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Handbook
Lakeview Elementary School
Ridley School District
333 Constitution Ave
Ridley Park, Pa 19078
2003-2004
Ridley Park Map
Dr. Barbara C. White, Principal
Phone 610-534-1900
Extensions
Office 1444
Nurse 1441
Library 1449
Attendance 610-461-6564
Fax 610-237-8013
The faculty and staff of Lakeview Elementary School welcome you and your family. We will do our best to offer your child the best possible education, and we will strive to make that education interesting and stimulating. We ask for your support and we ask that you will be an active participant in your child's education. This handbook has been carefully prepared and presented in order that students and parents may know and understand the policies and practices of Lakeview School.
If there is anything we can do to help your child, please do not hesitate to call. The unvoiced problem cannot be resolved, as the missed opportunity rarely offers itself again. Our goal remains to provide the best possible education for each student who attends Lakeview Elementary School.
The seven elementary schools in Ridley have implemented the C.L.A.S.S. (Connected Learning Assures School Success) model school program which includes a philosophy of establishing a safe, trusting environment.
Lakeview holds a schoolwide Monday Morning Meeting where we introduce lifeskills and celebrate achievements.
Lakeview also continues to promote its bullying prevention program which was initiated in 2002-2003.
We advocate the involvement of parents and families in their children's education and relationships between home and school that will enhance your child's education. Family involvement encourages student achievement and other positive attitudes and behaviors that increase success in school.
Getting involved in your child's education can be as simple as reading with your child, listening to your child, and supporting their efforts to learn. You are also expected to do the following:
a) Attend school meetings
b) Volunteer at Lakeview. Help is always welcome!
c) Attend all conferences
d) Read all newsletters sent home
The School Day
Kindergarten
Morning 8:40 - 11:25
Afternoon 12:15 - 3:05 except Wednesday 2:15 dismissal
Grades 1-5
All Day 8:45 - 3:05
Wednesdays 8:45 - 2:15
Lunch
First 11:25 - 11:50
Second 11:55 - 12:25
The School Laws of Pennsylvania classify all absences as unexcused or illegal except for the following reasons: illness of the pupil, death in the immediate family, quarantine and "exceptionally urgent reasons that affect the child."
Absences
If your child is going to be absent, please call the Lakeview Attendance Line's Voice Mailbox so that we know the whereabouts of all our students. The number is 610-461-6564.
There is a late sign-in book in the office. We encourage all those who are late arrivals to sign in at the office and receive a pass before proceeding to their classrooms.
When a child is absent (or late) we must have a note from the parent explaining the cause of the absence. It is to be sent in on the first day the child returns. This is a state requirement. After an extended absence a certificate may be required from your physician for your child to re-enter school. Please check with the school nurse. 610-534-1900 ext. 1441
Parents who request an early dismissal for urgent personal reasons must send a written request to the child's teacher. To insure your child's safety, children will not be released to other adults without the written permission from the parents or legal guardian. The person checking the student out must sign him/her out in the office. We appreciate your cooperation in helping make our schools the safest possible environment for your children.
Admission to the Building
On clear days, students will form lines and enter the building at 8:40 A.M. Students who report to the classroom after 8:45 A.M. are recorded as tardy. Students are urged to time their arrival close to 8:40 A.M. Parents are asked to say good-bye to children outside the building and refrain from entering the school hallways. Morning supervision begins at 8:20 A.M.
Parents are urged not to send their children to an unsupervised playground prior to the start of the school day.
Announcements relative to the closing of schools due to inclement weather will be broadcast over all the major radio stations and television networks between 6:00 A.M. and 8:30 A.M. School districts will be referred to by number code rather than by name.
A note from Mrs. Jones - you can sign up for EMail notification of school closings at NBC10.com by clicking on the logo.
Ridley School District's code number is 453 in Delaware County.
In the event there should be an early dismissal due to inclement weather, emergency plans are organized in September by the principal with the assistance of Homeroom Parent Leaders. We ask that you keep all of your phone numbers current with the office and your child's teacher.
Cafeteria Services
Lakeview School has a federally funded breakfast and lunch program.
Students who wish to participate in the breakfast program should enter the school between 8:00 and 8:30 A.M. and go directly to the cafeteria to purchase their breakfast.
Lakeview School has a closed lunch program and students must either bring a home packed lunch or purchase lunch from the cafeteria. Milk may be purchased separately. We ask that you do not send carbonated beverages (soda) in cans or bottles. The daily menu listings are advertised each month and distributed to students. The Lakeview Home and School Association posts the monthly menu on their website.
Bicycles
Children in grade five ONLY are permitted to ride bicycles to school. The heavily traveled streets in Ridley Park dictate this policy. One unsupervised storage area is provided on the lower playground, therefore, a suitable lock should be used. The school cannot assume any liability for loss.
Clothing
Ridley School District has adopted a uniform policy. The uniform consists of khaki or black pants, shorts, skort, skirt or jumper and a white or dark green polo shirt with a collar. Shirts must be tucked in.
Each class will have 2 Gym periods each week. If you do not want your child to wear his/her uniform on gym days, he/she may wear dark or stone colored sweatpants and a white or dark green uniform shirt. Sneakers must be worn for Physical Education classes. Open toed sandals are not acceptable school attire.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
During the school year, parents will be invited to meet with their child's teacher for an individual conference. Parents are invited to arrange conferences at any convenient time during the year.
Homework contributes to the development of independence and responsibility on the part of the student. Students are given homework based upon their ability and the educational program to which they are assigned.
The amount, length, and type of homework will vary according to the individual needs of your child. The Ridley School District has designated the following minimum amounts of time to be spent four days per week:
K 10 minutes of parent review of papers sent home
1 & 2 15 to 20 minutes
3 & 4 20 to 30 minutes
5 30 to 60 minutes
If your child is spending unusual amounts of time on homework each night, he/she may be experiencing some difficulty and it would be advisable to contact his/her teacher.
Assignments will not be sent home during an illness until the child has been absent more than three days.
Student Safeties
Boys and girls in the upper grades assist the faculty in providing for the safety and general welfare of the student body. These students become leaders by developing in themselves the qualities of leadership, obedience, loyalty, and good citizenship. Parents should teach their children respect for student government.
Peer Mediation
Peer mediation is a program where students help students resolve conflicts. It is a process by which students act as mediators to resolve disputes among themselves. Peer mediation programs start with the assumption that conflict is a natural part of life that should be neither avoided nor allowed to escalate into violence. Although students primarily carry out peer mediation, a few teachers have volunteered to be involved in the training and facilitation of the program. A teacher is always present at the peer mediation session.
Approximately 16 students from Lakeview's fourth and fifth grades are selected and trained to be peer mediators. This program is offered to students when a conflict arises. We are one of the first elementary schools in Delaware County to start this type of program.
Accident Insurance
Group accident insurance protection for all pupils is available at a very low cost per pupil. We strongly urge each parent to take advantage of this excellent protection. The plan provides liberal benefits for children injured at school on the playground, going to, or coming from school or while transported to or from a school sponsored activity.
Early in the school year parents receive a premium envelope and information concerning this plan. Further information covering this policy and forms for making claims may be secured from the principal's office.
Children in grades 4 and 5 are required to have proof of some form of accident insurance in order to participate in intramurals.
Student Photographs
Each child is photographed in a single pose in the fall for the school record. Photo packages are also available on a prepaid basis and are guaranteed. Students are also photographed with their classes in the spring.
Lakeview publicizes various events and activities in local newspapers, district cable, and other news media. A form will be sent home at the beginning of each school year for you to complete if you do not want your child's picture to appear in the local press or media. These forms are kept on file in the office.
Other Special Activities
The school, with the support of the Home & School Association, raises funds for activities in which children participate such as Outdoor Education Program, field trips, assemblies, and other special programs.
Field Trips
Official field trip forms must be completed, signed and returned to the student's teacher before the date of the planned trip. Telephone calls from parents cannot be accepted as a form of permission to attend a field trip.
A permission slip for trips within the Ridley School District will be sent home at the beginning of the year and kept on file for the current school year only.
Visiting the School
Lakeview School has a buzzer entry system at 3 levels. Please state your name, your child's name, and purpose for visit for entry to the building.
To insure a smooth running and safe school, anyone entering the building for any reason must report to the office and sign in. They must obtain a Visitor's Badge if they are going to visit in a classroom.
If your child forgot his/her lunch, please drop it off at the office with the child's name and room number written on it and we will be sure it is properly delivered.
Parents should not disturb the teachers and students by going to the classrooms directly unless a visit has been prearranged with the teacher. We also ask that you drop off and pick up your children at the assigned exit doors and not at the classroom doors.
Telephone
Parents are asked to make after school arrangements with their children before they leave home. It is not desirable to interrupt the classroom instruction to deliver messages. In addition, the office telephone cannot handle last minute calls for all students in the building.
Lost and Found
There is a Lost and Found located on the building's middle level near the cafeteria at the alcove on the way to the lower level.
SPECIAL SUBJECT AREAS
Physical Education Program
Kindergarten through grade five have two regularly scheduled gym classes each week. In addition, grades four and five can participate in after school intramurals.
A weekly health lesson for grades one to five provides an overall approach to mental and social well being for students along with an emphasis on drug education and basic hygiene.
SPECIAL SERVICES
Child Study Team (CST)
Lakeview's CST Team consists of trained classroom teachers, the school principal, support personnel, and the classroom teacher of any child referred for help. The parent(s) are also members of the team.
Children needing help will be identified as students who are experiencing academic difficulty and/or lacking certain "lifeskills" in areas of social interaction, self-concept, communication, and decision making skills.
CST is a collaborative process that tries to develop ways teachers, parents, and/or other children can help each child find success.
Speech & Language Therapy
Children who have suspected speech and/or language difficulties are evaluated by our speech and language clinician upon completion of the referral process. When speech and language services are indicated, an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) is developed by the clinician, parent and classroom teacher. Conferences with the clinician are held with both parents and teachers.
Reading Support
Students in need of remediation in the area of reading can receive tutoring from a certified reading specialist. Parents of students who qualify for admission to the program are contacted annually.
Students are responsible to the school for the proper care of textbooks and library books and must pay for lost or damaged books. Students are required to pay fines for damaged textbooks in accordance to the amount of damage. In cases where the damage is so extensive as to render the book unusable, the full price will be collected since it will no longer be in use. Each student shall return all textbooks issued to him/her when leaving the school, or at the end of the school year. Failure to return or pay for damages shall result in withholding report cards.
Homebound Instruction
Children confined to their homes for convalescent periods of four weeks or more because of illness, injury or disease may be provided part-time instruction by a qualified teacher. Application must be made by the parent, through the principal, to the Director of Special Education (ext. 1124). A statement from the attending physician is required.
Health Services
Full time school nurses are employed by the Ridley School District to provide state mandated health services such as vision, hearing, and growth screening, and maintenance of health and immunization records. You will be notified of any deficiencies in the vision or hearing exams. Feel free to contact the nurse (ext.1441) at any time during the school year if you have a concern about medical issues that affect your child.
The school nurse also performs routine classroom health checks and makes contact with parents regarding any health issues. She also cares for students with injuries or illnesses that occur at school.
Although a full time nurse is on staff at Lakeview, he/she may not take responsibility for evaluating signs of illness or injury that have occurred at home. These should be referred to your family doctor or an emergency room. A child who has been vomiting or has a fever should remain home until symptoms have been gone for 24 hours.
If a child becomes ill during school hours, parents are expected to make arrangements to have the child removed from school right away. Parents without transportation, and working parents, should make arrangements for this possibility early in the school year. Please inform the school of any medical problems by adding them to the back of the pink and white emergency cards. These cards are updated yearly in the fall.
Immunizations
The following immunizations are required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for all school students upon entry to school in Pennsylvania.
Diphtheria 4 doses
Tetanus 4 doses
Polio 3 doses
Hepatitis B 3 doses
Mumps/Rubella 1 dose after 15 mos.
Measles 2 doses after 15 mos.
Varicella vaccine for Chicken Pox disease
All parents must show valid proof of such immunizations.
Call the school (ext. 1441) for more information.
Medications
It is recommended that all doses of medication be given at home by the parents. Only medications prescribed by a physician for a particular student will be given in school. The medication must be accompanied by a note from the physician stating the name of the medication, the dosage, and the time it is to be given. Over the counter medications will not be administered unless accompanied by a note from the physician. If your child must be given medication at school, please contact the principal or the school nurse. Parents who wish to administer medication to their child during the school day may do so. You must, however, report to the office first.
All medication should be brought to school by the parent in the original pharmacy container with the following information on it:
CHILD'S NAME
NAME OF MEDICATION
STRENGTH OF MEDICATION
DOSAGE FOR THIS CHILD
PHYSICIAN'S NAME
DATE PRESCRIBED
For the safety of your child, and all students,
do not send medications or cough drops to school without consulting the nurse.
School Physicals
A physical examination is required of all students upon entry to school. It is recommended that this be completed by your family medical provider. Forms are available from the school office or click here to download one. Students who have not completed a private physical by October 1 will be scheduled to see the school physician. Parents will be notified in advance of this examination and may be present, if desired. No treatments are provided at school. Students with significant findings will be referred to their family doctor.
Dental Services
A dental examination is required for all children upon entry to school and in grades 3 and 5. Parents are urged to have this examination completed by the family dentist. A form for this examination is available from the school office or click here to download one. Any child who has not had a private dental examination completed by October 1 will be examined by the school dental hygienist. She will make recommendations for treatment, if needed.
Rules for the Control of Communicable and Infectious Diseases
Children having any contagious or infectious disease should not return to school unless cleared by the school nurse or accompanied by a note from the family physician. The school physician reserves the right to make final decision on any questionable cases.
Parents of students who will be out for 3 days or more should contact the school nurse to discuss the child's return to school.
The following conditions should be considered communicable. Parents should notify the school if their child has been affected by any of these for advice on readmission to class.
Lice (Pediculosis)
Meningitis
Chicken Pox (Varicella)
Poliomyelitis
Pink-eye (Conjunctivitis)
Scarlet Fever
Strep Throat
Hepatitis
Ringworm
Mononucleosis
Scabies
Worms or Parasites
Measles (Rubella)
Impetigo
German Measles
Staph Infection
Mumps
Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
Our Home and School Association works to bring a closer relationship between the Home and the School so parents and teachers may cooperate in the education of the children. Executive Board Meetings are held throughout the school year and parents are welcome visitors. There is a Back to School Night in September for classroom visitations to learn about the upcoming year.
Volunteers are always needed for special activities such as fundraisers, Santa's Secret Shop, Fun Fair, and Field Day. We are proud of our active Home & School Association and urge you to become involved!
Parents
1. Encourage your child to come home immediately after school is dismissed.
Loitering children are likely to get into unsafe situations.
2. Remind your children:
* Never to ask for or accept rides from strangers.
* To report to their teachers, police officer or parents any stranger seen loitering near the school and to try to remember what the stranger looked like and how he/she was dressed.
* To return IMMEDIATELY to the school to get staff assistance if a problem arises on the way home.
3. Each class in grades 1 to 5 has a daily ten minute recess on clear weather days. The School District and our Home & School Association supply equipment for play. It is not necessary to send equipment which could be lost or which could be a hazard for students while enroute to school or home.
In order to maintain a traffic safety program that is really effective, your cooperation will be needed. Our goal is safety for your children, not convenience and time-saving for parents. You can help us promote our safety program by observing the following regulations.
1. Our Trainor Street entrance at the upper level is heavily used. Please obey the signs for the safety of our Lakeview children.
a. Only staff and buses are allowed beyond a certain point. The circle is for bus, commercial, and daycare van parking only. Following these directions will enable the safe crossing of children and room for bus turnaround.
b. Space has been provided for one way car traffic in the parking lot. Only a left turn is permitted out of the parking lot.
c. Stop at the curb when dropping off or picking up students. Students who exit vehicles stopped in the middle of the street or driveway are in danger of being hit by the other traffic.
d. Fire lanes and signs need to be observed on Trainor Street so a clear path can be provided in case of emergency.
e. Have students enter or exit vehicles by the curb side doors only.
f. If you need to park to watch your child enter the building, you are encouraged to use the Free Street lot or Ridley Avenue.
2. Please obey the signage for buses before and after school. There is no parking at the front exit (Constitution Avenue) at this time. (With the exception of inservice days, morning pick-up and afternoon drop off for kindergarten will be permitted in the Constitution Avenue bus area.)
3. DO NOT block the loading platform driveway. We need a clear route for emergency purposes.
4. You must turn right when leaving the lower level (Constitution Avenue) parking lot from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. This street is one way during the morning and after school hours.
Notes:
STUDENT'S RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Ridley School District
Philosophy for Student Behavior
The Board of School Directors charges each school principal and all staff with the responsibility of establishing acceptable standards of pupil conduct which will ensure the rights and safety of all members of the Ridley School District.
These standards shall be guided by the disciplinary philosophy of the Ridley School District that encourages students through pro-active, positive student activities and programs appropriate to their levels of maturity. Students shall assume responsibility for controlling their own behavior, show respect for authority and the rights, privileges and safety of self and others; respect school and private property, and behave in accordance with specific rules, regulations and guidelines established by the administrators and teachers in their school.
It is believed that violations of established standards shall result in disciplinary actions which shall be appropriate to the violation and the student's developmental level, shall conform to existing laws and regulations, and shall be in accordance with standard due process proceedings, giving every student the opportunity to reflect on their behavior ands make corrections to it.
POLICIES GOVERNING STUDENT DISCIPLINE
The Ridley Board of School Directors has established this policy to set forth guidelines by which student rights and responsibilities are to be determined consistent with law.
The Board establishes the following reasonable rules and regulations to guide administrators, teachers, other staff members, students and parents in the maintenance of a safe and secure learning environment for the school district. These rules and regulations are designed to guide student conduct and deportment, but at the same time are designed to assure that each student shall not be deprived of equal treatment and equal access to the educational programs, due process, a presumption of innocence, and free expression and association in accordance with these guidelines, rules and regulations.
Attendant upon the rights established for each student in the district's schools, there are also certain responsibilities, which include respect for the rights of others, obedience to properly constituted school authority and compliance with the rules and regulations of this school district.
Positive student behavior is expected of all students, but they are notified that if they ignore their responsibilities or are in violation of district and/or school rules and regulations their behaviors will be judged in accordance with a Code of Student Behavior which is outlined in the chart entitled, DISCIPLINARY RESPONSES TO STUDENT MISCONDUCT located at the end of this section.
RIDLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT MISSION STATEMENT
It is the mission of the Ridley School District to create a safe and caring environment that gives all students the opportunity to achieve their fullest personal and academic potential in order to become productive and responsible citizens.
In order to attain this mission, students are expected to be able to demonstrate these Learner Exit Outcomes:
Self-directed Learners
Collaborative Performers
Effective Communicators
Problem Solvers
Responsible Citizens
The Ridley School District believes that in order to attain these learner outcomes a safe and secure learning environment must be maintained through a Code of Student Behavior which is implemented through the District's Policies for Student Rights and Responsibilities and the following Philosophy for Student Behavior.
Non-Smoking Policy
As part of the regulations for students in the Ridley School District and in an effort reflect and emphasize the hazards of smoking, the Board of School Directors has adopted this Non-Smoking Policy with the authority of Act 145 of 1996, Section 6306.1.
Tobacco use by students on all Ridley School District Property during regular school hours, and in all school buildings and buses after regular school hours is prohibited.
A pupil who possesses or uses tobacco in a school building, a school bus, or on school property owned by, leased by, or under the control of a school district, commits a summary offense. An offense under this policy shall be subject to prosecution initiated by the Ridley School District and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $50.00 for the benefit of the District and to pay court costs.
