Parent Handbook

Roseville Community School, in partnership with actively involved parents, strives to educate and support students to become confident, compassionate people who will be the thinkers, dreamers, and doers of tomorrow.

How children learn here

Education at RCS is an active process. Hands-on experience is an integral part of every day, and the academic program is designed to meet each student at their own level. Teachers pay close attention to social-emotional development because we believe it is inseparable from academic growth. Children practice peer problem-solving, negotiation, and the recognition of different points of view as part of the ordinary school day.

Our approach is founded on constructivism, child-centered learning, and developmentally appropriate practice. Our influences include Piaget, Vygotsky, Bev Bos, Donald Graves, Marilyn Burns, Joseph Chilton Pearce, Alfie Kohn, Constance Kamii, and Jane Healy. Curriculum follows the guidelines presented in the California State Frameworks.

Multi-age classrooms

Students are grouped into developmental multi-age communities. Cross-age grouping stimulates thinking and cognitive growth: younger students adopt older classmates as role models and later become those models themselves, while older students deepen their own mastery by mentoring. Faculty consider each child's developmental stage when composing a classroom, and RCS is committed to small class sizes with a low student-teacher ratio.

Participation readiness

Our environment encourages independence and creativity, which asks an age-appropriate level of self-regulation from every student. Students are generally expected to be able to:

• Separate from parents or caregivers
• Demonstrate willingness to participate
• Voice needs or concerns to seek support
• Transition independently between activities and adapt to minor routine changes
• Work without constant one-on-one support
• Stay with the class and refrain from wandering off
• Dress, use the restroom, and wash hands independently
• Respond to challenges without physical or verbal aggression

RCS does not provide childcare, behavioral health services, therapeutic services, or one-to-one aides. If your child has special needs or you have questions about readiness, please talk with us before enrolling. Any outside service provider on campus must be pre-approved and coordinated with administration.

What children study

Our curriculum follows the Common Core State Standards as a guideline while honoring each child's own timeline. Subjects are taught explicitly and then applied in integrated, project-based work.

• Language Arts — journal writing, storytelling, plays, and student-published books; rich literature, poetry, songs, and author studies; Rooted in Language multi-sensory strategies for reading and writing, alongside All About Reading and All About Spelling; nonfiction tied to science and social studies; Writer's Workshop with peer editing, research projects, and reflective logs.
• Mathematics — constructing understanding through hands-on activities, games, and real-world problem solving: number sense, measurement, geometry, logic, fractions, probability, and patterns, with math journals and group discussion.
• Science — exploration and environmental inquiry. Students investigate nature, make predictions, run experiments, and record observations in journals and drawings. Gardening, nature hikes, and wetland visits; older students take on hypothesis testing and research projects.
• Social Studies — inquiry-based and empathetic: family histories, diverse cultures and storytelling, role-play and simulations, cause and effect, ethical dilemmas, and music, drama, and art. The emphasis is empathy, perspective-taking, and civic awareness.
• Performing & Expressive Arts — painting, clay, woodworking, wire, chalk, and found objects, plus music, drama, and movement. Teachers focus on the process of creating rather than the product.
• Cooking & Gardening — students plan, plant, tend, and harvest, reinforcing ecosystems, plant biology, weather, and sustainability, with math integrated through measuring and tracking. In the kitchen, students prepare seasonal meals with a chef instructor and learn food safety, tool handling, hygiene, and measuring.
• Physical Education — outdoor free play, nature-based movement, and cooperative games. Participation and personal growth over competition.

Assessment and reporting

We believe a child's growth is best understood through observation, authentic work, and reflection rather than grades or standardized testing. Teachers observe students during learning activities, projects, and social interactions; student work — journals, projects, artwork, performances — serves as meaningful evidence of progress; and feedback is descriptive rather than graded, focused on skills, habits of mind, and areas for growth.

Families receive narrative-style progress reports highlighting academic, social, and emotional growth, with attention to critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving. Teachers also share updates through class newsletters and check-ins through the year.

Homework and learning at home

Homework is not assigned on a regular basis, but with purposeful intention. When it is given, it's designed to connect school and home — planning and preparing a family meal, sharing family stories, playing math or logic games, tracking recycling or observing environmental habits. The focus is engagement and process over perfection.

Younger students focus on exploration, creativity, and family connection; upper program students may receive more structured tasks that build skills and independent responsibility.

Students of all ages are encouraged to read — or be read to — for at least 30 minutes each night. This daily habit builds literacy, fosters curiosity, and strengthens family connection.

Inclusion and student support

We are committed to a learning environment that is inclusive, developmentally responsive, and respectful of all students, including those with disabilities or identified learning differences.

Legal context: RCS is an independent non-profit learning center — not a public or private school as defined by the California Department of Education. We are not subject to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and are not required to implement Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 Plans. In accordance with the Unruh Civil Rights Act, RCS does not discriminate on the basis of disability and works in good faith to support all learners within our programmatic capacity.

Sharing documentation is voluntary and welcome. Families may share IEPs or 504 Plans, diagnostic evaluations, behavior support plans, medical documentation, or a letter outlining specific needs and goals. These may inform a Student Accommodation & Support Plan — a non-binding, co-created document used internally to guide accommodations and communication between staff and families. If a student's needs call for additional support, we may invite the family to a meeting, develop a plan together covering things like learning environment, communication strategies, social-emotional support, behavioral needs, and sensory or medical considerations, and review it as the year goes on.

Outside aides and specialists: if your family provides an external aide, they must complete Live Scan clearance, sign a confidentiality agreement, and receive orientation on our values and classroom expectations. Aides are expected to align with our educational philosophy and behavioral practices.

What we can't do: RCS is not a therapeutic, behavioral, or specialized education program. While we strive to be inclusive, we may not be able to meet every student's needs. If the support required exceeds what we can provide, we will work in good faith with your family to assess whether continued enrollment is appropriate and, if needed, explore alternatives.

When the program isn't the right fit

Some children have difficulty with open, independent activities. If a child repeatedly experiences a high degree of frustration with the program, or displays behavior that adversely affects the class as a whole, we will schedule a conference with parents to discuss alternative approaches or the need for additional professional consultation. In certain situations a child may be sent home during school hours. If, after exhaustive effort, we determine that we cannot meet a child's needs, we will ask the family to withdraw. RCS reserves the right to suspend or end participation when student or family behavior becomes unsafe, disruptive, damaging to property, or harmful to the learning environment.

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A homeschool learning center — not a school of record

Where a family is enrolled with a charter or operating under a PSA, that is the child's school of record. RCS does not issue grades or transcripts, and does not maintain official cumulative student or medical records. Educational oversight, attendance compliance, and required recordkeeping remain the responsibility of the charter school or the PSA administrator.

Five-year-olds: no charter or PSA required

In California, compulsory education begins at age six (Education Code §48200) — transitional kindergarten and kindergarten are not required. Families enrolling a five-year-old in our younger programs therefore do not need to be enrolled with a charter school or to file a PSA to attend RCS.

RCS is still not a school of record for these students. We do not issue grades, transcripts, or cumulative records for any student, at any age. Once your child reaches compulsory school age, charter enrollment or an active PSA is required to continue at RCS, and we'll ask for that documentation at that point.

Academic responsibility

RCS provides enrichment, project-based, and core academic programming in support of homeschool families. Teachers offer guidance, observation, and feedback. Parents remain fully responsible for their child's academic oversight and — where the family is enrolled with a charter or operating under a PSA — attendance and record reporting, submission of all required documentation, and charter communication and compliance. RCS does not provide formal grading, transcripts, standardized testing, or special education services.

Work samples for your charter

Charter schools ask families for periodic work samples, and we can help.

• Math and language samples — we keep student work available for you to collect and submit to your charter.
• Social studies and science samples — photographs of your child's projects and activities work well for these subjects, and we can provide them.

Please also let your charter's homeschool teacher know that RCS teachers are available to communicate with them as needed. If your ES or homeschool teacher has questions about what your child is doing here, our teachers are glad to talk with them directly.

Programs

RCS serves students ages 5–12 across five programs: the Robins (ages 5–7), the Hummingbirds (ages 6–8), the Owls (ages 7–9), the Hawks (ages 8–10), and the Eagles (ages 9–12). Classes run in blocks on a Monday/Wednesday/Friday and Tuesday/Thursday rotation, and families may enroll in a single class or a full week. Current class offerings, times, and pricing live on the 2026–2027 Programs pages.

Faculty, staff, and board

RCS is proud of the experience, skill, and joy our educators bring to this community. Because teaching assignments and staffing can change during the year, our current team is listed on the Faculty & Staff page rather than in this handbook. The RCS Board of Directors governs the school in the interest of the community as a whole — parents, faculty, and staff — and meets monthly; meeting dates are on the school calendar and all families are welcome.

Joining RCS

Our admissions process is designed to make sure the program fits the child and the family.

1. Campus tour — an introduction to our philosophy, learning environment, and daily routines, and a chance to ask questions.
2. Student visit or teacher meeting — incoming kindergarten students (ages 5–7) are invited to a two-hour drop-off visit in the spring, where teachers observe social interaction and developmental readiness. This is not an academic evaluation. Students entering beyond kindergarten or mid-year attend a classroom visit day or a scheduled teacher meeting. There is no visit day requirement when enrolling during the summer months, since class is not in session.
3. Enrollment — after the visit, teachers meet as a team to discuss observations and administration communicates the outcome. Enrollment is confirmed with a completed Participation Agreement and the enrollment fee, on a first-come, first-served basis as space allows.

Student records

As a small, independent non-profit learning center, RCS does not provide traditional transcripts or student records for transfers. Because our curriculum and assessment model differ from public and private schools, parents are responsible for preparing and providing records to future schools if a transfer occurs. Our staff are glad to write support letters describing your child's experience and learning at RCS — just ask.

Non-discrimination

RCS is a non-discriminatory learning center. We welcome all students and families regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, or any other status protected by law. We are committed to maintaining a respectful, safe, and inclusive community for all.

Harassment, intimidation, and bullying of any kind will not be tolerated — among students, among adults, or between them. If you experience or witness it, report it to the Admin Team at contact@yourrcs.org. We will address every concern promptly, respectfully, and in alignment with our values.

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Drop-off

Please arrive in time for your child to start promptly at 9:00 AM. Arriving after the group has begun is disruptive to the class and stressful for the child. If you arrive before the classroom doors open at 8:55, you will need to wait with your child or arrange for another adult to do so.

Children may not be dropped off at the gate. Parents or designated caregivers walk children to the classroom each morning.

If you arrive before the gates open at 8:45, you are responsible for supervising your own child in the sand yard or other community areas until the gong rings. A member of the Admin Team or the Facilities Manager is onsite each morning if you need someone.

Please make sure every gate closes securely behind you when you enter or leave, and shut the main gate on your way out once class has started.

Volunteers and visitors sign in at the office when they arrive on campus. Visitors are asked to respect our approach and follow staff guidance while they're here.

Attendance

There is no attendance requirement at RCS. Families are not penalized for missing a class — your charter school or PSA handles any attendance reporting that applies to your child.

If your child will not be attending, please let the front office know at contact@yourrcs.org so teachers are not looking for a student who isn't coming.

Pickup

Please pick up promptly at the end of your child's enrolled classes. We ask families to leave campus promptly at dismissal so teaching staff can prepare for the next day. Classrooms are locked 15 minutes after the end of the school day; if you need to meet with a teacher, please arrange a time in advance.

If someone other than a parent or guardian is picking up your child, please email the front office at contact@yourrcs.org in advance so staff know who to expect.

No child will be released to an unauthorized adult. If we haven't heard from you, we will keep your child with us and call you — please don't ask staff to make an exception at the gate.

Snack and lunch

We designate 10 minutes at the beginning of lunch for students to eat. The sand yard and swings are closed during this time.

• Please limit sugary items and save treats for after school
• Label all lunch containers and a reusable water bottle with your child's name
• Food stays in designated eating areas — no food in the sand yard

Clothes and personal items

Childhood is an active time of life, and we believe strongly in the importance of play. Children should be free to explore art, science materials, woodworking, food, and plain dirt without worrying about their clothes. Please dress children in casual, durable, non-restrictive clothing suited to outdoor play in every season. Children may go barefoot on our school grounds, but shoes are required for the fairgrounds field — no one goes out there barefoot. Send a labeled change of clothes to keep at school. RCS keeps a small supply of spare clothes in a student restroom; please launder and return anything your child borrows.

School supplies are provided by the school and shared with the community. Children may bring books, nature objects, and artifacts to share with the class, but staff cannot be responsible for items that are lost or broken. Children may not bring electronic devices — including phones, tablets, gaming devices, and similar items. Students are not given the wifi password. Music players that do not connect to wifi may be used during work periods at the teacher's discretion.

Technology at school

RCS provides student Chromebooks and other digital tools to support learning, creativity, and responsible digital engagement. Students are expected to treat them as they would any other school material.

• Filtering: we use filtering software to block inappropriate and non-educational sites. No system is perfect, so we keep talking with students about safe, respectful, balanced use — and we hope you do the same at home.
• Monitoring: all Chromebook use is monitored and subject to review.
• Not allowed: vulgar, inappropriate, or discriminatory language; sharing or viewing offensive images or messages; using technology to exclude, intimidate, or harm anyone. Violations may result in loss of technology privileges and a restorative conversation with staff.
• Student data privacy: our staff sign a Technology Use & Device Agreement covering care of school devices, acceptable use, and student data privacy under FERPA and COPPA.

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When to keep your child home

We are not equipped to care for sick children. If your child develops symptoms during the day, we will contact you to take them home. Please keep your child home if they have any of the following:

• A temperature of 100°F or higher — children may return after 24 hours fever-free without fever-reducing medication
• Heavy nasal discharge or a constant cough
• Symptoms associated with a communicable disease: reddened eyes, sore throat, headache, abdominal pain, fever, lethargy
• Vomiting, diarrhea, unexplained rash, or head lice/nits

If your child develops a communicable disease — chickenpox, strep throat, conjunctivitis, and the like — please notify the office at once.

Allergies

Allergies and medications are collected on your enrollment paperwork. If anything changes during the year, email contact@yourrcs.org right away so we can update your child's file and let teachers know. We ask all families to refrain from sending nut products to school. We cannot guarantee a nut-free environment, so families managing a severe allergy should plan accordingly — but the whole community helps by leaving nut products at home. We also treat allergies as an opportunity to teach students about risk and food safety: teachers and students learn about the specific allergens present, what signs and symptoms to watch for, and who to tell. Children who require special allergy accommodations are identified with a "Student Allergy" sign posted on the kitchen refrigerator and in the office. Please review the current student food allergy list before bringing any shared treat.

Medication

• All medications are administered by designated personnel.
• Prescription medication must arrive in its original container with written instructions.
• Emergency medications — EpiPens, inhalers, insulin — must be provided to the office along with an up-to-date action plan on file.
• Families must provide a current allergy or medical action plan for any student with a life-threatening condition. Allergy notices are posted in classrooms, the kitchen, and the office as needed, and staff are trained to recognize allergic reactions and administer emergency medication.

Head lice

Students with active lice or visible nits are sent home for treatment. They may return once treatment is complete and an inspection confirms they are lice- and nit-free.

Emergency information

Please make sure the front office has current information for your family: emergency contacts, your child's physician, and the names and phone numbers of any additional adults authorized to pick up. Email any changes to contact@yourrcs.org — we can only reach the people you've given us.

If a child is injured

• For an incident requiring first aid or one that upsets a child, we administer first aid and inform parents at pickup.
• For an injury needing medical attention that is not an emergency, we call parents. If we cannot reach you, we call your emergency contacts.
• For an injury requiring immediate emergency treatment, we call 911. An adult accompanies the child to the hospital, and we contact the parents and the child's physician.

All staff maintain current CPR and First Aid certification. Any injury requiring intervention generates a written incident report, which we send to your family. First aid supplies are kept near the staff restroom.

In an emergency where family members need to reach a student or teacher at school, call (916) 304-4774.

Calling 911 — what to tell them

If you ever need to call emergency services from campus, give them:

Then notify the office immediately. Staff stay with the student until responders arrive, and an adult is designated to meet emergency personnel in the parking lot. A written incident report follows any emergency.

Mandated reporting

All RCS staff are mandated reporters under California law. Any suspected child abuse or neglect must be reported immediately to the Administrative Director and directly to Child Protective Services, with a written report submitted within 36 hours. Every employee signs a Mandated Reporter Acknowledgment during onboarding. We tell you this plainly so it is never a surprise — it is a legal obligation and a protection for every child here.

If a student is in crisis

Any suspected self-harm or suicidal ideation is reported immediately to the Administrative Director. We contact the family, refer to counseling, and build a crisis intervention plan together. If an incident occurs on campus, we call emergency medical personnel and notify guardians. A student returns to school with clearance from a physician or mental health provider and an updated plan in place.

Field trips and off-campus safety

Field trips connect directly to classroom learning, and teachers may plan one or two each semester. You'll receive a school-approved permission slip with the details in advance. When a group goes off campus:

• At least two adults with working cell phones accompany every trip.
• Drivers must be Live Scan cleared, hold a valid license, carry current insurance on file with the school, and use appropriate car seats and seatbelts.
• No student under age 8 or shorter than 4'9" may ride without a booster seat.
• Staff may not transport students other than their own children.
• Any required student medication travels with the group.
• Younger siblings are generally not permitted, so chaperones can focus on supervising and engaging with RCS students. Exceptions are noted when they apply.

Building and environmental safety

RCS follows local, state, and federal guidelines on environmental safety, including mold, lead, and asbestos, and complies with AHERA requirements for inspection and monitoring. Facilities are inspected regularly, and any renovation involving hazardous materials follows EPA and OSHA standards. Staff follow universal precautions for exposure to blood or bodily fluids, and any exposure is documented through an incident report.

Program closure

Makeup days may be scheduled when feasible. Refunds are not issued for closures caused by circumstances beyond our control, including natural disasters, public health emergencies, or facility issues.

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We view education as a partnership between parents, teachers, children, and community, and we want every member of this community to feel safe expressing thoughts and ideas. If you have a compliment, suggestion, question, or concern about any aspect of the program or its staff, we want to hear it.

Where to take a concern

1. Start with your child's teacher if the concern is specific to your child, or if you have questions about our philosophy or educational program. Email them directly — teacher email links are on the Parent Portal page. Please raise it as soon as possible.
2. Bring it to the Admin Team at contact@yourrcs.org for enrollment, scheduling, and campus questions — or to finance@yourrcs.org for anything about an invoice or charter funds.
3. Bring it to the Board at RCSboard@yourrcs.org if it remains unresolved — in writing, or at a monthly board meeting.

Staff generally respond to email within 1–2 school days. If something is urgent and you haven't heard back, call the office at (916) 304-4774 rather than waiting.

When to bring something to the Board

The Board is responsible for governance and oversight; day-to-day operations are run by school leadership and staff. Keeping that line clear protects both. Please do contact the Board at RCSboard@yourrcs.org about:

• Governance questions or feedback on our mission, vision, or long-term direction
• Matters already raised with administration that remain unresolved
• Concerns about the performance of the Administrative Director

Please don't bring daily operational issues to the Board — class schedules, individual student concerns, billing questions. Those reach a resolution faster with teachers or administration, and the Board will redirect them there anyway.

All parties should be open, factual, and mutually respectful. It helps to name what is working before identifying areas for improvement; that frames the conversation as a partnership and makes win-win outcomes more likely.

Talking about other children

Respect, sensitivity, and honesty are at the core of our philosophy. Please do not share incidents that happen at school with other parents. As a classroom participant and observer, you may not have all the details of an incident, and you may be unaware of the process the teacher, child, and family are already working through. Teachers and Board members acting on teachers' advice are the only people who should discuss a student incident with a parent, and faculty will discuss only your own child with you. Please avoid adult conversations about children within earshot of any child — children often hear fragments, misunderstand, and become anxious without telling us.

Parent-teacher conferences

Conferences are held twice a year on designated conference days for students enrolled in our core classes — math and language. Each teacher sends out an invitation to join on those days.

If your child is enrolled in classes other than core and you'd like a conference, just ask — we're happy to add you to the schedule.

Newsletters

Every newsletter — all-school and each individual class — is housed on the Parent Portal. Choose your child's program to see that program's newsletters, or read the all-school edition for what's happening across campus. If you can't find something we sent, it's on the portal.

Homeroom — class photographs

We use the Homeroom app to share class photographs with families. Teachers post pictures from the classroom, from projects, field trips, and events, so you can see what your child's days actually look like.

Photos there are shared within our school community. Please treat them the way you'd want your own child's pictures treated: enjoy them, save your own child's, and don't repost images of other families' children on social media or anywhere else.

A few specifics worth knowing:

• Each class has a private album visible only to staff and enrolled families.
• Teachers photograph every class they instruct and post roughly weekly or per event, so no class goes undocumented.
• These photos also feed our newsletters and yearbooks, not just the album.
• Photos reflect positive, respectful moments of learning and play. They will never include images of students in distress or in private situations.
• Staff check the roster for photo opt-outs before posting. Your media consent preference on your Participation Agreement is honored — if you'd like to change it, email contact@yourrcs.org.

The Admin Team, faculty, and Board also communicate through the Parent Portal, conferences, and monthly board meetings. To reach every family at once, email all@yourrcs.org.

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Enrollment at RCS is the beginning of your involvement, not the end of it. Small classes and hands-on learning are possible because families show up. Your primary role in the classroom is as an observer, facilitator, and positive role model — and volunteering lets children witness firsthand what cooperation, interdependence, and community look like in adults.

We welcome your time and talents: reading and dictating stories, building instruments, binding class-made books, photography, woodworking, nature, storytelling, singing, cooking, or hosting a field trip at your workplace. The school also depends on parents for repairs, tech support, fundraising, community outreach, and purchasing.

Monthly participation hours

Participation hours are assigned by enrollment level and are per family, not per student — families with several children enrolled complete one set of hours based on their highest enrollment level. Hours may include classroom support, campus projects, administrative help, event support, or other approved volunteer work.

Families with a full-time student at RCS and a sibling at Roseville Community Preschool receive a 50% reduction in required RCS participation hours, in recognition of participation commitments across both programs. This reduction applies only when the RCS student is enrolled full-time.

Opting out

We know some schedules cannot accommodate participation. Families may opt out by paying the applicable opt-out fee, billed monthly September through May. Opt-out elections apply for the full year unless administration approves otherwise, opt-out fees are non-refundable and separate from program fees, and families who do not complete required hours may be assessed the equivalent fee.

Workdays

Twice a year the whole community comes together for a campus workday — deep cleaning, organization, maintenance, and beautification. Each family completes 6 hours in the fall and 6 hours in the spring, 12 hours total. Unfulfilled workday hours are billed at $30 per hour. Dates are on the school calendar below.

Orientation

At least one parent or guardian from each enrolling family must attend parent orientation before the school year begins. Orientation covers policies, daily routines, communication procedures, participation expectations, and program structure. Missing orientation may delay your student's start date, and carries a $120 fee.

Signing up for shifts and tracking your hours

Sign up for your shifts in the Parent Portal. Please sign up as early as you can — the sooner families claim their shifts, the sooner we can build a participation schedule that covers the whole year.

Log your hours in the portal as well. Hours that are not logged may not be credited toward your requirement, so please record them as you go rather than at the end of the month. If you're unsure whether a shift was recorded, email contact@yourrcs.org.

Substitutes, swaps, and missed shifts

• You may arrange a substitute for a scheduled shift. Substitutes must be approved in advance when required, and families compensate them directly at $17 per hour.
• All substitute arrangements must be reported to administration by email before the shift.
• Shift swaps are coordinated directly with another participating family and reported to administration. To ask the whole community, email all@yourrcs.org.
• Missed shifts that are not swapped, substituted, or rescheduled should be made up within the same month when possible. If required hours go unfulfilled, the equivalent opt-out fee may be assessed.

Clearance requirements

The cost of Live Scan (estimated $65–$75 per person) and any TB clearance costs are the responsibility of the parent or guardian.

Volunteer conduct

When you are on campus, you are here as a working parent, whether or not it is your scheduled day, and you support all students equally. Parents volunteering on campus agree to:

• Be present and engaged with students
• Support and model school values and positive communication
• Follow staff guidance and school safety practices
• Refrain from earbuds, headphones, and phone use while volunteering — parent participation is rooted in connection and presence

Confidentiality

As a volunteer you may encounter sensitive information about students and families. All volunteers agree to keep confidential any information about a student's academic progress, learning challenges, or behavior; family circumstances or identifying information the family has not shared publicly; and any other sensitive information observed while volunteering.

Volunteers agree not to discuss other students' progress, behavior, or family matters with anyone outside authorized staff or board leadership; not to share student or family information with other parents or community members; to direct concerns and questions to the RCS Admin Team rather than the parent community; and never to post student information on social media or other public platforms. This obligation continues after your volunteer service ends. Failure to uphold confidentiality may result in immediate removal from volunteer responsibilities and further action by the Board.

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Enrollment at RCS reserves instructional staffing, classroom placement, and program resources for the full academic year. Faculty salaries and facility costs are continuing expenses, so a predictable annual income is essential to planning our program. Enrollment is a financial commitment according to the published policies below and the Participation Agreement you sign.

Enrollment fee

A non-refundable $250 enrollment fee is required for each enrolling student. It covers annual classroom materials, supplies, and administrative processing; is separate from program fees; does not apply toward monthly installments; and is required to hold your student's placement. Placement is not guaranteed until it is paid.

Invoicing and payment

• Program fees are divided into equal monthly installments across the nine-month academic year, September through May.
• Invoices are issued on the 15th of the month before the billing period; payment is due on the 1st. (An October invoice is issued September 15 and is due October 1.)
• Payments not received by the 5th may be assessed a 10% late fee.
• Accounts unpaid for 30 days or more may result in suspension of student participation until the account is current.

How to pay

If you are experiencing financial hardship, please write to the Board of Directors at RCSboard@yourrcs.org to request alternative payment arrangements before an account becomes delinquent.

Charter school funding

RCS partners with several homeschool charter schools that allow families to use educational funds for approved classes.

We currently accept charter funds from Cottonwood, Sequoia Grove Alliance, South Sutter, Horizon, Harvest Ridge, and Sutter Peak. If your charter isn't on this list, email finance@yourrcs.org — we may be able to become an approved vendor.

1. Families submit a purchase order or service authorization to their charter school for approval before services begin.
2. The charter school sends an authorization notice to RCS confirming approved services and the funding period.
3. Students attend classes for the duration of the approved funding period.
4. Charter schools typically remit payment to RCS on a Net-30 basis after services are provided, and funds are applied as a credit to the student's account.

Charter vouchers and service authorizations are submitted and processed monthly — charter funding may not be prepaid by semester or for the full year unless a charter school specifically requires and approves it. Families are responsible for submitting documentation on time, monitoring available charter balances, and paying any amount not covered by charter funds. If charter funds are delayed, reduced, denied, or exhausted, the remaining balance is the family's responsibility.

Where enrolled programs exceed approved charter funding, RCS calculates the annual cost of enrolled programs, subtracts projected charter funds, and divides the remainder across the nine-month year to set your monthly out-of-pocket payment. That amount stays consistent unless actual charter funds differ from the projection in your agreement.

Sibling discount

Families enrolling two or more children full-time at RCS during the same enrollment period receive a 10% discount applied to the student with the lower tuition value; the higher tuition is billed at the standard rate. Families with one student enrolled full-time at RCS and a sibling at Roseville Community Preschool also receive a 10% RCS tuition discount. The discount applies only while both siblings remain actively enrolled full-time, may be applied to only one student per family, and cannot be combined with other discounts.

Incidental and additional fees

Some field trips are booked as whole-group events; those charges are divided among all scheduled students regardless of attendance. Others are booked per child, and only attending families are charged.

Withdrawal

Withdrawal requires submission of the official RCS Withdrawal Form, which is on the Parent Portal. The effective date is the date administration receives the completed form — verbal notice, email, or informal communication does not constitute official withdrawal. Program fee obligations are independent of attendance, and charter funding delays or denials do not eliminate financial responsibility.

Full-time and multi-class enrollment (two or more classes)

Single-class enrollment

Single-class students are billed on a monthly service basis. A minimum of 30 days' written notice is required, the official Withdrawal Form from the Parent Portal must be submitted, and financial responsibility continues through the 30-day notice period. If charter funding is denied or not received, the family remains responsible for the class fee.

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Supporting children in the classroom

• Model appropriate speech and behavior at all times.
• Listen to the teacher's explanation, then help children work both cooperatively and independently.
• Respect where each child is developmentally, and let children complete tasks and succeed on their own.
• Spend time working with children other than your own.
• Expect children to do their best work and to find multiple solutions to a problem.
• Ask questions that encourage further exploration, and help children gather the materials they need.
• Check the parent responsibility list when you arrive.

How we talk with children

Some of what we ask of adults here runs against habit. These three come up most often, and understanding the reasoning makes them much easier to hold to on a busy yard.

Why we don't say "good job"

Praise like "good job," "beautiful," or "you're so smart" hands the child our judgment instead of building their own. Over time children start working for the adult reaction rather than for the thing itself, and they stop taking risks that might not earn it. What we want is a child who can look at their own work and know what they think of it.

So we describe instead of evaluate: "You worked on that for a long time." "You mixed two colors to get that green." "You got all the way to the top this time." And we ask: "Tell me about it." "What part do you like best?" "How did you figure that out?" It feels awkward at first, and it is worth it.

Why we don't make children say sorry, thank you, or hello

A forced apology teaches a child how to satisfy an adult, not how to care that someone is hurt. The word gets said, the adult moves on, and nothing has been learned about the other person.

Instead we help the child see the effect they had and take a real part in repair: "Look at her face — she's upset. What could we do to help?" Repair might be a hug, an ice pack, a drawing, or helping rebuild what was knocked down. The same goes for greetings and thank-yous. We model them constantly and we don't require them on demand. Children who see courtesy modeled adopt it genuinely — it just takes longer than compliance does.

Why we don't force sharing

When an adult takes a material from a child to give someone else a turn, the lesson is that an adult can end your work at any moment for reasons you don't control. That makes children hold materials tighter, not looser.

We use turn-taking with an ending the child decides: "She's using it right now. You can have it when she's done." Then we stay with the waiting child — that supported wait is where patience is actually built. The child using the material learns that finishing is allowed, which is what eventually makes them generous with it.

Helpful phrases by subject

• Staying on task: "Is it too distracting for you in this area? How can I help you?"
• Reading & writing: Encourage inventive spelling and self-trust. Expand a child's topic with probing questions — "What else does that character do?" "Where does your story take place?"
• Math: Ask children to check their work and to show how they solved a problem. We care more about understanding a concept than arriving at the correct answer.
• Science: Right answers are not the goal — exploration is. "What do you think about that?" "Why do you think that happened?" "What would happen if…?"
• Art: Please don't comment on, model, or standardize children's artwork. Redirect the question to the child: "Tell me about it." "How do you feel about it?" "Wow, you really spent time on that!" Art is individual expression — creation, not imitation.

Break and lunch supervision

On your participation day you will help supervise snack and lunch. Coordinate with the other adults on shift so every area of the yard has someone in it at all times, and keep moving. Please don't work on classroom projects during snack and lunch.

• Safety is the top priority — stop any unsafe behavior immediately, and ask another adult for help right away when you need it.
• Children may not climb the outside of the play structure, fences, gates, or buildings, may not climb on the playhouse roof, and may not go behind any shed.
• The first 10 minutes of lunch are for eating — the sand yard and swings are closed during this time. Students clean up, then play. No food in the sand yard.
• Children may respectfully investigate garden plants but may not climb in or on the garden beds or pick excessively.
• Water play is allowed during the lunch hour only and ends by 1:15 PM to allow for cleanup and changing into dry clothes.
• Writing or drawing on buildings, equipment, furniture, or anything else not meant to be written on is not allowed. We ask children to respect property, themselves, and one another.
• Children clean up after themselves and put belongings in their cubbies. Wipe down tables and sweep your area when children finish eating.
• Please don't use cell phones in the yard during snack and lunch unless there is an emergency.
• Announce yard cleanup ten minutes before the end of lunch; play stops while everyone cleans up. When the gong sounds, help children return to their classrooms.
• Check in with a faculty member before you leave for the day to be sure everything is covered.

Staying on campus, and the fairgrounds field

Children stay on campus at all times. An adult must escort any child to the parking lot, the preschool, or any other off-campus area.

The one exception is the fairgrounds field for an organized activity. When a group goes:

• Two adults go with the group — never one.
• Children may not run back and forth between the field and the school.
• Any child who needs the bathroom, or needs to come back for any other reason, is walked back by an adult.
• Shoes are required on the fairgrounds field — no one goes out there barefoot.

Climbing

We don't lift children into trees or onto other objects. If a child can't get up on their own, they aren't ready for that climb yet — and when they are ready, they will work out how to do it themselves. Helping a child to a height they can't reach unaided also leaves them somewhere they can't safely get down from.

The library and community room at lunch

• The library is open to students at lunch. Children choose from the sections designated for them, and any book taken must be checked out and returned by the student.
• The community room is open at lunch as a calm place to go.
• There is no tag and no running through the community room or the kitchen building.

Student responsibilities

Students have real ownership of this school, and with it real responsibility. Materials are put away neatly before moving to the next activity, and lunch cleanup is finished before outdoor play begins. Outdoor equipment is put away before leaving an area, and outdoor spaces may not be defaced. Each class brainstorms and votes on a list of classroom jobs at the start of the year, and every student cares for the classroom environment and cleans up at the end of each day.

Each classroom also designates a Class Manager and decides how the role rotates. Responsibilities might include ringing a chime for gathering, conducting class votes, representing the class, counting, and estimating. Class gathering time — songs, cooperative games, shared books — builds belonging and inclusion, and is where class business and voting happen. Student choice is a critical part of the RCS curriculum: we want students to own the decision-making process through voting, brainstorming, and negotiation.

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Conflict is a natural part of everyday life. At RCS we believe difficult situations, treated with respect and concern, are often valuable learning experiences. We encourage children to solve problems themselves with guidance from adults. Children are expected to use negotiation skills, take responsibility for their words and actions, and be involved in resolving conflict. Through this, children gain a strong voice and learn that their problems matter. We do not offer rewards or impose punishments such as timeouts to obtain a desired behavior.

How to facilitate

Allow children space to resolve a situation themselves while remaining visibly available. Be aware of your own comfort level and ask a teacher or experienced parent for help when you need it. If a situation becomes physically unsafe, step in immediately and offer separate space for each person to cool down.

Model "I messages" — "I don't like it when you use those words because it hurts my feelings" — and state the behavior you would like instead: "I would like it if we could each find a way to play in this area." Acknowledge what you hear, and ask "How can I help?"

Intervene in children's activities when you anticipate a child might be hurt, hurt someone else, or damage property. Then, without criticism or judgment, tell the child directly and positively why you stepped in: "I need to feel that you are safe, and climbing on the playhouse roof could result in an accident. Where do you think it would be safer to climb?" Always let the primary teacher know about a conflict, and respect the teacher's judgment about how and when to share it with the child's family.

Helpful phrases

Class and school meetings

Class meetings give children a safe place to express themselves, be heard by the group, and generate solutions. The purpose is to understand how we affect one another and to build personal responsibility, which is why meetings avoid assigning blame and avoid individual names. Teachers facilitate as needed and post a sign on the door indicating the class is temporarily closed.

Teachers create safety by gathering children in a circle, having one child speak at a time, holding everyone accountable for active listening, and encouraging "I" messages. Active listening means being in the group, withholding comments, turning toward the speaker, and making eye contact.

Playground expectations

Everyone speaks respectfully and takes responsibility for their words, actions, and reactions. Tackling, bullying, physical violence, destroying property, and threatening others are unacceptable. Where you can, involve older students in helping younger ones come to agreements. Play looks different from kindergarten to sixth grade — younger children are often in solitary and physical play while older children are deep in social interaction and group games — so honor each child's differing needs while holding the same expectations for everyone.

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Our traditions are how this community knows itself. Most involve families, and many need extra hands — watch the newsletter and calendar for details and sign-ups.

• Halloween — costumes, a parade through the preschool, a group photo, and caroling at a retirement community. No scary costumes or masks of any kind.
• Thanksgiving Feast — a feast for students and families about a week before Thanksgiving, with alumni families invited back.
• Winter holidays — acknowledged through teacher- and parent-generated crafts and activities. Extra family help is often needed.
• Valentine's Day — students create a valentine for every student in the school and exchange them in a ceremony chosen each year. Please don't label cards for specific people, and please don't feel pressure to include candy.
• Mother's & Father's Day — teachers collaborate on gifts for students to make and bring home.
• Camping trips — fall and/or spring, one of our favorite traditions. Meals are communal and families sign up for camp jobs. We try to minimize our impact, so bring reusable dishes and utensils.
• Swap Day — students and parents bring clothes, shoes, hats, belts, and jewelry they no longer need and arrange them like a bazaar. Take home what you like; the rest is donated to a local shelter. No toys.
• Author's Chair — students revise and publish a favorite book from their writing folder, then read it aloud to the community.
• Water/Tie-Dye Day — end-of-year field games, hoses, and buckets. Bring a pre-banded t-shirt, a change of clothes, and a towel. This day needs a lot of parent help.
• School plays — students rehearse and perform for the whole community twice a year, with a winter musical performance and a spring performance. Both follow a dress rehearsal the day before, and both are half days. Families are invited to come and watch.
• Game nights — a fall and a spring evening of games together on campus, open to the whole family.
• Graduation — a ceremony designed anew each year for its graduates, closing with each graduate and their family walking across the RCS wood bridge, which goes both ways.

Birthdays

Birthday celebrations are held once a month, when the whole school gathers to honor that month's birthday children with the Happy Birthday song in sign language and a small gift from the school. June, July, and August birthdays are celebrated as half-birthdays. If you'd like to attend, ask your child's teacher for the day and time. Birthday children may share something special with their class on their birthday; to avoid disrupting class, items are handed out at pickup.

Photos, video, and media

Internal learning documentation — private classroom platforms, portfolios, and parent communication — is permitted unless you request otherwise in writing. Your public-use preference is recorded on your Participation Agreement. Where a family declines public use, RCS makes reasonable efforts to exclude that child, though this cannot be guaranteed in group settings.

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You'll find everything there: the first and last days of school, breaks and holidays, the Fall and Spring Work Days, conference days, board meetings, buddy time, farmers markets, birthday celebrations, game nights, performances, the Crab Feed, and camping trips. Please check it before making travel plans, and check back through the year as events are added.

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Parent library

Our parent library holds excellent references on the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical growth of children. Books may be checked out for two weeks. Please return them on the due date — teaching staff use them regularly. If you find a book worth adding, let us know.

Fundraising & giving

Fundraising keeps tuition where it is and pays for the things that make this school what it is.

The Crab Feed — our largest fundraiser of the year

The Crab Feed is the single biggest fundraiser we run, and it takes the whole community to pull off. There are three ways families help, and we need people in all three:

• Ticket sales — selling to family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and anyone else who likes crab and a good cause.
• Auction donations — reaching out to local businesses to ask for auction items. If you own a business, work for one, or are a regular somewhere, that relationship is worth more than a cold call from us.
• Working the event — setup, serving, running the auction, and cleanup on the night itself.

Watch the newsletter and the Parent Portal for sign-ups as the date approaches.

RaiseRight

RaiseRight is the easiest ongoing way to help: you buy eGift cards, available instantly, and the school earns a rebate on cards you were going to buy anyway. Set up your RCS RaiseRight account through the instructions on our site.

The Art Auction, game nights, and the Makers Fair are on the calendar too, and every one of them needs volunteers.

Where to find things

• Family Dashboard — your home base: forms, newsletters, participation hour logging, and family resources
• 2026–2027 Programs — class offerings, schedules, and pricing
• Parent Participation — categories, hours, and clearance requirements
• School Calendar — the current version of every date
• Faculty & Staff — our current team
• contact@yourrcs.org — absences, pickup changes, health updates, enrollment, scheduling, and campus questions
• finance@yourrcs.org — invoices, payments, and charter fund questions
• RCSboard@yourrcs.org — the Board of Directors, for unresolved concerns and hardship requests
• Your child's teacher — email links for every teacher are on the Parent Portal page; email them directly for anything about your child's day or classroom

Parent Handbook · 2026–2027 Academic Year · Approved by the RCS Board of Directors. This handbook works alongside your signed Participation Agreement; where a specific term differs, the signed agreement governs. RCS reserves the right to modify program offerings, staffing assignments, and daily schedules as needed to meet operational needs, and no specific teacher, instructor, or program format is guaranteed.

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