School Handbook
Welcome to Peterson Elementary School!
In the section below, we've provided all the information you need to know for you and your student to thrive as part of the Peterson Elementary family.
Getting Ready for School
- Attendance Expectations
- Transportation
- Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures
- Dress Code
- Health Services and Medications
- ParentVUE - Communication from School
Attendance Expectations
Good attendance is critical for steady academic growth, and, by law, children are required to attend school.
Please call the school office any time your child will not be in school.
If you are asked to leave a voice mail, please give the following information:
- Name of the parent or guardian calling
- Student's name and grade
- Date(s) of absence
- Reason for absence; please be specific
Absences will only be excused for the following reasons:
- Illness
- Medical or dental appointment
- A family death or serious illness
- Court/judicial appearance
- Religious observations
- School-sponsored activities
Students who are late to school will be considered tardy.
Please make every effort to have your student at school on time.
Additionally signing your child out in the afternoon prior to the end of the school day affects their attendance and learning.
Students who become truant (inexcusably absent three consecutive days or five school days in any semester or seven days in a school year) will be reported to the Kansas Department for Children and Families in accordance with Board of Education Policy 1461.
Transportation
Students must live 2.5 miles or more from their assigned school to qualify for transportation to that school.
For questions about WPS transportation and busing, call 316-973-2190.
The district does offer the FirstView app that helps families track their student's school bus. Families will need a security code from the school office to use the app.
Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures
Arrival for school is at 8:50 a.m. We are not able to ensure supervision of students before 8:50am. Grade level entrances will be open from 8:50- 9:00 a.m. If you arrive after 9:00 a.m, please enter through the Front Office.
Dismissal from school is at 4:10 p.m. Students will be with their teacher and need to give a high-five or fist-bump to their teacher letting them know they are leaving to ensure a safe dismissal.
West Side (Norman St.) Kindergarten - 2nd Grade
Arrival: One option is to park in the northwest parking lot off Delano St. (street along north side of campus) and walk students to the door (please make sure to use a parking stall). The second option is the drop off option where you stay on the far right (east) side of Norman as you approach the drop off area. Once you pull all the way forward, please have students exit the vehicle on the curb side only. Please help pull all the way forward so we do not have traffic back up and cause a disruption to traffic flow on Central.
Dismissal: There are three flags located on the northwest corner of our campus. The 2nd Graders meet at the furthest flag from the building, 1st Graders the middle flag, and Kindergarteners at the flag closest to the building.
East Side (Caddy St.) 3rd Grade - 5th Grade
Arrival: Students can either be dropped off on the west side curb of Caddy (closest to school so they don't cross the street) OR can be dropped off in the park parking lot east of Caddy and then use the crosswalk to get to the Peterson campus.
Dismissal: Students will exit through the gate on the east side of the Peterson playground and then either cross the crosswalk to get to the park parking lot or stay on the sidewalk and get in the vehicle on the west side curb of Caddy.
Dress Code
Health Services and Medications
Parents should notify the school nurse if there are any health conditions that may require medical attention, such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, etc.
If a student becomes ill during the school day, they should request a pass to see the nurse.
Students who exhibit fever, sore throat or tonsillitis, any eruption of the skin or rash, any respiratory symptoms accompanied by a fever, severe cough or cold, or any eruption of the scalp, will be sent home.
Parents will be notified to pick up their student and must do so in a timely manner to limit exposure to other students and school staff.
Please keep your emergency contact information up to date with both the teacher and office staff.
School board policy (BOE P5316) restricts school personnel from giving students any medication, including over-the-counter medication.
Medication is given only upon written request from both the parent/guardian and the student's physician.
Students must also have received one dose of medication without an adverse reaction prior to any doses being given at school.
All medicine must be in the original container and be presented by a parent to the school nurse for safe keeping and scheduled administration.
The container should be labelled with the following:
- Name of student
- Name of medication
- Directions for use
- Name of physician
- Name and address of pharmacy
- Date of prescription
ParentVUE - Communication from School
The district uses the ParentVUE online portal to give parents to access information about their student's attendance, assignments and grades.
ParentVUE allows parents to quickly and easily update their family contact information, which is vital in order to maintain strong home-to-school connections.
During the School Day
Enrollment Fees
To pay enrollment fees, please go to My Payments Plus.
Enrollment Fees cover textbook rental and student material fees.
If you have questions over how much your Enrollment Fees are, please give us a call.
Behavior Expectations
Keeping students emotionally and physically safe at school is our number one priority.
All students have the right to learn in an orderly environment that is free of disruption.
We understand that from time to time, students may need additional practice meeting these expectations.
We are trying to teach students academic and behavioral skills they will be using in the real world that will help them be successful adolescents and adults.
Our staff will work closely with parents to ensure students learn to be responsible citizens and develop strategies for resolving conflicts.
Bullying
We take bullying very seriously.
Bullying is defined as 1) purposeful behavior that intends to cause harm or distress, 2) is usually repeated over time, and 3) occurs in a relationship where there is an imbalance of power.
Forms of bullying are: 1) Physical, 2) Cyber, and 3) occurs in a relationship where there is an imbalance of power.
Witnesses of bullying are to tell the bully to stop, tell and adult, and reach out in friendship to the victim.
If your child is experiencing bullying at school, please contact your child's teacher or school administration and let them know about it right away.
It is important to remember that we cannot act in situations that we know nothing about.
Families and students are also encouraged to use the SPEAK Up Anonymous Tip Program.
The district’s Crime Stoppers in Schools program has created the Speak Up program, which allows students, staff and parents the ability to send anonymous tips through a secure website, app or phone number.
The funding for this service is provided by Crime Stoppers of Wichita and Sedgwick County, a division of The Wichita Metro Crime Commission.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is words or behaviors that are sexual in nature and are unwanted and unwelcome.
Sexual harassment could be touching or grabbing body parts, touching or rubbing onself in front of another, sending or delivering unwanted and unwelcome messages, notes or pictures with sexual content, sexual gestures, looks, jokes, comments or noises.
Sexual harassment is not tolerated in Wichita Public Schools.
All complaints of sexual harassment will be investigated completely and when the complaint is made.
All efforts will be made to provide confidentiality, to the extent possible, for all people involved.
Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken.
False complaints will also result in disciplinary action.
Cell Phone Policy
Lunch Times
School Meals
We provide breakfast for all students free of charge.
Lunch fees can depend on family income.
Complete the Free and Reduced Meal Application annually to qualify for free lunch and adjustments to school fees.
The district uses an app called School Cafe to allow families to see menus.
The district uses LINQ Connect to pay for meals.
For special dietary restrictions, please contact the school nurse.
Field Trips
Field trips with our city and nearby sites of interest are scheduled by classroom teachers throughout the school year.
These trips are designed to supplement different aspects of the classroom curriculum and introduce students to resources within the community.
Parents will be notified of the planned trip at least five days in advance and must sign a trip waiver for students to attend.
If a student does not have a signed permission slip to attend the trip, they will not go.
We will not accept verbal permission over the phone.
If there is a fee for the field trip, the money needs to be submitted at least three days prior to the scheduled trip.
All field trips require the use of school buses.
Parents are not able to transport students on field trips.
If a parent serves as a chaperone, they will need to complete the school district's volunteer registration process prior to the field trip.
Weather Information
The safety of students, staff and parents is the Wichita Public Schools' greatest priority during the threat of dangerous conditions.
Emergency plans are in place should tornadoes, lightning, hail, snow or other dangerous circumstances present a safety concern.
If schools are to be closed or activities cancelled or rescheduled due to weather conditions, the information will be posted on the Wichita Public Schools' main webpage and displayed on all school websites.
Family Engagement
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences are a great way to stay involved in your child's education.
Parents have the opportunity to discuss their child's progress, review assignments, learn about future projects and to strengthen the connection between home and school.
Parent-Teacher Conferences are held twice a year in October and February.
Visiting and Volunteering
All visitors to the building, including parents, must sign in through our visitor management system HallPass.
Parents, caregivers and other relatives wanting to volunteer in the school or for field trips are required to register every year as a volunteer.
Visit the Volunteer Registration page to complete your annual registration.
Family Communication
Frequent updates on what's happening at Peterson can be found on our Peterson Family Smore. Please check the Smore regularly to be in the loop!!