Parent Handbook

Your First Week

Everything below is covered in full further down. This is the short version for the days before school starts.

General School Information

Del Mar Pines School was founded in 1978 to provide students with excellent academic programs and a nurturing environment with close student-teacher relationships. Del Mar Pines prepares students for success, both personally and academically. At Del Mar Pines, children discover how to work alone and as part of a group.

They learn to apply critical thinking and problem-solving strategies to all aspects of their lives. And most importantly, we give each student the opportunity to meet his or her full academic potential, while developing and refining the qualities essential for positive personal development.

Welcome to Del Mar Pines! We hope you will find this handbook helpful in familiarizing you with all aspects of the school. Please use this handbook as a reference for any questions you may have. If you don’t find the answer, please feel free to contact the school. We are always available to help you.

Expected schoolwide learning outcomes

Every student will be able to communicate effectively, apply interdisciplinary knowledge and skills, solve complex problems, think critically, and act with integrity, compassion, and a growth mindset.

Our results

Our results are impressive! The Median Scale Scores and National Percentile Ranks for students in third through sixth grade at Del Mar Pines are significantly above the national norms and independent schools norms on the CTP-5 standardized tests that we give each Spring. Our graduates are motivated, self-confident, well-organized students with excellent study habits. They possess the ability to analyze and synthesize factual and abstract information, and express ideas clearly in oral and/or written form. When they graduate from Del Mar Pines, students are prepared for the personal and academic challenges that lie ahead in middle school and beyond!

DMP Foundation for Education

The Del Mar Pines Foundation for Education is a charitable organization, formed to support and enhance the educational experiences of students at Del Mar Pines School. Internal Revenue Service 501(c)3 not-for-profit status, offering tax deductibility to donors. Individual donations are welcomed at any time. Foundation tax ID # 26-4676082. Please contact a Foundation representative through our website for more information.

The Foundation is the main organizing body for fundraising activities. Fundraising is a wonderful opportunity to enhance and support Del Mar Pines, as well as an opportunity for parent involvement.

Hours of operation

Arrival & departure

Student arrival

Supervision of the playground is provided between 7:40 – 8:00 a.m.

Walking or riding a bicycle. Students who walk or ride bicycles to or from school without an adult must have a signed parental permission slip on file in the office. Children for whom there is no slip on file will not be allowed to walk or ride to or from home.

Parent arrival. If you’re at DMP during school hours, be sure to go to the office to sign in. Upon leaving, please check out in the office.

Student departure

Typical Week Schedules

A typical week in each grade. Schedules are subject to slight changes; your child’s teacher will share any classroom-specific adjustments.

Enrollment, tuition & required forms

Tuition payment options

Tuition is paid through Parent Locker.

• Balance paid in full by July 1. Tuition insurance is optional.
• Balance paid in two equal payments — due July 1 and January 5. Tuition insurance is required.
• Balance paid in three equal payments — due July 1, November 5, and February 5. Tuition insurance is required.
• Balance paid in 10 equal payments — due July 1 and the fifth day of each month from August through April. Tuition insurance is required.

Re-enrollment registration

• Forms are available through Parent Locker in mid February for re-enrolling the following school year.
• Registration forms, Enrollment Contracts, and deposits for the following school year are due by February 20.

New students

Kindergarten and new first-grade students will receive a Health and Immunization form to be completed by your child’s physician. Del Mar Pines also needs a copy of your child’s birth certificate and immunization record. Each student must show proof that their immunizations are in accordance with the requirements of the California State Department of Health. We need school transcripts from your child’s former school. Transcript request forms are sent to all new parents.

Communication

Parent-staff communication

Teachers make every effort to keep parents informed through weekly emails, Instagram, progress reports, parent-teacher-director conferences, and individual emails and conversations. Parents are encouraged to schedule a conference with any staff member at any time. Please be aware that teachers rarely check email during school hours. If there is an urgent issue, please call the school.

Student-teacher electronic communication

Teachers are permitted to communicate with students via Del Mar Pines’ email accounts for educational purposes only. All communication via email must be cc’d to the students’ parents or legal guardian. Please be aware that teachers rarely check email during school hours. If there is an urgent issue, please call the school.

Bi-monthly eNewsletter

1st and 15th of each month.

Bi-monthly newsletters will be emailed to keep parents informed regarding activities, events, special procedures, etc. Parents, staff members and students are encouraged to contribute information of interest.

Information and flyers about community events are often dropped off for circulation. These will sometimes be sent home with students, but parents should be advised that this distribution does not signal a Del Mar Pines endorsement. We feel it is the parents’ responsibility to investigate after school activities and events. We are merely passing on information regarding their availability.

Staff Directory

For general office matters, email office@delmarpines.com or call 858.481.5615. Teachers rarely check email during school hours — please call for anything urgent.

Medical

General health and safety measures, including COVID

We know that our students, families, and teachers’ health and safety are one of our highest priorities as we return to school. We will continue to follow all county, state, and CDC public health guidance and requirements for schools to ensure that our campus is a safe, healthy, and engaging place for students to learn, grow and thrive.

Keeping sick children home is one of the most important ways we can keep our community healthy all year.

Decontamination units to be used in case of an outbreak on campus. If there is an outbreak on campus, we have two ways to quickly disinfect all classrooms and outside areas for any viruses or bacteria. We purchased these items back in 2020.

• Safezone 850M9 mobile UV-C decontamination unit. This is a hospital-grade mobile unit that can disinfect an entire room’s surfaces in 10-15 minutes using UV-C light.
• Victory Electrostatic Backpack Spray with hospital-grade disinfectant. This product can be used both indoors and outdoors to quickly and thoroughly kill all bacteria, viruses, etc. on surfaces.

I would like to thank the Del Mar Pines Foundation for Education for granting our request to purchase these cleaning and sanitizing products for the health and benefit of everyone in our community.

Medication

In order for any staff person to administer any medication, you must give Del Mar Pines permission by checking that box on your child’s Student Emergency Information Form and complete the Medical Authorization Form. Any type of medication that is intended to be taken at school, including cough drops, must be left in the office, by an adult, when the student arrives in the morning. Medication must be in the original bottle and clearly labeled with your child’s name and specific instructions by parent and/or physician.

Illnesses

We greatly appreciate your cooperation in keeping sick children at home. Students must not be contagious, not have a fever, not have vomited, and must be symptom-free for 24 hours prior to returning to school. If your child will be absent from school, please notify the office personnel and teachers. If you want homework sent home, please call the office and/or email the teacher before 8:00 a.m. Please allow our teachers up to 24 hours to gather the students’ work. If your child becomes ill at school, he or she will be sent to the office. You will be notified to come and pick up your child, if deemed appropriate.

Allergies / known conditions

If your child has known medical conditions or allergies, please list them on the General Emergency Information Form and inform the office personnel and teacher. EpiPens, inhalers, and all other medication will be stored in the office. You must fill out an authorization for administration of medication form. Please make certain medications are current at all times.

Student Attire

Normal day attire

Del Mar Pines School requires uniforms for all students. Our uniforms help to create school pride, unity, and community spirit. Approved uniforms can be purchased through Lands’ End or from the limited uniform supply at Target. Only approved uniforms are listed for purchase when you access the website using our school number (9000-6905-5). Please, only purchase items that are approved for our school. Lands’ End typically has several sales on school uniforms during the summer. Whenever we receive one, we will pass it along to all families.

Uniforms must be in good, clean condition with no holes or frays. Skirts and dresses may be no more than two inches above the knee. Leggings or tights are allowed, but only under a dress, skirt, or skort. Leggings may NOT be worn on their own. Sweatpants are NOT approved as uniform attire. Shoes must be closed toed and can be of any color and design. Clogs, boots (except rain boots on rainy days), crocs, open-toed shoes, sandals, and shoes with lights or music or wheels are not allowed. Athletic shoes are required on your children’s scheduled PE days. Socks can be any color or pattern.

Students who come to school in non-approved attire will be sent to the office and given the proper attire to change into.

Events

We realize that the amount of time each family has to contribute to events varies greatly. We always appreciate any assistance parents are willing to give to the school.

Musicals, grade by grade

Ancillary Programs

Art

Art is an important tool for learning and a basic part of human nature. We create art for our pleasure as well as to communicate. The visual arts provide not only a way for our children to express thoughts, feelings and hopes, but also the means for them to learn more about history and the world. Art can help our children express their thoughts and ideas when words fall short. It can also assist them in becoming better learners by helping them analyze, interpret and work hard to complete a goal. Art is a global language. As with written language, the visual arts language has an alphabet (the elements of art) and grammar (the principles of art). There are techniques and styles used by celebrated artists that show us how this language can be used effectively.

At Del Mar Pines, students enjoy sixty minutes of visual art instruction per week. They learn how this powerful language communicates across time and borders. They learn the basic components of art by using a wide range of materials and techniques. Children are provided with opportunities to express ideas, feelings and emotions in their own personal style; solve creative problems where there is no right or wrong answer; and reflect, analyze and evaluate the merits of their efforts. They also study the works of others, and learn to empathize with the concerns and choices made by artists who lived in different times and cultures than their own.

The framework used for helping students journey through the arts at Del Mar Pines are standards set by the National Art Education Board.

Technology

The Del Mar Pines technology program is thoughtfully designed to prepare students for the future by integrating state-of-the-art resources such as iPads, MacBook Air laptops, Google Classroom (grades 4–6), projectors, and document cameras. Every student benefits from hands-on, technology-enhanced learning experiences that build progressively from kindergarten through sixth grade. Teachers and students use technology intentionally to enhance the creativity, critical thinking, presentational skills, and learning experience for our students.

Through this intentional, step-by-step continuum, Del Mar Pines ensures graduates are not only confident explorers of technology but also innovative thinkers and leaders of their generation.

Spanish

The Spanish program at Del Mar Pines starts in Kindergarten and continues through sixth grade. It is a sequential FLES (Foreign Language in the Elementary School) model that uses a curriculum formulated by a program called Vivamos Español. All classes receive two 30-minute classes per week with an elementary school Spanish teacher.

The expectations for students learning Spanish as a second language who complete the K-6 sequence are to attain the Novice-Mid to Novice-High level as described in the Proficiency Guidelines of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). At a Novice-Mid to Novice-High level, the students are able to engage in simple conversations, speak and write short sentences, and read and understand brief text.

Physical education

Del Mar Pines School offers a structured physical education program that is wholly aligned with California State Board of Education standards. Students across grade levels (K-6th) engage in scheduled physical education classes twice per week. All fitness/sports activities assist children in managing their bodies efficiently as well as developing aerobic capacity, muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility. In this way, students are encouraged to progress through the advancement in their skills in the five health components of fitness: Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Muscular Strength, Muscular Endurance, Flexibility and Body Composition.

A variety of sports and sporting events are used to assist in developing the essential life skills of teamwork and fair play. Students are introduced to the various strategies in cooperative games as well as sports acquisition skills as a foundation to advancing sports skills in each particular movement activity in addition to maintaining fitness goals independently. To pursue each instructional game/sport further, students learn the rules associated with each activity so as to promote sportsmanship and fairness within each unit. Lastly, all students in fourth through sixth grades work towards achievement in the U.S. Presidential Fitness Awards.

Hands-on science

First through sixth grades have one hour of hands-on science per week with the hands-on science teacher and their classroom teacher in the science lab. Kindergarten will have hands-on science in their classroom. Hands-on science classes consist of engaging, hands-on investigations that stimulate students’ curiosity and inquiry. Students have the opportunity to further explore what they are investigating in their classroom science content.

Students develop the scientific practices outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards:

1. Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering)
2. Developing and using models
3. Planning and carrying out investigations
4. Analyzing and interpreting data
5. Using mathematics and computational thinking
6. Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering)
7. Engaging in argument from evidence
8. Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information

Library

The Del Mar Pines Library, occupying its current luxurious space since 2016, is an important part of our school community, offering a carefully cultivated reading collection and providing library services to the entire school community. Our Library offers both print and online learning resources, and instruction to expand our students’ literary experience. The librarian is committed to making the library an inspiring and fun place to be with the following goals in mind:

• Provide a wide selection of reading material, including up-to-date books and magazines, along with references to online reading materials. Students also have an opportunity to explore classic youth literature and favorite topics through a variety of genres.
• Make the library space interesting, inviting and comfortable. A cozy corner dedicated to our younger readers allows smaller hands to reach and explore new and exciting books meant just for them. While at the same time, our older students can see ever changing displays featuring the latest releases and seasonal themes, as well as long time favorites.
• Provide lessons and learning opportunities through literature. Read-alouds, games and interactive activities help students to identify and enjoy various types of literature including biographies, folk tales, poetry, non-fiction, realistic fiction and fantasy in a variety of themes.
• Promote collaborative learning involving students, their peers and their families. School-wide and family activities, book talks, author visits, student-to-student read-alouds, the annual Scholastic Book Fair, and the annual Family Read-In bring students and families together in the pursuit of reading enjoyment.

Music

The music program at Del Mar Pines is committed to the musical growth of all students in a non-competitive environment. It provides students the opportunity to sing, play, listen and create music in a variety of musical genres. The program follows a sequential K-6 progression of musical objectives based on the National Coalition of Core Arts Standards. Students are given the opportunity to develop their music performance skills by participating in class musicals, talent shows and the annual Spring Sing. Song material from the musicals often correlates to the grade-level social studies curriculum. In addition, special attention is given to reading a musical score with rhythm and beats (Grades K–2), learning the recorder (Grade 3), learning to play group piano (Grade 4), learning to play Tone Chimes (Grade 5), and ukulele (Grade 6).

In May of each year, the entire school participates in a full-length Jr. show. Recent shows include Annie, Shrek, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and Moana. The school also provides live musical accompaniment for the musical through participation in the DMP Orchestra.

After Care, enrichment & summer

After Care

Let your child(ren) know on days he/she should report to After Care, if possible. However, if unforeseen circumstances prevent you from picking up your child(ren) by 2:35 p.m., your child(ren) will automatically be enrolled in the After Care program.

Between 2:35–5:15 p.m., students are supervised as they play and/or do homework. You do not need to prepay or register your child(ren) in advance. After Care attendance is taken promptly at 2:35 p.m. Students will be signed in at that time. After Care fees are $12/hour. Fees are assessed in 1-minute increments ($.183/minute). After 5:15 p.m., a surcharge of $1.00 per minute applies. When taking your child from After Care, please sign out the student on the iPad and notify an After Care teacher.

After school enrichment classes

Enrichment classes vary throughout the school year across the fall, winter and spring trimesters. Typically enrichment classes include Science, Art, Musical Theater, Dance, Chess, Lego, Math Club, Books and Illustrations, Crafts, Yearbook, Sculpting, Fencing, and Gymnastics. Classes vary depending on availability of space, instructors and vendors. If your child is not picked up when the enrichment class ends, they will be automatically enrolled in After Care.

After School classes are paid in the front office when enrolling. Enrollment details vary depending on day of week, holidays, time of year, and the age of students. All classes begin at either 2:45 for regular dismissal days and 3:15 p.m. on late dismissal days. Most classes last one hour. Providing a snack for your child to have after school and before enrichment begins is highly recommended.

Summer Discoveries

For over 30 years, Del Mar Pines summer programs have facilitated the academic process while teaching students that learning can be fun! Classes focus on both personal and academic enrichment, allowing students to develop and refine basic skills while expanding their horizons through creativity and innovation. Both students and parents agree that a Del Mar Pines summer can be a first step on the road to considerable academic improvement.

Please check with your child(ren)’s teacher to see if an academic summer program would enrich their reading and/or math skills. We offer two 3-week sessions starting in mid-June through the end of July. Classes meet Monday through Thursday, in air-conditioned facilities, with a variety of classes offered between 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. After Care is available until 5:30 p.m. Individual programs have been established for students who are entering kindergarten through sixth grades the following fall. Registration is offered to Del Mar Pines students first and then is open to other students from other schools. Registration begins in March.

Student Expectations

All students have a right to a safe and healthy school environment. The school and community have an obligation to promote mutual respect, tolerance, and acceptance.

At Del Mar Pines we are safe, responsible, respectful.

The Responsive Classroom

Del Mar Pines School has adopted The Responsive Classroom. This is a teaching approach that focuses on creating a positive and supportive learning environment for children.

Del Mar Pines will not tolerate behavior that infringes on the safety or well-being of any student. Students are expected to adhere to all of the following school rules, including the subsequent policies regarding the use of school technology, personal cell phones, smart watches as well as student harassment, intimidation, bullying and cyberbullying.

School rules

In addition to the California Education Codes for Student Discipline, students are responsible for abiding by the following rules:

• Follow all directions from staff members in a respectful manner.
• Be safe and do no harm.
• Be respectful to everyone.
• Do not harass, intimidate, or bully/cyberbully.
• Use appropriate language (no cussing, name calling, or vulgar language).
• Eat and drink only while sitting at a lunch table.
• Clean trash at and around your lunch table before asking to be dismissed to play.
• Receive teacher permission to enter a classroom and a teacher must remain present.
• Receive teacher permission to retrieve balls on the hill.
• Use equipment properly (do not break it or hurt others).
• Walk on White — students must walk on all concrete surfaces.
• Tag must be done on the field or blacktop during scheduled times.
• Heading any ball is prohibited.
• Stay outside the play structure when it is wet.
• Do not jump from any part of the play structure.
• Do not go between or behind buildings.
• Use only hands on the overhead bars.
• Sitting is only allowed on the lowest and middle gymnastics bars.
• Both hands need to remain on the gymnastics bars at all times.
• Do not assist other students to reach any bars or to learn new tricks.
• Go down the slide with feet first and sitting down.
• Get a drink of water, use the restroom, and tend to injuries before or when the 2 minute whistle.

Student harassment, intimidation, bullying and cyberbullying policy

A student shall not intimidate, harass, or bully another student through words or actions. Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated and ongoing, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:

• An imbalance of power: Kids who bully use their power — such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity — to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
• Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.

Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose. There are three forms of bullying — verbal, social, and physical. Verbal bullying is saying or writing mean things, including teasing, name-calling, inappropriate comments, taunting, and threatening to cause harm. Social bullying, sometimes referred to as relational bullying, involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships: leaving someone out on purpose, telling other children not to be friends with someone, spreading rumors about someone, and embarrassing someone in public. Physical bullying involves hurting a person’s body or possessions: hitting/kicking/pinching, spitting, tripping/pushing, taking or breaking someone’s things, and making mean or rude hand gestures. Any digital communication or the use of social media to cause similar harm is cyberbullying. This policy applies to the interactions between all students of Del Mar Pines whether on or off campus.

Students and staff are expected to immediately report incidents of bullying to a director. Staff who witness such acts take immediate steps to intervene when safe to do so. Each complaint of harassment, intimidation, bullying and cyberbullying should be promptly investigated.

To prevent all forms of bullying from occurring on our school campus, Del Mar Pines provides staff development training, typically through the Anti-Defamation League, in bullying prevention and cultivates acceptance and understanding in all students and staff to maintain a safe and healthy learning environment. Teachers and parents should discuss this policy with their students in age-appropriate ways and should assure them that they need not endure any form of bullying. Students who bully are in violation of this policy and are subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.

The procedures for intervening in bullying behavior include, but are not limited to, the following:

• All staff and students’ parents will receive this policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, and bullying at the beginning of the school year in the parent handbook.
• The school will make reasonable efforts to keep a report of bullying and the results of investigation confidential.
• Staff who witness acts of bullying shall take immediate steps to intervene when safe to do so. People witnessing or experiencing bullying are strongly encouraged to report the incident to a director immediately.

Consequences for misbehavior

Students are expected to behave in a manner that helps to ensure that all students and teachers are treated with respect, kindness, cooperation, and dignity. However, we also understand that we are dealing with children who sometimes make mistakes and make poor choices. Our goal is to help children make better choices and to learn from their mistakes in a positive and meaningful way. Minor misbehavior is defined as a student breaking a school rule or direction from a staff member, but not deemed by the director as malicious and/or egregious.

When a student is having minor misbehavior, teachers will utilize the following steps for using The Responsive Classroom Approach for Teacher/Student Conferencing:

A major misbehavior is breaking a school rule or direction from a staff member and is deemed by the director as egregious and/or malicious. Parents will be notified when a child has a major misbehavior or a significant number of minor misbehaviors that are not improving with school intervention. After the Director has meetings and discussions with parents, teachers and leadership regarding a student’s serious behaviors, Del Mar Pines reserves the right to take whatever actions are deemed appropriate for the situation and previous occurrences of a student’s behavior, including suspension and expulsion.

Upper grade trimester awards

Homework

Students in first through sixth grades will generally have homework assignments Monday through Thursday night. There can be some weekend homework in upper grade classes at various times. The time required to complete homework varies widely between students and grade levels.

Completing homework

Homework assignment sheets or books are brought home each night. These sheets are provided to inform parents of the assignment(s) and to inform teachers about the amount of time the student spends on his/her homework. If anyone assists your child with the assignments, please indicate this on the assignment.

Receiving assignments when absent

If a child is not at school for any reason, parents can call the office and/or email your child’s teacher before 7:30 a.m. to arrange getting your child’s homework by the next day. Teachers have 24 hours to get the work together.

Work for planned vacations during school. Upon return from vacation, your child’s teacher will provide missed assignments to be completed and turned into the teacher within the teacher’s requested due date.

Helpful homework habits

• Have consistent times set aside for homework and skill practice.
• Pick a quiet, distraction-free study environment.
• Parents can look over homework assignments and clarify questions.
• Notify the classroom teacher if your child is frequently having difficulty doing the homework within the expected homework times.
• Email your child’s teacher if special circumstances made it too difficult for your child to complete his/her homework. Whenever possible, please contact the teacher prior to 8:00 a.m. to make arrangements for the work to be completed.