Arrival Time
If your child does not ride the bus, please plan his or her arrival time to be 8:45-8:53 a.m. Classes begin at 8:58 a.m. Although teachers arrive earlier, they are not supervising outdoors or in the hallways. Their time is spent in meetings, conferences with parents and lesson preparations.
Attendance
Minnesota school attendance laws require children to attend school regularly. When your child is absent from school, please call the school office (952-746-6020) each day and give the following information:
- Name of student
- Grade
- Name of teacher
- Reason for absence
If your child will be absent for any reason other than illness, parents/guardians should contact the school office and your child’s teacher before the absence.
When your child returns to school, send a written note to the teacher.
If students arrive late, they must be accompanied to the office before going to their classroom so that attendance reports can be corrected.
On occasion, you may have to take your child out of classes for a short period of time or before the end of the school day. Please come to the office and ask our staff to send for your student. No child will be allowed to leave his or her classroom early without clearance from the school office.
Students are expected to make up all work missed as a result of lateness and/or absences.
Birthdays
Birthday celebrations are a special time in every child’s life. Please let the teacher know ahead of time if you plan to send a birthday treat. State regulations require that all treats must be commercially made. We encourage nutritious treats that are packaged individually because knives, paper plates, etc. are not kept in the classroom. School birthdays are conducted exactly the same to promote fairness for each child.
Bus Service
The Hopkins transportation department will provide transportation to in-district residents. Our school day will be 8:58 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. The transportation department will notify families of their stops and times. Rules for good behavior on the bus are:
- Enter and leave the bus in an orderly manner.
- Remain seated until the bus stops.
- Keep hands, feet and other body parts to yourself.
- Use quiet voices and speak respectfully.
- Follow the directions of the bus driver.
Families of students residing outside the Hopkins district boundaries will provide their own transportation to ISLA, or to the nearest Hopkins School District bus stop. If your student's bus is running late, you may check the following site for the status on the bus' arrival: http://www.hopkins.k12.mn.us/ersvicesdepartments/transportation/transportation-daily-update. You may also call the bus hot line at (952) 988-4115.
Cell Phones
Cell phone usage during the school day is not allowed. Students that have cell phones in case of an emergency should keep them turned off and in their back pack. If a student is seen with a cell phone in their possession, it will be held in the office or with the teacher until the end of the day.
Child Care
ISLA offers a before and after school child care program called Compañeros. Enrollment forms and the fee schedule can be obtained here, or by contacting the office.
Classroom Supply List
Click here to view the suggested classroom supply list.
Communication
Open communication between home and school is critical to your child’s success. Conferences, open houses, report cards, weekly packets, individual learning plans, e-mails and newsletters are some of the formal ways we use to keep you informed about your child’s school experiences. Please check your child’s backpack or book bag regularly for notes. Please keep us informed. A signed and dated note should be sent to your child's teacher in the following circumstances:
- Your child is going to someone else’s home after school.
- Your child is riding a different bus.
- You want your child to stay in during recess, or to miss physical education class. If the condition persists longer than three days, we will need a note from the doctor.
- Your child will leave school early, or will leave and return during the day.
- Your child's after-school transportation plans have changed.
- Last minute changes should be called in. Do not e-mail changes after school starts.
Conferences
Parent-student-teacher conferences are scheduled in the fall and spring. The purpose of fall conferences is to provide an opportunity for the parent/guardian and teacher to share information about the child and set goals. The purpose of the spring conference is to review progress to that point.
Custody
In cases where parents are separated or divorced and one parent has legal custody of a child, the school must have a copy of the court order that determines custody and visitation rights. The school must have legal documentation in order to comply with any limiting court order. State and federal data privacy laws recognize the right of a natural parent, regardless of child custody, to have access to the school records of his or her child. A non-custodial, natural parent may arrange to review the school record of his or her child. A request form to withhold information will be supplied upon request.
Discipline
At ISLA we want to be proud of our students because we know they will conduct themselves appropriately, showing pride in themselves and their school. Our staff has the goal of establishing an atmosphere throughout the school in which children feel safe, secure and happy with maximum opportunities to learn. Our positive approach to school-wide discipline:
Consistence with IBPYP Learner Profiles
Have simple rules
Build sense of community pride
Help students identify specific positive behaviors
Increase students' positive self-esteem
Generate a positive climate
ISLA behavior guidelines are:
Work hard on the task or complete the activity assigned by your teacher. You are here to learn.
Respect the rights and property of others and yourself.
Belong and be responsible for your education and your actions.
A detailed copy of the school's discipline policy can be viewed in the school office on our website.
Dress Code
- Clothing colors allowed for pants, shorts, or skirts are khaki and dark blue. No sweat pants, overalls, or jeans are allowed. Shorts and skirts must be no shorter than 2” above the knee.
- Clothing colors allowed for shirts are white, blue (any shade) and evergreen/hunter green. All shirts must have a collar, be of a solid color and cover the navel.
- Girls may wear “jumpers” (i.e., one-piece suits) as long as they are khaki, dark blue or white and are no shorter than 2” above the knee.
- T-shirts, sweaters or sweatshirts may be worn if bearing a school logo or school club logo. Colors for these are white, dark blue or evergreen/hunter green (Land’s End has these available.)
- Brand name logos/labels on clothing should be avoided, but shirts with small logos/labels will be allowed. Visible logos should be smaller than 4” in diameter.
- Clothing should not have any writing, messages, or advertising other than what has been indicated above.
- Shoes with wheels are prohibited on school property.
- Students may wear colored or patterned tights or socks and sppropriate school shoes.
Drills
State law requires schools to have five (5) fire drills, five (5) lock down drills and one (1) tornado drill each school year. For the fire drills, students will be instructed on the evacuation routes that are posted at strategic areas of the building. If a fire emergency does occur, students have to evacuate at that moment and may not have time to put on coats or jackets. Everyone in the building, including visitors and volunteers, must leave. The purpose of lock down drills is to provide safety procedures for students and staff in the event of an emergency that is not fire or weather related. Although we would like to believe that we could never have and intruder or other dangerous situation inside or outside of our school, we feel it is best to be well-prepared so that we could react safely. For the tornado drill, students will be instructed on taking indoor shelter and the take cover procedures.
Emergency File
Every child enrolled at ISLA has an emergency information file. This is our first reference in case we need to contact you regarding your child. It is essential that the school office maintain accurate address information, home, work, cell telephone numbers, places of employment and names of parents/guardians and caregivers. Please notify our office if there are any changes to this information.
Fines
The school will charge an appropriate replacement fee for textbooks, workbooks, or library books that are lost, damaged or destroyed by students.
Gym
Gym shoes must be worn to gym class. If a student cannot participate in physical education class, he or she must bring a note from home and/or doctor. An excuse from home will be honored for up to one week, if a note is sent each day. However, a doctor's note is required to excuse participation for more than 3 days. Students still must report to gym classes even if they are excused from participation.
Health Services
Students who become ill or injured during the school day will be referred to the office. If a student needs to leave school, a parent/guardian will be contacted to pick up their student. Please be sure that the office has work, pager, cell phone numbers, emergency contact number, and the name of the child’s doctor or medical clinic. It is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to provide transportation home for the child within an hour. It is important to keep the school informed of any medical condition that may interfere with learning or create a need for medical attention during the day.
Immunization and Physical Examinations
ISLA recommends physical examinations for students prior to kindergarten and fourth grade.
Minnesota law requires that every child entering school must show evidence of adequate immunizations. This includes five doses of DPT (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), four doses of polio; three doses Hepatitis B, two doses of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and two doses of Varicella*. *Beginning September 2009 parents of kindergarten students will need to have written documentation their child has received 2 of chickenpox (varicella) shots or has had the disease OR have written documentation of medical exemption signed by the child’s healthcare provider OR file a notarized waiver with their school if they are conscientiously opposed to chickenpox vaccine. If your child is not properly immunized, the nurse will notify you.
Vision, Hearing and Scoliosis Screening
Each fall, all students are screened for vision and hearing problems and referred for medical evaluation if necessary. Each spring, all fifth grade students are screened for Scoliosis.
ISLA PTO
www.isla-pto.org
Board Members for the 2011-12 School Year
Chair - Mary Kruse
Co-Vice Chair of Fundraising - Toni Chelikowsky and Lisa Firth
Co-Vice Chair of Community Events - Jennifer Chism and Karen Chenvert
Secretary - Amy Hesselgrave
Treasurer - Melinda Boone
Volunteer Coordinator - Amy Roesler
TA Coordinator - Corey Halls
Our Mission
- Promote communication and cooperation between parent(s) or guardian(s) and school staff.
- Enhance the educational and social experiences that our children have at ISLA by enriching the curriculum and providing the school community with social activities.
- Raise funds and promote involvement in school activities through the following means:
- Providing annually budgeted and PTO sponsored activities and additional programs and materials.
- Supplementing annual ISLA PTO budget for additional equipment, materials and activities.
- Evaluating requests for financial support for special activities, resources and supplies.
Our Vision
The ISLA PTO will strive to be a progressive organization regarding parent participation, fundraising, enrichment programs and services to encourage the educational experiences for all students.
Our Values
The ISLA PTO will operate according to its bylaws, focus on the best interests of the students, communicate with openness and candor, and strive to excite students in their pursuit of academic excellence.
Monthly meetings are held on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 P.M. at the school.
Lunch
Release of Student from School
For your child’s protection, it is our policy not to release a student to anyone other than parents or guardians unless we have received a signed and dated note stating the name of the person who has permission to pick up your child. On occasion, you may have to take your child out of class for a short period of time or before the end of the day. Please come to the office to sign them out and your child will be called to meet you in the office. PLEASE DO NOT GO TO YOUR CHILD’S CLASSROOM TO PICK THEM UP. This creates an unnecessary interruption in instructional time for everyone in the room.
School Hours:
We have been given a bell time of 8:58 am -3:30 pm by the Hopkins transportation department.
Kindergarten classes will be 8:58 a.m.-3:30 p.m. (all-day) and 12:55-3:30 pm (half-day).
Severe Weather
Students may be kept in school after regular dismissal time if severe weather poses a danger to them. Because our transportation is provided by the Hopkins School District, announcements concerning our school closings will be the same. If the schools are to be closed because of weather or other emergencies, an announcement will be made over radio station WCCO (830AM), WCCO TV (Channel 4), KSTP TV (Channel 5), and KARE TV (Channel 11).
Parents can also call the Hopkins School Closing Hotline at 952-988-4019 to get information about school closings.
It is important to make arrangements with friends, neighbors or relatives to care for your child in the event that school must be dismissed early. Make sure your child knows where to go if you are not home. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL unless it is an emergency. Incoming calls tie up lines at a time when school personnel must use the phones to ensure the safety of all students.
Testing
ISLA will partake in the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments as all Minnesota schools do. In addition, ISLA will assess all students upon arrival to this new school. A quick, computerized assessment will allow teachers to know where children are in terms of their academic development. These brief exams are given routinely in grades 2-6, thus allowing for differentiation to take place in the classroom. This means teachers will better understand the needs of individual students and will work to meet their individual needs.
We also assess regularly in Spanish.
Tornado Drill
State law requires all schools to have one tornado drill each school year.
Vacations
Please inform the office and the classroom teacher of any absences due to family vacations with as much advance notice as possible.
Visiting School
Parents are always welcome at ISLA. If you wish to visit a classroom, pre-arrangements should be made with the teacher or through the director. Parents are invited to join their child for lunch with prior reservations as lunches are ordered through Hopkins Royal Cuisine service.
When you arrive, please check in at the office and pick up a Visitors badge to wear. We require all visitors to check in to ensure the safety of all children.
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