FAMILY AND STUDENT HANDBOOK

Dear Bryn Mawr Families,

Our handbook is an important guide for you and your child to review to have information regarding policies and procedures that help ensure that Bryn Mawr Elementary is a safe, nurturing, and healthy environment. At our school, we work to ensure that all members of the school community feel safe, respected, and informed.

We know that safety and respect grow when expectations and procedures are clear and consistently reinforced and supported by all members of the community. We thank you for your continued partnership and support so that all students may thrive and belong at school. Please do not hesitate to contact us with concerns or feedback of our efforts at Bryn Mawr.

Sincerely,

Annie Parker, Principal

ATTENDANCE INFORMATION

Attending school every day is a critical part of student learning, growth, and development. At school, students not only learn academic skills, but also learn how to listen to other perspectives, grow their empathy, collaborate with others, connect with peers, gain confidence, problem solve in real time individually and as a group, get resources, and be part of a connected community. 

Studies consistently show a strong link between regular school attendance and higher academic achievement, with chronic absenteeism being a significant predictor of poor grades and dropping out of high school. As a school, our goal is 95% attendance, which means students miss no more than 9 days of school per school year (out of 180 days total). This is about 1 absence per month

Regular and punctual attendance is extremely important to your child's success in school.  However, when absences or late arrivals are necessary, please do the following:

1.  Parents and Guardians must call the attendance line (425-204-4160) to report a child's absence from school. Please give the following information:           

• Child’s full name and teacher
• Date(s) of absence
• Reason for absence

Absences default to unexcused until an excused absence is verified by a parent or guardian. If we do not receive a morning call, we will attempt to reach you to verify your child's whereabouts.  

 2. When the child returns to school, please send a note with them explaining the reason for the absence or late arrival, including the dates and the parent/guardian’s signature. Parents are expected to provide documentation of an excused absence within 48 hours. Absences exceeding 5 days must have a doctor's note to be excused.

EXCUSED ABSENCE:

The following are valid excuses for absences, to be verified through appropriate documentation:

• Participation in a state, district, school approved activity or instructional program
• Illness, health condition or medical appointment
• Family emergency, including a death or illness in family
• Religious/cultural purpose: observance of a religious/cultural holiday or participation in religious/cultural instruction
• Principal and parent, guardian, or emancipated youth mutually agreed upon approved activity
• Absence resulting from a disciplinary action (e.g., short-term or long-term suspension, emergency expulsion)

UNEXCUSED ABSENCE:

Any absence from school for an entire school day or a majority of a school day is unexcused unless it meets one of the criteria above. When a student has 10 unexcused absences we are obligated to report these to the school district and begin proceedings to file a Becca petition.

Absences requested by parent/guardian based on travel or significant lifetime events must submit a written request to the principal prior to the absence. Absences that exceed 3 days need to complete an Extended Absence Permission Contract. All school work must be completed and returned to the teacher upon return for the absence to be excused.

BECCA LAW
Washington’s truancy law, “Becca Bill,” is intended to stop truancy before it becomes a problem. If a student does not attend school, the law requires school districts to act:

• 3 unexcused absences within a month - Schools must schedule a conference with the parent/guardian for the purpose of identifying barriers to regular attendance and the supports and resources that may be available.
   
• 5 excused absences in a month or 10 cumulative excused – Schools may take stronger steps including filing a Becca Petition with King County Superior Court, enter written truancy agreement with family, or other reasonable action.
   
• 7 unexcused absences in a month and not later than 15 cumulative unexcused absences in a year - Schools must file a Becca Petition with Juvenile Court.

Additional details can be found on Washington OSPI Document: Attendance and Truancy Legal Requirements for Elementary Students

We are an away for the whole day school and out of sight and silent. This means that students with phones must keep their phone off or silent and in their backpacks for the entirety of the school day. 

See Renton School District policy and cell phone updates and resources here.

HOMEWORK POLICY
At Bryn Mawr, we believe that daily practice opportunities are an important aspect of student learning and retention of skills and knowledge. It also helps students build discipline and study habits that they will need in the future. 

We also believe that all students should be given meaningful and connected work, with feedback and support. Due to this, we do not give homework packets to students, and assign homework based on assignments or projects that students do not complete at school as needed.

We encourage families to build good routines and study habits at home to support their child's learning at school. You can support literacy skills at home by having students read everyday - either reading to your child or having them read to you. You can support math skills at home by practicing applicable math as it arises naturally at home or in the community such as cooking and measuring ingredients, using tape measures, counting allowance, determining discounts at the store (10% off or 10% tax), dividing and sharing amounts of food like cookies or pizza. Lastly, you can also practice math facts at home to build math number fluency with addition and multiplication (see chart below).

Daily recommended reading and applicable math practice:

• Literacy: Reading every day is one of the most important things you can do to promote literacy growth in your child, both together and independently depending on their age and development.
• Math:  Applicable practice detailed below

Inclement Weather Information

At times, school operating hours or school bus transportation services may be adjusted or canceled due to bad weather. If inclement weather—like snow or ice—makes a school schedule change necessary, the decision will be made by the Superintendent and communicated to families and staff by:

• Phone call/text/email to all parents and staff.
• Renton School District website and all school websites.
• Automated phone calls and email messages from the district to families
• The district's official social media sites: Facebook | Instagram | X
• Local media TV stations

Full-day school cancellation/closing
If inclement weather causes school closure, no students or staff are expected at schools (some essential personnel will report to work). All school, after-school, and community activities held in school buildings will be cancelled, including all home and away athletic events.

Delayed school opening/late start
If schools are delayed due to bad weather, all schools will open 2-hours late, unless the closure is on a Friday, then schools will run on a regular Friday 90-minute delayed-start schedule. The preschool program at Meadow Crest will be cancelled. There will be no out-of-district transportation. Depending on the severity of the weather, school buses may operate on Limited Transportation Routes and use only Emergency Bus Stops.

Office Hours   8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Teacher Hours   8:05 am – 3:35 pm

Monday – Thursdays:   

• 8:15 am Student arrival (Students report to their class line or cafeteria for breakfast)
• 8:30 am First Bell: Students transition to their classrooms with their teacher
• 8:35 am Tardy Bell: Late students must go through the office and get a pass
• 3:10 pm Student Dismissal
• 4:00 pm Office closes

Friday Late Start:

• 9:45 am Student arrival (Students report to their class line or cafeteria for breakfast)
• 10:00am First Bell: Students transition to their classrooms with their teacher
• 10:05am Tardy Bell: Late students must go through the office and get a pass
• 3:10 pm Student Dismissal
• 4:00 pm Office closes

Arrivals, Departures & Supervision:

Students should NOT arrive prior to 8:15 am as there is no supervision prior to that time. Students eating breakfast should report to the cafeteria as soon as they get to school. All other students should report to their line up area. 

If you must drop your child off prior to 8:10 am, before school care (and after school care) is provided through Right at School.

Renton School District

Supply List 

As part of continued efforts to improve Service, Excellence, and Equity for all students and families, Renton School District will provide school supplies for all elementary and middle school students starting this fall (the 2025-2026 School Year). The district will purchase the school supplies that elementary and middle school students need for learning, and families will pay a low, one-time fee of $30 ($10 for families on free/reduced lunch) for the school supplies. 

Examples of Elementary School student supplies that we will provide:

Pencils, Pencil Sharpeners, Highlighters, Binders, Erasers, Folders, Sticky Notes, Colored Pencils, Loose-leaf Notebook Paper (wide-rule), Markers, Pencil Box, Scissors, Glue Sticks, Composition Notebooks, Ruler, Crayons, Laptop Headphones (kept at school for school use).

Frequently Asked Questions

School Supplies can be paid for through Online Payments. 

Bryn Mawr Mighty Mustangs RocKS:

• Responsible
• Kind
• Safe

Bryn Mawr Elementary promotes a positive learning environment and believe students need to be taught and have opportunities to practice appropriate social, emotional, and behavioral skills. It is important for them to respect themselves as well as others, as they learn to listen to others, grow empathy, work collaboratively, and work through and resolve conflicts. Their behaviors should not infringe upon anyone's right to learn, including their own. When at school, students must receive clear expectations that are equitably and consistently reinforced, and recognized when students meet those expectations. Our goal is to help students learn self-management techniques that will serve them in any environment, academically or socially now and into the future beyond school.

Bryn Mawr staff is committed to:

1. Teaching students appropriate behavior options.
2. Providing opportunities to practice these skills in safe and welcoming environments.
3. Recognizing students for appropriate behavior choices.
4. Supporting students in determining and utilizing appropriate behaviors and tools or strategies.
5. Addressing behaviors that may harm or show disrespect to themselves, staff, or other students.

CONSEQUENCES FOR INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIORS: 
We also understand at times that students need more opportunities and additional support to learn expected behaviors. Because Bryn Mawr embraces a positive behavior intervention approach, we will work to support your student in a variety of ways in collaboration with you and our larger team. When needed, we will communicate home and work with you to share the supports and interventions we've implemented, as well as eliciting your help and ideas as you know your child best. We thank you ahead of time for your partnership and support to help your child succeed.

Deciding when a child is too sick to go to school can be a difficult decision for parents to make. When trying to decide, use the guidelines below and seek the advice of your health care provider.

Go to school – If your child has any of the following symptoms, they should probably go to school:

•  Sniffles, a runny nose, and a mild cough without a fever.
• Vague complaints of aches, pains or fatigue.
• A single episode of diarrhea or vomiting without any other complaints.

Stay at home – If your child has any of the following symptoms, please keep your child at home or make appropriate child care arrangements:

• CHICKENPOX (Varicella) - Chickenpox blisters appear in crops and are infectious until ALL blisters are dried and crusted over (usually 5-6 days after start of rash). Only then can children return to school. 
• COLDS - Runny nose by itself is not necessarily cause to keep your child home. Keep them home with runny nose AND a fever, bad cough, headache or nausea, or if the child is too tired or too uncomfortable to function at school. 
• DIARRHEA - Keep children home for three (3) or more watery stools in a 24-hour period, especially if the child acts or looks ill. Persistent diarrhea, especially if accompanied by fever and cramps, should be evaluated by your health care provider.
• EARS - Drainage from the ear and/or ear pain should be evaluated by your health care provider. Untreated ear infections can cause temporary and/or permanent hearing loss.
• EYES -  Thick mucus, pus, or clear liquid draining from the eye may be contagious. One or both eyes may also appear extremely red and feel irritated, itchy, or painful. The eyelid may be swollen and the eye may be sensitive to light. Return to school when drainage and symptoms have cleared. 
• FEVER - A child must be fever free for 24 hours before returning to school. Stay home for a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher within the last 24 hours. 
•  FRACTURES OR SURGERY - Notify the school nurse for evaluation of any modifications to physical activity, length of day, mobility or transportation needs. You may be asked to provide written information from your health care provider regarding limitations and special needs. 
• LICE - Students may return to school after they have been treated for lice. (See head lice page for more details)
•  NASAL DISCHARGE (greenish) AND/OR CHRONIC COUGH - These conditions may be contagious and require treatment. Your child should be seen by your health care provider. 
• RASH -  Any skin rash of unknown cause is considered contagious, especially with fever and itching. To return to school the rash must be gone, or you must present a medical excuse stating that the rash is not contagious. 
• SORE THROAT - A sore throat, especially with fever or swollen glands in the neck may be contagious. If strep throat, the child may return to school after 24 hours of appropriate treatment, if there is no fever, and they feel physically well enough. 
• VOMITING - Anytime a child vomits two (2) or more times, they need to be isolated from other children for 24 hours. If it happens during the night, keep them home the following day. 

All policies and procedures of the Renton School District may be found and accessed at the following website: http://www.rentonschools.us/Page/129.

Please note that we provide annual notice regarding the policies and procedures listed below to all students and families. This document constitutes our annual notice, such that if you have additional concerns or need more information, you may access the most up-to-date information using the link above.

• Policy and Procedure 3205 – Sexual Harassment of Students Prohibited 
• Policy and Procedure 3207 – Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying 
• Policy and Procedure 3210 – Nondiscrimination and Harassment-Free Environment 
• Policy and Procedure 3240 – Student Conduct Expectations and Reasonable Sanctions 
• Policy and Procedure 3241 – Classroom Management, Discipline and Corrective Action 
• Policy and Procedure 4200 – Safe and Orderly Learning Environment 
• Policy 4210 – Regulation of Dangerous Weapons on School Premises 
• Policy 4215 – Use of Tobacco and Nicotine Substances 
• Instructional Technology Responsible Use Policy (See Below)

Renton School District Responsible Use Policy (RUP)
Students and Families: PLEASE READ THIS TOGETHER

Statement of Purpose: 
Renton School District teachers and students use technology and internet-based tools in their classrooms on a regular basis to support student learning and prepare students to engage in the rapidly changing world. These technologies improve student communication and collaboration skills, provide an authentic audience, and extend learning beyond the classroom walls while building digital citizenship skills. Student access to technology requires responsible, courteous, efficient, and legal use. Our goal in providing access to these resources is to enhance learning experiences and to educate students in responsible and appropriate use. It is important that students and parents recognize that information posted on the internet is public, permanent, and needs to be appropriate.

Terms of Agreement:
1. I agree to follow teachers’/building/district instructions when using technology. 
2. I agree to be polite, considerate, and to use appropriate language. 
3. I agree to report and/or help prevent any bullying, abuse, or harm of others. 
4. I agree to tell an adult if I read, see, or access something inappropriate, or if I witness inappropriate use of technology. 
5. I agree to adhere with all filters and security measures. 
6. I agree to use technology carefully and to conserve district resources. 
7. I agree not to share my passwords, except with my teacher or parent/guardian (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act or FERPA). 
8. I agree to use only my own files and folders. I will not access another individual’s files and folders without his/her permission. 
9. I agree not to reveal or post personal information belonging to myself or another person (i.e., passwords, addresses, or telephone numbers). 
10. I agree to adhere to copyright laws. 
11. I agree to follow the technology check-out process.

Adhering to Federal, State and, local laws, Renton School District will protect student and employee data. However, I understand that my use of any district technology (computer, network, internet, resources, etc.) will be monitored and is neither private nor confidential to district/authorized personnel. I understand that if I violate this agreement, the district’s policies and procedures, or my student handbook, I may not be allowed to continue to use technology or I may receive other appropriate consequences. 

Cross-References/Guiding Reference/ Guiding Policies/ Policies 
Board Policy: 2022 Instruction-Technology Resources 

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) NETS standards:
http://www.iste.org/standards/standards/for-students

1. Creativity and Innovation 
2. Research and Information Fluency 
3. Communication and Collaboration 
4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making 
5. Digital Citizenship 
6. Technology Operations and Concepts    

Educational Technology Essential Academic Learning Requirements (EALRS):
1. EALR 1 Integration 
     a. Innovate 
     b. Collaborate 
     c. Investigate and Think Critically 
2. EALR 2 Digital Citizenship 
     a. Practice Safety 
     b. Operate Systems 
     c. Select and Use Applications 
     d. Adapt to Change (Technology Fluency)

Schools are meant to be safe and inclusive environments where all students are protected from Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB), including in the classroom, on the school bus, in school sports, and during other school activities. Our District Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) webpage defines HIB, explains what to do if you see or experience it, and our school and district process for responding to it.

Discrimination can happen when someone is treated differently or unfairly because they are part of a protected class, including their race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, creed, disability, use of a service animal, or veteran or military status. Renton School District does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of any of these protected groups and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.

Read more about Non-discrimination, including what it is and how to report it.

In Washington, all students have the right to be treated consistent with their gender identity at school. Our school will:

• Address students by their requested name and pronouns, with or without a legal name change
• Change a student’s gender designation and have their gender accurately reflected in school records
• Allow students to use restrooms and locker rooms that align with their gender identity
• Allow students to participate in sports, physical education courses, field trips, and overnight trips in accordance with their gender identity
• Keep health and education information confidential and private
• Allow students to wear clothing that reflects their gender identity and apply dress codes without regard to a student’s gender or perceived gender
• Protect students from teasing, bullying, or harassment based on their gender or gender identity

Read our full commitment to Gender-Inclusive Schools.