Parent-Student Handbook

FOOTHILLS MIDDLE SCHOOL
PARENT - STUDENT HANDBOOK

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION

	David Vannasdall Superintendent
	Christina Aragon Assistant Superintendent, Business Services
	Jeff Wilson Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services
	Kevin Hryciw Assistant Superintendent, Human Resource Services
	Scott Bramley Director of Technology and Information Services
	Jim Leahy Executive Director of Facilities and Operational Services
	Katherine Mahoney Director of Special Education
	Dr. Brook Reynolds Director of Operations, Transportation and Nutrition Services
	Dierk Esseln Director of Fiscal Services

Vision, Mission and Beliefs

• Students are clients of the school district entitled to quality work.
• Teachers are leaders entrusted to create quality work for students.
• Principals as leaders of leaders, are accountable for the success of the school.
• District-level staff have a responsibility to work with schools and support initiative and effort to design quality work for students.
• All support staff contribute to an environment conducive to engaging students in quality work.
• The superintendent has a critical responsibility to communicate a vision of the future and to initiate and support action toward the vision.
• The Board of Education is responsible for setting policies that are consistent with these beliefs and that help the district to realize its vision.
• Developing quality work requires commitment to continuous professional growth on the part of educators and district staff.
• The resources of the district must be organized to support the school’s obligation to provide quality work.
• Schools and families are partners in helping students develop a sense of ownership for their learning.

Traffic Guidelines

• Drivers who wish to enter the Foothills Middle School parking lot (morning arrival only) must enter via the East driveway (at Second Avenue)
• Eastbound, northbound and westbound traffic will be permitted to enter the parking lot
• Exiting traffic must make a left turn only out of the parking lot onto Oakhaven Avenue
• Drivers must follow the direction of crossing guards at all times.
• For safety reasons, NO cars should use Oakhaven Avenue for morning drop-off or afternoon pick-up

• Pedestrians crossing Sycamore Avenue must use the East crosswalk at the intersection of Sycamore Avenue and Second Avenue.
• Pedestrians crossing Oakhaven Avenue must use the crosswalk at the corner of Sycamore and Oakhaven Avenue.
• Pedestrians must follow the direction of crossing guards at all times.

• Bicycle riders should walk their bikes on the sidewalk of Sycamore Avenue.
• Helmets are required by law for all bicycle riders under 18 years of age.
• Bicycles must be parked and locked in the bike compound located at the East end of the school, adjacent to the Day Care building.
  

• Your child should not arrive on campus before 8:00 a.m., unless they attend a “0” period class. Upon arrival, students are to proceed to the quad area where supervision is provided
• When pulling into the front parking lot, please pull your car as far FORWARD as possible before unloading students
• Please watch for pedestrians crossing in the parking lot crosswalk
• NEVER park in the no parking zones
• Do not drop off student on Oakhaven Ave.
  

• Dismissal time is at 2:40 p.m. on regular days and 12:15 p.m. on minimum days
• The school’s front parking lot is CLOSED to through traffic after school
• Students may be picked up in the front of school along Sycamore Avenue past the red curb area
• Do not pick up and drop off students on Oakhaven Ave.
• Students should be picked up no later than 3:00 p.m. each day, unless an activity or class requires them to stay later
• There is NO school supervision after 3:00 p.m. each day. Students may not remain on campus unsupervised.

Traffic Map

Schedule of Classes

Academics

Attendance

• Parents should check each teacher’s classroom website where assignments are posted on a regular basis. Parents may also contact teachers directly by email or by telephone to request assignments.
• Please note that teachers check messages and emails after instruction ends for the day, and will require reasonable time to respond. If a concern is urgent, please contact the office by telephone.
• Upon returning from an absence, it is the student’s responsibility to follow up with the teachers about missing classwork/homework.

Safety

• Clothing that is: excessively baggy, tight, short or revealing shall not be worn to school. No exact size will be given. Discretion will be used by the administration.
• Pants must be worn at the waist; they must fall in a straight line and may not gather at the shoes nor be frayed at the bottom.
• Sleepwear apparel. (e.g.) pajama bottoms shall not be worn.
• Any clothing that displays undergarments shall not be worn to school.
• Tops that are backless, strapless, or spaghetti straps are not allowed.
• Hats and hoods may be worn appropriately for protection from the sun and cold weather, but may not be worn indoors, except as warranted by school theme days. This policy does not pertain to head coverings worn for religious or medical purposes, which may be worn at any time.
• Shoes must be worn at all times for safety purposes. “Flip-flops” or sandals attached to the foot with a strap only between the toes may not be worn
• Clothing that is gang-related (identified by the Arcadia Police Department) may not be worn.
  In line with Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 633.1, we reserve the right to modify this standard throughout the year with proper notification.
• Clothing and school supplies bearing inappropriate or undesirable advertising, lettering or symbols cannot be worn or brought to school. Examples of such inappropriate symbols include liquor advertisements or logos and references to drugs, sex, gangs, weapons, or tobacco products.
• A student’s appearance may not detract from nor interfere with the learning environment or jeopardize the safety of the student or any other students. Any clothing, which has a disruptive influence or jeopardizes student safety, is inappropriate. The discretion of the school authority will prevail.

• Upon arrival at school, students must immediately go to the interim quad or upstairs lunch area and remain there until the 8:25 a.m. bell.
• Students are not allowed in the hallways, on the field, or off campus before school, during the 10-minute break, or at lunch.
• At lunch, students will be expected to observe the red boundary lines. No food may cross the red line on the PE ramp.
• After 3:00 p.m. students waiting for their rides must wait by the gate in front of the office.

• Suspension
• Parent conference
• Behavior contract
• A report of the incident to Arcadia Police Department.

1. All bus rules apply to Arcadia Unified School buses, charter buses and Dial-A-Ride transit buses.
2. Students must obey the driver promptly and respect the directions of staff members on bus supervision.
3. Students must be on time at bus stops and they must not stand or play in the roadway while waiting for the bus. Students must respect the private property of our neighbors.
4. Students must load to the rear of the bus at all times.
5. Students must not throw any object from the windows. Heads and arms must be kept inside the bus windows at all times.
6. Remain seated at all times that the bus is moving.

IMPORTANT GUIDELINES FOR MEALS AT SCHOOL

• Students and parents may not share food with others. Many children are allergic to certain foods or have dietary restrictions.
• Students are encouraged to eat what is provided for them, to help parents monitor their children’s diet.
• Parties and celebrations of birthdays and other events are not allowed during the school day. Parents and students are not permitted to provide foods such as pizza, cakes, drinks, or other foods to share with students.
• Parents may not drop off food for their child(ren). If a student forgets his/her lunch, the cafeteria will provide one charged to the student's account.

School Environment

1. Caused, attempted to cause, or threatened to cause physical injury to another person.
2. Possesses, sold, or otherwise furnished any firearm, knife, explosive, or other dangerous object.
3. Unlawfully possessed, used, sold, or otherwise furnished or been under the influence of any controlled substance.
4. Unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any controlled substance.
5. Committed robbery or extortion.
6. Caused or attempted to cause damage to school property or private property.
7. Stole or attempted to steal school property or private property.
8. Possessed or used tobacco.
9. Committed an obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity or vulgarity.
10. Unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any drug paraphernalia.
11. Disrupted school activities or willfully defied the valid authority of school staff.
12. Knowingly received stolen property or private property.
13. Possessed an imitation firearm that has similar physical features to a real firearm.
14. Committed or attempted to commit a sexual assault or sexual battery.
15. Harassed, threatened, or intimidated a pupil, complaining witness or witness in a school disciplinary proceeding.
16. Unlawfully offered, arranged to sell, negotiated to sell, or sold the prescription drug Soma.
17. Engaged in, or attempted to engage in, hazing as defined in EC Section 32050.
18. Engaged in an act of bullying, including, but not limited to, bullying by means of an electronic act, as defined in subdivisions (f) and (g) of Section 32261, directed specifically toward a pupil or school personnel.
19. A pupil who aids or abets, as defined in Section 31 of the penal Code, the infliction or attempted infliction of physical injury to another person.
20. As used in this section, "school property" includes, but is not limited to, electronic files and databases.

• All students must be in the classroom prepared to work when the bell begins to ring otherwise the student will be tardy.
• Tardy students are to enter the classroom as quietly as possible in order not to disturb the class activities. These students must report to the teacher after reporting to the office. (See tardy policy
• Students are to report to class with theirnecessary materials for participation in the activities of that class.
• All preparations for carrying out class activities are to be done before class starts.
• The student is expected to give attention to the classroom activity until instruction is finished even if the bell signaling the end of the class has rung.

• On minor infractions the teacher will counsel with the student.
• Teachers will contact parents if a student seems to be developing problems with his/her general behavior.
• After-school detention may serve as a consequence for such problems as class disruption, tardiness and incomplete assignments, as the student is making up "lost" time on task. The teacher must notify parents 24 hours in advance unless the teacher has made prior arrangements with the parent.
• Teachers may detain a student for 15 minutes after school without a 24-hour notification to student or parent. It is the student's responsibility to inform the teacher of conflicts due to afterschool transportation in which case the teacher will arrange an alternate consequence.
• Persistent problems with academic or behavioral concerns will result in additional parental contact or disciplinary measures.

Support Services

ARCADIA UNIFIED BOARD POLICY

• Designed to develop good study habits and promote independent learning
• Preparation for upcoming instruction
• Practice or review of lessons taught
• Extension or application of concepts and skills taught in the classroom

1. Lead to increased level of mastery of content standards.
2. Be related to current classroom instruction
3. Include clearly communicated directions to students and where appropriate to parents
4. Include timely feedback to students
5. Appropriately meet the needs of the individual learner.
6. Lead to the development of good study habits and promote independent learning.

1. Homework increases in value to the student based on the design of the homework and the feedback provided by the teacher. Homework assignments will be designed as preparation, practice or extension of classroom instruction. Homework may include re-working notes, studying for a test, completing a project, preparing for a presentation and required reading.
2. Students will be expected to spend approximately ten minutes in total time per grade level on homework, four days a week. Activities such as rehearsals and music practice and independent reading will not be considered part of this time allocation for assigned homework. Time for long-term assignments will be considered as part of the overall average for homework time requirements.
3. The teaching staff will coordinate assignments so that students do not receive an overload of homework assignments on one day, or at any particular time during the school year.
4. Group work that requires students to meet outside the school day in order to successfully complete the task as scheduled, will be assigned with careful consideration of the extent to which parental cooperation is needed for transportation and assistance in coordination for group meetings etc. It is suggested that parents have an opportunity to give input to these assignments and that teachers explore alternatives for students to complete the task. Group projects will be considered as part of the grade level homework time limits.
5. Homework will not be assigned on a Friday and be due on the following Monday. Homework will not be assigned with the expectation that it be completed specifically over holiday periods, however, teachers may suggest appropriate activities to students that will enrich or accelerate their learning. Homework may not be assigned just prior to a holiday period and be due immediately upon return from the holiday period.
6. Teachers will instruct students on various strategies that support good study techniques and habits.
7. Teachers will ensure that students have the prerequisite skills to successfully complete homework assigned. Normally this means that homework will be at the independent practice level, following instruction and guided practice.

PTSA: Parent Involvement Opportunities

Parents - Additional Opportunities for Involvement