Parents

Welcome, parents (and prospective parents) of Linscott students! This is your section of the Linscott website, devoted to giving you all the information you need without having to pick up a phone. In this section you'll find all the current news, rules and regulations, advice about getting along in a parent participation school, and links to forms and information that can be downloaded. Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions for help in answering common concerns. If you have suggestions for content or downloads, please contact the webmasters as soon as possible. We'll make it happen.

Announcements

• SUBSTITUTES NEEDED
  If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a substitute for our school please have them call the main office @ 728-6301 for information.
• INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY!!!
  Spend 10 cents & 10 minutes
  For a $35 return!!!
  Sound too good to be true???
  It is...The Independent Study Program.
  When your child is absent from school, we lose about $35 per day in ADA. Our budget is dependent on these monies so we need to recoup as much of this loss as possible. It is as simple as making copies of their homework, filling out the Independent Study Contract (found at the end of the hallway in the 2-drawer small file cabinet)
  Completed contracts MUST be turned in by the designated due date. BRING ALL COMPLETED I.S. TO THE MAIN OFFICE
  This is the EASIEST fundraiser we have at Linscott so... PLEASE DO YOUR PART Have questions...Call Valerie @ 768-7446
• Class representatives: What is a class representative? Does your classroom have a parent representative to the Site Management Team? Do you need one? If you don't know, ask your classroom teacher.
• Linscott For Kids Procedure:
  • Money for classroom supplies, field trips or projects MUST be turned into the teacher. The teacher will track who has paid and will process the checks through the office. Receipts will be placed in parent boxes.
  • Option E payments MUST be turned into the main office
  • Lunch tickets may be purchased through the office
  • Reimbursements AND check requests will be processed through the office.
  • For questions regarding LFK funds, please see Andrea in the main office on Tues., Thurs. & Fridays.
• Shop at our Store!!! Now!!! This is the easiest way yet to make money for Linscott.
• E-scrip: Signing up for E-scrip is incredibly easy. Just go to http://www.escrip.com/ and create a new account (or access your existing account). Do a search for Linscott and add the school to your beneficiaries list. Sign up your credit cards and Safeway card. Note that you have to re-enroll some cards yearly, so put a reminder on your calendar.
• Business Directory: Parents and staff, please send our webmaster information about your business or businesses that support Linscott. Our online Business Directory is now available. This is a FREE service to all parent businesses and business supporters of our school.
• Fundraising alert: If you're running a fundraiser, please contact our webmaster to get details posted to the website.
• Spiff up your classroom page: Each Linscott class has its own website. If you'd like to help with gathering photos and creating a website for your child's class, please contact our webmaster. To learn how to create a website for your class, visit our How to Create a Website page. (To see your child's class website, go to the Classrooms page, view the room's page, and then follow the link under "Class Website." If there is no link, your classroom has not developed a page.
• PVUSD's Internet Use Agreements: The full text of PVUSD's Internet Use Agreements is accessible online.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Who do I go to with questions about how the school works?
• Where can I find a general list of procedures that parents need to follow at the school?
• How often do I have to hand in copies of my car insurance to drive on fieldtrips?
• Do I need a TB test to work in the classroom?
• What role do I play in the classroom?
• I'm having a conflict with a teacher or another parent -- who do I talk to?
• I'm having a conflict that I haven't been able to resolve on my own -- what do I do next?
• What is the Linscott Community Curriculum?
• How do I contact the Site Management Team with a concern?
• Why should I file Independent Study forms when my child misses school?
• What forms and information are available to be downloaded?
• Do we have any school holidays or partial days coming up?
• What does the school need?
• I want to give Linscott some money. What is the Parent Donation Drive and how do I get a tax deduction?
• What easy fundraising options like Scrip should I sign up for?
• I want to design a website for my child's class. How do I do this?
• What is independent study and why should I bother to do it?
• Where can I find PVUSD's Internet Use Agreements?
• Does Linscott have a dress code?
• I need a school dance permission form for my middle-schooler or a friend.

Parent Involvement

Linscott Charter School is a parent participation school. Parents commit to being part of their child's classroom as well as taking on jobs to support the functioning of the school. In return for their involvement, parents get to take an active role in their children's education and become a part of the Linscott community.

Prospective parents will demonstrate to the teacher and/or Enrollment Coordinator a clear understanding of and commitment to parent participation as outlined in Linscott Parent Participation Policies (refer to the participation heading below). Prospective families may make available records and/or anecdotal input or letters from preschool, elementary, home-school or other teachers with whom the family may have worked, friends, family.

Participation

In the past, Linscott has had very strict guidelines for parent participation. In 2006, we changed the guidelines to allow more flexibility while still maintaining the character of our parent participation school.

All parents are encouraged to spend a half day a week in their child's classroom as a classroom aide. This experience benefits both parents and the students, who get more individual attention from their teachers. Parents become more involved in the day-to-day workings of the school and act as support staff for the teachers.

Our parent participation guidelines recognize, however, that some parents are not able to commit to being in the classroom the same time every week, or have taken on other support jobs at the school that are time-consuming. Our present participation guidelines take this reality into account.

Visit our Jobs and Participation page for specific information about our parent participation requirements and classroom and schoolwide jobs.

Independent Study

Linscott is a public charter school supported by Average Daily Attendance funds. It is important to support Linscott by completing Independent Study forms for your child's absences when possible so that Linscott receives their ADA funds. Independent study forms for each classroom are available at the school and in the Parent Downloads section of Our Community.

Childcare

In the past, Linscott has provided childcare to parents working in the classroom. With the changing needs of the parent population, this plan is evaluated yearly. At this time, because of lack of funding and interest, Linscott is not providing childcare.

Watsonville Cooperative Preschool is located on the school grounds, and though they are not affiliated, the preschool and Linscott have historical roots. Many Linscott parents enroll younger children in the preschool, which is set up to accommodate parents working in Linscott's classrooms. [Visit Watsonville Cooperative Preschool]

TB Test Information

All adults working on school site and joining field trips MUST have a current TB test on file. If you need to be tested, the sites listed below (optional) are offering testing. TB testing is a two-step process.

1. First receive the initial skin test
2. Return two days later for the TB test reading

TB tests are valid for four years. Anyone with a positive TB test MUST have a chest x-ray and a doctor's certification of non-contagion.

You MUST return for reading two days later, at the same location you received the initial vaccination. Bring in a copy of your TB test record for Linscott files.

Fieldtrip Driver Forms

If you know that at some point and time you will be a driver on one of your children's class field trips, you are encouraged to complete your driver paperwork at least two days prior to the trip so that it is on file. Please follow these simple procedures:

1. Retrieve and complete a 'Driver Information Form' located on the wall in the hallway to the left of the copier. This is a 3-carbon form. Two parents may complete the information on the SAME form...each must sign. Please indicate who your children are and the classrooms they attend at the top of the form. This is very important, as we have many families that have different last names that we need to reference.
2. Make a copy of your current driver's license. Double check the expiration date on your license, as this must be current to be a qualified driver.
3. Make a copy of your insurance 'declaration' page. THIS IS NOT YOUR INSURANCE CARD THAT YOU KEEP IN YOUR CAR. The document MUST show the amounts of coverage (as required in the 'Driver Information Form') AND it must show the expiration date of coverage.
4. Paperclip or staple the forms ALL TOGETHER. Partial documents will be returned to parent boxes. The office cannot accept incomplete paperwork (because we have nowhere to store it all!).
5. TURN ALL DOCUMENTATION IN TO THE RED "QUICK DROP-OFFS" IN-BOX LOCATED IN THE STAFF LOUNGE. PLEASE DO NOT place driver forms on the desk in the office.
6. ALL DRIVER INFORMATION MUST BE IN TWO DAYS PRIOR TO YOUR FIELD TRIP. PLEASE NO LATE ENTRIES.
7. Your fieldtrip driver form must be updated each time either your auto insurance or your driver's license expires. Please keep track -- you will not be reminded.

Note: You can access a Fieldtrip template on our downloads page. This will allow you to create a template for printing your child's name, address, and insurance information on fieldtrip forms.

Linscott Charter School 220 Elm Street Watsonville, California 95076 (831) 728-6301