Emergency Preparedness
The District has procedures which must be followed in the event of an earthquake, fire, or other emergency. Fire drills are held regularly. Procedures to be followed in the event of an earthquake or other emergencies are practiced at least four times a year. School bus safe riding practices and bus evacuation drills are held annually. Child Nutrition Services personnel are prepared to operate the cafeterias as directed if it is necessary to feed children during an emergency.
School staff members will remain on duty until all children have been safely checked out by a parent, guardian, family member, neighbor, or childcare personnel designated on your child's school emergency card as being responsible for your child in case of an emergency. It is very important that you keep the information on your child's school emergency card up to date. Your child will not be released to persons other than those listed on the emergency or disaster card.
SCHOOL BUS PROCEDURES DURING AN EARTHQUAKE
If a minor earthquake occurs while a bus is on a scheduled pickup or take-home run, the bus will temporarily stop until the driver can determine all is clear, then continue the regularly assigned route.
If a major earthquake occurs while a bus is on a run, the bus will stop picking up or dropping off students and as safety conditions allow, will go to the nearest District school to await further instructions. Children waiting to be picked up by the bus or who have been dropped off at their stop should return home or go to an alternate safe address.
We encourage you to discuss with your children the procedures they should be prepared to follow in the event of an emergency.
Important Telephone Numbers
Police
Chula Vista Police Dept. 619-691-5151
San Diego Police Dept. 858-531-2065
San Diego Sheriff's 858-565-5200
U.S. Border Patrol
Chula Vista 619-662-7233
Imperial Beach 619-662-7057
Emergency 911
Hotlines
INFO Hotline (County) 619-230-0997
Child Abuse 858-560-2191
Child Abuse Hotline 800-344-6000
Crime Stoppers 619-235-8477
(Citizens Report of Criminal Activity)
Crisis Line 800-479-3339
Drug Abuse 858-694-8497
Graffiti Removal(CV) 619-691-5198
Graffiti Removal(SD) 619-525-8522
Calif., Youth Crisis Line 800-843-5200
National Runaway Switchboard 800-621-4000
Reporting Tobacco Sales to Minors 800-527-5443
Runaway Shelter (CV) 619-420-4663
Suicide Prevention 800-479-3339
Community Services
Boys & Girls Club of Chula Vista 619-421-4011
Child Development Associates 619-427-4411
Chula Vista Parks & Rec. 619-691-5071
Chula Vista Human Services., Center 619-691-5087
Cook Child Care Center 619-422-2887
Family Stress Center 619-691-1331
4-H AM/PM Youth Development 619-420-3779
South Bay Community Services 619-420-3620
South Bay Head Start 619-422-1642
South Bay YMCA 619-421-8805
Starlight Center 619-427-7524
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Safe Schools Information
For information about Megan’s Law from the Office of the California Attorney General including:
Should you send your child to school?
It is often difficult for parents to determine whether a child is too sick to attend school. Below are guidelines to help you decide:
Your child should not go to school if he/she has a:
Temperature of 100.0
Vomited
Diarrhea
If your child has been absent for an illness, please allow a full 24 hours of being fever-free before sending him/her to school. If your child has complained of a cold or stomach ache and you have determined that he/she can attend school, please do not tell your child to call home if he/she feels ill. Our experience is a child will appear to be fine and able to remain in school. Of course if our assessment indicates illness or inability to stay in school, we will notify you.
When a child is sent to the health office:
We follow guidelines to evaluate your child’s visit. While there are exceptions, the standards below are utilized to determine the severity of the illness.
Child’s behavior
Behavior of child in health office
Illness/ reason child was sent to the health office
Frequency of visits
Ability of child to stay in school
We appreciate your assistance in this matter. We depend on parents help by:
Not sending an ill child to school
Leaving up-to-date phone numbers of people available during school hours to pick of an injured or ill child.
Reminder: All students taking medications at school must have a physician’s authorization form on file in the health office. All medication must be in the original prescription container and prescribed by a physician licensed in California. Children are not allowed to carry meds, such as cough drops or Tylenol.
About test results in California
Although test results are only one measure of student achievement, they have become increasingly important in assessing student learning. In 2005-2006 California used the Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) program to measure student learning in grades 2 through 11. The STAR program includes the California Standards Tests (CSTs), a series of standards-based assessments given in English language arts and math in grades 2 through 11; science in grades 5, 8 and 10; and history-social science in grades 8, 10 and 11. Middle and high school students also took subject-specific CSTs in math and science, depending on the course in which they were enrolled. The CSTs were developed to measure whether students are mastering the specific skills defined for each grade by the state of California.
Another component of the STAR program is the California Achievement Test, Sixth Edition Survey (CAT/6), given in grades 3 and 7 in reading, language, spelling and math. The CAT/6 is a national, norm-referenced test, which means it measures how well students in California scored in comparison to their peers across the country. Prior to the 2004-2005 school year, the CAT/6 was administered to students in grades 2 through 11.
Additional STAR tests include the Spanish Assessment of Basic Education, Second Edition (SABE/2), given to Spanish-speaking students who have been enrolled in California schools for less than 12 months, and the California Alternative Performance Assessment (CAPA), given to students with significant cognitive difficulties who are unable to take the CSTs and CAT/6.
Beginning with the class of 2006, high school students must also pass the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) (pronounced KAY-see) in order to graduate. The CAHSEE is a standards-based test, which means it measures whether students have learned specific skills defined by the state in English language arts and mathematics. The CAHSEE is administered for the first time to all grade 10 students. Students who do not pass one or more sections of the test have up to five opportunities to retake the sections they have not yet passed.
How are the tests scored?
CST results show the level of proficiency a student demonstrates in each of the subject areas tested. Students will receive one of the following five ratings on the tests: far below basic, below basic, basic, proficient or advanced. The goal is for all students to score at or above the proficient level.
The CAT/6 measures performance through a percentile based on the scores of all students of the same grade level in the nation. Students scoring at or above the 50th percentile (the national average) are considered to be proficient. The goal is for all students to score at or above the 50th percentile.
CAHSEE results show the percentage of students passing each section of the test. The scaled scores range from 275 to 450, with a passing score of at least 350. This translates to students answering approximately 55% of the math questions and 60% of the English language arts questions correctly. The goal is for all students to pass the test.
Which results are included?
Although the STAR program includes a variety of tests and subjects, only the CST results for English language arts, math and science and the CAT/6 results for reading and math are included profiles. For each subject on the CSTs, the combined percentage of students scoring at and above the proficient level is displayed. For each subject of the CAT/6, the percentage of students scoring at or above the 50th percentile is displayed.
For each subject on the CAHSEE, GreatSchools displays the overall passing rates for high school students taking the test for the first time during the spring semester of their sophomore year.
Subgroup results show how different groups of students are scoring in comparison to the overall student population in a given grade and subject. These subgroups are identified by the California Department of Education; if there are fewer than 10 students in a particular group in a school, data is not reported for that group.
Why do the tests matter?
Although California does not mandate that schools use test scores to make decisions regarding grade-level promotion or retention, individual schools may take STAR performance into account when making such decisions. CAHSEE scores are particularly important to high school students, because students must pass the test in order to graduate. In general, standardized test scores that are below proficient are one factor that might indicate the need for additional assistance.
Additionally, test score performance is important to schools because it is a principal factor in determining the Academic Performance Index (API) score, the accountability rating assigned to each school by the state of California. These ratings can have substantial consequences. Under-performing schools are given additional funds to encourage improvement and excellent schools may be eligible for additional acknowledgement.
It is important to be aware of both your child's test scores and the overall accountability score for her school. If your child scores below proficient, contact the teacher to discuss getting additional assistance and to find out how you can support your child's learning at home. If the school's overall scores are low, ask what steps the school is taking to raise achievement levels for all students, and what you as a parent can do to help. If your child is in a failing school, ask what your options are for transferring and obtaining supplemental services.
A few parting words
Although test results can be an indicator of what's happening in the classroom, they don't tell you everything about the quality of a school. Always look at more than one measure when judging school performance and visit in person before making any final determination.