Parent & Student Handbook 2017-2018 · Wheatley Education Campus Excellence in Every Classroom 1299...

WheatleyEducationCampus

ExcellenceinEveryClassroom1299NealStreetNE|Washington,DC20002|Phone:(202)939-5970|Fax:(202)724-9088

Principal AssistantPrincipalDr.ShenoraPlenty Mr.NathanM.Warner

Parent&StudentHandbook

2017-2018

Dr.ShenoraPlenty,Principal

Mr.NathanWarner,AssistantPrincipal

Dr.MirandaKogon,DirectorofSpecializedInstruction

Mr.TyronePittman,DeanofStudents



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TableofContents

1. Principal’sWelcomeMessage..........................................................................................................3

2. WhoWeAre....................................................................................................................................4

3. StaffDirectory.................................................................................................................................5

4. DressCode......................................................................................................................................7

5. Admissions......................................................................................................................................8

6. CellPhones......................................................................................................................................8

7. Attendance......................................................................................................................................9

8. FieldTrips......................................................................................................................................12

9. Volunteering..................................................................................................................................13

1299NealSt.NE

Washington,DC20018

www.wheatleydcps.org



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1. Principal’sWelcomeMessage

GreetingsWheatleyEducationCampusCommunity,

ItiswithgreathumilityandadeepsenseofgratitudethatIjointheWheatleyEducationCampusfamily.Readytoridethewave,Iamenergizedandlookingforwardtoanexcitingyear.Workingcollaborativelywitheachofyou,wecanensurethateveryWheatleyscholarisprovidedthehighestqualityofeducationpossibleinawarm,safe,nurturing,fun,andacademicallychallenginglearningenvironment.

Ibelieveitisimportanttoleadwithlove.AsanativeWashingtonianandproudproductofDCPS,myunwaveringloveforpeoplecontinuestomotivatemetoserve,advocate,upliftand,givebacktoadistrictthathelpedshapewhoIamtoday.IcometoWheatleyECfromStoddertElementarySchool,whereIservedasaResidentPrincipalthroughtheMaryJanePattersonFellowshiplastschoolyear.Priortothisrole,IworkedasbothateacherandaninstructionalcoachwithDCPSinWard6andWard8.

Thisyearasyournewprincipal,Iamconfidentthattogether,WEcanandWILLupholdourmotto:“Excellence in Every Classroom!”

InPartnership,

Dr.P



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2. WhoWeAre

Mission:Whydoweexist?

Teacher,staff,parentsandstudentswillcollaboratetocreateopportunitiesfor

learninginclassroomsthatmeettheneedsofallstudents.

Vision:Whatdowehopetobecome?

WheatleyEducationCampusiscommittedtoensuringthatallstudentsare

empoweredwiththeknowledge,21stcenturyskills,andvaluesnecessarytobe

collegeandcareerready.

Motto:

Excellenceineveryclassroom.

WheatleyScholarsPledge:

W-Workharddaily

H-Haverespect

A-Alwaysdoyourbest

L-Learnallyoucan

E-Excelinschool

S-Succeedinlife



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3. StaffDirectory

Name Position

ShenoraPlenty Principal

NathanWarner Asst.Principal

MirandaKogon DirectorofSpecializedinstruction

TyronePittman DeanofStudents

Name Position

AllysenBeckley InstructionalCoach,ELA

AlkaAggarwal InstructionalCoach,Math

BusraAydin ECETeacher

EmilyHenry ECETeacher

TaliaRoth ECETeacher

JacquelineWozniak ECETeacher

WandaBriddell ECEParaprofessional

BridgetEspaña ECEParaprofessional

LarryMcCoy ECEParaprofessional

TianaVenable ECEParaprofessional

Ty’NaeHarrison KindergartenTeacher

KiraReid KindergartenTeacher

MarquezHall K.Paraprofessional/UTresident

EmilyNelson K.Paraprofessional/UTresident

RashidaKee 1stGradeTeacher

KatinaBryant 2ndGradeMathTeacher

JenniferMiller 2ndGradeELATeacher

GeorgeLove 3rdGradeTeacher

ShannonBrown 4thGradeMathTeacher

PriscillaLyle 4thGradeELATeacher

AndrewMorse 5thGradeMathTeacher

AnnieThompson 5thGradeELATeacher

AshlynHalmon InstructionalAide

TitusCheng 6th-8thScienceTeacher

KashiraHayes 6th-7thELATeacher

MikeHutter 6th-8thMathTeacher

PriscillaKeys 6th-8thSocialStudiesTeacher

MonicaMartinez 7th-8thELATeacher

DamianForrest ECE-KSPEDTeacher

GaryHamilton 1st-3rdSPEDTeacher

EmilyBrainard 4th-5thSPEDTeacher



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TroyBent 6th-8thMathSPEDTeacher

LynetteWilliams-Thomas 6th-8thELASPEDTeacher

StacyBishop ELLTeacher

AlyssGrear ArtTeacher

CristinaCantillo SpanishTeacher

DerrickDeVaughn MusicTeacher

GlenSitney P.E.Teacher

ToniWinsett Librarian

Name Position

LindsayWright Counselor

NikiaLong SocialWorker

KarenRichardson Nurse

MeganKearney FirstHomeCare

InaSlaughter Psychologist

JenniferMcNulty ArtTherapist

Name Position

MatthewKing CustodialForeman

AatifRasheed Custodian

AlfonsoLedesma Custodian

AntonioSavoy Custodian

LaVerneGreen AdministrativeAssistant

MargaretKelly BusinessManager

DavidWills BehaviorTech

LinaHeid ECEFamilyEngagement

TonyaJackson CafeteriaManager



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4. DressCodeAllstudentsatWheatleywearauniform.Theuniformforeachgradelevelbandisbelow.Prek-5thgrade: Navybluepants,shorts,orskirt Lightblueorwhitepoloshirt6th-8thgrade: Khakipantsorskirt

Poloshirtforgradecolor:6thgrade:Black 7thgrade:Royalblue8thgrade:Burgundy(darkred)

Otherdresscodepolicies:

• Sweatersarepermittedduringthewinter.Onlythefollowingsolidcolorsarepermitted:black,gray,white,orblue.

• Hoodiesarenotpermittedtobeworninclass.Hoodiesandotherjacketsshouldbestoredinclassroomcubbiesforelementaryschoolandinlockersformiddleschool.

• Familieswhoarenotabletoafforduniformsmayreceiveassistance.Pleaseseethefrontofficeformoreinformation.

Studentsarenotpermittedtowearthefollowing:

• Pantsthatsagbelowthewaist• Shorts,skorts,orskirtsthataremorethantwoinchesabovetheknee• Opentoedshoes,flipflops,orshoes/bootswithahighheel• Excessivelytightorrevealingclothes• Sweatpantsorwindbreakerpants• Hats,bandanas,sunvisors,orbeanies(allmustberemovedbeforeenteringthebuilding).Ifhead

gearisrequiredforreligiousreasons,pleaseinformtheschoolPrincipal.• Anyarticleofclothingthathasimagerythatisnotacceptablefortheschoolenvironment(profanity,

putdowns,nudity,visualsdepictingdeath,drugparaphernalia,etc.)• Coloredmakeup.Coloredlipstickisnotallowedandstudentswillbeaskedtoremoveituponarrival

totheschoolcampus• Anyarticleofclothingthatcanbeperceivedasgangorneighborhoodcrewaffiliated• Faketattoos• Sleevelessorcutoffshirts,dresses(sundresses),tanktops,orjumperswithoutshirtsunderneath• Shirtsthatexposethestudents’midrifforstomachsection• Excessivelylarge,expensive,orflashyjewelry• Anyadditionalitemthattheschooladministrationdeemsinappropriateforthelearning

environment



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5. Admissions

ParentsofnewstudentsmaycometoourofficeMonday-Friday(8:30am-4:00pm)toregisterachild.Parentsand/orguardiansmaytelephonetheschoolat(202)939-5970orvisittheDCPSWebsite(www.dcps.dc.gov)tofinddocumentsneededforregistration.

TheBoardofEducationhasassignedschoolboundariestoeachofourDCPublicSchools.Studentsmustattendtheschoolnotedaccordingtotheaddressofthelegalparentorguardian.Parents/guardiansmayelecttoapplyforspecialpermissionduringthespecifiedtime.Anannouncementwillbepublishedwhenthosedatesbecomeavailable.

TheDCPublicSchoolDistrictprovidesfreeeducationtoDistrictresidentsbetweentheagesoffiveandtwenty-onewhodonotpossessadiploma.Studentswhodonotqualifyforfreeschoolingwillnotbeadmittedtothedistrict,exceptasprovidedintheDistrictofColumbiaBoardofEducationMasterAgreementor,ifthestudentisthechildofaschoolemployee,suchstudentmaybeacceptedonthepaymentof30percentofthenormaltuitionrate(tobepaideachmonthinadvance)oranystudentsrequiredbylaw.TuitionstudentswillnotbeacceptedforattendanceintheDistrictofColumbiaSchoolSystem.

“Residency,”forpurposeofdefinitionwithinthispolicy,shallbedefinedassomethingmorethanasuperficialresidence.Itwillbedefinedasaplacewhereimportantfamilyactivitiestakeplaceduringsignificantpartsofeachday;aplacewherethefamilyeats,sleeps,works,relaxesandplays.Itmustbeaplace,inshort,whichcanbecalled“home,”exceptinthecasewheretheparentsarelegallyseparatedordivorced,inwhichresidencywillbedeterminedbytheresidencyoftheparentwithlegalcustody.

Studentstransferringfromanotherschoolwillnormallybeplacedinthegradelevelrecommendedbythepreviousschool.Wewillrequestthatofficialrecordsbesenttousinordertomeeteachchild’sneedsasquicklyaspossible.

Newentrantsatallgradelevelswillberequiredtopresent,attimeofenrollment,anofficialbirthcertificateorotherevidenceofbirth,proofofhavingreceivedorbeingintheprocessofreceivingrequiredimmunizations,proofofresidencyandcustodyinformation,ifapplicable.

6. CellPhones

Weunderstandthatyourstudentmaybringacellphonetoschooltocontactyouafterschool.Cellphonesmaybebroughttoschool,butarenotpermittedtobeoutorusedatanytimeduringtheschoolday.

Ifstudentschoosetobringcellphonestousebefore/afterschool:

GradesPK-4th:Mustkeepphonesoffandinbackpacksinclassroomcubbies.Grades5th-8th:Phoneswillbecollecteduponenteringthebuilding,labeled,andkeptlockedatthesecuritydesk,wherestudentswillretrievethematdismissal.

Theschoolanditsemployeesarenotliableforanycellphonesorotherdevicesthatturnupmissingduringtheschoolday.



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7. Attendance

Regularschoolattendanceisvitaltoacademicsuccess.Whenstudentsareabsent,theymissvaluableinformationandlessonsnecessarytomeetDistrictofColumbiaLearningStandards.Families,schoolsandcommunitiesmustworkasateamtosupportschoolattendance.Oursystem-widegoalistoimprovelocalschoolattendanceateverygradelevel.

ReportingtoSchool

WheatleyECschoolhoursarefrom8:45a.m.to3:15p.m.Childrenwillbeadmittedtothecafeteriatoeatbreakfastbeginningat8:10a.m.Studnetswillbepickedupbyteachersat8:45.

Tardiness

Studentsmustarriveatschoolby8:45a.m.andbeintheclassroom,readytolearn,at8:45a.m.Habitualtardiness,accordingtoDistrictofColumbialaw,istruancyandwillbetreatedassuch.

TruancyTruancyisdefinedaswillfulabsencefromschoolbyaminor(5–18yearsofage)withorwithoutapproval,parental/guardianknowledge,orconsent.Therefore,studentsmustbringanotefromtheirparent/guardianuponthefirstdayofreturnfromanabsence.Studentswillbemarkedasanunexcusedabsencefordaysmissedifanoteisnotsentbyaparent/guardian.Oncethestudentaccumulatesfivedaysofunexcusedabsences,wewillinitiatethenecessarypaperworktostarttheprocessforaCourtReferral.

EarlyDismissalofStudents

Studentsaredismissedthroughtheschooloffice.Studentsmaynotwaitinfrontofthebuildingorenterautomobilesunlessaccompaniedbyaparentorguardian.Theserulesarenecessarytoensurestudentsafety.Parents/guardiansmustcometotheofficetosignastudentoutforearlydismissal.Studentsmaynotbesignedoutbyanunknownpersonunlessthatperson’snameisnotedonthestudent’srecords.Studentswillbecalleddownfordismissalbytheoffice.Parentsarenotallowedtogotoclassroomstoretrievestudentsfordismissal.

Parentsthatarrivebetweenthehoursof3:00PMand3:15PMmustwaitfordismissaltime.Earlydismissalrequestsafter3:00PMwillnotbepossible.

AttendanceGuidelines

Studentsarrivingtotheirclassroomafter8:45a.m.willbeconsideredtardy.

HalfDay

Studentswhoarrivebetweenthirty-one(31)minutesandthreeandahalf(3½)hourslatewillbeconsideredahalf-day(½)absence.



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FullDay

Studentswhoareabsentmorethanthreeandahalfhours(3½)hoursareconsideredafulldayabsence.

EarlyDepartureCheck

Studentswholeavebetweenone(1)minuteandthirty(30)minutesearlyareconsideredtohaveleftearly.

ExcusedAbsences

Thefollowingconditionsmayexcuseastudentfromschoolattendance:

• Personalillnessorinjury(Theschoolprincipalmayrequireadoctor’scertificate)

• Familyillness-Anemergencysituationrequiringthestudenttobeabsentfromschool

• QuarantineOfthehomebylocalhealthofficials

• Deathofarelative(Limitedtothree(3)daysunlessreasonablecausecanbeshownforalongerabsence)

• ObservanceofareligiousholidayConsistentwiththestudent’sestablishedcreedorbelief

DistrictofColumbialawrequiresthatstudentsreturningtoschoolafterabsencesbringawrittennotefromtheirparentorguardianincludingthefollowing:

1. Thedate(s)oftheabsence(s)

2. Thereasonfortheabsence(s)

3. Theparentorguardiansignature;and,

4. Theparent/guardianphonenumber

AttendanceFrequentlyAskedQuestions(FAQs)

1.Isschoolattendancerequired?

Yes,schoolattendanceisrequiredforallstudentswhoreachfiveyearsofageonorbeforeDecember31ofthecurrentschoolyear.Studentsmustattendschooluntiltheir18thbirthday.StudentswhoresideinDCmustbeenrolledinapublic,independent,private,parochialorhomeschooleachyearduringtheperiodthatschoolsareinsession.

2.Whenisschoolattendancenotrequired?

Whenstudentshaveanexcusedabsence.

3.Whattypesofabsencesmaybeexcused?

Whenastudentreturnstoschoolafteranabsence,anoteshouldbesentwithhim/hertotheteacher.Thisnoteshouldincludethedate(s)oftheabsenceandthereason.Thenotemustbesentwithin5daysafterthestudent’sreturn.

Excusedabsencesinclude:

• Illnessofthestudent(adoctor’scertificateisrequiredforanabsenceofmorethanfivedays)

• Medicalreasonssuchasadoctor’sappointment(adoctor’scertificateshouldbeprovidedformedicalappointmentsscheduledduringtheschoolday)

• Observanceofareligiousholiday

• Deathinthestudent’simmediatefamily



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4. Whattypesofabsencesmaynotbeexcused?

Absencesarenotexcusedwhenstudentsareabsentfromschoolwithorwithoutparentalapprovalforreasonssuchas:

• Babysitting

• Shopping

• Doingerrands

• Oversleeping

• Cuttingclasses

• Jobhunting

5. Whatistruancy?

Truancyisthewillfulabsencefromschoolbyaminor(under18yearsofage)withorwithoutapproval,parentalknowledgeorconsent.

PleasenotethatallDCPublicSchools,excepttheSchoolWithoutWalls,areclosedcampuses.Thismeansthatstudentsmustremainoncampusduringschoollunchperiods.

6. Whathappenstoatruantstudent?AlluniformedlawenforcementofficersintheDistrictareresponsiblefortruancyenforcement.Atypicalcaseoftruancygoeslikethis:

• Ifatruantchildispickedupbythepolice,heorshewillbetransportedinapolicevehicletotheStudentAttendanceInterventionCenter.

• Parentsarenotifiedofthestudent’struancystatus.

• Studentsandparentsreceiveintakeconsultationandresourcesupport.

• Parentsandtheschoolareprovidedwithconsultationandfollow-upsupport.

• Parentsandstudentsmustattendatruancyconferenceatalocalschool.

7. Whocanreportasuspectedtruancy?Anyonecanreportasuspectedtruancy:

• Relatives

• Neighbors

• Friends

• Parents

• Students

• Concernedcitizens

• Communityandbusinessrepresentatives

8. Whyisitimportanttoreporttruancy?

Truancyreportingisimportantbecausekeepingstudentsinschoolhelpstokeepthemsafeandimprovesthequalityoftheireducation.Thesethings,inturn,benefittheentirecommunity.



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9. Whataretheconsequencesofpoorschoolattendance?

Poorschoolattendancemayresultin:

• Poorworkhabits

• Lowergrades/lossofcredit

• Frustrationinlearning

• Droppingoutofschool

• Lowerself-esteem

• Lackofself-discipline

• Unsupervisedactivities

• Delinquency

• Reducedearningpotential

• Futureunemployment

• Potentialcriminalactivity

10. Whatcanparentsdo?Parentscanhelpimprovestudentattendanceinthefollowingways:

• Letyourchildknowthatyouthinkschoolisimportant.

• Setaregularbedtimeschedule.Ageshouldnotbeafactor.

• Provideyourchildwithplentyoftimetogetreadyforschool.

• Plananalternatewayforyourchildtogettoschoolontime,justincasetheusualmethodisn'tavailableoneday.

• Schedulemedical,dentalandotherappointmentsbeforeandafterschoolhourswheneverpossible.

8. FieldTripsFieldtripsareanenrichmentoftheclassroomlearningaswellasaprivilege.Ifafieldtripisscheduled,inorderforyourchildtoparticipateintheseactivities,appropriatebehaviorisnecessary.Studentsearntherighttoattendfieldtripsthroughhomework,attendance,grades,behavior,andothercriteria.Studentsmustbeinuniformtoattendfieldtrips.YourchildmaybeexcludedfromfieldtripsiftheclassroomteacherandPrincipaldeterminethattheirbehaviorposesasafetyandsupervisionrisk.AllfieldtripsmustbeapprovedbythePrincipalandforwardedtotheInstructionalSuperintendentforfinalapproval.

Permissionslipsmustbesignedandreturnedtoschoolinadvanceofastudentbeingallowedtoparticipateonafieldtrip.Telephoneapprovalwillnotbeacceptednorhandwrittenapprovalonpersonalstationary.Inadditiontoparental/guardianapproval,studentsmustbeinschooluniform.StudentswilltravelbybusesthathavebeenapprovedbyDCPSorbyMetro.Studentswillnotbereleasedduringthetriptoanyonebutaparentorguardian.Shouldanemergencyariseandastudentmustbereleased,wemusthaveapprovalfromtheparentorguardian.Eachcasewillbehandledinaccordancewiththesituationatthetime.

Weappreciatechaperonesonallofourtrips.However,DCPSrequiresthatallpotentialchaperoneswhowillassistinsupervisingstudentsontripsmustcompletethevolunteerapplicationprocess(seenextsectionformoreinformationonthisprocess).



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9. VolunteeringAwiderangeofvolunteeropportunitiesareavailableinDCPS,fromtutoringstudentstohelpingwithadministrativetaskstobeautifyingourcampuses.Wearealwaysexcitedwhentalentedandmotivatedindividualswanttousetheirskills,resources,andknowledgetoserveDCschools.

Inordertovolunteerinourschoolsonaregularbasis,individualsneedtofollowourvolunteerapplicationprocess:

1.Completethevolunteerapplication.

2.Completeatuberculosistest.

3.Bringthecompletedapplication,TBtestresult,andphotoIDtothedistrictofficetobefingerprinted.

• Theofficeislocatedat1200FirstStreetNE,Washington,DC20002.• FingerprintingisavailableTuesdays9am-4pmorThursdays9am-12pm,orbyappointment.

4.Inabouttwoweeks,youwillreceivealetterverifyingthatyouhavecompletedtheprocess.

PleasenotethatvolunteersforBeautificationDayorotherweekendorone-dayserviceeventsdonotneedtocompletetheprocess.

Phone:(202)442-5447Email:[email protected]

Parent & Student Handbook 2017-2018 · Wheatley Education Campus Excellence in Every Classroom 1299...

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Transcript of Parent & Student Handbook 2017-2018 · Wheatley Education Campus Excellence in Every Classroom 1299...