School Policies
Absence Why Line:
Please call the "Absence Why Line" answering machine each morning that your child will be absent. The answering machine operates 24 hours per day. If you have called the Absence Why Line, you do not need to send a note with your child when he/she returns to school. The Absence Why Line number is (408) 522-8259 
Please leave this information on the answering machine:
  • Date
  • Your name
  • Your child's name, spelling out the last name
  • Teacher's name and grade
  • Reason for absence
Drop Policy:
Students will be dropped from enrollment if they are absent the last 3 days of the school year due to vacation. These students will lose their seniority for classroom placement and need to register again in August.
If a student is not present on the first day of school, a seat at Cumberland cannot be held. A student must be present on the first day of school to be officially enrolled. 
 
Appointments:
Students may be excused during school hours for medical, dental, or emergency appointments. When picking up your child for an appointment, please go to the office to sign them out and ask the office staff to contact your child's classroom to send your child to the office.
 
Tardies: 
Students who are late (arriving later than the 8:15 bell) must report to the office upon arrival at school. After 6 tardies, students and their parents are required to sign an attendance contract with the principal. 
 
Non-Medical Absences: 
Please avoid planning trips and vacations during school time. However, if your child will be absent for more than one day, please contact your child's teacher. For absences of five days or more, your child may complete a pre-approved independent study program and receive credit while outside the classroom. Non-medical absences are considered unexcused by the State of California.
 
Illness and Medication: 
Children may not carry any medication, whether over the counter or prescription. Children who need to take medication at school (long term) must have a doctor's form on file in order for the office staff to administer the medication.
Children may take medication at school (short-term) if the parent comes to school to administer it.
Office staff are not allowed to use any kind of medication on a child (including Phisoderm).
Please notify the school office if your child is diagnosed with a communicable illness.
Students may not return to school until 24 hours after any symptom of fever and/or vomiting has disappeared (without medication).
 
"No Nit" Policy:
Cumberland has a "No Nit" policy for lice. This means that if a child is discovered to have lice while at school:
  • The child with lice is asked to wait in the office until he/she is picked up to go home.
  • When the child is picked up, literature is provided and information is given to the parent or guardian on the effective treatment of lice.
  • The classmates and siblings of the child with lice are screened for possible infestation.
  • Within one school day, a notice will be sent home with classmates notifying parents of their child's possible exposure to lice.
  • Upon return to school, the child is checked by the health clerk and proof of treatment must be provided to the health clerk.
  • If lice or nits (the tiny egg capsules) are still found, the child will be sent home to have them removed. This is done to help prevent a reinfection.
Parents on Campus:
In order to keep our children safe, it is important to be able to quickly identify adults who do not have a legitimate reason to be on campus. For this reason, when entering campus, you must sign in at the office. All volunteers and visitors must wear the appropriate badges (available in the office) at all times while on campus. Lunches, messages and other items dropped off for students must be left in the office, not taken to the classroom.
 
Adults must use the restrooms in the breezeway outside the school office. No adults are allowed in the children's restrooms. 
 
Volunteering in Classroom:
If you are volunteering in the classroom, you must have a valid TB test done within the past 4 years. Please show the form to the school office staff so they have it on file. Starting 2009, a new is required by the District. Please stop by the school office to pick one up.
 
 
Field Trip Policy/Transporting Children:
It is required that all persons driving Cumberland students on school field trips or other school sponsored events follow these policies:
  • No students shall sit in the front seat of a vehicle during a field trip, unless the student's parent or legal guardian is the driver of the vehicle.
  • California Vehicle Code (Section 27360) requires that a student must be in a child passenger restraint system unless the student is at least one of the following: (1) 6 years of age or older or (2) weighs 60 pounds or more.
  • Students must be driven directly to the planned site/event and directly back to school. No side excursions or stops are allowed.
All drivers must have current proof of insurance and a valid drivers license on file in the school office.

Student Telephone Access:

Students may use the office phone for school-related business only.

Cell Phone Policy: 

In compliance with state law, Cumberland allows students to carry cell phones to school or school-sponsored activities. However, cell phones may only be used before and after school and only on the school sidewalks or field, as long as they do not create a distraction or disruption. Use of cell phones during the school day is prohibited and phones must be turned off and kept out of sight. Cell phones may not be used on any other portion of the campus at any time, unless an emergency situation, as defined by the District staff, exists. Misuse of a cell phone by a student could result in forfeiture of the cell phone. Please see details on cell phone policy.