School Handbook
Chester Parent Handbook
3525 S. Pines Road
Spokane Valley, WA 99206
Mission
Our mission is to achieve academic excellence and develop strong character in all students.
Vision
Chester Staff:
- Creates a positive, safe, and equitable community
- Uses intentional PLC time to focus on the needs of all students
- Implements best teaching practices with the essential standards
- Sets goals and uses data to monitor student growth
- Partners with families and the community to support students
Revised August 14, 2025
Welcome
We are beyond thrilled to welcome you to this amazing school. It is our belief that the partnership between school, families, and community is vital to the success of our students. We look forward to all the work we will do together to ensure our Chester Coyotes reach their full potential.
Please read through this handbook to learn all the ins and outs of our school. If you ever have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Principal: Christy Swan 558-3150
Assistant Principal: Andrew Walters 558-3150
Secretary: Karly Carroll 558-3150
Assistant Secretary: Briana Schofield 558-3151
Counselor: Christina Seybold 558-3192
Hours
Our office is open from 8:00am to 4:00pm, Monday through Friday. The school day begins at 8:55am and finishes at 3:15pm. Every Thursday is teacher collaboration; school begins at 9:55am.
P.A.C.K.
At Chester, we show P.A.C.K. All students are expected to demonstrate the following:
P: Perseverance
A: Accountability
C: Character
K: Kindness
Students are also “Caught being a Coyote” for demonstrating the above traits and given a coupon to enter in a drawing. We positively reinforce students daily and teach them our expectations explicitly for all areas in our building. We so appreciate your support!
Behavior and Discipline at Chester
At Chester Elementary, we use a system called PBIS, which stands for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports. It’s a school-wide approach to behavior and discipline that helps create a safe, supportive learning environment for every student.
What Does PBIS Look Like at Chester?
- Teaching Expectations: We believe our students do best when they know exactly what’s expected of them. That’s why we take time to directly teach behavior expectations in all areas of the school: like the hallway, lunchroom, and playground. We show students what the right behavior looks like so they’re set up for success.
- Positive Reinforcement: We focus on recognizing and reinforcing the positive behaviors we want to see. Students can earn Coyote Coupons when they meet expectations. Each week, we hold drawings by grade level where students can win fun prizes. Classes also work toward group rewards to celebrate their collective success.
Behavior That Needs Support
Sometimes, students need help getting back on track. Here’s how we respond:
- Redirection from the teacher or staff.
- If a student continues to struggle, teachers may offer a break and a chance to reset. One tool we use is our schoolwide Pack Pause program. Students briefly go to a nearby classroom to reflect and fill out a brief form about their behavior.
- Pack Pause is a normal part of learning and behavior growth. If a student fills out three or more Pack Pause sheets in one day, the teacher will give you a call so you’re aware and we can partner to support your child.
When the Office Gets Involved
Most behavior is handled in the classroom through redirection, reflection, and support. However, for more serious or disruptive behavior, the office may become involved. This is less common, and we always aim to work with families to find solutions. We’re committed to creating a positive, respectful environment where all students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. If you ever have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Morning Supervision
Supervision begins at 8:40. Please do not drop off your student before that time. Students will go out on the playground before school. They will need to put their backpacks in line and then they may safely play until the bell rings. Breakfast begins at 8:40 in the Multi-Purpose Room/Coyote Cafe. On Thursdays, supervision and breakfast start at 9:40.
Tardy
The tardy bell rings at 9:00am. If you are arriving after this bell, please park and walk your child into the office. They will need to be checked into the office to ensure they are not marked absent. Parents must accompany tardy students to the office in order for them to be excused. If you are in valet at 9:00, you do not need to walk them in. Our staff will ensure they get in.
Absences
Please call the attendance line (558-3160) to report absences in advance. This will ensure that you do not receive a phone call mid-morning stating that your child is not in school. We cannot express how important it is that your child be at school daily. When students have excessive absences, (excused or unexcused) we see a negative impact on their academics. Additionally, students with anxiety tend to get more anxious about school when they have missed a day or days. If you need support in getting your child to school please let us know. We would love to support you.
Morning Drop Off/Afternoon Pick Up
We have three main parking lots.
- The lot south of the school is for our valet.
- The loop on the north side of the school is for buses and daycare only. If you choose to park in this lot you MUST walk your child through the parking lot. This is for everyone’s safety. It is very hard for bus drivers to see pedestrians.
- The front lot is not available for drop off or pick up. This is only for visiting the school during the day.
Morning
When dropping your child off for school, please pull into the valet parking lot. We only use one valet lane during our morning drop-off. Students may exit the car on the driver-side once they are at the fence line with our Coyote Message. They will walk straight to the playground for line up. Students getting off the bus will enter the playground through the north gate.
Afternoon
When picking up your child, please pull into he assigned lane for your child’s last name. Lane 1 (right hand lane) is for last names beginning with A-M. Lane 2 (left hand lane) is for last names beginning with N-Z. When you get to the front of the line, a supervisor will escort your child to your vehicle and help load them. This process goes very smoothly when drivers have their visor signs visible with the child’s FIRST NAME & LAST INITIAL and CLASS CODE (1B for first grade, Mrs. Brooks) and they watch for the car in front of them to move. It also helps when students get to the front of the school quickly. Please encourage your child to walk immediately to the pick-up area. Cars waiting for students may be asked to circle back around. Students waiting for the bus will line up in the cafeteria.
Parking Lot
If you need to come into the school for any reason please feel free to park in the front of the building and walk your child to the destination you are heading.
Walkers
We have two supervised crosswalks: one at the corner of Pines and Loretta and one on Pines at 38th. Students who walk to Midilome should walk on the sidewalk to either crosswalk. Students walking to Midilome East or Pine Rock Ridge need to use the paths on either side of the school. Students are not to walk through the playground.
Playground
Our playground is closed after school from 3:15-4:00. We ask that all students go home before returning to play on the playground.
Changes to Pick Up Arrangements
We understand that plans change and often this affects how your child may be getting home at the end of the day. Please contact the office via email, written note, phone call, or in-person to inform them of any changes before 3:00pm. This helps ensure that all students get home safely. Students will not be allowed to go home a different way without parent/guardian contact. Please contact our secretaries as arrangements change.
Sign In/Out for Appointments
Should your child need to be picked up early or come in late due to an appointment, please make sure that you come into the office to sign him/her in or out. If someone other than a parent/guardian is picking up your child, please make sure you have notified the office; the person picking them up must present a photo ID. Students cannot be released without being signed out.
Lost and Found
Please make sure to label all your student’s belongings (coats, sweatshirts, hats, lunch boxes, etc.) with their first and last name. Items without names are hard to return. Additionally, have your child check the lost and found frequently for their missing items. At the end of the year all items not claimed get donated to our Family Resource Center.
Dress Standard
We follow CVSD’s dress standard. Students are not allowed to wear hats in the building unless it is a designated hat day. Midriffs are covered and all shorts, skirts, and dresses are fingertip length or longer. Appropriate footwear is required for safety and all clothing must have appropriate logos or prints. Please see the Student Rights and Responsibilities handbook at www.cvsd.org.
Medication
Per district policy, we cannot distribute any medicine to students without paperwork from your child’s provider. Students are also not permitted to self-administer medication without paperwork from their provider. Once paperwork has been signed and filed with the office, we can receive medication along with directions for administration from a parent/adult. All medication must come in the bottle from the pharmacy with prescription/dosing information on the bottle. Provider paperwork is available in the office. Further questions can be answered by our office staff or school nurse.
PTO
We have a phenomenal group of parents that work together to provide fun and enriching opportunities for our students. If you are looking for a way to be involved at Chester, the PTO is a great place to start! PTO information is available on our website under “Student & Parent Resources.” You can also visit their website at https://chesterespto.my.canva.site/home
Stay Connected
There are several ways you can stay connected with our school. Chester Elementary’s website is ces.cvsd.org or, go to www.cvsd.org and click on “Chester” under the “Schools” tab. Our site contains our bell schedule, teacher’s web pages and emails, and many other additional pieces of information. You can also check us out on our Chester Elementary Facebook page as well as the PTO Facebook page. We encourage you to “like” both these pages in order to see current happenings at the school.
Cell Phone / Mobile Device Policy
In 2025, our district adopted a new cell phone and mobile device policy:
“Elementary school students will not use telecommunications or mobile devices on school grounds from the time they arrive to the time they leave unless an emergency situation exists that involves imminent physical danger or is authorized by the school administrator or school staff. (Note this includes smartwatches.)”
Initial offenses: Students will be reminded of the rules and may have their device temporarily confiscated and returned at the end of class or the school day. Refusal to comply may result in further discipline.
Repeated offenses: The device will be confiscated and returned at the end of the day, parents/guardians will be notified or asked to pick up the device, and a meeting may be scheduled to develop a success plan. The district may also apply appropriate interventions or discipline for continued violations.
At our elementary school, we have had many issues with smart watches. Please talk with your child to make sure they understand our district policy.
For information, please visit the district website under the School Policies section.
Volunteering
For the safety of all our students, in order to volunteer you must complete/update the district volunteer form online at www.cvsd.org under “Parent Resources.” This process needs to be renewed every two years.
Communication with Staff
If you need to meet with a staff member, we encourage you to please set up an appointment. If you need a meeting with Mrs. Swan or Mr. Walters, please call to schedule a meeting. We are always happy to meet in person, but often have meetings before and after school. Scheduling a time guarantees that we can be present at your meeting. If you need to meet with your child’s teacher, please call or email them to set up the meeting. Parents will not be allowed back to classrooms before or after school unless there is a prearranged meeting.
Work Room
We have a beautiful workroom that houses our copy machine, laminator, color printer, bookbinder, paper cutter and paper supplies. This is a “hub” for teachers and volunteers. We ask that you receive training on our many devices before using them. Additionally, some equipment is not safe for young children. If you have young children with you while in the workroom, we ask that you supervise them carefully. We ask that all users clean up messes in order to maintain a clean environment.
Facility Use
We are happy to provide a space to support students in their extracurricular activities. Our school district uses an online program called Facilitron to manage facility use. You can find the link to Facilitron on the CVSD website under the Facilities/Maintenance Department. Please note: facility usage requires a certificate of liability insurance.
School Cancellation/2-hour Delay
As part of the Central Valley School District, we will close or delay school per district directive. It is important to make sure that your information (phone number, email, etc.) is up to date in our system so that you receive cancellation or delay messages from our district. CVSD also posts information about school closure or delay on www.cvsd.org as well as Facebook.
In the event of icy road conditions or other safety concerns, know that you have the right to make the decision on your child’s attendance. Our goal is to keep all our kids safe. While we know a cancellation or 2-hour delay can be inconvenient, it is for the safety of our students and staff.
If buses are running late, the time given is an approximation. Please have patience, as safety is the highest priority for all.