Our Lady of Guadalupe School

Parent-Student Handbook

20165-20176

Our Lady of Guadalupe School

40374 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538

Phone: 510-657-1674 FAX: 510-657-3659

http://www.guadalupe-school.com

Dear Parents and Students,

“ear Parents and Students,l.comA 94538toCatholic schools, which always strive to join their work of education with the explicit proclamation of the Gospel, are a most valuable resource for the evangelization of culture寿鬀úｘ…”
Pope Francis

Welcome to Our Lady of Guadalupe School! In choosing Our Lady of Guadalupe School, you have demonstrated a commitment to the values and philosophy of a Catholic education.

The Parent-Student Handbook reflects the our school’s policies of Our Lady of Guadalupe School for the 2016-2017 school year. Please read this document carefully and sign the attached agreement on the last page of this handbook. This agreement states that you intend to abide by the policies of Our Lady of Guadalupe School during the 2016-2017 school year.

The Our faculty and staff of Our Lady of Guadalupe School look forward to working with you to promote academic excellence and spiritual development in the context of the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Together let us pray that God, who has begun this good work in us, may carry it through to completion.

God bless you,

S. Janice Therese Wellington, O.P.
Principal

Mission Statement

Our Lady of Guadalupe School educates children in the Catholic faith and nurtures their minds, bodies , and souls, inspiring them to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ, achieve their highest academic and creative potential, and actively serve and enrich the community.

Philosophy

The staff of Our Lady of Guadalupe School provides a supportive environment that allows for individual creativity. The teachers encourage the each students to become an independent thinkers by providing lessons that develop the growth of his or her body, soul and mind. The staff is committed to offering an array of lessons and activities to support all types of learners.

Our Lady of Guadalupe School community, while placing emphasis on a structured curriculum, believes in finding and implementing innovative teaching methods. The strength of the school is its dedication to supporting the needs and talents of the individual child in a safe and nurturing environment in which children of all ethnicities, faiths and genders are respected.

The school, a Roman Catholic community which incorporates the teachings traditions and beliefs of the Dominican Sisters, is dedicated to providing a spiritual education. The Pastor, administration and staff create a spiritual atmosphere by allowing students to participate in liturgical experiences throughout the school year. The holistic, spiritual teachings are enhanced by Diocesan guidelines. The nurturing of the student’s’ moral and spiritual development assists the student’s’ academic growth by creating a tolerance in which the basics of education can broaden and flourish.

Our Lady of Guadalupe School is a child-centered school that empowers students to believe in themselves and their abilities. While recognizing the parent as the primary educator, the teacher facilitates the student’s’ development. The Pastor, staff and parents are dedicated to creating life-long learners who are also integrated learners, aware of Christian values, academically capable, communicatively effective, socially and globally aware.

Vision Statement

We are a faith-filled community where children are nurtured by passionate faculty, enriched by strong, religious values, and elevated by high academic expectations and diverse resource programs designed to bring out the best in every child.

No Bully Program

We as a school community strive to create an environment that embraces differences and is inclusive; however, this does not mean that undesirable behaviors from people in the community will not arise. The No Bully program helps with defusing problems and creating a safe environment for students, parents, and staff. The No Bully program is a partnership with a nonprofit organization in San Francisco and it is geared toward establishing a peaceful community by changing the behaviors and mindsets of the individuals who are bullying or acting in an aggressive manner.

Social Vision Statement

[developed from the No Bully program]}

Christ told us that we are all children of God.

At Our Lady of Guadalupe, we accept everyone for who they are.

Here are examples of what we strive for:

Students, parents, and staff only speak respectfully to each other

and about each other.

Students, parents, and staff trust the goodness of each other’s intentions.
Students, parents, and staff are welcoming and kind to each other.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Attendance and Tardiness 7

Take Your Child to Work Day 7

Tardiness 7

Abuse of School Personnel 8

Accelerated Reader Program 8

Admission Policies 9

After School Activities 9

Altar Servers 10

Assemblies 10

Awards 10

Bicycles 12

Books 12

Bulletin 12

Calendar 12

Camps 13

Camp Arroyo 13

Coloma Outdoor Discovery School 13

CYO Camp 13

Carpools 13

Cell Phones 13

Change of Address, Telephone or Email Address 13

Chewing Gum 14

Child Abuse or Neglect 14

Choir 14

Classroom Parties 14

Birthdays 14

Committees 15

Facilities 15

Finance 15

Parent – Teacher – Service Group (PTSG) 15

School Board 15

Technology 15

Contact Information 15

Custody Documents 15

CYO Sports 16

Daily Schedule 16

dancersDivine 16

Disciplinary Policies and Procedures 17

Dress Code 20

General Guidelines 20

Free Dress 22

Uniforms 22

Boys Uniform Requirements 23

Girls Uniform Requirements 24

Electronic Devices 25

Emergency Information 25

Emergency Procedures 25

Extended Care Program 26

Extra-Curricular Activities Requirements 29

Field Trips 29

Parent Driver Volunteers 30

Grades 30

Standards Based Grading, (K-3) 30

Progress Reports 31

Report Cards 31

K-3 Grading Scale for ELA, Math and Science 32

Grades K – 3 Grading Scale for all other subjects 32

Grades 4-8 Grading Scale for Art, Music, PE 32

Grades 4 – 8 Grading Scale for all other subjects 32

Grades K-8 Grading Scale for Life Skills 32

Grade Point Average 32

Graffiti 33

Health 33

Medication 33

Special Medical Information 33

Health Screenings 33

Immunizations 33

Homework 33

Internet and Technology 34

Internet and Technology Use Agreement 34

Invitations to Out-of-School Parties 39

Leaving School Early 40

Library 40

Lost and Found 40

Lunches & Snacks 40

Pizza Lunch 40

ChoiceLunch 41

Beverages 41

Mandatory Parent Meetings 41

Parent/Teacher Conferences 41

Parents in the Classroom 41

Permission to Walk Home 42

Personnel 2016 – 2017 43

Administration 43

Teachers & Instructional Assistants 43

Junior High Departmental Program 44

Staff 44

Physical Education 44

Playground/Yard Rules 44

Registration/Enrollment Fees 45

School Photos 45

Service Hours 46

Sexual Harassment Policy 46

Policy Statement 46

Definition of Sexual Harassment 46

Employee to Student Sexual Harassment 47

Student to Student Sexual Harassment 47

Complaint Procedure 47

Spiritual Celebrations 47

Student Council 48

Student Council Members 2016-2017 48

Student Insurance 48

Telephone 48

Cell Phones 48

Traffic 49

Parking 49

Drop Off & Pick Up Procedures (see map on next page) 49

Before School Drop Off Diagram: 50

Before School Drop Off 50

Rainy Day Drop Off 51

After School Pick-Up 52

Tuition and Fees 53

Tuition 53

School Account 53

8th Grade Year-End Fees 53

Delinquent Accounts 53

Visitors 53

Diocesan K-3 Grading Scale………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..54

Family Verification of Having Read the Parent-Student Handbook 55

Student Learning Expectations 56

Attendance and Tardiness; Absent Notices

If a child is absent, a parent must phone the school office, 510-657-1674, or send an email us atto
before 9:00 am a.m. every day that the student isy are out of school. If parents do
not call the office, the school secretary will call the parent to determine the reason for the absence. The
school day begins at 8:00 am a.m. for grades K-8 and students not inside the bench line at that time will be marked tardy/absent. The school day begins at 8:00 am or 9:00 for pre-Kindergarten and parents must sign in for their child. Parents should make a definite effort to keep their child’s attendance regular.

A student who has been absent is required to present a written excuse, properly dated, stating the reason for his/her absence and signed by the parent(s)/legal guardian(s). When a student arrives after recess s/he is a halfg (1/2) day absent.

Dental and medical appointments should be confined to after-school hours and vacation periods. If it is necessary for a student to keep such appointments during school time, a note from home is required requesting permission to leave school. The student must be signed out in the office by the parent/guardian before being released from school. A note from the doctor’s office is necessary to verify tardy or absence as a medical excuse rather than a recorded tardy/absence.

If your child has been absent from school, he/she may not participate in school-sponsored extra-curricular activities on the days he/she is absent (e.g. if a student is sick and has not attended school, he/she may not attend a play rehearsal after school that same day). Students with a fever may not return to school until he/she is fever-free for at least 24 hours.

Taking children out of school for extended vacations is detrimental to their educational success. If they absolutely must leave school for a family trip, a note must be sent in advance to the child’s teacher and to the office regarding this planned absence. The student is responsible for work missed, and no work will be provided to the student before he/she leaves. Each grade level will determine how best to support the student with regard to missing school. This policy applies to all students in grades K-8.

California has a compulsory education law, which requires that children between the ages of six and eighteen must attend school. We are require to abide by this law as a private, accredited educational institution “Excessive absence” is being absent from school for six (6) absences per trimester or a total of eighteen (18) days per school year. Truancy is reserved for students whose absences are not related to medical issues that have been documented by a note from a doctor. (From the Diocesan handbook, section 6220) When If an email was not sent to the school upon returning to school after anhaving been absencet, a child must bring an excuse noten email or note must be sent to the school from , written and signed by his/herthe student’s parent or /guardian, properly dated, and specifying the cause for the absence. If a child is absent for ten consecutive? (10) days during a report card period, the report card grades may not be given. (From the Diocesan handbook, section 6220)

If your child has been absent from school, he/she may not participate in school-sponsored extra-curricular activities on the days he/she isthey are absent (e.g. if a student is sick and has not attended school, he/she may not attend a play rehearsal after school that same day). Students with a fever may not return to school until he/she is fever-free for at least 24 hours.

Taking children out of school for extended vacations can be is detrimental to their educational success. If they absolutely must leave school for a family trip, a note must be sent in advance to the child’s teacher and to the office regarding this planned absence. The student is responsible for work missed, and no work will be provided to the student until he/she returns to school. Each grade level will determine how best to support the student with regard to missing school. This policy applies to all students in grades K-8.

Take Your Child to Work Day

Many companies have programs for a parent to bring a child to work on a specific day, usually called Take Your Child to Work Day. Parents who wish to participate in this program must write a note or email to the office, prior to the designated day when the student will be absent. The student must accompany their parent to work for the absence to be marked as excused. This specially designated day is not to be taken as a holiday to stay away home from school.

The students will be expected to share their experiences with their class upon their return, as it is an opportunity for students to have the valuable experience of learning outside the classroom. This sharing must include pictures of the student at their parent’s work.

Tardiness

Forming good habits of punctuality has a positive effect on the child’s self-esteem. Children must be inside the line of benches by the 2nd bell (8:00 am) or they will be marked tardy. Children who arrive late are to report to the tardy line, located next to the 8th Grade line and report to the office before going to class. It is disruptive both to the child’s learning as well as the class’s focus, when a child comes into class late.

If a student has a doctor/dentist appointment, a note from the doctor/dentist must be submitted to the school upon the child’s return. This will be then be considered a medical excused tardy. Emergencies are understood, however, they should be rare.

Children must be inside the line of benches by the 2nd bell (8:00 am a.m.) or they will be marked tardy. Tardiness will not be excused for being caught in excessive traffic or foron rainy days.

“Excessive tardiness” is being late four (4) times per trimester or a total of twelve (12) times per school year.

Excessive absence or tardiness, even if necessary and excused, may be ground for decreased credit or disciplinary action. (From the Diocesan handbook, section 6220)

Abuse of School Personnel

It is very important that mutual respect is shown at all times among parents and staff. Concerns about issues that naturally arise should be handled with integrity in a reasonable, peaceful manner, which is how we teach the children to address conflict management situations among their peers. Staff, parents/guardians, and students shall conform themselves to standards of conduct that are consistent with the Catholic principles of the school. These principles include, but are not limited to: