MARYLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

MARYLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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Table of Contents

General Information

Attendance

Health Office

Awards & Incentives

Code of Conduct

Dress Code, Homework Policy

School Map

Daily Schedule

Staff

Support Services

Parent Involvement, Food Services

         Internet Information


General Information

VISITORS

All visitors must report to the main office before going to any area on the school campus. They will be issued a pass. Visitors without a pass on campus will be asked to return to the office. Students from other schools, friends, or relatives may not visit during school hours. Parents/guardians are always welcome. If a parent/guardian wishes a conference with a teacher, appointments need to be scheduled through the school office.

BICYCLES

Students must walk their bike on and off campus, including the driveway and parking lot. Bikes should be locked in the bike rack. During the school day the bike rack is off limits. HELMETS MUST BE WORN!

WALKERS

Students walking to school should arrive no earlier than thirty (30) minutes before the opening of school. There is no supervision prior to that time and students will not be allowed on campus. As soon as children are dismissed they should go directly home. Staff members, the City of Vista Crossing Guards, and student safety patrol members are all on duty to help students arrive safely.

BIKE RIDERS

Bicycle riding is dangerous in this area. Only students in grades 3, 4, and 5 are allowed to ride their bikes. A note is required from parents for students riding their bicycles in grades 3-5.

¨       Bicycles must be licensed. Please contact the Sheriff’s Dept. for more information.

¨       Bicycles must be locked in the bicycle rack during school hours.

¨       Riders must wear an approved bicycle helmet.

¨     HELMETS MUST BE WORN!! No helmet - Student’s bike will be held in office for parents to pick up.

SKATEBOARDS/ROLLERBLADES/SCOOTERS

Students are not permitted to bring these items to school.

Wheels must be removed from skate shoes.

Traffic Reminders

·         Watch for students crossing in the loading areas.

·       Remember to follow the directions of the staff and safety patrols on duty.

·         Always be in your car to move forward.

·        For the safety of your children – please drop off and pick up students in the school parking lot only, not on the street.

·        Students should only cross the street at the crosswalks where there is a crossing guard. Please do not stop on Maryland Ave. and allow your children to cross in front of traffic to enter or exit the school.

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Attendance

School begins at 7:50 a.m. for all students.

If your child is absent, please call the attendance office by 9:00 a.m. and leave a message.

All absences must be cleared through a phone contact or note from the student's parent or legal guardian. California law requires students to attend school regularly and promptly!



AGE REQUIREMENTS

State law provides the following requirements for students entering public schools. A child must be 5 years old on or before December 2 in order to enter kindergarten. To enter first grade, a child must be 6 years old on or before December 2. Proof of the child’s age must be submitted at the time of enrollment. Proof of residence is also required. Kindergarten registration occurs in March.

TARDINESS
Students are expected to arrive at school on time. They should arrive no earlier than 7:25 a.m. If a student is late to school, he or she must report to the office for a pass. Students are expected to be in LINE ON THE PLAYGROUND BY 7:50 AM when the bell rings.

LEAVING SCHOOL

Maryland Elementary School has a closed campus. Once a student arrives on campus he or she must remain on campus for the remainder of the school day, unless checked out at the attendance office by a parent.

Only persons listed on the emergency card may check out a student. If a parent does not have the persons name on the card, they cannot sign a student out.

Please try to schedule doctor/dentist appointments after school hours. This will enable your child to be present for our entire instructional program. If possible, please notify your child’s teacher of an early check-out in writing. Always check your child out through the office.

If a student becomes ill during the school day, he or she will be sent to the health office with a pass. If necessary, parents will be contacted.

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE REVIEW BOARD (SARB)
If your child is excessively absent (10 days) from school for whatever reason - including truancy, illness, and tardiness - he/she will be referred to Maryland’s School Attendance Review Team. If no improvement in attendance results, they will be referred to the district's School Attendance Review Board. If no improvement in attendance result, they will be referred to the district’s School Attendance Review Board, which consists of members from social service agencies and local law enforcement. Excessive absences/tardies is defined as a child not in school or on time for ten or more school days.

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Health Office



The health office at Maryland is located in the office. The health technician is on duty on a full time basis. They are here to help in a case of sickness or accidents during the regular school hours.

Please keep the health technician informed of any special health matters. All students must have an up-to-date Emergency Card on file in the Health Office. Other than providing first aid, the school health technician is unable to offer any treatment or medication unless it's under the direction of a physician. Any required medication, including aspirin, must be kept and taken in the Health Office. Parent/guardian and doctor authorizations are required.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION REQUIREMENTS

Kindergarten students must have a physical examination sometime in the 6 months prior to entering kindergarten. First graders must have a physical examination sometime in the 18 months prior to entering first grade. This is a Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) requirement. CHDP forms and other information are available in the school office.



HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

At the time of registration, an immunization record showing month, day, and year of all required immunizations must be presented. Each date must be signed or stamped by the doctor. Required immunizations are as follows:

            Polio (OPV and/or IPV) - Four doses

            DPT – Five doses

            Measles/Mumps/Rubella (MMR) – Two doses

            Hepatitis B – Three doses

   Varicella – One dose



MEDICINE AT SCHOOL

Notify the school if your child is on some type of continuing medication, even though taken at home. This will alert us in the event of a reaction from the medicine.

If medication is to be taken during school hours, forms must be filled out by the parent and the physician. All forms are available in the health office. All medication sent to school with children must be in a prescription/original, labeled container (no baggies), and brought to the health office to be administered under the supervision of office personnel.

Awards & Incentives

Student of the Week

Students are selected in the classroom by the teacher. Each classroom determines its own criteria for selection. The students’ names are called over the school-wide intercom system for recognition. Each student receives a certificate, folder, pencil or other incentive.



Good Job Slips

Students are encouraged and expected to always be good citizens. When a student is ‘caught’ going above and beyond the expected behavior, they are given a green ‘Caught You Being Good’ slip. The slip is placed in a container and on Fridays slips are drawn for a reward.

Safety Patrol

Fifth grade Safety Patrol members help us supervise students before and after school. They also help with traffic at arrival and departure times. These students are selected by their fourth grade teachers. It is an honor to be on Safety Patrol.

Accelerated Reader

Students are encouraged to read books and show their comprehension by taking quizzes on the computer. They earn points based on their quiz results. We want our children reading and enjoying books. Students earn incentive Maryland AR Tags as they pass more quizzes. We also hold an end of the year assembly to recognize students with high Accelerated Reader points.

Student Council

Each year student Council Representatives are chosen from upper grade classrooms. Student Council meets regularly throughout the year and assists in many school activities.

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Maryland’s Code of Conduct

MAKOS’ SCHOOL WIDE RESPONSIBILITIES:

¶   Respect yourself by making good choices

¶   Respect others by treating them kindly

¶   Take responsibility for all your decisions

At the beginning of the school year, each teacher makes clear the rules, consequences and procedures and adheres to these rules consistently throughout the year. Rules and consequences are posted in each classroom. Each teacher is responsible for student discipline in his/her classroom.

CONSEQUENCES FOR INAPPROPRIATE CHOICES

Severity of behavior will determine the severity of the consequence.

Misconduct will generally result in the following series of responses:

·        Warning and counseling

·        Time-out in the classroom

·        Phone call home

·        Notification requiring parent signature (Conduct Report) with explanation of behavior and disciplinary action taken

·        Conference with teacher, counselor, and /or administrator

·        Recess restriction

·        A conference between parent, teacher, student and administrator may be held to plan a behavior contract

·        Severe and/or repeated offenses may result in suspension from school

V.U.S.D. BEHAVIOR CODE

This provision restates the grounds in Education Code sections 48900, 48900.2, 48900.3 and 48900.4. This provision shall not be interpreted to be inconsistent with those statutes. A pupil may not be suspended from school or recommended for expulsion unless the Superintendent or the Principal determines that the pupil has:

·   Caused, attempted to cause, or threatened to cause physical injury to another person.

·   Possessed, sold, or otherwise furnished ANY firearm, knife, explosive, or other dangerous object unless, in the case of possession of any such object of the type, the pupil had obtained written permission to possess the item from a certificated school employee, which is concurred in by the Principal or the designee of the Principal.

·  Unlawfully possessed, used, sold, or otherwise furnished, or been under the influence of, any controlled substance (listed in Health and Safety Code sections 11053, et sea.), an alcoholic beverage, or an intoxicant of any kind.

·   Unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any controlled substance (listed in Health and Safety Code section 11053, et sea.), 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.

·  Committed or attempted to commit robbery or extortion.

·  Caused or attempted to cause damage to school property or private property.

·  Stolen or attempted to steal school property or private property.

· Possessed or used tobacco, or any products containing tobacco or nicotine products, including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, miniature cigars, clove cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, snuff, chew packets, and betel. However, this provision does not prohibit use or possession by a pupil of his or her own prescription products.

·  Committed an obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity or vulgarity.

· Unlawfully possessed, or unlawfully offered, arranged, or negotiated to sell any drug paraphernalia (defined in Health and Safety Code section 11014.5).

· 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.

· Knowingly received stolen school property or private property.

· Possessed an imitation firearm. An "imitation firearm" means a replica of a firearm that is so substantially similar in physical properties to an existing firearm as to lead a reasonable person to conclude that the replica is a firearm.

· Sexual harassment as defined by law, except that this provision does not apply to pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 3, inclusive.

· Caused, attempted to cause, threatened to cause, or participated in an act of hate violence as defined by law except that this provision does not apply to pupils enrolled in kindergarten and grades 1 through 3, inclusive.

· Intentionally engaged in harassment, threats, or intimidation directed against a district personnel or pupil or group of pupils.

· Terroristic threats against school officials, school property, or both.

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Dress Code

School dress must not distract from the education process. Physical education and recess are a part of each child's regular program. To ensure their safety while playing outside the following dress code applies:

Footwear needs to provide adequate protection. Shoes must cover the toes and heel to help provide protection as the students move about campus. Sandals and heels larger that one inch are not permitted.

Clothes that have signs or symbols that show disrespect towards others are not permitted.

Clothes that have tobacco, alcohol, or drug logos are not permitted.

Clothes that have sexual innuendoes are not permitted.

The upper body must be covered by a garment appropriate for school wear. See-through clothing, off the shoulder, bathing suits, spaghetti straps, and tank tops with extra-large armholes are not permitted.

Earrings should be small and no hoops allowed.

No skate shoes.

ABSOLUTELY NO GANG-RELATED ATTIRE IS PERMISSIBLE.

Since clothing fashions and fads change frequently, it is not possible to address every specific type of inappropriate dress. If a student’s attire distracts from or interferes with the educational process, it will be considered inappropriate even if it does not appear on the above list. If any item is added to the list, all students will be duly notified (e.g. bulletin, parent newsletter, school website).

•Hair styles and colors that distract others from learning are not permitted. This may include brightly colored and excessively teased or spiked hair.

Sun-Protective Clothing

The current Senate Bill 310 and added Education Code 35183.5 allows for students to wear sun-protective clothing outdoors. The following conditions have been set for students who wish to wear sun-protective clothing at Maryland.

§          A plain baseball cap or sun-visor may be worn

§          No writing or insignias on the hat, bill, or brim is allowed.

§          The hat MUST be worn properly – facing forward with the bill or brim down for protection from the sunlight.

§          Hats and sunglasses are to be worn outside only!

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Maryland's Homework Policy

The following is the amount of minutes students should be approximately working on homework at home for each grade level. Remember that homework is an extension of what your child has learned in class. He or she should not need much assistance other than just making sure that it is complete and returned on time.

Grade

Homework Minutes

Reading Minutes

Kindergarten

15

20

1^st Grade

20-30

20

2^nd Grade

20-30

20

3^rd Grade

30

20

4^th Grade

40-50

30

5^th Grade

40-50

30

Please remember that homework is an extension of what your child has learned in class. Our teachers do a great job of reviewing the homework expectations with their students. We depend on your support in making sure the homework is completed and returned to school on time. Our teachers will provide feedback to students on their homework. Of course, a dilemma arises when a student does not complete his/her class work during the school day as this could then increase the amount of time spent on homework with the completion of class work at home.

In addition to regular homework, your child should be reading at home every night. We know that the more children read, the better they do in school. Reading at home can include the adult reading aloud both to and with a child. Thank you for supporting your child’s success at school.

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MARYLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
DAILY SCHEDULE
2008-09

DAILY SCHEDULE

Start

End

Teacher Hours (Gr 1-5)

7:15

2:45

Kindergarten

7:50

1:20

Grade 1-5

7:50

1:53

BREAKFAST

Start

End

All students

7:15

7:45



RECESS

Start

End

Kindergarten

9:15

9:30

Gr. 1-2

9:30

9:50

Gr. 3

9:50

10:10

Gr. 4-5

10:10

10:30

LUNCH

Start

End

Kindergarten

10:30

11:15

Gr. 1

11:00

11:40

Gr. 2

11:15

11:55

Gr. 3

11:30

12:10

Gr. 4-5

11:45

12:25



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Maryland Staff Members

Acacia Thede - Principal

George Doyle- 3^rd Grade

Nancy Douglass-Hill - Kindergarten

Andrea Miller- 3^rd Grade

Heather Hamel - Kindergarten

Samantha McDonnell - 3^rd Grade

McKenna Hill – Kindergarten

Ann Palmer- 3^rd Grade

Sarah Dorich – Kindergarten Alicia Pena – 3^rd Grade

Reagan Duncan - Kindergarten 3^rd Grade

Sue Donaldson - 1^st Grade

Melina Quon - 1^st Grade

Bree Mishler– 4^th Grade

Paula Sanchez – 1^st Grade
Lesley Christian -4^th/ 5^th Grade

Robin Fleming - 1st Grade

Jacquie Chapman-Loden– 5^th Grade

Lillian Galasso- 2^nd Grade
Victor Valenzuela - 5^th Grade

Vicki Teel – 2^nd Grade

Dave Quinlan – 2^nd Grade
Norma Schwartz- 4/5 SDC

Chanelle Berthiaume– 2^nd Grade

Kathleen Kozak – 2^nd Grade

Support Staff

Peggy Johnson - Office Manager

Melinda Person- Speech Therapist

Libby Arteaga - Health/Attendance Sec.

Kristen Westrope - Resource Specialist

Raquel Rivera - School Secretary

Elizabeth Freedman- Psychologist

Michele Leslie- Health Technician

Lisa Hettinger- Library Technician

Jaime Aguilar - Plant Supervisor

Carmen Waszak- ELD Resource Teacher

Max Nunez - Night Custodian

Letha McWey- Cafeteria Manager

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Support Services



Reading First

Maryland Elementary is a Reading First school. This means that your child will receive high quality reading instruction based on the latest academic research, California State Standards, and your child’s individual needs. Our teachers participate in frequent training and collaboration focusing on improving student achievement.



ELD

ELD provides limited and non-English speaking students assistance to increase their competence in using the English Language. Students are in a regular class and receive special English Language Development instruction from the teacher.

Gifted and Talented Education Program

Children are evaluated and tested, and those who qualify receive differentiated instruction in the classroom. This program begins in third grade and extends through eighth grade.

Library

Maryland maintains a library of fiction and non-fiction books which students have access to on a regularly scheduled basis. Students are encouraged to check out books for their use. Please check with the office for additional before school hours.



Parent ESL Classes

English as a Second Language classes are offered mornings and evenings on campus. Please contact office for more information.

Special Education

Special Education services are available to all qualifying students. Services include the Resource Specialist Program, Speech and Language therapy, plus other related services as specified in a student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).

SIT – Student Intervention Team

The Maryland SIT process allows staff members to meet on a regular basis to discuss strategies to support our students to be successful at school.

SST – Student Study Team

Maryland children who are facing challenges in the areas of academics, attendance or behavior may be referred to the Student Study Team. This team reviews individual student concerns and plans alternative instructional strategies.

Title I Program

Title 1 is a federally funded program designed to provide additional services or materials for Maryland. This program supports instruction through a variety of ways, including small group reading instruction in all of our classrooms.

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Parent Involvement

PTA

The Parent Teacher Association, (PTA) is a group of volunteers. We encourage you to attend PTA meetings. The atmosphere is informal and provides an excellent opportunity to acquaint yourself with the school. You, the parents, help our PTA make decisions on how to spend funds to support our students and our school.

SSC – School Site Council

The School Site Council is an elected committee made up of parents, teachers, and administrators. They meet monthly to develop, review, and recommend plans and budget for our School Improvement Program funds. The School Improvement Program (S.I.P.) State categorical money is received each year to supplement the basic educational program. The School Site Council, a parent/staff body, determines how that money is allocated. A Program Quality Review is conducted every three years to assist us in aligning our program with the State Framework.

Parent Volunteer Program

Parent volunteers contribute to the educational program of our students. The volunteers may work with individual teachers in the classroom or on special school events.

ELAC – English Language Advisory Committee

ELAC is a committee made up of parents, teachers, and administrators. They meet monthly to develop, review, and recommend plans for students who are learning the English language.

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Food Services

Food service is open before school, and during lunch. Nutritious meals or a-la-carte items are available. Students needing financial assistance may apply for a free or reduced meal program. Applications are available at front desk.

For students who will purchase lunch and/or breakfast, it is encouraged that parents prepay at the cafeteria. Not only is there a cost savings, your child will not need to risk losing or forgetting their lunch money.

BREAKFAST

Children may purchase breakfast each day.
The cost is $1.00 (which includes beverage.)

LUNCH

Children may bring a sack lunch to school. Milk is 30¢ and juice is 25¢. A hot lunch prepared by district personnel may be purchased for $1.50 (including beverage).

Students must pick up their own lunch. All food must remain on campus. Please follow the direction of the noon duties.

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Internet Information

Maryland Elementary School is capable of connecting to the Internet. This is quite a responsibility. The Internet is a powerful and amazing educational tool from which students have benefited greatly. However, it also contains areas of no educational value. Maryland Elementary School and Vista Unified School District (VUSD) have made every effort to block these offensive sites.

According to board policy, VUSD requires before each Internet use, an "Acceptable Use Policy" appear on the screen explaining to students their responsibility for actions on the Internet. Maryland welcomes this continual reminder, but the additional agreement between student, parents, and school (available at the school office) is still very important. This form is to notify parents of our policy prior to student Internet use.

STUDENT & PARENT INTERNET ACCESS AGREEMENT

Internet use is a privilege, not a right. Students will be allowed to use the Internet only if this document is signed by both the student and parent.

VUSD attempts to provide Internet barriers, but does not have total control of information available on the Internet. Although most material is helpful, some may not be of value, or may possibly even be offensive. Students should not be looking for non-educational sites. If a site is accidentally located, students should immediately exit the site and report the site to their teacher for its removal. Students should not watch others visit non-educational sites, or they will also lose Internet privileges.

Internet misuse may also require financial and criminal consequences, as well as school discipline. Any damages or liabilities caused by the student will become the student and parents' responsibility.

By signing this document, the student agrees to use the Internet in a positive and legal manner, which is consistent with the educational goals of VUSD. As a parent you should be aware of the responsibilities which accompany your child using the Internet.

Internet Permission Forms are available in the school office.

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VISTA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

MARYLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

TITLE 1, SCHOOL-LEVEL PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT POLICY

The purpose of the Vista Unified School District is to educate all students to become responsible citizens who make positive, intelligent and productive contributions to their community, state, and nation.

Maryland Elementary School recognizes the value in shared responsibility of student achievement. Parental involvement in a child’s education is the most consistent indicator of whether the child is successful in school.

Maryland Elementary School is committed to a quality educational program that values parental involvement. We recognize that parents play a very important role in their children’s education and take every opportunity to foster the relationship between school, parent, and child. Maryland Elementary School prides itself in our dedication to our students, families, community, and to lifelong learning.

PART I. GENERAL EXPECTATIONS

Maryland Elementary School agrees to implement the following requirements:

·                    The school will ensure that the required school-level parental involvement policy meets the requirements of section 1118 of the Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

·                    The school will notify parents of the policy in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand. The policy will be made available to the local community and reviewed and updated periodically to meet the changing needs of parents and the school.

·                    In carrying out the Title I, Part A, parental involvement requirements, to the extent practicable, the school will provide full opportunities for the participation of parents with limited English proficiency, parents with disabilities, and parents of migratory children, including providing information and school reports in an understandable and uniform format and including alternative formats upon request and, to the extent practicable, in language parents understand.

·                    The school will involve the parents of children served in Title I, Part A schools in decisions about how funds reserved under this part are spent for parent involvement activities. The school will build its own and the parent’s capacity for strong parental involvement, in order to ensure effective involvement of parents and to support a partnership among the school, parents, and the community to improve student academic achievement.

·                    The school will provide parental involvement activities in the areas of improving student achievement, child development and additional topics parents may request.

·                    The school will be governed by the following definition of parental involvement, and will carry out programs, activities, and procedures in accordance with this definition:

Parental involvement means the participation of parents in regular, two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including ensuring—

(A) that parents play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning;

(B) that parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school;

(C) that parents are full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child;

(D) the carrying out of other activities, such as those described in section 1118 of the ESEA.

  PART II.   SCHOOL-PARENT COMPACT

Maryland Elementary School shall develop jointly with parents a school-parent compact that specifies how parents, the entire school staff, and students will share the responsibility for improved student academic achievement. The compact will describe how the school and parents will develop a partnership to help students achieve proficiency in the content standards. The compact will be periodically updated.

PART III.   DESCRIPTION OF HOW SCHOOLS WILL IMPLEMENT REQUIRED SCHOOL PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT POLICY COMPONENTS

NOTE: The School Parental Involvement Policy shall include a description of how the school will implement or accomplish each of the following components.

1.                   Maryland Elementary School shall take the following actions to involve parents in the joint development and review of its school parental involvement policy:

We will include parents in development of our Parental Involvement Policy through ELAC Committee           input, PTA input, and SSC input.

2.                   Maryland Elementary School shall take the following actions to involve parents in the process of planning, joint development of the program, review and improvement of programs under Title I Part A of the ESEA :

Parents will be included through their participation in Parent-Teacher conferences, at our annual Title           1 Parent Meeting, Parent-Teacher-Student compacts, and their participation on SSC, PTA, ELAC and          Parent Surveys.

3.         Maryland Elementary School shall hold an annual meeting to inform parents of the school’s participation in Title I, Part A programs, and to explain the Title I, Part A requirements and the right of parents to be involved in Title I, Part A programs. The school will invite all parents of children participating in Title I, Part A programs to this meeting.

We hold this meeting in the fall of each school year. Agenda items will include- statutory items and input into Parent Nights

4          The Maryland Elementary School shall provide parents of participating children information in a timely manner about Title I, Part A programs that includes a description and explanation of the school’s curriculum, the forms of academic assessment used to measure children’s progress, and the proficiency levels students are expected to meet.

To maintain strong ongoing communication we hold Back to School Night, Parent Conferences, Grad           Level Family Nights, Family Library Nights, and ELAC sponsored Parent Information Nights. Teachers    send home Parent Reports with student results on district Common Assessments. Progress Reports are    completed and sent home three times a year. VUSD mails parent reports to families with STAR results            and CELDT results and they are previewed at our annual Title 1 Night. Classroom Teachers and the      Principal are available to provide explanations and answer questions.

5.         Maryland Elementary School shall, at the request of parents, provide opportunities for regular       meetings, held at flexible times, for parents to formulate suggestions and to participate, as           appropriate, in decisions about the education of their children. The school will respond to    any such           suggestions as soon as practicably possible by:

Scheduled Parent Nights, PTA Unit meetings and ELAC Parent Information nights

6.         Maryland Elementary School shall provide each parent an individual student report about the        performance of their child on the State assessment in at least math, language arts and reading by:

STAR reports are mailed by district to homes. If a parent has not received this report by September 15,       the parent may stop by the school office for a copy of the report.

7.         Maryland Elementary School shall provide assistance to parents of children served by the school, as appropriate, in understanding topics by undertaking the actions described below --

·        the state’s academic content standards,

·        the state’s student academic achievement standards,

·        the state and local academic assessments including alternate assessments,

·        the requirements of Title I Part A,

·        how to monitor their child’s progress, and

·        how to work with educators:

Through Back to School Night, SARC report, Parent-Teacher conferences, Parent-Teacher-Student Compacts, informing parents at Grade Level Family Nights and through ELAC sponsored Family Information nights.

8.         Maryland Elementary School shall provide materials and training to help parents work with their children in the areas of improving student achievement, (including literacy training and using technology) child development and additional topics parents may request.

Parents are encouraged to attend all scheduled Parent Nights, to meet with teachers, to come to the           office for information or to meet with the principal. Our yearly Parent Survey guides us in providing    needed support to our families. Maryland Elementary offers Adult ESL classes in the morning and             evening on our campus as well as Parent Literacy Classes to support parents helping their children with        reading at home.

9.         Maryland Elementary School shall, with the assistance of its parents, educate its teachers, student services personnel, principals and other staff in how to reach out to, communicate with, and work with parents as equal partners in the value and utility of contributions of parents, and in how to implement and coordinate parent programs and build ties between parents and schools, by:

We provide multiple opportunities for our parents to be involved including Back to School Night, Grade         Level Family Nights, Family Library Nights, Parent trainings, Parent/Teacher conferences, ELAC            sponsored Family Nights and participation in PTA, SSC and ELAC. At our staff meetings and leadership             meetings we frequently discuss effective ways we are supporting our parents to ensure strong        opportunities that meet the needs of our parents.

10.        Maryland Elementary School shall, to the extent feasible and appropriate, coordinate and integrate parental involvement programs and activities with other programs. The school will also conduct other activities, such as parent resource centers, that encourage and support parents in more fully participating in the education of their children, by:

Ensuring that all groups collaborate and plan events to support the needs of our parents and gathering         input from ELAC, PTA, SSC and Staff as appropriate.



11.        Maryland Elementary School shall take the following actions to ensure that information related to the school and parent-programs, meetings, and other activities is sent to parents of participating children in an understandable and uniform format, including alternative formats upon request, and, to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand:

Mako Mail is a system in place to ensure that all teachers send home flyers and newsletters in English       and Spanish with each student every Wednesday. Connect Ed telephone messages are also made in     English and Spanish. Maryland Elementary utilizes a translation headphone system for parent meetings    as needed. Our front office staff is bilingual and able to communicate and assist all families .Maintaining          bilingual front office staff supports our ability to communicate with and assist our families.

  PART IV.   POLICY ADOPTION

This School Parental Involvement Policy has been developed jointly with, and agreed on with, parents of children participating in Title I, Part A programs, as evidenced by agendas for PTA, Staff, SSC, and ELAC meetings.

This policy was adopted by Maryland Elementary School on February 28, 2011 and by the VUSD School Board on March 10, 2011. The school will distribute this policy to all parents of participating Title I, Part A children as a part of our Parent/Student Handbooks in the fall of each year.