Student-Parent
Handbook 2001 -
2002
The
PH: (706)649-0760/61
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Director's Message: Welcome
Letter 3
How to Help Your Child to Be
Successful at
School Administration and Staff
5
Two Very New and Special Programs 6
Historical
Information 7
General Information 8
Academic Information 11
Attendance/Absence and Promotion
Policies
Standardized Testing
A Suggested SAT Vocabulary List
Code
of Conduct (to include Dress Code)
Bus Information
A
Final Note from the Woodall Staff
Notes
Section
Handbook
Committee Members
The mission of the Georgia Psychoeducational Network is to
provide comprehensive, community-based services to students with severe
emotional and behavioral disorders and students with autism. As part of the local school system's
continuum of services, the Network, (through a collaborative approach with
parents, community service providers and educational professionals), students
are empowered to become productive and contributing members of society.
Message from the Director:
This
handbook is provided to inform students, parents/guardians, and caretakers of
the Woodall program characteristics, procedures, and rules. It is intended to be helpful and informative
to all, as well as serving as a guide to current program policy. The Woodall Student Handbook is an ongoing,
collaborative effort of parents and administration/staff alike, designed to
assist students to reach not only success in school, but also in life.
Our
goal here at Woodall is for every student to have a successful academic and
social experience at school.
Demonstrating appropriate behavior, respecting others, and following the
rules as presented in this book--will help all students to attain this
goal.
At
the Woodall Program, we hope that student behavior will always be
appropriate. We are always pleased when
our students conduct themselves properly.
However, if there is a future question regarding student conduct, you
may refer to this booklet and also/to staff/ administration for additional
information.
Sincerely,
Homer
Wells, Director
How to Help Your
Child to Be Successful At the
Every
student/child has basic needs that must be met for an emotionally and
physically healthy life. All children
need to feel safe and secure, and loved and valued. Each student should feel free to be a child,
and finally--trusted and trusting. We,
as educators, adhere to these principals.
We appreciate and support you as parents/guardians, in all your efforts
to implement the following:
1. Value Your Child
A child should feel
important and worthwhile, although not at the expense of others. Honest praise and age appropriate independence
foster healthy self esteem.
Nurture Your Child
Provide quality time,
physical affection, positive words of encouragement and support
Teach your child
Teach by your positive example
Speak the truth to your child
Establish a trusting relationship and
speak the truth in love
Discipline your child
Make and enforce simple age
appropriate rules
Enforce reasonable
consequences
Do not discipline out of
anger
Seek help with anger
management, if necessary
Encourage your child
Encourage your child
regarding schoolwork and other appropriate interests. Spend quality time with your child
Never give up on your child
Constantly seek solutions to
problems. Talk to friends, other parents, counselors, etc.
School
Administration and Staff
Program Director . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Mr. Homer Wells
Program Coordinator . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ms. Agnes Evans
Support Services Supervisor . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ms.
Millie Bunn
Case Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ms. Gail Cumberlander
Office Manager . . . . .. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ms. Mary Whaley
Secretary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . Ms. Andrea Daniel
Clerk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . Ms. Eula Mathew
Historical
Information
MOTTO: Currently open for suggestion. Some ideas are: Be Your Best and Move On
Up! And whatever else may be
appropriate!
COLORS:
Purple and Gold
MASCOT:
The Golden Bear
A
Brief History:
The
The
Students who are referred to Woodall may
exhibit a variety of presenting problems; however, in order to be considered
for placement, it must be determined through the intake process and the
placement committee meeting that the major presenting problems are emotional in
nature, unless they are due to autism.
Students accepted for placement in the
Students identified as socially
maladjusted are not eligible for this program unless it is also determined that
they are severely emotionally and behaviorally disordered. It must be shown that severe emotional
behavioral disorders have a significant impact on the student's achievement and
success in school in a lesser restrictive environment.
Placement in the program is made upon
completion of an extensive intake process.
If it is determined that the student is placed in the Woodall Program,
an IEP will be developed and a target date for program entry will be
decided. This will be only after all
possible modifications are made within the regular school system, and it is
then established that the Main Center is the least restrictive environment.
Two Very New
and Special Programs
Parent
Connection Program:
Parents/Guardians are strongly encouraged to participate in
P.C.P. (Parent Connection Program). PCP
is an enjoyable but serious group, whose mission is to positively and actively
involve the parents in the Woodall community, in order to promote and enhance
an effective learning environment for our students. For more information regarding this program, you
may contact the Program Coordinator.
Come one, come all, and we will have some fun!
Mentor Program:
Caretakers who desire to serve as a mentor for students
should apply in the Coordinator's Office.
The mentor program is a volunteer program. Mentoring is defined as a supportive
relationship between a youth or young adult and someone who offers support,
guidance and concrete assistance as a younger partner goes through a difficult
period, enters a new area of experience, takes on important tasks, or corrects
an earlier problem.
General
Information:
Closed Campus:
Office: Students are not
allowed to congregate or loiter in the front office. Official business is to be conducted quickly
and quietly, out of courteousness to working staff.
Visitors: Students are not
allowed to have visitors accompany them to school and attend classes during the
school day at any time. ALL VISITORS
MUST SIGN IN/SIGN OUT AT THE FRONT OFFICE.
No Exceptions.
Illness: Parents/caretakers
will be called to pick up students, when they are ill with fever, or another
serious or potentially communicable condition.
Cafeteria and Lunch:
Student behavior in the cafeteria should be based on courtesy and
cleanliness, and in keeping with school and classroom rules.
Vending Machines: Students
are not allowed, under any circumstance, to use the faculty and staff vending
machines.
Telephones: Students will
not use the school phones for personal use except in emergency and with staff
permission. In the event that students
receive a call and it is determined by
administration that the reason for the call is an emergency, he/she will be
notified. Messages will not be taken for
students unless deemed appropriate by Woodall administration. Students need to arrange transportation with
parents before coming to school. Cell
phones are not allowed.
Emergency Drills: Various drills will be held at irregular
intervals throughout the school year.
The instructions indicating building evacuation or cover positions are
posted in each classroom. Students are
expected to move to the designated area quickly, quietly, and orderly. Students are to follow all directions of the
faculty and staff and are to remain with their teacher and class until properly
released by the teacher.
Medication: Medication administered at Woodall will be secured and
monitored. A record is kept on each
student who is administered prescribed medication. This record includes the child's name,
doctor's name, address, the date and the types of drugs prescribed, the dosage
and how and when the medication is to be taken and the prescription
number. The appointed staff member will
count the pills before and after administering the medication. Medication will be kept in a locked cabinet
and will be administered only by the appointed staff member. All medication MUST be delivered to Woodall
by an adult in the original prescription
bottle. If the dosage of the
medication is to be changed, a signed notice from the parent or doctor will be
required. A guardian must sign a form
when new medication is delivered to
Woodall. It is crucial that those parents/guardians complete a medication
info sheet, by the first day of student enrollment, and then, each time
medication is changed. Also, even when medication is administered
at home only, parents/agencies are required to inform Woodall, as we must have
this information, for safety sake.
Address and
Phone Changes: We must have all this
information current, so please keep us informed, with changes. We must be able to contact you at all
times.
School Materials will be supplied by Woodall Center.
Book Bags and Back Packs are not allowed
Accidents and/or Injuries will be reported immediately and
required documentation completed at the earliest opportunities
Application for Free and Reduced Lunch is provided by
Woodall. Parents/guardians are asked to
complete paperwork and then fulfill whatever responsibilities they may have in
this matter.
Check-outs/Leaving School during the Day/Ordering Lunches: The following procedure must be followed when
caretakers know that students will need to eat a meal at school, but students
are not present first thing in the morning when breakfast is served and lunches
ordered. Caretakers must either order a
lunch from office staff by 9:15 am, or must ensure that the student has a
lunch, when returning to school.
Student Illness during the Day:
Students should not come to school when they are sick. Caretakers will be called for pickup when
this is the case. If a student becomes
ill during the school day, parents/guardians will be called if the student
exhibits significant symptoms, such as fever.
Homework, Make-up Work and Testing: Please work with your classroom staff
regarding this matter.
Graduation Ceremony Exemption Policy: While we encourage all
graduating seniors in the Woodall Program to march with their respective
schools, we understand that sometimes this is not in the best interests of the
particular student. In such cases, we
hold graduation/reception at Woodall.
Sexual Harassment: Not allowed.
Student of the Week/and or other Honors: (For Parents and Students) Students are
eligible to earn various honors and privileges in the Woodall Program. More information will be available in the
future about such programs.
Restroom Use: Staff will monitor, but students are expected to
conduct themselves appropriately.
The curriculum at the Woodall Center consists of two tracks--the
Social Skills classes, and the Life Skills classes, which serve those students
with autism and developmental delays.
Students in the latter track follow a functional curriculum designed to
improve their daily living and eventually, transition away from Woodall. Social Skills students are enrolled in the
Georgia Quality Core Curriculum (QCC) and also receive Pro-social Competency
Instruction, designed to provide remediation in and the practice of social/
coping skills so essential to future success, both in life, and in a general
educational environment. The PERCs
Program is response-cost; that is, all students earn points with every action,
be it positive or negative. Any required
social skills remediation is always immediately carried out, so that students
receive prompt feedback. Additionally,
student points will earn them rewards and consequences, in an attempt to teach
more appropriate and positive student behaviors. Daily Points Sheets will be sent home for
parent review/signature, to be returned the next day. More information will be available on these
two curriculum tracks in the near future.
This year, the Social Skills High School Program will run in 20
day cycles, with staff working with our students, out in our various satellite
programs. The goal will be to teach
coping skills to our students who have been placed in Main Center, so that they
can return to and be successful in the secondary school setting. At the high school level, and earlier--is
where all the academic opportunities are, and where we want our students to be! We will work to make any necessary modifications
for this to occur. All individuals
involved (students, guardians/caretakers, and staff should all commit and work
together in this effort). Also, for our
Life Skills adolescents and those high school students who will not be best
served outside of
Those students seeking diplomas rather than Special Education
Certificates of Attendance--must meet all State, district, and local school
policies, in order to receive credit.
This will be whatever graduation requirements are in place at the time
of ninth grade enrollment, regardless of subsequent curricular changes that may
take place as the student progresses through secondary school. Current policies in effect are outlined
below:
Muscogee County Graduation Requirements: (Please refer to the Central Office for
confirmation and proposed changes)
A student shall meet the graduation requirements in effect at the
time of enrollment in the ninth grade, regardless of changes in requirements
affecting subsequent classes.
1. Earn a total of
28 Carnegie Units in grades 9 through 12
2. Meet attendance
requirements
3. Pass specific
courses as prescribed
4. Make a passing
score on all required sections of the Georgia High School Graduation Test, or:
5. For those
students graduating in 2003 and beyond, pass all required end of course tests
6. Complete 4
consecutive grading periods of attendance immediately preceding graduation
High
School Curriculum Requirements for Diploma and Endorsement
Currently,
in order to earn a General Education Diploma, a student will meet specific
requirements and plan his or her education accordingly, receiving seals of
endorsement in one of the following areas:
College Preparatory, College Preparatory with Distinction,
Technology/Career Preparatory Program, Technology/Career Preparatory Program
with Distinction, and Technical Preparatory Program. If interested, please consult high school
teachers or Woodall administration regarding specific programs in these
endorsement areas. For your information,
please note also, that once a student has earned/been placed in either one of
our satellite locations, or is staffed out into the general high school
curriculum, block scheduling of courses will resume.
SEALS
OF ENDORSEMENT
Core
Areas of Study CP+ CP TC+ TC Tech-Prep
English
4
4 4 4 4
Foreign
Language 2 2 0 0 0
Mathematics 4 4 3 3
Science
3 3 3 3 3
Social
Studies
4 3
3 3 3
Physical
Education/ 1
1 1 1
1
Health
Core
Area Electives 1 1 1 1 1
Core
Course Electives 2 0 0 0 0
Vocational 0 0 4 4 4
Local
Required/Electives 7 9 7 8 8
Total
Units Required 30 28 30 28 28
More
detailed required courses of study are available from the secondary schools
themselves.
Students
attending the Woodall Center will receive therapeutic instruction in addition
to academic instruction, in order to help them transition to the world of work,
and/or back to high school. It is
understood that some students will not succeed in the regular high school
environment and that that would not be an appropriate placement. However,
because of specific curriculum and opportunities offered in the secondary
setting, it is strongly encouraged that those who can--will--take advantage of
such. Once out in the secondary schools,
students will attend classes in a block scheduling format. This is about the relationship between
instructional time and learning. It is
about structuring the school day in ways that favor students and foster
learning. Students focus on a single
subject matter for 90 minutes at a time.
They enroll in four classes each semester, two of which are academic
core subjects. This schedule allows more
intense focus on fewer subjects, at a time.
Students will have the opportunity to take up to 8 Carnegie units in one
academic year.
Standardized
Testing Information for Woodall Students in all Grades
(These tests will
be given in MCSD on the following dates.
Summertime administrations are also available, as required. Additionally, other county testing information
is available, as required)
Georgia High
School Graduation Test and Basic Skills Test Content Area
Administration/Make-up Day Sept. 10 - 14, Nov.
12 - 16; March 25 - 29
Georgia High
School Writing Test/Make-up Oct. 2 - 3; March 5 - 6
The Stanford 9 is
given to grades 1 - 10. Information
regarding this and other test administrations is also available.
The Otis Lennon
For Life Skills
students, the Georgia Alternate Assessment (as a minimum) will be administered
annually. This testing is directly tied
to measurement of IEP goals and examines objectives in various areas, such as
communication, daily living, pre-vocational, etc. More information will be sent home regarding
this, at a later date.
For those students contemplating future college attendance, the
following is offered:
A Suggested SAT Vocabulary List
Abridge
Abyss
Accolade
Affinity
Aggrandize
Aghast
Ambiance
Amenable
Anterior
Archaic
Assuage
Atrophy
This is only a
partial list. Further suggested SAT word
lists and other information may be published and distributed in the future.
Woodall Program
staff recommends that college bound students and their guardians/parent also consult
other publications and computer software for SAT predatory assistance. Further information can be located in the
schools, the libraries, and at bookstores.
Progress
Reports:
Parents will be issued the following reports: PERCs Program Daily
Points Sheets and Life Skills Weekly/Daily Notes as required. Official Progress reports (tied directly to
each student's individual IEP goals) will be sent home midway, through each
grading period, detailing applicable academic and social/emotional
progress. Progress Reports will
also be issued at each grading period, to be sent home with report cards. High School students presently receive these
every 9 weeks, while all other students receive theirs at the 6 week mark.
The Grading Scale for Social Skills is in keeping with MCSD
policies. Life Skills grades are
directly tied to IEP goal achievement.
Contact info,
emergency data, notes home, conference requests will all be frequently sent
home. Please work with us and
communicate with us. We should all stay informed.
Absence and
Promotion Policy: Students seeking
a Special Education Certificate of Attendance may miss more than the MCSD
required days of attendance and still be promoted to the next grade, as
determined by Woodall teachers/administration or IEP committee. However, those seeking another type of
diploma must meet established attendance guidelines. These are as follows: All days absent are counted
whether excused or unexcused. High
School students must be present a minimum of 80 days in a term course. Students will not receive MCSD general
education curricular credit for a given course, if more than 10 days are
missed. Also, in order to meet the
minimum graduation requirements, it will be necessary for students to have
earned the established number of credits for promotion to the next grade.
Attendance:
1. Satellite
classes in surrounding county locations are in session as prescribed by their
local districts.
2. School hours for
high school students are from 7:45 - 2:45.
All other students will attend classes from 8:30 - 3:00.
3. Upon returning
to Woodall following an absence, students are required to bring a written
excuse from a parent/guardian addressed to the student's teacher. This excuse should provide the student name,
date of and reason for the absence(s).
This excuse must be presented within three days of an
absence.
4. Excused absences
are listed and explained in the MCSD behavior code and discipline policy booklet. Unexcused absences include but are not
limited to the following: oversleeping, missing the bus, baby-sitting, joining
the family for vacation outings, skipping school.
5. Tardy students
need to be signed in, and if such student will be at school for a meal--the
caretaker will notify the Secretary in advance, in order to ensure a lunch or
breakfast for the student.
6. Students whose
tardiness becomes a problem will be referred to administration and should be
aware that this may impact their attendance.
7. Only parents,
legal guardians, or authorized designees will be allowed to pick up students on
school grounds. They must report to the
office before picking up the child.
Code of Conduct
Woodall Center is
an educational facility specifically designed to help students with emotional
problems and behavior disorders. Our
program is built entirely on this premise.
In our planning and coping activities, we do recognize the unique needs
of our students and have designed our programs in support thereof. However, to protect the integrity of our
learning environment, we must have specific conduct standards. Students and parents/caretakers are expected
to assist in this process. Rules and regulations are as follows:
Dress Code: Students must be in compliance in order to be
allowed to enter the building.
1. Appropriate
shoes must be worn at all times. No
slides or flip-flops are allowed.
2. No gang-related
clothing or styles are permitted.
3. No clothing
advertising alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, or illegal drugs are
allowed.
4. No clothing
depicting pornographic images, offensive pictures or wording are allowed.
5. No hats or other
headgear may be worn, in the building.
6. The following
shirt types may not be worn at any time on campus: (a) muscle shirts;
(b) tank tops: (c) mesh jerseys; (d) cut-off shirts
7. Shirttails must
be tucked in at all times.
8. Multiple sets of
clothing are not permitted. No ripped or
torn clothing.
9. Skirts must be no
shorter than four inches above the knee.
Slits in skirts/dresses have the same requirements.
10. Loose-fitting
shorts may be worn, weather permitting.
They must be no shorter than four inches above the knee. No spandex tops or bottoms allowed.
11. Sunglasses are
not permitted.
12. Jewelry, except
for small earrings and watches, is not permitted.
13. No beepers or
electronic devices allowed.
14. Pants must be worn at waist level at all times. You should wear a belt if your pants are
loose. No boxers, underwear, etc.,
should be showing.
15. All outerwear,
jackets, etc. must be hung up before class begins.
16. Students are
expected to come to school clean and in fresh clothing. If necessary, a parent may be called to take
a student home for a bath and/or change of clothes, etc.
Any infraction
will result in parent being contacted by the staff and the student taken home
to change or clothes being brought to the school for changing. Additional consequences may also be applied.
Discipline
Plan: The
School
and Classroom Policies, Rules:
Cursing and
profane gestures is/are not permitted at any time.
All students and
guardians should be aware that any physical aggression towards other students
and staff is not allowed. All terrorist
threats and acts of violence will be reported directly to campus police, and
charges will be filed. We must act
accordingly, because we are an educational institution, charged with the safety
of each and every child, and all staff members/visitors. Woodall administration will not allow anyone
to be endangered, although we will continue to work with and assist our
children who are severely emotionally disturbed and behavior disordered.
Weapons
of any type are not permitted. It is unlawful for any person to carry,
possess or have under control any weapon within a school safety zone or school
building, school function or on school property or on a bus or other
transportation furnished by the school.
The term "weapon" means and
includes pistols, revolvers, or any weapon designed to or intended to propel a
missile of any kind, or any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic
knife, or any other knife having a blade of three inches or more inches,
straight-edged razor, spring stick, metal chunks, blackjack or any flailing
instrument which consists of two or more rigid parts connected in such a way to
allow them to swing freely, which may be known as a nunchahka, nunchuck,
nunchaku, shuriken or fighting chain or disc or whatever configuration, having
at least two points or pointed blades designed to be thrown or propelled and
which may be known as a throwing star or oriental dart or any weapon of like
kind and any stun gun or taser as defined in OCGA. Section 16-11-106. Violation may result in expulsion from school
for one year and/or criminal prosecution.
A juvenile who violates this shall be subject to the provision of OCGA
Section
The following are inappropriate for a school setting, and as such,
are prohibited, in accordance with
Drugs and
alcohol, smoking and other tobacco products
Public displays of affection
Radios,
record/tape players, CD Players, Beepers, Cellular Phones, Laser Pens, Cassette
Tapes, CD's, etc.
Miscellaneous
articles: toys, magazines, comic books, games, electronic games, playing cards,
or any other material considered by administration to be non-educational.
Candy sodas, and food products
If such materials are brought to school, administration and
parents will be notified. Confiscation
may result if deemed appropriate.
Students must
also follow these rules on campus and off, when involved in school related
activities.
Hallway behavior:
Students will not loiter in the hallway.
Academic honesty:
nothing less will be tolerated.
Vandalism and
property damage is forbidden.
Gang Policy: zero tolerance
Selling items on
school property: zero tolerance
Modification Issues for Life Skills students:
All
parents/caretakers should assist to help their children follow established
rules. Life Skills students are able to
understand and adhere to such, with assistance and monitoring.
Bus
Behavior/Suspension: Students are expected to conduct themselves in an
appropriate and safe manner while being transported to and from Woodall. In the event that their actions become
hazardous for themselves and/or others, he or she may be suspended, and a
modification made to the behavior management plan. Students who are suspended from the bus may
be transported by a legal guardian or their official designee, as they are
still allowed and encouraged to come to school.
Caretakers are responsible for providing timely transportation during
this time period. Students may get up to
three written warnings before the actual suspension will occur, unless the
infraction is of a serious nature, to be determined by Woodall
administration/transportation staff.
Also, we must
know in advance, if a child will not ride the bus, or will be picked up by a
parent/caretaker. This needs to be
written or called in to the office by an authorized individual. No student's verbal notice can be
accepted. If a long-term situation will
occur, parents/caretakers must give written notice of such.
Parents/Guardians/Caretakers should
contact both bus drivers and Woodall staff when there is a change in
transportation circumstances, whether long- or short-term.
WOODALL
PROGRAM BUS DRIVER CONTACT LIST
Bus
586: Mary McLamore, 685-4375 or 566-7265
(Cell #)
Bus
615: Frances Jackson, 322-0244
Bus
465 Lonnie Atkins, 689-5499 or 329-6768 (Cell #)
Bus
612, Toleda Jones, 689-0454
Bus
9-12 or 45, Sharon Brown (
Bus
96-2, Mrs. Pitts, 989-3597 or 989-3777;
(Mrs.
Pitt's daughter), Mrs. Brown: 989-3000
A FINAL NOTE: We expect your children to learn
responsibility and to be responsible by following rules and exhibiting
appropriate behaviors, wherever they are.
This will help them to achieve success, not only at school and work, but
in life!
OUR BEST WISHES FOR A SUCCESSFUL YEAR
TO ALL OUR STUDENTS! The Woodall
Staff
Notes:
Student Handbook Committee
Mrs. Agnes
Evans Woodall Program
Coordinator
Mrs. James Lee,
Mrs. Lavada Portier, Mr. Edward Smalls
Parent
Representatives
Mrs. Gena Farish and Mrs. Ann Hull Woodall Classroom
Teachers
Mrs. Lynne
Horne Woodall
Paraprofessional
Ms. Chantz
Randall Student