Frequently Asked Questions

District calendar

Q: Are you the only K-8 in the district?

A: Yes, currently Stewart is the only one.

Q: Do the older kids get involved with the younger ones?

A: No, only as cross age tutors occasionally. Our 6-8 middle school section has a master schedule that runs in such a way as to miss most of the times when the elementary section, K-5 is out.

Q: How does it work?

A: Middle school classes are all together in one area. Students have passing periods and regular middle school schedules. Because we are small, electives are very, very limited, but the students do have the opportunity for Band, Spanish, and the eighth graders do have a computer class which meets their graduation requirement.

Q: How to the students do with this model, especially the younger ones?

A: They do fine. The younger ones continue with their normal education and get a little look at what a middle school schedule looks like. They also get a chance to see the teachers they will get if they stay here through middle school. It provides a certain sense of safety and security as they KNOW their middle school teachers before they ever have them. The middle school students score well on state tests in comparison with our other middle schools and have a high passage rate on the CAHSEE. Further they have a greater feeling of community because of the length of time they've been here. They do well at high school getting around campus as they are already involved with passing periods and middle school changes in routines. Further, since we are small, students and parents have a better opportunity to interact and communicate with staff. Communication is easier to maintain. Teachers know the students from the time they started here and students know the same of teachers.

Q: If we transfer here, do we get to stay for middle school?

A: Once you are accepted here on transfer, barring any behavior, attendance, or academic difficulties, students are allowed to stay until they choose to move or until they reach eighth grade.

Q: If we wish to transfer, how easy is it to get in?

A:There is usually a long waiting list from sixth grade on, so you will really struggle getting into Stewart if you wait that long. Parents usually start the getting on the list the first day transfer options open up.

Q. When is it best to transfer to Stewart?

A.The later you transfer, the less you truly benefit from a K-8. Students who have not been here for part of elementary gain few of the benefits of the K-8. It is simply a mini-middle school to them. Though some students need this, and thrive with that situation, the K-8 configuration works best when the students have established themselves here in the elementary levels. They generate a network of friends they can carry into high school, understand the procedures and expectations of the school, and have lots of time to see the setup, the teachers, and get to know the office staff and the principal. This is what makes them feel safer, more secure, as well as gets them rooted into the environment so the middle school years aren't so overwhelming.

Q.) What is your uniform?

A: A brief summary:

• Shirts must be polo or dress-type with a collar. They can be any color but red and can be tucked in or worn out so long as the bottom of the shirt does not pass the mid-hip area.
• Pants, skirts, skorts, jumpers, or shorts must be either blue, black, or khaki and any shorts, skirts, jumpers, or skorts must be no shorter than two horizontal fingers above the knee. All of these must also be worn at the belly-button level.
• Closed toed shoes and no head-gear. No large jewelry or dangling earrings or hoops as we do not have lockers for gym. Students have to be dressed appropriately to participate.

You might also like to know:

• Lunch money can be sent in any day but we ask that parents try to send in milk and/or lunch money on Wednesdays. Middle school has a different lunch program that K-5 and currently costs $2.00, while K-5 is $1.75.
• PTA provides hotdog day on Wednesdays
• PTA NEWSETTE comes out monthly and includes long range dates, lists of special events, and a calendar for the upcoming month.
• PTA bimonthly has citizenship, achievement and most improved awards for students K-5, where the students receive a certificate, a pin with their picture and the group picture goes in the yearbook.
• Tutoring is available with each teacher, as well as on certain days after school and/or before school.
• There is also ELD tutorials going and our Spanish teacher provides translations as needed for parents so that they can be active participants here at Stewart.
• Middle School is 6-8 and has its awards and promotional activities at the end of the year as all middle schools do.
• Our construction is currently being completed.We plan to be back in our office by next year so the gates will be closed at the start of each day and everyone that wants to visit will come through the office. This is done to increase the safety of our children and we have a seat wall around the front area where you can wait if you wish.
• Middle School has a leadership club , and a history club. Alternating years the history club goes back east to actually visit historical sites and take walks through some of our governmental offices. One trip the students actually got to visit with Congressman Miller. Parents usually start saving the year before, so the costs are spread out and not so much fund-raising is required.