|
|
|
|
2010-2011 School Year Calendar
School Policies:School DayThe school day for students begins at 8:20 a.m. and ends at 2:15 p.m. The line-up bell rings at 8:20 a.m. Students enter the building at 8:25 a.m. Classes start promptly at 8:30 a.m. Students should present a note from parents explaining all cases of tardiness. Students should not be on school property before 8:00 a.m. or after 2:25 p.m. unless they are supervised by their parents or participating in a supervised school activity. Promotion InformationAccording to the promotion policy (07-0926-PO1), students in grades 3, 6, and 8 are placed in one of six categories based on their results on the district wide assessment for reading and math, followed by a review of academic performance, attendance, and conduct. Students who do not achieve promotion criteria may be required to attend summer support programs. The Guidelines for Elementary School Promotion which were adopted by CPS on September 26, 2007, were distributed to teachers and parents. Extra copies may be available in the office or on the CPS website. Please be aware that students in grades 3, 6, and 8 are required to attend summer school if they have a “D” or “F” in Reading or Math, or have 9 or more unexcused absences, or are 8th graders that have a failing grade in writing and fail the district writing exam. A review of these guidelines are available on CPS' website at: https://www.cps.edu/Documents/Resources/elementaryschool_promotion.pdf HomeworkStudies indicate that students who spend more time on homework do better in school. They also score higher on standardized tests. While the schools are responsible for educating children, they cannot do it alone. Parents must work together with teachers to help children achieve their full potential. That is why parental involvement is at the heart of our homework policy. Parents must help their children succeed in school by becoming involved in their study habits. The following are daily suggested time allocations for teacher directed homework assignments by grade level:
Additionally, the following activities should be included in planning and structuring time for homework:
Student Code of ConductAppropriate behavior is necessary in order for instruction to take place. Every student received a copy of the Student Code of Conduct. The CPS Student Code of Conduct describes inappropriate behavior, prescribes equal disciplinary actions for misconduct, and suggests specific actions for remediation of prohibited behavior. Please read over the code with your child. Make sure that your child understands his/her responsibilities and the actions that will be taken when rules are not followed. Parents are expected to review the SCC with their children, sign the Receipt that is located in Appendix H of the SCC, and encourage their children to conduct themselves appropriately at all times. Students are also expected to sign the Receipt and exhibit appropriate behavior by observing school rules and Board policies. Please return your signed receipts by Monday, September 21, 2009. AttendanceRegular attendance at school is extremely important. Successful learning is directly related to coming to school every day. The basic responsibility for a student’s regular attendance lies with the student and the parent. Parents of children who are absent from or late for school should call the office (773) 534-3885 between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. We will try to reach parents who do not call the school to notify us of their child’s absence. A child returning to school after an absence must bring a note from a parent explaining the reason for the absence within two weeks of said absence. There are four acceptable causes for student absences: illness, death in the immediate family, family emergency, and observance of religious holiday. Students absent for any other reason or students returning without a note will be marked “truant” (absent without a valid cause) in the daily attendance. Students with 9 or more unexcused absences must attend summer school. The school will not provide the dates of each absence for the purpose of allowing parents to write 'excused for absence’ notes to avoid summer school. Parents may request homework for an excused absence when they call in the child’s absence. A message will be given to the child’s teacher. The school will attempt to have the homework books and assignments ready for pick-up in the office by the end of the school day. Included are the official CPS scheduled breaks for the 2009-2010 school year. Use these dates to schedule all of your family trips and vacations. It is extremely important that students are in attendance days for all school days leading up to, or immediately following these breaks. Absences for extended vacations will be considered unexcused. WINTER VACATION - Schools close at the end of the school day on Friday, December 18, 2009 and reopen on Monday, January 4, 2010. SPRING VACATION - Schools close for students at the end of the school day Friday, March 26, 2010 and reopen on Monday, April 5, 2010. Reporting AbsencesAll absences must be reported by a parent or guardian before school to the school office at 534-3885. An answering machine is available after-hours. A student who has been absent must bring a note signed by a parent or guardian upon return. The note must include the date, the cause of absence, a signature, and a phone number where the parent or guardian can be reached if more information is needed by school personnel. Arrival and DismissalSchool begins each day at 8:30 A.M. and ends at 2:15 P.M. It is necessary that students arrive and leave on time. Students should be in their room line by 8:20 a.m. The passing bell rings at 8:25 a.m. and classes start promptly at 8:30 a.m. The Chicago Academy is a closed campus. Children do not leave the premises for any reason once they arrive. This is for the safety and well-being of our children. Late ArrivalThe school day starts at 8:20 not 8:30 for students. Please have your children at school before 8:20. At the 8:20 bell, all students line up and are escorted into the school by their teachers. Students arriving after 8:20 may be marked tardy if they are not seated in their classroom by 8:30. The responsibility for prompt arrival to school belongs to the parent. Late arrivals will report to the security desk (first floor center hallway) for a tardy slip. Tardy arrivals to school will also be recorded and will appear on the student’s report card and student records. Remember, students with 3 or more tardies do not qualify for perfect attendance or incentives such as the ice cream social, raffles, or certificates. Class tardiness may be reflected in a student’s grade, and excessive tardiness may require referral to the appropriate administrator, as well as disciplinary action. Students with more than a few tardies will be issued a misconduct report for excessive tardiness. Early DismissalParents must come to the office to pick up their child. No child will be released from school without an authorized adult signing him/her out. An authorized adult is an adult that is identified as one of the emergency contacts on the student's emergency form. Reminder: All medical and dental appointments should be scheduled after school hours. Emergency InformationDue to the seriousness of emergencies which sometimes occur, it is imperative that the school has correct emergency information on file for each student. This information includes: · A correct home telephone number and address · The work telephone number of a parent · The telephone number of a relative or neighbor who lives within the school’s attendance area · The name of the family doctor Parents are required to complete emergency information forms each school year and to keep the information current. Students are released for early dismissals only to adults that are listed on the emergency form. Our primary responsibility is the safety and well-being of our students while they are at school. Medical InformationAll student medical information is confidential. Medical records must be on file at school in order to ensure our children's well-being. Special chronic conditions are noted by the school nurse who informs the classroom teacher. If a child becomes ill, the school should be notified promptly. Parents are responsible for informing the teacher or nurse of any allergies that a child has. This will ensure that proper treatment is provided for a child in case of an emergency. If your child has a serious medical condition speak with your child’s teacher and make sure he/she is aware of it. The school nurse is here on Mondays. Parents may call and schedule an appointment to come in and discuss their children’s medical needs with the nurse by calling the main office. Only those medications which are absolutely necessary for the critical health and well‑being of a student and to maintain the student, as determined by a doctor, in school shall be administered during school hours. If at any time it becomes necessary for your child to take medication at school, there are certain procedures that must be followed. The following is a brief explanation of the Board of Education's revised policy. This policy is designed to reduce the number of medications given in school, and at the same time, assure safe and therapeutic administration for those students who require them. If you would like a more detailed copy, please see the school nurse or principal. 1. Two forms must be filled out, one by the doctor and one by the parent. These forms state that the student, under supervision, can self‑medicate. This is necessary because there is not a nurse in the building on a daily basis to administer medication. 2. These forms will be given to the school nurse. If necessary, the nurse will confer with the doctor and/or parent to determine if the time of administration can be adjusted so that it doesn't have to be given during school hours. 3. If the student must take medication in school it will be brought to school in the labeled prescription bottle. This must be brought to the school by the parent, not the student. 4. The medication will be kept in a locked drawer or cabinet, as designated by the principal. The student will take the medication at the appropriate time under the supervision of the principal's designee. 5. The doctor's and parent’s request forms must be renewed whenever there is a change in the medication or on a yearly basis. 6. Medication will not be administered if the required forms are not supplied, if the parent refuses the school access to the doctor or medical records, or if the nurse and the student's doctor agree it is not medically necessary. 7. Medication may not be administered if the student continually refuses to accept medication, the parents fail to provide medication in the appropriately labeled container or refuse to deliver the medication to school, or there is an adverse reaction to the medication. VaccinationsVaccinations and vision examinations are required for all students who are entering the Chicago Public Schools for the first time. Other students are scheduled as follows:
* All Kindergarten, second, and sixth grade students are required to have a dental examination. Children must provide proof of required immunizations and health exams before October 15, 2009, or they will face exclusion from school. For detailed information, please visit the CPS website at: http://www.cps.edu/Programs/Wellness_and_transportation/Documents/MinHealthRequirements2009-2010.pdf Student DressStudents are expected to dress appropriately for school. For Gym, students should wear T-shirts, gym shoes, and sweat pants or shorts. For safety reasons, no clothes with zippers or buttons allowed. Items that students are prohibited from wearing include: • Black-hooded sweat jackets--no black “hoodies,” including those with other colors or designs printed on them • Sagging pants that hang below the waist • Any clothing that exposes the midriff, the back, or thighs • Short shorts or short skirts (no higher than two (2) inches above the knee) • Earrings on male students • Facial piercings • Makeup (only clear lip balm will be permitted) • See-through clothes • Leggings/tights (that are not covered by a skirt or loose fitting top, no shorter than two (2) inches above the top of the knee) • Tight clothes • Any clothing sponsored by or depicting alcohol or tobacco companies or products. • Hats, sunglasses, and jackets may not be worn inside the building • T-shirts with slogans in "poor taste" • Students are not allowed to wear gang colors or display gang signs • Tank tops and bandanas Finally, all clothing should be appropriate. Students who come to school inappropriately dressed will be sent to the main office. A parent will be contacted and asked to bring proper clothing or take the student home. If a parent cannot be reached the student will be given a warning letter stating this is a first offense. The second offense will result in an automatic suspension. The final judgment as to the appropriateness of dress and appearance rests with the administration. Our goal is to eliminate any distractions from student learning. We believe that this dress code will result in a better education for our children at Chicago Academy. Nutrition ProgramEligible students may participate in a federally funded breakfast and lunch program. Students may be eligible to receive free or reduced meals. Parents must apply at the beginning of the school year. It is very important that every student returns a completed lunch form as soon as possible. We realize that proper nourishment is vital to the physical and mental development of our children. If a child is not eligible to receive free or reduced lunch, he/she may bring their own lunch or may purchase a lunch for $1.60. We encourage parents to use their discretion and good sense in preparing a healthy well-balanced meal. Candy and soda are not part of a well-balanced meal and are not permitted. Breakfast will be served from 8:00-8:15AM daily. Lunch is served for K-8th grade classrooms between 10:50 a.m. and 11:50 p.m. Lunch costs are as follows: Breakfast-Full- $1.60, Reduced- $0.40 Parent ConferencesParents are encouraged to schedule a conference with their child’s teacher whenever they have questions or concerns about their child’s progress. A conference request may be made by sending a note or email to the teacher. Teachers will respond to the request and a mutually agreeable conference time will be arranged. Generally, parents should make a request at least one day in advance of a desired conference time. Parents are asked not to try to speak with their child’s teacher during school hours (8:15 – 2:15). Parents coming to school for a parent-teacher conference must report to the school office before proceeding to the teacher’s room.
Parental ConsentStudent participation on field trips is reliant upon parental consent. Parents are required to sign a consent form, which releases the school from liability in case of an accident during a field trip. The school is acting in good faith and the safety and well-being of our students is our primary concern. Disruptive students will not be permitted to accompany their classes on field trips. Parents are also asked to sign the Media Consent Form. This form allows students to have their pictures displayed in the school newsletters, and some of their work published on the school’s Internet site: www.chicagoacademy.org. Your anticipated cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated. Download a Student Media Consent Form in English here. To find a Media Consent forms in other languages visit this link. Food dispensed to children in schools must be prepared by facilities inspected by Health Department Personnel. The dispensing of food products prepared in private homes is an unacceptable practice. Please see an administrator if you have any questions about what food is acceptable to give to children at school. Parents must make arrangements with teachers before sending food to school. Additionally, we have a number of students with nut allergies. Parents should refrain from sending food items that contain nuts or were processed on machinery that also processed nuts to avoid allergic reactions. In this era of health consciousness, it has been deemed necessary and appropriate to prohibit certain junk food items from our cafeteria. For the 2009-2010 school year, in an effort to prevent students from overindulging, students are limited to a single-size bag of chips and a "fun-size" candy bar. Students may not bring soda pop or other carbonated beverages (including energy drinks), full-size candy bars, or large bags of chips. School fees are an integral part of ensuring that our teachers and students have the supplies and tools they need for teaching and learning. Unfortunately, school budget challenges require our school to assess a $25 student fee to offset the cost of consumable materials. Students use these items during the school year. All items are necessary. Please send the total fee(s) by the end of next week: Friday, Sept 12, 2008. Payment can be made in cash or by check to Chicago Academy. Payment must include student names and room numbers. No student will be denied materials because of financial hardship. Determination of financial hardship will be made upon completion of a Student Fee Waiver Form. These forms are available in the office. Safe Passage to and from School The most dangerous part of a child’s day is going and coming from school. Here are some safety tips that all Chicago Academy families should discuss with their children. For children walking to school: · Stay alert at all times while walking. Accidents happen most often when we are not paying attention. · Parents need to designate the safest route. Children must always follow the designated route to school. Stay out of alleys and stay away from abandoned buildings. · Never talk to strangers. Never accept rides from strangers. If someone you don’t know offers you a ride, run away from him/her. Run where there are other people. When you get home, tell your parents what happened. · If a stranger tries to grab you, fight and yell, “Help! This is not my Mommy (Daddy)!” · Look for and obey traffic lights. Cross the street only when the sign says WALK. If there is not a WALK/DON’T WALK sign, then cross only on the green light. · Especially watch out for cars making right turns on a red light. · Always look both ways before crossing the street – look left, look right, look left again – then proceed carefully. · Never run across the street; if you fall, you might not be able to get up in time. WALK. · Always cross the street at the corner. Don’t cross in the middle of the block or walk between parked cars. · Wear bright reflective clothing, especially during the winter months. · Pay attention to traffic sights and sounds. Don’t wear headphones on the way to school. For students riding a school or CTA bus: · While waiting at the bus stop, stay at least six feet from the street curb. · Never walk behind a bus or cross within ten feet of the front of the school bus. · Stay in your seat at all times, and to avoid falling, only get up after the bus has come to a complete stop. · Always listen to the directions of the bus driver. · Always be quiet on the bus when it stops at railroad crossings. · Keep the aisles clear at all times and help keep the bus clean and safe for everyone. · Never throw anything out of the bus window and always keep your head, hands, and arms inside the bus. For parents driving children to school: · Obey all traffic safety rules. · Drivers must never block crosswalks. (Police enforcement) · Drivers must not double-park. (Police enforcement) · Drivers must have children enter and exit cars from curbside doors. · Do not unintentionally cause problems by blocking traffic, getting in the way of school buses, or by dropping children off in the middle of the street or on the side of the street opposite to the sidewalk of the school entrance. Be patient and exercise caution. | ||||||||||||||
