SEVEN BAR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 4501 Seven Bar Loop NW Albuquerque, NM 87114 2007 - 2008 Home of the Wranglers

Welcome Back to School!

This handbook explains our school policies and procedures. It can serve as a ready reference guide to help answer and clarify questions typically asked by parents each year. Keep it in a convenient location.

Please remember that our school newsletter, The Wrangler, is sent home once a week to highlight activities and keep you informed of many items of interest involving our school and students. Your child will bring home a paper copy each week unless you have signed up for electronic school communications by joining our e-mail listserv.  In that case, you should receive your electronic copy of The Wrangler each Wednesday afternoon.

We continue to strive for greater collaboration between home and school. We believe communication and collaboration are essential ingredients in your child’s success in school. Please help us achieve this by becoming involved in whatever way you can. We hope this is a productive, safe, and happy year for you and your child.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Seven Bar Elementary Phone Numbers

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Bus Company Phone Numbers

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APS Phone Numbers

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Daily Schedule

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Cafeteria

We encourage parents to pre-purchase lunch using MyLunchMoney.com. Applications for free/reduced lunch tickets are available from the cafeteria manager.

If your child brings lunch money on a daily basis, please have them keep it in a safe place. If students lose their lunch money, they will be allowed to call home.

Students may also bring lunches from home and purchase milk at school.

Cafeteria rules are: enter and exit calmly practice good manners speak softly clean up after yourself

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School Supplies

Supply lists by grade level are available in the office or on our website. These lists are also posted at surrounding area stores.

If purchasing school supplies is a hardship, please see the principal.

All students are encouraged to take good care of their supplies.

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PTA

Seven Bar has an active parent teacher association. Every year they survey the staff and parents to provide programs and support that will enhance the school goals and create a positive climate for learning. On orientation day, please stop by the PTA table to fill out a parent volunteer form and join the PTA.

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Seven Bar Instructional Council

The Seven Bar Instructional Council consists of the principal, staff, parents and other community members who meet to set goals for our school. Our emphasis is on providing programs and services that best serve the students needs. We encourage and support parent and community involvement.

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SCHOOL POLICIES

Attendance

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Bicycles

Bicycles may be ridden to school only if the student has a lock. The bicycle is placed in the bike rack during school hours. The school will not be responsible for theft or damage to student bicycles. We strongly encourage students to wear helmets when riding their bikes to school.

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Bus Rules

Children should follow the school rules while waiting for the bus and boarding the bus. Buses are owned by contractors and have rules that apply to students who ride them. APS Transportation Department provides the school with bus handbooks, which describe rules and consequences. Please remember that bus riding is a privilege. When children violate bus rules, parents will be notified in writing. Repeated violations may result in suspension of bus privileges. APS Transportation Department does not allow children to ride home with friends or take a different bus than normal. Our bus contractor is Helweg and Farmer. Their office number is 898-8301, should you have any questions.

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Seven Bar Discipline Plan

The goals of our discipline plan at Seven Bar Elementary are to provide clear expectations for students, parents, and staff, prompt communication with parents and students, and consistent rules, consequences and reinforcement for common areas of school.

The purpose of discipline at Seven Bar is to teach students the pillars of Character Counts!

Responsibility, Trustworthiness, Caring, Respect, Fairness, and Citizenship

Wrangler Code of Conduct

All Wranglers will:

• Respect others including personal space, property, and rights.
• Take responsibility for words, actions, property at Seven Bar.
• Show a caring attitude toward self, others, and school.
• Treat others as you would like to be treated.
• Follow school rules and do what you can to make Seven Bar a better place.
• Be a person of your word and deed.

To Follow the Code of Conduct Student Wranglers will:

• be quiet while passing classes in between portables and in hallways.
• walk only between portables and in hallways.
• stop playing when the bell rings.
• follow general safety rules for all play equipment.
• show respect for all adults and students.
• practice good manners.
• listen and follow directions the first time.
• avoid adults without badges or visitor stickers and report them to school personnel.
• ask questions if not sure of a rule.
• admit mistakes and apologize if accidents happen.
• model courtesy using please, thank you, and addressing adults with maam and sir.
• play in designated areas only.
• stay away from dangerous areas.

To Help Everyone Follow the Code of Conduct Adult Wranglers will:

• walk behind class when escorting them across campus to monitor behavior.
• wear badges and visitor stickers to identify themselves as a safe person.
• model good manners.
• ask questions if not sure of rule or policy.
• admit mistakes and apologize if accidents happen.
• show respect for other adults and children.

Reinforcement for Code of Conduct

Incentives

• Students who are model citizens at Seven Bar and follow the Wrangler Code of Conduct can be nominated by the members of their class to have a pizza lunch with the principal. Each class can send up to two students per month as a recognition for practicing Character Counts!
• Citizenship Awards — Each grading period students will be awarded a Character Counts Award if they have received all checks and pluses on their report card in the behavior section.
• Recognition on morning announcements of students practicing specific pillars of Character Counts

Consequences

In the common areas of Seven Bar (playground, hallways, cafeteria) these are unacceptable behaviors and will result in:

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Dress Code

Seven Bar complies with the APS Dress Code, which specifies:

• Students must wear appropriately fitting clothing (not excessively tight or revealing; “sagging and/or bagging” is prohibited).
• Students may not wear clothing that advertises, displays, or promotes drugs, alcohol, tobacco, sexual activity, violence, disrespect and/or bigotry (including WWF advertisements).
• As a matter of courtesy, hats/caps are not to be worn in the building; except when there are specific instructional, safety, religious, or medical reasons.
• Students may not wear spiked jewelry, chains, or belts with more than a 2 inches excess.

In addition, students at Seven Bar

• are not allowed to bring any form of make up to school including glitter, lip gloss, and hair products. We discourage students from wearing make-up to school. Students who do so will be sent to the office to wash their faces.
• may not wear clothing where underwear may be exposed (bra straps, underpants, boxer shorts).
• may wear sleeveless shirts if strap is three fingers wide or wider.
• may not wear short or skirts that are considered too short (as measured by the students fingertips when hands are resting at their side).
• may not wear muscle or shirts that expose midriff.
• may not wear shoes with wheels.

If the violation is correctable at school, the student will make the necessary changes. The teacher will refer the student violating the dress code to the office to notify the parents of the violation. If the student needs a change of clothing, they will wait in the office until the parent arrives with the appropriate clothing. They may make up any work they miss while they are waiting.

If there are additional violations, students may be suspended from school.

The Board of Education expects student dress and grooming to reflect high standards of personal conduct so that each student’s attire promotes a positive, safe, and healthy atmosphere within the school.

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Field Trips

Field trips provide an excellent educational experience for students. The APS district does require prior approval of all field trips by the principal. Field trips that are activity based require an extra fee paid by students to cover liability insurance. Money paid for a field trip is non-refundable if a child misses the activity for any reason.

Students MAY NOT participate in a field trip unless a parent permission form has been signed by the parent or guardian and returned to the school.

Due to legal implications involving liability, oral permission over the phone and handwritten notes are not acceptable substitutes for the signed parent permission form.

Frequently parents are invited to accompany the class on a field trip to help the teacher supervise students. Non-school age children cannot be accommodated on field trips requiring bus transportation. If parents drive, pre-schoolers may travel with their parents.

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Holidays

Seven Bar complies with the Albuquerque Public School “Religious Issues and Holidays Policies.” APS requires that educators make curriculum decisions and guide discussions sensitive to varying beliefs, which neither inhibit or advance a particular religious belief. Holiday activities (religious and/or cultural) must have a strong curriculum tie to District Standards.

If you have specific concerns or issues you wish to discuss regarding holidays, please notify the school.

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Homework

Homework provides an opportunity for students to develop responsibility. Teachers at Seven Bar will provide meaningful activities that reinforce skills introduced in the classroom. It is a tool for nurturing communications and interactions between the student, parent, and school.

Homework is assigned on a regular basis either daily, weekly, or monthly. It is assigned to be consistent with district minimum and maximum time limits based on age and grade levels.

Grades K – 2	20 – 30 minutes of homework per night
Grades 3 - 5	30 - 60 minutes of homework per night

Some homework will be assigned for extended periods (Science Fair projects or specific research projects).

Seven Bar follows APS policy of providing homework for students upon their return to school. When a student returns to school he/she will have the same number of days to make up the work missed as the number of days he/she was absent in order to receive full credit. For more information, please see your child’s teacher.

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Instruction

Reading (Literacy)

Teachers at Seven Bar teach reading using a variety of strategies including phonics, sight word vocabulary, and use of context cues following the Balanced Literacy Model from New Zealand. Specific standards for reading are further defined in the District Core Curriculum and Scope and Sequence. Students who speak a language other than English receive special attention and strategies to help them become proficient in English and successful in school. See your child’s teacher for more information.

Writing

Teachers at Seven Bar all use a process approach to teach students writing skills. Each grade level is expected to address certain skills. Student’s writing is collected in a portfolio and scored on a rubric of these skills three times a year. Portfolios are sent on to the next teacher each year. All schools in the Cibola Cluster utilize writing portfolios.

Math

Students will be learning math using a problem solving approach. The teachers at Seven Bar use a math series called “Investigations”. This series does not provide a textbook for students to take home with practice math problems. Students will be asked to practice skills in context. Math goals and skills are defined in the District Core Curriculum and Scope and Sequence (DCCSS).

Science

APS supports the use of hands-on science application. Students are provided with science kits that provide experiential learning activites to address the competencies in the District Core Curriculum and Scope and Sequence (DCCSS).

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Insurance

The laws in the state of New Mexico are such that school districts cannot assume liability for costs incurred through student accidents. Therefore, the Board of Education makes a student accident policy available to students in the Albuquerque Public Schools. A brochure sent home at the beginning of each new school year explains this optional policy.

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Library/Textbooks

Library books and textbooks are very valuable. Please encourage your child to care for their books and return them as required. Lost books must be paid for so that the school can replace them. Outstanding debts may impinge upon a student’s registration status.

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Lost & Found

Parents may come to the school at any time to check the lost and found. Clothing items and/or lunch pails are usually placed in the lost and found. Money, pieces of jewelry, or small items are kept in the office when they are found. When the lost and found box gets full, we notify parents in the school newsletter so you may claim items before we give them to the APS Clothing Bank. We strongly recommend marking your child’s first and last name on clothing, lunch pails, etc.

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Multi-Age Classes

Seven Bar has a multi-age classroom in 1st grade and 2nd grade. Students in those classes remain in that classroom for two years. The purpose of multi-age grouping is based on brain research. It allows for more individualization of work and personalization of learning. Students in multi-age classes are heterogenously grouped. If you have questions about multi-age classes, please make an appointment with the principal.

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Parent Communication

Teachers and staff communicate with parents in a variety of ways, several of them are described below:

Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences

Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences are held at the end of every grading period. It is the goal of the teacher to meet with the parents of every student during the conference period. Parents sign up for conference times during Meet the Teacher day before the first day of school. There is no school on the days parent-teacher conferences are held.

Progress Reports

Progress reports are sent home every twelve weeks. The first and second progress reports are discussed during the parent-teacher conference. Progress reports are sent home with the student at the end of the third and final reporting period. Teachers also send home weekly and daily progress reports.

If your child does not attend the last day of school, you may send a self-addressed stamped envelope to school. The office will mail your child’s report card home.

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Personal Items

Students may not bring large and/or expensive toys, electric items (cell phones, walkman radios, games, etc.) and/or items that may be harmful to themselves or other students in school. If brought to school, they will be kept in the office. Parents will be called to pick up the items.

Deliveries of flowers, balloons or other personal items are not permitted during the instructional day.

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Pets

Pets are not allowed at school unless special permission is granted by the principal or teacher. The parent/guardian is responsible for bringing and picking up the pet if the pet is at school for a special reason. Please do not bring your pet onto school grounds when picking up your child from school. This presents a dangerous situation if your pet should accidentally bite someone.

If a pet follows the child to school, the student will be allowed to call home or work to pick up the pet.

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Student Check-Out

If parents or guardians need to pick up a student before the school day is over, please come to office first. We have a sign-out sheet and will check I.D. Please have your driver's license available. We also check the name of the person on the enrollment card. If the name of the person picking up the child is not on the card, we will not release the child to the person without permission of the parent/guardian on the card. Please make sure all persons who pick up your child are on the enrollment card.

We will not check out students after 3:30 as the last 15 minutes of the day is very important for homework instructions, etc.

If there is a reason why your child needs to go home with someone other than arranged at home, we require you to fax us the information with your driver’s license or other identification on the fax. We do this as a precaution for your child’s safety.

Please make all arrangements for your child prior to coming to school. Messages will be given to children only in the event of an emergency.

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Student Health

The health room staff are committed to maintaining a healthy environment that will enhance the learning and well being of all students at Seven Bar. All students entering an APS school for the first time must present a certificate showing immunization against:

Diphtheria Tetanus Pertussis Polio Measles (Rubeola and Rubella) Hepatitis B Varicella

It is against New Mexico State Law for a student to attend class who is not current on his/her immunizations.

Accidents

Should a student be involved in a serious accident, the school makes every effort to contact a parent immediately. It is extremely important that the health room have current emergency contact information. Office personnel will call 911 only in a situation deemed appropriate by the health office or the principal. Please stress the importance of reporting school-related injuries to the health room.

Illness

In an effort to provide a healthy environment for all students, the health staff treats all students who are ill by

1. taking their temperature,
2. checking symptoms, and
3. administering appropriate care.

If warranted, the health office will contact the parent to pick up the student.

Any student who has experienced a fever, persistent cough, vomiting, and/or diarrhea within 24 hours of the school day needs to be carefully evaluated before coming to school. If your student is not fully recuperated from an injury or illness, please keep your student at home.

Medication

APS policy regarding medication states that no one on the school staff, except the nurse, may administer medication to students. In the absence of the nurse, the Health Assistant supervises the self administration of medication by the student. Forms signed by the student’s doctor are required for a student to receive any prescription medication, as well as any over the counter medication taken for more than 5 consecutive school days. Students are allowed to have over-the-counter medication available in the health room on an as-needed basis, provided a parent completes the appropriate form and the medication comes to school in the original packaging. These forms are available in the health room. All medications are kept in a locked cabinet in the health room. Students will be allowed to carry inhalers with them, provided the appropriate form has been signed by parent and doctor. Any medication brought to school by a student must be taken to the health room before the start of the school day. Students will not be allowed to keep their medication with them on campus.

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Student Placement

Students are placed in classrooms based on classroom composition, parent input using the Learning Styles Inventory, and numbers of students. Requests for teachers by name are against APS policy. We do not allow parents to interview or observe classrooms prior to placement.

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Telephone

Seven Bar has only three lines available for business use, so students are not allowed to use the phone. School personnel will notify parents in case of an emergency or illness. Please refrain from using the phone for incidental messages such as last minute permission requests or personal messages. The office will deliver messages to students with minimum disruption to the classroom instruction.

Parent & Visitor Cell Phone Policy - In order to minimize disruptions to instruction, NO cell phone use is permitted at Seven Bar except in the lobby or office. Please turn your cell phone to vibrate or silent while at school. Students are not allowed to have cell phones at school.

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Testing

During the school year your child may be individually tested to check academic achievement levels and progress. Individual teachers use different instruments to assess learning. If you or the school feels your child needs extra support to enhance learning, you or the teacher may request a referral to the School Support Team.

The School Support Team will discuss interventions to try in the classroom and make recommendations to parents to increase the child’s success in school. Sometimes the School Support Team will recommend testing by a licensed Evaluation Specialist. After a battery of tests, the parent will be contacted for a meeting to discuss the test results and appropriate interventions.

District Tests

APS uses standardized tests to assess program effectiveness and student achievement. In elementary school, these tests occur in third, fourth, and fifth grades where students are tested using the New Mexico Achievement Assessment and in the fourth grade, the New Mexico Portfolio Writing Assessment.

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Visitors

APS district policy requires all visitors to check in with the office. We have a visitor’s sign-in system requiring you to leave your driver's license or keys with one of the office personnel. Visitors will receive a visitor’s badge to assure our students' safety. If a staff member or student sees a person on campus without a badge, they will be reported to the office. Visitors are required to make prior arrangements or an appointment to visit the classroom in order to minimize disruptions to the instructional program. If you want a conference with your student's teacher, please make arrangements with your student's teacher to meet before or after school. All visitors and volunteers are expected to adhere to APS policies and code of conduct.

New Mexico State Law requires that you have a background check performed prior to having unsupervised contact with a child in the classroom (or in any classroom-related events). Please see the office for more information.

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