Downey Elementary
School Handbook

"Working together for creative, responsible, and productive children."

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,
At Downey Elementary School we believe in order for our students to be successful, parents and school staff must work together. When we are united in our efforts in the best interests of children, we can be a very positive influence for students, families, and the community at large. The principal and staff at Downey Elementary are committed to establish and maintain positive working relationships between the school and the home.

We also understand that when students walk through the doors of our school, you as a parent/guardian, are entrusting us with the most precious of all resources; your own children. We take our responsibilities very seriously in this regard. If you have any problems or concerns about your child's education, please contact the school early on so together we can work out the best solution.

Thank you for placing your trust and confidence in our school and staff. Our challenge is to foster successful academic and social development in each and every child. We pledge the very best effort toward that end.

Daily Schedule
7:55 Doors open
Breakfast is served in the lunchroom.
8:15 1st bell
8:20 School begins
12:10-1:05 Lunch and recess
(Time differs within this time span per grade level)
4:05 School dismissed
4:08 1st bus departs
4:30 2nd bus departs
4:35 3rd bus departs

Mission Statement
Our mission is to teach all students the basic skills they will need to succeed in their further education, to enjoy learning, to be confident, to be responsible productive citizens, and to develop basic values of integrity, tolerance, and respect for others.

Attendance
Regular attendance is vital to a student's good performance in school. Please call the school by 9:00 a.m. on a day your child is absent. Teachers need prior notice to prepare homework assignments for absent students. Lessons may be picked up after school at 4:00 p.m.

According to board policy (501.1) parents are to meet with the school attendance committee if a student has missed 14.4 days of school during the school year. Retention may be considered if the student's absences have had a detrimental effect on his/her academic performance.

The school district provides a homebound teacher for students who (under a doctor's recommendation) cannot attend school for an extended period of time (10 days or more). Parents may contact the school secretary for eligibility requirements.

Testing
The school office maintains a record of all results of testing required by the state which includes the ISAT, IRI, Direct Writing and Direct Math Assessments. Results are available upon written parental request.

Reporting Pupil Progress
Progress reports (report cards) are sent home every nine weeks. Student reports include information about your child's progress in academics, conduct, and effort. Students are evaluated in relationship to their ability. The progress reports should not be considered a total reporting of your child's achievement. We encourage you to contact the school at any time for information about the academic growth of your child.
Student grades are also available on Power Grade. Passwords are available for access.
Grades are based on classroom grading formulas and may include test scores, daily work, extra credit assignments, homework assignments, and display of effort.
90-100 -------- A
80-89 ---------- B
70-79 ---------- C
60-69 ---------- D
59 or Below - F
Physical Education (PE) and Fine Arts are Pass/Fail.

Homework
School is a child's work. Since students work 5.5 hours during the school day, our philosophy is to give a limited amount of homework. Exceptions are special projects and work that is not completed at school. Homework encourages a good work ethic, personal responsibility, and growth in academic achievement.

Promotion of Students
Student retention or promotion decisions are made by the principal in consultation with the teacher and parent. Academic, social, emotional, physical characteristics, and the attendance record of the student is taken into account in reaching decisions to promote or retain.

Textbooks
Textbooks are provided free of charge for all students. Students MUST accept responsibility for their care and safekeeping. Compensation for lost or damaged books is expected.

Psychological and Social Services
Psychological services and testing are available to students through the Marsh Valley School District #21 office upon referral and parental consent.

Special Programs
Downey Elementary School receives funding through the Title I Program. This program provides an instructor to assist identified Title I students achieve targeted gains in specific academic areas.
Downey Elementary School receives funding through IDEA 1997 and has established a resource program to assist learning disabled students in reaching academic and behavior goals as mutually agreed upon by parents, teacher, and appropriate service providers. Parents may refer their child to be considered for this program by submitting a referral to the school office.

Media Center
The Downey Elementary School Media Center is centrally located in the school making it easily accessible for all classrooms. The Media Center has multimedia computers with Internet connections to assist students in doing research projects. The Media Center provides electronic encyclopedias along with reading, writing, science, and math programs for student use. Each classroom is equipped with a video monitor, a VCR, and several multimedia computers also with Internet access.

Computer Lab
Downey Elementary has a computer lab with Internet access where students work on assignments and projects. Every student working in the lab MUST abide by the technology contract signed by the parent/guardian and the student to assure appropriate use of school computers and the Internet.

Presidential Academic Excellence Award
This award is presented to sixth grade students who have demonstrated academic excellence during their fourth and fifth grade years, and the first semester of sixth grade. To receive this award, students must maintain a 3.5 GPA for this period of time and score in the 85th percentile on either the reading or math sections of the ISAT test. This is a district-wide awards program and certificates are presented at an awards presentation program during the month of May.

Student Discipline
General Building Rules
Students will:
1. Use appropriate language.
2. Keep hands, feet, objects, and rude remarks to themselves.
3. Walk quietly in the building.
4. Follow the directions of the school staff.
Playground Rules
Students will:
1. Play in designated areas.
2. Use only approved balls and equipment on the playground.
3. Use ALL playground equipment safely.
4. Avoid tackling or any other form or rough play.

Lunchroom Rules
Students will:
1. Enter the lunchroom quietly.
2. Use quiet voices.
3. Sit while eating.
4. Use good table manners.
5. Clean up their table area when finished eating.

Bus Rules
Students will:
1. Obey the driver.
2. Talk in quiet voices.
3. Keep hands, feet, head etc. in the bus.
4. Will NOT throw or hand any item out of the bus windows.
5. Stay in the seat while the bus is moving.
6. Walk in front of the bus when it is necessary to cross the street when getting on or off of the bus.
7. Keep hands, feet, objects, and rude remarks to themselves.
8. Remain on the school sidewalk until the bus comes to a complete stop and permission is granted to board the bus.

Level I Rules and Violation Procedures
All students are expected to be courteous and respectful to others, to play fair, take turns, and to follow the rules. When students fail to comply, they will be verbally corrected. In the event he or she continues to be non-compliant, they will be referred to the classroom teacher for discipline. In the case of a playground violation, the child will be removed from play for a time out period and his/her teacher will be notified via documentation on the recess incident report. Discipline may include loss of the next recess, time out in class, time out in another classroom, or loss of recess privileges for a specified time period.

Level II Rules and Violation Procedures
Students are expected to be honest and show respect towards each other and all adults in the school at all times. Failure to do so will result in Level II Rule violations. Examples of Level II violations include the following: Lying, cheating, being disrespectful to adults or other students in school, use of profanity or obscene language, bullying, teasing, shoving, name calling, fighting, etc.
Discipline procedures for Level II Rule violations are as follows:
1. The classroom teacher will investigate the facts concerning the incident and confer with the building principal.
2. The building principal may inform the parents and convene a conference with them to formulate a plan to eliminate the inappropriate behavior.
3. The building principal may assign consequences such as suspension, loss of a privilege, or work detail.

Level III Rules and Violation Procedures
The following types of student conduct, while under the supervision of the school, on or off of the school grounds, will constitute a Level III violation:
1. Willful disobedience or failing to comply with direct and reasonable directions of a staff member.
2. Extortion by means of force or threat to obtain money or property from another student.
3. Intimidation of any person with threat of bodily harm.
4. Disruption of school related activities by depriving others of the use of school buildings, school grounds, or parts thereof through violence, force, noise, threat, passive resistance, or other conduct, which interferes with educational activities.
5. Causing or attempting to cause damage to school property or private property.
6. Stealing or attempting to steal.
7. Intentionally causing, attempting to cause, or behaving in such a way as to cause physical injury to any student or school employee.
8. Truancy
9. Possession, handling, or exhibiting any object, which may be considered a weapon or dangerous plaything.
10. Any action that would threaten the health, safety, and well being of students, teachers, employees, or parents.
11. Possessing, using, or being under the influence of any drug, illegal substance, alcohol, tobacco, or any intoxicant of any kind.
12. Possessing or distributing pornographic materials.

Level III discipline procedures will proceed as follows:
1. The classroom teacher will investigate the facts concerning the incident and notify the building principal.
2. The principal will interview the student concerning the incident.
3. The principal will contact the parents (and any government agencies if necessary) by telephone or letter and assign any combination of the following consequences.
a. work detail
b. loss of recess
c. loss of privileges
d. reimbursement
e. detention
f. suspension out of school
g. suspension in school
h. refer to superintendent for expulsion
i. referral to Bannock County Sheriff
j. referral to Juvenile Justice

Inclement Weather
Any school schedule changes due to snow, ice, flooding, etc., will be announced by the superintendent's office. When severe weather is threatening, watch Channel 6 television for information on school closures, delayed openings, or early dismissal.
The school staff has organized a communication (calling) tree and will attempt to notify parents/guardians by telephone.

Telephone Messages
The school telephone is answered between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Messages to teachers or students will be placed in the teacher's mailbox. Only in an emergency will a teacher or student be called to the phone during class time.
Students will be allowed to use the telephone during the day with written permission of the classroom teacher.

School Visitation
For the protection of the students and the integrity of the instructional program, all visitors are to sign in at the school office. Please, do NOT go directly to your child's classroom. Visitors will be issued an identification tag (ID badge) to wear while in the school.
Anyone who may need to deliver an article to a child is requested to leave it at the office so it may be delivered at an appropriate time without disrupting the class.
Parents are encouraged to visit school frequently and actively participate in the education of their child. We request that parents avoid conferring with teachers during such visits, but rather schedule a conference at a mutually acceptable time.
Children who are NOT enrolled at Downey Elementary School will NOT be allowed to attend school with a friend or relative who is enrolled.

Sickness/Medications
Occasionally students become ill. When this situation interferes with learning or is infectious to other students, parents should keep their child at home.
If a child requires a prescription medication during school hours, the medication MUST be turned in to the office with a permission form signed by the parent and the attending physician. (Forms are available at the school office.) No medication will be dispensed without written permission.
Prescription medications MUST be brought to school in the original container showing the pharmacy name and the prescription number. School staff can NOT dispense any over-the-counter medications.
Only approved staff members will be allowed to administer prescription medication. A second staff member will witness the administering of the required medication.

School Dress and Grooming
Students shall dress in a manner that shows respect for the educational environment and is befitting the day's activities. Student's clothing and jewelry must not present a health or safety hazard, a distraction to the learning process, or interfere with or disrupt the school's educational mission.
Disruption is defined as reactions by other individuals to the clothing, hairstyle, or adornment, which cause the teacher/administrator to lose attention of the students, to modify or cease instructional activities, or to deal with student confrontations or complaints.
The following definitions apply:
1. Personal items such as clothing, paraphernalia, jewelry, backpacks, fanny packs, gym bags, water bottles, etc., shall be free of writing, pictures, or other insignias, which are crude, vulgar, profane, violent, or sexually suggestive.
2. Items which bear advertising, promotions and likenesses of tobacco, alcohol, or drugs, or which are contrary to the educational mission of the school shall not be allowed.
3. Hair, which is so conspicuous, extreme, or odd in color or style that it draws undo attention, disrupts, or tends to disrupt or interfere with the learning atmosphere at the school, shall not be allowed.
4. All students shall wear clean clothing. Clothing, jewelry, accessories and piercings which are so conspicuous, extreme, or odd that they draw undue attention, disrupt, or tend to disrupt, interfere with or pose a health or safety issue to the learning atmosphere at the school shall not be allowed.
5. Students shall not wear clothes that are mutilated, cut off, or immodest, e.g. short shorts, mini-skirts, bare midriffs, halter-tops, spaghetti straps, tank shirts, pajamas, or similar clothing.
6. Clothing shall cover the midriff, underwear, backs, shoulders, and cleavage at all times. Skirts, dresses and shorts must be at least mid-thigh length or longer when the student is seated.
7. Hats or headgear of any kind are not allowed within the classroom except as part of an approved activity, or for religious or medical purposes.
8. Gang related clothing, colors, and paraphernalia shall not be allowed at school or school activities. School officials will determine what constitutes "gang" clothing, colors, and paraphernalia after consultation with law enforcement agencies as needed.
9. Shoes shall be worn at all times to ensure personal safety and hygiene.

Weapons Brought to School
Marsh Valley School District #21 policy has a "zero tolerance" statement for weapons brought to school by students. Students are NOT allowed to bring any type of knife, gun, etc. to school.

Personal Possessions
Students are not to bring personal items to school such as toys, cell phones, electronic devices, etc. The school will NOT accept responsibility for breakage or loss. Roller blades and skateboards are NOT allowed at school.
Clothing such as coats, sweaters, sweat shirts, etc., should be plainly marked with your child's name.
Students who choose to ride bicycles to school are NOT to ride them on school grounds. Bicycles are to be kept in the school bike rack during school hours.

Student Fees
Students are required to pay an annual fee of $10.00 for student assemblies. This fee is due at the beginning of school and is payable at the school office.

School Lunch program
Downey Elementary School offers both a breakfast and a hot lunch and an afternoon snack program for students. Parents may arrange to eat school lunch with their children by calling the school before 9:00 a.m. Free and reduced meal programs are available to all eligible students. Applications can be obtained at the school office. For information regarding current meal costs parents/guardians should contact the school secretary.
A free breakfast and afternoon snack are provided for ALL students each morning in the lunchroom.

School Records
A copy of the student's immunization record and birth certificate must be placed in each student's cumulative record. Parents/Guardians may view the file upon written request.