Policies and Procedures

Children are encouraged to arrive at school no earlier than 7:30 a.m.   Please DO NOT park in the red zone. Please do not jeopardize children’s lives or encourage poor safety habits by asking children to step between parked cars or cross the street without using the crosswalk.  

Most of our support monies are based on the child attendance factor.  It is required by law that we know the reason for your child's absence.  You may do this by written note or a phone call to the school office, 894-7288.

Fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students may ride bicycles to school.  Helmets must be worn and safety rules must be obeyed at all times.  It is the responsibility of the parent to furnish a lock for their child's bicycle.  We are not responsible for lost bicycles.  Third grade students can ride bicycles after January 1.

Hot breakfast and lunch are available for children in grades K through 6.  This year, all meals are free.

Please, no carbonated drinks (soda) in cans or bottles. They cause a problem because they are warm and almost always have been "shaken up" while being carried to school, causing them to spray all over students at the lunch tables.

Webber is a beautiful school.  We hope that you will work with us to maintain pride in our school and community by encouraging your child to show respect for school property and the gardens.  Vandalism hurts all of us.  Dollars spent to repair vandalized damage means less dollars available for books and other instructional items.

When you feel you may have a problem or there is an area you need to discuss, please feel free to contact the teacher or the office by note or phone so an appointment can be made for you.

Children are NOT permitted to wait after school for their brothers/sisters and/or friends.  We do not have any way of watching these children.  Children in grades 1, 2 and 3 must leave the school grounds as soon as they are dismissed.

Webber does not provide child care.  However, we have two after school programs.  The PRIDE program provided by the Boys and Girls for first to sixth grades is available on campus from after school to 6:00 p.m. at no charge to parents and will assist students with homework, provide snacks, dinner and other age appropriate activities.  There is space for 90 students only.  When becoming enrolled in the program students are required to attend each day and can only leave when signed out by an approved adult.  Please contact the Webber office for more information at 714-894-7288.  Our second program is ESP, and it is limited to students in TK and K.  Please contact Land School for information about ESP at 714-898-8389.

Fire drills and disaster drills will be conducted monthly to enable children to be prepared in emergencies.

The importance of current addresses, home phone number, parent(s) work number(s), and emergency names and phone numbers for students cannot be overemphasized.  An emergency card is to be completed electronically at the beginning of each year.  You must contact the school’s office if you have a change in your phone or work number.  You must provide the school with a utility bill if you have a change of address. Please include three connected phone numbers in case of an emergency.  Please include any allergies to foods or medicines.

Students at Webber are encouraged to proper attire for school.  

Clothing, jewelry or makeup that is disruptive, including hair that is multi-colored, unnaturally colored, or styled in a way that is disruptive to the educational process is prohibited.  Students are prohibited from wearing apparel or shoes that are:

• Considered unsafe, dangerous or a health hazard, including “flip flops”, bedroom slippers, soft-soled moccasins, backless shoes, sandals, heels higher than 2 ½ inches, jewelry, large hoped earrings, or other articles which may present a safety hazard.

• Containing offensive or obscene symbols, pictures, signs, slogans or words degrading any gender, cultural, religious or ethnic values.

• Containing language, pictures, or symbols that are suggestive or have double meaning oriented toward lewdness, obscenity, vulgarity, violence, vandalism, sex, drugs, alcohol or tobacco or that are gang-related, promote the use of drugs, alcohol, or other illegal substances or activities such as graffiti.   (BP E 5132 (a)--#2)
   

Students are prohibited from wearing gang-related apparel which may include, but is not limited to:

• Chains

• Hair nets

• Monikers or other gang markings

• Bandannas which signify gang membership

• Jewelry with gang symbols

• Gang –related overalls

• Web, untied or dangling belts

• Gang-related shoes

• Overalls with straps hanging down

• Initial belts

• Any combination of clothing which law enforcement agencies currently consider gang-related (these may change frequently)

• Oversized shirts (shirts must be hemmed, square cut; no hanging shirt-tails)

• Oversized pants (pants must fit appropriately at the crotch and waist-not larger than 1” of waist size; pant leg may be  no more than 5’ of excess material and must be hemmed; may no drag the ground) (BP E 5132 (b)--#2)

The aim of our school health program is to promote healthful living at school and in the community.  Your cooperation is needed in an effort to promote good health for our pupils.  You, as a parent, can be our most valuable ally in the prevention of colds, communicable diseases and other serious illnesses.  If your child complains of feeling ill or seems "not himself", please do not send him to school.  Keep him at home where you can observe him.  No student will be permitted to remain in school if he has a skin rash of any kind unless we have a note from your doctor stating it is not contagious.  Since medical treatment is primarily the responsibility of the parent and the physician, medications are rarely given in school.  If a special or serious problem requires that medication be given during school time, written authorization of physician and parent is required.  Forms for this permission may be obtained at the school office.  In most cases, the parent is urged, with the help of the family doctor, to work out a schedule of medication outside of school hours.  If you feel that your child’s problem is such that medication must be given during school time, please contact the school secretary or school nurse for the proper procedure to be followed.  Under no circumstances will a student be permitted to carry or self-administer medication of any kind.  This includes medications such as aspirin and cold tablets. 

Names in jackets, on lunches, lunch boxes and personal possessions will help us to keep our lost and found relatively free of unclaimed articles.  We want to return lost items to the proper owners but this is very difficult to do unless items are labeled.   Students and parents are encouraged to check for lost articles in the lost and found box.

For a variety of activities, students are scheduled for regular periods in the library.  Therefore, our school library is an important part of our curriculum. Books may be checked out for one week.  Students are responsible for taking care and returning books.  Students will be required to pay for lost and/or damaged books.

 Please do not permit your youngster to bring money to school except for other approved projects.  We would like to encourage that they bring just the exact amount needed for that day.  Left-over change is easily lost or misplaced.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION—6th GRADE CAMP

All sixth grade students spend three to five days at outdoor camp. Outdoor Education is a tremendous learning experience for students. The program covers a wide range of subjects such as forest, plant, and animal life, ecology, geography, constructive use of natural resources, and much more. The knowledge gained by the students helps them to appreciate our natural resources. More information for parents of sixth graders will be sent home prior to the trip. 

We believe participation on PTA activities demonstrates an interest in students' education and strengthens the ties between home, school and community.  We invite you to become a part of Webber's membership.

We want to protect your children as much as possible from the danger of being picked up by some unauthorized person.  Therefore:  NO child will be excused to leave the grounds unless a parent or guardian comes to school to sign them out.  WE CANNOT DISMISS YOUR CHILD BY A PHONE CALL.   If the person picking up your child is not on the emergency card they will not be allowed to take them in addition, if they are not recognized by the office staff they may be asked to provide identification.

At certain times of the day traffic increases around our school.  We are striving to impress upon our students the importance of crossing streets at crosswalks.  Also, children are not to walk through the parking lot.  If we share this responsibility, accidents may be prevented. Please do not jeopardize children’s lives or encourage poor safety habits by asking children to step between parked cars or cross the street without using the cross walk.

The playgrounds will be in use from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Please keep your children who are not in school away from the grounds during these hours.

Students ARE NOT allowed to ride skateboards or razor scooters to school unless previously approved by the principal and classroom teacher.  We do not have the facilities to store these during the day.

Parent and community volunteers give their time and talent to help as members of the educational team.   If you wish to help in this program, please call the school.  Your help is needed and appreciated.

If you plan to move from our area, please notify us so we can issue a transfer card to facilitate registration of your child at his/her new school.

Students may not bring any sports equipment or personal property, including toys, trading cards, or valuable items, such as cameras, ipods and radios to school.  Such articles interfere with learning.  Webber Elementary School and the Westminster School District will not be responsible for lost or damaged personal items which students bring to school.  Any confiscated items must be picked up in a timely manner by the parent.

It is understood that many students now carry cell phones.  The phone must remain in the student’s backpack turned off during school hours and may not be used for any purpose including recess and lunch periods.  If students are using the phone it will be confiscated and returned to the parent only.  If there is a second violation it will be confiscated and kept for the balance of the school year.

You are welcome to visit any time.  However, before going to any classroom, please stop by the office.  California law requires all visitors to check in at the school office.  No unauthorized persons will be allowed on campus.  If you wish to see a specific part of your child's educational program, we suggest an appointment be made with his teacher to obtain the exact time the subject is being taught.  It is often disturbing to students and teachers to be disrupted during lessons or testing.

Any objects capable of hurting others are not allowed at school.  The Westminster School District has a zero tolerance policy on weapons, even “look-a-likes” which include toy guns, knives, etc.  Please check your child’s backpack before they leave for school to be sure they have only the materials that are necessary for the learning process. Children who bring weapons to school may be expelled.

Bullying is defined as deliberately hurtful, repeated behavior against those who find it difficult to defend themselves.  It involves a desire to hurt, a hurtful action, a power imbalance, repetition, an unjust use of power, evident enjoyment by the aggressor, and a sense of being oppressed on the part of the victim.  

Although bullying is frequently thought of as activity consisting of such overt acts as physical intimidation or the more common verbal abuse or threats, a recently recognized form is relational aggression.  This is a form of bullying that often takes the form of organized shunning, whispering, spreading negative rumors, and mocking particular students

District Policy states that “sexual harassment of any student or employee by another person is prohibited.” 

Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to: (1) Verbal: Sexually demeaning comments, sexually explicit statements, questions, slurs, jokes, anecdotes or epithets; (2) Written: suggestive or obscene letters, notes, or invitations; (3)Physical: Sexual assault, touching, impeding or blocking movement; (4) Visual: Leering, gestures, display of sexually suggestive objects or pictures, cartoons, or posters.

Sexual harassment also includes: Continuing to express sexual interest after being informed that the interest is un-welcomed. Making reprisals, or threats of reprisal following a negative response to sexual advances, or following a sexual harassment complaint. The law prohibits any form of sexual harassment, which impairs the educational environment or a student's emotional well being at school. 

How comments or acts are perceived by the recipient is the final determining factor of whether or not the comment or act qualifies as bullying or sexual harassment.  The perceptions and experiences of the recipient (victim) are what are important, not the reported intent of the perpetrator, i.e.: “I was just joking around” is not a valid defense.