If your child is going to be absent from school, please call the office before 8:00am. 619-605-4300. The law requires us to document the reason for every student absence. Therefore, calls will be made to the homes of those students whose parents/guardians have not called regarding their child’s absence. In accordance with the Education Code (48200, 48260(a), 48260.5), a series of official district attendance letters are mailed to parents and reported to the state in cases of unexcused absences.

If your child had a fever please remember they must have a normal temperature for 24 hours prior to returning to school without the aid of medication (i.e. Tylenol, Motrin, etc.).

Teacher will escort students from the assigned designated areas to the classrooms at 7:40 a.m. During inclement weather, children report directly to their classrooms or the multi-purpose room.

As it is unsafe to leave children unattended, we ask that you do NOT have your child arrive at school prior to this time. We also ask that your child report directly to the black top and not wait outside his/her classroom. Vista Grande Elementary requests parent cooperation in seeing that students do not arrive early as this will help us maintain the safest possible environment for your child.

Students enrolled in the PrimeTime program may arrive at 6:00 a.m.

For the safety of your child, please do not use the parking lot for picking up or dropping off your student(s).

For the safety of the children, please do not use the parking lot for dropping off or picking up.

5 school days in advance. This contract provides a way for your child to be away from school and still receive his/her assignments. The completed contract needs to be returned to the teacher the FIRST day the student returns to school. If contracts are not completed when the student returns, the absence will be recorded as unexcused on the student’s record. Vista Grande Elementary receives funds for each completed contract. Contracts will NOT be given out during the CST/STAR testing time period.

If your child is going home early because of illness, you also need to sign him/her out and present identification in the office or health office before your child will be released.

Nationwide, more students than ever are obese and school environments/priorities have played a role in that rise. In addition, the rise in diabetes and food allergies has led to the need for policies to provide safe and healthy environments for ALL stu dents. Research has proven that students who are active and maintain healthy diets are better prepared to learn! With the strong support of teachers and parents over the past several years, Vista Grande has made a number of positive changes as we move towards a health environment. These changes include:

• Elimination of ALL day-to-day food rewards; research shows the direct link to obesity.
• A nationally recognized district wide lunch program offering healthy choices.
• Dedicated times for students to walk and job together weekly.
• A school garden that teaches students where food comes from.
• Staff, parent, and student education regarding student health.
• Classrooms instituting healthy non-food celebrations.

Vista Grande believes in educating students to be healthy and active, so that they carry those habits with them for the rest of their lives. Thank you for partnering with us in the education of your healthy child!

Please abide by the following rules when planning a celebration for your child:

Alternative (non-food) ideas for celebrations ARE ALLOWED. A “Happy and Healthy Birthday to You!” flyer can be picked up in the office. Please check with your child’s teacher about these or any ideas you might have:

• Send a wrapped book for your child to unwrap and share/read, then the child can “gift” it to the teacher’s classroom library.
• Promote social awareness through a small donation to an organization (e.g., UNICEF, Habitat for Humanity, Heifer.org, EdUCate!); the child can show/tell the class about the organization.
• Stickers, pencils, erasers, etc. (small items).
• The class can sing happy birthday, but the child has the party at home.
• Goody bags to take home.
• Sports/energy drinks are not allowed, at any time, as they are loaded with sugar, and students do not need them for school activity level. Note that many items that are OK (such as juice) can still be loaded with sugar, so there will never be a perfect policy.

Please keep it SIMPLE.

NO balloons, of any kind, are allowed in the classroom.

Parties will be held during the last 20 minutes of the instructional day, during recess or classroom lunch period to minimize interruption of instruction time.

Read the labels with your kids and teach them to THINK HEALTHY!

According to the policy:

All students may use these devices on campus before school begins and after school ends.

These devices must be kept out of sight and turned off during the instructional program. Unauthorized use of such devices disrupts the instructional program and distracts from the learning environment. Therefore unauthorized use is grounds for confiscation of the device by school officials, including classroom teachers. Repeated unauthorized use of such devices may lead to disciplinary action.

Students and parents are notified of this policy each year through the Facts for Parents booklet.

Portable CD players, electronic games, or music players are NOT allowed on campus. Unauthorized use of such devices disrupts the instructional program and distracts from the learning environment. Unauthorized use is grounds for confiscation by school staff or classroom teachers. Confiscated devices will be returned to the parent or guardian. Repeated offenses may lead to disciplinary action.

The following list is an approximation of times to be spent on homework by grade level. These times do not reflect special projects that may require additional time or days. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have any concerns about your child’s homework.

Homework Minutes by Grade Level

We ask that you also consider our students with nut allergies by not sending items that contain nut products. For that reason, we also cannot accept home-baked or made food items for classroom events where it is difficult to verify ingredients or contents.

We are not a peanut or nut-free school. While we make every effort to discourage products that contain nuts, we cannot safely promise that all students’ snacks and lunches are 100% peanut and nut free. This, ultimately, relies on the cooperation of our families to follow this policy. Even the below list includes some products that contain “trail mix” or “peanut butter.” We do have a “nut-free table” in the lunch court where children with nut allergies sit with an invited friend. They feel that it is a special and positive place to be, with a prime location and umbrella, and friends to eat with.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

SDUSD Wellness Page

School dress code and grooming guidelines are based on the district Board of Education policy on dress code. These guideline s apply to all students at all times. There are NO exceptions.

The standards for student attire are:

• No long dresses or skirts (unless wearing leggings), sagging shorts, short shorts (must have 4” inseam) or pants.
• No cosmetics, artificial nails, sunglasses, dangling earrings or excessive amounts of jewelry.
• No open-toed sandals or shoes.
• No bare back or see-through midriff dresses, blouses, shirts or tops.
• Shoulder straps must be a minimum of one-inch in width (no thin shoulder straps).
• T-shirts can NOT be imprinted with suggestive words or pictures (i.e., promotes violence, alcohol, drugs or tobacco)
• Pants must be worn with the waistband at waist level. Pants and shorts legs must be hemmed.
• Baseball caps are to be worn outside only, with the bill facing forward, and not worn in the classroom.
• No skate shoes/heelies (with or without rubber heel insert) type shoes are allowed.
• Athletic type shoes are suggested for P.E. and the playground.

Many of the above items can be hazardous when running, jumping, or when on playground equipment. Students who come to school in inappropriate dress will be sent to the office. Parents will be called and asked to provide the student with a change of clothing that is appropriate to the school environment. Students will be asked to remove make-up.

Library Rules

In order to create an atmosphere that is conducive to optimal learning and safety we stress the following rules:

• Enter and exit the library in an orderly manner.
• Listen and follow directions given by all adults while using the library.
• Use a quiet voice at all times.
• Use place holders and/or ask for assistance from the library personnel if needed.
• Be a responsible student. Be sure to check out any borrowed materials. Protect the material you borrow. Keep them in a safe, dry place. Do not bend or tear pages. Help the cycling of books by returning them by the due date. If you lose, misplace or damage a book, notify your teacher. Students/parents who lose or damage any school property are responsible for replacing or paying the cost of replacement or repair.
•  Help keep the library neat and organized. Pick up trash and organize your area before you leave.

Book Fairs

Book fairs provide opportunities for students and parents to select quality books at affordable prices. Books are supplied by competitive organizations and parent volunteers supervise the fairs at school.

The PrimeTime program is available from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every day students attend school. The program is available to parents by application if before and after school care is needed and they qualify. Enrollment is limited and is on a first come first served basis. The application can be obtained in the office and it is the responsibility of the parent to mail it to the program office listed on the application form.

All school playground equipment is closed to students and families before and after school.

California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)

California’s new student assessment system is now known as California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). The CAASPP System replaces the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program. The primary purpose of CAASPP is to assist teachers, administrators, and pupils and their parents by promoting high-quality teaching and learning through the use of a variety of assessment approaches and item types.

CAASPP is comprised of the following:

• Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English language arts (ELA) and mathematics in grades three through eight, and grade eleven. The Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments which are delivered by computer consist of two sections: a computer-adaptive test and a performance task (PT) based on the Common Core State Standards for English language arts and mathematics. The computer-adaptive section includes a range of item types such as selected response, constructed response, table, fill-in, graphing, etc. The PT are extended activities that measure a student’s ability to integrate knowledge and skills across multiple standards—a key component of college and career readiness.   For students in grade eleven, the Early Assessment Program (EAP) will use the Smarter Balanced summative assessments.
• Grade-level science assessments, including the California Standards Tests (CSTs), California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA), and the California Modified Assessment (CMA), in grades five, eight, and ten. The CSTs, CMA, and CAPA are all paper-pencil tests based on the California content standards for science adopted by the State Board of California in October 1998. (Science assessments based on the Next Generation Science Standards, adopted in September 2013, are not yet available).
• The California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for English–language arts and mathematics in grades three through eight, and grade eleven. The content of the CAA is based on alternate achievement standards derived from the Common Core State Standards for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The CAA will be delivered on the computer for this operational administration.

CELDT

The CELDT is a state-mandated test that is used by California schools to determine Listening and Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Overall English language proficiency levels of students determined to be English learners, or possible English learners. Currently, students in kindergarten and first grade take only the Listening and Speaking portion of the CELDT, while students in grades second through twelfth take all portions. The Overall Proficiency Level represents a “weighted” combination of results of all portions taken. The CELDT is administered to new students upon enrollment and to returning students in the fall.

GATE

District psychologists administer the Raven Test to all 2nd graders and students who are new to our school in grades 3, 4, and 5. The test is used to determine placement in the GATE programs for the following cluster year. Students in grade 5 who qualify may take a retest of the Raven for the Seminar program.

Fitness Gram Testing

All students in Grade 5 will participate in physical fitness testing in the spring.

EL (English Learner) Support

English learners are clustered according to assessed language proficiency and place in appropriate classes. They are given special assistance in learning English, reaching their educational potential and adjusting to the school setting.

Resource Specialist Program

This program is designed to provide support services to learning and physically challenged students who receive a majority of their education in regular classes. The classroom teacher, parents, and special education personnel work to effectively develop and implement each student’s Individual Educational Plan (IEP) either through direct service or consultation. In-services in assisting parents with strategies for school success, understanding learning disabilities, and attention deficit disorders are offered through the district.

School Psychologist

The school psychologist serves as a member of the Instructional Study Team (IST) to assess the academic and emotional and behavioral needs of students.

Speech and Language Specialist

The speech and language specialist helps to identify and assess children who require additional support in developing communication skills appropriate to their ability and age level. If the student qualifies, the speech and language pathologist creates an individualized program for the student and provides the needed support.

GATE Cluster Program (Grades 3-5)

Each year all of our 2nd grade students are assessed for possible placement into the Gifted and Talented Education programs.

Such acts include those that are reasonably perceived as being motivated either by an actual or perceived attribute that includes but is not limited to race, religion, creed, color, marital status, parental status, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, mental or physical disability or any other distinguishing characteristic.

The district further prohibits the inciting, aiding, coercing or directing of others to commit acts of bullying or cyber‐bullying, harassment or intimidation. Any staff member that observes, overhears or otherwise witnesses bullying (including cyber‐ bullying), harassment, or intimidation, or to whom such actions have been reported must take prompt and appropriate action to stop the behavior and to prevent its reoccurrence as detailed in the applicable Administrative Procedure. Students who observe, overhear, or otherwise witness such actions must, and parents/district visitors are encouraged to report the behaviors to a staff member. At each school, the principal or principal’s designee is responsible for receiving and promptly investigating complaints alleging violations of this policy. Any form of retaliation in response to a report of such acts is prohibited.

• Be Nice
• Work Hard
• Be Safe

Classroom standards will reflect this school wide philosophy. Students will be involved in creating these classroom standards.

We view problem solving as an integral component of our overall behavior plan. We welcome input from parents. With school staff, parents and students working together, we believe we can create a positive climate in which students become problem solvers and are accountable for their behavior.

EL (English Learner) Support

English learners are clustered according to assessed language proficiency and place in appropriate classes. They are given special assistance in learning English, reaching their educational potential and adjusting to the school setting.

Resource Specialist Program

This program is designed to provide support services to learning and physically challenged students who receive a majority of their education in regular classes. The classroom teacher, parents, and special education personnel work to effectively develop and implement each student’s Individual Educational Plan (IEP) either through direct service or consultation. In-services in assisting parents with strategies for school success, understanding learning disabilities, and attention deficit disorders are offered through the district.

School Psychologist

The school psychologist serves as a member of the Instructional Study Team (IST) to assess the academic and emotional and behavioral needs of students.

Speech and Language Specialist

The speech and language specialist helps to identify and assess children who require additional support in developing communication skills appropriate to their ability and age level. If the student qualifies, the speech and language pathologist creates an individualized program for the student and provides the needed support.

GATE Cluster Program (Grades 3-5)

Each year all of our 2nd grade students are assessed for possible placement into the Gifted and Talented Education programs.

• Assist in the administration of prescribed medication, including emergency glucagon and epinephrine auto-injections; assist in positioning pupils for health care and/or medication administration.
• Provide illness and accident attention; change dressings.
• Assist in a variety of health screening programs.
• Providing first aid and appropriate referrals for sick and injured students.
• Assist in the monitoring all students’ immunization status to assure that they are in compliance by notifying parents and doing the appropriate follow-up.
• Maintain health record cards.
• Maintain inventory records and distribute first aid materials to the classroom.
• Perform routine and emergency diabetes care tasks.

Children should NOT attend school if they have:

• ILLNESS and can’t participate in normal school activities whether or not a fever is present.
• TEMPERATURE greater than 100 degrees (should be free of fever without Tylenol or aspirin for a minimum of 24 hours before returning to school after illness).
• PERSISTENT VOMITING OR DIARRHEA until stopped at least 24 hours.
• CONTAGIOUS DISEASE (i.e., strep throat, pink eye, chicken pox, hepatitis). See your doctor immediately and obtain the appropriate medication. Generally, doctors recommend returning to school after a 240hour period of medication. Please make the school nurse is aware of any contagious illness so that she may alert parents of children in your child’s classroom of possible warning signs.
• RASH of undetermined origin until the rash is gone or it has been determined to be non-contagious by a physician.
• MEDICAL PROCEDURE requiring general anesthesia – must be at least 24 hours after anesthesia, and have a medical release to attend school with P.E. recommendations.
• SPECIALIZED HEALTH CARE PROCEDURES – District required paperwork (i.e., parent authorization, physician’s orders)
• must be completed. The school nurse must be provided orientation to the student on the specific procedure being required.
• LIVE LICE – A child with lice must shampoo with a lice-specific medicated shampoo and show proof of such treatment upon returning to school (i.e., shampoo box or container). A parent must accompany the child to school the day after treatment so the nurse or health assistant may confirm the child’s hair is free of all nits.

Physicals

All children are required to have a complete physical upon entering first grade. A health exam form is provided when you register for your medical provider to complete. Up-to-date immunizations are also required and certification must be submitted to the office.

Nutrition and Sleep

Please provide your child with a well-balanced nutritious breakfast each day. Breakfast is served at Vista Grande Elementary. Breakfast is one of the most important meals of a child’s day. It provides calories and nutrients necessary for healthy grow th and brain function. Children learn best when they come to school well-nourished and with adequate rest. Hungry, sleepy children do not learn well. Ten hours of sleep is recommended for school-age children. Students also have a morning recess and snack break each day. Please provide a healthy snack for your child each day.

Medications

The San Diego Unified School District mandates the following guidelines for administering medications:

• A School Nurse can administer over the counter medication (i.e., Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, etc.) after making a student assessment, parent has signed the Health Information Consent form and it is placed on file at the site.
• All other medications require a signed Physician Medication Authorization form.

This includes:

• All Over the Counter (OTC) medication (i.e., Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, etc. to be given on days the School Nurse is not on site).
• OTC includes, but is not limited to Benadryl and Robitussin.
• Prescription medications for severe asthma/severe allergies (periodic and daily) must be brought to the office with
• physician’s orders during the first week of school.
• Daily medication.
• Short-term medication for 10 days (i.e., antibiotics).
• All prescription skin creams.
• Nutritional supplements.

The following are acceptable Physician Authorization forms for medications to be administered at school:

• Physician note to school written on prescription pad.
• Physician Authorization form filled out by physician (available from School Nurse/Office)
• Physician Authorization form filled out by physician (available on District or School website)

ALL MEDICATION MUST BE IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAINER WITH THE DOCTOR’S NAME, STUDENT’S NAME, NAME OF MEDICATION, INSTRUCTIONS FOR ADMINISTRATION AND MEDICATION EXPIRATION.

Library Rules

In order to create an atmosphere that is conducive to optimal learning and safety we stress the following rules:

• Enter and exit the library in an orderly manner.
• Listen and follow directions given by all adults while using the library.
• Use a quiet voice at all times.
• Use place holders and/or ask for assistance from the library personnel if needed.
• Be a responsible student. Be sure to check out any borrowed materials. Protect the material you borrow. Keep them in a safe, dry place. Do not bend or tear pages. Help the cycling of books by returning them by the due date. If you lose, misplace or damage a book, notify your teacher. Students/parents who lose or damage any school property are responsible for replacing or paying the cost of replacement or repair.
•  Help keep the library neat and organized. Pick up trash and organize your area before you leave.

Book Fairs

Book fairs provide opportunities for students and parents to select quality books at affordable prices. Books are supplied by competitive organizations and parent volunteers supervise the fairs at school.

There are many activities throughout the year, and sometimes you can also earn awards!

Here are some examples of some of the activities and programs that Vista Grande has offered:

California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)

California’s new student assessment system is now known as California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). The CAASPP System replaces the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) Program. The primary purpose of CAASPP is to assist teachers, administrators, and pupils and their parents by promoting high-quality teaching and learning through the use of a variety of assessment approaches and item types.

CAASPP is comprised of the following:

• Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English language arts (ELA) and mathematics in grades three through eight, and grade eleven. The Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments which are delivered by computer consist of two sections: a computer-adaptive test and a performance task (PT) based on the Common Core State Standards for English language arts and mathematics. The computer-adaptive section includes a range of item types such as selected response, constructed response, table, fill-in, graphing, etc. The PT are extended activities that measure a student’s ability to integrate knowledge and skills across multiple standards—a key component of college and career readiness.   For students in grade eleven, the Early Assessment Program (EAP) will use the Smarter Balanced summative assessments.
• Grade-level science assessments, including the California Standards Tests (CSTs), California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA), and the California Modified Assessment (CMA), in grades five, eight, and ten. The CSTs, CMA, and CAPA are all paper-pencil tests based on the California content standards for science adopted by the State Board of California in October 1998. (Science assessments based on the Next Generation Science Standards, adopted in September 2013, are not yet available).
• The California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for English–language arts and mathematics in grades three through eight, and grade eleven. The content of the CAA is based on alternate achievement standards derived from the Common Core State Standards for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The CAA will be delivered on the computer for this operational administration.

CELDT

The CELDT is a state-mandated test that is used by California schools to determine Listening and Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Overall English language proficiency levels of students determined to be English learners, or possible English learners. Currently, students in kindergarten and first grade take only the Listening and Speaking portion of the CELDT, while students in grades second through twelfth take all portions. The Overall Proficiency Level represents a “weighted” combination of results of all portions taken. The CELDT is administered to new students upon enrollment and to returning students in the fall.

GATE

District psychologists administer the Raven Test to all 2nd graders and students who are new to our school in grades 3, 4, and 5. The test is used to determine placement in the GATE programs for the following cluster year. Students in grade 5 who qualify may take a retest of the Raven for the Seminar program.

Fitness Gram Testing

All students in Grade 5 will participate in physical fitness testing in the spring.

This site was launched on March 22, 2010, to provide essential resources to District staff, parents, and guardians, with the twin goals of school-community cooperation to support programs and legal compliance while providing that support. Pages are updated from time to time to provide guidance and clarity surrounding the subject of student fees, charges, deposits, donations and fundraising.

Parents, guardians, students, faculty, and staff should direct questions about school-specific matters needing clarification/explanation directly to the school’s principal.

Principals should contact their respective Area Superintendent for guidance and support with responses to school-specific questions about student fees, charges, deposits, donations and fundraising.

The Area Superintendents will ensure that questions and responses are disseminated to schools through this website and by other means.

Please click here to go to the SDUSD website with more information.

If any disruptive or emergency situation should occur, we would implement our Emergency Procedure plan, which includes:

• Staff supervision.
• Immediate contact with parents, school police, etc.
• A school “lock down” with all gates locked until it is safe to release the children.
• Designation of “Reunion Gate” for parents to pick up children.

PLEASE REMEMBER TO INFORM THE FRONT OFFICE WHEN THERE ARE CHANGES IN YOU ADDRESS, CONTACT NUMBERS OR RELEASE OF STUDENT INFORMATION!

San Diego Unified School District has a military page and often holds special events, information, and announcements. They often have special enrollment events as well.

Please label all clothing items, backpacks, lunch boxes, and supplies with your child’s name. By doing so, most “lost” items can be returned to their owners promptly. If an item has been misplaced, encourage your student to check the area located in the “Lost and Found” in the hallway outside of Room 213. Students finding lost articles are required to turn them into the office. All unclaimed items will be donated at the end of each school year. Valuable items (i.e., cell phones, money, jewelry, keys, etc.) will be placed in an envelope marked with the date and location found and held in the office until the end of the year.

If the concern is not resolved, the principal should be contacted. He/She will set up a meeting between the parties involved in an effort to resolve the issue.

The PrimeTime program is available from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. every day students attend school. The program is available to parents by application if before and after school care is needed and they qualify. Enrollment is limited and is on a first come first served basis. The application can be obtained in the office and it is the responsibility of the parent to mail it to the program office listed on the application form.