NORTH SALISBURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Student Handbook Principal: Mrs. Kimberly Pinhey Assistant Principal: Mr. Jesse Taylor Dean of Students: Ms. Heather Smith Home of the Marvelous Mustangs North Salisbury School is proud to be recognized as a designated school for Excellence in Gifted and Talented Education 1213 Emerson Ave. Salisbury, MD 21801 Website: http://nss.mywcps.org 410-677-5807 Facebook: North Salisbury School
Page | 2 NORTH SALISBURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOREWORD The staff of North Salisbury 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: We are committed to providing a safe and engaging learning environment. Families, educators, students, and community members will work together to ensure our school’s success. BELIEF STATEMENTS: • All students can learn and will be challenged to reach their full potential, becoming confident self-directed, life-long learners. • Education is multicultural. • Students learn in different ways and should be provided with a variety of effective instructional approaches including the integration of emerging technologies to support learning. • Positive relationships and mutual respect should be the norm between students, parents, educators and the community. • A safe and physically comfortable environment promotes student learning. • Students, parents, educators, and the community share the responsibility for advancing the paired school mission.
Page | 3 North Salisbury Elementary School A Brief History North Salisbury School was unique right from the start! When it opened its doors in 1939, it was heralded as the first all-concrete building to be erected on the Eastern Shore. Federal money was used by the depression-fighting Public Works Administration (P.W.A). The January 1939 Opening featured students and staff walking from the two replaced schools, Chestnut Street School, and Bell Street School. These 250 North Salisbury students were in the capable hands of a flagship staff of 7 teachers, one of whom was a teaching principal. The school was renovated in 2006 and after construction was completed, the school was reoriented so that the front now faces Emerson Avenue, and the most technologically advanced school in the county was established. The Rededication Ceremony held on April 19th, 2006, marked a new page in the proud history of North Salisbury. On April 18, 2006, history repeated itself as students and staff walked to their newly renovated school from Isabella Street to the new school entrance at 1213 Emerson Avenue. In February 2013, North Salisbury School became the first school on the entire Eastern Shore of Maryland to earn the prestigious Excellence in Gifted and Talented Education award or (EGATE). North Salisbury School is committed to excellence in education for all students. In May 2015, North Salisbury School became the first school in Wicomico County and one of only 64 schools in the United States to be named a National School of Character for 2015. In 2022, North Salisbury was again honored as a school of Excellence in Gifted and Talented Education (EGATE) for the state of Maryland. North Salisbury is proud to serve students in grades 3 – 5 where high achievement is expected for all. North Salisbury School Vision Statement We will work together to grow academically as respectful, lifelong learners in a positive school community. Academic Excellence • North Salisbury is dedicated to meeting the needs of each student with diverse instruction strategies: o High levels of achievement are accomplished through measurable academic progress aligned with the Maryland College and Career Readiness Standards (MDCCRS). o Focus is placed on character development which incorporates; caring, citizenship, respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, and fairness. o The concept of teamwork through academic and extra-curricular activities is developed
Page | 4 Staff • North Salisbury School is committed to hiring and retaining effective and dedicated staff members who: o Encourage colleagues and students in an atmosphere of support and respect o Are enthusiastic towards teaching and learning o Are invested in student improvement using best practices Students • North Salisbury challenges students to be successful through behavior, character, and academic achievement: o Exhibit respectful behavior toward other students and adults o Encourage each other in an atmosphere of support o Accept responsibility for their learning and their actions School Climate o North Salisbury provides opportunities for students to develop and practice the characteristics of our HOUSE SYSTEM: AT North Salisbury WE ARE Respectful, Responsible, Caring, Trustworthy, Fair and Good Citizens. o We keep our building and classrooms conducive for learning o We stimulate thinking with engaging and informative student work Leadership • Effective administrators and staff are the driving force behind any successful endeavor. These leaders have established a clear vision and take steps to ensure that the vision becomes a reality: o We provide a child centered environment which promotes creativity and encourages life-long learning for a changing world. o We establish priorities that provide a guideline for the direction of our school. o We encourage the staff to participate in the decision-making process. o We establish positive relationships between community members, parents, staff, and students. COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS: Organization One of our major goals is to help your child develop good organizational skills. For that reason, we try to be clear, specific, and consistent with our expectations. Students will be told when folders or student purchased organizers or agendas should be cleaned out, so please do not remove papers without first checking with the teacher. Many papers in the folders can be “works in progress.” Therefore, it is very important that they not be removed. In general, folders may be emptied as designated below but not without prior authorization from your child’s teacher. Math – after completion of the unit Science/Social Studies – after completion of the unit Language/ELA - after completion of the unit
Page | 5 Notebook Paper – should be filled nightly with extra notebook paper TAKE HOME POCKET – emptied nightly and reviewed Weekly Folders These plastic blue folders will be sent home every week and may contain newsletters, completed student work, and general information regarding school events and important dates to remember. We ask that you sign these folders each week and send them back to school with your child the next school day.
Page | 6 Cell Phone Usage is Prohibited in Elementary Schools Page 5 of 13……………. C. Personal Electronic Devices – Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) 1. Students are not permitted to bring personal laptops or tablets to school. 2. Staff are permitted to bring personal devices to school with restrictions. 3. Use of student mobile phones is permitted in designated schools according to the following stipulations: a. Mobile phone use in classrooms should be strictly for instructional purposes which shall be at the discretion of the teacher in each class. b. Mobile phones should always be in silent mode. c. Mobile phones must be turned off in building areas of privacy – locker rooms, restrooms, and nurse’s office. d. Mobile phone use in other areas of the facility is permitted at the discretion of the administration in that building provided the use is not disruptive to the school environment. e. Mobile phone video and photography should not be used in inappropriate situations such as video recording confrontations or fights. f. Mobile phone audio recording shall follow Maryland law – recording another individual requires permission from the individual prior to recording. 4. Student mobile phones are not to be used in elementary schools. Subject to elementary school administration approval, a parent may request their child to carry a mobile phone for safety or legitimate medical reasons. *North Salisbury School recommends students leave mobile phones at home so they are not an instructional distraction and are not lost or stolen. If the student is authorized by a parent and principal to bring a mobile phone to school for after school purposes, the cellular device must be off and stored in the student book bag in a secured location to avoid theft. If found on the student’s person, the teacher will give one warning and the second time will confiscate the phone and turn it into the office to be picked up by the parent. We do not use cellular devices at the elementary school for instructional purposes. It is best to leave these expensive devices at home where they are safe and secure. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen personal property including cellular devices. Thank you, in advance, for your partnership in this matter. Thursday Folder
Page | 7 ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL TIMES 7:45 -- School opens for Magnet students 8:15 -- School opens for Traditional students 8:15 -- Instruction begins for Magnet students 8:45 -- Instruction begins for Traditional students 2:15 – Magnet students’ dismissal 3:15 – Traditional students’ dismissal Magnet students should not arrive at school before 7:45 and Traditional School students should not arrive before 8:15 a.m. Students may enter the building when the bell rings. Our staff report at 7:45 and 8:15 and will not be able to provide supervision for your child until the scheduled arrival times. Students being delivered to or picked up from school should use the school driveway in the front of the school building on Emerson Ave. 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 of traffic in the car riders’ lane. Students are not to be picked up or dropped off on Union Ave., as that parking lot is reserved for the school buses only. If students must leave early or go home differently from the way they 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. Phone calls are no longer accepted to make transportation changes. A change note and call must arrive by 12:00 noon of the day of the change. Walkers must cross the street on Union Avenue utilizing the crossing guard. Students are expected to refuse any gifts or rides from strangers. All such incidents should be reported to the office immediately. Students may not travel from school with anyone other than their planned, authorized transportation provider. Car Tags must be visible on the rearview mirror at all times. LATE ARRIVAL Students who arrive late for school must bring a note to the office and 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, please come to the office and your child’s teacher will be called. You will be asked to wait in the office while we call them for you. 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. BIRTHDAYS Children love to celebrate their birthdays with classmates. Feel free to bring in pencils, stickers, or items of a similar nature to honor your child’s birthday. If you desire to bring in edible birthday treats for your child’s class, they will be distributed at your child’s lunch time in the cafeteria. Individual items, i.e. cupcakes or cookies, SCHOOL POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND GENERAL INFORMATION
Page | 8 are preferred due to the limited time available during lunch. **ALL food must be store-bought and include nutrition and ingredient labels on the package. Homemade food may not be distributed at school. Please understand that this school policy is a safety measure for our children due to the number of children with various food allergies. BREAKFAST Breakfast is offered free of charge to all students as a “grab and go” option. Students will have the choice as to whether they eat the food that is provided. BUS NOTES Students who come to school by bus should return home the same way, unless they have notes verifying, they are to go 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 to not call the office with the phone requests to change a student’s dismissal procedure. If you require a change in transportation for your child, you must send a note to the office and call by 12:00 noon notifying us and your child’s teacher. *To ensure your child’s safety, phone calls alone without the accompanying email/written note will not be accepted as a means to change transportation for your child. 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 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. 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
Page | 9 may suspend students for additional days. Parents will be notified of suspensions before they go into effect. Discipline procedures are as follows: 1st offense: Referral to principal’s office. Discipline at the discretion of the principal or designee. 2nd offense: Referral to principal’s office. Discipline at the discretion of the principal or designee. 3rd Offense: Referral to the Transportation office. Conference with supervisor of transportation, parent, student, and driver if deemed necessary. 4th offense: Automatic 30 school days off the bus. 5th offense: Automatic removal for the remainder of the year. EMERGENCY INFORMATION Personal Data/Emergency Information sheets will be sent home with the back-toschool letter that is mailed to each student in August. It is imperative that all sheets be returned and fully completed. Emergency situations can arise rather frequently in a school of this size. 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. 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 a family trip cannot be considered a legal reason to be absent from school, under the following circumstances, no punitive actions will be taken: Parents should complete and submit the “Non-Emergency Absence” form well in advance of the trip, designating the length of the absence. These forms can be found in the main office or on the website. 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 the number of days that the student is absent. Principals are authorized to approve up to 3 days as excused for approved family trips per school year. The trip should have an apparent and defined educational value for the student. 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 terms of the amount of time
Page | 10 required. To be meaningful, the assignment must be consistent with the attention span of the learner. 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. HOMEWORK FOR ABSENCES For absences of one day, we ask you to let your children request the assignment from their teacher upon their return. Please remember that for most of the day teachers are involved with the direct instruction of students and cannot stop to prepare work. We ask that requests for homework are made before lunch so that teachers have time to get it together for you to pick up at the school office between 2:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Also, if you wish to have another student bring the work home for your child, it will be necessary for you to make those arrangements with that child and his/her family. MEDICINE FOR STUDENTS North Salisbury has a full-time nurse on duty. All prescriptions and non-prescription medication must be brought to the school by an adult and will only be dispensed by the school nurse. A doctor’s order for the medication must accompany all medication, including over-the-counter medications, for the nurse to dispense it. Students may not carry medications on their person or in belongings in school without proper authorization from the school nurse and prescribing physician. A note from the student’s parent is not sufficient for the nurse to dispense either prescription or over-the-counter medication. RECESS/PLAYGROUND EXPECTATIONS Weather permitting; students enjoy a time to release the energy of youth on our school playground each day. Teachers monitor this structured 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. Individual Home & School Group PROJECTS In class groups and pairs will be assigned or agreed upon by the teacher. Remember: We are teams and must work together with everyone. Rubrics will be given for the scoring of projects.
Page | 11 Body contact games (wrestling, karate, tackle football, etc.) are prohibited. Climbing on the backstop, swing support, and sliding support is prohibited. Playing with or throwing sticks, stones, or dirt is prohibited. Equipment Safety: Swings - The following behaviors are encouraged on the swings: The swings are to be used in a seated position only. Students are to swing forwards and backwards. Students are to stand clear of the swings that are in use. Only one person uses a swing at a time. Refrain from pushing students on the swings. 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. SCHOOL CLOSINGS/CANCELLATIONS Occasionally school must open late, close early or be cancelled. Announcements concerning any changes in the regular school schedules will be made from our school messaging system called Thrillshare, the Wicomico County Public Schools’ website (www.wicomicoschools.org), the WCBOE Facebook page (www.facebook.com/wcboe/) and the following radio and television stations. WBOC 102.5 FM WICO 1320 WDIH 90.3 FM WICO 94 FM WSBY 98 FM (Y99) WKHI 95.9 FM WOCQ 104 FM WQHQ 104.7 FM WOLC 102.5 FM WLVW 105.5 FM WMYJ 106.5 FM WMDT-TV CH47 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 so we ask that students be brought at the assigned times. All delays will be 90 minutes from the regularly scheduled times. Magnet Traditional 9:15 9:45 THRILLSHARE AUTOMATED CALLING You may receive messages and alerts from our school messaging system called Thrillshare.
Page | 12 STUDENT LUNCHES All student lunches will be free again this school year. This is a nutritional lunch which is prepared and served in our cafeteria to ensure that your child will have a daily balanced meal. Milk is served with each platter or can be purchased separately. Ice cream may also be purchased. A lunch menu is sent home by email and posted to Facebook and website each month. LUNCH MONEY All students are eligible to receive free lunch this year. A la carte items are an option you may use My Payments Plus service, found at www.mypaymentsplus.com to add money and monitor your student’s lunch account. LUNCH NUMBERS Every student will receive an identification number to be used when purchasing lunch or breakfast. 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. LUNCH PROCEDURES CAFETERIA EXPECTATIONS Good table manners are to always be displayed. 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/or glass containers are not permitted. TRANSPORTATION CHANGES & VISITORS TO SCHOOL When entering schools in Wicomico County, guests must first stop and check in at the school office. When requesting a visit to a child’s classroom, notification and permission is required to ensure the class can accommodate a visitor at that time as some activities such as testing do not allow visitors. All visitors must enter through the school office to gain entrance into the school building. All visitors must have a driver’s license or state issued identification. Doors and/or gates 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 education and safety of children are our first concerns. Admitted visitors will receive a pass after signing in at the office. We ask that you wear your Visitor Pass in a visible location throughout the duration of your visit to the school.
Page | 13 In order to keep potential interruptions to instruction at a minimum, we will not allow small children in the classroom setting. If it is necessary to see a student throughout the course of the instructional day and younger siblings are with you, we will gladly call the student to meet you in the office. Finally, we ask that you turn off all cell phones and refrain from using them during your visit. #6Houses1School
Page | 14 Family Portal We will provide parents an opportunity to monitor their child’s grades through the Family Portal capacity of our student information management system. They will need to include an active phone number on the student information form to access the system as we encourage them to view the gradebook. Progress Reports and Report Cards will now be posted on Family Portal. For security reasons, passwords are reset at the end of each school year. Log in instructions for Family Portal are as follows: Login ID: student’s full last name (all lower case, special characters and spaces removed, not to exceed 14 characters) + first initial of student first name + the last 4 digits of the student’s Social Security Number. Password: Student’s 5-digit lunch number (available from your student or call the school). This is temporary; the parent will choose a new password the first time they log on. Example: Your student is John A. Smith-Jones with the social security number xxx-xx-1234. John’s lunch number is 98765. The login id will be smithjonesj1234 and the temporary password is 98765. Dress Code See the Dress Code in the Wicomico County Code of Conduct section. Student Code of Conduct **The Student Code of Conduct has been revised by WCPS. Please visit the WCPS website to review. SFS_GEN_PL_028_Code_of_Conduct_Policy.pdf (core-docs.s3.amazonaws.com) Laptop Loaner Agreement Laptop Loaner Agreement As a staff member, student, or guardian, I agree to the following statements related to a laptop or iPad device loaned to the student or staff for educational or WCPS business use. The term of this agreement is the date the laptop or iPad is issued by the school or WCPS office. 1. I understand the laptops(s) and iPads assigned to staff and students are the property of Wicomico County Public Schools (WCPS) and the WCPS retains all rights to the hardware and software. 2. I understand I am completely responsible for the laptop or iPad while assigned to me as the staff or student.
Page | 15 3. I agree to follow all WCPS Acceptable Use regulations and policies governing the use of the laptop or iPad as well as all applicable State and Federal laws including copyright and intellectual property law pertaining to software and information. 4. I agree not to remove or alter any Wicomico County Public Schools identification labels attached to or displayed on the laptop or iPad, or to change identification within the device(s). 5. I agree to keep the laptop or iPad free of any writing, drawing, nail polish, and personal stickers. 6. I agree to keep the laptop or iPad and district information safe and secure. (i.e., Don’t leave the device(s) in open view in your locked car, in areas of extreme temperature or humidity.) 7. I agree to report theft, loss, or damage to the laptop or iPad to the school office immediately and to the police in the case of theft, and I understand that the district will disable the device from further use. 8. I agree to return the loaned equipment at the end of the loan period set by the school, or when my family moves out of the district. 9. I agree all repair work will be completed by the district. Costs associated from abuse or misuse of the equipment will be my responsibility. Repair and replacement costs are as follows. All staff and all students are subject to these fees: Description of Part Cost to Repair or Replace Dell laptop – full replacement (depending on size) 12” or 14” $500 - $800 Dell motherboard (main logic board) $277 Dell laptop screen (LCD) $158 Dell laptop plastic top/bottom cover lid $33 Dell keyboard & palm rest $77 Dell keyboard $67 Dell LCD Hinges $77 Dell or Apple charger / AC adapter cord $77 Apple iPad screen $100 Apple iPad – full replacement $400 Apple iPad Pro – full replacement $800 Apple MacBook – full replacement $900 Abuse cleanup (nail polish, paint, Sharpie marker, stickers) $50 Protective Case - Lost/Damaged $30 10. I agree the only technical support the district will provide will be setup instructions required for the device. 11. Parent/Guardian - I have discussed the agreement with my child(ren) and will support the school in guiding my child(ren) in using the laptop or iPad at home as an educational tool. I understand I am responsible for monitoring and guiding my child(ren)’s activity while on the laptop or iPad at home. Approval Status Index Code Title: Acceptable Use of Technology Procedure ADM-TEC-PR-002 First Adopted: 08/28/19 Legal Review: 08/13/24 Approved Revisions: 08/13/24 08/02/23 08/28/19 Effective: 08/14/24 Wicomico County Board of Education P.O. BOX 1538 2424 NORTHGATE DRIVE., SUITE 3, SALISBURY, MD 21802-1538
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