School Info

Principal:	Shayla Taranto	email: taranto.shayla@tusd.org
School Staff Assistant:	Esther Kim	email: kim.esther@tusd.org
Office Assistant:	Aracely Sanchez	email: sanchez.aracely@tusd.org
Hours:	7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Phone:	(310) 533-4480
Fax:	(310) 972-6385

COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE SCHOOL OFFICE
Please feel free to call the school office with any questions you may have regarding school programs and events. Messages for teachers may be left with the school secretary.

EMERGENCY INFORMATION
It is very important that you update your information and additional emergency contacts through PowerSchool; go online at https://ps.tusd.org. This information is extremely important in case of emergencies or the necessity to contact you. Online registration for returning students occurs in August. At least one parent/guardian must have a PowerSchool Parent Portal account to complete registration. The necessary IDs and passwords are mailed to all students prior to open registration. Email lee.esther@tusd.org with issues logging in.

THURSDAY FOLDERS AND INFORMATION PACKETS
All notices, flyers, and important papers from the school and PTA are sent home on Thursdays in the Thursday Folders. The Thursday Folders are an effective way to make sure that important communications are being received. Please be sure to check those backpacks every Thursday night!

SUPERVISION ON CAMPUS
Please Note: Adult supervision is provided between 8:30 a.m. – 1:50 p.m. for Kindergarten; 8:30 a.m. – 3:03 p.m. for grades 1st thru 3rd; and 8:30 am – 3:12 pm for grades 4th thru 5th. Do not allow your child to come early or stay after dismissal time, as there is no adult supervision.

Children in grades 1st thru 3rd are to be picked up at 3:03 p.m. They are allowed to wait for the older children only if an adult is with them.

Every Wednesday is early dismissal:

Kindergarden is out at 1:50pm;

Grades 1 - 3 at 2:18pm;

Grades 4 - 5 at 2:27pm

For safety, students are expected to sit on the grass in front of the school while waiting to be picked up. Students are to cross the street only with an adult.

LOST AND FOUND
Lost and found items are turned in to the school office. Students losing any items should check in the school office or the coat rack in front of the office. Students’ clothing, jackets, sweaters, coats, etc., should be marked with the student’s name. Items not claimed by the end of the school year will be sent to a charitable organization.

TELEPHONE USE
Telephones are for official school business and emergencies only. Students should not request to use them for personal business.

CELLULAR PHONES ON CAMPUS
Revised state law authorizes student possession of cell phones and pagers provided that the devices do not disrupt the educational program or school activity. Cell phones and pagers must be turned off during class time, and at any other time directed by a School District employee. If a disruption occurs, the employee may direct the student to turn off the device and/or may confiscate the device until the end of the class period or school day. If a student uses a cell phone or pager during the school day, it will be confiscated and turned in to the school office.

At John Adams, all cell phones and pagers must be turned off from 8:25 a.m. until 2:47 p.m. We discourage families from sending cell phones or pagers to school with students as they are expensive items and the school cannot assume responsibility for loss or damage.

MESSAGES TO CLASSROOMS
Messages to teachers will be placed in the teachers’ mailboxes. In an effort to minimize disruption to the instructional program it is important that messages to students be kept to a minimum. We will, of course, deliver emergency messages to students/teachers immediately. Please help by taking care of routine communications before your child leaves for school in the morning.

If you would like to reach a teacher, please call the school office and we will transfer you to their voice mail. Please be aware that teachers may not be able to respond until the end of the day.

Note: Urgent messages are best communicated through the school secretary.

TEACHERS' PARKING LOT
The teacher and staff parking lot is NOT for drop-off and pick-up of students. Please use the designated “Drop-Off Zone” for the safety of all children. Teachers and staff need to be able to get to their parking spaces so that they may get to their class on time. Double parking or parking illegally in this lot is a real safety issue. You may be ticketed or towed by the Torrance Police Department if you are parked illegally. Please be a concerned parent and watch out for the safety of all of our children!

DROPPING OFF AND PICKING UP CHILDREN
In the interest of student safety, the area in front of school is designated as a “Drop-Off Zone” from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

To make the drop-off easier in the morning, Student Valets are available. When you pull up to the drop-off zone in the morning, the Student Valet will open the door(s) of your vehicle on the passenger side so that the children may exit the vehicle. The doors will be closed for you so that you may drive off safely. There is always a parent volunteer with the Student Valets.

Student Valets are also available to walk Kindergarten children to their playground area in the morning. If you would like assistance, please ask the Student Valet when you drop off your child. They will see that your child gets to the Kindergarten playground area safely.

NO adults in the Cafeteria during breakfast @ 8:15am

In the interest of the safety for all John Adams’ students and staff, we ask that only students currently attending John Adams are allowed in the Cafeteria for breakfast. Parents/guardians/family members should kindly exit the campus once the student has been dropped off in the Cafeteria. Thank you for your understanding and support.

VISITORS ON CAMPUS
To protect the welfare and security of students and staff, all visitors must check in at the school office, with a valid I.D., before entering the school grounds or classrooms. This also applies to parents who are bringing forgotten lunch money, jackets or homework to a student. Cell phone use is prohibited in classrooms and school office areas.

Classroom volunteers must always first report to the office to sign-in and pick up a volunteer badge. We welcome visits to our classrooms and visits to speak with a teacher, but advance arrangements are truly appreciated.

VOLUNTEERING ON CAMPUS
Volunteers are a special group of dedicated people who work regularly at John Adams and are an integral part of our instructional program. They can assist with a variety of classroom tasks at all grade levels. The volunteer program benefits everyone. It helps to lower the ratio of students to adults, provides much appreciated extra-help for both students and teachers, and parents are able to learn more about their children and the educational program at Adams. Contact your child’s teacher to see how you can assist. If you have a special interest or area of expertise that you would like to share with our students, please contact the school office.

John Adams Volunteer Requirements

Completed Volunteer Form (obtained from Office): Please fill out form completely (2 signatures required on the 2nd page). This form must be filled out every school year that you volunteer!
Proof of Current Negative TB test and/or Risk Assessment: TB tests are valid for up to 4 years. (Check with office if we have a TB test on file for you from the previous year). If submitting a "Risk Assessment" questionnaire, it must be stamped & signed by the clinic/nurse/doctor.
Copy of Valid Photo ID: Your ID, along with the Volunteer Form, will be used to conduct a Megan's Law background check. We can make a copy of your ID in the office. **Please note that per District policy, if you have any felony on your record you are NOT able to volunteer***

**These 3 requirements must be completed & submitted to the office at least 5 days prior to volunteering. This includes attending field trips with classrooms. **

Once cleared by the district, volunteers may work in the classroom for the current school year. Included in your PTA membership, PTA provides general liability insurance for parents during volunteer hours.

Thank you to all of our volunteers for being here and please remember to help us by:
1) Signing in and out in the office.
2) Wearing a volunteer badge.
3) Reporting to your classroom.
4) Refraining from using cell phones in classrooms or school office areas.
5) Participating in emergency drills that occur while you are on campus.

Note: Adults are NOT allowed to use student restrooms. Please use the facilities located in the office.

ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES

Absences - The office staff will no longer call families regarding absences. If your student is absent, it is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to notify the office regarding student absences. Please contact office by phone and/or, upon student's return to school, bring a written note stating the student’s name, parent/guardian’s name, date(s) and reason for student’s absence(s). If student is absent due to a doctor or dentist appointment, please bring the note to the office. Please have the doctor specify the date of your child’s appointment on the doctor’s note. If you do not notify the office regarding your student's absence, you will receive a phone call and/or email from the District's automated alert system for the student's absence that day.

When your child is absent due to illness, please make sure that he/she is symptom free for a 24-hour period prior to returning to school.

ABSENCES AND REQUESTS FOR HOMEWORK
Please help us by calling the office to request homework for students who will be absent two or more days. We discourage you from requesting work for a single day because the student can easily make it up when they're back to school and feeling better. If you let the office know before 10:30 AM, we will do our best to have the work on the counter by the end of the day. When parents go straight to the classroom and ask the reacher for assignments, it interrupts their teaching and makes it difficult for them to do their job. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

If you know that your child will be out of school for five consecutive days or more, we can prepare an "independent study" packet for them to take with them. This allows students to keep up with their class work, and allows the school to continue to receive ADA ($) for them in their absence.

TUSD ENDORSES STRICT DRESS CODE
In spring of 2004 the TUSD Board of education adopted the following dress code:
"In cooperation with teachers, students and parents/guardians, the principal shall establish school rules governing dress and grooming which are consistent with law, Board policy and administrative regulations. Each school shall allow students to wear sun-protective clothing, including but not limited to hats, for outdoor use during the school day.

In addition, the following guidelines shall apply to all regular school activities;

Shoes must be worn at all times. Elementary students must wear flat, closed shoes.
Clothing, jewelry and personal items (backpacks, fanny packs, gym bags, water bottles, etc.) shall be free from writing, pictures or any other insignia, which are vulgar, profane, or which advocate racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, or religious prejudice.
Sunglasses, hats, caps and other head coverings shall not be worn indoors. Only medically/religiously required headgear, approved by the principal may be worn indoors. Sun-protective clothing must comply with District and school site dress and grooming standards.
Clothes shall conceal underwear at all times. See-through or fishnet fabrics, halter-tops, off-the-shoulder or low-cut tops, bare midriffs and skirts or shorts shorter than mid-thigh are prohibited.
Swimwear, pajamas, nightgowns, and oversized clothing are not appropriate school wear

Because we work hard to provide a focused learning environment, at Adams we discourage any style of dress, hairstyle and/or accessory that is hazardous or would be distracting to the student and/or other students. These issues will be handled on an individual basis. We also request that all individuals volunteering on campus or visiting classrooms dress in a modest and appropriate fashion.