Page | 1 Student Handbook 2026-2027 Home of the Glen Gators GLEN AVENUE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOREWORD *Additional WCPS policies and procedures are available at http://glen.wicomicoschools.org //
Page | 2 The staff of Glen Avenue Elementary School is pleased to have you as a member of our school family, and we hope your time with us is a pleasant and rewarding experience. This handbook provides information that we think will answer questions you may have about school policies and procedures. We encourage you to read it and file it for future reference. Mission Statement Glen Avenue School creates a caring school community that provides students with the necessary skills and knowledge to be thoughtful, responsible, and highly productive citizens, as well as lifelong learners. Our Motto: Excellence for Everyone Belief Statements • We believe all students have worth, dignity, and leadership capacity. • All students deserve a safe, caring, and structured environment that nurtures creativity, critical thinking, and social skills. • Students excel in a positive, student-centered climate where problem solving and risktaking are part of the learning process. • Lifelong learning habits are instilled through accountability and a shared responsibility for the ongoing pursuit of knowledge. • High academic and behavioral expectations foster confidence in students. • Community and family partnerships are vital to supporting the efforts of committed, dedicated, and well-educated staff. • The most effective learning environment is created when staff are provided with relevant professional development, and instruction is driven by evidence-based best practices. Values • We value the diversity of our students’ cultural backgrounds. • We trust, celebrate, and collaborate with colleagues to support curriculum integration and shared expectations across the school. • We honor and encourage creativity and innovation in teaching and learning. • We use a variety of methods to provide meaningful and positive communication with members of our school community.
Page | 3 1615 Glen Avenue Extended Salisbury, MD 21804 School’s Main Phone: 410-677-5806 School email: glen@mywcps.org Principal: Mr. Chris McLaughlin (jmclaugh@mywcps.org) Assistant Principal: Mrs. Twynette Binns (tbinns@mywcps.org ) Dean of Students: Ms. Brandi Bolt (bbolt@mywcps.org)
Page | 4 Arrival and Dismissal Times 8:30 -- School opens 8:30 – Student drop-off/Walkers enter 9:00 --Instruction begins (WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND STUDENTS ARRIVE BY 8:45) 3:35 – Student dismissal begins Office hours: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Students may not arrive at school before 8:30. Students may enter the building when the bell rings at 8:30. Our staff reports at 8:30 and will not be able to provide supervision for your child until the scheduled arrival time. Students being delivered to or picked up from school should use the school driveway in the front west side of the school building near the breezeway to the gym. If you prefer to park your car during arrival and dismissal times, we ask that you walk your child to and from the school sidewalk due to the high-level traffic in the car riders and bus lanes. Students are not to be picked up or dropped off at the main entrance, that area is reserved for the school buses only. If students must leave early or go home differently from the way(s) he arrived, a note must be sent to the school. IF A CHILD DOES NOT HAVE A NOTE, THE CHILD WILL BE SENT HOME HIS/HER NORMAL WAY. We appreciate your support in ensuring your child’s safe transport to and from school. Walkers must cross the street on Beaglin Park Drive utilizing our school Crossing Guard who will be on duty during arrival and dismissal times. When entering school property scholars must walk up the dirt lane located on the west side of the school premises. Walkers must arrive between 8:30-8:45 am. They will be dismissed daily at 3:30. As a group, students will be escorted off property. Students are expected to refuse any gifts or rides offered by strangers. All such incidents should be reported to the office immediately. Late Arrival Students who arrive at school after 9:00 a.m. must be signed in by an adult. They must obtain a late slip before going to the classroom. The late slip must be presented to the classroom teacher before being admitted to the class. Early Pick Up If you are picking up your child before 3:35 p.m., please come to the office and your child’s teacher will be called. You will be asked to please wait in the office while we call them for you.
Page | 5 Car Rider Tags All students being picked up from school will be assigned a car rider tag. The tag will contain the student’s assigned number and must be visible in the car at the time of pickup. If the tag is not present, you will not be able to pick up the child from the car rider line. For the child’s safety, you will be directed to the main office in order to ensure that you are listed as a point of contact. If multiple people are responsible for picking up your child, please let the front office know and we would be happy to give you additional car rider tags. Changes in Transportation If you require a change in transportation for your child, please notify the school office in writing by note or email. We ask that a notification be made prior to 2:00 PM for inhouse arrangements to be made. ***To ensure your child’s safety, phone calls will not be accepted to change transportation for your child. Participating in Afterschool Activities Afterschool activities will be available for your child to participate in throughout the school year. All students must be picked up at the designated end-time. If a child is not picked up on time, a warning will be given. The second time this occurs we may unfortunately need to dismiss the child from the afterschool activity. We ask that you please be cognizant of this in order for all students have the opportunity to participate in activities offered. Visitors to School When visiting our school, you should buzz in the main office using the communication device on the outside of the door. You will be asked to provide your name as well as the child that you will be visiting/picking up. Once buzzed in, please report directly to the office located on the right. All visitors will need a driver’s license or state issued ID available to present to our office front office staff each time you visit. Each visitor will receive a yellow Visitor’s Pass that is to be visibly worn during the duration of your visit. Prior to leaving the school building, all visitors should report back to the school office and provide our front office staff with their Visitor’s Pass. *Only authorized visitors will be admitted to the building. For the safety of all students and staff, doors around the building will not be opened to allow anyone entrance, you will be directed to the front of the building to enter. This is most important for the protection and safety of all students. This reminder is posted on each entrance door of our school. Remember that the
Page | 6 education and safety of children are our first concerns. In order to keep potential interruptions to instruction at a minimum, visitors under the age of 18 are not permitted in classroom settings during the instructional day. If you need to see a student and have a child under 18 with you, we will gladly call the student to meet you in the office. Cell phone use in the school is prohibited in order to maintain an effective learning environment. Your cooperation is appreciated. Attendance Coming to school every day is very important. Our goal is to have 100% participation of students attending school every day. We are asking you to help us reach this goal by scheduling trips, appointments, etc. at times when school is not in session. This will allow your son/daughter to come to school every day unless they are ill. If your child is absent due to illness a written parent note that contains the date and reason for absence is required to excuse the absence. Only 5 days of school illness may be excused by parent note each school year. The note must be turned into the front office. NOTES MAY BE EMAILED TO OUR ATTENDANCE OFFICER AT GLEN@MYWCPS.ORG. Absence for Family Trips Please try to schedule trips during times when school is not in session. These absences interfere with the students’ learning process and hurt the school in our attempt to achieve our required attendance percentage for the school and state. The county guideline for elementary students is as follows: While it is necessary that a trip cannot be considered a legal reason to be absent from school. ONLY 3 DAYS OF FAMILY VACATION MAY BE EXCUSED EACH SCHOOL YEAR FOLLOWING THE PROCESS BELOW: Parents must submit a request for absences to be excused for family trips to the principal two weeks in advance of the trip designating the length of the absence. All arrangements for homework, tests, quizzes, etc. should be worked out with the individual teacher a week in advance. Students are expected to complete all make-up work within a reasonable length of time, which will be determined by the teacher.
Page | 7 The trip should have an apparent and defined educational value for the student. Student Dress Code It is expected that all students will follow Wicomico Counties Board of Education School Dress Code Policy. The purpose of the policy is to create and support a positive school climate for learning to occur. If the dress code is not adhered to, parent contact will be made by either administration or the school nurse. Heading coverings may not be worn in the building (hats, hoods, bandanas, durags, bonnets, etc.) Shirts must cover the entire back, midriff, and shoulders. All undergarments must be covered at all times. Skirts, dresses, and jumpers may not be any shorter than 3 inches above the knee while standing. Shorts must be no shorter than 5 inches above the top of the knee even when worn with leggings or tights. Jackets may not be worn. Flip-flops, slippers, and slides are not to be worn at school. Please visit the WCBOE website for an indepth look at the county’s dress code policy. Birthday Celebrations We enjoy recognizing and celebrating our students’ birthdays while also protecting instructional time and maintaining a safe school environment. Any food items brought to school for a birthday celebration must be store-bought, unopened, and have a complete ingredient label on the original packaging. Homemade food items cannot be accepted. Birthday treats will be served at the end of the student’s regularly scheduled lunch period. Birthday parties will not be held in classrooms, as this can interrupt valuable instructional time. Please check with your child’s teacher before sending in any food items so that allergies and other dietary needs can be considered. Families are encouraged to consider non-food alternatives to celebrate a birthday. Examples may include
Page | 8 donating a book to the classroom pencils, bookmarks, stickers, or another small item students can use or enjoy. Please do not send balloons, large decorations, or other items that may interfere with the school day. Our goal is to make each student feel special while keeping learning at the center of our school day. Thank you for helping us celebrate in a safe and appropriate way. Medicine Glen Avenue has a full-time nurse and nursing assistant on duty. All prescription and non-prescription medicine must be brought to the school by an adult and dispensed by the school nurse. A doctor’s order must accompany any kind of medication. A note from the child’s parents is not sufficient to dispense prescription or over-the-counter medication. Homework A good homework assignment is one that makes use of the creative potential of the student. It should vary from one grade level to the next in the amount of time required to complete the assignment. To be meaningful, the assignment must be consistent with the attention span of the learner. Please check with your child’s classroom teacher about their routine assigning homework. Homework is an extension of work introduced by the classroom teacher. When your child does have a homework assignment, you can assist by doing the following: Provide a quiet workspace with all necessary supplies. Set a time and routine for doing homework each night. Check to see if assignments are completed in a neat and conscientious manner. Help when necessary but do not take over the assignment. Make-Up Work Upon returning to school the following day after an absence, teachers will try to get the assignments upon request. Please remember that for most of the day teachers are involved with the direct instruction of scholars and cannot stop to prepare work. We ask that you make your request for homework before lunch so that teachers have time to get it together for you to pick
Page | 9 up at the school office between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Also, if you wish to have another scholar bring the work home for your child, it will be necessary for you to make those arrangements with that child and his/her family. *By policy, scholars will only be provided make-up work for EXCUSED absences. Work assigned and graded during unexcused absences will receive a “0”. School Messenger- Automated Calling Our School Messenger System is used to keep you informed about upcoming school events and keep you updated on school news. A weekly phone message will be sent each Sunday evening at 6:30p.m. Please be sure the school has your current phone number and email address in order to ensure that you are a recipient of the message. Communication Throughout the school year we will utilize a variety of tools to remain in communication with our families about school-wide activities and events as well as to keep you up to breath with your child’s academic performance. We encourage you to join Talking Points in order to keep in direct communication with your child’s classroom teacher. This application will allow you to keep abreast of your child’s behavior and their class assignments. Please follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/wcboeglen In order to keep up with your child’s academic performance, please log into Family Portal. This website will allow you to view your child’s performance on all assignments and current academic standing. The login information is as follows: School Delays There may be delays throughout the school year due to weather conditions such as fog, snow, ice, & etc. Please understand that there is no adult supervision available prior to the delayed openings. Please make plans NOW for delayed openings as students cannot wait outside when school is opening late.
Page | 10 90 min. Delay - 10:30 School Opens - No Breakfast Eary Dismissals Periodically school will be dismissed early due to scheduled teacher professional development. On these days, schools dismiss at 12:35 PM. Make arrangements for your student to be picked up from school or met at the bus stop at the appropriate time. Lunch will be served on these days. School Openings/Cancellations Occasionally, school may open late, close early, or be cancelled due to weather or other circumstances. Any changes to the regular school schedule will be communicated to families through the following: • Posted on Talking Points • Posted on the school’s Facebook page • A phone call will be sent to all families Please make sure your contact information is current so you receive important school updates. Emergency Information Personal Data/Emergency Information sheets will be sent home by each child on the first day of school. It is imperative that all sheets be returned and fully completed. Emergency situations can and do occur. For your child’s health and safety, it is CRUCIAL that we have CURRENT emergency contact information. ***Please remember that it is imperative that a new form be completed with each family/household change. Breakfast Breakfast is served in the classroom daily from 8:30-8:50. All students will receive a free, nutritious meal to eat. Students will be given the option as to whether they want to eat the food that is provided. Walkers and car riders must arrive by 8:50 am. Lunch A nutritional lunch is prepared and served in our cafeteria to ensure that your child will have a daily balanced meal. Lunch is FREE for all students. Lunch Numbers
Page | 11 Every student will receive an identification number to be used when ordering lunch. Please make sure that these numbers are practiced and memorized by children. This will really help with the speed and flow of students moving through the lines. Cafeteria Expectations Good table manners are to be displayed at all times. Conversations will be conducted quietly. Students are to sit in assigned areas and move through the serving line in an orderly manner. Students are responsible for the cleanliness of their areas and should place all trash in the receptacles provided. Students should raise their hands and ask permission to get up from their seat. Sodas and glass containers are not permitted. Scholars are not to have fast food deliveries. If parents wish to bring fast food and eat with their child, we invite you to do so at the “Parent/Visitor Table.” Free and Reduced Lunch Applications are not required though they are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED so that the school continues to receive Title 1 funding, which is based on our poverty rate. SCHOOL SAFETY We promise to prioritize the safety of your child(ren). We have detailed crisis plans and strategies in place to handle emergencies. We maintain a locked facility AT ALL TIMES. Please be patient as we need to assist you as you enter. You will need a driver’s license to obtain a visitor’s pass. All visitors’ names are run through an automated system to ensure only safe individuals gain access to the building. **If at any time you identify an area in which we may improve to ensure your child is safe, please tell the administration immediately. This is a team effort! Inappropriate items will be confiscated until the end of the day or retained by the principal until a parent/guardian can reclaim the item.
Page | 12 IN ADDITION TO ITEMS LISTED IN THE CODE OF CONDUCT (I.E. WEAPONS OF ALL TYPES, ETC), THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN SCHOOL Cell Phones, smartwatches iPads, personal laptops Electronic Games Lighters, vapes… Utility Tools Skateboards Baseball Bats Toy weapons (Water Pistols, Nerf Guns, Cap Guns, knives, guns, swords, etc.) Toys/games (without prior permission) Trading cards, including Pokémon cards *The school will not be responsible for these items and will not investigate if they are lost or stolen. Bus Notes Students who come to school by bus should return home the same way, unless they have notes verifying, they are going home in a different way. These notes should be shown to the bus drivers and given to the children's teachers. Teachers will send these notes to the office in the morning. We do not accept verbal messages from students regarding changes in their dismissal. Parents are asked not to call the office with the phone requests to change a student’s dismissal procedure. Written notification is required. An Email to Glen@mywcps.org is allowed. Bus Rules/ Bus Safety Riding a school bus is a privilege. With this privilege comes responsibility for good conduct, proper care of the bus and respect for the rights of others. Parents can best assist teachers and bus drivers by being familiar with the bus rules: Your driver has absolute control of the bus and of the conduct of those on it. You are expected to obey your driver. If you must cross the street when boarding or leaving the bus, WALK IN FRONT OF THE BUS. Look both ways before crossing the road. Enter and leave by the front door. The rear door is for emergency use only. Do not touch it except in the case of an emergency. Promptly take the seat assigned to you. Sit facing forward. Keep your hands, arms, legs, and head away
Page | 13 from the window. Keep feet, legs, and books out of the aisle. Do not eat on the bus. Help your driver keep the bus clean. Cooperate during a bus emergency drill. Ordinary conversation is permissible. Cellphones and electronic devices are prohibited from the bus. Follow our SNAP (Safe Noble Able & Prepared) and Roll Expectations and you will have safe passage to and from school. 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. Administration may suspend student for additional days. Parents will be notified of bus suspensions before they go into effect by an administrator or the driver. If a child arrives at school on the bus, they will be allowed to ride the bus home.
Page | 14 School Bus Discipline procedures are as follows: 1st offense: Referral to principal’s office. Discipline at the discretion of the principal/designee. You will be notified by the driver or a school administrator. 2nd offense: Referral to principal’s office. Discipline at the discretion of the principal/designee. You will be notified by the school’s administration of the consequence. 3rd offense: Referral to the Board Transportation Office. A conference with supervisor of transportation, parent, scholar, and driver is required. The scholar may not return to the bus until the conference has been held. Parent/Guardians will be notified by the school’s administration of the consequence. 4th offense: Automatic 30 school days off the bus. 5th offense: Automatic removal for the remainder of the year. Playground Equipment Weather permitting; students enjoy a time to release the energy of youth on our school playground each day. Teachers monitor this free play time and enforce the playground rules which are reviewed with the students during the first month of school and periodically throughout the year. Behavior expectations: Good sportsmanship must be displayed in all game activities. Body contact games (wrestling, karate, football, tag, etc.) are prohibited. Climbing on the backstop, swing support, and sliding support is prohibited. Playing with or throwing sticks, stones, or dirt is prohibited. There should be no playing in water puddles or wet areas.
Page | 15 Equipment Safety Swings - The following behaviors are prohibited: Pushing people in swings Swinging on the tummy or standing. Swinging sideways or twisting around. Standing too close to the swings when they are in use. More than one person on the swing. Sliding Board – Practice the following behaviors: Only one person may slide at a time. Sliding in a sitting position is expected. Use the steps for climbing up the sliding board.
Page | 16 Support Staff Available to Assist You and Your Child: Mr. Chris McLaughlin, Principal Ms. Twynette Binns, Assistant Principal Ms. Brandi Bolt , Dean of Students Ms. Holly Ogle, Office Associate Ms. Holly Jones, Registration Assoc. Ms. Kristy Capobianco, School Counselor Ms. Dodoo, Community Programs Ms. Melissa Johanning, Pupil Personnel Ms. Beth Beckelman, Student Advisor Ms. Farren Hilliard, Cafeteria Manager Ms. Carrie Shockley, School Nurse Ms. Kristin Aydelotte, Nursing Assistant Ms. Marcia Yamashiro, Home School Liaison Worker Please call for assistance at 410-677-5806 or email glen@mywcps.org.
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