Field Trip Checklist
The following information needs to be completed for all field trips. A folder with information marked with an asterisk (*) must be left with the office on the day of the trip. (Click here to print all necessary forms)
_____ 1. Request school permission. A Field Trip Approval Form must be
signed by the principal. This application should be approved at least
30 days prior to the trip. (Attachment A)
_____ 2. Request transportation 30 days prior to your trip through the Assistant Principal for
Administration.
_____ 3. Send home a cover letter and parental permission slip for each student.
Parents should be asked to list any medical problems or any medications
students are taking on the permission slip. (Attachment B)
_____ 4. Complete a master list of chaperones/teachers. This list is to be
provided 5 days prior to field trip. * (Attachment C)
_____ 5. Complete a list of students not participating in the field trip.
Arrangements must be made for another teacher to keep any
students not participating in the field trip. Work/activities should
be provided for the students left at the school. * (Attachment D)
_____ 6. Leave the field trip route in the office. * (Attachment E)
_____ 7. Establish the estimated time of arrival back to school with arrangements
made for student pick-up if the arrival time is after school dismissal
time.
_____ 8. Make arrangements for lunch if it is to be provided away from the
school.
_____ 9. Consult with the Lunchroom Manager regarding lunches to be prepared
at school at least 10 days prior to the trip.
____ 10. A list of student’s names/addresses/phone numbers will be provided by
the office.*
____ 11. The office will provide arm bracelets for each student.
____ 12. Submit any needed purchase orders to the office no later than 2 weeks
prior to the field trip.
____ 13. First Aid Kit – See Nurse 3-4 days in advance.
Field Study Forms - Checklist (word, pdf), Destination (word, pdf), Parent Permission (word, pdf), Request (word, pdf), Roster (word, pdf), Students not Participating (word, pdf) Print All (word, pdf)
Teachers are required to maintain grades using the IGPro grade book in which the record of student work is recorded. These grade books should be organized in a manner, which enables the teacher to record in some fashion the outcome of the work done by the student.
Grading
Care should be taken in arriving at a final grade based on tests, classwork, homework, etc. Tests are designed to be an assessment of what the student has learned. Homework and classwork are practice activities to help the student commit that learning to long-term memory.
Teachers should give enough practice activities to ensure that students are ready for a test to assess learning and to arrive at a grade. At no time should homework/classwork grades lower a final average more than one letter grade.
Each grade level should submit their homework policy to the Assistant Principal for Instruction. Please provide in writing the expectations for homework, how it is graded, and what percentage of the final grade it constitutes.
Grading Scale
The following grading scale should be adhered to for all subjects in grades 2-5.
A 93 – 100
B 85 – 92
C 77 – 84
D 70 – 76
F 0 – 69
The district is currently working on a policy for averaging student work that is a failing grade. Previously, the guideline has been to record the actual grade, on individual assessments, but record no lower than a 55 for a semester average. This is to give the student the potential for pulling the grade up to a passing grade during the second semester. You will be notified as soon as a policy is received from the district office.
Art, Music, P.E.
S - Satisfactory
U - Unsatisfactory
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Homework and Classwork
Teachers are to have a grade level homework and classwork policy that they send home to parents at the beginning of the year or whenever a new student enters the class. Certain guidelines should be followed in assigning homework:
1. Homework should be explained at school so that students can work independently at home.
2. The emphasis should be on meaningful assignments and adapted to the individual
needs of the student or groups of students.
3. Homework assignments do not have a strict time limit but some guidelines
concerning maximum time limits should be as follows:
Grade 1 - 10 minutes
Grade 2 - 20 minutes
Grade 3 - 30 minutes
Grade 4 - 40 minutes
Grade 5 - 50 minutes
Students identified for inclusion in an academically gifted program are students who are advanced in skill development whose intelligence and achievement test scores indicate that they are gifted learners. Students identified for service in the EAGLE program do not always fit the “mold” teachers have for bright students. They may appear disorganized, scatter-brained, and difficult to focus. Please work with these students because they may most need the services the academically gifted program offers.
When EAGLE students are pulled out of the regular classrooms, they work on content and skills which are related to the regular curriculum but do not replace it. They are expected to demonstrate mastery of the content covered in the regular classroom. However, repetition of skills students have already mastered should not be required. Most of these students need fewer repetitions and less “practice” than average students in order to master the skill or acquire new information. Only essential work required for preparation for the next day should be made up.
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Lesson Plans
Lesson plans are required of each teacher. The teacher may use the format of his/her choosing. Most teachers prefer to develop their own plans electronically.
Lesson plans should be a clear indication of the instructional day specifically detailed. The daily schedule should reflect approximate times during which subjects are taught as well as times for lunch, recess, special classes, etc. Each lesson and activity for which the teacher has responsibility should include introductory and follow-up activities.
Lesson plans should be completed by each Friday for the upcoming week. The plans should be accessible for administrators to check at any given time.
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The L.I.F.E. Trail
(Learning by Integrating Fitness and Education)
Red Bank Elementary is proud to offer an outdoor learning center called The L.I.F.E. Trail. Teachers are encouraged to use the trail for all subject areas. Suggested lesson plans and activities are available in the professional room of the library. Teachers must refer to the schedule in the office to sign up for times to be on the trail. As with any other time, you have your class out of the regularly scheduled location, please notify the office. Take a walkie-talkie to the nature trail.
Consideration of a student for retention should be discussed with the principal or API before starting retention conferences. The second conference (by May 1) should include the parent, an administrator, and the teacher.
Conferences should be summarized on the proper form and a copy should be filed in the permanent record, a copy should be given to the principal, and a copy should be provided for the parent.
Each teacher will complete a retention form at the end of the year, which lists the names of all students being retained for the year. If a kindergarten student is recommended for retention, the teacher must summarize the delays of the child and submit the recommendation to the district’s Director of Elementary Education.
If the teacher is uncertain about promotion/retention after conferring with an administrator or the school psychologist, then the concerns should be presented to the Student Intervention Team for discussion.
Language Arts
Reading is the key to unlocking the door to knowledge. Lexington School District One schools realize the importance of the reading program in the elementary grades.
Flexibility and creativity are encouraged in the teaching of reading so students become excited about the experience of reading. Along with the flexibility must come certain constraints to keep students within the state adopted program guides. Therefore, all students must be tested using the tests of the district-adopted programs and a cumulative language arts portfolio must be kept to record progress.
The language arts program should be built around the standards in the SC Frameworks. Teachers should keep an account of the standards that have been taught and assessed.
A well-designed reading program should have balance. Skills taught become the parts that are the means to the end - reading. Classroom reading instruction should include practice of the parts (skills) and practice of the whole (reading). The goal of spelling instruction should be that students be able to spell frequency and basic words correctly in written work. Students should write daily and writing should be addressed in every subject area. To accomplish this balance many opportunities should be planned to have students to read for enjoyment as well as schoolwork.
Teachers are expected to read aloud to their students in all grade levels. Students need good role models in their reading, which teachers can provide. Through read alouds, teachers can model the thinking processes that are involved in reading and model problem solving strategies.
Red Bank will continue to implement a balanced literacy approach to reading and writing. Our literacy coach will provide ongoing staff development to assist teachers in best practices for reading and language instruction.
Math
Students show their proficiency in math by the application of math concepts. The application of knowledge should be the end goal of all math instruction. The state standards should drive instruction. Remember that textbooks do not cover all standards. The district planning and pacing guide should be followed.
We are fortunate to have a math coach who will provide ongoing staff development in best practices.
Science
Science instruction should be based on the content standards in the S.C. State Standards for Science. Please refer to the planning and pacing guide and collaborate with teachers on your grade level team to share ideas for teaching/learning activities. FOSS kits and GEM kits must be used to give students hands-on experiences with science concepts.
Social Studies
Instruction in the area of social studies should be based on the adopted social studies texts for each grade level as well as the state standards. Teachers are expected to incorporate student projects into the social studies curriculum. Though revised standards will be adopted in the 2004-2005 school year, students will be tested on PACT with the current standards.
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Student Recognition Programs
Good Citizens
Each nine weeks all teachers of all grade levels will nominate up to two students who have exhibited good citizenship. All “Good Citizens” will receive a certificate and will be recognized in the school newsletter.
Radiant Roadrunners
Each nine weeks all teachers of all grade levels will nominate up to three students who have exhibited extraordinary effort. Students will receive a certificate and will be recognized in the school newsletter.
Red Bank Risers
Students in grades 3-5 and special education will be recognized as "Red Bank Risers" if they bring their grades up one letter grade (Ex. C to B or D to C) in at least two subjects without dropping in any other subjects. This includes Band, Orchestra, and Chorus. This award will be given during the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th nine weeks periods. Students will receive a certificate and will be recognized in the school newsletter.
Principal's Club
Students in grades 2-5 and special education will be recognized each nine weeks if they have all A's. All students will receive a certificate and will be recognized in the school newsletter.
Honor Roll
Students in grades 2-5 and special education will be recognized each nine weeks if they have all A's and B's. All students will receive a certificate and will be recognized in the school newsletter.
Perfect Attendance
All students in all grade levels will receive a certificate if they have perfect attendance for the entire year. Students must be present at least four hours in the school day to receive credit for that day. A student with 10 or more tardies cannot receive perfect attendance.