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10540 S. Morgan Chicago, IL 60643

PARENT HANDBOOKRaquel Davis, Principal

Anjanette Lipsett, Assistant Principal 10540 S. Morgan Street

Chicago, IL 60643(773) 535-2825

773-535-2827 (fax)

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PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGEDear Parents,

On behalf of the staff at Mount Vernon Elementary School, I am happy to welcome you to a new school year! We are looking forward to a productive partnership with you to ensure our children can achieve their highest potential. We recognize that to be successful in school, our children need support from both the home and school. We know a strong partnership with you will make a great difference in your child’s education. As partners, we share the responsibility for our children’s success and want you to know that we will do our very best to carry out our responsibilities. We ask that you guide and support your child’s learning by ensuring that he/she:

1) Attends school daily and arrives on time, ready for the day’s learning experience. 2) Completes all homework assignments given by teachers. 3) Reads daily to develop a love for reading and to improve literacy skills.4) Shares school experiences with you so that you are aware of his/her school life. 5) Informs you if he/she needs additional support in any area or subject.6) Knows that you expect him/her to succeed in school and go on to college.

The wonderful Mount Vernon staff and I are honored that you chose to be part of our school. We thank you for your support and look forward to meeting you.

Sincerely, Raquel Davis School Principal

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Here at Mt. Vernon Elementary SchoolWe are….

“Pouncing on all Opportunities to Succeed”

Our Mission at Mt Vernon Elementary School is to provide a high-quality education for all students that prepares them for Higher Education, Career and Civic Success.

To fulfill our mission, we commit to providing students with...

● Engaging and Academically Rigorous Instruction

● Social & Emotional Learning ● Civic Engagement & Leadership

Opportunities.

When MTV Wildcats ROAR we are…..RespectfulOrganized

Accountable Ready to Learn

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ATTENDANCE

School hours:7:45 AM Breakfast – Door #108:00 AM Instruction begins2:45 PM Dismissal – Doors #1 & #10 2:45 PM After-school meal3:00 PM After-school programs

Mount Vernon School has an attendance goal of 96%!

All students MUST be in school in order to learn and succeed.

Students MUST have a 96% minimum attendance rate in order to participate in our events, including 8th grade graduation and Kindergarten celebration! You will receive a calendar of events...don’t miss out! Come to school EVERY DAY!

ABSENCESA note dated and signed by the parent must accompany your child to school on the day following an absence.

TARDINESSInstruction begins at 8:00AM. Students arriving after 8:15AM are tardy and will lose Dojo points towards school-wide event participation.

EARLY DISMISSALSEarly dismissals are discouraged. No early dismissals will be permitted until you have completed an Early Dismissal Authorization Form. Please get this form from the main office.

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DISMISSALStudents will be dismissed promptly at 2:45PM. Picking up students before this time disrupts students’ learning. Please expect a conference with the principal if you plan to pick up your child early. Students should not be left at school an hour beyond dismissal.

DRESS CODE

ALLOWED - School Uniform● Navy blue or black pants, skirts, sweatpants, or

jumpers. ● White blouses or shirts with collars and sleeves.

White polo shirt, sweaters and turtlenecks. ● Navy blue, white, or grey sweaters with no

writing or designs

NOT ALLOWED● NO T-shirts with writing or print of any kind. ● NO bare midriffs or tank tops ● NO cartoons, slogans, or logos. ● NO white tees ● NO dark colored jeans are allowed.● NO cut or ripped up pants ● NO sagging pants● NO HOODIES ● NO boys earrings ● NO flip flops or sandals allowed where students’

feet are exposed.

We will enforce our uniform policy. Students who come out of uniform will be subject to consequences.

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GYM UNIFORMS Students will be required to wear a gym uniform to participate in physical education activities. School uniforms can be purchased by completing the Uniform Order Form, found in the Main Office. Please submit payment at the time you order by cash or money order.

DRESS DOWN FRIDAYSDress Down Days will be announced on special days throughout the year. During this time students are allowed to come out of uniform. Guidelines of acceptable dress attire must be followed.

GRADING

Did you know that GRADES and ATTENDANCE are a better predictor for success in High School, College, and beyond? Here at Mt. Vernon We want all of our students to be On Track! That means each student should have a GPA of 2.5 or higher and an attendance rate of 96% or better.

Grade scale: A= 90-100 - On Track B= 80-89 - On Track C=70-79 - On Track D=60-69 - Off Track F=59 and below – Off Track

PROGRESS REPORTS Distributed 4 times a year halfway through the marking period.

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PORTFOLIOSTeachers will keep a portfolio of your child’s major assignments in their classrooms. You will be able to view your child’s portfolio during parent conferences or report card pick-up.

REPORT CARDS 1st and 3rd quarters parents will be required to pick up the report cards and conference with the teacher. The 2nd quarter report cards may be picked up at our Family Engagement Day event, and 4th quarter report cards will be sent home.

HOMEWORK At Mt. Vernon, homework is given by every teacher, every night. Students will be held accountable for maintaining a student planner and completing homework. The requirements will vary by grade level and teacher. Students will also be expected to read independently at home every night

STUDENT SAFETY

We take great care to keep our students at Mt. Vernon. Here are our policies that are put in place to keep our students safe.

EMERGENCY FORMSWe ask that all families complete a new emergency form every year, one for each child. It is imperative that we have the most current information to use to contact you, or an emergency contact, in case there is an urgent need to do so. If any information changes, we

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ask that you come into the main office to have the clerk update your information. This is essential for the safety of your child.

ENTRY AND DISMISSAL Our Security personnel circulate the school grounds during these periods to monitor and protect the students during these periods. It is important that you encourage your students to come to school on time and to go home immediately after school, to avoid incidents with other students that may be potentially dangerous.

SAFETY DRILLSWe hold fire drills, tornado drills, asthma drills, and emergency lockdown drills throughout the year to make ourselves and our students ready in case we have an incident.

PARENT PATROLParents, we need reliable parents who are willing to help us keep our students safe during dismissal. With many parents picking up their children by car, often our students run into the street to get into family cars without first making sure it is safe to go into the street. Let’s make sure there are no tragedies. Please help us get students to their cars safely, and clear the area as quickly as possible.

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SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL LEARNING

Our SEL vision states that “in a disciplined and caring environment, based on mutual respect, each child will be valued as an individual”. We believe that social and emotional learning must be embedded throughout all aspects of the school in order to achieve this vision, and all staff and students must embrace a restorative mindset in order for these school-wide goals to be attained. In order to achieve this goal, students will engage in morning meetings, mentoring partnerships with the adults in the building, and receive second step character education instruction.

SCHOOLWIDE DISCIPLINE

Mount Vernon utilizes restorative practices to address disciplinary infractions. The goal is to restore harm and change behaviors so they will not repeat/ continue. Consequences will be assigned on a case by case basis following the Chicago Public Schools Student Code of Conduct.

Class Dojo is the communication tool we use with parents. Parents must be connected in order to be informed quickly of students’ positive and negative behaviors in the classroom. We value the partnership between school and home, and stress the importance of support of decisions made to address straying from school and classroom rules.

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LOCKERS

Each child will be assigned their own locker and will be responsible for the cleanliness and upkeep of the locker. The charge for locks will be $5. If students have locks that are not school issued they run the risk of locks being cut off the locker if a key is lost, combination forgotten, or due to a safety/security concern.

STUDENT CELL PHONE POLICY

Cell phone usage at Mount Vernon school is PROHIBITED. However, we realize that some students may need to carry a cell phone for BEFORE or AFTER school travel. If you grant your child permission to carry a cell phone for before or after school travel and would like Mt. Vernon School to consider permission for your child to carry a phone to school, please read, complete and return the form below to your child’s homeroom teacher.

● Possession and use of a cell phone at school during school hours violates the Chicago Public Schools Student Code of Conduct.

● Students caught with a cell phone on the school premises, including the school grounds, will have their phone confiscated for a parent/guardian to collect from the main office.

● Students caught using a cell phone to take unauthorized pictures/videos on school premises will have their phone confiscated for a parent/guardian to collect from the main office.

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● Cell phones may NEVER be visible, they are kept in the child’s backpack and MUST be powered OFF.

● Students who violate the CPS/Mt Vernon cell phone policy will lose his/her cell phone privilege and will not be allowed to bring a cell phone into the school building.

● The school will NOT assume responsibility for lost/stolen cell phones. It is the responsibility of the student to keep the cell phone secure and ensure that it is not visible at school.

COMPUTER AGREEMENT

During the school year, Mt. Vernon School students will be issued a Chromebook/iPad in their classrooms to enhance their learning experiences. These computers are instructional devices – not electronic toys – and must be handled with care. Students must have headphones/earbuds to use in the classroom.

All students will be expected to follow rules of network etiquette and computer usage. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

● Students are responsible for computer and its accessories while they are using them in class.

● Any damage or problems with their computer must be reported to their teacher immediately.

● Keep personal information, including the logins, passwords, addresses and telephone numbers of students or peers confidential.

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● Inappropriate use of the computer or its accessories will result in the loss of this privilege.

● Students will not visit or download non-educational websites. This includes chat rooms, instant messaging for personal use, music websites, and any obscene or pornographic sites.

The following forms must be completed and returned in order for students to utilize school devices:

1) Computer Use Agreement 2) Internet Agreement.3) Media Agreement

PLEASE NOTE: No student will be allowed to use a device until the three agreements discussed above are signed by a parent.

PARTICIPATE, ENGAGE, INSPIRE

Become a Volunteer

Please consider joining our school volunteer program as our students can greatly benefit from your involvement and contributions to the school’s program and its operations.

PROGRAM BENEFITSBelow are just a few ways how the time, effort, and presence of CPS volunteers transcends every level of providing a quality education to our children.

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For Students ● Develop skills in communicating with adults and

their peers ● Increase skill sets learned through tutoring or

targeted attention from volunteers ● Exposure to a wide range of life experiences, skills,

and talents of volunteers which adds to a positive learning environment

For Educators● Awareness of parent talents and interests in schools

and children● Greater individual attention to students, with help

from volunteers● Increase collaboration with parents and community

members● New experiences, interests and skills are brought to

the classroom by the volunteers● Positive partnership between school and community● Acknowledgment of parent and community talents,

skills, and expertise in their volunteer work

Please complete the application on the website below: http://cpsvolunteers.org/

PARENT MEETINGS AND WORKSHOPS

We will hold several Parent Workshops throughout the year to provide valuable information and support to parents in the important job of educating our students. Dates will be sent home in a separate flyer.

OPEN HOUSE

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Here you will be able to meet your child’s teacher, learn about new school programs, and hear the Principal’s “State of the School” Address”. We will raffle prizes and serve refreshments. Parent workshops will be held to distribute and discuss information critical to the development of your child’s literacy and math skills.

MANDATORY 8TH GRADE PARENT MEETINGThis will include discussion of the promotion policy, Graduation requirements, Graduation activities and fees.

MANDATORY KINDERGARTEN PARENT MEETING This will include discussion academic expectations along with the requirements for participating in the end of the year Kindergarten celebration activities.

MANDATORY BENCHMARK GRADE MEETINGAll parents of 3rd and 6th Grade students are expected to attend. During this meeting we will discuss On Track metrics, academic requirements and the promotion policy.

SPECIAL EVENTSWe have numerous assemblies, performances and events throughout the year! There is nothing more exciting to a child than looking into the audience and seeing their parent. Please check the monthly calendar and consider attending if you are able!

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PARENT INVOLVEMENT

PAC (PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL)The Parent Advisory Council is a group of parent volunteers who serve as ambassadors for Mt. Vernon among the parents and family members of the students and provide feedback to the principal on issues of particular interest to parents. The PAC meets throughout the year to discuss these issues, learn more about school developments affecting students, plan programs, fundraisers, and events to involve parents and families in the life of the school, and allocate finances through the Parents Initiative Fund. This year’s informational meeting will be announced soon.

VOLUNTEERINGIf you have any time during school hours to help out in the classroom, lunchroom or office, please apply at http://cpsvolunteers.org/. You must receive clearance as a Level 1 or 2 volunteer to work with children or chaperone field trips! This is for our children’s safety. Please consider applying today; it takes all of us to build a successful and thriving school.

LSC (LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCIL)Parents and community members are encouraged to attend the monthly LSC meetings and provide input during the open forum. Please see the Parent calendar or the school website for meeting dates.

VISITORSALL visitors entering the building must report immediately to the office to sign in and obtain a pass. Visiting the classroom during instructional time is not permitted, unless you are scheduled as a volunteer. You are free to make appointments with your child’s

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teacher during their prep periods or before/ after school. Complete the Teacher Conference Request Form found in the Main Office and place it in the teacher’s mailbox.

GET PLUGGED INTO MOUNT VERNON…….

Connect with us on the following social media platforms

School Website: www.mtvernon@cps.edu

Twitter: @MtVernonSchool

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MTVWildcats/ or Mount Vernon Elementary- CPS

Get the classroom code from the teacher today!

Raquel Davis, Principal - RDavis3@cps.eduAnjanette Lipsett, Assistant Principal - ALLipsett@cps.eduAndrew Tourville, Counselor - ALTourville@cps.eduDiane Tyson, Office Clerk - DDTyson@cps.edu

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MOUNT VERNON SCHOOL SONGWritten by Debra Garner

At Mount Vernon You’ll GrowAt Mount Vernon You’ll Learn to Soar

So read a book do your Math and SeeThat you can be the best you can be

Social studies, Science, HistoryAll together to makes me better

You’ll see.

At Mount Vernon You’ll GrowAt Mount Vernon You’ll Learn to Soar

I can tell you that I believeThat I can be the best I can be

I’ll sing this song every night and dayUntil the day I graduate

From Mt. Vernon You’ll GrowMt. Vernon You’ll learn to Soar

We love you Mt. VernonThank you Mt. VernonWe love Mt. Vernon

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Mt. Vernon School Pledge

I am a student of Mt Vernon School

I am somebody

I am successful

Yes I am college bound

Therefore I pledge to be respectful and to use this day to the fullest

This is my life and I choose to make it a success!!!

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