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Frequently Asked questions |
Listed below you will find some of the most commonly asked questions that we receive and the current answers. If you have a question that is not included below, please feel free to call our office at (760)944-4351. Click on the following questions to read the answers or just scroll down the page. The answers to the questions will appear at the top of screen.
What are the school hours? A: Students are allowed on the playground beginning at 7:45 A.M. Classes begin at 8:00 A.M. School is dismissed at 2:20 P.M. Monday - Thursday, and at 12:45 P.M. on Friday. Office hours are 7:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Q: How do I register my child? A: Families new to Ocean Knoll may
register their children between the hours of 8:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M. You will
need your child's birth certificate and immunization record, along with proof of
residency in the school attendance area in order to register your child. Q: How old does my child have to be to start kindergarten? A: Kindergarten students need to be five years old by December 2 of the current school year to enroll. Q: Is there any screening or testing of incoming kindergarten students? A: Yes. When you register your student, you will have the opportunity to complete a pupil information form to tell us about your child’s learning style. This information will help in determining class placement. We will also set an appointment for a screening with our Reading Specialist. Q: Is there a half-day kindergarten schedule offered? A: No. The Encinitas Union School District offers a full day kindergarten program at all of its schools. The school day is 8:00 A.M. to 2:20 P.M. Monday through Thursday and 8:00 A.M. to 12:45 P.M. on Fridays. Students who are picked up early will miss instruction time and may have to make up missed assignments. Q: How will my child's progress be reported during the school year? A: There are three official
reporting periods during the school year. The first reporting period ends in
late November/early December, the second ends in March, and the last occurs in
June. Report cards
are shared at the first two conferences and the third is sent home to families
on the last day of school in June. Students will receive "rubric scores", i.e.,
1,2,3,4 with 4 being Advanced, 3 for Proficient, 2 for Basic and 1 for Below
Basic. "O" for Outstanding, "S" for Satisfactory, "N" for Needs Improvement,
"U" (Unsatisfactory) are earned in the Life Skills areas. In addition to the
rubric and Life Skills scores, fourth - sixth grade students will receive letter
grades (ABCDF) in language arts and math for work quality (neatness) and turning
work in on time. All rubric scores relate to how students are meeting or
exceeding academic standards set by the State of California. Some teachers may
send home progress reports before official reporting periods. Q: Can I request a specific teacher for my child? A: We do not encourage specific requests for teachers. The principal and the school staff try to match students' learning styles with teachers' teaching styles. A pupil information form may be requested in the spring if you would like to give the principal information to consider when placing your child. Q: How much homework is assigned? A: The amount of homework will vary from grade level to grade level. Homework should be a review of the day and not be a new concept that parents have to teach to their children at home. Homework also includes unfinished work from the school day and recreational reading. Teachers will typically communicate their expectations for homework in the beginning of the school year. Q: How are school-wide/classroom rules addressed and what are the consequences for students? A: Ocean Knoll has three school-wide rules,
our Three Personal Standards: be respectful, make good decisions, and solve
problems. We have an assembly at the beginning of each school year to review
these and teachers review them in class as well. Consequences for not following classroom
rules vary but may include students being given a warning, timeout at recess,
telephone call/note home to parents, student meet with the principal. Severe
behavior may result in suspension as per the Education Code. Each behavior
incident is handled on an individual case basis. Q: Is there a school dress code or policy? A: Yes. Click here to read the dress code policy in the School Handbook. Q. Are students allowed to have cell phones at school? A. Yes. Cell phones are to be used only in emergency situations (calling home during dismissal to let parents know the student's location, calling to be picked up after school). Cell phones need to be turned off while students are at school (during instructional and recess times) and may be turned on during dismissal. Cell phones are not to be used in classrooms during instructional times unless the classroom teacher gives permission. Cell phones are also not to be used during recess times. Q: Are families allowed to volunteer in their children's classrooms? A: Volunteering in your children's classrooms is highly recommended and encouraged. Teachers will typically let families know at Back-to-School Night in August what their policies are regarding parent involvement. Families are also encouraged to become involved with the following school groups: Ocean Knoll PTA Q: Will intra- or inter-district transfers be accepted? A: It depends. Intra district transfers (within
the school district) have priority over inter district transfers (between school
districts). Space availability in grade levels is the next determining factor.
Transfers need to be renewed each year. A transfer can be revoked during the
school year if a student’s behavior and/or attendance is not appropriate. Intra
district transfer forms are available in our school office and inter district
transfer forms are available at the district office in the school district in
which you reside. If your sixth grade child is attending Ocean Knoll on an inter district transfer, you will have to apply for a new transfer to attend seventh grade in the San Dieguito Union High School District . Sixth grade students who have been granted permission to attend Ocean Knoll on inter district transfers are not guaranteed admission to attend either middle school (Diegueño, Oak Crest) for seventh grade. Q: Does Ocean Knoll have a modified day? A: Every Friday is a modified day.
Dismissal is at 12:45 P.M. The early-out time allows the school staff to
participate in professional development and planning activities that supports
the school plan to improve student achievement. In addition to the Friday
Modified Day, there are two weeks during the school year that are designated for
parent - teacher conferences. The first week is in the fall and second week is
in the spring. Each day during conference week students are dismissed at 12:45
P.M. Q: Does Ocean Knoll have the same school calendar as other District schools? A: Yes. Starting, ending
days and legal holidays are same throughout the district. The PTA calendar
may differ from other schools depending on special programs. Q: Is before and after school daycare available? A: The Encinitas Union School
District provides a Before and After School Daycare and Enrichment Program on
site. After school enrichment classes are also scheduled. Classes may include
chess, art, and music. Fliers are sent home throughout the year announcing
classes. Q: Are there enrichment classes available? A: Yes. The Encinitas Union School District offers enrichment classes through its Before/After School Enrichment Program. Various classes are offered throughout the year such as art, martial arts, movement and dance, science, and sports. Fliers are sent home throughout advertising classes. This is a fee-based program and is separate from the district's daycare program. A: It depends. Bus service to and from school is not provided on a daily basis. Students either walk, ride bicycles, or are driven to and from school by parents. Students who ride bicycles to and from school need to follow traffic rules and also wear a safety approved helmet. The Encinitas YMCA and Boys and Girls Club provides bus service for those students who are enrolled in their programs. Q: Is a daily hot lunch program available? A: Hot lunch is available every day,
including on the Friday modified day. The cost is $2.50 per lunch. Snacks are
also available for an additional charge. Menus are sent home each month or are
available on the district's web site. Q: Is music, art, dance, science and P.E. available? A: Yes. During the 2007 - 2008 school year, we are fortunate to have a weekly music consultant funded by our PTA to provide additional classes separate from what the regular classroom teachers provide. We additionally have an art consultant, also funded by our PTA, who provide monthly fine arts instruction, in addition to the Visual and Performing Arts standards taught by the regular classroom teachers. PE, or physical education, is taught by the regular classroom teachers and has mandated minutes per week (100 minutes mandated by the State of California). Science is also taught by the regular classroom teacher. Q: Can students check out books in the library? A: Yes. Ocean Knoll has a fully-stocked media center that is available to kindergarten - sixth grade. Classes visit the media center each week to check out books. Students also have access to Reading Counts and to the Boost Program, reading programs available to help students improve their reading and comprehension skills. Q: Is computer technology available? A: Yes. All classrooms have Internet access thanks to passage of Proposition O, a school modernization project. Each classroom has a minimum of four networked computers. Students use the computer to learn keyboarding skills and use as a tool to conduct research and complete projects. Q: Does Ocean Knoll offer special education classes or programs? A: Yes. There are several special education programs and services available at Ocean Knoll for special needs students. Individual Education Program (IEP) plans are available for those students who qualify for special education. For those students who have an articulation challenge, Speech and Language Program services are available and for the academic areas, there is a Resource Specialist Program (RSP) available. English Language Development (ELD) is available for those students identified as English Learners. The San Dieguito Alliance for Drug Free Youth supports an after school program called Study Buddies where local high school students help our students with homework and also act as mentors. The Student Study Team (SST) and 504 Accommodation Plan processes are also available and are part of the regular education program. A: Yes. Our District has
adopted two programs for reading: The College of William and Mary Accelerated
Reader Curriculum and the Junior Great Books Curriculum. These are both
available K - 6. In math, each grade has criteria based on initial assessments
for accelerating students to the next grade level. Q: Which middle school will my child go to for seventh grade? A: Most sixth grade students at Ocean Knoll who live within the Ocean Knoll attendance area and who are promoted on to seventh grade will attend Oak Crest Middle School. Oak Crest is part of the San Dieguito Union High School District, a 7th - 12th grade middle school/high school district. The other school your child may attend is Digueño Middle School. Both middle schools have been recognized as California Distinguished Schools and have also been recognized in the National Blue Ribbon School Awards Program. Inter District Transfers for Middle School If your child is attending Ocean
Knoll on an inter district transfer (between districts) for sixth grade, you
will have to apply for a new inter district transfer for seventh grade in the
San Dieguito Union High School District. Students who have been granted
permission to attend Ocean Knoll on inter district transfers are not guaranteed
admission to the middle schools in the San Dieguito Union High School District. If you have further questions, please contact the school office, (760)944-4351.
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