The Braeside Guide . . .


Attendance at Braeside
    School Hours
  • AM Kindergarten 8:40am-11:26a
  • PM Kindergarten 12:31-3:17pm
  • Grades 1 thru 5 8:40am-3:17pm
  • Lunch 11:50am-12:40pm
 
b. When Students are Permitted into the Building
Students may be in the building only during school hours, unless they are participating in an authorized activity or special arrangements have been made. Students should not arrive at Braeside before 8:30 a.m. Students may enter the building before the entry bell at 8:40 a.m. only in the event of inclement weather; otherwise, they should wait at their assigned door to be admitted to the building.
 
c. School Closing as a result of Bad Weather
If school is to be cancelled because of severe weather, the District 112 Superintendent will notify the Principal, who will call the school staff and the PTO President. The PTO President will contact the Room Mothers, who will attempt to call all parents. The District 112 website will post the closing or late start information. Radio and television stations may also broadcast information regarding school closings. In addition, parents may call 1-900-726-1234 and enter 847-433-0155 to receive information regarding Braeside School closings (there is a charge of 95 cents per minute for this phone call).
d. Absences
If your child will be absent from school, please call the school office by 9:00 am so that your child's teacher may be notified of the absence. If your child is absent from school and you have not called to report the absence, Braeside staff will attempt to contact you at home or at work.
 
e. Arriving Late / Leaving Early
Students learn best when they are present for the entire school day. Please try to arrange doctor appointments, lessons and vacations so that your child can be at school all day, every day. If your child will be late for school, please call the school office in the morning. Students may not leave Braeside before the end of the school day unless they are picked up by a parent or other authorized adult who must sign the child out. If your child must leave school early, please send a note to the teacher stating the time that he or she will be picked up and come into the office to sign him or her out.
Bicycles, Rollerblades and Skateboards
All bike riders must wear helmets when riding to Braeside. All bikes should be placed in the bike racks and locked. Braeside is not responsible for stolen or damaged bicycles. Rollerblades and skateboards are not allowed at Braeside.

Braeside Calendar
Each year, the PTO publishes a calendar summarizing the Braeside School schedule, including PTO meetings, events sponsored by the PTO and meetings related to District 112. The calendar is published in the Friday Flyer and on the Braeside Website. Any changes to the calendar during the course of the year will be publicized in the Friday Flyer.
Braeside Logo Merchandise
Clothing and other items displaying the Braeside name and logo may be sold by the PTO from time to time.
Braeside Publications
a. Braeside Banner
The Banner is the student newspaper, underwritten by the PTO and organized by parent volunteers. The Banner publishes "All the news that fits." Interested students in grades 3 through 5 meet weekly during lunch.
b. Buzz Book
This is Braeside's telephone book. It is compiled by PTO volunteers and distributed to those families that have ordered copies each September. Students and their families are listed both by classes and alphabetically. The Buzz Book also contains information including a list of staff members and their phone extensions, the school calendar, Braeside Buzzwords, and a listing of District 112 staff and School Board members and their phone numbers. Many families keep a copy of the Buzz Book near each phone and in their cars! All information in the Buzz Book is to be used for Braeside business only.
 
c. Friday Flyer
This weekly newsletter contains school announcements, a calendar of events and District 112 information. Please read each Friday Flyer carefully. The deadline to have information included in each week's Friday Flyer is Tuesday noon preceding each issue.
 
d. Yearbook
This keepsake book is produced by interested fifth grade students under the direction of PTO volunteers. The Yearbook is distributed at the end of each school year free of charge to all students. Production of the Yearbook is underwritten by the PTO.
Communications
Open communication between parents and Braeside's professional family is beneficial to our children's education and is encouraged.
 
a. Teacher Telephone Extensions / Email Addresses
Because it can be difficult to reach teachers during school hours, Braeside School has voice mail boxes for each of its classroom and specialty teachers. All staff have email addresses as well.
 
b. Parent-Teacher Conferences
Individual meetings are held between parents and teachers twice each year in November and March to discuss pupil progress and goals. Students are involved in the evaluation process in an age-appropriate manner. Final progress reports are mailed to students' homes at the end of the school year.
 
c. Questions or Concerns
Parents with questions or concerns about any aspect of their child's experience at Braeside should contact the classroom teacher.
Contact Phone Numbers
The District 112 Registration Form completed annually by parents requests phone numbers to be used to contact parents or their designated contact persons in the event of an emergency. All possible phone numbers, including cell phones, car phones and pagers, should be included when this form is completed. If a phone number changes during the school year, please notify the School Secretary in the Braeside School office of the new number(s).
 
Curriculum Frameworks
District 112 has developed a Curriculum Framework for each grade. The Frameworks provide a general overview and broad summary of the instructional program for the relevant grade. The appropriate grade level Framework will be provided to parents during the fall conference of each year; the Curriculum Frameworks are available by subject on District 112's website.
 
Entrance and Exits
Students generally enter and leave the building through the door that is closest to their classroom. For example, kindergartners generally enter and leave Braeside through the "Kindergarten Door" on the north side of the school.
Health Policies
a. Braeside's Nurse is at school each day from 9:30 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. A full-time nurse is always on call in District 112.
 
b. Administration of Medication during School
Both Illinois state law and District 112 School Board policy require that specific procedures must be followed before prescription or over-the-counter medication can be administered to a student during school hours. A permission form authorizing the administration of medication must be signed by the student's doctor. The required forms are available in the Braeside office.
 
c. Temporary Restrictions on Physical Activities
If your child is unable to participate in Physical Education or recess because of an injury or unusual condition, please write a note to your child's teacher. If the restriction will extend beyond one day, please provide a note from your child's doctor.
 
d. Medical Emergencies
If a medical emergency arises, the Principal or her designee will attempt to contact the student's parent or other persons listed on the Registration Form completed annually by parents. If a phone number changes during the school year, please notify the School Secretary in the Braeside School office of the new number(s).
 
Internet Use
Braeside students have access to the Internet for use in their research work. A student may not use the school computer network or access the Internet at Braeside until he or she and his or her parents have signed District 112's Student Authorization for Network/Internet Access Policy. Parents must also give permission before any student work is published on Braeside's website. Websites are chosen and viewed in advance by teachers and the approved websites are put on the Braeside Website and may be accessed throught the Favorite Links page. In addition, district-purchased databases and search engines are linked on the Favorite Links page.
 
Lost and Found
The Lost and Found Box is located in the Braeside School basement at the foot of the stairs. It is a good idea to label all clothes and belongings with your student's name.
Lunch Program
a. Students in grades 1 through 5 bring bag lunches to be eaten in the lunchroom of Braeside School. Milk or juice may be ordered for the full year as part of the District 112 registration process, which occurs each summer.
 
b. Schedule
Lunch and recess take place in two sessions, each of which is 25 minutes long. The lunch schedule is periodically printed in the Friday Flyer. Typically, the younger students eat first and enjoy recess after lunch; the schedule is reversed for the remaining students. Lunch recess is held outdoors unless there is inclement weather. Lunch supervisors are provided by District 112.
 
c. Lunchroom Safety
The following Lunchroom Rules have been established to maintain a safe atmosphere in Braeside's Lunchroom:

1. I keep my hands and feet to myself.
2. I stay in my seat unless I am throwing trash away, one time only.
3. I am responsible for cleaning my own space.
4. I talk with an "inside" voice.
5. I am quiet when the lights of off so I can listen to directions from supervisors.
6. I remain in the lunchroom until dismissed by a supervisor or given special permission to leave. I will walk up the stairs.

 
d. Food Days
The PTO organizes optional Food Days for students on special Fridays throughout the year (approximately three times each month). The food offered (one choice each Food Day) includes pizza, hot dogs, hamburgers, pasta, chicken strips, and a bagel. Signups are taken at the end of the previous school year. Room mothers and parent volunteers help set the tables, provide ice, serve the food and supervise the lunchroom. Volunteers are asked to sign-up on Open House Night in the fall. Students who choose not to purchase Food Day lunches bring their own lunch and eat with everyone else. Food Days is a fund-raising activity of the PTO.
 
e. Spoilage Precautions
Lunches are collected and placed in a basket for each class in the morning. Lunches are not refrigerated. Some parents provide a reusable ice pack in their child's lunch bag or use frozen bread in a sandwich to keep the food cold longer. Glass bottles are not permitted.
 
f. Recycling
Parents are urged to keep environmental concerns in mind in the preparation and packaging of lunches. Braeside School is able to recycle any aluminum cans emptied during lunch.
Lunchroom and Recess Rules
Braeside School has established Lunchroom and Recess Rules and consequences for not behaving in accordance with these rules. The rules are explained to the students at the beginning of each school year and are posted in each classroom and in the lunchroom. All Braeside students and parents are asked to sign a copy of the rules each fall.
 
North Shore School District 112
The governmental authority for the eight elementary and three middle schools in Highland Park, including Braeside School. The District includes Highland Park, Highwood and some parts of Deerfield; a list of the school boundaries within the District can be found under "Schools". District Administrators work with the elected North Shore School District 112 Board of Education to meet the District's mission of providing all Highland Park children with a world class education so that they can contribute to and succeed in a changing global society. School Board meetings are open to the public. Information regarding School Board and District 112 meetings will be listed in the Friday Flyer. Additional information regarding District 112 is available on the District's website.
 
Playground Rules
a. Appropriate Dress
We believe in the importance of fresh air for our children. Recess will be held outdoors except in the case of extreme weather. Children should be dressed appropriately for the weather conditions each day.
b. Safety
Recess is a time for fun, within limits dictated by safety and thoughtfulness. Playtime is not a time for behavior that might cause an injury, physical or otherwise. Teachers and lunchtime supervisors might intercede in play if they observe potentially dangerous activities, poor sportsmanship, inappropriate language, or similar behavior. In winter, snowball fights are not allowed! The following outdoor Recess Rules apply:
1. I keep my hands and my feet to myself. (No physical contact)
2. I use playground and sports equipment safely.
3. I remain in designated play areas.
4. I remain outside during recess, unless given permission by a supervisor to go inside the school building.
5. I line up immediately when the whistle is blown or the bell rings.
 
Pets
Under local ordinance, dogs are not allowed on school property, including the playgrounds, even if they are on a leash (see Sec. 90.105, which prohibits dogs in public buildings, including schools). Even animals considered harmless by their owners may be frightening or potentially dangerous to children. Pets are therefore not permitted on school property unless prior approval has been obtained from the Principal or her designee.
 
PTO
The Braeside Parent Teacher Organization consists of parents and staff who volunteer their time and resources for the benefit of our children. Under the PTO By-Laws, every resident of the Braeside School district is a member of the PTO. No dues are required. Meetings are open to everyone, and full participation is encouraged. Questions and fresh ideas are always welcome. Donations to the PTO are tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. Our PTO's enrichment activities and fundraisers directly enhance the experiences of our children at Braeside. Every dollar donated to the PTO or raised by PTO fundraisers will be used solely for the benefit of Braeside as it is PTO policy not to contribute PTO funds to other organizations or causes, however worthwhile they may be.
 
School Bus
a. General Information
Braeside students who live west of Green Bay Road are eligible for free busing to and from school; busing may be arranged for other students through District 112 on a fee for service basis. Specific information regarding bus routes, bus stops, fees and sign-up procedures is distributed with registration information each summer. Parents should make sure that their children are at the bus stop on a timely basis each day. Buses drop students off at the southeast corner of the school property on Braeside Road. Kindergartners are provided with special bus tags for their backpacks, and are escorted to and from the kindergarten door by a Braeside staff member. Older students are also supervised at bus arrival and departure times.
 
b. Bus Drivers
All school bus drivers are employees of District 112; they are required to meet the regular employment requirements of the District and to be qualified by the State of Illinois. Their directions must be followed at all times.
c. Safety Rules
Bus riders must remain seated at all times with their seat belts buckled. Students are not permitted to stand, kneel, walk, eat, drink or use loud noises on the buses. Complete school bus behavior guidelines are contained in the District 112 Department of Transportation brochure.
d. Disciplinary Procedures
The bus drivers will attempt to correct any behavioral issues by conferring directly with the student(s) involved. A second offense may be reported to the Principal. Repeated difficulties may result in the suspension of bus riding privileges for a period to be determined by the Principal in consultations with the bus driver.
 
School Supplies
A list of required school supplies to be purchased is distributed each summer and can be found on this website.
Service Projects
Each classroom selects a service project to complement a unit of study within the curriculum. In the past, Braeside students have directly supported senior citizens, rain forests, The Cousteau Society and children's hospitals, in addition to adopting endangered animals.
 
Special Student Services
The District 112 Department of Student Services functions as a supportive unit for students, teachers and parents. It is staffed by an administrator, a psychologist, and educational diagnostician, learning development teachers, an elementary counselor, middle school counselors, social workers, speech therapists and school nurses. Referrals are initiated by parents and/or classroom teachers through an in-building committee process (Child Study Team). The Child Study Team discusses strategies and techniques to meet the needs of referred students. If evaluative testing is recommended, test results are shared at a multi-disciplinary conference during which an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) is written to accommodate the student's needs. Parents approve or deny individual participation in special programs or services based on these assessments of their child.
Testing Program
a. NWEA MAP (measures of Academic progress)
District 112 uses the MEASURES OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS to test individual student progress for students in grades 3-5. MAPS measures academic learning of an individual student in the subject areas of reading, math, and language arts. All standardized test results are place in the student 's cumulative folder (a temporary record). A copy is provided to parents at parent-teacher conferences.
 
b. ISAT TESTING FOR SCHOOL "REPORT CARDS"
All Illinois students in grades 3-8 and 11 participate in the State of Illinois Standards Achievement Test, which is administered in March to assess students in reading, math, language arts, science and social science. ISAT scores are reported in the "report card" for each school, which is issued each October by the state of Illinois.
c. SUPPLEMENTARY TESTS
AIMSWeb is used in grades Kindergarten - 5 to chart reading fluency. Other supplementary tests may be used by Braeside staff as deemed necessary for instructional purposes.
 
Traffic and Safety around Braeside
The streets and sidewalks around Braeside School are very busy before and after school hours. It is imperative that all students and parents exercise extreme caution and prudent judgement as they drive and walk to and from school. Parents should ensure that the following rules are followed:
    Drive carefully!
  • Come to a complete stop at all stop signs!
  • Do NOT block crosswalks with your car!
  • Do NOT double-park in front of the school building!
  • Do NOT block the fire hydrant or the yellow zone in front of the school building!
  • Do NOT allow your children to run out between parked cars in order to enter your vehicles.
 
We must each be responsible for the safety of all of Braeside's children.
 
Weather and Clothing
 
Parents should ensure that their children are dressed appropriately for the weather, which can be changeable. It is best to anticipate cold, snowy or rainy weather. Boots, gloves, hats and scarves may be welcome during recess even if the weather seemed fine before school.