Parent Handbook

Our goal is to help children learn to regulate their own behavior and decision-making. Mistakes are an opportunity for children to learn more about themselves and their place in the world. We take into consideration the developmental level of students and explicitly teach certain behaviors to our younger students.

We recognize students for exemplary performance and behavior through our Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) program. This system is designed to catch students making good choices and to recognize their efforts. The acronyms for our PBIS program are P.O.W.E.R and R.O.A.R. P.O.W.E.R stands for Persistence, Optimism, We are Flexible, Empathy, Resilience. P.O.W.E.R is how we would like our students to think. R.O.A.R stands for Responsible, Own It, Positive Attitude, and Build Relationships. R.O.A.R is how we would like our students to act. Both P.O.W.E.R and R.O.A.R are acronyms that are foundational for a Growth Mindset as well as having a respectful and positive attitude.

In addition to our PBIS program we believe that supporting students’ social and emotional needs is vital in supporting the whole child. Teachers have built in time to support the varied needs of students in morning meetings and in lessons through the Second Step curriculum. The Second Step programs give teachers an easy-to-implement,mengaging way to teach social-emotional skills and concepts. Second Step programs are designed to help children thrive and be more successful in school, ultimately setting them up to be thoughtful and productive adults.

By focusing on P.O.W.E.R and R.O.A.R., we believe that all students will be able to do all the following:

• complete class work as assigned
• complete homework as assigned
• work independently
• work, share, and play cooperatively
• participate in class discussions
• listen and follow directions
• demonstrate the ability to advocate for self
• respect rights and property of others

 

Dress Expectations

At Willow Creek Elementary School, students are expected to always dress appropriately.

• Shoes must be worn at all times and only soft-soled shoes may be worn to participate in PE classes.
• No items of clothing or jewelry may advertise or represent alcohol, drugs, tobacco, or other inappropriate language/pictures.

Care of School Equipment

Students are entrusted with the care of books, technology, and general equipment during the school year. Damage to any school equipment obligates the student or parent/guardian for restitution in the form of repair or replacement costs.

Personal Property

Students should not bring personal property to school. Willow Creek will not be held responsible for the loss or theft of personal items from students at school.

No toys from home are to be brought to school. This includes, but is not limited to, any balls, roller blades, bats, hockey sticks, lacrosse sticks, skateboards, sporting gear (gloves, protective gear, etc.), Pokémon cards, spinners, dolls, etc.

Playground

• Students should dress appropriately for the weather. Since exposing skin to frigid temperatures can be dangerous, students without appropriate outdoor clothing may be kept inside.

• Expect your child to be outside for recess according to these temperature guidelines and with proper coverage.
• Boots must be worn to play in the grassy areas when snowy. Snow pants are recommended.
• Students must remain within the confines of their grade level’s playground.
• Students need adult permission to leave the playground or enter the building during recess.
• Students are not to leave the playground area to retrieve balls or other equipment.
• One student to a swing or slide. Swings are to be used in the normal position. Jumping off, standing, or other gymnastics on the swing are not permitted.
• Playground equipment needs to be shared.
• Some kinds of play are not safe and are therefore not allowed. Some examples are sliding on the hillside in winter, climbing on the top beams of the playground equipment, or playing tackle football, chicken, or other physically rough games.
• No throwing snowballs or rocks.
• Students need to stay away from private fences.

Lunch

Our cafeteria follows the procedures below so that students will have enough time to eat and the “flow” of students through the lunchroom occurs in an orderly and comfortable manner.

• All students will go to recess FIRST and then will line up outside and enter the building for lunch with supervision from teachers and/or teacher assistants. Students with a lunch brought from home should be in the front of the line. Students bringing cash or checks to food service (instead of using lunch system credits) should submit their payments in the morning to their classroom teacher. If a student forgets to do so, he or she will need to go to the end of the line to avoid holding up the serving line.
• For safety reasons, students will not be allowed to use microwaves.
• Students are to stay seated while eating lunch. Students need to get condiments, napkins, and plasticware before sitting down. If a student forgets, supervisors will give permission to get up.
• We are an allergy-aware district. Students should not share or exchange food with others.
• Students may raise their hand for permission to return to the serving line for extra food items or to use the restroom.
• Students may save packaged food items only and place them in their backpacks before going back to class.

Bus/Crosswalk

• Students should cross streets only at the crosswalk.
• Bus and van students wait for their transportation in assigned areas.
• The service driveway is off limits.

Bicycles, Skateboards, Scooters, etc.

• Students may ride bicycles to school. The school has a bicycle rack in front of the building for parking during school days. Students need to provide security measures against theft.
• Bicycles are not to be ridden on school sidewalks after arrival on school grounds.
• Failure to operate in a safe manner will result in loss of riding privileges.
• The school does not accept responsibility for lost or damaged equipment.
• We do not permit students to bring scooters or skateboards to school. The primary reason for this rule is problems related to storage and theft.
• Students are not permitted to wear tennis shoes with retractable roller wheels in the school building.

Before and After School Expectations

• The bell will ring at 7:45 a.m. Upon arriving at school, students may enter the school at their grade level doors after the bell at 7:45 a.m.
• Playground equipment is off limits before school. Please plan your arrival to school to be right at 7:45 for entry in the grade-level doors. There will be no supervision on playgrounds before school.
• After dismissal at 2:45 p.m., students should go directly to clubs and activities. Students enrolled in WCCK will line up in the appropriate hall and go to WCCK with an adult from the program.
• Students not involved in any school activity should be off school grounds by 3:00 p.m. unless accompanied by an adult. This includes playing outside on the playground. There is no school supervision after students are dismissed.
• The beginning and end of the school day are very busy times at Willow Creek. Traffic monitors are in place to ensure the safety of our students. Those directing traffic are employees, teachers and/or parent volunteers. Please be courteous to them, follow their instructions, and drive carefully!

Dropping Off and Picking Up

We ask that the guidelines listed below be followed when delivering or picking up children from school:

• Pull into the school driveway from East Long Avenue and line up alongside the curb in front of the school. Please pull forward as far as you can so that other cars may enter the driveway.
• Do not park in the area in front of the building that is designated for buses only.
• Delivery and pickup areas for cars include the curbside area in front of school, the school side of Long Avenue, and the west side of Willow Way.
• If children need to cross a street, please insist that they cross at the crosswalk on South Willow Way and East Long Avenue. It may take you a little more time, but modeling this when you are with them may one day prevent an accident.
• Do not leave your car unattended in the front driveway of the school. This area is a fire lane and drivers must be ready to move their cars immediately if an emergency vehicle needs this lane.
• Do not let your child off in front of another car by using the second lane in the driveway area.

Dogs/Pets

• Because of allergies, fear of dogs/animals, potential fights between dogs/pets, there should not be any animals on school grounds during school hours.
• Under special circumstances, service animals may be approved.

The purpose of discipline and consequences is not to punish the child but to help him or her learn to make better decisions in the future. Children are encouraged to reflect on behavior and to come up with alternative solutions to avoid repetition of undesirable behaviors.

The following are Willow Creek’s guidelines for discipline and consequences:

Level I (teachers/teacher assistants handle)

Types of Behavior

Classroom disruptions, unwanted physical contact with others, running in hallway, using a loud voice, inappropriate cafeteria behavior, not following playground rules, and/or not following school expectations, etc.

Possible Consequences

• One-on-one conversations with student
• Time-outs
• Think time on wall at recess (not a classroom consequence)
• Parents called by student or an adult
• Practice problem solving
• Writing a note of apology

Loss of a privilege

• Miss recess or stay after school
• Behavior reflection sheet

 

Level II (teacher and/or principal handles)

Types of Behavior

Defacing property, continuous disruptive behavior, abusive/inappropriate language or gestures, defiance of authority, general disregard of school expectations, inappropriate physical or psychological behaviors toward another

Possible Consequences

May include consequences from Level I, but could additionally include

• Parent contact
• Behavior report
• Behavior reflection form
• Restorative practice
• Lunch or recess detention
• Loss of privileges
• Depending on severity of situation, may also include in- school suspension or out-of-school suspension

 

Level III (principal handles)

Types of Behavior

Sexual harassment; written or oral racial epithets, slurs, or insults based on a person’s race, color, religion, ancestry, and/or national origin; fighting, etc.

Any violation of the Cherry Creek Weapons Policy; willful destruction or theft of school property or personal property; use of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco.

Possible Consequences

WILL include a behavior record; may include consequences from Level I or Level II, but could additionally include

• In-school suspension
• Out-of-school suspension
• Expulsion
• Notification of Sheriff’s Department

There is a full-time registered nurse at Willow Creek during school hours. The nurse's office is located next to the Main Office; it is well-equipped and has room for students who are ill to rest.

When you register your child to attend Willow Creek, you will be required to complete the online registration process, including the Health Conditions and Health Medication screens. These will inform us of any medical conditions your child may have, such as allergic reactions or asthma. If your child requires medication during the school day, it is kept secured in the nurse's office.

Please make sure you notify the nurse of any medical concerns, including allergies (other than seasonal). This information is confidential and helps us keep your child safe, healthy, and functioning at their optimal learning level. Please keep us informed of any phone number changes so that we are able to contact you if your child becomes ill or injured at school. Pay attention to the priority listing of numbers you provide during online registration as we will call in that order.

A school nurse is available if your child becomes sick or injured during the school day. Parents will be notified if the situation cannot be remedied by simple first aid. It is very important that all the information on the emergency cards is correct so that parents can be contacted promptly in an emergency. If any of the contact information changes, particularly parents’ work numbers, please notify the school nurse of the new number so that we may reach you when you are needed

We want our students in school as much as possible, but children who are sick belong at home, not at school where they can infect others. 

When to stay at home:

• Fever: any temperature over 100.4 degrees. Your child should stay home and not return to school until fever-free for at least 24 hours and without fever reducing medications.
• Vomiting/diarrhea: with or without fever, stay home until symptom free for at least 12 hours and no medications to prevent fever, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea for at least 24 hours.
• Strep throat: must remain at home until on antibiotics for 12 hours.
• Severe Illness: If a student's illness symptoms prevent them from learning in school, they should be kept home.
• Whenever your child is coughing frequently or has not slept.

By law we can only administer medication under certain circumstances. If it is necessary for your child to take medication at school, the following guidelines must be met:

Over-the-counter medications

Written parental permission is required for non-prescription medication purchased over the counter; verbal permission cannot be accepted. Medication must be in the original manufacturer’s container with directions attached, including the name of the child, dosage, and time to be administered. A physician’s authorization will be required for dosages that are not within the manufacturer’s directions.

The exception to this procedure is aspirin, because of its association with Reyes Syndrome. Aspirin may not be administered without a physician’s authorization. New medication forms must be submitted annually.

Prescription medications

Prescription medications require a physician’s authorization, and the medication should be sent to the school nurse in its original container, appropriately labeled by the pharmacy. No more than a one-month supply of the medication may be kept at school. A new medication permission form must be completed with any changes in dosage or type of medication made by the physician. New medication forms must be submitted annually.

Homeopathic/Herbal medication

Homeopathic and herbal medications are treated as prescription medication. These medications require both a physician’s signature, as well as the parents’ signatures. In addition, the Cherry Creek School District Medical Advisory Board must approve the medication before it can be administered at school. This process takes approximately two to three weeks.

Transportation of medication to school

In Cherry Creek School District, parents/guardians are responsible for delivering student medications to and from school, and handing them directly to the nurse, building administrator, or other school official. The school will not send unused medication home with students, and any unused medication will be available for pickup by the parent/guardian through the end of the school year. 

Controlled medications

Please be aware that these medications present a greater than usual risk of becoming habit forming or being used illegally. These controlled medications are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency. Examples of common controlled medications include Ritalin, Dexedrine, tranquilizers, or muscle relaxant drugs, Phenobarbital for seizures, and pain medication containing codeine. No more than one month’s supply of these drugs may be kept at school.

These procedures are for your student’s protection and safety, as well as the safety of others. We appreciate your cooperation. If you have questions, feel free to contact your school nurse at 720-554-3907. Forms are available in the office to assist you with the medication process.

Medications that are not completely used or picked up by the parent will be discarded at the end of the school year.

Vision and hearing screenings are conducted for students in their schools according to the Colorado Department of Education guidelines. These guidelines indicate that all students in Pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first, second, third, fifth, seventh and ninth grades receive vision and hearing screenings. Because of the important connection between a student’s academic achievement and his/her vision and hearing, parents are encouraged to allow their student to participate in these screenings.

Vision: The screening is done by the school nurse and trained volunteers at no charge to the parent. First graders will receive a comprehensive vision screening for color-blindness, near and distance vision, depth perception, convergence, and eye alignment. All others will receive distance screening. Remember, the vision screening is just a screening, not the complete ophthalmologic exam that is provided by a doctor.

Hearing: The screening is done by the district’s licensed audiologists at no charge to the parent. Additional diagnostic audiological evaluations are available free of charge at the district’s Audiology Department for students whose hearing results indicate a potential problem; the department will also provide annual follow-up for students who have a history of hearing problems.

You will be notified only if your student does not pass one or more of the screenings.

If you do not wish your child to be screened this year, please contact our school nurse at 720-554-3907.

School employees to whom the Superintendent of Schools delegates authority shall be responsible for the safety of students enrolled in school during the time the student is on school grounds, at school activities, or being transported in school vehicles. The school district does not provide medical coverage for student injuries caused by accidents.

Supplemental school day and twenty-four-hour insurance coverage is available for students to cover losses resulting from bodily injury sustained at school or school-supervised activities away from school premises. Parents/Guardians bear the cost of the premium for this insurance. The school is not an insurance agency and the insurance is optional.

The school provides the opportunity to purchase insurance as a service. All questions regarding claims, payments, and amounts of coverage should be directed to the insurance company or its agent.

Colorado Child Health Plan

Health-care coverage is available for uninsured Colorado children living with families who meet the established income guidelines set up by the Colorado Child Health Plan.

 

The Board of Education is committed to a comprehensive health education program as part of each student’s general education. The health education program should emphasize information, skills, and knowledge necessary for students to understand and appreciate the functioning and proper care of the human body.

As part of the anatomy unit in science, 5th graders are provided information on growth and development. Parents/Guardians are notified in advance of this presentation by letter and are invited to view materials to be used.

Field trips are considered part of the school program and, regardless of whether students walk or are bused, require a signed permission slip from a parent/guardian. Classroom teachers will notify parents/guardians of upcoming trips and solicit volunteer assistance for supervision.

Room mothers, fathers, or guardians are selected in each classroom to assist with coordinating two parties each year, one at Winter Break and the second on Valentine’s Day.

Birthday parties are not to be held at school, and we do not allow families to bring classroom treats. Because of severe allergies and other health implications, as well as respecting all cultures and beliefs about celebrations, all grade levels will adhere to this expectation.

When your student has lost something important, that's an occasion! Just not a pleasant one!

Our school has a lost and found box located in the cafeteria. All lost clothing items are placed in this box. We also have a small box for items such as jewelry and eyeglasses that is kept in the main office. We encourage students and parents/guardians to look for items they have lost. Unclaimed items are given to charity at regular intervals during the school year. It is helpful for parents/guardians to mark student names on all coats and boots.