May 17, 2010

New Announcements:

·         Important Upcoming Dates : 

May 17	Staff Development Day – No school for students
May 18	·         5th Grade Visits Pine Valley Middle ·         Parkhurst Trip to In-n-Out
May 19	·         Garrahan & Koby Trip to In-n-Out ·         DESEF Meeting, 3:30-4:30
May 20	·         Schaeffer & Drain/Fissore Trip to In-n-Out ·         DESEF Popsicle Giveaway in MPR, 6:00 pm ·         Open House/Science Fair, 6:30-7:30 pm
May 21	·         “Hawaiian” Spirit Day ·         PTA Family Fun Night – Hawaiian Family Dance
May 26	Parent Volunteer Tea – 8:00 am in MPR
May 27	2nd Grade Trip to Sunol Niles Canyon Railroad
May 28	WOW Pizza Luncheon

 

·         THANK YOU for the Teacher Appreciation Week: On behalf of all of our teachers and staff, we’d like to thank the entire Walt Disney community for this past week’s flowers, treats, gifts, cards, and words. I feel truly honored to work and serve in our community. The staff and I were treated this Thursday to a wonderful luncheon served by our generous WDPTA. To see a “thank you” video on location, click here.

 

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Please note our school district’s newly published policy on the inappropriate use of technology, possible consequences, and action steps for responding to bullying/harassment:

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ACCEPTABLE USE OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION - 
As the use of digital technology becomes more prevalent throughout our schools, the San Ramon Valley Unified School District is committed to helping students learn the responsible use of such technology in a safe and appropriate manner.  This document serves as a reminder to parents and students that cell phones, cameras, video cameras, websites and other means of transmitting electronic data can be disruptive and/or harmful, with respect to themselves, other students and staff, as well as the overall school environment. The following information has been developed with the safety of all students and staff in mind.

CYBER BULLYING

Cyber Bullying is the use of electronic information and communication devices to willfully and repeatedly harm either a person or persons through the medium of electronic text, photos, or videos.  Examples of this behavior include but are not limited to:

 

·        Sending/posting false, cruel, hurtful or vicious messages/comments

·        Creating websites that have stories, cartoons, pictures, and jokes ridiculing others.

·        Breaking into an email account and sending vicious or embarrassing materials to others.

·        Engaging someone in electronic communication, tricking that person into revealing sensitive personal information and forwarding that information to others.

·        Posting of a student picture without their permission.

 

Bullying of this nature creates a hostile, disruptive environment on the school campus and is a violation of the student’s and staff member’s right to be safe and secure. Actions deliberately threatening, harassing, intimidating an individual or group of individuals, placing an individual in reasonable fear of harm or damaging the individual’s property; or disrupting the orderly operation of the school, will not be tolerated.

 

INAPPROPRIATE USE OF TECHNOLOGY

The fundamental principles behind these policies are that students should never do anything that harms another student or prevents them from learning. Any use of technological media that interrupts with a student’s right to learn will not be tolerated. Electronic media includes, but is not limited to: social networking sites, chat rooms and discussion groups, instant messaging, text messaging, computers, cell phones and personal digital devices, digital cameras, cell phone cameras, and web cams. As new technologies emerge, they too may be included with the above forms of electronic communication. Examples of this behavior include but are not limited to:

 

·        Sending, sharing, viewing, or possessing pictures, text messages, emails, or other material of sexually explicit, graphic, or disruptive nature on any device is prohibited on a school campus.

 

·         If the conduct occurs off school grounds and causes or threatens to cause a substantial disruption at school or interferes with the rights of students or school staff to be secure, school administration may impose consequences. The Administration may also report the Cyber Bullying or Harassment to the police.

 

 

CONSEQUENCES - INAPPROPRIATE USE OF TECHNOLOGY

Education Codes 48900.4 and 48900 (r), strictly prohibit harassment or bullying of any kind and such behavior is subject to consequences, including possible expulsion.

 

·        Sexually explicit material that is transmitted electronically may result in parents or police being notified, and that material may be reported as suspected child abuse or neglect.

 

·        All students involved in the transmission and/ or possession of such images or text may be disciplined under California Education Code 48900 (i): Committed an obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity or vulgarity.

 

·         If reasonable suspicion exists that a student has been involved in possessing or transmitting such material, the electronic device involved may be confiscated and searched by school officials.

 

·        The transmission of such material involving another student may be punished under California Education Code 48900 (r): Engaged in an act of bullying, including, but not limited to, bullying committed by means of an electronic act, as defined in subdivisions (f) and (g) of Section 32261, directed specifically toward a pupil or school personnel.

 

·        Additionally, Education Code 48900 (k) states that any disruption of school activities or otherwise willful defiance of the valid authority of supervisors, teachers, administrators, school officials, or other school personnel engaged in the performance of their duties can also lead to suspension

 

*** Education Codes 48900.4 “Harassment, threats, or intimidation creating an intimidating or hostile educational environment”

 

***Education Code 48900 (k) “Disrupted school activities or otherwise willfully defied the valid authority of supervisors, teachers, administrators, school officials, or other school personnel engaged in the performance of their duties”

 

***Education Code 48900 (i) “Committed an obscene act or engaged in habitual profanity or vulgarity

 

*** Education Code 48900 (r) “Engaged in an act of bullying, including, but not limited to bullying committed by means of an electronic act, as defined in subdivisions (f) and (k) of Section 32261, directed specifically toward a pupil or school personnel”

 

 

ACTION STEPS TO RESPOND TO BULLYING OR HARASSMENT

Any student who receives such an image or message against their will should:

 

·        Inform a school official immediately.

·        Save the evidence. Print the online harassing text if possible.

·        Identify the Bully.

·        Clearly tell the Bully to stop.

·        Ignore the bully by leaving the online environment and/or blocking communications.

·        File a complaint with the Internet or Cell Phone Company.

·        Contact the Bully’s parents.

·        Contact the police.
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·         STAR Base API Scores Recently Released: As some of you may have read in the papers or seen on the internet, the 2009 Base API scores were released on Thursday by the California Department of Education. Disney’s Academic Performance Index was 917 and our “Similar Schools Rating” was a 9 (out of 10). These scores are NOT the results of our recently completed STAR tests. The 2009 Base scores are indeed the annual recalculated scores from the STAR tests that our students took last spring in 2009. “But we already saw those scores. Why is the state releasing these scores again?” you may ask. Every year, the state makes changes to the STAR tests that require the readjustment or recalculations of scores so schools and school districts can have a “base” score to more accurately  compare the results of the upcoming 2010 Growth API scores that will be released in August/September. In summary, we do not know the results from the recently completed STAR scores that our 2^nd through 5^th graders just completed.

 

 

·         Parent Volunteer “Thank You” Tea: There are so many different ways that WD parents’ contributions enhance the learning of everyone in our school community.  There have been numerous parents who have helped teachers by performing cutting, copying, and sorting duties as well as providing instruction and support to small groups of students.  Some parents volunteer in our library and cafeteria. Others have served on the boards and/or committees of our parent groups – DESEF and PTA. There are many, many, many more parents who volunteer in other capacities to enrich the WD school experience.  We would like to invite and honor all of you to our Annual Volunteer Tea to be held on May 26^th.  This year, we will have a Breakfast Tea from 8:00 am to 8:40 am. We hope all our parent volunteers can attend for we truly appreciate all that you do!             

 

 

 

Recurring Announcements:
         

 

·         Free & Reduced Lunch:  we have all felt the crunch of our recent economy in one way or another. Our school district does offer school lunch service on a free and/or reduced fee basis for families who qualify. I invite families to consider this option as a nutritious lunch makes a big difference in our children’s day. Visit this website below to download the application, and return it to the Disney office. All applications and information are kept confidential.

·         Summer Enrichment Program :  as many of our families may have already heard during conferences with teachers, our district will not have an intervention summer program for elementary students (except for some cases of special education and English learners). However, enrichment summer school will continue. To see what classes are available, go to the K-4 district summer programs website where you can also sign up your child(ren). Online registration opens on March 24.