Technology Acceptable Use Policy
Welcome to the Thousand Islands Central School District. The Elementary School's staff and students are pleased to have you join us in Cape Vincent/Clayton, New York. The purpose of this handbook is to help acquaint you with our school's mission and daily operation procedures.
We the Staff of Cape Vincent/Guardino Elementary accept, as our responsibility, the education of every child in our school. We believe that all students can learn. Our goal is to have each student achieve mastery of basic grade level skills. Joint efforts between parents and the school community will foster opportunities for growth in academic, cultural, physical, and social/emotional areas.
Preparation for the future begins with today: aim for excellence!
Each building in the Thousand Islands Central School District has a Building Planning Team. The team is comprised of parents, teachers, non-teaching staff and the building principal.
Parents on the team are selected by the building's parent organization, while teachers are selected by the faculty and the non-teaching rep by the building's non-teaching personnel.
The team meets once a month to:
*provide leadership and direction for school building improvement.
*develop and monitor building action plans.
*maintain a liaison with the District Leadership Team.
*create, monitor and assist sub committee activity.
*establish and maintain ongoing communications with all involved in the school community.
The elementary school counselor is an important part of the elementary education program. In keeping with the Thousand Islands District commitment to provide each student with the opportunity to reach his or her full potential as a learner, the school counselor is available to students, parents and teachers to help deal with social and/or emotional difficulties that may affect a child's ability to be successful in school.
The elementary guidance program at Cape Elementary emphasizes the value of early intervention as an effective method to establish and maintain a positive learning environment. The program recognizes the need to help children, at an early age, learn to solve problems and resolve conflicts before they become a major difficulty. The main elements of the program are individual (one-to-one) counseling with students, classroom guidance activities and supportive communication with parents and teachers.
Individual counseling may take place at the request of a parent, teacher or the student. Students are seen individually for many reasons, such as difficulties in getting along with others, academic problems, or helping them deal with a difficult situation in or out of school. For many students, regular individual counseling helps them to be better focused in school and feel more secure in the school environment. For others, they may benefit most from an occasional "visit" with the counselor to talk about something on their mind or a particular problem they are having.
Classroom guidance activities provide students with opportunities to develop ways to make better decisions, to communicate better and to be effective at solving problems. This is usually referred to as a preventive or "pro-active" counseling because the emphasis is on teaching skills to avoid difficulties rather than dealing with problems that already exist. The school counselor also presents classroom guidance sessions which center around issues such as making friends, resolving conflicts, good work habits, setting goals and beginning exploration about the world of work.
The school counselor is also available to parents to discuss concerns they may have about their child. Parents are encouraged to contact the counselor if they are concerned about any difficulty their child may be having in school, or if they feel there is a situation or crisis at home that may affect their child. Open communication between the home and school is an essential part of providing children with a quality education. Please think of the elementary guidance program as a resource to help your children do their best in school and come to school feeling confident and ready to learn.
STUDENT SCHEDULE GRADES 1-5
8:40 a.m. - 9:00 A.M. Students arrive
9:00 a.m. - Classes begin
2:50 p.m. - Students are dismissed
The following are generally accepted as our expectations for students a Cape Elementary.
-be courteous and respectful of other students, teachers and school staff.
-be at your desk by 9:00 a.m. when the day begins.
-be prepared to learn by having the necessary tools: paper, pencils, eraser, crayons, etc.
-follow directions the first time they are given.
-complete classroom work on time.
-keep hands, feet and other objects to yourself.
-no objects in your mouth - gum or otherwise.
-hats may not be worn in the classroom by boys or girls.
SAFE-TO-SCHOOL
Our Safe-To-School program asks you to notify us if for any reason your child will not be attending school on any given day. If we do not hear from you and your child is not in school, we will call you at home or work to notify you of the child's failure to arrive at school.
For the safety of all our students please note the following:
- NO rollerblades or skateboards are allowed on school property.
- NO bicycles are to be ridden to school without a helmet being worn. If your child does not own a helmet and you find it a financial burden to obtain one for them please let the school know and arrangements may be made.
- NO students will be dismissed to an unsupervised setting. (ie.: Recreation Park playground)
Parents should contact school personnel (teacher, counselor, principal) when:
-your child is having a problem with another child.
-you have questions about your child's classroom work or assignments.
-there are problems at home: serious illness, death, divorce, or unusual situations which may affect the child's ability to focus on school work.
-whenever you have a question about any aspect of the school: bus, cafeteria, classroom, playground.
For the safety of your child, please send a written note to the school office in the morning, if your child will be going elsewhere after school. Please include the name of the person with whom the child is to go. A pass will be issued by the office which will allow a teacher or bus driver to honor you request. TELEPHONE MESSAGES REGARDING A CHANGE OF PLAN FOR YOUR CHILD WILL BE HONORED ONLY IN AN EMERGENCY!
If your child needs to leave school for an appointment during the school day, you must sign the child out in the elementary office. The child will be called to the office to meet you. Children will not be allowed to meet parents or friends at the front door.
The school nurse may give your child prescribed or non-prescribed medicine in school only if:
1. The medicine is accompanied by a doctor's note which specifically states the dose, the time of day it is to be given and the length of dosage.
2. The parent writes a note to the nurse giving permission.
3. The parent brings the medication directly to the clinic.
New York State Education Law requires physical examinations to be done on all out of state entrants and children in kindergarten, first, third, seventh and tenth grades.
All students in every grade level will have an annual screening done at school which will include height and weight, vision and hearing testing, and blood pressure recording. Urine specimens are obtained from those students in third grade and new students in the fourth and fifth grade only.
If you prefer, the physical examination may be done, at your expense, by your family doctor. However, a form MUST be obtained from the school clinic to take to your appointment and then returned to the school to be placed in the student's health record.
This screening is also mandated by the State and is done on children ages 8 - 16, in the second, fourth and fifth grades with the third graders screened during their yearly physical. This clinic, usually held in the Spring is done to find children with a "curvature of their spine" and refer them to their family doctor for further evaluation and/or treatment of this childhood condition. The clinic is conducted by the school nurse and the health aide on boys and girls separately. If a suspected scoliosis is found, the parent will be contacted in writing by the school nurse so the parent may take the appropriate action.
Every child entering school is required by New York State to have the minimum doses of the following immunizations, 3 DTP's (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), 2 MMR's (measles, mumps, and rubella), 3 OPV's (oral polio virus) and 3 Hep B's. The Hepatitis B requirement is new for children entering school for the first time in the fall of 1998. It is strongly recommended by New York State and is our district policy to require 4 doses of the OPV and 5 doses of the DTP. It is the feeling of the medical community that this dosing schedule allows the most complete safeguard against these childhood diseases. It is a primary responsibility of the school nurse to see that each student meets these most important requirements.
STUDENT INJURY/INSURANCE CLAIMS
As of the 1995-96 school year, a school related student injury must be reported immediately to the school nurse health office. An insurance claim form will be sent to the parent, only, when medical attention is sought. The parents insurance is primary coverage with the school insurance as secondary coverage. Exceptions are only if a student is a military dependent or is covered under Medicaid, then the school insurance coverage becomes primary.
SCHOOL CLOSING/DELAY/EARLY RELEASE
School closings due to inclement weather or other extenuating circumstances will be announced via the following radio/TV stations: WTNY, WWNY-TV7, WNCQ/WCIZ, WATN/WTOJ.
IN THE EVENT THAT SCHOOL IS DELAYED, IT WILL ALWAYS BE A TWO-HOUR DELAY.
Bus students will be picked up two hours later than normal. The delayed opening schedule for the two-hour delay is:
Morning Kindergarten: 11:00 to 12:30
Grades 1 - 5: 11:00 to 3:00
In addition, school can close early due to weather conditions, power failures, interruptions in water service, etc. Please be sure you have on file with the office any emergency plans in the event that your child arrives home early. (Discuss with your child what he or she should do if you are not home for any reason when he or she arrives. Plan Ahead!)
All such closing, delays or early releases are announced on the local radio and TV stations. Call a neighbor and spread the word!
A school breakfast and lunch are available each day to students. A menu is published at the beginning of each month to guide your lunch selections. Students are given a thirty minute lunch period each day.
Student lunches may be purchased daily or weekly. On Monday, lunch tickets may be purchased from your child's classroom teacher. After Monday, they may be purchased in the elementary office. We would prefer that all lunches be paid for by the week. If your child decides to bring his/her lunch a couple of days instead of buying, we would appreciate the money on Monday for those days which the child will purchase the school lunch. If your child is absent, credit is refunded.
The School offers a Free/Reduced Lunch Program. You may apply for this program at any time during the school year. Forms are available in the elementary office.
Students may also bring a lunch from home.
EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENTS IN THE CAFETERIA
In the cafeteria students should:
-talk quietly with their table mates.
-keep their hands and feet to themselves.
-not throw food, papers, etc. on the floor.
-remain seated at the assigned table unless permission isgranted to visit another table.
-line up orderly when leaving the cafeteria, do not push, shove or arm wrestle.
When students follow the above expectations, students entering and exiting the cafeteria can do so safely.
Cafeteria monitors report student behavior concerns to classroom teachers and/or the building administrator.
Students who live outside the village are provided with transportation via a Thousand Islands Central School bus. Students are expected to be polite and courteous while riding the bus.
The following rules serve as guidelines for appropriate student behavior on the school bus:
1. Follow driver's directions at all times.
2. Stay in your seat while the bus is moving.
3. No throwing things. Keep hands and feet to yourself.
4. Keep bus clean. No spitting or littering. No eating or drinking without driver's permission.
5. Students will not be destructive or disruptive.
6. No cutting or writing on seats. No swearing or fighting.
7. No use of alcohol, drugs or tobacco products of any kind.
Violation of these rules will result in one or more of the following actions.
1. Bus driver warns student about inappropriate behavior.
2. Bus driver assigns a specific seat to the student.
3. A formal bus conduct report is submitted to the Principal and parent.
4. A conference is held with the child, parent, bus driver and Principal.
5. A student's bus privileges may be taken away for 3-5 days by the Principal.
The Thousand Islands Central School District mascot is the Viking. The school colors are blue and gold.
BLUE AND GOLD DAY
Blue and Gold Day is held the first Friday of each month. This day gives the students an opportunity to show their school spirit by wearing blue and gold clothing. The class with the highest percentage of participation earns the Viking mascot for the month.
P.T.O.
The Parent Teacher Organization is an active, important, and purposeful organization within our school. The Executive Committee is leading the effort this school year to assist our school improvement needs. All parents are encouraged to attend the organizational meeting. Come join us!
The PTO yearly sponsors events like the Kindergarten Tea on Moving Up Day in June, as well as student/parent activities like school dances, concerts, holiday party treats, and many other worthwhile endeavors. Representatives of the PTO are members of the Building Planning Team and DLT and work directly on school improvement projects.
SCHOOL UNITY, AWARDS AND SPIRIT
At this time the entire student body attends regular school wide assemblies. The Good Citizenship and Courtesy Program builds on central human values that virtually everyone treasures: self-respect, kindness and consideration, common forms of politeness, respect for others property, and a sense of personal responsibility. Parents of students selected to receive an award are mailed a letter inviting them to attend these assemblies.
Three different awards are also given out at these assemblies. The certificates awarded are displayed in the lower hallway on different bulletin boards.
1. The purpose of the Spotlight on Excellence bulletin board is to display the very best examples of student work produced in the building. Work displayed can come from any of the disciplines. If a student has work on display he/she knows it is judged by the teacher to be the finest quality.
2. The Winners Board offers recognition opportunity for good work, effort, improvement or citizenship.
3. At the end of each month a Citizen of the Month is selected from each class. The suggested qualities considered are: kindness to others, friendly, keeps all school and classroom rules, cooperative with the teacher and fellow students.
* The Elementary Office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The telephone number is 654-2142.
* All parents and visitors are to report to the Elementary Office upon entering the school building.
* The Principal sends a building newsletter prior to the beginning of each month which includes the dates of upcoming events, the lunch menu for the month and other information about building activities.
* There is a lost and found box in the Clinic of the school building.
* Each student is asked to bring a box of tissues to their classroom in September. The tissues are for student use during the school year.
* As a parent, you are responsible for books lost or damaged by your child. A fee for replacement will be charged.
* Students will need an old shirt to use as an art smock to protect clothing during art classes.
* During the year we conduct 12 fire drills. Exit directions are posted in each room. Students are expected to walk quietly and leave the building as quickly as possible during these drills.
* Students will not be allowed to use the school telephone to make arrangements to play with another student after school.
* Chaperones - Each class takes a field trip at some time during the year. Parents often help chaperone these trips. Parents who chaperone students on school field trips are expected to: follow the teacher's requests, stay with the children and assist as needed, and report problems or concerns to the teacher immediately.
* Gift Book Program - We have established a Gift Book Program that provides a way for you to give a book in memory, honor of a special person (birthdays, etc.). The subject area is matched with that particular person to reflect their interests and personality. This has been a successful program and is a wonderful way to add to our collection. For more information call the librarians.