NO EXCUSES AT DEHESA

Parent Handbook

~ Fr an Hj al mar son ~ Lessons f r om Tur nAr oundSc hool s 2011 ~ w w w .Tur nAr oundSc hool s.c om~

PARENT HANDBOOK
No Excuses At Dehesa















No Excuses In Progress
Dehesa School
4612 Dehesa Road El Cajon, CA 92019
Phone 619-444-2161


~ Fr an Hj al mar son ~ Lessons f r om Tur nAr oundSc hool s 2011 ~ w w w .Tur nAr oundSc hool s.c om~

Table of Cont ent s
Let t er f r om t he Pr i nc i pal I
Mi ssi on, Vi si on, Commi t ment i i
Who Par t i c i pat es i i i

N E U C A M P U S I N F O
Code of Conduc t 1
Dai l y Sc hedul e 2
Cal endar of Event s 2
To and Fr om Sc hool 2
Meet i ng St udent Needs 3
Heal t h I nf or mat i on 3
P A R E N T I N F O R M A T I O N
Par ent Code of Conduc t 4
Par ent Educ at i on 5
Par ent Endor sement 5
Vol unt eer 5
Resour c es 6
C O L L E G E R E A D I N E S S
TAKE 5 7
A-G Col l ege Requi r ement 8
Ac c ount abi l i t y 10
St udent Goal 10
Par ent Goal 10
Col l ege Fi nanc i ng 13
St udent Leader shi p 14



~ Fr an Hj al mar son ~ Lessons f r om Tur nAr oundSc hool s 2011 ~ w w w .Tur nAr oundSc hool s.c om~

We are committed to creating a school that knows
no limits to the academic success of each student

No Excuses University Pledge

Dear Parents,

Welcome to Dehesa! We are so glad you are here! We are in the process of
becoming a No Excuses University campus. This comprehensive approach to
ensuring college readiness is a passion that the entire Dehesa staff shares. We
believe that your children have tremendous potential and an innate ability to learn.
Because of this, we will do whatever it takes to promote the brightest future for
every student who attends our school.
While No Excuses is new to Dehesa, the No Excuses University Program has
been used successfully at schools throughout the United States for many years.
The No Excuses University Program will be a way of blending our mission, vision,
and shared commitment into one goal of promoting college readiness. As you will
find out today, there are commitments that must be made on the part of students,
staff, and parents in order to make this endeavor successful. It isnt that we are
telling your child that they have to go to college, we want them to have the skills
and mindset so that they can choose to go to college. I urge you to be an active
member of our school community as we go forward together to open doors to
learning that have never been opened before.
I know that this is going to be a great year for everyone as we move forward to
becoming a No Excuses University campus at Dehesa. Thank you for your
support of your childs education.
Sincerely,


Janet Wilson
Superintendent/Principal
i

~ Fr an Hj al mar son ~ Lessons f r om Tur nAr oundSc hool s 2011 ~ w w w .Tur nAr oundSc hool s.c om~

Mission, Vision, Shared Commitment, and Goal


We are committed to creating a school that knows no limits to the academic
success of each student

No Excuses University Pledge

Mission: Everyone involved at Dehesa believes that the academic potential of each student is
tremendous. We refuse to accept difficult challenges that confront some students as excuses
for poor learning. We know that one of the greatest predictors of life success is educational
success. Therefore, we are committed to creating a school that knows no limits to the academic
success of each student.

Vision: Todays students at Dehesa will be the most academically successful students in the
history of Dehesa School. All students who have been in the Dehesa School District for at least
one year will lead the county in academic achievement when compared to other students in their
group.

Shared Commitment: The teachers at Dehesa pledge to:
Accept no limits on the learning potential of any child
Meet the individual learning needs of each child
Create serious classroom learning environments
Treat students, parents and colleagues with courtesy and respect
Hold students, parents, and each other to the highest standards of performance.
Collaborate regularly with colleagues to seek and implement more effective strategies for helping
each child to achieve his or her academic potential
Do whatever it takes - go the extra mile - to ensure that every student achieves or exceeds
grade level academic expectations.

Goal: At the end of each school year, the staff at Dehesa School will examine data to
appropriately compare the academic achievements of our students with those attending other
elementary schools in California. It is our goal and our expectation that, by the year 2013,
students at our school will be the highest performing students in our comparison band based on
API scores. By meeting this goal, students at Dehesa will be able to accomplish what all staff
believes they are capable of.








ii



~ Fr an Hj al mar son ~ Lessons f r om Tur nAr oundSc hool s 2011 ~ w w w .Tur nAr oundSc hool s.c om~

Who Participates in the No Excuses University Dehesa?
The No Excuses at Dehesa is an endeavor that requires participation by all to ensure success. All
students, staff, and parents will be actively involved in many different ways.

Student Staff Parents
Preparing for College: Dehesa
students will be given specific
ways that they can begin planning
for college now. Teachers will
bring A-G requirements to life for
them in a way that makes sense at
their current grade level.

Celebration: Academic success
will be celebrated by all as
students strive for college
readiness.

Student Handbook: This years
student handbook will be shaped
around the character traits and
work habit commitments
necessary for a student to be a No
Excuses student. They will find
great pride in being a part of our
school and encourage the very
best from one another each day.

Power of Symbolism: Once we
are approved as a NEU school,
every Monday students will wear
their No Excuses University shirts
as they set the tone for learning
throughout the week. Friday will
be college readiness day as
students will wear the colors and
logos of the universities that they
have selected for their individual
classrooms.

Student Goals: Students will
continue to participate in the
development of student goals.
This goal planning will be tied to
college readiness.
Dehesa Assessment Plan: Staff
members will continue to
develop student goals that are
grounded on assessments for
learning.

Dehesa Collaboration Plan:
The Dehesa staff will participate
in collaboration that builds
strong professional
relationships, keeps time sacred
for group collaboration, and
ensures continued professional
growth as teams collectively
participate in making our
students college ready.

Candid Collaboration: The
Dehesa staff will be committed
to confronting any concerns that
hinder the academic and social
progress of our students.
Specific Candid Collaboration
strategies will be taught
throughout the year during
Collaboration workshops and
staff meetings.


Power of Symbolism: Students
will be encouraged by various
displays of symbolism for the
No Excuses at Dehesa. (See
student piece)
No Excuses University Forum:
Mandatory parent meetings will
take place at the beginning of the
year sharing about NEU.

Take Five: Promoting five
steps that each parent will take
in the first five minutes that a
student comes home from
school. This includes
conversations about student
goals and tips on how to gather
information from the student on
specific learnings from the day.


Parent University:
Opportunities for parents to
attend Developing Capable
Young People seminars and
other parenting workshops.

Parent Goals: J ust as students
have learning goals, parents will
be asked to develop parent goals
at home with the student as the
facilitator of the Parent Goal
process.

Three Way Pledge: Parents
will endorse a contract signed by
student, teacher, and parent.
This contract will speak to the
expectations for all as we
participate in the No Excuses at
Dehesa.

iii
1
Keys to No Excuses at
Dehesa
Code of Conduct
Students, Staff, and Parents are expected to follow the Code of Conduct at all times.
The Code of Conduct is based on the six pillars of Character Counts:
Trust wort hiness
Be honest Dont deceive, cheat or steal Be reliable do what you say youll do
Have the courage to do the right thing Build a good reputation Be loyal stand by
your family, friends and community
Respect
Treat others with respect Follow the Golden Rule Be tolerant of differences Use
good manners, not bad language Be considerate of others Dont threaten, hit or
hurt anyone Deal peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements
Responsibilit y
Do what youre supposed to do Persevere: keep on trying! Use self-control Be
self-disciplined Think before you act consider the consequences Be accountable
for your choices
Fairness
Play by the rules Take turns and share Be open-minded; listen to others Dont
take advantage of others Dont blame others carelessly
Caring
Be kind Be compassionate and show you care Express gratitude Forgive others
Help people in need
Cit izenship
Do your part to improve your school and community Protect the environment
Cooperate Stay informed Vote Be a good neighbor Obey laws and rules
Respect authority
I C O N K E Y
Code of Conduct
Daily Schedule
Calendar
To and From School
Meeting Student Needs
Health Information


Campus Info
2


Daily Schedule
8:00 Academy begins
8:25 Middle School begins
8:55 Elementary begins
3:01 All student dismissal


Calendar of Event s

Part i ci pat i ng in school events models for your
children that school and education is a priority.
Please make every effort to attend school
activities.
Current school calendars are sent home
at the end of every month.
Mark your cal endars with the
important dates. Plan your family time and
vacations during school holidays.


To and From School
Code of Conduct : Students are expected to
follow the Code of Conduct when traveling on
the bus to and from school, and at all times on
campus.
Before and Aft er School
Middle School students are welcome on campus at 8:15 a.m. Younger siblings are
welcome to wait quietly on the benches in the front of the school until 8:40 am when
they will be taken to the playground. Supervision for the elementary students begins at
Pl ease hel p your
st udent s arri ve t o
school on t i me
every day.
ESS i s a vol unt ary
pai d program t hat
requi res an
appl i cat i on and
si gned permi ssi on


Campus Info
3
8:40 am on the playground. Breakfast is served at 8:15 am for middle school and 8:40
am for elementary students. When school is out, students are expected to leave
campus unless they are in after school tutoring or an after school program. Students
enrolled in Extended Student Services (ESS) also fondly known as Student Care are
welcome between the hours of 6:30 am and 6:00 pm.
Meet ing Student Needs
No Excuses Universit y Pledge
The No Excuses University Pledge is We are committed to
creating a school that knows no limits to the academic success of each
student. Share with your childs teacher concerns you may have
about meeting your childs special needs. If necessary the
teacher may request a School Success Team (SST) meeting.
This is an opportunity to meet with your childs teacher and other staff members to
discuss your childs strengths and opportunities.
Academic Int ervent ion
Your child may have an opportunity to participate in academic interventions for
additional support. Your childs teacher may recommend that your child participate in
academic intervention in reading, writing, or math. These are offered during, before
and/or after school.
Healt h Information
Absences
Students are expected to attend school every day. If your
child is ill, you must notify the school by calling 619-444-2161.
When your child is ill, keep them resting at home until they
have no fever, vomiting, or diarrhea for 24 hours. Please try to
schedule doctor and dentist appointments outside of school hours.
Medicat ion
If your child requires medication, please provide written authorization from your
doctor. Forms are available in the office. After your doctor completes the form, give
the note and the medication to Mrs. Fields in the office. Students may only take
medication at school after we have received the necessary paperwork.
Phone Numbers
Be sure that the office has correct and up-to-date phone numbers of anyone that has
permission to pick up your child from school. Please include home, work, and cell
phone numbers.

4
Parent
Information
Keys to No Excuses
Parent Informat ion
To ensure a successful school year please familiarize yourself with
the Parent Information
Parent Code of Conduct
We ask that all parents follow the same Code of
Conduct as the students and staff. For parents, the six
pillars may also include the following:
Trust wort hiness
Pick your child up on time Keep your promises Be honest with
your children and others Help your child with homework, but dont
do it for them Avoid engaging in gossip If you have a concern, speak directly with
the people involved
Respect
Use respectful words and actions, especially with your children Provide guidelines
and firmness for children, but implement them with dignity and respect Use good
manners, not bad language Deal peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements
Responsibilit y
Attend school activities Read the school newsletter Review papers and information
from school and return them in a timely matter Model for your children taking
accountability for your choices Teach your child to be accountable for their choices
Fairness
Understand, follow, and support the school rules Listen to others, especially your
children Do your part to help out at school Dont blame others carelessly
(including your children)
Caring
Be kind Tell your children that you love them Help people in need
Cit izenship
Do your part to improve your school and community Cooperate Be involved in
school Be a good neighbor Respect authority Obey the traffic laws, including the
parking lot at school
I C O N K E Y
Code of Conduct
Parent Education
> Endorsement
` Volunteer
Resources


Parent
Information
5
Three Way Pledge

During Back to School Night, your childs teacher will review
information about No Excuses at Dehesa. We will ask you to show
your support and endorsement of No Excuses with your signature
on the Three Way Pledge.
Volunteer
The partnership between home and school is critical to student success. Parents as
Partners is a value of the Dehesa School District and embraced by the staff. We
welcome and encourage your participation. Dehesa School District requires that all
volunteers sign in and out at the office
There are many ways to volunteer: working in the classroom, preparing materials at
home, helping Parents Club, mentoring individual students, and going on field trips to
name just a few.
Academic success of a student is enhanced by the direct involvement of
parents.
No Excuses Parent Involvement means:
Parental Support
Parental Engagement
Parental Participation



Parent
Information
6
Resources

Principal
Business Manager/Middle School Administrator
Teachers
School Counselor
School Psychologist
Vista Hill Therapist
Education Specialist
Special Education Director
Student Services Director
Office Staff
All School Staff





College
Readiness
7

Keys to No Excuses
College Readiness
To ensure a successful school year please familiarize yourself with No Excuses College
Readiness

Take 5
Research shows that students are more successful with parent involvement.
Parent involvement and support at home can be as simple as
making time to talk about school.



Take 5 minutes every day to ask your student 5 important
questions:
1. What is your student goal?
2. What did you do today to help achieve your student goal?
3. How did you make character count today?
4. What can you do tomorrow to conduct yourself as a No Excuses student?
5. Encourage your child in a very specific and genuine way.

I C O N K E Y
Take 5
E A-G Requirements
EAccountability
Student Goal
Parent Goal
$ College Financing
Student Leadership


College
Readiness
8
Account abilit y
According to the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE)
soft truancy is a negative attendance pattern that often leads to direct
violations of the Educational Code of California. Hard Truancy
almost always starts with soft truancy. While we understand that
special events happen, when you make a habit of taking your child
out of school for fun things, it gives them the message that school
and learning arent important. We want to practice Habit # 2 Begin
With the End in Mind. Good attendance patterns will serve your child well in high
school and college.
Students need to be in school to learn. Please make every effort to have your child
attend school every day. Schedule vacations and appointments outside of the regular
school schedule. If your child is sick and will not be attending school, call the school
office at 619-444-2161. After reporting to the office, it is not
necessary to send a note to school. Reporting absences to school
is an important responsibility. According to Education Code
48260, any student who has three or more unexcused absences
will be considered truant. This isnt Dehesa, its the law.
St udent Goal
Students are expected to establish and work on goals. Teachers meet with students to
determine their goals and activities to support their goal. Talk to your child about their
goal and provide support and encouragement to assist them in meeting their goal.

Parent Goal
Setting goals is powerful. Since we are asking our students to set
and work on goals, we would like parents to do the same. Parents
can support their children by setting two kinds of goals: A goal to
support your childs academics; and a goal to enhance your
parenting skills. Parenting is the most rewarding, yet challenging
thing we do in our lives. It would be nice if children came with
directions, but since they dont, a GOAL is a dream with a deadline. Establish your
own goals and share them with your child. Once you have achieved your goals, you
can set new ones.


College
Readiness
9
________________________________
Student Name

________________________________
School Year/Trimester
Math:
My MATH goal for the year is:_______________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Three things that I can do to work on my goal this year are:

1.___________________________________________________

2.___________________________________________________

3.___________________________________________________


Language Arts:
My LANGUAGE ARTS goal for the year is:______________________________

______________________________________________________________

Three things that I can do to work on my goal this year are:

1.___________________________________________________

2.___________________________________________________

3.___________________________________________________


________________________________
Parent Signature

________________________________
Student Signature

________________________________
Teacher Signature




Sampl e of
4
t h
Grade
Goal
Templ at e


College
Readiness
10


My Parenting Goals
Supporting Academics Enhancing Parenting Skills

Goal ____________________
________________________
Steps for Success:
______________________
________________________
______________________
________________________
______________________
________________________

Goal ____________________
________________________
Steps for Success:
______________________
________________________
______________________
________________________
______________________
________________________


Sampl e of
Parent Goal
Templ at e


College
Readiness
11
College Financing
"How do you pay for college?"
Many feel that education after high school is simply out of reach
financially. Students don't think they can go because their parents
can't afford it. Here are some web resources from the Department
of Education that might help you:
The U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid
office student portal web site provides a wealth of resources.
(www.studentaid.ed/gov)
On-line publications from the U.S. Department of Education: Funding Your
Education, The Student Guide to Financial Aid, Looking for Student Aid
(www.studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/FYE/index)
Communi t y Resources
FinAid is an electronic encyclopedia for financial aid questions. There's
something for everyone. (www.finaid.org)
fastWEB is a free Internet scholarship search. Scholarships are "free" money.
Well, here is a place students can look for that money! There are many
scholarship resources on the Web that will cost money. This one won't!
(www.fastweb.com)
Cash for College: A Guide to Student Aid Programs and Application
Procedures from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.
(www.nasfaa.org)
Mission 2 $ave: Practice Habit # 2 Begin With the End in Mind its
never too early to start saving and our partnership with Mission Federal Credit
Union makes it easy for you MFCU Mission 2$ave is on campus before
school on the first Thursday of every month. Your child can make deposits
today that will help them with sixth grade camp, eighth grade Washington DC
and New York trip, and COLLEGE.



$


College
Readiness
12
St udent Leadership
There are many opportunities for students to be good citizens and
perform community service. Colleges are interested not only in
students with strong academic success, but also students that are
well-rounded and participate in their communities in positive ways
1. Student Council Officers and Representatives. Members will
coordinate elementary student council fundraisers, spirit days, and community
service opportunities.
2. ASB Officers and Leaders. Members will coordinate middle school
fundraisers, spirit days, and community service opportunities
3. School Clubs and Activities. Watch future newsletters for activities and
academic clubs that students can participate in. Peace Patrol for 4
th
& 5
th
,
Science Team for 4
th
& 5
th
, and Fantasy Baseball for middle school, are just a
few of the activities students can participate in and represent our school.
4. No Excuses University Student Leaders. (Once we are accepted as
an NEU campus). Leaders will have the opportunity to participate in
leadership on campus in a variety of ways.
5. Green Ribbon School Environmental Club: We are very proud to be a
Green Ribbon School and our 3
rd
8
th
grade students can participate and
develop leadership skills through participating in the Environmental Club.
6. The LEADER in ME: Through Stephen Coveys 7 Habits, it is our goal
to develop the leadership potential in every one of our students.
The 7 Habits of Happy Kids:
Habit # 1: Be PROACTIVE
Habit # 2: Begin With the End in Mind
Habit # 3: First Things First
Habit # 4: Think Win-Win
Habit # 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Habit # 6: Synergize
Habit # 7: Sharpen the Saw



College
Readiness
13