This handbook is designed to provide parents and students
with important information about our school.
It has been prepared as a useful reference to acquaint you with the
school’s routines, policies, procedures, and rules for the successful daily
operation of
We
believe that communication is essential between school and home so we encourage
you to visit your child’s school often for a greater understanding of its
programs and its goals.
We urge
you to take the time to read through this handbook and to review and discuss
the procedures and routines every student is expected to follow. Please contact the school at 493-4250 with
any questions you may have following the review of
this guide or with any comments or suggestions.
The
Staff and I look forward to working closely with you and your child this year
at
Jane
Kilcollins
Principal
CARIBOU SCHOOL DEPARTMENT
2007 - 2008
Mr.
Frank McElwain, Supt. Of Schools………………. 496-6311 Mrs. Brenda Felch, Assistant
Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction……………………………………………… 496-6311
Mr.
Rick Umphrey, Dir. Of Special Education……….. 496-6311
Mrs.
Louise Bray, Food Service Coordinator…………. 496-6311
Phone: (207) 493-4250
Fax: (207) 493-4247
STAFF DIRECTORY
2007 – 2008
Jane Kilcollins,
Principal
Laurie Dionne, Secretary
Kindergarten: Rm. 2--April Belyea Rm. 3--Lori Haines
Rm.
5--Karen Conroy
First
Grade: Rm. 4--Tammy Pooler
Rm. 6--Bea Thompson
Rm.
7--Mary Margaret Young
Rm. 9--Tim
Collins
Team
10--Tina Sleeper & Marty Belanger
Second
Grade: Rm. 15--Gayle Smart
Rm.
16--Lou Willey
Rm.
17--Mary McLauchlan
Rm.
18--Rita Roy
Rm.
19--Beth Boone
Rm.
20--Cheryl Martin
Literacy
Teachers: Rm. 12--Sue Lockhart
Rm.
12--Mary Umphrey
Rm.
12--Karen Hewitt
Related
Arts: Todd Albert-Physical Education
Rm. 14--
Rm.
14--Jenna Hartung-Music
Second
Language: Rm. 13--Cindy Albert
Special
Education: Jane Hunter-Resource Room
Rm.
1--Kara Bouchard-Self Contained
Speech: Donna McCrossin
School
Counselors: Freeman Corey-Guidance
Kim
Austin-Psychological Services Provider
School
Nurses: Chris Hamilton
Debbie Plourde
Lisa
Collins-Secretary
Education
Techs: Judy Snell
Amy
Anderson
Lori
Bennett
Wendy Bossie
Heidi
Nunez
Lisa Davis -Duty Aide
-Duty
Aide
Migratory
Ed.: Carla Picard
Library
Ed. Tech: Laurie Caron
Custodians: Dick Sheldon
Mark Mazerolle
Kitchen: Kathy Cunrod
Jo Emmert
Parents and students cooperation is requested in
observing the following daily schedule:
11:00 A.M. Kindergarten is complete
11:15-12:05 Lunch / Recess for Group B Grade 1
12:20-1:10 Lunch / Recess for Group B Grade 2
dismissed. Bicycle
riders are not allowed to leave the playground until first load buses leave the driveway. Students being picked up by their parents are not
allowed to leave until the second bell.
Parents
picking up their child at the end of the school day are asked to check into the
office and wait for their child at the end of the
hallway. Please do not go to your
child’s
classroomto pick him or
her up from school.
All students dismissed from school before the end of the school day must be dismissed from
the office. Parents need to report to the office before they dismiss their child.
KINDERGARTEN
HOURS:
8:10-11:00 Morning Session
12:10-2:45 Afternoon Session
SCHOOL
TELEPHONE:
The school phone is answered
between the hours of
A.M. and
Elementary
School is 493-4250.
SCHOOL
VACATIONS:
Vacation days for elementary
students during the 2007-
2008 school
year have been scheduled for the following times:
Christmas Break-December 24-January 1, 2008
Winter
Break-February 18-22, 2008
Spring
Break-April 21-25, 2008
Parents are encouraged to
take their family vacations at
these times during the school year, instead of pulling students out of
school on the days that school is in session, in keeping with the
philosophy that it is important for all children to be in school
everyday, except when ill or when there is a family emergency.
There are only
175 required school days in the State of
good attendance is stressed so students do not miss out on the
important instruction that takes place in every classroom on a daily
basis.
OTHER “NO SCHOOL DAYS”:
During
the 2007-2008 school year, Teacher In-Service days
have been scheduled for staff to focus on curriculum and instructional-related
work or projects. There will be NO
SCHOOL for students on the following In-Service days:
Other
NO School days during the school year for students and staff are the
following holidays:
SCHOOL CANCELLATIONS/DELAYS:
The following is a list of radio and TV stations which will carry “NO SCHOOL” announcement or delays due to storms or other emergencies:
WAGM-TV
(channel 4)
WBPW
(Hot Country 97)
WCXU
(97.7)
EARLY DISMISSALS DUE TO WEATHER:
If only afternoon Kindergarten is to be cancelled, the TV station and radio stations will be notified.
On
some occasions, weather conditions or other emergencies may force the early
dismissal of students from school before the end of the regular day. All schools are dismissed at approximately
the same time.
It is
important to fill out all the paperwork at the beginning of the school year, in
order for us to know where your child needs to go on early release days.
Kindergarten
students will stay at school on early release days and will go home on regular
buses.
“We believe Hilltop Elementary is a learning center whose purpose is to employ available resources to offer an opportunity for all students to be educated according to their individual capacities. The school’s function is to provide an academic and social learning environment, which respects all students as individuals, attempts to meet their specific needs, and helps to develop their personalities. The school translates this philosophy into practical application by working with home and community to develop in the students a sense of useful citizenship.”
To prepare students to be productive citizens.
To adapt the curriculum to
meet global changes.
To encourage respect for
discipline and self-control.
To provide an atmosphere
conductive to learning.
To expand programs to meet the special needs of
students.
To promote an appreciation
for physical, mental, social and emotional health.
To encourage faculty and
administration to keep abreast of current educational research.
To promote safety within the
school, community, and home environment(s).
To encourage pride and high self esteem in each
student.
·
All students can learn and succeed.
·
Students will strive to achieve high academic and personal
expectations.
·
All students have a right to an equitable and appropriate education.
·
Students have different strengths and needs and learn in different
ways.
·
Students are at different developmental levels and need a careful
balance of direct (concrete) vicarious, and abstract
experiences.
·
Students must be taught to set and achieve goals.
·
Teachers, parents, students, and total community are responsible for
student learning.
·
Positive parent involvement is necessary for optimal student
achievement.
·
Students must enter school ready to learn, and the school must take
full advantage of that readiness.
·
Schools and social agencies must fully cooperate, sharing resources and
responsibilities in order to better meet student’s needs.
·
Schools with appropriate resources, comprehensive course offerings, and
fine teachers achieve excellence.
·
A school atmosphere must be one of clear guidelines and expectations,
balanced with trust and love.
·
When teachers, students, and parents are excited about learning,
learning becomes exciting.
·
Childhood is a precious and wondrous time for learning.
·
Education begins at birth and continues throughout one’s life.
·
Focus on professional development must be ongoing to assure dynamic,
positive growth in our schools.
·
We are in the information technology age; making critical thinking
skills continually more important.
Caribou School Departments’ Vision
“Striving for Excellence –
Preparing for Life”
Each Caribou student must
leave school as . . .
I.
An Effective Communicator who. . .
A. Applies appropriate forms of communication to a specific audience and purpose.
B. Expresses himself or herself using a wide variety of media.
C. Receives, processes, and synthesizes information in a variety of forms.
II.
A Life-long Learner who . . .
A. Values education.
B.
Understands and accepts responsibility for his or her learning.
C.
Establishes and strives to attain short and long term educational and
career goals.
D.
Accesses and uses resources.
E.
Applies knowledge.
III.
A knowledge – Based Person who . . .
A. Demonstrates a wide base of knowledge in a variety of areas.
B.
Searches for information skillfully.
C.
Makes informed decisions and applies knowledge in real-life situations.
IV.
A Responsible Citizen who . . .
A. Accepts responsibility for personal decisions and actions.
B.
Treats others with dignity and respect.
C.
Examines social, political, and environmental issues considering the
diverse nature of society.
D.
Demonstrates involvement in family, community, national, and worldwide
issues.
V.
A Responsible / Collaborative Worker who . .
A. Communicates and works well with others.
B. Displays a positive attitude and pursues attainable goals.
C. Demonstrates reliability, flexibility, and produces quality work with pride.
D. Knows the structure and functions of the labor market.
VI.
A Comprehensive Thinker who . . .
A.
Locates, interprets, and applies information.
B.
Solves problems using a variety of strategies and resources.
C.
Reasons critically, creative, and persistently.
D.
Considers alternative points of view.
E.
Applies knowledge to life situations.
VII.
A Holistic Person who . . .
A.
Seeks and derives benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
B.
Practices wellness by balancing work and play, personal development and
relationships.
C.
Recognizes and understands the rights of others and the dignity of all
people.
D.
Respects and protects the environment.
SCHOOL WIDE POLICIES &
PROCEDURES:
ATTENDANCE:
Regular Attendance in Schools is Important!
It is considered vital for success in school, and parents can
promote a positive attitude within a child, that school is important. The State of
In support of these beliefs, the State of Maine requires
compulsory attendance at school of persons who are between the age of 7 and 17
years old (chapter 211, section 5001-A).
EXCUSED ABSENCES:
Absences are excused for the following reasons:
·
Personal illness.
·
Professional health appointment that cannot be made outside the regular
school day.
·
Observance of recognized religious holidays when they are required
during school days.
·
Emergency family situations.
·
A planned absence for a personal or educational purpose submitted in
writing to the principal and for which approval has been granted in advance of
the absence.
STEPS TO FOLLOW WHEN ABSENT:
Parents
are asked to call the school between the hours of
When
a student returns to a school following an absence, a note from a parent, sent
to the child’s teacher, is required, stating the reason for the absence.
After
an extended illness, a doctor’s statement is required.
If a
student cannot go out for recess or participate in P.E. classes, he/she must
bring a signed statement from his/her physician stating the reason for being
excused.
Parents
must contact the school principal in advance to obtain an excused absence when
taking a child out of school for a vacation, business trip, or other long-term
absence.
Make-up
work is required when applicable. Sufficient
notice should be given to the teacher when make-up work is required.
ENFORCEMENT:
Maine State Law states that “an adult having a person of compulsory school age under the adult’s control shall cause the person to attend school” (Chapter 211, section 5001-A) and that “having control of a student who is habitually truant and being primarily responsible for that truancy constitutes a civil violation” (Chapter 211, section 5053).
It is
the Caribou School Department’s responsibility to insure that all school age
students be in attendance unless excused for the
reasons listed above. Students and their
parents who are in violation of the state compulsory attendance law will be
referred to local law enforcement.
TARDINESS:
All students are expected to be on time for school but should also be assured that it is better to come late than not at all.
A
student is tardy after
When
a student is tardy, parents are asked to bring their child to the office to
sign them in. This assures that an adult
knows their child has arrived, and attendance and lunch count can be corrected
before he/she goes to the classroom.
EARLY DISMISSAL PROCEDURES:
If a parent requests an early dismissal for a student, a note must be sent to his/her teacher.
A
parent/caregiver is required to meet the student in the office and sign
him/her out before leaving the building early.
The child will be summoned to the office via the intercom.
Parents
are requested not to go directly to their child’s classroom. Standing in the hall
while waiting for a student or teacher is disruptive to the learning
environment.
Parents
are encouraged to make dental and medical appointments after school hours.
Extracurricular
lessons, i.e. piano, dance, gymnastics, karate, tennis, etc. must be scheduled
for after school hours. Early dismissals
do disrupt end of the day classroom time.
In addition, students may be missing out on a summation of that day’s
educational activities, notices being sent home and homework for the next day.
Student’s
absences, tardiness, and early dismissals are recorded in the school office and
are reported to parents at the end of each grading trimester on the student’s
report card. They are also noted on the
student’s cumulative file. The school
principal will contact parents when a student is considered truant, is late
arriving to school, or is absent, without excuse, on a consistent basis.
END OF THE DAY DISMISSAL PROCEDURES:
Parents
who plan to pick their child up at the end of the school day need to wait for
their child at the end of the hallways.
Students who are picked up will be dismissed at
PERSONAL MESSAGES TO STUDENTS:
We
have over 300 students in our school.
Since there are only two telephone lines servicing
DRESS CODE:
PERSONAL PROPERTY/LOST AND FOUND:
Money
and other valuables should not be left in school desks or cubbies. Tape recorders, radios, walkmans, C.D.
players, electronic games, remote control cars, toys and trading cards may not
be brought to school to be used at recess.
All clothing and personal belongings that are brought to school
should be labeled with the child’s name.
The school cannot assume responsibility for personal property left in
places readily accessible to others.
Found articles are turned into the school’s LOST AND FOUND shelf
located near the main entrance. Students
and parents are welcome to check the Lost and Found shelf periodically for lost
articles.
CARE OF SCHOOL:
Great pride is taken in the appearance of our school, thus it is a goal of Hilltop Elementary staff to instill pride in our students. Students must not mark school furniture, walls, and ceilings, floors or equipment with any type of writing or drawing instruments. Students must not tamper with any fire alarms, fire extinguishers, and any electrical system in school. Anyone who willfully destroys school property through vandalism, arson, larceny, or who creates a hazard to the safety of our students will be referred to the school principal. We encourage students and parents to report any incidents of destruction to school property during and after school hours.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES:
Most supplies that students will need will be made available to them through the school. Students may also bring extra pencils, crayons, colored pencils, or markers, paper and other school-related supplies from home to have on hand for special projects they will be working on during the school year. A backpack or hand-carried bag, which is labeled with the student’s name, comes in handy when bringing home important school notices and student work. Students are not permitted to attach anything to their backpacks, i.e. key chains, toys, etc.
PARENT / TEACHER CONFERENCES: