School Handbook
Welcome to Beech Elementary School!
In the section below, we've provided all the information you need to know for you and your student to thrive as part of the Beech Elementary family.
Getting Ready for School
- Attendance Expectations
- Transportation
- Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures
- Dress Code
- Health Services and Medications
- ParentVue - Communication from School
Attendance Expectations
Good attendance is critical for steady academic growth, and, by law, children are required to attend school.
Please call the school office any time your child will not be in school.
If you are asked to leave a voice mail, please give the following information:
- Name of the parent or guardian calling
- Student's name and grade
- Date(s) of absence
- Reason for absence; please be specific
Absences will only be excused for the following reasons:
- Illness
- Medical or dental appointment
- A family death or serious illness
- Court/judicial appearance
- Religious observations
- School-sponsored activities
Students who are late to school will be considered tardy. Please make every effort to have your student at school on time.
Additionally signing your child out in the afternoon prior to the end of the school day affects their attendance and learning.
Students who become truant (inexcusably absent three consecutive days or five school days in any semester or seven days in a school year) will be reported to the Kansas Department for Children and Families in accordance with Board of Education Policy 1461.
Transportation
Students must live 2.5 miles or more from their assigned school to qualify for transportation to that school.
For questions about WPS transportation and busing, call 316-973-2190.
The district does offer the FirstView app that helps families track their student's school bus. Families will need a security code from the school office to use the app.
Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures
Student Arrival
There is NO supervision on the school grounds before 8:50 a.m.
For the safety of your child, they should not arrive at school too early.
All students enter through the front doors at 8:50 a.m. and will be greeted by staff.
Students will walk to their classrooms where their teachers are waiting for them to enter.
Students who eat breakfast will go through the breakfast line and carry their breakfasts to their classrooms.
The exception is Kindergarten.
Kindergarten students who eat breakfast will get breakfast outside their classrooms from a breakfast cart.
Student Dismissal
Students are dismissed with their teachers at the end of the school day at 4:10 p.m.
Students should not play on school grounds or the playground area before returning home.
Students must be picked up from school no later than 4:20 p.m.
Students who are not picked up by that time will wait in the office.
If students are not picked up in a timely manner after school, then a report will be made to the Wichita Police Department and Social Services.
Grade level dismissal doors
- Kindergarten: Exit from classrooms and wait on the kindergarten patio located on the south side of the building
- 1st Grade: Exit with teacher and line up along the Cypress drive north of the Pre-K playground
- 2nd: Exit with teacher and line up along the Cypress drive north of the Pre-K playground
- 3rd: Exit front doors with their teachers, walk out toward the Cypress drive with their teachers to load into vehicles. If they have older siblings, the older siblings will there too.
- 4th and 5th grade: Exit through front doors with their teachers, cross the parking lot to the Funston sidewalk.
Dress Code
In order to promote a quality learning environment in our school, appropriate student behavior/dress is necessary. Reasonable criteria for determining appearance are based on health, safety and public decency and should be conducive to a learning atmosphere. Though not all inclusive, these are specific examples of the general criteria:
- Extreme dress or hairstyle which is distractive will not be permitted.
- Sunglasses, hats, hoods, bandanas and head scarves are not to be worn in the building.
- Any items which promote the use of alcohol, tobacco, illegal pictures or attract attention to body parts (including writing across the rear of pants and shorts) will not be permitted.
- Because of safety concerns, platform shoes, sandals and flip flops are not recommended on PE days or on the playground. Roller skates or Heelies (rollers built into the shoes) are not permitted. If in doubt, please send an extra pair of shoes with your child.
- Shirts must reach the waistband. All shirts must cover the belt line at all times.
- Shirts could cover shoulders, midriffs and backs at all times.
- Underwear cannot be shown outside of regular attire.
- No shorts/skirts above fingertip length when arms are at rest.
- "Sagging" will not be permitted.
- Coats will be allowed in the classroom at the discretion of the teacher when the temperature is uncomfortable to the learning environment.
The above code/expectations will be applied fairly and equitably regardless of gender. Administration, teachers and other school staff may determine what constitutes inappropriate or unsafe dress. Any item that is deemed disruptive to the operation of the school or distracting to the learning environment will not be allowed. The decision of the building principal will be final in all disputes concerning student dress.
Parents will be contacted and asked to bring appropriate clothing or child may be given alternative clothing from the office, if inappropriate clothing is worn to school.
Health Services and Medications
Parents should notify the school nurse if there are any health conditions that may require medical attention, such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, etc.
If a student becomes ill during the school day, they should request a pass to see the nurse.
Students who exhibit fever, sore throat or tonsillitis, any eruption of the skin or rash, any respiratory symptoms accompanied by a fever, severe cough or cold, or any eruption of the scalp, will be sent home.
Parents will be notified to pick up their student and must do so in a timely manner to limit exposure to other students and school staff.
Please keep your emergency contact information up to date with both the teacher and office staff.
School board policy (BOE P5316) restricts school personnel from giving students any medication, including over-the-counter medication.
Medication is given only upon written request from both the parent/guardian and the student's physician. Students must also have received one dose of medication without an adverse reaction prior to any doses being given at school.
All medicine must be in the original container and be presented by a parent to the school nurse for safe keeping and scheduled administration. The container should be labelled with the following:
- Name of student
- Name of medication
- Directions for use
- Name of physician
- Name and address of pharmacy
- Date of prescription
ParentVue - Communication from School
The district uses the ParentVUE online portal to give parents to access information about their student's attendance, assignments and grades. ParentVUE allows parents to quickly and easily update their family contact information, which is vital in order to maintain strong home-to-school connections.
During the School Day
Behavior Expectations
Keeping students emotionally and physically safe at school is our number one priority. All students have the right to learn in an orderly environment that is free of disruption. We understand that from time to time, students may need additional practice meeting these expectations. We are trying to teach students academic and behavioral skills they will be using in the real world that will help them be successful adolescents and adults. Our staff will work closely with parents to ensure students learn to be responsible citizens and develop strategies for resolving conflicts.
Bullying
We take bullying very seriously.
Bullying is defined as 1) purposeful behavior that intends to cause harm or distress, 2) is usually repeated over time, and 3) occurs in a relationship where there is an imbalance of power. Forms of bullying are: 1) Physical, 2) Cyber, and 3) occurs in a relationship where there is an imbalance of power. Forms of bullying are: 1) Physical, 2) Cyber, and 3) Relational Aggression. Witnesses of bullying are to tell the bully to stop, tell and adult, and reach out in friendship to the victim.
If your child is experiencing bullying at school, please contact your child's teacher or school administration and let them know about it right away. It is important to remember that we cannot act in situations that we know nothing about.
Families and students are also encouraged to use the SPEAK Up Anonymous Tip Program. The district’s Crime Stoppers in Schools program has created the Speak Up program, which allows students, staff and parents the ability to send anonymous tips through a secure website, app or phone number. The funding for this service is provided by Crime Stoppers of Wichita and Sedgwick County, a division of The Wichita Metro Crime Commission.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is words or behaviors that are sexual in nature and are unwanted and unwelcome. Sexual harassment could be touching or grabbing body parts, touching or rubbing onself in front of another, sending or delivering unwanted and unwelcome messages, notes or pictures with sexual content, sexual gestures, looks, jokes, comments or noises. Sexual harassment is not tolerated in Wichita Public Schools.
All complaints of sexual harassment will be investigated completely and when the complaint is made. All efforts will be made to provide confidentiality, to the extent possible, for all people involved. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. False complaints will also result in disciplinary action.
Cell Phone Policy
School Meals
We provide breakfast for all students free of charge.
Lunch fees can depend on family income. Complete the Free and Reduced Meal Application annually to qualify for free lunch and adjustments to school fees.
The district uses an app called School Cafe to allow families to see menus.
The district uses LINQ Connect to pay for meals.
For special dietary restrictions, please contact the school nurse.
Field Trips
Field trips with our city and nearby sites of interest are scheduled by classroom teachers throughout the school year. These trips are designed to supplement different aspects of the classroom curriculum and intoduce students to resources within the community. Parents will be notified of the planned trip at least five days in advance and must sign a trip waiver for students to attend. If a student does not have a signed permission slip to attend the trip, they will not go. We will not accept verbal permission over the phone.
If there is a fee for the field trip, the money needs to be submitted at least three days prior to the scheduled trip. All field trips require the use of school buses. Parents are not able to transport students on field trips.
If a parent serves as a chaperone, they will need to complete the school district's volunteer process prior to the field trip.
Weather Information
The safety of students, staff and parents is the Wichita Public Schools' greatest priority during the threat of dangerous conditions.
Emergency plans are in place should tornadoes, lightning, hail, snow or other dangerous circumstances present a safety concern.
If schools are to be closed or activities cancelled or rescheduled due to weather conditions, the information will be posted on the Wichita Public Schools' website main page and displayed on all school websites.
Lost and Found
Please write your child’s name on jackets, coats, lunch boxes, and any other personal items.
Students who find lost articles should take them to the Lost and Found Rack on the main floor, right outside the library.
Valuable items found should be brought to the office.
Throughout the year many hats, gloves, and coats are often unclaimed.
If your child has lost an article of clothing, please ask him/her to check the lost and found area.
Unclaimed items will be donated to charity at the end of the school year.
Family Engagement
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences are a great way to stay involved in your child's education. Parents have the opportunity to discuss their child's progress, review assignments, learn about future projects and to strengthen the connection between home and school.
Parent-Teacher Conferences are held twice a year in October and February.
Progress Reports
Progress reports are provided to parents every quarter. Reviewing these reports is an essential component of parent involvement in their child's education. Please look for these reports and discuss them with your student. You may also log on to ParentVue for an ongoing list of grades provided by the teacher. If you have any concerns about these reports, contact your student's teacher.
Visiting and Volunteering
All visitors to the building, including parents, must sign in through our visitor management system HallPass.
Parents, caregivers and other relatives wanting to volunteer in the school or for field trips are required to register every year as a volunteer. Visit the Volunteer Registration page to complete your annual registration.
Classroom Celebrations
Students may bring pre-packaged birthday treats at a time designated by the classroom teacher.
Students with summer birthdays may make special arrangements if they would like to bring treats on a different day.
Prior to arrangements for all parties should be made with the teacher.
Parties are limited to 15 minutes.
The passing out of invitation to parties outside of school is to be done after school.
Students may distribute invitations in the classroom ONLY when ALL students are invited.
*Due to the increase in severe fool allergies, we are requesting that all food brought into the school be store bought items that have the nutritional labels intact.
Teachers will communicate with parents if there are food allergies.
This will help you know what foods may or may not be safe to bring into the classroom.
If there are questions or concerns, please talk with your child’s teacher or the school nurse.