Student Handbook

The front doors open at 8:30 a.m. Students are families are welcome to participate in activities in the cafeteria and in the gym. Homework assistance is available! At 9:00 there is a brief all school assembly for celebrations, announcements and some movement. Then school begins officially at 9:10. For safety, please only enter through the front doors.

Monday - Friday

Grades K - 5 First Bell...9:10 AM

Grades K - 5 Tardy Bell...9:15 AM

Monday - Thursday

Grades K - 5 Dismissal Bell...3:45 PM

*Early Release Fridays K - 5 Dismissal Bell...2:15 PM

Every Friday students will be dismissed at 2:15 to provide staff Professional Collaboration Time (PCT).

During this time teachers engage in training and professional development, in order to provide higher quality education for students.

Picking up your child early also impacts your child’s academic success. If you are picking up your child before dismissal time you will need to check in at the office at least 30 minutes before the end of school. No classroom will be interrupted the final 30 minutes of the day. The office staff will call for your child and your child will meet you in the office. This causes less interruption to instructional time. Students will only be released to adults who are listed on the emergency card. Students are not allowed to leave school grounds during school hours without an adult.

Students that are out for 20 consecutive day will be withdrawn and we cannot guarantee there will be a space in a classroom if they return. It is the student’s responsibility to make up missed work. Please allow the teacher at least 48 hours to prepare assignments.

State law requires a written note to be sent to school explaining the reason for the absence or tardy.

Being late for school not only causes disruption for the office and classroom but also means your child misses announcements and important instructional time. Students who arrive at school late (after 9:15) need to report to the office to receive a pass to class.

Excessive absences will affect your child’s academic progress. Absences for family vacations, outings or shopping trips are considered unexcused. Action will be taken to correct consistently poor attendance and may include conferences, parent contacts, and disciplinary or legal action.

Parents are requested to phone ahead of time to make prior arrangements with the teacher when visiting a classroom. ALL visitors (including parents/guardians) to Mount View must go to the office to sign a visitor or volunteer log and receive a visitor pass – this keeps our students safe.

If you have a concern that you need to discuss with your child’s teacher please schedule a time to meet before or after school. This will allow you the time and attention you need to discuss what’s going on with your child. Trying to get the attention of the teacher during class, however brief, interrupts student learning .

It may be necessary to close school before normal dismissal time. Please instruct your child where s/he should go in the event that school is unexpectedly closed.

School may be delayed or closed due to weather. Snow bulletins are sent home in the fall. Listen to radio/TV stations for schedule changes, listen for Highline School District. Notices may be posted on the district web site or visit the web site: http://schoolreport.org. You will receive an automated phone message informing you if school is starting late or is closed for the day.

DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL

It is vital that we have current contact numbers for each student at all times. Include the names of anyone that may pick up your child from school. We will only release your child to the names listed on the emergency card. If your child becomes sick or injured at school, we need to notify you as soon as possible. It is critical to keep your emergency information cards current!

Reminders and special announcements are sent home, on our website and/or emailed and text. These notices
may include information about award assemblies, music/band performances or other events. There could also be information about police activity in the area, lock downs or other major events that could cause anxiety for students. These notices are printed on brightly colored paper.

There is no before and after school supervision, except from 8:30 to 9:10 AM.. Your child is to leave the school grounds no later than 10 minutes after dismissal.

Some students are picked up and dropped off by family members using private vehicles. Drivers are expected to:

• Pick up and drop off children only in designated areas. The front (main) parking lot is where K-2 students should be picked up. Older students may be picked up on 14th Ave. SW (behind the school).
• Do not park and/or wait in the bus zone/staff parking lot.
• Observe all traffic laws, such as stopping fully and following one-way arrows.
• Be considerate and follow the directions of our crossing guard.
• Please pull forward to allow cars coming in behind you.
• Never leave a car unattended unless it is in a legal parking spot.
• If you do not see your child in the waiting area, make another loop around so you don’t hold up traffic behind you.
• Do not block the entrance into the school.
• Watch out for students as they walk to waiting vehicles.
• Set a good example by driving slowly, following the school rules and being courteous to others.

**Remember: our children are watching**

Riding the bus should be a pleasant, safe experience for all students.

•  Arrive at the bus stop 5 minutes before your bus route schedule arrival time.
• Board the bus in a quiet, orderly manner and remain in the same seat throughout the trip.
• Students are expected to obey the rules of the bus. Those who fail to follow the rules will face consequences up to and including the loss of bus-riding privileges.
• Students need to bring a note from a parent to be signed by the principal if they intend to ride the bus to a friend’s house after school.

Use only planned safe walking routes, use the same route when walking to school and home. Do not
stop at a friend’s house without parent permission.

• Cross at crosswalks only.
• Walk in groups or with a friend.
• Never talk to or get in a car with a stranger.
• Report immediately to an adult if someone is bothering you or if you see someone bothering other students when walking to school or home.

Helmets are required it’s the law.

• Bicycles must be parked and locked in the bike rack.
• Bikes must be walked on and off the school grounds. Scooters are to be collapsed and taken to class or the office.

When a student is ill or injured they are sent or escorted to the main office and clinic. Parent(s) are notified if a child has a temperature of 100 degrees or higher or for other health concerns.

• Minor injuries are given first aid, and student returns to class.
• Any concerns, especially those of a serious nature, will result in parent notification.
• In case of severe injury, 911 will be called and the parent will be notified.

Vision and hearing screening is conducted by school medical staff annually for all students. You will be notified if there are concerns as a result of the screening.

If your child has a fever or is vomiting keep him/her home. Students should not come back to school until they have been fever free for at least 24 hours.

If your child is not feeling well or has an injury do not send them to school to see the school nurse. Mount View only has a nurse twice a week, and is not authorized to write prescriptions. You need to take your child to the doctor.

• Verbal reminder
• Change of seating
• Calm down corner
• Private teacher/student conversation
• Parent notification
• Parent conference: Behavior plan, behavior contract, etc.
• Administrator referral

• Continuing poor behavior; progressive classroom intervention steps have already been attempted.
• Severe disruption of student learning time.
• Physically dangerous acts such as assault or fighting.
• Harassment (sexual, racial, or bullying)
• Illegal acts
• Failure to notify staff about a potentially dangerous situation.
• Possession of drugs, weapons, or objects used as weapons.

When possible, consequences are directly related to the infraction. For example: writing on walls may require cleaning. It’s in the student’s best interest to make appropriate choices for personal conduct because repeated/inappropriate behavior leads to progressively more serious consequences, such as:

• Loss of privileges such as recess, field trip, or assembly
• Restitution (e.g. replacing damaged property/items)
• Community service (campus/school cleanup)
• Detention before or after school
• In-school suspension
• Out-of-school suspension
• Expulsion

This is a representative sample of possible responses to inappropriate student behavior at Mount View. Teachers and administrators have additional options depending on the situation.

Teachers may plan various educational field trips. Some field trips may be free or may require a minimal fee to pay for transportation and/or admission fees.

At times, some grades will sell inexpensive items such as candy or pencils to raise funds for field trips or major school fundraising projects. As a general rule:

• Students should bring only the money that is needed for the day.
• Valuable jewelry, cameras, IPods, electronic games, trading cards, toys and personal items are not to be brought to school.

We understand that some parents need their children to carry cell phones. All phones need to be turned off during school hours. Any cell phone that is seen in use will be confiscated and turned into the office where it will be held until claimed by an adult/guardian.

The lost and found area is located near the gym. Valuable articles found are taken to the school office. Unclaimed clothing will be donated from time to time and at the end of the school year. Please label all articles of clothing with your child’s name.

• Personal items brought to school are at the student’s own risk and not the responsibility of the school if lost or stolen.

Sometimes children can be negatively impacted by difficult changes in life divorce, death of a loved one, illness, loss of job etc. If your child experiences any of these, it can be helpful to inform your child’s teacher or the school’s counselor. We want to be able to support your child during any difficult times.

Notify the office if you will be withdrawing your child from school. Early notification gives your child’s teacher time to prepare a progress report, gather student work, materials and say goodbye.

The school phone is not to be used by students except in cases of emergency. Permission to call home about visiting a friend after school cannot be granted. All after-school arrangements need to be made before school begins. The phone lines need to be kept clear for school business.

The school staff will communicate with families in a variety of ways. Please sign up for Peach Jar (online school bulletins), keep your contact information updated so you are able to receive emails/text/voice mails that will keep you informed as to what is happening at Mount View Elementary School.

Don’t hesitate to e-mail your child’s teacher; it can be an extremely effective way to be informed. You can access a staff directory here.