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School Office Procedure
Office Hours
The school office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Parents should call the school in order to set up an appointment with
a particular teacher or staff member, rather than stop by on the chance
of securing an impromptu conference.
Attendance Procedures
Parents must telephone the school by 9:00 AM if their child will be
absent. For safety reasons, we must confirm all absences. The Attendance
Hot Line number is 897-9082 ext. 700. When a child is home sick, they
need to rest and recuperate so they can return to school quickly. It
will not be necessary to request homework during short absence periods.
Teachers will make individual decisions as to what work must be completed
when children return. They will contact families directly if there is
anything a child misses or needs to make up. Homework will not be faxed.
Classroom Visitation
Parents are welcome to visit the school; however, they need to call
in advance to make an appointment. School board policy requires
all parents to sign in and wear a visitor badge while on campus. When
parents arrive to pick up a child for a mid-day appointment, they are
to come to the office, rather than disrupt a classroom lesson. Parents
are asked to be considerate of this request, as the sign-in system is
designed to keep our children safe and is school board policy. We need
to know who has the right to be on campus and who does not.
Lost and Found
Please label garments, lunch boxes, and other belongings with your
child's name so lost items can be returned to your child. Unclaimed items
will be donated to charity at winter break and at the end of the school
year. Any items brought to school are at the students' own risk.
Medication
State law prohibits students from carrying any kind
of medication. Should a student be required to take medication during
school hours, he or she must have a medication release form signed by
his or her physician on file in the office. Medication must be kept in
the school office. Medication release forms can be picked up at the school
office.
Use of Office Telephone – Telephone Messages
Parents are requested to finalize after school activities and social
arrangements before their children come to school, so it will not be
necessary for children to use the office phone. Student use of the office
phone is for emergencies only. The office will not relay
messages regarding after school plans, pickup, etc., unless it is an
emergency.
We appreciate that parents respect that school staff needs to be in
the business of running the school at all times.
Home/School
Communication
Reporting Student Progress
The staff at Rancho makes every effort to keep parents well informed about their child’s progress. In addition to ongoing evaluations of individual work, formal reports to parents are written three times during the school year. In these reports, academic progress, effort, attitude, and study skills are evaluated.
2007-2008 Reporting Schedule
Fall Report: Parent Conferences,
Report given at Parent/Teacher Conference
Mid-Year Report: March: Report sent home with child, Conferences on an as needed basis
End of Year Report: June: Report sent home with child
Friday Folders
Regular communication between school and home will happen through the “Friday Folder”. Please return this folder with your child each Monday and ask him/her about it on Friday after school. General school information and items from your child’s teacher will be sent home in this manner. Your child’s work is sent home in the Friday Folder each week. The Friday Folder is to be signed by you and your child to state that you have reviewed the classroom papers. The weekly papers alert you to any problems that you will be able to help your child with. Parent involvement promotes pride and provides motivation for your child.
Friday Flash
The Friday Flash is our PTA Newsletter and will come home with your child weekly in their Friday Folder. It will contain news on what is happening at Rancho and upcoming events. This is an extremely valuable communication tool between school and home. Please watch for it each week.
Contacting Teachers
- Note, voice mail or e-mail, if provided. Teacher will reply within 24 hours, if able.
- Contact office and a note will be placed in teacher’s box.
- Requests for conferences,
apart from regular conferences,
should be made in writing,
delivered to office and
will be put in teacher’s box.
Back to School Night
This evening provides parents with an opportunity to meet all of the teachers with whom their children will be working with in the coming year, to learn about the curriculum that will be followed, and the expectations that teachers have for students.
Back to School Night Date: Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Open House
In the spring, the staff and students invite the community to share students’ accomplishments for the year. There will be displays of student work that show the continuity of the program. Children are welcome to attend Open House.
Open House Date: Thursday, April 3, 2008
Concerns or Complaints
Step 1: When someone has a concern or complaint, he or she is expected to first contact the person against whom the complaint is lodged. Parents are encouraged to attempt to resolve concerns directly with the staff member involved. Often problems are reconciled at this level.
Step 2: If a problem is not reconciled after the conference with the complainant, a parent may request a meeting with the principal. The principal will try to reconcile the issue on an informal level between both parties. If the parent continues to feel that the issue is unresolved, the principal can assist the parent in following a formal process.
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Attendance Policy
Regular attendance at school is very important so that your children
can derive full benefit from the instructional program. Schools are
supported by State aid, which is based upon daily attendance of each
child. Only actual seat time is counted. If a child is absent for whatever
reason, we do not receive funds. We are dependent on
the funds to support our educational program.
Should your child be absent, please call the school attendance line
at 897-9082 (ext. 700), 24-hours a day. Send a note
with your child upon return to school with the date(s) of absence, reasons,
and your signature. Please schedule medical or other appointments after
the school day. Parents are asked to consider both the educational as
well as the financial impact when taking children out during non-vacation
periods.
Truancy is an extremely serious matter. The law requires that we notify
you when your child is absent without a valid excuse for more than 3
days or is tardy in excess of 30 minutes on more than 3 days.
Children who arrive late should report to the office first before
going to class.
Office staff will contact the homes of students reported absent whose
parents have not called. This service is to assure the safety of our
students and also assists us with record keeping. If your child is going
to be absent 2 or more days and you want homework for your child, it
is important that you call the office by 10:00 AM to receive homework
for the day. The homework will be ready in the office after 2:45 PM.
However, keep children out of school when they are sick. A child with
the beginning symptoms of a cold, such as sneezing or runny eyes and
nose, should stay at home. A child should remain at home if he/she has
swollen glands, a sore throat, rashes or sores, abnormal temperature,
nausea, earache, headache or lice. Contagious diseases should be reported
to the office.
Emergency telephone numbers are important, as the office staff often
needs to send sick children home during school hours. Parents are expected
to arrange to have their children picked up when they are sick, however
inconvenient that may be at the time.
Leaving School Early
We ask that a parent, guardian or responsible adult, who is listed
on the emergency card, come to the office to sign students out during
regular school hours. When a child needs to leave early, please notify
the office and teacher ahead of time.
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Campus and Field Trip Safety
Closed Campus
Rancho Elementary is a closed campus to ensure the protection of
the students. During the school day, students will be permitted to leave
the school premises only in the company of a parent, guardian or an
authorized adult. Other than the usual dismissal time, the parent or
authorized adult must sign the student out at the office. Parents should
notify the office in writing if their child will be picked up during
the school day. The person picking up the child must be on record on
the child’s emergency card in the office as one who is authorized
to do so.
Our goals are to protect instructional time and provide a safe environment
for Rancho students. Visitors, including parents, must check into the
office to leave messages, lunches, etc. Staff will see that they are
delivered. If the teacher is expecting a parent to volunteer in the
class, that parent should check in with the office to sign in and pick
up an identification badge.
Keeping children to a consistent plan provides them additional security.
The staff at Rancho wants parents and students to avoid making spontaneous
decisions about after school and before school activities. Parents should
remind children to follow established plans.
Field Trips
In connection with the educational program, individual classes may
take trips several times during the school year. The teacher will notify
parents every time the class is preparing for a field trip. Parents
must sign the Field Trip Permission Form sent home. This allows children
to attend the field trip. Parents always have the option
to deny permission for a particular field trip. The children may remain
at school to do assignments. Supervision will be provided.
Friday Folders
Regular communication between school and home will happen through
the “Friday Folder”. It will come home with your child on
the first day of school and contain important information and some items
for signature. Please return this folder with your child each Monday
and ask him/her about it on Friday after school. General school information
and items from your child’s teacher will be sent home in this
manner. Your child’s work is sent home in the Friday Folder each
week. The Friday Folder is to be signed by you and your child to state
that you have reviewed the classroom papers. The weekly papers alert
you to any problems that you will be able to help your child with. Parent
involvement promotes pride and provides motivation for your child.
Drivers
Parents have been supportive by providing transportation on these
special occasions. The following set of requirements has been provided
to ensure that Rancho children are protected while riding with volunteer
and/or staff-provided drivers.
Policies in order to be a parent driver:
- Parent driver must complete the “Parent
Drivers” form and turn it into the school
office at least 10 working days prior to the
field trip.
- Parent driver must attach a copy of his/her
current California Driver’s License to
the “Parent Drivers” form.
- Parent driver must attach a copy of his/her
current insurance policy which states that he/she
carries a district minimum of $100,000/$300,000
bodily injury and $25,000 property damage.
- Parent driver must attach a copy of the Department
of Motor Vehicles Information Request. The DMV
charges $5.00 for processing this report, or
you can ask your insurance agent if they can
obtain one for you.
- Parent driver must carry only the number of
passengers for which their vehicle is designed.
All passengers must use their seatbelts at all
times, one passenger per seatbelt. Note:
Students under the age of 6 or weighing less
than 60 pounds must be in a child safety seat.
- Parent driver must conduct a thorough vehicle
inspection prior to the trip. The inspection
should include lights, horn, turn signals, brakes,
tires (including spare) and emergency tools.
- Caravan travel is required if more than one
vehicle is used for the trip.
Once these forms are on file and approved, the parent will be allowed
to transport students on district trips throughout the remainder of
the school year. Parent must submit a new form with the above required
information each school year OR if there has been a change to his/her
vehicle’s insurance limits.
The parent driver is primarily responsible in the event of an accident
or injury resulting from the use of their vehicle. The district accepts
no responsibility for damage or loss to the vehicle resulting from use
on the trip.
Fingerprinting Procedures
All outside presenters and local after school program consultants are required to be fingerprinted through the Marin County Office of Education. Classroom volunteers are not required at this time to be fingerprinted, but are required to have current TB test results on file.
Lunch Time Activities
- Running Club: Tuesday and Friday
- Library: 1 st through 5 th -- Monday, Tuesday,
Thursday, Friday
- Playground Games
Lunch
The Food and Nutritional Services Department has installed a Point
of Sale (POS) ID System. Each student is assigned a 4-digit ID number,
which is the last 4 digits of their current ID number. Students will
enter their lunch ID number in a key pad each time they purchase items
in the lunchroom. Please make sure that your child keeps their lunch
ID number confidential.
Lunch (hot and cold meals and milk) is available at school on a pre-paid
weekly basis for $12.50. Pre-payments are accepted and encouraged. Make
sure that your child’s name and lunch ID number is written on
the check or on the envelope, if cash is sent. Credit card payments
are also accepted. The amount of pre-payment deposit is entirely up
to each family; it can range from one week, one month, or even a year.
You decide how much to deposit. The POS will record the purchase and
charge any appropriate amounts to their account. Students will be reminded
when they need to deposit more money in their account. If you purchase
lunch daily, the cost is $2.50 per day. Reduced priced and free lunches
are available for eligible students. Forms can be picked up at the school
office.
Milk is sold daily for 35 cents. If your child brings lunch to school,
use plastic containers. Glass containers are unsafe.
Child Care
The YMCA, a private child care provider, offers childcare on the
Rancho campus. Hours during the school day are 7:00 AM to 6:30 PM for
grades K-5. Scholarships are available to eligible families. Call 898-6061
for information. Please do not call the school. We do not have information
about the program.
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Rancho School Rules
Rancho is a wonderful school, a safe place to learn and grow.
To maintain this environment we have school wide rules. It is important
for all students and parents to understand and support these rules.
Safety, respect and commonsense underscore our expectations for student
behavior.
Students will be responsible for:
- Being good learners and obeying all school
rules
- Following the directions given by teachers
and other adults
- Being respectful, polite and kind to other
students and adults
- Being on time to class
- Respecting other people’s things and
school property
RECESS provides students with a time to play after
long periods of study in class. Although this time is set aside for
play, it also provides many learning opportunities. Students need to
learn to use this time wisely, play fairly, organize games, improve
their skills, and resolve conflicts which may arise. They also have
the responsibility for knowing the rules, using equipment properly,
and playing safely.
Do’s
- Remember, the first person in the waiting
line for a game is the referee
- Walk to and from the lunch area
- Keep your hands and feet to yourself
- Pay attention when the Yard Supervisors blow
their whistles
- Remember, the ball stays with the game
- Kick only soccer balls and rubber balls
- Play in designated areas in view of the Yard
Supervisors and stay on the playground at recess
- Keep your own place in line without cutting
or allowing cuts
- Ask a Yard Supervisor for permission to go
to the office or library
- Throw only balls – not tanbark, rocks,
etc.
- “Freeze” when the bell rings (Stand
still without talking)
- Line up quietly when you are released by the
Yard Supervisor
Don’ts
- Do not engage in bullying behaviors, actions
or words
- Do not bite, trip, hit, kick, push, punch
or otherwise hurt another person
- Do not tease or use threats or put downs (including
gender, ethnic or racial)
- Do not use obscene language or gestures
- Do not retrieve balls that go over the fence.
Tell a Yard Supervisor
- Do not climb on the fence
- Do not peg (Throw balls at others)
- Do not walk through other people’s games
- Do not run or play tag on the blacktop or
in the tanbark/play structure area
- Do not play Soak’em at recess
- Do not play in the Quad area
- Do not eat on the field or in the tanbark/play
structure area
Games
- All games are open to anyone who wants to
play
- Children are expected to show good sportsmanship
and cooperate with others
- Bats are not allowed unless under direct supervision
of a teacher
- Football and rough play are not allowed
- Rancho FOUR SQUARE and BALL WALL rules are
in effect at all times
- Tennis baseball is allowed on the Upper Yard
only
Yard supervisors monitor playground activities. If a conflict
arises in the yard, we suggest students use strategies from the
Bully-Proofing curriculum. These include knowing when and how
to seek help from peers and/or adults, when
it would be wise to use assertiveness and when
it would not, how to use humor to de-escalate
a situation, when and how to walk away in order to avoid a
situation, how to use self-talk to maintain
positive self-esteem, and how to own a put down
or belittling comment in order to defuse it.
Other School Rules
- Healthy snacks are recommended. Soda and
candy are not allowed at recess or lunch.
- Nut-free zones must be
honored.
- Students may bring rubber playground balls
from home to school. Students may not bounce
balls on the sidewalk.
- Cell phones, or other electronic signaling
devices, shall be turned off during the school
day and may be used only before and after
school hours.
- Students may not bring glass bottles and
containers to school.
- Students may not be in a classroom without
adult supervision.
- Students may not chew gum at school.
- Students may not eat during class time.
- Students may not loiter in corridors,
bathrooms, behind or between buildings at
any time.
- Students may not bring toys, CDs, electronic
handheld games, music players, jewelry or
other valuable items to school.
- Students may not use Heelies, skateboards,
scooters, or rollerblades at school.
- Students in grades one through five may
not arrive at school earlier than 8:10 AM
unless they have an AM Kindergarten sibling
or are in an AM Kindergarten carpool.
- Students may not wear makeup.
- Tennis shoes must be worn for physical
education classes.
Dogs are not permitted on school grounds
DRESS CODE
The purpose of our dress code is not to infringe on any individual
pupil’s rights to freedom of expression, but rather to encourage
pupils to come to school prepared to participate in their education.
Inappropriate appearance and dress includes, but is not limited to:
- Garments such as, but not limited to, short
shorts, short skirts, short dresses, halter tops,
bare midriffs, tube tops, net tops, oversized tank
tops, spaghetti straps, low-cut tops of any type,
plunging necklines (front and/or back) and/or clothing
that reveal undergarments.
- Clothing, jewelry, or accessories with slogans
or pictures promoting the use of or involvement
with drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or any controlled
substance is prohibited.
- Garments, backpacks, etc., with suggestive,
hate-related, obscene or sexually explicit statements
or pictures will not be allowed.
- The wearing of clothing, jewelry, hair nets,
bandannas on the head or in the pocket, or accessories
which by virtue of their color, arrangement, trademark,
or any other attribute, denoting membership in,
or affiliation with, any gang that advocates drug
use, violence, or disruptive behavior. Hats may
not be worn inside buildings during school hours.
- Backless and/or or open toed sandals or shoes
are not allowed.
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Discipline
Discipline issues are handled with fair and consistent methods
established by the staff.
Consequences
- Loss of recess privilege
- Phone call home/Parent
contact
- Referral to the principal
or teacher
- Completion of a Behavior
Incident Report
- Writing assignment
or letter of apology
- Suspension
- For a dress code offense,
the pupil may be sent
home to change into acceptable
clothing with parent
notification
Students who are sent to the office for behavioral incidents
or other rule infractions
will have an opportunity to speak with the principal. Students
may participate in conflict resolution, if applicable. Students
may be suspended for fighting, profanity, disobedience, threats,
gender, ethnic, or racial
putdowns. A conference with the principal will be held prior
to the child returning to school. Students will be suspended
from school for additional rule infractions according to the
California
Education Code.
Classroom Rewards
- Classroom privileges
- Teacher praise and
Eagle Cards
- Letters/phone calls
to parents
Eagle Cards
Eagle Cards are awarded
for academic progress,
helpfulness to others
and good behavior.
When a student earns
5 cards, his or her
photo is displayed
in the Hall of Fame;
10 cards earn a pennant
awarded by the principal;
20 cards earn a Golden
Eagle certificate.
Fifth Grade Students
Fifth grade students
are expected to set
the example for other
students, especially
5 th graders in a position
of leadership. Students
may not have any referral
slips for misbehavior
to be a Student Council
Officer. Fifth grade
students who receive
four referral slips
for behavior may not
participate in the
Walker Creek field
trip. Students with
five referrals may
not participate in
the year-end Swim Party.
In order to be a Student
Council Officer, students
may not have been suspended
during the academic
year.
Suspension Policy:
The student has the
right to an informal
conference with the
principal or certificated
principal designee
prior to a suspension,
at which time he/she
has these rights:
- To be informed
of the charges against
him/her and the evidence
used as a basis for
the charges
- To present his/her
side of the incident
and any supporting
evidence of testimony
The parent or legal
guardian has the right
to:
- Oral notification
at the time of suspension
(school personnel
will make a reasonable
effort)
- Written notice
following the suspension
- Request a conference
with school personnel
The principal may
suspend a student under
an emergency situation
where the principal
determines that the
situation constitutes
a clear and present
danger to the lives,
safety or health of
students or school
personnel.
Sexual Harassment
Any student in grades
4 and 5 who engages
in the sexual harassment
of anyone in or from
the school may be subject
to disciplinary action
up to and including
expulsion as specified
in School Board Policy
5149. Any employee
who permits or engages
in sexual harassment
may be subject to disciplinary
action up to and including
dismissal.
If a student feels
that he/she is being
harassed, the principal,
teacher or other adult
at the school should
be told immediately.
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Support Services
Parents who have a concern about their child, whether or
not it is school-related, are encouraged to speak to their child’s
teacher, who may wish to refer the particular concern to the
school’s Student Success Team (SST) for a more comprehensive
review. The Student Success Team, which meets regularly, is
made up of the principal or an administrative designee, school
support staff, regular education teachers and parents.
As a result of noted concerns, the SST may recommend school
and/or interventions in support of the student’s success.
Assessment for special education eligibility and support may
be considered when a severe discrepancy between ability and
achievement seems apparent.
Support personnel are available to serve the needs of Rancho
students with special needs. They include the:
- English Learner Aide – Ellen
Christensen-Denton is
available for students
who are non-English speaking
or who have limited English
proficiency.
- Academic Coach – Catherine
Nam works with students
who need extra help and
need focused attention
during regular school
hours or students who
are excelling in a particular
topic and can be challenged
further.
- Speech and Language
Specialist – Karen
Jensen helps those children
with speech and language
problems.
- Resource Specialist – Lynndsy
Liddle works with students
who have identified learning
disabilities and coordinates
the special education
program at the school.
- School Psychologist,
Katherine Cesare, who
works with our staff
to assess students' needs
and is at Rancho two
days per week.
- School Nurse, Linda
Brosh, who works with
students’ health
needs.
- Life Skills – Three
Life Skills interns from
Family Services of Marin
work with recommended
students with counseling
needs with parent permission.
Resources available to Rancho Students
The Library Media
Center is open during
school hours. Our Librarian
is Ruth Rozen and our
Library Clerk is Carol
Lazell. Ms. Lazell
is available at Rancho
every day. Ms. Rozen
serves the school one
day a week.
Physical Education
is taught in grades
1-5 by credentialed
PE teacher, Matt Gardner.
In addition, teachers
engage students in
physical education
activities.
Our Technology Coordinator
is Roger Powelson.
Mr. Powelson runs our
computer lab and makes
sure all our computers
are running smoothly.
Music Education is
taught weekly in grades
1-5 by music teachers.
Fourth grade students
are taught to play
the recorder and 5
th grade students have
the option of learning
to play a musical instrument.
The Gifted and Talented
Education Program (GATE)
for students in grades
4-5, housed at Lynwood,
is open to all eligible
students in the district
who have extremely
high academic potential.
Eligibility for the
program is based on
referrals and tests.
Call 897-4269 for information.
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School-Wide Homework Plan
Students at Rancho Elementary will have homework on a daily
basis (Monday – Thursday). The subject matter may vary,
but homework will be related to class work or to reinforce and
practice prior learning. Homework should be done independently
with parental guidance and support.
All students in grades Kindergarten through 5th Grade will
read or be read to on a nightly basis, typically Monday through
Thursday. Time recommendations are as follows:
- Kindergarten – 10
to 15 minutes nightly
- First Grade – 10
to 15 minutes nightly
- Second Grade – 20
minutes nightly
- Third Grade – 120
minutes per week
- Fourth Grade – 120
minutes per week
- Fifth Grade – 120
minutes per week
Suggested times for content homework is as follows:
- Kindergarten – 20
to 30 minutes nightly
- First Grade – 20
to 30 minutes nightly
- Second Grade – 30
to 40 minutes nightly
- Third Grade – 45
to 60 minutes nightly
- Fourth Grade – 45
to 60 minutes nightly
- Fifth Grade – 60
to 75 minutes nightly
Consequences for incomplete or non-returned homework:
- Homework alert
- Failure to bring back
signed homework alert
with completed homework
will result in loss of
recess time
- Failure to return
homework alert after
third day will result
in parent notification
- Repeated failure to return
homework will result in further consequences such as lowered
Homework Policy
Homework at Rancho
Elementary is intended
to:
- Provide opportunities
for home and school
to share information
about children’s
academic experiences.
- Help students
maintain and/or apply
skills and concepts
learned during instructional
time.
- Insure that children
come to school prepared
to make the most
effective use of
class time.
- Provide opportunities
for self-directed
study.
Homework is intended
to be an independent
student activity. Parents
can help by providing
a quiet environment
and uncluttered space
for children to work.
If a consistent study
time is established,
students are more likely
to work efficiently
and to practice good
study habits. At the
annual fall Back to
School Night, teachers
will discuss student
homework requirements
and expectations related
to parent support.
Children are expected
to come to class with
their work neatly and
carefully completed.
If a child is frequently
unprepared, parents
will be notified so
that they, with the
teacher, can help the
student develop a plan
for improvement. If
child is consistently
having a difficult
time with the assignments
at home, parents should
contact the teacher.
Homework must be
thoughtfully assigned,
monitored, completed
and evaluated if it
is to be productive.
Teachers, parents,
and students share
responsibility for
making homework at
Rancho a positive and
constructive experience.
Students must
take homework with them
at dismissal time, as
they will only be permitted
to return to classrooms
after school for forgotten
materials if the custodian
is readily available. Returning
completed homework to
school is the student’s,
rather than the parent’s,
responsibility. This
is part of our mutual
goal to teach children
personal responsibility.
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