WELCOME TO BRISTOW RUN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
We are
looking forward to another AWESOME year of working with you and your
children. This Panther folder serves as our parent handbook and contains
important information for you and your children and can also be used as a
folder for your children. Additional Panther folders can be purchased from the
school store. Our school motto is: “a Team on Track for the Future.” I believe
that when teachers, staff, parents and students all work together as a team; our
children will have a more productive and successful year. Thank you in advance
for your assistance and support and for entrusting your children to us. If you
have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at (703)
753-7741. We look forward to teaching your children this year! Sincerely, Andrew Buchheit, Principal.
ATTENDANCE
It is the
responsibility of parents and guardians to see that their child attends school
regularly and on time every day. Every school day is important to the education
of your child. Research tells us that the best learning takes place during the
interaction of the teacher and child during class discussions. Simply making up
the missed work does not begin to take the place of actual class attendance. Students
who enter class tardy are disruptive to classroom instruction and can have a
challenging time getting into the classroom routine. The same holds true for
students who leave early. It is important that students are here for the entire
day. We urge you to schedule medical and other appointments so that they do not
conflict with class time. If it is
necessary to leave school before the regular dismissal time, send a written
note to the teacher indicating your intentions.
We discourage vacations during the school year. However, we know for a variety of reasons
they may occur. Please send a note or
letter in advance to the teacher and the principal informing the school of your
plans. The principal has the
responsibility of approving prearranged absences. We realize in the case of a family emergency
that this may not be possible. Teachers are not required to provide
assignments in advance. We would
encourage students to read, keep a written journal and practice math facts
while out of school. Students can
complete make up assignments when they return.
If your
child is absent, please call the school at (703) 753-7741. This is
for your child’s safety. If you do not contact the school, it will be necessary
for the school office to contact you. The parent should also send in a note
upon the student’s return explaining the absence. The note is to be given to
the classroom teacher. Students with excused absences are allowed two days for
every day of absence to make up work. Students are responsible for making up
work when they are absent.
BRINGING
THINGS TO SCHOOL
Students
should not bring toys, games, comics, trading cards, tape recorders, radios,
sports equipment, bikes, rollerblades, skates etc. to school unless they have
been asked to by their teachers (i.e. show and tell). The student will assume
responsibility for any item brought to school. Students should under no circumstances bring anything that can be seen
or used as a weapon to school.
BUS PASSES
Whenever
it is necessary for a student to ride a bus other than the one he/she is
normally assigned or get off at another stop, parents must send a note to
school. The office will approve these.
Parents are welcome to observe
classes at school. Please call the
school first and set up a mutually agreeable time with your child’s teacher. Also, because classroom instruction is in
progress, please do not have a conference with the teacher during the
observation. Please do not walk your
child to class on a daily basis. Our students need to accept the responsibility
of getting ready for class. We also invite and encourage parents to volunteer
at Bristow Run. There are many ways in
which you can help. The Prince William County School System requires all school
visitors to sign in at the office or the
welcome table and leave photo id. Visitors/Volunteers will be issued a
visitor’s pass.
We have high expectations of our students. We believe that self-discipline leads to
sound instructional growth. Proper discipline
is expected at the bus stop, on the bus, on the way to/from school, in the
hallways and bathrooms, in the classroom, at lunch, and on the playground.
Teachers will review the Code of Behavior and the Bristow Run Panther
Pride Behavior Plan with students.
In addition, the principal will hold Code of Behavior assemblies
with the students. At Bristow Run, we are committed to providing the most
effective learning environment, which maximizes instructional time for all. In
order to achieve this goal, we have established a clear discipline and student
recognition plan. In addition, we focus on specific character traits, trying to
make a positive difference at school and not giving putdowns.
We also believe it is important to recognize our students for their successes, hard work, good attendance,
strong character and excellent behavior. Each day we encourage our students “to work hard, do your best
and be kind and respectful.” We will send home a copy of our Panther Pride Behavior Plan with all
students at the beginning of the school year.
DRESS CODE
All students are expected to dress
appropriately and maintain a reasonable appearance. The Prince William County
Schools’ Code of Behavior has addressed several areas that are considered
improper dress in any
The
purpose of homework is to provide drill or practice of an idea already
presented by a teacher. Homework may consist of activities or projects, which
enrich, enhance, and extend a school experience, provide real-life application
of a subject being studied, and/or develop an appreciation of a community
resource. Homework will be incorporated as an integral part of the
instructional program. The instructional objectives of homework and the
weighting of homework in determining grades will be communicated to students
and parents. All students should read or be read to at least 15-20 minutes a
night depending on grade level requirements. Teachers are not required to
provide assignments in advance.
ILLNESS
AND INJURY
Children may become ill or get injured at school. Whenever this happens, the school will
contact the parent. All parents must
provide the school with the name and telephone number of a person who can be
contacted in cases of emergencies. It is
very important that parents update emergency numbers as changes of the contact
person occur.
As the snow season approaches, please be sure you have made
your children aware of what to do if schools are closed, open late, or close
early. Parents should be particularly
clear in their instructions regarding what to do if schools close early. A little advance planning will certainly help
ease everyone’s mind. Additional
information will be provided to you.
Language arts, mathematics, social studies, and science are
the four major areas of study.
Students
in grades kg-5 receive instruction in art, music, and physical education. All students have library, guidance and
computer lab. Fifth grade students may
elect to take strings. Reading resource,
special education, and gifted education services are also available. Please
contact our assistant principal for special education concerns, our gifted
resource teacher for information on the gifted education program and our
reading resource teacher or the classroom teacher for information on reading
strategies.
Articles lost by students are kept in the office where they
can be claimed by students or parents.
Periodically,
articles will be displayed for identification purposes. Articles not claimed after a reasonable
length of time will be donated to a charitable organization. Parents are requested to label all articles
with their child’s name.
It is particularly important that students eat a wholesome
meal at lunch. Nutritious lunches are
available every day in the Bristow Run cafeteria. In addition to the complete lunch, fruit, milk,
ice cream and desserts are offered at a reasonable price. Students who forget
to bring lunch money can charge with the cafeteria cashier. A note will be sent notifying parents of the
charge. Parents should send payment the
next school day. Any student with two
unpaid charge slips will not be permitted to charge again until the debt is
paid. Lunch tickets are available for purchase.
Checks should be made payable to Prince William County Food Service. Kg.
students can purchase school snack.
MEDICATION
1. It is the intent of the Prince
William County School System to assist parent(s)/guardian(s) by giving needed
medication to students so that the student may maintain school attendance.
2. It is the
parent(s)/guardian(s) responsibility to provide the following for prescription
or non-prescription medication:
a. The parent(s)/guardian(s)
needs to sign the Release and Indemnification Agreement requesting
b. A written statement (pharmacy
labels will be acceptable) from the parent(s)/guardian(s) designating:
1. The title of the
prescription or non-prescription medication; 2.The required dosage; 3. The time intervals and 4. The duration of administration
c. Medication shall be in the
original container.
3. If medication requires
refrigeration, parents should check with the school before sending in the
medication to see if refrigerated storage is available. Health Department rules
do not permit the storage of medication in food services’ refrigerators.
4. The school will not be responsible for lost or spilled medications.
5. Parents need to bring the
medication to the office themselves. Students are not allowed to bring
medication to school.
6. Students are not allowed to
keep any medication in their possession while at school. However, students may
keep in their possession certain medication such as prescription inhalers, bee
sting medication, etc. Parents must make this request of the school in writing.
PARENT ORGANIZATIONS
The Bristow
Run P.T.A. exists to promote the educational welfare of our children.
Parents are encouraged to join & participate in the activities of the
P.T.A. We are always looking for new ideas!!
The Bristow
Run Advisory Council consists of parent & teacher representatives. The
Advisory Council advises the principal on the development, implementation and
evaluation of the school plan.
PARENT REQUEST TO MOVE STUDENT TO ANOTHER CLASS
At Bristow
Run, we take great care when forming classes. We consider many, different
variables when creating each class of students. This means your child may not
be placed in a class with the same teacher that his/her older sibling had or
with his/her best friend. We believe all our teachers are excellent and that
your child will have an outstanding year as they learn to adjust to different
teaching styles and classroom environments. We also feel that moving students
from one classroom to another is not always in the best interest of the student
being moved, the classroom he/she is moving from or the classroom he/she is
moving to. For these reasons, we tend not to move students very often and look
at any requests to move a student very carefully and in a precise manner. I
have outlined the procedures we will follow in the event you request a
different teacher for your child:
Step 1 – Meeting with the
Classroom Teacher - When you believe your child is unhappy or
uncomfortable in her/his class, you must first meet with your child’s teacher
to discuss the situation. More often than not, this meeting will resolve your
concerns.
Step 2 – Consulting with our
school Guidance Counselor If after meeting with your child’s teacher, you
still have concerns, you will need to contact our school guidance counselor to
set up an appointment with her and your child’s teacher to further discuss your
concerns. Many times, this consultation will resolve any concerns you have. The
counselor may also meet with your child.
Step 3 – Intervention Planning
conference - If concerns
are still present, the counselor, you and your child’s teacher will discuss
issues and mediation strategies. The mediation strategies will be implemented
for at least two weeks. At the end of this time, the guidance counselor will
follow-up with you.
Step 4 – Formal Written Request to
Principal -In the unlikely event that you/the teacher feel(s) that the
issues or concerns have not been resolved and a transfer is preferred, the
principal is contacted. A written request for your child's transfer is required
from you. In this request, you must specify the reason(s) you feel your child
should be transferred. (Please note: All
formal written requests to move your child after your child has been in class
for more than twelve weeks will be strongly discouraged.) A conference with
you, the principal, the guidance counselor, and, possibly, your child's teacher
may be scheduled to discuss your concerns.
A decision for or against the transfer will be made as soon as feasible.
Please note: The principal will make the
final decision regarding the new teacher. Neither the parent nor the student
will choose the teacher.
During the year, parents may have questions or
concerns. If this is a classroom issue, it is
important that parents contact the teacher first.
If you wish to meet with the administration to discuss your
child's progress, classroom atmosphere, teacher, and/or any other issue, please
know that the teacher will be invited to the meeting.
Report cards are sent home every
nine weeks. Interim reports are sent every
4 1/2 weeks.
STUDENT SAFETY AND SECURITY
To help ensure the safety and
security of our students, these procedures will be followed:
1. All parents and visitors must
report to the school office or Welcome Table directly upon
entering
the school.
identification
with a valid expiration date. Visitors will then be issued a visitor’s pass.
2. We have the “buddy system” for when students
move from one part of the school to another.
3. Keep your child’s emergency
information card, on file in the office, up-to-date with valid phone numbers,
emergency contact persons, and persons designated to pick up your child from
school.
4. Train your children not to
become involved with strangers or to accept rides, etc. and to report such
occurrences to a responsible adult.
5. Parents, please notify the
school immediately of any potentially serious or unusual situations involving
friends or relatives who may try to contact your child at school. Our only
interest in knowing this very private type of information is for the protection
of our students and staff.
6. Do not allow your older
children in middle or high school to “drop-in” for an unannounced visit. We do
not issue visitor privileges to older students during regular school hours or
even after school unless proper arrangements are made through the office.
7. Parents, please make
appointments for conferring with your child’s teacher. “Drop-in” conferences are distracting and not always possible.
8. Be
alert to strangers, unusual happenings or “cruising vehicles” in your
neighborhood. Please report unusual happenings, or potentially serious
problems, to the appropriate authorities and to the school.
9. We have an overall Emergency
Plan to deal with specific safety issues.
10. Students must be signed out in the office and will not be released
to anyone other than those listed on the emergency cards without written
authorization.
TEXTBOOKS
AND LIBRARY BOOKS
Students and parents are responsible
for all books issued to them by their teachers or borrowed from the
library. Parents will be asked to make
restitution for all damaged or lost books.
AM Walkers
1. Crossing
guards will be at
2. Walking
students may enter the building at
3. Bicycles,
skateboards, and roller blades are not permitted.
AM Drop Off (Parents Driving
Students)
1.
We have a student drop off area in front of the school. Please keep cars
in a single file. If you need or
wish to park,
use the visitor parking spaces. Please do not leave an unattended car in the
drop off lane.
Students
will be admitted to the building at
AM Pick Up/PM Drop off
(Kindergarten)
1. These
procedures apply only if you plan to pick up or drop off your kindergarten
child.
2. AM
parents may wait outside on the front sidewalk or inside the building. I am
asking that the
kindergarten
teacher/assistant “hand off” your child to you. Please let the teacher know if
you will be
picking up your
child. Parents, please let us know if you have pick up changes. Please do
not leave an
unattended car in
the drop off lane.
3. If
you plan to drop off your PM students, please come to the front sidewalk. You
may park in a visitor
space. Once AM
students are either on the bus or have been given to their parents, please
“hand off”
your child to
the teacher/assistant.
Afternoon Pick up
1. Walkers : If
you are planning to pick up your child and you live in a walking area, my
suggestion is to either wait at the bottom of the hill on
2. Bus riders and Pickups: If it is necessary to pick up your child, form
a single line in the student drop off lane. Please do not leave your car. We will dismiss the children
to the gym. We will have staff members assisting in the loading of students
from the gym exit. This is primarily for student’s safety. If you will be picking up your child on a
daily basis, please complete a daily
pick up form. Please do not block the bus entrance/exit areas.
Important
Note: Please do not arrive early and
ask to pick up your child unless you have an appointment. Instruction continues
until
THE BRISTOW RUN PLEDGE
“I will remember to be respectful, kind, trustworthy and a good citizen. I will be responsible for my actions, work hard and do my best. I will seek to make a positive difference at school.”
At Bristow
Run, we will not tolerate Bullying Behavior and have created a No Put Down Policy. Many of the behaviors that we witness between
students can be classified as bully types of behavior. We want our students to feel
safe and comfortable at school so they can be focused on learning to their
fullest potential every day. We have identified the following behaviors as
bullying behavior. Bullying Behavior includes pushing, hitting, kicking,
pulling, hurting, slapping, inappropriately touching, spitting, stealing,
destroying property, gossiping, spreading rumors, embarrassing others, ethnic
slurs, name calling, taunting, humiliating, excluding from group, dirty and
hurtful looks and gestures, putdowns, teasing, telling others you won’t be
their friend, threatening, intimidating, harassing, coercion and making others
do things they don’t want to do.
-
“A TEAM ON TRACK FOR THE FUTURE”
- Working together – we do everything better!
As a
-
To attend school every day and be on time to all
classes.
-
To come to school prepared with books, paper, pencil,
and any materials and assignment as directed by teachers.
-
To obey the directions of all Bristow Run staff
members and follow the school discipline plan.
-
To maintain a positive attitude toward learning and
believe in my ability to succeed.
-
To respect myself and the rights and property of
others, strive for 5 in character and make a positive difference at school.
-
The staff of Bristow Run
Elementary accepts the responsibility:
-
To provide a quality instructional program in an
integrated setting for each student.
-
To provide an orderly classroom and safe school
environment.
-
To develop programs and activities which will respond
to the social, emotional, personal, and physical developmental needs of each
student.
-
To assist parents in helping their children develop
self-discipline, self-respect, and self-confidence to participate in school as
a responsible member.
-
As the parent of a Bristow Run
Elementary student, it is my responsibility:
-
To send my child to school each day on time, prepared
with all necessary materials, well-rested, and properly dressed.
-
To check my child’s work and homework on a regular
basis.
-
To provide my child with suitable study conditions at
home (desk or table, lights, books and supplies).
-
To communicate with my child’s teachers when I am
concerned about my child’s work or health.
2006-2007 School Year
School hours:
(Office hours:
1st – 5th GRADE SCHOOL SCHEDULE
Doors Open:
KINDERGARTEN SCHEDULE
Morning
class:
School Phone Number: (703) 753-7741 School Fax Number: (703) 753-7604
Website: http://www.pwcs.edu/BristowRun Motto: “A Team on Track for
the Future”
Principal
– Andrew Buchheit