From the office:
Tutoring is available for students in grades K-5 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Both morning and afternoon times are available.  Morning tutoring begins at 7:15 and after school tutoring ends at 3:45.  Please follow the scheduled times for drop off and pick up.  Thank you.
 

New Nutrition Policy on Snacks in Schools

No home made food may be served to students.
No high sugar (40%) candies and desserts.
No high fat foods (9 grams per one ounce serving
 
 

Homework
Homework is a time to practice what a child learns in school.  This will help your child and make it easier to master future concepts.

Absence calls
Please call the school (232-6530) between 7:20 and 8:20 to report your child off sick or tardy for the day.  We will make “care calls” for those who forget to call us.

Medical Reasons
Medical excuses are needed for absences upon missing 5 days of school.  Please see the attached attendance policy.

Student Safety
1. Dogs should not be brought on school property.

2. The parking lot is too small to be used as a student drop off and pick up area and is reserved for students on crutches and handicapped parking.  To avoid this hazard please use Marshall Street as a drop off zone to avoid having to back out of the parking lot.  Your patience is much appreciated.

Routines
Setting routines for students is very important.  Bed times, homework times, and morning routines will prove beneficial.  To help your teacher please do not visit your child’s classroom without making an appointment.  This includes morning visits.

Local School Improvement Council
If you would like to be a parent representative on the Local School Improvement Council please contact Mr. Yoder to be placed on a ballot.

2011-2012 School Schedule
M. T. TH. Friday:
7:30 Breakfast Served
7:50 ALL STUDENTS TO CLASS
8:05 Class Begins/ Tardy

Wednesday Schedule(Late Start Up)
7:30 Supervision Provided (If Needed)
8:30 Best Arrival Time
8:50 ALL STUDENTS TO CLASS
9:05 Class Begins/Tardy
 

Dismissal

2:50 Walkers and Day Care Dismissed and Bus 42 South
2:53 Bus 85 and then 42 N

Please communicate clearly  in writing with your teacher regarding changes to your dismissal plans.

Lunch and Breakfast Information

We are on a computerized billing system for charges for school meals. Bills are printed at the Board of Education Office and will be sent to each student’s home address after the first of the month.  Each student will receive her/his bill on the first day of the following month.  Prices are as follows:
 
 

Student breakfast	$ .85
Reduced breakfast	$ .30
Student lunch	$1.05
Reduced lunch	$ .40

If you are in need of a free or reduced lunch application, please contact the school office and one will be sent home with your child.
 Milk may be purchased in the office during lunch time.
cost  $ .35

 

 CHARACTER EDUCATION “PILLARS OF GOOD CHARACTER

 
    Through our character education program students learn the pillars of good character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship.  Students can earn TRRFFC Kid Cards for showing good character.  These are recorded for end of the month drawings.  One student from each grade level will be recognized as “Mustang of the Month” with a special bulletin board recognition. Students may win only once during the school year. Also a drawing will determine the homeroom hero winner from grades 1-3 and grades 4-5.  The entire homeroom class enjoys extra recess or activity with Mr. Yoder.

   This program has had a positive effect on our school environment.  Students are reminded of manners and ways to help each other.  In addition they are internalizing life long lessons of good character.  In conjunction with our Positive Behavior Support program students can and do learn best behaviors that support learning and a positive environment.
 

TRAFFIC FLOW

    We ask that all students be dropped off and picked up on Marshall Street.  Signs have been posted by the city of McMechen stopping through traffic on Caldwell Street which heads North behind our school.  Parking and traffic continue to be a big safety concern.  Our parking lot is full and drivers need to back out of the lot, making safety for small children a big concern.  Please drop students off in front of the school by the crossing guards.
 
 

NEW COUNTY CALL OUT SYSTEM REQUIRES
ACCURATE PHONE NUMBERS TO BE ON RECORD

      Marshall County Schools is utilizing an emergency call out system.  This system will allow phone calls to be made very quickly regarding school delays, cancellations and other information.  On our last snow day over 4000 calls went out within a 4 minute span of time.  On our early dismissal day those calls went out again. This will allow for quick communication if and when emergencies occur.  Be patient as a few bugs still need to be worked out and some people received more than one phone call.  In the future the principal or teacher will be able to place phone calls specific to the school or classroom.

YOU CAN HELP BY INSURING THAT PHONE NUMBERS ARE KEPT
UP TO DATE!

 

Communication and Webpage

    Communication happens in many different ways in an elementary school.  Research shows that good communication between home and school, parent and teacher increases student success.  Daily agenda checks, notes to and from teachers, and an open atmosphere in our school office are all important parts of this constructive communication.  In addition the emergency call out system, emails and our website are being utilized.  Hopefully these avenues for communication are helpful and gain positive results for all students.

http://boe.mars.k12.wv.us/centermcmechen/index.htm
 
 

 Lunch Bills

Parents should be getting lunch bills from county office and payment should be made to county office.    Thanks for being patient.
 
 

FROM THE TRANSPORTATION GARAGE

    “Information regarding school closings and school delays can be obtained by listening to the radio, watching TV or calling 843-4424.  Do Not call the School Bus Garage (Transportation Center) for this information.  We are not equipped to handle the volume of calls. Our phone lines backup and we can not receive the necessary calls which can cause a safety issue.  The information will be available on TV or radio before we have it available here." -Transportation Director

What is Responsiveness to Intervention?
 

    In the responsiveness to intervention model, one of the benefits for parents is that they get to see how their child is doing, compared to peers, and how the child’s class measures up to other classes of the same grade. They can get these results on a regular basis from their school. If class scores are down, for instance, questions will be raised about the quality of teaching in that class; thus, classroom teachers are more accountable for their instruction.
     Responsiveness to intervention, with its increased instructional precision, is now used more to prevent academic failure than to specifically determine which students have learning disabilities. Also, it has been used mostly for reading in elementary schools. Almost no research results yet exist on how it works in middle schools or high schools; practical application of it in math instruction, too, needs to be further documented.
     Although unanswered questions need further research, RTI thus far has compelling benefits. When RTI is implemented with rigor and fidelity, all students receive high-quality instruction in their general education setting. All students are screened for academics and behavior and have their progress monitored to pinpoint specific difficulties.
     A continuing advantage for all students is the opportunity to be identified as “at risk” for learning difficulties early in their education instead of having to fail—sometimes for years—before getting additional services. And, all students have the opportunity to get assistance at the level needed, reducing the number of students referred for special education services.
 For a long time, special education has been the instructional solution for struggling learners even when they didn’t have learning disabilities. Because an abundance of research has shown that well-designed instructional programs and strategies significantly improve learning when carefully monitored, the responsiveness to intervention approach may be a method to improve learning in general education and reduce referrals to special education.
     At Center McMechen Elementary a team approach is employed.  First, homeroom teachers utilize the core curriculum materials to provide sound instruction.  They also differentiate instruction and utilize leveled readers and supplemental materials to meet individual needs.  Progress Monitoring assessments are given and based on results students are placed in small groups for more intensive interventions.  Mr. Games,  Mrs. Zambito, Mrs. Sturgill, Mrs. Niggemyer are our primary intervention specialists.  These teachers along with homeroom teachers make up our intervention team.  They meet weekly with Mr. Yoder to discuss progress and student concerns.  Our faculty is outstanding as we work to ensure that ALL students learn.
 

“The team approach at CMES is largely the reason for our continued success and our excellent WESTEST reading results.”  -Mr. Yoder