Parent Handbook
Welcome to Creekside
2022-2023 Morning Schedule & Playground
8:25 am - playground gate opens each morning (there is no supervision before 8:25 am)
8:40 am bell - students line up on their classroom numbers on the playground and teachers walk them to class .
8:45 am bell - playground gate closes and late students enter through the office for a tardy slip.
Recess - All students have time for a snack and play during morning recess. Students in Kindergarten will also have an afternoon recess once they begin the full day schedule.
Kindergarten Introduction Days (KID Days) - Kinder students begin the year with shorter days and the beginning of full days around 6 weeks from the start of school.
Early Thursday - Every Thursday is a “time-banking day” with early dismissal for K - 5th. For Kindergarten, this begins after KID Days around 6 weeks from the start of school.Transitional Kindergarten is a “half-day program” all year long.
School/Playground Rules - Review with your child the school and playground rules found in the Student Handbook on our website HERE.
School Lunch - lunch can be brought from home and it's a good idea to pack it separately from the morning snack. Breakfast and lunch with milk will be free again for 2022-23 school year for all students regardless of income. This does not include A La Carte items such as juice or water bottle, extra, or second items outside the authorized reimbursable meal program. To ensure food safety, sanitation, quick service, and to help ensure all students have adequate time to eat, ALL transactions during mealtimes will be CASHLESS. Please use our online payment system, www.MySchoolBucks.com, or send a check to deposit money in your child’s account to be used for any additional mealtime transactions.
Menus, nutrition information and meal accommodations can be found at powayusdnutrition.com. If your child has food related allergies/disabilities please visit the following website to review cafeteria policies and options: powayusdnutrition.com and go to Special Meal Accommodation.
Before and After School Supervision
After School Supervision - After school, we ask parents/guardians to wait outside the school gates until the bell rings and the gates open. Kindergarten students will be led by their teacher to the front of the school. Students in 1st - 5th Grade will be released from their classroom. Parents/guardians should designate a specific place to meet their child (i.e.: bus loop, main parking lot, etc.). Staff will supervise students waiting to be picked up for 20 minutes after the bell rings. Please arrange with carpools, babysitters, etc. to have students picked up within that time as supervision is not available beyond 20 minutes.
Stay Connected
Stay in the Know - Join Creekside’s REMIND account and get text messages with important updates and information. Text @b49eg8 to the number 81010.
Gecko Gazette - This is a weekly e-newsletter emailed to all families each Friday afternoon. Take the time to read this each week to see what’s coming up around the school and community. Several past editions are on the Creekside website.
PUSD App - Download the Poway Unified School District app to get a personalized window into what is happening at the district and schools. You can choose to receive notifications about the latest news from the district. This app has links to lunch menus, MyPlan and much more.
Classroom Communications - Our teachers will share information with you in various ways. All of our teachers use email as the primary communication tool, so be sure we have your current email address. Teachers’ email addresses can be found on the Creekside webpage and will be shared with you at Back-to-School Night in the fall. In addition to email, some teachers will print weekly or monthly newsletters highlighting important classroom happenings.
Facebook - www.Facebook.com/CreeksideElementarySchool Use the hashtag #CreeksideGeckos when posting your photos of school events, or feel free to share at [email protected] and we may include them in our posts.
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/creekside.geckos/ and have fun seeing what's happening at Creekside.
School Website/Calendar - We do our very best to keep our school’s website up to date and informative. Please visit our website to access information about our school. If you find incorrect or out of date information, please notify the school office so we can correct it quickly. Click on the “Calendar” tab to access our Google Calendar for school holidays and non-student days.
Friday Flag Assembly - is conducted by our principal who will share announcements of upcoming events, student accomplishments and interesting information about our Creekside culture. Parents are invited!
MyPlan - www.myplan.powayusd.com Is a portal to important information for both parents and students including resources such as: learning platforms, Google Apps, educational resources, and standardized test scores. Parents are able to access the Synergy Parent Portal to update personal information such as phone numbers and email addresses. Each parent will be given his/her own username and password. If you need assistance with your MyPlan account, contact the help desk at [email protected] or (858) 521-2790.
PUSD Website - On the Poway Unified School District (PUSD) website HERE, you’ll find information about a variety of district programs. This is a great site for information about Preschool, ESS and other programs as well as PUSD School Board Meeting minutes and information.
Volunteers and Visitors
We welcome Volunteers at Creekside to help in a variety of ways. Teachers use volunteers in the classroom to work with students, correct tests, help with projects and more. There are also a number of school-wide events planned throughout the year which can only happen with the support of our volunteers. We ask all Volunteers and Visitors to sign-in at the office when on campus during the school day. This allows us to know who is on campus at all times.
To become a Creekside Volunteer, complete the following forms HERE.
- Megan’s Law - Complete the Megan’s Law form and bring to the school office along with your ID. Allow 2-4 weeks for the background check to be completed. Do this only one time for all PUSD schools. If you are a returning volunteer, you don't need to complete it again.
- Volunteer Code of Conduct - Review this form and sign at the bottom. This is done separately for each PUSD school for which you volunteer.
- Volunteer Code of Confidentiality - Review this form and sign at the bottom. This is done separately for each PUSD school for which you volunteer.
- Driver's License - the office can make a copy.
- Negative TB Results - Present results of a negative TB test (tuberculosis) from a Health Care Professional dated within the past 4 years. You will be asked to update your TB Test every 4 years at each school for which you volunteer.
- Contact your child’s teacher to schedule a time to volunteer in the classroom.
- Contact the PTA Volunteer Coordinator, at [email protected], to help with our school-wide events.
Organizations
Creekside PTA (Parent Teacher Association) click HERE. The Creekside PTA is a non-profit group of parents and staff who provide programs and activities that enhance the school experience for students and help build community at our school. We all know that children learn more and are more successful when parents, school staff, students, and the community work together. PTA programs include Arts Attack, Character Counts, Red Ribbon Week, Parent/child Dances, After-school Enrichment programs and so much more.
Parents and other family members are encouraged to become PTA members by visiting the website above or completing the membership form sent home with students at the beginning of the school year. The membership dues is minimal and offer these advantages:
- Great resources from parenting tips, homework help to educational legislation & more.
- Have a voice in legislation that may affect education at the district, state and national level.
- Discounts given by participating companies with use of your membership card.
CEF (Creekside Educational Foundation) click HERE. The Creekside Educational Foundation (CEF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational resources to students and teachers at Creekside. CEF is made up of a group of parents and staff at Creekside who work together with the principal to identify school and staff needs that are not met by other means (i.e. school budget, PTA, etc.). CEF was established to raise additional funds to explore and expand the quality of education for all Creekside students. Funds can be used for short-term or long-term projects that benefit the school and education. CEF has a number of fundraisers throughout the year, many of which are fun for our students.
Creepside Haunted Trails (October)
Gecko Fun Run (January)
Fundraising Dinner & Auction (Springtime)
Send an email to [email protected] to get involved with any of these programs.
PTA Running Club click HERE. Students receive a Running Club ID card on a lanyard to use at school daily. For each lap completed, the barcode on the ID card will be scanned by an adult and awards are given for mileage milestones. One lap around the track = .31 miles. To track laps, set up a parent account and print an ID card replacement.
International Friends - contact Lisa Lima at [email protected]
An organization of parents from diverse cultures and the English Language Learner's Creekside Staff meet to share their traditions from around the world and the Creekside ELL program. An annual Multi-cultural Event is planned each year, usually in the spring. Watch for an invitation to this event as all students and parents are welcome to attend. This group is supported by Creekside PTA.
Student Council - contact Karmyn Beireis at [email protected] or Andi Bilecz at [email protected]
Student Council is a group of students in grades 3-5 who meet to discuss school issues and serve our school and community. Student Council representatives for each class are selected in the fall. The meetings are held before school once each month. Student Council organizes programs/events such as food drives and theme dress-up days. The older students share information with the K-2nd grade classes to be sure all students are informed and represented.
Cub Scouts - contact Wayne Brown at [email protected]
For over 80 years, Cub Scouts have been having the time of their lives making new friends and learning new things in an environment designed to help them succeed. From building their own pinewood derby® car to learning how to roast the perfect marshmallow with their best friends at a family campout, your child will LOVE being a Cub Scout. So if they are in Kindergarten through 5th grade, then it's time for them to have some fun…with the Cub Scouts!
Girl Scouts - contact Gloria Vargas [email protected]
Girl Scouts inspire girls to achieve their dreams, encourages them to be active members of society and gives them tools to become tomorrow's leaders. Girl Scouts just can’t wait for what they’ll do next!
At Girl Scouts, girls are always counting down to the next adventure. Maybe it’s artistic. Maybe it’s an experiment. Maybe it’s getting outside or helping their communities. The sky’s the limit. You can start your adventure as early as Transitional Kindergarten!
Getting To and From School
Bike/Scooter Policy - Students in 3rd through 5th grade may ride their bike or scooter to school with parent permission. Children must wear a helmet, provide a lock for the bicycle/scooter, and follow safety rules/laws. A Bike/Scooter Permit must be completed and on file with the office for students who wish to ride their bike/scooter to school. Bikes and scooters must be walked once on school grounds. No rollerblades, razors, or skateboards are allowed on campus.
- No cell phones while driving!
- Always watch for children in unexpected places.
- Park only in marked spaces or on the street where legally permitted.
- Do not park in reserved spaces.
- Never leave car unattended at the curb.
- Never double park to drop-off or pick-up students.
- Always use blue crosswalk when walking through the parking lot.
- SLOW DOWN! Speed should be no more than 10 MPH while in lot.
The “Bus Loop” is the circular lot closest to Poway Road. Enter from the north (turn right into driveway) and load and unload along the curb behind the bus area. You will need to turn left when leaving the bus loop.
The “Main Parking Lot” is the larger lot closest to the playground. Enter from the south (left turn in) and exit south (right turn out) towards Scripps Poway Pkwy. You may also enter this lot from the North if you are parking. You may load and unload passengers along the red curb or park in a designated parking space.
Morning Drop-off Hints:
- Be prepared for drop-off; have backpacks and other items within reach of the student.
- Pull into the drop-off lane near the curb.
- Quickly drop students off anywhere along the curb in front of Office/MPR building.
- Students always get out on the curb side.
- Don’t wait for a parking spot (it really jams traffic). Continue through the lot to find street parking.
- In the Main Parking lot, pull forward along curb. Students will enter the vehicle ONLY once you drive past the blue crosswalk. (This really helps with traffic flow and safety.)
- In the Bus Loop, pull forward along curb to furthest opening. Your student will come to your car.
The system works if everyone follows the rules!
School Policies
Illnesses - PUSD Guidelines state that your child must be free from fever, diarrhea and vomiting for 24 hours before returning to school. Students with Upper Respiratory Infections, persistent nasal discharge that is purulent or discolored, excessive coughing or appears to be too ill or uncomfortable to adequately function in classroom setting should stay home until there are no symptoms for 24 hours or a written doctor's medical release is obtained.
Medication at School - Whenever possible, medication should be administered at home. Parents have the option of coming to school to give medication to their child during the school day. If your student needs daily or “as needed” medication administered at school, please review our policy and required form(s) .
Limiting Classroom Interruptions and Forgotten Items - To ensure that the focus is on the academic lessons, we ask your support in limiting the number of interruptions to the classroom. You can help by discussing alternate pick-up plans with your child for days you run late or when the weather is rainy. If you do need to leave a message for your child, he/she will be called to the office after the school bell rings at the end of the day to pick up the message. Forgotten items (musical instruments, homework, lunches, etc.) may be left in the office and an e-mail will be sent to the teacher. In addition to avoiding phone calls during the school day, we ask that classroom visits be limited to times pre-arranged with the teacher. While our teachers love chatting with parents, it can be an interruption to teaching and a distraction to students. Our teachers will need lots of extra help throughout the school year, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to schedule volunteer time in the classroom.
Celebrations - We love to celebrate holidays and birthdays at school, but we are sensitive to allergies and dietary needs of many of our students. We ask teachers and parents to find ways of celebrating which do not include food. Class parties may include a special story, art project or game. If you would like to celebrate your child's birthday at school, contact your child's teacher to schedule a time. Rather than bringing edible treats, perhaps a gift to the classroom of a new book or game would be a nice way to celebrate.
Lost & Found - Lost items can be found on the Lost and Found rack in the lunch area. Items labeled with students names are returned to their classrooms. Unmarked and unclaimed items are donated before each school break and at the end of the year. Small items can be found in the office.
Extended Absences - We hope you will schedule family trips around school vacations, but should there be a planned absence of five days or more you may arrange for an Off Campus Independent Study (OCIS) contract for your child. Please come to the school office as early as possible (at least 10 business days in advance) to prepare an OCIS contract. Your child’s teacher will provide the class work your child will miss while away from school. The teacher will make every effort to make the work a relevant and valuable educational experience. Covering a full day’s work while away from school is difficult, but covering a full week’s work, or more, is quite a challenge. If your child completes all of the assignments, he/she will not be counted as absent and the school will receive ADA (Average Daily Attendance) funding.
The Gecko is our Creekside Mascot
TRRFCC Character Counts
Trustworthiness - Be honest • Don’t deceive, cheat, or steal • Be reliable — do what you say you’ll do • Have the courage to do the right thing • Build a good reputation • Be loyal — stand by your family, friends, and country.
Respect - Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule • Be tolerant of differences • Use good manners, not bad language • Be considerate of the feelings of others • Don’t threaten, hit, or hurt anyone • Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements.
Responsibility - Do what you are supposed to do • Persevere • Always do your best • Use self-control • Be self-disciplined • Think before you act — consider the consequences • Be accountable for your choices.
Fairness - Play by the rules • Take turns and share • Be open-minded • Listen to others • Don’t take advantage of others • Don’t blame others carelessly.
Caring - Be kind • Be compassionate and show you care • Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need.
Citizenship - Do your share to make your school and community better • Cooperate • Get involved in community affairs • Stay informed • Be a good neighbor • Obey laws and rules • Respect authority • Protect the environment.
