REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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Regular Board Meeting Aug. 12, 2010

Parent Bulletin #1

August 20th to September 3rd

WELCOME BACK! - This is the first edition of our 2010-1211 Parent Bulletin that will be sent home every other Friday.  Weekly events are also posted on the bulletin board in front of the school and on our web site (see below).  The purpose is to keep parents informed of the many activities that are going on at school and in our community.  The Parent Bulletin will include such things as upcoming events, sports schedules, youth organization meetings, PTA News, etc.  Once a month we will also publish the cafeteria menu.  If you are involved in student activities in the community and would like to have information in our Parent Bulletin, please send the information to Jan Ryan.

A HUGE THANK YOU to our Soulsbyville community residents for putting up signs and standing along the road on the first day of school to remind drivers to slow down.  Their concern for the safety of our students is greatly appreciated!  Please remember that the speed limit in a school zone is 25 miles per hour every day that school is in session. 

SCHOOL PICTURES will be taken on Wednesday, August 25th.  Life Touch will be taking our school pictures again this year.  The picture order envelope is being sent home with this Parent Bulletin.  Students will need to have the completed envelope including payment on picture day.  You may order online before picture day at www.mylifetouch.com.  Just print out your confirmed order form and send it with your child.  You may use a credit card if you order online.  If you are a regular parent volunteer please have your picture taken for a permanent visitor badge.  Pre school pictures will be taken on picture retake day on September 29th. 

OUR WEB SITE is www.soulsbyvilleschool.com.  The web site contains a vast amount of information about Soulsbyville School such as monthly activities, the cafeteria menu, sports schedules, information on the SCRIP program, the bell schedule and much, much more.  Our web site is updated on a regular basis, so be sure to check it out. 

SCHOOL HOURS – Kindergarten hours are 8:05am-11:40am Monday through Thursday and 8:05-12:40 on Fridays beginning September 3rd.  1st-5th grade hours are 8:05am-2:15pm Monday through Thursday and 8:05-12:40 on Fridays.  6th-8th grade hours are 8:05-3:15 Monday through Thursday and 8:05am-12:40pm on Friday.  Students may NOT be dropped off before 7:30am and must be picked up within 15 minutes of dismissal.  All students must be picked up and dropped off in designated areas only.  Students in 6th-8th grade may be dropped off by the Nest only after 7:55am, there is no supervision before that time.  6-8 students may be picked up in the Nest area but you must park in a designated parking spot, you may not wait in line as it blocks the flow of traffic.

CAMPUS SAFETY - All visitors to our school campus must go directly to the school office or Nest to sign in and get a visitor pass, no exceptions.  We know that this is sometimes inconvenient, especially when you are just visiting for a few minutes.  Please  keep in mind this is for the safety of your children.  We will have a quick check in system for short visits.  Please do not be offended if you are asked by a staff member to check in at the office.  They are just protecting your children.

JOG-A-THON FUND RAISER FOR ATHLETIC PROGRAM on Friday, August 27th.   We are inviting students in all grades to participate even though the athletic program is only open to 6th-8th grade.  Jog-a-thon forms may be picked up in the office.  Jog-a-thon sponsors may make a straight donation or may pay per lap.  Students will have one half hour to complete as many laps as possible.  Each lap is approximately 1/5 mile.  Students will be running laps throughout the day during their PE class.   Students are encouraged to ask their family and friends for donations.  They should not go door to door, unless they are accompanied by an adult.  Parents may help by getting donations at work.

NEW FACES ON CAMPUS – We would like to welcome Clyde Davis, our new beginning band teacher, Anna Simpson, our new 6-8 band teacher, Donna Mittrey, our new bus driver, Scott Schilling, our new custodian and Bev Britts, the new SELPA pre-school teacher in room 2.  We would like to welcome back Jessica Brouns, who is teaching 4th grade, Gabe Wingo who is teaching 7th grade language arts and a PE class, Michelle Costa, who is team teaching with Sue Irwin and Nate Yorston, who will be coordinating the AESOP sub calling program and the Focus Room.

DRESS CODE REMINDER – The following dress code applies to students in K-8th grade.  Clothing may not contain messages advertising drugs, alcohol, cigarettes or other offensive material.  Shirts or tops must cover the torso and back completely.  All tops must have at least 1/2” straps and all undergarments must be completely covered.  Pajama style clothing is not allowed.  Shorts are allowed but must have at least a 4 inch inseam.  Sandals may be worn but, all students must have appropriate footwear for PE and recess.  Students wearing “inappropriate” clothing will be sent to the Focus Room to call home for appropriate clothing or borrow clothing from our clothing closet.  The student will also receive a dress code violation.  Repeated dress code violations will result in point loss and possible suspension.

SAFETY CONCERNS – Please help us by making the drop off and pick up of students as quick and safe as possible.  This means at drop off time, students should have all of their possessions in their hands and be ready to exit the vehicle as quickly as possible.  Parents should not get out of their vehicles.  Students should come to the pick up area as soon as they are dismissed.  Drivers should move away from the area as soon as students are safely in the car.  Please do not stop to visit.  We ask that you not leave your car parked in the drop off and pick up area or in any other place that blocks the flow of traffic.  Please do not park in the staff parking lot unless all public parking areas are full.  There are usually parking spots in the lower parking area.  Students may never be dropped off in the staff parking area behind the library.   We would like to suggest that you not arrive before students are dismissed.  Since it takes about five minutes for students to get from their classroom to the pickup area, please plan to arrive after 2:20 or 3:20.   Please be patient and watch for signs and staff members who will be directing traffic.  We would like to remind you that it is illegal to park in the handicapped parking spot without a handicapped placard or license plate.  As always we encourage all students to take advantage of our bus service.  We appreciate your patience and cooperation when picking up and dropping off your students.

FALCON SPIRIT GEAR - We currently have a selection of spirit items that includes sweatshirts for $25, T-shirts for $10, shorts for $12, beanies for $15 and youth size baseball hats for $10.  The sizes range from youth medium to adult XXL.  Order forms are available in the school office.  A selection of sizes and styles may be viewed in the office.

A BIG THANK TO PTA for helping cover the costs of our student planners for 3rd-8th grade students.  Thanks to PTA’s generous contribution, these students only had to pay $2.00 for their planners. 

SATURDAY SCHOOLS - We will try to have Saturday Schools twice a month.  Students who have been absent may make up the absence by attending Saturday School.  We will only have one Saturday in September, date to be announced

STUDENT MEDICATION - If it is necessary for your child to take medication during the school day, a Request for Administration of Medication form must be on file in the school office.  A new form must be completed each school year.  Students are not allowed to have prescription medication or over the counter medication (including aspirin) in their possession.

INDEPENDENT STUDY - State Law limits independent study to five or more school days.  Parents are asked to stop by the office and complete an independent study request at least two weeks prior to the absence.

UMPQUA BANK LEARN TO EARN SAVINGS PROGRAM will resume in September.  Students with established accounts may begin making deposits using their passbooks and deposit slips.  All other students may open a savings account by bringing in a completed, signed application and at least $1.00 to deposit.  Applications are available in the school office.  Bank employees will be in the cafeteria every Thursday from 7:30am to 8:00am to process deposits.  

BOB (Be On Board), the School Health Van, will be visiting our campus again this year.  Their first visit will be on September 2nd.  The van provides a variety of health services.  A signed consent form must be on file before a student can be seen by the Health Van.  In addition to the consent form, a referral for specific services must be made before a student can be seen by Health Van personnel.  Parents can make such a referral by sending a note to the office or to the child’s teacher, explaining the specific service that they would like their child to receive. 

THE CARTRIDGES FOR KIDS PROGRAM is a very convenient way for you to recycle empty inkjet and laser cartridges, used cell phones, laptops, PDA’s, Palm Pilots and iPods and help our school earn money.  You can visit their website at www.cfktoday.com  to see which cartridges are eligible to be recycled.  Then it is as easy as sending them to the office and we do the rest!  This has been a profitable fundraiser for our school for several years. 

ICE CREAM DAY will still be on Wednesdays.  Students may purchase an ice cream treat after lunch for 50¢.

FOOD FOR KIDS – The Amador-Tuolumne County Action Agency provides bags of food once a week for students who qualify.  Applications are available in the school office.

CAFETERIA - Students will only be allowed to charge lunch in emergencies.  Students will need to call home for permission to charge.  We have discovered that students were charging without their parents’ knowledge which made the charges difficult to collect.  Each time a student charges they will need to call home for permission to charge with the understanding that the charge will be paid the next school day.

LUNCH PRICES -  All students may purchase a lunch for $1.75.  Adults may purchase a lunch for $2.50.  Applications for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs are available in the school office.  Families must complete a new application each year.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability or political beliefs.  Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTD).  To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. 

In the operation of child feeding programs, no child will be discriminated against because of race, sex, color, national origin, age or disability.  If you believe you have been discriminated against, write immediately to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C., 20250.

MILK is included with lunch.  A single carton of milk may be purchased for 35¢.