Parent Resources

KENDALL-WHITTIER BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS AND GOALS:

• Maintain an orderly school operation.
• Maintain optimal learning opportunities for students; school facilities and classrooms must be free of behaviors that interfere with teaching and learning.
• Help students develop skills and behaviors necessary for healthy social interaction, both present and future.
• Help students learn how their decisions affect the quality of their lives and others.
• Help students develop personal responsibility and character.

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SCHOOL-WIDE EXPECTATIONS:

School-wide expectations are posted and taught for all common areas: halls, cafeteria, recess, library, bathrooms, etc. Additionally, every classroom creates their own Class Charter defining and using the following guidelines:

Respect:

• Self
• Others
• Property

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BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCES:

Consequences will be determined based on each individual situation and in accordance with district policies. Severe disruption or extreme behavior may result in immediate removal of the student from the classroom and/or suspension of a student from school. (Example: verbal or physical aggression, disrespect to adults, possession of a weapon or disruption of the learning environment – See Behavior Response Plan).

• Toys and Laser Pointers ARE NOT ALLOWED AT SCHOOL. They will be confiscated and held until a parent picks the item up. If there are further occurrences, the item will not be returned.
• Weapons are defined by Tulsa Public Schools as anything that creates a threat to the safety of students or school staff.
• Cell phones may be brought by students but must be turned off and kept with the teacher or locked in a locker until the end of the school day.
  • A permission slip must be signed by the parent allowing the student to have a cell phone at school;
  • If the privilege is abused by the student, the teacher has the right to confiscate the phone, at which point the parent will be contacted to retrieve it in the school office, and the student will lose the privilege of bringing it to school.

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TOOLBOX:

12 tools taught in the classroom to promote Kendall-Whittier Elementary’s behavioral goals and expectations:

1. Breathing Tool: I calm myself and check in
2. A Quiet/Safe Place Tool: I remember my quiet/safe place
3. Listening Tool: I listen with my ears, eyes, and heart.
4. Empathy Tool: I care for others. I care for myself.
5. Personal Space Tool:  I have a right to my space and so do you.
6. Using Our Words Tool: I use the “right” words in the “right” way.   
7. Garbage Can Tool: I let the little things go.
8. Taking Time Tool: I take time-in and time-away.
9. Please and Thank YouTool: I treat others with kindness and appreciation.
10. Apology and Forgiveness Tool: I admit my mistakes and work to forgive yours.
11. Patience Tool: I am strong enough to wait. 
12. Courage Tool: I have the courage to do the “right” thing.

District Involvement Information

• Stay Connected - TPS social media and smartphone app
• Tulsa Council of PTAs
• National PTA
• Booster Clubs/PTAs sanctioned organizations
• Parents as Teachers
• Student and Family Guide to Success (includes the Behavior Response Plan)
• Achieving. Classroom Excellence (ACE) Parental Curriculum Choice Letter
• Logrando la Excelencia en el Salón de Clases Carta hacia los Padres para la Selección de Currículo
• Parent Guide | Guía para Padres
• Parents Right To Know | El Derecho a Saber de los Padres
• Parent and Family Engagement Policy
• Educational Surrogate Parents Program
  • All students need parental support to succeed. The Educational Surrogate Parents Program responds to the need for support and representation of students with disabilities whose parents are not available. This program relies on the commitment of volunteers who support a student's education by advocating for him/her to ensure that the student receives a free and appropriate public education. 

Emergency contact lists are used by the school if they are unable to contact the parent. If the parent needs someone other than themselves to pick up the student, the parent must call the school in advance to let them know who is coming to pick up their child AND that individual must be on the emergency contact list.

EMERGENCY PHONE  NUMBERS:

To ensure the safety of your child, the school requires TWO emergency contact numbers. Please update the school when changes occur. Parents must maintain current and correct emergency contact lists AT ALL TIMES!

• Only those listed and have a photo ID are allowed to pick up a student.
• Any new contacts that are added or deleted MUST be made in writing and given to the clerk.
• Parents must understand that if the emergency contact name isn’t on the list, a student will NOT be released to that individual, even if it is on his/her sibling’s contact information; this is for the safety of your child.
• If you have a restraining order or custody papers naming only one parent as the legal guardian, a copy must also be on file at school. The child must be named in the restraining/custody order for it to be valid.
• Court orders cannot be changed without a new court order being presented to the school.
• A student will NOT be released to an emergency contact individual unless the parent has called the main office to let us know whom they are sending, or, contact has been initiated by the school if the parent cannot be reached.
• We cannot release children to persons who are not listed on the emergency contact sheet.
• Keep your phone number current with teachers and main office staff.

As a community school, we offer many services, or referrals to services, through our school. Call 918-833-9900 and request to speak to our counselors, school social worker, or community in-school case worker.

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Adult Opportunities:

• Community in Schools (CIS): Contact the main office at 918-833-9900 if you are in need of basic needs support.
• English Second Language Classes are offered through CIS. Call 918-833-9900 for more information.
• Parents of Toddlers: Checkout of books in our library beginning September 1 – May 15; hours from 7:30 – 8:30 a.m. or 2:30 - 3:10 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.
• School Volunteer Opportunities for parents and members of the community.

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On-site Programs & Services/Volunteer Opportunities for Academic or Mentoring Students:

• After-School Tutoring will be available for students at various times throughout the year; for more information contact your child’s teacher or the front office.
• Embedded Mental Health Agencies: Improving Lives Counseling or Family & Children’s Counseling agencies contact at 918-833-9900.
• Child Study Team: Request to speak to a counselor if you would like to seek out services for your child.
• Bilingual Interpreting/Translation Service is available through the school. Contact the main office at 918-833-9900.
• Children’s Support Groups for anger management, grief/loss, sexual abuse, and social skills are offered. Call the main office to speak to a counselor or social worker, or request on-site therapeutic counseling.
• A community in schools (CIS) caseworker is here to support parents with a variety of student or family needs; call the main office.
• Reading Partners: Volunteer to be a reading partner to a kindergarten-third grade  student for one to two hours per week; training and support provided on site.
• Big Brothers/Big Sisters: Request or volunteer to be a “Big” to a student who needs a  positive adult in their life.

We offers the following services through the health clinic:

• Vision and hearing screenings in kindergarten and third grade or by written request.
• Scoliosis screening for fifth grade with written permission.
• Immunizations at designated times of the year; parents will be notified.

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Lice Checks

• If a child is suspected of lice, the teacher sends them to the health clinic to be checked; if positive, the health clerk will contact the parent to come pick up the child.
• In accordance with district policy, a child must be free from live lice before they may return to school. A parent must accompany the child into school for a re-check. The health assistant must clear the child before they can return to class.
• If a student has lice, the entire class will be checked.

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Medical Conditions

For the safety of your child, if they have a special medical condition or are currently under medical treatment, please be sure the nurse has a copy of the doctor’s recommendations on file; a health plan may be required if your student has an ongoing illness or medical condition as diagnosed by  a doctor (i.e: heart condition, asthma, diabetes, seizure, etc.).

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Medications

Parents must come to school to fill out a medication form before ANY medication may be administered at school. This is a district policy.

• Prescription drugs must be in the original container.
• Students may NOT carry their medication (except inhalers) in class.

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Sending Students Home

Reasons why students are sent home include but are not limited to:

• Pink Eye
• Fever of 100 degrees or above 
• Unknown rash
• Vomiting/Diarrhea
• Covid Symptoms
• Head lice 
• Chicken pox 
• Ringworm—must be under treatment and covered at all times for a student to remain in school.
• Scabies/Thrush/Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease

PURPOSE: Tulsa Public Schools shall provide parent involvement in all schools as mandated by Title I, Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and work as equal partners with parents in providing quality learning experiences for every student, every day, without exception.

The Board believes and acknowledges that parent involvement raises the academic achievement level of students. Additionally, parents become empowered, teacher morale improves and communities grow stronger when parents take an active role in educating their children. To this end, schools shall involve parents in the education of their children at all grades levels. The Superintendent or his/her designee shall provide coordination, technical assistance and other support necessary to assist all schools in planning and implementing effective parent involvement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance. Title I Parent Involvement establishes that to build capacity for parent involvement within schools, a district is to "develop jointly with, agree on with, agree on with, and distribute to parents of participating children a written Parent Involvement Policy".

Building Parents Capacity for Involvement

The Board shall create an environment of supportive and collaborative Parent Involvement.

1. Program Information for Parents: Kendall Whittier Elementary School shall provide assistance to parents of all children in understanding such topics as the state's academic content and achievement standards, the assessments being used, the requirements of ESSA and how to monitor their children's progress and work with educators to improve their achievement.

2. Materials and Training: Kendall Whittier Elementary School shall provide materials and training, such as Toolbox, internet, and technology training to help parents work with their children to improve achievement.

3. Educate Educators: Kendall Whittier Elementary School shall educate teacher, pupil services personnel, principals and other staff, with the assistance of parents, in the value and utility of contributions of parents, and in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with the parents as equal partners, implement and coordinate parent programs and build ties between parents and the school.

4. Preschool Coordination: Kendall Whittier Elementary School shall "to the extent feasible and appropriate," coordinate and integrate parental involvement programs with 4 year olds, and conduct other activities, such as the parent resource room, that encourage and support parents in more fully participating in the education of their children.

5. Understandable Communication: Kendall Whittier Elementary School shall ensure that information related to school and parent programs, meetings and other activities is sent to the parents of all children in a format, and to the extent practicable, in a language the parents understand.

6. Other requested Activities: Kendall Whittier Elementary School shall provide such other reasonable support for parental involvement activities as parents may request.

7. Based on the mode of learning determined by the district, Kendall Whittier is committed to the provision of student materials, technology, and parent /student support in whatever form is needed. -

8. Each school community will demonstrate exceptional parent/guardian involvement and support through 100% membership in its respective parent/guardian association, and the district will triple its Partners-in-Education agreements with community, businesses, institutions organizations and agencies. This includes but is not limited to the followings.

• Parent Volunteer Options
• Family Reading/Literacy/Math Nights
• Family Fun Nights
• Kendall Whittier Partners in Education
• Kendall Whittier Faith Based Partners
• Mental Health Agencies/Social Services
• Operation School Bell
• Holiday Gift BasRets
• Big Brother and Sisters
• Reading Partners
• Communities In Schools
• Growing Together
• University of Tulsa

9. After-school student opportunities

• Opportunity Project: After School Clubs
• Harmony Project: Partner with Performing Arts Center and tutoring
• Music programs: Drums/Choir
• On-site Tutoring (when in session)
• Good News Club (off-site or TCF)
• Harmony Project (Virtual)
• Bike Club (when on-site learning is occurring)
• RSA Tutoring (3rd-5th)

10. During School Opportunities

• Grade level Parent Meetings
• Parent Resource Room
• Volunteers

11. Parental Participation Communication

• Talking Points
• School Messenger
• School Newsletter Monthly
• Teacher email
• Translation
• Facebook notifications
• Marquee
• Student conferences will be done twice a year to show child's learning
• School website

12. Parental Involvement

• Support reading at school and at home
• Parent/child library-booRs can be checked out by parent or child
• Online Library: go to clever, click on Canvas; click on Library for activities and check-out
• Create parent accounts in Canvas and Power School in order to monitor student progress; check and discuss weekly with your child
• Activity information are provided in monthly newsletters
• Parent meeting once a month on the 3rd Wednesday @ 4:30pm in-person

Kendall Whittier is part of the Growing Together network.

Mission: Creating pathways for children to break the cycle of poverty through education, community vibrancy, and the built environment.

To ask for a referral to one of the embedded counseling agencies, ask for Therionna Paul at 918-833-9900.

• Family and Children’s Services
• Improving Lives Services

There are several resources Tulsa Public Schools provide for its families. To view those resources, please use the links below. 

• Parent Resources page at www.tulsaschools.org/parents
• Parent Updates at https://www.tulsaschools.org/student-and-family-support#updates
• Frequently Asked Questions at http://www.tulsaschools.org/faqs.

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Las Escuelas Públicas de Tulsa brindan varios recursos a las familias del distrito. Para ver estos recursos, por favor siga los enlaces a continuación. 

• Recursos para padres www.tulsaschools.org/parents
• Actualizaciones para padres https://www.tulsaschools.org/student-and-family-support#updates

• Preguntas frecuentes http://www.tulsaschools.org/faqs.