A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL:

It is with great enthusiasm that we look forward to the 2008-2009 school year.

We recognize the tremendous responsibility West School has to educate your child and to assist him/her in developing academically, socially, and emotionally throughout the school year.  We have set high expectations for ourselves and for our students.  Our belief is that it takes staff, children, and parents all working together to create a caring, supportive, and successful school community.  As this new school year begins, we look forward to working with you to provide the best possible educational experience for your child. 

The pages of this handbook contain important information about West School.  Please read them carefully.  If you have any questions about the rules, regulations, or operations of West School after you finish reading, please feel free to contact your child’s teacher or the school office for help.

The office phone # is 815-459-2749.  Office hours are from 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Sincerely,
Mrs. Jean Bevevino  Mrs. Marcia Hyma
Principal   Assistant Principal

ABSENCES/PERMISSION TO LEAVE SCHOOL DURING THE SCHOOL DAY
When a child is going to be absent from school, parents are required to notify the school office by 9:30 a.m.  Please state the student’s name, teacher, and the reason for the absence.  If it is due to an illness, please be specific as to what the illness is.  The phone numbers are 459-2749, 477-6982, or 477-6983.  Any student who arrives late to school must check in at the office before going to his classroom.  Students are not permitted to leave the school during the school day without parental permission.  If it is necessary, please send a note stating the time you will need to pick up your child.  Parents are asked to come to the office to sign out their child, and the office will call their classroom.  Please do not go to the classroom.  This only causes an interruption for the class, and teachers may only dismiss students who are called to the office.

ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL
Students should arrive at school between 8:30 and 8:50 a.m.  Parents driving students to school at this time should use the circle drive in front of West School.  When entering the circle drive, pull ahead as far as possible to allow additional cars to enter the drive.  Pull up to the curb so that children can safely exit vehicles on the curbside.  Students may utilize the playground until the 1st bell rings at 8:48 a.m. unless we have inclement weather at which time, students will go to the multi-purpose room or the gym.  We expect all students to be in their seats by 9:00 a.m. at which time instruction will begin. 
At dismissal time, students are categorized into three major categories:  walkers, bus riders, and pickups.  Walkers are those students who walk all the way home.  Pickups are those students getting picked up in a vehicle.

Parents needing to pick up their child in a vehicle at dismissal time can be issued a colored tag, which will be prominently displayed in the car window and will designate the actual time of pickup. Staggered dismissal times begin with the “Red” parking pass students leaving their classrooms at 3:24.  “Yellow” parking pass students are dismissed at 3:27, while the “Green” parking pass students leave at 3:30.  All other students including walkers and bus students will be dismissed at 3:30.  Parents without parking passes may pull into the circle drive at 3:35 to pick up their children.  Students will be waiting along the curb.  The patience of all parents is appreciated as we all work together to assure the safety of our students.

All walkers will be dismissed from the east or west ends of the building.  If you are meeting your child to walk them home, please wait at Exit 3 at the east end or at the far west end of the building.  No walkers will be dismissed through Door #1 at the front entrance of the school.  This exit is reserved for vehicle pickups only.

Parents must inform the school if there is any change in a child’s dismissal plan for the day.  Please send a note to your child’s teacher that morning explaining the different method that your child will be going home in the afternoon.  If an unforeseen emergency arises, please call the school at 815-459-2749.

BIKES, SCOOTERS, AND SKATEBOARDS
Students may ride bikes to or from school but must park them in the racks provided.  All bicycles should be locked when not in use.  For safety reasons, bicycles should not be ridden through the parking lot or bus loading area.  Students are responsible for their own bicycles.  Roller blades, scooters, and skateboards are not allowed on any District 47 school property.  Roller blades, scooters, and skateboards, which are brought on school property, will be confiscated and kept in the school office until a parent or other responsible adult makes arrangements to pick them up.

BUS SAFETY
School bus service is provided for students if they live a mile and a half or more from the school.  Special provisions are made for highly dangerous areas, which may be closer to school, provided the Illinois Department of Transportation approves these areas.  Riding the bus is a privilege, which can be denied if safety rules are not observed. 

In general, please observe the following safety guidelines:
1. Please stay seated and listen to the bus driver.
2. Keep your hands and feet to yourself and respect others property.
3. Please refrain from eating or drinking on the bus.

Any infractions of the above rules will result in the bus driver filing a “Bus Incident Report” with the principal.  The principal will notify parents and talk with the students involved.  Repeated incidents will result in suspension of transportation privileges at the principal’s discretion.

School District 47 is not responsible for students who do not take their assigned transportation.  ANY STUDENT WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REGULAR BUS TRANSPORTATION IS NOT PERMITTED TO RIDE WITH ANOTHER STUDENT AT ANY TIME.  DUE TO THE LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE ON EACH BUS, STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RIDE ANY BUS OTHER THAN THE ONE TO WHICH THEY ARE ASSIGNED.  Special permission to get off at a stop other than the one designated for your child must be granted by school administration.
 
If your child misses the bus at school, he/she must report to the office and call home for a ride.  The student is not permitted to walk home.

Emergency Cards will be passed out on the first day of school.  If a parent cannot be reached in the event of a missed bus or another situation, we will move to the first person, then the second person listed as the emergency contacts.  It is imperative that your child turns in the emergency card to the health clerk within the first week of school.  Any changes to information must be corrected as soon as possible.

CAFETERIA
A hot lunch is available every day or a student may bring a lunch from home and buy milk.  A daily, “10 Lunch”, or “20 Lunch” ticket may be purchased in the cafeteria for hot lunch.  To purchase a lunch ticket, please make checks payable to “District 47.”  Students are permitted to bring a juice box in place of milk but NO soda pop is allowed.

Student’s Hot Lunch      $2.00
10 Lunch Ticket           $20.00
20 Lunch Ticket         $40.00
Milk (white or chocolate)   .50

(Students who forget their lunch money are permitted to “charge” their lunch.  Charges are expected to be paid promptly, and students may accumulate 2 charges before they are given a cheese sandwich in place of the entré.  Limited healthy snacks may be purchased when students have finished eating their lunch.)

CAFETERIA RULES

RIGHTS
All members of the West Community have the right to:

• Enjoy a friendly, quiet visit with friends at lunch
• Be respected
• Enjoy a clean eating environment
•  Enjoy a safe environment at all times

RESPONSIBILITIES
Therefore, it is my responsibility to:

• keep my voice down and avoid shouting or horseplay
• show respect for the supervisors by asking permission to leave the table for any reason (napkin, bathroom, trash)
• keep my area clean by throwing away all of my own trash and trash around or under my table.  This also shows respect for our custodians.
• wait quietly at my table to be dismissed to throw away my trash and to be dismissed to go outside with the group

DIRECTORIES
A student directory is available to all West families.  The directory contains the name, address, and phone number of each student whose parents checked the “YES” to the directory on the bottom of the book-fee form.  Please use the directory for sending out birthday invitations, etc. rather than having your child distribute them at school.  This practice causes many hurt feelings among other students.  Directories for the 2008 – 2009 school year should be available by the end of September.

DISCIPLINE
West School practices the Love and Logic approach to discipline.  This approach allows students to become responsible, productive citizens.

· Every attempt will be made to maintain the dignity and self-respect of both the
   student and the teacher.

· Students will be guided and expected to solve their problems without
   creating problems for anyone else.

· Students will be given opportunities to make decisions and live
   with the consequences, be they good or bad.

· Misbehavior will be handled with natural or logical consequences instead of
   punishment whenever possible.

· Misbehavior will be viewed as opportunities for individual problem solving
  and preparation for the real world as opposed to personal attacks on school or staff.

· Each teacher will establish a process whereby students may discuss consequences
  they feel are unfair.

· School personnel will handle school problems.  Criminal activity will be referred
  to the proper authorities.

Individual classroom policies for timely work completion, discipline policies, and rules will be given at Parent’s Night.
 
DRESS CODE
Students are expected to wear appropriate clothing to school.  Shorts are permitted in warm weather. T-shirts and sweatshirt decorations need to be conducive to our positive school environment.  ALL PANTS, JEANS, AND SHORTS SHOULD BE OF THE APPROPRIATE SIZE AND ABLE TO STAY UP WITHOUT A BELT.  Pants should also be of the appropriate length so a student is not tripping on excess material.  No spaghetti straps or bare midriffs will be allowed.  No hats or bandanas may be worn in the building and no chains or other materials may hang from the waist of pants.  Any type of gang clothing or symbolism will be unacceptable.   For safety’s sake, Heelys are not allowed to be worn at school.  Please reserve those for home and weekend use only. Students will be asked to change into their gym shoes should they wear heelys to school.

FIRE DRILLS / TORNADO DRILLS / DISASTER DRILLS
Fires drills at regular intervals are required by law and are necessary for the safety of the students, staff, and faculty.  It is essential that when the first signal is given, everyone obeys orders promptly and clears the building by the prescribed route as quickly as possible. 

Tornado drills are practiced, and students are taught to assume a protective position in a designated area.  Specific information for these drills is posted in each room. 

Disaster and lock down drills are practiced as well.

GRADING
Progress reports are issued to the students three times a year.  Mid-term reports will be given for those students in danger of dropping significantly below last term’s grade in any subject.  These will be sent home during the middle of each grading period.

HOMEWORK
Many students will be asked to complete schoolwork at home.  These assignments and/or projects are important extensions of our school curriculum.  Please assist your child in finding and establishing a time and place to complete the required work.  Your child’s teacher will further explain this procedure at Parent’s Night.

District #47 encourages regular school attendance.  The instructional scope and sequence of the academic year is carefully planned.  Absence, for any reason, is a learning hardship on a student.  Absences due to illness and other unavoidable reasons are, of course, facts of school life.  To request homework for an absence, please NOTIFY THE SCHOOL BEFORE 9:30 A.M.  Homework may then be picked up at the end of the school day at the school office. 

If parents take students out of school due to vacations, please note:
1. Specific regulations will differ according to the age and grade of students.
2. It may not be possible to make up all work missed.

Ideally, children should not be taken out of school for extended periods of time.  Since the major opportunity for learning takes place in the classroom setting, make up work cannot be considered a substitute for direct instruction.  However, in the event that a student is taken out for an extended period, the District guideline is as follows:

MISSED CLASSWORK IS BEST ADDRESSED UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE TEACHER UPON RETURN OF THE STUDENT. UPON THEIR RETURN, STUDENTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE SUCH WORK IN A PERIOD OF TIME EQUAL TO THAT, WHICH WAS MISSED.

KNOW YOUR SCHOOL
Visitors are welcome at West.  Parents and visitors MUST use the main entrance to our school when visiting West School during the school day.  All visitors must stop in the school office and sign in.  We ask parents’ cooperation in this matter.  If you need to bring something to your child during the school day, PLEASE bring it to the office, and we will make sure your child receives it.  We request parents NOT interrupt instruction by going to the classroom.  Please also remember that teachers are happy to meet with parents upon request, but please phone ahead and make an appointment.  Teachers are not available to talk with parents when students are present.

LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER AND ON-LINE ACCESS
West’s Library Media Center is well equipped and serves as a valuable extension of the classroom.  Students are free to use the Library Media Center during the day as long as they are engaged in a purposeful, educational activity.  Book checkout is available to students on a daily basis.  Please be sure books and magazines are returned promptly on their due date.

· It is the responsibility of parents to monitor the books and periodicals
  that their child is reading.

· Students will be held responsible for any inappropriate web sites that are accessed.

LOCKERS
The Board of Education has provided lockers (without locks) and desks for the purpose of providing students with a place to store outerwear, books, and other articles necessary for their use during the day.  The District retains ownership and control over the lockers and/or desks at all times and reserves the right to inspect and search lockers and/or desks and their contents without notice.  Loss of articles is not the responsibility of the school district.

LOST AND FOUND
Our lost and found is located in the cafeteria.  Please check, or have your child look there for missing items.  Unclaimed lost and found items will be discarded periodically.

MEDICATION
Medication may not be brought to school by a student.  It is believed that any medication (including aspirin, Tylenol, cough drops, etc.), should be administered in the home when at all possible.  However, under certain conditions, it is in the best educational and health interests of the child to take medication during school time.  In such cases, a doctor must direct medication to be given during school hours.  That request MUST be on file in the Health Office with both the doctor and parent’s signature directing the administration of the medication.  To ensure compliance with the rules for administering medication at school, the medicine must be brought to school by the parent in the original container that includes all medication information.  The student’s name must be attached to the container.  The student is responsible for coming to the health office to take the medicine.  The parents must assume responsibility for informing the school of any change in the child’s health or change in medication.

The school district reserves the right not to administer any medication where incomplete information is provided, including faxed doctor’s orders.

No medication can be given until these conditions are met.  Please, under no circumstances, send medicine with your child as there is the possibility it could unknowingly be taken by another child.

NOTICES TO PARENTS
We encourage parents to visit our district website at www.d47schools.org.   Click on the West link for special events and our school’s calendar of activities.  To keep you informed, the “West Gazette”, our school newsletter, will be sent home monthly and will include school information as well as information from the West Parent Organization (WPO).  You may also expect regular communication from your child’s teacher.

PARENT GROUP / WPO
To encourage community involvement in school affairs and provide improved channels of communication, a school-community organization called WPO (West Parent Organization) is actively working to accomplish these goals.  All parents of West children are considered members of our WPO.  Your interest and help is invited. 

We have a very active program of volunteer helpers.  This group is involved in such specific projects as a “Room Mother” Program, Playground and Beautification of West School, Art Volunteer Program, Book Fair, Hobby Show, Fun Fair, etc.  Monthly meetings are held and everyone is invited to attend.  More information will be available at Parent’s Night.  We hope that you can help with one of the committees that support West School and its students.  Parental support is vital to West’s success. 

PARENT NIGHT AND OPEN HOUSE
We always welcome parents into our building; however, there are designated dates of which we’d like you to be aware.  At the beginning of the year, we host a Parent’s Night for adults only.  At that time, parents are able to get acquainted with their child’s teacher(s) and the classroom procedures.  In the fall, we also host Parent Conferences where you will have the opportunity to meet and talk to your child’s teacher to discuss your child’s progress.  In the spring, we will have an Open House for children and parents.

PETS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY
A McHenry County Animal Control Ordinance prohibits pets, even if they are on a leash, from being on school property.  Section 5.13 reads, “It shall be unlawful for any dog, cat, or other animal even though on a leash, to be present at or upon any school premises, public playground, park, public beach, or public swimming pool, unless permission is granted by the agency which has jurisdiction over same.  The provisions of this Section shall not apply to working support dogs.”  In light of that ordinance, please refrain from bringing a pet onto school property.

PLAYGROUND / RECESS
West School has a closed playground. No student is to leave after arrival until dismissal, unless they have a parent’s note and approval of the office.  In the morning and at lunch, students are to stay in the designated area.  

During the cold weather months, students need to have both boots and snow pants to play in the snow.  Students without boots and snow pants will be assigned to the blacktop area.  Please assist your child as he/she dresses for the weather each day. 

Students needing to be excused from outdoor recess will need a doctor’s note.

RELEASE OF STUDENTS
Students will be discharged from school only to the parent(s) or guardian or to a person designated, in writing, by the parent(s) or guardian.  It is the responsibility of the parent(s) to ensure that a list of such persons is provided to their child’s school and that this list is up-to-date.  In situations of divorce or separation, the custodial parent designates, in writing, to whom a student may be released.  In situations of joint custody, both parents must agree and provide in writing, (signed by both parents) a single list of people to whom a student may be released.  Siblings may only pick up students with prior permission/notification from parents.

School staff shall refuse to release a child to any person, whether related or unrelated to the child, who has not been authorized by the parents or guardian to receive the child.  Persons not known to school staff will be required to present a driver’s license or other photo identification to a school staff member before a student is released to them.  School staff will maintain a record of persons to whom the student is released, the date, and the time that the student is released.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
Our school has a designated location, near the front office, for students to access community information related to athletics, scouts, fine arts, and other worthwhile activities for students.

In addition, the district website, www.d47schools.org has a link to a variety of community organizations that support our students such as athletics, fine arts programs, scouts, and recreational activities.

TELEPHONE USE AND CELL PHONES
Telephone calls by parents to students through the office should be limited to emergency matters only.  Students will not be called to the phone, but messages will be taken and delivered to the student.  These messages should be for extreme emergencies only.  We expect all after school arrangements, such as play dates, will be made prior to the beginning of the school day.  Phone messages will be given to students by the end of the day.  Classes will not be interrupted throughout the day as learning is in process.

The personal use of electronic signaling devices and/or cell phones by a student during regular school hours is prohibited. Should students bring cell phones to school for emergency purposes, the phones must be kept in the lockers/backpacks during the regular school day.

VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
We have a very active program of volunteer helpers.  The volunteers donate their time for approximately one-half day per week.  Please be watching in the school newsletter for volunteer opportunities.

1. Classroom Helper - This may involve working with children or with clerical
   types of activities.

2. Library Media Center – This involves the clerical responsibilities of checking
    books in and out.

3. Publishing Center – Volunteers are needed to work in our West School
    Publishing Center.  If you can donate 1 or 2 hours a week to a fantastic
    program, we would appreciate your help.  Parents are needed to
    type, bind books, assist in making book covers, and to listen to
    excited young authors dictate their story to you.

4. T.A.P. (Teacher’s Assistance Program) – Help teachers with clerical work, etc.

5. WPO Committees – for more information please contact the WPO president.

WEATHER INFORMATION
Severe weather conditions or other emergencies may cause school to be closed.  This information will be broadcast after 6:00 a.m. on the following stations:
  WAIT……….Crystal Lake……….850 AM
  WXET………Woodstock……….105.5 FM
  WGN………..Chicago……………720 AM
  WLS…………Chicago……………890 AM
  WMAQ………Chicago……………670 AM

District 47 has implemented the Instant Alert system that serves as a notification system to provide parents with information about school closings. This system is a user-based system, meaning that District 47 families are responsible for registering and updating their information. The web link to access your profile as well as instructions on how to do it is available on the District 47 website, www.d47schools.org.  If you need assistance you can contact Instant Alert tech support at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or call the District 47 Technology Department at 815-459-6070. 

District 47 does not update information in your profile after it is initially created.  Changes such as new cell phone numbers or home phone numbers are not made automatically.  Parents must access and update their own profiles to receive alerts.

WEST PRIDE

District 47’s Mission Statement:
“Educational excellence for all students is our passion and commitment.”

West’s Core Beliefs:
When working with students or disciplining them, our goal is for them to learn that . . .
1. We believe problems are really opportunities to learn and grow.
2. We believe our students will be treated with dignity at all times.
3. We believe our students are responsible for solving their own problems
    with guidance.
4. We believe our students have some control over their lives.
5. We believe logical consequences will be used instead of punishment when possible.

School colors:  Royal Blue and Yellow
School Mascot: Wildcat
School Spirit Day: 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month
School Newsletter: West Gazette
School Song: Hand in Hand Together We Can
(Chorus)
Hand in hand, together we can,
We have a friend in each other.
Hand in hand, together we can,
Because we help one another.

(1)
Being together
Best friends forever.
We’re different but the same.
So look what we became.
We are West - we are family!
We’re the best. It is a guarantee!

(2)
Learning how to be,
One big community.
Just look all around,
At all the friends we found.
We are West - we are a family!
We’re the best. It is a guarantee!

Words and Music by Miss O’Reilly and Mr. Penkava 2000