Student Handbook

FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS DEVELOP PERSEVERANCE BUILD CRITICAL THINKING

Hello Lobos,

As we enter the 2022-23 school year, rest assured we are prepared for any situation that can present itself due to COVID-19. We are hopeful for a normal year, but now have the full knowledge-base to address any instructional or structural adaptations that may arise. We are excited to start the school year with a school-wide approach to acclimating all students to school by supporting their social-emotional learning through a curriculum called Second Step. This curriculum will be delivered the first week of school during homeroom, and then periodically throughout the year. We will continue to support students academically, behaviorally and social-emotionally to help them be successful this year.

Los Alisos has served the needs of parents and students in the Mission Viejo area since 1973. We are proud of our academic excellence and we look forward to another great year of student achievement. We work in professional learning communities (PLCs) to monitor the progress of all students, and through the use of data and strategic instruction, we ensure all students are being successful. Our supportive and professional staff members are here to offer assistance you may need throughout the year. We are proud to house the intermediate level of the district’s Two-Way Immersion program where students matriculate from Gates Elementary through Los Alisos and to Laguna Hills High School to achieve bilingualism and bi-literacy in both English and Spanish. We are proud to be recognized as an International Spanish Academy school. We also take great pride in receiving recognition as a California Distinguished School, a Golden Bell Award School, an Apple as well as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Our Lobo pride is evident in everything we do; and it is critical that our students come ready each day to prepare for high school and beyond.

At Los Alisos, we put great effort into guiding positive student behavior through our nationally recognized Platinum Level Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Program. Our Lobos are taught to be respectful, responsible, and ready to succeed at all times! Our teachers genuinely believe that "all students can learn" and are driven by a deep belief that every student shall be afforded a rigorous academic curriculum. Los Alisos offers many opportunities for students to be involved in academic, social, and creative outlets such as Leadership (ASB), Drama, Orchestra, Band, Jazz Band, Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID), Model United Nations (MUN) and the California Junior Scholarship Federation (CJSF). We also offer a variety of student created and led clubs which meet during lunch and after school. Our dynamic instructional program, innovative practices, and very active Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) are all significant keys to effectively unlocking every student's potential.

We are proud to offer two versions of the Minder Binder this year, the traditional paper book and this virtual, electronic version. Both have advantages. We encourage students to use the paper version to write down their work in the planner. Students can use this electronic version to keep track of the many links they will need to access (teacher websites, online assignments and meeting links).

We're looking forward to a wonderful 2022-23 school year!

Our Vision: We at Los Alisos create an innovative learning community that develops our students to become self-motivated, life-long learners and respectful global citizens.

Our Mission: Our mission at Los Alisos is to use innovative resources to provide relevant, engaging instruction centered on inquiry to empower students to be self-motivated, life-long learners. We will provide a safe environment to promote a culture of respect and tolerance.

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FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS DEVELOP PERSEVERANCE BUILD CRITICAL THINKING

LOS ALISOS INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

SCHOOL HANDBOOK

2022-2023

Section 1: ATTENDANCE

Section 2: LOBO LIFE

Section 3: GUIDANCE / ACADEMICS

Section 4: SCHOOL SAFETY

Section 5: BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS

Section 6: PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE

MUST COMPLETE STUDENT / PARENT / TEACHER COMPACT

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*ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES*

24-Hour Attendance Line—949-830-9700, ext. 2

Email: LosAlisosAttendance@svusd.org

Please be sure to call the 24-Hour Line each day when your student is absent.

Our goal this year is for students to be learning and

on time every single day unless they are ill

Attendance is extremely important to the success of every student. Absences, tardies and early dismissals are very disruptive to the instructional program, and we need all families to support this goal. If an absence is Covid 19 related, please be sure to speak with someone rather than leave a message (extension 0).

Every absence results in an instructional loss to students and a daily financial loss to our school. Reporting absences should be done by calling our 24-hour ATTENDANCE LINE at 949-830-9700. Please leave the student's name, grade, date, and reason for absence. If a phone call cannot be made, students should report to the Attendance Clerk upon their return with a note from the parent. If an absence is not cleared within three school days, students are considered truant and may receive disciplinary action. Students are responsible for all assignments and lessons given during absences. Students are not permitted to participate in after school activities on the day they are absent. This includes dances, sporting events, etc.

Types of Absences/Tardies

Per the State of California, doctor/dentist appointments, illness, pre-planned school business, and bereavement are the only excused reasons for absences or tardies. Please remember that even an “excused” reason does not allow schools to be reimbursed and we lose state funds for every absence, except for those on Independent Study Contracts. Students are allowed to make up missed work for excused absences. Per board policy, students have 2 days to make up work for each day absent.

Per California State Law, vacation/trips (not covered under an Independent Study Contract), sports, babysitting, transportation breakdown, oversleeping, completing homework, missing the bus, truancy, suspension, family celebrations, etc. are unexcused tardies/absences and may receive consequences.

HABITUAL ABSENTEEISM is defined at 14 DAYS OF EXCUSED ABSENCES. At this point, a student will be required to bring a doctor’s note for each day of illness or it will be marked as UNEXCUSED.

Policy for Late Arrivals to School

Parents, please make every effort to get your child here on time. If students are tardy, they must email a note from a parent / guardian explaining the reason to the Attendance Clerk at the front office. Unexcused tardies or failure to report to Attendance will result in School Service. After five unexcused tardies, parents will be contacted, and after 8 tardies, an attendance contract will be assigned and a parent meeting will be set up. This will reset at the end of each trimester. Again, our goal is for every child to be on time each morning.

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Early Dismissal from School

Early dismissals are extremely disruptive to classes. Please refrain from picking up your child during the school day. Any medical or dental appointments should be made after school hours. If it is absolutely necessary, we expect families to follow our procedures: Students leaving school during the day (for any reason) must bring a note to Attendance stating their full name, the time and reason for the early dismissal. The note must be brought before the early dismissal time. A parent or guardian with identification that matches a name on our emergency contact list, must come to the main office to sign the student out. Students will not be allowed to walk home to meet a parent for an appointment or walk to their scheduled appointment from school. Our progressive discipline policy will be followed if families don’t adhere to set procedures.

P.E. Excuses

Parental notes for P.E. excuses are accepted for a maximum of three days. After three days, a doctor's note is required. P.E and can be turned into the health office.

Excuses are handled in the following manner:

1 day to 3-week excuse – student must dress, but will be excused from activity.
4 weeks and beyond – one of the following:

-Remain in class and observe -Reassigned as a teacher’s aide -Assigned to an alternate learning environment

Requests for Homework

Students will be held accountable for all assignments and lessons given during absences. In cases of extended absence, assignments/homework may be requested teachers’ websites. If a student is truant from class or school, the teacher will determine if the missed work may be submitted for credit. See “Independent Study Contract” for planned absences of five or more days.

Independent Study Contract

Students who expect to be absent from school for FIVE or more consecutive days due to personal business should contact the Attendance Clerk at 949-830-9700 10 school days in advance of the planned absence. Arrangements can then be made to place the student on an Independent Study Contract so the student’s academic program is not interrupted and the school can be reimbursed for their absence. To receive credit, the student must complete all the assignments from each class and MUST turn them in at the Attendance Clerk on the first day back to school or the contract is void.

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*LOBO LIFE*

ABCOS

Through our Positive Behavior Intervention Supports, we have created ABCOS. ABCOS is a recognition program that celebrates our students who are successful participants at Los Alisos. Students may be recognized as an ABCOS student every trimester by earning only As, Bs, Cs, Outstandings or Satisfactories on their report cards. We hold special celebrations to recognize these students every trimester. All 7th graders who earn ABCOS in trimester 3 will be recognized at the beginning of their 8th grade year.

Assemblies

Los Alisos sponsors assemblies and dances for students. Assemblies include multi-media motivational programs, cultural and dramatic presentations, and plays. These assemblies are meant to connect students to the school as well as teach them valuable lessons.

Awards

Using Los Alisos’s 3 R’s as a guide, teachers nominate exemplary students for the Student of the Month award every month.

Every year, we host the 8th Grade Awards Ceremony where students are recognized by teachers for exemplary performance, perfect attendance, model citizenship, and more.

Students maintaining a 4.0 for the year are awarded a trophy at the end of the school year. Students receiving a cumulative 4.0 throughout seventh and eighth grades are inducted to the Lobo Honor Society. This award is received during the eighth grade Awards Ceremony. The 4.0 awards are assessed through the 3rd trimester Progress Report.

Bell Schedule

Here at Los Alisos, students are enrolled in six classes (some have 7) that rotate daily in addition to a Homeroom Class. Students always begin with Homeroom, and then they rotate through the other classes throughout the day with a four-minute passing period. The last page of the Minder Binder calendars out which period each day begins with.

Clubs

Students will be able to form curricular, non-curricular and service clubs. Clubs will be approved twice per year, during September/October, and again in January. Clubs are formed through an application process that is initiated by students. We encourage all students to take advantage of joining a club that will help them pursue their passions and interests, whether it be academically related or not. All clubs MUST have a staff member as an adviser.

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CJSF

LAIS is a part of the California Junior Scholarship Federation (CJSF). Membership is based on a point system and good citizenship. Their motto is “Scholarship for Service.” Students who qualify may become members after receiving their final trimester grades. More information may be found on the school website under “Activities.”

Communicating Through Social Media

We will be sending updates on the exciting things we do at Los Alisos through our Twitter and Instagram pages. Follow us on Twitter @lobos_pack , on Instagram: los.alisos.lobos , and even Facebook page @LosAlisosIntermediate as well.

Community Liaison

We are very lucky to have a community liaison working in our front office for most of the day. She is a bridge for our parents who are unclear on the policies and procedures here at Los Alisos, and she is also fluent in Spanish. You may call our front office at 949-830-9700 and mark Spanish for her office.

Dances

We are hoping to have one dance in the spring this year pending health guidelines. Our dances may be attended by Los Alisos students only. Students must submit a permission slip signed by the parent/guardian in order to purchase a ticket. Ticket sales begin days prior to the dance and will not be sold after lunch on the day of the dance. Tickets are not available for purchase at the door. The Los Alisos dress code is to be followed for all school dances. In order to attend dances, students must:

Maintain a 1.50 average GPA
Have no more than one “U” in citizenship
Have no school fines (library, textbooks, etc.)
Maintain an acceptable standard regarding the school code of conduct and attendance and not be on a behavior contract
Attend a minimum of 4 periods the day of the dance

Deliveries to the Office

No deliveries will be accepted until we return to our traditional bell schedule.

Intermediate School students need to be Responsible for remembering to bring everything they need to school. In the event a forgotten item needs to be dropped off at the office, every effort will be made to notify the student. There is no guarantee. This is a courtesy. When dropping off an item, there is a form that will need to be completed with the student’s name and an item description. The form must then be given to a member of the office staff. It is not appropriate to drop off any items that distract students from learning. When dropping off food, please be sure to only deliver it for your own student. If you have a question about appropriate items for school, please call the front office.

English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC)

Members of this committee include the School Principal, Assistant Principal, Community Liaison, ELD coordinator and all Parents of English Language Learners. These meetings are held to inform parents about important events happening at school and to help parents have a voice in supporting their students, who are limited in English, in being successful. All meetings are conducted in English and Spanish.

Friday Emails

Principal emails are sent out every Friday to provide families with current information about Los Alisos including such things as the school calendar, upcoming events and other school related items. Those who have an email address to the school will automatically receive these emails in English and Spanish. Please let us know immediately if you are not receiving these emails.

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Fundraisers

Each fall, Los Alisos students raise money for student body activities. Family and friends are asked to support our school programs by participating in these fundraisers. Students are recognized in their efforts.

Illness at School (non-Covid 19 related)

If students become ill at school, they are to request permission from the teacher to report to the health office. If a student is too ill to remain at school, a parent/guardian will be asked to come for the student. Under no circumstances should students use their cell phones to call their parent to come for them and leave the premises without the school’s knowledge. If cell phones are used without health office permission, students will receive a cell phone violation. Students may not walk home, even with parent permission. Parents are requested to list the names of two other persons on the emergency card who have permission to pick up their child in the event that they cannot come themselves. Students will not be permitted to leave campus with any adult unless they have identification that matches the emergency contact names on record.

Homeroom

Students report to homeroom at the beginning of each day. This class is seen as their home base and will be their team for competitions, lunchtime activities and social / emotional skill building. Any students arriving late to school should report to the attendance window with a note from the parent/guardian.

Library

The library will be closed until we return to our traditional bell schedule. The Los Alisos’ library's mission is to enhance the lives of our students by providing access to information while promoting reading and literacy. The library is open for student use during regular school hours, including lunch, as well as after school for a one-hour study hall. These times may be modified during Hybrid Learning. Students must have their student ID in order to check out any items in the library. Chromebooks can be checked out for use in the library only. In order to maintain a clean facility, food, gum, candy, etc. is not allowed in the library. Students are responsible for all materials checked out and are expected to demonstrate appropriate behavior while using the library.

Lost and Found

Each year we accumulate dozens of lost jackets, sweaters, etc. Please mark all such clothing with the student’s name so we may return items to the proper owners. Students are discouraged from wearing expensive jewelry to school or bringing large amounts of cash. Lost articles such as books, binders and clothing may be claimed in the school library. Expensive items that are lost (such as cell phones, wallets, or money) are held in the front office. Unclaimed items are donated to a charity at the end of each month.

Lunch Program

All students will be offered FREE breakfast and lunch meals each day this year due to the Pandemic.

MUN

MUN is a wonderful chance for your student to participate in a program which is designed to introduce students to the operation and structure of the United Nations while providing them with an opportunity to actively learn about world cultures and debate issues of international importance. Students will actively participate in conflict resolution, public speaking, and coalition building in addition to making new friends and being exposed to new ideas.

Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA)

The Los Alisos PTSA is a very active support group on campus. The PTSA has its annual membership drive in September and elections for officers are held in the spring. The PTSA serves the school in a variety of ways from sponsorship of school activities to representing Los Alisos on school and district committees. Our PTSA fundraises and sponsors the 8th Grade Promotion Celebration. Your support is greatly encouraged and appreciated.

P.E. Clothes

TRADITIONAL: The Los Alisos P.E. uniform is available for purchase at registration. Replacement uniforms are available throughout the year. Lockers are loaned to students to store P.E. attire during the week and to lock up valuables during P.E. class. Students are responsible for keeping their P.E. uniforms clean and mended. Any loss of property during P.E. is not the responsibility of Los Alisos.

PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports)

Los Alisos Intermediate School implements the core features of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and we are proud to continue our nationally recognized Platinum Level implementation. This multi-tiered system of supports for achieving desired student outcomes, is a set of core features that guides the integration of scientifically based practices for improving academic and behavior outcomes for all students. Los Alisos initiated the PBIS Program many years ago and has two very strong committees focused on continued growth. We include our stakeholders by documenting and sharing the fidelity and effectiveness of the three tiers of supports. Lobos, be prepared to earn Pawsitives that you can “spend” on prizes whenever a staff member catches you doing something Pawsitive!

8th Grade Celebration

Our PTSA helps us celebrate students who qualify to promote to 9th grade by organizing and running the 8th Grade Celebration. All 8th graders who are not on district behavior contracts and who have earned the necessary requirements to promote will be invited to attend this very special event.

School Site Council

The Los Alisos School Site Council is made up of administrators, teachers, parents, and students. The Site Council assumes the responsibility of overseeing the planning, monitoring, and evaluation of the School Improvement Plan and the monitoring of the School Improvement budget.

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Textbooks

Students are responsible for textbooks issued to them even if they are lost or stolen. Charges for damaged or lost books are to be cleared by the library personnel. Yearbooks will not be released and textbooks for the following year will not be issued until all fines are cleared.

Uniform Complaint Procedures

The District has primary responsibility to comply with applicable state and federal laws and regulations governing educational programs. The district shall investigate any complaints alleging failure to comply with such laws and/or alleging unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying, and shall seek to resolve those complaints in accordance with the district complaint procedures. (BP1312.3)

Yearbooks

We are very proud of our yearbook here at Los Alisos! It is completely in color and full of memories from the year, so most students do not second guess their decision in purchasing their own copy. The yearbook is sold at registration as well as throughout the year the year, but it does get more expensive the longer you wait to purchase your copy. It is distributed at the end of the school year, and the students who turn in the most Pawsitives during trimester 3 will be the first to receive the yearbooks.

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*GUIDANCE / ACADEMICS*

Homework

At Los Alisos, homework is assigned regularly. Homework means more than just doing the assignment; it means studying each subject on a regular basis. It is a part of classroom instruction intended to reinforce student understanding and mastery of concepts in the various subjects.

The daily amount of time required for completing homework varies from subject to subject and depends upon each student’s individual work habits and abilities. A minimum time you should expect to spend on homework each day is approximately 90 minutes. If students are consistently having difficulties completing homework, parent/guardians should email or meet with individual teachers for assistance.

Most teachers utilize Google Classroom to organize assignments and other important information for their classes. This resource may be accessed via Saddleport through the Los Alisos web page. Parents are requested to make homework a priority in the home and to set aside a regular time each day for students to complete work. Students will be more successful if homework is monitored by parents, older siblings, or at least looked over when completed.

Promotion

The Saddleback Valley Unified School District Intermediate School promotion requirements state that to be promoted for 7th or 8th grade, a student must:

Earn a cumulative GPA of 1.5 in all classes
Earn at least a 1.0 GPA in English and Math during the year
Fail no more than 3 courses during the school year

Progress/Grade Reports

Each trimester Progress and Grade Reports may be viewed and printed from the Family/Student Portal. Parents may check their child's grade online from the Family/Student Portal at any time. For assistance, please contact the Guidance Department.

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Required Materials

All students at Los Alisos are required to have the following materials with them at school as well as the materials required by each individual teachers:

Facemask during pandemic
Device
School Identification Card- each student will receive their ID at the beginning of the school year. It is to be kept with them at all times while on campus and is required for checking out materials from the library. A replacement card will cost $5 and may be
Book - Each student is responsible to bring a reading book for D.E.A.R. Books may be borrowed from our Los Alisos Library.
Backpack- Backpacks should be cleaned regularly and free of any inappropriate writings
Notebook – Three-ring binder with dividers.
Notebook Paper - Each student should have a supply of three-hole punched, standard rule paper.
Minder Binder - The school agenda must be brought to school every day if we return to campus. It is an important resource where students write down their assignments. The replacement cost for a new Minder Binder is $5.00.
Writing Materials - Each student needs to have at least two pencils, two blue/black pens, and one red pen.

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*SCHOOL SAFETY*

Before and After School Hours

It is imperative that students do not arrive at school earlier than 10 minutes before school begins or later than 10 minutes after the dismissal bell unless involved in a school sponsored activity. It is the responsibility of the parent to provide transportation within this time frame.

Closed Campus

Los Alisos is a closed campus and students may not leave the campus for any reason without written parent permission. If a parent/guardian is picking a student up early from school, s/he must wear a mask and bring identification that matches our emergency contact list. Friends or relatives are not permitted to visit the campus during school hours at any time or for any reason. Also, please note that Los Alisos’ students are not permitted to visit other schools without prior permission from that school’s administration, even after school hours. Students must remain off campus during non-school days.

Closed Areas

Certain areas are closed to students for safety reasons. Students must follow the arrows marked on the floors, doors and walls in order to assist with flow of traffic.

Disaster Preparedness

For student safety, various drills are conducted throughout the year. In the event of an actual disaster, such as a fire and earthquake or a lockdown situation, procedures are in place for all school personnel to follow. Evacuation from buildings to an open area where students can be accounted for will occur if necessary. Procedures for releasing students to parents have also been established. During an actual disaster where the Superintendent has approved release of all students, parents and guardians must first report to the Information Station located by the gym.

Medication at School / Health Services

If a student must take medication during school hours, office staff must administer it. A Doctor/Parent Authorization Form is available for this purpose. Both the parent and the doctor need to fill out and sign this form. Medicine brought to school must be in the original bottle or container with the prescription label clearly visible, and this must be brought in by a parent. Students will face disciplinary action if they possess medication. Any student who becomes too ill to remain in the classroom should first report the illness to the teacher or adult on duty for permission to go to the office. We ask that students refrain from contacting their parents with a cell phone.

Insurance

A private insurance company, Myers-Stevens & Toohey & Co. offers an affordable accident policy that gives coverage for regular school sessions and after school activities. The company offers a listing the benefits covered. Parents will be given the opportunity to buy insurance at the beginning of the year through Data Confirmation, or you may visit their website at www.myers-stevens.com .

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*BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS*

School rules and policies have been established to ensure all students are provided with an educational environment that supports learning. By working together, we can provide a safe, pleasant and academically rewarding environment in which students can achieve maximum success. Los Alisos has established three school-wide expectations, the Three R’s, as guiding principles for behavior while on campus, and while going to and from school. These three principles form the foundation for all student attitudes and behavior. Each student should practice these principles daily, focusing on the positive benefits they produce. Los Alisos Intermediate’s three practices are:

READY – Prepared to learn
RESPONSIBILITY – Pride in my actions and attitudes
RESPECTFUL– Proper behavior towards others

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Bicycles, Skateboards and Scooters Students may ride bicycles, skateboards, and scooters to school as long as they do so in a responsible manner.. To prevent theft, bicycles and skateboards must be locked in the fenced bike racks. The bike rack area is locked during the school day. Every precaution is made to ensure the safety of bicycles and skateboards parked at Los Alisos during the school day. However, we do not accept financial responsibility should transportation be stolen. Transportation is never to be ridden inside the gates of school, nor in the parking lot. In addition, they should always be walked across the crosswalks and down the sidewalks adjacent to school. STUDENTS ARE REMINDED THAT BY STATE LAW, THEY MUST WEAR A HELMET WHEN RIDING A BICYCLE.

Cell Phones and Technology

Bell to Bell No Cell: Students may carry cell phones for emergency purposes, but they must remain powered off during the school day and kept in backpacks. Exceptions include permission given to students by teachers for educational purposes. Students are permitted to keep their cell phones turned off and in their pockets during lunchtime so that they may put their backpacks down while they play sports. Cell phones must be turned off before going into homeroom class. Phones may not be used to “read” books or to listen to music. The phone in the health office may be used to call parents on an “as needed” basis. Students must get teacher permission before coming to the office to use the phone. Parents should not be calling or texting their children during school hours. Parents need to call the office and we will get their message to their child. If a child calls or texts a parent during the school day, he or she will receive a cell phone violation.

Classroom Teachers Teachers have the authority to develop rules for their individual classrooms. These rules are based on Los Alisos’s three R’s and the School-wide Behavior Expectation matrix. Copies of each teacher’s classroom expectations as well as the school wide behavior plan will be sent home at the beginning of the school year.

Dangerous Items / Weapons / Imitation Weapons

Knives, sharp objects, guns, airsoft guns, firecrackers, stink bombs, explosives are any imitation weapon are either illegal or dangerous, so they are never permitted at school. Simple possession of such materials will be considered a violation of this policy. Possession or use of these items are major violations of school policy and may result in a referral for expulsion.

Dress Code

Dress is a form of personal expression that may affect a student’s behavior and self-image. A dress code policy is necessary in order to protect the health and safety of the school environment and to foster student’s success in a positive manner.

Students are expected to show proper attention to personal cleanliness and to wear clothes that are suitable for school activities. Parents have the primary responsibility for student dress, and we appreciate your support and cooperation in ensuring that student dress does not present health or safety hazards or a distraction that may interfere with student learning at school.

Clothing displaying language or logos, slogans, words, or pictures promoting or depicting alcohol, tobacco, drugs, profanity, violence, or sexual connotations is not permitted. Clothing which references or displays sexual references, sexist, racist, vulgar, or hate messages is not permitted. Any derogatory message directed towards any person or group is prohibited.
Shirts must have straps at least 1-inch-wide, and strapless shirts are not permitted. Shirts must completely cover undergarments and the midriff / rib area. Undergarments should not be visible at any time. Sheer or cutout tops may only be worn with another top underneath (the torso cannot be exposed).
Shorts, skirts, and dresses must meet or be longer than the tip of the thumb when arms are extended down at the side of the body.
Although pajamas and slippers are comfortable when at home, they are not appropriate for school. Our goal is to promote a positive school climate that supersedes one's personal choice , and cultivates the learning environment for the entire campus.
For safety reasons, all shoes must be appropriate for school activity. Sandals (during certain science labs and PE class), high heels, and tennis shoes with wheels are not permitted.
Any hairstyle that directly interferes with student learning is not permitted.
Hats with a brim will be permitted outside for sun/rain protection only. Baseball hats are to be worn with the bill forward and hoods are not to be worn unless it is raining. Hats may not be worn in the classroom.
Sharp/pointed accessories, pins or belts that are unsafe for student play and are not permitted.
Clothing which displays gang insignia or which could reasonably be construed as gang-related, including but not limited to, initialized belt buckles, gloves, buttoning only the top button of a shirt, dangling belt below waist level, trench coats, ponchos, pants not worn at waist level, or which are sagging or oversized, hairnets, doo-rags, or bandanas are not to be worn. Long shorts (i.e. shorts to the ankles), any color t-shirt that extends past the fingertips when the hands hang down to the sides, and white socks pulled up above the calf are prohibited. Any combination of clothing which law enforcement agencies currently consider gang related is prohibited. Accessories, which could be considered weapons, such as spiked wrist or ankle bands, spiked rings, spiked belts, spiked gloves, oversized rings or chains of any size, and chains attached to wallets are prohibited. Spikes worn in eye-brows, ears, or any other body part are not acceptable.

As trends change, administration reserves the right to amend the dress code policy as needed in order to keep a safe and orderly school environment, so long that it is consistent with this policy.

***School Administrators reserve the right to make exceptions for specific school activities***

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Ethics Policy

Saddleback Valley Unified School District supports a strong Ethics Policy, which deals with students who cheat on tests, class or homework, or plagiarize on assignments. All tests, quizzes, reports, assignments and any school related test are subject to this policy. Cheating includes looking at or copying another student’s paper, or talking during an exam. Using technology or other sources to get or give others answers is also prohibited. Helping another student cheat on an exam or assignment is also a violation of the Ethics Policy if it has been made clear by the instructors that students are to work on their own. Violation of this policy will result in the following consequences:

1st Offense

Automatic "0” or “F” on the assignment or test.
Teacher contacts parent with details of offense and explains consequences and contract.
Student sent to the assistant principal and referral placed in student file.
Trimester citizenship grade may be lowered in the class where the violation occurred.
Student is placed on probation for the remainder of the school year.
Student signs Ethics Policy Contract, copy goes home for parent signature, and teachers are notified.
If the Ethics Policy violation occurs in a student aide class, the student may be transferred to another elective.

2nd Offense (Either in the same class as the first offense or the second time the student violates the Ethics Policy during the same school year)

Automatic “0” or “F” on assignment or test.
Trimester academic grade in the class where the second offense occurred will be lowered one grade level. Student assigned "U” in citizenship and work habits in the class where the second offense occurred.
Referral placed in student discipline file and teachers are notified.
Parent conference with assistant principal, student, and teacher.
Student removed from all elected or appointed leadership positions for the remainder of the school year.
If the Ethics Policy violation occurs in a student aide class, the student will be transferred from that class with grade of “F”.
Student will be assigned one day of in-school suspension.

3rd Offense (Either in the same class as the first or second offenses or the third time the student violates the Ethics Policy during the same school year)

Automatic “0” on assignment or test.
Trimester academic grade in the class where the third offense occurred will be lowered by one grade level. Student assigned a “U” in citizenship and work habits.

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Student may be transferred from the class.
Referral placed in discipline file.
Parent conference with assistant principal, student, and teacher.
Student suspended home for 1 day.

Food / Drinks

All food and drinks should be consumed in the lunch area only. Students should finish all their lunch before moving to the blacktop or fields. Food should not be taken into the hallways or classrooms. Water is allowed in the classroom at the discretion of the teacher. Glass bottles and containers are not allowed. We want to promote a well-balanced, healthy child. In this effort, please refrain from bringing students to school with candy and reinforce our rule that students MAY NOT share food/drinks with any other student on campus.

Gum

Gum is NOT allowed anywhere on campus at any time and therefore should never be brought to school. Chewing gum has been the cause of serious maintenance problems for many years at Los Alisos causing our maintenance crew many hours of unnecessary clean up. Furthermore, gum left around campus is a clear breach in the COVID 19 safety protocols and is a serious health hazard.

Harassment / Bullying Policy

The Board of Education for SVUSD prohibits any harassment/bullying of any person by another person. This policy specifically addresses sexual harassment/bullying, but also includes any form of harassment/bullying including teasing, intimidating, and pestering behaviors. Parents will be contacted and informed of the incident and may receive detention, intervention class, a behavior contract or suspension.

Internet Challenge / Dares

Students are not permitted to participate in any internet challenge or dares. Most of these challenges are dangerous, and they are all a distraction from the education taking place on campus.

Materials Not Permitted On Campus

The following materials must NOT be brought to school:

Firearms, knives, explosives, firecrackers, or any other dangerous objects including imitation or lookalike weapons.
Any form of cutting device; knife, scissor, or Exacto-blade.
Alcoholic beverages, intoxicants, marijuana, cold medicine or any other controlled substances.
Tobacco, juice, vapes, lighters, matches, or any other smoking materials.
Cameras, radios, tape recorders, iPods, Airpods, CD players, or other electronic devices or games.
Playthings (water pistols, play guns, yo-yos, spinners, slime, etc.).
Sunflower seeds, candy or gum
Soda, caffeinated drinks
Balloons, flower arrangements, confetti, raw eggs, shaving cream or other materials for celebrating birthdays are not allowed.
Glass bottles or containers
Skateboards, roller blades, roller skates, or scooters
Permanent markers, paint pens, spray paint/aerosol cans
Laser pointers
Perfume, cologne or any aerosol spray cans

READY RESPONSIBLE RESPECTFUL

Personal Property

Personal property not used in the instructional program should not be brought to school. This includes iPods, AirPods, cameras, sports equipment, playing cards, slime, fidget spinners etc. If students bring prohibited articles to school, they will be confiscated. This also includes the selling/distribution of any items while on campus. Also, we recommend students not bring more money to school than needed for lunch as the school cannot accept responsibility for losses.

Profanity, Vulgarity and Obscenity

Every individual is entitled to courtesy and consideration in relationships with fellow students and school staff. Profanity, vulgarity, and obscenity are unacceptable while at school or during school activities. These include: the spoken word, written materials, and gestures. The consequences of these actions could result in detention, referral to the office, parent conference, or suspension.

Smoking or Possession of Tobacco or Vape Products

The act of smoking or the mere possession of tobacco, juice, cigarettes or e-vaporizers are considered a violation of school policy and will result in consequences as well as vaping cessation class and / or Brief Intervention Counseling.

Substitute Teachers

Los Alisos' normal disciplinary standards apply when a substitute teacher is in a classroom, and substitutes are permitted to give a detention to students without notifying the regular teacher. Substitutes are our guests and all students are expected to be ready to work, respectful towards them, and responsible for following their directions.

Special Occasions

Flowers, balloons, cakes/cupcakes, pizzas, expensive/large gifts, limos, etc. are not to be given or sent to students during the school day. These items tend to be a distraction for students and staff. Also, fliers advertising private parties are not permitted on campus and will be confiscated. Your cooperation with these issues is greatly appreciated.

READY RESPONSIBLE RESPECTFUL

*PROGRESSIVE DISCIPLINE*

At Los Alisos, students are expected to be Ready, Responsible, and Respectful at all times. In other words, they must be good citizens. Students develop positive self-esteem by making appropriate choices and accepting responsibility for inappropriate ones. School guidelines are simple and specific, with clearly defined rewards and consequences. The following Progressive Discipline Plan is a guide for delivering appropriate consequences for infractions across campus.

READY RESPONSIBLE RESPECTFUL

School Service

A minor consequence utilized for small violations is school service. Students complete this service during lunchtime as they assist with campus beautification. Parents are not necessarily contacted for these minor infractions.

Detention

Detentions are assigned to students for violations of the Schoolwide Discipline Plan.

Intervention Class

Intervention Class is offered to temporarily provide a specialized climate and guidance in order to help students who are experiencing difficulty in their regular classes. The program is held in Classroom B-2, near the front office. Students assigned to the Intervention Class work under the supervision of the Intervention teacher.

Saturday School

A Saturday School detention is held at Los Alisos at least once a month. This consequence serves as a deterrent to undesired behavior and/or to recover lost funding as a result of an absence. Unless we are notified otherwise, your receipt of this notification will serve as parental permission for your student to attend Saturday School as an absence “make up” day in lieu of mandatory attendance for a disciplinary infraction. Students should meet at the front of the school on the assigned day.

Suspensions / Expulsions

The Board of Education of the Saddleback Valley Unified School District is sincerely dedicated to providing a safe and secure environment for all students in the district. To accomplish this goal, the following policies and procedures will be enforced. Any student for whom there is reasonable cause to suspect the possession or use of alcohol, drugs/narcotics, anabolic steroids, or non-prescription drugs, or for whom there is reasonable cause to suspect the selling or furnishing of alcohol, drugs/narcotics, (including over the counter medication) or anabolic steroids, or substances represented to be alcohol, drugs/narcotics, anabolic steroids or non-prescription drugs, shall be immediately suspended from school and all school activities pending the outcome of an investigation, and a referral to the Expulsion Hearing Panel can be expected. A hearing will be held to determine if grounds for expulsion exist. If grounds for expulsion exist, the Board of Education will review the findings of the Panel and make a determination as to expulsion.

OTHER EXPELLABLE OFFENSES:

Any student for whom there is reasonable cause to suspect he/she has committed any of the following offenses (including violations associated with gang activity on campus or in any way related to school activity), shall be suspended from school and all school-related activities pending the outcome of a subsequent investigation.

As a school, our primary responsibility is to provide a safe and healthy campus. In accordance with law, students violating Education Code with respect to drugs, controlled substances, alcohol, or dangerous objects will be subject to suspension, loss of extracurricular activities and will be referred to a community intervention program. Students that fail to respond to interventions and corrective action with repeated violations of Education code will be subject to a recommendation for expulsion.

Caused, attempted to cause, or threatened to cause serious physical injury to another person
Willfully used for force or violence on another person
Possessed, sold, or furnished any firearm, knife, explosive, or other dangerous object
Unlawfully possessed, used, sold, furnished, or been under the influence of any controlled substance
Unlawfully possessed, used, sold, furnished, or been under the influence of any alcoholic beverage, or intoxicant
Unlawfully offered, arranged or negotiated to sell a controlled substance or material represented to be a controlled substance

READY RESPONSIBLE RESPECTFUL

Caused or attempted to cause damage to school property or private property
Stolen or attempted to steal school property or private property
Possessed or used tobacco, or products containing tobacco or nicotine products, including but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, miniature cigars, clove cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, snuff, chew packets, and betel
Committed an obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity or vulgarity
Unlawfully possessed, or unlawfully offered or arranged to sell drug paraphernalia
Knowingly received stolen school property or private property
Possession an imitation firearm
Committed or attempted to commit sexual assault as defined in Section 261, 266c, 286, 288, 288a, or 289 of the Penal Code or committed a sexual battery as defined in Section 243.2 of the Penal Code
Harassed, threatened, or intimidated, a pupil who is a witness
Unlawfully offered, arranged to sell, negotiated to sell or sold the prescription drug Soma
Engaged or attempted to engage in hazing
Engaged in an act of bullying including but not limited to, bullying committed by means of an electronic act specifically directed toward a pupil or school personnel
Engaged in an act of Cyber Bullying directed towards a pupil or school personnel
A pupil who aids or abets, as defined in Section 31 of the Penal Code, the infliction or attempted infliction of physical injury to another person
Brandishing a knife at another person
Unlawfully selling a controlled substance
Committing or attempting to commit a sexual assault or sexual battery
Possessing an explosive
Caused serious physical injury to another person
Committed or attempted to commit robbery or extortion
Assault or battery upon any school employee
Engaged in sexual harassment
Attempted to cause, threatened to cause, or participated in an act of hate violence
Engaged in harassment, threats, or intimidation against a pupil or a group of pupils
Made terrorist threat against school officials or school property

A student may be expelled for committing an expellable offense:

While on school premises
While at school related activities
While going to and from school or a school related activity
For any violation at any time or place which is reasonably related to school attendance or attendance at school related activities.

READY RESPONSIBLE RESPECTFUL

FOSTER RELATIONSHIPS DEVELOP PERSEVERANCE BUILD CRITICAL THINKING

*Los Alisos School Student /Parent / Teacher Compact 2021-22*

We are all committed to the success of our students, and therefore we are going to do our best to work together as a team. When each of us puts in our best effort, we believe we can reach our high goals of achievement for all.

As a parent/guardian I pledge to:

Ensure my student participates in school activities on time each day unless they are ill
Read the Los Alisos Handbook and discuss it with my child
Provide a quiet place and time for homework, along with all necessary supplies
Check my child’s Minder Binder and Learning Platform to check that work is completed
Check my child’s grades online though the Family Portal
Encourage my child to do his/her best academically and behaviorally
Communicate with teachers and/or other school officials regarding my child’s progress and behavior
Attend parent-teacher conferences and school events; volunteer whenever possible
Monitor/limit the time my child uses electronic devices such as cell phones, video games, social media, etc.
Encourage my child to read daily and set a good example by also reading
Stay conscious of screen time and promote physical activity and self care

As a student I pledge to:

Participate in school activities on time every day to learn
Do a quality job on my school assignments and projects
Ask for help from my teachers, parents/guardians, or peers as appropriate
Be responsible for keeping my devices, backpack, notebooks, and study area organized
Complete all my assignments and turn them in when due
Be responsible in getting and finishing missing work or tests, and attend academic support when required
Read daily for Reading Counts and for pleasure
Follow all PBIS expectations and policies as set forth in the Minder Binder
Be respectful and always treat others as I would like to be treated
Stay conscious of screen time and be active outside at least once a day

As a teacher I pledge to:

Provide students with clearly stated learning objectives that promote student mastery of CA State Standards
Communicate weekly learning plans on Monday by 8:00 every week
Regularly reinforce academic and behavioral expectations to parents and students
Maintain high expectations and follow our school’s progressive discipline procedures
Use effective teaching strategies that support student learning
Build caring relationships with my students
Communicate students’ grades and behavior regularly to parents and students
Attend parent/teacher conferences
Organize and lead academic support for students Tuesday - Friday
Participate in our Professional Learning Communities, other staff development seminars, and staff meetings
Stay conscious of screen time and stress while participating in self-care

Complete this Google Form once Parent and Student have read the entire student handbook and agreed to all items in the Los Alisos Student / Parent / Teacher Compact. If you have any questions, please call the front office at 949-830-9700.