School Policies

Colfax Standards of Behavior

Parents, please review these with your child:

1. Students must respect and follow the directions of teachers, staff and volunteers.

2. Students must respect and be courteous to others and must not intimidate, extort or harass others. Profanity, name calling, bullying, racial or sexual slurs will not be tolerated.

3. Possession of weapons or anything that can be used as a weapon will not be tolerated.

4. Students must not deface school property, including walls, desks, books and materials.

5. Students are expected to walk at all times for their own safety and as a courtesy to others.

6. Students will obey all breakfast and lunch standards. Food is to be eaten in lunch areas and all trash is to be disposed of properly. Please do not litter – Keep Colfax Beautiful.

7. Students will wear appropriate attire for outdoor play and recess.

Attendance and Tardiness

Parents, this may seem a little harsh, but it’s a fact: Your children are NEVER late for class…YOU are. Unfortunately, it’s your child who pays the price. We all know how hectic it can be getting out the door in the morning; however, it is important for all students to be in school on time daily. Tardiness is not a trait we want our students to develop and entering a classroom habitually late is impolite, interrupts the class’ morning routine and deprives all students of valuable class time.

Our Kindergarten students must be in class at 8:00am. All other students line up on the playground at 8:05am, when the first bell rings, and then proceed to their classrooms. The second and final bell rings at 8:10am, and the gates are locked. Your child is tardy if he/she is not in line or in class at the 8:10am bell. If you bring your child to school at or after 8:10am, he/she must enter through the office, pick up a tardy slip and present it to his or her teacher.

Note: If your child is here by permit, this privilege may be cancelled
due to excessive tardies or absences. Parents please do not drop
your children at school before 7:40am. There is no supervision before this time.

Absences and Illnesses

Please call the office at 818-761-5115 to report your child’s absence and, when your child returns to school, have him or her bring a note from you explaining the absence. If due to illness, state the type of illness. Please keep your child home if you suspect he or she has an infectious condition such as flu, chicken pox, head lice or pinkeye. Children wearing casts or using crutches need a note from the family physician indicating any limits and allowing readmission to school. If your child becomes ill at school, the office will call you to pick up your child. Be sure your Emergency Card is up-to-date, so that we can reach you, and because the office will not release your child to anyone not listed on the Card. If someone you’ve listed on your Emergency Card is picking up your child, that person must show a picture I.D. before the office staff will release the child. If you need to pick up your child before dismissal time, you must go to the office and sign your child out.

Medications

Children are not allowed to bring medications of any type to school and are not allowed to take medications, on their own, at school. If your child needs medication, you must file a medication form with the office, provide them with the prescription information they require, and a supply of the medication in its original, pharmacy container. The office will then administer the medication as prescribed.

Meal Programs

All children may bring their lunch or buy lunch at the school cafeteria. Basic prices are: $.60 for breakfast and $1.00 for lunch. Free and reduced priced breakfast and lunch are available if you qualify. Please get an application from the office, and turn it in during the first week of school. If packing lunch, please pack healthy, nutritious lunches, with NO candy or soda. Salad bar is available most Thursdays beginning late September. Please do not allow your child to go to the ice cream truck, parked a block or two from school, after dismissal time. This is unsupervised and can be dangerous.

Dress Code

Uniforms are not required at Colfax; however, keep in mind that school is your child’s place of business and all children should be dressed appropriately. Please do not dress the girls in suggestive attire, including halter-tops or anything that shows the midriff. Also, because the children play and participate in physical activities during recess and physical education, please observe the following: closed toe shoes and heels; no long dresses or pants that are too long; scarves or sunglasses. Colfax t-shirts and sweatshirts, which are available in child and adult sizes, are worn on Fridays to show school spirit, and are recommended when going on field trips. You may purchase these in the office.

Before and After School Programs

Here are the many program options offered at Colfax:

• Enrichment Educational Experiences (E3)– From immediately after school to 6:00pm. For rates and information, call: 818-989-7509.
• Youth Development Program (YDP) – This free afterschool program is open to students in grades 2-5 who remain at school daily until 5:00 or 6:00pm. Students must be signed-out of the program each day by parent or guardian. Enrollment is limited to 80.
• Youth Services (YS) – Open after school until 5:30pm and supervised by Youth Services division of LAUSD. Students on the playground after school may study or utilize the play areas and YS equipment, and are expected to follow the rules of the coaches, stay in the playground area, and take care of the equipment.
• Homework Club – PACE provides a supervised study hall, which we call Homework Club, in the Library, Mondays through Thursdays.

Bicycles / Skateboards / Scooters / Skates

Skateboards, scooters, skates and blades are not allowed on school grounds. Students who ride bikes to school must wear a helmet, must walk the bikes on school grounds, and must lock them in the bicycle compound during the school day.

Games / Toys

All personal games and toys are to be left at home. The school cannot be held responsible for damage or theft or loss. Items will be confiscated and may/may not be returned to parents.

Cell Phones

Per District policy, the use of cell phones during school hours is prohibited. If a student brings a cell phone to school it must remain “off” and be stored in a backpack, purse or other place where it is not visible during school hours. If a phone is observed or heard by a school staff member, it will be confiscated until redeemed by a parent or guardian.

The after school cell phone use policy is as follows:

• Cell phones may be turned on ready to receive a call.
• If/when a cell phone rings, the student is to walk over to an adult staff member and only answer in their presence.
• If the student needs to make a call, it must be made in front of a staff member.

Any violation of these rules will result in the phone being confiscated and kept until a parent can pick it up from the office. The rules will be reviewed with the parent.

Upon the second violation the cell phone will be held in the office for 5 days.

Photographing others is strictly prohibited. Anyone caught photographing others will be sent immediately to the office.

Visitors and Classroom Interruptions

We need to keep classroom interruptions to a minimum. If you must deliver lunches, lunch money, or a message to your child, come to the office and we will send it to the classroom. Please try to send lunches in the morning rather than delivering them later.

All visitors coming on campus, including parents, must enter through the office, sign the Visitor’s Log and obtain a Visitor’s badge. All visitors must obtain the permission of the principal to be on campus. Limited visits may be made to the classroom as long as it does not disrupt the program. If you would like to speak with the teacher, please schedule an appointment before or after school.

Monday Morning Assemblies

Each school week begins with a brief assembly, held outdoors on the yard, at 8:10am. Principal Susana Gomez-Judkins addresses the students and parents, outlines the goals for the week, and recognizes outstanding students and classes. On occasion, there are class performances or guest presentations. It’s a great way to start the week!

Parent Coffee Hour

Please join us for ‘Coffee and Conversation’ after the Student Achievement Awards assembly, usually held on the last Monday of every month. Check the calendar for this schedule. Coffee and pastry are served outside the Library.

Colfax Farm

Our wonderful Colfax Farm was started by Colfax parents’ years ago to expand our children’s worlds. Students visit the area with their teachers. Leila Wells does an incredible job caring for these animals. Children are able to join Farm Club and participate in the Farm activities such as feeding and petting the animals after school on Fridays – details will be provided by Leila upon commencement of the school year.

Colfax Parent Center

The LAUSD has provided one room at Colfax to be a Parent Center – a center for parent education. Classes are offered throughout the year. The Parent Center distributes the monthly newsletter Parent Information Press, containing tips on how to be more directly involved in your child’s education. The Center is a space where parents can meet and discuss issues of importance or just meet casually, and for committee meetings. You can contact the Parent Center directly at: 818-505-0984.

Emergency Procedures

Open publication

Our Safe School Plan describes our procedures in the event of an Earthquake. Please review and call the office if you have any further questions.