The Manassas Park All Cougar PTSO supports all four schools in MPCS in many efforts during the school year, including Teacher Appreciation Week and the purchase of planners. Our objective this year is 100% parent participation. With your support, we can make this a great school year!!

This PTSO supports the National PTO position:

Parents involve themselves most deeply when they see a clear and direct link between their own involvement and their child’s benefit.
Regardless of income, race or educational level, parents recognize the value of being involved in children's education.
Parents think it is important for them to have a voice in making school policy but they are wary of getting involved in the administrative decisions.

Parent Teacher Student Organization planned meetings dates for the 2024-2025 School Year will be:

August 22, 2024
November 7, 2024
January 9, 2025
April 3, 2025

Locations will be announced for each meeting. All parents and teachers are welcome to all meetings. For more information about the PTSO visit the school division’s website and click on the Manassas Park Cougar All Cougar PTSO.

Cougar & Manassas Park Elementary Schools

2024-2025 Calendar

Dates	Schedule for Students & Personnel
August 15	Open House at MPES
August 15	Open House at CES
August 19	First Day of School Kindergarten to 12th Grade
August 30	Division closed
September 2	Labor Day - Division closed
October 3	Rosh Hashanah - Division Closed
October 14	Columbus/Indigenous Peoples Day - No School for Students PD Day
October 24	End of Quarter 1
November 1	Diwali - Division Closed
November 4	Parent/Teacher Conferences - No School for Students
November 5	Election Day - No School, Virtual Teacher Workday
November 11	Veterans Day - Division Closed
November 27-29	Fall Break - Division Closed
December 20	Early Release Day - 11:45 am
December 23-January 1	Winter Break - Division Closed
January 2 - 3	No School for Students- Teacher Work Days
January 20	Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - Division Closed
January 21	Teacher Work Day - No School for Students
January 24	End of Quarter 2/ Semester 1
February 17	President’s Day - Division Closed
March 27	End of Quarter 3
March 28	Early Release Day - 11:45 am
March 31	Eid-al-Fitr - Division Closed
April 14 - 18	Spring Break - No School
May 26	Memorial Day - Division Closed
June 6	Early Release Day - Last Day of School - 11:45am

STUDENT ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL

SCHOOL HOURS

Cougar Elementary and Manassas Park Elementary hours are 8:25 a.m. until 3:15 p.m. Monday through Friday. Early dismissal time for CES and MPES students is generally 11:30 unless otherwise noted. Once a child arrives at school, he/she is expected to remain and attend each class throughout the day.

STUDENT ARRIVALS

Student arrival at CES and MPES is between 8:05 and 8:25 a.m. Students who wish to eat breakfast at school must go directly to the cafeteria. Class instruction begins promptly following morning announcements at 8:25am. Students arriving after this time must come to the office with a parent/guardian to sign in and be issued a late pass to present to their homeroom teacher. Students should not arrive before 8:05 am since supervision is not available.

EARLY DISMISSAL

It is important that students attend school for the entire day; therefore we request that you attempt to schedule all appointments after school hours. When a student must leave school before the end of the instructional day, the parent/guardian must send a signed note of explanation with the student to hand in to their homeroom teacher. Please make every effort to notify the teacher of the early dismissal early in the day. The parent or authorized adult must present a photo ID, meet the student in the office, and sign out at the time of dismissal.

CAR RIDERS

We will begin welcoming students each day at 8:05 a.m. Supervision is not available before this time, so for safety purposes, please do not drop your child off earlier than 8:05 a.m. When dropping off, please do not get out of the car. Staff members will assist your child in getting out of the car safely.

If you have a student at MPES only: Use the north entrance off of Cougar Court for drop off and pick up.

If you have students at both MPES and CES: Use the Brandon Street entrance for drop off and pick up.

CHANGE IN TRANSPORTATION

If you or someone else will be picking up your child after school and this is a change in normal procedure, the person picking up the child is required to come into the office to sign out the student. The person will need to bring a picture ID and that person must be listed on the student’s emergency card. Please send in a note with your student that morning informing the teacher and office staff of the information. Students will be told to meet the person picking them up at a drop-off/pick-up point only after that person has signed the student out in the office. If you always pick up your child, you do not need to do anything differently. This policy only affects those for whom the pick up is not normal procedure. Unless there is an emergency, please contact the main office with a dismissal change no later than 2:30 pm.

Please try to avoid changing dismissal procedures in the middle of the day. Emails sent to the teacher during the day may be missed if there is a substitute that day or if the teacher is not able to check his/her email.

STUDENTS LEAVING WITH OTHER ADULTS

When a parent/guardian would like his/her child(ren) to leave school with an adult not on the emergency card, the parent/guardian must inform the school in writing and the person picking up the student must show a picture ID.

VISITING THE SCHOOLS

All School visitors and parents/guardians picking up a student for an early dismissal must check-in at the main office. NO DISMISSAL CHANGES ARE PERMITTED AFTER 2:30 PM.

Manassas Park City School officials remind parents and community members that they must check in at a school’s main office when visiting school buildings or when picking up a student for early dismissal purposes. This policy helps ensure the safety and security of students and staff.

At the school office, any person visiting or picking up a student must sign in on the computerized system, state the reason for the visit, and show photo identification. Visitors will be given an identification sticker to proceed with the school visit. Visitors are asked to return to the office to sign out upon leaving the building. Any person picking up or visiting a student will need to complete the sign-in procedure and have verification of their identification with the emergency card information. A note is required from the parent/guardian for any person not identified on the emergency card.

During school hours school division staff members not regularly assigned to a particular school should report to the office and follow all sign-in procedures. These staff members may be permitted to wear their own photo identification badges after following the sign-in procedure. All Manassas Park City School staff members wear photo identification badges around their necks or clipped to their clothing.

CLASS OBSERVATION

Due to confidentiality, classroom observations must be requested through the building administration. Please refer to School Board Policies KK and IGBC. These policies can be found on our website, www.mpark.net

CLASSROOM VISITORS

The faculty and staff are always pleased to welcome parents and other visitors to Cougar Elementary and Manassas Park Elementary schools to support or participate in classroom and school activities. All visits should be prearranged with the classroom teacher and/or school administrators. All visitors, including parents, are required to sign in at the office and receive a visitor’s pass before proceeding to instructional areas. Visitors will be welcomed except during arrival time (8:00-8:25 AM) and dismissal time (3:00-3:30 PM).

LUNCHTIME VISITORS

Cougar & Manassas Park Elementary Schools welcome parents to eat lunch with their children beginning in November at the start of Quarter 2. Visitors can either purchase lunch from the cafeteria or bring a bag lunch from home. Outside food for lunch is not permitted. Parents and visitors must sign in at the school’s main office.

HANDICAP ACCESSIBILITY

Cougar & Manassas Park Elementary Schools are fully accessible to handicapped persons. During regular school hours, handicapped parking is available in the Brandon Street parking lot.

To access MPES, please come up the ramp near the main entrance to Cougar Elementary School. Proceed to your left down the sidewalk along the Pre-K building and up the ramp to the South Entrance of MPES. For evening events and activities, handicapped parking is also available in the parking lot on Cougar Court as well as in the Brandon Street lot. Both North and South Entrances are open for evening events. An elevator is located in the Autumn House and is available to all who might need it.

HOME-SCHOOL COMMUNICATION

WEATHER CLOSING AND DELAYS

In case of inclement weather, please do not call the school office. During these times telephone lines are needed for emergency communications with the School Board Office.
Announcements about delayed school openings or school closings due to bad weather will be made over many local radio, TV stations and social media outlets. Check the Manassas Park City Schools website, Facebook or Twitter accounts. Please listen and look for announcements for Manassas Park City Schools.
The information is also posted on the Manassas Park Website - www.mpark.net. You should also receive a phone call, email and text from the automated calling system. Please make sure that the correct contact information is in the Parent Portal.
Please make advance plans for the emergency care of your child(ren) in anticipation of unexpected early dismissals.

TAKE-HOME FOLDERS AND ACADEMIC PLANNERS

Our schools will keep parents and families informed of school programs and student concerns through weekly newsletters, notes, phone calls and conferences. Important information will be sent home in take-home folders on Monday of each week for MPES and Friday of each week for CES. If a student needs a replacement “Monday/Friday Folder,” one may be purchased in the office for $1.00.

Students at MPES are also provided with academic planners. It is the responsibility of the student to use the planner daily to record assignments, test schedules, etc. Parents should check and sign the planner each evening as teachers often use the student planner to communicate with individual parents. If a student attending MPES is in need of a replacement planner, one may be purchased in the office for $4.00.

STUDENT TELEPHONE USE

Students may use the school telephone ONLY in emergency situations and with the permission of a teacher. Please plan ahead for situations such as early dismissals due to inclement weather conditions and student pick-up following school activities.

School division policy regarding Portable Electronic Devices (including cell phones) can be found on the website, policy JFC - R. At Cougar and MPE, all cell phones, portable electronic devices and wireless earbuds/headphones must be off and away and stored in a personal backpack or bag from the start to the end of the school day.

DELIVERIES TO STUDENTS AT SCHOOL

Due to the fact that deliveries to the classroom cause disruption to the classroom learning environment, please do not send or bring flowers or balloons to your student at school on special occasions. These items also cause disruptions on the buses. Outside food for lunches is not permitted.

CLASSROOM CELEBRATIONS

Teachers from time to time may arrange special activities with parent contributions. Due to severe food allergies, the teacher will communicate a list of requested items. Only store bought items may be provided.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

A parent may coordinate with the teacher if they would like to recognize their child's birthday at school. Due to severe allergies, no food items will be permitted. Please contact the teacher for a suggested list of preferred items in place of edible ones.

Additionally, party invitations should be mailed or distributed outside of school so that the classroom environment is not disrupted.

PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES

Formal parent/teacher conferences will be held once a year at the end of Quarter 1. Conferences will be scheduled ahead of time so that they can occur without interrupting instruction. Parents are welcome to contact their child’s teacher to set up a conference time anytime during the school year.

STUDENT ENROLLMENT

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

Any child in K through 2nd grade who resides in Manassas Park may enroll at Cougar Elementary School.

Any child in 3rd through 5th grade who resides in Manassas Park may enroll at Manassas Park Elementary School.

Proof of residency and proof of guardianship are required.

One primary proof and one secondary proof of residency must be provided

Primary Proofs

Current rental or lease agreement
Mortgage Statement
Contract on the purchase of a home
Notarized statement from landlord stating that the family lives in Manassas Park

Secondary Proofs

Personal Property Tax
Utility Bill (Electric, Gas, Water, Sewer)l
Bank Statement
Cable TV Bill
Cellular Phone Bill

Parent/Guardian Photo Identification

Driver’s License, Walker’s Identification, Passport, Military ID, Real ID

State law requires that the following records be provided to the school at the time of enrollment:

Documentation for certain immunizations: 3 dpt (1 on or after his/her 4th birthday); 3 Polio (1 after his/her 4th birthday); measles (1 at 12 months or older and 1 prior to kindergarten or grade 6).

Original birth certificate

A recent physical exam for a student who is coming from out of state.

Signed parent permission to request student records from the child’s previous school.

CUSTODY MATTERS

If you have legal documentation that specifies the rights of parents in matters such as custody or visitation, please provide the office with a copy. Unless current information is on file in the school office, the administration will assume shared custody exists. Please ensure the school has the most recent copy of the documentation.

REQUIRED SCHOOL SCREENINGS

Manassas Park City Public Schools, in accordance with the Code of Virginia (§ 22.1-273) and local policy, screens all students (through third grade) upon their initial entry in the areas of speech/voice/language skills, fine/gross motor functions, and vision and hearing. All students in grades Kindergarten, 3, 7, and 10 are also screened during the school year in vision and hearing unless:

any such student is admitted for the first time to a public elementary school and has been so tested as part of the comprehensive physical examination required (§ 22.1-270);
the parents or guardians of any such student object on religious grounds and the student shows no obvious evidence of any defect or disease of the ears; or
any such student has an Individualized Education Program or a Section 504 Plan that documents a defect of hearing or a disease of the ears and the principal determines that such a test would not identify any previously unknown defect of vision or hearing or a disease of the eyes or ears.

If you have any helpful information regarding your student's vision or hearing, please send in a note to your school nurse.

Parental permission is not required for screening. Students who fail any of the above screenings will be rescreened. Results of the screenings will be provided to parents when completed. If results suggest that a referral for evaluation for special education and related services is indicated, students must be referred to the special education chair within five business days after the screening.

In accordance with the Code of Virginia (§ 22.1-273.1), parents of students in grades 5 through 10 will receive yearly information containing important facts about Scoliosis and Scoliosis screening. Should students not have a private health care provider, please contact your school nurse for resources.

STUDENT TRANSPORTATION PROCEDURES

BUS CONDUCT

Students must abide by the rules of the school when walking to and from the bus stop, waiting for the bus, and riding the bus. The bus driver may refer the student to school administrators for disorderly conduct.. School administrators will take the necessary disciplinary action, which may include special seating arrangements, parental contact, or suspension from the school bus. A student suspended from the bus is still expected to attend school.

BUS STOP RULES

Arrive at the bus stop no earlier than 5 minutes prior to bus arrival.
Bus riders will wait on the sidewalk for the bus.
Smoking, profanity, fire, fighting, and horseplay are not permitted and may result in loss of bus privileges.

BUS RULES

Obey the instructions of the bus driver
Be seated immediately and remain seated
Share seats and do not save seats for others
Keep aisles clear
Smoking, profanity, large objects, eating, fighting, gum chewing, glass objects and horseplay are not permitted on the bus
Keep all objects and body parts inside the bus

RIDING HOME WITH ANOTHER STUDENT

Any student who wishes to go home with another student will need a note from his/her parent and a note from the parent of the student they want to go home with. Both notes need to be given to the homeroom teacher that morning in order for the students to go home together. A bus pass will be given to the teacher and/or bus driver.

STUDENT ATTENDANCE POLICIES

VIRGINIA LAW

All children of compulsory attendance age are expected to attend school on a regular basis unless provided for by School Board policy or Virginia Law. It is the responsibility of parents or guardians to see that their children attend school regularly. Students who do not attend school on a regular basis will be considered truant.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular attendance is the first step to being a successful student. Good attendance and punctuality are an expectation. The State Compulsory Attendance Law requires all students to attend school regularly. There is not substitute for classroom instruction within the school setting even though assignments can be made up in the event of necessary absence. IF YOU MISS SCHOOL, YOU MISS OUT.

PROCEDURES TO FOLLOW WHEN YOUR CHILD IS ABSENT:

You must call or send an email to notify the school of your child’s absence. A note MUST be sent in with your child when they return for the absence to be excused.

Call the main office of the school by 9:30am

Cougar Elementary: 703-392-1317

Manassas Park Elementary: 703-368-2032

Send an email to the absence email address by 9:30am

Cougar Elementary: CESattendance@mpark.net

Manassas Park Elementary: MPESattendance@mpark.net

If we do not receive a phone call or email letting us know the student will not be attending that day, you will receive a call from the automated system notifying you of your student’s absence.

Parents must contact the school within three days from the date of the absence, explaining the absence.

It is the student’s responsibility to make up all missed assignments within a reasonable amount of time. Assignments that are not made up will be reflected in the student’s grades.

When a student misses three or more consecutive days of school due to illness, a parent/guardian is encouraged to call the teacher and request class assignments.

EXCUSED ABSENCE

The following are the only legitimate excuses for absences from school:

Personal illness
Death of a family member
Medical or dental appointments
Court appearances
Observance of religious holiday

The following may be excused by the principal with written permission:

Illness of a family member
Emergencies
Trips/activities which enhance or extend the student’s education

If the parent has not informed the school with a written excuse of the student's absence, the absence will be unexcused.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES:

If a student is absent from school for any reason other than listed above even with a parent’s note, the absence is unexcused unless approved by the principal in advance (Pre-Arranged Absence Form).

If the parent has not informed the school with a written excuse of the student's absence within 3 days of the absence, the absence will be unexcused.

If a student misses school with more than five unexcused absences, the parents/guardians will be contacted in order to set up a meeting to discuss an attendance plan.

THE SCHOOL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REQUEST DOCTOR’S NOTES WHEN A STUDENT MISSES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT (8 EXCUSED OR 5 UNEXCUSED) OF SCHOOL IN ORDER FOR SUBSEQUENT ABSENCES TO BE CONSIDERED EXCUSED.

IF A STUDENT MISSES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF SCHOOL, A TRUANCY INTERVENTION MEETING WILL BE HELD AND RETENTION, SUMMER SCHOOL, AND COURT ACTION AGAINST THE PARENTS WILL BE DISCUSSED.

SCHOOL LUNCH PRICES AND PROCEDURES

Manassas Park City Schools will continue participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) for school year 2024-2025.

All enrolled students in Manassas Park City Schools are eligible to receive a healthy breakfast and lunch at school at no charge each day of the 2023- 2024 school year. No further action is required of you. Your child(ren) will be able to participate in these meal programs without having to pay a fee or submit a meal application.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Greg Taylor at gregory.taylor@mpark.net.

LUNCHROOM EXPECTATIONS AND PROCEDURES

Students are expected to go directly to their seat as soon as they have their food and to remain in their seat until directed to line up. Should a student need to leave his/her seat during lunch, the student must raise his/her hand and wait for an adult to respond to the request.

Students are expected to talk in a quiet voice. In order to maintain a reasonable noise level, the students may converse with only those students at their table in close proximity to them.

Students must refrain from bringing unnecessary objects into the cafeteria.

Throwing food, playing with food, and passing food from one student’s tray to another student’s tray are not allowed. Should a student be involved in such behavior, he/she may be separated from his/her classmates for the duration of the meal. The student will be expected to clean his/her mess.

Repetitive misbehavior during lunch may result in a student being given special seating arrangements either in or outside of the cafeteria. Students who display chronic behavior problems in the cafeteria may be sent to an alternative location (i.e. classroom or library) to eat breakfast/lunch.

HEALTH RELATED SERVICES

HEALTH SCREENING

New Students, Kindergarten and 3rd grade students receive vision and hearing screenings. Parents/guardians are consulted if further evaluation by a medical doctor is recommended.

SCHOOL CLINIC

Should a student become ill while at school, he/she will be given permission by a teacher to report to the clinic. If the student has a fever, diarrhea, or vomiting, a staff member will notify the parent/guardian.

Emergencies resulting from accidents or acute illness may require transporting students to emergency medical facilities. Parents will be notified immediately of such situations and will be required to accompany school officials to the medical facility. IF the parent is unable to meet at the school, then the parent will promptly meet the school officials at the medical facility.

Chronic or long-term medical conditions of students requiring special considerations should be brought to the attention of the school immediately.

MEDICATION AT SCHOOL

If your child needs to take medication at school, including an over-the-counter medication, it must be brought to the office and the parent needs to complete a Consent for Medication Form. Information on the form includes the child’s name, dosage, time of day to be given, and the expected duration of treatment. Medication must be in the original container, clearly labeled with the contents and the student’s name. Both the consent form and the container will be kept in the clinic.

By law, we cannot dispense medication unless it is in the original labeled container. Over-the-counter drugs, such as aspirin and cough syrup, are dispensed under the same guidelines because seemingly harmless drugs can be misused and cause severe reactions. Students should never bring medicine to school without the nurse’s knowledge.

If a student is on regular medication (more than a few days), a long-term medication form must be completed and signed by the child’s physician and kept on file in the clinic.

Parents should make sure that school personnel are made aware of any special or medical conditions of the student, such as allergies or physical problems (hearing, special diets, regular medications, etc.). Students who need to use crutches, etc. must have a note from their physician in order for the school to make arrangements for the student’s care and well-being.

EMERGENCY INFORMATION

We ask that all parents complete emergency information in the Parent Portal for each of their children every year. This information tells us how to contact you or your designee if your child becomes ill or is injured at school. Please let us know as soon as possible if your address, home phone, business phone or emergency contacts change during the school year. It is extremely important to keep each student’s emergency information up-to-date.

COMMUNICABLE/INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Students who have contracted certain infections must be treated before they are allowed in school.

Should a student arrive at school with an apparent infection, such as impetigo or conjunctivitis (“pink eye”), the parent will be called to verify that the infection is being treated or to take the child to the doctor. When the student returns to school, he/she will need a note from the doctor indicating the infection has been treated.

MPCS Student Health Services has developed evidence-based protocols for managing students with head lice.

If a student is identified with an active infestation, the teacher and parent will be notified the same day. Students will be sent home at the end of the school day and will need to receive approved treatment prior to the following school day. No exclusion from any activities is necessary, including riding the school bus or participating in sports.
Students identified with live head lice must be treated with an approved method before the next school day.
Students not treated for an active infestation by the next school day will be recommended for exclusion.
Students returning to school will be rechecked by the school nurse. Parents must provide proof of treatment of live lice via written note, email or verbal confirmation before a student is admitted to school.

FEVER

Fever is an elevation of the body’s normal temperature. Signs, symptoms and history of fever are the following:

Onset may be abrupt with chills
Generally, temperature of 100℉ (oral) or 101℉ (rectal)
Sweating
Increase in heart and respiration
Complaint of feeling warm
Face flushed
Hot, dry skin
Dehydration
Headache
Nausea, sometimes vomiting

It is recommended that a student with a fever of 100℉ or greater be removed from school and return after temperature has been normal (98.6℉) for 24 hours.

STUDENT HEALTH RECORDS

The school maintains student health records. Virginia State Law requires that each student’s file include:

A physical examination form completed by a qualified, licensed physician, dated no earlier than 12 months prior to entrance in public school.
A certificate from a licensed physician certifying that the student has had the required immunizations.
A verified notation of the birth certificate number if the child has never been enrolled in a Virginia public school.

STUDENT INSURANCE

School insurance for accidents is available for all students. Upon a student’s enrollment, a brochure outlining the insurance policy is available in the office for parent consideration. Purchase of the insurance is optional.

The Commonwealth of Virginia sponsors a health insurance program created to help working families who do not have health insurance for their children. FAMIS can be reached by calling (toll-free) 1-866-873-2647. An informational brochure is available in the main office.

STUDENT RECORDS

STUDENT FEES

Reference Policy JN - Student Fees, Fines and Charges

MAINTENANCE OF STUDENT RECORDS

Under the Privacy Right of Parent and Students Act of 1974, parents have the right to inspect any and all records relating directly to their child(ren). Students with written parental permission may also inspect their records. The policy provides for the release of information to others only under carefully described conditions. It also provides a procedure for challenge of the contents of a student’s records by parents or adults.

Request of files by families refer to MPCS Policy JO - Student Records

STUDENT TRANSFER

When a child transfers to another school, a copy of the child’s record will be forwarded to the new school when the parent makes a written request to transfer records. Complete a Release of Records form in the main office.

STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following items are disruptive to the learning environment and are not permitted at school unless there is a prior permission from a teacher;

Electronic Devices - hand-held game systems; I-Pads; etc.
Recess equipment - baseball bats; all balls; etc.
Items that can be played with - collector’s cards; toys; laser pointers; rubber bands; etc.
Personal items - make-up; cologne; nail polish; etc.
Glass bottles and caffeinated beverages (soda, energy drinks, etc.)
Other items that could disrupt the learning environment

Such items interfere with the orderly climate of the school and may be confiscated. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen items brought to school.

Refer to the Computer Acceptable Use Agreement - Policy IIBEA; Regulation IIBEA-R
Magazines, cards, pictures, etc., which are normally considered to be of an adult nature should not be in a student’s possession and will be confiscated. Other disciplinary action will be taken if deemed necessary.
Follow all classroom rules and procedures.
Walk quietly within all areas of the school.
Comply with the dress code outlined in the next section unless directed by a teacher.
Refrain from chewing gum on school grounds, buses and within the school building (unless directed by a teacher).
Selling or trading items on school property is not permitted.
Verbal harassment or intimidation of other students (name calling, insulting, or threats) is not permitted.
Refrain from throwing pencils, rocks, snowballs or other objects which may cause injury.
Respect the personal property of others; treat school property with respect.
Use only appropriate language on school property.
Striking another student or staff member or making threats to do so is forbidden.
The use of threats, force, or any action, which may be considered pressure to extort money, materials, or services from other students is forbidden.
Students shall not possess, use, distribute, or be under the influence of controlled substances, look-alike drugs, tobacco products, or alcoholic beverages.
Students are prohibited from using, possessing, threatening to use, or inciting other to use weapons while on school property or in association with any school activity.

More detailed information regarding student conduct and consequences is provided in the Code of Student Conduct of Manassas Park City Schools. This document can be found on our website at www.mpark.net and is also available in the school office.

CONSEQUENCES THAT MAY BE USED INCLUDE:

Verbal reprimand and counseling
Loss of privileges for extended period
Contact with parents
Student behavioral contracts
Removal from class
Referral to principal
Referral to the school counselor
Conference with principal
In-school detention
Restitution for damages
Confiscation of objects
Out of school suspension
Formal charges

EXPLANATION OF CONSEQUENCES

Removal From Class: For improper behavior in any class or activity, a student may be temporarily removed by the principal or designee and assigned to work or study in another place. The student may return to class when willing to follow the classroom expectations and rules.

In-School Detention: For serious or repeated violations of school rules, a student may be assigned to in-school detention. The student shall be isolated from normal school activities and shall be denied school privileges and participation in or attendance at school activities. The student shall be assigned corrective work and should be counseled on his/her behavior in school.

Work Assignments: A student may be assigned non-hazardous work before, after or during the school day with parental permission. The principal or designee should make work assignments and the student must be properly supervised during any work assignment.

Confiscation: The principal or designee may remove from a student’s possession anything that is prohibited by the student handbook, Code of Student Conduct, or Code of Virginia.

Restitution: A student may be responsible for the replacement or payment of property taken, damaged, or destroyed on school property.

APPEALS OF SUSPENSIONS

Reference Student Suspension/Expulsion Policy JGD-JGE; Regulation JGD-JGE-R

DRUGS, ALCOHOL AND TOBACCO

Cougar & Manassas Park Elementary Schools, along with the other Manassas Park City Schools, have been declared a “Drug Free School Zone”. Policy JFCH-GBEC

SECLUSION AND RESTRAINT

School personnel may implement physical restraint or seclusion only when other interventions are, or would be, in the reasonable judgment of the school personnel implementing physical restraint or seclusion in an emergency situation, ineffective and only to:

Prevent a student from inflicting serious physical harm or injury to self or others;
Quell a disturbance;
Remove a student from the scene of a disturbance in which the student’s behavior or damage to property threatens serious physical harm or injury to persons;
Defend self or others from serious physical harm or injury; or
Obtain possession of controlled substances or paraphernalia or weapons or other dangerous objects that are upon the person of the student or within the student’s control.

Physical restraint and seclusion shall be discontinued as soon as the imminent risk of serious physical harm or injury to self or others presented by the emergency situation has dissipated. The specific technique used should be safe for the student and appropriate to the student’s age, disability, and medical needs. Any behavioral intervention used by school personnel should be consistent with a student's rights to be treated with dignity and to be free from abuse.

The School Board encourages the use of positive behavioral interventions and supports to reduce and prevent the need for the use of physical restraint and seclusion.

CONDUCTING A SEARCH OF STUDENT’S PERSON OR PERSONAL PROPERTY

To ensure school safety while respecting students’ rights to privacy, Manassas Park City Schools utilizes the legal definition of “reasonable suspicion” to provide the conditions under which a student may be subjected to a search. School officials have a direct responsibility for student behavior as well as school safety and security. That responsibility allows school officials the latitude to question students in an effort to maintain safe schools. Students may be subjected to a search on school premises, at extracurricular activities, and on school field trips. School-issued lockers, desks, and school-issued computer information and data are subject to search and inspection at any time. In all circumstances, the process of questioning a student begins with considering the nature of the offense, whether it rises to the level of criminal activity, and the age/development of the student.

Reasonable suspicion is satisfied when two conditions exist: (1) the search is justified at its inception, meaning that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that the search will reveal evidence that the student has violated or is violating the law or school rules, and (2) the search is reasonably related in scope to the circumstances that justified the search, meaning that the measures used to conduct the search are reasonably related to the objectives of the search and that the search is not excessively intrusive in light of the student's age and sex and the nature of the offense.

STUDENT DRESS CODE

Manassas Park City Schools seek to maintain an orderly environment for the education of students. To accomplish this goal, the Division has established a standard of student dress that is conducive to a proper educational climate, while reasonable enough to allow students to be expressive in their clothing selection.

The following are examples of the standards of dress that will be enforced at school:

Clothing must cover the entire body between the neckline and mid-thigh. Short sleeve clothing is permissible.
The display of any portion of underwear with the exception of appropriate undershirts is prohibited.
Underwear appropriate for the body is to be worn at all times (Undershirts are optional).
Any items that advertise tobacco, drugs, or alcohol are prohibited.
Any items associated with or suggestive of support for or membership in a criminal street gang are prohibited.
Any items pornographic, obscene, or sexually suggestive in nature are prohibited.
Items that in the opinion of school officials are reasonably probable to disrupt the operation of the school or endanger the wearer or others are prohibited.

The principal or designee has the authority to decide whether or not an item of clothing or adornment is a violation of the standards of dress. The student will be expected to remedy the violation. Any discipline of students shall be at the discretion of the principal or designee and shall depend upon the age of the student, the type and number of violation(s).

Policy JFC-R

The students are expected to dress appropriately for PE and recess. Safe and appropriate footwear is needed both for PE (sneakers) and for daily outdoor recess.

SCHOOL PROTOCOLS

MOMENT OF SILENCE

The Code of Virginia was amended to require a moment of silence each day. The statute states the following:

In order that the right of every pupil to the free exercise of religion be guaranteed within the schools and that the freedom of each individual pupil be subject to the least possible pressure from the Commonwealth either to engage in, or to refrain from, religious observation on school grounds, the school board of each school division shall establish the daily observance of one minute of silence in each classroom of the division.

CES & MPES will include a daily moment of silence at the start of each day.

EMERGENCY DRILLS

Every precaution is taken to ensure the safety of your child during normal school hours. Regular fire, tornado, and other school safety drills are executed to make certain that students learn proper safety procedures. Students will be directed by school staff in procedures to follow in response to the emergency situation(s) to ensure safety. Specific information in regards to procedures can be located in the school safety policies and regulations.

REPORT CARDS

Report cards will be issued four times a year at nine-week intervals. Interim reports will be available to all students at the midpoint of each grading period. Please refer to the school calendar for specific dates that report cards and interim reports are sent home.

GRADING SCALE

Manassas Park Elementary students are evaluated on both achievement and effort in each subject. Students earn letter grades in reading and language arts, mathematics, science and social studies based on a 10-point grading scale. They earn an "E", "M", or "U" in the Encore classes of art, library, technology, instrumental music, vocal music, and physical education Students will earn a 1, 2, 3, or 4 on a STEM report card. Teacher comments are provided on the report card for each subject area. Reference policy IKR-R

ACHIEVEMENT GRADING SCALE         ENCORE CLASS GRADING SCALE STEM GRADING SCALE
A         90-100                                E-Exceeds expectations                 Level 1 - Beginner
B        80-89                                M- Meets expectations         Level 2 - Intermediate
C        70-79                                U- Unsatisfactory           Level 3 - Proficient
D        60-69                                         Level 4 - Mastery
F        Below 60

Cougar Elementary School students are evaluated through a rubric code of a 4, 3, 2, 1 or Not Assessed. This rubric is utilized in all areas and comments provided will address the marking code.

Marking Code	Explanation	Comment
4	Consistently exceeds standards	Independently demonstrates performance beyond grade level expectations
3	Consistently meets standards	Consistently demonstrates mastery of grade level expectations with minimal teacher support
2	Inconsistent progress towards standards	Can meet grade level expectations with teacher assistance and support
1	Minimal progress toward standards	Beginning to make progress toward grade level standards; requires intensive teacher support
NA	Not Assessed	Not Assessed

GRADES ONLINE

Parents and guardians are able to view their child’s grades and attendance online through the Parent Portal. In addition, parents can view assignments and attendance details, communicate via email with their child’s teachers and manage email notifications about their child’s progress.

In order to access your child’s grades online:

Parents/guardians will receive a username and password.
The username and password will then be used to access your child’s grades. A detailed guide will be given to each parent/guardian when they receive their username and password.

Due to the nature of the information being shared, only parents/guardians will be allowed to receive a username and password.

HONOR ROLL

At Manassas Park Elementary School, the Honor Roll is achieved by earning a combination of A’s and B’s for achievement in mathematics, science, social studies and reading/language arts and a rating of Meets or Exceeds in art, band, instrumental music, library, music, and/or physical education.