School Handbook

Welcome to White Elementary School!

In the section below, we've provided all the information you need to know for you and your student to thrive as part of the White Elementary family.

Getting Ready for School

Attendance Expectations

Good attendance is critical for steady academic growth, and, by law, children are required to attend school.

Please call the school office any time your child will not be in school.

If you are asked to leave a voice mail, please give the following information:

Name of the parent or guardian calling
Student's name and grade
Date(s) of absence
Reason for absence; please be specific

Absences will only be excused for the following reasons:

Illness
Medical or dental appointment
A family death or serious illness
Court/judicial appearance
Religious observations
School-sponsored activities
Students who are late to school will be considered tardy. Please make every effort to have your student at school on time.

Additionally signing your child out in the afternoon prior to the end of the school day affects their attendance and learning.

Students who become truant (inexcusably absent three consecutive days or five school days in any semester or seven days in a school year) will be reported to the Kansas Department for Children and Families in accordance with Board of Education Policy 1461.

Transportation

Daily Office Hours and Schedule

Morning Arrival Procedures

Afternoon Dismissal Procedures

Students are dismissed by their teacher at their grade level doors at 4:10. Students meeting siblings may walk around the outside of the building to meet family.

White has multiple options available to families for dismissal. Students can walk, ride a bus, or be picked up by a parent/guardian in a car. Please consider the following options and communicate with your child(ren)’s teacher(s) about your family's best option. Help us model safety by using the crosswalks with your children before and after school.

Bus Riders

Students who ride the bus are dismissed to the buses at the end of the day. Note that certain qualifications must be met to ride the bus.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten students can be picked up from their teachers after school by a parent or guardian at door 5 on the East side of the school.

1st/2nd Grade

1st grade teachers will walk their students to the pick-up lane on the south side of the school.

3rd/4th/5th Grade

3rd, 4th and 5th grade teachers will walk their students to the north side of the school

Pre-K

Pre-K students can be picked up from the Pre-K door, which is the same as drop-off.

If you have any questions, please contact the school office at (316) 973-1250.

Dress Code

To provide a quality-learning environment in our school, appropriate student behavior and dress is necessary. The vast majority of students ARE appropriately dressed, and their efforts in this regard are appreciated. Staff members expect students and parents to realize that all students are expected to adhere to this dress code. Reasonable criteria for determining appearance are based on health, safety, and public decency and should be conducive to a learning
atmosphere. Though not all inclusive, these are specific examples of the general criteria.

Extreme dress or hairstyle which is distractive will not be permitted.
Sunglasses, hats, bandanas, hoods on sweatshirts and headscarves are not to be worn in the building.
Any items which promote the use of alcohol, tobacco, illegal pictures or attract attention to body parts (including writing across the rear of pants and shorts) will not be permitted.
Because of safety concerns, platform shoes, sandals, and flip flops are not recommended on P.E. days or on the playground. Roller skates or Heelies (rollers built into shoes) are not permitted.
Shirts must reach the waistband. All shirts must cover the belt line at all times.
Wear shirts that have a minimum of 2 inch straps, cover midriffs and backs at all times.
Underwear cannot be shown outside of regular attire.
No shorts/skirts above finger length when arms are at rest.
“Sagging” will not be permitted.
Coats will be allowed in the classroom at the discretion of the teacher when the temperature is uncomfortable to the learning environment.

The above code/expectations will be applied fairly and equitably regardless of gender. Administration, teachers and other school staff may determine what constitutes inappropriate or unsafe dress. Any item that is deemed disruptive to the operation of the school or distracting to the learning environment will not be allowed. The decision of the building principal will be final in all disputes concerning student dress. Parents will be contacted and asked to bring appropriate clothing in the event that inappropriate clothing is worn to school.

Health Services and Medications

Parents should notify the school nurse if there are any health conditions that may require medical attention, such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, etc.

If a student becomes ill during the school day, they should request a pass to see the nurse.

Students who exhibit fever, sore throat or tonsillitis, any eruption of the skin or rash, any respiratory symptoms accompanied by a fever, severe cough or cold, or any eruption of the scalp, will be sent home.

Parents will be notified to pick up their student and must do so in a timely manner to limit exposure to other students and school staff.

Please keep your emergency contact information up to date with both the teacher and office staff.

School board policy (BOE P5316) restricts school personnel from giving students any medication, including over-the-counter medication.

Medication is given only upon written request from both the parent/guardian and the student's physician. Students must also have received one dose of medication without an adverse reaction prior to any doses being given at school.

All medicine must be in the original container and be presented by a parent to the school nurse for safe keeping and scheduled administration. The container should be labelled with the following:

Name of student
Name of medication
Directions for use
Name of physician
Name and address of pharmacy
Date of prescription

ParentVue - Communication from School

During the School Day

Behavior Expectations

Keeping students emotionally and physically safe at school is our number one priority. All students have the right to learn in an orderly environment that is free of disruption. We understand that from time to time, students may need additional practice meeting these expectations. We are trying to teach students academic and behavioral skills they will be using in the real world that will help them be successful adolescents and adults. Our staff will work closely with parents to ensure students learn to be responsible citizens and develop strategies for resolving conflicts

Bullying

We take bullying very seriously.

Bullying is defined as 1) purposeful behavior that intends to cause harm or distress, 2) is usually repeated over time, and 3) occurs in a relationship where there is an imbalance of power. Forms of bullying are: 1) Physical, 2) Cyber, and 3) occurs in a relationship where there is an imbalance of power. Forms of bullying are: 1) Physical, 2) Cyber, and 3) Relational Aggression. Witnesses of bullying are to tell the bully to stop, tell and adult, and reach out in friendship to the victim.

If your child is experiencing bullying at school, please contact your child's teacher or school administration and let them know about it right away. It is important to remember that we cannot act in situations that we know nothing about.

Families and students are also encouraged to use the SPEAK Up Anonymous Tip Program. The district’s Crime Stoppers in Schools program has created the Speak Up program, which allows students, staff and parents the ability to send anonymous tips through a secure website, app or phone number. The funding for this service is provided by Crime Stoppers of Wichita and Sedgwick County, a division of The Wichita Metro Crime Commission.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment is words or behaviors that are sexual in nature and are unwanted and unwelcome. Sexual harassment could be touching or grabbing body parts, touching or rubbing onself in front of another, sending or delivering unwanted and unwelcome messages, notes or pictures with sexual content, sexual gestures, looks, jokes, comments or noises. Sexual harassment is not tolerated in Wichita Public Schools.

All complaints of sexual harassment will be investigated completely and when the complaint is made. All efforts will be made to provide confidentiality, to the extent possible, for all people involved. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. False complaints will also result in disciplinary action.

Cell Phone Policy

School Meals

We provide breakfast for all students free of charge.

Lunch fees can depend on family income. Complete the Free and Reduced Meal Application annually to qualify for free lunch and adjustments to school fees.

The district uses an app called School Cafe to allow families to see menus.

The district uses LINQ Connect to pay for meals.

For special dietary restrictions, please contact the school nurse.

Field Trips

Field trips with our city and nearby sites of interest are scheduled by classroom teachers throughout the school year. These trips are designed to supplement different aspects of the classroom curriculum and intoduce students to resources within the community. Parents will be notified of the planned trip at least five days in advance and must sign a trip waiver for students to attend. If a student does not have a signed permission slip to attend the trip, they will not go. We will not accept verbal permission over the phone.

If there is a fee for the field trip, the money needs to be submitted at least three days prior to the scheduled trip. All field trips require the use of school buses. Parents are not able to transport students on field trips.

If a parent serves as a chaperone, they will need to complete the school district's volunteer process prior to the field trip

Recess

Having two recess periods a day offers students valuable opportunities for physical activity and social interaction, which are crucial for their overall well-being and development. During these breaks, they can unwind, play, and build friendships, contributing to a more balanced and engaged school experience. In the event of adverse weather conditions, indoor recess ensures that students remain safe and comfortable while still enjoying their break time. Prioritizing safety during both outdoor and indoor recess is essential to create a secure environment where children can thrive and enjoy their school day.

Weather Information

The safety of students, staff and parents is the Wichita Public Schools' greatest priority during the threat of dangerous conditions.

Emergency plans are in place should tornadoes, lightning, hail, snow or other dangerous circumstances present a safety concern.

If schools are to be closed or activities cancelled or rescheduled due to weather conditions, the information will be posted on the Wichita Public Schools' website main page and displayed on all school websites.

Lost and Found

Students are encouraged to regularly check the lost and found before and after school for any items they might have misplaced on the playground or in the gym. This practice helps them retrieve lost belongings and fosters a sense of responsibility for their personal items. Keeping the lost and found organized in the cafeteria ensures that all students have the opportunity to reclaim their belongings, contributing to a more efficient and caring school environment.

Family Engagement

Parent Teacher Conferences

Progress Reports

Progress reports are provided to parents every quarter. Reviewing these reports is an essential component of parent involvement in their child's education. Please look for these reports and discuss them with your student. You may also log on to ParentVue for an ongoing list of grades provided by the teacher. If you have any concerns about these reports, contact your student's teacher.

Visiting and Volunteering

Classroom Celebrations

Parents wishing to bring treats for their child’s birthday must consult with the teacher beforehand. Parties will typically take place at the end of the day; however, celebration times may vary to accommodate specials and instructional block schedules. Due to the nature of structured classroom time, please reach out to the teacher to confirm the time that treats will be handed out. Please DO NOT ask that party invitations or other materials not pertaining to school functions be distributed in the classroom.