School Policies
Breakfast/Lunch
Mrs. Maria Gonzalez is our cafeteria manager. Beginning the first day of school, breakfast and hot lunches are provided daily in the cafeteria. Breakfast costs $1.00. Primary and upper grade lunch cost $1.50 this year. Milk may be purchased for $.25 or juice for $.50 . Children may buy weekly lunch tickets in the MORNING ONLY in the cafeteria.
The free lunch program will be in effect the first day of school. If your child participated in this program at the end of the school year, he/she will be eligible the first week of school. Free lunch applications will be sent home the first day of school. These applications must be completed as soon as possible in order for your child to be eligible.
Release of Students
All parents should check their child out through the school office when he/she is to be dismissed at a time other than their regular dismissal time. For obvious safety reasons, children will not be released to anyone except a parent or guardian, unless otherwise requested by a written notice. Children are not allowed off the school grounds without permission from the principal’s office.
Tardies
Students who are tardy must check in through the school office. Every effort will be made by the school to keep the tardies to a minimum. Parents will be notified if tardies become a habit. Habitual tardiness is considered truancy. 3 tardies will count as an absence.
Absence
Please call to report that your child will be absent that day, the reason for the absence and the probable duration of the absence. When returning to school children must bring a note explaining the reason for the absence.
Schools no longer receive money for excused student absences. Schools now only receive funding for students who are actually in class. Every day your child misses school, even for excused absences, the District will lose about $25. There would be a potential gain of more than $500,000 in the 2003/2004 school year if every student attended school every day.
We ask you to support our efforts to increase student attendance by:
1. Allow your child to stay home only when he/she has a contagious illness or is too sick to be comfortable at school.
2. Plan your family vacations during the summer or school holidays.
3. Try to schedule doctor appointments for your child after school hours.
4. Help prevent child illnesses from spreading at our school by getting your child vaccinated against flu and chicken pox.
5. When your child has a doctor appointment in the middle of the school day, bring him/her to school before the appointment.
Remember too, that good student attendance not only benefits our school, it also benefits your child. Every day a student misses school. he gets more than two days behind his peers, because he must make up missed learning and catch up with new learning at the same time.
Release During School Hours
A student must have a release notice signed by his or her parents or special permission from the office before being released during school hours. If you plan to pick up a child, please come into the office where the child will be waiting. The “sign-out” book must be signed when a child leaves at a time other than the regular dismissal time. The child also must be signed in when returning to school.
Independent Study Contract
We believe the best education for your child is daily attendance in the classroom. However, if you must take your child out of the classroom setting, the District has developed an Independent Study Contract which allows the District to regain lost revenue from the State. This also allows the teacher to provide the student the opportunity to complete a variety of assignments in order that he/she does not fall behind their classmates.
An Independent Study Contract may be requested if the period of absence is 5 days or longer. Please contact the school at least 3 days prior to leaving on the trip to obtain a contract. However, since many of the classroom’s activities and instruction include cooperative group experiences, discussion, and hands-on explorations, it is often impossible to duplicate these. While every attempt will be made to assign appropriate work, parents should recognize a student’s grades may be lowered if the teacher feels the absences significantly interfere with the student’s learning in one or more subject areas. We ask that you please plan your family trips to coincide with school vacation periods.
Delivering Items or Messages to Students or Teachers
Messages to students will be delivered only in emergencies. Late lunches should be left on the office counter with the student’s name clearly marked. Students are encouraged to check the counter during their break periods. Messages to teachers should be called in or given to the school office. Please do not disrupt the classroom.
Emergency/Disaster Forms
At the beginning of each school year, parents are required to fill our an Emergency Card and Disaster Form for each of their school children. This information must be up-to-date and as complete as possible as an illness, accident or emergency will require immediately contacting parents or guardians. ANY CHANGE IN THE EMERGENCY INFORMATION, INCLUDING CHANGES IN HOME PHONE NUMBERS, EMPLOYMENT, ETC. SHOULD BE SENT TO THE OFFICE IMMEDIATELY.
Bicycles/Skateboards/Roller Blades/Scooters
Bicycles may be ridden to school by 4th and 5th grade students only. Bicycles should be properly locked to prevent them from theft. Skateboards and roller blades, scooters should not be ridden to Wilson School, since they present a safety and storage problem.
To/From School
Students should come directly to school in the morning and return directly home after school. When dropping children off at school, please stop at the curb in front of school. We are fortunate to have a crossing guard in front of school. Please help your child practice good pedestrian rules by using the services of our crossing guard.
Rules for Dress
In consultation with the teachers and with the Student Congress, the following dress standard was adopted:
Students are expected to dress appropriately. Good taste, safety and cleanliness are the three factors that should be considered. Good taste means a student comes to school dressed for school activities. Sandals, long dresses, boots, platform shoes, halter tops, short-shorts, excessive jewelry, T-shirts with inappropriate messages, and excessively baggy pants are not allowed. Students are very active on the playground, and these items often contribute to unwarranted injuries or create negative attention.
If a student’s dress is felt to be unsafe or inappropriate for an elementary campus, the parent may be contacted and requested to bring a change of clothing.
If an item of clothing or clothing accessory is used inappropriately, a staff member may collect the item and return it to the student either at the end of the day or upon a parent request.
School Library
The school library is staffed by Ms. Diane Lacaste, our library technician, and community volunteers. Please encourage your child to use the library, and to care for and return books on time. Also please encourage your child to use our local public library.
Rest
Because their school day is such an active one, children should have adequate rest and a good breakfast before coming to school. Some experts have suggested that primary-age youngsters should go to bed by 8:00, while upper graders should be in bed by 8:30. Some suggest that going to bed with a good book is an effective way for children to “wind down” after a hard day’s work.
School Visits
Parents are always welcomed and even encouraged to be a part of their child’s education. Visits to school are always welcomed, but should be planned and scheduled with the teacher’s permission. For security purposes, when you make a visit, please be sure to check in at the office and obtain a volunteer badge. We’re always happy to have parent volunteers assist in the classrooms. During class time, teachers are always very busy working with their youngsters, therefore, please take care not to interrupt the teacher during instructional times. If you would like to have a conference with the teacher, please make an appointment. In this way, you can be sure you have the teacher’s attention and can discuss matters in a confidential setting. Appointments can easily be made by calling the office or writing a note to the teacher you’d like to see.
Health Office
A school health aide is on duty at Wilson School every day from 8:00 until 2:30. During the school year, the children are weighed and measured. Hearing, dental and vision testing are also done. If any difficulty is found in these areas, you will be notified. If you have health questions or concerns or any items that you wish to be called to our attention, please feel to contact our school health aide.
Reporting to Parents
In October, teachers will be inviting parents to school for a conference. At that time you will be given a written report of your child’s progress, and an opportunity to discuss matters relevant to your child’s education. You will also receive a report card at the end of the second and third trimester to keep you informed of your child’s progress. Please remember, however, that successful education of a child depends heavily on the quality and quantity of good communication between the home and school. Never hesitate to contact the school or your child’s teacher when questions or concerns develop.
Lost and Found
Articles which have been lost and found will be turned in to the school office and kept in the cafeteria until claimed. PLEASE MARK ALL CHILDREN’S CLOTHES, LUNCH BOXES, GLASSES, AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES THAT LOST ITEMS MAY BE RETURNED TO THE OWNERS. Items not claimed at the end of December and June are given to welfare agencies.
Parent Participation
Wilson School has a PTA that is second to none! They provide many services to our school, such as special assemblies, family nights, field trips, library materials, computer programs, playground equipment, and other things too numerous to mention. Through the efforts of PTA and the school, a quality education and environment are provided to benefit all students on campus. Please contact Bill Brock, our PTA President, for more information and please join the PTA! Your membership is valued.
Parking Lot - Staff Only
Staff parking is in extremely short supply, and it is a very busy place! But it is also a tempting place to drop of and/or pick up your child. Please resist that temptation. It is not a safe place for children, as trucks and cars are busily coming and going constantly throughout the day. Parents may not walk through either, as it gives children a false sense of safety. Instead, please refer to the previous section above, “To/From School.”
Student Dismissal
When students are dismissed, and have finished any school business, they should leave the grounds without delay. Primary students should not wait from 1:55 until 2:30 for their upper grade siblings to be dismissed. Safety and distraction of classes still in session are a major cause for concern. Please be sure your primary age youngster’s child care arrangements are made so that they can leave the grounds at their 1:55 dismissal time.
Wilson School Rules
1. EVERYONE (even a person in trouble) will be treated with respect.
2. Treat all books, furniture, buildings, playground equipment, etc. with respect.
3. Keep toys, electronic games and other items at home unless you have permission from the teacher.
4. Use all playground equipment for the purpose it was made.
5. Use appropriate and positive language.
6. Explain your problems respectfully and use words to solve them.
7. Share.
8. Play safely so others are safe too.
9. Take turns.
10. Play only on your part of the playground.
11. Always set a good example for those younger than you.