Parent Orientation Information

2011/2012Welcome to Year 3

Leonardo da Vinci Health Sciences Charter School (LdVCS)

501(c)(3)

As a nurturing learning community, Leonardo da Vinci Health Sciences Charter School cultivates health-literate students who have the knowledge, critical thinking skills, and attitudes, which empower them to become influential contributors in an ever-changing global society.

LdVCS Mission Statement

Leonardo da Vinci Health Sciences Charter School believes in a student-centered approach to learning that encourages all students to become compassionate, innovative, and intelligent thinkers who are knowledgeable about and value what it means to be healthy.

LdVCS Vision Statement

To help our students apply the vision/mission we begin each day with a chant

I am off to a good start with a healthy mind, body and heart.

We dialogue about what it means to have a healthy in all these areas.

LdVCS Chant

Get Connected! What’s New at LdVCS School Rules Conflict Resolution for Students Accepting Responsibility Attendance Policy Breakfast and Lunch Curricular Programs Volunteers Procedures In and Around School Conflict Resolution for Adults Governance Committees/Director Chats Board of Trustees Uniform Guidelines/Dress Code Boys and Girls Club

Contents

What makes our charter school unique?◦ Emphasis on inquiry and project based learning◦ Health and Wellness focus

Kindergarten-Grade 6 Curriculum Physical Education Nutrition Emotional Wellness Emphasis on Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Rewards

◦ Habits of Mind◦ Small Size of School- presently 11 classrooms◦ Monthly Monday Assemblies/Families◦ Foreign Language Program - Spanish

Get Connected to LdVCS

STAR Reporting of 2010/2011 ◦ API Growth of 77 Points from 742 to 819 – highest API

growth in Chula Vista Elementary School District◦ Met all students growth target

WASC Accreditation ◦ First public elementary school in Chula Vista with this

distinction Addition of Two New Teachers

◦ Grade 3 - Ms. Natalie Goldfarb with background in nonprofit educational leadership/reading intervention

◦ Grade 4 - Mrs. Jennifer Gianelli with 8 years of teaching experience at a dual language charter school

What’s New at LdVCS

School Hours - For Grades K-6th 8am-3pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 8am-12:30pm (Early Dismissal Day) on Wednesday

◦ Staggered times ( to facilitate after school student pick up): ◦ Kinder -10 minutes early (2:55 arrival at student pick-up area) ◦ 1st Grade -5 min early (3:00 arrival at student pick-up area)◦ Grades 2-6 Regular Dismissal (3:05 arrival at student pick-up

area)

What’s New at LdVCS

Monthly Morning Assemblies and Families◦ begin at 8:15am – 1st Monday of the month

Research-based lunch program – ◦ play first, wash hands, eat after - builds up an appetite.

ING Run for Something Better Grant - renewed USD Partnership Monthly Director Chats on 4th Wednesday

@12:45pm before Governance Committee meetings

Governance Committees will meet after school on 4th Wednesdays at 1:30 pm

What’s New at LdVCS

Character Development The staff wants school to be a positive

experience for your child.  His/her elementary school years should be full of wonderful memories that he/she will always cherish. 

School Rules:

Character Development In an effort to accomplish this goal the

following declaration and rules are designed to teach children appropriate social behaviors throughout the entire school.

School Rules:

Declaration:   We believe that the purpose of discipline is to help a

student change inappropriate behavior that will lead to positive life-long learning behaviors.

  We believe that the environment of Leonardo da

Vinci Charter School must be violence free from of all forms of harassment, intimidation, and bullying.

   

School Rules:

Declaration:   We believe in shared responsibility where staff, parents,

and students work together to create the safest possible environment for scholastic excellence and appropriate behavior.

  We believe in the right of teachers to teach and in the

right of students to learn in a classroom environment that is free from disruptions caused by chronic student truancy and misbehavior.

   

School Rules:

Our goal is that Leonardo da Vinci Charter students will:

Come to school on time prepared work to the best of their ability and complete all assigned tasks.

Show courtesy to everyone by listening, being polite, and using good manners.

      

School Rules:

Respect all property by taking pride in our school, keeping it clean inside and out

Not interrupt the learning environment but work quietly using a six inch voice in the classroom and walk silently in the hallways.  

 

School Rules:

Your child is being taught to be assertive and reflective by using the following problem solving strategies.

When someone is bothering you will:1. Tell them that you do not like what they are

doing 2. Ask them to stop, give them the chance to

apologize, and change their behavior.3. If they don’t stop, then move away from them

and let the teacher know what they are doing.  

Conflict Resolution for Students:

When choosing to participate in an inappropriate behavior students will answer the following questions to help them accept responsibility for their behavior, learn from their mistakes, and make better choices in the future.

 

Accepting Responsibility for Choices and Behavior:

Reflective Questions: What did I do or say? What rule did I choose not to follow? What could I have done instead? 

Accepting Responsibility for Choices and Behavior:

Be at School, ON TIME◦ If your child is tardy, they will be sent to the office

for a late slip School funding is based on your child’s daily

attendance Independent Study Agreements

◦ Available for 3 or more consecutive days◦ Please provide a 72 advance notice

Attendance Policy

Aramark Education◦ Eliseo Reategui: Assistant Food Service Director◦ $1.50 Breakfast

Served from 7:40am-7:50am◦ $2.55 Lunch◦ Prepay for meals at the cafeteria before school

Breakfast and Lunch

• Curricular Programs for 2011-12 Imagine It (Language Arts Program)-Kindergarten-

Grade 3 Caring School Community Initiative

Nationally recognized, research based K-6 program that builds classroom and school wide community.

School and Home Connection Foreign Language Instruction for Grade 5 Discovery Education

Curricular Programs

We Love You!! Volunteering is mandatory: Minimum of 5

hours per semester Volunteers assist in classrooms and on

campus Room Parent Coordinator: LeeAnn Everly

Volunteers

High need for Volunteers for AM/PM traffic, morning supervision, and lunch supervision

For the safety of our students, all volunteers must be fingerprinted through the San Diego County of Education and TB cleared

Sorry no siblings brought during volunteering time

Volunteers

We should consider ourselves guests of Mater Dei. When volunteering/visiting, sign in/out at the

office. Drop off/Pick Up

◦ Stay in and around Building #8 Emphasize health choices both in and out of

school Pick up child/ren on time Visit LdVCS’ website often Director Updates are sent and posted every week

Procedures In and Around School

Communicate often with teachers, director, and staff.LDVC has a conflict resolution process, please refer to our petition pages 74-76 for complaint procedures.

Process encourages conflict resolution

Procedures In and Around School

Process encourages conflict resolution: 1). Speak to the person with whom you

have a complaint first: teacher or staff/school community member. If the conflict is not resolved then you…

2). Write your complaint and present it to the director. If further support is needed to address concern, then….

3). Present the concern in writing to the board for the next board meeting.

Procedures In and Around School

Board has the legal and fiduciary responsibility for the well being of our school.

Members are elected and serve a two year term. Meetings are open to the public and are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 6:00

Board of Trustees

2011/2012 Board of Trustees:◦ Angela Rieta, Chairperson; Erin Gannon,

Secretary;, Karim Rasul, Mario Hernandez, Amber Goslee, Alma Van Nice (non voting member), Cynthia Gomez, Advisor

Board of Trustees

Three Governance Committees:Meetings are held the fourth Wednesday of each month at 1:30 pm◦ Audit/Budget –

Facilities Search Committee meets on 2nd Thursday of the month or as needed

◦ Curriculum and Assessment Technology Committee meets at 3:30 pm on 4th Wed,

◦ Partnership

Governance Committees

Before the Governance Committee meetings are held on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 1:30 pm. Director’s Chats will be held on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 12:45 pm

Governance Committees/Monthly Director’s Chats

Forest green embroidered shirt Khaki Pants/skirt/skorts/shorts Sneakers Contact Office with any questions

Uniform Guidelines

Clothes shall be sufficient to conceal undergarments; bare midriffs, halter tops, spaghetti straps, skirts shorter than hands length, and shorts shorter than mid thigh are not acceptable

Appropriate shoes must be for play and running (sneakers)

Dress Code

Provides after school care for our students◦ $50 a month◦ $50 yearly membership

Club picks students up on campus after school

Boys and Girls Club

I certify that I have read the following parent orientation and agree to follow the LdVCS procedures.

___________________________________________ Parent Signature Date

____________________________________________ Name of child Grade

Teacher

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