Handbook

Tucson Unified School District, 501 North Maguire, Tucson, AZ 85710 | (520) 731-5200
 

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Student Handbook

SCHOOL HOURS:

CROSSWALK HOURS: Please encourage your children to use the crosswalks.  Adult crossing guards are on duty at 5^th & Pantano, 5^th & Maguire and 5^th & Sarnoff from 7:15 A.M.-8:30 A.M. and 1:45 P.M.-2:30 P.M.

PLAYGROUND HOURS: Children are not to be on the playground before 7:35 A.M. when supervision begins. They must go directly home when dismissed unless attending our after-school program.

LUNCH HOURS:  

SCHOOL VISITATIONS: Parents are welcome to visit Schumaker School at any time.  Please make arrangements with your child’s teacher.  All visitors to the building are required to “check-in” with our office before going to classrooms.

CHILDREN DROP-OFF/PICK-UP AREAS: All children who are transported to school by car are to be picked up and dropped off at the Maguire car bays.  If you park across the street from the school, your child will need to cross at the crosswalk at 5^th and Maguire.  Do not pick-up or drop-off your child in the school parking lot.  5^th Street bays are for daycare vans and TUSD buses only.  Thank you for helping to keep all students safe.

BICYCLES: An area is provided for parking of students’ bicycles.  It is requested that students who ride bicycles to school use a lock and wear a bike helmet.  Bicycles are not to be ridden on the school grounds or sidewalks surrounding the school.  Skateboards are not allowed.

HEALTH AND MEDICINE AT SCHOOL: Arizona State Law requires that a child must be immunized against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, polio, measles, rubella, hepatitis, and chicken pox before he/she enters school.  Free immunizations are available from the Pima County Health Department.

We can only administer medication that has been prescribed by a physician (this includes over the counter medications).  Prescription drugs must be in the original pharmacy container labeled with the child’s name, date, dosage, and time to be taken.  An adult should deliver medications to the health office; do not allow children to carry medications to school.

If a child becomes ill at school the parent/guardian will be notified to pick him/her up.  If we are unable to reach a parent or guardian, the designee on the emergency card will be contacted.  The emergency card must have complete information regarding whom to call in case of an emergency.  Please remember to call the school when emergency information changes.

SHOULD I SEND MY CHILD TO SCHOOL?
How do you make the right decision?  You do not want to keep a child home if she/he is not sick; but you also do not want to send a sick child to school.  Your child should not come to school with the following symptoms:

TARDIES: Prompt arrival at school is expected of all students.  Late arrival disrupts class and causes loss of instruction time for all students.  Any child who arrives after 8:00 A.M. is considered tardy, and must stop in the office for a tardy slip before they will be admitted to class.  Children arriving late from a doctor’s appointment are excused.

REPORT OF ABSENCE: In order to check on each child’s absence and safety, we require parents to phone the school (731-5202) anytime after 7:00 A.M. on the day of the absence.  If you do not call, a note must accompany your child upon return to school.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR TELEPHONE NUMBER: Please notify the office immediately when there is a change of address, telephone number or emergency contacts for your child.  We cannot stress enough the importance of current information where parents or another responsible adult may be reached during the day.  If you are withdrawing your child from school, please notify the office.

BREAKFAST PROGRAM: Breakfast is available to all students.  Students who qualify for reduced or free lunch also qualify for breakfast at reduced or free prices.  Once qualified for free or reduced lunch, no additional paperwork is needed for breakfast.  Serving time is 7:20-7:55 A.M.  Students arriving after 7:55 A.M. will not be served.  The full price of the breakfast is $1.00.

SCHOOL LUNCH: Children may buy a school lunch or bring a lunch from home.  School lunches are provided for $1.50 per child, including milk.  Milk is available separately for 30 cents.  Lunches may be paid for in advance, by the week or month.  Please make checks payable to Schumaker Food Service.  Students may bring an extra $1.50 for lunch, which will be kept in the office until needed.  If emergency money is not available, students will be given a peanut butter sandwich and milk.

FREE/REDUCED PROGRAM: Applications for free/reduced lunches are available in the office.  All families must reapply at the beginning of each year.

CLASSROOM CONCERNS: Your child’s teacher is the best source of information about individual classroom procedures and your child’s progress.  If you have a question or concern, please contact the teacher directly, prior to contacting the principal.  By addressing concerns directly to the teacher, we hope to improve teacher/parent communication.

STUDENT RECORDS: The cumulative record is an individual report on each student.  It is required by law and is stored in safekeeping in the school.  Parents/Guardians may view the cumulative folder in the presence of the school principal or designee.  No one outside the school may see the record unless the court subpoenas it.  Special Education records are kept at Rosemont Service Center.

HOMEWORK: We believe that homework can assist students in the development of self-discipline, self-direction, and study skills.  It provides a vital link and ongoing communication among parents, teachers, and students. 

Guidelines for time: Although not assigned every day, the following guidelines are used to determine the amount of homework that may be expected.

Homework may be assigned on a daily or weekly basis.  Long-term projects may also be included in the above time frames.  Children finishing assignments early are encouraged to read for Schumaker Reading Club credit or practice math facts.

PROGRESS REPORTS: Progress reports are sent home four times each school year.  The progress report envelope should be signed and returned each quarter (Kindergarten progress reports are signed and returned on a semester basis).  Elementary School grades are based on a rubric.

STANDARDIZED TESTS: Children in Grades 2-5 take the Dual Purpose Assessment (DPA) which combines the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) and the Terra Nova which is a standardized test.  Grades 1 and 2 take District Core Curriculum tests.  These tests will assess some skills in reading, language and math.

TEXTBOOKS: Textbooks are furnished by Public School Funds and become the responsibility of the student to whom they are assigned.  Students are expected to care for the books issued to them and pay for books that are lost or damaged.

FIELD TRIPS: Educational field trips are planned as part of the school program.  A permission slip must be signed and returned to school for each field trip.  Children without signed permission slips will not be allowed to attend.  Students in classes at Schumaker may not be removed from class to attend field trips with siblings.

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS: Special Education programs in the areas of Learning Disabilities, Emotional Disabilities, Hearing Impaired, Speech and Language, and Gifted Education are provided to assure the most appropriate learning opportunities for every child.

LIBRARY: The school library is gradually becoming a multi-media resource center.  Students and teachers are encouraged to use it frequently for reference needs or to select books for personal reading.  Parents are urged to cooperate by encouraging children to use our library facilities, helping them to properly care for borrowed materials, and returning them on time.  Parents are required to pay for damaged or lost books.

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS: Every student will be taught by a substitute teacher at some time.  Students are expected to be courteous and treat substitutes as guests.  Inappropriate behavior will result in disciplinary action from the teacher or principal.

MORNING BREAK: The ten-minute morning break is a part of the required physical education curriculum.  It is not free playtime.  All students are a part of the Schumaker Miler’s Club.  Students are required to walk the designated course to become more physically fit.  Teachers on duty monitor and issue mile markers.  Rewards are given to students reaching the designated number of miles.  Students may eat snacks as they walk.

VALUABLES: TUSD is not responsible for loss, damage, theft or vandalism of students’ personal property.  Please do not send toys, personal P.E. equipment and valuables to school. Please label your child’s lunch box, coat and other personal belongings.  If something is lost, please check the Lost and Found rack located by the office.  At the end of the year, all unclaimed items are given to the TUSD Clothing Bank.

FIRE DRILLS: Fire drills are held on a regular basis throughout the school year.  Bus evacuation drills are held two times per year.

NEWSLETTERS: Look forward to newsletters at least every other week from your child’s teacher containing classroom information and events.  School and P.T.C. newsletters will be sent home frequently to keep you informed of school activities, menus, and special dates of interest.  Check with your child periodically about the newsletters to make sure they reach home.

SCHOOL INSURANCE: School Insurance Forms will be sent home the first week of school.  Mail forms directly to the company.

SCHOOL PICTURES: School pictures of every student will be taken in the fall and spring of the year.  A notice with purchase options is sent home prior to the scheduled activity.  Non-students may take pictures on re-take day in November.

VOLUNTEERS: Volunteers must check in/out through the office.  A visitor’s badge is issued and must be worn while you are in the building.  We greatly appreciate our volunteers.

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

1. HONOR ROLL:  Only fifth graders are eligible first semester, and fourth and fifth graders are eligible second semester.  In order to qualify for honor roll, a student must receive all 3’s and/or 4’s on his/her progress report.
2. MILER’S CLUB: Students completing a designated number of miles during morning break will receive recognition and certificates.
3. PRIDE IN SCHUMAKER COUPONS (“SCHUPONS”): Students exhibiting positive behavior, beyond the normal expected good behavior, will receive a Schupon.  Students may trade their Schupons for prizes such as a pencil, eraser, or small prize on Spirit Day at the Schupon table during lunch.
4. STAR STUDENT OF THE MONTH AWARD: Each classroom will choose one child who has exhibited excellent citizenship for that month.  Those children will attend a Star-of-the-Month luncheon at 11:00 A.M. on the last Thursday of the month in the cafeteria.  Their “information sheets” will also be displayed in the lobby.
5. PERFECT ATTENDANCE SLIPS: Each student attending school Monday – Friday will receive a perfect attendance slip on Friday.  This slip will be put in for a weekly drawing.  The prize will be lunch from a local restaurant of the child's choice.
6. ON TIME AWARDS: Students who arrive on time each day during a school quarter will receive a certificate.
7. SCHUMAKER READING CLUB: We encourage all students to join the Schumaker Reading Club by getting a form from their teachers, and recording the number of minutes read at home. Students will be rewarded for their reading.

SCHUMAKER READING CLUB: We encourage all students to join the Schumaker Reading Club by getting a form from their teachers.  Minutes of home reading are recorded and then rewarded at school.

PARENT-TEACHER CLUB: You are encouraged to become an active part of the P.T.C.  Meetings are held on the second Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the library.  We need you.  It is vital that the home and school work together as a team.  Information about the Parent-Teacher Club will be coming home with your child.  There are no membership fees, and all are welcome to attend our meetings.

                2007-2008 PTC Officers:
                Presidents:  Bobbie Koistinen
                Co-Vice Presidents:  Kelly Leverton and Marie Kalberer
                Secretary: Sandy Herfkens
                Treasurer: Lisa Lebda

SITE COUNCIL:  The State of Arizona ARS-315 has mandated that all school sites will have a site council.  The site council is a representative body of stakeholders working together to make decisions for the school.  While only members are permitted to vote on issues, all stakeholders are welcome to attend meetings and share your ideas.  Meetings take place the second Monday of every month at 3:00 p.m. 
                       

2007-2008 Site Council Members:

LEGAL NAME ON RECORDS: A student’s full legal name, as it appears on the Birth Certificate, is used on all cumulative student education records and District computer records, according to Governing Board Policy 5015.  Only an adoption or other Court Order would permit use of a name other than the full legal name on all official cumulative student education records.  A student may be called by another family name in class if so desired.

RIGHTS OF DIVORCED PARENTS: A non-custodial parent has full student education rights unless there is a Court Order, or other legal document, which specifically restricts the non-custodial parent’s rights.  If there is any doubt as to rights, a school can take up to 45 days to reply to a request.  In case of separation, either parent has full rights. Federal law says information must be given out to a non-custodial parent unless the custodial parent can produce a Court Order, or other legal document, restricting the student education records rights of non-custodial parent.  Please be sure the office has a copy of any court orders pertaining to your child.

PROMOTION/RETENTION: You have the right to appeal the decision of your child’s teacher(s) to retain or promote your child.  In order to appeal, a written request for a review by the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board must be received by the Superintendent, 1010 E. 10^th Street, Tucson, AZ 85719.

Tiene usted el derecho de apelar la decision del/de la maestro(a) de su hijo/hija de retener or aprobar de grado a su hijo/hija.  Una peticion escrita solicitando un revision por el Consejo Gobernante del Districto Escolar de Tucson debera ser recibida  por el Superintendent, 1010 E. 10^th Street, AZ 85719.

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