Principal Letter | Curriculum | Grade Levels |  School Hours/Bus Rules | School Assessments | Lunch/Breakfast Procedures | Early Release | Absentee/Tardiness | Illness/Medication | Visitors/Volunteers

Home of the Raccoons

Dear Parents,

 Welcome to Russell Elementary School.  This handbook, in addition to the fall open house and parent orientation, should address most questions you may have concerning Russell Elementary School and the New York/Virginia Domestic Dependents Elementary and Secondary Schools.

 Russell is accredited by North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI) a division of AdvancEd. We review our practices, policies and school goals annually.  Our curriculum is revised on a scheduled basis.

Our dedicated staff invites you to participate in the school's programs and activities as a school volunteer.  Russell Parent Education Association (PEA) and our School Improvement Leadership Team welcomes your involvement.

 We hope your stay at Quantico is a pleasant and rewarding one for you and your children.  If you ever have questions, please contact the school. (703) 221-4161
 
 
 School Hours and Bus Stop Rules:
 
  Morning Preschool 8:30-11:00

Buses arrive at Russell between 8:20 and 8:30. Students transported by bus should not be at their bus stop more than 10 minutes before the scheduled pick-up time. This will avoid behavior problems and lessen safety concerns. Preschool parents/babysitters are required to be at the bus stop.

Safety

The safety of our children is of utmost importance to all of us - parents and staff as well.  We are making an effort to promote "Safe Schools" and to provide the most secure learning environment for us all.  We ask for your cooperation in this effort

Guidelines for bus stops

• Respect the yards of your neighbors
• Stay on the sidewalk, or designated area, until your bus has stopped
• Bring athletic equipment in backpacks or bags
• Use self-control in all situations

No weapons (play or real), for example explosives, pocket knives, sling shots, etc.  This includes "look alike" weapons such as toy guns.

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Absence

If a student is not going to attend school on any given day, the parent is expected to call the school (221-4161). If parents do not call, the school will make every effort to contact the parent at home or work. If a parent calls in, or if we contact the parent, a written excuse is not required. All work missed is required to be made up. If you take your student out of school for vacation or emergency trips, the teacher will make the decision as to whether work is sent in advance or to be made up after the student returns to school.

Tardiness to school

Parents must bring students to the clinic to have their names removed from the absentee slip.  Students will be issued a tardy slip that are given to the classroom teacher.  Cafeteria will be notified if students are purchasing lunch.

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Illness at school
The school nurse renders first aid and provides nursing care for the student who is injured or becomes ill at school. The school nurse determines the need for a student to be sent home or referred for medical evaluation.
If a student needs to be sent home because of illness or injury, one of the following actions will take place before releasing the student from school:
A responsible parent or guardian is contacted to take responsibility for the student's transportation to the appropriate destination
The designated emergency person is contacted if the parent or guardian is not available.
The sponsor's supervisor is contacted if no one else is available.

Medication
The school nurse accommodates parent requests for medication (including prescription, nonprescription, and over-the-counter) to be administered during the school day. According to DoDEA Health Service Guide, DS Manual 2942.0, school personnel may administer medications when certain criteria are met.
In order for school personnel to administer medications during school hours, the Hold Harmless form MUST be provided to the school and signed by the parent and a physician. The medication will be in the original container and properly labeled by the pharmacy or physician. The label should indicate the name of the student and the physician, the medication, dosage, and frequency. The date of the prescription must be a current date.
All medications will remain at the school for the duration of the prescription. Any changes in the medication, dosage, or frequency will necessitate a new form and a new labeled container.
Medications for acute illness (such as bacterial infections) are usually prescribed for administration three times a day and may be administered by the parent before school, after school, and before bedtime.
Please contact your school nurse if you have any questions.
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Visitors and Volunteers

Visitors and volunteers are welcomed at Russell Elementary School. You are required to sign in at the office or clinic, and pick up an identification badge to be worn while in the building.

Check in/Checkout

If you are picking up your child after school, you need to sign him/her out in the Raccoon Den.  Please wait for your child there.  If a neighbor, friend, or family member is going to pick up your child, please send a note or call school with the person's name.  This person must present a picture ID.

After School Destination

Complete the "After School Destination" form and return it to school.  Please notify your child's teacher in writing of any changes to this plan.  Even an occasional change of bus or pick up must be accompanied by a note or phone call.

Emergency Contact

Complete the "Emergency Contact" form and return it to school.  As contacts may change throughout the year, please keep the form current by notifying the school of the changes.

Changes

For any changes occurring during the school year, please complete the "Change of Information Form" located on the wall outside the main office.

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Early Release

Parents are to send a note to the student's teacher, or call the office, if they plan to take the student from school before the regular dismissal time. Parents should report to the office or clinic and sign the student out. The student will then be released to the parent.

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Breakfast and lunch program

• Information on breakfast/lunch prices will be given to all parents as their child is enrolled.
• Applications for free/reduced prices for breakfast/lunch will be given to all.
• Menus are sent home monthly for you to review with your child.
• Milk may be purchased separately for those students bringing their lunches from home.

Parents are always encouraged to have lunch with their children at any time during the year.  When planning to buy lunch, please let the office, or your child's teacher, know so you can be added to the daily count.  We encourage you to support our school lunch program by refraining from bringing "fast food" lunches.

We strongly urge you to purchase  cafeteria tickets for your students.  With a ticket, students and parents do not need to worry about lunch money. Reminder notes are sent home prior to expiration of ticket.

Students' behavior is monitored during breakfast and lunch by educational assistants. Students are expected to:

• sit at their assigned tables.
• conduct their conversations in quiet voices.
• raise their hands for assistance.
• lean the area they occupied for lunch.
• not leave their seats without permission.

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Curriculum is developed by DoDEA (Department of Defense Education Activity) with input from classroom teachers, principals, and the Coordinator of Instruction.  Curriculum content standards have been adopted by DoDEA and are being followed by NY/VA DDESS.  Textbooks are selected from a DoDEA approved list. In addition to texts, a wide variety of resources and supplemental materials are sued to support the curriculum.
 

• Language Arts

• Reading Counts (RC)

• Mathematics

• Science and Social Studies

These content subject areas, at the elementary level, are integrated providing students opportunities to apply language arts, and math skills.  Field trips, and visits from community resource speakers are utilized to enrich both areas.

Foreign Language
The foreign language program prepares students to meet the challenges of an interdependent world community by enabling them to recognize the importance of learning foreign languages, to value learning about other cultures, and to develop proficiency in one or more foreign languages. Students at Russell in grades Kindergarten through third receive 90 minutes of Spanish instruction weekly.
 
• Art

Art for the child is a means of expression. It is the purpose of the art program to stimulate creative thinking and offer opportunities for artistic expression. Children are provided a variety of experiences, projects, and ideas to explore and investigate. Art classes are scheduled to include a 30-60 minute block for each class weekly.
 
• Music

Music classes are scheduled for two 30 minute periods for kindergarten through third grade. Preschool classes have a 15 minute class once a week. Music skills and concepts are taught through song, movement, playing rhythm instruments, listening, and creative activities. The student is introduced to a varied repertoire encompassing different styles, composers, and cultures. All students participate in musical productions, and proper audience behavior is emphasized.

• Physical Education

• Guidance

The goal of the guidance program is to help each child achieve more in school.  Our program at Russell includes many components. Classroom lessons are held weekly on such topics as friendship, cooperation, study skills, and problem solving. Small groups are held throughout the year dealing with issues such as friends, self-esteem, and deployment. Individual counseling is available to the children through self referrals or parental request. Consultation with parents and/or teachers is available. Throughout the year, a variety of parent workshops are offered, such as self-esteem, homework, or communication.
Character Counts
Character Counts is a program designed and used to help reinforce and expand upon the character qualities taught at home.  This is a cooperative effort between home and school.  The Character Counts program is centered around a "word of the month".  Words such as responsibility, honest, and respect will be used to help teach right from wrong and to help all work together.  Teachers will focus on a new word each month through discussions, use of literature, guidance lessons, and other activities.  The Character Counts program will positively affect our students at home, school, and in the community.

• Gifted Education (GE)/Resource


 The unique worth, ability and dignity of every student should be cultivated. The GE/Resource teacher, in collaboration with the classroom teacher, provides and environment to encourage optimum achievement with a variety of differentiated opportunities matched to the needs of individual students. We are committed to providing an educational program in which all students can be fulfilled, productive, and contributing members of society.

• Technology

• Media Center

Kindergarten - In Kindergarten, we believe young children learn best through active exploration of the world around them. Our program integrates social skills, language, math, science, social studies, art, music, and physical education into the day. We are committed to providing developmentally appropriate experiences to all the children so they may be successful learners.

First Grade - Read! Read! Read! First grade is the time to become readers. It is also the time to develop writing skills, to learn mathematic concepts and operations, as well as, expand investigations of our world. First grade is the time to establish good work habits and to become an independent workers in a cooperative community of learners.

Second Grade - Second graders are eager learners. The focus for reading goes beyond decoding to comprehension.  Mathematics involves more complex addition and subtraction, measurement, and simple fractions with an emphasis on problem solving skills. Second graders are given many opportunities to write creatively while managing the skills of organizing ideas, spelling, sentence structure, and editing.

Third Grade - The third grade year is a pivotal one for students. The focus is on grammar, multiplication, cursive handwriting, reading and problem solving. The ultimate goal for third graders is to use good organizational skills and to work independently.

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School System Assessment

System wide tests are important in that they help us measure individual student achievement as well as our school and system's progress toward the goals of the DoDEA Community Strategic Plan.

The Terra Nova - Multiple Assessments Test - measures each child's academic progress in Language Arts/Reading, Math, Science, and Social Studies. This test is given in the spring to third grade students.

The DRA - Developmental Reading Assessment - measures a child's reading ability and growth.  This assessment is given to our kindergarten through third grade students.

Progress Reports - Progress reports are distributed each nine weeks. The evaluation system and grading key is shared with parents at the fall parent orientation. Parents are required to schedule a conference with the teachers to review student work and report cards. The scheduled conferences are at the end of the first and third nine weeks. Additional conferences may be requested by telephone or a note to the teacher to discuss academic and/or behavior concerns. Teachers and parents are encouraged to work together to ensure academic success and promote positive attitudes towards learning.

Note:  PerK progress reports are given to parents in January and May.  Conferences for perk students are held as needed.

Student Support Team (SST) - Student Support Team meets periodically to discusses educational concerns of parents and teachers as they are related to academic or behavior difficulties of a child.  The team makes recommendations related to academic and social growth.  The team is composed of the principal, classroom teacher, support personnel, other teachers of the student, and may include a special education teacher and parent(s).

• Child Study Committee (CSC) - This is a multi-disciplinary team composed of the parent, teacher, guidance counselor, speech therapist, special education teacher, school psychologist, principal, and often times the Coordinator of Pupil Personnel. This committee discusses continued concerns.  A full evaluation may be recommended if there is a suspected disability that would qualify a student for Special Education Services. The evaluation may include:
• psychological testing
• educational testing
• observation of the student in the classroom
• social history

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