Parent/Student Handbook

WILLIAM H. KELSO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

“A California Distinguished School”
809 East Kelso Street
Inglewood, California 90301
PH (310) 680-5480  FAX (310) 680-5489

 

Kelso Parent/Student Handbook

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Welcome to William H. Kelso Elementary School, a California Distinguished School!  This booklet is designed to give you and your student basic information regarding our school’s educational programs and expectations. At Kelso the entire staff is dedicated to teaching and learning, and high expectations are set for student achievement and conduct. I know that by working together we will have an outstanding school year. 

– Dr. Brian Coffey, Principal

Kelso Mission Statement

The mission of William H. Kelso Elementary School is to ensure that all students develop strong academic achievement through an enriched, diverse and challenging curriculum, which utilizes the latest technology in a safe, supportive environment that nurtures positive cultural and social values. “College and Career Readiness Begins at Kelso!”

Kelso Core Values
Kelso Cheetah  “PRIDE”  = Positive Attitude – Respect – Integrity – Determination – Excellence

Non-Discrimination Statement

The Inglewood Unified School District is committed in all its activities, policies, programs and procedures to provide equal opportunity for all and to avoid discrimination against any person regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, disability, language, marital status or age.

Sexual Harassment Statement
It is the policy of the Inglewood Unified School District to maintain learning and working environments free from sexual harassment.  Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and is prohibited by both federal and state law.

 

General Information

 Calendar: A school calendar for 2015-2016 is available online at http://www.iusd.net.

 

Legal Holidays September 7                Labor Day November 11              Veteran’s Day November 26              Thanksgiving Day December 25               Winter Holiday January 1                     New Year’s Day January 18                   Martin Luther King Birthday February 22                 President’s Day May 30                        Memorial Day

Local Holidays             November 25 & 27     Thanksgiving December 24 & 31      Winter Holiday February 15                 Lincoln Day March 25                     Spring Break Holiday March 28                     Cesar Chavez Day   First Day of School: August 24, 2015 Last Day of School: June 9, 2016

 

Office Staff/Hours: 7:30AM – 3:30PM

• Principal: Brian Coffey
• Office Manager: Ms. Jackie Marriott:
• Data Entry Clerk: Mr. Jorge Gonzalez
• Custodians: Mr. Derrick Calloway, Ms. Mikkevia Justice
• Nurse: Ms. Carol Thomas (Thursdays); Ms. Linda Williams (Thursday/Friday)
• Cafeteria Manager: Ms. Gwen Stewart 

Bell Schedule:

7:45AM   Osage Street Gate opens (breakfast served in the cafeteria 7:45AM-8:05AM)

8:10AM   Warning Bell

8:15AM:  School begins for TK-6th

Recess:

• TK/Kinder: 9:25AM-9:45AM
• 1st/2nd Grades: 9:50AM-10:10AM
• 3rd/4th Grades: 10:15AM-10:35AM
• 5th/6th Grades: 10:40AM-11:00AM

Lunch

• TK/Kinder and 1st Grade: 11:30AM-12:15PM
• 1st/2nd Grades: 11:45AM-12:30PM
• 3rd/4th Grades: 12:00-12:45PM
• 5th/6th Grade: 12:15-1:00PM

2:00PM: Dismissal (TK/Kinder through 3rd Grade)

2:20PM: Dismissal (4th through 6th Grade)

SAFETY AND DISCIPLINE POLICIES

• Closed Campus: Per IUSD policy, Kelso is a closed campus. All visitors, including parents and district personnel, are required to sign in at the front office. Visitors may also be asked to wear a visitor’s badge for identification purposes while on campus. While the closed campus policy may be inconvenient for parents and visitors at times, we appreciate your understanding that the safety of students and staff is the primary concern.

• Emergency Procedures: Drills are conducted monthly at to prepare students in the event of fire, earthquake, or shelter-in-place. In the event of emergency or natural disaster, parents will be notified by recorded message and provided information regarding student dismissal procedures. Drills are conducted regularly to prepare in the event of fire, earthquake, shelter-in-place or other emergency situation. In the event of such a situation, parents will be notified via school or district recorded message and provided with emergency release instructions.

• Emergency Card Information: Please ensure the front office has current and valid telephone contact information for parents/guardians and any at least two additional local emergency contacts.

• Illness and Injury Procedures: If your child becomes ill or is seriously injured at Kelso, office staff will immediately contact a parent/guardian by telephone. If contact is not made with a parent/guardian, additional emergency contacts listed on the Emergency Card and/or 911 will be called. The school gives first aid only, never “second aid” or re-treatment for prior conditions or those occurring away from school. Minor injuries that do not require first aid may not be reported.

• Children requiring medication during school hours must have an Inglewood Unified School District Medication Form on file, signed by a physician and parent specifying the conditions and the dosage. All medication (including asthma inhalers, aspirin and cough medicine) must be kept in the school health office and should be brought to school in the original container by the parent or other adult. Students may not be in possession of any medications even with parent permission.

• Discipline: All Kelso staff employ Positive Behavior Intervention Supports that align with Kelso’s Core Values: Cheetah  “PRIDE”  = Positive Attitude – Respect – Integrity – Determination – E Students are afforded due process rights prior to the issuance of any disciplinary action. Kelso “Pink Slip” referrals serve as a means of communication to parents/guardians in the event disciplinary action is issued to a student.

CLASSROOM AND NSTRCUTIONAL POLICIES

• Homework: Per IUSD policy, homework is assigned Monday through Friday in all elementary grades. Completing homework provides students with critical practice needed to master skills taught at school and develops responsibility and other important positive work habits. Please monitor your student to ensure homework is completed with effort. Provide appropriate materials and location that is conducive to doing homework, and provide guidance as needed. If your student persistently does not understand, “forgets,” or has difficulty completing assignments in a timely manner, call your student’s teacher to request a conference.

• Classroom Observations: Parents have the right to visit their child’s classroom to observe activities.  The time and date of the visitation must be arranged in advance with the child’s teacher.  Please be sure to check in at the office before you visit to obtain a visitor’s badge.  Classroom observations are not to exceed 30 minutes and should not disrupt classroom instruction.  Please see “Teacher Conferencing” if you would like information on how to discuss a concern with your child’s teacher.

• Teacher Conferencing: Parents have a right to request a conference with their child’s teacher(s) or school administration.  Parents should contact the school at (310) 680-5480 to schedule a date and time convenient to all participants.

• Grades: Report cards will be issued at the end of each trimester. Progress reports are issued halfway through each trimester. 

• Student Support Team: If a student demonstrates persistent challenges with academic performance or behavior, a parent or teacher may request an “SST” for the student. A team including but not limited to the parent, teacher, and administrative designee will meet to identify suitable interventions and review progress systematically.

GENERAL POLICIES

• Student Arrival and Dismissal from school:

• All students enter the school through the Osage St. gate adjacent the cafeteria. After 8:15AM the gate is locked and students must enter through the main office.

• TK/Kinder and 1st Graders are dismissed at the driveway at the northernmost point of campus adjacent Osage Street; 2nd through 6th Grade students are dismissed through the gate by the cafeteria double doors.

• School gates will open at 7:45AM for breakfast. Supervision is not provided before that time. Students who are repeatedly dropped off before 7:45AM may be referred to the Department of Children and Family Services or law enforcement.

• City of Inglewood Parking Enforcement officers are stationed on Osage Street during drop-off and dismissal to ensure student safety and to facilitate the flow if traffic during drop-off and pick-up times. Please obey all traffic laws and be courteous and patient during these busy times of the school day.

• Bicycles, skateboards, scooters, roller blades, skates, and skate shoes are not permitted at school.

• Absences/Tardy: State law requires appropriate documentation for all student absences.  A signed note from a parent/guardian must be submitted upon the student’s return to school to confirm the absence. An absence is only “excused” if the absence verification includes a doctor’s note, legal documentation requiring the child’s attendance in court proceedings, or an obituary notice for an immediate family member.

• Please contact the office as soon as possible if your child contracts a communicable disease such as mumps, measles, strep throat, chicken pox, conjunctivitis or head lice. When possible, please schedule students’ medical and dental appointments in the afternoons or when school is not in session. 

• Student Attendance Review Team (SART): Students who have three (3) or more unexcused absences and/or excessive absences and/or Tardies will be referred to the Student Attendance Review Team (SART) for a mandatory parent / administrator conference. 

• Student Attendance Review Board (SARB): Students whose attendance does not improve after a SART meeting may be referred to the SARB process.  Any student who exceeds ten absences and/or does not have a positive attendance greater or equal to 85% may be referred to the Student Attendance Review Board with the District Attorney’s Office and IUSD Truancy Representative.

• Permission to Leave School: Parents must come to the office and sign a student release form.  The office will then send for your child.  Children are released from the office and not from the classrooms.  Students are not released via telephone contacts.  Children will be released to only those adults who are listed on the Emergency Card.  Proper identification is required.

• Saturday School: May be offered monthly as an opportunity for students to recover lost instructional time and to receive attendance credit for an absence. Students who qualify for Saturday School will receive an invitation in advance.

• Home/School Communication: The school regularly communicates important information via recorded phone messages. In addition, monthly newsletters are posted to the kelso.iusd.net and Facebook page (William H Kelso). Please communicate regularly with your child’s teacher. Each teacher has individual preferences with regard to the best method of contact.

• Cafeteria Procedures: All students with a current and valid lunch application on file (available in the office or online at iusd.net) are eligible for FREE breakfast and lunch.

Students may choose to bring a healthy lunch or snack to eat during Recess. Please secure all food items in an appropriate container labeled with your child’s name and Room #. Kelso is unable to prepare, refrigerate and/or reheat food that students bring from home.

• Items Brought to School: Children are prohibited from bringing large sums of money, toys, play cards, games, and electronic devices such as iPods and handheld videogames. Kelso Elementary School cannot be responsible for lost, stolen or damaged property. As such, students are encouraged to leave items if value at home.

• Cell phone policy: Students are prohibited from using cellular devices on campus during school hours. All cellular devices must remain turned off and secured in the student’s backpack. Under special circumstances students may be permitted to use classroom or office telephones to call home. Parents needing to leave a message for a student may call the main office.

• School Dress: Kelso adheres to the IUSD uniform policy. Students are expected to wear white, navy or light blue collared shirt/blouse and navy bottoms. Jeans are not permitted. Clothing with spaghetti straps or bare midriffs or baggy/oversized or plain white t-shirts or questionable sayings may not be worn. Shoes must be closed-toed and appropriate for indoor and outdoor activities and play.

• Lost and Found: If an item is lost, have your student check the cafeteria exit where lost items are stored.  Each December and June, unclaimed items will be displayed. Items that remain unclaimed will be donated to local charity organizations. 

• Marking Children’s Possessions: All jackets, sweaters, coats, rainwear, lunch boxes, backpack, books and supplies should be labeled with the child’s name for identification.  Many articles are lost at school, and remain unclaimed, because they are not labeled.

• School Library: We encourage children to use our library and the public library to widen their reading experiences.  Children are allowed to take library books home from school.  Books may be checked out for a short period and may be renewed for a longer period.  Students are financially responsible for lost or damaged books and textbooks.

• Parties: Kelso’s main focus is on academics and instruction.  Each class is allowed to have two parties that are pre-approved by the principal.  Students’ birthdays are celebrated collectively at these parties. Please do not send cupcakes, pizza, balloons, etc. to school for your child’s birthday.

• Food/Drinks: As a part of Kelso’s Health and Physical Education standards, exercise and healthy eating habits are promoted. Please send healthy snacks and lunches with your child. Foods high in sugar, saturated fats and sodium are discouraged. SOFT DRINKS, CHIPS, GUM AND CANDY ARE NOT PERMITTED. Easy alternatives include fruit, a sandwich, or a granola bar.

Students are not permitted to eat or drink any items not approved beforehand by their parents.  You will receive notice from your child’s teacher of any food to be consumed in the classroom for special activities.  Please notify your student’s teacher of any food allergies.

• Permits: Students who reside outside of Kelso’s attendance area are required to have a valid permit from the IUSD Child Welfare and Attendance office on file at Kelso. To maintain enrollment on permit, students must meet grade level academic standards, conduct and citizenship standards, and maintain excellent attendance.