|
Parent/Teacher/School Relations
Parent Teacher Association: PTA meetings are generally held on the third Tuesday of the month, beginning at 6:00 p.m. PTA Officers decide on the monthly agenda, plan the budget and assess fees for the year. They also provide support to our students through fundraising activities and serve as advocates for public education. Please join the PTA and participate in the various activities.
Volunteers
We are always in need of volunteers in the school. You can assist teachers in the classroom; read stories; tutor students in reading, writing or math; speak during career day; assist on field trips; or assist with safety efforts as a parent patrol.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
Parents and teachers must confer about the progress of students. Essential to student progress is the parent-teacher-student conference. This conference should include the exchange of ideas and concerns about students’ academic and social growth and progress. Wednesday afternoons are reserved for Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences – 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Use this time to assess how your child is progressing; share important information about your child; determine areas of strengths and weaknesses; and determine how you can assist at home. PTA meetings are usually not appropriate for conferences; however, during grade level meetings, alternative dates and times for parent conferences will be discussed. Parent/Teacher/Student conference will not be conducted during instructional time of the school day. Please refrain from “dropping by” the classroom to discuss your child’s academic progress. Please use the reserved times to schedule conferences to discuss your child’s progress.
Report Cards
You can expect to receive report cards four times a year. They are issued mid first/mid second, and end first/end second semesters. They generally follow teacher-planning days and we encourage parents to pick up report cards from the teacher. This is a great time to discuss student progress.
Grading System
The Atlanta Public Schools and the state of Georgia
approve the following grading system:
Kindergarten - Grades 1- 5
|
KINDERGARTEN
|
GRADES 1-5
|
Conduct Grades
|
|
S - Satisfactory
|
A - Excellent (90- 100)
|
E - Excellent
|
|
G - Growth
|
B- Above Avg. (80 -89)
|
S - Satisfactory
|
|
P - Problems
|
C - Average (70 - 79)
|
U - Unsatisfactory
|
|
NE - Not Evaluated
|
F - Failed (0 - 69)
|
|
|
NE - Not Evaluated
|
|
Deficiency Notices/ Progress Reports
If a student is not making satisfactory progress (grades below C) parents can expect a deficiency notice. This notice should be viewed, as a “red flag” to indicate some intervention is necessary before report cards are issued. Check with your child’s teacher to see how you can help your child eliminate the deficiency. If needed, make arrangements for your child to remain after school on Wednesdays for tutoring until satisfactory progress once a month noting your child’s progress in the core subject areas.
Classroom Visits
Parents are welcome to visit the school for planned activities as well as classroom visits. Please report to the office to get a Visitor's Pass before proceeding to the classroom. When you visit the classroom for observation, please observe as quietly as possible so there is little or no disruption to the class. At a later time you may want to have a conference with the teacher about your observations.
School Supplies
Students are expected to bring necessary school supplies each day. Notebooks, tablets, pencils, books, etc. will be used daily. Please see that your child is prepared for school with the necessary tools. You will receive a note from teachers about the particular supplies that your child will need for the year.
Dress Code
West Manor Elementary is now a uniform school. Girls are to wear green or white tops with khaki shorts, skorts, skirts, jumpers, or pants. Boys are to wear green or white tops with khaki shorts or pants. Accessories, such as belts, socks, and shoes, may be black, brown, or white. Each Friday, students will be allowed to dress out of uniform. Students are expected to dress in good taste at all times. Their manner of dress should indicate they are going to school to concentrate on schoolwork and not play. Students wearing inappropriate attire may be advised by teachers or the principal about proper dress. Short-shorts, bare feet, flip-flops, bare midriffs, tank tops or mini skirts are allowed.
Homework
Parents should assist their children in developing good study habits by providing them with a quiet, well-lighted area for study. Insist upon regular study hours even when formal homework may not be assigned. The following is a general rule-of-thumb for homework requirements:
| Kindergarten students |
15- 20 minutes/night |
| Grades 1 - 3 students |
30 - 45 minutes/night |
| Grades 4 - 5 students |
45 - 60 minutes/night |
These are recommended times but special projects or individual students may require more or less time than recommended. Please be sure to engage your child in a nightly reading activity independent of homework assignments.
Important Contacts
From time to time, you may have questions or concerns you need addressed but you may be unsure of whom to contact. This section is designed to assist you in that regard.
Contact Homeroom Teacher:
- Homework assignments
- Progress Reports
- Grades on classwork
- Textbooks
- Grades on Report Card
- Supplies Needed
- Discipline Procedures
- Deficiency Notices
Contact Principal:
- Classroom assignment
- Bus Issues
- Cafeteria Behavior
- Chronic Issues
- Unresolved Issues
- Status of SST, IST
Contact PTA President:
- PTA Meetings
- Fundraisers
- Topics for PTA Meetings
We recognize from time to time that conflict may arise as we work in the best interest of children; sometimes we may be unaware of an issue or problem, which reduces our effectiveness. Please help us serve our students better by bringing that issue to our attention. We will make every attempt to resolve our conflict at the local school site.
Miscellaneous Items
Textbooks
Students are issued required textbooks during the first week of school. Textbooks should be kept clean and handled with care. We recommend covering all textbooks for their protection. Make sure your child's name is written on the book label inside the book cover in case of misplaced books. Teachers maintain a record of all books issued and will collect them at the end of use. Students will be required to pay for lost or damaged books.
|
Refreshments
|
| In an effort to preserve time-on-task and to fully utilize the school day, please reserve Birthday parties and other special celebrations after school and away from the school. Kindergarten students may have cupcakes and ice cream during their regular snack time to celebrate a classmate's birthday. |
Lost & Found
If your child has lost an article, please have them check the LOST/FOUND box located in the cafeteria. Most articles found in and around the school are collected in that box. Owners may claim property with proper identification.
The telephone is for official school business. Students will not use the phone except in an emergency. Please tell your child, before they report to school what arrangements have been made for him/her after school. When a child has to call around and find out what to do after school, an awesome responsibility is placed on his/her shoulders. Likewise, children remaining at school after 3:00 pm. without knowing how they will get home feel abandoned and neglected.
|
|
|
|
|
From the Principal's Desk
|
|
August 9, 2010
Dear Parents,
Welcome back to another exciting year of learning at West Manor Elementary, where students “work hard and get smart.” “The Manor” has a reputation of being a successful school where great things happen and last school year was no exception! Even though “outsiders” questioned the high performance of our teachers and students, we continue to excel and move to the next level of success. I believe in the staff and students of West Manor and continue to have high expectations for all. West Manor made AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) for the eighth consecutive year. The results of the 2009-2010 GKIDS (Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills) indicate that 89% of our kindergarten students met or exceeded standards in English Language Arts and 90% of our kindergarten students met or exceeded in Mathematics. The results of the GCRCT (Georgia Criterion Referenced Competency Test) indicate that:
- Ninety-five percent (95%) of our students (1st – 5th grade) scored at “meets or exceeds” in Reading.
- Ninety-five percent (95%) of our students (1st – 5th grade) scored at “meets or exceeds” in Language Arts.
- Eighty-nine percent (89%) of our students (1st – 5th grade) scored at “meets or exceeds” in Mathematics.
With the unwavering hard work of teachers, staff, and parental support, our students continue to move to the next level of academic performance.
West Manor is a Title 1 School and all funds are allotted to meet the needs of parents, teachers, and students based on our Balanced Score Card (BSC). If at any time, your child is being taught by a teacher or paraprofessional who is not highly qualified for four consecutive weeks you will be notified.
West Manor is a uniform school. Students are strongly encouraged to wear the school uniform Monday through Thursday of every week. The uniform consists of green or white tops (with school logo) and khaki bottoms. Each Friday, students will be allowed to wear clothing of their choice and are expected to dress with “good taste.”
Thank you for your support with ensuring that your child is dressed in uniform, present, on time, and ready for learning every day. In order to move our students to the next level of success, we must remain partners in education
Again, welcome to a new school year and I look forward to working with you to make this another year of greatness for our children.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Twyman
|
The West Manor Staff will monitor the safety of students during school hours. We encourage you to join us in stressing good safety habits at home.
For the safety of all students, please follow these safety practices during AM arrival and PM dismissal:
- Maintain one-way traffic in the driveway.
- Unload and load children at the curb. If your “drop-off” at the curb stops the movement of traffic, please move forward towards the end of the driveway to sign papers, give lunch money, and talk with your child.
- Acknowledge and follow directions of safety or parent patrols.
- Reserve the bus lane for the school bus.
- Walk your child to and from the school entrance if you park in the school or church parking lot.
School is dismissed at 2:30 pm. All students are walked to the front of the school and supervision is provided until 3:00 pm. Please arrange to have your child picked up on time. If you are unable to pick-up your child by 3:00 pm, please register him/her for the after-school program.
School Registration Regulations
Children entering school must present the following documents:
- Official copy of the birth certificate
- Immunization Certificate
- Eye, Ear, & Dental Certificate
- Social Security Card or Waiver
- Proof of residence
Scholastic Accident Insurance provides a low cost insurance policy for students in the Atlanta Public Schools. Your child will bring home the application early in the school year. Return the application along with the money for the cost of the policy you selected.
Properly supervised and well-planned educational field trips are an important part of the instructional program. Before any child is permitted to go on a field trip, we must have a signed parent permission form on file. NO CHILD will be allowed to attend an off-campus trip without a signed parental consent form. Telephone consent is not allowed.
Physical Education is an essential part of a childís physical and intellectual growth. All students are required to participate in the physical education program. NO STUDENT will be excused without a physicianís certification on file stating the child cannot participate.
Students will not be administered over-the-counter or prescription medication without a medication form on file in the office. If your child is required to take medication during school hours, occasionally or on a regular basis, we must have a medication form signed by the doctor. The form should indicate the name of the medication, the time administered and the dosage. All medications should be brought to the office. In cases of minor scrapes, scratches or abrasions, students may receive topical medication. Parents may come and administer over the counter medicines.
If your child is ill, please take every precaution and get the necessary treatment before your child returns to school. If students have a fever or vomits, we will call you immediately. Please advise office staff of ANY serious or chronic illness, which affects your child(ren).
Please make sure we have a way of contacting you after your childís first day of attendance. Make available the names and phone numbers of persons to contact in an emergency by completing the clinic card and returning it to school. Note, you are the FIRST call in an emergency and in the event of an injury, we may also call 911.
Testing
Each year a series of tests are administered to students. The following tests are planned for the year:
- Criterion Referenced Competency Test - Students in grades 1 - 5. (Third grade students MUST pass the Reading portion of the test to be promoted to fourth grade. Fifth grade students must pass the Reading and Math requirements before promotion to sixth grade.)
- Curriculum Based Composition Writing Test - Students in grades 3 & 5.
- Georgia Writing Test - Students in grades 3 & 5
- Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (GKIDS)
- Iowa Tests of Basic Skills Students in grades 3 and 5.
(You will receive the dates and times for all standardized tests given during the year.)
- NAEP testing for 4th graders
|
