East Norriton Middle School - Norristown Area School District

Transcription

HANCOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
STUDENT & PARENT
HANDBOOK
2015-2016
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Access to Children…………………………………………………………………….
11
Act 26 Possession or Use of Weapons in School……………………….
13
Arrival and Dismissal Procedures………………………………………………
12,13
Attendance……………………………………………………………………………….
9
Cafeteria…………………………………………………………………………………..
10
Cell Phones/Electronic Devices………………………………………………...
10
Curricular Program………………………………………………………………….
13,14
Emergency Cards……………………………………………………………………..
10
Extended Day Care Services (ESCC)…………………………………………..
16
Forgotten Items…………………………………………………………………………
10,11
Health……………………………………………………………………………………….
15,16
Home and School Partnership……………………………………………………
16,17
Lost and Found………………………………………………………………………….
11
Message From the Principal………………………………………………………
3
Message From Your Parent-Faculty Club (PFC)………………………….
4
NASD Mission Statement, Core Values, and PATHS . …………………
7
NASD Grading System……………………………………………………………….
7
Parent Involvement Policy ……………………………………………………….
20-24
Parent Right to Know………………………………………………………………..
25,26
Philosophy………………………………………………………………………………..
6
Policy 815 (Acceptable Use)…………………..………………………………….
27-35
Policy 917 (Family Engagement)……………………………………………….
36-40
Quick Reference Guide……………………………………………………………..
5
Safety Procedures……………………………………………………………………..
14
School Day……………………………………………………………………………….
8,9
School District Discipline and Bus Safety…………………………………..
13
School-Parent Compact …………………………………………………………..
18,19
Student Dress Code………………………………………………………………….
7,8
Transportation…………………………………………………………………………..
12
Withdrawing from School………………………………………………………….
2
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MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL:
Dear Hancock Families,
Welcome to Hancock Elementary School where the focus is on student learning and high
expectations.
We are dedicated to building a safe, compassionate community of lifelong learners who are
inspired to become respectful, responsible, cooperative, innovative independent thinkers and
problem solvers. We look forward to working with you to guarantee that our goal is achieved.
Please know that you play a key role in the academic success of our students; therefore,
school/parent communication is crucial. To further ensure a successful school year, I ask that
you please:
Make your child’s prompt attendance to school a priority ~ ALL DAY EVERY DAY!
Expect homework Monday through Friday
Have your child read for at least 15 minutes every night
Practice basic math facts with your child
Return all requested forms and documents to school in a timely manner
Our instructional program will be far more effective with your active participation. Please send
your children to school equipped with the proper materials and ready to learn, and we, in turn
will send them home to you prepared to meet the challenges of the future.
Hancock is a School-wide Title I school that strives to develop Family-School-Community
Partnerships. Parents are a part of the decision making process for the use of Title 1 funds to
improve the education of the children in our school. It is very important that parents and staff
are equal partners empowered to be advocates for all children.
Your participation is greatly needed!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Sondra Stoczko
Principal
“Believe, Achieve, Succeed”
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MESSAGE FROM YOUR PARENT-FACULTY CLUB PRESIDENT:
Dear Hancock Parents and Guardians,
The Hancock Parent-Faculty Club (PFC) would like to welcome you to the 2015-2016 school
year. For our newest families, we are very excited that you are joining the Hancock Family. We
have amazing parents and guardians who take great pride in helping to provide an enriching
environment for our students. We are looking forward to another fun-filled school year and
hope that you will get involved with all the fun and exciting activities we have planned.
Research shows that when parents are involved, the students benefit tremendously; higher
graduation rates, higher test scores, better grades, better school attendance, increased
motivation, better self-esteem, and minimal behavior issues. The more parents that get
involved, the better Hancock Elementary School will be.
The PFC strives to help keep you informed about district and school information as well as be
an advocate and voice for the Parents and Students in our school. We take pride in our
partnership with the staff. Together, we want you and your child(ren) to have a great
experience at Hancock Elementary School.
One way to stay connected and be informed is by visiting the district’s website at
www.nasd.k12.pa.us and select Hancock School from the drop-down box at the top of the
page. Our school webpage is full of information and upcoming events. Another way to stay
connected is by signing up for the PFC email list by sending an email to
[email protected]; this will ensure that you get information about our upcoming PFC
meetings, activities, and events. Lastly, you will receive weekly “Connect-Ed” messages from
our principal with important information to help you stay connected.
The best way to get involved and stay informed is to join us at our monthly PFC meetings. We
generally meet the third Monday of each month beginning at 6:30 pm in the school library and
our meetings usually last about an hour. Childcare is provided for these meetings. We will
discuss upcoming activities and events, hear from our principal and staff liaison, and vote on
how our funds are used to benefit our children and the school. Your voice matters to us, so we
hope that you will plan to participate in these valuable meetings.
If you want to get involved, would enjoy volunteering, or have any questions, please send an
email to [email protected]
“We’re looking forward to a great year!”
Ms. Shane Engle
PFC President
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QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
Hancock Elementary School
1520 Arch Street
Norristown, PA 19401
Main: 610-275-5522
Fax: 610-272-0547
Administration Building: 610-630-5000
Transportation: 610-630-5020
District Website: nasd.k12.pa.us
School Website: (Drop-Down box on district website)
Grade Levels:
School Hours:
Gates Open:
Breakfast Hours: (Main Entrance)
Early Dismissal Time:
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th
8:55 AM - to 3:25 PM
8:55 AM (Main Entrance & Loading Dock ~ No morning recess)
8:45 AM – 9:00 AM (No Breakfast on Early Dismissal Days)
12:25 PM
Principal:
Secretary:
Lead Teacher:
Reading IST:
Math IST:
Guidance Counselor:
Nurse:
Attendance:
Cafeteria Manager:
Mrs. Sondra Stoczko
Mrs. Tina Marshall
Ms. Peggy Cramer
Mrs. Linda Yackanicz
Mrs. Lynne Krewson
Ms. Kathy Gibson
Mrs. Cathy Schunder
Ms. Renee Richardson (T & Th)
Ms. Karen Wheeler
Cafeteria Prices:
Breakfast - Paid ($1.25)
Breakfast - Reduced ($0.30)
Lunch – Paid ($2.60)
Lunch – Reduced ($0.40)
Ala Carte Milk – ($0.35)
Student Dress Code: Uniforms are not mandatory but they are preferred.
Please Note: Uniforms are mandatory for all 4th Grade Safeties.
Acceptable Uniform Combinations:
Tops: White, Navy, Royal, or Light Blue Polo Shirt, Blouse, Sweater, or Sweatshirt
Bottoms: Navy or Tan Slacks, Skirt/Skort, Jumper, or Knee-Length Shorts
Shoes: It is preferred that students wear sneakers every day due to recess and gym class
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PHILOSOPHY
This handbook will reflect the philosophy of this school and of the Norristown Area School
District.
Academically, your child will receive an elementary school education in which the Pennsylvania
State Standards for the curricula of Reading, Writing, and Mathematics are addressed.
Students will also be exposed to knowledge in the areas of Social Studies, Science, Health and
Physical Education. He/she will have learned how to study and how to get information through
our Library program. He/she will have learned to appreciate the contributions of Art and Music
to our civilization.
Your child will be attending school with children from many cultures. This will provide him/her
with an opportunity to grow in citizenship and give him/her an opportunity to live and work
with others regardless of race, creed, color, age or economic status.
Self-discipline is an important learning if we are to become responsible adults. It is our aim to
develop in your child the appropriate behavior for many types of situations.
Special services are provided for children with special, eligible needs. These special services are
offered within the regular education classroom and using the regular education curricula, when
appropriate.
Our Parent-Faculty Association is an integral part of our school community and will need the
support of all of us.
In our changing world, our school must meet the demands of the constantly changing
educational patterns. We must keep in mind that we will meet these changes without diluting
the content of our instructional programs or by weakening the relationship between teacher
and student.
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NASD MISSION STATEMENT, CORE VALUES, & PATHS
The Mission of the Norristown Area School District is to provide comprehensive educational programs to prepare
all students to become productive, responsible, creative citizens. Norristown Area School District provides a welldeveloped, full day educational program for almost 7,000 students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 12,
including the necessary support services.
Our Core Values affect our students, families, staff, and the greater Norristown Area. The following principles
provide the foundation that guides our actions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Student achievement is our number one priority
Parent and family engagement is critical to the success of students
Our schools are part of a larger community
Diversity is a valued strength to be affirmed and celebrated
Our actions will be characterized by trust, respect, fairness, truth, and transparency
We are committed to safe and supportive environments that are physically, intellectually, and emotionally
conducive to teaching and learning
7. Our staff is a valued asset and critical to student learning
8. We are committed to maintaining financial stability and accountability
A great emphasis is placed upon Promoting All to Higher Standards (PATHS) of Excellence to ensure that students
are post-secondary ready and prepared for the 21st Century.
PATHS is the overarching framework for indicating every student’s progress, grade Pre-kindergarten through 12,
toward the goal of being post-secondary or college ready. PATHS is a district-wide commitment to all students,
families and the community. It is an investment in our students that will ultimately result in the sustainability and
growth of the Norristown community.
NORRISTOWN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT GRADING SYSTEM
The Norristown Area School District’s grading system is aligned with the Pennsylvania State Standards and State
Anchors. Children will be graded on “proficiency” in Reading, Mathematics, Science and Social Studies skills.
Report cards will reflect progress toward proficiency.
STUDENT DRESS CODE
*Uniforms are an expectation and are not mandatory for 1st-3rd grades
**Uniforms are mandatory every day for 4th Grade Safety Patrol
Acceptable Uniform Combinations:
Tops: White, Navy, Royal, or Light Blue Polo Shirt, Blouse, Sweater, or Sweatshirt
Bottoms: Navy or Tan Slacks, Skirt/Skort, Jumper, or Knee-Length Shorts
Shoes: It is preferred that students wear sneakers every day due to recess and gym class
SHOES: It is preferred that students wear sneakers every day due to recess. Sneakers are mandatory for
participation in Gym class. Students are NOT permitted to wear flip-flops at any time.
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Students should wear clothing that is appropriate for school activities and not disruptive of the school program.
We will enforce the following rules of dress:
No tank tops, muscle shirts, spaghetti straps (shoulders should be covered)
No short shorts (shorts when worn should be just above the knee)
No shorts/pants/skirts with holes
Pants must fit so that they stay up at the waist. (No underwear showing)
We highly recommend belts for the pants/shorts
No excessive or unsafe jewelry
Hats may not be worn inside the building
Clothing with obscene or offensive words or pictures is not acceptable. (Parents will be called to bring a
change of clothing. If a parent cannot bring a change of clothing, we will do our best to find a change of
clothing for the student.)
Jewelry or wristbands with obscene or offensive words/pictures will be confiscated
Hoods may NOT be worn in school or during Evacuation/Emergency Drills.
SCHOOL DAY
Our regular school day begins at 8:55 a.m. in the morning and ends at 3:25 p.m. in the afternoon. Students are
expected to be in their classrooms and seated by 9:10 a.m. Students arriving after the announcements will be
marked “Late”. Unexcused lateness will be reflected in your child’s attendance records. Please be sure to have
your child to school by 8:55 a.m.
Breakfast will be served daily from 8:45-9:00 a.m. Please note: Breakfast will NOT be served on Early Dismissal
Day. Students must enter the main doors for breakfast.
Gates will open at 8:55 a.m. (Main Entrance & Loading Dock) There is no morning recess. Teachers will meet
their students at their exterior classroom door and let them in.
*PLEASE DO NOT DROP YOUR CHILD OFF AT SCHOOL BEFORE 8:50 A.M. unless they are coming to breakfast. We
cannot provide supervision for children before this time.
Early Dismissal Days: All elementary schools will have Early Dismissal Days this year for Conferences and Report
Card Preparation. Students will be dismissed at 12:25 pm.
Please Note: Breakfast will NOT be served on Early Dismissal Days.
Following are the Early Dismissal Days for 2015-2016.
Tuesday, November 10
Tuesday, March 8
Tuesday, March 22
Wednesday, March 23
Tuesday, June 7
School Closings:
In the event of school closing due to weather or other emergency, parents will be notified by way of a CONNECTED message. This is an automated message that will be sent to your listed home phone, email, and also as a text
message, if you designate this on your child’s emergency card. It is very important that you keep the office up-todate on changes in phone numbers so that you are assured of receiving these important messages. You will be
notified early in the morning through the CONNECT-ED system if the school district is closing due to weather, such
as snow. Announcements are also made on KYW Radio (1060 AM) and on most local television channels. The
school district closing number is 304.
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In the event school is delayed because of weather the same procedure as above is followed. Your child’s bus pick
up time will be two (2) hours later than their normal scheduled time. For example, if your bus pick-up is normally
8:32, with the delayed opening your pick-up time will be 10:32. Please continue to listen when a two hour delay
is announced. The decision to close school may occur if conditions deteriorate.
ATTENDANCE “GOOD SCHOOL ATTENDANCE IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!”
Daily attendance is a goal for ALL Hancock students. We encourage every student to be in school every day and
on time. By law, every school age child must attend school on a regular basis unless illness, emergencies, or other
similar circumstances, directly affecting the child, interfere with this policy.
When Your Child is Absent:
State law requires a written parent/guardian note stating the reason for the absence and the date of the
absence.
This note MUST be received no later than three (3) days after the absence has occurred. If a note is not
received in this time period, the absence will be recorded as UNEXCUSED.
When three unexcused absences are recorded during the course of the year, you will be contacted in order
to complete a Truancy Elimination Plan (TEP).
After a child has accrued 10 excused or unexcused absences, a doctor’s note is required for each
additional absence. Please be sure to read the Truancy Plan sent home on the first day of school as there
are other consequences, including court dates and fines for students with excessive absences.
When Your Child is Late:
A parent or guardian must report to the main office with the student, if arriving after 9:10 a.m. If the lateness was
due to a doctor’s visit, please obtain a note from the doctor’s office to present to the office. The student will
receive a late slip from the office to be admitted to the classroom.
**Any student who is late during the school year, cannot receive a Perfect Attendance award at the end of the
school year.
When Your Child Needs to Leave School Prior to Dismissal for an Appointment:
Appointments for your child(ren) should be made before or after school hours. If your child must leave school
prior to 3:25 P.M., a written note is required on the day of the appointment. Please send the note in with your
child to give to his/her teacher. Parents must report to the main office to sign their child out at the time stated in
the note. These early dismissals are noted on your child’s attendance records and will affect perfect attendance
awards. If the parent or guardian who comes to the office for the child is not known to the office personnel or
identified in the student records, identification will be required. As the parent, if you have someone else pick up
your child, the name of the person must be in the note sent to school. This person will be required to produce
identification before the child will be released.
Vacations:
Extended vacations are not encouraged during the school year, especially if your child is in 3rd or 4th grade . If you
choose to take a family vacation during the school year, a Special Request for Absence for Student form must be
obtained from the office, completed and sent to the principal two weeks prior to the absence. If the absence is
longer than 10 school days, your child(ren) will be withdrawn from the school. You will have to re-register your
child(ren) to get them back into school.
We hope you understand the importance of the attendance laws and will cooperate with us in following the
recommended procedures when your child is absent, late, or leaving early.
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CAFETERIA
All of our children eat in the cafeteria. Menus are sent home each month. The children may pay for lunch and
breakfast each day. Each child has an account set up for them. Parents can put money into the account at any
time. When the account runs low, the parent will be advised to add more money to the child’s account.
Students must have their school ID for lunch. Replacement IDs can be purchased for $2.00.
Children are permitted to talk in the cafeteria, but we expect good manners to prevail. They may not walk
around, visit friends or trade food with each other. Glass bottles are not permitted in the cafeteria.
Children are under the supervision of an adult at all times. We expect respect for the person in charge. Children’s
lunch privileges in the cafeteria can be suspended for improper behavior.
Food may not be taken out of the eating area. Children are to eat all meals in the cafeteria and in the allotted
time frame.
CELL PHONES/ELECTRONIC DEVICES
We discourage parents from sending cell phones to school with their child. Cell phones can become toys,
distractions and can interrupt the instructional day. If for safety reasons, you send your child to school with a cell
phone, the child must keep the phone in his/her school bag and it must be turned off. Cell phones that are seen
or heard in school will be confiscated from the child to be returned directly to parents. Also, the loss/damage of a
cell phone on school property is the responsibility of the parent and child.
Cell phones may never be used to play/record videos and/or show/take pictures. This is the policy from the
moment your child leaves home in the morning until he/she arrives home after school. This includes buses,
daycare vans, and walkers.
We ask for your cooperation in keeping ALL electronic devices at home. This includes all gaming devices, tablets,
iPods, etc. They can cause disruptions in classes, recess and on the buses. They can be used inappropriately and
are best used under the supervision of parents. There is no place in school for electronic devices.
EMERGENCY CARDS
Emergency Cards contain the most important information concerning the care of each child. It is most important
that all information on the card be completed. It is also important that this information be updated as changes
occur. Please contact the school office immediately with any changes of address, telephone number or the names
of others to contact in case of emergency. Please provide your cell phone number and email address on this card.
Please be aware that the people you designate as emergency contacts allow us to release your child to them if
you cannot be contacted. Please contact the office for a new emergency card when needed.
FORGOTTEN ITEMS
We are working very hard to help children accept responsibility, a prime requisite if they are to attain good
mental health and to adjust to this fast-changing world. You can help us by planning with your child how to
develop habits of preparation for school each day. Milk or lunch money, library books, or other texts should be
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readied the previous evening so that the child will be prepared to set off properly equipped regardless of that
temperamental alarm clock.
Children are not permitted to call home for the things that they have forgotten. However, should you bring them
later in the day, come to the office and they will be taken to your child from there. You will not be permitted to
take them directly to your child’s class.
We realize that sometimes emergencies do arise, and we will react accordingly. However, please realize and
expect that your child will take responsibility for being prepared.
Also, once children are dismissed from the building at 3:25 PM, they are NOT permitted to re-enter and go to a
classroom. Forgotten items can be picked up the following day.
LOST AND FOUND
We do have a system for handling lost and found articles. Items which are found are put in the Lost and Found
cabinet, located near the main lobby. If your child loses something, have him/her look for it immediately. Every
year we have many nice articles of clothing, lunch boxes, umbrellas, etc. which go unclaimed. Parents are urged
to mark their children’s clothing, school bags, lunches, or other items with name and class. If a lost article doesn’t
come home in a reasonable length of time, stop in and look in the lost and found cabinet yourself.
The Lost and Found cabinet is sorted through and cleaned out at the beginning of each month. Clothing not
claimed is donated to a local charitable organization.
Please be advised that valuables including jewelry, electronic toys, cell phones, money, etc. should be kept at
home. Our class time is spent on instruction, not on trying to find a lost item. The loss of an item is the
responsibility of the student and parent. We are not responsible for lost, and/or exchanged items between
students.
ACCESS TO CHILDREN
Please know the Norristown Area School District will grant equal parent access to school records, unless a court
order is provided specifying any special conditions that may exist. However, our district requires that direct access
to the child be limited to the custodial parent, unless otherwise officially stipulated. It is the responsibility of the
parent to provide the school principal with any court order, should one exist.
WITHDRAWING FROM SCHOOL
To withdraw your child(ren) from school, the parent/guardian must notify the school office in advance so
that a transfer can be prepared for the new school.
If you are transferring within the Norristown Area School District, you must provide 3 proofs of your new
address to the Central Registration Office, located at the Administration Building. Central Registration will
give you a start date for the new school and transfer your child’s records. There is nothing else you will
need to do.
If, you are moving outside of the school district, please notify us of the date your child will be leaving our
school and the name of the new school your child will attend. When you register your child in the new
school, they will contact us and we will forward to them all necessary records. Please be sure textbooks
and library books are returned to the classroom teacher and that balances with the cafeteria are cleared
before withdrawal.
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TRANSPORTATION
Although Hancock is primarily a walking school, we do have some students who take the bus. Each year all
children who will be transported will receive a bus schedule in the mail before school begins from the District
Transportation Department.
Children are not permitted to ride any bus other than the one to which he/she is assigned.
Children are also only permitted to get on and off the bus at their assigned stop.
If a child wants to visit a classmate after school, parents/guardians are responsible for transportation. We
cannot be responsible for this arrangement due to the safety of our students.
Any changes made to a student’s transportation arrangement (such as notifying us that you will be picking
up your child) MUST be communicated in writing prior to dismissal.
Please understand that phone calls will NOT be accepted by the office staff for the safety of our students.
Kindergarten & 1st Grade students will not be permitted to exit the bus unless a parent/guardian is at the bus
stop. If a parent is not at the bus stop, the student will be brought back to school and it will be the responsibility
of the parent to come to the school to pick up their child. THIS IS A DISTRICT POLICY.
ACT 65 UNAUTHORIZED SCHOOL BUS ENTRY:
A person who enters a school bus without prior authorization of the driver or a school official with intent to
commit a crime or disrupt or interfere with the driver OR a person who enters a school bus without prior
authorization of the driver or a school official who refuses to disembark after being ordered to do so by the driver,
has committed a misdemeanor of the third degree.
Daycare/Babysitter Policy:
The district’s policy is as follows:
1. Daycare or babysitter must be located within the school boundary. The daycare must be a licensed
approved daycare. This list is available from the District Transportation Office.
2. Child must attend program 5 days a week. Once your child’s bus assignment has been changed, they are
no longer eligible to ride the neighborhood bus. No child can be assigned to two buses without district
approval.
3. Transportation to the daycare/babysitter is not guaranteed. If space is needed on the bus, your child may
be bumped to accommodate neighborhood children.
4. If your child is attending a school on an exception to boundaries granted by the Superintendent, he/she is
not entitled to district transportation to a daycare.
All transportation problems concerning bus stops, time schedules, or drivers are handled by the Manager of
Transportation. The telephone number is 610-630-5020.
ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL PROCEDURES
Student Drop-Off & Pick-Up is on Brown St. only by the Loading Dock (Car Line)
Parents/Guardians are to remain in their cars (School Staff will load/unload students)
Students not being picked up in the car line, will be dismissed with “Walkers”
Walkers are NOT permitted to walk up/down Brown St. or the parking lot (Safety Reason: No sidewalk)
There is limited parking on Arch St. You may NOT double-park. Please adhere to the Safety signs
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Summit St. is “WALKING” only between 8:30-9:15 AM and also between 3:15-4:00 PM.
A student’s mode of transportation cannot be changed without written permission from parent
Phone calls will not be accepted by the office staff regarding transportation changes. This is for the safety
of our students. Please send in a note with your child.
SCHOOL DISTRICT DISCIPLINE AND BUS SAFETY
During the first week of school, you will receive a separate document with the discipline policy and the bus rules.
We ask that you review these policies with your child, sign the form indicating that you have read the policies, and
return the signed form to your child’s teacher.
ACT 26 POSSESSION OR USE OF WEAPONS IN SCHOOL
Please be aware that all weapons, firearms, explosive devices, and illegal drugs are strictly forbidden in our
schools. If your child is in possession of any of these items, even if innocently brought to school, the building
principal is required to recommend a one year expulsion to the Superintendent. The Superintendent will review
each incident and make an appropriate recommendation to the School Board. The term weapon shall include
possession of a weapon, regardless of intent, or an object used as a weapon. The term weapon shall include, but
not be limited to, any knife, regardless of the length of the blade, cutting instrument, including box cutter or utility
knife, brass or metal knuckles, firearm (loaded or unloaded), shotgun (loaded or unloaded), rifle (loaded or
unloaded), BB or pellet gun (loaded or unloaded), look-alike gun, including toy guns, chemical agent, including
mace and pepper spray, explosive device, including fireworks, and/or any other tool, instrument or implement
capable of inflicting serious bodily injury.
Fighting, assaults, and other serious infractions are also addressed in the district code.
CURRICULAR PROGRAM
Promotion Policy
We believe that the development of the individual personality is of greatest importance. We know that children
do not learn at the same rate. This is obvious when we compare the age at which one child walks or talks with
that at which another child accomplishes the same skills. The difference in rates at which different children learn
also occurs when children are learning academic skills. Promotion will occur when Pennsylvania State Standards
are mastered and/or continuous progress is being shown. When retention in the grade is recommended, a child’s
progress, age, and social and emotional status have been reviewed and considered thoughtfully. In all cases, the
school team and family will meet to discuss the educational placement of the child.
Homework
Homework is an essential part of our instructional program. It can be drill in Spelling, Math, or Handwriting. It
can be completion of work begun in class. It can be the reading of books, or playing board games for math
practice. Writing composition or reports may also be assigned. We are working on developing good study habits
and responsibility. We ask you to encourage your children to complete their assignments and to sign the work so
that we know you have seen it.
Exceptional Students
Our district offers classes for children experiencing learning differences, for children with speech, hearing, and
vision problems, and for children who have the qualifications for the Discovery Program. Placement in any of
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these programs is done through our Pupil Services Department when eligibility has been determined. All referrals
are made only with the knowledge and approval of parents. If you have questions about these services, please
call the principal who will discuss your questions with you.
Instrumental and String Program
Our children in the third and fourth grades have instruction available to them by an Instrumental teacher. The
teacher will come on a regular basis, usually twice a week. The children may use their own instruments or rent an
instrument. The teacher in charge of the program contacts the parents after screening the children.
SAFETY PROCEDURES
Evacuation Drills
Evacuation drills are held at least once a month. Children will evacuate the building as quickly as possible without
running, talking, or touching anyone. They will take no belongings with them. It is essential that we exit the
building promptly in the interest of the children’s safety. Hoods may NOT be worn during this drill.
Lockdowns
We practice lockdowns twice a year. During the practice children stay in their present area, and stay still and
silent. Each classroom door is locked. These drills are explained to the children ahead of time, so that when we
practice, the children have an idea of the importance of their actions.
Counseling Program
The goal of the Counseling Program of the Norristown Area School District is to help each child to reach her or his
full potential as a student and as an individual. It is a part of the total educational program.
At each stage of growth, children have different needs and different tasks to accomplish. To help children in these
stages of development, the school counselor:
Visits classrooms with activities that help children develop a healthy self-concept, consideration for others,
and responsibility for self and activities that help children improve in the areas of problem solving and
decision making.
Conducts counseling groups for students with typical “growing-up” problems; such as, getting along with
others and accepting responsibility. There are special groups dealing with separation, divorce, illness, or
death in the family.
Counsels children individually who are having problems in school and are referred by themselves, their
teacher, the principal, or their parent.
Talks with parents about their concerns regarding their child’s progress in school, development, or
behavior. The counselor is willing to conduct meetings to discuss parenting, sibling rivalry, responsible
behavior, etc.
Assists parents in finding needed services in the school district or in the community.
Acts as a resource person for teachers when they have concerns about the children in their classrooms;
helps identify children with special needs.
Parents are welcome to contact the counselor to make an appointment to discuss concerns or to get acquainted .
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HEALTH
The Norristown Area School District provides a full range of health services for students.
State law requires a physical examination when a child first enters school, again in sixth grade, and in eleventh
grade. Dental examinations are required when a child first enters school, and in grades three and seven. Parents
may have these examinations completed during the summer months by family physicians and dentists. You will
be notified by the school nurse if a visit by the district doctor is required to complete these examinations.
Hearing screening tests and threshold hearing tests are given each year to all pupils in kindergarten, and grades 1,
2, 3, 7 and 11.
Visual screening tests are given annually. Height and weight measurements are checked at least once a year.
Regular school attendance is expected. However, if the student is ill, he/she should not attend school.
Please do not send your child to school in the morning if:
A fever of 100 degrees or more is present
Vomiting or diarrhea is present
Your child has not been fever, vomit, or diarrhea free for 24 hours without the aid of medication
There is evidence of a severe head cold, persistent cough or severe sore throat
There is evidence of a suspicious skin rash or other contagious condition
Student Medications: NO MEDICATION IS TO BE SENT TO SCHOOL WITH A CHILD.
Prescription drugs for preventive reasons such as hyperactivity, seizures, heart condition, or prescription drug for
emergency conditions such as asthma, bee sting, or allergy conditions must be transported to school by the
parent/guardian. These preventive or emergency medications may be given in school if the following rules are
abided by:
1. Note from a doctor stating name of child, name of medication, how it is to be given, the amount and time,
and the diagnosis of illness. If a medication dosage is changed, a note from the doctor stating the change is
required. The medication must have the prescription label on the container.
2. Note from parent giving approval for the medication to be given. A one week supply is adequate.
3. For emergency conditions such as an asthma attack, the school should have all appropriate information and an
up-to-date inhaler supplied by the parent.
In accordance with the district guidelines for drug and alcohol use/abuse, the school reserves the right to check
with parents/guardians for confirmation of any student medication needs.
Accident Insurance Protection for Students (Look for a flyer the first week of school)
Parents may take advantage of lower-than-usual rates and purchase accident insurance protection for students
through Bob McCloskey Insurance. Parents may be able to purchase one or more of the following insurance
products:
$500,000 At School Student Accident Coverage
$500,000 Around the Clock – 24 Hour Accident Coverage
$500,000 Student Accident Dental Coverage
Parents/Guardians wishing to purchase insurance should visit www.bobmccloskey.com and follow the simple
instructions, or call 1-800-445-3126.
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Child Abuse
The faculty, staff, and administration of the Norristown Area School District shall make a concerted effort to
comply to the fullest extent with the Child Protection Services Law, Act 124.
It is important that we all recognize that child abuse is a serious problem and that, while the Department of Public
Welfare is the agency charged with the implementation and administration of the law, school personnel plays a
crucial role in protecting the students.
As required by law, parents/guardians need to be aware that the staff of the Norristown Area School District will
report suspected cases of child abuse to the appropriate agency.
EXTENDED DAY CARE (ESCC)
The Extended School-day Children’s Center, Inc. (ESCC) provides child supervision before school from 7:00-9:00
am and after-school from 3:00 – 6:00 pm for our students. The program is licensed by the Department of
Welfare. This is a private company and is not run by the Norristown Area School District. Please call the ESCC
office at 610-584-5420 for information about tuitions, schedules and program content.
HOME AND SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP
Communications between parents/guardians and the teaching staff is a vital part of any well-functioning
educational system. Students will bring home a Communications Folder each night. All information, including
notes, newsletters, etc., which are sent home with students are important, so please read all of the information
carefully. When a reply is requested, an immediate response will be appreciated. If you have questions, please
feel free to contact the office between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:15 PM daily.
If you call to talk with a teacher during instructional time, you will be transferred to the teacher’s voicemail. The
teacher will return your call as soon as possible. Please leave your name and a phone number where you can be
reached.
Parent Volunteers:
Hancock Elementary School has an active Parent Volunteer program under the supervision of the principal and
coordinated by the Parent-Faculty Association. We are always looking for people willing to help in the classroom,
the library, the cafeteria, or office. If you would like to be part of this exciting, worthwhile program, please call
the main office.
Conferences:
Parent/Teacher Conferences are conducted twice each year, one in the fall and one in the spring. If you would
like to have a conference at other times during the year please write or call the school and we will be happy to
arrange one for you. Unscheduled conferences are difficult to honor since the teacher is engaged in instruction
throughout the school day.
Parents are encouraged to keep informed about all phases of the school program by accepting invitations to visit
classrooms and meet with teachers at Open House, parent conferences, American Education Week visitation
days, concerts, plays, and other activities throughout the year.
Visiting the School:
When visiting the school for any reason during the school day, please enter the office first to sign in and obtain a
visitor’s pass. To gain entrance to the building please ring the visitor’s bell on the outside wall to the left of the
doors, enter the building, sign in, wear a badge while visiting, return the badge to the office, and sign out prior to
leaving. Valid identification is required.
16
Messages or belongings for students will be delivered from the office. We are very concerned with the protection
and safety of our students. For this reason, school doors are locked at all times. We welcome parent visitation,
however, please call the office to set up an appointment with the staff member that you wish to visit.
Parent-Faculty Club (PFC)
Hancock Elementary School is most fortunate to have an organization that is actively involved and interested in
our school. This parent and staff group meets every month on a Monday evening from 6:30-7:30 PM in the school
library. Childcare will be provided through Title I funding. The meeting dates are identified on the district
calendar and on the school’s website. Please try to become involved with the PFC, as your support and
involvement is important to the success of your child and our school.
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SCHOOL-PARENT COMPACT
The Winfield S. Hancock Elementary School, and the parents of the students participating in activities, services
and programs funded by Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), agree that this
compact outlines how the parents, the entire school staff, and the students will share the responsibility for
improved student academic achievement and the means by which the school and parents will build and develop a
partnership that will help children achieve the State’s high standards.
This school-parent compact is in effect during the school year 2015-2016.
School Responsibilities
The Winfield S. Hancock Elementary School will:
1. Provide high-quality curricula and instruction in a supportive and effective learning environment that
enables the students to meet the State’s academic achievement standards by following district
guidelines and State objectives. Children will be monitored regularly for understanding of the
concepts, and when needed, intense attention will be given to address areas of concern.
2.
Employ teachers certified in the area which they teach. The teachers will be “Highly Qualified”, and
their credentials will be available upon request to parents and guardians.
3.
Use Title I monies for services for all children in the school.
4.
Hold parent-teacher conferences during which this compact will be discussed as it relates to the
individual child’s achievement. Specifically, those conferences will be held on November 24, 25, 2015
and March 22, 23, 2016.
5.
Provide parents with frequent reports on their child’s progress. Teachers will complete a formal report
card three times a year. Information about on-going assessment will be sent home with the child
periodically. Parents are encouraged to call the teachers at any point to obtain information on their
child’s progress.
6.
Provide parents reasonable access to staff. Parents are encouraged to make an appointment for a
conference with teachers. On most days, teachers can discuss student issues before and after the
student day. When voice mail messages are left for teachers, teachers will return the call and confer
with the parent within 24 hours.
7.
Provide parents opportunities to volunteer and participate in their child’s class, and to observe
classroom activities. The Parent-Faculty Association actively recruits volunteers for class activities at
the beginning of the school year. In most cases, parents may observe classes for about an hour with a
one-day prior approval by the Principal.
Parent Responsibilities
We, as parents, will support our child’s learning in the following ways:
Monitoring attendance, and ensuring that my child attends school every possible day.
Making sure that homework is completed. This will include making sure that my child has the time
and supplies needed.
Volunteering in my child’s classroom.
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Attending report card conferences, and being an active member of the team to support my child’s
learning.
Promoting involvement in school activities. This includes attending the school’s activities.
Staying informed about my child’s education by reading all notices from the school or the school
district that are received by my child, or by mail, and responding promptly, as appropriate.
Taking advantage of educational programs. This includes my child’s participation in extra learning
programs, when invited.
Serving, to the extent possible, on policy advisory groups.
Student Responsibilities
I, as a student, will share the responsibility to improve my academic achievement and achieve the State’s
standards. Specifically, I will:
Do my classwork every day to the best of my ability, and ask for help when I need help.
Behave in class so that all classmates can learn.
Do my homework every night.
Read each night.
Give my parents, or the adult who is responsible for my welfare, all the notices and information
received by me from school each day.
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PARENT INVOLVEMENT POLICY
PART I: GENERAL EXPECTATIONS
Each school in its School-wide Parental Involvement Policy must establish the school’s expectations for parental
involvement. [Section 1118(a)(2), ESEA.]
The Winfield Scott Hancock Elementary School agrees to implement the following statutory requirements:
The school district will put into operation programs, activities and procedures for the involvement of
parents in all of its schools with Title I, Part A programs, consistent with section 1118 of the Elementary
and Secondary Act (ESEA). Those programs, activities and procedures will be planned and operated
with meaningful consultation with parents of participating children.
Consistent with section 1118, the school district will work with its schools to ensure that the required
school-level parental involvement policies meet the requirements of section 1118 (b) of the ESEA, and
each include, as a component, a school-parent compact consistent with section 1118 (d) of the ESEA.
The school district will incorporate this district wide parental involvement policy into its Norristown
Area School District plan developed under section 1112 of the ESEA.
In carrying out the Title I, Part A parental involvement requirements, to the extent practicable, the
school district and its schools will provide full opportunities for the participation of parents with limited
English proficiency, parents with disabilities, and parents of migratory children, including providing
information and school reports required under section 1111 of the ESEA in an understandable and
uniform format, and, including alternative formats upon request, and, to the extent practicable, in a
language parents understand.
If the Norristown Area School District plan for Title I, Part A, developed under section 1112 of the ESEA,
is not satisfactory to the parents of participating children, the school district will submit any parent
comments with the plan when the school district submits the plan to the State Department of
Education.
The school district will involve the parents of children served in Title I, Part A schools in decisions about
how the one percent of Title I, Part A funds reserved for parental involvement is spent, and will ensure
that not less than 95 percent of the one percent reserved goes directly to the schools.
The school district will be governed by the following statutory definition of parental involvement, and
expects that its Title I schools will carry out programs, activities and procedures in accordance with this
definition:
Parental involvement means the participation of parents in regular, two-way and meaningful
communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including and ensuring –
(A) that parents play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning;
(B) that parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school;
(C) that parents are full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decisionmaking and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child;
(D) the carrying out of other activities, such as those described in section 1118 of the ESEA.
Existence of the Parental Information and Resource Center in the State.
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PART II: DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE SCHOOL WILL IMPLEMENT REQUIRED DISTRICT WIDE PARENTAL
INVOLVEMENT POLICY COMPONENTS
NOTE: The School-wide Parental Involvement Policy must include a description of how the school will implement
or accomplish each of the following components. [Section 1118 (a)(2), ESEA..] Regardless of the format the
school chooses to use, a description of each of the following components below must be included in order to
satisfy statutory requirements.
1. The Winfield Scott Hancock Elementary School will take the following actions to involve parents in the joint
development of its school-wide parental involvement plan under section 1112 of the ESEA:
Actively seek parents to invite and participate in decision-making regarding planning and spending of
the 1 percent of Title I, Part A funds.
Invite parents to monthly Parent-Faculty Club meetings at which time the School Improvement Plan is
discussed and formulated
Invite parents to leadership meetings.
Notify parents of Parent-Faculty Club meetings via monthly Newsletter, School Webpage, and a
Connect-ed message. Most notifications are bilingual in format.
2.
The Winfield Scott Hancock Elementary School will take the following actions to involve parents in the
process of school review and improvement under section 1116 of the ESEA:
Report Card Conferences will be held twice a year (Fall & Spring)
School report cards will be sent home each marking period (Trimesters)
Parent Workshops will be provided to inform parents on how to understand the Benchmark testing
reports and other assessments
Parents will be invited to leadership meetings
Parents will be involved in school improvement planning at Parent-Faculty meetings
3.
The Norristown Area School District will provide the following necessary coordination, technical assistance,
and other support to assist Title I, Part A schools in planning and implementing effective parental
involvement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance:
Provide opportunity for parents to attend regional workshops
Provide parents with information and materials in hard copy and on the NASD website
Conduct a survey, as described above, to evaluate the effectiveness of the parental involvement policy
and to determine revisions, additions, deletions for the upcoming school year. This is an on-going
process.
4. The Winfield Scott Hancock Elementary School will coordinate and integrate parental involvement strategies
in Part A with parental involvement strategies under the following and other programs:
Welcome-Back BBQ & Open House
Grade Level Academic Parent Workshops
Read Across America/Special Persons’ Day
Math/Reading/Science Nights
PSSA Night
Science Fair Night
Read Across America
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5. The Winfield Scott Hancock Elementary School will take the following actions to conduct, with the
involvement of parents, an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of this parental involvement
policy in improving the quality of its Title I, Part A programs. The evaluation will include identifying barriers to
greater participation by parents in parental involvement activities (with particular attention to parents who
are economically disadvantaged, are disabled, have limited English proficiency, have limited literacy, or are of
any racial or ethnic minority background). The School District will use the findings of the evaluation about it
parental involvement policy and activities to design strategies for more effective parental involvement, and to
revise, if necessary (and with the involvement of parents) its parental involvement policies:
Conduct a survey, as described above, to evaluate the effectiveness of the parental involvement policy
and to determine revisions, additions, deletions for the upcoming school year.
6. The Winfield Scott Hancock Elementary School will build the school’s and parents’ capacity for strong parental
involvement, in order to ensure effective involvement of parents and to support a partnership among the
school, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement, through the following
activities specifically described below:
A. The Winfield Scott Hancock Elementary School will, with the assistance of the School District, provide
assistance to parents, as appropriate, in understanding topics such as the following, by undertaking the
actions described:
School Performance Profile Score
The State’s Core Standards
The State’s student academic achievement standards
The State and local academic assessments including alternate assessments
The requirements of Title I-Part A
How to monitor their child’s progress
1. District Newsletters
2. NASD Happenings on website
3. Title I Pamphlets
4. Grade Level Parent Workshops
5. Parent-Faculty Club Monthly Meetings
6. Parent Orientations
7. Report Card Conferences
8. Special Family Nights
B. The Winfield Scott Hancock Elementary School will, with the assistance of the School District, provide
materials and training to help parents work with their children to improve their children’s academic
achievement, such as literacy training, and identifying factors to successful learning, as appropriate, to
foster parental involvement, by:
Monthly Grade level Newsletters posted on the school’s website
Report Card Conferences
Instructional Support Meetings
Restorative Practices Program
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C. The Winfield Scott Hancock Elementary School will, with the assistance of the School District, educate its
teachers, pupil services personnel, principals and other staff, in how to reach out to, communicate with,
and work with parents as equal partners, in the value and utility of contributions of parents, and how to
implement and coordinate parent programs and build ties between parents and schools, by:
Inviting parents to Parent-Faculty Club Meetings
Inviting parents to serve on district-level committee meetings
Communicating with parents about school progress
D. The Winfield Scott Hancock Elementary School will, to the extent feasible and appropriate, coordinate and
integrate parental involvement programs and activities that encourage and support parents in more fully
participating in the education of their children, by:
Parent Orientations
Math/Reading/Science Nights
PSSA Night
Science Fair Night
American Education Week/Special Persons’ Day
Read Across America
Classroom Presentations
Guest Readers
E. The Winfield Scott Hancock Elementary School will take the following actions to ensure
that information related to the school and parent programs, meetings and other activities, is sent to the
parents of participating children in an understandable and uniform format, including alternative formats
upon request, and, to the extent practical, in a language parents can understand:
Welcome Back BBQ
1st Grade Orientation
Back-to-School Night
Flyers sent home (in appropriate language) regarding information from the district
Monthly Newsletters posted on the school’s website
Important dates posted on the school’s website
Parent-Faculty Club Meetings held monthly
Connect-Ed phone messages sent in English and Spanish
PART III: SCHOOL-WIDE PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT POLICY COMPONENTS
Note: The School’s Parental Involvement Policy may include additional paragraphs listing and describing other
discretionary activities that the school, in consultation with its parents, chooses to undertake to build parents’
capacity for involvement in the school and school system to support their children’s academic achieve3ment, such
as the following discretionary activities listed under section 1118 of the ESEA:
Providing necessary literacy training for parents from Title I, Part A funds, if the School District has
exhausted all other reasonably available sources of funding for the training
Paying reasonable and necessary expenses associated with parental involvement activities, including
transportation to enable parents to participate in school-related meetings and training sessions
23
training parents to enhance the involvement of other parents
arranging school meetings at a variety of times, or conducting in-home conferences between teachers or
other educators, who work directly with participating children, with parents who are unable to attend
those conferences at school, in order to maximize parental involvement and participation in their child’s
education
adopting and implementing model approaches to improving parental involvement
establishing a district wide parent advisory council to provide advice on all matters related to parental
involvement in Title I, Part A programs
developing appropriate roles for community-based organizations and businesses, including faith-based
organizations, in parental involvement activities; and providing other reasonable support for parental
involvement activities under section 1118 as parents may request
The school will provide, if requested by parents, opportunities for regular meeting to formulate
suggestions and to participate as appropriate, in decisions relating to the education of their children, and
respond to any such suggestions as soon as is possible
PART IV: ADOPTION
This Winfield Scott Hancock Elementary School Parent Involvement Policy and School-Parent Compact have been
developed jointly with, and agreed on with, parents as evidenced by the signatures of Hancock Elementary School
Parent-Faculty Club representatives/parents:
Ms. Shane Engle, President
PFC Representative/Parent
Ms. Shane Engle
Mrs. Sondra Stoczko, Principal
School Administrator
Mrs. Sondra Stoczko
Signature of PFC Representative/Parent
Signature of School Administrator
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January, 2009
Right to Know
Pursuant to the Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. Section 67.101 et seq. ("RTKL"), public records of the
Norristown Area School District shall be made available for access and duplication to a requester in
accordance with law, Board policy and administrative regulations. The following outlines definitions and
basic procedures for making a request for public records.
DEFINITIONS
Record
Information, regardless of physical form or characteristics, that documents a transaction or
activity of an agency and that is created, received or retained pursuant to law or in connection
with a transaction, business or activity of the agency. The term includes a document, paper,
letter, map, book, tape, photograph, film or sound recording, information stored or maintained
electronically and a data processed or image- processed document.
Public Record
Any document that satisfies the general definition of “public record” set forth in the Law and
does not fall within any of the exceptions set forth therein, as the definition and exceptions are
amended from time to time and as the definition and exceptions are interpreted by state, federal
and/or local courts.
Financial Record
Any account, voucher or contract dealing with the receipt or disbursement of funds, use or
disposal of services, supplies, materials, equipment or property; a financial audit report
excluding work papers underlying an audit, or the salary or other payments or expenses paid to
an officer or employee of an agency, including the name and title of the officer or employee.
Requester
A legal resident of the United States, or an agency, that requests a record pursuant to this act.
Response
Notice informing a requester of a granting of access to a record or written notice to a requester
granting, denying or partially granting and partially denying access to a record.
Open Records Officer
Person designated to receive requests, direct requests to other appropriate persons within the
district or to appropriate persons in another agency, track the agency's progress in responding to
requests and issue interim and final responses under this act.
Business Day
Monday through Friday during regular business hours, except those days when the NASD is
closed for all or part of a day for reasons inclusive of due to a legal or District-designated holiday
or inclement weather.
REQUEST FOR ACCESS
1. Requests for access must be submitted in writing utilizing the standard request form. (The
form can be accessed on the district’s website.)
2. Requests must identify or describe records sought, in sufficient detail, and the medium in
which the record is requested.
3. Requests must include the name and address of the individual to receive the district’s
response.
4. All requests should be submitted to the Open Records Officer as follows:
Open Records Officer
401 N. Whitehall Road
Norristown, PA 19403
NOTE: The district shall not require an explanation of the reason for the request or the intended
use of the requested record, unless otherwise required by law.
FEES
Records will be made available at the cost of .25 per page. Prepayment will be required when
the estimated fees required to fulfill a request are expected to exceed $100.
RESPONSE TO REQUEST
The Open Records Officer shall respond within five (5) business days from the date the written
request is received by the Open Records Officer. The initial response shall grant or deny access
to the requested record, partially grant or deny access to the requested record, or notify the
requester of the need for an extension of time to fully respond. If the district fails to respond
within five (5) business days, the request for access shall be deemed denied.
If a request is denied, the requester may file an appeal with the state’s Office of Open Records
within fifteen (15) business days of the mailing date of the Open Records Officer’s response or
deemed denial. Appeals should be sent to:
State Open Records Officer
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Office of Open Records
Commonwealth Keystone Building
400 North Street, 4th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17120-0225
No. 815
SECTION: OPERATIONS
TITLE:
Norristown Area
School District
ACCEPTABLE USE OF
NETWORKS, INTERNET,
COMPUTING RESOURCES
AND CIPA INTERNET SAFETY
COMPLIANCE
ADOPTED: March 22, 2010
REVISED:
815. ACCEPTABLE USE OF NETWORKS, INTERNET, COMPUTING
RESOURCES AND CIPA INTERNET SAFETY COMPLIANCE
1. Purpose
Internet access, electronic mail (E-mail) and network resources are available to
teachers, administrators, and students of the Norristown Area School District for
educational and instructional purposes and other purposes consistent with the
educational mission of the District and the work assignment of the employees of the
District. The Norristown Area School District will be referred to as “District”
throughout this policy. Use of the Internet and E-mail network is a privilege. This
Acceptable Use Policy establishes guidelines for such use.
Students, faculty, and staff are expected to act in a responsible, ethical and legal
manner in accordance with District policies and procedures, accepted rules of
network etiquette and federal, state, and local law.
With Internet and E-mail comes the availability of material that may not be
considered appropriate in a school setting. The District cannot regulate and
monitor all the information received or sent by persons who use the Internet or Email; and the District cannot ensure that students who use the Internet or E-mail
will be prevented from accessing inappropriate materials or sending or receiving
objectionable communications. To the extent practical, steps shall be taken to
promote the safety and security of users of the District’s online computer network
consistent with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).
The Norristown Area School District will educate all students about appropriate
online behavior, including, but not limited to, interacting with other individuals on
social networking websites and in chat rooms, and cyberbulling awareness and
response.
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815. ACCEPTABLE USE OF NETWORKS, INTERNET, COMPUTING RESOURCES AND CIPA INTERNET
SAFETY COMPLIANCE - Pg. 2
2. Authority
Monitoring
The District reserves the right to log, monitor and review Internet, E-mail and other
network use of each user. This logging, monitoring and review may be conducted
without cause and without notice. By using the District’s computers each user
agrees and consents to such logging, monitoring and review and acknowledges that
s/he has no right or expectation of confidentiality or privacy with respect to Internet,
E-mail or other network usage. Network storage areas may be treated like school
lockers, but searches of such network storage shall not be governed by the limitation
of 22 Pa. Code §12.14(c). Network administrators may review student and staff files
and communications to maintain system integrity and ensure that students and staff
are using the system only for appropriate purposes. Users should expect that files
stored on the District’s servers or computers will not be private. The District does
not maintain archives of all E-mail messages.
Filter
The District will employ the use of an Internet filter (the Filter) as a technology
protection measure pursuant to the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA).
Blocking shall be applied to visual depictions of materials deemed obscene or
child pornography, or to any material deemed harmful to minors. The Filter may
not be disabled for use by other minors for any reason.
Access Agreement
All students, administrators and teachers who use the District’s connection to the
Internet, District E-mail and other District network facilities must agree to and abide
by all conditions of this policy. New employees hired after the adoption of this
policy must sign the District’s Internet, E-mail and Network Access Agreement
(Agreement), which is attached to this Policy as Appendix A. Current employees
will be required to accept the terms and conditions of this policy as part of the
District’s Code of Discipline/Code of Conduct. Students may not use the District’s
computers for access to the Internet or for E-mail without the approval or
supervision of a teacher or District staff member.
Prohibitions
All technology acquired, maintained or contemplated under this policy, shall be used
only for curricular purposes and in furtherance of the District’s legitimate
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pedagogical goals. No part of these technologies, unless specifically designated, is
maintained for purpose of furthering or permitting the creation of any public forum.
47 U.S.C.
Sec. 254
Appropriate use of the District’s access to the Internet, and the District’s E-mail and
network technologies shall be in support of the educational mission and instructional
program of the District and in accordance with this policy and the Children’s Internet
Protection Act (CIPA) (114 Stat. 2763A-335). With respect to all users, all uses of the
above technologies which are not for curricular purposes or in
furtherance of the District’s legitimate pedagogical goals or which would tend to
create any type of public forum using those technologies are expressly prohibited.
Without in any way limiting the foregoing, the following are expressly prohibited
uses of the above Internet access, E-mail and network technology.
Illegal Use/Harmful To Others
1.
Use for inappropriate or illegal purposes.
2.
Use in an illegal manner or to facilitate illegal activity.
3.
Hate mail (defined generally as “e-mail that expresses prejudice or disagreement
in abusive or threatening terms”), harassment (as defined elsewhere in the
District’s policies), remarks discriminating against an individual on the basis of a
protected class, threatening statements and other similar antisocial
communications on the network.
4.
The illegal installation, distribution, reproduction or use of copyrighted software.
5.
Use to access, view or obtain pornography or child pornography.
6.
Use to transit material reasonably understood as likely to be offensive or
objectionable to recipients.
7.
Use to obtain, copy or modify files, passwords, data or information belonging
to others without express permission of the owner to do so.
8.
Use to intentionally misrepresent other users on the network.
9.
Use of another person’s E-mail address, user accounts, passwords or
District accounts (MMS, network, etc.).
10. The unauthorized disclosure, use or dissemination of personal
information regarding minors.
Page 3 of 9
11. Use for purposes of accessing, sending, creating or posting, materials or
communications that are:
a. Damaging to another’s reputation.
b. Abusive.
c. Obscene.
d. Sexually-oriented.
e. Threatening.
f. Contrary to the District policy on harassment.
g. Contrary to the District policy on bullying.
h. Harassing or illegal.
12. Use while access privileges are suspended or revoked.
13. Use inconsistent with network etiquette and other generally accepted etiquette,
including, but not limited to use of inappropriate language and profanity on the
network.
14. Use to invade the privacy of other persons.
15. Posting anonymous messages.
16. Use to read, delete, copy or modify the E-mail or files of other users or
deliberately interfering with the ability of other users to send or receive E-mail.
System Security
1. Use to infiltrate or interfere with a computer system and/or damage the data,
files, operations, software or hardware components of a computer system.
2. Loading or use of unauthorized games, programs, files, music or other electronic
media.
Page 4 of 9
3. Use to disrupt the work of other persons (the hardware or software of
other persons shall not be destroyed, modified or abused in any way).
4. Use to upload, create, or attempt to create a computer virus.
5. Any attempt to circumvent or disable the Filter or any security measure.
6. Removal of technology hardware (including desktops, laptops, printers,
etc.) from District premises.
7. Disclosure or dissemination of any personal identification information of
themselves or other students.
Commercial Use/Personal Gain
1. Use for any commercial (whether for profit or not) purpose, including,
without limitation, any advertisement for the same.
2. Use for lobbying or political purposes.
3. Use of network for product advertisement, union solicitations or
activities. Copyright
Pol. 814
1. Use which involves any copyright violation or for the copying, downloading or
distributing of copyrighted material without the owner’s permission, unless
permitted in accordance with the Fair Use Guidelines. (Copies of the Fair Use
Guidelines are available in Instructional and Information Technology Offices.)
2. Copyright laws will govern the use of material accessed through the District
system. Users that violate copyright laws will be solely liable for such violations.
3. Users may not use or install unlicensed software on district computers.
4. Users may not violate the law by illegally duplicating software.
5. Users may not plagiarize. Teachers will instruct students in appropriate
research and citation practices.
6. When using material (text, graphics, sound, movies, etc.) from the Internet which
could not be considered fair use for educational purposes, the user must request
permission from the creator of the material before duplicating said material in
Page 5 of 9
any way. All materials on the Internet are considered copyrighted, whether so
stated or not.
7. Users may not download materials in any format that is copyrighted without
permission from the copyright holder, unless permission is expressly given to
download and use that material.
Establishment Of Web Sites
1. The District web site has been established to develop web pages that present
information about the District. The Technology Director, building administrators or
their designees will be responsible for the approval of information posted on the
web site. All web pages will be posted at the discretion of and by the Technology
Director, building administrators or their designees, unless
otherwise stipulated by the Technology Director.
2. District employees may not officially or unofficially make a claim which
represents the school district on nondistrict web sites. The Norristown Area
School District is not liable for information posted on nondistrict sites.
3. Schools and classes may establish web pages that present information about the
school or class activities or for educational purposes. Teachers are responsible
for the content created by their students.
4. Any links occurring on the district web pages must accord with the law and must
only link to sites that have an educational purpose. Links may not be identified
with defamatory, slanderous, libelous or inappropriate language. No attempt
should be made to misrepresent the location of a link.
5. Users may not post information on the authorized district web sites without explicit
authorization granted by the Technology Director. All web sites operated under
authority of this policy, and the content therein, are subject to prior approval of and
periodic review by the Technology Director.
6. The Technology Director reserves the right to edit or remove any material posted to
any of the web sites authorized pursuant to this policy.
7. Advertising for commercial, political or religious purposes or organizations is
prohibited on web pages authorized pursuant to this policy.
Page 6 of 9
Security
Security on any computer system is a high priority, especially when the system
involves many users. Upon discovery of any security issue or concern, especially
including any suspected breach, each user with knowledge of the issue or concern is
independently required to report it to the Technology Help Desk. The means of
duplicating the target problem is not be demonstrated, described or otherwise
disseminated to other users.
Consequences Of Inappropriate Use
The user, whether a student or employee, shall be subject to appropriate discipline,
in the event that any one or more provisions of this policy is violated.
In addition to disciplinary procedures, the user shall be responsible for damages to
equipment, systems or software resulting from deliberate or willful acts. District
Administration may report illegal activities or use (for example, intentional deletion
or damage to files or data belonging to others; copyright violations; etc.) to the
appropriate legal authorities for possible prosecution. The District reserves the right
to remove any user account from the network to prevent unauthorized or illegal
activity.
The use of the District’s access to the Internet and the District’s E-mail is a
privilege, not a right. District administrative staff, along with the system administrator,
will deem what is appropriate and inappropriate are based upon the above guidelines,
and their decision on behalf of the District Administration is final. A user may
petition the Board of School Directors (“Board”) to hear an appeal of the above
decision.
Other Issues –
Mass E-mail Distribution
The ability to send e-mails en masse to all district employees or groups of employees
will be restricted to designated individuals. All others will be required to have their email message reviewed and approved prior to dissemination.
Page 7 of 9
Disclaimer
The District makes no warranties of any kind, whether expressed or implied, for the
service it is providing. The District is not responsible, and will not be responsible, for
any damages, including loss of data resulting from delays, nondeliveries, missed
deliveries or service interruption. Use of any information obtained through the use of
the District’s computers is at the user’s risk.
The District disclaims responsibility for the accuracy or quality of information
obtained through the Internet or E-mail.
Charges
The District assumes no responsibility or liability for any charges incurred by a user.
Under normal procedures governing use of the District’s technology, there will be no
cost incurred.
References:
School Code – 24 P.S. Sec. 1303.1-A
Child Internet Protection Act – 24 P.S. Sec. 4601 et seq.
Enhancing Education Through Technology Act of 2001 – 20 U.S.C. Sec. 6777
Internet Safety – 47 U.S.C. Sec. 254
Board Policy – 249, 814
Page 8 of 9
Page 9 of 9
No. 917
Norristown Area
School District
SECTION:
COMMUNITY
TITLE:
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT and
FAMILY-SCHOOLCOMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP
ADOPTED:
REVISED:
last October 23, 2006
Updated for Adoption 3/16/10
917. Family Engagement and Family-School-Community Partnerships
Vision
The Norristown Area School District (NASD) recognizes that parents have the
primary responsibility for and influence in their children’s lives, and embraces
family engagement and family-school-community partnerships as the foundation for
student success that contributes to producing citizens who are life-long learners.
Purpose
NASD shall establish programs and practices to engage parents with their children’s
learning and make use of partnerships among family members, school staff and
community organization representatives who are focused on student success. These
partners share responsibility to foster a climate of respect and cooperation among
each other for the benefit of all students.
Guidelines
NASD will incorporate the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title
I, Part A parent involvement requirements into the NASD Administrative Rules and
Regulations and ensure that all parents/guardians are informed about the opportunity
and expectation to participate in regular, two-way and meaningful communication
involving student academic learning and other school activities.
NASD will utilize the National PTA Standards as a guide to strengthen family
engagement and build meaningful partnerships.
Definitions
Community: The term community shall be defined as an entity that contributes to
student learning, and/or the well-being of an individual or a group of individuals,
families, schools or other community entities which may include:
1. Businesses and associations
2. Child advocacy groups
3. Community based organizations
4. Early childhood programs
5. Education service organizations/associations
6. Elected officials
7. Extended family members
8. Faith based organizations
9. Health and human service organizations and agencies (public and private)
Page 1 of 5
917. FAMILY/SCHOOL/COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP - Pg. 2
10. Higher education entities
11. Law enforcement agencies
12. Parent advocacy and support groups
13. Residents
14. Service organizations
Family Engagement: Families are engaged with their child’s learning at home, in
school and in the community. Although parents/guardians may be diverse in culture,
language and resources, they share a commitment to the educational success of their
children.
Family-School Community Partnership (FSC): Family-School-Community (FSC)
partnerships are comprised of family members, community stakeholders and school
representatives working together to provide support for each student to succeed at
his/her optimal level. Partnership groups, committees and councils shall be
comprised of members of the school community who represent different ethnic
groups, cultures, income levels, languages, and children at all achievement levels.
These partnerships may emerge from existing groups such as community
collaborative(s), parent advisory councils, and parent teacher organizations.
Parent/Family: The term parent/family/guardian refers to a person or people who
have primary responsibility and legal guardianship or other person standing in loco
parentis such as a grandparent or stepparent with whom the child lives.
Schools: The Norristown Area School District is comprised of eleven (11) schools
serving students in East Norriton, West Norriton, and Norristown.
Scope
NASD values and supports the parent advisory councils, parent club council, parentfaculty clubs and booster clubs which have an integral role in the school community.
This policy does not replace or govern such groups. This policy addresses a
systemic approach recognizing the continuous, shared responsibility among family
members, school staff and community representatives for student success through
effective family and community connections with the school that take place in
multiple settings where children learn.
Procedures
Norristown Area School District (NASD) administrators will incorporate procedures
and practices which support family engagement, effective family-school-community
partnerships and assign resources that:
Page 2 of 5
• Acknowledge that parents/guardians play an integral role in their children’s
learning, and should be encouraged to be actively involved with their children’s
education, and recognized as full partners in their children's education.
o Provide assistance to parents to understand:
State academic content standards and local curriculum;
State and local standards based assessments including expected
proficiency levels;
How to monitor their children’s progress;
How to work with educators.
o Provide materials and training to families to help them improve children’s
academic achievement including literacy training and utilizing technology.
o Specify that families will receive individual student reports and the ways that
parents are provided an opportunity to discuss the reports with school staff.
• Empower all partners to actively participate in a shared leadership process that
develops school wide policies, strategic planning and school improvement plans.
o Describe how parents will be encouraged to be involved with activities
offered by the school.
o Identify or develop written materials that can be utilized to train and
support partners working together to support student achievement.
o Conduct an annual meeting at each school and at the district level at times
convenient to family members providing appropriate supports that address
barriers for parent participation such as translation, child care and
transportation to:
Explain Title I regulations, the development of the Title I plan,
allocation of resources (including the Title I parent involvement
allocation), and review of the plan and programs.
Encourage family participation in development of school
improvement plans, decision-making and on advisory committees to
assist in the education of their children.
Solicit feedback and evaluation from parents of the policies,
programs and materials used.
o Keep a record of agenda and meeting findings and results, and how
parents were selected to participate and be included in the budgeting
process.
o Provide timely notification about staff qualifications (including procedures
to notify a parent if a teacher is not highly qualified as well as their
options), Title I plan, programs, meetings and other activities and the
parent involvement policy in uniform and alternate formats, and to the
extent practicable in a language and format that parents can understand.
o Establish an annual timeline for notification about compliance with
regulations, of key programs, activities and student and school programs.
• Incorporate recommendations from FSC partnerships which focus on improving
Page 3 of 5
student achievement encompassing all students and recognize the unique needs of
each learner.
o Jointly develop a parent-school compact describing the shared
responsibility for student achievement; means by which school and parents
will build and develop partnerships to help students; its distribution plan
and methods used to discuss with students, parents and teachers.
o Meet regularly to formulate suggestions and participate in decisions about
their children’s education.
Establish procedures for recording family input (including use of
surveys or other methods) and how revisions or adaptations to
programs and services based on that input are made.
o Conduct workshops and programs (school and/or community based) and
utilize programs such as parent resource centers that encourage and
support parents to more fully participate in the education of their children.
•
Utilize the strengths and resources of family members, schools and community
partners to ensure the development of students into self-sufficient productive
citizens.
o Include parents and community partners in planning professional
development for staff about the contributions and value of family
engagement, and how to reach out to, communicate with and work with
parents as equal partners.
o Identify a staff person at the district and building level who will coordinate
activities that:
Build capacity of parents and community partners to participate
effectively.
Provide technical assistance to schools in planning and implementing
effective family engagement efforts to improve academic
achievement and school performance.
Implement and coordinate parent involvement programs and build
ties between families and school.
Build the schools’ and parents’ capacity for strong parent
involvement through coordinating and integrating early care and
education programs including Head Start, Even Start and Parents as
Teachers programs and community parent programs.
Utilize National PTA Standards:
1. Welcoming all families into the school community Families are active participants in the life of the school, and feel welcomed,
valued and connected to each other, to school staff, and to what students are
learning and doing in class.
2. Communicating effectively Families and school staff engage in regular, two-way, meaningful
communication about student learning.
3. Supporting student success Page 4 of 5
Families and school staff continuously collaborate to support students’ learning
and healthy development both at home and at school, and have regular
opportunities to strengthen their knowledge and skills to do so effectively.
4. Speaking up for every child –
Families are empowered to be advocates for their own children and other
children, to ensure that students are treated fairly and have access to learning
opportunities that will support their success.
5. Sharing power –
Families and school staff are equal partners in decisions that affect children and
families and together inform, influence, and create policies, practices and
programs.
6. Collaborating with the community –
Families and school staff collaborate with community members to connect
students, families and staff to expanded learning opportunities, community
services, and civic participation.
NASD shall:
• Present a welcoming environment and a culture of respect that supports
comprehensive family engagement by reducing barriers such as language,
income, transportation, child care, past experiences, and other factors that
prevent family members from effectively participating.
• Identify the roles and responsibilities of all partners and provide an
understanding about how the school system works so that partners will
identify connections among students, their families, schools and community
resources.
• Provide a full continuum of family engagement activities and partnerships that
lead to empowering families in support of every child’s success.
• Provide professional and leadership development of school staff, family
members and community representatives to strengthen the skills of family
members, school and community staff to work together with each other.
• Provide multiple communication methods to reach all family members and
other partners about important issues and events.
• Utilize research based partnership model(s) to guide work which focuses on
supporting student success.
• Include all partners in an annual data collection process about family
engagement, student achievement, partnership activities and practices and use
the data to develop action plans.
Policy Review
This policy shall be reviewed every year with input from family members, school
staff, community partners and school board members.
Page 5 of 5

East Norriton Middle School - Norristown Area School District

Transcription

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