1
2 Important IntroductionsPrincipal-Emily Spencer Asst. Principal-Crystal Farris School #: (Nicole Richardson) School website-www.siegelelementary.net 1st grade team Dan Honeyman Jennifer Marlatt Jenifer Scott Enghell Vargas Kelley Wilson
3 Essential Office InformationIf you have ANY personal information changes (ex. Phone #, cell #, address, custody, add/delete pick up person), please notify the teacher and office. PLEASE also update information yourself through Skyward Family Access. If your child has to take medicine during the school day, you must fill out the proper paper work so the medicine can be distributed by the nurse (even cough drops).
4 School Visitors You must ring the bell and sign in each time you enter the building to volunteer, eat lunch, conference with a faculty member, or pick up your child. You may NOT enter through a back door to a classroom or a hallway door with access to the outside. You are very welcome in our building, but if you desire a conference, please schedule in advance so we can accommodate your needs. Mornings are BUSY times in all classrooms. Please do not expect to speak with a teacher by walking your student to their classroom.
5 Arrival Time The doors to our school open at 6 am for those enrolled in ESP. Hallway doors are opened at 7:15 for students to start going to classes. Students must be enrolled in ESP to enter the building before 7:15. Students arriving in the classroom at 7:31 or after are considered late and will be sent to get a Tardy Slip. If you drop your child off after 7:30, you will need to come in the building to sign in.
6 School Attendance We feel that it is imperative that your child is at school as much as possible. Each day is busy and full of learning. IF your child must be absent, please send a note or to school as soon as possible. Absences are recorded as excused (sickness, death in family, court appearance) or unexcused. All absences will be considered unexcused without a note. Sickness for more than 4 consecutive days will require a doctor’s note. Must be fever free and/or no vomiting for 24 hours before returning to school.
7 You will receive an automated phone call if your student is absent from school.5 or more unexcused absences will result in a phone call and a letter from the school notifying you of the situation. 8 or more unexcused absences will result in the school notifying the MCS CO of the situation. You will be contacted by the CO regarding your child’s attendance. 10 or more unexcused absences will result in the school contacting the authorities about truancy. Every Day Matters!!!
8 School Closing InformationErma Siegel Elementary is a MURFREESBORO CITY SCHOOL. We very rarely close schools early for severe weather. You will receive an all call alert from the system if that decision is made. Parents may come and pick up children if severe weather occurs and worsens before normal dismissal time.
9 Dismissal InformationBus riders will be escorted to the bus by a designated teacher. ESP students will be escorted by a designated teacher. All 1st grade car riders will dismiss daily from the C WING (by tennis courts) at 2:30. Older siblings will join the youngest family member in their dismissal location. Walkers will be dismissed from the bus room or after all car riders are loaded.
10 CAR SIGN PROCEDURE You MUST have car rider sign for your childYou will be asked to park and show ID in office if you are missing a sign to pick up the student. We will be happy to provide you with multiple signs if needed. Let your classroom teacher know how many are needed. Any student already checked into ESP will have to be checked out at ESP desk.
11 Dismissal Changes ALL dismissal changes MUST be submitted in writing through note, fax, or . You may no longer call the school office to deliver a message for a dismissal change. Please let us know the morning of the dismissal change with a written note in the folder or an before 11:30. If you have contacted and not received a response, call the office and let us know to check mail.
12 Early Dismissal If your child needs to leave early from school, please notify teacher ahead of time if possible. You will need to come to the office and sign your child out of school. You will need to provide a picture ID EACH TIME (even if you are familiar with the office staff). Early dismissals are counted with “Days Tardy” on the report card. If weather is inclement, you may check your child out of school without penalty. It is extremely unlikely the system will dismiss early.
13 Universal Breakfast We will be offering Universal Breakfast to all students at no charge in the classroom daily. Breakfast will begin at 7:15. The program follows national nutritional guidelines .
14 Lunch Procedures Students getting a lunch several lunch choices daily. You may access the menu online to see what the daily choices are. You can access menu at schoolcafe.com or through MCS website (Departments-Nutrition). Please stay QUIET in the lunch line (especially adults visiting children). You may not bring restaurant food into the cafeteria. Parents who come to eat as vistors may not get students from other classes or switch tables.
15 Lunch Money Lunch is FREE for all students.Milk is $0.60 per day or $3 per week. Students can have an account with money in it for “extras.” Please send payments in a labeled envelope with the student’s name, class, and amount included. Checks need to be made to ESE. Teachers DO NOT have access to your child’s account and cannot keep up with your balance.
16 3Rs We work hard to establish a community atmosphere at ESE using the 3Rs. Respect, Responsibility, and Right Thing Our school has developed a “Blueprint for Success,” outlining expectations of students, parents, and faculty. You will be given a copy of the school wide expectations to keep and refer to as needed at home.
17 Siegel Expectations Respect Responsibility Right Thing Arrival All Classes Hallways Restrooms Cafeteria Playground ESP Car Riders Bus Riders Respect * Walk promptly to the classroom. * Keep your voice volume at a respectful tone. *Arrive on time. *Listen carefully when the teacher is speaking. *Raise your hand if you have a question. *Respect each other’s personal space. *Always use kind words and actions. *Offer help when appropriate. *Keep a respectful voice volume to not disturb others. *Keep hands and feet to yourself. *Recognize the authority of ANY staff member. *Respect the privacy of others. *Wait patiently for your turn. *Use supplies appropriately. *Dress completely and properly before leaving the stall. *Eat appropriately. *Use a respectful voice when speaking to your neighbor. *Only speak to people at your table. *Stay in your seat. *Stand in line appropriately. * Conversations will be school appropriate topics. *Be a good sport when playing a game. *If you hear a whistle or a teacher calling, stop and listen. *Respect other people’s space. *Use kind words and actions. * Talk out small problems. * Do not exclude others. * Walk quietly to dismissal location. *Keep backpack and personal items to yourself in the hall. *Walk quietly to dismissal location. *Keep backpack and personal items to yourself. * Keep items inside bags. *Follow directions. *Enter the gym in a line with your grade level. * Carry all bags and items appropriately *Obey the bus driver at all times. *Walkers go to designated area and sit. Responsibility * Keep your backpack and personal items to yourself in the hall. * Carry all bags and items appropriately. * Bring all of the necessary items to school. *Have all required materials. *Always do your best. *Follow directions the first time. *Ask for help when needed. *Go directly to your destination. *Stay with your class. *Allow others to pass between your line if needed. * Keep hands and feet off of the wall. *Be quick. *Be quiet. *Throw away your trash. *Flush the toilet and clean up after yourself. *Keep walls and stalls clean. *Conserve supplies. *Get everything you need from the lunch line. *Take all your trash to the garbage can. *Use good table manners. *Stay within the playground boundaries. *No fighting, tackling, or fake weapons. *Leave only with permission. *Keep balls away from windows. *If you bring it out, take it in. *Put belongings away nicely and in correct place. * Sit and eat my snack using good manners. * Follow directions of the ESP staff. * Sit quietly and listen carefully for your name to be called. *Walk quickly and quietly to your spot when called. *You will not be allowed to return to the classroom. *Be packed and ready for dismissal. *Be lined up at the door before the call to dismiss. *Go directly to your bus. * Walkers stay in area and talk to close neighbors at a respectful tone. Right Thing * Walk in the hallway. * Keep hands, feet, and personal items to yourself. *Use materials and equipment appropriately. *Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself. *Walk inside the building. *Only open outside doors when directed. *Walk facing forward. *Walk on the right side of the hall or stairs. *Carry your belongings appropriately. *No jumping up to touch a doorframe. *Wash your hands. *Keep water off the floor. *Keep all surfaces clean. *Keep your feet on the ground. *No horseplay. *Remain in your seat. *Sit on your bottom facing forward. *Keep your legs under the table. *No sharing food. *When the lights are turned off for announcements or emergencies, no talking! *Obey directions by any staff member. *No throwing sticks, mulch or rocks. *Don’t climb fences, trees, or on top of the bars. *Do not jump from the bars, swings or slides. *Only slide DOWN on the slides. * Stay with your group. * WALK from group to the front for dismissal. *Sit on the ground until your name is called. *Walk to your spot. *Tell a teacher if you don’t know the person picking you up. *Walk in the bus line with your group. *Follow all bus rules. *Stay in your seat until the bus stops. *Stay in line while walking with adults to drop off location.
18 Discipline We work hard to create a positive environment for learning in each classroom. We have high expectations for each student to maintain this environment. We will use a clip chart with levels ranging from “Outstanding” to “Parent Contact.” More information will be given in each classroom.
19 Green is GOOD!
20 Fun Fridays We look forward to celebrating with students who have exhibited successful school and classroom behaviors. We will have biweekly “celebrations” called Fun Friday. This will consist of an extra break time for students who have met reward criteria. Specific information to follow in newsletters and class meetings.
21 Olweus Bullying Prevention ProgramErma Siegel Elementary
22 Why address bullying? 1. For students and their futures- Mental & physical health 2. For a healthy school climate - Improved academic achievement For the larger community - Other safe places where students feel they belong
23 Tennessee Law Tennessee’s General Assembly found and declared that:A safe and civil environment is necessary for students to learn and achieve high academic standards; Bullying disrupts a student's ability to learn and a school's ability to educate its students in a safe environment; Students learn from school administrators, faculty, staff, and volunteers who demonstrate appropriate behavior and refuse to tolerate bullying; The use of electronics and the internet by students in a manner that is safe and secure is essential to a safe and civil learning environment.
24 At Erma Siegel ElementaryWe use the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program schoolwide in an attempt to prevent bullying from happening. Should there be a bullying situation, there is a procedure in place for appropriate counseling and support services that will be enacted when deemed necessary by the principal. In this situation, the parent/guardian of students involved will be contacted.
25 Definition of Bullying“Bullying is when someone repeatedly and on purpose says or does mean or hurtful things to another person who has a hard time defending himself or herself.”
26 The Bullying Circle A Watch what happens don’t take a stand. Disengaged Onlookers Note the terms used to describe the players in the bullying situation. We don’t use the terms bully and victim, rather the student who bullies and the student who it bullied. This puts an emphasis on the behavior rather than labeling the student as a person. Peer group plays an important role in motivating & encouraging bullying in many situations. Students who bully often get various types of support—from followers, supporters, & passive supporters. Our goal is to move students along the circle towards being a defender.
27 ESE Anti-Bullying RulesWe will not bully others. We will try to help students who are bullied. We will try to include students who are left out. If we know that somebody is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.
28 Effects of Olweus at ESEThe students take the Olweus Bullying Questionnaire in October each year. Last school year (2016) vs. the year before (2015) Percentage of girls and boys who responded “I have NOT been bullied” in the past couple of months increased from 59% in 2015 to 74.2% in 2016. Percentage of bullied students who have not told anyone about the bullying decreased from 23.7% in 2015 to 13.5% in 2016. Percentage of kids who report feeling afraid of being bullied has decreased from 42% in 2015 to 37% in 2016. Percentages of kids reporting that adults and students try to put a stop to the bullying have increased. Overall, the results were positive! We can still improve with your help!
29 How can parents help to prevent bullying?Talk with your child about bullying. Post the rules in your home. Look out for signs that could point to a bullying issue (e.g. increased anxiety or insecurity, depressed mood, more illnesses, student reporting repeated issues with another student). If you have concerns, talk to your child’s teacher. When school and home present on a united front against bullying, our children can feel safer and be able to thrive.
30 MOO We will be teaching the acronym “MOO” to coincide with our social skills. M=Mean O=Over and Over O=On Purpose
31 Inclusion We have a variety of students with special needs within our school. These students will be integrated into classrooms through the year to develop social and academic goals. We expect our students to be kind and caring to all peers.
32 Newsletters Each class will send a weekly newsletter on Friday (or last day of the week) in preparation for the next week. Newsletter are the way we will communicate important dates and events as well as a way to keep you informed on the curriculum your child will be learning. Please read the newsletter. School newsletters be posted on school website periodically. We will let you know through class newsletters when the website is updated. Please read newsletters and send s or notes regarding any questions you have.
33 SOAR SOAR is a daily block of time that we spend reinforcing, enriching and practicing Language Arts and Math skills. All 1st graders will participate in SOAR. All students are assessed 3 times a year to target individual learning needs and grouped accordingly.
34 STEAM We will be doing STEAM projects throughout the year. STEAM stands for Science/SS, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math. We will integrate Science and SS within reading. There will be science projects and engineering projects as well. (Which also means asking for around the house donations for things like paper towel roll tubes, boxes, cups, etc.) It is a lot of fun and a great way to go deeper while hitting the standards.
35 Homework Homework is designed to practice and reinforce skills learned in class. Your child should be reading DAILY at home. If at any point homework is overly frustrating, please contact your child’s teacher. We will work together to determine any adjustments that need to be made.
36 Report Cards Report cards will come home 4 times per year.You will receive the report card at the 1st parent/teacher conference. Mid-progress reports will come home approximately half way through each of the 4 grading periods.
37 Report Card Grades Report cards have changed. They will be given out at 1st conference and explained. Report cards will cover academic and social areas of development. M=Meeting expectations (NOT mastery) P=Progressing toward expectations N=Needs Improvement
38 Parent Conferences We want to have very open communication between teacher, student, and parent. There are 2 parent teacher conference days per year. They are scheduled for Nov. 1 and March 8. We may feel the need to meet more often and will let you know through note, call, or if we need to arrange a meeting. Feel free to contact us and set up a conference if you have a concern or questions.
39 Special Area Your child will participate in Art, Music, and Physical Education. Your child will need to wear appropriate shoes for PE days. Our special area time is from 10:25-11:10 daily.
40 Nut Free Classrooms We have decided as a grade to be “Nut Free” in our classrooms. Because we do share students at times, we want to put safety first and ask that no nut products be sent to eat in the classrooms. Your child’s teacher will share how diligent you need to be about label reading based on the allergy in each class.
41 Dress Code Please send your child in appropriate school clothing.No undergarments should be visible (wear shorts under dresses as needed). Gym shoes are required on PE days. Flip-flops are not recommended for school.
42 Spirit and Theme Days We will have a School Spirit Day each month.We will encourage students to show school pride by wearing Siegel attire or school colors (navy and gold). We will also have specific theme days We will let you know through newsletters and Daily Reports when a spirit day is upcoming.
43 SOLAR ECLISPE Parents are invited to join us for this event.Students will be provided with special glasses to view the eclipse. Be on the look out for more information!
44 Thank you for attending the group presentation.Your child’s teacher has more information to share with you that is specific to your child’s classroom. Please ask your child’s teacher any questions you have based on the school handbook or information presented this evening. A paper copy of this information can be provided upon request.