Policies & Procedures

Attendance Policy/Report an Absence

Students who attend school regularly are shown to have higher academic achievement than students with frequent absences. By law, students are required to attend school punctually and regularly every day.

Excused Absence/Tardy: Absence for causes listed in the State Educational Code for bereavement, illness, medical, dental, legal, religious, and optometry appointments. Parents are encouraged to make doctor appointments later in the day, so that students do not miss prime learning time and do not incur excessive absences and/or tardies.

Unexcused Absence/Tardy: Absence for any reason other than those listed above. Truancy that is intentional is a violation of state attendance laws. Unexcused/unverified absences or tardies over 30 minutes are considered a truancy.

Trips, Vacations, Family Business: Students may be placed on an Independent Study Contract when it is necessary for them to be away from school because of trips, vacation, family business, etc. Independent Study Contracts are granted for absences lasting between 3-14 days. To obtain an Independent Studies Contract, parents must contact the school office at least 5 days prior to the absence. All work assigned is to be completed during the absence and returned to school on the first day back in order to excuse the absences. If a student has more than 10 consecutive days of absences, he/she will be dropped from enrollment.

After any absence, students are required to bring a note from parents the day he/she returns to school. The note must list the date of the absences, specific reason for the absence, teacher, grade, and include a parent or guardian signature. A timely e-mail or phone call to the office is also acceptable in lieu of a note 714-730-7531.

Tardy students must report to the office for a TARDY SLIP. Tardies/early dismissals for causes listed in the State Educational Code for bereavement, illness, medical, dental, and optometry appointments will be excused if accompanied by a note. All other reasons will be marked unexcused and results in truancies. Please help your child organize his/her will arrive regularly on time.

Excessive Absences/Tardiness/ Truancy Procedures and Consequences:
3 unexcused absences or truancies or 5 excused absences/tardies - Letter Home
4 unexcused absences or truancies or 10 excused absences/tardies - Letter Home/Phone Call
5 unexcused absences or truancies or 15 excused absences/tardies - Letter Home/SST Meeting
6 unexcused absences or truancies or 20 excused absences/tardies - School Attendance Review Board (SARB)
7 unexcused absences or truancies or 25 excused absences/tardies - District Attorney (Local Police Station)

Bullying/ Discrimination Policies

TUSD Policy Students 5131.2

BULLYING

The Board of Education is committed to a learning environment that is free of intimidation and recognizes that student safety is important to an effective education. The Board also acknowledges the harmful effects of bullying on student learning and

school attendance and desires to provide safe school environment that protects students from physical and emotional harm. District employees shall establish student safety as a high priority and shall not tolerate bullying of any student.

Technology Policy/Information

Technology

Tustin Unified School District has some policies regarding the use of technology. Please see the links below for complete details.

Click HERE for Acceptable Use of Technology in English
Click HERE for Acceptable Use of Technology in Spanish

At Benson Elementary, as a 1:1 technology school, we believe it is important to educate students on how to be respectful and responsible on the internet.

In the TUSD, we have curriculum to support digital citizenship in all grades. Follow this link to view our Digital Citizenship curriculum.

Uniform/Dress Code Policy

Benson Uniform/Dress Code Policy

BENSON SCHOOL UNIFORM:

TOP: Red, white, navy blue, light blue, or grey collared shirts.

BOTTOM: Khaki, navy, blue jeans without rips (pants, shorts, skirts)

SHOES: Closed-toed shoes.

TUSD DRESS CODE:

Education Law does allow public schools to establish a dress code. Student Dress Codes are established to:

● Promote a climate and culture where scholar focus is on learning

● Promote a productive safe instructional environment

While society reflects a wide range of personal expression in clothing, grooming, and accessories, the quality of scholar work and behavior is affected by personal appearance. Scholars are expected to wear clothing that is clean, neat, appropriate, and safe.

To eliminate misinterpretations of the dress code, the following dress standards shall be enforced:

Shirts/Tops

No tight/revealing shirts (workout tops, undergarments showing, see-through, low-cut, etc.)
Undergarments must not be visible (including sports bras)
No bare midriff/crop tops (If skin shows when arms are raised the top is too short.)
No spaghetti straps, bare shoulders, or shirts with less than one-inch straps
No halter or swimwear tops
No tube tops
No “underwear” style tank tops
No shirts with oversize armholes showing torso area
Pants/Shorts/Skirts
No short-shorts or micro-mini skirts (minimum 5” inseam)
No excessively loose or baggy pants/shorts
Pants/shorts must be worn at the waistline
Hems must be sewn; no frayed, split, or pinned legs
Pants may not drag on the ground, or have rips or holes.
Pants/shorts may not allow undergarments to be exposed
No excessively long, untied, or dangling belts
Overall straps must be worn over the shoulders and buttoned

Footwear

Footwear which is safe for school activities must be worn at all times
Footwear must be closed toe and closed back

Dangerous Jewelry/Objects

No chains, or sharp dangly earrings
No dagger style ear plugs
No riveted dog collars or raised rings
No chains for wallets
No laser light pens (Scholars shall be cited as per Penal Code Sections 417.25 and 417.27.)

Other Inappropriate Attire

Clothing, apparel, and jewelry shall be free of writing, pictures, or any other insignia that is crude, vulgar, profane, demeaning, sexually suggestive, or which advocates or promotes racial, ethnic, religious, sexual prejudice or strife, or which relates to the use of tobacco, drugs, or alcohol.

No sex/sexual comments/innuendoes
No drugs or references to drugs (blunt, 13, hemp, marijuana leaf, 4:20, etc.)
No tobacco product names or trademarks
No liquor products or bar names or trademarks/logos
No depicting a person engaged in illegal activities (tagging, weapons, etc.)
No hats/caps indoors, and must follow the guidelines above.
No visible tattoos

*No hats worn in the classroom

*Teachers and staff may have students remove or put away non- essentials items (ie: hats, jewelry, personal items, accessories, etc.) either in or out of the classroom if they are causing a disruption or are distracting other students.

*Please label all water bottles, lunch boxes, jackets, and removable clothing items with your child’s name. These items are commonly left on the playground, and as we do our best to return labeled items to the proper owner, unlabeled items will be placed in the Lost & Found located outside the Multi-Purpose Room.

Student Conduct Policy

Please refer to the following document for any questions regarding Student Conduct

Por favor, consulte el siguiente documento para cualquier duda respecto a la conducta del estudiante.

All children have equal rights to an education in a safe, nurturing and orderly environment. It is the Principal's role to establish a climate that fosters these rights. Each child will be treated with respect and dignity. Fair and consistent rules have been established at Benson School to maintain a learning environment desired by our community, students and all staff.

WE BELIEVE ....

That every child is entitled to be treated with respect and dignity.
That every child has the right to learn in a calm and orderly environment.
That every child has the responsibility to respect others' rights to learn in an atmosphere that is conducive to learning.
That every child is responsible for his/her own behavior.
That every child shows responsibility by practicing self-discipline and trying to settle his/her own problems.

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ....

The school to promote, develop, and enforce codes of behavior.
The teachers to organize and manage an environment that is conducive to learning and to teach acceptable forms of behavior.
The students to accept and understand the logical consequences of their actions.
The parents to assist in reviewing the rules with their child and promoting support of a safe, nurturing and orderly environment.
The school personnel and parents to recognize and respond appropriately to positive and negative behaviors.

Children will make appropriate choices when they know the standards of acceptable behavior. Children need to know the consequences for choosing whether or not to follow established expectations. Specific school and classroom standards and consequences have been developed and are included in this packet. Each teacher has the right to individualize their plan according to identified student needs and teaching style.

Positive Behavior Intervention System (PBIS)

Enrollment & Data Confirmation/ Inscripción y Confirmación de Datos

Enrolling your child into Tustin Unified School District
Enrolling online is for students who are brand new to Tustin Unified and have never attended a school here at TUSD. They may be entering as kindergarten or TK, or be coming from another district or private school. For online enrollment, click here.

Confirming your child's data at their school for the upcoming year
Annual data confirmation for returning students (online registration) is where parents review/change contact information, select appropriate student authorizations, and review updated district materials. This process is done through the Portal and requires a parent login. For more information, click here.

Inscripción de su hijo en el Distrito Escolar Unificado de Tustin
La inscripción en línea es para alumnos de nuevo ingreso en el Distrito Escolar Unificado de Tustin y que nunca han asistido a ninguna escuela aquí en TUSD. Pueden estar ingresando a kindergarten o TK, o que vengan de otro distrito escolar o una escuela privada. Para inscribirse en línea, haga clic aquí.

Confirmando los datos de su hijo en la escuela para el próximo año

Confirmación de datos anual es donde los padres revisan/cambian la información de contacto, seleccionan las autorizaciones apropiadas del alumno y revisan los materiales actualizados del distrito. Este proceso se realiza a través del Portal y requiere el inicio de sesión de uno de los padres. Para obtener más información, haga clic aquí .

Registration

Menus/Meal Application/ Payment

Parking Lot Safety

School Safety

Thank you to all our Benson parents for your understanding and support in our efforts to keep ALL our Benson students safe and for sharing our basic belief of putting student safety “first”.

Pedestrian Gate Hours/Access to YMCA

Daily Days - Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.	Modified Wednesdays
6:00 am- 7:45 am OPEN	6:00 am -7:45 am OPEN
7:45 am – 2:35 pm Closed During School Hours	7:45 am – 12:00 pm Closed During School Hours
2:35 pm – 6:00 pm OPEN	12:00 pm – 6:00 pm OPEN

Parking Lot

CROSSWALK

Always use the crosswalk when walking your children in the parking lot.

SPEED LIMITS

Please keep in mind the speed limit on Elizabeth Way is 25 MPH and in the Benson parking lot is 5 MPH. The Highway Patrol does enforce the speed limit on Elizabeth Way with random speed checks. Please help us keep everyone safe by observing the speed limit. Thank you!

“ENTER” DRIVEWAY
We will continue to improve the safety procedures at the driveway entrance.
Thank you, in advance, for supporting our efforts to keep all our students safe and for respecting the adults on Drop Off Duty and Pick Up Duty.

ONLY a RIGHT turn into the driveway is available.
NO LEFT TURN into the driveway.
LEFT turn into the driveway will NOT BE AVAILABLE.

Student drop off is at the curb.

“EXIT” DRIVEWAY
Do not enter the school parking lot through the “exit” driveway. The Highway Patrol will issue tickets.

Student Fees

Parent/Student Rights and Responsibilities

California Education Code section 48980 requires that, at the beginning of the first semester or quarter of the regular school term, the governing board of each school district must notify parents/guardians of their rights and responsibilities under certain provisions of the Education Code. Other provisions of California and United States law also require notification of parents/guardians.

California and federal law requires certain other notices in the event that specific circumstances should arise, affecting your child’s education and attendance at school. If any such circumstances should arise, the District will provide notice as required by law.

District link to booklet

El Código de Educación de California, Artículo 48980 exige que, al empezar el primer semestre o trimestre del año escolar regular, la mesa directiva de cada distrito escolar les notifique a los padres/tutores legales sobre sus derechos y responsabilidades bajo ciertas disposiciones del Código de Educación. Otras disposiciones de la ley de California y de los Estados Unidos también exigen la notificación de los padres/tutores legales.

La ley federal y de California exige algunos otros avisos en caso de que surjan circunstancias específicas, que afecten la educación y la asistencia escolar de su hijo. Si alguna de tales circunstancias llegara a surgir, el Distrito proveerá un aviso como lo exige la ley.

Enlace del distrito al folleto

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