Niguel Hills Middle School – Shark Bytes

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

We are looking forward to seeing all our new and returning Niguel Hills Sharks on Monday, September 9, 2013. Just a few notes about the first day of school:

All students will need to stop by the front of the school for a copy of their official schedule. The first day copies will be on colored paper. Teachers will not admit students into class with the white schedule you received at walkthrough registration.

If you missed walkthrough registration this week, you need to come to the front office to take care of paperwork regarding parent portal and other mandatory forms.

Traffic is extremely busy the first week of school or so. Please come early enough to allow your child to get the schedule, go to the locker, etc. before heading off to class by 8:45 a.m.

Please try to carpool whenever possible.

Please observe all safety rules for the parking lot (see ‘Parking Lot Safety Procedures’ below – this also includes safe routes to school for walkers and bikers).

Dress Code – The first few weeks of school are often very warm, but the school dress code is in effect all year long. Please make sure that your child is dressed appropriately for school (see the ‘Dress Code Reminder’ below)

Students might want to bring a lunch the first few days of school until they are familiar with our cafeteria menu. This will make the lines move quicker.

Thanks for your cooperation on these matters. Have a great first day!

NIGUEL HILLS MIDDLE SCHOOL PARKING LOT SAFETY PROCEDURES

Please take time to read and observe the following guidelines to ensure the safety of your child, other children, parents, visitors, and staff. In of driving your child to school, please consider carpooling, having the student ride a bicycle or walking from a nearby drop off area.

Drop Off/Pick up Procedures in the Parking Lot

All students shall proceed to the front of the school, across from the Administration building, when arriving and leaving. Students are not to wait in center grassy knolls.

Use the specifically designated lanes to the right to drop off and left lane to exit. Do not stop or drop off in the passing lanes.

Exit only on the passenger side of the vehicle.

Parents are to remain in their vehicles when picking up and dropping off. If you must leave your vehicle, park in an available spot and secure your vehicle.

Pull forward as far as possible when driving into the parking lot and drop off as close to the crosswalk as possible.

Make sure your child is prepared to exit your vehicle immediately.

The lead vehicle should pull forward and follow signs or staff directions to the appropriate stopping area. Pull forward all the way.

Bus lanes are available for pick up and drop off only after busses depart. For everyone’s safety, please follow the directions of the staff members on duty who are guiding the cars through the lanes of the lot.

Remember to be courteous to others and model appropriate behavior for children.

SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL

Students walking from the east of Golden Lantern (from the Aloma area) should use the sidewalk on the east side of Golden Lantern to Paseo Escuela and enter at the front of the school on Paseo Escuela.

Students who cross Golden Lantern should walk to the signal at Golden Lantern and Paseo de Colinas or Paseo Escuela.

Students walking from the Paseo de Colinas area should cross Colinas at the Golden Lantern signal, walk down the east side of Golden Lantern, and enter at the front of the school.

Students residing on the school side of Paseo de Colinas or in the Country View Estates near Cabot Road may enter/exit campus using the Colinas stairway. Vehicles are not to stop on Colinas to drop off or pick up students, as per the City of Laguna Niguel. Vehicles will be cited.

Bike riders must wear helmets and walk their bikes from and to Golden Lantern.

Students are NOT to walk up or down any of the slopes or embankments to the school.

Students are not to arrive at school before 8:25 a.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Students are not to arrive at school before 9:00 a.m. in the morning on Thursday’s, late start day.

DRESS CODE REMINDER

Please remember to shop for appropriate school clothing when buying ‘back to school’ clothing for your kids. Our biggest problems every year are short skirts and short shorts, as well as shoulder straps that are too thin and reveal undergarments. Skirts must be at least fingertip length. Shorts must have at least a four inch inseam. Shoulder straps must be at least one inch wide and cover all undergarments. It is never appropriate to wear clothing with any inappropriate language or pictures, and clothing that reveals any kind of undergarments is not allowed.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation on this matter, and please make sure you buy clothing that is appropriate for school when doing your school shopping.

Below is what is posted on the school website regarding dress code:

The primary standards for student dress and grooming are to be neat and clean while at school and to conform to the District dress and grooming standards. Students may not wear clothing which compromises safety or modesty, or which is disruptive to the educational process.

STUDENTS ARE NOT TO WEAR ANY CLOTHING/APPAREL WHICH IS DISRUPTIVE TO THE INSTRUCTIONALPROCESS: FOR EXAMPLE:

· No clothing that is considered unsafe, dangerous, or a health hazard (i.e., torn, frayed clothing, excessively long or baggy clothing).

· No clothing that contains offensive or obscene symbols, signs, slogans, or words degrading any gender, cultural, religious,

or ethnic values.

· No clothing that contains language or symbols oriented toward violence, sex, drugs, alcohol, or tobacco.

· No sheer/see-through clothing (blouses, skirts etc).

· No “T” tops, halter tops, or spaghetti straps. All tops and dresses must have a 1” shoulder strap.

This 1” guideline is in effect regardless if student is wearing a sweater or any article of clothing over it

· No bare midriffs.

· No halter tops or tube tops or any form of strapless clothing

· No short shorts/skirts. Extremely tight and/or clothing with less than a 4” inseam.

· No tight or revealing clothing. Skirts should be no shorter than the fingertips of student with arms extended at sides.

· No extremes in hairstyles, such as Mohawks or unnatural colors, (hot colors), or letters shaved in head.

· No painted/marked faces, arms, hands, legs. No stick-on skin tattoos. No writing on the body or face.

· No platform flip flops, sandals, or shoes over 2” high.

· No clothing which allows underwear to be exposed–baggy pants/shirts/blouses.

· No safety pins and other similar potentially dangerous objects. NOT to be worn as decorative items.

· No pajamas and slippers; No underwear may be worn as outerwear.

NOTE: PANTS AND SHORTS ARE TO BE WORN WAIST SIZE APPROPRIATE, WORN ABOVE THE HIPS

AND OVER ALL UNDERGARMENTS. T-SHIRTS ARE TO BE SIZE APPROPRIATE. SIZE APPROPRIATE

IS DEFINED AS: CLOTHING OR APPAREL DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED TO FIT THE INDIVIDUAL

STUDENT’S SIZE AND STATURE. PANT WAIST SIZE SHOULD BE WITHIN 2” OF WAIST. PANTS

LENGTH MUST BE ABOVE THE GROUND.

SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL PARENT POSITIONS

Dear Parents:

The School Based Coordinated Council is a leadership and decision-making body of administrators, teachers and students. Annual elections are held to fill vacancies on the Council.

The School Based Coordinated Council, (SBCC), works during the school year to facilitate implementation of our Single Plan for Student Achievement and oversee expenditures. All parents, teachers, and student members are elected to the Council. At this time we are looking for two interested parents to run a two-year term on the School Based Coordinated Council. Meetings are held after school. There will be a few meetings this year, as the main item of business is overseeing the development and approval of the Single School Plan. Membership on the Council provides parents the opportunity to significantly contribute to our program.

If you would like to be involved in this program, please complete the information below and return to Janine Neypes, Office Manager, no later than Monday, September 16, 2013. We will elect the representatives by posting the candidates on listserv and our website. The voting will take place Back To School Night, Wednesday, September 18, 2013.

Thank you very much for your interest and support in our school.

Sincerely,

Tim Reece

Principal

I am interested in running for the Niguel Hills School Based Coordinated Council.

Name: ______________________________________________

Address: ____________________________________________

Phone: ______________________________________________

Child’s Name: ________________________________________ Grade: _______

Please include a brief autographical statement for the ballot. You may want to include school experience and/or prior volunteer/committee work, and how you feel you can contribute to this School Site Council.

WHOOPING COUGH VACCINATION

Attention incoming 7^th grade parents–before your child enters 7^th grade

you will need to show proof of the Whooping Cough booster.

Please bring your child’s “shot record” to the office for verification.

Does the vaccine abbreviation or trade name on the student’s record meet the Tdap requirement?

YES	Tdap Adacel® Given on or after the Boostrix® 7^th birthday DTaP or DTP	MEET THE REQUIREMENT
NO	Td DECAVAC® TENIVAC® DT DTaP or DTP given before the 7^th birthday History of pertussis disease	DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENT

UPCOMING DATES

Monday, September 9 First Day of School!!

Wednesday, September 18 Back To School Night 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Previously Announced

HAVE YOU MOVED? WE NEED YOUR NEW ADDRESS

If you have moved over the summer, please contact the NHMS office. We will add your new address into our files. This must be done before walkthrough registration. Thank you in advance for your cooperation, and enjoy the rest of the summer!

MAKE UP PICTURE DAY

Make-up Picture Day is on Wednesday, September 11, 2013. Students who need to take a make-up picture should go to the Performance Room during their P.E. period.

PARENT PORTAL – EVEN MORE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION!!!

In addition to everything below regarding parent portal, you need to bring certain forms to walkthrough registration:

Once you have registered through parent portal, you must print the Data Confirmation form and the Parent Signature form and bring them with you. You need to do this even if you registered last year.

You also need to bring in the completed McKinney-Vento Assistance Act form from the Registration Packet that you picked up at the school.

Original message:

We are requesting that all Niguel Hills parents who have not created a Parent Portal account please do so before the end of this month. Having the account created will assist us and you with the registration process, and it allows you access to your child’s information. If you have already created an account, you are set to go and there is no need to create another account. However, there are some forms in the Registration Packet that you cannot access on line. You must come in and pick up a registration packet prior to registration next week.

Below is some important information to help you complete the Parent Portal sign up:

Registering on Parent Portal requires your child’s student ID number. Please call us at 234-5360 this week if you need that number.

Registering on Parent Portal requires you access code. This was on the current report card at the bottom of the page right above the GPA. You may call us if you need that as well.

You must follow the prompts to complete and update information, making sure you click “save” for each screen.

On the student data page, make sure you complete each tab across the top and save.

The link to register is https://abi.capousd.org/ParentPortal/LoginParent.aspx?page=default.aspx

For Instructions: https://abi.capousd.org/Creating%20New%20Parent%20Portal%20Accounts-net.pdf

For Video Instructions: https://abi.capousd.org/2012-05-26_1227ParentPortalOverview.swf

FAQs: https://abi.capousd.org/ParentPortalFAQs.pdf

EARN MONEY FOR NHMS USING A FREE SMARTPHONE APP!!

Parents:

Please don’t forget to use the free Communities for Cause Mobile App all summer long and help our school earn Big $$! There are new merchants added to the App daily. This no cost fundraiser helps our school earn easy money every time you dine out or shop just by showing the free App…YEAR ROUND! You can find the App in the iTunes or Android App Store under Communities for Cause. Remember to select our school as your cause to support. Just added to the App: Cinnamon Productions!! Coming next week to the App: Paul’s Pantry, Yama Sushi Grill, A Hidden Vine on the Lake, Frapy’s Yogurt, Taco’s Ensenada, Menchies Yogurt and Texas Pit Barbeque.

Tim Reece

Principal

Niguel Hills Middle School