Activities  

 Attendance Procedure  

 Bicycle/Scooter Riders  

 Classroom Treats and Flower / Gift Deliveries  

 Cooperative Behavior Plan  

 Homework Policy  

 Hours  

 Lost and Found  

 Lunch Menu  

 Lunch Service  

 Medical Appointments and / or Early Dismissal  

 Medication at School  

 Rewards for Students  

 Safety  

 Tuesday Envelopes  

 Updating School Records


Cooperative Behavior Plan
A goal of the Bryant Ranch Staff is to provide a safe, positive, and nurturing atmosphere that focuses on fairness, trust, communication, and caring. Every student at Bryant Ranch has the right to: be safe; be respected; be able to learn free of disruption; and have a neat and clean environment.

Staff is Responsible For:
  1. Explaining and consistently enforcing classroom, playground, and district rules.
  2. Approaching students positively with a rationale for the consequences and/or citation.
  3. Investigating student concerns.
Parents are Responsible For:
  1. Knowing, understanding, and supporting the school rules that students are expected to follow.
  2. Ensuring that your child attends school on time, every day, all day.
  3. Supporting staff decisions and consequences.
  4. Reading and explaining to children the Zero Tolerance, User Network Access Agreement, and Sexual Harassment Sections of the PYLUSD Parent Information Packet.
  5. Ensuring compliance with the school dress code of appropriate and safe attire.
  6. Ensuring that students bring a nutritious lunch and delivering late lunches or other forgotten items to the office.
Students are Responsible For:
  1. Arriving to class on time prepared to learn.
  2. Completing all assigned tasks appropriately.
  3. Bringing to school only appropriate and approved belongings.
    4. Not Allowed: Electronic games, cameras, sports equipment, games, trading cards and other card games, toys, comic books, or other items. Although students are allowed to have cell phones, they must remain in their backpacks and not used during the school day. Consequence: Items will be taken away and returned to the parents or guardians at an appropriate time.
  4. Remaining within designated boundaries at all times.
  5. Bringing only nutritious snacks for break, and eating in the outside assigned area.
  6. Following all classroom, playground, and lunch area rules.
  7. Protecting our environment and keeping it clean.
    8. Consequences for Nos. 1-7 will be appropriate and may include: Missing recess, conference with the principal, communication home, after school detention, citation or suspension.
  8. Checking with the Noon Supervisors for forgotten lunches.
  9. Wearing appropriate and safe attire (as determined by the Principal and in accordance with District policy):
    • Clothing and personal appearance should be conducive to a positive educational atmosphere so as not to interfere with the learning process.
    • Clothing should be in good repair and appropriate size (no baggy or saggy).
    • Shorts should be mid-thigh or longer with no frayed hems..
    • Oversized tank tops, halters, spaghetti strap and/or midriff tops should not be worn.
    • Undergarments should not be visible.
    • Shirts must not have printed messages or pictures that are negative, or that relate to drugs, alcohol, tobacco or violence.
    • Apparel, jewelry or accessories that promote negative remarks or racial, ethnic or religious prejudice are not allowed.
    • Shoes must have a closed toe and back strap.
    • Tennis shoes must be worn on PE days.
    • Shorts should be worn under dresses or skirts, especially on PE days.
    • Sunglasses are not allowed (exceptions will be made for medical reasons).
    • No shoes with wheels of any kind.
    • Extremes in style or color of hair are not permitted.
    • Headwear may be worn outside for sun protection only, and can only include baseball style caps, visors, or bucket style hats. Caps and visors must be worn with the bill in the front. Headwear is to be stored in backpacks while students are in class. In the interest of hygiene, students may not wear other students' headwear.
    10. Consequence: Students will be asked to change to appropriate attire, or parents will be called to bring appropriate clothing.
  10. Respecting the rights, safety, and property of self and others. No objects shall be used or made to inflict injury on others.
    11. Consequence: Immediate office referral with detention or suspension.
  11. Not bringing laser pointers or similar objects on campus. (Ed. Code 48900)
    12. Consequence: Immediate office referral with detention or suspension.
  12. Not bringing any weapons, or imitations thereof, including, but not limited to, pocket and sheathed knives of all sizes and types, and any other sharp or pointed objects.
    13. Consequence: Immediate office referral with suspension or expulsion from the schools of PYLUSD ON THE FIRST OFFENSE.
  13. Treating others respectfully and with dignity. (Ed. Code 48980 of 212.6 and Board policy 5145.7)
  14. Students who are bullied or harassed by others in a sexual or threatening way shall report these incidents immediately.
  15. Following district guidelines for acceptable use of networks, computers, and Promethean technology as stated in the District Parent Information Packet.
    16. Consequence: Loss of computer and/or network access, detention or suspension.

Rewards for Students
All students have the opportunity to receive:
  • Principal's Award weekly special recognition awards. Each teacher chooses one student per week.
  • Bryant Brag Cards for positive behaviors (designed by previous year 4th graders). They expire at the end of each school year in which they are earned.) Redemption choices are listed below.
  • Attendance at Explorer Award Assemblies Explorer Awards are awarded to primary and upper grade students each trimester based on their character, creativity, academics, or other areas of strength.
  • Perfect Attendance Awards End of the school year.
  • Honor Roll Certificates Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 are recognized each trimester if they meet the criteria (see below).
  • Accelerated Reader (AR) Parties Students who meet their goals in reading can attend a party each trimester to celebrate their success.
Brag Cards may be redeemed on Fridays in the school office throughout the school year.
1 = Weekly Prize Drawing during the Principal's Announcements
5 = Bookmark
10 = Popcorn or freezer pop on Friday after lunch at tables
15 = Front of the Lunch Line Pass
20 = Special Pencil
30 = Bryant Ranch Notepad
35 = Bryant Ranch Folder
40 = Personalized Notepad
45 = Your picture (taken with digital camera at school) posted on the Bryant Ranch website (permission slip required).
60 = Storybook Garden (listen to a story read by the Principal or other VIP, and receive a book - dates throughout the year)
80 = Games on the field with the Principal (dates throughout the year)
100 = Special lunch with the Principal (one time event)
120 = Movie with the Principal in our Bryant Ranch Theater (one time event occurs the beginning of June)

Honor Roll Certificates for students in grades 3 (2nd trimester), 4 and 5 with 4.0 grade point average (PRINCIPAL); 3.5 to 3.9 (HIGH); or 3.0 to 3.4 (HONOR) and no N's, U's, D's, or F's in core curricular areas. Students in 5th grade have the opportunity to receive the President's Achievement Award upon promotion, if they meet the criteria as designated by that program.
Good Citizenship Awards Designed to celebrate great citizenship of one student in each class every trimester.
Other incentives may be added at a later date.


Attendance Information
On time, full school day attendance is necessary for an optimum educational experience. Please make note of the following procedures for absences, tardies, and early checkouts:
Absenses: For student safety and attendance purposes, please remember to call in your child's absence each day at 714/986-7120, ext. 3. Please do not send a sick child to school. Children should be kept home 24 hours after a fever breaks, for your child's health and the health of others.
Tardies/Early Checkout/Medical Appointments: When a student is tardy or leaves early, he/she misses out on announcements, discussion of lesson/homework plans, or learning an important skill. This fragments a student's day and puts him/her at a disadvantage as well as disrupting the educational program for the entire class. It is imperative that each student arrives on time. For all grades, the bell rings at 7:50 a.m. Students should be on campus by 7:45 a.m. to insure that they get to class on time. Children are supervised 15 minutes before and after school. They should not arrive before 7:35 a.m. or remain after 2:30 p.m. All students who arrive after 7:50 a.m. must obtain a pass from the office before being admitted to class. We begin instruction promptly at 7:50 a.m. Please make use of non-student days and/or our weekly Early Release Day for appointments. If an early checkout is unavoidable, please send a note to your child's teacher at the beginning of the day to inform them you'll be picking up early. All early checkouts require the parent/guardian's signature in the school office. Attendance and punctuality is a habit which needs to be learned as an important life skill.


Bicycle/Scooter Riders - 4th & 5th grades only
All riders (4th and 5th grades only) are required to wear a helmet and use a bike lock at school. The school is not responsible for any bicycles/scooters that are damaged or stolen. As a safety precaution, bikes/scooters may not be ridden on the school grounds. Students are required to walk their bikes/scooters to the fenced compound. Violations of school safety rules will result in denial of riding privileges.


Lunch Service
Children may bring their lunch to school, or they may purchase a balanced lunch, including milk, at the school for $2.50. Milk can also be purchased separately for 50¢ or an 8 oz. orange juice for 75¢. No money will be loaned to the children for lunch. We will not disrupt class time for forgotten lunches. If you need to deliver lunch or lunch money for your child, bring it to the office marked clearly with the student's name and teacher's name. Be sure your child has been instructed to check the noon supervisors' cart first when they have forgotten their lunch.

Lunch Account You may deposit money into your student's lunch account in the school office, i.e., 10 lunches = $25.00; 20 lunches = $50; 30 lunches = $75.00. Separate checks are not necessary. Make checks payable to PYLUSD Food Services.


School Hours
Grades 1-5 - Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri - 7:50 a.m.-2:15 p.m.;
every Wednesday (early release) - 7:50 a.m.-1:15 p.m.
Kindergarten - Eagles 7:50 a.m.-11:10 a.m.
Owls - 9:30 a.m.-12:50 p.m.


Lunch Hours
Grades 1, 2, 3 - 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
Grades 4, 5 - 12:15 p.m.-1:00 p.m.


Classroom Treats and Flower / Gift Deliveries
There has been an increase in the number of students with food allergies. We recommend store bought foods (things that can be served individually) when providing a treat for your student's classroom. Ingredients can then be reviewed for possible food allergies. Please inform your child's teacher before bringing in any treats. Treats are given to the children at recess and/or lunch break and must come through the office. All food is eaten outside, with the exception of rainy/windy days. We do not allow delivery of flowers/balloons/gifts for birthdays or other such occasions.


Medical Appointments and / or Early Dismissal
Please make use of early release days and nonstudent days for medical appointments. Early checkouts require the parent or guardian's signature in the school office (see Attendance Information).


Lost and Found
Please have your child check the racks in the room next to the school kitchen for lost items during lunch time. Items of clothing, lunch boxes, etc. should be clearly labeled. All unclaimed items are donated twice a year(December and June) to a local charity.


Medication at School
Rules have been formulated to protect all children from ingesting improper amounts of medication. If your child requires medication during school, a form for your doctor to sign is available in the office. All prescriptions must be in properly labeled prescription bottles, and will be administered by school employees. As a safety measure, no medication (including over-the-counter) may be sent to school with a child. Taking medication under any conditions other than those described above, is prohibited.


Safety
Picking up or dropping off children in a parking lot creates a safety problem. You may have your student use the public sidewalk areas for drop off and pick up, or you may use our Valet Drive-Thru Line in either parking lot. Specific instructions will be sent home in the Tuesday Envelope. The semi-circle in front of the school is for school buses and childcare vans only.


Tuesday Envelopes
In an effort to keep the lines of communication open between home and school, every Tuesday Bryant Ranch sends home weekly letters, and any other school/community information in a "Tuesday Envelope." We conserve paper by sending most information home with the family's youngest or only student in the school. Items that are supplied by outside sources for distribution to the student body are given to every student. You will also be notified of any school calendar changes through your student's Tuesday Envelope. Parents/Guardians are asked to sign the Envelope each Tuesday and return it to school on Wednesday. We also offer the opportunity to receive the Principal's Tuesday Letter by email. If you would like to be included on this email list, simply click on the Newsletters tab on the Navigation Menu of this website and enter your email address. If at any time you are unable to receive email, please let the office know that you would like a hard copy of the Tuesday Letter.


Updating School Records
When any of the parent contact information for your student changes, please notify the school office immediately.


Homework Policy
Regular homework, which is an integral part of the teaching learning process extends learning time and challenges the student to apply what has been learned. Goals for homework:
  1. promotes a student's ability to work independently
  2. enriches school experiences
  3. serves as a vehicle to provide parents with a greater awareness of the school's programs
  4. helps the student who needs extra practice on skills previously taught
  5. applies school learning to leisure time activities
  6. encourages good study habits
Kindergarten: It is recommended that homework assignments be given from 2 to 3 times per week. These assignments may be on the average of 10-15 minutes per night (30 minute maximum). There should be no weekend assignments. In addition, parents should read to their students at least 15-30 minutes a night.

Grades 1-2: It is recommended that homework assignments be given from 3 to 4 times per week. These assignments may be on the average of 15-30 minutes per night. There should be no weekend assignments. In addition, students should read for 15 minutes each day or parents are encouraged to read to their students at least 15-30 minutes a night.

Grades 3-4: It is recommended that homework assignments be given 3 to 4 times per week. These assignments may be on the average of 40-60 minutes per night. There may be long-range assignments that necessitate occasional weekend work. In addition, students should read at least 20 minutes a night.

Grade 5: It is recommended that homework assignments be given from 4 to 5 times per week. These assignments may be on the average of 45-60 minutes per night. There may be long-range assignments that necessitate occasional weekend work. In addition, students should read at least 30 minutes a night.

Work which is intended to be completed in class, but not finished, is to be completed at home and is not included in these guidelines. Allow for individual differences, so times may vary according to students' needs.

Parents have the responsibility for providing students with the atmosphere and means for carrying out successful homework assignments at home. Family responsibility includes more than just supplying a quiet study center, adequate lighting and seating, reference books and supplies. It requires proper encouragement to complete the assignment once begun, a minimum of interruptions, no distractions caused by television or radio, a regularly scheduled time allocation, and an appreciation of work well done.

At elementary schools the nightly homework will be based on the basic concepts which apply to each designated subject matter.
    Types of homework may include
  1. Independent practice or application of subject matter content or knowledge on previously taught skills;
  2. Extension of skills;
  3. Development of creative abilities; and
  4. Projects and long term assignments.
    Advantages of Homework
  1. Keeps the parent in touch with the school program;
  2. Develops a feeling of responsibility in the student;
  3. Helps reinforce/enrich the learning experience; and
  4. Provides practice time so more material can be presented in class.
    Characteristics of Good Homework
  1. Homework should emphasize quality rather than quantity.
  2. Homework should broaden the students' learning experiences and expand interest.
  3. Homework should be at the appropriate level for independent work.
  4. Homework is not initial instruction but is used for reinforcement and/or extension of learning and practice.

Homework for Absentees
Teachers will provide homework, upon request, when a child is absent. Work for each day absent will be available at the end of the next day. Homework can be sent home with another child or picked up after the dismissal hour. Students are allowed a day to complete missed work for each day absent. If the absence is of some duration, homework needs to be returned before the teacher can properly prepare additional assignments.


Independent Study Contracts
For emergency situations or unavoidable extended absences of 5 or more days in length, independent study contracts can be requested. AT LEAST ONE (1) WEEK'S NOTICE IS NECESSARY FOR THE TEACHER TO PREPARE THE CONTRACT. The parent/student is required to maintain a detailed work log during the trip showing at least four hours of work per school day on the contract. Please request independent study contracts only if you (parent/guardian) will ensure completion of all work and record keeping required. The completed contract must be turned in to the teacher the day the student returns to class. It will not be accepted after that date.


Activities
Back to School Night is in September when Parents only are invited to classrooms to meet their child's classroom teachers and gain an overview of curriculum and teacher expectations for the year.

Explorer Day is every Friday when students are encouraged to show school spirit by wearing their Bryant Ranch shirt or school colors (turquoise, silver and white).

Instrumental Music Programs is offered to all fifth graders.

Open House, scheduled for May, gives parents and students the opportunity to visit classrooms and see many of the year's activities.

School Play is directed by three classroom teachers and supported by parent volunteers for fourth and fifth grade students who wish to participate in a play production through acting or on the Tech Crew.

School Site Council (SSC) reviews the school's instructional and curricular programs. Meetings are at 3 p.m. in the school library. Watch your Tuesday Envelope for specific dates.

School Visitation by our School Site Council (SSC) is scheduled in spring. It provides our SSC an opportunity to visit classrooms in order to observe specific curricular areas and provide input for improvement. As with our SSC meetings, other interested parents are welcome to join this Visitation.