Family and Student Handbook

School Hours

Transitional Kindergarten. 9:00 A.M. - 1:15 P.M.
Kindergarten through Fifth Grade. 9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.

Minimum Day 9:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.
Every Monday during the school year
Parent/Teacher Conferences- November
Last day of School- June 

OFFICE HOURS:                8:30 A.M. - 3:30 P.M. 

WHEN TO ARRIVE AT SCHOOL:
SCHOOL GATES WILL OPEN AT 8:30.  Students in Grades TK - 5 may arrive at 8:30 and sit down at the lunch tables.  Breakfast is served from 8:30 to 8:55.  Beginning at 8:45, all first through fifth grade students may walk to the track to run laps or remain seated at the tables to eat breakfast.  Students will line-up at 8:55 and school begins at 9:00.
 

Parents can help to ensure a safe environment during arrival and dismissal times at Rios by adhering to these important safety rules and procedures:

Our parking lot and the drop-off/pick-up patterns are important factors in student safety.  Parents may park in a designated space in the parking lot and walk with your child from the car in the crosswalk area.  There also are three passenger pick-up/drop-off lanes adjacent to the bus lane nearest the school building.  (While in these lanes, parents must remain in their cars and continue to move to the most forward position until reaching the crosswalk.  In order to keep traffic moving, parents may need to circle through the parking lot again if their student is not in the dismissal area. 

Parents are asked not to drop off and pick up their children on Legacy Court since this space is severely limited and there is no Safety Patrol in that area. The gate to this area is locked for student safety.  

Students are expected to follow all school behavior rules while walking to and from school or while riding the bus.
 

Please ensure your child is picked up promptly at dismissal times. Students not picked up by 3:15 p.m. or 2:15 p.m. (minimum day) will be asked to call home and wait for parents at the lunch benches.  The school office closes at 3:30 p.m. (Occasionally 3:00 -  this would be posted on the door the day before).  

If your child is absent due to illness, medical or dental appointments, or any other reason, please call the school office at 588-3090.  We must verify all student absences each day either by parent phone call or note.   Therefore, your phone calls are extremely important to us and support the Attendance Secretary.  If you are unable to call the office and report the absences, you will receive a recorded message regarding your child’s attendance and you will need to send a note with your child when he/she returns to school.

Education Code 48200 on Attendance requires:

All minors six (6) to eighteen (18) years of age must attend compulsory full-time school on a daily basis for the full length of the school day. It is important that your student be in class, on time and ready to learn, every day. You, the parent, can make this possible by making sure your student gets up in plenty of time to get dressed, have breakfast (at home or at school), and get to school in a timely manner.

 
TRUANCY
Any student who has 3 or more “UnExcused” Absences,
14 or more “Excused” Absences
 

Arriving at school on time everyday is very important.  It helps to get the school day off to a good start.  Tardiness affects performance in class and does little to create a responsible attitude toward school and "self".  Excessive tardies and absences will be noted on your child's report card and may be investigated for truancy.  All students should be in the classroom and ready to learn at 9:00 a.m.

Immediately upon arrival to our school, all visitors/volunteers must check in at the main office.  You will be asked for an ID to sign in and receive a Visitor’s Badge.  We also asked that when leaving the school, all visitors/volunteers stop by the office and sign-out.

The office staff is here to support your child in any emergency.  A district nurse is on call and available for emergencies.

To safeguard your child's health and welfare, the school must have on file current emergency information.  This includes the home and business addresses and telephone numbers of the parents or guardian, and at least one relative or friend who is authorized to care for the student in any emergency situation if the parent or legal guardian cannot be reached.

The name and telephone number of a local physician or dentist should be included for emergency use.

For the protection of your own child, as well as classmates, please keep your child at home and notify the school if there is evidence of any of the following:
Fever (100°F or higher) * 

•  Swollen glands or stiff neck
•  Vomiting* 
•  Undiagnosed rash
•  Diarrhea * 
•  Persistent Cough
•  Inflamed, draining eye

* 24 Hour Rule:
Your child should be fever free (without taking fever reducing medication), vomit and/or diarrhea free for at least 24 hours before returning to school.

Administration of Prescribed Medication 

Any student who must take prescribed medication during the school day may be assisted by a school nurse or other designated school personnel only if the school receives a written statement from the physician detailing the method, amount, and times the medication is to be given and a signed parental consent for assistance in carrying out the physician’s instructions. These forms are available from the school office staff.  For the safety of all students, District policy states all medication must be kept in a secure, locked area, and that school personnel supervise administration of medication. Medication should not be brought to school by the student. This includes cough medicines.
 

If a child must be absent from school for a minimum of three days and a maximum of fourteen days for a reason other than those mentioned above, you may request an Independent Study Contract from the office.  An Independent Study Contract is a written agreement signed by the student, the student’s parent/guardian, the teacher and the principal.  It allows the students to complete relevant class assignments during an absence and therefore not “fall behind” because of time missed from school.  This contract also ensures that your child will not be marked with an unexcused absence.  An unexcused absence constitutes a truancy which may be filed with the School Attendance Review Board. An ISC may be granted for one or more days and for a total for 14 days throughout the school year.

Please contact the Rios School office five days prior to the absence to allow the teacher sufficient time to put together the class assignments.  The contract must be signed and the completed assignments must be returned to school on the first day back from ISC (Independent Study Contract).  

In the event your child needs to leave school before the dismissal time, a note, telephone call, or a visit to the office by the parent is required.  Students shall be released during the school day after the parent/guardian has checked into the office and signed the student out of school.  Students will not be released early from school without parent permission and identification verification.

Parents are required to provide the school with emergency information and notify the school of any changes of address or telephone numbers.  New proof of residence must be turned in when you have a change of address.

In the event of a family emergency in which information needs to be relayed to a student before school dismissal, our office staff will make every effort to contact the classroom and relay this information.  However, after 2:30 p.m., due to classroom schedules and limited office staff, this may be difficult.  Your assistance in contacting the office prior to 2:30 to relay information to your child will be most helpful in ensuring emergency calls take priority.
 

All students at Rios receive a free breakfast and a free lunch.  

Students are allowed to eat a nutritional snack in the lunch area during the morning recess period.  Please do not send high sugar content food items for snack or lunchtime.

Cell phones are to be turned off during the school day and EDP.  Cell phones should be secured in the student’s backpack. Children are permitted to use the telephone in the school office for essential calls only.  They must present a note from their teacher stating the necessity for their call prior to using the office telephone. 

At Rios Elementary School, students are expected to be neat and clean and to use common sense in dressing. Students are expected to dress in a manner, which supports the educational goals of Rios, promotes a positive and respectful school environment, and in no way is disruptive or offensive to others. Therefore the following guidelines will be used at Rios (Governing Board Policy AR 5132(a)).

1. Shoes must be worn at all times.  Shoes with wheels are not to be worn at school.  Students should avoid wearing flip-flop style shoes to school.  It is recommended students wear comfortable shoes for active play on the playground.
2. Students shall not wear clothing items that contain messages that are vulgar, offensive, obscene: that denigrate others on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability: that promote alcohol or drug use or violence: or that are otherwise contrary to the school’s educational mission.
3. Clothing, jewelry and personal items shall be free of writing, pictures or any other insignia which are crude, vulgar, profane, or sexually suggestive; which bear drug, alcohol, or tobacco company advertising; or which advocate racial, ethnic, or religious prejudice. 
4. Brief and revealing clothing are not appropriate apparel in school. The following guidelines on brief clothing are examples and do not cover all situations: a) halter tops, garments with spaghetti straps, or strapless garments; b) garments that are “see-through,” cut low or expose one’s midriff; skirts must be appropriate in length. Shorts may be worn provided that they are of an appropriate length; d) undergarments must not be visible.
5. Students shall only wear pants that, when fastened, do not sag or fit below the waist. 
6. Hair shall be clean and neatly groomed.
    

Bicycle riding is allowed only for students in Grades 3-5.  Students riding their bicycles are expected to follow the California Vehicle Code for bicycle riders when riding to and from school.  Students are required to wear a bicycle safety helmet and to have their own lock to secure their bicycles in the bike rack. Information regarding the responsibilities of a bicycle rider can be obtained from the El Cajon Police Department (579-3311) or the Automobile Club of Southern California (464-7001).

Additionally, for the safety of bike riders and pedestrians, students are required to walk their bicycles when arriving at and leaving the school grounds.  This includes walking their bicycle up the school driveway, on school sidewalks and on the playground.

Students are expected to walk their bicycles directly to the bicycle racks immediately upon arriving at school.  At the close of the school day, students must walk their bicycles off campus following the same route as they used in the morning.  Failure to follow any of these rules will result in a parent contact and possible revocation of bicycle riding privileges at school. Skateboards are not allowed at school.

ALL SCHOOL RULES apply to students on their way to and from school and while at bus stops and on buses.  In addition, students are expected to:

1. Follow the directions and rules of the bus driver at all times.
2. Have respect for one another by keeping hands, feet, and objects to yourself.
3. Use the correct bus stop.
4. Use respectful language at all times.
5. Always stay in their seat facing front, while the bus is in motion.

For safety reasons, it is occasionally necessary to remove bus riding privileges for students who violate bus rules.  This is done only after the parents are called and efforts have been made to correct the student’s behavior.

During the school year, there are three trimester grading periods that occur after twelve weeks of instruction.  Parent conferences are held for all students in conjunction with the first reporting period in November.  Report cards are also sent home in March and in June.  Additionally, teachers will provide Interim Progress Reports for students who may be having difficulties or demonstrating lack of progress.

We welcome parent volunteers in their child’s classroom and in assisting in patrolling crosswalks with the Safety Patrol after school.  If you are interested in helping out please reach out to the teacher directly.  If you have a special hobby, skill, talent, or traveling experience which you would be willing to share with the students, please let your child’s teacher know.  It is very motivating for children to see other adults as positive role models.

SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL:

The School Site Council is a decision making body composed of selected school staff members and parents.  They meet several times each year to discuss policy changes and improvements for the school.  This group also approves the expenditure of School Improvement funds that are allocated by the state of California.  The council is consulted on matters relative to the goals and objectives of the school as outlined in the Rios School Plan.  Interested parents are always welcome to attend the meetings.

PTA:

The Parent-Teacher Association is the largest volunteer child advocacy association in the nation!  This association creates an opportunity for each Rios parent to be part of this powerful organization on behalf of every child, as well as, providing tools to help their own children be successful students!  Join today!

ELAC:

The English Language Advisory Committee is an advisory group comprised of parents whose students are English Learners.  This group offers recommendations and suggestions to administration and staff on how best to serve Rios’s English Learner population. They meet three to four times a year.
 

Rios has implemented a program called PeaceBuilders, designed to help create an environment that establishes a more peaceful way of living in our school and community. PeaceBuilders affects the whole school by increasing cooperation, achievement, long-term vision and individual success. Peaceful behavior becomes an integral part of everyone’s life – students, staff, teachers, and parents.

PeaceBuilders is a research-based program that is simple yet extraordinarily effective, that results in more cooperation, collaboration, and team work while reducing acts of aggression. PeaceBuilders is a proactive intervention where PeaceBuilding principles can be applied to our daily lives to make a difference.

Each day our students begin their day with a pledge that addresses these five principles:

PeaceBuilder Pledge ~

I am a PeaceBuilder.  I Pledge
To praise people
To Give Up Put-Downs
To Seek Wise People 
To notice and speak up about hurts I have caused
To right wrongs
I will build peace at home, at school, and in my community each day.

Students are taught lessons which present situations where these principles can be utilized. These principles are then reinforced with the students throughout the year. Our focus of monthly recognition now uses the PeaceBuilder vocabulary in reinforcing students who demonstrate exemplary behavior.
 

GOAL ONE – TRY YOUR HARDEST AND DO YOUR BEST

• Attend school daily unless ill or legally excused
  Students in California are required by law to attend school until the age of sixteen. Students have a responsibility to take advantage of every opportunity to learn.
• Complete classroom assignments and meet deadlines
  Learning is a process in which students receive information and follow up by completing assignments/activities that promote understanding of the concepts taught by the teacher.  

GOAL TWO – HELP OTHERS AND YOURSELF TO LEARN

• Be on time to school

• Charge your Chromebook nightly

• Come to class with necessary books and materials

• Follow classroom rules

• Be a leader and show others the correct way to act

GOAL THREE – MANAGE YOURSELF IN A SAFE MANNER.

• Adhere to school rules
  Rules are designed to allow a school to meet its obligation to educate students. Students have a responsibility to obey these rules so each student has the proper environment in which to learn.

GOAL FOUR – TREAT OTHERS WITH KINDNESS AND RESPECT

• Protect the rights of others to study and learn

GOAL FIVE – TAKE CARE OF PROPERTY

• Respect public property and carefully use and return all materials and equipment

In the classroom:  the students will follow the teacher’s classroom rules. Since every teacher sets their expectations in a slightly different manner, the teachers will communicate precisely how students are expected to behave while in the room.  Consequences for misbehavior in the classroom are at the discretion of the teacher.

In Common Areas:  the students will behave in a way that respects the safety and security of themselves and others and will follow the school wide behavior rules and expectations.

On the playground: Students are encouraged to play in an organized game during recess/lunch recess.  The purpose of this is to ensure the children’s safety and well-being by structuring their outside play. The primary and intermediate playgrounds have been divided into designated game areas where age appropriate games or activities are monitored by staff members and student peace patrollers. 

Most misbehavior will be dealt with by discussion or with mild consequences. However, there are three types of misbehavior that will result in the student being sent to the office, parents being notified, and perhaps other consequences. These three problems include any physically dangerous behavior, any illegal act, and open disrespect of a staff member. Everyone must recognize that dangerous behavior and disrespect will not be tolerated. 

THE PARENT’S/GUARDIAN'S ROLE IN DISCIPLINE

The major role of a parent/guardian in discipline is to continually show support and interest in how their child is doing in school. When the child sees parents/guardians are actively interested in whether or not he/she is doing his/her best, the student is given a real incentive to strive for excellence.

Periodically, parents may be asked to support the teacher in helping their child to learn a particular skill such as independence, remembering homework, how to handle anger in a mature way, etc. If parents are asked to help teach a skill of this type, the school staff will provide specific information on different ways to accomplish this goal.  If there is a severe or recurring problem, school staff and parents will work together to support and teach the student an alternative set of behaviors. 

THE TEACHER’S ROLE IN DISCIPLINE – SAFE, RESPECTFUL, RESPONSIBLE

The classroom teacher is the center of an effective school discipline policy. Teachers will continually emphasize to students and parents the importance of “DO YOUR BEST AND HELP THE REST.” They will help students to learn the school goals and will try to motivate students to reach the goals. Teachers will reinforce student successes and when there is a behavior problem they attempt to teach the students how to behave by applying the appropriate consequence for the offense. 

THE ADMINISTRATOR’S ROLE IN DISCIPLINE

The role of the school administrator in discipline is three-fold. FIRST, to help monitor, revise and up-date the discipline policies and procedures. SECOND, to help staff implement classroom management and school management techniques. THIRD, to assist staff with handling severe misbehavior such as a physically dangerous situation, flagrant disrespect of adult authority and any chronic and recurring problems by implementing strategies that support the child, teacher and parents.  Additionally, the administrator will enforce all school and district protocol, procedures, and consequences when necessary.

EVERY STAFF MEMBER’S ROLE IN DISCIPLINE

Every staff person in the school is an equal and contributing part of the discipline policy and procedures. Students should treat all adults with respect and all adults should treat our students with respect.   Teachers and staff have the right to implement consequences for infractions of school rules. This is true for paraeducators, office staff, bus drivers, custodians, campus aides, and any other job roles.

DISCIPLINE AS AN ON-GOING PROCESS

Everyone connected with the school must understand that discipline is a process not a product. Staff and parents must work together to achieve as much consistency as possible, and must be prepared to revise and adapt the procedures when they are ineffective. 
 

GOAL:  Students will follow all school and playground rules and play in a safe manner at all games and on all equipment.

RULES AND EXPECTATIONS:

1. Students will show respect for others and follow instructions given by staff and playground monitors.
2. Students will stay outside the buildings in the morning before school, at recess, and at lunch time unless they have permission from their teacher or a classroom pass. 
3. During school hours, students will not leave the playground without permission.
4. Students will leave the school grounds immediately after school. Children waiting for a ride should sit at the lunch tables or stand behind the fence.
5. Students will show pride in their school by keeping the building and grounds free of litter.
6. Students will leave knives, weapons and other unsafe objects at home.
7. Students will leave toys, digital devices, gaming ware, sports equipment, skateboards, roller blades, shoes with wheels, make-up, etc. at home unless given specific permission by their class teacher for a special event.
8. Cell phones must remain in backpacks and in the off mode during school hours.
9. Students will stand quietly in designated line areas until directed by their teachers.
10. Students will use appropriate language at all times.
11. Students will not bounce balls on building walls.
12. Students will not play football, except during PE.
13. Students will walk up and down the playground ramp.
14. Students will notify the yard duty person if equipment goes over the fence.
15. During recess the lunch table area is reserved for students eating snacks or playing quiet games. 
16. All food/snacks must be eaten in the lunch area or designated snack tables.
17. Students may not bring playground equipment from home unless their classroom teacher writes a note.
18. Students must play a game or walk/run laps during recess. 
19. There are no “closed” games during recess.
20. Before school, students sit at tables or go to the field to walk.
21. At the end of recess and lunch, when the whistle blows students freeze and put their hands on their knees.

POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES FOR MISBEHAVIOR:

1. Verbal reprimand with (if necessary) redirection.
2. Student stays with supervising teacher or is sent to a “time out” in a designated area or another classroom (1-5 minutes).
3. Student receives a principal referral.
   1. Detention – Loss of privilege
   2. In School Suspension
   3. Formal Suspension
4. Principal/Student/Parent Conference

BEHAVIORS OR ACTIONS, WHICH MAY RESULT IN EITHER SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION FROM SCHOOL AND POSSIBLE REPORTING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES:

It is the top priority of the Cajon Valley Governing Board and Rios Elementary School to have a safe, secure, and effective learning environment for all students. In order to ensure that a positive and safe environment exists, the Cajon Valley School District has adopted a “Zero Tolerance” policy.

A “Zero Tolerance” policy means that any student who engages in behaviors or activities listed below will face suspension, and or expulsion proceedings and possible contact from law enforcement authorities. The intent of “Zero Tolerance” is to keep these types of activities out of our schools and keep all students safe.

1. Possession of a weapon including knives, razors, sharp pointed objects, explosives, guns, metal pipes, etc.
2. Robbery, theft, or extortion of school or private property.
3. Possession, sale, or use of drugs, alcohol, or tobacco products.
4. Harassment (physical, sexual and bullying- including cyber bullying).
5. Causing serious physical injury to another person or threatening to cause harm.