PARENT/STUDENT HANDBOOK
ATTENDANCE
Our school opens at 6:30 a.m. for child care. Students arriving before 7:00 a.m. should be escorted to the Preschool where an Early Care Room is available. The Elementary Building opens at 7:00 a.m. We begin serving breakfast at 7:15 a.m. Students must be ready for class with all their materials at the following times:
Kindergarten & grades 4, 5 & 6 8:25 a.m.
1st, 2nd and 3rd grades 8:55 a.m.
Classroom instruction begins when the bell rings. Per Pinecrest School policy, ALL parents must leave campus at that time.
 ATTENDANCE POLICY: Regular attendance at Pinecrest School is necessary to ensure a student’s academic progress. Frequent or prolonged absences are disruptive to the educational process. Many classroom experiences are difficult or impossible to duplicate as makeup work. It is with this premise in mind that the following attendance policy has been instituted at Pinecrest Schools.
Poor attendance in any one class may result in a lower grade. Any student absent ten (10) days or 70 class periods from any class in a quarter or fifteen (15) days or 105 class periods from any class in a semester may receive a lower or failing grade in that particular subject or subjects. This action will be taken at the discretion of the Principal.
ABSENTEEISM:
- It is the parent’s obligation to inform the school office of an absence, by telephone, between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on the morning of the day of the absence. THIS CALL IS MANDATORY.
- Parents should make every attempt NOT to make doctor or dental appointments during school hours.
- Family trips and vacations should NOT be planned during the school year when classes are in session. If a trip is unavoidable, written notice should be submitted by the parent to the Principal, at least ten days in advance. Absences due to trips are NOT excused. Any exams missed during an absence may be made up at the discretion of the teacher. All assignments will be given after the student returns to school.
- Students should not be taken off campus for lunch. This is a time for children to socialize with one another.
- In order to attend any after school activity/function, students must be present for at least half of the day on the day of the event.
JUSTIFIED ABSENCES INCLUDE:
- Illness
- Medical appointments
- Attendance at the funeral of a family member
- Court appearance with verification
- Other special circumstances approved by the Principal
Absences for any reason other than those listed above are NOT considered legal by the California Administrative Code and therefore are NOT justified absences. Teachers may provide make up work for justified absences only, and are not required to provide make up work for unjustified absences. (Vacations or other personal business are NOT considered justified absences.)
ALL absences – justified or otherwise – are counted on each report card.
 RETURNING FROM ABSENCE: All students who have been absent from school must have a note from a parent upon their return. Students absent due to illness for three or more consecutive days must have a doctor’s note to be readmitted to school. This note must be turned in to the school office. Students are not allowed to go to class until they have checked in with the school office. Students are responsible for making up missed work.
Students who are absent due to illness have one extra day for each day absent to make up work, beginning on the day they return to school. To request class work or homework for an absent student, parents must call the school office before 9:30 a.m. A homework packet will be available after 3:30 p.m. in the main office.
EARLY DISMISSAL & SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Students who need to leave school before 3:30 p.m. should bring a note BEFORE 9:00 a.m. (on that day) to the school office. Parent/or Guardian must come to the main office to sign out student. Whenever students leave school, they will be released only to authorized persons holding a “Pinecrest Bus ID” (issued by the office).
It is important for parents to notify the office if they leave their child in someone else’s care while they are away.
AFTER SCHOOL DISMISSAL: After classes are dismissed, the pager at the front gate will call students to the front hallway when it is time to be picked up. Students must wait to be called. Students are released only to authorized persons holding a “Pinecrest Bus ID” (issued by the office). Parents must send a request in writing, or email, to authorize your release to a person other than a parent and that person must sign you out in the lower office. Parents, please understand that we ask for your identification from you and others for the safety of your children. Always bring your identification with you and remind anyone you send in your place to do likewise. The campus closes at 6:30
p.m. A fee of $5.00 plus $1.00 per minute is charged after this time.
TARDY POLICY: Although students are expected to be on time every day, should they arrive late, they must check in at the office and pick up a Late Slip to give to their teacher. Regular attendance is necessary for success in school. All medical appointments should be scheduled outside of school hours whenever possible.
It is extremely important that students arrive at school early enough to have ample time each morning to prepare for the day ahead. Frequent tardiness often results in difficulties with assignments and lower grades. A student arriving late will miss important information and disrupt the entire class. We anticipate that in accordance with Pinecrest’s standards all children will know the importance of being punctual. Parents will be notified, after every third tardy, with a letter required a parent signature. Arriving late three or more times per quarter will certainly affect your campus citizenship grade and may lower your subject grades.
- 1-3 tardies – Warning/Letter Home
- 4-9 tardies – After School Study Hall for Kinder – 3rd Grade, Detention for 4th–6th Grade
- 10th tardy – Suspension
- 14th tardy – Suspension/Probation
- 15th tardy – Suspension/Referral to Principal
All tardies are unexcused unless the student brings a medical note from a doctor or dentist office. Tardies due to traffic issues are unexcused. Tardiness to class by more than ten (10) minutes constitutes a class cut and is cause for immediate referral to the Principal. Tardies are accrued on a semester basis.
Help your parents to get you to school on time; be ready to go on time with everything you need for the day.
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