General Info School Colors: Red, Yellow, and Black School Motto: "My future begins today!" School Mascot: Titans School Pledge: My future begins today. Therefore, I will do my personal best to be respectful, responsible, and productive. I am cooperative because I know I am a member of a great school family. Our rules benefit me by keeping our school safe and orderly so I can learn. My behavior will contribute to a positive learning environment. I am proud because we are the best and the brightest. I am ready to learn. School Song: It's a Great Day at Rosa Parks Sung to the tune of a Traditional African American Hymn It's a great day It's a great day It's a great day at Rosa Parks I come to learn I come to learn I come to learn at Rosa Parks I will succeed I will succeed I will succeed at Rosa Parks Mission Statement Rosa L. Parks Elementary School puts children first, and believes all students can achieve and will succeed. The staff of Rosa L. Parks Elementary shares the responsibility to educate all students in a positive, safe, and rigorous learning environment. It's our goal to empower all students to reach their fullest learning potential and become responsible members of society who appreciate and respect individual differences. Mission Objectives Follow the Voluntary State Curriculum standards for all academic subjects. Promote rigorous instruction through diverse learning. Teach students to understand and appreciate their own heritage, as well as the culture and heritage of other ethnicities. Promote skills that foster appropriate mental attitudes, physical development, and good health and wellness. Establish an ongoing partnership with parents and community members. Parent/Student Handbook Arrival Procedures Car riders will enter and exit the building through the front doors (Kiss and Ride). Please do not leave your automobile unattended in the Kiss and Ride section. Students should arrive no earlier than 7:30 A.M. Adult supervision will not be available before 7:30 A.M. Students walking to school should report to the blacktop area. Students will be escorted in the building at 7:30 A.M. Walking students in grades Head Start through three will enter and exit through the yellow door (north side of the blacktop). Walking students in grades four through six will enter and exit through the green door (south door of the blacktop). Parents are asked to remain near the fence during dismissal time. Parents will not be allowed to escort their children to and from the classroom. Before and After Extended Learning Program The Before & After Extended Learning Program at Rosa Parks operates from 7:00 A.M. to 7:30 A.M. and from 1:55 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. of every school day. Registration is $10 with a biweekly fee of $125. Activities include: homework support, organized games, art projects, science projects, cooking, crafts, music, drama and various other enrichment activities. A light snack is served each day. To learn more or to register a child, contact Ms. Donna Budd at the Rosa Parks Before and After Extended Learning office at 301 445 7690. Enrollment is currently open and is on a first come, first serve basis! Breakfast/Lunch Program Breakfast is served from 7:30 A.M. to 7:40 A.M. except on those days involving a delayed opening. Lunch is served daily in shifts. Students can either purchase a full lunch or a milk or juice to complement a bag lunch. A regular breakfast costs $1.10; a reduced breakfast costs $0.30. A regular lunch costs $1.75; a reduced lunch costs $0.40. Milk and juice cost $0.40. Applications for free/reduced lunch are available in the office. The Lunch Program is computerized. Each student is assigned a 4-digit personal identification number (PIN#) that must be memorized. The assigned PIN# remains with the child for the length of his or her enrollment. Parents are encouraged to deposit money in lump sums, not to exceed $99.99. All checks and money orders should be payable to "Food and Nutrition Services." When sending cash, money should be sealed in an envelope with the student's name, teacher's name, and the amount enclosed indicated on it. If sending money for more than one child, please indicate so on the envelope. The school will provide a cheese sandwich and milk if a child's account is short. We will not loan money. Please send written notice to the office/nurse and to your child's teacher if you suspect a food allergy. Your child should be aware of any foods he or she needs to avoid. Care of Books We expect all textbooks be covered in order to extend their useful lifespan. Booksox make excellent book covers although paper grocery bags work just as well. Library books, as with school property generally, should be handled with care. Parents will be charged for damaged or lost books. Dismissal Procedures Car riders in grades 4 through 6 can pick up younger siblings beginning at 1:50 P.M.; they will meet their rides at the Red Door. Car riders in grades pre-kindergarten through grade 2 will meet their rides at the Blue Door. Head Start parents must sign their child out from the Head Start classroom. Emergency Dismissal or School Closing Snow, heat, hurricanes, and power outages have all delayed opening or closed schools in Prince George's County. The decision to close schools is never made by a local administrator but always by the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) or his or her designee and is broadcast area-wide by any number of radio and television stations. You can also access up-to-the-minute information about school closures at www.schools-out.com. Homework/Make-Up Work We believe in the benefit of homework. The purpose of homework is to reinforce and extend classwork, promote skill competency, and develop a sense of time management. Make homework a habit--it will truly pay off for your child down the road. Also, when your child is absent, he or she is responsible for any work missed. If necessary, call your child's teacher and arrange to have it picked up or sent home. Lost & Found We recommend you clearly label your child's school supplies and articles of clothing such as book bags, jackets, sweaters, etc. Include a first and last name, grade, and teacher's name. Found items will be kept in a Lost & Found box in a designated area for one month, after which unclaimed items are donated to a local charity. Parent Volunteers Parent volunteers are integral to our program. They assist us in many ways: working with individual students or small groups, assisting with clerical duties, helping in the Media Center, chaperoning field trips, serving as room parents, etc. If you are willing to volunteer, please send a note or call and leave a message in the office. Be aware that board regulations require volunteers to submit to background checks under certain circumstances. Personal Possessions Students should not bring extra money or toys to school, including sports gear; they should not bring items susceptible of loss or damage, especially electronic equipment such as radios, pagers, tape recorders, and video games. If your child has permission to keep a cell phone, the cell phone must be turned to the off position during the day. We assume NO responsibility for personal possessions that may get lost or stolen. We ask your help in seeing that your child is in compliance with this policy. Please be aware that possession of knives, toy guns, or water pistols can result in suspension or expulsion. Reporting Student Progress/Parent Conferences Reporting of student progress in Prince George's County is accomplished in two ways: by report card and by conferencing. For grades kindergarten though six, report cards are issued four times per year. Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled by mutual agreement during one of the reporting periods, with the option of additional conferences arranged by request. The report card advises you of progress in social skills, work habits, and the various subject areas. School Communication System You will receive periodic phone calls from us generated through our computerized school communication system, including reminders about upcoming events such as PTA meetings, as well as notice when your child is absent or tardy. We hope you find this avenue for fostering school-home communication helpful to you! School Traffic and Safety Some fifth and sixth grade students serve as safety patrols. Safety patrols assist students arriving at and departing from school. Please stress the importance of obeying the Safety Patrols to your child. Crossing guards are members of the Prince George's County Police Department who assist at major intersections deemed too dangerous for children to cross alone. Again, please stress the importance of obeying the crossing guards to your child. School Uniforms We ask that students dress appropriately in the school uniform each day. We strongly discourage extraneous articles of clothing or jewelry. There is a large body of research suggesting that school uniforms dampen peer pressure and foster a positive academic climate. For specifics, see our website at www.rpschool.org. School-Wide Standards Do your best at all times. Respect the feelings and property of others. Speak respectfully to adults and peers. Practice safety. Follow directions the first time. Tips for Reading with Your Child Do it every day and pick a regular time. By doing so, you demonstrate that reading is important. Read the book before you read it aloud. Reading aloud is performing. You will do a better job if you are familiar with the book. Read books you like. If you like a book, the odds are your child will also. Start by reading books you enjoyed as a child. Read articles from magazines, newspapers, and other materials aloud. Read for information and for fun! Rosa L. Parks Elementary School Executive Summary Introduction Rosa L. Parks Elementary School opened its doors to students on August, 21, 2006 and was dedicated two months later on October 19. Located on an eight acre site one mile from the Washington, DC border on Ager Road in Prince George's County, the physical plant was completed in August of 2006 at a cost of $17,883,000. With a student capacity of 742, Rosa Parks houses Head Start, Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and grades 1 through 6 in traditional classrooms. Support rooms include a multipurpose room, music room, art room, science lab, computer lab, reading resource room, and media center. All classrooms are equipped with ceiling-mounted LCD projectors, Promethean Boards, sound enhancement units, and cable and closed-circuit television reception. Instructionally, Rosa Parks is organized along traditional lines as a comprehensive school in which students are heterogeneously grouped. Instruction in all subjects is driven by the Curriculum Framework Progress Guides developed by the Prince George's County Board of Education, the Standards of Excellence document, also developed by the county, and Maryland's Voluntary State Curriculum. Reading instruction follows county mandated time allotments with Pre-K at 180 minutes, grades K - 2 at 150 minutes, grades 3 - 5 at 120 minutes, and grade 6 at 90 minutes. Students are placed in one of three classroom reading groups based on results from the Developmental Reading Assessment (DRA) and/or the previous year's Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI) scores. Instruction is also differentiated through the use of learning centers which offer opportunities for skill reinforcement as well as general remediation. Dedicated to a diagnostic prescriptive model of instruction, teachers track student progress in a variety of ways, including Circle data collection in Head Start and Pre-K, the DRA in Kindergarten, and benchmarks and the SRI in grades 3 - 6. Students in grade 6 receive departmentalized instruction in reading/ language, math, and science. Rosa Parks qualifies for inclusion in the Title 1 Targeted Assistance Program. The program currently serves 70 students in grades 1 - 5. Students receive instructional support in small groups by way of the Early Success and the Soar to Success reading programs. As well, a twice weekly Extended Day Program serves 44 students in grades 2 - 5, providing support in reading and math. Rosa Parks also qualifies for ESOL (English as a Second Language) support; 221 English Language Learners (ELL's) in grades 3 - 5 participate. As well, a twice weekly Extended Learning Opportunity Program serves 49 ELL's in grades 3 - 5, providing support in reading and math. School Demographics Rosa Parks serves a predominantly Latino community with medium household incomes. Most families live within easy walking distance of the school; and in fact all students arrive and depart on foot or by car, the school being ineligible for county bussing. Several large apartment complexes lie inside the attendance boundary. As of January 8, 2007, 74.7% of students qualify for inclusion in the National School Lunch Program. A recent survey revealed that 41% of students have access to a home computer. Currently 670 students attend Rosa Parks, putting the school at 90.3% of enrollment capacity. Students speak a total of twelve native languages. Of ESOL students, 90% speak Spanish. The student population breaks down demographically this way: Males - 364 students or 54% of the population; Females - 306 or 46% of the population; Hispanics - 432 or 64% of the population; Blacks - 198 or 30% of the population; Asians - 19 or 3% of the population; Whites - 14 or 2% of the population; Indians - 7 or 1% of the population. Rosa Parks boasts a diverse staff comprised of 81 full and part time members, including 2 administrators; 31 regular classroom teachers; 3 special education resource teachers; 2 Title 1 teachers, 2 P.E. teachers; 2 vocal music teachers; 0.3 instrumental music teacher; 1 Spanish teacher; 1 technology coordinator; 1 media specialist, 1 parent liaison, 0.3 interrelated arts teacher, 1 guidance counselor, 1 Before & After Care coordinator, 1 reading/testing specialist; and 4 ESOL teachers. Major Initiatives Believing that all students can succeed, the staff of Rosa Parks is committed to helping children reach their full potential. To that end, the administration has undertaken a number of initiatives, including establishing two extended day programs, one targeting students falling under Title 1 Targeted Assistance, and another targeting ELL's scoring two or more years below grade level in reading and math; ensuring delivery of differentiated instruction; ensuring use of strategies to promote higher-level thinking and problem-solving; insisting on rigorous language arts instruction that features small group instruction and use of learning centers; insisting on rigorous math instruction that features use of manipulatives and flexible grouping; enhancing instruction through technology in the form of laptops, overhead projectors, LCD projectors, audio enhancement units, classroom computers, SMARTBoards; close circuit capability; and offering instruction on alternate weeks in the science and computer labs for students in grades 3 - 6. Faculty is encouraged to attend county sponsored workshops; members also receive in-servicing on professional development days and at staff meetings. Teachers meet weekly for collaborative planning by grade level. General staff meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month, SPMT (School Planning and Management Team) meetings on the second Wednesday of the month, attendance meetings on the first Wednesday of the month, SIT (School Instructional Team) meetings on the third Thursday of the month, and IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) meetings on the fourth Thursday of the month. Data Utilization meetings are held once a quarter. Other initiatives include organizing a first annual Science Fair, fifth grade participation in the First in Math 24 Game, school-wide participation in the Pizza Hut Book-It incentive program, quarterly Honor Roll assemblies, monthly recognition of perfect attendance, a student led Morning Show, a school patrol program, Chorus performances outside the school, Thursday folders containing student work samples and hand-outs, an updated web site, a monthly school-wide newsletter (in English and Spanish), and a monthly grade level newsletter (in English and Spanish). Subgroups Twenty seven students receive Special Education resource services at Rosa Parks or 4% of the population. Both inclusion and pull-out models are used to deliver service. Staff includes 3 full time special education resource teachers, 0.5 speech teacher, and 2 paraprofessionals. Referrals for Special Education are handled by SIT which is comprised of an administrator, special education teachers, counselor, reading teacher, nurse, and classroom teachers. There are 221 ELL's at Rosa Parks or 33% of the population. Students receive instruction in small groups; instruction consists of a reading lesson and an ESOL lesson. There are 4 ESOL teachers on staff. Safe and Orderly Environment Visitors are welcome at Rosa Parks at any time. However, visitors are expected to report to the office, secure permission to be in the building, and receive a pass. This policy applies to all visitors, including parents, volunteers, mentors, school system personnel, and employee spouses. Rosa Parks is in the process of securing an Ident-A-Kid Security System which will allow tracking of visitors on campus. The Code of Student Conduct, developed by the county, governs behavioral expectations and consequences at Rosa Parks. The policies and procedures set out in the code are based on the belief that "good order and discipline are best thought of as being positive, not negative; of helping student to adjust, rather than as punishment; of turning unacceptable conduct into acceptable conduct." Order and discipline are defined "as the absence of distractions, frictions, and disturbances which interfere with the optimum functioning of the student, the class, and the school. It is also the presence of a friendly yet businesslike rapport in which students and school personnel work cooperatively toward mutually recognized and mutually acceptable goals." In the 4.5 months Rosa Parks has been in operation, the number of suspensions is 6 and the number of referrals via PS-74 for level 1 offenses is 4. Rosa Parks takes pride in the appearance of students. Student dress and personal hygiene reflect on the school as well as on the individual, and as such Rosa Parks has set in place a school uniform policy. Specifics can be accessed at School Uniforms. Other means of promoting a safe and orderly environment include life skill lessons taught by the guidance counselor, the Spirit Tree for outstanding citizenship, morning recitation of the School Pledge, and monthly fire drills and emergency preparation and drills. Some fifth and sixth grade students serve as safety patrols. Also, crossing guards assist on Ager Road during arrival and dismissal. Rosa Parks' attendance rate is 97%. Parental/Family Involvement Parent volunteers are integral to the program at Rosa Parks and assist in many ways: working with individual students or small groups, assisting with clerical duties, helping in the Media Center, chaperoning field trips, and serving as room parents. Parents are kept informed of school happenings through Thursday folders containing student work samples and hand-outs, an updated web site, and monthly school-wide newsletter (in English and Spanish), and a monthly grade level newsletter (in English and Spanish). As well, the school has held parent workshops covering topics such as parenting skills, parent/teacher conferences, and reading and math strategies for homework. Rosa Parks offers a Before & After Extended Learning Program. The program operates from 7:00 A.M. to 7:30 A.M. and from 1:55 P.M. to 6:00 P.M. of every school day. Activities include homework support, organized games, art projects, science projects, cooking, crafts, music, and drama. Rosa Parks is currently partnered with Blacks in Government and Prince George's Plaza. A Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Executive Board was established on November 29, 2006. In Summary The staff of Rosa L. Parks Elementary School is committed to helping children reach their full potential and become responsible members of society. Our aim is to produce lifelong learners. To these ends we embrace Dr. Deasy's five core beliefs. Children are our business and they come first. Parents are our partners. Victory comes in the classroom. Continuous improvement in teaching, leadership, and accountability is the key to success. Every member of this community shares the responsibility for successful schools. Everyday is a great day at Rosa Parks!