morello park elementary school elementary - Martinez Unified ...

LOST AND FOUND ITEMS
Many articles become lost or are left unclaimed during the course of the year. It helps if personal
belongings are marked with your child's name, so that they can be easily identified. Lost and Found
items are located in the multi-use room. Valuable articles such as money, keys and jewelry are kept
in the office. Articles left for more than one month are given to a charity organization.
FIELD TRIPS
The Martinez Unified School District Board of Education recognized that school-sponsored trips are
important components of a student’s development. They supplement and enrich classroom learning
experiences; such trips encourage new interests among students, make them more aware of community
resources, and help them relate their school experiences to the outside world (BP 6153). Many teachers
supplement their curriculum by arranging field trips for their class. Students must have written
permission from their parent or guardian to attend the trip. The school will provide an alternative
educational experience for students whose parents do not wish them to participate in a trip. Financial
assistance is available for families experiencing financial difficulties. Parent drivers and chaperones are
needed for field trips to occur. The ratio of adults to students on school-sponsored trips shall be at least
one to ten, which is mandated by School Board Policy. If you would like to chaperone on a field trip, you
must complete a Parent Chaperone Contract. Siblings are not allowed on school field trips. Drivers must
complete a Transportation and Waiver Form. A copy of the insurance policy carried on the car must be
supplied to the school. Minimum insurance coverage is listed on the form. The car must be in safe
driving condition and the driver must possess a valid California driver’s license. Chaperones must be
fingerprinted with the district to be eligible to drive and be alone with students.
HEAD LICE POLICY
Having head lice is a horrible nuisance for any family to have to deal with. It is usually more of an
emotional issue than a hygienic problem. Head lice create a non-critical, communicable infection. When
a Morello Park student is found with head lice, all of that child’s siblings are also checked for head lice.
Parents of the child are notified, and the child is excluded from school until treatment is complete. In
most cases, absence from school need not be longer than one day. Frequently more time is missed
from school due to a lack of understanding of what should be done to correct the problem. The office
staff and school nurse will help families by providing treatment recommendations. If we have reports of
numerous cases in a single classroom, we will often check all of the students in the classroom or those
with the same day care provider. Children can reduce the chances of getting head lice by avoiding
personal contact with others or their clothing, or by not using personal articles (combs, brushes, etc.) of
others.
CLASSROOM INTERRUPTIONS
Student instructional time is the most valuable resource offered by the school district. The Board of
Education recognizes its obligation to minimize the number of classroom interruptions in order that
students and teachers may fully take advantage of all opportunities for learning and personal enrichment
in the classroom setting. The Board recognized that such a policy must make the necessary allowances
for interruptions caused by emergencies and other urgent situations. The delivery of routine messages
should be limited to designated periods during the day (BP 6116). Therefore at Morello Park we will not
interrupt teaching for telephone calls to teachers or deliver messages to students during instructional
time. Staff members check their mailboxes periodically throughout the day and at that time they will get
their messages. Classrooms will only be interrupted for urgent and/or emergency situations.
ANIMALS AT SCHOOL
The Board of Education recognized that animals can be an effective teaching aid. In addition, instruction
related to the care and treatment of animals teaches students a sense of responsibility and promotes the
humane treatment of living creatures (BP 6163.2). Animals may be brought to school for educational
purposes only. Seeing-eye dogs and service dogs are the only dogs allowed on campus without
permission from the teacher and/or principal. All animals must be in safe and suitable cages, on a leash,
or in an otherwise appropriate container.
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