents must fill out a form for prescription meds and have it signed by a doctor, before the medicine can be administered at school. The prescription needs to be in the original bottle with the pharmacy label intact. The completed form can be faxed to the School Nurse at 485-4351. If your child needs antibiotics/Tylenol/Ibuprofen on a short-term basis, these also need to be in the original bottle/container, with a note from the parent regarding instructions for giving the medication (dose, time etc.).

The school nurse cannot give medicine sent in a baggie, or not sent in the original container. Head Lice We want to remind parents the importance of checking your child regularly for head lice. It takes a joint effort between the school and parents to prevent outbreaks of lice infestations. The school will notify parents if there is a reported case of a student with head lice in their child’s classroom. It is up to parents to check their child’s scalp for lice and/or nits. It is recommended you do this on a daily basis, as lice are easier to get rid of the earlier they are detected. Head scratching and intense itching of the scalp are the main indications of head lice, and their presence can be confirmed by a close visual inspection of the hair and scalp under a good light. Look for tiny grayish/brown crawling bugs and/or tiny whitish oval eggs adhering to the hair shafts about ¼-inch from the scalp. Head lice are generally transmitted from one person to another by direct personal contact and by sharing personal items, such as, combs, brushes, hats, 12

scarves, coats, bedding, upholstery, etc. Head lice can spread rapidly if preventive measures are not taken as soon as the lice or their eggs have been detected. They do not spread disease, but they do cause annoying itching. Please notify the school nurse if you find your child does have head lice. We no longer do head checks at school, but we do notify parents. Asthma Inhalers Students will be allowed to carry their inhalers with them at school with parent permission, but must be renewed each school year. If the School Nurse does not feel the student has the knowledge/skill to safely use an inhaler it will be kept in the Nurse’s Office. This usually only pertains to younger students who do not have understanding of their asthma medicine. Please let us know if your child has asthma and is allowed to carry his/her inhaler. The school needs to be aware of students with asthma in order to treat problems that may occur. The student’s inhaler must be marked with a pharmacy label with student name, doctor and instructions for use. If you have any medical concerns, or there have been changes in your child’s health, please feel free to call the Nurse’s Office at 485-4834, ext. 1212. Students entering 7th grade need the following immunizations (shots) before they can begin classes in September: Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, & Pertussis) booster / 2nd MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) / Hepatitis B series (3 shots over a period of 6 months) / Varicella – 2 doses / & Meningoccocal vaccine 7th Grade Immunization Requirements

(new requirement Sept. 2014) Early Childhood Screening is completed in February of each year for the Moose Lake

School District. We screen children ages 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 years old. In February we will screen children with birthdates between 9/01/12 and 8/31/13. Information regarding Early Childhood screening is mailed out to families in early January. Early Childhood screening is a state mandated requirement in order to enter Kindergarten. Please be sure your child is on the school census, as this is our source for eligible children in Moose Lake School District.

Requirements to Enter Kindergarten – 1. Physical at your doctor’s office 2. Up-to-date immunizations which include: 5 DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus) / 4 IPV (Inactivated Polio Vaccine) / 3 Hepatitis B / 2 MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) / 2 Varicella (Chickenpox) / Birth Certificate - to verify birth date and correct spelling of their legal name / Completion of Early Childhood Screening Homebound Instruction - If a child is absent for a significant time as a result of a serious accident or illness, he/she may be eligible for homebound instruction. Contact the principal for more information. (485-4834) Home Made Treats - Home made treats for classroom distribution will no longer be allowed in the Elementary School, School Readiness, and the ECFE Programs. This 13

guidance is coming directly from the Minnesota Department of Health. All food/treats for classroom sharing need to be store bought. All store bought treats brought to school need to be in the original container/package so that the ingredients and carbohydrates can be checked before students eat them. This policy is for the health and safety of all students particularly those with food allergies and diabetes. If home made treats are brought to school, they will be sent back home. Home Reading Focus (PreK-Grade 3) - Please review the ML “Home Reading Focus” located at the end of this handbook. The Home Reading Focus is designed to provide parents some daily reading guidelines for your child at home. Lockers - Student lockers are intended for daily use for housing students’ coats/jackets, shoes/boots, and school related items. Lockers are property of the school and are subject to inspection at any time. Writing in school lockers is prohibited and students should never store food or liquids for extended periods of time in their assigned locker. Lost and Found - Each year our lost and found is filled with items misplaced by children. Many items are quite valuable. We ask that you please label jackets, sweaters, hats, etc. so it will make it easier to locate the owner. If your child is missing an item, please encourage him/her to check the lost and found in the elementary office. Lunch/Breakfast Program Pre-Paid Lunch Program - Parents will need to deposit money into their students’ accounts prior to their student(s) eating. If you have any questions about the program, please contact Shari Anderson at 485-4435, ext. 1121. Our hot lunch program provides balanced nutritional meals for grades K-12. The menus are planned using federal standards. Hot lunch for elementary students costs $1.95 which includes 1/2 pint of milk. A salad option is available for grades 3-12. Adult lunches cost $3.50. Reduced and free lunches are available to children of families who qualify based on income guidelines. Applications are available in any of the school offices. Breakfast is available to elementary students at a cost of $.55 per meal ($.80 for high school students and free for families qualifying for the reduced or free lunch status). Billing is done on a pre-payment system. Students must have money in their account to purchase meals. Cold Lunch: Students may bring their own lunch to school. Milk will be available for purchase at .35 per carton. We encourage cold lunches to be nutritious and to refrain from bringing candy and drinking pop in the lunchroom. Please see that your child’s name is on the lunch box and thermos. Money, Valuable Items, Electronics, and Toys - Students are discouraged from carrying money during school. If they need to have money, please put it in an envelope with their name/grade on it. Valuable items such as electronics, jewelry, computer games, radios, skates and skate boards, etc. should not be brought to school. Students should not bring their toys to school except for items on the playground (football, jump 14

ropes) and “Show and Tell”. No squirt guns, etc., are allowed in school. Moose Lake Elementary will not be responsible for lost, stolen, or damage to personal property. NCLB Notice to Parents - As a parent of a student in the Moose Lake School District, under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, you have a right to know the professional qualifications of the teachers who instruct your child. The No Child Left Behind Act gives you the right to ask for the following information about each of your child’s classroom teachers: 1. Whether the State of Minnesota has licensed or qualified the teacher for the grades and subjects he or she teaches. 2. Whether the teacher is teaching under an emergency permit or other provisional status by which state licensing criteria have been waived. 3. The teacher’s college major, whether the teacher has any advanced degrees and, if so, the subject of the degrees. 4. Whether any instructional aides or similar paraprofessionals provide services to your child and, if they do, their qualifications. If you would like to receive any of this information, please contact the District Office at 218-485-4435. Parent Involvement / Chaperoning - Parents are their children’s most important teachers! Parental involvement is the biggest indication of a child’s success in school. Read to your children! Listen to them! Let your children know that their education is important. Chaperoning field trips is an opportunity to be with your child during a school activity. If you do volunteer to chaperone, siblings or younger children are not able to attend the event due to chaperones having supervisory duties during the field trip. Parent/Teacher Conferences - Moose Lake Elementary School will have two conferences this year. The Fall and Spring conferences will be scheduled by your child’s elementary teacher and you will be notified of your time. If you have a preference for a conference time, please let the school secretary or your child's teacher know at least one (1) month before conferences. Fall Conferences - Monday, October 24 and Thursday, October 27 (3:30 – 7:30) Winter Conferences - Monday, January 30 (12:45 – 7:30) Spring Conferences – Tuesday, April 25 (3:30 – 7:30) Pets - Students are not allowed to bring live animals or pets on the bus. Students wanting to bring a pet to school must get permission from the teacher and arrange for transportation through the parents. Animals that are poisonous or could be harmful are not allowed to be at school. Pictures - Individual student picture day will be held Thursday, October 1, with a retake day on Thursday, November 5. We will also conduct student pictures in the Spring. PTA - Moose Lake Elementary has an active PTA organization. The group meets monthly to conduct organizational business. The meetings are generally the first Monday of each month (excluding December) and begin at 6:30 pm. All the meetings are conducted in the Elementary Library. Everyone is welcome to attend! 15

Student Guests - Students occasionally ask to bring relatives and friends to school for the day. We feel this could be disruptive to the students, to the teacher, and is a potential liability issue to the district. Therefore, we don’t allow guests to attend school. School Arrival and Hours - For purposes of your child’s safety and overall student supervision, we are requesting that all elementary students arrive at school no earlier than 8:00am unless you are utilizing our Mini-Moose School-Age Care service. Here’s what a typical morning will look like: Students arriving to school earlier than 8:00am will be expected to wait by the main elementary (double door) entrance until supervision begins promptly at 8:00am. Students will not be allowed to their classroom or to their locker. At 8:00am, students will be welcomed into the “Supervised Area” which is the main elementary hallway area next to the big gym or to the cafeteria for breakfast. As in year’s past, school breakfast will begin promply at 8:05am. Supervision of students will be from 8:00 – 8:15am daily. At 8:15am, students will be dismissed to their classroom for the start of the school day. This change is being made to keep your child safe when he/she is in the building and here at school. Thank you for your attention and understanding to this matter! Moose Lake Elementary School classes start at 8:25 a.m. and ends with a staggered release time beginning with preschoolers at 3:10 and ending with 6th grade at 3:20 p.m.

Student Messages - This should only be done in the event of emergencies. If necessary, call the office and leave your message with one of the school office personnel. We appreciate if alternate plans for students be made in advance. The need to give students messages should be the exception and not the rule. If the need arises, however, don’t hesitate to call. (485-4834) Student Pick-up If you wish to make a change in the way you usually have your child go home from school (ie. Grandparent is to pick him/her up or), we must have a note or a call from home. For your child’s safety we ask that you let us know of any change in departure plan. If you are picking your child up from school, please check in at the office and sign your child out (a sign out book is located on the office counter). We want to assure that your child is not being taken by an unauthorized person. Students are not to make plans during the day to go some place other than home. Teacher Contact - The best time to talk to your child’s teacher at school is 8:00 to 8:30 A.M. and 3:30 to 3:45 P.M. You may call at other times and leave a message for the teacher on his/her voice mail extension. If problems or concerns arise concerning your child in the classroom, please call your child’s teacher first. The classroom teacher is the closest person to your child at school and is the first person to be contacted if concerns arise. If there are still concerns after talking to the teacher, feel free to contact the elementary principal. All other concerns should be taken directly to the elementary principal. Telephone Use - Students are discouraged from using the telephone during the school day. Plans should be arranged ahead of time, if possible. Students will not be allowed 16

to use cellular phones during school hours. Students need to get permission from their classroom teacher in instances where a student needs to use a school telephone. The school will not be responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen cellular phones. Tennis Shoes - A separate pair of tennis shoes are highly encouraged for all physical education classes. Flip Flops and “Croc” style shoes are fine for most of the school day, but students need to have tennis shoes for their physical education classes. With students doing a lot of running and turning in physical education classes, Flip Flops and “Croc” style shoes are unsafe as they don’t provide adequete support. These types of shoes slip on the feet and usually do not have a good grip on the bottom. Please make sure your child has tennis shoes at school to wear during physical education class. Visitors - All visitors to our school must first report to the Principal’s Office. Visitors will be issued a visitor’s badge and asked to sign-in upon arrival. This is to protect your child from possible problems and also to eliminate any unnecessary classroom interruptions. Making plans for a classroom visit ahead of time with the office insures a successful visit. Various School Programs - Our school district has a support staff who provide services for students beyond those received in the regular classroom. *Computer Access - Moose Lake Elementary students use computers frequently in our Elementary Computer Lab. Computers are used as a teaching tool to enhance the curriculum and to provide a means of developing problem solving skills at all levels. *Art – Art is an elementary specialist class that will be used in some grade levels during the school year. Art will also be taught in the regular education classroom, but certain grade levels will have the opportunity to have a specialist teach them on a weekly basis. *Library Program - Students are assisted weekly with choosing appropriate reading material. The librarian is also available to students and teachers to assist in integrating skills with classroom curriculum activities. *Music/Band Programs - Students receive general music instruction from a music specialist 3-4 times a week in grades K-6. Students may also choose to receive full band instruction from a band specialist in grades 5 and 6. The choice of instrument and beginning individual lessons usually happen at the beginning of the 5 th grade school year. Individual and group band lessons are also given throughout the school year. *Nurse - Vision and hearing checks are held in the fall for all Preschool – grade 6 students. The nurse also coordinates Early Childhood Developmental Screening in February. *Physical Education Program - All grades K-6 students have physical education class multiple times each week. If a student needs to be excused from this class, a parent note giving the reason for non-participation is acceptable for a 1 or 2 day exclusion. If a 17

student is to be excused for longer than a day or two, a physician’s slip giving the reason and dates of exclusion is required. *Special Service Programs - Special programs are set up for students who qualify for service in the areas of learning disabilities, speech, adaptive physical education, occupational therapy, physical therapy, emotional/behavior disorders, and mild/ moderate mentally impaired disorders. Children may be referred to the child study team by parents, classroom teachers, special education staff, outside agencies already serving the child, or by the child him/herself. The team for an individual child will include: 1) the parent, 2) the child’s current classroom teacher, 3) appropriate special education staff and other support personnel 4) a school administrator or designee. The team may also include any other professionals and representatives who are knowledgeable about the needs of the child. Parents are essential members of the team and will be involved in all decisions regarding the individual Education Plan developed for their child. All students referred for special education assessment must have a signed parent permission prior to assessment. After the assessment, parents will be called in for a conference to discuss assessment results and appropriate services. *Adaptive Physical Education Program - Our Adaptive Physical Education Program provides additional motor experiences in group and individual settings for students identified with specific motor needs. *School Counselor – Guidance/Life Skills - The school counselor serves as a liaison between home and school. They attend special education team meetings, work with students identified as needing services, as approved by parents, and offer individual counseling for students and counseling for parents and teachers. All elementary students (K-6) will get periodic Guidance/Life Skills lessons from our School Counselor. *Early Childhood Special Education Program (ECSE) - This program provides ECSE services to children from birth through age seven who have “a significant medicallydiagnosed physical condition which is delaying normal growth and development.” These delays can include motor skills, learning, speech and language development, social and/or emotional behavior development. The services may include support and guidance to families in assessing needed services, planning for services at home and in the community, and comprehensive individualized assessments. The goal of the program is to provide free, appropriate opportunities for children to develop skills which will enable them to function at their fullest potential. *Special Learning Disabilities (SLD) - Children are eligible for the SLD program when there is a severe discrepancy between their ability and achievement. Curriculum modifications are made based upon individual student need in the area of learning disability. *Emotional/Behavior Disorder Program (EBD) - The Emotional/ Behavior Disordered Program offers support and instruction to students needing assistance with emotional 18

and behavioral issues which may interfere with the learning process. *Developmental Cognitive Disability (DCD) - The Developmental Cognitive Disability Program offers support and instruction to students needing assistance with learning the essential skills to live independently/ semi-independently in a community setting. *Occupational and Physical Therapy Programs - The occupational therapist (OT), physical therapist (PT), and certified occupational therapy assistant (COTA) work with students having fine motor or gross motor needs. *Psychologist - The psychologist assesses referred students, with parental permission, for a better understanding of the students’ needs and learning styles. *Speech Clinician - The speech clinician works with students with communication disorders, such as, articulation problems or language delay. *Title One - Title One is a federally funded program designed to provide supplemental reading and math instruction. Students are referred by classroom teachers and receive support services in a one-to-one or small group setting to enhance skills taught in the classroom.

*Family/School Support Worker - The Family/School Coordinator provides in-home support and referral services for families and children experiencing difficulties in the home, that are not related to school performance or planning. The coordinator will help families access services related to improving the child’s educational experience. *Elementary Enrichment - This program provides enrichment activities and experiences to challenge students and foster creative thinking and problem-solving skills. There are some enrichment field trips that occur in the upper elementary grades. *Child Care – Our Mini Mose Lodge provides both before and after school child care.

ML HOME READING FOCUS Moose Lake Elementary  PreK - Gr. 3 Home Reading Expectations EARLY CHILDHOOD/KINDERGARTEN: We expect that kindergartners be read to for at least 5 minutes per day. It is important to read and enjoy stories together, and it is also important to discuss and retell the stories. Early readers should be encouraged to find print in the world around them (i.e. “Today at the grocery store, we will look for the letter ‘A.’” or “Let’s look through this magazine together and try to find the word ‘the.’”) WITH YOUR SUPPORT, KINDERGARTNERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO:

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    

Retell familiar stories, including key details such as where the story takes place and who the main characters are Tell who the author and illustrator are and what their roles are in telling a story Make connections between events in the story and illustrations (i.e. “This is a picture of Goldilocks trying Baby Bear’s porridge.”) Discuss connections, similarities, and differences between two familiar stories Begin looking for letters and words that they recognize

FIRST GRADE:

Students are expected to read a minimum of 10 minutes per day at home, and that time is to be recorded on their monthly reading calendars. First graders should also practice their spelling words and group sight words each day. WITH YOUR SUPPORT, FIRST GRADERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO:

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Retell stories using key details, and show an understanding of the main theme or lesson of the story Identify words or phrases in a story or poem that suggest feelings or appeals to the senses Describe differences between information provided by the pictures in a book and information found in the text itself Read first grade-level texts out loud with accuracy and expression

SECOND GRADE: Students are expected to read a minimum of 20 minutes per day at home, and that time is to be recorded on their monthly reading calendars. Second graders should read aloud during this time, while an adult listens and provides support. Students will also be given a variety of word lists to practice at home. WITH YOUR SUPPORT, SECOND GRADERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO:  Ask and answer who, what, where, when, & why questions to demonstrate an understanding   

of the key details in a text Discuss how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges Describe the overall structure of a story: the beginning introduces the story and the ending concludes the action Use the context of the story or text to self-check for accuracy when reading unfamiliar words

THIRD GRADE: Students are expected to read a minimum of 20 minutes per day at home. This includes reading to meet Accelerated Reading goals, studying word lists, and reading assigned stories in textbooks. WITH YOUR SUPPORT, THIRD GRADERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO:

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Find answers to questions about a text in the text itself (i.e. “In this paragraph, it says... which tells me that...”) Describe characters’ motivations and feelings and how the characters’ actions contribute to the sequence of events in the story Distinguish the difference between their personal point of view, as the reader, and the point of view of the narrator or characters in a story or the point of view of the author of an informational text Read third grade-level texts with accuracy and solid comprehension (understands what the words say as well as what they mean)

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