Mound Elementary School

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Mound Elementary School
455 S. Hill Road
Ventura, CA 93003
Phone: (805) 289-1886
Ventura Unified School District

Mailing Address
455 S. Hill Rd.
Ventura, CA 93003

HISTORY

Mound School was created in August 1988 as the first year-round school in the Ventura Unified School District. At that time, the school's educational emphasis was based on a strong curriculum/academic program with a heavy focus in language arts. Parental involvement, both at home and at school was, and continues to be crucial.

MATHEMATICS FOCUS

In the Spring of 1992, two more district schools adopted a year-round calendar which necessitated that Mound create a unique educational emphasis or become a neighborhood school. As a result, the decision was made to develop a magnet status, supported strongly by both parents and staff.

Global education was the first choice, however it was determined that the concept was too broad and difficult to apply to grades K-2. While Global Education was being researched, two Mound teachers were piloting an innovative mathematics program called Everyday Mathematics in their classes. This program recognized that there was more than one way for a child to see and solve problems mathematically. Recent math scores on state mandated standardized testing support the math selection.

SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY

A student's education requires close cooperation, communication and commitment. The Mound staff believes that the key to a quality education necessitates the home and school working together and that every student should be provided with opportunities to be a successful leader in an environment that stresses the following points:

1. A belief that every student has the right to learn and a responsibility for learning in a positive atmosphere.
2. A belief that every teacher has a right to teach in an environment relatively free from distractions and interruptions, and a responsibility for providing a quality education program.
3. A belief that "every privilege implies a responsibility".
4. A concern for development of the full potential for each student by meeting their individual needs.

ROLE OF STUDENTS

1. Be regular in school attendance and be on time for each class.
2. Know and obey school rules and regulations.
3. Prepare school assignments and meet course deadlines.
4. Be courteous and respectful to school personnel, fellow students and the public in general.
5. Behave in such a way that does not disrupt the learning of others.
6. Respect public and private property... Don't litter.

ROLE OF PARENTS

1. Assure that the pupil is in school and on time every day.
2. Assure the pupil is appropriately prepared for school (dress, nutrition and sleep).
3. Be responsible for the pupil's behavior, helping the pupil learn self-discipline.
4. Provide help with homelinks, other homework and see that all assignments are turned in on time.
5. Visit and support the school periodically and participate in conferences.
6. Know the district, school and classroom rules and regulations. Be supportive of the school.

ROLE OF TEACHERS

1. Provide learning experiences appropriate for each student.
2. Consistently enforce classroom rules and district rules and policies.
3. Communicate on a regular basis with parents concerning their child's progress.
4. Be available to parents for conferences and general discussions.
5. Continually improve professional competences in matters of student control and discipline.
6. Develop enthusiasm for learning through experiences that are interesting and relevant to pupils.

ROLE OF SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS

1. Inform students and parents about school district discipline standards.
2. Consistently monitor classroom, school and district rules and policies.
3. Counsel with students and parents regarding disciplinary matters.
4. Provide ongoing professional growth experiences for staff.
5. Provide leadership that will establish, encourage, and promote good teaching and effective learning.

Welcome to Mound School!

In addition to the information provided here, we suggest you read "About Our School" first and check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's).

SCHOOL OFFICE HOURS
The Mound School office is open on school days and inservice days from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m..

RULES

Student's Oath

1. I will play safely and use playground equipment properly.
Examples:
I will use two hands on the bars at all times.
I will not take candy, gum or food to the playground.
I will play by the game's rules.

2. I will be kind and respect the rights, feelings and property of others.
Examples:
I will follow classroom rules.
I will not use name calling, profanity or obscene gestures or make racial remarks.
I will not solve problems by fighting.

3. I will walk on the sidewalks and avoid doorstop yellow circles. I will walk quietly in the halls.

4. I will follow school rules without argument.
Examples:
I will listen to the principal, teachers, secretary, noon aides, parents and custodians.
I will pay attention to staff members so I'll know what to do.
I will not wear a hat/cap in buildings.

A child will be assigned detention or some other consequence when a rule is broken to help them understand that there are consequences for wrong choices. Fighting or talking back to a staff member are behaviors that are never acceptable. Parental support is essential to success in changing behaviors.

TELEPHONE
Students may not use the office telephones except when absolutely necessary. Students may not use the phone to make personal arrangements, such as requesting to go to a friend's home after school.

CLOTHING
In the interest of safety, the Ventura Unified School District prohibits students from wearing any bandanas, headgear or inappropriate clothing, such as halter and crop tops. Clothing that indicates gang affiliation is inappropriate, including baggy pants, oversized jackets, trousers hanging below the waistline, and unbuttoned suspenders. In addition, clothing and other articles of attire must not promote the use of anything illegal such as drugs, tobacco or alcohol. Shoes must be worn at all times. Open toed shoes are not allowed.

BICYCLES
Only students in grades 3 to 5 may ride their bikes to school. IT'S THE LAW... Students must wear a bicycle helmet when riding their bikes to school. Bikes must be parked and locked in the designated bike area. Bikes are not to be ridden on school grounds at any time. Mound School is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged bicycles or parts. Be sure that your child has a good bike lock and that it is used!

TRADING, BUYING AND SELLING
Students are prohibited from trading, buying or selling items on school grounds.

BANKING TIME SCHEDULE
Mound School developed a "Banking Time" Schedule to create time for staff to learn and collaborate on instructional strategies, curriculum, and State Frameworks that directly impact both teachers and students. This innovative schedule has proven beneficial for our students because of increased teacher knowledge, understanding and skills that are used in the classroom.

The logistics of the schedule are as follows: Instructional time is added to each of four days in the school week and on the fifth day, instructional time is reduced by the total amount. School hours are 7:55 a.m. to 2:35 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:55 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. on Friday.

When surveyed, parents chose Fridays as their choice for the banking time day. The school receives funds based on each student's daily attendance. The school district loses funding each time a student is absent. Additionally, your student loses valuable class time. Therefore, please do not use the banking time on Fridays to lengthen the family weekend.

DAY CARE
Mound School is fortunate to be able to offer students on-site day care, provided by Child Development Centers, a private company. The center is open before school, after school and during school breaks. It is closed major holidays. The after-school program offers sports and computer programs for the older school-age children. Breakfast is provided to those students in the before-school program and snacks are provided in the afternoon.

LUNCH
Hot lunches may be purchased in the cafeteria for $2.25. Adult meals are $3.75. The price for milk/orange juice is $0.50.

Meals can be purchased in advance and are highly encouraged. For every $25.00 in pre-paid meals, your child will receive 1 bonus meal. In addition to the discount benefit, this makes it much easier to move children thru the café line as well as less money handling for students, office staff and teachers.
The cafeteria accepts cash or checks made payable to "Mound School Cafeteria". Pre-payments for one week or more at a time are preferred. To pre-pay, drop off your payment in the box located in the school office. The pre-payment may be used on any day the student wishes, and credit not used by the end of the month is carried over to the next month. The Cafeteria will keep track of the pre-paid amount and your child can access their meal account on any day they want to eat in the cafeteria.

If you are registered on Ventura Unified School District’s Parent Connect, you can monitor your student’s meal habits and account balance, under the ‘Cafeteria’ tab.
Students who forget their lunch will not be allowed to borrow money from the office, but will be provided with peanut butter crackers and milk.

School menus are available at: Ventura Unified School District's "Child Nutrition Web Site"

VOLUNTEERS
Any amount of time that a parent can find to volunteer at Mound is much appreciated. Many "extra" activities depend on volunteers. We can use help with clerical duties in the classroom and at all school functions. When you are on campus as a volunteer, you need to sign in at the office and wear a volunteer badge.

CLASSROOM INTERRUPTIONS
In order for students to have the best possible environment in which to learn, it is essential to keep the number of classroom interruptions to a minimum. If you need to deliver something to your child, please bring it to the office. If you need to leave a personal phone message for your child, please try to call the school office in the morning. Teachers check their boxes daily at noon for messages. All visitors must check in and out through the school office and wear a visitors badge.

BIRTHDAY TREATS
Birthday treats may be shared with your child's class, however, parents should check with the teacher in advance to schedule the time of day for the treats to be passed out. Invitations to parties should not be passed out in class or at school.

PERSONAL ITEMS BROUGHT FROM HOME
Mound School is not responsible for personal items brought to school. Pets may come on campus only if prior permission has been obtained from the child's teacher and the pet is part of a classroom activity. All pets must be in a cage or on a leash and are not to be on school grounds when children are coming or going to class.

LOST AND FOUND
Personal property such as sweaters, jackets and lunch boxes should be marked with your child's name. Should you child misplace something, you are encouraged to check the LOST AND FOUND box located in the cafeteria. Small items such as glasses, money or anything of value will be kept in the school office. Unclaimed items will be donated to charitable organizations on a quarterly basis.

Parents Responsibility

HOMEWORK
Homework is assigned by the teacher for the student to complete outside of school hours. It is an extension of regular classwork and reinforces the skills taught in class. District guidelines for homework in grades K-5 are as follows:

Grades K,1, 2 10-30 Minutes per day 4-5 Days per week
Grade 3 30-60 Minutes per day 4-5 Days per week
Grades 4 & 5 60-120 Minutes per day 4-5 Days per week

Homework should emphasize quality rather than quantity. Students need to learn to assume responsibility for homework completion. Parents need to help by providing a quiet area where the student can work and setting a specific time aside each day for the student to do homework. There should be good light and limited distractions. Reviewing homework is an excellent means for parents to show support and keep informed of their child's progress. Concerns or questions regarding homework should be directed to the classroom teacher.

MATHEMATICS HOME LINKS
Every student at Mound School receives math assignments and activities to do at home. These assignments, called Home Links are identified with this symbol:

Assignments are usually not time consuming, but most of them involve interaction with a parent, another adult, or another child. Homework assignments are designed to relate what is done in school to the student's life outside of school. This helps tie mathematics to the real world. Parents are encouraged to help by linking numbers to real life and pointing out ways in which numbers are used every day.

EMERGENCY INFORMATION CARDS
Emergency Information Cards are kept in the school office. It is IMPERATIVE that you keep the school office aware of any changes in your daytime telephone number. If a student lives in two households, information from both parents should be included. In addition, be sure to keep the numbers for other emergency contact people current. Without current telephone numbers, a minor problem could turn into a major emergency.

A student may not leave school grounds with anyone other than those listed on the emergency card unless the school receives a note from the parent stating the name of the person(s) with whom your child may leave.

ILLNESS
A health aide is at Mound School daily from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.. She assists with the daily operation of Mound's health office, first aid and illnes. Health aides have first aid and CPR training. They are not medical assistants, nor are they licensed or certified. A nurse visits the school one day a week. If your child is ill, please keep him/her home. This includes sore throat, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and/or a temperature of 100 or above.

MEDICATION
Medications should be given at home whenever possible. If medication MUST be given at school, it must be accompanied a written statement, signed by the child's physician. The health office provides a standard form for parents or physicians to fill out, allowing the health aide or school staff to distribute medication. The medication must be in a properly labeled pharmaceutical. Over-the-counter medication will not be dispensed at school without a doctor's note. Students are not to carry and/or self administer medication while at school. BE SURE TO PROVIDE THE SCHOOL WITH CURRENT EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBERS so that the guardian or designated back-up person may be contacted in case the child suffers an injury or becomes ill while at school.

TRAFFIC
Mound School has implemented a traffic flow pattern to help alleviate traffic congestion near the school. Please observe markings on the parking lot when entering or exiting the school. For your convenience, we have provided a map detailing the drop off and pick up areas, as well as the traffic flow patterns.

The four locations for dropping off or picking up Mound Students are as follows:

1. FLAGPOLE: Heading south on Brookshire, Burl or Glenwood, follow the frontage road along the freeway to Hill Road, turn left into the parking lot to drop off or pick up in front of the flagpole, then turn RIGHT to exit the parking lot and return the same route.

2. TREE: Heading south on Hill Road, turn right into the parking lot to pick up or drop off in front of the large tree, then turn left to exit the parking lot and return the same route.

3. BROOKSHIRE: Drop off or pick up students near the crosswalk on Brookshire, which leads to an entrance at the rear, north-west corner of campus. If you must park on Brookshire, please avoid blocking the crosswalk or a driveway, and be sure to observe the "No Parking" zone.

4. WEBSTER STREET: Drop off or pick up students across the freeway from Mound School on Webster Street. Students may use the pedestrian bridge to cross over the freeway and cross Hill Road at Mound with the crossing guard. If you must park across the freeway, take care to observe all "No Parking" zones.

Traditionally, lower grade students (K-2) are brought to the school down Brookshire to Hill and dropped off by the Mound office and flagpole. Kindergarten students must be picked up at the flagpole.

PLEASE BE SURE TO MAKE THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN YOUR FIRST PRIORITY.

* Observe speed limits
* Avoid blocking crosswalks
* Drop off and pick up students ONLY in designated areas
* Be courteous

For safety's sake, do not drop off or pick up your children from the street and be sure to drive slowly. More information about the traffic system is handed out at the beginning of the school year. Please read it and show it to anyone else who may be dropping off or picking up your child.

ATTENDANCE
Regular attendance is very important to the learning process. If your child must be absent from school, please make sure that the student reports to their teacher or the office with a note prior to returning to class. The note should indicate the date(s), specific reason for the absence, and be signed by the parent or guardian.

Many people are unaware that the school loses over $17 a day for every absence. STUDENTS WHO HAVE 5 OR MORE CONSECUTIVE DAYS OF UNEXCUSED ABSENCES (i.e. VACATION, TRUANCY, ETC) MAY BE DROPPED AND REFERRED BACK TO THEIR SCHOOL OF ATTENDANCE. Please be sure to send a note with your child when they return from being absent.

TARDY POLICY
When a student arrives to school late, he/she must report to the office prior to going to the classroom. Habitual tardiness is interpreted by state law as truancy. School policy states that if a student is tardy three times, the teacher will send a letter home. After six tardies, the teacher notifies the principal and the principal sends a letter to the parent/guardian and schedules a conference. After seven tardies, the principal refers the student to the School Attendance Review Board (SARB).
Habitual tardiness may result in the student being dropped and referred back to their school of attendance.

SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITY

PARENT COMMUNICATION/REPORT CARDS
All teachers send home some form of classroom communication on a regular basis. Report cards are sent home three times a year to keep parents current on their child's progress. Parent/teacher conferences are held twice a year, with additional conferences arranged by the parent or teacher.

If a parent wishes to arrange a meeting with a teacher, or has a question regarding their child's work, the parent should contact the school and request that a message be left for the teacher to return their call. PARENTS SHOULD NOT GO TO THEIR CHILD'S CLASSROOM WITHOUT A SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT. ALL VISITORS MUST FIRST SIGN IN AT THE SCHOOL OFFICE PRIOR TO ENTERING THE CAMPUS.

MANDATED HEALTH SERVICES
Ventura Unified School District provides Vision and Hearing screenings for students in Kindergarten, second and fifth grades. Human Growth and Development sessions are provided to students in the fifth grade. Parents are notified prior to this and given an opportunity to preview the films. Parents have the option to have their students not participate in the sessions.

DISASTER PLAN
Mound School conducts fire and earthquake drills on a regular basis in order to prepare students and staff for unexpected emergencies. In the event of disaster, Mound School will retain responsibility for the students on the premises until they are released to a parent, guardian, or other designated person. All school employees will remain on the premises, and will be subject to tasks as designated by the principal. Parents should not telephone the school, but they should listen to the radio for progress reports and follow official instructions as relayed by officials.

IN-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY
Speech and language therapy are designated services provided at Mound School for eligible students. The students are typically seen twice a week by the speech language specialist. Parents are notified of their child's participation in this program and are welcome to contact the special the specialist at any time.

COMPOSER OF THE MONTH
Every morning, the students of Mound School enter their classrooms to the music of great classical composers. Each month features a different composer. After the music is played, there follows a brief description of the composer amd some interesting facts about that composer's music.

CHARACTER TRAIT OF THE MONTH
Each month we focus on a specific character trait.

SCHOLASTIC BOOK ORDERS
Periodically, a student may bring home one or more Book Club order forms (Firefly, See Saw, Trumpet, etc). This is an opportunity to purchase current and classic children's books, cassette tapes and videos at very reasonable prices. Most books are soft cover, some are hard cover. There is absolutely no obligation, you never have to order any books you do not wish to. To purchase books, return the order form with a check for the correct amount made out to that particular Book Club to your child's teacher. The teacher then collects all the orders, mails them in, and distributes the orders to the students when they are received, usually in two or three weeks. Teachers are rewarded for their effort with credits towards books for their classroom.

PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION (PTO)

DESCRIPTION
The Mound Parent Teacher Organization plays an intergral part in your child's educational experience at school. Many of the activities and events which occur throughout the year are funded and organized through the PTO. Parental involvement is necessary for events such as the Jog-A-Thon, aluminum can drive, field trips, class projects and PTO membership. The PTO holds monthly meetings on the third Wednesday of the month and every parent is welcome and encouraged to attend. During the meetings, special events, fundraising activities and other important school activities, procedures and policies are discussed. The Mound School PTO also provides teacher support and enriches the Mound student curriculum through the provision of funds for field trips, cultural assemblies and fine arts programs. A brief description of some of the activities and fund raisers is given below. You can also find more information on the PTO page of this web site.

RESPONSIBILITIES/ACTIVITIES
LIBRARY
Mound School is fortunate to have a wonderful library. The library offers a Birthday Book Program which has been a tremendous help in continuing the growth of the library. There is a Birthday Book shelf from which a parent or grandparent can chose to buy a book. A book may also be bought elsewhere and donated to the library in the child's name. When a book is bought, a bookplate is glued in the book with the child's name and birthday. The book is presented to the child in their class, and the child is the first to check the book out of the library. The library is fundedby two Book Fairs: In November, we hold a Book Fair provided by Adventure's For Kids Bookstore. In May, we host a Scholastic Book Fair. The library also collects Box Tops for Education and redeems them for cash rewards.

Check out our web-based school library catalog, accessible from home or classroom. Visit http://library.venturausd.org
The library is open Tuesday - Thursday from 8 AM to 3 PM.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION
Outdoor Education is an opportunity for 5th grade students to participate in the Catalina Island Marine Institute. The program is a three day, two night learning experience. The activities include, among other other things, snorkeling, island ecology, oceanograhpy, marine biology labs, and ocean kayaking. This is a fee based program. Fundraising projects are undertaken by the 5th grade class to cover their Outdoor Education class.

SCIENCE FAIR
The school science fair is an annual event, generally held in the Spring. Participation is mandatory for fifth graders. All students may participate voluntarily. Students select a science project that interests them, create a poster board display of their project, and on the designated science fair day, place their project in the cafeteria for display. Throughout the day, all Mound classes visit the science fair. In the evening, families and friends are invited to view the projects. The science fair is intended as a learning experience for all participants and observers and is not a competition.

VARIETY SHOW
The school variety show occurs annually, usually in March. Auditions precede the show to enable the screening committee to make selections and to ensure appropriateness of material. Any Mound student or group of students may audition. Following a dress rehearsal, an evening performance is given for families and friends.

JOG-A-THON
The major fundraiser at Mound School each year is the Jog-A-Thon, which takes place in the first few weeks of school. This is the only time that your child is asked to solicit for donations. These donations are counted on to generate the majority of the school's revenue. All donations are tax deductible. Every child is encouraged to participate to the best of their ability by asking friends, relatives and neighbors to sponsor them on their pledge sheet. Keep the pledge sheet until after your child participates in the Jog-A-Thon. After collection all of the pledges, turn in the pledge sheet and donations to your child's teacher as soon as possible. During the Jog-A-Thon, children participate in running, jumping, and water relay events. A great deal of parental help is needed on the day of the Jog-A-Thon and parents are encouraged to help their child's class on this day. For more information, check out the PTO portion of this website.

ALUMINUM CAN DRIVE
Mound School holds aluminum can drives twice a year, usually in October and May. It is held on a Saturday morning. Families are asked to bring their aluminum cans to the school parking lot on the specified day and the weight of those cans will be credited to the child's class. Prizes are awarded to the classes that bring in the most cans, and the money supports the PTO budget and the student council. This fund-raiser costs nothing, and it's a wonderful way to teach children about recycling!

SCRIP
You can help Mound earn money for much needed equipment and supplies when you purchase things you need using Scrip. It is taken at many stores locally. These stores donate a percentage of the purchase to Mound School.