Avenue A Elementary
111 South Madison
Hutchinson, KS 67501
Phone: 665-4610  
Fax: 665-4612

Welcome to Avenue A:
            It is with great anticipation that I welcome you to the 2007-08 school year. I am very excited to be here working with such a quality staff whose focus is to give students the best education possible.
            Please know that my office door is always open at Avenue A. Feel free to come in and visit with me. If you would rather schedule an appointment, call the school at 665-4610.  I realize that there are times you may need to contact me after school hours. Do not hesitate to contact me at home if needed. My home number is 665-3701.
            I am asking that you please read and discuss the handbook as a family. It will help guide you in following the day to day operation of our school. This handbook is a companion to the Hutchinson Public schools’ Parent and Student Information booklet. It is important that you review both of these for complete information. Should you have any questions, please check with me for clarification.
            At Avenue A Elementary, we want every student to succeed to the best of their ability. Avenue A is OUR school. It will continue to be a great place for your children to learn as long as we all work together. I want to wish each of you a successful school year.

Elizabeth L. Redinger, Principal

Avenue A “All American” Staff

Principal                                                          Mrs. Elizabeth Redinger
Building Secretary                                           Mrs. Luan McCubbin
Food Service Secretary                                   Mrs. Sherry Brawner
Counselor                                                        Mrs. Marsha Matheny
Nurse                                                               Mrs. Vickie Quick
Four Year Old Program                                   Mrs. Sharon King
Kindergarten                                                   Mrs. Candy Lawrence
Kindergarten                                                   Ms. Angie Wills
1st Grade                                                          Mrs. Yvonne Danyluk
2nd Grade                                                         Mrs. Cathy Hupach
2nd Grade                                                         Ms. Stacy McGlynn
3rd Grade                                                          Mrs. Connie Friesen
3rd/4th Grade                                                     Mrs. Melissa Thomas
4th Grade                                                          Mrs. Heidi Harris
5th Grade                                                          Mrs. Becky Nelson
6th Grade                                                          Mrs. Jeanette Mills
Librarian                                                          Mrs. Cathy Paget
At Risk                                                             Mrs. Pat Lillard
Title I                                                               Mr. Victor Wilkinson
                                                                        Mrs. Jean Gaeddert
Special Education                                           Mrs. Phyllis Hoppes
ESL                                                                  Mrs. Peggy Miller
Physical Education                                          Ms. Dawna Harris
                                                                        Mr. Gary Hogan
Vocal Music                                                     Mrs. Priscilla Hoover
                                                                        Mrs. Dorcas Smith
Band                                                                Mrs. Joyce Phillips
Orchestra                                                         Mr. Jay Hawkins
Technology                                                      Mrs. Monica Nelson
                                                           

Vision Statement
            Avenue A will provide students with tools for mastering communication and math skills in a stimulating learning environment in order to progress successfully to the next educational level.

Mission Statement
            Our Primary mission is to create an environment that insures academic excellence and allows students to meet their potential.

Belief Statements
As teachers, we believe:

• Each child can learn.
• School should be an inviting place.
• Each child should develop a positive self image.
• Each child should be able to learn, explore and excel.
• Each child should have respect for himself and all others.
• Parents and community should be actively involved in each child’s education.
• Each child should develop responsibility for the environment: school, home, community, and global.
• Each child should develop responsibility for his or her own learning.
• Each child has a responsibility to use time wisely.

Parking and Your Child’s Safety
            To enable children to arrive and depart safely at school, the Hutchinson Police Department and I are asking that you follow these traffic regulations.

• No longer will cars be allowed to pull in back of the school to drop off or pick up children. This is in the best interest of the children and their safety. Thank you.
• No cars are allowed to park where “No Parking” signs are posted.
• No cars are allowed to park at any time where the curb is painted yellow.
• No cars are allowed to park in the area marked for loading buses.
• Only handicapped licensed vehicles may park in the blue area.

Security
            During school hours, ALL doors will remain locked except for the Madison Street doors. All parents and visitors are to report to the office upon entering the building.

Attendance
            In order for your child to be successful in school, he/she needs to arrive to class on time and be in attendance on a daily basis. This is critical in the success of your child’s education. Your help is crucial and appreciated.
            When your child is ill, please call the school office (665-4610) before 8:30 a.m. so we can notify his/her teacher and food service. We can arrange to have homework in the office for you to pick up so that your child will not get behind. Whenever your child has been absent, please send a note stating the specific reason for the absence. The child is to give the note to his/her teacher. Please be aware that unexcused absences and tardiness must be reported to truancy authorities.

Dismissal
            At dismissal time, the children are expected to leave the playground area promptly and report home or to their caretaker. Parents may accompany children after school to the playground. The school does not provide playground supervision outside of scheduled recesses. The playground is closed before school and after school until 6:00 p.m.

Sources of Information and Regulations

• USD 308 Policies and Regulations – available for viewing in the principal’s office
• USD 308 School Year Calendar
• USD 308 Parent/Student Information Booklet
• Avenue A web site: www.usd308.com/avenuea
• District and school newsletters, notes, and notifications
• The Hutchinson News and local radio stations

Student Daily Schedule
*Parents are responsible for student supervision before 7:20 a.m.

• Students arriving after 7:55 a.m. will be counted tardy.
• Students arriving after 8:55 a.m. will be counted absent for morning session.
• Students arriving after 1:00 p.m. will be counted absent for afternoon session.

Community After School Program: Boys’ and Girls’ Club at Shadduck Park 3:10 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Lunch Schedule

Staff Daily Schedule
Office: 7:30 a.m.  to 4:00 p.m.
Teaching Staff: 7:35 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Student Information Sheet
            Please notify the office immediately if any of the following information changes:

• Home address
• Place of employment
• Telephone numbers (home/work/cell/care provider)
• Name of day care provider
• Contact person for emergencies

Moving In or Out
            If, during the school year, you must move your child, please let us know as soon as you can. If you are moving to another school within USD 308, letting us know early helps staff to work together and ease the transition between schools. If you are moving out of district, it allows us to get your student records to your new school on a timely basis.

Parties
            Students may wish to share treats on their birthday. All snacks need to be prepackaged and/or prepared in a licensed commercial kitchen. Contact the classroom teacher a few days in advance to schedule the best time. Parties are to be limited to 15 minutes late in the day. Please help us keep the carpet looking nice by not serving treats and drinks that stain.
Gift or invitations to private parties may not be distributed at school. The distribution of invitations to private parties is only allowed if all students in the classroom are included.

Dress Code
                        Students are encouraged to use good personal hygiene and to come to school in clean
clothing appropriate for the season and all school activities, including physical education and recess.        Students whose grooming or clothing appears to be in violation of the dress code may be asked to leave the classroom to make arrangements for better grooming or appropriate attire.
            Classrooms in the building are air conditioned during warm months. Students are encouraged to dress accordingly. Parents and students should plan on outside play during the day and children need to dress accordingly.

• Shorts and skirts, which are at least mid-thigh in length, may be worn.
• Tank tops, spaghetti strap tops and cropped tops (tops allowing for the exposure of midriff or rib cage are considered inappropriate) may be worn only with other shirts underneath or over them. Fish net and see through tops are not allowed.
• Clothing that advertises drugs, tobacco or alcohol, or displays inappropriate writing or pictures will not be allowed.
• Baseball caps, hats, bandannas, and head coverings may not be worn in the building unless the head covering is part of an educational event or needed due to health reasons. Students will be asked to remove all head covering while in the building.
• Slide-on, flip flops, or very loose fitting sandals, and platform shoes or higher heels are inappropriate for recess and gym activities. Students must have tennis shoes for Physical Education.
• Sagging jeans, low riding pants or shorts, and jeans dragging the ground are deemed inappropriate for school.
• Any dress or grooming that is disruptive or distracting to the educational process is inappropriate at school.
• Coats and jackets must be removed while in the building. They should be hung up in the classroom upon entering. If a child is cold in the classroom it is suggested that warmer clothing be worn in the classroom.

Personal Property
            Students are encouraged to bring only items from home that relate to topics they are
studying. Skateboards, scooters, and skates of any type are not allowed at school during the school day. Any toys, trinkets, radios, computer games or other items that distract from the educational process will be kept in the office or classroom until the end of the instructional day. Students should not bring electronic devices to school including cell phones, pagers, PDA’s CD players, iPods, etc. Items will be taken to the school office and need to be picked up by the parent or guardian.

Cell Phones
            While we do not encourage the use of cell phones, we understand that parents might feel they are necessary for the student to have after school. In this case, a note from home stating why the cell phone is needed should be sent to the principal. Cell phones must remain off and in their backpacks during the school day. If students use the phones during the school day, the phone will be taken away and parent will need to retrieve it from the office.

Safety Patrol
            Fifth and sixth grade students are Safety Patrol volunteers. All students must obey patrol officers on duty and follow these rules:

• Walk on the sidewalk.
• Use the crosswalks and walk, not run, when crossing.
• Stand behind the yellow line at the crosswalks.
• Follow all directions of patrol officers on duty.

            Patrols are located on Avenue A at the light, the south side at Avenue A and Monroe, the north side of Avenue B and Monroe, and the north side of Avenue B and Madison. Parents should warn their children that the railroad tracks south of the school are not appropriate for play and should be avoided on the way home from school. The school will also remind the students to stay away from the tracks.

Discipline with Expectations
            All students at Avenue A are expected to demonstrate good citizenship. Students learn best in a safe, orderly environment. In order for children to gain control of their lives and realize a sense of academic and personal fulfillment, they must first learn how to accept responsibility for their behavior, how to respect the rights of others, how to solve problems, and how to make choices and decisions that can benefit them or that are in the best interest of others. The following life skills will be taught, modeled, reinforced, and expected throughout the school year.

• Following instructions
• Accepting criticism or a consequence
• Accepting “No” for an answer
• Greeting others
• Getting the teacher’s attention
• Making a request
• Disagreeing appropriately
• Giving criticism
• Resisting peer pressure
• Making an apology
• Talking with others
• Giving compliments
• Accepting compliments
• Volunteering
• Reporting other youths’ behavior
• Introducing yourself

            Most discipline will be dealt with by the supervising teacher. When the teacher finds it necessary to take discipline to the next step, the principal and/or the teacher will decide the appropriate consequences and the parents will be notified.

• Avenue A Community Service
• After School Detention
• In-School Suspension
• Out-of-School Suspension
• Expulsion

            If students are to be detained after school for disciplinary reasons or to complete assignments, the teacher will send a note home with the child. The note will state the date, student’s name, teacher’s name, reason for detention, and time of dismissal. Parents are to sign and send the note to school to make personal contact with the teacher.

Playground Rules
            The blacktop is for organized games such as jump rope, dodge ball, and four-square. Kick and catch games are only allowed in the field. Playground supervisors are responsible to determine what games are appropriate for the field. Following are rules and guidelines to be followed:

• Students will walk when dismissed to the playground and when lining up after recess.
• All students should be involved in constructive, safe play.
• Children will report all injures to the supervisor.
• Students will not leave the play ground without permission from supervisor.
• There will be only one person on the ladder, at a time.
• There will be only one person coming down the slide, at a time.
• No ropes or gloves on the exercise bars.
• No sitting or standing on bars.
• There will be only two people on a Teeter Totter at a time. Do not sit in the center.
• Balls are not to be bounced against the side of the building or against the fence.
• Chasing games such as tag should be played on the field.
• All ball and running games will take place away from playground equipment.

Parent Involvement
            Parents are encouraged to become involved in the education of their children. You are welcome to visit the school at your convenience.  Parents wanting to visit their child’s classroom must schedule the visit in advance with the classroom teacher or Principal. We ask that you check in at the office when you arrive at Avenue A. If you have questions or concerns, please contact the principal or your child’s teacher. The staff is dedicated to the academic success and well-being of all students.
            The Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) and the Site Council needs more parents to be active. Please contact the school if you would be willing to be actively involved. Volunteers are also needed for room mothers/fathers.

Counseling Program
            Each elementary school is served by a member of USD 308’s elementary counseling program. Student involvement with the counselor is considered an integral part of a student’s educational experience. Along with individual and small group counseling, crisis intervention, and family support, counselors provide classroom instruction in career, academic, and personal/social (character education) content areas.

Telephone
Children and teachers will not be called from class to speak on the telephone.
            A message can be passed to the student or teacher by the school secretary. Teachers may return your call when they are not instructing children or after school. The phone number is 665-4610. Students will not be permitted to use the telephone for personal phone calls except in case of emergency.

Student Recognition
            Students will be recognized for their achievement throughout the year. Notification of recognition will be sent out to parents. An Awards Assembly will be held at the end of the school year. Students will be recognized in the areas of academic progress, citizenship, safety patrol, band, orchestra, music, and art. Students may be recognized for other areas of achievement as they come to our attention.

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