School Handbook
Daves Avenue School Parent Guide The staff at Daves Avenue School has prepared this guide to answer the most frequently asked questions about school procedures and policies. If you have any questions about the information contained within this guide, feel free to contact the principal at 335-2230.
Parent Information and Responsibilities
The School Office is open from 8:00AM – 3:30PM Monday through Friday. The school phone number is 335-2200. The attendance reporting line is 335-2245. The Health Office line is 335-2249.
Daves Avenue School hours are from 8:20AM – 2:41PM. On Wednesdays and Minimum Days, dismissal for all students is at 12:15. Afternoon kindergarteners come to school in the mornings each Wednesday. Students are not to be on campus before 7:55 AM, unless the child is enrolled in Club House. Supervision of students does not begin on campus until 7:55 AM. Students are also expected to leave campus immediately at the end of the day, unless enrolled in Club House.
If a parent or guardian needs to check a child out of school early, it is necessary for the parent to sign the child out in the office. NO CHILD WILL BE RELEASED DIRECTLY FROM THE CLASSROOM. No child will be released early without a parent or authorized emergency contact present to escort the child from the office.
Absences/Safe Call Program
Daves has established the SAFE CALL program. It is important parents call the office attendance line (335-2245) on any day a child will not be at school. Leave a message on the answering machine by stating the child's name, grade, teacher and reason for absence. Include your name and relationship in the message. If a child is absent and the school has not received a call stating a reason for absence, a member of the Daves Ave staff will place a call to your home/place of business to determine whether or not your child left for school.
Parents of children who are habitually tardy will be contacted by the principal to see if the parents are aware of the problem. If your child has a fever, cough, or is not feeling well, please keep him/her home and call the attendance line.
Emergency Contacts
From time to time, it may become necessary for the office staff to contact a parent if a child becomes ill or is injured at school. Therefore, it is extremely important that the school have current phone numbers where parents may be reached in an emergency. The school also needs at least two names and phone numbers of people who may be contacted if, for some reason, the parents are unavailable. The emergency contacts should be notified that school personnel will be given their name and number for this purpose. These names and phone numbers should also be updated as necessary to keep them current. If any changes occur with regards to emergency information, the office staff should be notified immediately.
The office will not release a child to a person who is not listed on the emergency information card. Please be sure to list ALL authorized child care providers on the emergency cards who might pick the child up from school.
Visitors and Volunteers
Parents and volunteers are welcome at the school. However, ALL VISITORS AND VOLUNTEERS MUST SIGN IN AT THE OFFICE BEFORE REPORTING TO A CLASSROOM. This is necessary to avoid unauthorized individuals from entering the school and to keep track of the adults on campus in case an emergency arises. While working in your child's classroom, please obey all fire and earthquake drill procedures.
Parking and Traffic
Traffic and parking are major problems at drop off and dismissal times. In order to ensure the safety of all children, please obey all traffic laws regarding the crosswalk and the posted stop areas in the parking lot. Please do not encourage your children to run to your vehicle for pick up. The designated pick up area is at the "Waiting Area" close to the office. DO NOT DOUBLE PARK. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR UNATTENDED IN THE LOADING ZONE. Please pull forward as space becomes available. Stopping in these areas blocks traffic and creates a major hazard for our children.
Drivers are expected to maintain normal courtesy and respect for other drivers, parents, and staff members when dropping off and picking up children. We ask parents to model appropriate behaviors for children to use when frustrated.
Emergencies
The following are the first aid and accident procedures: All major accidents are reported to the office. Each teacher has a First Aid Kit in the classroom for minor injuries. Students with more serious injuries or illnesses are sent to the office for initial evaluation by the school secretary. The nurse and parents are contacted in an emergency situation. If the parent cannot be reached, the emergency contact person will be called. If no one is available and the office determines that the child is in need of immediate care, the child will be transported to the hospital emergency room or physician’s office. Please make sure the office has current phone numbers.
Illness
Any child with even a slight fever (99.4 degrees), who does not appear alert, or is not well enough to play outside, will be sent home. If your child has been absent due to an illness, s/he must be free of fever (without medication), episodes of vomiting, nausea, stomach cramps, or diarrhea for at least 24 hours prior to returning to school. If your child has a rash, please do not send him or her to school until your health care provider has stated that your child is not contagious. Do not send your child to school if s/he is sick.
School Nurse
There is a district school nurse available to respond to emergency situations. She can also be reached by phone (335-2074) for parent and staff questions and concerns. During the nurse’s time on each campus, she conducts mandated hearing, vision and other health screenings, follow up checks, participates in Special Education assessments and oversees the fifth grade Family Life Program.
Medication
Students with chronic or acute illnesses may require prescribed or over-the-counter medication during school hours in order to benefit from the educational program. The California Education Code, Section 49423 states "any pupil required to take during the regular school day, medication prescribed for him by a physician, may be assisted by the school nurse or other designated school personnel if the school district receives:
- A written statement from such physician detailing the method, amount and time schedules by which such medication is to be taken, AND
- A written statement from the parent or guardian of the pupil indicating the desire that the school district assist the pupil in the matters set forth in the physician's statement."
The Education Code regulations include over-the-counter products. Whether prescribed or over-the-counter, all medication needs to be administered through the health office. All medication needs to be in its original container labeled with the names of the student, the physician, and the medication. Specific directions for use must be included. "Take as directed" is not acceptable.
Compliance is important to the health and safety of all students. The appropriate Administration of Medication form (available in the office) allows for consultation between the school nurse and physician regarding medication side effects and possible adverse reactions. Parents are required to provide a sufficient supply of medication.
Asthma Medication
Students are encouraged to be knowledgeable about and participate in their own health care. In the case of those students who have asthma and are authorized by their physician to carry an inhaler prescribed to that student, the health office needs to have on file a note on file which states:
- The name of the student
- The name of the physician
- The name of the medication and specific directions for use. “As directed” is not appropriate.
The note must also contain a statement from the physician certifying that the student has received adequate instruction and training and demonstrates the knowledge and ability to self-administer the inhaler. The actual inhalation device should have a visible prescription label. Please ask the pharmacy to place the label on the device itself, not on the packaging.
Head Lice
Head lice are a misunderstood nuisance health problem. Early precautions may prevent outbreaks of head lice in the school.
The following is some basic information about head lice. Infestation can happen to any one, any age and either sex. It is not a sign of poor health habits or being dirty.
Head lice are tiny insects that live on the human hair. They hatch from small eggs, called nits, which are attached to the base of individual hairs. The eggs hatch in approximately seven to ten days, with new lice reaching maturity in about two weeks. The mature lice proceed to lay more eggs. Signs to look for if concerned about an infestation are: persistent scratching of the head and back of the neck, scratch marks or rash on the scalp, and nits attached to the hair.
Once head lice have been identified, the condition needs to be addressed promptly to prevent the spread to others. There are a variety of over-the-counter preparations which are effective when used according to directions (NIX and RID are two). The use of products to help remove nits from the hair have not been found to be effective.
Once the lice and nits have been removed from the hair and scalp, the problem of reinfestation may still exist unless all articles that may contain live lice or nits, such as clothes, towels, and bed linens, stuffed animals, hair decorations, are washed in HOT water and detergent and dried using the HOT cycle of the dryer (20 minutes), dry cleaned of placed in a sealed plastic bag for a period of 2-3 weeks. Combs and brushes need to be washed in a pediculocide solution. The use of spray products to treat items which cannot be washed or dry cleaned are NOT effective. Items which cannot be washed, such as carpets, car upholstery, mattresses, sofas should be vacuumed thoroughly.
If school personnel observes live lice or nits on your child’s head, you will be notified immediately and s/he will need to be picked up from school. After the initial treatment and removal of ALL nits from the hair, your child may return to school.
If you discover head lice, it is important that you notify the school so your child’s class can be checked for other cases. Parents of your child’s friends, scout groups, teams where a helmet or hat is shared, should also be notified.
Animals do not carry human head lice.
Parent Conferences
Regularly scheduled parent/teacher conferences occur twice each school year. The calendar included in this handbook will give you the minimum days scheduled for the fall and spring conference periods. Teachers will discuss grade level expectations and goals for your children at the fall conference. Spring conferences are optional and the need is to be determined by you and your child's teacher. If you feel the need to confer with your child's teacher at any time, do not hesitate to contact her/him.
Grading and Report Cards
Students receive report cards three times per year. The report cards are prepared for fall and spring conferences and sent home at the end of the school year. First through third grade students are graded in the following manner:
- E = Outstanding
- S = Satisfactory
- I = Improving
- N = Needs Improvement
Fourth and fifth grade students receive traditional A, B, C, D, or F letter grades.
Student Records
As per Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act ( PL 93- 380), parents have the right to inspect and review any and all records, files, and data related to their children which are kept by the school or district. The files are available for such review at any time during the regular school day. Concerns regarding the accuracy or appropriateness of any information or record should be brought to the attention of the principal.
The school does not release information or records concerning your child to none educational organizations or individuals without your consent. Your consent is needed to release information to newspapers and organizations such as the Home and School Club. Such consent may be revoked by you at any time by notifying the principal in writing. You may receive a copy of any information you have authorized for release by submitting a written request. All questions regarding the release of information should be directed to the principal.
Homework
The staff at Daves Avenue School feels homework establishes good work patterns and responsibility. Homework is used to reinforce the skills your children have learned and to teach them to make a regular time each day to study. Each student at Daves will have homework throughout the year. Your child's teacher will let you know what the weekly homework expectations are. Please make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit area and a regular time each day set aside to complete homework. Take a look at the completed work to see how your child is progressing. Ask your child to explain how they arrived at answers or what they enjoyed in the reading assignment. Help your child to get organized and have them place their homework into their backpack when it is finished.
Lost and Found
Daves maintains a lost and found area outside the office. Please check this area periodically for items your child may have left on the playground or in the classroom for an extended period of time. The items left at the beginning of winter recess and the end of the school year will be taken to the Children's Shelter.
All of your child's coats, sweaters, jackets, over shirts, sweatshirts, lunch pails, and backpacks should be clearly labeled with the child's full name. This labeling should be done in permanent marker. The collar label in most clothing is the best place to do this. If an item is labeled, there is a greater chance a lost item will be returned.
Special Programs
In order to support the teaming process for all students, Daves Avenue School offers the following special programs:
Art Docents provide art history, art appreciation, and hands on art lessons to students. This program introduces students to the elements of art in an interesting and thought provoking way.
Computer Education is provided to students in the classroom and in the Computer Lab. Each class has regularly scheduled Computer Lab time where students are provided the opportunity to work in an enrichment program which teaches all students to use the computer as a tool for learning. Many classrooms are equipped with multiple computer work stations which are used by students to do research and create reports. English as a Second Language is provided to children who are identified as Limited English Proficient. This is a pull-out program which is provided to supplement instruction.
The Early Literacy Program is designed to prevent early reading failure. It is a program which works with selected kindergarten, first, and second grade students in small group. The emphasis is on reading skills instruction.
The Music Program at Daves currently serves Kindergarten through fifth grade students. Kindergarten through third grade students receive general music instruction which prepares them for future instrumental music instruction. The fourth grade students receive a semester of violin instruction twice per week. The fifth grade students participate in an instrumental music and vocal program which allows them to choose either a stringed or wind instrument, or a chance to sing. The fifth grade program provides students with the instruction which will prepare them for participation in the band, orchestra, or choir at Fisher Middle School.
The P.E. Program allows children to participate in a directed fitness and skills based physical education program. Each class meets with the P.E. teachers once per week to practice these skills along with good sportsmanship. All skills taught are developmentally appropriate for each age level.
The Publishing Lab allows students the opportunity to become authors and illustrators. Each child has the experience of publishing a written piece of poetry, prose, or fiction. This experience enhances self esteem and purpose for writing as they see their work published and displayed. This program won the Glen Hoffman Award for the experience it provides children.
Our Resource Specialist Program is available for students who have met the state special education guidelines for eligibility. These children must have an identified learning disability.
A Speech and Language Therapist works with students needing assistance with speech and language development. To receive services from the speech and language therapist, a child must meet the state eligibility guidelines.
Counseling is a district-wide program which provides specific types of school counseling to students. It is available for students who need assistance with school related issues.
If you desire further information regarding any of these programs, feel free to contact your child's teacher or the principal.
Parent Committees
Parents are encouraged to be involved as partners in their children's education. There are two special opportunities for parents to become involved at Daves Avenue School: School Site Council and Home & School Club (H&SC)
School Site Council
Daves Avenue School is a School Improvement Program school. This state program adds special funding to our school to enhance the curriculum for all children. In order to receive this funding parents and teachers must serve on the School Site Council to approve expenditures and program enhancements. This committee participates in writing the School Improvement Plan, conducting an annual parent survey, evaluation of the school program, and assisting the staff with modifications in the curriculum which improve the program offered to our students. The committee members are elected by the group each represents. The committee will meet at the evening H&SC meetings throughout the year. The meeting is open to the public.
Home & School Club
At Daves Avenue School we are fortunate to have a very active club, the Daves Avenue Home and School Club (H&SC). H&SC meets monthly, typically on the first Thursday in the morning. All parents, faculty and staff are welcome! By fundraising throughout the year, this non-profit group supplements the regular school program. The efforts finance school assemblies, teacher grants, the Early Literacy Program, Science Day and Camp, technology, P.E., clay, classroom supplies, theatre arts, and curriculum materials which enhance the reading and math programs. Along with fundraisers, H&SC also sponsors a variety of community building events for students and families. In the case of financial hardship, the H&SC subsidizes these activities. Please contact Susan von Felten prior to the event for more information. For details on the H&SC activities and meeting schedule, view the current calendar at www.daves.lgusd.k12.ca.us or stop by the school office.
School Behavior Guidelines
The staff at Daves strives to promote a safe, healthy environment for all students. Expectations for student behavior are high. In order to ensure your child's success at school, we ask all students to:
- Be in the right place at the right time.
- Keep body and objects to oneself.
- Follow adult directions and treat others with respect.
- Use facilities and equipment for the intended purposes.
- Use appropriate language.
- Take responsibility for one's actions and maintain honesty at all times.
Under the umbrella of these six school-wide rules, there are specific behaviors all staff members will enforce to provide a safe, orderly environment where students can learn. Any behavior that risks the safety of your child will not be tolerated. Under each rule, there are specific examples which will be enforced by all adults on the campus.
1. Be in the right place at the right time.
Children may not arrive on campus prior to 7:55 AM unless enrolled in Club House. Supervision of the playground does not begin until 7:55 AM. Instruction begins at 8:20. Students arriving at/after 8:20 will be considered tardy. Unless enrolled in Club House, students are to leave the school grounds when school is dismissed.
Children are not allowed on the play equipment unless an adult supervisor is present.
No child is to enter a building or classroom where an adult is not present. Students may use the Library for checkout, reading, or research as long as an adult is present and the student's behavior is quiet and focused upon a specific task.
Students are to make sure they have gone to the restroom and had their drinks before the final bell rings. The final bell will ring to signal the end of recess. When the bell rings, children are to walk to their line-up area to meet their teacher.
Children are to walk quietly in all hallways and indoor areas.
Children are to play on the playground. They are not to climb trees or fences or go outside of the play area. If a ball leaves the designated play area, students should report it to an adult on duty.
2. Keep one's body and objects to oneself.
Children may not engage in contact sports, rough play, or fighting. Children are to avoid physical contact with others.
Rocks, sticks, tan bark and other items found in the gardens are not to be thrown, played with, or used as weapons.
Toys are not to be brought to school.
Gum is not to be chewed at school.
3. Follow adult directions
All adult supervisors, volunteers, or staff members are to be treated with dignity and respect. Arguing or willful defiance may result in a suspension.
4. Use facilities and equipment for its intended purpose.
Use the restrooms for their intended purpose and leave them clean. Restrooms are not a play area.
Play equipment is to be used as intended. Children are not to climb up the slides from the wrong end, spin on the pull-up bars, randomly swing jump ropes, kick balls on the blacktop; hit balls against the classroom walls, etc.
Tag is not allowed on or near the play structure or on the blacktop. Shadow or rag tag is allowed on the field only.
Food is to be eaten at the picnic tables. Trash is to be placed in the receptacles.
Students riding bikes and scooters to school must wear helmets, obey traffic rules, and ride on the correct side of the street. All bikes must have a current license. Bikes and scooters are to be parked in the bike area and remain locked during school hours. Bikes and scooters are not to be ridden on campus (even on weekends). When leaving the school grounds, bikes are to be walked off campus. Students are not to ride through the parking lot for any reason during school hours.
Skateboards are not allowed at school. Please have your child leave his/her skateboard at home in the morning.
5. Use appropriate language.
Swearing, offensive behaviors, and gestures will not be tolerated.
Clothing should not contain offensive messages, liquor or tobacco ads, or inappropriate pictures.
6. Take responsibility for one's actions and maintain honesty at all times.
Children should treat others the way they wish to be treated. Games may not be locked. Children should be honest about their mistakes.
The aforementioned rules are guidelines for daily behaviors we expect every child to follow. When mistakes in behavior are made, a child may be asked to take a time out, serve clean up duty, call home, write a plan for avoiding the problem in the future, do an at-school community service project, or serve a detention during recess or after school. While no child is "perfect" all of the time, and mistakes do occur, we expect serious offenses at Daves to rarely, if ever, happen. The principal is required to notify all parents if a serious offense occurs. It will be dealt with in accordance with the California Education Code. The school administrator is required to notify all parents that California Education Code section 48900 stipulates suspension may result for the following reasons:
- Causing, attempting to cause, or threatening to cause physical injury to another person.
- Disrupting school activities or willful defiance of a teacher, administrator, or other school personnel engaged in the performance of their duties.
- Causing or attempting to cause damage to school or private property.
- Stealing or attempting to steal school property or private property.
- Knowingly receiving stolen property.
- Committing an obscene/vulgar act or engaging in the use of profanity.
- Possessing a dangerous object or weapon.
- Possessing tobacco, alcohol, paraphernalia, or a controlled substance.
- Committing robbery or extortion Any child possessing a weapon is subject to expulsion.