Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
We strongly encourage parents and students to review the following information. These are the most common questions that are asked during the course of the school year.
Please note these are common general questions and are not meant to be all inclusive of the many guidelines and policies for our school and district. View the School District 59 Family Reference Guide for complete information.
Getting to and home from school
What are the school hours?
Please click here to see current school hours.
What do I need to know about absence, attendance and tardiness?
No pupils should be in the building before 7:45 am. and school begins at 7:50 a.m. Students who arrive late will be considered tardy and must be signed in at the main office. Repeated tardiness will result in parent contact.
Parents must call in all absences to the attendance hotline at (847) 472-3889 by 8:15 AM each day a student is absent. If a call is not received, a parent will be contacted at home or at work. We greatly appreciate efforts made by parents to complete these calls as early as possible, and before 8:15 A.M. On the day a student is absent, participation/attendance at after-school/evening activities is not allowed.
If a student is going to be absent for an extended period of time, please contact the school office/nurse.
Where do I drop off my child and/or park?
All students who take the bus to Ridge enter through the front door (Door 1) and proceed to the Multi-Purpose Room (MPR).
Students who walk or get dropped off should arrive to school no earlier than 7:45 am. These students should enter through the North Door (Door 23). Students who are dropped off early (before 7:45 am) will be sent to the Elk Grove Park District Kid’s Club for which there is a fee.
At the end of the day, (2:40 pm), students being picked up/walkers will be dismissed through the North Door (Door 23).
When driving your child(ren) to/from school, please be aware of children/adults, drive slowly and carefully in the parking lot, and only park in legal parking spots both in our lot and on the streets. In order to have the drop-off line run smoothly, please drop-off your child and pull through to the exit. If you need to help your child get things ready and/or get them unbuckled or out of their car seat, please park in a designated parking space to do this and then walk your child to the North Door. We will continue to greet the children as they arrive as we want them to have a great start to their day. Thank you for your patience, awareness and respect for others.
What if my child bikes or walks to school?
With the heavy volume of traffic located around Ridge, we strongly suggest that students who walk or ride bikes should travel in groups of two and three if at all possible.
What do I do if my child needs an early dismissal?
If it should be necessary for a student to be dismissed from school early, a request must be communicated to the classroom teacher and school office. Parents must come to the office to sign their children out of school before picking them up for departure.
Important School Policies
WHAT IS THE SCHOOL POLICY ON BULLYING?
The purpose of this policy is to promote consistency of approach and to create a climate in which all types of bullying are regarded as unacceptable. We wish to create a learning community in which relationships are based on mutual respect. All members of our school community have the right to enjoy their learning and leisure time free from any form of bullying or harassment. District 59 will not tolerate unkind actions or remarks, even if they lack malicious intent. We expect students, staff, and parents to support this policy by reporting all incidents of bullying. All allegations of bullying are investigated and documented by building administrators or their designee.
Bullying
Bullying is defined as physical, psychological or verbal attack(s) against an individual or group of individuals by a person or group of persons, causing, or potentially causing
- Physical harm
- Psychological harm
- Lasting emotional distress
- An imbalance of power
- Exclusion of the victim(s) from participation in, and/or enjoyment of any program or activity offered or sponsored by the school district
Bullying may be an isolated incident but is more often a series of incidents occurring over a period of time. Bullying takes various forms, including, but not limited to, harassment, threats, intimidation, spreading rumors, stalking, physical violence, sexual harassment, sexual violence, theft, humiliation, causing social or psychological isolation, extortion, destruction of property, or retaliation for alleging an act of bullying. It can occur in person, in writing, and online.
Bullying can be addressed in many ways, including but not limited to, restorative justice, mediation, behavior agreements, punitive measures, supports, and interventions.
Social Conflict
Social conflict differs from bullying. Social conflict is a disagreement between two people or two groups that can possibly involve accusations, name calling, and loud, emotionally-driven arguing. Social conflict differs from bullying because
- There is not an imbalance of power
- The conflict is likely not repeated
- There is not lasting distress, physical harm, or psychological harm
- Social conflict is expected to occur because we do not always agree with others, and we see situations from different perspectives.
Social conflict can be addressed in many ways, including but not limited to, restorative chats, mediation, behavior agreements, and/or other forms of conflict resolution.
Cyber-bullying
“Cyber-bullying” is considered a form of bullying and is defined as the use of e-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms, pagers, cell phones, or other forms of information technology to bully, harass, embarrass, threaten, or intimidate someone. Students who engage in such activity on school grounds or who engage in such activity off campus and create a material disruption of school operations shall be subject to penalties for bullying and harassment as well as possible criminal penalties. Students’ home and personal Internet use can have an impact on the school and on other students. If a student’s personal Internet expression – such as a threatening message to another student or a violent website – creates a likelihood of material disruption of the school’s operations, that student may face school discipline and criminal penalties.
Please view the district’s entire policy about bullying and student behavior by clicking here.
What do I need to know about the school dress code?
Studentsʼ dress and grooming must not disrupt the educational process, interfere with the maintenance of a positive teaching and learning climate, or compromise reasonable standards of health, safety, and decency.
- Students should be covered from shoulder to mid-thigh with solid material at all times
- Undergarments should never be showing
- Pants must be at waist level and tank tops must cover area above and below shoulder- no spaghetti straps
- Skirts and shorts must be worn at a reasonable length (no shorter than an arms length when arms and fingers are fully extended at sides of the body)
What is the policy on cell phones for students?
Cell phone use is not permitted in the school. Cell phones are allowed in school under the condition that the phone will be kept in the backpack and turned OFF.
What if I need to bring my child an item that was forgotten?
To keep classroom interruptions to a minimum, you may drop off forgotten items at the school office.
What if my child will need to take medications at school?
For medication to be administered during the school day, a written order from the physician, detailing medication, dosage, and time intervals to be given must be on file. The required form to be used for both the parent and physician is available at the school office and is called the Medication Authorization Form, available on this page.
Non-prescription drugs also require a written order from the physician. Documented permission from the parent or guardian must also be on file in the school health office to permit the child to receive medication during school hours.
With the exception of asthma medication to be self-administered by the student, all medications must be delivered personally by the parent to a school representative in a container, properly labeled by a pharmacy or a physician.
The district reserves the right to reject any request for the administration of medication in the school. Students in possession of prescription or non-prescription medications in violation of this policy may be subject to disciplinary action.
Important information about asthma medication:
A student may possess and self-administer asthma medication on school grounds, at school activities, while under the supervision of school personnel, or before and after normal school activities, when:
-
-
- The medication has been prescribed by a physician, a physician’s assistant or an advanced practice registered nurse possessing the proper authority to prescribe medication
- The student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) have provided the school nurse with written authorization for the self-administration of medication and a written statement from the student’s physician, physician assistant or advance practice registered nurse that states the following:
-
- The name and purpose of the medication
- The prescribed dosage
- The time or times at which or special circumstances under which the medication is to be administered
-
- The student or guardian(s) have signed and submitted the district’s “Hold Harmless and Indemnity Agreement for the Self-Administration of Asthma Medication” form, available on this page.
-
My child has a life threatening allergy or medical condition. What do I need to know?
Please click here for additional information.
How does the school utilize security cameras?
As part of the District’s ongoing efforts to provide a safe and nurturing environment for our students and staff, the District has placed security cameras in public areas, both inside and outside the school. The following outlines the purpose of the security cameras:
-
-
- Providing a deterrent for inappropriate behavior by students
- Provide information to assist the investigation into student misconduct
- Provide information for managing, preventing, and disciplining inappropriate student behavior
- Provide information to assist in the prevention of student violence, bullying, and vandalism
-
WHEN CAN I EXPECT REPORT CARDS?
As these dates are subject to change depending on school closings for inclement weather, please refer to the school calendar for the most up to date information on end of grading periods and report card distribution.
How do I get information concerning the identification of registered sex offenders?
Visit the Illinois Sex Offender Information website.
Parent Volunteering
CAN I VOLUNTEER AT SCHOOL?
Research in the area of parent involvement indicates that parent participation is one of the greatest indicators of student success!
Please consider volunteering for at least one activity at our school! We have many opportunities from joining committees to supervising events to organizing at home projects, as well as serving on our FTO Board. Please see our FTO page or contract an FTO Board member for volunteer opportunities.
REMINDER: District 59’s complete family reference guide is available by clicking here.
We strongly encourage parents and students to review the following information. These are the most common questions that are asked during the course of the school year.
Please note these are common general questions and are not meant to be all inclusive of the many guidelines and policies for our school and district. View the School District 59 Family Reference Guide for complete information.
Getting to and home from school
What are the school hours?
Please click here to see current school hours.
What do I need to know about absence, attendance and tardiness?
No pupils should be in the building before 7:45 am. and school begins at 7:50 a.m. Students who arrive late will be considered tardy and must be signed in at the main office. Repeated tardiness will result in parent contact.
Parents must call in all absences to the attendance hotline at (847) 472-3889 by 8:15 AM each day a student is absent. If a call is not received, a parent will be contacted at home or at work. We greatly appreciate efforts made by parents to complete these calls as early as possible, and before 8:15 A.M. On the day a student is absent, participation/attendance at after-school/evening activities is not allowed.
If a student is going to be absent for an extended period of time, please contact the school office/nurse.
Where do I drop off my child and/or park?
All students who take the bus to Ridge enter through the front door (Door 1) and proceed to the Multi-Purpose Room (MPR).
Students who walk or get dropped off should arrive to school no earlier than 7:45 am. These students should enter through the North Door (Door 23). Students who are dropped off early (before 7:45 am) will be sent to the Elk Grove Park District Kid’s Club for which there is a fee.
At the end of the day, (2:40 pm), students being picked up/walkers will be dismissed through the North Door (Door 23).
When driving your child(ren) to/from school, please be aware of children/adults, drive slowly and carefully in the parking lot, and only park in legal parking spots both in our lot and on the streets. In order to have the drop-off line run smoothly, please drop-off your child and pull through to the exit. If you need to help your child get things ready and/or get them unbuckled or out of their car seat, please park in a designated parking space to do this and then walk your child to the North Door. We will continue to greet the children as they arrive as we want them to have a great start to their day. Thank you for your patience, awareness and respect for others.
What if my child bikes or walks to school?
With the heavy volume of traffic located around Ridge, we strongly suggest that students who walk or ride bikes should travel in groups of two and three if at all possible.
What do I do if my child needs an early dismissal?
If it should be necessary for a student to be dismissed from school early, a request must be communicated to the classroom teacher and school office. Parents must come to the office to sign their children out of school before picking them up for departure.
Important School Policies
WHAT IS THE SCHOOL POLICY ON BULLYING?
The purpose of this policy is to promote consistency of approach and to create a climate in which all types of bullying are regarded as unacceptable. We wish to create a learning community in which relationships are based on mutual respect. All members of our school community have the right to enjoy their learning and leisure time free from any form of bullying or harassment. District 59 will not tolerate unkind actions or remarks, even if they lack malicious intent. We expect students, staff, and parents to support this policy by reporting all incidents of bullying. All allegations of bullying are investigated and documented by building administrators or their designee.
Bullying
Bullying is defined as physical, psychological or verbal attack(s) against an individual or group of individuals by a person or group of persons, causing, or potentially causing
- Physical harm
- Psychological harm
- Lasting emotional distress
- An imbalance of power
- Exclusion of the victim(s) from participation in, and/or enjoyment of any program or activity offered or sponsored by the school district
Bullying may be an isolated incident but is more often a series of incidents occurring over a period of time. Bullying takes various forms, including, but not limited to, harassment, threats, intimidation, spreading rumors, stalking, physical violence, sexual harassment, sexual violence, theft, humiliation, causing social or psychological isolation, extortion, destruction of property, or retaliation for alleging an act of bullying. It can occur in person, in writing, and online.
Bullying can be addressed in many ways, including but not limited to, restorative justice, mediation, behavior agreements, punitive measures, supports, and interventions.
Social Conflict
Social conflict differs from bullying. Social conflict is a disagreement between two people or two groups that can possibly involve accusations, name calling, and loud, emotionally-driven arguing. Social conflict differs from bullying because
- There is not an imbalance of power
- The conflict is likely not repeated
- There is not lasting distress, physical harm, or psychological harm
- Social conflict is expected to occur because we do not always agree with others, and we see situations from different perspectives.
Social conflict can be addressed in many ways, including but not limited to, restorative chats, mediation, behavior agreements, and/or other forms of conflict resolution.
Cyber-bullying
“Cyber-bullying” is considered a form of bullying and is defined as the use of e-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms, pagers, cell phones, or other forms of information technology to bully, harass, embarrass, threaten, or intimidate someone. Students who engage in such activity on school grounds or who engage in such activity off campus and create a material disruption of school operations shall be subject to penalties for bullying and harassment as well as possible criminal penalties. Students’ home and personal Internet use can have an impact on the school and on other students. If a student’s personal Internet expression – such as a threatening message to another student or a violent website – creates a likelihood of material disruption of the school’s operations, that student may face school discipline and criminal penalties.
Please view the district’s entire policy about bullying and student behavior by clicking here.
What do I need to know about the school dress code?
Studentsʼ dress and grooming must not disrupt the educational process, interfere with the maintenance of a positive teaching and learning climate, or compromise reasonable standards of health, safety, and decency.
- Students should be covered from shoulder to mid-thigh with solid material at all times
- Undergarments should never be showing
- Pants must be at waist level and tank tops must cover area above and below shoulder- no spaghetti straps
- Skirts and shorts must be worn at a reasonable length (no shorter than an arms length when arms and fingers are fully extended at sides of the body)
What is the policy on cell phones for students?
Cell phone use is not permitted in the school. Cell phones are allowed in school under the condition that the phone will be kept in the backpack and turned OFF.
What if I need to bring my child an item that was forgotten?
To keep classroom interruptions to a minimum, you may drop off forgotten items at the school office.
What if my child will need to take medications at school?
For medication to be administered during the school day, a written order from the physician, detailing medication, dosage, and time intervals to be given must be on file. The required form to be used for both the parent and physician is available at the school office and is called the Medication Authorization Form, available on this page.
Non-prescription drugs also require a written order from the physician. Documented permission from the parent or guardian must also be on file in the school health office to permit the child to receive medication during school hours.
With the exception of asthma medication to be self-administered by the student, all medications must be delivered personally by the parent to a school representative in a container, properly labeled by a pharmacy or a physician.
The district reserves the right to reject any request for the administration of medication in the school. Students in possession of prescription or non-prescription medications in violation of this policy may be subject to disciplinary action.
Important information about asthma medication:
A student may possess and self-administer asthma medication on school grounds, at school activities, while under the supervision of school personnel, or before and after normal school activities, when:
-
-
- The medication has been prescribed by a physician, a physician’s assistant or an advanced practice registered nurse possessing the proper authority to prescribe medication
- The student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) have provided the school nurse with written authorization for the self-administration of medication and a written statement from the student’s physician, physician assistant or advance practice registered nurse that states the following:
-
- The name and purpose of the medication
- The prescribed dosage
- The time or times at which or special circumstances under which the medication is to be administered
-
- The student or guardian(s) have signed and submitted the district’s “Hold Harmless and Indemnity Agreement for the Self-Administration of Asthma Medication” form, available on this page.
-
My child has a life threatening allergy or medical condition. What do I need to know?
Please click here for additional information.
How does the school utilize security cameras?
As part of the District’s ongoing efforts to provide a safe and nurturing environment for our students and staff, the District has placed security cameras in public areas, both inside and outside the school. The following outlines the purpose of the security cameras:
-
-
- Providing a deterrent for inappropriate behavior by students
- Provide information to assist the investigation into student misconduct
- Provide information for managing, preventing, and disciplining inappropriate student behavior
- Provide information to assist in the prevention of student violence, bullying, and vandalism
-
WHEN CAN I EXPECT REPORT CARDS?
As these dates are subject to change depending on school closings for inclement weather, please refer to the school calendar for the most up to date information on end of grading periods and report card distribution.
How do I get information concerning the identification of registered sex offenders?
Visit the Illinois Sex Offender Information website.
Parent Volunteering
CAN I VOLUNTEER AT SCHOOL?
Research in the area of parent involvement indicates that parent participation is one of the greatest indicators of student success!
Please consider volunteering for at least one activity at our school! We have many opportunities from joining committees to supervising events to organizing at home projects, as well as serving on our FTO Board. Please see our FTO page or contract an FTO Board member for volunteer opportunities.
REMINDER: District 59’s complete family reference guide is available by clicking here.
