PS 20M
PARENT HANDBOOK
Policies and Procedures
2007-2008
ATTENDANCE:
There is a clear link between attendance and success at school which makes it essential that regular attendance be maintained. All families must make every effort to have their children present everyday, and arrive at school on time. Please be mindful that student attendance is monitored daily by the school and the New York City Department of Education (DOE). Additionally, excessive absences or lateness will be noted in the child’s report card.
When a child is absent, a written explanation for the absences, including religious absences, should accompany the student when returning to school. A note is also required whenever a child is to be excused from school early. The school requests that parents do not make medical, dental, or other appointments for students during school hours. If such an appointment is absolutely unavoidable, it is advisable to make it near the beginning or end of the school day. Additionally, you must notify the school in advance of picking up your child. For example, if you child will be picked up at 2:30 PM for a doctors appointment, you must tell the school on the morning of that appointment.
A student arriving after 8:40 A.M. is considered LATE. He/she must get a late pass from the school aide at the front desk. For safety reasons, parents can not escort their children to classes. If children are late, they will be taken to class by a school aide.
BATHROOM:
Students are encouraged to use the bathroom after eating breakfast and lunch, so as to avoid them missing any instructional time. If your child has a health condition that requires frequent use of the bathroom, please notify the school nurse with a note from your pediatrician.
BIRTHDAY PARTIES:
We are often asked, “Can I celebrate my child’s birthday in his class?” The policies regarding birthday celebrations and treats vary by class. In general, however, when they occur, birthday celebrations are limited to the last 45 minutes of the school day. If you wish to have a classroom celebration for your child, you must check with your child’s teacher to determine how to best handle the party. She/He will alert you to any potential conflicts with the instructional program, and any food restrictions, if any exist, due to any allergies children in the class may have. If you host a party for your child, we also kindly ask that you be mindful of what is generally understood as appropriate nutritional practices to maintain a healthy child.
BREAKFAST:
Breakfast is served from 7:50 A. M. - 8:35 A.M. There is school staff to supervise students at these times only. Please do not leave your child in the cafeteria unattended until 7:50 A.M. All students are expected to follow cafeteria rules at all times. If school staff observes a student regularly displaying disorderly conduct during breakfast the school will ask that the parent sit with their child until the class room teacher arrives for pick up at 8:40 A.M.
BOOKS:
All books must be covered with book jackets. A fee will be charged for lost books: $15.00 for Workbooks and $30.00 for Textbooks.
BUS INFORMATION:
The Department of Education (DOE) provides transportation for elementary students (grades K – 3) who live 1.0 miles or more from school and/or who must walk along a designated hazardous route. Designated hazardous walking routes have been identified by the DOE already. Bus stops are established for the common convenience and safety of the greatest number of students. Students who are eligible for a bus will be identified automatically by the Department of Education and the Office of Pupil Transportation. If your child is eligible for bus services, please leave word with the parent coordinator, Tracey Arrington. She will get back to you and let you know if your child qualifies. For more information call the DOE Office of Pupil Transportation at (718) 392-8855 or check the website: http://www.opt-osfns.org/opt/.
CLASS PLACEMENT:
Many factors are taken into consideration when a child is placed with a teacher in a classroom. These include input from the teachers, principal, guidance counselor, and additional staff (art, music, the School Based Support Team, etc.). We also consider parental input, as appropriate.
Every attempt is made to balance classes by considering criteria such as the number of male and female students, range of abilities, personalities, student relationships, special needs students, learning styles, and other such needs. Please consider that all these factors have been considered before you choose to request that the school reconsider a placement. We also ask that you remember that, like you, in making our assignments, we have the best service for your child in mind.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION:
If a child has a problem with another student at PS 20, and he/she can not resolve it on his/her own, the child has several options. If he/she is in the school yard, the child can turn to a Conflict Resolution Monitor. These are specially trained peer, assigned to every lunch period, who serve as mediators between children who are experiencing a conflict. If a Conflict Resolution Monitor can not help solve the problem, they will bring the children to an adult. Alternatively, a child can go directly to any adult in the building. A child can not hit another child to resolve a problem. Physical violence, of any sort, is not permitted at PS 20, and will be subject to disciplinary actions, as outlined in the Chancellor’s Discipline Code. You can read the Discipline Code online at:
http://schools.nyc.gov/Parents/Essentials/School+Safety/default.htm
DISCIPLINE:
One of the most important lessons education should foster is self-discipline. It is the training that develops self-control, character, orderliness, and efficiency. It is the key to health and safety, productive schoolwork, and consideration of the rights, property and safety of others.
Proper discipline is a major part of the classroom teacher's responsibility. If your child has a minor discipline problem, expect that it will be handled by the teacher within the classroom framework. Discipline problems considered chronic and/or severe, however, will be reported to the Guidance Office. In resolving disciplinary infractions, the teacher may contact a student's parents and conduct a conference to help address any discipline issues. In the case of chronic problems, the Guidance Office may do the same.
In accordance with the values of the PS 20 community and the standards for behavior set forth by the New York City DOE in the Chancellor’s Discipline Code, (which can be accessed at <http://schools.nyc.gov/Parents/Essentials/School+Safety/default.htm>), we expect pupils to treat each other with civility and respect, and prohibits acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying of pupils by school employees, other pupils, or third parties. An incidence of such behavior needs to be reported to your child’s teacher immediately. If the teacher is not available, you must speak to the Guidance Office, Parent Coordinator, and/or administrators – the principal or assistant principal.
The expectations for student behavior are clearly outlined in the PS 20
Student Disciplinary Contract. Your child and you will receive a copy of the contract. The classroom teacher will review the contract with the class, and we ask that you please also review it when your child takes it home. We also request that you sign the contract with your child, to acknowledge that you’ve received and read the document.
DISMISSAL:
|
GRADE |
TIME |
PLACE |
|
PRE – K |
2:50pm |
Auditorium |
|
KINDERGARTEN |
2:50pm |
Exit # 1 on Essex Street |
|
1 &2 |
3:00pm |
Exit # 3 on Essex Street |
|
3, 4, and 5 |
3:00pm |
Exit # 6/7on Norfolk Street |
*Bus Students dismissal time 2:40 p.m.
All children must be picked up on time after school. If you are unable to pick up your child at dismissal time, please call the school. Additionally, if someone other than the person who will normally pick up your child is coming to pick him/her up, please send the teacher a note with the name of the person authorized to pick up your child on that day. On Half Days all students have an early dismissal. Early dismissal is at 11:30 A.M. on half days. On such days, children will exit through the exits they would normally use for a 3:00 PM dismissal.
Please be aware that any child left at the school for an extended period of time may be taken to Police Precinct #7 located at 19 Pitt Street, New York, NY 10002. The precinct’s phone number is (212) 477-7311.
DRESS CODE:
Students should remember that their clothing choice should not distract attention from learning and should promote safety. Hats, coats, jackets, sunglasses, and other paraphernalia designed primarily for outdoor wear must be stored while at school. They can not be worn during the day in school.
Clothing worn to school should be clean, neat, and in good taste. Abbreviated clothing or clothing which contains profane or inappropriate language with references to, for example, violence, or which is demeaning to specific groups, is unacceptable. The school reserves the right to inform parents of clothing that is not suitable or permissible for the school environment.
Appropriate footwear should be worn for Physical Education/Gym class as well as outdoor recess play. The principal reserves the right to ban inappropriate footwear for safety reasons, e.g. flip-flops on stairwells, or roller shoes in the hallways.
EMERGENCIES (STUDENT):
PS 20 has an Emergency Crisis Plan in place for emergencies, which is approved by the DOE. As part of this plan, the Student Emergency Contact Sheet provides the necessary information for the schools to contact families in case of students who have emergencies, accidents, or illnesses. Each child must have a Student Emergency Contact Sheet on file at the school office. Parents need to notify the school immediately if any changes need to be made to the Student Emergency Contact Sheet. Parents also need to ensure that their child understands what to do in case of an emergency. As early as kindergarten, parents need to begin helping their children memorize their full name, along with the names of their primary care giver (mother, father, or other), as well as their address and phone number.
We make provisions for every kind of emergency, including cases where our building is not safe for students. These include situations like fire or threats to the building’s structural integrity. We can thankfully report that we have never had to evacuate our building. However, rest assured, we are prepared for such contingencies, should the safety of your children and our staff require it.
If the building has to be evacuated, our children and staff will move to the following locations:
First: Marta Valle, HS
145 Stanton Street if Marta Valle is not available
Secondly: PS 63
East 3rd Street if PS 63 is not available
Thirdly: University Settlement
196 Eldridge Street
EXTENDED DAY SESSIONS:
Extended session runs from Monday to Thursday between the hours of 8:00am to 8:37am. Each class room teacher will identify a few students who need to participate in extended day sessions.
FIELD TRIPS:
Classes are taken on field trips in order to provide outside educational experiences. When extensive trips are planned, the parents or guardians will be asked to sign a permission slip before the trip. They also are asked to sign a general permission form at the beginning of the school year for trips within the local area.
FIRE DRILLS:
Fire drills will be held on a regular basis based on the guidelines issued by the New York City Department of Education. Absolute silence is required during fire drills so students may listen for teacher instruction. Talking during a fire drill will result in disciplinary action, since this child is endangering his/her life and the lives of others.
FOOD ALLERGIES:
PS 20 would like to raise every parent’s level of awareness with regard to the food allergic and diabetic children who are in our school. For these students, food can represent a danger and must be carefully monitored. The welfare and safety of all of our students is our top priority.
It is the family’s responsibility to notify the school of a child’s allergies. The family and school team will then work together to develop a plan that accommodates the child’s needs throughout the school day. When all parents and school personnel work collaboratively, they can ease the burden of food allergies for the school-age child.
graduations:
Parents of students in Pre-K, Kindergarten, and 5th grade, can expect ceremonies to mark these important transitions. In the case of Pre-K and K, these events are referred to as “moving up” ceremonies. They are organized primarily by teachers, and all parents will be invited.
The 5th grade ceremony is a formal graduation. It is given this distinction because it is our terminal grade. The graduation is organized by a designated staff member, Mr. Jerry Kerne, and 5th grade teachers, under the supervision of the principal. A fee termed “graduation dues” will be charged to 5th grade families, to subsidize the graduation and other activities (an overnight trip, parties, cap and gown, as well as a digital year book).
HOMEWORK:
Homework assigned in school involves students in practice, preparation and extension activities. Practice assignments provide students with opportunities to reinforce newly acquired skills or to apply recent learning. Assignments guide students in obtaining sufficient background information to be prepared for the following day’s discussions and other class work. Extension assignments take students beyond the work begun in class and encourage individualized and often creative responses. In addition to assigned homework, students are expected to spend some time each day involved with self-selected library books, reading silently for increasingly sustained periods, reading to others, being read to, or sharing what has been read.
Parents can help with homework by showing a positive interest in it, encouraging their children while avoiding undue pressure, and providing a suitable place and quiet time for work. The number of assignments will vary according to the grade and teacher. Concerns regarding homework assignments should first be communicated directly to the classroom teacher, and not to the child.
Lost and Found:
The school is not responsible for personal property that is lost, stolen, or damaged. Children are encouraged not to bring articles to school that have significant monetary or sentimental value, or that could potentially be dangerous to themselves or others. If students leave anything behind at school, they should check the school’s lost and found bin, in the main office, as soon as possible. Please remember to label any item of clothing that your child may remove during the school day.
LUNCH:
All students must eat a school lunch or bring a bag lunch from home. No glass bottles are allowed. Students cannot leave the school building to buy lunch at a store. Parents cannot bring food to their children during the lunch period. Parents are not allowed in the lunchroom during lunch for safety reasons.
Lunch schedule:
|
Grade |
Time |
|
1 & 3 |
11:15 am to 12:05 pm |
|
2 & 4 |
11:45 am to 12:35 pm |
|
Pre-Kindergarten & 5 |
12:15 pm to 1:05 pm |
|
Kindergarten |
12:25 pm to 1:30 pm |
MORNING LINE UP:
Students are assigned an area where teachers will pick them up. They are as follows:
|
Grade |
Time |
|
1 & 2 |
Cafeteria |
|
3, 4, & 5 |
School Yard |
|
Pre-K |
Gymnasium |
|
Kindergarten |
Classroom |
OFFICE HOURS:
The office is generally open from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Any special forms, such as a verification of your child’s attendance, or “Face to Face” letters are available from 9:00 am to 10:30 am, Monday to Friday. If you need any forms prepared by the office, please notify the school 3 business days in advance of the time you’ll need it. You can do that by seeing the school secretary or parent coordinator.
The principal is available to see parents every week, on Wednesday from 8:40 am to 11:00 am, and by appointment. You can make an appointment to see the principal by contacting the parent coordinator, Tracey Arrington.
PARENT BEHAVIOR:
As models for the children, we kindly remind all our families that adults must display appropriate behavior at school. While in the school building, parents are expected to observe the common courtesies that are in the spirit of respect and good community. They should refrain from using profane or obscene language or gestures, even if they think they may not be in view or earshot of a child.
If a parent notices a problem, that problem should be discussed with the child’s teacher. In cases where a conflict exists, parents should not question other children or other adults. Rather, we ask that you avail yourself of those people at school who are here to help you. They include, as mentioned above, your child’s teacher. Additionally, you can count on the parent coordinator, principal, assistant principal, and guidance counselor.
The school reserves the right to remove from school, or otherwise limit the access of, any adult who does not observe proper behavior, or otherwise poses a threat to the well-being of members of our community.
Physical Education Requirements:
Participation: Students are expected to be prepared for and participate in every physical education class. A doctor’s note is required if a pupil is excused from participation for an extended period of time. Please have your physician forward a statement describing the condition and any limitations for your child to the school nurse’s office. The information will be forwarded to the physical education teacher and will assist us in working with you and your child.
PS 20 requires all pupils to wear appropriate physical education attire. This attire, in some cases, will be different from normal school attire. Past experiences have shown that success and safety is best achieved if clothing is comfortable and allows freedom of movement without distraction. All jewelry should be removed before physical education class. Additionally, longer hair should be tied back so as not to limit vision. Footwear that is designed for physical education and athletic use and stays on the feet is best. Sneakers that can be tied or have Velcro are the safest and are the required. For safety reasons, we do not recommend elastic, slip-on or zippered sneakers.
Playground Rules:
After lunch the students usually go out on the playground unless excused by a doctor. Supervision is provided. On stormy days arrangements are made for the students to be indoors. Students should dress appropriately on days when they will be outside.
Procedures for Days with Citywide Emergencies,
Extreme CONDITIONS or MAJOR Storm Days:
This section is to explain the procedures PS 20 will follow in case there are citywide emergencies, extreme conditions, or a major storm day. In such cases, the Chancellor will make an announcement, to all public schools in the city, as to whether he will close schools or delay their opening. This announcement is made in consultation with other City Officials, such as the mayor.
All authorized delayed openings will result in a 2 hour delay, moving the start of day to 10:30 am In case of emergency conditions or a major storm day, the decision is announced on the 311 information line, on the Department of Education website, http://www.nycenet.edu/, and on the following radio stations in the city: WINS (1010 AM), WCBS (880 AM), WLIB (1190 AM), WBLS (107.5 FM), WNYE (91.5 FM); as well as the following television stations: WCBS (Channel 2), WNBC (Channel 4), WNYW (Fox Channel 5), WABC (Channel 7), WNYE (Channel 25), and “NY 1” (Channel 1 on cable television).
When there is an authorized citywide school closing or delayed school opening, all field trips, all after-school programs will be cancelled unless the Chancellor makes an announcement to the contrary. When there is an authorized citywide delayed school opening, school buses will run, but their arrival times will be delayed by two hours. It is expected that when there is a delayed opening, students will be in school until their regular dismissal time. However, if citywide emergency conditions or a storm worsen, the Chancellor may have to announce an early dismissal. The Chancellor will notify bus services of the earlier dismissal schedule.
Please note that you must have listed a relative, friend or neighbor on the schools “EMERGENCY CONTACT SHEET” for cases such as days with city-wide emergencies or major storm days. Schools are not authorized to release pupils to persons not listed on that sheet, and will not do so. You should make certain that the list is up-to-date. If your child takes a school bus, school staff will remain in school with the bused children until buses arrive for dismissal or until your child is picked up.
recess:
Children, weather permitting, will be outdoors for recess everyday. As the weather drops during the winter months please remember that all students can, and generally will, enjoy recess outdoors. Children benefit from vigorous exercise and should be given the opportunity to play outside whenever possible. Different from popular opinion, fresh air, the 15 or so minutes recess usually lasts, has definite benefits.
Rest assured, a number of factors, including temperature, wind speed, and precipitation, will go into determining whether outdoor play is appropriate in cold weather. For example, outside play on a sunny, windless day may be appropriate even when the temperature is below 32 degrees. Likewise, it may not be appropriate for children to go out on a very windy day, even if its 45 degrees.
Student Records:
Student records are collected, maintained, and used in accordance with state regulations and DOE policy. The school maintains two types of student records. They are the Cumulative Record and the School Based Support Team (SBST) record; both are available for review by parents upon specific request. Parents should contact the pupil personnel secretary to see the Cumulative Record, and the IEP Teacher to see an SBST record.
Student Use of the School Telephone:
In case of an emergency, students may use the telephones in the school’s main office.
Elementary students are discouraged from bringing cell phones to school. If cell phones are brought to school and used inappropriately, they will be confiscated. For more than fifteen years, students have been prohibited from bringing cell phones, iPods, or other electronic communication, and entertainment devices to school. Bringing these items to school is a violation of the Discipline Code.
SCHOOL HOURS:
Children should not arrive at school before 7:50am. There is no adult supervision before that time. School hours for children are as follows:
|
7:50 A.M. |
Entry for school breakfast and extended day |
|
8:40 a.m. |
Class Begins |
|
2:50 p.m. |
Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Dismissal |
|
3:00 p.m. |
Dismissal |
TOYS:
Candy, games, yo-yos, walkmans, discmans, MP3s, beepers, cell phones, excessive cash, etc. are not permitted in school. Parents will be notified if their child has one of these items. If notified parents must come in to collect the item. Please note that the school is NOT responsible if these items are lost.
Traffic:
The safety of every child in school is of great concern to all school personnel. The need for safety is not limited to the school grounds. Children are in need of constant reminders from both the school and home to cross at intersections or corners, and to listen to the crossing guards.
When dropping off or picking up your child, please make sure to keep the area immediately outside the exits open, so classes can easily walk out. Additionally, if you pick up your child by car, it is vital that drivers do not double park in front of the school. This can block the school bus, and generally inhibit access to the school entrance.
Transfer from PS 20 and/or NYC Public Schools:
Notice of transfer to another school should be given to the building principal in advance. Parents can do this by completing the appropriate “intent to move” form, available in the main office. Student records may not be released to families. The student’s academic and health records can only be mailed directly to the receiving NYC public school, when that school requests them.
Vandalism:
If a child damages, defaces, or loses school materials or property, his/her family will be asked to reimburse the school for the loss or damage. Parents are asked to help their children learn to take responsibility for the good care of school items.
Visiting the School:
Between the hours of 8:40 a.m. and 3 p.m. each day, all side doors of the schools are locked from the outside for security reasons. Visitors must use the main/front door, which is kept open. The only exception to this rule is during lunch hours, when the school yard door is open, and the main door is closed. All parents and visitors to PS 20 are required to report to the school safety agent upon entering the building, with picture identification. This provides protection for the students and avoids disruption of the educational process. Additionally, no parents or guardians are allowed to wait for any period of time, in any part of the building. This includes the periods just before the beginning of the school day, and just before or after the school day ends.
Parents are not permitted to come to the classroom while school is in session. We have learned that visits to a class interrupt the classroom activities. As such, it is unfair to children because they become distracted from the learning process. Items such as books, coats, lunches, and backpacks brought in for children should be left in the office with the school secretary. The secretary will get them to the child.
Teachers are not available for unscheduled conferences. If you wish to schedule a conference with your child’s teacher, leave a message with the teacher in the main office, speak to the Parent Coordinator, or Guidance Office.