Janney Elementary School

Student Support Programs

Counseling : The school counselor is available as a resource to work with children, parents, and teachers. The counselor is also responsible for the standardized testing program and is available to help students and parents interpret test results. He or she assists the 5th graders with transition activities including registration for classes at Alice Deal Middle School.

Early Stage Child Development Screenings: Early Stage Child Development Screenings will begin at Janney after the first of the year (2010). These screenings will be administered by Early Stages.Early Stages is the program within the District of Columbia Public Schools' Office of Special Education focused on children 3 to 5 years old. This program seeks to provide early identification of any developmental delays that a child may have and provides appropriate evaluations and services to address those delays. These services are available to all families living in the District, whether the child goes to public school, private school, is home-schooled or has not yet entered the school system.

Catching developmental delays as soon as possible is the best way to assure that every DC child has a stronger start to his or her education. To this end, Early Stages begins this identification process by administering the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) to your child, either at your school or at the Early Stages Center, or even with you on the phone. This highly rated screening tool offers a complete overview of your child's development, including the areas of gross and fine motor, communication, problem solving, and social/emotional development. The process takes only about 15 minutes to complete. For more information on Early Stages, the screening, and the rest of the process, please visit the Early Stages website or contact Elizabeth Rihani for more information.

English as a Second Language (ESL): This program provides additional support to students with limited proficiency in the English language and helps these students have a successful school year. Each year approximately 20 students at Janney are eligible for the ESL program.

Testing: Ongoing diagnostic assessment is an integral element of schooling. Formal and informal instruments are used and the results of these tests aid staff in designing the instructional program. However, test results are not used for instructional grouping or promotion. Standardized tests (DC CAS) are administered to grades 3 through 5 each year. Test results are shared with parents. The counselor is available for interpretation of results. For more about DC assessment tests, click here.

Special Education: Janney School has developed a model inclusion program for children with special needs.  All identified students receive support in their regular classrooms along with their peers.  Licensed special education teachers work alongside classroom teachers to provide modified instruction combined with classroom instruction. Whenever possible, interventions are provided in the regular classroom.  Related services are available to students identified with special education needs.

Student Support Team (SST): Janney has a team of teachers and specialists who meet along with parents to develop support plans for any student who is having academic, social, or emotional difficulty.  Supports may include classroom modifications, short term interventions, or  recommendations/referrals for services in the community.

School Services

Health: The Health Suite is open during school hours for students with illnesses and injuries that occur during the school day. The school nurse also conducts a variety of screenings (vision, hearing, scoliosis, blood pressure), assists students with chronic illnesses, and teaches health-related classes. Guidelines are as follows:

•  Children with a temperature over 100 or who have been vomiting within the last 24 hours should be kept home. Children diagnosed with a contagious disease such as strep throat or pink eye should be kept home until completing the first 24 hours of antibiotics.

•  District of Columbia law requires that any medicine to be taken during the school day, whether prescription or over-the-counter, must have a written physician's order and the parent's written permission. There are no exceptions. Medication administration forms are available in the Health Suite. All medications must be brought to the Health Suite by the parent and given to the nurse. Do not send medication in your child's backpack or lunch box for self administration.

•  The following immunizations are required: DTP, polio, MMR, Hib, Hepatitis B, and Varicella (this may be waived if the child has had chickenpox). Students who do not have the required immunizations or proper paperwork may be excluded from school. Please call the Health Suite if you have questions about your child's immunization status, or if you would like information on locations and hours of free immunization clinics.

•  Physical exams, dental exams, and current immunization certificates are required for all students entering pre-K, K, 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades. Parents must complete the first two pages of the health certificate. Your child's physician should complete pages 3 and 4.

•  Allergies: If your child has allergies, especially to food, medicine, or bee stings, let the school nurse know immediately in writing so it can be noted on the student's health record and the teacher can be notified. If the allergy is life threatening, please see the nurse regarding the physician's orders for medication at school.

•  Head lice: PTA volunteers check all students at the start of school and after winter and spring breaks. If your child contracts head lice, please notify the school nurse immediately so that his or her class can be checked as well. Janney has a no nonsense policy, requiring that all eggs must be removed before returning to school. Information on how to deal with head lice at home and school are available from the nurse.

Questions about these guidelines or about your child's health should be directed to the school nurse at 282-0063.

Lost and Found : The lost and found area (box and wall pegs) is located against the back wall of the auditorium for any missing articles of clothing. All unclaimed items are donated to charity every two weeks due to space limitations and the potential for lice infestation. Please check the lost and found area regularly.

Meals : The lunch period is 20 minutes long with all students, except those in pre-K and Kindergarten, eating in the auditorium. There is a peanut-free table for those with nut allergies. School hot lunches are available for $1.25 each. Breakfasts cost 70 cents. Students may purchase milk for 35 cents in the auditorium. Students may not use the vending machines or microwave in the staff room. Application forms for subsidized breakfast and lunch are distributed at the beginning of the school year to all students. Prices are subject to change. Pre-K and Kindergarten students have morning snack in their rooms. Parents share in the responsibility for providing snack with a schedule set at the beginning of the year.