Scholar & Family Resources Learning doesn’t end outside the classroom. Here are resources for families to make sure their scholar’s education and development go beyond the walls of our school. Contents Scholar Support Scholar Resources Family Resources Policies and Regulatory Resources Scholar Support We want to support all of our students while recognizing the unique abilities, experiences, and needs of all scholars. Learn more about how we’re providing special education scholars and non-native speakers the resources they need to thrive. Momentum Academy provides special education services to eligible students under federal, state and local regulations. Students receive specially designed direct services in order to progress toward annual short- and long-term, educationally relevant goals. These are outlined by the student’s Individualized Education Plan or Individualized Accommodation Plan. Special Education Team Our special education team is committed to providing scholars with the best experience possible regardless of ability. Meet the amazing team behind this program. Sara Karcher Special Education Teacher Sean Winkleman Special Education Paraprofessional Nicole France Special Education Paraprofessional Leslie Williams Special Education Teacher Jane Mueller Special Education Teacher Devon Morris Special Education Teacher Bobbi Fleming Special Education Coordinator Darrece Douglas Special Education Paraprofessional Nikoleta Sinanaj Special Education Paraprofessional ELL Education Team The ELL team vows to utilize knowledge and service provided to the homeroom teachers by the ELL team about their students and best ELL practices. Our belief is that collaboration between experts in content with a student focus will create a streamlined and holistic approach to each child’s learning needs. See ELL Policy Shaisha Hunter ELL Coordinator Scholar Resources Additional resources and support are provided by in house and contracted services, for additional information please contact your child’s case manager. Special Education Evaluation Fill out the Special Education Evaluation Referral Form Here Learn more from the Missouri Department of Education Parent Information Procedural Safeguards Dyslexia Plan The purpose of this document is to outline the state requirements, guidance and the implementation of the Dyslexia requirements. View Plan Document Gifted Education Program Gifted students are defined in Section 162.675, RSMo as “students who exhibit precocious development of mental capacity and learning potential as determined by competent professional evaluation to the extent that continued educational growth and stimulation could best be served by an academic environment beyond that offered through a standard grade-level curriculum.” Momentum Academy follows guidelines for gifted identification required by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, looking at multiple criteria to determine if gifted education services are needed. Additional information on Missouri Gifted Education can be found here. Gifted Policy Family Resources A hub for links, documents and information families might need. Parent Portal We are pleased to offer access to the Momentum Academy Student Information System, Infinite Campus’ Parent Portal for the 2023-24 school year. Through the portal parents/guardians will be able access scholar’s gradebook, view daily attendance, view missing assignments, and submit requests for address and contact information updates. Logins are provided for each family, click here to view the information letter (download). Parents may log in on their mobile device and online! We ask that parents/guardians ensure that there is an updated email address for you on file with the main office, this will allow you to utilize the forgotten password feature in the portal. For your ease of access, click here to download the app, or find it in your phone’s App Store or Google Play. If you have any trouble signing in, please reach out to our tech team at techsupport@momentumacademystl.org Family Handbook & Policies The Commitment to Excellence agreement outlines how the school staff, scholars, and parents will share responsibility for promoting high scholar achievement, character and academic growth. Parents/Guardians will receive this document at the beginning of each school year and all parties will agree to uphold the values of the schools as outlined in the Family Handbook. The Commitment to Excellence document will be reviewed and signed on an annual basis and will serve as the handbook acknowledgement form. This Commitment to Excellence will also serve as the School-Parent- Scholar Compact that is a Title I. Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) requirement. Download the Full 2023-2024 Family Handbook Addressing Family Concerns – Complaint & Resolution Procedure Momentum Academy is committed to maintaining a strong partnership and ongoing dialogue between its teachers, staff, our scholars and their families. If you have a concern about a school policy, academic grade, discipline decision, or anything else, we welcome your input and encourage you to contact the appropriate staff member at the school. See the Parent Complaint Form starting on page 35 of the Family Handbook Parent Complaint Form Name(Required) First Last Email(Required) Enter Email Confirm Email Phone Number(Required) Comments(Required)Please let us know what's on your mind. Have a question for us? Ask away.Parent Name (First Last) Scholar Name (First Last)First ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird ChoiceState your complaint. Please describe your concern in detail.What do you think would resolve the problem/issue?Note: Administration will respond in writing within three business days, acknowledging the complaint.Resolution Process Step 1: Contact Staff Member involved. If a parent has an issue or concern, the first step towards resolving the issue should be to contact the staff member involved by phone or email. The staff member and parent will then discuss the issue to reach a resolution that satisfies both parties. Step 2: Written Complaint sent to Principal. If the issue is not resolved by step 1, the parents’ next step is to write a letter to the principal or use the “Parent Complaint Form” to explain the issue. The principal may take up to ten days to investigate the situation and will then send a written decision to the parent. The parent should copy the Regional Director of Operations on the complaint form. Step 3: Written Complaint Sent to the Board Chairperson. If the parent is unsatisfied with the principal’s decision, the parent may write a letter to the Board Chairperson or use the “Parent Complaint Form” to explain the issue. The Board Chairperson may take up to ten business days to investigate and reach a decision. The Board Chairperson will then send a written decision to the parent within 10 business days of receiving the letter or form. Please note that the Board Chairperson will not respond to complaints that have not gone through steps 1-3. CAPTCHA Uniform Information All scholars are required to wear a school uniform consisting of navy blue pants, shorts, or skirt and a Momentum Academy polo shirt. Our elementary age scholars wear a purple polo shirt, while our upper academy scholars wear a white polo shirt, and Pre-K scholars wear a light blue polo shirt. Scholars should wear solid color shoes and may wear sweaters or sweatshirts in solid, school colors. See Family Handbook for full Uniform Policy. Learn More & Purchase Uniform Food & Nutrition Studies have shown that children who are not hungry perform better in school. By providing school meals to all children at no charge, we are hoping to create a better learning environment for our scholars. Learn More & See School Menus Inclement Weather Closings In the event of inclement weather, Momentum Academy schools may close or delay opening to ensure the safety of its students, employees, and patrons. Learn More Temperature Advisory & Recess Momentum is committed to the social and physical wellbeing of scholars. Recess is scheduled daily for graded PK-5, and social time is built into the schedule for Upper Academy scholars. Recess is approximately 20 minutes, and we asked that scholars are dressed appropriately according to the weather. During inclement weather, indoor activities are held in lieu of outdoor recess. RECESS DURING COLD WEATHER Extremely cold weather can be very dangerous. We ask that scholars are clothed appropriately for cold weather with mittens, hats, coats, etc., so they can be comfortable both inside and outside. There is no national temperature standard for when to keep kids inside during the winter months and decisions are made at the local level, either by principals or school districts. It is Momentum’s policy that during cold weather, the decision for outside recess and activities will be based on weather as listed on the website for the Mizzou weather station at the St. Louis Science Center. If the air temperature or wind chill is 25°F or lower, no outdoor activities or outdoor recess will be held. Indoor recess will be available to students. If the air temperature or wind chill is 55°F or lower, scholars must wear a jacket or long sleeved shirt to participate in outdoor activities or outdoor recess. If the air temperature or wind chill is 32°F or lower, scholars must wear a coat to participate in outdoor activities or outdoor recess. RECESS DURING HOT WEATHER If the air temperature is 80 degrees or lower it is considered comfortable for scholars to participate in outdoor activities or outdoor recess. If the air temperature is 90 degrees, beginning to feel uncomfortable, no outdoor activities or outdoor recess will be held. Indoor recess will be available to scholars. If the air temperature is 100 degrees or higher this is uncomfortable and may be hazardous, no outdoor activities or outdoor recess will be held. Indoor recess will be available to scholars. Bullying Policy Momentum Academy is committed to providing all scholars with a safe school environment where everyone is treated with respect. scholars have a right to be free from any form of bullying. Students, parents, and school employees have a right and a responsibility to report incidents of bullying. Momentum Academy believes that all scholars should be treated equally when it comes to our Anti-Bullying Policy with no particular regard for special populations. Learn More Suicide Policy School staff members are in a unique position to assist students and staff members in dealing with threats of suicide. Momentum wishes to ensure that appropriate awareness and prevention programs are implemented and continued in the schools. Indicators of suicide must always be taken seriously, and intervention should be immediate. Based on the level of risk assessed, different interventions may be put into place. Learn More Courage2Report Missouri The Missouri School Violence Hotline (SVH) began in October of 2001. In 2019, through the Missouri School Safety Initiative, the reporting mechanism moved to the Missouri Information Analysis Center for 24/7 operation and was named Courage2ReportMO. The goal is to make schools safer by helping school districts and law enforcement learn about school violence as soon as possible. Courage2ReportMO takes CONFIDENTIAL reports involving any public or private school in Missouri with students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. What should be reported? Any threat to life that happens on school property or the school bus should be reported to C2R. This may include: Assault – Physical Sexual Offense Weapons Human Trafficking Planned School Attack School Shooting Planned Suicide Terrorism Threat-Extremism Who can report it? We encourage anyone who learns about school violence to report it. Reports are accepted from: Parents School personnel Students Concerned citizens Confidential reporters You can file a report online, call 1-866-748-7047, toll free, or text “C2R” to 738477 to receive a link to our anonymous P3 tip form. Learn more about Courage2Report Missouri here. DESE’s Trauma-Informed Schools Initiative Scholars who have experienced trauma in their lives may face a number of challenges and may need support in order to be successful in and out of the classroom. The Department of Elementary & Secondary Education provides a developmental framework established as the “Trauma-Informed School Initiative.” Find more information and resources on DESE’s website here. Policies and Regulatory Resources All the details from our government partnerships and other ways we meet your child where they are. Parents Right To Know At the beginning of each school year, a local educational agency that receives funds under this part shall notify the parents of each student attending any school receiving funds under this part that the parents may request, and the agency will provide the parents on request (and in a timely manner), information regarding the professional qualifications of the student’s classroom teachers, including at a minimum, the following… Read More School Parent & Family Engagment Policy (b) SCHOOL PARENT AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT POLICY.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Each school served under this part shall jointly develop with, and distribute to, parents and family members of participating children a written parent and family engagement policy, agreed on by such parents, that shall describe the means for carrying out the requirements of subsections (c) through (f). Parents shall be notified of the policy in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, provided in a language the parents can understand. Such policy shall be made available to the local community and updated periodically to meet the changing needs of parents and the school. (b) SCHOOLWIDE PROGRAM PLAN.—An eligible school operating a schoolwide program shall develop a comprehensive plan (or amend a plan for such a program that was in existence on the day before the date of the enactment of the Every Student Succeeds Act) that— (1) is developed during a 1-year period, unless— (A) the local educational agency determines, in consultation with the school, that less time is needed to develop and implement the schoolwide program; or (B) the school is operating a schoolwide program on the day before the date of the enactment of the Every Student Succeeds Act, in which case such school may continue to operate such program, but shall develop amendments to its existing plan during the first year of assistance after that date to reflect the provisions of this section; (2) is developed with the involvement of parents and other members of the community to be served and individuals who will carry out such plan, including teachers, principals, other school leaders, paraprofessionals present in the school, administrators (including administrators of programs described in other parts of this title), the local educational agency, to the extent feasible, tribes and tribal organizations present in the community, and, if appropriate, specialized instructional support personnel, technical assistance providers, school staff, if the plan relates to a secondary school, students, and other individuals determined by the school; (3) remains in effect for the duration of the school’s participation under this part, except that the plan and its implementation shall be regularly monitored and revised as necessary based on student needs to ensure that all students are provided opportunities to meet the challenging State academic standards; (4) is available to the local educational agency, parents, and the public, and the information contained in such plan shall be in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, provided in a language that the parents can understand; and Title IX Title IX of the Federal Education Amendments Act protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance. The School does not discriminate on the basis of sex and adheres to all conditions established by Title IX by recognizing the right of every student who attends the School to do so without the fear of sexual harassment. Title IX Policy Title IX Sexual Harassment Training Title IX Complaint Form McKinney Vento Student Policy Homelessness exists in our community. A combination of high housing costs and poverty causes many families to lose their housing. Many young people leave their homes due to abuse, neglect, and family conflict. Children and youth who have lost their housing live in a variety of places, including motels, shelters, shared residences, transitional housing programs, cars, campgrounds, and others. Their lack of permanent housing can lead to potentially serious physical, emotional, and mental consequences. Momentum Academy will ensure that all children and youth receive a free appropriate public education and are given meaningful opportunities to succeed in our schools. Momentum Academy will also follow the requirements of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act…Read More For more information please contact our School Social Workers Reneeka Gause (reneeka.gause@momentumacademystl.org) or Marlice House (marlice.house@momentumacademystl.org) Foster Care Policy Read Full Policy Points of Contact Reneeka Gause (reneeka.gause@momentumacademystl.org) or Marlice House (marlice.house@momentumacademystl.org) Wellness Policy Momentum Academy’s Wellness Policy seeks to promote the development of healthy lifestyle habits at school and in our community. Learn More Safe to Return In Person The ARP ESSER III law requires that LEA must review and revise, if necessary, the SRCSP every six months. The revision process must include consultation with the following: students families school and district administrators (including special education administrators) teachers, principals, school leaders, other educators, school staff, and their unions. Since the end of the 2021-2022 school year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has removed the quarantine period, added definitions for “fully vaccinated” as well as “up-to-date,” and added the Community Levels system. With that in mind, this guide includes: Removal of the quarantine policy for unvaccinated close contacts able to wear a mask Removal of the Test to Stay and Test to Return components Removal of attendance guidance for fully vaccinated individuals Isolation instructions for individuals infected with COVID-19 A model of a school safety plan that incorporates community levels Quarantine Guidelines English Language Learner Learner LAU Policy Mission: The English Language Learner (ELL) team vows to utilize knowledge and service provided to the homeroom teachers by the ELL team about their students and best ELL practices. Our belief is that collaboration between experts in content with a student focus will create a streamlined and holistic approach to each child’s learning needs. Current languages spoken by ELLs at Momentum Academy: ● Eastern Asian Languages: Nepali, Vietnamese ● African Languages: Amharic, Somali, Oromo ● Middle Eastern Languages: ArabicAmericas: Spanish, Haitian Creole ● English Dialects: Nigerian English, African American Vernacular English (AAVE), Mexican- American English (Chicano) NOTE: English Dialects are not identified at English as a Second language, however, teachers may experience gaps in phonetics or other language-based skills for students who use a different home language than the one that is used at school (SAE.) EG: a kindergartener who pronounces letter sounds differently than expected may need extra language practice to “pass” the SAE requirement in K assessments if their home dialect is Nigerian English. It is best practice to work with the homeroom teacher and student’s guardians to figure out appropriate services. Learn more about our ELL Lau Policy & Procedures here Get the Lead Out Initiative Starting Jan. 1, 2024 schools are required to do the following: Inventory of water outlets used for drinking, cooking, and cleaning utensils (includes ice machines and fridges with water) Create a plan for testing those outlets for lead AND make available to the public Provide general information on health effects of lead contamination for employees and parents You can learn more about Get the Lead Out here. Do you have a comment or a drinking water question? Use the online form. Be sure to include your e-mail address to receive a response. Note: If your comment is related to a specific web page, please include the link or URL Mail your comment to: EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W. (Mail Code 4606M), Washington, DC 20460 You can find the 2024 Results here.