When your child will not be in school, please call the Attendance Line (651-653-2832). If we do not hear from a parent/guardian, we will be contacting you to confirm your child's absence. Absences not reported by a parent/guardian are marked as unexcused.
The Ramsey County Attorney’s Family Truancy Intervention Program states: School attendance is mandatory in the state of Minnesota in order to make certain all children acquire the necessary skills for success as adults.Studies show a direct link between regular school attendance and academic achievement. Elementary age children with poor attendance records are more likely to experience difficulty in core subjects.
LAWFUL SCHOOL ABSENCES:
Sickness
Doctor appointments
Religious holidays
Extreme family emergency
INVALID EXCUSES (EXAMPLES):
Staying home to babysit
Too tired
The weather
Missed the bus
Suspended from the bus
Child is not immunized
Overslept
To ensure the safety and protection of your child, we use a student sign-out procedure. When it is necessary for a student to leave school early or for a few hours during the day, the parent or guardian must sign the child out of school. Once the student is signed out, the secretary will call the student to the office where the parent/guardian may pick the student up. If the student returns to school before the end of the school day, the parent/guardian must sign the child back in school.
Late arrival/leave early: Students who arrive at school after 9:15 a.m. will be marked as absent for the morning. Students who leave before 1:00 p.m. will be marked as absent for the afternoon.
Regular attendance at school is very important to your child’s success. Please arrange vacations and trips during non-school days. If your child is going to be missing school because of a vacation or trip, this needs to be approved by the Principal prior to the absence.
You will be notified when your child’s attendance records indicate he/she has missed more than 10% of the school days in session. If the absences continue, a medical provider’s statement verifying that your child is not to be in school may be required.
If a child becomes ill or is injured at school, the parent will be notified. If emergency treatment is required, we will notify your family physician or call 911 as well as notify you. Please call the health office to update or change your emergency information throughout the school year.
The White Bear Lake School District offers many after school activities during the school year. Please check out the community services page on the White Bear Lake School District for upcoming after school activities. Parents are responsible to pick up their child on time.
Your child's school day begins at 7:55 AM and ends at 2:15 PM. Students should not arrive to school before 7:30, as we do not have staff for student supervision before this time. The doors will lock at 7:45. If your child arrives to school after 7:45, please bring your child into the front office for check-in.
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In the White Bear Lake school district and at Otter Lake, we believe each child is responsible for their own behavior and it is our responsibility as adults to help them develop self-control and responsibility. We want each child to develop to their fullest potential in an environment that is orderly, safe, and secure. The Otter Lake staff has established Behavior Expectations for lunchroom, recess, bus, and hallway behavior. In addition, each classroom teacher has a set of guidelines for their room.
Otter Lake School Behavior Expectations
Students are expected to be Respectful, Responsible, and Ready to learn each day. Otter Lake staff teach and reinforce these expectations.
If a student makes a choice that does not demonstrate respectful, responsible, or ready behavior, the student will be supported by adults in a way that helps the student learn.
Rules and Expectations are taught for all areas of the building.
Otter Lake Elementary School
Behavior Expectations
Respectful
Responsible
Ready
Hallways
Voices off
Keep hands and feet to self
Walk
Cafeteria
Be polite
Inside voices
Clean up
Listen to the teachers
Playground
Take turns
Follow the rules
Be safe
Restroom
Voices off
Flush toilet
Wash hands
Return to class quickly
Bus Line
Inside voices
Stay in your own space
Follow directions
Listen to the patrols
Bus
Be respectful of the bus driver and other passengers
Remain seated and facing forward
Use inside voices
Keep hands, feet, and other objects to self
Keep the aisles clear
Students who do not follow the Rules are reminded with a referral process. Referral infractions are categorized into Minors and Majors.
Minor Infractions are handled in the classroom or with our school psychologist. Infractions are documented so that we can track student needs and provide the necessary supports.
Major Infractions are handled by the Principal or Dean of Students. When a consequence is necessary, it will be worked out with the child and the adult in charge. The consequence will be: a)related to the behavior, b)delivered respectfully, and c) be reasonable for the age of the child. Consequences are delivered using a progressive discipline model meaning that frequency of an infraction will require more serious consequences to help the child learn that such behavior is not acceptable in school.
Consequences may include, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:
· Warning (verbal or non-verbal)
· Conference with student
· Parent contact
· Removal from class
· Loss of privileges
· Restitution
· Referral to police or other law enforcement
· Noon Detention
· In-school suspension
· Out-of school suspension
For a more complete overview of the White Bear Lake Area Schools expectations for student conduct, please refer to the Student Discipline section (Policy 506) of the District Policy Book for Safe Schools.
Students in grades 4 and 5 may ride their bikes to school if they live in the attendance area that borders the school (north of of Co. Rd. H2 and west of Otter Lake Road). Students who live outside the area that borders the school are asked NOT to ride their bikes to school. Crossing major roads is very dangerous because of the high volume and dangerous nature of the traffic.
Students are responsible for securing and locking their bikes to the bike racks located behind the school by door G and the gymnasium. Wearing a bike helmet is required.
If you are having a party for your child, please mail the invitations or phone parents. Students will not be allowed to pass out invitations at school. To help ensure the safety of students with food allergies birthday treats, including store purchased, are not allowed.
Our district offers a nutritious breakfast for students at the start of each day. Students on the Free and Reduced Lunch program eat free. Breakfast is served at 7:30 a.m. Students receiving breakfast will get their breakfast from the cafeteria and then proceed to their classroom to eat. School starts at 7:45, at which time breakfast will no longer be served.