The importance of regular, daily attendance cannot be over-emphasized. State law requires it and research shows that student success is dependent upon good attendance.  It is difficult for a child to make up a day they have missed.  Classroom discussion and direct instruction provided by teachers are much more meaningful than printed material.

Absences
School funding is reliant on student attendance, so accurate record keeping and parent confirmation is essential, and mandatory by state law.  If your child is ill, it is best for them to stay home to get the care needed and prevent the exposure of illness to others.  If for any reason your child is absent from school, please call the attendance voice mail at 916-395-4685, option 1 by 9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence.  Please state the child’s name, the date, and the reason for the absence. Please contact your child’s teacher directly for missing work.

Tardiness
To maximize learning time, all students must attend school regularly and on time.  Students not inside the school gate when the 8:00 bell rings are to be considered tardy.  Late students (after 8:30 am) must go to the office to get a tardy slip before going to class.  Tardiness due to medical or dental appointments will be excused ONLY with an appointment slip or doctor’s note from the medical facility.  Repeated tardiness will result in parent contact and a conference may be held.  Students who have three (3) or more unexcused tardies of one-half (l/2) hour or more or three (3) or more unexcused absences will receive notification of truancy.

Check out of Students During School Hours
If you’re going to pick up your child before their regular dismissal time, you must come to the office and sign your child out.  The office will then call your child out of instruction.  Persons not listed on the child’s emergency card will not be allowed to take the child, unless it is approved by the parent in writing.  We ask that you refrain from making telephone requests to release your child from school, since it is not possible to establish identity over the phone and we prefer not to pull the child out of class until you have arrived.  Early dismissals are recorded and may affect student’s attendance record. Students miss out on valuable instruction when they are dismissed early.

Definition of a Truant:  The California Legislature defined a truant in very precise language. In summary, it states that a student missing more than 30 minutes of instruction without an excuse three times during the school year must be classified as a truant and reported to the proper school authority. This classification and referral helps emphasize the importance of school attendance and is intended to help minimize interference with instruction. The California Education Code (EC) Section that defines a truant reads as follows:EC Section 48260 (a): Any pupil subject to compulsory full-time education or compulsory continuation education who is absent from school without a valid excuse three full days or tardy or absent more than any 30-minute period during the school day without a valid excuse on three occasions in one school year, or any combination thereof, is a truant and shall be reported to the attendance supervisor or the superintendent of the school district.

Mandatory Uniform Policy & Dress Code Procedures

The purpose of a uniform policy for our site is:

1. Focus on school as a place for learning.
2. Remove peer pressure.
3. Reduce distractions.
4. School spirit and unity.

The dress code at Phoebe Hearst Elementary School sets a standard that is in the best interest of students and is considered appropriate for the elementary school level.  Clothing and shoes should be worn that are sensible for physical activities such as running, jumping, and kicking.  Safety should be a factor when dressing for school.

School uniforms are mandatory beginning on the first day of school.  Students are required to wear uniforms every day except the last Friday of each month and announced free dress or spirit days.  

If a student is not wearing a uniform, one or more of the following may be expected:

• A reminder notice/or phone call will be sent home.
• The student will be asked to change into clothing from our uniform closet located here at the school.
• A phone call will be made to the parent/guardian requesting they bring a change of clothes.
• If the student is wearing inappropriate shoes for the playground and the parent cannot bring them another pair, they will have to sit on the bench or in the office during recess for their own safety.

If at any time the school alters the dress code for a special occasion, notification will be sent home.

Mandatory Uniform Policy

• Bottoms –must be solid navy blue or khaki (beige, not green).  Bagginess (more than 1 size larger), sagging, or over-sized pants are not allowed.  Shorts and skirts must be at least fingertip length.
• Tops, including sweaters and sweatshirts – must be solid white, navy, or forest/hunter green, or logo/spirit wear from a Phoebe Hearst Elementary event or sponsored extracurricular activity.  Crewneck, V-neck, and collared-style shirts are all acceptable tops. Tank tops or undershirts are not considered uniform tops.  Straps on tops must be at least 3 fingers wide. Spaghetti straps are not permitted.  Tops must cover midriff when arms are raised.
• Dresses– must be solid navy or khaki, at least fingertip length, and with at least 3 fingers wide straps.
• Shoes–must have low heels; no higher than one inch.  Sandals, crocs, or open toed shoes are not permitted for safety reasons.
• Socks or tights–must be worn at all times. Tights must be navy blue, black, or white. Socks do not have to be uniform color.
• Cold weather outerwear can be any color, but may not have logos of any kind. This includes sports team logos, name brand logos, or any other manufacturer logo. Light jackets, sweaters, zip-up sweatshirts, sweatshirts, and hoodies must be uniform colors (navy, white, or hunter green).
• The only logo permitted on clothing worn to school on days other than announced free dress or spirit days is the Phoebe Hearst Elementary logo. 

Inappropriate Dress

Students are expected to dress appropriately for school every day, including announced free dress or spirit days. The following is considered inappropriate dress:

• Baggies (baggy pants or shirts with inappropriate pictures, slogans, or logos depicting or advocating violence, hate, obscenity, or gang related material).
• Bicycle shorts, cut‑offs, and clothing with holes in knees or anywhere.
• Bare midriff or see‑through shirts/blouses or tank tops.
• Thong style sandals, any shoe without heel straps, backs, or open toes, high heels (1 inch or higher), stilts, clogs, cleats or spikes, wheelies and sandals.
• Glitter on faces/make-up, tattoos.
• Hats/visors (in class), bandanas.

In addition to the above, any clothing, hairstyle, or jewelry that is considered unsafe or disruptive to the learning environment is inappropriate for school.

The success of the uniform policy depends on all adults enforcing the policy.  Uniform checks are made first thing in the morning.  Students may be sent to the office if a change of clothes is needed. In most cases, we have extra uniform items for students to borrow if necessary. If students are habitually out of uniform, or we do not have a replacement in their size, we will call parents to bring different clothes. We respect that parents do not want to be called away from work, so please try to check your child’s attire before they leave in the morning.

In order to drive on any field trip, we will need the following documents 6 weeks in advance:

• Copy of Driver’s License
• Copy of Insurance Declaration Page
• Release of Driver Record Information Form (found in opening day packets)
• Volunteer Personal Automobile Use Form (found in opening day packets)

Additionally, all drivers MUST be fingerprinted through the district and cleared in our records prior to the field trip.