School Policies

If your child is absent, you are required to either call Cathy Cordisco, our Attendance Clerk at 879-1510, fill out a verification of absence form in the office, or send a note to the office with an explanation for the absence. You will also receive a phone call from Mrs. Cordisco each time your child is absent. Please remember that you have only 24 hours from the time you receive a phone message to confirm your child’s absence. If you do not confirm your child’s absence, the absence will be marked unexcused. Plans for getting homework can be arranged with your child’s teacher, with at least 24-hour notice. It is essential the school office have accurate phone numbers on file. If your phone numbers change during the school year, please call the office so we can update your emergency cards.

Change of Address

For your child’s safety, it is essential the school office have current information. Please notify the office regarding any changes in your address or phone numbers for both work and home. Address changes require three (3) items showing proof of residency.

Communication

Weekly Newsletter – which includes a letter from the principal, highlights from the students, messages from the teachers, calendar of events and community announcements. Submit newsletter items to the principal and to Kelly McGrath with "for newsletter - (subject)" in the subject line
Student Directory – this annual publication includes contact information for students, class lists and other information
Website – our school website, http://www.sequoiaschool.net, has something for everyone: teachers, students, parents and prospective parents.
Email – We encourage everyone with computer access to join the community email group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sequoiacommunity.
Phone Tree – our emergency notification list is set up through the room parents. Please be sure your room parent has your correct phone number.
Flyers – attached to newsletters, flyers about important events are distributed on Mondays. Contact the principal to send a flyer out.
Marquee – Weekly announcements of upcoming activities are posted on our marquee on Lincoln Avenue.
The Sequoia Sentinel – All members of the Sequoia community can publish stories, poems, or essays in the student newspaper and online. Put submissions in the mailbox of Mr. Nichols in the school office, or email them to maestroevan@yahoo.com.

Contacting Your Child During the School Day

If you need to contact your child during the school day due to an emergency or last minute change of plans, please call the school office and request that a note be given to your child. As a general rule, students may not leave the classroom for phone calls. The office telephone is available for school business and emergencies only.

Driving on Field Trips

If you are driving on a field trip, you must have a current copy your driver’s license and proof of insurance on file in the office. Please call our school secretary, Wendy Larson, if you have any questions about this policy, at 879-1510.

Earthquake Procedure

In case of a major earthquake, children will be kept safe at school until they are picked up. The school has adequate disaster kits for each child with supplies for 3 days. As always, students may only be released to adults listed on their emergency card. However, in case of a disaster, students in all grades must be signed out. Sign-out stations will be set up at the safest places on the site.

Emergency Cards

You must fill out an emergency card for each child at Sequoia. It is essential you list the names of ALL adults who have permission to pick up your child. If an adult is not listed on the emergency card, (s)/he will not be allowed to pick up your child from school. You must fill out a new emergency card anytime you need to: change your address, phone number or add/remove an adult from your child’s emergency card.

Lost and Found

Lost clothing and lunchboxes are collected in bins—one in the hall of the primary building, and one in the auditorium. Parents may look through these bins at any time. Unclaimed clothing is donated to charity at the end of each year. Toys and other confiscated items are sent to the office, where they may be claimed by student or parent at the end of the day.

Medications

Please ensure that all medical conditions for your child are listed on the emergency card. If your child is taking any medication for any condition, even a cold, there must be a contract filled out by you and your doctor on file in the office. Contracts are available in the office. Stop by and pick one up or contact the school office at 879-1510. Please remember, children may not take any medicine, even over the counter medication, nor can we administer any medicine without a contract.

Parking

The drop-off/pick up location for students is along Hearst Avenue. The front of the school is not a loading zone. No parking is permitted along Hearst Avenue during school hours. You may be cited. There is a 12-minute parking zone (marked green) for kindergarten parents at the end of the no parking zone.

Please show your respect for other parents when driving around the school. Always pull as far forward as you can, pull all the way into the curb, and NEVER double-park. Always escort your children across streets. Children are not able to make safe judgments about traffic until they are at least 10 years old.

When picking children up, treat Hearst Ave. as an airport loading zone. If you do not see your child, go around the block.

Be kind and courteous to all adults and children—it can make a big difference. Foul language within 10 feet of a schoolyard is illegal.

Picking up a Child During the School Day

When picking up a child during school hours, come to the office and tell office staff you are picking up your child. Office staff will call the classroom, and the child will be sent to the office. Office staff will issue an official dismissal slip. Do not go into the classroom to pick up your child. Children are NEVER allowed to walk home during the school day. Please remember, only adults listed on the emergency card may pick your child up in the office. NO EXCEPTIONS!

Playground Supervision

The playground is supervised only from 8:20-8:30am and during recesses and lunch hours. Please do not let your children play on the yard before or after school unless you are there to supervise them.

School Rules

Children are to respect ALL people at Sequoia.
Children are expected to use the Conflict Resolution process.
Children are to respect the space, privacy and belongings of others.
Aggressive behavior and racial slurs are not tolerated.
Play fighting is not allowed.
Children are not allowed on the playground before 8:20 as there is no supervision.
Children are not to enter the building before school or during recess without the written permission of a staff member.
Children must have a pass or illness card to be in the hallways.
Children are not to congregate in the bathrooms.
Children are to leave toys, cell phones and electronic games at home. These items will be taken away and kept in the principal’s office for return when called for by the student, at the end of the school day. If a child brings an item to school repeatedly, his/her parents will be notified to pick up the item.
Only personal basketballs, kick balls and jump ropes may be brought to school. These must have the child’s name clearly marked on them. Children who bring this equipment to school must share with all other children at their grade level.
Children must not bring candy, gum, glass bottles or soft drinks to school. These items will be taken away if found at school.
Students must respect the playground boundaries.
At the sound of the bell, students are to FREEZE immediately until their yard teacher blows the whistle. Without playing, the children are to walk quickly to their line.
Children must obey the crossing guard.
Children may bring money to school for lunch, milk, or the bus only. Money should be secured in a pocket or given to the teacher for safe keeping.

Tardies

If your child is more than 5 minutes tardy, (s)he must go to the office to obtain a tardy slip before going to his/her classroom. If your child is 25 minutes late or more, (s)he will be marked truant.

Visiting school and classrooms

Visiting school: As per Education Code and Sequoia policy, all school visitors must go directly to the office, sign in and put on a name tag. When leaving the school, visitors must come back to the office to sign out.
Visiting classrooms: If you wish to observe/visit classrooms, you must give the teacher 24 hours notice, by note, in person or a phone call to the office. Uninterrupted instructional time is extremely important to academic achievement. Even if you have arranged a visit with the teacher, you must come to the office, sign in and put on a name tag. Office staff will then call the teacher to inform her/him of your arrival.
Coming Early for Pickup: If you are in the school hallways before dismissal to pick up your child, you must report to the office and wear a badge. Please follow this procedure so that we can be aware of all adults on the school site to keep the children safe. While in the hallways, please refrain from using your cell phone or holding conversations as hallway conversations are disruptive to classroom instruction.

Volunteering in the Classroom

Volunteering in the classroom is an enriching experience for parents, students and teachers alike. Please speak to your child’s teacher or the principal if you would like to help out. Parents who will be in classrooms MUST have a current TB test on file. Testing locations are posted in the lobby outside the office.