New Parents FAQ

Information for New-to-Ohlone Parents

School Hours for Kindergarten:

Until early November:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:15am - 11:55am

Wednesday: 8:15am - 1:30pm

Starting the first week of November

Monday & Tuesday 8:15am - 11:55am

Wednesday: 8:15am - 1:30pm

Thursday & Friday: 8:15am - 2:40pm

School Hours for 1st-3rd graders (all year):

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:15am - 2:40pm

Wednesday: 8:15am - 1:30pm

School Hours for 4th-5th graders (all year):

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:15am - 2:45pm

Wednesday: 8:15am - 1:30pm

 

Ohlone Holidays that are not PAUSD-wide Holidays
Ohlone is closed the entire week of Thanksgiving.  The Monday and Tuesday are used for the staff retreat.  Ohlone continues to meet the state standard for minutes of instruction by increasing the length of our minimum day (Wednesday) by 15 minutes (dismissal used to be at 1:15pm on Wednesdays).

Snacks and lunch

You should pack your child both a snack (for morning recess) and a lunch on days they stay full-day (for Kinders: Wednesdays all year-long, and Thursdays and Fridays starting in November).

Due to food allergies, some classrooms have special nut-free seating areas during lunch.  Your child's teacher will ensure that the students know the guidelines.

What should your student bring to school

Some parents might pack a spare set of clothes;  check with your teacher about appropriate shoes for Farm and P.E. days.  (All classes have regularly-scheduled Farm visits; 1st through 3rd grades have weekly P.E. with District P.E. teachers; some K/1 classes also have weekly parent-led P.E.)

Clothes

Your child should be comfortable, able to move easily, and prepared that some activities might be messy (if it's too special to get dirty, don't wear it to school).  PLEASE LABEL ALL JACKETS, HATS, SWEATERS, SWEATSHIRTS, ETC.  If items end up in the Lost and Found area, parent-volunteers can return them if they are clearly and permanently labeled with the owner's name.

Activities

In addition to normal classroom activities with the classroom teacher, our students also have regularly-scheduled Farm, Science, Library, & Art (1st through 5th graders also have weekly or twice-weekly Music).  You will hear the schedule from your child's teacher. 

Folders

K/1 classes generally have take-home envelopes with information from the teacher on Thursdays or Fridays–this is a great way to stay informed about what your child has been doing and experiencing at school.  The empty folder should be returned the next day (or soon after).  Please encourage your child to begin to take responsibility for the folder and its return.  Older classes may have different ways of communicating with parents about classroom goings-on (regular envelopes, newsletters, email updates, blogs. . .).

 

Kinder Open House

The day before school starts (Monday, August 22^nd) from 8:30am to 9:30am is a chance for kinders and their parents to meet their teachers and to see their new classrooms.  Siblings are welcome.

The first day

The first day, parking is really tough near the school.  If you can walk to school, I highly recommend it.  What happens is you'll bring your child to their classroom, then the class with their teacher will walk to the farm.  All of the kids sit up front with their classes and the parents all stand in the back together.  The farm ceremony can last a while and the kids will return to their classroom with their teacher.  After the ceremony might not be an ideal time to say "bye" to your new kinder so you might want to think about saying "bye" before the ceremony.

Classroom assignments

You will be notified about mid-July about which classroom your child will be in. This will be true as you move from first to second grade, and then from third to fourth grade, as well.

Recess/playgrounds

For the first few weeks, the kinders have to play and stay in the kinder yard.  After that period, they will be allowed to go wherever they want. The teachers ask that kinders not stay after school and play in the kinder yard while the first graders are in the classroom.  (You can imagine how distracting this could be!)

 

 

General FAQs

We are going out of town and will have a sitter/relativetaking care of our children.  Mustwe notify the office?

District policy stipulates that if you leave on a trip andhave authorized a sitter to assume responsibility for your student, you must let the office know in writing the name of the person, (i.e. relative or friend) their phone number, and the dates of your absence.  Authorization for this person to be in charge in case of a medical emergency should be provided/signed by the parent/guardian and given to the school.

 

What should I do if my child is going to be late or absent?

Please call the office at 856-1726 if your child will be tardy or absent (it is also a good idea to let your child's teacher know as well;  teacher email addresses are available on the Staff page of this website). Your child will be considered missing if they are not in their classroom or reported to be absent or tardy by phone by 8:30 a.m, and the office will attempt to contact you if you have not informed them in advance of an excused late arrival.  Absences and tardies may not be reported to the office by e-mail.  If your child will be brought to school late, they must report to the office prior to entering class.

 

If I need my child to be dismissed early, what should I do?

If possible, please notify the child's teacher prior to an early departure.  Children departing early must be picked up from the classroom and must be taken to the office by an adult and signed out of attendance.  If someone other than the parent is to pick up the child, please let the teacher know in advance or provide the teacher with a signed note of permission. A photo ID is required to release the child to a non-parent adult.

 

If my child is sick and needs to be picked up, what should I do?

Sick children are held in the Nurse's room adjacent to the office and must be picked up as soon as possible.  A parent or designated emergency contact will need to report to the office first, and will need to be prepared to show a photo ID before the child can be released.

 

How do I know if my child is too sick to come to school?

It is district policy that no child shall attend school displaying any of the following symptoms:

Persistant and or productive cough; yellow or green nasal discharge

Fever over 100 degrees Farenheit orally, 101 degrees Faxillary, or 101 degrees F rectally

Eyes that are red, swollen, crusting or draining

Draining ears or earache

Diarrhea

Severe headache or pain

Skin rash, unless diagnosed by a doctor in writing as non-infectious

Nausea or vomiting

Head lice

Severe sore throat

Diagnosed childhood communicable disease (measles, mumps,etc)

 

Children displaying any of these symptoms while in school will be sent home.

 

How do I get my child's schoolwork when he/she has been absent?

Please contact your child's teacher directly, as many of the teachers have their own policies regarding completion of schoolwork during an absence.

 

How often are report cards and progress reports senthome?

Ohlone does not use a traditional grade system, but relies on more in-depth parent-teacher communication at semi-annual conferences in the fall and spring, as well as an individualized written evaluation at the end ofthe year.  Evaluations emphasize individual progress that the student has made in academic, physical, social, and emotional development.  Should the need for further parent-teacher communication arise, please contact your child's teacher directly.

 

What are "clusters"?

At Ohlone School, the regular educational program has three classrooms - combined kindergarten and first grade (K/1, or cluster one),combined second and third grade (2/3, or cluster two) and combined fourth and fifth grade (4/5, or cluster three). Combining the grades in the three clusters allows for more effective differentiation and individualization of teaching, as well as peer teaching,both important parts of the developmentally-based education philosophy.  In addition, having seven classrooms(and therefore a diversity of teaching styles) allows more opportunity for classroom teachers to appropriately place students in the next cluster.

 

How are classroom placement decisions made?

Having seven classrooms (and therefore a diversity of teaching styles) allows more opportunity for classroom teachers to appropriately place students in the next cluster.  Teachers look to a wide variety of factors when placing students in their next classroom, including but not limited to, age, maturity, academic ability, friendship, parental involvement, and compatibility of teaching and learning style.

 

When I have a question or issue, to whom do I talk?

Parents should first contact the classroom teacher to clarify questions. If they still have a concern, they should contact the principal.  A school mediator is appointed for issues that require an independent agent. For more information, see the Handbook.

For concerns unresolved by these methods, please refer to the PAUSD Education code, Section 35160.5 available on the PAUSD website,www.pausd.org

 

When I come to Ohlone School to volunteer during theschool day, do I need to sign in?

Yes. All visitors must report to the school office, sign in, and be provided with a visitor's pass.

 

Are there any before or after school programs held at Ohlone School for children of working parents?

The Ohlone Kid's Club, run by the Palo Alto Community ChildCare (PACCC) is available to all Ohlone students for care after school (there is no program for before school care). Extending the day up to 6pm, the program generally accepts applications in May/June for the coming fall. Please see www.paccc.org for more information.

 

Why does Ohlone screen for hearing, vision, lice and take my child's picture?

These activities are mandated (some for specific grade levels) at the state or district level, for record purposes, to catch health issues that could effect the child's ability to learn, or to prevent the spread of lice.  Hearing, vision and school pictures are performed once a year by professionals hired by the district, and the lice checks are performed four times a year by trained parent volunteers, particularly after long breaks in attendance.  When school pictures are taken, you will have the opportunity to purchase prints of the pictures for your own enjoyment.

 

What happens at the Opening Day ceremony?

The Opening Day ceremony generally occurs on the Farm and is an opportunity to be introduced to the teachers and staff at Ohlone for the coming academic year.  It is a time of commitment and renewal of our goals to the Ohlone Way of focusing on the development of the whole child as a team of parents, teachers and facilitators.  It is also a great time to meet other parents in your child's classroom and in the Ohlone community over coffee and treats. Children report to their classroom at 8:15 am, and attend the ceremony with their class and not with their parents (yes, even the new kinders!).  Parents are highly encouraged to attend the ceremony as well, which starts at 8:30 am.  Coffee is served after the ceremony, as students return to their classrooms and begin the school year.

 

What are Room Parents?

Room parents are parents that volunteer to act as important liaisons between the teacher and the parents of children in the classroom.  The duties of the room parents vary for each teacher, but generally include: coordination of volunteer efforts of parents (drivers for field trips, lice checks, room parties, room yearbook page, classroom participation in fundraisers, maintaining the class webpage, etc.), general communication between parents and teacher, and liaison between the teacher and the PTA.

 

What is Back to School Night?

Back to School Night is a parent's only event in September in the evening that allows time for your child's teacher to communicate vital information on classroom rules and policies, academic expectations and other plans for the year.  The three clusters (K/1, 2/3, and 4/5) meet at different times, allowing for most parents to attend the presentations for all of their Ohlone children.  In addition, the Principal also has an opportunity to speak to the parents.  It is not possible to overstate how strongly attendance at this event by both parents is encouraged.  Children are not permitted to attend, as there is no supervision for kids on campus.

 

What are Farm Work days?

The Farm at Ohlone is one of the cornerstones of the developmentally-based education at the heart of the school philosophy.  A living laboratory and classroom extension, it is maintained primarily though volunteer effort.  Farm Work days are an opportunity for the entire family to help with chores on the farm under the direction of memberof the farm council, the farm aide and/or the farm science teacher.  Work ranges from simple weeding and painting to serious carpentry and power tools.  Often, classrooms choose to "host" a farm workday, culminating in a potluck lunch or dinner to celebrate the accomplishments of the day.  For more information about the Farm, check out the Farm Webpage on this site.

 

What is the Harvest Festival?

The Harvest Festival is the major fundraiser for the Ohlone Farm.  Usually on the second or third Saturday in October, the Harvest Festival is bursting with Farm-related activities.  Each classroom participates by running an activity booth, and children purchase tickets for the activities.  There is musical entertainment, crafts, pumpkins for sale and fine food and baked goods.  All proceeds go towards the daily expenses of the Farm.  The chair of the Harvest Festival is always looking for volunteers;  find out more information here.

 

What are book fairs?

Book fairs are a source of revenue for the PTA.  Ohlone hosts two book fairs:  one in the fall, run in conjunction with a community partner Kepler's, and one in the spring sponsord by Scholastic.  These are a great opportunity to pick up books and gifts and support the school at the same time.  If you're interested in getting first dibs on the bestsellers, consider volunteering.  Check out the PTA Contacts page to find out whom to speak to about volunteering for these fun and important events.  To find out more about our relationship with Kepler's, please check out this page.

 

What is the Ohlone Auction?

The Ohlone auction happens once every two years and is a major fundraiser for the PTA.  Members of the Ohlone community donate items, activities andother goodies for auction (both silent and live) and adult members of the community get together over dinner to bid on the delights that are offered.  The auction is an enormous amount of work (which is why the Ohlone PTA only sponsors it every other year!), and volunteers with every kind of gift and any amount of time are always sought.  Please check out the PTA Contacts page and talk to the coordinator to see how you can contribute.

 

What is Spring Fling?

Spring Fling is a community gathering during the month of May and varies year by year - sometimes as simple as a picnic with lawn games and sometimes an activity booth-filled extravaganza, but the cornerstone of the festivities is a Talent Show the likes of which none have ever seen!  Members of the community play music, dance, act, tell jokesand otherwise display their various abilities.  One year we had a baton-twirling teacher!