Elementary School HandbookFor Students and ParentsWELCOME TO LONGFELLOW!
All our teachers and staff are pleased to welcome you to Longfellow Elementary School. Whether you are a Kinder or 5th grader, you are in for an exciting, challenging year! It will only take a short time before you become an active member of the Longfellow community both academically and socially. We hope you take advantage of the many opportunities available to you throughout the year. Your success is a shared responsibility between you, your parents, and the Longfellow staff. You will be expected to attend school daily, have pride in the assignments you complete, and accept responsibility for appropriate behavior. Every staff member is here to help you develop the qualities which lead to good citizenship and to support your academic studies. In the first few weeks of school, the information in this handbook will be reviewed in class and in an assembly so that all elementary school students are aware of the expectations and information about our school.
This handbook will be given to parents in order to answer many questions you may have about rules and activities at Longfellow. All students and families are responsible for knowing the contents of this handbook. Please sign and return the signature page acknowledging that you have received the handbook. The staff of Longfellow wishes each student a successful 2010-11 school year!
SCHOOL MISSION & VISION STATEMENTS
The mission of Longfellow Spanish Immersion Magnet School is to provide a nurturing environment of academic excellence which provides for the development of a responsible cross-cultural world citizen with an enriched understanding of self and others. The vision of Longfellow Spanish Immersion Magnet School is to improve student achievement in Spanish and in English by improving teaching in a powerful community of learners.
ACADEMIC YEAR CALENDAR 10-11
ATTENDANCE & ABSENCES Regular and prompt attendance is the responsibility of both parent and student. Our goal is to provide your child with the best educational opportunities available. Regular attendance is essential to attain this goal. For this reason we strongly encourage parents to schedule medical/dental appointments and vacations when school is not in session. Each day of classroom instruction is important. Students need to inquire about missed assignments upon their return to school. REPORTING AN ABSENCE
Student absences need to be reported to the school BEFORE 10:00 a.m. on a daily basis by a parent or guardian. The number to report absences is: (619) 276-4206 ext. 297 (This telephone number is available 24 hours to report absences). Please leave a brief message and give the following information:
LEAVING SCHOOL EARLY
When it is necessary for students to leave school early for any reason they must be issued a Permit to Leave Grounds slip from the office. Please try to have your child remain in class for the entire day except when absolutely necessary. TARDINESS School begins promptly at 9:05 a.m. All students arriving after 9:05 a.m. will need to sign in at the Attendance Office. EXCESSIVE tardies will affect citizenship grades. Students are expected to be in their seats with all necessary materials, (books, paper, pencil, etc.) and be ready for work when the tardy bell rings. Tardiness is tallied on a semester basis and is the teacher’s responsibility to communicate their concerns with the parents until it reaches a chronic or habitual stage. A plan for correction of repeated tardiness will be individually devised and enforced. Chronic or habitual tardies will be referred to the counselor and administration. CONTRACTS OF INDEPENDENT STUDY
Parents must give the school adequate advance notice when requesting that the school prepare an independent study contract—a minimum of 5 full school days in advance is required. Contracts are only given to students that will be absent for 5 or more days. The school qualifies for state funds when a student enters into a contract and completes the contract within the guidelines and timelines given. A contract does not guarantee passing grades. Grades will be determined by the supervising teacher for quantity and quality of work submitted by the due date. BELL SCHEDULE
Start & Dismissal Times
Recess Times
Student Lunch Times
BUS ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL INFORMATION
It is the responsibility of students 1st – 5th to report to their bus lines every day after school immediately following the dismissal bell. Teachers will not detain any students after school without first obtaining parent permission. Buses will not be detained for students who do not board their bus on time. Students who miss their bus will have to call a parent for a ride. The following is bus arrival & bus departure information for 2010-11:
CAFETERIA
All students are strongly encouraged to eat a healthy breakfast at home. Breakfast is available up to 8:50 a.m. and students are expected to be in class on time by 9:05 a.m. Students may bring a lunch to school or buy one from our cafeteria. Lunch prices are $2.00, which includes milk. Extra milk is 50 cents. Students are expected to behave appropriately during lunch and are responsible for cleaning up after themselves. Once in the lunch area, students may not leave this area until dismissed by a lunch supervisor. Food may not be taken or eaten outside of the lunch area. Once dismissed, students will walk to the lower playground near the middle school classrooms for lunch recess. CAMPUS VISITORS
Longfellow is known as a friendly school with enthusiastic students. If you see a visitor on campus, greet them and offer your help. All parents and visitors must check in at the front office and obtain a visitor’s badge. Student visitors are not allowed on campus unless accompanied by an adult.
VOLUNTEERS Longfellow welcomes and appreciates our many parent and community volunteers. All volunteers must sign-in the office. To be a volunteer you must do the following:
• Complete and sign a volunteer application • Have a current TB Test CLOSED CAMPUS
Longfellow is a closed campus. Students may not leave the campus between the time they arrive in the morning and the time they are dismissed in the afternoon. Students must be off campus 5 minutes after the last class unless their school bus is late or unless they are
participating in a teacher supervised after school activity. No students are allowed on campus on weekends, evenings or holidays.
COUNSELING OFFICE
The Longfellow Spanish Immersion Magnet School counseling program is here to help students. Students and parents are encouraged to seek out counselor services for help with personal, social, educational and vocational plans or problems. Every student is unique and valued at Longfellow Spanish Immersion School. We believe in providing support so that each individual can reach his/her potential.
DROP OFF AND PICKUP PROCEDURES
Many students are dropped-off and picked-up from school each day. Our designated drop-off and pick-up area is along the south side of July Street. Please note that the south side of July Street is a 3-minute Passenger Zone from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. This Passenger Zone allows you to pull up to the curb for up to three minutes to drop-off or pick-up your child/ren. Parents wanting to walk onto campus to pick-up or drop-off their child/ren, should arrive at the school with plenty of time to find a safe place to park on one of our neighboring residential streets. Students must be picked-up by 4:05 p.m. unless enrolled in to the YMCA Childcare program. NEIGHBORHOOD PARKING
We know that parking can be very challenging but it is doable. We want the surrounding streets around our campus to be safe areas for students and parents to cross and/or gain access to the school. We also expect Longfellow families to be respectful of our residential neighbors. We want to remind parents to be mindful of the 3-minute Passenger Zone – drop-off and pick-up only during the designated times on the signs. Please do not park in red zones, or in our school bus loading zones along Burgener Boulevard and August Street, and please do not block any school or residential driveway entrances. Please do not double park your car to drop-off or to pick-up as it creates a traffic back-up that negatively impacts the flow of traffic on July Street and makes driving very unsafe. Please know that we do frequently seek the assistance of SDUSD School Police as well as SDPD to enforce parking and traffic laws. They will issue citations to cars that are parked illegally.
EMERGENCY DRILLS
Campus emergency drills are conducted on a monthly basis at school. Each year, teachers instruct their students on the proper evacuation procedures. These are our Emergency Signal Bells:
1. Continuous series of three short rings - Emergency Immediate Evacuation 2. Continuous series of long and short rings - Duck and Cover 3. Three long rings - Lock Down 4. Five short rings - Shelter in place 5. One long ring - Return to class/Return to normal status GROUNDS SUPERVISION
Supervision is provided on the school campus from 8:40-4:05 on regular days and 8:40-1:10 on minimum days. Please pick-up and drop-off your child/ren according to these times.
HALL PASSES
Any student who wishes to enter or leave the room during the class period, or is performing a duty that takes him through the halls, must have a pass issued by a faculty or staff member.
HEALTH OFFICE
The nurse is here three days a week and a health technician is here the other two days. If you become ill, need first aid or health-related assistance, inform your teacher and get a pass to the nurse’s office. Minor injury or illness will be handled at school by the nurse or other qualified staff member. Any on-campus injury should be reported to the nurse’s office immediately. If a serious injury or illness occurs at school, your parents will be called. Names and telephone numbers or other people who may take responsibility for you if your parents are not available must be included on the emergency card filed in the office. Please be accessible to the school’s phone calls during the school day. Plan to pick your child up from school within 30 minutes in these emergency situations.
The nurse should be informed immediately of any special health matters concerning you. Students are requested not to bring medication to school. However, if it becomes necessary, all medications must be kept in the nurse’s office. They should first be labeled correctly with your name, the name of the medication, the dose to be taken, and the time(s) to be taken. The medication also must be accompanied by forms completed by the physician for long-term medication and by the parent for short-term medication. All medication bottles should bear a label with the student’s name, name of medication, dosage, and times to be given. No medication will be accepted in plastic bags. All students with inhalers must have up-to-date asthma medication forms on file—these can be obtained in the health office. All medications and doctor’s orders need to be renewed every new school year.
ILLNESS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Students who bring a note from their parents requesting that they not participate in PE due to an illness or minor injury will still report to PE unless other arrangements are made. They will not, however, participate in PE. The PE teacher will modify or exempt a student’s activities based upon a signed parent/doctor note. If an illness or injury goes beyond three days, a doctor’s note is needed. That note should be taken to the nurse’s office before school begins on that day. Parents should consult with the PE teacher when the student is going to be excused from PE for more than one week to discuss grading options. SCHOOL SUPPLIES
Students are also expected to purchase their own school supplies (notebooks, pencils, paper, a lunch, etc.) and bring them every day. The School Supply List can be found on the school’s website at www.sandi.net/longfellow1.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Each student at Longfellow is a member of the Associated Student Body (ASB). The Associated Student Body is made up of both elected and appointed members who are responsible for spending ASB funds and planning student activities. Appointed representatives are elected from each grade level. They are responsible for bringing the ideas and opinions of their grade level to the Student Body Council. ASB elections are held each November. Students running for an ASB office must have at least a “C” average and no grade lower than a “D” in course work, and satisfactory citizenship grades with no “U’s” and no “N’s”. TEXTBOOKS
Students are responsible for the textbooks assigned to them. Each book must be covered with a book cover for the entire year. Do not apply tape to any part of the book or use sticky contact covers. Students are responsible for looking through each of their textbooks for pre-existing damage. During the month of September, students may bring damage issues to the attention of their classroom teacher. After this grace period, the student is responsible for any unrecorded damage. For books, computers or yearbook cameras that are lost, stolen, or damaged, students are responsible for replacement or repair costs. Textbooks generally cost between $50 and $85 each. When lost books are paid for and later returned in acceptable condition, a refund will be mailed to the parent’s last known address.
GRADING POLICY
The San Diego Unified School District is now using a Standards-Based Report Card (SBRC) at the elementary level. This is an exciting step for our schools as we work towards ensuring that all students are successful at meeting grade-level standards. Standards describe what a student should know and be able to do at each grade level in all subjects, and this new report card is designed to give parents more and better information about how their children are progressing. On the elementary Standards Based Report Card, parents will learn whether or not their child is proficient—meaning that the child has met grade-level standards, basic—meaning that the child is approaching the standards, below basic—meaning that the child has not met the standards, or advanced—meaning that the child has exceeded the standards. The report card will also provide information on student work habits.
HOMEWORK
The Longfellow staff believes home study is an important part of each student’s education. All students are expected and required to spend time studying at home on a daily basis. Planning study time eliminates the necessity of spending too much time in completing an assignment the day before it is due. If you have questions about homework or need some extra help, let your teacher know. RESPONSIBLE CITIZENSHIP AND STUDENT BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS
It is our hope that all students will be polite and practice good conduct. Good behavior is appreciated and rewarded. These are the Longfellow expectations:
• Bring supplies to school each day, including your planner, binder, paper, pencil. • Bring signed materials from home. • Be on time, be prepared, come to class ready to learn. • Be courteous and respectful of others. • Students must have a pass to be out of class. • Follow school and classroom rules. • Wear appropriate clothing. • Respect school property and the property of others. • Use appropriate language. • Settle conflicts appropriately or ask for the help of an adult. • Be responsible ENSURING A SAFE & ORDERLY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
1. Students are expected to walk on the school grounds and sidewalks.
2. Bicycles, skates, skateboards are not allowed in school. 3. Baseballs, footballs and other hard balls are not to be played on school campus unless in PE class under the supervision of a PE teacher. FIGHTING/HORSEPLAY
Aggressive behavior toward other students, staff members, or campus visitors (hitting, kicking, pushing, etc.) is subject to suspension. Disciplinary actions will be taken against students who participate in "play fighting" or "horseplay." Fighting off-campus to and from school is considered a part of your school day. Therefore, any misconduct during this time is subject to disciplinary action.
ANTI-BULLYING POLICY
Bullying is defined as when someone keeps hurting, frightening, threatening, or excluding someone on purpose. It is the responsibility of each student to prevent bullying. Bullying is not to be tolerated in school, on the bus or online. Bullying behaviors include the following:
• Hurting someone physically by hitting, kicking, tripping or pushing • Stealing or damaging another person’s things • Ganging up on someone • Teasing someone in a hurtful way • Using put-downs, such as insulting someone’s race or making fun of someone being a boy or a girl • Touching or showing private parts (This is also sexual harassment) • Spreading rumors or untruths about someone • Cyber-bullying online is the same as the above ASSEMBLY CONDUCT
Various assemblies will be scheduled throughout the school year. Students are expected to follow established guidelines. All students are expected to walk to the assembly with their teachers and sit quietly in the designated areas. All seats must be filled. Students are expected to behave in a mature manner during the assembly, and to extend the proper courtesies to those people conducting the presentation. At the conclusion, students should remain seated until specifically dismissed. Inappropriate behavior will result in the loss of assembly privileges and possible disciplinary action. DRESS CODE
Longfellow students and staff expect high standards of conduct and appearance. How you dress not only reflects you, but your school and community as well. The way you dress often determines actions in and out of school. Clothing should be appropriate and comfortable for normal school activities. Students’ clothing and appearance should not be of such extreme that it draws undue attention to the student or detracts from the teaching and learning in the classroom. If a student’s dress is not appropriate for school, the student will be sent to the administration office to call parents to bring a change of clothes. If the inappropriate dress continues, parents will be informed and there will be appropriate disciplinary consequences Attire and grooming should not interfere with the educational process. The following are not appropriate for health and safety and will require a change of clothing:
• Hats or any form of head gear in the building (bandanas, scarves, caps, beanies or sun glasses) Caps may be worn outside with bill forward • Pants worn below the hip (no sagging) • Short shorts, skirts or dresses (in-seam should be at least 4 inches/mid-thigh) • See-through or provocative clothing exposing cleavage, the midriff or underwear (including bra straps) • T-shirts or other clothing with offensive pictures and/or writing, or alcohol, cigarette or drug messages. • Shirts should be long enough to be tucked in – no “baby tees” (students should be able to raise their hands without exposing their stomachs) • Open toe shoes or sandals • Spaghetti straps (tanks must have 1 inch straps) No halter tops • Pajamas or slippers • Gloves • Make-up/cosmetics and artificial nails • Large or dangling earrings and inappropriate jewelry or accessories • Chain belts/wallet chains • No facial piercings Students who dress inappropriately will be referred to the Principal to contact the parents to bring a change of clothes. Inappropriate clothing will be confiscated and must be picked up by a parent or guardian and further disciplinary action may be a consequence.
CELL PHONES
These devices MUST be kept in backpacks, book bags or purses and turned OFF during school hours. Visible or ringing cell phones will be confiscated and must be picked up by a parent or guardian. Second offenses will result in disciplinary action. Repeated violations will result in further disciplinary actions. The school is not responsible for lost cell phones.
NETWORK USE POLICY
The use of the internet is a privilege, not a right. Inappropriate use that does not support the teaching-learning process and the responsible use of unique resources online will result in a cancellation of those privileges in school.
PROHIBITED ITEMS
Certain items are not to be brought onto school property because they can be considered dangerous, a nuisance, or not in keeping with an educational setting. Examples of such items include: knives, drugs, gun bullets, play guns, felt markers, spray paint, cap and water pistols, caps or fireworks, sling-shots, water balloons, portable radios, tape, CD players, IPODS or other electronic items. If such items are brought to school, they will be confiscated and the student who brought them will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action. Parents will be required to pick up confiscated items from the office. Students may not bring the following items to school:
• Animals
• Playing cards, trading cards or magic cards • Dice • Electronic equipment (radios, tape players, CD players, IPODS, cameras, etc.) • ‘White-Out’ pencils and fluid • Yo-Yo’s • Markers • Toys • Sharp, pointed scissors REPORTING PROBLEMS TO ADULTS
If a student has a specific problem or concern, immediately bring your concern to one of your teachers, an administrator, a counselor, the office personnel, a lunch supervisor, or a custodian.
SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT STUDENT NONDISCRIMINATION
San Diego Unified School District is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs and activities shall be free from discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other unlawful consideration. The district shall promote programs that will ensure that discriminatory practices are eliminated in all district activities. Any student who engages in discrimination of another student or anyone from the district may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion. Any employee who permits or engages in discrimination may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.
SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY
San Diego Unified School District is committed to making the schools free from sexual harassment, and prohibits harassment made by someone from or in the educational setting.
Sexual harassment can be such actions as unwelcome sexual advances; requests for sexual favors; verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature made by someone from or in the educational setting. The district prohibits conduct that has the purpose or effect of having a negative impact on the student’s academic performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment. The district further prohibits sexual harassment in which a student’s grades, benefits, services, honors, program, or activities are dependent on submission to such conduct. Students should report any sexual harassment to their school principal, counselor, or teacher. Students who violate the policy shall be disciplined appropriately. This includes suspension or possible expulsion. Employees who violate the policy shall be disciplined according to personnel procedures. The district believes that it can resolve harassment issues at the school site. If not, students may contact the Title IX Coordinator, Vira Villarreal, 4100 Normal St., Room 2244, San Diego, CA 92103; (619) 725-7329.
To File a Complaint: Parents or students who want to file a complaint must obtain a copy of the Uniform Complaint Form from the school or the district’s legal Office. Remedies available outside of the district are listed in this procedure. The district will immediately undertake an effective, thorough, and objective investigation of the harassment allegations and provide a written report within 60 days of when the complaint is filed. If the district determines that its policies prohibiting sexual harassment have been violated, disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion, will be taken. The person filing the complaint may also pursue action in civil court. Complaints will be kept confidential. The district prohibits retaliation against any participant in the complaint process. Each complaint shall be investigated promptly and in a way that respects the privacy of all parties concerned.
ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY
The Board of Education has approved the following Zero Tolerance Policy which will result in students being expelled who possess weapons, engage in repeated fights or acts of violence, or are found in repeated possession of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco.
• A weapon is defined as a firearm, pistol replica, starter pistol, stun gun, BB gun or pellet gun, a knife of any size or type, a dirk, dagger, razor, slingshot, any explosives or fireworks. Any object used in a dangerous manner will also be considered a weapon. Use or possession of a weapon will result in your recommendation for expulsion. • Repeated incidents of fighting, violent acts, or causing serious injury to another person will result in a recommendation for expulsion under the Zero Tolerance Policy. • Our district has a NO alcohol, tobacco or other drug use policy. If you are found to be selling or furnishing controlled/prohibited substances you will be recommended for expulsion on your first offense. For possession or use, expulsion will be recommended on your third offense, except for tobacco offenses; if you are found in possession of tobacco you will be recommended for expulsion on your fourth offense. • In addition to discipline, if you are found to have violated the law you may be arrested and taken to a juvenile detention facility. • Expulsion from San Diego City School will result in the loss of your privileges to attend school or extracurricular activities. You may be placed in an alternative school or program. The Zero Tolerance Policy is designed to make your school a safe environment and to provide an appropriate learning environment for you and other students. There can be no acceptable reason for violating these rules.
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
This year we will continue to incorporate our character development program Learning for Life throughout our school, because it is our character that determines who we are and who we will become in the future. It is our goal at Longfellow to develop those skills that will
promote our students not only to succeed academically, but also to develop a strong understanding of good citizenship. As stated in our Longfellow Mission Statement, we provide a nurturing environment of academic excellence which provides for the development of a responsible cross-cultural world citizen with an enriched understanding of self and others. We believe that the focus on character development will help our students become those cross-cultural world citizens.Those values identified and reinforced in everyday interactions build our character. When the values of respect, responsibility, compassion, honesty, citizenship, self-discipline, trustworthiness, perseverance and fairness are used as guidelines in problem-solving, conflict resolution and decision-making, we develop character and become a positive influence to those all around us. The following character traits will be the focus during each month of school:
September- RESPECT
October – SELF-DISCIPLINE November- CITIZENSHIP December- HONESTY January- RESPONSIBILITY February- SOLIDARITY March- COURAGE April- PERSEVERANCE May- COMPASSION TRANSPORTATION Every bus rider must abide by the following rules or be subject to disciplinary action, which may entail suspension of bus riding privileges:
The safety of all bus riders begins after school as soon as the dismissal bell rings. All bus riders will also be held accountable for following Longfellow's Dismissal Rules (for bus riders):
Consequences to Not Following Bus and Dismissal Rules (District Procedure 5411):
1st rule violation referral = Warning or possible suspension from riding the bus (depends on the offense).
2nd rule violation referral = Three-day suspension from riding the bus. 3rd rule violation referral = Five-day suspension from riding the bus. 4th rule violation referral = Ten-day suspension from riding the bus. 5th rule violation referral = Loss of bus riding privileges for the remainder of the semester and transportation will need to be provided by parents for the remainder of that semester. *Physical Contact Causing Bodily Harm (Actual or Threatened) = Immediate suspension of student from riding the bus for the
remainder of the school year. Additional school consequences will also take effect for students involved in fighting.
LONGFELLOW SPANISH IMMERSION MAGNET SCHOOL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HANDBOOK 2010-2011
The signatures below signify that both students and the parents have reviewed the handbook and understand the rules, policies, and guidelines of Longfellow Spanish Immersion Elementary School.
Student_________________________________________________ (Print) Student _________________________________________________ (Signature) Parent __________________________________________________ (Print) Parent __________________________________________________ (Signature) Date ________________________________________ Primary contact Number _______________________________ |