ATTENDANCE
By state law the only excused absences are illness, medical and dental
appointments, and bereavement. Parents must call the attendance hotline at
687-2081 to report an absence. If the parent has called each day, it is not
necessary to write a note. If no call has been made, the student must bring
a note when returning to school. The note should include: student’s name,
date of absence(s), reason for absence(s), and parent signature.
As you know, students who transfer to the Academy from schools within the
district or from other cities are required to meet certain conditions in
order to remain at the school of choice. These conditions are described on
the back of the transfer form and on the intradistrict/interdistrict
Transfer Contract, both of which you are required to sign each school year.
The conditions transfer students are required to meet are:
• Attendance – the student has regular attendance with no more than 10
excused absences, 5 tardies, and fewer than 3 unexcused absences.
• Behavior – the student maintains appropriate behavior and no
suspensions.
If these conditions are violated, your child’s transfer to the Academy WILL
NOT be renewed for 2008-2009.
ARRIVAL
For grades K-6, the school day begins at 8:25 a.m. Students are to line up
by their room number marked on the playground and be ready for the flag
salute at this time. No students are to arrive before 7:45am. Students who
arrive between 7:45am and 8:15am are to join the "Walk with Me" program on
the track.
TARDIES
A student is considered late to school if not present at 8:25 a.m. When a
student arrives late, he/she must report to
the office to receive a late slip. It is imperative to pick up a slip,
notify the secretary and give it to the teacher, otherwise student is marked
absent and a note home will follow.
EARLY DISMISSAL
Parents must sign their child out from the office if the child needs to be
dismissed early for any reason.
OFFICE HOURS
7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday
EXTENDED ABSENCES
An Independent Study Contract is required for students absent from school
for 5 or more consecutive days. It is the parent’s responsibility to notify
the teacher at least two weeks in advance of the absence so that school
assignments may be obtained before leaving. It is the student’s
responsibility to return all the assigned work to receive full credit.
EARLY DROP-OFF POLICY
The safety of your child is our first priority. Please be aware that there
is absolutely no supervision before school. Students in grades K-6 must be
dropped off no earlier than 7:45 a.m. If your child is dropped off too
early, his/her
name will be written down and there will be a $5.00 charge for every 5
minutes that he/she is early. Please help us to keep all of the students
safe! Thank you!
LATE PICK-UP POLICY
The safety of your child is our first consideration. There is only
voluntary supervision after school. All students must be picked up
promptly. If your child is not picked up within 10 minutes after dismissal,
he/she will be taken to the office to call his/her parents. Parents will be
charged a fee for every late pick up. The charge is $5.00 for every 5
minutes past dismissal time per child. The funds collected will go to the
After School Program.
TELEPHONES
The Santa Barbara Community Academy telephone number is 687-2081. Parents,
who wish to contact a teacher during school hours, may leave a message on
the teacher’s voice mail. After-hour phone messages can be left on voice
mail 24 hours a day. Please refer to the back page of this handbook for a
list of staff phone numbers. During school hours students may use the
office phone only with a note from a teacher.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS
It is vital that parents report any address and telephone changes as they
occur to the school office. It is very important for us to be able to get
in touch with you. Please keep us informed of any changes ASAP.
VOLUNTEERS AND VISITORS
Volunteers and visitors are always welcome on campus and in the classrooms.
All volunteers and visitors are required to sign in at the office.
Volunteers must obtain a school volunteer badge.
MEDICATION
If your child needs to take a medication at school, it is necessary to have
a medication consent form filled out and signed by the doctor and parent.
In accordance with Education Code 49423 all medications taken at school must
be supplied by the parent and be in a labeled container with the child’s
name, medication and dose stated on the label. If you have any questions,
please call the school health assistant,
687-2081.
DISASTER PLAN
In the event of a serious disaster, please do not telephone the school.
Phone lines must be kept open for emergency use. During the initial
evacuation of the building, students will assemble with their classes. All
students will be cared for in the supervised area until they are properly
checked out. According to state law, a student will only be released to a
parent or person designated on the white emergency card on file in the
office. Please follow these guidelines to maintain a safe and calm climate
in the event of a disaster. You must keep all the information current.
1. Remain calm.
2. Do not telephone the school.
3. Use your battery-operated radio for updated reports.
4. Upon arrival at school, report to the “Communication Center” to
properly check out your child.
SCHOOL BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
Lunches are available daily for $2.25. Milk and
juice can be bought separately for $.30 each, water for $.50. Lunches can
be pre-paid for your convenience. Contact the school cafeteria 687-2081.
Subsidized lunches are available for low-income eligible
families. Applications are sent home every July and are available from the
office, if needed during the school year. Families must re-apply at the
beginning of each school year.
PROGRAMS
Physical Education
All students receive direct instruction for fifty minutes twice a week. PE
instruction includes: social development, movement skills & movement
knowledge, self-image, personal development and health.
Spanish
All K-3rd Grade students receive thirty minutes of Spanish twice a week.
Spanish Instructions includes: Reading, Writing and Oral Language.
Fine Arts
Teachers in kindergarten through sixth grade use the Core Knowledge Sequence
curriculum in teaching visual arts and music.
Technology
Students receive direct computer instruction from their classroom teacher.
Technology is used as a tool to enhance academic performance and projects.
Students may complete projects using word-processing and Internet skills
with the use of peripherals such as digital cameras, digital video cameras,
scanners, and laser printers.
Field Trips
Field trips provide students with experiential learning aligned with the
academic standards. In order to participate in field trips, students must
submit a permission slip signed by his or her parent or guardian.
Music
All K-3rd grade students receive Core Knowledge music once a week taught by
the school’s Music Specialist. All 3rd grade students are taught how to
play the recorder once a week. All 4th grade students have violin music
lessons once a week. All 5th and 6th grade students have instrumental music
lessons once a week.
GATE
The Santa Barbara Community Academy has a site-based Gifted and Talented
Education program for all students of exceptional ability, including those
identified by the District GATE test given each winter to second through
sixth grade students. Students receive differentiated instruction on a
daily basis, especially in language arts and mathematics.
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
After School Program
The After School program offers on-site Enrichmnet classes for students in
kindergarten through sixth grade on school days from dismissal until 5:30
p.m. Spaces are limited and sibling scholarships are available.
Information can be obtained by calling the office manager, Sylvia Limon.
Off-Site Programs
Girl’s Inc. and East and West Side Boys and Girls Clubs provide after school
care. For more information, contact those organizations directly. Please
do not call the school office.
INTERSESSION PROGRAMS
Fall & Spring Intersession School
Intersession School was developed to provide additional learning time to
Academy students during their intersession vacations. Children will have
the opportunity to be in small group instructional settings reviewing and
reinforcing the previous quarter’s language arts and math lessons.
Fall & Spring Intersession Camp
A Fall and Spring Intersession Camp program offers on-site childcare for
students in kindergarten through sixth grade during intersession from 8:00
a.m. until 5:30 p.m. Spaces are limited and sibling scholarships are
available. Further information can be obtained by calling the After School
Program director at the school.
SUPPORT SERVICES
Learning Center
Students with special needs receive individual instruction in the Learning
Center.
Language & Speech Specialist
Speech and language support services are provided by a speech and language
specialist for students with identified needs.
Student Study Team
The Student Study Team (SST), comprised of teachers, parents, and support
staff, meets weekly to assess and develop a comprehensive intervention plan
for students who need emotional, social or academic support. Students are
referred to SST either by teachers or parents. Parents are required to
attend their child’s SST meeting.
School Psychologist
The school psychologist works in cooperation with the special education team
to assess students. Additionally, the psychologist provides one-on-one
counseling as determined by students’ individual education plans.
Family Service Agency Counselor
The Family Service Agency counselor provides short-term counseling support
to students and parents as needed. Please speak with your child’s teacher,
if this service would benefit your family or child.
Health Assistant
The health assistant maintains student health records, attends to minor
injuries and refers students to the doctor when necessary. District nurses
supervise health assistants and provide special health-related services,
such as referrals and screenings.
UNIFORMS
The uniform chosen for the Academy is as follows:
GIRLS BOYS
White-collared blouse White dress-collared shirt
White polo shirt with collar White polo shirt with collar
Navy V-necked jumper Navy twill slacks with
Navy skort zipper and side pockets
Navy twill slacks with pockets Navy twill walking shorts
Navy twill walking shorts with pockets worn pockets worn above the above
the knee the knee
Navy “V” neck
cardigansweater
Navy Academy sweatshirt Navy Academy sweatshirt
Navy cardigan vest Navy cardigan vest
Navy round-necked cardigan sweater Comfortable close-toed
shoes
Comfortable close-toed shoes
Outerwear
Jackets may be added during cooler weather. They must be taken off inside
the school. The navy cardigan and navy Academy sweatshirts are part
of the uniform and may be worn in the classroom.
Shoes
Any comfortable, close-toed shoes may be worn. Sandals and platform shoes
are unacceptable. Please remember that your child needs to be prepared to
walk to and participate in PE and/or field trips.
White or navy tights may be worn for warmth. Polo shirts must be all white.
The only logo that is allowed is the school logo. No bandanas may be worn.
Sweat pants, jeans, cargo pants, corduroys, or other casual pants are not
part of the uniform and are unacceptable.
K-Mart and Sears have navy and white uniform clothing. The Academy uniforms
can be purchased at Aggressive Soccer located on 720 Milpas street.
PARENT INVOLVEMENT
Homework
All students are expected to complete homework on a daily basis. All
parents are expected to monitor that homework is completed correctly. It is
expected that a student’s homework assignments vary according to the grade
level and the individual student and will increase in length, difficulty and
variety as he/she progresses through the grades. It is the practice of the
Santa Barbara School District to assign consistent and regular amounts of
homework approximately:
Kindergarten – Second Grade: 30 minutes per day
Third grade – Sixth Grade: 30-60 minutes per day
In addition to doing homework assignments, all students are expected to read
nightly for a minimum of 30 minutes or as assigned by each teacher.
Parents-Teachers Association
The Santa Barbara Community Academy PTA is an organization consisting of
parents, teachers, families of the school and administrators. The PTA
significantly strengthens and enriches the academic program at the Academy.
All parents are invited to join the PTA for $5 per person or $10 per
family. Everyone is encouraged to participate in PTA meetings. Parents
support the school in a variety of ways:
- Volunteering in classrooms
- Raising funds through annual events
- Volunteering at school community events
- Participating on school committees
- Supervising students at recess and lunch time
All students at the Academy benefit directly from the extensive fund-raising
efforts of the PTA through field trips, classroom materials, and grade-level
projects. PTA meetings are held on Monday evenings.
English Learner Advisory Committee
The English Learner Advisory Council (ELAC) is a state-mandated committee
that supports the efforts of the school, district, and state in improving
the quality of students whose primary language is other than English. The
committee, which consists of parents and teachers, has four state-mandated
duties:
a. Monitor the programs and services provided for English Learners at
the school and provide input to the School Site Council.
b. Provide input into the development and implementation of the
school’s needs assessment.
c. Administer, review, and provide input on the school’s annual
language census
d. Create awareness parents’ awareness of the importance of regular
school attendance.
In addition, the committee is focused on finding ways that the school can
support English learner parents at home to assure academic success for their
children. ELAC meets for one hour each month.
School Site Council
School Site Council (SSC) is a state-mandated committee of parents,
teachers, and the principal whose primary purpose is to plan, monitor, and
evaluate the activities and expenditures for Consolidated Application
programs at the school to improve student achievement: (1) Review student
achievement data, (2) develop a comprehensive school plan, (3) conduct
ongoing review of program effectiveness, (4) annually revise plan based on
progress, and (5) recommend a plan to the school board. Nominations and
elections take place each fall.
Family Service Hours
Family Service Hours fulfill the Academy’s policy regarding parent
participation. Each family is required to contribute 6 hours to our school
community each quarter. These hours are part of our commitment to support
the educational success of each child. There are many opportunities to
complete these hours and many people to help parents become involved. We
recognize that it may be difficult for some families to give this time so we
do have a “buy-out” option. The 6 hours may be purchased at a cost of
$10.00 per hour. Everyone’s participation is necessary and expected to
ensure the Academy’s continued success. Each person entering the building
must sign in at the office and obtain an identification badge. This helps
to ensure the safety of all students and staff. Remember to record your
volunteer hours in the Volunteer Log posted outside the door of your child’s
classroom. The Volunteer Coordinator will collect and record each family’s
participation from the Summary of Family Service Hours returned each quarter.
LOST AND FOUND
The school is not responsible for personal objects lost at school. Students
are prohibited from bringing any personal items to school with the exception
of school-related materials, such as books, binders, and writing utensils.
All personal objects, including jackets, sweaters, and sweatshirts should be
marked with students first and last names. Lost and found items can be
located at the back of the cafeteria. Anything that is not claimed by the
last day of school will be donated to charity. Please check the cafeteria
regularly.
TOYS
Toys are not permitted at school, unless the classroom teacher gives special
permission to students. Toys will be confiscated by the classroom teacher
and relinquished to parents.
BICYCLES
For safety reasons, riding bicycles on campus is prohibited. Students
should walk their bicycles on sidewalks when on campus. Bicycles should be
locked to the bicycle rack. The law requires that students wear helmets
when riding a bicycle.
SKATEBOARDS AND INLINE SKATES
Skateboards and inline skates are not permitted at any time on campus. The
riding or use of skateboards and inline skates on school campuses and
District owned/operated property is prohibited at any time of the day or
night whether school is in session or not. Violation of this policy is an
infraction punishable by fines (Vehicle Code Section 21113, Board Policy
3515.1).
SUGAR AND JUNK FOOD FREE CAMPUS
The Academy is a Sugar and Junk food free campus. No candy, cookies,
donuts, soda, sugar drinks, hot cheetos, cupcakes, etc… are allowed on
campus. If they are brought to school they will be confiscated and thrown
away!
CELL PHONES, PAGERS, ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Cell phones, pagers, radio, CD players, or other electronic devices
interfere with learning and are often stolen or misplaced. Students should
leave these items at home. If they are brought to school, they will be
confiscated, and parents will be required to pick them up. Students who
need to bring cell phones to school for safety reasons should turn them into
the office before school and pick them up at the end of the school day.
SCHOOLWIDE DISCIPLINE PLAN
In order to provide our students with a consistently safe and productive
learning environment, teachers and parents/guardians have developed the
following discipline standards. All teachers and support staff at the Santa
Barbara Community Academy have agreed to consistently uphold these
discipline standards throughout the school grounds.
In accordance with our goal of providing a superior academic experience, the
staff of the SBCA will work in cooperation with parents/guardians to build
and support an atmosphere conductive to successful learning.
Responsibilities
Each teacher and support staff member is responsible to set and teach
students specific expectations for responsible and productive behavior on
school grounds, as well as take appropriate steps of corrective action to
resolve problems when they occur. Each student is responsible for making
appropriate decisions with regard to his/her behavior, as well as to fulfill
the consequences of any inappropriate behavior he/she exhibits. Parents and
guardians are responsible for supporting the discipline police of the school
and requiring appropriate behavior of their child.
General Rules
-Respect people and their property. -Do your best and help
the rest.
- Be in class on time, ready to work! - Use appropriate
language.
- Keep on task! - Keep your hands,
feet and objects
to yourself.
-Keep our campus clean:
Recycle, reduce, reuse
Motivation Plan
If a student chooses to break a rule, a pink slip describing the problem and
specifying
the consequence is issued. Upon receipt of two pink slips in the same week,
the
student conferences with the principal and the teacher calls the parents.
If a student
receives 3 pink slips in one week, a citation is written. The principal
calls the parents.
Depending on the severity of the infraction, the student and parents may be
asked to
conference with the principal, the student may lose playground privileges
for a time, get
a written assignment, detention or, in the most severe cases, be suspended.
In the case of severe disruption, the student receives a citation and is
sent immediately to the principal. Severe disruption includes the
following: aggressive physical behavior, profanity, outward defiance of
adults and inappropriate touching.
Citations are issued at the discretion of the school staff for infractions
for which the consequence is suspension. A District Notice of Suspension
form may be used for applicable infractions and must be used after receipt
of 2 citations in one school year.
Additionally, all teachers have a plan for classroom discipline. The same
rules of conduct apply throughout the school.
The most crucial part of this plan is the consistent participation of
everyone involved – students, teachers, support staff, parents or
guardians. This plan will not be effective if rules are not clearly defined
and faithfully upheld by all involved. This plan will be presented to
parents or guardians and they will be asked to sign it.
Students who behave appropriately will be positively rewarded with Awesome
Alligator Slips, positive notes home, praise, and in-class choice time, etc.