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The philosophy of education in the Little Miami Schools is based upon the belief that the children are one of the most valuable resources in any community, city, or nation. The maximum educational development of each student is our ultimate objective, and we formulate our curriculum around two major premises.

First, we endeavor to equip our youth with the increasingly complex knowledge and skills to prepare them for vocations or for further formal education in college and professional schools. Second, we strive to introduce our children to practices and ideals of personal and group behavior that perpetuate and advance the aims and benefits of a democratic way of life.

We believe that the major purpose and goals of education are all includsive and should be centered around the individual needs and natures of our school children.

The Butlerville Elementary School staff members realize that the children we are working with and for are individuals, and that in many instances this is their first experience in social living.

Our desired goal in working with all children is growth. We attempt to create a stimulating environment for each child which will arouse their interests and curiosity, thus promoting optimal learning. This learning will incorporate the development of academic, relationship, and citizenship skills which are required for functioning in our society. We attempt to help all children develop these skills, along with the attitudes which will make them productive citizens tomorrow.

The Little Miami Board of Education believes that it is the responsibility of the school system to insure that each graduate is prepared to be successful in the world of work and to succeed at a higher level of education. To these ends, an environment of high expectations and opportunity shall be created that fosters scholarship and citizenship and develops within each student the ability to become a productive and responsible member of society.

Butlerville Elementary 877-2371

Bus Garage 899-2941

Little Miami Local School District Board Office 899-2264

Little Miami High School 899-3781

Little Miami Junior High School 899-3408

Little Miami Intermediate School 899-2334

Maineville Elementary 683-3729/899-4760

Morrow Elementary 899-2741

*Questions concerning transportation should be directed to the bus garage.

School Colors - Green and Gold

School Mascot - Panther

The Butlerville Parent-Teacher Organization holds general meetings throughout the school year, and supports the school through a variety of fund raising activities. Parents are encouraged to become actively involved in their P.T.O. Officers for the 2005-2006 year are:

8:45 Building unlocked for students

8:45 - 9:00 Buses arrive, students enter building, breakfast is served

9:05 Tardy bell

11:45 AM Kindergarten leaves

1:05 PM Kindergarten arrives

3:40 Dismissal of students to parent pick-up

3:50 Dismissal of students to bus pick-up

l. Children should arrive at school in the morning at/after 8:45 A.M.

2. At 8:45 A.M. students report to their homerooms. Parents may accompany their children to their rooms when the 8:45 A.M. bell rings. However, this is NOT a time to hold a conference with your child's teacher. Teachers' supervising responsibilities begin at that time.

3. THE SCHOOL CANNOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN BEFORE 8:45 A.M. Teachers are NOT in classrooms and are not assigned to supervisory positions until 8:45 A.M.

4. Students being picked up in the loop by parents will be dismissed to the loop at 3:40 P.M. It is imperative that the parent be here at that time. If the parent is not in the loop, the child will be put on the bus at 3:50 and sent home. Please make arrangements with a trusted neighbor, etc., should your child happen to beat you home, for this reason or any other reason that might arise. 5. Please refrain from coming into the building to pick up students at the end of the day. Each time this occurs, the classroom loses 5-10 minutes of learning time due to the intercom call, student rummaging in the desk, going to the locker, and finding out what they need to take to home. If at all possible, please wait and pick your student up in the loop.

Emergency school closings, delays, or early dismissals will be announced by the following radio and TV stations:

WCPO-TV9 WLW/AM 700 WMMA FM 97.3 WLMH FM 83.1 WKRC-TV12 WSAI/FM 1360 WGRR FM 103.5 WCKY 1530 WLW-TV5 WYGY/FM 96.5

Please listen to one of these stations for information. School closing information can also be accessed via the internet at http://www.cancellations.com.

Closed The Superintendent and/or transportation director will make every effort to notify radio and television stations of closings by 6:00 A.M. The decision will ultimately be determined by the weather, and on occasion later announcements or changes may be necessary.

Early Dismissal The Superintendent and/or transportation director will make any decision necessary regarding early dismissal. After the decision is made, drivers will be assembled as quickly as possible and students will be taken home in the following order:

Delays The Superintendent and/or transportation director will make necessary decisions regarding the delay of school. When school is delayed for an hour, Kindergarten hours change to meet the minimum requirements for a school day. A.M. KINDERGARTEN - 10:00 -12:30 P.M. KINDERGARTEN - 1:50 - 3:50

Two Hour Delay - A.M. KINDERGARTEN - CANCELED

BE PREPARED BE PREPARED BE PREPARED BE PREPARED

l. Discuss any schedule changes that will occur with your child if coming home early becomes necessary.

2. Please return the early dismissal plan form to the teacher. THIS PLAN WILL BE FOLLOWED on early dismissal days.

Kindergarten Children are eligible for admission to kindergarten if they are five years of age on or before the 30th day of September of the year of admittance.

First Grade Children must successfully complete kindergarten before they may be enrolled in first grade. Upon request, this requirement may be waived by the district pupil personnel services committee.

Early Entrance In unusual cases and when specific qualifying requirements have been met, children may be admitted to kindergarten if they are five years of age on or before January l of the school year for which admission is requested. The Little Miami School District will conduct an evaluation upon request. The evaluation must be completed by August 31 of the current year.

Parents have an obligation to inform the school any time the custody of a child changes. The school officials will need to see and copy court orders pertaining to a child's custody. It is necessary that the custodial parent have proof that they reside in the Little Miami School District.

Please be reminded that stepparents do not have the right to request records, sign official documents, or to participate in conferences unless the custodial parent is also present.

Parents must make the school office aware of any changes of address or home, work, or emergency telephone numbers. It is important that the school have current phone numbers should the need arise for the school to contact the parents in an emergency.

Regular attendance by all students is very important. In many cases, irregular attendance is the major reason for poor schoolwork: therefore all students are urged to make appointments outside of school hours. A good attendance record and punctuality are also important preparations for the adult world.

Parents will be made aware of student absences as stated below as we comply with attendance and truancy laws.

2 unexcused absences - Warning letter from county attendance officer
5 absences - Notification by school of accumulated days
5 unexcused absences - Intervention Meeting
7 unexcused absences - Unofficial Court Hearing
10 absences - Notification by school of need for medical excuse for each additional absence. Please be reminded that vacation days also count in this 10 day period.

10 or more tardies may result in a referral to the Warren County Juvenile Court
12 unexcused absences - Official Court Hearing

Students are expected to be in school except in cases of emergency or for the following legal excuses:

l. Personal illness - The school may require the certificate of a doctor.

2. Illness in the family.

3. Death of a family member.

4. Observance of a religious holiday.

PARENTS MUST REQUEST IN WRITING ANY OTHER REASON FOR THEIR CHILD TO BE EXCUSED FROM SCHOOL PRIOR TO THE ABSENCE.

Family vacations will be excused if the child's teacher is notified in advance and the child's attendance and academic record have been good. While the exact work a child will miss while on vacation cannot be given to the child before the absence, the teacher will let the child know approximately what will be covered in class and the child will have time after the absence to make up the work. If at all possible, please limit school missed to five school days. Beyond the five days, a child is missing a dangerous amount of learning time and this could cause a harmful gap in the understanding of material being taught. Please be aware that vacation days count in the ten allowable excused days after which a doctor!=s note is required for each absence

A student's absence will be considered unexcused for:

If a child's absence is not excused, the work he or she misses cannot be made up.

Steps to follow when absent:

In accordance with state law, parents or guardians MUST phone the school and inform the office of the absence before 10:00 A.M. of the day of the absence.

Parents or guardians should write an excuse giving the child!=s name, date, days of absence, reason for absence and his/her signature, and send it to the teacher the next day.

The child should ask the teacher for make-up assignments. Each student is responsible for seeing that make-up work is completed. Any that are not made up will be reflected in the child's grade.

If a parent wishes the child's assignments before the child returns to school, he or she should call the school before 10:00 A.M. Materials will be available in the office from 3:35-4:00 P.M. Materials may also be sent home with a brother, sister or friend as long as the absent child's teacher is notified before 10:00 A.M. This allows the teacher the time needed to compile the work without taking time away from the other students in the class.

Children who have excused absences will be given one day for each day of absence to complete necessary work missed in class. Work will be held by the teacher for the student until his/her return unless otherwise notified in advance.

Once in a while, unforeseen events may cause a child to be tardy, but continued tardiness often represents poor planning and a negative attitude toward school. It causes a disruption of class during a vital learning time in the day and causes the offender to consistently miss a portion of one subject. We hope planning will be done so all students will be at school on time. A note explaining the reason for being tardy should accompany the child to school.

Guidelines for determining tardiness and absences are: Arrival between the 9:05 A.M. and 10:45 A.M. bell will result in being tardy. Arrival after 10:45 A.M. will count as one-half day absent (morning). Students leaving school before 2:15 P.M. will be considered one-half day absent (afternoon).

The district provides transportation for all students. Therefore, personal transportation problems will not be an excused tardy, but will result in an unexcused tardy.

The following are the only legal excuses for tardiness:

l. If a child becomes ill at school, school personnel will notify the parent or guardian. Generally, parents will be called by the office if the child's temperature registers 100 degrees or above. If your child calls to tell you he or she is ill, the child is doing that without the knowledge or approval of school personnel.

2. Parents are responsible for providing the school with work phone numbers or information about where the parent can be reached during the day.

3. The school will release sick children only to the child's custodial parent or a person identified by the custodial parent.

4. Parents are responsible for providing information about someone who can care for a sick child if the parents are not available.

The Little Miami Board of Education recognizes that the dispensing of prescribed medication to students is necessary from time to time. The dispensing of the medication is done in lieu of the parent and may be done by teachers, building administrators, school nurse, school secretary, or authorized school personnel.

The Little Miami Board of Education has determined that prescription and/or nonprescription drugs will be administered under the following conditions:

l. All prescription and nonprescription drugs must be presented BY THE PARENT or guardian to the proper authority (principal or his designee, secretary, school nurse or teacher) in the original container.

2. The "Authorization for the Administration of Medication by School Personnel Form" must be completed by the parent and physician and returned with all prescription and nonprescription drugs.

3. The prescription and/or nonprescription drug must be presented in the original container and clearly marked as to drug name, dosage, doctor!=s name, and student!=s name.

4. A parent and/or guardian may administer over-the-counter nonprescription drugs to their child or children at their request in a designated area provided by the school administrator.

The form for the administration of prescription and nonprescription drugs is located at the back of this handbook.

Transportation will be furnished to and from school for all students.

Children are required to attend the school where they legally reside .

Any student who is to go home on a different bus than is normally ridden, or is to get off at a different stop MUST have a note from the parent(s) indicating this. Also, students who are to stay after school, leave during the day, or do anything other than ride their assigned bus home, MUST have a note from the parent(s) indicating this. This is to make sure that home and school work together for the benefit of the children.

Butlerville students are not permitted to walk or ride bikes to school since sidewalks are not provided.

l. The safety of children at school is a primary concern of the school staff. Visitors to the building are carefully monitored. Therefore, state law requires all visitors and parents to report to the office before visiting classrooms. Visitor recognition badges provided by the office at sign-in should be worn until checking out at the office.

2. Occasionally requests to visit are received from children from other schools. They will not be granted as the school cannot accept responsibility for children not enrolled at Butlerville Elementary School.

3. All students released during the day must be checked out through the office. Please send a note in the A.M. for early dismissal.

4. Children will be released only to the custodial parent or guardian, or to an adult designated by the custodial parent or guardian.

5. The office staff must make positive identification of the adult checking out the child. EVERYONE MUST present his/her driver's license for identification verification.

6. The adult checking out the child must sign for the child's release.

7. All parents picking up students should wait in the parking lot pick up loop for their child. We would like to discourage parents from coming to school just prior to dismissal to have children released. If you wish to pick up your child rather than have the student ride home on the bus, please send a note in the morning and we will see that your request is granted. If you have not sent a note, or have not arrived in the loop to pick up your child by 3:50, the child will be dismissed with the bus students at 3:50.

8. We would like to discourage parents from calling with dismissal changes after 2:00 P.M. as this is the last time teachers have to check their mailboxes for notes from home.

9. We would also like to discourage parents from coming into the building to pick up students at the end of the day. Each time this occurs, the classroom loses 5-10 minutes of learning time due to the interruption. If at all possible, please wait and pick up your student in the loop.

There is no supervision for children after 3:45 unless they are involved in an after school activity. A child without a note granting permission to stay for the activity, will be sent home in the usual manner.

In general, students will not be permitted to use the office telephone except in the case of an emergency, such as the cancellation of an after-school activity. Children may use the telephone if the teacher judges that the need is appropriate and gives permission. Except for unusual circumstances, no student should request use of the telephone more than once or twice during the school year.

For the purpose of planning recess activities during the school day, days are considered to be "In" or "Out" depending on the existing weather. In general, if the outside temperature is 30 degrees or above, the day will be an "Out" day. If the temperature is below 30 degrees, it will be an "In" day. Please dress your child accordingly. Children who must stay inside during recess will need a note from their parent.

Parents who wish to bring in a treat for their child's birthday should contact the teacher in advance to make arrangements. Please bring the treats to the office. Social invitations to non-school sanctioned events (birthday parties, pool parties, etc.) may not be distributed at school.

Confidentiality

l. Student records are confidential and are protected by the "Privacy Act". Only the school staff and the child's natural parents or legal guardians have access to the records.

2. Directory information on the child is not protected by the "Privacy Act". Directory information includes name, address, phone number, age, weight, etc.

Parents may request that the school not release this information. If you do not wish to have this information released, please notify the school by September 15th.

3. Student surveys administered to students must comply with district guidelines. Prior to administration parental permission will be requested. Parents may preview surveys prior to administration.

Parent/Teacher conferences are always welcome. Parents should call ahead for an appointment to be sure the teacher will be available.

Special conference days are established during the year.

The Little Miami Board of Education believes that homework, as long as it is properly designed, carefully planned and geared to the development of the individual student, meets a real need and has a definite place in the educational program.

Homework should be assigned to help the student become more self-reliant, learn to work independently, improve the skills that have been taught and complete certain projects such as the reading of worthwhile books and the preparation of research papers. Home study assignments also afford a way for parents to acquaint themselves with the school program and their own children's educational progress.

Homework will not be used for disciplinary purposes. The amount and type of homework given is to be decided by the classroom teacher, within the frame work of over-all instructional plans.

In an effort to set guidelines for homework and to create a clearer understanding of the purposes of homework, the Little Miami Board of Education adopts the following:

1. Purposes of Homework are:

A. To reinforce skills through drill.

B. To reinforce material covered in class by review.

C. To bring students into contact with out-of-school resources.

D. To broaden and enrich the knowledge of a student.

E. To encourage students in the process of self-education and self-dir