Elementary Handbook

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.  

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 at the beginning of the year to cover the cost of these events.

Birthdays are celebrated at each elementary school. Each student is invited to the office to receive a birthday book for their birthday.

Due to allergies, socioeconomic 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. Students will be painting, gluing, running, jumping, etc. 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.

Students may only sell items for school-approved fundraisers. Students may not sell items during class.  The school cannot be responsible for any money students may have collected. 

Lockers or coat racks are provided to students for storing coats, books and other school supplies. Lockers in elementary schools are not secure and are not for storing valuable items. Therefore, students are advised to leave valuables at home.

The school district is not responsible for reimbursements to families if personal property is stolen. Items left at school at the end of the school year may be donated.

School desks are school district property.  At no time does the school district relinquish its exclusive control of desks provided for students’ convenience. School officials may inspect the interior of desks for any reason at any time, without notice, without student consent, and without a search warrant.

Under Minnesota law, school lockers are school district property. At no time does the school district relinquish its exclusive control of lockers provided for students’ convenience. School officials may inspect the interior of lockers for any reason at any time, without notice, without student consent, and without a search warrant.

Students’ personal possessions within a school locker may be searched only when school officials have a reasonable suspicion that the search will uncover evidence of a violation of law or school rules. As soon as practicable after the search of a student’s personal possessions, the school officials will provide notice of the search to students whose lockers were searched, unless disclosure would impede an ongoing investigation by police or school officials.

Labeling your child’s personal items increases the chance that lost personal items will be returned. 

Please label all items of clothing. Students always have access to the lost and found area at their school.

Parents/guardians are encouraged to look through the lost and found items on conference days and times they visit the school. If you do not find a lost item, please ask in the office. Unclaimed items will be donated to charity at various times throughout the year with advance notice to families through school communications.

Each elementary school is part of a neighborhood. Such neighbors have every right to expect that their property (house, yard, cars, business, etc.) will be treated with respect. Therefore, students should not trespass on neighborhood businesses or private property.

Personal Items

Each school is committed to providing an environment free from distraction and focused on learning.  Often, items such as spinners, slime or other trendy toys become significant distractions, get stolen or become the primary focus of students over the intended attention to learning.  Such items are better suited for home use.  When improperly used in school, these items may be confiscated to be picked up later by a parent/guardian.  This is not to be confused with fidgets identified as accommodations for students as approved by case managers.  

Children are also discouraged from bringing expensive jewelry, toys, electronics, money, etc., to school. All outer garments, caps, over shoes or tennis shoes should be plainly marked on the inside with the child's name.               

Any money sent to school should be placed in an envelope clearly labeled with the child's name, teacher's name, and purpose. The school is not responsible for lost, stolen or broken personal items.

Electronics

Students receive a district issued device for academic use.

Personal electronic devices brought to school cannot be in use during the school day and must be off and remain in the student’s backpack. The school is not responsible for lost, stolen or broken items.  For this reason, it is recommended they are left at home.

Electronic device examples include, but are not limited to: iPad, Laptop, cell phones, EBooks, tablets headphones, earbuds and air pods. 

Electronic devices are strictly prohibited in bathrooms at any time. 

A great way to become involved is to become active an elementary Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) group. Each PTO is made up of parents/guardians and school staff to provide social, informational and educational experiences for students and families.

Whether you are a parent/guardian who can only attend one meeting or every meeting, your involvement is appreciated. If you cannot attend a meeting but would like to volunteer to help with PTO activities, your help is also greatly appreciated. Each school's PTO contact is listed on the school website.

A school patrol is set up at the school to serve at the most hazardous intersections around the school. The school patrol is made up of fifth grade students. The purpose of the patrol is to ensure the safety of all students who walk to and from school.

Morning school patrols will be at assigned corners at select times in the morning. Students who walk to school and cross at designated patrol crossing corners are asked to plan their arrival at school accordingly.

The school furnishes all texts, workbooks, iPads and curriculum materials. These are the property of the school and loaned to the child.                               

Pencils, crayons, paper, markers and other expendable items are furnished by the student. It is requested that parents check the supply of these items so their children will be adequately provided for at all times. A list of suggested school supplies for each grade level is available in the school office or on the district website.

Various community partners donate school supplies for students throughout the year and are also available at the District Office Welcome Center. Please connect with the main office if your family is in need of support.