Student & Family Handbook

Attendance
Oregon State Law requires that students attend school daily unless they have a medical excuse or there is a family emergency. On days your child is absent, or there is a change in his/her attendance, please notify the school office before 8:15 am. You can email rboyd@pjaproud.org or by call 503.535.3561.

It is our expectation that every student will be here, barring health/medical issues for the full school day throughout the school year. We strongly urge families to schedule non-urgent appointments after school hours or on non-school days. PJA does not allow early release from school for extracurricular activities. Finally, we expect that family vacations will be planned during PJA vacation times.

School Hours
Kindergarten through fifth grade school day is 8:15 am – 3:30 pm, Monday - Thursday. The Middle School school day is 8:15 am – 3:40 pm. Friday dismissal for all grades is 2:30 pm. Students may arrive in their classrooms at 8:00 am. Please do not drop your child(ren) off prior to 8:00. 
  
Office Hours
The school office is open from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, Monday through Thursday. On Friday, the office closes 30 minutes before Shabbat candle lighting. The office is closed during “carpool” dismissal (3:20-3:50 pm Monday - Thursday and 2:20-2:50 pm on Friday). The PJA office, including all office equipment, is for school business only. Personal use of office equipment is prohibited.

SECURITY
For the safety of our students and staff, PJA carefully controls access to all interior areas of our building. Parents/guardians/visitors may enter and exit only through the two main doors of the building. Please help us maintain security by not admitting anyone into the building unless they show their PJA card. Children leaving early from school must be signed out by an adult. When students arrive late to school or return to school after an appointment, they must be signed in by an adult. If someone other than the parent/guardian is responsible for picking up a child that person must report to the school office and show identification. 

School staff will deliver messages and materials to students during the school day.

VISITORS
In order to continue to safeguard against illness as much as possible and limit contacts, we will be allowing visitors to the building on a very limited basis. We will update information about visitors to the school in accordance with Covid guidelines as they come available.

Morning Drop-off
In the morning, you may drop off your child in front of the building from 8:00 to 8:15 am. If you need to come into the building for any reason, please park and then enter. Do not leave your car in the drop off area. If your child needs assistance exiting the car and/or carrying their belongings, please park and help your child out of the car and/or walk your child into the building.
 
Dismissal
Pick-up will be via a drive-up carpool lane. The walk-up lane will be only for necessity and will be located on the east side of the building (below Merrill's office windows). Each family will receive several carpool placards with the students' names on them. Please have this placard on the windshield of the vehicle when you come to pick up your child. 
 
Middle School dismissal
• Middle School dismissal is at 3:40, except on Friday when all grades are dismissed at 2:30.
• If you have a child(ren) in the lower and middle school your lower school child will wait with their class until their older sibling/carpool buddy is dismissed.
• Please do not arrive at carpool earlier than 3:40.
 
Excused from carpool
• If a student has provided a signed permission slip from their parent/guardian indicating that they go home on their own, that student may be excused from carpool. 
• All Middle School students are permitted in the MJCC lobby after school hours. All others must be accompanied by an adult. 

The area in front of the MJCC building is a fire lane. City code requires that cars left unattended in this area be towed. 

Please exercise extreme caution when driving through our parking lot at all times.

Immunizations / Health Forms
All children must have a complete series of the required immunizations according to state regulations. 

All K-8th grade students are required to be vaccinated against Covid-19. (Families may request a medical or religious exemption, which must be approved by PJA administration.) In addition, the school must have an updated health information form on file for each student.
 
Updating Health Forms
If any changes occur in your child(ren)’s health, please update the health form in the school office. All health information is confidential, seen by administrators and teachers on a need-to-know basis only.
 
Illnesses that require absence from school
Students who have any of the following conditions are prohibited from attending school:
1. Primary symptoms of COVID-19 (fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea)
2. Fever within the previous 24 hours
3. Vomiting within the previous 24 hours
4. Diseases such as strep throat, flu, or serious colds in the contagious phase. Children with bacterial infections must be on antibiotics for at least 24 hours before returning to school.
5. Lice, nits, or transmittable skin parasites.
6. Students who are too ill to participate fully in their school day, including PE and recess times, (excluding injuries such as sprains or broken bones). 

 
If your child will miss school please notify the PJA office by 8:30 am. In case of extended absence (more than two days), please contact the school to discuss arrangements for make-up work. If a child becomes ill during the school day, school staff will contact a family member. Should a family member not be reachable or unable to arrive at school within one hour, staff will contact the emergency contact listed on the student’s health information form.
 
Medication
If a child needs to receive medication during the school day, parents/guardians must submit a Medication Administration Form. All medicine must be in the original bottle with the original label and directions and must be prescribed for that child. Please inform the office staff whenever your child is on medication that may affect alertness and participation. If your child has a chronic condition which requires monitoring and medication while at school, please contact the office to discuss your child’s condition and needs.

As a Jewish school, we follow the standards of kashrut - Jewish dietary laws. Please see the Jewish Life section of the handbook for specific rules of kashrut.

Lunches
Lunches and snacks brought from home must be vegetarian (some fish such as salmon and tuna are allowed). We encourage families to provide healthy snacks such as fruit and vegetables. Soda is not allowed in snacks or lunches.

We will inform families when the option to purchase lunches from Cafe at the J is available again.
 
Cafe Days
Eighth graders will be assigned one cafe day per week. On their assigned day, they may purchase food from the cafe and eat there during lunch and recess. Students may not bring cafe food onto the school side of the campus. Students in the cafe on their designated days must abide by all the JCC policies.

Class Celebrations
Until further notice PJA will provide snacks for class celebrations. No food will be brought in to school to be shared with others.

Birthday Parties at School
At PJA students celebrate their birthdays by sharing a special book with their class. We strongly discourage sharing food as part of birthday celebrations. 
 
Events Outside of School
When planning your child(ren)’s out of school party please be sensitive to Shabbat and chagim (Jewish holidays) observances and kashrut. Do not plan parties during Shabbat and chagim (Jewish holidays). When planning outside social events please keep in mind that talk of these events usually becomes part of conversations at school. Those not included are hurt or offended. In the spirit of being inclusive, please consider inviting the whole class.

Homework is the time students spend outside the classroom in assigned activities to practice, reinforce, or apply newly acquired skills and knowledge. It is an integral part of learning.

Lower School (Grades K-5)
Lower school students are expected to read or be read to on a nightly basis. The amount of homework varies by grade level. Teachers will discuss homework expectations at Back To School night. Homework other than reading will not be assigned over chagim (holy days), Shabbat, winter, or Passover breaks.
 
Middle School (Grades 6-8)
Homework is assigned daily except Friday and Chagim (holidays). Students are expected to record each day’s homework assignments and complete and turn in all assignments on time. The middle school faculty attempts to coordinate homework with particular attention to long term projects and tests. Teachers will notify you when your child(ren) is experiencing difficulty completing or turning in homework in a timely manner.

If you or your child feel that their homework load is unreasonable, please reach out to administration. Our goal is to make sure that homework is manageable and does not overwhelm students.
 
PRE-ARRANGED ABSENCES (with regard to homework)
We believe that formal class instruction is valuable time; the loss of in-school time may have an impact on a student’s overall progress. Notification of pre-arranged absences should be made at least five (5) days prior to an absence. A pre-arranged absence form must be requested by students and circulated to teachers. Whenever appropriate, teachers will assign work for the absence. Due to the nature of some assignments (e.g. labs, activities, discussions, tests) students may be expected to complete work upon their return.
 
MAKE UP WORK POLICY FOR LOWER AND MIDDLE SCHOOL
Students may be responsible for making up work when they are absent. Please check with your child’s classroom teachers or have your child email their teacher directly. Students (4th-8th grade) have the responsibility to check Google Classroom regarding assignment completion. 

These guidelines from Jewish tradition communicate our expectations for appropriate behavior, both in school and while engaged in school-related activities off-campus.
 
1.   Kavod - respect is the cornerstone of living and learning at PJA.
 
2.  Students and staff conduct themselves with derekh eretz - courtesy and good manners.
 
These principles are expressed in our Lower School as the Kavod Loop.

At Portland Jewish Academy we:
Respect Learning
Respect Ourselves
Respect Others
Respect Property
 
To benefit fully from the educational experience at PJA students are expected to attend school regularly, arrive on time, participate in activities, and complete assigned tasks. We believe that these habits are life skills as well as necessary for school success.
 
PJA is a physically and emotionally safe place for learning and teaching. It is PJA’s aim to support each student’s developing ability to manage themselves and to make healthy, positive choices. Therefore, in any situation involving discipline, the emphasis is on learning from the experience and repairing the situation. We will inform you and involve you in any situation that requires recurring intervention and serious breaches of school policy. All members of the PJA community are responsible for implementing behavior policies.
 
Certain behaviors warrant immediate consequences or disciplinary actions. These include, but are not limited to:
 
1.   Cutting Class/Leaving Without Permission
Failure to attend assigned class without permission or excuse; leaving the building, classroom or assigned area without obtaining prior approval of the teacher and/or administrator.
 
2.  Disruptive Behavior
Behavior that disrupts or interferes with the educational process. Behavior that causes the class or activity to stop or continue with difficulty, in which the student does not cooperate and does not make reasonable attempts to disengage or follow directions.  
 
3.  Controlled Substances
Possession or use of any form of alcohol, drugs (including abuse of over-the-counter or prescription ​drugs), tobacco, or any controlled substance.  
 
4.  Fighting
The exchange of mutual physical contact, such as pushing, shoving, and hitting with or without injury, even in the context of play.
 
5.  Harassment/Hazing
​Disturbing consistently by pestering or tormenting; abusive words and sexual harassment, sexual ​advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct.
 
6.  Insubordination
​Failure to comply with a proper and authorized direction of instruction of a staff member.
 
7.  Theft
​Taking property belonging to the school or any individual or group without prior permission.
 
8.  Vandalism
​Intentionally causing damage to or defacing school property or the property of others.
 
9.  Abusive/Profane Language
Communication that ridicules or humiliates another person.
 
10.  Cheating
​Representing someone else’s work as though it were your own. This includes plagiarism, giving or ​accepting answers on tests, classwork, or homework.
 
11.  Weapons
Possession of any items designated as weapons including a simulated weapon or use of any tool or instrument as a weapon.
 
12.  Peer aggression
Includes physical, verbal and relational aggression.

Physical aggression: harm through damage or threat of damage to another’s physical well-being.
Verbal aggression: obvious and/or hidden verbal acts of aggression toward another, such as threats, put-downs and name-calling.
Relational aggression: behavior that is intended to harm someone by damaging or manipulating his or her relationships with others.
 
Administrative response to the above behaviors may include in-school or out-of-school suspension. Families will be notified in either case. A re-entrance conference between parents/guardians, administration, staff, and child will be held prior to the child’s return to class. Retention of a student during any academic year and re-enrollment for any subsequent academic year will remain conditional upon the timely performance of the obligations of the family. PJA reserves the right to require the withdrawal of a student whose performance or behavior or that of any family member is detrimental to the school.

Students should not bring toys, games or electronic devices to school including Apple watches and other smart devices. Cell phones may not be used by students during the school day, 7:45 am to 3:45 pm. Items that cause distraction or interrupt teaching and learning may be confiscated by teachers or staff.
 
PJA has an Acceptable Use Policy regarding the use of technology at school. Please refer to the Acceptable Use Policy and be sure that you are familiar with our policy.

We expect students to come to school dressed appropriately for learning. Parents/guardians are responsible for encouraging and guiding their children to dress sensibly, respectfully, and in a manner conducive to learning and safety. Guiding children to make appropriate choices with regard to the length of shorts and skirts and shirt styles is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility. Students who are in clothing that has offensive messages will be asked to change. Families may be called to bring additional clothing to school on a day that a student is not appropriately dressed.

Physical Education
Lower and Middle School students must wear non-marking athletic shoes for PE. Any other shoe is not acceptable.
 
Change of Clothing
Every student should have a change of clothing to keep in their cubby/locker in case they get wet or muddy on the playground.
 
Shabbat and Chagim (holidays) attire
On Fridays and holidays, students are asked to wear white shirts or PJA spirit wear.

The education of your child is a partnership between family and school. Your support of the school’s policies and your direct communication with us whenever concerns or questions arise are of utmost importance. We are committed to addressing all concerns shared with us. The crucial partnership between family and school must be based on kavod - respect and trust. The underlying foundation of the faculty/student relationship is also based on kavod and trust. 

To ensure the success of our students and the continued excellence of PJA’s programs, parents and guardians of PJA students are expected to:
• Support PJA and its mission;
• Model behavior which reflects the middot - values of our school;
• Meet all financial obligations to the school in a timely manner;
• Assure that their child(ren) abide by the policies contained in this handbook;
• Avoid lashon harah - spreading rumors;
We expect our families, faculty, and staff to model the same high standards of respectful behavior in their communication as we expect from our students. Disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated and such behavior may lead to the cancellation of a family’s contract through nonrenewal or involuntary withdrawal.

We look forward to a productive and fruitful relationship with all of our families.

Kehillah 
Kehillah is the Hebrew word for “community.” The PJA Kehillah Organization is an informal family group that works closely with PJA staff to support the educational programs and activities of the school, encourage family involvement in their child’s education, classroom(s) and school, and provide feedback and suggestions for school programs. Kehillah spearheads Staff Appreciation Week, fosters community building through social programming, and helps coordinate class participation in the annual PJA auction. Every PJA family is automatically a member of the Kehillah.