The Alta Loma School District will begin accepting enrollment for the 2019-2020 school year on Friday, Feb. 1. Parents should contact their home school to obtain a registration packet.

To be eligible to enroll in kindergarten, children must be at least 5 years old on or before Sept. 1, 2019.

Children are also eligible to enroll in the Transitional Kindergarten (Preppy K) program if they turn 5 between Sept. 2 and Dec. 2, 2019. They also may qualify if they reach age 5 between Dec. 3, 2019, and Jan. 31, 2020 (pending space availability).

For detailed information, visit the Preppy K web page here. Preppy K classes are held at Alta Loma, Hermosa and Victoria Groves elementary schools.

The following enrollment information is required for enrollment for all new students to the Alta Loma School District.

1. Name and address of former school.
2. Written immunization record. –All students MUST present either a personal immunization record with entries made by a physician or clinic, or a school immunization record. All immunizations must be complete upon entrance into the designated grade span. For more information, visit the immunization information page.
3. Dental screening for kindergarten entry. Please complete the Dental Health Assessment AB 1433 form prior to completing enrollment.
4. Proof of age shall be required of all enrolling students. At least one legal documented evidence of the child’s age is required for all enrolling students, including (in preferred order) birth certificate, baptismal certificate, passport, immigration certificate, Bible record or affidavit from the parent/guardian.
5. Proof of residency. Prior to admission in all district schools, families must provide documented evidence of the student’s current residence. Reasonable evidence includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:

• Escrow papers or official rent/lease agreement
• Property tax payment receipts
• Utility bills
• Telephone bill
• Cable bill
• Insurance (car, home/renters)
• Pay stubs
• W-2
• Voter registration / correspondence from a government agency

6. If applicable, the student's most current IEP and assessment reports. For more information regarding Special Education, visit the Special Education Department web page here.

All students entering first grade are required to have a physical examination. Free health screenings are available at the San Bernardino County Health Department through the Child Health and Disability Prevention Program. Immunizations and physical examinations conducted on or after Feb. 1, 2019, are valid for a child's entry into first grade in the 2019-2020 school year.

The required physical examination form for physician’s signature can be downloaded here. Please submit the completed form upon enrollment.  

https://www.alsd.k12.ca.us/Page/1494

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING & VIEWING OF PROPOSED TRUSTEE AREA MAPS

Pursuant to Elections Code section 10010(a)(1), the Board will hold its third public hearing to seek public input regarding the composition of trustee areas. Draft maps with proposed boundaries for trustee areas reflecting the input received from previous public hearings will be available on the District website prior to February 13, 2019. Members of the public are invited to attend, to view the proposed maps and provide input on the District’s method of election for members of the Board of Trustees.

School Liaisons Go Above and Beyond to Help Homeless and Foster Students

The homeless issue in California knows no city limits. While the presence of people living on the streets may be more prominent in some high-profile areas, there are people living without homes in every community in the state. Forty-nine percent of the nation’s homeless are located in California.

The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children and youths as individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. While this is a broader definition that includes far more than those people who literally live on the streets, it nonetheless illustrates the need for schools to provide additional services.

The McKinney-Vento Act does just that. It is a federal law designed to help people experiencing homelessness and protect the rights of children and youth who are homeless to go to school.

There were 236 students from the Alta Loma School District who were listed as homeless and/or living in shared housing out of necessity in 2017-2018. That’s a 47-person decrease from the previous year, but alarming nonetheless.

The academic challenges faced by these students is not unlike those shared by children living with Foster families, of which there are nearly 20 students currently in the Foster system who are attending ALSD schools.

Homeless students and those from Foster families may face significant barriers in achieving academic success, largely because of inconsistent attendance and other social barriers.

“We want to make sure these students are flourishing both socially and emotionally,” says ALSD Director of Human Resources and Pupil Services Joan Sanders. “We provide school-related resources such as backpacks, school supplies, clothing and shoes, and we sponsor extra-curricular activities to ensure inclusiveness.”

Designated staff at district schools go above and beyond their regular job descriptions to make sure these students are not left behind. ALSD elementary school teaching assistant principals and junior high school deans go out of their way to ensure these families receive the resources they need. As site liaisons, they also advocate on behalf of homeless and Foster youth to benefit their academic advancement by providing tutoring, counseling, academic workshops and programs to guide them toward future education and career opportunities.

The TAPS and deans closely monitor the status of all homeless and Foster students to help ensure the students feel connected with their respective schools.

Sara Budzinski, secretary for the ALSD Office of Pupil Services, helps to connect families with needed resources by sharing that information with school liaisons and also posting it online.

Community assistance has come in the form of school supplies, clothing from organizations such as the Assistance League of the Foothill Communities and Kohl's to aid to families who are struggling financially.

School personnel use the district’s annual residency affidavit form to help monitor and identify potentially homeless students. Parents or guardians may indicate that the family is living with another family out of financial necessity or living in temporary housing such as a hotel, recreational vehicle or even a car.

“Building connections and relationships with students and families is the first priority in establishing a healthy home and school relationship,” says Maureen Vass, dean of students at Vineyard Junior High and the school’s liaison. “At one school, over a year's time, a relationship was built on trust and communication with one particular student and the family, which brought about improved self-esteem and academics.”

The roots of that relationship grew from the student’s daily check-in and check-out routine, which allowed for additional time to spend with the school liaison every day.

School site liaisons meet with every homeless and Foster youth to determine their needs and then meet with them regularly throughout their time at the school. All interactions and interventions are documented and reviewed with Sanders, who evaluates the possible need for altered or additional services.

There are thousands of children in Foster care, group homes and kinship care throughout San Bernardino County.

Open Letter from the Superintendent on the Recent School School Tragedies

Dear Alta Loma School District Families:

As you may have heard, several students in Rancho Cucamonga have tragically taken their own lives this month. Additionally, all of us in the Alta Loma School District are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our students that attended Victoria Groves School. The District is committed in helping the family, our students, teachers and the community heal during this difficult time.

There is nothing more sacred than the safety and well-being of our students, and it’s important to know that ALSD has multiple systems of support in place for all of our students and families on a year-round basis, as well as detailed protocols that inform us how to respond to crisis situations.

The District’s multi-tiered comprehensive school counseling program offers a team of professionals that provide support for social, emotional and behavior related problems and crisis counseling. We recently hired an additional counselor and two behavioral health therapists to increase our counseling staff in this area to ten health professionals. In addition, our teachers and staff have been trained to identify signs of suicide.

We also have begun a social emotional awareness curriculum called Second Step. In the future, look for parent education nights concerning mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and suicide awareness. In addition, we will offer cyber safety training for parents.

We encourage you to carefully monitor and speak candidly with your student about these and other life issues. Our personnel and counseling services are available to students and families at any time for no cost, so please contact our District counseling staff or your school principal at any time if you have concerns.

Along with the many resources offered through the Alta Loma School District, we partner with a number of community organizations that stand ready to offer further support. Below you will find some helpful online links with additional information to better inform you and assist you.

Cyberbullying - ALSD Urges Parents to Pay Attention to Children's Online Activities

Footsteps to Brilliance - Early Reading Program Accessible from Home

Junior High School Students Sports Participation

Alta Loma School District Winter Session Adult English Classes

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