STUDENT HANDBOOK 2025-2026 Beaver Run School WICOMICO COUNTY BOARD OF ED.
1 Welcome to Beaver Run School! We are a proud Title I and Judy Center school! We serve approximately 700 PreK-Grade 2 students MISSION STATEMENT Beaver Run School will strive to meet the educational needs of all children so that they will be confident, responsible, self-directed and lifelong learners. BELIEF STATEMENTS ✓ Beaver Run School will provide a safe and orderly environment to promote an academic atmosphere that will meet the needs of all children. ✓ A successful Beaver Run student will be able to recognize his/her academic and social strengths in order to promote self-growth. ✓ An effective classroom is one in which a positive attitude and perception about learning motivates and challenges all students to work to their fullest potential. ✓ A quality instructional program provides a variety of opportunities that actively engage the students in the learning process to accommodate the learning styles of all children. ✓ Beaver Run will be an active partner with the Wicomico County Judy Center Partnership and other outside agencies. Beaver Run CODE OF CONDUCT Expected behaviors are posted in all areas of the school. ✓ Be Kind ✓ Be Safe ✓ Be Responsible SCHOOL HOURS 8:45 A.M. School Building Opens 9:15 A.M. Classes Begin for all students 3:15 P.M. No students will be dismissed from the office past this time 3:45 P.M. Car rider Dismissal Begins 3:45 P.M. Bus Dismissal Begins 4:15 P.M. School Building Closes SIX DAY ROTATION CALENDAR Schools in Wicomico County are scheduled on a six-day, A thru F Day rotating schedule. The first day of school will be an A-Day. The last letter day in the cycle rotation is F day. This progression continues throughout the school year. If the last day students attended before a holiday was C day, it will be a D-day when they return. Your child’s teacher will send home information during the first week of school to inform you about which days your child has special classes such as physical education, art, music and media. ARRIVAL OF STUDENTS School doors are unlocked for students to enter at 8:45 AM. Students must remain in their vehicles until 8:45 AM Early arrivals will not be let into the building. On 90-minute delays, school doors will unlock at 10:15 AM. LATE ARRIVALS Doors will lock at 9:15 AM. If your child arrives after 9:15 AM, parents are required to walk their child into the school office to receive a pass to the classroom. Students dropped off after 9:15 AM without a parent escort will not be granted access to the school.
2 DISMISSAL OF STUDENTS It takes the entire school community working together to safely dismiss 700+ four- to eight-year-olds each day. In turn, please follow the guidelines below for dismissal. - Car rider dismissal begins at 3:45 PM. When looking at the school, the car rider loop is located to the right of the main entrance. Students who are car riders every day will receive a car rider tag to attach to their book bag. Parents will receive a matching tag to display from their rear-view mirror. These tags will be given to you upon filling out the request for your student to be a daily car rider. Once you have exited the school driveway, please remove the hang tag from your car’s windshield area. It is illegal to have items in the windshield area that may block your view while driving on the roadways. - Bus riders are dismissed as buses arrive beginning at 3:45 PM. - If you come to get your child, please do not request dismissal prior to 3:15 p.m. Please remember that instruction continues until 3:45 PM. Dismissal between 3:15 and 3:45 are unexcused unless excused by the school principal. Excessive unexcused early dismissals will warrant an attendance intervention plan. - Anytime a child is picked up from the main office, the adult must present identification to ensure student safety. Beaver Run uses the Raptor System which scans your identification against a nationwide offender database to ensure student safety. - Beaver Run staff will not dismiss a student shuttling from East Salisbury. Parents must go to their child’s designated school and sign them out. - Beaver Run staff will not accept verbal messages from students about dismissal changes. If you plan to pick your child up every afternoon, one note may be sent at the beginning of the school year. However, if on any day you change this procedure, please submit your change request to the office prior to 2:45 PM using the following email address: beaverrun_office@mywcps.org. Changes to dismissal are not permitted over the phone as the office cannot safely and confidently verify who is making the request. DRESS CODE A student’s appearance should reflect pride and respect for self and for school. Any type of attire which attracts undue attention to the wearer, is torn and ragged, unsafe, or causes a disturbance, is in poor taste and not acceptable. All students should groom and dress themselves neatly in items that are suitable for school activities. Allowed Not Allowed Best Tops T-shirts Long sleeve T-shirts Golf shirt Sweater Best Bottoms Shorts Jeans Khakis Best Shoes Sneakers OK Tops Button up shirts Sweater vests OK Bottoms Sweatpants Medium and long skirts OK Shoes Boots when students do not have gym • Halter tops • Midriff shirts • Tank tops • See-through blouses • Large armhole blouses • Eyelet or fishnet shirts • Clothing with vulgarity, offensive writing, or inappropriate pictures. • Gang symbols or colors • Short shorts or skirts • Thong shoes and flipflops • Sagging pants that expose undergarments • Hats, scarves, and head coverings in the school except for religious reasons • Picks or combs in hair • Brass knuckles • Large chains • Coats and jackets in the building
3 ATTENDANCE Beaver Run Elementary school adheres to the Wicomico County District Attendance Policy and Procedures. These documents in their entirety can be accessed at the following address: https://www.wicomicoschools.org/o/wcps/page/parents-guardians-students Students should strive to be in school all day, every day. Consistent FULL-DAY attendance supports students in achieving academic success, graduation, and development into productive members of society. Parents/guardians and students should review the Student Attendance Policy and Student Attendance Procedure to know the rules for excused and unexcused absences for everything from family vacations, college/employer visits, student illness, and the death of a family member. Some highlights from the policy include: - IF a student is absent, a note is due within 5 days of the student’s return to the building. - Parents are allowed ONLY 5 excused absences a year with a parent note that doesn’t require doctor documentation. - A Principal can excuse ONLY 3 days for family vacation. - Parents must submit the Advance Request for Absence form to the school principal 10 days prior to a family vacation IF 3 days are requested to be excused. The following steps will be taken when a child’s attendance is deemed excessive: • 1 day absent—automatic call • 2 days absent- automatic call; • 3 days absent- automatic call; conference with student; letter sent home; HSL will contact parent/guardian • 4 days absent- automatic call; HSL will contact parent/guardians with home visit • 5 days absent- automatic call; letter home; student is marked failing for marking term; home visit; intervention plan sent home. Pre-K students will be reviewed for dismissa from the Pre-K program • 6 days absent- automatic call; PPW contacted; PPW referral • 8 days absent- automatic call; SST review and possible behavioral support plan • 10 days absent- automatic call; letter sent referring to the Truancy Reduction • 12 days absent-automatic call; HSL and PPW continue to work together; principal informed Students who have more than 5 unexcused absences in a marking term must complete an attendance intervention plan to avoid failing the marking term. An attendance intervention plan may involve the student staying after school for up to two hours a day, with parent/guardians responsible for providing transportation home. Student attendance is a FAMILY responsibility.
4 CLASSROOM VISITATIONS We invite our families to be a part of our learning community and support their student(s) at Beaver Run. All visitors MUST report to the school office before visiting classrooms between 9:15 AM and 3:35 PM. For the safety of all students and staff, the visitor must be on the student information sheet and will need to provide proper identification BEFORE being allowed to visit the student(s) or classroom. To ensure safety and protect instructional time, visitors are not permitted to talk with the classroom teacher or their child during the visit. Additionally, young children or siblings are not permitted to visit with the parent. Parents may schedule a time to talk with the classroom teacher following their visit. PERSONAL DATA/EMERGENCY INFORMATION FORMS New personal data/emergency information forms will be sent home with each child at the beginning of each school year. This form provides the emergency information that is essential for students. PLEASE COMPLETE ALL THE INFORMATION ON THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE FORM FOR EACH CHILD YOU HAVE IN OUR SCHOOL. For your child's health and safety it is CRITICAL that we have CURRENT emergency information, including parent's home phone number, cell phone, work numbers, name and number of TWO other people who will take responsibility for your child if he/she should be injured or become ill at school when we are unable to reach you. Please be sure to ask these people if they are willing to assume this responsibility before you use their names. We also need to know of any changes in your child's health status. In addition, if there are any restrictions regarding custody/visitation this information should also be shared with the school office and your child’s teacher for the safety of your child. Please provide us with a copy of any legal custody paperwork you may have for your child. PROOF of RESIDENCY It is the responsibility of all parents/guardians to provide the school with proof of their current residency. This may be done in the form of a tax bill, rental lease or utility bill. If you are new to the Beaver Run community from the previous year or have moved over the summer you are required to provide the school with the proper documentation indicating your current physical address and current mailing address. The school has the right to request updated documentation at any time. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact the office. HEALTH SERVICES Good health helps to ensure your child's regular attendance and good performance at school. Please inform your child's teacher of any physical condition that might affect his/her performance. Beaver Run has a school-based nursing for all addressing general health care due to injury or illness. As well, we ae partnered with Chesapeake Health through our school based health center. It is a free service for ALL Beaver Run students. A physicians assistant to address illness and general healthcare that a Dr.’s Office would provide. For an appointment please call (410)-677-5101. Do not send your child to school if he/she is running a temperature or feeling ill. If an injury occurs away from school, please have it treated before sending your child to school. Please provide the school nurse with any doctors’ notes pertaining to an injury and your child’s ability to participate in physical activities. We have a school nurse and certified nursing assistant (CNA) at Beaver Run every day. The school health services include vision and hearing screening for all Kindergarten, and second grade children, children new to our county and children referred to the nurse by teachers or parents. If an abnormality in either of these areas is detected, parents are notified. In case of sudden illness or accidents at school, first aid is administered by the school nurse, CNA or other designated persons. Parents are called when the situation requires attention beyond the services provided by the school. If parents cannot be reached and emergency services are required, we will call 911 for assistance.
5 MEDICATION All prescriptions and all non-prescription medications that are given during school hours require a physician’s medication form signed by a doctor. This includes cough drops, cough syrup, aspirin, etc. An adult MUST bring the medication to school in the original container. Children are NOT to transport medications to or from school. Children are also not to keep medication in their possession during the school day. If you have any concern regarding this policy, please contact the school nurse. FREE/REDUCED LUNCH APPLICATIONS Breakfast and lunch are provided at no cost to ANY student enrolled at Beaver Run. No application is needed to receive free or reduced meals. BREAKFAST AT SCHOOL Maryland Meals For Achievement Program Breakfast is served in the classrooms from 8:45 AM to 9:15 AM each morning to ALL students at no cost to parents through the state program, Maryland Meals For Achievement. Breakfast is NOT served when there is a 90-minute delayed opening. LUNCH AT SCHOOL A nutritional lunch is prepared and served in our cafeteria to ensure that your child will have a daily balanced meal. Students in Pre-K through 2nd Grade are encouraged to participate in the lunch program as a part of our emphasis on proper nutrition. Milk is served with each platter or can be purchased separately. Ice cream may also be purchased. Lunch is provided at no cost to ANY student enrolled in Beaver Run. No application is needed to receive free or reduced meals. CAFETERIA 1. Table manners must be used at all times. 2. Students who do not follow 3 B’s expectations may receive disciplinary measures. 3. Students must move throughout the cafeteria in an orderly fashion and cannot get up without permission. 4. Each class is responsible for the cleanliness of their area. 5. Bottled or canned carbonated drinks are not permitted. No glass is permitted. 6. Students are responsible for knowing their lunch account number each day HOMEWORK A good homework assignment taps into a student's creative potential and should vary in duration based on grade level. For homework to be meaningful, it must align with the learner’s attention span and developmental stage. • Kindergarten: Up to 10 minutes • First and Second Grade: Up to 15 minutes per evening When your child does have homework, you can help by: • Providing a quiet workspace with necessary supplies • Establishing a consistent routine and set time each night • Reviewing for neatness and completeness • Offering support when needed—but avoid doing the work for them
6 TUESDAY FOLDERS Each student will bring home their weekly assignment, notes written by their teachers, and other important information to keep each parent/guardian informed. We ask that each parent/guardian keep all graded papers but return any signed forms or needed notes. REPORT CARDS/PROGRESS REPORTS Progress Reports are sent home four times per year in the middle of the Marking Term. Report cards are sent home with each child four times per year. The final report card will be mailed home after the last student day in June. A request for a conference may be indicated on the report card by the teacher. You may request a parent/teacher conference at any time during the school year. You are asked to sign the report card envelope and return it to school. Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Checklists use the following letter designations: PR – Proficient IP – In Process ND – Needs Development NY – Not Yet WR – Written Report First and Second Grades Grade O, S, NI A, B, C, D, or E First Grade Special Areas Reading, Mathematics, Language, Science, Social Studies Second Grade Special Areas Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES Teachers are encouraged to request parent conferences as the need arises. They may do this with the report card request or they may contact you by your child’s agenda, a note, or a phone call. Parents should also request conferences with teachers. The best procedure for these requests is to send a note to your child's teacher(s) for an appointment. The teacher(s) will respond to your note with an appointment time. Questions and concerns should be discussed with the teacher(s) involved. If you feel further discussion is necessary, a conference with the principal or assistant principal may be requested. This should be done, however, after you have first talked with the teacher(s). SAFETY HINTS FOR SCHOOL BUS RIDERS Students should: 1. Arrive at the bus stop 5 minutes before the bus is due to arrive. 2. Wait in a line away from traffic until the bus comes to a complete stop. 3. Cross the road to get to or from the bus, be sure you can see your driver's face. If you can't see your driver's face, your driver can't see you. 4. Wait until all traffic has stopped in both directions before crossing the road. 5. Speak quietly and behave in an orderly manner on the bus so your driver can pay attention to driving the bus safely. 6. Keep head, hands and arms inside the bus. 7. Stay in your seat until the bus has come to a complete stop. 8. Pick up dropped objects when getting on the bus, tell the bus driver. Wait until the bus driver says that it is safe to pick it up. Remember, books and papers can be replaced----you cannot. 9. Before getting off the bus, be sure all belongings are in your book bag so you don't drop anything. 10. Always go straight home when you get off the bus.
7 Prepared by the MARYLAND STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION COUNTY SCHOOL BUS DISCIPLINE POLICY Students who fail to abide by the bus rules will be disciplined. Bus drivers have the right to suspend a student from riding the bus for a period of one day. The principal and assistant principal may suspend students for additional days. Parents will be notified of suspensions before they go into effect. The School Bus Discipline Policy is as follows: 1st Offense Referral to the principal's office. Discipline at the discretion of principal/designee 2nd Offense Referral to the principal's office. Discipline at the discretion of principal/designee 3rd Offense Referral to the Transportation Office. Conference with the Supervisor of Transportation, parent and student (and driver if deemed necessary). The student will be removed from the bus until a satisfactory conference is held. At this conference a decision will be made as to how long the student will remain off the bus. 4th Offense Automatic 30 school days off the bus. 5th Offense Automatic removal from the bus for the remainder of the school year. CELL PHONES WCBOE policy prohibits cell phones in schools at the elementary level. Although we know that students may have phones at school for safety reasons, they must be kept off and in bookbags. If they are visible or are heard during the day, they will be confiscated by the teacher and stored in the office until a parent can retrieve them FAMILY PORTAL Parents are encouraged to utilize the Family Portal online system to monitor students’ grades and attendance. Information including login and password procedures will be provided to parents of students in these grades at the start of the school year. Again, this year, all midterms and report cards will be available on Family Portal. FIRE/SAFETY DRILLS Fire Drills will be conducted on a regular basis throughout the school year. If you are in the school when a fire bell rings or an announcement regarding a code, please follow the instructions given to you by school personnel. Drills of this nature are practiced with the children and staff in order to ensure their safety and well being. BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS We enjoy the opportunity to celebrate with our children. Please note that if you choose to bring in treats, the treats cannot be home-baked goods as they must be store-bought and individually packaged with a nutrition label affixed. In addition, all treats will be distributed at lunch only and must be brought in prior to the scheduled lunch time. No treats will be distributed in the classroom to preserve instructional time. LOST and FOUND Lost items are displayed in the cafeteria daily, except for jewelry, watches, eyeglasses, and other items that are too small to hang. These small items are kept in the school office. At the end of each marking period, clothing that is not claimed will be donated to a charity.
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