Parent Handbook

Vision Statement
Dedicated to pursuing our greatest potential to fulfill our responsibility to the world.

Washington Montessori is committed to the development of the whole child, enabling him to draw upon all his gifts and reach his greatest potential. We encourage personal responsibility both socially and academically. Each child is allowed freedom of choice and is offered guidance in setting individual goals. Our mission is to inspire academic excellence; to nurture curiosity, creativity, and imagination; and to do so within an environment rich with warmth, kindness, and respect.

Washington Montessori has correlated the Montessori curriculum with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Washington Montessori also participates in the state-mandated End of Grade and End of Course Tests.

The Board of Trustees sets policies for the school and manages the non-profit corporation, Washington Montessori, Inc. The Chair heads the Board of Trustees and generally supervises the business of the school.

The Board meets on the third Thursday of each odd numbered month at 7:00pm. All members of the school community are welcome and are encouraged to attend the meetings. The agenda includes a “Privilege of the Floor” at the beginning of each meeting and an opportunity for public comments. The Board goes into closed session when necessary.

Montessori Board of Trustees 2010-11		Phone and/or E-mail
Katrina Briley	Chair	(252)758-3876 kbriley2@wmpcs.org
Jerry Vick	Secretary	(252) 946-6447 jjvickjr@gmail.com or jvick@wmpcs.org
Cheryl Scott	Treasurer	(252) 943-4519 cscott@wmpcs.org
Treva Anderson		(252) 974-2908 tanderson@wmpcs.org
Rachel MIdgette		(252)495-2760 rmidgette@wmpcs.org
Darwin Woolard		(252) 940-0064 dwoolard@wmpcs.org
Priscilla Denney		(252) 721-8890 pdenney@wmpcs.org
Ex officio, Non-voting Members 2010-11
Steve Jones	Head of School	P: (252) 946-1977 washingtonmontessori@earthlink.net
Angi Bosso	Faculty Representative	P: (252) 946-1977 abosso@wmpcs.org
(Lee Ann Del Monte)	PTO Representative	wmpcs_pto@yahoo.com

Washington Montessori values the people who agree to serve on the Board of Trustees. In order to avoid potential "conflicts of interest," employees as well as their immediate family members will not be considered for board membership. Applications are accepted until the end of June each year (an application can be obtained from the school office). The Board assigns two self-perpetuating members along with the Head of School to act as the selection committee to interview and recommend to the BoT a candidate to fill any of the five self-perpetuating seats that are open. The selection committee informs the applicants of the expectations of Board membership, confirms continued interest in serving, interviews applicants and brings recommendations to the Board. The Board then votes the new trustee by consensus. Two seats are filled by a Community Election process. All Board members serve the greater good of the school and any member can be approached with a concern. Community Elected members are full voting members and are not expected to hold the same views as the school community at large. Any new trustee is encouraged to participate in the remaining meetings as an ex officio, non-voting member prior to taking office in January. Children of board members will not be shown any favoritism in placement, discipline, or any other decisions. See BoT By-Laws for further information.

Washington Montessori Public Charter School follows the grievance policy as shown. When there are issues that require the involvement of the Board of Trustees, the decision of the Board of Trustees will be final. The Peace Table can include impartial third-persons.

After following the procedures outlined in the Grievance Policy above, if the BoT still needs to be addressed please use the following procedure. Know that at any time you may bring your issues to the Board of Trustees and be heard.

1^st Step: The formal written grievance, sealed and addressed to the BoT chair, should be placed in the BoT mailbox in the school office. The chairperson will confirm acceptance of the letter to the party filing the grievance and the BoT within two weeks of receiving the grievance.

2^nd Step: If confirmation is not received two weeks prior to that month’s BoT meeting, then the grievance may be addressed at the next BoT meeting.

3^rd Step: After the BoT has discussed the grievance and come to a resolution, the BoT chairperson will notify the party filing the grievance by phone within 48 hours as to the BoT decision. The BoT chairperson will follow this with a certified letter within two weeks of the BoT meeting to the party filing the grievance.

When you enroll your child at Washington Montessori, you become a member of the Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO). PTO Board Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at 3:30pm and all are welcome to attend. The "Bylaws of the Parent-Teacher Organization of Washington Montessori, Inc., A Public Charter School" are available from the PTO.

The working relationship between the Washington Montessori Public Charter School PTO, Head of School, and the Board of Trustees is an important component to the overall learning experience of our students. One key element in this relationship is the communication amongst the staff, PTO, and Head of School. School events and programs sponsored by the PTO on or off campus require the approval of the Head of School or designee.

The Executive Board of the PTO consists of the elected officers (President, President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer), the Room Parent Liaison (appointed by the President of the PTO), the Faculty Representative to the PTO (appointed by the Faculty), and the Head of School. The officers, Room Parent Liaison and Faculty Representative are voting members of the Executive Board. The Head of School is an ex officio member and votes in the event of a tie vote amongst the other voting members.

President: Creates agenda for and presides over monthly PTO Business Meetings and PTO portions of Community Meetings designated as general membership meetings for the purpose of budget approval and elections. Serves as an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees. Responsible for implementation of committee events and tasks.

President-Elect: Assists the President. Assumes responsibility of President the following year. Assumes President’s position if President resigns. Reports to the Board of Trustees in the absence of the PTO President.

Treasurer: Facilitates all money matters of the PTO, including making deposits and paying bills. Reports monthly to the PTO Executive Board (to include a written report) at the PTO Business Meetings and provides proposed budget (including options for the use of annual auction proceeds) for the Fall Community Meeting. Reports to the Treasurer of the Board of Trustees at his/her request.

Secretary: Keeps minutes of each PTO Business Meeting and each Community Meeting. Provides typed copies of minutes for approval at following PTO Business Meeting and distributes to appropriate parties. Keeps copies of agenda, minutes, treasurer’s report and other business items on file while in office and provides these to the school for permanent records. Responsible for meeting sign-in lists.

Room Parent Liaison: Assists room parents and teachers with classroom efforts and reports needs and issues to PTO if assistance is needed. Works with Volunteer Coordination and other committees to obtain the assistance of room parents and other volunteers for school-wide events.

Faculty Liaison: Facilitates communication between the faculty and the PTO. Reports on PTO activities at faculty meetings, coordinates faculty efforts with respect to PTO activities, and provides feedback from faculty to PTO at monthly PTO Business Meetings.

Administrative Liasion: Provides PTO with information regarding school policy and other factors that may affect decisions made by the PTO Executive Board. Provides forum for PTO news and information in the weekly Parents’ FYI. Reviews and approves all external publicity for PTO and school events.

Because parent involvement is essential to the school's success, each family is asked to work with at least one PTO committee and to support special projects. Each committee helps support our school in the best manner possible and needs the strong support of our parents. Much of the coordination with PTO committees occurs through our dedicated Room Parents. Let them know your interests and availability.

Auction (February 2010): Organize and implement the annual auction and dinner event to raise funds.

Beautification Day: Coordinates Beautification Day. Contacts school for list of tasks/supplies needed. Assigns volunteers to tasks, organizes materials needed, and supervises the completion of tasks.

Blood Drive: Organize annual blood drive at school. Coordinate education efforts for students.

Book Fair: Organize book fair fundraisers. Coordinate dates, materials, finances and volunteers. Chair also coordinates with faculty on how resulting funds/vouchers will be utilized.

Clothes Closet: Coordinates clothing donations and structure of clothes closet. Reports needs to PTO.

Communications/Public Relations: Assists Head of School in educating the public about Washington Montessori. Assists in coordinating external publicity for PTO and school events. All communications/public relations efforts shall be submitted for approval to Head of School.

Extra Outside Money: Researches and promotes funding opportunities from corporate/retail sources.

Hospitality: Organizes food and other items for school/PTO events. Works with Room Parents and other committees to obtain volunteers for school-wide events.

Kidsfest: Organizes annual Kidsfest fundraiser event. Coordinates with PTO Executive Board, teachers, room parents, school office, parents, and other volunteers. Coordinates entertainment, amusements, traffic control, food and beverages. Coordinates entertainment schedule with music teacher.

Washington Montessori holds Community Involvement Activities (CIA) each month. Watch the monthly FYI for dates and times. Parents are encouraged to attend these meetings (Community Meetings, Parent Education, Parent Conferences, Family Events, etc.).

The Community Meetings provide parents with an opportunity to meet with other parents and discuss issues facing our school, share ideas for new projects, receive information regarding activities, and ask questions about any school topic. The group of parents present that evening has the opportunity to add items to the agenda and determines the order in which the items are discussed. A member of the community is asked to volunteer to facilitate each meeting. Free Childcare is provided during these meetings.

The Parent Education Sessions are offered to assist parents in understanding the Montessori Method and how their child is learning with the Montessori Materials. As Montessori parents, you are key participants in your child’s learning process. In order for your child to benefit fully from the Montessori education, you should learn as much as possible about the goals and methods of Montessori education. Sessions may have a cost and a specific amount of openings. Sign ups are done through the Administrative Office.

Family Events include Donuts for Dads, Muffins for Moms, Family Appreciation Night, and KidsFest etc. All allow the parent and child to participate in something special together here on campus.

The following are examples of events and meetings that go toward your volunteer hours. Remember that every family signs a contract to commit 20 hours per academic year to WMPCS. It is really not hard to meet your hours when you consider all the opportunities that go toward your 20 hour total.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a Federal law, requires that Washington Montessori, Inc. A Public Charter School (WMPCS), with certain exceptions, obtain your written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from your child’s education records. However, WMPCS may disclose appropriately designated “directory information” without written consent, unless you have advised the school to the contrary in accordance with school procedures. The primary purpose of directory information is to allow WMPCS to include this type of information from your child’s education records in certain school publications. Examples include:

Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent. Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks. In addition, two federal laws require local educational agencies (LEAs) receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to provide military recruiters, upon request, with three directory information categories – names, addresses and telephone listings – unless parents have advised the LEA that they do not want their student’s information disclosed to military recruiters without their prior written consent.

If you do not want WMPCS to disclose directory information from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the school in writing. WMPCS has designated the following information as directory information:

« Student’s name

« Address

« Telephone listing(s)

« Electronic mail address

« Photograph

« Date and place of birth

« Major field of study

« Dates of attendance

« Grade level

« Participation in officially recognized activities and sports

« Weight and height of members of athletic teams

« Degrees, honors and awards received

« The most recent educational agency or institution attended

These laws are: Section 9528 of the ESEA (20 U.S.C. 7908), as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (P.L. 107-110), the education bill, and 10 U.S.C. 503, as amended by section 544, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 (P.L. 107-107), the legislation that provides funding for the Nation’s armed forces.

Parents have the right of access to their child's entire cumulative record kept at the school. Children do not have access to these records while they are minors. If you wish to see a record, please make the arrangement through the school office. You may also request a copy of your child cumulative record at the rate of $0.10 per copy. All requests for copies will need 5 days to process.

Note: Access is available to both natural parents regardless of their present marital status unless the school is otherwise directed by a court order. Besides parents, staff, and contracted services with a need to know, no one else is given this information.

Students are enrolled in a North Carolina Public Charter School by way of a lottery. Washington Montessori, A Public Charter School, accepts applications for all grades for the current school year and the upcoming academic year. Applications for the upcoming school years are accepted and held until noon on January 15^th, or the closest following weekday that is not a holiday, of each year for the upcoming academic year, when Washington Montessori Public Charter School holds its annual lottery. Any additional applications for the upcoming school year received after the lottery will be added to the waiting list in the order in which they are received.

Attendance at the private preschool is NOT a condition for acceptance into the charter school grades K-8^th. All kindergarteners are enrolled through the lottery and waitlist. All kindergarteners must be 5 years old by August 31^st of the school year to enroll. This is a state mandated deadline for enrollment.

At a public lottery applications are selected by grade. First, siblings of currently enrolled, registered and attending students are given available slots in the appropriate grade. If a slot in the appropriate grade is not available for a sibling, that child is put at the top of the waiting list for that grade. Each new student application is then randomly drawn. Once all available slots for a grade are filled, the remaining applications are drawn to determine their order on the waiting list for that grade. For example, if there are 35 slots available for Kindergarten and there are 5 siblings and 35 applications, the first 5 slots are filled by the siblings, then the first 30 applications drawn are assigned the remaining available slots. The remaining 5 applications are then drawn and occupy slots 1 - 5 on the Kindergarten waiting list. Currently enrolled students are not required to reapply or to partipate in the lottery. Each school year, prior to the lottery, parents of enrolled students are required to complete an "Intent to Re-Enroll" form to hold their child's slot for the upcoming school year.

Applications for the current and/or upcoming school years received after the annual lottery deadline are added to the wait list for the appropriate grade at the time they are received.

Slots becoming available after the lottery and during the first 20 academic days of the new school year will be filled using the waitlist. In order to allow the Montessori environment to “normalize”, no slots will be filled after this time unless deemed necessary to meet budgetary requirements. Enrollment after the first 20 days shall be determined by the Head of School and Administrative team with BoT notification.

Washington Montessori, Inc. does not discriminate against applicants or students on the basis of race, color, and national or ethnic origin.

Washington Montessori reserves the right to hold a slot open for a currently enrolled student who may be leaving the school for longer than 10 days but has the intention of returning. After 10 days, the state’s attendance tracking system requires a student to be recorded as a withdrawal. If the parent has expressed in writing to the Head of School the extenuating circumstances of this absence and his/her desire for his/her child to return to school on a specified date, the Head of School may approve or deny the request. The parent may appeal the decision of the Head of School to the Board. The Board’s decision is final.

WMPCS is committed to placing our students with the teacher and in the class environment best suited to meeting each child’s needs. The Faculty and Head of School spend a great deal of time each spring and summer making class lists for the upcoming year. If you would like for any special needs of your child to be considered during these discussions please put your thoughts in writing. Please do not request a specific teacher, but rather list teacher qualities that relate to the special needs of your child. WMPCS will place siblings in separate classrooms unless specifically requested by the parents and then ONLY if the Faculty and Head of School agree with that placement. Your input is always welcome, but ultimately, this is the decision of the Head of School.

If a parent requests for a child to be changed from one existing class to another within a level, the parent must first meet with the child’s current lead teacher to discuss the request. If both parties agree, the child’s name is then placed on a Request to Move list. If both parties do not agree, the Head of School will make the final decision regarding the placement request. When an opening is determined to be available in another class that could match this child and still maintain a balance of the various populations we serve, as defined by the AYP subgroups, the parent will be contacted and offered the opportunity to move. If the parent declines, the child’s name is then removed from the list and the child will remain in the original class.

Washington Montessori is committed to placing students equitably in the many classes available at each level. When placing students, the child’s current classroom teacher makes a recommendation as to the most appropriate teacher-child match. After the initial recommendations are made, all the teachers of a given level are brought together to review the recommendations. Classes are balanced to be sure an equal number of students from the various populations we serve, as defined by the AYP subgroups, are represented in each classroom.

Transferring students will be placed in the grade level recommended by the previous school. In the event a parent/guardian requests a grade placement other than the recommended level, the request must be accompanied by supporting documentation. After consideration of the request and documentation, the Head of School will make a grade placement. Should the student be placed in the grade level recommended by the previous school, the parent/guardian has the option of appealing this decision to the Board of Trustees. The decision of the Board of Trustees will be final. Should the Head of School make the requested change in grade placement, this placement will be conditional upon a progress review done at scheduled intervals within the first three months of the academic year.

The decision to retain/advance a student is one that requires much consideration. We believe that only in extreme circumstances should either be considered. When the question is raised, the child’s teacher, Exceptional Children’s teacher (when applicable), and Head of School will follow these guidelines:

ü Consider the physical size, chronological age and family support of the child.

ü Consult the child’s Individualized Education Plan when applicable to see if current interventions are satisfactory.

ü Determine what changes would be made in the child’s educational program and goals should the child be retained/advanced.

The decision to retain/advance ultimately lies with the Head of School. The parent has the right to appeal the decision to the Board of Trustees. The decision of the Board of Trustees is final.

Physical intervention may be used by staff at Washington Montessori as a last resort if a student becomes aggressive, physically harmful or dangerous to himself or another individual. Washington Montessori will follow the requirements set forth in the Deborah Greenblatt Act (House Bill 1032). A complete copy of the Greenblatt Act is available for review in the administrative offices at Washington Montessori. In the event that physical restraint or seclusion is used on a student, the parent of the student will be notified in writing as to the incident.

For grades K thru 12-15, students will be counted tardy if they arrive after the set arrival time.

All Kindergarten thru 8^th grade students who arrive at 7:30am will stay in the BASC room at no charge to the parent until they are dismissed to their classrooms at 8:00am.

When your child is unable to attend, a phone call to the school, letting us know your child will be out is requested. A written excuse is required of each student following an absence to be presented to the child’s teacher upon his/her return. Excused absences include illnesses or injury, (extended illness should be verified by a doctor’s note), quarantine, medical or dental appointments, court appearances, death in the immediate family, religious holidays/observances, and absence related to deployment activities. For all students enrolled at Washington Montessori, unexcused or unlawful absence is defined as any reason other than those listed as “excused or lawful absences.”

For your convenience, a school calendar is available in the administrative office and on the school website. This should help in planning vacations with little or no disruption to your child’s education.

The parent, guardian or custodian of the student is legally and primarily responsible for ensuring that the student meets his/hers obligation to attend 100% of the classroom instructional sessions provided for the class in which he/she is enrolled.

School attendance is mandatory by North Carolina State Law. When a child is tardy to school, instructional time is lost and academic performance is compromised.

Number of Tardies

Consequence

Five (5) unexcused tardies are the equivalent of one (1) “unexcused” absence. Only tardies with doctor’s or dental notes will be excused. Parents will be notified in writing when their child has accumulated 5 (five) tardies. Any additional absences accumulated due to tardiness will be reflected in the cumulative total of absences for the academic year.

Our mutual goal is to maximize your child’s educational progress and to provide an uninterrupted work cycle for the class. Please make every effort in the future to ensure that your child arrives at school on time. When your child is tardy you will need to sign him/her in at the main office before sending to class.

WMPCS understands that children do have to leave early sometimes during the academic day. However, when a child routinely leaves early, instructional time is lost and academic performance is compromised.

Please tune in to WITN or WNCT television stations for school closing or delay information. You may also view our website of up to date school closings: www.wmpcs.org

We urge you to schedule your child’s medical, dental and other appointments so that they do not conflict with class time. If it is necessary for your child to be absent for part of the school day, please abide by the following rules:

« When your child arrives late to school, escort him/her in and sign in with the administrative office. This will assure accurate attendance records are kept. When possible, send in a signed note from the medical or dental office.

« When your child needs to leave school early, please send a written note to the teacher indicating your intentions. The student must be signed out with the administrative office before leaving, a call will be made to the classroom to let the teacher know and the student will be released only to persons designated on the Emergency Contact Information Form.

« If the child returns to school after an appointment, escort him/her back in and sign back in with the administrative office.

« In order to be counted present, a student must be in attendance for ½ of the academic day.

Transportation to and from school is the responsibility of the parent. If a parent is unable to provide transportation, the school will attempt to arrange a carpool. If your child is in an existing carpool, please send a schedule of drivers, children, and days involved to the school. Any student who will depart from normal routine in his method of leaving school should have a written note from his parents stating this fact. Unless a note is received the child will be sent home by his usual mode of transportation.

Prospective students who are not currently enrolled in our school may be invited to spend a specified amount of time at Washington Montessori during the academic day to shadow a currently enrolled student. These arrangements are made in advance with the parents of the prospective student and administration.

Any other children who are not currently enrolled in our school may request the opportunity to visit our school. These visits must be approved in advance by administration. During any such visit, the parents of the children will be asked to remain on campus unless other arrangements are made in advance with administration.

Before and After School Care are services we provide to families at Washington Montessori. An application form must be filled out for each family. The cost, times, and policies are listed below. Please help us maintain this service by regarding these policies.

There is a one time registration fee of $25.00 per family due at the time the application is received in the office and also an annual supply fee of $25.00 per child is required.

Children attending the Before School Care Program must be escorted into the building. Children who regularly attend After School Care and those with notes or calls indicating they should attend After School Care are dismissed from class directly to the After School Care Program at the end of the school day. If your child does not regularly attend After School and you intend for them to use the service on a particular day, call ahead to notify the classroom teacher of this need and to provide the school with appropriate emergency contact information for your child (drop-in; per day charge will be incurred). Students not picked up from school 15 minutes after dismissal time, will be sent to the After School Program (drop-in; per day charge will be incurred).

After School Care closes at 6:00pm. Any student picked up after 6:00pm is subject to an additional fee of $5.00 added every five minutes for a maximum fine of $60.00 per day.

A snack will be provided by the program during After School Care at no additional charge. All children participating in the Before and After School Program must have an up-to-date list of emergency contacts on file with the Before and After School Care (BASC) Coordinator in the event a parent cannot be reached or does not arrive on time to pick up a child. Parents/guardians must also provide the BASC Coordinator with a complete list of people allowed to pick up their child from the After School Program (back of application). People not on this list will not be permitted to pick up the child. If a person not on the list is being sent to pick up the child, the parent/guardian must call ahead to add this person to the list. Parents/guardians and other listed persons will be asked to sign to indicate that they have picked up the child each day.

All fees for the Before and After School Care Program are due the Thursday prior to care for regular attendees. Per day charges for drop-in participants (arranged and unarranged) are due at pick-up from After School Care (or drop-off for Before School Care). Late pick-up fees are due at pick-up from After School Care. Payments may be made by cash (receipt will be provided) or by check (payable to Washington Montessori). If a check is returned for insufficient funds, all future payments must be made in cash and a $10.00 service fee from the bank will be added to the amount due.

If fees for regular attendees are not paid on time, the child will not be able to attend the program on the first day for which no payment has been received and no payment arrangement has been made (ie. Monday, if payment is not received the Thursday prior). If per day charges (arranged and unarranged drop-in participants) and/or late fees are not paid at pick-up from After School Care (or drop-off for Before School Care), the child will not be able to attend the program again until the fees are paid-in-full or payment arrangements are made. A written notice will be given to the person signing for the child at pick-up to notify the parents/guardians of the situation and the child will need to be picked up no later than 15 minutes past dismissal time each day until payment is received or payment arrangements are made.

Field Trips are an integral part of the Montessori curriculum which encourages students to explore and experience the world both close to and far from home. Parents will be notified, in advance of upcoming field trips. A permission slip detailing the date location and cost will be sent home approximately two (2) weeks prior to the trips. All Field Trips fees should be paid in cash. Parents will receive a receipt for cash received.

All field trips must have a stated educational purpose and must be directly related to information that is being studied by the students in the class.

Overnight field trips must have a complete itinerary that is available to Administration one month prior to the scheduled departure. The itinerary should include adequate activities and planning to clearly account for the time the students are away from school. Any changes to the approved itinerary must be approved by the Head of School. The itinerary must be made available to the parents as soon as it is approved by the Head of School.

Students who have not yet developed the ability to meet the behavior expectations outlined in the No Violence Policy and/or Student Behavior Policy on campus may be excluded from attending field trips off campus without his/her parent/guardian.

When classes plan field trips, the packages are all-inclusive unless otherwise stated. If the price of the trip includes the cost of the bus, the student is expected to pay the entire cost whether or not s/he rides the bus. If a parent chooses to drive his/her child separately and does not pay the total field trip cost, the student and parent will need to make separate arrangements to attend the rest of the field trip. If any tours are scheduled for the group or discounts given for the group, the student and parent will be excluded from participating.

On many field trips, siblings from different levels are invited to attend the excursion and parents may apply for an excused educational absence; however, there are other field trips that are specifically designed for students of a particular grade level. Parents are encouraged to check this with his/her child’s teacher prior to committing to attend the trip.

Field trips are an important aspect of your child’s Montessori school experience. We appreciate your interest and willingness to accompany us on these trips. Without you, they would not be possible!

Below are some guidelines we have developed to help ensure the trip goes smoothly and safely:

1. Supply insurance provider information form at least one day prior to field trip. Submit this form to your child’s Room Parent or classroom teacher.

2. Supply cellular phone number to teacher or room parent, if available, and keep phone with you and powered on throughout the field trip, unless otherwise required by field trip location (ie. theatres).

5. All children must be in seat belts, so you will only be assigned as many as you can accommodate in belts. No child can sit in the front seat if there is an airbag in the passenger side of the vehicle or if the child is under 12 years of age. Children under 8 years of age must be seated in an approved car seat or booster seat.

6. You will be provided with a list of the children for whom you are responsible. Keep it with you. Do a head count before departing the school and again before departing the field trip location. Never assume that a child has gone with someone else (parent, etc.).

7. Children should remain together on the way to and from the car. Special care must be taken in public parking lots. Be sure children stay in the car until you are ready to supervise them outside of the car.

8. The teacher may ask you to oversee the group during the activity. Be aware of safety hazards and supervise the children accordingly.

9. Be sure the teacher or assistant has arrived before letting the children out of the vehicle and into the field trip location or back at the campus.

10. Follow the directions to your field trip destination. It is important that all drivers follow the same route. DO NOT: detour from this route, take children to any other destination, or leave children unattended in a vehicle.

11. Remember, if you are transporting the children of others we ask that you provide them with a smoke free environment while they are in your vehicle. Some children have asthma and others have allergies that we do not wish to compromise.

12. Remember to have fun and share the joy and enrichment that field trips provide.

Please be sure to notify the teacher and teaching assistant for any inappropriate behavior.

The following colors are approved for shirts, turtlenecks, sweaters, sweatshirts, vests, tights, socks, pants, skirts, skorts, shorts, jumpers, and dresses: red, white, navy blue, light blue and khaki. The approved colors may be worn in solids or with a contrasting collar/cuff of another approved color. Emblems, designs, stripes or non-WMPCS logos of any kind are not permitted. Shirts must have a collar, may not expose the mid-drift, or be visually distracting to others. Sweaters and sweatshirts must be worn with a collared shirt underneath. Blue jeans are not permitted.

These colors are approved for shoes: red, white, black, brown, light blue or navy blue. Shoes must be closed toe and free of any emblem, design or logo in a contrasting color. Sandals, flip flops, and shoes with wheels are not permitted. Clogs, shoes with open backs, and shoes with only a strap across the back are not permitted for 3-6 or 6-9 classes. Shoestrings can be any color and are considered an accessory.

Coats and raincoats that are worn outside only may be any color. Please remember to write your child’s name inside sweaters, jackets, coats, etc.

Washington Montessori PTO organizes a clothes closet for any families needing uniforms or for students who may need to change during the day.

If a student violates the Uniform Policy, a note will be sent home explaining the violation. If the violation reoccurs, the student will be asked to change clothes. The parent may bring in a change of clothes or the student may wear something from the Clothes Closet.

In addition to the Uniform Policy for 3-6 and 6-9 students, older students are asked to adhere to the following guidelines:

· Shorts, skorts, skirts, jumpers and dresses should not be above the fingertips when the student’s arms are flat against his/her body and should not be visually distracting.

· Students may wear clogs and shoes with open backs. Flip flops or any open toe shoes are not permitted.

Washington Montessori believes in making the most of each academic day; therefore, each class will recognize major holidays in a manner that has educational value. For students in K-3 your child’s teacher will hold a traditional “Walk Around the Sun” on his/her birthday. This ceremony is a celebration of your child’s life and you may participate. (This activity is not designed to replace your child’s birthday party. You may bring a photo of your child from each year of his/her life. Please do not bring party favors or birthday cake). A healthy snack, such as trail mix or popcorn with juice or flavored water beverage, is a welcome to addition to the celebration.

Upon request school personnel will distribute invitations to birthday parties held away from school. Invitations will only be distributed if all children in the class are included. Please do not send invitations to school with your child unless all children in the class are invited.

The administrative staff of Washington Montessori sends out a FYI twice monthly to keep the school community informed of school wide events. This is available in hard copy or by email. Each class will send home class updates as needed. These are usually sent home on Mondays.

If you need to contact your child or your child’s teacher during school hours, please feel free to call and we will transfer you to the teacher’s voice mailbox. As we try to protect instructional time, we will only interrupt the class in case of emergency. Children will be allowed to call home for valid reasons such as sickness.

Ø Parents and visitors should always report to the school office directly upon entering the school. All non-staff personnel will be given a badge to wear while on school grounds or in the building.

Ø Keep your child’s Emergency Contact Information form on file in the office up-to-date with valid phone numbers, emergency contact persons and persons designated to pick up your child from school.

Ø Notify the school immediately of any potentially hazardous situation involving friends or relatives that may try to make contact with a child at school. Our only interest in knowing this very private type of information is for the protection of our students and staff.

Ø Make appointments for conferring with your child’s teacher. If we know who is coming in the building, the time they are coming and the nature of their business, we can do a much better job of preventing unauthorized persons from gaining access to your children or our staff members.

Ø When staying in a hotel, adult chaperones shall sleep in separate rooms from students; if it’s necessary for students to share a room with an adult, adults shall sleep in separate beds from students. No adult shall ever be alone with any one student.

Ø If, in certain cases, accommodations are restrictive, one chaperone is adequate per room, as long as any one adult is NOT alone with any one student.

Searches of student’s person or belongings are typically conducted when students are thought to be in possession of alcohol, drugs, drug paraphernalia, tobacco, weapons, or any inappropriate materials, or any missing or stolen items. School personnel need what the law defines as “reasonable suspicion” to search a student’s clothing or belongings. Reasonable suspicion is defined as information from a reliable source. In the event of a search, students will be taken aside, and in the presence of at least two staff members, be asked to empty their pockets, purses, bookbags, and/or other personal belongings. School personnel will not conduct strip searches. If a strip search is deemed necessary, the police will be called to conduct the search. Parents will be contacted in the event of a search involving their child.

In order to provide the students with a learning environment free from distractions, no electronic devices will be allowed in the classroom or on campus during the school day. This includes, but not limited to: cell phones, MP3 players, hand held video games, etc.

Washington Montessori does not permit that any child bring a weapon onto school grounds or any school sponsored activity. Weapon is defined as an actual weapon, any dangerous instrument, or an instrument that can be considered a dangerous instrument.

Washington Montessori will comply with state law 115C – 391. For those instances not prohibited by state law 115C-391, the child will be automatically suspended for 10 days pending a review by the Washington Montessori Board of Trustees. The child may not return to school until the Board of Trustees meets and determines the appropriate consequence for the violation. The consequence may include suspension, long term suspension, or expulsion. All absences accrued during this time are unexcused, unless deemed otherwise by the Board of Trustees.

A copy of state law 115C-391is available online at www.ncleg.net or in the school office.

“To let the child do as he likes when he has not yet developed any powers of control, is to betray the idea of freedom.” --Maria Montessori

At Washington Montessori it is important that the child clearly understand the rules and possible consequences for violating rules. Behavior must be managed by leading the child toward self-discipline. The Montessori method addresses the need to effect change towards positive behavior through lesson planning and teaching without spending unnecessary time responding and reacting to behavior problems. “The undisciplined child enters into discipline by working in the company of others; not by being told he is naughty.” (Maria Montessori) Discipline is, therefore, primarily a learning experience and less a punitive experience if dealt with appropriately.

In the Montessori classroom the teacher must clearly define the rules and then invite the child to assume responsibility for his behavior. Assuming responsibility for behavior is to understand and accept the consequences for violating the rules.

The purpose of our Student Behavior Policy is to aid children in developing self control and respect for the rights of others. Physical and verbal abuse will not be used. We need to help children without rejecting them as persons. Children need to understand why their behavior is considered inappropriate. All discipline will be based on the individual child’s needs and stage of development.

The children will be expected to conduct themselves in a manner respecting people and property. They will be given positive verbal reminders as necessary to encourage good conduct. They will be dismissed from the general activity area to a quieter place in the room when verbal reminders are not sufficient to change conduct, and they will return when good conduct and control are demonstrated. If in his actions a child puts himself, others, or property in jeopardy, he will be removed from the classroom.

Children who do not show respect for all living and non-living things at our school will be redirected. Parents will be asked for hands-on assistance, when necessary, in fostering this respect in their child(ren). As we teach the children to take responsibility for their actions, we shall give appropriate consequences.

1^st offense

Verbal warning.

2^nd offense

Redirection from the teacher modeling/teaching a more appropriate behavior. This shall be accompanied by a note home to be signed and returned. The teacher shall also call to elicit parent support in addressing the inappropriate behavior.

3^rd offense

The parent, child and teacher shall have a conference to discuss the inappropriate behavior.

If the inappropriate behavior continues, the parent, child, teacher and administration shall meet to determine an appropriate plan to help the child successfully follow the behavior plan. The child’s teacher, parent, and the school administration shall keep a copy of the plan developed at this conference.

Washington Montessori defines inappropriate language as racial slurs, profanity, and any other language that is meant to degrade, taunt or slander another individual. Should inappropriate language be used, the consequences outlined in the Student Behavior Policy shall be followed. Depending on the circumstances, the Head of School may determine that another consequence is appropriate that may include, but is not limited to, suspension from school.

Our student Behavior Policy addresses inappropriate behavior that does NOT involve intentionally attempting to inflict/inflicting harm on another person. Situations involving malintentioned bodily contact are handled under the No Violence Policy.

Inappropriate hugging, hand holding, kissing, and other similar physical contact is not permitted. The consequences outlined in the Student Behavior Policy shall be followed should a student violate this policy.

Sexual Harassment consists of behavior which includes any unwanted, unwelcome sexual advance or sexually oriented behavior made by a person who knows or who ought reasonably to know that such attention is unwanted. No one in our school community, which includes but is not limited to students, parents, faculty/staff (regular or contracted), maintenance workers, and custodian, shall engage in sexually harassing behavior towards another member of our school community.

Washington Montessori maintains a No Violence Behavior Policy as follows: Any violent act committed by a child will result in that child’s removal from school for that day. Therefore, when a child’s behavior, words and/or actions, becomes a threat to himself, other children, instructors, or the physical environment, the parent/guardian will be requested to pick up the child immediately and take him out for the rest of the day. If the offense occurs late in the day or if the parent/guardian does not pick up the child until late in the day, the child may be suspended from school for the following school day. Washington Montessori defines violent behavior as any intentional behavior that may cause property damage or physical or psychological damage to others.

Staff will utilize NC State Forms for Exceptional Children for documenting all behavior, consultations and evaluations. Washington Montessori will request a formal evaluation of a child’s behavior when documented behavior demonstrates a clear need for professional intervention.

Parents will be required to sign a copy of the No Violence Behavior Policy upon enrollment at WMPCS. Parents will be notified of any amendments to the policy in writing.

Students and families who are new to WMPCS may be unfamiliar with our definition of violent behavior and our consistent implementation of the consequences outlined in our No Violence Behavior Policy. Therefore, during the student’s first academic year at our school the Head of School may choose to issue a warning to the child for a violation of the No Violence Policy. If this decision is made the teacher will notify the family of the offense - both verbally and in writing. Our goal in this extension of grace is founded in our belief that the purpose of discipline is to teach.

Internet User Policy [Acceptable Use (Internet Safety) Policy, Access to Information Policy]

Washington Montessori Public Charter School (WMPCS) provides a network accessible by students, faculty, staff and others in the school community. This network connects computers in the school to each other as well as to the Internet, a global network connecting computers, networks and individual users around the world. Due to the global access the Internet provides, users (and parents of users under the age of 18) must understand that WMPCS cannot completely control the content of the information available. Users may come into contact with information or material that is controversial and possibly offensive. WMPCS believes the value of the wealth of information and resources available on the Internet far outweighs the possibility that users may encounter inappropriate material. WMPCS does not condone the use of such materials and therefore uses filtering software on all computers used by students to reduce the likelihood that inappropriate material will be accessed. The responsibilities accompanying freedom of speech and access to information will be taught to all students. Students will be taught to evaluate the information they encounter on the Internet for accuracy, usefulness, and appropriateness. Students will also be taught to respect the work of others, as they are in all other areas of our curriculum, including an understanding of Copyright Laws pertaining to material found on the Internet and in other sources as well as materials produced by their peers and other members of the WMPCS community. All persons who have access to the Network and Internet through the WMPCS system will be required to sign a Network/Internet Access Agreement Form (to be signed by parent or guardian if user is under the age of 18) and must understand that access will be withdrawn from users who do not respect the rights of others and/or do not follow the rules and regulations established by this Policy.

The purpose of this Policy is to increase the effective and efficient operations of WMPCS. Access to and use of the Network is intended solely to further the educational and institutional objectives of WMPCS.

WMPCS provides the network and access to the Internet in order to achieve the following goals:

« Enhancing the educational experience by providing access to resources for research and expanding knowledge.

« Supporting the development of critical thinking skills and promoting life-long learning.

« Enabling teachers to access resources for teaching and learning and to share resources and information.

« Supporting the integration of the Montessori Approach and the North Carolina Standard Course of Study into the teaching of technology skills.

Acceptable use of the WMPCS Network/Internet access is defined as using the school’s computer resources and Network in a responsible, efficient, ethical and legal manner. Use must be in support of the educational and institutional objectives of WMPCS. Transmission of any material in violation of any Federal or State Law or Regulation is prohibited. Access to information by students includes, but is not limited to:

« Information, news, and resources from libraries, online encyclopedias, educational institutions, government agencies, research institutions, businesses, individuals, and a variety of other sources.

« Distributing or creating political or campaign information outside the school curriculum.

« Downloading and/or installing software onto a school computer or the school server without permission of the Technology Coordinator or the Head of School.

« Distribution of virus warning or other mass-distributed e-mail messages (SPAM) within or outside the school community. Any virus warning messages should be forwarded to the Technology Coordinator for verification and no other action should be taken.

« Knowingly introducing or attempting to introduce viruses or other such agents into the Network or other networks.

« Disabling or otherwise altering/interrupting Internet Filtering software on a computer to be used by students without permission from the Head of School.

« Using the Network to access obscene, pornographic, or otherwise illegal materials or information.

« Using offensive language including disparagement of others based on their race, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, politics or religious beliefs.

« Using e-mail or the Internet to harass individuals or groups or to promote or instigate terror or violence.

« Participation by students in Internet chatrooms without adult supervision and/or without a discernable educational purpose.

Students should also be discouraged from sharing their personal information (address, phone number, birthday, etc.) including pictures through e-mail or the Internet. Students may only do so with permission from their parent/guardian and adult supervision.

WMPCS has installed filtering software (Cybersitter) on all computers used by students. This software is set to restrict access to certain types of material on the Internet including, but not limited to, pornography, gambling, illegal drugs, and criminal skills. The extent of filtering can be increased at the discretion of faculty and the Head of School

WMPCS expects all users to abide by the rules of etiquette on the Network/Internet. Network etiquette includes, but is not limited to:

« Be polite, using appropriate language – do not swear or use vulgarities or other abusive or inappropriate language. Rudeness is not acceptable

« Assume all communications and information accessible through the network is private property.

« Do not reveal the full name, personal address, e-mail address, or telephone number of any member of the school community without that person’s permission.

Students should not reveal their personal information to anyone on the Internet or by e-mail without the permission of their parent/guardian and adult supervision.

The use of the WMPCS Network/Internet Access is a privilege, not a right. Inappropriate use by employees may result in disciplinary action at the discretion of the Head of School and the Board of Trustees. Inappropriate use by students or other members of the school community can result in limitation or cancellation of user privileges and/or disciplinary action at the discretion of the Head of School. Legal action may also result if appropriate to the situation.

Users must understand that, although other uses of school computer and Network/Internet resources are acceptable in furthering the educational and institutional objectives of WMPCS, certain activities have priority. WMPCS expects a respectful environment of using/sharing of these resources among faculty, staff, students and other members of the school community.

Although WMPCS does not currently provide access to the Network from outside the school, certain users have e-mail and access to other resources (including portable laptop computers and/or dial-up access to the school’s internet service provider) that can be used outside of the school facilities. All of the rules and regulations stipulated in this Policy apply to use outside the school in the same way they apply inside school facilities.

WMPCS is not responsible for any damages suffered, including loss of data, resulting from delays, non-deliveries, service interruptions or inaccurate information. The user accepts personal responsibility for any information obtained via the WMPCS Network/Internet Access.

WMPCS attempts to restrict access to inappropriate Internet content, but cannot be held responsible for the possibility that inappropriate material/information may be accessed on occasion.

Electronic mail messages and other files stored on the server or Network computers are not guaranteed to be private; system operators have access to all mail and files. Messages or files relating to or in support of illegal activities will be reported to the appropriate authorities and legal and/or disciplinary action may follow.

Security on the WMPCS Network is a high priority. Attempts to tamper with programming or data on the Network, attempts to access the system under another person’s name, or sharing of passwords will result in cancellation of user privileges at the discretion of the Head of School.

Vandalism of the school’s computer network is defined as including, but is not limited to: altering, deleting, or utilizing another person’s files without that person’s permission; altering, deleting or utilizing files on the school server without permission from the Technology Coordinator or Head of School; installing software on a computer or the server without permission from the Technology Coordinator or Head of School; purposefully uploading, creating or transmitting computer viruses; or any other malicious attempt to harm or destroy equipment and/or data. Acts of this nature will result in cancellation of user privileges and/or disciplinary action at the discretion of the Head of School. Certain acts may also result in legal action.

Federal and State Law References: (Public Law 106-554 - Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA); 47 U.S.C. Section 254 - Universal Service; 20 U.S.C. Section 9134; N.C. G.S. 14-190.1 et seq.)

Students entering Washington Montessori must have a health assessment form. This assessment must include a medical history and physical examination with screening for vision and hearing. Legislation requires that the results be recorded on a special form PPS-2/K Rev. 12/99. It is the parents’ responsibility to secure the health assessment for their child from the local health department or from a private health provider.

Students entering Washington Montessori must also have a copy of their birth certificate and any other records the school may require. Students may also provide social security card number. They further must have the North Carolina required immunizations. North Carolina State law requires specific minimum doses which can be found at:

Children may become ill or get injured at school. When this happens, the school will contact the parent and the child will be subsequently released to his/her care. Working parents and those without telephones must provide the school with the names and telephone number of a person who can be contacted in case of emergencies. It is of the utmost importance that all parents update emergency numbers as changes occur.

Keep your child at home if he or she is sick. As a guideline, children should be kept home for the following reasons:

Ø Active cold with these symptoms: yellow mucus, fever, diarrhea, and/or nausea.

Your child should be free of any symptoms of an illness such as fever, diarrhea, rash or vomiting for 24 hours before returning to school. Please call the school between 8:00 AM and 8:30 AM to let the office know your child will be absent. The school also needs to know if your child has been diagnosed with a contagious disease or head lice so that other families can be warned.

Head lice infestations do not pose a health hazard, are not a sign of uncleanliness, and are not responsible for the spread of any disease. To better manage and to limit the spread of head lice infestations, school employees shall report all suspected cases of head lice to the school administration. A designee will discretely examine the student. An infestation shall be determined by looking closely through the hair and scalp for viable nits or live lice.

If nits are found but there are no live (crawling) lice on the hair, the parent/guardian shall be notified by the end of the day via telephone, email, and or note sent home with the student. If live lice are found, the parent will be notified to pick up the student immediately. To avoid misdiagnoses, nits should be removed by the parent/guardian. Staff shall maintain the privacy of students identified as having head lice.

HIV Policy
Schools may not discriminate against HIV-positive students or employees. Educational decisions regarding a student with HIV/AIDS and his/her placement in the program will be made on a case-by-case basis. Most students will be allowed to attend school since the risk of transmitting HIV in a school setting is negligible. School attendance by students who lack control of their body secretions, who display behavior such as biting, or who have medical conditions such as oozing lesions will be reviewed on an individual basis.

It is the intent of Washington Montessori to assist parents when they are unable to come to school to administer medication by giving needed medication to students so that the student may maintain school attendance.The student’s parents should make every attempt to administer needed medication outside of the school day. Prescription or over-the-counter drugs (cough medicine, asper-gum, inhalants, etc.) should be administered to students by parents outside of school hours except in unusual circumstances.

It is the parents’ responsibility to provide the following for any medication:

ü The physician’s written authorization for the school staff to medicate their child. Forms are available in the school office.

ü A written statement (pharmacy labels will be acceptable) or Medication Form signed by the physician.

Medication cannot exceed the expiration date and must be in the original container. The school will not be responsible for lost or spilled medications.

Under no circumstances will children be allowed to medicate themselves or be in possession of medication while at school, with the exception of RESCUE medication (ie., Albuterol, Epi-pen) as prescribe by physician.

A nutritious lunch (including drink) packed in a lunch box or bag is the responsibility of the parent. Occasionally we will have a special lunch (pizza, chicken, etc.) brought into the school. This is referred to as our Hot Lunch. Your child will have an option to participate or bring lunch from home. Milk or bottled water is available at a cost of $.50 each or $2.00 per week.

Children will need to bring a snack of nutritional value to school for the morning snack break. Some classrooms have programs for providing snacks to the children. Your child’s teacher will provide individual information if a snack program is available in the classroom.

Parents will be notified if their child is found to have tobacco of any form. Repeat offenders will be suspended from school for up to three days. Any students found smoking on campus will be suspended from school for three days.

If a student is using or carrying drugs, drug paraphernalia, unauthorized medicine or alcohol, the student will be suspended for ten days. This may be reduced to five days if the student and his/her parents bring a signed note from a mental health agency verifying their attendance at a counseling session on substance abuse.

Smoking is not allowed on the school premises by anyone at any time. We ask that parents/visitors adhere to this policy on workdays; at Board, PTO, Community Meetings; and on field trips, as well as when school is in session.

The day school students are held to the policies as stated in earlier sections of this handbook. Variations that apply only to Day School students are listed below.

The admissions process begins with a parent observation and tour of our school. Interested parents may then submit an application form along with a non-refundable application fee. Upon receipt of the application form and fee, you will receive a call from the director.

Your child must be 3 years old prior to the beginning date of the child’s attendance unless determined otherwise by day school administration. Your child must also be toilet trained prior to entering our program. We define toilet trained as a child who is trained to use the toilet independently, and is not dependent on pull-ups, for urination and/or defecation.

Washington Montessori Day School reserves the right to request withdrawal of any child if it becomes apparent that it would be in the child’s or school’s best interest to do so.

Parents are expected to sign a tuition agreement at the beginning of each school year outlining their tuition for that year.

· All other tuition payments are due on the 5^thof each month beginning September 5^th with final payments due May 5^th.

If you choose to pay one years tuition in full you will receive a $100 discount and the payment would be $2525.

If you choose to pay one years tuition in full you will receive a $100 discount and the payment would be $4525.

If you choose to pay one years tuition in full you will receive a $100 discount and the payment would be $5025.

*Payment for services provided by the Washington Montessori Day School will be accepted only in the form of personal check, cashier’s check, bank draft or money order. The canceled check or money order stub will serve as the receipt.

*There is a 5 day grace period for tuition payments. All tuition payments received after the 10^th will incur a $10 late fee. There will be a $25 check fee for returned checks.

*If payments are 30 days late then accounts will be turned over to the Washington Montessori Day Schools Board of Trustees and services will be suspended until the accounts are brought current

All Day School students will be dropped off and picked up at Building 1. Building 1 is the modular straight ahead of you as you enter the campus. It has PACO the crab located in the front.

If you arrive between 7-8 AM: Park in the parking lot and escort your child inside.

If you arrive between 8-8:30 AM: Use the drop-off/pick-up lane and your child will be assisted out of the vehicle by a teacher.

Departure Procedures: Early Pick up: Park and proceed to the office (building 1) and sign your child out. 12:30 Pick up: Park and proceed inside to your child’s class to pick up your child.

4:30 Pick up: Park and proceed inside to the Extended Day class to pick up your child.

Students scheduled to be picked up at 12:30 or 4:30 should be picked up on time. If not, those children will be sent to the Day School Extended Day class. There will be a charge of $15.00 for any child who is signed in regardless of the amount of time they are present.

Before School Care is available starting at 7:00am for any child enrolled in our day school program. Children attending the Before School Care Program must be escorted into the building. Children who do not regularly attend the Before School Program may use this service, however we ask that you send a note or call in advance so we can be expecting your child. There is no additional charge for this service.

After School Care is available to students whose regularly scheduled pick-up times are 12:30 or 4:30pm. The additional drop-in rate for this service is $15 per day. Please give early notice to your child's teacher and the Day School Director, Sandy Kennedy when you need to use this service.

After School closes at 6:00pm. Any students picked up after 6 will be subject to an additional fee of $5 for every five minutes late or a maximum of $60.00 per day.

Field trips are an integral part of the Montessori curriculum, which encourages students to explore and experience the world both close to and far from home. Parents will be notified, in advance, of upcoming field trips. A permission slip detailing the date, location, and cost of the trip will be sent home approximately 2 weeks prior to the trip. All field trip fees should be paid in cash. Parents will receive a receipt for cash received.

Day School students are encouraged to participate in all field trips. Occasionally, a field trip will be scheduled in the afternoon which may not be developmentally appropriate for preschool aged children; however, we try to be sensitive to the issue of including everyone, so this rarely happens.

We want field trips to be positive and safe experiences for our children therefore we have put the following guidelines into place:

o Young children are often apprehensive about trips. They don’t understand the principle of traveling without a person they are familiar with and are not always sure of where they are going. A parent or other responsible adult must accompany your child. This not only ensures your child’s safety, but if the day should prove to be too much, you will have the option of leaving. Please notify the teacher if you should choose to leave.

o If you or another responsible adult are unable to attend the trip, please let your child’s teacher know. Students who cannot attend the field trip will still have the option of attending school under the care of another teacher/sub.

o Follow the directions to your field trip destination. It is important that all drivers follow the same route.