Parent and Student Handbook
2007-2008

August 2007

Dear Parents and Students,

            Welcome to Lincoln School and the 2007 - 2008 school year! I am excited about the coming school year and hope you are also. If you are new to Lincoln, let me extend a welcome to you from Lincoln Elementary School, the staff, students and parents. I am pleased to have you as partners in this educational year.

            My office door is always open to you. You many also contact me by calling the school 665-4650 or my home 663-2243. I realize that evenings and weekends are sometimes the most convenient time for parents to communicate with me.

            One of my goals is to see that parents and guardians of students - like the students themselves - feel at home at Lincoln. To accomplish that, Monthly Newsletters are sent home with all students on the first school day of each month throughout the school year, providing you with information about upcoming events and activities. A second good reference is both the district and Lincoln handbooks. Please read and discuss both handbooks as a family.

            Plan on attending our annual School Eve Party and Open House scheduled for Wednesday, August 15, at 5:00 p.m. We will begin the evening in the gym followed by your child receiving their homeroom assignment, locker and desk assignment. Your child may bring their marked school supplies at this time.

            I am glad to have you with us this year, and I want to assure you that I will do my best to see that your child experiences positive academic, social and emotional growth. With your help and cooperation, this should be an excellent year.

                                                            Sincerely,
                                                            Marilyn C. Graham, Principal

Lincoln Elementary School Mission Statement
The mission of Lincoln Elementary School is to provide a safe and nurturing community where diversity is celebrated, mutual respect among adults and children is practiced and where parents/guardians are seen as valued partners in establishing a foundation for life-long learning.

Lincoln Elementary School Vision Statement
The vision of Lincoln is to provide a safe, positive, and enriching environment in which all students will aspire to reach their potential as positive, productive, and moral citizens of our global society.

Preface
This handbook is a companion handbook to the Hutchinson Public Schools Parent-Student Information Booklet and has been prepared to provide parents and students with general information and specific school policies of Lincoln Elementary School.
As a part of U.S.D. #308, Lincoln Elementary School is maintained to serve the community. The primary purpose of the school is to prepare young people for a useful and rewarding life. All decisions made and actions taken are with the welfare of the students in mind. Through the cooperation of students, parents and school personnel, this will be a pleasant and rewarding year.

School Hours

School Arrival
The school is opened for all students at 7:15 a.m. each school day. Students may enter the building through the Bigger Street gym door. Late arriving students must enter through the front door, using the buzzer, and report directly to the office.

School Dismissal
Regular School Dismissal
All students must leave the building, at dismissal time using assigned exits, unless they are under the direct supervision of a teacher. All students are expected to immediately exit the building and leave the campus at 3:10 p.m. Only students who are meeting a bus, on safety patrol, are tutoring students, or attending after school club activities are exceptions to this.
Parents not picking up their students in a timely manner after school will be reported to the SRO Officer (police).

Early School Dismissal
Throughout the year there are early dismissal days that allow staff in-service training time. On these days students are dismissed at 1:10 p.m. Please make arrangements to see that your child is picked up promptly at this time and/or plan on their early return home or to their after-school care giver.
2007 - 2008 early dismissal days:
Friday, October 12
Friday, December 7
Friday, April 4
Friday, May 9

Safety to and from School
Parents are asked to instruct their children in the safest route to and from Lincoln school. Students should then use this route. This is a safety measure for the student. If you do not feel that your child will be safe walking to school you should walk with your child. Students are not to cross the street except at marked crosswalks.
We urge you to help your child learn good safety practices. Railroad crossings require extra student safety instruction from parents.

Passenger Loading Zones
There is a designated area on the East side of the school (Elm Street) for students to be dropped off.
It is illegal to stop in the street to let off or board passengers.
Cars are not allowed to stop or park, at any time, where the curb is painted yellow or in areas marked for bus loading. The Hutchinson Police Department will ticket cars parking in violation.
If you drive your child to school, always remember to let your child out of the car on the school curb side.
The back of Lincoln School (Campbell Street) provides a large area for you to drop off and pick up your child school curb-side. Drivers are NOT to drop off students in the Staff Parking Lot or drive leading into the Staff Parking Lot.

Handicapped Parking
            Handicapped parking space is available on Bigger Street.

Building Security
Door Security
To provide a safe environment for students and staff, Lincoln is a secured building. When you wish to enter the building you will need to come to the front entrance on Bigger Street and ring the outside buzzer for admittance.
We require all visitors to sign in at the office and get the required Visitors Badge, signing out and returning your badge as you leave the building.
All doors will remain locked to prevent any intruder from having direct access to the classrooms. You have our apologies for the inconvenience, but the safety of our students and staff is our first priority.

Safety Patrol
The Safety Patrol is made up of sixth grade students. Please encourage your child to follow the directions of this group. Students are not to cross the street except at marked crosswalks or at intersections where we have Safety Patrol Students.

Attendance
Absences
If your child is absent from school please notify the school's office (665-4650) before 8:30 a.m. on the day of the absence AND provide written or verbal notification upon the student's return.
A student is considered absent if an hour or more is missed during the morning or afternoon. All late arrivals are required to report to the office to check in before going to the classroom. The student will be given an attendance pass to give to the teacher.

Tardiness
Students are considered tardy when they arrive after the beginning of the morning or afternoon session, 7:50 a.m. and 12:00 noon. A student is considered absent if an hour or more is missed during the morning or afternoon.
Students that are tardy are required to check-in at the front office for a late pass.

Meal Program
Breakfast
Students in grades K-6 may eat breakfast at school from 7:15 to 7:45 a.m.
No breakfast will be served after 7:45 a.m with the exception of a late arriving bus.
Students are not to take, share, trade, or touch other student’s food or drink.

Lunch
Lunch orders are turned in by 8:30 a.m. If your child is going to be late, please call the school office before 8:30 a.m. so that a hot lunch can be ordered for your child.
Lunchroom behavior requires that all food is eaten in a polite manner at the table and that their trash is disposed of in the trash container.
Students are not to take, share, trade, or touch other student’s food or drink.

Sack Lunches
As a supporter of nutritious breakfasts, lunches and the federal food program, items such as candy, soda pop and sweet juice drinks are not viewed as appropriate for children to have and consume during breakfast and lunch.

Contacts
Emergency Contacts
Parents MUST keep updated telephone numbers and emergency contact names and numbers on file in the office. Should an emergency arise, the school must be able to contact a parent or identified emergency person immediately.
Without this information, situations can be turned over to the School SRO Officer (police).

School Visitors
Parent Visits
Parents of students are welcome to visit during the school day for appropriate amounts of time. Parents must check in and out at the office upon arrival, getting a Visitor’s Pass. Children of preschool age or older children, not enrolled at Lincoln, are not permitted to visit classrooms.

Guests Visits
            Guests, other than parents, that will be allowed to visit the classroom are those that are invited by the classroom teacher or principal as part of an educational presentation.

Moving
Moving Out of the Lincoln Area
If it becomes necessary for you to make a move during the school year, please inform the office as early as possible, filling out the necessary paperwork. This makes it possible for us to have your student’s transfer records and materials ready when your move takes place.
 
Moving Into the Lincoln Area
When moving into the Lincoln area, it is necessary to make sure that we have a copy of your student’s birth certificate, health records, and social security card. We will be happy to make a copy from the original documents for you.

Transferring into Lincoln from another USD 308 School
            Transfer request forms are available at all elementary school offices. Signatures from both school principals are required.
If your child attends Lincoln as a guest living outside the Lincoln school attendance area attention will be given to student attendance, tardiness, academic progress and behavior. Should these become areas of concern you could be requested to have your child return to their neighborhood school. 

Telephone Use
Receiving Telephone Calls
Students and teachers will not be called from class to speak on the telephone. A message can be given to the student or teacher by the school secretary.

Making Telephone Calls
Teachers may return calls to parents during their planning time or after school.
Students will not be allowed to use the telephone.
Teachers may choose to make a call for a student during their planning time or after school, if they deem the call necessary.

Personal Property
            The school is not responsible for personal property that is broken, lost, stolen or misplaced.
Distracting Items
            So that students will not be distracted from their school responsibilities students are encouraged to bring only items listed on the required school supplies list.
            Items not allowed at school include but are not limited to: skateboards, scooters, skates, roller blades, skate shoes, toys, trinkets, radios, computer games, electronic items, i-Pods, pagers, PDA’s DC players, cameras, recorders or recording devices, personal computers, make-up, sunglasses or any other item that distracts from the educational process. Such items will be confiscated by the teacher or principal.
            Parents will need to come to school and pick up these items from the principal.

Cell Phones
            If a student brings a cell phone to school a note from home stating why a cell phone is needed should be sent to the principal. Cell phones must remain off and checked in at the office each morning. Cell phones not checked in at the office will be confiscated by the teacher of principal.

Money
            As a general practice students are not to bring money to school. Exceptions to this include but are not limited to: milk, lunch and picture money.
            With the exception of the above-mentioned exceptions, students bringing money to school must turn this money into the office with a note from the parents stating the reason why money is needed at school. The money can be picked up at the end of the school day in the office by the student.

Lost and Found Items
Lost Items
            Students may check at the office for items that have been lost. Lost items will be kept for a period of thirty days.

Found Items
            Students may turn in found items to the office.

Parties and Gifts
Parties
            Parties and celebrations must be limited to the last fifteen minutes of the school day. Students may bring treats on their birthdays to pass out at 2:55 - 3:10 p.m. Morning kindergarten 10:55 - 11:10 a.m.
            According to the Kansas Health codes all treats must be prepackaged and prepared in a licensed commercial kitchen certified by the Kansas State Health Department.
            The teacher needs to be informed no fewer three days ahead of time. At that time you will be informed of any special “food” needs that you would need to include for “special diet, food allergies or medical needs students”. Bringing treats is not a necessity.
            Please help us in keeping our carpet looking nice by not serving treats or drinks that will stain.

Party Invitations
            The distribution of invitations to private parties is allowed only if all students in the classroom are included. If all students are included in the invitation to a private party, the teacher will see that these invitations are handed out at the end of the school day.
            The school will not provide addresses of students for invitations to private parties.

Library
            At Lincoln School we have an exceptionally good library program. To keep it strong, we need the cooperation of each and every student in school. In addition to the pleasure and learning they receive from the library program, we want students to learn to appreciate all of the materials in the library. If a child loses or damages a book, the family is expected to reimburse the school for the lost or damaged item. We want each and every child to use the library, thus we do allow for the ordinary use, wear, and tear on our materials.

Parental Involvement
Parent Conferences
            The faculty and administration encourage parent conferences whenever needed. Parent-teacher conferences can be an aid toward furthering the education of the student and working out problems which may arise. Scheduled Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences are held in September and again in January. April Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences are scheduled, as needed. You will receive your child's progress/grade report at that time.
            Each six-week period between Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences a progress report will be sent home with the students.

PTO
            All parents who have children at Lincoln are urged to become involved in their school. There is a great need for “Room Parent Volunteers”. We encourage all parents to join our PTO and help support Lincoln School.
            Parents will have an opportunity to join our school PTO during enrollment and at our School Eve Party on August 15.

PTO/Site Council
            Lincoln’s PTO/Site Council Board meets the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.

Family Fun Nights
            Lincoln’s PTO/Site Council along with our Title I Program will sponsor six Family Fun Nights this school year.
            All students and their families are encouraged to attend. The evening includes refreshments, drawings, a “fun” all-family academic activity, a contest to see which homeroom has the largest percentage of students’ families attending and often “special or surprise” guests.

            The following are scheduled PTO/Site Council Family Fun Nights for the 2007 - 2008 school year:

Instrumental Music
            Lincoln School has both band and orchestra instrumental music classes available to sixth grade students. A few instruments are owned by the school and may be loaned to students who do not have instruments. Home practice will be required of those who take part in this program.

Physical Education
            Your child is expected to take part in the physical education activities. If there is a health problem which prevents your child from participating in PE, a doctor's written statement needs to be sent to the principal, giving the limitations and when your child may return to full active participation in PE. A copy of this notification will be given to the PE teacher, recess supervisors and our school RN.
            When physical education is held inside of the building, your child must wear tennis shoes. Please mark these shoes with a heavy ink. (Please mark all of your children's clothing and belongings.)

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.

Recess
            All students are to go outside at recess and should dress accordingly. Students will have indoor recess on days of inclement weather or when the air temperature or wind chill drops below 20 degrees F. The office will monitor weather and air temperatures and announce indoor recesses.      
            Students are expected to have appropriate clothing at school for outdoor recess, such a jacket, sweater, coat, gloves and head gear as the weather would necessitate.
Throwing any objects including but not limited to snow, snowballs, rocks, sticks, or other objects which could potentially injure others is strictly prohibited.
            Students are not to climb on the school building, fences or any structure not intended for such purposes.
            Students are not to take personal items out at recess time.
            Students are expected to follow the directions of all recess staff members on duty.
Rough-House type games are not allowed
            Tackling, grabbing, and other contact games are not allowed
On-duty recess staff will see that recess equipment is taken out and returned into the building.
Recess Equipment
Swings: While swinging students must remain seated
                        Jumping out of swings is not allowed
Slipper Slide: Only one student at a time should climb the ladder, going down fully  
           seated, facing out
            Teeter-Totter: Only one student on each side
Jumping off of a teeter-totter while the counter-part is in the air is not 
  allowed
            Overhead Ladders: Only one student at a time is to cross
            Chinning Bars: Students are not to climb chinning bars
                                    Students are to only chin themselves.
            Tire Swing: Primary students (K-3) may have two students on the tire swing
                           Intermediate students (4-6) may only have one student on the tire swing
                           Students waiting a turn on the tire swing must wait outside the tire swing stand
                            A recess staff person may ask a student to swing the students
Kick Ball: Students should not run through or across the kick ball area when a game is in
   progress
            Football: Footballs are not allowed at recess
            Baseballs/Softballs: Baseball/softball games are not allowed
            Rough-House type games are not allowed
            Tackling, grabbing, and other contact games are not allowed

Spirit Days
            Students will wear their school t-shirts on Spirit Days and for field trips. The PTO graciously provides our Lincoln Spirit T-shirts.
            The following is a list of Spirit Days for the 2007 - 2008 school year:
October 2
December 4
December 21
February 5
April 1
May 9
May 22
School Spirit Shirts
            School Spirit Shirts provided by the PTO will remain school property and will not be sent home with the students at the end of the school year.
            Should you wish to purchase a school spirit t-shirt or sweatshirt for your child or other families members you can pick up order forms at enrollment (August 2) or at our School Eve Party (August 15).

Field Trips
Permission Forms
            For each field trip parents must sign a field trip permission form giving their student permission to participate. These forms will be sent home with the student at least one week in advance. Please sign them immediately and have your child return them to school.
            Students will not be allowed to participate in any field trip without a signed permission slip. Verbal approval by word of mouth or phone will not be acceptable.

Lunch While on Field Trips
            The school will provide a sack lunch and drink for all students on field trips in which the students are gone over the noon hour.

Field Trip Dress  
            Students will wear their Lincoln School Spirit T-Shirts on all field trips unless other "specific" dress is required.

School Programs
Vocal Music Programs            
            We have two vocal music programs in the evening. Your child is expected to participate in this activity when their homeroom class is included in the performance.
 
Vocal Music Program Dates
            December 11 our intermediate grades will present the program (grades 4-6). February 29 our primary grades will present the program (grades K-3). Both begin at 7:00 P.M.

Sixth Grade Recognition
            Sixth graders are expected to participate in the Sixth Grade Recognition Program that is scheduled for Wednesday, May 21 at 4:30 P.M.

Awards Programs
            Parents and family members are encouraged to attend our awards assemblies. During assemblies and at all school functions, please demonstrate good manners and behavior. This means appropriate applause or cheers.
            Booing, hazing, whistling, or other rude behaviors are inappropriate at any time and not allowed.

Assemblies for the 2007-08 school year are scheduled for:
Friday, December 21      K-3 graders 1:00 – 1:30 p.m.
                                    4-6 graders 1:45 – 2:15 p.m.
Thursday, May 22          K-3 graders 1:30 – 2:00 p.m.
                                    4-6 graders 2:15 – 2:45 p.m.

Student Expectations
            One of our goals at Lincoln School is to help students develop the skills of responsible behavior and self-discipline. Students are often faced with situations in which they must choose their behavior and be responsible for their actions. In order to provide the best possible learning environment for all students, the administration, teachers, and staff will assist students in learning to make appropriate choices and provide consequences when inappropriate behavior is chosen. School expectations will be communicated to the students with classroom expectations posted in the individual classrooms.
            The following expectations have been developed to help all students develop a positive self-image and make appropriate behavior choices. The expectations described are guidelines and are not meant to be all inclusive or limited to.

Student Conduct
Student Respect
            Students are expected to show respect and follow the request or instruction all school personnel.
            Students should be respectful at all times to both their peers and adults. Students have a responsibility to cooperate and show self-discipline so that classrooms are orderly. By following directions and actively staying on task, students are in control and showing respect. Students should be particularly aware of being respectful and helpful to our volunteers and guest teachers when they are substituting for the regular teacher.

Student Citizenship
            Students are expected to display good citizenship by keeping the school building and ground clean and unmarred.
A good citizen takes care of public and private property in order that he/she may make his/her school and community a desirable place to live. Students should demonstrate good citizenship by displaying pride in their school, keeping their classrooms, corridors and washrooms clean.

Student Consideration of Others
            Students are expected to be considerate of others.
            Students will allow others to learn and demonstrate control of their behavior by moving with care, keeping noise and talking appropriate to the time and place, waiting their turn, speaking kindly, playing fair, and listening to other students.
             Polite hallway behavior is expected at all times.

Student Timeliness
            Students are expected to report to classes on time and be prepared for their class.
            Students should be in classrooms and ready to work when the class begins.

Student Assembly and Program Behavior
            Students are expected to show good manners.
            During assemblies and at all school functions, students should display good manners and behavior. This means appropriate applause or cheers.
            Booing, hazing, whistling, or other rude behaviors are inappropriate at any time and not allowed.

Student Personal Responsibility for Actions
            Students are expected to take responsibility for their choices and behavior.
            Students show responsibility by following the rules in their classrooms and the school. Students also show responsibility by completing their work and turning it in on time. In addition, students show responsibility by asking questions when they don't understand and doing their best to make good decisions.
            Students can show responsibility when bringing money to school only when absolutely necessary and giving it to the office staff for safe keeping. Responsibility can also be shown by reporting any injuries that one might suffer on the playground, such as bruises or cuts to the supervising recess teacher immediately.

Dress Code
(Dress and Grooming)
Grooming
            Students are expected to use good personal hygiene and come to school in clean clothing, which is appropriate for the season and all school activities, including physical education and recess.
            Appropriate dress is that which does not distract from the education process.
            Students whose grooming or clothing appears to be in violation of the dress code may be asked to make arrangements for better grooming or appropriate attire. This could include but not be limited to calling home and asking that different attire be brought to school for them to change into or wearing clothing that the school would loan to the student to wear for the day.

Weather and Dress
            Our classrooms are air conditioned during warm months. Students should dress for moderate temperatures. It is expected that students will dress accordingly for play outside each day at recess which would include bringing a wrap for colder days.
 
Student Dress
            Shorts, which are mid-thigh or longer in length, may be worn when the outside temperature is predicted to be in the mid- 80’s or higher.
            Skirts or dresses mid-thigh on longer may be worn.
            Tank tops, fish net shirts, spaghetti stringed tops, strapless tops, and cropped tops may be worn only with other shirts underneath or over them. (Tops allowing for the exposure of the midriff or rib cage are considered inappropriate.)
            Clothing that advertises, drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or displays inappropriate writing, comments, or pictures will not be allowed.
            Baseball caps, hats, bandannas or other head coverings may not be worn in the building or at school functions unless the head covering is part of a scheduled educational event.
            Slide-on, flip flops or very loose fitting sandals, platform or higher heeled shoes 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.
            Coats, jackets and hooded sweatshirts (hoodies) must be removed and hung in the student lockers at the beginning of the school day.
            Students will be allowed to keep a sweater or sweatshirt without a hood in the classroom to wear, should they become chilly.

Lincoln Elementary Staff 2007-08