Kert DolloffGENERAL RULES/PROCEDURES
Waterville Public Schools Discipline Philosophy
The Waterville Public School System believes that every society needs reasonable rules and regulations governing the conduct of its members. This Discipline Philosophy guides the school community toward the immediate goal of maintaining a safe, well-ordered and effective learning environment; a good place for every child to pursue his or her right to a quality education.
The ultimate goal is to promote responsible student attitudes and to help students develop good work habits and social skills essential to becoming responsible, self-controlled and productive citizens. The skills necessary for good citizenship need to be taught, and with proper guidance, all students can succeed.
Behavior is learned, maintained and/or altered by its consequences. Positive reinforcement of good behavior will be given highest priority. Individuals are responsible for their own behavior. There is a delicate balance between meeting the needs of the group by maintaining social order and meeting the unique needs of each students. Effective consequences will be directed to reduce misbehavior of the individual student or students responsible.
Students, parents, teachers and administrators will strive to work cooperatively toward these goals in a positive atmosphere which fosters the personal dignity and self-esteem of each student.
The following beliefs guide the George J. Mitchell School's staff as they interact with children in the classroom and on the playground:
A strong emphasis is placed on teaching children self-discipline and responsibility. General school rules include:
It is recognized by staff and students that there will be conflicts between students. The school's Student Senate of grade three students have developed student problem solving strategies emphasizing student responsibility in dealing with conflict:
Behavior
Each classroom teacher develops specific classroom rules and procedures appropriate to the grade level and parents will receive a copy. Much time is spent at the beginning of the school year teaching children specific school and classroom rules and procedures. This allows for a safe environment for all children to learn. To maintain this safe environment throughout the year, procedures are reviewed as needed.
An emphasis is placed on praising students' good behaviors which helps to eliminate misbehaviors. Generally, the teacher or staff member in charge will handle student misbehaviors. Classroom consequences are established as part of each classroom's rules and will be followed. Consequences may include a warning, loss of recess, loss of privileges, a telephone call or visit with parents, or a visit to the principal or assistant principal's office. In the event of repeated misbehaviors, an individual plan for the student may be developed in consultation with the guidance counselor, principal and/or behavioral specialist.
Immediate action by the principal or assistant principal will be needed for certain serious misbehaviors as they jeopardize the safety of the student and others around him/her. These behaviors include biting another person, deliberate aggression toward another person and swearing at or biting an adult. These student misbehaviors will be addressed by removing the student from the situation, parent contact and possible suspension from school.
We care about your child and it is for this reason that we are trying to fashion an environment that is as safe and as free from danger as possible. It is our intent to follow common health and safety procedures at all times.
Your cooperation and understanding is appreciated. Please feel free to contact the school should you have any questions.
Promotion and Retention of Students in Grades K-8
Statement of Purpose: It is the intent of the Waterville Public Schools to offer appropriate instruction to all students in a progressive and sequential way. Therefore, the grade placement of each student will be made on an individual basis, understanding that the level of instruction at each grade level is not a single level of instruction but rather a series of levels intending to meet the various needs of students assigned to that grade level.
Process: Insofar as possible, retention will be decided through conferences involving the principal, teachers, and parents. Parents will be notified as early as possible that retention is being considered and, except in very unusual circumstances, no later than May 1. The principal is responsible for making the final decision as to retention and assignment. Parents dissatisfied with this decision may appeal to the Superintendent and Board of Education.
Criteria: The following criteria may be utilized in making decisions concerning promotion and retention.
1. Student achievement
2. Truancy
3. Health
4. Maturity
5. Age in relation to grade placement
6. Out-of-school influences
7. Program options
Retention - In arriving at the decision to retain a student, the following timeline is followed:
a. By the beginning of the 3rd trimester, a conference will be scheduled and held by the teacher and one or both parents.
b. The final decision to promote or retain shall be made by the principal on or before the end of the 3rd trimester.
SCHOOL DAY
Walkers should plan to arrive no earlier than 8:30 a.m. as there is no playground supervision. All students will enter his/her classroom. Bus students who eat breakfast enter the cafeteria directly from the bus.
8:45 a.m. Classes begin
A 45 minute lunch and noon recess is scheduled between 10:45 and 12:45
2:40 p.m. Dismissal for Parent Pick-up
2:45 p.m. Dismissal to load the buses
For students' safety, all walkers are to leave the school grounds immediately upon dismissal unless they are involved in a supervised activity.
Attendance
A student should be in school every day that school is in session unless their absence falls within the criteria for excused absences provided in the law. A day lost from school cannot be replaced regardless of a student's capabilities, and no amount of make-up work can every duplicate the original instruction or interaction which took place within the classroom. Furthermore, to expect less than excellent attendance may foster an attitude within the student that school just isn't all that important.
Under State of Maine Laws relating to public schools, a student is truant if he/she has attained the equivalence of 10 full days of nonexcused absences of 7 consecutive school days of nonexcused absences during the school year. Parents must call the school or send a note to school if a child is out. Unless we receive a note or a call, your child will be marked unexcused.
TRUANCY POLICY
1. Students who are absent receive a phone c all daily f rom the school office to inquire why the students is not in school. The school secretary makes a note on the daily attendance sheet as to the reason given by the parent.
2. When a student's absence reaches 7 or more days, a letter may be sent to the parent or guardian at the discretion of the Principal requesting that they contact the principal to discuss the attendance issue.
3. As soon as a student's attendance indicates that he/she has been absent ten days, the principal will send out a letter to the parents and request a conference to address the issues. The letter states the Maine law regarding truancy and also notifies the parent that a copy will be sent to the truant officer, and the Superintendent of Schools.
4. If the attendance problem persists after five more days:
A. A home visit will be set up with the truant officer and guidance counselor, or building administrator.
B. A referral will be made to the Superintendent of Schools.
C. The Superintendent will notify the Board of Education and the Department of Human Services.
5. After a total of 20 days unexcused absences, the Superintendent at his/her discretion may refer the case to the District Attorney's Office.
Absences
Notes are required for all absences. Absences except for the following reasons will be listed as unexcused.
If a student does not bring a note upon return, an absence will also be listed as unexcused. Five or more unexcused absences require notification to the Superintendent of Schools which is the initial step in truancy proceedings.
We request you call the school office in the morning on the day(s) your child will be absent from school. Notes are necessary for absences, tardiness and excuses for doctor's appointments during school time. Any child arriving late, bringing a note, may go directly to the classroom, otherwise they must get an admittance slip from the office. Phone calls to parents are made by the school office to check on student absences without excuses. Notes are needed for a child to remain inside for recess.
Tardiness
Instructional time is shortchanged if students are tardy. Students should bring a note to explain their tardiness and should call at the office for admittance to class. If tardiness becomes chronic (5-6 times), equivalent hours from school shall be estimated and the case handles as other unexcused absences.
Early Dismissal
Early dismissal is not encouraged but when it is unavoidable for medical appointments or emergencies, students must be dismissed through the office. Students can be signed out only with parents or guardians written permission.
Trimester Celebrations
Students who have received no more than one bus slip or detention will participate in the celebration. Those students who receive more than one detention or bus slip will perform community service during the celebration.
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM
Parents with children attending the George J. Mitchell School are offered a child care program before and/or after school. Participating children enjoy a variety of activities including arts and crafts, drama, computers, sports, etc. For more information and registration, parents should call Julie Copeland, Director, at 873-5756. Link.
Emergencies
As safe as the school staff tries to make your child's stay at school, occasionally accidents do happen. It is extremely important that we have an emergency card for each student with information that is accurate. If you have any change in the information on your child's emergency card, please let us know immediately.
Fire Drills
A minimum of 10 fire drills are held each year so that your child will know how to exit safely in event of emergency. Talking and "horseplay" are prohibited during evacuation so that everyone can hear emergency directions. Home evacuation drills are encouraged also.
Library
The school library is staffed by one full-time librarian. The library is open during all regular school hours and is intended for quiet study, reading, and library skills.
Students who sign out books and/or other library materials are responsible for those things until they are returned safely. There will be a replacement charge made for books, audio visual materials, and computer program which become lost or damaged.
It is not our intent to punish children who may have items lost or damaged or discourage use of the library, but it is important to value our library resources and be sure other students will have an opportunity to use them.
Visitors
We encourage parents to visit the school. We believe this helps each child sense the importance of school as well as increasing the opportunity for parents and educators to work together. We ask visitors to observe the following courtesies:
a. Please call ahead and arrange your visit.
b. Check in at the office. If you are dropping in without an appointment, please do not proceed to the classroom until authorized by office staff to do so. (For the safety and security of students and staff, visitors who fail to register in the office will be required to leave the premises.)
c. Do not request to or expect to confer with teachers during their instructional time.
d. Please avoid visiting during test times.
We do not encourage students to bring friends, cousins, younger siblings, etc. to visit during the day. Advance arrangement must be made.
Playground
One school-wide recess is planned each day. All students are expected to go outside to recess and after lunch except during inclement weather. Exceptions are granted for those who have written medical excuses from a doctor.
Due to the number of children on the playground, hard balls, skateboards, bats, ball bearings, jack knives, toy guns, and other potentially injurious items are to be left at home. Likewise, playground equipment must be used in a safe manner; e.g., walk up steps on slide and slide down on bottom; hand over hand on the cross bars in one direction; one person sitting in swing at a time with no jumping from swing. Tackle football, fighting, wrestling, etc. cannot be allowed at any time.
Breakfast and Lunch
Hot lunches and a choice of white or chocolate milk are available. Regular paid lunches are $1.35 per day. If students choose to bring a cold lunch, milk may be purchased at $.25 per day. Free and reduced priced breakfast and lunch are available to all children who qualify and all parents are invited to fill out the federal application form which determines eligibility. (All financial information is kept strictly confidential.)
CHILDREN SHOULD BRING THEIR MONEY FOR SCHOOL LUNCH THE FIRST SCHOOL DAY OF EACH WEEK FOR THE ENTIRE WEEK.
In the lunchroom, children are expected to follow the same manners that would be found in the home. Considering we have about eighty children at each lunch period, we try to balance a reasonably quiet talking, calm atmosphere with sufficient time and maintain safety and a workable traffic pattern in and out of the lunchroom.
Bicycles
Children may ride bicycles to school, although we do not encourage this practice. Bikes are to be walked across play areas, placed in racks provided and left there until dismissal time. Students must bring locks to protect their bikes and we ask parents to review bicycle safety rules. Children who ride bicycles must wear a helmet.
Cancellation of School
In the event that school must be closed because of snow, an announcement will be made over the local radio stations.
Toys
Toys should be left at home unless they are being used for a specific purpose in the classroom. As a reminder, toy guns are not allowed at school.
Kert DolloffUpdated 9/1/07