Elementary School Expectations
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Attendance
Our role in preparing our students for postsecondary learning, careers, and life is best fulfilled when we are all HERE. We want your student to feel connected and that they belong HERE in WDMCS.
What is chronic absenteeism?
A student is considered chronically absent if they miss 10 percent of school, which is 18 or more days in a year. This equals only two days a month.
Why do we need to talk about it?
Research shows consistent attendance:
- helps children reach early academic and developmental milestones,
- helps students develop positive relationships with peers and staff,
- prevents students from falling behind academically,
- connects families to additional community resources, and
- increases graduation rates.
If your child needs to stay home or be late for school, please call the school office before the start of the school day and report your child’s name, homeroom teacher, and reason for the absence or tardiness. If a child is reported absent by the homeroom teacher and the school has not been notified, the secretary or school nurse will contact the home to ensure the child’s safety. In the case of excessive absences, a physician’s note, school nurse, or building administrator’s documentation may be required to excuse the absence. If there is anything our school can do to help your child attend school regularly and on time, please contact your student’s school. -
Cell Phones and Communication
- If there is a family emergency, please contact the school office, and they will reach your child. If there is an emergency at school, we will call the parent/guardian.
- Cell phone usage is only allowed before or after school.
- Smart watches can be worn as long as they are not a distraction.
- If a phone or other device becomes a distraction, a teacher or staff member may keep the device until the end of the day.
- WDMCS is not responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen cell phones or communication devices.
- To learn more about cell phone privacy, please read Board Policy 502.09 Search and Seizure.
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Classroom Treats/Food Deliveries
Classroom Treats
Student health and wellness is a top priority. The district’s wellness policy provides more information (Policy 608.01). Homemade treats are not allowed. If you select from one of the items listed on the store-bought snack list, you can bring a classroom treat that was purchased from a store. All treats must be store-bought and meet the USDA guidelines for snacks.
- Can I bring homemade treats from home for a classroom party to share with others?
Homemade treats cannot be sold or shared with multiple students during the school day. - What about pre-packed treats from a store?
Please select one of the items listed on the store-bought snack list. - Can I still pack whatever I want in my student’s sack lunch from home?
Yes. Packing a healthy school lunch is encouraged under the student wellness policy, but there are no restrictions as to what you must pack in a student’s lunch brought from home. - Do I have to purchase a snack for my student that is on the approved snack list?
No. Students can bring their own individual snack.
Approved snacks can be found online at https://discover.wdmcs.org/classroom-snacks.
Food Deliveries
Families can drop off a sack lunch or school materials when needed at the school office.
Please do not deliver restaurant food (including UberEats, GrubHub, etc.), balloon bouquets, flowers, etc. to school for your child. This causes disruption to the class and disappointment to those never receiving the same. If they are delivered, they will be held in the office and given to your child at dismissal. We appreciate your cooperation in these matters.
- Can I bring homemade treats from home for a classroom party to share with others?
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Football Games and Athletic Events
Families are invited to cheer on the Valley Tigers during athletic events throughout the year. Elementary students can only attend home football games at Valley Stadium with an adult (no drop-offs). The adult is responsible for the students they bring to the game. This guideline is in place to support student safety and provide a positive experience for all fans.
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Student Dress and Appearance
Students and their parents/guardians hold the primary responsibility for what a student chooses to wear to school each day. When a student is comfortable in what they wear, including expressing their individuality and/or personal and family culture, they can better focus on learning. WDMCS expectations for student dress and appearance are based on safety and showing respect for others.
- Students are asked to dress appropriately for the weather, including coats, hats, gloves, and boots. Any family who needs support in obtaining clothing or shoes should contact the school office.
- Shoes must be worn at all times for student safety.
- Clothing or other apparel promoting products illegal for use by minors or displaying obscene material, profanity, or reference to prohibited conduct are not allowed. If worn, a student will be asked to change or be given something different to wear for the day.
School administration will work with the parent/guardian and student to address any concerns and create a positive solution. Board Policy 502 — Student Appearance gives administration final discretion regarding student dress and appearance.
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Visitors and Volunteers
WDMCS welcomes visitors and volunteers to its school buildings. Visitors are individuals who come to watch an assembly, eat lunch with their child, or visit their child’s classroom. Typically, visitors arrange 24 hours in advance when they wish to meet with a classroom teacher and limit their visits to a short period of time. It is important that they do not interfere with the class in progress or discuss individual concerns when students are present. Young children and/or students must be accompanied by an adult when visiting.
Volunteers are often asked to help with a project at school. There are many choices for volunteers, including classroom assistance, participation in building and activity support groups, and service on districtwide or building committees. You may obtain more information about sharing your time and skills by calling your school office. Volunteers may be subject to additional screening processes.
Both visitors and volunteers enter the building through the front door and check in at the office to pick up a visitor badge every time they visit. Please bring your personal identification with you. Examples of personal identification include a state-issued ID, passport, military license, Mexico Consular ID card, and Permanent Resident card. Your ID will be run through a screening process called Raptor. They will also be asked where they will be in the building. This helps school staff understand where individuals are in the event of an emergency. Individuals who do not pass the Raptor screening process will not be allowed into the building.
Because WDMCS adheres to state and federal laws, all visitors and volunteers on school grounds must comply with the State of Iowa’s Senate File 482, which states individuals must use the restroom of their assigned gender at birth. All schools have multi-stall, gender-specific, and individual restrooms available.
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Crestview Arrival/Dismissal/Parking
If your child is eating breakfast, please have your students arrive no earlier than 7:45 a.m. as that is the time adult supervision begins. Students not
eating breakfast should not arrive until 8:05 a.m. Students should go to the front door. The first bell to begin the day starts at 8:05 a.m. and students arriving after 8:20 a.m. will be marked tardy. Dismissal is at 3:10 p.m. IMPORTANT: Wednesday Early Dismissal is 2:25 p.m.Car Riders
To keep students safe and traffic moving, please follow these drop off/pick up procedures:Drop off /Pick-up Procedures
East Parking Lot: We have increased the space in the drop off/pick up area. When you drop off/pick up in the East parking lot, please:- Pull all the way to the front of the driveway to the drop off/pick up area. Students will then walk to their designated doors. Do not drop students off at the 4th/5th or 2nd/3rd grade doors.
- Stop at the stop sign before proceeding to the drop off/pick up location. This will allow walkers to cross safely. This is NOT where you will drop off/pick up your children.
- Please EXIT only RIGHT on Franklin to keep traffic moving.
Circle Drive: Morning Drop-Off
Any student can be dropped off in the circle drive in the morning. However, students must enter the building at their designated door. Please drive all the way into the circle drive to drop off your child. If parking on Franklin, please walk to the corner of 82nd and Franklin to cross with the crossing guard. Do not walk your child across Franklin Street.Circle Drive: Afternoon Pick-Up
After school, the circle drive is only for daycare vans. Walkers or students being picked up by parents parked on Franklin must cross Franklin at the 82nd/Franklin intersection using the crossing guard. We have invested in a crossing guard daily from 7:45-8:20 a.m. and from 3-3:20 p.m.There is no parking in the bus section on the south side of the building. Finally, when crossing the parking lot, please use the crosswalk.
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Crestview Student Meals
Breakfast
Offered daily 30 minutes prior to the bell. Students can select from a minimum of three entrée choices:
- alternating main entrée choice;
- cold breakfast consisting of cereal and toast;
- yogurt and toast option.
- Assorted flavors of 8 oz. milk.
- Fruit and or vegetable choices including 100% juice.
- Breads/grains in the form of cereal, toast, pancakes, etc., and/or meat or meat alternate.
Breakfast is served each day from 8:35-9:05 a.m. Only students eating breakfast will be allowed in the building before 8:55 a.m. Students entering the building before 8:55 a.m. should not go to their locker or classroom first but should go straight to the cafeteria where breakfast is served and supervision is provided. At 8:55 a.m., students will be dismissed to their classrooms. After the 9:05 a.m. tardy bell, elementary students can check into the office and get a breakfast pass for a grab-and-go cold breakfast.
Breakfast cost for all K-6th graders at Crestview will be FREE this year thanks to a grant obtained for some WDMCS schools.
Lunch
- Students can select from a hot lunch option, cold lunch option, or a yogurt/granola and string cheese entree kit.
- Choices also include a hot vegetable, cold fruits and vegetables, and their choice of milk (skim, skim chocolate, or 1%).
- Students will pick the meal they would like as they go through the line (no preordering).
- Students bringing lunch from home can supplement their meal with fruits, veggies, and milk (at least three items) from the cafeteria line.
Lunch cost for all K-6th graders at Crestview will be FREE this year thanks to a grant obtained for some WDMCS schools.
Eating Lunch with Students
Families are invited to eat lunch with their child throughout the school year. Bring a sack lunch or pay for your lunch as you go through the lunch line using your child’s nutrition account or in cash with exact change or small bills. Please call the school office by 9:15 a.m. of the morning you will be joining us.
We may limit the number of families who may eat lunch on a particular day based on space and/or meal availability.For a special occasion, such as a child’s birthday, we invite you to bring lunch from a restaurant for you and/or your child. However, we will find a quiet area in the building or on school grounds separate from the lunchroom for you to eat. Families are welcome to take their child out for lunch during their specific lunch/recess time.