CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTIONAL ORGANIZATION

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Parent Information

Table of Contents:

Curriculum

Textbooks

Physical Education

Guidance Counselor

Gifted Education

Field Trips

School Parties

Homebound Instruction

l. Appropriate texts and supplementary material for each grade level
2. An adequate library and audio-visual center
3. A well equipped reading center
4. Adequate gymnasium, stage, and playground
5. Specialized teachers and centers in the fields of:
      a. guidance
      b. learning disabilities
      c. physical education
      d. music
      e. art
      f. emotional disturbance
      g. reading
      h. English Second Language
      i.  Autism
6. An adequate program in Career Education
7. A Gifted Children's Program
8. Harcourt Language Arts Program, K-5
9.Up-to-date computer hardware and software available

Textbooks

 The parent and child are responsible for turning in the textbooks at the close of the year in reasonably good condition or pay for damage or loss of book.

A physical education period of thirty minutes daily is required by the State of Virginia. All children must participate. A child should bring a written excuse from his parent if he cannot physically take part for one to three days. If disability is for a longer period, he will need a doctor's excuse.

Students need tennis shoes for participation in the program. Please see that your child brings or wears tennis shoes everyday. 

Girls may need shorts to wear under their skirts or dresses at the physical education period.

The school is fortunate to have its own elementary school counselor who works with students, teachers, and parents. Her objectives are to aide children in developing academic skills, realistic self-concepts, group awareness, effective coping behaviors, and to provide effective learning climates. The school counselor will schedule conferences upon request.

Students who are identified for gifted education require curriculum adaptations and/or additional services beyond those usually provided by the regular school program.

Roanoke County's identification processes incorporate standardized and non-standardized data, which relate achievement, intelligence, performance, and teacher ratings. Although the approach to identification varies for students in grades K-2 and grades 3-5, the ultimate goal of each is to find those children whose outstanding capabilities necessitate curriculum adaptations and/or additional services.

If you have specific questions about the screening process and/or feel your child's abilities make him/her a candidate for screening, consult the principal or school counselor. He/she will share with you the time line associated with screening and will direct you to a member of the staff for the gifted program if you have additional questions.

If your child is new to Roanoke County Schools and participated in a gifted program in his/her former school, your child automatically qualifies for screening. Remember to consult with the principal or guidance counselor to engage your child in the screening process.

Roanoke County also provides a program for artistically talented children in grades 3-5. Screening for this program begins in January of each school year and involves students in grades 2-5 who are referred by parents, classroom teachers, and/or art teachers. If your child is a second grader, you will receive a letter announcing and explaining the approaching screening period and the procedures you should follow to refer your child for screening.

Sue Bostic is our resource teacher with the Gifted Program at 562-3900 Ext. 10222.

Field Trips

Field trips are planned each year by the teachers as a way to enrich classroom instruction. All trips are related to grade level standards of learning. Parents must give written permission before a child is allowed to go on a field trip. Telephone or oral permission is not acceptable.

Students may be denied the privilege of participating in a field trip if their behavior might create unsafe conditions or interfere with the learning of the other students.

School Parties

The following policies regarding parties and snacks were developed by our staff as a requirement of No Child Left Behind and the Roanoke County Schools Wellness Committee.  The purpose of the policies is to encourage staff, parents, and students to make healthier choices for snacks and parties.  These policies will be implemented with the 2006-07 school year.  Parent support with our efforts to promote healthier choices for school snacks is appreciated by the staff.

Party Policies   (Grade chairs/homeroom parents will organize these events)
·              Three  parties will be held each year – a Fall Party at the end of the first nine weeks, a Winter Party in December and a Valentine Party in February.

·              Homeroom parents should always discuss plans for classroom parties with the teachers.  This communication, which may need to be initiated by the teacher, should take place at least one week prior to the party.  Activities for the winter party should be approved by the teacher to ensure age appropriateness. 

·              Homeroom parents should check with the classroom teacher about types of food allergies. 

·              A menu of snacks will be provided to homeroom parents.

·              No younger children or siblings are allowed at the parties.  

·              The Fall party will be held from 1:00-1:30 pm. The other parties will be held from 1:00-1:45 pm. This allows 15-20 minutes for cleanup and preparation for dismissal.

·              When parents volunteer to help with parties, it is important that they  also help with the cleanup after the parties.  This is a big help to the teachers since they need to prepare their room for the next school day.  

·              Snacks should be limited to one sweet food, one beverage, and one or more healthy snacks from the suggested list below. The beverage should not include red coloring or be high in sugar content. Water is encouraged as a healthy choice for a drink.

  Suggested Snacks  

Birthday Recognition

  ·              Party invitations may be handed out at school ONLY if every child in the class receives   an invitation.
·              Parents must inform the teacher in advance if they want  to send a snack to celebrate their child’s birthday.
·              Parents must drop off the snack in the office.  The secretaries will deliver the snack to the classroom.
·              Teachers will decide when the snack will be given to the students, but lunch time is encouraged to limit the loss of instructional time.
·              Bottled water is the preferred beverage if drinks are part of the celebration.

Roanoke County Schools provide Homebound Instruction for students that are unable to attend school for medical or psychological reasons. The Director of Pupil Personnel may place students on homebound in individual cases. Instruction is provided for those students that will be absent from school for at least fifteen school days. Parents must apply for the Homebound Instruction through the Pupil Personnel Service's Visiting Teacher Office (562-3779). Parents should apply as soon as they know that their child is going to be absent from school. Homebound instruction may be approved in advance if the student is having surgery, is pregnant or is being hospitalized. The only waiting period required is the time necessary to have the forms signed by the appropriate physician, licensed clinical psychologist or psychiatrist.

Elementary students (Grades K-8) are provided five hours of instruction each week and secondary students (Grades 9-12) are provided ten hours of instruction per week. This instruction is provided at no cost to the parent. If homebound instruction is provided in the student's home, a parent or responsible adult must be present during the homebound instruction. If an adult other than the parent is present, he/she must be acceptable to both the homebound teacher and the Visiting Teacher. Students are counted present from the date of homebound approval until the date that the student returns to school unless they are absent for the homebound instruction.

If you have questions concerning the Homebound Program call 562-3900, Ext. 10192.