We are anxious to keep communication lines open between schools and home.  To better help parents know what is going on at school; periodic newsletters will come home with each child. Please keep newsletters and school communication together for reference. Also if you have concerns or comments, please call the school.

Washington School District Attendance Policy

Students under the age of 18 are required to attend school unless exempted by law.  Parents have the responsibility to monitor regular school attendance for their children and to have them at school on time. Please contact the school by 10:00 a.m. any time your child will be absent. This includes absences for illness, travel, or family emergencies.  Please remember that the fewer the absences, the better children do in school.  Also remember that accumulated tardies add up to absences.  Exempt absences my included:

·      School-Sponsored Activity – Involvement in a school-sponsored activity is considered part of the educational experience.

·      Educational Travel – Requires prior notification by parents and approval by school officials.  Paperwork is available in the office or at the district website.

·      Homebound – Illness or injury which causes absence in excess of five consecutive days will not be considered an absence if a homebound teacher is requested.  Requires verification by a physician.

·      Chronic Illness – Absence due to a chronic illness.  Requires prior notification and an individual attendance plan.  Also requires verification by a physician.

·      Court Detention – Absence due to required legal consequences. Must be verified. 

Washington District Absentee Procedures

5 absences – A call or letter will be sent home informing parents of absences.

10 absences – A call or letter will be sent to parents, if necessary, a meeting will be scheduled.

15 absences – Parents will receive certified letter and conference appointment.

20 absences – Information sent to Assistant Superintendent and a referral made to DCFS and Juvenile Court for educational neglect.

If you child becomes ill at school, the office staff will contact the parent or emergency contact listed on the information card.  For the safety of all children, the health department has listed the following conditions as reasons for exclusion from school: undiagnosed rash, pink eye (conjunctivitis), strep throat, chicken pox, impetigo, and head lice.

Some of the most important instructions for your child are given during the first hour of the day; please make every effort to have your child to school on time.  Tardiness also affects the entire class because of the interruption created when the student arrives late.  It also causes the teacher to spend extra time catching the student up.  We do know that tardiness embarrasses students and may hamper school success.  All late students must check in at the office before being admitted to class.

Parents are welcome at school and are encouraged to visit, observe, or volunteer to help in classrooms.  All visitors to the school must check in and out at the school office.  When visiting during instruction, please be sensitive to classroom activities and please do not bring pre-school children.  WCSD policy discourages student visitors because of the disruption to learning.

Washington County School District – Anti-bullying Information

For Parents

It is bullying if individuals or groups are:

• Calling your child names
• Threatening him/her
• Pressuring your child to give someone money or possessions
• Hitting your child
• Damaging your child’s possessions
• Spreading rumors about your child or your family
• Using text, email or web space to say hurtful things about your child (cyber-bullying)

It is also bullying if your child feels hurt because of things said about their ethnic background, religious faith, gender, disability, special educational need, appearance, or specific issues in your family.

What you should do if your child is being bullied?

Talk to school staff about the bullying.  Your first contact point to report concerns about bullying is the school receptionist who will refer you to the classroom teacher, assistant principal or principal.  Contact information for the school receptionist may be found on the Washington County School District website at www.washk12.org or you may call (435) 673-3553.

• It will help to sort out what action to take if you can bear in mind that the teacher may have no idea that your child is being bullied or may have heard conflicting accounts of an incident.
• Be as specific as possible about what your child says has happened (give dates, places and names of other pupils involved.)
• Ask if there is anything you can do to help your child.
• Stay in touch with the school.  Let them know if things improve as well as if problems continue.

What will the school do?

Washington County Schools do not tolerate bullying.  The Washington County School Board has adopted an “Anti-bullying Policy” (Policy #3510). Schools are responsible for:

• Making sure that the person being bullied is safe
• Working to keep the bullying from happening again
• Providing support to the person being bullied
• Providing consequences for the bully (suspension or expulsion from school)

Families who feel that their concerns are not being addressed appropriately by the school might like to consider the following steps:

• Check the district anti-bullying policy to see if procedures are being followed
• Make an appointment to discuss the matter with the assistant principal
• If this does not help, follow the parent grievance procedure (Policy #3500) available on the District website (www.washk12.org) under District Policy

H1N1 Update (Swine Flu)

As we prepare for the flu season, parents need to get as much education as they can.  The best web site is www.washk12.org and click on H1N1 update.  Teach and promote good health habits at home.

1. Wash hands frequently with soap and water.
2. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or cough into your sleeve.
3. Clean your hands after coughing or sneezing.
4. Keep your child at home if he or she is sick.
5. Eat a well-balanced diet; get regular exercise and plenty of rest.

Flu symptoms (usually 7 days):  Fever > 100, cough, sore throat, runny nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue, diarrhea and vomiting.  Please DO NO send your child back until 24 hours after their symptoms subside.  Thanks for your support!

Just a reminder:  It is important to remember that students should not be arriving to school any earlier that 8:40 in the morning.  Students who arrive before that pose a safety hazard as there is no one to supervise them on the playground.  Thanks for your support with this rule.