Bill L. Williams
Elementary School
Parent/Student
Handbook
2013/2014
Bill L. WilliamsElementary School
5601 Harris Road
Bakersfield, CA 93313
837-8070
Dear Parents,
Welcome to BillL.WilliamsElementary School. Our school is named after one of the great Panama-BuenaVistaUnionSchool District superintendents.
The information found in this handbook will help you become more familiar with a variety of information including the school and district rules and policies, programs and activities, and many other miscellaneous points to know here at Williams Elementary. I hope you take the time to read and go over the information in this handbook with your family and keep it for reference.
I look forward to working with you and your children throughout the time you spend at Williams Elementary. I truly hope you and your family have an enjoyable educational experience here at our school. If you have any questions or suggestions about any of this information, please feel free to let us know.
Sincerely,
Dion Lovio
Principal
WILLIAMS SCHOOL STAFF
2013/2014
DION LOVIO...... PRINCIPAL
AMANDA CUEVAS...... SECRETARY
SHANNON MEDRIN...... CLERK
KIMBERLY CANNON...... LIBRARY/ IMC
CHARLENE CORNEJO...... KINDERGARTEN
TAMMY CURRAN...... KINDERGARTEN
STEPHANIE SHOWERS………..…………………… …………………. KINDERGARTEN
ALISA WILLIAMS ..……………………………………………………...KINDERGARTEN
JANICE YACKOVICH...... TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN
JUDY HANAWALT...... FIRST GRADE
MICHELLE BOVBERG...... FIRST GRADE
LAURIE TUCKER/JENNIFER REIMEL...... FIRST GRADE
LYNN HARTMAN...... SECOND GRADE
JACKIE RIGBY...... SECOND GRADE
KELLIE ADAMS...... SECOND GRADE
DENISE CALHOUN...... THIRD GRADE
ANGELA DOMINGOS...... THIRD GRADE
MARK WHEELER…………………………………………………………….THIRD GRADE
GAIL HOBBS …………………………………………………….. THIRD/FOURTH COMBO
TINA MOFFA-TORRES...... FOURTH GRADE
MARTHA MILLAN-SCHIMON...... FOURTH GRADE
JENNIFER ABRAHAM / HEATHER DELAND...... FIFTH GRADE
DUSTIN SCHONAUER...... FIFTH GRADE
DAVID GUILLEN………………………………………………………………FIFTH GRADE
TROY TENHET...... SIXTH GRADE
LAURA PARIS …...... SIXTH GRADE
WENDY VIEIRA .……………………………………………………………..SIXTH GRADE
CHRISTINA WHITE...... SDC
ANN DOLINAR...... SDC AIDE
KAREN McCLOSKEY...... RSP
BARBARA PRESTON...... RSP AIDE
KAREN OLNEY...... ELD
NATALIE MAY...... SPEECH THERAPIST
CECELIA GONZALEZ……………………………………………….……..PSYCHOLOGIST
JAMES SPROUL …...... INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC
JEFF MALONE...... VOCAL MUSIC
HEATHER JAUCH...... CAFETERIA MANAGER
LORI LEMONS...... COOK BAKER
MONIQUE SMITH...... CAFETERIA HELPER
DARLA MALTBY...... 5 1/4 HOUR AIDE
ROBIN GREENLEE...... 5 HOUR AIDE
LILLIAN ABARQUEZ...... HEAD CUSTODIAN
LUDWIN BERNAL...... CUSTODIAN
CECELIA PINEDO……………………………………………………………….CUSTODIAN
KELLY KENNEDY...... DAY CARE MANAGER
BELL SCHEDULE
7:50 A.M.GATES OPEN - TEACHERS ON DUTY
8:20 A.M.SCHOOL STARTS – ALL GRADES
9:40 A.M.BEGIN 1STKINDERGARTEN RECESS
9:55 A.M.END KINDERGARTEN RECESS
10:00 A.M.BEGIN 2ND KINDERGARTEN & 1st – 3rd RECESS
10:14 A.M.END 2ND KINDERGARTEN & 1st – 3rdRECESS
10:20 A.M.BEGIN 4th – 6thRECESS
10:34 A.M.END 4th – 6thRECESS
10:45 –11:40 A.M. KINDERGARTEN LUNCH
11:15 – 12:10 P.M.TK LUNCH
11:25–12:20P.M.1st / 2ndLUNCH
11:55 - 12:55 P.M.3RD/4TH LUNCH
12:25 - 1:25 P.M.5TH/6TH LUNCH
1:25 - 1:30 P.M.TK – 2ND BREAK
2:35 P.M.PRIMARY DISMISSAL
3:05 P.M.INTERMEDIATE DISMISSAL
3:15 P.M.GATES CLOSED
TEACHER WORK HOURS7:50 A.M. - 3:20 P.M.
PLEASE MAKE NOTE THAT EVERY WEDNESDAY STUDENTS IN GRADES 1 – 6 WILL BE DISMISSED ONE HOUR EARLY!
WEDNESDAYS1:35 GR. TK/KN-3 DISMISSAL
2:05GR. 4 – 6 DISMISSAL
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
August19...... INSTRUCTION BEGINS
September 2...... *LABOR DAY
5...... BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
October 25...... 1ST QUARTER REPORT CARDS GO HOME
November 11...... *VETERAN’S DAY
28 - 29...... *THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
December 23...... *WINTER RECESS BEGINS
January6...... INSTRUCTION RESUMES
17...... 2ND QUARTER REPORT CARDS GO HOME
20...... *DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR DAY
February10...... *LINCOLN’S BIRTHDAY 17...... *PRESIDENTS’ DAY
March21...... 3RD QUARTER REPORT CARDS GO HOME
April14…………….……………………………. *SPRING RECESS BEGINS 22………………….……..…….…………….INSTRUCTION RESUMES
May15...... OPEN HOUSE
26...... *MEMORIAL DAY
29...... LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
4TH QUARTER REPORT CARDS GO HOME
* NO SCHOOL ON THESE DAYS!
VISITORS
TO HELP INSURE THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF OUR STUDENTS, AND MAXIMUM UNINTERRUPTED TEACHING TIME, STATE LAW MANDATES THAT ALL VISITORS, PARENTS AND VOLUNTEERS CHECK IN AT THE OFFICE. PLEASE BE PREPARED TO HAVE PHOTO IDENTIFICATION READY. FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR STAFF AND STUDENTS, PLEASE DO NOT ENTER CAMPUS THRU ANY OTHER AVENUE. ALL VISITORS MUST CHECK IN AT THE OFFICE, NO EXCEPTIONS!!!
SCHOOL ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE TIMES
Students may not be on the school grounds before 7:50 A.M. Prior to this time no supervision is provided. If students arrive to campus prior to 7:50, they will have to wait in front of gates on the west side of campus, by the valet area. Only students who are eating breakfast will be allowed in the MPR in the morning. Primary students should be off the school grounds each day by 2:45 p.m. Intermediate students are to be off the school grounds by 3:15 p.m. each day!
STUDENT SAFETY
The safety of our students is a primary concern here at Bill L. Williams. For that reason we are not only a closed campus but after school begins a locked campus also. All gates are locked from 8:17 a.m. until primary dismissal at 2:35 p.m. In addition, due to liability concerns students are not to be on campus until 7:50 a.m. and must be off campus within 10 minutes of dismissal.
We urge all children to use crosswalks and sidewalks where available coming to school and going home. Please help your child choose the safest route possible.
Also we would like to suggest the following safety measures while picking up or dropping off children at school:
1. Parents should use the Valet Drop-off / Pick-Up area located on Summer Springs for your child’s safety and convenience.
2. If your child is eating breakfast, students can be dropped off using the MPR parking lot.
3. The CIRCULAR DRIVEWAY in front of the school is for the purposeof BUS LOADING & UNLOADING! NO DROP-OFFS OR PARKING IS ALLOWED DURING BUS HOURS.
ATTENDANCE
We ask your fullest cooperation in seeing that your child attends school each day. Absence from school places a hardship on the pupil. According to California School Law, the only legal reasons for a child being absent from school are: ILLNESS, VISIT TO A DOCTOR OR DENTIST, DEATH IN THE FAMILY.
Unexcused absences, including family trips for pleasure/recreation & business purposes or failing to provide proper verification for an absence for more than 10 consecutive days can result in the student being dropped from the class and the risk of the student not returning to the same class or school.
California compulsory education law makes it your legal responsibility to see that your child attends school on a regular basis.According to Section 48260.0 of the California Education Code, once your child has accumulated three or more unexcused absences, they are considered truant and you may receive a truancy letter from our office.
If your child is absent we will expect a phone call reporting the cause of absence. A note when the child returns to school is required when it is not possible to call. If you wish to get homework, please call the office and allow the teacher 24 hours to compile the homework. Homework should be picked up in the office and not in the classrooms. For every day your child misses, they will have two days to finish their make-up work required by the teacher.
TARDINESS
Tardiness interferes with your child’s opportunity for school success. It is also a disruption that robs the entire class of valuable teaching/learning time. Parental support and cooperation in this matter is essential. Class begins promptly at 8:20 AM. Gates are locked at 8:17 AM to ensure students are on time to class. Please make the necessary changes in your family’s morning routine that will allow your child to arrive at school on time. It is your legal responsibility to see that your child arrives on time each day. Habitual tardiness will result in student consequences. Upon the 5th late arrival per quarter, your child will miss at least one recess (grades 1-3) or serve noon detention (grades 4-6) each day they are tardy.
PICKING UP CHILDREN AT SCHOOL
In order to protect children at school we require that anyone picking up children do so through the office. If you want a neighbor or relative to pick up your child, please write a note or call and ask them to check out through the office.Please have I.D. ready to show the office.
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RELEASE OF STUDENT TO ADULT
Students shall be released during the school day to the custody of an adult only if:
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1.The adult is the student’s parent/legal guardian with custody.
2.The adult has appropriate picture identification and the verified authorization of the student’s parent/legal guardian with custody.
BICYCLES
The Bakersfield Police Department has suggested to us that kindergarten; first, second and third graders do not yet have the proper physical coordination or judgment in emergencies to ride bicycles to school. Most bicycle accidents happen to children of this age. Therefore only children in grades 4 – 6 are allowed to ride their bicycles unsupervised to and from school. CHILDREN ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO WEAR BICYCLE HELMETS.
The following conditions must be met before a child in the fourth through sixth grades(4TH – 6TH) may ride a bicycle to school:
1. Must have turned in signed permission slip to ride bicycle to school.
2. Bicycle must be kept locked while on the school grounds.
3. Student must walk bicycle while on school property and while crossing streets.
4. Student must obey all traffic and bicycle rules to and from school
DRESS CODE
Pupils attending the schools of the PanamaBuena VistaUnionSchool District are expected to wear clothing that is appropriate for the promotion of an effective educational program. It is not the intent of the district to oppose the rights of students regarding dress but rather to assure that the rights of all students are considered and upheld. It is the responsibility of the school to provide an atmosphere where all children will be able to learn; and it is the responsibility of the students to help create and maintain this atmosphere.
The following conditions of dress are unacceptable for students:
A.Excessively large trousers, pants, shorts, overalls may not be worn. All trousers, shorts, and pants must be worn at the waist. Belt ends may not hang down.
B.Excessively oversized shirts, including oversized t-shirts worn outside pants are not allowed. Shirt length may not extend beyond the tips of the fingers when the student is standing with arms hanging down. Overalls must be worn with straps on the shoulders, not hanging down.
C.All clothing must be neat in appearance. Commercial lettering or printing will be allowed on shirts and sweatshirts as long as it is acceptable for school attire. No clothing may be personalized other than with a given name. Any personalized printing or writing on jackets, backpacks, binders, etc is unacceptable, as is writing on hands and other parts of the body.
D.Clothing that is excessively revealing is unacceptable. “Excessively revealing” includes:
- clothing that is extremely tight fitting
- backless halter tops or dresses, tube tops, tank tops or muscle shirts cut low in the armpits or necklines
- clothing that shows bare midriffs
- shorts the length of which is shorter than halfway between the mid-thigh and knee (While standing with the hands down at the sides, if the fingers touch skin, the clothing is too short.)
- clothing that is transparent or revealing
- underwear that shows or is being worn as an outer garment.
- Suggestive clothing or objects may not be worn which are libelous, obscene, or depict illegal activity. This includes buttons, arm bands, shirts insignias, etc. Bandannas of any color or type or not to be worn. Clothing with crude or vulgar printing, or pictures depicting tobacco, drugs, alcoholic beverages, or clothing that is sexually suggestive or disruptive is not acceptable.
- Clothing that indicates the student’s membership on community teams not affiliated with the school may not be worn. This is added to preclude the wearing of jerseys, uniforms, shirts, etc. of teams that are not associated with the school programs.
- No bare feet or disruptive footwear shall be worn. All shoes shall have backs. Unsafe footwear such as rubber thongs or backless sandals shall not be acceptable. Footwear should adequately protect the child’s feet and be appropriate for physical activity.
- Cosmetics to the face and hair that distract from the educational process are unacceptable except on appropriate days declared by the administration. This includesspray-painted hair, extreme painting of the face, glitter in the hair, stickers or glitter on the face and hands, etc.
Also shorts or pants/jeans that are shredded and/or cut up above the knee cannot be worn unless the child is wearing clothing other than underwear under it. In addition, any type of clothing that depicts, represents, or promotes gang activity is strictly prohibited. Wearing this type of clothing could be cause for school suspension.
If students are dressed in an unacceptable manner, parents will be notified and corrective measures must be taken before the student will be allowed to return to class. FINAL DETERMINATION OF UNACCEPTABLE DRESS WILL BE MADE BY THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION.
ACCIDENTS
In case of a severe accident at school the child is given First Aide and every effort is made to contact the parent for instructions. FOR THIS REASON IT IS VITAL THAT CHANGES IN TELEPHONE NUMBERS AND ADDRESSES BE REPORTED TO THE SCHOOL OFFICE PROMPTLY. If you have no telephone, it will be helpful if you can give us a neighbor’s telephone number. In case the parent cannot be reached we will call the person you have named on the Emergency card to act in your behalf. If at all possible please give us two emergency numbers to call. PLEASE, FOR THE SAFETY OF YOUR CHILDREN DO NOT BLOCK THE SCHOOL NUMBER!
MEDICATIONS
Before school officials may administer any medication the law requires that parents have their physician sign a form giving the following information: name of child, name of medication and current dosage. District Policy requires that children who must bring medication to school should turn such medication over to the school office for safekeeping. Medications must be marked with the name of the student, the name of the medication, dosage, (this can be acquired from your pharmacist) reason for medication and the date. You may pick up the appropriate forms in the school office. Please arrange to pick up any remaining medication prior to the last day of school. SEE FORM - #709030.
LUNCHES AT SCHOOL
For lunch schedules, refer back to Page 5.
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For those students desiring to eat at school a balanced nutritious hot lunch may be purchased. Please refer to the school menu for exact prices. At the first of each month, menus will be sent home with your child. Parents are welcome to sample our menus. Children are to pay for lunches before school in the multipurpose room to our cafeteria manager. Each student will have an individual identification number, which is entered on a special key pad as their meal is served. If possible, please send separate checks for each student when prepaying on their account. If one check is written for several children, it will be divided and credited to their accounts accordingly. Please write the names of your student(s) on the check.
Parents also have access to an online payment service, MyLunchMoney.com. This service will allow parents to prepay for children’s meals online using a Visa, MasterCard, or check/debit card. It also gives the parent the ability to monitor their student’s eating history and meal account balance.
MEAL LOANS/CASH IN LINE
In order to expedite the serving of meals, students who do not have a prepaid account balance may be served after those who do. These students include those who do not have an account balance or cash to purchase a meal, or those who will be paying in cash. For students who need to borrow a meal, the cafeteria manager may authorize a meal loan. The district’s charge policy is that “Students who charge a meal will be required to repay the charge the following day.” If this policy is not followed, the school may choose to have the students call their parents during recess time regarding the debt. As a convenience to parents, they will also receive an automated phone call informing them of their student’s negative meal balance. At the principal’s discretion, some modification of this procedure is permitted.
BREAKFAST AT SCHOOL
The same guidelines followed under the National School Lunch Program will apply to the breakfast program. If your child qualifies for a free lunch, he/she will also qualify for a free breakfast. If your child qualifies for a reduced price lunch, he/she will also qualify for a reduced price breakfast.Breakfast will be served only from 7:40 - 8:10 a.m. each school day.
GOING HOMEFOR LUNCH
For the protection and safety of our students and in accordance with school district policy, WilliamsSchool is a closed campus. Consequently, those students desiring to go home on a regular basis must have a lunch permit, which will be good for the entire year, on file in the office signed by their parent; and for those students wishing to go home on an irregular basis a note signed by the parent will be good for the date specified. No student will be allowed to leave campus without documented parent permission, and under no circumstances shall a child beallowed to eat at a commercial establishment without being accompanied by their parents, guardian or other designated adult.