Children First

Our mission at Britton Elementary is to create a positive learning environment

The OKC Public School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or handicap in admission or access to, or treatment of employment in its programs and activities.

Inquiries concerning the application of the school district’s policy or non-discrimination should be directed to Mr. Bob Moore, Superintendent, Building Administration Office, telephone 405-587-0000.

PRINCIPAL

Kelly Silvers Susan Richison

Pam Jones Kim Edwards

Brandalyn Williams

& To reassure, to entertain, to inform or explain, to arouse curiosity, and to inspire.

1. It helps the child make sense of his world. It helps the child better understand casual relationships.

2. Books can take them around the world. They can visit places they’ve never seen. Their experiences become doubled.

3. Vocabulary development and listening comprehension are increased. With everyone being so busy there seems to be lack of discussions at home anymore. Listening vocabulary becomes a “storehouse” from which children retrieve words when they read.

4. It creates a positive attitude toward reading and learning. “Magic of reading”

5. Books can stimulate language development in infants. Brain research shows that reading to infants actually helps the brain grow.

6. Reading aloud helps children become familiar with story language and helps establish the reading and writing connection.

7. Reading aloud can help create, nourish and expand a child’s imagination, curiosity, and creativity.

8. Family relationships become stronger when parents read to children. It shows they value reading. In a world of high-tech, e-mail, electronics, and cyberspace, it’s easy to forget about the importance of human contact.

9. Reading to children helps them hear what good reading sounds like. They can carry that sound in their ear as they learn to read themselves. It provides good role models.

10. Reading aloud to children and talking about values in books helps children learn right from wrong.

Jim Trelease says literature “educates” the heart. He means that empathy, moral values, love, justice, and compassion can be taught in stories.

The primary responsibility for the education of children belongs to the parents. Though shared with the school, the parents' responsibility remains paramount.

Children tend to emulate their parents. The greatest single factor in building a child's intellectual, emotional, and moral attitudes is the example parents provide in the home.

3. To encourage the development of your child's individual talents and interests.

4. To keep the school informed as to special needs of your child and to read all communications sent home from school, and respond when appropriate.

6. To make sure the child attends school regularly and arrives at school on time.

Homework, if used effectively, can benefit students and teachers in many ways. Homework can reinforce new skills, teach responsibility, and involve parents in the learning process. In addition, it gives parents some special time with their child. Homework is expected of all students, but should last no more than 30 minutes a night. Homework grade is 10% of the total grade for each subject.

If you would like to visit a classroom, please contact the teacher previous to the visit to set up a time. When you arrive, check in at the office, sign in and get a "visitor's tag". To provide safety, the exit/entrance doors by 95^th street will be locked at 3:15 p.m. each day.

The school day is from 8:00 a.m. with classes beginning at 8:30, all students are dismissed at 3:00 p.m. with their classroom teacher. The bus students will be dismissed at the back of the school where the buses are located. Those students who walk will need to cross the street only at the crosswalks. Teachers and Staff will be on hand to assist those students and to insure safety. (If you are interested in volunteering, please let us know.) According to a city ordinance, it is illegal to drive west on the 96th street, east on 95th street during school hours of 7:45 – 8:45 a.m. and 2:45 – 3:45 p.m. This is to avoid traffic congestion on 95^th and 96^th and more importantly to keep students from crossing traffic. Parents will need to drop off students no early than 7:50 a.m. and pick up no later than 3:05 p.m. Students who are not picked up on time and /or are repeat offenders may result in having the authorities called for child abandonment.

Please post your school calendar and pay close attention to days that school is not in session.

**NOTE: If at all possible, students who walk to school or are brought by their parents that are eating breakfast should arrive at school at 7:50 a.m., if they are not eating breakfast then they are allowed in the building at 8:00 a.m. Otherwise, they have too long a wait before school beings.

Parents have the responsibility for seeing that their child attends school on a regular basis. Please avoid unnecessary absences and tardiness for your child. School personnel will contact the home if students have prolonged or questionable absences. After 10 days of absences, a letter will be sent by the principal to the parents. If a student has excessive absences, the proper authorities will be contacted. Therefore, we ask that you inform your child's teachers, by note or phone call, as to the reason for your child's absence.

If your child does not arrive at school by 9:00 a.m., and you have not called us to tell us your child is ill or for some reason will not attend school, someone from the school will be contacting you. We realize that a parent could send a child to school at 8:15 a.m. and if something happened on the way, may not know it until late in the day. By developing this policy, everyone is informed and knows what to do.

Uniforms are to be worn by all students. We encourage students to look neat in their dress. Caps and hats should not be worn in the building. Please make sure your child is sufficiently dressed for outside recess in cold weather. No head kerchiefs are allowed in the school building. No roller shoes. Shoes appropriate for safety and comfort should be worn.

**The school should always have an up-to-date home address, home phone number and emergency numbers on file. Please keep the school informed of changes.

Every teacher is required to send a student home by way of the student's regular route each day, unless you have sent a note or called the school with a change. *We do ask that you not wait until the end of the day, if it can be avoided, to contact the school. Friends or relatives of a student or his family will not be allowed to take a student home or out of school without permission from the child's parents or legal guardian.

Parents wishing to pick their child up from school early must report to the office and sign your child out. They will be counted absent for the time missed. Students arriving late (after 9:00 a.m.) must report to the office before going to the classroom. Students arriving after 9:30 a.m. will be considered tardy.

We ask Pre-kindergarten and Kindergarten parents to wait outside at the sidewalk on the east side of the building to pick up their children. First through Fifth grade students will be dismissed as a class by the classroom teacher in front of the School building. This is for safety reasons. It allows teachers to get students where they need to be at the end of the day without too much congestion in the hallways. Thanks.

Our goal is to have an open line of communication between the school and home. This can be accomplished in several different ways. Notes or letters sent home by teachers or school personnel should be read by parents and if a response is requested, parents are asked to do so as soon as possible. If you need to talk with your child’s teacher, another staff member, or the principal, please call and if that individual is unavailable, leave your name and number and your call will be returned.

*Appointments are most appreciated unless immediate attention to a concern is needed.

*We encourage you to come visit your child’s classroom. Please notify the teacher and set up a time or a day.

*Throughout the year the school will have open-houses, book fairs, and group meetings. Come and learn more about your child’s school.

Formal parent-teacher conferences will be held at or near the end of the first quarter. Report cards will be held for those who do not attend parent-teacher conferences.

Report cards will be sent home at the end of the second, third, and fourth quarters. Informal reports and informal conferences will be sent or held as needed. If, at any time, you feel that there is a need for a teacher-conference, send a note or call your child’s teacher.

The Bad Weather Policy for the OKCP Schools states that the Superintendent of Schools is responsible for the announcement of school dismissal because of bad weather. This announcement will be made on all major News Channels and radio at approximately 6:00 a.m. on the mornings that school is to be dismissed. In the event of inclement weather during the day that necessitates the early dismissal of school, announcements will be made over the same news channels and radio stations.

No set rules and consequences are perfect, exceptions occur but the staff will work to make our school a safe, orderly, positive climate with an emphasis on students and high expectations.

Weather conditions may force the cancellation of school sometimes during the school year or may force the schools to let out early during the day. Announcements of school closings will be made on the local radio station and News Channel in Oklahoma City. We ask that you monitor the stations during weather situations, which could lead to school closings.

Parents may purchase accident insurance for either school-time or full time coverage. Envelopes and forms will be sent home at the beginning of the school year or are available through the school office.

	MON.	TUES.	WED.	THURS.	FRI.
8:45-9:25	Zimmerman	Homsey	Zimmerman	Homsey	Richison
9:30-10:10	Walker	Crookshank	Walker	Crookshank	McKeown/ Shield
10:15-10:55	Edwards	Williams	Edwards	Williams	Planning
11:00-12:30	Planning	Lunch Duty	Planning	Lunch Duty	Planning/ Alternate
12:30-1:10	Durham	Smith	Durham	Douglas	Smith
1:15-1:55	Silvers	Wilson	Silvers	Larimer	Wilson
2:00-2:40	Douglas	Larimer	Richison	Jones	McKeown/ Shields

	TUESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
8:45-9:15	Wilson	Wilson	Homsey
9:15-9:45	Larimer	Larimer	Homsey
9:45-10:15	Richison	Richison	Zimmerman
10:15-10:45	Silvers	Silvers	Zimmerman
10:45-12:30	Lunch Duty	Planning	Lunch Duty
12:30-1:00	Douglas	Williams	Crookshank
1:00-1:30	Edwards	Edwards	Crookshank
1:30-2:00	Smith	Smith	Planning
2:00-2:30	Durham	Durham	Walker
2:30-3:00	Williams	Douglas	Walker

DISCIPLINE POLICY

The staff of Britton Elementary School believes that every student knows how to behave and that all students are entitled to the best education we have to offer. Our goal is that each child develops self-discipline.

Teachers need time to teach and students need time to learn. To insure this teaching-learning time, rules and consequences are made for the welfare and benefit of all students. The accent in our discipline plan will be on the “positive.” Positive behaviors will be recognized in a variety of ways. These include, but are not limited to: positive notes, positive teacher comments, phone calls home, work awards, or special privileges.

Each teacher, with her class, is responsible for establishing classroom rules and for developing positive rewards for students following the rules.

Our policy is additional and adheres to Oklahoma City Public Schools District School Board and Administrative Policies.

3. No students by his or her actions shall endanger himself or the welfare of another.

Minor infractions will be dealt with in the classroom. A note or phone call home will take place for repeated infractions.

If a child continues to misbehave, he/she will be sent to the Principal’s office. (Reprimand, ISS, Letter Home, depending on offense)

If a student is detained in ISS (In School Suspension) for more than 2 entire days in a semester, a conference, consisting of parents, the teacher, and principal will be held. Failure to comply will result in suspension of the student. Failure to show improved behavior will result in expulsion.

If a child causes trouble in the ISS room, parents will be contacted to pick up their child. The student will have ISS again on the following day.

If a student is placed in ISS (In-School-Suspension) for 6 days, within one semester period, OSS (Out-of-School Suspension) will be the next step.

3. Students will stand by the wall for 5 minutes for first infraction, 10 minutes for second, and sent to the office for the third.

Breakfast will be served daily from 7:50-8:20 a.m. Prices will be 65 cents regular, and free.

School lunches are served daily at a cost of 1.35 cents per meal. The menu will be published by the OKCPS Child Nutrition Services. Please do not send soda pop or glass containers in your child’s sack lunch.

Money for lunch and/or breakfast can be sent weekly, monthly, etc. Please put the money in an envelope, labeled with the amount, your child’s name, and teacher. These are collected and entered into the computer. Each child has a computerized lunch ticket that is scanned daily.

Three parties will be held during the school year for the following holidays: Winter Celebration, and Valentine’s Day. A student will not be required to participate if religious or moral convictions would intercede. Please let the teacher know so alternative options can be arranged.

*As recommended by the Health Department, in order to prevent the spread of germs and disease, all treats sent to school at the elementary level need to be purchased rather than homemade. This policy is to provide the best protection for all students.

Unless the whole class is invited to a birthday party parents are asked not to bring invitations to school. If you need your child’s class list, please let the teacher know.

Your child needs to attend at least one-half day of school to be eligible to participate in holiday parties or programs.

Britton Elementary School does have a parent or grandparent volunteer program for parents who are interested in donating some of their time each week. Sign-up sheets will be sent home early in the school year with additional information.

Teachers will also need room helpers. Please let the teacher know if you are willing to help.

- 2^nd time – student will talk to principal, parent notified and School Resource Officer, will talk to the child.

- Student will talk to a counselor to determine if they think they will cause harm to a student, teacher, or themselves.

When a student makes another threat, they will receive ½ day of ISS. The parent will be notified of this. If another threat is made one day of ISS will be assigned.

We realize little skirmishes will occur on the playground at this age. The way we have chosen to handle this is on the first serious violation, the child will be sent to the principal’s office. The principal will speak with the child and the parents will be notified. On the second offense, the School Resource Officer will be called to talk to the student. The parents will also be notified and will have to meet with Officer Lewis. The third offense will be ISS for a ½ day. The fourth offense will be ISS for a one whole day. If another such offense occurs, suspension from school may result.

If a student is detained in ISS (In School Suspension) for more than two entire days within one semester period, OSS (Out of School Suspension) may be the next step.

If a student is given OSS, the parent will be contacted by the building principal.

The school has the responsibility for the health and welfare of all students. School district policy mandates that students with a contagious disease or those suspected of having a contagious disease are excluded from school as outlined in the State’s health standards practices. School personnel can request a doctor’s excuse prior to the re-admittance of a student to school if there is a suspicion of a communicable disease.

Please make sure that you leave a local phone number for our file in case of emergency.

The school nurse or school personnel will attend to minor scrapes and bruises, but students will be sent home if:

Before returning a child to school, the child should be FREE OF TEMPERATURE FOR 24 HOURS without fever-reducing medication.

The school will administer Tylenol ONLY AFTER A MEDICATION AUTHORIZATION FORM has been completed by the parent. Tylenol must be provided by the parents and only children’s Tylenol will be accepted.

Questions regarding the Medication Policy may be directed to the school nurse or principal. Your cooperation, as a parent, is greatly appreciated.

HEAD LICE:

Head lice are a recurring health problem. The school will send home students infested with head lice with specific instructions, which must be followed before re-admittance of the student is allowed. Parents must return to school with the child the following day in order that the nurse can recheck the head. Parents are advised to contact the school if they find head lice on their child. All information will be handled in strict confidence.

If your child requires use of an inhaler at school, whether it is only for emergencies or on a daily basis, all inhalers will be left at the nurse’s office. This allows the nurse or school personnel to monitor and supervise all inhaler treatments and prevents the transporting of meds on the school bus or use in the classroom.

We feel it is important for the students to spend time outside each day to get fresh air and run off energy. They are then better able to concentrate in the classroom. However, if you feel your child needs to remain inside because of illness, we will allow them to do so for a short period of time. After three days, we will require a medical excuse from your doctor.

Every student attending Britton Elementary School is expected to learn and to do his/her best. The staff is committed to helping each student achieve to his/her highest potential. To accomplish this goal, it is most important that as parents you be involved. Whenever a concern or question arises, find out the facts, call the school, and make an appointment with the teacher or principal. Please see to it that your child completes homework assignments, review with your child his/her daily work, take time to listen, and most of all become active partners with the school in the education of your child.

Throughout the year, students will be taking short field trips, such as nature walks around the block, walking to the High School for science or various programs, and walking to the running track for Physical Education. We need parent permission for your child to participate in these activities. Please sign and return the slip at the bottom to show your permission. Thank you.

__________________________has our permission to go on field trips with his/her class.