Family Handbook
Revised 20-Aug-14
Table of Contents
School History.......................................
3
Philosophy……………………………. • Mission Statement • Approach To Learning • The Agreement System
4
Day to Day……………………………. • Daily Schedule • Drop-Off and Pick-Up • What To Bring To School • What Not To Bring To School • Lunch and Snack • Lunch Delivery Program • Helmet Policy • Dress Code • Extended Care • Lost and Found (Gobble)
7
Academics……………………………. • Student Evaluation • Standardized Testing • Additional Support • 2nd and 4th Grade Placements • Library
10
Communications…………………….. • Staff Directory • Communications Protocol • Website • Wednesday Word • Family Access Accounts • Personal Conduct Guidelines • Unresolved Issues • Parent Teacher Conferences • Parent Meetings • Student Mobile Phones • Technology
11
Governance and Policy……………… • Board of Trustees • Admissions Policy • Diversity Policy • Drug and Alcohol Policy • Child Abuse Reporting Policy • Anti-Bias and Sexual Harassment
17
Health and Safety……………………. • Illness and Absence • Allergies, Conditions & Special Needs • Immunizations & Health Records • Accidents • Lice and Nits • Fire Drill • Earthquake Drill • Safety Drill • Emergency Preparedness Plan
19
School Trips…………………………..
21
Tuition and Financial Aid……………
22
Parent Participation Requirements…
23
Volunteer Opportunities…………….
24
Appendix…………………………….. • A. Policy for Address Bias • B. Sexual Harassment Policy • C. Technology Use Agreement • D. Lice and Nit Policy • E. Emergency Plan
25
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School History
Synergy School was founded as a teachers’ cooperative in 1973 by Russ Messing, Katherine Czesak, and Jill Goffstein Stocks. It was located in an old diaper factory on Castro Street in Noe Valley. There were 18 students in 1st through 6th grade. The co-founders called the school “Synergy” to convey the idea that the collective effort of students, staff, teachers and parents would create something larger than the individuals themselves. From the beginning, the founders developed a philosophy and approach to education based on the work of Alfred Adler that emphasized logical and natural consequences rather than reward and punishment. In 1979 the school moved to Grove Street across from Alamo Square. By then there were 65 students with eight teachers. Each day at Synergy would begin with morning meeting; classes were mixed grades, there was a buddy system, and the curriculum was theme-based -– traditions that are all with us today. In 1999, the school moved into a newly renovated building on Valencia Street in the Mission to accommodate increased growth and the addition of a middle school. The school now has capacity for 190 students, grades K to 8, and has been successfully placing students in high schools since 2001.
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Philosophy Mission Statement The mission of Synergy School is to provide a quality education by empowering children to flourish academically, to blossom as individuals, and to become self-confident, creative learners. The Synergy educational journey takes place in an environment based on encouragement, cooperation, mutual respect, and responsibility. Our approach inspires confidence and allows each child to work and develop at his/her own pace. An excellent teacher-student ratio helps each child to feel known and valued and able to take personal risks. Education at Synergy is both challenging and joyful. Active, hands-on learning fosters each child’s curiosity, critical thinking skills, and love of discovery. Strong conceptual foundations are built though challenging explorations in all academic subjects. A rich and varied curriculum is taught with the expectation that each child will strive for personal and academic excellence. At Synergy there is a commitment to developing global awareness and to learning to appreciate and honor differences both inside and outside the school community. We affirm the necessity of creating and sustaining a socially just, equitable environment, which actively works against racism and all forms of bias. We accomplish these goals through ongoing curriculum development, teacher selection and training, and by actively recruiting and supporting a diverse student population. Synergy’s approach to children’s behavior is based on cooperation, logical and natural consequences, and the belief that we all have the ability to look at ourselves honestly, to change, and to grow. The Agreement System is a vehicle through which our philosophy is expressed. It is a unifying force in the school, and involves parents, staff, and children in a common goal: the creation of a supportive educational environment where children’s enthusiasm for learning is fostered.
Approach to Learning Synergy’s approach to children and how they learn and behave is rooted in the theories and beliefs of Alfred Adler and one of his students, Rudolph Dreikurs. Central to this is the importance of cooperation, logical and natural consequences, personal responsibility, encouragement, and the belief that we all have the ability to change and grow. Synergy uses an Agreement System (see below) to implement this philosophy on a daily basis at the school.
Cooperation: Two or more people working together with a common purpose: the sum and substance of Synergy.
Logical and Natural Consequences: When a Synergy student breaks an agreement or school rule, logical and natural consequences are used instead of rewards and punishments. For example, if two students sitting next to each other in class are talking and disturbing their peers, they will be separated. Logical and natural consequences encourage children to make responsible decisions and promote a cooperative relationship with teachers and other students.
Responsibility: Learning to handle responsibility is a priority at Synergy. The agreement system and contracts are tools that we use to teach children this skill.
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Encouragement: This is the process of imparting courage and confidence. At Synergy encouragement, rather than reward and praise, is used to help children change their views of self, others, and the world.
The Agreement System: The Agreement System is based on agreements that the children and teachers make with the school, and must keep to be part of the school. I agree to make Synergy a respectful learning community, free of bias, by… 1. Keeping a safe place, without prejudices, for everyone’s body and feelings 2. Respecting all property 3. Participating academically 4. Participating in all other school activities 5. Being in a designated space 6. Agreeing to leave quickly and quietly when waved out. A wave out is a non-punitive, nonverbal reminder from a teacher to a student that his/her classroom behavior is not appropriate. Wave outs are used only after students are very clear about classroom expectations for behavior. After one wave out, a student has the opportunity to regroup and stay with the class; after a second wave out, the student must go to a different area to complete work. This system helps eliminate time-consuming verbal interruptions during class. Being in a designated space means students should be where they are supposed to be. A student may not leave the school or group without permission. The student who does so may return to school only after a meeting has taken place between the staff, child, and parent.
Mechanics of the Agreement System: When a child breaks one of the six agreements, it is discussed with the child and then recorded in the Floater File. This enables us to keep in touch with the needs of each child. We do expect children to break agreements occasionally, and understand that they may need time to work on changing behavior. If a child breaks agreements in the same area (i.e. hurting or participation) twice in one week, a teacher will meet with the child to map out strategies for change. The child is told that we will do all we can to help him/her change the behavior. We also tell the child that if these strategies don’t help and another agreement is broken in the same behavioral area within one week, we will contact his/her parent(s) to offer more support. After a parent is contacted, the child is given another week to change the behavior. If she/he breaks another agreement in the problem area during this week, a meeting is held with teacher, child and parent to make a Contract for Change.
Contract for Change: The Contract for Change is used to help focus very specific attention on a problem area. Children must complete five consecutive school days without breaking an agreement in that area to complete their contract. • •
•
• •
If the child completes three days and then breaks an agreement, the contract begins again. If the child breaks the agreement (in the identified area only) three times while on contract, she/he then “sends himself/herself home.” This means that from this point on, each time the agreement is broken the child goes home immediately and returns the following day. If going home is not immediately possible, the child stays in a space away from his/her class and other students. We ask that the time at home until 3 p.m. be spent alone, working or thinking, but not be treated as either a punishment or a reward — i.e.: watching television, playing games, or going out of the house. Getting off of “going home” is accomplished by completing the Contract for Change. Completing the Contract for Change means completing five (or ten) consecutive school days without breaking an agreement in the identified problem area.
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Because of their more developed sense of time and self-control, we use two-week time periods for children in 4th through 8th grade. Whenever five-day or one-week time periods are mentioned, please substitute 10 days or two weeks for 4th through 8th grade students. A Contract for Change is just that, a positive way for a student, his/her parent(s) and teacher(s) to assist and support growth and change in any of the agreement areas.
Parents and the Agreement System: The Agreement System requires a commitment from parents to work closely with the school and abide by the tenets of the Agreement System on school related issues. Administrators are available to assist with any questions and concerns as you learn more about this approach. We know from much experience that using the Agreement System well takes time and practice.
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Day to Day Daily Schedule 7:15 – 8:00 AM 8:00 – 8:30 8:30 10:30 12 p.m./12:30 PM 3:00 3:00 – 6:00
Morning Care is available Teachers are in the classrooms Morning meetings and classes begin Snack/recess Lunch Dismissal with the exception of Wednesdays when dismissal is at 2:10. After School Care is available (beginning at 2:10 on Wednesdays)
Supervised Drop Off & Pick Up
8:10 AM – 8:30 AM
Morning Drop Off All students: Valencia St
3:00 PM – 3:15 PM (2:10 PM – 2:25 PM Wednesdays)
Afternoon Pick Up K-3 students: Orange Alley 4th – 8th students and K-3 siblings: Valencia St
Orange Alley Safety Rules: • Do not park in the alley before dismissal time, as a courtesy to our neighbors. • Pull up as close to the school fence as possible to allow cars to pass. • Remain in your car; your child will be brought to you. Valencia Street Safety Rules: • Remain in your car when in the white zone. • If the white zone is full, go around the block and try again. • No cutting into the white zone line. (If a car pulls out, everyone moves up.) • No parking, or loading and unloading of children in the median divider. • No double-parking or blocking the bicycle lane. • No U-turns in the school zone. • Warning: Stopping in the bus zone puts you at risk for a ticket. Children not picked up by 3:15 PM (2:25 PM on Wednesdays) will be checked into After School care. If your child is to be picked up by someone not on file with the school, please notify the office in writing or by a phone call. We cannot release a child to an unauthorized person.
What to Bring to School • •
Lunch and snack Students in kindergarten through 2nd grade should leave an extra change of clothes in their cubbies.
What Not to Bring to School • • •
Toys except for specially announced days Weapons of any kind, including toy weapons Portable electronic gaming devices
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What Not to Bring to School (continued) It is Synergy's policy not to allow party invitations, treats, Valentine’s cards, etc., to be distributed at school, unless an entire class is invited/included. We want to avoid creating an opportunity for children to feel excluded, but we are not suggesting you host an entire class when planning social events. Instead, we ask that all party invitations be mailed or delivered outside of the school. We also ask that students refrain from discussing their party plans at school. This approach maintains a safe environment for all students.
Lunch and Snack Lunchtime is spent in the schoolyard, supervised by adults. All younger children are required to eat some portion of their lunch before playing. On rainy days, lunch is eaten in designated areas inside the school. Free play and supervised activities are available. Snack may be eaten during mid-morning recess. • Children bring their own snack and lunch. • We ask that you do not send snacks that consist predominantly of sugar or nuts. • Sodas are not allowed. Milk or fruit juices are excellent for lunch. • There is no sharing of sugar during lunch or snack. • The refrigerator and microwave may be used only for emergency needs, such as medication. • For safety reasons, please do not send beverages in glass containers. • We strongly ask our students to use reusable or recyclable packaging in their lunches and snacks. We are reducing waste by reusing, recycling and composting. • When bringing treats for birthdays or fundraisers, avoid nuts and packaging that can’t be recycled or composted. In order to keep a safe space for our students with nut allergies, we ask parents to refrain from sending in anything with nuts, whether in their child’s lunch, in birthday treats, or at a potluck function. If a child has a lunch of a peanut butter sandwich, for example, we require that child to use a hand wipe after eating to prevent exposure to children who allergic to peanuts.
School Foodies Lunch Delivery Program Parents have the option of ordering lunch delivery through School Foodies. The menu offers hot and cold lunches, as well as snacks. You may go to schoolfoodies.com to sign-up. More information can be found at http://synergyschool.org/home/lunch_program.
Helmet Policy Students are required to wear a helmet from home at all times when they are using any wheeled vehicle (bicycle, scooter, skateboard, etc.) on campus.
Dress Code Appropriate clothing and shoes should be worn to school; common sense applies. We realize one person’s common sense may not be another’s. In this case, the common sense we rely upon rests with the staff. • Closed toe, rubber-soled shoes should be worn for physical education classes, playing in the yards, and for walking during our many field trips. • No bare midriffs or inappropriately revealing clothes. • No offensive or suggestive slogans on clothing. • If pants can’t stay on without a hand holding them up, a belt must be worn.
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Extended Care Extended care, which includes morning, after school, in service days, and some holidays, is available for all Synergy families. Financial aid is available. You may sign up for as few days or as many days as needed. Extended care agreements are sent out in August.
Lost and Found Lost items are placed in our “gobble drawers” located on the first floor facing the backstairs. The drawers are cleaned out once a month. Unclaimed items are donated to charity.
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Academics Student Evaluations Synergy evaluates students from kindergarten through 5th grade with a skills checklist, which combines a narrative with a listing of discrete skills in core academic subjects. Rather than a letter grade, we use the following criteria for each skill: introduced, in progress, mastered, or needs work. Comprehensive student self-evaluations are also an important part of this process. Students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade receive letter grades and narrative evaluations in core academic subjects. The emphasis is on understanding how grading works from the perspectives of both teachers and students.
Standardized Testing Synergy does not emphasize standardized testing; we do not teach to the test. The test preparation that students receive focuses only on how to take a standardized test, such as filling in bubbles and using test strategies. Each spring, Synergy administers a standardized test to students in 4th through 7th grades. Test results are shared with parents in the fall.
Additional Support If your child experiences academic or emotional difficulties, teachers and/or parents may desire further evaluation and assistance. Our first step is to hold a child study team meeting with the parents, classroom teachers, Synergy’s learning specialist, and any other professionals who currently works with the child. If further information is required, we will assist your family with referrals and will work closely with you and other professionals throughout the process of evaluation and treatment.
2nd and 4th Grade Placements Synergy fosters a non-competitive academic environment in which each student works to his/her full potential at his/her own pace. We also provide an environment that emphasizes the social and emotional development of each child. Our concern is always for the development of the whole child. Hence, students are placed in classes not only according to cognitive ability, but their social and emotional maturity and needs are taken into account as well. The admissions director, classroom teachers, and teaching specialists decide student placement after evaluation and discussion. Placement letters for the 2nd and 4th grade splits are mailed the last week of school.
Library Kindergarten through 5th grade students make weekly visits to the library as part of the curriculum. They learn the responsibility of checking out and returning books, and respecting the rules of the library and handling books with care. Books not returned after a reasonable time will be considered lost and parents will be asked to reimburse the school or purchase a replacement copy.
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Communications Synergy Phone Directory Teachers Kindergarten
Carolyn Kruse, Rita Franklin, Tanya Baker
Extension 720
Rainbow Room (1st/2nd grades) Sun Room (2nd/3rd grades) Eastenders (4th/5th grades)
Ebony Manion and Annie Aguirre
Extension 722
Jesse Kitses and Teresa Rodriguez
Extension 724
Sandy Barra and Joan Pettijohn Classroom aide Roy Wise
Extension 726
Skylights (4th/5th grades)
Rea Inglesis and Joan Pettijohn Classroom aide Roy Wise
Extension 727
Middle School (6th/7th/8th grades) Spanish
Math: Sogolon Best Humanities: Dominic Altieri & Nisrene Kazimi Science: Kristi Coale Middle School Aide Melvin Smith Ursula (Uschi) Radics
Math extension 728 Humanities extension 730 Science extension 743 Math extension 728 Extension 760
Music
Mahala Bundy and Sam Heminger
Extension 761
Art
Pamela Heyda
Extension 744
Drama
Jana Barber
Extension 762
K-5 P.E.
Jana Barber
Extension 762
Middle School P.E.
Melvin Smith
Extension 721
Learning Specialist
Jessica Gentry
Extension 710
Library
Susanne DeRisi
Extension 742
Extended Care
Ariel Leighton
Big Room Extension 741
Administrative Staff Director of Administration
Tanya Baker
Extension 704
Director of Finance & Operations
Joan Pettijohn
Extension 707
Director of Admissions & Curriculum
Rita Franklin
Extension 705
Administrative Coordinator
Cynthia Louie
Extension 703
Financial Assistant
Becky Leighton
Extension 702
Office Assistant
Becky Barmore
Extension 701
Director of Technology
Russ Curtis
Extension 723
Director of Development
Liz McDonald
Extension 731
Director of Extended Care
Ariel Leighton
Extension 741
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Staff Email Addresses Name Annie Aguirre
Email annie@synergyschool.org
Ariel Leighton
ariel@synergyschool.org
Becky Barmore
bbarmore@synergyschool.org
Becky Leighton
becky@synergyschool.org
Carolyn Karis
carolynkaris@gmail.com
Carolyn Kruse
carolyn@synergyschool.org
Cynthia Louie
cynthia@synergyschool.org
Dominic Altieri
dominic@synergyschool.org
Ebony Manion
ebony@synergyschool.org
Jana Barber
jana@synergyschool.org
Jesse Kitses
jesse@synergyschool.org
Jessica Gentry
jessica@synergyschool.org
Joan Pettijohn
joan@synergyschool.org
Kristi Coale
kristi@synergyschool.org
Liz McDonald
liz@synergyschool.org
Mahala Bundy
mahala@synergyschool.org
Melvin Smith
melvin@synergyschool.org
Nisrene Kazimi
nisrene@synergyschool.org
Pamela Heyda
pam@synergyschool.org
Rea Inglesis
rea@synergyschool.org
Rita Franklin
rita@synergyschool.org
Roy Wise
roy@synergyschool.org
Russ Curtis
russ@synergyschool.org
Samuel Heminger
sam@synergyschool.org
Sandy Barra
sandy@synergyschool.org
Sogolon Best
sogolon@synergyschool.org
Susanne DeRisi
library@synergyschool.org
Tanya Baker
tanya@synergyschool.org
Teresa Rodriguez
teresa@synergyschool.org
Ursula (Uschi) Radics
Ursula@synergyschool.org
Staff email addresses are for personal use only and not to be used for solicitations.
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Communication Protocol Questions about …
Contact
Classroom issues such as homework, curriculum, your child’s social needs, and field trips, etc.
Your child’s teacher
Issues, ideas, concerns that pertain to the school at large
Tanya Baker
Unresolved issues with your child’s teacher despite good-faith efforts on everyone’s part to find a resolution
Tanya Baker
Tuition and billing
Joan Pettijohn Becky Leighton
Financial aid
Joan Pettijohn Cynthia Louie
Admissions or larger curriculum issues
Rita Franklin
High school admissions
Tanya Baker Cynthia Louie
Extended Care, After School Care
Ariel Leighton
Technology, website, community roster
Russ Curtis
Wednesday Word submissions
Becky Barmore Cynthia Louie
Fundraising
Liz McDonald
Committee issues
Your committee chair
Unresolved committee issues despite good-faith efforts on everyone’s part to find a resolution
Your committee’s administrator liaison
General questions
Becky Barmore Becky Leighton Cynthia Louie
Leave a voicemail message or email to make contact with a staff member. You should receive a response within 48 hours. If you need an immediate response, contact the office staff.
Synergy Website The website www.synergyschool.org is a great resource for parents, particularly the Parent Portal tab. The user name is synergy; the password is parent. The school calendar, links to school and classroom blogs, Community Classifieds, and the Family Handbook are among the many items on the website.
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The Wednesday Word The Wednesday Word is a weekly all school communication that is emailed to families while school is in session. It’s a must read for information on meetings, deadlines, etc. Hard copies are available by contacting the front office. The WW is also available on the Synergy website homepage. To submit an item for the Word, please email bbarmore@synergyschool.org by noon on Monday.
Family Access Accounts Each family is given a family access account to view their child’s attendance record, family contact information, and parent directory. School forms are also accessible through family access. The parent directory is provided as a courtesy to our parents and is strictly for personal use. To protect the privacy of our families, it is not to be used for commercial solicitations by any parent or outside groups. Your family access account is located at https://familyaccess.inresonance.com/synergyschool/index.php. Current families may log in using their email and password. New families will receive an email in August asking them to create a password to access this web-based portal. If you have any questions or have forgotten your password, email roster@synergyschool.org.
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Personal Conduct Guidelines for Communications Synergy teachers and staff strive to create an environment at school that is based on encouragement, cooperation, mutual respect and responsibility. The Agreement System provides the behavioral framework for creating this environment for students. We believe parent and teacher interactions must reflect these same values. We hope the guidelines below for adult members of our community ensure that everyone has a similar understanding of Synergy’s expectations. Adhering to them will help us to model for our children the type of behavior we want them to display when they are discussing issues or resolving conflicts with others. • All discussions are professional and focused on the issue. • All discussions are free of bias and prejudice and in accordance with Synergy’s mission. • All discussions are in accordance with the school’s Sexual Harassment Policy. • All discussions are focused on what is best for the children and acknowledges that parents and teachers may have different perspectives and points of view. • Disagreement is expressed in a constructive fashion, free of personal criticism. • Raised voices and/or abusive language are not constructive. • All parties in the discussion respectfully listen to one another’s points of view. • All parties in the discussion take responsibility for their actions. • Parents and teachers use discretion in discussing student or school issues at school social events or performances. • Parents are asked to raise school-related issues with teachers at scheduled appointments. Teachers cannot give these matters their full attention if the issue is raised while the teachers are prepping for class or monitoring drop-off or pick-up. • Staff members respond to voicemail or email messages within 48 hours of receipt of the message. Synergy reserves the right to commence disciplinary action or to terminate a student’s enrollment for any violation(s) of Synergy’s rules, policies, or established standards of conduct on the part of students and/or parents, guardians, or adults associated with a student’s family.
Unresolved Issues Teachers and parents are encouraged to discuss problems with each other before they escalate. 1. If the concern is not resolved, the parent(s) or teacher(s) discusses the issue with the Director of Administration. If the Director of Administration is involved in the situation, the matter will be referred to an administrator who is not directly involved. 2. If still not resolved, the party in grievance (be they parent or staff) brings the issue to the Steering Committee of the Board of Trustees. 3. The Steering Committee reviews the situation, determines the most appropriate next steps and discusses them with all the involved parties and a non-involved administrator. 4. The Steering Committee then carries out the next steps identified in Step 3. 5. As is deemed necessary to facilitate communication and bring closure to the matter, the Steering Committee holds a meeting among the involved parties, a non-involved administrator and an independent neutral third party who is familiar with the school, such as one of the co-founders. At the end of the meeting, the neutral third party will summarize the meeting. 6. When the situation has been resolved, the Steering Committee coordinates an informal assessment of the process. While we hope that this process will lead to an amicable resolution, we realize that situations may arise when disagreements between parents and staff indicate that a different school setting might be more appropriate for a child. Although at Synergy we prefer to work in close partnership with each family, the basic educational philosophy and style of the school cannot be changed for individual families.
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Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences Conferences that include parents, teachers, and students (kindergartners do not attend conferences) are an important part of the educational process at Synergy. They are scheduled in the fall and spring to provide an opportunity to discuss each child’s academic and social/emotional development and goals. Should additional conferences be needed during the course of the year, they can be arranged with the appropriate faculty member(s). Conference dates and times are posted on the school calendar, the website, and the Wednesday Word. Please be sure to sign up for conferences to keep the lines of communication open and to share in your child’s development at Synergy.
Parent Meetings Parents are expected to attend several evening meets each year. The Fall Meeting (September) is dedicated to curriculum and the Spring Meeting (April) concerns the state of the school. The annual State of the School includes information on the school’s finances, admissions, curriculum, staff development, and high school placement, as well as a question-and-answer period for parents. We encourage parents to join the conversation by coming to both meetings. Additional evening meetings are held each year to plan logistics for various overnight trips and other events. It is important for parents to attend these as well.
Student Mobile Phones All student mobile phones must be turned into a designated teacher at the beginning of the school day. They may not stay in backpacks or lubbies or lunch boxes. The devices are then returned to students at the end of the day. If you need to reach your child while class is in session, please call the office. If a student violates this policy, their phone will be confiscated and only returned to an adult family member. The mobile phone must then remain at home for the duration of the school year.
Outgoing Student Phone Calls Students may not use the school office phone for routine calls such as arranging a play date, reminding a parent that it is a half day, or arranging a ride to previously scheduled sports games. Use of the office phone is only permitted if a student wants permission to be given over-the-counter pain medication or if there is a change in a previously scheduled sporting event. Parents are encouraged to review plans and transportation arrangements with their children in the morning before school and to review these guidelines with their children.
Technology Use Synergy provides Internet access to our students and staff. Our goal is to promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication. Since we place a high value on your child’s social and emotional development, we are equally committed to promoting an awareness of appropriate Internet behaviors and standards of acceptable online etiquette. Therefore, all children and their parents who access the Internet at school and use a school laptop are asked to sign a Technology Use Agreement, located in the appendix.
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Governance and Policy Board of Trustees The responsibilities of the Synergy Board of Trustees is to set policy, ensure the school’s financial wellbeing, ensure the fulfillment of Synergy’s mission statement, and to serve as ambassadors of the school within the parent body and in the wider community. The teachers in turn are responsible for the day-today administration and functioning of the school and the implementation of policy decisions as codirectors of the school. The Board consists of all full-time Synergy teachers, specialists, key administrative staff, the three cofounders of the school, a group of current Synergy parents, and several alumni parents, students, and staff. It meets five times each year and all meetings are open to members of Synergy’s community; the exception would be meetings that are confidential or concern personnel issues. Parents who are interested in becoming more actively involved with the Board are encouraged to help a Board committee. These committees do much of the Board’s work. Standing Board committees include Development, Diversity, Finance, Green, Personnel, Program, and Steering. If you are interested in joining any one of these Board committees, please contact Cynthia Louie at 567-6177, ext. 703, or cynthia@synergyschool.org. She will put you in touch with the appropriate committee chair.
Admissions Policy Synergy School is open to children in kindergarten through 8th grade, regardless of race, color, creed, gender, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, or ethnic origin. Four criteria are used in evaluating prospective students: the school’s potential contribution to the education and growth of the student; the student’s potential contribution to the school; the family’s compatibility with Synergy’s educational philosophy, and the willingness of the parents to be involved with the school.
Diversity Policy The Synergy philosophy of empowering children to flourish academically and blossom as individuals extends to our diversity efforts. We don't just tolerate diversity; we embrace it. Our aim is to have a school community that is inclusive of race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, languages spoken, religious orientation, and differing abilities. We welcome all families: multiracial, adoptive, gay and lesbian, and transgendered. As our communities, including the school, change and grow, our concepts of diversity broaden; as such, Synergy’s work in this area is on going. If you wish to help, we urge you to join the Diversity Committee.
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Drug and Alcohol Policy Synergy is committed to providing a safe space for all of its members including staff, students, and families. While we understand that alcohol and drug abuse are problems requiring professional help, we also believe these problems can seriously interfere with the operation of the school and place the welfare and safety of students, staff and community members at risk. Synergy therefore encourages affected individuals to seek professional treatment and/or rehabilitation. Buying, selling, using or possessing illegal drugs while on the school’s premises or at a school event or trip is strictly forbidden. Being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while on school premises or while transporting students in a vehicle is strictly forbidden. A parent chaperone using prescription or over-the-counter drugs that may impair his or her ability to supervise children or may affect the safety of others must report such usage in advance to their child’s teacher. Limited consumption of alcohol during school-sponsored social events for adults during non-school hours may be permitted. Students will not be released to any parent or other adult who appears to be under the influence. Additionally, teachers may be required to file a child abuse or neglect report in these circumstances. Students who possess, use, or intend to sell or distribute any alcohol or controlled substance may be required to participate in mandatory counseling and be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion.
Child Abuse Reporting Policy All teachers, administrators, aides, child care providers and anyone else working with children in schools and children’s centers who come in contact with children are mandated reporters of abuse in the state of California. By law, a mandated reporter must report suspected abuse by phone immediately, and in writing within 36 hours. Failure to make such a report is punishable by up to six months in jail, or a fine of up to $1,000.00, or both. It may also lead to the loss of one’s teaching credential. Child abuse happens to millions of children in the United States, and cuts across all class and ethnic groups. We take our responsibilities under this law seriously, and do make suspected child abuse reports and referrals when indicated. This is never easy for our faculty members or for the families involved. We hope this information will help our entire community understand our important responsibilities in this area.
Anti-Bias and Sexual Harassment Policies All types of bias and sexual harassment are prohibited in both the educational and work environment at Synergy. The staff follows an anti-bias policy when incidents occur; the school’s formal anti-bias and sexual harassment policies, which outline procedures for dealing with bias and harassment incidents, are enclosed as Appendix A and Appendix B in this handbook.
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Health and Safety Illness and Absence Children are exposed to, and often get, many illnesses. Some early signs are fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, grouchiness, etc. Do not bring your child to school when you suspect that he/she is coming down with something. The early stages of many illnesses are also the most contagious. Inform us promptly of any illnesses your child has which others at school may have been exposed to. • Children with cold, fever, undiagnosed rash, conjunctivitis, diarrhea, and/or vomiting should stay home. • Children must be free of fever without medication for 24 hours before returning to school. • If your child returns to school and needs a staff member to administer prescription medication, a doctor’s note must be provided detailing the method, amount, and time schedules for the administration of medication. Parents must also sign a Synergy Medication Form, which is attached as Appendix G. • If your child is well enough to return to school, he/she will be expected to participate in all activities. • If your child becomes sick at school, you will be called and expected to pick up your child as soon as possible, or arrange for someone else to pick up your child.
Allergies, Medical Conditions & Special Needs Notify the school in writing of any allergies, medical conditions, or special needs your child has.
Immunizations & Health Records • • • • •
All students must have current immunization records on file. If you have chosen not to immunize your child, a signed Personal Beliefs waiver must be on file. Entering 7th grade students must receive required vaccine booster shots unless a signed Personal Beliefs waiver is on file. If you have made the choice not to immunize your child, you must keep them at home at the first sign of illness to help prevent communicable diseases from being widely spread. All students must have a documented physical examination on file before entering the 1st grade.
Accidents Routine Injury: Staff administers first aid. All teachers are certified in CPR and first aid. Serious Injury: If a child needs immediate attention, we will call 911 and a parent or the emergency contact person. A staff member will accompany the child to the emergency room and stay with him/her until a parent or guardian arrives.
Lice and Nits If nits or head lice are found on your child at school, he/she will be sent home for immediate treatment, and classroom teachers will begin a head check of the affected classroom, as well as sibling and buddy classes. Cushions and gobbled items will also be bagged. This is done in an effort to avoid a school wide infestation. A student with head lice may not return until she/he is nit free. Once the child has been cleared to return by a Synergy teacher, the school requires long hair be tied back into a ponytail or braided for at least one week after being nit free. After one week, a staff member
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will re-check the child’s head to make sure there is no reoccurrence. More information about lice and nits is attached as Appendix E.
Fire Drill The San Francisco Fire Department conducts fire drills monthly at school. Primary and secondary exit pathways and the location of fire extinguishers have been identified, and are posted in each classroom.
Earthquake Drill We conduct earthquake drills on a regular basis. In an earthquake, we will remain in the building unless it is unsafe.
Safety Drill Staff has a lockdown plan and procedures and conducts drills in such a way that does not alarm students.
Emergency Preparedness Plan Synergy’s emergency plan is reviewed and updated as needed each year before the start of school. A copy of the plan is located in the appendix and is also available on the website. In addition, we conduct a test of our email, voice and text message alert system each fall. In a true emergency, email may not be possible, at least during or immediately following an event. The phone messaging system will be our first option to contact families, if we have access to a phone line. It is imperative that we have accurate contact information for parents and guardians, including mobile phone numbers. In addition, we ask you to let us know when you are going out of town and leaving your child in the care of another adult during the school year. Please provide that adult’s name and contact information in an email to office@synergyschool.org. In the event of an emergency, such as an earthquake or other disaster, we will enforce a strict student release policy, in which children will only be released to an authorized adult. During such an event, parents/guardians will be asked to check in with the student release team in the front lobby. A runner will then be sent to escort your child or children to you. We ask parents/guardians not to search the school for their children to minimize the potential for confusion or injury should some areas of the building be unsafe.
Evacuation The City and County of San Francisco considers Synergy School an emergency shelter site. If it becomes necessary to evacuate our campus, staff will walk students to Buena Vista Horace Mann School one block away where parents may pick up their children. Parents will then be contacted through one or more of the following ways: text, recorded phone message, and email. If no communication channels are available, a staff member will remain at school to direct parents to the evacuation site. The address is 3351 - 23rd Street at Bartlett and the phone number is 415-695-5881.
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School Trips All School Field Trip Synergy has a tradition of taking an all school field trip on the Friday of the first week of school. We go to a park in San Francisco where big buddies and little buddies get to know each other and old friends get reacquainted after summer.
K-3 Camping Trip Every other year, the kindergarten through 3rd grade students and their families go camping at Memorial Park in San Mateo County. This three-day adventure usually takes place the last week of school.
Snow Trip Every other year, 1st through 3rd grade and 6th and 7th grade students head to the Sierra in late February or early March for a week of fun in the snow. Many of their families join us as well. We stay at the Clair Tappaan Lodge near Truckee.
Backpacking Trip During non-Snow Trip years, the 6th and 7th graders go on a backpacking trip in the Sierra backcountry. This challenging adventure usually takes place the last week of school.
Farm School Students in the 4th through 8th grade participate in Farm School at Ocean Song Farm and Wilderness Center in Occidental each year. They camp, explore ecosystems (replete with wildflowers, ponds, and animals), swim, and generally have a sensational time in the great outdoors. Parents are an indispensable part of this trip.
8th Grade Trip The 8th graders grab their passports and head out for a week of service learning, cultural enrichment, and fun in the sun. They practice their Spanish by interacting with the local families they are helping. In years past, the students have gone to Mexico; more recently they have traveled to Puerto Rico and Costa Rica.
All students are expected to participate on school trips. These sojourns are amazing community builders, challenge children in all sorts of positive ways, and most importantly, are enormous fun! Parent participation is an important part of these journeys, with the exception of the 8th grade trip.
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Tuition and Financial Aid Tuition The Board of Trustees sets tuition for the following school year at its annual budget meeting in January. Various payment plans are offered in which parents may pay tuition in one lump sum, two separate payments, or 10 monthly payments. Monthly payments are made on either the 1st or the 15th of the month. You may pay by check or eCheck, debit or credit card through the payment portal on the Synergy website. Timely tuition payments are the parents’ responsibility. We do not send invoices. Payments are considered late if not received five days after the due date. If you are unable to meet this deadline, it is your responsibility to make arrangements with Financial Assistant Becky Leighton for a late payment. If no arrangement has been made and no payment has been received five days after the due date, a $35 late fee will be added to your account. If you fail to keep an arrangement for a late payment, you will not be permitted to make any more such arrangements during the year. If a scheduled tuition payment is not made within 20 days of a due date, a meeting with Director of Finance Joan Pettijohn will be required. If that meeting has not occurred by the 30th day of lateness, your child may no longer come to school until good standing is restored. If two parents are contracted individually for portions of the tuition and one reaches this point, the second parent will be notified and given five days to make payment. There is a $25 returned check fee. Returned checks must be covered within two days or your tuition will be considered late. After two returned checks, personal checks will no longer be accepted.
Financial Aid Policy Families that wish to apply for financial aid must complete an application and provide income verification in the form of federal and state tax returns, as well as W-2s and 1099 statements. Information about application deadlines will be posted on the website and in the Wednesday Word. Questions about financial aid should be addressed to Director of Finance Joan Pettijohn or Cynthia Louie, who coordinates the financial aid process. The Financial Aid Committee considers each application anonymously, and awards tuition assistance on the basis of financial need, pending income verification.
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Parent Participation Requirements Parent participation in fundraising and committee work is critical to Synergy’s ability to keep tuition as low as possible. It is also one of the key ways in which parents meet other parents outside their child’s social circle, and in turn, build a larger community. Because of its importance, we conduct a participation audit at the end of each school year. Tuition: The tuition must be paid on schedule. Program: Synergy requires parents’ understanding and support of the learning environment and the agreement system. Parent Meetings: Parents are expected to attend the Fall Parent Meeting (Curriculum) in September and the Spring Parent Meeting (State of the School) in April, as well as parent-teacher conferences and meetings that concern overnight trips. Fundraising: Parents are required to participate in the annual auction fundraiser in the spring by collecting donations, selling raffle tickets, and attending this evening event. Committee Work: Each family is required to work on a school committee. All committees either raise money for the school or provide a necessary service that we would otherwise need to pay for. Committees include: School-based Committees Auction Library Performing Arts Technology Scrip Visual Arts Yard All School Clean Up: Synergy depends on its parent body to help maintain the school. Once a year each family is responsible for a three-and-a-half hour cleaning commitment.
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Volunteer Opportunities When parents are actively interested and involved at school, it signals to their children that school is important, and their whole emotional experience is enhanced. Synergy couldn’t exist as we know it without the time and talent parents have so generously shared over the years. Throughout the year, we have many events and programs that would not be successful without the help and support of our skilled and dedicated parents/guardians helpers. Volunteer opportunities vary from one-time assignments to on-going commitments. Some ways that you may wish to contribute include: Room Parent: Room parents are liaisons between teachers and their child’s classroom parents. Their job is essential to the school so that various special activities such as Grandparents Day run smoothly and classroom needs are met. Generally two room parents per classroom share the responsibilities. Parents may also volunteer to assist any committee they wish; you do not have to be assigned to a particular committee to lend your expertise, whether it’s art, technology, event planning, or a board level committee such as finance. Contact an administrator or any of the committee chairs to lend a hand. Giving: There are a number of ways to support Synergy, including donations to our Annual Fund. No amount is too small. Other ways to help generate income for Synergy include: E-Scrip Paper Scrip Cole Hardware 956 Cole St/3312 Mission St Community Thrift Store 623 Valencia St @ 17th St Schoola
Sports Basement
Register your debit/credit cards to net Synergy a percentage of your shopping Programs that net the school a percentage of your shopping such as Peets, Rainbow Grocery and Good Life Grocery Synergy receives a percentage of your shopping. The school’s code is 91 Donate used household goods to Synergy’s account Request a Schoola pick up bag to donate gently used kids’ and women’s clothing. Forty-percent of the proceeds from the sale of the clothing benefit Synergy. www.schoola.com/stitch/synergy-elementary-school-sanfrancisco-ca Mention Synergy at checkout and receive a 10% discount; 5% goes to Synergy
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Appendix A Policy for Addressing Bias Incidents All members of the Synergy community have a right to be free from discrimination, including but not limited to verbal or physical attacks based on race, national origin, religion, gender, disability or sexual orientation. Each situation will have its own unique circumstances. Therefore, these are general guidelines to be used and adapted as appropriate. 1. The Agreement System stresses making Synergy a respectful learning community, free of bias. This provides a framework for preventing and addressing bias incidents. 2. If and when bias incidents do occur, every staff member has responsibility for addressing those incidents and informing the faculty and parents of those involved. 3. Bias incidents can be anti-social acts and will be treated seriously by the school. 4. All students, regardless of race, national origin, religion, gender or sexual orientation must be protected under this policy and must be treated equitably. 5. Any insult, put-down, etc., in which a person’s skin color, race, national origin, religion, gender, sexual orientation or presentation, body type etc., will be considered under this policy. Both intentional and unaware mistreatment of students based on these categories will be responded to in order to protect and educate all students. 6. When any staff member becomes aware of an incident, which he or she believes can be satisfactorily resolved promptly, that staff member will deal with it immediately and report it to one of the administrators. The parents of the children involved will be notified by each child’s classroom teacher and by an administrator, if appropriate. 7. It will be the joint responsibility of an administrator and the classroom teacher to determine the specific steps to be taken in all cases. In general, the following procedures will be followed: a. The bias-based behavior will be stopped immediately. If appropriate, all students involved will meet together with a faculty member(s) right away. b. The student(s) who were the target of the incident should be assured that they are in no way deserving of bias-based behavior. c. The student(s) responsible for the incident will also be met with privately with appropriate staff. It will be explained to the student(s) why his/her behavior was unacceptable and serious. d. Parents of the involved children will be notified as soon as possible and given a full account of the incident. Parent(s) of the student(s) making the offending remark may be required to come to school. Parent(s) of the targeted student(s) will be invited to participate in the resolution of the incident and if appropriate meet with the parents of the other student(s). Within several weeks after resolution of the incident, there will be a check-in with the involved students and parents to see if further action is needed. e. If it was not possible for the students involved in the incident to meet face to face immediately after the incident, it will be arranged after the above steps have been taken if such a meeting is deemed appropriate by the teachers/administrators. The purpose will be to build understanding and to create the basis for respectful behavior among them in the future. f. The student(s) initiating the offending behavior will be helped to make amends as age appropriate and appropriate to the situation. g. If the offending student(s) continues to perpetrate bias-based behavior, more serious consequences may be imposed as appropriate. The desired outcome is understanding, leading to respectful behavior. h. Often it may be appropriate to have a discussion with other students who were present or who have heard about an incident in order to reaffirm the school’s position with regard to the unacceptability of bias-based behavior, to put the incident in perspective and avoid rumors. It will be emphasized that it is the bias-based behavior, which is unacceptable, not the student who is engaged in the behavior.
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8. The purposes and guiding principles of whatever response is decided upon in each case will be to communicate clearly the unacceptability of such behavior; to educate; and to create positive behavior change.
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Appendix B Sexual Harassment Policy (Revisions pending)
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Appendix C - Technology Use Agreement Internet Use Synergy School is pleased to offer Internet access to our students and staff. Our goal is to promote educational excellence by facilitating resource sharing, innovation, and communication. The levels of access to the Internet will vary according to your child’s age. Using the school’s computer network is strictly for educational activities that support the learning process, such as research for assigned classroom projects. These activities will include projects that help students become responsible, contributing members of the Internet community. Please remember it is a privilege, not a right, to receive Internet access. All students will be expected to follow generally accepted rules of network etiquette. These include, but are not limited to, the following: • Be polite. Do not become abusive in your messages to others. • Use appropriate language. Do not swear or use vulgarities or any other inappropriate language. • Keep personal information, including the logins, passwords, addresses, and telephone numbers of students or colleagues confidential. • The use of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or other social networking sites at Synergy is prohibited unless your teacher grants approval in advance for research purposes. • No instant messaging is allowed at any time. • All computers used throughout the school are to be used in a responsible, efficient, ethical and legal manner. Do not upload, post, email, transmit, or otherwise make available any content that is unlawful, dangerous or may cause a security risk. • Access to the computers and the Internet are revocable at any time and without notice. • When a person accesses the Internet at or on behalf of Synergy School, it means she or he understands and agrees to follow the entire Synergy School Internet Acceptable Use Policy. • Users should understand that files and e-‐mail are not completely private. Although Synergy staff will not routinely access user files, they can access files and e-‐mails as deemed necessary. Actions that constitute unacceptable uses of the network and are not specifically addressed elsewhere in this policy include, but are not limited to: • Use of the computer network for, or in support of, any illegal purposes – including cyberbullying and online harassment. • Use of the computer network for, or in support of, any obscene or pornographic purposes including, but not limited to, the retrieving or viewing of any sexually explicit material. If a student-‐authorized user inadvertently accesses such information, he or she should immediately disclose the inadvertent access to a teacher. • Use of the Synergy computers for soliciting or distributing information with the intent to incite violence, cause personal harm or bodily injury, or to harass or “stalk” another individual. Laptop Agreement Synergy School has a laptop computer program for grades 4th through 8th grades. Students have access to an Apple MacBook for wireless use during classroom and elective work. The MacBooks are the property of Synergy School and are made available as a tool for learning. Students are not permitted to modify the laptop or its operating system for any purposes. As a user of the wireless laptops, you are expected to review, understand and sign this agreement before you can use these computers.
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You agree to the following: 1. Treat all laptops with respect: Carefully unplug computers from the cart and use two hands to carry them. Walk carefully while carrying computers and move carefully around the classroom while computers are in use. After you’re finished using the computer, log out, shut down, return it to the laptop cart, and plug in the power cord. No application of stickers, etching or writing on MacBooks. 2. Food, water bottles or drinks around the laptops will not be tolerated. Any water of drink damage to a laptop will be paid for by the student/family. 3. Do not delete or add software to computers without permission. 4. Do not log in with another person’s password or allow others to use your password. 5. No file sharing, including downloading music or videos unless directed to do so by a teacher. 6. Use the Internet thoughtfully as detailed in the Synergy Parent Handbook (See Appendix C). 7. Take reasonable precautions to prevent damage to and defacement of the MacBooks. 8. Student and Parent/Guardian will be charged for any damage resulting from misuse of the MacBooks. The cost of replacement is $1500. The minimum repair cost is $200. Signature of Student Signature of Parent/Guardian Date
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Appendix D - Lice and Nit Policy Head lice can go undetected for weeks, until the scalp becomes very itchy, and while undetected can spread to others quite easily. We urge each family to carefully check their child(ren) for signs of lice. The louse itself is very difficult to see since they don’t like light and can move quickly. The nits (eggs) that are glued to the hair shafts are the most reliable indication of an infestation. Nits are small - about one mm long - and oval shaped, like a tiny sesame seed. They can be white, opaque, yellowish or tan in color.
Nits attach firmly to the hair and generally, but not always, are located close to the scalp. They do not flick off easily the way dandruff flakes do. If you can blow the object off the shaft, it is not a nit. If you need help checking for lice, ask your classroom teacher. Remember, if one member of your household has lice, others may too. Everyone should be checked. School Policy: If nits or head lice are found on your child at school, he/she will be sent home for immediate treatment, and classroom teachers will begin a head check of the affected classroom, as well as sibling and buddy classes. This is done in an effort to avoid a school wide infestation. As stated in the parent handbook, a student with head lice may not return until she/he is nit free. Once the child has been cleared to return by a Synergy teacher, the school requires long hair be tied back into a ponytail or braided for at least one week after being nit free. After one week, a staff member will check the child’s head once again to make sure there is no reoccurrence.
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Treatment Options: Pediatricians have recommended a cream rinse called Nix. There are also other commercial products commonly sold. It is your choice whether to pursue this option. We have heard some of them can contain toxic substances and that lice have become immune to them. Some parents have used a non-toxic approach that calls for the use of olive oil and vinegar, along with a nit comb to remove nits. Here’s a link to an article about this method: http://www.livestrong.com/article/117487-head-lice-treatments-using-olive/ Combing out the lice and nits using a conditioner can also be most effective, if done properly. A metal flea comb for pets or a comb that can be ordered from the National Pediculosis Society called the Lice Meister is recommended. The plastic combs provided by many products are virtually worthless. Make sure you go through the entire head in a methodical manner. There are professionals who can do this tedious work or show you how to do it. Ask your classroom teacher for more information. Clean up: Wash bedding, towels, hats, caps, and recently worn clothing for the first two days after treatment. Items that cannot be washed should be dry cleaned, put in a hot dryer for at least 30 minutes or placed in a plastic bag in the freezer for 24 hours. Sealing items in an airtight bag for several weeks is also a common recommendation. Combs, brushes, all rooms and furniture including car seats and headrests, should also be cleaned. Prevention: Lice do not jump because they have no hind legs. Since they travel by crawling, make sure your child does not share hats, brushes, hair bows, or headphones. If your child has long hair, pull it back into a ponytail or braids to minimize the risk. Some people swear by the use of olive oil or tea tree oil as preventatives, but this has not been scientifically proven.
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Appendix E – Emergency Plan Synergy staff reviews the emergency plan each year before the start of school. Staff availability on any given day will determine who will fill each role listed below during an emergency. The second page of this appendix describes the job responsibilities of each position.
INCIDENT COMMAND *1)
EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM ORGANIZATION
OPERATIONS *1)
PLANNING *1)
COMMUNICATIONS *1) 2)
LOGISTICS *1)
*can be combined with IC Search + Locate *1) 2) Safety leader can be combined with S&L Safety *1)
First Aid *1) 2)
Student Release *1)
**Starred positions are required and positions can be combined
TITLE Management Incident Command Team Communications Operations Operations Leader Search and Locate Safety First Aid Student Release Planning Planning Leader Logistics Logistics
RESPONSIBILITY Responsible for overall management of emergency situation; establishes/ manages Command Post; Spokesperson for the incident, establishes communications center near Command Post; coordinates info with IC for parent community Manages Operations team; reports to Command Post; initiates First Aid and Search/Locate if necessary; Communicate with Logistics if supplies are needed Conduct sweep of building and maintain a list of areas you could not get into and location of people who are trapped; transport injured to first aid, maintain communication with student release, determine missing persons Determines safety of the site by conducting initial damage assessment; locates all utilities and turn off if necessary; identify other hazardous situations Set up first aid area; get supplies from Logistics; assess injuries and provide first aid; triage; keep injury/first aid reports Obtain injury & missing persons reports form each teacher; set up reunion area- Parent Request/ Student Release area; mark students okay for release Tracks personnel assigned to each post; Responsible for the collection, documentation and use of information about the development of/response to the incident; provide ongoing analysis of situation/resource status Open supplies container; begin distribution of supplies as needed; ensure that IC and other facilities are set up as needed in safe locations; assess supplies (food/water) status; control conservations of supplies
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Student Release Parents are asked to let us know when they are going out of town and leaving their child/children in the care of another adult during the school year. Please provide that adult’s name and contact information in an email to office@synergyschool.org. In the event of an emergency, such as an earthquake or other disaster, we will enforce a strict student release policy, in which children will only be released to an authorized adult. During such an event, parents/guardians will be asked to check in with the student release team in the front hall. A runner will then be sent to escort your child or children to you. We ask parents/guardians not to search the school for their children to minimize the potential for confusion or injury should some areas of the building be unsafe.
Evacuation Plan
The City and County of San Francisco considers Synergy School an emergency shelter site. If it becomes necessary to evacuate our campus, staff will walk students to Buena Vista Horace Mann School one block away where parents may pick up their children. Parents will then be contacted through one or more of the following ways: text, recorded phone message, and email. If no communication channels are available, a staff member will remain at school to direct parents to the evacuation site. The address is 3351 - 23rd Street at Bartlett and the phone number is 415-695-5881.
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