Principal’s Message
Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:
It is my pleasure to welcome you to Bass Lake Elementary School. The faculty and staff join me in saying we are happy to have you as part of the Bass Lake family. We hope that this will be a successful and satisfying year for you.
The handbook is filled with important information regarding school policy and procedures. I suggest that parents and students review the contents together. If you have questions that remain unanswered after reading this handbook, please call the school office. We feel that open and clear communication between school and home is important to the success of our education program.
We welcome your participation and support during the school year. Working together, we will be able to reach our collective and individual goals. We look forward to celebrating with you the achievements of our students.
Sincerely,
Lisa Kernaghan
Vice Principal
Statement of Philosophy
Bass Lake’s philosophy is based on the idea that purpose of education is to provide a continuation of essential learning. It is our ultimate goal to supply each student with basic facts and experiences. These will aid our youth in becoming self-sufficient individuals mentally, physically, socially, and morally so that they can meet the demands of a rapidly changing society. It is essential to instill in each student the importance of individual worth and to create positive self-image through personal development of initiative, resourcefulness, and responsibility.
It is the intent of the facility to lead students toward being disciplined, productive, informed, and fulfilled individuals. To achieve these ideas, mutual respect and understanding must be present in the learning process on the part of all participants – the facility, students and community.
School Hours
School hours are from 8:15 a.m. until 2:20 p.m. each day. Please have your child at school no later that 8:10 a.m. each day. Children should not arrive earlier than 7:55 a.m. or remain on campus later than 2:25 p.m. unless they are participating in a supervised activity. School doors will not open until 7:55 a.m. each school day. Supervision will not be provided for students who arrive before 7:55 a.m. or remain later than 2:25 p.m. The above procedures are designed for the safety and well being of your children.
Health Requirements
Immunizations: "No shots, no school." All students entering for the first time are required to have proof of immunizations. Beginning in 1999, all Kindergarteners will be required to have started their hepatitis B series, and beginning July 1, 2001 all Kindergartener’s will be required to have the Chickenpox immunization. Starting in 2003 it is now a law all incoming Kindergartener’s as well as any student coming from a school outside of our district, must have a TB Test done and read before they may enter our district. If a students has had a TB Test within 90 days prior to entering our school that will be excepted with proof on immunization records.
Medication
The staff at Bass Lake Elementary is prohibited from providing or administering any medication, including aspirin, to any student.
Students needing occasional medications, such as penicillin, etc., for colds, earaches, and sore throats, are to take medications at home if possible. Medication that is prescribed three (3) times a day can be given before students come to school, after school and again at bedtime. However, if medication must be given at school, it must be personally delivered by the parent and accompanied by a written authorization from a parent/guardian that includes the name of the medication and instructions for its administration (time and dosage).
School Lunch Program
Lunches are $2.25 each and milks are $0.25 each. Send your check or money in a sealed envelope to the office on Monday morning. Write on the outside of the envelope the student’s name, teacher’s name and the amount enclosed. If writing a check for more than one child, list each child’s name, teacher, as well as the total amount. Students absent on Monday will follow the above procedure on Tuesday. Credit will be given if a student is absent during the week. NO CHARGES! If students forget money they will call their parents for a sack lunch. If parents cannot be reached one lunch charge will be allowed. This lunch charge must be paid the following day. Meals may be purchased on a daily basis before school each day. To help our lunch program operate efficiently, it is requested that your child’s lunches be purchased on a weekly basis. We will be happy to accept your check. Reduced lunch prices are available to students who qualify. Extra milk is $0.25. Reduced lunches are $0.40.
Student Performance/Evaluation
Report cards will be sent home at the end of each quarter. Individual teachers send grade checks home at various times or when requested. This is a means of informing parents/guardians/students of the progress or lack of progress, in each subject.
Grading Scale
A = 90 – 100 Excellent, B = 80 -89 Good, C = 70 -79 Average, D = 60 – 69 Passing, F = 0 – 59 Failure. I = Incomplete, E = Excellent, N = Needs to improve, U = Unsatisfactory & X = No Evaluation.
Cheating: Any student caught cheating in any form may receive a "zero" for the assignment. The second offense of cheating in the same class may result in an "F" for the entire quarter. No "D’s" or "F’s" for honor roll eligibility.
Progress Slips
These slips are a means of communicating to parents/guardians that their child is not progressing satisfactorily, either academically or behaviorally. We will inform parents/guardians during the third week of every 6 weeks if a student is in danger of failure or is not working at his/her full potential failures.
Discipline
Each staff member at Bass Lake Elementary accepts responsibility for the maintenance of discipline and for the promotion of a program for the promotion of a program for the development of wholesome human relations. A student’s behavior should conform to acceptable standards of conduct as established by the principal and teachers. The staff requests parental support in helping maintain appropriate conduct in the school. Children’s behavior should reflect self-respect and consideration for the rights, feelings, and property of others.
Change in Student Information
It is imperative that the school office be notified immediately in the event you have a change of address, home or office telephone number, or if emergency information changes during the academic school year.
Inclement Weather
When severe weather creates hazardous conditions, the regular school schedule may be changed (delayed bus schedule or early release, etc.) to ensure student’s safety. It is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to monitor news reports KMJ 580 AM, Channel 24 and Channel 30 or call Terry Haar/Transportation at 642-1559, or Bass Lake Elementary HOT LINE 683-1553. Announcements are broadcast by 6:30 a.m.
Permanent Records
According to the Family Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, the parent/guardian or student age 18 or over, is permitted to inspect and review educational records relating to the student.
Bass Lake PTC
The Bass Lake PTC is a vital part of our school program. We encourage parents to support the PTC by becoming active members. A successful school needs the services of the PTC. Meetings are scheduled on monthly bulletins.
Educational Field Trips
Properly supervised and planned educational field trips are an important part of our instructional program. A signed permission form from parents/guardians is required for all field trips. If parents wish to drive for a field trip, they must have the correct information on file in the office to do so. This information must be renewed every school year or if anything has changed on the information sheet.
What You Can Do To Help Your Child Learn
Start each day right. A calm beginning at home makes the school day muck better.
Encourage your child to have a good breakfast and lunch. Make certain that your child sleeps at least eight hours each night.
Praise your child each day for something he/she has done. Have a special place to put schoolwork or whatever is brought home.
Laugh and talk with your child about school experiences and listen attentively to what is said about your child’s school day experiences.
Stress attendance. If the child is ill, home is the best place; otherwise, your child needs to take advantage of every school day.
Keep lines of communication open between yourself and your child’s teacher. Inform the teacher of any family situation, which could influence your child’s behavior. Also, if he/she is reluctant to go to school, let the teacher know so that together you can find the reason.
Take your child to the library and encourage reading for pleasure. Read everyday.
Stress organization or school notebooks, materials, etc.
Provide pencils, glue, scissors, paper, etc., for your child to use. We recommend that every child have a backpack to carry home all of their important information so they do not leave it on the bus or drop it on the ground.
Work at home with skills taught at school.
Physical Education
Physical Education is an integral part of the instructional program. All children will be required to participate unless a doctor’s note is presented. If on a particular day your child cannot participate, please send a signed note to your child’s teacher. A daily note will be satisfactory for up to three (3) consecutive days. After that time, a doctor’s statement is required.
Textbooks/Library Books
Textbooks/library books are furnished to your child by the school system on a loan basis and should be treated as borrowed property. Students must pay for the loss or abuse of library books.
Fire/Drop & Cover Bus Safety Drills
Every precaution is taken to insure the safety of your child during normal school hours. The drills are executed to make certain students learn proper safety procedures and adhere to all safety guidelines.
Homework
Homework will be assigned to all students. Students in grades 3-5 should record his/her daily, weekly assignments.
Homework When Absent
Please call the attendance hotline at 683-1997 when your student is ill/absent. Please telephone the school’s office between 8:30 & 9 a.m. for homework at 642-1560. Your child’s teacher will be notified and will arrange to have all homework put in a folder from each teacher who has your child in a class. Appropriate books will be sent home when necessary. Homework assignments can be picked up at the end of the school day in the office or sent home with another child, if requested.
Positive Attendance
The Board believes regular school attendance; accompanied by the responsibility to study and participate in school activities is essential to the learning process. Once a pupil arrives at school, he/she is expected to remain and attend each class throughout the day. Please continue to call ATTENDANCE HOT LINE at 683-1997.
Elementary students shall be present the minimum number of days as required by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to receive credit for courses taken. Exceptions can be made only in the event of extended personal illness verified by a physician’s statement within three (3) days of the first day of absence.
We are asking parents to schedule doctor/dentist/orthodontist appointments so students can attend part of the school day. The school will not be reimbursed otherwise.
When a child has been absent from school for three consecutive school days – the school will notify parents of possible School Attendance and Review Board (SARB) involvement. Three tardies are allowed each quarter. After three, the student is asked to make up the time at lunch break.
All Students shall be under the jurisdiction of the school during school hours, from the time the student arrives at school each day until he/she leaves the school campus in the afternoon. In case a student rides a bus, he/she shall be under the jurisdiction of the school from the time he/she boards the bus until the student exits the bus in the afternoon. Students shall be under the jurisdiction of the school while attending any school-sponsored activity either at school or away from school. This shall apply to all students, including players, band choir, field trips, ski trips, and other students’ organizations and activities. In disciplinary matters, the Board’s authority may extend beyond the limits set forth above, in accordance with state law.
Visitors
Parents are encouraged to visit their child’s classroom. Please contact the teacher/or office to make the necessary arrangements. Please check in at the office before you visit – at any time. Please sign you students out of class in the office. Also, students must sign in when tardy. Teachers have asked that interruptions be kept at a minimum. Phone calls to students in their rooms will not be put through. If it is an emergency, students can be called to the office for the phone.
Phone Use
Office phones are off limits to students – unless there is an emergency, we have a pay phone that students may use. Bus drivers will accept written changes from parents/guardians only. In extreme cases of emergencies the office person can write the note – (i.e. parent stranded in Fresno).
Schedules
K-5 grade classes start at 8:15 a.m. Recess for K-5 grades 10:00-10:15 a.m. Lunch break for K-5 11:30 a.m.-12:05 p.m. Kindergarten release is 12:30 p.m. First through third is at 2:15 p.m., fourth through fifth is at 2:20 p.m. Conferences are held twice per year during the first quarter--these will be mini days out at 1:15 for 1-5 grades; and the third quarter--these will also be mini days out at 1:15 for 1-5 grades. Report cards will be given out at conference times and in January and June. Award assemblies are held at the end of each quarter. See monthly calendar for more information.
Bus/Traffic Safety
Please help us to prevent the risk of serious injury by carefully adhering to all rules of Bus/traffic safety:
All students should be dropped off and picked up in the school parking lot only. Please do not put your child into a hazardous situation by dropping him/her off in an unauthorized area. Even in the parking lot, if the bus has red lights flashing, you must stop.
When picking up a child, always pull to the curb (but not where the bus parks to load students). Do not park in bus loading zone. Do not park so one way drive is blocked. Do not stop in the middle or expect the child to run across the parking lot.
Discipline & penalties: Bus riding privileges may be revoked for violation of rules. Remember the driver is in full charge of the bus and the students. Bus citations will be given to students who do not confirm to the rules – this includes buses on field trips, ski trips, and game buses.
Students shall be on time and waiting at their bus stop. Students are not allowed to cross the road.
Rigid standards of discipline must be maintained at all times in order to satisfy requirements.
Whenever a driver must direct the attention away from the road, danger exists. Foremost in our minds is the safety of each student. Bus rules will come home in the First Day Packet. A form must be signed and sent back to the District Transportation Department in order for your child to ride the bus.
Bus times will be sent home the first day, and will also be posted on the office window August 19, 2005.
Assemblies
Bass Lake Elementary works hard to develop a reputation for courteous behavior in school assemblies. Students should give full attention to the performers on stage and appreciation shown only through clapping of hands. Visitors often form a lasting impression of our school and community by our behavior at assemblies. We expect parents to model this behavior when they attend performances as audience members.
Complaint or Concern
If a student or parent has a concern about a school policy or an employee, the following procedure should be followed in order to resolve the problem as quickly as possible:
Contact the person who you have a complaint about to discuss both sides of the situation.
If the problem still exists, contact the principal.
If still unresolved, contact the superintendent to place the complaint on the following month’s Board of Education agenda for further discussion.
Care of School Property
The citizens of the Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District have provided us with equipment and facilities. Students can best show their appreciation by taking care of the buildings, equipment and grounds so they can be passed on to future students in good condition. Any student who defaces, damages, or destroys school property will be required to repair or replace the damaged item and will also face further disciplinary action. Except in cases of unavoidable accidents, students/parents are liable for all damage they may do to school property.
Eligibility
In order to participate in games, ski school, dances, or any extra-curricular activities, students must be grade and behavior eligible.
Dress Code
No midriffs showing, no spaghetti straps (not less than 1 inch in width) – no shirts above waistline without shirt underneath.
Girls & Boys may wear tank tops if they are fitted at the armpit and are not low cut.
No ripped clothing without other clothing underneath. No underwear showing.
Shorts must be mid-thigh, hemmed and must have teacher approval.
Shorts are worn during the First quarter and the Last quarter of the year only.
No high heels.
Lace shoes must have laces.
No thongs-shoes must have a strap across the heel in the back and hold the sandal securely to the foot. Check with your teacher.
Oversized pants worn by males & females on campus are unacceptable attire. Stylish pants that are baggy but correctly sized at the waist are acceptable. This deals with clothing that is obviously oversized and purchased not to fit the student’s regular waist.
No undergarments can be showing at any time.
No chains & unsafe jewelry are allowed as part of students’ attire.
Anything that distracts from the learning environment such as "BLUE" colored hair, your parents will be called to come pick you or bring you other clothes or you may sit in the office and take an "F" for the entire day.
This dress code applies to any and all functions held on the Bass Lake School campus and any related field trips.
Conduct in General
Any conduct which causes or creates a reasonable likelihood that it will cause a substantial disruption in or material interference with any school function, activity, or purpose, or that interferes with or creates a reasonable likelihood that it will interfere with the health, safety or well-being, or the rights of themselves or others is prohibited.
Under California Education Code 48900 a student may be suspended for the following:
A___ Caused or attempted to cause, or threatened to cause physical injury to another person.
B___ Posses sold or otherwise furnish any firearm, knife, explosive, or other dangerous object.
C___ Unlawfully possessed, used, sold or otherwise furnish, or been under the influence of, any controlled substance, an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind.
D___ Unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any controlled substance, an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind, and then either sold or delivered, or otherwise furnished to any person another liquid substance, or material as a controlled substance, alcoholic beverage, or intoxicant.
E___ Committed or attempted to commit robbery or extortion.
F___ Caused or attempted to cause damage to school property or private property.
G___ Stolen or attempted to steal school property or private property.
H___ Possessed or used tobacco, or any products containing tobacco or nicotine products including cigars, cigarettes, clove cigarettes, miniature cigars, smokeless tobacco, chew packets and betel.
I___ Committed an obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity or vulgarity.
J___ Had unlawful possession of, or unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any drug paraphernalia as defined in Section 11014.5 of the Health and Safety Code.
K___ Knowingly received stolen school or private property.
L___ Possession of an imitation firearm ("replica of a firearm that is as substantially similar in physical appearance to an existing firearm as to lead a reasonable person to conclude that the replica is a firearm.")
It is the policy of the Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District Board of Education not to discriminate on the basis of age, religion, national origin, or handicap in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices.
Bass Lake Elementary School Student/School Contract
Student: I understand as a student of Bass Lake Elementary School, that in order to stay in school and be successful, I agree to the following:
I will come to school ready to learn.
I will have each day’s homework completed and ready to hand in.
I will work to reach the highest expectations.
I will try to be involved in at least one extracurricular activity during the school year.
I will make my parents aware of all parent-teacher conferences and encourage them to attend.
I will respect my teachers.
School: As a school, in order to give students every opportunity to be successful, we agree to the following:
We will make every effort to provide you with a safe environment.
We will offer you challenging instruction in a respectful environment.
We will offer a variety of extracurricular activities.
We will notify your parents whenever there is an unusual situation involving you.
We will give your parents respect.
We will give your parents at least two positive contacts regarding your performance.
Parents/students will acknowledge this contact by signing separate contact on back of the "Emergency Procedure Card" page sent home with your student and returning it to the school.
|