SELLERS ELEMENTARY

STUDENT HANDBOOK

2007 - 2008 School Year

INDEX

WELCOME TO SELLERS SCHOOL

Welcome you to the 2007 – 2008 school year!  We look forward to working with you and your children as the entire staff of Sellers School provides your family with an outstanding educational program.  We are very proud of what we are able to offer the children we serve as we work together to keep “Children First.”

Daily student attendance is the key to student success.  Be sure your child is in school everyday to ensure a successful school year.  There is never a good day to miss school!

To keep abreast of current events at school, be sure to check your child’s Wednesday folder every Wednesday and please  read the “Sellers Sez,” our monthly PTA newsletter to take note of the important people, dates and different ways that you can become involved in the children’s education at Sellers. 

As the school year begins, please call the school office @ 626.852.4574 if we can assist you or your child in anyway possible or answer any questions that you may have. Lastly, be sure to visit our website at www.glendora.k12.ca.us.  Click on our schools, then proceed to our awesome web site!  It has a new look!

Thanks for your anticipated support and go Vikings!

Sellers Staff

HISTORY OF SELLERS SCHOOL

Sellers School is located at 500 North Loraine Avenue.  The school opened on March 18, 1957, with 574 students occupying sixteen classrooms.  The school was named for Margaret R. Sellers, a former teacher and principal in this district for many years.  At one time Sellers was a junior high school.

Today the Sellers site serves elementary students in grades kindergarten through fifth and houses the Glendora Unified School District Office and Education Center.  Projected enrollment for the 2007 – 2008 school year is approximately 500 students.  Students have available an extensive playground, library, cafeteria facilities, and computer lab.  Sellers is proud of its history and continuing tradition of academic excellence.  The school's mascot is the Viking and our school colors are blue and white.

DAILY SCHEDULE

BREAKFAST PROGRAM

Nutritious breakfasts are now served daily from 7:50 AM until 8:10 AM in our Sellers cafeteria. Breakfast is $1.25, reduced price $0.25.

LUNCH PROGRAM

Nutritious lunches are served daily. Student lunches are $2.50. All students are assigned a PIN (Personla Identification Number) for purchasing lunch.  Parents may deposit money in thier students' lunch account at the Central Kitchen, 500 N. Loraine Ave., between 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.  Students may also pay for their lunch with cash.  Applications for Free and/or Reduced Price Meals are available in the school office.  Please check website for current menu.

LUNCH LOAN POLICY

The school office does not loan lunch money. Students may call home for lunch or lunch money.  If a student cannot reach anyone, they may purcahse a lunch using their PIN number.  PLEASE SUPPLY THE OFFICE WITH A DOCTOR'S NOTE IF YOUR CHILD HAS ANY TYPE OF FOOD ALLERGY.  Thank you for understanding and support in this matter.

PRINCIPAL'S REQUEST

Remember to send a lunch or lunch money with your child each morning.  Dropping off lunches in the office (regular and fast food) is a disruption to the educational process, as we must interrupt classes to notify teachers, etc.

Thank you!

Mr. Bishop

ATTENDANCE

The importance of regular school attendance cannot be stressed enough. It affects both the student's progress at school and our school funding, which is based on daily attendance figures. If your child will be absent from school, please call the school office on 852-4574 before 9:30 a.m. that day. If no call is received, the school will attempt to contact you. This procedure serves a dual purpose. It assures the child is accounted for and it expedites record keeping at school. In the event no contact is made with the school office, please send a dated note explaining the reason for the absence when your child returns to school. The reason for the absence is a legal requirement of the state of California. Homework arrangements can be made with your child's teacher.

Students receive an excused absence for the following reasons: 1) Illness, 2) quarantine under the direction of a county or city health office, 3) for the purpose of attending the funeral services of a member of the immediate family, 4) medical, dental, optometric or chiropractic appointments.

Students receive unexcused absences for reasons other than those listed above.

The Glendora Unified School District in conjunction with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office will monitor attendance of students. Please be aware that students with frequent absences may be referred to participate in Student Attendance Review meetings and/or mediation from the District Attorney's office.

INDEPENDENT STUDY

If your child will be out of school for an unexcused reason such as family vacation for five (5) days or more, please notify the school office at least three school days in advance so arrangements can be made for independent study. This program will help each student maintain his/her studies.

TARDIES

It is important that students come to school on time every day. School starts at 8:15 a.m. Students arriving after the 8:18 tardy bell will be considered tardy. Students arriving to school tardy need to report directly to class at which time it will be determined if they need to report to the office. Students without a valid tardy excuse may forfeit their morning recess after their third tardy. The number of tardies per trimester will be recorded on the child's report card. The principal will contact the parents of students with excessive tardies. Please make every effort to be in school on time.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Student participation in physical education is required by state law. If your child is unable to participate in the program for one or two days, a written excuse must be sent by the parent or guardian. If a student is unable to participate for more than three days, a written statement from a physician is required.

LEAVING SCHOOL DURING SCHOOL HOURS

No student is to leave the school grounds at any time during the school day without permission from the school office. Students will be released to parents or guardian only through office personnel. When picking up your child during the school day, please report to the office and the office will call your child out of class. Your cooperation is much appreciated.

MEDICATIONS

The school may not administer medication without a form completed and signed by both the parent and the prescribing physician. These forms are available at the school office. Medication should be kept in the original containers and must be checked in at the office. It will only be dispensed by office personnel. This includes nonprescription medication as well. Please contact the school office before sending any type of medication to school with your child.

EMERGENCY CARDS

 An up-to-date emergency card is required for each student. This is IMPERATIVE because in an emergency, the parent or a designee must be contacted. Every effort must be made to keep the school office informed of changes of address or telephone number.

In the event of injury or illness, these procedures will be followed:

1. Basic first aid is given for minor injuries. The child is allowed to rest in the office if complaining of a minor illness.

2. If there is any question as to the seriousness of an injury or illness, the parent is asked to come for the child.

3. If the parent is unavailable, the persons designated on the emergency card are contacted. Please remember the school will not release your child without your permission.

 Please remember the school will not release your child without your permission or to anyone not listed on the emergency card.

STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE

 The Glendora Unified School District does not provide student accident or medical insurance coverage. Student accident insurance is available through a private carrier. The forms are available in the school office.

SCHOOL SAFETY

 At the beginning of each school year and at periodic intervals throughout the year, safety instructions are given to all Sellers School students. Parents should also help their children learn the proper and safe way to travel to and from school. A route should be planned by the parents and reviewed with their children. This route should be used daily, with full regard to sidewalks, street crossing, bike lanes, parking lot safety and the property of others.

Sellers students can be dropped off and picked-up behind the district building, behind the school, or in front of the school observing all safety and vehicle codes. Crosswalks must be used when crossing the street. Pedestrians must obey all directions of the crossing guards. Please do not call your child(ren) from across Loraine and have them run across the street to meet you. This is a serious safety hazard and poses an unnecessary danger to students and parents.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Sellers School has an emergency preparedness plan which will be implemented in the event of any disaster. Monthly safety drills are conducted to comply with state law and district policies. Although we hope the plan will never have to be utilized, it is designed to ensure the welfare and safety of all pupils during school hours. The plan is reviewed annually and updated as needed.

Your child may be required to remain in the care of the school in the event of a major disaster until it is considered safe for the child to be released. Children will be released only to those designated on the school emergency card. Each classroom is equipped with a box containing emergency supplies, consisting of first aid supplies, blankets, water, and food. In addition, a disaster bin that securely contains our supplies, has been purchased through PTA and school district funds to better help us serve the needs of our students during a disaster. Every effort will be made to keep the children as safe and comfortable as possible while detained at school. In the event of a disaster, students will be released from the east playground area. Please report directly to the child's teacher at the evacuation area for student release. Your patience and cooperation in such a disaster is much appreciated.

BIKE SAFETY

If a student is in the third grade or above, he/she may ride a bike to school. Bike riders must obey all safety rules and the California Vehicle Code. When a student arrives on the school grounds, the bike must be walked to the bike rack, parked and locked. Remember, bikes must be walked while in the hallways, and on all school property. The privilege of riding a bike may be withdrawn if the rules are not observed. For the safety of all bicycle riders, students must use protective bike helmets as per California law.

Students in grades 3 and above may also ride skateboards, rollerblades and scooters to school. Storage of these items is the responsibility of the student. Helmets must also be worn when riding the above items. Sellers School and the Glendora Unified School District are not responsible for any theft or vandalism of any of the above items while on school grounds.

SMOG ALERT INFORMATION

In the event of a Health Advisory Episode or Smog Alert, everyone, including healthy adults and children, should avoid prolonged, vigorous outdoor exercise. Susceptible individuals, especially those with heart or lung disease, should avoid outdoor activity. If this should occur, our Sellers smog flag will be displayed in front of the school. All teachers will be notified and all physical activity will be curtailed. We are informed of smog alerts by the district.

SCHOOL VISITATION IN CLASS AND AT LUNCH TIME

If you wish to visit your child during school hours, please check in with the office first and arrangements will be made for you to meet with your child. If you would like to have lunch with your child, the office will make the necessary arrangements for you to eat with your child in a private location. Please be sure to check in at the office when you arrive on campus. For student safety, parents are not allowed to play on the playground with their own or other children. Your cooperation is appreciated.  Please come to the office first if you wish to talk to your child.  We can then call your child from the classroom and avoid disrupting the learning situation for the entire class.  Your cooperation is appreciated!

CONTACTING YOUR CHILD AT SCHOOL

When your child forgets his/her lunch, or lunch money, please bring it to the school office and it will be taken to the classroom as soon as possible.  Students will be allowed to make phone calls home for emergencies only.  Any special arrangements, such as going to a freind's house after school, walking home, or calling home to see how long before someone will be arriving to pick them up, will have to be made prior to the school day. 

HOMEWORK GUIDELINES

Because of the individual differences and needs of students, homework will vary from day to day with each child. The teacher will assign appropriate homework in order to foster the development of good study habits. Assigned homework may be an extension of the school day or involve special reports or projects. 

Parents can help their children with homework by providing a quiet place to study, setting aside a specific time each day for homework, providing necessary materials, assisting with drills (math facts, spelling words) and listening to oral reading. Although a goal of homework is to help the child develop self-responsibility, the child may initially need help in making sure the work is returned on time. If you have any questions, please see your child's teacher directly.

ABOVE ALL, READ TO AND/OR HAVE YOUR CHILD READ TO YOU ON A DAILY BASIS.

CONFERENCES AND REPORT CARDS

Report cards are issued at each trimester. Parent conferences are scheduled in Decmber and April. Parents or teachers may request additional conferences as necessary. These conferences provide an opportunity to discuss student progress, present test scores, when appropriate, and to discuss new goals. Report cards are given to parents during conferences and sent home at the end of the 3rd trimester. In the event a student is at risk of receiving a failing grade, the parent will receive a progress report from the teacher approximately halfway through the trimester.

PRESIDENTS EDUCATION AWARD

Fifth grade students who have earned outstanding grades for every grading period during their fourth grade and fifth grade year will be eligible for the Presindet's Academic Education Award, which honors their academic excellence.