Family Handbook 2018-2019

Parent Involvement
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.
Parent Involvement
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