Student Handbook

Birth Certificates
Birth certificates are required for enrollment into kindergarten. Children need to be 5 years old on or before September 1 in order to enroll in the kindergarten program.

Immunizations
All students enrolling in a Minnesota school need to file an official Certificate of Immunization with the school nurse.  This certificate may be secured from local physicians or the county health department.

State Mandated Immunizations for School Attendance

The minimum accepted age for measles immunization is 12 months; a second MMR is required before entering kindergarten.

Records submitted from parents, physician, clinic must indicate day, month, year of each immunization for the following: For students 6 years of age or younger, a) measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, b) five doses of DTP vaccine, unless the fourth dose was given after the 4th birthday then four doses are minimum, c) four doses of polio vaccine, unless the third dose was given after the 4th birthday, then three doses are minimum. For students 7 years of age and older, a) measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, b) three doses of both TD (or DTP/DT and polio vaccine (the major change in this subdivision will affect new enrollees less then 7 years; all older students should be compliance under the current law), c) a booster of TD after age 11 unless after five years previous to 11 years of age. 

Records submitted from physicians, public clinics or parents/guardians must include the month, day and year of each immunization received. 

The Minnesota Department of Health requires Hepatitis B vaccination for all 10-14 year olds who have not received it at a younger age. The Hepatitis B series consists of three shots given within a six-month period. If is available at most doctor’s offices and at the Ramsey County walk-in immunization clinics.  For more information, call 651-266-2400 or 651-266-1254.

Students in kindergarten and 7th grades will need to show proof they are vaccinated against chickenpox (varicella) or have had the disease.

If you are conscientiously opposed to your child receiving these required immunizations, you may complete a notarized statement on the Pupil Health Immunization Record, which is available in our health office.

Falcon Heights Elementary School is aligning itself with the beliefs and practices that are associated with an approach identified as “Responsive Classroom” and “Love and Logic.” The main components of this approach include:  morning meetings, teaching students to follow the Falcon 4 - Be Respectful, Responsible, Safe and Belong (i.e., expectations, routines, consequences, and restituting mistakes), using the democratic approach in managing the classroom, offering students choice in their day, and communicating with families. 

Students shall not possess, use, or distribute alcohol, tobacco or other illegal drugs while on school grounds or in school-sponsored programs and activities. Such behavior is illegal as well as harmful to the student. Violations will result in any of the following consequences, depending on their frequency and the severity of the offense:

• Parent notification
• Parent conference
• Suspension under Pupil Fair Dismissal Act
• Police notification or referral for prosecution
• Referral to counselor, social worker, or other resource
• Expulsion under Pupil Fair Dismissal Act

The use of tobacco, alcohol, and chemicals is strictly prohibited on school grounds. This includes all activities before, during, and after school for all students, siblings, parents, and staff.

Fighting is a mutual physical conflict in which both parties contribute to the situation by verbal and/or physical action. This includes “play fighting,” which frequently leads to real fighting.  We are teaching all students that violence is not an acceptable way of dealing with anger and frustration.

All children need to know how to deal with anger. To use physical violence when someone disagrees with us, teases us, takes something that belongs to us, or hits us first is unacceptable. If those things happen, students are encouraged to follow the conflict resolution steps.  If this does not result in a solution, the student should know how to safely remove him/herself from the problem and report it immediately to the supervisor. Children need to know how to protect themselves when someone is trying to hurt them not how to hurt that person in retaliation. In other words, “punching back” will not be an acceptable excuse for fighting with another student.

Hazing is committing an act against a student, or coercing a student into committing an act, that creates a substantial risk of harm to a person, in order for the student to be initiated into or affiliated with a student organization, or for any other purpose. No student, teacher administrator, volunteer, contractor or other employee of the school district shall plan, direct, encourage, aid, engage, permit, condone or tolerate hazing. This applies to behavior that occurs on or off school property during or after school hours. We do have very high expectations for all of our students. We know that it is harder for some students to meet our expectations than others, but we cannot ignore behavior that is dangerous to others. In these cases, licensed support staff will be called upon to intervene. Copies of the School Board Policy, Student Discipline, and the Pupil Fair Dismissal Act of 2001 are available online at isd623.org.

It is the policy of Roseville Area Schools to maintain learning and working environment that is free from sexual, racial and religious harassment and violence. A copy of the entire policy can be obtained in the school office.

Students who bring a weapon or look a like weapon to school may face immediate suspension and possible expulsion. This includes pocket-knives. Please help your child understand that under no circumstances should a weapon be carried to school. Threats (verbal or written) to bring a weapon or to do harm to another person are also taken very seriously and can result in significant consequences.

Appropriate dress will include:

• Must wear shoes at all times (for safety).
• Shorts and skirts must be at least mid-thigh.
• Must wear tennis shoes to PE.
• Tops must cover midriff.
• Shirts with derogatory or offensive language and images shall be considered improper.
• Clothing with alcohol, tobacco or drug statements are not allowed.

Students are to wear the following clothing items during the winter months: warm jacket, snow pants, hat, boots, and gloves/mittens.

Students can be responsible by coming to school ready to learn and by bringing belongings that are only used for learning. That would mean students wouldn’t bring electronics, toys, trading cards or other such items. Cell phones are to be switched off while on the bus or at school. If a family needs to contact their child, they should call school. Students may use their cell phones if they have permission from a staff member. If a student uses a cell phone inappropriately, it will be confiscated and kept until an adult from the family claims it. We will not accept responsibility for damage or loss of these items. Students may roller blade, skateboard, bike or ride scooters to and from school with their families’ permission. These items are to be stored at the outdoor bike racks. Students are encouraged to lock these items to the bike rack and wear appropriate safety gear (e.g., helmets). Neither the school nor the district assumes liability for such items.

Most students at Falcon Heights arrive by bus. Students arriving by car should use the driveway on the east side of the building. Use of the driveway in front of the school is reserved for buses only.  The school doors open at 8:48 a.m. and classes start at 8:55 a.m. Students arriving after 8:55 a.m. need to stop by the office for an “I’m Here” slip before going to class. A note explaining the tardiness needs to be given to the teacher.

It is very important that cars not be left parked in the fire lanes next to the sidewalks in the front of the school. These are congested areas, and room needs to be left open for emergency vehicles as well as for delivery trucks, school buses, etc. Please do not use the driveway in front of the building during arrival or dismissal time. 

Families who need to pick up their children at the close of the school day should send the classroom teacher a note in the morning requesting that their child be dismissed with “walkers and car riders.” These children are picked up in the car-pool line at the east entrance of the school utilizing the side driveway. Students will exit the building at the door on the east side of the school. We want to continue our safe record and remain vigilant about our dismissal practices. It is extremely important that all adults model safe practices around potential dangerous areas such as our bus and parking lot areas. We want to stop parents coming onto the school sidewalk, gathering up their child(ren) and then walking between the buses to return to their cars. We also want to stop children from running in the east parking lot to waiting parents, crossing Garden without an adult or getting picked up in our crowded west parking lot. Finally, we also want to have efficient system for families to pickup their children. What follows are our after school pickup procedures:  

Pickup Option #1

• As you enter our east driveway, proceed to the entryway.
• Please stay in your vehicle, a staff member or school patrol will open your passenger door and your child(ren) may then enter. They will close the vehicle door.
• Once your child(ren) are safe inside, you are then to depart the parking lot.
• If you reach the entry way and your child is not present, please move forward with the line of cars and re-circle the parking lot or park your vehicle in the lot and walk to the entryway to pickup your child.
• Do not form two lanes of traffic.
• Do not pull around a car once your child(ren) are picked up. Stay in line and move as the cars ahead of you move. 

Pickup Option #2

• Families who wish to park along the south side on Garden, are to leave their car, walk to our school sign, and pickup their children) from the staff member/patrol on duty.
• Children will not be allowed to go past the school sign without an adult.

Children who live north of Larpenteur, south of Roselawn, east of Snelling, and west of Hamline are able to walk to school. The same is true for children who live north of Larpenteur, east of Hamline, south of Roselawn, and west of Lexington. School patrols may escort these children to school along the walker lines. Please call school for details. If you live outside of these boundaries and wish to have your child walk to school, written permission is required and needs be turned into the principal’s office before your child begins to walk to or from school. We appreciate your cooperation.

According to Roseville Area School Board’s policy, no student shall be authorized to leave school building or grounds during school hours without approval of parents/guardians and the principal or his/her delegated agent. On occasion, parents come to school to take their child to a scheduled appointment. We request that in each case, parents come to the office to sign their child “out.”  With this in mind, our procedures are as follows:

• If your child is to leave school during the day, we ask that you send a note with your child to your child’s teacher, stop in the office to sign your child out, and have your child called down to meet you.
• If your child is to walk home at the end of the day, we ask that you send a note to your child’s teacher.
• People who sign a child out and are unknown by staff will be asked to show picture identification.
• A note or phone call will be required to release a child with anyone other than a parent/guardian.
• All individuals who go beyond the office will sign in and wear an identification tag. Unknown people in the building will be directed and escorted to the office.
• All outside doors will be locked when students are in attendance with the exception of the main entry.
• If your child is to go home any other way than he/she normally goes home (e.g., parent pick up, go home with another child, etc.) a note should be sent with your child to school.

If you would like to arrange for additional safety measures, you are asked to provide the school with a list of names of people who have the exclusive right to take your child from school. However, if there is a separation or divorce situation and your intent is to restrict parental access, a copy of the restraining order must be on file at school.

Compulsory School Attendance Law:  All children between the ages of 7-18, plus 5 and 6 years olds if enrolled, must attend school everyday on time unless lawfully excused by the school. A typical elementary age student is absent about seven days/school year. The following are some definitions that relate to this law:

• Unexcused Out-Of-Building Tardy: A student who is not in the school building at the official start time (8:55 a.m.). Reasons may include, but limited to, oversleeping or personal transportation issues.
• Excused Tardy: A student who is not in the school building at the official start times due to reasons that are excused. Reasons may include, but not limited to, illness, medical appointments (a doctor’s note is required), up to three hours/week of religious instruction, and late bus.
• In-Building Tardy: A student who is in the school building but not in his/her designated area at the designated time. In-building tardies are to be handled by the teacher with any assistance s/he deems appropriate.
• Lawful School Absences: Include sickness, medical appointments, recognized religious holiday, government mandate, attending a Roseville Area High School state playoff event, attending “Take Your Child to Work Day,” conditions that render school attendance impossible due to hazardous health or safety issues and other extreme family emergency all as reported by an adult family member.
• Invalid School Excuses: May include babysitting, being too tired, travel, vacations, being needed at home, weather, transportation issues, bus suspension, oversleeping and insufficient immunizations.
• Unapproved Absences: Absences that the school determines to be invalid and therefore unexcused.
• Unverified Absences: Absences unreported to school by parents.

Please call school at 651-646-0816 to report your child absent. Please call and leave a message on voicemail, or you may also visit our webpage and report your absence at isd623.org. Also, for each day missed a note explaining the absence needs to be brought to school on the following day and given to the classroom teacher.

For a student to be dismissed early, the parent or guardian is asked to send a note to the teacher explaining the request. The parent needs to come, in person, to the school office to sign out their child. Students will be released only to those persons listed as an emergency contact.

Calls should be received in the school office no later than 2:30 p.m. to ensure there is time to notify the student of the change. 

In the event of severe weather or mechanical breakdown, the starting time of Falcon Heights may be delayed or the entire school system may be closed. Official announcements will be made between 6 and 7:30 a.m. using many local television and radio stations to provide this information. If no report is heard, school will be in session. The same conditions may also necessitate early dismissal. Please do not call the school. Telephone lines need to be kept open for emergencies. In addition to the media resources listed above, notifications of school closings will be sent out to all families via email as well as posted on the district homepage, Facebook, and Twitter.

Announced and unannounced fire drills, lockdown practice, evacuation, and tornado drills will occur throughout the school year. The drill practice is necessary to ensure the safety of everyone in the event of a real emergency. We are required by the state to conduct five fire drills, five lockdown practices, and one tornado drill. We will also practice one evacuation drill to our evacuation site – Falcon Heights United Church of Christ.

Roseville Area Schools continuously work to prepare students and staff for emergencies. Our goal is to prepare our staff and students to properly react to the various types of incidents that could occur.

By law, schools are required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance at least once a week. At Falcon Heights, the Pledge of Allegiance is recited every Monday or the first school day of the week. Students will be allowed to opt out and expected to be respectful.

A list of school supplies is available here and upon request. 

Students are welcome to bring a snack to school daily. The intent of the snack break is to refuel the body and mind for optimum learning. Snacks with high sugar content do not provide the body with the sustainable energy needed to learn; whereas, snacks in high nutritional value (protein, nutrients, minerals, fiber) will sustain the body and mind longer. 

Discouraged Items: cookies, chips, candy, doughnuts, sugar drinks.

Encouraged Items: fruits, veggies/dip, hummus, crackers, cheese, GoGurt, applesauce, trail mix, craisins, dried fruit, pretzels, granola bars, graham crackers and fruit cups.

Healthy kids learn better. In order to align with federal mandates that aim to provide the best learning environment possible and support student achievement, the school district made changes to its wellness policy that have gone into effect in all Roseville Area Schools.

As per district policy, birthday celebrations will not include food or drink. Parents/families are asked to NOT send birthday treats with their student to school. The guidelines help students avoid unhealthy snacks while still providing plenty of room for tradition and fun.

An important goal at Falcon Heights is to help each student be sensitive and responsive to the needs and values of others. To be consistent with this goal, it is asked that parents do not send birthday invitations to school. Please use another method of communication that does not involve the school setting. This request is made in order to protect the feelings of all the children. 

If you as a parent/guardian require auxiliary aids for effective communication regarding issues of the district or the education of your child, please notify your building principal at 646-0021 or Human Resources, ADA Coordinator at 651-635-1611(TDD#) 651-635-1648.

It is the practice of the Roseville Area Schools not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, or disability in its educational programs, activities or employment policies as required by Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Minnesota Stature 363.03. Inquiries regarding compliance with this practice may be directed to Human Resources, Title IX Officer, at the District Center, 1251 County Road B2 West, Roseville, Minnesota 55113, (651-635-1611) or to the Director of the Office for Civil Rights, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C.

Parents are encouraged to visit Falcon Heights! At the same time, the staff needs to attend to students and complete related tasks. Keeping both needs in mind, we ask that you please comply with the following procedures when you visit a classroom:

• Schedule a visit or conference in advance.
• Check-in at the office before proceeding to the classroom.
• Enter the room and sit in the designated area.
• Limit your visit to 30 minutes.
• Avoid engaging the teacher in a lengthy conversation during the visit.
• No more than two parents per room, per visit.

A portion of the lobby bulletin board is available for community use. Thus the school or district does not necessarily support items displayed on this board.  Items may be posted if they meet the identified criteria.   

• Pre-approved by the district or office.
• Match our district and school mission, vision and values.
• Will not create a distraction.
• Are associated with a nonprofit individual/group.
• Come from within and pertain to our community.

Various state and federal laws govern the Roseville Area Schools with respect to the release of information about our students. This means that we may discuss a child only with the child’s parents or with individuals within the district who have a need to know. Without written parental permission, we cannot discuss a child with a stepparent, grandparent, other family member, or daycare provider even if they are in the same household.

Occasionally, a custodial parent will ask us not to communicate with the non-custodial parent. By law, both parents have access to educational information about their child unless there is a court order to the contrary. If a court order restricts or denies a parent access to school information, a copy of that order should be filed with the principal.

Please keep in mind while email is a convenient method of communication between home and school, it cannot be considered private.

Schools maintain an educational record for each student containing information that allows an effective educational program to be developed for each learner. Collection, maintenance, and release of student information is based on the idea that the welfare of the student and his/her family is primary and must be protected. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) gives parents/guardians and students over the 18 years of age (“eligible students”) certain rights with respect to the student’s educational records. These rights are:

• The right to inspect and review the student’s education records immediately or within 10 days of the day the school receives a request for access.
• The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent/guardian or eligible student believes are inaccurate.
• The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorized disclosure without consent.
• The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education regarding alleged failures by the School District to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

Lost and found items are collected and occasionally put out on tables. Please encourage your child to look there for any missing items. There is also a final walk-through of lost and found items prior to long breaks during the school year. Any unclaimed items are donated.   To guard against lost articles, please label items with your child’s first and last names. Items left on the bus can be claimed by calling Centerline Charter Corp. at 651-482-1794.

Students who lose or damage library materials, textbooks or other school property will be assessed a fine to cover the cost of loss or repair. The fine will be refunded if the book or other lost item is found later and returned.  Families unable to pay the cost of the item are asked to contact the principal to make arrangements.

Lifetouch Studios will take individual and class pictures for all students in the fall. Picture retakes are taken a month later. Picture packages are available for purchase. In addition, yearbooks are offered for purchase in the spring. Notices are sent home with students in the winter regarding yearbook sales.

Near the end of each school year, Falcon Heights staff work on assigning students to classes for the next school year. Placement teams consist of grade level teachers, specialists, special education educators, support staff and the principal.

The process for developing class lists for the coming year is quite extensive.  Careful attention is given to the placement of each child into a learning group. We will work together to create balanced, heterogeneous classrooms using factors of effective instructional groups, student-to-student relationships, student to adult relationships, and equity.

Teachers have been asked not to discuss placement with individual families, and we do not accept parent/guardian requests. We are asking that you trust our staff to place your child(ren) in a class where their needs will be best met.

Thank you in advance for respecting the integrity of this process. We want parents and guardians to know that all of our children are valued equally as precious members of our learning community. We are confident in the professionalism of each of our teachers and their ability to provide quality teaching and learning for all.

• I understand many important educational resources are accessed using school technology.
• I will use technology in schools for educational purposes only. The school has a right to monitor my use of school technology.
• I will use respectful language and behavior while using school technology.
• I will be mindful of school resources by printing only what is absolutely necessary.
• I will not give out personal information about myself or anyone else while using school technology.
• I will not look at, download or communicate any material that is obscene, vulgar, sexually explicit or offensive in terms of race, ethnicity, sex, or religion. I will tell a teacher if I come across any information that is inappropriate or makes me feel uncomfortable.
• I will never access, remove, change or harm another person’s files.
• I will not use another person’s system or password.
• I will follow all laws and school rules when I use school technology.
• I will give credit when I use another’s work, whether it is from a book, the Internet, or elsewhere.
• I will use the Internet at school only with permission from a present, supervising adult.
• I will be respectful of and responsible for all school technology I use, leaving it in good working order, organized and ready for the next person.

Bus service at Falcon Heights is handled directly by the Transportation Department of the Roseville Area Schools. Questions or problems regarding school transportation should be directed to this department at 651-635-1609 or you may wish to call Centerline Charter Corp. at 651-482-1794.

School transportation is offered to Roseville Area Schools students who live more than 1/2 mile from their assigned school or who live in an area where walking is hazardous. School transportation is a privilege extended by the board of education; it is not a right. All students are required to obey bus conduct rules posted in each bus.  These rules are to protect the safety and well being of all students. Failure to observe these rules can result in suspension of bus privileges.

We ask that you do not use the buses to transport children for parties, meetings or other get-togethers. We can at times accommodate one child, however, putting groups of children on buses for social events is very difficult.  If your child needs to ride a different bus, please call the office to determine if there is room for your child. If there is, we will ask you to send a note authorizing your child to ride a different bus. Students will not be allowed to ride a different bus without a note from a parent and approval by someone in the office, bus supervisor, or principal.

Adults may get on a bus only when the principal or district transportation staff has granted prior approval. Example of when this might occur is when family members attend field trips. The main reason to restrict family members from riding on buses is to ensure the safety and protection of the children on the bus. We require background checks of all staff. Most parents who ride the bus for special circumstances have not had a background check. In addition, a parent is not an employee of the school district, and has no authority to discipline a student on the bus that is not their child.

For safety reasons students are requested to observe the following procedures at the bus stop (loading and unloading area on the route):

• Students should be at the assigned bus stop only five minutes before the scheduled arrival of the bus.
• When waiting for the bus, students need to stay off the main surface of the roadway. Give the bus room to stop.
• Students should line up in an orderly fashion and wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before boarding. Do not crowd or push.
• Students should use the handrail when boarding the bus.
• Mount the steps one at a time.
• Avoid walking on private property.  Have special regard for lawns, flowers, trees and shrubs.
• The student day begins when the student enters the bus and lasts until the student exits the bus after-school. The safety and behavior of your child is your responsibility before they enter the bus in the morning and after they exit in the afternoon. If a problem occurs with your child at the bus stop these are some things that you might consider in order to resolve it:
• Try to understand both sides of the dispute, and then help those involved agree to a solution.
• If needed, involve the other families in resolving the problem.
• In the case of a physical assault or destruction of property, you may want to contact the police.

Please spend some time teaching these procedures to your child/children.

Safety on the bus is a priority for Falcon Heights. Please review these expectations with your child/ren.

• Use level 2-3 voices.
• Have appropriate conversations.
• Follow driver and patrol directions.
• Treat bus with care.
• Food and drink stays in your backpack.
• Have permission to ride another bus.
• Stay in safe areas.
• Keep your body and belongings to yourself and inside the bus.
• Keep aisle clear.
• Sit facing forward.
• Allow others to sit with you.
• Treat others with care.

Bus drivers are in frequent contact with the school personnel about behavior on the bus. If the driver reports that a child has misbehaved on the bus, these consequences are Roseville Area Schools’ policy:

• 1st violation: The student will be issued a warning. If however, the offense is willful vandalism or destructive behavior, bus privileges will be suspended immediately.
• 2nd violation: Removal of bus riding privileges for up to five days.
• 3rd violation: Removal of bus riding privileges for five days or longer, depending upon the seriousness of the violation.

All meals (breakfast, lunch, and after school super snack) are available at no cost to families for the 2021 - 2022 school year. Families are still encouraged to fill out the Application for Educational Benefits (CLICK HERE) each year.

All menu items including photos, descriptions, ingredients, allergens, and nutritional information can be found at RosevilleNutrition.com. Meals include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low fat dairy. All meals and snacks meet the dietary guidelines the USDA school nutrition programs. Special meal accommodations can be made with a Special Diet Statement signed by a medical provider.

Families are encouraged to submit an application for free or reduced priced meals. These not only provide meal benefits to students but can also help Falcon Heights get crucial funding. Applications are mailed to families in August and are also available online at www.RosevilleNutrition.com. Families who qualified for free or reduced benefits in the past must complete an application each school year to receive benefits. For more information or to apply, CLICK HERE.

Breakfast service runs 8:48 – 8:55 a.m. and class scheduled lunch service between 11:30 a.m. – 1:10 p.m. A new class is scheduled to enter the lunch serving line approximately every three minutes. In order to facilitate a schedule this precise, it is important that payment and serving be handled as smoothly as possible.

Questions concerning free and reduced lunches should be directed to Food Services Supervisor, 651-635-1619.

Each school in Roseville Area Schools has a health office staffed by a health assistant under the supervision of the licensed school nurse. The school health office functions to support students who become ill or injured during the school day, administer medications to students who require it, and provide assistance to students who need support with the management of chronic health conditions at school.

You are encouraged to contact the licensed school nurse if your student has a chronic health condition requiring management during the school day, or if you have a question regarding your student’s health.

If your student becomes ill or seriously injured at school and it is necessary for them to go home, you or your designated emergency contact person will be contacted by the Health Office to pick up your student. Students who are 18 or older may sign themselves out at the discretion of school staff.

Please notify the school office immediately each time your phone numbers or emergency contact names/numbers change, or update them in ParentVue (CLICK HERE). We depend on you for this information and we need to be able to reach you quickly in case your student is ill or injured. If we cannot reach you or your emergency contacts, we may call 911 or contact the police. Students are not allowed to call parents from a classroom to request permission to go home. 

Not every health office visit will be reported home. You are encouraged to call your school health office with any questions.

The following will help you decide whether your child is too sick and should stay home from school.

• If your child has a fever of 100 degrees or more, they should stay home for 24 hours after the temperature returns to normal and remains normal without fever-reducing medication.
• If your child has vomited or has diarrhea, they should stay home until 24 hours after the last episode.
• If your child had any rash that may be disease-related or the cause is unknown, check with your healthcare provider before sending them back to school.

If your child is ill, please call the school to report the absence each day of the illness. If you have questions regarding your child's illness, please call your school nurse or healthcare provider.

For students with health conditions that require medication during the school day, parents/guardian-provided medication is administered by the licensed school nurse, or by the health assistant or other staff under the direction and supervision of the licensed school nurse. There is no school supply of medication.

For the protection of students, families, and school personnel:

• A new medication permission form is required each and every school year.
• All medications needed during the school day are stored in the health office. Medications required in other programs or outside the normal school day hours are stored in a secure location in that program’s area.
• If there are concerns about any student medication, the licensed school nurse may contact the health care provider and/or request a healthcare provider’s order for an over-the-counter medication.
• Medications prescribed for more than two (2) weeks and which must be taken at school must have the “Dispensation of Medication” form signed by the prescribing provider and the parent/guardian. For over the counter medications, a parent’s signature only is required.
• Medication prescribed for less than two (2) weeks requires written permission from the parent/guardian only.
• All medications must be in original containers labeled with all of the following: student’s full name, medication name, dose, and times of day to take medication.
• Students are not allowed to self-administer medication without approval from the licensed school nurse, parent/guardian approval, and health care provider signature (for prescription medication).
• At the end of the school year medications will be sent home with students unless otherwise indicated. Return of controlled medications (e.g. ADHD medications) will be coordinated with families. 

Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact the licensed school nurse at the child’s school to discuss any concerns or special needs, or to request assistance in obtaining required authorization from their healthcare provider.

Prescription and over-the-counter medications will be stored in a locked cabinet in the Health Office. Emergency medications (e.g., asthma inhalers, seizure medications, epinephrine pens) will be stored in an unlocked cabinet for easy access in the event of an emergency.

Roseville Area Schools are allergy aware and strive to provide a safe school environment for students with life threatening allergies. Please provide an anaphylaxis action plan each school year, or every 12 months. To plan accommodations specific to your student, please contact the Licensed School Nurse.

Minnesota law requires students to be immunized against certain diseases or have a signed, legal medical or conscientious exemption kept in the student health record. These requirements apply to all students whether they attend public schools, private schools, or home schools. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the school health office in order for the student to enroll or remain enrolled. If a parent or guardian objects to immunizations for either medical or personal reasons, a notarized statement is needed on the Student Immunization form. The notarized statement specifies the immunization(s) the child will not be receiving. Download the form here, or contact the health office for information about obtaining a medical or conscientious exemption.

Licensed school nurses conduct vision and hearing screening at school in alignment with the recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Teachers may identify a student who appears to struggle to see and then can request that the student is screened. Parent/guardians may also contact their licensed school nurse and request screening for their child.

Schoolwide screening provided in select grades, as recommended by MDH, are a way to identify students who may need glasses. Students may also be screened as part of a school special education evaluation. Often individuals are not aware that they are struggling to see details at a distance, so screening is helpful to identify those who should follow up with their healthcare provider.

Health screenings that licensed school nurses can provide at school include: 

• Distance vision acuity
• Close vision acuity
• Spot Vision Screener that can identify several different vision conditions
• Eye muscle balance for lazy eye (amblyopia) (for preschool to grade 1)
• Color vision deficiency 
• Hearing

When a student’s ability to attend school is interrupted by major illness or injury, they may become eligible for homebound instruction when the length of absence is anticipated to be fifteen or more school days. The application for homebound instruction is made through the school nurse. Allotted time is one hour per day for each day missed. When students have an extended illness that does not qualify for homebound instruction, they may request homework from teachers through the nurse or student support services.

Falcon Heights hires paraprofessionals to help in the classroom and other areas of the school. Typical duties include such activities as tutoring individual students, working with small groups of students within the classroom to reinforce skills taught by the teacher, preparing instructional materials, and a variety of other tasks including playground, lunchroom, hall, and bus duty.

Located in the center of the school opposite the main entrance is the Information Center. The learning area provides seating for several classes and a storytelling/teaching area.

The Information Center is a “library” of print and non-print resources reflecting the curriculum and society in general.  The center houses 25,000 titles, 33 periodicals, the Minnesota collection, a complete reference section, and numerous online resources including magazine and newspaper articles from around the globe. A part-time media specialist and a media tech assistant support the wide variety of student learning activities that occur there.  

Students may come as individuals, in small groups, or with their classes to the Information Center daily to select books for pleasure reading, to search for information, to develop information skills, and to utilize computers with the assistance of the Information Center team. Fostering a love of reading is a school goal strongly supported by our classroom teachers, principal, staff, and parents.

The Information Center’s local area network (LAN) provides a file server that allows students and staff to save their documents in personal folders as well as access the center’s collection from any computer in the school. The Roseville District’s wide area network (WAN) permits students’ supervised access to a world of information through the internet on most of the school computers. From home computers, students may access school and district home pages to utilize pre-selected sites and resources. 

The Information Center has Apple computers, Chromebooks and iPads, which can be used in classrooms.  

Students are able to create a variety of multimedia presentations and illustrated documents through the use of technology. Technology encourages student to access, process, produce, and communicate information in a variety of ways, as they become lifelong learners and problem solvers

CLICK HERE for information about AATD

Resource programs are available at Falcon Heights for students with various special needs requirements. These programs include special support for students with physical, learning, and/or emotional disabilities. State and federal laws provide definite guidelines for the administration of these programs, as well as specific eligibility criteria that a student must meet prior to admission. 

Falcon Heights also employs a speech/language clinician. This specialist works with students having speech or language disorders severe enough to negatively affect their ability to benefit from classroom instruction.

Evaluation of a student for admission into any of these programs begins with classroom interventions, meeting with SAT (student assistance team) before moving on to evaluation by the special education staff to determine eligibility.

We have an outstanding group of student leaders who help the bus driver safely transport students to and from school, escort kindergarten students to and from the buses at school and help at parent pick up. 

The Friendship Connection Program provides before and after school care for children in kindergarten through grade six. It is open year round, closing only for major holidays. It operates five days a week, Monday through Friday, from 6:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. All-day care is provided when school is not in session. Drop-in care is available as space is available. For more information call 651-724-6537.

Through Roseville Community Education, Falcon Heights Elementary School provides classes, activities and special events for all ages that promote lifelong learning and growth. These learning opportunities take place before and after school, evenings and weekends, non-school days or occasionally daytime if held elsewhere in the community.

The Falcon Heights Parent/Teacher Association is very active at Falcon Heights. The PTA provides support to the school through volunteer programs such as the Mentor Program, by providing classroom resource funds for classroom teachers, and by providing many special programs and projects throughout the school year. The Fall Open House, Family Fun Night, and many fine arts programs are examples of the ways the PTA contributes to the educational experience of students at Falcon Heights. We encourage you to join us and become an active participant in your child’s education.

Designate Our School
If a retailer including online (example, AmazonSmile) offers a program that gives a percentage of your purchases to the school of your choice, choose our school!  

Parent volunteer work at Falcon Heights is both encouraged and appreciated.  Parents are utilized in a number of areas, both within individual classrooms and in various resource areas of the school.  Classroom teachers request parent help, as they need it. The following is a list of some of the areas in which parent help is utilized:

• Many teachers also use parent/senior volunteers within the classroom on either an occasional or ongoing basis to assist individual children.
• The media center volunteers help to keep the information center functioning smoothly, thus allowing the media specialist to spend her time on professional duties.
• During the school year there is also a need for volunteers for one-time jobs. Examples: Fall health screening, school pictures, or simply a special project that may arise.
• Various resource teachers, such as the physical education and art teacher frequently need help, as do the staffs of both the office and cafeteria. This list is not complete. As a general rule anyone having time or special abilities to share with the students is highly encouraged to become involved within the school. Please contact the Falcon Heights’ office staff or individual teachers for further details. All parent volunteers are requested to sign-in the main office before reporting to the area in which they are to work.

Our volunteer reading coach program gives you a chance to share your love of reading with students who need an extra boost in their reading skills. Volunteers work with individual students one half hour per week throughout the school year. The student’s teacher will provide materials that you will be using with your student. Training is provided.

Click on the document to view both pages of the document

Communication between parents, teachers, and administration is strongly encouraged at Falcon Heights. A parent may request a personal conference with any member of the Falcon Heights staff at any time, either by calling the school or sending a note with their child. Teachers may also initiate these conferences. There are a number of other ways in which the school communicates with parents on a regular basis. Below is a chart that outlines the reporting model that we use at Falcon Heights for grades K-6.

“The Bird's Word” is our building-wide newsletter and it is sent home via email and posted on the website most Thursdays.  It contains general news and current information about the school and various classes. Sign up for the Bird's Word here:  https://falconheights.isd623.org/athletics/newsletter

If you believe it is beneficial for staff at Falcon Heights Elementary School to communicate directly with someone who is not a biological parent of your child, please contact the office so we can supply you with a form that would allow us to honor your request. Complete the form by listing the individuals that you want us to visit with regarding your child’s progress and needs. Your approval of this list would legally allow us to hear and share information about your child without you being present. If that is your wish, you also need to sign and date this form. This release of information arrangement will stay in effect until you inform us otherwise.