AUSD - Valleydale Elementary School

Welcome to Valleydale Elementary School

700 South Lark Ellen
Azusa, California 91702
(626) 633-8600

HOME OF THE VIKINGS

Points of Pride

It is our pleasure to serve and educate your children! We are dedicated and committed to providing our students and parents with the highest quality educational experiences and are proud to offer:

Emphasis on a standards-based instructional program throughout the school day
Acceleration, enrichment and intervention provided school-wide to ALL students
Small class size; 20 students:1 teacher in grades K-3, and 25:1 in grades 4-5
Focus on high expectations and achievement for ALL students
Modernized, safe and clean campus that supports student learning
Amazing computer lab and wonderful library
Outstanding parent involvement through SSC, ELAC, Coffee with the Principal, Parent Nights, 3-way conferences and PTA
Experienced and nurturing staff
Three experienced teachers in addition to our regular staff to increase support
Two early release days a week so our staff can collaborate on effective instructional strategies
Quality staff development for our certificated and classified staff members
Think Together after-school program

Attendance

Good attendance is directly related to achievement. All students are expected to attend school every day. Please let students know how imporant is is to be at school on time. Absences will be excused for these reasons only: illness, medical appointment and death in the family.

Parents should call the office after 7:30 a.m. to explain the reason for the absence. If a parent telephones, it is not necessary for a note to be sent to school. If parents have not contacted the school prior to the student's return to school, the student must bring a note.

Dress Code

Students who do not dress in uniform must follow the district guidelines. The following items are not permitted for school attire:

Clothing that indicates an affiliation with a gang or intimidating group
Caps, hats, bandannas, hairnets or visors
Oversized pants that fall below the waist
Baggy shorts with knee socks
Belts with lettering or longer than waist appropriate
Halter tops, tank tops, bare midriffs, see-through or fish net clothing
Clothing that does not conceal undergarments at all times
Skirts or shorts shorter than mid-thigh
Clothing that suggests obscene pictures, wording, and/or drugs, alcohol, smoking, sex or violence
Frayed or unfinished hems
Thongs, thong-like sandals, steel-toed shoes or sandals without a back strap

Emergency Information

Valleydale Elementary school has a comprehensive disaster plan that is designed to provide temporary shelter and assistance to our students during an emergency. We hold monthly disaster drills to assure that students and staff are aware of their roles during an emergency. During a lockdown, gates will be locked and no one may enter or leave the campus until it is determined that the situation is safe.

Emergency cards are sent home at the beginning of the school year. Local persons to call should be listed on the card. If your child becomes ill or injured at school, you will be called promptly. Therefore, it is extremely important that these cards be kept up-to-date. AUSD board policy states that two emergency phone numbers must be provided on emergency cards.

Homework

The faculty at Valleydale believes that homework is an integral part of education. Homework serves to strengthen and enrich that which is taught during regular class time. In addition, homework will:

set a pattern for life-long learning
provide opportunities to use out-of-school learning resources
provide opportunities to build independent study skills
encourage parent, student and teacher interaction

Homework may in the form of written assignments from textbooks or worksheets. It may take the form of projects, reports, models or experiments. Homework will be checked, included as part of the report card grade and used as a basis for school awards.

Study Skills

Study Skills calendars are provided to all students. You can assist your child by checking and signing these calendares on a weekly/daily basis. Parents should check to see if assignments are written on the calendar and that the due dates for tests and projects are indicated. In addition, you will want to check to ensure assignments were completed. The Study Skills program accounts for 10% of a student's grade.

News

Valleydale encourages parents to participate in school activities.

Staff

Messge from Principal Zepure Hacopian

Welcome to Valleydale Elementary School! In partnership with the school district, committed staff and involved parents, we are pleased to provide challenging instructional programs where ALL students will develop the skills, knowledge and behaviors necessary to reach full academic and social potential, be independent thinkers and lifelong learners, demonstrate responsibility towards each other and become well-educated, successful adults. It is our pleasure to work with our students and families.

A Dedicated Staff

Valleydale has a dedicated staff who works together to provide a safe and caring learning environment for students. Our teaching staff includes:

Kindergarten--Michele Foerch, Lelis Allizadeh, Rosemary Vargas and Maria Villegas

First--Christi Dillion, Diana Fog and Ligia Krawietz

Second--Christina Pantoja, Betsy Andres and Julliane Cull

Second/Third--Margaret Guillen

Third--Jo Isley/Stacy Cuberly, Alicia Gulley and Lidia Strong

Fourth--Delia Ocho and Anna Chung

Fourth/Fifth--Karin Belling

Fifth--Andrew Meyers and Gladys Aguilar

Resource Teacher--Robin Kelleher

RSP--Sharon Ortiz

Preschool VI--Julie Villa

VI--Mmelodee Patapoff and Susie Dickason

ELD Suport Teacher--Amanda Ochoa

Intervention Teacher--Jen Pielstick