School Handbook

Good attendance is critical for steady academic growth, and, by law, children are required to attend school. 

Please call the school office any time your child will not be in school. 

If you are asked to leave a voice mail, please give the following information:

• Name of the parent or guardian calling
• Student's name and grade
• Date(s) of absence
• Reason for absence; please be specific

Absences will only be excused for the following reasons:

• Illness
• Medical or dental appointment
• A family death or serious illness
• Court/judicial appearance
• Religious observations
• School-sponsored activities
• Students who are late to school will be considered tardy. Please make every effort to have your student at school on time. 

Additionally signing your child out in the afternoon prior to the end of the school day affects their attendance and learning. 

Students who become truant (inexcusably absent three consecutive days or five school days in any semester or seven days in a school year) will be reported to the Kansas Department for Children and Families in accordance with Board of Education Policy 1461.

Students must live 2.5 miles or more from their assigned school to qualify for transportation to that school.

For questions about WPS transportation and busing, call 316-973-2190.

The district does offer the FirstView app that helps families track their student's school bus. Families will need a security code from the school office to use the app.

Our office hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

Breakfast is served in the classrooms beginning at 8:50 AM.

School begins at 9:00 AM and dismisses at 4:10 PM.

Doors open at 8:50 a.m. 

Please do not leave students unattended before the school bell rings.  

Students getting dropped off by vehicle should enter the building through door 8 located in the West parking lot off of Wabash.  

Students arriving to school by bus will enter the building through door 1 located on the East side of the building off of Ohio Ave. 

Students walking to school will enter the building through door 1 located on the East side of the building off of Ohio Ave. 

For the safety of students, there is no vehicle drop off on the East side of the building. 

Breakfast is served in the classrooms at 8:50 a.m. We know how important it is that your child eats breakfast each day. Please have your child here by 8:50 if they plan to eat a school breakfast.

Dismissal QR Code 

All students are provided with 2 copies of a QR code. This QR code will be used to send a direct message to your child’s teacher that you are here to pick up.  Please make sure you have the QR code daily as this will expedite the flow of traffic.

The use of the QR code also helps school staff to know that an approved adult is picking up the student. Please only share dismissal QR codes with trusted individuals. 

Below are some helpful tips to manage your dismissal QR code: 

• Stick the QR code in the top or bottom corner of the front window of your vehicle.   
• Take a picture of the QR code and show the parking lot staff the picture on your phone. 
• Tape the QR code to the back of your phone.

Once you are in line to pick-up your student, you may scan your own QR code to alert the classroom teacher that you are here. If you do not know how to scan QR codes on your mobile device, click the link below. 

How to Scan a QR Code

Vehicle Pick-Up Location and Procedure

Vehicle pick-up takes place in the parking lot located on Wabash. Please present your QR code to school staff, or scan your own QR code when you arrive at the building. 

Students will wait for their vehicle in the student "safety zone"

There will be NO vehicle pick ups on Ohio Ave as this is a bus loading zone only.

Vehicles will be asked to pull all the way to the corner of the building so that staff can begin loading 4-5 cars at a time. 

If your child needs assistance getting into the vehicle, please park and follow the Parent Walk-Up procedures. 

Parent Walk-Up Location and Procedures

Parent Walk-Up takes place in the parking lot located on Wabash. Please present your QR code to school staff, or scan your own QR code when you arrive at the building.   

Your student should meet you outside of door 8. Please use caution and /or the walking path when navigating through the parking lot. 

Students Walking

Students who walk home will meet their siblings at door 1. 

They will dismiss from the East side of the building. 

A school staff member will ensure that they cross Ohio Ave. safely. 

Please review safe walking expectations with your students. 

Bus Riders

Students who ride the bus are dismissed to the buses at the end of the day. Note that certain qualifications must be met to ride the bus. 

Call the office

If there are any changes to your student's normal dismissal routine, please notify the office by 3:30 p.m. Office staff will notify classroom teacher and bus supervisors if necessary. 

To provide a quality-learning environment in our school, appropriate student behavior and dress is necessary. The vast majority of students ARE appropriately dressed, and their efforts in this regard are appreciated. Staff members expect students and parents to realize that all students are expected to adhere to this dress code. Reasonable criteria for determining appearance are based on health, safety, and public decency and should be conducive to a learning 
atmosphere. Though not all inclusive, these are specific examples of the general criteria.

1. Extreme dress or hairstyle which is distractive will not be permitted.
2. Sunglasses, hats, bandanas, hoods on sweatshirts and headscarves are not to be worn in the building.
3. Any items which promote the use of alcohol, tobacco, illegal pictures or attract attention to body parts (including writing across the rear of pants and shorts) will not be permitted.
4. Because of safety concerns, platform shoes, sandals, and flip flops are not recommended on P.E. days or on the playground. Roller skates or Heelies (rollers built into shoes) are not permitted.
5. Shirts must reach the waistband. All shirts must cover the belt line at all times.
6. Wear shirts that have a minimum of 2 inch straps, cover midriffs and backs at all times.
7. Underwear cannot be shown outside of regular attire.
8. No shorts/skirts above finger length when arms are at rest.
9. “Sagging” will not be permitted.
10. Coats will be allowed in the classroom at the discretion of the teacher when the temperature is uncomfortable to the learning environment.

The above code/expectations will be applied fairly and equitably regardless of gender. Administration, teachers and other school staff may determine what constitutes inappropriate or unsafe dress. Any item that is deemed disruptive to the operation of the school or distracting to the learning environment will not be allowed. The decision of the building principal will be final in all disputes concerning student dress. Parents will be contacted and asked to bring appropriate clothing in the event that inappropriate clothing is worn to school.

Parents should notify the school nurse if there are any health conditions that may require medical attention, such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, etc.

If a student becomes ill during the school day, they should request a pass to see the nurse. 

Students who exhibit fever, sore throat or tonsillitis, any eruption of the skin or rash, any respiratory symptoms accompanied by a fever, severe cough or cold, or any eruption of the scalp, will be sent home.

Parents will be notified to pick up their student and must do so in a timely manner to limit exposure to other students and school staff.

Please keep your emergency contact information up to date with both the teacher and office staff.

School board policy (BOE P5316) restricts school personnel from giving students any medication, including over-the-counter medication.

Medication is given only upon written request from both the parent/guardian and the student's physician. Students must also have received one dose of medication without an adverse reaction prior to any doses being given at school.

All medicine must be in the original container and be presented by a parent to the school nurse for safe keeping and scheduled administration. The container should be labelled with the following:

• Name of student
• Name of medication
• Directions for use
• Name of physician
• Name and address of pharmacy
• Date of prescription

The district uses the ParentVUE online portal to give parents to access information about their student's attendance, assignments and grades. ParentVUE allows parents to quickly and easily update their family contact information, which is vital in order to maintain strong home-to-school connections. 

Keeping students emotionally and physically safe at school is our number one priority. All students have the right to learn in an orderly environment that is free of disruption. We understand that from time to time, students may need additional practice meeting these expectations. We are trying to teach students academic and behavioral skills they will be using in the real world that will help them be successful adolescents and adults. Our staff will work closely with parents to ensure students learn to be responsible citizens and develop strategies for resolving conflicts.

Our L'Ouverture Guidelines for success are a consistent tool we use to teach these behavior skills. 

We provide breakfast for all students free of charge.

Lunch fees can depend on family income. Complete the Free and Reduced Meal Application annually to qualify for free lunch and adjustments to school fees. 

The district uses an app called School Cafe to allow families to see menus.

The district uses LINQ Connect to pay for meals.

For special dietary restrictions, please contact the school nurse. 

Field trips with our city and nearby sites of interest are scheduled by classroom teachers throughout the school year. These trips are designed to supplement different aspects of the classroom curriculum and intoduce students to resources within the community. Parents will be notified of the planned trip at least five days in advance and must sign a trip waiver for students to attend. If a student does not have a signed permission slip to attend the trip, they will not go. We will not accept verbal permission over the phone.

If there is a fee for the field trip, the money needs to be submitted at least three days prior to the scheduled trip. All field trips require the use of school buses. Parents are not able to transport students on field trips.

If a parent serves as a chaperone, they will need to complete the school district's volunteer process prior to the field trip

Having two recess periods a day offers students valuable opportunities for physical activity and social interaction, which are crucial for their overall well-being and development. During these breaks, they can unwind, play, and build friendships, contributing to a more balanced and engaged school experience. In the event of adverse weather conditions, indoor recess ensures that students remain safe and comfortable while still enjoying their break time. Prioritizing safety during both outdoor and indoor recess is essential to create a secure environment where children can thrive and enjoy their school day.

The safety of students, staff and parents is the Wichita Public Schools' greatest priority during the threat of dangerous conditions.

Emergency plans are in place should tornadoes, lightning, hail, snow or other dangerous circumstances present a safety concern. 

If schools are to be closed or activities cancelled or rescheduled due to weather conditions, the information will be posted on the Wichita Public Schools' website main page and displayed on all school websites.

LOST AND FOUND!!! We will post a weekly picture of our lost and found items. Your student may get their item(s) at anytime during the school day. Parents are also welcome to come pick up missing items. Please ring the bell at door 8 and let the office know you are needing to pick up a lost and found item. Any leftover items will be donated at the end of each month. 

 

Parent-Teacher Conferences are a great way to stay involved in your child's education. Parents have the opportunity to discuss their child's progress, review assignments, learn about future projects and to strengthen the connection between home and school. 

Parent-Teacher Conferences are held twice a year in October and February. 

All visitors to the building, including parents, must sign in through our visitor management system HallPass.

Parents, caregivers and other relatives wanting to volunteer in the school or for field trips are required to register every year as a volunteer. Visit the Volunteer Registration page to complete your annual registration.

Parents wishing to bring treats for their child’s birthday must consult with the teacher beforehand. Parties will typically take place at the end of the day; however, celebration times may vary to accommodate specials and instructional block schedules. Due to the nature of structured classroom time, please reach out to the teacher to confirm the time that treats will be handed out. Please DO NOT ask that party invitations or other materials not pertaining to school functions be distributed in the classroom.