WEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

170 Plympton Rd.

Plymouth, MA 02360

General Information

(Revised, September, 2003)

EARLY ARRIVAL MORNING ENTRY	Only buses are allowed into the horseshoe drive between the hours of 8:30-9:10 AM and 3:00-3:40 PM. Children who are walkers or are driven by parents should not arrive before 8:45 AM (and 12:45 for PM Kindergarten) so that we may provide proper supervision. Between 8:45-855 is the best time to drop off your children. Please do not enter the bus driveway, and do not park or drop off on the entry road. Please drive slowly and remember to use directionals while on school grounds. If you are dropping off your children, please take a right at the service delivery area and loop around, leaving your children at the sidewalk and then proceed to exit. We will have staff outside at this time to supervise. If you need to enter the building, kindly park in the parking lot Walkers may enter the front door between 8:45-8:55 AM using the sidewalks.
BUS DISMISSAL	Bus dismissal begins at 3:20 P.M. The last bus will leave at approximately 3:30 P.M. Buses may be delayed during the first few days of school. We ask for your understanding and cooperation, especially at this time. Schedules and busloads sometimes require some fine-tuning and are usually firmed up within a few days. Children are to ride the buses to which they are assigned and are to board and exit at their regular bus stop. Switching buses is not allowed for the purpose of going to play with another child after school. We suggest that children not be waiting at the stops for more than five to ten minutes in the morning as problems sometime develop.
AFTERNOON PARENT PICK-UP PROCEDURES	When you have informed the school that you are picking up your child, your child will be dismissed at 3:15 PM to the gym. Please proceed to the outside gym door to meet your child. Please enter the gym through the outside gym door. If you have not previously arranged to pick up your child on a regular basis, please send a note to your child's teacher on the day that you will be picking up your child or call Mrs. Wells before 3:00 PM. The office is very busy between 3:00 and 3:15 and if you call at this time, it is difficult to inform your child, so morning notes are the best method. Walkers will be dismissed just prior to bus dismissal.
BUS PASSES	Bus passes are required for children who ride the school bus to and from school. Children should have these passes with them each day and be ready to show them to the driver, if requested. Bus passes will be distributed to the children during the first week of school. If your family lives within two miles of West School, and you would like to purchase bus transportation for your children, please visit our school office. Mrs. Whiting will assist you.
BUS TRANSPORTATION	Children are to ride the buses to which they are assigned and are to board and exit the vehicles at their regular bus stop. Switching buses is not allowed for the purpose of going to play with another child after school. We suggest that children should not be waiting at the stops for more than five to ten minutes in the morning as problems sometime develop.
ATTENDANCE	Attendance patterns for school and later adult employment are begun at an early age. Therefore, children are expected to be in school every day that it is in session except in the event of illness or sufficient reason to be absent. Please make every attempt to schedule doctor appointments, private lessons, family trips, etc. either after school hours or during regular school vacations. To complete and entire day, children must be in attendance through the end of the school day at 3:15 PM. Any child dismissed prior to that time will be charged with a "dismissal" on his/her attendance record. Also, children arriving after 9:00 AM will be marked "tardy" on his/her attendance record.
DISMISSING CHILDREN DURING SCHOOL DAY	Parents wishing to dismiss their child before the close of school must inform the office in writing the morning of the early dismissal. The parent of an authorized designee shall report to the office and must provide photo identification. Please be advised that early dismissals are very disruptive to the classroom and should be limited to emergency situations.
SCHOOL VISITORS	Any individual visiting or volunteering in the school for any reason must report to the principal's office to sign in and receive a name tag. The tag should be returned when the visitor signs out. If it should be necessary to speak to a student or a teacher, the office personnel will make necessary arrangements.
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES	Conference Days are scheduled in November to discuss the first term report card; however, please do not hesitate to contact the school to inquire about your child’s academic progress at any time. The best source of information is your child’s teacher, and if he/she is not available to take your call, a message should be left for a return call to be made as soon as possible. Teachers will be available by appointment to meet with parents to discuss issues or concerns. Unannounced classroom visits are disruptive to the learning process and are therefore not permitted.
SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS	Parents, grandparents and guardians are encouraged to volunteer at school. We can always use the extra help, whether it is in the classroom, the copy room, the library or performing tasks for teachers at home. Please send a note to your child’s teacher or call the office if you wish to volunteer your time. All volunteers must complete an annual CORI application.
SCHOOL SAFETY ITEMS	Our school doors are secured and monitored by staff members. Volunteers/visitors must log in and wear badges to evidence their authorized presence in the school. Another focus throughout the state has been an emphasis on reducing violence in public schools. In this connection, I need to remind you that children must be careful about what they bring to school. Even seemingly innocuous items such as eating utensils or toy weapons will be considered a “weapon” and result in a school suspension. Please check your child’s pockets and book bags for inadvertent, yet potentially dangerous items.
LUNCH TIME	Lunch and recess time totals forty-five minutes daily. The price of lunch is $1.90 daily. For further savings, a strip of five hot lunch tickets for $9.00 is sold on Mondays ONLY. These tickets can be used at any time during the year. Milk is available daily for snack, or for those bringing their lunch, at $.35. Lunch includes a fifteen minute recess and is held outdoors unless the weather is inclement. Please have your child dress according to the weather.
PERSONAL BELONGINGS	Please mark your child's name on all clothing, lunch boxes and other personal items brought into school. This helps avoid confusion and loss. Children and parents can check the Lost and Found in the cafeteria for any missing clothing and personal belongings. Electronic equipment of any kind, such as radios, walkmen, or electronic games are not allowed in school.
REPORT CARDS	Report cards are issued four times a year in Grades 2-5. In Grade 1, a parent conference is held in place of a formal report card for Term 1. First graders are issued a report card for Terms 2, 3 & 4. In kindergarten, parent conferences are held for Terms 1 & 3, with a report card issued for Terms 2 & 4.
MEDICATION GUIDELINES	Children are not allowed to carry medication of any kind. All medication must be hand delivered to school by an adult to the school nurse. If the medication is physician prescribed, it must be in a prescription bottle. All over the counter medications require a doctor's note. Parents are required to sign a medication authorization form for all types of medication to be dispensed at school. Our school nurse, Mrs Janice Kane, RN. (508 830-4357) will be glad to answer any of your questions.
REPORTING OF ABSENCES	A phone call on the day of a child's absence is required. Parents must call the school absence line (508 830-4357) to report absences. As there is an answering machine, you may call at any time and leave a message. As per state law, a parental note must immediately follow all absences.
HOMEWORK	Homework is an important and necessary extension of the school day. As homework is assigned regularly in Gr. 1 - 5, we require students to keep a homework assignment notebook. This will help the child to remember the assignments and to keep parents aware of the after school work.
RESPONSIBILITY OF STUDENTS	Children are expected to be on their best behavior while at school. They must respect all individuals in the school environment. They must show good manners in all relationships and at all times. Pupils are expected to follow all school/classroom rules.
INSTRUCTIONAL MEDIA CENTER	Children are allowed to borrow books from the IMC. Parents need to reinforce the fact that the books are borrowed and are the responsibility of the child who signs them out. Children should be encouraged to read the books, care for them properly and return them punctually. With our well stocked shelves, we hope to foster a life long love of reading.
NO SCHOOL AND/OR DELAYED OPENING ANNOUNCEMENTS	Announcements will be broadcast over radio stations WPLM, WATD, WEEI, TV5 and WBZ from 6:00 AM - 8:30 AM. Announcements regarding afternoon kindergarten will be broadcast at 11:00 AM over the same stations. Please be aware that on a rare occasion, an early dismissal due to inclement weather may occur. Parents need to discuss with their children a plan of action (childcare) should this happen.

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