School Information

Carrie P. Meek/Westview Elementary School

2101 N.W. 127 Street

Miami, Florida 33167

Telephone: (305) 688-9641

STUDENT HANDBOOK 2007-2008

Table of Contents

Principal's Message	Mission Statement	Arrival and Dismissal	School Hours	Attendance	Early Dismissal	Behavior
Hall Passes	Detentions	Things to Leave Home	Birthday Parties	Cafeteria	Free/Reduced Lunch Program	PayPams
Cafeteria Behavior	Cell Phones	Internet Use Policy	Change of Address/Emergency Information	Comprehensive Reading Plan	Conferences	Conferences-Parent/Principal
Confidential Information	Conflict Resolution	Mandatory Dress Code	EESAC	Field Trip	Grading Policy/Promotion	Guidance Services/Counseling
Health Screenings	Home Learning Policy	Illness	Insurance	Media Program	Parent Portal	The Parent Academy
Parent Resource Center/Rm. 66	Parent/Teacher Association (PTA)	Rainy Day Procedures	Safety Patrols	Student United Way	Suspension and Expulsion	Textbooks
Title I Program	Vandalism	Visitors	Volunteer Program

IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

In order to accomplish these goals, it is imperative that teachers, parents, and administration frequently converse on the progress of students. The school will make every effort to promote a good relationship between the home and the school. This handbook provides useful information concerning the rules and regulations of this school and the Miami-Dade County Public School Board. Understanding these policies and procedures for the protection, welfare, and educational advantage of your children is very important. Parents and students are responsible for knowing the content of this handbook. We hope it will be your most successful year ever. If you have questions, please feel free to contact the school for additional explanation.

The mission of Carrie P. Meek/Westview Elementary School is to collaborate with parents, teachers, faculty, students, and the community to provide an atmosphere conducive to the facilitation of learning in a safe environment, rich with opportunities that enhance the total growth of all students; integrate learning technologies, introduce career education, and promote critical thinking.

The entire community of adult caregivers at Carrie P. Meek/Westview Elementary (e.g. teachers, administrators, parents, and community members) will mobilize to support students’ holistic achievement by incorporating the six developmental pathways in order to affect optimal learning and academic success. In accordance with the COMER philosophy, “It Takes A Whole Village To Raise A Child.”

Teachers arrive at school at 8:15 a.m. Although many teachers come earlier, they use the time before students arrive to prepare materials and activities for the day.

Students should arrive at school between 8:15 a.m. and 8:25 a.m. All students should be in their seats and ready to begin the day at 8:30 a.m. Supervision is available on the Basketball Court and PE Shed from 7:30 a.m. - 8:20 a.m. A child who is not in the classroom at 8:30 a.m. is tardy. Students who are tardy more than 3 times will be required to serve an administrative detention.

Students who participate in the school breakfast program should arrive between 7:15 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. and must report to the cafeteria immediately. Students are not the responsibility of the school before 7:30 a.m. The breakfast program ends at 8:00 a.m. daily. No students will be permitted in the cafeteria after the designated time. Once students have finished breakfast they should proceed quickly to their designated morning line-up.

Siblings from the middle and senior high schools are not allowed on school grounds to wait for younger brothers and sisters before dismissal. They must remain in the area designated by the administration. Students must be enrolled in the After Care Program or picked up by parents/guardians at the appropriate dismissal time.

Parents/guardians must report to the office to pick up students who have been dismissed early for dental or medical appointments. Parents /guardians should send a note to the office or teacher in the morning notifying them of the request for early dismissal. Students cannot be picked up from their classrooms; they must be signed out in the office. Parents/guardians must wait in the office or in front of the school for parents unless approval has been given to do otherwise. All parents entering the building for a pre-arranged conference with a teacher MUST report to the office.

Students may not return to or remain in the building after dismissal to wait for friends. All students are expected to leave school grounds immediately following dismissal unless they are enrolled in the After Care Program. It is extremely dangerous for students to remain unsupervised on school grounds. Please be prompt when picking up students. We also ask that you encourage your students to go home immediately after dismissal.

Your child’s success at school is dependent upon regular consistent attendance. Most subjects are taught in sequence requiring the understanding of each concept in the order of its presentation. Persistent absenteeism creates a genuine hardship for a student and is regarded as a very serious problem. A note MUST follow every absence stating the nature of the illness. No absence is an excused absence without a note although you may have communicated with the school by telephone. Excused absences from school are:

· Observance of a religious holiday or service when it is mandated for all members of a faith

ABSENCES NOT LISTED ABOVE ARE CONSIDERED UNEXCUSED. Excessive school absences often precede grade failure and loss of interest in school.

All students who have been absent for an excused reason have the responsibility to request or have parents/guardians request make-up assignments. All class work is not readily subject to make-up work; thus, a make-up assignment may reflect a lower grade than would have been received if the student had been in attendance. A lower academic grade will be given to students who do not complete all make-up work. Make-up work is to be requested through the office and picked up at the office.

Any person picking up a student must be 18 years of age or older and be listed on the student data card and must show valid photo identification. NO EXCEPTIONS. Students will not be released if emergency data cards are not on file in the office.

The early release of students causes disruption to the academic performance of all students and may create safety and security concerns. NO STUDENTS SHALL BE RELEASED 30 MINUTES BEFORE DISMISSAL between 2:30 – 3:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday or between 1:30 – 2:00 p.m. Wednesday unless authorized by the principal or principal’s designee (i.e. emergency, sickness). Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated at Carrie P. Meek/Westview Elementary School. Students are expected to show respect for themselves, for other students, and for their teachers. So that each room has a climate in which optimal learning can take place, we expect students to behave in ways that are acceptable to classmates and conducive to learning.

Students are mandated to walk at all times. They should greet and respond to adults politely. There will be no fighting, throwing food, horse playing, screaming, or shouting. Fighting and throwing food or other objects is strictly forbidden in the school or on campus. Breaking these rules will result in an immediate and automatic suspension from school and a conference with the student’s parents/guardians. Teacher’s instructions are to be followed at all times. Inappropriate behavior on the part of students will be corrected generally when the home and the school work closely together. It is the philosophy of the school administration to direct staff to counsel with students and parents/guardians in order to avoid or improve deviant behavior. When the positive actions taken by parents/guardians and teachers have not resulted in acceptable behavior, other alternatives including suspension from school may be utilized as corrective measures.

The Miami-Dade County Public School system has a Code of Student Conduct that we adhere to in order to keep a safe learning environment. Each year teachers are required to review these codes with students. A major consideration in the application of the Code of Conduct is to identify the most appropriate disciplinary action necessary to bring about positive student behavior. To that end, the violations have been divided into six subgroups and a variety of recommended or mandated administrative actions, depending on the severity of the misconduct. Student services personnel will play a vital role in assisting the student in resolving any problem influencing his/her behavior.

The Code of Student Conduct lists violations identified by principals, administrators, teachers, students, and community members that are representatives of those acts frequently causing disruption of the orderly educational process. It should be pointed out that this list is not all-inclusive and a student committing an act of misconduct not listed, will, nevertheless, be subjected to the discretionary authority of the Principal or designee.

Students should be seated in their classroom when the bell rings. Please do not push, run or loiter in the halls. Please cooperate with the Security Monitors in the exercise of their duties and present a hall pass courteously when asked to do so. At no time is a student to be out of the classroom during class without an official Yellow Pass. Teachers are not to give verbal permission for a student to exit the classroom.

Miami-Dade County Public Schools policy allows the teacher to keep a student after school to help him/her with his/her school work or to impress upon your child the importance of good behavior. As part of our discipline plan students may be assigned detention. Parents/guardians will be responsible for their children to serve the assigned detention. Carrie P. Meek/Westview Elementary School will cooperate with parents in the following ways:

Failure to serve a detention will result in a mandatory administrative Saturday detention. Failure to serve an administrative detention may result to a suspension.

The administration and teachers cannot be responsible for lost or stolen property.

Birthday parties for individual students are not permitted at school so that the instructional process is not interrupted. Please do not bring, cakes, balloons, party hats and/or cupcakes etc. to the school.

Professional cooks working in cooperation with a registered dietician prepare school meals. Lunch and breakfast is served daily. We encourage our students to take advantage of this service.

The National School Breakfast Program was enacted to ensure that school children are being served a nutritious breakfast daily. Miami-Dade County Public Schools offers breakfast at no charge to all M-DCPS students. The breakfast at no charge is not dependent on the student qualifying for free/reduced meals at lunch. Students who participate in the school breakfast program should arrive between 7:15 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. and must report to the cafeteria immediately. The breakfast program ends at 8:00 a.m. daily. No students will be permitted in the cafeteria after the designated time. Once students have finished breakfast they should proceed quickly to their designated morning line-up.

The National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs as administered by Miami-Dade County Public Schools provide free and reduced priced meals for children unable to pay the full price. Applications must be filled out every school year; forms are sent to all homes with a letter to parents or guardians the first week of school. Meal benefits begin on the day the application is approved and continue throughout the school year in which the application is approved, the summer and approximately the first twenty days of the next school year.

Forgotten or lost lunch money– children occasionally lose or forget their lunch money. When this happens, the child reports to the office, calls a parent/guardian, and the parent/guardian delivers the money or lunch to the school.

Lunch boxes should have your child’s name and room number clearly labeled on them. Please do not send metal or glass food or drink containers in your child’s lunch.

We expect the same high standards of behavior during breakfast/lunch time as during any other part of the school day. A child who misbehaves or abuses his cafeteria privileges is subject to administrative action that may lead to suspension.

The cafeteria is open for STUDENTS ONLY. Parents/guardians and/or relatives are not permitted to eat with their child(ren) in the cafeteria.

Miami-Dade County Public School’s Department of Food and Nutrition has started a program to allow parents/guardians the convenience to pay on-line via the internet or by telephone for their child’s/children meals with a credit or debit card. The parent/guardians will create a lunch account on-line for the child and will be able to access the following:

CAFETERIA BEHAVIOR

We wish to maintain proper safety precautions and provide a pleasant place in which your child may eat. To accomplish this it is necessary to expect high standards of behavior in the cafeteria from your children. Cafeteria manners and good habits are part of our instructional program and children are expected to cooperate at all times.

Possession of a cellular telephone is not a violation of the Code of Student Conduct (CSC). However, the possession of a cellular telephone which disrupts the educational process; the use of the cellular telephone during school hours; and the possession or use of a cellular telephone which disrupts or interferes with the safety-to-life issue for students being transported on a M-DCPS school bus, would be a violation of the CSC.

Access and use of the Internet is a privilege, not a right, and its use must support the educational objectives of the District. Students must always get permission from their teachers prior to using the internet. In addition, the District prohibits the transmission of materials such as copyright material, threatening of obscene material or material protected by trade secret, which violate local, state and federal law or regulation, as well as the use of the Internet for product advertisement, commercial activities, political campaigning or solicitation.

It is very important, for emergency and administrative reasons, that every student maintains an up-to-date address record in the school’s office. Please notify the school immediately if you have a change of address or telephone number during the school year. In case of emergency each student is required to have an emergency data card on file in the school’s office.

Elementary students are required to read at least five books or their equivalent during each nine-week grading period, including in-class independent reading and at-home reading. Students must also read for 30 minutes at home as part of their daily homework assignment. The length of the books and the complexity of the content may be taken into account when satisfying this requirement.

We appreciate the keen interest you show in the progress of your children. When you wish to arrange a conference with your child’s teacher, please send a note to the teacher to indicate a date and time that is convenient for you. Teachers are usually available for scheduled conferences on Monday through Friday after students are dismissed. Teachers may not hold parent conferences during instructional time without administrative approval. A conference during instructional time is distracting and takes away from the children who are being instructed. We appreciate your cooperation in not seeking instant conferences during school hours. Please give teachers a 24-hour notice for conferences unless contacted by the teacher.

When visiting the school, please check in through the school’s office. For the safety of the students and staff no adults are allowed in the building without identifying themselves in the main office. The office will contact the teacher to determine whether the parent/guardian will be sent to the classroom or not. The parent/guardian must have picture identification at all times.

Formal and informal parent-principal conferences can be arranged. The principal will make every effort to be available to parents. However, it is in your child’s best interest that you take time to speak with his/her teacher(s) first if there are any academic or behavioral problem concerns.

Since the principal is required to attend meetings off campus, it is advisable that you contact the principal’s secretary when making appointments with the principal.

Parents, guardians and students are protected by The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Florida Statutes from individuals’ access to information in students’ educational records, and provide the right to challenge the accuracy of these records. These laws provide that without the prior consent of the parent, guardian or eligible student, a student’ records may not be released, except in accordance with the provisions listed in the above-cited laws. The laws provide certain exceptions to the prior consent requirement to the release of student records, which include but are not limited to, school officials with a legitimate educational interest and lawfully issued subpoenas and court orders.

Resolutions to conflict are resolved in a nonviolent manner. If there is a conflict between students, please encourage your child to seek out their teacher or counselor for assistance.

Students are expected to be well groomed and neatly dressed. School uniforms are mandatory.

Any combination of the school’s colors may be worn. The colors are khaki, pink, and burgundy. Girls may wear a pink or burgundy blouse. Boys may wear burgundy shirts and khaki pants. The following items are unacceptable:

· Any form of clothing that is a distraction to the learning environment or other children

Jewelry is not recommended. Jewels may be lost while playing at recess or during Physical Education. Please make sure you put your child’s name in all sweaters, jackets and bookbags in case they are lost.

The Educational Excellence School Advisory Council (EESAC) serves as a communication link between the administration, staff, students, parents, business organizations and community of Carrie P. Meek/Westview Elementary School. The EESAC assists in the preparation of the School Improvement Plan (SIP). Additionally, the council is responsible for addressing all state and district goals and has the authority to periodically review the SIP and amend as needed. EESAC may address curriculum, student discipline, and safety, professional development and budget, as it applies to the SIP. The EESAC will meet on the third Wednesday of every month. Meetings are announced in advance.

Students will not be allowed to participate in any school-sponsored fieldtrips/activities if attendance/behavior criteria and uniform procedures have been excessively abused.

The evaluation of student achievement is one of the most important functions of the teacher. The marking system is as follows for students in grades 1 through 5:

Conduct grades are to be used to communicate to both students and their parent/guardians the teacher’s evaluation of a student’s behavior and citizenship development. These grades are independent of academic and effort grades.

Interim Progress Reports will be sent home four and a half weeks into the grading period. Unsatisfactory progress reports will be sent home if students are failing after interim reports have been distributed. This will alert parents/guardians of possible failure. It is recommended that parents/guardians confer with teachers in order to help students improve.

Report cards will be mailed upon receipt of a self-addressed stamped envelope at the end of the school year.

Students functioning below the range required for promotion in the basic skill areas, reading, language arts and mathematics, will receive remedial basic skills instruction. Before entering the next grade level of instruction, a student in the elementary program must have mastered those basic skills identified for the present grade level of instruction.

One full-time counselor is on our staff. Individual and group counseling is provided when recommended by a teacher or when circumstances in a child’s life dictate it. The counselor also coordinates specialized services that meet our children’s needs. The counselor can act as a liaison between the parents, teachers, community and social agencies and/or administration. Please call and make an appointment if we can be of service to you.

Tuberculosis Clinical Screening – Each student shall have proof of a tuberculosis clinical screening and appropriate follow-up prior to initial enrollment in any grade in a Miami-Dade County Public School. This screening is to be administered at the time of the Student Health Exam and within twelve (12) months prior to initial enrollment in any grade in a Miami-Dade County Public School. If the screening indicates that a follow-up skin test is needed, a student can be admitted but only with a health provider’s statement that the student is free of communicable tuberculosis and can attend school.

Vision and Hearing Screening – The Florida Legislature Statute, 381.0056, and School Board Rule 6Gx13-5D-1.021 School Health Services Program, mandates vision and hearing screenings to be performed annually for students in kindergarten, first, second, third and new students to the state in fourth and fifth grades. The school will send a letter to all parents notifying of the screenings.

Parents/guardians are reminded that developing in children a good sense of responsibility is most important. To this end, making sure that students complete daily assignments at home is the responsibility of the parent/guardian. Teachers will assign objectives that students can complete independently and will reinforce important aspects of the instructional program. Home Learning assignments should take no longer than 45 minutes at the primary grades (kindergarten – grade 3) and 75 minutes at the intermediate grades (4-5). Daily home learning is a Miami-Dade County Public School Board Policy.

If a child has a medical reason for not participating in physical education, a statement of condition must be obtained from the physician. It is extremely important that parents/guardians have their physician make us aware of your child’s medical problem so that his/her activities may be modified as needed.

The Student Protection Plan is designed to cover students and injuries while traveling to and from school or when involved in accidents while engaged in supervised activities on the school premises. Participation in this program is voluntary. Schools are responsible to forwarding enrollment applications to School Insurance of Florida. All applications received by School Insurance of Florida by September 4, 2007 will allow enrolled children to have coverage effective retroactive to the first day of school. See the application for complete policy benefits, rates and exclusions.

In addition to the regular media program and the many book fairs scheduled throughout the year, the Carrie P. Meek/Westview Elementary Media Center offers a wide variety of activities that enhance the total school program. Our Media Specialist directs the Stinger News Team, which broadcasts live each morning. Children from all grade levels are trained as news commentators and become familiar with various aspects of closed circuit TV production.

Parents/Guardians of all Miami-Dade County Public Schools students, including employee, have access to the Parent Portal. In order to access the information in the portal, you must first establish a parent user account. At this time you can see and update personal information, see his/her information – including grades, attendance and bus route information, and have access to the Parent Resource link, which takes you to sites such as Parent Academy, School of Choice, etc.

Soon, you will have access to electronic books for each subject; free and reduced lunch applications with balance renewal capability; access to a new Choice application that will allow parents to indicate preferential school choice via the portal; and access to the Supplemental Educational Services (SES) component of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). In order to access the Parent Portal:

1) Obtain your 6 digit Parent Identification Number (PIN) by visiting your child’s school

3) It is recommended (after 24 hours) to reset your password with password management P-SYNCH.

4) Login to “myDadeschools” – Parent Portal for student grades, attendance, and important information.

The Parent Academy is a free, year-round parent engagement and skill building program of Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS). The goals are to educate parents about the importance of their role; strengthen the family unit; unite families and schools; and inform parents of their rights, responsibilities and the educational opportunities available to their children and to them personally.

In addition, The Parent Academy provides classes and workshops for parents/guardians; organizes Family Learning Events; coordinates the availability of M-DCPS and community resources for parents/guardians and students; and provides professional staff development for school personnel on how to create parent-friendly schools.

The Parent Academy “campus” is spread throughout every corner of this community, and offers free classes and workshops at over 201 local sites such as public schools, libraries, parks, colleges, private businesses, and neighborhood centers. Monthly calendars are posted in the Course Directory section on the Parent Academy’s Web site at www.theparentacademy.net. The Parent Academy staff members are available to provide parents/guardians, students and school sites with guidance and assistance in scheduling workshops. Staff can be reached at (305) 995-2680.

Washington Mutual and the Education Fund sponsor our Parent Resource Center. Various resources are available including Internet Access, Reading Materials and Recycled Uniforms. Please note there are some obligations for recycled uniforms.

The Carrie P. Meek/Westview Elementary Parent-Teacher Association works with the state and national PTAs to support and speak in the schools, in the community and before governmental bodies and other organizations that make decisions affecting youngsters. The PTA/PTSA supports the faculty and administration in their efforts to improve educational and extracurricular activities in the school. Parents and students are encouraged to become involved in the PTA/PTSA. Elections will take place every two years. All parents/guardians will receive notices from the PTA concerning meetings, special projects, and fund raising events. Make sure you instill upon your children the importance of handing all notices to you. Suggestions from parents/guardians and community members are always welcomed. If any community member observes any hazard in or around the building, they should notify the administration.

Each year the PTA sponsors several fund raising activities with the help of all parents. These projects can be very successful, and allow the PTA to fund many important activities at the school.

We urge you to plan ahead and make definite arrangements with your children so that they will know exactly what to do if it is raining at dismissal time. It is impossible to allow all students to call home on rainy days. Please let your child know in advance what you wish him/her to do if it rains at his/her dismissal time. Please sign and return the rainy day procedures form distributed at the beginning of the academic school year to your child’s teacher.

Parents/guardians are requested not to block the bus lane when it is raining. You are requested to wait patiently, so a safe orderly evacuation of the building can take place. Please do not require your child to cross the street. Please drive through the off-street/bus lane pick-up area in front of the school.

The Safety Patrols are chosen by the Patrol sponsor from a list of students recommended from the fourth and fifth grade teachers. Reliable, trustworthy pupils whose schoolwork and citizenship are exemplary are eligible for selection to the Safety Patrols. All students must obey the Safety Patrols when they are on duty at their post.

The Student United Way Campaign gives our students an opportunity to give back to the community. A variety of fund raising activities will take place during this time. In the past our students and their families have been very generous.

Subject to laws and rules of the School Board of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, students who disturb the orderly educational process are subject to disciplinary action. This action may include, but not limited to, suspension, expulsion, and other School Board-approved alternatives. Students subject to this disciplinary action are those who have committed serious breach of conduct. Such conduct including, but not limited to willful disobedience, open defiance to authority of a staff member, violence against persons or property or any other act which substantially disrupts or has a detrimental effect to the learning environment.

Suspension is defined as the removal of a student from his/her regular school program or bus for as period not to exceed ten (10) days at a time.

Expulsion is defined as the removal of the right and obligation of a student to attend a public school under conditions set by the School Board, and for a period of time not to exceed the remainder of the term or school year and one additional year of attendance.

Textbooks are issued to every student and distributed by classroom teachers. All children have textbooks that have been individually selected to meet their needs. They must be cared for by the students and accounted for by the teachers. Please stress with your child the importance of respect for school materials and property. Books that are assigned to students should have the student’s name written legibly with pen on the space provided on the inside of the book. Therefore if the books are misplaced, they can readily be returned to the student. If your child misplaces or loses his/her textbook, the closing of the school year requires the fee for the book to be paid in full before the school will release the child to the next grade level. If the debt is not paid, this will be logged into your child’s record on the computer, which will result in him/her not receiving a HS diploma until the debt is paid.

The Title I Program provides significant federal funding to improve the educational opportunities for eligible students. Carrie P. Meek/Westview Elementary is a School-wide Title I Program that allows us to utilize our funds to enhance the educational program for the entire school and provide services to all of our students. Additionally, our program includes a very active parental involvement component, Parent Outreach Program (POP). This program establishes a bridge between the home and school by implementing strategies to involve parents in the educational process of their children.

Writing on the walls, deliberately flooding bathroom, damaging or stealing school property is considered a misdemeanor and students will be penalized up to one year in the County Jail and/or paying a fine. Direct your children to keep away from the building after school hours or during weekends.

Due to legal regulations, students are not permitted to have guests attend school with them at any time. Parents/guardians are always welcome and tours may be arranged to view the school. Classroom visits require a 24-hour notice. Visitors must first register with security at the main entrance, sign-in and produce photo identification, and then proceed to register in the main office. Anyone who fails to follow these procedures will be considered a trespasser and subject to arrest. It is expected that all visitors will observe the fire regulations of the school and refrain from smoking. All visitors must pick-up a visitors pass from the main office.

The School Volunteer Program is responsible for electronic registration, background checks and trainings of volunteers. There are two different levels of volunteerism:

Any individual interested in volunteering in Miami-Dade County Public Schools must:

* Complete Registration For # 1764, date and sign, and submit to a school or work location.