Each child ensured academic excellence
in a caring environment of respect.
For your child’s protection, please call the school health office at 482-2481, extension 3624 or email to ogattendance@dist102.k12.il.us before 8:20 a.m. for a morning or all-day absence or before 12:15 p.m. for an afternoon absence (11:55 on Wednesdays). If a student does not report to school, and we have not been notified of an absence, the attendance officer will call each person listed on the student’s First Aid Information form. The parent must call each day that a student is absent unless the parent notifies the school that the student will be absent for a certain number of days. If we are unable to contact anyone regarding an absent student by 10:00 AM or 1:00 PM, we may notify the police to assist us in locating the child.
The morning session will start at 8:20am. Students should plan their arrival to school between 8:10am and 8:15am. Students may enter after 8:15am and go directly to their classes. Parents are requested to please not send children to school before 8:10am as the doors are closed until that time and no playground supervision is available. Likewise, students who go home for lunch or eat lunch away from school are requested not to return until 12:10pm (11:50 on Wednesdays). At that time they may enter the building and go directly to their classrooms. Students returning early at lunch time will not be allowed on the playground. See "Tardy" section.
Students in grades 3 - 6 may ride bicycles to school under the following provisions and upon completion of the Bike Safety Test offered each fall:
See All Bike Norms listed in the August School Newsletter.
Due to student diet restrictions and food allergies, student birthdays at ALL grade levels, are celebrated by the child donating a new or gently used book to their classroom library. This is optional. If you would like a suggestion of a book title, contact your child's teacher. Treats brought to school will be sent home. Personal birthday invitations are not to be distributed at school.
According to the rules of the Illinois Department of Public Health and District 102, children must be kept out of school if they have the following illnesses:
Parents should notify the school if a child has a communicable disease; the school in turn will notify parents when their child has been exposed to a communicable disease.
Point of View
Just as school is a place to learn and practice various academic concepts and skills, so is it a place for students to learn and practice appropriate behavior. Appropriate student conduct is based, to a large degree, upon students learning to exercise self- discipline, i.e. learning to respect the rights of others and doing whatever is necessary to follow reasonable rules and regulations to ensure a better life for themselves and those around them.
The staff strives to create a learning atmosphere within the school as well as outside the school when students are under its direct supervision. A good school climate maintains working conditions conducive to learning. Students are expected to refrain from making unnecessary noise. They are expected to respond quickly and quietly to the requests of their supervisors. Activity, conversation and laughter all have a place as long as they are a part of the learning situation or the activity being undertaken. Fair play and actions show a concern for the welfare of others. Self-discipline must be the goal in a learning environment.
Students are subject to suspension, expulsion or other discipline for misconduct that occurs during school time, on school grounds, at any school-supervised or related activity, while going to or from school or a school-sponsored or related activity, while riding school buses or other school-arranged transportation, or wherever the activity or event bears a reasonable relationship to school. These provisions apply even if particular places or times of misconduct are specified elsewhere in the handbook. Also, the discipline consequences set forth in this handbook are guidelines only. Disciplinary action may be more or less severe where deemed appropriate by school officials or the Board of Education.
Finally, the fact that a particular violation is not specifically mentioned in the following pages is not a satisfactory defense for any improper conduct. It is simply impossible to list every action which is inconsistent with good school citizenship. We expect students to form the habit of not only observing the regulations contained herein, but also the general rules of good conduct and common sense acknowledged by the community in which we live.
While it is not possible or desirable to develop rules for all possible situations, these guidelines have been adopted by the staff:
Students are expected to be in their classes on time with the necessary materials, to give the teacher their attention, and to complete their work promptly, accurately, honestly and neatly.
Students are to respond appropriately to the directions or requests of the school staff, both in the school and at school-sponsored activities.
Students must remain after school if requested to do so by a school staff member.
Students are expected to act appropriately in school or on school grounds, including extra-curricular events, by refraining from kissing, hand holding and unsolicited physical contact.
Students are expected to be present and on time for school daily.
Students are expected to be dressed and groomed in a manner that meets reasonable standards of health, cleanliness and safety, and which does not detract from the educational process.
Students are to exercise care with regard to the property of others including school property. Proper care should be given school lockers which are the property of the school district and are subject to periodic inspection.
Students are not to use libel, slander, vulgarity or obscenity in their verbal or written expression, or in their gestures.
Students are not to possess at school, or bring on school grounds, items that may be dangerous or disruptive to the educational process. The school is not responsible for loss or damage to these items when brought on school grounds. Such items will be confiscated and returned at the discretion of the school administration.
Students are not permitted to sell anything unless the sale is school sanctioned.
Students are not to possess or chew gum at school. Candy will be allowed during lunch period and when sold at school activities.
Students are expected to walk (not run) and to avoid disruption or excessive noise in the halls and classrooms.
Students are to be in their assigned areas, and to have passes when not in class.
Students are expected to comply with all other school rules established by school personnel for student conduct.
The following behaviors are gross misconduct and may result in an in school discipline, an out of school suspension and/or expulsion from school:
Commission of any act which is a criminal offense.
Fighting, physical assault, battery, or possession of a weapon.
Representing or membership in a criminal organization or gang activity.
Possess, consume, be under the influence of, be impaired by, exhibit the effects or signs of use of, or distribute or arrange the distribution of any controlled substance, alcohol, narcotic, marijuana, tobacco products, other intoxicants or look alike drugs or substances.
Sexual harassment of peers. This includes notes, graffiti, gestures, language, and unsolicited physical contact.
Theft of school property or private property on school premises. Trespassing or violating another student’s or staff property.
Dress or appearance which presents a health or safety hazard, or which disrupts the educational process.
Attempts to threaten, intimidate, or extort other students or adults.
Deliberate destruction or negligent damage to school property, or private property on school grounds. Restitution is also required.
Tampering with or altering official school documents, academic cheating and/or plagiarizing.
Refusal to obey the lawful order of a teacher or any supervisory personnel.
Unauthorized absence or tardiness, or leaving class and/or school grounds without permission.
Tampering with or setting false fire alarms or making false 911 calls.
Gambling.
Conduct which substantially threatens to disrupt the educational program, chronic or continued disruption of instruction.
Any act of gross disrespect in words or actions.
Arson or use of fireworks, explosives, or flammable materials.
Unauthorized presence in the school building.
Repeated serious violation of any posted or published rule, regulation or expectation of the school by the principal or his/her assistant, that such conduct will lead to a suspension or recommendation for expulsion.
Gang activity at District 102 schools will not be tolerated. Gang activity includes, but is not limited to, the display or possession of gang symbols; soliciting others for membership; requesting payment of dues, insurance or other forms of protection from any individual; intimidating or threatening any individual; and/or inciting others to participate in any form of physical violence involving persons or property.
Bullying and/or intimidation of others including, but not limited to any aggressive or negative gesture, or written, verbal, or physical act that places another student in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or property, or that has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student in such a way as to disrupt or interfere with the school’s educational mission or the education of any student. Bullying most often will occur when a student asserts physical or psychological power over, or is cruel to, another student perceived to be weaker. Such behavior may include but is not limited to: pushing, hitting, threatening, name calling, or other physical or verbal conduct of a belittling or browbeating nature.
Any student who uses, possesses, distributes, purchases or sells an explosive, firearm, knife or any other object that can reasonably be considered a weapon shall be expelled for at least one year.
Bringing, possessing, using, controlling or transferring a weapon: A weapon is any object which may be used to cause bodily harm, including but not limited to knives, guns, firearms, rifles, shotguns, brass knuckles, billy clubs, items defined as weapons by state or federal law, look alike weapons and such items as baseball bats, pipes, bottles, sticks, pencils and pens if used or attempted to be used to cause bodily harm.
Informal discipline is an ongoing process in which teachers talk to and counsel a student before taking action.
Formal discipline requires that parents be notified of any disciplinary action being taken by a teacher or administrator. Such action may include keeping a student after school or in from recess, etc.
Office referral: When a student’s behavior is judged to require immediate action, or jeopardizes the order or safety of the class, the student is sent to the office.
Restitution: Students and their parents will be held responsible for payment or replacement of property willfully or carelessly damaged.
Restriction: Students placed on restriction or not permitted to attend or participate in any extra-curricular activities during the time or restriction. Activities include intramural sports, athletic programs, dances, parties, ceremonies, or other activities for which student attendance is optional. Students on restriction are not eligible for honors or awards for the duration of their restriction.
In School Discipline: An in school discipline entails assignment to a quiet supervised setting removed from other students. Students assigned an in school discipline are supplied with appropriate homework and study assignments. The length of an assignment to in school discipline ranges from part of a school day to multiple school days.
Suspension: The principal may suspend a student, for an act of gross misconduct for up to ten school days, providing certain steps have been followed: (1) the student has been told what the reason for the suspension is, including what, if any, rules have been broken; (2) the student is given an opportunity to present his view; (3) parents are given verbal notification, followed immediately by written confirmation, including description of the reason for the suspension. Parents of a suspended student will be granted a hearing with the superintendent’s office if they request it. Students suspended for violence or threats of violence may be required to participate in a threat assessment screening by mental health and/or law enforcement personnel. Police intervention may also result from such an incident.
Temporary withdrawal from school: In response to some problems that may arise, the parents and the principal may decide that the best procedure is to withdraw the student from school for one to five days.
Expulsion: The Board of Education may expel a student for an act of gross misconduct for a period of time not to exceed two full calendar years. The school must follow the steps described above for a suspension, except that a hearing must be provided by the Board of Education. At the hearing the student may have legal counsel, the opportunity to question the person who recommended that the board expel him, the right to present and question witnesses, and the right to make a statement on his own behalf.
Types of discipline – Five types of discipline are implemented for a threat made by a student. Step A is present in each situation prior to moving to any of the subsequent steps.
A. Conference with principal and/or assistant principal with student who made the threat and the child’s parent. Consultation with any other student(s) involved will occur as part of finding out the facts of the whole situation. This conference may be sufficient consequence or a further discipline may occur.
B. One day in-school discipline
C. Two day in school discipline with lecture by the police at School Dist # 102
D. Ten day maximum suspension, psychological evaluation (utilizing a minimum of a threat assessment tendencies), police interview with parents at police station
E. Recommendation for expulsion
Differentiated instruction is a way of thinking about and approaching the planning and implementation of curriculum and instruction with an understanding that learners differ in important ways. Differentiation instruction responds to these learner differences:
These variables are attended to when teachers plan and thoughtfully vary the content, process, and/or products associated with a particular unit or lesson of instruction. In District 102 each teacher strives to acknowledge that children learn in different ways and with differing capabilities. Our teacher's respond by doing something about that through modified or extended curriculum and instruction. If you have any questions about your child's learning needs being met, contact your child's teacher.
While there is no formal dress code, parents are asked to be sure that students are dressed appropriately for school. It is especially important that students are dressed warmly in the winter since they may go outside during P.E. and for lunch recess. Students may not wear clothes or accessories that are distracting to other students or disruptive to the educational process, or any item, which may somehow threaten the health or safety of other students. Hats are not worn indoors.
Examples of inappropriate clothing include tee/sweat shirts, caps, etc. with profanity, vulgarity and drug/alcohol related advertisement. Appropriately modest shorts (mid-thigh or longer) and shirts (no bare midriff) may be worn, in warm weather. We ask that tennis shoes be worn during all physical education classes. Roller shoes if worn to school may not be used in or on school grounds.
Student Spirit and Service Club sponsors some special “spirit days” and students are encouraged to appropriately participate in those school sponsored events
Students may be dismissed early from school on a regular basis only with the permission of the superintendent. In order for a student to be dismissed early on a given day, the parent must send a note to the principal stating the reason, date and time of dismissal. Students will not be dismissed from school to anyone other than a parent or guardian without the parent's written permission. Parents need to allow time to come to school and sign their child out. After the parent arrives, the student will then be called down from class.
Student use of electronic equipment including, but not limited to, paging devices, games, music players and cellular phones while in a school building is prohibited. Student use of audio listening devices while at school is restricted to listening to instructional materials during class time under the direction of the teacher. The school cannot be responsible for the damage or loss of such items. Possession or use of laser pointers is prohibited at all times.
When schools are closed because of an emergency, a calling tree will be put into effect. Please be sure to keep your phone number updated with the school office. You may also listen to radio stations WGN-AM 720 or WBBM-AM 780. Parents are encouraged to also check the District 102 website for immediate and updated information.
Each year parents are required to fill out a First Aid Information form for each family at the school the children attend, giving parents' home and business phones, name of persons to contact in case of an emergency, and names of physician, dentist and preferred hospital. We will not release a child to anyone who is not listed on this form. It is the parent's responsibility to notify the school whenever there is a change in any of the above information so that the proper people may be notified in case of an emergency. District 102 has a place on our First Aid Information form to indicate if the child is registered at a hospital and which hospital. In the event that a child is injured and we cannot reach the parent, we would then take him/her by ambulance to the hospital where he/she is registered for treatment. (See Trauma Registry)
Homework is assigned for educational purposes, not punishment, and requires the cooperation of teachers, students and parents. Students in grades 3 through 6 use assignment notebooks to assist in the development of their personal responsibility for the completion of home assignments. The assignment notebooks also serve as a communication tool between home and school.
If at any time you feel your child is working too long on their homework, please contact the child’s teacher. As a rule of thumb, 10 minutes of homework each night multiplied by the grade level (i.e. 3rd grade = 30 minutes). Parents should help by encouraging students, but keep in mind it is the child‘s homework – not the parent’s. Homework may not be faxed to the school office. Reading 20 minutes each day should be in addition to any homework assigned at the grade level. Reading to your child can be counted into the 20 minutes. Reading to a child helps them develop vocabulary, gives them background knowledge, exposes them to more difficult age-appropriate materials and creates a special family time together. Look for reading tips in the monthly newsletters.
Students should have their major items of clothing and school supplies labeled, particularly coats, hats, gloves and boots. The Lost and Found is located in the small room near the Northeast corner of the multi-purpose room. Students should check the Lost and Found frequently. Any small valuable items such as glasses, wallets, jewelry, are generally turned into the office and held until the end of the school year. Any items left at school a week after school has ended for the year will be given to a local charity for distribution.
Students who miss classwork because of illness or school activities are expected to demonstrate an understanding of the missed work. After two days of illness, parents may request homework assignments for a child by calling the school office one day in advance of expected pick up. Homework assignments will only be issued after the second day of illness. Students will have as many days as they were absent to make up the missed assignments. All assigned make-up work will carry the same grade weighting as when originally assigned.
Parents are strongly discouraged from taking students out of school for vacations and teachers are not required to provide detailed assignments for those students. Students will be allowed to bring their textbooks home and work ahead on their own. Students will be given the opportunity to make up missed assignments when they return. Students are not expected to make up work that is missed due to the observance of religious holidays.
Sending medications (prescription and over the counter) to school is discouraged unless absolutely necessary. Should it be absolutely necessary for a child to receive medication while in school, either on a short or long term basis, the child's parents must, in accordance with district policy, provide the school with the following three items prior to administration:
Students are not permitted to have medication (prescription or over the counter) in their possession. Cough drops, if medically needed, can be sent to school with a parent note only and will be kept in and distributed from the health office. Students may carry their inhalers ONLY if their physician writes that the student is medically at risk and needs to have the inhaler in their possession at all times.
New State law allows students to carry their own Epi-pen, however, the health office and teacher should be made aware of these instances.
For the safety of our students, parents who transport Kindergarten children should drop them off on the Waiola (west)side of the building. Kindergarten students ONLY may wait outside the kindergarten door on Waiola. This is Door #2.
We encourage that all other grade level students be dropped off and picked up on Spring Avenue. All drop off is on the street with the exception of handicapped STUDENTS who must be dropped off in the handicap parking spaces. The STAFF PARKING LOT IS NOT TO BE USED FOR A STUDENT DROP OFF OR PICK UP AREA. Students are to enter the playground at the fence opening near the intersection of Spring and Brewster. At NO TIME is a child to cut across the STAFF PARKING LOT.
It is essential that all posted parking, loading, and speed zone signs be obeyed. Please do not block crosswalks, make U-turns, double park, or use the staff parking lot or playground for picking up and dropping off students. Observation of posted signs and directions of school personnel will avoid ticketing by the police department who frequently monitor our parking and traffic rule compliance.
We recognize that special celebrations create wonderful social times and memories for our students. We ask that when room parents plan all parties they go over every aspect of the party with the classroom teacher. So that all grade levels enjoy similar events, please follow these K - 6 guidelines:
Special Note: Please check with the teacher regarding all plans, and also for food allergies.
If a child wishes to have a pet visit their classroom they must secure the permission of the classroom teacher and the principal. It is preferred that pets are to be cased or leashed during their visit, that the parent of the child bringing the pet be present throughout the visit and that the pet be taken home after the visit. If any child in a classroom is allergic to pets, pets will not be allowed to visit.
It is prohibited to have dogs on school grounds at arrival times, during school hours and at dismissal. Please do not bring the family dog (or puppy) to school when you walk your child to school. With the number of children at arrival and dismissal times this can be a potentially dangerous situation. Even well behaved pets can become nervous around this extreme amount of activity, as well as some children are frightened or allergic to dogs. We appreciate your cooperation.
The following procedure should be used by parents, who have special requests while their children are in school:
Parents who do not wish to have their children photographed, televised, videotaped or interviewed by the media should mark this on the annual first aide form. Parents of special education students must notify the office in writing if they do not want their child’s photograph in any media publication other than the school newsletter and yearbook.
The school playground equipment is reserved for school students only on school days during school hours. After school use is reserved for BASE students until 5:30PM on school days.
From time to time it may become necessary for your child to be seen by a doctor or dentist during school hours. For safety reasons, to protect against heavy traffic and undesirable strangers, we require that all children be personally picked up by an authorized adult at the school office whenever it is necessary for the child to leave the school at times other than dismissal. The staff appreciates advance notice when children are released early. Please make sure you allow sufficient time for your child to be called from the classroom. They will be called to the office upon your arrival to sign them out and not before.
Disaster drills and fire drills are held frequently throughout the school year as required by State mandates. If a tornado warning is in effect at dismissal time, students will not be released until the all-clear signal is sounded. Parents may enter the building to take cover.
Emergency Exit Procedures
If a fire alarm sounds during a public event, everyone is expected to exit the school immediately, without locating their children. Before entering a school event, parents should talk with children about a good place to meet once the family is safely outside of the building.
Our smoke detectors are very sensitive and have been set off at events in the past by such things as burnt popcorn. Do not put yourself and others at risk. As hard as it is to do, in the event a fire alarms sounds, exit the building at the nearest exit and meet your family once you are outside. Our students are well trained to leave the building quickly, please help us follow our guidelines.
Lockdown drills are now required by new State mandate. Staff and students will practice a lockdown drill in conjunction with the local police and emergency departments. Parents will be notified when these drills are to take place. If you arrive at school during a lockdown, you will not be allowed to enter the building and your child will not be allowed to exit the building. During lockdown situations, the school is to appear as empty as possible. Police officers will not draw weapons during drills.
Skateboards, rollerblades and scooters are prohibited at school. The school bears no responsibility if these items are left around the school unsecured.
For the protection of all students, throwing snowballs is prohibited on school grounds and on the way to and from school. Disciplinary action will be taken, with possible suspension for repeated offenses.
Once again we will be attempting to reduce the number of tardies. We will be talking with the children about the importance of punctuality and would be most appreciative if you would also emphasize this at home. Children are considered tardy to school if they are not in their classroom by 8:20 A.M. for the morning session and by 12:15 P.M. for the afternoon session (11:55 on Wednesdays). By law, all tardies are recorded and become part of a child's permanent school file.
State of Illinois requirements for student attendance is as follows:
There are two kinds of tardiness, excused and unexcused. An excused tardy is due to a personal decision made by the parents relative to their child's schedule. We need to be notified either by phone or letter regarding all excused tardy situations. If a child is tardy without an excuse for the third time, the parent will be notified by phone and asked to discuss the problem with the child in order to help eliminate the problem. In the event a child has a fourth unexcused tardy, disciplinary action will occur. Consequence for repeated tardies may include a child being detained after school or at lunch recess; parent will be notified. It is important that children realize their responsibility for being on time and ready to learn in their classrooms. This policy reinforces the importance of punctuality for our students.
Parents may sign a Trauma Registry Card for either LaGrange Memorial Hospital or Hinsdale Hospital. These cards must be updated and renewed every two years. LaGrange Memorial requires a separate card for each child, whereas Hinsdale has a family form in which you list all of the children. Trauma registry cards are available at each school health office and at each hospital. The parent should return these cards to the hospital of their choice in person or by mail.
Illinois law prohibits hospitals from providing medical treatment to minors without written or verbal authorization from the parent or legal guardian only. Through this system of advance authorization, children brought to the Emergency Department by school personnel, relatives, etc. are treated immediately. The hospital staff utilizes information from the card to treat the patient, while trying to reach the parent.
Parents and members of the community are encouraged to visit school. For the safety of students and staff, all visitors are required to check in at the office and to wear an identification badge while in the building.