General Information/Procedures
Length of Day
The certified staff work day is 8:00 – 3:30. Staff is required to be on site from
8:00 to 3:15 (15 minutes of the day can be worked off site). Staff leaving the
building during school hours must notify the secretary in advance. Staff need to
record in and out times on the white board by the mail boxes when leaving early
or arriving late.
Dismissal
Students are to leave the school grounds and go directly home each day as soon
as they are dismissed. Students are not permitted back on school grounds until
4:00 p.m.
No student may alter home transportation plans without written communication
from the parent. Students are not to use the classroom phone to make after-
school plans.
All individual student early dismissals must be cleared through the office.
Students need to bring a written request from home to leave campus early.
Students leaving early must be signed out in the office by a parent/adult.
If for any reason a teacher keeps a student after school, the teacher must:
•
Notify the parent by telephone
•
Notify the office that a student is staying after school
•
Clarify with the parent how the student is to go home and inform the
office
Recess
Students are to play outside during recess. There will be few exceptions to the
rule. A student may remain inside only if he/she brings a note from his/her
parent(s) or a physician and then only for one or two days (unless the classroom
teacher makes an exception). If there are concerns in this area, please discuss
them with the nurse or health room assistant.
Students are not to be sent to the office to complete class work or homework
during recesses unless prior arrangements are made in person with the principal.
Injury
When students are injured or become seriously ill, immediately notify the school
office. The Health Room Assistant will help with the child and will contact the
parents/guardians. It is the responsibility of the supervising staff member to fill
out an
Accident Report Form
when there is an accident.
Accident Report Forms
may be obtained in the office.
If life threatening immediately call 911.
Staff members must fill out an
Accident Report Form
if they have been injured. It
is important to do this even if the staff member thinks that the injury is not
serious.
Students must have a pass to go to the Health Room.
Staff Meetings
Staff meetings are held on Wednesdays. Please do not plan appointments on
this day. On staff meeting days, certified staff members are required to stay until
3:30. One Wednesday a month the staff meeting will last until 4:00. This
extended staff meeting will usually be held on the third Wednesday of each
month.
Staff meetings start on time and end on time. Teachers are expected to be at
each meeting. Any teacher who will not be at any meeting must talk directly to
the principal.
Staff members are required to sign in for all staff meetings for record of
attendance. This record will be kept in a folder in the office along with the
agenda for the meeting.
Note taking for the meetings will be rotated amongst the staff. Meeting notes will
be kept in a folder along with the agenda and sign-in sheet.
Cumulative Records
Student cumulative records are kept in the file cabinets located in the main office.
They are filed by grade level and teacher. A teacher may sign out a student's
cum file as needed, however cum files are to be returned to the file cabinet at the
end of the day and cum files are
never
to be removed from the school or left in a
classroom overnight. All records that remain with a student throughout his/her
school career are contained within the cumulative record folder. When new
students enroll at Woodside, office personnel will prepare a cum folder containing
the enrollment form and the cum record card. Office personnel will request
previous school records as the student enrolls. As these records arrive, they will
be placed in the student's cum folder.
The counselor will review the cum folders of all students new to the school.
Academic/Attendance Referrals
Referrals should be made to the Student Support Intervention Team, (SST) by
completion of the
Request for Service Form
. This process will be reviewed at the
beginning of the school year in a staff meeting and is more extensively covered
in the Student Support Services section of this handbook. Students who need to
be referred to the Evaluation Team must first be reviewed at SST.
Discipline Referrals
Playground referrals are written on discipline referral slips. Playground referral
slips are FYI only for classroom teachers.
Discipline slips are not to be sent home with the student. Teachers are to
provide support for discipline of their students with regard to playground
infractions; however, applications of discipline consequences are the
responsibility of the playground supervisors or principal. Physical fighting and
students who are receiving frequent discipline slips must be referred to the
principal.
Students may not be sent from the classroom to the office for discipline purposes
without clearly communicating the situation by phone or in writing. Students who
are routinely sent to the office for discipline purposes must be referred to the
Student Support Team for intervention.
Flag Exercises
According to Everett Public School Policy, the
Pledge of Allegiance
needs to be
recited in classrooms at the beginning of each school day. Students will recite
the
Pledge
over the intercom each morning. This responsibility will rotate.
Cleaning the School Facility
At the close of the school day, students must clean up the classroom. Pencils,
crayons, paper, books and other items should be removed from the floor. The
chairs should be placed on top of the desks so the custodians can clean the
floors. You will receive a schedule of what nights your room will be vacuumed.
All materials must be stored in a safe manner with no heavy boxes or materials
stored on top of cabinets. The room must be free of clutter so that the physical
environment is safe and pleasant for the students.
Classroom Environment
Staff members are required to create a physically safe classroom environment
that is free from clutter and debris. Materials must be stored in a manner that is
neat and tidy. Heavy boxes or materials may not be stored on top of cabinets; in
case of an earthquake, these items can cause severe injuries. Only 20% of the
walls may be covered by paper due to the requirements of the fire department.
Lighted candles are prohibited.
Desks and furniture must be arranged so that students can exit with speed and
ease in case of an emergency situation.
Couches and other overstuffed furniture are prohibited in classrooms.
All windows to the outside and inside must remain uncovered. Sight lines must
be clear to all student areas for ease of supervision.
Due to the rising costs of electricity and the increase in electricity use because of
the new computers in the classrooms, all personal coffee makers, refrigerators,
microwaves, heaters (etc.) are prohibited.
GRADING
All student grades should remain confidential at all times. Grades should reflect
a student’s achievement in a course of study. Behavior (positive or negative)
should not be included in the calculation of a grade, but should be reported in the
additional comments section of the report card.
Modified Grading
Students served by Special Services, 504 Plans, ELL and others, may qualify for
modified grading on assignments, progress reports and report cards. These
students will be referred to below as “special needs” students. Guidelines for
modified grading will be recommended by the principal and approved by the
MDT.
Special needs students who are earning a 4, 3 or 2 without accommodations or
modifications should receive the grade in the same manner as any other student.
Special needs students who are earning a grade with accommodations and
modifications should receive the grade earned. Such students MUST receive the
report card comment, “
Work has been modified to meet individual student
needs.”
Teachers are encouraged to use additional report card comments as appropriate
for all students.
Please refer to Amber S. (Special Ed), Karen M. (ELL) or Richard C. (504) and
individual student IEPs for accommodation and modification suggestions.
Student Dress Code
Staff is expected to enforce the following dress code:
Student dress will be regulated to preserve a beneficial learning environment and
to assure the safety and well-being of all students. Dress which presents a health
or safety hazard, damages school property, or which creates a material and
substantial disruption of the educational process is prohibited as per Everett
Public Schools policy 3224.
Students will wear appropriate school attire, including shoes. Appropriate attire
shall exclude any type of dress or manner of grooming which school officials
reasonably believe would disrupt or interfere with the school environment,
activities and/or educational process. School officials will work with students,
parents, and teachers to communicate descriptions of dress considered
disruptive to the educational process. The following are not permitted:
1. Attire that shows or displays undergarments: inadequately covers
chest/breasts, midriff, buttocks or thighs; displays obscene, sexual,
drug or alcohol related messages; or displays gang-related symbolism.
2. Any clothing that would create, in fact, an atmosphere in which a
student, staff member, or other person’s well being is hindered by
undue pressure, behavior, intimidation, overt gesture or threat of
violence.
3. Bandanas, headscarves, baseball caps, are prohibited in all buildings.
Stocking caps may be worn at recess; however they may not be worn
in the classrooms. Baseball caps may be worn to and from school and
not at recess.
These standards will be applied in consistent and nondiscriminatory manner.
Students who violate these standards will be subject to progressive discipline.
Any student, parent or guardian who is aggrieved by corrective action or
discipline for dress code violations may appeal according to procedures in the
Student Rights and Responsibilities policy 3200.
Substitutes
You can request a substitute on line, http://subweb.everett.k12.wa.us or you may
call the district substitute line at (425)425-525-2894. Please call Woodside each
day before 2:30 p.m. if you wish the substitute to continue. In case there are no
substitutes available through the district substitute line, individual staff members
will be asked to cover classes. Care will be taken to rotate in-building
substituting so that no program is impacted more than another.
Confidentiality
Staff members are required to keep information about students confidential.
Student grades are not to be shared with people who are not connected to the
school or are not members of the student’s immediate family. During Evaluation
Team Meetings or other meetings with parents present, the names of students
other than the student being discussed are not to be said.
School business or information is expected to stay within the school and is not to
be shared with volunteers or members of the community.
Internet, E-Mail, Passwords
Passwords are expected to be professionally worded. Internet access will be
denied if unapproved sites are accessed and the district receives immediate
notification that an off-limit site was accessed.
E-mail is not private and should be used in a professional manner. Please do not
enter into tense responses to other staff members or parents through e-mail as
these “conversations” can be forwarded to anyone in or outside of the district.
When in doubt about the content of a reply to a parent e-mail, please forward the
e-mail and your reply to the principal before sending it to the parent.
Media Instructional Materials
Instructions regarding use of media materials and equipment will come from the
teacher/librarian who will coordinate this part of the school program. All
equipment must be checked out from the librarian or school secretary. Digital
and video camera equipment is to be checked out through the Art/Technology
teacher.
Guest Instructors/Speakers
Complete the
Instructional Guest Form
located in the form section of the on-line
handbook. Office staff must be notified of visitors so messages can be relayed
and safety concerns addressed. Guests need to check in at the office and wear
a Visitor Button.
Conferences
Regular parent-teacher conferences are scheduled twice a year for grades K
through 5. Teachers are required to maintain close contact throughout the
school year with parents through extra conferences, telephone contacts,
classroom visits, and classroom newsletters, etc.
Teachers are to hold one conference for each student during each conference
week and are not to schedule two conferences to accommodate divorced
parents. Schedule one conference so that both parents hear the same
information and do not put the school and the teacher in an adverse situation.
The principal or the counselor will be available to attend difficult conferences.
Emergency Procedures
Yellow Emergency Flip Charts are to be displayed in a prominent place in each
room. They are available in the office. Additional procedures are outlined in the
Emergency Procedures section of this handbook. Staff must complete a staff
emergency card to be filed in the office. A class list and copy of emergency
procedures are to be stored on a clipboard contained located in each classroom.
Persons in charge of the students in the classroom are to take the clipboards
containing the class lists with them during every emergency drill.
Copy Machines
The copier is located near the library. All staff will be assigned codes for using
the copier.
You can print copies on the copier directly from your computer
and are encouraged to do so (it is far less expensive than your individual
printers). A small amount of para-educator time is assigned to do copy projects
for teachers. Please put work requests in the large bin in the back workroom
allowing plenty of lead-time for completion.
There is a smaller copier located in the workroom off the office and is for office
use only. The Risograph machine is located in the workroom and is used only by
the para-educators and/or secretary. Do not use the school copy machine for
personal use other than one or two copies.
Telephone
Staff members calling within District may dial the 4 digit extension. Dial 9 and the
area code to call outside of the district. Calls needing the "SCAN" number must
be accessed through the school secretary,
The SCAN line may not be used for
personal calls.
Parents will receive your classroom phone number and all calls will be sent to
your phone during school time. The secretary will not take phone messages.
Check your phone messages daily.
Do not use the “office” button on your phone for routine calls to the office.
This is the internal “911” button.
Make sure that substitutes know how to call
the office.
Students may be given permission to use the telephone when it relates to school
business. They should not use the phone to arrange after-school plans.
Smoking Policy
The Everett School District has a NO SMOKING policy.
HUMAN RESOURCES
Drug-Free Workplace
In accordance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988, as amended, the
District prohibits:
1. The unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use, of
alcohol, a controlled substance, or other intoxicants in the workplace;
2. Reporting to work under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or
other intoxicants; and
3. Any other manufacture, distribution, dispensation, possession, or use of
alcohol, a controlled substance, or other intoxicants in a manner that is
detrimental to the interests of the District.
An employee who is taking a drug or medication, whether or not prescribed by
the employee’s physician, that may adversely affect that employee’s ability to
perform work in a safe or productive manner is required to report such use to his
or her supervisor. This includes drugs or medicine that are known or advertised
as possibly affecting judgment, coordination, or any of the senses, including
those that may cause drowsiness or dizziness. The supervisor, in conjunction
with the District office, will then determine whether the employee can remain at
work and whether any work restrictions will be necessary.
“Workplace” for purposes of this policy includes any school building or any school
premises; any school-owned vehicle, or any other school-approved vehicle used
to transport students to or from school activities; and off-school property during
any school-sponsored or school-approved activity, event, or function, such as a
field trip or athletic event, where students are under the jurisdiction of the school
district.
As a condition of employment, each employee shall notify his or her supervisor of
his or her conviction under any criminal drug statute for a violation occurring in
the workplace as defined above. Such notification shall be provided no later than
five (5) days after such conviction. As a further condition of employment, each
employee shall abide by the terms of this policy respecting a drug-free
workplace.
An employee who violates the terms of this policy may be suspended,
discharged, or nonrenewed in accordance with the provisions of board policy,
state law, and/or applicable collective bargaining agreements. The District may
also refer the matter for criminal prosecution. In cases where the District in its
sole discretion determines that reinstatement of the employee is appropriate, it
may require as a condition of eligibility for reinstatement that an employee
satisfactorily complete a drug rehabilitation or treatment program approved by
the District, at the employee’s expense. Nothing in this policy shall be construed,
however, to guarantee reinstatement of any employee who violates this policy;
nor does the District accept any financial obligation for treatment or rehabilitation
required as a condition of eligibility for reinstatement.
The Superintendent or designee is directed to:
1. Provide a copy of the District’s Drug-Free Workplace statement to
new employees;
2. Maintain a drug-free awareness program; and
3. Comply with other specific requirements of the Drug-Free Workplace
Act of 1998, as amended.
The drug-free awareness program shall include: informing employees about the
dangers of drug abuse in the workplace; the District’s policy establishing a drug-
free workplace; available drug counseling, rehabilitation, and employee
assistance programs, if any; and the penalties that may be imposed for drug
abuse violations.
Legal References: 20 U.S.C. §§ 7101-7118 Safe and Drug-Free Schools and
Communities Act
Revised 08/06
Duty to Report
RCW 28A.400 now requires both certificated
AND
classified employees who have
knowledge or reasonable cause to believe a student is a victim of physical abuse or
sexual misconduct by another school employee to report the abuse or misconduct or
shall cause a report to be made to the school administrator. The administrator is then
required to report the abuse to the proper law enforcement agency in accordance with
the mandatory reporting requirements if the administrator has reasonable cause to
believe the abuse or misconduct occurred. Now, school districts must, at the first
opportunity, but in all cases within 48 hours of receiving a report of sexual misconduct
by a school employee, notify the parents of a student alleged to be the victim, target, or
recipient of the misconduct.
It should be noted that this does not change the previous requirement of school
professionals to report to the proper law enforcement agency or the Department of
Social and Health Services (CPS) if the professional has reasonable cause to believe
that a child has suffered abuse or neglect.
P.T.A.
Regular PTA meetings will be announced. Staff participation in PTA is welcome and
encouraged and results in greater support from parents. A membership drive is held in
September and staff will have an opportunity to join this organization. Staff members
are asked to volunteer to sign up for one P.T.A. meeting with responsibilities rotating.
P.T.A. reimburses each staff member $50.00 for the purchase of supplies and
materials. The items must remain at Woodside. Save your receipts because there will
be no reimbursement without a receipt.
Volunteer Procedures
Everett School District Policy #5430 mandates that all regular school volunteers fill out a
Volunteer Application Form
to be kept on file at the district office. Human Resources
will conduct background checks on all school volunteers. All volunteers are required to
sign in at the office. Volunteers must wear their volunteer button. Please send all
adults whom you see in a building who are not wearing volunteer buttons to the office to
sign in. This helps keep a safe environment.
ID Tags
Woodside Staff members are required to wear Everett Public School ID tags at all times
while on campus or visiting other schools in the district.
Fragrances
Out of respect to those staff members and students who are sensitive or allergic to
fragrances, please refrain from wearing fragrances to school.
Lively
Woodside teachers are encouraged to use the Lively property as an extension of the
classroom. One permission form is sent at the beginning of the school year. After this
Revised 08/06
form is signed and returned, teachers need only send an itinerary prior to taking a trip to
Lively. Please get this form returned within the first month of school
Security
For security reasons, one of the sets of doors to the buildings is always locked. It is wise
to carry your keys with you during the day.
If you are in the building after hours you must code in and code out using your PIN.
Failure to code in or out will result in a security check and a cost to the building.
Field Trips
Each classroom receives one field trip with transportation paid for by the PTA. The
Science Department has provided us with transportation for environmental field trips
because we do not use transportation to Lively. Classrooms/Grade Levels who request
buses from the Science Department must first go through the principal. Requests for
these buses must be for use in addition to Lively; they cannot be used in place of Lively.
The field trip sponsored by the District Science Department must be related to the
environment. See the section on Field Trip Procedures for a step-by-step description of
the process.
Pets
It is district policy that all cats and dogs be leashed at school. (A shoelace is not an
acceptable leash.)
In order for a student to bring their pet to school for sharing they must have
teacher/principal permission and must present a health certificate upon check in at the
office.
HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION & BULLYING
It is the policy of Everett School District to maintain a safe, respectful and secure
learning environment for all students that is free from harassment, intimidation and
bullying. Harassment, intimidation and bullying of students by other students, staff
members, volunteers, parents or guardians are prohibited.
It shall be a violation of this policy and the District’s student discipline policy for any
student of the District to harass, intimidate or bully another student through verbal,
nonverbal, or physical conduct as defined by this policy on school property (or in
reasonable proximity thereto), school transportation, or at school-sponsored activities
off school property.
(See EPS Students Rights and Responsibility for further details)
Personal Belongings
Each of us likes to personalize our work environment to make it comfortable and
welcoming for students, parents and staff. When at all possible, the classroom or offices
in schools should reflect student learning and work, balancing the creation of an
attractive environment with student needs for a neat and orderly classroom that is not
overly distracting or stimulating.
Revised 08/06
In creating this environment, care should be exercised as to the decorations, equipment
and furniture that are brought; taking into account the ages of your students, health and
safety factors. The district provides staff with appropriate equipment such as desks,
chairs, file cabinets, therefore, it should not be necessary for staff to bring in their own
items.
For energy conservation purposes, the district prohibits microwave ovens, refrigerators,
coffee pots and other small appliances in classrooms and offices except in locations
which are approved by the work site administrator; e.g. staff rooms. Also, for health and
safety reasons, the district prohibits soft-sided furniture such as couches and
overstuffed chairs, and slider-chairs.
A limited number of personal items which are in good taste, such as knickknacks, family
photos, and small electronics such as a small radio are acceptable.
There are limitations on the district’s responsibility for the care and security of personal
items you choose to bring to school or your work site.