Policies and Procedures

Registration

New and Returning Students: Families new to Coal Creek's attendance area are asked to register upon their arrival. Registration for each school year is updated in January. The student's current information card is sent home along with a letter asking parents to update the card with current information (phone numbers, employment, emergency contacts). Families are asked to indicate known or potential moves out of the Coal Creek's attendance area. The school office is open until mid June and reopens the second week of August.

Kindergarten: Orientation and registration for kindergarten students is held in January. Children must be five years old on or before September 30th to attend kindergarten. The child's birth certificate should be brought to registration. Immunization records are required prior to the beginning of school. A current physical is recommended.

Open Enrollment

School Tours will be offered beginning in November for families interested in learning more about Coal Creek.

The Open Enrollment Policy allows students to apply for attendance at any BVSD school. The process is now centralized through BVSD. Follow open enrollment procedures if

you want your student to attend a school other than Coal Creek.
you move from the Coal Creek attendance area and want your child to remain at Coal Creek

Parents may obtain an application for open enrollment from any school office or the BVSD Education Center on Arapahoe in Boulder durring the open enrollment process. Applications are approved based on space available in the desired school.

Class Placement Process

The class placement process is based on collaboration among teachers, parents and specialists. Parents and teachers communicate frequently and are in agreement on the most effective learning environment for each child. A form containing information specific to your child's learning needs and personality may be submitted to provide additional information.

Placement Considerations: Much time, thought and collaboration go into creating a class list. Placements are recommended by each child's current teaching team, taking into consideration the observations of parents, specialists, literacy and resource teachers. Teaching teams attempt to build learning communities where children are exposed to a wide spectrum of talents, backgrounds and experiences so that all class members expand horizons, develop strengths, and address weaknesses. Classes need:

leaders, artists, writers, mathematicians, athletes, musicians
diversity of culture, ethnicity and gender
a blending and matching of learning styles
differing behavioral styles and role models including active, thoughtful, physical, calm, vivacious, and compassionate

Confidential Issues: In a few circumstances, there is significant/confidential information that is critical for class placement. If such information is too sensitive to share during conferences, parents have the opportunity to schedule a conference with the principal prior to the placement process with the assurance that the information will be used confidentially as one element of the placement process.

Teacher Assignments/Class Postings: Classes will be posted no later than Meet-the-Teacher night in August.

What if a class change is needed? A few weeks after school begins, the Child Assistance Team will convene at the request of a parent or a teacher. The team (including parents of the child, grade level teacher representatives, specialist teacher representatives, and principal) will consider all viewpoints of a child's situation within the context of his/her current class and make a recommendation.

Attendance

Regular attendance has a high priority at Coal Creek, in the Boulder Valley District, and in the state of Colorado. Parents play a major role in developing a strong sense of the importance of regular school attendance. Parents are encouraged to plan vacations around regularly scheduled school vacation days. Classrooms provide ongoing, integrated and active learning environments for our children. It can be difficult to "make up" time and learning that is lost while your child is absent.

State law requires that Coal Creek notify parents if their child is either absent or tardy eight or more times in a trimester. This applies to any type of absence. Arrangements for makeup work should be made with the teacher.

Getting to school on time is also highly valued. Tardiness can disrupt your child's understanding of the day's expectations as well as learning for his/her classmates.

If your child will be absent, please call 303-447-5492 by 8:00 a.m.

Inclement Weather: The radio is the best way to find out if school will be in session. The decision is made early in the morning by Boulder Valley School District officials. However, the final decision for inclement weather attendance and safety rests with the parent.

To hear a tape recorded announcement of school closures, call Security at 303-447-5051

Denver TV stations 4, 7 and 9 broadcast school closings on their morning news shows. The following radio stations broadcast the local decision to close school on a snow day:

KYGO (98.5FM/1600AM)	KHOW (630AM)	KOA (850AM)
KBCO (1190AM and 97.3FM)	KWBI (91.1FM)	KBNO (1220AM)
KOSI (101.1FM)	KXKL (105.1 FM/1280 AM)	KBVI (1490 AM)
KQKS (107.5FM)	KKFN (950 AM)	KCFR (90.1 FM)
KCKK (104.3 FM)	KGNU (88.5 FM)

If severe weather arises during the school day, parents may pick up their children. All other children will be kept at school for the duration of their regular school day. Buses will run on a regular schedule.

Transportation

Supervision:
Supervision on the playground begins at 7:45 a.m. Students should arrive after this time. During bad weather, students will enter the building through the main doors, beginning at 7:45 a.m. The office checks with the weather service to make indoor recess decisions. Students should dress for cold weather at all times. Most recesses will be outdoors.

Buses:
School bus transportation is provided for students who live farther than two miles from school or for students who have to cross a major thoroughfare. Students are picked up and dropped off at specific locations determined by the District Transportation Department. Bus schedules are distributed at the Meet the Teacher event in August. They are also available through the office.

If your child is bringing a guest home on the bus, the guest's parents must provide a written permission slip which then has to be signed by the student's teacher and the office. Signatures are completed on the day he/she will ride the bus. Arrangements between families should always be made prior to the day the student plans to ride the bus.

Riding the bus is a privilege, not a right. Safety is the top priority. When behavior is deemed inappropriate by the bus driver, a student Bus Safety Report is filled out by the driver. A copy is mailed to parents. After three reports, a suspension from the bus, for up to a week or more, could occur. During a bus suspension, transportation is the responsibility of parents. For answers to questions about bus service or items left on the bus, contact the BVSD Transportation Office at 303-447-5126.

Cars:

Use the drop-off and pick-up lane if you plan to move your vehicle continuously through the traffic.
Bus lanes in front of the school are for buses only.
Do not drop your child off in the middle of the street.
Do not use the school parking lot for dropping off or picking up.
Do not block crosswalks, fire hydrants, or driveways.
If you are visiting the building, please park on the south side of Tamarisk leaving the north side for cars who are moving continuously to load or unload passengers.
U-turns are illegal in front of the school building.
Please be respectful of our neighbors' driveways and sidewalks.

Bicycles:
Parent discretion is requested in making the decision to allow children to ride a bike to school. The bike rack is located next to the soccer field at the west end of the building. Students should walk their bikes on the school sidewalk and grounds. Lock bikes on bike rack.

Pets:
DO NOT BRING DOGS TO SCHOOL. They may present a safety issue in the presence of many children.

Skateboards, Roller Blades and Scooters:
Skateboards and roller blades are not allowed at Coal Creek. They present both safety and storage problems. Scooters (following all safety regulations) may be locked to the bike racks.

Coal Creek Bill of Rights

In 1990-91 Coal Creek students developed the Bill of Rights based on the following criteria:

Fair to everyone
Apply to everyone
Are big and important
Protect everyone's dignity, point of view and physical and emotional safety
Must make sense for school and make sense educationally

We the people (students, teachers, principal, parents and families of Coal Creek Elementary School) have established these rights to promote wise choices. Honoring these rights will help people at Coal Creek earn respect and be respected by others. In order to ensure that every person benefits from education at Coal Creek we establish this Bill of Rights.

The right not to be hurt verbally, physically, emotionally, or mentally in any way.
The right to have property and privacy respected.
The right to express our own ideas and to have our ideas acknowledged and respected, to have our side of a story heard in disagreements.
The right to be treated equally, remembering people in minority groups (racial, ethnic, cultural and disabled) as well as in majority groups.
The right to participate in all educational activities.

Expectations for Student Conduct

Assemblies are for the education and enjoyment of all. Many are funded by our PTA. AM/PM kindergartners are invited to return with a parent for assemblies which are scheduled during the opposite half day.
Student Responsibilities:

Enter and leave the area quietly and respectfully.
Sit in the area designated for your class.
Remain seated and quiet until the program is over.
Show appreciation by applauding (no whistling or booing).

Finer/Diner (Cafeteria) - Student Responsibilities:

Come to the dining room with outdoor clothing and playground equipment needed for recess.
Walk in the dining room in a quiet, orderly way.
Stand quietly in line while waiting to be served.
Use appropriate table manners.
Follow expectations of dining room supervisors.
Consider the rights of others in conversation. Talk quietly.
Make the area clean and ready for the next person before leaving the area.

Hallways - Student Responsibilities:

Walk quietly on the right side in hallways.
Respect all work/pictures displayed by not touching them.
Remain outside before/after school and at recess unless involved in a specific activity with adult permission and supervision.

Restrooms - Student Responsibilities:

Use restrooms respectfully.
Keep our restrooms clean.

Playground
Our goal is to be consistent and safe. Think first, thus avoiding dangerous situations. Playground rules are reviewed in classrooms.

Weapons of any kind (real or toy) are not allowed on school property. Having a weapon in school can be grounds for suspension.

Toys should not be brought to school. Classroom specified sharing day/special classroom program exempted.

Special Events: Children must be supervised by an adult (parent or guardian) at all Coal Creek family events.

Discipline Policy

The following behaviors are considered inappropriate at Coal Creek:

Hurtful physical and verbal behavior
Lack of respect for rightful authority
Inappropriate language or gestures
Destruction of school or personal property

When any of the above behaviors occur, students may be subject to the following procedure:

First Report - Take home discipline slip and get it signed. Bring back with parent signature.
Second Report - Take home discipline slip for signature plus a phone call will be made to a parent.
Third Report - Take home discipline slip for signature plus a planning conference will be held with the student, parent, teacher and principal.
Fourth Report - Take home discipline slip for signature plus in-school restriction.
Over four reports - Take home discipline slip for signature plus out-of-school suspension or an individually contracted consequence.

The purpose of all misbehavior contacts and meetings is to LEARN MORE APPROPRIATE WAYS to address future situations.

School Health

The health room is located in the main office and is staffed by a health aide, volunteer, or office personnel with current first aid certification.

Make sure the office has current home, work, and emergency contact phone numbers.

Please supply the office with current medical information on your child. Update records yearly or as needed.

Immunizations: Parents must comply with Colorado state law and have up-to-date immunizations or a signed exemption form on file. Transfer students have 60 days to have records on file. Boulder County Health Department provides immunizations at reduced cost, call 303-666-0515.

A physical is recommended for students entering Kindergarten and 4th grade, and transfer students.

Guidelines for keeping child home sick (other than obvious illness or injury):

Fever, vomiting, diarrhea
Frequent and uncontrolled coughing and/or sneezing

Report any of the following conditions to school personnel as soon as possible:

Strep throat - May return to school 24 hours after antibiotic is started, child feels well and temperature is normal.
Chicken Pox - Should be kept home until child has no new spots and old ones are scabbed over (usually 7-10 days).
Head lice - May return to school after treatment and hair is free of nits.
Impetigo - May return to school after treatment; cover with band-aid if possible.
Pink eye - May return to school if under treatment of physician and 24 hours after antibiotic treatment is started.
Measles, mumps, rubella - Highly communicable diseases need to be diagnosed by a physician and reported to the school office.

Illness/injury while your child is at school:
Child is sent to the health room and records are kept of all visits. Child must be sent home if temperature is greater than 100 degrees F or if less than 100 degrees F and accompanied by other symptoms. Parents will be notified as necessary in case of illness or potentially serious injury.

Giving Medication at School:
Whenever possible, you are encouraged to have a child's medication given at a time other than school hours. In order for school personnel to dispense medication (prescription or over the counter), the following are needed from parent:

A signed copy of Parent Request for Giving Medicine at School and Release Agreement, which may be obtained from school office. This form has been made available to physicians' offices in BVSD.
A doctor's written order for medication to be given, either on school form or attached to form. A new order is needed for each medication, change in dosage and at the start of each school year.
Medication must be in a properly labeled container with child's name, name of medicine, dosage, how often medication is to be given and, where appropriate, date medication is to be stopped. When filling the child's prescription, ask the pharmacist for a second bottle so school and home both have one.

If unable to comply with the above, a parent has the option of coming to school and administering medication to a child at appropriate time.

Clothing

Recommended Dress: Clothing that children can manage on their own and that allows them to be comfortable in the classroom, gym and on the playground is appreciated. Tennis shoes or rubber soled shoes are required for physical education and music days. Please don't send your child in anything that is not replaceable. During your child's day he/she may work with paint, markers, glue or clay, and accidents can happen. The temperature and weather can change rapidly in Colorado. Please be sure your child understands he/she need to take responsibility to dress warmly for recesses. Boots are recommended on the playground when snow and ice are present. Hats may only be worn inside on Student Council's Hat Day, the first Friday of every month. They may be worn outside on any day. Respect in dressing contributes to respectful learning.

Names on Personal Items: Your child's name should be on all articles of outside clothing. In addition, label backpacks and lunch boxes. Putting your child's name on special belongings is a good idea. We have an excessive amount of clothing in our lost and found each year.

Lost and Found: Our "lost and found" box is located outside the cafeteria. Periodically, the unclaimed items, such as coats, hats, mittens and boots are given to charitable organizations. You and your student are encouraged to check the lost and found box for belongings. Also, please tell your student to turn in items found. Smaller items, such as rings, watches, small change, wallets, etc. are kept in the office.

School Supplies

A school supply list is sent home at the end of each year for the next year. Lists are also available in the office. You are encouraged to check with your child throughout the year for supplies that need to be replaced. Assistance is available for families who are unable to provide supplies, contact the school office if needed. P.T.A. sells pre-packaged sets of school supplies.

Lunch and Milk Money

School lunch menus with current prices are sent home monthly. Peanut butter, tuna and cheese sandwiches are daily alternatives to the main course. Multiple lunch tickets are sold on the first day of each school week. Payment may be made by check, money order (made out to Boulder Valley School District) or cash. It is recommended that a week's worth of tickets be purchased. Unused tickets are refunded at the end of the school year. BVSD is recommending a "no charge" policy for lunches. A peanut butter sandwich will be provided for children who occasionally do not have lunch tickets or sack lunch.

Sack lunches may be brought from home. White or chocolate milk or juice may be purchased in the Finer Diner. Prices are printed on the monthly menu. Check with classroom teachers for questions about tickets, lunch box storage, and routines. Adults eating hot lunch with students need to call the school office before 8:30 a.m. to order an adult lunch.

Telephone Use

Students have access to the phone in the office with teacher permission. Teachers will give a pass which students must show to the office personnel before they can use the phone. We encourage that after school plans (i.e. going to a friend's house) be made at home, either before school or after the child arrives home. The end of the school day is a busy time in the office and we try not to tie up phone lines for social planning.

School Pictures

Photographs of individual students are taken in the fall. Class pictures are taken in the spring.