Dear Parents:

Welcome to Gledhill Elementary and Math/Science Technology Magnet. We would like to extend a hearty welcome to all our returning parents and students. We look forward to seeing your familiar faces and working together again this coming year.

To the new students and parents of both the magnet and the regular school, we wish you a new beginning with wonderful things to come. We welcome you as part of the Gledhill family. Working together, we can ensure that the campus is a safe, inviting and educational environment.

Our staff is superior and every teacher is dedicated to providing your child with the best learning environment possible. We know that your child's future successes and life long accomplishments depend upon the education they receive today.

The Gledhill staff looks forward to working with you toward developing your child's abilities and achievements.

Sincerely,

Marc Dyen
Principal

Safety

• Therefore, students are to cross at street corners or in crosswalks only.
• Please do not ask or allow your child to cross in the middle of the street and do not double park.
• Students are not to be dropped off or picked up directly in front of the school. This area is reserved for school buses only. Please use the Liggett St. Valet Drop Off Lane.
• Traffic citations ($180 or more) are given to those who double park or park in the bus zone.
• Please remember that the parking lot is for the Gledhill staff only and students should never be dropped off in the parking lot.

Reminder

Please be courteous to our neighbors. We ask that you do not honk for your child. Multiply a honk 50 times and you can imagine the noise level.

Visits

• All parents and guardians are welcome to visit the school campus at any time.
• First you must obtain a permit from the office before going to a classroom or onto the school grounds.
• Please limit classroom visits to 20 minutes.
• If you wish to have a conference with a teacher, you may make an appointment before or after regular school hours.
• Please call the school and leave a message for the teacher to arrange for an appointment. The more flexible your schedule, the sooner you will be able to communicate with the teacher.

Personal Property of Students

We highly discourage students from bringing personal property to school, particularly large sums of money, expensive clothing, jewelry, watches, toys, iPods, Gameboys, cell phones, etc.

Dress Code

• Any pants that restrict movement such as very large, oversized, baggy pants and/or skin tight pants will not be permitted.
• No shirts that advocate violence, drugs, smoking or profanity are allowed.
• Closed toe, rubber soled shoes are needed for playground activities, not boots, sandals, high heels or open toe shoes.
• Hats and prescription sunglasses are ONLY allowed for shade and medical purposes.
• Students are not to wear makeup.
• No rings or valuable jewelry.
• No dangling or hooped earrings - small stud types are permissible.
• No belts with chains, heavy metal, or oversized buckles.
• No short shorts, midriff tops or tube tops.
• Primary students (K-3) do not need purses or fanny packs.
• Backpacks are permissible to carry books or homework, but remain in the classroom during the school day.

Lost and Found

• In order to try and keep track of your child's clothes we ask that you please label or write their name on all jackets, shirts, lunch boxes, backpacks, etc.
• We wish to avoid having children lose their clothes.
• If something is lost, the lost and found is located next to the cafeteria and lunch benches.
• At the end of every month the unclaimed clothes are donated to charity.

Attendance Policy

Your child's attendance is important to his/her educational development. California law requires every child of school age to attend school on time unless ill. When a student is absent, he or she must present a written note that explains the reason for the absence. Please remember that class instruction begins at 7:55a.m. and ends at 2:15p.m.

Pupil Records

Legislation regarding parent access to, and the confidentiality of pupil records mandates specific parent and pupil rights with respect to privacy, access to, and challenge of pupil records. All individualized educational programs (IEP) and related documents are pupil records and shall be maintained in accordance with state and federal pupil record confidentiality laws.

Emergency Forms

We never know when an emergency could occur therefore, emergency forms must have current, working phone numbers. There should be a second number listed on the card where someone who has authority for the child can be reached. Also, an e-mail address should be included on the form. You will need to have this on file to access the magnet application online as well as other records and information for your student.

Emergency or Disaster

In case of emergency or disaster tune to radio KNX 1070. Any information concerning Gledhill will be broadcast on that station, i.e. school closure, where to pick up students, etc.

Zero Tolerance Policy

No guns or weapons of any type are allowed at school. This includes imitations of real guns, water pistols, plastic guns, toy knives, etc. Any child bringing such an item to school will be suspended and a hearing held by the district to determine if further action will be taken by the Board of Education. A Weapons Prevention Hotline (1-800-954-HELP) is available to report weapons. Spanish speaking operators are available on this line. You may also call school police at 1-213-625-6631.

Homework

All students in grades K-5 will have homework assigned Monday through Thursday. The amount of homework given will vary according to grade level.

Kindergarten = 15 to 20 minutes a day
Grade 1 = 30 to 35 minutes a day
Grade 2 = 30 to 35 minutes a day
Grade 3 = 35 to 45 minutes a day
Grade 4 = 35 to 45 minutes a day
Grade 5 = 50 to 60 minutes a day

Long term assignments may require some homework to be done on weekends. As a parent it is very important that you ensure your child has a place to study and a set time homework is to be completed. We encourage the use of backpacks or folders to carry homework to and from school. We ask that you check your child's backpack daily for notes sent home from the school and from the teacher.

Progress Reporting Dates

1. December 5-9 (Parent Conferences - Shortened Day Schedule)
2. March 19-23 (Parent Conferences - Shortened Day Schedule)
3. June (No Parent Conferences - No Shortened Day Schedule)

School Closure Dates

School Schedule

7:25 - 7:50am Breakfast served - students are to enter through the front gate or the gate on Liggett Street.

Regular Schedule
Grades K - 5

7:50am Warning Bell
7:55am School Starts - Instruction Begins
9:40 - 10:00 Recess I (Grades 3 & 4)
10:00 - 10:20 Recess II (Grades 1, 2 & 5)
11:00 - 11:40 Lunch I (Kindergarten, Grade 3)
11:30 - 12:10 Lunch II (Grades 1 & 4)
12:00 - 12:40 Lunch III (Grades 2 & 5)
2:15pm Dismissal

Bused students are dismissed from the main entrance on Gledhill Street. All other Grade 1 - 5 students are to exit at the Liggett gate. Kindergarten students will be dismissed from the gate on Gloria Street.

Tuesday Schedule
Grades K - 5

7:50am Warning Bell
7:55am School Starts - Instruction Begins
9:40 - 10:00 Recess I (Grades 3 & 4)
10:00 - 10:20 Recess II (Grades 1, 2, 5)
11:00 - 11:40 Lunch I (Kindergarten & Grade 3)
11:30 - 12:10 Lunch II (Grades 1 & 4)
12:00 - 12:40 Lunch III (Grades 2 & 5)
1:15pm Dismissal

All bus routes will run approximately one hour earlier than usual.

Special Schedules

Minimum Day 7:55am - 12:45pm
Shortened Day 7:55am - 1:40pm

School Events

Breakfast and Lunch Prices

• Breakfast and lunch will be served in the cafeteria.
• Lunch will cost $1.00 and breakfast will cost $.60.
• Lunch for one week (5 meals) may be purchased for $5.00.
• Breakfast for one week costs $3.00.
• Milk is available for $.35.
• For those that qualify, the reduced lunch price is $.40 or $2.00 for the week.
• Please send the correct change. We cannot accept checks.

Telephones

The office is unable to relay telephone messages to individual students. Please discuss emergencies or change of plans with your child ahead of time. Have established emergency and alternate plans. Have a secret code word the child is familiar with if the child is to be picked up by someone other than the parent. Children may only use the office phones for emergencies since they are needed to conduct school business. Parents are encouraged to discuss this policy with their children. Cell phones should not be brought to school.

Important Phone Numbers

After School Playground

The after school playground is open every weekday except school holidays. It is supervised by the coaches and is open from dismissal time until 5:30pm.

Shared Decision Making Council

The Shared Decision Making Council helps make certain local policy decisions. These include staff development projects, student discipline, schedule of school activities and guidelines for the use of school equipment. The council is made up of parents, teachers, and the principal.

School Site Council

The SSC shall have ongoing responsibility to review with the principal and teachers and other school personnel, the implementation of School Improvement Programs and to assess the effectiveness of the programs and monitor the budget. Elections for parent representatives take place each October.

Bilingual/Bicultural Advisory Council

Parent representatives are elected each October. They represent all bilingual students and make decisions concerning the bilingual money the school receives.

Title I Council

The Title 1 Council makes decisions regarding the Title 1 funding the school receives. It also coordinates parent education classes. Meetings are held in conjunction with the Bilingual and School Site Council meetings.

Parent Teacher Association

The Gledhill PTA at our school continues to grow every year and we invite you to become a member. The PTA exists to help build a strong relationship amongst the faculty, administrators and parents. The PTA holds several fundraisers and meetings throughout the year where everyone is welcome.