School Policy Guide

School attendance is a priority at Emerson. The district goal is for all students to attend at or above 94% - which is no more than 10 absences for the entire school-year excused or unexcused. Any time a student will be absent, a parent/guardian must contact the school to have the absence excused. This can be done via phone 608-204-2002 or through the Parent Portal in Infinite Campus. 

All excused absences must fit under one of the district’s approved absence codes: illness, medical appointment (please send your child to school before and/or after their appointment whenever possible), other appointment, hospitalization, inclement weather, religious holiday, bereavement, or family emergency (has an immediate family member with a serious illness or medical condition; and student is needed at home). If none of these categories explain your child’s absence, they can be excused using a Pre-Approved Absence. Each student can use no more than 10 Pre-Approved absences in a school-year. 

If you have questions about whether your child is too sick to come to school, please contact our health office at 608-204-2007. We are here to help all students succeed. Please contact us if there is anything we can do to help ensure that your child is at school every day ready to learn! 

We focus on teaching positive behaviors to set all students up for success academically and socially. We know that for students to be successful, we need to ensure we are teaching our expectations and practicing them throughout the year. We celebrate our success throughout the year and reteach or review lessons as needed. When issues do occur, we follow the MMSD Behavior Education Plan (BEP). 

As you will see in the BEP we have a progressive discipline model. At Emerson, if a student chooses to display a level two or higher behavior such as being physical with another or leaving the classroom without permission and refusing to return, we will respond in the following manner:

• The 1st time - the student will be reminded of the expectations and will define a way to restore any harm that may have occurred.
• The 2nd time - the student will be retaught the expectations and co-construct a contract defining the positive behavior and the result that should occur if they are to break the expectation and contract.
• The 3rd time - the student will be held to the terms of the contract and co-construct another. If the student is in 4th or 5th grade the option of an in-school suspension will be applied. 

At Emerson we take the time to teach and model the expectations of being safe, being learners, and being positive members of the community with every student. We have the mentality that we assume nothing and teach everything. Our response to undesired behavior will include conversations with students to seek the root cause of the behavior. When applicable, reteaching of the expectations or strategies that will help the student the next time they have a similar need will occur.

If your child is at least ten (10) years old and wishes to ride a bicycle to school, please request a permission slip from the office. Students are encouraged to wear helmets and must lock their bikes in the rack on school grounds. Bicycles are permitted for the purpose of transportation to and from school only and are not to be ridden during school hours. Please take the time to check your child’s bike to be sure it is in good condition and to review bicycle safety rules with your child. Students are expected to walk their bikes once on school grounds for the safety of other students. Permission slips are available in the school office and must be returned to the office before a child may ride to school. Thank you for making bicycle safety a priority!

Roller skates, roller blades, skateboards and scooters are not permitted on school grounds during the school day.

Food Services Website is  https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/food-service. On there you will find the following information:

• Menus
• School Cafe account setup
• Free and Reduced application

Breakfast is available to students 7:20-7:35. Students K-5th grade may get breakfast in the cafeteria then go to their lockers and classrooms. 4K will have breakfast available in their classrooms. Breakfast is only available until 7:35 when school begins. If students arrive late to school but haven’t eaten, we will provide them with a granola bar.

Meals are tracked and charged through the School Cafe program. Students paying full-price for meals are charged $1.85 for breakfast, $3.05 for lunch, and 50 cents for a la carte milk. Students who qualify for reduced-priced meals get free breakfast and are charged 40 cents for lunch. Milk is included with school lunches. Students who qualify for free or reduced priced meals are charged 50 cents if they take a milk separate from a meal. 

Students have twenty minutes reserved for their lunch time. During this time they have the opportunity to select their choice of fresh fruits and vegetables from our garden bar as well as select at least two other food groups from the rest of the buffet style serving area. We are also proud to say that our milk cartons are recycled.

If your child has a cell phone or other personal tech device that they use for safety before 7:20 a.m and after 2:30 p.m, it should be off and away. We do not guarantee the safety of any personal devices.Devices such as smartwatches may be worn but must only be used as a watch between the school hours of 7:20 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. If a student’s tech device is seen or heard, without the permission of a staff member to use during the school day:

• The 1st time - the student will be reminded that the device needs to be off and away. Away can be in their locker or in a chosen adult's possession. 
• The 2nd time - the device will be held in the possession of an adult each day upon the students arrival and then returned at dismissal.
• The 3rd time - the device will be held in the Principal’s Office until a guardian is able to pick it up and has scheduled a meeting to create a plan in partnership with the school.

If you need to reach your child with a message, please call the main office (608) 204-2000 and we will be certain to share the message. Students are often worried that their parents will need to get a hold of them, but students may not use their phones during school hours. We also need to have communication between the office and families when there are changes to an afterschool plan. These may not be only communicated to a student. Please reach out to your student’s teacher if you would like to have a proactive plan

MSCR provides after-school programming at Emerson Elementary from school dismissal time until 5:30pm. For specific information about MSCR please contact Nick Patterson at 608-204-2060.

Determining student classroom placement is a complex and lengthy process. In general, we know our students well when making classroom placement decisions. We take many factors into account. These factors include balancing strengths and weaknesses, personality factors, providing a good multicultural mix and a good match with the teacher.  We strive for balanced classrooms. Each spring, parents can request to provide information they believe will be helpful in this process. As enrollment numbers change up until school starts, parents will typically be notified of class placement around the end of August. This helps “getting it right the first time” as much as possible. In the past, early communication of class placement was later changed due to enrollment changes.

In kindergarten, students will be assigned a temporary teacher and classroom to start the year.  We will take up to two weeks to learn about students.  We will communicate student permanent classroom placements to parents by the end of the second week.

At Emerson, we understand the great responsibility of caring for and educating your children. We know that this cannot happen without clear communication from us at school and from families and caregivers at home. We commit to sharing information about your child and we invite you to share with us.

If you, as a parent or caregiver, has an issue, please contact the person with the most direct contact with your child, your child’s teacher. If that issue cannot be resolved, then please contact the principal or other staff. Just a reminder that all health questions or needs should be directed to our school nurse, Solvei Adams, the Health Office and all enrollment or afterschool changes should be directed to our Main Office.

In the 2019-20 school year, we incorporated the Standard Response Protocol into our emergency procedures in line with guidance from the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Office of School Safety and national recommendations on school safety. It incorporates many of the concepts we already use but offers more clarity and consistency in terminology among schools and first responders across the country. Each school year, students will receive age-appropriate instruction on what to do in each of these scenarios through lesson plans, slide presentations, class discussions, videos, and more.

The most important way for parents/guardians to be involved with their child’s education is by spending time each day with their child and by reading to them. Many parents/guardians also share their talents and interests by assisting teachers with classroom projects and activities. Additionally, if you are interested we have a PTO you may want to join.

To be an MMSD volunteer, you must apply and be approved on the Madison Metropolitan - Volunteer Tracker through the App-Garden website. We regularly post volunteer opportunities through the volunteer app garden and encourage families and community members to connect and support our school through volunteering. 

Field Trips are an important and fun extension of our curriculum. Each grade can choose field trips that enhance the curriculum and learning experience for all students. You will be notified of these by the classroom teacher.

Emerson students have the opportunity to eat breakfast at school before the start of the school day. Breakfast service hours are 7:35–7:48 a.m. each morning. 

Students are given a minimum of 20 minutes to eat lunch.  Students also have a 30 minute recess. Specific lunch and recess times for each grade level are available in the office and provided by teachers.

We have an obligation to offer safe, healthy food in school to all of our students. While we discourage bringing any foods containing peanuts, families will be advised if their classroom is an allergy aware classroom where at least one student has a food allergy. 

There are No Soda or Caffeinated beverages allowed for students in school at any time. 

Candy or sugary items should also not be at school. If a students' lunch has sugary items they may have one serving during lunch. We measure a serving by the size of the child's hand. Their hand should be able to close with the treat fitting inside the palm of their hand. If they were to bring something bigger, they can eat one serving. The rest will go home in their lunchbox. 

Please view the District’s Health Classroom Snack list for suggestions for Birthday and other shared snacks for kids. Please ask your teacher or contact the Health Office for suggestions regarding ideas for non-food celebrations.

Nutrition Guidelines for Healthy Snacks
In order to qualify as a healthy snack, the snack should:

• Contain 200 calories or less per serving
• Include less than 2 grams of saturated fat
• Include zero (0) grams of trans fat
• Contain less than 200mg of sodium per serving
• Include zero (0) grams of added sugars
• Have a whole grain, fruit, or vegetable listed first in the ingredient list

Water is always allowed and non-breakable water bottles labeled with your child’s name are recommended. Students may only drink water when they are in the classroom.

Staff supervision begins at 7:20 am. Students should not be on school grounds before 7:20 am. 

If your child’s after school plan is for them to walk home on their own, we ask that they walk home at dismissal time. After 2:45 kids may come back to the playground. This helps us to successfully get all children where they need to go whether it be walking home, picked up or on the bus. 

If a child is picked up by an adult, the adult can supervise their child on the playground. If there are disagreements between children after school hours the school is not responsible. Our playground is unique in that during school hours, it is our school playground only for students, and then after school hours, it is a public park. Behaviors should be managed between families just as they would be at any other public play location.

All students go outside for recess everyday unless there is inclement weather. Inclement weather includes storms, hard rain, or a windchill of 0* or lower. All other times students will go outside so it is important for students to be prepared for the weather. If you need help to get winter snow gear, please reach out to your teacher. Students will not be kept inside for recess by parent request unless there is a medical need documented by the student’s medical provider that has been discussed with the Health Office.

Parent/Teacher conferences are a critical time to share how your student is progressing at Emerson Elementary. There are conferences in Fall and Spring. Should you need to meet at other times throughout the year to discuss your child’s progress at school, please contact your child’s teacher to schedule a time to meet. If you have concerns or want to meet your child’s teacher, please email or call to set an appointment.Our strong partnership with parents/guardians increases the success of each student.

To ensure the safety of your student, please communicate with the school office if your child will be leaving school early. Those picking up a student should come to Door 3A by the parking lot and buzz the office in order to be admitted into the building and to sign the student out. We will then call the classroom to have the student sent down to the door to meet you. Please remember that anyone picking up a student must be authorized and listed in Infinite Campus. 

To ensure all students’ safety, there are NO pick-ups in the last 15 minutes of the day. That is 2:15-2:30 Tuesday-Friday and 12:55-1:10 Mondays. All families will be asked to wait until dismissal if they buzz the door after 2:15 or 12:55 on Mondays.

Emerson School’s Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is comprised of invested parents and staff who want to actively support Emerson’s community. You are encouraged to become involved in this organization both by attending the meetings and also by volunteering your time to participate in jointly sponsored events which may include: evening family events, classroom volunteers, and fundraising. Meetings are held in the Library from 6-7:30 p.m. usually on the second Tuesday of each month. Child care is provided. Be an active part of this important group to make a difference in your child’s education.

All students at Emerson attend Related Arts classes that we like to call Specials. Each week, students have 60 minutes of Art, 90 minutes of Physical Education, 60 minutes of General Music, and 60 minutes of Reach. Students also visit the library as a class once a week. Reach classes include STEM activities, leadership, digital citizenship, and much more. Our specials are a strong part of our curriculum. 

Families play a key role in school safety. Detailed information on district safety and security, including how we communicate with you in an emergency can be found at madison.k12.wi.us/safety. The district uses the Emergency Procedure - Standard Response Protocol (SRP). These protocols are taught and practiced to all students. You can find more information by visiting the website. 

Each school year, we must practice some safety drills including fire drills as well as other safety drills. All families will receive information about the safety drills when students are learning about them, and will receive notice when we plan these drills. 
If you would like to visit your student’s classroom or talk with a staff member in person, it is best to schedule an appointment.

All staff are engaged in supporting students and want to honor your time and keep the students learning. If dropping off or picking up something for your child there is no need to schedule an appointment, but we will keep the item in the office and get it to the child. When you need to come into school while students are present you should use Door 3A which is located off the parking lot on Dayton Street. There is a button that will alert the office of your presence.

When greeted by the office staff, as a safety measure, please provide your name and the intent of your visit. The office staff will admit you and staff will greet you at the landing at the top of the stairs so they can assist you with what you need.
 

• Main Office - (608) 204-2000
• Attendance - (608) 204-2002
• Principal - Jessica Awe (608) 204-2003
• Secretary - Erika Cuazitl McGee (608-204-2000)
• Health Office - Nancie Cotter and Solvei Adams (608) 204-2007
• Social Worker - Caroline Osgood (608) 204-2006
• School Psychologist - Allison Samb (608) 204-2073
• Family Liaison - Pam Muralles 
• Village Builder - PJ Pierson

Monday
7:20 Doors open
7:35 School Begins
1:10 Dismissal

Tuesday-Friday
7:20 Doors open
7:35 School Begins
2:30 Dismissal

4K (Tuesday-Friday)
7:35 am - 2:30 pm

The school office is staffed weekdays 7:00-3:00. If you have a need or appointment to meet with someone outside of these times, please make arrangements to have someone meet you at the door. There will be no one to remotely open the door.

The School Improvement Plan (SIP) is the driving force for all of our work. This plan defines our school’s targeted work for the year to raise achievement for all students. It communicates where our school needs to go, what actions we will take to get there, and what resources we need to do it. It is created by the School Leadership Team with input from the staff, district administration, families and community members. If you have ideas of what we could improve upon, please let the principal know. Our current School Improvement Plan is available on our website.

For safety precautions, all adults should check-in the office first. In nearly all cases, students enter the school by themselves. Staff will help students get to class or to the office. Please do not go directly to classrooms.

Yes, traffic patterns are less than ideal.  Please keep safety first and make the best of it! A student was killed at another school because he ran into the road to get into a car at dismissal.  Please make safety our top priority!

• Option 1 Drop-off/pick-up location:  7th street, school side

• Option 2:  Dayton street circle (see map below)

• Option 3:  Park on side street and walk student to/from Emerson

• Note: students enter through Door 3 in the morning.  After the tardy bell, they enter through the main entrance (Door 3A).

  Do	Do not
  wait patiently be a role model stay in your car until you help your child get into the car park legally  students enter/exit car from the sidewalk side students only cross the road in the crosswalk	leave your vehicle unattended. You can get a ticket idle or run your car while parking for more than 5 minutes.  This violates city ordinance and pollutes the air park on E. Johnson St.  (Buses only) double park or park on the non parking side of 7th street students enter car in the middle of the road

Emerson holds several special events throughout the year. Family volunteers are always welcome and needed at these events. Please contact the school office or the PTO if you are interested in helping. A large percentage of events scheduled are on the school calendar. Please reference classroom newsletters and the Emerson family newsletter for updates or revisions. You may also call the school office to verify dates/times of the following events 

Open House - Come in to meet your child’s teachers and visit their classroom. Learn more about Emerson School by participating in our scavenger hunt. Be prepared, we like to take pictures of our beautiful Emerson Families. Make sure to bring your best smile! 

Block Party - We look forward to our 3rd annual Brentwood Block Party in Spring! 

Book Bowl - Fourth and fifth grade students participate in a tri-school, district competition focused on questions based from a dozen books that school teams have read and discussed together. 

Book Fair - Sponsored by Emerson’s PTO and the school library, this is an annual fundraising event. Scholastic Books provides books, posters, bookmarks and other items for sale on the day of the fall Parent/Teacher Conference. Students may visit to preview books the day before at the Book Fair set up in the auditorium. All are welcome to come and shop anytime during the Parent/Teacher Conference hours. 

Emerson Family Variety Show - Either come to perform or come to watch a wide range of amazing performances. Emerson definitely has talent! 

Popcorn Sales – One Friday a month, PTO volunteers make popcorn. The PTO collects an annual donation at the beginning of the year. Proceeds go toward popcorn and PTO projects. Volunteers are needed to pop the corn Thursday after school or Friday mornings from 8:00-10:00 a.m. 

Family Fun Night - This is an annual event sponsored by the Emerson PTO. It features games and prizes for all ages, plus pizza, popcorn, and other refreshments. The entire family is welcome.

Fine Arts Nights K/1, 2/3, and 4/5- Sponsored through our Music and Art classes, students perform songs and display artwork for families and friends. Each performance is followed by a light reception in the school cafeteria.

Emerson Beautification Day Fall/Spring - Typically 6 weeks into the school year and 6 weeks before the school year ends, Emerson PTO, families and community members join together on a Saturday morning to give the Emerson grounds a good face lift by trimming, cleaning, fixing, building and planting items around the school. Enjoy great breakfast items, taste test the Eagles’ Roost Coffee, meet new families/community members and experience some light physical activity all to support the Emerson Beautification Project. 

Spelling Bee - Fourth and fifth graders compete for the opportunity to be the Emerson representative at the annual city Spelling Bee. 

Science Night - Sponsored by our Downtown Kiwanis partners, families participate in various science presentations provided by many community volunteers. A light supper is provided before the science presentation rotations. 

ABC Countdown - To engage students in the last weeks of school, we have an ABC countdown, which involves a special activity / event for each letter of the alphabet. 

Fun in the Field Day. This very special day occurs during the last week of school to celebrate our Positive Playground. The afternoon begins with a pep rally and then students rotate through stations filled with fun activities to promote a positive playground and an active lifestyle. It is a great way to end the school year. 

School Dance – Join us for a great night time event with your family! Enjoy a light supper and dancing to the music from the DJ in the school cafeteria. Students love this special night. 

School Picnic - Sponsored by the Emerson PTO, Emerson families and community members come together to enjoy a picnic-style cookout on the Emerson playground. Bring your favorite blanket or lawn chair and celebrate a great school year and summer ahead.

Fifth Grade Promotion – On the last day of school we say “farewell” to our graduating fifth grade students with a special fifth grade recognition and celebration reception.  

It is very important that students bring only the things they need for learning at school. To avoid classroom disruption, theft and/or loss, items such as electronic devices, personal music players, trading cards and toys should NOT be brought to school. Fidgets can be considered tools or toys. If your student is in need of a fidget to assist their learning, classroom teachers need to be made aware of this accommodation by the family so expectations can be shared and the tool does not become a toy.

All students’ property and any outdoor clothing should be labeled with their name. Please be sure to have your student check the lost and found rack in the hall outside the cafeteria when they are missing something. For smaller items such as jewelry, keys and glasses, please check with the office. Adults are welcome to check the lost and found for their student’s property whenever they are visiting and guests are being admitted.

Like other MMSD schools, Emerson uses a balanced approach to using technology as a powerful tool for learning while being intentional about appropriate screen time.  In general, Emerson students are taught and expected to be safe, responsible, and respectful when using technology and follow the District’s Acceptable Use Guidelines (Board Policy 3721).

Like other MMSD schools, Emerson uses a balanced approach to using technology as a powerful tool for learning while being intentional about appropriate screen time.  In general, Emerson students are taught and expected to be safe, responsible, and respectful when using technology and follow the District’s Acceptable Use Guidelines (Board Policy 3721).

Student drop off is 7:20-7:35 at Door 1A near 7th street and the flagpole. When dropping off students, please pull forward as far as possible. Students should exit the car on the RIGHT side near the sidewalk. We ask that adults NOT get out of the car. Staff members will be there to greet students and help them out if needed. If you would prefer to walk up with your child, please park outside of the drop off area and use the crosswalk to cross the street. 

On the first day of school all Kindergarten through fifth grade students will meet their teachers on the blacktop of the playground. 4K students will always meet their teacher by Door 1A that is by the flagpole on 7th street.

The designated drop off and pick up site is at the flagpole on 7th Street. 

The doors open at 7:20 to greet students. If you arrive after 7:35, students are considered tardy and need to be checked in. From 7:35-7:50 there is someone assigned to the door to check in students at Door 1A near the flagpole. All students arriving after 7:50 enter school through Door 3A, off the parking lot where they can be signed in by their guardian at the landing.

Please use the sidewalk and crosswalk at all times. For everyone’s safety, please do not park or drop off students on Johnson Street or in the staff parking lot unless the ADA accessible entrance is needed. Observe the speed limit. Slow down to 20 mph when children are present. 

• Information about bus routes and transportation is available at https://www.madison.k12.wi.us/transportation/emerson-bus-routes.
• City of Madison crossing guards are present each school day in the morning and at afternoon dismissal     
• 7th/Johnson St Matt Sands 7:00-8:00, Monday 1:00-2:00, Tuesday-Friday 2:30-3:10
• North/Johnson St open 7:10-7:50, Monday 1:05-1:45, Tuesday-Friday 2:20-3:20
• Review the annual school Traffic Safety Notice from the City of Madison for additional information.

Dismissal is at 2:30 pm (1:10 pm on Mondays). Teachers will need a confirmed dismissal plan for all students 4K-5. If the plan for your student changes, families must call the Emerson office to let us know. Each day after school, we check students' names as they get on the bus or other rides.

We will not accept only hearing from the child if the plan is different, but rather need adult confirmation to the office of the plan. If you need to reach your child with a message, please call the main office (608) 204-2000 and we will be certain to share the message. Changes to an afterschool plan should be communicated to the office and the teacher.

Bus transportation is available to students that live in the Emerson Elementary Attendance Area and live further than 1.5 miles from school. 

To ensure everyone’s safety, all adults that do not work at Emerson must check in at the office and receive a pass through Visitor Aware every time that they visit the school. 

Students arriving after 7:50 or being picked-up before dismissal should use Door 3a, off the parking lot. You will be greeted at the buzzer and allowed inside where school staff will meet you at the landing. Parents and guardians do not walk students to their classrooms. If you wish to speak to a teacher, we can share a message with them or help schedule an appointment to meet with them.