Monthly Attendance Awards 🏆

Congratulation Mrs. Higgins' (Lower Grade) and Mrs. Johnson's (Upper Grade) classes for having the best attendance in the month of August!  

Keep up the good work All Stars!!  

Walk to School Day — October 7th

Students can meet at one of our designated meeting locations at 7:30 a.m., where Dr. Robles or Mr. Kaplan will be waiting to lead the group walk to school.  Students, lace up your walking shoes, and start the school day together with friends! We look forward to seeing you there! 

Action Required: Annual Mandated Reporter Training (SB 848) required for Tier 1 Volunteers

Annual Mandated Reporter Training (SB 848) now required for ALL Tier 1 Volunteers 

Under the provisions of Senate Bill 848, all Tier I volunteers are now required to complete Mandated Reporter training on an annual basis. The requirement is for both current and new volunteer applicants. Tier 1 volunteers may have unsupervised contact with students and can include coaches, field trip chaperones/drivers, and tutors. Tier 1 volunteers undergo a more rigorous process before being approved. This process includes getting fingerprinted through the Department of Justice/FBI and completing Mandated Reporter training annually. 

NEW Tier 1 Volunteers, please follow the steps outlined here:

To prevent unnecessary processing delays, NEW volunteers must complete the clearance process in this exact sequence:

1. Register Online: Complete initial registration through the district website.

2. Get Fingerprinted: Obtain fingerprinting via Live Scan.

3. Complete ASCIP Online Training: Finish the required Mandated Reporter online training module (detailed ASCIP Self-Registration Instructions below).

4. Verify Clearance: Check directly with the school site to confirm clearance status before beginning service.  Please fill out the Orange Form at the office.

CRITICAL REQUIREMENT: Do NOT distribute Live Scan applications to volunteers before they have completed online registration. Skipping or reordering these steps will cause significant delays in their clearance.

Both NEW and CURRENT Tier 1 Volunteers should follow the steps below to access and complete the training requirement: 

ASCIP Self-Registration Instructions

1. Click on the following link: ASCIP E-Learning Self-Registration

2. Under Member District, click the drop-down arrow, select Capistrano Unified School District, and click Next (selecting a site/location is optional).

3. Enter your First and Last Name.

4. Click the box titled New Hire and select Volunteer.

5. Enter your personal email address in the Primary Email Address field and click Save.

6. Your account will be reviewed by a district administrator. Once approved, you will receive a welcome email from ehelp@ascip.org containing an activation link (active for 24 hours).

7. Click the link to set up your password (minimum 8 characters; must include 1 uppercase letter, 1 lowercase letter, 1 number, and 1 special character) and acknowledge the terms.

8. On My Dashboard, complete the assigned Mandated Reporter course. (Note: The course includes audio, so please ensure your speakers are turned on.)

Contact Information for Questions

• Volunteer Process Questions: Kristen Osterfeld at 949-234-9380

• ASCIP Registration Questions: Rebecca Evenson at 949-234-9341

The training must be completed by September 30, 2026. Once you have finished the course, our team will be automatically notified. We will update your volunteer profile to ensure your school site knows you are cleared and ready to help. You can check in with the front office to confirm your clearance.  Volunteers who have not completed the training by September 30, 2026 will have their Tier 1 status suspended until it is complete. 

We truly appreciate your cooperation in keeping our students safe. If you have any questions during this process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Kathy Havard at (949) 234-9409 or kmhavard@capousd.org.

Parking lot safety 🚨

Please follow parking lot guidelines:

• Parking Spaces: Parking spaces in the parking lot are for staff only.

• TK/Kinder: No TK or Kinder student will be allowed to be picked up through the carline flow of traffic. Park your car on the street and walk to the blue gate to drop-off and pick-up your TK/Kinder student.  Parents/Guardians must show their pink badge to pick up their students [provided by teacher on the 1st day of school]. TK/Kinder students will not be released to anyone who does not have the proper pink badge.

• First Graders: Students will use the blue gate by the front office for arrival and dismissal.  Carline is an option for arrival and dismissal.  If using the carline, DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR, students will walk to you at dismissal.  Older siblings are allowed to pick up their first grade sibling and walk to the carline at dismissal.

• Follow the Traffic Flow: Please adhere to the marked traffic patterns and follow the directions of the traffic flow. Do not enter the parking lot through the staff entrance.  

• Use Designated Areas: Drop-off and pick-up should only occur in the designated areas. Do not stop or park in the carline drop-off & pick-up red curb in front of the school.  

• Remain in Your Vehicle: For the safety of your child and to keep the line moving, please remain in your vehicle during drop-off and pick-up. Staff members will be available to assist students as needed.  

• Be Mindful of Time: Arrive promptly during the designated drop-off and pick-up times. Early or late arrivals can cause unnecessary congestion and delays. Tardies for students begin when the gates close, which is promptly at 7:45am.

• Avoid Using Phones: For safety reasons, please refrain from using your phone while driving through the parking lot. 

• Follow Staff Instructions: Our staff members are there to assist with the smooth operation of the parking lot at dismissal time. Please follow their instructions and be courteous.

• Crossing Safety: Please ensure students use designated crosswalks and follow the directions of the crossing guards.

For detailed pictures and instruction, please visit our website: Oak Grove Parking Etiquette 

E-Bicycle Safety

• Students in grades 3-5 may complete the CUSD bicycle safety course in order to obtain a permit to ride an e-bicycle to school. 

• Students in grades K-2 may complete the CUSD bicycle safety course in order to obtain a permit for a traditional pedal bicycle. For younger students, riding to and from school with adult supervision is strongly recommended.

• Class 3 e-bicycles are not permitted for students under 16 years old. Only Class 1 and Class 2 e-bicycles may be ridden to school for students under 16 years old.  Additional information about class 1, 2, and 3 e-bicycles can be found HERE.

• No elementary students may ride a powered scooter/e-scooter to school.  You must have a valid driver’s license in order to operate an e-scooter.   California vehicle code requires operators of motorized scooters to possess a valid driver's license.

• All students riding an e-bicycle and/or bicycle must wear a helmet at all times.  Helpful safety tips for e-bicycle/bicycle riders can be found HERE.  

CUSD is committed to ensuring the safety of students who commute to and from school on e-bicycles and bicycles.  The District is continuing its partnership with the California Highway Patrol and with Providence Mission Hospital on a proactive approach designed to address student safety concerns, align with District Board Policy 5142.2, and promote responsible riding practices. Information about the E-Bicycle/Bicycle Districtwide Safety Program can be accessed below.  

Additional information can be found below:

CUSD E-Bicycle/Bicycle Safety Introduction

CUSD E-Bicycle/Bicycle Safety Introduction (Spanish) 

E-Bicycle/Bicycle Progressive Discipline

E-Bicycle/Bicycle Progressive Discipline (Spanish)