Watson Institute

Social Center for

Academic
Achievement
Student Handbook

DIRECTORY:
School Phone Number 412 781 - 1708
Program Coordinator Marcia Laus ext. 513
Social Worker Carleen Carney ext. 534
School Counselor Kevin Koller ext. 534
Social Worker Dominique Canton ext. 534
Classroom #1 - Classroom Teacher Leslie Rymer ext. 527
Instructional Assistant Kathleen GeyerRapp
Classroom #2 Classroom Teacher Erin
Hornberger ext. 538
Instructional Assistant Kyla Juswick
Classroom #3 Classroom Teacher Pamela Smith
ext. 532
Instructional Assistant Annie Lawry
Classroom #4 Classroom Teacher Jennifer
Dixon-Wagner
ext. 529
Instructional Assistant Julie Rapino
CBI Staff Leslie Corey Ext. 530
Lynne Knight
Christine Hughes
Nurse Patty Golubic Ext. 34 (10:30 12:30)
School Hours 9AM 3PM
Attendance:
Your childs regular and on-time attendance is crucial to his/her success.
Please let us know ahead of time if you have a doctors appointment or other
reason that your child will not be attending school. If your child is ill, call

WISCA in the morning to let us know that he/she will not be attending.
Also call the transportation provider to cancel the bus/van for your
child. Please send in a signed excuse following an absence. This information
is reported to the school district at the end of the school year. If there is not
a signed excuse, it is reported as an unexcused absence.
Cell Phones and Electronic devices:
We strongly suggest that cell phones and any electronic devices, handheld
games or any recording/video devices be left at home. If a student brings an
electronic device to school, it must be held by the teacher at all times. There
are locked cabinets in each classroom where electronics will be stored.
Community:
Students are scheduled to walk in the community frequently. These walks
are for physical education and for community based instruction. Teachers
schedule these walks and may schedule a walk to the Sharpsburg Library,
Post-Office, Dollar Store, Playground, Park, Circle K store, Thrift Store or a
restaurant. Individual sensory needs and behavior are taken into
consideration when planning these walks and some students may not walk
every day. If a student chooses not to accompany the group on a walk,
another assignment will be given to him/her. WISCA will be purchasing bus
passes this school year for Community Based Instruction. Classrooms will
occasionally go to Aspinwall (or other destinations) on a bus. Parents will be
notified ahead of time if students will be going anywhere by bus. On the day
the students will be walking to the Dollar Store or going to a store in
Aspinwall, students may bring cash ($1 to $5).
Computers:
Each student is assigned to a computer. The computers are property of the
Watson Institute. Students must sign a Computer Use Agreement that
includes the following items:
I understand that all computers in WISCA are property of the Watson
Institute and that they do not belong to me.
I know that nothing that I do on the WISCA computers is private and
that people are monitoring my activities.
I understand that websites that are not a part of NNDS must be
preapproved by the teacher.
I am responsible for letting the teacher know prior to logging on to a
preapproved website.
I must log off of preapproved websites after time allotted or when it is
requested by a teacher that I do so.
I understand that I am not permitted to download, use a jump drive or
install software on the WISCA computer.
I am responsible for using clean, non offensive, and school appropriate
language while on the WISCA computers.
Curriculum:

WISCA uses the Lincoln Interactive Curriculum

(www.lincolninteractive.com)from NNDS (National Network of Digital Schools)
and the Edison Learning ( www.edisonlearning.com ) curriculum.
Supplemental Curricula are utilized to adapt for individualized learning
needs.
Dropping off or picking up students:
Please let us know when your child will not be arriving to school on the bus
or if you are planning to pick your child up from school. To avoid the bus lane
traffic and for the safety of all of our students, please park in the lot across
the street from the school on Penn St. You must report to the main office
before coming downstairs to WISCA.
Illness:
Please keep your child home if he/she has:
fever over 100 degrees (your child must be fever-free for 24 hours
before returning to school)
diarrhea or vomiting (keep your child home until the illness is over and
for 24 hours after the last episode of vomiting or diarrhea)
pink eye keep your child home until the doctor has given the OK to
return and once treatment has been given for 24 hours
rash of unknown origin should be considered contagious and the child
should not attend school until a note from the doctor has been
obtained
strep throat your child may return to school with the doctors
permission after an antibiotic has been given for at least 24 hours
Please make sure that your child has completely recovered from an illness
before returning to school. If your child becomes sick at school, we will call
to make arrangements for him/her to be picked up if necessary.
Lockers:
Each student will be assigned a locker for personal belongings. Combination
or key locks provided by the student can be used on these lockers. The
teacher must have a copy of the combination or an extra key if a lock is
used. WISCA staff will have the authority to enter the locker and go through
any materials in the locker at any time.
Lunches and snacks:
There is no lunch service at WISCA. Students can bring a lunch from home.
There is a microwave and a refrigerator in the cafeteria. Lunches should be
sent in daily and anything that is not eaten will be sent home the same day.
Please include any needed silverware or dishes (microwave safe if heating is
required) with your childs lunch. We can store a box of plastic silverware
here at school if you would like.
Students have the option to order food from one of the Sharpsburg
restaurants on Fridays only. Copies of the menus from the restaurants will be
sent home. If your child is planning to order out, please send in money and
let your childs teacher know of any restrictions for ordering.

Students can bring snacks and can take time to eat a snack during any break
time. Snacks should not be eaten at the computer desks.
Medication administration:
No medications (including over-the-counter medications) should be kept in a
students locker, desk or backpack. If your child needs to take any
prescription or over the counter medication during the school day, the
medication must be sent to school in the original pharmacy bottle and we
must have a prescription or note from a physician.
A nurse from Interim Healthcare will be available to dispense medication
between 10:30 and 12:30 daily. Please make every effort to adjust
medication schedules so that your childs medication can be given during
this time.

Parking:
Parent parking is across the street from the school on Penn St. It is easiest to
turn up 12th Street and make a left onto Penn St. due to the one-way streets
in Sharpsburg. We do not recommend parking in the lot right next to the
school. Due to the bus traffic in this lot, cars are often blocked in for up to
hour at a time. For your safety and the safety of all children, please do not
attempt to back up or squeeze around busses.
Physical Education:
Each student is assigned to a Physical Education period for exercise and
physical activities at least twice a week. Students are responsible for logging
their physical activities.
Progress Reports:
IEP Progress reports and grade reports will be sent home quarterly.
School Delay/Closing:
Please listen for the Fox Chapel School District for School Delays or Closings.
You may also need to listen for your childs home school district for
transportation information.
- If Fox Chapel is delayed the classes at WISCA will be delayed
- If Fox Chapel has an early dismissal WISCA will have an early dismissal
- If Fox Chapel cancels WISCA will be closed
School Supplies:
Students will be provided with a binder and pocket folders. Art materials,
pens, pencils, scissors, etc. are also available in the classroom. Your child
can bring additional school supplies, if desired.
Toys from home:

It is best if personal toys and other items remain at home. Some students
find some security in bringing special items to school. These toys will be
kept in the locker during the school day. This will help the students remain
on task and be successful in completing their academic work. Special
permission may be given for special sensory items to be kept in a students
individual work area.
Please feel free to call at any time with questions. Teachers are most
available for phone calls between 8 and 9 AM and between 3 and 4 PM.
(Teachers may not answer the phone during the school day so that
instruction is not interrupted. Please leave a voicemail and your call will be
returned as soon as possible. If there is an urgent message, ask for Marcia
Laus or the office manager, Joan Siegel and the message will be relayed to
the classroom immediately).

Student Handbook Form

I have read the WISCA student handbook and
understand the guidelines.
Student: ____________________________________
Parent: _____________________________________