School Handbook

A guide for families and students on the operation and policies of Spring Lake Park Schools.

A student’s school experience is an important part of your family’s life. Each day, we work tirelessly to know each student’s strengths, interests and needs, create a sense of belonging and learning experiences that engage and delight.

There are also the practical aspects of school – start and end times, procedures for absences, transportation, meals and more. We’ve compiled the basic information about how our schools operate in this handbook for students and families. Please review the information and refer to it, as needed, throughout the year.

You’ll also find a comprehensive list of our district policies for your reference.

Please contact your school as you have questions throughout the year.

School Handbook cover with the SLP Panthers mascot

Arriving At and Leaving School

Bus transportation (including My Stop)

Spring Lake Park Schools serves more than 1,000 bus stops located within our district boundaries each day. Bus stops and routes are designed with consideration for safety, efficiency, cost and shortest overall ride times. Bus routes are determined over the summer and information is mailed to families at the end of August.

If you have general questions about bus routes, bus stop locations, or schedules, please contact the Transportation Department at 763-600-5590 or transportation@district16.org.

Use MyStop to track a bus. This web-based application available to parents and students provides access to live bus GPS information. Using a smartphone, tablet or desktop computer, parents and students can view the current location of buses on routes and the estimated time of arrival at their neighborhood bus stops. This is especially handy if there’s bad weather and buses may be running later than normal.

Riding a bus to school is a privilege and students must follow established bus rules or lose the opportunity to ride the school bus. Students are asked to:

Obey the driver’s instructions
Be verbally considerate
Keep your hands, feet, and belongings to yourself
Respect yourself, others, and property
Sit in your seat and face forward
No eating, drinking, tobacco, or chemicals on the bus

While on the bus, the bus driver may warn a student who is acting inappropriately. Inappropriate behavior will be reported. If inappropriate behavior continues, consequences will escalate and involve parents or guardians and school principal or designee. Permanent suspension of bus riding privileges is possible with continued inappropriate behavior on the bus. A severe infraction may result in an immediate suspension from riding the bus.

Drop off and pick up

Parents, guardians or others dropping students off or picking them up at school should do so in the parking lot or drop-off lane in the front of the school. Drivers can either park in the parking lot and walk their child into the school or stay in the drop-off lane and let the child out in front of the school. Students will enter through the main entrance.

For safety reasons, and specifically at the elementary level, we ask drivers to not drop their child off in the parking lot and have them walk across the street or parking lot on their own. Please avoid the bus drop-off and pick-up area.

Each school will communicate specific instructions for drop off and pick up procedures at the beginning of the school year. Watch for this information from the school.

Bicycles, roller blades, scooters and skateboards

Student parking and vehicles (high school)

The main student parking lot is located on the east side of the campus (Highway 65 and 79th Avenue). High school students may only park in this student-designated lot. Permits are available for purchase at the high school office to all licensed drivers as space allows.

All student vehicles parked in the lot must display a student parking permit at all times. Parking permits are required beginning on the first day of school. Beginning the first week of school, permit applications, daily permits, and questions should be directed to staff in the high school’s main office. Staff monitor the student parking lot and issue citations for improperly displayed permits or no permits.

Students who use the student parking lot beyond the normal school day should continue to park in the designated student parking area. Students should never park in the areas designated for visitors or staff.

Student permits are issued for the school year, by trimester, for limited use, or on a daily basis. Students are strongly encouraged to purchase annual permits. Trimester Permits are designed for a student who may only need to use the parking facility for one or two trimesters, or who cannot afford the entire annual permit fee at one time.

Limited Use Trimester Permits are available for a student who will be at school for less than 3 hours a day. These permits might be used by a PSEO student (one who takes college classes during the regular school day as part of his/her curriculum), an OEC (Opportunities in Emergency Care) student who attends class here only first and second hour, or a student who primarily attends another district who is here for only a portion of the day.

Before and after school procedures

Before school, students in grades K-4 may arrive any time after 9 a.m. For students to arrive earlier to school, they should be enrolled in Learning Ventures Child Care before-school programs.

At Westwood Intermediate and Middle School (grades 5-8) students may arrive at school starting at 7:15 a.m. and enter through the main entrance. Students will then wait either in the Locker Bay area (grades 7-8) or Cafeteria (grades 5-6) until their school day begins.

At Spring Lake Park High School (grades 9-12), students who want to enter the building before 7:30 a.m. are to enter through door 1, the main office entrance. Students may be dropped off at this door starting at 6:30 a.m. and they will wait in the vestibule until 7 a.m. At 7 a.m., students will have access to the building through the main office and through door 6, the doors nearest the student parking lot. All other doors will remain locked until 7:30 a.m.

All students remaining in the building after school must be under the direct supervision of a teacher, coach, advisor, or other school staff member. Students must obtain permission from an administrator to stay in other areas of the school without adult supervision. If students are waiting to be picked up, they must remain in the front lobby/vestibule area. Students who do not meet these expectations will face disciplinary action.

When student end-of-day plans change

Being Absent, Arriving Late and Leaving Early

Attendance

Regular attendance in school is essential for learning. Regular school attendance benefits a student’s academic progress and social development and establishes regular habits of dependability important to a student’s future.

Parents and guardians play the most important role in their child’s education. Making sure students arrive at school each day on time and ready to learn is critical to each student’s success. Parents and guardians are also responsible for informing the school in the event of a student absence and working in partnership with the school to solve any student attendance problems.

In order to participate in a school-sponsored athletic practice, contest, or activity, students must be in school for the entire day. Exceptions may include: school sponsored field trip, college visit, doctor or dentist appointment, funeral, or an absence approved by administration.

Participation in extracurricular activities may, on occasion, cause absence from regularly scheduled classes. It is the intent of the administration to keep such absences to a minimum.

Students attending SLP Schools online full-time should consult the school-specific guidelines around attendance.

Absences

If a student will be absent, arrive late, or leave early, a parent or guardian should call the school’s attendance line. You can call 24 hours a day and leave a message.

If a child is not at school and the school has not received notice of an absence, the school will call a parent or guardian. If we don’t hear from you, your child’s absence will be recorded as unexcused. Absence due to weather concerns will be excused only if reported by a parent or guardian.

Absence guidelines for grades K-6:

A student is considered tardy if he or she arrives up to 60 minutes late.
A student is considered absent for a half day if he or she misses more than 60 minutes at the start or end of a school day.
A student is considered absent for a full day if he or she misses four or more hours of the school day.

Absence guidelines for grades 7-12:

Student attendance is recorded for each class period.
A student is considered tardy if he or she arrives late to class.
Tardy violations are accumulated per trimester. Students who are excessively tardy to class should expect a meeting with their counselor or an administrator. Students may receive disciplinary action and/or be placed on an attendance contract.

The school will excuse - or not excuse – student absences according to district policy. See definitions within Policy 503: Student Attendance. Parents/guardians can request that an unexcused absence be changed to excused with a written note or phone call.

Learning is compromised when students are continually absent from school. If a student is absent frequently, school staff will reach out to families to understand current circumstances and develop a plan if needed.

Schools also are mandated by state law to report a truant student to the proper authorities. At six unexcused absences, the school is required to submit a referral to the Anoka County Attorney's Office and the county gets involved.

Arriving late

Leaving early

In general, leaving school early is discouraged. Early dismissals should only occur for rare circumstances and parent requests for early dismissal must go through the school office. Please make every effort to schedule appointments outside of school hours.

If a student must leave early for an appointment or other excused commitment, a parent/guardian should call the school office prior to the early dismissal. Students in grade K-8 who need to leave early must be picked up in the main office and signed out by a designated adult who will be asked to show identification.

High school students must have parental consent confirmed with the school’s main office to leave campus early. This includes one-time/occasional needs to leave before the end of the day, students who have a flexible schedule at the beginning or end of the school day or students who take courses off campus for part of the day.

In case of emergency or illness, the student must report to the health office. The school nurse will contact the parent or guardian. The parent or guardian must sign the student out in the office.

Student Information, Learning and Experience

Updating student information

Basic student information, address, telephone numbers, child care, and emergency contacts is housed in Campus Parent Portal and can be updated there or by calling the school office. Please remember to notify the school of any changes in this information or change in your work status or schedule. This information is used in many ways and must be as complete and accurate as possible.

Student data, photos and video

Spring Lake Park Schools, its schools, and departments frequently highlight student successes and the many good things taking place in schools. This includes, but is not limited to, yearbooks, articles and photographs in newsletters or the website, or videos of student programs shared through the school or district’s communications. Students’ names may or may not appear with an image or video.

If a parent or eligible student wants any or all of their student directory information to remain private, the parent, guardian, or eligible student must make a written request to the building principal. This request must include the name of student and parent, as appropriate; home address; school presently attended by student; parent’s legal relationship to student, if applicable; and, specific category or categories of directory information not to be made public without the parent’s or eligible student’s prior written consent.

If you have questions about the use of student data, photography, or other media, please contact your building principal.

Students and parents may only take photos or videos at school or school events with prior consent from the subject of the photo/video. Cameras are prohibited in restrooms and locker rooms.

Learning technologies

Each student in Spring Lake Park Schools is issued a school-owned iPad to support their learning. The district uses two Learning Management Systems, Seesaw and Schoology, to support learning.

Seesaw is used in grades K-2 to share updates, learning progress and student work samples with families. Schoology is used in grades 3-12. This is where students find class information, submit homework assignments, review grades, participate in interactive discussions, receive announcements and feedback, take tests and interact with teachers and peers.

In addition to Seesaw and Schoology, a variety of educational technology tools and apps are used to enhance student learning and engagement. Students are expected to and supported in using these tools. Parents/guardians may also access these tools to help support student learning.

Technology acceptable use policy

Technology tools are extremely useful educational tools. Access to the district’s technology network is governed by school district policy. Each fall, families are notified of the district’s Technology Responsible Use Policy. The policy outlines expectations for the use of technology in our schools and the responsibilities of the school, the student and the parent/guardian. The full policy can be found at SpringLakeParkSchools.org/policies.

Personal property and lost and found

We recommend students leave all valuables at home. If special circumstances make it necessary for a student to bring money or other important possessions to school, leave the belongings in the office.

To minimize lost items, please:

Keep non-essential items at home
Label everything especially headset, lunchbox and clothing layers that may be removed during the day
Remind your student to return their possessions to their locker or backpack when not using them to avoid loss
Help your student form the habit of checking that they have their belongings each day
Remind your student that items left on the floor in front of their locker are not allowed and will be removed

Each school has a designated lost and found area. If something is lost, students should check the lost and found immediately. Jewelry, money, wallets, purses and eyeglasses can be claimed in the main office. Unclaimed items are donated to local charities throughout the course of the school year.

If your child leaves something on the bus, items can be retrieved by calling the transportation department at 763-600-5590. Please provide your child’s bus number to claim misplaced items when calling.

Recess

All students in grades K-8 go outside each school day for recess unless the weather does not cooperate. Students will need a written note from a physician to be excused from recess. Students are expected to dress for the season, including wearing boots, snow pants and coats during the winter months.

We cancel outdoor recess when the outside temperature is 0° and/or the wind-chill factor is -10 °F, if the conditions are extremely icy or sloppy, or if it is raining and/or lightning.

Reporting on student progress (grading)

Student growth and development is our goal. We assess progress in ways that allow students to demonstrate what they know and can do. Our goal is to make connections between school and home throughout the year and to communicate progress and partner with parents and guardians to support student growth.

Our progress reporting and grading system provides information for students, teachers, and parents to reflect on strengths and needs in student learning, demonstrate progress, and evaluate mastery of learning outcomes.

Report cards are issued for all grade levels three times each year at the end of each trimester.

Report card grades reflect student learning. Teachers look at evidence of learning, over time, to determine where students are at their learning at the time of report cards. This is just one of many ways we report on student learning throughout the year.

Grades for students in Grades K-6

At the elementary level, teachers report on specific learning outcomes that are essential for students to master as they prepare for their next levels of learning. Rather than using letter grades (A, B, C, D) at the elementary level, student learning is reported based on performance toward end-of-year learning outcomes.

In the 2022-2023 school year, Grade 6 students will move from reporting by letter grades, to reporting by learning outcomes to align with our elementary reporting system. Additionally, elementary report cards will show the following:

Beginning: The learner is still acquiring knowledge and skills for this learning outcome
In progress: The learner accurately applies knowledge and skills for this learning outcome to familiar situations
Proficient: The learner accurately applies knowledge and skills for this learning outcome to new situations
Extending: The learner makes connections that extend beyond the learning outcome
An NA (Not Applicable) indicates that students did not have opportunities to learn this outcome. Any learning outcomes marked as NA will be addressed throughout the rest of the year
An NE (No Evidence) grade indicates that students had opportunities to learn this outcome but did not submit any evidence of their learning. As a result, there is no evidence to determine where they are at toward meeting the learning outcome. Any learning outcomes marked as NE will be addressed throughout the rest of the year

Grades for students in grades 7-12

Course grades provide information about student achievement and learning progress at a point in time. Course grades are based on students demonstrating evidence of learning, and teachers have multiple points of evidence throughout the course that show how students are progressing through course learning outcomes. The grading scale is:

A 93-100%
A- 90-92%
B+ 87-89%
B 83-86%
B- 80-825
C+ 77-79%
C 73-76%
C- 70-72%
D+ 67-69%
D 63-66%
D- 60-62%
NE No Evidence – Student has not submitted evidence of learning
NY Not Yet – student has demonstrated some evidence of learning and must
submit further evidence
F at the end of the course a student may fail if an NE or NY has not been resolved

Questions about grades or grading should first be directed to the teacher of the course. If an issue is still unresolved, the student should contact their counselor for assistance.

Graduation requirements (high school)

A total of 64 credits are required for graduation from Spring Lake Park High School. Students must also pass all required courses as outlined for their specific graduating class. Required courses include:

Language Arts (12 credits):

Language Arts 9 or equivalent (3 credits)
Language Arts 10 or equivalent (3 credits)
Language Arts 11 or equivalent (3 credits)
Language Arts 12 or equivalent (3 credits)

Mathematics (9 credits):

Quadratic Algebra (3 credits)
Geometry (3 credits)
Algebra 2 (3 credits)

Science (9 credits):

Physical Science 9 (3 credits)
Biology (3 credits)
One year of chemistry or one year of physics (3 credits)

Social Studies and Economics (11 credits):

Human Geography (2 credits)
Civics (1 credit)
U.S. History (3 credits)
World History (2 credits)
Economics (1 credit)
U.S. Government (1 credit)
Social Science Elective (1 credit)

Physical Education / Health (3 credits):

Foundations or fitness or beginning weight training (1 credit)
Additional phy. Ed elective (1 credit)
Health (1 credit)

Arts (3 credits)

Making up work (grades 7-8) and credits (grades 9-12)

Students who are absent for a class or a full day will have access to the work missed and assistance to complete it. It is the student’s responsibility to ask for and turn in all make-up work if they are absent. Most school work can be accessed by logging into the student’s Schoology account and thus can be completed when a student is not in school. Students should check with their teachers on expectations and timelines for making up missed work.

High school students who have failed or not completed a course and need to make up course credits have many ways to do so, including the Contract for Credit, the Alternative Learning Team, attending Metro Heights Academy night school or full-time day school. Students needing to make up required credits should see their counselor to discuss the options available.

Statewide assessments and opting out

Your student has the opportunity to participate in statewide assessments, specifically the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) for reading, math and science, and if applicable, the ACCESS for ELLs, an assessment for English Language Learners.

The Minnesota Department of Education provides a parent/guardian guide for these assessments as well as a process for parents and guardians to decline to have their child participate. Find the guide and refusal process details on the statewide testing website.

Find the complete picture of our balanced assessment system in Spring Lake Park Schools on the assessment page of our website.

Student expectations and behavior response

At Spring Lake Park Schools, we have high expectations for how students contribute to the positive, safe, and engaging learning environment we all create together. We communicate our expectations and proactively teach and model social, emotional, and behavioral skills at all grade levels.

Each year, we ask students and families to review student expectations together and acknowledge they have done so. This process helps set the tone for students as they begin the year and clarifies for them how we all expect them to conduct themselves each day at school.

We know even with clear and consistent expectations and proactive development of students’ social, emotional and behavioral skills, challenging and unexpected behaviors will occur. When this happens, we provide consistent and predictable responses that are aligned to the intensity of the behavior.

The document we ask parents to review with their child each fall has more information regarding expectations and responses to misbehavior. Families may also reach out to the principal at your child's school should you have any questions.

Activities and athletics (grades 5-12)

Athletics and activities are an important part of the school experience and provide students with opportunities to explore interests and passions and learn new skills.

Opportunities at grades 5-8 are provided through Community Education and include a variety of clubs and our interscholastic sports program. Questions or inquiries can be directed to slpcomed@district16.org. An activity bus is provided for students who stay after school and participate in after school activities. If students are staying at school after the school day has ended, they must be with a teacher or advisor.

For students in grades 7-8, there are a number of Minnesota State High School League athletics that students are eligible to participate in. A bus runs from Westwood to Spring Lake Park High School for students who participate in a high school team sport.

At Spring Lake Park High School, more than 80 percent of students participate in at least one team or club. The high school currently offers 14 girls’ sports and 13 boys’ sports. There also are currently 46 student-based interest clubs and co-curricular activities offered for students.

In order to participate and compete in athletics and activities, students must show adequate academic progress toward graduation. Eligibility requirements are reviewed with student athletes and parents at the beginning of each athletic season.

Find information about all of the offerings and stay up-to-date on high school schedules at SpringLakeParkSchools.org/activities-athletics.

Youth enrichment programs

Ignite the SPARK in your child with our youth enrichment programs after school and during the summer through Community Education. Explore athletic camps, arts, crafts, cooking, STEM, competitive sports, intramurals and so much more! Programs are for children pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Drivers Education, classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction, is also offered throughout the year.

Summer camps for children of all ages are organized by high school varsity coaches for several activities including football, basketball, tennis, volleyball, swimming and more.

Parents, Visitors and Volunteers

Parent role in supporting learning

Parents and guardians are important partners in their children’s education. They are their child’s first teacher.

Parents play a critical role in making sure their children attend school each day, arrive on time and are ready to learn. Connecting with your child and your child’s teacher on what students are learning in school helps promote student progress and success.

Parents are encouraged to reach out to their child’s teacher(s) and take advantage of opportunities throughout the year to engage with the school and classroom. We value and foster partnership with our families and will create opportunities to share information, ask for input and work together to support student learning and engagement. If you have questions about specific topics, please reach out to your child’s teacher or school.

Students complete more work independently as they progress through school. Parents can help students in developing organization skills and routines that support productive engagement in learning activities. Supporting students in finding a quiet place to study, away from distractions, and accessing basic supplies and resources helps create the conditions for learning.

Dropping off items

Visiting school

We welcome visitors into our schools to enhance the educational experience for students and engage families in the education of their children. Arrangements should be made with the school in advance to ensure visits are informative for the visitor and do not disrupt learning activities, test or other school and classroom routines.

A visitor is anyone who is not on staff or a student currently enrolled in the school. This means parents, community members and high school students who have completed all their classes or are enrolled full time through the Post-Secondary Education Opportunities (PSEO) program and taking classes off campus.

For everyone’s safety, all visitors, must enter through the main school entrance and sign in at the main office. Some form of identification may be requested by office staff, such as a driver’s license. Visitors are given a visitor’s badge or pass to wear so that staff and students know you have been cleared through the office.

Each school has special events and activities that all families are invited to participate in. You will receive special notice of these events.

Students are not permitted to bring friends, younger brothers/sisters or visiting relatives to school. Parents volunteering or visiting a classroom are also asked to not bring along young children.

Volunteering

Telephone calls and text messaging

To maximize learning time, we ask that parents/guardians refrain from calling or texting their students during the school day. Please make arrangements for after-school activities or any other family logistics prior to the school day. Students may use school phones for emergencies only.

Phone calls to teachers will only be forwarded to voicemail and not directly to the classroom when class is in session. Teachers will check for messages and return calls at an appropriate time during the day and within 24 hours.

Procedures for questions and concerns

We always want to know what questions and concerns you have. Classroom teachers are often the appropriate first point of contact for many topics related to classroom learning and then your school’s principal. You are encouraged to contact the teacher or school at any time.

If your child shares something about school that sounds unreasonable or concerns you, please contact a teacher or principal right away. This type of direct communication helps prevent misunderstandings and provides our teachers and principals with the opportunity to take appropriate actions as needed and/or provide clarification.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome after communicating with the classroom and/or school, it may be appropriate to escalate your concerns to the district leadership team or superintendent.

Please be advised that school board members, while always interested in your experience with our schools and charged with the governance of our school district, are not positioned to manage operational issues. You can expect faster action and resolution to questions and concerns by working directly with school leadership.

Communication

We use email, voicemail and text messages to communicate with families. Please make sure your contact information is up-to-date so you don’t miss anything important. Visit SpringLakeParkSchools.org/Parents to find links that connect you to the school experience including: learning management systems, Campus Parent Portal, technology resources, weekly school newsletters, lunch menus and more.

Have a question or not sure where to find what you are looking for? Email communications@district16.org or call the District Services Center at 763-600-5000. Learn more about how to Stay Connected at SpringLakeParkSchools.org/news/stay-connected

Campus Parent Portal
This is where you will find your student’s class schedules, attendance, report cards, and transcripts, and where you can access and pay fees for things like meals. This is also where you update your contact information.

Newsletter and school communication

Classroom communication through Schoology and Seesaw

Seesaw and Schoology are technology tools that support learning at Spring Lake Park Schools. Seesaw is used in grades K-2 to share updates, learning progress and student work samples with families. Schoology is used in grades 3-12. This is where students find class information, submit homework assignments, review grades, participate in interactive discussions, receive announcements and feedback, take tests and interact with teachers and peers. Parents can access these tools to help support student learning.

Our website - SpringLakeParkSchools.org

Our website is your online hub for Spring Lake Park Schools. Find information about the SLP Experience and individual schools. Access breakfast and lunch menus. Catch up on news and announcements. Browse and customize calendars at the district, school and program level. Find contact information in the staff directory. Connect to school websites for archived newsletters, school information and more.

Spring Lake Park Schools mobile app

Our mobile app brings tools and information together including school news, directory information, notifications, menus, calendars, logins and more. Download the app at your smart device app store by searching Spring Lake Park Schools.

Customize the app by schools you want to see or select the My Family Login icon and enter your district username and password (the same used for Schoology and Parent Portal) to personalize your experience and see classes, attendance and bus information.

Social Media

SLP Experience

SLP Experience is a print and electronic publication that is shared with the local school community. It offers a look into life at Spring Lake Park Schools across school buildings and grade levels with feature stories, social media highlights, opportunities for the community, student spotlights, by the numbers facts and more. Print copies are mailed home quarterly with fall, winter, spring and summer issues. To view the latest online, visit SpringLakeParkSchools.org/experience.

Food & Nutrition

What we offer - breakfast, lunch, ala carte items for grades 5-12

Good nutrition is essential for learning. It is also critical for proper development and growth. Eating breakfast and lunch makes it easier for students to concentrate on learning, think clearly and be on their best behavior. The cafeteria is an extension of the classroom and students are expected to behave as they do in the classroom.

Spring Lake Park Schools provides both breakfast and lunch service to students in compliance with USDA menu requirements. More comprehensive information about food and nutrition can be found at SpringLakeParkSchools.org/Nutrition

Current prices for meals are:

Kindergarteners
- Breakfast - no charge
- Lunch - $2.70
Elementary (grades 1-4) - full pay
- Breakfast - $1.40
- Lunch - $2.70
Secondary (grades 5-12) - full pay
- Breakfast - $1.40
- Lunch - $2.90
Free and reduced price (all grades)
- Breakfast - No charge
- Lunch - No charge
Milk
- Breakfast - $0.50
- Lunch - $0.50

Ala carte items (Available for grades 5-12 only. Check menu app.)

Menus

Meal accounts and management

Each student is issued an online meal account that can be managed through Campus Parent Portal. A Campus app for students and for parents is also available for downloaded.

Students' use their meal account to make a purchase during meal service. The cost of a purchase is deducted from the account. Students scan the bar code on the back of their student ID badge to make a purchase. The bar code can also be found in the campus student app in their online meal account.

All meal purchases are to be prepaid before meal service begins. It is the responsibility of the student’s parent or guardian to keep adequate funds in the student’s meal account for purchases.

All families have access to their student’s meal account and may fund this account using:

A debit or credit card through the Campus Parent Portal
A personal check or cash payment which can be made at each school or the District Services Center

Through Campus Parent Portal, parents and guardians can set up automatic payment, view account balances, monitor purchases and set personal “low balance” notices.

When a student’s meal account balance falls below -$5, households will receive a courtesy email and text message reminding them to transfer funds to their student’s meal account.

If a student leaves the district and there is a positive balance in their meal account, a parent or guardian can complete a refund/transfer form. If the balance goes unclaimed, it will be transferred into the district’s angel account. The angel account funds are used to help families who may be experiencing a hardship.

Free and reduced-price meals

Spring Lake Park Schools participate in the national school lunch program which allows families to quality for free or reduced-price student meals at school. There are two ways to qualify:

If a family is eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) or Medicaid, or
If household income falls within the reported guidelines published by the USDA.

Applications are mailed to each household in July or early August. Applications also are available at each school site, the District Services Center or online through Campus Parent Portal. A parent or guardian may apply at any time during the year for free or reduced-price meals. A new application must be completed for each school year.

All families are encouraged to apply even if you don’t believe you will qualify. Schools receive additional funding for educational programs based directly on the numbers of students who quality for these benefits. Funds are used to provide education support and opportunities for all students.

Food allergies (including peanut and tree nut allergies)

District staff works to protect children with food allergies from potential reactions. Education, communication and cooperation are the keys to preventing allergic reactions in schools.

The process starts with the school nurse who communicates to the kitchen manager about students with food allergies. The kitchen manager notes the allergy on the student’s school meal account, which is linked to the point of sale to notify the cashier. If a food allergy is prompted by the computer, together, the cashier and student will review the meal.

Many students in our schools have severe allergies to tree nuts, peanuts, peanut butter, and/or products which contain nuts. Strict avoidance is the best way to prevent a severe allergic reaction. Accidental ingestion or even touching a tiny trace of a nut may cause a reaction for some students.

In an effort to ensure all students are safe throughout the school day, we have taken steps to create a safe environment:

All classrooms are peanut/nut aware throughout Spring Lake Park Schools.
Students with allergies sit at a separate table with adult supervision (at the elementary level) of food products. Nut aware tables are clearly labeled in lunch rooms for students with allergies.

We ask parents and guardians to partner with us to ensure the safety of all students:

Please do not send any classroom snacks containing nuts, peanuts, peanut butter, or other nut products for daily snacks.
If your child packs a lunch containing tree nuts, peanuts, peanut butter, or other nut products, please make sure they know it must stay in a sealed container until eaten.
Please be aware of products that may be produced in a plant that contains peanuts/nuts.

Special diet accommodations

Dietary accommodations are governed by state and federal regulations. Lactose reduced or soy milk is available to students with a written request from a parent or guardian. A Milk Substitute Request form can be found on the Nutrition Services website and submitted to the school.

All other modifications require a completed Special Diet Statement which can be found on the Nutrition Services website. Completed forms should be submitted to the school nurse.

Homemade food and snacks

Birthdays and treats

We believe that birthdays are special days, especially for our elementary students. We ask parents to not bring food or other treats to celebrate a birthday. In lieu of treats, students may choose to bring a non-food item to share with the class, or as an alternative, a book or a rainy day game may be donated to the class.

To celebrate birthdays, classroom teachers may provide a variety of age-appropriate events for students on their birthday. These special events may include cards from the teacher and/or classmates, wearing a special birthday crown or hat, having special classroom privileges, and singing a “Happy Birthday” song.

Health and Wellness

Immunizations

All students in Spring Lake Park Schools must comply with Minnesota Immunization Laws. All immunizations need to be up to date prior to the start of the school year. The Health Services office at your child’s school needs proof of the month, day and year your student’s immunizations were given. If the school does not receive documentation of the required immunizations, your student could be excluded from school.

State law does allow a process for parents or guardians to file a legal exemption to immunizations for medical reasons or conscientiously held beliefs. The exemption must be notarized and turned into the Health Office at the school.

Early Childhood Screening

In Minnesota, all children are required to complete early childhood screening before they enter kindergarten. Ideally, the screening should be completed before a child turns four years old and must be completed before the child attends public kindergarten. Screening is a free, quick and simple check of a child's development.

Screening can help identify, at an early stage, possible health or learning concerns, so that children can get help even before starting kindergarten. Screening is conducted by qualified professionals and includes:

vision and hearing check
height and weight measurement
development assessment
immunizations and health history review

The best age to have your child screened is at age three and a half. All results are based on your child's exact age on the day of screening. Appointments typically take 45-60 minutes. Results of each portion are discussed with the parent or guardian. Screening does not determine kindergarten readiness. Sign up online for early childhood screening or call 763-600-5900 with questions.

Health care at school

A health care specialist is available each day at each of our schools during school hours. If a student feels ill during the day, they may come to the health office and been seen by the health care specialist. The school’s health care specialist will communicate with parents or guardians if a child must be picked up from school or if a child is injured at school.

If a child is seriously injured at school, the parent or alternate person listed on the emergency card will be contacted. If the parent or alternate person is not available, the student will be transported to a local hospital.

Student Supplemental Accident Insurance

Despite all of our efforts to create a safe environment and the many precautions we take, accidents can happen while students are at school. If a child has an accident while attending school during the day or while participating in after school activities, the family’s health insurance carrier would cover any related expenses. The school district does not provide insurance coverage for students.

Families may purchase Student Supplemental Accident Insurance through Gerber Life Insurance for the school year. This program is completely voluntary. Each family should examine their health insurance coverage as well as co-pays and deductible limits to determine if this supplemental coverage would be a benefit to them.

If you have questions about this service, more information is available by searching Student Supplemental Accident Insurance on our website or calling the Business Office at 763-600-5033.

Illness and when to stay home

Parents and guardians frequently have questions about when they should keep their child home from school if they are not feeling well. Here are some guidelines for when your child should stay home:

If a student has had a fever of 100 degrees or more, the student must stay home for 24 hours after the temperature returns to normal.
If a student has vomited or had diarrhea, the student must stay home until 24 hours after the last episode.
If a student has had any rash that may be disease-related or the cause is unknown, check with a family physician before sending the student to school.
If a student is exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19, they should stay home and get tested.
If a student has a chronic health disease that causes symptoms of fever, vomiting, diarrhea and/or rash, please check with the school health care specialist to discuss parameters for keeping your student home.

If a student is ill and staying home, please call the attendance line each day of the illness to report the absence. If you have any questions about these guidelines or your child’s illness, please call your school health office or family physician.

Medications at school

Prescription medications given at school must be accompanied by a physician’s order. Medication should be brought to school by the student’s parent or guardian in the original container, whether prescription or over the counter. A signed permission form from the parent stating the reason for the medication, dosage, time and effective dates to be given must accompany any medication.

All medication will be kept in the health office and distributed by the health care specialist at the school, including over-the-counter medicine such as cough drops.

Over-the-counter pain relievers are not available from the health care specialists at any school. Students in grades 7-12 may be allowed to self-carry and self-administer Tylenol or ibuprofen only if a signed form to self-carry has been received by the health office and a student agreement has been signed and reviewed with the student and health care specialist. The medication must be in its original packaging. If a student is abusing this privilege in any way, the school may revoke their ability to self-carry over-the-counter pain relievers.

Medication administration forms are available online or from the health office. Any requests for students to self-carry medications (asthma inhalers or epi pens) must be accompanied by a doctor’s note, as well, as a signed student agreement.

Latex allergies and balloons

We strive to minimize the use of latex-containing products in our schools due to the number of individuals who experience allergic reactions to latex. Latex is processed into a wide variety of products, including latex balloons. Most balloons are not allowed in school, however, Mylar balloons, which can be recognized by their silver material, are allowed. If you are uncertain of the material in a particular balloon, do not bring it to school. Please notify the school health office if your child is allergic to latex.

Health and Safety Notifications

Spring Lake Park Schools facilities and grounds team works hard to maintain a safe and healthy environment aligned to state and federal guidelines.

Pesticide use notification: The school district may apply pesticide(s) on school property and will provide a notice to families before application. Additional information regarding what pesticides are used, the schedule of pesticide applications, and the long-term health effects of the class of pesticide on children can be requested by contacting the District Facilities Supervisor at 763-600-5053.
Asbestos notification: We monitor asbestos in district buildings and complete annual surveillance of all asbestos-containing materials in district buildings to ensure materials remain in good condition. Asbestos management plans are available for review at each school building and at the District Services Center.
Testing for lead in water: Following Minnesota law, Spring Lake Park Schools test for lead in water used for drinking and food preparation every five years. Test results help guide maintenance, repair or replacement of any fixtures.
Testing for radon: Spring Lake Park Schools tests for radon in our school buildings at least once every five years and we report results to the Minnesota Department of Health and to the school board.

Nuisance and hazardous items (Including Cell Phones)

For health and safety, and to maintain an appropriate environment for learning, the possession or use of items judged by school staff to be hazardous or a nuisance in the learning environment are not allowed on school property and at school-sponsored events. Examples may include, but are not limited to, electronic devices, toys, trading cards, or other items deemed to be disruptive.

If you have questions about whether an item should be brought to school, contact school administration.

Schools are not responsible for lost, traded, stolen or damaged items that should not be in school according to this guideline. Items that pose a nuisance may be confiscated and returned at a later time. There may be additional discipline as determined by school administration.

With the prevalence of cell phones and other personal electronic devices in our schools, families should be aware that schools are not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged items – no matter how expensive. Students who choose to bring these to school do so at their own risk. Any item causing a disruption may be taken away at the teacher’s (or other staff member’s) discretion to be returned at a later time.

Animals and/or pets

Pets or other animals are not allowed in school without obtaining permission from a student’s teacher. Animals may be brought into the perimeter of the school for educational purposes only. Animals must be vaccinated as required by local government ordinances, appropriately housed, humanely cared for and properly handled. Poisonous and dangerous animals will not be permitted.

Anyone bringing animals into the school must receive prior permission from the classroom teacher. Animals are not to be transported on school buses. Parents should be involved in the transport of animals to and from school once permission is granted by the classroom teacher.

Special Programs and Services

Child care services

Early Childhood

Early Childhood and Family Education (ECFE) offers classes and activities for families with young children from birth to kindergarten. ECFE helps build strong and healthy families. Classes are offered mornings, afternoons and evenings.

Free health and developmental screening is available for children ages 3-5 to promote the health of children and their readiness for kindergarten. State law requires all children to be screened prior to entering kindergarten.

Spring Lake Park Schools also runs a four-star (top rating) preschool program that helps young children explore the world through creative, hands-on learning in literacy, math, science, arts, movement and social development. Licensed educators help prepare children for kindergarten at programs at each elementary school and the District Services Center.

Alternative programs for middle and high school

We offer options for students in middle and high school who do not excel in traditional school settings. Alternative Learning Teams at the middle and high school are one option for students as is Metro Heights Academy for high school students. Students are referred to these program from their counseling team. Families interested in exploring these options should contact their student’s counselor.

Transitions and Life Skills program

Spring Lake Park Schools offers a Life Skills Transitions Program for students who are 18-21 years of age and receive special education services. The program is located at the District Services Center (1415 81st Avenue NE, Spring Lake Park) and through partnership with the community, offering experiences in all areas of transition. These experiences are based on individual student needs, skill level and Individualized Education Plan goals. If you have any questions about this program, please contact your student's special education case manager.

Special Education services

Spring Lake Park Schools provides a range of programs and services for students, birth to 21 years of age, who have been identified as disabled and in need of specialized programming. Students may meet criteria in any of the 13 disability areas.

Eligibility for services is determined through an evaluation process that examines the range of the child’s skills and needs. If the child is found eligible, an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or Individualized Family Service Plan would be developed with family input.

If you have any questions about this process or with your student's progress, please contact the student services specialist at your student's school (grades K-6) or your student's counselor for personalized learning (grades 7-12).

Section 504

Some students who have a disability may qualify for support under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 504 is an anti-discrimination, civil rights statute that requires the needs of students with disabilities to be met as adequately as the needs of the non-disabled are met.

Examples of physical or mental impairments that may be covered under Section 504 include: epilepsy, allergies, vision impairments, broken limbs, cancer, diabetes, asthma, ADD/ ADHD.

Spring Lake Park Schools has a district-wide 504 coordinator and individual coordinators who are responsible for all 504 activities in each building. To find out more about 504 identification requirements, plan development, parental rights and services, contact your school student services specialist (grades K-6) or counselor for personalized learning (grades 7-12).

Adult Education

Enrichment programs for adults, such as hobby exploration and fitness classes, are offered throughout the year through Community Education. In addition to participating in a class, if you are interested in teaching an adult class, call us at 763-600-5055.

We also offer free adult classes in Basic Skills (math, reading, writing), English as a Second Language, GED (high school equivalency) and private tutoring. Call Metro North Adult Basic Education at 763-433-4200 for more information.

Unusual Happenings

School Closing, Delayed Starts and Early Dismissals

Snow, extremely cold weather, or a facilities problem such as a broken water main could cause schools to close for the day, move to a flexible, at-home learning day, start late, or dismiss early. Spring Lake Park Schools makes every possible effort to keep schools open, in most weather conditions, if bus travel is safe. Unless we announce otherwise, assume school is in session.

In the case of snowy or cold conditions, be sure to dress students warmly for the possibility of longer walk times or waits at the bus stop and allow for the occasional delay with pick-up times. During inclement weather, it is always a parent’s decision about whether or not to have their child go to school. A student who remains at home or arrives late will be excused.

An alert about school closings is sent to parents/guardians by telephone, e-mail and text message depending on the contact information provided. To update your contact information and preferences, log in to Campus Parent Portal. You may also contact your child’s school or the Technology Help Desk, 763-600-5555, for assistance.

In addition to sending messages directly to families, alerts are also posted on the district website and on local Twin Cities news radio and television stations.

For more information about how we make decisions about school closures, our notification system and process and answers to frequently asked questions, visit the School Closings and Alerts page on our website.

In a school emergency

During an emergency, or threat of an emergency, school officials and law enforcement take specific, planned steps to keep students safe. Procedures for a variety of situations are practiced each year and staff are trained on protocols for a variety of scenarios.

During an emergency, the district will prioritize providing accurate, timely information as it is available. Information is shared via voicemail, email and text message following the same processes we use for weather-related closings and delays.

Parents should refrain from coming to campus during an emergency, unless asked to do so. The presence of additional people on or near campus may make it more difficult for police, emergency workers and school staff to do their jobs. Until all students and the school building are safe and secure, schools generally do not release students.

If a school needs to be evacuated, all students are moved to a secure, safe location away from the school under the supervision of teachers and administrative staff. Because of the need to maintain order, school staff may not release students even if parents or guardians have told their children to leave.

Throughout the school year, we practice emergency procedures for:

Fire evacuation: The state of Minnesota requires all public schools to conduct five drills per school year. Procedures are posted in each classroom.
Tornado/Severe Weather Shelter: Each year our schools participate in a mandatory tornado drill. When the alarm sounds, students and their teachers practice going to the designated shelter area.
Lockdown and containment: The state of Minnesota requires all public schools to conduct five lockdown and containment drills per school year. These drills allow students and staff to practice procedures to maintain their safety in the event of a threat inside or outside the building.

Field Trips

Field trips enhance the educational experience. Classroom teachers or school leaders will communicate details of field trips to parents/guardians. To participate in a field trip experience, a signed parental permission slip must be on file before the field trip occurs. Students who do not have a signed permission slip will not be able to participate in the trip.

If a student is not able to attend a field trip, when possible, an alternate educational experience will be provided. If there are field trip expenses and a family is unable to provide the funds, please contact the school office to discussion a possible solution.