Student Handbook
SCHOOL HOURS
Grades K-2
• First Bell: 8:20 AM
• Late Bell: 8:35 AM
• Dismissal: 2:30 PM
Grades 3 - 5
• First Bell 8:20 A.M.
• Late Bell: 8:35 A.M.
• Dismissal: 2:35 P.M.
ARRIVAL
Children should not arrive at school before 8:05 a.m. This is very important because there is no playground supervision before that time. Once the children arrive at school they are not to leave the playground for any reason.
RAINY WEATHER
If the weather is rainy or very cold, all children are to go to the cafeteria. They should enter the cafeteria directly from the side entrance. Third and fourth graders will remain in the cafeteria. First and second graders will be directed to their designated classroom spots in the halls outside of the cafeteria. K students will be sent to Mrs. Gagne's classroom to await their teachers. Finally, fifth graders will proceed to the library.
DISMISSAL
Children are dismissed from their classrooms by destination and method of transportation. Buses are dismissed first.
Children who ride buses or day care vans are notified on the intercom when their transportation arrives, and at that time walk to their bus or van with staff.
Children who walk home are dismissed last.
Please send in a written, dated and signed note if your child is going home a different way. For example: If your child is normally a rider and they will be walking that day please send in a note to your child's teacher notifying them of the change.
Important Note:
No parents are allowed in the building at dismissal. This is another safety issue. We cannot possibly know every parent by sight and do not want strangers walking through the building. As indicated above, you are to meet your child at the back door if you are driving or walking him/her home. If you are picking your child up early, come to the school office. All children leaving early must be signed out by the adult who comes to get them.
AFTER SCHOOL CARE
This year Beech has two after school programs. The YMCA's Y.O.U. program is an after school program at Beech Street School from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. This program has been approved by the Manchester School Board. Parents who are interested in the program should contact Ms. Sharon at the YMCA directly. The second after school program offered is the 21st Century Program that runs from 2:30 - 5:00 p.m. Parents who are interested in the program should contact Norma Gonzalez directly.
*There is more information about this program on our Special Programs page.
SCHOOL NUTRITION PROGRAM
Cost (2007-2008 School Year) :
Breakfast $1.10 a day (*Reduced - .30 cents)
Lunch $1.70 a day (*Reduced - .40 cents)
Milk .35 cents a day
Children may either bring a lunch from home, or purchase a lunch at school. the cost of school lunches is $1.70 per day or $8.50 per week. Each child has a debit card where prepayments can be made in any amount. Lunch money is collected on Fridays. Children must be prepaid for at least one week in advance. Those children that bring cold lunch may purchase milk for .35 cents a day. Milk is included in all hot lunch.
*Free lunches and reduced price lunches are available if your family income falls within certain guidelines. Applications forms are sent home to every family on the first day of school. Please complete those forms and return them to the school as soon as possible. Forms are also available throughout the school year if your income status changes.
If you are paying by check make the check out to SNFS (Schools Foods and Nutrition Service).
ATTENDANCE
Regular attendance is important if a child is going to succeed in school. It's next to impossible for a child to follow what's being taught in a classroom if he or she misses school frequently.
School is important to your child's social development as well. While your son or daughter is learning reading, writing, and arithmetic, the child is also learning to get along with other children, to interact with adults, to understand and follow rules, and to be a successful school citizen.
Regular attendance is required by state law for any child over six years old.
Regular Day
8:05 students allowed at school
8:20 students enter the building
8:35 students must be in class
After 8:35 students are late
* Tardiness causes a huge disruption to the school day and affects the limited instructional time teachers have. Classroom teachers are working to get students who are Tardy caught up instead of moving forward with the class. Please make every effort to get your children to school on time. Studies show that assessment scores and student progress are lower in students who are habitually late or absent. We are also finding that many students are being dismissed at the end of the school day before teachers have finished his/her lessons. Again, this has a negative impact on what your son or daughter receives in instructional time. The end of the school day is as vitally important as the beginning in terms of having time to review homework assignments and pack up what is needed for the night.
EXCUSED ABSENCES/SCHOOL NOTIFICATION
If a child is sick or for some other reason cannot attend school, it is the parents' responsibility to do both of the following:
1. Notify the school on the morning of the absence either by telephoning or by sending a note with a brother or sister.
2. Send a note explaining the reason for the absence when your child returns to school.
SCHOOL CANCELLATION/DELAYED OPENING
If school is to be canceled because of bad weather, announcements will be made over the following local radio and television stations: WGIR WZID WFEA WMUR-TV9
The same will be true for delayed openings. If there is a delayed opening everything will start 90 minutes later than usual. Buses will also run 90 minutes late.
90 – Minute Delay
9:35 students allowed at school
9:50 students enter building
10:05 students must be in class
After 10:05 students are late
BUSES/TRANSPORTATION
Children are expected to behave properly while on the school bus. This means staying seated, not picking on other children, and following the instructions of the driver. More specific rules will be explained to all bus children at the beginning of the school year. Children who continually misbehave will be suspended from riding the bus.
IMPORTANT:
Children frequently bring notes to school asking permission to ride the bus home with a friend. This is not possible because on most days the buses are filled to capacity.
TRAFFIC
Traffic around the school at arrival and dismissal times is a major problem. Parents can help by being patient.
If you are driving your child to school in the morning, please drop him or her off and leave or, as mentioned earlier, don't arrive until after 8:20 if you are waiting with your child. If you are picking up your child in the afternoon, please park in the area near the JFK auditorium and leave promptly.
Do not block the bus lanes. Do not expect your child or children to come through the busy parking lot to your waiting car.
VISITORS
All visitors to the school must report to the office before going elsewhere in the building. This includes parents who are picking up their children for appointments or wish to contact their children for any other reason. All volunteers must also sign in at the office and remain in the area of the building relevant to the volunteer activity. All visitors to the building who go beyond the office area must wear name tags indicating their purpose for being in the building - volunteer, maintenance, guest, etc.
MEDICATION
If any type of medication is to be taken at school, that medication must be delivered to the school nurse in its original container.
The school must also have a signed statement from the physician who prescribed the medication (forms are available for this), as well as a note from the child's parents giving the nurse or other school personnel permission to administer the medication.
SCHOOL INSURANCE
Applications for school insurance are sent home the first week of school. This insurance is available throughout the school year.
HOMEWORK POLICY
Homework is an important part of the educational process. To be effective it requires an integrated effort among teachers, parents, and students. Homework is used to practice learned skills, to develop independent study habits, and to provide a connection between home and school environments.
Assignment Guidelines
- Homework should be assigned to all students from kindergarten through grade five.
- There should be allowances for the teacher's discretion relative to the type and length of assignments.
- In order to build responsible study habits concrete assignments that require the student to return something to school should be given several times each week.
- Most homework should be credited, but not necessarily graded.
- Long range projects may be assigned as homework and assessed through the grading process. Teachers should check on the progress of long range projects on a regular basis.
- Homework should be meaningful and relate to work in the classroom. It should not be busy work.
Suggested Time Frames
The following are recommended as maximum nightly time limits on homework for each grade:
- Kindergarten 5 to 10 minutes
- Grade One 15 to 20 minutes
- Grade Two 30 minutes
- Grade Three 30 minutes
- Grade Four 60 minutes
- Grade Five 60 minutes
Parental Involvement
Parents should be encouraged to give their children guidance with their homework efforts. This guidance might include:
- Checking the child's work for neatness and to see that it is completed.
- Signing the homework paper or an assignment book.
- Communicating regularly with the teacher.
- Agreeing to a homework contract with the child and the teacher.
*This policy is meant to build on the Manchester School District policy - not to replace it.