family handbook 2012-2013 · arco iris will utilize the one-way model of immersion (sometimes...
TRANSCRIPT
Family Handbook
2012-2013
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Table of Contents
Important Contact Information .................................................................................................................... 1
2012-2013 Calendar ...................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3
School Closure Information .......................................................................................................................... 5
About Arco Iris Spanish Immersion School ................................................................................................... 5
Mission ...................................................................................................................................................... 6
Goals ......................................................................................................................................................... 6
Philosophy ................................................................................................................................................. 6
Diversity Statement .................................................................................................................................. 6
Community and Culture ............................................................................................................................ 6
Health and Safety .......................................................................................................................................... 7
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support ............................................................................................ 9
Dress Code .................................................................................................................................................. 11
Academics ................................................................................................................................................... 13
Summary of Achievement of Arco Iris Students ................................................................................. 15
Assessment Approach ......................................................................................................................... 15
Arco Iris Assessment Summary and Schedule .................................................................................... 16
Assessment Tools ................................................................................................................................ 17
Parent Information ..................................................................................................................................... 18
2012-2013 Venue – Bethlehem Lutheran Church .................................................................................. 18
Student Drop off and Pick Up ................................................................................................................. 19
Morning Drop Off ................................................................................................................................ 19
Afternoon Pick Up ............................................................................................................................... 19
Ingress and Egress 2012-2013............................................................................................................. 20
Attendance and Bell Schedule ................................................................................................................ 21
Lunch Program and Snacks ..................................................................................................................... 22
Payments................................................................................................................................................. 23
Communication ....................................................................................................................................... 23
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Complaint Procedures............................................................................................................................. 24
Family Directory ...................................................................................................................................... 25
Student Services ...................................................................................................................................... 25
Parent Organizations .............................................................................................................................. 25
Consejo de padres (Parent Council) .................................................................................................... 26
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) .................................................................................................... 26
Buenas Tardes, Before and After School Enrichment ................................................................................. 30
Fees ......................................................................................................................................................... 31
Buenas Tardes Pick-up Policies ............................................................................................................... 31
Payment Policies ..................................................................................................................................... 31
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Important Contact Information Mailing and Physical Address
Arco Iris Spanish Immersion School
18865 SW Johnson Street
Beaverton, OR 97006
Phone: 503.473.0416
Fax: 503-596-2137
http://www.arcoirisschool.org
Find us on Facebook! Both Arco Iris School and the PTO have Facebook pages.
School Staff
Jan Smith, Principal, [email protected]
Janell Latwesen, Administrator, [email protected]
1st/2nd Grade
Cassie Kreutzer, [email protected]
Maria Toscano, [email protected]
3rd/4th Grade
Rosa Sangiovanni, [email protected]
Mercedes (Mercy) Martinez, [email protected]
Hayley Heider, [email protected]
5th/6th Grade
Amy Gergen, [email protected]
Nikki Falbo, [email protected]
English Language Arts
Stacy Serrao, [email protected]
Nikki Falbo, [email protected]
Before/After School Programs
Perla Sangiovanni, [email protected]
School Counselor
Elaine Larsen, [email protected]
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Arco Iris School Board
The school board respectfully requests that emails sent for board discussion/consideration or agenda
requests be sent to [email protected] and not individual board members. Individual board
members emails are provided for committee and work on specific volunteer projects.
Mary Taylor, Founder and Board Chairwoman ([email protected])
Danielle Siver, Founder, Vice Chairwoman and Secretary ([email protected])
Jim Mullaney, Treasurer ([email protected])
Deonne Knill, Board Member ([email protected])
Arturo Lomeli, Board Member ([email protected])
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
President: Christy Olson - [email protected]
Co-Vice President: Sarah Coakley - [email protected]
Co-Vice President: Glenda Donato - [email protected]
Secretary: Barbie Minor - [email protected]
Co-Treasurer: Iria Turnes - [email protected]
Co-Treasurer: Cecilia Becerra
Consejo de padres
1st Grade: To be elected Fall 2012
2nd Grade: Stacey Mueller and Dina Musgrave (vice chair) - [email protected]
3rd Grade: Kim Kissinger (secretary) and Christie Engesser Cesar (chair) -
4th Grade: Janice Faccio and Jim Koch - [email protected]
5th Grade: Alison Money and Ann Rattay - [email protected]
6th Grade: Bradie Mayfield and Nellie Gutierrez - [email protected]
Important Monthly Meetings
PTO - 1st Tuesday Consejo de padres - 3rd Tuesday Finance Committee - TBD School Board – 2nd Wednesday then moving to 3rd Thursday beginning October 2012
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2012-2013 Calendar For the most part, Arco Iris has a calendar year that has some differences from Beaverton School District
including start and end dates; vacations, conferences, and some planning days. Please check the Arco
Iris calendar carefully. Our calendar is posted on the Arco Iris website along with a monthly calendar
with special activities and themes.
Introduction This handbook contains basic information for families and students and prospective families. Please read
and review carefully. You are encouraged to ask clarifying questions and make suggestions. This
handbook is a living document that will continue to reflect our mission and commitment to our school
community. It is one of the tools you can use to seek out the information you need to help you
understand and know our policies and procedures shaped by our mission. Please sign and return the
family acknowledgement located on the final page by Monday, September 10th.
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Arco Iris 2012-2013 School Calendar
August 2012
Su M Tu W Th F S
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
September 2012
Su M Tu W Th F S
(19) 1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30
October 2012
Su M Tu W Th F S
(20) 1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31
November 2012
Su M Tu W Th F S
(18) 1 2 3
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27 28 29 30
December 2012
Su M Tu W Th F S
(14) 1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31
January 2013
Su M Tu W Th F S
(18) 1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
February 2013
Su M Tu W Th F S
(18) 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28
March 2013
Su M Tu W Th F S
(13) 1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 18 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
April 2013
Su M Tu W Th F S
(20) 1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30
May 2013
Su M Tu W Th F S
(21) 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
26 27 28 29 30 31
June 2013
Su M Tu W Th F S
(14) 1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30
July 2013
Su M Tu W Th F S
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 31
End of Trimester: Regular School Day
Holiday (6)
School Closed (19)
First/last day for students
Grading Days: No students (3)
Staff Development: No Students (3)
Teacher Service days/ No Students (10)
Parent-Teacher Conferences: No Students (4)
Trimester Wrap Up: Mandatory Student Attendance
Mark Your Calendar:
Aug. 21 & 22 New Student Assessment and Orientation
Sept. 18 Back to School Night 6:00-8:00 pm
Dec. 14 Winter Performance 6:00-8:00 pm
May 31 Spring Performance 6:00-8:00pm
Other cultural events TBA
State Testing: TBA
Notes:
202 certified days
175 student days (4 teacher conference days)
38 student weeks
7 hour day M-Th,, 6 hour day Friday
Approx. 1200 student hours Approx. 11 more student contact days than
BSD
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School Closure Information Weather and Emergency Closure. Arco Iris will coordinate closures and openings with Beaverton School
District’s decisions. If weather or other emergency conditions warrant closing the school prior to BSD’s
decisions, this information will be posted on the school website by 6:30 a.m. Local news channels will
also display school closure information. If the Beaverton School District is delayed or closed, we will
follow their schedule. If similar conditions warrant closing the school early, this information will be
posted on the school website.
Safety During Inclement Weather. Even though school may be open, please keep in mind that different
factors affect road conditions and parking lot safety. On days when roads are extraordinarily wet, slushy
or slippery, please drive with extreme caution. We have noticed that 187th has a tendency to be more
slippery when temperatures drop due to shade. Please be cautious when approaching the stop sign at
Johnson Street and 187th. On these days, please be extra aware of children and parents in the parking
lot to ensure their safety.
About Arco Iris Spanish Immersion School Arco Iris Spanish Immersion School is an elementary school offering one-way Spanish Immersion. At the
core, Arco Iris promotes bilingualism, biliteracy, and multiculturalism and fosters exceptional academic
ability through rigorous curriculum and high expectations. Our mission is to offer a quality, well-rounded
education based in Spanish Immersion. This includes a rigorous math program (Singapore Math),
language arts, science, and social sciences that are interconnected and theme-based so our students
consistently and continuously make connections from one concept to another. Our ultimate mission is
to prepare our students to be responsible citizens and life-long learners with strong values and a sense
of community. We will prepare our students to:
Attain high academic achievement in both Spanish and English.
Build the skills and knowledge students will need to be successful in math.
Become bilingual, biliterate, and multiculturally competent leaders.
Arco Iris will utilize the One-Way model of Immersion (sometimes referred to as foreign language
immersion, partial or full/total immersion). This means that the majority of our students are not native
Spanish speakers. Following is a simple explanation of our student population and how one-way
immersion works for them:
The student population consists of majority language speakers with limited to no proficiency in
the immersion (minority) language (e.g. English speakers in U.S. Schools).
In the USA these programs are designed for English-speaking students as the majority of
students speak English as their native language. In some cases students are already native in two
languages.
The child’s main teacher speaks mostly in the target language to teach academic subject, using a
wide range of instructional strategies.
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The ultimate goal of this type of program is for students to become proficient in the target language and
to develop increased cultural awareness while reaching a high level of academic achievement (Fortune
and Tedick, 2003).
Mission The mission of Arco Iris is to offer a solid education that includes Spanish immersion and a rigorous
mathematical curriculum that will prepare students to be responsible citizens and lifelong learners with
strong values.
Goals The goals of Arco Iris are to prepare students to attain high academic achievement in Spanish and
English; build the skills and knowledge that students will need to be successful in their future algebra
classes; and become bilingual, biliterate, and multiculturally competent leaders.
Philosophy The philosophy of Arco Iris is to provide an academically challenging, content-rich curriculum that holds
high expectations for all students, including becoming fluent and literate in Spanish in addition to
English; to develop strong, critical-thinking skills in all students; to provide a safe environment where all
students are known, respected, and valued as individuals of great potential; and to establish a
community that models and encourages character development, respect for diversity, and a sense of
responsibility towards the community.
Diversity Statement Arco Iris Spanish Immersion Charter School, along with the Beaverton School District, recognizes the
diversity and worth of all individuals and groups. It is the policy of Arco Iris that there will be no
discrimination or harassment of individuals or groups based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual
orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, marital status, age, veterans' status,
genetic information or disability in any educational programs, activities, or employment.
Community and Culture Charter schools by nature attract families who are proactive in their children’s education. We continue
to build a strong community to support our students and each other. We will always need parent
volunteers to provide instructional support, supervision during transition times, art projects, parties, PE
activities, and music programs. If you have special skills, these may be put to good use. We have a
growing database of parent volunteers and skills, which we would love to add to. Throughout the year,
we will be seeking volunteers to support specific activities.
Visitors. We have had great experiences with parent, grandparent, and even aunts and uncles coming to
visit our school. Parents, friends and relatives are encouraged and welcome to make occasional, brief
visits to contribute their expertise, observe special school activities, or have a special lunch or event with
their child. These visits should be prearranged with the school at least 24 hours in advance. All visitors
must check in with the office and receive a visitor’s pass. Students from other schools are not allowed to
visit Arco Iris students, as this generally tends to be a distraction.
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Volunteers. Throughout the year we will be seeking volunteers to help in specific ways. All
Arco Iris, including parents, must pass an annual background check. (Please see If you have
invitations to send prior to our distribution of the parent directory, we’ll be happy to assist you.
Please give us plenty of notice.
Health and Safety section of this handbook for details). Arco Iris will limit the number of parent
volunteers in the classroom the first few weeks of classes while our students adjust to a new routine and
a new language.
If you choose to volunteer at Arco Iris, ideally, you will be assigned a specific task at a specific time. The
success of these activities will depend on your ability and willingness to perform you assigned tasks. The
staff involved will be counting on you to perform these tasks. Assigned tasks may or may not be in your
child’s class. We value and count on our volunteers to help create a classroom that is well-run and has a
sense of community.
Remember, children whose parents are involved in their school, statistically do better!
Celebrations. At Arco Iris, we strive to promote a culture of community and family. This includes
recognizing, respecting, and honoring all cultures and practices. We welcome parents and families who
want to educate our school community through their respective cultural celebrations. Please speak with
your child’s teacher and our principal to inquire about specific cultural celebrations.
Birthdays. In order to recognize all of our students equally, we will recognize our student’s
birthdays in our Morning Meetings. Please no classroom parties.
Invitations. We respectfully request that parents distribute invitations to children’s parties and
gatherings outside of the school. Invitations may be extended within the classroom, if all
students of the child’s class are invited. If you have invitations to send prior to our distribution
of the parent directory, we’ll be happy to assist you. Please give us plenty of notice.
Health and Safety Students need a safe and healthy learning environment, and student safety will always be our first
concern. The staff of Arco Iris has taken a number of steps to ensure that our school is a safe and
respectful learning environment.
Training. Staff members are trained in CPR, First Aid, and blood born pathogen protocols.
Emergency Preparedness. Arco Iris will conduct fire, earthquake, and lock down drills on a regular basis.
During actual emergencies, our staff and students will be well prepared.
Background Checks. All teachers, administrators, and staff members will have criminal background
checks through the Oregon State Police and the FBI and include fingerprinting either as part of their
licensure or in the event of expiration of the check.
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All school volunteers, including parents, must pass an annual criminal background check. Further
information on this program will be available at the front office.
Child Pickups. Students will only be released to custodial parents or adults listed as authorized to pickup
or emergency contacts. During the first weeks of school, please bring photo identification for pickup
verification. Please be sure that emergency contacts bring photo identification for your child’s pickup.
Any other arrangements must be made either in person in the office, a signed note, or a phone call to
either the principal or office administrator.
Accidents and Emergencies. Students should immediately report all accidents or injuries to the nearest
adult supervisor on duty. In the event of accident or illness, we will make every effort to reach parents
immediately. If the injury or illness is serious enough to warrant immediate treatment, and parents
cannot be contacted, we will call for emergency assistance and transport your child to the nearest
medical facility or contact the physician listed on your registration card. We will continue to contact
you. PLEASE NOTIFY THE OFFICE IF YOU HAVE ANY CHANGES IN CONTACT INFORMATION SO THAT WE
CAN CONTACT YOU IF AN EMERGENCY OCCURS.
School Nurse. A school nurse will be available on a limited basis to provide support and develop specific
protocols for students with special needs. Please inform the school if your student has special medical
conditions.
Medications. When a student needs to take prescription medication during the school day and the
parent is not available to administer the medicine, the parent must bring the medication to school with:
A signed parent authorization to administer medicine, is available on our website or print
copies are available in the office.
The original prescription container with the label containing the physician’s name, the name of
the medication, prescribed dosage, time interval and the method of administration. Upon
request, pharmacists will provide two containers, one for home and one for school.
Non-prescription. Over the counter drugs such as aspirin, cough medicine, cough drops, or nasal sprays
will not be dispensed by Arco Iris staff. Self dispensing over the counter medicine is NOT permitted.
Please do not send your child to school with pain relievers, allergy medication, or vitamins of any
kind. Homeopathic medicines are NEVER allowed on campus. Exceptions to the school’s over the
counter medication dispensing policy will be made if the child is under a physician’s care.
All medications will be kept in a locked cabinet in the front office. All parent authorizations will be kept
in a locked file in the front office.
Hygiene. Hand washing and covering the mouth when coughing or sneezing will be practiced and
encouraged as proven ways to reduce sickness and the spread of disease. Hand washing will be done
before snacks and lunch and at regular intervals throughout the day.
Bathrooms. There will be regularly scheduled bathroom breaks, and of course, if a student has an
emergency they will be allowed to use the bathroom.
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Illness. If a student is sick and/or capable of spreading his/her illness to other children, they should stay
at home. If a student has a fever, he should not return to school until he has been fever free for a period
of at least 24-hours. Parents should call the school to inform us that their child is ill and will remain
home. In some cases, if appropriate, the teacher will provide homework.
Immunizations. The Oregon immunization law requires all children entering school for the first time
have current immunizations. A list of these can be obtained in the school office. If the parent does not
present evidence of the required immunizations, a medical exemption signed by the county health
department, or religious exemption signed by the parent, parents will be asked to sign an Immunization
Record Statement.
Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support Students are most successful in a safe and respectful learning environment. Arco Iris follows the
Beaverton School District’s Consistent Discipline program which is available on the BSD website
(http://www.beaverton.k12.or.us/home/district/handbooks-and-forms/consistent-discipline-
handbook/). This document is a well-articulated student management system, which is aligned with
state and federal laws and policies and established best practices for maintaining a safe and respectful
school environment.
Arco Iris will follow a specific student management plan based on Positive Behavioral Interventions and
Support (PBIS), a nationally recognized behavioral management system. Our staff members have
continuous training in PBIS. This will ensure that our school community culture is a positive, safe,
respectful environment where our children feel free to learn and grow, without fear and intimidation.
PBIS has five key components:
Clear Expectations. All students at Arco Iris will be:
Safe
Responsible
Respectful
Kind
Explicit Instruction. Students will be taught what it means to be Safe, Responsible, and Respectful in all
school settings including classrooms, transitions, bathroom breaks, playground, lunch, community room,
assemblies, and field trips. The basis for the instruction is modeling the behavior and having the
students practice it so they know what “safe, responsible, and respectful” looks like and how it feels to
put these positive behaviors into action.
Reinforcement. Appropriate behaviors will be continually reinforced and retaught throughout the year.
Reinforcement comes through verbal praise, increased responsibilities, token economies, and tangible
rewards. Candy is never used to reinforce positive behaviors.
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Intervention. Students who consistently do not display appropriate safe, responsible, or respectful
behaviors will be given specific intervention and support by the school staff. These may come in the
form of verbal reminders, short time outs, loss of privileges, or additional support by the school
principal.
Consequences. Consequences will be used in a constructive ways to teach students to assume
responsibility for their behavior. Expectations for consequences and their purpose will be made clear,
well-structured and planned. For the most part, lack of respect or misbehavior will be dealt with in the
classroom by the classroom teacher.
Discipline Protocols/Processes. If misbehavior or disrespect occurs the teacher will talk to the student
and redirect them in a constructive way; address and resolve the situation on-the-spot, in the classroom.
If the student continues the behavior or doesn’t respond in an appropriate way, a note will be sent
home to parents so they aware of the situation. If, after parents are made aware and have intervened
and the behavior still persists, the parents will meet with the teacher and the student and construct and
agree to a plan with appropriate outcomes. If the behavior continues to persist, the parents, teacher
and student will meet with principal, where all will make an agreement regarding the behavior. If, after
all of these interventions, agreements are not kept a referral will be made. Referrals are rare and, in
some cases, will result an in-school suspension. Arco Iris has a zero tolerance policy for physical
aggression. If a child retaliates or expresses anger through pushing, punching, hitting or fighting, that
child will be sent home, resulting in an out-of-school suspension. All efforts will be made to avoid out-of-
school suspensions, as they are not constructive and serve as a negative consequence. Referrals will be
processed by the building principal and will be signed by everyone.
Behavior will be assessed in a systematic and consistent manner so parents are aware of their child’s
behavior in the classroom, good or bad. We will never use recess, lunch, or send kids out in the hallway
as a form of punishment. After an investigation to determine the exact nature of behavior, an
appropriate outcome will be given. All interventions and consequences will be age and developmentally
appropriate and will not be designed to humiliate or degrade a student. Corporal punishment will not be
used at anytime.
All behavioral concerns and outcomes will be communicated to parents promptly by Arco Iris staff.
Bullying, harassment, and threats. The Beaverton School District Consistent Discipline Policy, adopted
by Arco Iris, specifically addresses all three of these topics with codified definitions and protocols, which
are aligned with state and federal laws. The following is Beaverton School District’s definition of bullying,
harassment, and threats as described in BSD policy JFCF, Hazing /Harassment /Intimidation /Bullying
/Menacing /Cyberbullying – “Harassment, intimidation or bullying” means any act that substantially
interferes with a student’s educational benefits, opportunities or performance that may be based on,
but not limited to, the protected class status of a person, having the effect of:
1. Physically harming a student or damaging a student’s property;
2. Knowingly placing a student in reasonable fear of physical harm to the student or damage to the
student’s property;
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3. Creating a hostile educational environment including interfering with the psychological well
being of the student.
“Protected class,” for the purposes of this policy, means a group of persons distinguished, or perceived
to be distinguished, by race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender
expression, national origin, citizenship, marital status, age, disability, familial status, appearance, or
source of income.”
As stated previously, Arco Iris will follow these codes of behavior and specific protocols. There is zero
tolerance for any of these actions. As per the PBIS model, we will explicitly teach and reinforce
behaviors and strategies for building this culture of safety and respect. We refer to the Beaverton School
District Consistent Discipline guide when working with students and their families should events arise.
Students need to feel safe to report any incidents of these behaviors to any staff member at any time.
Similarly, parents should also report any incidents that your child discloses. Incidents will be
investigated, and appropriate actions and outcomes will occur.
Dress Code It is Arco Iris’ school policy that our students follow our dress code. Research has shown that schools
requiring school uniforms increase safety by identifying trespassers, reduce social and economic status
by promoting equality, and improve academic performance by increasing students’ attention toward
their studies.
Arco Iris respects and honors all religious beliefs. If your religion dictates a certain type of dress (e.g.
head cover, scarves, etc.) please contact our school administration. We will gladly accommodate your
student.
Students attending Arco Iris are required to wear appropriate dress except when notified of school
sponsored non-uniform days.
We believe strongly that all families must adhere to the established dress code. Dress code Infractions will be handled as follows:
1st offense – Note home. Record kept on file.
2nd offense – Call and note home. Record kept on file. Student will change clothes at school, either from clothes parent brings or from what the school has on hand.
3rd offense – all of the above and a conference with parent will be set up.
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Arco Iris School Dress Code - All Students
Shirts
Solid red and white polo-type shirts; short or long sleeved. Turtle necks are acceptable.
During winter months, white undershirts are allowed; short or long sleeved.
No logo’d apparel, with the exception of Arco Iris logo.
Bottoms
Boys: Solid, navy blue or khaki colored pants/trousers or shorts.
Girls: Solid, navy blue or khaki colored pants/trousers, mid-thigh length shorts, mid-thigh length
skirts, mid-thigh length skorts or jumpers.
No sweats or denim unless otherwise indicated on non-uniform day.
Shoes and Socks
Students should wear shoes that are appropriate and comfortable for daily play outside. We
recommend close-toed shoes with socks.
No Crocs, flip flops or open toed shoes are permitted at anytime.
Sweatshirts, Fleece, or Sweaters
During the winter months, students may wear solid colored (any color) layers over their
uniforms during class and outside.
Outerwear
There are no restrictions on outerwear at this time. An extra set of hats and gloves may be left
in your student’s cubby.
Please label your student’s extra clothing items.
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Academics Arco Iris is responsible for delivering a quality education in a safe and nurturing learning environment.
The long-term success of Arco Iris will be a function of many factors. Student academic success is the
most important factor. The best learning occurs when excellent teachers have high expectations of
themselves and their students and use curriculum and differentiation as tools for student achievement.
At all times, instruction will be based on research supported best practices. The continuous growth and
learning of our students is the core of our success. Arco Iris curriculum and learning targets have been
approved by the Beaverton School District (BSD) and align with state and district. The following is a brief
overview of instruction at Arco Iris.
Spanish Immersion. Classroom instruction will occur mainly in Spanish with the exception of
English Language Arts. As students develop their language skills in Spanish, they will
simultaneously be developing overall language acquisition, which will apply to math, English
language instruction, and science and social studies.
All of our classroom teachers are either native or highly proficient Spanish speakers with
experience in teaching in language immersion programs. This unique, expert combination will
allow our students to learn authentic Spanish.
Math. Arco Iris uses Singapore Math curriculum, a proven system that has produced excellent
learning outcomes internationally. Teachers have received, and will continue to receive, training
to teach this program with fidelity. The Singapore Math materials are only available in English.
Some math instruction will be in Spanish with strategic use of English.
English Language Arts. Students will receive English Language Arts instruction daily, with an
emphasis on reading, writing, spelling and grammar. Students will be challenged through
differentiation and will have the time and opportunity to master the concepts of reading
comprehension and grammar, while learning the writing process. We will tie English Language
Arts to Spanish Language Arts so students are making constant connections, increasing learning.
Social Studies and Science. Students will cover the learning targets approved by the Beaverton
School District and National and State Standards. Our curriculum is organized through themes,
and the learning targets will be covered in two year sequences. In addition, students will
regularly practice learning through inquiry projects. Inquiry will build strong Spanish Language
skills and develop research skills.
Physical Education, Art, and Music. In our annual parent survey, we asked our families what
was most important to them as “specials” for this academic year. The top three were PE, art,
technology, and music. These three vital subjects will be taught by classroom teachers with the
support from the principal, parent volunteers, community volunteers and some contracted
services. We will be using our newly implemented Program Enrichment Fees to help fund these
programs, which were normally paid for using parent donations (monetary and supplies). Our
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initial focus will be on PE and Art, and will be taught as separate subjects, but will also be
interwoven throughout the curriculum and will adhere to our Spanish Immersion mission.
Programs will be taught in Spanish, with few exceptions that pertain to specific situations. In
addition, students, staff, and parents will have opportunities to perform, display, and share their
art, music, dance and other activities that reinforce the multicultural theme of Arco Iris and
school community.
Student Use of Technology/Computers. Arco Iris has a fleet of student laptops, some purchased
and some donated by Intel and the AppUp Contest. Teachers will use the fleet as teaching tools
for inquiry and research, report presentations, typing skills, and practice testing for OAKS.
School staff will have full discretion over what the students are working on, including games, if
any, are allowed. Our guidelines will be clearly communicated with the students, and they will
be asked to review and agree to an Acceptable Use Policy, to come home in the fall. This policy
will include, but not be limited to the following conditions:
o Do not visit chat rooms.
o Do not visit websites that promote things that are illegal, violent, or pornographic.
o Don’t change settings or screen savers.
o Do not download anything unless directed by a teacher.
o If you see anything on a computer screen that you think may be inappropriate, please
notify a staff member right away.
o School computers are to be used only for school purposes.
Blended Classrooms. Arco Iris students will be taught in two-grade blends. The students’
classroom work assignments will vary to support their individual knowledge and skills
(differentiation). Differentiated classroom instruction moves students along at their own pace.
As students move along, they are regrouped according to needs, themes, and proficiency levels.
Our teacher’s focus is on the continuous growth of their students, using a specifically design
curriculum as a tool to promote continuous growth. This allows children to master and then
progress from one concept or skill level to the next.
The Arco Iris website contains a detailed explanation of blended classrooms and provides
explanations to frequently asked questions regarding blended classroom learning and how this
model applies to language immersion. http://arcoirisschool.wordpress.com/2011-2012-
academic-year/introduction-to-blended-classrooms/.
Interventions. If an Arco Iris student is suspected of a learning disability or other special needs
(e.g. speech therapy), we will work closely with Beaverton School District’s Special Education
staff to determine if a student is eligible to receive services. Determination will be based on BSD
Special Education and Arco Iris staff’s combined assessment under the specifications of
Individuals with Disabilities Act. If it is determined there is a learning disability, an Individual
Education Plan will be implemented.
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Field Trips. Field trips are an important part of our student’s learning experience and reinforce
and enhance learning. Some, but not all, field trips will reinforce Hispanic culture and will allow
students the opportunity to practice their Spanish skills in real life situations.
Summary of Achievement of Arco Iris Students
At Arco Iris, student achievement is based on a continuous growth model meaning each child is measured against him/herself and growth is measured and monitored with the data being used in several ways:
Providing feedback to teachers on student performance and instructional design
Setting goals and communicating with individual students on progress and areas of improvement
Communicating with parents on student progress The rate of learning a second language for each student is different and therefore we believe that the continuous growth model is an acceptable measure of his or her language growth. Using the learning targets of Beaverton School District, the State of Oregon, and enhanced by selected curriculum, in combination with talented teachers, rigorous curriculum, and best practices in teaching, students demonstrate growth daily.
Assessment Approach
Students are monitored on a weekly, trimester, and annual basis. In our second year, we have formalized our assessment timelines and tools to ensure effective monitoring and growth. Like other schools, we combine a balance of formative and summative assessments. A summary and schedule is attached at the end of the report. Formative assessment is ongoing and used during the student learning process to modify teaching and learning activities. Teachers adjust and readjust their instruction and techniques to ensure that students understand the concepts being taught, based on what they learn as identified through ongoing evaluations. Formative assessments allow our staff to have the information they need to quickly adjust to our student’s learning needs. Summative assessment measures how much a student has learned after a particular period of work. After a unit of instruction in skill or concept, tests are taken and scored, providing feedback on the students’ grasp of the subject.
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Arco Iris Assessment Summary and Schedule
Assessment Purpose Use Frequency
Arco Iris Language Assessment (AILA)
Evaluates the four domains of reading, writing, listening, and speaking
Places students in appropriately leveled Spanish groups/appropriate challenge materials, and tracks end-of-year progress.
End of each trimester – reported in trimester progress reports
Spanish Reading Assessment (part of AILA)
Assesses Spanish reading fluency and comprehension
Places students in appropriately leveled Spanish groups/appropriately challenged materials and tracks end-of-year progress.
Beginning and end-of-year for new students; end of year for returning students
TOM-SOPA Provides an in-class evaluation of each student’s proficiency in speaking and listening
Assists in placing students in appropriately leveled Spanish groups and tracks end-of-year progress.
End of each trimester – reported in trimester progress reports
Developmental Reading Assessments (DRAs)
Assesses English reading fluency and comprehension
Places students in appropriately leveled reading groups and tracks progress throughout the year.
Beginning (September/October/November) and Year End (May and June); or as needed
Writing Samples and Year End Assessment
Measures and assesses student’s performance and growth in the writing process
Guides teaching strategies and identifies learning gaps in student’s writing.
End of each trimester – as well as weekly and end-of-unit assignments. Year End Writing assessment will be assessed internally and externally at the end of April.
Singapore Math Assessments
Assess and tracks progress in math concepts
Guides teaching strategies for daily learning at an individual level.
Weekly and end of unit assessments – reported in the trimester progress reports.
Minute Math Quizzes computational skills
Provides disciplined computation skill building
Weekly with immediate feedback on results
Benchmark Assessments for other subjects
Assesses and tracks ongoing progress of our students on a regular basis
Guides teaching strategies for students’ daily learning. Identifies specific learning gaps and individual, ongoing needs of our students.
Weekly; end-of-unit; and beginning, middle, end-of-year
Oregon Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (OAKs)
Assesses students’ mastery of Oregon content standards
Informs Arco Iris how our students compare to the rest of the state. Used as a baseline of student progress.
Up to three times per year as-needed.
Progress Reports
Shows individual child’s overall progress in all subjects throughout the year
Demonstrates to parents and students individual progress and pattern of growth throughout the year.
Produced each trimester.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Discussion progress and áreas of improvement
Open communication between teachers and parents
Parent/eacher conferences twice per year
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Assessment Tools
Spanish. Assessment and monitoring is critical for second language learning. Teachers group and
regroup students based on proficiency levels while providing various levels of challenge. Several tools
are in place to provide this level of monitoring in-class and in individualized settings:
Students will be assessed using the Arco Iris Language Assessments (AILA) at the end of each school
year. New students will be assessed at the beginning of the school year. The combination of
assessments from the American Council on the Teaching of a Foreign Language (ACTFL), Spanish
Reading Assessments, Portland Public Schools, and the Center of Applied Linguistics are used to
monitor student progress in Spanish language domains including: reading, writing, listening, and
speaking. Teachers work with each student individually to precisely assess their Spanish language skills.
The Teacher Observation Matrix- SOPA (TOM-SOPA) is a new in-class tool being piloted by the Center of
Applied Linguistics at select schools around the country and Arco Iris teachers have expressed
excitement at using the tool. Using the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines, the TOM-SOPA is used with more
frequency by teachers to inform and enhance second language instruction in four skill areas: oral
fluency, grammar, vocabulary, and listening comprehension.
At the end of each instructional unit, teachers design summative assessments focused on content and
topics including: vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension, as a means to evaluate and measure
acquisition of grade appropriate subject matter.
English Language Arts. Each fall, English teachers conduct formative assessments in writing and reading
to understand student skill sets and to provide appropriately challenging materials, books, and writing
tasks based on individual ability and request for challenge. At the end of every instructional unit,
teachers design assessments and use benchmark assessments from StoryTown to measure student
growth.
Annually, students are also given Developmental Reading Assessments (DRAs) to measure their reading
fluency, fluidity, and comprehension. New students are tested twice a year. Returning students are
typically tested at the end of each academic year. Students may be assessed more often if teachers feel
it is needed.
Although the state Writing Assessment was discontinued, Arco Iris will conduct a ‘prompt-based’
writing exercise that is similar in style to preparation and student composing as the state’s formerly
required test during the month of April. The samples will be scored internally using the State of Oregon
standards and rubric by two Arco Iris teachers and by an independent scorer certified by the state.
Internal scoring will provide opportunity to guide writing strategies and identify gaps in student
performance while also providing the opportunity for teacher reflection. The third-party scorer will
provide fidelity in the scoring process.
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Singapore Math. The Singapore Math model is a unique way to differentiate instruction and provides
numerous approaches to solving math equations with analysis.
Teachers use the Singapore Math chapter and cumulative tests to assess student knowledge.
Throughout an academic career, minor computational mistakes can make a difference in a student’s
success. In an on-going effort to focus on computational fluency, students practice at home with a
sequence of simple mathematical equations in addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Each
Friday, students are challenged with building their computational skills and speed with a Minute Math
quiz. Once a student successfully completes the quiz, the child moves to the next sequence the following
Friday.
Social Studies and Science. Social Studies and Science content learning is assessed with techniques
including mind maps, vocabulary development, questionnaires, quizzes, guided research of a particular
theme, oral presentation, teamwork, etc.
Because social studies and science are key subjects for reinforcing Spanish language, a significant
emphasis is placed on end of unit assessments to determine the absorption of the content.
Reporting Continuous Growth - Progress Reports and Parent/Teacher Conferences. At the end of each
trimester, parents receive a progress report that summarizes the students’ learning and growth. The
progress report was designed based on State of Oregon standards and Beaverton School District
learning targets and serves as a guide to provide a challenging and rigorous educational program. This
system requires Arco Iris teachers to also continuously improve and evolve to serve our students.
Twice a year, in the fall and end of the year, teachers and parents meet formally to discuss progress and
areas of improvement.
Parent Information Arco Iris School is a school of choice. The cornerstone of our school depends on parental involvement.
We believe that parents should be fully aware of the educational process in the classroom and engaged
in their child’s homework whenever possible to ensure maximum educational potential.
Parents should make an effort to know their child’s teacher and to monitor their child’s progress and
behavior through on-going dialogue with the teacher and child.
2012-2013 Venue – Bethlehem Lutheran Church Arco Iris is a tenant of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and we strive to use the space respectfully. To foster
our relationship, we request:
Courteous and safe driving in parking lots
Pick up and dispose of trash and litter in the outside environment
Keep classrooms, restrooms, and common spaces clean and litter free
Notify the office if you see something that needs attention
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Bethlehem Lutheran Church is located in a residential neighborhood. Please be courteous and safe while
driving into and out of their residential streets.
Student Drop off and Pick Up Arco Iris uses the West entrance of the church as our main school entrance and exit. Student drop-off begins at 07:45 a.m. and pick-up begins at 3:00 p.m..
Morning Drop Off
Our school day begins at 8:00 a.m. Unless your child is enrolled in our before school program (7:00 am
– 7:45 a.m.), please do not drop off your child before 7:45 am. Parents dropping off students before
7:45 a.m. are asked to park in the main parking lot and check their child into the Community Room for
before school care.
Beginning at 7:45 a.m. morning curbside drop off is on the west side of the church as well at the
sidewalk in front of the church's preschool playground. If you prefer to park and walk your child into
school, please park in the main parking area and walk your child to the West entrance. Please be mindful
as you cross in front of curbside drop-off traffic.
We genuinely ask that everyone please slow down and be on high alert for students entering and
leaving the building. We also ask that you please drive the perimeter of the parking lot when entering
and exiting our school. PLEASE DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH THE PARKING SPACES and cut across the lot
when you are leaving. Last year we had near misses with not only sideswipes of other vehicles but also
with darting children and their young siblings.
Afternoon Pick Up
Our school day ends at 3:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 2:15 on Friday. In order to keep our
students secure, parents or a preauthorized adult must pick up their child at the child’s classroom
between 3:00 p.m. and 3:10 p.m., Monday through Thursday and 2:15 p.m. on Fridays. Please park in
the main parking lot for on time pick-ups.
We are asking parents to maintain a speed of 5 mph or under in the parking area. Please enter the
parking lot from the Johnson street entrance. You must park in a parking space, walk into the school,
and pick up your child. Please drive the perimeter of the lot and then down the rows to find a space and
avoid driving in front of the doors entry doors.
When you leave the church parking lot, please drive the perimeter of the lot and exit to 187th Avenue.
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Ingress and Egress 2012-2013
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Attendance and Bell Schedule The single most important way to support your child in being a successful learner is to have him or her
at school every day, on time, fed, and well rested.
Arrival and Departure. Our school day begins at 8:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m., Monday through
Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., Friday. Students must arrive, beginning at 7:45 a.m. and no later
than 8:00 a.m., unless they have arranged for before school care through our Buenas Tardes program.
Beginning at 7:45 a.m., students will be greeted by Arco Iris staff and will be dropped off at the west
entryway of Bethlehem Lutheran or parents can park and walk their child into his or her classroom.
After school, in order to keep our students secure, parents or a preauthorized adult must pick up their
child at the child’s classroom between 3:00 p.m. and 3:10, Monday through Thursday and 2:15 p.m. on
Fridays. PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A CHANGE FROM LAST YEAR! Teachers will check off each student when
they see that the child is picked up by a parent or adult who is approved to pick them up. Students who
have not been picked up by 3:10 p.m. will be walked to the Community Room where they may be picked
up. Our Afterschool Site Coordinator will use the same check off procedures as our classroom teachers.
Please do not enter the classroom before 3:00 p.m., as our teachers are often giving end of day
instructions. If you arrive early, please wait in the community room until 3:00 p.m. to avoid disturbing
the classrooms with outside distractions.
If students aren’t picked up by 3:15 p.m., parents will be subject to the Buenas Tardes Drop-In Fee.
Beginning at 3:15 p.m. students will be a part of the Afterschool program.
Students will only be released to custodial parents or adults listed as emergency contacts or
preauthorized adults. During the first weeks of school, please bring photo identification for pick up
verification. Please emergency contacts bring photo identification for your child’s pickup. Any other
arrangements must be made by either in person in the office, a signed note, or a phone call to the
Principal of Office Administrator.
Tardiness. Students will be considered tardy after 8:10 a.m. Please note that our classes begin at 8:00
a.m. sharp. Should tardiness become a regular occurrence, parents will be asked to meet with the school
principal. Students arriving after 8:00 a.m. must be brought to the office by a parent or guardian to
check in and receive a late pass to enter their classroom.
Absences. If your student is absent or will be tardy, please call or email the school by 8:30 a.m. If a
student has a pre-arranged appointment, please send a note with this information. Parents must come
to the office to sign out and pick up their students for all appointments. Please try to schedule
appointment during non-school hours.
Long Term Absences. Please know that when your child is absent for 10 consecutive days, Arco Iris must
withdraw your child from the school on the 11th day. Upon your child’s return, the child must be re-
enrolled, provided that the slot has not been filled by another child. We really count on children being in
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school every day as it is not only important to their learning, but it affects Arco Iris’ funding and budget.
If planning an extended trip or your child is very ill, please communicate with the Principal.
Distractions. Please do not bring to school any items which create a distraction or a health or safety
hazard. These items may include:
Hats (unless requested for a special project or occasion; winter hats are allowable).
Gum, candy, or any food not for lunch or snack.
Toys or toy-like objects.
Electronic devices (unless otherwise requested for a special project).
Cell phones.
“Silly Bands” or costume jewelry.
Unnecessary money or personal property.
Students who bring these items will have them confiscated. They will only be returned directly to a
parent.
Lunch Program and Snacks Arco Iris continues our great partnership with Whole Foods to provide delicious, healthy, and nutritious
lunches for purchase for $4.00 per day. The complete lunch includes a sandwich, a fruit, and a choice of
2% or chocolate milk. In addition, two or three days per week, there is a hot lunch choice (typically
pasta, casserole, or pizza).
All lunch orders must be selected and pre-paid for the month. Forms with lunch choices will be made
available on-line, and will also be e-mailed out, and must be returned to the office by 3:00 p.m. the
Thursday prior to the following month with payment (cash or check made out to Arco Iris Spanish
Immersion School). Please no phone or email lunch orders.
Please Note.
Forms and information are available on our website or in the school office if you believe you
may qualify for free or reduced lunch. All personal information regarding your application will be
kept confidential at all times.
Please be sure to notify the office if your child has food allergies or sensitivities.
Special lunch events may cost more than the daily lunch.
Vendor food costs or delivery fees may warrant incremental cost increases.
Lunch Visitors. If you would like to volunteer to help at lunch or have lunch with our child, please notify
the front office and sign in according to the school’s visitor policies. If a family member would like to
have lunch with your child, please notify the office in advance for approval and have the guest check in
at the front office, show photo identification, and sign in according to the school’s visitor policies.
Snacks and Water. Because of our long school day, we suggest that parents pack additional snacks for
children to eat during designated snack times in the morning and afternoon. We also encourage parents
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to provide a reusable and regularly cleansed water bottle (labeled with the student name) for use during
the day.
Because we strive to be a low waste school, we encourage families to provide low waste lunch items
that have little to no packaging.
Payments Payments for school lunches, the annual enrichment fee, and our before/after school program can be
made by cash (exact change appreciated), check, or credit card (new for 2012). All payments for non-
PTO sponsored activities should be placed in the drop box on the yellow information cart outside the
main office.
Communication The relationship between parents and their child’s teacher is essential to our student’s success at Arco
Iris. In turn, parents must have access and good communication to our administrative staff so they are
assured that their concerns and ideas are heard and valued. Therefore, we use several forms of
communication to ensure that we are providing excellent, two-way communication.
Our Website and Blog. Our website, http://arcoirisschool.org, will have important documents posted,
with links to access other key information. The blog, http://arcoirisschool.wordpress.org, It will also
contain updates on what’s happening at Arco Iris, important articles and information that pertain to
language immersion, articles written by school staff and special guests, student achievement results,
and relevant surveys for students and parents.
Like Us on Facebook. We have an Arco Iris page and an Arco Iris PTO page. Like both to get up to date
information and announcements.
Principal and Administrator Friday Email. Each Friday, school announcements will be delivered by
email. Other email messages may occur during the week.
Daily Planner. Each student will keep a daily planner where they will track homework they may have,
important class events, and assignments dates and milestones. Planners are also used as a quick, two-
way communication between parent and teacher. Parents and teachers often jot notes to each other for
clarification or a small message to each other. Parents are expected to check their child’s planner every
day and initial so teachers know parents have seen and are aware of their child’s daily happenings.
Progress Reports and Parent/Teacher Conferences. Progress reports will be issued three times per year,
at the end of each trimester. Parent/Teacher conferences will take place twice per year: during fall and
winter terms. Teachers will meet with parents to assess and discuss the continuous growth of their
child, academically as well as socially and emotionally.
Communication with Teachers/Staff. Conferences, e-mails, and phone calls are a key component of
communication. Teachers are our most important point person because they know your child best, and
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are often the most familiar with an issue or situation in which your child is involved. If you’d like to make
an appointment with your child’s teacher, please coordinate through her.
Regarding day-to-day routine or simple communications, our teachers will strive to promptly and
appropriately address these. Additionally, our Principal, Jan Smith , is available for all issues regarding
staffing, students, and parent relations. Janell Latwesen is available to address questions regarding
enrollment, facilities, and general logistics.
Complaint Procedures Arco Iris has an approved Complaint and Grievance Procedure (October 13, 2011). If a parent has an
issue or concern regarding their child, they should, first and foremost, communicate with their child’s
teacher either by e-mail or personal meeting. If the parent still hasn’t reached resolution, the next step
is to meet with the teacher and principal. If that process isn’t satisfactory, the parent should meet
individually with the principal. If, in rare instances, a solution, plan or resolution has not been reached,
the parent may appeal to the Arco Iris School Board on behalf of their child. All meetings will be
documented, using the same form for consistency to ensure that agreements are kept and that there is
follow up between the parents, teacher, administration and child.
It is our intention to do what’s best for your child in any given situation. Your child’s teacher, you as their
parent, and the administration are your child’s education and support team. We will work together to
ensure that we are doing everything possible to serve your child’s best interests regarding their
educational and emotional and social needs.
The success of our school will be in part to positive, open communication between parents, teachers,
and students. In order to maintain this positive learning environment, we need to work together to
communicate successes and concerns in a responsible and respectful manner. This can be done in
writing, by scheduling a conference, or by phone. If possible, it is best to begin the communication
process in person. When concerns arise on the part of parents or staff members, deal with these
concerns as soon as is reasonably possible. Take the concern to the person involved first.
Communication at Arco Iris School is healthy when it is:
Open
Timely
Respectful
Clear and to the point
Focused on student learning
Discussions about problems or issues will take place during non-class time and in a confidential setting.
Complex issues will require an appointment and an agenda, so time and thought can be focused on
positive solutions. Staff will address students, other staff, and parents in a professional manner. All
reciprocal correspondence and communications will be respectful and relayed in a businesslike and
cooperative manner.
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Family Directory Arco Iris publishes a family directory every year. The family directory or any Arco Iris distribution list
which includes addresses, phone numbers or emails is only distributed to Arco Iris families as a courtesy,
to be used for connecting with classmates and parents for non-commercial related communications.
Arco Iris does not distribute, sell, or trade the family directory and each family listed has opted-in for the
sole purpose of facilitating school related communications by administration, the board, or committees
including but not limited to the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), or Consejo de padres.
Please Note: Use of the information in the family directory to promote your business, sell a product or
service, solicit employment, or fundraise, is a clear violation of the Federal Trade Commission's CAN-
SPAM Act, which prohibits commercial entities from distributing information via email to addresses that
have not agreed to receive the commercial message. Each separate email in violation of the CAN-SPAM
Act is subject to penalties of up to $16,000, so non-compliance can be costly.
Please help us keep our family information private, promote good school related communication, and refrain from putting your business at risk by adhering to Arco Iris’ policy on use of the parent directory.
Student Services As a public charter school, Arco Iris offers services in compliance with state and federal laws. They
include:
Free and Reduced Lunch. Arco Iris follows the federal guidelines in terms of providing a free and
reduced lunch to students who meet the qualifying criteria. Applications are available in the
office or on our website. All information provided will be treated as confidential.
English Language Learners. Students who meet the requirements to be tested for English
Language Learning Assessment will be tested by an English Language Learning teacher and will
be leveled accordingly. English Language Learning services will be available at Arco Iris. If you
child has a previous ELL plan, please notify the office and provide your student’s previous
information.
Special Education/Special Needs. Students needing special interventions will receive services
from the Beaverton School District and Arco Iris. Arco Iris will participate in all Individualized
Education Plans (IEP) and Section 504 plans and meetings and support the student and family. If
your child has an IEP or 504 plan, please provide details to the Arco Iris office. If you believe that
your child needs additional services, please contact someone in our office.
Parent Organizations We have two very active parent organizations at Arco Iris. Consejo de padres is our parent council
consisting of elected representatives from each grade. The Consejo de padres group was founded to
support our school board and staff with larger projects and bigger picture items. Our Parent Teacher
Organization (PTO) is open to all parents and legal guardians of our students, and this group supports
our day-to-day operations of the school and in the classroom and they are also in charge of school
fundraising efforts, community involvement, and classroom enrichment.
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Consejo de padres (Parent Council)
Consejo de padres (CP) is a parent council comprised of two parent representatives for each grade. The
parents are elected in the spring, with the exception of the incoming first grade class, which will be
elected in the fall. This year, one of the two grade level representatives will serve a one year term, and
the other will serve a two year term. Hereafter, one new grade level representative will be elected for
each grade every year to then serve a two year term.
The council aims to complement and collaborate with the Arco Iris School Board, staff, and PTO to
achieve school goals and support the school improvement plan. The council will work with the Board
and Principal to develop, research, and execute plans and programs in support of the Arco Iris School
Charter and Mission statement. The council supports parent communication and involvement by serving
as a voice and a forum for parent input. The official mission statement and by-laws will be available on
the school website in the fall.
Please note that personnel related concerns are not part of the role of the parent council and should be
referred to the teacher, then the Principal/and or Board as appropriate.
A key role of the parent council is to collect input from grade level parents and serve as a collective voice
for their ideas. To facilitate communication, email addresses were set up using 8th grade graduation
year (e.g. parents of incoming 3rd grade students will use the email “[email protected]“).
This will ensure the email contact for Consejo de padres remains the same throughout the student’s
time at Arco Iris. Email addresses will permit for electronic communication from parents to their grade
level representatives. Grade level representatives will share information from their grade levels with the
collective group at the next CP meeting.
Meetings are open to the public. Meetings take place the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 6:00pm, at Arco
Iris School. Consejo de padres members are included in the Important Contact Information of this
handbook.
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
The PTO mission is to contribute to the success of all Arco Iris students and support the staff and
school to attain the goal of enabling our students to become responsible citizens and life-long
learners with strong values and a sense of community. As an organization: 1) the AI PTO will help by
sharing information and ideas; 2) planning and holding events that build a positive climate and ; 3)
raising funds for equipment and programs.
The PTO will work to achieve this goal through the following committees:
Fundraising
Community Involvement (formerly Outreach)
Enrichment and Classroom & Administration
Arco Iris PTO membership includes any parent or guardian of an enrolled student at Arco Iris
Spanish Immersion Charter School.
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Activities, events and programs that PTO manages or supports:
Annual Auction Teacher Appreciation (monthly) Back to School Night Restaurant Nights Community Involvement Projects School Picture Day Scrip Program Health Screening Class Parties Jog-A-Thon Jaguars Read / Jaguars on the Run School Performances Scholastic Book Orders and Book Fair Science Fair
Volunteers help us provide unique opportunities for our students. Volunteering is a fun and easy
way to get involved with your child's school experience. Your contribution to the school community
is important and valued. Together, we can help Arco Iris Spanish Immersion Charter School reach its
goal of providing a solid and academically challenging education. Parents are asked to volunteer at
least 20 hours per family per school year.
Fundraising:
School fundraising plays an essential role in the long-term success of Arco Iris. Variable school
funding and economic conditions make our fund-raising critical to our financial stability. School
fundraisers will occur throughout the year. Notification and specifics will be posted on the website,
via e-mails, and hard copies coming home with your student.
One of the key elements of this charter school is a closer working connection with the private
sector. Arco Iris has a number of individuals who coordinate with businesses and possible interested
benefactors in the private sector. If you have ideas, have a connection that you feel may be
beneficial, know of granters or someone with grant writing skills, or want to help, please inform the
school.
Arco Iris Spanish Immersion School is a registered 501c3, meaning cash and item donations are tax
deductible in accordance with tax laws. We are able to provide receipts and acknowledgment
letters for all items and cash.
The Arco Iris school board has identified a funding need of $70,000 that the school community has
been challenged to raise. These funds will be used to provide increased teacher training, increased
teacher benefits and additional reading materials for the school. Currently we have the following
fundraising activities planned for the 2012-2013 school year:
Annual Fundraising Events
Valley Theatre Tickets: Tickets will be sold in the fall and winter
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First annual Jaguar Jog-a-thon: October 18, 2012 (fundraising goal $15,000 roughly $100/student)
Annual Fund: Families make financial contributions to Arco Iris to help fund operational costs of the
school. Keep an eye out for a letter, which outlines operational outcomes for the 2012-2013 school
year.
Chinook Books: Chinook books will be for sale this fall through Scrip Program for $20 and of that
Arco Iris keeps $10. We will be selling the Mobile pack (iPhone/Android App) for $15 and of that
Arco keeps $6.
The Third Annual Arco Iris Auction (featuring the country of Spain): April 27th, 2012 (fundraising
goal is $50,000 roughly $325/ student). The auction committee will focus on procurement, guest
recruitment, operations and merchandising/design.
Scholastic Book Fair: October 24-26, 2012 during fall conferences. This is a perfect opportunity to
find out your child’s reading level and then stock up on appropriate books in English and Spanish.
Ongoing Fundraising Opportunities
Scrip. This is a great opportunity for our school. SCRIP has over 100 stores gift cards to choose from,
like your favorite grocery store, coffee shop, restaurants, and more! Order Forms will be available
monthly at the school (box located outside the office). Please make your checks payable to “Arco
Iris” and put it in an envelope with your order form in the drop box located in the hallway next to
Maestra Maria’s classroom. The drop box is attached to the cubicles by the bathrooms. Feel free to
sell SCRIP to your friends or other family members who want to buy some, because every SCRIP
sold means more money for our school! But you need to purchase them using a check from your
checking account and let them reimburse you. We can only accept checks from parents who have
children enrolled at Arco Iris. The orders need to be picked up by parents ONLY with a picture ID,
under no circumstances will orders be sent with the kids.
Monthly Restaurant Nights. Join the entire school community for an evening of dining. Watch for
fliers to announce the locations.
Scholastic Book Orders. Order forms will be sent home on a regular basis throughout the year.
Sharing Spree. Sign up for Sharing Spree daily deal site and list Arco Iris Spanish Immersion as your
preferred donation recipient. www.SharingSpree.com.
Mamapedia. Sign up for free to receive their daily deals. Then click on Savings for Schools to select
a school when you check out. Whenever you buy one of their deals, they will set aside 5% of the
purchase price to go directly to the school you designated. Principals can use the money anyway
they want—for books, classroom supplies, field, trips, reading programs—anything that can use
extra funding. You can find their website at: http://deals.mamapedia.com/. Our school’s referral
code is A5U8.
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Target Take Charge of Education. Next time if you are Target, sign up for a Red Card, it only takes a
minute and it links to your Debit card. It is not a credit card, it is like a “club card” yet it gives you a
discount and gives our school money. The purchases still come out of your checking account, and
Target gives 1% of your purchase to Arco Iris while you receive 5% off your purchase. You can also
sign up for a Target credit card. Once you sign up, go to the website www.Target.com/tcoe and
designate Arco Iris as your school and we can be raising more money every time you shop! If you
use your Target Red Card to order items from www.Target.com, you also receive free shipping. Tell
your friends, your family, and your neighbors to link their Debit card to a Red Card. The more
people we involve, the more the program works for our school! See www.Target.com/redcard for
additional information.
Office Depot. When you go to purchase school supplies, if you buy from Office Depot they will give
5% back to Arco Iris. Please write this number down, 70223859, and take it in with you to start
having dollars add up for Arco Iris. For more information:
http://www.officedepot.com/specialLinks.do?file=/promo/backtoschool/5percent.jsp
Box Tops for Education. Many products you use every day give back to schools through the Box
Tops for Education, www.boxtop4education.com, program. Clip the pink box top off the following
products, to name a few: Kleenex, Avery Glue Sticks, General Mills Cereals, Nature Valley Granola
Bars, Pillsbury Ready to Serve. We request that you bring in trimmed Box Tops for easier counting
and processing. A collection bucket is located in the office.
Matching Gifts. Many companies offer matching gift programs, meaning the company matches
your donation to non-profits up to a certain point. Some companies include: Portland General
Electric, Intel, IBM, Nike. Check with your Human Resources Department for more details as each
company has different policies and procedures. Let us know if your company offers matching funds.
We are happy to help complete the necessary paperwork for you to verify your donation.
Dollars for Volunteering. Some companies pay employees to volunteer for their favorite non-profit.
Check with your Human Resources Department for more details as each company has different
policies and procedures. We are happy to complete the necessary paperwork to verify your service.
Donations and Materials. Another way families can support the school is through the direct
donation of requested materials and items. Throughout the year, specific requests will be made via
the usual methods of communication. Please do not send items or materials to school unless
specifically requested to do so. Receipts will be provided for donations.
Stay tuned for other fundraising activities throughout the year. And, if you have ideas you would
like to help spearhead, we would love to hear from you.
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Other PTO Activities
Community Involvement. One mission of Arco Iris is to cultivate children into responsible global
citizens. Community involvement facilitates that mission. Our Community Involvement committee will
arrange activities within the local social and education community. For example, the committee will
identify and coordinate age appropriate service opportunities.
Enrichment. The committee will be able to identify and fill the gaps in the curriculum, such as art &
sciences. The programs that are running at this time are Jaguars Read, Jaguars on the Run and after
school programs like Mad Science, and Lego Robotics Club.
Classroom & Administration. We will need a parent from each classroom to help coordinate
volunteers to support the teacher and for other school time needs. We may also need volunteer
administrative assistance from time-to-time, or volunteers for major events such as the Spring
Auction and big events at school.
Monthly Meetings. Monthly meetings are held on the first Tuesday of the month at the school. We have
regular updates on the blog and website.
Like Us on Facebook. The PTO has a Facebook page.
Reach Us by Email. [email protected] AND/OR [email protected]
Buenas Tardes, Before and After School Enrichment At the end of school day, children find a place to practice conversational Spanish through creative
expression, guided learning and self-directed play in the Buenas Tardes Afterschool Program. We offer a
comfortable, safe, and fun after-school program run by native Spanish speaking, experienced, nurturing
staff who will direct children’s play through recreational play, speaking and listening activities, arts and
crafts, and storytelling. Our activities will be conducted in Spanish and will correspond to school themes,
holidays, and celebrations. Afterschool is open to all Arco Iris students.
At our before-school program, which runs every school day from 7:00 to 7:45 a.m., children will be
provided with a healthy snack and will be able to read, chat, and play quiet games. This way they will
ease into and be ready for the day ahead.
SCHEDULE: 7:00-7:45 Early drop-off
3:00-3:45 Snack and Recess Time
3:45-4:15 Speaking and Listening Activities (songs, poems, playwriting, chants, etc.)
4:15-4:45 Arts and Crafts
4:45-5:15 Game Time and Reading
5:15-5:45 Homework Club and Self-directed Activities
5:45 Parent Pickup
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Fees
Buenas Tardes Pick-up Policies Approved adults picking up their children from the Buenas Tardes program must check in with the
program caregiver and sign out their child in the school roster.
Parents are expected to pick up their children no later than 5:45 or a late fee will be charged. The late
pick up fee is $5.00 per 10 minute increments, for the first 20 minutes, then an additional $1 per minute
thereafter, as described in the table below. We will begin calling the primary caregiver and approved
adults listed in your child’s enrollment form beginning at 5:45. Phone calls to notify our staff of a late
pick-up are appreciated, but will not exempt a late charge. If a child is not picked up by 6:45 and our
school has not been notified, we will inform the appropriate local authorities.
Outstanding fees for late pick-ups are billed monthly. The following fees will be imposed:
TIME SURCHARGE
5:46 – 5:55 $5
5:56 – 6:05 $10
6:06 – pickup $10 plus $1/minute
Payment Policies The Buenas Tardes payments are due by the 4th of each month for that month’s attendance. Arco Iris
will not provide refunds if students do not attend due to illness, vacation, etc. Prorated amounts will be
applied for December, March, and April due to holiday weeks and June because of end of the school
year.
Morning/Afternoon $290 per month
Morning Only $140 per month
Afternoon Only $255 per month
4 Day Afternoon Only $204 per month
3 Day Afternoon Only $153 per month
2 Day Afternoon Only $102 per month
Drop In Rates: Early drop-off $7/day
Drop-ins are welcome for morning and afternoon
programs. Please let us know in advance. Late pickups
are subject to drop-in fees beginning at 3:15 p.m.
Afternoon: $17/day with 5:45 pickup; $12/day with 4:30
pickup
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Late Payment Penalty of $20.00 will be charged to all accounts with a balance of $40.00 or greater on
the 5th of each month, and every week thereafter as long as the account is delinquent.
If accounts are two weeks or more delinquent, the Arco Iris School reserves the right to discontinue
childcare services. All unpaid accounts may be turned over to a collection agency. Parents will be
notified prior to this procedure.
All drop-in students will be billed at the end of the month with a due date included on the invoice.