Oak Avenue School

Handbook

2007-2008

1501 Oak Avenue

Los Altos, CA 94024

650.237.3900

FAX: 650.964.9634

Attendance Line: 650.237.3939

Email to Oak staff: firstinitiallastname@oakschool.org

Website: www.oakschool.org

This handbook is provided to all Oak School families by Oak School. The Oak PTA will provide an expanded directory with student and family contact information and PTA information as a benefit of PTA membership as soon as possible.

Table of Contents

Philosophy...................................................................................... 4

Welcome from Your Principal...........................................................

Daily Schedule................................................................................. 5

Oak Staff 2007 – 2008.................................................................... 6

Calendar of Events.......................................................................... 7

Communications from School.......................................................... 9

Questions, Comments, and Concerns.................................................

Nine Things Teachers Wish Parents Would Do............................. 11

Policies and Procedures.................................................................. 13

Attendance................................................................................. 13

Attendance Assurance............................................................. 13

Homework.............................................................................. 14

Independent Study................................................................... 14

Sign Out Of Students............................................................... 14

Tardiness................................................................................ 14

Arrival And Departure................................................................ 14

Back To School Night................................................................ 14

Behavior Standards..................................................................... 15

Bicycles, Skateboards, Scooters, & Roller Blades......................... 15

Cell Phones................................................................................ 17

Child Care Before and After School............................................ 17

Communications With Parents................................................... 15

Computer-Use Standards............................................................. 18

Concerts..................................................................................... 16

Cougar Awards............................................................................ 19

Dress Code................................................................................. 17

Emergency Contact Information................................................ 20

Emergency Preparedness............................................................ 20

Field Trips.................................................................................. 17

Food Sales And Lunch Hour........................................................ 21

Health Information.................................................................... 18

Homework................................................................................. 22

Injury at School.......................................................................... 24

Invitations at School.................................................................. 24

Library Service........................................................................... 24

Lost And Found.......................................................................... 24

Math Placement......................................................................... 25

Medication................................................................................. 25

Minimum Days........................................................................... 26

Open House................................................................................ 21

Parking Lot................................................................................ 22

Parties........................................................................................ 22

Reporting Student Progress......................................................... 22

Safety To And From School....................................................... 23

Special School Days.................................................................... 23

Student Data Sheet..................................................................... 23

Telephone Use........................................................................... 23

Toys And Money....................................................................... 24

Weapons / Hazardous Items........................................................ 24

Visitors To School...................................................................... 24

Visits To The Classroom............................................................ 24

Volunteers.................................................................................. 24

Glossary......................................................................................... 24

Maps............................................................................................. 31

Philosophy

The Los Altos School District, the Oak staff, and the Oak community share the philosophy that a school must be a place for successful experiences – a place where, if the student is to learn, there must be a strong regard for the student’s sense of self-esteem and individuality. Even though learning styles and abilities differ, all children can meet with success in many endeavors. Teachers who individualize instruction to meet the student’s needs, who consider the whole child, and who are generous in their praise and encouragement of children further enhance a youngster’s abilities to be successful in learning. Parents and school share the responsibility of educating children. Mutual support is critical in making the educational experience provided at school a meaningful one for the student.

Welcome from Your Principal

Dear Parents and Students,

Oak School is turning 50 years old this year! On Oak’s first day of school in September 1957 our school was much smaller and surrounded by orchards. Today we are surrounded by homes and the premier technical and scientific area of the world. Oak School has seen many changes in her life. We will learn something about these changes this year.

This handbook contains two main categories of information. One section describes “Who We Are” at Oak School. The other describes specific policies and procedures for “How We Work.” When you have a question, first check the Table of Contents. If you cannot find the answer to your question, call our school office or a PTA representative. We each share in the responsibility of knowing and understanding our school’s policies and practices.

The staff and I look forward to working with you, and we extend our best wishes for a successful school year. Happy 50^th!

Sincerely,

Dave McNulty and the Oak Staff

Oak Daily Schedule

Grades 1-6

8:15 Adult supervision begins on school grounds. Students may not arrive on campus before 8:15 A.M.

8:30 Instruction begins

10:10-10:30 Recess with adult supervision

12:00-12:10 Lunchtime supervised by staff and parent volunteers. Students may take longer for lunch if they wish. Students are expected to eat lunch on campus unless a note specifies that they may eat at home. Your child may leave campus for lunch only if accompanied by an authorized adult who has checked in at the office. The PTA provides an optional hot lunch for purchase three days a week throughout the year.

12:10-12:50 Yard play supervised by adult aide, principal, and parent volunteers

2:30 Dismissal, Grades 1-3

2:50 Dismissal, Grades 4-6

At the end of their school day, all students are expected to report to their homes or after-school care providers. The schoolyard is closed from 2:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. There is no supervision after school.

Kindergarten Daily Schedule

Arrival Dismissal

A.M. Kindergarten 8:15 11:35

P.M. Kindergarten 11:55 3:15

Minimum Day Schedule

Arrival Dismissal

AM and PM Kindergarten 8:15 11:35

Grades 1-6 8:30 1:00

Children must be picked up promptly at dismissal times on minimum days.

Oak Staff 2007 – 2008

Principal	Dave McNulty
Secretary	Sheila Dallarosa
Office Clerk	Janet Trabucco
Custodians	Omar Hernandez	Rod Echeverria
Kindergarten	Anne Johnson	Nancy McClain
	Maya Nolan	Amanda Terry
1st Grade	Kimberley Doyle Karina Salmon	Laura Johnson Suzy Valentini
2nd Grade	Laura Cargile
	Mary Beth Miller
	Roberta Pyne
3rd Grade	Judy Iervolino
	Janis Tjader
	Stephanie Tyson
4th Grade	Carol Plath
	Cathy Moss
5th Grade	Lenore Lovoi
	Candy Wilke
6th Grade	Laurel McNeil May Shelley
Resource Teacher Mathematics	Andrea Ziebell Georgette Oppezzo
Music Teachers	Christy Crews Susan Kates Vincent Lewis	Frank Robertson Roberta Robertson Peter Spitzer
Physical Education School Psychologist Speech Therapist	John Harney Edith Bennett Tami Hansen
Reading Assistance	Carolyn Petersen
Instructional Assistants	Elaine Bernard	Kavitha Chandran
	Louise Kerner	Ann Packard
	Stephanie Yamada
Computer Science Specialist	Katie Butler
Primary Computer Assistant	TBA
Librarian	Maureen Drobot	Susan Evard
Noon Playground Coordinator	TBA
Resource Assistant	Carolyn D’Cruz	Janet Trabucco
Science Assistant	Pete Peterson

To contact Oak staff by email use firstinitiallastname@oakschool.org.

Oak Calendar of Events

2007-2008

August
19 22 28	Back to School Social First Day of School Back to School Coffee & Volunteer Sign-up New Families Orientation Night Kindergarten Back to School Night
September
3 6 14 20-21 24 27	Labor Day – No School Gr. 1-6 Back to School Night/Minimum Day 50^th Anniversary Social (Tentative) 4^th Grade trip to Colma Picture Day Student Council Elections
October
3 5	International Walk to School Day Coffee with the principal
9-13	Book Fair
12 12	Crazy Feet Day Progress Reports go home, Grades 4-6
13	Walkathon
18	October Surprise
31	Halloween class parties, parade, & Haunted House
November
5 6 8-10 12	Picture make-up day Election Day Holiday Faire Veteran's Day – No School
16	End of 1^st Trimester
19 & 20	Parent - Teacher Conferences
21-23	Thanksgiving Holiday
December
10-14 20	Science Camp (6^th Grade) Holiday Sing/Concert, 1:00 PM (K-3), 1:35 PM(4-6)
21-Jan.7	December Holiday Break
January
January 7 11	School Resumes Coffee with the principal
21	M.L.K. Jr. Holiday
22	SIP Day – No School
25	Progress Reports go home, Gr. 4-6
February
14	Valentine’s Day Parties
18-22	Winter Break
March
4 7	4th Grade STAR Writing Test Coffee with the principal
14	End of 2^nd Trimester, Report Cards go home
14 20 21 27-30	PTA Ice Cream Party Minimum Day Hearing Screening, Grades, K, 2, 5 LASD Student Art Show
April
14-18	Spring Break
26 28	Junior Olympics - Grades 4-6 STAR Test Begins – Grades 2-6
May
9 9 12	PTA Spring Carnival Progress Reports go home, Gr. 4-6 Minimum Day
14 22	Instrumental Music Concert, Gr. 5 & 6, 11:00 A.M. Open House/Minimum Day
26	Memorial Day Holiday
30	Spring Sing, 1:00 P.M. (K-3), 1:35 P.M. (4-6)
June
6 6 10 11 11	Volunteer Appreciation Tea Minimum Day 4^th Grade Music Road Show Awards Assembly, 6^th Grade Promotion Last Day of School, 11:15 A.M. Dismissal

Communications from School

Keep up with	Through
Classroom news	· Written updates sent home from the teacher about homework, curriculum, and upcoming events · Back-to-School night in the fall. Fall parent/teacher conference · Ongoing consultations with the teacher · Spring Open House
School activities	· Notes From Oak, school and events newsletter sent home Thursdays with printed notices · Oak Web Page: www.oakschool.org
Principal’s updates	· Messages in the weekly Notes From Oak · Reports at monthly PTA general meetings · Input at School Site Council meetings · Parent/principal conferences · Monthly principal's coffee
PTA news and events	· General meetings · PTA News and Updates in the Notes from Oak
School Site Council	· SIP Plan and monthly meetings
Los Altos School District	· Monthly Board Meetings District and Frequent Flier

Questions, Comments, and Concerns

The following chart may help you understand the communication channels at Oak when you have questions, comments, or concerns. No matter what your issue may be, you need to know the appropriate person or persons to consult and how to approach them. In the course of problem solving, we ask everyone to take the same first step: take time to diagnose the nature of your concern. You will reach a good resolution more quickly if you have already given careful thought to:

Please consult with …	· When you have questions about...	Do’s and Don’ts
Your child’s teacher	· Academic performance · Classroom instruction · Homework · Social development · Peer relationships · Classroom and playground dynamics	· DO talk to the teacher first about your concerns related to your child. · DO notify the school secretary or write your teacher that you would like to make an appointment and suggest times that you would be available. The teacher will contact you with a proposed time for a conference to be held at school or by phone. · DON’T approach the teacher in the classroom or try to get his or her attention before or after school. This interferes with his or her primary responsibility toward the children.
The principal	· School policies and procedures · Curriculum · Learning environment · Student learning and support · Special needs · School facilities · Staff supervision	· DO feel free to arrange visits with the principal. · DO schedule appointments as described above. · DON’T expect on-the-spot access to the principal during the school day. His busy schedule is organized around set appointments.
Your room parent	· Classroom volunteering · Field trips · Special events	· DO call with questions about events in your child's classroom (see your school directory).
PTA chairs and officers	· PTA-sponsored events · General meetings · Volunteering · Resources for Oak · Assemblies or enrichment programs · Fund raising · Expenditure of PTA funds	· DO use your directory to locate the chairperson responsible for your area of concern. · DO call that person or any PTA officer to discuss your ideas so they can be considered for inclusion on the next general meeting agenda. · DON’T plan to present an idea fully at a general meeting if the topic has not been placed on the agenda in advance. · DO keep up with PTA news and participate in as many monthly meetings as you can.
School Site Council	· Curriculum goals · Local School Improvement Plan (SIP) · Use of SIP funds	· DO feel free to sit in on monthly meetings as announced in the Notes from Oak. · DO contact the Site Council chair to forward questions to the group in advance of meetings.
Custodian	· Maintaining a clean and safe school environment	· DO compliment him on his clean school. · DON’T ask for special services. · DO consult the principal for custodial requests. Nine Things Teachers Wish Parents Would Do (adapted from The National PTA Talks to Parents) 1. Be involved in their children's education. Parent involvement helps students learn, improves schools, and makes teachers' jobs easier. 2. Provide resources at home for reading and learning. Parents should have books and magazines for their children and read with their children each day. 3. Set a good example. Parents should show their children that they believe reading is enjoyable and useful. 4. Encourage children to do their best in school. In order to prevent stress, children should be helped to set obtainable goals and avoid involvement in too many activities. 5. Academics should be parents' first concern, followed by their children's preparation for the world of work and involvement in athletics and activities. 6. Support school rules and goals. Parents should take care not to undermine school rules, discipline, or goals. 7. Use pressure positively. Parents should encourage children to do their best, but they should not apply too much pressure by setting unobtainable goals, or by involving them in too many activities. 8. Call teachers as soon as a problem becomes apparent so that prompt action can be taken. 9. Exercise parental responsibility and not expect the school and teachers to take over this job. For example, teaching basic discipline is a parental rather than a school responsibility. ·

Nine Things Teachers Wish Parents Would Do

(adapted from The National PTA Talks to Parents)

1. Be involved in their children's education. Parent involvement helps students learn, improves schools, and makes teachers' jobs easier.

2. Provide resources at home for reading and learning. Parents should have books and magazines for their children and read with their children each day.

3. Set a good example. Parents should show their children that they believe reading is enjoyable and useful.

4. Encourage children to do their best in school. In order to prevent stress, children should be helped to set obtainable goals and avoid involvement in too many activities.

5. Academics should be parents' first concern, followed by their children's preparation for the world of work and involvement in athletics and activities.

6. Support school rules and goals. Parents should take care not to undermine school rules, discipline, or goals.

7. Use pressure positively. Parents should encourage children to do their best, but they should not apply too much pressure by setting unobtainable goals, or by involving them in too many activities.

8. Call teachers as soon as a problem becomes apparent so that prompt action can be taken.

9. Exercise parental responsibility and not expect the school and teachers to take over this job. For example, teaching basic discipline is a parental rather than a school responsibility.

Policies and Procedures

Attendance

Regular school attendance is one of the most critical factors in a child’s success in school and is one of the hallmarks of an effective school. Please support the efforts of the Oak School staff to provide your child with the best possible education by having your child attend school daily. Excused absences are granted for medical or dental appointments, sickness, and religious holidays only.

Attendance Assurance

Oak School has an attendance assurance program. This program insures that parents are called by 10:00 A.M. the day of an absence. Any child marked absent for the day and whose parents have not called the office will be called to confirm the absence. Please call the attendance line (237-3939) before 9:00 A.M. when your child is going to be absent or late to school.

Homework

In case of absence, students and parents may request makeup homework on the second day of absence. This request must be made to the office before 12:00 P.M. on or after the second day of absence. Requested homework may be picked up in the office between 3:15 - 4:00 P.M.

Independent Study

If you have an unavoidable reason to have your child miss school for five or more days in a row, please obtain an Independent Study Plan form from the office. Your child’s teacher will provide the schoolwork needed to be completed during the period of absence. Independent Study will keep your child current with some of the major classwork and will provide the district with a method of receiving enrollment funds equaling what your child’s absence would have cost the district. Consistent school attendance is strongly recommended over Independent Study and far better for the student’s education. Please request an Independent Study form from the school office at least three (3) days prior to the expected absence.

Sign Out Of Students

If your child is to be excused from class during the school day, please inform the teacher by note and come to the office to pick up your child. This is done to protect children from being contacted by unauthorized persons. A sign out system is used in the office and must be completed before a child will be released. No student will be released to anyone whose name is not on the emergency card unless the school is otherwise notified in writing by the parent.

Tardiness

Children must arrive before the start of school each day. Punctual arrival is important to the child and the teacher. It teaches the child the value of being on time, the discipline of getting to school before the bell, and the establishment of an effective, productive routine. The first few minutes of the day are extremely important to the student and the teacher. It is at this time that directions are given, daily schedules discussed, and daily lessons begun. Missing this time puts your child, the other children of the class, and the teacher at a disadvantage. Late arrivals are unexcused unless your student had a medical/dental appointment or was ill.

Arrival and Departure

Since the playground is not supervised before 8:15 A.M., children in grades 1-6 should arrive to school between 8:15 and 8:30 A.M. If your child arrives at school after 8:30 A.M., he/she must check in with the office to pick up a class admit slip and to correct the daily attendance records. Students are expected to leave the school grounds immediately after being dismissed from school. The playground is not supervised by the school personnel after school and is closed to students and the public until 3:30 P.M. Students may return to use the playground after 3:30 P.M. as long as they are under the supervision of parents or guardians.

Back To School Night

One evening during the first month of school, parents are invited to meet the children’s teacher, learn about the curriculum, understand the teacher’s expectations, and ask questions. School is dismissed at 1:00 P.M. on the day of the event. Watch Notes from Oak for details. This evening meeting is for parents only (not for students).

Behavior Standards

The goal of discipline is to help the child be a successful student today and a good citizen tomorrow. Learning respect for self and others, understanding how to function effectively in groups, and how to support others are the hallmarks of an effective discipline plan. At Oak, we try to present these lessons in a positive manner, but there are times when punishment is needed, and this provides an equally important lesson. The knowledge that every action has a consequence is important for all students to learn. Each teacher establishes clear classroom rules for students to follow. The classroom plan includes discussion of rules, punishments, and rewards. The principal meets with all students during the first week of school to review the rules with the students. The Oak School Behavior Standards are sent home for parents to review with the student. Please sign and send the return slip to your child’s teacher indicating that you have read and support them.

An Oak Playground Behavior Warning, commonly called a “ticket” by the students, is given when a student violates the “Respect” rules — when a student has been disrespectful or has hurt someone. When a ticket is given, the student immediately notifies his or her parent by phone. Three tickets can result in a suspension from school. Students are rewarded each semester for receiving no tickets. Oak believes strongly in working with parents on problems that may occur at school. If a serious problem occurs at school, parents will be notified.

Bicycles, Skateboards, Scooters, & Roller Blades

Bicycles are a primary means of transportation from home to school, and cyclists are the prime “culprits” in unsafe practices and violations of vehicle laws. Please stress that laws common to motor vehicles also apply to bicycles, and insist they be followed for reasons of safety. Helmets are required by California law of all bike riders under 18 years of age. Students are expected to comply with this law. See the preferred bicycle route map at the end of this booklet for suggested routes to Oak.

Bicycles must be locked to the bike racks on the playground where they can be supervised. Please make sure that your child has a lock for his/her bike. Bicycles should never be left at Oak overnight even if locked.

Roller blades, scooters, and skateboards are strongly discouraged as a mode of transportation to school. This is because students who ride roller blades, scooters, and skateboards rarely use the recommended safety equipment when riding to and from school. They also tend to be less visible than bicyclists when in traffic.

Bike riding, skate boarding, scooter riding, and roller blading are prohibited on the school grounds between the hours of 7:15 A.M. and 3:30 P.M.

Cell Phones

Students are not permitted to use cell phones during the school day and their presence at school is discouraged. If a student must have a cell phone for after school use, the phone must remain turned off and in the backpack during the day.

Child Care Before and After School

The YMCA provides an extended day program ("Kids Place") for children in grades K - 6. Their facility is a separate building and play area at the west end of the parking lot. For more information, please call Kids Place at (650) 969-6865.

Communications with Parents

The regular school to home bulletin Notes from Oak is sent home on Thursday and contains notices of school events, PTA events, and calendar event reminders and changes. This is the main communication link with parents by the school’s administration and PTA.

Articles for Notes from Oak must be submitted to the office by 3:00 PM the Friday afternoon prior to the Thursday date for which it is to be printed.

Teachers send home newsletters about activities in the classroom on a bi-weekly or monthly basis.

Bulletins of interest to district families from community organizations and approved by the Superintendent are sent home with Notes from Oak in the District’s Frequent Flyer. Communications from the district superintendent and School Board are enclosed with Notes from Oak.

Oak also maintains a website, which provides important information about school and PTA events, as well as grade-level and curriculum content. A Kids Corner section provides many online resources for students working on school projects. Please see the website to receive an electronic version of Notes.

Computer-Use Standards

Oak students have frequent access to computers and a growing access to online information via the Internet. Our students should learn from an early age that this electronic world has standards of behavior. In order to work successfully with other people in this wired environment, the students must know and understand its limits. The Oak Computer-Use Standards were created to be a natural extension of the Oak School Behavior Standards. These standards are based on the same needs to respect the safety, property, and privacy of other people. We hope that the students will learn responsible uses of technology now, and that this will benefit the trust that others place in them later. Every student and staff member is expected to comply with these standards. These are sent home with the Behavior Standards at the beginning of each school year.

Concerts

Concerts in which students perform for parents and other guests are provided on three occasions during the year. Watch Notes from Oak for the exact time and date for the following concert events:

Winter Concert: Parents, friends, neighbors, and families are invited to hear the students in grades K-6 sing and the 5th and 6th grade music students play instruments at an annual concert held in December. Students are led by classroom teachers and Music Docents in grades K-3 and District Music Teachers in grades 4-6.

Spring Sing: This is the second opportunity for parents, friends, neighbors, and families to listen to the voices of our students. This event takes place in the month of May.

Spring Instrumental Concert: 5th and 6th grade instrumental musicians perform a delightful concert also in May.

Cougars with Character

Cougar with Character awards will replace the old Cougar awards. This recognition will be presented to children who have displayed at school exceptional examples of the character traits of our Life Skills program. Cougars with Character will be recognized in an assembly once each month near the end of the month’s study of a specific life skill. Only a handful of students will receive this recognition.

Dress Code

The basis of Oak’s dress code is simple — student dress should not disrupt the educational environment. Safety, good taste, and appropriateness should determine the choice of school clothing for students. In the event of disagreements about the appropriateness of school clothing, teachers and administrators will have the final say. The Oak staff will enforce the following guidelines:

· Clothing with offensive language or pictures, or with references to alcohol, drugs or tobacco are not permitted.

· Bare midriffs are not permitted.

· “Spaghetti straps” or strapless blouses /dresses (girls) or “tank tops” (boys) are not recommended; if you wear them to school you must wear something else which covers your shoulders. Exposed straps may be no less than one inch in width.

· Necklines must be no lower than the width of the student’s hand below the neck.

· Undergarments may not be visible.

· Shorts, skirts, and dresses must be long enough for the student’s fingertips to touch the hem of the skirt or shorts when student is standing with hands to sides.

· Shoes must be worn on the campus and should be chosen to facilitate active student play.

Students whose choice of dress does not meet the Oak School dress code will be sent home for a change or will be required to cover up with replacement clothing supplied by the school.

Emergency Contact Information

From time to time it will be essential that the school be able to immediately contact a parent or guardian in case of an emergency. Parents must provide the school with an emergency telephone number that is frequently monitored by the parent or contact person. Please take note of whether you are often away from the office number you have given Oak School or if your cell phone is regularly turned off. Please provide a number where if you were not available, someone would be able to page or reach you.

Emergency Preparedness

In the event of a natural disaster, Oak’s staff becomes Civil Emergency Supervisory Personnel. Students will be cared for and supervised until picked up by parents or released to homes when conditions are deemed safe. First aid and emergency supplies are stored at Oak should the need arise. Earthquake and fire drills are conducted periodically for students and staff to rehearse procedures for dealing with an emergency.

Information from the Student Data Sheet is kept in the classrooms and taken out in the case of an emergency. This data includes medical information and the names of persons to whom we are authorized by parents to release students to in the event of an evacuation of the school grounds. We will not release students to people unless authorized by parents in writing.

In the event of a disaster, parents must pick up children from school or arrange for others to do so. When arriving at school, first check in at the command center. If parents are taking children off campus, children must be released and signed out by the classroom teacher. Please do not remove children from campus without first getting the child released. Parents are encouraged to remain at school and provide assistance.

Field Trips

Field trips are taken at the discretion of the teacher in conjunction with the curriculum. Some trips are walking and others require bus transportation. Students participating in field trips must return the permission slips that are sent home prior to each excursion for parent signature. Students cannot leave campus without parent permission. If you wish to assist with field trips, please contact your child’s teacher.

Food Sales and Lunch Hour

There is no cafeteria at Oak. The PTA sponsors a Hot Lunch Program for grades 1-6 which includes foods available from local restaurants. These lunches are delivered at noon on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Families receive information about Hot Lunch soon after school begins. This is also available on the Oak website.

The Hot Lunch Program complies with the guidelines for school lunches set by the federal and state governments, as well as those of the LASD. These guidelines set limits on the calorie, sugar, and fat contents of the food and also address the balance of food items in a lunch menu. These guidelines also limit the number of parties and other celebrations involving food to one per month. Oak’s three parties per year complies. Bake sales are forbidden under the guidelines. Birthday celebrations involving the distribution of food to classmates are no longer permitted. Parents are asked not to send food to school for birthday celebrations.

Children bringing lunch to school (or buying it on hot lunch days) are expected to eat at Oak and remain on the premises during the entire lunch period unless we have written instructions from parents to the contrary. Such instructions will be kept on file. Children who go home will be dismissed at the beginning of the lunch period and will be expected to return on time for instruction at the end of the lunch period. We discourage children leaving the campus for lunch unless a parent picks them up. Please do not encourage your child to invite friends home for lunch.

Students who have forgotten their lunches should check the cart in the office during the morning and noon recesses to see if a lunch has been dropped off. We do not interrupt classrooms to announce the arrival of lunches, so students should be prepared to check for themselves.

Health Information

Please notify the office immediately if your child becomes ill with a communicable disease. Exposure notices will be sent home. The following list identifies communicable diseases that we are most concerned about:

Disease	Incubation	Isolation
Chicken Pox	14 - 21 days	7 days after first pox appears
German Measles	2 weeks	Until all symptoms disappear
Measles	7 - 14 days	Until all symptoms disappear
Mumps	14 - 21 days	10 days, or after swelling is gone
Strep Throat	1 - 4 days	24 hours after antibiotics have begun

Vision tests are given to all Kindergarten, 3rd and 6th graders and to all referrals. Hearing tests are given yearly to Kindergarten, 2nd and 5th graders and to all referrals. If deficits are detected, parents are notified so that they may consult their family health providers. Speech screenings are given yearly to Kindergarten, 1st and all new students. A Speech Therapist is available three days each week.

Sometimes it is difficult early in the morning to decide whether to send your child to school. The following guidelines are suggested to help control the spread of colds, flu, and other contagious illnesses. Please keep your child at home when he/she has any of the following symptoms:

Fever of over 99.6 degrees

Chills

Vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours

Nausea

Sore throat or trouble swallowing

Coughing, sneezing, and/or runny nose

Rash or unusual sores or spots

Headache

Generalized muscle aches and pains

Breathing trouble

Unusually red, watery or burning eyes

The child must stay at home until he/she has been free of symptoms for 24 hours and free of fever without medication for 24 hours.

Homework

Please Note: The Los Altos School District Board of Trustees is planning to revise the district’s existing homework policy in the fall of 2007. The current Oak policy will continue in effect until the Board makes the changes.

In case of absence, students and parents may request makeup homework on the second day of absence. This request must be made to the office before 12:00 P.M. on or after the second day of absence. Requested homework may be picked up in the office between 3:15 and 4:00 P.M. Students must remember to take home books and other supplies for doing homework. Classrooms are not unlocked after school hours for forgotten materials.

Students will review the homework guidelines with their teachers in the classrooms. We suggest that parents and students review it at home periodically. The assignment of homework shall be in accord with the following School Board policy and regulations:

Definition of Homework - Homework is any assigned activity, which is primarily accomplished outside of regular classroom time, has a definite relationship to the student’s educational growth, and is designed to reinforce and enrich classroom work.

Purposes of Homework - Homework is planned to serve one or more of the following purposes:

· Development of independent study habits, organization, and disciplined use of time.

· Completion of unfinished classroom work.

· Make-up of schoolwork assigned during the student’s absence.

· Practice or review of content previously studied.

· Application or extension of concepts taught in a preceding class.

· Research related to classroom activities.

· Reading on varied subjects.

· Use of resources such as the library, museums, and electronic media.

· Provision of optional or self-selected assignments based on student learning styles, interests, and/or talents.

· Increase parent awareness of the teacher’s expectations and curriculum.

Amount of Homework - Cumulative weekly (Monday - Thursday) homework minutes for the typical Oak child should be designed not to exceed the following daily average:

Grade Nightly Homework*

K Occasionally short homework

1 30 minutes

2 40 minutes

3 45 minutes

4 60 minutes

5 75 minutes

6 95 minutes

* Time for the student to complete outside reading and both short and long term projects is included within the above minute average for each grade level. Grade 5-6 band and orchestra are considered optional; therefore, they are not included within the above minute average.

Injury at School

Children at Oak School play actively during recess and PE time, and occasionally this activity level results in an injury. If a child is injured at school the school staff uses basic first aide procedures to assess and treat the injury. In cases of injury to neck or head the child is referred to the office and office staff calls the parent or emergency contact to inform the parent. For most injuries, a cleaning, a Band-Aid, and/or an ice pack takes care of the problem. In cases in which there is significant pain, swelling, or difficulty in movement, the staff will call the parent.

Invitations at School

Students may not distribute invitations to parties and other personal events at school. This invariably leads to hurt feelings by those who are not invited.

Library Service

Students from all grades are regularly scheduled into the Oak library. The library is also open during the lunch recess. Measure A funds have been used to double the hours of the library, double the size of the book collection, and add the addition of a library clerk to the Oak staff.

Lost And Found

Many good articles of clothing are lost each year and are never claimed. Please help us cut down on the amount of lost articles by clearly labeling your child’s outer garments with his or her name. If items are lost please check the lost clothes rack near the student restrooms. Articles of clothing not claimed are donated to charity.

Math Placement

At the end of each school year teachers in grades 3-6 assess the students for possible advanced placement in mathematics the next year. Students who scored in the advanced range in the math section of the previous year’s STAR test are given two end-of-year tests. The teachers also complete a rating scale, which assesses maturity, study skills, and motivation. These three assessments are combined to determine the student’s placement for the following year. Students who are placed at an advanced level must maintain a B or better grade point average in order to remain at that level. Math levels are reassessed annually for students in grades 4-6 (fall placement).

Medication

Parents are urged, with the help of the physician, to work out a schedule of giving medications outside of school time whenever possible. If medications, whether prescription or “over the counter”, need to be given during school time, obtain a “Permission to Administer Medication" form from the school secretary. This form must be completed and signed by BOTH the parent and physician. In addition, students may not carry inhalers without the parent and doctor completing the “Permission to Carry Inhaler” form, allowing them to do so.

The District Nurse will verify the Doctor’s orders with the medication before it is administered. Until that time parents will need to come to school to give their child the medication.

Any changes in the original Doctor’s order i.e.: dosage, time of administration, etc., MUST be accompanied by a new order form.

Notify the school and pick up the medication as soon as it is discontinued.

Medications not picked up at the end of school will be destroyed.

Medication orders are only good for one school year. A new “Permission to Administer Medication” form must be presented at the beginning of each school year.

Parents must NEVER give a child any medication, including vitamins or dietary supplements, to self-administer at school.

Minimum Days

Occasionally, school is dismissed early due to special events. On early dismissal days, students are dismissed at 1 P.M. The afternoon Kindergarten usually attends school with the morning classes. Students are dismissed early for Back to School Night, Open House, District Retirement Picnic, and the last day of school.

Open House

Families are invited to come to Open House in the spring of each school year. The classrooms are decorated by students and teachers with projects and class work samples. Students and their guests may visit any of the classrooms during Open House. Students are expected to be the “tour guide” and must remain with their families. School is dismissed at 1:00 P.M. on Open House Day.

Parking Lot

The front parking lot of the school is used for short-term parking and drop-off and pick-up of children. A long loading zone is provided along the curb. A passing lane is provided adjacent to the loading zone for use after passengers have been picked up or dropped off. Because of the crowded conditions of the lot, all drivers are asked to observe the following rules in the interests of safety for all.

Please:

· Pick up or drop off children along the curb only – never in the interior or passing lane of the parking lot.

· Pull all the way forward continuously while in the loading zone.

· Do not stop and leave your car parked along the curb. If you must wait for a few minutes, park your car in a marked parking area.

· Never leave a child unattended while in the parking lot.

· Instruct your child to be alert for your arrival when it is pick-up time.

Parties

Every class has three parties during the year - Halloween, Valentine’s Day, and end of the year. Room parents work with the teachers in putting on these parties. Emphasis is placed on keeping the class parties simple and relatively uniform with other classes. Early in the school year we ask for a donation from each child for these activities. Nutritional guidelines call for the inclusion of only one “non-nutritious” food or beverage item.

Birthday celebrations involving the distribution of food to classmates are no longer permitted according to new nutrition guidelines. Parents are asked not to send food to school for birthday celebrations.

Reporting Student Progress

Student progress is reported in several ways:

1. Report cards are sent home three (3) times a year (except for Kindergarten).

2. Parent - teacher conferences are scheduled in November. Others also may be scheduled at mutual convenience when requested by teacher or parent.

3. Notes, email, and phone conferences are initiated by parents and teachers.

4. Student work is sent home via the Thursday envelope.

5. Parents may visit the classroom. (Academic observations must be scheduled with the teacher or principal ahead of time. The length of the observation will be no longer than 30 minutes.)

6. Progress reports are sent home to parents of students in Grades 4-6 approximately halfway through the trimester.

If you have questions or comments regarding your child’s progress, please do not hesitate to contact the classroom teacher or the principal. We are always pleased to hear from you, and we encourage parents to contact us any time if there are concerns rather than wait for a small problem to become a large one.

Safety To and From School

We hope you will discuss safe routes to and from school with your child, and perhaps accompany your child on a “trial run” if he / she is new to the area or will be coming to school alone for the first time this year. Remind your child not to talk to strangers – especially if they offer a ride. If approached by a stranger, have them hurry home or back to school, whichever is closer. It is a good idea to establish a buddy system so a child will not have to walk or ride home alone.

Special School Days

Minimum Days occur on the days of Back to School Night in the fall, Open House, staff development afternoons, and the last day of school. Students in grades 1-6 are dismissed from school at 1:00 P.M. On minimum days, all Kindergarten classes attend school in the morning.

Conference Days occur in the fall. Two full days during which children do not attend school are devoted to parent - teacher conferences.

Staff Development Days (AKA SIP days) are set aside each year for staff to receive training in current curriculum and instructional practices. Frequently they are devoted to completing goals that are determined by the Board of Trustees and Superintendent. These days have been extremely valuable in helping staff to receive the training needed to maintain Los Altos’ status as the number one school district in the state of California. Students do not attend school on staff development days. Staff development days are included in the school calendar given to parents in this handbook and via Notes from Oak.

Student Profile Sheet

At the beginning of every school year, parents are asked to update student information such as parent’s names, phone numbers, addresses, emergency contact persons, medical information, etc. This information is used to contact parents in case of an emergency. We ask that you list only people who are readily available to assist your child if we cannot reach you. Please indicate if either parent should not be called at work for reasons other than medical emergencies. You should be aware that only parents can authorize medical treatment should your child require it. The school must be informed when you plan to be out of town and have made arrangements for someone else to care for your child. Information provided on the student profile sheet is entered into a school computer database and is printed out at the beginning of each school year for parents to update. Because, we can only release children to the people listed on the Student Data Sheet, it is vital that you keep this information up to date.

Telephone Use

Please see that your child has all books, equipment, lunch, and completed assignments needed each day, and that any after-school visits or activities have been planned in advance. The greatest number of telephone requests is from children who have forgotten one of the above and these requests are rarely granted.

Toys and Money

We encourage children at Oak to use equipment and supplies available at school. Toys and money should not be brought from home except for specific occasions when they might be requested by the teacher. Please label all items that are brought. Electronic games, music players, pagers, etc. are not allowed at Oak and must be left at home.

Weapons / Hazardous Items

Items that might be dangerous such as jack knives, cap guns, matches, firecrackers, weapons of any kind, etc., are strictly forbidden at school. Possession of any item that can be considered a weapon or even confused to be a weapon is grounds for suspension or expulsion from school according to California Education Law (Ed. Code) and LASD policies.

Visitors to School

All visitors and volunteers, including parents, must sign in and sign out at the school office when entering or leaving the campus. A notebook is made available for this purpose. We need the visitor’s name and time of sign in. A visitor ID badge is provided and must be worn. At the time of leaving the campus, please record your departure time. This procedure has been requested by the School Site Council, PTA, and staff for the purpose of assuring for the security of our students. Please be sure to inform grandparents, daycare providers and other individuals who may represent you of this policy.

Visits To the Classroom

We welcome parent visits to Oak School when class activities permit. Visits should be limited to the length of the activity and you are always welcome to come again. Please make an appointment with your child’s teacher or principal before academic observation visits and remember to sign in and sign out of the office.

Volunteers

Volunteers play an extremely important part in the total school program. They help staff the library, serve food during hot lunch days, assist in the classroom, serve on committees, do clerical work, support special school events, and enrich the educational program by donating their time and talents in many ways. Volunteering is coordinated by the classroom teachers for classroom projects and by the PTA. All volunteers must sign in and sign out of the office.

Glossary

Art Docent Program

Trained volunteer docents, at the request of the classroom teacher, bring materials and lessons to stimulate the children’s awareness and appreciation of art.

GATE

Gifted and Talented Education is a program that provides qualitatively different instruction for identified gifted students. Emphasis is placed on cognitive as well as creative skills and may occur in enrichment activities within the classroom or in an after-school elective program. This elective program operates in five or six-week mini classes one day per week after school. GATE students in grades 3 - 5 can select from a catalog of courses mailed to students in the fall of each school year. In sixth grade, an advanced pre-algebra program is provided for students who consistently perform at least one grade level higher in mathematics. The GATE program as defined by California statute is for the upper 2 - 5 % of the student population of a school.

LAEF

The Los Altos Educational Foundation (LAEF) was founded to help the Los Altos School District provide exceptional programs and materials that are beyond the means of the district budget. Last year the LAEF donated over $1,300,000 to the Los Altos School District. This money has supplied the schools, including Oak, with class size reduction in the kindergarten, the PE program, instrumental and vocal music for students in Grades 4-8, the Art Docent program, and staffing of the computer and science labs. A major fund raising activity is the fall phone-a-thon. Parents and community members support LAEF and its goals.

LASD

The Los Altos School District (LASD) is a district of six K - 6 schools and two 7 - 8 schools. The District Office and Board Room are located at the Covington School site, 201 Covington Road, Los Altos, CA, 94024. The LASD has been called the best school district in the Bay Area and in California by The San Francisco Chronicle and other newspapers across the state.

Measure A

The voters of our community have passed parcel taxes to support the schools. The current tax of $597 per parcel generates in excess of $7 million for the district. The money is used to maintain the excellent educational program the district delivers. Without the parcel tax, we could not keep our class sizes low and could not afford small neighborhood schools. A specific accounting of how the money is used is provided in an annual report to the community (Measure A Report Card).

Measure H

Measure H was a $94.7 million bond approved by over 2/3 of the voters of the Los Altos School District in November 1998 for the purpose of modernizing district school facilities. Oak School renovation was funded by Measure H in 2004/05. A second phase of renovation for Oak is anticipated but is not currently funded. A second bond measure would need to be approved by the voters.

Music for Minors

Trained volunteer docents provide experiences in music fundamentals and appreciation to supplement the regular classroom program. This program is provided in some of Oak’s primary classrooms and volunteers are frequently needed.

PTA

The Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is an active organization in our school. Oak School is a member of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers. Our Oak School PTA provides vital support services to our students. From emergency preparedness, assemblies, computer hardware and software, art supplies to hot lunches, and teacher classroom funds, the PTA makes an outstanding contribution to supporting the work of the staff and students. Our PTA has 30 separate operations that impact our school, only some of which were mentioned above. Members contribute more than 15,000 volunteer hours each year to the children at Oak School.

RSP

A Resource Specialist Program (RSP) in which youngsters with diagnosed learning disabilities work individually or in small groups with the Resource Specialist in subject areas of difficulty which are identified and set forth in an IEP or Individual Education Plan. The Resource Specialist works at Oak full time assisting students and staff on IEP student goals.

SSC

The School Site Council (SSC) is composed of equal numbers of parents and staff. It is the role of the Site Council to advise the principal and staff on the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the overall school program, and to allocate special categorical funds from the state to support the goals of the school program. The SSC reviews the progress of the school in achieving the goals as put forth by the Board of Trustees and district personnel each year. The Site Council meets five times a year. Membership on the Council is open to any member of the community and is for a two-year term.