James B. McMillan Elementary School

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Dear McMillan Parents/Guardians and Students:

 

Welcome back to the 2018-2019 school year! We hope that you had a safe, fun, and relaxing summer.  This is the first week back to school. We are excited about this year at James B. McMillan Elementary School!  Our school theme is “Powering Up Together Through Data to Better Our Future!” This year, we will continue with 1-to-1 technology within the curriculum as our students grow in math, reading, writing, and keyboarding.  As we continue to teach the Nevada Academic Content Standards, we expect the level of reasoning, justifying, critiquing, and explaining to increase within our students thinking.  We strive to become a 5 Star School. Students will be held to high expectations as we heartily strive to “keep our students safe” and “be the best.” Please discuss the following with your child at the beginning and throughout the school year so that there is a clear understanding of the following expectations.   

 

• In accordance to CCSD Policy 5137, bullying will not be permitted, accepted, and/or tolerated.  Under NRS 388.122, “bullying” means written, verbal or electronic expressions or physical acts or gestures, or any combination thereof, that are directed at a person or group of persons, or a single severe and willful act or expression that is directed at a person or group of persons.  Any act of bullying will result in disciplinary action.    

 

• Positive Behavior will strongly be enforced.  Student, parent, and staff feedback has concluded this is a major necessity.  “Everyone” needs to be a part of this initiative in building a positive school culture by being consistent, reliable, and fair when teaching our children “right from wrong.”  Students will learn CHAMPS and Sanford Harmony activities throughout the school day to help them with strategies of how to positively get along together, work together, and positively communicate with one another.  Any act of students hitting, fighting, spitting, insubordination, etc. will result in disciplinary action.

 

• Each student (Pre-K-5) will receive their own iPad, Chromebook, or laptop during the instructional school day.  Please review the “CCSD Acceptable Use Policy” (see Back-to-School Folder) with your child throughout the school year so that each child is able to maximize his/her learning and utilize each technology device for higher order thinking, critical thinking, researching, keyboarding, and virtual learning.  It is vital that each student understands that the technology device is a privilege and is to be utilized for learning, instruction, and to become a 21st century learner.  At no time will it be permitted to be used as a means to belittle, threaten, and/or bully another student, faculty, parent, and/or community member. Any act of such nature/incidents will result in disciplinary action.  

 

• Students are NOT to arrive to school before 8:45 a.m. as there is no adult supervision available.  If students arrive too early, parents will immediately be contacted by the school for pick-up for the safety and security of the students.  Habitual early arrivals left unattended will be reported to law enforcement for the safety of your child. For the safety of the students, all parents are asked to please assist the children in making sure everyone follows this procedure.  The gates will open at 8:45 a.m. for students in which they will then go directly to their homeroom class for “Brain Break” activities with their teacher.  The school beginning bell will ring at 8:55 a.m. which will signal homeroom classes to begin “Breakfast after the Bell” and opening ceremony by school intercom.  Please ensure that your child arrives promptly at 8:55 a.m. so that he/she may eat breakfast and join his/her classmates on time.  Instruction will begin promptly after that. Please ensure that students arrive to school on time.

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• School will dismiss at 3:21 p.m. each day for grades Pre-K-5.  Students will be dismissed either from their assigned grade level dismissal gate or to their assigned school bus.  Older siblings will be escorted by a grade level teacher to the youngest siblings’ gate.  Students in grades Pre-K-5 are not to wonder around the campus on their own.  In order to ensure safety and an orderly dismissal, we will not accommodate early dismissals between 3:00 p.m. and 3:21 p.m.  We understand that this can be an inconvenience at times, but I am sure you agree that our first priority needs to be the safety of our children.  

 

• Bus safety is important.  If your child rides the school bus, please review the bus rules attached in the Back-to-School Folder.  CCSD Bus Transportation is a privilege.  In keeping children safe and ensuring that students arrive to school and return home safely, bus citations will be upheld from CCSD Transportation bus drivers.  Discipline will be followed by administration for inappropriate behavior on CCSD school buses.  

 

For the success of the students and the school, parents I ask that you get involved as we strive for “excellence.” Your presence matters.  Make it a priority that children read at home and practice what they have learned during the school day by completing their homework. Students should be reading on grade level by the end of the school year.  Help our students become learners today and leaders tomorrow.  It matters, our children matter, you matter!

 

Under the Community Eligibility Program, this school year breakfast and lunch will be “free” for “all” students.  In addition, please reference the CCSD website for the Basic Dress Code appearance and be sure to review your child’s Back-to-School (Wednesday) Folder for important notes, memos, and letters from McMillan Elementary and CCSD.  If you are interested in signing your child up for the City of Las Vegas Safekey Program, please visit https://recreation.lasvegasnevada.gov or call (702) 229-2290.  It is important that if you need Safekey assistance “all” charges must be kept up-to-date throughout the school year.    

 

We are looking forward to experiencing this school year with each and every one of you, and encourage you to get involved in your child’s classroom by volunteering your time, talents, and/or expertise.  We value your assistance and your input. Please get involved and plan to attend monthly parent chat meetings as well.  We need you. Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year! “Go Mountain Lions!”

 

Sincerely,

 

Antoinette Irby

 

Antoinette Irby, Principal