2007-2008

Salmon Bay School Family Handbook

Building Small Communities – Connecting Every Child

 

History

Coho (Cooperative and Holistic) School and NOMS (New Options Middle School) were merged into one school in the fall of 1999 after having existed independently for 10 years prior.  In the spring of 2002, the school was renamed Salmon Bay K-8 Alternative School. 

The District considers Salmon Bay as a single K-8 school, and elementary students are automatically enrolled in the middle school at the end of 5th grade.

The elementary program currently consists of 240 students in grades K-5, and the middle school consists of 360 in grades 6-8, due to the 80 new 6th grade students who enter from other elementary schools.

Contact information

Administrative Staff
Jodee Reed, Principal                             252.1720
Michelle Ota, Asst. Prin.                        252.1736
Main office                                            252-1720
Attendance:  Edna Lum                         252.1728
 
Volunteer Coordinators 
Megan Ratcliffe, Elementary                  252.1730
Peggy Cleary, Middle School                 252.1731
 
Student Support Staff
Julie Kaloper, Nurse                              252.1727
Gabriel Kidane, Home/School Cood.     252.1738
Anthony Malaki, Counselor                   252.1742
Julie Skoog, Psychologist                      252.1732
Teachers and Specialists: Check Roster in Directory
 

calendar

Our school’s calendar is based upon the district’s posted schedule (found at www.seattleschools.org) as well as events particular to our school.  Mark your calendars from the information contained in the Monday Bulletins.  To post an event, start with your Volunteer Coordinator, who will then check with the staff and then get back to you.

The Elementary School day begins at 9:00 and ends at 3:10.  The Middle School day begins at 8:55 and ends at 3:15.

 

how to report absences

Please contact Edna Lum in the Attendance Office as soon as possible if your student will be absent, either before the absence or the morning of the absence.  252.1728  Late students:  Students arriving late to school will need to come to the attendance office first, sign in, and get a pass to class.

Transportation

Please respect the bus and parking zones around the school, as well as the needs of our neighbors by not blocking their driveways.  For the safety of all children, if you plan to park and come into the school to pick up your child, please park away from the drop-off zone on 18th Ave. NW, which is a no-parking zone from 8-10am and 2-4 pm Monday-Friday.  Additionally, please note where 19th Ave. NW is a no-parking, bus-only zone.  Finally, for their safety, please do not drop-off or pick-up students on NW 65th St.

 

 

Lunch & recess

We have 3 lunch "sessions". K, 1st, 2nd, 2/3 classes eat together, followed by 3rd/4th/5th classes, then Middle School students

 

Students may purchase lunch from the cafeteria or bring lunch from home, or receive free lunch through the school lunch program.

 

Credit accounts for lunch:  Children can take advantage of a credit system that allows your child to enter a code number to deduct the cost of their lunch from their credit account which you fill with cash at any time.

 

How to borrow cash:  If your child forgets lunch money, s/he may borrow it from a fund set up by the elementary and middle school parent group.  If your child borrows money for lunch, he or she should pay it back by bringing cash (only) and giving it to the Cafeteria Manager. 

 

Rainy Day Recess:  We encourage students to go outside for fresh air whenever possible. On rainy days, the choices are to play in the gym, watch a movie in the auditorium, or go outside (if it’s drizzling). In order to go outside students must have a raincoat. Some parents choose to keep one permanently in the locker for such occasions.

Health & Safety

Nurse’s Availability: Julie Kaloper, RN BSN is the nurse assigned to our building. Her 2007/2008 schedule is Tues/Wed all day

 

Illnesses: Please do NOT send your child to school sick. Do not send your child to school with a fever, excessive coughing and/or runny nose or with an unexplained rash. Students should be without a fever for 24 hours before returning to the building. Notify the school office if your child has been found to have any of the common childhood illnesses such as chicken pox, Fifth’s disease (virus), head lice or conjunctivitis (pink eye).

 

Medications at School: All students requiring medications during the school day MUST have a Medication Authorization Form filled out and signed by their Health Care Provider. Medications must be in their original container, labeled and kept in the school office. Contact Nurse Julie or the office staff if you need a form or online at www.seattleschools.org/forms.

Allergies:  Many students in our building have potentially life-threatening allergies to foods. To provide a safe and healthy learning environment for these students, we have developed building guidelines for foods/snacks that are brought into the school.  Please obtain a copy of our school approved snack list in the office and pay strict attention to any specific classroom guidelines regarding food. (For more info, contact Nurse Julie.)

 

Lice: Head lice (pediculosis) can be very common in the school setting. If your child is scratching/itching his or her head, please check for nits and live lice and let the school office know of any outbreak. Weekly at-home head checks by parents are recommended to help with any potential outbreak. Excellent resources for information are: your health care provider, www.headlice.org, www.headliceinfo.org

 

Emergency preparedness:  In accordance with District policies, we have emergency supplies on campus in the event they are ever needed, and our school has an emergency plan that is kept up to date at all time.  See an administrator if you would like additional information. 

Communications

Your child’s classroom teacher will let you know the best means of communication for individual questions or concerns.  Some prefer phone messages, others prefer emails, and others prefer that you set up an appointment to chat.  Our administrative team can be hard to catch by phone or on a drop in basis.  It’s usually better to send an email or schedule a meeting in advance. 

Monday Bulletins:  There are two weekly bulletins, one targeted towards elementary-aged families, and one targeted towards middle-school-aged families.  You can choose to receive these via email, or on paper.  Some teachers (K-5) also choose to send home a classroom-based newsletter, weekly or occasionally. 

School Directory:  The school directory provides addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses for all families who choose to include this information. 

 

Parent Bulletin Board:  The parent board is located outside of each Volunteer Coordinator’s office, and is the place to look for all-school information, updates, bulletins and announcements.

 

Fishwrapper:  The Fishwrapper is an K-5 publication of articles written by parents, students, teachers and staff.

School Organization

The elementary school is K-5, with one half-day kindergarten class, one K-1 multi-age class, two looping 1st grade or2nd grade classes, one 2-3 multi-age class, two looping 3rd grade or 4th grade classes, and two 4-5 multi-age classes.  We also have an IEP (Special Education) teacher, P.E. teacher, a literacy specialist, a librarian, and art and music specialists in our elementary team.

The middle school is organized into teams as well.  Sixth graders have integrated homeroom/social studies, literacy block (2 periods per day), science/computer applications (one semester each) and one exploratory class, Seventh and eighth graders are on one of two 7-8 teams.  Each student has the same teacher for homeroom, which includes a communications class for two years, and rotates among the other three teachers on that team for unit classes (integrated social studies, language arts, science).  7/8 team curriculum is on a two-year cycle.  Each student has a daily math class, p.e. or health and an exploratory class.  Exploratory classes include world language, art, music, ham radio, and student government

Unit Classes in the middle school are one quarter long and are typically based on a science or social studies topic, with reading and language arts skills integrated into the curriculum.  Students take one social studies unit and one science unit each semester, rotating each quarter through the different team teachers.   Many unit classes include individual or group projects as part of the assessment process.  Our social studies classes function on a two-year cycle: one year students study world cultures and geography and the next year Pacific Northwest and U.S. history.  While each teacher focuses his or her units of instruction on specific areas of content, teachers also work together as a team to integrate our teaching across subject areas.

 

Students having IEP’s are fully integrated into the regular class schedule.

ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION

At Salmon Bay, alternative education means immersing the student in a program that embraces child development as the guiding principle of learning, and builds relationships between kids, teachers and families.  This also means looking at the whole child in order to empower students to take ownership of their learning through:

·          Recognizing multiple perspectives and learning styles

·          Student-centered, integrated, project-based, hands-on curriculum

·          Outdoor, environmental and experiential education

·          Creativity and artistic expression in music, dance, art, drama, writing and thinking

·          School as a community that offers both   support and responsibilities

·          A connection to the world as global citizens

·          The values of inclusion and diversity

At the elementary level, alternative education has traditionally included a willingness to consider a variety of classroom arrangements, including multi-age classrooms, and classes that remain with the same teacher for more than one year.  There has always been  a strong emphasis on integrating arts and music throughout the curriculum, and a belief in nurturing the whole child, including daily physical education.  Our teachers rely heavily on hands-on learning tools, and integrate social learning into all they do. 

Important elements of alternative education at the middle school level include a strong emphasis on project based learning, and the social and emotional growth of our students. Through the “Winter Enrichment” program we offer our students a chance to try new activities and learn outside the classroom.  We also emphasize independent, student led-learning, which culminates in an 8th grade project conceived and created by each individual student. A more detailed explanation of What is Alternative Education at Salmon Bay, The Seattle School District policy of alternative education, and a suggested reading list are available on the school web site.

Mixed Age Classes

A way of grouping children in which the children’s age range is larger than a year—sometimes 2 years or more.  In a mixed-age classroom, children are typically with the same teacher for more than one year.We have mixed-age classes at K-1, 2-3, 4-5 and 7-8

LOOPING

Looping is a term that is used to describe the educational practice in which a class remains with the same teacher for two or more years.

 

 

Reduced class sizes

Currently we provide elementary reduced-class sizes by building in art, music, PE and math in small groups; in this way, half the class may participate in an out-of-classroom experience while the other half remains behind with their teacher.  Our 6th grade classes are reduced to a teacher to student ration of 1:20 in all literacy blocks.

Assessments

Elementary Students:  Each November elementary teachers hold parent/teacher conferences.  Your child’s teacher will tell you how to schedule one.  In addition, teachers complete a District-mandated report card for each child 3 times each year.

Middle School Students:  “The Source” is a District website that helps families and students track assignments, grades, and other important information.  Our Middle School team does not automatically send home mid-quarter progress reports, as the information can be found on “The Source.”  District report cards ar sent at the end of the quarter and semester. Look for instructions on how to access “The Source” in the main office or on the district website.

WASL:  Beginning in the third grade, all Seattle Public School students take the state standardized test each spring, called the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL).  Information on each student’s performance is sent by the District the following summer or fall to the student’s home.  The District also has a process for you to obtain your own child’s test results.  General information on the performance of Salmon Bay’s 4th and 7th graders on the previous year’s WASL can be found on the School District’s website.  Parent resources to interpret the WASL are available in the library.

Norinne Gann Library

K-8 students come here to enjoy reading and books, learn information skills, and access a variety of resources.  Volunteering is always an option in the library. Students’ library cards are kept by the Librarian in a binder at the check-out desk, sorted by class.  Parents are also invited to check out books by getting their own library card, also kept by the Librarian.  Books circulate for two weeks, and may be renewed for an additional two weeks.  There is no charge for overdue books, but do ask that lost or damaged books be paid for.  There are many volunteer opportunities in the library.

asperger’s syndrome inclusion program

Salmon Bay has two Asperger’s Syndrome Inclusion Programs with up to 8 students in each.  Asperger’s Syndrome is an autism spectrum developmental disorder.  Those with Asperger’s Syndrome generally have average or above intelligence but are impaired in social interactions and may exhibit repetitive behavior patterns.   With support from program teachers and instructional assistants, students in the inclusion programs attend the same classes and participate in the same activities as general education students.

Special Activities

Service Learning:  Service learning asks students to apply their skills and knowledge to address needs in their own communities and is an important part of the middle school program. Many elementary teachers incorporate service learning projects into their classroom as well. 

 

Music:  Most students at Salmon Bay have the opportunity to experience instrumental music.  Many elementary classes learn to play marimba. Starting in the 4th grade, elementary students also have the opportunity to join the school district’s instrumental music program, where they can learn to play instruments such as flute, clarinet, violin and cello.

 

Middle school students can participate in band, and the middle school marimba group.  Before and after school programs, such as jazz band and marimba are also available to Middle School students.

 

Other Special Activities:  Salmon Bay students and their parents have the opportunity to participate in a wide-range of special activities.  Some programs are limited to elementary or middle school participants and others are open to all K-8.  Activities may vary year to year, watch the weekly bulletin for details.  Activities have included:

Friday Sing (E)  Gay Straight Alliance (MS)

Science Fair (E) Reading Buddies (E)

Service Learning (E/MS)            Sports offerings(MS)   

Music   (E/MS)              Lantern Celebration (E)

Shakespeare (E/MS)      Banking Program (E/MS)

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL winter enrichment program

The Winter Enrichment Program has been designed as a supplement to our Middle School curriculum, with the goal of connecting every student to learning activities that interest him/her.  The program is an extension of our school day and does not interfere with instructional minutes.  The program typically runs on Fridays starting after Winter Break until Mid-Winter Break. 

 

Governing Bodies

In May 2007, the elementary parent group Friends of Salmon Bay Elementary (FOSBE) and the Middle School Parent Teacher Student Association voted to merge into a single K-8 parent group Supporters of Salmon Bay.   The schedule for the new, all-school parent body will be in the weekly bulletins for details. 

 

The Building Leadership Team (BLT) is comprised of administrators, teachers and parent representatives charged with building decision-making, budget, school improvement plans, professional development, and facilities issues. 

 

Volunteering

Salmon Bay relies heavily on adult volunteers.  Volunteer opportunities include helping in the classroom, playground supervision, providing transportation & chaperoning for field trips, winter enrichment and camps, organizing school/parent events, assisting with day-to-day tasks at school, helping with special projects and fundraising. 

 

We have two Volunteer Coordinators who can help direct you to volunteer opportunities that meet your interests and skills.

 

We ask all our school-based volunteers to sign in, in the office and wear a volunteer tag (kept in the main office and the classroom.)

The Seattle School District requires that before volunteering inside the school, each adult must pass a background check.  The forms to get started are in the Elementary Volunteer Coordinator’s office. 

Before a volunteer can drive students on a field trip, they must provide proof of insurance and a copy of a driver’s license.  The car must also have age-appropriate safety restraints for all the children who will be transported.

Early in the year our Volunteer Coordinators generally hold several orientation sessions including an evening Elementary Parent Night, Sixth Grade Social and Volunteer Training held sometime late in September. 

Standing committees

These standing committees offer great opportunities to volunteer.  To join a committee, contact one of the Volunteer Coordinators.

The Diversity Committee supports the community at Salmon Bay School to reflect a commitment and accountability for issues of racial and social justice, acceptance, tolerance, and physical and emotional safety for all. 

The Gardening Committee schedules weeding and planting days, can hold an Annual Plant Sale, and sponsors “Adopt-A-Patch” for tending the garden over the summer.

P.I.E. (Parent Info. Exchange) sponsors  parent education events throughout the year -- guest speakers on topics of interest, annual events such as Alternative Education Night, monthly chats in the library, and more – P.I.E. invites you to share some fresh conversation and fresh pie with them. 

The Wisdom Council (WC) is a structural approach designed to establish a new kind of creative, system-wide conversation.  12 randomly invited members of Salmon Bay meet voluntarily over two days and, together with a facilitator, work to identify key issues and reach consensus.  This consensus is presented to the community in a public meeting.  Action can arise out of the will and desire of people inspired by the process. 

The Welcoming Committee is designed to pair up new parents with parents who are well familiar with the school.  If you are interested in finding a mentor/buddy parent, or serving as one, please contact us. 

Elementary Yearbook Committee creates the elementary yearbook. All students get a copy of the yearbook at the end of the year which is covered by the Enrichment Fee.  Middle school students produce their own yearbook. 

FUNDRAISING

Generally, the parent groups raise funds without having students sell candy, wrapping paper, light bulbs or anything else.  There are exceptions – sometimes classes will decide to raise funds for a specific (often charitable) goal

Auction:  We hold an annual all school auction each year which raises a significant percentage of our budget. 

SCRIP:  The SCRIP program purchases gift cards from local merchants at a discount, typically 5%, and sells them at face value.  In previous years, SCRIP sales have provided over $10,000 in funds for school programs. 

Book Fairs:  We raise money specifically for our library through book fairs, typically held twice a year.  The Fall Book Fair is held at the University Bookstore, while the second event, sponsored by the Secret Garden Bookstore, is held in late spring in our library.

Annual Giving:  Our annual direct giving campaign begins in the fall of the school year with a direct mail appeal to school families. 

ELEMENTARY Enrichment fees

To pay for field trips, camp, artist in residence,  and special class projects, we ask for a one time Enrichment Fee, near the beginning of the year.  This fee is meant to reduce the accounting and request for separate monies for each class activity.  Scholarships, full and partial, are always available to cover the Enrichment fee.  The Volunteer Coordinator collects the fees.

MIDDLE SCHOOL activities fees FUNDRAISING

Middle school activities fees are collected for activities as they occur

Scholarships

Scholarships to cover some or all of the Elementary Enrichment Fees and Middle School Activities Fees, including Middle School Winter Enrichment Program Fees are available; please contact your Volunteer Coordinator or Home-School Coordinator.  All such requests are kept confidential.

General

Non Commercialism:  Salmon Bay does not typically use school space to advertise or promote private companies. 

Keep Valuables at Home:  Valuables, including Gameboys, I-Pods and other electronic items, can be a distraction and temptation in the school setting, and easily lost, so we ask that these items not come to school. 

Technology:  All middle school and many upper elementary school students use computers for word processing, spreadsheets, classroom presentations, and the Internet.  Our library catalog is accessible via the school district's intranet on every computer in our school. 

Dress code:  Our goal is to allow all students the opportunity to be comfortably dressed and to be able to express themselves in a manner that does not disrupt, offend or intimidate students or adults.  Inappropriate dress includes clothing that advertises displays or suggests drugs, alcohol, sex, profanity, weapons, tag names or gang affiliation. Tank tops, tube tops, shirts that expose the stomach (spaghetti straps, midriffs, tank tops that do not fully cover undergarments) are not allowed.  Shorts and skirts should extend to mid-thigh.  All pants should be worn at the hips (no sagging). If students wear inappropriate attire, they will be given a warning and asked to change.

Lost and Found:  The Lost & Found for clothing is located in the cafeteria.  Smaller lost items are located in the main office. Every break, unclaimed clothing is given to a local charity, unless they have a name and then efforts are made to connect the item with the owner.

Before and After School Activities

Elementary:  The Before and After School Activity Program is a loosely-organized teacher and parent-led program and, as such, varies from year to year.  If you have an idea for a program, please contact the Volunteer Coordinators.  Scholarships are always available.  There is no after-school transportation for elementary-aged students.  Recent offerings have included Chess, Spanish, Unicycling, and more.

 

Middle School:  Middle School students can choose from a variety of activities that vary from year to year such as Homework Club, Golf, Math Olympiad, Jazz Band, Knitting Club, and more.  The after school activity bus leaves Salmon Bay School around 5:00.

COHO Kids Time

COHO Kids Time, which is operated by the Ballard Boys and Girls Club, offers on-site before and after school child care.  Call 206-207-7764 for further information.

 Thank you for taking the time to read our first Family Handbook.  If you have questions or comments, please direct them to your Volunteer Coordinators.