Welcome to Greenbrier Primary School, the home of the "Little Panthers" with the most "Pride".  We are excited about the return of many former and "new" students, parents and staff.  Greenbrier Primary has a rich tradition of providing its students with a safe, happy, and positive environment in which to grow and learn.  Hence our school's them is Growing with Panther Pride.  As indicated by our mission statement, we realize that the primary years establish the foundation for your child's education journey.  Therefore, we invite you, our parents and community to invest in your child's education future and in your school at large. Together we can ensure their overall success so they will become lifelong learners.  Please feel free to call or stop by to see us if we can be of assistance.

Charles E. Barnes III

Principal

THE SCHOOL DAY

The school day begins at 7:45 a.m. and ends at 2:14 p.m.  There are two kindergarten sessions daily, A.M. and a P.M. session.  A. M. kindergartners and preschoolers attend from 7:45 - 11:00 a.m.  P.M. kindergartners attend from 11:00 - 2:14 p.m.  Students receive instruction in the four core subjects:   English, Mathematics, Science and History / Social Studies.  Additionally, technology instruction, guidance, music, art and physical education are schedule routinely for first and second grade classes.  Students visit the Media Center weekly to checkout books and receive instruction.  First and Second graders are served lunch in the cafetorium and kindergartners bring a snack.  Weather permitting, recess is held outside.

Regular school attendance is extremely important.  The attendance of our students is an important indicator of school effectiveness, and is used as part of our evaluation by the state of Virginia.  Time for regular planning and teaching is reduced when teachers must review and provide "make-up" activities for students who have been absent.  For these reasons, please do not plan vacations or out-of-town visits during the time school is in session.  Such absences, without prior approval of the administration, will be recorded as UNEXCUSED.  Excessive tardiness (10 or more) will also negate an otherwise perfect / good attendance. When you realize that your child will be absent, please notify the school on our Attendance line:  436 -3079 before 9:00 a.m.  Please record the following information:

ATTENDANCES AND ABSENCES

Your child's full name

Your child's teacher's name

Your name and relationship to the student

The reason for the absence (i.e.:  illness)

Length of absence, if known (if more than one day)

 We are required by law to follow-up on daily absences.  An unreported absence (either by phone or note) is recorded in the central office database as unexcused.  By using the attendance line to report absences, you help to keep other  school lines open and limit the number of absences that must be investigated.  A written excuse is also required upon return.

DRESS CODE

Students are expected to dress appropriately for school.  Beach sandals, bareback and open - toed shoes are not permitted as the pose a safety threat, especially on the playground.  Tops must be full length.  Shorts may be worn; however, very short shorts are not allowed.  Please remember, our building is climate controlled.             

TRANSPORTING STUDENTS TO AND FROM SCHOOL

Parents who drive student sot school are asked to drop them off at the front entrance of the building between 7:30 and 7:40 a.m.  PLEASE DO NOT DROP CHILDREN OFF BEFORE 7:30 a.m. as supervision cannot be provided until that time.  Only day care vans are allowed to enter the front parking lot between 1:50 p.m. and 2:10 p.m. each day.  Parents picking up students are asked to park in the side parking lot during this time.  Parking in the fire lane or bus loading areas is not permitted at ANYTIME.  if you part there, you do so at the risk of being ticketed, as you pose a major safety hazard for our students and school.

The traffic at the front of our school becomes very congested each morning awhile parents are dropping off students.  A staff member is on duty every morning in the front parking lot to see that students get into the building quickly and safely.  In order to ease the traffic congestions, we ask that you let your children out of the car and continue on once they have reached the sidewalk.  For the safety of our children, we ask that you not pass another care that has stopped in front of you in the parking lot.  This practice could lead to a child being hit by a car.  If you need additional time to unload things from your car or you need to come into the building, please park on the side lot.

To pick up your child during the school day or at dismissal time, you must report to the office to officially sign him / her out (with exception to the students who are listed on our permanent pick up list - inquire in the office).  Afternoon dismissal will begin promptly at 2:10 p.m.  Students who are picked up on a periodic basis should be put on our "Call List" prior to 2:10 p.m.  Those student will be released to meet you in the office.  Students on the permanent pick up list, day care riders and walkers will be released to assigned staff in the library.  Upon your arrival to pick them up, a staff member located in the front hall will check your identification and then radio to the library for your child to meet you.  Please do not go to the classroom, library, or bus ramp to pick up your child.  Again, remember that parking is not allowed in the fire lane or bus loading area ANYTIME.  There are ample parking spaces in the parking lot to the left of the school as you come in.

VISITORS

Parents are not only welcome to visit the school at all times but are urged to participate in the academic and extra curricular programs.  Visitors likewise are welcome.  For the safety of our students and staff, all parents and visitors regardless of their purpose , should first go the the office, make themselves known, and state the purpose of their visit.  A visitors badge must be obtained and worn by anyone who travels within the main school building.  Parents should leave lunch money, homework, or other forgotten items in the office and we will see that your child gets these items.  If you wish to have lunch with your child, it is helpful to notify the school a day ahead of time so that you can notify the cafeteria manager to prepare and extra lunch.  Students are not allowed to bring younger siblings to school to visit for the day.  This proves a hindrance and is disruptive to classroom instruction.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS

Parent volunteers are a valued asset to our instructional and overall school program.  We strongly encourage you to find opportunities to participate in your child's educational experiences.  Simply make your teacher and other resource / support staff aware of your availability and they will gladly schedule times for you to be involved in classroom and extracurricular activities.  Again, we value and appreciate your support.

CLASSROOM OBSERVATIONS

Parents who wish to visit and / or  observe classroom instruction must pre - arrange visits with your child' teacher and / or principal.  The procedure will help minimize distractions and disruptions to our daily instructional program.  On routine days of instruction, we would not want to have more than one observation / visit in any given classroom.  Therefore, unannounced as well as lengthy, (all - day) visits are not permissible unless approved by the administration.

SCHOOL CLOSING FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER

Please turn into radio station WFOS 88.7, or cable channel WCTV channel 48, or WCPS channel 46 for the most up to date information regarding school closings.  If it becomes necessary to dismiss school early due to inclement weather (snow or heat), extended power failure of lack of water, it is extremely important that your child knows where to go and what to do.  As you might imagine, our school office and phone lines become very busy when there is an early school closing announcement.  It would be virtually impossible for us to receive calls for all our parents and give messages to all of our students.  For this reason, we ask that every parent complete an Emergency School Closing Plan for their child.  Please return this form to your child's teacher along with the G. R. P. Student Update.  In the event that school opening time is delayed due to inclement weather,  please do not drop off students at school until the designated time.  Faculty and staff members may also be delayed in reporting the school and therefore, there may not be adequate supervision for the students.

 When schools are closed due to weather conditions, the following codes will be used by those announcing school closings:

Code Red - school and offices are closed for all personnel except those designed essential personnel.

Code Yellow - Schools are closed.  Administrators and twelve - month personnel are expected to report.

Code Green - Schools are closed for students only.  Teacher and other personnel are expected to report.

PARENT COMMUNICATIONS

Effective education of a child requires cooperation between parents and teachers.  Parents should be informed regularly of their child's progress in school.  In addition to report cards, which are sent home a the end of each nine - week period, teachers are to use the Interim Progress Reports and classroom newsletters.  Teachers are encouraged to communicate frequently with parents about the activities of the students.

Conferences should be held with the parents of each child by the end of the first nine weeks.  Other conferences are arranged as necessary to keep parents informed.  Parents wishing to schedule a conference may contact the teacher by a phone call to the office or a note to the teacher.  Teachers will arrange the times for the conferences.  Teachers are not able to hold conferences during the instructional day.  Conferences and phone contacts will be made during the teacher planning time or after school.

Checked papers sent home on a regular basis can give parents an indication of their child's progress in school.  Papers should go home at least once a week (Thursday) in the schoolwork folder.  There is a place for parents to sign indicating that they have seen these papers.

DISCIPLINE AND SCHOOL RULES

It is imperative that students at Greenbrier Primary School understand the school rules and follow those rules.  We do not fulfill our responsibility to students when we do not require them to obey reasonable rules of conduct.  School climate can be positively affected if all teachers take responsibility for all students, at all times and enforce necessary rules fairly and consistently.                                            

Discipline is...

• training that enables students to make appropriate choices in a climate of warmth and support.
• clearly defined school rules and classroom limits with incremental incentives and consequences consistently carried out.
• effect communications techniques that foster positive relationships.
• Specific reinforcement of desired behaviors.
• Self - management in a variety of environments.

Our philosophy on behavior is...

• Children can behave appropriately.
• All children have human dignity and worth.
• Persuasion is more powerful than fear.
• Influences are greater than control.
• Behavior is maintained by its consequences.

School Rules:

• Remain in assigned area.
• Keep hands, feet and objects to self.
• Be responsible:  Be on time; be ready; complete all assigned work.
• Use common sense - if you think there is a chance you might get hurt of hurt someone else, "Don't Do It!"
• Use only kind words towards others.  No intentionally unkind statements will be allowed (making fun of a person' name, appearances, or abilities).
• Respect the right of others to learn.  Behave at all times in a way that does not disrupt or interfere with the rights of others to learn.

CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

The curriculum and instructional program at Greenbrier Primary is based upon the Virginia State Standards of Learning issued by the Department of Education as well as the additional objectives set forth by Chesapeake Public Schools.  The areas of instruction include English, Math, Science, and Social Studies.    

English

English instruction is administered for a minimum of two and a half hours daily.  The Balanced Literacy Model is used in grades Kindergarten through Second.  This model focuses on balancing the students reading and writing instruction through Guided Reading, Shared Reading, Reading Aloud, Independent Reading, Shared Writing, Interactive Writing, Writer's Workshop, and Independent Writing.  Balanced Literacy allows the classroom teacher to provide differentiated instruction for the varying levels of student abilities.  The majority of daily instruction is presented in an integrated fashion that includes math, science, and social studies.  Because of it's close correlation with the new standards, the Scott-Foresman Literature - Based Reading program has been implemented at the primary level in Chesapeake Public Schools.      

Math

Curriculum guides which correlate to the SOLS and assessments are assigned to each teacher to guide daily math instruction.  All kindergarten, first and second grade classes use the Silver-Burdett/Ginn textbook, Mathematic and Heaths' Everyday Counts Calendar Program.  Teachers begin the day's math lesson with the "calendar" which teaches and reinforces a great number of math skills.  Math manipulatives and a variety of games are utilized in instruction daily in order to assist students in transitioning successfully to paper and pencil tests.

Science

Students have the opportunity to participate in many hands on science activities through AIMS, Field trips, experiments, classroom activities, leveled books and teacher created units on the various science objectives.  Our goal is to relate science to the world in which the students live to better help them understand the science concepts.  Where possible, science is integrated in to the English curriculum  The Discovery Lab is a wonderful resource that we have to help reinforce skills.        

Social Studies

Wherever possible, objective in history and social science are integrated into the English curriculum. This approach brings relevance to what could seem like abstract concepts to primary students .  Teachers use literature to make people and places a reality to students with the help of maps, globes, and the relevance of day - to - day life.  We promote good citizenship through our social studies standards.

CLASS PARTIES AND TREATS

There will be two class parties, winter holiday and end of the year.  Winter holiday parties will be held during the third week of December and the end of the year party will be held during the last week of school.  treats may be handed out during lunch or at the close of the school day in observance of Halloween, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, and Spring Break.  Teachers will meet with room mothers to make party arrangements.  Money cannot be solicited from students for gifts.