EIGHTH GRADE PROMOTION ACTIVITIES

The Santee School District has established minimum academic and behavioral standards for eighth grade students for participation in the promotion ceremony, and any of the designated promotion activities.   

In order to participate in the promotion ceremony and designated activities, students must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in academics, citizenship, and effort and have less than three suspensions during the year.

ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL ON ACTIVITY DAYS

One of the district goals is to improve attendance by 1%.  Regular attendance and punctuality are necessary for high achievement and success in school.  The State of California will only excuse absences due to student illness, doctor / dental appointments, or to attend a funeral of an immediate family member.  Funding for educational programs is based on the number of students who attend school on a daily basis (Average Daily Attendance).  As an incentive to be in school, a recognition program for students, based on attendance, has been implemented. 

All other absences are unexcused unless an Independent Study Contract is completed.  Independent Study Contracts are available for students who will be absent for five days or more. If a child completes the work while on an Independent Study Contract, he / she will receive credit for the work.  If you need your child to be on an Independent Study Contract for 5 or more days, please contact the Attendance Clerk at least one week prior to your child’s absence.  All Independent Study Contract work must be completed and retuned the first day the student returns to school. Funding is collected from the state for students who complete the contract.

Note:  State policy requires students to be at school in order for schools to collect attendance funds each day.  This means if your child is not in school for any reason, including illness, we cannot collect funds from the state.  Please help us protect your child’s instructional funds by arranging for vacations and appointments on non-school days or after school hours.  We appreciate your support in this area.

UNEXCUSED ABSENCES / TRUANCY

Students absent without a valid excuse for more than three (3) days in one school year shall be classified as a truant.  Students who are tardy in excess of thirty (30) minutes on more than three (3) school days in one school year shall also be classified as a truant.  Such students will be required to make up time. Students with poor attendance will be placed on a Student Attendance Review Team attendance contract. Continual problems will be referred to the Student Attendance Review Board (SARB) an extension of Juvenile Court.

Any student having a verified unexcused absence will be required to make up that time after school.  "Ditching" will also result in the loss of school activity privileges. 

TARDINESS

All students must be in their classrooms and seated before the tardy bell rings at 8:32.  At 8:33 am a student will be marked tardy. After 8:45 a.m., students must be accompanied by a parent and report in to the office for a tardy slip.  Excessive tardies will result in a parent phone call or a letter to the parents and a student being place on an attendance contract.  Continual tardiness may result in a referral to the School Attendance Review Board an extension of Juvenile Court.  

LEAVING SCHOOL EARLY

MAKE-UP WORK

It is the student's responsibility to request make-up work from a teacher when returning from an absence.  Students are expected to make up all work missed when they are absent from school.  One day of make-up time will be allowed for each day of school missed. Absence does not excuse responsibility for long term assignments.  Parents may call teachers for packets of missed work if needed.

Parents should contact the school and pick up make-up work ONLY in the case of prolonged absences.  A 24-HOUR NOTICE IS NECESSARY.  Students, who are absent for a couple of days, are urged to call classmates to get assignments; or they may obtain make-up work from their teachers upon returning to school.

Students in grades 4 - 8 have agenda planners with space to write in assignments for the week.  Agenda planners should be reviewed by parents on a daily basis. If you have any questions about assignments, check your student's planner, or contact your child's teacher.

PROGRESS REPORTS / REPORT CARDS

Report Cards are sent home with students at the end of each trimester.  If your child is absent on the day report cards are given out, the report card will be handed to the student upon his / her return or mailed to your address.  If you fail to receive a report card, please contact the office as soon as possible.

Progress Reports are handed out to students midway through each trimester.  Progress reports allow parents to see grades, and students to bring up poor grades before the trimester ends. 

LIBRARY

The library is open daily during the school year.  It is open from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. A pass is required to use the library during the school day.  Generally, one book per student can be checked out at one time.  Books must be returned or renewed on, or before, the due date. All damaged or lost books must be replaced by the student.

MATERIALS AND SUPPLIES

Each student should have pencils, paper, and folder / binder in which to keep assignments with him / her at all times.  Toys from home, balls, video games, etc. are not to be brought to school.  Such items will be taken from the student and returned to the parent.

TEXTBOOKS

Textbooks are loaned to students for their use during the school year.  Students are responsible for taking care of the textbooks issued to them and for keeping all textbooks covered. Students will be responsible to pay for a replacement text for lost, stolen and/or damaged books checkout in their name. Student report cards and progress reports will be held in lost/damaged/stolen books are not replaced. 

TRANSPORTATION

Most students at Carlton Oaks School walk to school or have their parents, or another qualified adult, transport them. Only students in grades 4 - 8 may ride their bicycles to school. All bicycles are to be parked in one of the designated, enclosed area, and should be licensed and locked.  All 4 – 8 students who ride their bikes to school must also have a bike riding application on file in the Vice Principal's office. Students are required to follow all the school rules for safety, including wearing a helmet, walking bikes on campus, and displaying respect and courtesy for others.  Failure to follow rules and failure to file for a bike permit will result in the loss of privileges to ride a bike to school.  Applications may be picked up in the office. 

The school cannot assume responsibility for damaged or stolen bicycles. Skateboards, rollerblades, scooters, go-peds, and shoes with built in skates are not allowed on campus because of City Ordinance #21113.  Children have been injured by jumping off railings and tables, and every child’s safety is our concern. 

DRESS CODE

The Santee School District Board approved dress code has been implemented and enforced at all schools. The dress code is designed to promote a learning environment that is safe and free from distractions.  Following are policy guidelines for appropriate school attire:

1.         Appropriate shoes must be worn at all times.  Sandals must have heel straps.  Flip-flops or backless shoes or sandals are not acceptable.  Heels must be of a reasonable height and not be unsafe in the school environment. Students participating in Physical Education must have appropriate, safe shoes during this activity – sandals are not appropriate or safe for PE, students should have appropriate tennis shoes that adequately protect their feet.

2.         Clothing, jewelry and personal items (backpacks, fanny packs, gym bags, water bottles, etc.) shall be free of writing, pictures or any other insignia which are crude, vulgar, profane, or sexually suggestive, which bear drug, alcohol or tobacco company advertising, promotions and likeness, or which advocate death, violence, racial, ethnic or religious prejudice.

3.         Hats, caps, and other head coverings shall not be worn indoors for the purpose of sun protection. Hats with non offensive logos can be worn. Baseball caps must always be worn bill-forward. Hoods may never be worn on campus or any other head covering that hides the face of an individual. Beanies may only be worn during cold weather for warmth.

4.         Clothes shall be sufficient to conceal undergarments at all times.  See-through or fish-net fabrics, halter tops, spaghetti straps, off-the-shoulder or low-cut tops, strapless or tube tops, backless shirts, bare midriffs and skirts or shorts shorter that mid-thigh are prohibited.

5.         Gym shorts may not be worn in classes other than physical education. All shorts must be worn at mid-thigh at all times.

6.         Hair shall be clean and neatly groomed and the color may not cause a distraction to the educational environment.  Hair may not be sprayed by any coloring that would drip when   wet.    

7.         Spiked jewelry and waist chains will not be allowed.

8.         Pupils must be cleanly dressed so as not to promote unhealthy or unsanitary conditions.

9.         Bandanas and sweatbands shall not be worn unless prior approval is granted by a site administrator.

10.       Overalls are considered pants and must have an appropriate shirt worn underneath.

11.       Muscle shirts, tank shirts, or underwear shirts may not be worn. Clothing that is  suggestive or revealing will not be allowed.

12.       Facial piercing shall be limited to the ears only.  Any other piercing must be plugged with a skin tone plug (no color).

13.       Pants must not be worn to expose undergarments or bare skin above the waist. Pants must not sag and are to worn tight to the waist.

14.       Clothing that is considered nightwear (pajamas and slippers) may not be worn, with the exception of a designated day by t            the school.

Gang related apparel or clothing with racial or ethnic symbols is prohibited.

STUDENTS VIOLATING THE DRESS CODE WILL BE ASKED TO COMPLY OR WILL BE SENT HOME TO CHANGE. If available students may be asked to change into an appropriate loaner shirt has been provided, or be sent home to change. Repeated violations of dress code will be considered direct defiance and subject to in school suspension.

We appreciate your cooperation to assure an optimal learning environment for your child.

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

Please make sure to update the school office on changes in your emergency phone numbers.  State law requires us to have valid emergency phone numbers on file for every student.  Last spring, Student Profile Forms were sent home asking for updated emergency information.  If emergency information (addresses, phone numbers, contact persons) has changed since that time, please let us know by calling the school office.  Students will not be released to persons who are not listed on emergency cards.

DISASTER PROCEDURES AND DRILLS

The school is required to practice fire drills, lockdown drills, or earthquake drills once a month.  All students evacuate to their assigned areas where attendance is taken to account for every child.  We can evacuate all students and take roll in approximately six minutes.  We have two-way radio communication between our school and the District Office.  If the need should arise to evacuate students off campus, students will be escorted to West Hills Little League baseball fields located at the west end of West Hills High school. From there, once all students are present and accounted for students would be released only to parents or adults listed on emergency cards.  This is another important reason for keeping information cards current.

In order to help ensure a safe campus for students and staff, ALL exterior gates (including those in the lower parking lot) will be kept locked during the school day.  ALL parents or visitors, who come to school after 8:15 a.m. are to enter through the front office door.

TELEPHONE CALLS

We do not have any pay phones on campus and because of the size of the student body, we do not allow students to use phones except for emergencies.   If your child needs to contact you, there is a phone in every classroom; and, at the teacher’s discretion, he / she will be allowed to use it.  Please make all arrangements for special activities for your child in advance  . Please do not text or call your child’s phone during school hours as it is against the rules and considered a distraction to the learning environment. . If you need to get a message to your child, the office staff will contact the teacher during a non-instructional time period.  .  If it is an emergency, please contact the Principal or Vice Principal’s office, and a message will be delivered immediately

CELL PHONES

Students may possess personal electronic signaling devices including, but not limited to pagers, beepers, and cellular / digital phones.  The school is not responsible for any electronic device brought onto a school campus.

Electronic communication of any kind is prohibited on school grounds except under the direct supervision of a teacher with prior approval from site administration.  Each school will designate a "phone zone" where phones may be used before or after school but under no circumstances during school hours.

Permitted devices shall:

1.         Be turned off at all times during the school day, and at any other time when directed by a   district employee.

2.         Not disrupt the educational program or school activity.

3.         Be turned off at all times during instructional study trips or at 6th grade camp.

4.         Be turned off at all times while riding on a school bus.

5.         Not be connected or linked to school district electronic information systems.

The basic rule will be:  SEE IT, USE IT, HEAR IT, TAKE IT.  Therefore, if an electronic device is seen, used, or heard, the following procedures will be put in place:

First Offense:        The device will be confiscated and returned at the end of the school day.

Second Offense:  The device will be confiscated and the parent must personally reclaim the device.

Third Offense:      Will result in an in-s, chool suspension; the device will be confiscated and a

pa, rent must personally reclaim the device. The student will no longer be allowed to carry the device while on campus.

MEDICATION

If it is necessary for your child to take medication at school, the medication must be kept in the health aide’s office and is not to be taken to class.  Parents must take the medication directly to the Health Clerk.  Parents need to count out medication in front of the Health Clerk to verify the number of pills, etc.  A physician’s statement must accompany all medication brought to school and be submitted to the Health Clerk.  Students are not permitted to bring medication to school.  Medication should be clearly labeled with the name of the student, doctor, pharmacy, date, number, name of the medication, amount of medication to be taken, and the specified time.  That includes all pills, injections, inhalers, eye and ear drops, cough medicine, cough drops, and aspirin or similar products.  All medicine, not picked up at the end of the school year, will be discarded.

CASTS, SPLINTS, CRUTCHES

Please notify the school Health Office if your child has a cast, splint, and / or crutches.  We will need a note from your child’s doctor releasing him / her to return to school.  To keep all students safe, students who have casts, splints and / or crutches should not be on the playground at recess and lunch.  They may be asked to stay in the lunch area on the tales, or other designated area as directed by the Vice Principal.

VISITORS

It is mandatory that all parents, volunteers, and guests sign in at the office and receive a visitor’s pass.  Non-enrolled students are not allowed on school grounds or in the parking area during school hours unless they are with a parent.  Older students who walk younger siblings home need to meet them in the patio area.  I.D. may be requested by staff before a child is released.

WELLNESS POLICY

In compliance with State Regulations, the Santee School District School Board has adopted a Wellness Policy. The purpose of this policy is to ensure that all food served to students during the public school day meet nutritional regulations in order to fight the childhood obesity epidemic.

State guidelines regulate what can be served to children on school campuses. This includes any type of food served to students on a school campus and extends thirty minutes before and after school. This applies to food brought onto campus because it is “served” to student during the school day. What this means is that our schools can only serve food that complies with a predetermined set of strict nutritional guidelines. This will also ensure that our students with food allergies will remain safe at all times.

This most important change that parents need to know is that we can no longer allow non compliant food to be brought on campus – at any time – not even during lunch. This includes cake, cupcakes, pizza, soda and etc., traditionally brought to school to replace school lunch and to celebrate birthdays and holidays. As a matter of regulatory compliance we will no longer allow parents to bring these items to school and they will not be served to students.

The school will host a monthly celebration day, (which may or may not include food) in which parents can bring in healthy food items such as fruits, proteins and vegetables.  Classroom celebrations and birthdays will no longer center around unhealthy food. As an alternative (for birthdays), parents are encouraged to donate a set of class pencils or similar educational item to the classroom on the designated celebration dates. Celebration days will be announced by the school/teacher in the beginning of the year.

Learning will continue to be the focus of your child’s school experience here at Carlton Oaks and there are many ways to help children feel special (on a birthday or otherwise) that will not include food. We will continue to celebrate academic and behavioral achievement which is the basis for a healthy self esteem.

We realize the enforcement and implementation of our Wellness Policy is a big change for our school community. We thank you in advance for your understanding and support of our efforts to contribute to healthy and well being of all student learners at Carlton Oaks. 

 LUNCH

All students at Carlton Oaks are required to bring or purchase a lunch. We recognized through research that students who eat breakfast and during lunch during the school day learn and focus better than students who skip meals.  Parents can choose for students to bring a nutritional lunch to school or purchase a school provided lunch. Students without a lunch will be required to call a parent to have a lunch brought to the school.  

SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM

Menus are sent home with students each month.  Student lunches are $2.25 and adult lunches are $3.25.   If your child buys lunch, the most important way you can help him/her is to pay their fees in advance. This is done by placing payment (one week or more) in a sealed envelope and sending it to the office each Monday morning. This amount is placed on account for your child so he/she doesn’t have to handle money during lunch time.

Negative Lunch Accounts 

Students that owe more then $6.75 on their meal account

 will receive an alternate meal from the cafeteria.

 An alternate meal will consist of a cheese stick, crackers and white milk.

Students are verbally reminded when their balances run low and receive a low balance notice to take home. Parents and Guardians can also check their student’s account balance on-line at www.mynutrikids.com

In addition an automated phone call will be made home on Mondays to students owing more then $4.50 on their lunch account.

Please feel free to call us at 619-258-2290 if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

SNACK PROGRAM

Second Chance Breakfast is actually a snack program implemented here at Carlton Oaks last year. During morning recess, students can purchase nutritional snack items. This is a very popular opportunity for our students and can also be paid in advanced as described in the above paragraph.

FREE AND REDUCED MEALS

A completed application must be submitted by a parent each year and approved by the Director of Child Nutrition for students to qualify for the free or reduced lunch program.  If you have any questions about this program, please contact the Child Nutrition Department at 619 258-2290

STUDENT LUNCH WORKERS

Students may participate in the Volunteer Lunch Workers’ Program.  The program involves voluntary students being released from class on a revolving schedule to help serve lunches.  A permission slip must be filled out and signed by the parent / guardian, and the classroom teacher must approve the student to be in good academic standing in order to participate. 

This program is for 5^th and 6^th grade students who wish to participate and who have the recommendation of their teacher.  The following criteria is taken into consideration: citizenship, attitude, effort, and responsibility.  The Sheriff’s Department provides training for the patrol.

All students are expected to obey the Safety Patrol members.  Safety Patrol students are on duty daily before and after school.

PARKING LOT

In order to ensure the safety of students, students are not allowed to walk in the parking lot or to cut through parked cars to get to their ride.  They are to wait until their ride is in the designated loading zone and must use the crosswalk (at all times) in the lot, then walk directly to the car.  Drivers, who are picking up children, need to be in the designated lanes, the middle lane is for through traffic only.  Having children cross the inside lane to go to a waiting car in the outside lane creates a safety hazard. There are absolutely no unattended cars in our parking lot expect for designated parking spaces.  Drivers are to remain in their vehicles at all times unless parked in a marked space.

During posted before and after school (during dismissal times) it is illegal to make a left turn with exiting our lot. When leaving Carlton Oaks cars must exit to the right at all times.

LOST AND FOUND

Clothing, lunch boxes, and other articles that are left in the classrooms will be kept in the rooms for a week.  Articles will then be placed in the “Lost and Found Rack”, which is kept in the lunch area.  Please clearly mark all jackets, sweaters, lunch boxes, etc. At the end of each trimester, unclaimed clothing will be donated to a charitable organization.

GIFTED AND TALENTED EDUCATION (G.A.T.E.)

The Santee School District offers a differentiated curriculum program for students who are identified for our G.A.T.E. program. Students are identified using multiple measures along with a set of comprehensive criteria that ensures G.A.T.E. would be appropriate educational placement. Carlton Oaks provides qualified students’ instructional differential to meet their educational needs. For more information regarding the District’s G.A.T.E. program please refer to the district parent handbook.  

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Carlton Oaks provides specialized academic instruction for students who qualify for special education, as determined through various assessments, and have active Individualized Education Programs (IEP's).  Support, for students with IEP's, can be provided by the Speech and Language Specialist, Resource Specialist, and/or special day class teacher.  If your child is new to our school or district and has an IEP, please notify the office.

LANGUAGE ARTS SPECIALIST

The language arts specialist offers the following services to students who qualify:

·        assesses reading skills

·        administers and interprets diagnostic tests

·        supplements reading instruction and keeps records

·        diagnoses reading problems in grades K- 8

·        provides language arts in-services and strategies for parents and teachers

STUDENT STUDY TEAM (SST) PROCESS

The Student Study Team (SST) is part of an intervention process at the site level.  If a child is having academic or behavior concerns, and the teacher has exhausted resources to offer assistance, the teacher or parent may refer the student’s case to the team.  The team consists of the classroom teacher, site administrator, Language Arts Specialist, school psychologist, Resource Specialist, and Speech and Language Specialist.  The process consists of a team meeting with the parent to discuss concerns and previous attempts to solve the issues.  It also reviews the outcomes of the attempts or interventions.  The team then discusses and plans the next steps of intervention to be implemented.  SST meetings are held on Monday mornings throughout the school year.

ENGLISH LEARNER ADVISORY COMMITTEE (ELAC)

Because Carlton Hills serves bilingual students, an English Language Advisory (ELAC) committee has been implemented. The purpose of the committee is to allow parents of English Learners an opportunity to discuss issues regarding the education of their children and their unique needs as bilingual learners and how those unique needs are met.

The committee meets several times over the course of the school year.  Parents are elected through peer election (by other parents of bilingual students) to serve on the committee. The Santee School District also hosts a District (level) English Language Advisory committee which serves to inform and collaborate with parents in the education of all bilingual students in our district.

SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL (SSC)

Carlton Oaks has a School Site Council, a group of elected parents, staff members, and administrators who work together to discuss relevant school issues, make decisions regarding the use of categorical funds, and monitor implementation of the school program.  The council meets once a month and is open for anyone interested to attend. 

SCHOOL PRIDE

We are proud of our school’s new and updated appearance and would appreciate your cooperation in helping us to instill in your children pride and respect for school property. 

Thank you in advance for your help, support, and cooperation.  The 2012-2013 school year will be another great year for our Carlton Oaks School family.