Information useful for current students and families.

Parents / Guardians are requested to call the school at (773) 534-2200 before 8:30 a.m. to report the absence of their child for any reason. In the event a student is absent from school and the school is not notified, the office staff will call the parents / guardians at the beginning of the school day. In addition, parents / guardians will receive an automated call from the Board of Education regardless of the notification to the school. Upon returning to school, parents must provide a note explaining the child’s absence. If a note is not sent upon the student’s return, the absence is considered unexcused; therefore, the student will show up as truant in the IMPACT system. The following are considered excused absences by the Board of Education: 1. Student illness 2. Family emergency 3. Death in the immediate family 4. Observation of religious holidays 5. Circumstances which cause reasonable concern to the parent or legal guardian for the safety or health of the students. 6. Other situations beyond the control of the student as determined by the principal on a case-by-case basis, including but not limited to homelessness and its attendance difficulties. Please note that excused absences do not constitute Perfect Attendance. The new IMPACT system will generate perfect attendance lists. Therefore, if your child is tardy, leaves early or has any absences, excused or unexcused, he/she will not be eligible for Perfect Attendance.

Enrollments in Decatur Classical School are by application, desegregation guidelines and placement testing overseen by the Office of Academic Enhancement. The phone number to this office is 553-2060.

Check with your child’s teacher to determine his / her policy regarding classroom treats. Due to the number of childhood allergies, diabetes, etc., food treats of any kind will not be allowed in grades K - 3. Suggested treats include but are not limited to: a book for the classroom library, pencils, stickers, etc. These types of treats allow all of the children to participate in celebrations. While food treats are allowed in grades 4 - 6, all classroom treats must be store-bought. It is highly recommended that food treats do not contain nuts. Gum, including Blowpops, is not allowed in school.

Breakfast may be purchased before school on a daily basis. It is served from 8:15 a.m. – 8:35 a.m. Children wishing to purchase hot lunches, including milk, or Ala Carte milk may do so on a daily basis. A lunch menu will be distributed at the beginning of each month so you can determine which days your child would like to order school lunch. Exact change is very much appreciated.

Parents of children in K - 3: please place lunch money in an envelope, marked with your child’s name and HOT or COLD lunch choice.

The following are the breakfast / lunch / milk prices for the 2008 –2009 school year: Students’ Full Prices Students’ Reduced Prices Breakfast $1.50 Breakfast $0.30 Lunch $1.85 Lunch $0.40

Ala Carte Milk $0.35

Applications for the Federal Free Lunch Program are sent home to every child at the beginning of the school year. These applications are also available upon request from the office throughout the year. All information on the applications is kept confidential. Please return your child’s application as soon as possible. If you do not want to apply, please write child’s name, DNA (Does Not Apply), and your signature on the application. If your situation changes at any time, you may apply or reapply for the Federal Free Lunch Program.

While many students have cell phones, students are not allowed to use cell phones during school hours. Calls made home or to parents, must be made from the school office. If your child is caught using the cell phone during school hours, it will be taken away and parents / guardians will need to come to the school to pick up the cell phone. The school is not responsible for cell phones.

Parent-Teacher conferences are scheduled twice a year in conjunction with report card pick-up days. If you wish to confer with your child’s teacher at other times, please call the office, send a note with your child or email the teacher to arrange for an appointment. Conferences are usually held between 8:15 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Teachers are unable to come to the phone during the school day. (773-534-2200). Please do not hold conferences on the playground or outside after school. Teachers have supervisory duties at those times.

The PTA organizes and distributes a school directory to make it convenient for parents to contact each other to plan school/home/social activities. Release forms are sent home at the beginning of the school year to permit your phone number, address and email address to be inserted into the directory. If you do not wish this information included in the Directory, please state so on the Release form. The directory is not to be used for marketing, solicitation or political purposes.

It is the teacher’s responsibility to maintain order in the classroom for the safety of all. Decatur Classical School utilizes the Student Code of Conduct developed by the Chicago Public Schools. A copy of that code is sent home with each student at the beginning of the year. In the event of a disciplinary incident, a student’s due process will be exercised. Notifications to parents / guardians will be made by phone or writing when necessary.

Decatur Classical School does not have a school uniform or a prescribed dress code policy. It is up to parents / guardians to ensure that students are appropriately dressed for school. At times (i.e. field trips & P.E. classes) teachers will ask students to dress appropriately for the occasion. However, for the safety of the students, flip-flops are not allowed in school. Children have slipped out of these shoes and have tripped; other safety issues associated with flip-flops include breakage of the toe piece, resulting in no shoe for the child, and stubbed toes.

Parents / guardians removing children from school before the regular dismissal time must send a note to school. When parents / guardians arrive at the school, an Early Dismissal form must be filled out at the office. A parent, guardian, person officially listed on the emergency form or other person, designated by the parent in writing, must pick up children released for early dismissal. Please Note: The school does not support Early Dismissals as children incur a loss of instruction time.

Students are discouraged from bringing electronic devices or other valuables to school (i.e., iPods, walkmans, cell phones, etc.). Should something happen to the device, the school is not responsible. In addition, the use of these devices is strictly prohibited during the school day, which includes field trips. If a student is caught using these devices, it will be taken away and the parent / guardian will be called to come to the school to pick up the item. PLEASE NOTE: DIGITAL CAMERAS MAY BE USED ON SPECIAL OCCASIONS UNDER THE TEACHER'S SUPERVISION.

An emergency form showing whom to contact in case of an emergency involving your child must be on file in the classroom as well as in the office. Emergency cards and/or forms are sent out twice a year. Please complete the form in its entirety and return it to school promptly. Any changes in information during the school year should be reported to the teacher and the office. Changes in all telephone numbers (home, work, and cell) are important and should be reported immediately to the teacher and the office.

Many educational field trips are scheduled throughout the year. A permission slip signed by the parent is necessary for participation on field trips and must be returned at least two days prior to the field trip. Children not returning signed permission slips will remain in school the day of the trip. Every field trip must have one chaperone for every ten students. The teachers will arrange for the chaperones. The classroom teachers determine the dress code for field trips. For easy identification, teachers often ask students to wear their gold Decatur T-shirts.

The students and staff of Decatur practice emergency drills on a monthly basis. Two bus evacuations are held yearly.

The Free and Reduced-Price Breakfast and Lunch Program forms are available! Every student should return a form for the 2008-2009 school year no later than September 26.

Please read the entire four-page document for very important information including answers to many frequently asked questions and use the online form to enter your information. Hit print and send it with your son or daughter immediately. Again, this form should be completed and returned no later than September 26.

Form: https://workspacek12.naviance.com/download.php?id=RDVQbVZaQXdTV1k9

• A=90-100

• B=80-89

• C=70-79

• D=60-69

• F=59 and below

Decatur Classical students attend PE classes twice a week. For gym wear, we offer a wide variety of Decatur Classical Sportswear at reasonable prices. All sales profit the Decatur PTA and go back to the school for programs and extras. Click the following link to access the Decatur's Sports Wear site http://www.freewebs.com/decatursportswear/

Students entering kindergarten or first grade*, fifth grade and ninth grade are required to have a physical examination. Students entering kindergarten, second and sixth grade are required to have a dental exam. *First grade physicals are required only if the student is attending school for the first time.

Parents / guardians are given the Chicago Public School Guidelines to Homework at the beginning of the school year. Please do not call the school requesting homework if your child is absent for one day. Your child will be given one day for every day your child was absent to make up the work. If your child is absent for an extended time, please contact the teacher between 8:15 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. so that arrangements for missed work can be made.

IMPACT is the Chicago Public Schools' Instructional Management Program and Academic Communication Tool. Student data, registration, enrollment, attendance, tardies, scheduling, grade books and report cards are all managed through the Student Information Management Portal in IMPACT.

Decatur Classical School has partnered with the Jewish Community Center (JCC) in renting the JCC's gymnasium, in order to provide students with a greater PE program. All students use the JCC facility and are required to dress in appropriate gym attire. Gym shoes must be clean and dry; therefor, students must carry an extra pair of gym shoes to be used at the JCC. Students are to maintain rules of safety and are bound by the CPS Student Code of Conduct.

For after school care, please contact the JCC directly at 773-671-9100

The Local School Council was created by state law in 1989 to function as a policy-making body in each school. The eleven members consist of 6 parents, 2 community members, 2 teachers and the principal. Elections are held every two years. The duties of the LSC are to create a school improvement plan, to approve a school budget and to evaluate the principal and offer a principal’s contract every four years.

Decatur’s LSC holds open monthly meetings at the school. Parents, teachers and community members are encouraged to take an active role in school governance.

Items found in school or on the playground are placed in the Lost and Found box in the Charles Greer Multipurpose room. Small items such as keys or glasses are kept in the school office. Parents / guardians are encouraged to mark clothing articles and other belongings with the students’ names.

School personnel are prohibited from dispensing any medications unless there is a signed consent form from the physician and parent, and a 504 plan is in place. If your child needs occasional medication, please arrange for your child to take the medication outside of school hours, or you, the parent or guardian, must come to school to administer the medication. Children are not to carry any unauthorized medications.

The CPS Parent Portal is a tool for parents/guardians to view grades and attendance online. In order to access the Parent Portal, parents must have their child's PIN and CPS Identification number. Parents must come to the school and sign for their PIN number. Along with the PIN number, parents will receive the Gradebook Parent Portal Orientation Guide. CPS Identification numbers can be found on students' report cards and progress reports. After you have this information you may sign up for access here: https://parent.cps.k12.il.us/pc/default.aspx

PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT TEACHERS THROUGH THE PARENT PORTAL; USE THE TEACHER'S CPS EMAILS WHICH ARE LISTED IN ON THE MEET THE STAFF PAGE.

The PTA at the local level is linked to the state PTA and National PTA, forming a nationwide network of members working on behalf of all children and youth. Because of its connection to the state and National PTAs, the local PTA is a valuable resource to its school community.

Decatur’s PTA holds open monthly meetings at the school. Parents, teachers and community members are encouraged to join and actively participate in Decatur’s PTA.

In order to achieve Perfect Attendance, students must attend school every day and have no tardies or early dismissals. Excused absences do not constitute Perfect Attendance. Perfect Attendance is recognized every quarter. Please note: The IMPACT system is unable to factor in early dismissals and tardies when gathering perfect attendance on a report card. Therefor a student's report card may indicate zero days of absence, when in reality, the student is not eligible for perfect attendance due to tardies and/or early dismissals.

Please do not call and ask the office to give your child a message except in an extreme emergency. Please make after-school arrangements prior to the school day. While many students have cell phones, students are not allowed to use the cell phones during school hours. Calls made home or to parents, must be made from the school office. If your child is caught using the cell phone during school hours, it will be taken away and parents / guardians will need to come to the school to pick up the cell phone. The school is not responsible for cell phones.

The fenced-in playground is considered to be part of the school. For the safety and security of the students, the following will be enforced:

• Playground supervision begins at 8:15 a.m. Please do not leave your child unattended before that time. • No sports equipment from home (i.e., Frisbees, hula-hoops, footballs, etc.) is allowed. The school will provide ample sports equipment. • Only Decatur students are allowed on the playground between 8:15 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and during regular school hours. • Students are not to leave the playground without permission from the supervisory teachers. • Parents / Guardians are to remain outside the fenced area in the morning. • Students may not enter the playground through the parking lot; all other playground entrances are permitted for student access.

Recess is an important part of the day at Decatur. Weather permitting, children go outside everyday after lunch, for 10 minutes. Please make sure that children are dressed appropriately as the weather changes. In inclement weather, children remain in their classrooms and enjoy indoor recess. During this time, children may read, play games with classmates, and/or watch videos as deemed by the classroom teacher.

Report cards are issued four times a year and progress reports are issued four times a year. Parents / guardians are required to pick up their child’s report card at the first and third marking periods. Report cards are sent home with children at the second and fourth marking periods. Progress reports will be sent home with the students (see the Board calendar for dates). All report cards and progress reports are to be signed by the parents / guardians and returned to the teacher within 5 days of the distribution date.

All doors are locked after 8:30 a.m. All visitors must enter through the main door, sign in at the security desk and obtain a visitor’s pass. Students are not allowed to be in the classroom alone, at any time.

In inclement weather, it may become necessary to close schools. Parents are asked to listen for school closing information on radio stations WGN, WBBM or WMAQ. This information should be available by 6:30 a.m.

Now you can be notified by e-mail when/if Decatur Classical School closes or changes status. To register, follow this link: http://www.emergencyclosingcenter.com/ecc/email_notification.jsp

• For the <Facility Name>, enter “Chicago Public Schools”
• For <City>, enter “Chicago”

You will not need to enter Decatur specifically as we are part of CPS, and this service will only notify you via email if the whole district closes. If Decatur has an emergency closing you will be notified by the school.

The regular school day begins at 8:30 a.m. and dismissal procedures begin at 2:20 p.m. All students are dismissed by 2:30 p.m.

(Grades 4 - 6) Citizenship Award: In order to receive the Citizenship Award, students must attain “A”s, “B”s or “C”s in all subjects and no check marks on the report card. Students receiving this award will have their names posted on a list displayed in the school. Students receiving this award all 4 quarters will receive a certificate of recognition at the awards ceremony in June.

Honor Roll: In order to achieve Honor Roll status, students must attain all “A”s in all subjects and no checks marks on the report card. Students receiving this award will have their names posted on a list displayed in the school and receive a quarterly certificate.

Subjects for the Citizenship Award and Honor Roll include: Art-Reading-Listening-Learning Technology-Research-Speaking-Writing-Music-Science-Social Studies-Latin-Physical Education.

In order to achieve the goals and objectives of the Decatur Classical School Curriculum and SIPAAA, a school fee is necessary. Supplies and workbooks are ordered each year to supplement the program.

Under federal and state laws, parents have the right to inspect records kept on their children. They also have the right to copy any of their children’s records. If they feel that information in the records, other than grades, is misleading, inaccurate or invades their child’s or family’s privacy, they may request that such information be corrected. Before the school can release student records to persons outside the school system, the school must first obtain parents’/ guardians’ written consent. If children transfer to another school district, parents have the right to inspect and correct student records prior to release of the records to the new district.

Chicago Public District #299 does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, physical or mental handicap, religion, or sex in the educational programs or activities which it operates. Decatur is a handicapped accessible facility.

The school day begins at 8:30 a.m. Tardy students must enter the north door by the office and obtain a tardy pass. Students entering the building between 8:30 a.m. and 8:40 a.m. are documented as arriving late, but not tardy on official records. Students entering the school after 8:40 a.m. will be considered tardy, and are entered into the IMPACT system. Persistent tardiness is listed in the CPS Student Code of Conduct under Group 1 Inappropriate Behaviors. Students are never considered tardy if the school bus is the cause of the tardiness.

Students are responsible for keeping and returning textbooks assigned to them. A charge will be assessed for lost or damaged books. All textbooks should be covered (do not use contact paper). Parents / guardians must purchase certain instructional materials that their children will be using during the school year. Each teacher prepares a list of needed instructional materials and the costs vary by grade.

Parking/Drop Off Children should not be dropped off before 8:15 a.m. There is no supervision for students prior to that time.

When driving your child to school, please drop your child off on the west side of Sacramento Avenue. The busses, cars, and other traffic make the street too dangerous for children to cross. If you must drop your child off on the east side, please do so at the Greenleaf crosswalk, which is where our crossing guard is stationed.

Please do not park on the west side of Sacramento between directly north of the Decatur parking lot and the tow zone sign south of Greenleaf. This space is reserved for the busses.

Children should be dropped off at the playground.

Children are not to be dropped off in the school parking lot.

Please do not block the parking lot or private driveways. While this is not a neighborhood school, we strive to be good neighbors!

Bus: All children requiring bus transportation will be assigned pick-up and drop-off sites, bus numbers and time, by the Chicago Board of Education. Children will only be allowed to board the bus to which they have been assigned. The bus drivers are not allowed to drop off or pick up children who are not assigned to their routes, nor are drop off or pick up or drop off at unassigned locations.

Occasional Pickups: (North Door) When there is a change in the daily dismissal routine, a note must be sent with your child on the date of the pickup. We cannot accept blanket notes covering more than one day, and phone calls to the office are to be used only in emergencies. It is impossible for the staff to keep track of individual students’ schedules, and we cannot continuously disrupt classroom instruction to inform students of dismissal issues. Parents or guardians are to sign children out at the north door and wait there. Please note this procedure is only for occasional pickups!

Everyday Pickups: (South Door) Staff members are assigned to help with the everyday pickups. Children have been instructed to wait on the ramp, and not run to parents. Parents or guardians are to sign children out at the south door and wait there. In addition, we are requesting that parents / guardians please not block the door and wait for the teachers to release children as they are signed out. Children not picked up by 2:35 will be escorted to the north lobby where they will wait for parents/guardians. In inclement weather, children will be held inside the south lobby. Please note: No child will be allowed on the playground without parent/guardian supervision.

Everyday Walkers (South Door) Everyday walkers in grades 4 - 6 must have a permission slip on file in the office.

No child in grades Kindergarten through Third grade will be dismissed to walk home unless escorted by an adult or a sibling in Fourth grade or higher.

Everyday walkers must sign out at the south lobby.

Public Transportation In the event that your child will be taking public transportation, it is imperative that a note be sent to the office informing us of this situation.

NOTE: Parents / guardians must notify the school in writing if there is a change in daily transportation of students. If a student does not have a note, the student will be placed on the school bus. In addition, all phone calls must be received before 2:00 p.m. to ensure the safe passage home of all of our students

Please make sure that your children are aware of any changes in the daily routine. Children get anxious if they don’t know where they are supposed to be.

Click here to view: http://policy.cps.k12.il.us/documents/705.5.pdf

The Decatur Classical Yahoo group is an informal network for parents to discuss and share information.

In order to keep non-Decatur related info and spam from coming through, you will need to request a membership from the moderator. *THIS SITE HAS LIMITED ITS MEMBERSHIP TO CURRENT DECATUR FAMILIES ONLY* Please put your child's name and grade in your request email so we don't inadvertently block your entry. This yahoo group is not a school sponsored site, it's as informal as a school-yard chat! Recommendations for extra-curricular activities, questions regarding all things kid related and other fun topics are open to discussion.

However, information regarding the school is frequently passed via the yahoo group by the LSC and the PTA. If you aren't a part of our group, you are missing out. Join Now! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DecaturClassical/

Who is the Principal and Assistant Principal of Decatur Classical? Ms. Kukielka (Ms. K) is the principal and Mrs. Jockl (Mrs. J) is the assistant principal.

What is the phone number to Decatur Classical? The main line is 773-534-2200. You will likely reach Margo Regalado (school clerk) or Hazel Bauman (office assistant).

When is drop off time in the morning? Playground supervision begins at 8:15 a.m. Please do not leave your child unattended before that time. Only Decatur students are allowed on the playground from 8:15-8:30. Parents are allowed on the playground only on the first day.

Where should I park to drop off/pick up? You may park on the west side of Sacramento beginning at the tow zone sign south of Greenleaf or on any neighborhood street adjacent to the school. Please do not block the crosswalk or the driveways of our neighbors. Do not park directly in front of the school between the Decatur parking lot and the tow zone sign south of Greenleaf as this area is reserved for buses ONLY.

Where is my child allowed to play until the bell rings? Grades K-3 ONLY are allowed to play on the playground and the playground equipment. Grades 4-6 are allowed to play behind the building by the basketball nets.

Where does my child go once the bell rings? *Grades K-3 will line up behind their teacher at the south side of the building. Parents can watch as their child enters the building. It’s the perfect opportunity to snap a picture! *Grades 4-6 will line up behind their teacher at the west side of the building.

What if my child is late? If your child is late, he/she MUST enter the north door by the office and obtain a tardy pass. Students arriving after 8:30 are marked in the tardy book for security purposes but do NOT receive a tardy slip. Students entering the school after 8:40 a.m. will be considered tardy. Students are NOT considered tardy if the school bus is the cause of the tardiness.

What is the procedure if my child is sick? Parents/guardians are to call the school at 773-534-2200 before 8:30 a.m. to report the absence of their child for any reason. Upon returning to school, parents much provide a note explaining the child’s absence.

Who should I talk to about bussing problems/concerns? The assistant principal, Mrs. Jockl, is in charge of bussing. She can be reached at the school at 773-534-2200. Prior to the start of school, you should receive a postcard from the bussing company with your pick up location and time.

Should my child bring ALL the school supplies on the first day? According to the supply lists, students are to bring all their supplies on the first day. However, if your child can NOT carry everything at once —lighten the load—have your child bring the supplies in over a couple of days.

Am I allowed in the school with my child? In order to lessen separation anxiety at the beginning of the year, parents are not allowed to be in the school with their children. Teachers are well equipped to handle these situations. However, there are many volunteering opportunities throughout the school year that encourage parents to come to the school and their child’s classrooms.

How are birthdays or special events celebrated? Check with your child’s teacher to determine his/her policy regarding classroom treats. All treats MUST be store bought with an ingredient label. It is highly recommended that food treats do not contain nuts due to various food allergies.

How often will my child have gym class? Gym is offered twice a week. Children are encouraged to wear a gold Decatur t-shirt and gym shoes must be worn on their scheduled days.

Is breakfast available? Yes, breakfast is available from 8:15-8:30 in the Multi-purpose room. The cost for breakfast is $1.50. Reduced prices are available through the Federal Free Lunch program.

How much does hot/cold lunch cost? The cost for hot/cold lunch is $1.85 for lunch and milk. It is $0.35 for milk ONLY. Reduced prices are available through the Federal Free Lunch program.

When will hot/cold lunch start? Will I receive a menu? Hot/Cold lunches begin the first day of school. September menus are usually sent home with the children during the first week of school. If you are concerned that your child may not like the lunches served on the days for which you have not seen the menu, please consider sending a lunch from home.

How should lunch money be sent in? Lunch money should be sent in DAILY in an envelope with your child’s name.

What if my child requires early dismissal? Parents/guardians removing children from school before the regular dismissal time must send a note to school. When parents/guardians arrive at the school, an Early Dismissal form must be filled out at the office. Please be aware that early dismissals do affect your child’s attendance record.

What time is pick up time in the afternoon? Dismissal procedures begin at 2:20 p.m. All students are dismissed by 2:30.

Where do I pick up my child if I will pick up EVERYDAY? Students who will be picked up EVERYDAY will be dismissed at the south end of the building by the playground at 2:25.

Where do I pick up my child if I will pick up OCCASSIONALLY (otherwise they take the bus)? Students who will be picked up occasionally will be dismissed at the north end of the building (entrance). You must sign them out on the log kept outside the doors. In addition, you must send a note in the morning with your child to give to their teacher indicating that they will be picked up instead of bussed.

How do I join the PTA? How much does it cost? You can join the PTA at the Welcome Picnic, First Day of School, Round Up and throughout September. Membership is $15.00 per family. With every paid membership, you are eligible to win two FREE tickets to the Spring Fundraiser on April 24, 2010 (Value $100.00)!