Student Arrival/Dismissal, Absences/Excuses                                                                    7-8

Calendar                                                                                                                          9

Snow Days/Breakfast/Lunch/Recess                                                                                 11

Lion’s Pride/Parent Volunteers                                                                              12-13

Fire Drills/Lost & Found/Clothes Closet/Report Cards/

            Contacting Teachers or Students/Hallways                                                            15

Curriculum/Assessments/Specials/ Special Services/Homework                             17-19

Safety                                                                                                                               21

Discipline Procedures                                                                                                       23

Playground Rules/Inside Recess                                                                                        25

Bus Rules                                                                                                                         26

Cafeteria/Rules                                                                                                     27

Library                                                                                                                             28

It is sometimes necessary to delay or close school because of inclement weather or hazardous conditions. The CharterSchool’s first priority in the event of inclement weather is to ensure the physical safety of all students and staff. Any time that a parent or guardian feels that weather conditions are too harsh they may choose to keep their child home. No penalty will be assessed to the child and makeup work must be done according to the absence policy.

The administrator, or his/her designee shall be responsible for two-hour delays or calling off school due to inclement weather. The decision will be made by 5:30 AM so that everyone can be notified as early as possible.

School closings and delays will be announced on 850 KOA radio, and TV stations 9 KUSA, 11 KKTV, 13/39/42 KRDO, and 31 FOX.  We will also make every attempt to place a message on the answering machine at the school by 6:00 AM. If the power should go out keep in mind that not all of these options will be available to you.

At Lake GeorgeCharterSchool we are fortunate to have so many wonderful volunteers. In the case of school closings those volunteers are assigned part of a classroom list and they make individual calls to those families so that everyone is informed when school is cancelled.

The closing of school once students have arrived, will be avoided whenever possible. Any parent is welcome to pick up a child early if they feel that the weather is deteriorating and safety could be an issue if they wait too long.

.

.BREAKFAST, LUNCH, and RECESS

Breakfast is served from 7:55 to 8:00 a.m.                    Students $ Free            Adults $2.00

Kindergarten                                                                Lunch Prices:

            Lunch               11:30 – 11:45                           Students $1.40             Adults $3.00

            Recess             11:45 – 12:10                           Extra milk $ .30

First/Second                                                                

            Lunch               11:45 – 12:00  

            Recess             12:00 – 12:30                                                              

Third/Fourth

            Lunch               12:00 – 12:20

            Recess             12:20 – 12:45

Fifth/Sixth

            Lunch               12:15 – 12:35

            Recess             12:35 – 1:00

Afternoon recess for all classes is from 2:40 to 2:55 p.m.

.LION’S PRIDE AND THE COMMUNITY

One of our greatest assets at Lake GeorgeCharterSchool is the involvement of our parents and the local community. Our parent organization is called "Lion's Pride," after our mascot, the Lake George Lion.

Through Lion's Pride, parents organize to accomplish many outstanding achievements. They create a Halloween Carnival every year to raise money for school improvements. Other fund raisers include the “Walk for Education,” Box Tops for Education, Campbell Soup labels, craft fairs, cookie dough sales, “T” shirt sales, and general merchandise sales. Monies raised help fund school-wide activities such as field day, health fair, science fair, music programs, KCIC performances, class field trips, and the yearbook.

In addition to all of the above, parents still find time to be room parents, to volunteer in the classrooms to help with academics; and to donate time, energy, resources and talents in endless ways to create an outstanding learning environment.

We can never say enough in praise and thanks for the wonderful volunteers that grace our school.

Parent Volunteers

The teachers can use their own discretion when assigning volunteers. Parents will be asked to sign up for specific blocks of time – literacy, math, technology, etc. Parents/volunteers should avoid being in any room for the entire day.

Confidentiality is a key issue and will be strictly enforced. All data and verbal information stays inside the building. If you have any questions, see the Administrator.

Parent Volunteer Policy

I have read the previous policies and guidelines for volunteering at Lake GeorgeCharterSchool and I agree to abide by these policies.

Signed:                                                                                                       Date:­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­                           

Volunteer’s Name                                                   Phone #                                              

                              (Please print)

Student’s Name                                                                 

                              (Please print)

Teacher:                                                                            

.Fire Drills

Fire drills will be conducted monthly so that everyone learns what to do in an emergency. These drills will occur at various times so that both sets of preschoolers are exposed to the drills.

.Lost and Found

There is a Lost and Found for small valuables in the front office. All other items will be placed in the red box near the kitchen. Parents are encouraged to label all of their children’s items and to check for lost items at any time. At Christmas time and at the end of the school year unclaimed items will be given to charity.

.Clothes Closet

Many of our parents have gotten together to organize a “Clothes Closet” that is located in the staff lounge. Clothing and other items are available at no cost to anyone. Donations are also accepted. Please check in at the front office before proceeding to the Clothes Closet.

.Report Cards

Report cards are sent home at the end of each quarter. In addition, parent/teacher conferences are held first and third quarters. Mid terms are sent home where there is a concern in student achievement.

.Contacting Teachers and Students

Teachers will not be interrupted during class time for phone calls except in the case of emergency. A message will be taken and given to the teacher to return the call when convenient. This goes for students also.

Communication between parent and teacher is encouraged. Teachers are at school before school begins and remain 30 minutes after school dismissal (Thursdays are an exception.) This is a good time to make phone calls or make personal contact.

Students will not be allowed to use the phone for any reason without permission. The staff will determine if the reason is adequate to allow the student to use the phone and use will be limited to recess time, before and after school.

.Hallways

Lockers have been provided for all students in grades 1 through 6. Lockers are not to be locked at any time and are subject to unannounced inspections. Students are to use only the one locker that is assigned to them. There should be no coats, hats, mittens or boots lying in the hallways.

The curricular program at Lake GeorgeCharterSchool supports the Colorado Model Content Standards. These are carefully identified skill and knowledge sets which reflect current research in both content areas and child development.

.Curricular Support Materials

READING:

Houghton Mifflen is built on the principles of balanced literacy and is the curriculum for all grades. It features a balance of instructional approaches to reading and writing: modeled, shared, guided, and independent. It fosters literacy and language growth in children as readers, writers, speakers, and listeners. It embraces the belief that good readers make better writers and good writers make better readers. All classes have extensive libraries and with the proximity of the public library all the students are exposed to a wide variety of literature.

WRITING:

The 3 Steps to Power Writing runs from kindergarten through sixth grade, Step Up to Writing is used in 4-6 grade once the basic structure has been taught. Six Traits Writing is encouraged once the children understand the basic elements of organization set out in 3 Steps to Power Writing.

SPELLING:

 “Spelling Connections” by Zaner-Bloser, is research-based and incorporates the instruction of spelling strategies.

HANDWRITING:

Handwriting instructional materials are incorporated in the Zaner-Bloser spelling program. Manuscript will be taught K through 2. Cursive will be started in second grade but these students are not expected to be proficient.

MATH:

Chicago Everyday Math forms the basis of our math program. Everyday Math is organized into six mathematical content strands that cover a number of skills and concepts. This provides a rich, yet balanced curriculum, with attention to numeration and computation without neglecting geometry, data, and algebraic thinking.

Each strand is addressed throughout all grade levels of the program. Each grade level builds on and extends concept understanding so that children approach each new challenge from a firmly established foundation.

SOCIAL STUDIES:

McGraw Hill’s Adventures in Time and Place, forms the basis of the social studies program for grades 3, 5, and 6. It provides a rich, relevant content in all areas of social studies. It also provides geographic literacy skills for all students, created in partnership with the National Geographic Society. The 4^th grade is taught Colorado history using A Rendezvous with Colorado History which traces Colorado history through a collection of stories gathered by the authors Dorothy Dutton, ED.E and Carl Humphries, M. A.

SCIENCE:

We utilize the Full Option Science System, more commonly referred to as FOSS kits. The kits and resource material address state standards and stress a “hands on” approach.

.STUDENT ASSESSMENT

Assessment at Lake GeorgeCharterSchool consists of not only “assessment OF learning”, but “assessment FOR learning”. All assessments are used to set clear targets for instruction of students.

The Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (D.I.B.E.L.S.) will be given individually to students in K-6. These screenings are used to measure and monitor the development of reading skills.

Basic Early Assessment of Reading (B.E.A.R.) testing given to Kindergarteners.

Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) is given to grades 3-6 in reading, math, writing, and science.

SPECIALS

.PE, Technology, Music, Art, Title I Reading,

and Special Education

Physical Education (PE) classes are offered to every student one to two days per week. The classes emphasize the teaching of basic skills in accordance with the standards set out by the State of Colorado. The classes also emphasize proper attitude, good sportsmanship, and a love of being fit and healthy.  Students are also given a basic concept of good physical conditioning.

Technology is offered to all students and is an integral part of the classroom curriculum in each grade.

Music classes are offered weekly to every student.  The student learns basic rhythmic skills and develops an ear for melody.  The students will be introduced to music from other cultures, to various composers and their place in the musical eras. We will emphasize performing and help each child grow comfortable in expressing him/herself in the two music programs offered each year. These will consist of singing and performing many songs that the students enjoy at their particular age level.

Piano Lessons are given to current students who signed up for and expressed an interest in lessons. Due to limited time in the schedule this is offered to a small number of students from third grade on up. A waiting list has been established in the office for anyone wishing to sign up.

The Lake George Charter School Art Program emphasizes using, and gaining familiarity with, a variety of media such as crayon, pastels, charcoal, ink, drawing pencils, markers, tempera, acrylics, watercolors, oil pastels, clay, and papier-mâché. Early learning focuses on these elements of art: line, shapes and spaces, texture, and color.  As students advance in grade level, composition and movement are introduced. Lessons also become more specific: how to create depth through the use of perspective, for example. Throughout the grade levels, art history, and specific artists and their works are introduced; however, the primary thrust of the Lake George Charter School Art Program is experiencing art by creating art.

                                                                     . OTHER SPECIAL SERVICE PROVIDERS

Title One Reading. All the students requiring extra help in reading will receive instruction on a one-on-one or very small group basis. The needs of each child will be assessed and he/she will be placed in the program until he/she is reading at grade level. We strongly believe that the earlier we can help a child to be a good reader, the better and easier the school experience will be for them. It is vital that our children are life-long learners and we want to help them attain this goal by giving them a solid foundation.

Special Education at Lake GeorgeCharterSchool is primarily an inclusive program where the special education teacher works with children in the classroom.  In situations where more one-to-one private tutoring is necessary, we also have facilities where the special education teacher can work privately with a student as needed.

Our school is contracted with Mountain Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) for a variety of educational needs. The services that are offered by BOCES include: speech therapy, psychological assessments, occupational therapy, and early childhood coordination.

HOMEWORK POLICY

There are two types of homework at Lake GeorgeCharterSchool. First, there is practice homework which consists of assignments that ask the students to practice a skill or concept learned during the school day. The students should have a grasp of the material and the homework would be assigned to reinforce learning. Secondly, there are project assignments which students are asked to do research at home. These assignments, and assignments in Everyday Math, will include parent involvement. Lake GeorgeCharterSchool appreciates the value of family time at home. Homework may not always be assigned every night and no assignment should take the student longer than 40 minutes. If students are behind in their academic work, a teacher may ask a parent to have their student stay after school to catch up.

If a student has a pre-arranged absence, please contact the classroom teacher for assignments. If a student has an extended absence (illness, etc.), extra time will be given to make up work.

.SAFETY

.Lake George CharterSchool Rules

1.  Treat others as you would like to be treated.

2.  Walk quietly in the building.

3.  Solve problems yourself so they will not become problems for others.

4.  Take turns at the drinking fountains, lunch lines, and bathrooms.

5.  Show courtesy and respect to each other and to all adults in the school.

6.  Practice safety at all times.

7.  Keep all school property in good condition.

8.  Fighting is not acceptable behavior.

9.  School phones are to be used by students in emergency situations only.

10. Only students with bathroom passes are permitted to use the bathroom (lunchtime excluded).

11. Gum is not permitted during school.

12. Hats are to be worn outside only.

13. Students staying after school for an activity should take their coats, books, etc., to the meeting area and

      remain there until their parents arrive. This applies to Study Hall children also.

14. Students waiting after 4:15 for their ride, must wait in the office.

15. All students will exit the building by the main door.

16. NO students are allowed on the playground after school unless they are accompanied by an adult.

17. Knives, guns (including play ones), or other dangerous objects are not allowed at school. 

.DISCIPLINE POLICY – Attachment H adopted 2/6/07

.UNEXUSED TARDINESS:

·          4 TARDIES   = Full day 9am-3pm Friday experience

·          8 TARDIES   = 2 days of ISS and 1 Friday experience

·          12 TARDIES = Suspension

        ALL EXAMPLES ARE FOR BENCHMARK PURPOSES AT THE DISCRETION OF STAFF AND FACULTY

        ANY OR ALL CONSEQUENCES USED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE STAFF AND FACULTY

.OFFENSE                           MILD                         MODERATE                SEVERE                     NO TOLERANCE