Assemblies

Our PTA sponsored assembles are a regular part of the curriculum and are designed to be educational. The following are rules
all good students should follow:

Enter the cafeteria quietly and show respect for speakers and assembly participants.

Show appreciation for participant through proper applause, shouting, whistling, and booing are not permitted.

Attendance

Students are required by law to attend school punctually and regularly.

Excused Absence: Absence for proper causes are listed in the State Education Code for illness, medical, dental and optometric appointments, or family emergencies which are limited to death in the immediate family.

Unexcused Absence: Absence for any reason other than illness or prior permission are unexcused. Truancy that is intentional is a violation of state attendance laws.

Independent Study Contracts: For students who cannot attend school for 1 or more days due to reasons other than illness or death in the family. This is designed to accommodate family emergencies or trips, which must be taken during the school year.

Returning To School After An Absence:

Students are required to bring a note from parents the day of return to school after an absence. The note must list the date of absence, the specific reason for the absence, and must be signed by the parent or guardian.

In cases of extended illness of three days or more, assignments may be requested.

Tardiness:

Students who are tardy may be subject to detention. More than three tardies will be considered excessive and will require a parent contact or conference.

Transfers

Students transferring to another school should bring a note from a patent or guardian stating a new address and requesting transfer. Allow one-day check out time.

Change of Address

It is essential for emergency situations that we have current information on each child. Inform the office if you change your address or phone number (work or home).

Closed Campus

We feel that the best interest of school and community can be served by instituting a closed campus. This means that once students arrive on the campus, they may not leave without checking out in the office.

Hours

The school grounds are not supervised until 7:50 a.m. Students should not arrive until that time. Please instruct your child to report home immediately at the end of his/her school day. Students may not wait for older or younger brothers or sisters.

School Day

The regular school day hours are as follows:

Kindergarten AM Session (M-F) 7:50 – 11:11
Kindergarten PM Session (M-F) 11:11 – 2:32
Grades 1, 2, 3 (M, T, W, F) 8:05 – 2:20
Grades 4, 5, 6 (M, T, W, F) 8:05 – 2:30
Grades 1-6 (Thursday) 8:05 – 1:02

ANY STUDENT WHO ARRIVES AFTER 8:05 TO HIS OR HER CLASSROOM IS TARDY AND WILL SERVE A DETENTION WITH THE CLASSROOM TEACHER, IF THE TARDY IS UNEXCUSED. PARENT CONTACT WILL TAKE PLACE PRIOR TO THE AFTER SCHOOL DETENTION

Awards and Recognition

We strive to reward good citizenship and academic progress of Sunkist School Students. Every month students from each classroom are selected as students of the month. This selection is determined by good citizenship and academic responsibility. Trimester awards will be given for the most outstanding and or most improved students from each classroom. Students also receive frequent positive reinforcements from teachers that may include subject area awards for academic performance, citizenship awards, service awards, and extracurricular activity awards. Regular reports and certificates from the Accelerated Reader and Accelerated Math programs will also be awarded.

Bicycles, Rollerblades, Scooters, Skateboards and Skate Shoes

Bicycles are to be walked onto the school grounds. They should be locked and stored in the designated bicycle area. After arriving at school, bicycles are not to be ridden back and forth in the parking lot and driveway areas. The school is not responsible for the theft of parts or damage to bicycles while they are parked in the rack.

Because of the dangerous nature of skateboards, Rollerblade-type inline skates, roller skates and shoes equipped with wheels, they are not allowed on campus at any time and they may not be brought to school.

Scooters are not considered a safe method of transportation. Please do not bring scooters on the campus.

Cafeteria Rules

Breakfast is provided to students each morning from 7:15 – 7:45 a. m. Breakfast prices are:

Hot lunches and milk are available in the cafeteria between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Prices for lunch are: $1.50 for full priced lunch, $.40 for reduced lunch. Monthly menus will be sent home.

Sunkist has a pre-paid lunch program. Students should use lunch envelopes and turn them in on Monday morning to their teacher. It is desirable that students pay weekly or monthly rather than daily. No loans will be available. Lunch deliveries will not be made to classrooms. It is the parents’ responsibility to make provisions for student lunches prior to their arrival at school.

The follow are rules for the cafeteria:

Follow the directions of adult supervisors.

Do not change seats.

Practice good table manners at all times.

Only quiet talking is permitted.

Raise your hand to be dismissed. Make sure that your area is clean and neat before you leave.

Citizenship

One of the main purposes of Sunkist School is to encourage pupils to take responsibility for their own conduct, so they may learn to be productive citizens in a democracy and to be a credit to themselves, their home and their school. Sunkist’s citizens are familiar with and obey school rules and encourage others to be good citizens.

Classroom Rules

At Sunkist School, we believe that rapport and pupil conduct are best maintained by positive reinforcement of good behavior. Classroom rules are discussed in each room and enforced as part of overall classroom environment. The following are school-wide rules:

Follow directions.

Complete assigned tasks.

Respect the rights, space and property of others.

Clean Campus

Sunkist’s students are proud of their school and want it to be well cared for so that other people will also be proud of it. The appearance of a school and the way it is kept has a great deal to do with the reputation of that school. It is the individual responsibility of each student to keep the school campus clean.

“Any pupil who willfully cuts, defaces or otherwise injures any property, real or personal, belonging to a school district is liable to suspension of expulsion, and the parent or guardian shall be liable for all damages so caused by such pupil.” ( California Education Code 16074)

Curriculum

Sunkist School is proud of its excellent curriculum and well-prepared teachers. Each child will receive instruction in reading, language arts, spelling, penmanship, math, social studies, science, physical education, music, art and citizenship.

Homework

Homework is a vital and definite part of the school program. Homework provides practice of previously taught skills to insure mastery of content. Every student should plan on setting aside time each school evening for this part of the school program. Homework will not be assigned, as a rule, on weekends or over holiday periods. Each parent and child will receive a Homework Policy Agreement, which should be signed and returned to the school.

Dismissal

At dismissal time students are to go directly home. Help your child establish a regular route, which he/she is to take to and from school each day. Please make sure current emergency contact information is on file in the school office in the event the school should need to contact you or need to release your child to someone on the emergency card. No child can be released to any person not listed as an emergency contact on the emergency card by the parent.

Dress Code

Sunkist School requires school uniforms. The guidelines for the uniform program are as follows:

Uniforms include white, light blue or royal blue shirts or blouses with collars and navy blue pants, shorts, skirts, jumpers, or capri pants. (T-shirts and jeans are not permitted.)

A parent may request a waiver to exclude their children from the program. Parents will be scheduled to meet with the principal to review the waiver request. Students are expected to wear the school uniform until the principal has formally approved the waiver. A dress code applies to all students not participating in the uniform program.

Our uniform program was developed with the support of students, parents, and staff. Our Governing Board approved our uniform policy in March 1997. Thank you for the support and encouragement that makes our uniform program a successful part of our safety plan.

Gum, Candy and Seeds

Since gum, gum wrappers, and seeds present a problem to the health and safety of Sunkist’s students and to the workload and health of custodians, teachers and other students, gum chewing and possession of sunflower seeds are not permitted at any time at Sunkist School . Candy is to be eaten during lunchtime only and in the designated eating areas.

Medication and Accidents

School employees MAY NOT give medications (including aspiring and asthma inhalers) except on written order of a physician and the prior approval of the Board of Trustees. Nor are children permitted to bring ANY kind of medication to school (including aspirin, allergy, or cough medication). A parent should contact the school nurse regarding medication at 488 3541.

Every accident on the school grounds must be reported immediately to the person in charge and/or to the school office.

Parent Conferences

Parent conferences will be scheduled in December and May. During the first conference you will go over your child’s report card and academic and social progress. At the second conference, parents will be asked to sign summer school placement forms as a condition of promotion to the next grade level if adequate progress towards grade level standards has not been met. Previous contact throughout the year will assure that assignment to summer school will not be a surprise to either parent or child. Summer School (PassPort) will serve as a bridge to support the student to the next grade level.

Parent Support Groups

Working together, the school and parents can support the success of our students at Sunkist School . Parent organizations work together to help in the decision making process and provide extracurricular support to our students. These groups are active in providing many activities and services. They include the PTA (Parent Teacher Association), the School Site Council, the ELAC (English Learners Advisory Council), and homeroom parent volunteers. We invite all parents to give some of their time to support our students. Please fill out and return the request for support sent home with your child the first day of school. Sunkist PTA provides these outstanding student folders, sponsors several student assemblies, the chess tournament and the Spelling Bee throughout the year.

Report Cards

Report cards reflect the standards based curriculum being implemented at Sunkist School . They will be sent home three times a year at each Trimester. Please see the calendar of events for the dates to look for report cards. Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher at any time in the year to discuss progress or citizenship.

Playground Rules

The school playground opens at 7:50 a.m. for supervision. During recess, lunch or PE, all students are expected to follow these rules:

Follow directions of the adult supervisors.

Play in the designated areas.

No play fighting, wrestling, or rough play.

No profane language, obscenity or vulgarity.

Freeze when the bell rings; walk quickly and quietly to your line as directed.

Restrooms

We are fortunate to have clean, neat restrooms at Sunkist School . Our custodians work very hard to maintain the restrooms. It will also take the effort of students to keep them clean. Please do your part. Do not take balls, bats or other equipment into the restrooms. Report any problems in the restroom to the office immediately.

Suspension/Expulsion from School

Severe disruption or disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated at Sunkist School . Students may be suspended from school and a conference held with the parents if the student is disrespectful or insubordinate toward adults and /or students; damages or steals school property or property of others; causes, attempts to cause, or threatens physical injury to another person; possesses or uses any controlled substance such as alcohol, drugs or tobacco; commits an obscene act or uses profanity or vulgarity and disrupts school activities.

The California Education Code requires that a pupil be recommended for expulsion from the district for possession of any firearm, knife, explosive or dangerous object at school.

Telephone

It is hoped that students will use our telephone wisely and not abuse the privilege. Please take care of routine family business before school (such as visits to friends or game practice). Students may use the telephone to inform parents if they are kept after school. To use the telephone, students need to get a pass from their teacher and get office approval.

Textbooks and library Books

The school furnishes books to all students. This is done with the hope that this major investment will be properly safeguarded. Reasonable damage is expected as a result of daily use. UNREASONABLE DAMAGE or lost textbooks must be paid for and replaced immediately. The charges must be paid to the office at the time of damage or loss. This includes library books.

Visits To The School

Parents are always welcome at Sunkist School . If you would like to visit your child’ classroom, be sure to stop by the office for a visitors pass. If you want to talk with the teacher, an appointment should be made before or after school so that the class will not be interrupted.