Occasionally, students will travel to enrich their learning with an experience connected to a current learning target or grade level standard. Money from school fundraisers, when available, will be used to cover bus transportation for students. Parents/ guardians may be asked to contribute money to cover the cost of admission and/or other expenses. No student will be denied a field trip experience because of inability to pay. Parents/ guardians are asked to contribute as much as they are able.

A formal report of student progress is issued every quarter in grades K-5. Informal progress reports are available upon request, and student work, with written feedback is periodically sent home with students.

All elementary grades are based on end-of-year outcomes. Shakopee Public Schools uses Standards-based Grading practices, which includes gathering both formative and summative academic information in order to determine if a student has “met” a standard.

1- limited understanding of grade level standard 

2 – progressing toward grade level standard

3 - meets grade level standard

E - exceeds grade level standard

Please view the Elementary Report Card Resource link on this page for more information.

Students are responsible for completing all work assigned by the teacher.  When classwork is not finished during the school day, it may be considered homework.  Incomplete work may result in loss of privileges. Homework may be assigned by the individual teacher.

Each classroom teacher will indicate a folder that will be used as a “take-home” folder for each student.  This folder may contain important information about school, including classroom newsletters, notification of upcoming events, past-due or missing work notices, etc. 

Parents/guardians  are asked to return the folder the following school day. Items being sent to school can also be sent via this folder.  If this folder is lost or damaged, parents/guardians may be asked to provide a replacement.  

All students should report an absence as soon as possible by submitting a request in Infinite Campus or contacting the school's attendance line. If the school is unable to reach the family or does not hear back about an absence, the absence/tardy will automatically be marked as unexcused. 

The classroom teacher reports attendance information and all absences and tardiness are recorded in the school office. Please refer to Policy 503 Student Attendance for additional information.

THE IMPORTANCE OF REGULAR ATTENDANCE

Regular and punctual attendance in class is of prime importance if the maximum benefits of schooling are to be achieved.  The entire process of education requires continuity of instruction, classroom participation and study in order to achieve the goal of maximum educational benefits for each individual student.  It is expected that all students will be in attendance in class on those days when school is in session.  Parents/guardians are responsible for making sure their child attends school every day.

DAILY AUTOMATED ATTENDANCE CALLS

Parents/guardians will receive a computer-automated phone call when their student has an unexcused absence of one or more block classes during the school day.  If a student and/or parent/guardian feels that the attendance was marked inaccurately, they should contact the teacher and/or the Dean of Students.

LEAVING DURING THE SCHOOL DAY

If a student is leaving for any reason during the day, parents/guardians must call the office as much in advance as possible.  Please indicate the student’s name, grade, reason for leaving, the time they will be picked up and who will be picking them up.  Students will not be permitted to leave with anyone other than a parent/guardian unless indicated by the primary guardian.  For student’s safety, students are not permitted to meet their ride at the door. Parents/guardians are asked to come into the office to get their student.

PRE-ARRANGED FAMILY TRIPS

If a family trip is planned during school time, the parents/guardians should call the attendance line well in advance to inform them of the date(s) the student(s) will be absent.  The parent/guardian may request homework be collected in advance of the departure date so their student(s) can work on it during their absence to help stay caught up.  Family trips may be excused absences as defined above, if a call is made to the school.  If the parent/guardian fails to contact the office, the absence may be considered unexcused.

Please refer to district policy for truancy, unverified absences, tardiness and unexcused reasons.

DAILY ATTENDANCE PROTOCOLS SAMPLE

Please note, Eagle Creek start/end time differs from the other four elementary schools.

General School Day: 9:05am – 3:45pm 

Arrival to School 

• Arrive between 8:55-9:49am---- Full Day Attendance 
• Arrive between 9:50am-2:34pm ---- Half Day Attendance 
• Arrive between 2:35pm-3:45pm---- Full Day Absence 

*Any student who arrives after 9:05am will be expected to report to the school office for an admittance slip. This practice allows the office personnel to record the tardy as excused or unexcused.

Early Departure from School 

• Leave before 9:50am—Full Day Absence 
• Leave after 9:50am but before 2:35pm- Half Day Absence 
• Leave after 2:35pm—Full Day Attendance

If students demonstrate inappropriate behavior at school, an adult will seek to understand what happened, support the child in reflecting on their behavior and provide opportunities for restoring relationships, as applicable. 

In addition, specific consequences may be applied; parents/guardians may be contacted, depending on the nature of the behavior, frequency of the behavior and severity of the specific incident.            

Please refer to the  500 Student Policy series for additional discipline and bullying prohibition elements.

Behavioral expectations specific to all areas of school, for example, classrooms, hallways, bathrooms, lunchroom, playground and school buses are taught at the beginning of the school year.  Behavior expectations are re-taught and positively reinforced throughout the year to promote a safe, welcoming, and engaging learning environment for each child. 

If students demonstrate inappropriate behavior at school, an adult will seek to understand what happened, support the child in reflecting on their behavior and provide opportunities for restoring relationships, as applicable. 

In addition, specific consequences may be applied; parents may be contacted, depending on the nature of the behavior, frequency of the behavior, and severity of the specific incident.            

Adults will:

• Create a balanced approach for all learning. 
• Create a climate for learning that includes:
  • Opportunities for students to explore and construct their learning through student choices, practice, trial, error and reworking.
  • Knowing the students culturally, and individually, by being fully cognizant of their individual strengths and interests.
  • Co-creating classroom rituals that maximize learning bell-to-bell.
  • Creating a climate that respects difference and allows for multiple perspectives without hurting others.
  • Fostering opportunities for students to determine responsibility in meeting academic, social, and emotional expectations in monitoring their self-control. 

Students will:

• Participate fully in the learning experience, including curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular activities, from the moment he/she is on the bus until s/he is returned home, at all district activities and events.
• Participate actively in the learning experience by being fully engaged, fully prepared, raising engaging questions, and effectively and positively communicating with all students and staff.
• Participate actively in the learning experience by sharing information about themselves—strengths, weakness, and culture to create common bonds in curricular, co-curricular and extracurricular activities.
• Participate actively in the learning experience by respecting differences while asserting perhaps a divergent viewpoint, doing so without harm to the other students, staff, team, other leader, and property.
• Demonstrate empathy (knowing others) to build fruitful relationships that create a cohesive learning opportunity for all and, through self-control behave in an ethical manner from the moment he/she is on the bus until s/he is returned home.

Occasional class parties are held throughout the year for special events. Donations may be collected from each student (in Infinite Campus) at the beginning of the year to cover the cost of these events.

Birthdays are celebrated at each elementary school. Due to allergies and nutritional concerns, students should refrain from bringing in treats on their birthday. Families may honor their student by purchasing a “birthday book” for the Media Center or by making a donation to the Shakopee Education Endowment Foundation (SEEF) in a child’s name. 

Schools ask that students do not bring birthday invitations to school. To respect the feelings of students who have not been invited to the party, invitations should be delivered by some other means. Please do not send gifts of any kind to others at school.  

Connect & Assess days are scheduled two days prior to the start of school for elementary students each year.  Connect & Assess is an opportunity for teachers to meet and connect with each student in their class and conduct a short assessment with each child to best meet their needs. The link for families is sent via email to each family at the end of August.  

Parent/Guardian -Teacher conferences are scheduled throughout the school year. Dates and times for each school are posted on the district calendar. Additional conferences may be scheduled whenever a parent/guardian or teacher feels it is necessary. Please contact the teacher to arrange for before/after school or Google Meet appointments.

Children should come to school dressed for play. We encourage students to wear tennis shoes, no flip flops or sandals please. We will be as careful as we can, but accidents can and do happen.

Students go outside unless the wind chill is below the district guidelines. Rain and snow gear should be worn to school when the weather is inclement. Please be sure to label boots, hats, mittens, coats, etc. with your child’s name.

Shoes must be worn at all times for health and safety reasons.

Please refer to Policy 504 for Student Dress and Appearance for additional directions.