Policies & Handbook

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MSJE POLICIES

Attendance Policy 

Staff and parents want students in school every day. We want students to reach their maximum potential. The best teachers in the world cannot teach a child who doesn't attend. The office carefully monitors attendance and holds students and parents accountable for good attendance. Parents will be called each time students are absent from school, unless the parent has previously notified the school. Many times we know that it is the parent who is bringing the child to school late. Your child is missing precious instruction that cannot be made up. The Student Support Services office will be contacted regarding students whose absences or tardies are excessive. 

 

Cell Phone Policy

Cell phones/Smart Watches may be brought to school for safety purposes and students must follow the following guidelines:

  • Cell phone/Smart Watch must be turned off between 8:20 AM and 2:40 PM.
  • Cell phone must be kept in the student’s backpack.
  • Cell phones/Smart Watches will not be loaned to another student.
  • Cell phones are used to make a phone call for a ride only. It is not allowed to take pictures, listen to music, call friends, etc.
  • The school is not responsible if the cell phone/Smart Watch is lost or damaged.

Students who use cell phones/Smart Watches at any time during the instructional day shall be subject to the following progressive discipline procedures:

  • First Offense: the cell phone/Smart Watch will be confiscated and sent to the office with a referral slip. Parents will be called to pick up the cell phone.
  • Subsequent offense (s) - (defiance): Additional parent contact and more severe disciplinary action including but not limited to suspension.

Parents must provide an annual written request (MSJE Cell Phone/ Smart Watch Agreement form) to the school for a student to carry a cell phone/Smart Watch.

 

FUSD Homework Policy

The guidelines are for daily assignments of homework. The total number of minutes stated include all subjects and classes.

All assignments, studying for exams, working on projects, and assigned reading should be included in the required nightly minutes for homework. Students and families are strongly encouraged to choose to read more than what is assigned. Students with excused absences are allotted the same number of days of the absence to complete work. Homework should not be assigned on Fridays, during breaks and vacations as a regular practice. The FUSD Board of Education’s intent is to reserve weekends and vacations for family time. Homework does not need to be assigned every day. Students may be excused from completing homework when they have exceeded the upper limit of the daily minutes with a note from the parent/guardian.

Grade Daily Minutes
TK 0
Kindergarten 0-15
1st Grade 0-20
2nd Grade 0-25
3rd Grade 0-30
4th Grade 0-40
5th Grade 0-50

 

Dress and Grooming Policy

  1. Shoes must be worn at all times at school. The following footwear is not permitted:
    1. shoes without heel straps 
    2. thongs (flip flops)
    3. open-toed sandals
  2. Shirts, tops, and dresses must have straps. The midriff must be covered. Garments covering the lower body must be sufficient to cover the buttocks.
  3. The Governing Board has determined that the wearing of gang-related clothing on school premises or at school-sponsored activities poses a danger to students and disrupts instruction. Students may not wear, possess, use, distribute, or display any clothing, jewelry, emblem, badge, symbol, colored bandana, or sash which represents or evidences membership or affiliation with any gang. These restrictions are subject to periodic review. Upon consultation with local law enforcement agencies, or other experts, additional rules which restrict gang-associated dress may be instituted by the school principal at any time with notice to students and parents. 
  4. Sunglasses, hats, caps, hoods and other non-religious/cultural head coverings shall not be worn indoors.
  5. Chains, spikes on jackets/pants or other potentially dangerous objects may not be worn on school sites (E.C. 48900(b)).

 

MSJE Food, Birthday, and Celebration Policy

Non-food celebrations and rewards are encouraged. Examples are birthday book club, party games, pencils, stickers, music, art projects, or teacher assistant of the day. 

Food or beverages offered to students during school activities, celebrations, parties and recognitions, shall follow the following guidelines: 

  1. Celebrations involving food and beverages shall occur after the close of the lunch period.
  2. Any food/beverages served to students must be store bought and brought to school in original packaging with nutritional labels.
  3. Parents/guardians must be notified prior to an event in which food/drink is offered to students. Alternatives may be provided by the parent. 

Birthday favors provided by families may be distributed to classmates and shall follow the following guidelines: 

  1. Parents/guardians must have pre-approval from the classroom teacher to send party favors.
  2. No students in the class shall be excluded.
  3. Favors shall not include any consumable items (food, drink, candy).
  4. Favors will be passed out within the last 10 minutes of the school day.

Pay for School Materials

MSJE Lost/Damaged Library Book(s)
MSJE Lost/Damaged Textbook(s)
Last Updated: September 11, 2023