Burbank, California Joaquin Miller Kindergarten

	Joaquin Miller Kindergarten 223 E. Santa Anita Avenue, Burbank, Ca 91502 Hours: 7:30 AM - 4:00 PM Phone: 818.558.4634 Fax: 818.843.6077
A CALIFORNIA DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL
Miller School reflects the recent changes in the population and economy of the City of Burbank perhaps more than any other elementary school in the District. Currently the student population of approximately 900 Kindergarten - Grade 5 students is 29.2% Hispanic, 3.6% Black, 4.7% Asian, 2% Filipino and 62% White. Approximately one-third of students identified as White are of Mid-Eastern ethnicity. Our language census shows an even greater diversity. In March of 1997, 651 or 72% of the students spoke a language other than English. Armenian, Spanish, Korean and Arabic were the highest in number of the 21 languages listed. 227 students (25%) were classified FEP (Fluent English Proficient) while 424 (47%) were LEP (Limited English Proficient). We welcome and embrace the broad cultural and ethnic diversity and feel that it is a strength of our school. While pursuing academic excellence, there is also a high regard for respecting and preserving the traditions of all cultures as well as identifying and fostering common values that unite all people. We believe that our students are benefiting from this rich and varied learning environment. Miller has been the largest and fastest growing school in the District for the past decade. Our surrounding neighborhood has changed from mainly single family dwellings to now a vast majority of multi-family dwellings. Currently, nearly 80% of our students live in these multi-family dwellings. This change has certainly contributed to the rapid growth of our school population, going from 699 students to 916 in six years, and to our moderately high mobility rate. Housing this increase in student population has been a challenge and resulted in the opening in September of 1995 of a new Miller Kindergarten School facility on a separate site six blocks away for 150 Kindergarten students. 64.7% of our students participate in the Federal breakfast and lunch program. Because of this and the large number of families in our school community receiving AFDC (Aid for Families with Dependent Children) Miller School is a Title I school. Title I funding has been used, along with other categorical moneys, to supplement our basic core curriculum programs to meet the special needs of our students. The Miller tradition includes a dedicated staff, community involvement, high expectations, and a strong academic curriculum. Our goals for students focus on literacy and math. Students are actively engaged every day in learning activities which build speaking, reading, writing, and problem solving skills in meaningful context. Our goal for LEP students is competence in English. In addition, we believe all students will acquire social and critical thinking skills needed for responsible citizenship in a democratic society. Miller School is a school where students and staff want to be. Our attendance is significantly high (95%), verifying that students like coming to school each day to learn. Parents choose to have their children attend Miller School, even when they have the opportunity to transfer to other schools. Each and every day we are living our school motto - STRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE!
ATTENDANCE, TARDIES and GRADES
ATTENDANCE - is important. Student absences must be reported by parents or guardians in written form, in person, or by phone call. Unexcused absences will lead to consequences like detention, Saturday Schools, lowered grades, etc. Only students with excused absences will be allowed to make up work. In order to comply with state attendance regulations, and, more importantly, to ensure the best education for each child, we request parents send their child/children to school regularly and on time. When a child has been absent because of illness or other reasons, we require parents to send a note explaining the reason for the child's absence or tardiness. Please include on the note: the student's full legal name the full name and signature of the person writing the note and their relationship to the student the date of the note the date of the absence to which the note refers the reason for the absence the student's teacher and the room number If a note is not received, parents will be contacted and a request for a note will be made. When a parent requests make-up work for their child following or during an absence of more than one day, that work will be available for pick-up in the school office in the afternoon (following a morning request) or on the following morning (if the request was made during the afternoon of the previous day).
TARDIES- Teachers may assign appropriate consequences for tardies (clean-up, detention, etc.) Tardies will affect the "citizenship" grade. Repeated tardies can lead to parent conferences and more serious consequences through the office.
GRADES- are given every five weeks. If a student has an excused absence, he or she should approach the teacher upon return to ask for any make-up work. The make-up work should be done within the same number of school days as the absence. Tutoring before and after school is available. Ask in the counseling office. Remember that the five-week report cards are your warning of possible low grades. Please call teachers, if you have questions about a grade.
HOMEWORK: Miller School teachers follow the district policy for elementary school homework assignments. Work assigned for homework will be that which can be completed at home with little or no adult assistance. We hope that parents will encourage their child/children to complete the homework, check it over, and help see that it is returned to school on time. If there are questions about the homework, parents should contact the teacher. Homework is assigned most weeks on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. If a specific assignment has not been given or if a child has already completed the homework assignment, time should be spent with recreational reading.
PROGRESS REPORTS AND PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES: Student work is sent home on a regular basis after it has been graded by the teacher so that parents are aware of the progress being made by their child. In addition, parents are invited to come to school to meet with the teacher and discuss their child's progress twice a year, in November and in March. During these conference times the teacher will share with parents the child's Progress Report and student work samples. On the last day of school in June a final Progress Report is sent home with each student. Teachers are always available for additional conferences with parents if necessary.
UNIFORMS Uniforms are required for all students at Miller School. Parents approved a uniform dress code nearly two years ago. The official uniforms is: white shirts and blouses with collars dark blue pants, shirts, skorts, and shorts dark blue jumpers with white tops white and/or dark blue sweaters and sweatshirts white and dark blue socks Miller School T-shirts and sweatshirts are O.K. An official form must be on file in the office if a parent wishes their child to not participate in the uniform program. Many department stores sell Miller uniforms including: Mervyns, Sears, Target, Nordstrom. Please turn in "old" uniforms for recycling.*