STUDENT & FAMILY HANDBOOK
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Car Loading & Unloading Areas
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Uniforms
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Holiday Celebrations
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Handbook/Health Form
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Please observe the drop-off and parking procedures by District Department of Transportation:
Observe the No Parking Zones immediately in front of the school entrances on North Carolina Avenue SE and D Street SE. Dropping off students is allowed in these areas, but only if the driver remains in the vehicle at all times and leaves after the child exits the vehicle.
NEW 15-MINUTE PARKING ZONE
If you need to park to walk your student into the school, please find a safe and legal parking space. There will be parking on North Carolina Avenue between the school and 4th Street to help create more parking during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up.
Observe the No Parking Zones immediately in front of the school entrances on North Carolina Avenue SE and D Street SE. Dropping off students is allowed in these areas, but only if the driver remains in the vehicle at all times and leaves after the child exits the vehicle.
NEW 15-MINUTE PARKING ZONE
If you need to park to walk your student into the school, please find a safe and legal parking space. There will be parking on North Carolina Avenue between the school and 4th Street to help create more parking during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up.
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Drop-off Pattern When arriving by car all parents are required to follow a one-way traffic pattern around the school: clockwise around the school block as shown on the Map:
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All students are expected to adhere to the uniform policy. The uniform consists of a HUNTER GREEN or WHITE collared shirt or blouse and HUNTER GREEN or KHAKI pants, shorts, skirts, skorts or jumpers. Shorts may not be more than three inches above the knee.
Brent Elementary School shirts (t-shirts, polo shirts and sweatshirts) are also appropriate with green or khaki bottoms. *Brent school T-shirts are permissible. Brent products can be purchased at the Brent Store.
Children must wear their school uniform every day unless otherwise notified.
If students arrive at school without their uniform, parents will be contacted to bring appropriate clothing and/or students may be asked to change into school provided uniform clothes. Families must provide an extra change of clothes for Pre-K students in case of bathroom accidents. Change of clothes must include underwear, socks, shirts and pants/shorts/skirts/skorts/ jumper. Clothes should be sent in a labeled ziplock/plastic bag.
Students are expected to wear safe, functional clothing and shoes that they can use independently. Closed-toe shoes are required for health and safety reasons. Preschool and pre-kindergarten students are strongly encouraged to wear elastic waist pants since most young children are not able to secure buttons, snaps or belts independently. Preschool and pre-kindergarten students are also strongly encouraged to use Velcro or zipper shoes since most young children are not able to tie shoelaces and the can become a health and safety hazard.
Brent does not have a specific uniform vendor. If you are ordering from French Toast [www.frenchtoast.com] Brent’s school code is QS4SG6. Brent will earn 5% of orders placed.
Brent Elementary School shirts (t-shirts, polo shirts and sweatshirts) are also appropriate with green or khaki bottoms. *Brent school T-shirts are permissible. Brent products can be purchased at the Brent Store.
Children must wear their school uniform every day unless otherwise notified.
If students arrive at school without their uniform, parents will be contacted to bring appropriate clothing and/or students may be asked to change into school provided uniform clothes. Families must provide an extra change of clothes for Pre-K students in case of bathroom accidents. Change of clothes must include underwear, socks, shirts and pants/shorts/skirts/skorts/ jumper. Clothes should be sent in a labeled ziplock/plastic bag.
Students are expected to wear safe, functional clothing and shoes that they can use independently. Closed-toe shoes are required for health and safety reasons. Preschool and pre-kindergarten students are strongly encouraged to wear elastic waist pants since most young children are not able to secure buttons, snaps or belts independently. Preschool and pre-kindergarten students are also strongly encouraged to use Velcro or zipper shoes since most young children are not able to tie shoelaces and the can become a health and safety hazard.
Brent does not have a specific uniform vendor. If you are ordering from French Toast [www.frenchtoast.com] Brent’s school code is QS4SG6. Brent will earn 5% of orders placed.
Brent Mission Statement:
To ensure high quality, engaging and effective teaching and learning,
every day in every setting for every Brent student
(Revised 2014)
In our curriculum and classroom practices, we try to model and foster appreciation, understanding, and mutual respect for varied beliefs. Rather than limit our study of diversity to specific events or individuals, we strive to integrate various cultures and values into our classrooms regularly and invite students to enrich discussions with their own ethnic traditions and experiences.
Teachers acknowledge holidays by teaching about how and when they are celebrated, histories, and generally agreed-upon meanings. Students explore primary sources and rich literature to learn about the origins and importance of religious, secular, and national holidays. Classes examine the common thematic elements – such as peace, thankfulness, and forgiveness — of holidays, including those from many world religions. This broad-based approach, neither promoting nor inhibiting particular religious practices, allows all children to participate in all aspects of their classrooms.
Throughout the year, we provide many opportunities for children, faculty, and families to come together in celebration; we seek to ensure that all celebrations contribute meaningfully to the community and to the education of all students.
Our goal is to create classrooms in which each child feels secure, comfortable, and proud of his or her individualism, traditions, culture, and religion.
General Resources
Responsive Classroom
Understanding Prejudice
Teaching Tolerance
Teaching for Change
Knowing the families of the children we teach and working with them as partners is essential to children’s education.
– Principles and Practices of Responsive Classroom
Our classroom doors are always open to parents, guardians, and extended family members. Throughout the year, there may be opportunities for family members to share pictures, foods, and artifacts from their culture or ethnic background in the classroom.
Every fall, following the first six weeks of school, each class plans a “Family Event” as an opportunity for family members to come into the classroom and celebrate students’ learning. These celebrations will be connected to a class focus, goal, or achievement and have a curricular focus, in addition to being entertaining and fun. For example, students may walk family members through “a day in the life.”
In the spring, families will be invited to attend Character Day, as part of our Read Across America Celebration. Classes will choose a book or author to honor and share.
In addition, throughout the year, Brent staff plan a variety of school-wide events to bring the community together in celebration of learning. These have included Museum Exhibition Nights, Publishing Parties, Math Night, and Concerts.
Teachers may ask for volunteers or supplies for class learning celebrations. If you are interested in supporting class celebrations, contact your child’s teacher.
Birthdays
A child’s birthday can be the most important day of his or her year. In our classrooms, we incorporate birthday recognition into the educational program in a variety of ways. In order to maintain classroom time for these and other learning experiences, we ask that you not send individual treats or gifts to be shared with classmates.
If you would like to participate in the classroom program on your child’s birthday, please consult with the teacher. Some ways families have contributed to a child’s celebration at school are:
Incorporating the Arts
We have a strong arts program that serves all of our students and supports our curricular goals.
Students identify and describe the events or people celebrated during U.S. national holidays and why Americans celebrate them.
– DCPS Social Studies Standards, Kindergarten
The DCPS Social Studies standards mandate specific civics topics, including historic events, American values, and National holidays, be taught and assessed in certain grades. In addition, Brent staff use a variety of resources to determine academic priorities.
For the DCPS Social Studies standards of learning, visit dcps.dc.gov. For additional information about certain holidays, see below. We welcome additional input and suggestions to support our work.
To ensure high quality, engaging and effective teaching and learning,
every day in every setting for every Brent student
(Revised 2014)
In our curriculum and classroom practices, we try to model and foster appreciation, understanding, and mutual respect for varied beliefs. Rather than limit our study of diversity to specific events or individuals, we strive to integrate various cultures and values into our classrooms regularly and invite students to enrich discussions with their own ethnic traditions and experiences.
Teachers acknowledge holidays by teaching about how and when they are celebrated, histories, and generally agreed-upon meanings. Students explore primary sources and rich literature to learn about the origins and importance of religious, secular, and national holidays. Classes examine the common thematic elements – such as peace, thankfulness, and forgiveness — of holidays, including those from many world religions. This broad-based approach, neither promoting nor inhibiting particular religious practices, allows all children to participate in all aspects of their classrooms.
Throughout the year, we provide many opportunities for children, faculty, and families to come together in celebration; we seek to ensure that all celebrations contribute meaningfully to the community and to the education of all students.
Our goal is to create classrooms in which each child feels secure, comfortable, and proud of his or her individualism, traditions, culture, and religion.
General Resources
Responsive Classroom
Understanding Prejudice
Teaching Tolerance
Teaching for Change
Knowing the families of the children we teach and working with them as partners is essential to children’s education.
– Principles and Practices of Responsive Classroom
Our classroom doors are always open to parents, guardians, and extended family members. Throughout the year, there may be opportunities for family members to share pictures, foods, and artifacts from their culture or ethnic background in the classroom.
Every fall, following the first six weeks of school, each class plans a “Family Event” as an opportunity for family members to come into the classroom and celebrate students’ learning. These celebrations will be connected to a class focus, goal, or achievement and have a curricular focus, in addition to being entertaining and fun. For example, students may walk family members through “a day in the life.”
In the spring, families will be invited to attend Character Day, as part of our Read Across America Celebration. Classes will choose a book or author to honor and share.
In addition, throughout the year, Brent staff plan a variety of school-wide events to bring the community together in celebration of learning. These have included Museum Exhibition Nights, Publishing Parties, Math Night, and Concerts.
Teachers may ask for volunteers or supplies for class learning celebrations. If you are interested in supporting class celebrations, contact your child’s teacher.
Birthdays
A child’s birthday can be the most important day of his or her year. In our classrooms, we incorporate birthday recognition into the educational program in a variety of ways. In order to maintain classroom time for these and other learning experiences, we ask that you not send individual treats or gifts to be shared with classmates.
If you would like to participate in the classroom program on your child’s birthday, please consult with the teacher. Some ways families have contributed to a child’s celebration at school are:
- Sending in a favorite book. A family member or teacher can read it to the class.
- Preparing your child to share her or his birthday tradition. Children have opportunities to share during Class Meetings.
- Donating a book to the classroom or school library in honor of your child’s birthday.
Incorporating the Arts
We have a strong arts program that serves all of our students and supports our curricular goals.
- We promote creativity and development of motor skills through process – not product – oriented arts activities.
- We encourage open-ended exploration with authentic materials, rather than traditional holiday arts and crafts, which often oversimplify the themes of these holidays or, at worst, reinforce stereotypes and historically inaccurate information.
- Our writing program allows students to make choices about what and how they communicate. We provide tools for students to write notes, cards, and letters to friends and family throughout the year.
Students identify and describe the events or people celebrated during U.S. national holidays and why Americans celebrate them.
– DCPS Social Studies Standards, Kindergarten
The DCPS Social Studies standards mandate specific civics topics, including historic events, American values, and National holidays, be taught and assessed in certain grades. In addition, Brent staff use a variety of resources to determine academic priorities.
For the DCPS Social Studies standards of learning, visit dcps.dc.gov. For additional information about certain holidays, see below. We welcome additional input and suggestions to support our work.
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Valentine’s Day www.tolerance.org |
Martin Luther King Jr. Day www.mlkday.gov Columbus Day www.understandingprejudice.org |
Chinese New Year www.scholastic.com Veteran’s Day www.military.com |
The Brent Elementary Student and Family Handbook has been developed to provide information on school policies and procedures. Please keep it readily available for your use during the school year. A copy can also be found at the front office. Also, the following is Brent’s 2015 Health Schools Act School Health Profile:
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