Lower School

ATTENDANCE	BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT	HOMEWORK
LIBRARY	SCHOOL SUPPLIES	SCHOOL STORE
STUDENT COUNCIL	CLIMATE COMMITTEE	DRESS CODE
PROPERTY OF STUDENTS	FIELD TRIPS	SNACKS/ALLERGIES
CLASS PARTIES	GOLDEN HAND PLEDGE	CODE OF CONDUCT
GUIDELINES FOR GOOD CITIZENSHIP	DEFINITION OF CONSEQUENCES	BULLYING, TEASING, AND SOCIAL AGGRESSION
STANDARDIZED TESTING	REPORT CARDS	CONFERENCES
SUMMER PROGRAM

ATTENDANCE
Arrival
The school day begins at 8:15 am for grades K-4. Students in grades 1-4 report to the All-purpose Room upon arrival. During the first semester, Kindergarten students go directly to their classrooms. Beginning in January, Kindergarteners report directly to the APR on their arrival. Students should walk unaccompanied to their classrooms. Late students must sign in at the reception desk upon arrival.

Bus Buddies
All Kindergarten students and new students in grades 1-4 are assigned a Bus Buddy to ease the transition into McLean’s satellite bus system. Younger students are assigned older Lower School students who share the same transportation route. New students in grades 3 & 4 are assigned a classmate or grade-mate who shares the same transportation route. Designated Bus Buddies pick-up their assigned Buddy at the end of the school day and accompany them to the bus for the ride to satellite locations.

Departure
Scheduled classes end at 3:15 pm. Lower School students are expected to leave school at the end of the school day unless they are under the supervision of a teacher or tutor, or a participant in the After School Program. If a student wishes to remain after school for a special activity, a written note from home giving permission for the late stay must be submitted to the homeroom teacher (K-4) by the morning of the activity. Students are to be picked up immediately after the completion of any after-school activity. Lower School students are not allowed to remain on-campus to attend siblings’ athletic practices or games unless supervised by a parent or adult guardian.

Absences
Only absences for illness or family emergency will be “excused”. When a student will be late or absent, the parent is required to call the school by 8:00 am that morning and explain the lateness or absence. We ask that advance notice of absences be provided whenever possible. A parent should call the school before 9:00 am for the day’s missed homework. A student who has been absent for any reason must bring a note to the homeroom teacher on his or her first day back to school, stating the dates of absence and the reason(s).

Any absence caused by a communicable disease must be reported immediately to the school nurse as soon as a diagnosis is made.

If a student is to leave school early for any reason, a parent must notify the school in writing or by phone on or before the morning of the early departure.

Additional vacations beyond school breaks, extensions of vacations for family convenience, trips, and/or excursions will not be acknowledged as an excused absence and are strongly discouraged.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT
The Lower School Back-to-School Night is held after the first few weeks of the school year. This is a time for parents to learn about the academic program and to meet their child’s teachers and members of the Lower School Support Team. Information particular to Lower School is shared during a general gathering; and the students’ schedules and classroom routines are discussed. Please plan to attend. Individual conferences will be scheduled at a later date.

HOMEWORK A guide to the amount of homework to be assigned is listed below. These times may vary. If you find that your child is spending noticeably more or less time than the guideline amount, please inform his or her classroom teacher.

Per day schedule:	Grades	1 — 15 to 30 minutes
		2 — 15 to 30 minutes
		3 — 30 to 45 minutes
		4 — 45 to 60 minutes

Twenty minutes of nightly reading in addition to the regular assigned homework is recommended for all K-4 students.

Each student in grades 2-4 is given an assignment notebook at the beginning of the school year. Homework assignments are written in the notebook each day. Students are expected to keep assignments up-to-date and in order

LIBRARY
The library is open daily, and McLean encourages students to use it as much as possible. Students enjoy weekly library class and are allowed to borrow books for one week. The cost of any lost books will be charged to the student.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES
School supplies for K-4 students are provided by the school. Parents may be requested to purchase additional materials for special projects and to replenish exhausted supplies, should the need arise.

SCHOOL STORE
The school store, located next to the Library, sells McLean sweatshirts, uniform shirts, notebooks, pens, pencils and other supplies, and novelties. Cash and checks are accepted. The school store is managed by McLean faculty and operated by Grade 4 students.

STUDENT COUNCIL
The McLean Lower School Student Council plans and organizes activities for K-4 students to build school spirit, and foster community service. One or two students are chosen to represent each Lower School class. Student Council members meet regularly with faculty sponsors to select and plan projects and Lower School community-building activities.

CLIMATE COMMITTEE
The purpose of the McLean Lower School Climate Committees is to foster a sense of respect and responsibility within the Lower School community. The Faculty Climate Committee is comprised of Lower School faculty volunteers; the Student Climate Committee is comprised of representatives from Grade 3 and Grade 4. These committees meet regularly to plan activities and events to reinforce the GOLDEN Program in Lower School toward creating a safe, supportive environment.

LOWER SCHOOL DRESS CODE

Shirt	Long or short sleeve white or navy blue polo, turtleneck, mock turtleneck or oxford button-down. No t-shirts permitted. The school store sells polo shirts with the McLean School logo. No other logo besides the McLean logo is permitted. All shirts must be tucked in.
Pants	Navy blue or khaki well-fitted, dress pants. Pants must be clean and neat, and hemmed to the ankle. Bermuda length dress shorts of the same color may not be shorter than 4 inches above the top of the knee. (Capri pants, baggies, cargo pants or shorts, oversized, frayed, patched, cutout, torn or faded attire are not allowed).
Belt	Students in Grades 3 and 4 are required to wear a brown or black belt, if pants have belt loops. (The removal of belt loops is permitted, if parents so desire.) Belts are not required for Grades K-2.
Skort/Jumper	Navy blue, khaki, or blue plaid skort or blue McLean plaid jumper for girls must not be shorter than four inches above the top of the knee. Skirts are not permitted in the Lower School uniform. Shorts - worn under the jumper - are recommended and must not show below the hemline.
Sweater	Navy blue crew neck, v-neck sweater vest or cardigan with buttons, solid navy blue sweatshirt or McLean crew neck sweatshirt with the McLean logo. Only the McLean School logo is permitted. A white or navy blue dress code shirt must be worn underneath. Hooded McLean sweatshirts are not part of the Lower School uniform.
Shoes	Flat-soled and flat-heeled shoes with backs: black or brown tie shoes, loafers or athletic shoes. Athletic shoes (solid or majority black or solid white) must be neat and fastened at all times. Students may not wear shoes with lights or wheels, sandals, boots, platform shoes, Crocs, Heelies, “flip-flops” or soap shoes of any kind. Students in Kindergarten through Grade 2 must only wear athletic shoes.
Socks	All students are required to wear matching navy blue or white CREW or knee-high socks. Uniform socks must reach above the ankle. Low-cut socks are not permitted. For girls, navy blue or white tights may be worn with socks of the same color. Leggings, stretch pants and Capri pants may not be worn as “tights”.
Hair	Hair color must be a uniform, natural color. No dyed or bleached hair.
Jewelry	Only one bracelet and one necklace are allowed. One pair of simple hoop or stud earrings may be worn with the uniform. Long, dangling earrings are not permitted.

All uniform pieces should be clearly labeled with the child’s first and last names.

Concert Dress Lower School students are required to wear Concert Dress for musical performances during the school year. Performances may require special costumes and/or accessories. Notice will be given in advance of those occasions.

Boys	Dark slacks or khakis (Grades 3-4 with belt); pastel or white long-sleeved shirt; tie of your choice; brown or black dress or casual shoes (no sneakers)
Girls	“Best” dress or skirt or dress slacks with blouse or lightweight sweater; tights, stockings, anklets, or knee-high socks; brown or black casual or dress shoes (no sneakers)

If any item on the concert dress list is unavailable, portions of the McLean uniform may be substituted.

Note: Jeans, sneakers, t-shirts, athletic attire and other play clothes or casual-wear are not appropriate for McLean performances unless otherwise indicated. High heels and platform shoes are not permitted, for safety reasons. Hats, jackets, heavy sweaters and cardigans are not needed during performances.

PROPERTY OF STUDENTS
All property, including clothing worn to school, should be clearly marked with the student’s first and last name. The school cannot accept responsibility for the personal belongings of students. Stray clothing is deposited in the lost and found bin in the Lower School hall. All unclaimed and unlabeled lost and found items are donated to local shelters are the end of each quarter. Lost watches, glasses, etc., are turned in at the reception desk.

Lower School students should not bring toys and other playthings to school. Electronic games, portable CD and MP3 players are not permitted in school and will be confiscated. This prevents damage and loss of these treasured items. Parents who need permission for their child to have a cell phone on campus must make a request (with explanation) to the Lower School Head.

FIELD TRIPS
Parents are billed a yearly fee for field trips. Generally, teachers do not collect money from their students for trips. Permission slips with detailed information about the planned trip will be sent home to be signed and returned to the school. Details will include: times away from school, the need for additional clothing or lunch, and other relevant information. Permission slips must be signed and returned unaltered to the school in order for students to participate.

Teachers endeavor to schedule periodic educational field trips that relate to what is taught in the classroom. Students are expected to be in dress code during school related field trips, unless otherwise notified. Prescribed medications normally dispensed at school will be sent on all applicable field trips. The medications are labeled and a unit dose is provided for the teacher/chaperone to administer during the field trip.

SNACKS/ALLERGIES
Parents of students with significant food allergies and/or dietary restrictions are requested to provide snacks for their child’s consumption for the year. Acceptable non-perishable snacks can be stored in the classroom for food-sensitive children for use during field trips and special occasions. Documentation of specific food allergies and dietary restrictions must be submitted to the Health Room.

CLASS PARTIES
The school asks the cooperation of parents with respect to the following policies:

A student’s birthday may be celebrated at school with consent of the classroom teacher. In the morning, parents may bring treats such as cupcakes, cookies or brownies and leave them at the reception desk. The teacher will then share them with the class at an appropriate time.
We ask parents to refrain from having children issue invitations at school, either verbally or in writing, for home parties or social activities. We encourage parents and students to send all invitations by mail from home. In addition, the school strongly urges that whenever the majority of students in a class are invited to a party, all students should be included. Similarly, if the majority of girls (or boys) in a class are invited to a party, all girls (or boys) should be included..
Deliveries of birthday packages, balloons and/or flowers should not be sent to the school. We request that parents direct these items to the home address.
We request that parents who provide special occasion or holiday prizes or goodie bags for class parties bring the SAME items for every child in the homeroom or grade receiving that special treat.

GOLDEN HAND PLEDGE
All members of the Lower School community take the Golden Hand Pledge daily. The pledge states the following:

“As a member of the Lower School community, I respect myself and I respect others. I will STOP and THINK before I speak and act. I will not use my hands or my words to hurt myself or others.”

At the beginning of the school year, students, and teachers trace their hands and display them inside classrooms and throughout the hallways of the Lower School as a reminder of the Golden Hand Pledge. Parents, guardians, tutors, and outside providers are also invited to take the pledge as a part of our community efforts to create a safe environment.

DISCIPLINE

CODE OF CONDUCT The school encourages students to be positive members of the McLean School community. Every McLean community member is expected to be honest and courteous, to show respect for the rights and opinions of others. This often means going beyond an individual commitment to abide by stated rules. In all situations - on or off campus - McLean students are to display the good judgment, behavior and attitude that are cornerstones of constructive relationships with others and that reflect positively on the entire school community. Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself.

Lower School students are expected to abide by the stated rules of the McLean School Code of Conduct. Students are also required to follow the GOLDEN guidelines for good citizenship as outlined below. They must be responsible for themselves as students of McLean School who promote the safety and welfare of the entire community.

GUIDELINES FOR GOOD CITIZENSHIP
McLean School’s Good Citizens are Golden:

G=Good decisions (are safe and respectful)
O=Ownership (of your choices, taking responsibility for actions)
L=Loyal friend
D=Debug (to deal with “bugging”/teasing)

1. ignore
2. move away
3. talk friendly
4. talk firmly
5. get adult help

E=Effort
N=Neat and in uniform

Lower School students and their parents or guardians should review and discuss the guidelines for good citizenship together.

Behavior Issues Any Lower School student who disrupts the learning process in an academic or co-curricular activity during the school day or during an after school program may be removed from that class or an activity and may face serious disciplinary action. The following behaviors are considered serious infractions and will result in significant consequences:
- Bullying, teasing and social aggression (including written correspondence) - Repeated acts of disruption in school, in the after school program, on buses or on field trips - Repeated acts of disrespect toward members of the Lower School community - Physically aggressive acts that result in the harm of another community member - Acts of questionable integrity such as cheating, plagiarism, and deception, especially to avoid consequences - Destruction/defacing school property or the property of other McLean School community members

Behaviors are addressed through a continuum of proactive and responsive strategies as well as the use of consequences.

DEFINITION OF CONSEQUENCES

Proactive strategies include anything that can be helpful to a student before a particular behavior occurs or in anticipation of a trigger that may lead to a behavior. These strategies may target individuals or groups of students.

Responsive strategies are any strategies implemented once a behavior has occurred that can help a student to extinguish the inappropriate behavior and begin to demonstrate more appropriate behaviors. Depending on the severity of the behavior, responsive strategies may be enough to assist the student.

Consequences may be utilized if a behavior is considered to significantly impact significantly the learning environment, or to be of a serious nature. Consequences also occur on a continuum and can range from “taking a break” time-out, to a detention, in-school suspension, out of school suspension or expulsion. All disciplinary actions may provide students with an opportunity to process and learn from the incident so they may make better behavior choices in the future.

Taking a Break:
A student’s brief relocation — inside the classroom - from an activity during which his/her inappropriate behavior is occurring.
Students “take a break” by teacher request, or when the child feels his/her separation from the class group is necessary for a short period. The child may return him/herself to the activity when he/she feels ready to participate appropriately.

Time Out: A student’s removal from the class/activity or lunch/recess periods to the Lower School Head’s office for disciplinary reasons.
Time out may be used as either a responsive strategy or as a consequence. Lower School parents will be notified when a K-4 student receive a time-out. Three time-outs issued during the same quarter of the school calendar will result in subsequent consequences to be determined by the Lower School Head.

In-school suspension:
A student’s exclusion from his or her academic schedule for disciplinary reasons.
Notice is given to parents by the Lower School Head and/or Head of School.

Out of school suspension:
A student’s exclusion from school and any school related activities for a specified period of time for disciplinary reasons.
Notice is given to parents by the Lower School Head and/or Head of School.

Detention: Keeping a student, for a specified amount of time, after school hours during the week for disciplinary reasons.
Notice is given to parents by the Lower School Head.

Social Probation: If a student’s behavior is deemed to be detrimental to his/her learning or the learning of other students, he/she may be placed on Social Probation for a specified time period.
After Social Probation, the student’s re-enrollment contract is held until such time as the Lower School Head deems appropriate. Continued behavior issues on the part of the student may result in the student not being offered a re-enrollment contract for the following year

Expulsion:

The removal of a student from school and from all activities related to the McLean School community.
Notice is given to parents by the Head of School.

BULLYING, TEASING, AND SOCIAL AGGRESSION
As a Lower School community, we are committed to making the learning environment safe and respectful for all students. We will address inappropriate behaviors and help students learn to treat each other with empathy and respect. While bullying behaviors may be direct or indirect, blatant or subtle, they involve an imbalance of power, repeated actions, intentional actions, and unequal levels of feelings. Bullying is any behavior considered physical aggression, social aggression, verbal aggression, intimidation, written aggression, sexual harassment, or racial or ethnic harassment, as well as harassment based on any protected characteristic.

Further, bullying behavior through student use of electronic communications (cyber-bullying), including communications sent from off-campus, to or about any member of the school community, will be treated as if it had been written or spoken at school.

Any bullying behavior demonstrated at school or outside of school that impacts our school community will be addressed by the school. Bullying behaviors will be responded to, as all negative behaviors are, through a continuum of consequences and interventions, up to and including suspension and/or social probation, depending on the severity and frequency of the behavior. Any student who is suspended will not be permitted to return to school without a re-entry meeting with parents and an administrator.

STANDARDIZED TESTING
All Lower School students take un-timed standardized achievement tests in the spring of each year. The results of these nationally standardized tests are recorded on the student’s permanent record but are not part of the official transcript. These scores offer a profile of the student’s academic growth over the year and may be used for academic programming of students for the following school year. Copies of testing results are mailed to all Lower School parents

REPORT CARDS
Report cards communicate a student’s progress to parents and to the student. Our method of reporting is designed to encompass not only levels of achievement but also other aspects of a student’s development in his or her life at McLean.

Kindergarten students receive reports in January and June. Report cards for students in Grades 1 through Grades 4 are sent home four times a year, at the end of each quarter. Each subject is graded. Comments by the teacher for each student are included with the second and fourth quarter reports. Fall and spring parent-teacher conferences take the place of written comments for the first and third quarter report periods respectively.

Students in grades 1-3 will receive marks using the following scale:

O: Outstanding

BE: Beyond Expectations

S: Satisfactory

N: Needs Improvement

Core academic subjects are scaled by the instructional levels as follows:

1 = above grade level

2 = on grade level

3 = below grade level.

Each subject for Grade 4 is marked by a letter, A-F. Letter grades convert using the following numerical scale:

A : 93-100	B+: 87-89	C+: 77-79	D+: 67-69	F: 59 or below
A-: 90-92	B : 83-86	C : 73-76	D : 63-66
	B- : 80-82	C- : 70-72	D- : 60-62

CONFERENCES
Conferences for students in K-4 are scheduled in the November for teachers and parents to meet and discuss student progress and concerns. Kindergarten parents are invited to schedule mid-year conferences after the first kindergarten report card in January. In addition, there is a mandatory conference in March for students in Kindergarten through Grade 3. Grade 3 self assessments accompany the fourth quarter report.

After the completion of the third quarter, student-led conferences are held for Grade 4 students only. These conferences provide an opportunity for students to reflect upon their efforts during the year and to provide examples of what they have learned. Grade 4 students examine their overall strengths and challenges. A completed behavioral self-evaluation is provided. During student-led conferences, classroom teachers attend as observers, but not as active participants. Grade 4 parents are encouraged to take advantage of these special student-led conference times.

Additional conferences may be scheduled, as needed by teacher recommendation, parent request, or by request from the Lower School Head.

SUMMER PROGRAM
McLean’s SummerEdge offers coeducational programs for students between the ages of 5-18. Our unique program invites students to design a schedule of half day and/or full day experiences. Academics are offered in the morning and recreational activities in the afternoon. Throughout the 8-week program students are encouraged to sign up for a variety of options. The name of the course does not change from week to week, but the content does, so the activity can be taken more than once! The SummerEdge mission is to provide students with a wide range of activities that stimulate learning and enrich their summer experience outside of the classroom.