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|  | | | | Student Handbook | | Nokomis Montessori
Magnet School
985 Ruth Street
St. Paul, MN 55119
651-293-8857
Fax 651-293-5464
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Arrival Time
Students can come to school starting at 8:55 a.m. Our school day starts at 9:10 a.m. and ends at 3:40 p.m.
Morning Children’s House (4 year olds and Kindergarten students combined) classes start at 9:10 a.m. to NOON. Afternoon Children’s House classes (4 year old and Kindergarten students combined) start at 12:55 p.m. to 3:40 p.m.
Parents driving their child to school in the morning should enter the parking lot and drop them off at the front door starting at 8:55 a.m.
If you wish to walk your child into school or if you are picking them up at the end of the day, you must park on the street before entering the school. There is NO PARKING along the yellow curb on Ruth Street in front of the building. The parking lot is closed from 3:30-3:50 to allow children to cross the lot safely. Parents should pick-up their students in the foyer at dismissal time.
Please send a written note to your child's teacher or call the office at 293-8857 by 3:00 p.m. if there are any changes to your child's regular dismissal routine.
Attendance
Regular attendance is essential for school success. We monitor attendance each day and follow the Minnesota Law for compulsory school attendance.
Please call the school at 293-8857 to report your child's absence between 8:00-9:30 a.m. The school office staff will call parents/guardians of absent students starting at 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 pm for afternoon CH/4 year old students.
Tardy
Students who are tardy should report directly to the office and sign in when they arrive at school.
Excused tardy: an excused tardy may include, but is not limited to, illness; medical appointments; dental appointments; or late school buses.
Unexcused tardy: an unexcused tardy may include, but it not limited to, oversleeping; missing the school bus; dawdling in the hallway; or late from breakfast. Unexcused tardies (out of building tardies) can result in a referral to the TIP/FTIP.
Truancy Intervention Program
If your child is absent frequently, the school will take the necessary steps to comply with the state and district guidelines for attendance, including reporting to the Ramsey county Truancy Intervention Program if necessary. If your child has 3 unexcused absences from school, we will send home an Attendance Warning letter. The next step is a meeting with the principal and social worker. If attendance problems still continue to exist, the parents/guardians will be referred to a Truancy Intervention Program. The Attendance team monitors student attendance twice a month.
Cold Weather
If a parent/caregiveer chooses to keep their child(ren) home due to the cold weather, it will be considered an excused absence with a signed letter from the parent/caregiver (district policy).
ALC After School Program
Students are recommended to participate in our ALC Extended Day Program by their classroom teachers.
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Bus Transportation
Nokomis students are assigned a bus by the District Transportation Department. Children who live within a mile from Nokomis School are considered "walkers" (see below) and no bus transportation is provided. Children can only ride on their assigned bus. Bus transportation is a privilege and all students must display appropriate, safe bus behavior to continue riding the school bus. All children are instructed about safe bus riding behavior and bus rules in the beginning of the school year. If your child does not follow bus rules and receives a report from the bus driver, the principal will conference with your child, notify parents and take progressive discipline consequences outlined by our Transportation Department. Students will lose their bus riding privileges if serious or ongoing bus problems occur.
Walkers
Children who live less than a mile from school are "walkers." There is a School Safety Patrol Program to help our walkers arrive to school safely. We will arrange walker lines as needed. Please call the school patrol supervisor at 293-8857 if your child is a walker so that patrol lines can be set up. If you'd like to volunteer to assist with supervision of walking students in the morning or afternoon, please call the secretary at 293-8857.
Band/Instrumental
Music Program
(Grades 4-6)
Nokomis offers an instrumental music program as an elective to all 4th, 5th and 6th grade students funded by the district budget.
Breakfast
Students can eat breakfast at school. Breakfast hours are from 8:55 a.m. –
9:10 a.m.
FREE breakfast for students who are eligible for free/reduced meals.
Our Discovery Club students eat breakfast from 8:30-8:45 a.m.
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Calendar
A Nokomis 2009-2010 Calendar will be distributed in September highlighting all of our special events. Students participating in our evening family school events need to be supervised by a parent/guardian.
Children’s House
Children’s House is a Montessori term that refers to PreKindergarten (four year olds) and Kindergarten students.
Cell Phones & Pagers
Students are prohibited from carrying cell phones or pagers at school. If a parent needs to contact their child during the day, they should contact the school office at 293-8857.
Communication
We encourage regular communication between home and school. Parents may leave messages for teachers on the voicemail system 24 hours a day.
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Dress Code
Please encourage your child to wear appropriate clothing to school (tank tops or stomach exposing tops are not allowed).
Students need to wear tennis shoes to participate in physical education classes.
Students need to wear appropriate clothing for daily outdoor recess especially in cold winter months.
Drug-Free Schools
Tobacco, alcohol & drugs are strictly prohibited on school grounds. This policy applies to students, staff, parents, & guests.
Discovery Club
Childcare Program
If you wish to enroll your child in Discovery Club for before or after school and/or extended day 4 year old program, please call Discovery Club at 293-5461.
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Emergency Information
Please complete the emergency information sheet for your child and return it to school promptly.
Please keep the telephone numbers current by reporting these changes to the school secretary.
English Language Learners Program
We are using a collaborative model of ELL programming for our students. ELL teachers provide service in the classroom during your child's reading instructional time. Our goal is to provide the students with opportunities to reach excellence in their second language (English), while maintaining their first language and culture.
Our ELL team coordinates our annual Hmong New Year and our Hmong CLAnD After School classes.
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Field trips
All children must have a signed permission slip to participate in field trips. Verbal approval will not be accepted. Parents will receive advance notice about all field trips. Field trips are planned to support the learning in the classroom.
A Type I Field Trip form is distributed and collected at the beginning of the school year for walking field trips.
Teachers will send home a Type II field trip permission slip for each field trip requiring bus transportation. Students must have written parent or guardian permission to participate in Type II field trips as required by the school district.
Fire Drills
All schools are required to complete five fire drills during the school year. Our students exit the building in a quiet and orderly manner.
Food
Reminder, any food brought by students to share with classmates must be store bought and packaged according to Saint Paul Public School requirements.
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Gifted and Talented Program
We have a high number of students identified as "Gifted and Talented" using district criteria. Our Montessori methodology supports differentiated learning for our children. GT testing is completed in January for all grades K & 2 & recommended students using NNAT. More information will be sent home in Nokomis newsletters.
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Harassment
At Nokomis, we will work to create and maintain a harassment-free environment. The Saint Paul Public School District has well-established guidelines for dealing with any behaviors which are considered to be harassment, including racial, sexual, gender or violence. Encourage your child to report these problems promptly to their classroom teacher, other teachers and principal. All complaints will be taken seriously.
Homelessness
Title I Form & Services
Our Title I office created a form to better identify and serve our students experiencing homelessness in our district. We sent home the Title I form to all Nokomis families at the beginning of the school year. By indicating “yes” to any of the questions below listed on the Title I form, you are eligible for services (including free meals at school) from the Title I Homeless Program.
1. My family lives in an emergency, domestic abuse or transitional shelter.
2. My family is temporarily living with more than one family in a house, mobile home or apartment (because our family does not have a place of our own).
3. My family is staying in our car, outside or in a public space.
4. My family lives in a hotel or motel due to lack of accommodations.
5. The child I am registered in school is in emergency foster care awaiting foster care placement.
6. I am a youth who is not in the physical custody of a parent or legal guardian.
7. I am currently working with the Title I Homeless Program staff.
If you are interested in receiving services including free meals for the rest of the school year, transportation assistance, school supplies, uniforms, special education assistance, or referrals for additional resources, please send the completed form to the Nokomis Office or call Becky Hicks at 651-632-3789
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Internet Use Contract
Parents/guardians are asked to sign an Internet Use Contract at the beginning of the school year.
We will create a master school list of students who can not use the internet at school for classroom and library computer lab. If you have any concerns, please talk with your child's teacher.
As a student in the Saint Paul Public Schools, your son or daughter may need to use the Internet as part of his/her educational experience. All students will be taught appropriate use of the internet.
The district uses technical measures to prevent access to sites that may be controversial, inappropriate, or may contain advertising. However, even with these measures, it is impossible to totally control what students encounter.
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Joy
J is for the JOY that comes from watching our children learn and grow.
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Kindergarten
All students participate in All Day Kindergarten.
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Library & Computer Lab
All classes check out books from our school library. Classes also come to the library to use our computer lab.
Lock Down Practice Drills
All schools are required to complete five lock-down practice drills during the school year. We ask students to gather quietly in the classroom with the door locked and classroom shades closed.
Lost and Found
A large black cabinet located in the front entrance is used to collect our lost and found items. It is helpful when parents label their child's belongings.
Lunch and Breakfast Program
Procedures for purchasing lunch or breakfast: Send money or check in an envelope with the child's name, teacher's name and PIN number on the envelope specifying amounts for each child.
Prices for meals this year are:
Breakfast $.65
Lunch $1.75
Reduced price lunch $.40
Milk $.50
If you think you may qualify for free or reduced lunch, you will need to complete an application (one application per family). Forms are available at the school office.
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Montessori Education
Montessori Education is a method of learning founded by Dr. Maria Montessori. Nokomis Montessori is one of three Public Montessori Schools in the Saint Paul Public School district. Nokomis serves students living on the East side of St. Paul.
Monthly Parent Newsletters
Monthly Parent Newsletters are sent home with your child on the last day of each month including an updated monthly calendar, PTA news and monthly lunch menu. Our monthly newsletters are also posted on our school website.
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Nokomis Montessori Magnet
Nokomis is a peaceful place to learn.
Nurse/Health Care Services
Our Health Educational Assistant is at Nokomis every day to provide consistent health care to our students. Our school nurse schedule will be determined in the fall.
If your child has a temperature of 100 degrees or is sick during the school day, your child will be sent home from school. We request that parents/guardians come quickly to pick up their child.
All medications must be kept in the School Health Office unless special arrangements are made with the School Nurse.
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Office Hours
Nokomis Office Hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you have any questions or concerns, please call during this time or leave a message on our 24 hour voicemail system.
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PTA
Parents/guardians are encouraged to participate in our PTA Meetings and PTA Family Events. FREE childcare is provided for all PTA meetings by our Discovery Club staff members. PTA is always looking for volunteers to help plan and work during our family events.
Parent Involvement
We are so thankful for our active parent involvement at Nokomis. We have high parent participation in fall and spring parent-teacher conferences. We are always looking for parents/grandparents to volunteer during the school day and/or during evening family programs. Please come to our Site Council and/or PTA meetings as scheduled in the monthly school calendar.
Parents Right to Know
Under the No Child Left Behind Law, parents have the right to request information regarding the professional qualifications of their student's classroom teachers. Parents who would like to receive this information should write to Human Resource Department, Attention: ESEA Teacher Qualifications, Saint Paul Public Schools, 360 Colborne Street, St. Paul, MN 55102-3299.
Pesticide Application
In accordance, with Minnesota Statute M.S. 121A.30, Parents Right to Know Act, all parents, guardians and employees at this school are advised that an estimated schedule of application of pesticides is available in the school's office for review and copying. In addition, any parent or guardian who wishes to be notified of any variation from this scheduled application may be so notified by providing five self-addressed, stamped envelopes to the school to be used throughout the school year for mailing purposes. The schedule and subsequent notices apply only to pesticides in toxicity categories I, II or III as classified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or a restricted-use pesticide as designated by federal law.
Patrols
We plan to select 30 students in grades 4-6 to act as responsible school leaders. Our patrols assist students walking to and from school. They also help supervise our afternoon Pre-K (4 year olds) as they arrive to school on a bus.
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Questions
If you have any questions or concerns about your child, please call your child's teacher first and/or the principal at 293-8857. Messages can be recorded on our voicemail for specific staff members.
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Rights and Responsibilities
The Saint Paul Public Schools publishes a "Rights and Responsibilities: A Student Behavior Handbook for Elementary and Secondary Students." All families will receive a copy of this handbook at the beginning of the school year. Additional copies are also available in the school office.
Recess
All students participate in daily outdoor recess at Nokomis. Please send appropriate clothing with your child especially for cold winter months.
Registration
Nokomis is one of the most popular schools in Saint Paul Public Schools. If you'd like to register to have your child attend Nokomis, it is important to complete the application by the March deadline. Current siblings and close neighborhood residents are given preference for acceptance to Nokomis.
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School Hours
Our school hours are from 9:10 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. for all students in grades K-6.
The schedule for half day 4 year olds is as follows:
• AM Early Childhood 9:10-11:55 a.m.
• PM Early Childhood 12:55-3:40 p.m.
Students can arrive starting at 8:55 a.m. Students can go directly to their classrooms or to the cafeteria to eat breakfast. We do not provide child supervision before 8:55 a.m. or after 3:40 p.m.
Site Council
Site Council meetings are highlighted on the school calendar. We meet on Tuesday Evenings from 5:00-6:00 p.m. A light snack is served. Parents/guardians are welcome to participate in our site council meetings. There are seven staff representatives and seven parent representatives serving on our Nokomis Site Council.
Specialty Classes
Our students in grades K-6 participate in Physical Education, Technology and Science classes following a ten day (E1 & E2) or five day rotation (CH) schedule.
Student Directory
Our PTA creates a Nokomis Student Directory at the beginning of the school year. If you'd like you child's information included in the directory, you must return the form to the school office by 9-18-09.
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Testing
Our students in grades 3-6 participate in MCA-II state testing during the school year. Our ELL students also participate in TEAE testing.
Title I Program & Compact
Nokomis Montessori is a School-wide Title I School. We receive additional funds from Title I.
All families will be asked to sign the Nokomis Title I Student-Teacher-Parent/Guardian-Principal Compact at the beginning of the school year. Our Title I Compact clearly states expectations for students, parents, teachers and the principal. Teachers will review the Title I Compact at our Parent Orientation & PTA Fall Festival on Thursday, October 22.
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Unnecessary Articles
Please do not allow your child to bring unnecessary articles to school such as radios, hand-held computer games, cell phones, trading cards, pagers, toys, etc. The school will not be responsible for these items if they are damaged, lost or stolen. These articles disrupt student learning time.
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Vacations
Please talk with the principal in advance if your child will miss school for a family vacation. We strongly encourage families to schedule vacations during non-school days as allowed in our district calendar. If your child is doing well in school and has a good attendance record, the principal can allow up to five days of excused absence for family vacation in a school year. If the vacation exceeds five days during a school year, it will be recorded as "unexcused absence" and the parents/guardians will be referred to Truancy Intervention Program.
Reminder, teachers are not required to prepare homework in advance for students missing school for vacations.
Visitors & Volunteers
Visitors and Volunteers are welcome at Nokomis Montessori. All visitors and volunteers must sign in at the office when they arrive and wear a visitor's badge while on school property.
Volunteers must fill out a volunteer application form. Volunteers must be screened with a criminal background check. The secretary and the principal will coordinate the registration of volunteers.
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Website
Please visit our school website at http://www.nokomis.spps.org
Wellness Policy
Our district adopted a Wellness Policy. The purpose of this policy is to encourage and support healthy learners who thrive in our school communities and to assure a school environment that promotes and protects students' safety, well being and ability to learn. The Wellness Policy incorporates physical activity, nutrition and other health supports. A copy is available in the office.
Xx , Yy & Zz
You
YOU are the key to your child's success in school! THANKS for your continued support at home!
Zero Tolerance
Students are not allowed to bring any real or toy weapons to school. Violation of this rule may result in suspension or expulsion.
Zest for Learning
The children at Nokomis Montessori Magnet are excited to learn every day.
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handbook_2008.pdf
Student Handbook
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