Manchester Elementary School
Parent Handbook
2008-09
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Dear Parents,
We are pleased to welcome your child to another year of education at the Manchester Elementary School.
It is important for parents and the school to have an open avenue of communication so we can all work together to benefit our students. Through this handbook, we hope that you will be better informed about both the staff and the programs offered to your children.
We invite you to visit school often during the year to view firsthand the outstanding educational opportunities provided to the students of Manchester. In addition, please feel free to call at any time. Our phone number is 622-2949. For your information, the office is open from 7:15-3:15 and classes are in session from 8:00-2:45. The following is a roster of current staff, along with their voice mail extensions.
Sincerely,
Rick Wilson, Principal
Manchester School Staff
Position |
Name |
622.2949 + the following extension |
Principal |
Rick Wilson |
302 |
School Secretary |
Joyce Norwood |
301 |
Kindergarten |
Robin Terrell |
310 |
Kindergarten |
Nicole Danielson |
312 |
Grade 1 |
Claudette Purington |
315 |
Grade 2 |
Debbie Poulin |
311 |
Grade 2 |
Larry Liebling |
314 |
Grade 3 |
Jennie Galletta |
321 |
Grade 3 |
Mary O'Brien |
320 |
Grade 4 |
Valerie Emerson |
322 |
Grade 4 |
Diane Curtis |
323 |
Grade 5 |
Faye Trafton |
326 |
Grade 5 |
Pia Holmes |
327 |
Literacy Specialist |
Anne Hurd |
309 |
Special Education |
Debbie Collins |
313 |
Guidance |
Linda Patrie |
317 |
Speech Pathologist |
Shannon Cole |
341 |
Librarian |
Nancy Diamond Carol Gogan |
306 |
School Clinician |
Wendy Flaschner |
|
Foreign Language |
Charles Hicks |
328 |
Vocal Music |
Jennifer Caton |
332 |
Instrumental Music |
Janet Dunham |
|
Physical Education |
Barbara Godfrey/Nancy Martin |
|
Art |
Katharine Ayer |
325 |
Gifted and Talented |
Terry Hickey & Mary Ellen Miner |
|
School Nurse |
Sharon Chaplin |
303 |
Educational Techs |
Barbara Jackson Ashli Spear Ginger Ishkanian Kim Simpson Pat LeVeen Barbara Galouch Debbie Watts LeeAnn Whitcomb |
304 329 305 |
Cooks |
Greta Gorneau Lauri DuBois |
307 |
Duty Aides |
Nancy Belanger, Renee Hippler |
|
Custodians |
Curtis Williams Craig Dunn |
330 329 |
Occupational Therapy |
Dianna Erb |
|
School Psychological Service Provider |
Susan Holinger |
319 |
Volunteer Coordinator |
Becky Vining |
|
Bus Drivers |
#1 - Lorraine Schwarz #19 - Peter Godfrey #10 - Peter Walsh #14 - Sandy Muniz |
|
In addition to the staff at Manchester School, the Central Office personnel would be happy to make themselves available to you for any additional information. Central Office personnel can be reached at 685-3336.
Superintendent Richard Abramson (685-3336)
Assistant Superintendent
Special Education Director Lew Colllins (685-4372)
Finance Manager Brigette Williams (685-3336)
Technology Coordinator Jan Kolenda (622-2949 ext.318)
Transportation Blendine Butterfield (685-3621)
School Committee Members
Harry Lanphear, 623-3542
Sharlene Adams, 622-0366
Doug Ide 623-5925
Mike Parent, 623-8581
Mary Keeley, 626-9276
The School Board normally meets periodically during the school year. Te Union Board, made up of members from all four times also meets quarterly to discuss issues related to our schools. All meetings are posted in advance. If you would like to place an item on the agenda, the Superintendent's Office needs to be notified 10 days in advance. All are welcome to attend.
The following section includes information about several important policies and procedures in place at Manchester School.
Affirmation of Positive Discipline
The Manchester Elementary School Committee recognizes and supports the measures taken by staff and administration to resolve disciplinary issues in a positive and productive manner. There has been a concerted effort to address affirmatively all matters that effect the safety and general well-being of our students.
Manchester Elementary School is continually working to create an environment that honors respect, responsibility and high academic achievement. Our high expectations for excellence and good citizenship are reflected in our Belief and Vision Statements. To that end, the School Committee is committed to doing its part to provide our students with a school that encourages intellectual and social growth and prohibits acts of disrespect and intolerance.
Hot Lunch Program
Hot lunches are available at a rate of $2.25 per day (or $11.25 per week). This price includes milk. Breakfast is $.75 per meal. Free or reduced rate hot lunches and breakfasts are available for those students whose families qualify. Applications may be obtained from the school office. The price of milk is $.50 per day. We ask that both hot lunch and milk money be brought in on Monday (or the first day of the week). You are also welcome to pay in advance any amount of money that will be credited to the student's account. We would appreciate your cooperation with this policy.
The Hot Lunch Program includes an option called "Offer vs. Serve". The students have a choice of selecting either the entree served each day or an alternative prepared by the cooks. The students in grades 1-5 make this selection each morning. Afternoon kindergarten students make a weekly selection on the first day of the week. It would be helpful if kindergarten parents would provide written indication of those selections on the first day of each week. At lunch time, students can also make selections regarding fruit, vegetables and white or chocolate milk. In all cases, the selections meet each of the nutrition elements required by the State.
Please contact Greta Gorneau or Joyce Norwood with questions about either of these programs.
Principal's Notes
The newsletter for the following week is sent home on Thursday. On the newsletter there is a calendar section that gives you important upcoming dates about school and district events. Please review this each week because it contains important information about upcoming events and programs. We also attach a number of important notices to the newsletter each week. Therefore, you and your children should get into the habit of reviewing these notices weekly.
No School Announcements
On mornings when storms prevent school from being held, bulletins are announced several times over local radio (WABK, WMME) and television stations (channels 6, 8, 13) indicating school closings or delays. It is also listed on our district's web site, www.maranacook.org. Listen and watch for for announcements about schools in School Union 42. Please note that there is another Manchester Elementary School in Windham, Maine. On occassion, people hear that school's no school annoncement and assume that it is us. Our school is always included in the School Union 42 announcement; it would be a very rare occassion for our school to be cancelled on its own.
Occasionally, it is necessary (due to an impending storm, power or water loss, etc.) to close school before the regular release time. Since it would be impossible to notify each parent, these announcements are made over local radio. Please have a clear understanding with your child(ren) as to what he/she is supposed to do (or where to go) in the event of an early dismissal. Decisions about school cancellations, delays or early dismissals are made by the Office of the Superintendent.
Notes for Alternative Transportation
If your child is going to visit a friend after school or be transported in a way other than the usual manner, a request should be made in the form of a written note signed by the parent. We would also appreciate a note if you are picking up your child(ren) after school so we'll know not to send them on their regular bus run. If you forget the written note, please call the office by 2:00 P.M. Without either a written note or a phone call from parents, students will be sent home on their regular bus run. Please be aware that requests to travel on a different bus may be denied if there is not room enough for any additional students. Students will be released to parents only during and after school unless the parent has authorized the school to release them to someone else.
Visitor Parking
To ensure the safety of our students, parking is allowed in the designated spaces only....parking around the circle is NOT permitted. If you are parking and coming into the school for any reason, you must park in these designated spaces in either the front or rear parking lots. Many parents come into the school at the end of the day to pick up the children. To ease the congestion and confusion around the office area, we now dismiss these students to parents right outside the rear door on the basketball court. A staff person will wait with the students until they are released to parents. Therefore, it would be best if parents parked in the rear parking lot if you are here for that purpose. We have created four "visitor" parking spaces out front that will be located next to the two handicapped spaces.
These are intended for those making short visits to school and not for long term parking. If you are making a quick drop off or pick-up during the school day, you may continue to do this by the front entrance as long as you are not leaving your car unattended. We also ask that you park in the back lot if you are attending one of our field trips and will be parking your car for the day. We thank you for your adherence to these procedures.
Student Attendance
Students are expected to be in school every day unless they have an illness that requires them to stay at home or have an important family commitment that is unavoidable during school time. By the same token, children who are ill should not be sent to school. If a student becomes ill during the school day, we will call you and ask you to make arrangements to pick up your child. As you know, many illnesses affecting children are contagious and we ask for you to consider this when making the determination whether or not to send your children to school.
Frequent absences do effect the progress of your child's educational program. We ask you to make every attempt to maintain consistent attendance of your children. As students get older, it is expected that they will make up the work missed. If you call prior to 11:00 a.m., we can make arrangements to have ready the homework assignments from your child's teacher(s). You can either pick it up at the close of school or have it sent home with another child.
In all cases, please call the office in the morning to let us know if your child will be absent from school. By doing so, we can all be assured that each student is exactly where he/she is supposed to be. If we do not hear from you, we will attempt to contact you during the day. Please note that the morning bell rings at 7:55 and that begins our instructional day. We would appreciate it if, whenever possible, students can be here by that time so lessons are not interrupted by late arrivals.
Medication Policy
It is the responsibility of the parent and/or student to administer all medication. However, as a convenience for parents, the school will, upon written request, keep medication available for a period of time. Parents shall notify the school in writing (form provided for long term medication) when it is necessary for their child to take medication including type of medication, amounts and times to be administered. In addition, it must be in the original pharmacy container and brought in to school by the parent another adult. Students may not transport medications. Our school nurse (Sharon Chaplin) is in the building every day for half of the day (we share her with Readfield). Please call her (ext. 303) if you have questions regarding medication or any other health related issues.
While we have no formal dress code for Manchester, we would like you to keep the following suggestions in mind:
1. Students should be dressed for the weather. All students are expected to go outside during recess time, weather permitting. Medical excuses will be accepted.
2. Students should maintain an appearance that is appropriate to the setting - one that promotes a positive and healthy school experience. We do not allow clothes which have inappropriate slogans or those that advertise tobacco or drug products.
3. Students should not wear clothing or accessories that will cause injury to themselves, other students, or damage school property.
4. For safety purposes, students may not wear open-toed shoes or sandals on Castletown (our playground). If they wear them to school, they should also have a pair of sneakers to change into when they go outside.
4. Students who wear boots should bring shoes to wear while in the building. Wearing heavy boots all day is a poor health practice.
5. Please put your child's name in all outer clothing, backpacks, lunch boxes and boots.
No Smoking Policy
The School Board has adopted a policy which prohibits smoking anywhere on school grounds, inside or outside. This includes evening and weekend activities. This policy went into effect on August 31, 1994.
In addition to the educational experiences that are gained within the regular classroom, all students receive instruction by a certified specialist (shared by the district schools) in the following areas:
Art (except Kindergarten)
Library
Physical Education
Vocal Music
Guidance
French
Additionally, students may elect to enter the instrumental music program in grade four. All students in grade three receive a pre-band experience on the precorder.
Students, if eligible, receive support services in the following areas:
Special Education
Literacy
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Guidance Program
Students in all grades participate in classroom guidance lessons. Discussions and activities are designed to help students understand themselves as individuals, to acquire skills in developing interpersonal relationships, to recognize and respond to difficult situations, and to explore goals and aspirations. They also learn how to access assistance for their own specific needs.
Some children also receive guidance services while in small groups or in some cases, individually. Also, parents and staff members have the opportunity to collaborate with the guidance counselor when concerned about a child's physical, academic, social or emotional development.
Manchester Elementary School has a Student Assistance Team. The purpose of this team is to provide a forum for teachers to come and discuss ways to improve programming for students. During these meetings, we discuss the issues that are getting in the way of student success in the classroom and brainstorm strategies to improve programming for that student. The Team has attended training to become familiar with this process. Other staff members may be invited if they are involved with the child or can share some expertise with team members. When we meet to discuss a child's program, one of us will call you to discuss some ideas we might have to improve your child's program. We then will work together to monitor your child's progress to see if the steps that have been implemented have been successful. This process does not
replace the special education procedures that are already in place for students identified with special needs. As is required by State and Federal laws, those procedures remain intact with all the rights and privileges that go along with that protection. The SAT process is meant to be more inclusive so teams can meet and discuss the needs of all children. If you have any questions about this process, please do not hesitate to contact one of the above SAT members. If you ahve any questions about this process, please do not hesitate to contact the school office for more information.
Field Trips
Field trips are scheduled in order to provide our students with enriching experiences that complement their education. You will receive one permission slip in the fall for all field trips scheduled within district during the year. All other field trips outside the district require an individually signed permission form that should come home with the students a week in advance of that planned trip. Please look in the weekly Principal's Notes for information about upcoming events. If you have a question or concern about a specific field trip, please call the school for further information.
It is our preference to have students ride with their classmates on the bus. However, if you choose to drive your child in your car, please let us know the day before as it may make a difference in the way we determine the make-up of our student groups for the day. Also, others students will not be allowed to ride in your car unless their parent accompanies them in your vehicle. Our field trips are planned to enhance the instruction that is taking place in the classroom. Therefore, it is not appropriate for younger siblings and we ask you not to bring them along if you intend to join us for the day. We make all of the above requests for safety and liability reasons.
The Manchester PTCO supports many of these field trips as well as other enrichment activities. We encourage all parents to actively support this important organization. At present, Lauri DuBois serves as President, Doris Schessler is Vice-President, Nora Dore, Secretary and Sally Garand, Treasurer. New officers are elected at the September meeting. New members of this group are always welcomed. Messages from the PTCO about upcoming events occur weekly in the Principal's Notes as well as notices about PTCO meetings and agenda. Meetings are normally the second Wednesdays of each month starting at 6:30.
After School Enrichment Programs
The After School Enrichment Program offers a unique set of opportunities for learning outside of the regular school day. The program is available to all Manchester Elementary students in grades 3-5. In addition, there is an occasional offering for students in grade 2. Class sizes are limited, yet a minimum number of students is needed to offer the class. Registration will be determined on the "first-come-first-serve" basis when completed forms are returned to the office. There are three sessions that are being planned for this school year; the first will be held in October, the second in January and the final session in March. All sessions will last five weeks. We are always looking for possible instructors and program ideas. If you have a special talent or skill and you would like to share with the students, please
let us know.
Volunteers
Volunteers are an integral part of the overall instruction at Manchester Elementary School. We encourage each of you to become an active partner in your child's education by volunteering whenever possible. If you would like to assist in any area of school programming, please complete the Volunteer Registration Form. For more information, you may also speak to your child's teacher or Becky Vining (621-4182), who is coordinating our volunteer activities. We greatly appreciate the time our volunteers give to our students. It is important to remember that, while working with our students, all individuals, both staff and volunteers, must abide by the regulations regarding student confidentiality. Prior to working in our classrooms, we are asking all volunteers to sign a form that speaks to this issue. The Volunteer Registration
Form and Confidentiality Form are included in the Opening School Packet.
You will find a sign-in station near the front office. After the morning bell, all other outside doors are locked so you must use the front entrance to gain entrance. We would like all volunteers and visitors to sign in and wear a badge during your stay at school. It is important that we all are aware of the purpose of adult visitors to our school and this sign-in station will assist us with this effort.
School Visits
All parents and community members are encouraged to visit school both during the school day to observe classes in sessions and after school for conferences with teachers. Please, however, do not plan to hold an unscheduled conference with a teacher while school is in session. Please call the school before your visit so that the teacher is aware of your plans.
Parent Teacher Conferences
We hold scheduled c | 
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