Vista Colorado Elementary SCHOOL

Mission Statement

Vista Instills Safe Team Attitudes In a

Community Of Learners Together Succeeding

Vista Colorado Elementary School is committed to the belief that all

students have the inherent right to a quality education. There is a desire to create an atmosphere of high expectations that motivates curiosity, student potential, and the desire to become a lifelong learner in a global society. Staff, students and parents believe that they must work together in a structured and safe environment for learning to take place. Every effort will be made to encourage student achievement and an individual sense of pride in self, school and community.

Vista Colorado Elementary School

1900 Erin Drive

Needles, CA. 92363

Office numbers: 760-326-2167

Fax line: 760-326-6565

VCES Office hours: 7:30a.m. ~ 3:30p.m.

VCES Office hours on Early Release Day: 7:30a.m. ~ 1:00p.m.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Students are not to be on campus prior to 7:30 a.m. unless specifically requested by a teacher for an activity or tutoring. Those students arriving in class after the first bell rings at 8:00 are tardy and MUST report to the office before going to class.

EXAMPLES OF ITEMS NOT ALLOWED ON CAMPUS

Sunflower seeds, gum, energy drinks, skateboards, roller blades, roller skates, razor scooters, electronic devices, laser pointers, permanent markers, toys, water guns, balloons, pet paraphernalia, trading cards, nail polish, aerosol spray, bandanas, helium balloons, stuffed animals, or flowers. *Please arrange for special celebration items to be delivered at home so that there is no disruption of the academic process.Items listed abovewill be confiscated and released only to a parent/guardian.The school districtis not responsible for a student’s lost, missing, confiscated or damaged electronic equipment. Please keep allvaluables at home. Students will be subject to disciplinary action according to the discipline policy and accountability plan. This list is not comprehensive, any item deemed unsafe or an educational distraction is not permitted on campus.

GRADES

Student Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) is calculated by using the average of all quarter grades. Letter grades will be assigned the following point values:

A=4.0= Outstanding performance

B=3.0=Above Average Performance

C=2.0=Average Performance

D=1.0=Below average performance

F=0.0=Failing performance

Percentage scores:100-90% =A, 89-80%=B, 79-70%=C, 69-60%=D, and 59% and below=F.

REPORT CARDS

If a parent/guardian has any questions regarding his/her student’s grades on the report card, please call the office to make an appointment to meet with the teacher or speak with the Principal. You may phone the office at 326-3894, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. until 3:30p.m.

PROGRESS REPORTS

Parent access – online Needles Unified School District Website: This website permits parents and/or guardians to follow the step by step process to gain access to student information.

VISTA COLORADO DRESS CODE GUIDELINES

  1. All students shall follow the dress code guidelines:
  1. Shirts may not have rolled up sleeves, be tied at the waist, or knotted.
  2. Shirts may be worn tucked in or out of the pant.
  3. “Low-cut” shirts or tops exposing cleavage are not permitted to be worn at school.
  4. ‘Muscle’ t-shirts are not permitted to be worn at school.
  5. Students are not permitted to wear spaghetti strap shirts or tank tops.
  6. ALL shirts MUST have sleeves. Capped sleeves may be worn.
  7. No undergarments shall be visible at any time. No “see-through” or “fish-net” types of clothing may be worn without appropriate undershirt.
  8. Exposed midriffs are unacceptable. Students must be able to raise arms above their head and have no area of the body uncovered.
  9. Sagging or excessively baggy pants are unacceptable. Pants or shorts must not extend more than 2 inches away from the waist. Saggy pants or shorts must be secured by a belt so as not to “sag” or expose underclothing.
  10. Length of shorts, skirts, and dresses must reach below the end of the fingers when student’s arms are fully extended at the student’s sideor 5” inches from inseam.
  11. No student shall wear articles of clothing, gloves, pajamas, jewelry (lip rings, nose piercing, piercing that could cause injury to the student at PE or on campus) “excessive” facial make-up, hats, pet paraphernalia, doo-rags, or accessories, which in the opinion of the teacher, instructional assistant, school personnel, and/or principal poses a threat to the physical well-being and safety of the student and others; OR is disruptive or a distraction of the school operation and the educational process in general. (No spikes, hanging straps, wristbands, bandanas, slippers, hanging chains or wallets, etc…)
  12. Safe and appropriate footwear must be worn at all times.
  13. Open-front/zippered long-sleeved sweatshirts, sweaters, jackets, or pullover sweatshirts may not contain any logos or graphics that are “suggestive or offensive” in nature.
  1. Picture Day:
  1. General dress code requirements apply at all times.

Consequences for failure to conform to the guidelines of the dress code will be addressed according to the discipline plan and by the principal or principal designee. (NUSD BOARD APPROVED)

INTERVENTION CLASSES

Students will be assigned to Intervention Classes in English Language Arts or Math based on a variety of measurements. Not all measurements will be applied. Upon entry to Intervention Class, students will be diagnosed for standards’ gaps. Instruction will be tied to deficiencies. Students’ placement will be based on sections available:

  • Declining scores on Benchmark Assessments
  • Reading comprehension levels below grade level
  • Below grade level on the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills

Students will be given multiple opportunities to exit the Intervention Class when mastery has been achieved in targeted areas:

  • Students will be assessed at the 9-week benchmark for mastery of targeted skills and possible exit from Intervention.
  • Teachers will have the discretion to assess students any time they deem appropriate for exit from Intervention Class based on mastery of targeted skills.

POLICY FOR CLASS CHANGES

No changes in class schedules will be granted unlessthe Principal makes the change.

CITIZENSHIP

It is each student’s responsibility to display qualities of good citizenship. Excellent student conduct is expected both inside the classroom and on campus. Vista Colorado Elementary School teachers and staff strive to develop good habits in students, which lead to productive citizenship. Expect teachers and staff to correct your mistakes. They will give special emphasis to honesty, morality, and courtesy. Obedience to law, respect for our country and the flag, respect for parents, family, and home, and the recognition of the dignity and necessity of honest labor are characteristics desired and expected of all students.

EARTHQUAKE / FIRE DRILLS

Earthquake: In the event of an earthquake, students should immediately find shelters beneath their desks or other protective covering and protect the back of their necks with their arms and hands. Remain in that position until the all clear has sounded. Earthquake drills will be preceded by the command “duck and cover”.

Fire: In the event of a fire or other emergency, the signal to evacuate the building will be an intermittent sounding of the fire alarm. There is an evacuation plan posted in each classroom. Teachers will instruct students regarding specific procedures and necessary safety precautions.

VISITORS

Parents and visitors to the campus must be cleared through the office. Visitors, other than parents, must have a specific reason for coming on campus. PARENTS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME; however, he/she must check in with the office upon arrival at the campus. The school staff appreciates as little interference aspossible, educating students is our top priority. In case of emergency, please notify the office. STUDENT VISITORS ARE NOT PERMITTED AT SCHOOL OR ANY DANCES. This is Needles Unified School District policy. If you have any questions, you may call the school office at 760-326-2167.

USE OF THE PHONE

Students must obtain permission to use the phone in the school office. The phone may be used ONLY in case of emergency. Use of the phone is NOT PERMITTED to verify permission to go on extracurricular trips, field trips or to have parents or others bring items from home to school (i.e., homework, books, lunch money, P.E. clothes, sports gear, etc.) as students are expected to take responsibility for these matters BEFORE coming to school. Please plan and pack your backpack, lunches and sports bags, and absence notes the evening before. Be prepared BEFORE coming to school.

BOOKS/BACKPACKS

Students are responsible for their own books, backpacks, and personal belongings. Students should not bring valuables to school. The school is not responsible for stolen or lost items. Students are responsible for loss or damage to all textbooks and/or school property. The average cost to replace any textbook is forty five dollars ($45.00). Students are not permitted to leave his/her backpacks on campus over night or over the weekend. Students are encouraged to not leave backpacks unattended due to school theft.

ATTENDANCE

Excused Absences – Absences that a parent or guardian excuses which are because of the following reasons will be considered EXCUSED on the student's admit-to-class slip and in the official attendance records of both the school and the teachers. Education Code 48205 specifies the reasons for which a student may be legally and justifiably absent from school: Notwithstanding Section 48200, a pupil shall be excused from school when the absence is:

  1. Due to his or her illness.

2.Due to quarantine under the direction of a county or city health officer.

3.For the purpose of having medical, dental, optometric, or chiropractic services rendered.

4.For the purpose of attending the funeral services of a member of his or her immediate family, so long as the absence is not more than one day if the service is conducted in California and not more than three days if the service is conducted outside California.

5.For the purpose of jury duty in the manner provided for by law.

6.Due to the illness or medical appointment during school hours of a child or whom the pupil is the custodial parent.

7.For justifiable personal reasons, including, but not limited to, an appearance in court, attendance at a funeral service, observance of a holiday or ceremony of his or her religion, attendance at religious retreats, attendance at an employment conference, or attendance at an educational conference on the legislative or judicial process offered by a nonprofit organization when the pupil's absence is requested in writing by the parent or guardian and approved by the principal or a designated representative pursuant to uniform standards established by the governing board.

8. For the purpose of serving as a member of a precinct board for an election pursuant to Section 12302 of the Elections Code.

9.For the purpose of spending time with a member of the pupil’s immediate family, who is an active duty member of the uniformed services, as defined in Section 49701, and has been called to duty for, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from, deployment to a combat zone or combat support position. Absences granted pursuant to this paragraph shall be granted for a period of time to be determined at the discretion of the superintendent of the school district.

10.Other reasons that are within the discretion of school administrators and, based on the facts of the pupil’s circumstances, are deemed to constitute a valid excuse.

A pupil absent from school under this section shall be allowed to complete all assignments and tests missed during the absence that can be reasonably provided and, upon satisfactory completion within a reasonable period of time, shall be given full credit therefor. The teacher of the class from which a pupil is absent shall determine which tests and assignments shall be reasonably equivalent to, but not necessarily identical to, the tests and assignments that the pupil missed during the absence. For purposes of this section, attendance at religious retreats shall not exceed four hours per semester. Members of the immediate family, as used in this section, means the mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, or a grandchild of the pupil or of the spouse of a pupil, and the spouse, son, son-in-law, daughter, daughter-in-law, brother, or sister of the pupil, or any relative living in the immediate household of the pupil.

All other parent excused absences will be considered UNEXCUSED on the student’s admit-to-class slip and in the official attendance records of both the school and the teachers.

ABSENCE PROCEDURES

Absence verification is a note, phone call or parent visit explaining any and all reasons for an absence and must accompany a student upon his or her return to school. When a student returns to school from an absence with verification from his or her parent or guardian explaining the reason for that absence, it will be determined at that time whether the absence was EXCUSED or UNEXCUSED. If a student returns from an absence without verification, the absence(s) will automatically become an UNEXCUSED/UNVERIFIED absence and recorded in this manner. Parents will have five (5) school days to clear the absence. You may call the office at 760-326-2167 to report or clear an absence or tardy. Students lose valuable instructional time when not in class.

TARDIES

Students, who arrive after the firstmorning bell rings, must come into the office for a tardy admit-to-class slip. Only official documentation (doctor’s note, court hearing, etc.) will excuse a tardy. Parents/guardians may be sent a SARB referral for habitual tardiness as well as forabsences.

UNVERIFIED and TRUANCY ABSENCES

Unverified absences MUST be verified with a note, phone call or office visit from a parent or guardian within five (5) school days.

A student is truant for the following reasons:

  1. Student is absent from school without a valid excuse three full days in one school year;
  2. Student is tardy or absent for more than a 30-minute period during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year;
  3. Any combination thereof.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REVIEW BOARD (SARB)

Vista Colorado Elementary School utilizes the SARB process to address matters related to irregular school attendance. The SARB process involves bringing together the student, parents, and such other persons as the school district designates to attempt to resolve the problems related to this matter. If such efforts are not successful, the SARB referral may be turned over to appropriate San Bernardino County juvenile authorities for resolution. Letter from the school will notify parents after 3 unexcused absences and at 6 unexcused absences, the parent will receive a SARB referral to appear before a hearing panel.

IRREGULAR ATTENDANCE

Vista Colorado Elementary School policy on irregular attendance is based on a student failing to be in actual attendance 70% or better during any attendance month. Irregular attendance will be reported to the District School Attendance Review Board (SARB).

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

Substitute teachers are important to the Vista Colorado Elementary School educational program and will be treated with respect and common courtesy. Misbehavior for a substitute teacher is a serious offense and will be treated accordingly to the discipline and accountability plan.

LUNCH PROGRAM

Students have approximately 40 minutes for lunch. A student may go home for lunch only if a parent or guardian comes into the school office and signs them out and returns them to campus. Office personnel are not permitted to sign students out. Students not signed out for lunch are to remain on campus. Students may purchase lunch from the school cafeteria or bring lunch from home. Student behavior is expected to be exemplary during lunchtime. Students who cannot eat in a civilized manner or who leave the cafeteria in a messy or unsanitary condition will be required to eat in a separate area until the behavior is corrected. If necessary, parents may be required to sit with their student to correct unacceptable behavior. Referrals may be issued.

FREE or REDUCED LUNCH PROGRAM

Students may receive meals free of charge if they reside in households receiving food stamps or AFDC. They also may receive meals free of charge or at a reduced price if they meet the California Eligibility Scale for Free and Reduced Price Meals. In order for a household to apply for free or reduced price meals for their children, the household must complete an eligibility application for free and reduced price meals and return it to the school office. The eligibility application will be sent to every household whose children attend Needles Unified School District. ALL Needles Unified School District students are issued a four-digit I.D. pin number to use in the cafeteria. Students do not know who are on free or reduced lunches by using the 4 ~ digit I.D. pin number system. The cafeteria manager is the only person who has record of students receiving free or reduced lunches.

MEDICATIONS GIVEN DURING SCHOOL HOURS

California State Education Code, section 11753.1, states: “Any pupil who is required to take, during the regular school day, medication prescribed for him by a physician, may be assisted by the designated school personnel if the school district receives (1) a written statement from the physician detailing the method, amount, and time schedule by which such medication is to be taken, and (2) a written statement from the parent or guardian of the pupil indicating the desire that the school district assist the pupil in the matters set forth in the physician’s statement. The district personnel must administer any over-the-counter medications such as aspirin or cough medicine and log the time dispensed.