Firwood Elementary School

School districts are required to provide parents and students 18 years of age, with a written notification of their rights according to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) are incorporated into the Oregon Trail School Board policies.

FERPA is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student’s education records. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their child’s educational records. FERPA also requires school districts to disclose directory information contained in student records which is not generally considered harmful if released to outside organizations.

If you have questions, please contact the school district office at 503-668-5541 or your student’s principal. These documents and resource links are available on the school district website.

Local social service agencies, the county and city police departments, and the judicial system are now involved in improving student attendance. Research shows that attendance is the single most important factor in school success. Students who have poor attendance frequently fall behind and become discouraged. This leads to further absences and a downward spiral develops. Learning builds day by day and a student who misses a day of school misses a day of learning.

The Oregon Department of Education has established 92% attendance as the MINIMUM acceptable level. With an average school year of 176 days, this means a student may not miss more than 14 days and still meet the MINIMUM standard. ODE has further defined strong attendance as 94% - 95.9% (missing 8 -11 days) and exceptional attendance as 96% or higher (missing 7 days or less). It is hoped that most students will miss less than 7 days during the school year. Oregon law requires that all children and young people between the ages of seven and eighteen years of age attend regularly a full-time public school if they have not completed the 12th grade (ORS 39.010). The law further requires persons having control of such minor to send him or her to school. Students missing more than 10% of the regularly scheduled school days may be retained, repeat a course or be denied credit unless the student can demonstrate mastery of the academic content standards.

Efforts will be made by school officials to enforce the compulsory attendance laws for the state. However, compliance with these laws is a mutual responsibility of home and school. Students are expected to be punctual in arriving at school, reporting to classes and attend regularly. The school principal or designee will notify parents of irregular attendance or habitual tardiness. One fundamental reason for insisting on punctual, regular school attendance is to help each student develop habits of responsibility that will help him or her function well in society and succeed in the world of work. The school shall make every effort to provide a meaningful experience for the student and to encourage the full individual development of each student. Regular attendance is necessary if the school is to successfully reach this goal. Students may not attend any school district function or be on the school premises when they have been absent from school (except when cleared through their building administrator).

The overall goal of the attendance initiative is to support parents and students to improve attendance. When a student demonstrates irregular attendance, the school will contact the parent to offer assistance to address any problems that are preventing regular attendance. This contact will come in the form of telephone calls and/or letters. If attendance does not improve, a home visit will occur to review the causes for the irregular attendance and to develop an agreement to improve attendance. If all efforts fail to improve attendance, a citation will be issued.

If your child has a chronic health condition that necessitates missing an excessive amount of school, it is essential that you communicate closely with the school. If your student will miss 10 or more consecutive 9 days due to illness, a home tutor can be assigned if a doctor’s prescription 37 is provided. If your student misses an excessive amount of school due to illness, it may be necessary to provide a doctor’s note in order for absences to continue to be excused.

For an absence to be excused due to illness or a family emergency, please call the school the day your child is absent. If a phone call is not possible, please send a note the day your child returns to school. If the school does not receive a phone call the day your child is absent or a note the day your child returns, the absence will be considered unexcused.

When an absence occurs, students need to bring a written note to the office containing the following information:

• STUDENT’S NAME
• DATE OF ABSENCE
• REASON FOR ABSENCE
• SIGNATURE OF PARENT OR GUARDIAN

We take great pride in providing a top quality education for your student. We appreciate your assistance in ensuring your student maintains regular attendance. If you have any questions, please contact your building principal.

Tardies
Part of maintaining regular attendance ensures having your student at school on time. Our school day starts at 9:05 am so students need to be through our front doors and in their classroom by the time the 9:05 bell rings. Anyone not in the classroom will be considered tardy.

Please make every effort to have your child here on time. Tardies are a significant disruption to the learning environment for both your child and others. We have quarter incentives in which students are rewarded for strong attendance and chronic tardiness will impede your child’s participation in these events.

Excused Absences/Tardies (ORS 339.065)
Absences & Tardies from school or class will be excused under the following circumstances:

1. Illness of the student;
2. Illness of an immediate family member when the student’s presence at home is necessary;
3. Emergency situations that require the student’s absence;
4. School Field trips and school-approved activities;
5. Medical (dental) appointments when confirmed by the parent.

A disciplinary suspension is an excused absence.

Critical Behavior presenting an immediate safety concern for students or drivers will be responded to more acutely as follows:

• Immediate contact from driver to dispatch via bus radio;
• Dispatch to contact school staff or police as needed;
• School staff or police to respond to bus location as needed;
• Dispatch to notify driver of pending response.

For the safety of all our students, please be aware that bus transportation may be videotaped. The contact number for Student Transportation of America (STA) is 503-668-8855.

In general, student transportation is considered an extension of the school day and all in-school behavior expectations apply. On the bus, students are expected to…
Be Safe:

• Keep your body and all objects inside the bus and to yourself;
• Remain seated while the bus is in motion;
• Keep your body from touching bus operating and emergency equipment;
• Leave any weapons at home;
• Stay a safe distance from the bus;
• Cross in front of the bus as instructed by the driver;
• Arrange for transportation of animals or pets with parents.

Be Respectful:

• Follow driver direction quickly and completely;
• Be respectful to everyone on the bus;
• Speak quietly to people near you;
• Keep your body and objects from touching others;
• Keep all of your belongings on you lap or on the floor in front of you;
• Get permission to open a window;
• Stay off private property at or near designated bus stops.

Be Responsible:

• Keep the bus clean;
• Use all area of the bus appropriately;
• Arrive at the bus on time;
• Never bring alcohol, tobacco, medications or other illegal drugs;
• Get permission prior to bringing unusual objects on the bus;
• Use emergency exist only in an emergency.

Prior to loading:

1. Students need to be at their designated stop 5 minutes prior to their pick-up time;
2. Wait until the bus is to a complete stop before approaching the bus;

After leaving the bus:

1. Cross the road only when needed at least 10 feet in FRONT of the bus;
2. Be alert to any danger signal from the driver

Afternoon departure
Do not approach the bus once it begins to depart, approximately 7 minutes after school is dismissed. The bus cannot stop for safety reasons.

Objects on the bus
Only objects that can be held comfortably on the student’s lap or on the floor between the student’s feet may be transported on home to school route buses. Alternative arrangements will be needed to transport items such as tubas and skis.

Extra-Curricular trips

1. All bus rules and school regulations apply to any trip under school sponsorship;
2. Students must follow the directions of student chaperones as well as drivers and school staff.

Students who do not follow the bus behavior expectations will be addressed following the Response to Misconduct on the Bus process.

The school district provides bus transportation for students when the bus route is approved. Rules are posted in each bus and students are responsible for knowing them. Safety is of prime importance. We ask parents to discuss good conduct with their children. Students who do not obey the driver or ride properly may be refused the right to ride. OTSD contracts with Student Transportation of America (STA) to provide this service. The school and district recognize the Oregon Administrative Rules for bus transportation (OAR 53-010). All school rules also apply to the bus, as bus transportation is an extension of the classroom. Violators of bus rules are issued bus citations, which must be signed and returned by the parent.

Students should arrive at school no earlier than 8:45 am, Monday through Friday. Dismissal is at 3:55pm daily. Supervision is not provided before or after school hours.

School begins at 9:05 am, Monday through Friday. Please plan on having your child here by 8:45 am in order to ensure he/she is in class on time. If you plan on having your child eat FREE breakfast at school, please plan accordingly for this will require an earlier arrival time. Breakfast is served from 8:45 am until 9:05 am in the Cafeteria.

Early Release Wednesdays

School is released at 2:55 pm on Wednesdays beginning in September to allow for teacher collaboration and professional development. Please check your calendars and call the office if you have questions.

A school newsletter is sent out electronically through Parent Square. The newsletter contains a variety of school news and important announcements. We encourage you to read this to keep abreast of the happenings at Firwood.

Address and Telephone Number Changes It is extremely important that the office be notified immediately of any telephone or address changes. Our ability to contact parents or guardians in the case of an emergency depends on the accuracy of this information. Please check the information on your student’s verification report during the start of the year, make changes if needed, sign and return it to school by the end of the first week of school. We will not release your child to anyone who is not listed on this card without parent / guardian permission.

Dropping-Off

1. Please make sure that we are using two lanes on the gravel road between the entrance gate and the back gate. We want to avoid blocking Firwood Rd.
2. Please make sure you go through the line to Drop-Off. No cutting. We have worked hard to keep things moving.
3. Pull to the front in the Drop-Off Zone. Avoid stopping in the middle, go to the front as far as possible to Drop-Off. Stay in your vehicle at all times.
4. Limit parking and Dropping-Off in the morning to emergencies and parent visits to the front office.

Picking-Up

1. Please stay in your vehicle at all times. Getting out slows down the pick-up process and improves safety.
2. Dogs need to stay in your vehicle at all times. We love seeing your animals, just not outside the vehicle.
3. If needed, pull forward and park out of the Pick-Up line when your Firwood student needs help to secure themselves. Buckle Up for Safety!
4. Please make sure that those picking up students are on the emergency contact list and know our procedures. Call us in the office if you have questions.

SAFETY IS KEY! Thank you for your cooperation throughout this year and as we move forward. Let's keep our students safe during Drop-Off and Pick-Up

All students arriving late or leaving early will need to go to the front office. If they arrive late they will receive a late slip for their teacher. Please notify the office if your student is an early pick up. All early pick-ups must be done by 3:30pm (2:30pm on Early Release). Please limit late arrivals and early pick-ups to avoid classroom disruption. Notify the office by 3:00pm (2:00pm on Early Release) if there is a change to your student’s end of day plan. Changes after this time may not be accommodated. Students riding buses other than their usual, or getting off at a stop other than their regular stop, must have a bus pass from the office. Kindergarten students must have someone at the bus stop to meet them unless there is an older child with them on the bus. Otherwise, the bus driver will not let them off the bus. If your child is to go home with another child, please notify the office.

It is essential to keep current phone numbers on file with the office. This responsibility rests with the parents / guardians of each child. It is essential to have accurate and updated information if a child becomes seriously ill or receives an injury requiring medical attention. We must have a phone number in which we can get a hold of a parent. If these numbers change for any reason throughout the school year, please let us know immediately.

School records are updated on a yearly basis through the district website. During the school year, please keep the office informed of any changes which occur that would affect the accuracy of this information.

New Kindergarten students must be 5 years old on or before September 1st of the school year in which they are enrolling. Children with birthdays from September 1st - October 1st may qualify for early entry if testing and observations rank the child at 98% or above in skill levels. Early Entry applications can be obtained at the district office. All Kindergarten students must have complete registration forms, birth certificate, and up-to-date immunization records prior to the start of school. No exceptions will be made.

Any student attending Firwood Elementary School must reside within the legal attendance boundary or receive permission to attend from the Oregon Trail School District. This permission must be obtained yearly.

Telephone Use The school phones are for school business. Students will be permitted to use the office phone only if they have an emergency. Classes will not be interrupted for phone messages from parents. Messages will be delivered to students the last 30 minutes of each day. Please make all arrangements prior to school time with your child.

Breakfast is served in the Gym from 8:45am-9:05am. During a 2 hour late start breakfast is not sureved as they are preparing for lunch. Lunch costs $2.75 per meal. Questions regarding meals may be directed to the Nutrition Services office at 503-668-3377. Money can be added to your student’s account by bringing cash or check to the Firwood office or contact the district business office.

No pets are allowed at school without permission. Teachers may be given special permission for pets to be brought to school for a display or demonstration. Under no circumstances is a potentially dangerous pet to be brought to school.

Students will be expected to pay for all damages or loss of textbooks, library books, desks, room equipment, etc. Fines must be paid prior to the end of the school year. Textbooks and library books will be charged out at current replacement costs. Opportunity shall be provided to work out fees, breakages, fines, etc.for students who have financial difficulties.

In case of a fire or other emergency, the signal to evacuate the building will be a continuous sounding of the emergency alarm or bell. There will be an evacuation plan posted in each classroom. Each teacher will instruct students regarding specific procedures. In case of emergency where students are not to evacuate the building, students and teachers will be notified and teachers will proceed with a preset building procedure.

In case of poor weather or other emergencies, the school may be closed. On such days information will be sent out through ParentSquare and/or Flash Alert.

It may be necessary because of severe weather or other emergencies, to send children home from school early. In such cases, the following policies will be followed:

1. If an emergency (flood, snow, wind, earthquake, etc.) should strike suddenly, the matter of departure of your children from school will be decided by the Superintendent of Schools. This decision may be to send your children home immediately, or it may be to keep them in school indefinitely under continued supervision until the emergency has passed. Whatever the decision is, the safety and best interest of your children will be the deciding factor. (Typically elementary students will be retained at school and rarely released early).
2. In case of any emergency, information will be sent out via Parent Square and/or Flash Alert concerning the release of your children from school.
3. If the decision is made to hold the students in their buildings, they may be picked up at the school by checking them out from the office. Students will only be released to those contacts authorized on your student’s emergency contact list. If a loss of power occurs, you will not be able to contact the school by telephone.

If roads are icy, or other dangerous conditions exist in the morning, information will be sent out through Parent Square and/or Flash Alert as soon as possible.Two things that you will need to be aware of: 1. School could be closed for the entire day. 2. School opening could be delayed TWO (2) hours. If this occurs, school will still end at the normal time. Many times you cannot tell by looking out the window, whether the roads are dangerous for buses or cars to travel. If everyone calls the school, it clogs the phone lines so that even emergency information cannot get through.

Clothes normally removed (jackets, sweaters, hats and gloves) should be clearly marked with the student’s name. Any articles found in the school or on district grounds are put in the lost and found. The lost and found is located outside the Gym in Building D. Each year, we have many items that are not claimed. Unclaimed items are donated to special agencies throughout the school year. We will give plenty of notice to help parents and families look for lost items. Please feel free to check the lost and found when you are on campus to recover any item(s) that belongs to your student. Loss or suspected theft of personal or district property should be reported to the school office.

The information contained below shall serve as the district’s annual notice to parents of minors and eligible students (if 18 years or older) of their rights, pertaining to educational records. Notice will also be provided to parents of minor students who have a primary or home language other than English. Education records are those records related to a student maintained by the district. A student’s education records are confidential and protected from unauthorized inspection or use. All access and release of education records, with and without parent and eligible student notice and consent, will comply with all state and federal laws. Personally identifiable information shall not be disclosed without a parent or eligible student authorization or as otherwise provided by Board policy and law. Education records are maintained in a minimum one-hour fire safe. Permanent records shall include:

1. Full legal name of student
2. Name and address of educational agency or institution
3. Student birth date and place of birth
4. Name of parent / guardian
5. Date of entry into school
6. Name of school previously attended
7. Course of study and marks received
8. Credits earned
9. Attendance
10. Date of withdrawal from school
11. Other information, i.e., psychological test information, anecdotal records, records of conversations, discipline records, etc. Memory aids and personal working notes of individual staff members are considered personal property and are not to be interpreted as part of the student’s education records, provided they are in the sole possession of the maker. Access / Release of Education Records By law, both parents, whether married, separated or divorced, have access to the records of a student who is under 18 years of age unless the district is provided evidence that there is a court 12 order, state statute or legally binding document relating to such matters as divorce, separation or custody that specifically revokes these rights. Parents of a minor, or an eligible student (if 18 years or older), may inspect and review education records during regular district hours.

The goal of our school health services is intended to help the student achieve his/her maximum physical, emotional, and social potential. There will be health screening of vision and hearing. Parents and students are contacted regarding any problems noted. If a student has an accident or injury at school, it must be reported to the teacher in charge at the time it occurs.

State law addresses the dispensing of any form of medication by school personnel. Medication means any prescription or over-the-counter medication including but not limited to vitamins, food supplements, eye, ear and nose drops, inhalants, medicated ointments or lotions, aspirin, cough drops and antacids. For school personnel to administer any medication, the parent must provide a written request and the student’s physician must give written instructions if prescription (the prescription container on prescribed medication is sufficient). All medications must be in the original container, with parent’s special instructions and physician’s instructions. All medications must be given to office staff by an adult for safekeeping. It is unlawful for students to transport medications of any kind.

A student who becomes ill or injured at school must notify his/her teacher or another staff member as soon as possible. In the case of a serious illness or injury, the school shall attempt to notify parent / guardian according to information provided on emergency forms and submitted by parents to the school. It is critical parents update this information as soon as necessary. If the student is too ill to remain in school, the student will be released to the student’s parents or to another person as directed by the parents on the student’s emergency form. School staff may administer emergency or minor first aid if possible. The school will contact emergency medical personnel, if necessary, and will attempt to notify the student’s parents whenever the student has been transported for treatment.

A student must be fully immunized against certain diseases or must present a certificate or statement that, for medical or religious reasons, the student should not be immunized. Proof of immunization may be personal records from a licensed physician or public health clinic. Any student not in compliance with Oregon statutes and rules related to immunization may be excluded from school until such time as he/she has met immunization requirements. Parents will be notified of the reason for the exclusion.

In accordance with the Oregon Department of Education Communicable Disease Control Measure - Guidelines for Exclusion, students will be excluded from school if they exhibit:

• Fever greater than 100
• Vomiting
• Stiff neck or headache with fever
• Any rash with or without fever
• Unusual behavior change, such as irritability, lethargy, or somnolence
• Diarrhea (3 watery or loose stools in one day with or without fever)
• Skin lesions that are “weepy” (fluid or pus-filled)
• Colored drainage from eyes
• Brown/green drainage from nose with fever greater than 100.0
• Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath; serious, sustained cough
• Unusual behavior change such as irritability, lethargy, or drowsiness

Students needing exclusion due to illness may wait in the health room, away from other students while waiting for transportation from school. Students may return to school when symptoms are resolved or with written permission from your doctor stating the student is not contagious. Communicable Disease: In a school environment, communicable diseases can be easily transmitted from one individual to another. Effective control includes prevention, early recognition of symptoms, prompt diagnosis and adequate isolation and treatment. Within the Oregon Trail School District, neither the office staff nor the district nurse can make a diagnosis. Only a licensed health care provider can determine a diagnosis and prescribe treatment. After a student has been diagnosed by a licensed health care provider as having a communicable disease; Oregon Trail School District will follow the guidelines provided by the Oregon Department of Education regarding any student attendance and/or restrictions. More information on the guidelines can be found on the district website. Please call the office or the school nurse if your child has a communicable illness diagnosis.

How can parents help their kids stay healthy?

• Teach your child to wash his/her hands frequently using plenty of soap and warm water. Proper hand-washing should take about 20 seconds or the time it takes to sing “Happy Birthday” twice.
• Teach your child to cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or their sleeve
• Keep the child’s environment tobacco free
• Try to minimize the time your child spends with other children who have a cough or cold symptoms
• Keep an annual well-child exam to follow changes in your child’s health
• Keep all of your child’s immunizations up-to-date
• Serve a balanced diet with lots of fruits and vegetables
• After your child is feeling better, clean all surfaces; wash the bedding and air out the room
• Keep surfaces like door knobs, phones, remote controls, toys, and keyboards clean
• Always make sure to consult your doctor if you have any questions

To help protect students, school property and to prevent disruption, school officials must be informed if any persons who are not members of the staff or student body are inside the building or on the grounds during school times. Visitors during a normal school day are expected to come to the office to sign in and pick up a visitor pass upon arriving on school campus. All Volunteers must have a completed background check each school year. More information on volunteering and a link to the volunteer application can be found on the district website. Volunteers will communicate with their student’s teachers to make arrangements to volunteer.

Visitors will be asked to request entry to school through a video and doorbell system installed at Firwood Grade School. This allows the main school entrance to remain locked during school hours, keeping students and staff safe while controlling traffic in and out of the building.

Education succeeds best when there is a strong partnership between home and school. Partnerships grow through communication, so the district asks parents to:

1. Encourage their students to put a high priority on their education and to commit themselves to making the most of the educational opportunities the district provides.
2. Keep informed about school activities and issues.
3. Become a volunteer!
4. Participate in Firwood’s Site Council with its emphasis on instructional improvement.

Firwood’s Site Council works on continuous school improvement and staff development. Parent representation on the council is encouraged. Please contact the school principal if you are interested.

Some parents enjoy celebrating with the child’s class on the occasion of a student’s birthday. Please contact your child’s teacher if you wish to bring birthday treats. All treats must be store bought.

Certain school regulations are necessary because of limited parking, dangerous traffic patterns and reckless driving habits of a few. School rules, courteous and preventive driving procedures and traffic laws must be followed when operating vehicles on or near school grounds. The speed limit is 20 MPH while in a school zone. No horses, skateboards, or skates will be allowed on the school grounds except for special occasions, and only with the permission of the principal.

A list of needed school supplies will be available on our website and in the office prior to the start of school. These lists are also available at local participating stores. Firwood also offers a School Supply Opt Out: families pay $30 per student/$75 per family of 3 or more and the school provides needed school supplies with the exception of headphones, backpacks and lunchboxes.

ParentVUE is a website that offers secure, private access to school and student information including grades, attendance and school contact details. With one ParentVUE account you can see information for all of your students. If a student is missing from your account, please check with your school office. Your ParentVUE sign up information will require use of your name as it is listed in district records. If the information contains errors, please contact your school office. This can be changed after you activate your ParentVUE access.

In order to help foster open and consistent communication regarding your child’s academic progress, progress reports are sent home in a hard copy format at the end of each month. These are sent home with the students on the last Friday of the month in order to help keep parents up to date about missing work and how they have done on the previous assessments, assignments, or tasks. The first grade printouts that will be going home is in September. Please keep an eye out for when these come home as notice will also be provided in the Weekly Parent Updates and website.

Report cards are given at the end of each semester. As we enter into our sixth academic year with Common Core State Standards, we are proud of the academic progress our students have made. Students are being challenged by these higher expectations which put them on-track for college readiness. While we know the transition has significantly raised the standards for students, report cards have been updated to accurately reflect your student’s proficiency in these new standards.

Please keep in mind that one of the major changes OTSD made in our end-of-year report card is that students will no longer receive a grade of “progressing” at the end of the year, they will either receive a “meets”, “exceeds” or “does not meet”. Additionally, students now must be performing a full grade level above in a subject area in order to receive an “exceeding” mark, which is a shift from past practice as well.
These higher standards will continue throughout your child’s education until graduation, and raising these standards now prepares them for the skills and concepts they need to graduate and be prepared for their future. If you have questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school. There is additional information on the Teaching and Learning page on the district website.

By keeping you informed of these practices and working together to support your child with the increased expectations, we are confident your child will find success throughout his/her school experience.

Teachers and administrators welcome the opportunity of becoming better acquainted with all parents. This can be accomplished through conferences, phone contacts, email and written notes. Teachers are available before and after school daily. Please call ahead of time to schedule an appointment with your student’s teacher.

We will be hosting an Ice Cream Social, the week before students start. This time is for you to meet your child’s teacher, see the classroom, and drop off classroom supplies for the current school year.

During the first month of school, teachers will host classroom presentations for parents on grade level expectations, curriculum used in the classroom, and ways that you can help support your child. Each grade level presentation will be occurring during the entire evening event so parents are able to attend all sessions even if they have students in another grade level. It is encouraged that younger siblings and/or students do not attend so parents/guardians can fully participate in the sessions. This session is vital in helping parents and students understand what the end of year target is for students at Firwood School.

Firwood will be holding conferences for all students in November. This is an opportunity for all families and students to meet with their child’s teacher in a 1:1 format. Your attendance at November conferences is greatly important as we strive to work side-by-side with you in supporting your student academically, socially, emotionally, and behaviorally. Information and sign up times for November will be sent home with students during the early part of November.

Written reports of student grades, progress reports and absences shall be issued to parents at least two times per year. Grades and progress reports will be based on many factors including assignments, both oral and written; class participation; special assignments; research activities, and other identified criteria. Progress reports will be issued mid-quarter to notify parents if students are receiving below average grades. We encourage parents to attend conferences.

Oregon Trail School District has adopted Reach for Reading by HMH and MyMath by McGraw Hill for core instruction in the areas of reading and math students at the elementary level.

Each student is assessed according to grade-level, district and state standards. Performance marks are determined by a combination of daily work, tests, classroom participation, and successful achievement of standards.

In the Firwood Community, learning is a continuous process which occurs in a physically and emotionally safe environment. We are constantly striving to provide guidance and structure for Firwood’s diverse learners in a positive and caring manner. Our staff is working tirelessly on meeting the emotional, educational, and social needs of each and every student. In and out of the classroom, our staff works collaboratively to provide students authentic and innovative learning opportunities while setting high behavioral and academic expectations. At the same time, we strive to establish positive relationships with all students.
The students are the pride of Firwood and we are doing our best to support each and every one in order to maximize their greatest potential. Our shared focus is for all students, regardless of their ability level, to experience academic growth. We are excited to utilize the resources we have in order to monitor individual student progress throughout the school year. Interventions as well as enrichment opportunities are utilized to promote learning and maximize growth at all academic levels.
With this said, students at both the intermediate and primary level will get an additional 20 to 30 minutes of math and reading enrichment or intervention on top of their 90 minutes of on grade level math and integrated literacy they receive daily. The enrichment or intervention will be based on each student’s individual needs and academic level. Groupings of students are fluid and will be reviewed, assessed, and updated on a biweekly to monthly basis in order to be responsive to the individual’s needs.
Our focus at Firwood is on the individual growth of every student. Our school-wide system provides the opportunity for students to flourish at every level whether the identified need be intervention or enrichment. In order to do this, we meet in a collaborative model, in which teams meet monthly and weekly during early release to analyze a variety of assessments to determine current student needs.

Students are expected to treat school technology with care. They may face school discipline if they do not follow district guidelines regarding technology use. Parents may face financial liability for intentional misuse by their students.
Students at Firwood will have access to the Internet. Please note that:

• Instruction using the Internet at school is for educational purposes only.
• School technology limits, filters and strictly controls what Internet sites are available to students.

Students do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy when they use school technology.
If you do not want your student to have access to the Internet at school for educational purposes, please notify us in writing within 30 days.
Please note that restricting student access to the Internet may make it difficult for students to complete school assignments in a timely manner.

Field trips may be scheduled for educational, cultural or other extracurricular purposes. All students are considered to be in school while participating in district-sponsored field trips. This means students are subject to the school’s student conduct rules, applicable Board Policy and such other rules as may be deemed appropriate by the field trip supervisor. Due to the need for supervision and schedule for field trips, no alternative travel arrangements will be permitted. All students attending the field trip are required to ride the bus with the group, and follow the itineraries and expectations of the teacher. Additional parental supervision may be requested on field trips; however, we are unable to allow siblings, friends, or other children who are not in the group going on a field trip to attend. A signed permission slip and liability form are required for students to go on a field trip. Students not submitting a signed permission slip by the assigned date will be given work and placed in an alternative classroom while the class is away.

The library is to be used for studying, research and reading. Anyone violating the library rules may be refused library privileges. All materials in the school media center are centrally catalogued by author, title and subject.
The library hours are from 9:05 am - 3:55 pm on Monday and Friday.

Library books are purchased by the School District, Title I or by purchases through the Student Body Fund, and gifts. Students are responsible for all books taken home. If a book is damaged while checked out to a student, a charge adequate to cover the cost of repair or replacement will be charged. In the case of a lost book, the charge will be the cost of replacing the book.

Among the student rights and responsibilities are the following:

1. Civil rights – including the rights to equal educational opportunity and freedom from discrimination, the responsibility not to discriminate against others;
2. The right to attend free public schools, the responsibility to attend school regularly and to observe school rules essential for permitting others to learn at school;
3. The right to due process of law with respect to suspension, expulsion and decisions which the student believes injure his/her rights;
4. The right to free inquiry and expression, the responsibility to observe reasonable rules regarding these rights;
5. The right to assemble informally, the responsibility to not disrupt the orderly operation of the educational process, nor infringe upon the rights of others;
6. The right to privacy, which includes privacy in respect to the student’s education records;
7. The right to know the behavior standards expected and the responsibility to know the consequences of misbehavior.

Please review the Oregon Trail School District’s Student Rights and Responsibilities found online.

All pupils are to be supervised at all times by proper school personnel. This refers to extra-curricular events as well. Classified employees (bus drivers, custodians, secretaries, cooks, instructional aids, etc.) have certain supervisory responsibilities. Students are expected to comply with any reasonable request made by any adult employed by the district. For safety and liability reasons, students are not permitted to remain at school after dismissal without adult supervision or prior written approval. If a student does not have a note or adult supervision as soon as school is out, he/she will be put on the bus.

Safety is one of our district’s top priorities and to help safeguard our school community, we’ve taken an important step that I want to share with you. Our district is now using SafeSchools Alert, a tip reporting service that allows students, staff, and parents to submit safety concerns to our administration four different ways:

1. Phone: 844.262.7452 24
2. Text: Text your tip to 844.262.7452
3. Email: 1371@alert1.us
4. Web: http://1371.alert1.us

You and your child can easily report tips on bullying, harassment, drugs, vandalism or any safety issue you're concerned about through SafeSchools Alert. Every tip SafeSchools Alert receives about our district is immediately logged in the system and our administration is notified so that they can investigate and take appropriate action. Tips may also be submitted anonymously if you prefer. Together, using SafeSchools Alert, we can make our district a safer place to work and learn! Thanks in advance for your support.

The district has authority and control over a student at school during the regular school day, at any school-related activity, regardless of time or location and while being transported in district-provided transportation. Students will be subject to discipline including detention, suspension, expulsion, loss of awards and honors and/or referral to law enforcement officials for the following, including but not limited to:

1. Bringing, possessing, concealing or using a weapon to or on school property or at an activity under the jurisdiction of the school or at an interscholastic activity administered by a voluntary organization approved by the State Board of Education under ORS 339.430;
2. Substance abuse or any possession, use, distribution or sale of tobacco, alcohol or unlawful drugs, including drug paraphernalia;
3. Assault or menacing of a district employee or another student. Menacing means by word or conduct the student intentionally attempts to place a district employee or another student in fear of imminent serious physical injury;
4. Use of threats, targeted lists, intimidation, harassment or coercion against any fellow student or district employee;
5. Willful damage or destruction of district property (vandalism);
6. Willful damage or destruction of private property on district premises or during district activities;
7. Open defiance of an adult’s authority;
8. Theft;
9. Use or display of profane or obscene language;
10.  Violations of district transportation rules;
11.  Hazing;
12.  Sexual harassment;
13.  Disruption of the school environment;
14.  Persistent failure to comply with rules under the lawful directions of staff or district officials.

Cell phones – Cell phones are to be stored in backpacks and turned to silent mode while on school property. Cell phones that are outside of a backpack without administration approval will be confiscated. Cell phones are not to be used in the classroom even for educational purposes.
Smartwatches/step-trackers like FitBit or Garmin – These electronic devices need to be used as watches only during school hours. If students use them for other purposes during that time, they will be asked to put them away in their backpacks or staff will follow the confiscation procedures.
Approved electronic devices may be used while at school. Inappropriate use of a device at school will result in losing the privilege to have the device at school or on school buses.
Electronic Device Confiscation Procedures – The following procedure will be followed anytime a student is misusing an electronic device or is using a cellphone at school.

• 1st Offense – The device will be confiscated and turned into the office. The student may be issued a Minor and they can pick up their device at the end of the day.
• 2nd Offense - The device will be confiscated and turned into the office. The student will be issued a Minor or Major and the device must be picked up by a parent.
• Additional Offenses - The device will be confiscated and turned into the office. The student will be issued a Major Referral and the device must be picked up by a parent.

Firwood School seeks to assure a climate in the school that is appropriate for learning and assures safety and welfare of students and personnel. All students in our school deserve the reasonable safeguard of due process in consideration of all matters affecting their school life; safety for all is of utmost importance. Careful attention must be given to procedures and methods whereby due process and consistency in discipline shall be assured for each student.
When possible and practical, students and parents shall be notified of the school and district rules and procedures by which schools are governed and the processes by which discipline may be involved. Students shall comply with the rules for government of schools, pursue the prescribed and agreed upon course of study, and submit to the authority of teachers and school officials. Each teacher has rules and consequences for his/her classroom. Students will be informed of these during the first days of school. If everyone remembers to treat others like they want to be treated, usually there are few problems.
Off-campus activities that violate the District’s Code of Conduct may also be the basis for discipline if they have the potential to disrupt or impact the safe and efficient operation of the school.

Firwood School is a PBIS (positive behavior intervention and supports) school. The guiding principles of PBIS are to provide our students with clear and easy to understand expectations along with helping our students to learn effective conflict management strategies, to use consequences that match behavior, and to always treat the child with dignity and respect.
Consequences used for misbehavior include conferences, time-outs (morning and lunch detention), confiscation of item and in-school suspension. Children receiving in-school suspension or detention will have their lunch in the office.
Students may be suspended from school depending on the severity of the discipline infraction. Examples of such behavior may include the following: fighting, defiance of authority, behavior contract violations, chronic rule violations, profanity, inappropriate sexual touching or talk, vandalism, drugs or alcohol, and bringing a dangerous object or weapon to school. Please be sure your child does not bring a pocket knife to school! Parents are notified if one of these situations occurs with your child.
Ultimately, the responsibility for appropriate behavior in the educational setting lies with the parent / guardian of the students. If a student cannot seem to adhere to school rules and continues to disrupt the learning of others or creates an unsafe environment, parents may be required to sit with the student in class or supervise the student during recess or lunch times. A parent / guardian may be required to remove the student from school. If the student is suspended, he/she may not re-enter school without a parent or parent designee contacting the school to assist in planning for improved behavior. If a student has been suspended, they may not participate in any school activity or any activity that occurs on school property, until the suspension is completed. Please refer to the district’s “Student Rights and Responsibilities” booklet for more detailed information.

*These are guidelines.There may be circumstances that necessitate some movement in what level to consequence per the decision of the Principal or designated individual.

Level 1: Re-teaching
Re-teaching is done for a less serious offense in which a reminder, re-teaching of a rule, practice of appropriate behavior or a warning is sufficient. Level 1 involves no written documentation and is carried out by the adult observing the behavior.
If a Level 1 behavior continues after re-teaching and correction, a MINOR may be issued. The student receives a MINOR from an adult observing the behavior. The classroom teacher is notified of the MINOR and is responsible for sending the MINOR home and turning in a signed parent copy to the office.

Level 2: MINOR Referral
If a Level 2 behavior continues after re-teaching and correction, a MAJOR may be issued. Serious behavior that endangers the health / safety of others or creates serious disruption of the learning environment results in the issuance of a MAJOR office referral, which is completed by the adult observing the behavior. The principal will meet with the student, notify parents and determine consequences.

Level 3: MAJOR Referral
Level 3 behaviors include illegal acts as well as repeated or severe Level 2 behaviors. Level 3 behavior always results in an office referral and possibly district or police involvement.
Level 3 behaviors may include:

• physical assault / intentional injury
• illegal substances
• arson
• bomb threats
• explosive or fire starting devices
• weapons or other devices or item that can harm someone
• racial or sexual harassment

Issuing Referrals

• A referral is given any time a student demonstrates Level 2 or 3 behavior, and may be given for repeated Level 1 behaviors.
• The referring adult fills out the referral and turns it in to the principal.
• The principal will meet with the student at the first opportunity and carry out the home contact and administer the consequence.
• The yellow referral copy will be sent back to the classroom teacher to keep in his/her file.
• The signed parent copy of the referral will be returned to the office.

At Firwood School we use a very successful program to encourage appropriate behavior on the playground. Students are taught the playground rules and rules of the school. When students are engaged in inappropriate behavior they are placed in a time-out area and have a discussion with the playground supervisor about the rule or safety issues they broke. Our playground rules are designed to provide a safe, active and fun environment for your child.
We utilize our PBIS school-wide expectations; be safe, be responsible, be respectful and be positive to support students on the playground. A comprehensive set of expectations, specific to the playground equipment and playground activities, have been developed. The playground policies are covered by classroom teachers as well as building administration.

Dress and grooming are the responsibility of the student and parent or guardians as long as they do not interfere with or disrupt the learning environment or create a safety concern. Shoes and shirts are required.

Open toed shoes or flip flops are not encouraged. Shirts that show midriffs and shorts / skirts that are shorter than fingertips with student’s arms at their sides are also not permitted. Shirts with spaghetti straps are inappropriate and will not be allowed. Shoes with “heelies” are not allowed. Parents may be called to bring an alternative garment of clothing or shoes if they are a safety issue or cause a distraction to the learning environment. Students are not allowed to wear hats and hoods inside the school buildings. Exceptions include: School-wide hat day, and Spirit Fridays- at the teacher’s discretion students may purchase the ability to wear a hat. If hats become a bigger issue at recess they will be removed.

A student’s conduct in assemblies must meet the same standard as in the classroom. A student who does not meet these expectations during an assembly shall be subject to disciplinary action. An assembly to honor various student achievements will be held monthly.

At Firwood we strive to support all students and staff by teaching and promoting positive behavior school-wide. We have four rules, which are reinforced daily and in all areas of the school:

BE SAFE

BE RESPECTFUL

BE RESPONSIBLE

Firwood students will participate in various activities which teach behavior expectations in all areas of our school. These lessons are focused on expected behaviors ranging from what it means to be prepared for class to how students conduct themselves on the playground.
PBIS is a school-wide system used to teach our students positive, personal and social skills. We feel that school-wide expectations will help to maximize academic achievement and behavioral competence. Firwood’s PBIS team has identified school-wide expectations and created lessons to teach students exactly what these expectations are. The entire staff at Firwood will continue to work together to teach these lessons and help recognize students for meeting the behavioral expectations. As a result, Firwood’s staff and students have built a school environment where all students are not only safe but also have acquired the life skills to succeed and grow.
As the school year progresses, we will be looking at our data to target specific needs and to create new ways to reinforce our expectations. Our PBIS program allows us the opportunity to teach school-wide behavioral reinforcement or character building lessons up to three times per month.
We look forward to another great year. The next time you are on campus look around to notice the safe, respectful and responsible Firwood students. They are everywhere!

Firwood is a PBIS school, focusing on positive reinforcement and teaching expectations. All students and staff will follow basic expectations for the school: Be safe, Be responsible, Be respectful, and Be kind. Not only can parents support us by reinforcing our PBIS guidelines at home, you can also support us in making sure your child is eligible for quarterly PBIS reward activity, known as a PBIS Activities p. In order for students to meet eligibility requirements they must accomplish the following:

1. Students must maintain a 92% attendance average. This means that students should not miss more than two days a month to remain eligible.
2. Students must be in good standing at the library. Ms. Janet will check for lost or overdue books.
3. Students must not have any Major referrals for the quarter.
4. Students may only have one Minor for the quarter. 30
5. Students must have all their reading logs turned in for the quarter with a minimum of five nights of recorded reading per week. \
6. Students must not have any bus citations for the quarter.
7. Students must not have any missing work.

Over the last several years we have given MUSTANG awards to students whom staff members observe following our school-wide rules. These rules are Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible. We teach and expand on these rules for all areas of the school during our first week back and again after Winter and Spring break. MUSTANG awards are a form of “caught you being good” rewarding. MUSTANG is a combination of two words, positively awesome. MUSTANG awards have been well-received by staff and students alike. In fact, the staff gave out a record number of MUSTANG awards last year. We have a MUSTANG store where students may purchase small items using their MUSTANG awards. We also honor two students from each room each month at an assembly at which students spin the “Wheel of MUSTANG” and receive a prize.

In addition to recognition of appropriate behavior at school, we also have in place a discipline program. We feel it is important to explain to parents the entire program. What follows is a summary.