Ingalls Mission Statement

= Student Handbook

SY 2006-2007

* Please sign the last= two pages and return it to your child’s teacher tomorrow.

~ Ingalls Mission Statement ~

To provide students with powerful instructional experiences where they are acquiring a deep knowledge of essential curricul= um and are learning from teachers who are masters of the content they teach

Principal’s Message

Welcome to the Ingalls School. We are a diverse community represe= nting over twenty six different ethnicities.&nbs= p; As you enter the front foyer of our school, you will see flags from around the world symbolizing our student body. Ingalls is a school with a l= ong tradition of celebrating diversity.

A shared vision at ou= r school is that Effort will determine your<= /i> success! Students are taught this life = long lesson and skill across all grade levels.&= nbsp; Together every morning we recite the poem, My Promise. The promise we make to ourselves is to put forth our best effort. All of our stude= nts can be successful in doing this.

The faculty of the Ingalls School is very committed to raising student achievement. Our focus is on teaching an essential curriculum and providing powerful instructional experiences.

We recognize that par= ents are the first and most important teachers in their child’s life. We need parents as our partners. At Ingalls, we have a growing Pare= nt Teacher Organization (PTO). O= ur goal is for our parents to feel welcome in our school and to participate in whatever way they are able.

In closing, the staff= and I look forward to working with you as part of our team. =

Sincerely,=

Kimberlee Powers

Kimberlee Powers=

Principal =

Ingalls School Core Values

We Believe Effort Will Determine Our Success!

Understand that Character Counts!

1.&n= bsp; I alw= ays put forth my best effort

· I am responsible for my success

· I won’t give up

· I ne= ed to work hard

2.&n= bsp; I res= pect other people, their property, and myself

· I am unique and important

· I al= ways use kind words

· I sh= are

· I am considerate of other people’s feelings

· I so= lve problems by talking and not fighting

· I ke= ep my hands, feet, and objects to m= yself

· I ask permission before using something that belongs to someone else

·         I be= have properly at recess, in the lunchroom, and in the lavatory

3.&n= bsp;    I coo= perate by listening and following directions

·         I lo= ok at the person who is speaking

·         I am= able to retell and follow directions

·         I ra= ise my hand if I don’t understand

·         I ra= ise my hand before I speak

4.&n= bsp;    I walk quietly and speak courteously

·         I ta= lk quietly in the school building

·         I wa= lk in the hallway and in my classroom

5.&n= bsp;    I sol= ve problems peacefully

·         I ta= lk out my problems

·         I at= tack the problem, not the person

·         I li= sten to others

·         I ca= re about other people’s feelings

·         I am responsible for what I say and do

·         I as= k for help when I need it

6.&n= bsp;    I fol= low our school safety rules

·         I wa= lk safely to and from school

·         I ob= ey the crossing guard

** Please see signature page at the end of this handbook=

Ingalls Core Value System

&nb= sp;

Purpose:

The faculty and staff at the Ingalls School are constantly striving to = improve our school community. We want= our school to be the best that it can be. As educators, it is our goal to instill in our students the importan= ce of developing a sense of respect and responsibility. We want students to understand the= value of these qualities and to incorporate them into their daily lives.

Our school’s emphasis on = “effort” is a l= ife long lesson meant to empower students to take control = oF their successes and failures.

GENERAL INFORMATION

School Hours       7:45 a.m. (late bell rings at 8:00 a.m.) – 1:45 p.m.

Emergency Form

I cannot emphasize enough the importance of this form. Please fill out the form completel= y, carefully making sure we have accurate information. If any informa= tion changes, please notify the main office. If you need help filling out any f= orm, please come in and we will assist you.&nbs= p; Without this information, we have no way to contact you in the event= of an emergency. If you have mor= e than one child, please complete a form for each child. Send this form back immediately af= ter receiving it.

Free and Reduced Lunch Form <= o:p>

All parents need to fill out this form and return it; even if you feel you do not qualify or may not want to participate. Your compliance with filling out t= his form effects our school’s funding.&n= bsp; Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

=

Universal Breakfast

All students will be offered free breakfast when the school day begins at 7:45 a.m. Your child certainly can choose not to eat, but a breakfast will always be acces= sible.

Lunch Pri= ces – Week= ly prices are as follows: Full $= 7.75; Reduced $2.00; Milk only $2.00. Payment is due each week on Thursday.

=

“No School” Announcements

If it becomes necessary to cancel school = due to stormy weather or another emergency, announcements to that effect will be broadcast on local television and radio stations.

Connect-Ed<= /b> – Is an automat= ed phone system used by Lynn= Public Schools to n= otify you of your child’s absence as well as important school events throug= hout the year. It is very importan= t that your current phone number is always on file in the office.

Lost and Found

A “lost and found” box is loc= ated in the cafeteria where lost articles are kept until claimed. You or your ch= ild are encouraged to check the box for lost items. Please put your child’s name= on all belongings so that “found” items can be returned to the own= er.

= ;

= ;

Lunch and Recess

First Lunch 11:00 – 11:35  &nbs= p;       Grade 4 & 5 <= /o:p>

11:00 - 11:20   Lunch

11:20 - 11:30   Recess w/aides

11:30 - 11:35   Recess w/teachers=

  &nbs= p;

Second <= span class=3DGramE>Lunch 11:30 – 12:00  &nbs= p; Kindergarten & SPE= D

  &nbs= p;       11:30 – 11:50   Lunch

  &nbs= p;       11:50 – 12:00   Recess w/= aides

Third Lunch   11:55 – 12:= 30       Grade 1 & 2

11:55 – 12:15   Lunch

12:15 – 12:25   Recess w/aides

12:25 – 12:30   Recess w/teachers=

Last Lunch 12:00 – 12:35        &= nbsp; Grade 3<= /i>

12:00 – 12:05   Recess w/teachers

12:05 – 12:15   Recess w/aides

12:15 – 12:35   Lunch

Snack Time

·        Will be a s= et time in grades 3, 4,& 5

·        Will be at = 9:50 a.m. in grade three

·        Will be at = 9:20 a.m. in grade four

·        Will be at = 10:05 a.m. in grade five

·        Students ar= e only allowed to have one small drink and snack=

·        Snack time = can not exceed 10 minutes

·        All snack t= imes begin 10 minutes before block one ends.&nb= sp;

LYNN PUBLIC SCHOOLS=

_______________________________________________________________= _________

Administrat= ive Offices - 90 Commercial St= ., Lynn, MA 01905 (781) 5= 93-1680

Fax.= (781) 477-7487

Office o= f the Superintendent

SCHOOL CALENDAR=

2006-2007

Schools Open&nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;            Wednesday, September 6, 2006

Schools Closed on:

    Columbus Day      &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;            Monday, October 9, 2006

    Veterans Day    =             &nb= sp;            =      Friday, November 10, 2006

    Thanksgiving Recess   = ;            &n= bsp;       Wednesday, November 22 (pm)-Friday, November 24

    Christmas Recess   &n= bsp;            = ;            = Monday, December 25, 2006-Monday January 1, 2007

    Martin Luther King Day  &n= bsp;         &= nbsp;   Monday, January 15, 2007

    Winter Vacation   &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp; February 19 – 23, 2007

    Good Friday    &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;     Friday, April 6, 2007

    Spring Vacation   &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp; April 16 – 20, 2007

    Memorial Day    =             &nb= sp;            =     Monday, May 28, 2007

High School Graduation=             &nb= sp;        Friday, June 1, 2007

PreK/Kindergarten Close        &= nbsp;           Fr= iday, June 15, 2007

Schools = Close on 182^nd Day   &n= bsp;           Tue= sday, June 19, 2007 (tentative)

Professional Development Days:        Elementary (Mondays) November 6 & December 4, 2006

   &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;      Middle   (Wednesdays) November 8 & December 6, 2006

   &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;      High        = (Thursdays) October 12 & December 7, 2006

Early Release Days for Kindergarten:    (Thursdays)

   &nbs= p;        September 21, October 19, November 16, December 14, 2006 and

   &nbs= p;        January 18, February 15, March 15, April 12, May 17, 2007

NEASC Accreditation Days:            = Classical        &= nbsp; October 22-25, 2006

   &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;      LVTI        &= nbsp;      November 6-9, 2006

The Ingalls Community

Parent Teacher Organiz= ation (P.T.O.)

P.T.O. membership is open to all interest= ed individuals. There are monthly meetings open to all members. Parents are encouraged to join and to take an active role in this organization.

School Improvement Cou= ncil

The Ingalls School Improvement Council is= a representative, building-based committee composed of the principal, vice principal, parents, teachers, and community representatives. The purpose of the Council is to formulate a School Improvement Plan, which outlines annual goals for the sc= hool and to support the principal in school-based management. The Improvement Plan is submitted annually to the Superintendent and School Committee for review. Meetings are held monthly and are = open for all to attend. Parents are encouraged to consider membership on the School Improvement Council.

Monthly School Calendar

Kindergarten Orientation Breakfast - Friday, September 8, 2006

Ingalls Cafeteria 9 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Parent-Teacher Conferences=

Novem= ber 14, 2006 Parent Conferences 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.=

April= 10, 2007 Parent Conferences & Ice C= ream Social 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Fa= mily Literacy Night

Febru= ary 13, 2007 6:30 p.m – 8:00 p.m.

School Pictures

Students are given the opportunity to have school pictures taken each Fall and again in the Spring. Parents are notified = of the date in advance and may choose to purchase one of the photo packages offere= d.

IMPORTANT POLICIES AND PROCEDUR= ES

Attendance and Tardiness

Children must attend school regularly. Continuity in every grade can only be accomplished with a consistent attendance record. Our school day begins at=

7:45 a.m. I would like to remind you of the importance of your child arriving to school on time. Students will be considered tardy if they arrive after the 8:00 a.m. late bell. Students arriving late must report directly to the school office with a parental note explaining the reason for tardiness. Tardi= ness can be a bad habit, and together we must try to instill good habits that ma= ke your child and our students’ responsible individuals.

Attendance is another concerning issue and important commitment. It is critical to your child’= ;s educational success that he and/or she be present unless sick. At Ingalls, we take attendance very seriously. A student’s = absence for vacation purposes is not acceptable and certainly sends the wrong messa= ge to your child about school’s importance. Teachers will call home if there i= s a concern. Attendance letters w= ill also be sent further documenting and reiterating the school’s concern= s. Additionally, it is important for you to know that this matter will quickly= be escalated to the Principal and Truant Officer if there is concern about unexcused absences. The step following this is a CHINS petition to the cour= t.

If your child is going to be absent, please call the school and leave a message

781-477-7400.=

=

Dismissal

If a child has to be dismissed from school during school hours (except in cases of illness or injury), he or she must bring a note signed by the parent or guardian stating the anticipated time = of dismissal and the reason. All children being dismissed must be picked up at the school office. The parent or the parent’s d= esignee must provide transportation, as children may not walk home unaccompanied wh= en dismissed. =

If a child is dismissed before 10:45 a.m., the student is considered absent for the whole day. There will be no dismissals per= mitted after 1:30 p.m.

Vacation Policy

Family vacations should be planned during regular school vacations. Kee= ping a student out of school for the purpose of a vacation is considered an unexcu= sed absence. School personnel are= not required or expected to provide schoolwork for students going on vacation.<= o:p>

LPS Dress Code<= /u> – you will be receiving a Student Discipline Code. Please pay particular attention to the dress code as it has been rev= ised and will be strictly enforced.

Telephone Use

Children are not permitted to use the off= ice telephone for personal reasons. Phone calls home for forgotten lunches, homework assignments, or the like are allowed at the discretion of the teacher, secretary, or principal. In case of illness= or other emergency, the parent or designee will be notified by the school nurs= e, secretary, teacher or principal.

Cell Phone Use = – is not permitt= ed.

School Yard Parking

I would like to remind you of t= he policies put in place prohibiting unauthorized vehicles from driving into t= he school yard or along side the school building. Cones and signs are in place= to reinforce these safety policies. No cars are allowed to enter or exit the school yard in the morning between 7:= 45 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. In the afternoon, no cars are allowed to enter or exit the yard between 1:30 p.m. = and

2:00 p.m., except for buses and cars arriving to pick up handicapped students. The arrival for these vehicles is expected to be at 1:30 p.m. T= he cars arriving to pick up these students will be given a special identificat= ion placard that will easily allow us to identify them. Ideally, this traffic w= ill be gone by 1:45 p.m. This is being done with the safety of your children in mind. These times of the day are very ch= aotic, and we all need to make sure every effort is being made to keep your childr= en out of harm’s way. We n= eed your co-operation in making the Ingalls School Community a safe place for children.

Building Security and = School Visits

Because of our concern for the safety of = our students, and to ensure that no unauthorized people are in the building, ALL visitors are required to sign in at the school office and sign out when leaving.

SCHOOL RULES FOR STUDENTS

Door Assignments by Grade Level – Line Up, Ent= er, & Exit

·      = Kindergarten = .- Essex Street Door drop off & pick up

=

·      = Grade One= - Lobby Door in the A.M. and P.M. for dismissal

=

·      = Grades Two & Three- Lobby Door in the A.M. & Collins Street Terrace side door in the P.M. f= or dismissal

=

·      = Grades Four And Five- Essex Street door in the A.M. & backyard door in the P.M. for dismissal

·      = Bus Students<= /b>- at dismissal are sent to the cafeteria where school personnel supervise and take them to their assigned bus

Dismissal Time

Bus students line up in the cafeteria and are supervised by school personnel until their transportation arrives. Parents and guardian= s, you must send a note if your child is not taking the bus that day.

Students who walk are to go directly home upon dismissal. Loitering on school grounds is not allowed as there is no adult supervision, and children are expected home in a timely manner by their par= ent or caregiver.

Toys in School<= /u> are not allowed.=

GENERAL SAFETY REGULATIONS

Fire Drills and Buildi= ng Evacuation

1.     Students shall exit the building in a quiet and orderly manner.

2.     Students must stand si= lently outside in their class line after leaving the building.
3.     Students shall follow = the directions of the teacher or adult in charge.

General Rules

1.     Respect classmates and= obey all teachers, staff members, aides and volunteers.

2.     Use appropriate langua= ge and behavior at all times.

3.     Show respect for school property and the property of others.

Recess Time=

1.     Students are to proceed outside in a quiet and orderly manner and must follow the instructions of t= he teacher or aide in charge.

2.     Students are free to p= lay in groups in an orderly and organized manner.= Teachers and aides will assist students whenever necessary.

3.     There is to be no push= ing, running, fighting, piggyback riding or any other inappropriate game or activity.

4.     Students are not permi= tted to go outside the fenced area or go beyond the playground perimeter to retr= ieve balls without permission from the teacher or aide on duty.

5.     Students may not re-en= ter the building during recess period without permission from the teacher or ai= de on duty.

6.     Hard balls are not all= owed.

7.     Tackling games are not allowed.

Cafeteria

1.     Enter and leave the cafeteria in a quiet and orderly way under the supervision of= the teacher or lunch aide. No run= ning or getting out of line.

2.     After going through the food line, go directly to your seat and stay seated excep= t to throw away your trash.

3.     When finished eating, clean up the area around you, both on and under the table.=

4.     Talk in quiet voices. Do not shout= or yell.

5.     The lunch aides are to be given the same respect as other adults in the school.=

Lavatory
1.     Behavior is to be appropriate at all times so as not to disturb or endanger others.<= o:p>

2.     Fighting, running, or pushing is not allowed in the lavatories.

3.     Students are not to linger in the lavatory.

4.     Crayons, pencils, markers and pens are not to be brought into the lavatory. Writing or drawing is strictly forbidden.

5.     Students may not stand on seats, climb on or swing from partitions, or harm any of t= he fixtures.

6.     Good health habits are to be practiced by washing hands after using the lavatory. Dispose of paper to= wels in the trash barrel.

School Assemblies<= /span>

From time to time students will have the opportunity to attend assemblies in the school auditorium. During an assembly or special prog= ram, students are to follow these rules:

1.     Enter and leave the auditorium in a quiet and orderly manner.
2.     Students are to pay attention and be courteous during the assembly.

3.     Students should refrain from talking, making inappropriate noises, moving from place= to place and interfering with others.

Behavior = In The Hallway

1.     Students must always walk through the hallways in a quiet and orderly manner.

2.     Students are to keep to the right and proceed as quietly as possible

3.     Running is not allowed.

STUDENT PROGRESS

Both parents and students are made aware = of student progress. The best indication is a daily review of papers, assignments and discussion of schoolwork and school activities. Conferences are held in the Fall and Spri= ng before report cards. Anytime = the parent or teacher has a concern, a conference may and should be scheduled.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Report cards go home three times a= year.

Homework

Students will be asked to do certain assignments outside the classroom, which will prepare them for a subsequent lesson or will act as a follow-up to previous learning activities. Homework is an extension of learni= ng initiated by the teacher. Grade 1 and 2 have regular brief assignments averaging= 10-20 minutes. Children in

Grade 3 – 30 min= utes; Grade 4 – 60 minutes; Grade 5 – 60 minutes.

Long-range assignments are occasionally given, especially in the intermediate grades. These may include book reports, re= search assignments, or special projects. Parents are asked to encourage their children to complete these assignments over a period of time rather than rushing at the last moment.

Here are some homework tips for parents:<= o:p>

·        SET HOMEWORK GOALS – At the beginning of each homework session, ask you child, “What do you need to do today?” This simple question will help your child get focused on the task ahead.

·        GET COMFORTABLE – Some children need absolute quiet to study. Others can tolerate noise. Some need to sit at a desk. Others work best when they’re sprawled out on the floor. There’s no one “right” or “wrong” way = to do homework. Let your child experiment and see what works best.

·        SET A SCHEDULE – Block out homework time every day. For some children it is best to do= it right away. Others will need = a play break. For some, after supper= is a good time. Establishing a rou= tine is helpful for most children.

·        DO A QUICK CHECK<= /b> – At the end of= each homework session, have your child get in the habit of checking his or her work. Is the child’s na= me on the paper? Has the work been proofread? Then put the assig= nment in a place where it will be brought to school the next day (maybe right in their school backpack).

PROGRESS/REP= ORT CARD DISTRIBUTION

        &= nbsp; Progress Reports:    &nb= sp;            = October 20, 2006

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; January 3, 2007

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; May 4, 2007

        &= nbsp;

        &= nbsp; Trimester Closings:    &n= bsp; Friday, December 1, 2006

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Friday, March 16, 2007

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;

Trimester Report Cards:      = ; Wednesday, December 13, 2006

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Wednesday, March 28, 2007

Parent-Teacher Confere= nces

Formal Parent-Teacher Conferences are held twice a year, in the Fall and Spring. Teachers and parents are encourage= d to maintain communication throughout the year.

Below are some suggestions, which may help you as you prepare for the Parent-Teacher Conference.

·        Get involved. Consider conferences to be one of = the many ways in which you can work with your child’s teacher and the sch= ool

·        Be prepared. Prepare for the conference by prep= aring a list of questions, bringing relevant assessment records, collecting information about certain behaviors, or just trying to relax and clear your mind before the conference.

·        Be open-minded. It is more useful to come to the conference with a clear definition of a problem or concern than to arrive w= ith a particular solution. Arrivi= ng with one and only one solution tends to elicit defensiveness and may prevent the joint discovery of an even better solution.

·        Set priorities. Adjust your expectation to the tim= e that is available. Set priorities = if necessary, and ask for a follow-up meeting if it is needed.

·        Avoid blaming. When a problem emerges, it is comm= on to look for someone to blame. Wh= en a child is struggling in school, we often blame ourselves, the child and/or t= he teacher. It will be more prod= uctive to look for solutions than to place blame.

·        Acknowledge differences in roles<= /b>. Both you and the teacher want what= is best for your child. The teac= her must, however, try to meet the needs of all of the children in the class. It is important that parents recog= nize the teacher’s responsibility to all of the children.

STUDENT SERVICES

Princ= ipal – Kimberlee Powers

Vice Principal – Stephen Dickerson

School Secretaries – Kris Johnson

&nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;     Karen Raye

&nb= sp;

School Adjustment Coun= selor – Erin Kelter

Social Worker – Sandy Kirkpat= rick (office located at Ingalls) 617-799-7942

School Nurse – Vicki Kennedy 781-599-5570

School Based Health Center

&nb= sp;            =      781-593-0734

781-593-0892        &= nbsp;

Carol Champigny, Office Manager           &= nbsp;

Lorraine Murphy, Nurse Practitioner

Lunch Program – Lois Branden

Special Ed<= /b> – Lynn Public Schools= Special Ed Main Office 781-268-3000

&nb= sp;            =      &nb= sp;        Program Specialist – Jessica McLaughlin x 124

&nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp; Chairperson – Lisa Samora x 261

        = Ingalls Special Ed. Coordinator - Stacey Pilcher

504 Coordinator= -<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Diane = DeSantis, 2^nd Grade Teacher at Ingalls

GENERAL SAFETY REGULATIONS

Safety is our number one concern and is stressed at all times.

In The Building

1.     Parents and visitors m= ust sign in at the school office

2.     Drop off articles in t= he office that are to be delivered to children.

3.     There is to be no runn= ing in the hallways.

4.     Children are to avoid wearing untied sneakers or other articles of clothing, which may create an unsafe condition for the wearer.

On The Way To and From School

1.     Students shall cross at crosswalks only.

2.     Students must look bot= h ways before crossing the street.

3.     Students should be war= ned against stepping into the street from behind parked cars.=

4.     Students must use the sidewalks whenever possible.

5.     Students must follow t= he directions of the traffic supervisors when crossing streets.

6.     Students should review= safe walking routes with parents.

7.     Students are to use sa= fe walking routes if snow is blocking walking paths.

8.     Students should immedi= ately report to a “safe location” if approached by a stranger. Safety locations could include sch= ool, home, identified neighbor’s home, crossing guard, etc. Parents and school personnel should reinforce this procedure.

9.     Students should be cau= tioned against accepting rides from strangers or anyone other than their parents or caregivers.

10. Skateboards, scoot= ers, and the like are not allowed.