Student Handbook

It is important for each child to be at school every day. Please make every attempt to schedule doctor, dentist, and other appointments, outside of the school day. Students leaving early for outside school activities is an unexcused absence. If your child will be absent, please call the school attendance office at 651-724-7204 or send an email to: bhattendance@ isd623.org. Please include your child’s name, grade and teacher and the reason for the absence. If your child is ill please include symptoms such as, fever, vomiting, diarrhea or respiratory/flu-like symptoms. If you wish to have your child dismissed early, please use our PickUp Patrol App. Students will not be released to anyone other than their parents/guardians unless we have verbal or written permission or they are listed as an emergency contact for that student. The person picking up the child must come to the school office to sign the child out. When a student is arriving after 9:35 a.m. the student must be signed into the office by the person who is bringing the child to school. For more information on the school district’s policy on student attendance, please click here.

Student hours are 9:35 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Students are not allowed to enter the building before 9:25 a.m., as there is no supervision. The only exception is if students participate in the breakfast program, in which case they may enter the building at 9:20 a.m. and go directly to the breakfast serving area. If you need childcare before these times, you may contact Friendship Connection, a provider of childcare in our building, at 651-724-6210. Your cooperation in adhering to this policy will be greatly appreciated.

Most students are transported to and from school by bus. Students must ride their assigned bus, board and exit the bus at their assigned stop, and follow bus safety guidelines. If a student will be dropped off or picked up at a different stop, or ride a different bus, they need to bring a note to school to obtain a bus pass.

Students being driven to and from school should use the main entrance. Cars should not drive in the bus drop-off zone, but rather drop students off in the drop-off/pick-up turnaround.

When using the drop-off/pick-up turnaround, please remember:

• Pull forward as far as possible before you stop your vehicle
• Drop your child off on the sidewalk only
• NO PARKING: If you need to leave your car, park in the lot and walk into school.
• NO LEFT TURNS should be made when leaving the turnaround area! Right turn only. If you need to change your child’s end-of-the-day transportation, please send a note to your child’s teacher in the morning. Please do not call the office in the afternoon with end-of-day changes, unless it is an emergency.

We concentrate on teaching children to take responsibility for their learning and behavior in ways that are acceptable and supportive of other learners. We believe all children who attend Brimhall School are capable of meeting the school’s expectations. Teaching students how to solve problems and make wise behavioral choices are our major goals in promoting self-discipline.

Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS)

Our school began implementation of a research-based behavior support model in the year 2009-2010. The school behavioral expectations are stated for all settings within the school, playground and on the bus. Our behavior coach works with students, staff, and families to help create a positive environment for learning and responding to behaviors. We encourage parents to review and discuss these behavioral expectations with their children. Your support in guiding positive behavior is appreciated.

Classroom Expectations

Respect

• Listen and follow adult directions
• Use self-control so others can learn
• Respect differences in learning
• Share materials when asked

Responsibility

• Be ready to learn
• Keep organized
• Ask for help when needed
• Work with your group as needed

Best Effort

• Start and finish work on time
• Cooperate
• Take care of yourself
• Turn in your best work

Safety

• Be where you are supposed to be
• Be a problem solver
• Use school tools appropriately

Care of Property

• Keep valuables at home
• Put things where they belong
• Clean up

Playground Expectations

Respect

• Listen and follow adult directions
• Include everyone
• Play fair and be a good sport
• Show cooperation and consideration

Responsibility

• Have fun and be safe
• Report safety concerns
• Line up quickly when the whistle blows
• Get permission from adults to leave the area

Effort

• Be a problem solver
• Share idea for new games or fun
• Wait calmly when recess ends

Safety

• Move and play without hurting yourself or others
• Stay in assigned area
• Show self-control when line up (hands and feet to yourself)

Care of Property

• Share equipment
• Report to an adult any unsafe or missing equipment
• Safely return equipment

We will focus on:

• Building self-esteem
• Promoting self-discipline
• Developing internal motivation
• Eliminating fear and coercion
• Creating conditions for a needs-satisfying environment

Because Brimhall is surrounded by so many busy streets, for safety reasons students are strongly discouraged from riding bicycles and skateboards to school. Please call the office if you have any questions.

Bus Stop Procedures

Students should arrive at their stop no more than five minutes before the scheduled arrival of the bus. They will need to wait for the bus in a safe, courteous manner. Safety means staying out of the street and not playing games near the traffic. Courtesy means being respectful of private property near the bus stop and not pushing and shoving in line. Parents are responsible for their child’s behavior and safety; to and from the bus stop, prior to entering and immediately after exiting the bus at the end of the school day.

Bus transportation is a privilege extended by the School Board. It is not a right. All students are required to obey bus conduct rules which are in place to protect the safety and wellbeing of all students. Failure to observe these rules may result in the loss of bus privileges. If your child will be riding a different bus home, please send a note to the office in advance, in order to obtain a bus pass.

Bus Rules

Responsibility

• Immediately follow directions of your driver or your patrol
• Obtain permission before riding on any bus to which you are not normally assigned

Respect

• Talk quietly and use appropriate language
• Show respect for all other riders: no fighting, harassment, intimidation, or horseplay

Care of Property

• Treat the bus with respect (no writing or harming seats/windows)

Safety

• Sit in your seat facing forward
• Behave safely: Do not put our arms or hands out of the windows, do not throw objects
• Keep your arms, legs, and belongings to yourself (keep aisle clear)
• Do not bring weapons or dangerous objects on the bus

Best Effort

• No eating, drinking, or use of tobacco/drugs is allowed

Referrals from patrol or bus driver may result in parent contact or bus suspension as determined by staff (in-school consequences). If you need to contact us about busing, please call Pat Fleming at 651-724-6201. Brimhall School trains 6th graders to participate in a Bus Patrol program to support safety and reinforce appropriate bus behaviors. They are responsible for reporting to staff regarding the Bus Expectations. Your child should identify their bus patrol and report any concerns directly to that patrol or their classroom teacher. If you hear of bus problems, please contact the classroom teacher or the Brimhall Office at 651-638-1958, so we can respond effectively.

NOTE: Bus company policy states that parents are not allowed to enter and/or ride a school bus. (Parents are only allowed to be on the bus when chaperoning school field trips).

Bus Safety

Minnesota state law requires that school bus safety education be taught in schools during the first weeks of school. The law also suggests that young students receive school bus safety training before they come to school the first day. As a parent, you are your child’s most influential teacher. We ask that you teach your child about school bus safety. The information below will help you explain to your child how to be safe on and around the bus. Spend some time with your child on these points. Explain the reasons why they are important, and go over them again three or four times on different days so that your child will have a safer bus ride when school starts. Secondary drivers who will be driving when there are school buses on the road should read this as well, so that they are aware that small children might be on the roads when they are driving after school.

Bus Safety Guidelines

1. Be ready for the bus at the scheduled time. Bus times are set based on the streets that they run on and with a standard loading time. If a student is late to the stop, and the bus has to wait, the bus will be late to all the rest of the stops and to school. Bus riders who are late to stops often don’t act safely, and are in more danger than if they were ready on time.
2. Wait until bus is stopped before moving toward the bus and getting on. Often students get anxious as the bus arrives, so they run forward while the bus is still moving. This is a dangerous practice because a student could slip or fall in front of the bus.
3. After getting on the bus, go to a seat, sit down and stay seated. Law requires that students be seated while a bus is moving. Students should sit down quickly so that the bus runs on time. If a student is standing when the bus is moving, he or she may get knocked down or around by the movement of the bus.
4. Remain quiet on the bus, so you don’t distract the driver. While the bus is moving, kids often talk, and that is OK unless it gets too loud. When the bus is loud the driver can’t hear important things like sirens or train whistles, or can be distracted by having to pay attention to the kids and miss something important like a stoplight, or a car coming from another direction.
5. Do what the driver tells you to do. The driver is in charge of the bus, and sometimes has to tell students to be quiet, or to sit down, or to wait to get on or off of the bus. The driver is trying to keep students safe, and so kids should do what he or she says.
6. Make sure that you get on the right bus – know your bus numbers. The bus which takes a student to school may be different than the one that bring her or him home. A student should always now the bus number which will bring her/him home because that is the one at school where there may be other buses to choose from.
7. Always carry your bus card. The bus card provided by the district office contains the student’s name, what buses he/she rides, and where the bus stop is. If there is a question about what the bus or bus stop is, the student should get out the bus card and show it to the driver or teacher. This should be carried in the backpack all the time.
8. Be ready to get off the bus when it gets near your stop, but don’t get up until the bus stops at your stop. Many times young students get so involved in a conversation or the ride that they forget to watch for their stop. When they arrive they aren’t ready to pick up their backpack and get off of the bus. This delays the bus and makes everybody else late. If the student misses his or her stop the bus has to go back to the stop, making the bus late to all the other stops.
9. After getting off of the bus, walk away from the bus. Don’t stay near it. If you have to cross the street, go at least 5 big steps in front of the bus, and wait until the driver waves for you to cross the street. If there are older children crossing at your bus stop, younger students should cross the street with them as well. NEVER GO BACK TO THE BUS AFTER YOU GET OFF OF IT. IF YOU DROP SOMETHING, WAIT UNTIL THE BUS IS GONE, AND THEN GET YOUR MOM OR DAD TO GO WITH YOU TO GET IT. This is the most important instruction on this page. According to statistics, this is the area where most students’ fatalities occur. The three key points are to go 5 big steps in front of the bus, wait until the driver tells you to cross, and never go back to the bus. If your student doesn’t have to cross (we try to avoid it) still take time on these points, because the route may change with new riders or for the next school year.
10. If you have any questions regarding bus routes or bus safety please contact the Roseville Area Schools Transportation Department at  651-635-1638.

Please inform the school of any changes in your family status. This may include a new address, new telephone number (home, work, or cell), or change of marital status. This information is necessary for our records in case of an emergency and is kept confidential. Families planning to move out of the district are asked to notify the office several days before their last school day. All accounts must be paid before leaving. All library books must be returned.

Healthy kids learn better. In order to align with federal mandates that aim to provide the best learning environment possible and support student achievement, the school district has changed its wellness policy. In addition to updates to physical activity, school nutrition, and other district wellness, families will see a change to classroom birthday celebrations. As of the 2017-18 school year, birthday celebrations will not include food or drink. Parents/families are asked to not send birthday treats with their student to school. The new guidelines help students avoid unhealthy snacks while still providing plenty of room for tradition and fun. If there is a non-birthday classroom event that calls for families to provide snacks, families are asked to only send nutritious snacks. Information about healthy snacks can be found on the district’s Nutrition Services webpage at www.RosevilleNutrition.com.

Conferences are scheduled twice each school year (September/October and February/March) and may be scheduled online at [need link]. We consider these conferences to be important and beneficial to both parents and teachers, so please make every attempt to attend. If you have concerns, please deal with them as soon as possible. You do not need to wait until conference time to address your concerns. Most teachers are available for calls before or after school and can also be reached via e-mail. Calls made to teachers during the school day will be directed to voicemail and will be returned as soon as possible.

Roseville Area Schools collects, maintains, and releases information about pupils and their families only for legitimate educational purposes including instruction, guidance and research as provided in federal law and state statutes. Please refer to the district website, www.isd623.org, for more important information regarding Data Privacy Rights of parents and students. 

Positive attitudes and behavior are directly related to appropriate dress and good grooming. Appearance and dress are to be in good taste at all times. For health and safety reasons, as well as community standards, proper school dress will be enforced. Appropriate dress will include:

• No hats
• Must wear shoes at all times (for safety)
• Shorts must be at least mid-thigh
• Must wear tennis shoes to physical education
• Tops must cover midriff
• Shirts with derogatory or offensive language shall be considered improper
• No Heeley shoes

We are committed to maintaining a school atmosphere that is inclusive, respectful, and conducive to student learning.

Tobacco, alcohol, and chemical use is strictly prohibited on school grounds. This includes all activities before, during and after school for all students, siblings, parents, and staff.

All electronic devices, including MP3 players and handheld games, are not allowed at school. The use of cell phones at Brimhall is STRONGLY discouraged. Arrangements should be made through the school office if your child needs to have a cell phone at school. Students should not bring valuable items to school.

In the event of severe weather or mechanical breakdown, the start time of Brimhall may be delayed or the entire school system may be closed. Official announcements will be made over radio station WCCO (830 AM) and most other local television and radio stations between 6:00 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. If no report is heard, school will be in session. If emergency conditions such as a fire, gas leak, etc. occur during the day at Brimhall, students will go to St. Michael’s Lutheran Church, 1660 County Road B West in Roseville.

Friendship Connection provides year round school-age childcare to Brimhall’s K–6 children. For more information, click here.

Lost and found articles are kept in the “Lost & Found” area, which is located in the main hallway, for a period of time after being found. Also, several times during the school year items are placed on “claiming tables” after which the remaining articles are donated to an area charity.

To guard against lost articles, please use ink to label items with your child’s first and last name.

Students should not bring valuables to school. Collections, momentos, favorite toys, cell phones, MP3 players, etc., can be damaged, lost, or “disappear.”

Students who lose or damage library materials, textbooks, or other school property will be assessed a fine to cover the cost of loss or repair. The fine will be refunded if the book or other lost item is found later and returned. Families unable to pay the cost of the item are asked to contact the principal to make arrangements.

The mission of the media technology program is to ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information

This mission is accomplished by:

• Facilitating access to ideas and information
• Collaborating with teachers in the teaching of information literacy and technology skills
• Encouraging reading and the use of information skills to promote literacy and lifelong learning

The media/technology curriculum is integrated into the classroom curriculums. For more information on the media/technology curriculum, click here.

Book Checkout

Teachers have a weekly book exchange time, but students are encouraged to visit the media center throughout the week as needed at times determined appropriate by their teachers. Students may check out a “reasonable” number of books. Teachers may choose this number for their students. 

Kindergarten to Grade 1

• Typically kindergarten students check out one book. First grade checks out 1-2 books.
• Students return books after one week.
• A reminder slip is filled out for those students who do not return their books that week.
• Overdue notices are printed at midterm and term.
• Problem overdues are dealt with on an individual basis.

Grades 2-6

• Books are checked out for two weeks.
• Books may be renewed.
• Verbal reminders are given to students.
• Overdue notices are printed at midterm and term.
• Students will be asked to return overdue books before checking out others.
• Problem overdues are dealt with on an individual basis.

• I understand many important educational resources are accessed using school technology.
• I will use technology in schools for educational purposes only. The school has a right to monitor my use of school technology.
• I will use respectful language and behavior while using school technology.
• I will be mindful of school resources by printing only what is absolutely necessary.
• I will not give out personal information about myself or anyone else while using school technology.
• I will not look at, download, or communicate any material that is obscene, vulgar, sexually explicit or offensive in terms of race, ethnicity, sex, or religion. I will tell a teacher if I come across any information that is inappropriate or makes me feel uncomfortable.
• I will never access, remove, change or harm another person’s files.
• I will not use another person’s system or password.
• I will follow all laws and school rules when I use school technology.
• I will give credit when I use another’s work, whether it is from a book, the Internet, or elsewhere.
• I will use the Internet at school only with permission from a present, supervising adult.
• I will be respectful of and responsible for all school technology I use, leaving it in good working order, organized and ready for the next person.

If you have any comments or questions, please contact your media specialist, school technology support staff member, or District Media/Technology Services at 651-604-1476.

Life Touch Studios will take individual and class pictures for all students in the fall of each school year. Picture retakes are taken a month later. Picture packages are available for purchase. In addition, yearbooks are offered for purchase in the spring of each year. Notices are sent home with students in January regarding yearbook sales. The yearbook, which is offered as a service to students, is not a fundraiser.

According to state statute, all public school students shall recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America one of more times each week. Anyone who does not wish to participate may elect not to do so and students must respect another person’s right to make that choice.

• Our community is strongest when all are included and we are working towards common goals.
• All students can be successful if they know how.
• Clearly defined expectations support student achievement.
• Students increase positive behaviors when they are given positive reinforcement.
• Some students will require re-teaching, practicing, or individual plans to meet our expectations.

At Brimhall, PBIS includes:

• Expectations Matrix
  • Clearly defined, across settings, taught and reinforced regularly
  • Definition of major and minor behaviors agreed upon by staff
• Bengal Pride Ticket System
  • Tickets given for students showing Bengal Pride and weekly names are drawn for rewards
  • Whole school celebrations related to behavioral successes
• Office Referrals
  • Definition of major and minor behaviors
  • Natural consequences determined by incident
  • Parents informed of office referrals for major behaviors
  • Documentation of patterns so interventions can be created

PBIS Schoolwide Team

• Representatives from different grade  levels and different settings within the school
• Monthly review of referrals and pro-active interventions
• Annual planning for evaluation of program and setting goals
• Planning schoolwide supports and celebrations throughout the year

Major Behavior

• Addressed with referral to behavior coach
• Fighting, taking things that don’t  belong to you, leaving the group without permission, ongoing disruption that doesn’t allow others to learn, bullying and harassment

Minor Behavior

• Addressed by the classroom teacher (redirection, take a break, etc.)
• Incomplete work, hands on others in line, talking during instruction, off task

How Families Can Participate

• Teach, review and reinforce the expectations for the different settings in school
• Cheer your child on when they earn “tickets” or they are a Bengal Pride ticket winner
• Respond if notes or messages come from the school staff related to office referrals
• Check in with Jeanne Connelly (651-638-1958, ext. 226) with questions or concerns at any time
• Participate in planning if interventions are created with the Student Teacher Assistance Team

For more information on the school district’s policy on student discipline, please review the district's policies.

Students may enter the building beginning at 9:25 a.m. They should report to their classroom, hang up coats, and prepare to begin classes at 9:35 a.m. Classes are dismissed at 4 p.m. Supplemental classes may be available through Community Education, Targeted Services, and/or Compensatory Education.

All children need to wear gym shoes for physical education classes. Tennis shoes with either laces or Velcro straps are required to participate in gym class. No large platform soles or slip-on tennis shoes will be allowed. If your child has an injury, which requires limitations in physical activity, please send a note to the school nurse.

After lunch, students have outdoor  recess. Your child should be dressed for the weather. We recommend boots, hats, mittens, etc. during winter. All children will be required to be outside for recess unless we have a written note stating a medical reason. If the actual or wind chill temperature is below zero, the principal will decide if classes will go outside or remain inside.

Each teacher will inform parents of basic supplies students will need to keep on hand in their desk. Please check with your child occasionally to see if they need to replenish their supplies during the school year. A list is also available here.

School Patrol (Grade 6)

Brimhall’s School Patrol program is made up of approximately 50 sixth grade volunteers. The job of our volunteers is to help the bus driver safely transport students to and from school, to escort kindergarten students to and from the buses at school, and to help with loading and unloading of buses at school. Some patrols help our walking students cross the street safely. School patrol volunteers are trained in the fall by our principal. Information is sent home with fifth graders in the spring.

School Leaders (Grades 4-6)

In the fall, students in grades 4, 5, and 6 are encouraged to apply to become a part of Brimhall’s Student Leader program. Student Leaders meet once a month during the school year and work on school-wide projects.

Students in the Roseville Area Schools come from a variety of backgrounds and have a wide variety of academic needs. Curriculum for students who have exceptional academic needs is generally provided for by the classroom teacher. In addition, identified students in grades 4-6 may participate in specialized services provided by the Gifted & Talented Program. These services include a variety of enrichment opportunities, summer opportunities, and special offerings during the school year. Gifted & Talented students are selected in the spring to participate the following year by meeting district wide criteria. Student performance and talent areas are considered for participation in the program which attempts to stretch student’s learning and to support affective needs.

Report cards are sent home twice during the school year -- in December, following the first trimester, and in June, at the end of the school year. Mid-term checkpoints are sent home in January and April, only if there are concerns. Report cards inform parents and students of academic and social growth and are not designed to compare one student’s achievement with that of other students in the class. It is only one tool in the ongoing process of reporting a student's progress.

Resource programs are available at Brimhall for students with special needs. These programs include special services for students with learning disabilities, emotional/behavioral disorders, physical handicaps, or speech/language disorders.

State law provides specific guidelines for the administration of these programs, as well as specific eligibility criteria which a student must meet prior to admission. Evaluation of a student for admission into any of these programs is a very complex process requiring professional study and testing. Students are usually referred for assessment by their classroom teacher. However, parents may also request this testing for their child. Please contact the principal for further information or if you would like to refer your child. For more information about Section 504, Targeted Services, Title I, or ELL, click here.

Roseville Area Schools continually assesses student performance to provide parents and staff with the data needed to make informed instructional and educational decisions. For more information, please click here.

Roseville Area Schools uses an emergency notification system, which is an efficient and effective method for communicating important news with our families. Within minutes, the district can send recorded voice messages to parents. Parents have the opportunity to designate their 623 Alert Emergency Notification phone number on their child’s Health and Emergency Form at the beginning of the school year.

The Brimhall Buzz is our weekly school newsletter emailed to families every Thursday during the school year. The Brimhall Buzz contains important dates, school information, announcements, and flyers. If you do not receive our newsletter and would like to sign up, go to www.isd623.org/school/brimhall-elementary. Under “Quick Links,” click on “Subscribe to School News.” School and community flyers are also available in the display rack outside our main office.  

Each school in Roseville Area Schools has a health office staffed by a health assistant under the supervision of the licensed school nurse. The school health office functions to support students who become ill or injured during the school day, administer medications to students who require it, and provide assistance to students who need support with the management of chronic health conditions at school.

You are encouraged to contact the licensed school nurse if your student has a chronic health condition requiring management during the school day, or if you have a question regarding your student’s health.

If your student becomes ill or seriously injured at school and it is necessary for them to go home, you or your designated emergency contact person will be contacted by the Health Office to pick up your student. Students who are 18 or older may sign themselves out at the discretion of school staff.

Please notify the school office immediately each time your phone numbers or emergency contact names/numbers change, or update them in ParentVue (CLICK HERE). We depend on you for this information and we need to be able to reach you quickly in case your student is ill or injured. If we cannot reach you or your emergency contacts, we may call 911 or contact the police. Students are not allowed to call parents from a classroom to request permission to go home. 

Not every health office visit will be reported home. You are encouraged to call your school health office with any questions.

The following will help you decide whether your child is too sick and should stay home from school.

• If your child has a fever of 100 degrees or more, they should stay home for 24 hours after the temperature returns to normal and remains normal without fever-reducing medication.
• If your child has vomited or has diarrhea, they should stay home until 24 hours after the last episode.
• If your child had any rash that may be disease-related or the cause is unknown, check with your healthcare provider before sending them back to school.

If your child is ill, please call the school to report the absence each day of the illness. If you have questions regarding your child's illness, please call your school nurse or healthcare provider.

For students with health conditions that require medication during the school day, parents/guardian-provided medication is administered by the licensed school nurse, or by the health assistant or other staff under the direction and supervision of the licensed school nurse. There is no school supply of medication.

For the protection of students, families, and school personnel:

• A new medication permission form is required each and every school year.
• All medications needed during the school day are stored in the health office. Medications required in other programs or outside the normal school day hours are stored in a secure location in that program’s area.
• If there are concerns about any student medication, the licensed school nurse may contact the health care provider and/or request a healthcare provider’s order for an over-the-counter medication.
• Medications prescribed for more than two (2) weeks and which must be taken at school must have the “Dispensation of Medication” form signed by the prescribing provider and the parent/guardian. For over the counter medications, a parent’s signature only is required.
• Medication prescribed for less than two (2) weeks requires written permission from the parent/guardian only.
• All medications must be in original containers labeled with all of the following: student’s full name, medication name, dose, and times of day to take medication.
• Students are not allowed to self-administer medication without approval from the licensed school nurse, parent/guardian approval, and health care provider signature (for prescription medication).
• At the end of the school year medications will be sent home with students unless otherwise indicated. Return of controlled medications (e.g. ADHD medications) will be coordinated with families. 

Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact the licensed school nurse at the child’s school to discuss any concerns or special needs, or to request assistance in obtaining required authorization from their healthcare provider.

Prescription and over-the-counter medications will be stored in a locked cabinet in the Health Office. Emergency medications (e.g., asthma inhalers, seizure medications, epinephrine pens) will be stored in an unlocked cabinet for easy access in the event of an emergency.

Roseville Area Schools are allergy aware and strive to provide a safe school environment for students with life threatening allergies. Please provide an anaphylaxis action plan each school year, or every 12 months. To plan accommodations specific to your student, please contact the Licensed School Nurse.

Minnesota law requires students to be immunized against certain diseases or have a signed, legal medical or conscientious exemption kept in the student health record. These requirements apply to all students whether they attend public schools, private schools, or home schools. Appropriate documentation must be provided to the school health office in order for the student to enroll or remain enrolled. If a parent or guardian objects to immunizations for either medical or personal reasons, a notarized statement is needed on the Student Immunization form. The notarized statement specifies the immunization(s) the child will not be receiving. Download the form here, or contact the health office for information about obtaining a medical or conscientious exemption.

Licensed school nurses conduct vision and hearing screening at school in alignment with the recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Teachers may identify a student who appears to struggle to see and then can request that the student is screened. Parent/guardians may also contact their licensed school nurse and request screening for their child.

Schoolwide screening provided in select grades, as recommended by MDH, are a way to identify students who may need glasses. Students may also be screened as part of a school special education evaluation. Often individuals are not aware that they are struggling to see details at a distance, so screening is helpful to identify those who should follow up with their healthcare provider.

Health screenings that licensed school nurses can provide at school include: 

• Distance vision acuity
• Close vision acuity
• Spot Vision Screener that can identify several different vision conditions
• Eye muscle balance for lazy eye (amblyopia) (for preschool to grade 1)
• Color vision deficiency 
• Hearing

When a student’s ability to attend school is interrupted by major illness or injury, they may become eligible for homebound instruction when the length of absence is anticipated to be fifteen or more school days. The application for homebound instruction is made through the school nurse. Allotted time is one hour per day for each day missed. When students have an extended illness that does not qualify for homebound instruction, they may request homework from teachers through the nurse or student support services.

All meals (breakfast, lunch, and after school super snack) are available at no cost to families. Families are still encouraged to fill out the Application for Educational Benefits (click here and select "Meal Application" on the right) each year.

CLICK HERE for more information about breakfast, lunch, and more

All menu items including photos, descriptions, ingredients, allergens, and nutritional information can be found here. Meals include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low fat dairy. All meals and snacks meet the dietary guidelines the USDA school nutrition programs. Special meal accommodations can be made with a Special Diet Statement signed by a medical provider.

Families are encouraged to submit an Application for Educational Benefits each year. These not only provide meal benefits to students but can also help Brimhall get crucial funding. Applications are available online (here and select Meal Application on the right). Families who qualified for free or reduced benefits in the past must complete an application each school year to receive benefits. For more information or to apply go to linqconnect.com.

The PTA meets several times during the school year. Parents are welcome to attend meetings. We encourage parents to join the PTA and get involved at Brimhall.

Throughout the school year the PTA sponsors many activities: back-to-school treats, pumpkin carving, restaurant fundraisers, Read-a-thon, PTA Bingo Nights, Silent Auction, and an International Festival.

Parent volunteer work at Brimhall is both encouraged and appreciated. Parents are utilized in a number of areas, both within individual classrooms and in various resource areas of the school. Please contact Mary Jensen, the volunteer coordinator, at 651-724-6200 if you wish to volunteer in any capacity.

Parents are encouraged to visit Brimhall! At the same time, the staff needs to attend to students and complete related tasks. Keeping both needs in mind, we ask that you please comply with the following procedures when you visit a classroom:

• Schedule a visit or conference in advance by contacting your classroom teacher directly, or by contacting our main office
• Check in at the office before proceeding to the classroom
• Enter the room and sit in the designated area
• Limit your visit to 30 minutes
• Avoid engaging the teacher in a conversation during the visit
• If you wish to talk to the teacher, let them know and they will arrange a time to do so
• No more than two parents per room, per visit

For further information related to visitors, please see District Policy 804

All visitors must sign in at the office, take and visibly wear a “Visitor” badge upon entering the building.

Parents are welcome to eat lunch with their children. If you would like to order a school lunch please call the office in advance (preferably by 10:00 a.m.) so our cooks can prepare an additional meal.

Animal Visitors

For the safety and health of all students, we strongly discourage family pets being brought to school for “show and tell.”

Roseville Area Schools is working to prepare students and staff for emergencies. As we all are aware, there are many different situations involving safety, health or security, which may occur in our schools. Our goal is to prepare out staff and students to properly react to the various types of problems which might occur. You may hear of our preparations during the year as our child brings home information or comments on some of the discussions held at school related to these issues.

Our emergency response effort has many topics, including bus accidents, illness or injuries, hazardous accidents, weather emergencies, utility emergencies, assault or intruders, bomb threats, evacuation plans, and missing children.

We ask that you provide medical emergency information for the student information file. This along with emergency numbers is very important in case of an emergency involving your child.

Each building has set up a planned evacuation site so that parents have an idea of where their children will be in case of a fire, utility emergency, or other evacuation causes. For Brimhall, our evacuation site is St. Michael’s Lutheran Church. In case there is an evacuation, information will be posted at the District Center as well as available over the district’s cable access channel and on the web page (www.isd623.org) when such evacuations occur.

Finally, it is a good idea to spend some time with your child going over the problems which you can see occurring and what you would like to see him/her do in those situations. It is always a good idea for your child to carry a card with name, home address, and phone numbers in their backpack or lunch box. This is helpful especially for very young students who happen to get on the wrong bus, or do not remember his/her name, address or telephone number when under stress.