Temecula Preparatory School - A Charter School in Temecula, CA

Mission Statement
- Temecula Preparatory School provides college bound students with a traditional education based on the academically rigorous study of classic literature, history, and the arts. The curriculum recognizes the developmental stages of the student while creating life-long learners and virtuous citizens.
Philosophy
- The philosophy Temecula Preparatory School is to impart the knowledge and academic skills with which our students can advance to schools of higher learning, and become educated, productive, responsible citizens of America.
  - To promote enhanced self-respect through academic accomplishment, correct behavior and proper regard for others.
  - To impart a love and respect for truth and knowledge, and to create a desire for its lifelong pursuit.
  - To provide a solid phonics-based ability to read at the highest levels.
  - To provide a balanced education of linguistic skills, mathematics, science, music, and art.
  - To provide a body of knowledge necessary to be creative and use analytical thinking in the development of abstract and associative skills.
  - To provide guidance relative to nutrition, exercise, and the importance of healthy bodies.
  - To guide students in the development of effective study skills.
  - To instill a respect for manners and civility toward all.
  - To help the student fully understand history, especially that of American and Western European history, in word and deed; to better understand how our world has developed to be what it is; and to help the student realize a viable role in society and a purposeful existence.
  Drawing upon the tradition of classical education, Temecula Preparatory School was established to follow the steps of its mentor, Hillsdale Academy. Academia (docere), discipline (disciplina), and virtuous character (virtus) are integrated in the formation of a Temecula Preparatory School student. These attributes will continue to form them throughout life, long after they have left their schooldays behind.
Expected Schoolwide Learning Results (ESLR’s)
- Docere - TPS students are analytical thinkers and problem solvers who:
  - Acquire a classical foundation of core knowledge through absorption of the trivium.
  - Make responsible decisions based on the study of traditional virtues.
  - Use problem solving techniques to evaluate concepts and principles.
  - Research and apply the diverse implementation of technology via primary sources and rhetorical theory.
  Disciplina - TPS students are clear and comprehensible communicators who:
  - Listen, read, write, speak and absorb.
  - Exercise multiple disciplines through the expression and communication of classical methodology.
  - Employ technology to communicate effectively to the global market.
  Virtus -TPS students are exemplary citizens who:
  - Demonstrate standards of excellence in virtuous character, manners, and civility.
  - Understand the principles of a democratic society, emphasizing American and Greco-Roman history.
  - Exhibit responsible citizenship through the demonstration of learned virtues, integrity, and ethical service as instituted by a classical academia.
Enrollment
- Temecula Preparatory School is a public kindergarten through 8th grade and high school (9th – 12th). The only major expense to the parents is the cost of uniforms. School lunches and extracurricular activities (athletics and field trips) are voluntary parent expenses.
  
  According to our charter, there is no academic requirement for admission. However, to ensure proper class placement, testing is administered to new students (grades 1-12) prior to their enrollment. Continuing students shall have first priority for reenrollment and their siblings shall have preference. Enrollment for siblings depends on space availability. Spaces remaining shall be filled by a lottery drawing during April of each school year. Any prospective students not enrolled may remain in lottery, but parents must fill out a new application each year. New students will not be enrolled after February 28th of each year.
Daily Routine
- Welcome: At Temecula Preparatory School, an administrator or staff member will greet the students as their parents drop them off in the morning. Students will report to the MPR from 7:30-7:45am. Teachers will pick up their students at 7:45 and either take the students to class or wait in the MPR until 8:00am if it is the scheduled morning assembly day.
  
  Flag Salute: Flag salutes will take place in morning assembly for different grade levels on different days. The salute will be followed by a patriotic song and brief school announcements. Anyone arriving after 8:00 am is late for school and will be marked tardy.
  
  Tardy Policy: Six tardies equal a detention.
Arrivals and Dismissals
- 8:00 a.m. Class begins for grades K-12 (If your child is not in his/her classroom by 8:00 a.m. they are considered tardy). Please be aware that according to state law the only tardies which can be “excused” are doctor appointments or religious obligations.
  
  1:30 p.m. Kindergarten dismissal.
  
  3:00 p.m. Dismissal of grades 1-12. Please be aware that there is no supervision of children after 3:15 p.m. Siblings of students attending after school detentions or any after school activities may not be left at school to wait during the time of the activity.
  
  Students may be dropped off beginning at 7:30 a.m.
Recesses and Lunches
- Each grade will receive a fifteen minute nutrition recess/break each morning. Students will have a 30 minute lunch break daily. As we have no cafeteria services, students are to bring a lunch from home. We encourage the children to finish their own lunches; we discourage the sharing, exchanging or throwing away of food. Please monitor your child’s lunch box and adjust their food portions, if necessary. Clearly label your student’s lunch box with his or her name. A well balanced nutritious snack and lunch help promote academic success. Candy and soft drinks are not allowed at school. Students are expected to clean their eating area after snack and lunch. They will gather all trash and deposit it in the bins. They will also take turns cleaning their eating tables.
Attendance and Absences
- All students are expected to attend daily unless they are ill or a family emergency occurs. Students are to bring a note from parents the day they return to school after an absence. A call to our attendance line to the office by the parent regarding an absence should be placed as soon as the parent is aware of the absence. Our attendance line can be accessed 24 hours a day by dialing the office telephone number and selecting option 4. The state does not provide funding for your child’s education when he or she is not in school for any reason. However, if your child is ill, home is the proper place for him or her. We realize there will be instances when your child may be tardy, but please avoid this whenever possible as tardiness interrupts your child’s instructional time. A detention will be issued after 6 tardies. The detention time is meant to replace lost instructional time in the classroom.
  
  An excused absence is one for which the student will be given makeup privileges and credit. Absences will be excused only for:
  - Personal illness
  - Family emergency
  - Medical and dental appointments which cannot be arranged during non-school hours. Whenever possible, please make every effort to schedule appointments on non-school days or in late afternoon.
  To earn a Perfect Attendance Award (lower school only) each quarter, a student may not be tardy (including “excused” tardies) or absent any time during that grading period.
  
  It is the responsibility of the parent/child to retrieve missed work upon their return to school. Please do not request homework on the day that your child is absent as it is very difficult for teachers to get together school work the same day. The days allowed for makeup work for excused absences will equal the number of days absent. Work must be made up within that time period, or the student will receive a grade of zero.
  
  If a student misses more than 25 days of school, his or her promotion for the next year may be questionable.
  
  An Independent Study Program may be attained when a child will be missing 1 or more days of school. Please request the ISP as soon as you know you will be needing it.
Grading Policy
- Grades K-3: In kindergarten through third grade, we strive to create a healthy environment for each child. Evaluations of each student’s progress will be made quarterly using the following designations:
  - E Excellent (not applicable to Kindergarten)
  - G Good
  - S Satisfactory
  - N Needs Improvement
  Grades 4-12: Report cards will be sent home quarterly. Students will receive number/letter grades for all assignments. The grading scale is:
  - A+ 100%
  - A 99-93%
  - A- 92-90%
  - B+ 89-88%
  - B 87-83%
  - B- 82-80
  - C+ 79-78%
  - C 77-73%
  - C- 72-70%
  - F 69%
Progress Reports
- Progress reports will be sent home to 4th through 12th grade students half way through each grading quarter on an as needed basis.
Homework
- It is the philosophy of Temecula Preparatory School to require homework from students throughout the school year, at least five nights a week, depending upon the assignment.
  
  Teachers often assign homework to be completed over the course of several days or over a week. It is the school’s belief that this assists students with time management and planning. Parents are advised to monitor assignments to prevent last-minute frustration. Providing a quiet environment and regular time for completing homework is essential. Reading is essential to learning and is not to be counted as part of the homework minutes.
  
  Students in grades K-8 are required to have their parents sign their learning log (school communication log) everyday. This log will become a source of communication between your home and the child’s classroom. This is a part of your child’s homework and their teacher will hold them responsible.
  
  Following is a general guideline regarding the amount of time students should spend per night completing their homework assignments:
  - Kindergarten 15 to 25 minutes
  - Grades 1-2 20 to 35 minutes
  - Grades 3-4 45 to 60 minutes
  - Grades 5-6 60 to 90 minutes
  - Grades 7-12 90 to 180 minutes
Field Trips
- Whenever students are traveling away from school, they are subject to the same rules, regulations, and appropriate politeness and civility observed on campus. As in the classrooms, the teacher(s) will judge what acceptable or unacceptable behavior is. Students are to wear their green polo shirts or assembly attire when leaving school on a field trip. The teacher will notify both parent and student which type of clothing is to be worn. They must have a permission slip signed by a parent or guardian to participate on the field trip. Parents who are chaperoning must have completed a parent volunteer packet, obtained through the school.
Holiday and Birthday Policies
- Halloween: There is no formal observation of Halloween at Temecula Preparatory School. Uniforms are to be worn to school on that day.
  
  St. Valentine’s Day: All students are encouraged to exchange valentines with their classmates. Each child should bring a sufficient number of valentines for all members of his/her class.
  
  Birthdays: Students may present a book to the school library in honor of their birthday. A name plate bearing the child’s name and date of birth will be placed in the book, which is then placed in the library for circulation. Birthdays will be celebrated in the classroom monthly. The room parent will notify parents when the celebration will take place for each month. Please keep birthday treats simple. Please bring birthday treats to the office, not the classroom. No balloons or flower bouquets please. Please do not bring party invitations to school unless all classmates are invited. If the guest list is small and does not include everyone, please mail those invitations.
Communications
- TPS Website: Over the past year, our website has been greatly improved. Many things have been added to aid in informing parents about different events at TPS. The website address is www.temeculaprep.com.
  
  Newsletter: The “Vision” is published monthly and will be sent home with your student. Both the administrators of the Lower and Upper School may report timely information about the school and upcoming events.
  
  Parent-Teacher Conferences: If a parent wished to have a teacher contact them by phone, please contact the school office. Please include the student’s name, teacher requested, and purpose for phone contact. This allows the teacher to prepare any necessary information. If a conference at school is requested, please also contact the school office with the same information. Parents are expected to make all teacher conferences through the office. Please do not go to the classroom with concerns.
  
  Annual Parent-Teacher conferences for grades 1-12 are scheduled after the end of the first quarter. Spring conferences, including Kindergarten, are optional at the request of either the teacher or parent.
  
  Lost and Found: Please label everything that is sent to school. Unmarked items not claimed will be periodically sold at campus “recycle” sales or donated.
  
  Telephones: Cell phones are allowed on campus only if they are kept off and out of sight. Parents and students are encouraged to communicate during non-school hours to confirm personal plans and/or arrangements and advise the school in writing when necessary. Urgent calls home are “evaluated” on an individual basis as to necessity. If there is a need to use a cell phone while on campus, students may go to the office to request permission to make a call. A detention will be issued if students use the cell phone while on campus without permission.
Early Pickups
- If it is necessary to pick up your child early, please come to the office and we will call your child’s classroom for you while you sign them out. If a person other than a parent is picking up your child, it is necessary that we receive this information in writing prior to pick up. We will only release your child to persons listed on the emergency card with proper identification.
Visitors
- For the protection of the students and the security of the school, visitors and parents on campus must check in with the office first. Visitors and parents who will be visiting any other part of the school will be given a name tag for identification while on campus. It is against our school policy for visitors or parents to go directly to classrooms before, during, or after school without checking through the office first. There are no exceptions to this rule.
Health Services
- If a student has a fever or displays other symptoms of illness, the parent/guardian on the emergency card will be notified. The student must then be picked up, as soon as possible, both for his/her protection as well as that of other students and staff. Please be aware that TPS does not have a nurse
  
  Please note:
  - It is essential that a student’s address, phone numbers and emergency contacts be kept current. Please notify the office immediately of any changes.
  - Medications are given only with written authorization from the parents and physician. Forms are available in the office and must be filled out prior to the child needing the medication.
  - Students who need to take prescribed medication, including inhalers, must have the appropriate form signed by the parent and physician before the medication can be brought to school. The medication and form must be left in the health office and the original pharmacy label must be on the item. The school cannot administer medicine, including any over the counter medications without the aforementioned form being filled out.
  If your child has any special health needs, please inform the office as soon as possible.
Dress Code 2007-2008 School Year
- PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!
  THERE HAVE BEEN CHANGES TO THE DRESS CODE.
  
  Official uniforms must be purchased from Dennis Uniform Company in San Diego (858) 573-1804, www.dennisuniform.com. The school code is DAL). This includes polos, blouses, pants, shorts, skorts, skirts, jumpers, accessories and outerwear. Shoes, backpacks, belts and optional outerwear may be purchased from Dennis or other vendors as long as they conform to this dress code. TPS receives a rebate as a percentage of all items purchased through Dennis at the end of the year. Uniforms may be purchased directly at the store, on-line, or by fax and sent directly to your home.
  
  Temecula Preparatory School maintains a strict dress code which includes uniforms. All students must be in uniform at all times while on campus and at some off campus school related functions.
  
  TPS students wear uniforms to underscore the school’s seriousness of purpose by encouraging students to consider their dress as an aspect of their work, to decrease or eliminate the self consciousness and social competition that fashion tends to promote, and to promote a sense of identity with the school and its students. The emphasis is on learning, not fashion competition.
  
  Parents are asked to read and understand the Temecula Preparatory School dress code, support its enforcement and explore it thoroughly with their student. There are some options available that are exclusively for upper school students. This year there are more fashionable options to choose from. Parents are encouraged to allow their children to express themselves creatively-through the arts, music, sports, personality and academic achievement-rather than through their manner of dress.
  
  Everyday Uniforms:
  
  K- 12th Grade
  - This includes polos, blouses, pants, shorts, skorts, skirts, sweatshirts, sweaters, jumpers, jackets, coats and accessories.
  - TPS receives a rebate as a percentage of all items purchased through Dennis at the end of the year.
  - Uniforms may be purchased directly at the store, on-line, or by fax and sent directly to your home.
  - Uniforms are required while on campus at all times.
  - Outside the front gate, on school athletic fields, inside the Multi- Purpose Building or TPS parking lots are all considered areas to have shirts tucked in. (TPS campus).
  - No changing into “street clothes” on campus unless changing into sports uniforms.
  - Shirts must remain tucked in while on campus (some blouses do not apply). Playing sports or recess time are the only exceptions.
  Assembly Attire:
  
  K-12 Girls
  - Dennis uniform white blouse (not polo).
  - Any Dennis uniform plaid item for girls (which includes the skirt, skort, or jumper).
  K-12 Boys
  - Dennis uniform white oxford cloth shirt (not polo).
  - Dennis uniform plaid or navy tie (navy tie needs to be plain)
  - Dennis uniform navy pants or shorts with belt.
  Information on assembly days:
  - Are these uniform pieces mandatory?
    Yes. Each student will be expected to dress for special assemblies either held in the Multi-Purpose building, outside or special off campus events.
  - Are morning assemblies the same thing as “special assemblies”?
    No. Morning assemblies are held throughout the week and is a time to say the pledge, sing a patriotic song, talk about the virtue of the quarter. The special assembly would be an awards assembly, special programs either on or off campus that would require assembly attire.
  New Student Uniform Suggestions:
  
  All the uniform choices can be confusing so the following is a list of items that are required to start the school year. Be sure to buy these items first and then build your TPS uniform wardrobe based on these required pieces.
  
  Girls K – 12: (the minimum uniform)
  - One TPS GREEN polo shirt ( required for field trips )
  - For Special Assemblies: a Dennis uniform white blouse and a plaid item (skirt, shift, skort or jumper)
  - Grades 9 – 12: Gym wear/ PE uniforms (required for PE classes)
  - Grades 9 – 12 : Class Shirt (with color and year of graduation)
  Boys K-12: (the minimum uniform requirement)
  - One TPS GREEN polo shirt (required for field trips)
  - Grades 9 -12: Gym wear/PE uniforms (required for PE classes)
  - Grades 9 – 12: Class Shirt (with color and year of graduation)
  - For Special Assemblies:
    - Dennis uniform button down white oxford shirt
    - Dennis uniform plaid or navy tie.
    - Dennis uniform Navy shorts or pants and BELT.
  What DOES NOT need to be purchased at Dennis Uniform?
  
  These can be a brand of your choice and purchased at a store of your choice. PLEASE remember that they need to follow the TPS color choices and other requirements.
  - Shoes (see requirements in dress code)
  - backpacks
  - lunch boxes
  - socks/tights/leggings (see color and length requirements in dress code)
  - belts (see color requirements)
  - coats (must be navy in color)
  - jackets (must be navy in color)
  *If interested in one stop shopping, Dennis uniform does offer many of the above items.
School Rules
- Kindergarten - 12th grade:
  - Respect all others and property.
  - Observe the dress code.
  - Come to class prepared.
  - Be attentive at all times.
  - No food or drink allowed in class (except water). No gum allowed on campus.
  - Remain seated during class time.
Discipline Policy
- The primary goal of Temecula Preparatory School is education, the solid preparation in the fundamental academic skills of reading, writing and computation. Proper discipline and order is essential to accomplish this. Disciplinary measures can be summarized in five steps:
  1. Reprimand: The teacher gives a reprimand to the student in private.
  2. Demerit: If a verbal reprimand is not successful, a demerit is assigned (for K-5).
  3. A Thursday afternoon detention will be assigned for the subsequent infraction. Beginning with the 2nd grade, three Thursday detentions in a grading quarter will result in a four hour Saturday School Detention. A third Saturday School assignment in one semester will result in suspension. A suspension notice will be filed in the student’s cum file.
  4. Suspensions: Suspending a student from school is reserved for serious offenses or the most consistent misbehavior. Work assigned will be under the discretion