Jack N. Darby ES Parent Handbook

Darby School’s Mission is to promote academic and social excellence so that all students can become positive contributors to society. Darby has assembled a dedicated, highly trained and motivated group of faculty and staff to guide your children in the right direction. They love teaching the children and regularly devote time well beyond what is commonly termed the official duty day. You often find teachers still at work long into the evening and on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. Teachers are only one part of the educational team. If we wish to maximize academic growth and achievement, parents will need to be deeply involved. Parents are encouraged to participate in the education of their children, whether you’re coming to school to help out, conferencing with teachers whenever there is a concern, helping your children with their homework, or simply reading to your children. There are many, many ways that parents can actively and productively participate in their child’s education. We encourage you to get to know all of us, but most particularly, your child’s teacher.

We feel that Darby is an excellent school with many interesting and challenging programs. We have gone to great efforts to staff Darby Elementary School with extremely well qualified and dedicated professional faculty members as well as staff members. Darby also prides itself on the discipline and order continually maintained throughout the school. We work hard to provide a warm, secure and nurturing environment that we hope will be evident from the minute you step through our doors. Once again, welcome to Darby!

John C. Mueller

Principal

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ABOUT OUR SCHOOL

Darby School phones numbers:

DSN: (on-base) - 252-8800/8801

(off base): 0956-50-8800/1

(from a cell: 0956 – 50-8800/1)

Email: Principal_*DARBYES@pac.dodea.edu

Darby Internet Web-Site: http://www.darby-es.pac.dodea.edu

Darby Intranet Web-Site: http://login.darby.pac.dodea.edu

DID you KNOW?

· Darby Test Scores are above national averages.

· That Darby has at least 5 computers in every classroom, 2 computer labs with 25+ computers each, and a mini-lab in the Library of 10 computers?

· Darby has READING COUNTS, a nationally known program to encourage students to read, with a computer self check for comprehension that is available for every student?

· Darby classroom teachers select students for special recognition each month for the Dolphin Pride Award?

· Darby has a program of Peer Mediation in which our 6th graders and 5th graders are trained in how to help resolve playground conflicts and are present on the job on the playground every day?

· Darby has a host of student activities, including a STUDENT COUNCIL?

· Darby 5th and 6th graders participate in a joint Command/School Drug Abuse prevention program called DARE?

· Darby has an extensive program in which we host and visit Japanese schools, including some as far away as Fukuoka and Beppu?

· Darby has its own set of acronyms:

· CSI - Continuous School Improvement

· SILT – School Improvement Leadership Team

· SPED – Special Education

· SAC – School Advisory Committee (made up of parents and teachers elected by the community)

· PTO – Parent Teacher Organization

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ACCIDENTS/ ILLNESS

If an accident or illness occurs at school, the teacher will immediately notify the nurse. If it is necessary for the child to go home or to be referred to a medical facility, the nurse will contact one of the parents, or the person listed as emergency contact (therefore it is critical that parents keep phone numbers and emergency contacts updated). Students sent home because of illness must be accompanied by a parent, guardian, or an individual designated and authorized by their parent. If a child is dismissed from school with a fever, the child should not be sent back until the temperature has been normal for 24 hours. Serious illness or injury requiring immediate medical attention, the parents will be notified and an ambulance will be called.

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ACCREDITATION

Jack N. Darby School is fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA). The last accreditation visit was held during the spring semester, SY 2006.

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ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL

Grades 1-6	07:50 A.M. – 2:30 P.M.
Kindergarten, PSCD, & Sure Start	08:25 A.M. – 2:30 P.M.

The first bell at Darby School rings at 07:55 and class begins promptly at 08:00. Supervision at school, both inside and outside, is not provided until after 07:45 a.m., we ask that you please ensure your child(ren) do not arrive earlier than 07:45. Please remember that Kindergarten, PSCD & Sure Start students must be escorted to school, and will only be released at the end of the day to a parent or authorized adult.

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ATTENDANCE AND TARDY POLICY

Please call the school if your child will be absent, or write a note to the classroom teacher explaining the absence.

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EXCUSED and PLANNED ABSENCES

A student who brings a note or whose sponsor/parent/legal guardian has called stating the reason for the absence will be excused. There will be no academic penalty for excused absences. Students are to stay current with assigned class work and are responsible for the work missed during their absence from class. Work missed must be made up in a reasonable amount of time, usually equal to the length of the absence.

Parents can request in person or in writing an excused absence for their children through their child’s teacher. Pre-excused absences for family trips must be discussed with the teacher and approved by the administration. Absences for longer than a week often have negative impact upon a child’s education and should be avoided if at all possible. Every effort should be made not to plan a vacation trip during instructional days. It seriously disrupts a child’s progress, and impacts on the steady growth of concepts and skill, when new material is not explained or practiced in class under the guidance of the teacher. For trips of a week or less, teachers can provide work for students if given enough advanced notice. For trips longer, it would be impossible for teachers to provide meaningful work for that period of time. Parents should plan to conference with their child’s teacher immediately upon their return.

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UNEXCUSED ABSENCES

Unexcused absences do not allow for make-up privileges and credit. Absences of this nature include truancy, oversleeping, and baby-sitting. No note or contact by parents or a note saying “PERSONAL” without an explanation will be considered unexcused. It is suggested that parents call the office prior to the student’s return and explain the situation so the student may be excused.

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TARDY POLICY

If your child is late for school, please send a note with your child to the teacher, stating the reason for the late arrival. If you bring your child to school, please state the reason to the office staff, and they will issue an admit slip that your child can take to class. Tardies are excused for illness, medical appointments and family emergencies. Sorry, but “oversleeping” is not an excused tardy.

Children who arrive at school alone without a note from the parent will be unexcused. Teachers will discuss this with the child the first time, and then if it happens again, will send a note to the parents to be signed and returned. If a child has additional unexcused tardies, the office will notify the parents by phone and/or letter. Serious, chronic situations will be referred to commands for assistance in solving the problem.

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AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES POLICY

Any time an elementary grade student is involved in an after school activity, permission slips will be sent home prior to the start of the activity. Parents must sign the form and have the student return it to the sponsoring teacher before the student will be permitted to participate. If an after school activity must be cancelled, a note will be sent home, with the student, to inform parents of the cancellation. If a teacher has a sudden illness or emergency on the day of the activity, the teacher will ensure that students are notified in time for the students to call their parents.

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ASSIGNMENT OF STUDENTS TO CLASSES

Students are assigned to classes by grade and enrollment. Every teacher is certified by the Department of Defense Dependents’ Schools. In general, specific teacher requests cannot be honored. However, if your child has special needs that you would like considered, please make an appointment with the school counselor so that the school will be aware of these needs prior to placement.

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BICYCLES

The school cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage of bicycles brought to school.

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BOOKS AND LIBRARY BOOKS

Textbooks adopted by DoDDS are ordered from the same book companies that are used by many schools in the United States. The books are issued to students free of charge, but the sponsor is held financially responsible for the cost of lost or damaged textbooks and library books.

Students transferring during the school year must turn in their books and workbooks to their teachers. All books will be accounted for and turned in at the end of the school year.

Parents should note that willful misuse, damage or destruction of any school property is unacceptable. Students, as well as sponsors, will be held responsible for repair, replacement, or another form of approved corrective action regarding lost or damaged school property.

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CASE STUDY COMMITTEE (CSC)

The CSC coordinates all special education services within the school. A student may be referred to the CSC by a teacher or parent. Under project “Child Find”, the CSC actively tries to locate any child, particularly those 3-5 years of age in the community in need of special education.

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CHILD FIND

The school tries to locate all children in our community, aged 3-21, who may have a handicapping condition – physical, intellectual, or emotional. If you know of anyone who would benefit from our special education program, please contact our administration office at 252-8800/8801.

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CHANGING CLASSES

No changes of classes will take place during the first two weeks of school. Requests to change classes must be formally reviewed and recommended by a placement committee consisting of the counselor, the classroom teacher, parents, the administration and other professionals as needed. Class changes will not be granted except under very unique circumstances, and only after all attempts have been made to resolve issues related to the current placement.

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CONFERENCES

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

Conferences are valuable opportunities for parents and teachers to plan cooperative strategies to help the student.

Parent/Teacher conferences are scheduled over two days for all parents at the end of the first quarter grading period (November). Report cards are given to the parents at that time and the student’s school performance is discussed. Half days for conferences are scheduled at the end of both the 2nd and 3rd quarter grading periods. These conferences are scheduled by request of either the teacher or parents.

Other conferences may be initiated as needed or desired any time during the school year by either the parent or the teacher. Teachers are available for after school conferences by appointment. Parents desiring a conference should send a note to their child’s teacher or leave a message for their child’s teacher to return their call. The teacher will either return the call or send a note home with the child to schedule the conference.

Parents who are unable to attend a scheduled conference should notify the teacher in advance by note or telephone message so that the conference can be promptly rescheduled. NOTE: the school requests that parents notify the teacher ahead of time of the need to conference. A better outcome almost always results when the teacher knows ahead of time that a parent is coming and is prepared to spend the time and address the parent’s specific concern in private.

It is important that both the teacher and the parent work closely together in an effort to help the child. Questions or concerns should be addressed quickly. Therefore, frequent parent/teacher conferences are encouraged.

PARENT/ADMINISTRATOR CONFERENCES

Parents who would like to meet with the principal must call the school secretary at 252-8800 for an appointment.

Walk-in’s are discouraged due to the sometimes hectic schedule of the principal. To enhance communication and better prepare the principal, the school secretary will inquiry as to the nature of the request. Please note: any and all conversations with the school secretary are deemed confidential and will ONLY be discussed with the principal.

If the subject of the conference concerns policies or practices of an individual teacher, a conference should first be held with the teacher involved. If that has not previously been done, the principal will facilitate a parent/teacher conference. Problems that cannot be resolved at the most immediate level should then be brought to the attention of the school administration.

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CLOSING OF SCHOOL

On some occasions, it is necessary to close or cancel school. The following procedures will be followed whenever it is necessary to cancel or close school due to inclement weather, political demonstrations, etc. DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL FOR THIS INFORMATION. IF SCHOOL HAS BEEN CANCELLED, NO ONE WILL BE IN THE SCHOOL TO TAKE YOUR CALL. Announcements will be made on AFN by 06:30 A.M. Parents should listen to AFN or call the base Contingency Line at

252-3034 (If you are calling from off-base call 50-3034; from cell, 0956-50-3034),

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PRIOR TO THE START OF THE SCHOOL DAY:

The principal will coordinate with the Command Duty Officer to cancel school for students.

Announcements will be made on AFN by 6:30 A.M. Parents should listen to AFN or call the base Contingency Line at 252-3034 (If you are calling from off-base call 50-3034; from cell, 0956-50-3034).

School may be canceled or have a 2 hour delayed opening depending on weather conditions. AFN will always have the latest information. Any decision will apply to all students, whether living on or off base.

While most all of our students walk to school, most of our teachers do not. Therefore Darby School closes when conditions do not permit safe travel to the school and thus all decisions regarding closings or delays apply to all schools in Sasebo.

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PROCEDURES FOR CLOSING SCHOOL WHILE IN SESSION

The principal will coordinate the closing of school with the COMFLEACTS, Sasebo Base Commander.

The COMFLEACTS, Sasebo Base Commander will coordinate announcing school closure time with AFN and will inform local commands so that working parents will be notified of the school closure.

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SCHOOL CLOSURE DISMISSAL PROCEDURES

The principal will inform teachers when students may be released. Students will NOT be sent home to an empty house. The school will verify that a parent, or an older brother or sister is at home before a student is released.

If no one is at home, students will remain at school under faculty supervision until a parent can be contacted.

Once again, it is imperative you keep your contact and emergency contact information current.

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DELAYED CLOSING OF SCHOOL

If conditions exist that make it unsafe for students to travel home on foot (severe weather, civil disturbances, etc.) students will remain at school under faculty supervision. Parents should listen to AFN before calling the school office.

When travel on foot has been deemed safe, the school will be closed and the students sent home following the procedures listed above.

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COMPLAINTS OR PROBLEMS

Parents who have a question, a complaint, or a concern should attempt to resolve it at the most appropriate and immediate level. For typical classroom matters, the following procedures apply in order as needed.

· The parent discusses the matter with the teacher concerned.

· The parent or parent and teacher meet with the principal.

· Those matters, which cannot be resolved at the school level, are referred to the Superintendent of Schools, Japan. The superintendent’s office is located at Yokota Air Force Base.

These procedures follow the line of authority from teacher to District Superintendent and focus on resolution at the lowest and most immediate level. Parents are encouraged to seek immediate resolution of problems. Prompt action can frequently prevent complications and more serious problems later on.

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DRESS CODE

Students are expected to be clean, neatly groomed, and properly dressed in clothing that is appropriate for the activities in which they will be participating on any given day, and to the climate and time of year. Clothing items considered unsafe, unsanitary, vulgar or offensive are strictly prohibited. Examples of clothing that might be deemed inappropriate: string halters or tank tops; tops that show bare midriffs; pants that show underwear and/or are in danger of falling down, etc. For health and safety reasons, students must wear appropriate shoes to school. Thong type sandals are prohibited. Too often, children trip and fall while trying to run at recess. Some children remove these sandals and run barefooted, an invitation to a cut or stone bruise. Hats and bandannas may not be worn while inside the building.

Student dress and personal grooming are the responsibility of the student and the parents. The school administration reserves the right to advise parents when students come to school dressed in a manner that is disruptive, in poor taste or affecting the health of the individual or classmates. Students may be sent home for more appropriate dress.

Parents are asked to mark all articles of clothing and personal property with the child’s full name to aid in the return if lost or worst case, stolen.

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DISCIPLINE

Good discipline essentially means good order. It is marked by self-control and an understanding of appropriate standards of conduct. As children mature, they become increasingly capable of judging accurately which conduct is appropriate in any given situation. The guidance of parents and teachers helps students develop the self-discipline and understanding required to conduct themselves in a manner that will bring credit to themselves, their parents, their school and the United States of America.

Discipline will be maintained at an appropriate level, which will result in (1) maximum growth of the student in self-control, (2) high regard for student body and faculty, (3) pride in the school and community. We expect all students of J.N. Darby School to abide by the rules and regulations as established by the administration, faculty and student government. School rules apply at all school functions. DoDEA Regulation 2051.1 governs all school discipline.

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DISCIPLINE FOR MINOR OR FIRST OFFENSES

A student may be discipline for a relatively minor or first offense, through the use of written or oral reprimands or notice to parents, suspension of school or extracurricular privileges, in-school suspensions, time outs, teacher/student/parent conferences, and by any other teacher intervention deemed by the teacher to be appropriate. These minor offenses include any conduct that is no conducive to the good order and discipline of the school. Examples of conduct for which minor discipline may be appropriate include, but are not limited to: tardiness, unexcused absence, chewing gum or eating food in class, being unprepared for class, running or horseplay in the halls or classrooms, cheating or lying, possessing items in violation of school rules, use of offensive language, minor damage to rooms or materials or to the property of any other person on or about school grounds, failing to follow instructions, disrupting the class by talking, laughing, or wandering about when the teacher determines that such conduct is inappropriate to the classroom activity, and engaging in inappropriate behavior on the school bus. Nothing in this paragraph precludes the imposition of more serious discipline such as suspension or expulsion, or when the principal determines that the nature of the offense, in the context of all circumstances, warrants a more sever consequence.

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GROUNDS FOR SUSPENSION or EXPULSION

A student may be suspended or expelled from the school, if the principal or, in the case of suspension over 10 days, an expulsion disciplinary committee, determines that one of the following actions has taken place.

· Caused, attempted to cause, or threatened to cause physical injury to another person, or threatened to use or has used physical force against any person.

· Conduct that endangers the well being of others.

o Fighting is not allowed at school! Fighting is generally defined as a sincere attempt to hurt another individual. In our experience, it takes two to fight. As a result, when a fight occurs, both students will usually be suspended from school for the first offense. Repeat occurrences will usually result in suspension for periods of longer duration, so severity of consequences may vary among participants.

o Bullying, or threatening another person. Chronic disrespect among peers will be referred for counseling, parent conferences and/or disciplinary action as appropriate. If it persists, it may then be considered Bullying and merit more severe consequences.