About Our School

Classrooms

Featured Programs

Parent Resources

PTSA & CSC

From Kids

History

BROMWELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (214)
2500 East
Fourth Avenue,
80206-4214
(Columbine Street at East Fourth Avenue)

Telephone:
(303) 388-5969
Fax: (720) 424-9355
E-mail: Bromwell@dpsk12.org

Mr. Jonathan Wolfer, Principal

Parent and Student Handbook

This handbook contains important information about our school, the many programs and activities for you take part in, and guidelines to keep our children safe to, from, and at school. Please take the time to review this carefully with your children. I try to be available from 8:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. for your calls. However, should this time not be convenient for you, I’ll do my best to get back to you as soon as possible.

Best wishes for a great year at Bromwell!

Your principal,

Jonathan Wolfer

B.E.A.C. (Bromwell Eagles Always Care)

BEAC has established pillars of character. These pillars are cooperation, respect, honesty, trust, responsibility, and humor. These character traits are taught through classroom activities and consistent reinforcement of caring behaviors. The BEAC program will further be supported through the Olweus Bully Prevention program.

The BEAC Way:

Respect yourself & others.

Always be learning.

The BEAC Rules:

Bromwell students will not bully others.

Eagles help students who are bullied

All of us will include students who are easily left out.

Call an adult when you know someone is being bullied.

Bromwell Community: Bill of Rights

• To work and learn in a pleasant and peaceful environment.

• To be safe at Bromwell School.

• To be treated with compassion and understanding.

• To be appreciated and respected for my individual strengths and uniqueness.

Characteristics of Bromwell Students

• Pay attention in class.

• Have necessary classroom equipment and supplies.

• Complete assignments on time.

• Be helpful to teachers.

• Attend school regularly and arrive on time.

How Bromwell students show kindness and respect to all persons in the school environment:

• Use good manners.

• Work and play fairly. Help others.

• Use appropriate language.

• Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself.

• No name-calling or teasing.

How Bromwell students respect the rights and property of others:

• Obtain permission before using the property of others.

• Take care of and return the property of others.

How Bromwell students help make our school a safe and pleasant place to learn:

• Know and obey school rules.

• Take care of school property and the school grounds.

• Use appropriate tone and level of voice.

• Walk, don't run, when in the building.

Behavior and Conduct Guidelines

Dress Code

Students should come to school looking clean, neat and dressed in a manner that is appropriate and not distracting. Hats are not to be worn inside the school. The Denver Board of Education passed a “Zero Gang Tolerance” policy in 1992 which states that no clothing associated with gangs, including baseball caps, are to be allowed in any DPS school building.

• Students should dress for weather -especially on field trip days.

• Please label all outer garments and your child's backpack with their full name.

Playground Conduct

Our behavioral expectations for students are the same on the playground as they are throughout the school. Generally, students should keep hands and feet to themselves, respect others and their possessions, and follow the rules for each piece of equipment.

On the playground, the following conduct is specifically not allowed:

• Running or chasing on the blacktop.

• Throwing sand, rocks, sticks, or snow.

• Climbing fences or backstops.

• Leaving the playground before school begins or during the lunch hour.

• Using bad language, threats, or racial slurs.

Electronics Policy

While we recognize that the use of cell phones is a convenient way to communicate within families, we are asking students to limit cell phone use to before and after school. If your child needs to contact you during the school day please have them use the school telephones with teacher or office staff permission. Likewise, please limit adult use of cell phones within the school building, and turn your phone to silent when visiting classrooms. We also value the physical activity provided during recess as an important social and emotional release during a long school day and discourage the use of electronics at this time. The electronics policy outlined below includes, but is not limited to, cell phones, Gameboys, Walkmans, and iPods.

Students should have all electronics turned off and in their backpacks from 8:25 a.m.-3:15 p.m.

If a staff member sees a student with an electronic device during school hours he/she will collect the item and return it at the end of the day. The second and subsequent times an electronic device is taken it will be turned into the office and a parent will be asked to pick it up.

Collaborative School Committee (CSC)

Bromwell's CSC is a site-based management team made up of the principal, four teachers, four parents, one classified employee and one community representative. DPS CSCs have responsibilities in the following areas:

• Student Achievement and Behavior. Approve the annual School Improvement Plan (SIP) for the school according to district guidelines, and in collaboration with the school community, based on current objective achievement data provided by the central office and meeting the approval of the appropriate assistant superintendent.

• Budget. Preparing and including in the CSC Committee minutes an annual school budget according to district guidelines that supports the objectives of the SIP, based on the allocation from the Board of Education.

• Relationships. Establishing relationships with parents, community members, civic, service and neighborhood organizations, to increase involvement in the school, and ensure full inclusion of all groups within the school community in the CSC process.

• Safety and Discipline. Reviewing school procedures and policies as a part of the SIP, including a review of the discipline and safety issues at the school: Incorporating, as a part of that review, an analysis of the data on verbal threats and physical harm to teachers, students, and community members.

• Staffing Allocation. Assist the principal by making recommendations concerning the use of the staffing allocation provided to the school by the Board of Education.

• Evaluation of the Principal. Annually evaluating the principal.

Parent-Teacher-Student Association (PTSA)

The activities of the PTSA are achieved through PTSA subcommittees made up of volunteers from the Bromwell school community.

Parents are welcome and encouraged to attend meetings, which are monthly beginning at 6:30 p.m. Check the Bromwell web site for more details.

Volunteering and Visiting

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact our Community Relations Coordinator. The Community Relations Coordinator’s role is to recruit and support the volunteers at Bromwell.

There are many opportunities for parents to support their child’s education at Bromwell. Parents assist in classrooms, on the playground, in the library, and in the lunchroom. Through the PTSA, parents can volunteer for fundraising, educational, and social events. Through the CSC, parents can also participate in setting school policies, enhancing community relations and communications, designing the school improvement plan, reviewing standards, and working with the school budget.

Having volunteers at Bromwell assists the school and community in becoming successful educators of our students. It is important for all volunteers to make their assistance contribute to this goal. As such, when you must bring younger children with you, please be sure that the volunteer activity in which you are participating is appropriate for his/her attendance.

Visiting Bromwell

Ms. Cindy Probst and Ms. Maryann Mendez can be found in the main office located directly to your right when you enter the front door. They are glad to answer any school-related questions you may have. Please sign the VISITOR BOOK whenever visiting Bromwell and immediately upon your arrival. To arrange for a tour of the school, contact our Community Relations Coordinator.

Posting/Hanging Signs on School Property

Please contact Ms. Cindy Probst or Ms. Maryann Mendez prior to hanging any items on the school walls. There are some very specific Fire Department codes that must be adhered to.

School Day

8:00 a.m.* Students can arrive on school grounds

8:25 a.m. Bell rings; students go to classrooms

8:30 a.m. Classes begin

11:30 a.m. Lunch/Recess

12:15 p.m. Classes resume

3:15 p.m. Classes Dismissed

3:30 p.m. Final Bell – Supervision Ends. All unaccompanied students will be asked to wait in the front lobby until their ride arrives. Telephones may be used to contact families at this time.

Students should not arrive at school until 8:00 a.m., as no adult supervision is provided prior to that time.

All students are dismissed promptly at 3:15 p.m. Please pick-up children on time as no supervision is provided after 3:30 p.m., unless they are participating in an approved after school activity or Kaleidoscope Corner.

Note: On very cold or wet days, students will be invited into the building beginning at 8:00.

School Lunches

All students are expected to eat lunch.

• Students are to eat their own lunch and not share with others.

• Label lunch boxes with full name and room number.

• You can pay, in advance, for hot lunches, online! Check out www.mylunchmoney.com and register.

• Students may charge up to two lunches.

• Prices: Hot Lunch -$1.40 Milk $.40

Traffic safety rules

For the safety of our children, please follow these guidelines:

• Park legally and walk to school.

• Teach your children to use the crosswalks.

• Drive south on Columbine and use the drop-off/pick-up lane in front of the school (north side).

• Turn from 3rd Avenue north onto 3rd Place and use the drop-off/pick-up lane in the back of the school by the playground (south side).

• Please pull as far forward as you can in the drop-off/pick-up lanes.

• When picking up your children, be sure to tell them to wait for you near the pick-up area. You wil1 not be allowed to wait in that lane for very long.

• DO NOT double-park.

• DO NOT stop at the stop signs by the crosswalks and wait for your child to get in or out of the car. This blocks traffic, and the cars behind you may try to go around you, creating a dangerous situation for the children.

• DO NOT park in the drop-off/pick-up or bus lanes.

• DO NOT leave your vehicle unattended for any length of time in the drop-off/pick-up or bus lanes.

• DO NOT park or stop in the crosswalks.

• DO NOT do any U-turns.

• DO NOT jay-walk.

Parking

Parking in the Cherry Creek Area has become very difficult. Bromwell has only 35 parking spaces. These spaces are assigned to teachers and staff who arrive early and stay into the evening. Please be considerate by not parking in these designated, numbered spaces. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Attendance

ON-TIME POLICY: Students will be allowed in the classroom entrance door when the morning bell rings at 8:25 a.m.

Students who arrive between 8:25 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. will still be allowed into the building through their usual classroom entrance.

The tardy bell will ring at 8:30 a.m. After that time, students will no longer be admitted by classroom entrance, but must go to the front door for admission to the building. No supervision will be provided at the south entrance.

Students must be signed in at the Front Desk by adults or present a signed, parent note.

Tardy students, who are not signed in by adults, will receive an automatic lunchtime detention.

Excused tardiness will include:

• Illness

• Medical/dental appointment

• Funeral

• Personal reasons/extenuating circumstances (administrative approval)

And must be presented at sign-in.

All written notes must include:

• Student's full name

• Date

• Reason

• A parent/guardian signature

• A daytime phone number where parent/guardian can be reached

• Students who are tardy 3 times during a semester will receive a lunchtime detention.

Students who receive lunchtime detentions (either because they were not signed in by an adult, or because they accumulated 3 tardies) will receive a note to take home that will state, "Your child received a lunchroom detention for tardiness today...." and generally review our tardy policy.

After 2 lunchtime detentions, a letter will be sent home by the Social Worker that will state, "Your child has received 2 lunchtime detentions..." This letter will also review our policy, and it will request a meeting with the family regarding tardiness.

Medical Or Other Appointments. Whenever possible, please schedule your child's medical or other appointments outside of school hours.

Please sign the ATTENDANCE BOOK in the office when leaving early for the day or leaving and returning the same day.

Absences And Tardies

If your child will be absent or tardy, please call THE ATTENDANCE LINE AT 303-534-2027, BOX 303-155-4349 BY 9:00 am. If we don't hear from you, parents/guardians will be called by the school on the day of the absence.

A written note, signed by the parent or guardian, explaining an absence or tardiness must be sent with your child when he/she returns to school.

Please sign the ATTENDANCE BOOK in the office when your child is leaving early, or returning during the school day.

Please contact the school, in advance and in writing, if your child will be going out of town.

Parent/Guardian Leaving Town

Signed instructions must be given to the school whenever a parent or legal guardian leaves their child in the care of another adult while they are out of town.

School Closure/Late Bus Schedule

Announcement of School Closure Or Late Bus Schedule: School closure or late bus schedule will be announced on KOA 850 radio, KBNA 1220 am radio, and local television stations beginning at 5:00 am. The media will be updated at 12:00 noon, so tune in for additional changes or call Bromwell at 303-388-5969.

Late Bus Schedule: Elementary school buses will arrive at bus stops approximately 30 minutes later than usual. However, classes at Bromwell will begin on schedule at 8:30 a.m.

Afternoon Schedule: Depending on the severity of conditions, educational excursions and Balarat may be modified or canceled.

If school is in session and a storm develops during the day, a decision may be made to send students home early. Parents should make previous arrangements so that their children have a place to go if there is no one home on early storm release days. Under no circumstances will a child be sent out into a storm without a place to go.

School Emergencies

It is extremely important that parents know what role to play during these procedures and follow instructions carefully so as not to put themselves or the students and school staff in additional danger. Please review the following information so you will know what to do in the event of an emergency during school hours.

Severe Weather Procedures

Tornado Warning

• All staff and students go to classrooms. Outside activities are brought inside.

• Students will shelter-in-place if needed.

• Do not come to the school as danger is in the school area.

• We will not dismiss until danger is over.

Lightning in the Area

• Outside activities brought inside. We will not dismiss.

Snow

• Watch local T.V. stations to see if DPS is closed. If so, please do not send your children to school.

• Visit the DPS website: www.dpsk12.org

• Activities may be canceled.

Delayed Start/School Closure

To learn if DPS is on a “Delayed Start,” closed due to severe weather, or will dismiss school during the day due to snow, watch local T.V. channels 2,4,7,9, 31, and 50 (Spanish) or listen to radio KOA 850 AM and KJME 1390 AM (Spanish).

If DPS is on a delayed start, elementary buses may arrive ½ hour later than usual.

Evacuation

The most common evacuation is a fire drill.

All students and staff will exit the school and go to a designated location.

Everyone will remain outside until the “All Clear” message is given.

If we need to leave school grounds, we will walk or go by bus to our designated off-site evacuation locations (Good Shepherd School or Waldorf School)

Information will be available at the school or through the DPS Communications Office.

Students will be released to parents or guardians who are listed on the emergency card and have proper I.D.

Lockdown

We will lockdown if danger if danger in our building or neighborhood threatens our students.

• All exterior doors will be locked.

• All interior doors will be locked.

• No one may enter or leave. NO EXCEPTIONS!

• No dismissal until situation is over.

• Watch the news or the DPS web site for the latest information.

• Do not call the school.

• A sign will be posted in door windows stating we are in lockdown.

Inside Days Lunch Schedule
(Implemented when weather conditions are
not conducive for students to be outside)

Generally, students spend a portion of the lunch period outside. When weather prevents students from being outside, an announcement will be made over the PA system at approximately 11:00 a.m. if it is to be an “Inside Day”

Students will then go to the cafeteria on the same schedule. Students who normally go outside first, go to the gym instead. Students are then rotated between the gym and the cafeteria for lunch and recess during the lunch period.

Curriculum and Activities

• After School Enrichment

• Challenge and G/T

• Cultural Awareness Celebration

• Destination Imagination

• Science Fair

• Scouting

• Spring Arts Festival and more...

Homework Philosophy

The Bromwell CSC and faculty believe in the value of homework as a tool to reinforce classroom learning, teach good work habits and teach responsibility. We support Denver Public Schools policy IKB-Homework, which establishes minimum amounts of homework for grades K-5.

• Kindergarten and 1st Grade: 10-15 minutes one or two days per week

• Grade 2: 10-20 minutes, two days per week

• Grade 3: 15-25 minutes, two days per week

• Grade 4: 15-30 minutes, two or three days per week

• Grade 5: 20-30 minutes, three or four days per week.

Each classroom teacher designs his or her own homework plan. Make sure you understand the teacher’s policy, especially the section on consequences for failure to complete homework on time. Most teachers cover this topic at “Back to School” night. It is your responsibility, as a parent, to understand the teacher’s policy and to make sure your student understands it as well.

How much should parents help? Different teachers have different attitudes regarding parental assistance with homework and special projects. Some prefer to see what the child can do independently; others encourage parents to ask questions and point out problems. Ask for clarification if you don’t know whether it’s OK for you to lend a hand.

Feedback About Homework
At Bromwell, we believe that students and families deserve homework that is clear and understandable. We want children to succeed with their homework assignments. We encourage you to talk to your child’s teacher if you or your child has difficulty understanding or completing any homework assignment. If you have a question concerning the amount of time your child spends on an assignment, please let the teacher know.

Our faculty is deeply committed to receiving feedback about homework issues. If your child has difficulty with a specific assignment for any reason, please let the teacher know, with a note, a phone call or a classroom visit.

Absences and Homework
If your child is away from school due to illness or family travel, the classroom teacher may assign homework or makeup work. This is to make sure the child doesn’t miss vital learning during his/her absence. Whenever possible, let the teacher know in advance about an absence so that lessons or homework can be provided.

Educational Services and Programs

Special Education
The Center Program for Students with Physical Disabilities (PD) at Bromwell School is one of the many center programs offered by Denver Public Schools Student Services Department for students with special needs. The Bromwell PD program has been in place for almost 20 years and has served students with a wide range of physical and cognitive disabilities.

The focus of this program is inclusion of students in the general education curriculum to the fullest extent possible, incorporating academic and personal support when necessary. Students receive resource room services, general education classroom assistance, personal care assistance, and speech, physical, and occupational therapies as determined by IEPs. Our students typically employ a great deal of assistive technology to access the school curriculum both in the resource room and the general education classroom. This ranges from augmentative communication devices, computer software, and specialized keyboards, to custom pencil grips, book stands, or scissors.

Bromwell is fully accessible to wheelchairs, including the playground and some of its equipment. We are staffed with a highly qualified special education teacher and several paraprofessionals who are specially trained to work with the needs of our students. Our school community, including students, teachers, parents, and staff provide a safe, supportive, and genuinely caring environment for the PD Center Program students.

Student Records and Confidentiality
The confidentiality of student records and privacy rights of students and parents shall be maintained in compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1/1/95. Scholastic achievement, medical information, and/or standardized test data on file may be reviewed by parents/guardians upon request.

Tuition Based Full-Day Kindergarten
Bromwell provides the opportunity for families to pay tuition to have their Kindergartners attend full-day kindergarten. The program is educationally and socially balanced and is integrated with all-school activities such as music and PE.

Class Placement Process

Assigning students to classes is most effectively done by our classroom teachers who have been working with the students daily in an educational setting. Teachers consider the learning styles and academic needs of the returning students and assign them to the different classrooms at the next grade level. This process is done with care for and utmost consideration of each child’s academic and social/emotional needs. It takes careful consideration of many factors to create equitably balanced classrooms in terms of academic needs, behavior, gender, ethnicity, and number of students.

If you feel that your child requires unique consideration as these decisions are made, the principal will receive letters regarding your child’s placement for the following year. A letter may not be e-mailed and must be delivered directly to the principal by the deadline (announced each spring.) This is not a guarantee that requests will be honored, but it will be taken into consideration. A late request will not be considered due to the amount of work that will already have been competed. Class composition will not be altered after the lists are finalized.

Certain kinds of information from the parents can be very helpful to teachers when they make class assignments. Consideration is given to those factors that influence how effective a child's learning will be in a given classroom. Some factors to share with teachers:

• What is your child's strongest and/or weakest learning style (visual, auditory, kinesthetic)?

• Which factors tend to provide the most motivation to your child?

• In what type of environment does your child seem to learn best?

• How do you view your child's general temperament?

• Do you view your child as having significant gifts, talents, or learning challenges in any particular area(s)?

Health Services and Procedures

In compliance with Colorado law, an immunization record signed by a doctor must be filed before school starts.

If your child requires medication during school hours, bring a completed (by your child’s doctor) Student Medication Request Release Agreement and the medication to the main office where it will be stored and dispensed.

Only school personnel may dispense medicine. Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, etc. may be dispensed by school personnel if permission is granted on the Student Health Information Card.

Please be sure to alert the school office if your emergency phone numbers change.

Head Lice
The school nurse will screen individual students in the event that lice is suspected or reported. When the nurse is unavailable, a designee will screen the individual student.

When the case of lice is confirmed, close contacts will be examined: all siblings/children living in the same household attending the same school and classmates.

As soon as viable nits or lice are observed, parents will be notified and the child will be sent home for treatment with medicated shampoo, such as R.I.D. or Kwell.

Children who have received treatment will be allowed to return to school. In addition to treatment with medicated shampoo, the parent will make every effort to remove the nits. However, even if there are a few nits remaining, the child is not contagious following treatment and should be allowed to return.

Parents/guardians in the school will be notified of any incidence of lice in the school. The notification letter will identify the grade level where the case occurred and will include the symptoms and a description of how parents may identify lice. Suggestions for treatment and control of lice will be made.

Follow-up visual inspection by the school nurse should occur again in one to two weeks later. Again, if there are any positive cases, parents will be notified and the child will be sent home from school for treatment.

If a case of lice persists, the family will be referred to their health care provider for treatment at their own expense.

School Nurse
A nurse is assigned to Bromwell School. Health services scheduled throughout the year at various grade levels include vision, hearing, dental, scoliosis screening, counseling with children and their parents about health problems, and providing needed information for children with special learning needs. The nurse is involved with school absences that are due to chronic or acute health conditions.

School Psychologist Services
At Bromwell, a school psychologist works with the school nurse, teachers and parents in providing expertise and assistance to children with special needs be they social, academic, behavioral or environmental. The school psychologist is available to parents for consultation related to school matters.

Miscellaneous School Information

Celebrations: School-wide celebrations have traditionally included Halloween, December Holidays, Valentine's Day, Cultural Awareness Celebration, Spring Arts Festival, and Field Day. Your child's teacher will give you information about celebrating birthdays and any other special class programs.

Lost and Found: Lost and found items are on the coat racks and shelves located on the right wall as you turn down the main hall to reach the classrooms.

Please label your child's outer wear, packs, lunch boxes and valuables with their full name.

Discourage your child from bringing personal items to school that are valuable, irreplaceable, or may distract from school work.

Each quarter you will be reminded to check the lost and found for items that belong to your child. Items that are unclaimed after time, will be donated to local charities.

School-Wide Communications

The Bromwell Buzz! This is our weekly one-sheet news and event summary, usually sent home every Monday.Check it out at The Bromwell Buzz!

Teacher Communications: Please help your child become responsible for giving you any communication sent home from school by reminding him/her to check his/her backpack when arriving home.

Phone Directory: The current year's Directory will be available in early fall. As a courtesy to those who are new to the school, a copy of last year's Directory will be available at the front desk.

Web Site: Last of all, Bromwell has a great web site! Yes, that's what you're looking at right now! Please take time to explore the site and find out more about our programs and our history.