WELCOME TO LLCS
2005-2006
The staff and administration of the Long Lake Central School District look forward to the 2005-2006 school year and the return of students on Thursday, September 8, 2005. The school is in great shape thanks to our custodial crew and we all look forward to an enjoyable and productive school year. As you know, each September brings a fresh start and new opportunities for all of us at LLCS. With this in mind it is important that the entire school community approach the year ahead with a positive attitude and make it a successful and enjoyable experience.
There are many components that make up a successful school year. One important element for students and parents is knowing what to expect by the school staff and administration. Most of this information can be found in the student handbook or by consulting with school personnel. Although the handbook should be the initial source it does not cover everything and is subject to change as needed throughout the school year. For this reason it is necessary for both students and parents to check with a staff member when in doubt concerning school policy and operating procedures. The following information may be in the student handbook but is highlighted here for parent notice.
BUS NOTES
If your child is to be delivered to a place other than his/her home we require a written note from the parent/guardian. We will accept long-term notes for a period of one week only.
BUS SCHEDULE
Enclosed in this newsletter is a complete bus schedule.
BOCES and special education students will be transported by private contractor and will be notified individually regarding specific scheduling arrangements.
ANNUAL NOTICE OF
DISABILITY
If you suspect that your pre-school child has a disability, contact the guidance counselor at 624-5330 for information on evaluations and services available. The guidance counselor is also the Chairperson for the Committee on Special Education and the Committee on Pre-School Education.
STUDENT
HANDBOOKS
Student handbooks will be passed out to all students in grades K-12 during the first week of school. The student handbook outlines policies, rules and regulations for LLCS students. It is important to review this handbook with your child(ren) so that both of you know “up front” expectations at LLCS. There are new revisions and additions to the handbook for this year.
If parents have any questions regarding the student handbook, please call the school.
STUDENT ACCIDENT
POLICY
The District maintains a Student Accident Policy to cover injuries that occur in school. In all cases, the school insurance is supplementary to the policy carried by the parents. Payments are made for injuries sustained by students after the parents’ policy limitations have been exhausted and on a fair and reasonable cost basis. Parents please note that the school’s insurance policy will not cover injuries that are the result of “horseplay”.
STUDENT ON
CAMPUS PARKING
Students are allowed to park their registered vehicles (including snowmobiles and other registered motor vehicles) in the area designated for student parking (adjacent to the staff parking lot). Students are not allowed to drive their registered vehicles or park on any other school ground during school hours. Vehicles are not to be used for smoking at any time on school grounds.
BUILDING SECURITY
REMINDER
Once classes begin each morning, the only means of entering the school building will be the gymnasium entrance adjacent to the main office from 8:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. All other entrance doors will be locked. Arranging building access for participants in after school activities will be the responsibility of the activity sponsor. During routine school hours, visitors needing to use the elevator will be able to use the phone located inside the parking lot entrance lobby to contact the main office for assistance. All visitors must sign in and obtain a visitor’s pass and sign out in the main office.
SIGN IN
GET PASS
SIGN OUT
ARRIVAL AND
DEPARTURE SAFETY
Since student safety is of concern to all of us, please adhere to the guidelines:
1. Walkers should use the sidewalk and walkways, not the road into the school. Entry/exit to the school should be through the front (boys’) gym door. Walkers should never use the main school road to walk to or from the school.
2. Since no person will be permitted to cross the line of buses while they are in the parking lot either during arrival or dismissal, parents who must pick up their child for appointments may either:
- Pick up their child in the front of the school (using the bank parking area) with students walking down pathway.
- Make arrangements to pick up their child in the parking lot prior to the buses’ arrival at 2:20 p.m.
- Wait until the buses have departed (2:45 p.m.) to pick up their child in the parking lot.
At dismissal, students are not permitted to remain on school grounds unsupervised.
SCHOOL IS
OPEN
DRIVE
SAFELY
STUDENT BUS
BEHAVIOR
The school district routinely operates two bus routes each morning and afternoon. Bus transportation is also furnished for after school sport practices and other school related events, away games and field trips. While passengers on the bus, students are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate, well-behaved manner. The following rules are posted on each bus and are reproduced here for your information and review with your child.
1. The bus driver may assign seats.
2. Be courteous.
3. Do not use profanity.
4. Do not eat or drink on the bus;
keep the bus clean.
5. Violence is prohibited.
6. Remain seated.
7. Keep your hands and head inside the bus.
8. Do not destroy property.
9. For your own safety, do not distract the driver through misbehavior.
Discipline problems on the bus should be immediately brought to the attention of the bus driver. Consequences of unacceptable behavior may vary from an initial reprimand from the driver to referral to the superintendent. This may result in suspension of bus riding privileges from a few days to permanent suspension. It is important to remember that riding the school bus is a privilege and not a right.
ASBESTOS
NOTIFICATION
The Long Lake Central School District is defined as the Local Education Agency (LEA) when complying with various federal and state laws. One such law is the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA), which came into effect in 1987. The law requires LEA’s to identify asbestos containing building materials (ACBM) present within district buildings and take appropriate steps to either remove, encapsulate, or monitor inaccessible or sealed material for change in condition.
The school district’s original inspection was conducted by Certified Engineering and Testing Company (Certified) in October 1988. One product of this inspection was a management plan recommending further actions to ensure continuing compliance. Two types of additional inspections also are mandated. The first, a semi-annual surveillance inspection, and secondly a triennial inspection. The surveillance inspections are conducted by district personnel, and the triennial is conducted by a certified contractor. The last triennial inspection was conducted by Hygeia of New York in August 2003.
The results from the last
surveillance inspection indicated that all proven or suspected ACBM was
encapsulated and in an undamaged condition.
The LEA management plan and associated inspection results may be reviewed by contacting the Business Manager at 624-3721.
STUDENT RECORDS
INFORMATION
Each year, we like to remind parents that they have the following rights according to Section 99.7 of the Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.
1. The right to inspect and review your child’s educational records.
2. The right to exercise limited control over other people’s access to your child’s educational records.
3. The right to seek to correct your child’s educational records, in a hearing, if necessary.
4. The right to file a complaint with the United States Department of Education, Washington, DC, if we should fail to comply with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act regulations.
A copy of our District Student Records Policy may be obtained in the Guidance Office of the Long Lake Central School District.
If you have any questions in reference to any of the above items, please feel free to contact the guidance office at 624-5330.
LICE PREVENTION &
INFORMATION
Whenever school is in session we need to be on the lookout for head lice. Parents need to check their child’s head regularly. Remind your child not to share combs, brushes, hats, or hair accessories. Head lice do not jump, but can be transferred on brushes, hats, etc.
Periodic checks will be done at school. LLCS has a No Nit Policy in effect. This means that a child has to have all nits (eggs) removed from hair to attend school.
Please notify the school if your child has lice. Your cooperation in notifying the school is appreciated.
SUBSTITUTE
EMPLOYMENT
The Long Lake Central School District is continuously accepting applications for substitute employment. Anyone interested in being a substitute for the District should contact the school at 624-2221 for an application or stop by the school office. Areas for substitute work include: teachers, bus drivers, teacher aides/assistants, cleaner/cashiers, library aides and kitchen help.
GUIDELINES FOR
RECEIVING
MEDICATION
IN SCHOOL
School personnel are prohibited by state law from dispensing medication to school children without specific written authorization from the parents and the family doctor.
This law applies to prescription drugs and to over the counter items such as cough drops, pain reliever, eye drops, etc.
If parents expect a medication to be dispensed to a child during school hours, the following requirements must be met in each specific case of treatment.
1. A written request from the family doctor with indication of frequency and dosage of prescribed medication must be submitted to the school healthcare provider.
2. A written request from the parents to administer the medication as specified by the doctor must be submitted to the school healthcare provider.
3. Parents are responsible for delivery of the medication to the school healthcare provider in an original container from the pharmacy.
A separate form is needed for each medication. This authorization does not carry over from year to year and must be updated each school year.
SCHOOL
PICTURES
School pictures will be taken on Monday, September 19, 2005 (Picture Re-take day is scheduled for Tuesday, November 1, 2005), for all students in pre-kindergarten through Grade 12. It is necessary that everyone have their picture taken at this time whether or not they intend to purchase them. A picture of each student is needed in order to keep school records up-to-date.
Each child needs his/her own envelope with exact money/check and order form on picture day. The school can not make change for you.
Pictures of pre-kindergarten and home school students will be taken on the stage starting at 12:06 p.m. Parents are asked to bring these children to school for their pictures.
Please call 624-2221 if you have any questions regarding this information.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AT
LONG LAKE CENTRAL SCHOOL
Student achievement at Long Lake is broadly defined to insure that we are providing numerous academic and extracurricular opportunities for our students to succeed, therefore, developing a broader sense of self. Encompassed in any working definition of achievement is the belief that students need to develop a strong work ethic, which motivates them to do their best on any task and in any situation; a strong sense of self-confidence that allows them to feel capable, successful and that they are a contributing member of society; a strong ability to think critically, which allows them to apply the knowledge and skills that they have developed; and a strong sense of character, which allows them to be good people and good citizens. Therefore, student achievement is the measurement of each individual’s ability to meet the beliefs stated above. It is a formative evaluation that is ongoing from Kindergarten through Grade 12, which includes test scores, teacher observation, project completion, student participation, and community involvement. While recent state mandates in standards and testing take away from the notion of the student as an individual, we at Long Lake emphasize the individual and the specific needs that each of them has.
In this sense, test scores must not alone define student achievement if we are to fulfill our mission of preparing kids for the life that they will face upon leaving our school. Instead, strong test scores are a by-product of what we feel is a strong overall educational experience for Long Lake students.
ORGANIZATION: ADVICE FOR PARENTS
Developing good organizational skills is a
key ingredient for success in school and in life. Although some people by nature are more
organized than others, anyone can put routines and systems in place to help a
child “get it together.” Here’s a list
of strategies that you can use to help your child get – and keep – his life
under control.
1.
Use checklists.
Help
your child get into the habit of keeping a “to-do” list. Use checklists to post assignments, household
chores, and reminders about what materials to bring to class. Your child should keep a small pad or
notebook dedicated to listing homework assignments. Crossing completed items off the list will
give him a sense of accomplishment.
2.
Organize homework assignments.
Before
beginning a homework session, encourage your child to number assignments in the
order in which they should be done. She
should start with one that’s not too long or difficult, but avoid saving the
longest or hardest assignments for last.
3.
Designate a study space.
Your
child should study in the same place every night. This doesn’t have to be a bedroom, but it
should be a quiet place with few distractions.
All school supplies and materials should be nearby. If your young child wants to study with you
nearby, too, you’ll be better able to monitor his progress and encourage good
study habits.
4.
Set a designated study time.
Your
child should know that a certain time every day is reserved for studying and
doing homework. The best time is usually
not right after school – most children benefit from time to unwind first. Include your child in making this
decision. Even if she doesn’t have
homework, the reserved time should be used to review the day’s lessons, read
for pleasure, or work on an upcoming project.
5.
Keep organized notebooks.
Help
your child keep track of papers by organizing them in a binder or
notebook. This will help him review the
material for each day’s classes and to organize the material later to prepare
for tests and quizzes. Use dividers to
separate class notes, or color-code notebooks.
Separate “to do” and “done” folders help organize worksheets, notices,
and items to be signed by parents, as well as provide a central place to store
completed assignments.
6.
Conduct a weekly clean-up.
Encourage
your child to sort through book bags and notebooks on a weekly basis. Old tests and papers should be organized and
kept in a separate file at home.
7.
Create a household schedule.
Try
to establish and stick to a regular dinnertime and a regular bedtime. This will help your child fall into a pattern
at home. Children with a regular bedtime
go to school well-rested. Try to limit
television-watching and computer play to specific periods of time during the
day.
8.
Keep a master calendar.
Keep a large, wall-sized calendar for the household that lists the
family’s commitments, schedules for extracurricular activities, days off from
school, and major events at home and at school.
Note dates when your child has big exams or due dates for projects. This will help family members keep track of
each other’s activities and avoid scheduling conflicts.
9.
Prepare for the day ahead.
Before
your child goes to bed, he should pack schoolwork and books in a book bag. The next day’s clothes should be laid out
with shoes, socks, and accessories. This
will cut down on morning confusion and allow your child to prepare quickly
for the day ahead.
10.
Provide needed support while your child is learning to
become more organized.
Help
your child develop organizational skills by photocopying checklists and
schedules and taping them to the refrigerator.
Gently remind her about filling in calendar dates and keeping papers and
materials organized.
