Health & Safety

Safety & Security

Elementary & Jr/Sr High

Grace is a closed campus educational environment. To insure campus safety and security, school personnel follows specific procedures. Students and visitors must comply with the following requirements or will be asked to leave the campus.

Any parent picking up students during school hours must come to the front office to have the student called out of class. To avoid disruption to the classroom, parents will not be allowed to visit classrooms during school hours unless prior approval from the teacher is obtained.
Student Passes: To leave the classroom during class time or on the playground for any reason to go to the office, the student needs permission from the teacher. A pass from the office is also needed to be readmitted to the class.
Visitor Passes: Visitors are welcome on the Grace campus as long as they are students or parents, guardians, or relatives of a student(s), or someone who is seriously considering enrollment in our school. Student visitors must be approved by the administration at least one day before the visit. To be approved, both the Grace student and the visiting student must submit a note from their parents to the office requesting permission for the visit. All student visitors must abide by Grace dress and conduct standards.
Any visitor (student, alumnae, parent, youth pastor, etc.) must obtain and wear a visitor’s pass issued by the office. Visitors must report to the office immediately upon entering the school grounds and are not allowed to sign students out to go off campus.

Preschool

Grace Preschool welcomes parents to visit the school and be involved in their child’s preschool experience. Please communicate with your child’s teacher to coordinate your participation in the classroom.

All parent volunteers, visitors, and other volunteers MUST report to the school office first.
All visitors need to sign in and receive a visitor’s badge before going to the classroom.
Volunteers (outside of parents) will be required to complete a volunteer application before beginning volunteer service at the preschool.
Children will remain under the direct supervision of preschool staff unless otherwise directed by the child’s parent.

Student Pick Up/Drop Off & Parking Policies by Campus

Student Pick Up/Drop Off & Parking Policies by Campus

Overview

Preschool

In order to provide a safe learning environment, it is imperative that ALL children are signed in and signed out in the school roster book DAILY. Each child has his/her own page for the RESPONSIBLE ADULT to sign and write in the child’s arrival and departure times. Siblings signing a child out must be at least thirteen (13) years old, must be listed on the student’s Identification and Emergency Information form, and must be known to the preschool staff.

Only those individuals on the child’s Identification and Emergency Information form will be allowed to pick up the child. Unfamiliar persons will have their ID checked and verified. Be sure to list all people who might possibly be picking up your child.

All changes of information on the Identification and Emergency form must be submitted in writing. Verbal changes will be made only upon the confirmation of the Family Password. If there is no Family Password, no changes may be made verbally. Please be sure to keep the information current.

Student Pick Up/Signing In & Out
Parking

Student Pick Up/Signing In & Out

To provide a safe learning environment, it is imperative that ALL children are signed in and signed out in the school roster book DAILY. Each child has his/her page for the RESPONSIBLE ADULT to sign and write in the child’s arrival and departure times. Siblings signing a child out must be at least thirteen (13) years old, must be listed on the student’s Identification and Emergency Information form, and must be known to the preschool staff.

Any school correspondence needing to be picked up by the parent will be in the child’s Parent File located at the sign-in desk. Please check this daily.

In cases where there exists a custody situation, the responsible party must provide the school with copies of court documents (i.e., restraining order) in which the other party has restricted access to the child.

If an individual is impaired/or under the influence he/she may not transport the child, the individual should be given options, which may include:

Give the individual an opportunity to regain the ability to safely transport the child/student.
Food or nonalcoholic beverages may be offered (Note: coffee alone is not sobering).
Contact another authorized person to take the child from school.

Parking

Parking/Traffic Safety - Here are a few safety reminders for when you are dropping off or picking up your child from school:

You may park on Avenida Simi by the Preschool Office or you may park in the parking lot by the playground.
Always proceed at a SLOW speed when driving through the parking lot.
Watch for children crossing the parking lot, as well as entering & exiting vehicles.
Do not leave a child unattended in a parked car (California Vehicle Code 15620).
Always be prepared to show your ID.

Student Pick Up/Signing In & Out

Early PICK-UPS:

If a student is leaving school early, the parent or authorized person must sign the student out from the front office with the date, time, and reason for leaving early.

If you need to make any changes to your Emergency Contact/Authorized Pick-Up List please complete the Change of Information Form and turn it in to the front office.

GENERAL Drop/offs & PICKUPS:

Always proceed at a slow, safe speed
Enter the carpool area from Arcane Street ONLY
Remain in the lane you entered
Exit only onto Gibson Avenue

MORNING DROP-OFF:

Drop off students at the curbside if at all possible, do not park in the carpool lanes
Use the crosswalks

AFTERNOON PICK-UP:

Display your name placard on your dashboard for our staff to call for your student
Load passengers only in the loading zone in front of the “K” building
Wait for the staff to direct you before you proceed to the exit
Strictly follow the directional arrows at the exit
Do not park or leave your car in the carpool lanes

NOTES:

To protect the safety of students, if an authorized individual attempting to pick up a student is suspected of being impaired and/or under the influence, Grace may deny the release of the student.
You may park in available spaces in the parking lot and walk your student through the crosswalks to the safety of the curb. Please then exit by way of Gibson Ave.
If you do not go through the carpool lines, please escort your student to your car; please do not call your student to your car while you wait in a vehicle on the street.
Please park only on the school side of Arcane and Gibson streets. This is courteous to our neighbors and prevents the congestion caused by pedestrians.
If you park and walk to pick up your student, please checkout with the teacher in charge and stay on all walkways and crosswalks.
Please do not stop and talk with the teachers during the carpool as it distracts them from their responsibility of caring for the students. You may make an appointment with the teacher at another time.
Any student remaining after 3:15 PM will be checked into extended care.
If you need to make an emergency change to your child's pick-up, please email the teacher and our front office staff with the name of your student and the name of the person you are authorizing to pick them up. They will be required to show Identification.

Parking

Jr/Sr High

Student Pick Up/Signing In & Out
Parking and Student Drivers

Student Pick Up/Signing In & Out

Parking and Student Drivers

Parking and driving on campus

The Grace student parking lot is located on Royal Avenue in the parking lot of Centerpoint Church. The school's good neighbor policy requires students who choose to park on the street to do so only in areas that are on the perimeter of the school. Seniors may park in the first row of the main school parking lot (on Cherry Avenue) when spaces are available. Students may not park in faculty parking zones. Audio played in cars may not be at a volume at which it can be heard from outside the vehicle.

Caution should always be adhered to when driving to school, on campus, at Centerpoint Church, and Grace Church. Reckless and irresponsible driving will result in the revoking of parking privileges. Students must not loiter in or around their cars, before, during, or after the school day. Students may not go to their car during the day if it is parked on the street.

All students who will be driving to school must register their vehicles (car, truck, and motorcycle) in the office and receive a parking permit. This will enable school officials to find the driver in case of an emergency. Students who do not have a parking permit posted on their cars will receive a warning. If there is a second violation, the student will be disciplined according to the scale below.

To protect the safety of the students/children, if an authorized individual attempting to pick up a student is suspected of being impaired and/or under the influence, the campus will deny the release of the student/child.

1st - Warning
2nd - 1-hour detention
3rd - Two-hour Saturday School - $20
4th - Four-hour Saturday School - $40
5th - Referral to administration for further discipline

Health Policies by Campus

Health Overview

Preschool

General Health Policy

Because Grace Preschool is concerned about the well-being of all children, PLEASE KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME if he/she is ill. Precautions must be taken to prevent the spread of illnesses amongst the other children and staff. The school retains the right to send home any child that displays symptoms of illness as well as the right to require a doctor’s note for a child’s re-admittance to school following an illness or suspected illness.

Please notify the office if your child may have exposed others to contagious illnesses. The school staff will take the necessary precautions, but will never release information about a specific child’s health without the parent's consent.

This sick policy is designed for the health and well-being of all students and staff. It needs to be understood, however, that there are cases that may not fall into any of the situations specified below. Parents are encouraged to discuss the specifics of their child’s health with the school’s administration to determine the most appropriate course of action.

A child with any contagious disease may return to school after being on antibiotics for at least 24 hours, and be free of symptoms, for the following:
- Conjunctivitis/pink eye (the student may return after 48 hours)
- Tonsillitis
- Strep Throat
- Ring Worm
- Pin Worm
- Scarlet Fever
- Ear Infection
- Skin Rash
- Lice (the student may not return until all nits/lice are removed)
If during school, a student develops a fever of 100 degrees F or more, vomiting, diarrhea, or upper respiratory infection, they MUST be taken from the school within one hour of when the parent is called by the staff member. Alternative arrangements are the responsibility of the parents in cases where they are unable to pick up the sick student.
A child with an uncontrollable, persistent cough or congestion, and/or wheezing, will be sent home. The student must be symptom-free before returning to school or provide a doctor’s note stating that the child is not contagious. Students with known cases of asthma need to provide the office with the necessary medications to treat an asthma occurrence at school. In the case that an asthma occurrence cannot be controlled at school, the child will be sent home.
A child with thick, colored mucus from the nose will need to be on antibiotics for 24 hours before returning to school, or provide a doctor’s note stating that the child is not contagious. Students with allergy symptoms will need to provide the office with a note from the doctor stating that the child’s symptoms are not contagious.
A child with diarrhea should remain at home until there have been 24 hours free from loose bowel movements. If a child develops reoccurring diarrhea at school, the parents will be notified and arrangements for the child to be removed from the school will be made.
Children must be fever free for 48 hours before returning to school.
Children must be vomit free for 24 hours before returning to school.
A child with CHICKEN POX may return to school ONLY after ALL the lesions are scabbed and no new ones have formed (a minimum of 7 days).

IF A CHILD IS NOT WELL ENOUGH TO GO OUTSIDE, THEN HE/SHE IS NOT WELL ENOUGH TO BE IN SCHOOL.

Medications At School

All medication can only be dispensed by a staff member with the written permission of a physician and the parents. This includes both prescription and non-prescription medicines. Please be aware that many over-the-counter products are technically medicated.
A Medication Permission Form MUST be completed and signed by a parent WEEKLY before medication can be given to the child.
Medication must be provided by the parent, in the original container, dated, and labeled with the child’s name. Expired medications will not be given.
The parent must provide the appropriate measuring tool for the dispensing of medication.
Parents must hand over all medications directly to the preschool staff to be properly secured. Medications must NOT be left in backpacks, lunch boxes, etc. (This includes medications such as vitamins and supplements.)
Medications must be taken home as soon as the course of treatment is completed. Medications not picked up will be discarded by the preschool staff.
Incidental Medical Services (IMS) may be provided by the preschool staff by regulations set forth by the state licensing agency. IMS includes EpiPen injectors, inhaled medications, blood glucose testing, and Glucagon administration

Illness While at School

If a student is injured or becomes ill during the day, the school will attempt to contact the parents or other legal guardians for instructions on how to best manage the situation. If the parents cannot be reached, the school will employ the directions given on the emergency medical form. If a student needs immediate medical attention, emergency medical services will be contacted. Each student needs to have a current emergency form on file with up-to-date emergency contact phone numbers.

Immunizations

GRACE is held to the same immunization requirements AS public schools.

Immunization requirements as of 2016

Under a new law known as SB 277, beginning January 1, 2016 exemptions based on personal beliefs, including religious beliefs, will no longer be an option for the vaccines that are currently required for entry into child care or school in California. For more information about SB 277, please see the Frequently Asked Questions available at: www.shotsforschool.org. Personal beliefs exemptions on file for a child already attending child care or school will remain valid until the child reaches the next immunization checkpoint at kindergarten (including transitional kindergarten) or 7^thgrade. Most families will not be affected by the new law because their children have received all required vaccinations.

For more information about school immunization requirements and resources, please visit the California Department of Public Health’s website at www.shotsforschool.org, or contact your local health department or county office of education.

PARENTS' Guide to Immunizations

Health Forms

Elementary

General Health Policy

Because Grace Elementary is concerned about the well-being of all students, PLEASE KEEP YOUR STUDENT HOME if he/she is ill. Precautions must be taken to prevent the spread of illnesses amongst the other students and staff. The school retains the right to send home any student that displays symptoms of illness as well as the right to require a doctor’s note for a student’s re-admittance to school following an illness or suspected illness.

Please notify the office if your student may have exposed others to contagious illnesses. The school staff will take the necessary precautions, but will never release information about a specific student’s health without parent consent.

This sick policy is designed for the health and well-being of all students and staff. It needs to be understood, however, that there are cases that may not fall into any of the situations specified below. Parents are encouraged to discuss the specifics of their student’s health with the school’s administration to determine the most appropriate course of action.

A child with any contagious disease may return to school after being on antibiotics for at least 24 hours, and be free of symptoms, for the following:

Conjunctivitis/pink eye (the student may return after 48 hours)
Tonsillitis
Strep Throat
Ring Worm
Pin Worm
Scarlet Fever
Ear Infection
Skin Rash

Head Lice Policy

Medications At School

If prescription or non-prescription medication needs to be taken at school or during sports activities, it must be left at the office until the time it is to be taken. For the office staff to dispense prescription or non-prescription medication, a physician’s statement (Form H2) must be on file stating the medicine prescribed and its purpose. This includes aspirin, Tylenol, or other over-the-counter pain or cold medicine. Inhalers and Epi-pens may be kept with the student. The school does not give out pain medication to students.

Illness While at School

Immunizations

GRACE is held to the same immunization requirements AS public schools.

Immunization requirements as of 2016

Under a law known as SB 277, beginning January 1, 2016 exemptions based on personal beliefs, including religious beliefs, will no longer be an option for the vaccines that are currently required for entry into child care or school in California. For more information about SB 277, please see the Frequently Asked Questions available at: www.shotsforschool.org. Personal beliefs exemptions on file for a child already attending child care or school will remain valid until the child reaches the next immunization checkpoint at kindergarten (including transitional kindergarten) or 7^thgrade. Most families will not be affected by the new law because their children have received all required vaccinations.

Health Forms

Jr/Sr High

General Health Policy

Because Grace School is concerned about the well-being of all children, PLEASE KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME if he/she is ill. Precautions must be taken to prevent the spread of illnesses amongst the other children and staff. The school retains the right to send home any child that displays symptoms of illness as well as the right to require a doctor’s note for a child’s re-admittance to school following an illness or suspected illness.

Medications At School

Medications must be left in the front office with physician instructions on dosage and use, which are to be outlined on the H2 Form, and submitted by the parent to the front office. H2 Forms may be obtained in the front office for the physician to complete. Students are not permitted to carry medications in school without a written directive from a physician and approval from the administration. The school will not give any medication to a student without a completed H2 Form on file. Medication must be brought to the Front Office and checked in with parental instructions.