Bear Canyon Elementary School “Unlock your Potential”

Parent/Student Handbook 2014-2015

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Bear Canyon Elementary School “Unlock your Potential”

Parent/Student Handbook 2014-2015 Allison W. Olson, Principal Allison Sullivan, Assistant Principal School Website: schools.dcsdk12.org/bce District Website: www.dcsdk12.org

9660 Salford Lane Highlands, Ranch, CO 80126 303-387-6475

Douglas County School District Revised: July, 2014 Page 3 of 20

Dear Parents and Students, Welcome to Bear Canyon! We are so glad that you are a part of our school and community. This booklet is designed to give you some helpful information about our school. It will provide you with a quick and easy reference on most questions you might have concerning school policies and procedures. Thank you for trusting us with the education of your child. Sincerely, Allison Olson Principal

MISSION STATEMENT OF BEAR CANYON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Believing that each child is of great worth, we challenge students with a variety of experiences that will instill a love of learning, the ability to problem solve, and a healthy respect for themselves, others and the environment while inspiring them to unlock their potential.

Table of Contents General Information -

school contact ……………………………………………………p.4 hours ……………………………………………………………..p.4 delayed opening/closure …………………………………………p.4 emergencies ……………………………………………………...p.4

Arrival/Dismissal Information -

supervision/arrival time ……………………………………….....p.5 procedures ……………………………………………………......p.5 walking/biking …………………………………………………...p.5 Drop off and Pick up Lane …..………………………………….p.6 Dismissal during the day …………………………………………p.6 Severe weather/red flag ………………………………………….p.6 Illness ………………………………………………………….....p.6

Attendance/Absences -

Procedures …………………………………………….…………p.7

Other General Information -

fees ……………………………………………………………….p.7 lunch program ……………………………………………………p.8 medication ………………………………………………………..p.8 lost and found ……………………………………………………p.9 child care program ……………………………………………….p.9

Classroom/Curriculum -

curriculum ………………………………………………..………p.9 Special Education Services ….…….……………………………..p.9 Communication ………………………………………………….p.10 Conferences ……………………………………………….……..p.10 Homework ……………………………………………………….p.10 Dropping off items for students ………………………………….p.11 Toys, electronics, etc. …………………………………………….p.11 Recess …………………………………………………………….p.11 Parties …………………………………………………………….p.12 Snacks ……………………………………………………………p.12 PE ………………………………………………………………...p.12 Field trips …………………………………………………………p.12

Behavior/Discipline -

B.E.A.R.S. ……………. …………………………………….……p.13 Expectations ………………………………………………………p.13 Administration intervention ………………………………………p.13

Policies/Procedures -

smoking ……………………………………………...……………p.14 weapons ……………………………………………...……………p.14 alcohol and drugs …………………………………………………p.14 dress appearance ………………………………………………….p.15 cell phones ………………………………………………………..p.16 transportation ……………………………………………………..p.16 Page 2 of 20

Parent Involvement/Connections -

volunteering …………………………………………………………p.19 P.T.A. ………………………………………………………………..p.19 S.A.C. ………………………………………………………………..p.19

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General School Information Address:

9660 Salford Lane Highlands Ranch, Colorado 80126

Phone: Fax: Attendance: Web Site: Grades:

(303) 387-6475 (303) 387-6476 (303) 387-6477 http://schools.dcsdk12.org/bce Pre-school - Grade 6

School Hours Grade 1 - Grade 6 8:40am - 3:30pm Kindergartners attend as follows: Half Day Sessions AM class- 8:40am to 11:40pm PM class– 12:30pm to 3:30pm Full Day Session 8:40am - 3:30pm SCHEDULE: DELAYED OPENING OR SCHOOL CLOSURE ANNOUNCEMENTS When the delayed opening schedule is implemented, the length of the delay for elementary schools is 90 minutes. Therefore, buses will pick students up 90 minutes later with our school starting time being 10:10am. Notification will occur via the district web site (www.dcsdk12.org) or radio/television. Occasionally, the decision will be made the night before and would then be broadcast on the 10:00 p.m. news programs. However, most often the decision to either have a delayed opening schedule or close the schools can't be made until early in the morning, and therefore will be broadcast on the 6:00 a.m. news on the following stations:

Radio Stations KOA - 850 AM KHOW - 630 AM KLAK - 1600 AM KLZ - 560 AM

Television Stations Channel 7 - KMGH Channel 9 - KUSA Channel 4 - KCNC Channel 2 - KWGN Channel 13 - KRDO

Please check the Douglas County School website on any morning with inclement weather. Parents may also call our District Weather Line at (303) 387-7669 (SNOW). Bear Canyon falls in the Mountain Vista Feeder Area. EMERGENCIES Though we strive to prevent emergencies, there are times when it's necessary to reach a parent immediately. It is critical that parents keep their student's emergency information updated throughout the year with current telephone numbers and Page 4 of 20

email addresses. In the event of an emergency where the parents cannot be reached, we will call the emergency alternate number and/or doctor. If we cannot reach anyone, we will resort to calling the paramedics if the situation warrants that kind of action. If you have requests differing from this procedure, please inform the school in writing.

Arrival/Dismissal Information Arrival to School Student supervision begins at 8:30am, so students should arrive at school no earlier than 8:30am, and be lined up by their entry doors by 8:35am. School begins promptly at 8:40am. Students who walk or are driven to school by their parents should not arrive earlier than 8:30am. On cold or bad weather days, students will be permitted to enter the building and wait in the hallways, once supervision is provided at 8:30am. ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL PROCEDURES Students are to enter the building in the morning and exit the building in the afternoon as follows unless accompanied by a parent: • • • • • • •

•

All Kindergarten classes will enter and exit through exterior classroom doors at the front of the building. Grade 1: through exterior door/lower playground Grade 2: through exterior door adjacent to the kindie/pre-school playground Grade 3 through upper ramp exterior door Grades 4 & 5 through south exterior door Grade 6 will enter at mobiles Special needs students needing assistance may enter at the front door and be escorted by teacher/teacher asst./parent through building. Kindergartners who attend the BCE Childcare after school will be picked up at their classrooms. Students in grades 1-6 will walk through the school building to the cafeteria when called over the PA system at the end of the day.

All students must exit through their designated doors. Students meeting siblings can plan to meet outside of the exterior door for the youngest child or identify some other meeting place outside the building. We also appreciate parents designating a specific meeting area outside of the dismissal exits listed above or at a convenient location as the students will be dismissed through the exit door closest to their grade level area and are asked not to travel through the building. WALKING AND BIKING STUDENTS Crossing guards will be stationed at the corner of Salford and Burntwood and up by the bus loop at Burntwood and Wedgewood, starting at 8:30 a.m. Students or parents are to cross at these corners only.

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For the safety of students, children in kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades may not to walk, scooter or bike to school without an adult present. We encourage all students are to wear helmets when riding bikes or scooters to school. DROP OFF AND PICK UP LANE Parents who drop off their children in private vehicles are asked to follow these procedures. Parents, after entering the parking lot driveway, proceed in a single-file line to the “Kiss and Go” lane. Pull as far forward as possible after entering the lane so we can accommodate as many vehicles as possible. When the first car reaches the end of the lane, students may unload on the sidewalk side of the car. There will be teachers present to help unload vehicles. Please do not unload students until your vehicle reaches the front of the building (where the curb begins). The drop off lane is a continuously moving lane of traffic. For safety reasons, after dropping off your children, please do not pass other vehicles on the left, but please wait until the vehicle(s) in front of you have pulled forward. No parking is allowed in the loop and the driver should stay inside the vehicle at all times. If you choose, you may park in a legal parking spot on an adjacent side street and walk your child to the building. We do not allow any foot traffic to walk through the parking lot during drop off or pick up. Parking in the parking lot during drop off or pick up times is not permitted.

Thank you for abiding by the safety rules for drop off and pick up. Safety for our students is our top priority! DISMISSAL FROM SCHOOL DURING SCHOOL DAY All students leaving before regular dismissal time need to be signed out by an adult. Anyone picking up a child during school is asked to come to the office so that their child can be called to the office via the intercom system. We do not allow the children to leave the building unaccompanied to enter a vehicle. If anyone other than the parent or guardian is to pick up a child from school, the office must be notified as early as possible if their name is not on the emergency card. We feel this policy is necessary in order to insure the safety of each child. SEVERE WEATHER/RED FLAG DISMISSAL In the event that dangerous weather conditions exist at dismissal time, the school administration may deem it necessary to delay dismissal. If a decision is made to delay dismissal, RED FLAGS will be placed on the main flag pole at the front of the building and near the exits on the upper and lower area of the building. An email will be sent out as well to inform parents of the change in dismissal. Parents wanting to take their children at the normal dismissal time must come into the building and sign their child out with the individual teacher. Once the weather has cleared students will be released to go home their normal way. Please do not park vehicles or leave them unattended in the drop-off lane on a Red Flag Day. DISMISSAL DUE TO ILLNESS The home is contacted when a child becomes ill at school. We do not send children home unless a parent or guardian comes to pick up the child. If another person is sent for the

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student, a parent must notify the office in advance. Identification will be requested on all adults who pick up students. Students must be temperature free, symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school. We ask for support to this policy to help prevent spreading illnesses in classrooms. Children will NOT be permitted to walk home unaccompanied during the school day when ill. Should a parent not be available to pick up their child, we encourage them to make arrangements with a relative, friend or neighbor.

Attendance/Absence ATTENDANCE/ABSENCE Regular attendance is essential to a student's success in school. Most subjects are taught in sequence, requiring the understanding of each concept in the order of its presentation. Persistent absenteeism creates a genuine hardship for a student and is regarded as a very serious problem. A child can never make up a day he/she has missed even though he/she may go over the assignments that were presented. The discussions that take place in the classroom are often more valuable than the written material. Students should be absent from school only in cases of illness or emergency. Every attempt should be made to schedule medical and dental appointments for out of school hours or during breaks. We ask parents to please call our attendance hotline, whether your child will be tardy or absent, prior to the start of the school day at (303) 387-6477. In accordance with our Attendance Policy procedures, our office staff will be contacting parents of absent children who do not call in on our attendance line. The district also mandates attendance contracts for those students who have excessive absences. Absence notification letters are sent home, per district policy, when your child has had 10 absences or 10 tardies.

Other General Information FEES As recommended by the Budget Task Force and approved by the Board of Education, the following student fees are instituted yearly district wide and listed on the Parent Portal: District Book, Technology, and School Fees per Student Library/Text Books: Lost, damaged or defaced library or textbooks and/or media materials will be charged the full replacement cost. Field Trips: Students will be charged a transportation fee for all field trips taken in grades K-12. Sometimes additional fees for admission or related costs are also necessary.

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Outdoor Education Trip: Sixth grade students will be charged for the four-day Outdoor Education Trip; the amount will be determined at the beginning of the school year.

LUNCH PROGRAM A hot lunch program is provided each full day of school and half-pints of milk are available for students to purchase. Prices are located on the district website. We ask that students who carry their lunch not bring carbonated beverages or beverages in glass containers. Parents and grandparents are always invited to join their student for lunch. If adults will be purchasing from the cafeteria, you need to call the school office before 9:30 a.m. to place your order as only the number of lunches ordered will be prepared. A computer account number is issued to the students for the year and is programmed for the number of meals/milks purchased. The students state their individual account number when purchasing a meal that will debit their account for that amount. Students will be notified when their account is almost out of funds. Please send lunch money with your child on a regular basis to assure that their account is covered. Please make responsible account management a priority. Please pay by check made payable to Bear Canyon Nutrition Services, place the child's name, phone number and account number on the check in order to credit the correct account. Money can also be added to your child’s account through parent portal. MEDICATION As per Board of Education policy, prescription medication will be released to students at school only on the specific written request of the student's parent or guardian and with the written authorization of the student's physician. The need for both parent and physician authorization is a state regulation. All prescription medication must be provided to the office staff in the original pharmacy labeled container.

Over-the-counter medication will be allowed at school only with a doctor's written authorization. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) will be available in the health room and designated school personnel may distribute acetaminophen to students with the following symptoms, providing prior written parental permission has been given: • • • • •

headache toothache dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps) musculoskeletal pain fever (100 F or above) only after the parent has been notified to pick student up

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Permission for administration of acetaminophen is on the student registration form. The permission must be signed every year if you wish your child to receive acetaminophen for any of the above health problems. LOST AND FOUND The school Lost and Found cupboard is located in the main hallway and contains items that children have left around the school. If clothing and materials have the child's name on them, they will be returned. If your child loses any item, encourage him/her to check Lost and Found. Items such as jewelry, watches, eyeglasses, and money are kept by the office staff until claimed by their owner. Items will be “displayed” several days prior to all school breaks. Unclaimed articles will be donated to worthy organizations at the end of each grading period. CHILD CARE PROGRAM Bear Canyon offers childcare services before school, after school, and for the full day on non-student days. The program opens at 6:30 a.m. and closes at 6:00 p.m. Our main objective is to offer a safe, enjoyable, enriching environment for school-age children. We aim to provide something for everyone through group games, arts and crafts, sports, movies, and off-site excursions. Please call Russell Kieselbach, Program Director at (303) 387-6502 for information.

Curriculum/Classroom Information CURRICULUM INFORMATION The staff at Bear Canyon Elementary encourages students to develop skills that will enable them to become independent, lifelong learners. We currently utilize several formal textbook and instructional series as our foundational programs in Language Arts, Math, and Science & Social Studies. Through the use of these series and other supplementary materials, our focus remains on students mastering the Colorado State Standards for Learning as well as the Douglas County learning standards. Our report card is designed to report to parents’ progress toward meeting these important standards. Math: Math in Focus (Singapore Math) Reading: Wonders, guided reading groups with leveled readers, book clubs Writing: Write Tools strategies, 6-Trait rubrics SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES The Douglas County Schools offer special programs in the areas of learning disabilities, speech-language therapy, physical therapy, mentally handicapped, and initial screening for emotional adjustment problems. If you believe your child is in need of any of the programs listed above, please your child’s teacher or the principal. Student’s progress will be monitored consistently to assure that appropriate progress is being made. In our Instructional Support Services model, any student may meet with ISS staff from time to time if that student needs specific interventions in any area of need.

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COMMUNICATION- weekly and with teachers Items of interest to students and parents will be distributed through a school-wide email each week. Our website will be updated consistently to house information for all families as well. Individual classroom teachers will send home a Thursday or Friday folder weekly with students to include school information, returned papers/grades, and other communication. Each teacher and/or grade level/special, has an individual “Google” web page, which is located on the classroom link of the BCE web page. It will only be distributed in paper form to families who individually request it. Email addresses for teachers and other DCSD staff members are in the following format: [email protected]. In order to assure that concerns are resolved respectively and equitable, parents are expected to maintain communication with their child’s teacher. Only after all attempts have been made to resolve a concern with the teacher, will an administrator assist in the resolution. CONFERENCES Formal parent-teacher conferences are scheduled twice yearly, once during the fall and once during the spring. Teachers are also available to schedule appointments with parents before and after school and during their planning periods. You are encouraged to visit with our teachers about your child’s progress any time during the year, but please make appointment in advance. Parents wishing to contact teachers may do so via teacher email. Bear Canyon does not utilize the classroom phones voicemail system so that distractions are limited in classrooms. If a message is urgent, please call the main office number and a message will be delivered to your child. HOMEWORK Homework at Bear Canyon is valued as an important part of the learning process. The purposes of homework include: practicing basic skills, enriching and stimulating interest in content, and developing and improving learning and study skills while promoting and instilling responsibility. It is expected that students, teachers, and parents will work together to inspire and develop good habits of mind beginning at an early age. As a general rule of thumb, students should have written homework in the amount of 10 minutes times their grade level (i.e., third graders will have 3 x 10 min = 30 minutes, sixth graders will have 6 x 10 min = 60 minutes). Should a child not have assigned written homework on a given night, they are encouraged to practice their math facts and study spelling/vocabulary words. All students should read each night for a specific amount of time as specified by their teachers. Practice makes progress! Please contact your child’s teacher if: • Your child is consistently completing schoolwork at home that was to be completed during the school day. • Homework assignments are not coming home. Page 10 of 20

•

The above suggested times are consistently exceeded.

Individual teachers’ homework policies however, do differ. Please check with your child’s teacher if you have specific questions. We encourage students to exchange phone numbers with a homework buddy and/or monitor their teacher’s website. Should a child forget their homework or materials necessary to complete an assignment, we encourage that their homework buddy be contacted, as returning to the classroom may not be possible after school. Students and/or parents cannot be allowed back into the classroom after the teacher leaves and locks their room for safety and security reasons. Make-up work will be gathered for students who are absent in excess of two days due to illness. Since makeup work cannot take the place of the instruction missed during the school day, it is important that students rest and recover so that they can return to school as quickly as possible. Should your child be absent from school more than two days, please contact your child’s teacher to arrange for work to be gathered. Teachers will need adequate notice to ensure that they have ample time to gather work without impacting instruction during the day. DROPPING OFF ITEMS FOR CHILDREN Should a child forget an item at home (i.e., lunch, homework, library book, etc.), parents are asked to bring it to the front office. Our staff will deliver the item to your child, or ask the teacher to send them to pick it up at a convenient time. In order to limit interruptions to instruction, parents will not be permitted to personally take items to the classroom during the school day. TOYS, ELECTRONICS, PLAYTHINGS, ATHLETIC ITEMS, SUITCASES Unless a teacher gives explicit permission for a given day or activity, students are not allowed to bring toys, electronics, games, and other playthings to school. These items tend to disrupt the educational process. We also ask that students not bring suitcases/overnight bags or athletic gear to school for after school activities, as storage in our classrooms is limited. Items that are not allowed at school under any circumstance are bats, lacrosse sticks, rollerblades and skateboards. We also discourage children from bringing personal items such as basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, ball gloves, or other sport equipment to school. These items are easily lost or misplaced and often cause problems at recess. RECESS Recess is considered an integral part of school. According to District guidelines, children will have outside recess unless the temperature drops below 20 degrees or it is raining. Please be sure your child comes to school with appropriate clothing, including boots, hat, gloves, socks, coat, etc., when needed. As weather is unpredictable in the fall and spring, we suggest that students bring a jacket/sweater to school in their backpacks should weather change during the day. Parents and siblings are not allowed at recess. This policy is based on district expectations, page 66 of the Student Rights and Responsibilities: Code of Conduct and Discipline Book. Each student is given a 15 minute recess prior to lunch. Any additional scheduled recess times are at the discretion of the grade level teachers.

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PARTIES Up to four occasions during the year, (i.e., Fall Festivals, Winter Holidays, Valentine's Day, End of the Year, etc.) simple celebrations are suggested for school wide participation. Parents wishing to assist with these parties need to plan in advance with the Room Parent in each classroom. Your child’s teacher will monitor plans to insure that parties adhere to school policies and cause as little disruption to the instructional day as possible. If you choose to not have your child participate in a class party, please notify your teacher.

SNACKS We want our students to be ready to learn throughout their entire school day. As you are doing your best at home to provide nutritious food, we need the same support at school. We want to promote and instill healthy eating habits in our students, therefore, snacks are limited to nutritious foods only. Bear Canyon has a coordinated healthy schools team that supports the district’s goals for a healthy learning environment. We have received a Healthy Schools Grant from the Healthy Coordinated Schools Initiative that will help us teach our students to eat healthier. We ask all families to review the guidelines below as we will be strictly adhering to them this coming year. Approved snacks are: Granola bars, fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, low sugar protein bars, whole grain crackers and breads, whole grain/low sugar cereals, pretzels, applesauce, airpopped popcorn, 100% fruit leathers, proteins such as cheese, lean meats, beef jerky, low sugar yogurt See the following website for other healthy alternatives: http://www.schoolnutritionandfitness.com/data/pdf/snacks/ TwoSimpleStepsToDeliciousSnacks.pdf RIP snacks are: cookies, chips, candy, ice-cream, brownies, cupcakes, donuts, gummies, fruit rollups, Rice Krispy treats, anything with high fructose corn syrup due to concentrated sugar content, etc. Research proves if we teach children early healthy eating habits, they are more likely to have higher school performance, focus, and are more likely to concentrate better both at home and in academic settings. Please see our coordinated school health tab on the bottom left side of our school webpage. PHYSICAL EDUCATION For the safety of all students, regular gym shoes (athletic shoes) with laces or Velcro closures are required. FIELD TRIPS Today's classrooms extend beyond the physical limits of a classroom or building. Teachers recognize the value of taking children on field trips as they strive to extend learning. When buses are used for transportation, our district requires a fee per student to help defray the cost of transportation. Some fieldtrips may be arranged utilizing parent Page 12 of 20

volunteers to drive personal vehicles. All parents who volunteer to drive must submit a copy of their declaration page of their personal insurance policy to the school at least 2 weeks in advance for review and approval by the District. Parents who do not do so may not transport students in their vehicle. Families will be given permission forms to sign for each field trip. No student should stay home because of financial hardship. If this is the case for your child, please bring it to the attention of your child’s teacher and we will make the arrangements necessary to have the fee paid or waived.

Behavior/Discipline BEAR CANYON STUDENT EXPECTATIONS B E A R S

Being in control of my behavior shows I am trustworthy. Every day, be here on time and ready to learn. Always show care and concern for others. Responsible students make a positive difference. Striving to do my best helps me grow.

BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS & SCHOOL DISCIPLINE Discipline in schools has been identified as an area of national concern in recent years. In order to provide an atmosphere that is conducive to learning, it is necessary for all children to follow those parameters of behavior as set down in Douglas County School District’s Student Code of Conduct and Discipline Booklet. We ask parents to review this important booklet with your child. It can be found on the district website. The classroom teacher will explain behavioral expectations to all children. We will also use Restorative Practices to help students understand appropriate choices. ADMINISTRATIVE INTERVENTION Because maintaining discipline is dealing with personalities, we will attempt, when possible, to deal with children on an individual basis. Discipline is a learning experience designed to help students change behavior and learn from their experiences. Working with parents, we ensure that students grow and develop into good citizens. Parents will be contacted should a child be referred to an administrator. The administrative team at Bear Canyon believes and utilizes the techniques of Restorative Page 13 of 20

Practices when meeting with students who have been brought to the office. The strategies come from the research done at the International Institute for Restorative Practices and can be investigated further at www.IIRP.edu. To respond to students with challenging behavior, the following questions will be asked: 1. What happened? 2. What were you thinking of at the time? 3. What have you thought about since? 4. Who has been affected by what you have done? In what way? 5. What do you think you need to do to make things right?

To help those harmed by other’s actions, these questions will be asked: 1. What did you think when you realized what had happened? 2. What impact has this incident had on you and others? 3. What has been the hardest thing for you? 4. What do you think needs to happen to make things right? Based on the answers to the above two sets of questions, situations will be rectified and consequences will occur, when applicable. The DCSD Student Rights and Responsibilities booklet will also be used in the more severe situations. Administrators will only share information regarding a child’s actions and or consequences with the parents of that child.

Policies/Procedures SMOKING POLICY The Douglas County School District is committed to high standards of personal and public health and safety. The School District recognizes its responsibility to utilize both by precept and example to teach its students the well-documented facts and dangers related to tobacco use. Therefore, smoking and all use of tobacco products shall be prohibited at all times in all School District buildings, school campuses and District properties. WEAPONS IN SCHOOL For the welfare and safety of students and others in the school community, the district has a strict policy on weapons in school. Carrying, bringing, using, or possessing dangerous or deadly weapons in school (or anything that looks like a gun or weapon) are prohibited with possible expulsion by the Board of Education for violations of this policy. Students are not to bring any potentially dangerous items to school including small pen or pocketknives. ALCOHOL/DRUG USE POLICY The Board of Education recognizes that the use, possession, distribution or sale of alcohol and legal or illicit drugs, including steroids, constitutes a hazard to students and is Page 14 of 20

prohibited in all Douglas County Schools, on all school grounds and district properties, at any school-sanctioned activities, when students are being transported in vehicles dispatched by the district, or at any time or in any place where the student's conduct interferes with or obstructs the educational program or operations of the school district or of the health, safety or welfare of students or employees. Compliance with the standards of conduct set forth in this policy is mandatory for all students. A violation shall subject a student to appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion and referral for prosecution. First offense of this policy will result in a school suspension and parents will be involved in determining procedures for prevention of further offenses. Second violation of the drug/alcohol use policy will result in a recommendation for expulsion from school. Disciplinary sanctions may include the completion of an approved drug or alcohol abuse rehabilitation program. The Board assumes responsibility to provide age-appropriate drug abuse prevention programs which educate all students, from early childhood through grade 12, about the harmful effects and consequences of drug/alcohol use in order to develop youth's decision-making skills regarding the use of such substances. Resources for counseling and rehabilitation services are available through the schools' administration and student assistance teams. DRESS AND APPEARANCE According to the District’s Code of Conduct, “Dress will not be worn that causes or is likely to cause disruption of the educational process.” Interpretation of this policy is at the discretion of the Principal. Parents will be asked to pick up students, allow them to change into appropriate clothing, and return them to school. Personal cleanliness and neatness of dress are considered essentials for good school citizenship. They often have a bearing on how children react to each other and, therefore, may affect behavior. We also discourage students from dying their hair or having it cut in extreme hairstyles at the elementary age. We have found that this becomes a distraction in the classroom. We will appreciate your help in this area. The following items should NOT be worn at school: short-shorts, halters, tank tops, spaghetti straps, net or half-shirts, caps/hats or makeup. Shorts must be of reasonable length, and pants must be worn around the waist. To avoid injury and disease, shoes, sandals or boots must be worn in the buildings and on the school grounds. Shoes must be securely fastened on a student’s foot. Flip flops are not permitted. Please keep track of your child’s specials’ schedule to assure that proper athletic shoes are worn when they are in PE. Students must not wear dark glasses in the building without permission from a teacher or administrator. One simple guideline that students should follow is that if there is any question as to whether the apparel would be acceptable, it should not be worn to school. Every year there are a few things, including some “fads” that appear at school. There are not listed nor do these above guidelines cover all problems that may arise. When any “fad” gets started and potentially creates a disruption to the learning environment, school administrators will take action to eliminate the disruption. Learning is the priority and what we wear or how we do our hair cannot take precedence over that. Page 15 of 20

Since the weather in Colorado is quite unpredictable, it is advisable that children bring a sweater or light jacket each day. When the weather is cold, students should come to school with adequate clothing for the outdoors. According to District guidelines, recess is held outdoors as long as the temperature is at or above 20 degrees. Therefore, children need to come to school prepared with the type of clothing and footwear that will keep them warm and dry. We will keep the safety of our students as the top priority when making weather related decisions. CELL PHONE and TELEPHONE USE Due to the size of our student body and to help children learn responsibility and to plan ahead, we only let students use the telephone to handle urgent problems. In addition, the office phones must be kept free for business calls. If you wish to get a message to your child, an adult will take it and deliver it to him/her in the classroom at the end of the day. Please do not leave voicemail messages for teachers regarding changes in dismissal procedures as we do not utilize a voicemail system throughout the classrooms. If you need to get a message to your student, please call the office. We know that many elementary students have cell phones and do bring them to school. Our policy is that cell phones must remain in backpacks and turned off during the school day unless otherwise directed by a teacher. Students should never contact their parents via their cell phones during the school day unless directed by a teacher to do so. Cell Phones on or used at school without permission will be held in the office to be picked up at the end of school (Check district code and conduct for additional cell phone policies). TRANSPORTATION (SCHOOL BUS RULES) As some of the children in the Douglas County Schools are transported by bus to and from school and most students will be transported by bus to and from field trips, it is vitally important that students obey the bus rules for their own safety as well as the safety of others. The importance of proper conduct while waiting for, boarding, riding or disembarking from a bus cannot be overemphasized. Any behavior that distracts the bus driver instantly endangers all. In the interest of safety, all students should understand and parents are urged to impress upon their children the necessity for strict compliance with the following rules: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Remain seated, facing forward. Avoid loud talk, unnecessary noises, and obscene or foul language. Keep the aisles clear at all times. Windows may not be adjusted without permission. Arms, feet and head are to remain inside the bus. Materials may not be thrown from windows or within the bus. Eating and drinking on the bus is prohibited. The Emergency Door is not to be used except in an emergency. Show respect and obedience to the Driver. Follow the instructions of the Driver.

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11. Refrain from talking to the Driver while the bus is in motion except in an emergency. 12. Permission to ride a bus different from the one assigned must be obtained from the District. Transportation Department (Phone 303 387-0422). Since most accidents are caused by driver distraction due to unruly pupils, the following procedures are followed as per School District Policy JFCC (Also EEACC): 1. Initially bus drivers should try to resolve the discipline problem or violation of rules directly with the student(s) involved. Bus drivers will also attempt to confer with parents and request their cooperation in resolving the problem. These actions should be documented by the driver. 2. For problems not resolved by step 1 or in cases of more serious discipline or safety problems, a discipline referral may be made to the school principal or designee. In such cases, unless more severe sanctions appear warranted, the administrator will give the student a formal warning, notify the parents and provide the parents with a copy of the discipline referral. 3. If a problem occurs which results in a second discipline referral or, in the case of an initial discipline referral involving a serious discipline or safety problem, the following procedure shall apply: a. The administrator will advise the student orally or in writing of the charges. b. If the student denies the charges, the administrator will explain the evidence against the student and give the student an opportunity to present the student's side of the incident. c. If, on the basis of this discussion, the administrator believes the student to be guilty of the misconduct charged, the administrator will suspend the student's bus riding privileges for five (5) school days. d. The administrator shall immediately notify the parents of the suspension of bus riding privileges, the grounds for such suspension, the duration of such suspension and the time and place for the parents to meet with the administrator to review the suspension. Such meeting shall be held prior to reinstatement of the student's bus riding privileges. The parents shall also be provided with a copy of the discipline referral. 4. If a student, who has previously had bus-riding privileges suspended during the current school year, receives another discipline referral, the administrator will follow the procedures in steps 3.a. through d. above with the following modifications: a. If the administrator believes the student to be guilty of the misconduct charged, the administrator will suspend the student's bus riding privileges for ten (10) school days and;

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b. The student's bus riding privileges will not be reinstated until a meeting with the parents and the administrator has taken place or until, in the discretion of the administrator, the parents have substantially agreed to review the suspension. The administrator may also reinstate such privileges where the parents cannot be contacted or if the parents repeatedly fail to appear for scheduled meetings. 5. If a student, who has twice previously during the current school year had busriding privileges suspended, receives another discipline referral, the administrator will follow the procedures in steps 3. a. through d. above with the following modifications: a. If the administrator believes the student to be guilty of the misconduct charged, the administrator will suspend the student's bus riding privileges for thirty (30) school days and; b. The student's bus riding privileges will not be reinstated until a meeting with the student, the parents, the bus driver, the administrator and the Director of Transportation has taken place. 6. In cases of severe and/or continuing problems, the school principal or the Director of Transportation may, after following the steps in 3.a. through d. above, suspend privileges for an additional fifteen (15) days, during which time an informal hearing will be scheduled before the Superintendent of Schools with the student, the parents and District officials for the purpose of considering the revocation of the student's bus riding privileges for the remainder of the current school year. 7. An appeal may be taken to the Board of Education from any decision of the Superintendent revoking a student's bus riding privileges. 8. These guidelines shall not preclude the school principal or Director of Transportation from eliminating any of the steps in the process, if in their judgment the misconduct by the student warrants more severe action. This policy and applicable regulations shall not be limited in their application to bus riding privileges alone, but shall also extend to all District provided or supervised transportation. Disorderly conduct by students at bus stops shall be reported and acted upon in the same manner as misconduct on buses. Nothing contained in this policy shall preclude the imposition of other disciplinary measures as appropriate, including suspension or expulsion from school, in accordance with other District policies and procedures. A student planning to ride a bus other than the one he/she normally rides must present a note from his/her parent to the teacher giving permission. The child is to have the note signed at the office during the day and then give it to the bus driver as he/she boards the bus.

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Parent Involvement/Connections PARENT VOLUNTEERS Bear Canyon considers its parent volunteers as a very special resource. Parents are encouraged to help in all classrooms, programs, and student activities. Please send a note to or call Bear Canyon's Parent Volunteer Coordinator, Kelly Hernandez, at the school office or contact your child's teacher if you can help. Parents that volunteer in the classroom need to plan on attending an orientation provided by our Volunteer Coordinator, or administration, and after signing the district confidentiality agreement. Each year, Bear Canyon parents log over 10,000 volunteer hours to help support our teachers and students. We are so grateful for any time that you can give to our school! Visits for observation purposes are not permitted in order to minimize classroom disruptions. If there is a specific purpose and an observation is needed, this plan must be presented to school administration before visitation is approved. Once the approval has been received and in order for your visit to be informative, we require that you contact your child's teacher to arrange your visit in advance. Special invitations will be extended to parents on certain occasions for programs and assemblies. All visitors must check in at the office and receive a visitor’s pass upon entering the building. Due to liability issues, parents are not allowed to observe or visit recess. Due to security protocols, all visitors must leave purses, bags, backpacks, briefcases, etc. in their cars as they are not allowed in the school. Be prepared to show a valid photo ID upon entering the school as well. These procedures are in place to help keep your children safe. While on campus, we ask that parents, students, and other visitors adhere to the Douglas County Behavior Expectations. PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (P.T.A.) The purpose of the P.T.A. is to enhance the quality of our children's education and welfare in the home, school, and community; to promote communication between parents and staff and provide parental support in the training of the child and in service to the school; to support the instructional program with classroom volunteers, resource people, library volunteers; and to serve as a catalyst to effect changes within the school community to provide an optimum educational environment. The need for active participation is always present and your contribution of time and energy is encouraged. Bear Canyon PTA holds its general meetings monthly on Tuesday evenings. Please watch the Thursday email for meeting reminders and also visit the PTA tab on the Bear Canyon website for up to date information. BEAR CANYON SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL (SAC) The Council serves the school in several ways:

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• • • • • • •

Helps develop the school’s annual Unified Improvement Plan based on data and needs assessments conducted during the year Represents the community point of view and serves as a sounding board to the Leadership Team Makes recommendations to the principal Receives updates to the annual school budget Aids the principal in focusing on needs and concerns of the community Reviews various components of school programs Facilitates communication between the school and community and to the district level accountability committee.

The council is composed of representatives from the parent and staff communities. This committee meets quarterly in the evenings. Persons interested in further information should contact the principal, Allison Olson, via email ([email protected]) or phone (303-387-6480).

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