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Wilton Manors Elementary

IB World School

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Faculty/ Staff Handbook

2015-2016

Melissa Holtz, Principal

Sheneka Blue, Assistant Principal

MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Wilton Manors Elementary School is for all students to develop intercultural understanding and respect through intellectual rigor and high academic standards in a safe and secure learning environment.

ATTENDANCE

It is the responsibility of the teacher to notify Sub Central to arrange a substitute. If you know prior to your absence, please notify the substitute coordinator.

Teachers are requested to keep plan books, grade books and necessary materials needed by a substitute readily available.

ALL TEACHER NEED TO PREPARE TWO WEEKS OF EMERGENCY SUB PLANS. THESE PLANS SHOULD BE REVIEWED BY TEAM LEADERS AND THEN PLACED IN A DESIGNATED AREA IN THE CLASSROOM AND CLEARLY LABELED BY SEPTEMBER 5TH.

Sick leave is provided for your personal illness or that of your immediate family. It should be used with the greatest of care since we are allowed only ten days per year cumulative. Six days for personal reasons are available as part of the ten days sick leave.

Teachers desiring to leave school early must request permission from an administrator and sign out on the cards at the substitute coordinatorʼs desk.

Questions regarding sick leave days, salary or employment status should be given to the payroll processor. If at any time during the school year a change in address, telephone number occurs, please make the change on ESS and notify the payroll processor.

When a faculty meeting or group meeting is missed, it is the teacher’s responsibility to obtain the agenda from their Team Leader and become knowledgeable about the information given in the meeting.

Teachers should arrive on school campus by 7:40 a.m. If there is a problem please contact the payroll processor as soon as possible after arriving late and sign in with her.

A work or planning period is provided for teachers from 7:40 a.m to 8:25 a.m. and one hour during the school day. County regulations require a seven and one half workday for teaching personnel.

Wednesday mornings and two other planning periods should be reserved for professional meetings within the building during the week. These include, but are not limited to staff and committee meeting. Do not schedule any other appointments on these scheduled times. Review the school calendar to prevent conflict. It is advisable to check the school calendar on First Class and read the Monday Message to keep apprised of the school calendar.

ACCIDENTS

When a child appears to be injured, or has been involved in any type of accident, make the child comfortable and call the appropriate person. Any hazardous condition should be reported to the office. The "Emergency Response Team" Code Blue is used for medical emergencies. DO NOT MOVE THE CHILD.

WHEN A CHILD IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THE TEACHER MUST REPORT IT TO THE OFFICE AND MUST COMPLETE A "STUDENT ACCIDENT REPORT FORM". THIS FORM IS COMPLETED TO PROTECT YOU IN ANY FUTURE LEGAL ACTION. THE STAFF MEMBER ON DUTY AT THE TIME AND LOCATION OF THE ACCIDENT WILL SIGN THE ACCIDENT REPORT AS THE WITNESS.

All school related accidents/injuries to staff members or volunteers must be reported to the office immediately. Failure to do so may result in the inability to acquire Workman's Compensation, insurance, etc.

ACTIVITIES

All activities must have approval form administration prior to planning. This includes activities during the school day, after school, and on weekends. Please note the following requirements for giving a program during the school year. All major activity dates are to be approved by administration. When this request has been approved, the activity will be placed on the Master Calendar by administration.

Notify the head custodian of your needs.

Notify the cafeteria, media, etc. of usage of the facility.

Assemblies should be educational and should include follow-up activities in the classroom.

ADULTS ON CAMPUS

All adults who have business on campus are required by board policy to report to the office upon entering the campus. The visitor must present photo ID and be entered into the STAR system. This applies to visitors, tutors, volunteers, etc. If visitors come to your classroom without a pass, send them to the office to obtain a visitor’s pass. Any unidentified person on campus should be called into the office immediately. If you open a locked door to admit a person to campus, you “own” that person until they leave campus or report to the main office.

ANIMALS/ PETS AT SCHOOL

Animals/ pets must not be kept in classrooms or brought to school by students, parents, or staff members. The State Department of Education and our Department of Safety and Risk Management are quite specific about restrictions, which require that animals may be used in a classroom only when such is directly related to a specific educational objective and course of study. Fish, baby chicks, and ant farms may be exceptions to these restrictions with administrative approval.

BOOKKEEPING

There will be no refunds available for teachers to make their own purchases and seek reimbursement. Requests for supplies or materials may be made at any time to the principal or through your Team Leader and will be granted or denied based on the available funds. When general supplies are needed for your classroom, a requisition form is available in the office and should be completed and given to the office manager.

BUILDING EVACUATION DRILL

At least one building evacuation drill will be conducted each month. The signal for evacuating the building will be the fire alarm. Unless an announcement has been made to the effect that maintenance employees are working on the fire alarm, all students and staff are to evacuate immediately at the signal. Students are to move quickly (no running) and without talking along the designated route to the appropriate destination.

Teachers are to take the attendance roster/plan book with the class and check the class attendance during the evacuation drill.

The signal for returning to the school facility will be the program bell. Students are to return to the classroom quietly. The school's performance on the drill, including the time, weather, etc. will be reported to the Safety Department, as required.

Assemblies

Discipline and maintaining student behavior during assemblies is the teacher’s responsibility.

Please use the seating arrangement as follows:

1. Your class should enter the cafeteria in a single line and proceed to designated area.

2. Students should not walk on material, but in areas between material.

3. Students should sit as quietly as possible in two rows with the center of the cafeteria remaining open.

4. Chairs will be available for teachers to sit near the wall or center aisle.

5. Dismissal at the conclusion of the assembly:

a. Students will stand at teacher’s direction and exit the cafeteria in a line utilizing all three doors.

b. Student Council officers should remain to roll up material and return to classroom.

BUS

Arrival - Students will be arriving at approximately 8:00 a.m. Coverage will be needed to help the students go directly to the cafeteria. Bus students will be dismissed from the cafeteria at 8:20 a.m.

All faculty-staff must be on duty or in their classes for supervision of students.

Dismissal - All Head Start students are dismissed at 2:30 p.m. K students are released at 2:45 p.m. All remaining students are dismissed at 2:50 p.m.

Behavior - Discuss with the students proper bus conduct and safety procedures. Noise, not sitting in seats, and eating on the bus are some continued misconduct that will not be tolerated.

Cafeteria Procedures

Classes are to come in quietly through assigned doors, at the assigned time, single file. Before leaving the classroom, table cleaners and sweepers should be designated.

Wholesome, well-balanced lunches are served each school day in our cafeteria. Children may bring their lunch, or purchase a school lunch. Lunch may be purchased by the week in advance or on a daily basis.

Classes are to sit at assigned tables. Good table manners and correct cafeteria procedure should be part of the classroom health program.

Children should not reenter the kitchen after they have been served. Help them develop responsibility for remembering to pick up their trays, and leave the area clean for the next group. Dismissal from the table should be orderly with one side of each table assigned to remain and check the cleanliness of table, and check around the area for trash. Teachers will line up their classes for dismissal from the cafeteria. Students should discard trays in trash in an orderly fashion, picking up fallen items. Students should use the rest room in their classrooms before coming to the cafeteria. Please instruct your class that the children are to stay in their seats at all times unless instructed by cafeteria personnel to move to another area.

Students requesting free lunch must have a completed the online lunch application. A computer is available in the front office for parents that do not have access at home. Approval will be based upon information on the application. The applications are processed by the Food & Nutrition Department and all parent inquires should be referred there.

In the event a class will not be present at any lunch hour, inform the cafeteria manager in advance. A two week advance notice is mandatory for any fieldtrips.

CHANGE OF NAME/ADDRESSES

If you have any changes in your name, address, etc., please see the office secretary to change our records. Employees will need to go onto ESS to change their address/phone number for the county. If a name needs to be changed, please notify the Benefits & Payroll departments and include your updated Social Security card.

CHILDREN OF STAFF MEMBERS

Staff members who have children must be responsible for supervision of the children before and after class hours. Children must not be given free access to the school. Children must remain in the individual staff member's classroom or in the aftercare program (BASH). The computer lab, media center, and other such areas are also off-limits. Children should not pass through or work in the staff lounges, staff work rooms or office areas where confidential conversations may take place. All rules and regulations that apply to the student body also apply to children of staff members. The above restrictions may be lifted with Principal permission or Designee.

CLASS INTERRUPTIONS

Under no circumstances should a teacher send a child out of the classroom without a proper pass indicating a particular designation such as the clinic, restroom, etc.

Students are not to be allowed to enter another teacher's class without a note or pass from the teacher. Do not permit students to leave your room without the pass needed for the occasion. When sending students to the front office, please send a note as children tend to forget the purpose of their trip when they get to the office.

CLINIC PROCEDURES

Be sure that any child sent to the clinic has the appropriate pass. The pass enables office staff to immediately identify the student and the nature of the student visit. Clinic passes can be found in the metal cabinet next to the workroom.

COLLABORATED PLANNING

According to the International Baccalaureate Organization PYP standards, teachers are expected to have collaborated planning on a weekly basis throughout the school year.

COLLECTION OF MONEY

Wilton Manors Elementary is a member of the Business Support Center. Please adhere to all guidelines regarding money collection and fieldtrips. Please see Nancy Graves or Maria Regnifo for specific guidelines and procedures.

COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND INFESTATIONS

The School Board policy states that students infected with any communicable disease or infestation or suspected of being infected with a communicable disease or infestation shall not be permitted to attend school. This policy shall also apply to students having outbreak infestations of a communicable disease, as outlined by the Coordinated Health Services Department. Students having such communicable diseases or infestations shall be excluded from school, according to the rules of this policy, until shown, by examination, to be free of infection or infestation. A complete explanation of the rules can be found in the policy handbook located in the administration offices.

COMMUNICATION

Teachers are responsible for checking their mailboxes and voicemail three times daily -- morning, lunch, and afternoon. E-mail should also be checked daily. Teachers are responsible for checking the staff bulletin board and electronic calendar at least once each day. Messages and information from other departments of the School Board are placed on administrative boards in the mail office hallway. Items may not be posted on the staff bulletin board without administrative approval/initials.

CONFERENCES

TEACHERS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE 2 CONFERENCES A YEAR – ONE EACH SEMESTER. UPON COMPLETION OF ANY PARENT CONFERENCE/ MEETING, IN COMPLIANCE WITH SENATE BILL 1108, ALL STAFF AND PARENTS MUST COMPLETE BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS DOCUMENT RELATING TO PARENTAL INPUT AND MEETINGS. A COPY OF THIS FORM IS AVAILABLE ON THE WME CAB CONFERENCE.

Teacher-parent conferences are valuable since both the school and the home are involved in the development of the child. Conferences are for the sole purpose of understanding and helping the child. There should be no conferences during school hours unless absolutely necessary and with prior arrangements made for teacher coverage of class.

Conferences can be scheduled at the request of either the teacher or the parent. Please note conference requests on report card, when the form is returned. The best time to schedule a conference is when you need it. Do not wait until a problem becomes serious to seek help in solving it. Phone conferences are acceptable when personal conferences cannot be arranged.

Listed below are several points that can help you plan your conferences:

• Have a purpose.

• Be careful to include some favorable comments.

• If a child is having difficulty, you are seeking help in solving it. Listen and encourage the

parent to help you by giving you information that might be helpful.

• Use language parents can understand.

• Remember that if you know all the answers, you would not need a conference.

• Keep on the subject. Avoid comparisons

• Avoid shifting school responsibility of the teacher.

• Be communicative. The parent should leave with some understanding of the child’s work –

successes and failures.

• Try to evolve a cooperative plan for improving the situation.

Some conferences do not involve a problem. They may be explanatory conferences, during which the teacher attempts to interpret the school program to the parent. They may be evaluative conferences in which the parent and the teacher discuss the progress being made. There are numerous reasons for conferences. Written records of conferences should be made on the form provided. Have the parent sign. Turn in your conference folder with your report cards. File in the cumulative folder at the end of the year.

Face-to-face contact is much more effective and much less likely to lead to misunderstanding. A written communication that goes home, on any subject, must first be cleared through administration. Stationary is available.

Please be sure all students receive school communications. Emphasize the importance of such notices arriving home. Try to send most papers home in the Home-School communication folder. If a parent-principal-teacher conference would be beneficial, please schedule through the office.

CONTACT SPORTS AND EQUIPMENT

Students are not allowed to participate in contact sports at school. Staff members must prohibit students from playing football (including "tag"), baseball (with hardball), red rover, murder ball, etc.

Kindergarten and first grade students will use their designated playground. Primary students are not permitted to jump off of monkey bars or other equipment. Please see the section on "Playground" for specific kindergarten/first grade playground rules. Playground equipment may be used only after the PE Coach has instructed students in the proper use.

COPYING MATERIALS

1. Each teacher will be allotted 2000 copies per month for the large machine used for multiple copies.

2. All other copiers in the school are to be used for 1 or 2 copies only.

3. The copy machine is available for teachers to do their own copying before school, after school, and during teacher planning time.

4. Office staff will be available to handle most “emergency” requests.

5. Examine material to be duplicated and remember to use transparencies whenever possible.

6. Use both sides to save paper whenever possible.

CORPORAL PUNISHMENT

The principal shall share with the teacher the responsibility for maintaining proper school conduct and morale. Teachers are responsible for control and direction of students, except that corporal punishment shall not be used under any circumstances. The use of reasonable force necessary to isolate the disruptive students from the classroom shall not constitute corporal punishment. Administration should be contacted immediately for assistance. Teachers will be supported in any reasonable and proper school board action that they may take.

Additional information on the behavior management of students is contained in the district’s Elementary Code of Student Conduct. Alternate methods for handling discipline problems are presented in “The Solutions Book” which is available to all teachers in the media center and there are additional behavior resources on the WME Cab Conference. Continually work with Team Leaders, Behavior Specialist and administration for strategies to improve discipline.

CORRESPONDENCE

All written communications must be submitted for administrative approval. Correct spelling and sentence structure are essential. Always be tactful. Good public relations will make your job more effective and pleasant. Interim reports should be written on a professional level. All report cards, interim reports, class letters, and parent correspondence must be reviewed by school administration prior to distribution. School stationary may be used when appropriate. Material and information going out on school stationary must be reviewed by an administrator prior to sending. After a letter has been approved, e-mail it to the secretary and she will place it on letterhead for you.

Remember to use the Parent Communication folders for weekly information going home to parents.

CREDIT UNION

There is a Star Bright Credit Union for employees of the School Board of Broward County. There will be a credit union contact person at each school site.

The School Board provides payroll deductions for deposits to the Credit Union. Your entire check or a portion can be deposited in your checking or savings account or a payment can be credited to any loan through the payroll department.

BSCU offices and phone numbers:

MAIN OFFICE: 1879 N State Road 7 NORTH OFFICE: 6201 W Sample Road (Turtle Run Plaza)

Lauderhill, FL Coral Springs, FL

954 486-BSCU 954 973-BSCU

SOUTH OFFICE : 5691 Farragut St. KATHLEEN WRIGHT BUILDING: 600 S.E. 3 Avenue

Hollywood, FL Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33301

954 981-BSCU 954 486-BSCU

CUMULATIVE FOLDERS

Cum folders are the responsibility of the classroom teacher and registrar. Folders are to remain in the safe in their metal cabinets unless signed out. Under no circumstances should cum folders ever be left in the classroom unsecured overnight.

Any cum taken from the file and not immediately returned before locking the cum room at night must be signed out.

For students transferring to us from within the county, registration packets will be held until the cum folder arrives from the sending school (except at the beginning of the year when volume is greatest).

Withdrawing student’s cums are to be completed and in the registrar’s hand no more than 48 hours after receiving cum.

CUSTODIAL SERVICES

The cleanliness of the building can greatly influence both students' and teachers' attitudes about school. This is a cooperative program that must exist and the teacher plays a vital role in any custodial program. Any need for repairs must be reported to the Head Facilities person immediately. Each class area will be cleaned daily.

Teachers must help in monitoring the daily classroom cleanliness of his/her students. The room should be tidied up by students before dismissal.

Particular care is to be taken when using supplies such as water, paints, glue, and other substances which may stain walls and furnishings. Teachers are to contact the Head Facilities person if their rooms are not being cleaned properly. Custodial forms are located in the metal file drawers next to the workroom.

Encourage students to pick up trash in and outside of the building. Chairs should be placed on top of desks at the close of each school day. Cooking utensils are the teacher's responsibility to clean. Food, either for cooking or art projects, is to be stored in airtight containers to avoid insect and rodent infestation.

Cleanliness, organization, and neatness should be considered as part of the education process. It is recommended that students clean their desks each Friday. Again, the best method for teaching this skill is by example.

DISCIPLINE

The Broward County Student Elementary Code of Student Conduct is to be your guide in matters relating to school discipline.

Be in your classroom when the children arrive. A pleasant greeting in the morning sets the tone, which will aid in controlling the class for the entire day.

• Think ahead

• Anticipate problems

• Do not over-react

• Move around the classroom when your schedule permits

• Controlling any group while continuously seated is impossible.

• Rotate activities so that the students are not seated and quiet for a longer

• period of time than is reasonable.

• Use positive reinforcement to improve behavior.

Referral to Administration for the most part is the last resort, not the first. Remember effective discipline is established and maintained by the teacher. Administration is always ready to provide support for teachers with their behavior problems.

• Have the class draw up guidelines for acceptable behavior and consequences.

• Students should not be sent from the classroom to an unsupervised area for punishment.

• Use the referral form on Virtual Counselor for unacceptable behavior.

• The staff member that administers the discipline is to sign the referral form.

• Behavior contracts can be set up between the student and staff member. These can be one step in your discipline plan.

DISMISSAL OF CHILDREN

TEACHERS ARE TO ACCOMPANY AND PROVIDE SUPERVISION AT DISMISSAL.

Encourage students to leave school promptly at dismissal time. Students may remain after 3:00 p.m. only if their parents have had 24 hours prior notice and have given their consent. This procedure must be followed. Children are not to be dismissed early or released to the custody of anyone without clearance from or knowledge of the administrative office. Adults coming to remove children from school are required to sign a checkout sheet in the office and processed through the STAR system. Only the parent(s), guardians(s), or adult(s) listed on the registration form may sign a child out prior to regular dismissal.

DRUGS/WEAPONS

The Broward County School Board Policies and The Student Conduct and Discipline Code contain specific rules and consequences regarding drugs and weapons. Please remind students of the mandatory consequences imposed for violation of these rules. For all elementary students a review must be done once each semester and at the beginning of the summer term. A plan for each review should be written, documented and kept, confirming the date and time of review. (Taken from Area Superintendent memo).

ELECTRICAL STORMS - PROTECTIVE ACTION

Teacher responsibility:

1. Get the children out of open areas and into enclosed buildings as quickly as possible upon the approach of a storm.

2. DO NOT seek shelter under isolated trees or close to wire fences, playground equipment or shelter located in exposed locations.

3. Stay away from open doors and windows, metal objects, electrical appliances and plumbing until the storm has passed.

4. Use the telephone to a minimum during the storm - telephone lines may be struck.

5. Discuss these safety items with your students.

EMERGENCY INFORMATION

Each teacher is to maintain a current list of the names, phone numbers, and addresses of all of the students in their class. In case of emergency, this information should be readily available to contact parents. This information is to be kept in the emergency folder located near the exit door for easy access. Keep this file up to date. Please note the "Emergency Response" procedures received in your teacher folder.

EMERGENCY SUBSTITUTE PLANS

Emergency lesson plans are a necessary part of teaching. Their purpose is to give a substitute a plan to follow if you had an emergency and were unable to complete a lesson plan for them. Since emergencies can arise at any time, emergency lesson plans should be nonspecific in terms of material normally covered in your class. All teacher need to prepare two weeks of emergency sub plans. These plans should be reviewed by team leaders and then placed in a designated area in the classroom and clearly labeled by September 5th. Please ensure that your team leader is aware of where to find your emergency substitute plans.

EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE

Evaluation information for teachers must be disseminated each year prior to September 15. A faculty meeting agenda will address the process and criteria to be used. Non-instructional employees may request, from the office, a copy of the (blank) evaluation form to be used for their evaluations.

EXCEPTIONAL STUDENT EDUCATION

It is the responsibility of the school personnel to help identify exceptional children. Children with suspected exceptionalities may be referred by parents and teachers to the Child Study Team. RTI referral forms can be found in the forms cabinet by the workroom. Electronic version of these documents, along with the RTI flowchart are available on the WME cab conference. Feel free to discuss any concerns you may have about a child with an administrator, guidance counselor, behavior specialist, ESE specialist, or curriculum specialist.

A child's assignment to an exceptional program is a vital part of the curriculum. It is legally required that the child attend regularly. The teacher may not use denial of attendance as a means of discipline.

FACULTY LOUNGE

Students are not permitted in the faculty lounge or teacher work areas.

While in the school, parents and volunteers will occasionally use the lounge; this is the only place available to them. Please be aware of their presence.

Teachers and staff are not to discuss students and students' parents in the faculty lounges. Comments taken out of context have a way of getting back to the community. The soda machine is solely for adult use. Students are not allowed to eat or drink in the classroom other than scheduled class parties. Please assist in keeping the lounge picked up and clean. The refrigerator/freezer will be defrosted during the winter and spring vacations. All food items not removed before these vacations will be discarded. Do not leave your valuables in the lounge. Label lunches; and please respect the property of others.

FIELD TRIPS

Field trips should occur only as an outgrowth of or supplement to, some aspect of the curriculum. Field trips are encouraged for the last day of the week. Teacher judgment should be employed in deciding whether or not an excursion is desirable in terms of distance, expense and ease of supervision.

No trip should be taken without proper teaching and planning in terms of purpose, procedure and follow-up. Make sure that you complete the field trip folder after approval has been given. An activity form is to be completed and turned into the office for approval or disapproval. (Additional requirements will be disseminated through team leaders). Make sure all information has been completed. Request must be made three weeks before the date planned, earlier if out-of-county, as district administration must give permission. No money is to be collected until Principal and District Administrator approval has been received. A male chaperone must be available for all out-of-county field trips. Parental permission forms, available in the office, must be signed on a Release of Liability Form by parents and turned into the office one day prior to the proposed trip. An accurate count of student's receipts for monies collected, and monies paid must be made. All three items must match. No exceptions.

A list of students is to be left in the office and also made available to the bus driver. Requests for school buses must be several weeks in advance. A charge will be levied for mileage and driver time. (Please contact Nancy Graves or Maria Regnifo for additional guidelines regarding money collection and bus requests.)

Notify the cafeteria manager two weeks in advance if your plans would take you away during your scheduled lunchtime. Work with Chairperson to rearrange lunch times and special schedules, if necessary.

County buses are available between 9:00 am and 1:00 PM. There must be one chaperone or every ten elementary students. The Principal must approve the use of private cars for field trips. Parent drivers must complete a "Request for Approval to u se Private Car for Transporting Students" form and it must be turned into the office for approval or disapproval.

Prior to planning a field trip, be sure to read and be in compliance with School Board Policy 6GxG-6303 and Policy 3320.

FILMS

Films must have prior administrative approval. Once approved the teacher must preview entire film before showing it to the class. In order for students to view a full length feature film for educational purposes, the Full Length Feature Film form must be signed by a parent/guardian and be on file in the school.

FIRE DRILLS

Fire drills are a part of school training and will be held at least once each quarter. Florida Law states: "To give instruction in and hold, under the direction of the principal, such fire and emergency drills as may be prescribed by law, by regulations of the State Board of the County Board, and as otherwise may be deemed necessary." (Section 231.09 Florida Statute). Please refer to the WME Emergency Plans for specific instructions.

NOTE: THE EVACUATION CHART MUST BE POSTED IN YOUR CLASSROOM AT ALL TIMES.

FORMS

|Form: |Return to : |

|Student/Parent Handbook |Does not come back. Students/parents keep at home for reference. |

|Inspection of Records |Does not come back. (Is found in back of Student/Parent Handbook) |

|Student Insurance Application |Does not come back. Parent mails directly to insurance company. |

|Student Discipline Code Book |To front office |

|Emergency Contact |To front office |

|Broward Truancy Intervention Program |To front office |

|Health Screening |Note "DO NOT" responses. Make special note of names so you can be certain that they are not |

| |screened. Give names of "DO NOT" responses to school improvement coordinator. |

|Photograph Permission |Note "DO NOT" responses. Make special note of names so you can be certain that they are not |

| |photographed. |

|Rainy Day and Emergency |Alphabetize and put in folder. Keep Dismissal accessible. Be sure to note in substitute plans |

| |where these may be found. |

|Clinic Information |Kept in teacher’s room |

|Free/Reduced Lunch |To front office |

|Attendance Verification |To front office |

FTE WEEK AND AUDIT TRAIL

FTE Week occurs two times during the school year. For an audit trail, please give to the IMT at the end of the last day of FTE week (do not turn in any earlier, as you might need to do changes on the last day):

1. Copy of your up-to-date class list as of the last FTE day.

2. Copy of attendance. Make sure all children counted for FTE have been in attendance in your class during the prescribed time period.

3. Copy of your list showing current FTE hours. Make sure these lists match the same times listed on the child’s IEP and the IEP hours that the IMT has in the computer.

4. Copy of schedule with each child noted. Make sure the times match the time claimed for FTE.

5. Copy of ESOL student list and ESOL strategies.

Sign and date each sheet. You may use your working copy, don’t make special copies. Double-check all IEP’s, this is the greatest cause of error.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The principal is responsible for the operation of our school and is committed to ensuring that all students receive a quality education within a safe and secure learning environment. Our school will operate within the constraints of the Law, School Board Policy, and the contract between the School Board and the unions. Working together we will make our school a pleasant, safe and happy place.

The primary purpose of the school is to educate children and this purpose needs to remain uppermost in the minds of all school board employees. As instructional leaders, we provide the example that children will model. All employees are expected to speak, act and dress appropriately. We must ask nothing of children we are not willing to do ourselves.

All employees are encouraged to make suggestions that will ensure that all students receive a quality education within a safe and secure learning environment. The school belongs to our children and the community; we are their custodians. We will work together to make our school the best possible learning environment for our children

We have the opportunity to influence and enhance children lives.

GIFTS/PARTIES FOR STAFF

Students/parents are discouraged from recognizing birthdays, anniversaries, etc. for staff members. With the exception of the holiday season, funds should not be collected by students, and then only with the supervision of the room parent.

GRADING PAPERS

When grading students' daily work papers, only papers which are recorded in the teacher's grade book need to be marked using A, B, C, D, and F. In checking regular daily assignments, mistakes are to be identified. Teachers should use discretion as to whether correct answers are to be written on the papers for students. The majority of papers should be returned and mistakes corrected by students. A brief comment or mark, etc. of approval or disapproval may appear on daily work papers. Teachers should always keep in mind that if they assign a paper to be completed by students, it is important that the teacher review it and return it to the student. Never send unchecked papers home! Only teachers or teacher’s assistants should grade papers. It is appropriate at times for students to check their own papers under teacher supervision, however, grades can only be affixed by the teacher.

HALF DAY PROCEDURE

Since our school hours are from 8:30 A.M.- 3:00 P.M. it may be difficult to secure a substitute for a half-day. If you plan to be out for a half-day, make sure you make arrangements ahead of time. Do not wait until the morning of the day you wish to be off to request a substitute.

Work hours are 7:40 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.

A half-day in the morning - 7:40 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.

A half-day in the afternoon - 11:20 a.m. - 3:10 p.m.

HEALTH

Designated grade level students are screened for vision, hearing, height, and weight. Students being screened for exceptional student education receive vision and hearing screening. This data is to be recorded on the health folder for placement in the cum folder.

HOLIDAY PROCEDURES

1. Exchanging Gifts

a. The members of each grade level team should make a decision relative to children exchanging gifts; a limit of between $1.00 and $2.00 should be set.

b. Children should keep gifts at home until the day before the party.

c. Do not allow children to draw for exchanging gifts. It is suggested that each child bring a gift for a member of the same sex.

d. It is a good idea to have a few extra gifts on hand in case of a last minute emergency.

e. Gifts must be provided so that all students are able to participate in the activities.

2. Class Party

a. Be sure to contact your room parent when making final plans for your party. It is permissible to assess each child a dime to a quarter to help defray party expenses. It must be understood that in no case should a child be pressured to contribute to the party. In some instances the room parent, in conjunction with parents, provide what is needed for the party. In this case, no assessment is needed. Everything about the holiday season should be "positive".

b. The class party should be held on the day before the last school day before vacation. This will give us the last school day to make final preparations for the holiday break. Please work along with your room parent regarding the date and details of the party.

c. Children who are not allowed to participate in a party due to religious beliefs may be allowed to go to another classroom during the class party. Please collaborate with colleagues to ensure students are engaged in an meaningful educational experience during their visit. Staff must be given the names of these students at least two days prior to the party.

3. Holiday Decorations

a. All holiday decorations must be taken down before leaving for vacation.

b. You are permitted to have a Christmas tree and Menorah in your room or suite. Student decorations are advisable. Lighted candles in the classroom are not allowed.

4. Media Center and Library Books

a. No movies from the county Film Library are to be kept in the school over the holidays. All movies will be collected on the day prior to the last day of school before vacation. Please schedule the showing of your movie prior to his time.

b. Please secure all equipment by placing inside cabinets or other appropriate areas.

c. Please return all audio-visual materials to the media center unless you are planning on using them upon returning to school after vacation. If you do keep such items please secure them in your classroom

HOMEBOUND SERVICES

Homebound services are provided for those students who have an illness or disability that would prohibit his/her attendance at school. Once the teacher has been notified or becomes aware that a student will be out of school for an extended period, the office should be notified so that these services can be arranged by the guidance counselor. Please refer to School Board Policy #6Gx6-6306 for further information.

HONOR ROLL

A child is eligible for receiving an honor roll certificate if the child receives grades as listed below:

A Honor Roll - All Aʼ,s, all 1ʼs

B Honor Roll - No cʼs, all 1ʼs and 2ʼs

Quarterly awards will be given and end-of the year for all year honor rolls.

All Year Award A - on A honor roll every quarter.

All Year Award B - on B honor roll and/or on A honor roll every quarter.

Please place all childrenʼs names on list. Do not rewrite childʼs name every quarter. Hand this form in with your report cards. Separate cards into A and B honor roll.

INSURANCE (SCHOOL STAFF)

If you have any questions about your insurance coverage, please contact the Benefits Coordinator. If the coordinator cannot answer your questions, he/she will give you the name and phone number of someone at the district level or with the insurance carrier who can assist you.

INSERVICE

An Inservice Facilitator is selected each year to coordinate these activities for the school staff. Inservice activities or programs are posted on the appropriate CAB Conference. Inservice points can be used for recertification and/or incentive pay. There are some major changes in the inservice area from time to time. The Inservice Facilitator will be happy to discuss these with you if you are not aware of them.

INSURANCE (STUDENTS)

Parents are given the opportunity each fall and throughout the year to enroll children in a school insurance plan at a very reasonable cost. This coverage can be for up to 24 hours or merely during the school day. This coverage for students is desirable for parents if they do not already have an insurance policy covering their children, since the school is not legally liable for school day accidents.

INTERIM PROGRESS REPORTS

Not later than midway between marking periods, an interim report shall be sent to parents of students who are experiencing difficulty, including but not limited to the following:

1. Failing

2. A drop of two or more grades

3. Unacceptable behavior

4. Excessive absences

Teachers should alert parents as soon as possible when their child qualifies under any of the above stated criteria. Refer to the section on "Report Cards, Grades, and Promotion/Retention" for further information regarding interim reports.

LAMINATING MACHINE

Laminating film is very expensive! Two rolls are needed (top and bottom) in order for the equipment to function. Due to the cost, we must be very selective in what we laminate. Student work may not be laminated.

Refrain from laminating materials except those that are truly significant, such as materials, which will be more permanently used.

LESSON PLAN BOOK

The main purpose of the plan book is to provide a means whereby teaching may be made more effective, as it:

• Insures a complete and logical presentation

• Serves as a timing schedule

• Helps in review and test construction

• Serves as a valuable aide for skills taught

• Assures that all Standards are taught

To make the substitute’s teaching more effective, it is recommended that the plan book include the following:

• Titles of texts being used

• A schedule of groups, lunch, specials, and duty

• A list of dependable students

• Suggested activities that would be applicable at any time of the year

Plan books should:

• Be kept one week in advance

• Be available for administration to see when they visit

• Be turned into team leaders when requested

Plan books must be current at all times. If a plan book is taken home, it is the teacher’s responsibility to get the plan book to school any day a substitute is needed. Lesson Plans are to be submitted to the office at the end of the year. They are kept for audit review for five years.

ESOL STRATEGIES MUST BE INCLUDED WHERE APPLICABLE

STANDARDS ARE TO BE NOTED

MANDATORY REPORTING OF CHILD ABUSE, ABANDONMENT, AND / OR NEGLECT

To comply with appropriate Florida law which makes mandatory the reporting of child abuse, abandonment, and / or child neglect, any teacher or other school employee who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been:

• subject to abuse, abandonment, neglect or

• a child is in need of supervision and care and has no parent, legal custodian, or responsible adult relative immediately known and available to provide supervision and care shall immediately report such knowledge or suspicion to the Department of Children and Families at the statewide toll-free hotline: 1-800-96-ABUSE. After the report has been made, reporters may notify the principal or the child abuse designee to ensure appropriate support. Principals and child abuse designees shall maintain the confidentiality of the reporter.

Concern that a child has been sexually or physically abused by a person who is not a parent, legal custodian, caregiver, or other person responsible for a child’s welfare shall be reported to law enforcement immediately.

If there are any questions related to child abuse, abandonment, neglect or a child in need of supervision and care, the school employee shall consult with the school-based child abuse designee.

Florida law provides penalties: “A person who is required to report known or suspected child abuse, abandonment, or neglect and who knowingly and willfully fails to do so, or who knowingly and willfully prevents another person from doing so, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree….”

MAILBOXES

Staff members are to check their mailboxes at least three (3) times each day. This should be done in the morning, during lunch, and when checking out at the close of the day. Keep all materials such as lunches, sunglasses, cups, etc. out of the mailboxes. Dispose of unwanted mail each day. The boxes are limited in size and should not be used for storage.

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

General materials and supplies are ordered and distributed to classes on an equitable and/or needs basis. The Materials and Supplies Request form must be completed and turned in to the bookkeeper at least one day in advance of anticipated needs. Instructional supplies are ordered and provided to accompany basic program activities. Crayons are provided to students only twice each year.

IMPORTANT: All teacher requests for purchases to be made from the internal account must be approved in writing by the principal prior to purchase. Also, a conference must be held with the Business Support Center representative to make sure that the purchase and procedure follows required guidelines.

Failure to follow these procedures will result in the teacher paying for the purchase. Please, do not take materials from the art room. Please, do not take materials from the Media Center without checking them out with the Media Specialist.

Media Center Equipment Policy

Equipment that is checked out from the media center is the responsibility of the individual staff member until returned to the media center. Requests for repair of media center equipment must be made directly to the media center staff. Email is highly recommended as a direct repair request. Do not loan to another faculty member without notifying the media staff allowing for the transfer and information update of equipment’s location and the individual responsible to be corrected by the media staff to the WMES media center inventory database. Equipment leaving the school grounds must be requested and approved with use of the “Property Pass” form by the Principal. Property Pass available through Media Staff. School Board insurance will not pay for items lost, damaged, or stolen while signed out to staff. In the event that equipment is missing, a security report must be completed for the School Board, and the Wilton Manors Police. Be sure that your homeowner’s insurance policy will cover such loss (most will not), or be prepared to pay for damages or loss yourself.

MEDICATION

Teachers are never to allow students to take medicine while under their supervision. Florida law forbids administration or dispensing of any medication to a student by school personnel without specific written authorization of a physician. Prescribed medication must be kept in the school office, secured in the school safe. Students may not bring any medication, cough drops, aspirin, etc. to school without this specific written authorization.

Please refer any inquiries or concerns to the office immediately.

All students who become ill during the day should be sent to the clinic with a clinic pass. If the student needs to go home, the office will contact the parent and then inform the teacher of the action taken. A "Medication Authorization" form is included in the First Day Packet for the convenience of our parents.

OPEN HOUSE

Open House is held August 20th (Kindergarten Only) and August 27th (PreK, 1st-5th grade). If a staff member will not be available to attend, please inform administration as soon as possible after date is announced.

OPENING EXERCISES

Opening exercises will begin promptly each day at 8:35 A.M. Students are expected to stand and to participate in the Pledge of Allegiance. Students are to be silent during opening exercises and all announcements on closed circuit TV.

OWNERSHIP OF MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

All materials and supplies purchased with school or PTA funds become property of the school. Teachers leaving the school or transferring to different grade levels or programs are to leave all materials and supplies in the room they occupied during the school year. Teachers purchasing materials with their own funds or without prior authorization must assume the financial responsibility of the purchase.

PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION

The Parent Teacher Organization meets regularly during the school year. Teachers are encouraged to be present. The PTA Board meets once a month. A faculty representative will notify staff about happenings at these meetings. PTA meetings should be pleasurable, stress-free fellowship and for social aspects. A parent who wishes to discuss a problem with staff should schedule a conference. The same is applicable to staff. Any discussion where the welfare of a child is at stake is important enough to warrant a conference by appointment.

1. Be prepared. Prepare for the conference by:

a. Reviewing all the information in the cum folder!

b. Conferring with other teachers, including art, music, PE, SLD, etc., in order to complete a well-rounded picture of the child.

c. Gather records, papers, and drawings as examples of the child's work.

2. Be open. Allow no barrier such as a desk to separate you and the parent(s). Do not represent yourself (or other staff members) as a subordinate, or as being superior. Avoid use of educational or psychological terms unfamiliar to parents.

3. Be positive. After greeting the parents, open the conference agenda by saying that the staff would like to join the parents and student in a cooperative endeavor to work out the best educational program for the student. Observe and remember positive attributes the student possesses and verbalize them in the conference at appropriate times.

4. Be aware.

a. Parents come to school conferences with half-buried memories of their own school experiences with principals, teachers, and counselors. Avoid overwhelming them with a forbidding array of staff members.

b. Parents also come with hidden agendas. Observe with your ears -- what is said and what is glossed over or avoided. Look for body language clues to inner feelings. Be supportive as the conference. Be tactfully truthful with parents. Be professionally honest but avoid being brutally frank. Avoid superlatives in either direction. A child is seldom the "worst" or the finest".

5. Be reassuring. Remember, the parent may be apprehensive, fearful, or resistant. Assure the parent that conferences may be tense, difficult situations for everyone, but we wish to help each other and the student by sharing our information and insights.

6. Be sensitive. Avoid being so objective and businesslike that you can't empathize with the parent in some of his/her anxiety. Avoid reacting defensively, which means you must also be sensitive to your own reactions.

7. Be patient. Allow time for silences. Although conference time is limited, twenty or thirty seconds of accepting silence is often trust-building. Avoid jumping into the silence every time someone stops talking. A parent may be trying to phrase something or making up his/her mind to share something which will be very important to the child's progress.

8. Be observant. Observe signals that parents want to talk: leaning forward, seeking eye contact with you, stealing glances at you, pursing their lips or moving in their seats. Read these signs and invite the parent to comment. Also observe the dynamics of the interactions between all conference participants -- both parents and staff members.

9. Project optimism. Reinforce participants' contributions. Project the rationale that individuals can to a large degree, control what happens to them by making considered choices based on available information. Suggest, too, that the team approach makes more information available.

10. Be punctual. Begin conferences on time, but make a professional judgment as to the need for extending time limits. Insight and understanding are achieved independently of time. At he appropriate time summarize the conference verbally and secure necessary signatures.

11. Be aware of:

a. preaching or moralizing

b. arguing with hostile parents

c. jumping to conclusions

d. not knowing enough about the child

e. using technical language

f. talking more than listening

PARTIES

Each class may have a maximum of three (3) parties during the school year. Suggested parties include: Halloween, Winter Break, and End of the Year. Parties should be coordinated with room parents. Generally, parties should not begin before 2:00 P.M. and should be concluded by 2:45 P.M. Students are not permitted to plan parties for staff members or peers. On occasion a treat may be held at the end of the school day. Minimum food and beverages may be served but game activities should not be allowed.

PAYCHECK INQUIRIES

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your check, please see the principal's secretary. She is our payroll contact person and will resolve questions that may arise.

PERSONAL REASONS - DAY ABSENT

Instructional employees shall be granted up to six (6) days each school year for personal reasons. However, such absences for personal reasons shall be charged only to accrued sick leave, and leave for personal reasons shall be non-cumulative. Employees shall not be required to give reasons for personal leave, except that the leave is for “personal reasons.” Personal reasons leave shall not be granted on the day preceding or following a holiday* nor during the first or last week of school. The first week of school starts on day one of the 196 day work calendar and the last week of school concludes on the final day of said calendar.

*(A holiday on the official School Board calendar is any date marked as a “holiday” or “day off,)

PHONE CALLS

No personal long distance calls may be charged to the school's telephone account. Official calls may be made from the office manager’s phone, but only with permission to do so. Authorized school related long distance business calls must be logged on the official School Board form. Make every attempt to avoid using directory assistance. The school is assessed charges for each of these calls. A monthly printout indicates the number of such calls placed from each phone in the school. Please do not abuse this service. Phone books are easily accessible throughout the school.

ONLY THE 754 322-8950 NUMBER IS TO BE GIVEN TO THE PUBLIC.

PHYSICAL CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT

All teachers are responsible for the physical condition of the classroom.

• Displays and bulletin boards should be pertinent to classroom instruction and the PYP program.

• All rooms should be print rich with displays of student work as well as pertinent instructional materials.

• Always turn off the lights and lock doors when leaving the room.

• All chairs should be put up and papers off the floor before students leave. This is part of teaching respect and responsibility.

• Counters and teacher’s desks need to be neat and organized. Insects love clutter. Please keep the rooms neat and clean.

• All chairs should be removed from desktops and tables before instruction begins even if a student is absent.

The learning environment is of paramount importance! Children need stimulation and good adult models.

PLAYGROUND

Teachers and staff are not to take chairs outside when children are being supervised during an outside activity. Active supervision demands the teacher/aide's attention. Moving among students at play is necessary. Passive supervision or sitting is not appropriate. All teachers, grades K-5 must adhere to this policy.

Students are not allowed to participate in contact sports at school. Staff members must prohibit students from playing football (including "tag"), baseball (with hardball), red rover, murder ball, etc.

Kindergarten and first grade students will use their designated playground. Students are not permitted to jump off of monkey bars, equipment, etc.

Structured, purposeful, and well-planned activities are required for recess time. Specific plans must be included in plan books for each day that students go out. Free-choice activities are not appropriate, are often not safe, are difficult to supervise, and are prohibited.

The PE Coach will assist teachers with suggestions for appropriate activities upon request.

GUIDELINES FOR OUTSIDE PLAY AREAS

1. Students are to pick up play equipment on the sidewalk at the end of the play period.

2. Students may not climb or play on equipment if equipment is wet.

3. Students may not run with toys.

4. Students may not walk up slide.

5. Students must remain in view of adult supervision.

6. Safety guidelines for most equipment allows no more than two (2) students on equipment at one time.

7. Students may not throw anything (sand, wood chips, etc.)

8. Water tables may be used at activity or center time as well as at outside time. Students may not spray

one another with water. No more than two (2) students at each water table is recommended when

not under direct supervision of an adult.

9. Students may not climb up the slide, nor may they jump from the top of the slide.

10. Teacher aides will supervise students in bringing out and returning the equipment each day. Equipment may be kept in storage when inclement weather conditions exist.

11. Safety recommendations for the number of students in the outside play area at one time are 30 students.

All other classes should participate in structure activities on other sections of the field that are not

being utilized by the PE Coach.

12. If equipment is broken or unsafe, please notify the Head Facilities person, office staff, and/or

administrator immediately.

13. All students must remain within the fenced area.

PRINCIPAL DESIGNEE

If administration is not in attendance the designee will be in the following sequence:

• ESE Specialist

• Magnet Coordinator

• Guidance Counselor

PUBLIC RELATIONS

What we market (or don’t market) about the total school program and ourselves is what the community knows about the job we are doing. The goal is to let people know what a fine job we are doing at Wilton Manors Elementary. To do that we must actively market the positive aspects of everything that occurs.

Communicate regularly with parents about student progress, improvement, achievements, etc. Use Daily Home notes, phone calls, etc.

Monitor your conversations when you are in the community. If you are speaking negatively about the school you are really speaking negatively about yourself.

Treat parents courteously at all times. Bring difficult parents to the office for administrative support or request an administrator come to your room.

Write an article for the newspaper in advance of when you do something. Submit it to administration and it will be submitted to the paper.

Stay positive and enjoy teaching!

RAINY DAY PROCEDURE

Forms completed by parents at the beginning of the year or at registration will notify the school of what a child is to do on rainy days. Teachers should keep their copies in their classroom in a folder easily accessible to a substitute.

STORMS: Children are not to be released in a thunderstorm. When the administration determines that the storm danger has passed, an announcement will be made to release children. Please remain alert for directions and announcements.

RAINY DAY: Rainy day dismissal will be the same as usual with bus students being dismissed at the usual time. Car riders will be held in their assigned hallways until their rides are here and in position for them to go to the cars. Walkers will be held in the media center until further notice from the office.

Administration will review the school safety plan with the staff.

SAFETY PLAN

The following are lock down codes to be observed:

Code Red

Full lock down no movement

Code Yellow

Lock down - crisis team movement only

Code Orange

Evacuation

Code Black

Bomb threat

Code Blue

Medical emergency

Please refer to the School Safety Plan for specific instructions.

SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

A copy of this year's School Improvement Plan is filed in the front office. Please feel free to review the plan at any time.

SECURITY

Students:

Students are not encouraged to bring valuable collections or artifacts to school as we cannot be responsible for theft or damage.

Large sums of money should be turned in to the teacher or office upon the student's arrival at school. Money should not be left on the top of desks and tables. Incidents of theft must be reported to the school office immediately.

Staff:

Valuables should not be left in the classroom or lounge. Keep your purse on your person or in a secured cabinet or drawer. All incidents of theft should be reported to the school office. A security report and a Wilton Manors Police Department report must be filed.

SMOKING

Smoking is prohibited in all areas of the facility. This is in accordance with School Board policy as well as state law. Please do not smoke or allow parents to smoke in classrooms.

SPECIAL CLASS ATTENDANCE

Special teachers are hired to implement programs which are necessary to provide all students a balanced educational program. If special teachers are held accountable for their programs and are expected to plan activities and materials for anticipated numbers of students and if the program is ongoing and cumulative, then it is important for students to be in attendance at the designated time. Class time is limited; therefore, the children should arrive as a group in order to be participants in activities.

Take all children to all special classes. Students cannot be kept from special or ESE classes for any reason.

Sometimes it is disconcerting when children are absent from a class. Please notify special teachers in advance when a field trip is planned. Remember, teachers of specials are responsible for grading pupil progress in the special areas.

Considering our responsibility in case of accident, walk children to and from special classes.

Please notify these teachers of special problems and handicaps (i.e. emotional or physical problems or unusual home situations).

SPEECH AND DRESS

We teach by precept and example. Speech and dress are as important to teaching children as they are to impressing adults. Teachers who represent high standards of education and culture neither dress sloppily nor speak poorly. Children learn through seeing and listening as well as reading. They tend to mimic adults; therefore, it is expected that teachers will set a good example for the youngsters to follow. Teachers are judged in the eyes of other teachers and the public by what they wear. Please be conventional when dressing for work. Field trips, athletic activities, work days and School Spirit days are exceptions to the rule. School Board policies establishing dress codes, as described in the Discipline Code book, also apply to staff members.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT MEETINGS

Staff development meetings are scheduled according to the school board schedule for early release and teacher planning days. All faculty members are to reserve these dates and to be present at all scheduled meetings. Do not schedule any conferences for these dates.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

Substitute teachers will be acquired through Sub finder. Requests may be made for a specific substitute teacher.

Substitute teachers will sign in on KRONOS when arriving at the school office. They are expected to assume all responsibilities of the staff member for whom they are substituting. Detailed lesson plans must be available for the substitute. Your substitute folder and your classroom schedule must be in your plan book.

Substitute teachers must check out on the KRONOS machine before leaving at dismissal time. Team leaders will assist substitute teachers as necessary.

SUNSHINE

To be a recipient means to be a participant.

All members of the faculty and staff are invited and urged to join the Sunshine Club. The Club membership dues will be established by the Sunshine Committee. Monies are used to provide flowers, cards, miscellaneous gifts throughout the year as well as accessories for parties and other functions arranged by the Sunshine Committee.

Individuals responsible for purchases through the club's account must submit itemized receipts for all purchases in order to be reimbursed. Individuals responsible for collecting monies to be deposited in the Club's account must issue proper receipts (a receipt book can be obtained from the bookkeeper) and deposit monies with the bookkeeper for the internal account within a reasonable time.

Profits from the beverage and candy machines will be placed in the Sunshine club account towards the end of the year and allocated according to directions from the club committee.

SUPERVISION OF STUDENTS

BEFORE SCHOOL (A.M. SUPERVISION)

Assigned teachers and support personnel will provide supervision of students.

Assigned teachers and teacher aides will provide supervision at the assigned grade level areas at 7:45 A.M.

Staff members assigned morning supervision are responsible for arranging coverage in their absence.

DURING SCHOOL

All students must be supervised by school staff at all times during the school day. Students are not teachers, and should never be given the responsibility for monitoring or watching the class.

Students may not be isolated in hallways, corridors, etc. as a means of internal suspension or time out.

Students must be restricted to the area where a supervisor is located while participating in physical education/playground activities. Staff members should avoid doing planning activities while supervising students on the playground. All students must remain within easy sight.

Students must be visible to the teacher at all times and the teacher must be in close proximity to students in order to respond to emergencies quickly.

No more than sixty students should be supervised by one staff member at a time.

Students will be supervised by paraprofessionals during the lunch program.

Students are required to use passes when using the lavatories, or when out of the room for any reason.

Students are to be instructed by the teacher regarding safe, appropriate use of all playground equipment and rules for outdoor activities. Planned, organized, and structured activities are required for outside playground recess. Guidelines for the K playground are found in the "Playground" section of this handbook. Please read that section carefully.

TAKE HOME HANDOUTS

It is the responsibility of the homeroom teacher to place notices in the Tuesday folders. Be sure that notices go home on time. A tear-off parent return sheet will be a part of some of the handouts. Make a concentrated effort to collect these to foster responsibility in your students.

TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT

Technology Equipment that is checked out from the MicroTech center is the responsibility of the individual staff member until returned to the MicroTech. Requests for repair of technology equipment must be made directly to the MicroTech. Email is highly recommended as a direct repair request. Do not loan to another faculty member without notifying the MicroTech. This enables the MicroTech to transfer information via property pass, updating of equipment’s location and the individual responsible documented on the WMES inventory database.

Equipment leaving the school grounds must be requested and approved with use of the “Property Pass” form by the Principal. Property Pass available through the MicroTech.

School Board insurance will not pay for items lost, damaged, or stolen while signed out to staff. In the event that equipment is missing, a security report must be completed for the School Board, and the Wilton Manors Police. Be sure that your homeowner’s insurance police will cover such loss (most will not), or be prepared to pay for damages or loss yourself. Please refer to School Board Policy 5306.

TELEVISION USE

Televisions are provided for student instruction, not entertainment.

Limit the television use to programs that meet the needs of the students. BECON TV programming schedules are posted on the staff bulletin board.

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TEMPORARY DUTY AUTHORIZATION (TDA)

1. Any TDA within the United States for school personnel must be approved by the principal ten working days prior to the date of duty.

2. The principal must approve field trip authorizations within the tri-county area. Outside the tri-county

area or overnight field trips must be approved by the Area Superintendent 10 workdays prior to the

trip.

3. The Area Superintendent and the Superintendent must approve field trips outside of the United States.

If approved, the Area Office will forward to the Superintendent for approval.

Area Superintendent signs TDA’s for all employees for out of the country travel.

TESTING

The County Test Office sponsors a series of standardized tests to be administered at specific dates for purposes of diagnostic and prescriptive evaluation. Instructional personnel will be asked to cooperate with prescribed procedures.

It is the guidance counselor's responsibility to evaluate test results and work with school administration and support staff to alter the curriculum so that deficiencies are remedied for the following year. All schools should also participate in the District and School Test Improvement Program.

TEXTBOOKS AND WORKBOOKS

Each classroom teacher is to follow the guidelines set by the school textbook coordinator for the distribution, maintenance, and collection of textbooks. The State of Florida requires a 5-year adoption period.

It is recommended that books that do not go home be stored on a shelf and handed out daily by student helpers. This prolongs the life and quality of the book over the five-year period. It is recommended that workbooks never be stored in desks. Soft cover materials are not constructed to take the wear and tear of hardback books. Children have more room to manage papers, notebooks, etc., if reading books, dictionaries, science, and health books are stored on shelves. All textbooks will be checked out at the start of the school year and checked in at the end of the year. If books are missing or damaged, the individual responsible will be fined for the cost of replacing the book.

Reading books and reading workbooks are not to go home. It is suggested that workbook pages be torn out in advance of their use.

When a student is enrolled during the school year a textbook request should be submitted to the textbook coordinator. The request will be filled in a timely manner.

Teachers must be responsible for the textbooks acquired from the textbook coordinator. Please do not lend books to colleagues, but rather return them to the textbook chair. The person to whom they are signed out remains responsible.

Students are responsible for the care and condition of textbooks assigned to them. Teachers are to report damaged and lost textbooks to the textbook coordinator.

The basal reading texts are not to be sent home with students. This is a county procedure and is designed to preserve the integrity of the reading program. Any request for reading texts to be used by tutors should be directed to the school improvement coordinator.

Staff members may not use school-owned texts and materials for private tutoring.

Instructional workbooks are to be used selectively, thoroughly, and shall be kept in the school when a student withdraws from our school. Students are not to be requested to purchase textbooks or workbooks used in the instructional program. When a rainy day dismissal is announced students are not permitted to take school textbooks home unless they can be protected from the weather by backpacks, plastic bags, etc.

TORNADO PROCEDURES

PLEASE REFER TO THE TORNADO SECTION OF THE SCHOOL SAFETY PLAN FOR INFORMATION REGARDING TORNADO PROCEDURES.

TUTORING

By maintaining a high quality instructional staff and providing a rich and varied curriculum, the need for individual tutoring should be minimized. In the event that a tutor is hired by a parent/guardian, please adhere to the following:

1. Please be reminded that no materials or supplies may be taken from the school to be used for the purpose of privately tutoring children. Workbooks, paper, pencils, etc. must be acquired from outside sources. Parent and tutors may not purchase instructional supplies and texts from the school.

2. The student’s basal reading text should not be used by the tutor.

3. Teachers desiring to tutor students after school may have their names circulated to other schools in the District Tutor Directory, available through the guidance counselor at each school.

In addition, School Board Policy is set for the following rules:

1. A teacher may not receive compensation for tutoring any student who is assigned to one of his/her classes.

2. A music instructor may give private lessons to his/her own students when other qualified tutors are not available in the area.

3. Work completed under private instruction shall not be accepted for credit unless completed strictly in accordance with accreditation standards for Florida Schools, Florida State Board of Education administrative rules and/or statutes.

4. Teachers who receive compensation for tutoring shall not use public school facilities for such purposes. Private instruction by music instructors shall be an exception.

VANDALISM OF PROPERTY

All members of the instructional staff should consider that it is their responsibility to report any incident of property damage by pupils or others so that restitution can be gained and repairs made. This pertains to the damage of equipment, materials, furniture, or to the building itself.

Florida School Law Section 231.09, Part 9, states that one duty of instructional personnel is to see that the school building, and all things pertaining thereto, are not unnecessarily defaced or injured.

VISITORS TO SCHOOL

Guests of students (family and/or friends) may not visit and participate in school programs due to liability concerns.

All visiting adults must register in the school office and be cleared on the STAR machine. If adults enter the classroom, please make sure they have a badge to show they checked in at the front office. It is requested that only school personnel use the staff lounge. Unknown or suspicious persons observed on our grounds should be reported to the office immediately.

VOLUNTEER APPLICANTS

We wish to welcome all who plan to become school volunteers. Any and all individual prospective volunteers, in accordance with the Jessica Lunsford Act, must complete security screening. All prospective volunteers must visit to initiate the screening. Additionally, before making a commitment we ask that the following information be read.

1. Volunteers may work with their child's teacher or elsewhere in the school. Each classroom teacher makes the decision as to whether parents of his/her students will work in that program.

2. Volunteer utilization will be determined by school personnel based on the needs of the educational program.

3. All in house information to which volunteers are subjected must be considered confidential.

4. Volunteers will be trained for specific task assignments.

5. Once volunteers commit themselves to assist our program, we ask that they remain loyal and consistent.

6. Volunteers must refrain from going to classrooms and parts of campus other than where assigned.

7. Volunteers must sign in and out on the STAR system and have a completed registration form on file.

VOLUNTEER PROCEDURES

These are the criteria for service as a school volunteer. If these are acceptable to the applicant, they may be considered a volunteer of our school.

1. The faculty member will be volunteer coordinator for the school.

2. All volunteers must be processed by the Teacher Volunteer Coordinator.

3. Teachers should submit a volunteer request as soon as possible.

4. Volunteers will be assigned according to the list upon which a teacher's name appears.

WORKER'S COMPENSATION SELF INSURANCE PROGRAM

The Worker's Compensation Act (1979) requires that all work-related injuries be reported promptly. Failure to do so will result in a penalty. This penalty will be $100 plus interest. All accidents must be reported to the Division of Worker's Compensation, Tallahassee, Florida within seven (7) days.

Doctors or hospitals must be selected from a specific prepared list. All medical reports have to be in to the office manager within 5 days of the injured employee's visit to the doctor.

It is imperative that staff members report all work-connected injuries to the school office immediately, complete a claim form, and secure the proper form (signed by the principal) to secure medical treatment from a doctor or hospital listed on the official list as an authorized doctor or hospital.

Remember: Use care in climbing in the classroom to hang bulletin boards and student work. Many work related injuries occur under these circumstances. We provide a number of easily accessible library stools throughout the entire school to preclude the need to stand on chairs and tables. Ask the facilities personnel to assist with difficult, hard to reach areas.

You are only able to help your children when you are healthy and in school! Your students need you to maximize their learning.

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