On behalf of the staff at Point Roberts Primary, we would like to welcome students and families to our school. We strive to provide an atmosphere that allows children to develop positive attitudes toward learning, themselves and each other.

This handbook has been prepared to help answer many questions students and families usually have concerning the activities, procedures, and rules for the successful operation of our school. We believe that a common ground of clearly understood policies and procedures will enable us to provide the best possible educational experiences for every student. In the event that problems or concerns arise, we are available to discuss and help resolve any situation.

All families are encouraged to get involved in their children's education. This level of involvement may vary as we realize that there are many time demands on a parent's time, and there are a variety of ways you can contribute to your child's progress in school:

-Communicate with your child's teacher often.

-Spend some time in the classroom or be involved in school activities.

-Help your child understand the importance of school learning and learning in everyday life.

-Provide a quiet area for homework assignments. Help your child grow in self confidence, social skills, and ensure a successful time in primary school.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

When it is necessary for a child's normal routine to change, parents should send a note to school. Changes include: staying after school, riding or walking somewhere other than home, being picked up by a parent when the student usually rides the bus, etc.

SCHOOL DAY BEGINS: The school day begins at 9:10 a.m. and is dismissed at 2:50 p.m. Please do not drop off your student before 9:00 a.m. as there is no adult supervision outside the building before this time.

TELEPHONE: The office telephone is a business phone and we would rather that students use the phone only in an emergency.

EARLY DISMISSALS: To ensure the safety of our children, no child shall be removed from any school classroom, building, grounds, or building function except by a parent having legal custody, a legal guardian, or a person designated by the parent/legal guardian and listed on school records. For bus changes, please call the school by 2:15 p.m. so that we have enough time to make changes.

INFORMATION CHANGES: It is vitally important to notify the school of any change of telephone numbers, address, emergency number, or place of employment of either parent. This is important should your child become ill or is injured at school and requires your presence.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES: Different grade levels have different needs. Grade level supply lists are available in the office. From time to time you will be asked to send items required for special projects for your child. Textbooks and workbooks are supplied by the school.

INVITATIONS AND GIFTS: In the interest of sensitivity to children's feelings, you are asked not to bring gifts or invitations to school unless all students in a class are invited.

LOST AND FOUND: It is suggested that clothing and personal items be labeled with your child's name. Found articles are turned in to the school's Lost and Found area. Unclaimed property is donated to various local charitable organizations.

EMERGENCY DRILLS: The safety of our children is one of our greatest concerns. The school holds regular fire and earthquake drills during the year to teach students to respond calmly in the event of an emergency. Each class has an escape route to an outside area a safe distance from the building.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular school attendance is one of the keys to a student's success at school. We urge all parents to assist us in giving every child the opportunity to benefit from regular, daily sequential instruction.

When your child is going to be absent, please notify the school. Excused absences are those resulting from illness, family emergency, and medical/dental appointments. Daily attendance is recorded.

When arriving late to school, all students are required to check in at the office before going to the classroom.

SCHOOL VISITATION

Parents are encouraged to visit school frequently and to actively participate in the education of their child. You are asked to first stop at the school office and receive a visitor's pass. Please do not go directly to the classroom. If you need to give your child a message, medication, homework, lunch, etc., please go to the office.

BUS SCHEDULE/SEVERE WEATHER POLICY

Information regarding closures or late start times due to weather conditions may be obtained by:

1. Listening to the radio station KARI AM 550, KGMI AM 790, KPUG AM 1170, KWPZ FM 106.5, and KAFE FM 104.3. Listen throughout the morning as things can change. The information is usually announced between 6:00 and 6:30 a.m.

2. Calling the Transportation Department at 360-332-8933.

3. Calling the Snow Information Line at 360-332-0789.

4. Logging onto the District web page (www.blaine.k12.wa.us). The home page has a section at the top which shows any changes in schedule due to weather.

ALL ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE BLAINE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND/OR BLAINE PRIMARY SCHOOL INCLUDE POINT ROBERTS PRIMARY SCHOOL!

When school is in session and hazardous road conditions exist, a snow route will be followed. Please note that the bus times may vary due to the weather:

VOLUNTEERS

We want to welcome you and invite you to volunteer at Point Roberts Primary School. Our volunteers are an integral part of the educational process. Volunteers can help tutor, copy materials, assist in the office, and help with many other activities. If you are interested in volunteering, please go to the office and fill out an informational packet.

SCHOOL INSURANCE

The school is not in the insurance business nor do we profit in any fashion from the purchase of an insurance policy. However, as a service to parents, we can get a reasonable group rate. If you wish to have coverage for your child, please pick up a packet, fill it out, and return it to the office. We will be happy to mail it to the company for you.

The school district does not carry insurance that covers injuries to students while they are on school grounds or on school activities.

BICYCLE SAFETY

Students may ride bicycles to school; however, we are unable to accept responsibility for the safety of the bicycles. Locks are recommended and students must walk bikes as they arrive on school grounds and then park them for the duration of the school day. Please encourage your children to wear a helmet. Skateboards, scooters, and roller blades are o.k. to ride to school; however, students must walk and carry them on school grounds.

AT POINT ROBERTS PRIMARY WE STRIVE TO DO OUR BEST

GENERAL SCHOOL RULES:

Follow Directions the First Time:

listening

compliance

class work

Weapons Free Zone:

no guns, knives, or swords (this includes toys and imaginary)

Show Respect for All Adults, Students, and Self:

appropriate language

no bullying, name calling, or threats

no hitting or biting (hands and feet to self)

no play fighting and wrestling

let others learn

honor each others' personal space

gender/ethnicity fairness

RECESS RULES:

stay in designated boundaries - the supervisor must be able to see you at all times

no inappropriate use of sticks (using as guns, swords, or running with)

no throwing of sand, rocks, sticks, etc.

one hand must be holding on at all times on the twirling bars

keep off the bleachers

ask supervisor for permission to go into the school building

no spitting on the school grounds

students are responsible to bring in the equipment they used

when the bell rings, line up quickly in the designated area

students not following the recess rules will serve a time out in a designated area

MESSAGE FROM MARY BAKER, R.N., & MARGARET GIBSON, R.N.,

SCHOOL NURSES

SCHOOL ENTRANCE IMMUNIZATIONS:

According to Washington State Law, students must be age five (5) on or before August 31 of the current school year to enter kindergarten. Your child's birth certificate is required for verification to enter kindergarten. Washington State Law also requires the following immunizations:

4 Doses of DTP - last dose on or after the 4th birthday

3 Doses of POLIO - last dose on or after the 4th birthday

2 Doses of MMR - 1st dose on or after the 1st birthday and 2nd dose on or after the 4th birthday

3 Doses of HEP - 1st & 2nd dose one month apart; 2nd & 3rd dose six months apart

These may be obtained at your family physician or the County Health Department.

PEDICULOSIS: If you get a call from us saying that your child has head lice, don't be horrified. It is not a sign of poor hygiene or poor environment. Younger children snuggle alot as you know, and lice move from person to person fairly easily. We do have a NIT FREE POLICY. This means that if your child is found to have live lice or nits while at school, we will ask that they are taken home for removal of these lice and nits. We will give you more explicit instructions on treatment and on removing lice from bedding and other household items.

MEDICATION: If your child needs to have prescribed medicine during the school day, state law requires that we have written consent from YOU AND THE DOCTOR administering the medication. Forms for this purpose are available in the office. Prescriptions brought to school must be in the original container with complete information attached: name of medication, patient name, dosage, and complete instructions. We do not give aspirin or any other nonprescription medication to students without written instructions from a parent/legal guardian.

Medication should be brought to school by the parent after the above procedure has been completed. Your cooperation is appreciated!

ILLNESS: If a student becomes too ill to remain in class, we will reach you by phone and recommend that you come to school to pick up your child. Therefore, UPDATED WORKING PHONE NUMBERS are imperative. FEVER: No child with a fever should be sent to school. (If no thermometer is available, feel the child's forehead with the back of your hand. If it is hot, keep the child home.) A child should be free of fever for 24 hours before coming back to school.

COLD: A child with a "heavy" cold and a deep or hacking cough belongs at home in bed even without a fever. A greenish discharge from the nose is a sign of a bacterial infection. Please have this checked by a doctor. If your child has a sore throat with a fever and/or white spots on the back of the throat, call your doctor.

RASH: Do not send a child with a rash to school until your doctor has said that it is safe to do so.

DIARRHEA: A child with diarrhea should be kept at home. It may be a symptom of an infection.

HEADACHES: A child who has a headache, a stiff neck, and chills along with a high fever should be seen by a doctor.

VOMITING: A child who has vomited in the afternoon or evening should remain at home the following day especially if they have not been able to eat or drink more than clear liquids.

The spread of these symptoms can be eliminated by good, frequent hand washing. Please remember that a sick child is not only unhappy at school but exposes other children to infection as well. Help us all stay healthy!

POINT ROBERTS PRIMARY SCHOOL FOCUS

LITERACY DEVELOPMENT:

1. Literacy development is the central task of the P-2 school experience. It is through real literacy experiences that children gain knowledge about their world. Our goal is that children become competent capable readers, writers, speakers, and listeners.

2. Since learning is a developmental and lifelong process, continued growth is a goal for staff as well as for students.

3. Children develop literacy in the context of family, schools, and community.

The foundation for literacy is built from birth where children learn first in the context of their family. Families and schools enter into a partnership for formal literacy development.

DISTRICT/STATE EDUCATIONAL GOALS

READ with comprehension, write with skill, and communicate effectively and responsibly in a variety of ways and settings.

KNOW and apply the core concepts and principles of mathematics; social, physical, and life sciences; civics and history; geography; arts; and health and fitness.

THINK analytically, logically, and creatively, and integrate experience and knowledge to form reasoned judgments and solve problems.

UNDERSTAND the importance of work and how performance, effort, and decisions directly affect future career and educational opportunities.

KINDERGARTEN CURRICULUM

From the very beginning of kindergarten your child will be treated as a reader and a writer. A typical day has students reading and writing often. Journal writing in kindergarten ranges from drawing pictures to writing complete sentences. Our reading program is centered around fiction, nonfiction, picture books, poetry, and easy beginning readers.

Circle time is a very important time of the day. During this time your child will learn things such as the date, days of the week, months of the year, counting, letter names, and letter sounds.

Our mathematics program is a hands-on, activity centered program. Throughout the year the children will learn about the numbers 0-31 and explore concepts such as patterning, ordering, size, addition, subtraction, and even an introduction to multiplication and division.

Our science program is also hands-on and covers the following topics: trees, animals, wood, paper, and fabric.

Your kindergarten child will grow in many ways. He/she will be in a safe, warm environment learning to share and show respect to others through work and play. We know they will have the best school experience possible.

FIRST GRADE CURRICULUM

READING: The Take-Home Reading component is another vital link in our reading program. Families play a crucial role. The children will bring home books to be read with a parent, older sibling, or friend. An important aspect of the Take-Home Reading Program is that the children go at their own pace allowing for individualization.

WRITING: Reading and writing are inextricably linked; therefore, writing is another powerful component of our reading program. Writing gives insight into a child's ability to use phonics, express thoughts, understand how language works, and generate ideas. Our children have an opportunity to do many kinds of writing. Our goal is to have the children engaged in "Writing Workshops" where they assist each other in revising, clarifying ideas, and giving one another detailed feedback on their work.

SPELLING: Our spelling program is based on phonics. By teaching phonics within spelling instruction, children can apply the principles they have learned to their reading.

MATH: Our mathematics curriculum emphasizes sound understanding of math concepts, solving problems in a variety of ways, explaining thinking orally and in writing, analyzing situations, exploring and developing a variety of thinking strategies, and building confidence in the ability to learn and understand mathematics.

SCIENCE: Our hands-on science program is very exciting to the children. In 1st grade we explore the topics of "Insects," "Solids and Liquids," and "Air and Weather." These units address the life, physical, and earth sciences.

SECOND GRADE CURRICULUM

Our Language Arts program integrates reading, writing, spelling, oral language, and phonics instruction. Reading and listening to good literature prepares students for understanding ideas and expressing themselves both orally and in written form. The students will be reading many kinds of fiction, nonfiction, and traditional tales. They will read independently as well as teacher-directed guided instruction. They will analyze the plot structure and identify causes of characters' behaviors. Students will appreciate figurative language and its literal meaning. They will use a variety of techniques to decode unfamiliar words.

Students will practice writing in various forms such as recount, narrative, and report. They will practice peer revising and editing. Conventions of grammar will be taught within the writing process. Students will publish their own stories and books. Students will have many opportunities to speak formally and informally before their class and visiting parents.

Our math curriculum is "Moving Into Math - Mimosa." It focuses heavily on number sense as well as emphasizing numeration, measurement, number operations, geometry, and probability/statistics. We also do math timings to reinforce the memorization of math facts.

Science and Social Studies are an important part of our curriculum and are direct extensions of our language arts program. The Foss Science units are Balance and Motion, Pebbles, Sand and Silt, and New Plants. Our salmon, dinosaur, safety awareness, bats, and community involvement units are a strong component of our 2nd grade curriculum. Also, to develop an appreciation of individuality, cultures, and diversity, we study our own heritage and continents of the world.

Other programs for second graders are Music, Physical Education, Computer Skills, Art, and Library.

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT

PHYSICAL EDUCATION: Students learn how to keep their bodies physically fit through various activities. Skills are taught and developed to help a child be physically confident and active in recreational activities.

GENERAL MUSIC: Music curriculum includes many opportunities to explore sound through singing, moving, listening, and playing instruments as well as introductory experiences with verbalization and visualization of musical ideas.

TITLE 1 READING: A remedial reading program is available to students who qualify in grades K-2. Children are served in skill based groups that meet individual needs in reading.

SPEECH THERAPY: Students in our school are screened for speech, language, and hearing disorders. If students qualify for speech and/or language therapy, they are placed on an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and instructed in individualized or small group therapy two times per week. The IEP team includes a speech therapist, occupational therapist, physical therapist, teacher, and parents. This team observes and assesses student needs and shares these observations to promote increased progress in speech and language development.

Homework is defined as any work assigned to students during class and completed outside of school hours.

The purpose of homework is to enhance student achievement; help students become self-directed, independent learners; and to develop good work habits.

Parents can expect homework to be:

•planned and organized by the teacher

•consistent with the needs and abilities of students

•reviewed and returned to students in a timely manner

•within the following guidelines the amount of homework will be approximately:

Kindergarten&emdash;10 minutes

1st grade -------- 20 minutes

2nd grade---------30 minutes

Homework may be assigned for:

•Practice &emdash;to help students master specific skills which have been presented in class;

and/or

•Preparation &emdash;to help students gain the maximum benefits from future lessons;

and/or

•Extension &emdash;to provide students with opportunities to transfer specific skills or concepts to new situations;

and/or

•Creativity &emdash;to require students to integrate many skills and concepts in order to produce original responses.

WAYS TO SUCCEED AT HOMEWORK

-Know what your homework assignments are.

-If you have a planner, write down your assignments.

-Take home all the supplies you will need to get your homework done.

-Understand what you are expected to do before you leave school.

-If you have any questions, ASK your teacher before you go home!

-Plan after school time so homework can be completed and there is also time for family or after school activities.

-Start homework as soon as possible and stick with it until it is done.

Helpful Hints:

-Get a snack.

-Gather all the supplies you will need.

-Check your homework areas:

-Is it well lit?

-Is it free from distractions?

-Always read the directions carefully.

-Check your work.

-Is it neat?

-Is it complete?

-If homework is routinely taking longer than the times stated in these guidelines, please contact your child's teacher.

-Reading is usually part of your homework.

-Make reading easier by:

-reading aloud to someone

-asking a parent or sibling to read with you

-reading in your favorite spot

-Remember, homework is your responsibility.

-Always do your best work.

-Show your completed homework to your parents!

The night before school:

-Put all of your completed homework back in your homework folder.

-Put your homework folder in your backpack.

-Put your "backpack" by the door ready to go to school.

-Turn in your homework when it is due!

-Ask your teacher for any assignments you missed while absent.

PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

-Provide encouragement and support. Show interest in your child's work.

-Help students to develop good study habits by providing a comfortable, well lit area with appropriate supplies (i.e., dictionaries, books, pencils) and free from distractions (i.e., turn-off t.v., provide privacy).

-Evaluate your child's activities to be sure they have sufficient time to study and participate in family or outside activities.

-Schedule a regular time for homework. Monitor homework completion and the efficient use of time.

-Talk with teachers regarding homework concerns.

-Acknowledge responsible homework habits and effort.

-Contact teachers for homework on extended absences from school.

TEACHER RESPONSIBILITIES

-Assign homework consistent with the needs and abilities of students.

-Carefully plan homework that provides practice, preparation, extension, or application and is directly an outgrowth of skills taught in the classroom.

-Make sure assignments are meaningful and clearly explained. Explain the guidelines and basis for evaluating the work performed.

-Review and provide necessary feedback on homework in a timely manner.

-Utilize homework to locate problems in student progress and to individualize instruction. Check on progress of long-term assignments.

-Talk with parents regarding concerns as they arise.

STUDENT PROGRESS

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES: Academic success is a priority at Point Roberts Primary School and parents are encouraged to meet regularly with their child's teacher. All teachers are available to meet before and after school. Please call the teacher for an appointment.

REPORTING PUPIL PROGRESS: We will report student progress three times during the year. Parent/Teacher Conferences are in November and again in March. Conferences provide an opportunity for exchanging information and concerns. Parents may get progress reports at any other time by contacting the teacher.

CLOSING REMARKS:

Point Roberts Primary has a dedicated staff that cares about children. We put a strong emphasis on learning, good behavior, and enjoying people.

By working together, we can be assured that your child will have a successful school year.