Student Handbook

Valencia Park's Welcome Statement

Valencia Park's Student Handbook

All of us at Valencia Park Elementary wish to welcome you. We look forward to working with you in preparing your child solving real world problems with the power of technology, creativity and innovation. Our goal is to create a school environment where all students will receive a STEAM education. STEAM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. We believe children come first and that they develop a strong academic foundation in science, engineering, and math while engaged in exciting, hands on projects.

This handbook contains most of the general information you will need to know about Valencia Park Elementary. Feel free to contact us with any comments or concerns. If we can assist you in any way throughout the year, please call (619) 344-3500. We look forward to you and your child taking an active part in the Valencia Park STEAM Magnet School learning community.

Valencia Park Bell Schedule

8:35- 8:50 a.m. Students participate in walking club

(Kinder students - walking club on upper blacktop)

(1st - 5th Grade students - walking club on East lower blacktop)

8:50a.m.   Bell rings; Teachers pick up students from playground

Breakfast in the Classroom / Instructional day begins

9:00a.m.   Teachers take attendance

Grades K-5 Instructional Day

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 8:50 a.m. - 3:20 p.m.

Tuesday - Modified Day   8:50 a.m. - 12:50 p.m.

Lunch Schedule (M, W, Th, F)
Pre-school (PM) 12:05-12:30 p.m.
*First Lunch (Kindergarten) 11:30-12:10 p.m.
*Second Lunch (Grade 1) 11:50-12:30 p.m.
*Third Lunch (Grades 2 + Hedgren) 12:10-12:50 p.m.
*Fourth Lunch (Grade 3 + Crockett) 12:30- 1:10 p.m.
*Fifth Lunch (Grades 4 + Pheal) 12:50- 1:30 p.m.
Modified Day Schedule (Tuesday)
AM Pre-School 11:05- 12:30 a.m.
First Lunch (Kinder) 11:30- 11:50 a.m.
Second Lunch (Grade 1 & rm. 11/12) 11:50- 12:10 p.m.
Third Lunch (Grade 3 & rm. 9/203) 12:10- 12:30 p.m.
Fourth Lunch (Grades 4 & 5) 12:30- 12:50 p.m.

Attendance

Arrival

Please plan a safe route to and from school and insist that your child follow it. Classes begin at 8:50 am daily. Supervision Begins at 8:30 am each morning unless your child is in the PrimeTime program. Therefore, students are not allowed on campus before the 8:30 am supervision begins. Students arriving before 8:30 am are to wait outside of the main gate (near the lunch arbor) until gates are open, indicating the beginning of morning supervision. Students are prohibited from using the playground equipment before and after school, as teacher supervision in those areas is not provided.

Rainy Days

Students are to assemble in the auditorium at 8:30am on rainy days. Students will be monitored by teacher supervisors. All students will be allowed to walk to their classrooms at 8:45 am.

Dismissal

School is dismissed at 3:20pm daily, except Tuesdays (minimum day) at 12:50pm. It is very important that students leave the school campus promptly after school ends, unless they are enrolled in the PrimeTime program. Kindergarten dismissal is between 3:00-3:20pm at the upper west gates. Please make arrangements with your child for a meeting place at dismissal. Students not picked up by 3:35pm should report to the office.Parents will be called by child or office staff. Parents arriving late to pick-up students must sign the Late-Pickup Log. It is imperative that we have updated emergency contact phone numbers for your child because if parent cannot be reached, School Police will be called.The office staff is not responsible for students left on school site after school hours.

Daily Attendance

One of the most important factors impacting learning is regular attendance at school. Students Are expected to remain on school grounds during school hours. If a child needs to leave the school grounds before dismissal, a parent/guardian must come to the office and sign a release form.

Your child's security is of the utmost importance. A child can only be released to persons listed on the student's enrollment card. The information on this card is also used in an emergency. We encourage you to make dental or doctor appointments after school hours.

Absences

Please call in your child's absence to the school office (619) 344-3500. Office hours are 8:15am until 4:30pm daily. Absences can also be excused in writing by parent/ guardian. They may be reported anytime during the school day. Student Records indicating excessive absences will be forwarded to the district counselor for review.

Late Arrivals

All students arriving on campus after 9:00 am will be marked tardy. Students arriving after9:10 must report to the main office for a late admit pass.Categories for excused tardies are the same as excused absences. Three or more tardies of 30 minutes or more are considered truancy.

Independent Study Contract

If you are planning an extended absence of more than 5 days for family business, at any time of the year, please contact the main office in advance so that an Independent Study Contract can be arranged. Students must complete assignments before returning to school for the contract to be valid. To Initiate the CIS, a parent/guardian needs to notify the school office and the teacher at least two weeks before leaving; the contract must be signed by parent or legal guardian before the first day of absence.

Health

Health Services

We have a three day a week school nurse. We have a two day a week health technician. They Maintain the health records of students and verify that immunizations and first grade physical examinations are complete. Students who become ill during school hours will be offered the opportunity to rest in the health office until parents can arrive to take them home.

Students requiring medication at school must have a form signed by the parent and physician with very clear instructions. Students are not allowed to carry their own medication to school. Parents must personally transport medication to the school office and fill out the Physician's Recommendation for Medication form to ensure child's medication is kept in the school's nurse's office and dispensed safely.

Guidelines for Administering Medication

School personnel are prohibited from administering any medication that does not meet the following requirements.

  1. Prescription Medication is in original prescription container. Prescription label states child's name, medication, dosage, and physician. The form "Physician Recommendation for Medication" is completed and signed by physician and parent.
  2. Nonprescription Medication (Tylenol, Benadryl, etc.) is in the original container and the form"Physician Recommendation for Medication" is signed by a parent or guardian.
  3. Temporary Medication (antibiotics) may be given if in original prescription container,accompanied with a note requesting the medication be given at school.

Parents are responsible for maintaining their child's supply of medicine in the office. All Medicine is kept in the Nurse's Office, with the exception of inhalers when the prescribing physician authorizes in writing that the child is qualified, has demonstrated proper technique, and is capable of self-administering the medication.

Severe Injuries

Valencia Park Staff will take care of all minor injuries occurring on site. In the event of a more serious injury, parents are always notified and required to come to the school site. Names and phone numbers of those legally empowered to take charge of an injured child, in the event a parent cannot be reached, must be on file for each child. Although San Diego City Schools District does not sell insurance, the Board of Education has authorized the distribution of information regarding the availability of a voluntary student accident insurance program. The school district has no responsibility in the insurance plan other than to make it available to you. A Brochure outlining the program can be obtained in the school office.

Safety

Street Safety

We emphasize safety on the way to and from school and strongly suggest that you establish with your child the safest route to and from school. Students should never cross streets in the middle of the block or between parked cars. Encourage your child to cross streets only at intersections and/or in the crosswalk in front of the school where the Safety Patrol is supervising crossing. During the school day students are directed to use the sidewalk. Help us keep your child safe by following these procedures when visiting our school. To protect the safety of all our students please drive with caution around the school and in school parking lots.

School Parking Lot

Monday through Friday, during school hours,Valencia Park Elementary School parking lots will be open to visitors. The parking lot is closed in the mornings at8:30 am and reopened at 9:00am. After School the parking lots will be closed at 3:00 and reopened at 3:45pm. On the street Handicapped Parking Is available for parents who are disabled and must leave their car to walk to a place on campus.

No Pets,Please

Although we love your furry friends, we must ask you to leave your dogs at home when you come to school to drop off or pick up students. A normally gentle pet can be alarmed or startled in a school setting and hurt a child. In addition some students are allergic to dog fur and are unaware of their allergy. Our concern is always for the safety of all children.

Toys

Toys and games are not appropriate for students to bring to school. We consider sports cards and playing cards to be toys.Electronic games are inappropriate objects and will be taken away from student and returned to parents. Teachers have the power to approve of items brought in connection with a class assignment or special project. Staff will take reasonable measures to secure confiscated items, however the school does not accept responsibility for loss.

Breakfast and Lunch Information

Breakfast

Breakfast is served daily in the classroom starting at 8:55am until 9:10am. Breakfast is provided daily at no cost to students.

Lunch

San Diego Unified School District Policy requires all children eat lunch at school. All Students at Valencia Park receive free lunch Monday-Friday. Students are encouraged to add a serving of fruits and vegetables from the salad bar.

Cafeteria and Lunch Arbor Behavior

  • Use Quiet voices at all times
  • Respect Fellow students and adults using your BEST manners
  • Keep Your eating area clean by picking up your trash
  • Remain seated when you have finished lunch and wait until your class has been given permission to be excused.

Dress Code

Students are expected to wear clothing appropriate for normal school activities. Clothing Should not be so extreme that it draws undue attention to the student, nor should it distract or interfere with the teaching and learning in and out of the classroom. Footwear must be worn at all times including during recess and Physical Education to prevent accidents and foot injuries.

Other Clothing or wearing apparel which would be considered unacceptable or unsafe includes:

  • Sandals Or similar type of open toe footwear
  • Highheel shoes
  • Shoes With roller skates wheels concealed in the heels
  • Hats/caps worn inside the classroom or in other school buildings
  • Dangling Earrings or long necklaces
  • Mini Shorts, bra or halter tops, cut off T-shirts or shirts that expose the midriff,No spaghetti/narrow straps
  • Clothes With inappropriate messages, i.e. provocative or suggestive statements,obscenities, advertising for drugs or alcohol, tobacco products
  • Attire That conveys gang membership (insignia, hats, colors, bandanas, dangling straps, etc.)
  • Makeup
  • Extremely Baggy or sagging pants
  • Chains Hanging from belts
  • Underwear Should not be visible
  • Hair Color that draws undue attention to the student. (Hair is to be kept neatly groomed, and grooming aids, such as combs and brushes, are to be used only at appropriate times and places)

Students who dress inappropriately will receive a dress code violation notice. Please sign the notice and return to your child's teacher.

PLEASE WRITE YOUR CHILD'S' NAME IN JACKETS, SWEATERS, BACKPACKS, RAINCOATS, LUNCH BOXES, AND OTHER ITEMS THAT ARE USED AT SCHOOL.

Discipline

Discipline Policy

Valencia Park is a Restorative Practice School

Students are held responsible for their behavior, repairing any harm they've caused and working toward a positive outcome

DISCIPLINE PLAN:

Students are held responsible for their own decisions/actions. Before writing a referral or sending a student to the office the following interventions must take place, except in an emergency.

  1. The teacher has a conference with the student concerning the problem. 2. Student is sent to buddy room for time-out. 3. Classroom disciplinary actions are utilized (classroom time-out, after school detention, think sheet, etc.) 4. The parent is contacted (note or telephone call) concerning the problem to enlist their support. 5. A behavior contract (daily, weekly, etc.) is implemented to ensure goal setting, consequences, and regular communication with the parent.

*Immediate behavior referrals are given for severe offenses that place other students at risk or seriously impair the learning environment in the classroom. Consequences for these offenses may include: loss of privileges, modified schedule or suspension. The student is sent directly to the office. Severe Offenses include:

Throwing objects to cause harm
Fighting/hurting others
Blatant defiance of school personnel
Possession of controlled substances
Possession of weapons (real/fake)
Sexual Harassment

A written behavior referral provides documentation that a student's behavior is a concern in need of serious attention. All referrals are entered into PowerSchool and are official documents.

Suspensions

The State Education Code, penal code, or district procedure recognizes the following actions as unnecessary on school grounds. Students doing any of these actions will face suspensions and /or other consequences at the discretion of the school site administrator.

  • Defiance Of Authority or Classroom Disruption: Disruptive behavior that adversely affects the learning environment in the classroom. Or disruptive behavior that could cause danger to teacher or other students in the classroom.
  • Fighting Or making threats, attempted, threatened, or caused physical injury to another person. Repeated physical injury to another student
  • Possession Of any item, including firearms, fireworks and facsimiles, knives and other dangerous objects that could cause injury to any person.
  • Attempting To steal or stealing school property or private property In possession of stolen property. Threatening another person or forcing another person to give up possessions that belong to him or her.
  • Damage To school or private property: This includes marking, graffiti, or walls,books, desks, and other property that belongs to others.
  • Engaging In profanity or any obscene act.
  • Sexualor racial harassment: verbal, visual, or physical.
  • Ifit might offend someone, don't say it.
  • Harassment,bullying, or intimidation of students or staff members: Intentionally engaging in harassment, threats, or intimidation that creates an intimidating or hostile educational environment.

Other Reasons for Disciplinary Action:

  • Leaving Campus without permission.
  • Throwing Rocks or other inappropriate objects
  • Riding Skateboards, roller blades, roller skates shoes (wheels are concealed in heel of shoe or bikes on campus
  • Bringing Inappropriate items to school: toys, radios, tape recorders, pagers, video games, trading cards, items that make noises, and balls
  • Graffiti:inappropriate graffiti on personal belongings

Misc.

Staying After School

A teacher may keep a student after school for up to 15 minutes, without parent notification. However, if student is to be detained longer, every effort will be made to contact parents.

Visitors

California state law requires all persons visiting a school site to report to the school office. All visitors must sign-in and will be issued a visitor's pass, which must be worn and visible while on campus. This requirement may cause some minor inconvenience; however, it was designed to maintain the security and safety of all our children during school hours.

If you would like to make a special visit to your child's classroom during school hours please coordinate the time with the teacher in advance.

Volunteers

Weare always in need of volunteers at Valencia Park. Parents, grandparents, neighbors...all are welcome. ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST HAVE A TB TEST AND CLEARANCE. If you are interested, please come to the school office to fill out a volunteer application.

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