Student/Family Handbook
Mission
Gauley River Elementary is dedicated to molding the whole child by providing high standards that focus on fostering confident, creative, and reflective young people of integrity.
Core Beliefs
Gauley River Elementary is committed to providing a safe and consistent learning environment while actively engaging students to build a foundation for a successful and productive future.
Vision
Gauley River Elementary believes that in order for our students to be successful we must
1. create a culture that is student-centered and future-focused.
2. continue to be lifelong learners.
3. commit to high-standards of academic success.
Academics
Student achievement is one of our top priorities at Gauley River Elementary School. We begin instruction promptly at 7:45 a.m. Our highly-qualified teachers work hard to make certain that each child achieves his highest potential.
Adding a Phone Number to the Calling System
1. Give your email address to the school by calling or sending it in with your child. Please check this for accuracy.
2. Wait 36 hours until it is entered into our database.
3. Go to go.schoolmessenger.com. In the upper right hand corner, create an account using the email you gave the school.
Anti-Bullying Policy
Bullying behavior by any student at Gauley River Elementary School is strictly prohibited and such conduct may result in disciplinary action, including suspension (in-school or out-of-school), expulsion, or placement in the Alternative Learning Center. “Bullying” means any repeated and pervasive written, verbal or electronic expression, physical act or gesture, or a pattern thereof, that is intended to cause distress upon one or more students in the school, on school grounds, in school vehicles, at a designated bus stop, at school activities/sanctioned events, or affecting the school environment. Bullying includes, but is not limited to, hazing, harassment, intimidation, or menacing acts of a student which may or may not be based on the student’s race, color, sex, ethnicity, national origin, religion, disability, age, or sexual orientation that a reasonable person under the circumstances should know will have the effect of:
· Placing a student in reasonable fear of physical harm or damage to the student’s property;
· Physically harming a student or damaging a student’s property;
· Insulting or demeaning any student or group of students in such a way as to disrupt or interfere with the school’s educational mission or the education of any student. Students and parents may file verbal or written complaints concerning suspected bullying behavior to school personnel and administrators. Any report of suspected bullying behavior will be promptly reviewed. If acts of bullying are verified, prompt disciplinary action will be taken against the perpetrator, up to and including suspension, expulsion, or placement at the Alternative Learning Center.
Academics
Student achievement is one of our top priorities at Gauley River Elementary School. We begin instruction promptly at 7:45 a.m. Our highly-qualified teachers work hard to make certain that each child achieves his highest potential.
Adding a Phone Number to the Calling System
1. Give your email address to the school by calling or sending it in with your child. Please check this for accuracy.
2. Wait 36 hours until it is entered into our database.
3. Go to go.schoolmessenger.com. In the upper right hand corner, create an account using the email you gave the school.
Anti-Bullying Policy
Bullying behavior by any student at Gauley River Elementary School is strictly prohibited and such conduct may result in disciplinary action, including suspension (in-school or out-of-school), expulsion, or placement in the Alternative Learning Center. “Bullying” means any repeated and pervasive written, verbal or electronic expression, physical act or gesture, or a pattern thereof, that is intended to cause distress upon one or more students in the school, on school grounds, in school vehicles, at a designated bus stop, at school activities/sanctioned events, or affecting the school environment. Bullying includes, but is not limited to, hazing, harassment, intimidation, or menacing acts of a student which may or may not be based on the student’s race, color, sex, ethnicity, national origin, religion, disability, age, or sexual orientation that a reasonable person under the circumstances should know will have the effect of:
· Placing a student in reasonable fear of physical harm or damage to the student’s property;
· Physically harming a student or damaging a student’s property;
· Insulting or demeaning any student or group of students in such a way as to disrupt or interfere with the school’s educational mission or the education of any student. Students and parents may file verbal or written complaints concerning suspected bullying behavior to school personnel and administrators. Any report of suspected bullying behavior will be promptly reviewed. If acts of bullying are verified, prompt disciplinary action will be taken against the perpetrator, up to and including suspension, expulsion, or placement at the Alternative Learning Center.
Attendance and Accountability
West Virginia law requires students to participate in school every day. Student achievement increases with regular participation. If your child is absent, please send in one of the approved excuse forms (See appendix, p. 8.) Lack of participation will result in reports made to the principal and the Nicholas County Board of Education Attendance Director and Truancy Diversion Director. Please work with us to ensure that your child is attending daily. Chronic absences/tardiness/early-outs (3+) will be turned over to the school social worker who will contact you to determine the cause and provide assistance. If adequate progress is not made, parents/guardians may be subject to misdemeanor charges and/or fines.
Class Dojo
Class Dojo is a great way (and the preferred method) to get in touch with your child’s teacher. It helps the teacher to track the students’ behaviors, as well as communicate with parents and post important information. Teachers check Class Dojo messages throughout the day when time permits. If you don’t hear back right away, expect to hear from them at the end of their school day. Please consider that each teacher has a different schedule, absences, meetings, etc.
Please make every effort to sign-up for and check Class Dojo often. It is important to turn your notifications on so that you get the information immediately. Please check Class Dojo Stories and Messages at least once per day. See the Class Dojo Tip Sheet in your child’s folder.
Communication
More than ever, communication with your child’s teacher is important. You and your child are expected to communicate frequently (multiple times per week) with the teacher; please be available.
It is important to discuss your child’s learning every day with him. Information about procedures and upcoming events will be sent virtually and/or in writing. Your child’s teacher will send a monthly and/or weekly newsletter to keep you informed about important information. We also use the calling system, Microsoft Teams, Class Dojo, and the school website for communication (See front cover for website).
If you need to speak with your child’s teacher or wish to schedule a conference, please leave a message with the secretary. The message will be given to the teacher who will contact you at his/her earliest convenience.
Discipline
Gauley River Elementary follows the West Virginia State and Nicholas County discipline policy which can be found on their websites respectively. We are an orderly, disciplined school where students are responsible for their own behavior. Students not adhering to the policies will conference with their teacher/principal/parent(s) to determine consequences. Students are expected to follow the school wide Positive Behavior Plan and expectations.
Key Points for the Positive Behavior Plan include:
· Proactive in nature-catch students behaving appropriately and acknowledge positively.
· Discipline with dignity-do not embarrass a student when disciplining.
· Structure and routines-know what to expect in a predictable environment.
Dismissal
Instruction ends at 2:20 p.m. every day. Dismissal will be as follows:
· 2:20: First Run Buses
· 2:25: Car Riders (See Drop Off/Pick Up Procedures below.)
· 2:30-3:00: Second Run Buses
· These times are all subject to change.
If your child rides the bus and is in kindergarten through third grade, someone must pick them up at the bus stop. If not, he will be brought back to school, and it will be necessary to pick your child up in the office. This is a county requirement; therefore, our bus drivers have been asked to always look for an adult before leaving students.
If you need to change your child’s normal routine, we ask that you notify the school in writing. If your child will be riding a different bus or going to a different stop, you must use the Nicholas County Schools Bus Pass. It must be on the yellow bus pass that will be sent home at the beginning of the year. If your child’s transportation change does not involve a bus, you may send a written note that is dated and signed by a parent or guardian. If an emergency arises, please make every effort to call the school before noon to notify us of a transportation change.
Drop Off/Pick Up Procedures
For safety and security reasons, all children who do not ride the bus will need to be dropped off in the parent loop each morning. (See map in appendix, p. 9). We will have staff in the cafeteria each morning to greet your child(ren). You will need to watch to make sure your child arrives safely inside the cafeteria door. The cafeteria doors will open at 7:20 a.m. and will close at 7:45 a.m. The front of the school is to be used for bus traffic and employees only until 7:45. After 7:45, you will need to ESCORT your child to the front door and sign them in.
When picking your child up at regular time, please line up in the parent loop. (See map in appendix, p. 9). If you are checking your child out at an earlier time, you must sign them out in the office before 2:00 p.m. (See Office Protocol below). Please be prepared to show your Photo ID.
Green Card Protocol
These Green Cards MUST be correct and current. If you need to make any changes to your child’s green card, you must stop by the office. This includes address, phone numbers, emergency contacts, medical information, or other information. These changes must be done in person. If a parent/guardian is removing another parent/guardian, legal documentation must be presented. Please be prepared to show Photo ID to make these changes. If multiple changes have been made, you may be asked to fill out a new green card.
Live Grades
Students in third, fourth, and fifth grades receive letter grades (A-F). The teachers’ gradebooks are kept in Live Grades. You can track your child’s progress by using this website. Information will be sent home by your child’s teacher.
Medication
The parent must bring the medication and the completed Medication Administration Form to the office. Personnel who have been trained in medication administration will be responsible for giving the medicine. These medicines will be kept in a locked central location.
The Medication Administration Form must be completed and signed by the doctor who prescribed the medicine, and the bottom portion completed and signed by the parent.
The medication brought to school by the parent must be contained in the original prescription-labeled bottle, with student’s name, timely date, name of medicine, frequency, times, and route of administration, and physician’s name. If the medication label does not match the information on the Medication Administration Form, the parent will be asked to take the medicine home and bring back a properly labeled container.
Certain medications need to be kept by the student for self-administration; primarily, asthma inhalers that the physician has trained the student to use. These may be kept in the student’s possession; however, a Medication Administration Form must be on file, completed by both the physician and parent, indicating that the physician has instructed the student in self-administration.
If fever-reducing medication is given in the past 24 hours, please do NOT send your child to school.
Office Protocol
In an effort to keep our staff and students safe, Gauley River Elementary has very strict office procedures. Please remember that this is to keep our children safe, not to create an inconvenience for you. Please keep these procedures in mind, when making your plans and appointments.
· Please do not call or visit the office from 2:00-2:35 p.m. unless it is an absolute emergency.
· If you need to make transportation changes, please do so by 12:00 noon.
· We ask that if you have doctor/dentist appointments, that you make them for a day that school is not in session or after school hours. (Please consult the school calendar on page 11 in the appendix.)
· When you come to school, you will push the button to the right of the front doors. You will need to identify yourself before you are buzzed in. Please be prepared to show a Photo ID.
· Visitors will not be permitted past the front office without prior approval and a Visitor’s Pass.
School Meals
All students receive free breakfast and lunch.
Student Assistance Teams
From time to time, the need may arise for us to call parents in for a Student Assistance Team (SAT) meeting. These meetings can be called by the parent or any member of the child’s education team. These meetings are conducted when we see a need arising. This may be in relation to academics, behavior, attendance, or another reason. At these meetings, several members of the staff will meet and work together to develop a plan of action to help the child. Parents are always invited to these meetings. Should you feel your child would benefit from one of these meetings, please contact the school.
Student Insurance
Student insurance is available for purchase. This will be included in the paperwork that is sent home with your child on the first day of school.
Technology Responsibilities
Every child will be assigned an iPad for school use. The iPad is for use by the assigned individual only. It will be your child’s responsibility to be sure it is fully charged every day. The iPad will be brought to and from school every single day. The charger may remain at home. It is your responsibility to keep the iPad safe and clean. (Contact school for direction if needed.) Do not take the case off. Do not use near food or drink. Do not delete apps. Do not put a security code on the iPad. This iPad is connected to the Nicholas Board of Education and can be accessed remotely by the technology team at any time. If there is a problem with the iPad, let your child’s teacher know immediately. On days that remote learning is necessary, they are required to access their apps at home. If this is an issue, contact the teacher immediately. Please refer to the Acceptable Use Policy for more specific information.
Title IX
As required by federal laws and regulations, the Nicholas County Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, disability, age and national origin in the employment and in the administration of any of its education programs and activities.
Any person may report sex discrimination, including sexual harassment (whether or not the person reporting is the person alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sex discrimination or sexual harassment), in person, by mail, by telephone, or by electronic mail, using the contact information listed for the Title IX Coordinator, or by any other means that results in the Title IX Coordinator receiving the person’s verbal or written report.
Such a report may be made at any time (including during non-business hours) by using the telephone number or electronic mail address, or by mail to the office address, listed for the Title IX Coordinator.
All policies, trainings, and complaint/grievance procedures can be found on the NCBOE Website.
Title IX Inquiries may be directed to:
Melissa Adkins
Title IX Coordinator
Section 504 Coordinator
Nicholas County Board of Education
400 Old Main Drive
Summersville, WV 26651
(304)872-3611
U.S. Dept of Education
Director of the Office for Civil Rights
Investigators
Chris Hanshaw
Nicholas County Board of Education
400 Old Main Drive
Summersville, WV 26651
(304)872-3611
Mike Williams
Nicholas County Board of Education
400 Old Main Drive
Summersville, WV 26651
(304)872-3611