School Operations and Procedures

Bad Weather Consideration
Please see District Policy information on our website ~ www.fortmorgank12.com.

Building Accountability Committee (BAC)

A Building Accountability Committee will assist the principal and staff in the planning/ accountability processes of the district. The focus of these efforts is to produce a quality education program for each student in the school. At Pioneer Elementary School, the BAC operates as a sub-committee of the Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO).

Key elements of committee involvement include: 1) An effective planning process, 2) wide involvement, and 3) disclosure or reporting results. The focus of BAC is on improvement and on achievable priorities rather than comprehensiveness.

Colorado’s Accountability/Accreditation program is unique in the nation because it enhances local control by allowing the local districts to determine their own goals, priorities, plans, evaluation procedures, and expectations for quality education programs in a partnership arrangement with the state.

Under Colorado accreditation regulations, each administrative unit must develop action plans for school improvement based upon both district priorities and priorities unique to the individual buildings. Each building also has parent representation on the district’s Accountability Committee.

If you’re interested in joining the PTO, please email pioneer.PTO@fortmorgank12.com.

Critical Incident Procedures
In the event of a safety/security threat inside or outside the building, the Fort Morgan Police Department has assisted the school in establishing safety procedures. Students will be taken to secure areas until the school office is notified by the Police Department that everything is safe. The safety procedures are practiced with the students twice each year. Again, in the event of a safety or security threat, do not call the school or try to pick up your children as these actions significantly hinder the school in following their assigned and practiced safety procedures and can actually place yourself and students in greater degrees of danger. Any information regarding the threat will come forth through the District Support Center.

Daily Schedule

The school day for students is 7:45 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. WE REQUEST THAT STUDENTS NOT BE ON THE PLAYGROUND BEFORE 7:30 am as there is no formal supervision until that time. The daily schedule is as follows:

 

All students spend a minimum of 5 ½ hours each day in academic subject related activities. In addition, each student will have one hour a day of special classes such as:  physical education, vocal music, art, computer, or library. Parents are encouraged to discuss with their children the importance of being safe on the way to and from school. Please make arrangements to have your child picked up or come home directly after school –because of staff meetings and other activities, we cannot supervise students after 3:45 pm.

Please be sure that students are picked up from school no later than 3:45 pm.

Dropping Off/Picking Up Students

Parents who drop students off at school are asked to use the drive-through area of the parking lot at the end of Southridge Road, southwest of our school, by the school playground. Spruce Street, on the east side of our school, is intended for buses only. Students should go to the playground area if it is before 7:30 am. Students may come in for breakfast at 7:15 am. Students may head to their classrooms beginning at 7:30 am.

Parents who pick up their children after school are asked to use the drive-through area of the parking lot on the west side of the building. Please notice the one-way entrance and exit to the parking lot. Be sure your child does not have to cross the street to reach your car. PLEASE DO NOT PICK UP OR DROP OFF STUDENTS ON SPRUCE STREET SINCE THAT IS A BUS LOADING ZONE.

Lost Children Procedure
In the event that a child is presumed to be lost, the teacher or the teacher assistant will immediately notify the principal. The principal and all available staff will search for the child in the immediate area. If the child is not found, the principal will notify the parent/guardian and the local police department. If the child is found, the principal will notify the parent/guardian of the incident. In either case, the teacher will ensure the safety of the other children and will document the incident in the child’s file.

Retention Policy

Please see District Policy information on our website ~ www.fortmorgank12.com.

Riding the Bus

Students are to ride only on their assigned bus and need a written note to the child’s teacher, or a call from a parent before 2:30 pm if they are not to ride the bus home. Only students assigned to buses may ride them. 

Students and parents are reminded that riding the bus is a privilege. Students who choose to behave poorly on the bus are a safety hazard to the other students on the bus and may lose their bus-riding privilege for a period of time. To make behavior expectations more clear, the following guidelines are in place:

1. Pupils shall board the bus without crowding or pushing, and shall remain seated while the bus is in motion.
2. Pupils shall not extend arms, legs, or head out the bus windows.
3. Pupils shall not talk to the driver while the bus is in motion except in an emergency. At all other times, voices should remain at a conversational level.
4. Pupils will not tamper with the emergency doors or any part of the bus equipment nor shall windows be opened except when permitted by the bus driver.
5. Pupils shall not deface the bus or its equipment.
6. Pupils shall not fight or scuffle on the bus or throw objects from the window.
7. Pupils will keep books, lunchboxes, and similar objects out of the aisle of the bus and there will be no eating on the bus.
8. Pupils must remain seated until the bus has come to a complete stop.
9. Pupils shall leave the bus in an orderly manner.
10. Pupils are expected to be at assigned bus stops at the scheduled time and are not to be picked up or discharged at any other stop.
11. Students must remain behind the yellow boarding line as the bus approaches its stop.

School Testing Times
There will be a variety of assessments and tests given to students throughout the school year and each carry their own degree of importance. In order to assist students achieve to the greatest degree possible we ask that students are present for these tests. Please make appointments, vacations, and schedule other events outside these testing dates and periods. The dates of all tests will be scheduled on the District Calendar.

Breakfast/Lunch Program

Please see District Policy information on our website ~ www.fortmorgank12.com.

Lunch/Breakfast Program

Please see District Policy information on our website ~ www.fortmorgank12.com.

Lunch Room Expectations
We try to promote a friendly, courteous atmosphere in our lunch room. Students are allowed to talk to neighboring students, but loud and distracting behavior is not acceptable. Students who cannot behave appropriately will eat in the office. Continued unacceptable behavior will result in a contact with the parent. Each student is expected to show proper respect to the cooks, custodians, teacher assistants, and classmates. When students finish their lunch, they line up and their teacher will pick them up to return to class.

Holiday Celebrations
The two holidays observed in the schools are Halloween and Valentine’s Day. Participation is voluntary. Students should get teacher permission before bringing treats for a special occasion. Treats brought from home, must be store bought, individually wrapped and healthy items are preferred. Alternative activities will be provided for those students whose parents wish for them not to participate in these events. Please refrain from bringing gifts to school for your child for any celebration times as they will not be allowed into the classroom area.