Vincent Farm Elementary School 2014-2015 School Year

1. Vincent Farm Elementary School 2014-2015 School Year

2. Thank You • PTA • Parents, Guardians and Friends • Teachers and Staff

3. Tonight's Agenda • PTA Greeting • Principals’ Message • Superintendent’s Welcome Message • Session 1 • Session 2

4. Vincent Farm Elementary School’s Mission Statement It is the school’s mission to cultivate active, innovative and strategic thinkers in an environment that enables all students to be creative, productive problem solvers and successful individuals. We will achieve these ideals through a partnership with the community where a free exchange of ideas is encouraged, by valuing diversity, and by fostering a safe environment with respectful and responsible members.

5. Goal 1: Academics Common Core State Curriculum • Baltimore County will continue implementing the curriculum based upon The Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

6. What do the standards mean for parents? • Parents will know exactly what their children should learn by the end of each grade level. • They establish clear expectations for students that will better enable parents, teachers, and students to work together towards shared goals. • Parents will see that each grade covers fewer topics, but teaches content in much greater depth. • Parents can be assured that their students are learning to the same high-quality standards as other students in Maryland and across the country. (If you move, to one of the other 45 states, your child will receive a comparable education.

7. Learn more about the common core VisitMSDE’s Common Core page: www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/programs/ccss/ Read the Common Core State Standards in ELA and mathematics: www.corestandards.org/the-standards Read FAQs about the Standards: www.corestandards.org/resources/frequently-asked-questions Visit the PARCC website: http://www.parcconline.org/ View the PARCC Model Content Frameworks: www.parcconline.org/parcc-model-content-frameworks

8. Goal 2: Safety and Security • All visitors entering any BCPS school will be expected to present a government issued identification in order to move past the office area. • This system, called Raptor, tracks all visitors entering and leaving our school. It also protects the school, children, and staff from inappropriate visitors. • For all early dismissals we must have a note from the parent or legal guardian that the child resides. In the absence of a note, we will try to call the parent. If the parent can not be reached to confirm the early dismissal the child will remain at school.

9. Student behavior handbook • You will receive a copy of the Student Behavior Handbook next week. • The administrators will do a presentation on the handbook for each grade. • Please read it with your child, and sign the last tear out page after you are finished. • Please return the signed page, by Friday, September 19, 2014. • The remainder of the book should be kept at schoolwith your child.

10. Volunteer procedures • BCPS requires anyone interested in volunteering to be trained every year. • Volunteer Training is now available on line. Please visit our school website under the “News” category for the information. You must submit the completion certificate along with the volunteer application in order to Volunteer. • Three evening sessions will be offered at school for families who may not have access to a computer. • September 2- 4:00-6:00 pm • September 10- 5:00-6:30 pm • September 22- 6:00-8:00 pm

11. Goal 3: Communication • The Blueprint 2.0: Our Way Forward goal on communication, Building Community through Communication, states that we need to develop and implement effective two-way communication for all stakeholders. • Effective communication with parents is vital to the work that we do at school.  While email is a great vehicle for some questions, it is not the best way to communicate about behavior or academic concerns.  We will communicate about behavior or academic issues either by phone or in person. 

12. attendance Reminders & information • BCPS RULE 5120 - Attendance • Absences • A student absent from school shall present a note • immediately upon return to school. • Upon receipt of the absence note, the school will certify the absence as excused or unexcused. • Absences not supported by a note will be considered unexcused/unlawful.

13. Lawful Absences • Death in the immediate family • Illness of the student • The principal may require a doctor’s note for students with excessive absences for illness • Court Summons • Violent weather • School related or approved work • Must be approved by the principal and sponsored by the school, the local school system, or the State Education agency • Observance of a religious holiday • State Emergency • Other emergency or set of circumstances • Suspension • Lack of authorized transportation • Does not include students suspended from the bus)

14. Make-up work • Students are expected to assume the responsibility for maintaining the continuity of learning regardless of the reason for absence. • Teachers will assist students in making up missed work for excused absences whenever possible. • Teachers may assist the student in making up work missed for unexcused absences, although this is not required. Work for unexcused absences will be given when the child returns to school.

15. Arrival: If you are driving your child to school in the morning, please arrive between 9:00-9:15. A staff member will be on duty starting at 8:50 to monitor the crosswalk, however, supervision of children will not begin until 9:00. When arriving, please pull all the way around the main circle as far as you can. Each child should exit on the right side of the car to ensure safety. When dropping off your child, please encourage all children to exit the vehicle in a safe and orderly manner. Staff will be on hand to greet you. Parents are kindly asked to remain in their car and allow staff to get children out. If you would like to get out of the car and walk your child in, please park your car and use the cross walk. Bus riders will be dropped off on the left side of the building in the bus loop. Staff will be present to supervise children as they enter the building through the side doors.

16. Dismissal: Vincent Farm students are encouraged to ride their assigned school bus. There is very limited parking on site for arrival and pick up. When the bell rings at 3:45, bus riders will be dismissed to the side bus loop. Staff will be on hand to supervise dismissal. Car riders and daycare van riders will exit the front of the building. If you are picking up your child, please park in either the front or side parking lot, and meet your child on the sidewalk at the front doors. Please do not block the driveway or parking lot by waiting. Please greet all children at the front door. Children should not walk into the parking lot on their own.

17. Breakfast: Children who eat breakfast at school may enter the building at 8:50. Please drop them off at 8:50 so they can go to the cafeteria and eat breakfast prior to the 9:00 bell. Bus riders will be let off the bus and go directly to the cafeteria for their breakfast. All students who have their breakfast tray by 9:07 will eat & finish their breakfast in the cafeteria. Any student who has their tray at 9:08 or later will take their breakfast to the classroom.

18. Morning Arrival 9:00-9:15 If you park and walk your child in, please do not park along the curbs, or block this crosswalk. Thank you. Parent Drop Off Loop Special Needs Buses Front Doors Day Care Vans Side Doors Bus riders exit here. Bus riders enter through side doors.

19. Afternoon Dismissal 3:45-4:00 Please do not park along the curbs or block this crosswalk. Thank you. Parent Pick Up Spot Special Needs Buses Front Doors Day Care Vans Side Doors Bus riders will exit here. Buses will line up and depart at one time.

20. Tips for a Successful Evening • Learn more about the Common Core Curriculum. • Plan for parent/teacher conferences for another time. • Use information presented to support the instructional program at home. • BCPS One- Look for log in information coming home soon for students in grades 1-5.