The office hours of Meadow Ridge Elementary School are 7:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. Teachers are generally in school from 7:15a.m. to 3:15p.m. Student hours are 7:45a.m.- 2:25p.m. For safety reasons, students should not arrive before 7:30a.m., and students need to be picked up by 2:30p.m. if they are not riding a bus home. Be aware that the buses have priority, so if students are brought to the school, follow the traffic markers. Students must be delivered to the curb or vehicles may be parked and an adult must walk the student to the sidewalk. Should any changes be needed for the end of the day, a note must be sent with the student in the morning, or a call must be made to the main office by 1:45 p.m. Staff will then deliver those changes to the teachers. Calls after 1:45 p.m will not be honored.

Student Drop-Off/Pick-Up Guidelines

Student safety is of the utmost importance. In order for us to ensure this occurs, parents are asked to adhere to the signage placed throughout the parking lot and also to the following guidelines when dropping off or picking up students at school know the flow

Upper Lot

The parking lot and drop off area is a one-way traffic lane only. Drivers wishing to park their vehicles should drive past the entrance and proceed to parking spaces. See the picture for more information.

Lower Lot:

Home Base drop off and pick up in the lower lot is permitted from 6:30 a.m-7:20 a.m and 2:45-6:30 p.m. There is no parking in the green spaces from 7:15 a.m-2:30 p.m. Buses will drop students off along the curb and the students will enter the building through the south doors.

Morning Drop-Off

Vehicles will enter the parking lot and continue towards the front of the building in a SINGLE lane, pulling past the main entry to allow for the maximum number of cars. Vehicles will stay next to the sidewalk. Students should be ready to exit the car on the curbside (backpacks at their feet, not in the trunk) and drivers should stay in the vehicle. Students should be dropped off at any point along the sidewalk. Please do not wait until you are at the entrance to drop off your child. Students arriving at 7:45 a.m or later must be signed in by a parent at the office.

After drop-off, vehicles are to stay along the curb and move as the car in front of them moves. Please do not pull out past the cars in front of you.

Dismissal Pick-up

We are encouraging parents to allow their children to ride the bus home. It is a short ride, and students should be home by 2:55 p.m at the latest. Meadow Ridge will have a "Fast Pass" option for those parents who need to pick up their children on a regular basis. Please follow the directions listed below:

Parents are required to park their cars and come into the building to get their children, unless they have a Fast Pass number.
Parents are responsible for picking up children promptly at 2:25 p.m.
No child is permitted to wait on the playground or any other location on school grounds until an adult picks him/her up.
Do not leave voice or email messages for teachers regarding any changes after the school day has started. There is no guarantee that teachers will pick up those messages once the day begins. Any changes to the pick up routine must be called in to the main office by 1:45 p.m. Staff will then deliver those changes to the teachers. Calls after 1:45 p.m will not be honored.
If your child should need to leave during the school day (e.g. doctor or dentist appointment) you will need to come into the main office and sign him/her out.
Make arrangements early so your child knows what the plan is. Talk about it before he/she leaves for school in the morning.
Please avoid picking up children early between 2:00 p.m and 2:25 p.m. They miss important organizational skills as they prepare to pack up and go home. It is also a very busy time of day to try and communicate with classroom teachers.
Only adults officially listed in Skyward under Family 1, Family 2, or Emergency Contacts will be allowed to pick up a child. If a different adult will pick up a child, the child's parent/guardian must provide a signed note, email or verbal agreement and have it approved by the principal or designee.

Academic Programs

Five Day Specialist Schedule

Students receive instruction in music, art, physical education, media, technology, and Spanish (for grades 4 and 5) from a specialist in each of those areas. The schedule is based on a five day digital calendar. For example:

School begins on

Day 1 - Tuesday

Day 2 - Wednesday

Day 3 - Thursday

Day 4 - Friday

Day 5 - Monday

It then repeats itself. Only the days that are considered student contact days are figured into that calendar. This is done so that over the course of the year, every child has received an equal amount of instruction in each of those areas.

Art

The art curriculum works to balance the Create Process Map created by The Perpich Center for the Arts. Students apply this process as they imagine, plan, explore, make, refine, present, and reflect on their artwork. Visual Literacy, or the ability to ‘read’ an artwork, begins in first grade and is used in all levels of the Wayzata Art Curriculum. Visual Literacy includes Visual Analysis and Critique, and focuses on student’s making their own meaning by noticing, making connections, connecting feelings, analyzing, questioning, interpreting and speculating.

Students in grades one through five meet with the art specialist one hour a week.

Media Center

Students continue to learn about their choices in reading, viewing and listening, and further their understanding of what makes literature great. Students will continue to develop information literacy skills that enhance the inquiry process. Students will use organizational tools in print and digital resources as they explore and evaluate resources.

Kindergarten and Bright Start students visit once a week with their classroom teacher. Classes in grades one through three are scheduled to meet with the media specialist one half hour per week. Students may visit the media center at other times with teacher permission.

Books are checked out for one week and may be renewed or exchanged at any time. Parents are urged to help their children take care of and respect their library books. Students will be held responsible for lost and overdue books, magazines and materials.

Music

The goal of the elementary music experience is to help students acquire the knowledge and skills that will enable them to explore, appreciate, and participate in the rich musical culture outside of the classroom throughout their lives. Students in grades one through five meet with a music specialist twice a week for 30 minutes.

Choir

Afternoon choir is a weekly elective activity for Meadow Ridge 4th and 5th graders. The music teacher will be sending information during the year.

Physical Education

Students are exposed to a variety of activities in physical education that include: cooperative games, individual and team sports, dance, developmental locomotor skills/movement and fitness. Technology is an integral part of the physical education experience.

Students in grades one through three meet with a physical education specialist three times a week for thirty minutes each time. Students in grades four and five will have 30 minutes of PE twice a week, and Kindergarteners will have 30 minutes of PE every day. The classroom teacher may also provide follow-up instruction.

Kindergarten through fifth grade students participate in a Track and Field Day, which is held at the end of the school year.

Technology

The integration of technology assists in the personalization of education, creating more interactive lessons, and building skills that are becoming increasingly important for success such as digital literacy, communication and collaboration. Wayzata Public Schools ensures that students will graduate with the necessary skills to be successful in careers and social interactions they will encounter in their futures.

In our work, we ensure:

Digital citizenship - Help students understand the rights and responsibilities of their actions when using digital tools.
Digital literacy - Help students learn how to most effectively and safely access information and tools online.
Critical thinking, Problem solving and Decision making
Global Perspectives - Use technology to communicate and collaborate with people and places locally, nationally, and globally.
Technology Skills - Provide the basic foundational skills in order for students to effectively use current technologies.
Personalized Education - Use technology to streamline the collection of data to determine student needs and to provide instruction based on individual student needs.

Students in grades one through five meet with the technology specialist one hour a week and

students in kindergarten are instructed by their classroom teacher in the lab once a week.

Spanish

Students in fourth and fifth grade Spanish class will develop skills to allow them to communicate in Spanish. Students will gain a knowledge and understanding of other cultures, and will develop insight into the nature of language and culture. In these beginning level Spanish classes, students will also reinforce and further their knowledge of other disciplines through the Spanish language.

Intervention

Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), also known as Response to Intervention (RtI), is a framework for helping all students meet or exceed the State's challenging academic standards by providing a continuum of evidence-based instruction. In an MTSS system, educators provide high-quality first time instruction in classrooms. All students are assessed regularly, with assessment data analyzed to determine which students need additional instruction. When it is determined that a student needs the support of additional instruction to make progress toward meeting the standards, he or she is enrolled in an appropriate intervention. MTSS involves on-going progress monitoring so that the level of intervention matches students' changing instructional needs. Areas of focus for intervention include Literacy, Mathematics, and Social Emotional Learning.

Gifted & Talented

It is our vision that Wayzata’s top learners with high ability and high academic performance will be fully served in their unique intellectual, academic, social, and emotional needs through an array of Gifted & Talented services starting in second grade. Students are given the opportunity to expand their knowledge, challenge their perspective and inspire their future. The Gifted & Talented program offers academic enrichment opportunities in the areas of math and reading, as well as provides students an opportunity to experience a wide variety of challenging and rewarding experiences designed to develop skills in critical and creative thinking. In addition to extending skills and concepts beyond the classroom, the gifted & talented specialist may also provide supplementary classroom materials.

Field Trips

During the school year, each class and grade level takes field trips. Permission, lunch choice, and cost are completed through ePay, which is on the website. If a scholarship is needed, please contact your child’s teacher.

Your child may not participate in the field trip if permission is not given through EPay. In the event that a parent does not want his/her child to go on a field trip, the student is required to be in attendance at school that day.

Special Services

Wayzata Public Schools, ISD 284 provides many support services to students with special needs. The staff at Meadow Ridge includes a school social worker, a school psychologist, an assessment coordinator, an educational speech and language clinician, as well as special education teachers and assistants. Other support staff are available depending on a child's needs.

More information can be obtained by calling 763-745-5044.

Community Education

Community Education Services provides and schedules the following activities: adult education, soccer, basketball, hockey, football, pool rentals, swimming lessons, ice arena rental, and city Department of Recreation programs. This office also schedules any after school activities that use school facilities. The phone number is 763-745-5263.

Wayzata Public Schools' Liaison Council

The Liaison Council was created several years ago to promote an atmosphere of understanding and cooperation among parents, teachers, the Board of Education, and District 284 administration. It consists of representatives from each school’s PTO.

Questions involving the school board, administration, or other district concerns should be directed to Meadow Ridge's representatives.

Attendance / Absence Reporting

District Health Services Webpage

24-Hour Attendance Line: 763-745-7155

Parents are expected to enter their child’s tardy or absence in Skyward. Here is the link: Reporting Attendance in Skyward Family Access Children are considered unexcused if their absence is not recorded by a parent or guardian.
The health office must have a current phone number on file in case of an emergency. If your daytime phone numbers have changed, please send new or updated numbers to the health office.
For more information on our Health Office, including guidelines on when to keep your child home, please follow this link

Regular attendance and prompt arrival each day is a part of developing good learning habits throughout life. Students are excused from school only in case of illness, emergency, or other reasons from the list below. Students must be fever and vomit free (without medication) for 24 hours before returning to school. We encourage you to schedule elective appointments and family activities at times that do not conflict with the school day.

Minnesota state law requires regular school attendance for all enrolled students. Irregular attendance or excessive absences/tardies will be investigated by the school principal or other school personnel with the intention of developing a plan to change the pattern for the educational benefit of the child.

The District Policy on Compulsory Attendance Regulations 503-R states:

After three unexcused absences, a parent/guardian will be notified
After six unexcused absences, the parent will be notified and a letter will be sent to the county.
After nine unexcused absences, a letter will be sent to Hennepin County Attorney Office's Be@School program to initiate a truancy referral. A county caseworker will be assigned.
After fifteen unexcused absences, a letter will be sent to Hennepin County Attorney Office's Be@School program to initiate a truancy referral and further intervention will be determined by the county.

Excused Tardies / Absences	Unexcused Tardies / Absences
Illness Serious illness in student's immediate family Funeral Religious instruction (not to exceed three hours per week) Catastrophes, such as fire Official school field trip or other school-sponsored outing Pre-approved family vacations or trips Medical or dental appointments Religious holidays Suspensions	Transportation issues (e.g. missing bus or car not working) Picking up early on a regular basis Absences that are excessive and/or interfere with the student's educational programming Habitual tardiness Not at school at the official start time or leaving school significantly early Five (5) unexcused tardies constitute one unexcused absence.

Extended Leaves

Parents are expected to communicate the dates of their student’s absence in advance to the school office. Once the school is notified, please complete the Extended Vacation Form and email to the Welcome Center at welcome@wayzataschools.org or fax to 763-745-5096.

Per the Minnesota Department of Education enrollment guidelines, withdrawal after 15 consecutive days of absence triggers the close of the enrollment status record. Verification of return date should be provided to the Welcome Center, at which time the student enrollment status will be re-activated.

Homework is not provided for extended leaves.

Early Pick-up

Early pick up is the same as arriving late and could result in a tardy that may or may not be excused. Students leaving a few minutes early often miss important last minute instructions and/or reminders. Interrupting classes to call students to the office also distracts other students and interrupts the end of the day classroom routines. Early dismissals should occur only in rare circumstances. Please make every effort to schedule appointments outside of school hours.

Breakfast and Lunch Program

Meadow Ridge Lunch Schedule

Grade	Lunch	Recess
Pre-K	TBD	TBD
Kindergarten	12:35-12:55	TBD
First Grade	10:35-10:55	10:55-11:15
Second Grade	11:00-11:20	11:20-11:40
Third Grade	12:15-12:35	12:35-12:55
Fourth Grade	11:50-12:10	12:10-12:30
Fifth Grade	11:25-11:45	11:45-12:05

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH ARE FREE FOR ALL STUDENTS

DURING THE 2021-2022 SCHOOL YEAR

Under the new Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act (passed by Congress in January 2012), students this year will need to have at least a half-cup portion of a fruit, vegetable or a combination of both on their tray to qualify for the “complete meal” price of $3.05 for elementary and $4.25 for adults. Our staff will be helping students make sure they have at least three food groups on their tray, with the fruit and/or vegetable being one food group. Grab and Go breakfast is available 7:25 a.m-7:45 a.m, and the cost is $1.90.

Studies show that if children put fruit or vegetables on their own lunch trays, they are more likely to eat them. Please help your child by serving fruits and vegetables for snacks and at mealtimes. Parents are encouraged to expose their children to new fruits and vegetables and model good eating habits by eating fruits and vegetables.

Students may bring lunches from home. Please do not send glass containers or soda with your child. Milk may be purchased for $0.55.

Our school district is required to provide an application for free and reduced-price breakfast/lunch to each family, and must be completed each school year. If you did not receive your copy, or if you wish to apply for free or reduced-priced breakfast/lunch, please call the Wayzata Public Schools Culinary Express office 763-745-5154. Comments or concerns may be sent to the Culinary Express office at: 17305 19th Avenue North, Plymouth, MN 55447 If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Sagedahl, Director of Culinary Express, at 763-745-5153.

Culinary Express uses a prepayment system for lunch payment. Students need to have funds in their accounts in order to purchase lunch or a-la-carte items.

There are several ways to make payments and to view your student’s lunch account balance:

Internet Payment

Parents with Internet access can go to the Titan School Solutions website at https://family.titank12.com/ to make online payments. The first step is to register your family, then to follow the site instructions to make payments. The system has several options including purchase information, low balance email reminders and automatic payments. Titan School Solutions is a Safe & Secure site.

Check or Cash Payments

Please make checks payable to Culinary Express. Be sure to include the child’s first & last name in the memo section. A check may be written for more than one child as long as they are in the same school. If sending cash, please put the money in an envelope with your child’s full name on the outside. Checks & cash can be dropped off in the school office or the drop boxes each morning.

Students will be informed that their account balance is getting low at checkout and will be given a hand stamp as a reminder to inform parents.

Food in Classroom

Individual students may bring a snack for him/herself as long as it meets the health parameters of the classroom. Birthday treats or snacks for the class are not allowed.

All food in the classroom should adhere to the following guidelines:

Individual, nutritious snacks in the classroom are optional.
Classrooms that have food allergies may have additional guidelines.
Students are allowed to bring a bottle of water. There are bottle filling stations throughout the building.
Each building has limited activities/events for students where commercially prepared food may be served.
Some activities in the Wayzata curriculum do call for the use of food (e.g. science experiments). The classroom teacher will communicate directly with parents/guardians of students with food allergies about these activities.

Bullying Policy

The safety and well-being of all children is of primary importance. School Board Policy 528: BULLYING PROHIBITION POLICY supports the school district's goal of preventing and responding to acts of bullying, intimidation, violence, and other disruptive behaviors. The general statement of policy is: An act of bullying, by either an individual student or a group of students, is expressly prohibited on school premises, on school district property, at school functions or activities, or on school transportation. This policy applies not only to students who directly engage in an act of bullying but also to students who, by their indirect behavior, condone or support another student's act of bullying. This policy also applies to any student whose conduct at any time or in any place constitutes bullying or other prohibited conduct that interferes with or obstructs the mission or operations of the school district or the safety or welfare of the student or other students, or materially and substantially interferes with a student's educational opportunities or performance or ability to participate in school functions or activities or receive school benefits, services, or privileges. This policy also applies to an act of cyberbullying regardless of whether such act is committed on or off school district property and/or with or without the use of school district resources.

Bus Ridership

First Student Transportation is responsible for bus service in the school district. The bus company cooperates with the school in regard to expected behavior on the bus. Most students in Wayzata Public Schools are bused to and from school. Bus route numbers and stop information will be mailed to families in mid-August.

Students are expected to ride their assigned buses to and from school and will not be allowed to ride a different bus except for emergency situations which must be pre-approved through the school office. Any long-term changes must be handled through the transportation office at 763-745-5195. Please read our Bus Ridership Handbook for more information.

School Bus Safety Rules

Stay clear of the “Danger Zones” around the bus.
Follow the driver's instructions.
Be at your bus stop five minutes before your scheduled pick-up time.
Always SIT DOWN and face forward.
Be courteous. No pushing, tripping, swearing or yelling.
No EATING or DRINKING.
Keep your head and arms inside the bus windows at all times.
Keep the bus clean. Do not damage the bus.
Never throw objects inside or out of the bus.
No animals or dangerous objects on the bus.

Communication with Parents

Meadow Ridge Elementary News

Parents are kept informed via classroom newsletters and our weekly emailed parent newsletters. Please make sure that your email address is accurate on Skyward. You are encouraged to read these, as there is valuable information about upcoming school events.

Communication Day

Thursday has been designated as "Communication Day", the day when all information is posted electronically and/or handouts will be sent home. Please pay special attention to your email and/or child’s backpack on that day. Classroom teachers send a weekly newsletter electronically or in the take home folder.

Teachers may be contacted by email. Email addresses are as follows: firstname.lastname@wayzataschools.org. Check with the teacher to verify preferred methods of communication.

Phone Calls

Open communication between home and school is a high priority with the Meadow Ridge staff. A phone call from the teacher or principal may be good news as well as a call to share concerns. Parents are encouraged to call the school at any time during the year with questions or suggestions. Generally, teachers may be reached before 7:30 a.m or after students are dismissed at 2:30 p.m.

At other times, the most effective way to contact a teacher is by leaving a message in the voice mail system. Please refer to the list of extensions for teachers.

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Your child's progress will be reported to you by means of two Parent-Teacher Conferences in October and February and two progress reports (see below). Meadow Ridge parents will sign up for their scheduled conference times online through Family Access. Information will be sent out with the directions of this sign up prior to both fall and spring conferences. At these conferences, progress of the individual child is evaluated with the parents, in terms of the child's own needs and abilities. Additional conferences can be scheduled at any other time during the school year, as questions or problems arise. A phone call, email or note to the teacher can arrange this.

Progress Reports

A progress report will be posted online twice a year. The first report will be posted around the end of January. The final progress report will be posted at the end of the year. These can be found in Skyward Family Access.

Parent-Principal Conference

Parents and/or students may schedule a time to meet with the Meadow Ridge principal to ask questions, discuss concerns, or offer positive feedback about their child's school experience. Concerns about your child’s classroom experience or academics should be discussed with the teacher prior to contacting the principal.

Please feel free to contact the office for an appointment at any point during the school year.

District Communications

The district communicates with residents of the school district via the district newsletter, "Communicator", the yearly district calendar and other local publications. Complete copies of school board minutes are available in the media center. Parents may also contact the district website for additional and more up-to-date information www.wayzataschools.org.

Health and Safety

Emergency Form

The emergency form is used as the first source of reference in contacting parents in the event of an emergency.This form is found online and should be filled out completely before the student begins each school year. It is also important that this form be kept current during the school year. Please notify the office of changes in your job situation, phone numbers, physician, or contact person.

Missing Child Procedure

Though it happens rarely, there are times when a child ends up in the wrong place at dismissal time.To help alleviate this possibility, be sure to put in writing if the schedule is different than usual. If you communicate via email, be aware of the latest time that the teachers will be checking email. Don't assume it will be read after the school day has begun. Below are procedures that are followed should this happen to a Meadow Ridge student.

If a teacher realizes a child ends up on the bus and he/she should have gone to Wayzata Kids or a Wishes class or someone was picking up the child, the teacher will call the office immediately.Office personnel will contact the bus supervisor to see if the buses have departed. If the buses are still there, we can remove the child from the bus.If the buses have already departed, the bus company can be called and the child can be returned to school.

If the child has already been dropped off at the bus stop, a parent will be contacted immediately. If no answer, a message will be left and the emergency contact number will be called. If no answer, a message will be left or if they are unable to get to your home immediately, police will be called for assistance. Wayzata Kids has similar procedures that are followed as well.

If your child never got off the bus, call the office immediately at 763-745-7100. Office personnel will contact someone in the district transportation department who will radio the drivers to see if 1) the child forgot to get off, or 2) got on the wrong bus. If #1, the driver will take the child to the correct stop after his route is complete. If #2, the driver will return the child to school. School personnel will keep you informed as to the progress and let you know when your child will be returning to school so that he/she may be picked up.

If a child is sent to Wayzata Kids or a WISHES class and he/she should have gone home on the bus, you or the emergency number will be called immediately.

The important idea to remember is to always have a backup plan for your children in case they get home and a parent/child care provider is not there. Please have a plan in place with your child. Be sure to keep emergency contact information and phone numbers current. Notify the school of any changes. Talk to that designated person to make sure they can be contacted around 2:30 should it be necessary.

Health Services

Health Service offices are staffed by a Health Paraprofessional who is trained in first aid and CPR. The Health Paraprofessional is responsible for providing first aid, administering medications, assisting with vision and hearing screens and processing immunization records. A Licensed School Nurse supervises the Health Paraprofessional, provides skilled nursing care, develops health plans and coordinates the prevention and control of communicable diseases.

When to keep your child home from school?

Please report all potentially communicable health conditions to the health office. The district follows the Hennepin County Infectious Diseases in Childcare Settings and Schools when determining if a student is able to attend school. If your child will not be at school due to illness or injury, please report all illnesses or health conditions to the attendance line.

Illness at school

Students should report to the health office prior to contacting parent/guardian when not feeling well at school. Health office staff will evaluate the student and contact the parent/guardian if needed.

Health and Emergency Information:

We ask that all parents enter emergency contact information into Skyward Family Access and update the Student Contact and Health Information Update, including emergency contact information. This information is used as the first source of reference in contacting parents in the event of an emergency and should be filled out completely before the student begins school each year and kept current during the school year. If your child becomes ill or injured while at school, the parent or emergency contact will be contacted to pick up their child as soon as possible, preferably within one hour of being notified.

Immunizations

In order for students to enroll or remain enrolled in elementary or secondary schools, Minnesota state law (Minnesota Statute 121A.15) requires documentation of required immunizations or written proof of exemption. Students will not be allowed to start school or remain in school until the required immunization history or a signed legal exemption is provided to the district. Records must include the specific month, day and year that these immunizations were administered. For more information regarding required immunizations, please visit the Minnesota Department of Health website or the district website.

Medications at School

All prescription and over-the-counter medications to be administered during school hours require an Authorization for Administration of Medication at School form that is signed by a licensed healthcare provider. In most cases, medications can be given outside of school hours. Please check with your child's healthcare provider to verify the need for medication during school hours.

Student Health Plans

If your child requires specialized health care procedures while at school, please contact the school health office. The Licensed School Nurse (LSN) will work with the physician and parents to create an individualized health plan to meet the needs of your child while at school.

Health Screening

Each school year, students participate in grade-level health screening. Students also receive hearing and/or vision screening upon request from their parents or guardians or if the teacher suspects that there may be a hearing or vision concern that is affecting the student's ability to learn.

Emergency Procedure:

In the event of an emergency or illness, the procedure will be to:

● Contact a parent or guardian at home or at work

● If parent unavailable, contact a relative, neighbor or other responsible adult who has been listed as an emergency contact

● Call 911 for life-threatening medical emergencies. The parent/guardian will be notified after emergency personnel have been called

● In the event of accidental ingestion, the procedure will be to consult with Hennepin County Poison Control Center and provide first aid as needed

For more information regarding district health services, visit www.wayzataschools.org/district/health-services.

Homework

Use of independent work-study skills is a necessity for future success; and homework offers an opportunity to develop these skills. Reasonable use of homework is encouraged. Homework expectations vary depending on grade level and teacher. It is expected that each teacher develops homework expectations that are appropriate to the students' ages, abilities and needs.

A general guideline for the amount of time spent on homework should be approximately 10 minutes times the grade level. Ex: grade 4 = 40 minutes. Parents should contact individual teachers for specific questions regarding expectation and homework routine.

Homework When Absent

If your child is well enough to study, please contact the teacher to make arrangements for missed assignments. The homework policy regarding students who miss school because of trips and special events is as follows:

Some assignments may be sent with the student, if prior notice has been given.
The student's obligation is to maintain a log, diary, pictures, etc., and prepare a report to be given either verbally or in writing upon return.
Lessons are expected to be made up when the student returns.
Homework is not provided for extended leaves.

Lost and Found

Be sure to put your child's name on his/her belongings so that they can be returned if they are lost. The lost and found is located in the cafeteria. Please check when you visit, and ask your child to check when they have misplaced an item. At the end of each quarter, several boxes of unclaimed sweaters, boots, mittens, lunch boxes, and other miscellaneous items are donated to a charitable institution.

Pets and Service Animals in school

Due to potential concerns associated with having pets visit the classroom, Meadow has established a "No Pets in School" rule. There may be opportunities for some students and/or classrooms to interact with a therapy dog. Parents will be notified and permission will be obtained before the animal is allowed into any particular classroom.

Privacy of Student Data

Parents have the option to restrict the release of student data so that it will not be shared with the public. Parents must request the Optional Data Privacy Form available through the school office. This is an optional form that must be completed and signed each year if you do not want the directory information on your student(s) available to the public. By signing this form your student(s) will not receive mailings on community sports or youth organization events or be included in public releases of honor rolls or graduation lists. Directory information includes the following:

Student name
Student address
Student photos for the school approved publications
Telephone listing
Date and place of birth
Dates of attendance
Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
Weight and height of members of athletic teams
Degrees and awards received
Most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by student
Grade level

Recess Guidelines Due To Weather

It is important for students to get outside for some physical activity every day. They are provided with a 20 minute grade level recess with their daily lunch time. We expect everyone to come to school dressed for the weather. Schools will have indoor recess on days when the weather is not suitable for outside play.

If the temperature with windchill is -15 or below. The office will use a number of websites to determine an accurate temperature for our area.
Meadow Ridge supervisors may choose to have a 10 minute outside recess for temperatures around -15 for older students, if the playground has some protection from the wind. Outside supervisors will make this decision in cooperation with the office.
Students with health plans on file in the health office may have special considerations that will be followed.

During the winter months, your child needs to wear a coat, mittens, hat, snow pants and boots since the children go outside for recess unless the wind-chill temperature is below -15. Once it snows, children who do not have boots or snow pants will need to stay on the blacktop area. Please contact Kate Wessel, social worker, at 763-745-7109 if winter clothing is needed.

School Attire

Guidelines

Meadow Ridge does not have a formal dress code. For health, safety, and comfort reasons, the following guidelines are suggested:

Clothing should be comfortable, neat, clean, and appropriate for the school environment. Halter tops, camisole tops, and sleeveless shirts with large arm openings are discouraged
Pictures and slogans on clothing should not contain references to items or activities that are not age appropriate.
Athletic shoes must be worn on physical education days to provide your child with proper foot support for physical education.
Head coverings and hats are not to be worn in school except on spirit days or for religious or medical reasons.
As part of the energy conservation program, the thermostats have been set at 68° F. Please keep this in mind as your children dress for school.
During the winter months, encourage your child to wear boots, coats, and mittens since the children go outside for recess unless the wind-chill temperature is below -15° F.

School Spirit Day

In an effort to promote pride in our school, several days throughout the school year will be designated as School Spirit Day. Remind your children to wear Meadow Ridge Cardinal apparel or Wayzata Public Schools’ colors (blue/yellow.)

School Closing Due to Emergency or Weather

Guidelines for School Closures

A decision to close or delay school due to inclement weather conditions will be made by the superintendent or designee. Such a decision will be made by 5:30 a.m. whenever possible. Parents will be notified of this with an automated phone call. It will also be on WCCO 830 AM radio, and televised on WCCO, KSTP, KMSP, KARE and posted on the district's website at www.wayzataschools.org. If an announcement has not been made regarding a school delay or closing, then school will proceed as normal.
School may be closed at the discretion of the superintendent or designee due to extreme cold if the wind chill factor is -40 degrees Fahrenheit or colder, and the extreme cold is forecast to remain for a substantial period.
If school is delayed, Wayzata Kids, K-5 and Pre-K would open two hours late.
In the event of an early dismissal, school activities and community use of district facilities may also be cancelled. Decisions about activities and community use of facilities will be made with input from the high school Activities Director and the Director of Community Education, in cooperation with the superintendent.
In the event of an early dismissal, Wayzata Kids will notify parents of Wayzata Kids children and allow at least one hour after school dismissal for parents to pick up their children.
In the event of an early dismissal, an alternate plan should have been discussed with your children so that they are not bused to an empty house.

Defining Closures

Two-Hour late start: All K-12 schools will open exactly two hours later than regular start times. Wayzata Kids will open two hours later than regular start times. All after school and evening classes and activities will meet as scheduled.

No School: All K-12 schools will be closed for the entire day. All athletics, community education before-and-after school activities including Wayzata Kids will be cancelled. Evening community education classes will also be cancelled.

In the case of a school evacuation, students will be taken to Wayzata High School (763-745-6600). If the school phones are not accessible, call the Administration Building (763-745-5000).

Student Behavior Policy and Procedure

Everyone makes mistakes. As children grow, mistakes allow them the opportunity to learn. At Meadow Ridge, we will help students learn from their mistakes. Learning can best take place in a positive, safe, and orderly environment. Students can best learn individual and collective responsibilities and gain maturity if they are provided opportunities in which to exercise those responsibilities within the school setting. Clear expectations and consistent procedures help students know appropriate behaviors for school and give them a base for their decision making. Parents play an important role in this process and have a tremendous impact on the behavior of their children. It is critical for the school and parents to work together to teach children behaviors that are expected at school. Through this partnership we can build a wonderful learning environment for all students at Meadow Ridge.

Rules for student behavior at Meadow Ridge are consistent with those stated in the district student behavior policy. Preventive and/or corrective interventions for mistakes will vary depending on the seriousness of the infraction, the frequency with which the student has not followed the rules, the willingness of the student to correct the behavior, and the age of the student.

School Bus Behavior Policy

Wayzata Public Schools' revised school bus discipline policy is mailed to every household in August. Behavior guidelines and consequences were outlined in that brochure. If you have further questions, comments or concerns, please contact the Transportation Director at 763-745-5196.

Gum Policy

Students at Meadow Ridge are not allowed to chew gum on school premises.

Hennepin County Curfew

The Hennepin County ordinance prohibits juveniles from being in a public place or establishment during night-time hours.

Under age 12: Sundays thru Thursdays, home by 9:00 p.m. - Friday & Saturday, home by 10:00 p.m.

Age 12 to 14: Sundays thru Thursdays, home by 10:00 p.m. - Friday & Saturday, home by 11:00 p.m.

Age 15 to 17: Sundays thru Thursdays, home by 11:00 p.m. - Friday & Saturday, home by midnight

Technology Use

Users are provided access to the District’s System in accordance with the District’s Technology Use Policy & Regulations.

If a user (or their parent(s)/guardian(s) on behalf of a user) does not agree with the terms of this policy, written notice of such disagreement must be provided to the Director of technology or its designee, at which time that user’s access to the District System shall be terminated. (Notification forms are available through the school principal or Technology Department.)

Parents should be aware of and familiar with Wayzata Public Schools, ISD 284 Technology Use Policy 631and Technology Use Regulations 631-R.

Wayzata School Board Policy assumes permission from a parent, guardian or student (18 years or older) to release private student data that includes a photograph, unless permission is rescinded using the district form found under the Privacy of Student Data heading

Visitors / Volunteers

PLEASE NOTE: NO VISITORS OR VOLUNTEERS WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE BUILDING DURING THE PANDEMIC

We welcome and encourage volunteers and visitors to our school. As a safety measure, everyone must enter and exit through the main doors during school hours, and must have a state issued ID (driver's license) or passport. All other doors will remain locked throughout the school day.

Upon entry to the office, adults will scan their ID to receive a printed visitor badge to wear during their stay in our building. Lunchroom visits for special days are allowed. If your visit includes eating a school lunch, that lunch must be requested from Culinary Express within a half hour from the start of the school day.

Visitors – Including Visiting for Lunch

Due to District Policy and school safety guidelines, the following standards are required of all visitors:

Visitors must wear a visitor badge during their stay.
Visitors are not allowed on the playground during the school day. This includes parents visiting for lunch.
Visitors are asked to help maintain the consistency of the learning environment and are not allowed to observe in classrooms due to distractions and the importance of data privacy.

Volunteers

Many volunteer opportunities exist at school. Before volunteering in the building, volunteers who are working with students outside the direct supervision of a certified staff member need to complete paperwork found on our District’s website. An example of this type of volunteer would be a literacy volunteer. Click here for more information about volunteering in the Wayzata Public Schools and follow this link for opportunities at Meadow Ridge.

We require that all volunteers adhere to the following guidelines.

Volunteers who are supervising students are discouraged from bringing younger children. Contact the supervising teacher for clarification. Younger children are not allowed on field trips due to liability.
Volunteers need to respect all students’ privacy within the school environment.
Please note that volunteering in a classroom is a job and teachers rely on parents to be engaged in the classroom environment during their time.
All volunteers are subject to administrative approval.

Walkers and Bike Riders

Walkers or bike riders are students that walk or bike the full distance between home and school. These students must have written permission from their parents to do so. One note may be written for the entire year or on a one-time basis. These permission slips are kept in the school office. Please make sure they are dated. Students should not arrive at school before 7:30 am.

Walkers or bike riders are expected to follow the rules of the road and wear protective gear.

Each student riding a bike to school is responsible for the security of his/her own bicycle. Upon arrival at school, bicycles should immediately be secured in the racks provided for them.

Walkers and bikers are to enter through the south doors only. Neighborhood students are not allowed to be on the playground after school, as it is used by Wayzata Kids until 6:00pm.

Wayzata ISD 284 Sexual Harassment Policy

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to maintain a learning and working environment that is free from harassment and violence on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, or disability. All forms of harassment and violence on the basis of the afore-mentioned are strictly prohibited.

It shall be a violation of this policy for any student, teacher, administrator or other school district personnel of the district to harass a student, teacher, administrator or other school district personnel or groups of students, teachers, administrators or other school district personnel through conduct or communication or to inflict, threaten to inflict, or attempt to inflict violence based on a person's race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, or disability.
For purposes of this policy, "school district personnel" includes School Board members, school employees, agents, volunteers, contractors or persons subject to the supervision and control of the district.
The district will act to investigate all complaints, either formal or informal, verbal or written, of harassment or violence based on a person's (or group's) race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, or disability; and to discipline or take appropriate action against any student, teacher, administrator or other school district personnel who is found to have violated this policy.
One specific form of illegal offensive behavior is sexual harassment or sexual violence. Sexual harassment means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, other verbal, physical, or written conduct of a sexual nature when:

Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of a person's employment or advancement, or of a student's education or participation in school programs or activities.
Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an employee or student is used as the basis for decisions affecting that individual's employment or education.
Such conduct has the purpose of effect or unreasonably interfering with an employee's or student's performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or learning environment.
If you believe you or someone you know has been a victim of offensive behavior, sexual harassment or sexual violence by a student or an employee, you should report the incident. You do not have to file charges or confront the harasser for action to be taken. If you are unsure about what to do or if you just want to talk to someone about it, seek out a staff member, counselor, social worker or principal. Your concerns or complaints will be relayed to the District Human Rights Officer whether or not further action is necessary. Your concerns or complaint will be kept confidential to the extent legally possible and your submission of a complaint will not affect your future employment, grades or work assignment.

Employees, students, and citizens should understand that this policy applies to each and every student, employee, and citizen of the school district, including all full time, part-time, and temporary employees and volunteers.

Each employee must operate with total integrity to create an environment free of discrimination and other inappropriate behaviors.

Each supervisor shall be responsible for promoting understanding and acceptance of and ensuring compliance with state and federal laws, Board policy and procedures governing offensive behavior and sexual harassment within his or her school or office.

Violations of this policy or procedures will not be tolerated. Offensive behavior will be cause for immediate and strict disciplinary action up to and including discharge for staff and up to and including expulsion for students. You should contact the building administrator, social worker, or counselor to report offensive behavior.

In addition, you may contact District 284 Human Rights Officers

Stacie Vos, 763-745-5014

Wayzata Public Schools Administrative Offices

210 County Road 101 North

P.O. Box 660

Wayzata, MN 55391

State law gives you the right to file a charge of discrimination with the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, 500 Bremer Tower, Seventh Place at Minnesota Street, St. Paul. Minnesota 55101, telephone: (651) 296-5663. Both the school district's policy and state law prohibit reprisals or retaliation against you for reporting sexual harassment.

Offensive behavior / sexual harassment or sexual violence will not be tolerated in District 284.

Link to Policy 403-R Wayzata Public Schools, ISD 284 Offensive Behavior/Sexual Harrassment & Sexual Violence Policy

MCA Option to Refuse

M.S. 120B.31, Subd. 4a, now requires school districts to provide notice to parents or guardians of their option to refuse to have their students take the statewide assessments. The Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) was tasked by the Legislature with developing a form for parents to use to exercise this option.

School districts must provide this notice by posting the form developed by MDE on their website and must include the form in their Student Handbooks.

Access the form at http://www.mnmsba.org/Portals/0/Documents/MDE-TestingOptOutForm.docx.

Student Cell Phone Rules & Guidelines

Purpose:

● To provide the Meadow Ridge Learning Community with clear guidelines about cell phone usage at school.

● To support a community focus on learning, inclusivity, and empathy for students and staff of MR.

Student Expectations:

Students may bring cell phones, electronic devices, and accessories to school at their own risk, however, students must abide by the following expectations:

Cell phones and related items like smart watches should be turned off and put away in their locker from arrival at school until 2:25 p.m.
Cell phone usage in the learning spaces, cafeteria, and bathrooms is not allowed.
Using a cell phone to record, photograph or video record anyone is not allowed without permission given in advance by the individual(s).
Students will continue to follow the "District's Technology and Acceptable Use" Policy (631 and 631-R).

Consequences:

1st Offense-

Collected & Documented
Parent Contact - Email
Student can pick up the phone at the end of the day from the office.

2nd Offense-

Collected & Documented
Parent Contact - Phone
Student can pick up the phone at the end of the day from the office.

3rd Offense -

Collected & Documented
Parent Contact - Phone
Parent must pick up the phone from the office and conference with an administrator.

4th Offense -

Collected & Documented
Parent Contact - Phone
Student will check in the phone each day in the office upon arrival at school.