Pine Hill School Parent/Student Handbook
Click here to download the handbook as a .pdf document.
Table of Contents
Holidays, Special Events, & Meetings
Kindergarten and First Grade Dental Screening
District’s Uniform Complaint Procedure (UCP)
Pine Hill Elementary School Handbook
Home of the Pine Hill Pandas
Phone: (707) 443-4596
Fax: (707) 443-1312
Website: www.pinehillschool.org
Superintendent: Marie Twibell
Principal: Pam Olson
Secretary: Deb Kamberg
Board of Trustees:
Ross Nash
Kelly Noga
Ian Schatz
Mark Thurlough
Leonard McLaughlin
Welcome to Pine Hill Elementary!
We are so pleased that you are part of our school-community this year. It looks as though this will be an exciting year with lots to do – and many opportunities for everyone to be involved. We encourage you to find your niche volunteering and participating where and when you are able. This handbook provides you with important information about daily schedules, phone numbers, school holidays and events, as well as general guidelines for behavior.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call us at 443-4596.
Sincerely,
Pam Olson, Principal
GENERAL INFORMATION
Visitors
Parents and grandparents are welcome and encouraged to visit our school. When you arrive for any reason (e.g., to volunteer, to pick up your student, or to deliver something), you must sign in at the school office and obtain a Visitor Badge. Please check out when leaving.
All other individuals, unless approved by a staff member, are not permitted to wander the campus or visit classes.
Pets may be brought to school only with teacher permission.
Medications
If your child is required to take medications while at school:
- The medication must be brought to the school office where it will be stored in a locked cabinet or refrigerator.
- The medication must be clearly identified.
- The medication must be in its original container.
- The medication must carry a prescription label with the child’s name, drug identity, dosage instructions, doctor’s name, and prescription date.
- The prescription must be current.
- A district form dated and signed by the parent and physician, must accompany each medication.
Emergencies
In case of any emergency, we will call your home or work. However, sometimes we cannot reach you, so it is important that you maintain up-to-date emergency card information so that we can contact other responsible adults designated by you. Please phone the school whenever there are changes.
INTRODUCTION
Pine Hill Elementary School is dedicated to serving our students, families, and staff. What does this mean? The best way to define that spirit is to refer to our Pine Hill Mission Statement and Family/School Compact developed by staff and parents on our School Site Council:
Pine Hill Mission Statement
Pine Hill School’s mission is to prepare today’s students to succeed in tomorrow’s world. We develop life-long learners by:
- Providing a safe and nurturing environment
- Ensuring students learn those skills in math and language necessary for success
- Challenging students with technology and problem-solving
- Promoting civic responsibility and global awareness
Family–School Compact
We at Pine Hill School commit ourselves to the success of each of our students. With our staff and each family assisting their children toward that end, we will all reach our goal.
The school pledges to:
- Motivate and inspire each student to work to the best in themselves
- Provide an environment which builds academic success
- Work to establish those habits of self-discipline which are the key to maturity
- Maintain open lines of communication, and encourage parent involvement
Each family will:
- Ensure that children to arrive on time every day, well-rested and ready to learn
- Demonstrate interest in student assignments and materials
- Provide a quiet time and place for homework
- Participate in school and community activities that support our children
Each student will:
- Behave in a safe manner by following commonly accepted rules
- Show respect and courtesy for each and every person at school
- Act responsibly, demonstrating care for our school and grounds
Grade Level/Program |
Name/Position |
|
|
Kindergarten – Room 9 |
Linden Lentz, Teacher |
Kindergarten – Room 10 |
Diane Blanchard, Teacher |
Grade1 – Room 1 |
Barbara Moore |
Grade 1 – Room 12 |
Cathy Scalvini |
Grades 2 – Room 2 |
Maureen Horne |
Grade 2 – Room 27 |
Shawna Roberts |
Grades 3 – Room 8 |
Pete Springer |
Grade 3 – Room 22 |
Linda Burghart |
Grades 3/4 – Room 3 |
Alisa Ross |
Grades 4/5 – Room 4 |
Betsy Rains |
Grade 5 – Room 6 |
Fred Moore |
Grade 6 – Room 5 |
Gary Storts |
Resource – Room 7 |
Vickie Storts, Teacher |
|
|
Speech – Office |
Santa Birnbaum |
Music – Room 32 |
Peter Jain |
Science/GATE |
Larry Passarini |
Counseling – Healthy Start Building |
Deanna Moran |
EXPLORE (After School Program) and |
Susan Maschmeier, Director |
|
|
Office |
Deb Kamberg, Secretary |
Reading Intervention – Room 28 |
Nancy Carswell, Aide |
Library |
Shannon Wilson, Library Aide |
Computer Lab |
Patty Valtenbergs, Technology Facilitator |
Playground |
Susie Jewell, Monitor |
Custodial |
Irene Hensley, Lead Custodian (& Maint.) |
Food Services |
Mason Clark, Food Service Director |
|
|
PINE HILL ELEMENTARY BELL SCHEDULE
8:20 a.m. - First Bell
8:25 a.m. - Instructional Bell
Recesses:
9:30 - 9:50 a.m. - Mrs. Blanchard’s Kindergarten
9:50 - 10:10 a.m. - Mr. Lentz’s Kindergarten
10:15 - 10:35 a.m. - Primary Grades Recess (1st – 3rd grades)
10:40 - 11 a.m. - Upper Grades Recess (including 3/4)
Lunches:
11:00 a.m. - Preschool
11:15 - 11:55 a.m. - Kindergarten & 1st Grade
11:40 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. - 2nd & 3rd grades (including 3/4)
12:05 - 12:45 p.m. - 4th - 6th grades
Dismissal:
1:20 p.m. - Kindergarten (through December)
2:20 p.m. - 1st - 3rd grades (+ Kindergarten after Jan. 1st)
3:05 p.m. - 4th – 6th grades
NOTE:
Wednesdays are Early Release Days: all students are dismissed at 1:30 p.m., except Kindergarten classes which end their day at 1:20 p.m. through December.
HOLIDAYS, SPECIAL EVENTS, & MEETINGS
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS FOR 2009-2010:
November 11: Veteran’s Day
November 23 - 27: Thanksgiving Break
December 21 - Jan. 1: Winter Break (2 weeks)
January 18: Martin Luther King Day
February 15 - 19: Presidents’ Holiday Break
April 19 - 23: Spring Break
May 31: Memorial Day
Wednesdays are scheduled as early release days. Dismissal time on early release days is 1:30 p.m. Days scheduled for parent/teacher conferences are also early release days. This year conferences are scheduled for:
November 16-20 Fall Parent Teacher Conferences
March 15-19 Spring Parent Teacher Conferences
There are two times at the end of the school year when the early release day will not be scheduled on Wednesday. These two days are:
June 4 (Friday) PTO Carnival
June 17 (Thursday) LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
Regular Monthly Meetings:
School Board* 2nd Thursday of each month
PTO* 3rd Thursday of each month
School Site Council TBA
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
We offer many programs and services for our students. Many are optional and some are part of our regular curricular program.
Literacy: a program that promotes language proficiency, working with identified students in reading and writing, particularly with our English Language Learners.
G.A.T.E. (Gifted and Talented Education): an enhanced curriculum delivered in class with differentiated program for identified students in grades 3-6.
EXPLORE: funded by our ASES Grant. The district offers an after school program at Pine Hill Monday-Friday (excluding school holidays) from dismissal to 6:00 P.M. The program is free for all students. A $50 materials fee is charged every trimester; scholarships are available.
Resource: a pullout program providing academic support for identified students with learning challenges.
Speech: a pullout program to assist with the development of speech articulation and communication skills.
Counseling: a program that focuses on children’s social development with lessons on empathy training, conflict resolution, and anger management. Students work in small groups or one-on-one with the school counselor.
Science: in addition to regular classroom study, all 4th - 6th grade students receive additional science instruction from our district science teacher.
Music: available to 4th-6th grade students; participating students receive music instruction from our music teacher: chorus, beginning band, concert band, and song flutes.
Reading/Math Intervention: a program that provides identified students (through regularly administered assessments) additional support in math and/or reading.
Learn to Earn: a voluntary banking program through Umpqua Bank that provides weekly on-site savings account services to students.
Healthy Start: on-site coordination of school based and school-linked services for children and families.
In addition to these school/district sponsored programs and services, the Indian Action Council of Northern California provides tutoring services for Native American students.
CODE OF CONDUCT
In the spirit of our Mission Statement and Family-School Compact, we strive to help our students develop as honorable individuals and contributing members of society.
To help all of us move in this direction, we abide by generally recognized behavioral expectations:
- attendance and punctuality
- appropriate dress
- fair and respectful treatment of ourselves and others
In addition, all cell phones and other electronic devices (e.g., iPods, video games, etc.) must be turned in to the office before school and should be picked up at the end of the day.
Attendance and Punctuality:
Regular attendance at school is very important for our children. Research shows that children who are in school learn more and interact more easily with others. When scheduling medical appointments, please arrange times that don’t interfere with the regular school day.
Being late for school hurts a child’s education. Our school day begins at 8:25 a.m. When a child arrives late, s/he has lost precious instructional time – and the rest of the class suffers the interruption of a late arrival and the necessity to get that child “caught up” with the day. (If a child is just 5 minutes late every day, that child has been robbed of 900 minutes of learning in a year!)
Appropriate Dress:
We encourage our students to develop a sense of personal worth and dignity. Grooming and attire are an important part of a child’s self image. We believe that our dress code helps students become responsible for and concerned about their personal appearance.
Clothing must provide protection, warmth, and modesty. Parents will be notified if a child’s apparel is inappropriate and will be required to bring an appropriate change of clothes before a child will be allowed in class.
Students will not be allowed to wear the following attire:
- Short-shorts (fingertips must touch bottom of pant leg) and extreme mini-skirts; sagging pants worn below the undershorts level (belts are required on loose pants)
- Bare midriffs, spaghetti straps, halter-top, or beach-type apparel; sandals without heel straps.
- Clothing with suggestive words and/or obscene pictures; that display drugs, alcohol or tobacco products; or that advocate racial, ethnic or religious prejudice.
- Hats or hoods within buildings
Acceptable Behavior:
Pine Hill Elementary School believes that every student and adult has the right to:
- Safety from physical harm and intimidation
- Learn and teach in a quiet, productive, and cooperative environment, free of distractions and disruptions.
- Freedom from sexual harassment
- Work in a clean, neat, and orderly school and classroom environment
- Have his or her private property and school property respected
- Be addressed courteously, free from profane and foul language
- Attend school in an environment that respects individual differences
- Expect others to listen respectfully to appropriate questions, opinions, and suggestions
- Inclusion in all activities for which they are eligible
- Report any unsafe or inappropriate behavior without fear of threat or ridicule.
Teachers use elements of Second Step, a behavior awareness curriculum, to highlight and support school norms. The staff also utilizes a series of steps when infractions of rules occur. The general sequence includes: counseling/warning; an appropriate consequence for minor infractions; family contact; and referral to the principal for serious infractions or repeat behaviors.
The principal will interview students sent to the office and assign appropriate consequences, if deemed necessary. Consequences may include: lunchtime detention, campus improvement duties, behavior contracts, self-reflective writings, or parent/student/staff conferences.
Some serious infractions that can result in suspension, or in some cases expulsion (ref. Ed. Code 48900):
- disrespect or defiance of authority
- profanity
- fighting
- bullying
- cheating
- smoking
- threats or attacks on others
- sexual harassment
- vandalism
- possession or consumption of any controlled substances
- possession of a weapon or dangerous object, possessing a firearm
- extortion
- arson
- theft
- brandishing a knife at another person
- selling or providing a controlled substance or alcohol to another
HEALTHY CHOICES
South Bay District’s Wellness Policy
The South Bay District’s Wellness Policy is aligned with state mandates providing that:
- The Child Nutrition Program complies with federal, state and local requirements and is accessible to all children.
- All food and beverages sold on campus during the school day are consistent with current federal, state and local requirements.
- Our school environment is safe, comfortable and pleasing, with ample time and space allocated for eating meals.
- Nutrition education and physical activity are provided to promote student health.
- All students have the opportunity to be physically active on a regular basis through physical education programs.
- All school-based activities are consistent with our SBUSD Wellness Policy goals
Celebrations and Rewards
- The school district encourages the use of healthy foods and activities for school celebrations.
- Staff and parents will be notified of the school’s preference for healthy food and activity-based celebrations.
- The school will inform parents of healthy alternatives.
- Celebrations should occur after the class’s lunch period.
- School personnel will model healthy food choices while engaged in school and/or district activities.
- The school district discourages the use of food or beverages as a reward for student accomplishments, and the withholding of food or beverages as punishment.
- Invitations to parties: Invitations to private parties (e.g., birthday parties) may be passed out at school only if the entire class is invited, and everyone in the class receives an invitation.
- Birthday celebrations at school must not disrupt class – please make arrangements with your child’s teacher well ahead of time.
Kindergarten and First Grade Dental Screenings
California Education Code Section 49452.8, went into effect Jan. 1, 2007. The goal of the law is to insure dental care for every child. Screenings will identify students who need further examination and dental treatment.
California law now requires a dental screening by May 31st of a student’s first year in public school (kindergarten or first-grade).
A licensed dentist or other licensed or registered dental health professional must do the screening within 12 months of enrollment. If a dental check-up cannot be obtained, parents may get a waiver from this requirement by filling out a form.
A child’s first teeth are very important to their health. Tooth decay is an infection that can cause pain if left untreated. Cavities are preventable.
Parents can promote their children’s dental health by:
- Visiting a dentist twice a year.
- Brushing at least twice a day with toothpaste that contains fluoride.
- Limiting sodas and candy, which cause cavities and destroy tooth enamel
- Serving fresh healthy foods at home.
Parents who have questions about this dental screening requirement can call the school office at 443-4596, or Healthy Start at 445-5933.
District’s Uniform Complaint Procedure (UCP)
You may contact your school office or the district office to obtain a copy of the district’s complaint procedures.
The complaint procedure can be used for a variety of issues including but not limited to employee issues, school safety planning requirements in the No Child Left Behind Act, and policies and procedures of the district. Confidentiality and privacy shall be respected in all complaint investigations.
Complaints alleging discrimination may be filed by a person on their own behalf or on behalf of another person or group of people within six months of the occurrence of when facts became known. Complaints regarding a special needs student may be filed within
12 months of the occurrence.
The following procedures shall be used to file complaints: [E.C. 56500.2]
- Complaints made under this procedure shall be directed to the UCP officer who is responsible for processing the claims.
- A complaint under the Uniform Complaint Procedure should be completed within 60 days from the receipt of the complaint unless the complainant agrees in writing to extend the timeline.
- You may contact the UCP officer to obtain a copy of the complaint process at (707) 476-8549.
- You have the option of having your complaint mediated.
- After receiving the complaint, there shall be an investigative meeting.
- The compliance officer shall send a written report about the investigation and decision.
- If you are not satisfied with the result, the complainant then has 15 days to appeal to the California Department of Education (CDE). The appeal must include a copy of the locally filed complaint and a copy of the LEA decision.
- You may forward your complaint directly to CDE and it may choose to intervene immediately based on established criteria.
- There is nothing in this process to preclude a complainant from pursing available civil law remedies outside of the district’s complaint procedures. Such remedies may include mediation, attorneys, and legal action. Civil law remedies may include, but are not limited to injunctions and restraining orders.
For discrimination complaints, 60 days must elapse from the time an appeal is filed with CDE before pursing civil remedies except for an injunction. Complaints may also be forwarded to appropriate state or federal agencies in the following cases:
- Rehabilitation Act Section 504–Office of Civil Rights
- Child Abuse–Department of Social Services, Protective Services Division, or law enforcement
- Discrimination/Nutritional Services–U.S. Secretary of Agriculture
- Employment Discrimination–Department of Fair Employment and Housing, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- FERPA Requirements–U.S. Department of Education, Family Policy Compliance Office
- General Education Provisions Act–U.S. Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare
- Health and Safety/Child Dev.–Department of Social Services
- Student Records–Family Policy Compliance Office (FPCO), U.S. Department of Education [20 USC 7114(D)(7) (No Child Left Behind), 20 USC 11138; 20 U.S.C. 1232(e); 34 CFR 300.510-511, 300.513, 99.7; E.C. 232. 262.3, 33031, 33032, 33381, 48985, 49063(j), 56000-56885, 59000-59300, 6400o(a); 5 CCR 4610; 5 CCR 4620-4632]