Through the cooperative efforts of the entire Matanzas School community, a safe, supportive environment is provided in which teacher, staff, and parents model the importance and excitement of learning. We seek to build a strong academic foundation upon which students can become lifelong learners. Individual skills and talents are nurtured and respected. The development of positive character traits that enable students to make responsible choices is a priority. 

Matanzas is focused on providing a strong researched, standards-based education to students. We have high expectations for all staff and students. An organized and well-articulated program is in place to meet the needs of all students.

Many activities such as Garden Festivals, Fine Arts Days, Grandparents' Day, and the Winter Olympics provide valuable learning experiences and build a sense of ownership and school community.

Recycling Programs, Spare Change Drives, and Community Service Projects teach the students the value of being active and supportive community members.

The success of the Matanzas School programs is valued and recognized throughout the community. Wer continue to reflect and use all the tools at our disposal for continued growth and improvement.

 OUR PHILOSOPHY
We believe that children can behave well at school. We will teach appropriate behavior and will not allow any behavior that threatens the safety or well being of any students or adults. We respect the rights of each individual to do their best and we will not allow behaviors that interfere with that right. All of our rules support this belief.

MATANZAS SCHOOL GENERAL SCHOOL DISCIPLINE POLICY

In order to help protect students from injury and to maintain an atmosphere conducive to good learning these school rules and consequences will be strictly enforced:

1. The Building
a. Students are not to enter the building before school, at recess, or at lunchtime.
b. Students are never to run around the building, in the building, or in the corridors.
c. Drinking fountains are provided for student use. These are not waste receptacles or washbasins; they are for drinking purposes only.
d. Students are not to use the main hall except to come to the office.
e. Students are not to be outside the fenced playground area. This includes the front of the school office area, cafeteria, etc.
f. NO GUM at any time.

2. Restrooms
a. Before school, at recess, and during lunch periods, two boys’ and two girls’ restrooms are available for use by the students.
b. Restrooms must be kept clean and sanitary.
c. Students are not to play in restrooms.
d. Students should use the restroom in the wing in which their class is located.
e. Suspension from school may be given to a student when he or she willfully defaces or otherwise abuses the restroom.

3. Arrival at School
a. Students are not to arrive at school before 8:00 a.m. They are not to come on campus until the bell rings.

4. Closed Campus
a. Students may not leave the school grounds for any reason during the school day without permission from the homeroom teacher, and/or the principal.
b. Students who regularly go home for lunch must have a lunch permit on file in the office.

5. Bicycles and Skateboards & Scooters
a. Students are not to ride bicycles, skateboards, or scooters on school grounds.
b. Bike helmets are required.
c. All bicycles are to be in the bicycle area during the school day.

6. Tardy to Class
a. Students late for class should report to the office for a late slip.
b. Habitual tardiness will result in a parent conference and detention after school.

7. Cafeteria
a. Students must talk quietly while eating and are expected to exhibit acceptable table manners.
b. Table tops, benches, chairs and the floor must be cleared of all paper, scraps, etc. before a student is dismissed from the cafeteria.

8. Playground
a. Shoes are never to be removed on the playground.
b. Activities such as “piling up”, wrestling, fighting, rock throwing, “crack the whip” are not allowed on the playground. Any activity that appears unsafe to the playground supervisor will be discontinued.
c. No climbing on poles or backstops.
d. The field is off limits following rain until deemed dry enough for play.

9. Ball Playing
a. Except for games requiring a court, all ball games, throwing, kicking and hitting of balls, etc. are to be done on the grass area only.
b. The only balls that are to be brought from home are athletic balls, (footballs, soccerballs, etc.). There should be no “superballs”, golfballs, baseballs, etc.
c. If balls are brought from home, school rules must be followed. No games may be locked.

10. Chin-up Bars
a. Limited to hanging by arms only.
b. No “skin-the-cat”, “death drop”, etc.
c. Both hands must be on the bars at all times. There is to be no sitting on the bars.

11. Ball Walls
a. The two “ball walls” are the only walls to be used for ball playing. All portables (including the copy room) are off limits.

CONSEQUENCES

Warning: Student is reminded of school rules

1st Ticket: Student will receive an immediate consequence on the playground or in the cafeteria, (i.e., 5 minute time out).

2nd Ticket: Student is sent to the principal and parent is called

3rd Ticket: Student and parent will have a conference with the teacher and principal

4th Ticket: Student may be suspended for one day.

SEVERE CLAUSE

IF A CHILD:
a. willfully inflicts physical abuse
b. willfully destroys property
c. overtly refuses to follow directions
d. behaves in a manner that disrupts the entire group
e. uses profanity

HE OR SHE WILL BE SENT TO THE PRINCIPAL FOR POSSIBLE SUSPENSION.

POSITIVE BEHAVIOR

Recognition and reinforcement of positive student behavior is an important component of our school program. A few of the ways in which students will be recognized include:
-Good citizenship awards given at Wednesday Openers.
-Classroom rewards.
-Special recognition by staff and Principal.
-“Finns”

Finns are slips given to children when they are “caught” being good. Students may receive a Finn for such behaviors as following directions, helping a friend, picking up litter, or putting forth an outstanding effort in the classroom. There are many possibilities. Finns may be awarded by any of the adults working at Matanzas School. Children receiving a Finn put their name on it and write a sentence describing why they received it. The Finn is deposited in a container located in the classroom.

On Fridays two slips will be drawn from each classroom. Students whose slips are drawn will meet with Mr. Currie in his office. Discussions with students will center on the positive behavior they have exhibited. After each weekly drawing all Finn slips will be thrown away and we will begin again the next week. Finn slips must be deposited in containers during the week in which they were received; they may not be accumulated.

During the 2004-05 school year, local bond funds, Measure J, and state matching funds were used to modernize all schools with the exception of Austin Creek, which is six years old, and Village School, which was modernized in the late 1980’s. However, Village School received modernization of their multi-use facility and administrative wing.

All classrooms in the other five schools had new wall surfaces, paint, new lighting, cabinetry, new heating systems, upgraded electrical systems, window coverings, flooring, and marker boards. Each multi-use facility was completely modernized also. A new state of the art library media center and kindergarten complex were built. The administrative wing of each school was modernized to include small classrooms for special student programs, a staff room, and office and conference rooms.

District maintenance staff ensures that the prevention measures and repairs necessary to keep the school in good repair and working order are completed in a timely manner. A work order process is used to ensure efficient service and that emergency repairs and safety are given the highest priority.

Cleaning: Cleaning standards have been adopted for all schools in the district. The Maintenance and Operations supervisor meets regularly with the custodial staff and visits sites regularly to ensure the cleaning standards are being upheld. In addition, the principal works daily with the custodial staff to ensure a clean and safe school.

Deferred Maintenance: The district participates in the State School Deferred Maintenance Program, which provides state matching funds on a dollar-for-dollar basis, to assist school districts with expenditures for major repair or replacement of existing school building components. Typically, this includes roofing, plumbing, heating, air conditioning, electrical systems, interior or exterior painting, and floor systems. For the 2006-07 school year, the district budgeted $502,000 for the deferred maintenance program. The state gives the district $107,672, and the district contribution is $110,005 by state formula. This represents 1/2 of 1% of the district’s general fund budget.

The administrator at each school meets formally with parents and teachers monthly in the School Site Council. This decision-making body collaboratively sets goals for the school on an annual basis, allocates money from the budget to meet their goals, and assesses their progress at the beginning of each year when achievement data is available. The Single Site Plan is reviewed and modified based on the data review. New goals are added or modified as necessary to meet the needs of all students.

The instructional mission of the school is standards-based. Instructional materials are state adopted. Materials are evaluated by teacher committees before purchase. Staff development for the teachers is both locally focused and district-wide.

Supports and services are provided to meet the students' special needs.

GATE – Gifted and Talented Education – students are identified for services both within the regular classroom and by supplemental classes. At-risk students receive academic support through tutoring programs, intersession school, and summer school. English language learners are taught by a classroom teacher trained in instructional strategies to meet the students individual needs. In addition, English language instructional assistants work with students and their families.
Students with disabilities receive services from a resource teacher, speech and language therapist, adaptive physical education teacher, etc. Student placement and services are identified in the student’s IEP – Individualized Educational Plan. Tutoring is provided before and after school at most school sites. The focus is the mastery of district and state standards.

Assessment of student progress is measured in many ways. The district administers a Benchmark Standards Assessment in January and the Standards Assessment in May. Students are assessed every 6-8 weeks by the classroom teacher in reading and language arts. The SAM – Standards Assessment in Mathematics – is administered in the fall and again in the spring. All state mandated tests are given annually.