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Rules and Policies

ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCE

Regular attendance at school is essential so that your child can derive full benefit from the instructional program. Should your child be absent for any reason, please call McNear School's absence line (778-4859) and leave a message stating why your child is absent. State aid ($25 per day) is based on daily attendance of each child. The schools are dependent on state aid, since the funds help in the purchase of instructional materials, books, supplies and other operations.

Students in all Petaluma City Schools are expected to be in school every day that their health permits and in class when the bell rings. When a student has had 14 verified absences in the school year, any further absences for illness must be verified by a physician or they become unexcused absences. California Education Code Section 48260 declares a student as truant when they have three unexcused absences, three tardies in excess of thirty minutes, or any combination of the two. Students who are declared truant three times in a given school year may be declared a habitual truant. Students who are truant and those with excessive tardies will be referred to the District School Attendance Review Board.

An independent study contract can be arranged for anticipated extended absences. Well before the date, please notify the office and your child's teacher if you anticipate such an absence (for 5 or more days) and wish to arrange appropriate study.

Tardiness is a serious detriment to each child's and each classroom's success. Students who are tardy more than one time in a week will be seen in the office at recess. Your child's tardiness detracts from the progress of the whole class.

BEHAVIOR STANDARDS & CLOTHING EXPECTATIONS

BEHAVIOR STANDARDS
In order to support learning plus social and emotional growth, behavior expectations and school climate are emphasized at McNear. The goal of “discipline is to help children develop caring and respect for self and others plus problem solving abilities. School rules are kept to a minimum and are based upon the following:

We encourage you to discuss and emphasize the following with your child:

In addition to these general expectations, detailed information is included in our McNear School Discipline Policy included in the First Day Packet. The detail of McNear’s school rules and their consequences are not intended to be all-inclusive. Each school site and each school administrator may be called upon to respond to situations that are not specifically outlined or delineated in our rules of behavior. In those instances the school may refer to Education Code 48900(b) for matters involving dangerous objects, 48900(k) for defiance/disruption (fireworks, gambling, stink bombs, spitting are examples), or another appropriate section of the California Education Code, such as Education Code 48908.

Ed Code 48900(b) Possessed, sold or otherwise furnished any firearm, knife, explosive or other dangerous object, unless, in the case of possession of any object of this 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.

Ed Code 48900(k) 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.

Ed Code 48908 All pupils shall comply with the regulations, pursue the required course of study and submit to the authority of the teachers of the school.

Both boys and girls have equal access to all classes and activities (playground and special events) at McNear School. Harassment and sexual harassment are not tolerated. Complaints are acted upon and documented. (See Complaint Procedures, page 3.)

Students are taught to problem solve and to take responsibility for their actions and words. Possible consequences include – problem solving during recess, recess or after school restriction, behavior contracts, white slips and/or calls home. If as a consequence a child is to be detained after school longer than 15 minutes, you will be notified. If we cannot reach you, we will not detain your child more than 15 minutes that day.

CLOTHING EXPECTATIONS
Students' learning is supported by appropriate clothing which does not distract from the purpose of school. Please send students in modest clothing which allows for safe physical activity and for use of art materials. (McNear School is your child’s “workplace”.)

School Attire:

  1. Students are to wear clothing that is clean and appropriate for school children.
    1. Inappropriate dress includes any provocative and/or distracting clothing such as very short shorts, beltless baggy pants, tank or tube tops, half-shirts, mesh or net shirts, see through tops, shoe length dresses or skirts, spaghetti or other thin straps and midriff tops. (Underclothes may not show.)
    2. Girls wearing skirts or dresses are to wear shorts or tights for recess, P.E. and whenever using the bars.
    3. Any printed pictures or slogans on clothing must be in good taste.
  2. To ensure safety for themselves and others, appropriate shoes for daily P.E. and playground activities are recommended, i.e., closed toe, closed heel, low flat heels.
    1. Unsafe shoes include cowboy boots, hiking boots, thongs or other slip-ons, high heels, clogs and open-toe sandals.
    2. To minimize distractions and to emphasize a focus on study, a majority of McNear staff and parents request: no make-up, no unnatural hair colors, no false nails, no tattoos and no body piercing.
    3. Decisions regarding appropriate dress or appearance rest with the Principal or the Principal’s designee.
    4. Parents will be contacted when attire is found to be inappropriate.

COMMUNICATIONS

McNear School is concerned that you are informed about school activities. The School Newsletter/Update is sent home with your child two times each month. (Newsletter deadlines are the Fridays before distributions.) This keeps you up to date on events, school projects and programs. In addition, if you would like to be part the McNear parent e-list, please sign up on the school website. PTA, Bilingual Advisory Committee and School Site Council meetings are open to everyone. If you have questions or ideas about improving our program, these are places to share them. In addition, each teacher will establish his/her own home-school communication.

Should any problem occur regarding your own child, every effort should be made to resolve the problem directly with the staff member concerned. If the problem cannot be resolved, the matter should be referred to the principal.

COMPLAINT PROCEDURES

McNear School follows the Petaluma Elementary School District’s policies and procedures regarding complaints of discrimination and sexual harassment. Copies of the policies, BP 1312 and 1312.2, are available from our office and on the Petaluma City School District website at petalumacityschools.org The full text of the Petaluma Student Sexual Harassment Policy is printed annually in the District’s School and Community Newsletter. This is sent home annually in McNear’s “First Day Packet” and is available in our office. Students in fifth and sixth grades receive instruction regarding Sexual Harassment annually and whenever their behavior requires it. The District’s “Student Guide to Understanding and Avoiding Sexual Harassment” is used for instruction and for disciplinary reviews.

McNear Title IX Officers are Mr. Brian McLaughlin and Mr. Jason Sutter. They can be reached at 605 Sunnyslope Avenue, Petaluma, CA 94952, or 707-778-4752. The Petaluma District Title IX Officer is Ms. Sandy Hill, 707-778-4608.

CURRICULUM

The school follows the district's adopted course of study which is based upon the California State Academic Standards and utilizes instructional materials adopted by the California State Board of Education . Teachers use the State Frameworks and Standards as guides to what students are expected to learn at each grade level. This provides coordination and sequence through the grades. Your child's teacher is the best source of information concerning the curriculum and the materials which your child will use during the school years. In addition to core curriculum in English language arts, math, science, and social studies, students also receive regular instruction and learning opportunities in P.E., music, computer lab, art docent exploration, and library.

EMERGENCIES/DISASTERS

In the event that your child becomes ill or has an accident at school, you or one of the adults you designate on the emergency card will be notified immediately. Should there be any changes during the year, please inform us. Local emergency telephone numbers are extremely important to have on file at the school office, should you not be home in case of an emergency.

EMERGENCY RADIO STATION ANNOUNCEMENTS

In case of an emergency, two stations announce school emergency information: Radio - KSRO - 1350 AM (Santa Rosa) TV - KFTY - Channel 50 (Santa Rosa) Notificación en español (Spanish Announcement): Para nuestras familias que hablan español: En caso de emergency, por favor ponga su radio en una de estas estaciones para recibir un mensaje referente a las escuelas de Petaluma: KRRS 1050 AM (Santa Rosa) o KOFY 1050 AM (San Francisco).

DISASTER PROCEDURE

In case of a disaster, the school has detailed procedures to follow to help guarantee the safety of students. These procedures are distributed to all parents and teachers. Fire drills and disaster drills are held periodically to acquaint students with proper procedures. Should a major disaster occur, children will be kept at school until it is safe and then released to parents, people listed on the emergency card, or someone you authorize. Each family is urged to provide an individual food packet for each child. See separate letter in the first day packet. (The school does not have adequate emergency foods for students.)

FIELD TRIPS

Field trips are planned by teachers and are designed to enrich the curriculum. A note and permission slip will be sent to you in advance of any field trip and will include details such as cost, place, departure time and dress. The permission slip must be signed and returned to your child’s teacher. (A walking field trip permission slip will be sent home at the beginning of the school year for use throughout the year.) Please be responsible to return all permissions on time to enable teachers to focus on the content and safety of each trip!

FOODS (CAFETERIA PROGRAM)

BREAKFAST
Our breakfast program will continue from 8:00 - 8:15 daily. The cost is $1.25 a day. Reduced price (30¢) and free breakfasts are available for eligible students. Eligibility forms can be picked up at the school office.

LUNCH
The district provides a nutritious hot lunch program. This is available for $2.25 a day (40¢ for reduced price). Lunches must be purchased before school starts, and may be paid a week at a time.

MILK
Milk is sold for 35¢ a day. Milk money can be paid weekly or monthly.

FOODS FROM HOME
Foods and beverages for lunch and for snacks should be healthy. Sweets are discouraged. Sodas and gum are not allowed. Healthy midmorning snacks are very important due to our lunch times.

HOMEWORK

Homework is an important part of a child's educational program. It provides a means of reinforcing, reviewing and practicing necessary skills and learning outside the classroom. It also helps promote good study habits, organization of time and materials, and encourages students to share classroom experiences with parents.

McNear School has established the following guidelines for reading and/or other homework Monday through Thursday, except when there are evening school events:

When class work is completed and there are no long-term projects in process, reading should be the top priority during this time. All children benefit from listening, reading along, reading to someone, as well as from reading for themselves.

For the best information regarding other details of your child's homework, be sure to communicate with your child's teacher. Each teacher will tailor the homework routine to the needs of the class and your child. Any questions about homework should always be directed first to your child's teacher.

In this era of instruction the State Standards require more practice time for skill development at younger ages. At McNear, we will also emphasize concept development, literature, cooperative learning, long-range activities and higher level thinking skills. You may sometimes be surprised that "a stack of papers" does not come home every week. Look instead to the quality of what your child is doing, not necessarily the amount you see on paper/worksheets. Notice your child's language, actions and interests as they develop from his/her experiences at home and at school. From time to time the newsletter or your child's teacher will include family homework suggestions. At McNear, we emphasize not only basic skills, but application of those skills as well.

If your child is absent due to illness, he or she probably needs rest plus any pleasurable reading or art activity. For extended absences, the child or parent needs to conference with the teacher.

For family travel of more than five days away, please notify the teacher as early as possible prior to leaving. We cannot provide materials and directions in only one day.

Homework is recognized in a variety of ways including: "check-off” for responsibility, comments, peer corrections, spot checks and full teacher analysis. Unless otherwise directed, parents are encouraged to support students’ corrections of spelling, writing conventions, and calculations. 4-6th graders are expected to have three-ring binders, dividers and a record page or calendar.

INTERNET POLICY

All Petaluma City Schools Internet users are required to sign an Authorized Internet Use Agreement Form and to abide by the terms and conditions of Board Policy 6118.01 and the corresponding regulations.

The Board of Education believes that the Internet offers vast, diverse and unique resources for students, teachers and other users. The District goal in providing this source to staff and students is to promote educational excellence in school by facilitating resource sharing, innovation and communication.

The McNear Computer Lab limits student access to only those sites allowed through the County Office of Education filtering software.

LOST AND FOUND

Please label outer clothing and lunch boxes with your child's name so that lost items can be returned to the child. The Lost and Found is located in the breezeway by the PE Room. Check frequently, please! We will donate lost items at least twice yearly.

REPORTING TO PARENTS

At McNear, parents are informed of their child's progress on a regular basis. Parent teacher conferences are held at least once a year (more if requested) to assess your child's needs and to report progress. Grades are given on report cards in November, March and June. As always, should you have a concern about your child's progress, contact your child's teacher immediately. Appointments can be made by calling 778-4752.

SAFETY GOING TO AND FROM SCHOOL

Bicycles - Bicycles are permitted in grades 3-6. Racks are provided at the school and all bicycles must be locked. We urge you to remind your children of the following bicycle rules of the road:

Walking - Children should walk on the sidewalks or against oncoming traffic where there are no sidewalks and cross streets at crosswalks and corners. (Skateboards, scooters, and skates are allowed for transport to and from school only and may not be used anywhere on campus.

Automobiles - Drivers are urged to obey the curb markings. (Yellow - loading only; green - 20 minutes; white - visitor). (Caution: Watch red curbs on Sunnyslope Avenue). Do not park or wait near the crosswalks. Never leave your car unattended unless it is in a parking place with the motor off. A drive through drop off area in front of the school is marked by cones each morning. G Street access is for staff and volunteer parking and Kindergarten pick-up at 11:45 only. Do not drive into the parking area before or after school. (Walk in or meet your child on Sunnyslope Avenue or G Street. All arriving students must walk in on the walkway.)

PICKING UP STUDENTS DURING SCHOOL HOURS

In the interest of offering as much protection as possible to your child, the McNear staff has been instructed to do the following:

  1. Insist that all adults report to the office to arrange for a release of a child from school.
  2. Not release children to adults unless accompanied by either the Principal or Secretary unless the adult is well known to the teacher.
  3. Not to release the child if the child appears reluctant or uncertain as to who the person is.
  4. Verify the authenticity of the message by immediately returning the call if a call is received from an adult asking that a child be released to go home.
  5. Not to release children who ride a bus to ride home with a friend or neighbor, unless the parent has specifically given permission to the school for the child to ride home.

VISITORS/VOLUNTEERS

All parent or community visitors and volunteers on campus must sign in at the office and wear visible name tags. This is to increase students' safety from strangers and to increase your own safety in case of disaster. Students are instructed about their safety in relation to strangers at school and elsewhere. Please support this effort to increase our students' safety.

STUDENT PLACEMENT

The process actually has its start before the end of the previous school year. A series of meetings is held for each grade level. Attending these meetings are teachers who had previously taught the children, those teaching that grade level, other interested staff members and the principal. During the course of these meetings, each child is considered individually. Each person involved having data about that child offers it for discussion. The decision regarding class placement is made after considering information such as:

After the second week of school when fall enrollments are known, some adjustments may be necessary.

TELEPHONE

The school telephone is for business use. Children are not allowed to use the telephone unless an emergency exists. We ask that you call the school only for business or emergencies. Children's social arrangements should be made outside of school hours. We will ask children to wait a minimum of 15 minutes before calling if you are late after school. Please make your plans carefully so that your child is not in the emotionally unhealthy position of feeling abandoned after school.