Woodhaven Upper Elementary
Student/Parent Handbook
Woodhaven-Brownstown School District
Welcome to Woodhaven Upper Elementary. Woodhaven Upper Elementary
offers you a wonderful opportunity to grow and develop in a student-centered
environment, where we focus on the needs of each individual student.
School Day: 8:30AM - 3:15PM
Main Office Hours: 7:30AM – 4:15PM
Counseling Office Hours: 7:45AM – 4:00PM
Main Office/Counseling/Attendance ~ 734-362-6100
Mr. Roger Gurganus, Principal
Dr. Diana Baldensperger , Assistant Principal
Mrs. Maria Klaas, Counselor (last name A-K)
Mrs. Elizabeth Kanagawa, Counselor (last name L-Z)
Ms. Lauren Kraatz, Adm. Assist. To the Principal
Mrs. Ronni Crossman, Adm. Assist. To the Assistant Principal
Mrs. Melanie Shockley, Counseling/Attendance Secretary
Board of Education ~ 734-783-3300
Mr. Mark Greathead, Superintendent
This handbook is designed to be a brief description of policies and procedures
that are in place in order to make our school environment: safe, secure and
meaningful. Please review this handbook as well as the Woodhaven
Brownstown School District Code of Conduct. Regular communication
updates will be made to parents and students in the following ways:
newsletters, weekly emails, parent connect, and student connect.
Please follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/woodhavenupperelementary
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword………………………………………………………………………………………………………............. 3
Mission of the School District...…………………………………………………………………………….. 3
Equal Education Opportunity Statement……………………………………………………………….. 3
Parent Involvement……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
Individuals with Disabilities………………………………………………………………………………..…
Limited English Proficiency……………………………………………………………………................... 4
Student Records…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4
Relations with Parents…………………………………………………………………………………..………. 6
Section I – Student Well-Being………………………………………………………. 6
Control of Casual-Contact Communicable Diseases and Pests……………………………. 6
Control of Non-Casual-Contact Communicable Diseases and Pests……………………. 7
Emergency Medical Authorization………………………………………………………………………… 7
Immunizations…………………………………………………………………………………………..………………7
Specific Health Care Needs and Use of Medication at School………………………………. 7
Asthma, Inhalers, & Epi-pens……………………………………………………………………………………8
District Policy on Sexual Assault and Harassment.…………………………………………………8
Section II – General Information…………………………………………………….. 9
Articles Prohibited at School…………………………………………………………………………………… 9
Cell Phones and Electronic Communication Devices…………………………………………… 9
Early Dismissal………………………………………………………………………………………………………….10
Emergency Closings and Delays…………………………………………………………………………… 10
Emergency Preparedness Drills……………………………………………………………………………….10
Meal Service……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..10
Lost & Found……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 10
Review of Instructional Materials and Activities…………………………………………………… 10
Student Sales……………………………………………………………………………………………………………10
Use of School Equipment…………………………………………………………………………………………10
Use of Telephones…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10
Video Surveillance…………………………………………………………………………………………………… 11
Visitors………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………11
Volunteers…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………11
Care of Property……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 11
Section III – Academics…………………………………………………………………12
Computer Technology and Networks………………………………………………………………………12
Field Trips………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 12
Report Cards……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 12
Promotion, Placement, and Retention…………………………………………………………………… 12
Scheduling and Class Assignments………………………………………………………………………… 13
Student Assessment…………………………………………………………………………………………………13
Section IV – Student Conduct………………………………………………………… 13
Attendance……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 13
Dress Code……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 14
Student Rights of Expression………………………………………………………………………………… 15
Code of Conduct…………………..………………………………………………………………………………… 16
Section V – Transportation…………………………………………………………… 18
Bus Information……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 18
FOREWORD
This student handbook is designed to answer many of the commonly
asked questions that students and families have during the school year
and to provide information about certain board policies and procedures.
Become familiar with the following important information and keep the
handbook available for frequent reference.
If you have any questions
that are not addressed in this handbook, you are encouraged to talk to
your child’s teacher or the building principal.
This
handbook
summarizes
many
of
the
official
policies
and
administrative guidelines of the Board of Education and the District. To
the extent that the handbook is ambiguous or conflicts with these
policies and guidelines, the policies and guidelines shall control.
This handbook reflects the current status of the Board’s policies and the
school’s rules. The district’s policies may be accessed, online, through
the district’s website at https://www.mywbsd.org/
MISSION OF THE DISTRICT
Learning and Leading for Tomorrow
Engage, Enlighten, Empower
EQUAL EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY
It is the policy of this District to provide an equal education opportunity
for all students.
Any person who believes that they have been discriminated against on
the basis of their race, color, disability, religion, gender, or national
origin, while at school or a school activity should immediately contact
the School District's Compliance Officer listed below:
Mark Greathead, Superintendent of School
(734) 783-3300
Complaints will be investigated in accordance with the procedures as
described in Board Policy 2260.
Any student making a complaint or
participating in a school investigation will be protected from any threat
or
retaliation.
The
Compliance
Officer
can
provide
additional
information concerning equal access to educational opportunity.
PARENT INVOLVEMENT
The Board of Education believes that durable and significant learning by
a student is more likely to occur when there is an effective partnership
between the school and the student’s parents/guardians ("parents").
Such a partnership means a mutual belief in and commitment to
significant educational goals for a student, a plan for the means to
accomplish those goals, cooperation on developing and implementing
solutions
to
problems that may be encountered, and continuing
communication regarding the progress in accomplishing the goal(s).
INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES
The Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act provide that no individual will be discriminated
against on the basis of a disability. This protection applies not just to the
student, but to all individuals who have access to the District’s programs
and facilities.
LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY
Limited proficiency in the English language should not be a barrier to
equal participation in the instructional or extra-curricular programs of
the District. It is, therefore, the policy of this District that those students
identified
as
having
limited
English
proficiency will be provided
additional support and instruction to assist them in gaining English
proficiency
and
in
accessing
the
educational and extra-curricular
program offered by the District. Parents should contact the director of
Special
Education
at
(734)783-3322
to
inquire
about
evaluation
procedures and programs offered by the District.
STUDENT RECORDS
The School District maintains many student records including both
directory information and confidential information.
Directory information includes, but is not limited to: the student's name;
the name of the student's parent or other family members; the address
of the student or student's family; a personal identifier, such as the
student's social security number, student number, or biometric record;
other indirect identifiers, such as the student's date of birth, place of
birth, and mother's maiden name; other information that, alone or in
combination, is linked or linkable to a specific student that would allow a
reasonable person in the school community, who does not have
personal knowledge of the relevant circumstances, to identify the
student with reasonable certainty; or information requested by a person
who the District reasonably believes knows the identity of the student to
whom the education record relates.
Directory information may be provided upon request to any individual,
other than a for profit organization, even without the written consent of
a parent. Parents may refuse to allow the district to disclose any or all of
such “directory information” upon written notification to the district. For
further information about the items included within the category of
directory information and instructions on how to prohibit its release you
may wish to consult the district’s annual Family Education Rights and
Privacy Act (FERPA) notice.
Access to all student records is protected by (FERPA) and Michigan law.
Except in certain circumstances as defined in State and Federal law, the
District may not release confidential education records to any outside
individual or organization without the prior written consent of the
parents, or the adult student, or a graduate of the district. The district is
not allowed to release a student’s social security number. Examples of
other confidential records include test scores, psychological reports,
behavioral data, disciplinary records, and communications with family
and outside service providers.
Parents and eligible students have the right to review, amend, and
receive copies of all educational records.
Costs for copies of records
may be charged to the parent. A written request to amend a record must
be made to the building principal.
To review student records please
provide a written request to the building principal. You will be given an
appointment with the appropriate person to answer any questions and
to review the requested student records.
Consistent with the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) and
Board Policy, parents have the right to inspect, upon request, a survey or
evaluation created by an outside party before the survey/evaluation is
administered or distributed by the school to the student. The parent will
have access to the survey/evaluation within a reasonable period of time
after the request is received by the building principal.
The Family Policy Compliance Office in the U.S. Department of Education
administers both FERPA and PPRA.
Parents and/or eligible students
who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:
Family Policy Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW 20202-4605, Washington, D.C.
www.ed.gov/offices/OM/fpco
Informal inquiries may be sent to the Family Policy Compliance Office via
the following email addresses:
FERPA@ED.Gov; and PPRA@ED.Gov.
Relations with Parents
The Board needs parents to assume and exercise responsibility for their
children’s behavior. During the school hours, the district’s administrators
recognize the responsibility to monitor students’ behavior and the
importance of cooperation between the school and the parents in
matters relating to conduct.
For the benefit of the child, the Board encourages parents to support
their child’s career in school by:
A.
Participating in school functions, organizations, and
committees;
B.
supporting the teachers and the schools in maintaining
discipline and a safe and orderly learning environment;
C.
requiring their child to observe all school rules and regulations
per the student code of conduct.
SECTION I – STUDENT WELL-BEING
School safety is the responsibility of all members of the learning
community. All staff members are familiar with emergency procedures.
Should a student be aware of any dangerous situation or accident, they
must notify any staff person immediately.
CONTROL OF CASUAL-CONTACT COMMUNICABLE DISEASES AND
PESTS
Because a school has a lot of people in the building daily, it is necessary
to take specific measures when the health or safety of the group is at
risk. The school's professional staff has the authority to remove or
isolate a student who has been ill or has been exposed to a
communicable disease or highly-transient pest, such as lice.
Contagious diseases that may require a student to remain at home
include, but are not limited to, diphtheria, scarlet fever, strep infections,
whooping
cough,
mumps,
measles, rubella, and other conditions
indicated by the Local and State Health Departments. Any removal will
only
be
for
the
contagious
period
as
specified in the school’s
administrative guidelines or by the local health authorities.
CONTROL OF NON-CASUAL-CONTACT COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
In the case of non-casual-contact, communicable diseases, the school
still has the obligation to protect the safety of the staff and students. In
these cases, the person in question will have their status reviewed by
resource people, including the County Health Department, to ensure that
the rights of the person affected and those in contact with that person
are respected. The school will seek to keep students and staff persons in
school unless there is definitive evidence to warrant exclusion.
Non-Casual-contact communicable diseases include sexually
transmitted diseases, AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome),
ARC-AIDS Related Complex (condition), HIV (Humanimmunodeficiency),
HAV, HBV, HCV (Hepatitis A, B, C); and other diseases that may be
specified by the State Board of Health.
As required by Federal law, parents will be requested to have their child's
blood checked for HIV, HBV, and other blood-borne pathogens when the
child has bled at school and students or staff members have been
exposed to the blood.
Any testing is subject to laws protecting
confidentiality.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL AUTHORIZATION
State law requires that all students must have an emergency medical
card completed, signed by a parent or guardian, and filed in the School
office. A student may be excluded from school until this requirement has
been fulfilled.
IMMUNIZATIONS
Students must be current with all immunizations required by law or have
an authorized waiver from State immunization requirements. If a student
does not have the necessary shots or waivers, the principal may remove
the student or require compliance with a set deadline.
This is for the
safety of all students and in accordance with State law. Any questions
about immunizations or waivers should be directed to the school’s
secretary or building principal.
SPECIFIC HEALTH CARE NEEDS AND USE OF MEDICATIONS AT
SCHOOL
In those circumstances where a student must take prescribed medication
during the school day, the following guidelines are to be observed: The
Medical Prescriber/Parent Authorization Form must be filed with the
respective building principal before the student will be allowed to
begin taking any medication during school hours.
The form is
available in the school office and the district’s website.
●
All prescription and non-prescription medications must be
brought to the school office directly by the parent in the
ORIGINAL container that is appropriately secured.
A two to
four
(2-4)
week
supply
of
medication
is
recommended.
Medication MAY NOT be sent to school in a student’s lunch
box, backpack, pocket, or by the student in another manner.
●
Any unused medication unclaimed by the parent will be
destroyed by school personnel when a prescription is no longer
to be administered or at the end of a school year.
●
The parents shall have sole responsibility to instruct their child
as to the time the medication is to be taken, and the child has
the responsibility for both presenting themselves on time in the
office, to receive the prescribed medication.
●
The building principal maintains a log for each prescribed
medication, including
the adult who gave the medication, the
date, and the time of day.
This log will be maintained along
with the physician's written instructions and the parent's written
permission to release.
Asthma Inhalers and Epi-pens
Students, with appropriate written permission from the physician and
parent, may possess and use a metered dose inhaler or dry powder
inhaler to alleviate asthmatic symptoms.
Epinephrine (Epi-pen) is
administered
only
in
accordance
with
written
medication
administration plan developed by the school principal and updated
annually.
Non Prescribed (Over-the-Counter) Medications
No
staff member will be permitted to dispense nonprescription,
over-the-counter (OTC) medication to any student without a physician’s
authorization on file in the school office.
District Policies Related to Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault
Board Policy 8000.07 – Woodhaven Brownstown School District
prohibits harassment, including sex based harassment from employees,
students, and visitors to WBSD property or events.
Administrative Regulation 8000.07.3 – Defines “sexual harassment” as
unwelcome sexual conduct, quid pro quo in regards to unwelcome sexual
conduct, and sexual assault, including dating violence, domestic violence,
and stalking.
Additionally provides the duty of all District employees to respond to
allegations of sexual harassment any time an employee has notice of, or
receives a report of suspected sexual harassment. All employees have a
duty to report such claims to the Title IX Coordinator.
For the complete list of Board Policies, please visit the district’s Board of
Education webpage at:
https://www.mywbsd.org/page/board-of-education.
For more information on how to make a formal Title IX complaint, please
visit the district’s Title IX webpage at:
https://www.mywbsd.org/page/title-ix.
SECTION II – GENERAL INFORMATION
ARTICLES PROHIBITED AT SCHOOL
Without permission, students should not bring electronic or personal
items to school.
They are often lost, misplaced, or unintentionally
damaged.The school is not responsible for their safekeeping and is not
liable for their loss or damage.
CELL PHONES AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE
A student may possess a cell phone, electronic communication device.
During school hours the cell phone, other ECD/ESD or other electronic
device including a camera must remain off and in the students locker,
unless expressly permitted by a teacher or building administrator.
The student who possesses a cellular phone or ECD/ESD shall assume
responsibility for its care. At no time shall the school be responsible for
preventing theft, loss, or damage to cell phones or ECD/ESD brought
onto its property.
Except in an emergency, students will not be called to the office to
receive a telephone call. Please handle all pick up or other arrangements
with your child before they arrive at school. Please do NOT call your
child on their cellular phone during the school day. Students’ cellular
phones are to be off and out of sight; emergencies should be called into
the building office.
EARLY DISMISSAL
No student will be allowed to leave school prior to dismissal time without
consent of a parent, guardian, or emergency contact. Students will only
be released upon verification of a photo ID. If a student must leave the
building because of illness or any other emergency, a parent or designee
(the designee must be listed on the student’s emergency card) must sign
out the student in the Main Office. Failure to follow the proper procedure
will be considered skipping. In an effort to maintain an effective
functioning school, students may not be released from school within
thirty (30) minutes of the end of the day, except for emergency
purposes.
EMERGENCY CLOSINGS AND DELAYS
If the school must be closed or the opening delayed because of inclement
weather or other conditions, the School will notify media outlets,
automated telephone messages, and social media platforms. Parents and
students are responsible for knowing about emergency closings and
delays.
Please be sure any change in telephone number is immediately
registered in the building office.
Additionally, you can keep current by
texting “WBSD” to 888777.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DRILLS
Emergency Preparedness drills at regular intervals are required by law
and are an important safety precaution. The teacher in each classroom
will train the students for each emergency.
MEAL SERVICE
Applications for the school's Free and Reduced-Priced Meal program are
available in the office and on the district’s website. Please contact the
building secretary if you believe your family is eligible.
LOST AND FOUND
Students who have lost items should check the lost and found and may
retrieve their items if they give a proper description. Unclaimed items will
be given to charity periodically throughout the school year. Please mark
your child’s belongings with their first and last names.
REVIEW OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES
Any parent who wishes to review materials or observe instruction must
contact the principal.
Parents’ rights to review teaching materials and
instructional activities are subject to reasonable restrictions and limits.
STUDENT SALES
No student is permitted to sell any item in school unless it is related to a
school function and approval is granted by the building administrator.
USE OF SCHOOL EQUIPMENT
Students must receive the permission of the teacher before using any
equipment or materials in the classroom.
Students will be held
responsible for the proper use and protection of any equipment they are
permitted to use.
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