Seattle Hill Elementary Family-Student Handbook

Best school in the Universe.
A place where: Staff can’t wait to arrive each day and make a difference.
Students can’t wait to come each day and engage in learning.
Parents are comfortable sharing their children with us and partnering with us.
In the community our reputation speaks for itself

In our commitment to excel in education, the parents and staff at Seattle Hill Elementary are partners in placing the success of students at the center of all decisions and actions.

Seattle Hill Elementary is one of 10 elementary schools in Snohomish Public Schools. Our school currently serves approximately 565 students, kindergarten through sixth grades.

The Seattle Hill staff is committed to working together to provide the best education for each of our students. We value working collaboratively with our students’ families and believe that the connection between home and school plays an imperative role in the success of our students and our educational program.

Seattle Hill Elementary School
12711 51st Avenue SE
Snohomish, WA 98208

Office: 360-563-4675
Attendance: 360-563-4683
Fax: 360-563-4680

Office Hours:
Mon – Thurs 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Fri 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

School Hours:
Mon – Thurs 8:35 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Fri 8:35 am. - 1:15 p.m.

Mascot: Mountaineer

Color: Blue

Motto: “Be More Awesome”

Welcome back, Seattle Hill families!

With this letter, I would like to officially begin our school year and welcome you to an exciting year of making a positive difference in many lives.

Being the principal at Seattle Hill Elementary makes me feel as though I have come full circle. My own two children went through this school, which set them on a positive path in life. Now, it is my turn to give back to you, our students, our teachers, and our community. There is no opportunity more important than this one in my mind.

While we all know that the classroom teacher’s role in the successfulness of a child is paramount, anyone who has worked in a public school knows that parents, volunteers, office support staff, counselors, para-educators, custodians, health professionals, lunchroom staff, and bus drivers play vitally important roles in creating a school environment that is safe, appealing, and conducive to learning. At Seattle Hill, we all will be contributing directly to the welfare of our students.

If you have any questions, thoughts, concerns please do not hesitate to reach out. I am here to support your journey and your student’s journey. Here’s to your continued success in Snohomish with an amazing community and our first year with one another. Let’s be awesome together!

In Partnership,
Principal Mica Harasek

Please see the downloadable document or click here for the current student calendar.

School Hours:
Mon – Thurs 8:35 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Fri 8:35 am. - 1:15 p.m.

8:15 a.m.- Breakfast will be served and students eating breakfast can be dropped off.

8:24 a.m.- All other students can be dropped off and go straight to their classrooms.

Note: WE are a closed campus to ensure the safety of our students. Therefore, we ask all families to stay on 51st Avenue or in their vehicles during arrival/dismissal. Staff will escort students across the street. Thank you for entrusting us with your children.

At Seattle Hill Elementary, we view parent and family engagement as an instructional strategy to increase student achievement. We are committed to enhancing family engagement by linking it to learning in school. Each classroom has ways to include family volunteers. Volunteer paperwork needs to be completed and approved prior to volunteering. Once approved it is good for 2 years, then you need to fill the forms out again. The application is online on our Visitors and Volunteers page.

Why focus on family engagement? Just as certain instructional strategies can help a school to reach its learning goals, family and community engagement can be a strategy for getting students reading at grade level, closing achievement gaps, and motivating students for long-term educational success.

Researchers at the Harvard Family Research Project found that there is a “positive relationship between having home-school partnerships and desirable student outcomes. When parents and families have information about opportunities for students, they can be better advocates for their children. Parents have the capacity to be involved in their children's education, regardless of their own education level, ethnicity, and socio-economic status. Parents from varied backgrounds can encourage their children about school, offer advice, talk to them about higher education, and keep them focused on learning and homework.”

At Seattle Hill Elementary, all our school notices are sent home on Thursdays with your youngest student. That way you know when to expect news and your child won’t forget to give notes to you. Also, on the last Thursday of each month, our newsletter, The Summit Report, will be sent to you via Listserv to keep you up to date with school and PTO news. This newsletter will also be linked on our website. If you’d like to receive our newsletter via email, please sign up for Listserv at this link: https://www.sno.wednet.edu/Page/1018

Teachers will also keep you informed with consistent newsletters/emails about what's going on in the classroom.

Please plan to attend your child’s conferences, which are held in October and March. Families are also encouraged to communicate with their teacher throughout the year as needed. We are here to serve you. Furthermore, here are additional ways to keep in touch with us: •

• Seattle Hill’s website: www.sno.wednet.edu/seattlehill
• Seattle Hill’s YouTube: www.youtube.com/@seattlehillelementary2884
• Seattle Hill’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/seattlehill/
• Snohomish School District’s website is also a great resource and can be accessed off our school website

The Seattle Hill Elementary Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) provides a way to be engaged with your student’s learning and be involved with the school. The PTO organizes volunteers to support a variety of school programs, activities, and special events. Many families volunteer their time on committees through the PTO. You may be interested in helping with the different programs sponsored by the PTO. You can join at any time during the year. There is no cost to join, and every member of our school is a voting member. The PTO meets every other month at 6:30 p.m. in the Seattle Hill library. There are remote options.

You can find additional information on:

• PTO Website: www.seattlehillpto.com/
• PTO Facebook page: www.facebook.com/SeattleHillPTO

WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students) WATCH D.O.G.S. are dads, or other important male figures in your student’s life, who volunteer their time at school as often as they choose. As with all volunteers at Seattle Hill, WATCH D.O.G.S. must be approved volunteers. Once applicants have been approved, interested WATCH D.O.G.S. can sign up for our program by contacting the office or PE Teacher Mike Trautman. WATCH D.O.G.S. can sign up for a single day or multiple days throughout the school year. A typical WATCH D.O.G.S. schedule will include:

• Assist with supervision at arrival
• Start and end the day in their own child’s/children’s classrooms
• Model and play with students at recesses, and/or eat with them at lunch
• Assist in other classrooms with teachers who request a WATCH D.O.G.S. volunteer.
• Provide a warm, inviting adult presence

Natural Leaders

Natural Leaders are leaders in their community. They work as a team to:

• Build relationships/connections with families and school staff.
• Listen to families’ ideas on how to help their children be successful in school.
• Learn new ways to support their children at school.
• Bring families and schools together to plan/implement ideas and celebrations.

Currently, Seattle Hill does not have a Natural Leader’s program. If you are interested in advancing this program, please contact Principal Mica Harasek.

Prompt and regular school attendance by students is important. We expect all students to attend school every day and to arrive on time, ready to learn. When students are absent, they miss critical, personalized instruction that cannot be duplicated as intended had the student been in class. Therefore, regular attendance is necessary if students are to benefit fully from learning experiences offered at Seattle Hill Elementary. Chronic absenteeism is considered missing two days a month, or 10%. If your student falls into this category, research shows they are less likely to be proficient readers and more likely to drop out of high school. Seattle Hill monitors attendance data and if your student falls into this category, the principal and counselor will work with you to overcome obstacles and make sure your student succeeds. Attending school every day is the most important thing you can do to make sure your student graduates on time! During the school day, our classes are learning new concepts, so it is very hard for kids to catch up when they’ve been absent or tardy. We know that students are on track to graduate with less than 9 absences in a whole school year. With 9 absences or 27 tardies, a student is NOT on track to graduate on time!

Our Seattle Hill staff has dreams and goals for each student to have every opportunity in life and we know you do, too. We want to partner with you so that your child is regularly attending school. Please let us know if there is any way we can support your child getting to school every day and on time!

Absences

If a student is absent from school, the parent/legal guardian must call 360-563-4683 to report the date and reason for the absence or send a written note, or email. If communication is not received by the office within 72 hours of the absence, the absence will be documented as unexcused. Once a student returns to school following an absence, they are expected to participate fully in school activities, including outside recess (unless a note from the healthcare provider states otherwise).

Excused Absences

• Illness/health condition or medical appointments
• Observances of established religious days
• Court of judicial appointments
• Student's homeless status
• Student's migrant status
• Pre-arranged school-sponsored activities, such as field trips
• Absences, which, according to the discretion of the principal, after consulting with the parent/guardian may be deemed appropriate but not covered in the above-state instances
• Absence due to student safety concerns

Unexcused Absences 

• Parent does not submit notice in writing about their child's absence
• Overslept
• Babysitting
• Extended vacations
• Missed bus/late ride

Late Arrival (Tardy)

Students are tardy if they arrive after 8:35 a.m. Tardy slips will be distributed starting at 8:35 a.m. per the school clock. Students arriving late are to report to the office accompanied by a parent/guardian or with a note from their parent/guardian before going to their classroom.

Early Pick-up (Early Dismissal)

Our teachers use every instructional minute to teach students, so we ask that parents/guardians refrain from picking student(s) up early from school. Even though it may seem that leaving just 10 minutes early or arriving five minutes late is a negligible amount, it adds up quickly and interferes with student progress and classroom procedures.

All requests to pick up early, or change dismissal plans, must be made by 2:30 p.m., MondayThursday, and by 12:30 p.m. on Fridays. This is to ensure we can get the message to your student and get them home the way you would like them to go. Thank you.

Student Check-out

We recognize that sometimes medical, dental, and other important appointments cannot be scheduled outside of the student day, and at times, exceptions can be made. If it is necessary for a parent/guardian to pick their child up early from school, they are required to come into the office to sign their child out. Students who are dismissed during the school day must be signed out from the school office by their parent/guardian, before leaving the school grounds. Thank you for following these procedures, as you are helping to keep all children at Seattle Hill Elementary safe.

Vacations & Vacation Homework Policy

Please refer to the school calendar when making vacation plans, paying attention to potential snow day make-ups. Student achievement and classroom attendance are positively related. Parents are encouraged to plan their family vacation during scheduled breaks and not during school days. To excuse a planned absence for vacation, prior approval is required, and parents need to send a note with dates and reasons and student name so that the school can fill out a Seattle Hill Elementary Student Leave form. These forms can be obtained in the office. Teachers are not required to provide missed work for vacations.

Note: For absences other than illness, dental or medical appointments, or religious observance, WAC 392-121-108 states if a student is absent for 20 consecutive school days or more, they must be officially withdrawn by the school. Also, when they return to Seattle Hill Elementary after withdrawal, their previous placement will be reviewed, but cannot be guaranteed. It will be necessary to re-register when the student returns

Accountability Procedures/Becca Bill

Truancy law in our state (RCW 28A.225) requires children ages 6 to 17 who are enrolled in public schools, attend school Monday through Friday unless there is a good reason for being absent. In this case the parent or legal guardian must excuse the absence by notifying the school. When students miss school and their parents have not excused the absence in writing, they can be considered truant. Truancy is defined as being absent from school or from the majority of a student’s classes without a valid excuse.

The “Becca Bill” is our state’s truancy law. It is intended to stop truancy before it becomes a problem. Schools and families should work together as a team to ensure school attendance and student safety. However, if a student has unexcused absences, this law requires that schools and school districts take the following actions:

1. One (1) unexcused absence - The school must inform the parent when there is one unexcused absence. This is done by a phone call.

2. Two (2) unexcused absences with a month - After the second unexcused absence, the school is required to schedule a meeting with the parent/legal guardian and student to discuss the causes of the unexcused absences and find solutions to prevent further absences. This is a team effort.

3. Five (5) unexcused absences with a month - The school must enter into a written truancy agreement with the family, where parent, student and school agree on the necessary steps to resolve the student’s attendance problem.

4. Seven (7) unexcused absences during a month or at the tenth (10th) unexcused absence within a school year - The student may be referred to a Community Truancy Board which is a group of citizens who help resolve truancy cases away from the court. The school district may also file a petition in juvenile court to order the student to attend school. If this court order is violated, the court will call for a Contempt Hearing and the student will receive a court order which can include essays, study club, community service, detention alternatives and detention. Parent fines may also be imposed of up to $25.00 for each day of unexcused absence from school.

Preventing Truancy

Student safety and academic progress are important to both parents and educators. If you are concerned about your child’s attitude toward school and about his/her attendance record, contact your child’s teacher, counselor and/or school principal. With the combined insights into your child’s needs and interests, we can work together to design an individualized plan to help your child stay in school.

Becca Notification and Attendance Requirements Agreement Under state law (RCW 28A.225), students are required to attend school full time, without unexcused absences, skips or tardies. When a student accumulates seven (7) days of unexcused absences in any month (one day consists of more than half a school day) or ten (10) days of unexcused absences in a school year he/she may be referred to a Community Truancy Board possibly resulting in a Becca Petition being filed with juvenile court where sanctions can be imposed. These sanctions may include essays, study club, community service, detention alternatives and detention. Parent fines may also be imposed of up to $25.00 for each day of unexcused absences from school.

Note: With COVID19, we realize attendance is going to be affected and we agree that you should err on the side of safety in keeping your student home if they are showing any symptoms. The key is communication with the school office. Thank you.

Arrival and dismissal at Seattle Hill are a very busy time. We appreciate in advance your patience and flexibility in getting each student to and from school in a safe manner.

Private Family Vehicle Student Drop-off & Pick-up

• All private (family) vehicle drop-off and pick-up will take place in our parking lot off 51st Avenue SE.
• Please follow all laws and stay in the lanes, not utilizing the walking lane. Our staff will be out directing crosswalks. Inside the parking lot trust our staff and follow their guidance as they escort you in a loop through our parking lot.
• To ensure student safety during drop-off and pick-up, parents/guardians (drivers) are required to comply with the policies and procedures outlined in this handbook and those of Snohomish Public Schools, including all posted signs on site and any verbal directions given by Seattle Hill staff.
• Traffic needs to keep moving so drivers are required to always remain in their vehicles and pull forward as necessary. Please follow our staff’s directions to help traffic flow.
• Safe and slow (5 mph) approach to the drop-off and pick-up lane
• NO CELL PHONE USE WHILE DRIVING IN SCHOOL ZONE
• Children are required to always walk

Drop-off 

• To indicate your student is eating breakfast, put your placard with the “B” face up. Students arrive for breakfast at 8:14 a.m. If you are running late, your student will have to go through the drop-off line with everyone else. Your student will still get breakfast.
• Regular drop-off starts at 8:24. • All drivers and passengers stay in their vehicles and only students will exit.
• Students need to enter and exit on the passenger side when their car door is opened by a staff member. Please help your student be ready so that we can get everyone to class on time and keep our drop-off line moving.

Pick-up

• Place your pink placard on your dashboard. Your student will be called out of class to the parking lot based on this number. This placard also helps us know you are a designated person to pick up your student. If you lose the placard, please request a new one. These are a safety measure.

Bicycles

Due to high traffic volumes, students are not allowed to ride bicycles to/from school.

Walking to & from School

Arrival and dismissals are busy times and in order to keep students safe, we are a closed campus. This means you’ll wish your student a good day at the entrance to our parking lot. If your student crosses 51st Avenue, you’ll wish them a good day before doing so. Our staff will safely escort them across the street and all students will be guided up the sidewalk area and into breakfast and/or their classrooms. Thank you for trusting us with your student’s safety.

Walking to/from school safely requires specific conversations at home. Make sure each student knows their routes to school. Parents are encouraged to walk with their children until they are comfortable with the routine. Children benefit from role playing to gain experience around what to do in each situation. Parents are encouraged to tell their children to always refuse to go anywhere with strangers and to step back if someone they don’t know stops to ask directions. Finally, parents need to instruct their children to tell an adult if they are ever approached by a stranger.

Students need to remember:

• Always walk on the sidewalk.
• Brightly colored clothing makes it easier for drivers to see.
• Tips for crossing the street:  
  • Cross only at corners or marked crosswalks.
  • Stop at the curb or the edge of the road.
  • Stop and look left, then right, then left again, before stepping into the street.

Bus & Day Care Riding

Bus drivers discuss with all students at the beginning of the school year these bus rules:

• The driver is in charge and the students must follow the rules established by the driver. If a student is a bus rider, they are to ride the bus to the stop which they have been assigned each school day, unless there is a parent note or phone call to the office.
• Kindergarteners taking the bus must be met or they will not be allowed to exit the bus unless a signed written note has been provided to the office. Kindergarteners will be released only to parents/guardians, or a person approved by the office.
• Bus passes are not being distributed due to lack of room on busses.
• Students who ride buses should not arrive at the bus stop more than five minutes prior to the bus pick-up time.
• While waiting for the bus or walking home after getting off the bus, children are expected to follow Seattle Hill’s behavior expectations and will be held accountable to do so. Violation of these rules may result in suspension of riding privileges. The rules at school apply. Incident reports will be sent home and families will be notified regarding disciplinary action.
• A note, email, or phone call must be sent to school if a change in the student’s dismissal plan is necessary. If there is no communication your child will be dismissed as usual.

If there is a family emergency and parents need to pick up their child who normally rides the bus, the parent/guardian must call the office prior to 2:30 p.m. Office personnel will communicate to the classroom teacher or the bus supervisor that their child is being picked up via vehicle.

Large packages, glass items, skateboards, roller blades, roller skates, wheeled shoes (“heelys”) and pets are not permitted on the bus. The school bus driver and/or the Snohomish Public Schools are not responsible for lost, damaged or broken personal electronics. School bus drivers reserve the right to tell students to put any item away if they become a disruption and/or may not even allow them. The bus driver is the final authority on their bus. Once students arrive at school, all electronic items need to be secured in their backpacks prior to boarding the bus as they are not allowed on campus outside of backpacks.

All buses and daycare vehicles will use the “horseshoe” shaped driveway off 51st Avenue SE for both drop off and pick up.

After School Plans

After school plans need to be made at home—not during the school day. If a student wants to go home with a friend or do anything else other than their normal after school routine, those plans need to be made in advance. Students will not be allowed to make phone calls from school to arrange after-school plans.

Specific expectations for student behavior in the classroom, lunchroom, and on the playground are clearly taught, re-taught, and reinforced throughout the year. Failure to comply with behavior expectations may result in one or more of the following consequences: completing a problem-solving worksheet, conferring with a staff member, time-out, loss of recess, restitution, community service, exclusion, suspension, expulsion, or other appropriate disciplinary action as outlined in the Snohomish Public Schools’ policies and procedures. See Board Policy 3241 & 3241P for more information.

At Seattle Hill Elementary, our school-wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program includes these four school-wide expectations:

• Be Kind
• Be Responsible
• Be Productive
• Be Respectful

We use a proactive approach to discipline school-wide:

• We explicitly teach students about our behavior expectations, and we review these expectations regularly.
• We explain to students which behaviors are expected and which behaviors are not expected.
• We teach students how to identify and prevent bullying behavior.
• We positively reinforce our expectations with student recognition, Mighty Mountaineer tickets, and other incentive programs.
• We teach students how to solve problems and how to use conflict resolution strategies.
• The steps of conflict resolution (listed below) also provide children with a common language for how to solve problems:
  • Identify the problem
  • Think about different solutions
  • Agree on a solution
  • Follow through on the agreement

The staff at Seattle Hill Elementary recognizes that major misbehavior infractions generally fall into the following categories:

• Abusive Language
• Defiance
• Disrespect
• Fighting
• Theft
• Harassment/Intimidation/Bullying
• Inappropriate Location/Out of Bounds
• Lying/Cheating
• Physical Aggression
• Possession of a tobacco, alcohol, drugs, or look-alikes
• Property Damage/Vandalism
• Technology Violation
• Weapons

At Seattle Hill Elementary School, we use progressive discipline steps and strategies for behavior correction. We give verbal reminders for minor misbehaviors and move to office referrals or immediate removal for chronic or severe misbehaviors. We will use a system that allows us to collect, summarize, and effectively use student behavior data for decision making. Designated staff members enter behavior referrals online and this data provides information about individual students, groups of students, and/or the entire student body over the course of a given time period and helps inform our decision making.

We recognize that circumstances may dictate different responses to different students, depending on the intention and the developmental abilities of the child and the frequency of the behavior. It is our responsibility to foster mutual respect for individual differences and to help children to develop a sense of being positive, constructive and effective contributors to the school community and the larger community of which we are a part.

Our disciplinary guidelines apply for all areas of the school, including classrooms, playground, cafeteria, halls, as well as at school sponsored events, field trips, on buses, and at official school bus stops. At Seattle Hill Elementary, we view mild and first-time moderate behaviors as teaching opportunities and respond accordingly.

While accurately reporting student behaviors to a parent/guardian is important, it is a violation of student privacy rights to disclose personal information regarding behaviors, consequences or disciplinary actions of other students.

It is the policy of Seattle Elementary School to maintain a safe, respectful, and secure learning environment for all students, which is free from harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Harassment, intimidation, and bullying of students by other students, staff members, volunteers, parents, or guardians are prohibited. It shall be a violation of this policy and the district's student discipline policy for any student of the district to harass, intimidate or bully another student through electronic, written, verbal, nonverbal, or physical conduct while in or on school property (or in reasonable proximity thereto), school transportation, or at school sponsored activities off school property. This includes online bullying off site that affects students in school.

According to Board Policy 3207 & 3207P, “harassment, intimidation, or bullying” means any intentional written, verbal, or physical act including, but not limited to, one shown to be motivated by any characteristic in RCW 9A.35.080(3) (race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation or mental or physical disability), or other distinguishing characteristics, when the intentional written, verbal, or physical act:

• Physically harms any person or damages the person’s property; or
• Has the effect of substantially interfering with a person’s ability to participate in the educational process of the district; or
• Is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment; or
• Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.
• Nothing in this section requires the affected student to actually possess a characteristic that is a basis for the harassment, intimidation and bullying.
• “Other distinguishing characteristics” may include, but are not limited to: physical appearance, clothing or other apparel, socio-economic status and weight.
• “Intentional” refers to the individual’s choice to engage in the act rather than the ultimate impact of the action(s).

Harassment, intimidation and bullying can take many forms, including but not limited to, slurs, name calling, jokes, innuendoes, demeaning comments, drawings, cartoons, pranks, gestures, hazing, physical attacks, threats or other written, oral, or physical acts or electronically transmitted messages or images.

Any student who believes that he or she has been subjected to harassment, intimidation, or bullying in the educational environment, is encouraged to bring his or her complaint to the immediate attention of a Seattle Elementary staff member for assistance in resolving the matter. There are also incident report forms located in the office if the individual would prefer this method of reporting.

Students are also encouraged to report school-related harassment, intimidation, and bullying of which they have knowledge. Staff members and school administrators will use both informal remedies and disciplinary actions as appropriate to the goal of ending harassment, intimidation, and bullying and to prevent its recurrence. Such disciplinary action will be consistent with District policy and State and Federal law.

Students and/parents who wish to report an incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying can choose to report using one or more of the following methods:

Please help us be vigilant about enforcing policies and reducing conflicts. You can submit a tip anonymously online or by telephone. You can also leave your name if you would like us to get back to you regarding your report.

• Call or email Principal Harasek or Assistant Principal Reich
  • Mica.harasek@sno.wednet.edu (360-563-4675)
  • Kim.reich@sno.wednet.edu (360-563-4675)
• Report Harassment, Intimidation, or Bullying using our District's SafeSchools Alert System:
  • Phone: 360.799.5414
  • Text: 360.799.5414
  • Email: 1248@alert1.us
  • Web: http://1248.alert1.us
  • Seattle Hill School Code: 1248

All reports will be promptly and thoroughly investigated by Principal Harasek or Assistant Principal Reich. Thank you in advance for helping to make our school community a safer place to work and learn! We appreciate your support.

The district has installed several cameras on campus. This is to ensure that we can identify people coming and going at Seattle Hill 24 hours a day. In addition, all our Snohomish schools are No Weapon Zones. Tobacco, drugs, and alcohol are illegal on our campus.

Allowed at School/Expectations

Student dress will be regulated to preserve a beneficial learning environment and to assure the safety and well-being of all students. Dress which presents a health or safety hazard, damages school property, or which creates a material and substantial disruption of the education process is prohibited as per Snohomish Public Schools Board Policy 3224 & 3224P.

Students will wear appropriate school attire, including shoes. Appropriate attire shall exclude any type of dress or manner of grooming which school officials reasonably believe would disrupt or interfere with the school environment, activities and/or educational process. Students should:

• Dress for recess and P.E. every day. This prevents injuries and promotes healthy physical activities. Please do not wear flip-flops or attire that restricts movement.
• Dress for the weather. Be sure to have a coat for cold and rainy days. All students go outside for recess every day.

These standards will be applied in a consistent and nondiscriminatory manner. Students who violate these standards will be asked to find alternate clothing available in the Health Room. If an acceptable solution cannot be found at school, parents will be contacted. Continued offenses may be subject to progressive discipline.

Students are expected to come to school well-groomed and neatly and appropriately dressed. Your child should be prepared to participate in the day’s activities, including gym and recess. Clothing should allow for typical playing – running, kneeling, etc., and should be appropriate for the weather. Any student, parent or guardian who is aggrieved by corrective action or discipline for dress code violations may appeal according to procedures in the Student Rights and Responsibilities Board Policy 3200

Students are not allowed to bring items from home other than supplies for school and learning use. This includes trading cards, electronics, Lego, balls, plush, and other toys, unless approved by a school staff member. Staff may request any non-school items from students and hold them until the end of the school day.

Lost small items are kept in the office and lost clothes will be in the breezeway. Children may need parent encouragement (or help) to check our Lost and Found. All lost items will be sent to a charity at the end of each month.

Cell Phones / Smart Watches

At Seattle Hill Elementary we recognize that students may have cell phones and/or smart watches. Per Board Policy 2022, Board Policy 3246P, telecommunication devices, such as cell phones, tablets, and other mobile devices are integral tools in our society. They serve as a means of communication (telephone, email, text, etc.), a calendar, camera, organizational tool, a clock, information gathering/research tool, electronic book, note taker, dictation device, music provider, a student engagement tool and many other purposes. It is recognized that many of these purposes are useful in an educational setting. At the elementary level, cell phones and smart watches can also be very disruptive to the learning environment. Therefore, if a student has a cell phone at school, then it is to remain turned off and kept in their backpack, unless otherwise allowed by a student’s teacher. Final authority at school for cell phones and for smart watches remains with staff. If either is interfering with learning, staff will request these items stay at home.

• Students are NOT allowed to videotape or take pictures with their cell phone or smart watch at any time. Failure to comply with this policy will result in immediate disciplinary action as determined by the principal. The parent/guardians of all students involved (directly and indirectly) will be contacted.
• Student use of cell phones and smart watches is not allowed once a student is on campus. This includes calls, texting, entertainment, and the use of camera/video features.
• Student use of cell phones and smart watches is not allowed on the bus. This includes calls, texting, entertainment, and the use of camera/video features.

Students needing to contact their parent/guardian during the school day will receive permission from a staff member to use the phone in the office.

Seattle Hill’s cell phone policy follows the following progression:

• Cell phones in backpacks, off, and remain put away all day.
• If cell phones are out, the adult warns the student & requests the student to put the phone away.
• Second time phones are out, the phone is taken and held until the end of the school day by the classroom teacher.
• If a student refuses, the phone will be requested by the principal, and the family will be contacted to pick up the phone after school.

Seattle Hill Elementary staff and Snohomish Public Schools are not responsible for lost, damaged or broken cell phones/watches.

Electronic Devices

Personal gaming devices, Game Boys, Switch, PSPs, iPod’s, MP3 players, cameras, and similar electronic devices are not allowed to be shown and/or shared at school. Some students may choose to bring a small, handheld game or music device with headphones to be used after school. However, this needs to be pre-arranged with the student’s teacher and may not be taken out of the student’s backpack at school due to the disruption they can cause. If a student is using one of these electronic devices at school, the item will be taken and secured in the office until a parent/guardian comes to pick it up.

Office Telephone

Students may use the office phone for emergencies and special situations at the discretion of office personnel. Student access to the phones, therefore, will be limited to short emergency calls only. Seattle Hill Elementary encourages students to be organized and plan ahead. Therefore, all social arrangements for after school must be made at home.

Telephone/Messages

All messages to students must come to the school office by 2:30 p.m. (on a 3:15 p.m. dismissal day), 12:30 p.m. (on a 1:15 p.m. dismissal day) to assure their delivery to students before the end of the school day. Please do not leave a voicemail for information that needs to get to your student the same day you are calling. Keep calling until you speak directly to a staff member.

1:1 Devices and Technology Protection Plan Information

Seattle Hill students will soon be provided with a 1:1 device to aid in their learning. This technology shift for the school district of providing every district student with a device (laptop, touch screen or iPad) will happen beginning with the 2023-2024 school year.

• Students in grades 5-12 will have dedicated devices for home/school.
• Students in grades K-4 will have dedicated devices that will remain in the classroom.
• Students in grades K-4 who may need to take their device home should they need access to technology for school purposes will have the ability to check out through school.

As part of the 1:1 device rollout, students will be expected to bring/have a district-provided device/laptop at school every day. All students will receive district-provided devices/laptops, and students should not bring personal devices/laptops from home. The district-provided device/laptop must be charged and ready to use for classroom learning each day. When students receive a district device/laptop at the start of the school year, the student will also receive information about the district’s Technology Protection Plan.

Due to the high replacement cost of a device/laptop, the option of purchasing a Technology Protection Plan can help offset costs in the event a device/laptop is damaged, lost or stolen. See plan for specific coverage. The standard enrollment fee for the Technology Protection Plan is $30. Students eligible for the free/reduced lunch program will be automatically enrolled. Students and families must fill out a free/reduced application to be approved. (Note: Free/reduced applications will be available in Skyward/Family Access as online forms and can be completed online after August 14, 2023.)

In opting out of the Technology Protection Plan, the family will accept full responsibility for any costs related to damage, loss, or theft. For example:

• The cost to repair a shattered, broken or cracked screen is $150 (or $25 with Technology Protection Plan coverage).
• The cost to repair damage caused by liquids will be $150 (or $50 with Technology Protection Plan coverage).
• The cost after loss or theft will be cost of replacement (or $25+ with Technology Protection Plan coverage).
• The replacement cost of a district laptop is $300.
• The replacement cost of a charging cord is $25.

Important links and information

• Technology Protection Plan - Click here for details, forms and more information regarding the district’s Technology Protection Plan coverage.
• Free/reduced meal applications - Click here for district free/reduced meal application information.

The health and safety of everyone at Seattle Elementary is important. We will follow all District protocols and procedures, which are based on the CDC and Snohomish Health Department.

Masks

All students and staff will have a choice in whether they would like to wear masks. If a student is returning from Covid, a mask is recommended for days 6-10.

Medication

There are strict policies and procedures that regulate student use of medications at school. See Board Policy 3416 & 3416P for more information.

Medication is given at school only when absolutely necessary. If a student must receive medication during school hours, the medication to be given at school must have a written order signed by a Licensed Health Care Provider and have a parent/guardian signature. The medication must be in the original, properly labeled container. This includes any over-thecounter medication. Whenever possible, the parent/guardian and Licensed Health Care Provider (LHCP) are urged to design a schedule for giving medication outside of school hours.

Medications should be brought to the Health Room by an adult with the Authorization for Medication form completed. Please do not send your student to school with medication as this presents a health hazard to all students. This includes any over-the-counter medication including, but not limited to: Ibuprofen, Tylenol, cough syrup, cough drops, allergy medication, herbal supplements, etc. These are all considered medications and students should not be in possession of these during school hours. Possession of these substances may result in disciplinary action. Contact Nurse Jordyn Vigoren or Health Room Assistant Michelle Douglass at 360-563-4679 for questions and/or assistance.

Immunization

State law (RCW 28A.31.118) states that the attendance of every child is conditional upon the presentation on the child’s first day of attendance either (1) full immunization, (2) the initiation and compliance with the schedule if immunization as required by law OR (3) a certificate of exemption. Students may not be enrolled or attend without this documentation. See Board Policy 3413 and 3413P for more information.

Head Lice

The parent/guardian of any student identified to have lice or nits will be notified and encouraged to begin treatment for his or her child immediately or as soon as possible. While Seattle Hill will not require school exclusion, we will strongly encourage the parent or guardian to address the situation immediately by applying the appropriate remedy outside of the school setting. In addition, the parent or guardian will be provided with the Student Lice Letter and the Nurse and/or Health Room Assistant and/or designated office staff will enter the student’s name on the Daily Log with Reason Code: Head Check. Generally, this condition can be reasonably addressed in two to three days. If a parent/guardian opts to keep their child home for treatment beyond three days, the principal or designee will contact the parent/guardian to stress the need for their child to return to school. If necessary, the principal will apply the BECCA protocol (see Board Policy 3122 and 3122P).

Injury/Accidents at School

When a student is seriously injured at school, health room personnel must immediately contact the parent(s)/guardian(s). If the parents/guardians cannot be reached, the designee listed on the Emergency Card will be contacted. If no one is available, Seattle Hill staff will rely on our training and use our best judgment about what is in the best interest of the child including contacting 911 if needed. Parent/guardian assistance in providing updated and complete information on the Emergency Card is critical in case of an emergency.

Illness

When a child becomes ill at school, Seattle Hill’s nurse, health room assistant, and office staff will follow these procedures:

• The child reports his/her symptoms, and his/her temperature is taken.
• At that time, a decision is made whether the child should go home. If a child’s temperature is 100 or above, they will automatically be sent home. If it is determined that the child needs to go home, the parent/guardian will be notified by phone and expected to pick their student up from school within a reasonable amount of time.
• The parent/guardian or emergency contact person must come to the school and pick up the sick child. Sick children will not be sent back to class or sent home on the bus. In the event of a serious or life-threatening illness, 911 will be called.

Be sure to fill out an emergency card each year to list phone numbers and emergency contacts in case we need to reach you during the day. If these numbers change during the year, please let our office know.

IF YOUR CHILD IS SICK, OR SHOWING ANY SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19, PLEASE DO NOT SEND THEM TO SCHOOL. ALSO IF YOUR CHILD IS RUNNING A FEVER, HE/SHE MAY RETURN TO SCHOOL, ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN FEVER FREE, WITHOUT MEDICATION, FOR 24 HOURS.

Children are welcome back at Seattle Hill when they can take part in the full-school program, including recess. Supervision of students is not available in classrooms or in the office during recess.

Allergies: Specifically, Life-Threatening

Today, one in 13 children has food allergies, or roughly two in every classroom. Nearly 40 percent of these children have already experienced a severe or life-threatening allergic reaction (CDC, 2013). In response to this emerging epidemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2013 published national guidelines for managing food allergies designed to help schools avoid, recognize and treat allergic reactions while ensuring that students with food allergies are safely included in school activities. Important highlights from the guidelines include:

• Food allergies may constitute a disability under the law. This is important because schools cannot exclude children with food allergies from activities (e.g., birthday celebrations, classroom parties) because of their food allergies.
• The emotional toll of exclusion, bullying, stigma and fear can cause significant emotional distress. It is important to consider the physical and emotional toll on children with food allergies.

For more information, please visit www.foodallergy.org/CDC. Annually, all school staff participate in on-site training about how to minimize exposure to known allergens and how to respond to an anaphylaxis emergency. The training includes a review of avoidance strategies, recognition of symptoms, the emergency protocols to deal with an anaphylaxis episode and use of an auto injector. In addition, student-specific training and additional information will be provided by the school nurse to teachers, paraeducators, clerical staff, and food service workers who are expected to have regular contact with a student who has a medically diagnosed life threatening allergy.

Student-specific training will include training in 1) allergen avoidance procedures to prevent exposure of the student to the food allergen; 2) the recognition of symptoms, especially early symptoms; and 3) the administration of epinephrine and other emergency medications.

Controlling the Exposure to Allergens

Controlling the exposure to allergens requires the cooperation of parents/guardians, students, school employees and community members. Seattle Hill Elementary School has elected not to adopt a school-wide policy that prohibits certain food products, such as peanuts, from being brought into the school environment. However, the school will inform parents of the presence of a student/staff member with life-threatening allergies in their child’s classroom and/or school, and the measures being taken to protect the affected student/staff member. Parents/Guardians will be asked to cooperate and avoid including the allergen in school lunches, snacks or other products. Parents/Guardians of children with specific allergies have the responsibility to complete the necessary forms that enable the school to provide medication, other emergency responses, and additional cleaning and care that may be needed to reduce exposure. See Board Policy 3420 & 3420P for more information.

Food as Incentives/Rewards

Seattle Elementary supports increased emphasis on nutrition, as well as physical activity at all grade levels to enhance the well-being of our staff and students. We are committed to finding alternatives to food rewards in order to provide the best possible learning environment for ALL children. Per Board Policy, Eat Smart, non-food rewards and incentives will be used to encourage positive behavior. Staff members and parent group leaders choosing to use food must select items that meet Snohomish Public Schools nutrition standards.

Classroom Parties

The theme and time of year of the party is up to the discretion of the building. Due to the prevalence of students with severe food allergies, coordination with the school nurse or teacher to address specific classroom allergies is required. The following are the classroom parties that Seattle Hill as a whole host:

• Fall Harvest Celebration (October)
• Winter Celebration (December)
• Valentine’s Day/Friendship Day Celebration (February)

Birthdays & Birthday Treats

Store bought food/treats, like cupcakes or cookies, are allowed for distribution as part of a birthday celebration at the teacher’s discretion. However, please keep in mind that students have a limited time to eat. Birthday parties may be celebrated in classrooms with non-food treats and favors for students. Please speak to your student’s teacher regarding their birthday procedures.

In addition, we request that families do not arrange for delivery of items such as birthday flowers or balloons to students, as they create a major disruption to the classroom. Such items will not be delivered to students. Balloons and glass (flower vases) are also prohibited on school buses.

Party Invitations

Birthday parties are delightful and give many pleasant memories to children. However, not being invited to a party can be a very unhappy experience for children not receiving an invitation. In consideration of the feelings of children not receiving invitations, students are not allowed to distribute invitations during the student day unless they are distributed class wide. Please speak to your classroom teacher prior to handing out any invitations.

Food in Classrooms

Grade level teams will determine whether snacks will be allowed in classrooms and may depend on the scheduled time. If snacks are allowed, the classroom teacher will provide parents with a list of approved snacks that meet the expectations of our Eat Smart Policy. Parents can donate these approved snack choices and classroom teachers will distribute them as needed. Plans for students with specific medical needs prescribing regular snacking, etc., will be coordinated on a case-by-case basis with the school nurse, physician, principal, and parents/guardians. Please speak with your teacher regarding their snack policy. Teachers and other school staff, including substitute teachers, will not give food as a reward for good behavior and/or good work.

Similarly, students are not allowed to share food. This is always the case — not just for classes having students with allergies. Teachers will discuss the importance of the “no sharing” rule to protect all students from possible allergic reactions. The “no sharing” rule will be enforced in classrooms, during lunch, before and after school, and on field trips

Cafeteria/Food Services Students can bring lunch from home or choose from hot lunch items, salad, or sandwiches in our cafeteria. Students usually spend about 20 minutes eating. If your child is not eating enough or you have lunch concerns, please reach out to your child’s teacher.

Applications for Free and Reduced meals are completed for each new school year. If you have any questions, please call our Food Service Department at 360-965-0115.

Online Payment Portal / TouchBase

A meal account is automatically set up for every Snohomish student. Parents/guardians can add funds to meal accounts by sending cash or a check to school with their child or by paying online through our TouchBase online payment portal. Parents/guardians may pre-pay for meals so that students do not need to carry money to school each day.

District & State Tests

All kindergarten students are assessed using Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills, (WaKIDS). Snohomish School District students, grades 1st through 6th, are assessed each semester via the STAR benchmark assessment system. Our students take the state test, the Smarter Balanced Assessment, in 3rd through 6th grade. The 5th grade also takes the state science test, the Washington Comprehensive Assessment in Science (WCAS). These assessments do not replace the continuous assessing we do regularly via formative assessments we develop at each school, customized to each student and their needs.

An important responsibility of the school staff is to assign students to classes for the next year. The goal of student placement is that each child be placed in the best possible learning environment, considering academic strengths and areas for growth, work habits, interpersonal relationships, and social/emotional development in establishing balanced classes. Requests will not be taken for specific teachers, but letters indicating traits needed for students will be taken in the spring for the following fall. Seattle Hill Elementary uses the following process and criteria for student placement:

Placement Process

1. Families can email the principal any information they would like considered in placement of their student in January/February. A reminder to families will be in our monthly newsletter The Summit Report during this time. Teacher requests will not be taken as it is impossible to be fair to all families.
2. The current teacher evaluates each student’s academic skills, work habits, behavior, leadership, etc. on a placement profile form. Placement Teams are established for each grade level.
3. Each Placement Team includes all teachers from the present grade level and other staff members as appropriate including: special education teacher, psychologist, counselor, MLL and LAP teachers, para-educators, reading specialists, principal, and assistant principal.
4. Based upon projected enrollment for the next school year, the Placement Team will make tentative class lists before the end of the school year. The team’s ultimate goal is to create a balanced and highly functional learning environment for each classroom, based on the skills, needs, and attributes of each student.
5. In late August, newly enrolled students will be added to tentative class lists. This process will be overseen by the administrative assistant, assistant principal, principal, and counselor who will consult with grade level teams and school support staff as needed.
6. Final approval of student placement and assignment of teachers rests with the principal.
7. When enrollment and staffing are judged to be stable by the principal, class lists will be finalized, and the administrative assistant will place them into the system.
8. Students and their families will be notified prior to the start of school via Skyward Family Access. You can also find out at our Meet the Teacher event held before school begins.

As additional students move into the Seattle Hill attendance area during the school year, these students will be placed in classes by the principal, the top priority being balancing all grade level classes. In making these placement decisions, the principal will gather as much information as possible about each new student. Input from their families and receiving teachers about their classes will also be used.

Request for Change in Placement

The Seattle Hill Placement Teams work judiciously to ensure the best placement for all students. Input from staff and families regarding a child’s academic and social/emotional development are considered in the creation of classrooms balanced by gender, cultural diversity, academic abilities, interpersonal skills, special needs and class size. Every effort is made to ensure that students have positive peer models enrolled in their classroom community. For that reason, we require that students remain in the assigned classroom for the first six weeks of school. Concerns regarding student placement will be addressed beginning the seventh week of school.

The new school year signifies a time of change and transition. Like any adult, students may need the gift of time in order to integrate into their new classroom community. Parent/Guardian appeals for change of placement, clearly indicating why the placement of the child is inappropriate, are to be directed in writing to the principal. Upon receipt of a written request for a change of placement, the following process will be used:

1. Communication with the classroom teacher prior to principal contact should be made by families to try and work through any challenges.
2. The principal will discuss the request with the parent(s) following the sixth week of school. The principal will communicate placement concerns to the student’s classroom teacher.
3. The principal, counselor, classroom teacher and family will work collaboratively and schedule a time to meet within two weeks to assess progress to date.
4. Should placement concerns remain, the principal will ultimately decide on the best course of action:
   1. Keep the original placement.
   2. Determine a second trial period for the original placement and establish criteria for further review after the trial period.
   3. Change of placement.

Elementary Progress Reports are issued in February and June. A cumulative student record file is kept on file for each student. This record is confidential but is available for parent/guardian viewing upon request, and preferably by appointment. Content includes yearly summaries of academic progress, attendance, discipline, and health and records.

We appreciate partnering with families in their student’s education. Each teacher will notify parents of their specific homework requirements. Please expect to have minimum nightly reading.

Specific grade-level supply lists are available on our Seattle Hill website. Label your student’s school supplies, unless the teacher indicates otherwise, to include coats, lunchboxes, and backpacks. Parents/guardians needing financial assistance with school supplies should contact our counselor, Stephanie Marshall at 360-563-4685 or at Stephanie.Marshall@sno.wednet.edu.

Weather & School Closures or Late Starts

In the event of an emergency condition such as snow, earthquake, power failure, etc. resulting in a change in school schedule, please listen to the following radio stations, or go to the Snohomish School District website for updated information:

• Television: KOMO Channel 4, KING Channel 5, KIRO Channel 7, KSTW Channel 11
• AM Radio: KIRO 710, KNWX 770, KOMO 1000, KMPS 1300
• FM Radio: KMPS 94.1

The public announcement will be one of the following:

• Schools closed: The following programs and activities are canceled: regular school, extra programs, all activities including athletic events and parent meetings. (If conditions change during the day, special arrangements may be made for some activities.)
• Late start and limited bus service: Under this plan, all schools will start two hours late and routes will be limited. The district’s transportation department sends out more information in the fall about when and where your student will be picked up and dropped off when limited bus service is in effect. Students will be dismissed at regular times unless otherwise announced.
• Special announcements: A variation of the above plans will be announced if necessary due to a power failure or other conditions.

No announcement or no report means schools will operate on a normal schedule.

Emergency Procedures

Staff and students at Seattle Hill practice emergency drills throughout the school year so they are prepared in case of an actual emergency. It is important for parents/guardians to review, with their children, procedures to use if any emergency occurs on their way to and from school or if an adult is not at home when they arrive home from school. By law, all schools in the Snohomish School District are required to have drills monthly to include fire, earthquake, lockdown, and shelter-in-place.

Field Trips

Field trips are taken as a regular part of our educational program. Parents/guardians are required to complete their child’s permission form and have up-to-date emergency information on file before he/she leaves for a field trip. Teachers often seek parent/guardian volunteers to chaperone on field trips. Volunteers/Chaperones The staff at Seattle Hill Elementary values parent/guardian and community involvement in our school programs and appreciate the gift of time and talents that they have to offer our students. In order to ensure student safety, it is required that anyone wishing to work with students or on campus (including chaperoning student field trips and classroom helpers) complete the volunteer application form and obtain clearance prior to volunteering on site. Volunteer applications and information can be found on any Snohomish School District website.

Once applicants have been approved, they may contact the classroom teacher or the main office to discuss specific volunteer opportunities. Similarly, for parents/guardians to be considered as field trip chaperones, they need to have been cleared as a volunteer. Please do not wait until the day or two before the field trip to complete the volunteer form, as it may not be processed in time for you to participate.

Visitors at Seattle Hill Elementary

Seattle Hill parents/guardians are more than welcome to visit their child’s classroom. We require that parents/guardians contact their child’s teacher at least one day or more in advance of their visit to confirm the day and schedule a time.

For the protection and safety of students and staff, ALL visitors, including parents/guardians, are required to fill out SafeVisitor applications and check in at the school office and wear a visitor’s badge visible at ALL TIMES. This includes parents/guardians coming to eat breakfast/lunch with their child. After signing in at the office, parent(s)/guardian(s) are welcome to join their student for lunch and recess. In addition, students from another school or state (including cousins, friends, etc.) are not allowed to spend the day at school.

Animals & Pets at School

In accordance with Snohomish School District, animals (including pets) are not allowed on school property regardless of the temperament of the animal, unless the principal has preapproved their presence as being relevant to objectives of the instructional program. This does not include service animals. See Board Policy 2030 & 2030P for more information.

Dogs on Campus

To ensure our schools are safe and comfortable for everyone, the district has developed the following requirements regarding dogs:

• Dogs are not allowed in the school, on school grounds or in the classroom unless they are serving as a bona-fide service dog to a staff member, parent/guardian, child or visitor. This includes at drop-off and pick-up.
• During non-student hours, dogs must be leashed, and all dog waste removed. This is in accordance with city ordinances.

Use of a service animal by a student with a disability will be allowed in schools when it is determined that the student’s disability requires such use to assist or accommodate access to the instructional program, school services and/or school activities. See Board Policy 2030P for more information.

Child Abuse/Mandatory Reporting

By law, schools are required to report any incident of child abuse or neglect by an adult. This law is also written and understood to include any child abuse by children as well. Such reports are sent to the Snohomish Sheriff's Office or Child Protection Services. See Board Policy 3421 & 3421P for more information.

Custody & Parenting Plans

Per Board Policy 3610, parents involved in custody issues need to present the school with a certified court order for the school to keep on file to legally uphold the court order and properly follow custody decrees.