MERRYWOOD
ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL
STUDENT
HANDBOOK
The Merrywood
Musketeers!
“One for
All and All for One”
Awarded:
SC Title 1 Distinguished
School, Honorable Mention
SC
Palmetto Silver Flag Award
PTO Calendar of Events
Innisbrook Fundraiser
August 26 – September 15
PTO Board Meeting; 6:30 pm
August 31
Chick-Fil-A Night (Gwd Mall)
September 2
Birthday Lunch (Aug./Sept.)
September 3
Open House; 6:30 pm
September 9
Grandparents’ Day
September 10
Birthday Lunch (Oct.)
October 1
PTO Meeting & Family Fun
Night;
6:30 pm
October 5
Chick-Fil-A Night (Gwd Mall)
October 7
Chick-Fil-A Night (Gwd Mall)
November 4
Birthday Lunch (Nov.)
November 5
PTO Board Meeting; 6:30 pm
November 16
North Pole Express
November 29 – December 3
Chick-Fil-A Night (Gwd Mall)
December 2
Birthday Lunch (Dec.)
December 3
PTO Meeting; Christmas
Program; 6:30
pm
December 7
Chick-Fil-A Night (Gwd Mall)
January 6
Birthday Lunch (Jan.)
January 7
PTO Board Meeting; 6:30 pm
January 25
PTO Meeting; Math/Science
Night; 6:30
pm
February 1
Chick-Fil-A Night (Gwd Mall)
February 3
Birthday Lunch (Feb.)
February 4
Muffins for Mom
February 10
Donuts for Dad
February 24
Chick-Fil-A Night (Gwd Mall)
March 3
Birthday Lunch (March)
March 4
PTO Meeting; Fine Arts
Night; 6:30 pm
March
15
Birthday Lunch (April/June)
April 1
PTO Board Meeting; 6:30 pm
April 5
Chick-Fil-A Night (Gwd Mall)
April 7
Spring Carnival
April 29
Staff Appreciation
May 2 – May 5
Chick-Fil-A Night (Gwd Mall)
May 5
Birthday Lunch (May/July)
May 6
PTO Board Meeting; 6:30 pm
May 19
Merrywood
Phone Directory
Cafeteria
941-5699
Instructional
Specialist
941-5552
Guidance
Office
941-5707
Media
Center
941-5779
School
Closings HOTLINE
941-5511
School
Nurse
941-3423
Secretary/Bookkeeper
388-2488
Transportation
941-5555
|
August 12th 16th 25th September 3rd
6th 9th 16th October
1st 5th
7th 19th , 21st
22nd
29th November 1st
2nd 5th 18th 24th
– 26th 29th – 3rd
December
3rd
7th 16th 17th
– 31st January 3rd 7th 13th
– 14th 17th 19th February 1st 4th 10th 14th 18th
23rd 24th March
4th 15th 22nd 29th April 1st 18th
– 22nd 29th May 4th 6th 25th 26th 27th 30th
31st June 1st |
Orientation / Elementary
Schools; 8:00am – 11:00 am Students Return to School/
FULL Day/ Lunch Served Innisbrook Fundraiser
Kickoff Birthday
Lunch (Aug. / Sept.) Schools & Offices
CLOSED, Labor Day PTO
Meeting & Open House; 6:30 pm Interim Reports Issued
Birthday
Lunch (Oct.) / Terrific Kid Recognition PTO
Meeting & Family Fun Night; 6:30 pm Fall
Pictures Parent
Conferences; 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm No School for Students & Teachers Class
Parties; 1:45 pm No School for
Students; Staff Development for Teachers Schools and
Offices CLOSED; Election Day Birthday Lunch (Nov.) /
Terrific Kid Recognition Interim Reports issued Schools and Offices
CLOSED,
Thanksgiving Holidays North Pole Express Birthday Lunch Celebration /
Terrific Kid Recognition PTO Meeting & Merrywood
Christmas Program; 6:30 pm Class
Parties;
1:45 pm Schools & Offices
CLOSED, Winter Break Terrific Kid Recognition /
Birthday Lunch; (Jan.) No School for Students; Staff Development Day for
Teachers No School for
Students & Teachers; Office
CLOSED Report Cards Issued PTO Meeting & Fine Arts
Night; 6:30 pm Birthday Lunch (Feb.) /
Terrific Kid Recognition Muffins for MOM Class
parties;
1:45 pm No School for
Students; Staff
Development Day for Teachers Interim Reports issued Donuts for DAD Birthday Lunch (March) /
Terrific Kid Recognition PTO Meeting & Math
/Science Family Night; 6:30 pm End
of
Quarter 3 Report
Cards Issued Birthday Lunch (April /
June) / Terrific Kid Recognition Schools & Offices
CLOSED; Spring Break Spring
Carnival Interim Reports Issued Birthday Lunch (May &
July) / Terrific Kid Recognition Reading Celebration Field Day Awards Day:
K5 - 9:00 am / Grade 5 – 1:00 pm School
& Offices CLOSED Awards Day: Grades
1st & 2nd
– 8:15 am: Grades 3rd &
4th – 10:00 am Last Day of School |
ABSENCES
Family
vacations are unexcused absences. Please
schedule your vacation in accordance with the school calendar.
Class work
missed during any
absence should be completed within five (5) school days of the student’s
return
to school. It
is the responsibility of the student or parent to request missed
assignments
from the teacher.
State law and district
policy set
specific rules for lawful and unlawful absences. A
note is required for each absence
and must be received within three days of the child’s return. An
absence cannot be excused if the note is received more than five (5)
days after
an absence.
After three (3)
consecutive absences or a total of five (5) unlawful absences, an
Attendance Intervention
Plan is developed.
If a student
has more than ten (10) absences
(excused or
unexcused), he/she is subject to
retention. Students who continue
to be absent unlawfully will be reported to the
District
Attendance Officer.
An excuse written by the
parent or guardian is acceptable but is limited
to ten (10) per year. After ten (10)
absences, medical excuses are required.
The excuse must be written on a full sheet of paper and include
the
following: the student’s name, the
teacher’s name, the date of the absence, the reason for the absence, and
the
parent’s signature.
After
ten (10) lawful or unlawful absences, the principal can approve any
additional
absences under the following conditions:
1.
The written excuse must be from a
physician, dentist, or legal officer.
2.
The absence must be due to serious
illness or death in the student’s immediate family.
3.
The absence must be due to the
observance of a recognized religious holiday of the student’s faith.
4.
The absence must be due to
participation in a school-related activity that received prior
approval of
the principal.
5.
The absence must be due to suspension
from school.
A student who has a serious
illness or injury that may cause him/her to be absent for more than a
week may
be eligible for instruction at home by a certified teacher. Please contact the guidance counselor for
more information.
ADDRESS
CHANGE
The Front Office staff and
teacher must have current phone numbers and addresses
available in case of an
emergency.
Change of
address: The
Front Office staff must have a
new proof of residence in order to make any changes on records.
Change of
phone number: Please submit this in writing to the Front
Office staff.
ARRIVAL
The earliest time of
arrival is 7:15 am.
Children may not be left at school
before 7:15 am.
Students need to arrive at
school by
7:45 am. Children seated in their
classrooms before 7:40 am receive a free breakfast.
We ask you to provide
encouragement
for your child to walk to class without assistance.
Walking without assistance can be
accomplished within the first week of school and provides a measure of
independence in a supervised setting.
ONLY buses
and vans use the
Due to the amount of
traffic, we ask
all parents to follow this procedure to ensure a speedy and safe arrival
of
students:
§
Use
the front entrance off of
§
Double
stack to the Alternate Vehicle
sign;
§
Alternate
and drive as far as permissible before allowing your child to exit the
vehicle.
DO NOT ENTER THE FRONT PARKING
AREA BY
WAY OF THE MARKED
AWARDS
Merrywood Elementary
hosts a yearly awards ceremony. The
purpose of this ceremony is to recognize those students who excel in
academics,
talent, and/or citizenship. The
following awards are given during the awards ceremonies:
Kindergarten:
Perfect Attendance – Students receive perfect
attendance for the year if they have been present every day and have not
been
tardy more than three times. They must
also remain in school for the entire day and can not have more than
three early
dismissals.
Related Arts – Two students per class receive an
award from the Art, Music, or Physical Education teacher. The criteria
include
displaying the Lifelong Guidelines and LIFESKILLS emphasized each day
and
exhibiting unique skills in Art, Music, or Physical Education.
Additionally each
Related Arts teacher chooses a student to win the Overall Related Arts
award
for the grade level. This is a very
difficult task and it is with great thought and consideration that these
students are chosen.
Completion Certificate – Each student who
completes the
kindergarten program receives a certificate for their efforts.
First Grade:
Perfect
Attendance – Students receive perfect
attendance for the year if they have been present every day and have not
been
tardy more than three times. They must
also remain in school for the entire day and can not have more than
three early
dismissals.
Principal’s Honor Roll – This award is given to
students who receive all S’s and
all pluses (+) in ELA and Mathematics.
Musketeer
Musketeer
Math Award – This award is given to students
who meet the rubric guidelines set by their grade level.
Citizenship Award – This award is given to
two
students in each class who display all of the characteristics of good
citizenship
as shown by the Lifelong Guidelines and LIFESKILLS school wide
initiative.
Related Arts Award – Two students per class
receive an
award from the Art, Music, or Physical Education teacher. The criteria
include
displaying the Lifelong Guidelines and LIFESKILLS emphasized each day
and
exhibiting unique skills in Art, Music, or Physical Education.
Additionally,
each Related Arts teacher chooses a student to win the Overall Related
Arts award
for the grade level. These students are
chosen with great thought and consideration.
Second
Grade:
Perfect
Attendance – Students receive perfect
attendance for the year if they have been present every day and have not
been
tardy more than three times. They must
also remain in school for the entire day and can not have more than
three early
dismissals.
Principal’s
Honor Roll – This
award is given to students who receive all A’s in ELA and Mathematics.
A/B Honor
Roll - This
award is given to students who receive A’s and/or B’s in ELA and
Mathematics.
Musketeer
Musketeer
Math Award – This award is given to students
who meet the rubric guidelines set by their grade level.
Citizenship Award – This award is given to
two
students in each class who display all of the characteristics of good
citizenship as shown by the Lifelong Guidelines and LIFESKILLS school
wide
initiative.
Related Arts Award – Two students per class
receive an
award from the Art, Music, or Physical Education teacher. The criteria
include
displaying the Lifelong Guidelines and LIFESKILLS emphasized each day
and
exhibiting unique skills in Art, Music, or Physical Education. Additionally, each Related Arts teacher chooses
a student to win the Overall Related Arts award for the grade level. This is a very difficult task and it is with
great thought and consideration that these students are chosen.
Third
Grade:
Perfect
Attendance – Students receive perfect
attendance for the year if they have been present every day and have not
been
tardy more than three times. They must
also remain in school for the entire day and can not have more than
three early
dismissals.
Principal’s
Honor
Roll –
This
award is given to students who receive all A’s in ELA, Mathematics and
Science
and receive an S in Social Studies.
A/B Honor Roll - This award is given to
students
who receive A’s and/or B’s in ELA, Mathematics, and Science and receives
an S
in Social Studies.
Musketeer
Musketeer
Math Award – This award is given to students
who meet the rubric guidelines set by their grade level.
Citizenship Award – This award
is given to two students in each class who display all of the
characteristics
of good citizenship as shown by the Lifelong Guidelines and LIFESKILLS
school
wide initiative.
Related Arts Award – Two students per class
receive an
award from the Art, Music, or Physical Education teacher. The criteria
include
displaying the Lifelong Guidelines and LIFESKILLS emphasized each day
and
exhibiting unique skills in Art, Music, or Physical Education.
Additionally, each
Related Arts teacher chooses a student to win the Overall Related Arts
award
for the grade level. This is a very
difficult task and it is with great thought and consideration that these
students are chosen.
Student Council – Class Representatives are
recognized and presented with a certificate.
These students were nominated and elected by their classmates at
the
beginning of the school year and serve a full year term.
Fourth Grade:
Perfect
Attendance – Students receive perfect
attendance for the year if they have been present every day and have not
been
tardy more than three times. They must
also remain in school for the entire day and can not have more than
three early
dismissals.
Principal’s Honor
Roll -
This
award is given to students who receive all A’s in ELA, Mathematics,
Science and
Social Studies.
A/B Honor Roll - This award is given to
students
who receive A’s and/or B’s in ELA, Mathematics, Science, and Social
Studies.
Musketeer
Musketeer Math Award – This award is given to
students
who meet the rubric guidelines set by their grade level.
Citizenship Award – This award is given to
two
students in each class who display all of the characteristics of good
citizenship as shown by the Lifelong Guidelines and LIFESKILLS school
wide
initiative.
Related Arts Award – Two students per class
receive an
award from the Art, Music, or Physical Education teacher. The criteria
include
displaying the Lifelong Guidelines and LIFESKILLS emphasized each day
and
exhibiting unique skills in Art, Music, or Physical Education. Additionally, each Related Arts teacher chooses
a student to win the Overall Related Arts award for the grade level.
Student Council – Class Representatives are
recognized and presented with a certificate.
These students were nominated and elected by their classmates at
the
beginning of the school year and serve a full year term.
Flag Patrol– A United States flag pin is given
to those students who volunteer to raise and lower the flags daily.
Fifth
Grade:
Perfect
Attendance – Students receive perfect
attendance for the year if they have been present every day and have not
been
tardy more than three times. They must
also remain in school for the entire day and can not have more than
three early
dismissals.
Principal’s Honor
Roll –
This
award is given to students who receive all A’s in ELA, Mathematics,
Science,
and Social Studies.
A/B Honor Roll - This award is given to
students
who receive A’s and/or B’s in ELA, Mathematics, Science, and Social
Studies.
President’s Gold
Award for Educational Excellence – This award is sponsored by the U.S.
Department of
Education. Its purpose is to recognize
and honor students who have achieved high academic goals through hard
work and
dedication to learning.
This
award is given to students in Grade 5, Grade 8,
and Grade 12 and is based on two specific criteria for elementary
schools:
§
3.50
or higher grade point average (A- or higher) for Grade 4 and the fall
semester
of Grade 5
§
90th
national percentile score on an achievement or ability test for Grade 4
and
Grade 5.
Presidential Silver
Award for Educational Achievement - This is a High Academic Honor based on
outstanding
educational growth, improvement, and commitment to high academic
development. This award is determined by
the classroom teacher.
Musketeer
Musketeer
Math Award – This award is given to students
who meet the rubric guidelines set by their grade level.
Citizenship Award – This award is given to
two
students in each class who display all of the characteristics of good
citizenship as shown by the Lifelong Guidelines and LIFESKILLS school
wide
initiative.
Related Arts Award – Two students per class
receive
an award from the Art, Music, or Physical Education teacher. The
criteria
include displaying the Lifelong Guidelines and LIFESKILLS emphasized
each day
and exhibiting unique skills in Art, Music, or Physical Education.
Additionally,
each Related Arts teacher chooses a student to win the Overall Related
Arts
award for the grade level.
WMER – The Merrywood News Team receive a
Certificate of Recognition. To serve on
the Merrywood News Team, students apply and are interviewed by various
Merrywood staff.
Student Council – Class representatives are
recognized and presented with a certificate.
These students were nominated and elected by their classmates at
the
beginning of the school year and serve a full year term.
Safety Patrol – The Safety Patrol receives a
Certificate of Recognition for their service to Merrywood parents and
students.
Flag Patrol Leaders – Our Flag Patrol Leaders
are
recognized for their efforts in “training” fourth grade students the
proper
protocol for raising and lowering the school flags.
Musketeer
Citizenship Award
– This award is given to the student who displayed the Lifelong
Guidelines and
LIFESKILLS for good citizenship throughout the years at
Duke TIP Scholars - Duke University Talent
Identification Program - To qualify for such an honor, students must
score at
the 95th percentile or higher on a standardized achievement
or aptitude
test within the past year and a half.
Beth Sugden Sunshine
Award–
This
award is given to a student nominated and elected by the faculty. The student portrays the LIFESKILLS of
caring, kindness, etc. – All of the
LIFESKILLS shown by the late Ms. Beth Sugden.
Completion
Certificate – Those
students proceeding to middle school receive a Certificate of Completion
of
Elementary School Studies.
These awards
are given with great consideration. With
the different categories of awards, all
students have an opportunity to be recognized for their achievements.
For
example, The Musketeer
BUS
TRANSPORTATION
Riding a
bus is a privilege, not a right. Student safety is of
utmost importance as students
are transported to and from school.
State laws and regulations
govern the conduct and safety of our
students. All students are under the
supervision and authority of the bus driver.
Failure to follow the bus driver’s rules will result in a
discipline
referral to the Principal. Repeated
disciplinary problems can result in suspension from riding the bus for
an
indefinite period. Bus rules are
included in the Students’ Rights and
Responsibilities Handbook.
Students living one and
one-half miles or more from Merrywood are
provided bus transportation. A
student may only ride the bus to
his/her home address as
listed on school records. Students
may not ride home with another student on a different bus unless the
parent has
received permission from the Director of Transportation.
CAFETERIA
INFORMATION
Lunch is served
daily beginning on the first day of school.
One carton of milk is included with lunch. Extra
milk cost $.40 per carton.
Each month a
current menu is sent home with each child and the menu is posted on the
District 50 web page.
To ensure
payment to the correct student account, place your payment in a sealed
envelope
labeled with the student’s name and teacher’s name. If paying with a check, please place the
student’s
name on the check.
Charges are not
allowed in the cafeteria.
Applications for free
and reduced-cost meals are
distributed during Orientation and are later available
at the Front Office. Please complete the application when there is a
change in
your income status. Please
submit this form to the cafeteria within ten days of the
first day of school. Your child’s
lunch account will be charged until the application has been reviewed
and
accepted. The parent is responsible for
payment of those charges.
CONTACT WITH
TEACHERS
Conferences with
teachers and administrators should be arranged in advance.
Teachers may be contacted by e-mail or by phone.
Tuesday afternoons are reserved for Merrywood
Family Meetings.
Each parent is encouraged
to attend the scheduled parent conference at the end of the first nine
weeks. Our goal is 100%
participation. During the parent conference, the teacher
discusses your child’s academic progress and provides suggestions for
academic
improvements.
DISCIPLINE POLICY
The teacher’s role
in discipline is a combination of a coach and referee.
He/she explains the rules to the students,
works with the students to understand and practice the rules, reminds
the
student when the rules are not being followed, and administers
consequences
when the rules are broken.
The Merrywood Musketeer
School Rules are given to each
student on the first day of
school. Please review the rules with
your child.
Consequences for
disobeying the rules include a warning, separation from the group for a
brief
period of time, separation from the group for a longer period of time,
loss of
a privilege(s), contact with the parent, and a possible referral to the
principal. All of our students deserve a safe and orderly school
climate. Class
disruptions are handled in a calm, reasonable manner among teachers,
students,
and parents.
District policy
prohibits students from having cell
phones and electronic devices on school property. All items of
this nature are confiscated and given to the principal.
Parents
receive the items from the Front Office one
week after the item was confiscated.
The Front Office is not
responsible for any items NOT
retrieved by the last day of school.
When a student’s
behavior affects others, the district’s policies apply.
These policies are located in the Students’ Rights
and Responsibilities
handbook which is given to each student and parent.
Please review it with your child.
DISMISSAL
Early
dismissals
must be made before 2:05 pm. We are unable to
dismiss a student between 2:05
pm and 2:40 pm due to heavy car and bus traffic and students preparing
for
regular school dismissal.
We are asking parents to be
sensitive to the school’s needs and limit
requests for early dismissal to emergency situations.
Whenever
possible,
schedule medical, dental, and other appointments during non-school
hours. Please send a note to your child’s
teacher on
the morning of dismissal. A student dismissed early
more than one time in a nine weeks period does
not receive perfect attendance. A student
dismissed early more than three times in a year is not
eligible for yearly perfect attendance.
Regular dismissal is at 2:40 pm.
After 3:05 pm, parents must come to the Front Office to dismiss
the
student.
The safety of our students
during
dismissal depends upon all adults following the dismissal procedures. No one is allowed to enter the school building
without the consent of the principal.
During dismissal, permission to enter the school building is only
given
to adults who abide by procedures.
The
front office and teacher must have a written note from the parent or
guardian
requesting a change in your child’s mode of transportation. For
example, if your child is a bus rider and needs to be a car rider but
does not
have a note from a parent or guardian, the child will be placed on the
bus. For the safety of all students, phone calls requesting transportation
changes will not be accepted.
Car
Rider Dismissal Procedure:
§
When your vehicle reaches the Alternate
Vehicle sign, begin
alternating for pick up. Please drive
forward as far as permissible.
§
Staff members are present to assist the
student to your car.
§
If the student is not waiting for you,
drive forward while your child’s name is called a second time.
*USING THE
DRESS CODE
Students are
expected to dress in a manner which allows the student to participate in
instruction and not disrupt classes.
§
ALL SHOES must
have a strap that goes around the foot. FLIP-FLOPS, shoes with cleats, and
roller type shoes are NOT allowed.
§
Bare
midriffs,
spaghetti strap tops, see-through tops, bicycle shorts, spandex shorts,
or
clothing with vulgar words or inappropriate symbols or words are not
permitted.
§
T-shirts
with “I’m
With Stupid” or “Here Comes Trouble” do not promote good citizenship and
are
not permitted. If T-shirts have screening
on them, it must be positive in nature.
§
Hats
are not worn
in the building UNLESS permitted by the Principal.
§
Boys in
Grades 4
and 5 wear all shirts tucked in with pants
at the waist. Girls in Grades 4 and
5 tuck in all T-shirts. Girls’ blouses
may be worn outside of their pants or skirts.
Repeated dress code
offenses will result in a parent
conference or suspension from school.
Please refer to the section on Dress Code in the Students’
Rights and Responsibilities handbook.
EMERGENCY
SCHOOL CLOSINGS
In the event of
inclement weather, district administrators may decide to delay the
opening of
school or cancel school for the day. For
this information, please use the Weather Hotline: 941-5511
or refer to the district webpage www.gwd50.org. Local radio and TV channels are given up- to-
date information.
In the
event of schools are dismissed early
due to inclement weather, an automated call is made to the primary
number
listed on record. UNDER EXTREME
EMERGENCY CONDITIONS, STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF WILL BE EVACUATED TO
FAMILY
EDUCATION RIGHTS AND PRIVACY
ACT
According to the Family
Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1988, the
parent or eligible student has a right to:
§
Inspect
and review the student’s education records
§
Request
the amendment of the student’s education records to ensure that they are
not
inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s
privacy or
other rights
§
Consent
to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the
student’s education records, except to the extent that the Act and the
regulations in this part authorize disclosure without consent
§
File
with U. S. Department of Education a complaint under #99.64 concerning
alleged
failures by the agency or institution to comply with requirements of the
act
and the part; and
§
Obtain
a copy of the policy adopted under #99.64.
If you do
not want identifiable
information published as directory information you must notify the
school in
writing stating the specific information you do not want classified as
directory information.
FEES/SCHOOL COSTS
The Instructional
fee is $20.00. This fee supports and subsidizes field trips, programs,
yearbooks, field day, musical programs, supplies for science and art,
workbooks, etc.
FIELD TRIP POLICY
Negative balances in student lunch accounts, unpaid
instructional fees,
or money owed to the
GUIDANCE PROGRAM
The elementary school
guidance program is an integral part of the total educational process.
Activities are designed to address developmental concerns faced by all
children.
Merrywood’s Guidance
program includes:
§
Classroom Guidance: The counselor meets with the
entire class throughout the year. Topics
of study include solving conflicts, making responsible choices,
accepting
differences, and making career decisions.
§
Small Group Guidance: The counselor meets with small
groups of four to six students who have a similar problem or concern. Topics include: dealing
with divorce, making friends, coping
with death, and improving self-esteem.
§
Individual Counseling: The counselor
meets one-on-one with a student who has a specific problem or concern. Once the problem is identified, a plan of
action is developed for dealing with the problem.
§
Mediation:
The counselor mediates conflicts between two
students. Students identify the conflict and work through a mediation
process.
Referrals for
guidance services may be made by parents, teachers, or the students
themselves. Parents are encouraged to
phone the school counselor (941-5707) to discuss concerns or problems
and/or to
schedule a conference with the counselor.
Students may make a self-referral by placing a note (with the
student’s
name, grade, and classroom teacher) in the mailbox outside the
counselor’s
office.
HEALTH SERVICES
The Health Room is equipped
to
temporarily care for illnesses and provide first aid for injuries that
occur at
school. We ask that children who are
ill, have a contagious condition, or have a fever be kept at home.
Students
should be free from fever for 24 hours before returning to school. Please
feel free to contact our school nurse
by note or phone (941-3423) for questions/concerns. Please
make every effort to keep the school informed of telephone number
changes and
changes in whom to call for an emergency.
Medications: Giving
medications at school is a big
responsibility. Guidelines have been
established to provide a safe system.
v Medication will not be given without a yearly signed parental permission form
on file. Prescription medication also requires authorization from a
healthcare
practitioner.
v The medication (both prescription and
non-prescription)
must be in its original, properly labeled container.
v Students are not allowed to keep medication
with
them. All medications are kept in a
secured area and doses are documented.
v We ask that antibiotics that are to be given 1,
2, or 3
times per day be given at home.
v District 50 policies prohibit students from
transporting medications home from school.
v Notify the school of any changes in medication.
HOME
COMMUNICATIONS
Teachers of students in
kindergarten and first grade communicate daily
with parents.
Teachers of students in
Grade 2 – Grade 5 send home signed papers at
least twice a month. Students in Grades 3 – 5 have daily agendas for
homework
and parent communication. Please check
your child’s book bag, homework folders, etc. each day.
We must work as a TEAM to ensure student
success.
All teachers keep an
updated webpage with information on homework
assignments, class projects, field trips, etc.
Merrywood’s webpage is located within the districts homepage: www.gwd50.org
HOMEWORK
Homework may be
assigned Monday through Thursday. All
homework assignments are due the following day. Just as runners in a race will take different amounts of time
to finish running the race, students in the same class will take
different
amounts of time to complete their homework.
Teachers assign homework
which allows an average student to finish the work with the range of
time
listed below.
K - 5
15
minutes
Grades 1 & 2
20-30 minutes
Grade 3
30 minutes
Grades 4 & 5
40 minutes
We believe regular and
productive homework is valuable and
necessary. If your child’s homework is significantly
longer than the guidelines above, please contact your child’s teacher or
our
school counselor.
INFORMATION
SHEETS
Each year a Student
Enrollment/Information Sheet is completed. The
information you provide is vital for
communication between school and home.
Please complete the forms accurately with a current address and
phone
numbers and any person(s) whom you may arrange to dismiss your child
from school. If there are changes in the
information
during the year, please contact the Front Office staff to complete a
revised
enrollment form.
LOST AND FOUND
Please place your child’s full name on
his or her clothing. Lost and Found is located on THE STAGE in the
Multi-Purpose room. Unclaimed
items left at school at the end
each semester are donated to the Salvation Army.
The
All students are
issued a computerized library checkout card, which they use to check out
books. A $4.00 fee is assessed for lost
library
cards. Parents are asked to help
students develop responsibility by stressing the importance of taking
good care
of library books and returning the books on time.
PARENT TEACHER
ORGANIZATION (PTO)
Many events are
sponsored by our PTO:
o
Birthday
lunches
o
North
Pole Express
o
Muffins
for Mom
and Donuts for Dad
o
Spring
Carnival
o
Chick-Fil-A
nights
and more.
Membership funds
contribute to purchases for the students and the teachers.
PTO membership is $5.00 per family. A
membership drive is held in September.
PARKING
Visitor Parking
spaces are located in the front of the school building. Please
do not park next to curbs in the
driveway or behind parked cars. This
area provides access for emergency vehicles, buses, and service
vehicles.
RELEASE OF STUDENT
INFORMATION
Information on a
student may be released through news releases, photographs, slides, or
videotape. Information may include the
student’s name and grade, as well as the reason the information is being
released (such as winning a school-wide essay contest).
This information
will be released unless a parent indicates in writing that parental
permission must be obtained first.
Anyone wishing to make such a request must do so within
the first 15 days of school.
Under no
circumstances is information on any student released over the telephone.
Persons requesting information such as law
enforcement officials must appear at the Front Office with proper photo
identification, proof of relationship to the student, or a court order.
REPORT CARD GRADING
SYSTEM
The primary purpose
of grading is to inform students and parents of the quality of work and
of
progress made by students.
Students in K-5, Grade 1, and Grade 2
receive written report cards that focus on individual skills.
Students in Grades 1 and 2 are graded in
Language Arts and Mathematics.
Students in Grade 3 are graded in
Language Arts, Mathematics and Science.
Students in Grades 4 and 5 are graded in
Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies.
The following guidelines are used by Grade 1:
|
Language
Arts and Mathematics |
Grade |
|
Successfully meets expectations |
S |
|
Progressing (needs support) |
P |
|
Needs improvement |
N |
|
Area of strength |
+ |
|
Area of weakness |
- |
|
Not yet assessed |
Blank |
The following
guidelines are used for Grade 2 – Grade 5:
|
A |
Excellent |
93 - 100 |
|
B |
Good |
85 - 92 |
|
C |
Satisfactory |
77 - 84 |
|
D |
Poor |
70 - 76 |
|
U |
Unacceptable |
69 and below |
The following guidelines are used by the Related
Arts teachers:
|
Satisfactory |
S |
|
Progressing |
P |
|
Needs Improvement |
N |
Interim reports are
issued in Grade 1 – Grade 5 midway through each quarter.
Reports cards for all grades are issued at
the end of each quarter.
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
COUNCIL (SIC)
Representatives
of
the Merrywood SIC include elected parents, appointed parents, teachers,
and
the principal. The school conducts
parent elections in the fall. Duties
include assisting the principal with preparation of the school renewal
plan,
assisting with the school budget, and establishing and evaluating school
goals.
TARDINESS
Students who arrive after 7:47 am must be accompanied by an adult
into the Front Office. Instruction begins
promptly at 7:50 am. It is extremely
disruptive to instruction for students to arrive late to class. It is
difficult
for the child who is tardy for class to “catch up” with the rest of the
class. A
student who is tardy more than three
times in a year is not eligible for yearly perfect attendance.
TRANSFERRING TO A
If you need to
withdraw your child from Merrywood, please notify the Front Office staff
a few
days prior to the withdrawal date. This gives sufficient time to
complete the
necessary paperwork and assures your child’s transition to another
school
easier. Please pay all school lunch fees
and return all school and library books before withdrawing your child. Permanent records are sent to the new school
upon
request.
VISITORS
We welcome visitors
to
All visitors and
volunteers entering our school must first check in at the Front Office
and
receive a Visitor’s Pass. The pass allows all staff members and students
to
recognize you as a visitor. Visitors in
the building without a pass are reported to the Front Office to obtain
their
Visitor’s Pass. Visitors should sign out
at the Front Office before leaving.
Video surveillance
cameras are located throughout the building and the campus.
VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers in the
classroom are always welcome. A Greenwood
District 50 VOLUNTEER application is required before any adult
volunteers
his/her time in the classroom or chaperones a field trip. The application is forwarded to the District
Office for a SLED check prior to final approval.