Lincoln Trail Elementary School Procedures Booklet

2016-2017

102 E. State Street

Mahomet, IL 61853 Phone: (217) 586-2811

Fax: (217) 586-5072 www.ms.k12.il.us

@MS_LincolnTrail

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents 1 Principal’s welcome 2 Mission 3 Absence 4 Addressing Bullying At School 5 Arrival-Dismissal/Daily Schedule 5 Assignment Books 6 Before and After School Kid’s Club 7 Bicycles 7 Birthdays 8 B.L.A.S.T. 8 Breakfast 8 Bus Conduct 8 C.A.T.C.H. 8 Cell Phones 9 Children Leaving School Early 9 Dress & Grooming 9 Electronic Devices 10 E-Readers 10 Emergency Student Phone Numbers 11 Field Trips 11 Free and Reduced Lunch 12 Homework 12 Intervention/Enrichment Block 13 Items not to be brought to school 13 Library 13 Lunch Program 13 Parking & Student Pick-up 14 Public Act 94-0994 14 Room Parents 14 Sales at School 14 School Conduct 14 School/Playground Rules 15 Standardized Testing 15 Student Discipline 15

Supportive Services 16 Video Surveilance 17 Visitors 17 Withdrawal from School 17 Disclaimer: This procedures booklet is not intended to create a contractual relationship with the student; rather, it is intended to describe the school, its current practices, procedures, rules and regulations (or code of conduct) which may be subject to change based upon administrative or Board of Education action.

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August 2016 Dear Parents:

Welcome to Lincoln Trail Elementary School. During this year we will be working together as

partners to provide the best possible education for your child in a nurturing environment that is student centered and positive. Your commitment is an important part of our educational process and communication is the key to assuring a successful year for your child. We have created three school rules: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe. Assisting your child with understanding the importance of these rules and reinforcing their concepts will assure that Lincoln Trail Elementary School is a safe, healthy and positive environment for everyone. Teachers, support staff, parents and the community working hand-in-hand assure that we are helping our children learn the skills to become leaders for tomorrow. Because we understand that students learn in diverse ways we value a variety of learning styles and teaching styles. We understand, education is the key to a successful life and all of us are dedicated to providing the children of Lincoln Trail Elementary with a quality education in a safe environment. By believing in excellence, we will work together to build the strong foundation necessary for success. Remember, if you have any questions or concerns please contact us at 586-2811 or I can be reached by email at jstarwalt@ms.k12.il.us.

Thank you for entrusting us with the opportunity to educate your child. It is going to be a great year!

Sincerely, Jeff Starwalt Courtney Porter Principal Assistant Principal

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LINCOLN TRAIL MISSION STATEMENT

A student leaving Lincoln Trail:

Achieves Academically:

• Knows the academic basics • Communicates effectively through written and spoken word • Uses appropriate time management techniques • Demonstrates a quality work ethic • Expects to have assignments outside of school, completes assignments, reflects pride and

excellence in work and behavior • Uses technology to enhance learning • Shows an appreciation of the arts • Understands the link between education and careers • Strives to push beyond the upper limits of personal academic ability

Becomes a Better Problem Solver:

• Uses problem solving and critical thinking skills in both personal and academic experiences • Is able to face new problems/issues without becoming overwhelmed • Adapts to different teachers for different subjects • Demonstrates confidence and positive self-esteem • Demonstrates leadership

Continues to Show Good Character:

• Adheres to behavior expectations based on the Six Pillars of Character… Trustworthiness, Respect, Fairness, Responsibility, Caring, Citizenship.

• Works cooperatively with others • Deals appropriately with conflict • Respects diversity

Demonstrates Positive Choices:

• Chooses a healthy lifestyle: Substance free, nutritious food intake, exercises, demonstrates safe practices and appropriate risk taking

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ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL

The progress and success of each student depends to a great degree upon regular attendance at school. Regular attendance is necessary to insure maximum educational benefits. Because excessive absences from class result in a lack of participation and interaction by the student with the teacher and class, Lincoln Trail adheres to the following attendance policy: If a child is absent from school, the parent/guardian must telephone the office (586-2811) to state the reason for the child’s absence. The parent/guardian must call in each day the child is absent unless previous arrangements have been made. If the parent/guardian does not call in by 9:30am, the school will attempt to reach the parent/guardian to find out the reason for the absence. If no contact is made with the parent/guardian on the day of the student absence, the administration may classify the absence as unexcused. The determination as to whether a student absence is excused or unexcused will be made by the administration of Lincoln Trail. The Eight (8) Day Excused Absence Policy

Students who accumulate more than 8 days of absences per semester must provide proof of the nature of the excused absence, in the form of a note from a doctor, in order for the absence to be considered excused. Failure to do so will result in the absence being considered unexcused. An accumulation of 8 unexcused absences will result in a referral to the Regional Office of Education Attendance Improvement Program.

Valid reasons for excused absences: Illness of the student/family Unavoidable accident or emergency Anticipated absence with administrative approval prior to the absence, such as: Special religious holidays Other special circumstances as determined by the administration Excused absences NOT counted in the Eight Day Policy: School field trips Religious leaves Medical appointments, with written proof from the doctor Funeral for family members Court appearances, with written proof from court Extended serious/critical illness of student/family member Suspensions for disciplinary reasons Other absences as determined by the administration

Excessive absences may result in referral to the Regional Office Attendance Improvement Program.

All absences that are not classified above are considered unexcused absences. Please make every effort to make arrangements to get homework when your child is absent. It is necessary that we have the request by 9:30 a.m. Homework will be available after 3:15 p.m. and will be placed on the tables outside the office. Please encourage your child, upon his/her return to school, to check with his/her teacher about assignments/work missed. Tardies

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Arriving at school on time is critical to a successful school day. Students who accumulate excessive tardies will be required to have a parent/teacher/administrator conference to determine a plan for improvement on time attendance.

ADDRESSING BULLYING AT SCHOOL The following steps will be used when an incident of bullying is suspected or reported. Steps and procedures are followed at the discretion of the administrator, depending on severity, intensity, and frequency of events. 1. Gather information from all involved parties. This may include students directly or indirectly involved in the incident, teachers or other district staff, and parents. 2. Phone call home 3. Progressive consequences, following school discipline code. 4. When warranted, notify local police. *Please be aware that consequences for specific children cannot be shared with anyone other than that child’s parents. Parents may not be aware of consequences administered to students for this reason. We also include procedures for promptly reported bullying, including identifying and providing the school e-mail address (if applicable) and phone number for the staff person or persons responsible for receiving such reports and a procedure for anonymous reporting. If there are any questions, email the Principal, Jeff Starwalt at jstarwalt@ms.k12.il.us or the Assistant Principal, Courtney Porter, at cporter@ms.k12.il.us. You can also call Lincoln Trail Elementary School at 217-586-2811.

ARRIVAL TIME AND DAILY SCHEDULE 8:00 AM Students may not arrive before 8:00 a.m. daily 8:00-8:20 AM Weather permitting students report to playground. If weather dictates students are inside, 3rd and 4th grade students report to gym and 5th grade students report to cafeteria. 8:20-8:25 AM Students will begin moving to their classrooms. 8:30 AM Daily announcements will be made as needed to start the day. 10:00-10:15 AM Recess - Grade 3 11:00-11:40 AM Grade 4 lunch/recess period 11:30-12:10 PM Grade 3 lunch/recess period 12:00-12:40 PM Grade 5 lunch/recess period 1:15-1:30 PM Grade 4 afternoon recess 1:45-2:00 PM Grade 3 afternoon recess 2:15-2:30 PM Grade 5 afternoon recess 3:05 PM BUS STUDENTS and WALKERS dismissed 3:10 PM PARENT PICK UP STUDENTS and KID’s Club STUDENTS dismissed 3:35 PM End of Staff day 4:00 PM School office closes

ARRIVING/DISMISSING SCHOOL

Reminder: It is state law that the use of cell phones is restricted in school zones. 5

Arrival: Please do not bring or send your child to school before 8:00 a.m. as there is no supervision before that time. Students needing supervision prior to 8:00 a.m. may utilize the early drop off program located at Sangamon School. The fee for this service is $2.00 per day. Students are dropped off at Sangamon School and delivered by bus to Lincoln Trail School prior to the beginning of class. Lincoln Trail BUS students will enter their assigned entrance. All WALKERS or BICYCLISTS use the designated crosswalk and enter the south main entry. All students dropped off by AUTOMOBILE should be dropped off at the southeast exit (Dorchester Street) in the fifth grade hallway. Enter from Dorchester Street through the east doors. The children will walk through the hall to go outside. For the safety of our children it is important for ALL parents to use this drop off location. Also, for the safety of all children we will not allow cars to park or drop children off in the bus unloading areas on the west side of the building. Please make sure the children are here in class by 8:25 a.m. If a student is late for any reason, it is important that the parent or guardian bring them to the office and sign them in. Dismissal: Bus students will be dismissed at 3:05 p.m. and will board buses in the west bus lane. Walkers and bikers will also be dismissed at 3:05 p.m. and exit the south main exit. The designated crosswalk should be utilized when leaving school. Parent pick-up students will dismiss at 3:10 p.m. and exit through the east door in the fifth grade hall onto Dorchester Street. We realize there is often a long line of cars and it may require you to wait a few minutes until your turn, but for safety reasons it is important for this procedure to be followed. Students will only be dismissed between the pick-up sign area on Dorchester Street. If you are parked elsewhere and walk up to pick up your child, please use the crosswalks as we do not want children walking between parked cars. Do not park in the west parking lot as this creates a hazard for our departing busses. Also, for the safety of all children we do not allow cars to park or pick up children in the bus loading areas on the west side of the building.

ASSIGNMENT BOOKS

An assignment book will be included in your child’s activity fees for the year and will be distributed at the beginning of the school year. The assignment book has proven to be an effective tool to help students develop their organizational skills and provide for communication with parents. As a parent, the assignment book will offer you an opportunity to assist your child by providing you with a better understanding of what he or she is doing or has done in class. Students are encouraged to write down all information for each assignment as provided orally or in writing by the teacher including: a. Page numbers or name of assignment b. What is expected to be completed c. Due date of assignment d. Other guidelines for the assignment If a teacher gives an assignment that is due a week or a month ahead, students will be advised to move ahead in the assignment book and record due dates as the assignment is given.

BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL KID’S CLUB

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Before School Kids Club Where: Sangamon Elementary Who: Grades K – 5th When: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.

Contact Person: Jan Mason Cost: $15.00 per week or $3.00 each morning 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students are bused to Lincoln Trail at 8:00 a.m.

After School Kids Club

Where: Lincoln Trail Elementary Who: Grades 3rd – 5th When: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Contact Person: Terri Durst

Cost: $38.00 for MS staff per week or $9.00 per day $45.00 for all others per week or $10.00 per day

How to Enroll: Register for Kids Club on the Mahomet-Seymour CUSD #3 web store at http://mahomet.revtrak.net/tek9.asp . Click on this link for instructions on how to register your child. If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact the Mahomet-Seymour CUSD #3 Business Office at (217) 586-2161. Each program has limited daily capacity. Once registration is complete, a staff member from Kids Club will contact you to let you know if space is available or if capacity has been reached and your child has been added to a waitlist.

How to Make Payments: A one-time non-refundable registration fee is required to be paid through the web store as well. Once enrolled and accepted in the program, invoices will be distributed through e-mail at the beginning of the week requesting payment for that week’s services. Payment is not due for days Kids Club is not in session. If payment is not received within 5 days of the invoice due date, your child will not be accepted into care and the parent or guardian will be call to make other arrangements. If 10 days pass without payment, child care services will be terminated and the collection process will begin. Click on this link for instructions on how to make payments. If you have any questions regarding payments, please contact the Mahomet-Seymour CUSD #3 Business Office at (217) 586-2161.

We accept payment through programs such as Child Care Resource Services. The application must be filled out and returned to Child Care Resource Services within one week of your child’s enrollment or your child will not be accepted back into care until the paper work is complete. Your monthly co-payment, should this apply, will be due at the first of the month. Also, should you sign up for Before School Kids Club, these fees are not reimbursed by the State and will be your responsibility. You are still required to pay the $25.00 registration fee.

PLEASE NOTE: Kids Club is not a drop-in program. When enrolling your child, you will be asked to designate which days of the week your child will be attending. Your child may attend on registered days only. You will be responsible for paying for all registered days, regardless of whether your child attends.

BICYCLES All bicycles are to be left in the bicycle racks provided. We urge all riders to practice the safety rules and specific State of Illinois Rules of the Road. Students are to walk their bikes through the crosswalks. BIRTHDAYS

In an effort to address a variety of health issues including food allergies, childhood obesity, and the cost of treats, Lincoln Trail does not allow treats brought in by students for birthdays. We are committed to helping kids eat more nutritious foods and get more physical activity. Both are important factors in their

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health and wellness today and for years to come. Teachers will decide as to how birthdays will be acknowledged in their classrooms and will communicate this information to parents. We are trying to create an environment that makes healthy choice the easy choice for our students. We will continue to acknowledge birthdays during our daily announcements.

B.L.A.S.T. We are proud to offer our after school enrichment program, B.L.A.S.T. Thanks to the generosity of the Mahomet Area Youth Club and the ingenuity of our district staff and parents we will be offering fun and educational opportunities after school. B.L.A.S.T. classes will cover a variety of engaging topics. Classes will meet two days a week, Mon./Wed. or Tues./Thurs. from 3:15-4:15. Students will be provided a light snack. All classes are fee based and fees will be waived for those who qualify. Look for a list of classes and registration information in September. If you have questions please contact: Kelly Cramer, Program Coordinator: kcramer@ms.k12.il.us /217-766-1898

BREAKFAST

Breakfast is served from 8:00 am - 8:20 am and prices are as follows: • Paid: $1.50 • Reduced: $0.30 • Free: $0.00 Your student’s existing lunch account will be used to pay for breakfast. Please note that if a student wants just milk or extra milk, the price will be $0.40. If you are eligible for the free and reduced lunch, you are also eligible for free and reduced breakfast. It is not too late to fill out an application if you believe you may be eligible. Some options that you can expect to see on the Breakfast menu are: Lumberjacks, Pillsbury Mini Cinnis, French Toast Sticks, Breakfast Pizza, and Cereal.

BUS CONDUCT Riding the bus is a privilege which may be removed when the behavior of a student does not

conform to the rules of safe riding. Students and parents need to be aware that video cameras are used on school buses to protect the safety and welfare of the passengers, the driver and school property. Any student wanting to ride a bus that is not their normally scheduled one must have a bus pass. Please contact the Lincoln Trail office staff and the Transportation Director for bus passes.

C.A.T.C.H Lincoln Trail has joined thousands of other schools across the country as a CATCH school. “CATCH” stands for “Coordinated Approach to Child Health.” CATCH schools are committed to helping kids eat more nutritious foods and get more physical activity. As you know, both are important to their health and wellness today and for years to come.

Helping our children make positive health choices takes the entire school community-teachers, principals, cafeteria staff and parents working together in a coordinated way. We strongly encourage and welcome your support for this program. As a parent, your role in influencing your child to make healthy choices is extremely important.

A key focus of the CATCH Program is to create an environment that makes healthy choice the easy choice for our students. Throughout the year, we will promote positive health choices through wellness activities, classroom and physical education curricula. We hope you will encourage

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healthy choices at home, too. You will receive CATCH Program news periodically to keep you up to date on what’s happening at school and suggestions you can use at home to build more nutritious foods and more physical activity in your child’s life.

A major emphasis of CATCH is helping children learn to make healthy food choices. Our school will encourage students to eat only healthy and nutritious snacks during the school day. We will be using the terms “GO,” “SLOW” and “WHOA” to help kids know foods they should eat more-or less-of.

• GO foods include mostly fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and lower-fat

dairy products. They are lower in fat or sugar and are less processed. • SLOW foods are higher in fat or sugar or are more processed than GO foods. • WHOA foods are highest in fat or sugar or have been highly processed.

Here are other ways we hope you will support the CATCH Program:

• Send only healthy snacks to school class parties. • Pack healthy lunches for your child. • Find more opportunities for your child to be more active. • Be a positive role model.

CELL PHONES

Students may not carry cell phones with them throughout the regular school day. Cell phones must be shut off and stored in student lockers. Students in violation are subject to disciplinary action. Students are allowed to bring cell phones on fieldtrips for emergency use only. Cell phones must be shut off and stored while on the fieldtrip. If you need to contact your child, during the school day, please contact the school office 586-2811.

CHILDREN LEAVING SCHOOL EARLY

We know that occasionally it is necessary to take a child out of class for a doctor's appointment, etc. We hope you will not do so if it can be avoided. If it is necessary, however, please notify the teacher by note in advance. All students are to be signed out in the office by a parent or guardian. Your child will be excused to the office after they have been signed out in the front office.

DRESS AND GROOMING

It is expected that each student demonstrate good personal hygiene by arriving physically clean and dressed appropriately. Dress/appearance that creates undue distractions or results in disruptive actions on the part of the student will be screened by the administration and teaching staff. Clothing and jewelry deemed inappropriate, or lack of proper clothing for the weather conditions will also be screened by the Lincoln Trail staff. The following clothing is not allowed: *clothing advertising alcohol, tobacco, or profane language *clothing that reveals the mid-drift of the student (i.e. no tummies may be shown) *short skirts or shorts (the hem of the skirt or short needs to be even with the finger tips) *spaghetti straps (Camisoles may not be worn alone. They may be worn with an outer shirt over)

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*jeans that are too tight *long chains for wallets *pajama bottoms *baggy pants or low rider pants Students wearing any of the above clothing will be asked to call home for a suitable change of clothing. Please be aware that cologne, hairspray, etc. can create problems for students and staff members with allergies/asthmatic conditions. Therefore, we discourage the use and wearing of these products.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES All electronic devices must be kept powered-off and out-of-sight during the regular school day unless: (a) appropriate use of the device is permitted within building procedures, (b) the supervising teacher grants permission; (c) use of the device is provided in a student’s individualized education program (IEP); or (d) it is needed in an emergency that threatens safety of student, staff, or other individuals.

E-READERS Some students have expressed an interest in using their personal electronic reader (Kindle, NOOK, tablet, etc.) during silent reading time at Lincoln Trail. We embrace the use of technology in our classrooms and welcome the use of electronic readers (e-Readers) to enhance student learning and interest in reading. We are excited to see your child advance their reading skills while incorporating the evolving world of technology. However, this opportunity is a privilege that requires extra caution and responsibility both on the part of the students and their parents. The wide variety of hardware and software capabilities of available e-Readers makes them challenging to monitor and control in a school environment in contrast with school-owned technology assets like computers, etc. Therefore, if your child chooses to use an e-Reader at school, they must follow the appropriate guidelines: 1. At no time will e-Readers be used for anything other than reading school-appropriate

content or accessing programs to assist students in reading (e.g., dictionary assistance, highlighting, note-taking, etc.). Students will not play games or access leisure applications of any kind during the school day.

2. E-readers are only to be used at appropriate times and their use is always at the teacher’s discretion. The student is responsible for knowing how to properly use their e-Reader.

3. All e-Readers must have cellular and network capabilities disabled (turned off) while the device is at school.

4. The e-Reader should be charged at home and must not be a distraction for the student or those around him/her, nor be a source of any classroom disruption.

5. The e-Reader must be clearly identified as to ownership and students will not loan their e-Reader to another student. E-Readers must be taken home by the student every night and not left in the classroom or locker.

6. Any lost, stolen, or damaged e-Readers are not the responsibility of the school. Students who choose to bring their e-Readers to school do so at their own risk.

The agreement listed below will be available on our website and at our Back to School Nights. It is only necessary to complete if you authorize your child to bring their e-Reader to Lincoln Trail.

_ ____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Parent/Guardian Agreement: I authorize my child to bring their e-Reader to Lincoln Trail Elementary School with the understanding that it is used as a tool for reading only and that my child will comply with the aforementioned guidelines. I understand that Mahomet-Seymour C.U.S.D. #3 is not responsible for any damage or loss associated with my child’s e-Reader. I understand that a violation of the e-Reader policy may result in my child losing the privilege to bring his/her e-Reader to school and that I will be contacted if this occurs and required to pick up the device from school. Parent/Guardian Signature: ________________________________________Date: _______________ Student Agreement: I agree to abide by all guidelines described. I understand that a violation of the e-Reader policy may result in losing the privilege to bring the e-Reader to school. Student Signature: ________________________________________________ Date: ________________

EMERGENCY STUDENT PHONE NUMBERS

It is extremely important that we have a working phone number where every parent can be reached throughout the day. Registration information should have home phone, work number and the number of a relative, neighbor, or friend in case of an emergency. Please keep us informed when changes occur. Our district uses telephone broadcast system that will enable us to notify all parents/guardians by phone within minutes of an emergency or unplanned event that causes school dismissal, school cancellation or late start. This service may also be used to communicate general announcements or reminders. This system will simultaneously call all listed phone numbers in our parent/guardian contact list and will deliver a recorded message. It is important that your contact numbers be kept accurate throughout the school year.

FIELD TRIPS Each year there are specific trips our students will be taking as a part of their learning experiences. While several of these trips are at no cost to the students, others are "charge" trips. To offset the expense of these trips, we assess each student a fee to cover the exact cost of the planned trips, plays, or assemblies. A list of trips, events, and fees will be sent home the first few days of school each year. Your assistance in returning these promptly is appreciated. On many of these trips, we may have additional parent volunteers to assist with chaperoning. Each classroom teacher makes the selection of chaperones based on the availability of the parent, the teacher's perception of how well the parent will handle student control, and the leadership qualities demonstrated by parent volunteers on previous trips. Before volunteering, please be aware that any costs associated with the fieldtrip will be paid for by the chaperones. If you would like to be considered as a trip chaperone, be sure to let your child's homeroom teacher know at the beginning of the year or as early as possible that you are interested. If you are selected to assist for any of our early departure all day trips, please park in the northwest parking lot near the bus garage. Should the fees assessed for the field trips present a financial hardship for a family, please contact the principal. You will be asked to sign one field trip permission slip at the beginning of the school year which will cover all anticipated field trips for the school year. Parents will be notified at least 24 hours in advance by the classroom teacher for any field trip in which students are taken from the building. As a general rule, students who miss the field trip will not be allowed to attend the field trip with another grade level class. Exceptions to this policy are those students who are ill, or situations where the parent has been given

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permission by the classroom teacher and principal in advance. If a student chooses not to go on a fieldtrip, as it is an attendance day, the teacher may request that s/he attend school and complete work in a classroom within the grade level. If parents need to arrange early departure during a fieldtrip a signed note must be presented and the child should not return for the duration of the fieldtrip.

FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH Free and reduced lunch guidelines are available in the district business office. Free and reduced lunch applications can be obtained from the Lincoln Trail office.

HOMEWORK

Homework is assigned to extend learning time outside of the school day. In addition, homework can also help instill the skills of organization and time management. Parents are encouraged to support their child’s efforts with homework by setting aside a quiet place to study, as well as identifying a routine for completing homework on the nights that it is assigned. Although teachers often provide supervised study time during the school day, it is frequently necessary for students to do school work at home. We do not feel that excessive homework is desirable or productive, but a short period of study at home under the right conditions is appropriate. Many projects and research assignments will almost always require work outside of school hours. Parents can assist their children by providing a quiet place free from interruptions. Please assist your child by showing an interest in his or her work and helping them with questions they might have. The following philosophies about homework are embraced at Lincoln Trail Elementary School:

• Homework is important and isn’t optional. It is integral to the instructional program of our school. • Assignments should be appropriate for completion at home, and therefore, homework should not

represent “new” learning or learning that requires frequent explanations or interventions. Suitable homework assignments are those that are logical extensions of what was taught during the school day, and/or practice of previously learned skills.

• Homework is more valuable if links between the assignments and home can be established. • Emergencies do occur-students should not be unduly penalized. However, a pattern of

“suspicious” emergencies will result in communication with the parent and/or an alternative plan for completing the homework. Please notify the teacher in the event of an emergency.

• Teachers should help parents help their children. Our staff will support a richer intellectual environment at home by encouraging parental involvement and providing certain resources that can be used at home.

• Teachers will distinguish between completion and effort. Sometimes students put forth great effort, but do not complete an assignment. Students will be encouraged to document what they do before abandoning a homework assignment, what approaches they tried, or the names of students they phoned for help. Perseverance and resourcefulness are important qualities—we encourage students not to give up at the first sign of trouble.

• Please be aware that the teachers at Lincoln Trail have varying policies regarding homework and grading. These guidelines will be shared with students and their parents at the beginning of the year. Time allotted to homework will increase gradually from grade to grade. Individual differences among children may be taken into consideration by parents and teachers. Reading time is not included in the homework given by a classroom teacher, but rather, in addition to it. If your child is ill and you would like to request homework, please contact the school office by

9:30 a. m. All assignments will be gathered and placed on one of the tables in the main entry. Students are allowed 2 days for each day absent to complete work missed during an illness.

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INTERVENTION/ENRICHMENT INSTRUCTIONAL BLOCK The goal at Lincoln Trail is to achieve high levels of learning for all students. As Lincoln Trail works towards meeting the needs of all of our children, we implemented a thirty minute instructional block at all grade levels called LEAP (Learning, Excelling, Advancing and Preparing). Our intent is to provide additional support for students who experience difficulty in reading and enrich and extend the learning for students who do not need the additional reading support. This block will allow us to provide small group instruction to students focusing on extra reading support. We will analyze test data and classroom progress to determine areas of improvement needed and the focus of the small group instruction. We will continually collect data on the progress and make changes based on the needs of the individual children. Students that do not need the additional reading instruction will participate in extension or enrichment groups. We will pool the talents of our teachers and staff at each grade level to provide instruction during LEAP, therefore students may not always work with their homeroom teacher during this 30 minute block of instruction.

ITEMS NOT TO BE BROUGHT TO SCHOOL Valuable items, large sums of money, expensive jewelry, etc. should not be brought to school. Unusual items that need to be brought to school for a project should be cleared through the classroom teacher and administration.

LIBRARY

Our well-stocked library of over 15,000 items is used for classroom projects and also offers recreational reading materials for our students. These materials may be checked out for one week and may be renewed. Students are responsible for materials checked out, and are expected to pay for lost or damaged items. We encourage parents to visit and become familiar with our Lincoln Trail Library. In addition, Lincoln Trail has an extensive literacy library which provides reading materials for children of all reading levels. There is also a parent library which parents are encouraged to utilize.

LUNCH PROGRAM Mahomet-Seymour Schools has adopted a computerized Point of Sale payment system for all school meals purchased in the district’s cafeterias. Every student will have their own personal lunchroom account based on their current student ID number. All student ID numbers are confidential. We encourage parents to deposit money into the student’s account via our district web store at: http://mahomet.revtrak.net/tek9.asp in any amount at any time. Purchases must be made prior to 9:30 a.m. to apply to the current day’s available balance. The store accepts VISA and MasterCard Debit or Credit cards. We will still accept cash or checks as we have in the past. When sending in money by check or cash, please include the student’s ID number on the check or envelope so it is deposited into the correct account. An added benefit for everyone is the ability to see your child’s available balance each day. You can access balances at our district web store with your student’s ID number. Daily lunch cost is $1.85 per day. PARKING AND EARLY STUDENT PICKUP To avoid traffic congestion with buses, parents must not drive through nor park in the bus lane

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when school is in session or drop off children in the bus area. On party days, be sure to stay clear of bus lanes when parking. Parent volunteers and chaperones for trips should park in the northwest parking area just south of the Transportation Department. At Lincoln Trail, the State Street parking and the west lots may be used for visitors. Any early departures require parents to sign out their children in the office. To do so, please park on State Street, come into the office and sign your child out. Please do not go directly to your child's classroom. We will call your child to the office to meet you.

Public Act 94-0994 This act which was passed by the State of Illinois General Assembly, amends the Sex Offender Registration Act and requires school districts to notify parents that information about sex offenders is available to the public as provided for in the Act. The web site for the Illinois Sex Offender Registry is: http://www.isp.state.il.us/sor/ Click on “I agree” at the bottom of the page to access the search page. To view a map of registered sex offenders, please go to: http://www.familywatchdog.us/ ROOM PARENTS

Our PTO organizes room parents. There will be a room dad or mom appointed as party chairperson for each room during the first few weeks of school. Party dates, times, and a parents' party list will be prepared.

SALES AT SCHOOL The school premises are not to be used by students for the sale of anything unless approved by the office.

SCHOOL CONDUCT The conduct of each student should bring credit to the individual and his school. The following information applies to the overall conduct expected of a student at Lincoln Trail during the school day and during school sponsored activities. LINCOLN TRAIL STUDENT BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS: We have created a positive school atmosphere by establishing a consistent set of behavior expectations and consequences as well as recognition for students who meet these expectations. Working toward this goal will result in an increased sense of school unity and pride. These expectations, designed so that the learning environment is productive and positive are guided by the following school rules.

SCHOOL RULES As a staff we have identified three school rules: 1. Be Respectful 2. Be Responsible 3. Be Safe Information regarding our MVP Awards, All-Star Class Awards and Lunch of Champions will be further explained at the beginning of the school year.

PLAYGROUND RULES 1. While playing on the blacktop, students stay away from classroom windows and entry doors to

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avoid disturbing classes in progress. 2. Ask permission of the supervisor before leaving the playground area. 3. ROUGH PLAY OR ANY OTHER ROUGH CONTACT GAMES ARE NOT ALLOWED. This

includes tackle football, rugby, dodge ball, Red Rover, etc. 4. Sit on the seats of the swings. 5. Gum or candy on the playground is not permitted. 6. The ringing of the bell is the signal that recess has ended. Please line up in a quick and orderly

manner and walk silently into the building. 7. Immediately report any injury to a teacher or staff member on recess duty. 8. Any object that could hurt others should not be thrown. 9. Report any damage to property to a teacher or staff member on recess duty. **Please carefully review the Board of Education Discipline Policy in the District Handbook.

STANDARDIZED TESTING In the second semester of each school year, 3rd, 4th and 5th graders will be given the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test. It is extremely important that students are in attendance on these days, so please make every effort to schedule appointments outside of school time.

STUDENT DISCIPLINE The Mahomet-Seymour Unit 3 Schools will be implementing the new Illinois law that addresses student discipline - commonly referred to as Senate Bill 100 - effective September 15, 2016. Additional information about Senate Bill 100 will be provided to parents/guardians after the new law goes into effect. The school administration is authorized to discipline students for gross disobedience or misconduct. A child may be suspended out of school for 1-3 days provided that the student's continuing presence in school poses a threat to school safety or a disruption to other students' learning opportunities. School officials must take all reasonable steps to resolve such threats, address such disruptions, and minimize the length of the suspension. Four day suspensions and 5-10 day suspensions might also be given if it is found that the student's continuing presence in school poses a threat to the safety of other students, staff, or members of the school community or would substantially disrupt, impede, or interfere with the operation of the school. Once again, school officials must take all reasonable steps to resolve such threats, address such disruptions, and minimize the length of the suspension. For expulsions, all of the requirements for 5-10 day suspensions must be met. In addition, the school board must give specific reasons why removing the student from school is in the best interest of the school and provide rationale for the duration of the expulsion. This information must be provided in the written expulsion decision provided to the student's parents.

SUPPORTIVE SERVICES Lincoln Trail offers an array of support services in varying delivery models which encompass the following: Special Education, Remedial Reading, Speech/Language, Social Work, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Vision, and Hard of Hearing, Tiered Leveled Reading Support. Criteria for eligibility into these services may be obtained from the Special Education Office. If your child is struggling in school either academically or behaviorally please contact your child’s classroom teacher to set up a parent-teacher conference. At this conference you and the teacher will work together to discuss options and/or accommodations that can be implemented to assist your child in the classroom or on homework if needed. Please note that as the child matures through the year accommodations may need to be changed or adapted. If after trying a variety of

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accommodations/modifications and your child continues to struggle with the accommodations/ modifications in place either the parent or the classroom teacher may ask for a Parent-Teacher-Principal Meeting, where further steps may be taken to address your child’s difficulties in school. This meeting will serve two purposes: one to assist in offering other strategies that can be tried in the classroom and two to determine if this child should be reviewed by the Response to Intervention Team.

Students who are experiencing daily or chronic learning or behavioral difficulties might be referred to the building RTI team (Response to Intervention) This team typically consists of the classroom teacher, a special education teacher, the principal, the assistant principal, the school psychologist, speech/language pathologist, social worker, and interventionist. The objective of the meeting is to identify the student’s area(s) of weakness and then develop accommodations, modifications, and in some cases, interventions to aid the student in the regular education classroom. Progress monitoring (data collection) will be done for students throughout the process to measure their improvement. Progress monitoring and data collection may be done by a variety of school personnel. Throughout the process the team will continue to meet and discuss the progress of your child and make changes accordingly so that he or she may be successful in the regular education classroom. In some cases a child might be referred for a Comprehensive Case Study (CCS) to one of several specialists in the support services department. Your written consent is required before the formal evaluation can commence. Following the evaluation, a meeting will be held to discuss the results with parents and staff and talk about further recommendations for helping your student be successful in school. If your child is experiencing chronic learning or behavioral difficulties at school that are not being addressed, please schedule a parent-teacher conference to discuss your concerns with your child’s classroom teacher or contact the school administration.

VIDEO SURVEILANCE Sections of our school building and school grounds are under video surveillance.

VISITORS

We are mindful of the need to keep our children safe while they are at school. Entry into the school by visitors should always occur at the main entrance located on the south side of the building. An intercom button at the main entrance must be pressed to be admitted to the building. When office personnel answer, please identify yourself and the purpose of your visit. The door will be unlocked for your admittance. You will then report to the office to obtain an ID badge. After completing your business in the building, please return to the office and sign out. All entrances to Lincoln Trail will remain locked throughout the day.

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WITHDRAWAL FROM SCHOOL Families planning to move from the school district during the year are asked to officially notify the teacher and the school office as far in advance as possible. This allows for school records to be compiled for an orderly transfer to the new school. Parents may expect to sign a record release at the new school giving us permission to forward the cumulative records.

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