Dear Parent,

 

Welcome to Cannon Falls Area Elementary School!

 

This handbook has been prepared to help you become better acquainted with your child’s school, its policies and procedures.

 

At Cannon Falls Area Elementary School, we have two primary goals.  Our first goal is to provide every child with a safe and healthy learning environment.  Our second goal is to provide every child with the best learning environment possible to maximize each child’s potential for success.  We believe that you also share these same two goals for your child and we look forward to working with you in achieving them together.

 

You are encouraged to take part in the full-range of activities that we offer.  From your first conference with your child’s Kindergarten teacher prior to his/her first day of school next September, to attending Open Houses; from sharing information and ideas at parent-student-teacher conferences to selecting books at our PTO book fairs; from watching your child perform at concerts to volunteering in the classroom; and from becoming a member of the school’s PTO, to chaperoning on field trips, we hope that you will become an active member of our learning community.

 

We encourage parents to communicate on a regular basis with our teachers via notes, email or phone calls.  You are also invited to call our office at 263-6800, option 4, to share your thoughts or ask any questions you may have about our school.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Beth Giese

Elementary Principal

 

 

 

 

CANNON FALLS AREA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

 

PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

 

 

 

Education in our school will help each individual acquire knowledge, skills, and positive attitudes toward self, others, and the environment.  Each individual will learn to solve problems, think creatively, and seek lifelong learning.  Every child will be encouraged to develop to his or her maximum potential for leading a productive, responsible, and fulfilling life in a complex and changing multicultural society.  Students, families, staff and community working in partnership, will ensure a positive, safe, stimulating environment at the Cannon Falls Area Elementary School.

 

 

HOURS OF THE SCHOOL DAY

 

School hours are from 8:10 to 2:50 p.m.  The Kindergarten classes will be on either Monday and Wednesday and alternate Fridays (Blue Schedule) or Tuesday and Thursday and alternate Fridays (Red Schedule).  Refer to Kindergarten calendar for Friday schedule.

 

STUDENT HEALTH

 

Healthy, well-rested children come to school ready to learn.  You can help your child come to school each day, ready to participate and learn by following these guidelines:

-          Make sure your child gets enough sleep.  Kindergarteners need 8-10 hours

of sleep every night.

-          Make sure your child eats something for breakfast every day.

-          Make sure your child is dressed for the weather each day.

 

If your child is ill, follow these guidelines when you need to decide if they should stay home:

-          Temperature over 100

-          Diarrhea

-          Vomiting in the night, or in the morning

-          An undiagnosed rash

-          Until they have been on antibiotics for 24 hours for any contagious illness

 

If your child is diagnosed with a contagious illness, please call the school and let the health office know that they have been to the doctor.  If your child comes down with chicken pox, please send a note to the health office upon their return to school.

 

If your child has a medical need or diagnosis, (examples - ADHD, allergy, asthma, physical restrictions, cerebral palsy, seizures, or vision or hearing problem) please contact one of the nurses to discuss this.  We can work out health plans to provide daily or emergency care at school if needed, inform your child’s teachers, and help your child to be safe and healthy at school.  Call 263-6800, x1262, to speak to one of the nurses.

 

 

MEDICATIONS AT SCHOOL

 

If your child will need a physician prescribed daily medication or treatment at school, please fill out a Medication Authorization Sheet from the health office.  Daily prescription medications will need a parent and physician signature to be given at school. 

 

Over the counter medications can be brought in for occasional use, and kept in the health office in case your child needs them.  Examples of these medications include Tylenol and cough medicine. Over the counter medications will need a Medication Authorization Sheet signed by the parent to be given.  We do not provide any medication for students at school.

 

When sending medication to school, please read the following guidelines:

-          Whenever possible, medication should be brought in by a parent.

-          Prescription medication should be in the original pharmacy labeled container.

-          Check the expiration date.  We cannot give expired medication.

-          All medication should be kept in the health office, and must have signed

 

authorization from a parent to be given or applied.  Cough drops may be

kept in the classroom by the classroom teachers.

           

 

JOINT LEGAL CUSTODY OF STUDENTS IN CANNON FALLS SCHOOLS

 

The main issue to be addressed is the school’s responsibility to notify or deal with one local parent with physical and joint custody, and one absent parent with joint custody.

 

1.     When a child is taken out of school by one of the parents.

2.     When a child is subject to disciplinary action by the school (for violation of school rules and regulations, etc.)

3.     When a child is injured while at school or at a school function and such injury requires emergency medical care.

4.     When a child is ill and is unable to attend school.

5.     When the divorced parent remarries, presenting the question whether the new spouse has any of the rights, privileges, or responsibilities of a parent (relative to the said child in the Cannon Falls School system).

6.     When parents of the child are to be notified of school activities, school conferences, school open houses, etc.

 

In an effort to be fair to both the custodial and non-custodial parents, and in an effort to reflect the legal responsibility of the Cannon Falls Schools, I have directed the building principals to implement the following administrative policies:

 

1.     The school will require the normal written notice from either one of the parents when the child is taken out of school.  We interpret the joint custody situation to allow either parent in this situation to remove the child for purposes allowed by the school.  If there exist disputes between the parents, it is incumbent upon the parents to work out the problem and they should not involve the school in the dispute.         

2.     In those cases in which disciplinary action is contemplated by the school, the normal notice will be sent to both parents.  The normal procedures regarding any action to be taken by the school will then follow the notification of both parents.

3.     In emergency situations, the parent with physical custody will be notified first.  If this parent is contacted, the school has no further responsibility to notify the non-custodial parent; rather, that responsibility should fall on the parent so notified.  If the parent with physical custody cannot be notified by the school, then the normal efforts will be made to notify the non-custodial parent.  If the non-custodial parent is thus notified, the school has no further responsibility to notify the custodial parent; rather it is the responsibility of the non-custodial parent to notify the custodial parent of the emergency situation.  If neither parent can be notified, the person listed as the emergency contact will be notified by the school.

4.     If the child is ill at home, the school will accept the proper excuse from the custodial parent.

5.     Since the new spouse of either remarried parent does not have legal authority over the child (unless that child is legally adopted by the new spouse), the school will require the normal notices and excuses from the custodial or non-custodial parent as outlined above.

6.     The school will notify both custodial and non-custodial parent of the activities or conferences relative to the child.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When helping your child form letters, please remember letters start at the top.  Pay attention to the formation of the letters.  Use this as a guide when helping your child with his/her name.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Your kindergartner is ready to discover and explore the big, friendly, busy world of going to school.

 

Don’t be surprised if he/she is restless and overly tired during the first month of school.  He/she is making a big adjustment and you can best help by making adjustments in his/her rest schedule, by talking to him/her about his/her problems (and the teacher, if necessary) and letting him/her feel your confidence and pride in him/her.

 

If you are confused over some school matter, see the principal or the teacher at once.  Either will be happy to discuss the situation with you.

 

Last of all, your child’s attitude toward school mirrors yours.  When he/she knows that you are interested in what he/she does and are working with others for his/her good, he/she realizes that this is a happy, wonderful and important place.

 

 

MILK BREAK/SNACK TIME

 

Each school day all kindergarteners take a break from their classroom activities for milk break/snack time.  There is no charge for this milk in kindergarten; however, in order to minimize any food allergy concerns, our Food Service Department will provide a healthy and nutritious snack for all kindergarteners at a cost of only $15.00 per year (subject to change).  While parents may purchase birthday treats from our Food Service Department or provide store-bought birthday treats, daily snacks from home are no longer permitted.

 

 

SUPPLIES YOU WILL NEED

 

1.      Crayons – 1 Box (24 count)

2.      Crayola Classic Markers (washable) – 2 Boxes

3.      Elmer’s (8 oz.) White Glue

4.      Glue Sticks (6)

5.      Large Backpack

6.      White (1½”) 3-ring Binder with Clear Sleeve on Cover

7.      One package of Clear Page Protectors (25 count) --- Please put page protectors in 3-ring binder.

8.      1 package of 5 oz. Cups

9.      1 Dry Erase Marker (Mrs. Jackson & Mrs. Townsends’ classes)

10.  Red or blue pocket folder (depending on which color group your child is in)

11.  1 Box of Kleenex

12.  1 Colored 8 ½” x 11 Expanding File with Elastic Cord

13.  Make sure your child wears comfortable play clothes.  Also needs tennis shoes for Phy Ed (can be worn to school daily).

14.  Make sure your child is dressed for the weather (including boots, snow pants, winter jacket, mittens and hat in the winter) as they go outside for recess nearly every day.

 

 

¨       Please bring items 1-12 at the time of your September kindergarten conference.