Community Guide

Geary County USD #475 does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and/or activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups.

For questions or complaints based on race, color, national origin, sex or age, please contact. 

Director of Human Resources
123 N. Eisenhower, Junction City, KS 66441
Telephone: (785) 717-4000

For questions or complaints based on disability, please contact. 

Director of the Exceptional Student Services Division 
123 N. Eisenhower, Junction City, KS 66441
Telephone: (785) 717-4000

Seitz Elementary was established in 2013 and is situated on 27500 Merli Rd, Fort Riley, KS. It is named in memoriam of General Richard J. Seitz, Commander of the 2nd Battalion, 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment during World War II. Staff at Seitz believe we only have one opportunity each year to impact a student’s learning. It is up to us to make sure that each student gets what he/she needs to be successful.

KINDERGARTEN-FIFTH GRADE SCHOOL DAY
The school day is from 8:05 a.m. through 3:20 p.m. All students may enter through door 1 or their grade level pod beginning at 7:50am. Supervision of students eating breakfast begins at 7:50 am. All students upon entry to the building are required to report directly to the cafeteria or their classrooms. If not needing breakfast, students can enter through door 1 or their grade level pod. If needing breakfast, they should enter through door 1 or door 14. If a child arrives after 8:05 am, they must report to the office.

STUDENT ARRIVAL
• Class begins at 8:05 a.m.
• Breakfast is served daily from 7:50 a.m. to 8:05 a.m.
• Supervision of students in the building begins at 7:50 a.m.
• For safety purposes, all entrances will be locked after 8:05 a.m. Students arriving late to school will use the front of the building entrance near the main office. The office will issue a pass and send the student to class. To reduce classroom disruptions, parents will not accompany the student to class. A staff member will walk all kindergarteners to class and others per parent request.

WALKERS
Students will enter through the back doors closest to their classroom. Students having breakfast may enter through door 14 closest to the gym.

CAR RIDERS
Students will enter through the front doors (door 1).

STUDENT DISMISSAL
• Kindergarten students are released at 3:15 p.m.
• First through Fifth grade students are released at 3:20 p.m.

WALKERS
Students will exit through the back doors closest to their classroom. Kindergarten and First grade students will only be released to a parent/guardian. If you have an older student that has a younger sibling, the younger sibling will be dismissed in the sibling line (to the left of the 2nd/3rd pod) and will be released to the older sibling.

CAR RIDERS
Students will exit through the front doors and line up while they wait for their parent/guardian. If you have an older student that has a younger sibling, the younger sibling will be dismissed in the sibling line (outside of the library) for the older sibling to meet up with.

• We must notify the Military Police of any students not picked up after school.

• Emergency contact phone numbers must be kept in the office. Please update these phone numbers frequently by sending in a note to your child’s teacher of by calling the office.

EARLY DISMISSAL
If a child needs to leave early, the parent needs to sign them out of the office prior to them being called down. A child will be released only to the parents or emergency contacts, unless the parent has notified the school that they have granted permission for someone else to pick up their child. All persons will be required to show identification when picking up the child. Teachers will not release a student from the classroom or playground unless office personnel have notified them.

 

ATTENDANCE
When a student is absent, for any reason, it equates to missed academic/instructional contact time, which can impact a student’s learning and grades.

ABSENCES AND EXCUSES (Board Policy JBD)
The Kansas State Department of Education and Unified School District 475 recognize that student school attendance and student academic achievement have a direct correlation. Therefore, KSDE now requires that Kansas school districts track and report Chronic Absenteeism of students. Chronic Absenteeism is the percentage of students in a school that have missed more than ten (10) percent or more of the days that school has been in session at any point in the school year. This includes loss of instructional time for any reason, excused or unexcused. School Administrators will make families aware when their student is reaching the status of being Chronically Absent and work with them to rectify the situation.

When a student is absent from school, an attempt shall be made to contact the parent/guardian to determine the reason for the absence. The principal will determine the acceptability and validity of excuses presented by the Guardian(s) or the student.

EXCUSED AND UNEXCUSED ABSENCES
The definition of “excused absence” includes the following and absences should be provided in a timely manner:
• Personal illness
• Health related treatment, examinations, or recuperation
• Serious illness or death of a member of the family (principal may require a doctor’s report)
• Obligatory religious observances
• Required court appearance
• College visits when scheduled with a counselor
• Participation in a district-approved or school sponsored activity or course.
• Absences prearranged by guardians and approved by the principal or designee; and
• Students of active-duty military personnel may have addition excused absences at the discretion of the principal for visitations relative to leave or deployment.

All absences which do not fit into one of the above categories would be considered an unexcused absence. A student serving a period of suspension or expulsion from the district shall not be inexcusably absent.

SIGNIFICANT PART OF THE DAY
If a student misses two or more hours of the school day, this shall be considered a significant part of the day. Significant part of the school day, for the purpose of truancy, is defined in procedures.

MAKE UP WORK
The student’s responsibility to obtain make up assignments from teachers following an excused and unexcused absences. If a student misses more than 10% of the expected attendance days and the assessments administered does not demonstrate the student has mastered the content, the student will be recommended for summer school. It will be the expectation that the student attends summer school before advancing to the next grade level.

TRUANCY (Board Policy AEB, IDCE, JBD, and JQ)
Unless reporting would violate the terms of any memorandum of understanding between the district and the authority to which reports would be made, the building principal shall report students who are inexcusably absent from school to the appropriate authority.

Truancy is defined as:
• Any three (3) consecutive unexcused absences,
• Any five (5) unexcused absences in a semester or
• Seven (7) unexcused absences in a school year, whichever comes first.

School year is defined as:
• The period from July 1 to June 30.
• Students who are absent without a valid excuse for a significant part of any school day shall be considered truant.

Prior to reporting to either the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) (if the student is under 13) or the county or district attorney (if the student is 13 or more years of age but less than 18 years of age), a letter shall be sent to the student’s parent(s) or guardian notifying them that the student’s failure to attend school without a valid excuse shall result in the student being reported truant.

INVOLVEMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
Law enforcement officers may return truant student to the school where the student is enrolled, to the student’s parent or guardian or to another location designated by the board to address truancy issues.

REPORTING TO GUARDIANS
If a truant student is returned to school by a law enforcement official, the principal shall notify the parent or guardian. Tardies Each building has a set starting and ending.

Kansas Stature 72-3121 and 72-3120 in Senate Bill No. 38

STUDENTS TRANSFERRING FROM SEITZ
Please notify the office two weeks in advance of the scheduled move in order to provide adequate time for the processing of school records. All original records must be requested by the student’s new school.

SCHOOL CALENDAR
To view all current monthly events please visit the following website: https://www.usd475.org.

STUDENT BEHAVIOR AND PARENT RESPONSIBILITY AFTER HOURS
After school activities require a safe and orderly environment. All children in attendance should be accompanied by a responsible adult who will be accountable for their behavior. Anyone who cannot conform to the standards may be asked to leave the school activity. Students can be suspended from school for inappropriate behavior at after school activities.

EMERGENCY SAFETY INTERVENTION POLICY (ESI)
Safety for students and staff is always our number one concern. There are times when a student may demonstrate physically dangerous and/or destructive behaviors. In those situations, the student, peers, and school personnel are at an increased risk for injuries and the student’s behaviors may require an immediate use of Emergency Safety Interventions (ESI) by school personnel. The purpose of using ESI is to safeguard and help the student regain control so that learning may continue. In such situations, school personnel may physically restrain the student to protect him/her from injury, from hurting other students or adults, and from violent actions that may be destructive to property. Another intervention may be to remove a student from the scene of imminent danger or injury for a brief period of time. The purpose of this temporary removal is also to prevent students from harming themselves or others.

To view all current Emergency Safety Intervention Information, please visit: https://www.usd475.org. 
Choosing District Resources tab, student support services, Emergency Safety Interventions.

INCLEMENT WEATHER
During severe winter storms, local radio and TV stations will provide reports of school closures by 6 a.m. You can sign up for USD 475 text alerts on the USD 475 text alerts at www.usd475.org . During school hours if weather conditions force an early closing, KJCK 1420 am radio station will broadcast this information. It is the right and responsibility of parents to decide if a student should attend school under abnormal weather conditions.

FIRE, TORNADO, AND EMERGENCY DRILLS
Fire, tornado, and emergency crisis drills are very important exercises and should be taken seriously. State required practices will be conducted periodically throughout the school year. Students and staff must respond to all alarms according to the prescribed building procedures. Students must move quickly to designated areas.

VISITORS TO THE BUILDING
To provide security and prevent disruptions of learning, we ask that all parents and visitors stop at the school office to sign in and pick up a visitor’s badge and sign out when they leave. This is a USD 475 policy practiced in all schools. Visitors must bring an I.D. Please press the intercom button that is located at the far-left door to speak with the office. Please look at the camera and be prepared to present identification, as all staff members may not know all parents. When the entry buzzer sounds, pull hard on the door to enter the building.

APPROPRIATE DRESS
A student’s personal appearance is the responsibility of the student and his/her parents/guardians but becomes the responsibility of the school administration when it disrupts learning. School administration reserves the right to make decisions concerning the appropriateness of a student’s attire, reserves the right to have a student remove any item deemed inappropriate for school, or to send a student home for a change of attire.

• Clothing should not display drugs, alcohol, weapons, smoking or inappropriate language.
• Clothing that exposes parts or underclothing that are typically considered private (e.g. chests, cleavage, bellies, and bottoms) should not be worn.
• Students in dresses should be encouraged to wear shorts or leggings underneath so they can fully participate in the day.
• Pants should be worn at the waist.
• Students are not to wear skates in the building or on the school grounds.
• Students wearing sandals are to be cautious of splinters and thorns.
• Athletic footwear is required for P.E.
• Hats and hoods are not to be worn in the building unless on special occasions.

To promote school spirit, we will have special dress days. In the past, our special dress days have included: Sports Team, Seitz T-Shirt, Kansas Day, etc. These or other special days may be planned throughout the school year.

ANIMALS
Animals cannot be brought to school without permission from the superintendent’s office. Dogs are not to be walked on school grounds. This is to ensure the safety of our students and the humane treatment of animals.

PERSONAL
No CD players, iPods, mp3 players, handheld video games, other personal electronic devices, or toys are permitted to be brought to school unless by special permission of a teacher or the principal. If they are brought to school, they may be taken by the classroom teacher or the principal for safekeeping. This also includes any sports equipment which has not been approved ahead of time. Any other personal items which distract the student from learning or pose a danger will be confiscated by school personnel and returned at his/her discretion. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

BICYCLES AND SCOOTERS
We have a limited number of spaces for parking bicycles. Children are encouraged to provide locks, as the school is not responsible for the security of bicycles. We have no secure areas for personal scooters. All bike and scooter riders must observe the following rules:

• Helmets are required. (POST REGULATION)
• Walk bicycle and scooter on school grounds and in crosswalks.
• Always use hand signals.
• Observe all traffic rules.
• Always ride singly—one child per bike and/or scooter.

Children who fail to comply with these rules may be denied the privilege of riding their bicycle and/or scooter to school. Skateboards and roller blades are not to be ridden or brought to school for any reason.
 

CURRICULUM
Seitz Elementary School will engage in the College and Career Readiness Standards adopted by USD 475 and will adhere to state standards.

HOMEWORK
Students are expected to engage in twenty minutes of daily reading activities. Other than this, limited homework will be assigned because we value and respect the time families have to spend together.

PROGRESS REPORT CARDS
Progress Report Cards will be issued eight times during each school year at 9-week intervals. They will either be distributed at parent/teacher conferences or sent home with students.

SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS
Seitz Elementary School offers services to students with exceptional needs who meet entry requirements. These services include:

• Learning Disabilities
• Speech Language Therapy
• Gifted Services
• Occupational Therapy
• Physical Therapy
• Social Services
• English Language Learners (ELL)

PHYSICAL EDUCATION
All Kindergarten through fifth grade students participate in instructional physical education. Appropriate clothing for physical activity should be worn on these days. Athletic shoes are required. They are defined as regular laced or Velcro athletic shoes that provide proper support, cushioning, and traction for safety reasons. All medical concerns should be reported to the PE teacher.

MUSIC
At Seitz Elementary, children learn music similarly to the way they learn language. Movement, speech, singing, listening, and instrumental playing are integrated to teach the elements of music. The USD 475 music curriculum guide, based on the National Music Standards, is the basis for music instruction.

STATE AND SEITZ ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REPORT CARDS
State report cards for all USD 475 District Schools are available in the school office or online.
• District website for Seitz Elementary and all district schools: http://www.usd475.org
• Seitz Elementary: http://seitzelementary.usd475.org/

LIBRARY
Books may be checked out for two weeks’ time and parents are responsible for replacing lost or damaged books. The fee for lost or damaged books is $15 for hard cover and $5 for paperback. If a book is newly purchased and less than a year old, the fee will be the full purchase price.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS
All students may participate in special program opportunities at Seitz. Additional information will be sent home as these occur throughout the year.

BREAKFAST AND LUNCH ACCOUNT
Breakfast
Begins at 7:50 a.m. and ends at 8:05 a.m.

Lunch
Cold lunches may be brought from home but should not contain any food that must be heated. All money should be sent to the school in a sealed envelope. Please write the student’s name and room number on envelope. School meals follow federal guideline standards.

Geary County Schools 475 - School Nutrition and Fitness
Home: http://www.usd475nutritionservices.org

Menu Prices
Student Breakfast: $2.00
Student Lunch: $2.85
Extra Milk: $0.50
Reduced Breakfast: $0.30
Reduced Lunch: $0.40

Payment
May be made over the phone, in person, or on Skyward under the food service tab.

MONEY AT SCHOOL
Students should not bring money to school unless it is in an envelope and clearly marked for a specific purpose. The school cannot be responsible for money brought to school and lost by students.

TELEPHONE CALLS/CELL PHONES/SMART WATCHES
Teachers and students are not available during class time to take phone calls. To avoid classroom interruptions, messages will be taken by the secretaries in the office. Parents are encouraged to make after school arrangements with their child before school begins. In emergency situations, when after school arrangements have changed, please call the office by 2:45 p.m. to ensure messages get to students: 785-717-6500. Student’s cell phones must be kept in the off position in a student’s book bag. Smart watches may be worn if they are in airplane mode during school hours. Seitz Elementary staff is not responsible for lost or stolen cell phones or watches.

LOST AND FOUND
Students and parents are encouraged to check the lost and found area in the main hall before and after school. Articles such as jewelry, eyeglasses, etc. are kept in the office. Articles left for longer time periods will be donated to community agencies.

FIELD TRIPS
District and school field trips are planned throughout the school year. Notification for each trip will be sent home. All students will ride the district bus to participate in the field trip. If parent chaperones are needed, parents are asked to drive their own vehicle and meet the bus at the designated location. Field trips are for Seitz students only; parent chaperones are asked to make arrangements for other siblings.

SCHOOL CELEBRATIONS
Parents will be asked to assist with classroom celebrations. Please respond to teacher’s correspondence regarding these celebrations. Students may bring birthday treats at a time on or near their birthday that is convenient for the parent and teacher. Students with summer birthdays may celebrate at their ½ birthday. Prior arrangements for all parties should be made with the teacher. Treats and party invitations must include one for each classmate. Party invitations for only a selected few must be handled away from school.

PARENT SERVICES
The Seitz Elementary staff believes parents are a very important component to the success of our students. Parents can be actively involved in their child/children’s learning:

• The Seitz Parent Teacher Organization meets at least once each quarter during the school year. This group sponsors various family/student events and fundraisers. The monies earned by this group go toward equipment and student activities that are not available through school funds.

• Seitz has many opportunities for parents to be involved. Parents are welcome to assist classroom teachers by completing volunteer jobs at home, eat lunch with their student, attend PTO and Site Council meetings and volunteer at events, and attend classroom parties.

ILLNESS
A student should not attend school and will be sent home with any of the following conditions:
• A temperature of 100.0 degrees or greater, or with incidents of witnessed vomiting and/or diarrhea
• Symptoms related to possible communicable diseases such as skin rashes, swollen glands, etc.
• Excessive drainage from eyes (i.e., pink eye), ears, persistent earache, constant cough, or painful sore throat accompanied by enlarged lymph nodes
• Any other communicable disease not listed per nurse’s discretion
• Students with or having the potential to transmit an acute infectious disease or parasite

RETURNING TO SCHOOL
A student may return to school when symptom free for 24 hours without any fever reducing medications or other medications to relieve symptoms. A student is welcomed to return once the reason for the exclusion is no longer present. Any questions regarding when to return to school should be discussed with the school nurse. Students that are returning after an injury, long term illness or surgery should bring a physician release that states that the student can return to school, along with a statement of any modifications or adaptations that will need to be made for the student.

MEDICATION
Obtain a copy for the permission to dispense medication from the school nurse.

HEALTH ASSESSMENTS
Every student, age eight or under, entering a Kansas school for the first time, must present the results of a physical within 90 days of enrollment. Parents are encouraged to secure appointments promptly. Failure to comply with the state requirement will result in student suspension until immunizations and/or physicals are secured.

IMMUNIZATIONS
Proof of immunizations must be presented to school authorities at the time of enrollment. This means that the age-appropriate immunizations must have been completed prior to the child attending school.