HOME-SCHOOL COMMUNICATION
Communication between school and home is essential to effective collaboration. Parents can communicate with the school in person, via telephone and/or email and we will do our best to respond promptly. In addition to individual communications as needed, we will also use the following resources to be sure that families know what is going on at school:
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School Messenger: This is a web-based telephone communication system that serves as another means of communication with our families. We use this system to send out event and deadline reminders as well as for emergency communications. It is imperative that you maintain a current home phone number on file with the office in order to be able to receive these automated messages.
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Foothill Oak Website: Our website includes contact information, resources and information about school events. Current school news, the school calendar, lunch menu and the school handbook can be found on our website. Please visit us at http://www.fho.vistausd.org/. This website is updated regularly and will provide the most current information regarding our school, programs and policies.
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Twitter: We use Social Media to share information with the community. Please follow us on Twitter:@FHOelementary
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Classroom Newsletters & Websites: Teachers provide classroom information via a classroom newsletters and/or their website. These resources will provide specific information about curriculum, important dates and other announcements about classroom and school events.
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Cafecito Meetings: Each month, an informal coffee meeting is open for parents to meet with the principal and other school leadership. This is a time for parents to share questions and needs and for staff to report on progress related to parent questions and needs as well as to provide information about news and events.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
WELLNESS POLICY
Board Policy No. 5030: Student Wellness
For a complete report/document please visit the district website.
Board Policy prohibits non-nutritional food items for incentives, rewards and celebrations. To donate food items please choose from the district approved list of snacks.All food items brought to classrooms must be store bought. No homemade food items
BIRTHDAYS
Please check with your child's teacher before planning a birthday celebration. The teacher will be able to make suggestions for approved snacks (VUSD Wellness Policy) and an appropriate time to bring snacks for your child's birthday. If you are bringing balloons for your child, please arrange to deliver them at the end of the school day.
SICKNESS & HEALTH CONCERNS
A health/attendance technician is available in case of sickness or accident during the regular school hours. District school nurses are available by appointment to discuss specific health conditions that may require special attention. Health/attendance technicians and school nurses do not diagnose illnesses. Please consult your children's physician for concerns related to their health. To review more information about our VUSD health program please go to our district School Nurse and Healthcare website.
If your child has a specific health condition, please notify the school upon enrollment and again each year when you complete the Emergency Card. Health information may be shared with any school staff that might be in contact with your student on a regular basis, for example, teachers, bus drivers, playground supervisors or coaches, office staff, or other staff as deemed necessary.
MEDICINE AT SCHOOL
Notify the school if your student is on a continuing medication regime, even though the medicine is taken at home. This information may be important in an emergency situation. If medication is required during school hours, the guidelines (below) of the California Education Code and VUSD policy must be followed.
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The parent/guardian's written request on the VUSD medication authorization form.
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A physician's authorization detailing the amount of the medicine and the method and time schedules by which the medication is taken.
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ALL medications, including prescription, over-the-counter, herbal and vitamin preparations are included in the guidelines.
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All medications must be from a California pharmacy. No prescriptions from out-of-state can be given by school personnel.
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Physician and parent authorizations must be updated annually or whenever there is any change in the medication, dosage, or time schedule.
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The medicine is to be in the original labeled container.
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A designated adult is to bring the medication to school.
Please do not bring any medication to school until the physician's and the parent/guardian's authorizations have been completed. Parents need to pick up all medications at the end of each school year. Medications left more than one week after the school year ends will be discarded.
ROUTINE HEALTH CHECKS
Routine health checks including vision, hearing, and head lice are made periodically. You will be notified if we believe that your student is in need of medical attention.
ACCIDENTS OR EMERGENCIES
If your child has an accident or becomes ill at school, you will be contacted through the information listed on their Emergency Card. Please make sure that your child's Emergency Card is updated periodically, and that the names and phone numbers of emergency contact people are current. For the safety of students, the school will not release a student to a person who is not listed on their Emergency Card. Anyone who picks up your child will be required to show their ID to the office staff. Consider purchasing School Accident Insurance. It is inexpensive. The Vista Unified School District does not insure the students.
FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION
During the spring, all fifth grade students are scheduled for a course which includes a Family Life/Sex Education Unit. The instruction promotes abstinence and healthy decision making. The materials and curriculum adhere to the Vista Unified District Policy 6020.
Because of the sensitive nature of the curriculum, a parent or guardian signature is required for each student to participate in the Family Life/Sex Education Program. By appointment, each parent or guardian of a student in this program has the right to preview the course material.
Should it be your preference that your child does not participate in the Family Life/Sex Education unit, the District will offer an instructional alternative without penalty for the course content missed. The Board of Trustees has determined this Family Life/Sex Education Program may contain questions which require parent permission according to Education Code 60650. The specific content of the curriculum and parent permission slip will be sent home prior to instruction.
No test, questionnaire, survey, or examination containing any questions about the pupil's personal beliefs or practices in sex, family life, morality and religion, or any question about his parents' or guardians' beliefs and practices in sex, family life, morality and religion, shall be administered to any pupil in kindergarten or grade 1 through 12 inclusive, unless the parent or guardian of the pupil is notified in writing that such test, questionnaire, survey or examination is to be administered and the parent or guardian of the pupil gives written permission for the pupil to take such tests, questionnaire, survey or examination.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HEALTH
Students who are physically fit and healthy are better prepared to learn and perform academically and our instructional program at Foothill Oak includes a solid physical education and health component. All students participate in a minimum of 200 minutes of physical education and health every 10 days, in accordances with Education Code Section 51210. Our staff receives support and resources for lesson planning to be sure that our students are fit and healthy. All students in 5th grade participate in physical fitness testing each year in the spring.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PROCEDURES
The safety and welfare of students are primary concerns of Foothill Oak Elementary School. Our school has a disaster preparedness plan that conforms to the District's procedure for emergencies. Our program involves more than just preparing a response plan. We have an ongoing process that includes:
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Identifying hazards at our school
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Involving teachers, parents, and students in our plan
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Training staff, students, and volunteers in proper response
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Conducting emergency drills
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Encouraging parents to teach their children how to spell their name and learn their phone number and address.
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Assessment of supplies available for emergencies
It is important that you provide the school with complete, accurate emergency information concerning your child and that you remember to inform the school if there are changes
STUDENT SUPPORT
The school will:
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Provide Special Education Classes when a child qualifies for services, the Resource Specialist Program, speech and language services, counseling and nursing services, Strategic Intervention (SI) meetings and Student Success Meetings, and additional assistance for students through tutorials and other after school programs.
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Cooperate, as a means of community support, with youth groups, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, sports teams, Boys & Girls Club and the AM-PM Childcare Program, if available, on campus.
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Provide after-school programs for homework support and skill development.
PSYCHOLOGIST A school psychologist administers assessments required by IEPs and Student Success Team (SST) referrals.
COUNSELING Our counselor meets with students and families to help resolve problems and teach children and adults problem-solving strategies. If you would like to meet with our counselor, please call our school and make an appointment.
STUDENT SUCCESS TEAM (SST) Foothill Oak's Students Success Team is made up of the classroom teacher, support teacher, or admin designee, and when necessary, the school psychologist, speech therapist, resource specialist, school nurse, and counselor. Children who are having challenges in the areas of academics, attendance or behavior are referred. Working with the parents, the SST develops an action plan to support the student's school success.
SPEECH THERAPIST A speech therapist is available to work with students who qualify for help in the areas of language and speech.
RESOURCE SPECIALIST PROGRAM The Resource Specialist Program is a special education program designed for students who have a specific learning disability, are significantly behind their peers in academic competence, and require a written IEP (Individual Educational Plan).
LIBRARY/MEDIA CENTER Students and parents will be able to check out books in our library. Parents may check out 3 books at a time to support reading at home. Students will be able to check out books with their class or during designated times during breaks and after school. In order to support our vision of inspiring and cultivating technological innovation, we will encourage our students to using media center research and online tools. Students are expected to follow all school and library rules while in the library.
TITLE I These federal funds support student learning by providing additional classroom resources. These resources can include teaching/learning materials and additional staff in the classroom or before/after school.
CONSEQUENCES AND PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE
All of Foothill Oak School rules are based on guidelines that reflect safety, respect and responsibility. When students make choices that are against school rules and expectations, they will face consequences that can range from warnings to suspension. It is our goal to help children learn and grow rather than to punish, but students may face higher level consequences on a serious first offense.
When we receive a report or referral for students who have broken school or classroom rules, we gather reports from all individuals involved in the situation. Without diminishing the report from the complainant, we believe in gathering all information prior to attempting to come to a fair and reasonable conclusion. We assure that we will do our best to issue fair and consistent consequences to all students with the goal of helping them learn from and repair their mistakes. We will always attempt to maintain the confidentiality of all parties and we will will never discuss the consequences given to other students.
The jurisdiction for all school rules will be enforced while on school grounds; while coming to or going from school; during school hours whether on or off campus, while truant from school, and during or while coming to or going from a school-sponsored activity. (Education Code 48900 & 48915)
Some potential consequences or interventions for poor choices:
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Warnings
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Time out (in class or on playground)
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Think Sheets
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Individual or small group counseling/restorative circles
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Behavior contract
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Parent-Student Conferences
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Loss of recess/free time (with parent permission)
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Loss of participation in class or school events, including assemblies or field trips
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Have the student call home and discuss the situation with the parent.
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Create a plan to make amends to the other injured party
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Class suspension (removal from class)
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White slip - official parent discipline notice
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Administrative conference/
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Suspension from school
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Actions which are considered major violations:
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Ignoring the instructions of school personnel
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Continued violations of school/classroom rules
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Throwing rocks and/or other objects
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Vulgar or profane language
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Possession of dangerous or illegal items or replicas
Actions which are absolutely prohibited:
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Assault (verbal or physical threat or action against other persons), fighting or aiding/abetting in assault or fighting
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The use or possession of any alcohol, tobacco, or drug paraphernalia
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Theft or Vandalism- possession of, deliberate destruction of, or damage to school property or the property of others
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The use or possession of any item which could cause injury to self or others
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Sexual/racial harassment of any kind
Retaliation against a complainant or any individual involved in the investigation of a disciplinary situation, either by the student who has allegedly engaging in behavior, the friends of the student who allegedly engaged in behavior, or any other individual, is strictly prohibited or is grounds for discipline.
SEVERE BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCES
If a student engages in any prohibited behavior, school personnel may send the student immediately to the principal or assistant principal. Parents will be contacted if students are sent to the administration office for serious offenses. Serious offenses can result in immediate suspension from school and/or contact with local authorities.
SEARCHES AND SEIZURES
The law provides school officials with wide latitude to search students and their possessions in the ongoing effort to maintain a safe and secure campus. Some of this effort may involve the use of surveillance cameras in public areas of the campus that are considered to be high risk for improper activity. In addition, items left unsecured or unattended on school grounds may be confiscated and inspected by school officials.
When a school official has reasonable suspicion that a student may be in possession of contraband or dangerous objects, the student will be asked to empty all pockets, remove shoes and socks, and provide the official access to other personal items (backpacks, lockers) that may contain contraband or dangerous objects. It is hoped that all students will be cooperative, as school officials will make every attempt to be unobtrusive and respectful of privacy. Students should be aware that grounds for suspicion commonly include being out of bounds without permission or a report by another student, parent or staff member of possession of contraband or dangerous objects or unusual behavior. Students should also be aware that any contraband or dangerous objects found in their possession would be assumed to belong to them -- even if they didn't bring it to school, if they have it in their possession, they are responsible. If a student should discover contraband or dangerous objects on campus, he/she should go directly to an assistant principal or other staff member and turn it over without delay. School officials are not required to notify parents prior to conducting a search or questioning a student, however, parents will be notified that a search has taken place.
NON-SCHOOL ITEMS:
These items are inappropriate on campus as they are disruptive to the educational program or may cause injury to others. Students who bring inappropriate items to school may be subject to disciplinary action, including suspension, and/or confiscation of the item. The school is not responsible for lost or stolen non-school items. Parents may be required to retrieve the items.
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Radios, cameras, video cameras, hand-held video games or electronic games.
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Large amounts of money, gift cards or valuable items such as jewelry.
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Items that can cause injury to others such as pocket knives, firecrackers, poppers, pepper spray, stink bombs, etc.
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Open cups or glass containers.
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Inappropriate or disruptive items such as eggs, shaving cream, silly string, squirt guns, slam books, toys, stuffed animals, balloons or other items that are in poor taste.
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Lasers pointers