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Sassarini School Parent Handbook
652 Fifth Street West
Sonoma, CA 95476
935-6040 fax: 935-6049
Bethany Wilson, Principal
Lida Pulido, School Office Manager
Sassarini Office Hours: Monday-Tuesday-Thursday-Friday 8:00 A.M.-3:45 P.M.
Wednesdays 8:00 AM-2:00 PM
Please call the office if your child is absent or tardy: 935-6040. You may leave a message on voice mail when the office is closed.
School District Website: http://svusdca.org/
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SONOMA VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
DISTRICT OFFICE
17850 Railroad Avenue
Sonoma, CA 95476
935-6000
Last revised: September 2006
EMERGENCY INFORMATION: Emergency cards must be on file for each child in school so that parents can be contacted without delay. All information MUST be completed, the card signed and returned to school immediately. Please remember to update the information if changes occur during the school year.
SCHOOL ARRIVAL: Students are expected to arrive at school no earlier than 8:00 a.m. Yard duty supervision does not start until 8:00 a.m. Students participating in the breakfast program must go directly to the multipurpose room. Students may play on the playground until the bell rings for school to begin.
DRIVERS
When driving your children to school, please
- Park your car and walk your child to the curb. DO NOT allow your child to walk unattended across the parking lot
- Obey all speed limits
- Never park where it says “No Parking”
- Do not allow your child to open the car door when the car is still moving
- When picking up your children from school, please
- Arrive before school is dismissed and meet your child at the classroom door.
- Let the teacher see you and acknowledge that you are leaving with your child.
- Never allow your child to walk across the parking lot to meet you at the car. Please meet your child on the sidewalk.
- NEVER park outside of a parking space.
Children should never be left waiting at school for a parent or family member to pick them up. Always review afterschool plans with your child.
BUS TRANSPORTATION
Transportation to and from school is provided within the Sassarini boundary area. Parents need to purchase bus tickets at the Transportation and Operations Yard, 18751 Railroad Avenue, Sonoma. Call 935-6092 with questions regarding bus transportation or routes and schedules
CHECK IN/OUT POLICY: Once students arrive at school they are to remain on campus until the end of the school day, unless a parent or guardian picks them up.
Students who need to leave school during the school day must be signed out of the office by a parent or an authorized adult. Only persons whose names appear on the school emergency card will be permitted to pick up children.
ABSENCES: If your child is sick or misses school, it is the parent’s responsibility to call the school office before 10AM to report the reason why the student is absent, and when you expect them to return to school. Call 935-6040.
Regular school attendance is vital to student success. Parents are strongly urged to schedule vacations, trips, medical and dental appointments during non-school hours.
In the event of an emergency lasting from five days to two weeks, parents are asked to contact the classroom teacher and the school office to request an Independent Study contract. Independent Study contracts need at least five days lead time for the teacher to have adequate time to plan. Independent Study is subject to approval by the principal.
Habitually truant students are referred to the School Attendance Review Board.
Students receive Perfect Attendance Awards at the end of school provided they did not miss any school days, have 3 or fewer tardies, and did not go on Independent Study.
TARDY POLICY: Students who arrive late to school must be signed in at the office by a parent or present a signed, dated note outlining the reason for the tardiness. When student tardiness becomes excessive, the School Attendance Review process will be employed to assist in resolving this problem.
Students are expected to arrive on time for school. Late arrival not only causes the student to miss instructional time; it also causes interruptions to the entire class when the child enters the classroom. Children who arrive to school late interrupt the entire class, and spend time “catching up” with the rest of their classmates.
The breakfast program is not an excuse for tardiness. Students who are having breakfast at school must be on campus prior to 8:20 and must be finished with breakfast by the start of school. Students may not eat breakfast in the classrooms.
NO INTERUPPTIONS: If you have special instructions for your child on a particular day, we ask that you make all the necessary arrangements PRIOR to the beginning of school. Instructional time is protected from interruptions, including messages from parents to students.
TELEPHONE: There is no telephone for student use. Staff will not call home for students for forgotten homework, band instruments or to make after school arrangements.
School-wide dress code
Student dress should be age-appropriate and not disruptive to the educational environment.
· Heels and open-toed shoes and sandals are inappropriate for elementary school-aged children, because they are unsafe to run in, and physical education is a regular part of the daily program.
· Written or symbolic messages on clothing are prohibited if they are ethnically or religiously offensive, sexually suggestive, or promote or advertise the use of drugs (including alcohol).
· Gang-affiliated clothing or markings are also prohibited, including wearing colors to promote a gang.
· Clothing should be clean and without large holes.
· Hats are worn outdoors only.
· Make up is not to be worn to school.
· "Spaghetti" straps and bare midriffs are not allowed.
We discourage hair-coloring and other haircuts and hairstyles that attract undue attention.
Sassarini's newsletter is called the Seahawk Sentinel, or just the Sentinel for short. It is sent home on Thursdays. Please check your child's papers on Thursday for this newsletter. Other news and information may be sent home as needed on Thursdays. Papers sent home on blue require a parent signature.
There is a display case outside the office where you can read the current Sentinel, besides other school news.
Voice mail relays essential school information. You can leave messages at any time. 935-6040.
LOST AND FOUND: Please write your child’s name on all items brought to school. Lost clothing is placed in a closet outside the multipurpose room. Other smaller items are kept in the office. When an item is misplaced, please check either place as soon as possible so lost items can be returned.
SCHOOL BREAKFASTS, LUNCHES AND SNACKS
Our first recess in the morning is called “snack recess”. Parents are encouraged to send healthy, sugar-free snacks to school with their child, every day.
Please do not ever send your child to school with soda pop or candy.
Nutritious breakfasts and hot lunches are available for your child at school. Menus are published in the local newspaper and are sent home monthly. School breakfasts and lunches are to be paid in advance in the morning before school in the cafeteria. Children may purchase tickets by the day at the regular price or by the week for a slight discount. Students may not charge food.
Sassarini has a computerized lunch service, which allows students to carry “credit” in their “accounts” and purchase food when desired. Every student has a PIN, which does not change throughout his/her school career. Please contact our wonderful cook, Katie, for further information.
There is a free and reduced price for the breakfast and lunch programs for families who qualify. You must reapply yearly. The applications must be returned to the school office by September 30.
VISITORS:
- Parents are welcome to visit at any time.
- All visitors must check in at the office when they arrive on campus.
- Parents who wish to observe in classrooms must contact the principal to make arrangements and then check in at the office on the day of the visit.
- Parents volunteering in the classrooms must sign in at the office before going to class.
Parent and Community Volunteers are welcomed and valued. Sassarini is very fortunate to have a large, active group of volunteers who work regularly in the library and in the classroom, and help with one-time events such as field trips, schoolwide head lice checks, and OPT family events. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the staff member you would like to work with, or see our principal Mrs. Wilson.
We want all parents to feel comfortable with the support and help we receive from our volunteers. Please note that volunteers work at all times under the direct supervision of teachers or staff (a certificated or classified employee), and are never left alone with students.
In order to ensure the best possible experience for our volunteers, staff and students, we ask that volunteers adhere to these guidelines:
- Check-in at the office at the beginning of every shift, and sign-out at the end.
- Wear your Volunteer Badge while you are volunteering. This tells students that you are a safe adult to approach.
- Review our school rules and be a model of appropriate behavior.
- Understand the teacher’s behavior policies and ask the teacher how she/he would like you to handle student behavior. If in doubt and in a situation requiring action, involve the teacher immediately.
- Unless you are working under the direction of the school nurse, do not inspect or touch students. We want to ensure your protection, as well as the safety and rights of all students.
Student safety is first and foremost the major concern in planning for field trips. All school rules are in effect on field trips, as well as to and from the field trip. We provide designated chaperones with written rules, and review rules with all students.
Please review the school rules with your child prior to the trip.
Parents driving on field trips must follow safety guidelines, including no smoking, no talking on car phones, and not allowing disruptive student behavior.
We also request that no parents show up on the day of the field trip to accompany the class, or drop in on the field trip. Parents who show up unexpectedly oftentimes disrupt the organization and planning designed to keep all students safe and accounted for. They may compromise the ability of the teacher to track student groups, and add the burden of trying to find the opportunity to explain the rules, schedules, and particulars of the unique environment. Surprises—even those designed to be pleasant for your child—add to the numerous details that teachers and designated chaperones need to be attended to, and comprise the safety of all the students.
Also, if you are a parent chaperone, please do not bring other children to any field trip. Teachers plan the field trip to meet the educational and social needs of their students and, except in rare instances, are not designed as family experiences. We cannot assume responsibility and liability for other children on a school sponsored field trip.
Thank you for your understanding. These policies help us provide a safe environment for all our students.
BEHAVIOR
All students at Sassarini are expected to obey all school rules. Our rules are simply called The Five Basic Rules. They are written simply so that all students can understand what they mean. Below, the Five Basic Rules are stated, as well as an elaboration for adults!
The Five Basic Rules
1. Follow directions the first time given
2. Keep hands, feet, and objects to self
3. Play and run in assigned areas only
4. No put-downs, teasing, or intimidation
5. Use appropriate and respectful language
Our rules cover the basic principles of:
BE RESPECTFUL BE RESPONSIBLE BE SAFE
SCHOOL RULES include:
- Students are to follow directions given by school staff.
- Students must use appropriate language, gestures and physical contact. Obscene language, whether spoken or written, is unacceptable at school (i.e., no fighting, teasing, harassing, spitting, foul language or inappropriate gestures).
- Written or symbolic messages on clothing are prohibited if they are ethnically or religiously offensive, sexually suggestive or promote or advertise the use of drugs, including alcohol and tobacco.
- Students may not bring weapons or dangerous objects to school or use objects in an unsafe or threatening manner.
- Students must walk in all corridors; play and run beyond the red line only.
- Students must respect and care for school property and environment, other individuals and their property.
- Students are expected to act in a manner to allow themselves and others to learn.
- Students are to be punctual in arriving to class, both at the beginning of each school day and following recess breaks.
- Students who come to school on bicycles and skateboards may not ride them on school grounds.
- Once at school, students may not leave school grounds without appropriate adult permission.
CONSEQUENCES FOR INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR
An incremental system of consequences will be used when behavior is inappropriate. While these consequences can be viewed as steps in sequence, these consequences would be implemented on a case-by-case basis.
- Problem solve with student
- Warnings, verbal reprimands, time out.
- Loss of recess
- Apologies and reparations.
- Parent contact (phone call or progress report).
- Referral to the Principal.
- Behavior improvement packets or contracts.
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