ABSENCES
What do I do when my child is absent?
An adult should report the absence to the school office by calling (858) 578-1400, ext. 2301 the morning of each missed school day. Since the State of California Department of Education requires absences to be excused by an adult, absences may not be excused via e-mail.
Excused : These are absences due to illness, medical/dental appointments, funeral service, court appointments, and religious holidays/ceremonies.
Unexcused : These are absences due to oversleeping, car trouble, traffic, missing the bus.
Truant : These are absences for reasons which are neither approved by parents nor acceptable to the school.
Suspension : These are absences for disciplinary reasons by the school.
BICYCLES
Can my child ride a bicycle to school or on campus?
Bicycles may be ridden to school, but must be walked on and off campus. Students who ride a bike to school must have a secure lock to lock the bike to a rack in the fenced bicycle compound. Bikes must always be walked on campus and the student must have a current license. State law requires students to wear helmets.
BUSES
Does the school issue bus passes?
Yes. However, the only individuals who are eligible to ride the school bus are those attending Wangenheim as a student of the Volunteer Ethnic Enrollment Program (VEEP). At the beginning of each new school year, students are given a bus pass from the Finance Department. The pass is free and can be used throughout the course of the school year.
What do I do if my child loses his or her bus pass?
The first time a pass is lost, the office will issue another for free. The second time it is lost, the cost is $1.00. The third time, and thereafter, a pass is lost, the student must pay $5.00 to have it replaced.
Can my child ride the bus without a bus pass?
Yes, but the student must get a temporary pass from an administrator.
Can my child ride the bus to a friend's house?
No. Riding the bus without previous permission is a liability issue for the school.
What if my child lost something on the bus?
Please contact San Diego City Schools Department of Transportation at (858) 496-8460 immediately upon discovering your child has left something on the bus
What if an incident occurs on the bus?
Students should fill out an incident/witness statement if they are witnesses to an incident on the bus that is specifically against school rules or is a threat to the safety of others. Submit the statement to the vice principal in charge of busses.
CONTACTING TEACHERS
How do I contact my child's teacher?
To contact teachers, you may e-mail via our Staff Directory or call and leave a voice-mail at (858) 578-1400. By law, teachers have 8 days to respond to phone calls/e-mails, but most will reply within 48 hours. (Keep in mind teachers are able to communicate more efficiently via e-mail due to their busy classroom schedules.)
EXTENDED ABSENCES
What do I do if we have to take our child on a trip with us, or will be out for a medical reason?
For planned absences of 5 or more school days, contact the school office at (858) 578-1400, ext. 2301 for a Contract of Independent Study (CIS). A CIS must be completed 5 days prior to the absence. This allows your child to keep up with the schoolwork. It is the student's responsibility to pick up the assignments from his or her teachers before he or she leaves on a contract. The PE department does not assign homework but requires a log of activity hours to be submitted—see a coach for details. The student must turn in assignments to each of their respective teachers on the first day back to school. If the work is not received they may not receive any credit for the assignment(s).
What about homework for planned absences less than 5 days?
Please notify the teachers and the attendance office at (858) 578-1400, ext. 2301 at least 5 days prior to leaving.
What if my child will be having major surgery and missing more than 10 days of school?
In some cases, we can get a home tutor for extended medical absences. However, this must be done well ahead of time if possible. Contact the Attendance Office at (858) 578-1400, ext. 2301 and the nurse at (858) 578-1400, ext. 2304 for further information.
FORGOTTEN ITEMS
What do I do if my child forgot something at home like homework, lunch money, or PE clothes?
To minimize classroom interruptions, we will no longer deliver missing homework, lunch money, PE clothes, lost books, etc… to your classrooms. If the office has something for you, they will write your name on the white board outside the attendance office. If your child is expecting something to be delivered to school, please have them check the board for his or her name during passing periods. If your child forgets their PE clothes, he or she can use loaner clothes, but they will still need to make up points for being unprepared. For lunch money issues, consider putting money in their lunch account in the Tiger Eatery.
HOMEWORK
How often is homework assigned?
Homework is assigned on a daily basis. All unfinished work in class should be considered homework to be completed on the student's own time. The Homework Hotline at (858) 578-1400 should only be used as a back-up to your child's weekly homework calendar due to unforeseen changes that may take place.
How do I get homework for unplanned absences?
Each student should exchange phone numbers with at least 2 other student study buddies during the first week of school. Some teachers also use the Homework Hotline at (858) 578-1400 or a webpage. Please remember to notify the office each day your child is absent, and notify us well in advance for planned absences.
LIBRARY BOOKS
How long can my child check out a book and what are the penalties for late or lost books?
Library books may be checked out for two weeks. To avoid overdue charges, your child may renew the book, provided it is not on a wait list. Overdue fines are $.05 per day. If your child loses or damages the book, he or she is responsible for notifying the librarian and paying for the replacement costs.
LOST AND FOUND
What if my child finds or loses a personal item on campus?
If you find any item of value or lose an item, please turn it in to the Main Office. Check the following locations if you are missing any items:
Valuables like wallet, watch, jewelry, etc.: Financial Office
PE clothes: PE Department
Clothing, notebooks: Nurse's Office
Textbooks: Library
LUNCH
What if there is a problem with my child's lunch account?
Lunches can be prepaid in the Tiger Eatery. The students are given a PIN number and enter it at the cashier station when purchasing their lunch. Contact the Tiger Eatery at (858) 578-1400, ext. 2401, if your child has a problem accessing his or her lunch money. A complete lunch in the Tiger Eatery costs $2.00 and breakfast costs $.75.
MEDICATION
What if my child needs to take medicine (even Tylenol) at school?
Contact the school nurse at (858) 578-1400, ext. 2304 concerning any and all medications to be administered during the school day. California law requires the school to have a doctor's prescription for any medications given at school, including over-the-counter medicines. We also have to have the parent's written permission and the medicine must be brought in the original container. Forms are available in the school office.
PARENT CONCERNS
Who do I contact if I have concerns about my child's grades, classroom conduct, or schedule?
Your child's classroom teacher should be contacted if you have concerns about individual grades or classroom conduct that involves your child and/or other children. Please refer to our Staff Directory at for teacher phone numbers and e-mail addresses. If you have questions about over schedule changes, please contact your child's Counselor. All voice mail and email info can also be found on the Quick Connections page.
P. E. EXCUSES
What if I don't want my child to participate in P. E?
California State law allows parents to excuse their child from P. E. for up to three days, after which they must have a doctor's note to be excused. Please submit doctor's notes to the school nurse.
PICKING UP YOUR CHILD DURING THE DAY
What if I need to pick my child up early, or take him or her to a doctor's appointment?
Call the Attendance Office ahead of time or h ave your child bring a note before school telling us what time you need him or her in the office and for what reason. We will have him or her waiting for you to sign him or her out at that time. All students must be signed out in the office. Students are not to leave grounds without first getting a blue slip.
REPORT CARDS
When do report cards come out?
We distribute report cards to the students to take home to their parents/guardians every 6 weeks. We mail out the final report card via USPS at the end of June.
For exact dates, please refer to your child's student planner or the Master Calendar.
SCHEDULE CHANGES
Can my child change his schedule once school has begun?
Yes. Your child should pick up a blue Schedule Change Request form from the counseling office and turn it in to his or her counselor. If the reason for change is due to student-related issues, the counselors will decide if mediation is needed. If the issue is teacher-related or if you feel your child has been incorrectly placed in a course, the counselors will call for a meeting which would include you, the parent or guardian, the counselor, and the teacher in order to come up with a plan to help your child maximize their potential for academic success.
SKATEBOARDS AND SCOOTERS
Can my child ride a skateboard or scooter to school or on campus?
No. Skateboards and scooters are not allowed on campus.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS: SPECIAL EDUCATION, GATE, CLUSTER, AND SEMINAR
Who should I speak with if have questions about special education, GATE, Cluster, or Seminar certification?
Please refer to the District Website or Wangenheim's Special Programs page. for phone numbers and contact persons who can help answer your questions about special education, GATE, Cluster, or Seminar certification.
STUDENTS CALLING HOME
What if my child needs to contact me?
Students may use cell phones before or after school ONLY. Office phones are for emergencies and students must have a pass from a teacher in order to use them.
STAYING AFTER SCHOOL
What if my child needs to stay after school?
A late bus runs at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. If your child has detention after school on Mondays, he or she must coordinate their own ride home. Students staying after school need to be with a teacher and should get a yellow activity bus passes from that teacher. There is no supervision outside after 2:25 p.m.
TARDY
What do I do if my child will be late?
If a student arrives on campus after the school day begins, he or she must sign in at the attendance office to get a pass to class. Tardies over 30 minutes must be cleared by a parent/guardian. Excused tardies include medical/dental appointments, funeral service, court appointments, and religious holidays/ceremonies.
TEXTBOOKS
What is the policy on text books?
Textbooks are furnished free of charge. They are to be used only by the student to whom they are issued. Students are required to pay for damage beyond normal wear. All textbooks must be covered with appropriate covers. Failure to meet financial obligations regarding textbook damages will result in report cards and student activity privileges being withheld.
TUTORING AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Does the school offer after school tutoring or special programs?
We offer tutoring and a variety of club activities you can learn more about by referring to our Special Programs page. We also have a no cost “6 to 6” after school program that provides supervised homework assistance, arts and crafts, sports, and enrichment after school until 6:00 p.m. Contact the 6 to 6 site supervisor at (619) 743-7296 for details. All students must be off campus by 2:25 unless involved in a supervised activity. Any student on campus after 2:25 without an after school pass will be assigned detention.
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