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EWING ELEMENTARY MISSION STATEMENT

It is the mission of Ewing Elementary School to instill in students the skills

necessary to become responsible citizens and life-long learners.

In addition to the policies and procedures listed in this handbook,

Ewing Elementary will abide by the Statement of Rights and Responsibilities

found within the Discipline Code established by the

Fleming County Board of Education.

Schools Colors – Blue & White

School Mascot - Pirate

WELCOME LETTER FROM PRINCIPAL

MESSAGE TO PARENTS

Dear Parents:

We are pleased to have your child as a student at Ewing Elementary School. We hope this year will be a great experience for you and your child as we work together for your child’s success. We encourage you to take an active role in your child's education by visiting the school, volunteering, or just listening to and helping your child with their school work. We encourage you to attend meetings, site-based council meetings, and any other activities planned for parents.

We are working to improve the appearance and condition of our facilities. We encourage you to visit the school and see what has been done. We ask that you stress to your children the importance of taking care and respecting Ewing Elementary School.

We are proud of our students and staff and we hope you will share in this pride. Our staff has been working extremely hard to make Ewing Elementary School very special for your child. We are looking forward to the new school year and know that through the efforts of staff, parents and students we will make your child's education a rewarding experience.

Sincerely,

Greg S. Emmons

Principal

EWING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

2008-2009 FACULTY & STAFF

Administration

Greg Emmons, Principal

Denise Earlywine, Secretary

Kindergarten Counselor

Jill Bradley, Teacher Melissa James

Becky Crump, Assistant

School Nurse

1^st Grade Jan Brown, R.N.

Kathleen Grimes, Teacher Tina Price, Assistant

1^st/2^nd Grade Reading First

Madonna McElfresh

Susan Ramey, Coach

2^nd Grade

Kim Wallingford, Teacher Gifted/Talented

Deborah Ishmael, Teacher

3^rd Grade

Lori Throckmorton, Teacher

Lisa Dehart, Teacher Family Resource Center

4^th Grade Wilma Lee

Luanne Applegate, Teacher, Reading/Writing

5^th & 6^th Grades

Michelle Koehler, 5^th HR/5^th & 6^th Science

Teresa Duncan 5^th HR/5^th & 6^th Social Studies Assistants

Rhonda Schwartz, 6^th HR/5^th & 6^th Math Jan Anderson

Angela Hughes

Monica Marshall

Jodi Ramey

Special Education

Jeff Perkins, Resource Teacher

Eric Zempter, Resource Teacher Maintenance

Jeff Jolly, Head Custodian

Keith Bolar , Special Ed. Assistant Gordon Pepper

Physical Education Food Service

Matt Barker Janice Flora, Manager

Wilma Sloas

Music/Chorus Susan Gray

Tim Markey Martha Clark

Media Specialist/Librarian/Reading Interventionist

Wendy Hargett

Speech/Language Therapist

Megan Orme

Occupational Therapist

Jennifer Hickerson

During normal operation, the school day begins at 7:45 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m.

Parents are welcomed and encouraged to visit Ewing Elementary. However, for the safety and security of our students, visitors are required to present themselves to the office upon arrival at our school. In the office, visitors must sign in and will receive a visitor’s badge. Upon departure, visitors are asked to return to the office to sign out.

Report cards are issued every nine weeks to show student progress. Grades indicate skill in a subject. The following letter grade system is used:

Reports will contain narrative information as well. Parents are also able to make comments to return to the teacher. Report Cards will be sent using an electronic grading system. Mid-term reports will be sent to parents halfway through each grading period. Parents should monitor student progress by examining work brought home and conducting frequent discussions with their child.

Parents are welcome to visit the school at any time. However, if they need to speak with a teacher about their child’s progress, then an appointment for a conference will need to be scheduled. This may be done by calling the school secretary, e-mailing the teacher directly, or in writing with a note or indicating so on the report card. Unless absolutely necessary, teachers will not be interrupted during instructional time to meet with parents.

Teachers may also request conferences with parents if they feel one is necessary.

Annual parent/teacher conferences will be held at regularly scheduled times during the school year.

Outstanding academic work is recognized through an honor roll system. Students are selected for honor roll each grading period. To be placed on the honor roll, students in grades 3-6 must receive A’s and B’s for the grading period.

Various awards are presented throughout the school year to recognize student achievement.

Safety drills will be practiced during the school year as indicated in our safety plan. Students will be instructed in safety procedures to follow in each drill practice. The following drills are practiced throughout the school year:

Students may be given the opportunity to attend educational field trips with their class during the school year. These trips are arranged by the teachers and will relate with content being covered in their classes. Teachers will send a note home with information about the trip and asking permission for students to attend. In some cases, there may be a small fee that students will be responsible to pay. In order for students to attend a field trip, permission slips must be signed by the student’s parent/guardian. At all times students will be under the teacher’s jurisdiction and are subject to all school rules and regulations. Parents may attend field trips and have the opportunity to ride on the bus providing the parent has completed a criminal background check for this school year and if there is capacity on the bus. Parents will be asked to rotate riding the bus with other parents if room is limited to allow all parents the opportunity to attend.

Students in grades 3 through 6 will be given an agenda book to use during the school year that contains information about assigned work and school news. Parents should review content nightly with their child. If questions arise, the parent should contact their child’s teacher.

A monthly newsletter will be published to inform parents of school/classroom news, SBDM and PTO information, school highlights, and Family Resource Center news.

Textbooks are the property of the Fleming County Board of Education, students are responsible for any lost or damaged textbooks.

Regular and punctual attendance is essential for optimum growth and development of students.

All students at Ewing Elementary School are expected to dress in a respectable manner. Any students wearing clothing that is lewd or offensive, which contains items related to drugs, profanity, or crime will not be permitted. Hair must be neat and clean. Extreme styles, colors or manner wearing the hair will not be permitted as defined by the Fleming County School District Code Manual.

Male students may not wear muscle shirts or cut off shirts. Female students may not wear midriff tops. The principal will make final decisions concerning a student’s clothing to determine whether the clothing is appropriate or not.

Cell phones are not permitted during the school day. Cell phone in which are used by students will be confiscated and the parent will be required to pick up at the principal’s office as defined by the Fleming County School District Code Manual.

All prescription medications taken by students will be kept in the office and dispensed by the principal, or office secretary. The medication must be brought to school by the parent/guardian. Under no circumstances will medication be brought in by a student on the school bus. The principal may give permission to a teacher to dispense medicine from the office. A student’s medicine must be kept at the office at all times.

The name of the student, medication, dosage of medication and person assigned to dispense medicine will be on file at the office. The staff member who dispenses student medications will document the time and dosage given in the office.

*Prescription drugs will be given only to the child whose name appears on the label.

*Prescription drugs will be given only in the amount that has been prescribed by the doctor.

*Over-the-counter medicines will be given only according to the directions on the label in which were sent by parent/guardian from home.

*School personnel are not permitted to give any medication without parent consent.

Students bringing any type of deadly weapon to school are committing a felony under state and federal law. The school board has the right to expel students found guilty of this policy.

Ewing Elementary School will again lock all doors for the protection of all students. All doors are equipped with panic bars so any person may exit the building from any door. Only the front doors by the office will be unlocked during the school day. The overall safety of all students is our major concern.

Any personal property, such as CD’s, tapes, baseball cards etc., should be left at home. The school will not be responsible for any lost or stolen personal property. Names should be written on all coats and book bags for easy identification.

If there are questions about school being closed, please tune in to a local radio or TV station to see if there is an announcement of a school closing or delay for Fleming County Schools. Please do not drop your child off at school when the parking lot is empty and there is an indication of inclement weather. As soon as a decision concerning school closings is made, radio and television stations will be notified and an announcement made. (See the school calendar for a detailed list of stations).

Parents/community members are encouraged to become a volunteer to help students learn and succeed by giving their time and sharing their talents. Training will be provided to all volunteers. KRS 61.044 states that all volunteers who have contact with students on a scheduled basis:

The PTO will sponsor several fundraisers throughout the school year. School-wide participation is encouraged. The money raised helps pay for items necessary for the operation of the school, supplemental education opportunities, and additional school programs. All fundraiser requests must have board approval.

Ewing Elementary is working to incorporate character traits into the curriculum. These traits are posted throughout the building and are incorporated into daily lessons. We believe that by encouraging student to embrace these characteristics they will develop into productive individuals. The traits emphasized include:

All Fleming County Schools have Site Based Decision Making (SBDM) councils. Each school’s council conducts regular monthly meetings – dates and times to be determined by the council. Meeting dates are publicized and are open to the public. Anyone interested in attending should contact the school for agenda and locations of meetings. The SBDM council members for Ewing Elementary are:

3. *Paddling (Only with signed parental permission. The principal is only person able to administer the punishment. All due process guidelines are followed. If parent permission is not given for paddling, other punishments will be given.)

4. In-school suspension-Students are place in isolation with supervision. The students will have to complete their schoolwork during this time.

5. Out of school suspension-Students are not permitted to be on the school grounds or attend school functions during this suspension period. Students will not be given credit for homework or quizzes. Students do have opportunity to makeup tests or major projects and will be given the appropriate amount of credit as defined in the Fleming Co District Handbook.

6. Expulsion-Only the Board of education may expel a student. Students will be provided educational services during the expulsion, unless an infraction involved a weapon.

Breakfast and lunch menus are given to students monthly. The school participates in the Federal Free Lunch Program and applications are sent home with all students. Parents are asked to complete the form and return it to school. If a student qualifies for free or reduced lunch the parent/guardian will be notified. This information if kept confidential and cannot be detected by other students.

Each student is assigned a personal lunch card. This resembles a debit card, and acts in much the same way. It is used for the accounting of breakfasts and lunches eaten. Money sent by parents to be used for meals is credited to the child’s account. With each trip through the lunch line, the card is ‘swiped’ and the amount deducted. As money runs out, students and parents are notified so that the account can be replenished.

Goal: To provide a pleasant atmosphere in which students can eat and talk with friends while monitors maintain order and noise at a manageable level, and discipline in a positive manner.

4. “Timeout” is reserved for students involved in physical infractions (fighting, shoving, etc.) food throwing, or screaming. If a child does throw food, he/she will be responsible for cleaning up the area. If these incidents occur, the child will eat at the “Time-Out Table” until the monitor releases him/her.

5. An assigned seat may have to be designated if the child is receiving excessive “timeouts” and has already conferenced with the principal.

During normal operation, the instructional school day begins at 7:45 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. Students who arrive at school prior to 7:25 a.m. should go directly to the cafeteria until dismissed to their classrooms. Students should not arrive earlier than 7:00 a.m. Students who arrive at school late must check-in at the office.

ALL Parents dropping off or picking up students should do so in front of the building following the correct flow of traffic entering school grounds.

Students who are picked up on a daily basis are not to leave school earlier than 3:30 p.m. or the student will be considered tardy or absent.

In the event that a parent/guardian must pick up a child before the school day ends, the parent/guardian must report to the office to sign the child out of school. If the school secretary or person signing out the child does not recognize the parent/guardian, then the parent/guardian may be asked to present a driver’s license or some other form of picture identification that includes a social security number, or provide a code word that has been submitted by the parent/guardian and is on file.

We are unable to recognize every parent upon sight, so please do not be offended if we ask for identification because this is for your child’s protection. Children will only be released to the parent/guardian registered on the school records and/or the persons that have been listed as having permission to pick the child. Social security numbers, date of birth, or a code word is to be provided on those forms for others who are allowed to pick your child up. If a person is not listed on the form, they will not be allowed to pick your child up.

In the event that a court designates a parent/guardian to be directly responsible for a child, it is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to supply the appropriate documents to the school.

Bus changes must be made in a written note from parent or guardian. Bus changes may be made by phone prior to 2:30 pm for that day. Only in emergency situations will bus changes be accepted after 2:30 pm for that day.

Students at Ewing Elementary shall comply with the Discipline and Attendance policies, rules, and regulations set by Kentucky Department of Education, Fleming County Board of Education and the following rules set by the school:

Make-up work will be allowed for all excused absences/tardies. Within three days, specified in Ewing Elementary Homework Policy, students/parents will request and complete missed assignments.

If parents would like to request missed work be sent home with a sibling or neighbor, or pick the work up themselves, they may do so by contacting the school, by 11:00 am that day so that the materials may be collected.

Homework assigned by Ewing Elementary School may take a variety of forms and cover a variety of subject areas depending on classes in which students are enrolled.

While the homework may take a variety of forms, the amount of time needed for students to complete daily assignments will be fairly consistent. (Keep in mind that teachers may not choose to give homework everyday.) “Average” time required for students in the various levels to complete homework in all subject areas will be as follows:

Daily work that has not been finished within class time is not considered homework and would require time in addition to homework.

If your child tends to finish homework more quickly or slowly than these times suggest, please monitor them to ensure that assignments are completed successfully and you may wish to conference with the teacher concerning any persisting difficulties your child is having with the assignments.

Teachers may provide opportunities for rewards and special privileges for those students who consistently turn in homework. These will vary from classroom to classroom.

All students will be encouraged to complete all missed assignments. The student will receive an “I”incomplete, until assignments are finished. Assignments not completed by the end of the grading period, will receive a zero.

Students who are absent are responsible for homework assigned prior to and during the absence and will be given up to 3 days to complete missed homework assignments.

ART – Classroom teachers or an art instructor will incorporate arts and humanities in their instructional program throughout the year.

BAND-Certified staff will instruct students in grades 5 and grade 6 on playing musical instruments

COMPUTER – Staff supervised lab time for students will be implemented to practice computer skills such as keyboarding, power points, etc., work on projects and portfolio pieces, and/or engage in fun activities that extend classroom learning and basic skills.

CONSERVATION – Fifth and Sixth grade students receive conservation instruction from a representative of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife department monthly.

EXTENDED SCHOOL SERVICES – This is an after school and summer program available to students who will benefit from extra instruction. Teachers refer students for this program who could us a “little extra boost” in academic areas. Snacks and limited bus transportation are provided.

FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER SERVICES – The school receives services from the Family Focus Resource Center staff. The centers help coordinate services within the community to assist families of our students.

4-H – Students in 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th grades may choose to join 4-H, sponsored by the Fleming County Extension Office. Monthly meetings are held at the school for members under the supervision of Extension Office staff and parent volunteers.

GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATIONAL SERVICES – The purpose of Gifted and Talented Education is to provide challenges beyond the regular classroom curriculum to students in grades K-6. Primary students may be selected to participate in the Primary Talent Pool for students who show potential giftedness in various areas. Students in grades 4-6 may be formally identified as gifted in a variety of areas including academic, intellectual, performing/visual arts, leadership, and creativity. Primary students and formally identified 4^th-6^th graders are served in a pull-out program once a week designed to meet their needs through a differentiated curriculum.

GUIDANCE COUNSELING PROGRAM – This program consists of individual counseling, group counseling, career guidance, preventive guidance, family relations, and school public relations. The counselor makes referrals to outside agencies as deemed necessary and is available to administer individual tests to students. The counselor helps students, teachers, and parents with concerns pertaining to children’s emotional, physical, and intellectual development. Ewing’s counselor is on-site on Monday and Thursday of each week.

LIBRARY – The library is an integral part of the instructional program. Students are scheduled in the library to check out books, research, and receive library instruction weekly. Students and parents are responsible for all checked-out materials. The library has book fairs during the year, which students may purchase books of their own.

MUSIC – Students at Ewing Elementary participate in Music classes weekly. During this time they receive instruction in basic music concepts, learn about various musical instruments and categories, and are exposed to famous musicals. Students may audition for the Choir, which consists of students in 4^th, 5^th and 6^th grades.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION – As a vital part of the elementary school curriculum, physical education contributes uniquely to human development in the areas of growth, fitness, motor-skill development, and the social, affective and cognitive components of education. Physical education also plays an important role in the development of self-concept. A very important goal of physical education is to give children the opportunity to think, develop their ideas and communicate their ideas. A specialized teacher teaches Physical Education classes to every student weekly.

SPECIAL NEEDS SERVICES – Our school provides specialized instruction (Special Education) for students who have learning disabilities or emotional/behavioral disorders in a classroom setting. Students receive instruction by inclusion within the regular education classroom. These teachers work in the regular classroom with the teacher and students (collaboration). Parents also may request their child be evaluated for special services. Parents are involved at every point in this process, and all placement and programming decisions are made with the parent’s consent. The goal of this and all Ewing Elementary programs is to help our students reach their fullest educational potential.

SCHOOL NURSE -The Fleming County School District employs a school nurse to provide various services to Fleming County students. The school nurse is scheduled to be at different schools throughout the week. During this time she is available to provide assistance to students who may be sick or injured. She is also available for various screenings and provides educational services as requested. Each school has additional staff members trained in CPR and First Aid for handling medical situations or emergencies in the nurse’s absence.

SPEECH THERAPY – Children may be referred, by parent or teacher, and tested to determine their need for speech/language therapy. Regular screenings of all students at Kindergarten and 3^rd grades are also conducted. Students who qualify receive sessions of therapy with our Speech/Language Pathologist depending upon their need. Services are provided in individual pullout settings as well as collaboratively in the regular classroom.

TITLE I – Our school wide Title I program helps students improve in all academic areas with a major emphasis in reading. It is this programs’ goal to enable all students to meet the state’s student performance standards through effective instructional strategies and models. Title I teacher (and assistants) will help classroom teachers clarify, explain, and reinforce concepts and skills being taught. Approaches used by Title I staff will emphasize critical thinking skills. Along with aiding in the development of portfolios, the Title I staff will also assist with on-going assessments in reading and writing. The Title I program also works closely with parent involvement, local businesses, the school’s family resource center, and other community groups to help Ewing be successful.

We have many activities/clubs available for students to be involved in. While many are open to all students, some are by invitation only. Please check with the school principal or your child’s teacher to find out more about the various clubs/activities. Some of the clubs/activities available are: