SCHOOL HANDBOOK
TOM
MATSUMOTO SCHOOL VISION & MISSION STATEMENTS
VISION
The Tom Matsumoto
School community dedicates itself to providing the best possible
education for our students. We believe in providing a safe and
nurturing environment in which every child experiences success
and growth of self-esteem.
We hold high expectations for all students.
Students engage in challenging differentiated activities that
allow them to meet or exceed California grade-level standards.
Teaching practices are continuously reviewed and new approaches
researched and applied.
We structure activities and classroom
environments to foster a community based on tolerance and mutual
respect, one in which every child feels valued. We work to build
a strong sense of self-worth in every child so that each may become
an empowered contributor to society.
We embrace our motto "Creating the
Future", and believe in the ability of every child to become
a successful life-long learner.
MISSION
Our vision manifests itself when our students:
1) Meet or exceed grade level standards in English Language Arts,
English Language Development, Mathematics, Science and Social
Studies.
2) Experience quality curriculum through differentiated instruction
based upon students' needs, research and best practices.
3) Accept responsibility for their words and actions.
4) Demonstrate respect for themselves and others in our culturally
diverse community
5) Demonstrate the ability to resolve conflict peacefully.
6) Develop and maintain healthy relationships with peers and adults.
Daily
AM Kindergarten: 8:05-11:25
PM Kindergarten: 11:40-3:00
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday
Grades 1 through 6: 8:05-2:10
Thursday
Grades 1 through 6: 8:05-12:35
Minimum days are used for teacher inservice.
ALL Thursdays are minimum days for Grades 1 through 6 unless
otherwise stated in the newsletter.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE
DEVELOPMENT
The ELD program is funded with state and district monies to provide
supplemental language instruction for non-English and limited
English proficient students.
GIFTED AND TALENTED
EDUCATION
The GATE program is funded by state and district monies to provide
supplemental instruction to challenge and motivate students who
have been identified as academically talented and/or intellectually
gifted. The program is offered to students in grades 4 through
6 at Tom Matsumoto School.
SPEECH AND
LANGUAGE PROGRAM
Children with identified special needs in speech and language
are provided services by a part-time Speech and Language Specialist.
SPECIAL EDUCATION
This state funded program provides services for identified children
who require additional teaching assistance to supplement the core
instructional curriculum. Each Special Education student has an
Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) which is developed by the
Resource Specialist, the regular classroom teacher, the psychologist
and the parent.
PSYCHOLOGICAL
SERVICES
A school psychologist is available one day per week at school.
Referrals are made by the parents and staff members. The primary
responsibility of the psychologist is student evaluation within
the scope of special education. An MFCC counselor is available
two days per week to work with students in counseling sessions
to assist with the stresses of growing up, broken families, peer
pressure, attitude adjustment, etc.
NURSE
The school nurse is at Tom Matsumoto one day a week on alternate
weeks. She provides a variety of health related services which
include hearing and vision screening. The health aide assists
the nurse and is available daily to provide first aid to students.
Students requiring medication at school need to have documentation
on file in the office. Please inquire at the office for the proper
paperwork.
Tom Matsumoto School embraces the principles
of Discipline with Dignity. As such we recognize that all students
have basic needs:
1. To feel and believe they are capable and successful.
2. To know they are cared about by others.
3. To realize that they are able to influence people
and events.
4. To remember and practice helping others through
their own generosity.
5. To have fun and be motivated to learn.
In an effort to meet these basic needs, seven basic principles are focal points:
1. Focus on long-term behavior
changes rather than short-term quick fixes.
2. Change discipline practices if they don't work.
3. Be fair and not always treat everyone the
same.
4. Rules must make sense and should be discussed.
5. Responsibility is more important than obedience.
6. Model what you expect.
7. Always treat students with dignity.
ATTENDANCE
A student's absence from school or tardiness must be verified
by the parent/guardian with a written note or phone call. It is
preferred that you call the day of the absence. Ed. Code section
48260 states that any pupil subject to compulsory full-time education
or to compulsory continuation education who is absent from school
without valid excuse more than three days or tardy in excess
of 30 minutes on each of more than three days in one school year
is a truant and shall be reported to the attendance supervisor.
Valid excuses for absence
from school are:
a) illness
b) quarantine as directed by health officer
c) appointments for medical services
d) attendance of funeral services of immediate family members
All other absences are considered unexcused and therefore
truant. Family travel that exceeds 10 days will result in the
student being dropped from the attendance rolls. Reinstatement
into the class and school is contingent upon available space.
SCHOOL GROUNDS
During school hours, NO student is permitted to leave the school
grounds without written permission and checking out with the office.
Please come to the office to sign out your child for any appointments
during the day. All visitors to the school are required to
sign-in at the office prior to entering the campus. We ask
your help in maintaining this requirement, we wish to ensure your
children's safety. Classrooms are open for community visitations
the first Wednesday of each month between the hours of 8:30 and
9:30 (except during the state testing window). Community members
wishing to visit Matsumoto School must sign in and wear special
name badges.
CAFETERIA
Hot lunches are available daily. The cost is $2.50 for lunch and
$.40 if purchasing milk separately. A free and reduced lunch program
is available. Applications for these programs are available in
the school office. Applications must be renewed each year. It
is recommended that lunches be paid off in blocks of a week or
a month.
BICYCLES
Students may NOT ride bicycles to school.
PERSONAL ITEMS
Students should NOT bring toys, games, radios, etc. to
school. P.E. equipment is allowed from home with permission of
your child's teacher. The school assumes no responsibility for
lost or stolen personal property. Please label all clothing
with your child's name. During the December vacation and again
at the end of the school year, all unclaimed lost and found items
are given to charity. Be sure to check for lost items on a regular
basis.
STUDENT DRESS
At Tom Matsumoto School we assume that the business at hand is
education, and as such students should be modestly dressed. Shorts,
biker shorts, tank tops, halter tops, net shirts, clothing that
conveys vulgar sayings and other attire that would distract from
the learning process in NOT allowed. We do, however, have a standing
rule that if the projected weather is to be in the mid-80's
appropriate shorts may be worn. Shorts should be fingertip length
at least. Short shorts and biker shorts are not allowed at any
time. Uniforms are NOT required. We will survey parents in the
spring to determine if they desire to have voluntary standards
of dress.
TELEPHONE
It is requested that students needing to stay after school or
arranging to go home with friends make those arrangements prior
to the day effected. The office phone is primarily for emergency
student use and for the making of last minute arrangements at
the teacher's request.
CONCERNS
If you have a question about your child's class, instruction,
discipline or just wish clarification, please contact your child's
teacher first. He or she is most likely to be acquainted with
the situation and possible ways of handling it. Conferences are
scheduled in November. All Tom Matsumoto teachers are committed
to excellent parent-teacher communication and are only a phone
call away.
MEDICATIONS
All student medication must be kept in the nurse's office. Students
taking ANY (presription or OTC) medication must have a form on
file in the office signed by a doctor. No student should have
medication on their person.
1. All medications (prescription or OTC) need school form filled
out and doctor signature.
2. All medication must be sent to school in a prescription bottle
or the original container.
NO MEDICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED IN AN UNLABELED CONTAINER.
COMMUNITY
Tom Matsumoto School has an active parent support group. This
group directly influences the school through the School Site Council
(SSC) and the Parent Teachers Association (PTA). Both these groups
meet monthly and parent attendance at the meetings is encouraged.
Please watch the newsletter for meeting dates.
WORK FOLDERS
Student work folders will come home every Friday. PLEASE WATCH
FOR THESE! Enclosed will be the school newsletter, the Mustang
Messenger, notices of upcoming events, a sampling of student work,
and news from the classroom. These folders are signed each week
and returned to school. The cost of replacement for a lost folder
is $1.00.
HOMEWORK
The object of homework is to assist and improve a student's learning.
Homework is to be reasonable in length, directly related to classroom
work, well defined in advance by the teacher, understood by the
student, and corrected and returned to the student. It is the
student's responsibility to complete homework. The type of homework
assignments and length should vary according to the student's
level:
Kindergarten: Homework is to be minimal and based on teacher judgment of student's need.
Primary grades (1-3): Homework is to be started as an expectation in the student's educational program. Homework is assigned at the discretion of the teacher with an emphasis on language arts and math. Nightly homework should not exceed 30 to 45 minutes per night.
Intermediate grades (4-6): Homework is to be expected as part of the student's daily educational program. Homework emphasis is on language arts and math. Additional assignments are given which, in the judgment of the teacher, will assist the student to learn and develop initiative and responsibility. Long term reports and projects should be expected. Nightly homework should not exceed 60 to 75 minutes per night.
If your child is spending excessive time on homework, contact the teacher as program modifications may be appropriate.
ACCIDENTS AND
EMERGENCIES
In case of an accident which is serious in nature or if the child
is uncomfortable, a parent will be called. Each child must have
an emergency card on file in the office. We update these annually
and ask for at least two alternative emergency numbers. If you
change address or phone number during the school year, please
contact the school immediately with this information.
THE PARKING LOT
For those parents wishing to bring and pick up their child by
car we ask assistance in maintaining a safe parking lot.
If you are dropping off or picking up
a student please either:
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