School Rules

Absence from School

We are required to secure an absence excuse from a parent or guardian when a child has been absent from school. You may call the school office (241-2433) to report your child’s absence or when your child returns to school after being absent, he/she must bring a note of explanation signed by the parent or guardian, which states the dates and reason for the absence.

When the reason for absence is illness, the specific nature must be given, such as cold, fever, sore throat, etc. According to state law, the only excused absences are for illness, medical treatment, bereavement, and some legal commitments. Family vacations, religious holidays/commitments, or “personal business” are not considered excused reasons for absence; the State withholds money from schools for these absences. See Parent Handbook for further information on Health Services.

Good Attendance and Punctuality Are a Must for a Successful School Year

The beginning of another school year means that over 640 students are returning to Verdugo Woodlands! This is a daunting number when you think about traffic and getting 640 students to school on time everyday! Verdugo Woodlands success is built on the successful partnership between our students, parents and school. One of the most important aspects of our partnership is consistent school attendance. Good daily attendance correlates directly with success in school.

Punctuality and good attendance are traits that need to be modeled by parents. Parental attitude and example have an impact on children. Parents need to let their children know how important school is to their future success. Parents in partnership with the school and community should make sure their student attends school daily, completes the academic requirements, graduates from high school, and learns the values and skills needed to be successful in the world of work.

Tardiness can be an issue, too. When a student is late to school or class, the minutes quickly add up and valuable instructional time is lost. Studies show that students who are habitually late to school or class are more likely to bring the same habits into their adult lives. We have to set an expectation for students to be on time … everyday.

VERDUGO WOODLANDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 2008/9 SCHOOLWIDE DISCIPLINE DISCIPLINARY POLICIES

Violation Consequences

Violations of any of the school rules will result in the student receiving either a Yellow Card or Red Card. In-class infractions will be handled in a progressive discipline manner by the classroom teacher. Each teacher is expected to develop and communicate his/her own reward/consequences procedures. Parent and administrator involvement will occur as appropriate. Severely disruptive or unsafe behavior may result in Saturday School or suspension.

Dress Code, School Rules and the School wide Discipline Plan are posted in each classroom.

About Detention & Suspension

Students may not be kept longer than 15 minutes unless they have been permitted to call home first to notify their parents or if parents have been notified in advance.

Grades 1-3: During Recess Detention, Monday-Friday.

Grades 4-6: After School Detention, Monday-Friday, from 2:50 pm to 3:10 pm.

Grounds for Suspension

(From Section 48900 of The Educational Code)

A pupil shall not be suspended from school or be recommended for expulsion unless the superintendent or the principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that the pupil has:

(a) Caused, attempted to cause, or threatened to cause physical injury to another person.

(b) Possessed, sold, or otherwise furnished any firearm, knife, explosive, or other dangerous object unless, in the case of possession of any object of this type, the pupil had obtained written permission to possess the item from a certificated school employee, which is concurred with by the principal or the designee of the principal.

(c) Unlawfully possessed, used, sold or otherwise furnished, or been under the influence of any controlled substance listed in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11053) of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code, an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind.

(d) Unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any controlled substance listed in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11053) of Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code, an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind, and then either sold, delivered, or otherwise furnished to any person another liquid, substance, or material and represented the 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, but not limited to, cigarettes, miniature cigars, clove cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, snuff, chew packets, and betel. However, this section does not prohibit use or possession by a pupil of his/her own prescription products.

(j) Committed an obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity or vulgarity.

(k) Unlawfully possessed or unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any drug paraphernalia, as defined in Section 11014.5 of the Health and Safety Code.

(l) Disrupted school activities or otherwise willfully defied the valid authority of supervisors, teachers, administrators, school officials, or other school personnel engaged in the performance of their duties.

(m) Knowingly received stolen school property or private property.

(n) Possessed an imitation firearm. As used in this section, &imitation firearm& means a replica of a firearm as to substantially similar in physical properties to an existing firearm as to lead a reasonable person to conclude that the replica is a firearm.

(o) Committed or attempted to commit a sexual assault as defined in Section 261, 266c, 286, 288, 288a, or 289 of the Penal Code or committed a sexual battery as defined in Section 243.4 of the Penal Code.

(p) A pupil may not be suspended or expelled for any of the acts enumerated unless that act is related to school activity or school attendance occurring within a school under the jurisdiction of the superintendent or principal or occurring within any other school district. A pupil may be suspended or expelled for acts which are enumerated in this section and related to school activity or attendance that occur at any time, including but not limited to, any of the following:

(1) While on school grounds

(2) While going to or coming from school.

(3) During the lunch period, whether on or off the campus.

(4) During, or while going to or coming from, a school sponsored activity.

(q) It is the intent of the legislature that alternatives to suspensions or expulsion be imposed against any pupil who is truant, tardy, or otherwise absent from school activities. (Amend.Stats. 1997, Ch. 637)

E.C. 48900.2: Suspension – Sexual Harassment

In addition to the reasons specified in Section 48900, a pupil may be suspended from school or recommended for expulsion if the superintendent or the principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that the pupil has committed sexual harassment as defined in Section 212.5.

For the purpose of this chapter, the conduct described in Section 212.5 must be considered by a reasonable person of the same gender as the victim to be sufficiently severe or pervasive to have a negative impact upon the individual’s academic performance or to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive education environment. This section shall not apply to pupils enrolled in kindergarten and grades 1 to 3, inclusive. (Add. Stats. 1992, Ch. 909)

E.C.48900.3: Suspension – Act of Hate Violence In addition to the reasons specified in Sections 48900 and 48900.2, a pupil in any of grades 4 to 12, inclusive, may be suspended from school or recommended for expulsion if the superintendent or principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that the pupil has caused, attempted to cause, threatened to cause, or participated in an act of, hate violence, as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 33032.5. (Add. Stats. 1994, Ch. 11 98)

E.C.48900.4: Suspension – Intimidation In addition to the grounds specified in sections 48900 and 48900.2, a pupil enrolled in any of grades 4 to 12, inclusive, may be suspended from school or recommended for expulsion if the superintendent or the principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that the pupil has intentionally engaged in harassment, threats, or intimidation, directed against a pupil or group of pupils, that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to have the actual and reasonable expected effect of materially disrupting class work, creating substantial disorder, and invading the rights of that pupil or group of pupils by creating an intimidating or hostile educational environment. (Add. Stats. 1994, Ch. 1017)

E.C. 48900.7: Suspension – Terroristic Threats In addition to the reasons specified in Sections 48900, 48900.2, 8900.3, and 48900.4, a pupil may be suspended from school or recommended for expulsion if the superintendent or the principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that the pupil has made terroristic threats against school officials or school property, or both. For the purposes of this section, “terroristic threat” shall include any statement, whether written or oral, by a person who willfully threatens to commit a crime which will result in death, great bodily injury to another person, or property damage in excess of one thousand dollars ($1,000), with the specific intent that the statement is to be taken as a threat, even if there is no intent of actually carrying it out, which, on its face and under the circumstances in which it is made is so unequivocal, unconditional, immediate, and specific as to convey to the person threatened, a gravity of purpose and an immediate prospect of execution of the threat, and thereby causes that person reasonably to be in sustained fear for his or her own safety or for his or her immediate family’s safety, or for the protection of school district property, or the personal property of the person threatened or his or her immediate family. (Add. Stats. 1997, Ch. 405)

Violation Consequences

K-3 Time frame is over one trimester

4-6 Time frame is over one year

If a student violates a school rule outside of the classroom, the yard duty or noon aide will give him/her a yellow card. The yellow card will be sent tothe homeroom teacher who will then assign an appropriate consequence.

For repeated or more serious infractions, students will be given a red card and will receive detention. Parents will be notified a day in advance of the detention dates. Students in grades 1-3 will be given a “clean slate” at the beginning of each trimester. Violations for upper grade students will continueto accrue throughout the school year. For example, an upper grade student with two violations in the first trimester who receives another violation during the second trimester will have three on his/her record. A primary grade student with two violations in the first trimester who receives another during the second trimester will have one on his/her record.

First Violation = one detention periods

• 10 minutes during recess = primary.

• 15 minutes after school = upper.

• Violation slip sent home for parent signature.

Second Violation = two consecutive detention periods

• Violation slip sent home for parent signature.

Third Violation = three consecutive detention periods

• Violation slip sent home for parent signature with the signature of principal/designee.

• Parent conference by phone the same day.

Fourth Violation = one week of detention periods

• Violation slip sent home for parent signature with the signature of principal/designee.

• Parent conference will be held within the week, which may, if appropriate, include the principal/designee.

NOTE: Students who fail to complete and/or submit assignments on time may also be required to serve detention.