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(Click on a Topic for More
Details)
11840 Scripps Creek Drive San Diego, CA 92131
Telephone: (858) 549-4437 Fax: (858) 635-8948 dingeman@sandi.net Office Hours 8:00am-4:00pm daily
School Hours 9:00am–3:35pm (Thurs 9:00am–12:50pm)
Parking lot closed M, T, W, F 8:40-9:05am and 3:25-3:50pm (Thurs 8:40-9:05am and 12:30-1:10pm) SAN
DIEGO CITY SCHOOLS
Phone:
(858) 549-4437 Fax: (858) 635-8948 Principal
School Policies and Rules Student Registration Card
Residency Policy
Classroom Assignments and Reorganization
Attendance
Absences If your child is going to be absent from school, please call the office at (858) 549-4437 before 9:00am. 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. Tardiness The school day begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. Being tardy is very disruptive to your child's morning routine as well as those of his/her classmates, and negatively impacts his/her school experience. Please assist us in meeting your child's educational needs by making sure your child is at school before 9:00 a.m. The tardy bell rings at 9:05am. Please call the office at 858.549.4437 before 9:00 am if your child is going to be late/tardy. If arriving after 9:05am, a parent/ guardian must bring the student to the office for a late slip. In accordance with the Education Code (48200, 48260(a), 48260.5), a series of official district tardy letters are mailed to parents and reported to the state if the number of tardies becomes excessive. Independent Study Contract
If your child is going to be absent for 5 days or more,
please contact our Attendance Clerk for an Independent Study
Contract. Please notify office at least 5 school days prior
to effective date of absences. 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 Arrival Time The supervision of the children who attend Dingeman Elementary begins at 8:50 a.m. each day on the white top for grades 1-5. Cardio Club runners may arrive at 8:45 a.m. Kindergarten line-up will vary depending on K classroom location.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 white top and not wait outside his/her classroom. Your cooperation will help us maintain the safest possible environment for your child. Teachers will escort students from assigned designated areas to the classrooms at 9:05am. During inclement weather, children report directly to their classrooms. Dismissal
Sign Out Procedure If you are picking your child up during the school day, please notify the classroom teacher with a note sent to school with your child, and stop in the office to fill out a permission form. If your child is going home early because of illness, you also need to sign him/her out in the office or health office. Parking and Traffic Safety Please assist us with establishing good safety and traffic patterns in and around our school by following these rules:
Safety Patrol Our school patrol works with the San Diego Police Department to provide school safety both before and after school. All students and parents are asked to use the designated crosswalk at all times. Patrol will be on duty from 8:40-9:05am and 3:35-3:55pm. Their goal is to safely cross students and parents in the crosswalk. They do not direct traffic. All students who walk across Scripps Creek Drive must cross with the Crossing Guard.Students who are interested in serving on Safety Patrol as 5th graders must maintain adequate grades and behavior records during their 4th grade year. Fourth grade students who have received two or more negative behavioral referrals are not eligible to apply for Safety Patrol. Bicycle/Skateboard Policy Children in grades 4 - 6 may ride bicycles to school. All bicycles must be parked in the bike racks and must be licensed and locked. Licenses may be obtained at the local Fire Department. The school is not responsible for damage or theft of bicycles. Skateboards, roller blades, Razor scooters, roller-shoes/Heelies are not permitted on campus at any time, including non-school hours. Closed
Campus/Visitor Policy To ensure the safety of our students and staff, the FFC of Dingeman Elementary approved the closed campus policy. Under this policy, entrance gates will be locked at 9:30 a.m. and unlocked at 3:00pm (12:20pm on Thursdays). At all other times campus visitors must report directly to the office, sign in, and obtain a visitor's badge. Please wear the badge on site at all times. Volunteers must also sign in and obtain a volunteer badge. “6
to 6” and SAY Extended Day School Childcare
Programs Homework Policy The Board of Education has implemented a district-wide homework policy because it recognizes that homework is a meaningful extension of the school day and reinforces the concepts taught in the classroom while encouraging responsibility and developing study skills at home. Your support and encouragement is important to your child's success. Please help him/her establish a routine for homework and provide a good workspace in which to complete the work (a well-lit table or desk away from distractions). We appreciate your support with homework assignments.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.
Student Dress Code School dress code and grooming guidelines are based on the district Board of Education policy on dress code. These guidelines apply to all students at all times. There are no exceptions.The standards for student attire are: • Clothing must be clean and in good repair. • Athletic type shoes are suggested for P.E. and playground. No open-toed or backless shoes. • No sandals are permitted. • Pants must be worn with the waistband at waist level. Pant/shorts legs must be hemmed. • Shoulder straps must be a minimum of one inch (no thin shoulder straps, no see-through tops, and no bare midriffs). • Clothing must fit comfortably and not be “oversized”. • Shorts/skirts must be mid-thigh or longer. • Baseball caps are to be worn outside only with the bill facing forward. • No heelies(with or without rubber heel insert)/roller type shoes are allowed. The following are not acceptable at school: • Hair which is disruptive to the learning environment i.e., bleached hair (orange, pink, purple, blue, green, yellow, etc), spiked hair. • Cosmetics, artificial nails, and excessive jewelry. • Clothing which is gang-related in any way (i.e., bandanas, caps, belts, key chains, etc.) All such items will be confiscated by school personnel. • Clothing with inappropriate pictures or language. • Clothing promoting violence, alcohol, drugs or tobacco. • Clothing which is inappropriate for P.E. (i.e., long dresses, sagging shorts or pants.) • Hats to be removed indoors. • No visible tattoos. 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 Lost and Found 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 blue lost and found cart located in front of the auditorium or in the office. Students finding lost articles are required to turn them in to the office. All unclaimed items will be taken to Good Will at the end of each semester. Cell Phones, Pagers/Electronic Signaling Devices Students may possess and use cell phones, pagers or other electronic signaling devices on the school campus before and after school. These devices must be kept out of sight and turned off during the instructional program.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 officials or classroom teachers. Confiscated devices will be returned to the parent or guardian. Repeated offenses may lead to disciplinary action. Office Telephone The telephone in the office is available to students for emergency purposes only (i.e., no ride home, need change of clothes, etc.). Students must ask permission from the office staff before using the office telephone.
Internet Usage All classrooms have a minimum of two multimedia computers for student use. All computers have Internet access through SDCS technology services. While sites are secured, all students must have a parent permission form filed on the school site (see last page in this handbook) in order to access the Internet using school computers. Dingeman Library All students have access to the school library through regularly scheduled classroom visits and on their own time at recess. We encourage students to utilize the library for informational, instructional and recreational reading. Our library contains in excess of 16,500 fiction and non-fiction books. Our Librarian maintains our book collection with assistance from Parent and Student volunteers. Dingeman
Library Media Center Library Rules In order to create an atmosphere that is conducive to optimal learning and safety we stress the following rules:1. Enter and exit the library in an orderly manner. 2. Listen and follow directions given by all adults while using the library. 3. Use a quiet voice at all times. 4. Use place holders and/or ask for assistance from the library personnel if needed. 5. Be a responsible student. Be sure to check out any borrowed materials. Protect the materials you borrow. Keep them in a safe, dry place. Do not bend or tear pages. Help recycle books by returning them by the due date. If you lose, misplace or damage a book, notify your teacher or the librarian. Students/parents who lose or damage any school property are responsible for paying the cost of replacement or repair. 6. Help keep the library neat and organized. Pick up trash and organize your area before you leave. Birthday Book Club Dingeman’s Birthday Book Club offers a special
way to recognize a child’s birthday and at the same time
benefit our school. Students who contribute to the Birthday
Book Club are invited to select a library book of their choice from a
wide variety of new books we have on reserve for this
purpose. They are beautifully bound and completely processed
for the Library circulation system.
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. Birthdays
Pets
We do not allow children to bring toys to school for recess because it often results in lost or broken toys. This includes trading cards. We have sufficient items available at school for the children to play with for both outdoor and indoor recess. No outside personal P.E. equipment is permitted unless donated to the classroom. All types of electronic entertainment devices are not permitted on school grounds.
Media and the School From time to time, we are covered by the media (newspaper, TV, etc.) at school. Please sign the permission slip at the end of the handbook. It is always our intent to resolve concerns at the
lowest possible level. If a parent has a classroom concern, it is
expected that he/she will contact the classroom teacher for resolution.
If the concern is not resolved, the principal should be contacted. He
will set up a meeting between the parties involved in an effort to
resolve the issue. Lunch and Recess Recess - Students are scheduled for a fifteen-minute recess period each day. Only under adverse weather conditions do we keep the children indoors. Playground Supervision – Playground supervision is provided during lunch and recess. Parents are welcome to volunteer during these periods. Lunch Periods
Lunch Arbor Procedures - Students will have a thirty-five minute lunch period each day. Half of this time is spent in the lunch arbor and half is spent at lunch recess. All children, whether they bring their own lunch to school or buy a hot lunch, are seated in the lunch arbor during the lunch period. Kindergarten students eat and play in their own area. Students are expected to pick up 3 additional pieces of trash before line up (wind causes lots of trash to end up on grounds). Hot Lunch Program - Our
San Diego City Schools Food Services Department provides a "Kid's
Choice" hot lunch program. A menu offers four daily hot lunch choices
(e.g. chicken nuggets, pizza, hamburger, burrito) available to
students. Students select one of the hot lunch choices and then may
help themselves to the salad bar. A choice of chocolate milk
or plain milk accompanies each lunch. This program has been very
successful for our students - they are eating more, eating better, and
enjoying their lunch. Hot lunch including milk - $1.25 Lunch Money - Children may
bring money each time they purchase lunch or milk. However,
we strongly encourage you to place money
in a lunch account that your
child may access for purchases any day. Lunch Loans – Lunch loans are not provided. 1. Pick up 3 extra pieces of trash before dismissal to play.2. Respect the rights of others. 3. Keep your hands to yourself. 4. Follow directions of adult noon duty aides. 5. Respect the official rules of the games in accordance with Dingeman’s Playground Handbook. 6. Eat snacks in designated areas only. 7. Don’t bring equipment from home (i.e. footballs, tennis balls, Frisbees). 8. Don’t play on soccer field near street or on bleachers. 9. Freeze at the freeze bell. (Primary students only) 10. Students must remain seated, while eating lunch. Health Office Information The school health office is staffed with a nurse Tuesday and Thursday mornings each week. A health assistant is present every day, Monday-Friday to assist students. Some of the school nurse's duties involve:• assessing and evaluating the health and developmental status of students (including all mandated screening programs) • referring students to appropriate community resources for necessary services • interpreting important health/medical related issues of students to teachers and other personnel directly concerned with students • providing first aid and appropriate referrals for sick and injured students • designing and implementing health maintenance plans to meet individual health needs of students • monitoring all students' immunization status to assure that they are in compliance by notifying parents and doing the appropriate follow-up • assuring all first grade students are in compliance with the state's requirement of a CHDP physical exam for first grade admission • counseling with parents, students and school staff regarding health-related attendance problems and/or any specific physical, mental and/or social limitations of students • participating in Instructional Study Team and IEP meetings • providing in-service training for school staff on health and safety related issues Guidelines for Absences 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 24-hour period of medication. Please make the school nurse aware of any contagious illness so that she may alert the parents of children in your child's class 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 requested. • 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/school clerk may confirm the child's hair is free of all nits. Physicals
District Update on Medications Effective Immediately The San Diego City School District has new guidelines regarding administration of medication to students.The new protocols are as follows: 1. The School Nurse can administer over the counter medication (Tylenol/Advil/Motrin) after student assessment, and parent has signed the Health Information Consent form on file. 2. All other medications require a signed Physician Medication Authorization Form. •
This includes all Over the Counter (OTC) Medication i.e.
Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, to be given on days School Nurse is not
on site.
• OTC includes but is not limited to Benadryl, Robitussin. • Prescription medications for severe asthma/severe allergies (periodic and daily) must be brought to the school nurse with physician’s orders during the first week of school. • Daily Medication • Short-term medication for 10 days i.e. antibiotics • All prescription skin cremes • 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 in Front/Nurses Office • Physician Authorization Form filled out by Physician available on Dingeman/Nurse web site A reminder: •
All medication must be in
original container
Prescription medication must have, doctor’s name, student’s name, name of medication, instructions for administration, expiration of medication Many parents are unaware that the School District does not have insurance to cover students’ accidents. If you feel that your personal medical insurance needs are not being met, you may apply for student supplemental insurance. The application forms are available in the office.
Educational Programs Dingeman Elementary has an expert and talented teaching
staff. As part of the San Diego City Schools, we have educational
standards and objectives in all curriculum areas. The standards for
each curriculum area at each grade level are provided by the state of
California. Our students are consistently exposed to extensions of this
curriculum and enrichment experiences on a daily basis. This handbook
presents a brief description of some of the unique experiences offered
at Dingeman Elementary. All students, grades K-6, participate in the district-wide literacy program. Three hours of the day are dedicated to literacy development through a balanced approach of reading, writing, and word study instruction. Kindergarten students attend school on the same schedule as the older students. The kindergarten program consists of developmentally appropriate educational activities to facilitate reading, writing, and math readiness for first grade. Dingeman Elementary is participating in the state Class Size Reduction Program. Every classroom, grades K-3, has 20 or fewer students in it.
Families voluntarily choose to have their children attend Dingeman Elementary instead of their local, neighborhood school. Our partner school communities are Central Elementary, Euclid Elementary, Hamilton Elementary, and Jackson Elementary schools. CHOICE Scripps Ranch
Schools
are highly impacted by overcrowding.
Dingeman
has recently been given approval to accept a small amount of CHOICE
students. Limited
space is available for
primary grades only. Please
contact the office
for CHOICE applications. For
more
information, contact the CHOICE office at 858.637.6202
OCILE
Every
classroom, grades K-6, participate in an outstanding physical education
program
where students are not only taught new physical skills but work on
sportsmanship
and attitude skills as well. All grades receive direct P.E. instruction
for one
hour every other week with a prep time teacher.
Students receive additional PE time with classroom
teachers. A
district-sponsored program brings an instrumental instructor to the
school
twice a week to give instrumental music lessons to interested 5th
and 6th grade students. We celebrate the
students' accomplishments
by inviting their families to see them perform in instrumental music
programs. Dingeman
students may participate in Honor Choir for grades 4, 5, and 6. Auditions are required. All students have an
opportunity to perform
in two choral music programs each year. GATE
and Cluster Programs (Grades 3-6) Each year all
of our 2nd grade students are assessed for
placement into the Gifted and Talented Education programs. San
Diego Police Department Programs Our SDPD
officer will visit all classrooms K-6 to deliver a
program regarding child safety. At the lower grades the program
addresses
proper emergency procedures, stranger danger and bullying. At grades 4
and 5
topics also include the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco and drugs.
SPECIAL EDUCATION AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES Bilingual students are clustered according to assessed language proficiency and placed in mainstream classes. They are given special assistance in learning English, reaching their educational potential and adjusting to the school setting. This program is designed to provide support services to learning and physically handicapped 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 or 504 either through direct service or consultation. Parent meeting will be scheduled to assist parents with strategies for school success, understanding learning disabilities, and attention deficit disorders. The school psychologist serves as a member of the Instructional Study Team to assess the academic and emotional/behavioral needs of students.
The speech and language specialist helps to identify and assess children who require additional support in developing communication skills appropriate to their ability/age level. If the student qualifies, the speech and language pathologist creates an individualized program for the student and provides the needed support. District Counselor It is the goal of the San Diego City Schools Guidance Department to help support teaching and learning in the classroom. Our district counselor is on campus 2 days per week and accepts referrals from parents, teachers and other staff, as well as students themselves. Referrals may range from academic difficulties, to social/emotional and behavioral difficulties. Support is provided, but not limited to, the following: • Coordinating supportive meetings called Student Study Team meetings, which bring together parents and teachers along with support staff and administrators in order to develop a plan to best aid the student with any difficulties he or she may be experiencing. • Referrals for students and families to community agencies or outside sources for further assistance as needed. • Short-term problem solving assistance for students who are having friendship issues. • Individual consultation with parents and/or staff in order to best determine a course of action to support the student both in the classroom and on the Dingeman campus. • Assistance with tardiness or attendance problems. • Development of positive interventions for the academic, social and emotional growth of Dingeman students.
School-Based
Testing
Students
in Grade 4 will take a writing exam in the spring as part of their STAR
assessment. Spanish
speaking students in
the district less than 12 months are also tested in Spanish with the
SABE. The
CELDT is a state-mandated test that is used by GATE Special
Education Parents
may request that a district psychologist and resource specialist
evaluate their
children for learning disabilities. Requests are to be made to the
principal.
The SST (Student Study Team) will meet with the parent(s)/guardian to
determine
the appropriateness of the request. All
students in grades K-3 are assessed using the DRA
(Developmental All
students in grades 4, 5, and 6 are tested in the Fall and Spring using
the DRP (Degrees of ARI
- Analytic The
DRA, DRP, and ARI results are used as a classroom tool to drive
instruction. All
Fifth and Sixth grade students are given the DMT
(District Math Test) for mathematics instruction placement at the middle
school level. All
students in Grade 5 will participate in physical fitness testing in
spring.
STAYING INFORMED
Fall
"Back to School Night" is a time to meet with your child's teacher to
hear about the curricular
objectives for the year and how you can assist your child to make it a
successful learning year. Open
House held in Spring provides an opportunity for parents to visit your
child’s teacher
and learning environment. Each
year we host a Kindergarten orientation to acquaint new parents to our
school
and programs. Each
of these days will have dismissal at 12:50 p.m. This is an excellent
time for
you to meet with the teacher and review your child's progress. There
are
conference days scheduled in November and March. Please schedule
additional
conferences with your child's teacher any time you feel they are needed.
·
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. At
Interventions The
following “STEP” sequence is designed to allow the
student chances to learn to
make better choices with the support of the teacher, parent, counselor,
vice
principal and principal. Any
or all
steps may include a “time out”. Step 1 Teacher
documentation/parent contact Step 2 Teacher
documentation/parent contact Step 3 Teacher
documentation/parent contact Step 4 Refer
to Step 5 Refer
to
Vice Principal or Principal Students are
expected
to: The
Role of the Classroom Teacher:
1. When
a problem
occurs in the classroom, the teacher will use various techniques of
Assertive
Discipline to resolve the problem.
Teachers will keep students after school when
necessary. 2.
When a problem occurs outside the
classroom the student will be given a
"Warning" for the misbehavior and/or a Counseling referral. Students who receive a
referral are expected
to spend their recess in the office.
After successfully serving detention in the office
the student's recess
privileges will be reinstated. 3. For
continued
misbehavior and/or repeated warnings, the student will be given a
referral slip
along with a “time out sheet”.
The
teacher will contact the parents to alert them and offer suggestions
and
procedures to resolve the problem.
In
support of the school wide discipline plan, it is the responsibility of
the
parents to discuss the misbehavior with the student and
sign and return the
“time out sheet”
the following day.
The Role of the Principal/Vice Principal: 1. When a student is referred to the principal or vice-principal, they will discipline the student and provide firm guidelines for future appropriate behavior. Time out sheet will be provided to the student. 2. Telephone or letter will contact parents when students are referred to the principal. 3. When appropriate, the principal will arrange a conference with the parent, child, teacher, and counselor. At this meeting a plan will be agreed upon to change the inappropriate behavior.
Other Actions That May Be Taken if Improvement Does Not Occur:
Consequences – Grade 6 Students in grade 6 are eligible to participate in end of the year activities contingent upon good behavior. However, any student who has had 3 or more referrals to the office or counseling center from the beginning of the school year will not be permitted to participate in some and/or all end of the year activities Discipline At times it may be necessary to take immediate action to benefit all students. The following behavior will not be allowed and may lead to immediate suspension, as stated in the San Diego Unified School District Discipline Policy: 1. Defiance of authority 2. Deliberate classroom disruption or verbal abuse 3. Fighting anywhere on school grounds or surrounding areas. (Severe fights may be cause for expulsion) 4. Drugs 5. Theft 6. Vandalism 7. Smoking
San Diego City
Schools Notice of Zero
Tolerance Policy The
Board of Education has approved the following Zero Tolerance Policy: ·
Use,
possession or brandishing of a weapon will result in a recommendation
for
expulsion. A weapon is defined as, but not limited to, a firearm,
pistol
replica, starter pistol, stun gun, BB gun or pellet gun, a knife of any
size or
type, a dirk, dagger, razor, slingshot, any explosives or fireworks.
Any object
used in a dangerous manner will also be considered a weapon. ·
Repeated
incidents of fighting, violent acts, or causing serious injury to
another
person will result in a recommendation for expulsion. ·
Attempting to
commit or committing a sexual assault and committing a sexual battery. ·
Our district
has a NO ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, or other DRUG USE POLICY. If you are found
to be
selling, furnishing, or possessing an amount determined to be for more
personal
use of controlled prohibited substances, you will be recommended for
expulsion
on your first offense. For possession or use, expulsion will be
recommended on
your third offense, except for tobacco offenses; if you are found in
possession
of tobacco you will be recommended for expulsion on your fourth offense. · |