Family Handbook 2018-2019

Family Handbook 2018-2019 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

OHDS Quick Contact Guide....................................4 

Other Questions and Concerns.............................5 

Staff List.........................................................................6 

Faculty List....................................................................8 

Mission and Educational Philosophy.................10 

General Policy 

Board of Directors.....................................................12 

Communication .........................................................12 

Contracting with OHDS.......................................... 13 

Flexible Tuition........................................................... 14 

Office Hours................................................................ 14 

School Calendar ....................................................... 15 

School Routines 

Absences and Tardiness......................................... 16 

Aftercare and Chuggim.......................................... 16 

Benchmark Assessments........................................17 

Clothing....................................................................... 20 

Electronic Devices.....................................................21 

Field Trips.....................................................................22 

Homework................................................................... 24 

Library.......................................................................... 26 

Protocol for Discipline............................................ 26 

School Holidays........................................................30 

School Hours ............................................................30 

Security Policy........................................................... 31 

Toys and Games From Home.............................. 34 

Visitors......................................................................... 35 

What to Bring............................................................ 35 

Health and Safety 

Allergies....................................................................... 36 

Candy........................................................................... 36 

Contagious Conditions.......................................... 36 

Emergencies.............................................................. 36 

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Head Lice.................................................................... 36 

Immunization Record..............................................37 

Medications.................................................................37 

Minor Complaints..................................................... 38 

Parent Involvement 

Bar- and Bat-Miztvah Celebrations...................40 

Birthday Celebrations.............................................40 

Classroom Observations........................................ 41 

Donations.................................................................... 42 

Guidelines for School Advocacy........................ 43 

Parent/Staff Communication............................... 43 

Parent Volunteer Expectations...........................44 

Support Plan Information Sharing.....................44 

Points of Contact 

Back-to-School Night.............................................46 

Parent Conferences.................................................46 

Mid-Year Check Ins.................................................. 47 

Progress Updates and Report Cards................ 47 

Religious Policies 

Holidays (Chaggim)................................................ 48 

Kashrut......................................................................... 48 

Kippot .......................................................................... 48 

Prayer (Tefillah)......................................................... 49 

Tzedakah..................................................................... 49 

Kosher Symbols........................................................50 

Dual Home Policy 

Communications and Conferences................... 51 

Contracting with OHDS.......................................... 51 

Duplicate Copies ...................................................... 51 

Parent-Signed Authorization Forms..................52 

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QUICK CONTACT GUIDE 

At OHDS, clear and accurate communication with our 

families is important. We have carefully chosen the 

following avenues for relaying important information to 

you about school events: 

• In the online calendar on the home page of the 

OHDS website: www.ohds.org. 

• In Ma Chadash, our weekly digital newsletter 

• In “The Week Ahead,” our weekly snapshot of the 

week’s events emailed to parents every Sunday 

morning 

Please review these sources on a regular basis for event 

details or schedule changes. If you have any questions, 

please contact the front office at 510-531-8600 or office@ 

ohds.org. 

Classroom Concerns 

For all questions and concerns regarding your child, we ask 

you to first reach out to your child’s classroom teacher. This 

could include, but is not limited to, the following topics: 

• Classroom Management 

• Curriculum 

• Field Trips 

• Homework 

• Learning Differences and Support 

• Social Dynamics Among Classmates 

• Your Child’s Progress 

If you have further questions or concerns, please reach out 

to our associate head of school, Bat Sheva Miller, and then, 

if necessary, our head of school, Tania Schweig. 

OTHER QUESTIONS & CONCERNS 

ADMISSIONS 

Philippa Lichterman, Admissions Director 

plichterman@ohds.org 

CURRICULUM & EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING 

Bat Sheva Miller, Associate Head of School 

bmiller@ohds.org 

FRONT OFFICE AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMMING 

Tamara Leider, Office Manager 

office@ohds.org 

FUNDRAISING 

Betsy Ringrose, Development Director 

bringrose@ohds.org 

LEARNING SUPPORT 

Juliet Stamperdahl, Learning Specialist 

jstamperdahl@ohds.org 

LIBRARY 

Ornit Levinson-Suter, Librarian 

olevinson-suter@ohds.org 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION 

Daryl Grace, Physical Education Specialist 

dgrace@ohds.org 

TUITION/FLEXIBLE TUITION 

Sebastian Desio, CFO 

cfo@ohds.org 

WHOLE-SCHOOL POLICY 

Tania Schweig, Head of School 

tschweig@ohds.org 

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CORE EDUCATIONAL 

LEADERSHIP TEAM 

ADMINISTRATIVE 

STAFF 

Tania Schweig 

Head of School 

tschweig@ohds.org / ext. 13 

Tamara Leider 

Office Manager 

office@ohds.org / ext. 10 

Bat Sheva Miller 

Associate Head of School 

bmiller@ohds.org / ext. 18 

Jill Blakemore 

Office Associate 

jblakemore@ohds.org / ext. 11 

Staff 

Bebi Bacchus 

K-8 Math Coordinator 

bbacchus@ohds.org 

Dr. Tamara Beliak 

Dean of the Beit Midrash 

tbeliak@ohds.org 

Lisa Blumenband 

K-3 Literacy Coordinator 

lblumenband@ohds.org 

Joanne Davi 

4-8 Grade Dean of Student Life 

Humanities Coordinator 

jdavi@ohds.org 

Philippa Lichterman 

Admissions Director 

plichterman@ohds.org / ext. 12 

Betsy Ringrose 

Development Director 

bringrose@ohds.org / ext. 26 

Sebastian Desio 

Chief Financial Officer 

cfo@ohds.org / ext. 19 

Ruth Wiseman 

Business Office Associate 

business@ohds.org / ext. 14 

Staff 

Rabbi Daniel Hoffman 

Mashpia Ruchani 

(Dean of Jewish Student Life) 

dhoffman@ohds.org 

Efrat Simhi-Aloni 

Hebrew Coordinator 

esimhi-aloni@ohds.org 

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Bebi Bacchus 

5th Grade Math/Algebra 

bbacchus@ohds.org 

J 

Lior Jacober 

1 st Grade General Studies 

ljacober@ohds.org 

B 

Dr. Tamara Beliak 

Middle School Judaic Studies 

tbeliak@ohds.org 

Trish Blow 

3rd Grade General Studies 

tblow@ohds.org 

L 

Sara Levine 

4 th Grade General Studies/Core Math 

slevine@ohds.org 

Ornit Levinson-Suter 

3rd Grade Judaic Studies/Librarian 

olevinson-suter@ohds.org 

Lisa Blumenband 

2 nd Grade General Studies 

lblumenband@ohds.org 

M 

Ben Malvey 

Middle School Math/Lower School Assistant 

bmalvey@ohds.org 

Faculty 

D 

G 

Joey Daniels 

6th/7th Grade Humanities 

jdaniels@ohds.org 

Joanne Davi 

5th/8th Grade Humanities 

jdavi@ohds.org 

Sandy Gilford 

Kindergarten General Studies 

sgilford@ohds.org 

Daryl Grace 

Physical Education/Pre-Algebra 

dgrace@ohds.org 

N 

P 

R 

Rabbi Akiva Naiman 


anaiman@ohds.org 

Elisheva Neckritz 

Kindergarten Judaic Studies 

eneckritz@ohds.org 

Dorielle Parker 

4 th Grade Judaic Studies/Middle School JS 

dparker@ohds.org 

Melissa Rogoway 

Bridge Kindergarten General & JS 

mrogoway@ohds.org 

Faculty 

H 

J 

Esther Hilsenrad 

BK-8 Art 

ehilsenrad@ohds.org 

Rabbi Daniel Hoffman 

5th Grade Judaic Studies 


dhoffman@ohds.org 

David Jackson 

5th/Middle School Science 

Technical Support Manager 

djackson@ohds.org 

S 

T 

Kalla Sauls 

Lower School Assistant 

ksauls@ohds.org 

Efrat Simhi-Aloni 

3rd-5th/Middle School Hebrew and JS 

esimhi-aloni@ohds.org 

Hila Shamir 

3rd/4th/Middle School Hebrew and JS 

hshamir@ohds.org 

Ziva Trau 

1st & 2 nd Grade Judaic Studies 

ztrau@ohds.org 

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OHDS Mission and Educational Policy 

OHDS MISSION 

AND EDUCATIONAL POLICY 

OHDS MISSION 

Oakland Hebrew Day School is a Modern Orthodox 

Jewish day school serving families from the diverse Bay 

Area Jewish community. Our immersive curriculum, 

which takes an integrative approach to Judaic and 

general studies, prepares our students for achievement 

in secondary school and beyond. Our goal is to 

foster the moral, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual 

development of our students, giving them a love of 

learning and supporting a strong sense of Jewish 

identity. 

Through meaningful Jewish experiences, OHDS 

connects students to their heritage, traditions, and 

community, resulting in their transformation into 

empowered and literate Jews. We embrace the State of 

Israel and inspire in our students a connection to Israel 

and its people, as well as a sense of responsibility for 

their welfare. 

We instill the Middot (moral character) and critical 

thinking skills necessary for our students to become 

engaged Jewish members of tomorrow’s global 

community. 

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY 

We support our students to develop: 

• academic skills and content knowledge that prepare 

them for success across disciplines 

• the ability to respectfully engage with multiple 

perspectives and take responsibility for the wellbeing 

of others 

• a feeling of pride in their effort and in the quality of 

their work 

• the confidence to express their thoughts, their 

feelings and their creativity 

• a joyful experience of their Jewish identity, their 

cultural heritage and a strong feeling of belonging 

We do this by: 

• guiding our students to make careful 

observations, develop meaningful interpretations, 

demonstrate their understanding and apply their 

learning to the experiential realm 

• emphasizing partner learning, perspective-taking, 

and integration across disciplines and subjects 

• addressing the unique developmental and 

academic needs of each student through small 

group instruction, skills clinics, enrichment units 

and individualized goal-setting 

• giving students the tools for self-knowing, selfevaluation 

and self-reflection 

• building authentic, caring and respectful 

relationships between teachers and students 

We believe that students thrive in an environment 

that: 

• values quality over quantity, depth over breadth 

and the mastery of essential skills 

• establishes trust, honors differences and develops 

empathy 

• honors the student as a whole person and is 

responsive to the unique needs and interests of its 

students 

• encourages students to work outside of their 

comfort zone and take appropriate risks 

• fosters a sense of wonder, curiosity and awe 

OHDS Mission and Educational Policy 

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GENERAL POLICY 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

The board of directors is entrusted with the 

responsibility for assuring a long and healthy future 

for OHDS. Service on the board requires an interest 

in the school, as well as professional and personal 

talents; this enables trustees to fulfill their duties of 

policy making, fiscal management, and long-range 

planning. In addition to monthly board meetings, 

members also serve on at least one of the standing or 

ad hoc committees: building and grounds, personnel 

development, finance, and long-range planning. The 

board directs only one employee, the head of school. 

The day-to-day operations of the school are the head 

of school’s responsibility, and she reports monthly to 

the board. The board’s job is to guide the institution, 

to set goals, and to establish policies, not to manage 

its daily details. 

It is the policy of the board of directors that members 

of the board shall not become involved in parent/ 

student/teacher conflicts. A board member’s role is 

that of a school trustee, not a personal intermediary. 

When parents are concerned, they should first 

contact their child’s teacher, then the associate head 

of school, and then the head of school. 

COMMUNICATION 

OHDS faculty and staff will return your phone call 

or email within 24 hours of receiving it. If a faculty 

or staff member is away due to illness, vacation, 

professional development, or personal reasons, 

however, they will respond within 24 hours of 

returning to work. 

Annual Report: This includes information on the 

financial situation of the school over the previous 

fiscal year. 

Board Notes: This quarterly email communication 

includes important news and updates from our 

board of directors. 

Class Newsletters: Our lower school teachers send 

out weekly email newsletters to parents at the end 

of the week, and the middle school sends out an 

update four times per year. 

Ma Chadash: Our weekly Thursday email 

newsletter includes news from the head of school, 

a student written D’var Torah, and information 

about upcoming events and announcements. We 

also mail three printed magazines annually with 

articles about what is going on around school. 

The Week Ahead: Every Sunday morning, we 

send a weekly email snapshot of important school 

events in the week ahead. 

CONTRACTING WITH OHDS 

Students enrolling for the first time in grades K-8 

sign a continuous enrollment contract with OHDS 

that remains in force until the student graduates 8th 

grade or a parent gives timely notice to OHDS that 

the student will not be returning for the next year. 

Once a continuous enrollment contract is signed, no 

additional enrollment contract is required. 

Students enrolling in bridge kindergarten sign a 

contract that covers the academic year. 


Clear, current, and ongoing communication with 

our families is important. We have carefully chosen 

the following avenues for relaying important 

information to you about school events and news: 

Signed contracts, flexible tuition letters, and deposits 

are due by a specified date each year. Receiving 

these documents on time is essential for the school 

to effectively plan for the following year and allocate 

resources accordingly. Any family that does not return 

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their signed contract, flexible tuition letter or deposit 

by the due date, and has not made arrangements 

with the business office, is subject to the following 

additional fees: 

early dismissal Fridays to accommodate early 

Shabbat times. Normal Friday hours resume in 

March after daylight savings time begins. Please 

consult the OHDS calendar for exact dates. 


• Up to 2 weeks after the due date: $150 late fee will 

be applied to tuition per student. 

• From 2-4 weeks after the due date: $300 late 

fee will be applied to tuition per student and the 

student will be placed on a waitlist for the class 

until the documents are submitted and space is 

available in the class. 

• From 4-6 weeks after the due date: $500 late 

fee will be applied to tuition per student and the 

student will remain on the waitlist for the class 

until the documents are submitted and space is 

available in the class. 

• More than 6 weeks after due date: Student is 

officially unenrolled. To re-enroll, a family must 

sign a new enrollment agreement and pay a 

reenrollment fee of $1000 per student which is 

not included as part of flexible tuition. 

The majority of flexible tuition dollars will be allocated 

to families who meet the school’s enrollment 

deadlines. 

For more information on these policies, please refer 

directly to your signed enrollment contract or contact 

the OHDS business office at 

business@ohds.org. 

FLEXIBLE TUITION 

Inquiries about flexible tuition policies and evaluations 

can be made to the flexible tuition committee, care of 

the OHDS chief financial officer at cfo@ohds.org. 

All administrative offices are closed during all 

school holidays and in the month of July during 

summer vacation. 

All financial transactions should be handled 

through the business office, and all educational 

matters, including messages for teachers or 

administrators, should be handled through the 

main office. The business office is located on the 

first floor in rooms 119 and 120. 

SCHOOL CALENDAR 

Printed copies of the OHDS school calendar are 

sent to families in August. Additional copies are 

available in the front office. 

The OHDS calendar is also available on the 

home page of our website at www.ohds.org. 

The digital calendar can be also be integrated 

to the calendar on your mobile device. Just ask 

the front office to electronically “share” the 

OHDS calendar with you; it will then appear 

in your list of possible calendars to display on 

your mobile device. 


OFFICE HOURS 

The front office is open Monday-Friday from 8:15 

a.m.–5:30 p.m. 

In early November, the office will close at 2 p.m. on 

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SCHOOL ROUTINES 

ABSENCES AND TARDINESS 

It is extremely important that students be at school 

regularly and on time. We begin the day with one 

of the most important parts of our program: tefillah 

(prayer). When students arrive late, it is extremely 

disruptive to this spiritual beginning. Attendance 

will be taken every day. Whenever possible, do not 

schedule medical or other appointments during 

school time. Vacations should be planned during 

official school holidays and summer break. 

Parents arriving late are expected to walk their 

children into the front office. Students who arrive at 

school after 8:30 a.m. must go to the school office to 

obtain a late pass before going to their classrooms. 

If a child must leave school before the end of the 

school day, please provide prior notification. When 

picking up a child early for any reason, please come 

to the school office. The school office will call the 

child to the office for you to pick him/her up. If a 

child will be absent for several days and you wish 

to have make-up work sent home, please give 

the teacher at least three days’ notice to prepare 

materials. It is important for parents and children to 

understand that not all class work can be made up 

at home. Many of our projects are ongoing. 

AFTERCARE AND AFTER-SCHOOL CLUBS 

(CHUGGIM) 

Starting at 4 p.m., we offer our aftercare program, 

for students to enjoy a snack and unstructured, 

supervised play time both indoors and outdoors. 

Older students can also focus on their homework 

assignments during this time. 

in a variety of classes such as the arts, athletics and 

science. Examples include (but are not limited to) art, 

chess, coding, creative writing, drama, judo, music, 

photography, tennis, and swimming. 

All students need to be picked up no later than 5:30 

p.m. from either aftercare or our chuggim. Please 

note that there are no refunds for chuggim after the 

second session. 

BENCHMARK ASSESSMENTS 

In addition to informal teacher-created assessments, 

OHDS administers a series of school-wide benchmark 

assessments throughout the grades. OHDS chooses 

to administer standardized tests because we believe 

that objective data can be helpful in measuring 

student progress. We strongly believe that test data 

does not give the whole picture of student learning. 

It is essential to look at test scores within the context 

of classwork, homework, and teacher-made assessments 

to fully understand a student’s current level of 

mastery. 

OHDS standardized benchmark assessments include: 

Grades 1-5 

• Quick AIMSWeb reading and math fluency 

assessments (Fall, Winter, Spring) 

• Quick MADYK Hebrew reading fluency 

assessments (Fall, Winter, Spring) 

• OHDS Benchmark Assessment for Writing (Fall, 

Winter, Spring) 

Additionally, for Grades 3-8 

• NWEA Measures of Academic Progress 

Standardized Test (Fall, Winter) 


After-school enrichment clubs (chuggim) offer 

sessions throughout the year for students interested 

About Each Test 

The AIMSWeb and MADYK fluency assessments are 

completed in less than 25 minutes total with English 

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and Hebrew reading assessments administered 

individually and math sections given as a short timed 

whole-group test. Scores are compared to national 

norms with the target score representing the 50th 

%ile for national norms. Students who score below 

target may require additional support to ensure that 

they are able to make sufficient progress. Teachers 

will share this information with parents at parent 

teacher conferences. 

The OHDS Benchmark Assessment for Writing has 

been developed by OHDS faculty to assess student 

growth in writing in alignment with the Common 

Core Standards. Teachers administer the assessment 

during one class period, providing a target prompt 

and assessing students’ writing samples using a 

rubric that scores different qualities of student 

writing including ideas, organization, voice, etc. 

Writing rubric scores are used to identify areas of 

strength and areas where a student, or groups of 

students may need additional instruction. Writing 

samples and rubrics will be shared with parents at 

parent teacher conferences. 

The NWEA MAP testing is used to measure 

individualized growth. Testing takes place in 

grades 3-8 at two scheduled benchmark periods, 

approximately 4 months apart, during the school 

year. MAP testing includes assessment in the three 

areas of math, reading, and language arts, with each 

section administered on a different day. MAP tests 

are untimed and are administered using an online 

platform that adjusts to each individual test taker. 

The average testing time per section is 50 minutes, 

though testing times can vary significantly between 

students. 

MAP testing enables teachers to establish a baseline 

for each student, calculate projected growth for 

that student, identify areas of strength and areas 

for growth, as well as provide information to 

support individualized goal-setting. MAP scores 

and growth summaries will be shared with parents 

at parent teacher conferences and may lead to 

recommendations for extra challenge, extra practice 

or further assessment. Students in grades 4-8 work 

with their teachers to evaluate their own scores, note 

areas of progress, and determine personal goals for 

future growth. 

Testing and Score Communication 

Parents are informed of the benchmark assessment 

periods in the school calendar and also by email 

several weeks before the assessment period. Parents 

are informed about the importance of being present 

for the assessment periods. The schedule is provided 

in the email. 

Testing and Score Communication 

Benchmark assessment scores for AIMSweb, 

MADYK, OHDS Writing Benchmark Assessment and 

MAP will be available to parents at parent teacher 

conferences. 

OHDS uses MAP benchmark data internally to 

determine what a student is ready to learn and to 

measure progress. Scores are securely held within 

OHDS and are not included with student transcripts. 

However, parents may request their student’s 

scores to be shared with another school or outside 

agency for purposes of enrollment, application, or 

evaluation. All requests for scores for these purposes 

go directly to the OHDS Learning Specialist. 

Procedures for Extra Time, Missed Tests 

or Opting Out 

OHDS values instructional time in class and works 

to consolidate our benchmark assessment period 

to ensure the least impact possible on classroom 

instruction. It is important that each child is at school 

during the benchmark assessment period. We ask 

that parents not schedule appointments, trips, or 


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shadow days during this time. 

Students who miss a test or need extra time beyond 

the allotted time are scheduled into an existing 

test session out of their grade level. An additional 

period is scheduled to accommodate making up one 

missed test. If a student misses multiple tests, the 

administrative team will determine which one of the 

missed tests is to be made up. If a student misses all 

of the tests and the make up day, the school will not 

take the student out of additional instructional time 

for testing. The testing will not be made up for that 

benchmark period. 

We strongly encourage participation in MAP 

assessments as the tests are individualized and 

measure a student’s growth over time. However, 

if parents insist on opting out of the MAP tests, 

they must provide the school with a letter stating 

that they are opting out of the assessment, the 

reason they have chosen to do so, and sign the 

letter. Letters should be addressed to the Learning 

Specialist. 

CLOTHING 

Modest, comfortable, and casual attire is appropriate 

for the learning environment at OHDS. We trust our 

parents to use good judgment in deciding how to 

dress their children for school and to help us create 

an appropriate Torah learning environment. Please 

keep these guidelines in mind when dressing your 

child for school: 

For all grades: 

• Students must wear sturdy shoes (no slip-on 

shoes). 

• Boys must wear a kippah (yarmulke) and have 

two extra kippot with clips in their backpacks. 

• Skirts and dresses should come to the knee or 

have knee-length shorts underneath. 

• Tops should have sleeves that cover the shoulder. 

• Students may not wear backless dresses, crop 

tops or scoop-necked tops. 

• Sneakers are required for PE days and field trips. 

• Warm outerwear is advised for cold days and sun 

hats for warm days. 

• Hats/caps may only be worn outside of the 

school building. 

• Students may not wear pajamas or torn clothing 

(with the exception of costume or school spirit 

days). 

• Students may not have visible piercings or 

tattoos, though earlobe piercings are acceptable. 

• Clothing may not have inappropriate writing, 

slogans, or graphics on clothing or other 

belongings. 

• Students may not wear sagging pants. 

Shorts 

• Shorts are allowed for students in Bridge K 

through 4th grade. Starting in grade 5, shorts are 

not allowed. 

• Shorts must come to the knee. 

• Girls may wear capri pants that go to mid calf. 

Close-Fitting Clothing 

Starting in grade 5, leggings must be covered by a 

top layer to the knee, and skin-tight tops must be 

covered by a loose over-layer. 

ELECTRONIC DEVICES 

At OHDS, we recognize and encourage electronic 

devices (such as laptops and tablets) as a helpful 

part of our students’ learning in the classroom. In 

addition to the school’s electronic devices available 

to students, we welcome students in grades 6–8 

to bring in their own electronic devices from home 

to be used during class work time, as long as it has 

been approved by the classroom teacher. Students 

need to comply with the school rules for appropriate 

use of electronic devices and must sign the OHDS 

appropriate use policy at the beginning of the school 

year. 


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All other electronic devices not being used for 

learning purposes in the classroom, such as cell 

phones, iPods, Game Boys, and other electronic 

paraphernalia, should be kept at home or in their 

locker during school hours. These electronics 

should not be visible between 8:15 a.m. and 4:15 pm. 

Students may NOT use devices during dismissal 

time. This rule is strictly enforced. Electronics used 

during the school day which are not approved by 

the student’s classroom teacher will be confiscated, 

taken to the front office, and returned at the end of 

the day. 

If a student with a cell phone needs to call or 

text their parent about last-minute dismissal 

arrangements, they may do so, but ONLY with 

permission from a teacher while standing next to 

that teacher. Once the call or text is complete, the 

device must return to the student’s backpack and 

cannot be used for any other purpose. 

OHDS cannot take any responsibility for electronics 

that are lost or damaged while on the school 

premises. 

FIELD TRIPS 

All field trips at OHDS are part of the curriculum 

and have specific educational goals. Teachers are 

encouraged to use the many resources in the Bay 

Area to enrich our curriculum. These educational 

opportunities are considered an extension of the 

classroom, and students are expected to conduct 

themselves according to the school’s behavioral 

expectations at all times. 

Some field trips have an additional cost per student. 

Each grade takes an average of three field trips a 

year. Parent volunteers usually provide field trip 

transportation. The school’s insurance company 

requires that any parents driving students on any 

school-sponsored trip or activity are required to 

have confirmation in writing that they have liability 

coverage and a valid driver’s license. Only those 

parents who have filed with the office each school 

year proof of license and minimum $100,000/ 

$300,000 liability insurance coverage will be 

permitted to drive on field trips. 

All students are required to wear a seatbelt, one child 

per seat belt. All children younger than 8 years old, or 

under 4 feet 9 inches, must use a federally approved 

car seat installed in the back seat of the vehicle. 

Children ages 8 and older but less than 16 years of 

age must be properly secured in an appropriate 

child passenger restraint system or safety belt which 

meets federal safety standards. For more information 

please visit the National Highway Traffic Safety 

Administration website (www.NHTSA.gov). 

Parent drivers may not bring siblings or pets on field 

trips, since this would detract from their ability to 

help supervise the students properly. Parent drivers 

take on a responsibility in driving OHDS school 

children. Please review the following “Parent Driving 

Guidelines” before driving on any school field trip. 

This list will also be reviewed between the teacher 

and the parents prior to putting children into cars: 

• Parent drivers shall ensure that school children are 

wearing seatbelts at all times. 

• Parent drivers shall obey all traffic laws at all times. 

• Parent drivers shall not exceed the basic speed 

law of the state of California which states that 

drivers should drive at or below the posted speed 

limit, or drive at a speed that is appropriate for 

driving conditions. 

• Parent drivers shall not be distracted by cell 

phone conversations, eating/drinking while 

driving, playing with the radio, being overly 

concerned with neighboring drivers, or being 

overly distracted by the children’s conversation in 


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the backseat(s). 

• Parent drivers shall recognize that while school 

children are in their cars, the children are under 

their direct supervision which means that the 

parent driver is responsible for their safety and 

well being. 

• Parent drivers shall understand the location of 

their driving destination before getting in the car; 

they should have reviewed a map beforehand, 

and discussed any uncertainties with a parent or 

teacher knowledgeable of the route. If a parent 

driver becomes lost along the way, they should 

not become distracted by searching maps, 

making phone calls, or working their GPS units 

while driving; but shall pull over at a safe and 

appropriate place and then orient themselves or 

ask for directions as necessary. 

• Parent volunteer drivers are required to drive with 

students directly from the school to the field trip 

and back without any additional detours. 

• Parent drivers are responsible for the safety and 

proper functioning of their vehicle including 

having adequate fuel, tires that are in good 

condition and properly inflated, working turn 

signals, etc. 

• Parent drivers shall recognize that they are role 

models of OHDS and represent the values the 

school upholds; as such they should behave in a 

manner to represent the school and be a positive 

example for the children in the car. 

HOMEWORK 

Time spent doing homework in each grade varies. 

The following average daily homework time for each 

grade serves as a guideline: 

Grades 1–2 

• Read daily in both Hebrew and English. 

• Practice math facts to build fluency. 

Monday through Thursday only. 

• Students complete weekly homework log and 

completion is tracked by teachers. 

Grades 3–5 

• Read daily in both Hebrew and English. 

• In grade 3 homework does not exceed 35 

minutes total, Monday through Thursday only. 





• Students complete a weekly homework log 

and completion is tracked by teachers. 

Grades 6-8 

• Homework is assigned regularly in English, 

Math, and Hebrew for approximately 20 

minutes per subject. 

• Content subjects (science, social studies, 

Tanach, Jewish history) may assign periodic 

project related reading, writing or presentation 

work—not to exceed 20 minutes per night. 

• Total homework load should typically be 60– 

90 minutes, Monday through Thursday only. 

• Additional long term fiction and non-fiction 

reading assignments can be expected on 

a regular basis—reading may extend over 

Shabbat, weekends, and breaks. 

• The middle school educational team works 

to avoid overlapping projects, but some 

“heavy” work periods can be expected and are 

unavoidable. 

• Homework is always noted by teachers on the 

homework calendar. 


• Homework does not exceed 25 minutes total, 

Teachers will make an effort to coordinate 

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homework assignments to avoid overloading 

students. With the exception of long-term projects 

and assignments, no homework will be given 

over weekends and Jewish holidays. Questions 

regarding homework should be addressed to your 

child’s teacher. Homework is regularly assigned 

in all grades (except bridge kindergarten and 

kindergarten). Teachers may notify parents 

by telephone/email/note when students have 

repeatedly missed homework assignments. 

LIBRARY 

OHDS has a growing library and Beit Midrash with 

books that students can borrow to use at home. 

Students use the library regularly with their class. 

The library is also often open during the lunch 

hour. Families will be held responsible for lost or 

damaged books and materials. Please encourage 

your child to take responsibility for his/her library 

materials and to return them to the library by the 

designated due date. 

PROTOCOL FOR DISCIPLINE 

Student misbehavior can be part of the normal 

process of growing and learning. While responding 

to misbehaviors, teachers do their best to remain 

calm, preserve the dignity of the child, and follow 

consistent procedures for responding. 

Teachers and administrators reference the 

following protocols for responding to student 

misbehaviors. The misbehaviors have been 

categorized into levels of severity. Responses, even 

to serious misbehaviors, are intended to focus on 

logical consequences and learning. 

Children who exhibit a pattern of misbehavior at 

any level may, if a pattern emerges, be referred 

to the school’s Student Study Team that may 

recommend special support plans, interventions, 

or assessment. While consistency is always 

the goal, it is important to recognize that each 

situation presents unique circumstances and that 

both teachers and administrators may need to 

make a judgement call in how to categorize or 

respond to misbehavior. 

Level 1 Behaviors: disruptions, ignoring directions, 

off task behaviors (eg: calling out, wandering, 

chatting, etc.) 

Within one day, if behavior is repeated, teacher 

follows these steps: 

• 1st Time: Verbal reminder of expectations 

• 2nd Time: Move location within the classroom 

• 3rd Time: Five minutes in the office to reset 

and conference with teacher as soon as 

possible 

• 4th Time: Possible check-in with parents (at 

discretion of teacher) 

• Continued behavior: Teacher may discuss with 

team or middle school advisors to make a 

support plan 

*If behavior pattern emerges over time, teacher 

should refer to Student Study Team. 

Level 2 Behaviors: breaking rules or breaking 

trust (eg: wrong place at wrong time, pushing in 

line, making mess, misuse of device, misuse of 

materials, etc) 

Within two weeks, if behavior appears intentional 

and is repeated, teacher follows these steps: 

• 1st Time: Conference with teacher to review the 

rule; logical consequence (eg: loss of privilege, 

clean up mess at recess, etc) 

• 2nd Time: Same as 1st time AND teacher may 

notify parents if concerned about building 

pattern 

• 3rd Time: Same as above AND teacher may 


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discuss with team or middle school advisors to 

make a support plan 


should refer to Student Study Team. 

Level 3 Behaviors: serious behaviors that cross the 

line of respect towards others or school property 

(eg: put downs, swearing, graffiti, destruction of 

property) 

Within a two week period, if behavior is repeated, 

teacher takes the following steps: 

• 1st Time: Conference with the supervising 

teacher to review the problem ASAP; clear 

warning about future consequences; mediated 

conversation between involved parties if 

applicable 

• 2nd Time: Same as 1st time with email to 

parents and cc to administrator 

• 3rd Time: Student conference with 

administrator AND after school time owed 

4:15-4:45 to read and show understanding 

related to the “larger world” connections to the 

behavior 


should refer to Student Study Team. It is possible 

that child will be referred for on-site or outside 

therapeutic support. 

Level 4 Behaviors: major infractions that include 

verbal or physical aggression, threatening, or 

stealing (*Note: Young children engaging in 

developmentally typical physical conflicts may fall 

into Level 3 category depending on the age and 

intensity of the exchange.) 

• Step 1: Immediate referral to administrator. 

• Step 2: If the child’s behavior is deemed 

unsafe or disruptive, child will wait in office 

while administrator speaks with all parties to 

determine what happened. 

• Step 3: Administrator assesses the situation; 

Administrative responses may include, but not 

limited to: 

• In-depth conversation with student or 

students involved with stern warning about 

possible future consequences 

• Mediated conversation between parties 

• After-school learning consequence 

• In-school suspension or out-of-school 

suspension 

• Repeated Level 4 behaviors over time may 

lead to referrals for outside assessment, 

therapeutic intervention, required 1:1 

shadow, and may, if not improved, lead to 

eventual expulsion 

Protocol for Reports of Bullying 

Every child at OHDS has the right to feel physically 

and emotionally safe and to be protected 

from targeted aggression from others. Not 

all aggression between children falls into the 

category of bullying, but sometimes it does. 

At OHDS we reference the Centers for Disease 

Control’s definition of bullying which is the 

following: 

Bullying is unwanted aggressive behavior that: 

• Includes a power imbalance (including age, 

size, abilities or skills, physical strength, 

access to embarrassing information, numbers 

of people, or popularity) that is used to 

intentionally control or hurt others 

• Is repeated over time 

• Includes threats, rumors, physical or verbal 

attacks, and/or purposefully excluding 

someone from a group 

*Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

If a parent or child needs to make a report of 


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bullying, he or she should communicate directly to 

a teacher, advisor or administrator. The school has a 

detailed multi-step procedure for handling reports 

of bullying which will be shared as needed. 

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS 

OHDS observes all Jewish holidays, as well as federal 

legal holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Martin Luther 

King, Jr., Day, and Presidents’ Day. In addition, there is 

a winter break in December and a spring break during 

Passover. Please see the school calendar for more 

information. 

SCHOOL HOURS 

Grades Bridge K-4 begin their school day at 8:25 

a.m., and grades 5-8 begin their school day at 8:15 

a.m. with tefillah. The school hours per grade are as 

follows: 

1. Bridge kindergarten and kindergarten hours are 

8:25 a.m.–2:30 p.m. 

2. OHDS bridge kindergarten and kindergarten 

students will be able to participate in our afterschool 

child-care program from 2:30-3:30 p.m. 

for no additional charge. 

3. 1 st and 2 nd grade hours: 8:25 a.m.–3:30 p.m. 

4. 3 rd and 4 th grade hours: 8:25 a.m.–3:45 p.m. 

5. 5th grade hours: 8:15 a.m.-3:45 p.m. 

6. 6 th , 7 th and 8 th grade hours: 8:15 a.m.–4 p.m. 

All students must be at school on time and be picked 

up on time. Students should not arrive before 8 a.m., 

as the school cannot accept responsibility or provide 

supervision for them before that time. Similarly, all 

students, unless involved in after-school clubs, must 

be picked up before 4:15 p.m. The school cannot 

take responsibility for children left at school beyond 

4:15 p.m. In order to properly supervise students, any 

students still on campus at 4:15 p.m. will be signed in 

to after-school clubs at the $15 per child fee. 

SECURITY POLICY 

Oakland Hebrew Day School has a variety of 

procedures and supplies in place to ensure the safety 

of everyone on campus in the event of an emergency. 

OHDS holds emergency drills monthly: 

Earthquake 

An administrative team member will conduct “Drop, 

cover and hold” earthquake drills at least four times 

a year. When the students hear the call, “Drop, cover 

and hold,” they are instructed to: 

• Drop to the floor, and to seek shelter 

under desks, tables. 

• Cover neck and head with arms, by 

clasping hands behind the neck. If they 

are under a hard surface (desk, table), 

they need to hold on to the table/desk 

until further notice. 

• If students are outside, they are to move 

to an open area away from power lines, 

power poles, trees, walls or windows. 

Evacuation 

• All faculty exit the building with their red safety 

supply backpacks and classroom walkie talkie, 

escorting classes to the upper yard. 

• Administrative staff bring walkie talkies, stop signs, 

and megaphone to upper yard to unlock gate. 

• On upper yard, classes line up by grade, with BK 

closest to stairs. 

• Administrative staff opens the gate while quick 

attendance is taken. 

• Classes quickly and silently exit the upper gate, 

walking on the shoulder of the pickup loop to the 

crosswalk at the corner of Redwood Road and 

Skyline Boulevard. 

• At the crosswalk, administrative staff use stop 

sign to ensure safe crossing of the entire school to 

parking lot at Sunrise Assisted Living Facility. 

• At Sunrise Assisted Living Facility, classes line up by 


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class in the parking lot for second attendance. 

• Administrator gives the all clear for faculty and 

students to return to school in an orderly fashion. 

Fire 

Students and staff leave the classroom immediately 

upon hearing the fire alarm and walk towards the upper 

playground, following predetermined routes within 

the school. Once everyone is gathered, administration 

takes attendance for each classroom. In case there 

is a real emergency and the students are required to 

leave school, OHDS has secured an agreement with 

the Sunrise Assisted Living Facility, across Redwood 

Road, where students and staff gather to await further 

instructions. Fire drills will be conducted on a bimonthly 

basis. 

Lockdown 

• An administrator will make the lockdown 

announcement over the loudspeaker and on the 

walkie talkie. In the event of a real lockdown, the 

administrator will call 911 from a landline, or 777- 

3211 from a cell phone. 

• Faculty and staff should follow “Lock, Close and 

Hide” procedures. 

• Lock the doors. Close all windows and blinds. 

Move everyone away from the windows and 

doors. Hide behind a safe wall -- indicated in every 

room with a sun icon -- or get everyone to lie flat 

on the ground. 

• Turn off cell phones and stay silent. 

• Take attendance. 

• Do not allow anyone to leave the room under any 

circumstances. 

• Outside staff deliver three sharp blasts on their 

whistle, then announce, “Lockdown drill!” 

• On the upper playground, children and staff hide 

in the bushes and stay silent. 

• On the lower playground, staff bring children into 

the nearest classroom. 

• Wait for the “all clear” signal on the walkie talkie. 

• All Clear Announcement: Administrator or front 

office will announce, both on the loudspeaker and 

the walkie talkie: “This is (administrator’s name). 

The lockdown is over.” 

Wildfire 

This protocol is only used in the event of a wildfire or 

any other incident for which the entire school must 

evacuate the area. 

• An administrator makes the wildfire 

announcement. 

• All faculty, staff and students make their way 

quickly and silently to the upper yard. Front 

office staff bring roster, noting which students are 

absent, and timesheet binder. 

• All classes line up by grade. 

• Admin unlocks gate and dismisses faculty to get 

their cars and pull up in a line to the upper gate. 

• One administrator assigns students to cars, 

checking them off in the student roster as they are 

loaded. 

• The priority is to leave the area as quickly as 

possible. Cars can be filled as needed to ensure 

the safe evacuation of all students and staff. 

• As adults are dismissed with children, they go 

straight to their cars and leave immediately 

for Beth Jacob Congregation, 3778 Park Blvd, 

Oakland, CA 94610. 

• At Beth Jacob Congregation attendance is taken. 

Parents by group text (All admin have the One 

Call Now app on their phones for emergency 

texting) are contacted as soon as attendance has 

been confirmed. 

• All faculty and staff remain at Congregation Beth 

Jacob until all students have been reunited with 

their families. 

Emergency Supplies 

OHDS has emergency supplies (water, food, blankets) 

for every student and staff member for up to three 


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days. Each classroom has a complete First Aid kit and 

red emergency supply backpack. 

Evacuation Routes 

OHDS has established evacuation routes from 

each classroom. Every classroom has a map of the 

evacuation route by the door. 

Parent Communication 

The American Red Cross manual suggests that after 

an earthquake: 

• Telephones should be used only for emergency 

phone calls. Therefore, we ask parents NOT 

to call the school on the aftermath of an 

earthquake and wait to be contacted. 

• Vehicles should not be used. Therefore, do not 

drive up to school unless you are notified to do 

so. 

OHDS has an emergency text service through an 

outside company and will notify and update you after 

any kind of emergency. Please make sure you notify 

the school if your cell phone contact information has 

changed. 

Emergency forms are emailed home to be filled out 

before the end of each school year. Please complete 

and return them promptly. If any of the information 

on the emergency form changes, please email the 

new information to the front office at 

office@ohds.org. It is imperative that we have current 

emergency information on file for every child. 

TOYS AND GAMES FROM HOME 

Toys and games from home can become a source 

of distraction and envy and should generally be left 

at home. Students may, with teacher permission, 

bring items from home to share with classmates, but 

must follow teacher’s directions about where and 

when to store their items at school. Personal toys 

and games may be confiscated by a teacher and 

returned at the teacher’s discretion if they become 

a source of distraction or conflict. Fidget toys are 

allowed when teachers determine that they will be 

helpful in maintaining concentration. Fidgets that 

are used for the wrong purpose or at a time when a 

teacher determines that they are not needed can be 

confiscated by the teacher. 

VISITORS 

All visitors must check in at the school office prior to 

entering the campus. Visitors are required to wear an 

ID badge while on campus and check out through 

the school office when leaving. We request that all 

Jewish male visitors wear kippot, which are available 

to borrow in the front office. 

WHAT TO BRING 

All students are expected to bring their own lunch 

and two snacks daily, following the school’s kashrut 

policy specified in this handbook. OHDS encourages 

good nutrition and healthful eating habits. Candy 

and soda should not be brought to school; please do 

not include them in your child’s snack or lunch. 

All students also need to bring a backpack large 

enough to carry to school all of their school supplies. 

All students in grades 2–8 are required to have 

a siddur (a prayer book) at school. All boys are 

required to have extra kippot at school. We ask that 

bridge kindergarten and kindergarten students have 

an extra change of clothing at school in the event of 

accidents. Teachers may request additional supplies 

for a particular project. 


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HEALTH AND SAFETY 

ALLERGIES 

If your child has any allergies, including food and pet 

allergies, please let the front office know immediately. 

Please indicate the nature of the allergic reaction, the 

appropriate emergency/follow-up procedures, and 

medical information. 

CANDY 

Healthy eating is key to student success in school. 

We discourage students from bringing candy or 

chocolate bars to school. Teachers may choose to 

hold on to candy or chocolate bars brought to school 

by students, which students may claim at the end of 

the day. On occasion, teachers may allow or provide 

sweet treats at school events. 

CONTAGIOUS CONDITIONS 

If your child contracts a contagious condition, please 

notify the school at once. The school will notify 

parents of the children in the class. When a child has 

been home with a contagious condition, the parent 

must obtain a doctor’s note before the student may 

return to school. This is for the protection of each 

child in the school. 

EMERGENCIES 

In the event of a medical emergency, a child’s 

parent(s) will be notified immediately. If the parent(s) 

cannot be reached, the contact person listed on the 

emergency form will be notified. If no emergency 

contact can be reached, OHDS will call an ambulance 

to evaluate the child and determine next steps. It is 

imperative that we have a current emergency contact 

information on file for each child. 

HEAD LICE 

OHDS does all-school head lice checks three times 

per year, before the first day of the new school year, 

after the winter break, and after the Pesach break. 

Having head lice (pediculosis) is a nuisance and not 

a disease. It is a difficult situation to manage in the 

school because lice are highly communicable. Lice 

can be picked up from any close contact, including 

sharing of combs, brushes, scarves, hats, caps, kippot, 

or from rugs, sleeping bags and furniture. Parents 

should be aware of lice and their manifestations, 

and check the scalps of their children prior to the 

opening of school, and on a regular basis thereafter. 

Parents must notify the school immediately if lice 

are found so that the proper steps can be taken 

to prevent any further spreading. If your child is 

identified as having lice, you will be called to pick up 

your child immediately. At that time you will be given 

instructions detailing the home treatment necessary 

for your child to be readmitted to school. Children 

must be lice free in order to be allowed to return to 

school. Upon return to school, the child must come to 

the office to be re-checked before being re-admitted 

back to class. 

IMMUNIZATION RECORD 

In accordance with California state law, students 

entering our school for the first time must bring their 

immunization record with all required immunizations. 

First grade students must have a general health 

examination within eighteen months of the start of 

their first grade school year. Additionally, it is now 

required by California state law for all incoming 

seventh and eighth graders to show proof of a 

Tdap (Pertussis) booster after the age of 7 years. 

Documentation of these requirements must be 

submitted to the school office. Currently enrolled 

families will be notified if their files are not complete. 

MEDICATIONS 

Students are not permitted to carry medicines 

(prescription or over-the-counter) or keep medicines 

in cubbies/lockers on campus. This policy will be 

strictly enforced. 


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If your child needs medication during the school day, 

please send in the appropriate medication to the 

front office, then email permission and instructions 

to office@ohds.org. We may need to call you during 

the day to clarify instructions. On occasion, the 

front office may call parents to seek permission to 

administer pain medication for minor aches and pains. 

Parents will then be asked to email in permission 

and instructions (including the child’s weight) for 

administering the pain medication. 

MINOR HEALTH COMPLAINTS 

If a child experiences minor discomfort, every effort 

will be made to tend to his/her needs. Whenever 

necessary, the child’s temperature will be taken and 

the parent(s) will be notified of a fever. Students with 

a fever of 100 degrees or more, or who exhibit other 

viral symptoms such as severe cough or vomiting, will 

be sent home. Scrapes and abrasions will be treated 

with soap and water and a Band-Aid. The school 

maintains a first-aid kit. Please make sure that you or 

someone listed as your child’s emergency contact is 

available to pick up your child when needed. 

PARENT INVOLVEMENT 

At OHDS, we aim to maintain a community of learners 

in which students, parents, and teachers work 

together to increase their knowledge and passion for 

learning. 

Students are best supported when parents and 

educators are well-aligned in their approach to 

working with children. While parents and educators 

may sometimes disagree, it is important that 

parents generally agree with and support the overall 

philosophy, methods, policies and priorities of the 

school. 

Parents may discuss specific situations related to their 

child’s learning, to particular assignments or particular 

disciplinary actions with the teacher or administrator 

who is most directly involved. These discussions are 

most effective when they focus on specific situations 

and not on larger questions of school philosophy or 

approach. 

The school leadership, faculty and staff are 

responsible for implementing the vision of the school 

through the school’s strategic plan. Parents have the 

opportunity to share their perceptions of the school’s 

successful implementation of this vision through the 

annual parent survey, at which point parents may 

share any additional priorities that they would like the 

school to consider. The school will share a summary 

of the results of the parent survey with the parent 

body each spring and any resultant action steps on 

the part of the school. 


If at any time a parent wishes to speak with the 

head of school about the school’s current vision, 

philosophy, methods or policies, we ask them to 

please make an appointment with the head of school 

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through the front office. 

BAR- AND BAT-MITZVAH CELEBRATIONS 

B’nai mitzvot are wonderful celebrations for 

OHDS’s 12- and 13-year-olds. These occasions 

are celebrated in diverse ways by our families. 

However, in order to avoid exclusion and hurt 

feelings, please consider the following guidelines: 

• Invite the entire class, so that no child feels 

omitted. 

• As needed, help children arrange overnight 

accommodations that will allow them to walk 

to and from the ceremony. 

• Avoid scheduling parties until after sunset 

on Saturday. The time for the beginning and 

ending of Shabbat may be found on the OHDS 

calendar. 

• If possible, serve only kosher food at Bar- and 

Bat-Mitzvah celebrations that include OHDS 

students. If this is not possible, please provide 

kosher food for all OHDS students. 

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS 

Children enjoy having their birthdays recognized at 

school. You may wish to provide a special treat for the 

birthday child to share with his/her classmates. We 

encourage non-food items such as pencils, erasers, 

stickers, etc. Edible healthy treats, which meet our 

kashrut requirements, are also acceptable. Please 

refer to the kashrut section of this handbook. We 

encourage treats that do not require washing, cutting 

or serving on plates, so that your child is able to pass 

them out. Please do not send birthday cakes unless 

you come along to cut, serve, and clean up. 

Birthday parties outside of school are enjoyed by all. 

However, in order to allow all children to participate 

freely in these activities and to avoid hurt feelings, 

please adhere to the following party guidelines: 

1. While it is not necessary to invite the entire class 

to all parties, no child should be singled out for 

omission. Therefore, we ask you to invite a small, 

intimate group of four or fewer friends, or to 

please invite all boys, or all girls, or all children. 

Please try to keep the feelings of all the children in 

mind. 

2. Only kosher food should be served at birthday 

parties that include OHDS students. Kosher food 

can be ordered from kosher establishments such 

as Oakland Kosher. Kosher ice cream cakes can 

be purchased at Baskin Robbins. Please see the 

OHDS kashrut guidelines for further elaboration. 

3. Birthday parties held in public eateries should be 

limited only to kosher establishments. 

4. Parties should not be scheduled during Shabbat 

(Friday evening after sunset or Saturday before 

sundown), or on religious holidays. The time for 

the beginning and ending of Shabbat and holidays 

may be found in our school calendar. 

There has, in the past, been occasional confusion 

about these guidelines. Please keep in mind that these 

guidelines are intended to help avoid exclusion and 

hurt feelings, and not to impose undue burdens on 

our families. Please feel free to email Bat Sheva Miller 

at bmiller@ohds.org if you have any questions about 

these guidelines. 


We encourage all families to present a book to the 

school library in honor of the child’s birthday. If you 

need help selecting a book, please contact the OHDS 

librarian or your child’s teacher. 

CLASSROOM OBSERVATIONS 

We welcome parent visitors in our classrooms. In 

order to ensure an effective exchange of information 

without disrupting the teaching process, however, we 

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ask that you adhere to the following guidelines: 

• Make an appointment with the classroom 

teacher or an administrator to observe the class. 

We do not accommodate drop-in visits. 

• Please schedule a follow-up meeting at a 

separate time to discuss any questions or 

concerns, as the teacher will not be able to have 

a discussion with you during the visit. 

• Please sign in at the front office and wear a 

visitor’s badge. 

• Please limit your visit to 30 minutes. 

• Male visitors are requested to wear kippot 

(head coverings) when on campus. Kippot are 

available to borrow in the school office. 

DONATIONS 

OHDS welcomes contributions to the school from 

parents, grandparents, extended family, and friends. 

Every year the school raises over $750,000 in 

donations from our community in support of our 

faculty, students, programs, and flexible tuition. It is 

the school’s expectation that every family at OHDS 

make a generous gift to our annual campaign 

each year. Contributions vary in size depending on 

individual circumstances. Special gifts are greatly 

appreciated and can be made in honor of an event 

such as a birth, anniversary, birthday, other special 

occasion, or in memory of a loved one. Donations 

of educational materials and equipment in good 

condition are welcome. Please feel free to talk 

to the development office about any gifts you 

may wish to make. Contact 510-531-8600 x26 or 

bringrose@ohds.org. OHDS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit 

#94-3171287, all contributions are tax deductible to 

the extent allowed by law. 

GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL ADVOCACY 

The school welcomes and depends on the 

participation of the parents and students in school 

advocacy, promoting the school within the greater 

community. It is the policy of OHDS that all such 

advocacy efforts be positive relative to other schools 

and institutions. Negative comparisons between our 

programs and other programs should not be part of 

official school functions and are frowned upon by 

the school in any informal settings. Furthermore, the 

school requires that any public posting about the 

school in any public forum be submitted first to the 

head of school for approval. 

PARENT/STAFF COMMUNICATION 

We are deeply committed to your child’s 

development and feel most effective when we can 

work together with you to understand your child to 

enhance his/her growth. 

Parents are encouraged to communicate with staff 

whenever they have a concern about their child or 

the school program. Teachers are accessible via email 

and telephone. When a brief conversation or phone 

call will not suffice, a conference may be arranged by 

appointment directly with the teacher. 

As a policy, we strive to return parent phone calls 

and emails within 24 hours, Monday-Thursday, and 

for messages left on Fridays, by day’s end the next 

Monday. If you have not received a return response 

within that time, the email or phone message that you 

left may not have gone through. If that is the case, 

please connect with the front office at (510)531-8600 

and ask to leave a written message in the teacher’s 

mailbox in order to ensure a timely response from 

faculty. 


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PARENT VOLUNTEER EXPECTATIONS 

OHDS strives to serve as a supportive community 

for its children and families. Active parent 

involvement helps build the school and helps make 

the success of your child’s education possible. It 

also provides an important “middot” model for the 

students, in terms of taking care of one another 

and of our environment. 

Parents at OHDS have many opportunities to 

volunteer their time and talents towards enriching 

the school program. School events such as field 

trips, special celebrations (Yom Haatzmaut, Purim 

Carnival, etc.), teacher appreciation, spaghetti 

lunches, and many other events throughout the 

year are only possible with parent participation. 

We also have wonderful opportunities for parents 

to share their talents and skills with our students 

by making classroom presentations. 

Additionally, we welcome parent volunteers to 

help with administrative projects. Each class also 

has a need for a room parent, who is responsible 

for coordinating class events. 

At the beginning of each year, you will receive a list 

of many of the volunteer opportunities available 

throughout the year. This is designed to help 

parents plan what kind of volunteering efforts they 

can commit to for the year. We ask each family to 

commit 10 hours of meaningful volunteer work. 

Please contact our parent association with any 

questions at pa@ohds.org. 

SUPPORT PLAN INFORMATION SHARING 

Open and honest sharing of information between 

home and school sets the foundation for student 

success in any school setting. 

At OHDS we expect that parents will share 

information and reports from any learning 

assessments, medical or psychological evaluations, 

diagnosis or support from outside providers 

including, but not limited to: 

• doctors 

• educational psychologists 

• neuro-psychologists 

• occupational therapists 

• public school evaluators 

• psychiatrists 

• speech and language pathologists 

• social skills therapists 

• therapists 

POINTS OF CONTACT 

A healthy partnership between home and school 

is built on a foundation of regular and clear 

communication. Parents should feel comfortable 

reaching out at any point in the year to their child’s 

teachers by email to share information, ask questions, 

express concerns or to set up a time to speak. 

Teachers may also reach out to parents as needed 

to share sweet moments, ask questions or partner to 

address challenges that arise. Additionally, parents 

can expect regular “touch-points” throughout the 

year, as follows: 

Fall 

• September: Back-to-School Night 

• October: Parent Teacher Conferences (middle 

school students attend) 

• November: Check in by email for BK-5 and 

by advisor phone call for middle school, with 

progress update 

Winter 

• February: Parent Teacher Conferences with 

portfolio presentations and progress summary 


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Spring 

• April: Check in by email for BK-5 and by advisor 

phone call middle school, with progress update 

• June: Report cards sent digitally 

Additionally, habits reports for grades 5-8 are issued 

in October, December, March and May. 

BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT 

Back-to-School Night in the fall is an opportunity 

for parents to meet their child’s teachers and to 

learn about the curriculum for the year, as well as 

to connect with other parents. This is a time to hear 

what the teacher has planned for the year, what 

the classroom procedures are, what materials will 

be used, etc. Specific concerns about an individual 

child should be addressed by scheduling a separate 

appointment at another time. For date and time, 

please refer to the school calendar. 

PARENT CONFERENCES 

Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled twice 

a year (early fall and winter) for all grades. Middle 

school students are present at their conferences 

which are held with their advisory team. Because 

conferences are scheduled back-to-back with each 

individual teacher, it is vital that all appointments are 

respected and strictly adhered to. 

The most successful parent-teacher conferences are 

those that create a partnership between parents and 

teachers. This partnership is best supported when: 

• Parents and teachers know that they can trust 

each other to understand and appreciate their 

children. 

• Parents and teachers know that their partnership 

is fundamental to the emotional and intellectual 

development of our students. 

The parent-teacher conference is an opportunity for 

the mutual sharing of information in support of the 

child’s success and well-being. We know that each of 

us, and each child, has our own style of thinking, of 

working, of learning, and of communicating. We value 

these individual differences and value your wisdom 

about your child. 

Are there questions and concerns that your child’s 

teachers should be thinking about? Are there 

additional meetings that need to be established 

for future check-in and follow-up? How would you 

like us to be in touch? We value your insights about 

your child. Our definition of education goes beyond 

tests and assignments. Our goal is to develop 

an excitement about learning and to create an 

environment where your child feels proud of him/ 

herself as a student. 

MID-YEAR CHECK-INS 

In addition to formal parent teacher conferences, 

parents can expect informal check-ins from teachers 

via email or phone call before winter and spring 

breaks. Parents should feel free to reach out by email 

with any academic, social or emotional concerns at 

any point and can expect that teachers will respond 

within 24 hours. Teachers will make themselves 

available to speak by phone or meet in person as 

needed. 

PROGRESS UPDATES AND REPORT CARDS 

Teachers share formal written information about 

student progress at two points in the year, as follows: 

Winter Progress Summary and Goals 

• Written summary of formal and informal 

assessments and goals for student learning 

• Shared at Winter Parent Teacher Conference 

End-of-Year Report Card 

• Standards-based report card and narrative 

summary shared online through parent portal. 


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47

RELIGIOUS POLICIES 

their • backpacks. Please label them with your child’s 

name. 


HOLIDAYS (CHAGGIM) 

Jewish holiday observance plays an important part in 

the life of our school. All students are expected to wear 

white shirts on certain chaggim celebrated in school; a 

reminder will be sent out before these chaggim. While 

the school marks appropriate American holidays such 

as Thanksgiving and President’s Day, please note that 

we do not participate in observance of non-Jewish 

holidays such as Christmas, Halloween, or St. Valentine’s 

Day. Please assist us by not sending your child to 

school with items relating to those days. 

KASHRUT 

OHDS strictly observes the Jewish dietary laws 

(kashrut). Lunches and snacks must be dairy or pareve 

(neutral). Pareve food includes vegetables, fruits, fish 

and eggs. All packaged foods brought into the school 

for lunch, snack or cooking projects must have one of 

the symbols from the chart published in this manual. No 

meat products of any kind are to be sent to school. 

Soup sent to school must be vegetable, not meat based 

(and cannot be heated —see below). 

If you have any questions regarding our kosher policies, 

please contact the head of school or Rabbi Albert at 

rabbialbert@bethjacoboakland.org or (510)482-1147. 

Students are not allowed to heat up food in the school 

kitchen. All prepared foods brought in for class snacks 

or school functions must be prepared in the school’s 

kosher kitchen (this includes the cutting of fruits and 

vegetables) and must adhere to our kashrut policy. Use 

of the school kitchen is by appointment only and must 

be pre-arranged through the office. 

All Jewish males are expected to wear kippot when 

attending any school function or working in the 

classrooms. 

PRAYER (TEFILLAH) 

Every class begins the day with tefillah (prayer). 

In grades BK–5, boys and girls pray together as a 

class. Tefillah helps the children bond together as a 

community, and begin the day on an upbeat, spiritual 

note. We emphasize not only the skills involved in 

praying and familiarity with traditional prayers, but 

also the feeling and meaning behind the prayers, and 

the individual nature of the praying experience. 

The boys and girls in grades 6–8 either pray 

separately, allowing all students to have an equal 

opportunity for prayer leadership, or together, using 

a mechitzah as a reflection of the special nature of 

our school, a Modern Orthodox institution that serves 

the entire community. Tefillah in the middle school 

starts at 8:15 a.m., so please be sure to bring your 

child to school on time. 

TZEDAKAH 

Many classes collect tzedakah as a means of 

inculcating the Jewish values of giving and sharing 

with others. Your child’s teacher will let you know the 

pattern of tzedakah collection in your child’s class. In 

addition, children will participate in various forms of 

community service projects throughout the year. 


KIPPOT 

Boys are expected to wear kippot at all times. All boys 

are required to have two extra kippot with hair clips in 

48 

49


KOSHER SYMBOLS 

DUAL HOME POLICY 

Consistent with the mission of Oakland Hebrew Day 

School to promote the best interest of each student 

enrolled in our school in partnership with both parents, 

it shall be the policy of OHDS to maintain strict 

neutrality between parents who are involved in an 

action affecting the family, unless otherwise directed 

by court order. As such, our ultimate focus remains on 

the student at all times, and it is our hope that both 

parents work with the school to ensure that positive 

relationships and interactions are maintained. 

COMMUNICATIONS AND CONFERENCES 

Unless otherwise dictated by court order (in which 

case the enrolling parent shall be requested to provide 

to the school a certified copy of the most recent 

court order reciting such curtailment or restriction), 

both parents have the right to be kept informed of the 

child’s school progress and activities, or participate 

therein. 

CONTRACTING WITH OHDS 

Enrollment contracts are the joint obligation of both 

parents/guardians to the extent that two exist. 

In the presence of any written court order guidelines 

restricting parental access or the legal decisionmaking 

rights of a parent or guardian, OHDS will 

require a copy of these written orders on file in order 

to comply with them. The school will require this to 

be provided at least annually with any updated orders 

provided on a timely basis. 


DUPLICATE COPIES 

The OHDS office will provide duplicate copies of all 

mailed items, such as progress reports, assessments, 

and other mailers (that are not distributed to 

the students in school), including all school-wide 

and class-wide email correspondence. Fliers and 

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51


announcements that are normally distributed to the 

students in school will be provided one copy per 

student. A parent may request that the office mail all 

such distributions home weekly, but it is that parent’s 

responsibility to directly request this service in writing to 

the front office. Ma Chadash are also sent to all families 

via email. 

PARENT-SIGNED AUTHORIZATION FORMS 

OHDS requires parents to provide unambiguous 

direction with regards to the safety and security of 

their children. As such, we ask that only one dismissal 

authorization form be submitted to the school per child, 

with a mutually agreed-upon list of individuals who have 

permission to pick up the student from school (on a 

typical school day and/or in case of an emergency). The 

school cannot accept separate or conflicting dismissal 

authorization forms. In the absence of one mutually 

agreed upon document, the child will only be released 

to a parent or legal guardian. In the event that parents 

share custody, one parent signature is adequate to grant 

student permission to participate in school-sponsored 

field trips, after-school activities, etc. 

In the case where parents do not share custody of the 

child, a copy of all relevant and legal court orders with 

regards to child custody must be filed with the front 

office in order for OHDS to assume responsibility in 

matters of parent guardianship. 

52

1 BUILDS OUR KINDNESS 

“Be the first to greet each person.” 

- R. Masya ben Charash 

Greeting others 

before they greet us 

Bouncing back 

3 BUILDS OUR RESILIENCE 

“A righteous person falls down seven times 

and gets up.” - Mishlei 

from disappointments 

Cleaning up our messes 

and fixing our mistakes 

5 BUILDS OUR RESPONSIBILITY 

“See to it that you do not spoil and destroy My world; for 

if you do, there will be no one else to repair it.” -Midrash 

Kohelet Rabbah 

Trying again 

& again 

7 BUILDS OUR PERSERVERANCE 

“...the searching is the finding and the pursuit is the 

achievement.” - Dr. Abraham J. Twerski 

Doing the right thing 

9 BUILDS OUR INTEGRITY 

“People should always consider themselves as if the Holy 

One dwells within them.“ - Talmud 

when nobody’s watching 

Saying please 

& thank you 

2 BUILDS OUR GRATITUDE 

“Who is wealthy? The person who is happy 

with what they have.” - Pirkei Avot 

Letting people finish 

what they’re saying 

4 BUILDS OUR RESPECT 

“A learned person does not interrupt the words of 

another.“ - Shimon Bar Yohai 

Taking slow, 

calming breaths 

6 BUILDS OUR SELF-CONTROL 

“Who is strong? One who overpowers their 

inclinations” - Pirkei Avot 

Noticing 

small details 

8 BUILDS OUR CURIOSITY 

“Wonder rather than doubt is the root 

of all knowledge.” - Abraham Joshua 

Heschel 

Keep an open mind. Show you care. Try your best.

Family Handbook 2018-2019

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