Policies & Procedures
ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL
Students are not to arrive at school before 8:10 A.M. unless they are involved in special activities. There is no supervision for students prior to this time.
ATTENDANCE
One of the most important factors in a child's education is maintaining regular school attendance. All student absences must be cleared. Parents are urged to notify the school by phone for all student absences. The school secretary will call the home if an absence has not been cleared. If a telephone verification of the absence has not been made, the child must present a note signed by the parent upon returning to school the next day stating the date and the reason for the absence. This procedure is necessary to meet the state attendance requirements for all grade levels. A pattern of excessive absences as well as tardiness will be referred to the School Attendance Review Board for possible legal action. Students who are on permit from another district will receive a warning letter which could lead to a revocation of the permit.
TARDINESS
We expect students to arrive at school on time. Students who are not in class when the door is closed will be marked tardy. The student should report directly to the office at that time. If a student is tardy four (4) times, he/ she will miss their recess. Thereafter, for every two (2) tardies, the student will miss recess. The parents will be notified of this action.
VISITORS AT SCHOOL
Parents are welcome to visit the school at any time. Since the class could be involved in an assembly or special event, we recommend that the parent make an appointment with the student's teacher before visiting. ALL VISITORS MUST CHECK IN WITH THE OFFICE TO OBTAIN A VISITOR'S PASS. THIS IS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN.
EARLY RELEASE
If it is necessary for you to take your child out of school before the regular dismissal time, go to the office to sign a release form. Students will be released only to those persons listed on the emergency card. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS! This is for your child's protection.
HEALTH
Students who appear ill should not be sent to school. If a child has a temperature, he/she should be kept home for at least twenty-four hours after the temperature returns to normal. Students who become ill or injured at school will be isolated from the others as soon as the accident or illness is noted and the parents will be contacted.
Any medication sent to school for a student including over the counter drugs such as aspirin and cough drops must be kept in the nurse's office. The medication will not be dispensed without the proper release forms that can be obtained at the office.
The school should be notified if the child has a communicable disease such as mumps, chicken pox, head lice etc. The child will be re-admitted to school with a release from the physician and must be cleared by the office before re-entering the classroom.
DRESS CODE
Students are expected to dress appropriately for school. Suitable clothing should be worn so the child can participate in all school activities including physical education. The ABCUSD policy states that all students should be neat and clean and that their attire should not present a safety hazard or be detrimental or disruptive to the education process for themselves or their classmates. Closed toe shoes are required at all times. Inappropriate clothing attire includes but is not limited to: halter tops, spaghetti straps, bare midriffs, short shorts, clothing which allows undergarments to be exposed, excessively baggy or sight clothing, open-toed shoes and thong sandals. Clothing with symbols or slogans oriented toward degrading cultures, gender, or ethnicity is not permitted and clothing with suggestive or foul language is also prohibited. Hats and caps are not allowed. Students wearing inappropriate attire will be sent to the office to call home for a change of clothes.
TOYS AT SCHOOL
Toys are not permitted at school. This includes radios, tape players, video games, and Virtual Pets. Items for sharing are to be placed in a bag and left inside the room during recess and lunch breaks. The school assumes NO responsibility for personal belongings.
PARKING LOT/TRAFFIC
For the safety of the students and staff, ALL automobiles need to follow safe driving practices.
Students may not be left off across street or asked to walk across the street
The curb is for loading and unloading. Do not leave your car unattended.
No U turns.
BICYCLES
Students in grades four through six may ride a bicycle to and from school with parent permission. Safe bicycle practices must be followed at all times including wearing a bicycle helmet. Bicycles are to be locked in the bike rack located near the parking lot.
HOME READING CLUB
Students are encouraged to read for pleasure. To encourage this love of reading, the Booster Club is once again sponsoring the Home Reading Club. Students simply read for the required minutes, keep a daily record, and return it to the teacher. Prizes are awarded for each chart completed and the students attend an end of the year barbeque upon completion of the program.
CLASS PARTIES
ABC Unified School District Board Policy permits two parties during the school year. These parties are scheduled the day before winter vacation and the last day of school. Food should be brought in to school only when requested by the teacher for special instructional units. Any food items donated for these occasions must be store-bought. Home-prepared items are not permitted for the safety of the students.
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
Emergency information must be kept current at all times. All changes in address, telephone number, work number, and emergency contacts must be reported as soon as the change occurs. If you move outside of the attendance area, a permit must be obtained as soon as possible. FALSIFYING OR WITHHOLDING INFORMATION REGARDING RESIDENCE MAY RESULT IN THE STUDENT BEING IMMEDIATELY DROPPED FROM GONSLAVES ELEMENTARY.
EMERGENCY AND CIVIL DEFENSE PLAN
School officials have a legal as well as moral responsibility to plan for the maximum safety and welfare of the students and staff during the school day. Fire and disaster drills are an integral part of the school program. In the event of a real emergency, children will be kept at school and supervised by the school staff until parents or other authorized persons pick them up. If the school is not safe, the district will evacuate all students to another site. In the event of an earthquake or other emergency, students will evacuate to the playground. As soon as attendance has been taken, students will be checked out through the front of the school. All parents should make arrangements with friends who can pick up and care of their child in the event that the parents are detained or injured in a major disaster and are unable to come to school.
Parents are asked to provide their child with a personal survival kit in a small zip-lock bag. It may contain non-perishable food items. You may also want to include a reassuring note, a family photo, and/or a small personal item. Any other item that you feel is necessary may be included as long as all items fit into the zip-lock bag. These supplies will be returned at the end of the school year.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Sexual harassment of students by other students, District employees, or other persons engaged in District-related activities, as defined in Board Policy 5147.7 shall not be tolerated by the Board of Education. The District considers such harassment to be a major offense, which can result in disciplinary action or dismissal.
COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES
WITH SCHOOL PERSONNEL
The principal at Gonsalves maintains an Open Door policy meaning that parents are always welcome to discuss issues with which they have a concern. Parents should call first for an appointment due to the amount of time the principal spends in the classrooms and her busy schedule. If the issue is regarding a classroom situation, the teacher should be contacted first. The teacher has first hand knowledge of the child's behavior and academic performance and this is a professional courtesy. Since teachers cannot be interrupted while teaching and they have very busy schedules, please contact the school secretary to make an appointment if it is necessary for you to consult with the teacher.
WITH YOUR CHILD
Please do not request that a telephone message be delivered to a child unless it is an emergency. The school phone is a business phone and personal calls by students are not permitted except in emergencies.
Students are not to arrive at school before 8:10 A.M. unless they are involved in special activities. There is no supervision for students prior to this time.
ATTENDANCE
One of the most important factors in a child's education is maintaining regular school attendance. All student absences must be cleared. Parents are urged to notify the school by phone for all student absences. The school secretary will call the home if an absence has not been cleared. If a telephone verification of the absence has not been made, the child must present a note signed by the parent upon returning to school the next day stating the date and the reason for the absence. This procedure is necessary to meet the state attendance requirements for all grade levels. A pattern of excessive absences as well as tardiness will be referred to the School Attendance Review Board for possible legal action. Students who are on permit from another district will receive a warning letter which could lead to a revocation of the permit.
TARDINESS
We expect students to arrive at school on time. Students who are not in class when the door is closed will be marked tardy. The student should report directly to the office at that time. If a student is tardy four (4) times, he/ she will miss their recess. Thereafter, for every two (2) tardies, the student will miss recess. The parents will be notified of this action.
VISITORS AT SCHOOL
Parents are welcome to visit the school at any time. Since the class could be involved in an assembly or special event, we recommend that the parent make an appointment with the student's teacher before visiting. ALL VISITORS MUST CHECK IN WITH THE OFFICE TO OBTAIN A VISITOR'S PASS. THIS IS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN.
EARLY RELEASE
If it is necessary for you to take your child out of school before the regular dismissal time, go to the office to sign a release form. Students will be released only to those persons listed on the emergency card. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS! This is for your child's protection.
HEALTH
Students who appear ill should not be sent to school. If a child has a temperature, he/she should be kept home for at least twenty-four hours after the temperature returns to normal. Students who become ill or injured at school will be isolated from the others as soon as the accident or illness is noted and the parents will be contacted.
Any medication sent to school for a student including over the counter drugs such as aspirin and cough drops must be kept in the nurse's office. The medication will not be dispensed without the proper release forms that can be obtained at the office.
The school should be notified if the child has a communicable disease such as mumps, chicken pox, head lice etc. The child will be re-admitted to school with a release from the physician and must be cleared by the office before re-entering the classroom.
DRESS CODE
Students are expected to dress appropriately for school. Suitable clothing should be worn so the child can participate in all school activities including physical education. The ABCUSD policy states that all students should be neat and clean and that their attire should not present a safety hazard or be detrimental or disruptive to the education process for themselves or their classmates. Closed toe shoes are required at all times. Inappropriate clothing attire includes but is not limited to: halter tops, spaghetti straps, bare midriffs, short shorts, clothing which allows undergarments to be exposed, excessively baggy or sight clothing, open-toed shoes and thong sandals. Clothing with symbols or slogans oriented toward degrading cultures, gender, or ethnicity is not permitted and clothing with suggestive or foul language is also prohibited. Hats and caps are not allowed. Students wearing inappropriate attire will be sent to the office to call home for a change of clothes.
TOYS AT SCHOOL
Toys are not permitted at school. This includes radios, tape players, video games, and Virtual Pets. Items for sharing are to be placed in a bag and left inside the room during recess and lunch breaks. The school assumes NO responsibility for personal belongings.
PARKING LOT/TRAFFIC
For the safety of the students and staff, ALL automobiles need to follow safe driving practices.
Students may not be left off across street or asked to walk across the street
The curb is for loading and unloading. Do not leave your car unattended.
No U turns.
BICYCLES
Students in grades four through six may ride a bicycle to and from school with parent permission. Safe bicycle practices must be followed at all times including wearing a bicycle helmet. Bicycles are to be locked in the bike rack located near the parking lot.
HOME READING CLUB
Students are encouraged to read for pleasure. To encourage this love of reading, the Booster Club is once again sponsoring the Home Reading Club. Students simply read for the required minutes, keep a daily record, and return it to the teacher. Prizes are awarded for each chart completed and the students attend an end of the year barbeque upon completion of the program.
CLASS PARTIES
ABC Unified School District Board Policy permits two parties during the school year. These parties are scheduled the day before winter vacation and the last day of school. Food should be brought in to school only when requested by the teacher for special instructional units. Any food items donated for these occasions must be store-bought. Home-prepared items are not permitted for the safety of the students.
EMERGENCY INFORMATION
Emergency information must be kept current at all times. All changes in address, telephone number, work number, and emergency contacts must be reported as soon as the change occurs. If you move outside of the attendance area, a permit must be obtained as soon as possible. FALSIFYING OR WITHHOLDING INFORMATION REGARDING RESIDENCE MAY RESULT IN THE STUDENT BEING IMMEDIATELY DROPPED FROM GONSLAVES ELEMENTARY.
EMERGENCY AND CIVIL DEFENSE PLAN
School officials have a legal as well as moral responsibility to plan for the maximum safety and welfare of the students and staff during the school day. Fire and disaster drills are an integral part of the school program. In the event of a real emergency, children will be kept at school and supervised by the school staff until parents or other authorized persons pick them up. If the school is not safe, the district will evacuate all students to another site. In the event of an earthquake or other emergency, students will evacuate to the playground. As soon as attendance has been taken, students will be checked out through the front of the school. All parents should make arrangements with friends who can pick up and care of their child in the event that the parents are detained or injured in a major disaster and are unable to come to school.
Parents are asked to provide their child with a personal survival kit in a small zip-lock bag. It may contain non-perishable food items. You may also want to include a reassuring note, a family photo, and/or a small personal item. Any other item that you feel is necessary may be included as long as all items fit into the zip-lock bag. These supplies will be returned at the end of the school year.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Sexual harassment of students by other students, District employees, or other persons engaged in District-related activities, as defined in Board Policy 5147.7 shall not be tolerated by the Board of Education. The District considers such harassment to be a major offense, which can result in disciplinary action or dismissal.
COMMUNICATION PROCEDURES
WITH SCHOOL PERSONNEL
The principal at Gonsalves maintains an Open Door policy meaning that parents are always welcome to discuss issues with which they have a concern. Parents should call first for an appointment due to the amount of time the principal spends in the classrooms and her busy schedule. If the issue is regarding a classroom situation, the teacher should be contacted first. The teacher has first hand knowledge of the child's behavior and academic performance and this is a professional courtesy. Since teachers cannot be interrupted while teaching and they have very busy schedules, please contact the school secretary to make an appointment if it is necessary for you to consult with the teacher.
WITH YOUR CHILD
Please do not request that a telephone message be delivered to a child unless it is an emergency. The school phone is a business phone and personal calls by students are not permitted except in emergencies.
