Mission
statement
Literacy
Philosophy
Reading
Teacher
Strategies
Homework
Policy
Student
Conduct
Student
Rights
Counseling
and Guidance Services
Services for
Students with Special Needs
Student Health
Services
Taking
Medicine at School
Arrival/Dismissal
Bus
Transportation
Consequences
of Misbehavior
Absences
& Tardies
Emergency
School Closings
Emergency
Contacts
Cafeteria
Operation
Day Care
Services
Extended Day
Activities
Scouting
Information
Parent
Visitation
Telephone
Use By Students
Parent
Involvement
Durham Public
Schools Internet Use
WELCOME
The administration and staff would like to take this opportunity to
welcome you to Club Boulevard Humanities Magnet School.
The information in this handbook has been carefully prepared to help
you succeed at Club Boulevard. It is organized in two sections. The first
section focuses on how we address your child's academic, social and physical
needs. Section two focuses on the information parents need. If you have
any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the office (560-3918).
Club Boulevard Humanities Magnet School is committed to a dynamic
educational environment in which diversity and uniqueness are valued. Our
school community fosters the development of dignity, self esteem and mutual
respect. Challenging, creative, academic opportunities are provided through
immersion in the humanities, authentic literature and the arts.
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At Club Boulevard Humanities Magnet, we believe that literacy is constructing
the meaning of the world through print. Literacy is the basis of all learning.
It encompasses reading, writing, speaking, listening and viewing in all
subject areas as defined by the N.C. Standard Course of Study.
We believe that children need to use a combination of their own knowledge
acquired through their experiences and the context of the story to construct
meaning as they read and write. Therefore, we believe in building background
knowledge and providing experiences through authentic literature, the arts,
hands-on experiences, and field trips. We believe children learn to read,
write, and speak by reading, writing and speaking. Students approach communication
as a whole. Background knowledge and experiences contribute to literacy
along with acquiring an understanding of how print works. It is our belief
that life is connected to literature and literature is a reflection of
life.
At Club Boulevard, learning is a meaningful, active and enjoyable process.
Because of our definition of literacy and the varied developmental levels
of all students, our philosophy is to individualize instruction for all
students. Our classrooms are child-centered, experience-rich, print-rich
and language-rich environments that emphasize student choice. We are dedicated
to providing each child with tools required for being literate members
of society
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Reading is the most critical school skill and receives
primary emphasis at Club Boulevard. Teachers and assistants read aloud
to all students daily and independent reading is an important part of our
curriculum.
Studies show that when parents read with their children, especially
during preschool years, this exposure to print is directly related to a
child's reading success. As a child's reading abilities improve, so does
the likelihood of a successful school career. Without reading skills, children
are frustrated by school work and may lose confidence in themselves. This
frustration can be a major cause of a child's problems in school.
Please read to your children, whatever their ages, as often as you
can. Go with them to the library and make reading a family activity. Limit
television viewing and provide a quiet place for reading. If you show your
child that you value reading and learning, your child will value them too.
When Do You Teach Reading?
When a child has a chance to hear poetry and one good story after another,
day after day...They are being taught to read!
When their year is a series of mind stretching, eye opening, eye
filling trips...helping them know more solidly about their world ....They are being taught to read!
When a child hears good adult language; when they have the fullest,
freest chance to use their own language....They are being taught to read!
When they create with blocks, communicate with paint, use their body
freely as a means of expression
....They are being taught to read!
When a child stares-- fascinated at a picture, or looks ever so
carefully
at a scale in a store, or at the life in his aquarium....They are being taught to read!
When they hammer ever so carefully at the workbench, fashioning a
birdhouse....They are being taught to read!
When they use their whole body; two eyes, two hands, two arms, two
legs, and knees and feet to pull themselves up a scary slanted climbing
board....They are being taught to read!
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A Teacher's Parent Test (Materials needed: Paper & Pencil)
1. If you read aloud to your child this week, draw a body on your paper.
You have begun to build a very basic part of him.
2. If you have read stories about someone like him, a neighborhood
like yours, put arms on the body. You have helped him find his place and
to reach out and enrich his world.
3. If you and your child read for a specific purpose--to look up a
phone number, read a recipe, or follow a road map, put a head on his shoulders.
You have given him a key to unlock information.
4. If you read a comic, a cartoon, or a funny story to your child,
put a hat on his head. You have given your child something extra that adds
color to his life and plants the seeds of a sense of humor.
5. If you have read to your child about something new to him - different
customs, values, or environments - put legs on his body. You have helped
him walk out into the world.
6. If you have read a variety of fantasy, fairy tales, folk tales,
true tales and stories of make believe, put clothes on your child. You
have added new dimensions to his life.
7. If you have shared a poem with him, put a sun in the sky. You have
brought beauty and color into his life.
Questions and Answers
Parents always want to make certain that their children are being taught
the basics. Here is a list of questions and answers that parents have asked
over the past several years prompted by changes in instructional strategies.
1. Do we teach phonics?
Explanation: Yes, we teach letter/sound relationships as one strategy used within
the context of reading and writing in all content areas.
2. How are textbooks used?
Explanation: Textbooks are one of many educational resources. Textbooks are used in
our classrooms for research, supplemental lessons, daily exercises and
extra practice.
3. How is "Invented Spelling" taught? What is "Invented Spelling"?
Explanation: "Invented spelling" or developmental spelling is a process in which the
child says the words slowly and writes what he/she hears. Developmental
spelling is encouraged so the child's writing is not interrupted. As the
child begins to read and experience more print, self-corrections will begin
to occur. Developmental spelling is accepted in grades K-2.
4.How does the teacher measure my child's progress?
Explanation: Measuring your child's success is an ongoing process. Information about
your child's progress is gathered through journal writing, writer's workshop,
child/teacher conferences, portfolios, observation surveys, running records
and informal reading inventories. Math progress is measured by quarterly
assessment portfolios, rubics and daily alignments.
5.How will I know how my child is doing?
Explanation: Talk to your child. Take the opportunity to read with your child and discuss
his/her writing. Participate in conferences and contact the teacher if
you have questions or concerns.
6. Why is there so much talking?
Explanation: Students learn by sharing, discussing, clarifying and supporting their
ideas through personal interaction. This interaction encourages respect
and appreciation for each other's points of view. Students practice communication
strategies such as learning to listen constructively and agreeing or disagreeing
as part of negotiating conflicts.
7. Where is my child's school work?
Explanation: Student work can be found in portfolios, exhibited in hallways, and in
individual writing folders. All this work can be reviewed at any time by
parents. This work will also be reviewed with the teacher at two mandatory
parent/teacher conferences, which fall at the end of the 1st and 3rd quarters.
8. What can I expect for Homework?
Explanation: Homework is assigned to reinforce the work that
is going on in each classroom. Homework is designed to address specific objectives in the North Carolina
Standard Course of Study and give students the opportunity to practice
skills or enrich classroom learning. An honest effort should be expended
each night by your child. Feel free to contact your child's teacher if
you have any questions concerning homework, or the amount of time it takes
them to complete the homework.
9. How do we teach "the skills"?
Explanation: Specific skills are taught as tools to achieve desired learning outcomes
as defined by the N.C. Standard Course of Study and our magnet curriculum.
This can be accomplished through individual, small groups, or whole class
instruction. Every skill must be taught as a connected part of the whole
learning process.
10. Why aren't students reading and writing the same thing?
Explanation: All children experience a variety of printed materials, not necessarily
at the same time or in the same way. Individual choices allow each child
to work at the appropriate level for his/her achievement and interests.
When children are allowed to make choices, they are more motivated to read
and write.
11. What is the writing process?
Explanation: Teachers and students help each other with all of the writing process.
Until a child becomes comfortable expressing an important message in
writing, too much emphasis on spelling, grammar, and handwriting impedes
the main intent of writing-- which is to communicate. In the writing process,
children may spend time generating ideas for projects. Sometimes in collaboration
with peers through artwork, they may write (or tell) a rough draft (or
sloppy copy) in order to develop their ideas. They may get feedback from
others about what they have written. They may write a revised version of
the piece. When a child has reason to present his piece for others to read,
he or she may work on improving spelling and handwriting, making it the
best he/she can at that time in his /her development. When pieces of writing
have gone through drafting, sharing, revising and editing, students may
publish their work in an appropriate way--- such as mailing a pen-pal letter,
putting a poster in the hall or making a book.
- Not everything we write goes to the final draft stage.
- Pieces of writing usually stay at school, even if not finished,
so that they may be continued.
- Often computers are used throughout the writing process.
- Spelling, grammar, writing, reading, and handwriting improve
steadily when used frequently in meaningful context.
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Kindergarten
First Semester:
-
Parents can help their children work on the responsibility of becoming
an independent member of the school community(i.e. carrying book bags each
day, unpacking book bag and turning in items, caring for their library
book, tying shoes, zipping jackets, etc.).
-
Parents can read classroom newsletters to be aware of and help reinforce
concepts being taught in the classroom.
-
Occasionally, "family" projects will be sent home to be completed together.
Reading to your child 10-15 minutes each day is encouraged.
Second Semester:
-
Book-in-a-Bag books will be sent home Monday-Thursday to be read each evening
and returned the next day.
-
Additional homework may be sent home as needed for the whole class or individual
students.
First Grade
-
First grade homework consists of nightly required reading with an adult
using book-in-a-bag books or others, a weekly math activity, and "word
wall practice." Approximately 15-30 minutes nightly.
Second Grade
-
Reading: Each child is required to read 20 minutes each night. Folders are checked
on a regular basis to insure that the children are reading and/or being
read to.
- Math: Math homework is an extension of what is taught in the classroom and is
given on a regular basis. We also use problem solving math programs which
are either Math Super Stars or Home Team Math.
- Spelling: The children are given a spelling list each
Monday and tested on Friday.
Each child is expected to study and learn their spelling words throughout
the week.
Third through Fifth Grade
Parents can expect their children to spend about an hour each night
completing homework. This covers the areas below:
- Reading: Each child is required to read 30 minutes each
night from various sources.
Reading related assignments such as reading log, reading letter, or comprehension
activities are checked weekly as a part of this assignment.
- Math: Math assignments given weekly are an extension of
what is being studied
in the classroom. Weekly problem solving activities are also assigned.
- Spelling/Word Study: There will be a weekly spelling list
and test using words from classroom
activities. Activities may also be assigned relating to classroom research
and themes.
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Learning good conduct, how to be pleasant and friendly with other
people, and learning respect for other people and their property are some
of the most important lessons to be learned in school. Learning good conduct
is something to be proud of and something that will help everyone. Being
kind and thoughtful to others helps children learn to be kind and thoughtful
throughout their lives. Good conduct is learned by practicing good manners
everyday. This practice comes by working and playing together. The grownups
at Club Boulevard want to help the children learn good conduct so that
our school will be a place we enjoy and a place where we all can work.
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The overall guideline for good conduct is to learn to be responsible
for one's own behavior and to be polite and respectful to others. The following
school rules framed as the student's rights have been established for all
areas in the school:
- All students have a right to be happy and to be treated fairly in this
school/classroom.
- All students have a right to be safe in this school/classroom.
- All students have a right to hear and be heard in this school/classroom.
- All students have a right to learn in this school/classroom.
- All students have a right to be themselves in this school/classroom.
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Our school counselors are Magda Corredor and Laura Shaw.
The counselors serve the needs of students at all grade levels by providing
both in-class guidance education and individual counseling sessions. The
counselor is an invaluable resource for parents who have concerns about
their child's development or who need information about community resources
for meeting family or personal needs. The guidance program at Club Boulevard
tries to provide as many services as possible to all the children in the
school.
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Children with special needs are provided services in six major categories:
learning disabled, physically handicapped, educable mentally handicapped,
behaviorally/emotionally handicapped, academically gifted, and speech and
language. These programs are available for students who have been identified
through state/local guidelines in one of these areas at all grade levels.
Most of the services provided are on a resource basis -- i.e., students
meet regularly with special teachers for specific instruction in their designated
exceptionality but remain in their classrooms for the majority of the day.
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Our certified nurse is from the Durham Public Health Department
and visits our school one day each week. She is available to examine any
student who is sick or who is suspected by the teacher of having a communicable
disease. Parents may also refer their children to the nurse by calling
the school office.
Students are given vision, hearing, and speech screening each year.
Teachers periodically record weight and height. Additionally, dental hygiene
is taught to all children, as is good nutrition.
Infectious diseases, including head lice and ringworm, are a part of
elementary school life. If such a disease is suspected in your child's
classroom, parents will be advised to take the necessary precautions. If
a student becomes infected, the parent will be asked to come for the student
and take him or her to a physician. Students are not permitted to return
to school without providing the teacher with proof that the disease is
being treated.
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The Durham Public Schools' Board of Education discourages the practice
of students taking medication during the school day. Only in unusual situations
and with precise attention to the regulations of School Board Policy #4130
will students be given medication during the school day. The policy covers
over-the-counter medications as well as prescription drugs. Any medications
required to be taken at school cannot be administered by school personnel
until a formal form is filled out by the child's physician and is on file
in the school office. For more information about this subject, contact
the school office or your child's
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- The school day begins at 9:00 am and ends for students at 3:30 pm. Students
are tardy after 9:00 am.
- Car-riders should be dropped off and picked up at the rear entrance
on Chamberlain Avenue. Glendale Avenue is heavily traveled, and under no
circumstances should parents drop off or plan to pick up students on the Glendale Street
side of the building during the peak traffic hours. This side is
reserved for buses only.
- No student may come to school before 8:45 am unless he/she is enrolled
in the before-school care program. All outside doors will remain locked
until 8:45. Children should not be dropped off and left to
find an open door.
- Parents bringing their children to before-school or picking their children
up from after-school care will enter the building from the Glendale Office
Entrance. Students who walk to and from school should be aware of the busy
traffic on Club Boulevard and should follow the directions of the Crossing
Guard.
- Parents must inform teachers of any changes in dismissal procedures.
- No change in the dismissal routine is permitted without a note
or phone call from the parent. Phone calls to change plans should
be reserved for emergencies.
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Magnet Schools provide transportation for all students outside the
half mile walk zone, since you have chosen to come here, you are guaranteed
transportation. Transportation is not provided for students within
the 1/2 mile walk zone. Parents, you can help keep our children safe by
teaching them the following rules of conduct on the bus.
- The bus driver is responsible for each child and is in charge of the bus,
just as a teacher is in charge of the classroom.
- In the morning, students should wait at the bus stop without playing, teasing,
or running into the street.
- Students must go directly to their seats and stay seated until they are
told to exit the bus.
- Students should talk quietly and should keep their hands to themselves.
- Feet should be kept out of the aisle and off the seats.
- Eating or drinking is not permitted.
- For the sake of safety, hands and heads should be kept inside the bus.
- There will be no pushing, horseplay, or fighting on the bus.
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- The driver will report the misbehavior to the Principal/Assistant Principal.
- If the problem is severe, the Principal/Assistant Principal will contact
the parent.
- Repeated misbehavior will result in a student being suspended from riding
the bus. Fighting on the bus can result in suspension the first time
it occurs.
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Attendance at school is important. There is no substitute for the uninterrupted
personal contact between teachers and students in the classroom environment
where learning experiences are carefully planned by the teachers. Students
with good attendance generally achieve higher levels of learning than those
with poor attendance.
Lawful excused absences include illness or injury, death in the immediate
family, medical or dental appointments, court or administrative proceedings,
religious observances, documents and any pre-approved (by the principal)
educational opportunities. It is the recommendation of the administration
and faculty that children come to school regularly and that families abide
by the law.
It is recommended that family vacations not be planned
during the instructional calendar.
When a student returns to school following an absence, he/she should
bring a note of explanation.
The building will be open to students at 8:45 am. The instructional
day begins at 9:00 a.m. It is important for each child to have a good start
by being on time. In the event that it is necessary for your child
to come to school late, we request that you escort your child to the office
and sign him/her in. This ensures that your child is acknowledged
as present and safely gets to their class. If excessive tardies do occur,
parents will be contacted.
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Weather-related problems or other emergencies that endanger the school
community and force the superintendent to close all or part of the schools
are announced repeatedly on local radio and television stations. School
may be either canceled for the day or delayed, usually for two hours. If
school is delayed, buses will run their regular routes, but two hours later.
Breakfast is not served when school is delayed.
Subsequent closings will be announced on the 11 p.m. radio and/or television
news, and again in the morning. The morning announcements are the more
reliable.
If bad weather strikes during the school day, early closing time will
also be announced by the local media. Parents should make arrangements
to receive their children at the announced closing time. School buses will
run normal routes following the dismissal.
The After-School Program will not operate when school is
closed early. The school calendar shows when "snow days" will be made
up, and the school will send home advance notices regarding make-up days.
An Emergency Dismissal Card, filed in the office, will
be filled out by each child's family. Information needs to be current as
related to child care, address, telephone and job information changes.
A current telephone number is essential.
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Accidents and sudden illness are a fact of school life. If your child
should need medical attention, your approval would be required. Please
advise either the teacher or the office of the changes in your work or
home phone number or your address. If you do not have a telephone, we must
have the number of a relative or neighbor.
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Students may pay for breakfast and/or lunch by the week or daily. Many
families choose to pay by the week because of the convenience. Weekly payments
are collected the first school day of the week. Checks, a safer way of
paying, should be made payable to Club Boulevard School Cafeteria. All
snacks are paid for daily and cannot be put in the child's account. Applications
for free or reduced prices may be requested at any time from the school
office. Student prices are as follows:
Full-Price Breakfast: $.80
Reduced Price Breakfast: $.30
Full-Price Lunch: $1.25
Reduced Price Lunch: $.40
Extra Milk: $.35
Ice Cream: $.40
- Parents are invited to join us for breakfast or lunch. Adult meals cost
$1.10 (breakfast) and $2.25 (lunch). If parents/guests are planning to
eat lunch with their children, they are asked to call the cafeteria 560-3496
the morning of the day they plan to come to lunch.
- Children who bring their lunches may purchase milk, sold by the day.
Parents may request that fruit juice be substituted for milk for children
unable to digest milk properly. Any special dietary considerations need
to be put in writing, to the attention of the cafeteria manager, Ms. Glenda
Collins, ie: food allergies, or no pork products.
- Lunches prepared at home should include a balanced meal and should
include items which do not spoil when kept at room temperature for several
hours. Unbreakable thermos containers for beverages or soups are a must
for school children. Glass bottles and canned drinks are not allowed. Soft
drinks (sodas) should not be sent to school for lunch.
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Club Boulevard Humanities Magnet School offers both before and after-school
programs. These programs are operated in our school by employees of the
Durham Public Schools Community Education Department. Our director is Sonia
Hodges. The Before-School Program operates from 6:45 a.m. until 8:45 a.m.
and costs $45.00 per school month, per child, up to two children. The After-School
Care Program operates from 3:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. and costs $125.00
per school month for the first child and $100.00 for the second child.
There is no additional charge for more than two children per family. There
is a $15.00 registration fee per child. The adult-to-child ratio for each
program is 1:15. A healthy snack is provided each afternoon. These programs
operate only on days when students are in school.
For more information about these programs call Community Education
(560-3816).
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Again this year Club Boulevard, as part of our magnet program, will
offer an Extended Day Program. This Program will extend the Humanities,
Literature and the Arts themes into Enrichment programs offered in the
Extended Day, after school hours. There will be a new course selection
every nine weeks. These fee-based classes will be available to all Club
Boulevard children. For After-School children the fees will be adjusted,
and scholarships will be available on a funds available basis. The Extended
Day activities/classes will be taught by teachers and/or professional members
of the community. Please be looking for the available literature. If you
have questions or suggestions please contact the school office.
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Club Boulevard, as part of its humanities magnet theme, sponsors and scout
troops for first through fifth grade students. These are led by parents
and community volunteers. Scouts meet every Wednesday from 3:45-4:45. If
your child is in the after school program, they go directly there after
scouts is over. If you think your child might be interested, please contact
the school office.
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Parents are always welcome at Club Boulevard. If you wish to visit your
child's classroom, please arrange with your child's teacher a time that
is mutually acceptable.When you enter the school building, please sign
in in the office and get a visitor's badge to wear.
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Except in cases of an emergency, students are not allowed to use
the school telephone.
The following reasons are not emergencies: calling home because
the student forgot something; asking parental permission to go home with
a friend; making arrangements for getting home. Matters such
as these should be taken care of in advance of the school day. The school
office is usually busy and crowded, especially at the start and the close
of the day.
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SBDM-R: The Site-Based Decision Making committee at
each Durham Public School is responsible for assessing the student achievement
in each school, designing strategies for improvement of student achievement,
providing necessary staff development, using available resources to implement
changes in the area of student achievement, communicating decisions about
student achievement to the community and continually evaluating the results
of all student achievement.
PTA: The Parent / Teacher Association is one of our biggest
school assets. With Members of the PTA help with such things as: Volunteering
their time in the classrooms, fund raising activities, teacher appreciation
week, grounds and garden up keep, hospitality for performances, fifth grade
graduation celebration and much ,much more.
Family Resource Center: The FRC is located in trailer #1, behind the school. It
is run by the FRC Advisory Board which consists of staff members and parents. Their mission
is to meet the needs of the students and their families by providing services
specific to those needs. (i.e tutorial services for students, workshops
for parents, special events; family field trips and Multicultural Fair)
For more information on Parent Involvement, you may call the school
or visit our website www.dpsnc.net in the "Principal Corner" section.
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The Durham Public Schools System is pleased to announce that it can
now offer students access to the Internet via the district computer network.
The internet is an extremely valuable educational tool which allows students
access to material from millions of databases and libraries from all corners
of the world. In the Durham Public Schools, our intent is to use this access
to achieve ours and your educational objectives for your child. Parents,
however, should be aware some sites may include illegal, defamatory, inaccurate
or potentially offensive material. The internet is an exceptional learning
vehicle, but it is possible that students may find ways to access this
questionable material. Because of this material, we are requiring all students
to obtain signed parental permission. The parents or guardian must
sign the Student Internet Use Permission Form, which must
be returned to the Media Specialist at that student's school. Student's
without the signed form on file will not be given Internet access.
Listed below are the guidelines for Internet access:
- Internet access is available to Durham Public Schools students and
staff for educational purposes.
- Users are responsible for good behavior on school computer networks
just as they are in any other school-sponsored activity.
- Access to the Internet is a privilege-- not a right. This privilege
entails responsibility on the part of the users.
- Users accept the responsibility for all material received and/or
stored in their user account.
- Users will not download copyrighted software, inappropriate text
and graphic files, or files dangerous to the integrity of the network.
- Users have the responsibility to report inappropriate use of the
network and violations of privacy by others to the Network Account Manager.
- Users will not employ the Network for commercial purposes.
- Users will not use a computer account or password other than their
own.
- Users will not use electronic mail to harass others including but
not limited to, the use of vulgar or offensive language and terms.
- Users will not send chain letters over the network or "broadcast"
messages to lists or individuals which would cause congestion of networks
or otherwise interfere with the work of others.
- Users will not intentionally access and/or retrieve sexually explicit,
vulgar, or otherwise inappropriate materials.
- Users will not intentionally waste computing resources.
- Users will not damage computers, computer systems, or computing networks.
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