Expectations of Student Behavior

Highland Oaks School is committed to creating safe, challenging and joyful classrooms where all individuals are treated respectfully and are valued members of the school community. Highland Oaks School aligns expectations and support of student behavior to Responsive Classroom principles which is a proactive approach based on the belief that the social curriculum is as important as the academic curriculum. To be successful academically and socially, children need a set of social skills: cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-control. Clear expectations for student behavior are developed through: 1) setting hopes, dreams and personal goals for the school year, 2) rule creation helping students create classroom rules to ensure an environment that allows all class members to meet their learning goals, 3) interactive modeling teaching children to notice and internalize expected behaviors through a unique modeling technique, 4) positive adult language using words and tone as a tool to promote children’s active learning, sense of community, and self-discipline, and 5) logical consequences responding to misbehavior in a way that allows children to fix and learn from their mistakes to plan for improved decision making in the future while preserving their dignity. Members of the Highland Oaks School community are expected to be respectful, responsible, kind, and honest.

Dress Code

Highland Oaks students are expected to be dressed appropriately. Clothing should be neat, clean, and not distract from the educational program. Below are some very basic rules.

All clothing should be appropriately sized for the child. Excessively baggy clothing or clothing that is too tight is not recommended for school.
Blouses and shirts should cover the child's midriff and avoid exposing the back.
Underwear style tank tops, halter tops and tight fitting clothes are not suitable for school.
Shirts/blouses that advertise or advocate alcohol, smoking, drugs, gangs, profanity or slogans oriented toward degrading cultures, gender or ethnicity are not permitted.
Shorts and skirts should be of appropriate length to allow students to comfortably move about, sit on the floor, participate in PE, etc.
Open-toed shoes, thongs, flip-flops, slippers, clogs, backless sandals, and shoes with wheels are not appropriate for school.
Shoes should be secured to the foot and appropriate for daily PE participation.
Students should wear socks and closed-toe shoes to school to protect their feet.
Hats may be worn on the playground only. They may not be worn in the classrooms or school buildings.

Absence and Tardiness

Classes begin on time and it is expected that students will be in their seats and ready for instruction and learning at 8:25 a.m. We ask parents that they please plan morning routines and transportation accordingly to avoid tardiness. Parents are also asked to make sure students are aware of after school arrangements before they are dropped off in the morning.

If a child needs to leave class early, we ask that parents sign them out in the Office. The Office will call the classroom to request the student.

Every day at Highland Oaks is an important instructional day; learnings are scaffolded every day, each day dependent on the previous. We ask that families make every effort to avoid scheduling appointments and vacations during instructional time. Teachers may provide work for students during missed days of school but the effectiveness of instruction and the interaction with learning are lost forever.

When students are absent parents are asked to call the Office at 821.8354 in the morning to report the absence to the school.

Medications

Children may not carry their own medications on campus. All medications are kept in the Health Office in a locked cabinet. The Health Clerk may provide medication to a student as authorized by a physician’s written request and directions.

Illness

Children should not attend school if:

They exhibit a temperature of 100 degrees or higher within the last 24 hours.
They have been vomiting or had diarrhea within the last 18-24 hours.
They exhibit thick green nasal drainage.
They exhibit red eyes or eye drainage.
They exhibit a rash.
Common Sense Rule: If your child has exhibited signs of illness during the night, please keep your child at home the following day.

Breakfast and Lunch

(Prices, account info, paragraph from handbook, see Yosh)

Visitors

We welcome and appreciate parent participation at Highland Oaks. Student safety and instructional continuity are important factors that we ask visitors to consider on the Highland Oaks campus. Every visitor must first come to the school office, sign in and obtain and wear a visitor badge while on campus. Classroom volunteers are asked to maintain communication with classroom teachers for specific days and times for assistance.

Traffic and Parking

Our most critical responsibility at Highland Oaks is the safety of every student. The school was built in 1949 at a time when most students walked or rode a bike to school; access to the school was not designed for the hundreds of cars that approach the school in the morning or afternoon. With that information in mind we must all be exceptionally vigilant and patient to proceed as carefully as possible around the school and neighboring streets. Please make note of each of the following requests in the interest of maintaining safety for our students at all times:

Always be alert for children walking in the street. There are no sidewalks on some streets near the school.
Please, please drive slowly…the speed limit in and around school is 25 M.P.H. but even at that speed it can be too fast. Did you know that it has been calculated that if you are driving just 20 M.P.H. that you will travel at least 64 feet before coming to a stop?
Turn off your cell phone – this is not the time for chatting and please put down your coffee cup or other drink. We all need two hands on the wheel and complete attention to the road in and around school.
Always make sure you and your passengers are wearing seatbelts and buckled up properly until you come to a full stop and it is time for your child to exit your car. Remember children younger than six or less than 60 pounds are required to use booster seats.
Drivers are required to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians at all intersections whether marked or unmarked. This means stopping for pedestrians attempting to cross the street.
Never stop your car in the crosswalk – it is very dangerous for pedestrians, and if caught by the police it is a very large fine ($250). California Vehicle Code 21970. Also, never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians. Again it is dangerous and against the law. California Vehicle Code 21951.
Obey NO PARKING signs and no parking areas (marked by a red curb) as well as neighbors’ driveways. By stopping, or even worse parking in a no parking zone, you could obstruct the visibility of other drivers and pedestrians.
Enter the drive-through from the West end of Virginia. It is a one way drive and there is NO LEFT TURN sign eastbound on Virginia between the hours of 8 and 9 a.m. and 2 and 3 p.m.
Turn right when exiting the parking lot on Virginia. There is a no left turn sign at the exit.
Please do not pass to the left of a stopped vehicle in the drive through. Remember teachers are entering in that lane and a collision may occur.
Do not park in the parking lot other than if you have a DMV issued handicap placard. EVERY other spot is reserved for a teacher or a staff member.
Have your children ready to get out when you stop in the drive-through. Backpack, lunches and paperwork should all be in hand before you stop the car. If your child has an instrument or a project that needs to be transported in the trunk, please find a place to park and help your child walk on to the campus. Say your goodbyes and daily arrangements/reminders prior to coming to your final stop.
Always pull as far forward in the drive-through to allow other cars to enter the drive-through.
Never leave your car unattended in the drive-through line or in the line on Santa Anita. Chances are that you will block a drop-off or pick up line.
Please walk in crosswalks and avoid walking across the parking lot.
Please have consideration for the afternoon kindergarten parents. Their children are younger and get out earlier than the regular dismissal time. If you are in the drive-through line then they cannot enter to pick up their child.

Homework

Responsibilities of the Student

Write down homework assignments on an assignment sheet or in agenda and the due date before leaving class.
Make sure you fully understand the assignment and concepts to be practiced. Ask your teacher to explain if you are not sure or if you have questions.
Organize your materials. Take home the assignment and any necessary books and supplies needed to complete the assignment fully.
Demonstrate good study habits by finding a quiet work place at home and budgeting the necessary time to complete the assignment.
Demonstrate responsibility by neatly finishing your homework and placing the completed work in your backpack, ready to return the next day.
Turn your completed homework in on time.
Read every night!

Responsibilities of the Parents

Demonstrate that homework is a priority in your family by establishing a regular time and place for study. Encourage your child to use this time for pleasure reading even if no homework has been assigned.
Provide support and supervision necessary to see that your child completes their assignments for return on the due date.
Arrange a quiet environment for homework that is in a private personal area, rather than a public area like a family room or kitchen where disruptions and/or distractions may occur.
Be available to assist your child with their homework, but remain a "consultant" not a "completer." Encourage and be available for questions and guidance, but refrain from doing homework for your student.
Encourage your child to read for pleasure. Read together. Reading is very important at Highland Oaks and parental support at home is essential in developing strong readers.
Recognize that homework assignments vary and refrain from comparing teachers.

Responsibilities of the Teacher

Provide assignments that are reinforcement of learning in the classroom.
Provide clear, concise directions and check for understanding on all homework assignments.

Toys

Toys are not permitted at school. This includes trading card collections, radios, CD's, DVDs, CD and tape players, video games, cell phones, or any toy resembling or authentically a weapon of any sort.

Bicycles

Highland Oaks School permits fourth and fifth graders to bike to and from school when prior permission has been granted by the office and the parents. Students must wear helmets and lock their bicycle to the bike rack. Bicycles, skateboards, scooters, etc. are not allowed on the school campus.

Classroom Parties

Classroom parties are planned twice a year with coordination of the teacher and head room parent.

Animals

Highland Oaks School has a strict ‘no animals’ policy out of respect to health and safety to others. Animals may be brought to class for "sharing" only if prior approval has been granted and there has been verification that there are no allergies among the students (and staff).