Handbook

SCHOOL SCHEDULE

First grade through Fifth grade:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 8:15 am to 2:50 pm

Wednesday : 9:15 am to 2:50 pm

Traditional Kindergarten:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 8:15 am to 11:35 am

Wednesday : 9:15 am to 12:35 am

Discovery Kindergarten:

Monday through Friday: 8:15 am to 11:35 am

Any changes to the schedule will be advised by teacher.

Minimum Day Schedule

Kindergarten: Any changes to the schedule will be communicated by the teacher

First Grade to Fifth Grade: 8:15 am to 12:30 pm

BE ON TIME

Please have your student to school on time.  When students come to school late, they miss valuable class instruction and can be disruptive when entering a classroom that has already gotten underway for the day.

For students’ safety, campus supervision begins 15 minutes before school starts and continues for 15 minutes after school.

If abusive tardy problems persist, Truancy officers are contacted.

ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES

When your child is absent from school, please call the ATTENDANCE LINE, (925) 484-3031 as soon as possible, leaving a message including the reason for your child’s absence.  If you do not call, the office staff will have to call you to determine why your child is not at school.

Walnut Grove does not receive state funds when a child is out of school for illness, funerals, trips or appointments.  Please help us retain our funding by not taking your child out of school.

Walnut Grove will receive funding if you complete an independent study form (your child must be absent for at least 5 days).  Independent study forms are available in the office.

DROP OFF/ PICK UP PROCEDURES

In order to ensure the safety of our students, during drop off and pick up times please keep in the mind the following:

When parking: 

When using the drop-off and pick-up  curb in front of the flag pole

TRAFFIC AND SAFETY

A good day at school starts with getting there safely.  Please follow all traffic laws and drive slowly and carefully in the blocks around our school.  Always come to complete stops at stop signs, don’t make U-turns mid-block, and watch for children crossing the streets.   Be alert and drive defensively, and make sure ALL our kids have a good safe start to their day.  The school zone speed limit is 25 mph, but it doesn’t hurt to slow it down even more.  Remember to be careful not to block our neighbors’ driveways when you park.

Remind kids who walk or ride bikes or scooters to school not to dart out between cars and to look carefully before crossing streets, specially at those intersections where there is no crossing guard.

Walk, bike and car “pools” are a great way to alleviate traffic around our schools.  For information on Pleasanton’s School traffic calming program, visit www.Pleasantonschoolpool.org, or call 925-931-5039. 

Bikes and Scooters

 

The bike rack is located behind the multipurpose room.  If you ride your bike to school, please lock your bike in the bike rack.  All students in grades 2 through 5 may ride their bikes to school.  First grade students need to bring a note from their parent. Please remember when you ride your bike:

 

Crossing Guards

 

There are crossing guards at Valley Avenue and Northway, Harvest Road and Northway, Black Avenue and Harvest Road, and also, Hopyard Avenue and Black.

PLEASE SIGN IN THE OFFICE

To help ensure the safety of children, faculty and staff, all school visitors are required to sign in at the office, and pick up a visitor badge to wear while on campus.  Please return the badge and sign out before leaving Walnut Grove.

DRIVING ON FIELD TRIPS?

If you plan to use your personal vehicle to drive on any school field trip during the 2010-2011 school year, you must complete a form to establish that you have the required insurance coverage.   A new form must be submitted each year, even if last year’s insurance coverage remains valid.  You can pick up a copy of the form at Registration Day or in the office.  Attach a copy of your insurance, including policy limits, and submit them back to the office for the principal’s signature.  Be sure to take care of this well in advance of any field trip you may wish to drive on.  

Please note that preschool age children are not permitted to accompany chaperones on field trips.

DRESS CODE POLICY

Walnut Grove encourages high standards in our students academically and socially. These standards are better maintained when our students are appropriately dressed.

The following attire is not permitted:

LUNCHES

We encourage our students to eat a well balanced lunch each day.  Milk and juice are available for purchase during lunch.  Hot lunches are available for purchase.  Forgotten lunches may be left in the office for student pick up during recess or in the cafeteria during lunch.  Please remind your child to check in the office for forgotten lunches.  A student may only charge up to $10.  After that they will be offered fruit, yogurt, milk and/or juice.

You may charge money to your child's account visiting mynutrikids.com

MEDICATION POLICY

All prescription and over the counter medication administered at school requires a written statement signed by the parent and physician as follows:

A statement from the physician detailing the method, amount and time schedule by which medication is to be taken.

Physician’s standard form with signature will be accepted in lieu of school district medication authorization form.

A signed statement from the parent or guardian concurring with the physician’s statement.

All medication must be in the original prescription container.  Over the counter medication must be in the original container with dosage and frequency clearly indicated.

Physician/parent authorization forms must be renewed annually.

Medication left in the school office at the end of the school year will be discarded.

For more information and links to forms, please visit:

http://www.pleasanton.k12.ca.us/educationalservices/pupilservices/healthservices.cfm

Forms are also available in the Walnut Grove office.

PREVENT CLASS INTERRUPTION

Remind children about after school activities and transportation arrangements before they leave for school.

Drop forgotten homework and lunches in the office.  Students may not leave class to pick up articles until recess or lunchtime.

Office staff will not call a classroom unless there is an emergency, so please tell your child to check with the office for any messages or forgotten items

STUDENTS ACTIVITIES

COUNSELOR PROGRAM

The counseling program offers support for students through small group instruction on various topics, such as social skills, study skills, and self-esteem.  A second aspect of the program is parent support in the form of parenting workshops, support groups and newsletters.

GIFTED AND TALENTED PROGRAM (GATE)

Our GATE program offers identified students an opportunity of classes to meet their special needs and interests.  Special testing for identification is done in spring for students in grades three through five only.  Parents and teachers can recommend students for testing.  Special interest courses may be offered for all GATE students after school throughout the district. 

 

RESOURCE SPECIALIST PROGRAM

Walnut Grove offers the advantage of small group instruction by resource specialists for students who, after testing, qualify for the program.  Teachers recommend students for testing based on their academic achievement in the classroom.  Prior to testing, a formal meeting is held to discuss the student’s needs.

GUIDELINES FOR FIELD TRIPS

In accordance with Pleasanton Unified School District policy and in the interest of educational excellence, we ask those participating in school sanctioned field trips abide by the following guidelines.

Role/Responsibility of Teacher

Role/Responsibility of Chaperone

Role/Responsibility of Students

Role of Principal

HEALTH AND SAFETY 

Tobacco Free Policy

Students, employees and visitors should be aware that Board Policy 1510: