School Handbook
Welcome to Kelly Liberal Arts Academy!
In the section below, we've provided all the information you need to know for you and your student to thrive as part of the Kelly Elementary family.
Getting Ready for School
- Attendance Expectations
- School Bell Schedule
- Transportation
- Drop Off and Pick Up Vehicle Procedures
- Arrival and Dismissal Information
- Pets and Service Animals
- Health Services and Medications
- Safety Considerations Before and After School
- ParentVue - Communication from School
Attendance Expectations
Good attendance is critical for steady academic growth, and, by law, children are required to attend school.
Please call the school office at 316-973-4150 any time your child will not be in school.
If you are asked to leave a voice mail, please give the following information:
- Name of the parent or guardian calling
- Student's name and grade
- Date(s) of absence
- Reason for absence; please be specific
Absences will only be excused for the following reasons:
- Illness
- Medical or dental appointment
- A family death or serious illness
- Court/judicial appearance
- Religious observations
- School-sponsored activities
Students who are late to school will be considered tardy (arriving between 9:00-10:30 a.m.). Please make every effort to have your student at school on time.
Additionally, signing your child out in the afternoon prior to the end of the school day affects their attendance and learning. Checking students out earlier than 2:30 p.m. will count as an absence, and checking them out between 2:30-4:09 p.m. will count as a tardy. If a student is to be dismissed during the day, they must be checked out in the office by an adult who is listed on their Pupil Information Form. All students will be dismissed from the office.
Students who become truant (inexcusably absent three consecutive days or five school days in any semester or seven days in a school year) will be reported to the Kansas Department for Children and Families in accordance with Board of Education Policy 1461.
School Bell Schedule
We begin learning at 9:00 a.m. so being on time is VERY important!! At Kelly Liberal Arts Academy, our bell schedule is as follows:
- 8:50 a.m. - 1st Bell and Breakfast Served
- 9:00 a.m. - 2nd Bell, Start Time (students that arrive after 9:00 a.m. are tardy and must check-in through the office)
- 9:00 a.m.-9:05 a.m. - Morning Announcements
- 11:05 a.m.-1:50 p.m. - Lunch and Recess (specific time varies by grade level)
- 4:10 p.m. - Last Bell, Dismissal (students must be picked up on time every day)
There is no adult supervision provided for students who arrive before 8:50, unless the students are enrolled in the Latchkey/SAP program.
Transportation
Students must live 2.5 miles or more from their assigned school to qualify for transportation to that school.
For questions about WPS transportation and busing, call 316-973-2190.
The district does offer the FirstView app that helps families track their student's school bus. Families will need a security code from the school office to use the app
Drop Off and Pick Up Vehicle Procedures
Traffic is always challenging during arrival and dismissal time. Unfortunately, we do not have enough parking spots that are in close proximity. Please plan to park and walk up to pick up your student.
Open places for parking:
- North side of Diane along the curb
- South side of Diane in marked parking spots
- West side of Millwood in front drive (avoid bus lane)
- Some parking along the East side of Glenn
Places to avoid parking:
- East side of Millwood across from the school as marked
- Bus lane in front drive
- East side of Glenn near 31st Street where marked
If you would prefer a drive-thru drop off/pick up location, please enter in the North parking lot. Part of this parking lot will be designated as a drive thru with two lanes. The right lane is designed for cars dropping off or picking up students. The left lane is designed for cars who have already dropped off or picked up their students. Please enter this parking lot through the west entrance and exit through the east entrance. Please do not allow students to get out of or into a car if they are in the left lane. Left lane: Students are not allowed to exit vehicle in this lane. Drive through traffic only!
Right lane: Be prepared to STOP in this lane to drop off/pick up students. Do not park and get out of your vehicle or stop and not pull forward. This lane needs to continue to pull forward to fill in gaps and drivers wait until they have all of their riders before exiting to the left lane.
Arrival and Dismissal Information
Below are a few important reminders for families:
- Students may enter the building at 8:50am each day through their grade level door
- 1st, 2nd, and 5th grade dismisses at 4:05pm daily
- PreK, Kdg, 3rd, and 4th dismiss at 4:10pm daily
- A drive-thru drop off/pick up car line goes through the North parking lot off Diane Street.
In the interest of safety, the front doors during morning arrival are for bus students only. Students have grade level doors that they enter in and leave through each day. This helps with traffic flow inside the building and gives students a more direct line to their classroom each day. Staff members will be greeting students at the doors daily. Classroom teachers will be waiting at their classroom door to welcome their class each day.
Pets and Service Animals
We welcome service animals for persons with disabilities on school property. For all other animals and pets, please leave them at home. There is a lot of noise and commotion during this time, which may make your dog/pet may feel threatened and act on a perceived threat. To keep the students, you, and your pet safe please do not bring your pet on school property.
Health Services and Medications
Parents should notify the school nurse if there are any health conditions that may require medical attention, such as asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, etc.
If a student becomes ill during the school day, they should request a pass to see the nurse.
Students who exhibit fever, sore throat or tonsillitis, any eruption of the skin or rash, any respiratory symptoms accompanied by a fever, severe cough or cold, or any eruption of the scalp, will be sent home.
Parents will be notified to pick up their student and must do so in a timely manner to limit exposure to other students and school staff.
Please keep your emergency contact information up to date with both the teacher and office staff.
School board policy (BOE P5316) restricts school personnel from giving students any medication, including over-the-counter medication.
Medication is given only upon written request from both the parent/guardian and the student's physician. Students must also have received one dose of medication without an adverse reaction prior to any doses being given at school.
All medicine must be in the original container and be presented by a parent to the school nurse for safe keeping and scheduled administration. The container should be labelled with the following:
- Name of student
- Name of medication
- Directions for use
- Name of physician
- Name and address of pharmacy
- Date of prescription
Safety Considerations Before and After School
We are always concerned about student safety to and from school. Parents and students should discuss the following safety procedures:
- Students should not arrive prior to 8:50am as there is no supervision until that time.
- Cross at the crosswalks or corner of the streets.
- Do not go between cars to enter a stopped car in the street or the parking lot.
- Walk on sidewalks whenever and wherever possible.
- Students should go directly home after dismissal time. If your child is not home within a reasonable time after school, please notify the school immediately. Students may ride a bike to school but be sure to have a lock and park in the designated bike rack. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen bikes.
- Everyone is expected to walk their bike when they’re on school property.
- The playground is not to be used before or after school as we do not provide supervision and want to keep everyone safe. Latchkey might be using that area during those timeframes under the supervision of latchkey staff. After the dismissal time ends at 4:20pm, families are allowed to use the playground as they desire.
ParentVue - Communication from School
Parents and caregivers of students who attend Wichita Public Schools have tool to access their student’s school information from any device: the ParentVUE portal or the ParentVUE mobile app.
Information available includes:
- Assignments
- Grades
- Attendance
- Health visits
- Demographic information
- Enrollment
- Calendar updates and district deadlines
- Messages from teachers and staff
Benefits of using ParentVue include increased home to school communications, real-time student progress reporting (seven days a week, 24 hours a day), and increased parent involvement. Access to information for each student is secured through a password.
During the School Day
- Behavior Expectations
- School Meals
- Field Trips
- Lost and Found
- Recess
- Weather Information
- Bringing Money to School
Behavior Expectations
All students are expected to abide by the student code of conduct published annually by our school district. At Kelly, one of our goals is for our students, families, and staff to be an interconnected system that is supportive of one another in helping students be successful in school. We value family engagement and work hard to help students succeed. We ask that our families partner with us in supporting the development in academic as well as social and emotional behaviors of students. If students struggle with their behavior, we will work as a staff to connect with the family to come up with plans for success.
- Bullying
- Sexual Harassment
- Cell Phone Policy
- Toys, Games and Electronic Devices
- Weapons on School Property
Bullying
We take bullying very seriously.
Bullying is defined as 1) purposeful behavior that intends to cause harm or distress, 2) is usually repeated over time, and 3) occurs in a relationship where there is an imbalance of power. Forms of bullying are: 1) Physical, 2) Cyber, and 3) occurs in a relationship where there is an imbalance of power. Forms of bullying are: 1) Physical, 2) Cyber, and 3) Relational Aggression. Witnesses of bullying are to tell the bully to stop, tell and adult, and reach out in friendship to the victim.
If your child is experiencing bullying at school, please contact your child's teacher or school administration and let them know about it right away. It is important to remember that we cannot act in situations that we know nothing about.
Families and students are also encouraged to use the SPEAK Up Anonymous Tip Program. The district’s Crime Stoppers in Schools program has created the Speak Up program, which allows students, staff and parents the ability to send anonymous tips through a secure website, app or phone number. The funding for this service is provided by Crime Stoppers of Wichita and Sedgwick County, a division of The Wichita Metro Crime Commission.
Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment is words or behaviors that are sexual in nature and are unwanted and unwelcome. Sexual harassment could be touching or grabbing body parts, touching or rubbing onself in front of another, sending or delivering unwanted and unwelcome messages, notes or pictures with sexual content, sexual gestures, looks, jokes, comments or noises. Sexual harassment is not tolerated in Wichita Public Schools.
All complaints of sexual harassment will be investigated completely and when the complaint is made. All efforts will be made to provide confidentiality, to the extent possible, for all people involved. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. False complaints will also result in disciplinary action.
Cell Phone Policy
Many of our students have cell phones. For safety reasons, we understand you may want your child to have their phone before and after school. We want to respect your decision while making sure your child, other students and our teachers are not distracted by cell phones in the classroom.
Please read and review the following guidelines:
- Cell phones will be turned off when students are in the building. This includes both before and after school.
- Students will turn in their cell phone to their teacher once they enter the classroom.
- Teachers will keep student cell phones locked up for the duration of the school day. Cell phone will be returned to students at the end of the day.
- Kelly Elementary staff and USD 259 are not responsible for loss, theft, or damage to student cell phones brought to school.
- Parents and students will have reviewed, signed, and returned “Student Cell Phone Agreement” to student’s classroom teacher prior to student bringing a cell phone to school. Students that do not have a signed copy of this agreement on file with their teacher will not be permitted to bring a cell phone to school. You may get a copy of this form from either the classroom teacher or the front office staff.
Toys, Games and Electronic Devices
Unless students have teacher permission, all personal toys, games and electronic devices are not to be brought to school. Any personal toys, games or electronic devices brought to school without teacher permission, will be kept in the teacher or principal’s office and may be picked up by the parent at any time.
Weapons on School Property
School Meals
We are happy to be able to provide FREE breakfast to all students again next year. Breakfast is served beginning at 8:50am. Students will enter their classrooms, put away their things, and then get breakfast to bring back to their classroom. To maximize the amount of time students have to eat, we encourage you to bring your student as close to (but no earlier than) 8:50 a.m.
At lunch time, families will pay for meals unless they apply and qualify for free/reduced meals. All families are encouraged to complete and submit the Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals form during enrollment to qualify to receive free or reduced priced meals, as well as free or reduced prices on textbook rentals, athletic fees, instrument rentals and student fees. It's important to note that you have to apply and be approved prior to the first day of school to start receiving free or reduced meals on day 1. Parents/Guardians are responsible for paying student’s meals until the application for Free/Reduced meals has been processed.
Free and Reduced Meal application
Prices:
- Full Pay
- Lunch: $2.60 per day
- Extra Milk: $0.50 per day
Reduced Pay
- Lunch: $0.40 per day
- Extra Milk: $0.50 per day
Field Trips
Field trips with our city and nearby sites of interest are scheduled by classroom teachers throughout the school year. These trips are designed to supplement different aspects of the classroom curriculum and intoduce students to resources within the community. Parents will be notified of the planned trip at least five days in advance and must sign a trip waiver for students to attend. If a student does not have a signed permission slip to attend the trip, they will not go. We will not accept verbal permission over the phone.
If there is a fee for the field trip, the money needs to be submitted at least three days prior to the scheduled trip. All field trips require the use of school buses. Parents are not able to transport students on field trips.
If a parent serves as a chaperone, they will need to complete the school district's volunteer process prior to the field trip.
Lost and Found
Recess
Having two recess periods a day offers students valuable opportunities for physical activity and social interaction, which are crucial for their overall well-being and development. During these breaks, they can unwind, play, and build friendships, contributing to a more balanced and engaged school experience. In the event of adverse weather conditions, indoor recess ensures that students remain safe and comfortable while still enjoying their break time. Prioritizing safety during both outdoor and indoor recess is essential to create a secure environment where children can thrive and enjoy their school day.
Weather Information
The safety of students, staff and parents is the Wichita Public Schools' greatest priority during the threat of dangerous conditions.
Emergency plans are in place should tornadoes, lightning, hail, snow or other dangerous circumstances present a safety concern.
If schools are to be closed or activities cancelled or rescheduled due to weather conditions, the information will be posted on the Wichita Public Schools' website main page and displayed on all school websites.
Bringing Money to School
Family Engagement
- Emergency Contact Information
- Parent Teacher Conferences
- Progress Reports
- Visiting and Volunteering
- Classroom Celebrations
Emergency Contact Information
Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent-Teacher Conferences are a great way to stay involved in your child's education. Parents have the opportunity to discuss their child's progress, review assignments, learn about future projects and to strengthen the connection between home and school.
Parent Teacher Conferences are held twice a year in October and February.
Progress Reports
Progress reports are provided to parents every quarter. Reviewing these reports is an essential component of parent involvement in their child's education. Please look for these reports and discuss them with your student. You may also log on to ParentVue for an ongoing list of grades provided by the teacher. If you have any concerns about these reports, contact your student's teacher.
Parents/guardians are encouraged to use the ParentVUE app to keep up-to-date on student progress report and IEP documents. These are updated at the end of each quarter. We do not send printed progress reports home.
Visiting and Volunteering
All visitors to the building, including parents, must sign in through our visitor management system HallPass.
Parents, caregivers and other relatives wanting to volunteer in the school or for field trips are required to register every year as a volunteer. Visit the Volunteer Registration page to complete your annual registration.
Clearance or approval of volunteers WPS requires anyone interested in volunteering to register. WPS reserves the right to determine whether a volunteer is a good fit and possesses suitable skills for the district, school or department. The district also reserves the right to end the volunteer relationship at any time for any reason, or to not accept a volunteer for any reason at any time.
Those wishing to volunteer can contact Susan at 973-4170. If you need to visit the classroom, a teacher, or staff member, please contact the office to get this scheduled.
If you are visiting Kelly Elementary for an event during school hours (birthday party, school party, school program), you can make a reservation before your visit to avoid long lines. Your badge will be printed before you arrive for your event. To check if you are registered, or to make a reservation by phone, call the office at (316) 973-4150. To register online, please follow the link below.
Classroom Celebrations
Parents wishing to bring treats for their child’s birthday must talk to the teacher beforehand so that important learning times are not interrupted. Parties will typically take place at the end of the day; however, celebration times may vary based on the grade-level schedule. Teachers will not be able to share party invitations or other materials not pertaining to school functions.