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PARENT PROTOCOLS
Middle school is an excellent time to foster responsibility in your child(ren). High school is but a few steps away, and in order to navigate this journey successfully, your student will need to be able to solve problems independently and self-advocate. By allowing your student to solve problems, rather than stepping in to fix things for them, you will be setting them up for success. The greatest support you can offer your child is to encourage them to advocate for themselves, attempt to solve the problems they encounter, and assist them in learning from their mistakes.
Hillview Middle School begins each day at 8:25 a.m. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, school is dismissed at 3:05 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays are Block Days and school is dismissed early, with the final bell ringing at 2:30 p.m. On minimum days, students are released at 11:45 a.m. Students should arrive on campus no earlier than 8:00 a.m., and – unless they are involved in an organized after-school program – they should clear the campus no later than 15 minutes after the final bell. The Hillview Office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day. On minimum days, office hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The drop-off and pick-up area is accessed off of Elder Ave. Once you enter the drive, one lane becomes two.
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The right-hand lane is for dropping off or picking up students.
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The left-hand lane is for passing.
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Do not leave your vehicle unattended in either lane.
At Hillview, we believe that parents are our partners and that children are their most treasured assets. Proactive communication and keeping the lines of communication open help us to respond in the best way to meet the needs of all of our students.
Below are Hillview’s three guiding principles regarding communication:
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Teachers/Staff are here to help; we have your child’s best interest in mind. We recognize that we make mistakes and are willing to hear your concerns, just as we hope you are willing to hear our perspective.
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If your child can solve an issue on their own, please encourage them to try; it’s a valuable learning moment. Please consider how you and your child can be a part of a solution. This works to strengthen the school- family partnership.
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Focusing on solutions rather than on problems leads to positive compromise and finding middle ground. Beginning with positive presupposition is always a great starting place.
Communication protocol for parents:
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If your child has already tried to solve a problem on his/her own but the issue hasn’t been resolved, reach out to the teacher directly. Assume the positive intent of the teacher.
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Schedule a meeting with the teacher if the situation does not resolve via email/phone call.
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Reach out to your child’s counselor if the situation does not resolve after that.
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Reach out to the Hillview administration if the situation still does not resolve after a conversation with the teacher and counselor.
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In regards to dropping a class, the student must communicate with the teacher prior to dropping the class.
Should you find yourself wishing to address a more global issue, one that affects many students, you are welcome to contact the office manager, Cathy Garagozzo at cgaragozzo@mpcsd.org or via phone at (650)326-4341, ext. 2000. She will ask you a few questions and schedule a time for you to speak with the appropriate individual.
We appreciate the partnership of all of our families to help better serve our students. We are focused on working together towards success for all students.
At Hillview, all educational and enrichment opportunities are available to all students. To that end, qualifying families may receive scholarships for school field trips, PE uniforms, and after-school classes and sports. Please contact your child’s counselor for a scholarship. Your request will be kept confidential.
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