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Parent Student Handbook

We are the North Star Academy Gryphons, the landing place of mighty scholars. We were drawn here by our shared academic talent and desire to be valuable to others. Every day, we persevere to build a sense of wonder in our community so that we all may soar into a future worthy of our efforts. 

RCSD Mission Statement:

Redwood City School District creates a safe and supportive, inspirational, rigorous, joyful, and inclusive environment for all learners.

NSA Mission Statement:

North Star Academy’s mission is to provide a challenging learning environment that promotes excellence and motivates highly capable students to develop to their fullest potential and become successful and productive citizens. 

Vision Statement:

North Star Academy's inclusive culture is founded on an appreciation of uniqueness and diversity. Students are engaged and motivated through a compacted curriculum, a rich and rigorous academic schedule, and an enrichment program that provides for choice and student interest. PBIS (Positive-Based Interventions and Supports) at North Star comes through the STARS program (Safe Thoughtful Accountable Respectful Scholars). This includes a monthly celebration of character traits, such as responsibility, respect, accountability, and others.  


Student Behavior Expectations:

  1. STARS (Safe, Thoughtful, Accountable, Respectful Scholars)

    1. Safe - keep hands and feet to themselves, treat others kindly, use all equipment safely, and be safe on playground equipment (no running on the play structure, one at a time on swings, etc.)

    2. Thoughtful - kindly speak to others, care about other people’s feelings, include others in your activities, and keep the school clean.

    3. Accountable: Students should be truthful in their work, honest when mistakes occur, create their own work, and come to school prepared for all classes.

    4. Respectful - pick up trash regardless of who it belongs to, respect nature (don’t harm trees, bushes, etc.), and respect teachers and classrooms by exiting the classroom during recess and lunch to allow them free time.

    5. Scholar - “A scholar learns and processes information purposefully and produces useful outcomes.” Dr. Richard Cash, Differentiation for Gifted Learners.  In addition, scholars take pride in their work and work collaboratively.

While all our consequences are consistent with and guided by our larger mission, our handbook, and the Ed Code, we highlight consequences of hate-related language and actions because of the unique harm they can cause – and because of our urgent need to provide education to counter such infractions in the future.  Given the seriousness of such infractions and the responsibility to educate our students to be justice-minded, we will take a tiered approach to assigning consequences.

  1. Academic Integrity (honesty and responsibility in scholarship)

    1. North Star Academy advocates high standards in ethical behavior as well as scholarship. Academic honesty is integral in fostering self-respect, achievement, and positive relationships among all stakeholders in our school community and an ethical climate that values honesty, effort, and respect for others.  

    2. A form of academic dishonesty is when an individual undermines the integrity of an assignment or exam. Plagiarism is also a form of academic dishonesty in which an individual submits or presents another person's work as his or her own. Additionally, utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to generate content without proper attribution or acknowledgment can be considered a form of plagiarism, as it involves presenting the work generated by the AI as the individual's own without giving credit to the algorithms and data sources behind it.

  2. Safe Behaviors

    1. All students are to maintain an appropriate attitude at all times. Students are responsible for the attitudes they choose. Students should show respect in classes, in all activities, and with guest speakers. No student will be permitted to ridicule or mock other students or staff. This is considered a serious offense. If improper attitudes persist after parents have been contacted, disciplinary action will result. 

    2. Each student is expected to exercise common courtesy at all times, both in and out of the classroom. To help the student establish good habits, certain rules are necessary. The primary reason for school rules is to ensure student safety and provide an environment promoting learning.  The goal is for students to behave in a manner that demonstrates respect for people and property.  Hopefully, the school rules reflect the standards of the community as a whole so that the school prepares students to be good adult citizens.  Every attempt is made to enforce rules consistently and with a loving understanding of children and their needs.

    3. Vandalism is the willful or malicious defacement or destruction of any property belonging to NSA, its employees, or its students. It includes graffiti and tampering with computers. Any student found to have committed vandalism, either individually or as part of a group or a class prank, will experience consequences. Consequences may include suspension or expulsion and possible police intervention in severe cases. The full cost of repair and /or replacement may be charged to the family.

    4. A discipline referral can be given for misbehavior in the classroom. An administrator may take action on referrals, which are recorded in the student's personal file. 

    5. The Governing Board desires a safe school environment that allows all students equal access and opportunities in the district's academic, extracurricular, and other educational support programs, services, and activities. The Board prohibits, at any district school or school activity, unlawful discrimination, including discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on actual or perceived age, ancestry, ethnicity, parental status, pregnancy status, color, mental or physical disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical information, nationality, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. This applies to all acts related to school activity or attendance within any school under the jurisdiction of the Redwood City School District superintendent.  See link for full board policy.

    6. The Governing Board is committed to maintaining a safe school environment free from harassment and discrimination. The Board prohibits sexual harassment targeted at any student by anyone. The Board also prohibits retaliatory behavior or action against a person who reports, complains, testifies about, assists, or otherwise participates in the complaint process established pursuant to this policy and the administrative regulation. See link for full board policy.

    7. The  Governing Board recognizes that responsibilities related to marriage, pregnancy, or parenting and related responsibilities may disrupt a student's education and increase the chance of a student dropping out of school. The Board, therefore, desires to support married, pregnant, and parenting students to continue their education, attain strong academic and parenting skills, and promote the healthy development of their children. See link for full board policy.

 

  1. Electronic Devices Policy

    1. Electronic devices, such as cell phones/cellular devices, Air iPods/listening devices, iPads, tablets, electronic games, cameras, Apple Watches or watches with the capabilities to text, call, receive notifications, and/or listen to music are to be on silent (and airplane mode) or turned off throughout the school day and stored in backpacks or pencil pouches (NOT in your pockets) unless authorized by a teacher. They may be used before and after school ONLY. 

    2. Electronic devices are prohibited during lunch, recess, school-wide/on-campus events, and school/on-campus assemblies.

    3. Electronic devices are at the discretion of the teacher(s) during field trips and after-school clubs.

    4. Cell phones inappropriately used will be confiscated and picked up by a parent or guardian in the office. In an emergency, the parent should contact the office, and the staff will locate the student immediately. If students need to contact parents or guardians during the school day, they must use a school phone in the office or a teacher’s classroom with the teacher's permission.

    5. Students who bring cellular devices to school do so at their own risk. The school district and North Star Academy assume NO LIABILITY for lost, stolen, or damaged devices.

 

  1. Dress Code

    1. Appropriate dress and grooming contribute to a productive learning environment. NSA is committed to partnering with parents to teach students how to dress age appropriately at all times. Students’ clothing should show respect for themselves, their families, and the school. Students and parents are encouraged to work together to choose clothing for the student that is in good taste and suitable for the school activities in which they participate. 

    2. The dress code applies anytime during school hours and at such activities as performances, dances, Student Government activities, field trips, graduation, etc. Exceptions are made for students appropriately attired for sports, performances, and spirit days. 

    3. Undergarments should not be visible during school hours at any time.

Procedures/Logistics:

  1. Absences

    1. If your child is absent or will be absent from school please login to home.schoolmessenger.com  or          call 1-800-403-5535. Any non-medical absence (i.e., travel or other personal events) is considered “unexcused” even if you tell the office where you are.  

    2. If your child is absent for 5 or more school days, please ask the office staff to arrange an independent study contract.  Independent Study contracts must be requested at least two weeks before the planned absence. Students must turn in work the day they return to school. Students may also be given an alternative assignment if the absence warranted missing frontloading of an activity.

  2. Late or Tardy

    1. If your child arrives at school late or tardy, have them check into the office for a late pass. Late = 1 to 29 minutes. Tardy = 30 minutes or more. 

  3. Early Pick Up

    1. If your child needs to leave campus early for a doctor’s appointment or any other reason, you must stop by the office to sign the child out. The office staff will arrange for the child to come to the office.  It is disruptive for a parent to go to the classroom to retrieve a student unless directed to do so by the office staff.

  4. After School Supervision

    1. Students must leave school grounds within 15 minutes of dismissal unless they are participating in a supervised after-school activity. After 15 minutes, students will be directed to the office, where they will call their parents for pick-up.

  5. Lunch (Cafeteria Rules) and Recess Schedule and Expectations.                                                                            Students will walk from their classrooms to the lunch shelters or the cafeteria. Students can eat in either shelter and should try to space themselves out. Students must sit in the eating area for a minimum of  10 minutes. After 10 minutes, and when their area is clean, they may be released to go and play. Students must line up outside for the cafeteria and walk to the speed line when directed.  

  6. Recess

    1. Students eating snacks must sit at the blue lunch shelter before going out to play. NO FOOD is to be consumed on the blacktop or field.

  7. Injuries

    1. Students requiring first aid should report to the office or yard duty if they can not get there safely. Office staff or the nurse will administer bandaids or ice. Parents will be notified in the case of serious injury.

  8. Emergency Drills

    1. Students will participate in monthly safety drills to practice what to do during a fire, earthquake, or lockdown.  Student safety requires that students and staff remain calm and silent.

  9. Emergencies: 

    1. We use the Big Five Protocol established by the San Mateo County Office of Education as our guidelines: http://www.smcoe.org/learning-and-leadership/safe-and-supportive-schools/the-big-five.html.

    2. COMMUNICATIONS DURING EMERGENCIES 

In an emergency, the Redwood City School District will handle communications, using Blackboard Connect to send text and phone messages to all parents with immediate information about the emergency and procedures for student reunification/pickup. If the Redwood City Police Department is in charge of the area, they will coordinate information with the District Office. Please ensure you have the correct information on file with the school district so you can be contacted in an emergency.

  1. REUNIFICATION: PARENTS/GUARDIANS REUNITING WITH STUDENTS Procedure for Reuniting Parents/Guardians with their students if we are not able to remain in regular classrooms – Examples of this would be damage to a building, and all students are on the field behind campus or, if the school had to be evacuated and all students were off-site (Whole Foods parking lot – El Camino & Harrison streets)

  •  Updated parent/guardian lists will allow office staff to check students out to approved emergency contact people.  Please be sure to notify the office of any updates on these contacts.

  • Parents/guardians must check their student out from office staff at a designated check-out station.  Runners will be used to gather students.

  •  If we shelter off-site (in the Whole Foods parking lot), it is even more important that these same checkout procedures be followed to ensure all students are safely reunited.

 It is extremely important throughout the year, that the office is kept current on all phone number updates.

  1. Library

    1. Students can go to the library during recess and/or lunch with a pass retrieved from the front office. No food or drink is allowed in the library. Students are responsible for returning the books in a timely manner. The librarian will email the student if books are overdue.

  2. Lost and Found --   The Lost and Found rack will be housed inside the front gate, close to the front office entrance. It will be rolled out in the morning before school and back at night. Please check this regularly. We will donate clothing periodically throughout the year. Look for reminders in the newsletter. The best way to ensure students get their items returned is to put names and grade levels inside clothing, lunchboxes, and water bottles.

  3.  Extracurriculars After School & Middle School Dances:

    1. All North Star school rules apply to any activity held on any school grounds after school.  North Star students are expected to behave respectfully and appropriately at all times.

  4. Sportsmanship with gym and equipment:

    1. North Star students must treat facilities and equipment with respect, following the procedures outlined by PE staff.

 

  1. District Non-discrimination policy:

    1. North Star Academy and the local educational agency (LEA) adopted a policy that prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on actual or perceived ancestry, age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. See link for board policy.

  2. REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT PROCEDURES: Federal and State laws establish a procedure called a Uniform Complaint, which parents can use for particular concerns about their child’s education. Staff may also use these forms.  The paragraphs below describe the procedures the Redwood City School District adopted to address parental and staff concerns. 

A Uniform Complaint is a written statement alleging discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and/or bullying against students or staff. It is also a way to report a violation of federal or state laws or regulations, including inappropriate pupil fees. 

A Williams complaint is a type of Uniform complaint.  The Williams Complaint procedure requires a school district to use its uniform complaint process to help identify and resolve any deficiencies related to:

  1. Instructional materials 

  2. Teacher vacancy or misassignment 

  3. Emergency or urgent facility conditions that pose a threat to the health and safety of students and staff

A Williams Complaint may be filed anonymously. However, if you wish to respond to the complaint, you must include your name and contact information in the form.    The Redwood City School District uses a single form for Williams Complaints.

Please see link for Board Policy  

Please see Williams Complaint Form

These forms may be submitted to your local school or Human Resources.  The address for Human Resources is 750 Bradford Street, Redwood City, CA 94063. 
REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT PARENT INVOLVEMENT POLICY  Please see link for parent involvement policy