INTRODUCTION
The Information contained on
this page will answer many of your questions concerning school
policies. All policies and regulations of the school are made
with the safety and welfare of the children in mind.
Click
on a link below to find out more information.
ADMINISTRATIVE
STAFF
Principal, Mr. Marty Marinoff
Assistant Principal, Ms. Barbara
Gist
Secretary to the Principal/Finance,
Ms. Lesley Aschenbach
Educational Technical Assistant
(Registrar), Ms. Eddie Mae Walker
Office Assistant, Ms. Julia Dowsett
Office Assistant/Attendance, Ms.
Amy McElrath
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DAILY SCHEDULE
- Grades K through 6
Monday -- 9:15am - 1:25pm
Tuesday through Friday -- 9:15am
- 3:50pm
DAILY SCHEDULE
- Preschool
Monday A.M. - 9:15am - 11:20pm
Monday P.M. - 11:20am -- 1:25pm
Tuesday through Friday A.M. - 9:15am
- 12:30pm
Tuesday through Friday P.M. - 12:30pm
- 3:50pm
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ABSENCES
OR TARDINESS
A note must be sent to school explaining
absences or reasons for tardiness. Students should be in classrooms
by 9:10am. They are tardy if they arrive at school after opening
time (9:15am). Students must then check in directly with the office
before going to the classroom.
IMPORTANT:
Parents are requested to contact
the school office EACH morning when their child is absent or tardy.
Aldrin has an attendance line which you can call 24 hours a day.
Its is a dedicated line and used only for the purpose of leaving
absentee or other messages for the school. That phone number is
904-3818.
Per School Board Regulation 2234,
each child who has been absent from school for any reason other
than school business shall, upon return, or certainly by the day
after return, present to the teacher a note from parent/guardian
which sets forth the reason(s) for the absence.
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SAFETY
For pupil safety, students may
arrive at school no earlier than 9:00 am. Before that time, teachers
are busy preparing for the day and involved in related meetings.
If a child is detained after dismissal time for any reason, the
parents will be notified by the teacher as soon as possible. Please
instruct children to go directly home after school before going
elsewhere unless the teacher has written notification of the alternate
destination from the parent.
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BUS
RIDERS
The priviledge of bus transportation
is provided for those children who live more than one mile from
the school or when an unsafe situation exists. School bus riders
in Fairfax County are required to observe rules of safety and
good citizenship while riding on a bus and while waiting at a
designated bus stop. Standards for safe, courteous conduct will
be in effect beginning with the first day of school. It is essential
that bus riders cooperate and adhere to the bus regulations. All
children will receive a copy of REGULATIONS FOR PUPILS RIDING
SCHOOL BUSES. All parents are requested to review the information
with the children and return the signed portion to school. STUDENTS
REPORTED FOR MISCONDUCT BY THE BUS DRIVER MORE THAN ONCE MAY BE
SUSPENDED FROM RIDING THE BUS FOR A SET TIME PERIOD.
If a child is going home with a
classmate, the parents of both children MUST send a note to the
homeroom teacher(s) to provide permission, in writing. The note
must be presented to the teacher(s) at the beginning of the day.
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PRIVATE
TRANSPORTATION
Students who are driven to school
by private vehicle should be dropped off in the front of the main
entrance of the building no earlier than 9:00 am. This area is
identified as the "Kiss and Ride" area. This practice
is necessary for the safety of students.
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RELEASE
OF STUDENTS
If a pupil needs to leave school
during the day for a doctor's appointment, etc., please send a
note to the teacher in the morning, then, come to the office to
call for the child. ALL CHILDREN MUST BE SIGNED OUT IN THE OFFICE.
We WILL NOT release a pupil to anyone except the parent unless
there is a note of permission signed by the parent. Students may
be released to either parent/guardian provided there is no custody
order from a court forbidding custody by a named parent/guardian.
Warn children NEVER to ride home after school with any stranger
who may claim he/she was sent by the parent. If you wish to arrange
for another person to take care of your child in the event illness
occurs when you are not at home, PLEASE MAKE A NOTE ON THE EMERGENCY
CARE CARD.
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ENROLLMENT
Virginia law, Sections 22.1-254,
requires that a child who will be five years old on or before
September 30, 2005, must be enrolled in kindergarten for the 2005-2006
school year unless the parent of guardian notifies the school
in writing that they do not wish the child to attend school until
the following year. Students are no longer tested for readiness
during a one month grace period as was the case in the past. To
enroll a student, the following documentation is required:
* A birth certificate or equivalent
and a transfer slip or report from the previous school.
* Some proof of residency is required
which can be satisfied through a deed to a home or a rental agreement.
* A certificate of physical examination
and evidence of immunization. Virginia law requires every new
student to be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping
cough, polio, mumps, measles (rubeola), and German measles (rubella).
Students lacking required documentation of immunizations will
be barred from attendance. Objections based on religious grounds
may be discussed with the principal.
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EMERGENCY
CARE CARD
*Please Read Carefully*
The main purpose of this card is
to help us locate the parent in the event of illness or emergency
involving your child. Hospitals and private doctors need parent
permission for emergency medication or treatment. It is very important
that we be able to locate you at any time. Please list phone numbers
of neighbors who will know where you are for emergency calls and
who may pick up your child when he/she feels ill and you are not
at home. Your child will not be released to anyone not listed
on this form. In special cases you may wish to call and give the
school secretary a number where you can be reached for the day.
Please list on the card, in red, if possible, any allergies or
serious medical problems of which the school should be apprised.
Also, please list any special arrangement you may have for another
person to routinely pick up your child. Please
complete the Emergency Care Card and return it to school immediately.
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MEDICATION
If your child is to take medication
during school hours, a Fairfax County Public Schools medication
authorization must be completed. Medications can be either prescription
or nonprescription (ointments, creams, drops, aspirin, cough drops,
etc.). All medications must be in a prescription labeled bottle
or the manufacturer's packaging. ALL MEDICATION MUST BE TRANSPORTED
TO SCHOOL BY PARENTS - NOT STUDENTS. Children may not bring medication
to and from school. If you have any questions about medication
policy, see or call the clinic aide at 703-904-3810.
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INSURANCE
Optional accident and dental insurance
is available to all Fairfax County school children through independent
companies. Although the school system derives no profit from these
plans, they are recommended as a means to defray the costs of
accidental injuries which sometimes occur to school-age children.
The cost, as indicated in the brochure, requires the insurance
company to put certain restrictions on these policies. Parents
are encouraged to read the brochures carefully. PREMIUMS FOR BOTH
DENTAL AND ACCIDENT INSURANCE ARE TO BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE COMPANY.
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EMERGENCY
CLOSING OF SCHOOL
Decisions for the late opening,
early closing, or cancellation of school due to heavy snow or
other emergency conditions are made by the Division Superintendent
and will be announced over local radio stations as soon as the
decision has been made. PLEASE DO NOT TELEPHONE THE SCHOOL FOR
THIS INFORMATION. OUR PHONE LINES NEED TO BE KEPT OPEN IN ORDER
TO RECEIVE INSTRUCTIONS FROM SCHOOL OFFICIALS. PLEASE PLAN WITH
YOUR CHILD WHAT TO DO SHOULD HE/SHE ARRIVE HOME EARLY AND YOU
ARE NOT THERE.
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DISCIPLINE
Standards for behavior in the classroom
will be developed by the teacher and students to meet the general
criteria (1) maintaining an atmosphere which maximizes learning
throughout the building and (2) developing student attitudes and
habits which contribute to the development of full potential.
No student will be allowed to engage in any behavior that is not
in his/her best interest or in the best interest of others. More
specifically, no behavior which is disruptive to the instructional
program or the Aldrin staff will be tolerated. Certain forms of
misconduct such as fighting, stealing, abusive language, destruction
of property, rude and discourteous behavior, and other forms of
chronic misbehavior will require immediate administrative action.
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STUDENT
DRESS
Pupil dress is controlled only
as it relates to the atmosphere which affects learning and development
of wholesome attitudes and student safety. It has been observed
that students demonstrate better behavior and show more attention
to school work when they are neatly dressed. All students should
wear shoes which allow for a safe, active physical education program.
Hair styles must not interfere with vision or the learning atmosphere.
Parents and teachers working together can help children learn
to dress appropriately.
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REPORT TO
PARENTS
Progress Reports will be sent home
approximately one week after the end of each grading period. The
purpose of the progress report is to help the parent or pupil
identify the pupil's strengths and areas of concern and to help
teachers evaluate each pupil and plan instruction accordingly.
Teachers will request conferences with parents at the end of the
first grading period. Additional conferences are encouraged and
may be requested by either the parent or teacher. Interim progress
reports are usually sent at the midpoint of each quarter if a
student is demonstrating a significant concern with behavior or
academic performance. Interim reports, however, may be sent at
any time during the quarter.
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CLASS
PARTIES
The instructional program is our
first priority. In keeping with this, each class will be permitted
to have TWO PARTIES on school time. These will be held in the
classrooms with the help of the PTA Room Representative.
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GUM
CHEWING
Gum chewing is not permitted on
school buses or at school.
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FAMILY
HOLIDAYS
We cooperate fully with parents
who desire their children to join them on trips and vacations
during the school year. WE ASK THAT ALL CHILDREN KEEP A DAILY
JOURNAL OF THEIR TRIP. Please notify the school in advance of
travel plans. It is expected that all work missed while on a trip
will be made up as soon as possible following the child's return
to school. Any standardized testing missed during a family holiday
will NOT be made up.
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FIELD
TRIPS
A signed permission form to participate
in a school field trip must be returned to the teacher in advance
of the trip. IN CASE OF A DELAYED OPENING, FIELD TRIPS ARE AUTOMATICALLY
CANCELLED. Fairfax County School Board regulations do not authorize
pre-school children to ride buses on field trips.
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PARTY
INVITATIONS
Children's feelings are easily
hurt! Please DO NOT pass out private party invitations at school
unless the whole class will be included.
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ASSIGNMENT
TO CLASSES
Even though each child has been
assigned to a specific teacher, other teachers will also provide
instruction for the child. The assigned teacher is responsible
to see that each child has a well-rounded program and to keep
parents informed of the child's progress.
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TELEPHONE
Children will not make telephone
calls during the school day except in an emergency. In case of
illness, the clinic aide/secretary will call the child's home.
To prevent classroom interruptions, messages or materials for
students SHOULD BE LEFT IN THE OFFICE. These will be delivered
to the class or collected by the student at an appropriated time.
Please help your child to develop a routine of placing things
which must be brought to school in a designated place so that
money, books, homework, etc., will not be left at home.
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TEXTBOOKS
AND SUPPLIES
Elementary school children are
provided the use of textbooks without charge. It is necessary
to require payment for books that are lost or damaged through
negligence or abuse.
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SCHOOL
LUNCH
Our cafeteria operates under the
National School Lunch Program. The Type A lunch is balanced to
meet one third of the daily food requirements of the child. Please
encourage your child to eat the school lunch and try all the different
foods served. These early patterns developed will influence the
child's entire life span. A monthly menu will be give to each
child in order to help parents plan different foods for dinner.
The price of lunch including milk is $1.90 for students and $2.75
for adults. A Second Entrée with Lunch is $1.00. Breakfast
is served for $1.00 for students and $1.30 for adults.
Students who bring lunch from home
are encouraged to bring nutritious foods. Parents are asked to
send food in easily opened packaging. Please send all the necessary
items, including straw, napkin, spoon, etc. In the interest of
safety, carbonated sodas and glass containers are not permitted.
Containers with sharp metal edges are not allowed. Due to health
concerns, students are not permitted to share lunch items in the
cafeteria, whether brought from home or purchased at school.
Students sometimes forget or lose
lunch money. Parents are encouraged to purchase additional lunch
tickets at the beginning of the year. This account will then remain
on reserve in case of an emergency. Lunch tickets may be purchased
in the cafeteria before school. The cafeteria manager keys the
amount of purchase into the computer. Each child is then assigned
a computer card with his/her amount keyed onto the card. Checks
may be made payable to: FOOD SERVICES - FCPS, and clearly marked
with the child's name and teacher's name. Unused tickets will
be transferred into the student's account for the following school
year.
In order to be sure that the school
system is meeting the nutritional needs of all school-age children,
it is the policy to provide free/reduced price meals to children
in need of assistance. Application for this service must be completed
by the parent and sent to the FCPS Office of Food Services.
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VISITORS
ALL VISITORS
MUST SIGN IN AT THE FRONT OFFICE AND OBTAIN A BADGE (which
must be worn at all times in the building). Before departing,
please sign out in the office. Younger children, friends of pupils,
or students from other schools will not be permitted in the classroom.
Animals visiting the classroom must be accompanied by a parent
and approved by the teacher in advance. It is hoped that our procedures
will eliminate unauthorized persons from being in the school where
the safety of children is of prime importance. PARENTS ARE WELCOME
TO VISIT THE CLASSROOM BUT SHOULD MAKE PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS WITH
THE PRINCIPAL FOR A TIME THAT WILL NOT BE DISRUPTIVE TO INSTRUCTION.
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PARENT
VOLUNTEERS
Many enriching and worthwhile experiences
are afforded our children through volunteer help from parents.
With this support, teachers are able to provide more direct instruction.
Parents interested in volunteering are requested to contact the
school or parent volunteer coordinator. ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST HAVE
A CURRENT TB TEST OR X-RAY.
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COMMUNITY
USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES
Schools are available for community
activities during the school year. Applications are available
in the school office and must be completed at least two weeks
in advance of requested date of use.
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MOVING?
Please inform the school in advance
if you anticipate a move to another school. This will ensure that
the proper transfer forms will be ready on the day the student
leaves.
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LOST
AND FOUND
Unidentified articles found in
the school are to be placed in a receptacle in the cafeteria.
Please check there if an article is lost. Eyeglasses and jewelry
are not routinely placed with the other articles, so please inquire
in the office for these items. It would be helpful if raincoats,
jackets, rubber boots, mittens, etc (clothing items that will
be removed during the day) are labeled. It has been our experience
that items of this nature tend to be forgotten or mislaid. We
would like to be able to identify the apparel for a particular
child.
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MONEY
When money is being brought to
the school, please enclose it in an envelope labeled with your
child's name, room number, and purpose. Children should be discouraged
from bringing extra money to school. Students are not allowed
to loan or give money to other children, nor are they permitted
to trade or sell items to other students.
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BUY
A BOOK
A book can be purchased for our
library in recognition of a special occasion or person. A letter
will be sent to the person or family letting them know of your
thoughtfulness. Suggestions or guidance in selecting books can
be obtained from our librarian.
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THE
ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM (PROGRAM OF STUDIES)
Standards adopted by the Virginia
State Board of Education define the basic elementary program.
Specifically, a planned and balanced program of instruction commensurate
with the abilities, interests and educational needs of children
shall be provided. The basic academic program shall include instruction
in each of the following areas: Art, Health, Language Arts, Mathematics,
Music, Physical Education, Science, Social Studies, and Technology.
The curriculum of Fairfax County Schools is the PROGRAM OF STUDIES,
which identifies the basic objective for kindergarten through
sixth grade. These priority objectives provide the foundation
or core of the program. Objectives are placed at the level in
which most children achieve them. The basic curriculum is a tool
for planning, monitoring, and evaluating children's work on a
continuous progress basis. Materials within the curriculum include
objectives, program standards and guidelines, and some information
regarding classroom management. Basal instructional materials
used at Aldrin School have been selected from a county-approved
list and are coordinated with the Standards of Learning (SOLs)
and the Program of Studies (POS). Copies of these curriculum documents
have been placed in the school library. Parents are urged to become
acquainted with this material.
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HOMEWORK
No hard-and-fast rules concerning
homework can be made. Generally accepted principles in the assignment
of homework include:
1. Homework should stem from real
needs and the consideration of the total educational background
of the individual child.
2. Homework should serve a definite
purpose and should be used as a technique for learning.
3. Responsibility for homework
in the elementary school should gradually increase for grades
one through six.
4. There should be a cooperative
effort between teachers and parents to encourage students to assume
responsibility for completing assignments.
Suggested time allotments for primary
grades (1-3) are once or twice a week for 30 minutes. For grades
4-6, homework two to three times per week with a maximum of one
hour daily is appropriate.
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RETENTION
When it appears that a child will
benefit from another year at the present grade placement, parents
will be informed of the child's specific academic needs at the
end of the second grading period or as soon as retention seems
to be a possibility. Retention will occur after prior notification
of and explanation to the parents; however, the final decision
rests with the Principal's Committee.
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PUPIL
SERVICES
The Fairfax County Public Schools
provides special services for the individual needs and differences
of children. Within the local school, children may receive additional
support from our reading specialist, learning disabilities resource
teacher, speech clinician, and/or itinerant hearing or vision
teacher. An individual evaluation is required before a child may
receive any of these services. When this is necessary, parents
will be contacted regarding school concerns. Written parent permission
is needed prior to evaluation for special education services.
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GIFTED/TALENTED
PROGRAMS
A center-based program for those
children identified as highly academically gifted is available.
A school-based program for children identified as gifted and talented
is also available at each elementary school. An itinerant teacher
will work with these children in grades 4-6 for approximately
1 1/2 hours each week. This teacher will also work with the entire
K-6 school population, conducting response lessons for students
in grades K-3 and process lessons for students in grades 4-6.
The G/T itinerant additionally serves as a resource for teachers
and monitors students selected for differentiated services.
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STUDENT
RECORDS
As required by the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, Fairfax County Public Schools
has adopted Policy 2701 which:
* provides that parents have the
right to inspect any and all records relating directly to their
dependents.
* authorizes students with written
parent permission to inspect their records
* provides for release of information
to others only under carefully described conditions
* establishes fees for the duplication
of records
* provides a procedure for challenge
of the contents of a student's records by parents or adult students.
Educational records are forwarded on request to a school to which
a student has applied for admission. As provided by the Act, certain
information may be classified as "directory information"
and may be released to others without parental consent. Parents
not wishing any or all of the directory information released without
prior consent must notify the principal in writing within 15 days
of receipt of this handbook. Fairfax County Public Schools considers
these categories of student information to be directory information:
* name and picture
* participation in officially recognized
activities and sports
* height and weight if a member
of an athletic team
* dates of attendance
* awards and honors
In addition, a student's address
and phone number will be in this category, but may be released
to others only for school-related activities such as PTA, booster
clubs, and volunteer activities, and to county special services.
Directory information my be made available on an individual basis
or be printed in school directories, team rosters, class lists,
school yearbooks, etc., without parental consent.
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