·        If you have a concern or problem, the first person you should contact is your child’s teacher. It is important to communicate with your child’s teacher since children can sometimes misinterpret information when describing their school day to their parents. You can connect with your child’s teacher through email, a phone message, or a visitation. Please remember that visitations to speak with a teacher or other staff member are most successful when a parent calls in advance to schedule a time.

·        If you have discussed and/or worked with your child’s teacher to resolve an issue yet still feel it is unresolved, your next step would be to speak with the principal.

·        If you remain dissatisfied after discussing your issue with the principal you will be informed that you may opt to contact the Elementary Director’s office.

Attendance / Absences     575-2306 (ext. 1)

If your child is absent, call the attendance line at 575-2306 and immediately press “1”. If you are unable to reach the school office, please send a note the day your child returns to school explaining the absence.

General School and Classroom Rules

Note: Cottage is a PBS (Positive Behavior Support) school. Therefore, the language of the following rules is subject to change as we continue efforts to revise this document. The premise of PBS is to accentuate the positive and reinforce appropriate behavior. Research on PBS has shown this to be a very effective strategy for helping students succeed.

1. Students will attend school regularly and arrive to school on time. Students in 1^st -6^th grade should arrive at school no earlier than 8:55 a.m.  Due to lack of supervision, students may only be on campus from 8:55a.m. until 3:50 p.m.  After 3:50 p.m. students may be on campus if they participate in a supervised after school program and have their parents’ permission.
2. Students will walk in the hallways at all times.
3. Students will not interfere with activities of another student.
4. Students will stay in designated, supervised areas at all times.
5. Students will keep their hands, feet, and other objects to themselves.
6. The rights and property of others must be respected at all times.  Students must pay for damaged or lost property, both school and personal. Note:  Students are not to bring items of value to school.
7. Fights, threatening the safety of others, willful destruction of property, and disrespect/defiance toward school personnel will not be tolerated.
8. Profanity (including gestures), ridicule, or racial, ethnic, religious, handicap, or sexual slurs will not be tolerated.
9. Students will follow the Cottage Uniform Dress Code.
10. Students will use the restrooms for their intended use only.  Playing or loitering is not allowed.  All students are expected to respect the privacy of others while in the bathroom.
11. Food is allowed at designated times and in designated areas only.  Healthy snacks are encouraged. Chewing gum is not allowed at school.
12. Personal property (toys, games, radios, lasers, pagers, tape & CD players, etc.) should not be brought to school.  Exception: calculators and curriculum related items.  The buying and selling of personal items is not allowed.  Items and money will be confiscated.
13. Students will help to keep the school grounds clean and neat.
14. Students will not ride bicycles in the halls, parking area or on the playground.  Bicycles must be walked until off campus.  The bike rack is off limits during school hours.
15. Skateboards, roller blades, shoes with heel wheels, and skates are not allowed at school.
16. Students will speak respectfully to each other.  “Put-downs” are not allowed.

 Playground Rules

1. When the bell rings, students are to WALK directly to class line-up areas. 
2. Sport items/equipment should not be brought to school.
3. All games are “open” to all students.
4. Football, baseball, kickball, soccer and playing ‘catch’ are restricted to the field area. 
5. All equipment must be used safely, cooperatively, and for the purpose intended.  Jumping off playground equipment to the ground is not allowed.
6. When grounds are wet, students are to stay on the blacktop area.
7. Injuries will be reported to the staff member on duty.  Students are not to go directly to the office.
8. Throwing sand, rocks, wood chips or other inappropriate objects is not allowed.
9. In order to use drinking fountains, students must wait for the next available fountain.
10. On rainy days, no balls are allowed on the blacktop.
11. Balls are not to be kicked on the blacktop at any time.
12. Snacks should be eaten only in designated areas (bench areas) on the blacktop.

Cafeteria Rules

1. Students are to enter and exit the lunchroom in an orderly manner as directed by supervisors.

2. Students are to eat quietly at assigned tables, be courteous, and exhibit good manners.

3. Students are to remain seated until dismissed by a supervisor.

4. Students are to eat all food in the cafeteria.

5. Each class will be responsible for cleaning their eating area before they are dismissed.

Systematic Plan for Teaching Appropriate Behavior  

(Note: Improving recognition of positive behavior and fine-tuning our consequences for inappropriate behavior is a focus area for staff this year. Significant changes are likely to occur and will be communicated in writing to home.)

1. Teachers will review the Cottage Behavior Code with students during the first week of school.  During class discussion, the necessity for the rules will be emphasized.  This will be repeated as needed.

2.      This copy of the School Climate and Procedures should be taken home and reviewed by parents with students.  Parent signature acknowledging understanding of the code is required.

3. Teachers will collect and keep all signed forms relating to the School Climate and Behavior Code, as it may be needed for documentation purposes.

4. Each new student and parent will receive a copy of the Behavior Code from the office.  The classroom teacher will need to retrieve the signed form from the student by his/her second week of school.

Recognition of Positive Behavior

The major emphasis at Cottage School is positive recognition for appropriate school behavior.  Special recognition is given to students who follow the rules of safety and good citizenship in the classroom, on the playground, and in the cafeteria.  Character education values will be emphasized and reinforced.

1. Classroom – Each teacher will have their own student recognition program, which will be shared with parents at Back-to-School Night.

2. Schoolwide-Grades K-6  – High Five Awards may be given to students showing exceptional sportsmanship or citizenship.  Weekly, High Five tickets will be chosen randomly in a school wide drawing and a prize will be awarded.

Additional Positive Recognition

1. Trimester Award Assemblies will be held so each teacher may recognize students for academic accomplishments, citizenship and homework completion.

2. Student art work, projects and other related curriculum work will be displayed in the office and MP Room.

Negative Consequences <P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-ALIGN: justify; tab-stops: lis