ATTENDANCE AND ON-TIME ARRIVAL

 

Absences, Regular School Attendance, and On-Time Arrival

Parents should make every effort to ensure daily on-time school attendance. If for any reason your child is absent from school, please call or send a note to the school indicating the reason for the absence.  Please call the 24-hour attendance line at 228-5714 whenever your child is absent, or preferably prior to the day of absence.  Parents who fail to maintain adequate attendance, and on-time arrival for their children, can expect the following progressive steps:

1.      Letters of Concern from the school

2.      School Attendance Review Team (hearing at the school)

3.      School Attendance Review Board (hearing at the county level)

4.      Referral to the District Attorney's Office

 

Tardies

Students arriving late are to report to the office for a tardy slip.  Parents will be notified of the third tardy.  Please have your child on time every day.  Late arrivals interrupt the educational process for your child and others in the classroom.

 

Departures

Students must be picked up fifteen minutes after their dismissal time.  Students must go straight home from school unless they attend an after-school program.  Parents who fail to pick up their children on time can expect the following steps:

 

Early Dismissals (for medical appointments or other reasons)

Please notify the school office in advance.  Students must be picked up by parents/guardians, or designee shown on the student’s emergency form in the school office.

 

Closed Campus

Students are not to leave the school grounds once they have arrived, prior to the end of their school day, without school authorization.  Students may not be in front of the school without an adult during school hours.

 

Transferring to another school

Parents should notify the school office on or before the date the student is leaving Erlewine.

 


 

California State School Attendance Laws

 

COMPULSORY EDUCATION E.C. 48200

Each person between the ages of 6 and 16 years is subject to compulsory full-time education.

EXCUSED ABSENCES E. C. 46012

Excused absences are as follows: illness, quarantine, doctor appointments, and funerals.  (Parents/guardians MUST write an excuse stating the reason for absence.)

TRUANT PUPILS E.C. 48260

Any pupil subject to compulsory full-time education who is absent from school without valid excuse more than three days or tardy in excess of 30 minutes on each of more than three days in one school year is classified as a truant and shall be reported to the attendance supervisor.

The parent or guardian is obligated to compel the attendance of the pupil at school.

The parents or guardians who fail to meet this obligation may be guilty of an infraction subject to prosecution pursuant to Article (commencing with Section 48290) of Chapter 2 of Part 27.

 

BICYCLES ALLOWED; SCOOTERS, SKATEBOARDS, ETC. NOT ALLOWED

 

Students who ride bicycles to school must wear helmets (state law) and park their bikes in the racks  provided.  Students must take responsibility for locking their bikes since the school is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged property.  For safety reasons, students are not permitted to ride their bikes through the hallways and on the yard at any time during the school day.  Scooters, skateboards, roller blades, etc. are not allowed because of safety, security and storage reasons.

 

BOOKS, COMPUTERS, AND THE WORLD-WIDE WEB

 

Textbooks

Students are issued appropriate grade level texts. Books must be turned in at the end of the year in good condition.  Students are charged for lost or damaged books.

 

Library Book Check Out

In order to check out books from the library, students must return a signed parent permission card, which is included in the first day packet sent home with all students.  Students are charged for lost or damaged library books.  Library visitations are regularly scheduled for all classes.

 

Computers

O. W. Erlewine is a technologically advanced school which currently utilizes134 classroom computers (one computer for every three students) to advance learning in a variety of ways.  A LAN (Local Area Network) interconnects all computer operations at the school.

 

WORLDWIDE WEB INTERNET

All classrooms at O. W. Erlewine, as well as the school office, are connected to the Worldwide Web, through a district filter which screens out inappropriate web sites.  Despite these precautions, some parents may not wish their children to use the Internet; therefore, an Internet permission card, included in your first day of school packet, is required in order for the student to use the internet in the classroom.

 

Additionally, the Internet makes it possible for you, as a parent, to communicate with the school office and the classroom teacher:

·        Principal:                terry-smith@sac-city.K12.ca.us

·        Office Manager:  patke@sac-city.K12.ca.us

·        Teacher e-mail addresses available upon request.

 

Cell Phones

All student cell phones must remain in their backpack and turned off during school hours.  If a cell phone is seen by a staff member during school hours it will be taken to the office and may be picked up after school (first offense).  If a cell phone is taken for the second time, a parent must pick up the phone.  If parents wish to leave a message during the school day they should call the school office.  No pictures, using cell phones, may be taken on campus.

 

 

 

 

CAFETERIA SERVICES AND SNACKS

Cafeteria

Prices

Our school cafeteria offers both breakfast and lunch each school day.

 

            Breakfast          $1.00               Reduced Price  *          $.35

            Lunch               $1.25               Reduced Price  *         $.40

            Milk                 $  .30               Yogurt                          $.50

                        Juice (small)                  $.50

 

* In order to receive free or reduced breakfast and/or lunch, families must qualify on the form sent home in the first day of school packet.

 

 

Recess snacks

Students (Grades 1-6) may bring a healthy snack from home to eat during recess in a designated school area.  Kindergarten students eat in the classroom, as determined by the teacher.  Primary students (Grades 1 - 3) recess is at 10:00 a.m.; Intermediate students (Grades 4 - 6) recess is at 10:10 a.m.

 

SCHOOL AND CLASSROOOM VISITORS

Any visitor to any part of the school building or grounds, is required to obtain a visitor's pass from the office.  This allows school personnel to be aware of all persons on the school grounds, supporting the safety and well being of our students.  Parents are welcome to visit the classroom.  Please make arrangements prior to your visit, avoiding unannounced visits to the classroom.  Students are not permitted to bring other children to school as guests to spend the school day because of district liability.

 

CLOTHING AND LOST AND FOUND

 

Dress Code (See Page 19)

 

Lost and Found

The clothing lost and found area is in the cafeteria.  LABELING OF CLOTHES, LUNCH BOXES, OR LUNCH BAGS SHOULD BE DONE FOR YOUR CHILD SO THAT ARTICLES FOUND MAY BE RETURNED.

 

PTA Clothes Closet—Located at Leonardo da Vinci School

If your child is in need of clothing, please notify the office immediately.  We will assist you in completing the referral form so that you may get free clothing from the Clothes Closet. 

            NO CLOTHING WILL BE ISSUED WITHOUT A REFERRAL FROM A SCHOOL

            AND AN APPOINTMENT.

 

EARLY/LATE PROGRAM SCHEDULE

 

First through sixth grade classes implement an early/late program scheduling.  Each class is divided approximately in half (half of the students attend on early schedule; the other half on late schedule) to allow for more individualized reading or mathematics instruction for each student.  Please see daily schedule on page 4.  Scheduling is determined by the classroom teacher.

 

 

 

HOMEWORK POLICY

 

District Homework Policy for Elementary Schools

The Board of Education recognizes that the ability to work independently is a valued and necessary skill that is an integral part of the elementary instructional program, and that the assignment of homework to elementary pupils is one important means by which this skill may be developed.

 

Elementary school staffs should work cooperatively with members of their school community to develop procedures and implement home study programs that meet the specific needs of the students.

 

Teachers will assign homework on a regular basis to elementary school pupils (except kindergarten and special education pupils with individual educational plans) to give needed, additional time for the individual child who is not working to expectancy of a classroom assignment.  Homework may not be assigned as a punitive measure.

 

Homework Policy of O.W. Erlewine School

 

1.      Homework should be provided as an extension to regular classroom learning to give the student additional practice in concepts that have already been taught in the classroom.

2.      Homework shall be assigned (and corrected) on a regular basis in keeping with the following guidelines:

Grade Level               Maximum minutes per grade level                                        

Kindergarten                10 minutes a day plus 20 minutes of reading

First Grade                   20 minutes a day plus 20 minutes of reading

Second Grade              30 minutes a day plus 20 minutes of reading

Third Grade                  40 minutes a day plus 20 minutes of reading

Fourth Grade                50 minutes a day plus 30 minutes of reading

Fifth Grade                   60 minutes a day plus 30 minutes of reading

Sixth Grade                  70 minutes a day plus 30 minutes of reading

R.S.P.                          R.S.P. and classroom teachers will coordinate to

                                    insure that the total homework time for R.S.P. students

                                    will not exceed the maximum allotted time for the

                                    students grade level.

Special Ed.                   Each child will have homework according to their individual needs.

 

These recommended times are based on the assumption that students will be "on task" during this entire homework period.  Parents should provide a regular quiet time and place for the completion of homework.

 

Class projects are part of the educational learning process.  These projects may require additional time beyond the regular allotted homework time.  The work on these projects should be ongoing from the date of the assignment to the completion of the project.

 

A homework center is provided during early class Monday through Friday to provide support to students and their parents.

 

Make-up homework for a sick child should be requested from the office by 9:00a.m. and then picked up by 3:30 p.m.  This enables the teacher to have ample time to prepare the work.

 

 

 

FAMILY INVOLVEMENT IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED AND WELCOMED AT OUR SCHOOL

 

These are some of the vehicles for family involvement and support at Erlewine:

1.      Know what your child is learning at school.  Know the State’s grading standards for your child’s grade level. 

2.      Provide a daily time and regular place for completion of homework.  Limit television viewing time, and electronic games.

3.      Talk to your child every day (beyond the necessities of daily living).  Spend time together.

4.      Encourage reading at home; complete your child’s DIRT logs.

5.      Attend meetings, help the staff to continually improve our school.

6.      Join the PTA, and participate in school committees, such as the School Site Council, Limited English Advisory Council, and PTA Board.  Please call our school at 228-5870 if you would like to participate on a school committee, assist in classrooms, or volunteer at the school in any way.

 

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

Our PTA is a highly valued component of Erlewine School.  Our PTA provides important support and additional resources for your child’s education.  The PTA local, state and national objectives are:

·        To promote the welfare of children and youth in home, school, church, and community.

·        To raise the standard of home life.

·        To secure adequate laws for the care and protection of children and youth

·        To bring into closer relationship the home and the school so that parents and teachers may cooperate intelligently in the training of the child.

·        To develop between educators and general public such united efforts as will secure for every child the highest advantages in physical, mental, social, and spiritual education.

 

Every October a membership drive is held to recruit families for our PTA.  Any one can become a member and attend the general board meetings, which are held once a month. 

PTA Executive Board Members for 2008-2009

President                     Lori Converse

Treasurer                     Phoebe Boyak              

Ways & Means            Shalene Walker

                                 Secretary                    Terri Webb & Kelli Van Vliet

           

School/Home Communication:  Weekly Purple Folders

To keep families well informed about the school and their children's progress, each student takes home a purple folder every Thursday.  Please look for these folders, as they include a weekly parent bulletin, homework, classroom activities and special announcements.

 

REPORTING STUDENT PROGRESS

Standards Based Report Cards

Report cards are issued each trimester in:  December, March, and June.  Progress towards meeting state standards is shown on report cards as follows: 

                        5—Advanced:  comprehensive mastery

                        4—Proficient:  mastery

                        3—Basic:  developing mastery

                        2—Below Basic:  lack of mastery

                        1—Far Below Basic:  serious lack of mastery

 

 

Parent/Teacher Conferences

Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled at the end of the first trimester, and at parent/teacher option at the end of the second trimester.  Conferences are important for parents, students, and teachers, as they provide opportunities for each to discuss your child's progress.  Parents/guardians are encouraged to ask questions, make suggestions, and to provide information which will assist the teacher in maximizing each child’s learning potential.  Students are encouraged to participate in the conference.

Parents/guardians should feel free to contact the principal and the teacher at any time for a conference.

 

 

 

Progress Reports (deficiency notices)

Parents of students in grades 1 to 6 showing unsatisfactory progress in any subject area, work habits, or  citizenship, are notified through the district's standard Progress Report (deficiency notice) no later than twenty school days before the end of each trimester.

Receipt of the progress report by the parents/guardians is verified when a signed and dated copy is returned to the teacher by a specified date.  You are encouraged to meet with your child's teacher to discuss your child's progress, or lack of progress, as shown on the progress/deficiency notice.

 

Student Records

According to the California Education Code 49069, parents/guardians have a right to all student records related to their children.  In order to review their children's records, parents/guardians need to appear in person, during regular school hours.  Parents should notify the school office in advance as  qualified school staff is required to be present while school records are reviewed by the parent/guardian.

 

SCHOOL EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

 

In the event of an emergency, the following procedures are followed:

Earthquake/Duck and Cover Drill

During an earthquake, severe wind storm, and other defined emergencies, children duck for cover under desks. If classroom evacuation is necessary, children leave as for a fire drill. 

 

Fire and Evacuation

Classes evacuate the entire school and wait with their teacher for permission to return.  A monthly fire drill is conducted in accordance with California State Law. 

 

Intruder

A school alarm alerts staff that an intruder is on campus or nearby.  Children remain in their classrooms, doors are locked, and curtains are closed to provide further security.  The principal and/or police determine when it is safe to resume normal operations. 

 

Other School-wide Emergencies

Comprehensive school plans exist to deal with a full spectrum of emergency conditions which might arise.  In the case of a critical incident, a lock down will occur.  Once the school site has been established to be safe, parents and students may then be reunited.  A parent, or other authorized adult, must sign a student out of the site.  The procedure for the reunification will be:

1.      Parents should come to the cafeteria and not the student’s classroom.  Students may not be checked out of their classrooms.

2.      Parents will be asked to get in a line.

3.      Parents will receive an emergency student release request.

4.      Parents must fill out the request.

5.      Staff will verify the person requesting to be reunited with a student.  The person must be on the child’s emergency card in order to check the student out.

6.      A photo ID from the person will be asked for.

7.      The adult must sign and fill out the date and time of release of each student on the Reunion Check Out Log before the student is called for.

 

INDIVIDUAL STUDENT EMERGENCIES

Emergency Forms

During the first week, Student Emergency Forms are sent home to be completed by parents or guardians.  It is imperative that the following be listed on the emergency form: HOME/WORK TELEPHONE NUMBER, EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS, AND DOCTOR NUMBER   Please list as many different people and telephones numbers as possible to assist the office in locating an adult in case of an emergency.  Notify the school if any changes occur during the year so that the school can update the student emergency information form.  An additional classroom emergency card is needed for the teacher’s use.

 

Accidents or Illness

In the event of an illness or accident, the school makes every effort to contact parents, babysitters, etc.

In the case of an accident, minimal first aid is given by authorized school personnel.  If the accident or illness is considered serious or if the child is uncomfortable, a parent is called, and specific directions provided by the parent/guardian on the emergency form are followed.  In the event that the parent/guardian cannot be reached, other authorized numbers on the emergency form will be called.

 

Medications in School

Medication prescribed by a physician may be administered during the school day by designated school personnel. Upon request, a form will be provided to the parent for completion by the attending doctor and parent.  The form includes: date, signature of both doctor and parent/guardian, name of student, name of medication, when it is to be administered, cut-off date, and any side effects or reactions that may occur.  Medication must be brought to school in the prescription container by the parent/guardian. 

 

STUDY TRIPS

Field Trips

Educational study trips are an integral part of our program and may be taken at various times during the school year.  Transportation for field trips may be provided by  a district school bus, city bus, light rail or private car.  Please let your child's teacher know if you would be available to assist in supervision of study trips.  Written permission, signed by the parent/guardian is required for a student to participate in field trips.  Parents attending the field trip must be fingerprinted by the school district in advance of the field trip.

 

Sly Park Outdoor Learning Program (sixth grade only):

The Sly Park Program, open to all of our sixth graders, is an outdoor environmental program held at the Sly Park Center located near Pollock Pines, in The El Dorado National Forest. Students are housed in dormitories and attend classes during their four day stay. Food and lodging is included in the price of the trip, which varies each year.  Parents are responsible for the cost of this trip.  There will be fund raisers to help with the cost.

 

  

 

SUPPORT SERVICES AND SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

 

Services which Support Regular Classroom Education

 

Title I program provides additional assistance to students in reading, language arts, and mathematics.

 

School Improvement Program (SIP) provides funding to improve and enhance the educational program for all of our students.  SIP funds are used to support our library, technology, classroom services, tutoring and other important support functions.

 

English Language Learner Program (ELL) provides special instruction and program services to our limited English speaking students, whose first language is other then English.

 

Tutoring Program (Tutoring Club) provides after school tutoring to our students after regular school hours, based on individual needs and teacher referrals.

 

Homework Center provides a special area for students to complete their homework from 8:00 to 9:00, Monday through Friday, when the regular school schedule is in place (not during parent conferences, CAT testing and other announced times).  Application forms are available in the office.

 

Student Study Team (SST) When a significant learning problem is evident, our classroom teachers often refer the name of the student to our SST, which meets on a regular basis to review the unique needs of the student.  Included in the team’s meeting is the parent, classroom teacher, and school specialists, such as, the speech therapist, the school psychologist, and resource teachers.  The SST formulates a plan of action to address the special needs of the student referred by the classroom teacher.

 

Enrichment Program provides classes for GATE students in grades third through sixth and other students in grades 4 - 6 may participate if room is available.  Classes are after regular school hours, one day per week.  Applications are available in the school office.

 

Special Education Services

 

Speech and Language Specialist

This specialist identifies language and speech problems and designs remediation programs for students.

1.      Speech, when it is not appropriately developed or is unintelligible.

2.      Hearing, when there is a loss that interferes with learning, language, and speech.

3.      Language, when information is not processed effectively whether received visually or aurally; when there is inadequate or impaired expression of ideas; when the grammar and/or order of sentences is not developmentally appropriate.

 

Resource Specialist Program (RSP) provides instruction to regular program students with identified learning disabilities.

 

Severely Handicapped (SH)  Our school currently houses two classrooms for severely handicapped students with exceptional learning needs.  Many of these students are transported from outside of our school boundary to attend the program at O. W. Erlewine.

 

 

 

Student Study Team (SST):  Purpose and Process

 

Purpose:  The Student Study Team (SST) is a school-based process to review individual student needs.  It is solution focused team which analyzes current data regarding the student and makes recommendations for additional instructional strategies or interventions to support the student in the general education classroom.

Process:  A SST can be requested by any member of the education team, including the parent.  Parents may request a SST meeting by putting the request in writing to the principal.  A meeting will be set and parents will be notified of the date by mail.  Two meetings (one primary and one intermediate) are held every other Thursday on a first come, first serve basis.  A teacher may request a SST by meeting with the teacher the child had the previous year, the principal or another grade level teacher.  Teachers must also fill out the intervention paperwork and turn it in to the principal.  The SST team can or may be comprised of the principal, teacher, nurse, resource teacher, language, speech and hearing specialist, and school psychologist.  The SST process is a fluid one where intervention strategies are recommended, implemented for an extended period of time (6-8 weeks), and reviewed by the team in a follow-up SST meeting.  Data is collected so that analysis of progress can be reviewed over time.

 

Special Education referral process—Individualized Education Programs (IEP)

A referral for a special evaluation occurs only after all interventions within the general education program have been exhausted.  Special education programs for eligible students consist of specially designed instruction to meet the students’ individual needs.  Students receiving special education must meet federal and state guidelines for eligibility.

A parent, teacher or other concerned party may refer a student for special education.  A written request for evaluation must accompany the request for special education testing.  Once a request has been made in writing, the IEP team has 15 days to either act on the request for assessment by holding a SST

 And recommending appropriate interventions or by providing the parent with an assessment plan which outlines the assessment for the student.  If appropriate interventions are recommended at the ST, the parent shall rescind their request for assessment in writing and the SST recommendations will be implemented and evaluated for effectiveness.

Once the parent or legal guardian has signed the assessment play, there is a 60 day timeline for the team to conduct and complete the assessments and hold the Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting.  The IEP team will review the results of the assessments, consider strengths and concerns and determine if the student is eligible for special education services.  Appropriate goals and objectives in areas of need will be developed and a special education program recommendation will be made.  If the student is placed in special education, the IEP and student’s progress will be reviewed at least annually by the IEP team. 

 

 

CITATIONS

On those occasions when a student, despite efforts to correct his/her behavior, is found to be in violation of the school rules, citations may be issued.  Behavior citations are routed as follows:  a) White copy to the school file; b) Yellow copy to the parent/guardian; c) Pink copy to the teacher.

 

Should your child receive a citation, please be sure to return a signed yellow copy or contact the office to indicate you have received the citation.  As a student accumulates citations during the course of the school year the following actions are taken in accordance with the chart below.  Please keep in mind that the chart is a general guideline and that serious student misbehavior may result in immediate suspension or district behavior meeting.

 

 

Parent Signature

Telephone Conference

School Behavior Hearing

1st Suspension

2nd Suspension

3rd Suspension

Citation 1, 2, or3

X

X

 

 

 

 

Citation 4 (or 5 Accumulative)

X

X

X

 

 

 

Citation 5 (or 6 accumulative)

X

 

 

X

 

 

Citation 6 (or 7 & 8 accumulative)

X

X

X

 

 

 

Citation 7 (or 9 accumulative)

X

 

 

 

X

 

Citation 8 (or 10 acculative)

X

X

 

 

 

X

 

  

 

CALIFORNIA LAWS RELATED TO PUPILS AND PARENTS

 

ILLEGAL ACTIVITES

Any activity that is illegal under California law, is also illegal on any school campus, and schools are required to enforce the law.  In addition to legal penalties, pupils may be subject to school discipline procedures, which include being kept after school up to one (1) hour, suspended or removed from school.   The following represents those activities termed illegal:

 

EDUCATION CODE SECTION 48900:

a.       Caused, attempted to cause or threatened to cause physical injury to another person.

 

b.      Possessed, sold or otherwise furnished any firearm, knife, explosive or other dangerous object.

 

c.       Unlawfully possessed, used, sold, or otherwise furnished, or been under the influence of any controlled substance, alcoholic beverage, or intoxicant of any kind.

 

d.      Unlawfully offered or negotiated to sell any controlled substance, or intoxicant of any kind, and then sold, delivered, or otherwise furnished to any person another liquid, substance, or material in lieu of the controlled substance, alcoholic beverage, or intoxicant.

 

e.       Committed robbery or extortion.

 

f.        Caused or attempted to cause damage to school property or private property.

 

g.       Stole or attempted to steal school property or private property.

 

h.       Committed an obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity or vulgarity.

 

i.         Had unlawful possession of, or unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any drug paraphernalia, as defined in Section 11364 or the Health and Safety Code.

 

j.        Disrupted school activities or otherwise willfully defied the valid authority of supervisors, teachers, administrators, and other officials, or other school personnel.

 

k.      Knowingly received stolen property or private property.

 

PROHIBITED/ILLEGAL AND/OR DANGEROUS ITEMS

Because of pupil safety and/or possible classroom disruption, the following items are prohibited from this school.  Pupils who bring such items to school are subject to confiscation of those items, disciplinary action, and probable arrest.

1.      All firearms

 

2.      All explosive devices including, but not limited to firecrackers.

 

3.      All knives, razors, or other items of the type including, but not limited to, folding lock blade knives and switchblades.

 

4.      Any controlled substance as defined in Section 11007 of the Health and Safety Code, alcoholic beverage, intoxicant of any kind including marijuana.

 

5.      All alcohol, marijuana, or drug related paraphernalia.

 

6.      All martial arts implements including, but not limited to nun chucks.

 

7.      All chains, motorcycle chains, including those designed as belts.

 

8.      Any and all other items which the school administrator deems dangerous to student safety and welfare.  (hard balls, baseball bats, skate boards, etc.)

 

Any confiscated item, except illegal items or those used as evidence in criminal violations, may be returned to the parent/guardian of the pupil at the school administrator's discretion upon the request of the parent/guardian.

 

Note:  The school cannot accept responsibility for personal items brought to school.

 

VIOLENT ACTS - REQUIRED PRINCIPAL ACTION

State Law makes it mandatory that the school principal take the following actions related to pupil assaults and batteries on campus:

            If a pupil physically injures another pupil due to a fight or aggressive actions, uses a weapon in a fight, or physically injures a member of the school staff, the principal MUST request a district behavior hearing or must submit a letter to the district hearing officer requesting that a hearing not he held and give the reason(s).

           

 

O. W. Erlewine Elementary School
Terry Smith, Principal

 

 

 

Non-Discrimination

 

The Sacramento City Unified School District is committed in all of its activities, policies, programs, and procedures to provide equal opportunity for all to avoid discrimination against any person regardless of race, sex, religion, color, national origin, disability, marital status, or age.