Olive Elementary School

Please be sure that your child arrives no more than 15 minutes before the start of class, and is picked up promptly after dismissal. No supervision available.

Throughout our district on Wednesday afternoons, the staff collaborates after school hours about programs, teaching strategies, curriculum and assessment. The purpose of this time is continuous improvement of our educational program for all students. The instructional time students receive is not reduced by this schedule.

Arrival/Dismissal

There is NO supervision on the playground before 8:15 a.m. Please do not send your child to school before this time. If your child does not take the bus, or walk home, please arrange to pick him or her up promptly after school. Students may not wait at school for siblings to be dismissed. Please remember that every Wednesday is Curriculum Planning Day: All students in grades 1-5 come at 8:30 a.m. and are dismissed at 1:50 p.m. Kindergartners attend from 8:30 am to 11:55 am. When your child is not picked up promptly after school and there is no supervision, it warrants a telephone call directly to you. The expectation is that you will come to school immediately to pick him/her up. When your child has been left at school for an inordinate amount of time or you have been called on more than two occasions, the Novato Police Department/Child Protective Services will be notified. Chronic inability to either bring your child to school or pick him/her up after school is considered child neglect and will be treated as such.

Office Procedures

Attendance: Our school and district goal is 100% attendance every school day.

It is very important for the safety of your child that we verify all absences daily. In order to comply with attendance accounting procedures, we must determine whether absences are excused or unexcused. Excused absences include illness, medical appointments and trips only if an independent study is obtained. Other absences are recorded as unexcused. California law states that no funding is received for any absences, excused or unexcused, unless an independent study contract is obtained. Independent Study Contracts can only be issued for absences five days or longer and may not exceed two weeks. We must call the home of every child for whom we have not received notification from a parent. Therefore, we appreciate you notifying the school when your child will be absent. If you know ahead of time that your child will be out of school for five days or more, please call or see your teacher to request an Independent Study Contract. For your convenience, we have a 24 hour attendance line for reporting absences. You may call 897-4230, ext. 300 any time day or night. Leave your child's name, date and reason for absence. You may request homework for an absent child as long as you do so before 10:00 a.m. Our district receives $35.00 per day per student in attendance. Each day your child is absent, we lose this funding, but you can reimburse the district for an unexcused absence by writing a check to Olive School.

Every CROC Counts Attendance Program:

Attending school every day and on time creates a successful learning environment for all students. The "Every CROC Counts" attendance reward program is intended to promote positive awareness for daily attendance. Children who arrive at school on time and attend school every day will be recognized at the end of each month at our CROC assemblies. We hope that the "Every CROC Counts" program reminds children and families of the importance of daily attendance and that families will take the time to schedule vacations around the school calendar. If your child is ill, please keep him or her at home. Incentive prizes and awards are provided through the generosity of the Olive PTA.

Tardies:

Each time a child walks into class tardy, it disrupts the instruction for all students in class. These valuable minutes are lost forever. As part of our focus on learning, we have instituted the following policy: As per the state Education Code, the school is obligated to document every time a student is late to school when the tardy exceeds 30 minutes. If your child has three tardies over 30 minutes, you will automatically receive a letter stating that future tardies will result in you needing to attend a School Attendance Review Board Hearing that is held at the Novato Police Department.

Medications:

We cannot administer any medications to children. If your child needs to take a prescription medication, we must have a form filled out by the doctor giving complete instructions. You may pick up the form at the school office. The medication must be in the original prescription container. All medications must be turned in to the nurse or school office manager.

Injured Students:

Any student who comes to school with a splint, crutches, or other stabilizing devices for injuries must: Come directly to the office with doctor's instructions detailing limitations. If limitations exist, your child will be provided a safe space to spend recess and lunch off of the playground. Any student who arrives with injuries without doctor's instructions, will automatically be spending recesses in the office until instructions are received.

Visitors on Campus:

If you are going to be on campus, you must sign in at the office and obtain a visitor badge. No visitor is allowed to go directly to the classroom. It is critical to the safety and well being of our students that we know who is on campus at all times. Please do not interrupt classes to drop off forgotten items. These items (lunches, instruments, homework, etc.,) can be placed on the "rescue table" located outside of the office and students can check for them during their morning or lunch recess.

Students Leaving Early:

If you must pick up your child early for a medical appointment, please send a note to the teacher so your child can be sent to the office at the designated time to meet you. Please do not go directly to the classroom to pick up your child. ALL STUDENTS leaving campus prior to the end of their regular school day MUST be signed out at the office. If your child returns the same day, he/she needs to be signed back in so that we know where your child is at all times during the school day. This prior notification prevents our having to interrupt a teacher's instruction.

Emergency Cards:

For your child's safety and well being, it is extremely important that we have up to date information on the emergency card. In case of illness, injury or other emergencies, we must be able to contact a parent or individuals you have designated as emergency contact persons. We simply do not have the facilities to keep sick children at school for extended periods of time. Parents are not always available when these situations arise. Therefore, please provide us with at least three names other than your own. These individuals should be living in the immediate area and should be receptive to picking up your child. When persons listed as emergency contacts have moved or changed phone numbers or if you have any changes to your personal information during the year (employment location, phone number, day care, etc.) please stop by or call the office and we will be happy to assist you in updating your card. You will receive two emergency cards in your child's first day packet. Both cards must be completed as one stays in the office and one is put into our emergency preparedness file. Please complete both sides and be sure to sign the back of the card!

School Phones:

In order to protect our students' valuable instruction time, we must keep classroom interruptions to a minimum. Please make after school arrangements with your child before he or she comes to school in the morning. We will not interrupt classrooms to deliver messages except in cases of emergency. Students are not permitted to use the school telephones unless there is an emergency. We cannot accommodate those who wish to call home to see if they can get a ride because it is raining. We suggest you develop a "Bad Weather" plan with your child for how, when and where you will pick them up.

Messages to Teachers:

If you wish to speak with your child's teacher or set up a meeting, please call and leave a message on their voice mail. Teachers check voice mail regularly and will return your call. A list of teachers' voice mail numbers is included in the first day packet.

Important Things to Know

Lunch Program:

Lunch (hot and cold meals and milk) is available daily for $2.50, (prices subject to change) or you may prepay and have a running account for your child in the lunch room. Reduced price (40 cents) and free lunches are available for eligible students. Forms can be picked up at the school office. We regret that we have no system to loan students money for lunches.

Breakfast Program:

Breakfast is available each morning. All students who are eligible for the free and reduced lunch program will automatically receive breakfast each morning. Other students who wish to purchase breakfast for $1.25 per day may do so (prices subject to change). As with the lunch program, you may prepay for breakfast monthly.

Friday Folders:

Regular communication between school and home will happen through the "Friday Folder." It will come home with your child on the first day of school and contain important information and some items for signature. Please return this folder with your child each Monday and ask him/her about it on Friday after school. General school information and items from your child's teacher will be sent home in this manner.

Shark Bytes:

The Shark Bytes is our PTA Newsletter and will come home with your child weekly in their Friday Folder. It will contain news on what is happening at Olive and upcoming events. This is an extremely valuable communication tool between school and home.

Lost and Found:

Please label outer clothing and lunch boxes with your child's name so that lost items can be returned to your child. Unmarked clothing will be placed on the lost and found rack located outside the school office during the school day. Toys, trading cards, balls, etc. are not to be brought to school. The school cannot be responsible for lost personal items.

Field Trips:

All students attending a field trip MUST have a signed permission slip from their parent or guardian. Permission must be given on the permission slip provided by your child's teacher. District policy states that we cannot allow a child to attend a field trip without this signed permission slip. Therefore, we will not accept a handwritten note or telephone authorization. All students are expected to ride the bus with the class. Parent chaperones may go on the bus if there is room or may drive their own cars to the field trip destination. Siblings and pets are not allowed to attend field trips.

Volunteer Program:

Olive School parents are very proactive on behalf of their children. As a result, we have a dynamic Volunteer Program. If you are interested in helping in the classroom, the computer lab, the library, or with other programs please call our PTA Volunteer Coordinator through the school office. We consistently have a strong response to the volunteer program. Parents are invaluable to our ability to provide a challenging and enriching educational program for our students. Proof that you are free from TB is required from all volunteers. Anyone who works more than three hours a week around children at school must be fingerprinted as well. To participate, just complete the volunteer sign up sheet included in the first day packet and return it to the school. All volunteers must sign in at the office when they arrive on campus and wear their name badge, which hangs on the volunteer board in the office. We look forward to your participation!

Behavior Standards

Olive School is committed to developing "Caring, Responsible, Olive Citizens." Our self-discipline policy is aligned with the Education Code for the state of California and was developed by staff and parents. A detailed outline is provided for you in the Novato Unified School District "Guide for Parents & Students" that you receive annually during your child's first week of attendance at Olive School. All students are expected to abide by the guidelines for dress and grooming. Our school self-discipline policy includes the following consequences for students when it is not followed:

When your child receives a warning for inappropriate behavior (to include bullying, inappropriate language or physical action) from a school employee (yard supervisor, instructional aide, office or custodial staff, teacher or administrator) a communication is issued and sent home.
Two such behavior notifications lead to a stronger consequence at school.
The third issuance requires a student to sacrifice 20 minutes for after school detention on the following Wednesday afternoon. Students who receive detention on Wednesday will be dismissed at 2:10 pm.
When your child's behavior is a consistent violation of the Education Code, your child may be suspended from school. At this time, you will be expected to pick him/her up and keep him at home for a specified number of school days.
All records of suspensions are kept in your child's permanent student file.

Your immediate personal involvement is always the most effective method for teaching your child about the consequences for behavior and the value of self-discipline.

Drop Off/Pick Up Procedures:

Safety for all students is always our greatest concern. Parking is extremely limited so please plan accordingly when bringing or picking up your child. Never leave your car unattended with the engine running.

Plum Street parking lot: This lot is for staff parking. Vehicles that are double parked may receive tickets from the police department. There are a few spaces in the lot for any visitors to use only after 8:30 AM. If you need to bring or pick up your child, please plan to park on Plum Street when you note all the spaces in the lot are being used. Any curbs painted white are for loading and unloading only. Parked vehicles in both red and white zones may receive a ticket as well. Please do not park in "Staff' and "Reserved" parking spaces.

Peach Street entrance: Peach Street is an access only cul-de-sac. Students can no longer be picked up or dropped off in this area. Parents may park on Chase Street and walk their children down Peach Street, but they can not drive down the Peach Street. Please use Olive Avenue or Plum Street designated areas for drop off and pick up.

Olive Avenue parking lot: Although some staff park in this lot, the majority of the spaces are for parents. If you plan to drive through the lot please give the school bus the right of way at all times. Do not park or drop off your child in the crosswalk. The Red Zone is for QUICK pick-up or drop-off ONLY. Stopping and waiting is not allowed! Please follow the instructions of the supervisor on duty. He/she is there to keep our students safe and traffic flowing. The Novato Police Department randomly patrols this lot also to encourage proper use of the driveway

Olive Avenue Crosswalk: If you use the Olive crosswalk, please follow the direction of our crossing guard, Mr. Geno Pardini.

Child Care:

Quality Care For Kids, a private child care provider, offers child care on the Olive campus. Hours are 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for children kindergarten age through fifth grade. Telephone 892-4111 for information. (Please do not call the school. We do not have information about the program.)

Emergency Preparedness:

A PTA volunteer completes an annual inventory for disaster supplies. The supplies for students are kept in the emergency container on site near the day care center and the classrooms on the upper school yard. In addition, all regular and ancillary classrooms are provided backpacks with minimal emergency supplies. Regular drills for fire, earthquake, and lockdown are conducted in conjunction with the Novato Fire Department and the district office of Maintenance and Operations.

In the event of a major disaster, your help will be necessary to implement orderly procedures for student release. Our efforts will be focused on maintaining a calm environment for children at all times. All students will remain under the supervision and care of adult Olive personnel until released to a parent or designee listed on the emergency card. The Novato Unified School District participates in an annual county-wide disaster drill in coordination with the Marin County Office of Education.

PTA:

The Olive School PTA is an organization of parents, teachers, and staff that support the school and its students. It's mission is to enrich the educational experience for all children, to support the teachers and staff, and to provide opportunities for increased parent involvement in the school. It also provides a forum for parents to learn about issues affecting the school, such as school district policies and budget.

The PTA has pursued this mission through a variety of programs such as sponsoring numerous field trips and cultural assemblies for students at every grade level. These field trips give children the opportunity for hands on learning outside the classroom that make their lessons come alive through seeing the symphony, exploring the seashore, visiting the Audubon Canyon or NASA.

In addition to field trips and assemblies, the PTA has funded the Peaceful Playgrounds program (a set of clearly defined blacktop games allowing our children to participate and have fun on the playground), literature titles, a school beautification project and an art and a Spanish program for Olive students. The PTA has also organized activities for families to enjoy together including family picnics and the Multicultural Festival. The PTA provides crucial support to teachers for classroom supplies. Their beautification project includes adding landscaping and providing shade for our students in conjunction with the district's plans for modernization.

A strong PTA is vital to the continued health of the school. Parents like you work hard together and have lots of fun ensuring that every child receives maximum benefit from the funds and volunteer efforts. This is a voluntary organization. Membership dues are one of it's main sources of income to support programs. Some of the PTA activities planned for this school year are:

Welcome back coffee
Back to School Family BBQ
Gift wrap fundraiser in September
Scholastic Book Fair
Reflections," a visual, performing and literary art showcase in December
Talent Show
Holiday Store where students may purchase holiday gifts in December
Read-A-Thon in February and March, a program motivating students to read while raising money for a specific cause
Spring Sharks and Shamrocks Dinner/Auction
Multicultural Event
Preparation of Olive School Yearbook throughout the year

Your participation in the PTA will benefit all of the children at Olive. Please come to the meetings and share your ideas and talents. Many volunteer jobs can be done at home or on your own schedule. Any amount of time you can offer will greatly benefit our students and support the programs. If you have questions about the Olive PTA, you can email them to OlivePTA@novato.net or call the PTA President, Lisa Tuscher at 898-7859.

School Fuel:

School Fuel is the local education foundation that supports all Novato public schools. School Fuel's mission is to support and enrich the education available to every student in the Novato Unified School District by raising funds, encouraging volunteerism and increasing community awareness of student and district needs. In addition, School Fuel is funding programs at each school site. For more information about School Fuel, please check its web site www.novatoschoolfuel.org.

2007 - 2008 Calendar

Student attendance at school throughout the instructional year is extremely important. We hope this calendar of dates will help you with your future planning.

First Day of School: August 23, 2007

Important Dates to Remember:

Back To School Night —August 30 - Dismissal 12:30 PM
Picture Day —September 27
Make-Up Picture Day —October 25
Fifth Grade Outdoor Education —November 5 - 7
*Parent/Teacher Conferences —November 8 - 16
Open House —April 2 - Dismissal 12:30 PM

*Student Schedule During Conferences:
Grades 1 - 5 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Student Holidays

August 21 —Staff Development Day
August 20 & 22 —Teacher Work Days
August 23 —First Day of School
September 3 —Labor Day
November 12 —Veteran's Day
November 19-23 —Thanksgiving Recess
December 24-January 4 —Winter Break
January 21 —Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
January 28 —Staff Development Day
February 18-22 —Mid-Winter Recess
April 7-11 —Spring Recess
May 26 —Memorial Day
Last Day of School: —Thursday, June 13h. All Students are dismissed at 11:30 AM