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2007-2008 Handbook |
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2007-2008 Handbook |
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Absentee Policy
The safety and security of our children are of paramount interest to both parents and the schools.When a child is absent from school for any reason, he/she should submit to his/her teacher a note from home giving the reason for the absence. For the safety of your child, the school district’s policy requires the parent to contact the school nurse by telephone at 201-848-5714 before 9:00 a.m. when a child is absent. For your convenience, please leave a message on the nurse’s voice mail at any time with your child’s name, grade and reason for being absent.Whenever possible, appointments with doctors and dentists should not be made during school hours. Parents who must take youngsters on vacation are asked to notify the school in advance. Often it is impossible to give students work to do in advance of their absence. Parents should try to schedule vacations during recess periods.
Homework requests may be made on third consecutive day of absence.
Should the school NOT receive a phone call from a parent whose child is absent, a phone call will be made to the home by the school nurse. This will assure you and the school as to the whereabouts of your child.
Bicycles
Grade 4-5 students may ride their bicycles to school with parent permission. When traveling to and from school students must obey all traffic regulations and wear a bicycle helmet. N.J. State law requires children under the age of 17 to wear helmets when riding a bicycle.
The school assumes no responsibility for bicycles. However, provisions have been made to safeguard bikes by requiring them to be properly parked and locked in the school bike racks. Bicycles are never to be ridden on school grounds.
Change of Address/Telephone
It is very important that every student maintain an up-to-date address and telephone number record at the school office. Please notify the school immediately if you have a change of address, telephone, or cell phone number during the school year.
Character Education
This years' theme for Coolidge School is Manners Matters. Throughout the upcoming months we will be focussing on the variety of ways to SHOW good manners while in class, while walking in the hallway, when eating, when speaking with others, when working in a group, while playing a game or sport, while on the computer, when there is a conflict/problem with a classmate, when meeting somebody new and other topics as they arise. At the same time we will of course continue to remind our students to continue striving for COUGAR PRIDE in everything we do at Coolidge School. This means that such values as caring, organization, understanding, generosity, acceptance, respect, patience, responsibility, integrity, determination, and excellence will continue to be stressed throughout Coolidge.
Classroom Parties
Treats may be brought in for student birthdays after the date and time are cleared with the classroom teacher.
Code of Conduct
Please click here to see Coolidge School's Code of Conduct.
Dismissal Policy
If for any reason your child must leave school early, please send a note to the school with your child requesting a change in dismissal time. This must be signed by a parent.
Transportation arrangements must be made with the parents of each child involved prior to the close of the school day. Contact the school office if there are any questions regarding the transportation of a child from school.
Emergency Drills
Fire drills are conducted twice each month, as mandated by state law. Detailed escape plans are posted inside the door of each classroom. The students are instructed about the procedures of a fire drill. The school is prepared for a variety of emergency situations.
Emergency Information
In case of emergency each student is required to have on file at the school office the following information:
1. Parent(s) or guardians' name(s).
2. Complete and up-to-date address.
3. Home phone, parent(s) work phone and cell phone numbers.
4. Emergency phone number of a friend or relative.
5. Physician's name and phone number.
6. Medical alert information.
Emergency School Closings
Emergency School Closings
When road conditions at 6:00 a.m. indicate to the police that it might be advisable to keep school buses off the roads, a joint decision by the FLOW area Superintendents is made concerning the closing of schools in the regional district.
When a storm develops during the day, which may cause buses to have trouble getting children to their homes, it might be advisable to close school early. If time permits, class parents will notify parents by phone. Under such conditions, we ask that parents bear with us and be at home. Please establish with your child where he/she should go in the event that you should not be at home.
Parents may determine whether schools are to be closed in the morning by:
·Checking the district's Website- (www.wyckoffschools.org) under “Wyckoff’s Top Links” – Emergency School Closings
· Listening to commercial radio stations:
WOR AM 710 on your dial between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m. or
WINS AM 1010 on your dial between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m.;
· Calling the North Bergen County “Weather Phone” at 201-962- 8800;
· Listening for fire sirens –
6:00 a.m. --- 3 blasts
7:00 a.m. --- 3 blasts
· Telephoning 201-848-5680 from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. for tape-recorded message
indicating whether or not schools are open.
PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT CONCERNING THE CLOSING OF SCHOOL. THEY CANNOT ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND YOUR CALL COULD DELAY AN EMERGENCY.
Health Notes
1. Excuses for physical education and/or recess from parents will be honored for one
day, after that a Doctor's note is required. A note excluding a child from physical
education or recess automatically excuses them from both activities.
2. To avoid the potential of re-injury to the student along with the potential to injure
other students, students with sutures or immobilizers will be excused from physical
education and recess. They will be required to have a full medical clearance to
return to physical education and recess after their sutures or immobilizers have been
removed.
3. Medical procedures for the noted medical conditions are as follows:
* Conjunctivitis- excluded from school, to be readmitted after receiving
medication for 24 hours and drainage free.
* Pediculosis- excluded from school, may return after using the specific
pediculosis shampoo and hair is nit free.
* Strep Throat- excluded from school, may return after receiving medication for
24 hours and temperature free.
Homework
Homework is important. It is an extension of the learning that takes place in school. Homework can provide practice that reinforces classroom learning and can provide opportunities for independent study, research, and creative thinking. Parents can help their children by arranging a quiet, comfortable place for the students to work and by seeing that their assignments are complete. All students should be encouraged to read each evening.
Illness or Injury
In case of illness or injury the school nurse or a member of the school staff will care for a student temporarily. School personnel will render first aid treatment only. If emergency medical treatment is necessary the parents will be contacted. If parents are not available the student will be taken to the emergency room at the hospital. Remember, an emergency telephone number where parents can be reached and the name and telephone number of the student’s family doctor must be on file at the school.
Immunizations
State Law requires that every student who is admitted to public school must have evidence of a successful vaccination for diptheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio. Also required are a rubella/rubeola vaccination and a tuberculin skin test.
Kindergarten
Children entering kindergarten are required to be five years old on or before October 1st for the school years in which they are enrolling. Parents must bring birth certificates and immunization records in order to complete the enrollment.
Lost and Found
All clothing or lunch boxes that are found or left in the school are placed in the lost and found container in the rear of the gymnasium. Money, jewelry, or any other articles of value are turned into the office.
Lunch and Mid-Day Fitness Schedule
Mid-Day Fitness Lunch Grade 5 11:10AM-11:30AM Grade 5 11:30AM-11:50AM Grade 4 11:30AM-11:50AM Grade 4 11:50AM-12:10PM Grade 3 11:50AM-12:10PM Grade 3 12:10PM-12:30PM Grade 2 12:10PM-12:30PM Grade 2 12:30PM-12:50PM Grade 1 12:30PM-12:50PM Grade 1 12:50PM-1:10PM
Marking Periods
First Marking Period
Marking Period Ends-November 16Report Cards Go Home- November 30
Second Marking Period
Marking Period Ends-February 1Report Cards Go Home- February 15
Third Marking Period
Marking Period Ends-April 11Report Cards go Home- April 18
Fourth Marking Period
Marking Period Ends- June 13Report Cards Go Home- June 24
Morning Line-Up Procedures
Supervision begins at 8:35. Please do not drop off children prior to 8:35, as they will be unsupervised.
• Once dropped off at school children must report to their designated line up spots and remain on line. For safety reasons, children are not allowed to play on the playground, have a catch, or play “wall ball”.
• The first bell rings at 8:44. This is the "quiet" bell. When students hear this bell they are expected to face forward without talking. This will prepare them to enter the building and get ready for instruction.
• The second bell rings at 8:45. Students enter building quietly at this time with their teachers.
• The third bell rings at 8:50. This is the "late" bell. Any student entering the building after the 8:50 bell will be considered late and should report to the office for a late pass.
• Instruction and morning activities begin in all classes at 8:55.
Nurse
The nurse is responsible for the maintenance of health records, routine health checks, parental contact concerning health problems, care of minor injuries, and vision and hearing screening. Please be sure to contact the nurse if your child has any unusual health problems. Please call the school nurse if your child is absent from school due to a communicable disease. Precautions may be taken to protect other children. The nurse’s office is open daily during school hours.
Pets
No pets, of any kind, are allowed at school without permission. Per Township Ordinance, all domestic animals, leashed or unleashed, are prohibited on school property. Teachers may give special permission for pets to be brought to school as part of a special display or learning activity.
Photo Gallery
The Photo Gallery has now been updated. Please click here to take a look at some of the events that have been happening so far at Coolidge this year.
Playground Supervision
The playground is not supervised after school and the students are expected to leave for home immediately following dismissal.
P.T.O.
The Coolidge PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) is a vital component of our school. All parents are urged to become members and to actively participate. Meetings are scheduled monthly during the year and are announced several weeks in advance. They are also posted on our district calendar.
Each year the PTO sponsors several fundraising projects. With the help of all parents, these projects can be very successful. They allow the PTO to fund many important activities at the school. Please consult the web site for PTO meetings dates, a listing of officers, and a description of all committees.
Registration
To register your child in the Calvin Coolidge School, please call the school secretary at 201-848-5710 to make an appointment and to get registration forms.
Reporting Student Progress
Report cards are issued four times during the school year for Grades 1-5 and three times for kindergarten. Please carefully review your child’s progress and contact the school if you have any questions regarding grades.
Parent/teacher conferences are scheduled in November for grades 1-5 and in the fall and spring for kindergarten. A parent may request a conference with their child’s teacher at any time during the school year. Please call the school for an appointment if a conference is desired. Likewise, a teacher may sometimes find it necessary to request a special conference with a parent.
School Hours
Regular Day 8:50am-3:15pm
AM Kindergarten 8:50am-11:35am
PM Kindergarten 12:30pm-3:15pm
Line up bell 8:40am
Students enter building 8:45am
Late bell 8:50am
Minimum Day Schedule 8:50am-1:05pm
AM & PM Kindergarten (Minimum Day) 8:50am-11:35am
Any student entering the building after the 8:50 bell will be considered late and should report to the office for a late pass. Students arriving late to school not only lose valuable class time, but also disrupt classroom instruction for other students. The principal will meet with the parents of those students who are chronically late and assign appropriate disciplinary action, possibly including recess and after school detention.
Tardiness
Prompt arrival at school is expected of all students. Late arrival disrupts class and causes loss of instruction time. Any student who arrives at school after 8:50 a.m. is considered tardy and should report to the main office for a pass. Excessive and habitual tardiness will result in disciplinary measures.
Telephone
The office telephone is a business phone and is not to be used by students, except in an emergency. Students are not allowed to use the phone to make personal arrangements (such as requesting permission to go to another students’ home after school). Parents are also requested not to ask the secretarial staff to make play date arrangements for their children. Such activity causes a disruption in the learning environment of our classrooms.
Visitors
All visitors, including parent volunteers, are required to report to the school office upon entering the building. Visitors will receive a badge designating them as a visitor, volunteer, or substitute.
All lunches brought to school should be placed on the lunch table in the front lobby.
All other items to be delivered to children such as birthday treats, instruments, books and sneakers should be taken to the School Office. Care should be taken to ensure that your child has all necessary items with him or her when leaving for school in the morning. Delivering items to children in the classroom causes an unnecessary disruption of classroom activities.
Web Site
Please consult our web site for up to date and detailed information about upcoming events, classroom activities, and announcements.
