Willow Creek Academy

Willow Creek Academy - 2009-10 School Year Handbook

Introduction

This handbook was developed to serve as a means of communication between Willow Creek Academy and its families. The handbook contains information specific to Willow Creek. Please feel free to call the school concerning any special procedures or for more specific information. Upper School families will be receiving an additional handbook pertaining specifically to Upper School routines, procedures and expectations.

Willow Creek is divided into three divisions: Primary (K-2); Intermediate (3-5) and Upper (6-8). The teachers in each division work together to insure a smooth transition from grade to grade and also often plan special events (field trips, electives, assemblies) for students within that division. There is also a great deal of cross-divisional activity such as reading buddy programs, performances and planning for school events.

In order to clearly communicate basic school operations and general rules and regulations, a question and answer format has been adopted. If you have questions that are not addressed in this handbook, please call the school office at 415-331-753 x202.

General School Information

What time does school start?

School starts every day at 8:15 AM. Students are to be in their classroom at 8:15. Those students who are regularly late to class will receive calls home. If tardiness does not improve, the family will be referred to a School Attendance Review Board (SARB) meeting to develop an action plan regarding the tardiness.

What do I need to do if my child is going to be absent for the day?

If your child is going to be absent, please call the school to let both the teacher and the office know the reason for the absent. Teachers have direct telephone lines, which will allow you to leave a message for your child’s teacher. When your child returns, he/she must have a written note from you regarding the absence. If you are going to be away on a trip, please arrange with your child’s teacher(s) for independent study materials that can be completed while you are away. If the work is completed successfully, your child can be credited with attendance while away.

What time is school out?

On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday school is out at 3 PM. On Wednesdays, school is out at 2 PM. There will be several other early dismissal days during the year and you will be notified in the Friday packet. The first eight days of the 2009-10 school year will have a dismissal time of 2 PM.

Where do I park or drop off my child?

Willow Creek families are to use the lower parking lot just off of Buchanan Street at the base of the baseball field. No parking is allowed on the driveway, but only in the actual parking lot. Please be very careful when pulling in and out as there may be children exiting or entering cars.

My child would like to ride her bike to school. Is this allowed?

We encourage students to ride bikes, scooters and skateboards to school if possible. Some families ride bikes together as a family activity. If your child uses a bike, scooter or skateboard to get to school, these must be stored in the bike racks which are at the foot of the stairs in the courtyard. Skateboards may be stored in the classroom with the teacher’s permission. None of these pieces of equipment may be used during the school day. At the end of the day, bikes, scooters, etc. must be WALKED down the driveway before being used.

What do I do if my child is going to be late because of an appointment of some kind?

Please call the office and leave a message for the school secretary and/or your child’s teacher. When your child arrives at school, he or she should have a note from you indicating why he/she is late. The student should come to the office before going to class. He/she will be given a tardy pass to give to the teacher.

Call the school office and leave a message for both the school secretary as well as your child’s teacher. If you wish to have homework and other assignments sent home, please indicate when you will come to pick them up. A teacher always needs at least several hours to prepare special assignments to send home.

Who are the teachers and other people who work at Willow Creek?

The following people make up the staff at Willow Creek as of July, 2009.

Carol Cooper, Head of School
Emily Darawish, Assistant to the Head of School

Aleshia Adams-Page and Vivian Balderas, Administrative Assistants, Room 23

Alise Perez, Kindergarten Teacher, Room 25
Jennifer Atterman, Kindergarten Teacher, Room 26
Emily Enstice, First Grade Teacher, Room 27
Jan Loshin, Second Grade Teacher, Room 28
Anne Siskin, Third Grade Teacher, Room 21
Michelle Morris, Fourth Grade Teacher, Room 24
Nathania Jacobs. Fifth Grade Teacher, Room A
Melissa Nestel, Upper School English Language Arts Teacher, Room 20
Wendy Powell, Upper School Math Teacher, Room 19
Matt Helmenstine, Upper School Humanities Teacher
Katie Beckman, Upper School Science Teacher

Lisa Goodrich-Boyd, Kindergarten Assistant Teacher
Anna Von Bonn, Kindergarten Assistant Teacher
Samareh Eskandaripour, First Grade Assistant Teacher
Becky Jackson, Second Grade Assistant Teacher
Stephen Barbee, Third Grade Assistant Teacher

Nancy Spottiswoode, Music Teacher
David Singleton, PE Teacher

Family/School Communication

If I want to talk with my child’s teacher, how can I do this?

There are several ways to communicate with your child’s teacher. All teachers have email and voice mail access at school and they will share this information with you at the start of school. Back to School night is a great time to share your contact information with your child’s teacher.

Teachers communicate with parents via mail, phone, email and personal meetings. In order to facilitate this communication, please make sure that both your child’s teachers and the school office has your up to date phone, address and email information. Every Friday, a packet is either emailed or sent home with your child---this Friday Packet will have information about your child’s specific classroom as well as school wide events and opportunities. Please take the time to review this packet; preferably early in the weekend in case there is information about events occurring on Monday of the following week.

There are two weeks set aside each year for formal parent/teacher conferences. One week will be in late October; the other in March. These formal meetings are designed to let parents know just how well children are progressing and provide suggestions for both improvement as well as maintenance of excellent work habits.

We encourage close parent/teacher/school contact and recognize that as a school, we can best serve your child by staying in close touch. Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher(s) at any time you feel it is necessary.

How will I know about special school events like picture taking or field trips?

Activities that affect the entire school will be communicated with flyers that are sent home as part of the Friday packet. Confidential information such as report cards are mailed to your home.

Teachers will send class information home as part of their Friday packet so it is very important to ask your student for the Friday packet and read it at the beginning of the weekend instead of Sunday evening.

What is The Friday Packet?

In an attempt to consolidate the stream of information that flows from school to home, we put together a Friday Packet. At a minimum the packet will contain a letter from your child’s teacher and notes from the Head of School. Other information may also be included such as order forms for lunch, information about Parent Council activities, etc.

As part of our mission to be a “Green School” we are encouraging distribution of the Friday packets via email. If you have email access, please make sure that your child’s teacher(s) has your preferred email address in order to insure that we can send your Friday packets electronically.

School Uniform Information

Why does Willow Creek require that students wear uniforms?

Both parents and the Willow Creek Board of Directors have overwhelmingly confirmed support of the uniform policy. There are several reasons for the uniform:

No student stands out because of what they can afford or not afford to wear to school.
Parents are spared arguments about what to wear to school because of the uniform requirements.
Wearing a uniform to school signals to students that school is to be taken seriously and they are dressed and ready for work.

What is the school uniform?

Kindergarten through fifth grade students wear dark green shirts combined with khaki colored pants, shorts, skirts or jumpers. Sixth through eighth students wear a royal blue shirt combined with khaki bottoms. There is no specific manufacturer for the uniform---but the color combination is important.

A white shirt may be substituted for the colored shirt in the case of an emergency.

Shirts with a collar are preferred, but a solid colored crewneck or turtleneck tee shirt may be worn. Shirts should be free of large writing and/or pictures. A small logo is acceptable. Shirts may be either knit or broadcloth fabric.

Do uniforms have to be worn every day?

The last Friday of the month is a free dress day. Some field trips do not require wearing a uniform. Occasionally there are other days such as our Lapathon when a uniform is not required.

Is there a dress code at Willow Creek?

Yes, in addition to the uniform policy, students are to always dress appropriately. An example is that pants are to fit well and not be either exceedingly baggy (for boys) or unusually tight (for girls). If shorts are worn, they are to be close to knee length.

Hooded sweatshirts and jackets and caps may be worn outside, but when in classrooms, hats and hoods are to be kept off. Hooded sweatshirts that zip all the way over a child’s face are NOT permitted. Sneakers with built in wheels are also not permitted.

Additional questions regarding appropriate dress can be addressed to the Head of School.

Does my child need to have extra clothes at school?

It is strongly recommended that younger children (Grades K-3) have a change of clothes. Bathroom accidents sometimes happen; when the weather is wet the field is often very muddy and occasionally spilled food or art supplies can make clothing uncomfortable to wear. Please mark all clothing with your child’s name.

As well as including extra clothing for your child in his or her backpack, please also include a large plastic bag in which the wet or soiled clothing can be taken home.

Illness, Medical Issues and Special Education Concerns

What happens if my child gets sick while at school?

We will do our best to reach you or the other adults listed on the emergency information form. Unless there is an obvious emergency, we will wait until we reach you to provide any unusual assistance to your child. We are unable to administer any kind of medication without written permission from a parent or guardian. When your child requires that medication be administered at school, please talk with the office staff and sign a permission form for school staff to be able to give your child medication.

My child is allergic to several things such as peanuts and bee stings. How can you treat him if he has an allergic reaction?

In cases of severe allergies, students will have an Epi pen prescribed for them. If your child has an Epi pen, please insure that one is brought to school to be kept in our medicine cabinet. As with all medication, please make sure that the Epi pen has not expired. Written permission to use the pen is required to be on file and school staff has been trained in how to administer an Epi pen if necessary. If your child has any kind of medication kept at school, please check regularly to make sure that it is up to date.

I want to know about every thing that happens to my child, even if she just gets a small scratch. How can I make sure that I am notified?

Please make sure that the school secretaries; your child’s teacher and the Head of School are aware of your desire to be notified when even very small events occur at school that may result in some slight injury We will make every effort to notify should an incident occur.

My child seems to be having a lot of trouble learning math. I am concerned that he may have a learning disability. What should I do?

Speak with your child’s teacher to see if the teacher shares your concern. Either one of you may fill out a request for assessment to determine if your child qualifies for special education services. If so, an Individual Education Plan will be developed with you and the appropriate special education staff.

Lunch Program and General Regulations Regarding Food on Campus

Can my child get lunch at school?

Yes. Willow Creek participates in the Federal School Lunch and Breakfast Program. You may be eligible for free and/or reduced lunches. If not, you can pay for your student to have a lunch. Our food vendor is Revolution Foods, a local company based in Oakland. The focus is on providing students with locally produced healthful meals containing sustainably raised and organic products whenever possible. All meals meet the nutritional requirements of the federal food programs.

How do I order lunch for my child?

Meals for your child can be ordered using the on-line menus provided by Revolution Foods.

My child is a vegetarian. Can she still get lunch at school?

Yes. All menu entrees have a vegetarian as well as a dairy free option every day.

My child does not want to eat the school lunch. Are there rules about what he can bring for lunch?

We cannot dictate what you or your child prepares for lunch, but we strongly recommend that lunches contain protein, fruits and vegetables in addition to milk, water or a low sugar beverage. Soda and candy are NOT allowed at school. We encourage you to use re-useable containers rather than add to the refuse often created at lunchtime.

Can my child bring candy or gum to school?

Gum, candy and soda are NOT allowed at school. Occasionally there might be a special celebration in a classroom in which there might be some candy or cupcakes. However, we encourage fruit salad corn bread and other types of treats for birthday celebrations. Otherwise, sweets are not allowed at school.

Can I bring treats to the classroom for birthday parties?

Generally, birthday celebrations are allowed in the classroom as well as other special events. Each teacher develops guidelines for their class regarding parties and other celebrations. Please check with your child’s teacher if you are planning on bringing food into the classroom.

Emergency Preparedness Plan

What will happen if there is a serious emergency such as an earthquake or fire?

A District wide emergency preparedness plan was developed last year and contains provisions for your child’s safety. A complete copy of the plan is available in the school office if you wish to examine it. We are also happy to make a copy of the plan for you, should you wish.

The entire school staff has been assigned specific responsibilities should there be a disaster or unsafe condition at the school. These tasks range from turning off gas meters to checking children out as they are picked up to search and rescue activities. Food and water are kept on site in a storage container should students and staff need to remain on site for a period of time.

Monthly drills are held at school so that students know how to respond to a fire alarm, an earthquake alarm or a lock down situation. Teachers and other staff prepare students as to proper evacuation measures and these drills are often coordinated with either the fire and/or local police departments.

Should there be a reason to cancel school, notification will be made by both telephone and where possible, by email and radio/TV broadcasts. Teachers and staff will notify parents as to a school closure. Only the Superintendent of the District will make the decision regarding school closure.

There will be more specific procedures outlined at the before school parent meeting.

School Rules and Regulations

What are Willow Creek’s rules and regulations?

Each classroom has its specific rules regarding student behavior. In addition, there are general school rules, listed below, that ALL students are to follow:

Every student is to arrive at school with his or her necessary school materials. Homework, if assigned, is to be completed and ready to hand in at the beginning of the day (unless the classroom has a different time schedule)

Students are allowed in classrooms only when supervised by an adult.

The following items are not allowed at school:

Illicit drugs
Weapons of any kind including knives and guns
Tobacco in any form
Alcohol in any form
Candy and gum
Toys (including electronics such as Game Boys)
Cash over $10.00

Cell phones and MP3 players are allowed under the following conditions: phones are to be turned off from 8 AM until 3 PM and kept in a secure place such as a backpack. If a student is found using a phone, the phone will be confiscated and not returned until a parent comes to retrieve it. Upper School students are allowed to use MP3 Players under certain conditions when in Study Hall.

Students will treat each other and adults with respect and courtesy. Fighting, bullying and severe teasing may be cause for suspension. Inappropriate language is not allowed. This includes, but is not limited to, profanity, racial epithets, sexual harassment and any form of verbal abuse or bullying.

What will happen if my child does not follow the school’s rules?

Consequences resulting from rules’ infractions may vary from a brief time out to expulsion. Generally, most issues are handled with a combination of a call home, a meeting with the Head of School and perhaps, a time out. More serious offenses will result in a referral being sent home. Three or more referrals may result in a suspension. Two suspensions will result in a meeting of the student, parents and the WCA Board Discipline Committee.

Students with continuous attendance infractions and behavior issues will be referred to a SARB (School Attendance Review Board) meeting. The SARB is a county wide Board containing representatives from alternative education institutions, the Sheriff’s Office, Child Protective Services, County Office of Education programs, The County District Attorney’s Office and other organizations concerned with juvenile behavior issues.

Certain infractions (drugs, alcohol, extreme violence and sexual harassment) will result in immediate suspension and may also result in expulsion.

The Willow Creek Staff needs parental and family support to insure that school and classroom rules and guidelines are followed. We have very few rules, but each is very important and has been developed over the past eight years as being important to creating a safe and comfortable learning environment for your students. When there is an ongoing issue with your child, we will work with you to assist your student in following school guidelines.

Parent/Family Obligations and Responsibilities

Why is there a parent volunteer obligation?

When you enrolled your student at Willow Creek you signed a contract to provide a minimum of 50 hours per year. We require this because educational research indicates that parental involvement is the single most important component of helping a child attain academic success. In addition to this positive affect on students, parents find that they create a caring community within the school.

I work every day. What kinds of things can I do to volunteer?

We always need people to make phone calls, do laundry for the lost and found, work at fund-raisers, prepare materials for teachers, participate in campus clean up days and participate in ways that do not require someone to be on campus Monday-Friday.

Please remember that you have signed a contract to provide a minimum of 50 hours of time per year to support your student. We recognize that sometimes there are obstacles to completing all of your required hours, but it is important that you speak with the Head of School regarding these difficulties. It is also possible to make a donation of $10 per hour if you wish and are able.

How is the Parent Contract enforced?

Following is a copy of the Willow Creek Board of Directors Policy and Administrative Regulations regarding the Parent/Family Contract. In addition to performing volunteer service for the School, the contract also requires that parents will:

Read to their student an average of 20 minutes a day
Assist and support their child with homework
Attend parent meetings
Insure that their child follows all school rules

You will note that according to WCA Board policy that failure to complete the parent/family contract may result in your child not being invited back to Willow Creek the following school year.

What is the Parent Council? How is it different from a PTA?

If you are a parent at Willow Creek, you are automatically a member of the Parent Council. Unlike a PTA, the Parent Council is not part of a national organization and does not charge dues.

The Parent Council supports school activities by organizing fund raisers, providing room parents for each classroom, managing the school garden, writing grant proposals, etc. Without the parent council, there would be many fewer opportunities for our students to learn and thrive.

Active participation in the Parent Council, such as being a room parent or heading a specific fund raising effort, is one of many ways to fulfill your parent contract obligations.

If you require any additional information about any of the items in this Handbook, please contact either the School Office at 415-331-7530x202 or the Head of School at 415-331-7530x201.