Welcome to Washington Irving!
EVERYTHING about WI - and new COVID safety measures
2020-21 The Best Year Ever!
Washington Irving Elementary
Assistant Principal: Suzanne Hirzel
P/T Assistant Principal: Christine Hill
Counselor: Lacy Huffman
P/T Counselor: Janessa Bointy
School Psychologist: Mashon Buckner
Media Specialist: Shannon Pratt
Attendance Secretary: Kathy VanCleave
Registrar: Kassie Hayes
Financial Secretary: Tamara Johnson
Email: firstname.lastname@edmondschools.net
Website: www.washingtonirving.edmondschools.net
Location: 18101 North Western Avenue, Edmond, OK, United States
Phone: 405-340-2210
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WIElementary/
Helpful information for families
This document and the student handbook are updated with COVID safety measures that EPS and Washington Irving will be taking. Please keep in mind that as COVID precaution protocols from our federal, state, and local governments change, our safety measures may change as well.
One thing we want to prioritize this year, of course student and staff safety, but we will focus on assuring the student experience remains fun and adventurous. "Perception and attitude make a huge difference in how kids handle things. For example, if we talk about masks as these cool new things we need to wear to keep others safe and look, mine has puppies on it and yours has Poke'mon on it and that is so awesome, the kids will respond better to that. If we talk about ourselves as teachers and how we are learning new things along with our students, we help build those bonds that make the school year go much more smoothly. If we as a team of parents and teachers do this right, we hope our students will see these safety measures as an adventure!"
SCHOOL HOURS
NEW HOURS! 8:50 am - 3:25 pm
Front doors and bus loop open at 8:20 for drop off. Teachers are on duty to provide supervision beginning at 8:20 am. Students are not to arrive before 8:20 and please do not leave students before this time. Boys and girls will go directly to their classrooms to allow for COVID safety measures. Students are allowed to eat breakfast in the cafeteria if parents wish. Students should arrive at the cafeteria before 8:40 in order to have time to eat and not to be late to class. The tardy bell rings at 8:50.
Office hours are held from 8:20-3:55
First Bell 8:45 and Tardy Bell 8:50 (students should be in seats by this time)
Dismissal Bell 3:25
District Pre-K Times (early start schools)
Extended day Pre-K 8:50 to 2:55
Pre-K pickup will be in the back bus loop from 2:55-3:05
Meet the Teacher Day Aug 19th
First Day Procedures Aug 20th
More information and details will be sent out closer to this day.
Mascot: Irving, the wolf || Colors: Navy, Burgundy, & Gray
Our Mission:
“Learning for ALL... Whatever it Takes!"
Our Vision:
The Washington Irving community is dedicated to providing every student with the opportunity to meet his/her full potential in academic and social achievement. Our goal is to advance excellence in all areas of our learning community by focusing on: students' learning, working together as a team, a commitment to quality, and having uncompromising integrity.Always make sure the WI office has your current email address to send you important information!
MANDATORY: LABEL ALL JACKETS, BACKPACKS, LUNCH BOXES/CONTAINERS and SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Label all lunch containers, thermos, backpacks, jackets, and other outerwear clothing with the name of the owner. If an item is found with a name, it will be returned to the owner. Due to COVID safety measures, unlabeled items will NOT be placed in Lost and Found but will be disposed of and/or given to a local charitable organization periodically during the year.
Valuable items will be located in the Main Office.
All school supplies should be labeled with student name as there will be no sharing of personal supplies due to COVID safety measures.
MASKS FOR STUDENTS
*Some other times when masks should be worn in school- at the teacher table when social distancing to other students and teacher is not possible, at center time when social distancing is not possible, and any other small group time.
STUDENT ABSENCES
EARLY CHECKOUT is discouraged.... and will count towards their total absences.
Students will not be called out of class until a parent is present to sign them out. Please plan ahead for appointments, as students are learning from bell to bell and miss valuable instructional class time when checked out.
Student illness & exclusion policies
COVID POLICY
Parents need to have a plan ahead of time for picking up their child quickly when symptoms of COVID-19 occur at school.
Exclusion Policy
To prevent the spread of disease and to protect your student, please keep your student home for the following symptoms:
- temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher (must be fever free with no medication for 24 hours before return to school)
- vomiting (must be vomit free for 24 hours before return to school)
- diarrhea (must be diarrhea free for 24 hours before return to school)
- head lice
If a student becomes ill during school, the parent/guardian of the student will be contacted and if student meets above criteria, student must be checked out to go home. It is important to provide your student's school with updated contact numbers so parents/guardians may be reached concerning illness, as well as emergencies.
Medication Policy
If your child requires medication to be given at school, please contact the office immediately. There are forms to fill out and specific procedures to follow. This is the EPS policy regarding medications: https://edmondschools.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Policy-5530-Medication-Dispensing.revised-07-01-19.pdf
WHEN ARE WI PARTIES?
(students are not to wear costumes to school on Halloween)
Winter Parties - December 15 (A) and 17 (B)
(PJ day will be the next day, the 18th)
Valentine Parties - February 9 (A) and 12 (B)
DUE TO COVID SAFETY MEASURES, NO GUESTS WILL BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND THE PARTIES.
Homeroom moms will still organize the food donations through a sign up for the parties and will assure the food is store-bought and pre-packaged for the safety of our students. The homeroom mom will assure the food gets delivered to the school for the teacher to give the students ahead of the party time.
Programs, Events, Guests
Guests: There can be no guests in the building to protect our students and staff by minimizing possible exposures to COVID. District procedures also state no parents can have breakfast or lunch with their child in the cafeteria this year.
A small number of guest exceptions can be made by contacting the school principal for an appointment.
-One PAL can be assigned to work only in the workroom at a time, but no small children can attend with the PAL. This will be coordinated through the PTO PALS committee leader and principal.
-One WatchDOG can make an appointment to work through safety considerations through the school, but will not be able to enter a classroom or cafeteria.
-Appointments for meetings and conferences can be prearranged with the teacher and principal.
*All of these approved guests must participate in a screening, including temperature check and symptom questions.
Lunch and Recess for our students
Lunch: As long as possible, lunch will still be in the cafeteria. Students will still sit by class but only on one side of the table and skip every other seat. District procedures also state no parents can have breakfast or lunch with their child in the cafeteria this year.
Recess: As long as possible, students will still have outside recess when weather permits. Classes will be assigned zones to remain in that will rotate each day.
Each Blue Bar Below is a Link to a Website - just click
http://edmondschools.net/parents-students/policies-procedures/
NOT YET UPDATED FOR 20-21
DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN KEEP CHECK ON YOUR CHILD'S GRADES IN PARENT PORTAL? You can even set up notification preferences.
THE HOW TO's of PARENT PORTAL
INFORMATION ABOUT PARENT PORTAL
*Only parents and legal guardians can access Parent Portal.*To access the portal, you must first fill out the pink Parent Portal form in the office and show a valid driver's license (if you haven't already done so).
*Once our registrar grants you access, you will receive an email (only on Mondays or Thursdays), click the link in the email within 24 hours to set up your username and password.
*You can then set up the Parent Portal as a mobile app on your mobile device.
*Report cards are only available on the Parent Portal. You can print them from the reports section every 9 weeks for a limited time.
TO VIEW YOUR CHILD'S GRADES
1) Log into your mobile app or account on the computer
2) Choose the child
3) Click grades
4) You are able to set up your notification preferences in order to get notified if certain conditions about grades or attendance are met
IF YOU USE THE MOBILE APP, BE SURE TO HIT "REFRESH" OFTEN, OR YOU WILL SEE OUTDATED INFORMATION
HOW TO PRINT YOUR CHILD'S REPORT CARD EACH 9 WEEKS
1) Log into your Parent Portal account on your computer
2) Choose the child
3) Click Reports
4) Click View Report Card, then you can print from there
Report cards are only available to print for a limited time. If you need a copy, you can request one from the school office.
ALL CHANGES TO HOUSEHOLD ADDRESS, HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS, OR UPDATES TO MEDICAL OR LEGAL ALERTS MUST BE MADE IN PERSON AT THE SCHOOL
HOW TO EDIT PHONE NUMBERS, EMAILS, and ADD/REMOVE OTHER CONTACTS: (TO ALLOW PICK UP OF YOUR CHILD)
1) Log into your Parent Portal account on your computer (not phone)
2) Choose the child - you will need to do this for each child separately
3) Click on the demographic button on left side of screen
4) Click the Blue "Add Contact" button and add the information you want
Please Note: By adding a Non-Household Contact, you are giving permission for that person to pick up your student or be contacted if you are not available. Please do not enter email addresses for Non-Household contacts. Only phone numbers will be used.
WI’s COUNSELOR
We will also have a half time counselor that will be able to teach guidance lessons to our students.
The Washington Irving school counseling program supports students and parents through classroom guidance lessons, crisis intervention, and consultation/collaboration. Classroom guidance lessons are taught in the classroom by the counselor and focus on key topics that apply to the student body. Students are instructed in topics that are relevant in their day to day lives and are given tools to utilize in daily situations. The school counselor works closely with the administration, as a team, to support students and parents in a crisis situation. Consultation and collaboration are highly utilized in the counseling office in order to best serve students and parents. The Washing Irving school counseling program utilizes the Edmond Public Schools Handbook in order to best serve all Washington Irving wolves!
The A, B, C's of our CARLOOP for drop off and pick up procedures
A. Always follow the instructions of the staff members on duty in our car loop.
B. Be aware, cautious, and considerate of other drivers, students, and teachers on our school grounds.
C. Colored squares are where students will be picked up.
D. Display car tag clearly from rearview mirror.
NO LEFT TURNS OUT OF THE SCHOOL LOTS
BRAND NEW!! Morning and afternoon car rider procedures - A CHANGE!!
K-5 Dismissal: Dismissal for K-5 is at 3:25 P.M. All K-5 students should be picked up by 3:45 P.M.
A new dismissal release system will be in effect. Students will remain in their classroom until their car/bus/daycare arrives.
The car loop procedure experience for parents won’t change much except we will use a new system called Car Rider Plus and it will go faster- you can view an example of it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5r9sLB1zTY&t=3s
There will no longer be Parent Walkup to the front door to pick up children.
Students who live in the Twin Oaks, Auburn Meadows, and Barrington neighborhoods will still be able to walk home through the back gate and the front walkers will still be able to walk to the Summit Apartments and Palo Verde neighborhood. The Car Rider Plus system will also account for those students as they leave school.
Bus Riders: Elementary students may be eligible for transportation services and the bus riders must wear masks while on the bus. Students may ride only their regularly assigned bus and get off at their regularly assigned stop unless emergency arrangements have been made through the Director of Transportation. Food, gum, and soft drinks are prohibited on the bus. Damage to seats and other equipment must be paid for by the offender. Students are permitted to ride the bus as long as they abide by the bus rules they receive at the beginning of the year. The bus rules are listed in the District section of this handbook. Students should always get off at their bus stop and report home before going to a friend’s house to play. The Transportation Department can be reached at 340-2962.
ALL PARENTS WHO PICK UP THEIR CHILD(REN) AFTER SCHOOL (walkers and car riders) MUST HAVE A PICK-UP TAG FOR IDENTIFICATION
Car Riders: (ALL car riders are to use the front loop) A plan has been designed to ensure greater student safety and facilitate smoother traffic flow. Families who wish to drop-off or pick-up their children by car should only use the drive-through area at the front of the building off of Western Avenue. Also, parents in cars are asked to not cut in front of other cars waiting in line. Please follow the detailed drop-off and pick-up procedures below:
1st-5th-grade students with the last name that begins with an A-L will be picked up in the front SOUTH LOOP.
All Kindergarten students (and their siblings) and 1st-5th-grade students with the last name that begins with an M - Z will be picked up in the front NORTH LOOP.
Parents who wish to pick up their children must enter campus using one of the main entrances located on Western Avenue. Cars should enter the loop and pull completely forward around the curb to the loop allowing other cars to line up behind them. Please do not block traffic or double-park your car. Students are expected to unload/load 4 at a time at the front entrance plaza, under the supervision of a duty teacher. Stay in line even if you have your child, follow the loop around the curb until you exit out of the loop, turning right only.
Please yield to parents needing to enter and exit the handicapped parking spaces and also to school and daycare buses as they have a tight schedule they must follow.
Parents and guests must follow the requests and directions of the duty teachers. All other traffic lanes, entrances, and exits are expressly reserved for district transportation, mini-buses, and commercial daycare vans. Your cooperation with these procedures is appreciated and is for the safety of your child.
DISMISSAL PROCEDURES: For the safety of our students, please be aware of the WI after-school pick-up procedures:
*Each student will carry a dismissal tag on the loop of their backpack with personal information- this is particularly important for younger students who have not yet memorized this information.
*Please do not remove this backpack tag. If it falls off, notify your child’s teacher immediately for a replacement. This tag is color-coded depending on your child’s dismissal location.
*This year there will be an additional layer of safety added with another backpack tag with the CAR RIDER PLUS number. Do not remove this tag either.
*At 3:25 PM, students will prepare to be dismissed from their classroom, younger grades will be escorted to their dismissal location inside the building. A teacher will be present to monitor students while they are waiting and also dismissing.
*Parents are to use the appropriate driveway loop and must clearly display a CAR RIDER PLUS tag on their car’s rearview mirror. This helps the duty teachers call for students and to quickly load them into vehicles. This greatly reduces the wait time for parents in line.
*Parents are the primary role models for their children. Cooperating with and respecting the staff members on duty sets a good example of respect for authority. Thank you!
*Additional duty teachers will manage loading vehicles by calling out students’ names to line up at the designated spots so that the car line can move quickly.
*Students must remain seated until their name is called, then go directly to the assigned spot and wait until their parent pulls forward completely and stops.
*Additional parent pickup tags are available for purchase in the front office to parents with a valid driver’s license.
*Parents may not park in the parking lot, walk between cars, and call for students to come to them-- this creates major safety concerns and confusion while the duty teachers attempt to perform their responsibilities.
*For the safety of your child, all adults must have a CAR RIDER PLUS tag to identify to the duty teacher you are the designated adult to pick up that student. Parents or family members who do not have a visor card will be asked to go to the office and show proper identification. For the safety of your child, students will not be released to those without proper ID and who are not listed on the contact sheet in the office.
PARENT WALK-UP: Due to COVID safety measures, there will not be parent walkup pickup this year.
Walkers: Students walking to school in the morning may enter through the front door or neighborhood students may enter through the northwest back gate connected to the back playground. Students should not arrive before 8:20 A.M. Supervision of students will begin at 8:20 A.M. There is an Oklahoma City Cross Stop Light and a Guard to safely monitor students crossing Western, your student should wait for the directions to cross the street.
Students walking home after school are expected to leave the school at dismissal time and go directly to their after-school location. Students should not stop at a friend’s house to play without prior parental arrangements. Parents who choose to wait at school and walk with the front walkers home may no longer wait at the south parking lot, parents can wait at the end of the fence near Western spaced 6 feet apart.
Back Gate Walkers: The back playground gate is reserved for WALKERS from the adjoining neighborhoods only. Students must qualify for a back walker dismissal tag by living in those adjoining neighborhoods; otherwise, a student may not utilize the back gate for dismissal. If a parent is meeting their child at the gate, parents should line up along the fence line spaced 6 feet apart and show their pick-up tag. If a student is walking home without a parent, the student should wait to use the crosswalk with the duty teacher. Please do everything you can to avoid using cars for pickup in this area as there is a significant safety issue when there are cars in this area. All safety and road laws MUST be followed.
Bike Riders Students: Students may ride bicycles to school. Bikes should be walked on sidewalks and across crosswalks and parked in the bike racks located by the back playground on the west side of the building. Students should not be around the bike area except to put away or pick up their bikes. The school will make every effort to safeguard bicycles, but cannot assume responsibility for them. It is strongly recommended that locks be used to secure bikes. Locks are not provided by the school.
Changing transportation: It is not advised to change your child’s manner of dismissal, however, circumstances may arise that warrant that occasionally. Students who are to go home using an alternate method from their normal procedure (bus, daycare, etc.) must have a parent contact the office prior to 2:30 PM notifying us of the change. Parents should work with their child and accurately rehearse any transportation changes with them the night before and call the office to notify us of the change in transportation plans. Children who tell us that they are going home differently than their regular method and do NOT have a note will be sent home the regular way. This greatly alleviates confusion for everyone! Students are responsible for getting in the correct bus or daycare lines and shall not switch lines unless we have information about pre-arranged changes in transportation.
THIS YEAR, due to COVID safety measures, you need to LABEL ALL SCHOOL SUPPLIES!