Student Life » Student Handbook

Student Handbook

Creekside Elementary School
Student Handbook

Welcome to Creekside Elementary School. We have so much to be proud of in our school.  An integral part of a learning community is the parents.  We appreciate your support to ensure that Creekside is a safe and caring place.

Creekside’s handbook outlines the rules and expectations of our learning community. Please read and follow the rules in this handbook as we teach respect and responsibility for our actions.    We look forward to another wonderful year and our partnership in promoting a safe environment that instills respect and caring.

 
The Six Pillars of Good Character
Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, Citizenship

General School Rules
Academic Honesty
In support of the District’s Academic Honesty Policy 3.40, students are expected to demonstrate acts of honesty at all times.  Teachers and staff members will support and enforce all District rules of academic honesty and provide a learning environment that does not allow or tolerate dishonesty.  Any student who violates the rules of the Academic Honesty Policy will be subject to disciplinary action.
 
Harassment
 We believe that every student has the right to attend school and learn…
  • Without being called names, and;
  • Without being threatened, harassed, or bullied for any reason.
Harassment is unwanted and unwelcome behavior from another person that interferes with an individual’s life and well-being.  When this behavior is sexual in nature, it is “sexual harassment”.  When the behavior is motivated by a prejudice against another person’s race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion or gender, it is discrimination and could be described as “hate behavior” in some cases.
This type of intimidation and harassment will not be tolerated in our school and is also inappropriate in our society.  It is our intent to promote the rights of equality and human dignity basic to our American ideals.

If you feel that you have been the target of harassment, threats, or bullying, it is important that you tell someone you trust like a parent, teacher, principal, or another adult.  They may offer some excellent advice on how to deal with the situation or they may need to intervene on your behalf.
Additional information is available from your principal including a complete copy of the District policies on this subject.
 
To and From School
Student safety and behavior to and from school as well as on campus is subject to the same rules and consequences.  Please review the following with your child/children:
  • Students must walk on sidewalks or designated pathways only. Do not cut across lawns or landscape.
  • Cross only at designated crossing. Students coming from Springhurst Drive should cross to the west side of the street at the three way stop sign at Bridgewood Way and enter the school grounds via the stairs at the play-ground.
  • Students may not play on the playground prior to 8:40 AM.  Supervision begins at 8:40 am on the playground.
  • Student drop off and pick up is allowed in the parking lot in front of the school and the bus loop only.  Please be patient, it takes awhile with our 700 students.
  • Students are to remain out of the hallways before school until the 9:00 am bell.
  • Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 may ride their bike or scooter to school only after turning in a Bike/Scooter Permit to the school office.
 
Clothing Standards
Clothing needs to be appropriate for classroom and outside play. Tops need to have straps over the shoulder. Tops are not to go below the upper 1/3 of the back and cleavage is not to show in the front. Shorts and skirts need to meet or be longer than the tips of the fingers when arms are extended down the side of the body. Sagging of pants are not allowed.  Underwear/boxers are not to show.
Thongs or flip-flops may not be worn to school.   Sandals may be worn as long as they fasten securely on the feet with a strap around the ankle.  Tennis shoes are the best choice.
Hats may not be worn during assemblies or in the school office.  Hats in the classroom will be the decision of the individual teacher. Hats will be allowed on the playground, but may not be used as a keep away game.

If a child does not meet these requirements they will be asked to change into office provided clothing or wait in the office until appropriate clothing can be provided by the parent.
 
Cell Phone Policy
Students may bring personal cell phones to school, however the school and/or District assume no liability for the loss or damage of the device or its misuse by another person.  Phones must be on silent or turned off and remain in the students’ backpack while on campus.  This includes all areas of the campus and the playground both before and after school.  (Students are allowed to use their phone after school to call or text parent.)  Students may not use any device, cell phone or iPad, to take pictures/video on campus unless they have permission from their teacher and it is part of a school project or has academic value.  Students who use their cell phone without teacher permission during the school day will have the phone confiscated by the office and held until picked up by a parent.

LUNCH AREA RULES 

  • Use walking feet when coming to and from the lunch area. 
  • Enter the lunch area from the south side - follow the arrows. 
  • Remain seated at the tables (not the stage) while in the lunch area. 
  • Food is for eating, not for throwing or sharing. 
  • When finished eating, clean up your area, take a seat, wait to be dismissed from the table by a Character Coach or other adult.
 

PLAYGROUND RULES

  • Play nice: Play by Creekside rules. 
  • Play fair: If you are out, go to the end of the line. Everyone plays or no one plays. 
  • Fix SMALL problems/disagreements yourself with:
    1. Rock, Paper, Scissors (best 2-out-of-3 settles it)
    2. Make A Deal
    3. Take Turns
    4. Talk It Out
    5. Go to Another Game
    6. Tell Them to Stop
    7. Apologize
    8. Wait and Cool Off
    9. Walk Away/Ignore It 
  • For BIG problems you can’t settle yourselves, find a grown-up you trust (like a Character Coach) or a member of Peace Patrol to help you S T E P for Problem-Solving. 
  • No “Do Overs” except for interferences. 
  • Wait your turn, no cuts in line. 
  • Play the same on everybody. (no playing easy on your friends) 
  • Count to 30 when waiting for bars or swings. (no count backs) 
  • When the playground bell rings, students will freeze. When everyone freezes, Character Coaches will blow their whistle twice to signal time to put playground items away before walking to your line.

 

BASKETBALL

Objective:

Score more points (baskets) than the opposing team.

  1. Two teams of 5 players each.
  2. Play begins with a jump ball between 2 opposing players in center court.
  3. After each successful basket, the ball is put back into play at the end of the court under the basket by the team who did not score.
  4. A basket from anywhere on the court scores 2 points. A free throw is 1 point.
  5. If the ball goes out of bounds, the team who last touched the ball loses possession. The opposing team then throws in from the point where the ball went out.

Fouls:

If any of the following fouls occur, the opposing player who is fouled gets a free throw from the free throw line:

  • Tripping
  • Pushing
  • Holding
  • Charging
  • Body contact

Violations:

Any of the following violations result in the opposing team getting the ball for a throw in from out of bounds:

  • Traveling (more than 1 step with the ball)
  • Stepping out of bounds with the ball or causing the ball to go out
  • Kicking the ball
  • Double dribbling (either with 2 hands or 2 series of dribbling)
     

FOUR SQUARE

Objective:

Get to square A then remain there as long as possible by eliminating opponents in squares B, C, D.

  1. 4 players take positions in squares A, B, C, D. (1 player per square)
  2. Serve always starts from square A. Serve must be fair.
  3. Ball is served by dropping it and hitting it underhand from the bounce into square D. 
  4. Player in square D must let the ball bounce once, then keep the ball in play by striking it with 1 or 2 hands to return it to any of the other 3 squares.
  5. Play continues until 1 player fails to return the ball or commits a foul. When this happens, the player loses their square and the first player in the waiting line enters square D. All other players move ahead 1 square. The player who is out, goes to the end of the waiting line.
  6. Lines are fair.
  7. The “next up” player will serve as the line judge.

Fouls:

  • Failing to hit/return a ball that’s in your square
  • Hitting a ball into your own square
  • Playing a ball that is in another player’s square
  • Hitting a ball out of bounds
  • Hitting with a fist (slamming, cherry bombs)
  • Holding, catching, or carrying a ball to return it
  • Playing on an out of bounds hit
  • “War”, “Tea Parties”, etc., (both players are out)

 

KICKBALL

Objective:

Score more runs than the opposing team.

  1. Two teams, 5-12 players each.
  2. Home team is decided by Rock-Paper-Scissors. Visitors kick 1st.
  3. Each team is allowed 3 outs per inning.
  4. Limit of 4 runs per inning. (switch sides even if less than 3 outs)
  5. Pitcher rolls the ball gently towards home plate. The batter (offensive team) waits for the ball to reach the plate and then kicks the ball into the field of play and runs to 1st base. (no bunts)
  6. The defensive team tries to field the ball and get the runner out before the runner reaches the base safely. AND, all defensive players must stay behind the pitcher until the ball is kicked.
  7. Once the pitcher has control, baserunners must stay on the earned base.
  8. The kicking team continues with additional batters in order until they have 3 outs OR 4 runs before switching sides.
  9. Outs are made by:
  • Striking out (batter gets 3 strikes)
  • Defensive player catches a ball in the air
  • Defensive team fields a ball and tags the base before the runner arrives safely
  • Taking a lead-off (offensive player leaves the base before teammate kicks ball into play)
  • Stealing a base (no steals in kickball)

 IMPORTANT RULE:

NO PEGS!! When playing kickball at Creekside, outs cannot be earned by throwing the ball at a base runner. Offense must do 1 of the following:

  • Catch the ball in the air
  • Field the ball and tag the base
  • Throw it to a teammate to tag the base

 

SOCCER

Objective:

Score more points (goals) than the opposing team.

  1. Two teams of 5-12 players each.
  2. First possession is decided by Rock-Paper-Scissors. 
  3. Goals are scored by kicking the ball into the opponents net.
  4. If any of the following penalties occur, possession of the ball goes to the other team for a 2-handed, overhead throw-in from the sideline where the penalty occurs.

Fouls:

  • Touching the ball with your arms or hands
  • Pushing
  • Tripping
  • Body contact

 

TETHERBALL

Objective:

To wrap the rope completely around the pole to eliminate an opponent.

  1. Players stand on opposite sides of the circle. 
  2. To start the game, the server tosses the ball in the air and strikes it with their hand or fist.
  3. The opponent tries to hit the ball back in the opposite direction. Players may use open hand, both hands, opened, or closed fist.
  4. The player who first winds the ball completely around the pole, wins the game.

Fouls:
A player who commits a foul must forfeit the serve (not the game) to the opponent.  The opponent then serves to continue the game. The following are fouls:

  • Hitting the ball with any part of the body other than the hands
  • Catching or holding the ball
  • Stopping or throwing the ball by the rope
  • Touching the pole
  • Stepping out of the playing zone

 

WALL BALL 

Objective:

Remain in play as long as possible by successfully returning the ball to the wall while eliminating your opponents. 

  1. 2 to 4 players on the court, for “traditional” wall ball. Up to 10 players if playing “elimination”.
  2. First server is determined by Rock-Paper-Scissors.
  3. To start the game, the server strikes the ball with 1 or 2 hands. The ball must bounce once on the ground and THEN bounce once against the wall. The ball must pass the white serving line on the court to be a good serve.
  4. After a successful serve, the other players take turns returning the ball to the wall to stay in the game. Each time, the ball must bounce once on the ground, then once against the wall to be successful.

For traditional wall ball, players go in order of #1, #2, #3, #4. For elimination wall ball, players may play in any order. 

  1. If you are unable to return a ball due to interference, call interference, and redo.
  2. Lines are fair.

Fouls/Outs:

  • Hitting the ball out of bounds/outside the white lines
  • Hitting a ball against the wall that doesn’t bounce first (straight A)
  • Holdies
  • Unders
  • Grabbies
  • Savies
  • Pops
  • Body blocks
  • Road Runners
  • Bear Trap
  • Sitting against the wall
     

APPARATUS RULES

At least one hand MUST be in contact with the apparatus at ALL times.  No standing or sitting on top of any apparatus equipment.  Only one person at a time.  

Horizontal Bars

  • One child at a time
  • Use for chin-ups
  • No swinging from the bars
  • No jumping off the bars
  • No hanging upside down
  • Use both hands at all times

 Horizontal Ladder

  • One child at a time
  • Travel forward across the ladder by grasping each rung of the ladder
  • Traveling once across is one turn
  • No climbing or sitting on top of the bars

Balance Beam

  • One child at a time
  • Walk forward or backward maintaining your balance at all times
  • Traveling once across is one turn

Slide

  • One child on the slide going down
  • One child on the ladder going up only
  • Slide sitting face forward on your bottom (no knees, stomach or head first)
  • No running/climbing up the slide

Swings

  • One child at a time
  • Swing straight - no twisting or side to side
  • Seated on your bottom (no stomach)
  • Use both hands
  • You may not save swings
  • Push starts by adults only
  • If swings are full, count to 30 and then take your turn on the swing
  • No counting back

Fireman Poles

  • One child at a time
  • Go straight down the pole
  • No twisting around the pole

Blue Chain Ladder

  • One child per section at a time
  • Use to go up only