Parents

Campus opens and playground supervision starts at 7:30am. A student is not to report to school before 7:30am as there is no adult supervision. The cafeteria opens for breakfast at 7:30am. TK & Kindergarten students may be dropped off at the front gate for breakfast or the Kindergarten playground. Students may enter campus through the gates on Bomberry and Greentop. For student safety, always drop off your student on the curb side of the street. Students may only cross the street at the crosswalk. After school supervision is available on the playground for students in grades 1 - 5, from dismissal until 3:00pm. Pick-up during afterschool supervision is through the back gate on Greentop. Students who are picked up after 3:00pm, or not following playground expectations, will not be permitted to participate in afterschool supervision.

Playground Supervision

For safety reasons, children should not arrive at school prior to 7:30 am. Students in grades 1-5 will be supervised after school on the playground until 3:00pm, and all children must be picked up on time. Students who are picked up after 3:00pm three or more times will lose the privilege of participating in the afterschool recreation program. There is no playground supervision for TK & Kindergarten children.

When children in grades 1-5 are dismissed early on Thursdays and on minimum days, the playground is supervised from dismissal until 3:00pm, with the exception of the day before winter break, and last day of school when students must be picked up immediately upon dismissal.

The Lakewood Municipal Code Section 3273 prohibits loading and unloading school children from the roadway adjacent to schools. Students may only exit your vehicle on the school side of the street. Please use the quick drop-off areas on Bomberry or Greentop. Quick drop-off is from 7:30am to 8:00am in the areas surrounded by orange cones. Do not block neighbors' driveways, double park, or use the staff parking as a drop-off or pick up area. Do not "U-Turn" before or after school as it disrupts the flow of traffic.

Take advantage of the after-school playground supervision until 3:00 for students in 1st - 5th grade. You can pick up your child after the 2:00pm rush. The areas around campus are very congested between 2:00 - 2:10pm. Double parked vehicles or anyone blocking the flow of traffic can be cited. Please do not block driveways while waiting for dismissal. 

A Google calendar is posted on the school website as a means of keeping parents informed about school affairs. In addition, reminder notices of holidays and school closures will be sent home through School Messenger in the monthly family newsletter.

Please keep your child's emergency information current. You may update your information throughout the year via ParentVUE or by visiting the school's office. Please provide at least three emergency contact numbers. These numbers are used to contact you if your child becomes ill, or is injured at school and needs to go home. It is vital that we have your work, cell, and home telephone numbers; as well as phone numbers of at least three relatives, friends, or neighbors that can be reached in an emergency. A picture ID is required from anyone picking up a student early, or late from the office. An adult (over the age of 18) must pick up children; they cannot be released to a minor sibling. We also need the name and telephone number of your doctor in case of an emergency. Please keep this information current. If you will be out of town, advise the office of the adult(s) who will be responsible for your child. No student will be released unless we have the name of the receiving adult on the emergency card, or a note from you specifying the name of the person to whom you want to have your child released.

Regular Attendance is important for your child's success and achievement in school. The only excused absences from school are for doctor's appointment or court proceedings. If your child is absent, please complete Madison's attendance form. A link to the attendance form can also be found under the main picture on Madison's Homepage. You may send a note to your child's teacher when your child returns to school or call the school office and report the reason for the absence if you are unable to access the attendance form.

All absence notes must include the following information:

• Student's first and last name
• Teacher name or room number
• Date(s) of absence
• Reason for absence
• Parent signature and contact information

Sick Students

Although we stress the importance of good attendance, please do not send ill children to school. A child should be symptom free and fever free for 24 hours before returning to school. If your child has been absent for more that 3 consecutive days to to illness, a doctor note will be required to clear all absences after the third day.

Medications at School

Any student who needs to take medication at school must have a medication request form signed by the doctor and parent or guardian on file for medicine to be administered at school. The form needs to be renewed each school year and/or whenever there is a change in the medication (i.e. change in drug, dose, etc.).

The USDA has approved waivers allowing meals to be provided to enrolled students at no cost. To receive meals, students are required to enter their PIN or Student ID number. Parents and students may access this information through ParentVUE or StudentVUE.

While a meal application is not required to qualify for free meals, all families are required to complete the Annual Verification process online through ParentVUE. This information is essential in helping the district secure additional funding to support student programs.

Breakfast is served in the cafeteria from 7:30 a.m. to 7:55 a.m. Students are welcome to bring a healthy lunch and beverage from home. Ensuring that students eat a nutritious lunch each day is important for their overall well-being and academic success.

Parents may bring lunch for their own child only. Students bringing fast food items will be asked to eat in the main office to prevent sharing of non-school food items. For the safety of all students, parents are not permitted to bring food for other children, as this may pose risks related to allergies or other medical conditions.

Office staff will make every effort to notify teachers and students when a lunch has been delivered; however, the school is not responsible for lunches that are not picked up by students.

Parents may purchase student accident insurance at the beginning of the school year. Payment of medical bills for students injured on school property, or when engaged in school-sponsored activities, shall be the responsibility of the parent or the student insurance company.

Class assignment adjustments may be necessary during the first few weeks of school to ensure balanced class sizes. Parents will be notified if any changes affect their child’s placement. We appreciate your support in helping your child transition smoothly should such changes occur.

Requests for class assignment changes initiated by parents will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are subject to administrative approval. Such requests will only be considered during the first two weeks of the school year. No class changes will be approved after this period or during the remainder of the school year.

Class Visits

Parents are welcome to visit classes with previous authorization from your classroom teacher. Contact your student's teacher or the school office to schedule a visit. Class visits are limited to 20 minutes. Consider becoming a Volunteer In Public Schools (VIPS) to volunteer on campus.

Class Treats

Treats for special occasions must be approved by the classroom teacher in advance and meet healthy eating guidelines. Nonedible treats are encouraged as there might be students with different health conditions or allergies in the classroom.

The Weingart-Lakewood YMCA provides childcare for children in kindergarten through Grade 5. This is before and/or afterschool childcare, and is available on campus at Madison School. This is a fee-based program. For more information, call the YMCA at 562-425-7431.

ELOP-WRAP offers an on campus afterschool program for students from TK-5. Applications and more information about WRAP can be found on the district website at https://www.lbschools.net/departments/wrap/home.

Non-School Equipment and Toys

All toys and sports equipment must be left at home. Non-school articles will be sent to the office. The item will be returned at the end of the day to the parent.

Cell phones or Smart Devices

To support a safe and focused learning environment and in alignment with LBUSD's cell phone policy, all cell phones and personal electronic devices must be turned off and kept in students’ backpacks throughout the entire school day, including before- and after-school programs.

Student Expectations:

• Devices must remain off and out of sight while on campus.
• Students may not use devices at any time during the school day.
• Recording, photographing, or sharing images of others is not allowed.
• Students must use technology responsibly and respectfully at all times.

Limited use may be allowed in:

• Emergencies
• With staff permission
• For medical or educational needs (e.g., IEP/504)

Failure to follow these rules may result in device confiscation, parent notification, and school disciplinary action.

Please note: The school is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged devices. Parents should contact the school office for urgent messages during the day. The school recommends parents monitor their child's use of technology at home.

Safety is a prime concern at Madison School and is part of the school curriculum. The school safety plan is updated annually and addresses everyday safety as well as emergencies. We ask parents to support our efforts to provide a safe environment by reinforcing school rules with their children regarding behavior at school, on the buses, and walking to and from school. Safety lessons and drills are part of the classroom program. We encourage parents to review safe and appropriate behaviors with their children. All visitors to campus must ring the door bell, show an identification, and state the purpose of their visit before entering.

Controlled substances, Weapon or look-alike at School

It is important to caution all students and their parents regarding student involvement in drugs, alcohol, or possession of a weapon or look-alike weapon at school or at any student body activity (even those off campus). Possession of a controlled substance or a weapon or look-alike weapon while at school, going to and from school, or while at any student body activity, will result in disciplinary action. The discipline can include an intervention transfer to another school to expulsion from the Long Beach Unified School District. This also includes instances where a student is not the owner of the substance or item.

Sexual Harassment

Long Beach Unified School District Board policy (BP 5145.7), prohibits Sexual Harassment of Students. The Long Beach Unified School District is committed to providing quality instructional services in a manner that affirms the dignity and self-worth of every student.

**Parents/Guardians, please take time to review the following with your child/children**

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated over time. Bullying can be verbal, social, or physical.

Bullying will not be tolerated

What to Do When Someone is Being Bullied:

• Take a stand and do not join in. Make it clear that you do not support the bully.
• Do not watch someone being bullied. If you feel safe, tell the person to stop. If you do not feel safe saying something, walk away and get others to do the same.
• Support the person being bullied. Tell them that you are there to help. Offer to go with them to report the bullying or report it for them.
• Talk to an adult you trust. Talking to a parent, teacher, or trusted adult could help you figure out the best ways to deal with the problem.

What to Do When You Are Being Bullied:

The first priority is always your safety.

• Tell the bully to stop.
• Walk away. Do not let them get to you. If you walk away or ignore them, they will not get that satisfaction.
• Tell an adult you trust. Talking to someone could help you figure out the best ways to deal with the problem. In some cases, adults need to get involved for the bullying to stop.
• Find a safe place. Go somewhere that you feel safe and secure like the library, a favorite teacher's classroom, or the office.
• Stick together. Stay with a group or individuals that you trust.
• Find opportunities to make new friends. Explore your interests and join school or community activities such as sports, drama, or art.

Please visit www.stopbullying.gov for additional information.

Bicycles and Skateboards

It is a law that all children under 18 years old must wear a helmet when riding a bicycle or skateboard. All students who ride bikes or skateboards to school must wear a helmet and must walk their bicycles or skateboards at all times when on school grounds. Bicycles and skateboards must be placed in the bike or skateboard rack, kept locked and have a current lakewood license. Roller skates/blades, RAZOR scooters or scooters of any kind are absolutely prohibited.

Lost and Found

Please label your child's possessions with their name and room number or teacher's name, so that the lost items can be identified and returned (sweaters, jackets, lunch boxes, backpacks, etc.). Any items not claimed will be donated after winter, and summer breaks. The school is not responsible for any lost items.

Volunteers In Public Schools (VIPS)

If you would like to help in the classroom or in campus, assist during fieldtrips or special events, please complete and submit a VIPS application. Please visit lbschools.net, under LBUSD From A-Z select "V", look for the VIPS option and the application will be posted on their website.

For the safety of all students, LBUSD requires all volunteers to have a VIPS application and a current tuberculosis clearance on file. VIPS must sign in at the office and wear a name badge while on the school campus. VIPS are also encouraged to assist in the office with various tasks. VIPS applications must be renewed every four years.