Handbook

Daily attendance is highly related to the academic success and progress of students. It is very important that children are here at school on time every day except when that are sick. Please try not to schedule doctor and dentist appointments during school time. Schedule vacations and trips during school breaks.

We are accountable for daily attendance. If you child is out for any reason, please make sure you complete THIS FORM each day your child is out or call the attendance line,  email nimitz_absence@cusdk8.org,. If you have a planned absence, please come to the office ahead of time to fill out the proper paperwork. 

All absences must be reported to the front office daily. Although it is kind to let your child's teacher know about an absence, it is imperative that you notify the office, as the office must verify all absences excused or otherwise.

Absences other than illness

Absences other than illness must be pre-requested in the office at least 24 hours in advance, supported documentation may be required.

If your child is not in class line at the 8:15 bell, he/she must come to the office to get a Late Slip. A delay is 1-29 minutes late, a tardy is 30+ minutes late and 3 or more tardies may be considered truant.

Excused Tardy/Delay Absence

The only reasons for excused delay/tardy and absences are personal illness or injury, medical or dental appointments. A doctor's note may be required.

Excessive Tardy/Delay/Absence

These will result in a letter from the principal. If the attendance issue continues, a second letter will be sent home and a meeting will be held with an administrator. If a third notice is required, a truant officer will be notified and the parent(s) and child may be required by law to attend a School Attendance Review Board (SARB). Failure to comply or attend the SARB may result, by law, in a required appearance at truancy court.

Excessive Illness

This consists of 7 days out sick during the school year, and will result in a letter from the principal requiring a doctor's note or visit to the school nurse for all subsequent illnesses to be coded as excused.

Arrival: Students are to arrive at school no earlier than 8:05 am and no later than 8:15 am.

Dismissal: Students must leave the campus no later than 5 minutes after their dismissal time unless supervised by a parent or guardian. This includes primary students who are waiting for an older sibling to be dismissed.

Students will not be allowed to make phone calls except in the case of an emergency from the office.

Students will be sent back to the classroom to make phone calls. Please do not call the school to get a message to your child. To call a classroom, use the school phone number. The extension for classrooms is 76-2 + room number (ex: room 2 would be 76202). Teachers check their messages and will return phone calls as soon as possible or within 24 hours.

Cell phones: Students may use their cell phones before and after school. During school hours they must be powered off and put away. If a cell phone is turned on and used during school hours, it will be collected and turned into the school office only to be picked up by a parent or guardian.

Medication, including aspirin, cannot be given to students by office personnel without a physician/parent release form that must be on file in the office. Students may not bring any medications to keep with them, including cough drops, ointments, or cough syrup.

We view discipline as a learning opportunity, so interventions with students are centered around teaching new behaviors and helping students to better understand themselves and their relationships with others. As much as possible, consequences for inappropriate behavior are related to the behavior and designed to restore the relationship or item that has been hurt or damaged. 

Books, binders and small objects should be taken to the office. Jackets, lunchboxes and larger lost articles should be taken to the lost and found cart, which will be available by the drinking fountain the first wing.

It is very important to update the cards with changes (1) Phone numbers (2) address (3) emergency contact (relatives and friends who your child may be released to with your authorization). IF A PARENT/GUARDIAN, RELATIVE, OR CHILDCARE PROVIDER IS NOT ON THE EMERGENCY CARD, THE STUDENT WILL NOT BE RELEASED TO THAT INDIVIDUAL.

In the event of an emergency

The school will provide supervision and care for students until it is safe to release them or until an authorized adult picks them up.

• Parents coming on campus will go to the designated student release area
• Parents need to follow the instructions of school personnel
• In order to keep a clear entrance for emergency vehicles, parking areas will be determined by Traffic Control/Security
• IF A PARENT/GUARDIAN, RELATIVE, OR CHILDCARE PROVIDER IS NOT ON THE EMERGENCY CARD, THE STUDENT WILL NOT BE RELEASED TO THAT INDIVIDUAL.

Address changes must be complete through the Student Assignment Office click HERE for information. 

Phone number updates may be done at the school office or by calling the school office.

The IST is comprised of the school administration, school psychologist, Tier 2 intervention teachers, speech & language specialist, resource specialist teacher and sometimes our site nurse. The team meets twice a month to discuss issues involved with student learning or behavior. When necessary, a student will be tested by members of the team if it has been determined that teacher modifications or accommodations have not been successful for an extended period of time. If further intervention is needed, parents will be invited to attend a meeting.

The Cupertino Union School District is committed to ensuring that every student has equal access to its educational programs. Within each school day, teachers scaffold the learning in their classrooms to facilitate the integration of English Language Development in the content areas. Students also participate in a 30 minute designated block to support oral language development according to their ELPAC level, facilitated by Nimitz Staff. 

Title 1

Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, was originally enacted in 1965 as a cornerstone of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty.  The program’s stated aim, from its inception until the present, has been to provide supplemental educational services to educationally disadvantaged children who attend schools serving low-income areas.

The students most in need of educational help are identified using multiple measures, including the CAASPP in both Math and English-Language Arts, report card grades, iReady Assessments in both Reading and Math, and other district assessments. (Students do not need to be from low-income families to benefit from Title 1 programs).

Title 1 identified students are provided with 60 minutes or more per week of small group support by their classroom teacher or other support staff in any academic area of need. Student growth in academic areas are closely monitored by Nimitz teachers, our Tier 2 intervention team and site principal. 

The Nimitz School Site Council (SSC) directs the program improvement efforts of our school. Made up of an equal number of parents and staff members, including the principal, the SSC oversees all site budgets, including federal and state funds, and spends these monies to enhance and support the school's instructional program. SSC meetings are held monthly in the late afternoon (currently the first Thursday of September, October, November, January, February, March and April at 2:45 pm) and are open to all Nimitz Families.

Representatives in grades 3-5 are elected from each classroom. The goals of the program are to promote pride, build a sense of community, allow for growth and development of leadership skills, decision-making and experiences with group and government process, and organization skills. Students participate in a variety fo school-wide activities designed to build school spirit and community.

Enrollment fluctuations during the first several weeks of school may necessitate changes in class configurations. These changes occur after school starts and enrollment stabilizes. Combination classes - combining two grade levels in one class - are a common occurrence in our district elementary schools, so it is important to understand why they are formed, how they are formed, and how they work. We appreciate your patience and understanding during these changes.

At Nimitz, the safety of our students is one of the highest priorities. We work closely with the Sunnyvale Police Department to ensure the safety of students, parents, and staff, and to make the morning drop-off more efficient. Please take the time to look over the map carefully and read how to help us get our children to school safely. We appreciate your cooperation and the opportunity to provide this service to the Nimitz community!

DROP OFF AT THE CURB ONLY!

• Make sure your child has everything he/she needs in hand and begin saying your good-byes while pulling up to the curb.
• Pull all the way forward toward the end of the parking lot, even if no one is currently behind you.
• Have you child exit from the passenger side onto the curb and shut the car door. (DRIVER - DO NOT EXIT YOUR CAR).
• Wave goodbye to your child and put blinker on to signal that you are entering traffic flow.
• NEVER LEAVE YOUR CAR OR PARK YOUR CAR ALONG THE CURBSIDE

Parking Lot Safety

Parking lot safety is a huge concern for us at Nimitz. We want to ensure the safety of all students. We ask the following: Please make sure you always use the crosswalks in the parking lot. It is not safe to cross any other area. Drivers are not expecting people to cross elsewhere.

• If you are on Cheyenne by the parking lot exit, please pause and let the cars exiting merge.
• Arrive early. You may drop your children off as early as 8:00 am, but no earlier since there is no supervision.

The report card is sent home on a trimester basis. The report card system is used regularly to inform parents of their child's progress.

Goal setting conferences occur during the month of October. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about your child's progress and to ask questions about how you can support your child's learning at home.

Homework is an opportunity for parents to be actively engaged in their child's learning. It is a small spotlight in what your child is learning in school. Setting up a quiet workspace and developing a homework routine at home is critical. Showing your child that you care about his/her learning and that you are part in their education process is key to student success. It is expected that students will complete homework on time. If not, credit may be taken off for late work. A guideline for the amount  of time your child should be spending on homework is 10 minutes per grade level. For example, on average a 4th grade student should have 40 minutes of homework each day plus 20-30 minutes of reading.

The Nimitz PTA is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to support Nimitz through fundraising and volunteering.  

The PTA enables Nimitz to support students with art, music, and technology that would not otherwise exist at Nimitz due to a lack of funds.

Our PTA supports Nimitz with a number of family social events, including the Harvest Festival, Nimitz Multicultural Event, Walk-a-thon, Book Fair, and movie afternoons, and other fun events.

Visit our PTA website