Family Handbook

Loyal Heights Elementary Family Handbook

Welcome to the Loyal Heights Online Family Handbook. This handbook is intended to help Loyal Heights families find the information that need, for example the bell schedule, technology support, contact information, academics, behavior expectations, student services and more!

Loyal Heights Elementary Vision

Loyal Heights is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment that empowers every student to thrive. Our vision is grounded in 4 priority areas:

Equity: We create welcoming and culturally responsive school spaces that ensure a safe, inclusive, and joyful community for all students, especially those historically furthest from educational justice.

Community: We believe that a strong community enriches the educational experience. We actively develop our community in all learning spaces and ensure that Loyal Heights views diversity as an asset. We welcome and celebrate student identity which includes cultural, neurological, and individual strengths.

Inclusivity: We provide inclusive learning opportunities to meet the diverse needs of all learners through universally accessible teaching methods and materials. Our instructional approach is anchored in the principles of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework.

Differentiation: Recognizing that each learner has unique strengths and challenges, we are committed to offering differentiated instruction. Our instructional approach is anchored in the Multi-Tiered Systems and Supports (MTSS) framework.

Together, these priority areas form the foundation of our vision, driving us to create an enriching and equitable educational experience for every student in our community.

Welcome to our Nuts and Bolts Info!

Please visit this page often for helpful resource links to both school and district information.

Seattle Public Schools encourages parents, family members, organizations, businesses, and other community members to volunteer with us!

Loyal Heights owes it’s success in large part to the involvement of parents and community members, who volunteer their time throughout the school year.

For all the details on how and a list of volunteer opportunities, please visit our Volunteers page.

SPS web page for Safety

Visit our School Nurse page.
Nurse Rebecca Bruck is in the building on Thursdays and Fridays and every other Wednesday.

Visit our Academic pages for and Academic Overview as well as information about our Advanced Learning, Library, Art and Instructional Music programs.

Welcome to our Student Services page.

Psychologist
504 Policy
AIS Academic Intervention Specialist – Literacy
ML Multi Language Learners
MTSS – Multi-Tiered Student Supports
OT Occupational Therapy
Speech Therapy

At Loyal Heights we use a variety of methods for our student behavior exceptions including RULER a district based program and STAR a Loyal Heights created program.

RULER

RULER is a district wide systemic approach to social emotional development developed at the Center for Emotional Intelligence. RULER aims to infuse the principles of emotional intelligence into the immune system of pre-K to 12 schools, informing how leaders lead, teachers teach, students learn, and families support students.
RULER is an approach to social emotional learning (SEL) that teaches emotional intelligence to people of all ages, with the goal of creating a healthier, more equitable, innovative, and compassionate society.

RULER is an acronym for the five skills of emotional intelligence.
R – Recognizing emotions
Using cues to understand what we are feeling and what others are feeling
U – Understanding emotions
Understanding the causes and consequences of an emotion
L – Labeling emotions
Giving emotions a name
E – Expressing emotions
How we show and express our emotions and how we show our emotions in socially appropriate ways
R – Regulating emotions
What we think about or do to feel more or less of an emotion or to keep feeling the same amount of an emotion

The Four RULER Anchor Tools are:
Charter
Mood Meter
Meta-Moment
Blueprint Reflections Pages

Learn more about Meta Moment on the SPS Meta Moment page.

STAR

The STAR behaviors are Loyal Heights created school-wide expectations that students and staff can refer to consistently in all areas of the building. The idea is that using the same vocabulary and enforcing a set of consistent, positive, expectations throughout the school will build a positive learning environment, a strong sense of community, resiliency, and accountability.
STAR stands for:

S for Safe, T for Thoughtful, A for Accountable, R for Respectable

What is a Star Buck ?

STAR Bucks are certificates that acknowledge positive student behavior. Like the former Beaver Buck, they will be given to acknowledge STAR behavior. Students will present their STAR Bucks to their homeroom teacher, who will then place a star on the class “Starry Night” poster in their honor. Once each class reaches their star-goal, the class earns a reward! Class rewards range from a Pajama Day, Dance Party, and extra recess.

Loyal Heights Discipline Philosophy

Loyal Heights believes in a discipline philosophy that is clear and predictable and plans to resolve and change unexpected behaviors. Our approach is a just, equitable, and empathetic learning experience.

Step 1 Behaviors

Disobedience
Arguing
Not producing work
Disruptive Behavior
Distracting others
Interfering with instruction
Mocking
Name-calling
Teasing
Yelling
Rule-Breaking
Blurting
Breaking playground, cafeteria, or individual classroom rules
Out of seat
Running
Tantrums

Step 1 Restorative Actions

General: Talk with Adult
General: “Fix It” (apology, clean up, try again)
Classroom: Teacher Based Examples Include:

Calm down 5min. break
Teacher-Created Reflection Sheet
Buddy Classroom

Recess: Examples Include:
“Fix It”
5-Minute Break / Calm-Down Corner
Change Activity
Lunch: Examples Include:
“Fix It”
Temporary Seat Change
Change Activity

Once initial investigation is done staff member may use professional judgement to determine if behavior is handled with the RULER Blueprint in the classroom or with the Admin Referral in the office or remote.

Step 2 Behaviors

Bullying/Intimidation/Harassment
Biting/spitting
Pushing
Slapping
Aggressive hand gestures
Middle finger
Defacing Property
Graffiti
False Reporting
Forgery/ writing false notes
Lying
Leaving School without Permission
Misuse of Computer/Technology
Cyber bullying
Internet misuse
Taking photo/video without consent
Plagiarism
Cheating
Rule-Breaking
Breaking playground, cafeteria,
or individual classroom rules
Verbal Assault
Demeaning verbal acts
Profanity

Step 2 Restorative Actions

Automatic Action:
RULER Blueprint to be filled out by student and signed by teacher, student, sent home, signed by parents, and returned to classroom. Classroom teacher keeps RULER Blueprint in file.

Optional Action
General: Talk with adult
General: “Fix it” (apology, clean up, try again)
Classroom: Teacher Based, Calm-Down Corner, Buddy classroom
Recess: Examples Include:
“Fix It”
5-Minute Break / Calm-Down Corner
Change Activity
Lunch: Examples Include:
“Fix It”
Temporary Seat Change
Change Activity

Step 3 Behaviors

Assault
Causing personal injury/ harm
Fighting
Inappropriate touch
Sexual misconduct
Coercion
Blackmail
Extortion
Forcing one’s ill motives on another
Drug or Alcohol Use, Possession, or Distribution
Controlled substances
Illegal drugs
Over-the-counter drugs
Prescription drugs
Tobacco products
Fire, Arson, False Threats
Gang/Hate Group Activity
Gambling
Hazing
Malicious comments about a person’s identity, race, creed, background, culture, religion, etc.
Theft, Burglary, Trespassing
Threats of Violence
Verbal/written (including pictures)
Vandalism, Malicious Property Damage
Weapons
Dangerous weapons
Explosives, fireworks, chemicals, and incendiary devices
Small folding knives
Toys used as weapons
Toy weapons Other Exceptional Misconduct

Step 3 Restorative Actions

Automatic Actions: Admin Referral, parents will be contacted by phone or email by the administration and teacher(s) will be included.
Possible Next Step:
Assigned Seat on Bus
Assigned Seat in Lunchroom
Behavior Contract
Other Consequence arranged between teacher and admin
Family conference with administrator and teacher
In-school or short term (fewer than 10 day) suspension
MTSS Referral for Behavioral Support (optional)
State/District Required Incident R

Refer to the below links to district policies:

Policy 5253 Maintaining Profession Staff Student Boundaries
Policy 3207 Prohibition of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB)
Entire policy below the amendment documents.
Policy 5251 SPS Ethics and Ethics FAQs
Policy 3224 Inclusive Dress Policy (previously known as Dress Code) Link is to a website page and includes a link to the official SPS policy.
Attendance FAQ’s and official SPS Policy 3121
SPS Discipline Matrix