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Del Paso Manor » Parent Handbook
Parent Handbook
Del Paso Manor Elementary
School Information
2007-08
In past years students have been given a white “Friday Folder” at the beginning of the school year in which information about Del Paso Manor is listed. We have discontinued the folders this year, but we wanted to make sure that you received the important information that it contained. In addition, we will be sending home a large magnet (suitable for the refrigerator) that lists the school schedule and the year’s calendar of holidays and minimum days.
DEL PASO MANOR’S VISION STATEMENT
Del Paso Manor Elementary School strives to be a dynamic, enriched, and challenging environment where students, teachers, parents and the community work in harmony to experience success.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
There is no supervision for breakfast until 7:30 a.m. Playground supervision begins at 7:35 a.m. Once on campus students are not to leave without written permission from home. All students are expected to go home promptly after dismissal from school. Students should be dropped off and picked up at one of the three parking lots on Maryal Drive. It is illegal to drop off or pick up students on the streets around the school where “No Stopping” signs are posted.
ATTENDANCE AND TARDINESS
Students are expected to attend school and arrive on time. Late arrivals must check in at the office before proceeding to class. If your child is absent, call the attendance line at 575-2329 or send a signed, dated note to school with the reason and date(s) of the absence and your child’s name. If your child has 5 unexcused absences or 10 excused absences or tardies, you will receive a letter from the principal requesting that you meet to discuss the problem. We request that you schedule medical and other appointments for students during non-school hours. If this is not possible, students must be checked in and out of school at the office.
SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
Breakfast $1.50 (includes milk)
Lunch $2.00 (includes milk)
Milk $0.30
Breakfast and lunch may be purchased daily or you can send cash or a check for a number of meals. Reduced and free meals are available to students who qualify after completing a Free or Reduced Meal Application form, available in the office. Parents are invited to join students in the cafeteria for lunch on the last Tuesday of each month.
LOST AND FOUND
Students are responsible for their own personal property. Please mark your children’s coats, sweaters, lunch bags, etc. with their names and room numbers. Articles found on campus with no identifying marks are kept in our lost and fund box in the entry hall to the MP Room. Any clothing not claimed is donated to a local charity. Students are also responsible for classroom books, calculators, etc. assigned to them by their teacher. Bills will be sent for lost school materials.
DRESS CODE
Students are expected to dress appropriately in accordance with district and school policy. Students who come to school inappropriately dressed will be asked to call home for clothing that meets the dress code.
Pants and shorts – Baggy or oversized pants are not permitted. Pants must fit at the waist and be worn at the waist. Shorts must reach the fingertips.
Shirts and Tops – Shirts that display inappropriate messages and/or promote alcohol, tobacco, drugs or gangs will not be permitted. At all times, shirts must cover torso, chest and midriff. No tube tops, bare midriffs, bare back, or other revealing clothing of any kind is to be worn. Straps must be at least two inches wide.
Shoes – Flip-flops, clogs, and sandals without heel straps are not permitted. High heels and other shoes that are not safe for the playground should not be worn.
Hats and Hoods – Hats are to be worn with the bill in the front and only outdoors. Hoods are to be up only when outdoors.
FIELD TRIP EXPECTATIONS
The privilege of participating in field trips is earned through appropriate behavior at school and on field trips. For the safety of all concerned, the classroom teacher has the right to refuse participation in field trips to any student who has demonstrated a disregard for school rules or any of the field trip rules below. Students must:
® Follow teacher and parent chaperone directions as requested.
® Maintain high standards of behavior and politeness as representatives of Del Paso Manor School.
® Refrain from any dangerous activity at all times.
Parent chaperones will be selected based on the specific field trip requirements and the discretion of the teacher. Siblings are not allowed to attend school field trips.
USE OF CELL PHONES AT SCHOOL
Current state law allows students to bring cell phones to school, with written parental permission, for use during an emergency. Parent permission forms are available in the office. Cell phones are to be turned off while on the school grounds except for extreme emergencies that are life threatening situations. Cell phones are to be kept out of sight at all times while on the school campus. This includes before and after school. The school is not responsible for cell phones brought to school and will not be liable for damaged, destroyed or lost cell phones. Students who do not have a permission form on file, or who do not follow cell phone rules will have phones confiscated. Parents will be required to pick up phones.
PARENT COMMUNICATION
Weekly newsletters are sent home on Fridays. Upcoming events and information from the PTA, school, principal and district are included. In addition, teachers regularly send home newsletters highlighting classroom activities and curriculum. Most flyers and notices are also sent home on Fridays. We have revised our school website to conform with a district-wide format. Please visit our website at http://www.sanjuan.edu/DelPasoManor.cfm. You will find a variety of information about our school as well as PTA events on the website. Several teachers also maintain classroom websites.
VISITING SCHOOL
Please feel free to visit Del Paso Manor School. State law requires that all visitors check in at the office before going to a classroom. Since the teacher is responsible for providing instruction, it is not possible to hold conferences during school hours. Please call to schedule a meeting so that the teacher has time to assemble materials and information for the conference. Parents’ help in the classrooms is always welcomed. Please make arrangements with the teacher beforehand, and remember to sign in at the office.
HOMEWORK PRACTICE
Regular homework is a means of extending instructional time, providing necessary practice, and building responsibility. Homework will be assigned Monday through Thursday. Average daily time for homework is:
Kindergarten…………..5-15 minutes
Grades 1, 2, 3…………15-30 minutes
Grades 4, 5, 6…………30-60 minutes
These times should serve as guidelines and do not include time necessary to complete late or special research or reports that are assigned. Generally, homework is assigned for 10 minutes per grade level. For example, second grade would have an average of 20 minutes of homework per day.
DISPENSING MEDICATIONS AT SCHOOL
No medications can be dispensed at school without an authorization signed by the child’s physician. This applies to all medications, even over the counter drugs.
CONFERENCES, REPORT CARDS AND PROGRESS NOTICES
Conferences – Parents are expected to conference with the teacher during the fall conference period at the end of November. A second conference period is scheduled for March for all parents who request a conference, new students, and teacher requests. Parents are always invited to conference with teachers by request. Call the school to contact the teacher for an appointment.
Report Cards – Report cards are issued at the end of the first and second trimesters, and at the end to the school year.
Progress Notices – For students experiencing academic or behavior problems, progress notices will be sent home at the middle of each trimester to inform parents so that home and school can work together to support students.
STUDENT EMERGENCY CARDS
Individual emergency cards for each student are kept on file in both the office and in the child’s classroom. Please keep these cards current. Only people listed on the emergency cards may pick up a child from school during the school day. If someone else is to pick up your child, you need to send a note permitting us to release your child to this person.
EMERGENCY SAFETY PLAN
We believe that students need to be taught what to do in the event of an emergency. Therefore, students will receive instructions on earthquake preparedness, fire drills, intrusion drills, and other emergencies that could threaten student safety. In the event of a major emergency, parents will be asked to gather in the Multipurpose Room or some other safe place, and students will be released to parents from that room. All parents will be asked to sign their children out so that we can account for all students. The school’s safety plan is available for parent inspection.
CHARACTER EDUCATION
A year long program of character education is offered for students at Del Paso Manor Elementary. We believe that for students to become successful citizens, they must develop life skills. Through literature, class lessons and occasional assemblies, students learn the following citizenship and personal skills:
® Friendship – August, September
® Respect - October
® Responsibility - November
® Compassion - December
® Courage - January
® Honesty - February
® Cooperation – March
® Courtesy - April
® Perseverance – May, June
SCHOOL RULES
Be Respectful
Student Expectations:
? Treat others as they would like to be treated
? Speak politely and appropriately to all adults and students
? Refrain from the use of name calling, put downs, and/or ethnic/racial/sexual slurs
? Treat property and/or objects with care
? Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself
? Walk in all hallways in a quiet and orderly manner
Be Responsible
Student Expectations:
? Learn and follow the school rules
? Be responsible for your own behavior
? Report all unsafe behavior and dangers to an adult
? Think before acting
? Turn in all assignments when due
? Be ready to learn
Be Safe
Student Expectations: Refrain from causing injury or pain to another person.
In the classroom
? Be in classrooms only when a teacher is present
? Keep hands off other students; stay in your own space
? Keep chair legs on the floor
? Use sharp objects with care
? Follow directions for use of equipment
In the Halls, Sidewalks, Passing Areas
? Walk at all times facing forward
? Have a pass from the office or your teacher when in the hallways
On the Playground
? Stay in supervised areas only
? Remain on school grounds until given consent by school authorities or an authorized release from parents
? Walk to class line when the bell rings. Hold all playground equipment.
? Do not participate in tag games and play fighting
? Do not touch, grab or hit other students when playing running games
? Refrain from rough play and keep hands and feet to yourself
? Do not try to retrieve balls that go on the roof or over the fence
? Leave personal equipment such as bats, hard balls, skateboards, rollerblades, rollerskate shoes or scooters at home
? Leave sand, wood chips, rocks, dirt clods, sticks or landscape debris on the ground
? Follow DPM safe equipment rules (see below)
In the Cafeteria
? Walk at all times
? Pick up all trash
? Eat and touch only your own food
? Sit facing the table, bottom on the bench, feet on the floor
? Stay in your seat until dismissed
In the Bathrooms
? Keep water and soap in the sinks
? Report problems to adults
? Use bathrooms and leave promptly
At Assemblies
? Keep hands and feet to yourself
? Walk at all times
? Wait for an adult’s signal to leave
Arrival and Dismissal Areas
? Wait in designated areas
? Walk at all times
? Walk bikes
? Watch for cars
On the Bus
? Remain seated while the bus is in motion
? Do not extend any part of the body out of windows at any time
? Wait only at designated bus stops
To and From School
? Walk to school with others, if possible
? Walk on sidewalks or close to the curb
? Look both ways when crossing, and always use the crosswalks
? If approached by a stranger, shout and run to the nearest safe place such as a business or school
? Report any suspicious or unsafe activities to the principal or a teacher
Be Ready to Learn
Student Expectations:
? Arrive at school on time every day
? Make a conscientious effort to learn all you can
? Listen respectfully to teachers and other students
? Follow all directions carefully the first time asked
? Complete all class work and homework, and turn it in on time
? Make up any assignments missed due to absence
? Leave toys, cards, and sports equipment at home
? Leave playground issues and problems outside
Be There
Student Expectations:
? Attend each day and be on time
? Arrive no earlier than 7:35 a.m. Leave school grounds by foot, bicycle, or car within five minutes of dismissal unless scheduled to ride a bus. Supervision is not provided for students prior to 7:35 a.m. or after 2:30 p.m.
? Line up immediately when the bell rings before school and after each recess
? Use restrooms and return to playground or classroom promptly
? Be attentive to direct instruction by the teacher, be an active listener, and actively participate in learning activities
? Be courteous to all staff, parents and peers, and be helpful to them when they need help
? Show pride in yourself, your peers, and in your school
? Make a positive contribution to DPM and its surrounding community
RULES FOR GAMES AND EQUIPMENT
All games are open. Follow safety rules when using equipment.
Swings
® Students waiting to swing will allow 2 get-going swings, 20 full swings with forward as the first count, and 2 stopping swings.
® Students may not stand on the swing seats or climb on the chains or poles.
® Students are not permitted to use fly-off dismounts.
Slides
® Only one student may be on the slide at a time.
® Only one student may be on the ladder at one time.
® Students must line up to wait a turn.
® Students may not climb up or stand on the slide.
Bars/Rings
® Students should move in one direction only on the horizontal bars.
® Students cannot sit on top of the horizontal bars.
® Students may go down and back on the rings.
Ball Games
® All games are open to all students.
® No hard balls, such as golf balls are allowed on the playground.
® Football games must be played on the grassy area and be limited to “touch”.
® Tag games and chasing are not allowed on the blacktop area.
® Four square, tetherball and kickball will be played using school adopted rules.
BICYCLES, SKATEBOARDS AND SCOOTERS
Bicycles – Students are to walk bikes while on school grounds. Students are to park, lock bikes and leave the area immediately. Bike racks are off limits during recesses.
Skateboards, Roller Skates/Blades and Scooters – These items are not to be brought to school or used on the school grounds before or after school.
CONSEQUENCES AND POSITIVE INCENTIVES
Students who do not follow school rules will be subject to progressive disciplinary action. Consequences may include warnings, time out within the classroom, time out in another classroom, loss of recess time, being sent to the office, referrals and calls home, and for serious behavior, suspension for one or more days. A list of behaviors that may result in suspension is included in your information folder.
Our goal is not to punish students, but to help them learn expected behaviors that are safe, respectful and responsible. Reinforcing expected behaviors with positive incentives is the most effective way to encourage students to follow school rules. Positive incentives occur in the classroom with praise, classroom currencies, taking students out to lunch, and other rewards. Our school-wide program of “High 5” tickets is used by all staff members to reward students who follow the five school rules. Tickets are redeemed by students at the school store which is open at least two times each month. In addition, students can submit tickets for a chance to win a pizza lunch once each month.
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