AUDIOLOGIST

Children with special hearing problems may be given instruction in lip reading and speech by the county audiologist. Instruction is usually provided once or twice a week, depending upon the need. Requests for service must be made through the school nurse.

ENGLISH LEARNERS

A teacher meets with non-native English-speaking students who have limited proficiency in English to develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Students are tested for qualification to the ELD program and their progress is monitored throughout the year.

HEALTH SERVICES

General Information

The Upper Moreland School District provides several health services, including hearing and vision screening tests and height and weight measurements. Physical examinations (at the time of original entry into school and grades 6 and 11) and dental examinations (at the time of original entry into school and grades 3 and 7) are required by state law. Parents may have the exams needed after the original entry performed by their family physician and dentist or at school by the district's doctor and dentist. A report is sent home if any test indicates that further medical evaluation would benefit the child. You may contact the nurse directly at (215) 325-1400.

School nurses work under written orders of the school physician for first aid. School nurses are prohibited by law to diagnose injuries or illness. Please do not send the child to the nurse for diagnosis. She will only observe the condition and refer the child for medical advice. Decisions regarding the need for medical care rest with the parents; therefore, parents are always contacted to take the child home or to the doctor as needed.

When a child shows signs of illness, he or she should remain at home. The child should be kept at home for at least 24 hours after a temperature elevation has subsided. Upon returning to school, the student must present a note from the parents or guardians stating the dates of and the reason for absence. A doctor's note is required after an absence of three days or more. If a child has had a communicable disease, please consult the district policy for re-admission. Parents are urged to protect their children with the school insurance group plan. It is important that injuries and accidents in school, or on the way to and from school, are reported promptly to the nurse or school office. Athletic injuries, which occur during physical education classes, should be reported to the physical education teacher immediately.

Parents can help with their children's health by establishing daily routines of cleanliness, which should include checking for ticks and head lice.

Emergency contact information is kept for each child, providing information to assist in locating parents, the family physician, or an emergency contact person. If possible, please provide a telephone number of a local emergency contact person such as a friend, neighbor or nearby relative. It is important for parents to keep this information up-to-date in the school records.

Care given in the school is limited to first aid in accidents and illness until the parent can be reached to take the child home, to the doctor, or to the hospital.

MEDICINES

The administration of medicine to students by the nurse may be authorized only in emergency cases and only upon the completion and filing of the forms giving permission to administer the medicine, as noted by the physician’s and parents’ instructions. All medicines must come to school in the original container and be kept in the nurse’s office. Parents must bring the medication(s) directly to the nurse. Students should not bring these medications to school.

No medication is to be brought to school unless it is a prescription drug for special medical conditions. These emergency medications may be brought to school if the following rules are met:

Send a note from a doctor stating the name of the medication and how it is to be given (dosage, time to be given, reason for medication, length of time medication is to be administered). The medication must have the prescription label on the container.
Send a note from the parent or guardian giving approval for the medication to be administered at the school.
The medication must be kept in the nurse’s office. Please notify the nurse of any changes in the medication.

HOMEBOUND INSTRUCTION

The Upper Moreland School District's standard method of homebound instruction is through a school-home connection. All requests for homebound instruction are sent to the school principal, who will then forward the request to the Student Services Office for screening. Such a request requires School Board approval.

LIBRARY

The Upper Moreland School District maintains comprehensive collections of print and non-print materials to enhance the children's instructional program. The schools have modern libraries for the students' use. Children visit the library on a weekly basis to exchange books and to be instructed in library skills. Author, title, and subject databases catalog library materials, and instruction is given to students on how these catalogs can be used to help them find materials they wish to read. Moreover, all materials are carefully checked out and into the library; notices are issued to students who are tardy in returning materials.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The Upper Moreland School District believes in the total education of the child and provides instruction in physical education for students beginning in Kindergarten. Activities are designed for the developmental level of the child. All students are required to participate in the elementary physical education program. Children must wear sneakers in physical education classes for safety purposes since this type of footwear provides better footing for these activities. Parents requesting that a child be excused from physical education class, must present a written request from the physician stating the medical reason that the child should not participate.

PROGRAM OF STUDY

The Upper Moreland School District offers a comprehensive instructional program using the most modern instructional strategies. Each child is instructed in a planned program of language arts, reading, writing, spelling, mathematics, social studies, science, physical education, business technology, health, music, Spanish, art, STEM, and library science. It is impossible in the context of this booklet to detail the total program. Information is provided for each child's particular grade level during the Meet the Teacher Night in September.

PSYCHOLOGICAL AND GUIDANCE SERVICES

A school counselor and psychologist are available to consult with students, staff, parents, and other agencies concerning all matters that affect a child's academic, social, or emotional growth. They also serve on the school's Child Study Team. Children who are not working up to their potential or who are displaying behavioral problems or adjustment problems to the school are referred to the guidance counselor and the Child Study Team. The Team works with children (individually and in small groups), teachers, and parents to maximize the chances of the child having a successful school experience.

READING SPECIALIST

The reading specialist works with various groups of children to teach specific skills utilizing research based interventions. Children who are having difficulty in learning to read may be referred to a district reading specialist for evaluation and instruction.

SPECIAL EDUCATION

The Upper Moreland School District offers a continuum of special education services. Students thought to be exceptional are referred to the school psychologist for further testing. Parents are contacted and are involved throughout the entire process. For students who are gifted or who have special learning difficulties, an extensive program of special education is provided by the district. A teacher is available to work with the identified gifted students on experiences that enhance their problem-solving and creative abilities. The special education program is highly individualized and provides for the educational needs of each child.

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE CLINICIAN

A speech and language clinician is available for children. The clinician does initial screening, provides instruction for children with speech problems, and makes referrals to other medical agencies. Children usually receive the services of the speech and language clinician once a week in small group sessions.

TEACHER QUALIFICATIONS

Parent Right to Know Information as Required by The Elementary and Secondary Education Assistance (ESEA) [Section 1112(e)(1)(A)]and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) [Section 1112(e)(1)(A)].

Your child attends Upper Moreland Elementary School, which receives Federal Title I funds to assist students in meeting state achievement standards. Throughout the school year, we will be providing you with important information about this law and your child’s education. This letter lets you know about your right to request information about the qualifications of the classroom staff working with your child.

At Upper Moreland Elementary School, we are very proud of our teachers and feel they are ready for the coming school year and are prepared to give your child a high-quality education. As a Title I school, we must meet federal rules related to teacher qualifications as defined in No Child Left Behind. These rules allow you to learn more about your child’s teachers’ training and credentials. We are happy to provide this information to you. At any time, you may ask:

Whether the teacher met state qualifications and certification requirements for the grade level and subject he/she is teaching,
Whether the teacher received an emergency or conditional certificate through which state qualifications were waived, and
What undergraduate or graduate degrees the teacher holds, including graduate certificates and additional degrees, and major(s) or area(s) of concentration.

You may also ask whether your child receives help from a paraprofessional. If your child receives this assistance, we can provide you with information about the paraprofessional’s qualifications.

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) which was signed into law in December 2015 and reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1956 (ESEA) includes additional right to know requests. At any time, parents and family members can request:

Information in policies regarding student participation in assessments and procedures for opting out, and
Information on required assessments that include
subject matter tested, purpose of the test,
source of time it takes students to complete test, and
time and format of disseminating results

Our staff is committed to helping your child develop the academic knowledge and critical thinking he/she needs to succeed in school and beyond. That commitment includes making sure that all of our teachers and paraprofessionals meet applicable Pennsylvania state requirements.

Upper Moreland Primary School

PS Family Handbook

From the Principal

Philosophy of Education of UMTSD

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Upper Moreland Elementary Programs