Willowbrook School Student Handbook

2018-2019

Willowbrook Elementary School #willowbrook50th

Dear Wildcats, Welcome to the 2018­19 school year! Willowbrook Elementary School will celebrate a 50th anniversary in February. We have been honoring childhood since 1969. Just think of all the students and families that can call Willowbrook “home”. We plan to use this anniversary as a theme to coordinate our school activities. The beginning of each new school year presents the opportunity for a fresh start and a growth mindset. Each member of our school community is committed to making this year a success for you. You matter! The staff and I believe we can create a community that craves learning, fosters resiliency, and cares deeply for every child. We honor childhood and foster intellectual, physical and social­emotional growth. We will need to support one another this year. As members of a large school family, we understand the need for rules and procedures. We also affirm that all students have rights and responsibilities.

Student Rights Student Responsibilities

To be respected and treated with kindness. To have the chance to be the best you can be. To have a safe, quiet place to work. To express an opinion or idea. To ask for assistance when it is needed.

To treat others with respect and kindness. To encourage others, even those who are different from you. To observe the rules of the classroom and school during all activities. To attend school regularly. To respect the opinions and ideas that others share. To care for property that belongs to you, others, or the school.

It is a privilege to serve the Willowbrook Community. Please let me know if I can be of assistance to you or your family. My door is open to you. Sincerely,

Scott R. Carlson Willowbrook School Principal scarlson@district30.org @willowbrook30

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Table of Contents Statement of Purpose

The Willowbrook School Song

Absence

Arrival & Dismissal Late Arrival Appointments Dismissal Safety Reminders

Band & Orchestra

Behavior

Bicycles, Skateboards and Rollerblades

Buses

Character Counts!

Child Care Programs

Child Guest Policy

Classroom Parties & Birthdays Classroom Parties Student Birthdays and Invitations

Communication Calendars Report Cards and Parent Teacher Conferences Parent Information Nights

District Handbook

Dropping Off Forgotten Materials

Emergency Procedures

Field Day

Food Practices Lunch Daily Snack Birthdays & Holidays Allergy Information on File

Friday Flag Raising

Homework

Library Media Center

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Lockers

Lost and Found

Lunch & Recess

Medication

Multi­Tier System of Supports (MTSS)

Pets and Animals

Physical Education

Playground Rules

Preschool

Respect Time

Safety Visitors in the Building Weapons

School Store

Selling Items at School

Special Education Services

Student Dress

Supplies

Telephones

Toys/Nuisance Items

Vacations

Valuables/Money

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Statement of Purpose School District 30 exists to create a community that craves learning, fosters resiliency, and cares deeply for every child. We honor childhood and foster intellectual, physical and social­emotional growth (adopted May 2016). We value:

Lifelong learning Relationships and collegiality Child­centric practices

We will succeed by:

Employing strong financial planning Ensuring the highest quality staff through induction and development Implementing rigorous and coherent academic programs

The Willowbrook School Song At Willowbrook School you will make so many friends You know that there is someone who has a hand to lend Her doors are always open, so come and step inside Our students and staff members have spirit they can’t hide! At Willowbrook School we let our spirit shine! We use our brains solving problems like Einstein Our friends are always there for us and we are there for them Willowbrook! Willowbrook! She’s our Emerald Gem! Willowbrook School is a place where kids connect We know that Character Counts and we will always show respect Right here on Happy Hollow we show how much we care Our love of learning never ends Our open arms we now extend We’ll always be the best of friends Today and through the year! Words ­ Mrs. Sharon Latek Music ­ Mr. Bill Vaananen

Absence Being at school is crucial to a child’s success. Whenever possible, please arrange your schedule around the school calendar. Days missed for vacations disrupt the learning patterns for children. However, there are times when due to illness or a family emergency, absences are necessary. If a student is absent from school, the parent must call the Health Office at (847) 400­8860. If an absence is known about ahead of time, the parent should inform the Health Office via email or phone. If the school does not receive a call, we will attempt to contact a parent.

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Arrival & Dismissal Being on time to school is an important life skill and crucial to a good start to the day. Children who arrive on time are better able to transition from home, reconnect with friends and teachers, and prepare for a productive day. Please do what you can to establish and maintain morning routines that enable your child to be on time. Students in grades 1­5 should plan on arriving at school between 8:30­8:40 a.m. Outdoor supervision is available at 8:30 a.m. The bell to line up for grades 1­5 will ring at 8:40 a.m. Kindergarten students begin class at 8:55 a.m. Parents of students in grades 1­5 should use the front driveway for drop­off and pick­up. Preschool and Kindergarten students should be dropped off and picked up in the back of the building. Parents can enter the back parking lot via the entrance immediately to the south of the building. Cars follow a counterclockwise pattern. In the morning, students in grades 1­3 line up at the front door. Students in grades 4 & 5 line up at the north door. There is adult supervision in both areas.

Preschool Kindergarten Grades 1­5

AM Drop Off 8:40 Class Starts 8:45 AM Pick Up 11:15 PM Drop Off 12:10 Class Starts 12:15 PM Pick Up 2:45

Drop Off 8:45 Line Up 8:50 Class Starts 8:55 Dismissal 2:55

Drop Off 8:30 Line Up 8:40 Dismissal 3:10

Students who ride a bus will walk through the school halls, not around the outside of the building, to the area where their class lines up. Students who walk to school must cross Happy Hollow Road with the crossing guard at Greenwood or with the school supervisor posted near the parking lot entrance.

Late Arrival The tardy bell will ring at 8:50 a.m. for all students 1st through 5th grade. A student who arrives after the tardy bell must report to the Health Office and get a pass to class. Kindergarten students are in class by 8:55 a.m.

Appointments A student who has an appointment must be signed out from the Health Office and picked up by a parent or someone the parent has designated. The office should be notified in advance of appointments by a note or phone call from the parent. Do not expect teachers to check email or voicemail during the school day.

Dismissal Students are to be picked up promptly after school, before 3:20 p.m. Kindergarten students should be picked up in the back of the school by 3:00 p.m. Please call if you will be delayed. Students not picked up in a timely manner will be brought into the main office until a parent arrives. After school care is available until 3:45 p.m. for a fee. If interested, call the main office. Some families enjoy after school play on the playground. Please note the following expectations: 1. Parents (or their designees) are responsible for supervision and any monitoring after 3:10. Staff who are

outside at the end of the day are there to monitor traffic and ensure all students have transportation home.

2. Students can only play if a parent (or designee) is physically present. Please do not arrange to pick up your child late and allow him/her to play unsupervised.

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3. School rules for safe play apply at all times on the playground. 4. Those supervising after school play cannot park in the circle drive.

Safety Reminders No left turns are allowed into the circular drive at any time. Only enter the drive from the east with a right

turn. In both the front and back drives, please be patient and proceed with caution. Stay in one lane. Always follow the guidance of our faculty that are there to assist with the facilitation of a smooth traffic

flow. Drop off and pick up children on the inner circle only. Do not double park and do not park on the outer

circle forcing children to cross through moving traffic to get to or from the car. Students should remain in their seat and buckled until the car comes to a complete stop. Children should

not be exiting at the playground, as this will back up the drop off line. For your child’s safety, students should ONLY exit on the passenger side of the car. Our staff is available

to assist you. Parent’s should remain in the driver’s seat. There is no parking in the circular drive during drop off and pick up, from 8:30­8:45 a.m. and 3:00­3:30

p.m. Cars should not park along the side of the back parking lot. Our buses cannot make the turn. Due to safety concerns, parents should not park in the back parking lot when dropping off or picking up

their child. According to state law, cell phone usage is not permitted within the school zone. Supervision begins at 8:30. Do not drop off children prior to that time.

Band & Orchestra School District 30 offers an instrumental music program beginning in 4th grade. Students may choose to play string instruments in 4th & 5th grade or brass, percussion, woodwind instruments in 5th grade. The program includes weekly lessons during the school day with other children who play a similar instrument. The band and orchestra perform two concerts during the year. Questions about band should be directed to Mr. Michael Vecchio at mvecchio@district30.org or 847­400­8936. Questions about orchestra should be directed to Mrs. Elspeth Losch at elosch@district30.org or 847­400­8865.

Behavior Children are expected to behave in an appropriate manner that is consistent with the rules for the activity. In the classroom, the teacher has the responsibility of setting the rules and establishing the consequences. This will make it a good place to live and learn. In other areas, such as the lunchroom, playground, assemblies, hallways or bus, general rules for everyone are established. Whenever students are at Willowbrook (i.e., during school, before/after care, PTO events), we expect them to do their best to be an “upstander” by trying to prevent bullying or mean behavior. Students can be an “upstander” in a variety of ways. They can:

use their own words to try to get the bully to stop. support other students by helping them to walk away. support other students by giving “put­ups” instead of “put­downs.” include students who might feel left out. report the behavior to a parent or teacher.

More information about the district’s discipline policy can be found within the District Handbook, located on the District 30 website.

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Bicycles, Skateboards and Rollerblades Students are encouraged to walk or ride their bicycle to school. We ask families to adhere to these basic safety rules:

1. Bicycles are to be walked on school grounds. 2. All bicycles are to be parked in the racks located at the front & back of the school. 3. Bike helmets, while not required, are strongly recommended.

Children can ride skateboards, rollerblades and scooters to school. However, none of these items can be used during the school day. Again, safety gear is highly recommended.

Buses Riding the bus is a privilege. A student who does not follow safety rules can lose the privilege of riding the bus. The driver is in charge and students are expected to follow the rules that he/she establishes:

1. All riders must be seated. Changing seats is not allowed while the bus is moving. 2. A bus pass must be shown when boarding the bus. If the pass is lost, call First Student at 847­724­7200

for a replacement. 3. Students who have not paid for bus service cannot ride at any time on the morning or afternoon routes. All

Kindergarten Shuttle riders must be registered to ride. 4. A student who wants to get off at a different stop must have a note from a parent, and the stop must be one

of a paid bus rider.

Character Counts! Willowbrook School and District 30 are committed to character development and the six pillars of character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. Students can be nominated by their peers or school staff for a character award to be presented at Friday Flag Raising. Nomination forms can be found in the front office.

Child Care Programs Before school child care and late pick up is available to students for a fee. The before school child care program runs from 7:00­8:30 a.m. Our “late pick up” program runs from 3:10­3:45 p.m. More information can be obtained by contacting the Willowbrook Office. The Northbrook Park District sponsors an after school child care program called “Adventure Campus”. The program is housed in the Willowbrook multi­purpose room and runs from 3:10­6:30 p.m. each full school day. Contact the Northbrook Park District for more information at 847­291­2995.

Child Guest Policy There are rare times when a student will want to bring a visitor for a day. A guest will be allowed under the following conditions:

1. The guest must be someone who is staying with the Willowbrook student and is approximately the same age. The guest must not be a student from one of the schools in the area.

2. The request to bring a guest to school must be made by the parent either in writing or verbally to the principal at least five school days prior to the visit. The principal will check with the classroom teacher to see if there is a conflict and then make a decision.

3. The school will also need to be given an emergency number to call if necessary. No guests will be allowed to visit Willowbrook during the first or last week of school and the days before or after vacation.

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Classroom Parties & Birthdays

Classroom Parties There are 3 PTO­sponsored classroom parties: Halloween, Winter Holiday and Valentine’s Day. The PTO room parents are responsible for the planning and execution of these parties. On Halloween, we hold a neighborhood parade (weather permitting). The Winter Holiday festivities occur on the last day before winter break. There is an all­district sing at Maple School in the morning, followed by a Willowbrook assembly and room parties in the afternoon. With the rise of food allergies, we have eliminated food from all classroom parties.

Student Birthdays and Invitations Willowbrook has a “no food” birthday celebration practice. If you want your child to bring something in for their birthday, we encourage you to donate a book to our library through the Birthday Book Club Program. You can also send in school supplies such as pencils, erasers, stickers, bookmarks, etc. Each student birthday will be shared over the morning announcements and students are invited to select a “birthday book” from the principal’s office. We will continue to recognize our student birthdays in a warm Willowbrook Way, but we will do it without food. Please do not send birthday invitations to school unless your family intends to invite all girls or all boys in the class.

Communication The school has several ways of communicating with parents. The “What’s Up Willowbrook”, our weekly newsletter, is emailed every Friday and is also posted to the school’s website. We highly encourage parents to read this weekly newsletter. All important dates and school events will be communicated here. If you are not receiving this weekly email newsletter, please let the front office know.

Calendars Parents can access and “subscribe” to the Willowbrook and District 30 calendars by going to the District’s website at www.district30.org . Go to the top left hand corner and click on the green circle that reads “calendars.” When the calendar of your choice comes up, go to the top left hand corner and click on “subscribe.”

Report Cards and Parent Teacher Conferences Education is the shared responsibility of teachers, parents and students. We value this partnership. Ongoing communication of student growth is achieved in a variety of ways, including through student report cards and conferences. Parents should expect report cards in December, March, and June. Parent­teacher conferences are held in October and February.

Parent Information Nights In addition, parents are invited to attend Curriculum Night in the fall and Lighted Schoolhouse in the spring. Curriculum Night includes principal and teacher presentations of important curricular information. The Lighted Schoolhouse is an open house for students and parents that showcases student learning. Exact dates and times will be communicated on the school calendar and within the weekly newsletter.

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District Handbook Northbrook/Glenview School District 30 maintains a student handbook with more detailed information. Parents are encouraged to reference this handbook for important District procedures and policies. It can be found on the District website at http://www.district30.org/parents/Handbook­2016.cfm

Dropping Off Forgotten Materials We discourage parents from dropping off items at school. This helps children to own their mistakes and learn from them. If you feel it is necessary to bring a forgotten item to school, please drop it in the office. If you know in advance that you will be dropping it off, tell your child and he or she can practice responsibility by remembering to come to the office for the item. Office staff will support children in this learning. Please do not go directly to the classroom.

Emergency Procedures Every classroom has emergency procedures and maps that are readily available and reviewed with staff members. Our schools conduct a minimum of 3 fire drills, 1 tornado drill, 1 bus evacuation, and 1 lockdown drill each school year. Moreover, our schools have been audited and assessed by village public safety officials who have participated in the planning of procedures which ensure the safety and security of our schools in the event of a disaster. Automated External Defibrillators (AED’s) are also available on both floors of the building. Should it become necessary to evacuate the building during school hours, there is a contingency plan in place. If school is to be closed because of extreme weather or other emergencies, the closing will be announced on the district website, EmergencyClosings.com and radio stations WSCR (670 AM), WGN (720 AM), and WBBM (780 AM). The automated phone system will be used to call homes/cell phones to inform families of the closing or other information. For more detailed information on the decision to close schools is made, please refer to the District Handbook.

Field Day Each spring, Willowbrook holds a field day organized by the physical education teachers and supported by parent volunteers. Students participate by homerooms in a spirit of friendly cooperation and competition. Being in field day is a privilege and students can lose the opportunity if they display poor behavior.

Food Practices Our first concern is for the safety of our students at Willowbrook. We strive to maintain a safe and inclusive environment for the increasing number of students entering our school with food related allergies. Allergies can affect a child’s physical and emotional health and can interfere with daily activities. Additionally, a severe allergic reaction with rapid onset, anaphylaxis, can be life threatening, and foods represent the most common cause of anaphylaxis among children and adolescents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated a 50 percent increase in child food allergies over the past 10 years. It is estimated that roughly 1 in 13 children have a food allergy. Our experience at Willowbrook is consistent with this national trend, and thus, we adhere to the following food practices, with the goal of sustaining a safe and nurturing environment for all students.

Lunch Quest Food Management Services offers a “nut safe” program. They will not serve anything with peanuts or tree nuts. However, they cannot guarantee there will be no cross­contact. It should also be noted that students may bring lunches containing nut products (e.g., peanut butter, granola bars) to be consumed in the lunchroom only. Willowbrook maintains a specific allergy safe lunch table (or tables) for students who are sensitive/allergic to specific ingredients (e.g., nuts, dairy). The decision to access one of these tables is made by the child’s parent(s) in consultation with the school nurse.

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Daily Snack To support your classmates safety and welfare, we ask that you very carefully consider the foods that you send to school for snack. Sharing of foods containing dairy or nuts or not washing hands thoroughly after eating these foods may trigger a possibly life threatening situation. We limit classroom snack options to fruits and vegetables . If you feel your child requires a snack, please send only a fruit or vegetable, preferably cut into bite size pieces to make it easier for them to eat. Any fruits or vegetables are safe. Some examples would be: baby carrots, apple slices, grapes, blueberries, pears, bananas, cucumber slices, celery sticks, cherry tomatoes, raisins and dried fruit, “GoGo” squeezes, plain applesauce, plain canned fruit in its own juice, etc. Please do not send in condiments such as dips or salad dressings.

Birthdays & Holidays Student birthdays are observed in classrooms in various ways. Each teacher and class creates their own birthday rituals as part of their class community. However, edible treats for birthdays or other such special occasions are not permitted. Willowbrook students also enjoy 3 classroom parties sponsored by the PTO room parents. Celebrations may include games, crafts, dance parties ­ creativity abounds! However, edible treats are not permitted.

Allergy Information on File Please contact Lisa Mullen, RN at 847­400­8860 or lmullen@district30.org, prior to the first day of school to discuss any issues related to your child’s allergy, or if you would like more information about the allergy aware lunchroom table that is available for students with allergies.

Friday Flag Raising Each Friday, our school community gathers in the gym for flag raising. Parents are welcome to join us in the gym at 8:40 for this weekly event. Flag raisers are selected by teachers and announced in our newsletter. Friday flag raising is also an opportunity to recognize students with Character Counts awards for exemplary behavior, celebrate shared success, introduce school­wide events, and other general information.

Homework Students in all grades are expected to complete certain activities or assignments at home. These can range from a collection of items at home to bring to school, practicing math facts or spelling words, reviewing vocabulary words or classroom notes, working on projects, independent reading, and completing assignments given as homework. Homework can be expected each week in grades 2­5. Students who are having difficulty completing their homework should ask for help from their teachers.

Homework may be requested and picked up on the first day of a student's absence. This request should be made through the Health Office by 9:00 a.m. on the day when the absence is reported. After the homework is prepared by the teachers, the parent should ensure that it is picked up and completed to the best of the student’s ability. If your child is too ill to complete the work, please wait to request it. Homework requests received after 10:00 a.m. may not be able to be completed until the next school day. In the case of a multiple day absence, a child may be able to contact a classmate for information about what was missed. It is up to the discretion of the teacher to provide homework ahead of time for absences that result from vacations. Most classroom experiences cannot be replicated with homework. Children missing multiple days may not be able to complete all in­school tasks. When coming after school for homework or supplies that are forgotten, please stop in at the main office for assistance. Parent and students should not go into classrooms before or after hours without a staff member.

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Library Media Center Students are encouraged to visit the library individually or in small groups throughout the day. Preschool and Kindergarten students may check out 1 book per week. First grade students may check out 2 books per week. Students in grades 2­5 may check out 3 books per week. Overdue notices are sent out on Mondays. The library will ask for overdue payment if materials are not returned within one month of checkout. Students may access several online subscription databases. These may be accessed directly from the Online Library Catalog link on our library website. Usernames and passwords are required to login from home. We welcome parent volunteers in the library. If you are interested, please contact librarian April Eichmiller at aeichmiller@district30.org or 847­400­8832.

Lockers Each student is assigned a hallway locker for his or her use. Students are not to share lockers with other students. Students should keep lockers neat and free of items that will cause damage to the locker. They should be cleaned and organized regularly so that books, materials and clothing can be easily found. The lockers remain the property of the school and we reserve the right to limit use and search them. Students can only use magnets to decorate the insides of lockers. No stickers please. Valuable items should not be stored in lockers.

Lost and Found Willowbrook has two areas for items that are lost. Clothing and items are kept in bins located by the front doors. Valuables such as glasses, watches and jewelry are kept at the front desk. Items left in the lost and found will be donated to charity the day before winter break, the day before spring break and the first day of summer vacation. Contact First Student Bus Company (847) 724­7200 for any items left on a bus.

Lunch & Recess Students should plan to eat lunch at Willowbrook during their school day. Our food service company, Quest, provides a pre­purchased hot lunch option. The District 30 food service program’s success relies on parent volunteers. Please consider signing up through the Parent Teacher Organization. It’s a great way to see your children and make social connections with other parents. Students are expected to behave appropriately and show respect for the lunchroom supervisors. A child who does not obey the rules may be assigned seating or temporarily removed from the lunchroom. Specific lunchroom rules will be reviewed with all students on a regular basis. The general lunchroom expectations are as follows:

1. Use good manners. 2. Listen for the whistle and follow directions. 3. Stay in your seat at the lunch table until dismissed. 4. Use quiet voices. 5. Clean up your own mess at your table and the floor. 6. Due to food allergies, we discourage the sharing of food.

Medication All medication, prescription or over­the­counter, must be stored in the Health Office. Children may not keep medication in their pockets, backpacks, desk or locker. There are some exceptions under the law (i.e., inhalers and epipens). The parent/doctor must complete the necessary forms before medication can be taken at school.

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Should cough drops be needed, they must be provided by the parent and written permission must be included on the medication form. Please be sure to contact our school nurse for any medication permission forms as well as any other questions.

Multi‑Tier System of Supports (MTSS) Multi­Tier System of Supports is a framework for providing all District 30 students with evidenced­based practices to meet their individual academic and behavioral goals. The types of assistance vary based on the level of need demonstrated by the student. MTSS is intended to provide universal supports and interventions of various degrees of intensity and duration ­ to prevent academic difficulties and enhance student performance. The district follows a team approach in determining the most appropriate diagnostically aligned interventions to address the needs that have been identified. Once a service plan has been developed, parents will receive an informational letter describing the proposed interventions. For more detailed on the District’s continuum of support services, including special education, parents are encouraged to reference the District Handbook.

Pets and Animals Since some students can be allergic to pets and others may have a fear of certain animals, students should not bring animals to school unless they have permission. Under special circumstances, the teachers and the principal will decide if an animal can come to school and how long it should stay. In addition, parents are not allowed to bring dogs onto the playgrounds or near the student drop­off / pick­up areas.

Physical Education All students in grade 1­5 participate in physical education every day. If a student should be excused because of illness or injury, the parent (or doctor if it is more than 3 days) should write a note to the Health Office. The school nurse will inform the teachers.

Playground Rules The playground areas are fun places to play at recess and before/after school. It is important that they also be safe areas. Students must obey the supervisors and the rules to have the privilege of using the playground areas. Some general rules are: include others in your play; keep your hands/feet to yourself, use respectful language, and solve problems with words. Below are some appropriate uses of playground equipment.

Appropriate Use Inappropriate Use

Swings Swing forward and back facing the inside of the playground.

Twist the chains to spin. Standing. Lie on stomach or jump off. Swing sideways or double. Walk in front of swing.

Slides Climb up the stairs, slide down sitting forward, and walk away from bottom of slide.

Run up or down the slide. Slide double. Slide backwards or stomach. Walk in front of slide.

Monkey Bars Climb up, step down, and hold on with two hands.

Hang upside­down by knees. Jump off in a dangerous manner.

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During winter months, inappropriate use of snow is not permitted on school grounds. Also, only children with appropriate snow gear (i.e., snow pants, snow boots, and gloves) will be permitted to play in the snow.

Preschool The District 30 preschool is an integrated early childhood program designed to support children’s development of social, language, motor, and pre­academic skills. The program services 3­year­old students in the morning and 4­year­old students in the afternoon. Each classroom will serve about 15 students, with a balance of children identified for special education services and typically developing peers. Research has shown that shared learning experiences have positive effects for all children involved in such programming. The program is built around best practices in early childhood education and follows the Creative Curriculum for Preschool®. The preschool follows the District 30 calendar, including report cards and parent­teacher conferences. Participating families will have opportunities to attend classroom presentations on Curriculum Night and the Light Schoolhouse. For more information, parents can contact Lauren Schulman, Director of Student Services at lschulman@district30.org .

Respect Time No one likes when their child makes a bad choice, but these are learning opportunities for our students. The younger children are when they learn that all choices have results, the more successful they will be as adults.

“Respect Time” is a program for providing students with consequences for inappropriate behaviors and actions that occur during the school day. A student will be issued a Respect Time for failure to follow school rules, as designated by a Willowbrook staff member. Students are required to serve the time by staying after school from 3:10­3:30. During this time, students will be guided through a series of reflection questions. The student will have the opportunity to explain the nature of the incident and ways it can be remedied. Parents will be contacted within one day of a Respect Time being issued, so that a day and time can be arranged as soon as possible after the incident occurred. Parental contact will be made in all situations resulting in a Respect Time.

Safety

Visitors in the Building All visitors are required to enter through the front door and sign in at the front office. After submitting a Driver’s License, a visitor lanyard will be issued. Parents are welcome to visit the school, but teachers should be notified of the visit so that any schedule conflicts can be avoided. All visits should be purposeful.

Weapons It is important that all students are safe at school. To keep all children safe, dangerous items are not to be brought to school. Examples of dangerous items include knives, firearms, fireworks, and other explosive devices. This includes “Leatherman” style pocket tools and Boy Scout knives. There are strict discipline guidelines established within the Illinois School Code.

School Store The PTO sponsors a school store where students can buy basic supplies. The store hours are approximately 11:45 to 12:30 PM, each Tuesday. The school store is located just outside the multi­purpose room and operated by 5th grade students.

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Selling Items at School Items are not to be brought to school and sold for the purpose of making a profit. Students who are working on charitable projects should speak to the principal before fundraising. The majority of fundraising and charitable collections are managed through the 5th grade Spirit Committee.

Special Education Services

Special education services are provided in accordance with Article XIV of the Illinois School Code, Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (I.D.E.I.A or IDEA 2004) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The district provides a comprehensive program of special education for students who have been identified as having a disability under one of the federally recognized disability categories. The district follows all required procedures involved in eligibility determination to ensure that all students receive the necessary services to achieve academic success. For more information, parents are encouraged to contact our Director of Student Services, Ms. Lauren Schulman at lschulman@district30.org or 847­400­8964. District 30 values the establishment of strong home/school partnerships in its provision of special education services. In order to meet the school­based needs of Willowbrook students, special education teachers, speech language pathologists, school psychologists, and an occupational therapist are available. Through a transdisciplinary model and parental involvement, Willowbrook students are appropriately supported by individual education plans. Willowbrook has developed programming that can accommodate students through co­teaching, specialized instruction, resource programming, and therapeutic supports. In addition, Willowbrook staff work on an ongoing basis with all special education personnel to build in the requisite supports within grade level coursework to ensure that students are educated in the Least Restrictive Environment as identified with each IEP.

Student Dress Children are expected to come to school clean and well groomed. They should dress in a comfortable manner so there is no interference or distraction from learning. The dress of students should be appropriate to the age of the student and the educational activities. Determining if dress is distracting to others is the responsibility of the classroom teacher and principal. Students wearing inappropriate clothing will be asked to change. On hot days, students are permitted to wear skirts or casual shorts to school that are at least mid­thigh in length. Students are also permitted to wear “summer” sleeveless shirts to school as long as they do not have spaghetti straps and/or expose students’ bare midriffs.

As children age and develop some clothes may be stylish; however, not appropriate for group learning and may be distracting to themselves or other children. Parents of students whose dress is distracting or unsafe will be asked to bring different clothing to school so that the student can change. Hats may not be worn in the building.

We recommend that all children keep a seasonally appropriate change of clothes in their locker. This will avoid mid­day calls home in the event of a spill or accident, resulting in a better day for you and your child.

Supplies

Students are required to have the supplies designated by their teachers which are necessary for the completion of assignments and participation in activities. Supply lists are posted on the Willowbrook website. Parents are asked to help their children monitor their supplies and be certain they are replenished as needed.

Telephones A student who plans carefully will not need to use a telephone to call home. There are times when a student may need to use a telephone. At these times, a student should ask permission of the teacher to use the telephone.

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We recognize that some students will carry cell phones to school. If a student brings a cell phone to school, it should be silenced and remain in the student’s locker throughout the school day. We reserve the right to confiscate student cell phones and hold them at the front desk if they are misused.

Toys/Nuisance Items Bringing toys or nuisance items that disrupt the educational environment are not allowed. Teachers reserve the right to confiscate any toy or distracting item that a student brings into the classroom environment.

Vacations Vacations and holidays are built into the school year, so additional vacations on school attendance days are discouraged. If there is an unusual circumstance that requires a child’s absence, the school should be notified of it well in advance. Homework will be given when families come back from a trip. For several reasons such as meeting individual student needs, and the pacing of lessons, it may not be possible for teachers to provide work for absent students before vacations. Students can work on a journal and daily reading when they are away on a trip. All work must be made up in a reasonable amount of time. There are, however, classroom experiences that cannot be replicated and unfortunately, students will simply miss these learning experiences.

Valuables/Money Students should not bring expensive items to school unless they are part of a class activity. This would include valuable jewelry, electronic gadgets, and other collectable items. Money should only be brought for purchases from the school store, special lunch, ice cream, fundraisers, and field trips. Large bills should not be brought to school. It is a good idea to put money in a well­marked envelope, especially for younger students.

Willowbrook School Student Handbook 15