2013-2014 A.G. Bell School Parent Handbook
BELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MISSION
Bell School will teach all of its students the foundational academic and social skills they need to achieve their highest
ambitions; will help all of its students learn to be respectful, thoughtful, and well-balanced; and will challenge all of its
students to excel as engaged citizens of the world.
Bell School values the professionalism and dedication of the faculty and staff; the participation of parents;
transparency, creativity, and collaboration in decision-making; mindful communication; its unique community of
learners; and the support of outside partners.
BELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL VISION
Bell School will meet the educational and emotional needs of the diverse population it serves to the fullest extent
possible in a safe, nurturing environment. This will be achieved by establishing an educational climate that is based
on the attainment of appropriately high standards for all gifte, deaf and neighborhood students.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Alexander Graham Bell School has three departments: the Neighborhood program (K-8), the Options (Gifted)
program (1-8), and the Deaf program (pre-K-8). Admissions are determined as follows:
· Neighborhood program: student must live within school boundaries shown on the CPS School Locator page.
· Options program: Application and testing administered by the CPS Office of Access & Enrollment.
· Deaf program: student must have an IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) and be granted placement by the
Chicago Public Schools.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
DISCIPLINE
Students, parents, and teachers of Bell School adhere to the Student Code of Conduct of the Chicago Public
Schools, which is distributed at the beginning of each school year for signature. Parents are encouraged to read and
discuss it with their children. Expectation assemblies will be held with the children throughout the school year.
REACH FOR THE RED (Respect Self-Respect Others-Respect Environment)
Bell School’s PBIS program focuses on teaching proper behaviors in all areas of the school. Staff members
acknowledge students that are following expectations by presenting them with a red raffle ticket. Each week three
tickets are chosen and winners receive a Bell PBIS T-Shirt. Classes also have the opportunity to earn tickets
together and receive a classroom reward.
PENALTY BOX
The "Penalty box" is an area (currently located in the auditorium) set aside for students who exhibit inappropriate
behavior in the classroom, hallways, or on the playground. Students serve their penalty time during lunch. Grades 68 Neighborhood Teachers may also assign detentions after school.
DRESS CODE
Students, parents, and staff recognize the importance of appropriate dress and its effect on the learning
environment. Bell School has set an acceptable standard for appropriate, safe, clean and modest
clothing. Students at Bell School are not allowed to wear the following items:
1. Clothing which exposes underwear, midriffs or stomachs. Tank tops that have less than
one inch wide spaghetti straps.
2. Blouses that have low necklines or open backs.
3. Racerback tops
4. Shorts and skirts shorter than mid-thigh
5. Pants that hang excessively below the waist or overly baggy or long
6. Clothing that is excessively tight
7. Sandals or any other open toe shoe during Physical Education Class.
8. Clothing which is significantly disruptive to the educational process and/or learning
environment. This includes, but is not limited to wearing items that:
1. Depict obscene language or pictures
2. Incite hatred or violence
3. Encourage illegal activity
4. Advertise use of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco
If a student is found in violation of the dress guidelines, they will be instructed to go to the office and
change into appropriate clothing. If a student does not have a change of clothes, they will have the option
of wearing appropriate clothing offered by the school or delivered to the school by their
parents/guardians.
ELECTRONICS POLICY
For purposes of this policy "Electronic Device" means a privately owned wireless and/or portable electronic handheld
equipment that includes, but is not limited to, existing and emerging mobile communication systems and smart
technologies (cell phones, smart phones, walkie-talkies, etc.), portable internet devices (mobile Android, Apple
devices, etc.), Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) (pocket PCs, etc.), handheld entertainment systems (video games,
ebook devices, MP3 players, iPods ©, etc.), and any other convergent communication technologies that do any
number of the previously mentioned functions.
Students may possess and use electronic devices at school subject to the following:
· Use of electronic devices during the school day (8:15 – 3:15), including pass-time between classes and lunchtime,
is strictly prohibited. They must be completely powered down, turned off and not be seen.
· Bell Elementary School strongly advises students NOT to bring cell phones or electrical devices to school. If a
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student needs to reach parent/guardians, the student can go to the main office during recess or lunch to use the
phone. If there is an emergency, parent/guardians can call the main office to get in contact with their child.
If a student makes the choice to bring an electronic device to the school, they can give their device to their
homeroom teacher at the beginning of the day and the devices would be locked up in the classroom. The
student will get their device from the teacher at the end of the school day.
If a student has an electronic device out during the school day, the device will be confiscated and brought to the
main office. The parent/guardian of the student will have to come to the school to pick up the device and the
student may be subject to additional discipline pursuant to the Student Code of Conduct.
Students may use electronic devices before and after the school day so long as they do not create a distraction or
disruption.
Electronic devices shall not be used in a way that threatens, humiliates, harasses, or intimidates school related
individuals, including students, employees, and visitors, or violates local, state, or federal law.
ARRIVAL/DISMISSAL SCHEDULE
Morning Entry:
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Kindergarten students in Rooms 101 and 102 should line up at the North Entrance by room number.
Kindergarten students in Room 112 will line up at the Kindergarten entrance on Claremont Street.
Kindergarten students in Room 115 will line up at the south center door (door 3) on Oakley Avenue.
Teachers will meet students and walk them into the building at the first bell.
 Students in grades K-2 may line up at the main entrance and enter at the first bell.
 Students in grades 3-8 may line up at either the main or north entrance and will enter at the second bell.
Dismissal Procedures:
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Students from Kindergarten through 3rd Grade must be picked up from their teacher by a parent or older
sibling. Students should exit using the following doors:
1 and 3 grades and Kindergarten Room 115 - South center door
2 , 4 and 5 –Main door
6 7 and 8th and Kindergarten Rooms 101 and 102 - North door
Kindergarten Room 112 - Claremont Street door
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ATTENDANCE & ABSENCE
Students are expected to be punctual and attend class daily. Attendance guidelines can be found in the Chicago
Public Schools’ Code of Conduct Booklet.
There are only 4 types of excused absences:
· illness · death in the family
· observance of religious holidays · family emergency (i.e. fire, flood, etc.)
Upon returning to school, the student must bring a note from her/his parent to her/his teacher stating the date(s)
and cause of the absence. Calling the school regarding your child’s absence will not provide sufficient
documentation.
Absences without a valid written note on file are considered unexcused.
Students with 5 or more days of unexcused absences are considered Truant.
Students with 9 or more unexcused absences risk not being promoted to the next grade.
** Please note: once a child is marked absent in the computer, the Chicago Public Schools automatically place a
telephone call to the student’s home, regardless of whether the child arrived late. The school is unable to stop these
automatic telephone calls.
Students who generally take the bus should notify the driver or call the bus company (see back page for contact
numbers) with the child's name and bus route, in advance of absences. If a student will attend school but will not
take the bus home, the office should be notified via a note sent in the morning (strongly preferred) or by a phone call
to the front office.
Please note that vacations are not excused according to Chicago Public Schools Policy. It is important to
note that students miss important information when absent, which in turn impacts their learning and
achievement. Please plan vacation days when school is not in session. Absences due to family vacations
during the regular school year are highly discouraged and are considered unexcused absences.
Additionally, please be aware of the following:
 If your child is absent more than five consecutive days and there has been no contact with the school, we
will consider the following necessary truancy prevention alternatives:
o the attendance clerk will initiate a phone call to the parent or guardian
o a home visit
o the school principal will call parent/guardian
 In the event a child continues to have unexcused absences, the school will follow the Chicago Public School
Attendance Policy that includes 5-day, 10-day, and 18-day unexcused absence letters. Truancy violates
state and local attendance laws and is considered a serious offense. Persistent truancy may result in legal
action. Parents are ultimately responsible for their child’ attendance in school.
 In the event your child is absent, please make arrangements to pick up homework from his/her classroom
teachers. Please understand that teachers need advance notice to have homework sent to the office for
pick up at the end of the school day.
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Please make every effort to schedule medical and dental appointments after regular school hours or on
Saturdays, except in emergencies. Removing students from their classroom interrupts their instructional
time and the educational process for everyone.
TARDINESS
When arriving late, the child must be escorted to the office to receive a tardy pass before reporting to the homeroom.
Tardies are charged as follows:
· Arriving after the entry bell, but prior to 9:30 a.m.--morning tardy
· Arriving after 9:30 a.m.--half-day absence
· Leaving prior to 1:30 p.m.--half-day absence
· Leaving after 1:30 p.m., but prior to 3:00p.m.--afternoon tardy
If a student arrives late due to the tardiness of a school bus, this will not be considered a tardy. If a student has a
partial absence, parents must send a written note to the school explaining the reason.
EARLY DISMISSAL
Early dismissals are discouraged because they disrupt the educational process. If you must pick up your child, go to
the main office (do not go directly to the student’s classroom), request that the student be sent, and sign the student
out. Students may never leave the building early unless accompanied by a responsible adult. Students will not be
called out of the classroom for early dismissal after 3:00pm.
TELEPHONE CALLS
Please discuss all personal matters with students before the school day begins. In the past, the main office has
experienced an increased amount of call regarding these matters. When calling the school to leave a child a
message, this involves interrupting the entire classrooms’ instructional time to convey the message to your child.
CLASSROOM PLACEMENT
The task of placing students in homerooms involves a process that stretches over weeks in the spring and includes
input from teachers. Our number one priority is to meet the needs of all of our students. It is important to connect
learning and teaching styles. We strive to create classes that are balanced in terms of numbers, boy/girl ratio, and
special needs. Therefore, we are not able to honor or accept parent requests concerning the classroom placement
their child. If parents have a specific concern about their child’s learning style, that information can be shared with
the administration to better inform our decision. However, this is again, not an opportunity to request a specific
teacher.
CLASSROOM SCHEDULES
Teachers send home a classroom schedule and home/school expectations in the first week of the school year. Each
class is scheduled for Art, Music, Library, Mandarin and Physical Education every week.
BOOKS
Schoolbooks are on loan to the children; all textbooks that are carried back and forth between home and school
should be covered with disposable book covers. Children and parents are responsible for keeping all books
(including library books) in excellent condition. Parents must pay for books that are damaged, lost, or destroyed.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
A list of supplies required for the coming year is sent home at the end of the school year. Additional copies are
available in the main office and on the school website at www.agbellschool.com.
PARENT PORTAL
Parents can stay informed of their child’s academic progress via the CPS Parent Portal. A link on the school website
is available. A parent will need his/her child’s CPS STUDENT ID number (located on report cards) & PIN (available
in the school office) to register.
PARENT-TEACHER COMMUNICATION
The partnership between parents and teachers is extremely important in the successful education of students. When
requesting to speak with your child’s teacher, please observe the following procedure:
1. Email the teacher directly or schedule a conference by calling the main office and leaving a message for the
teacher.
2. On the day of the scheduled conference, you must sign in at the security desk to receive a visitor’s pass before
proceeding to the main office. The clerk will then notify the teacher that you have arrived for the scheduled meeting.
Meetings should be scheduled in advance. Impromptu meetings interrupt the structure and instructional day for
students.
EMAIL GUIDELINES
Bell School recognizes that email is a valuable communication tool that is widely used across our society. The
administration and staff value communication between home and school, however, our highest priority it to attend to
your son/daughter, his/her class work and curriculum. While email is a fast and convenient way to send a message,
this may not be the case for many of our teachers. Some teachers read their email in the morning before school, and
some read them at the end of the day. Please also remember that teachers are sometimes absent or out of the
building at professional development sessions. For these reasons, please remember if you send an email message
to a member of our staff, you may not get an immediate reply. The school expectation is that you will be contacted
within 24-48 hours of your message. When using email, please follow these guidelines:
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Please do not send time-sensitive messages by this medium. For example, do not use email to inform a teacher
that your child is not going home on the bus. A teacher may not read your message until after school has been
dismissed.
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Your child’s academic progress, learning expectations or behavioral issues are best addressed through a phone
call or by scheduling a conference with your child’s teacher. An email message on these matters is not appropriate.
However, it is fine to schedule a meeting via email.
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Please refrain from copying administrators on emails to teachers. As with all communication, parents are asked
to speak with teachers first regarding any questions or concerns. If necessary, parents may call to schedule an
appointment with an administrator after speaking with a teacher.
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Please remember that email is not necessarily confidential. Confidential information should be conveyed by
phone or in person.
Again, Bell School recognizes that email is a valuable tool for communication, and it is very convenient for parents
and teachers. Parents can always use email to schedule meetings with teachers, provide brief updates that are not
time sensitive, and send any other general messages.
GRADING PROCEDURES
School-wide grading policies are addressed at the beginning of the school year and comply with Chicago Public
School policies. Each teacher establishes the criteria for grades in each subject area. These criteria are discussed
at the teacher/parent Curriculum Night during the first month of school.
A Progress Report may be sent home at the end of the fifth week of each marking period; if a child is failing or
struggling at this point, parents are requested to set up a conference with the teacher.
REPORT CARD PICKUP
Four report cards are issued throughout the school year. Report card pickup, which takes place after the 1st and the
3rd marking period, is a scheduled conference time with your child's teacher. Report cards are sent home with the
students after the 2nd marking period. For the first three quarters, parents are to sign the report card and return it to
the teacher as soon as possible. The final report card is sent home with the student on the last day of school and
remains at home.
HOMEWORK POLICY
At the beginning of the school year, your child’s teacher will send home information about homework requirements.
Each teacher determines frequency and amount of homework. Homework should be expected Monday through
Thursday; it may also be given on weekends. For more details, see the CPS Homework Policy. It is the
responsibility of the student to make up assignments that have been missed during school absences.
A homework assignment notebook will be given to each student in grades 1 thru 8 during the first week of school.
The school subsidizes part of the cost of these notebooks; each family is expected to pay $5 per child toward this
cost.
Homework is seen as an integral part of the school experience. Through homework, the lifelong habit of study and
responsibility can be established. Children’s success in school is often a reflection of the support and assistance
parents offer with homework.
Parents are encouraged to listen to reading, dictate spelling words and ask for definitions, assist in research and
problem solving, encourage, direct, and drill, but never just give out answers. Doing these tasks requires parental
time and effort. It is well worth it, however, in order to keep in touch with what your child is learning at school. If
parents have a question about the school work or an assignment, please email, call the teacher at school, or write the
teacher a note.
The following are suggested methods for parental involvement in homework:
· See that books/learning materials come home regularly. Look at what your child brings home.
· Don’t accept an excuse that “I did it in school” or “There is no homework.” There is not enough time to do homework
properly in school. Even if there is no written homework, there is usually study homework.
· Provide an appropriate atmosphere for doing homework, free of distractions and with adequate light. Develop
regular routines for homework such as checking the assignment book with your child and setting a consistent
homework time each day.
· Look at written homework. Does it look as if thought and effort went into it? Is it neat and accurate? If you were the
teacher, would you accept the paper? If not, it should be redone.
· Ask your child to show you what she/he is learning in class. Ask your child to explain the concepts to you. If your
child cannot explain to your satisfaction, then she/he needs to study that subject again and perhaps ask a question in
class the next day.
LOST & FOUND
Please label all belongings with your child’s name and room number. Unlabeled items will be placed in the Lost and
Found, which is located next to the lunch bins on the first floor. The Lost and Found is cleaned out periodically, so do
not wait to look there for a lost item.
CHILD CUSTODY
In cases of separation or divorce, the school assumes that both parents, custodial and non-custodial, have equal
access to their children. If a special situation exists, copies of official court documents must be on file in the school
office and the student's teacher must be notified.
ABUSED/NEGLECTED STUDENTS
Chicago Public School teachers, counselors, and administrative staff are required by law to report any cases of
suspected abuse of students to the Department of Children and Family Services (1-800-25 ABUSE).
CURRENT CONTACT INFORMATION
Parents must promptly notify the office if there has been a change of address, phone number, or emergency contact.
Please ensure that the school has at least one emergency contact on file in case you are not reachable in the event
of an emergency involving your child.
DIRECTORY
At the beginning of each school year, Bell School publishes a directory of students to help students and parents keep
in touch with one another during the school year. The directory is organized by grade, and every student entry
includes the names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of the student’s parents. Parents complete
and/or verify directory information in the fall. At this time they may request that address, phone, and/or email be
omitted from the directory.
The directory is to be used only by Bell families, for communicating with other Bell families. It should not be
shared outside the Bell community or used for sales or other solicitations. Similarly, the email addresses
included in the directory are for family-to-family communication. Please do not abuse this information!
SCHOOL RECORDS
Parents/guardians have the right to look at all of their child's records in the official school file. In order to do so
parents/guardians need to submit a written request twenty-four hours in advance of the inspection. The school will not
disclose anything to a third party from a student's records unless a parent/guardian consents in writing prior to
disclosure.
Parents/guardians have the right to present evidence that the school should amend any part of the child's records
which they believe to be inaccurate, misleading or otherwise in violation of a student's rights. If the school decides not
to change the records, parents may insert an explanation therein.
SCHOOL CLOSING
For information about Chicago Public School closings, tune in to WGN radio at 720am or WBBM at 780am. Also,
check the web site at www.schoolclosings.com.
PARKING
There is limited parking available around Bell School. The south side of Grace and the west side of Oakley are NO
PARKING zones. These areas must be left clear to accommodate the 16 or more buses dropping students off in the
morning and picking them up in the afternoon. The playground is not a parking lot. Oakley Avenue between
Waveland and Grace will be temporarily closed from 7:45 - 8:25 A.M. and 3:00 - 3:30 P.M. daily to accommodate
school buses.
Parking Dos and Don’ts:
· DON’T drop off students in the morning on Oakley.
· DO drop students off in the morning on Waveland or on the south side of Grace.
· DON’T leave your car if you’ve stopped on the south side of Grace.
· DON’T double-park in the front or back of school to drop off children or pick up children.
· DON’T let your children off or pick up your children between buses.
· DON’T stop or park in any of the crosswalks surrounding the school.
· DO pre-arrange with your child a specific meeting place for after-school pickup. Advise your child to return
to the building and let school personnel know if you are not at the pickup site.
PLAYGROUND ETIQUETTE
Pushing or riding wheeled vehicles (wagons, strollers, bicycles, scooters, skateboards, roller blades, etc.) on the turf
area of the playground will cause damage. Please keep all vehicles on the paved pathways. Dogs are not permitted
on the school grounds; please curb your dogs outside the fence if you must bring them with you to school. In
addition, contact sports are not permitted on the grounds. Students will still have designated areas during recess to
play touch football, but tackling/wrestling are not allowed. We will continue to enforce the student code of conduct for
any rough play that appears to be fighting. Please speak to your children about playground safety.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Safety is the number one priority. Important information is always communicated via the school website and
backpack mail. When entering the school, use the center main doors (on Oakley). The school is equipped with a
security system and parents and visitors must buzz in to enter the school. Ring the doorbell at the center main doors
and wait; you will either hear someone greet you over the intercom, or you will hear a “click” coming from the righthand door, which means the door lock has been released and you can enter. Once in the school, sign in at the desk
where the security guard is sitting and then proceed to the main office. Parents and visitors may not go directly to
classrooms.
EMERGENCY DRILLS
To ensure staff and student readiness in the case of an emergency, drills and special code calls are held periodically
throughout the year. In addition to the standard fire drills, teachers are prepared to handle other disasters or
emergencies. If complete evacuation of Bell School's building is ever required, the school Emergency Plan contains
procedures for walking the students to Lane Tech High School, located at Addison and Western.
VISITORS
All visitors entering the school must sign in at the security desk located at the main entrance. Once this has been
completed, you will receive a visitor’s pass and be directed to the main office. The clerk will inform the
teacher/student of your arrival. This routine procedure is done to ensure the safety of our students and staff. If your
child is outside on the playground during recess or gym class, please do not approach your child without first
informing the teacher or staff member who is present.
ACADEMICS AND STUDENT SERVICES
BUS RIDERS
Our school bus carrier and contact numbers are listed on the back page. At Bell School, Mr. Dunkle coordinates the
bus procedures. The Department of Student Transportation at CPS can be reached at (773) 553-2860.
CURRICULUM
Bell School uses the standards-driven curriculum of the Chicago Public Schools and the State of Illinois.
Departments modify the curriculum to address the needs of the children they serve. Your child's curriculum will be
discussed in depth at the teacher/parent Curriculum Night held during the first weeks of school.
Students in the 7 and 8 grades in the Neighborhood department, and the 6 through 8 grades in the Options
department, have a modified departmental schedule. They go to a teacher other than their homeroom teacher for
some academic subjects. The schedule for departmentalization changes from year to year and is announced at the
beginning of the school year.
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FINE ARTS
Students have art and music classes throughout the school year. In addition, there are various fine arts assemblies
and family activities hosted at Bell.
COMPUTER LAB
Students receive instruction on the use of computers with class project work designed by their teacher and the
computer instructor once a week in grades 5-8. Students must have a signed Student Code of Conduct (sent home
at the beginning of the school year) on file before they are allowed to use the Internet. Students in grades K-4 will
work on computer projects with their homeroom teachers primarily via the mobile labs with some computer lab
instruction time.
LANGUAGE
Students in grades K-4 receive instruction in Chinese each week. Students in grades 5-8 can continue Chinese
instruction in an optional after school program with Mr. Qiao.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Students have gym class at least once a week. On gym days they are expected to wear gym shoes or sneakers, and
the gym "uniform” of a white or red shirt. Bell School “spirit wear” (with the Bell logo) is acceptable for gym days.
LIBRARY
All Bell School students are encouraged to check out books weekly. Students in grades K-8 are provided regular
library time with instruction/assistance from the librarians. School library books circulate for one week.
All students are expected to have and use a Chicago Public Library card. Recreational reading is encouraged
through incentive programs.
FIELD TRIPS
Classes take field trips throughout the school year. A field trip permission slip for each bus trip must be on file for a
child to participate. Parents are often asked to volunteer to chaperone field trips. Most field trips have associated
fees; financial assistance is available to families for whom these fees are a hardship. Students in all three
departments from fifth through eighth grade take overnight trips:
Fifth Grade Annual trip to Atwood, an outdoor education facility.
Sixth Grade Overnight trip to St. Louis and Springfield includes a tour of the Illinois State Capital and the Lincoln
Presidential Library & Museum.
Seventh Grade Overnight trip to study the ecology of the region, usually to Camp Duncan near Fox Lake in Illinois.
Eight Grade Three-day trip to Washington, DC. includes sight-seeing and meetings with our senators and
representatives. The students also visit Arlington National Cemetery, the Smithsonian Institution, and the Holocaust
Museum. Students stay at a hotel in the Washington area.
FEES
A few school-related activities have fees associated with them:
· The required homework assignment notebook costs $5.00 per student.
· There are fees associated with field trips; these fees vary with the trip.
· Individual classes may request a small fee for items related to that grade level.
· Overnight trips have significant fees. Estimated costs are on supply lists.
The Local School Council allocates funds each year to provide financial assistance to families for whom these fees
are a hardship. Parents should contact Ms. Miller if any difficulties arise.
STUDENT ASSESSMENT
All Chicago Public Schools measure student performance with standardized exams. The Illinois Student
Achievement Test (ISAT) is a state-mandated exam that begins in late February or early March. Third through eighth
grade students take Reading and Math assessments. Fourth and seventh grades take Social Studies and Science
assessments. The results are used to gauge student performance on a school-by-school basis in the annual school
report card. Individual scores are not usually available until Fall of the next school year. In addition, 3 through 8
grade students take the NWEA MAP Survey of Goals (reading and math) assessment online two times a year. The
administration periods will be in November and April. Eighth grade students will take an Algebra Exit Exam at the
end of May. Throughout the school year students will complete the REACH performance tasks (new teacher
evaluation system) and Benchmark Assessments (relates to the new Common Core State Standards). Information
gathered from these assessments is for internal use only.
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BREAKFAST, LUNCH, AND RECESS
Breakfast and lunch are offered to students daily. All students must have a supplemental meal form (distributed
during the first week of school) completed and on file. Please complete the form even if you believe you do not
qualify for free or reduced lunch, because certain school funding is based on these forms.
Breakfast is served from 7:45AM to 8:10AM and is FREE for all students. Lunch cost is $2.45 (Reduced Lunch
$0.40). Milk alone (for students who bring their lunch) costs $0.35. Students pay for lunch directly to the classroom
teacher each morning, cash or money orders only. Students will be provided with a school lunch if they do not have
their own lunch at the school by 10:30 a.m., the first lunch period.
Lunch hours including outside recess (weather permitting) are as follows:
· Kindergarteners have recess from 10:30-10:50 followed by lunch until 11:15
· 1st & 2nd graders eat in the lunchroom from 11:15-11:35 and then have recess until 12:00.
· 3rd & 4th graders have recess 11:10 and then eat in the lunchroom from 11:35-12:00.
· 5th & 7th graders eat in the lunchroom from 12:30-12:50 and then have recess until 1:15
· 6th & 8th graders have recess from 12:30-12:50 followed by lunch until 1:15
Additional Recess Each grade level has an additional 15 minute recess period during the school day, weather
permitting. Students may bring basketballs, Nerf balls, tennis balls, and jump ropes on the playground. For safety
reasons skate boards and scooters are never permitted on the playground. During inclement weather, recess is held
indoors, either in the classroom or in the auditorium.
HEALTH
Health records: According to Illinois law, all children entering school for the first time, in pre-kindergarten or
kindergarten, must provide a record of physical examination, immunization history and dental records. In addition, all
second and fifth grade students must have a dental examination and sixth grade students a complete medical
examination prior to the beginning of the school year.
Immunizations: Illinois law requires proof of immunization for each student from the following diseases: Diphtheria,
Pertussis, Tetanus, Poliomyelitis, Rubella, Mumps, HIB, and Chicken Pox. All Kindergarten and 5th grade students
must have had a Hepatitis B vaccination, which consists of a series of 3 doses or shots over the course of 6 months.
The Chicago Board of Health also mandates that all students must have a second measles shot, and that all
students 6 years old and under must take a lead screening test. All kindergarten and second grade students must
provide proof of dental examinations.
Proof of immunizations and testing must be on file prior to the beginning of the school year. These records are kept
on file in the nurse's office.
Medication: All student medication must be kept in the nurse's office. If your child uses an inhaler, the nurse
determines where it will be kept safely in school. A completed doctor's permission form must be on file for any
medication to be administered to your child.
Food allergies: If your child has food allergies, please notify the classroom teacher as well as the nurse’s office at the
beginning of each school year. Please review the school’s new Wellness Policy regarding food in the classroom.
FOOD POLICY
Due to the high number of students with food allergies, food in classrooms is limited, and teachers will inform parents
of any food related activities by sending a list of ingredients.
 Students are asked to bring non-edible treats for birthday celebrations.
 Classroom parties should focus on activities such as crafts and games. Snacks must be purchased from the
approved snack list by room parents.
STUDENT ACTIVITIES AND RECOGNITION
SPORTS AND EXTRACURRICULAR PROGRAMS
Bell School offers a variety of competitive sports opportunities. Starting with fifth grade, students can participate in
basketball, volleyball, cross-country, track, soccer, softball, and flag football. In addition, there are a number of clubs
and after school activities available for each grade level.
Add additional activities
STUDENT AWARDS--THE "BELL B" PROGRAM
At Bell School, we are always striving toward reaching our fullest potential. As a reward, the students of Bell who put
forth effort in the school community have an opportunity to accumulate "B" points. The point sheet is located in every
student's cumulative file and is filled out quarterly by the student's teacher. As the years pass, the students will
continually gain Bell points. When a student has accumulated 200 "B" points, they will receive a red letter B. Their
tally sheet will begin again so that they can work towards achieving another “Bell B”. Activities are added to the point
system each year. The form is available on the school website at www.agbellschool.com.
SCHOOL LEADERSHIP AND PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
FACULTY AND STAFF
A current list of staff members is located on the school website, www.agbellschool.com, and included in the Bell
Pages.
COMMUNICATIONS
The faculty and staff at Bell try to keep regular communications with parents and families. Some of the methods of
communication are:
Bell Link This publication is distributed the first week of each month during the school year and is sent home via
backpack mail. It contains Bell news and includes a calendar for the month.
Bell Blink School-wide and grade-wide emails are sent to parents who do not opt-out at the beginning of the year.
Teacher Curriculum Night Parents attend an evening meeting to learn about the curriculum and specific classroom
procedures.
Open House The Open House is held in the evening early in the school year and allows parents to visit all children’s
classrooms and to tour the building.
Backpack Mail Throughout the year, flyers and notices about issues, events, and programs are sent home with the
students. Try to get in the habit of checking your child’s backpack regularly to be sure not to miss this important
information.
Meeting Minutes Minutes from the Local School Council and LSC committees are posted on the first floor outside the
main office and are summarized in the Bell Link.
Website The school website (www.agbellschool.com) lists general information about the school as well as specifics
on events and activities, current news, a calendar of school activities, and some classroom-specific information,
including links to classroom websites.
LOCAL SCHOOL COUNCIL - Please see details on Page 8.
FRIENDS OF BELL - Please see details on Page 9.
PARENT GROUPS
The Parent Forum is a monthly meeting open to all Bell parents. Meetings will be hosted by a member of the Bell
Administrative team and facilitated by a Bell parent. Items discussed include those of interest to the entire Bell
community (such as playground policy, school hours, school directory) and some topics specific to the Neighborhood
program (mainly curriculum issues). Meeting dates, times and locations are posted on the Bell School website
calendar. Parents attending these meetings occasionally take on special projects to improve school systems.
Meeting summaries are reported at LSC meetings and are available on the Bell website.
The Inclusion Committee parent group meets monthly to discuss awareness issues, curriculum concerns and
inclusion.
The Options program holds occasional parent meetings to discuss issues related to curriculum and Options-specific
programs.
SIGN LANGUAGE FOR PARENTS
Sign Language classes for parents are offered at Bell School on selected days. Please look for information via
backpack mail, the Bell Link, or by calling the school for current class days and times.
FAMILY NIGHTS
There are several Family Nights with special themes during the school year. Possibilities include Science Night,
History Project Night, Green Night, and Fine Arts Night. These events are both educational and fun for the whole
family.
VOLUNTEERS
There are numerous opportunities for parents to volunteer to help with school activities. A general list of options is
sent home in the first week of the school year, and parents are encouraged to fill out the Online Volunteer Form on
the school website. If you are scheduled to volunteer in your child’s classroom more than 5 hours per week, you will
need to complete the CPS Volunteer Process. Parents in grades 6-8 who wish to chaperone any of our overnight
trips will also need to complete this process. Please see Mr. Dunkle in room 105 for the official documents used.
FUNDRAISING - Please see details on Pages 9-11.
End of Parent Handbook