We hope that you will use this handbook as a source of information about your school, its programs, policies and the people who work here. This handbook, as well as weekly newsletters from the principal and classroom teachers, are two of the methods we use to promote communication between home and school. We welcome your comments and suggestions for working together to provide the best education for our students.

OUR SCHOOL DAY

School begins at 8:00 AM (although supervision is provided after 7:30 AM). In order to ensure that your child has the best possible start to the day and does not disrupt other students, we suggest your child arrive before at 7:55 AM.

School is dismissed at 3:00 PM. Buses pick up students outside the main entrance to the school. Students going home to a friend’s house must have a note from their parent/guardian. Students going home to a friend’s house may ride to the friend’s house on a bus other than the bus they ordinarily take. However, after-school parties or group outings must have prior approval from the bus driver. Students who do not ride the bus or walk home must be picked up promptly at 3:00 PM. Students may not remain at school or on the playground without an adult.

ABSENCE

If a student is absent for any reason, the parent or guardian should notify the school office before 8:15 AM. Students who must leave school early for doctor’s appointments or other obligations should deliver a note to their teachers that morning indicating what time they will be leaving school.

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS/USE OF PROPERTY

Use of the school building by members of the community outside of the school day is encouraged. All such uses of the school must receive prior approval by the Principal.

BICYCLES

Students may bicycle to school. We encourage alternative methods of transportation! Those who do must park their bicycles in bike racks provided for that purpose, lock them and not use them again until dismissal at 3:00 PM. The school bears no responsibility for lost bicycles or other property.

BUSES

The daily transportation of Moretown Elementary School students is a privilege available to each student. Each student is responsible for following the rules on the bus for the safety of all passengers and the driver. Moretown contracts for bus service along with the other schools in Washington West Supervisory Union. Nonetheless, issues with school bus service should be directed first to the front office at Moretown Elementary.

Should bus service be canceled for any reason, notice will be given on WDEV (550 on your AM dial and 96.1 FM) and WCAX (Channel 3 on your television).

COMPLAINTS

Faculty and Staff at Moretown School work hard to provide the best possible education in a caring and supportive environment. Nonetheless, there are times when you as a parent or guardian will have issues with either the education or environment your child is experiencing. Our faculty is always willing to listen and strive to improve a situation for a student if he or she is experiencing trouble of an academic or social nature.

Please talk to the staff member involved first. Remember, there are two sides to every story. The story you hear at home may not be the full picture and the staff may be able to give you valuable information or suggestions that can help resolve the issue. Roberta Barone, Principal may be contacted should you feel you need further assistance. If an issue cannot be resolved by the Principal, you may contact the Superintendent at 496-2272 extension 14.

CONFERENCES/ PROGRESS REPORTS

Parent-teacher conferences formally take place twice during the school year as noted on the school calendar. Report cards and progress reports are sent home three times a year. Please ask for a conference whenever you feel it necessary to meet with your child’s teacher. Phone calls, notes, homework packets and reading contracts are all ways that parents and teachers communicate student progress.

CURRICULUM

We have ensured that all students’ learning will build on past learning. Our curriculum in Language Arts, Science, Math and Social Studies is based on national research. That research has identified what children need to learn and the most successful ways of accessing that learning. All of our curricula are based on a "spiraling concept" whereby students revisit important concepts in greater depth and where mastery of one skill enables mastery of a more complex skill.

Parents are given a brief overview of the student learning planned for that year through class newsletters sent home during September. Please contact our Principal if you would like to review a preK – 12 curriculum in any core area.

EMERGENCY CLOSINGS/SNOWDAYS

Should school be cancelled due to weather or any other reason, notice will be given on WDEV (550 AM and 96.1 FM on your radio dial) and WCAX (Channel 3 Television). In the event that school is closed early for weather or emergency reasons, parents should make their arrangements known when completing the Student Information Form at the beginning of the school year. Forms may be obtained from Pam Kathan in the front office.

FIELD TRIPS

Forms are sent home at the beginning of the year requesting permission to attend local field trips. Longer trips will require individual written consent as the day of the trip approaches.

LUNCHES

Moretown provides breakfast and hot lunch every full day of school. Discounted lunches are available to students if there is a need. Applications are sent home on the first day of school. Please see Pam at the front office for an extra form.

NURSE’S OFFICE

Our nurse is Karyn Kaminski. Her assistant is Elyse Long.

Please keep ill children at home. They cannot function at school and spread illnesses quickly to other students and staff. Your child should not attend school if she or he has a fever of 100 degrees or more, diarrhea, has vomited, has a severe cold, pink eye or any other contagious disease.

Parents or guardians will be called when it is apparent that a student should not be at school due to illness. Please respond promptly and arrange for your child to be picked up.

The school must have doctor’s instructions and written permission to give any medication to any student. Special forms for this purpose are available in the school office from Pam Kathan. All medication must be brought to school by an adult.

PLAYGROUND

Community volunteers built our two playgrounds. They are available for use by members of the community when school is not in session. Rules regarding appropriate playground behavior are posted prominently in the playground behind the school. Any use of the playground outside of school hours is entirely at the user’s risk and the school bears no responsibility for its use.

SCHOOL CALENDAR

Moretown Elementary School is in session 180 days of the year. The calendar is included on our Website.

SCHOOL BOARD

STUDENT BEHAVIOR

Each classroom creates a student learning community that is based upon respect for learning and for each other. Each teacher from pre-school through sixth grade promotes and expects student behavior that is responsible and respectful of others. All children may need a reminder on occasion. If reminders are ineffective, parents and teachers work together to ensure appropriate conduct.

TELEPHONES

All telephone communications to the school are made through the front office. The telephone number is 496-3742. You may leave a message for individual faculty and staff on the voice mail system. Permission for students to use the telephone may be granted at the discretion of the Principal.

VISITORS/FRONT OFFICE

All visitors to the school must check in at the front office upon entering the school.

VOLUNTEERS/PTN

Volunteers are much appreciated and needed in the classroom! Please take time to ask your child’s teacher what an appropriate time is for you to volunteer. The Parent Teacher Neighbor (PTN) is an organization that meets throughout the school year to help provide after-school activities and funding for school projects. You are welcome and encouraged to attend whenever possible!

STUDENT SAFETY

The responsibility to keep students safe while at school is taken very seriously. A safe environment is one in which your child feels comfortable with all faculty, staff and students. We will respond immediately to any incident of teasing or harassment that we witness or is brought to our attention. Please let us know about anything disturbing to your child so that we can address it.

Our physical plant meets OSHA and Labor and Industry regulations. Procedures are in place to respond to fire, bomb threats and any threatening or dangerous behaviors from an outside source.

WEAPONS/SMOKING

Absolutely no smoking or weapons are permitted on school grounds at any time. Appropriate action will be taken against anyone violating this rule.

Parent/Teacher/Student Compact

School is an extension of the learning that begins at home. Successful learning is achieved through cooperation between school, home and the child. Education comes from school as well as from a variety of experiences with family, friends, at the sports field or dinner table, while traveling to the next town or across the globe.

Many of the ideas you will find in the compact on the last pages of this booklet were suggestions from parents, teachers and students in response to the question, "What else can we do to help?"

Not every suggestion will work in every situation. Some of these guidelines are basic but are included to assure a well rounded, complete compact. We know you can expand on the possibilities included here.

This compact was created with the intention of working together to provide the best education possible for your child.

Parents/Guardians’ Commitments

I will do my best to:

Students’ Commitments

I will do my best to:

Teachers’ Commitments

I will do my best to:

SUGGESTIONS FOR HELPING OUR CHILDREN TO BECOME ACTIVE AND COMPETENT LEARNERS

These include: