POLICIES
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Studies have shown a direct correlation between attendance and a child's academic achievement. The Washington State Legislature also recognized the importance of attendance by passing laws requiring regular attendance. State law mandates that we keep a record of excused and unexcused absences for each student and send a report at the end of each grading period to the state. Therefore, it is important that parents, students and school work together to maximize student attendance.
The following Lewis & Clark Elementary Attendance Policy is designed to promote regular attendance, academic achievement and safety for all Lewis & Clark students:
All students are to arrive at school by 8:40AM so classes may begin promptly at 8:42 AM.
Your help in making certain your child attends school regularly and arrives on time is greatly appreciated. Together we can improve your child's attendance and school success.
It is the goal of the Richland School District to establish and maintain a quality learning environment for all students and staff. To that end, we expect all students to dress in a manner that provides for adequate safety while on any school campus. Further, we hope to instill the understanding of, and adherence to, appropriate dress for a work environment as we prepare students for their future career. It is also the responsibility of the school administrators to take reasonable steps to ensure a learning environment free from sexual harassment.
Students wearing clothing that is disruptive to the learning environment or hampers the safety of themselves or others as determined by the school, will be asked to change clothing and may be subject to school discipline should they refuse to do so. These guidelines are not intended to be all-inclusive. The principal has the authority to determine if clothing is disruptive to learning or impacts student safety.
In order to maintain adherence to this dress code policy, students may not wear the following:
Hats are not allowed inside the school building.
A good general policy regarding the dress code is: If there is ANY QUESTION about an item being in appropriate, DO NOT WEAR IT.
8/30/2005
August 27, 2008
Dear Lewis and Clark Parent(s):
Our staff has been working on a "Positive School Climate Program" since August 1999 and we want to review the pgoram information.
This “Positive School Climate Program” involves teaching expected behaviors to students, rewarding those who follow those behaviors and holding those accountable who misbehave. Your child may use the term REFOCUS. This is when he or she has chosen not to follow expected behaviors, and when we have asked him or her to tell us what might have been a better way to act. Thus, we are helping them to become responsible citizens and to do their best and help others. When a child is in REFOCUS he/she will be seated in a quiet area, (either in their classroom, another teacher's classroom, or the office) and asked to think about their inappropriate behavior and asked to come up with a positive alternative. They may do this orally, or on a written REFOCUS form.
After three or more refocuses during any week a child will then be asked to go to After School Academy.
If your child has been asked to go to After School Academy, it means that their behavior has interfered with either their learning or another child's learning and they will be given the opportunity to learn ways to improve their academic performance . Our After School Academy will be each Friday from 1:15 to 2:15 for students in first and second grades, and from 1:15 to 2:45 for students in third, fourth, and fifth grades. We will be contacting you either by phone, letter, or email that your child is scheduled to attend academy.
If your child continues to choose to be in After School Academy we will be calling to ask for a conference with you.
The goals of this program are:
There are a few behaviors, called “Absolutes”, which require immediate intervention because they are unsafe and are disruptive to the learning of other students. At Lewis and Clark we have identified five critical behaviors that will not be tolerated at school and will be dealt with by suspending the child (either in-school suspension or suspension out of school).
The Absolutes are:
• Having a weapon at school. (Possession of the weapon or showing the weapon).
• Use of or carrying any kind of drug or drug paraphernalia. (Use of or carrying any kind of drug or item using drugs).
• Fighting: Violence or Assault (Violence or assault with intent to harm).
• Harassment in any form: Verbal, Sexual or Racial (With the purpose to intimidate)
• Serious disrespect toward an adult. (Serious non-compliance)
Parents will be called and/or a letter of suspension or in-school suspension will be given to the parent.
This policy is in accordance with the Richland School district as stated in the School District Policy Book (Policy #3200 and WAC 180-40-230) Lewis and Clark Elementary is following this procedure because we want all students at Lewis and Clark to be safe at school.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this program, please do not hesitate to call me at 967-6275.
Sincerely,
Martin A. Brewer
Principal
We have read and understand the Positive School Climate discipline approach entitled “Time to Teach.”
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