School Handbook
Welcome to Linwood 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 Linwood Elementary family.
Getting Ready for School
- Attendance Expectations
- Transportation
- Dental Examinations
- Dress Code
- Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures
- Health Services and Medications
- ParentVUE - Communication from 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.
No one will be released after 3:45 p.m. Be on time! Stay all day!
Transportation
Students must live 2.5 miles or more from their assigned school to qualify for transportation to that school.
For questions about WPS transportation and busing, call 316-973-2190.
The district does offer the FirstView app that helps families track their student's school bus.
Families will need a security code from the school office to use the app.
Dental Examinations
Dress Code
Parents should use good judgment in sending students to school properly dressed.
Some items of clothing may be unacceptable if they cause a disruption to the educational process.
The principal and/or teacher will advise the students.
Such items include, but are not limited to:
- Hats, ball caps, bandannas and other head gear.
- Tops exposing private areas.
- Excessive hair color.
- T-shirts advertising alcohol or tobacco products.
- Clothing containing inappropriate language or Gestures.
- Apparel associated with gangs or gang symbols.
- Anything that disrupts the learning environment.
Also, please consider the weather outside when dressing your child for school.
Please be sure to send a jacket or coat when necessary.
Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures
School Hours: 9 a.m. – 4:10 p.m.
Drop off times are between 8:45-9 a.m.
Breakfast at Linwood will be in the classroom starting at 8:50 a.m. when the doors open.
If your child is on school grounds before that time, there is not any supervision for them.
Elementary children are not legally to be left alone, we are obligated to report them to the Wichita Police Department for safety reasons.
Children are not to be on school grounds before 8:45 for drop off!
Linwood has two drop-off areas to use. Parking Lot A (entrance) – there are three drop off locations. Parking Lot B (Southwest) – there is one drop-off location.
- PreK will use Parking Lot A – Door 12
- Kindergarten will use Parking Lot A – Door 13
- 1st & 2nd Grade will use Parking Lot A – Door 2
- 3rd, 4th, & 5th Grade will use Parking Lot B – Door 3
If you are picking up a 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade student and are not picking them up in a vehicle using the drive through lane, please park in the parking lot to the south and wait for them behind the blue poles at Door 3. You should not park your vehicle on either side of Osie and walk up.
If you are dropping off or picking up your child in parking lot A or B, please stay in the right lane (for pick up/drop off only) and do not exit your vehicle. Please always move forward as far as you can to fill in all available space. Do not double park or pull in beside another vehicle in the pickup lanes. Staff will come to you and communicate with you while you are in your vehicle.
Safety Guidelines
- It will be necessary for parents to stay in their vehicle. If you have a need, please communicate with the office at 316-973-8100 so they can relay that message to staff.
- Parents or designated pickup parties that walk or park are asked to wait outside the groups of classes. Please wave at your child’s teacher from the side instead of walking into groups of students.
- Please be courteous to staff that are assisting with car lines at congestion points. Staff will try their best to alternate the lines for cars to pull into the drive.
- Families with multiple students will pick up all children in one location. The older student/s will be escorted by staff to the younger student’s location.
- Communicate with your child’s teacher if you have specific pick-up concerns or have more than one student.
- Communicate with your child’s teacher if your student is permitted to walk home without an adult present.
- Crosswalks will always be required for students that walk home. This includes when crossing the street with your child!
- Please obey all traffic laws on the streets surrounding the school at ALL times. We will be enlisting the help of law enforcement throughout the year. Parking lot speed is 5 MPH.
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
The district uses the ParentVUE online portal to give parents to access information about their student's attendance, assignments and grades.
ParentVUE allows parents to quickly and easily update their family contact information, which is vital in order to maintain strong home-to-school connections.
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.
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 introduce 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 registration process prior to the field trip.
Lost and Found
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' main webpage and displayed on all school websites.
Family Engagement
- Parent-Teacher Conference
- Progress Reports
- Classroom Celebrations
- Site Council
- Visiting and Volunteering
Parent-Teacher Conference
Parent-Teacher Conferences are a great way to stay involved in your child's education.
Parents have the opportunity to discuss their child's progress, review assignments, learn about future projects and to strengthen the connection between home and school.
Parent-Teacher Conferences are held twice a year in October and February.
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 us at 973-8100.
Classroom Celebrations
One party per semester for each room can be planned to assist with not interrupting instructional time. Teachers should coordinate plans with the room parents at least one week in advance. Parties will be held at the teacher’s discretion. Parents wishing to bring treats for their child’s birthday must consult with the teacher beforehand. Please DO NOT ask that party invitations or other materials not pertaining to school functions be distributed in the classroom.
Site Council
Linwood Site Council is composed of parents, community and business representatives and staff. The council gives ideas and support to the administration and staff to benefit all students. Meetings are open and parents are encouraged to attend. If you are interested, please email Stacey Mizer (smizer@usd259.net).
Visiting and Volunteering
All visitors to the building, including parents, must sign in through our visitor management system HallPass.
Parents, caregivers and other relatives wanting to volunteer in the school or for field trips are required to register every year as a volunteer. Volunteers are needed for tutoring, mentoring, projects, field trips, etc.
Visit the Volunteer Registration page to complete your annual registration.