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Family Guide

Part I: Introduction to our Program

Welcome to the Birchtree Charter School Community! The Family Guide is a supplement to the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District Student Handbook which you will be receiving on CD-ROM. Important topics such as Student Rights and Responsibilities, Attendance, and Discipline are covered in the District Handbook. This Guide provides basic information about the school schedule, policies, school-home communication, and Waldorf-inspired philosophy. Please do not hesitate to contact members of the board if you have any questions that we have not answered. We view parents as an integral part of Birchtree Charter and value your input!

Mission Statement

Birchtree Charter School will provide an innovative, standards-based education, enhancing the growth of student creativity and imagination through the arts. Our aim is to provide a holistic learning environment and demonstrate that all children are natural and inspired learners who can achieve. To do this, we will use a whole child curriculum, based on the Waldorf educational philosophy. Our mission is to nurture and promote the development of healthy, responsible, and creative human beings. We aim to enliven and support families in our local community. Specially trained teachers will use developmentally attuned approaches and the arts to encourage academic achievement, creativity, social intelligence, and ecological awareness.

Program Philosophy

At the heart of our Waldorf-inspired whole child curriculum is the recognition of how much children change from year to year, placing pivotal importance on the mental, emotional, and physical nature of each grade level. The curriculum ensures that the material presented – and how it is presented – is developmentally attuned to the appropriate age at every grade level. This model values the stages of childhood development, greater interaction between child and teacher, and the integration of the arts into a rigorous academic program. Whole child education focuses on educating children intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically, often referred to as “head, heart, and hands.” Another aspect of whole child education is the consideration of different learning styles. Storytelling, language arts, math, science, art, music, drama, and movement are integrated to provide students with opportunities to receive information through many modes of learning.

Curriculum Overview

Kindergarten: Children learn primarily through imitation and imagination. The goal of the kindergarten is to develop a sense of wonder in the young child and reverence for all living things. This creates an eagerness for the academics that follow in the grades. Kindergarten activities include: storytelling, puppetry, creative play singing, eurythmy (movement) games and finger plays painting, drawing, and beeswax modeling baking and cooking, nature walks circle time for festival and seasonal celebrations

Grades 1-8: Children learn through the guidance of class teachers who stay with, or “loop,” with the same class for grades 1-5 and grades 6-8. The curriculum includes English based on world literature, myths, and legends. History is chronological and inclusive of the world’s great civilizations science that surveys geography, astronomy, meteorology, and physical and life sciences. Mathematics develops competence in arithmetic, algebra, and geometry. Students also study foreign language, physical education; gardening arts, music, painting, sculpture, drama, sketching, handwork such as knitting and woodworking. For a more detailed description of the curriculum for each individual grade, please see the Program page on our website.

Part II: Practical Information

Drop-off and Pick-up Procedures

In order to protect the safety of the children, the speed limit at all times in the school parking area is 5 miles per hour. Please drive slowly and carefully around the drop off area while watching for children who may be walking to and from cars. Drop-off for all students begins at 8:15 a.m. A staff member or parent volunteer will be waiting to greet the children as they enter the building. Kindergartners must be escorted into the building and signed in by a parent or designated adult. If you park your car and walk, please supervise your children closely in the parking lot and watch for cars. Classes begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. Kindergarten teachers will release their students directly to parents at 12:30 p.m. Students in grades 1-8 will be ready to be picked up in front of the school at 3:00 p.m. Please line your car up at the pick-up area. The students will be waiting with their teachers nearby and will be escorted to the waiting cars in groups. Important note: Please contact the main office if someone other than your child’s parent or legal guardian is going to pick up your child from school.

Late Arrival or Early Pick-up

If you arrive at school after 8:30 a.m., please park your car and walk with your child to the office. Students may not go directly to class if they arrive late. In the office, each child will be given a late arrival slip. Recurring late arrival negatively affects academic achievement and the harmony of the classroom environment, so please plan accordingly. If your child has an appointment and must be picked up early, please call ahead to notify the office. When you arrive on campus, please come to the office to sign your child out.

Attendance

At Birchtree Charter School, students are taught in carefully designed, complete units known as Main Lesson blocks which last 3-4 weeks each. Missing a portion of a block will affect full comprehension of that block as well as future lessons. When school is missed, rhythm is disrupted and missed work cannot always be completed. Please keep this in mind when scheduling medical appointments and family vacations. In general, the Mat-Su Borough School District considers the following reasons for school absences acceptable:

  1. Illness, doctor, or dental appointment
  2. School-scheduled activities
  3. Pre-arranged absences for which administrative approval has been received, e.g., religious holidays, family vacation.

Important: If your child is late, ill, or will be absent for any reason, please inform the office soon as possible on that day. Be sure to include your name, your child’s name, and the reason for the tardy/absence. Please call the office each day your child is absent even if the absence is on consecutive days. If your child becomes ill or injured during the school day, he or she will be sent to the office for care and you will be called. In the event that we are unable to reach you we will call the emergency contacts you have provided. Please be sure you keep the office up-to-date with any changes in contact information. Students who are ill should be picked up as soon as possible, as we do not have a dedicated nurse.

Cell Phones and Electronic Devices

Please keep electronic games and personal music devices at home. Cell phones or pagers are permitted on school property for safety purposes, but should be turned off and stored in students’ backpacks during the school day.

School Supplies

Supplies used in Waldorf schools are high-quality specialty items that can last children many years. Since these supplies are not available locally, Birchtree will order them in bulk for families to purchase at a significant discount. We ask that families pay a $100 supply fee per child for the year. Since this fee only covers a portion of our total cost, parents may make additional donations to the supply fund if they wish. The $100 fee may be split up into two $50 payments; one in August at registration and one in January. Families may also apply for a supply scholarship through the Birchtree Parent Guild.

Lost and Found

Lost and Found items will be kept on campus. Please check it regularly, as unclaimed items left for longer than one month may be donated to charity.

Discipline Philosophy

We believe that children have a right to a quality education in a safe and caring environment. We hope to accomplish this by fostering respect for self and others and by promoting pro-social behavior among our students. We believe that discipline is striving towards a goal, not a tool for punishment. We consider discipline to be an aspect of moral guidance and part of this process is allowing students to take responsibility for their actions. Students will be held to the highest standards of conduct in order to maintain a healthy learning atmosphere for everyone. Any student who chooses to interfere with others’ learning will be held accountable. In order for this discipline program to be consistent and effective, it is important that parents and school staff work together to support each other.

Expected Behaviors

  1. Students are expected to be in class on time and to make proper use of the instructional setting by assuming the responsibility of being on task and completing all assignments.
  2. Students are expected to honor all safety guidelines, respecting the need for an environment where students are physically and emotionally safe.
  3. Students are expected to treat others with respect and consideration, using polite language with no profanity, teasing or put-downs.
  4. Students are expected to treat the school property and environment with respect and use it responsibly. This includes desks, bathrooms, equipment, books, and materials.
  5. Students are to treat others as they would like to be treated. As such, students are expected to choose positive alternatives to physical or verbally abusive confrontations. Such alternatives may include seeking teacher assistance for help in conflict management.
  6. Students will stay within school boundaries and within sight of adult supervision. When instructed to do so students will line up quietly and promptly.

Consequences of Inappropriate Behavior

When a student chooses to not follow the rules and guidelines, the teacher or responsible adult will work with the student to help him or her respect the rules and regain self-control. The teacher may take any of the following actions:

  1. informal talk
  2. discipline conference with student and teacher
  3. send student to the office for a meeting with principal
  4. time to refocus
  5. restriction of privileges
  6. request for parent conference

Chain of Communication for Parent Concerns

Addressing parent concerns is a high priority at Birchtree and all concerns will receive prompt and thoughtful attention. The health and harmony of our school community depends on all parties taking a responsible and constructive approach to raising and resolving concerns. When raising a concern, it is essential to speak directly to the person or people involved. Speaking directly may be difficult but it is the most effective way to resolve a concern. When you go directly to the person involved and let them know of your concern you can work together to find a solution.

Chain of communication for concerns regarding classroom issues

Speak directly to your child’s teacher and try to find resolution at this level. If you are unable to find resolution after speaking to the teacher, speak to the principal. All approaches to resolving concerns and conflicts including mediation, will be considered, if needed.

Chain of communication for concerns regarding school operations and policies

It is best to contact the principal directly.

Communication Between School and Home

Birchtree Charter School uses the following methods to communicate with families: parent/teacher conferences and conversations

  • newsletters and updates
  • Birchtree Charter School website
  • class meetings

Homework

Typically, students begin getting weekly homework in the 4th grade, an age where most children are able to take full responsibility for their work. Homework will then gradually increase in frequency and amount in subsequent years.

Student Assessment

In lieu of traditional letter grades, Birchtree Charter School uses many assessment tools to monitor the growth and development of students. These include:

  • Waldorf-inspired rubrics
  • portfolios
  • teacher observation
  • oral recitations
  • exhibitions
  • student projects
  • assemblies

Throughout the year, parents are informed of student growth in the following ways:

  • informal conversation with teacher
  • parent evenings
  • quarterly progress reports
  • twice a year parent/teacher conferences

Mandated Standardized Tests

Birchtree students will participate in all federal and state required assessments. These include the Standards Based Assessments (SBAs) given annually to students in grades 3-9 and the Terra Nova exam for students in grades 5 and 7.

PART III: How You Can Support Your Child at Birchtree Charter School

Birchtree Dress Recommendations

Please consult the Mat-Su Borough School District Handbook (on CD-ROM) for details about the District’s Dress Code. In addition, we ask that you attempt to follow some dress guidelines that are in the spirit of Waldorf-inspired education. In order to reduce classroom distractions, we respectfully ask that students avoid wearing clothing with media images such as large commercial logos or cartoon characters. Alternatives to the above would be clothing comprised of:

  • solid colors
  • stripes
  • polka dots
  • patterns

We also ask that all outerwear and accessories (including indoor shoes and lunch boxes) also follow these guidelines. Please choose plain shoes that do not include electronic lights, sounds, wheels, or commercially produced pictures. Our goal is to foster a learning environment with minimal distractions for students. Thank you for your commitment to creating and maintaining the highest quality environment for our children!

Outdoor Clothing

Birchtree students will spend significant periods of time outside playing, walking, or doing activities–even on cold, rainy, or windy days. The Mat-Su Borough School District’s minimum temperature for outdoor recess is -10 Fahrenheit. Taking the wind chill factor into consideration, this policy will be our guide. Please send your child to school prepared to go outside each day based on the following seasonal recommendations:

Fall/Spring:

  • rain boots
  • rain coat and rain pants
  • warm layer – fleece or wool top
  • stocking cap
  • light gloves or mittens
  • warm socks

Winter:

  • winter boots
  • winter coat and snowpants, or snowsuit
  • winter hat
  • neck warmer
  • winter gloves or mittens
  • warm socks

Lunch and Nutrition Guidelines

Students in grades 1 – 8 will need to bring a healthy snack and lunch every day except on half days when they will only need a snack. Proper hydration and nutrition are key components to the successful learning experience of your child. Please pack a well-balanced lunch focusing on whole and healthful foods, such as whole grains, protein, fruits and vegetables. We recommend avoiding “lunchables” or other pre-packaged lunches. Many children are sensitive to the artificial ingredients, preservatives and food coloring used in processed foods as well as foods high in sugar content. A Sample Tool-kit for School Lunches:

  • Re-usable water bottle
  • Thermos to keep soups warm
  • Insulated lunch box with ice pack
  • Eating utensils

If your child has special nutritional needs or if you have questions about any of these guidelines, please let your child’s teacher know. Food allergies must be listed on the emergency medical form and be made known to the teacher at the beginning of the school year.

Birthday Celebrations

Each class will have its own birthday protocol to honor students. If you would like to bring in a wholesome snack in celebration of your child’s birthday, please check with your child’s teacher regarding food allergies. In general, we suggest birthday treats such as popcorn, fruit, vegetables, or homemade goods. Please avoid artificial dyes and additives as many children are sensitive to these ingredients. Please do not send birthday party invitations to school or pick up children at school for a party unless all of the students in the class are invited (or all of the girls or all of boys). We are trying to protect the children who are not invited from hurt feelings. This can be a devastating experience for those left behind.

Media Philosophy

In our society, the media in all its forms (television, movies, video games, computers, etc.) is an ever-growing presence in our lives. We as educators and parents face the difficult choice of deciding how much to let the various media into our lives and how to use them wisely. With growing children this question becomes even more urgent. Current research increasingly points to a direct adverse effect on brain development from excessive exposure to media. In schools as well as the home, we are confronted by many forms of attention deficit disorders and other learning disabilities. We also see a fading of the powers of imagination and wonder. Young children are by nature “doers.” The media expose children to an artificial world that allows no engagement of their own will and imagination. Not only is the nature of the media foreign and directly harmful to the child’s developing brain and inner being, the content of most television programs, video games and movies is glaring in its disregard for what childhood really is meant to be. Because of this, exposure to the media works at cross purposes with what Waldorf education aims to bring. Therefore, we recommend limiting television, video games or movies to weekends, leaving the school week free for creative learning and other hobbies.

Parent Involvement

Parents of Birchtree students are encouraged to volunteer a minimum of four (4) hours per month or thirty-six (36) hours per year, per family. This consideration is given so that volunteer time does not become a burden to families with more than one child attending the school. However, parents are encouraged and welcomed to increase their volunteer time as they are able and willing. Please contact the parent representative of your child’s class to see about volunteering.

Sample Volunteer Opportunities:

  • fundraising
  • volunteering in the classroom
  • helping with outdoor site activities
  • building projects around the school
  • sewing projects
  • baking
  • cleaning and organizing
  • traffic/outdoor safety duty
  • school store

Classroom Lead Volunteers

Each grade will have 1-2 parents who support the teachers and keep in touch regarding the needs of the classes. This may include setting up a phone tree, arranging field trip drivers, organizing class events, helping with class plays, and gathering special classroom supplies. The parent representatives from all grades will attend the monthly Birchtree Parent Guild meetings. If you are interested in being a parent representative please contact your child’s teacher.

Closing

We would like to thank all of you for embarking on this journey with us as we open Birchtree Charter School. Your participation in this school will have a positive impact on your child and the community in which he or she lives. Please do not hesitate to contact any of us if you have questions or concerns. We look forward to both the challenges and the exciting learning opportunities this year will bring!