Polaris Charter School Parent & Student Handbook
Parent-Student Handbook
Polaris Charter School
School Administrative Unit # 401
100 Coolidge Avenue
Manchester, NH 03102
Phone: (603) 634-0034
http://www.polarischarterschool.org
Welcome!
Polaris Charter School extends a warm welcome to you and to your children. We are proud and excited to be entering our twelfth year as a public charter school!
This parent-student handbook is designed to serve the entire Polaris community. Although not every situation affecting students is addressed, the handbook articulates the broad range of expectations that have been derived from the school’s Mission Statement and Charter. The administrative guidelines written in the handbook are approved by our Board of Trustees and are considered policy for the current school year.
It is important that every member of the Polaris community read and review this. As new information comes to our attention, the handbook will be revised as necessary. Your comments and suggestions for improvements in our education program are always welcome, as we want to work together in building a joyful and exciting community of learners.
We look forward to your interest, reflection, and active participation in supporting the Mission and Charter of Polaris Charter School.
The Polaris Charter School Staff
Approved by the Board of Trustees: _____August 13, 2012_____
Revised and Updated: ____November 17, 2015___
Revised and Updated: _____August 17, 2016_____
Revised and Updated: _____August 21, 2017_____
Revised and Updated: _____August 21, 2018_____
Revised and Updated: _____August 21, 2021_____
Revised and Updated: _____August 21, 2022_____
Revised and Updated: _____August 18, 2023_____
Revised and Updated: _____August 20, 2024_____
Table of Contents
Dismissal Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
Weekly Early Release 12:50- 1:10 PM, Every Wednesday
Cancellation & Delayed Opening Notification
Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
Primary and Intermediate Classrooms
Students Previously Identified
Students Not Previously Identified
Disclosure of Educational Records Information
The Rights of Parents and Legal Guardians
Information Security and Ownership
PUPIL SAFETY AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION - BULLYING
Introduction
Mission Statement
The mission of Polaris Charter School is to create a joyful and exciting learning community for intellectually curious elementary-aged children. Through an engaging, inquiry-based curriculum, our students will develop the ability to communicate effectively, work collaboratively, think critically, and excel academically. Our program fosters creativity and the development of social and emotional skills, instilling a positive attitude about future studies and ensuring students are well prepared for the challenges of an ever-changing world.
Polaris Charter School will:
- Implement a rigorous, project-oriented, interdisciplinary curriculum that ensures state standards are met and exceeded.
- Utilize flexible groupings in multi-age classrooms.
- Encourage each student’s progress with personal learning plans, combining social and academic standards with individualized goals.
- Motivate students to learn at their own pace and reach their full potential with a move-on-when-ready approach that allows for accelerated learning and is based on subject mastery.
Notice of Implied Agreement
The registration of a student at Polaris Charter School is deemed to be an agreement on his or her part, and on the part of the parent(s) or guardian(s), to comply fully with all policies, rules, and regulations of the school as outlined in this handbook. For the remainder of this document, the term “parent” will apply to all legal guardians of the enrolled student. Polaris reserves the right to revise or edit the policies, rules, and regulations herein at any time. The Director makes the final judgment in all matters pertaining to the implied agreement.
Admissions and Enrollment
Polaris Charter School is a public, open enrollment, school without tuition for students who are New Hampshire residents. However, to be considered for enrollment, a student must meet the established eligibility criteria and complete the application process as published on our website annually (www.polarischarterschool.org).
Eligibility Criteria
All New Hampshire students who meet the following criteria are eligible to apply.
- The student is five to eleven years old, as of September 30th of the academic year for which the student is enrolling.
- The student and their parents agree that the student is likely to benefit from the Polaris Charter School program.
- The student and their parents are willing to abide by the policies and expectations of Polaris Charter School and to work collaboratively within the school community toward achieving the mission of Polaris Charter School.
New Hampshire statutes prohibit more than 10% of the resident pupils in any grade in a (non-charter) public school district to be eligible to transfer to a charter school without the approval of the local school board in the town where the child resides. The school district of residence of a student is defined by RSA 193:12, II.
Out-of-state students who meet the school’s application criteria may apply, but will be admitted only after all New Hampshire applicants have been accepted, and if space at the school remains available. Non-New Hampshire students enrolled at Polaris Charter School will be charged tuition at an annual rate determined by the Board of Trustees.
Enrollment Selection: Lottery
In any given year, the number of openings available for enrollment will be dependent on the ages of currently enrolled students, the number and ages of sibling applicants, the optimum range of multi-age students within a class and the maximum student-teacher ratios permitted under the school’s charter, as determined by the Director and Board of Trustees.
If the number of completed applications submitted exceeds the available capacity of the school, siblings of currently enrolled students will be given first priority for placement. If the number of sibling applicants exceeds the number of available openings, there will be a random lottery to select among sibling applicants.
If there are available openings beyond currently enrolled students and their siblings, applicants will be selected for enrollment through a random, publicly held lottery. If during an application period, there are fewer applicants than spaces available, Polaris Charter School will admit all interested applicants and will not conduct a lottery.
Application Procedures
Charter schools in New Hampshire are schools of choice. Schools of choice depend on parents and students making informed enrollment decisions. For this reason, each new family interested in having one or more of their children attend Polaris Charter School are asked to attend an Informational Session about Polaris Charter School that is scheduled before applications are due.
Applications will also require a copy of the child’s Birth Certificate and a notarized Affidavit as proof of NH Residency. Other details regarding application package requirements, due dates, lottery guidelines, and waitlist information will be established by the Director and posted annually on the school’s website at https://www.polarischarterschool.org/admissions.
Completed application packages including electronic and paper components must be on file with the Polaris Charter School office by the posted deadline for new applications. Incomplete applications, including failure to attend an Informational Session, will not be considered for inclusion in the lottery. If a student is not enrolled, a new application must be submitted each subsequent year that the student applies for enrollment.
Continued Enrollment
Once a New Hampshire resident is admitted to Polaris Charter School, they are guaranteed enrollment for all subsequent elementary years provided the parent re-enrolls their student unless the student voluntarily withdraws, is not benefitting from the educational program, or surpasses the age limit established by the school charter.
A student’s successful education requires a partnership between the child’s parent(s) and the school. Just as the parent has a right to withdraw a child from Polaris, the school administration reserves the right to recommend withdrawal of a student if it is determined that the student is not benefitting from the school's educational program, the parent-school partnership has broken down, or there is a pattern of failure to follow through with parental responsibilities. Polaris Charter School also reserves the right to dismiss a student or place a student on disciplinary probation for serious infractions of school regulations as described later in this handbook
Calendar
The annual calendar for Polaris Charter School is posted, and updated as needed, on the school's website at https://www.polarischarterschool.org/academic-calendar. Please note that every Wednesday is an Early Release day. Every effort is made to have the Polaris Charter School calendar approved by the Board of Trustees by May preceding any given school year.
Daily Activities
Arrival
Children arrive and go to their classrooms between 8:00-8:20.
Morning Gathering
Starting at 8:25 am each morning, the entire school comes together for announcements, the celebration of special events or achievements, activities and discussions around a monthly social-emotional Core Value, and The Pledge of Allegiance is recited. Everyone is asked to rise and participate or to rise and remain silent out of respect for the patriotic words and symbol of the United States of America.
This is an important time for our school to come together as a community.
Classroom Instruction
Polaris teachers are encouraged to manage their classroom schedules according to the needs and activities of their students. Therefore, schedules will vary between classrooms. Despite these differences, each classroom will dedicate time to Morning Meeting, Project-Based Learning, Skills Exploration and Assessment (based on each child’s Personalized Learning Plan), and for Snack, Lunch, Recess, and Specials.
Snack and Lunch
Polaris does not have a meal program. Students must bring a snack and lunch to school daily. Please prepare food that can be left at room temperature or preserved with a small ice pack, as students do not have access to a microwave or refrigeration. If a student forgets to bring lunch, we will call their parent/guardian so one can be delivered. If lunch cannot be provided from home, there will be a limited supply of lunch and snack options available so no child goes hungry. It is greatly appreciated when families help restock this reserve with healthy options, as any child in need may be given food from the available supply.
We encourage families to pack snacks and lunches that are nutritious, easy to open, and not too messy (children will be eating in their classrooms). If a class has a student with a nut allergy, there will be a designated table for those wishing to eat peanut butter or tree nuts. The Polaris staff will actively discourage children from sharing food to avoid potential problems for children with allergies. Please be sure that your child's health record notes any allergies that they may have.
Recess
Every child at Polaris Charter School has scheduled recess time daily. Though Polaris has very limited outdoor play space, we encourage children to make the best use of the playground by engaging in cooperative games. To allow sufficient play space for everyone to enjoy, recess will be taken in shifts before or after lunchtime.
All children will be expected to participate in outdoor activities, except when excused for medical reasons or during inclement weather. Recess will be held outdoors unless it is actively precipitating or the “Feels Like” temperature is below 20o F. Due to our small staff, we cannot keep children inside when they have not dressed appropriately. We ask parents to ensure that their child comes to school dressed for the prevailing weather conditions, including appropriate coats, snow pants, boots, mittens, hats, etc. Remember to label all clothing with your child's name to avoid mix-ups or loss. To maintain their health and safety, children who are not appropriately dressed may have a limited outdoor area in which to play.
During inclement weather, recess will be held in the classrooms. Children will be encouraged to play cards or board games, draw, talk, and play creatively. Electronic games will not be allowed during indoor or outdoor recess.
Dismissal Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday
Students will be called over the PA system. When their name is called by the staff on duty, they will be escorted to their bus, car, or after-school program transportation.
Weekly Early Release 12:50- 1:10 PM, Every Wednesday
Every Wednesday is an early release day to facilitate teacher collaboration and preparation for our personalized educational program. For this reason, Wednesday afternoons may be a good time for parents to schedule appointments and/or lessons for their children.
Buses do pickup on Wednesday afternoons and transport them to their scheduled stop. If you need childcare, the Manchester Y and Empowering Lives have programs.
Cancellation & Delayed Opening Notification
Polaris Charter School generally follows the Manchester School District’s weather-related decisions. However, Polaris may occasionally make an independent weather-related decision because our staff and students commute from many towns and cities across New Hampshire. In either instance, the decision will be made and reported by 6:30 AM on WMUR-TV Channel 9. An email will be sent and a notification will also be posted on the PEF Facebook page.
Parents are encouraged to use their discretion in commuting on days with snow or icy conditions. If a parent decides that travel conditions are too hazardous, whether or not the school has been delayed or canceled, their child(ren) will be given an excused absence. If Polaris is in session, weather-related absences should be reported to the school office via email (attendance@polarischarterschool.org) or with a call.
Unscheduled Early Dismissals
On rare occasions, conditions may cause Polaris Charter School to call for an unscheduled early dismissal. Should Polaris, or the Manchester School District, need to issue an unexpected dismissal, a notification will be posted on the Polaris Educational Foundation (PEF) Facebook page, an email will be sent to all parent email addresses on file with a reply requested, and phone calls will be made as needed in a final effort to reach all parents.
Polaris Charter School requests that all students not regularly scheduled for bus transportation be picked up by private vehicles promptly at the time stated in the early dismissal notification. In a situation warranting a dismissal, we do not want to jeopardize the safety of staff members by asking them to remain in the building beyond the scheduled dismissal time. If you are unable to pick up your child by the stated time, please arrange for someone else to do so and notify the school of the arrangement.
Transportation
Car
All students traveling by car should use the drop-off and pick-up zone along Coolidge Avenue only. The only exception to this is for students that cannot independently buckle themself in/out their booster seat. In this case, you should use the Cartier St. entrance. Please park your car in an area OUTSIDE the parking lot and walk to the gate.
The car line on Coolidge begins from the north forming a line at the Kelly Street intersection. Do not enter the car line from any side street. Students will be escorted by staff in small groups into and out of the school.
- Families will be given placards listing their student’s first names last initial. Additional placards can be provided if needed.
- Place the name placard with your child’s first name last initial on the passenger side of the windshield or visor. Keep it there until the students are in your vehicle.
- Proceed down Coolidge Ave until you find the last car with its hazard lights on to enter the line.
- Once in line, use your hazard lights to alert other motorists to our drop-off/ pick-up area.
- DO NOT park in the parking lot. If you need to escort your child in, please park on Cartier St. and use the door on that side.
- Please DO NOT go around the car in front of you at pick up/drop off unless the person on duty waves you around.
- If you arrive after the scheduled arrival or dismissal time, park on Coolidge or Cartier street and accompany your child into/out of the school. You CANNOT drive in and park at the front door.
- Please do not block any pedestrian crosswalks.
To Ensure the Safety of All Students:
- Children are not permitted to wait on school property or enter the school building before 8:00 AM.
- Please keep your child in the car until a staff member is at the curb and ready to accompany them into the building. Do not allow them to wait on the sidewalk or walk across the walkway/parking lot by themselves.
- Parents are asked to provide a list of drivers authorized to pick up their child(ren) at Polaris, including the driver’s name, vehicle make, and color. This list will be checked before releasing a student to an unrecognized driver. Students leave school from their classroom when their name is called, based on these placards and authorized driver lists. Unless a note with a parent’s signature (or from a recognized parent email) is sent to the Administration, students will not be released to drivers whose names are not on the authorized pick-up list. The note must state the driver’s name, vehicle make, and color. Notes received at noon or later and verbal requests or phone calls may not be honored if we are unable to communicate the necessary information to the staff member on duty before dismissal.
- Please make every effort to arrive on time. Staff members often have meetings after scheduled dismissal times. If you will be unavoidably late, please call to notify the school office so that your child and our staff won’t worry. If drivers are consistently late, the administration will request a meeting to discuss alternatives.
Bus Transportation
Busing is available for Manchester residents only. The buses will not pick up students along a route that is not posted on the transportation website: https://sites.google.com/a/mansd.org/msd-transportation/bus-scedules-private-schools. If you scroll down to the bottom of the page, you will see the link for charter school and you will find Polaris.
Walkers
Due to the traffic surrounding the school, parents or parent-approved adults should supervise students of any age while walking to or from school. Walkers should enter and exit the school from the Cartier Street door. A staff member will be on-site to greet families and escort students to/from the building.
After School Care Options
Polaris does not have before and after-school care on-site. Polaris has three programs that pick up at Polaris and transport to their facility for after-school care that is listed below. You will need to contact them directly to sign your child up.
- Empowering Lives - https://martialartsnewhampshire.com/
- Girls Inc. - https://girlsincnewhampshire.org/
- YMCA - https://www.graniteymca.org/
Attendance
Attendance will be taken daily. Polaris Charter School is an interactive, collaborative learning environment. We view each day as an opportunity to learn and experience together. School attendance is essential to our learning community. Attendance is also critical for students to achieve their goals in academic and personal growth. For these reasons, regular and punctual patterns of attendance are required of each student enrolled at Polaris. If there is a change to your daily routine, please email attendance@polarischarterschool.org
We want you here, every day and all day!
If you’re not at school, we miss you!
Your education is important.
Your participation at Polaris Charter School is a privilege!!
Responsibilities
It is the school’s responsibility to:
- Check and report classroom attendance each morning by 8:45 AM.
- Keep timely and accurate records of absences, tardiness, and dismissals for individual student records and state reports.
- Call parents of any student whose absence was not verified in advance.
- Notify parents if, at any point, a teacher or director identifies that a student has had excessive absences of any kind.
It is the family’s responsibility to:
- Be familiar with all school attendance policies and procedures, as stated in this handbook.
- Follow all school attendance policies and procedures, as stated in this handbook.
- Make attendance decisions that protect the health and well-being of your child and the other people who share the Polaris Charter School environment.
Excused or Unexcused
Absences, late arrivals, and early dismissals will be excused if they are due to one of the following reasons:
- Illness
- Death in the family
- Observance of religious holidays
- Medical appointments that can’t be scheduled after school
- School-related appointments
- Adverse weather conditions (when school is open)
NOTE: Full or partial-day absences for reasons other than those listed above will be considered unexcused and should be avoided whenever possible.
Full-Day Absence
Daily attendance is very important to your child’s social and academic success at school; however, absences are sometimes unavoidable. If you cannot avoid an absence, please contact the school office before 8:20 a.m. to notify us that your child will be absent.
EITHER:
Email attendance@polarischarterschool.org. Messages should include the student’s name, the parent’s name, and the reason for the absence.
OR:
Call the attendance line (634-0034) AND give the reason for the absence to the school office.
Late Arrival / Tardiness
We provide a full twenty-minute arrival period to allow for unpredictable traffic conditions and to ensure that your child can settle in before Morning Gathering starts.
Because of the importance of this Gathering time, we ask that parents attempt to limit late arrivals to only unavoidable circumstances. If you cannot avoid a late arrival, please contact the school office before 8:20 a.m. to notify us that your child will be late.
EITHER:
Email attendance@polarischarterschool.org. Messages should include the student’s name, the parent’s name, and the reason for the absence.
OR:
Call the attendance line (634-0034) AND give the reason for the tardiness to the school office upon arrival.
If you arrive after 8:20 a.m., please park on Coolidge Ave. or Cartier St. and accompany your child into the school building at the Coolidge St. entrance to sign them in. They will be marked tardy. The tardiness will be considered unexcused unless one of the designated exceptions applies or there was an unavoidable travel delay. (See Excused or Unexcused)
NOTE: Students arriving after 11:30 a.m. are marked with a half-day absence. Half-day absences accumulate toward total absences in the student’s attendance record.
Individual Early Dismissal
We ask that dismissals be kept to a minimum and that parents attempt to limit early dismissals to only unavoidable circumstances. They will be considered unexcused unless a designated exception applies (see Excused or Unexcused). You must pick up your child before 2:30 pm so as not to interfere with regular dismissal. If you arrive after 2:30 pm, you will be asked to join the carpool line on Coolidge Ave and pick up your child with everyone else. If an early dismissal is unavoidable, the following is required:
- The child’s parent must send an email or signed permission slip to the school office prior to the dismissal, including the date and time of the requested dismissal, the name of the person picking up the child and their relationship to the student, if they are not the child’s parent.
- The adult designated by the parent note must come into the Front Office and sign the child out of school on the Student Attendance Log before leaving.
Excessive Absences
While we understand that there are times when absence or partial-day absence from school is justified, we are required to monitor attendance per NH RSA 193:1, which states that parent(s)/guardian(s) have the legal obligation to see to it that their children attend school during the entire time school is in session.
To ensure that parents are kept informed when a student has accumulated greater than average absences, the school administration will mail a written notification to the legal address on record if a student’s attendance record shows a total of 5 unexcused full-day absences or 10 unexcused half days.
If, at any point, the teacher or Director identifies that a student has had excessive absences of any kind, intervention with the student, the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s), and other staff members may be necessary.
The intervention shall be on a case-by-case basis and can involve processes including, but not limited to:
- Investigating the cause(s) of the student’s absences
- Considering the modification of his/her educational program to meet particular needs that may be causing the absences.
- Involving the parents in the development of a plan designed to reduce the absences
- Referral to outside agencies
Health Management
Polaris Charter School has a responsibility to take a variety of actions every day to prevent the spread of infection diseases as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the NH Department of Health and Human Services (NH DHHS) to limit the spread within the school setting. These include appropriate disinfecting/sanitizing procedures, screening, monitoring, isolation for illness, and others. Anyone who has symptoms of respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, such as cough, fever (100.4 or higher), sore throat, vomiting, or diarrhea, should stay home. Testing is recommended for people with symptoms of COVID-19 as soon as possible after symptoms begin. To maintain a healthy school environment, Polaris asks for your cooperation in communicating about any infectious diseases. The child’s name will remain confidential, but the general presence of infection will be shared if it is pertinent to the health and safety of other school members. Examples of illnesses that should be reported are strep throat, bacterial conjunctivitis (pink eye), chickenpox, impetigo, and head lice. Students should remain at home until they are fever free for without fever reducing medicine or have not vomited in the past 24 hours
Head Lice
Polaris Charter School follows the New Hampshire Department of Education’s guidelines, which can be found here: https://www.education.nh.gov/instruction/school_health/faq_pediculosis.htm. If a child is found to have either head lice or nits, the parent will be notified. The student will be allowed to remain in the classroom that day if comfortable and return to school following treatment. Your child’s medical provider can provide written instructions for treatment and may be able to provide a prescription treatment that is both gentle and effective for young children. Successful treatment is indicated when no live lice are seen and the removal of nits is close to completion. Confirmation of successful treatment can be provided with either written documentation signed by a health professional or a physical check performed by a member of the administration.
Immunization Requirements
New Hampshire state law requires that records of a set of immunizations be on file BEFORE entry into school for all students. Polaris Charter School requires an official record of these immunizations as part of the student's admission packet. If you have questions about the requirement and/or exemptions from the requirement, the New Hampshire Department of Education has relevant questions and answers on their website (www.education.nh.gov/instruction/school_health/faq_immunizations.htm). For questions concerning the specific immunizations, there is a list of the immunizations on the NH Dept. of Health and Human Services website (http://www.dhhs.nh.gov/dphs/immunization/index.htm).
Medications
To ensure the safety of all students, ALL medication, whether over-the-counter or prescription, MUST be kept in the office and administered by a school administrator. In addition, written parental permission must be on file for all medicines provided in school. Forms to authorize the Polaris staff to administer medications will be sent home at the beginning of the school year. New forms must be completed each academic year.
Over-the-Counter Medicine
With permission on the file, administrators will be allowed to provide students with over-the-counter medications, including but not limited to cough drops, hydrocortisone cream, ibuprofen (Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol), and Benadryl. If a parent knows their child will need medication during the school day, they are encouraged to send the desired medication in its original packaging along with any special instructions for use. The parent should also notify the administration that the medication is being sent by calling (634-0034) or emailing (attendance@polarischarterschool.org). Should an unexpected need arise, Polaris will keep a limited supply of the medicines listed above.
Prescription Medicine
Prescription medication must be provided to the school in the original container, along with written parental permission AND a physician’s written order for the medication. Parents should bring the medication and the authorization form to the Office for approval. Students in possession of any medications outside of these parameters will be subject to disciplinary action.
Each classroom has an Emergency Backpack that travels with the students everywhere they go (i.e., specials, recess or a field trip). Emergency medications such as inhalers and Epi-pens will be kept in the child’s classroom backpack for quick access. Non-emergency prescription medications will be kept in the Office in a locked receptacle and administered per written orders from a medical professional. Should a parent feel it necessary, they may also request and/or provide staff training in the use of a device or medication. In these cases, a special form must be filled out indemnifying Polaris Charter School staff member(s) and permitting them to use the medication or device to save the student's life.
Physical Exam
A report of a physical exam must be on file before a student begins classes at Polaris Charter School. Transfer students may attend school for a limited period of time without this report. If there is no physical exam on file within thirty (30) days of enrollment or transfer, proof of a medical appointment must be presented to the school or the child may be excluded from school. (RSA 200:32.)
Emergency Preparation and Response
Drills
NH RSA 189:64 states that, “The plan shall provide that at least 4 of the currently required number of fire evacuation drills shall be emergency, all-hazard response drills of which at least one shall test emergency response to an armed assailant. The armed assailant drill may be discussion based. The types of all-hazard drills and exercises and the manner and time in which these activities take place shall be determined by the school in collaboration with local public safety, emergency management, and public health officials. The school may include students and first responders in all-hazard response drills or activities, as appropriate.”
Emergency Response
Should an emergency or disaster situation ever arise in our area while school is in session, we want you to be aware that Polaris Charter School has a plan that has been formulated to respond to a large or small emergency and includes evacuation to an off-site location. This plan has been developed in conjunction with local emergency management teams. The decisions to keep students at school or at an off-site location will be based upon recommendations from our local responders. We will release students only to parents or the person(s) you have designated as an emergency contact in Sycamore at the beginning of the school year. Please keep this information up to date throughout the year. In such situations you should expect our dismissal process to be tightened to ensure student safety. You can help us in an emergency situation by adhering to the following:
- By providing the school with emergency contact information, listing 3 contacts.
- By NOT telephoning the school. Our telephone lines may be needed for emergency communication with police, fire, and other emergency personnel.
- By NOT coming to the school until requested. During an emergency, access to the school must be kept clear for emergency vehicles. By “Self Responding” to the school you may jeopardize the safety of your child.
- By NOT calling or texting your child’s cell phone. Not only can cell phone connections create an unsafe electrical charge (in the case of a bomb threat) but conflicting and unconfirmed information is better left to be sorted by the adults on site.
- By MAKING SURE your child(ren) understands the need to follow the directions of any school personnel. By providing written permission for student transport to the nearest emergency medical center in case of a medical emergency.
Student/Parent Reunification
If the decision is made to evacuate or close early, parents will be emailed and or called when it is safe to do so. In order for us to ensure your child’s safety, it is necessary for us to establish some protocol related to picking up your child. No student will be released unless you or an individual designated as an Emergency Contact arrives to pick them up.
- You will be required to present valid identification. This step is required to protect your child from any unauthorized individuals attempting to pick up your child. The school may be receiving assistance from other schools or outside agencies and therefore, may not know you.
- You will be required to sign for the release of your child.
- If reunification is inside the school, children with last names A-L will be picked up at the front door and M-Z at the back door. If the location is the playground last names A-L will be picked up at the parking lot side gate and M-Z at the Cartier St. gate.
- If reunification is off-site, the location will announced on WMUR and emails will be sent.
Although no one likes to dwell on emergency situations, we believe that planning ahead will help alleviate additional stress and concern.
First Aid
If a student gets hurt, first aid will be provided as appropriate. Depending on the severity, the student may return to class, a parent may be called, or the student may be taken to the nearest hospital as deemed appropriate by a member of the administration.
Communication
School Newsletter
This is generally sent out monthly and will contain announcements and pictures!
Parent/Student/Teacher Conferences
Conferences at Polaris Charter School are for planning and assessment of each student's educational and social-emotional learning progress at school. To provide parents and teachers with accurate and pertinent information to evaluate, the student must be present and participate fully in the conference.
During the conference, students will review their previous learning goals and present their completed work, including an updated portfolio and any completed projects. Based on a review of the student's learning outcomes, new goals for the next academic period will be established, along with a notation of how the student proposes to accomplish the new goals. All of this information will be recorded on the student's Personal Learning Plan and copied for the parent and student. The original Personal Learning Plans (one per academic period) will become part of the student's permanent record and will be forwarded to the student's new school when the student transfers or graduates from Polaris.
The first conference of the school year is held before the first day of school. The remaining three conferences are scheduled on "No School" days and on one Early Release Day each period to allow 20 minutes for each conference. When possible, teachers will try to meet the scheduling needs of parents/guardians with both day and evening conference times available and coordinating back-to-back conferences for siblings. The Conference dates will be posted in the school newsletter and individual appointment times will be available for online sign-ups well in advance of scheduled Conference days. The dates are also marked in Polaris’s annual calendar. We ask that parents note the dates that have been reserved for conferences and plan accordingly. It is a requirement of continued enrollment at Polaris Charter School for parents to attend Conferences.
Lost and Found
To prevent loss of clothing and other belongings, parents are urged to mark their child’s name on clothing, boots, and all personal articles. Please also write your child's name on their lunch bag or lunch box. Students should not bring valuable or sentimental items to school. Should students choose to disregard this warning, they assume all risks of loss or damage to the items they bring to school.
A small box of Lost and Found items will be kept in the Gathering Room. Valuable items such as glasses, rings, and watches should be sent to (and maybe claimed in) the Front Office. Students and parents should check for lost articles as soon as they are discovered missing. Due to health concerns, clothing cannot be stored in Lost and Found for more than a few weeks. Unclaimed clothing will be donated to a non-profit organization.
Academics
Primary and Intermediate Classrooms
The vision at Polaris Charter School is to motivate students to learn at their own pace and to reach their full potential with a move-on-when-ready approach that allows for accelerated learning. We recognize that a student may be able to perform academically beyond their expected age or current grade level. Our program is designed to meet each student's needs with individualized instruction in multi-age classrooms. Students at Polaris are assigned to either a primary-age classroom or an intermediate-age classroom.
Despite our program design, there are times when Polaris Charter School must assign each student to a grade level, such as when the school participates in the required New Hampshire State Testing Program or must report our enrollment data to the New Hampshire Department of Education. To meet such mandatory requirements, the child's age will be used to determine to which grade level the student will be assigned. For example, if a child turns five by September 30th of the current school year, the child will be assigned to Kindergarten; if a child turns ten by September 30th of the current school year, the child will be assigned to fifth grade. The only exceptions to this grade placement procedure will occur if a student attending Polaris has been "grade-skipped" or "retained." In such cases, the student will be assigned to and tested at the appropriate grade according to the student's cumulative record.
When a child transfers or graduates from Polaris Charter School, the child's age, current assigned grade level, and (most importantly) Personalized Learning Plan will be used to analyze the most appropriate classroom placement in the student's new school. The student's Personalized Learning Plan will have accurate information about the skills and concepts the student has mastered, including the grade level(s) at which the student has demonstrated mastery in specific content areas. Whether or not a student transfers to a school with standard grade levels, the child's records from Polaris will provide accurate data about the child's achievement levels in mathematics, reading and language arts.
Homework
Students will be continually challenged by and involved in mastering Personalized Learning Plans during every day they attend Polaris Charter School. As the daily schedule shows, our school days are also longer than most other public elementary schools. The rationale is that the vision of Polaris Charter School calls for us to "motivate students to learn at their own pace," while "instilling a positive attitude about future studies." We think our mission and vision are best accomplished without assigning daily homework, which can become meaningless practice, a drudgery, or a source of conflict between school and home. Polaris supports our students in pursuing extra-curricular and social activities outside the school walls.
We want every child at Polaris to make continual progress in their education and to feel good about their school accomplishments. If a teacher or a parent notes that a child has stopped making progress and/or is dissatisfied with the progress he/ she is making, then a parent-student-teacher conference should be held to discuss various options. One option might be to develop a homework plan, but there could also be other solutions, such as peer-tutoring or a new instructional strategy or tool to provide the needed assistance. In other words, homework is not assigned to a whole class, nor daily, nor for a minimum amount of time. As with all the other aspects of the Polaris curriculum and instructional program, homework is individualized and assigned only on an as-needed basis with the approval of the teacher, the parent, and the student.
Special Education
Students Previously Identified
Polaris Charter School welcomes all children who will benefit from our mission and charter, which may include children with identified and sometimes unidentified, special educational needs. As part of the enrollment process, we ask parents to let the school know if their child has a special educational need that has been identified by the public school district where the child lives, and that resulted in the development of an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for that child.
Our faculty and staff are willing and prepared to make any classroom accommodations that are stipulated in a child's IEP so we need to have a copy of their plan, which is why we ask for this information at the time of enrollment.
When a child's IEP requires specialized instruction such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, specialized equipment, or remedial services, the public school district where the child lives are legally required to provide or pay for those services. These services may be provided at our school site or the child's resident district. If the special education services are to be provided back at the child's local public school, that school district must provide transportation to and from the services.
To discuss the most appropriate services and where the services will be delivered for a child with an IEP, it is best to have a member of the Polaris faculty attend the annual Special Education Team Meeting, with the parent/guardian. This can prevent miscommunication and/or any disruption of services for a child with identified special educational needs.
Students Not Previously Identified
Occasionally, a child will show symptoms of learning difficulties or social/emotional concerns that interfere with the child's continuing progress at school. When the teacher, student, or parent observes a problem, the teacher will first try different instructional or management strategies. Additional or alternative strategies may be suggested after conferencing with the parent, professional colleagues, and/or health care professionals (with permission from the parent/guardian), who might already be working with the family.
If documentation of the alternative strategies does not show improvement or progress over time, the student will be referred to the Special Education Team at their local public school. The Director at Polaris, teacher, parent or a physician may make the referral to the Special Education Team. Once the referral is made, the child’s home school will schedule a meeting. The student’s parent/guardian is automatically a member of the Special Education Team that will determine the student’s eligibility and need for special education services. A teacher or administrator from Polaris should be in attendance to share information about the child's classroom performance and observed learning difficulties.
A parent with a concern about a student with possible special educational needs should first contact their child's teacher. Following that, they should contact the Director at Polaris. For more information about the process leading to special educational services, the parent may wish to review the regulations and mandates found on the NH Dept. of Education website at www.education.nh.gov/instruction/special_ed/index.htm. The State of New Hampshire also has laws to guide the implementation and interpretation of the Federal Statutes, (RSA 186). The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004, (IDEA, P.L. 94-142), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are two federal statutes that govern what public schools must provide to students with disabilities.
Assessment and Testing
All students are assessed periodically by classroom teachers to determine appropriate placement and to measure how individuals are progressing through the Math, Reading, and Language Arts standards outlined in the K-12 Common Core State Standards and how they are progressing through our social-emotional curriculum. A few of these assessments may be paper-and-pencil tests, but most will require the student to demonstrate an understanding through an oral presentation, dramatization, experimentation, group work, software information, or a record-keeping document. The results of the student’s performance on some of the classroom assessments will be included in the discussion during Parent/ Student/Teacher Conferences held four times a year.
State-mandated standardized tests are given at specific grade levels to compare the results of the educational program at Polaris to what is achieved at other schools in New Hampshire. Polaris Charter School also compiles assessment data to meet the goals of our accountability plan, which all NH charter schools must design and submit to the New Hampshire Department of Education to be eligible for continued funding. Parents are provided a copy of their individual student’s results.
If you have any questions or concerns about testing or your child’s progress in school, please call your student’s current teacher for more information. Another resource on testing is the Director, who can be reached through the school’s main phone number at 603-634-0034.
Educational Records
The information on the collection, maintenance, and dissemination of pupil records is based on Board Policy JRA and the Federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974. This law intends to protect the privacy and accuracy of student educational records. According to Section 99.7 of FERPA, a school district is required to provide parents annual notification of their rights regarding the accessibility of student records. Publication of these rights in the Polaris Charter School Parent and Student Handbook as follows satisfies this requirement.
Definition of an Educational Record
The Board of Trustees is intent upon maintaining an adequate individual student record system designed to benefit the education of every student enrolled at Polaris Charter School and to assist school staff in this process. It is the responsibility of school personnel to collect and maintain data to assure such benefits and to meet the data requirements by statute and regulations of the NH Department of Education.
An Educational Record is any record (in handwriting, tape, print, or another medium) maintained by the school which is directly related to a student EXCEPT:
- A personal record kept by a teacher or faculty member if it is kept in the personal possession of the individual who made the record and information contained in the record has never been revealed or made available to any other person except that staff member's temporary substitute;
- An employment record which is used only in relation to a student's employment by Polaris Charter School
- Alumni records which contain information about a student after they are no longer in attendance at Polaris Charter School and the records do not relate to the person as a student.
Directory Information
As permitted under FERPA, the following information has been designated as "Directory Information." This permits Polaris Charter School to use this information without prior written consent if, and only if, it is used to publish student yearbooks, programs for athletic teams, performing groups, and to publicize the academic awards and honors of individual students.
- The student's name
- The student's grade or class
- The student's extra-curricular activities
- The name of the school the student currently attends
- Achievement awards and/or honors
If any parent or guardian wishes that any or all of the items listed above not be used for the purposes stated, please inform the Administrative Coordinator in writing. Any information used before a request for non-use may be exempt from that request.
Specific written parental permission shall be requested for the disclosure of a student's address, telephone number, the date and place of the student's birth and/or photograph. The request for permission will include the purpose of such disclosure and the specific time limit for the release of such directory information.
Disclosure of Educational Records Information
Polaris Charter School will maintain a record of all requests for and/or disclosure of information from a student's record, excluding requests of school officials and requests for directory information. The record will indicate the name of the party making the request, including a parent or legal guardian, and any additional parties to whom it may be disclosed, and the legitimate interest the party had in requesting or obtaining the information. The disclosure record may be reviewed by the parents.
The Rights of Parents and Legal Guardians
- The right to inspect and review their children's educational record
- The right to seek to correct parts of this record if they believe it to be inaccurate or misleading
- The right to limit disclosure of information contained in the record
- The right to file a complaint if there is a violation of this law
Student Record Accessibility
Parents are to have access to their child’s cumulative records upon request and after a mutually convenient appointment has been arranged with the teacher or the Director. The appointment may not exceed 45 days after the initial request has been made. Pupil records are not to be reviewed alone by a parent, but only in conference with the teacher and/or administrator.
When parents are separated or divorced, or for some other reason the student is not in the joint custody of both parents, information concerning the student shall be disclosed.
- Release of student records will occur if and when:
- The student’s parent/guardian provides a signed written consent form. The written consent must be specific, stating that Polaris Charter School is requested to release which records, (i.e. health, permanent record, and/or special education records), and must state to whom they are to be released. Each request for consent must be handled separately. Blanket permission for the release of information will not be accepted.
- A Polaris Charter School official has a legitimate educational interest, such as an administrator, manager, teacher, coordinator, or a person employed by, or under contract to Polaris Charter School such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist.
- The officials of another school request student records for enrollment and/or financial scholarship
- Under a court order
- When data for outside research purposes or school accreditation is released, it should be in such a form that no individual student is identifiable. Records may not be released to anyone other than the person who collected the information and may be released to that person only for the use for which it was collected.
Technology
Philosophy
The computers, software, hardware, wireless network, and internet connection (collectively, technology resources) owned by Polaris Charter School are intended for educational purposes. These resources are tools for enriching the curriculum and to help students gain 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, technological, media literacy, and research and problem-solving. A technology agreement signed by the student and parent will be completed each year.
System Use
- Students are expected to use technology resources with respect: for their fellow students, their teachers, the equipment itself, the law, and the general online community.
- There should be no private business or commercial use of Polaris Charter School’s technology resources.
- Students shall not access any websites that are not assigned to them.
Safety
- Web access will be filtered for inappropriate content using appropriate filters.
- Students will not have access to chat or social media applications, except as a whole class led by the teacher.
- Intentionally accessing or distributing inappropriate or offensive content is not allowed. If inappropriate content is accessed accidentally, a teacher or administrator should be notified immediately.
Privacy
- Students shall never share passwords or accounts and shall not intentionally access other people’s accounts.
- Students shall not post or share private information about themselves or others online or in messages.
- Students shall not access, change, or tamper with other people’s files or work without explicit authorization from the author. Changing, deleting, or destroying other people’s files is the same as destroying their written work and will not be tolerated in any form.
Etiquette
- Students shall never send or forward messages with harassing or threatening language or inappropriate content.
- The school’s resources are limited; students should not intentionally overuse them to prevent other people from working.
- Electronic games and online games are only allowed when assigned by a teacher and never permitted at recess or lunchtime.
- Personal electronic devices, including cell phones and certain watches, are not allowed at Polaris Charter School. If devices are brought to school, they must be turned off and kept in the student’s bag. There is no guarantee of security for such devices.
System Maintenance
- Students shall not download or upload unauthorized materials or programs.
- Students shall not install unauthorized programs on school computers or devices.
- Students shall not intentionally spread damaging or malicious software, such as viruses.
- Students shall not intentionally damage any of the school’s computers or other hardware.
Information Security and Ownership
- All students at Polaris Charter School must respect copyrights for intellectual property. This includes music, images, data, and ideas.
- Students shall never copy someone else’s work and claim it as their own.
- Polaris Charter School is not liable for data loss from any of its technology resources.
- All files on school computers and messages sent from school computers are the property of the school and may be accessed by school authorities.
Consequences
- Intentionally breaking these rules will result in disciplinary action. The action will depend on the severity of the infraction and may include: take a break, parent and student conference with administration, or loss of technology resource privileges, which would severely impact a student's ability to make continued progress at Polaris Charter School. If a student loses technology privileges, parents/guardians will need to supply written resources such as books, magazines, and other sources for them to continue their work.
Behavioral Expectations
Misbehavior
Polaris Charter School staff have also been trained in the Responsive Classroom© approach to teaching. It emphasizes teaching children to take care of themselves, each other, and the school environment so that everyone can learn at his/her best.
The Responsive Classroom© approach is based on many of the great theories of how children learn and on the experiences of classroom teachers. There are seven basic principles behind the approach:
- Learning social skills is as important as learning academic skills.
- How children learn is as important as what they learn. Process and content go hand in hand.
- Children gain knowledge most effectively through social interaction.
- To be successful academically and socially, children need to learn cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-control.
- Knowing the children we teach - individually, culturally, and developmentally - is as important as knowing the content we teach.
- Knowing the families of the children we teach and inviting their participation is essential to children’s education.
- How the adults at school work together are as important as how skillful each teacher is. Lasting change begins with the adult community.
Polaris Charter School also uses the Responsive School discipline approach, which ensures that children will feel physically and emotionally safe in school so they can learn their best as well as learn the skills for working and learning cooperatively with others. The adults at Polaris Charter School will take the time to model and teach our students how to apply our school rules in different situations. When we begin the school year, we will introduce rules and behavior expectations and practice them. When a child misbehaves, the adults at Polaris Charter School will handle the misbehavior firmly while preserving the dignity of the child. Our immediate step is to stop the misbehavior as quickly and as simply as possible. If needed, we will take further steps to help a child gain self-control, fix any problems caused by their mistake, and get back to productive learning.
When handling students’ misbehavior we take the severity into account. We may:
- Give a reminder and tell the child to do something different with a brief word or gesture.
- Have the child sit closer to their teacher or another adult.
- Use “take-a-break” in a designated space in the classroom to regain self-control.
- Limit the child’s choice of activities for a while.
- Guide in fixing the problems the child created.
When a student needs additional support, we may:
- Use a buddy teacher take-a-break where the child goes to a distraction-free space in another teacher’s room to regain self-control.
- Use private take-a-break in one of the administrative offices.
- Have the child stay for a longer period of time in school in a supervised place.
- Have the child spend a period of time at home.
- When a child is asked to stay home from school, a parent must accompany the child to school the next day for a re-entry meeting with the teacher and an administrator.
- Meet with the child and/or parents to find other solutions.
- At Polaris Charter School, we strongly believe that children want to do well. We value working with students and parents in partnership to feel good about going to school.
- You can learn more about the Responsive Classroom approach by going to www.responsiveclassroom.org
If a child's behavior consistently interrupts the education and/or well-being of any other student, the administration will take steps to find a solution including a required parent conference, possible special education referral, and/or the implementation of a behavioral plan. The most severe disruptions or repeated infractions by the same student may result in a school suspension or an expulsion hearing with the Board of Trustees. (State mandates are listed under RSA 193.13 and RSA 193.13 III).
Dress Code
Polaris students are asked to dress appropriately for the business of learning and the comfort of themselves and their classmates. This means avoiding any clothing that contains noise-makers, flashing lights, or other distractions. Clothing should be sufficiently loose to be comfortable for walking up and downstairs and for sitting on the floor. If there are any questions or a disagreement concerning the Polaris Charter School dress code, the Director will be the final interpreter of what constitutes appropriate dress. Inappropriately dressed students will have a choice of borrowing clothing from the office supply or calling a parent for suitable clothing. The following dress code guidelines apply to all Polaris students:
- All shoes should be comfortable and safe. Please bring sneakers for P.E.
- Shirts must cover the midriff.
- Shirts and other articles of clothing with inappropriate pictures or lettering are not allowed, including clothing that advertises alcoholic beverages, alcohol-related messages, gender bias or sexual messages, smoking, substance use, or violence.
- Jewelry and accessories which pose distractions or hazards to the welfare, health, property, or safety of students and others will not be allowed.
Personal Electronics
Unless the use has been approved by the child's teacher, Polaris students are not permitted to use cell phones, cameras, tape recorders, music players, smart watches, handheld video games, or other such personal electronic devices during the school day. It is best for safety, security, and privacy to leave all such electronic devices at home.
If a student must have a cell phone, it must be turned off and kept in their backpack during the school day. The school day is defined as the moment a student boards the bus or is dropped off at school in the morning until after they depart the school. Students who remain for after-school activities may use electronic devices after receiving permission from a supervising adult in a designated area determined by that adult. At no time, however, will a student be allowed to access the school's network from personal devices.
Cell phones and electronic devices will be confiscated if the student violates this policy. The confiscated device may be picked up according to the following guidelines:
- First Offense: Students may retrieve the device at the end of the day.
- Second Offense: Same as first with an added written warning.
- Third Offense: Parents must retrieve from the front office.
Toys
Students are not allowed to bring toys from home in to school. This includes trading cards, fidget spinners, stuffed animals, etc. The only exception to this rule is on a show-and-share day or if a student has an accommodation in their IEP or 504 plan.
Party Invitations
To avoid creating hurt feelings, invitations to parties may only be passed out in class if every student is being invited. If you are having selected guests, we ask that you send invitations by mail. The school is not allowed to give out addresses.
Harassment
Racial and sexual harassment are forms of discrimination that violate Section 703 of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1974, as amended, 42 U.S.C. et seq. Polaris Charter School prohibits employees and students from conduct and/or communications that may perpetrate sexual violence or racially or sexually harass another employee or student. (For the full text, see Board Policy (JBAA.) Any person who believes they have been the victim of racial or sexual harassment or sexual violence by a student or by an employee of Polaris Charter School, or a third person with knowledge or belief of conduct which may constitute harassment or sexual violence, should report the alleged acts immediately to the appropriate Polaris Charter School official.
Within Polaris Charter School, the Director has been designated by the Board of Trustees to serve as the school’s Human Rights Officer. They can be reached at the school office at 100 Coolidge Avenue in Manchester, or by telephone at 603-634-0034. Upon receipt of a report or complaint of racial or sexual harassment or sexual violence, the Human Rights Officer shall immediately authorize an investigation. This investigation may be conducted by the Human Rights Officer or by a third party designated by the Director. In determining whether alleged conduct or communication constitutes harassment or sexual violence, all of the facts and surrounding circumstances will be reviewed, including:
- The nature of the comments
- The actions which occurred
- The conduct of both parties
- The reports of any witnesses, observers, and/or bystanders
- The relationships between the parties involved
- The context in which the alleged actions occurred
Polaris Charter School will take such disciplinary action it deems necessary and appropriate, based on the results of the investigation. Disciplinary actions may include warning, suspension, or immediate discharge to end racial and sexual harassment or other harassment and sexual violence and prevent its recurrence.
Furthermore, Polaris Charter School will discipline any individual who retaliates against any person who reports alleged racial or sexual harassment or other harassment and sexual violence.
These procedures do not deny the right of any individual to pursue other avenues of recourse, which may include filing charges with the Commissioner of Education, initiating civil action, and/or seeking redress under criminal statutes and/or federal law.
Weapons
Weapons are not permitted on school property at any time. Visitors, faculty, staff, and students are strictly prohibited from bringing any weapon, whether visible or concealed, into the school building, onto school property, on a school bus, or to any school-sponsored event. The term “weapon” pertains to but is not limited to, firearms (rifles, pistols, revolvers, pellet guns, BB guns, etc.;), knives (instruments of any kind that have sharpened or pointed metal blade of two [2] or more inches in length;), slingshots, metallic knuckles, firecrackers, billystick, pistol canes, blackjacks, or any other substance or object which, in the manner, it is used or threatened to be used, is known to be capable of producing bodily injury.
The violation of this policy by any person, concerning any weapon, will result in an immediate report to the Director, who shall, in turn, notify the police. A violation of this policy will result in immediate confiscation of the weapon and notice to the student’s parents or guardians. The Director is authorized to suspend any student possessing a dangerous weapon or any object used as a weapon while in the school building, on school property, while riding a school bus, or at any function held under the name of the Polaris Charter School, for a duration of time not to exceed twenty (20) school days. The Director will refer all such cases to the Board of Trustees for possible further action to include additional suspension or expulsion.
If the student or parent/guardian violation involves a firearm, the Board of Trustees shall expel that student from Polaris Charter School per RSA 193:13 III, and per the requirements of the federal Gun-Free Schools Act of 1994. Any such expulsion shall continue for a duration of time, not less than one (1) year, subject to the authority of a Superintendent of Schools presiding over a public school other than Polaris Charter School, to modify such expulsion requirement for a student on a case-by-case basis.
The only persons who are exempt from this policy are law enforcement personnel.
Bullying
NH RSA 193-F:3 defines bullying as a single significant incident or a pattern of incidents involving a written, verbal, or electronic communication, or a physical act or gesture, or any combination thereof, directed at another pupil which:
- Physically harms a pupil or damages the pupil's property;
- Causes emotional distress to a pupil;
- Interferes with a pupil's educational opportunities;
- Creates a hostile educational environment; or
- Substantially disrupts the orderly operation of the school.
Bullying shall also include actions motivated by an imbalance of power based on a pupil's actual or perceived personal characteristics, behaviors, or beliefs, or motivated by the pupil's association with another person and based on the other person's characteristics, behaviors, or beliefs.
Therefore, the Polaris Charter School Board of Trustees adopted a bullying policy (see Appendix A) that the Director is responsible for implementing.
Grievances
Our students have the best chance of success when the school and parents work together as a supportive team. We recognize that you are your child's strongest advocate. When there's a problem at school, we will work with you -- and if you're not satisfied with the outcome, you have options. Where to turn:
Step 1:
If you have a concern about a staff member or decision impacting your child, start with the teacher/administrator closest to the situation.
For example, if you have a concern about a specialist, or classroom teacher, please contact that person directly to discuss the issue outside of school hours through whatever mode of communication works best for everyone involved. (i.e. email, phone, or in-person meeting).
Step 2:
If, after meeting with the teacher/administrator involved, you haven’t been able to solve the problem, then please reach out to the school Director.
Step 3:
If your concern involves the Director, then please start by talking to him/her. If, after talking to the school Director, you do not believe your concern has been effectively addressed, please reach out to the Board Chair in writing. Your concern will then be investigated and discussed at the next scheduled Board meeting.
If your concern involves an employee, that person will be advised of the nature of the complaint and will be allowed to comment. Any board decision made after investigation and discussion will be final.
Chores
All students, faculty, and staff will share in daily general maintenance chores to keep the school as clean as possible. Students will take turns emptying trash, cleaning surfaces, sweeping, and straightening up school areas regularly.
Volunteers
Volunteers are a welcome and valuable addition to Polaris Charter School. We are so dependent on, and appreciative of, the many ways in which Polaris Charter School volunteers assist teachers, the students, the administration, and the Polaris community that as a whole we ask for at least ten hours of school volunteer service from each Polaris family. Each hour contributed by our volunteers has a direct benefit on those who need and deserve it the most - our students!
All new Polaris families will fill in a form as part of their application, identifying how they will volunteer for the school. Additional forms will be sent home, or contact will be made online, throughout the year asking for assistance in the school in various areas. We encourage all families to carefully review and consider the variety of options presented, talent, and/or services. You can work out of your own home or at school. The hours are flexible.
Please note that all visitors to Polaris Charter School should enter the building from the door facing the parking lot and must report to the office to sign in before reporting to a classroom or volunteer area. Depending on the volunteer role, you may be subject to a criminal records check, agreement to a Code of Ethics, and agreement to a Statement of Confidentiality. Criminal record check results usually take 3-4 weeks to arrive. Please plan accordingly. Please contact the Administrative Coordinator if you have any questions or concerns about volunteering at Polaris Charter School.
Polaris Educational Foundation
The Mission of the Polaris Educational Foundation (PEF) is to support the mission and vision of Polaris Charter School through fundraising and programs designed to support the entire school community. They are the parent organization for the school (similar to a PTO or PTA). The Polaris Educational Foundation fulfills its mission by working in four areas:
Community
The PEF fosters a sense of community at Polaris by creating relationships:
- Within the school community, between teachers, staff, and families.
- Between the school and the local business community
- Between the school and the larger educational community, including other charter schools, local elementary schools, and colleges and universities
- Between the school and the local non-profit community
Fundraising
The PEF seeks to help sustain the financial well-being of Polaris Charter School through fundraising and other revenue-generating projects.
Enrichment
The PEF seeks to enrich the curriculum at Polaris through planning and helping to fund:
- Field trips
- In-school enrichment programs
- After-school enrichment opportunities
Support
To support all members of the Polaris community, the PEF:
- Organizes carpools for parents and students
- Creates and manages a volunteer schedule.
- Coordinates the many volunteer opportunities available at school.
The PEF meets monthly and the dates are posted. Please come socialize and support our school!
Websites to Explore
Websites that will give you information about the school or help you and your child:
- Student Information System (Sycamore): https://www.sycamoreeducation.com (Medical Information, Emergency Contacts, Family Directory)
- Clever: Polaris Charter School is uses a single sign on app called Clever to help students securely access digital learning resources. Families can create an account to get access to:
- Message, announcements and special classroom moments from your child’s teacher
- Tools to help log your child in
- Important resources and information from the district
Your account will be connected with your child’s.
Pro tip: Download the Clever Parents app or bookmark family.clever.com for easy logins in the future.
- Logging in to Clever
- For Students:
- For Parents:
- Polaris Charter School: http://www.polarischarterschool.org
- Polaris Educational Foundation: http://polariseducationalfoundation.org
- New Hampshire Department of Education: http://www.education.nh.gov (Links to NH Schools, Laws, Legislation, Rules, Reports, and Statistics)
Faculty and Staff
Contacting Faculty and Staff
Email is the preferred means for communication outside of school. To email any Polaris employee, use the following format: firstinitial.lastname@polarischarterschool.org (for example j.murdocksmith@polarischarterschool.org).
Director | |
Business Manager | |
Administrative Assistant | |
Administrative Coordinator - Building Operations | |
Primary Teacher | |
Primary Teacher | |
Primary Teacher | Alexis Mugica-Smith |
Primary Teacher | |
Primary Teacher | |
Intermediate Teacher | Joyce Archer |
Intermediate Teacher | |
Intermediate Teacher | |
Educational Assistant | Heather Dalton |
Educational Assistant | Rena Heras |
Educational Assistant | Alaina Hertel |
Educational Assistant | Dee Jones |
Educational Assistant | Sarah Merrick |
Educational Assistant | Denise Poirier |
Educational Assistant | Nivedita Singh |
Art Teacher | Rena Heras |
Physical Education Teacher | Tiffany Green |
Mindfulness Teacher | Elizabeth Cirelli |
Music Teacher | Christina Alvarez |
Should it be necessary to contact a faculty or staff member by phone, please call the school office at 603-634-0034.
Board of Trustees
Polaris Charter School is governed by a Board of Trustees that has general supervisory control and authority over operations of the charter school. The Polaris Board of Trustees holds a monthly meeting, which is open to Polaris community members and the public at large. The schedule and minutes of all Board of Trustee meetings can be found on the school website: www.polarischarterschool.org. To contact the Board, please email board@polarischarterschool.org
Chairperson | Don Winterton |
Vice-Chairperson | Jill Cane |
Treasurer | Scott Perron |
Secretary | Meghan Bilz |
Board Member | Angela Seggie |
Board Member | John Ward |
Board Member | Mosfek Talukder |
Board Member | Ellie Melloy |
Board Member |
Trustee selection is based on personal and professional background and a commitment to the school’s Mission and Vision, charter, and sustainability. The appointment of new Trustees must be approved by a vote of the sitting Board of Trustees.
Appendix A
PUPIL SAFETY AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION - BULLYING
I. Definitions (RSA 193-F:3)
1. Bullying. Bullying is hereby defined as a single significant incident or a pattern of incidents involving a written, verbal, or electronic communication, or a physical act or gesture, or any combination thereof, directed at another pupil which:
- Physically harms a pupil or damages the pupil's property;
- Causes emotional distress to a pupil;
- Interferes with a pupil's educational opportunities;
- Creates a hostile educational environment; or
- Substantially disrupts the orderly operation of the school.
Bullying shall also include actions motivated by an imbalance of power based on a pupil's actual or perceived personal characteristics, behaviors, or beliefs, or motivated by the pupil's association with another person and based on the other person's characteristics, behaviors, or beliefs.
2. Cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is defined as any conduct defined as "bullying" in this policy that is undertaken through the use of electronic devices. For purposes of this policy, any references to the term bullying shall include cyberbullying.
3. Electronic devices. Electronic devices include, but are not limited to, telephones, cellular phones, computers, pagers, electronic mail, instant messaging, text messaging, and websites.
4. School property. School property means all real property and all physical plant and equipment used for school purposes, including public or private school buses or vans and any school-sponsored activity.
Any reference in this policy to "parent" shall include parents or legal guardians.
Any reference in this policy to "Director" shall include their designee.
II. Statement Prohibiting Bullying or Cyberbullying of a Pupil (RSA 193-F:4, II(a))
The Board of Trustees is committed to providing all pupils a safe and secure school environment. This policy is intended to comply with RSA 193-F. Conduct constituting bullying and/or cyberbullying will not be tolerated and is hereby prohibited.
Further, in accordance with RSA 193-F:4, Polaris Charter School reserves the right to address bullying and, if necessary, impose discipline for bullying that:
(1) Occurs on, or is delivered to, school property or a school-sponsored activity or event on or off school property; or
(2) Occurs off school property or outside of a school-sponsored activity or event, if the conduct interferes with a pupil's educational opportunities or substantially disrupts the orderly operations of the school or school-sponsored activity or event.
The Director is responsible for ensuring that this policy is implemented.
III. Statement prohibiting retaliation or false accusations (RSA 193-F:4, II(b))
False Reporting
A student found to have wrongfully and intentionally accused another of bullying may face discipline or other consequences, ranging from positive behavioral interventions up to and including suspension or expulsion.
A school employee found to have wrongfully and intentionally accused a student of bullying shall face discipline or other consequences to be determined in accordance with applicable law and Board policies.
Reprisal or Retaliation
Polaris Charter School will discipline and take appropriate action against any student, teacher, administrator, volunteer, or other employee who retaliates against any person who makes a good faith report of alleged bullying or against any person who testifies, assists, or participates in a proceeding or hearing relating to such bullying.
- The consequences and appropriate remedial action for a student, teacher, administrator, volunteer, or other employee who engages in reprisal or retaliation shall be determined by the Director after consideration of the nature, severity, and circumstances of the act, in accordance with law and Board policies.
- Any student found to have engaged in reprisal or retaliation in violation of this policy shall be subject to measures up to, and including, suspension and expulsion.
- Any teacher, administrator, volunteer, or other employee found to have engaged in reprisal or retaliation in violation of this policy shall be subject to discipline up to, and including, termination of employment and exclusion from school grounds.
Process to Protect Pupils From Retaliation
If the complainant or any witness expresses to the Director or other staff member that they believe they may be retaliated against, the Director shall develop a process or plan to protect that student from possible retaliation.
Each process or plan may be developed on a case-by-case basis. Suggestions include, but are not limited to, re-arranging student class schedules to minimize their contact, stern warnings to the perpetrators, temporary removal of privileges, or other means necessary to protect against possible retaliation.
IV. Protection of all Pupils (RSA 193-F:4, II(c))
This policy shall apply to all pupils and school-aged persons on school grounds and participating in school functions, regardless of whether or not such pupil or school-aged person is enrolled at Polaris Charter School.
V. Disciplinary Consequences for Violations of This Policy (RSA 193-F:4, II(d))
Polaris Charter School reserves the right to impose disciplinary measures against any student who commits an act of bullying, falsely accuses another student of bullying, or who retaliates against any student or witness who provides information about an act of bullying.
In addition to imposing discipline under such circumstances, the Board encourages the administration and school staff to seek alternatives to traditional discipline, including but not limited to early intervention measures, alternative dispute resolution, conflict resolution, and other similar measures.
VI. Distribution and Notice of This Policy (RSA 193-F:4, II(e))
Staff and Volunteers
All staff will be provided with a copy of this policy annually. The Director may determine the method of providing the policy (employee handbook, hard copy, electronically, etc.)
The Director will ensure that all school employees and volunteers receive annual training on bullying and related district's policies.
Students
All students will be provided with a copy of this policy annually. The Director may determine the method of providing the policy (student handbook, mailing, hard copy, electronically etc.)
Polaris follows the Responsive Classroom approach to teaching https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/about/. The primary goals of this approach are to:
- Establish a calm, orderly and safe environment
- Help children develop self-control and self-discipline
- Teach children to be responsible contributing members of the community
- Promote respectful, kind and healthy teacher-student and student-student interactions
Students will participate in an annual education program which sets out our school rules and expectations for student behavior and emphasizes an understanding of harassment, intimidation, and bullying of students, the school's prohibition of such conduct and the reasons why the conduct is destructive, unacceptable, and will lead to discipline. Students shall also be informed of the consequences of bullying conduct toward their peers.
The Director, in consultation with staff, may incorporate student anti-bullying training and education into the school’s curriculum, but shall not be required to do so.
Parents
All parents will be provided with a copy of this policy annually. The Director may determine the method of providing the policy (parent handbook, mailing, hard copy, electronically, etc.). Parents will be informed of the program and the means for students to report bullying acts toward them or other students. To help prevent bullying at school parents should encourage their children to:
- Report bullying when it occurs.
- Take advantage of opportunities to talk to their children about bullying.
- Inform the school immediately if they think their child is being bullied or is bullying other students.
- Cooperate fully with school personnel in identifying and resolving incidents.
Additional Notice and School Programs
The Director may, from time to time, host or schedule public forums in which Polaris Charter School will address the anti-bullying policy and discuss bullying in the school. The Director is encouraged to consult with a variety of individuals on bullying policy and implementation including teachers, administrators, guidance counselors, school psychologists and other interested persons both within Polaris Charter School and beyond, in the broader educational community.
VII. Procedure for Reporting Bullying (RSA 193-F:4, II(f))
At Polaris Charter School, the Director shall be responsible for receiving complaints of alleged violations of this policy.
Student Reporting
- Any student who believes he or she has been the victim of bullying should report the details immediately to the Director, or if the student is more comfortable reporting the information to a person other than the Director, the student may tell any school employee or volunteer.
- Any school employee or volunteer who witnesses, receives a report of, or has knowledge or belief that bullying may have occurred shall inform the Director as soon as possible, but no later than the end of the next school day.
- The Director may develop a system or method for receiving anonymous reports of bullying. Although students, parents, volunteers and visitors may report anonymously, formal disciplinary action may not be based solely on an anonymous report. Independent verification of the anonymous report shall be necessary in order for any disciplinary action to be applied.
- A reporting form to assist students and staff in filing such reports is available at: https://www.polarischarterschool.org/our-families An investigation shall proceed even if a student is reluctant to fill out the designated form or chooses not to do so.
- Upon receipt of a report of bullying, the Director shall commence an investigation consistent with the provisions of Section XI of this policy.
Staff Reporting
- An important duty of the staff is to report acts or behavior that they witness that appears to constitute bullying.
- All district employees and volunteers shall encourage students to tell them about acts that may constitute bullying. For young students, staff members given such information will need to provide direct assistance to the student.
- Any school employee or volunteer who witnesses, receives a report of, or has knowledge or belief that bullying may have occurred shall inform the Director as soon as possible, but no later than the end of the next school day.
- Upon receipt of a report of bullying, the Director shall commence an investigation consistent with the provisions of Section XI of this policy.
VIII. Procedure for Internal Reporting Requirements (RSA 193-F:4, II(g))
In order to satisfy the reporting requirements of RSA 193-F:6, the Director or designee shall be responsible for preparing and submitting an annual report of substantiated bullying incidents on the form provided by the New Hampshire Department of Education. Such reports shall not contain personally identifiable information regarding students.
IX. Notifying Parents of Alleged Bullying (RSA 193-F:4, II(h))
The Director shall report to the parents of a student who has been reported as a victim of bullying and to the parents of a student who has been reported as a perpetrator of bullying within 48 hours of receiving the report. Such notification may be made by telephone, writing, or personal conference. The date, time, method, and location (if applicable) of such notification and communication shall be noted in the report. All notifications shall be consistent with the student privacy rights under the applicable provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).
X. Waiver of Notification Requirement (RSA 193-F:4, II(i))
The Director may determine a waiver is necessary from the requirement that the parents of the alleged victim and the alleged perpetrator be notified of the filing of a report. Such determination may only be made if the Director deems a waiver to be in the best interest of the victim or perpetrator. Any waiver granted shall be in writing.
XI. Investigative Procedures (RSA 193-F:4, II(j))
- Upon receipt of a report of bullying, the Director shall, within 5 school days, initiate an investigation into the alleged act. If the Director is directly and personally involved with a complaint or is closely related to a party to the complaint, then the Director or their designee shall conduct the investigation.
- The investigation may include documented interviews with the complainant, alleged perpetrator, and any witnesses. All interviews shall be conducted consistent with the developmental needs of the students in mind and shall be confidential.
- If the alleged bullying was in whole or in part cyberbullying, the Director may ask students and/or parents to provide the school with printed copies of emails, text messages, website pages, or other similar electronic communications.
- A maximum of 10 school days shall be the limit for the initial filing of incidents and completion of the investigative procedural steps.
- Factors the Director or other investigator may consider during the course of the investigation, include but are not limited to:
- Description of incident, including the nature of the behavior
- How often the conduct occurred
- Whether there were past incidents or past continuing patterns of behavior
- The characteristics of parties involved (grade, age, etc.)
- The identity and number of individuals who participated in bullying behavior
- Where the alleged incident(s) occurred
- Whether the conduct adversely affected the student's education or educational environment
- Whether the alleged victim felt or perceived an imbalance of power as a result of the reported incident, and
- The date, time, and method in which parents or legal guardians of all parties involved were contacted
- The Director shall complete the investigation within 10 school days of receiving the initial report. If the Director needs more than 10 school days to complete the investigation, they may receive an extension of up to 7 school days. In the event such extension is issued, the Director shall notify in writing all parties involved of the granting of the extension.
- Whether a particular action or incident constitutes a violation of this policy shall require a determination based on all facts and surrounding circumstances and shall include recommended remedial steps necessary to stop the bullying and a written final report from the Director.
- Students who are found to have violated this policy may face discipline in accordance with other applicable Board policies, up to and including suspension. Students facing discipline will be afforded all due process required by law.
XII. Response to Remediate Substantiated Instances of Bullying (RSA 193-F:4, II(k))
Consequences and appropriate remedial actions for a student or staff member who commits one or more acts of bullying or retaliation may range from positive behavioral interventions up to and including suspension or expulsion of students and dismissal from employment for staff members.
Consequences for a student who commits an act of bullying or retaliation shall be varied and graded according to the nature of the behavior, the developmental age of the student, and the student's history of problem behaviors and performance. Remedial measures shall be designed to correct the problem behavior, prevent another occurrence of the problem, protect and provide support for the victim, and take corrective action for documented systemic problems related to bullying.
Examples of consequences may include, but are not limited to:
- Admonishment
- Temporary removal from classroom
- Deprivation of privileges
- Classroom or administrative detention
- In-school suspension
- Out-of-school suspension
- Expulsion
Examples of remedial measures may include, but are not limited to:
- Restitution
- Mediation
- Peer support group
- Corrective instruction or other relevant learning experience
- Behavior assessment
- Student counseling
- Parent conferences
In support of this policy, the Board of Trustees promotes preventative educational measures to create greater awareness of aggressive behavior, including bullying. The Board encourages the Director to work collaboratively with all staff members to develop responses other than traditional discipline as a way to remediate substantiated instances of bullying.
XIII. Communication with Parents upon Completion of Investigation (RSA 193-F:4, II(m))
- Within two school days of completing an investigation, the Director will notify the students involved in person of their findings and the result of the investigation.
- The Director will notify via telephone the parents of the alleged victim and alleged perpetrator of the results of the investigation. The Director will also send a letter to the parents within 24 hours again notifying them of the results of the investigation.
- If the parents request, the Director shall schedule a meeting with them to further explain their findings and reasons for their actions.
- In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and other law concerning student privacy, Polaris Charter School will not disclose educational records of students including the discipline and remedial action assigned to those students and the parents of other students involved in a bullying incident.
XIV. Appeal
- For non-disciplinary remedial actions where no other review procedures govern, the parents of the pupils involved in the bullying shall have the right to appeal the Director’s decision to the Board of Trustees in writing within five (5) school days. The Board of Trustees shall schedule a review of the Director's decision during a non-public session at their next regular monthly meeting. The Polaris Charter School Board of Trustees will adhere to all applicable New Hampshire Department of Education administrative rules.
- The procedures under RSA 193:13, Ed 317, and Board of Trustee policies establish the due process and appeal rights for students disciplined for acts of bullying.
- The Board of Trustees will inform parents of any appeal rights they may have to the New Hampshire State Board of Education.
XV. School Officials (RSA 193-F:4, II(n))
The Director of Polaris Charter School is responsible for ensuring that this policy is implemented. In order to facilitate the implementation of this policy, the Director may establish further administrative rules or regulations.
XVI. Use of Video or Audio Recordings in Student Discipline Matters
Polaris Charter School reserves the right to use audio and/or video recording devices on School property to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of all staff, students, and visitors.
In the event an audio or video recording is used as part of a student discipline proceeding, such video may become part of a student's education record.
The Director is authorized to contact the School's attorney for a full legal opinion relative in the event of such an occurrence.
Legal References:
RSA 193-F:3, Pupil Safety and Violence Prevention Act
RSA 570-A:2 (k)(1), Capture of Audio Recordings on School Buses Allowed
NH Code of Administrative Rules, Section Ed 306.04(a)(8), Student Harassment
Suicide Prevention
Protecting the health and well-being of all students is of utmost importance to Polaris. Polaris has adopted a suicide prevention policy which will help to protect all students through the following steps:
- Students will learn about recognizing and responding to warning signs of suicide in friends, using coping skills, support systems, and seeking help for themselves and friends. This curricular content will occur in all health classes throughout the school year, not just in response to a suicide, and the encouragement of help-seeking behavior will be promoted at all levels of the school leadership and stakeholders
- Each school or district will designate a suicide prevention coordinator to serve as a point of contact for students in crisis and to refer students to appropriate resources
- When a student is identified as being at-risk, a risk assessment will be completed by a trained school staff member who will work with the student and help connect the student to appropriate local resources
- Students will have access to national resources that they can contact for additional support, such as:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) suicidepreventionlifeline.org
- The Trevor Lifeline: 1-866-488-7386 thetrevorproject.org/get-help-now
- Trevor Lifeline Text/Chat Services, available 24/7 Text “TREVOR” to 678-678
- Crisis Text Line: Text TALK to 741-741 crisistextline.org
All school personnel and students will be expected to help create a school culture of respect and support, in which students feel comfortable seeking help for themselves or friends. Students are encouraged to tell any staff member if they or a friend are feeling suicidal, or are in need of help. While confidentiality and privacy are important, students should know that when there is risk of suicide, safety comes first.
For a more detailed review of policy changes, please see Polaris’s full suicide prevention policy.
1st Reading: 10-16-2017
2nd Reading: 11-28-2017
Approved: 12/18/2018