Coddle Creek
Elementary School
“Home of the Coyotes”
484 Presbyterian Road—Mooresville, NC 28115
Phone: (704) 439-4077, (704) 439-1550
Fax: (704) 439-1554
cbfoster@iss.k12.nc.us
Mr. Charles Brian Foster
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE:
Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:
It is my pleasure to welcome you to Coddle Creek Elementary School for the 2011-2012 school year. The faculty and staff join me in welcoming you back to our school family. We will work together as a team to assure that this will be the best school year ever!
The pages of this handbook are filled with important information regarding school and school system policy and procedures. Parents and students should review the contents together. If you have any questions, please call the school office. We feel that open and clear communication between school and home is important to the success of our educational program. Be sure to look for teacher and principal newsletters, webpage updates, in addition to periodic Connect-ED phone calls to help keep you informed.
The Coddle Creek Elementary Student Planner was designed to assist your child in organizing his/her daily, weekly, and long-term assignments. This year’s planner also has a character education focus and theme that our whole school will embrace. This program will help improve your child’s organizational skills and serve as a helpful reference for parents who seek to provide academic support at home. Coddle Creek parents are our partners in the important job of educating the children of this community.
We welcome your participation and support this school year and solicit your membership in the PTO, as well as your assistance in volunteering in classrooms and in various areas around the school. We look forward to a wonderful 2011-2012 school year!
Best wishes!
Charles Brian Foster
Principal
Jake Boula
Assistant Principal
Principal’s Vision: .
Mr. Foster’s vision is to provide educational leadership to the Coddle Creek school community, and to ensure that all students learn while establishing a sound, well rounded, elementary education.
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Please review the Coddle Creek Elementary School Student Handbook with your child. Sign below and return this slip to school or show your teacher your signed handbook.
My child, _____________________________ and I have reviewed and understand the Student Handbook for the 2012-2013 school year.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Student Signature Parent Signature
CODDLE CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENT HANDBOOK
CONTACT INFORMATION/PHONE NUMBERS:
Coddle Creek office: (704) 439-4077, (704) 439-1550 fax: (704) 439-1554
Coddle Creek cafeteria: (704) 439-1555
Coddle Creek Prime Time: (704) 439-1553
Iredell-Statesville Schools office: 704-872-8931
Mt. Mourne IB—704-892-4711
Brawley Middle School: 704-664-4430, 704-664-4741
Lake Norman High School: 704-799-8555
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DAILY SCHEDULE
The school day at Coddle Creek Elementary School begins at 7:30 am. The school doors open at 7am where students will either wait in the gym or the cafeteria. *At 7:15 students can begin going to their classrooms. Students may purchase breakfast beginning at 7:05 am. Classes officially begin at 7:30 when the tardy bell rings. Students who arrive after 7:30 will be counted late and will need to report to the office for an admission slip. The school day ends at approximately 2:15 with bus riders dismissed followed by car riders. Our 180 day schedule provides for 1000 hours of instruction. *2011-2012 SCHOOL CALENDAR IS LOCATED AT END OF HANDBOOK PAGES. There is a possibility that the General Assembly will increase our school year to 185 days. Please stay tuned!
*AM--CAR RIDERS SHOULD BE DROPPED OFF AT THE CAR RIDER SIDE OF THE SCHOOL AROUND THE FLAGPOLE LOOP AND NOT IN THE BUS PARKING LOT. PLEASE DO NOT PARK IN THE STAFF/VISITOR PARKING LOT AND DROP OFF STUDENTS. STUDENTS DROPPED OFF AT CAR RIDERS SHOULD GET OUT OF CARS WITHIN THE LOOP WITH TRAFFIC PROCEEDING AFTER STUDENTS ARE SAFELY ON THE SIDEWALK—STAFF WILL SUPERVISE. **THE FLAGPOLE LOOP AREA WAS CREATED FOR THIS REASON AND SHOULD ALLOW FOR APPROXIMATELY 8 TO 10 CARS TO RELEASE STUDENTS AT ONE TIME. CAR RIDER PARENTS SHOULD THEN FOLLOW THE TRAFFIC PATTERNS TO EXIT THE SCHOOL LOT. **IF THERE IS A SPECIAL REASON TO PARK AND WALK STUDENTS INSIDE—PARENTS SHOULD SEEK PERMISSION FROM THE PRINCIPAL FIRST. **PARENTS WHO WALK STUDENTS FROM THE PARKING LOT TO THE BUILDING SHOULD WAIT FOR TRAFFIC TO STOP IN THE CIRCLE BEFORE CROSSING, AND CROSS ONLY AT THE DESIGNATED CROSS WALK (MARKED ON PAVEMENT). Parents will need to sign-in on the clipboard located in the office hallway. Please encourage your child to walk independently to class. If they need your assistance be sure to sign-in. Thanks!
ATTENDANCE POLICY
According to the Iredell-Statesville School Attendance Policy Code 4400, a student who is absent more than 10 days shall be referred to the principal/designee for possible retention. The attendance policy is designed to reduce the number of school dropouts in our county and was developed with input from parents from every part of Iredell County.
The following are the guidelines for the Iredell-Statesville Schools Attendance Policy:
- Students are limited to no more than 10 excused or unexcused absences during the school year.
- 10 early dismissals and/or tardies equals 1 absence.
- After 10 absences, a student’s promotion to the next grade level is at risk.
- All assignments missed during any absence must be completed within the time period set by the teacher.
- Non-school sponsored trips will be coded as unlawful (unexcused). *Please use the district calendar to schedule out of town trips and vacations.
*Excused lates=are morning tardies only.
*Unexcused lates=early dismissals.
*Medical appointments during the day are coded as “In and Out” with time indicated.
*AFTER 10 TOTAL ABSENCES, THE STUDENT IS REQUIRED TO HAVE A NOTE FROM A PHYSICIAN.
When your child is absent, please call the school to notify the classroom teacher. On the first day back from the absence, your child should bring in a note indicating the reason for absence (after 10 days a physician’s note is required). All absences not accounted for with a note will be coded as unlawful (unexcused). Please send a note to school with your child when they return from the absence (must be sent to teacher to turn in to office within 3 school days). Students who miss more than 10 unexcused days may be required to makeup some of their missed time.
Excused Absences:
Illness or injury, quarantine (example—flu), death of a family member, medical or dental appointments, court or administrative proceedings, religious observances are all considered lawful or excused absences.
Unexcused Absences:
*Missing the bus, oversleeping, going shopping, lack of clean clothes/shoes, weather, car trouble, work at home, out of town trips are all considered unlawful or unexcused absences. *ALL absences without a written notice are considered unexcused. Students can have absences waived as excused if the trip is educational, parents have cleared this with the principal, and the teacher has approved an assignment for the student to complete.
DISMISSAL FROM SCHOOL
The school day officially ends at 2:15 pm. Students who ride the bus are dismissed at 2:15 to load buses in the front parking lot. Car riders will report to the Cafeteria at approximately 2:15 pm—where they will wait to be called out as car riders. Cars should form one line in the Flag pole loop area and pull up to the curb. Children who are car riders will be called from the Cafeteria to be dismissed. This is for the safety of ALL children! Students should wait quietly in the Cafeteria so that they can hear their names called. ALL CAR RIDERS SHOULD BE PICKED UP BY 2:45. Students not picked up by 2:45 will wait for their ride in the front office.
If you must change your child’s PM transportation, please notify the office by 1:15 pm to allow us time to let your child know! You also need to send in a note to your child’s teacher if you know in advance that a transportation change is needed. Students are not allowed to switch buses or ride home on another child/friends bus unless approved by the principal.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
We offer various student programs throughout the year. Please see your child’s teacher for information about various school clubs—or watch for newsletters.
ENHANCEMENTS
All Coddle Creek students will take supplementary enhancement classes weekly, including Art, Music, Media, Computers/Technology, and Physical Education. Your child will receive an Enhancement schedule from your teacher so you will know what enhancements they will have and when. 6th Grade will be offered PE, Art, Band (by application), Foreign Language (per availability), and Computers. STUDENT DRESS CODE
We request that students wear clothing appropriate for a learning environment. Shorts may be worn in all grades, but must be of reasonable length. Tank tops, halter, midriff and spaghetti strap shirts are not acceptable at school. Loose fitting pants that hang below the waist are not acceptable at school. T-shirts that advertise tobacco or alcoholic products, profanity, or inappropriate gestures or pictures, or inappropriate negative suggestions are also unacceptable at school. T-shirts that promote negative behavior are discouraged. *Flip-flops should only be worn on special occasions designated by the teacher or school! Shoes should always be worn at all times at school! Please help us by monitoring what your child wears to school. Heely shoes are not allowed at school. Students who do not meet dress code standards will be asked to not wear the inappropriate items again—and then parents will be called to bring a change of clothes (see below). Silly bands and other bracelets should be worn on wrists and not traded or sold at school.
Revision 9/1/11: To be more specific, this means that girls or boys should have shorts that are fingertip length. Students should be able to stand with their arms at their sides and have shorts that are at least as long as where their fingertips fall on their side. If the shorts are shorter than fingertip length then they are too short to wear to school. This would also be the case with skirts or mini-skirts. Students should in turn also wear shorts that fit and do not droop or sag. As a parent I understand the dilemma you sometimes have when shopping for clothing for your child. Please be mindful of our dress code when you do shop for student clothing. We will add the “specifics” of this letter to our handbook so that everyone understands the requirement and the consequences. Because of the disruption of class and potential issues dress code violations may cause the following are our steps to address these issues:
- Students who break dress code the first time will receive a verbal warning.
- Students who break dress code the second time will be required to call home and receive a change of clothing.
- Students who break dress code for a third time will be assigned an After School Detention.
While CCE does not have a uniform dress code, we do have a dress code to follow as outlined in our student handbook. Your support in upholding the dress code is essential to the success of our students and will help prevent loss of instructional time.
TESTING/ASSESSMENTS
Students in Grades 3-6 will take the NC End of Grade tests in Reading and Math in the Spring. In addition, our 5th Graders will take a state Science test and our 4th Graders also take the state writing test in March. All students will take local assessments called Predictive Assessments to measure growth in learning in Reading, Math, and Writing. All K-2 students complete local K-2 assessments and Predictive Assessments to measure their level of learning.
REPORT CARDS AND PROGRESS REPORTS
Report cards are sent home every 9 weeks. Progress Reports are sent home every 4 and 1/2 weeks. Please consult the school calendar for specific report card dates. (Grading scale is explained under “Student Performance and Evaluation”.)
Coddle Creek Elementary
Positive Behavior and Discipline Policy
The staff at Coddle Creek Elementary School believes that all students can behave and be successful at school. No student has the right to prevent the teacher from facilitating learning or to prevent other students from learning. As stated in the Iredell-Statesville Board of Education Elementary Discipline Policy, students in elementary school are expected to “accept responsibility for their own behavior as it relates to other students, adults, and school facilities. Students are expected to practice self-control, to show respect for the worth and dignity of others, and to contribute through their own responsible behavior to a safe and orderly environment which is conducive to learning.”
The staff at CCE have created “5” school wide norms that will be utilized to help assure a respectful, responsible, and safe student body. Each grade level will follow the “5” CCE School Norms for Positive behavior
The “5” school norms include the following:
• 1. Listen and follow directions the first time.
• 2. Treat others and property with kindness and respect.
• 3. Be responsible for yourself (work and actions).
• 4. Stay on task.
• 5. Walk everywhere.
Our staff believes in the success of every child. Because of this they will do everything possible to assure they are successful. Teachers will do everything possible to handle behavior in class. However, if students choose to misbehave and/or not observe the “5” norms or any expected classroom or school norm/expectation they will receive consequences.
Consequences include but are not limited to the following:
• 1. Warning
• 2. Time-out in the classroom
• 3. Extended Time-Out in another area of the building, loss or privileges, “and” a phone call to parent.
• 4. After School Detention..
– A. 3 ASD’s=1 Out of School Suspension(has to be assigned by administration).
– B. 4 ASD’s=B team referral
– Office Referral
Office/Classroom Management Process
Teachers are encouraged to use all means necessary to keep the student in the classroom while recognizing that there will be grounds to submit an official office referral.
The following behaviors will be handled by the administration through an office referral:
1. Fighting: this includes physical confrontation between two or more students causing the intentional bodily harm through pinching, biting, punching, kicking, gouging, pulling, or using any object as a weapon to cause injury.
2. Continual/Repetitive disrespect
3. Continuous disruption of classroom learning
4. Cursing faculty or staff
5. Weapons
6. Tobacco
7. Deliberate destruction of school property
8. Bullying: deliberately hurtful behavior repeated often over a period of time. Please see separate bullying policy for more detailed information.
The following behaviors are ones that should be handled within the classroom:
1. Name Calling
2. Lack of Supplies
3. Non-participation in class
4. No homework
5. Mild disrespect
6. Horse playing: including accidental hitting, pushing in line, etc.
7. Items brought from home that are played with or traded during school
8. Other minor disruptions
Common Area Expectations
It is expected that students will conduct themselves with respect, responsibility, and safety while being in common areas. These common areas include the hallways, play areas, cafeteria, early morning arrival areas, bathrooms, assemblies, buses, and car rider area. Coddle Creek will develop specific procedures for all of these areas.
Recognition Procedure for Positive Behaviors in Common Areas
The staff at Coddle Creek seeks to encourage positive behaviors in common areas by rewarding those students who consistently demonstrate respect, responsibility, and safety. Students who demonstrate exemplary behavior in common areas may be given Coyote paws by any staff person. Once a student obtains a paw he/she will write their name on it and bring it to the office. A special token box will be set up in the office for K-2 and 3-5 grade-levels.
If a student needs to be sent to the office, the principal/assistant principal or designee will determine the appropriate course of action. Possible consequences include: (1) immediate phone call to parents, (2) In-school suspension, (3) lunch detention or after school detention, (4) Out-of-school suspension (5) Removal from School-wide special activities (6) Referral to B Team—or—(7) Referral to district alternative/behavior school programs. Students who are sent to the principal’s office will be dealt with according to the Iredell-Statesville Schools Discipline Policy.
All staff will be expected to help students understand the “5” norms. In addition, staff members will be responsible for sharing individual classroom norms that pertain to their specific classroom or teaching area(s).
INCLEMENT WEATHER
Bad or inclement weather conditions may at times cause an announcement to be made regarding the closing of school. At such times, Coddle Creek Elementary parents will need to follow the policies of the Iredell-Statesville Schools: Listen to local radio stations. TV stations in Charlotte (3, 6, and 9) will announce closings. You may also check the website for the most up-to-date announcements regarding school closings or delays. Announcements are generally made by 6:00 am. The absence of any announcement usually means that school will operate as scheduled. *Any unscheduled closing during the school day would be announced over the local radio stations. In addition, parents could also be notified via our phone calling system called Connect-Ed. Each student should have a completed and updated emergency dismissal form on file at school so that we know whom to contact in the event of weather related emergencies. Pre-arranged plans should be made for children whose parents are not at home. PRIME TIME CARE FOR CHILDREN WILL NOT BE PROVIDED ON SNOW DAYS OR DAYS WHEN SCHOOL IS DISMISSED EARLY. Please make sure emergency forms sent home at Open House or the First day are returned and updated.
FIELDTRIPS
*All school field trips are related to classroom work or studies and are educational. Written permission from a parent/guardian is required for students to participate. Your child’s teacher and grade level will notify you of their planned fieldtrips. Students should ride the bus going to and returning from the field trip site with their classmates. Parents attending fieldtrips will need to provide for their own transportation unless otherwise notified by the teacher. All parents who wish to attend fieldtrips as a chaperone must attain a Volunteer Profile form from the teacher and complete the form 7 days prior to the fieldtrip.*** Teachers will obtain Profile forms at the beginning of the year and send them home for you to fill out so that they are complete should you sign up to attend a trip. All fieldtrip chaperones must be approved by the principal (board policy).
BUS TRANSPORTATION
Our goal is for all students to enjoy a safe and orderly trip to and from school. The privilege of riding the school bus is just that—a privilege—and student’s behavior on the bus determine whether he or she can continue to enjoy this privilege. A student who chooses to break the rules will get an official warning and/or suspension from riding the bus. A second offense may result in the student losing the privilege of riding the bus from 1 to 10 days. *Fighting on the bus or at the bus stop may result in an immediate suspension from riding the bus. Since students are required to attend school during a bus suspension, parents are responsible for arranging transportation for those days. We realize that this is an inconvenience, so please help reinforce the importance of good behavior on the bus to your child.
Bus safety reminders will be provided to each child during the first month of the school year. In addition all students will review the bus expectations as part of Bus safety classes.
Students are not allowed to ride home with other students on the bus. If a change in bus transportation is necessary, please notify the office by 1:15pm.
VISITS AND CONFERENCES
During the school year, specific opportunities will be made available to parents to visit the school. If you desire a conference with your child’s teacher or the principal, an appointment should be made in advance. It is not fair to the children, to you, or to the teacher to interrupt during instructional time.
Coddle Creek Elementary operates an open door policy which means that we welcome you at any time if you wish to visit our school for the purpose of volunteering in the classroom, eating lunch with your child, etc. Thanks to our wonderful volunteers! We do ask that you notify your child’s teacher of your planned visit since some days are more appropriate than others for visiting due to testing and scheduling. ALSO, PLEASE ALWAYS CHECK IN AT THE FRONT OFFICE, SIGN IN, AND ATTAIN A VISITOR STICKER. If you are volunteering please sign the volunteer log sheet located at the teachers classroom door. All visitors are required to sign in using our Photo-ID security computer. In addition, CCE is equipped with a security entrance door. All visitors must enter through the reception area in the main office to enter any part of the building.
Teachers will schedule conferences as needed and at least 2 times during the school year. Conferences are defined as face-to-face meetings, phone conversations, and emails with responses. We appreciate your input in any and all conferences. *Some teachers may offer student led conferences where children present samples of their work from school. Conferences should always be scheduled and never impromptu or drop-in.
MEDICATION
No medication of any kind may be administered on a long-term basis to children at school without a “Physician’s Authorization of Medication for Students” form. This includes aspirin as well as over-the-counter cold formulas. Medicine must be in the original container, with labeled instructions for use, and with the child’s name on it. Parents should always bring the medication to school to be secured and “never” send the medication with the child to school.
*Head lice can sometimes occur during the school year. Lice are transmitted by contact. Please check your child’s hair on a regular basis. Notify the school of any problems. Our school nurse can assist by providing information on medications to treat with, including procedures to use at home and when your child may return to school.
HEALTH ALERT INFORMATION
If your child has any kind of allergies (food allergies especially), peanut allergy, asthma, bee sting allergy, etc. we need to know. You should receive health alert information at the beginning of the year. Please up date this information periodically, and especially if it changes so that we will know.
STUDENT LUNCH AND MEDIA NUMBERS
Your child will be assigned a student number to use when paying for lunch and/or checking out books in the Media Center. Please help them to memorize their lunch number. Their lunch money will be sent in to the cafeteria where it will be deposited into their lunch account. Please make sure that lunch accounts are kept up-to-date and paid. Students will not be allowed to charge for lunch/breakfast when their accounts become excessive.
PARTIES AND SPECIAL EVENTS
Occasionally students are rewarded with special parties and events at certain times of the year. If you would like to help with these events please notify your child’s teacher. You will have an opportunity to volunteer to help with special events and/or serve as room parent. REMEMBER FOOD BROUGHT IN FROM OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL NEEDS TO BE PRE-PACKAGED WITH INGREDIENTS DISPLAYED. Also, food for special events can not take the place of lunch served by the cafeteria.
HONOR ROLL POLICY
Students in Grades 3-5 are recognized for honor roll if they make all A’s and B’s and have an S in conduct. Students in Grades K-2 will be recognized through Coyote Pride or Terrific Kids programs.
STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND EVALUATION
Children are individuals with different learning styles. In deciding whether a child is promoted from one grade to the next, we consider various assessments of their performance for the entire school year including: grades, class effort and attitude, attendance, and test scores (Predictive Assessments, Class tests, and NC End of Grade Tests). We do not consider that a child has failed if he/she does not progress to the next grade; it gives them more time to attain their specific learning goals. This is a decision made by the principal with all the components listed above considered.
K-2 students are graded on a rubric scale:
U (Unsatisfactory)
N (Needs Improvement)
S (Satisfactory)
M (Mastery)=well above grade level
3-6 students are graded with a number/letter system for the following subjects:
Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies
93-100=A
85-92=B
77-84=C
70-76=D
below 70=E
SUBJECTS TO RECEIVE SATISFACTORY OR UNSATISFACTORY SNU SCORE:
S=Satisfactory, N=Needs Improvement, U=Unsatisfactory
*Following subjects are graded by SNU
PE, Health, Music, Art, Technology, Creative Writing (Level 3 or 4=S, Level 2=N, Level 1=U)
SCHOOL PROPERTY
Please remember that our school buildings, equipment, and grounds are important to all of us as responsible citizens. Please encourage your children to help keep our building neat and clean by picking up after themselves and by not damaging school property. WE WANT TO KEEP OUR NEW SCHOOL NEAT AND CLEAN! WE WILL WORK ON DIFFERENT BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS TO HELP KEEP CCE BRIGHT AND SHINING!
MEDIA CENTER
We are fortunate to have many resources in our media center for students and teachers to check out and use. Please help us to take care of these media items. Remember to always do the following: return books and materials when they are due, help keep books attractive and clean, do not get books wet, do not throw books and materials, do not eat or drink while using books/materials, keep books out of reach of younger brothers or sisters and pets, never mark or write in a borrowed book, and never tear pages or pictures from library books..
Elementary Consequences for “Bullying”
Bullying behavior is defined as intentional (a purposeful or hurtful act/behavior designed to intimidate, harass, or humiliate), imbalanced (imbalance of power within relationship including ganging up, racial, age, name calling, gender, size etc.), and repeated (negative behavior is repeated over time). The Bullying policy is further outlined on page 3 and 4 of the Iredell-Statesville Schools Student/Parent Handbook and Code of Conduct booklet. Consequences of Bullying include in-school and out-of-school suspension, detention, and/or loss of privileges.
Iredell-Statesville Schools Wireless Communication Policy #4201
*Our school district has a policy on the correct use and possession of wireless devices by students. This would include the possession of cell phones, pagers, ipods, handheld computers, and video games.
*At present the policy states: Elementary school students are not allowed to possess a wireless communication device at school during the instructional day unless in the opinion of the principal a special circumstance exists that warrants approval. The principal will make this decision on a case by case basis and will provide instructions to the student on how the device is to be secured.
*If your child must carry a cell phone with them to school you are required to send a letter to the principal stating the reason why. The cell phone must remain in the childs bookbag in the “off” position during the school day and during the bus ride home. When they get off the bus they can then turn the phone on. Phones will be taken from students if we do not have a letter on file, and if the phone goes off for any reason, or if the child uses the phone during the day for any reason.
*Students should not bring ipods, video games, or handheld computers to school unless approved by their teacher for a special reason/occasion. *The school is not responsible if these items are lost at school.
*PLEASE SEND IN NOTICE THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS HANDBOOK WITH YOUR CHILD AND UNDERSTAND ITS CONTENTS. Your signature on the front page of this handbook verifies that you understand the contents within.
Thanks for your support!
