Mohr Elementary School Handbook

Did You Know?

September is Attendance Awareness Month, because absenteeism in the beginning of the school year can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Studies show that students who miss 2-4 days in September were five times more likely to be chronically absent than students who were absent fewer than two days. Parents can support their students by encouraging them to start the year off strong with consistent attendance to set them up for success throughout the rest of the school year.

If there is something that is preventing your student from attending school, you can reach out to your school’s Child Welfare and Attendance Liaison (CWA). Part of their role is to help you overcome obstacles that stand in the way of attendance by troubleshooting issues and connecting you with resources in the community. As a district, we value attendance and want to partner with you in getting your students to school.

Arrival/Departure Times

Students are to arrive NO EARLIER than 10 minutes before class starts and are to be picked up promptly after school is dismissed.

Emergency Cards

An emergency card must be on file for every student attending Mohr. Students are not considered enrolled until their card is on file. STUDENTS WILL ONLY BE RELEASED TO ADULTS LISTED ON THE EMERGENCY CARD. We ask that you list only local adults. Written notes and phone calls are not accepted for release of any child. Names must be listed on the emergency card. If at any time you need to change information on the card please do so in person. FOR YOUR CHILD'S WELFARE PLEASE KEEP INFORMATION CURRENT.

Attendance

All students are expected to attend school and be on time each day that classes are in session. If your child is going to be absent or tardy, you are required to call the attendance line the day of the absence.

State your child’s name, teacher, reason for absence, and expected length of absence. Prolonged illness or communicable diseases should be reported to the school office as soon as it is diagnosed.

Please note that clearing an absence or tardy does not necessarily mean the absence is excused. Pursuant to California Education Code, a student's absence may only be marked excused for the following reasons:

• Illness, medical appointments
• Court appearances
• Religious holidays
• Funeral (for immediate family members, one day if in California, three days if out of California)
• Independent Study Contract (five days or more)
• Other pre-approved justifiable reason (non-vacation)

An absence for any other reason is noted as unexcused. The State of California requires schools to send a truancy letter following three unexcused absences or tardies.

If you know ahead of time that your student will be missing school for other justifiable reasons (non-vacation), please submit a request in writing to the Principal two weeks in advance for consideration. Approval is determined on a case by case basis.

State Funding for Absences

Please note that we do not collect funding for students who are absent, excused or unexcused.

Tardy Policy

Any student who arrives after the start of the school day (after the second bell) should report to the office and receive an admittance slip to class. A note or phone call is required when a student is tardy. Once a student is tardy for 30 minutes or more, the tardy must be determined as excused or unexcused and may result in a truancy letter (see excused absences above).

Early Dismissal of Students

Although students are allowed to leave school during hours for medical or dental appointments, this is not encouraged. In order to protect each child who needs to leave the school before dismissal time, the parent or an adult listed on the emergency card must personally come to the office and sign the student out. Students will not be released to walk home on a phone call.

Absences Other Than Illness

If an emergency or unavoidable situation necessitates you to remove your child from school for any given period of time, please notify the teacher as soon as possible. An Independent Study contract will be provided to help your child keep up with their class work. Vacations during school time are discouraged as it interferes with the student's educational program.

If you find it necessary to leave Mohr, the parent is to request a "Check-Out and Transfer" form at the office. Both the office and the teacher appreciate knowing in advance if a student is planning to transfer. Valuable information regarding the student's progress can be gathered and included, which will make the transition to the new school easier for the student and new teacher. Cumulative records will be forwarded to the new school of attendance upon their request.

The policy of the Board of Trustees is that all students shall be neat, clean and dressed in good taste. Strapless tops, tank tops, tube tops, halter tops, bare midriff, beachwear, shorts used in athletics or those of a length shorter than walking shorts, are not deemed to be appropriate. Additionally, the following items are considered to be inappropriate: T-shirts with negative, suggestive words or obscene gestures on them; cut-offs; sagging pants; long necklaces or dangling earrings; make up of any kind. Hats, caps or visors are not to be worn inside at school. Note: The wearing of sandals has resulted in numerous injuries to the toes and feet. Students should appear at school in attire that is conducive to school work rather than beach or park.

This information has been compiled in order to prepare both you and your children in the event of a natural disaster. Here in California, the most likely disaster would be due to an earthquake.

A major earthquake of "disaster" magnitude would, in all likelihood, lead to extensive damage to building structures, to gas and electricity shutdowns, and to a non-functioning telephone system. Major highways might be unusable for many weeks while the minor roads would be very congested and perhaps impassable also. A disaster plan has been devised to better prepare staff, pupils and parents for their role should a disaster occur.

School Procedures During and After Earthquake

• DUCK AND COVER until ordered to evacuate. Obey office and/or teacher's order to evacuate.
• Teacher or student picks up class "Emergency Kit" and LEAVES THE BUILDING with the children.
• Children line up at the designated emergency area ( A painted number on the playground).
• Teacher checks that all children are accounted for, administers first aid, and awaits administrative direction.
• Buildings are checked to see that all people are out and that there are no obvious gas or electrical malfunctions

After Shock Alert

• After minor earthquakes, administrators and custodial staff assess damage/building safety. When the school is deemed safe, classes will resume.
• After a major earthquake, students remain outside on the large grass area to await pick-up.
• STUDENTS WILL BE RELEASED ONLY TO ADULTS LISTED ON THE EMERGENCY CARD.
• Walk or bike to pick up your child from school; NO CARS if possible. Streets, especially near the school, have to be kept clear for emergency vehicles.
• Children not picked up will be cared for by school personnel on the school grounds or at a safe environment which will be posted.

Student Dismissal Procedures

• Students will be released only to adults listed on the Emergency Card on file in the office. Check-out must be made through the office staff at the designated table.
• Walk or bike to pick up your child; No cars, if possible. Streets, especially near the school, have to be kept clear for emergency vehicles.
• Children not picked up will be cared for by school personnel on the school grounds or at a safe environment which will be posted.

Trips will be related to current courses of study and preannounced by teachers. Students must have a signed Field Trip Permission Form on file in the office before they will be able to go on a trip. Parents must fill out a new permission form for each trip taken.

Field Trip Drivers

All adults (21+) that wish to drive on a school sponsored field trip must have completed an Insurance Form and must have a valid California Driver's License. A copy of your insurance policy must be attached to your completed Insurance Form to verify that your coverage meets District requirements, and turned in one week before the field trip. Sorry, siblings are not allowed on field trips.

Student Accident Insurance

School accident insurance is available for the school year. The forms will be available in the Walk-Through packet.

Each year large amounts of clothing and other articles are accumulated in the lost and found. These articles are kept for a reasonable length of time and then are donated to local shelters. To help prevent loss, it is recommended that all articles be marked with identification. Lost and Found articles are located in the cafeteria.

Mohr office staff will administer medication to your child according to the following policy:

• The Principal shall designate school personnel to administer prescribed medication.
• The child's parent/guardian and the child's physician shall complete and sign a Prescription Medication form furnished by the school stating the medication, dosage, and any additional instructions. No medication will be administered to the pupil without the proper form on file.
• No medication will be administered unless it is in its original container.
• For major injuries 911 is called and parent/guardian is notified immediately.

Classroom Community: TRIBES

The TRIBES program assures the healthy development of every child so that each has the knowledge, skills, and resiliency to be successful in our rapidly changing world.

TRIBES is a democratic group process, not just a curriculum or set of cooperative activities. A "process" is a sequence of events that leads to the achievement of an outcome. The outcome of the TRIBES process is to develop a positive environment that promotes learning and human growth. This requires learning how to build a community environment using five agreements among the students and adults with whom they are working.

• Community Agreements
• Attentive listening
• Appreciation: no put downs
• The right to pass
• Mutual respect
• Use "I" messages

Throughout the process students learn to use specific collaborative skills and to reflect both on the interaction and the learning that is taking place. The TRIBES process facilitates cooperative learning and provides structure for positive interaction and continuity for working in groups in the classroom. This spirit of cooperation then effects overall student behavior. Due to the fact that the students have more tools with which to communicate properly, there are fewer conflicts in the classroom, during recess and lunch time. Rules for student behavior are posted in the classroom as a way to reinforce safety and TRIBES Community Agreements.

Discipline

All children have dignity and worth. They can behave appropriately. Our goal is to develop students who are self-disciplined and show respect for others as well as themselves. Discipline is a responsibility of students, parents, teachers, and administrators.

Mohr has a number of rules that apply to all students. These rules are clearly defined and communicated to all students and their parents. These school-wide rules are enforced consistently by all school personnel, administrators, teachers, aides, noon supervisors, secretaries, health clerk, and custodians.

Each classroom uses the TRIBES agreements and also establishes rules which are posted and are communicated to parents. Classroom management plans are submitted in writing to the principal.

Consequences

All behavior, good or bad, is maintained by its consequences. Positive consequences are awarded for appropriate behavior and negative consequences are enforced for misbehavior. Negative consequences are hierarchical, having steps or increments ranging from verbal warnings at first to suspension from school as a last resort. For example, a staff member may issue a Red Card to a student who made a poor choice. The student might be benched during recess, as a result of that poor choice.

Consistency in using consequences is crucial to their effectiveness. Children are taught that the way they choose to behave leads to certain consequences. Students who fail to respond to the hierarch of consequences and repeatedly misbehave are dealt with through individual written behavior contracts. Such contracts are agreed upon during a student, teacher, parent, administrator conference. Specific positive and negative consequences are communicated to the parents of each student.

Communication

For a discipline policy and its procedures to be effective, communication between teachers, students, yard duty supervisors, parents, and administrators is essential. This is accomplished in a variety of ways:

• Individual classroom management plans, rules and hierarchy of consequences are written and given to students, parents, and the principal.
• School-wide rules and the hierarchy of consequences are written and given to the students and parents.
  Persons supervising students on the playground communicate misbehavior of students in writing to the classroom teacher for follow-up.
• When a student continually misbehaves in the classroom or on the playground, a Behavior Notice is issued to the student by the teacher. This referral is handled by the administrator and kept as a record in the office. Parents are informed when an office referral has been issued.

Discipline Referral System

To maintain a consistent pattern of discipline between school and home, a discipline referral procedure has been established.

Classroom Rules

Each teacher and class creates and implements the rules that they will need in order to maintain a positive learning environment. These rules, consequences, and rewards will be shared with parents.

Playground Rules

TRIBES Agreements are used and students are expected to:

• Protect the safety of others by not riding bikes, skateboards or rollerblades on campus.
• Allow others to join games and use school or personal equipment.
• Use the student bathrooms appropriately.
• Take pride in our school by keeping it clean and free from litter.
• Use outside doors to the buildings unless instructed otherwise.
• Use appropriate language.
• Use equipment safely.
• Avoid body contact sports (i.e. tackle football).
• Play on school apparatus only when an adult is present
• Do not bounce or throw balls against buildings, fences, or people. If a ball accidentally gets on the roof, do not retrieve it. Call the custodian.
• He will retrieve balls once a day from the roof.
• Absolutely no throwing rocks, sand or tan bark.
• No food or drink on the playground. (Snacks may be eaten on benches in designated areas.)
• Make sure that all playground equipment is off the playground at the end of a recess, noon period, and P.E. periods.
• Students will walk to and from class.

Play Equipment

• Horizontal Bars: Students should proceed across the bars in one direction only.
• Playground balls may not be kicked on the primary playground; there are too many windows next to this area.
• Baseball bats are not allowed on the school grounds unless brought following a specific teacher request.

Designated Areas

• Students are not to play between the buildings at recess or at noon.
• Primary and upper grade students are not allowed in the kindergarten area without specific permission of the teacher.
• Other than at lunch time, the picnic tables may be used only for student work areas.
• Except in an emergency, students are not to go to the office without permission by a teacher.
• Students may not remain by bike racks except to park their bikes or to take them out to ride home.
• Bicycles may not be ridden on the playground during school hours (8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.)
• Children are allowed to play in the shared Amaral Park (adjacent to Mohr) only in designated areas and with adult supervision.
• The playground is closed prior to school (8 a.m.) and will remain until 3:15 p.m.

Bicycle Rules

For safety reasons, only students in grades three to five are permitted to ride bicycles unsupervised to school. Younger students must be accompanied by a parent or older, responsible sibling. Students who fail to follow bicycle rules will not be permitted to ride their bikes to school. All students riding bicycles to school are expected to:

• Follow basic safety rules and DMV traffic codes
• Wear safety helmets
• Obtain a current license and easy identification
• Lock bicycle when parked at school
• Keep bicycle in good working order
• Walk bicycles on and off the school grounds

Cafeteria/Picnic Area Rules

Students are expected to:

• Sit at assigned tables
• Use good table manners
• Speak softly at all times
• Eat all lunch food in the assigned area
• Raise hands to be excused
• Leave area clean and free from litter
• Walk when entering or leaving the cafeteria

Library Rules

Students are expected to:

• Treat the library as a quiet place
• Students who cause disruptions will be asked to leave
• Use the library for its intended purpose, not just to visit or hang out
• Use the library only when there is a teacher, parent volunteer or media aide present
• Food is not allowed in the library

In addition:

• Children will be billed for lost or damaged books
• Library privileges will be lost if books are overdue
• Report cards may not be issued to those with overdue library books

Items Not Allowed at School

Improper items will be confiscated and returned at the end of the school year. These include: radios, tape players, walkmans, electronic games, skateboards, baseball bats, hard balls, water pistols, balloons, clackers, hats, chewing gum, toys (unless prior permission has been given by teacher), BB shot, firecrackers, knives, or other dangerous items, or any item which distracts students from the intended purpose of learning. Any money made from selling any of these items, including candy and food, is forbidden by state law.

All visitors and parents are asked to sign in at the office and wear a visitor badge. This will help us to be more accountable for all adults on campus.

Playground supervisors at recess and lunchtime wear yellow jackets to increase the visibility and availability to students.

Mohr School has both an Emergency Plan and a Comprehensive School Safety Plan. Our school practices drills as required by Ed. Code on a regular basis and also works with our District Office EOC (Emergency Operation's Center) on safety exercises annually. Components of our Comprehensive School Safety Plan as required by Ed. Code (32280 - 32289) as follows:

A. Child Abuse Reporting Procedures

B. Disaster Policies

C. Policies for Suspension and Expulsion

D. Procedures to Notify Teachers of Dangerous Students

E. Discrimination and Harassment Policy

F. Provisions of a School Wide Dress Code

G. Provisions of Safe Ingress and Egress of Pupils, Parents, and School Employees to and from School

H. A Safe and Orderly Environment Conducive to Learning at the School

I. Rule and Procedures on School Discipline

K. Hate Crime Reporting Procedures

Our School's Safety Committee/School Site Council reviews the Safety Plan annually and provides input and feedback. If you wish to provide input regarding school safety, please feel free to attend the first School Site Council meeting of the year in October or contact the school office to set up an appointment. The Safety Plan is available for public review in the office by request. The Safety Plan is not available for check out.

Sexual harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, visual or physical contact of a sexual nature made by someone in the educational setting. The District considers sexual harassment to be a major offense which may result in disciplinary action for an offending employee or student. Complaints of sexual harassment by staff or students should be directed immediately to the principal. Any matter involving sexual harassment shall be treated confidentially.

To encourage student responsibility, classroom telephones will be available for student's limited use. Students will not be allowed to phone home for forgotten assignments or lunches, or permission to go to a friend's house after school.

Interruptions and distractions must be controlled to ensure that teachers can dedicate classroom time to the instruction of students. We expect students to pick up forgotten items in the school office during recess or lunch time.

Students will be provided with all necessary textbooks. Each child is responsible for the proper care of his/her books. Books must be covered and should not be written in. In the case of lost or damaged books, the child is responsible and charges will be made. Failure to pay fines or damage costs will result in a loss of library privileges and a withholding of the child's report card.

Tax dollars are used to pay for construction, maintenance and purchase of school buildings and equipment. Students who destroy or vandalize school property will be required to pay for losses or damage. If a student willfully destroys school property, suspension and subsequent expulsion may be necessary. If something is damaged accidentally, it should be reported to a teacher or to the office immediately.