 Mount Vernon Elementary School
Student Handbook
2007-2008
Table of Contents
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Volunteers / Parent -Teacher Club |
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Grievance Procedure |
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To: Mt. Vernon Elementary School Community Members
From: Cheryl Hasenfus, Principal
It is my pleasure to welcome you and your child(ren) to Mt. Vernon Elementary School for the 2007/2008 school year. As the school year opens, we are celebrating the fact that Mt. Vernon Elementary School was recently recognized as A High Achieving, High Performing School by a University of Southern Maine research study focusing on the performance of all students on the MEAs over a 4 year span. Mt. Vernon and Wayne Elementary Schools were two of the four schools in Kennebec County who earned this distinction! Congratulations are in order to our entire school community.
We are very fortunate to have an excellent team of staff members who are committed to providing high quality educational opportunities to all our students. This year we are welcoming three new staff members. Our fourth grade teacher, Sarah Caban, hails from Monhegan Island with six years of teaching experience. Jennifer Caton is our new music teacher. She comes to us with broad teaching experience at Waynfleet School in southern Maine. Finally,Kate Hill, our new speech therapist, will be completing her masters degree at UMO in December. We are very excited to be welcoming these teachers to our team.
Larrie Minoty, our custodian, has been busy cleaning and coordinating repairs to the building this summer.
He has thoroughly cleaned the school and supervised help from the OUI offenders for an entire week. This year our renovation funds will go to the repair of our boiler. We take pride in the fact that our building is maintained well due to everyone’s commitment to helping out.
Our lunch prices are now $1.75, a milk or juice is $.50 when sold separately. We will continue to offer community Playgroup on Tuesday mornings to 0-4 year olds in the area. The multipurpose room and library are reserved from 9:45-11:15 for this purpose.
I look forward to working together with you to make this a productive school year for your child/ren. As always, we invite you to visit your school often during the school day to view first hand the outstanding educational opportunities provided to the students of Mt. Vernon. We also encourage you to participate in our programs by volunteering and joining our PTC. Please look over the volunteer sign-up options and feel free to contact us at the school.
On behalf of the Mt. Vernon Elementary School staff, best wishes for a great year!
MT. VERNON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
HANDBOOK PURPOSE
The purpose of this handbook is to inform the entire school community-students, parents,
and staff about programs, procedures and policies that we support and adhere to. This handbook
should serve as your guide throughout the school year. Please keep it available as a reference tool
that you can refer to regularly.
MT. VERNON SCHOOL STAFF
Principal Cheryl Hasenfus
School Secretary Brenda Fleury
Kindergarten Christy Owens
Grade 1 Linda Smith
Grade 2 Deborah Dubord
Grade 3 Carolyn Watkins
Grade 4 Sarah Caban
Grade 5 Leslie Boyce
Classroom based Education Technicians: Heidi Gilbert
Robin Ballard, Julie Schmidt
Title I - Chapter 1 Leslie Grenier
Special Education Teacher Victoria McMullen
Ed Tech Spec. Services Luvia Sniffen
Enrichment Program Terry Hickey
Speech/Language Kate Hill
Computer Lab Technician Janet Dunham
Guidance Counselor Tara Wicks
Behavior Health Therapist Sarah Charland
Librarian Technician Kathy Brown
Foreign Language Charlie Hicks
Vocal Music Jennifer Caton
Instrumental Music Janet Dunham
Physical Education Nancy Martin
Art Dona Seegers
Nurse Holly Davis
Custodian Larrie Minoty
Bus Drivers Bus #18 Sandra Luszczki
Bus #10 Charlene Fales
Bus # 17 Kaaren Dwelle
Bus # 3 Vicki Laflin
Kitchen Staff Carla Hallett
In addition to the staff at Mt. Vernon Elementary School, the Central Office
personnel are happy to make themselves available to you. Their telephone number is 685-3336.
MT. VERNON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Mount Vernon Elementary School is a PreK-5 school with a student population of 126. Mt.
Vernon is a scenic, rural community located on Minnehonk Lake just 20 minutes north of Maine’s
capital, Augusta and 20 minutes from Farmington, in the foothills of Maine.
Mount Vernon Elementary School is a warm, inviting school with an energetic and dedicated
staff that is continuously working to improve programming for all our students. Communications
and community relationships are a priority. This school year we are planning to provide service
learning opportunities to our students in the community and school-based after school daycare
programming in addition to our usual school offerings.
Support Services are available to children with special needs that cannot be met in the
regular classroom. Our program maintains a supportive environment that enables students to
function with as much independence as possible in the regular classroom settings.
Our school facility is light and spacious with adequate room for all programming. We enjoy
having dedicated space for our library, music, art, and physical education programs. In addition we
have a well-equipped computer lab and kitchen facility. We also offer academic enrichment
programming and French.
ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
Union 42 & CSD 10
Mt. Vernon Elementary School is one of only four elementary schools that belong to Union
42. The other elementary schools are from neighboring towns of Manchester, Readfield and
Wayne. Each elementary school has its own School Committee and is assisted with leadership
from the Central Office in Readfield by numerous Union employees including the Superintendent of
Schools, Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Special Education Director, Finance Manager,
Human Resources Specialist, Payroll Specialist, etc.
Mt. Vernon students move on to Maranacook Middle School for sixth grade through eight.
Both the Middle School and Maranacook Community School belong to CSD 10. Three members
from each of the elementary Union boards also belong to the CSD School Committee. CSD 10 is
also assisted with leadership from the Central Office employees in Readfield.
CENTRAL OFFICE STAFF
Superintendent of Schools Richard Abramson
Assistant Superintendent Lew Collins
Special Ed. Director Lew Collins
District Coordinators:
Computer Technology 622-2949 ex.318 Jan Kolenda
Transportation 685-3621 Jim Scott
Maintenance 685-4923 ex. 331 Paul Criss
Who To See About What…
At Mt. Vernon Elementary School
The Principal is responsible for the day to day operation of the School. The Superintendent of
Schools is responsible for the day to day operation of the District. The School Committee is the
policy-making body.
In order to address questions regarding any situation in an organization, it is best to address the
person who had direct supervision over the activity. If the issue is not resolved at that level, it may
be appropriate to go to the second level. Often-times the person at the second level will consult or
involve the primary person in the resolution of the question or concern.
Buses
1st Driver: (see Staff listing page)
2nd Transportation Director: Jim Scott, 685-3621 or Principal
Classroom-
1st Classroom teacher
2nd Principal, Cheryl Hasenfus
Other school concerns-
1st Person in charge or on duty for activity or event
2nd Principal, Cheryl Hasenfus
Special Services-
1st Classroom teacher
2nd Learning Resource Center Teacher Vicki McMullen
Guidance Counselor Gwen Robertson-Mohlar
School Nurse Holly Davis
3rd Principal, Cheryl Hasenfus
4th Special Services Director, Lew Collins
Facility/Building use Requests
School Secretary, Brenda Fleury
After School Activities-
*School sponsored activities
1st Person in charge of activity
2nd Principal, Cheryl Hasenfus
*Community Sponsored Activities
1st Community activities Coordinator
2nd Town Athletic Committee:
Jon Gilman
Heather Roberts
MT. VERNON SCHOOL COMMITTEE
The Mt. Vernon School Committee is comprised of five community members from the Town
of Mt. Vernon. The School Committee meets monthly with an Agenda set jointly between the
Superintendent, School Committee Chairperson and the Principal. The agenda routinely includes a
report from the Parent Teacher Committee, the Teachers’ Association, Finance Manager, Principal
and Superintendent. The Principal’s report is produced in writing.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Mac Hardy (chair) 293-4646
April Fenton-Hulett (CSD) 293-2718
Dawn Jacques 293-4137
Don Reiter 293-2310
Janet Jayne 293-2201
The School Committee meets at 6:30p.m. in the Library of Mt. Vernon School. Generally our
meetings are scheduled on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Watch the Upcoming events list for
specific dates. If you would like to place an item on the agenda, the Superintendent’s Office should
be notified 10 days in advance. All are welcome to attend.
DAILY SCHEDULES
Students who arrive at school by car should not arrive before 7:20a.m.
STUDENT SCHEDULE
Monday Morning Meeting 7:45 - 8:00
Instruction 8:00 - 11:15
Recess/Lunch 11:15 - 12:05
Instruction 12:00 - 2:30
Dismissal 2:30
MORNING MEETING
The Monday Morning Meeting starts promptly at 7:45 a.m. and ends at 8:00 a.m. Staff and students
share with the leadership of the meeting. These meetings include sharing news, announcements,
special presentations and programs, accomplishments, achievements and other information that
is pertinent to a whole school assembly. The meeting closes with the Pledge of Allegiance.
STUDENT ARRIVAL AND STUDENT ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to be in school every day unless they have an illness or an important
family commitment that is unavoidable during school time. By the same token, children who are ill
should not be sent to school. If a student becomes ill during the school day, we will call you and
ask you to make arrangements to pick up your child. As you know, many illnesses affecting children
are contagious and we ask that you consider this when making the decision whether or not to keep
your child home. When returning to school after an illness, your child should be well enough to
participate in all aspects of the school program.
Learning requires both daily attendance and active participation in classes. Material and
information lost due to absence or tardiness cannot be fully replaced. Please call the office in the
morning to let us know if your child will be absent from school. In the event that you need to pick
your child up from school prior to our regular dismissal time, please notify the office in writing the
morning of the early dismissal date. Please plan to stop at the office to request that your child be
paged out of class and dismissed from the office.
Please note that instruction begins at 8:00 am. We would appreciate it if students could be
here on time so lessons are not interrupted by late arrivals.
COMMUNICATION
OPEN HOUSE
Open House gives parents the opportunity to become familiar with their child’s classroom program
and the teacher’s expectations for the school year. This is usually held during the third week of
September. The evening is organized so that parents with more than one child in school can visit
with each child’s classroom teachers.
CLASSROOM NEWSLETTERS and PRINCIPAL’S NOTES
All classroom teachers at Mt. Vernon School write weekly newsletters that describe their
program, special events, expectations, homework etc. The classroom newsletters keep you
informed of classroom activities, current topics of study, and student expectations. They also keep
you informed about how you can help your child at home or in the classroom. Many teachers
provide study guides and homework tips regularly as part of their newsletter.
The School Newsletter, Principal’s Notes, provides information on upcoming events,
reminders and celebrations.
and e-mail. Please keep us posted with your current e-mail address to receive communication
electronically.
PARENT / TEACHER CONFERENCES
Parent/Teacher Conferences are held twice a year after the first and second trimesters to
discuss your child’s progress in the school program. This is an excellent opportunity to discuss
programming, student behaviors, homework, and to review your child’s individual goals. At the fall
conference in grades 1-5, the individual learning agreements from the previous year are reviewed
and rewritten. An excellence goal is created with the child and parents to be met by the end of the
year. An excellence goal gives each child an opportunity to demonstrate an area of special interest
or strength. Your child’s portfolio and report card will be sent home a few days before the
conference to allow you time to look over these important documents and discuss them with your
child. Please bring the portfolio with you to the conference. Each conference lasts twenty minutes
and the dates and times for conferences are marked on the district calendar. Teachers in the upper
grades encourage student involvement in the conferences. Please note that although these dates
are scheduled union-wide, you may contact your teacher at any time to discuss concerns.
TELEPHONE CALLS
Students should not be called from class except in an emergency. Parents may call the
school to leave a message or ask questions. Students are expected to take care of planning after
school activities at home before arriving at school. Notes are needed for bus changes; please try to
plan ahead and have your child bring a note to school.
STUDENT COUNCIL
Students in grades three though five are selected to represent their classmates in the
Student Council. The Council elects their officers on an annual basis as stated in the Mt. Vernon
School Student Council Constitution. The Council’s purpose is to strive for good citizenship,
respect individuals in the school and community, involve students in sharing ideas to make the
school the best it can be, help students work together in our school, give students practice with
democracy in action and to help other citizens and groups in the community. The members
organize a community service project each year. The Council meets monthly and follows an
agenda using parliamentary procedure at each meeting. Members discuss
issues of importance that they propose to resolve.
Updating and improving the Maranacook Area Schools’ website has
been a top priority this year. Our goal is to create a website that is relevant,
current, and informative. Every computer in the district uses this site as the
start page to get on the internet. On our home page you will find a variety of
links. The first one is called District Information. When you visit this link, you will find al the district
policies listed according to national code and also searchable by keyword. The district calendar
lists all upcoming events and meetings for the whole district. The School calendar, belief
statement, and budget calendar are also just a click away. If you are interested in finding
employment in our district, you may want to visit the Career Opportunities link where available jobs
are posted along | 
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