We encourage parents to visit classes at East Buchanan. Classroom visits afford one of the best means to gain information about the educational program and to observe a child's performance in a classroom learning situation. In order to maintain security for all students and to avoid conflict with scheduled events or the disruption of critical educational activities (such as testing), the administration requires that all parent visitation be approved by the principal in advance
To help minimize disruptions, parents should make their classroom visits only after the first six weeks and before the last four weeks of the school year. Visitation also is not recommended during the three days on which parties are typically scheduled: Halloween, Christmas, and St. Valentine's Day (although some parents might be asked to help with these parties). American Education Week, too, offers an excellent opportunity for parent visitation.
Visitations should last NO longer than 1-2 hours. We also ask that small children NOT accompany adults on these visits due to the distraction this may cause for the classroom students.
For security reasons, all visitors, upon arrival, must sign in at the school office before visiting any classroom and receive a visitor's pass.
All textbooks and library books are the property of East Buchanan Schools. They should be used with care and returned in good condition. Students are responsible for books that are lost or damaged.
Children visiting school are often a disturbing influence in the classroom. Class work may require previous instruction the visiting students may not have had and thus, these students may not be able to participate in the class activity - causing boredom and possible disruptive behavior. Often, too, regular class students' attention is drawn to the visiting child rather than to the teacher and the task at hand. Therefore, NO children from other schools will be allowed to visit unless requested by the East Buchanan class teacher and approved by the building principal.
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CANCELLATIONS/LATE STARTS/EARLY DISMISSALS
In the event school is canceled or delayed due to bad weather or other conditions, the announcement will be made over radio stations: KQMG Independence (1220AM/95.3 FM), KOEL Oelwein (95 AM/92.3 FM), WMT Cedar Rapids ( 600 AM/96FM), KFMW Waterloo (108FM), KMCH Manchester (94.7 FM). Please listen to these radio stations and do NOT call the school.
Any student willfully damaging East Buchanan property will be assessed the total cost of replacement or repairs. In the case of a minor child, the parent or guardian will be held responsible.
Students are discouraged from bringing extra money, toys and other objects from home unless the teacher has given them permission. The school cannot assume responsibility for the loss or damage of things brought from home or for ANY personal property at school.
Good attendance is critical to a successful school experience. Parents are strongly encouraged to call the school office between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. on the day a student is absent. Each student is expected to bring a note explaining the reason for the absence upon returning to school.
A list of school bus rules (Regulations for Pupils Riding School Buses) is provided at registration. In the event a bus rule is broken, the bus driver will complete Bus Violation Reports and a copy sent to both the parent and elementary principal.
USE OF VIDEO CAMERAS ON SCHOOL DISTRICT BUSES
The East Buchanan Community School District Board of Education has authorized the use of video cameras on school district buses. The video cameras will be used to monitor student behavior to maintain order on the school buses to promote and maintain a safe environment. Students and parents are hereby notified that the content of the videotapes may be used in a student disciplinary proceeding. The contents of the videotapes are confidential student records and will be retained with other student records. Videotapes will only be retained if necessary for use in a student disciplinary proceeding or other matter as determined necessary by the administration. Parents may request to view videotapes of their child if the videotapes are used in a disciplinary proceeding involving their child.
PROGRESS REPORTS AND CONFERENCES
Progress reports at South & Central Elementary will be sent home three times a year. In addition, a special effort will be made to notify parents if a child is not working up to capacity. Scheduled parent-teacher conferences are held in the Fall and again in the Spring. However, a parent may request a conference at any time by contacting the teacher.
If a child is having a birthday party, please do not send invitations to school to be handed out. This may cause hurt feelings because some children were invited and others were not.
Student use of the telephone to call home will be allowed only for an extreme emergency. In order for students to learn responsibility for remembering things, they will not be allowed to call home for something forgotten such as homework, PE clothes, band instruments, etc. No calls may be made home to ask to stay overnight with someone. Students may call if otherwise they would go without lunch. (No one should have to suffer physically over this rule.)
SPECIAL TEACHERS AND CLINICIANS
Pupils have special teachers for vocal music, instrumental music and physical education. Through federal funding, a developmental reading teacher is available at both Central and South sites. Also available, through the Area Education Agency, are a school psychologist, educational consultant, speech therapist, hearing clinician, occupational therapist and teachers who work with children having special needs.
The school provides a hot lunch program with well-planned and varied menus. All children who eat at school are encouraged to participate in this program. If cold lunches must be sent, they should be equally nutritious. All elementary children are eligible to participate in the hot lunch program on the following plan:
Clothing which advertises, promotes, or suggests the use of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco is prohibited. Clothing which suggests or depicts things of a sexual nature are prohibited as well. Such material includes, but is not limited to hats, book bags, gym bags, buttons, badges, t-shirts, or other clothing.
Clothing items that advertise or depict the following slogans, companies, or businesses are prohibited: Hooters, Playboy, Playgirl, Big Johnson, Coed Naked as well as other items of this nature.
Any clothing or material item that is obscene or offensive to the average person is prohibited. Obscene and offensive will be measured in terms of communication with the office by those people that deem certain items to be obscene or offensive. If a student has something that is deemed to be obscene or offensive they will be asked to have this item removed in the following ways:
First Time:
Clothing- A. Turn it inside out, B. Remove the item and put on
another piece of clothing
Item other than clothing - A. Put the item in their book bag,
B. Put the item in the office
Second Time:
Clothing - A. Remove the item and put on another piece of clothing
Item other than clothing - A. Put the item in the office
Consequence for second offense - Loss of Recess
Third Time:
Clothing- A. REmove item and put on another piece of clothing.
Item other than clothing - Put item in the office.
Consequence for third offense- Loss of recess and phone call home.
Any offense after the third offense will result in a meeting with
the student, the parents, and the administration concerning that
students inability to follow the dress code. Hats are not worn
in school building. This includes baseball caps, stocking hats,
bandanas, etc. Students must ewar gloves/mittens , hats, warm
coats and boots during wet and/or snowy weather. =
Teachers arrive at school early to make preparations for the school day. For that reason, students who live in town are not to come to school before 8:15 a.m. unless they are eating breakfast at school.
BREAKFAST: Those eating breakfast need to arrive by 8:05 a.m. in order to be finished in time for classes.
BUS CHANGES
If for any reason a student needs to ride a different bus at any time, a note from home needs to be sent to school indicating the date, the bus change, and the reason. Students will be given a special bus pass, which will allow them onto the new bus for that day.
Children should leave the school premises and go home immediately after dismissal. If they return to the playground after school hours, they will not be allowed to enter the building. Students will not be allowed to stay after school without adult supervision. Plan with your child what to do in the event that unusual weather should occur near the dismissal time, or when school is dismissed early because of bad weather.
All students are to bring a pair of tennis shoes for PE Shorts or slacks are desired for children in grades K-5.
APPOINTMENTS DURING SCHOOL HOURS
It is recommended that medical/dental appointments be made during the summer and before school starts in the fall. Some appointments, of course, have to be made during the school year. Please try to get appointments as late in the school day as possible or early in the morning. Students will be counted absent one-half day if they arrive after 10:00 a.m. or if they leave before 2:00 p.m. If a student is to leave school early on any day, a note should be sent to school (or a phone call made) stating the date, reason for leaving and time.
Teachers are not to release any child during the school day until the person wanting the child released has first reported to the office. All entrances to the buildings have a sign directing visitors to report to the office.
If your child has a dentist or doctor appointment or something similar that you wish to have him/her leave school, always send a note and plan to pick the child up in the elementary office.
ALL elementary students must report to and sign in/out with office personnel as soon as they arrive or just before they leave school.
Any child with an above normal temperature must remain at home until temperature is back to normal for 24 hours without the aide of Tylenol, etc. When a child needs to stay home due to illness, a parent/guardian should notify the office no later than 9:00 a.m. that day. If a child is well enough to come to school, he/she is well enough to go outside for recess unless requested in writing by their doctor.
If a child develops an abnormal temperature, during school, they must leave school and not return until a normal temperature has been maintained for 24 hours, without the aide of Tylenol, etc.
Please contact the school if a student has a communicable disease such as chicken pox. This will allow us to alert other parents to watch for any symptoms.
Prescription and non-prescription medications may be dispensed at school provided the following occurs:
Students may take over-the-counter cough drops themselves. However, sometimes cough drops are treated much like candy by students and for this reason, teachers must receive a note from home regarding the need for cough drop use.
Any child found to have head lice or nits will be required to go home immediately to be treated. Children will not be allowed to return to school until they are nit-free as certified by our school nurse. The most important fact to remember is that the problem should be quickly treated because delays will only spread the infestation throughout your family and community. If you find your child has head lice please notify the school nurse at once so she can examine other students and stop the lice from spreading.
The school attempts to have on record for each child the following information:
Should the child become ill or injured at school, the secretary will first call the parent. It is very important that we know where to reach parents both at home and at work. Please notify the elementary office immediately if there is a change in your home or work phone number. If no response can be obtained, the family physician will then be called if conditions warrant his/her attention. Hospital preference also has been added in case of extreme emergencies. This is updated annually.
Gum, candy, and pop are not allowed during the school day unless provided, on special occasions, by the classroom teacher. Parents are asked not to send pop or candy with those who carry a cold lunch.
A pupil insurance program is available to all parents. Under the plan, pupils are covered for accidents at school, as well as to and from school. The insurance coverage is strictly optional. If desired, it should be purchased at the beginning of the school year or when the student enters. Accidents MUST be reported to the school immediately. Insurance will not cover the claim unless it is reported promptly.
A pupil dental insurance is available also. Brochures explaining the low-cost coverage for accidents may be obtained from the school office. Both medical and dental insurance information is available at registration.
In order for your child to receive the best education possible, your child may be asked to do some work at home. You can help by providing time and a quiet place for such activities.
East Buchanan charges a book rent fee, which pays part of the expenses for supplies used by the student during the year. These should be paid in advance by cash or check. Make checks payable to the East Buchanan Community School.
Each year we have many dogs on the playground during school hours, some of which have followed children to school. At school these dogs may be subjected to teasing. Since dogs have different temperaments, it is wise if pets are kept at home.
If something has happened in school during the day that you feel you need more information about, please call your child's teacher first. Many times the principal is called first, and in most cases he/she has no knowledge of what has happened. The teacher usually can give you first hand information about the situation in question.
PICKING UP AND UNLOADING ELEMENTARY CHILDREN AT CENTRAL
If you are bringing or picking up your child at school, please do so on the EAST SIDE of the building away from the school bus traffic. The street south of the school is will be used for bus traffic, as the buses go south a block to go to the parking area. All the buses pull in on the east side of the school, and there is too much congestion there in the morning and at dismissal time. Please, for the safety of your children and to relieve the bus drivers' minds, follow the above procedure.
The parents of students attending the E.B. Community School district shall have the right to inspect and review any and all official records, files, and data directly related to their children, including all materials that are incorporated into each student's cumulative record folder, and intended for school use or to be available to parties outside the school or school system. Parents requesting access to their child's school records shall do so by contacting the building principal of the child's attendance center. In order for a student's record to be released to other parties not listed below, it will have to be written consent of the student's parents.
Exceptions:
Whenever a student has attained eighteen years of age, or is attending an institution of post secondary education, the permission or consent required of the rights accorded to the parents of the student shall thereafter only be required of and accorded to the student. Any student eighteen (18) years of age may permit or deny his parents access to his records.
Students' names will be released for informative reasons such as in students participating in school events, Kids Review, Newsletters, newspaper articles and announcements (see release form).
QUESTIONING OF STUDENTS BY OUTSIDE AGENCIES
The school will cooperate with law enforcement officials in investigations involving students, while still protecting the rights of students.
Law enforcement officials will be granted permission to interview students (non suspect) in the school setting. This generally will occur following approval of school officials and in the presence of a school official.
It shall be the responsibility of the investigator in abuse cases to determine who will be present during an interview. Officials who request an interview for a child abuse investigation and the investigator determines that the child should be interviewed independently of his or her parent(s) or guardian(s) and the school is the most appropriate setting for the interview, school officials will allow the investigation without contacting the parent(s) or guardian(s).
While school officials generally will allow interviews of students (non suspects) without parental notification, law enforcement has the responsibility to notify parents of any interrogation of minors. The school will do everything possible to see that parents are notified prior to any interrogation of student. In the event that parents are not available, a school administrator shall be present at the interview and serve as an advocate of the student.
All school property is held in public trust by the Board of Directors. School authorities may, without a search warrant search a student, student lockers, desks, work areas or student automobiles based on a reasonable suspicion under the circumstances and in a manner reasonable in scope to maintain order and discipline in the schools, promote the educational environment, and protect the safety and welfare of students, school personnel. School authorities may also seize any illegal, unauthorized or contraband materials discovered in the search. Items of contraband may include but are not limited to nonprescription controlled substances, such as marijuana, amphetamines, barbiturates, apparatus used for the administration of controlled substances, alcoholic beverages, tobacco, weapons, explosives, poisons and stolen property. Possession of such items will be grounds for disciplinary action and may be grounds for reporting to local law enforcement authorities.
Any student who has been abused either physically or sexually by a school employee shall make a written report of this to the level one investigator immediately. The level one investigator is the Superintendent of Schools, or in his/her absence the school nurse, or the Elementary Principal. Report forms are available in any administrative office.
"Physical abuse" means nonaccidental physical injury to the student as a result of the actions of a school employee. Physical abuse may occur as a result of intentional infliction of injury or excessive, unnecessary, or unreasonable use of force. "Sexual abuse" means any sexual offense as defined by Iowa Code chapter 709, Iowa Code section 728.12 (1), or any sexual act with or directed toward a student. The term also encompasses acts of the school employee that encourage the student to engage in prostitution as defined by Iowa law.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination against persons with a disability in any program receiving federal financial assistance. In order to fulfill obligations under Section 504, the East Buchanan School District has the responsibility to avoid discrimination in policies and practices regarding its personnel and students. No discrimination against any person with a disability should knowingly be permitted in any of the programs and practices of the school system.
The East Buchanan School District has the responsibilities under Section 504, which include the obligations to identify, evaluate, and, if the student is determined to be eligible under Section 504, to afford access to appropriate educational services.
If the parent or guardian disagrees with the determination made by the professional staff of the school district, he/she has a right to a hearing with an impartial hearing officer.
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) also specifies rights related to educational records. This Act gives the parent or guardian the right to: 1) inspect and review his/her child's educational records; 2) make copies of these records; 3) receive a list of the individuals having access to those records; 4) ask for an explanation of any item in the records; 5) ask for an amendment to any report on the grounds that it is inaccurate, misleading, or violates the child's rights; and 6) a hearing on the issue if the school refuses to make the amendment.
If there are questions, please feel free to contact the Superintendent, Section 504 Coordinator for the East Buchanan School District, at phone #935-3767.
It is the intent of the East Buchanan Community School District to foster parent involvement in their children's education to help ensure the success of those children at school. East Buchanan believes that parents can help students succeed in the following ways:
East Buchanan will offer opportunities for parents to participate in a student's education in the following ways:
NOTIFICATION OF NONDISCRIMINATION
It is the policy of East Buchanan Community School District not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment,) marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices.
There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. Individuals shall use the policy complaint form for policy number 102.E1. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the district's Equity Coordinator, Daniel Fox, Superintendent, East Buchanan Community School, 414 5th St. N., Winthrop, IA 50682, (319) 935-3767, dfox@east-buc.k12.ia.us
STUDENT FEE WAIVER AND REDUCTION PROCEDURES
Students whose families meet the income guidelines for free and reduced price lunch, the Family Investment Program (FIP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), transportation assistance under open enrollment, or who are in foster care are eligible to have their student fees waived or partially waived. Students whose families are experiencing a temporary financial hardship should contact the superintendent or his representative at registration time for a waiver form. This waiver does not carry over from year to year and must be completed annually.
TEN EXPECTATIONS FOR EAST BUCHANAN STUDENTS
1. Be ready to learn
2. Be present and on time for class
3. Complete all class and home study assignments on time
4. Assume the responsibility for make-up work and complete it on time
5. Constructively participate in class
6. Be cooperative with teachers, staff, and other students
7. Demonstrate respect for teachers, staff, other students, and the facilities
8. Hold high expectations for my teachers and myself
9. Respect others feelings, opinions, abilities, and property
10. Conduct myself with responsibility and maturity