General Policies

ACTIVITY ATTENDANCE
Students are encouraged to attend and participate in all Pinecrest Middle School Activities. Students attending ANY school event (day or night) must be in compliance with Pinecrest’s dress code, along with displaying positive and appropriate behavior. Respect yourself and others!

ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
Cameras and video equipment are not allowed on campus without permission from the principal. (this includes camera cell phones). Cameras may only be used during a photography elective. Ipods, MP3s, walkmans, etc., are allowed after-school only. Pinecrest is not responsible for any items lost or stolen.

CELL PHONES
Cell phones may not be used on campus. All phones should be turned off during school hours and out of site or placed in students’ lockers. Confiscated cell phones will be returned to students at the end of the school day. If a student has a second offense or more regarding this rule they will receive in-house suspension. Camera cell phones are NEVER allowed on campus.

LEAVING CAMPUS
Students are not allowed to leave campus before the end of the school day without
written permission. Students are unable to leave with another student or parent without
written permission. Students are unable to walk off campus at anytime without written
permission. Students regularly walking off campus after school must have a note on
file, they must sign out when they leave, and they may not return to Pinecrest that day.
Students who occasionally walk off campus must have a permission note for each
occasion. This note must be left at the front office. Students must sign themselves
out. Students signed out by their parents during the school day may return and must be
signed back in. Parents are encouraged not to make family vacations plans or medical
appointments during class hours. Specific permission forms for leaving campus MUST
be used and are located in the middle school main office or online at our website.

PINECREST MIDDLE SCHOOL PARKING LOT SAFETY
To ensure the safety of all students as they enter and exit Pinecrest each day, the following guidelines need to be followed. Let’s work together to make together to make the safety of our children a top priority!

• Students should be dropped off at the Front gate in the parking lot located off Devonshire St. If parents need to get out of their cars, please park in a designated parent parking spot so as not to interrupt the flow of traffic through the drop off area.
• Reserved and staff marked parking stalls are off-limits. Please do not park in these spots.
• Drivers are asked to drive slowly and carefully through the parking lot. Safety at all times is crucial!
  

MEDICATIONS
The health of your child is very important to a successful school year. Students MAY NOT carry medication of any kind on school grounds. Pinecrest Middle School is a Drug Free Campus. Medication (including over-the-counter medications) may be administered in the NURSE’S OFFICE ONLY with a written PARENT PERMISSION FORM. Prescription medication must be in a prescription container with the student’s name, date, type of medication and how often it is to be given. These are forms located at the front desk for this purpose.

ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES
Regular attendance is essential to successful school achievement. If it is necessary to be absent from school, you are responsible for all work assigned during your absence. Parents must call the front desk before 10:00 a.m. when requesting make-up work to be picked up at the end of the school day. Parents/students may also get missing work by going to the school website after 5:00 p.m.

Students may not attend a sports activity or nighttime event unless they are in school by 11:30 a.m. on the day of the event. Special circumstances need to be approved by the principal.

Other Absences
Absences for any reason other than those listed above are NOT considered legal by the California Administrative Code and therefore are NOT justified absences. Teachers are not required to provide make-up work for “Personal” or “Truant” absences. Vacations or other personal business are NOT excused absences.

Closed Campus
Remember, Pinecrest is a closed campus. This means that when you arrive at school you must stay on campus at all times unless you are released to your parents or other permissible adult. All students leaving campus must have written permission from their parents or legal guardian. Forms are located at the front desk. This includes lunch time.

Tardies
Students must be on-time to class (this means at their desk and ready to work). Coming
to class without the necessary books and required items is not acceptable, will lower the
student’s grade, and possibly give them detention.