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 West Park Academy of Fine Arts & TechnologyParent/Student Handbook1425 N. TrippChicago, ILPhone 773-534-4940 Fax 773-534-4945Dr. Joyce Booker-ThomasPamela Chambers Principal Assistant PrincipalDear Parents and Community Residents, You are cordially welcome to West Park Academy where we nurture and care for our students as we focus on their academic success. This handbook is intended to provide you with information regarding our practices, policies, and procedures. Your partnership is important to us and we hope you will find it helpful in understanding our school environment. We are committed to ensuring that every student is offered the opportunity to grow and learn in a positive, safe, and caring environment. To achieve this objective, communication between the school and the home is essential. Our focus on technology and fine arts connects students to the next generation of independent thinkers and provides for college and career readiness. We also appreciate this opportunity to connect with our students’ families as we know that each of you want the absolute best for your children. It is our hope that you will work with us in the development and achievement of our goals. With your partnership West Park Academy, looks forward to having a successful school year of teaching and learning. We encourage you to visit our school’s website at for important information and updates including a link to the parent portal to view your child’s grades. Once again, you are always welcome at West Park Academy. Please fill free to arranged meetings with administrators or teachers by calling the main office at 773-534-4940. Sincerely,Dr. Joyce Booker-ThomasPrincipalVisionThe vision of West Park Academy of Fine Arts & Technology is to create a school community that works together in a safe, comfortable learning environment. All students will actively participate as they become literate and competent in a technology rich atmosphere.MissionThe mission of West Park Academy of Fine Arts & Technology is to promote literacy while encouraging students, parents, & community members to become lifelong learners. All students will be provided with a challenging academic program emphasizing reading improvement, technology, and the arts in a diverse and safe learning environment. Visiting West Park AcademyVisitors may access West Park from the main entrance door “D”, continue to the security desk and sign the visitor’s log. Then proceed to the office for requests. Uninterrupted instruction time is very important, so parents if you need to speak to your child’s teacher, we encourage you to make an appointment for a conference. To protect all students, parents and unauthorized personnel will be asked to leave the recess area while students are engaged in outside activities. Cooperation with this safety procedure is greatly appreciated.Arrival ProceduresParents, West Park Academy does not engage in early school supervision, so please do not drop your children off prior to the start of school. The school’s hours are from 8:45 to 3:45. The distribution of breakfast is from 8:45-8:55. If in the event of inclement weather, students will be allowed to enter the building at 8:30 and report to the lunch room until 8:45.Entry/Exit DoorsGrades Pre K - 3 Door D(Middle Doors)Grades 4 - 5Door F(South Doors)Grades 6 - 8Door C(North Doors)TardyIt is pertinent that students arrive at school on time. Being tardy disrupts instruction. If a student arrives after 9:00, he or she will be considered tardy. Students who are tardy will get a tardy pass from the security officer and will be marked tardy by the teacher. Parents will be contacted on the 3rd tardy and students will receive a PM detention. Detention is scheduled from 3:45 pm to 4:30 pm. Detention students will be dismissed at 4:30 pm through the center doors. It is the parent’s responsibility to pick up a detained student.Early DismissalFor precaution, a student will only be dismissed to parents/guardians or anyone who is listed on the student’s emergency form. Remember school dismisses at 3:45. West Park strongly recommends that parents make appointments during non-attendance days. Early dismissals will not be issued after 3:30 because this will cause disruptions to classroom and school-wide end of day proceedings.School DismissalStudents must be picked up outside by their designated entry/exit door at 3:45. Children left stranded at school must be picked up by a parent or parent designee. Using the emergency numbers on file, the school will attempt to contact a parent. If your child does not have afterschool; according to the policy of Chicago Public Schools, “If by 4:30 pm, the parent, guardian, or emergency contact has not been reached and/or no one arrived to pick up the student, school staff shall call DCFS, CPS Student Safety Center, and 911.” AbsencesParents are required to write a note upon their child’s absence. According to section 5/16-2a of the school code and the Board’s policy on absenteeism and truancy there are 4 valid causes for a student being absent:IllnessDeath in the immediate familyFamily emergency - documentation is required. “Emergency” is at the discretion of administrationObservance of a religious holidayNOTE: Vacations are not excused absences, please plan for vacations during scheduled CPS breaks (refer to school calendar or West Park’s website).Food and BirthdaysParents please do not allow your child to bring unhealthy foods to school. Birthday celebrations are no longer permitted. There are four celebratory times where students can bring treats. Those times are Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and the end of the school year.Dress CodeIn a continuing effort towards excellence, West Park Academy will continue to enforce the dress code policy. The uniform consists of any combination of blue and gold. Jeans are not allowed. Any type of dress or grooming which is distracting will not be permitted. Students must be neat, clean and conservatively dressed. The following can serve as a guideline for you.Boys: No earrings or body piercings.No designs in the hair (graphics).No hats/du-rags/scarves can be worn in the building.No clothing that promotes drugs, violence, sex, profanity or anything illegal.No large expensive jewelry.No sagging pants, pajama pants or short pants.No underwear showing.No pants without belts.No plain white T-Shirts (regardless of length).Girls: No body piercings.No clothing that promotes drugs, violence, sex, profanity or anything illegal.No designs in the hair (graphics).No large expensive jewelry.No hats/du-rags/scarves/bonnets can be worn in the building.No sagging pants, pajama pants, or short pants.No undergarments showing.No revealing clothing (low cut, high cut, see-through).No leggings with short-shorts or miniskirts.Gym shoes are required for gym. On gym days, students wearing gym clothes must wear the clothes under their uniform. Sweat pants, uniform shorts, uniform t-shirt and gym shoes meet the proper gym attire.Cell PhonesCell phones are not permitted on school premises per the Chicago Public Schools Student Code of Conduct. Parents must submit a written application to the principal specifying why your child needs a phone on the premises. The principal will make a determination and respond to the parent’s request. Violations of the cell phone policy: If a student is caught using a cell phone, the phone will be confiscated and a parent must claim it from the office and the Student Code of Conduct will be enforced.***Bringing cell phones to school is at a student’s and parent’s own risk. The school is not liable if the phone is either loss, damaged, or stolen.***Classroom ExpectationsThe teachers at West Park Academy have high expectations for their students. Each teacher will make accessible the rules and consequences for his/her class. This information will be provided for the parents during the first week of school. Contact your child’s teacher(s) with any concerns. You may call the school or send an email to your child’s teacher.ConferencesParent teacher conferences must be scheduled with a written request to the teacher.Report Card Pick-upsNovember 18, 2015April 13, 2016Parents should pick up their child’s report cards at the end of the first and third quarters.Progress ReportsParents should review their child’s progress report during the 5th, 15th, 25th, and 35th weeks of schoolOctober 9, 2015January 8, 2016March 11, 2016May 20, 2016HomeworkIt is the Chicago Public Schools’ policy that homework is given daily. Parents you should provide space and quiet time for your child to complete his/her homework daily. Parents please assist your child in the use of community resources, such as libraries, that can be helpful to the student when completing homework. Parents should contact the teacher if there are any problems or questions regarding the homework. Parents are encouraged to track their child’s grades via CPS parent portal.Approximate time spent on homeworkGrades K-1 up to 30 minutesGrades 2-3up to 1 hourGrades 4-5 up to 1 ? hoursGrades 6-8up to 2 hours Also students are expected to read for recreational purposes daily.Grading ScaleA = 90 – 100B = 80 – 89C = 70 – 79D = 60 – 69F = 0 – 59AssessmentsVarious assessments will be administered throughout the school year, letters will be sent home keeping you abreast of the scheduled dates and times. The major CPS assessments are:REACHDIBELSIDELMClassPARCCNWEAACCESSAlso students will receive a variety of weekly formative assessments.MedicationThe district maintains a policy on the requirements for the administration of medication to a student during school hours. A written request must be made by a licensed physician and submitted on the CPS medication request form. Medication will not be administered unless these forms are properly completed and received. An authorized person will administer medications. Field TripsStudents who do not follow West Park Academy’s 7 Golden Rules (see below) and those students who are frequently absent and/or tardy will not participate in any of the extra activities West Park Academy provides. However, those students who have the opportunity to attend trips, are expected to be on their best behavior and still follow the rules of WPA. Students must wear their school uniform during these times as well. Code of Conduct/DisciplineWe encourage our school community to treat everyone the way they want to be treated however, sometimes there is a need for corrective action. A copy of the Chicago Public Schools Code of Conduct will be issued to every student. Please review the manual with your child.Students are expected to follow all the school rules: When relating to fighting, West Park Academy has a zero tolerance policy. In the event of a fight, all parties involved will be suspended, regardless of who started the fight.West Park Academy’s 7 Golden RulesHands-Off (No play-fighting, No horse-playing, No slapping, kicking, punching etc.)Uniform Policy (Students must comply with the school’s dress code)Cellphone Policy (No cellphones during school hours)Respect your peers (No bullying, threats, intimidation, provoking, insulting remarks to other students)Respect All Adults (Follow the instruction of the adults, no profane language or talking back)Respect the Property of Others (No stealing, vandalizing, or damaging of property)Respect your school (No littering, no destroying property, no gum chewing or eating food throughout the building)Positive Behavioral Interventions & Support (PBIS) Action PlanOverall Management Policies:1. Classroom management Plan: All teachers should have a classroom management routine written and that is regularly reviewed with the students. This plan should include the use of the school-wide anecdotal log, rules, consequences, and procedures. An example of consequences:Consequences:verbal warningre-assigned seating within the regular seating arrangementpreferential seating by the teacher, teacher-student conference (note in discipline log)phone call or email to parent (note in discipline log)detention (note in discipline log)parent conference (note in discipline log)parent visit to sit with child referral to office/principalin-school suspensionout-of-school suspension2. School-wide use of the anecdotal log3. Classroom incentives: tickets, raffle cards, points on Class DojoPM Detention:Detention will require students to remain 45 minutes after school from 3:45 to 4:30. Parents, if your child receives detention, it will be your responsibility to pick up your child at 4:30. During detention time students will be required to write a full page essay explaining the reason(s) why he/she received detention and express ways to prevent the behavior in the future. Detention is mandatory for any 3rd - 8th grader who fail to follow West Park Academy’s Rules. This includes excessive tardies. In-school Suspension Outline:IN-SCHOOL SUSPENSION VISIONIn School suspension is an alternative to out of school suspension to help maintain our positive focus on improving students’ negative behaviors and increase attendance. All students will be supervised by the Positive Behavior Monitor [PBM].Positive Behavior Monitor (PBM)The focus is helping students understand the decision-making process and to acknowledge that they are responsible for their actions. Students will participate in personal reflective activities as well as complete assignments that will be graded by their homeroom teacher. Students will also be provided lessons and/or video clips designed to help them modify their negative behavior patterns. A list of rules and procedures will be posted in the ISS Room. Please refer to the Student Code of Conduct for additional information.Volunteering at West ParkWest Park Academy welcomes the support from our parents and community. If you would like to assist West Park in our efforts of improving students’ academics and to help transform the school, please contact the school’s office for an application. All volunteer applications have to be approved by Chicago Public Schools.Local School Council (LSC)The local school council is made up of elected parents, community members, teachers and our principal. Monthly meetings will be held in the school’s faculty lounge. Parents and community residents are always welcome to attend. Current LSC MembersRosaura OquendoCandida VargasOlivia BuenoCynthia AveryEnrique MedranoMaria EspinozaBetsy GordilsLaura Povsner-BrackeAntwan McHenryMeeting ScheduleSeptember 16, 20159:00October 21, 20154:00November 18, 20159:00December 16, 20154:00January 20, 20169:00February 17, 20164:00March 16, 20169:00April 20, 20164:00May 18, 20169:00June 15, 20164:00 ................
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