Together We Make a Difference
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PARENT HANDBOOK 2011-2012 WANTAGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 1765 Beech Street Wantagh, New York 11793-3456 A New York State Blue Ribbon School of Excellence National Excellence in Education Award, United States Department of Education Redbook Magazine National Recognition for Overall Education “Together We Make a Difference” Board of Education Mr. William Russack, President Mr. Robert Leuchtmann, Vice President Mr. Michael Cucci, Trustee Ms. Jean Quinn, Trustee Mr. Michael Soethout, Trustee Administration Dr. Lydia Begley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Superintendent of Schools Dr. Maureen Appiarius. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant to the Superintendent of Instruction Ms. Dana DiCapua. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Superintendent for Business Ms. Carolyn Breivogel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Principal, Senior High School Mr. James Brown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Principal, Senior High School Mrs. Dawn Matrochano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Principal, Middle School Mr. Anthony Ciuffo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant Principal, Middle School Mrs. Maureen Goldberg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Principal, Forest Lake Elementary School Dr. Lynne D’Agostino. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Principal, Mandalay Elementary School Dr. Donald Sternberg, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Principal, Wantagh Elementary School District Directors Ms. Jennifer Keane. . . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Physical Education, Athletics, and Health Ms. Kathy Cahill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Science and Technology Education Ms. Rebecca Chowske . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director of ELA Mr. Louis Hirschfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..Interim Director of Pupil Personnel Services Mr. Donald Murphy . . . . . Director of Information Systems & Instructional Technology Mr. Frank Muzio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Guidance WANTAGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STAFF DIRECTORY 2011-12 Dr. Donald Sternberg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Principal KINDERGARTEN Florio, Jennifer [Mrs.] Hermanns, Barbara [Mrs.] McDonnell, Patricia [Mrs.] Parent, Linda [Mrs.] 106 107 104 105 GRADE 1 Cohen, Cathy [Mrs.] Lennon, Tracey [Mrs.] Lorentzen, Karen [Mrs.] Moran, MaryBeth [Mrs.] Prinz, Amanda [Mrs.] Shevlin, Elizabeth [Mrs.] Snyder, Melissa [Mrs.] 110 202 201 213 207 111 103 GRADE 2 Baker, Joanna [Ms.] Berge, Susan [Mrs.] Dickmann, Eileen [Mrs.] Espinosa, Laura [Mrs.] Hansen, Lisa [Mrs.] O’Donovan, Kathleen [Mrs.] 208 101 210 205 204 203 GRADE 3 Ankeles, Marge [Mrs.] Basedow, Christina [Mrs.] Carr, Susan [Mrs.] Diesso, Danielle [Mrs.] Geffner, Stacie [Mrs.] Magoloff, Patricia [Mrs.] Voight, Lindsay [Mrs.] 121 125 120 119 127 117 123 GRADE 4 Allison, Anne [Mrs.] Brown, Dawn [Mrs.] Cacioppo, Christy [Ms.] Hobbes, Kathleen [Mrs.] Horan, Erika [Mrs.] Kerge, Karen [Mrs.] Ko, Mary [Mrs.] 216 214 215B 219 222 217 218 GRADE 5 Easter, Karen [Mrs.] DeLauro, Diana [Ms.] Ferrara, Elisa [Mrs.] Hobbes, John [Mr.] McKeefrey, Kathryn [Mrs.] Mooney, Amanda [Mrs.] Murphy, Gail [Ms.] Weiss, Traci [Ms.] 124 212B 221 220 215A 122 225 223 SUPPORTIVE MATH Berna, Donna [Mrs.] Douglas, Kathleen [Mrs.] 211B 209A SUPPORTIVE READING Douglas, Kathleen [Mrs.] McKay, Ellen [Mrs.] Sessa, Elizabeth [Mrs.] Stern, Ellen [Mrs.] Vanorden, Michele [Mrs.] Warner, Melissa [Ms.] 209A 209C 206 212A 209B 211C RESOURCE ROOM Puliafico, Patricia [Mrs.] 211A ESL Evert, Marisa [Ms.] [PT] 211C PSYCHOLOGIST Friedman, Nicole [Ms.] Protzel, Meredith [Dr.] 112 118B NURSE Defonte, Lori [Mrs.] Falco, Deborah [Ms.] [P/T] Health Office Health Office SPEECH Locke, Laura [Mrs.] Tauber, Jaymie [Ms.] Wojcicki, Elizabeth [Ms.} 118C 118A 117A ART Douglas, Natalie [Mrs.] 113 MUSIC Annunziata, Angelo [Mr.]--Vocal Cockren, Christopher [Mr.] -- Band Marinis, Elizabeth [Mrs.] -- Vocal McDonnell Patrick [Mr.]—Orchestra [PT] LIBRARY Paladino, Christine [PT] Slutsky, Ilene [Mrs.] [PT] PHYSICAL EDUCATION Sposito, David [Mr.] [PT] Large Gym Moran, Christine [Ms.][PT] Aux. Gym FOREIGN LANGUAGE DiMuzio, Virginia [Mrs.] Sellars, Benedetta [Mrs.] TECHNOLOGY MENTOR Gavin, Susan [Mrs.] OT/PT Kennedy, Catherine [Mrs.] - OT Sullivan, Donna [Mrs.] – PT Triolo, Josephine [Ms.] – OT CLERICAL STAFF Hoffmann, Christine [Mrs.] – Main Office Kuhner, Annette [Mrs.]-Principal’s Secretary McHugh, Dolores [Mrs.] - Nurse’s Office Ulino, Helen [Mrs.] - Library TEACHER AIDES Ciappini, Maria [Mrs.] Desmond, Sally [Ms.] Fioriglio, Marylou [Ms.] Follo, Sally Ann [Mrs.] Heath, Elizabeth [Ms.] Kelly, Jean [Mrs.] Marden, Sharon [Mrs.] McGowan, Isabella [Ms.] McKenna, Susan [Mrs.] Rosello, Elaine [Mrs.] Siracusa, Joan [Mrs.] Trainor, Marie [Ms.] Zajack, Ann [Mrs.] LUNCH MONITORS Crist, Catherine [Mrs.] Eckartt, Patricia [Mrs.] Kushner, Theresa [Mrs.] McHugh, Dolores [Mrs.] Sturm, Audrey [Mrs.] Treanor, Annette [Mrs.] Vagnone, Caroline [Mrs.] CUSTODIAL STAFF Bermel, Chris [Mr.] – P/T Bienick, Brian [Mr.] Colucci, Kurt [Mr.] – P/T Donovan, Lawrence [Mr.] Hunter, Ron [Mr.]--Head Custodian Mandracchia, Marc [Mr.] Mastrandrea, Pete [Mr.] – P/T Naslonski, John [Mr.] Norman, Chris [Mr.] – P/T Tonna, Richard [Mr.] Vitale, Robert [Mr.] – P/T KITCHEN STAFF Wygand, Laura [Mrs.] Dear Parents: On behalf of the entire faculty and staff of the Wantagh Elementary School, I would like to extend to you and your family a warm welcome to your school. You will discover that we have a highly skilled and dedicated faculty and staff as well as the services and personnel to work with you and your child so that he/she can best meet his/her fullest potential. Patterns established in elementary school are the basis for all formal education, and we will be working to instill in your child an enjoyment and fascination for the learning process. It is our strong belief and philosophy this can only be accomplished through a direct and cooperative home/school relationship, and we encourage and expect your participation during your youngster’s years with us. Our school motto is “Together We Make a Difference.” All of us truly believe that by working together – parents, teachers, administrators, staff – that we make a difference in the lives of children. Sincerely, Don Sternberg, Ed.D. Principal Wantagh Elementary School - Mission Statement We seek to develop a love of learning; a sense of responsibility and selfrespect as well as a respect for others; an independent, confident thinker and learner; a working knowledge of all academic areas; an understanding and acceptance of human equality; communications, critical thinking and problem solving strategies; a practice of good citizenship; an awareness of a healthy body and mind and the means to achieve it; and an appreciation of the arts. Make us your partner in your children’s education because, “Together We Make A Difference.” Do it everyday…………… Ask your children about school. Get your children talking about school every day. Find time for praise and rewards. When your children work hard, complete tough tasks, or even earn good grades on a test or project, let them know you’re proud. If your children are often confused or unsure about homework or schoolwork assignments, contact their teachers. Establish a structured timetable for homework. In addition, read to your children every night and help them to establish a quiet reading time every day as well. There is never a night or weekend without any homework-----reading is your children’s daily assignment. Place limits on television, especially on school nights. Studies have shown that students who watch too much television are more likely to receive poor grades. Starting the limits in elementary school establishes a solid practice. Keep in touch with school…………. Let teachers and staff know your concerns. Ask questions. Share your insights about your children. Know your children’s school family—teachers, principal, assistant principal, support staff. This opens the lines of communication and sends an important message to your children that you think school is important. Examine your children’s school environment. Attend as many events as you can and get acquainted with school policies. Let school staff know if there is a problem at home. Don’t hesitate to contact your children’s teachers. You do not have to wait until there is a problem to establish a relationship with them. Start at the beginning of the school year with a short get-to-know-you meeting. Support efforts to adopt and enforce zero-tolerance policies for dangerous and disruptive behavior in school. Work with other parents. Just a little of your time can go a long way in helping all of our children and their school succeed. Attend school board meetings and let school board members know that you support higher standards of student achievement and discipline. Join and support our PTA. Every dollar they raise and every minute they spend goes to make our school a great place for children. If you have time, serve as a student chaperone on field trips or volunteer to assist with classroom activities. Utilize after school extra help sessions for your children. Remember……………. Each night your children go home to their most important teachers. Our school is a smoke-free environment. No smoking is permitted in the building or on school grounds at anytime. IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS/E-MAIL MAIN OFFICE...............679-6480 SCHOOL NURSE …….. 679-6465 Dr. Protzel, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST……..679-6485 Ms. Friedman, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST…. 679-6467 Wantagh Elementary School’s FAX...............679-6365 e-mail……..STERNBERGD@WANTAGHSCHOOLS.ORG Web Site: WWW.WANTAGHSCHOOLS.ORG Our school phone numbers have been equipped with a Voice Mail Digital Answering System. This system will enable us to provide a before school and after school/evening communications service that we hope will be of assistance to you. Staff members are available via email as well. By using the teacher’s last name and the first initial of his or her first name followed by @WANTAGHSCHOOLS.ORG email can be accessed. The Voice Mail system will be activated at 4:30 P.M. and will remain functioning until 8:15 A.M. the following morning. During regular school hours [8:15 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.] the voice mail system will not be utilized and school personnel will take your calls. This system is not meant to supplant the person-to-person service that you are accustomed to, and that is so important to us; but rather it stands to augment services during the time that school personnel are not in the building. The system, as we have established it, will allow you: * To call-in your child’s absence even before school is open, * To leave messages for teachers, secretaries, nurse, and building administrators, * To hear whether school has been closed or a delayed opening has been established due to inclement weather. We believe that the system will provide an additional convenience for you and your family and will enhance our ability to serve you even more effectively. VOICE MAIL BOX NUMBERS *****YOU MUST DIAL 679-6490 TO REACH THE VOICE MAIL SYSTEM***** NAME Mrs. Allison Mrs. Ankeles Mr. Annunziata Ms. Baker Mrs. Basedow Mrs. Berge Mrs. Berna Mrs. Brown Ms. Cacioppo Mrs. Carr Mr. Cockren Mrs. Cohen Mrs. Defonte Ms. DeLauro Mrs. Dickmann Mrs. Diesso Mrs. DiMuzio BOX 435 350 444 455 456 402 555 428 465 430 446 363 447 401 316 474 464 NAME Mrs. K. Douglas Mrs. N. Douglas Mrs. Easter Mrs. Espinosa Ms. Evert Ms. Falco Mrs. Ferrara Mrs. Florio Mrs. Gavin Mrs. Geffner Mrs. Hansen Mrs. Hermanns Mr. J. Hobbes Mrs. K. Hobbes Mrs. Horan Mrs. Kennedy Mrs. Kerge BOX 416 324 429 341 330 478 410 479 476 468 353 408 433 434 718 315 431 NAME Mrs. Ko Mrs. Lennon Mrs. Locke Mrs. Lorentzen Mrs. Magoloff Mrs. Marinis Mrs. McDonnell Mr. McDonnell Mrs. McKay Mrs. McKeefrey Mrs. Mooney Ms. C. Moran Mrs. M. Moran Ms. Murphy Mrs. O’Donovan Ms. Paladino Mrs. Parent BOX 413 427 471 477 405 323 304 322 414 579 407 457 409 411 432 472 426 NAME Mrs. Prinz Ms. Puliafico Mrs. Sellars Mrs. Sessa Mrs. Shevlin Mrs. Slutsky Mrs. Snyder Mr. Sposito Mrs. Stern Mrs. Sullivan Ms. Tauber Ms. Triolo Mrs. Vanorden Mrs. Voight Ms. Warner Ms. Weiss Ms. Wojcicki BOX 406 417 556 437 412 421 470 441 415 473 462 467 404 463 747 337 420 SCHOOL HOURS The school day extends from 9:15 A.M. to 3:30 P.M for Grades 1st through 5th. The Kindergarten AM session is 9:15-11:53 AM, and the Kindergarten PM session is 12:53-3:30 PM. It is important that walkers not arrive at or enter school prior to the 9:00 A.M. entrance bell due to lack of supervision in the building at that time. EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION Each youngster MUST have on file Emergency Notification Contact Information that is accurate and up-to-date. Please be aware that changes during the school year of work phone numbers and/or emergency contact people must be given to the Main Office immediately. This includes the listing of all child-care providers. We will always attempt to contact parents FIRST, but in case of an emergency and we cannot reach you, please provide us with at least two local emergency notification people at different locations/phone numbers. It is very important for your emergency contact people to know that they are serving as such. Please advise your youngster[s] as to who would be picking them up if you could not get to school. SCHOOL CLOSING/DELAYED OPENING In the event of inclement weather, school may be closed or the opening of school may be delayed. Listen to the radio for announcements of school closing or a delayed opening. WGBB 1240 WBLI 106.1 WGLI 1290 Channel 12 News WHLI 1100 WALK 97.5 A message will also be available on the school’s Voice Mail system which can be accessed by dialing the Main Office phone number [679-6480]. Our district utilizes a Connect-Ed system where automated phone calls are made to dispense important information. It is imperative that we have current phone numbers with which to reach you. Please provide us with up to seven phone numbers where you may be reached during school hours and after school hours. The system can contact e-mail addresses as well. NOTIFICATION OF STUDENT ABSENCE Please phone the MAIN OFFICE of the school [679-6480] to notify us of your child’s absence from school for any reason. Please DO NOT call the school nurse for purposes of this notification. We wish to keep the nurse’s phone as available as possible for potential emergencies. You may call to notify us of an absence at any time outside of normal school hours utilizing the Voice Mail system [679-6480]. New York State law requires that your child’s teacher receive a signed, written explanation by a parent [or legal guardian] in all cases of tardiness or absence. This note should be sent on the child’s first day back at school and must include the date of the absence or tardiness and the specific reason[s]. Lateness also requires a signed, written explanation. If your child is ill and will be absent more than one day, you may request homework/class work beginning on the second day of absence. Please call the Main Office prior to 11:00 A.M. Work packets will be available after 3:00 P.M. in the Main Office. STUDENT LATENESS If your child arrives at school after 9:15 AM, he/she is to report directly to the Main Office, not to the classroom. The main office secretary will record his/her arrival and give the student his/her attendance card for admission to the classroom. A lateness note written and signed by the parent is required. HEALTH SERVICES New York State mandated screenings are conducted by the school nurse as follows: Hearing - K, 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th Vision - K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th Scoliosis - 5th through 9th Grade … and all other times at the request of parents or teachers. Parents are notified in writing if further evaluation by your family physician is recommended. Physical examinations are mandated by New York State for all new entrants into the district and all students in Kindergarten, 2nd and 4th Grade. If a physical exam report is not received by the end of September, arrangements will be made for the exam to be performed by the school physican. Medication in School: New York State law requires that children who must receive medication [prescription and non-prescription] during school hours MUST have a note from both the physician and parents stating the name, dosage, and frequency of the medication. The medication, in its original pharmacy container, will be kept in the Nurse’s Office. Communicable Diseases: These diseases must be reported to the Nurse’s Office. Youngsters with communicable diseases cannot attend school. These diseases include: fifths, strep throat, chicken pox, ringworm, impetigo and scarlet fever. Pediculosis [head lice] is also highly contagious and also must be reported to the school nurse. Cast or Crutches: A doctor’s note is necessary for students in a cast or on crutches in order for him or her to return to school. A doctor’s note is also required for a child to be excused from gym and to be readmitted into gym class. Students who are excused from gym are automatically excused from recess activities. HOW WILL THE SCHOOL STAFF RESPOND TO AN EMERGENCY? Being prepared for emergencies is not only a requirement of New York State, but is also taken seriously by the administration, faculty and staff of the Wantagh Elementary School. We have an emergency management plan and the plan is reviewed annually and practiced at various times during the school year. This plan addresses an enormous range of potential situations and issues. When an emergency is in progress, the first consideration is always the safety of the children in our care. Generally, there are three [3] possible plans of action: 1. maintaining students in school until reunified with a parent, 2. maintaining students out of the school building until reunified with a parent, or 3. establishing a “Stay-Put” [lockdown] procedure within the school. In the event of students being maintained either in school or in another location out of school, a plan for reunification with parents will be in place. Emergency contact information that you supplied to the school will allow for school personnel to appropriately place students in the hands of those (your designee) who you have indicated. In the event of an emergency where students are to be bused home prior to the end of the school day, we would not allow students to return to an unoccupied or unsupervised home. If there is no one at home to meet your child, the child will be returned to school and held until a parent or designated adult picks up your child. In addition, walkers would not be dismissed until your designee comes to get your child. If the building is evacuated and weather conditions or the situation does not allow students to be maintained in the field across the street then a variety of options are available to house students until reunification with parents or a designated adult can pick up your child. During instances where we implement our “Stay-Put” [lockdown] plan, all students remain in their current classroom until otherwise notified by the local authorities. Chances are that you will not be able to reach the school by telephone in a real emergency. We will, however, make every effort to contact parents, either directly or through the use of class parents phone chain. The two most important things you as a parent can do are to make certain we have upto-date emergency contact information, and to periodically review with your child alternative arrangements you have made in case an emergency prevents you from being able to pick him or her up. VISITS TO SCHOOL All parents and visitors must report directly to the Main Office. Parents and visitors will be asked to sign-in and will be issued a visitor’s badge that must be prominently displayed during the visit. Visitors must sign out and return the visitor’s badge to the Main Office. All parents serving as chaperones and/or volunteers for their son’s or daughter’s class are not permitted to bring other siblings with them during the time that you are assisting. DROPPING-OFF OF ITEMS YOUR CHILD FORGOT AT HOME Over the course of a school day a steady stream of parents come into the Main Office to drop-off homework, lunch, lunch money, sneakers, a musical instrument, a school project, etc. that was forgotten at home. We all know that mornings can be rushed and it certainly can be expected that things will be forgotten at home. However, I seek to avoid the steady disruption to the academic setting that is a result of secretaries having to call teachers with information similar to “Please send to the office to pick up his sneakers” or “ forgot her lunch and it is in the office.” During the course of a school day, these disruptions can add up. With your cooperation [and that of the classroom teacher], we can develop a system that will allow you to bring in [if you choose] the forgotten item from home and yet significantly decrease the interruptions to the academic setting. An item that has been forgotten at home [homework, lunch, lunch money, sneakers, a musical instrument, etc.] can be brought to our school’s Main Office. Students who have forgotten an item can stop by the Main Office on the way to the area that the item would have supported; i.e. sneakers on the way to gym or lunch [lunch money] on the way to the cafeteria, etc. Classes will not be disrupted for the purpose of calling a youngster down to the office to pick up an item. If the item is not in the office when the student comes looking for it, they will return to their classroom [except for gym]. As has been our past practice, students without lunch or lunch money can borrow lunch money for the day and make restitution on the subsequent school day. Students will not be permitted to call home to have items brought to school – except for eyeglasses. Children will be children and this cannot, and will not, be forgotten. We are not seeking to “punish” students for forgetting something at home. However, we do want to establish a balance between teaching children a sense of responsibility, allowing for children to be children, and maintaining the academic setting within the classroom. The above policy will accomplish all three goals. EARLY DISMISSAL If you wish to have your child dismissed early from school, a note must be sent to your child’s teacher. At the designated pick-up time, you must report to the Main Office and then your child will be called down from class. Parents must not go directly to their child’s classroom for pick-up. A child will only be released to someone other than the parent[s] if the school has been notified, in writing, by the parent[s] that they have granted permission for someone else to pick up their youngster. In any situation involving non-custodial parents and/or other legal guidelines established by the courts, appropriate documentation must be on file in the principal’s office. In the event that your child is to be sent home ill from school by the school nurse, the parent[s], guardian, or emergency contact person must report to the Main Office and sign-in. You are then clear to proceed to the Nurse’s Office to pick up your youngster where he or she will be officially signed out of school. The Nurse will then give you a copy of the release form that subsequently must be dropped off in the Main Office as you leave the building. No child will be released from school without written consent of the parent except when we cannot reach the parent[s]. In that event, students will be released only to those persons designated by the parent (or guardian) and listed on the child’s Emergency Notification Contact Information data sheet. STUDENT DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP If you drive your child to and from school, please drop off or pick up your child on Beech, Bunker, or DeMott Streets. The school parking lot on the south side of the school is strictly for faculty and staff parking as well an egress for school buses. Our parking lot on the north side of the building is the parent/visitor parking area. On special event days [i.e.: parental supervision on field trips; class activities with parents; etc.] parents are requested to utilize the north parking lot. PLEASE DO NOT PICK UP OR DROP OFF YOUR CHILD IN ANY OF THE SCHOOL’S PARKING LOTS. Please do not illegally park. Check the street parking signs before parking. In addition, double-parking, making U-turns, or parking in the crosswalk in front of school places our students in risk of injury or death. PLEASE DO NOT DOUBLE PARK, DO NOT MAKE U-TURNS OR PARK IN THE PEDESTRIAN CROSSWALK AT ANY TIME. Due to our large enrollment, parents are requested to remain outside the building during drop off and pick up times. Walkers: At dismissal time, all third, fourth and fifth grade students will leave the building through the double-doors nearest the General Purpose Room. Parents of these students can meet their youngsters on the lawn that is near the school’s flagpole. All first and second grade students will be dismissed through the main entrance of the school. Parents should plan to meet their children outside the main entrance not in the lobby or at the classroom doors. Kindergarten students will be dismissed from the kindergarten room door that faces Beech Street. All bike riders must walk their bikes on school grounds. Bikes can be locked to racks provided on the south side of the building near the Kindergarten classrooms. All bike riders MUST wear a helmet. Students are not allowed to ride a skateboard, scooter, roller blades or skates to school. Sneakers with imbedded wheels are not permitted in school. Bus Riders: Bus riders leave the bus in the morning at a specific location in the rear of the school. Exiting the bus is supervised by the bus driver and a teacher. No bus is unloaded before 9:00 A.M. Bus riders meet in the school gym or student cafeteria at the end of the day for bus line-up. No bus leaves the school before the 3:36 P.M. bell. Riding the bus is a privilege. Any student who does not obey proper behavior rules on the bus will be denied the privilege of riding the bus for a period of time determined by the principal. Students are to be considerate of people and property, especially in the bus line-up areas of the community. Students are expected to be ready when the bus arrives because the driver cannot wait for students. The first few rows of seats on the bus are reserved for Kindergarten students. Parents are expected to reinforce lessons about bus safety. Bus safety drills are conducted in school three times during the school year. Reinforce that if your child must cross the street after leaving the bus that they should cross at least 10 feet in front of the bus in full view of the driver. Please reinforce with your child that they NEVER cross in back of the bus and NEVER reach under the bus for any object that has fallen. On the bus, students must be reasonably quiet, stay in their seats until the bus has come to a complete stop, never lean out of the window or thrust their arms or head out of the window. Eating is not allowed on the bus. The carrying of large objects or instruments is also not allowed. DISMISSAL NOTES Each student has a regular dismissal plan, whether it be as a buser or a walker. If there is any change, a dismissal note notifying us of a change is needed. For example, if a student is normally a buser and the parent wants him/her to be a walker for that day, a note must be sent in to the teacher stating this. If a note has been forgotten, the parent will need to either bring in a note during the day or have it faxed to the school (516 679-6365). If your child is going to attend an extra-curricular activity such as Brownies, Wantagh Workshop, Student Council, etc., a note must be given to the teacher explaining where the student is going after school. Special arrangements for after school “play dates” that result in a child or children traveling home differently than usual MUST have letters from both parents involved [the parent allowing their child to go to a friend’s home and the hosting parent of the “play date”] acknowledging permission. Please take special note that children who are not regularly entitled to transportation cannot ride a bus to a “play date” with a child who is entitled to transportation. In this case, a parent must provide transportation. This cross-referencing procedure is done as a safety precaution and as a confirmation from both parents that after school plans have been made. HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGY IN THE WINDOW?? We seek your cooperation in not bringing your dog on school grounds during drop-off or pick-up times due to allergies and children’s fears. SCHEDULES – THE SIX-DAY CYCLE Students will have classes in physical education, art [except kindergarten], music, computer, foreign language (Grades 3, 4 and 5), and library during the six-day cycle. All special area classes [art, music, library, physical education and computer] and supportive education classes [reading, math, and resource room] will be 40 minutes long. Every school day will be consecutively numbered 1 through 6 with the schedule returning to Day 1 following a Day 6. The day of the week [Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc.] has no influence on your child’s schedule. For example: your child may have Gym on Day 2 and Day 5, Art on Day 1, Music on Day 3, Library on Day 6 and Computer on Day 4. It does not matter what day of the week [Mon., Tues, Wed., Thurs, or Fri.] it is. In the event of an unplanned canceled day of school, i.e.: a snow day, the calendar picks-up on the day school resumes as though the previous day [or days] was not canceled. You will be provided with a monthly calendar [as well as a full year calendar] so that you will know the “Day” that any given calendar date will be. PROGRESS REPORTS AND CONFERENCES Formal parent-teacher conferences, for grades 1 through 5, are held in late November. Formal conferences for parents of Kindergarten students are held in late November and again in March. Progress reports are also sent home with your child in March and June. Parent-teacher meetings can be held at any time in addition to the designated November date and you are encouraged to maintain a close line of communication with your child’s teacher. Conference and parent-teacher meeting times are at the discretion of the parent and the teacher. Parent-teacher communication is extremely important; therefore, messages for teachers for follow-up phone calls can be left either in the Main Office or in the teacher’s voice mailbox [679-6490]. Communication between parent and teacher is always encouraged and expected. Faculty members are available to you for meetings upon your request at a mutually convenient time. However, please be aware that our teachers are on duty as of 9:00 A.M. and are not available for a classroom door conference or meeting at that time. HOMEWORK Homework is designed to reinforce learning that has occurred in the classroom. Generally, primary level students receive no more than half-an-hour of homework per night. Intermediate grade students can receive up to one hour per night. Homework can help students learn and can help parents be involved in their children’s education. When parents show an interest in their child’s schoolwork, they teach an important lesson--that learning is fun and worth the effort. Children who consistently do more homework, on average, do better in school. As children move up through the grades, homework becomes even more important to school success. Teachers assign homework for many reasons. It can help children: practice what they have learned in school; get ready for the next day’s class; use resources, such as libraries, computers and encyclopedias; maintain parental understanding of the current work being taught in the classroom; learn good habits and attitudes; learn to work by themselves; and learn discipline and responsibility. Things You Can Do To Help Your Child with Homework Set a regular time for homework. The best time is the one that works best for your family. Pick a place to study that is fairly quiet and has lots of light. Help your child concentrate by turning off the TV and radio and saying no to social phone calls during homework time. Check your child’s work. How closely you have to watch over homework will depend on the age of your child, how independent he or she is, and how well he or she does in school. Ask what the teacher expects. At the start of the school year, find out what kinds of assignments will be given and how the teacher wants you involved. Check to see that assignments are started and completed. If you are not at home when homework is finished, look it over when you get home. Students in third through fifth grade will each have a homework assignment book. Check it daily. Determine how your child learns best. Knowing this makes it easier for you to help your child. For example, if your child learns things best when he or she can see examples, draw a chart, draw a picture, and cut an apple to learn fractions. Give praise. People of all ages like to be told when they have done a good job and/or tried their best. Give helpful criticism when your child hasn’t done his best work so that he or she can improve. Talk with your child’s classroom teacher if problems come up. If homework [or any problem] arise, everyone needs to work together to resolve them. In addition to daily assignments, it is expected that children read or be read to for at least twenty minutes each day. In lieu of formal homework assignments on weekends, students should read. Teachers will not provide students with class work/homework “packets” when students are on a family vacation during non-vacation times of the school year. Students are encouraged to maintain a journal of their daily experiences which may be shared with the classroom teacher upon the student’s return from vacation. This journal should not simply chronicle events, experiences, and sights but should compare and contrast some experiences and activities with others. Students are also encouraged to read daily. Upon a student’s return from this illegal absence, the classroom teacher will provide the student with missed work and support based upon the teacher’s discretion of how far behind the student may have fallen. An adequate time period will be extended to the student to complete these missed assignments. LUNCH A hot lunch, sandwich, or salad is available every school day. All students may purchase milk as well as a snack each day. The lunch menu for the subsequent month is sent home at the end of the month. Lunch meal tickets can be purchased ahead of time and can be utilized at anytime. Free or reduced priced meals are available for qualified families. An application is available in the Main Office. If you send your child to school with money for lunch or snack, please place the money in an envelope with your child’s name on it. In case of emergency, students can borrow the cost of lunch [not snack] in the Main Office. Students must repay this indebtedness on the next school day, directly to the Main Office, in order to be eligible to borrow again. It is important to realize that the safest place your child can have lunch is either in school or with you. Your child may not leave school grounds at lunch time unless they have a note from you that indicates otherwise. It is important that school personnel know where your child is during the entire school day -- including lunchtime. With that in mind, the following lunchtime policy will be in effect. No student will be allowed home for lunch without written permission. If your child goes home for lunch on a daily basis, then a simple note addressed to his or her teacher indicating that your son or daughter will be going home for lunch daily will suffice. If your child goes home for lunch occasionally, then a note to his or her teacher is required for EACH day you are requesting your child home for lunch. This applies even if you are meeting your child at school and taking him or her home or out to lunch. The classroom teacher drops off students in the main lobby of the school as the class passes on their way to the cafeteria. Please indicate if you are picking up your child or if you are allowing him or her to leave the building to walk home on their own. If you remove your child from school for lunch, please do not drop them off in the recess area when you return. Students must “return to school” through the Main Office. With time permitting, they will be sent to recess activities after they are checked back into school. Arrangements for lunches at the house of a friend must be made in advance. The student’s teacher must receive a note from both parents, the parent whose house is hosting the luncheon and from the parent of the student going to the friend’s home. We would prefer if parents did not deliver fast food [burgers, pizza] items into the cafeteria for their child. Students participate in outdoor recess for a portion of the lunch period. Please also be aware of daily weather conditions so that students are appropriately dressed for outdoor recess. In inclement weather, students stay indoors for recess. Children may bring board games, books, etc. but please refrain from sending expensive items such as portable music players, Game boys, etc. to school. During an outdoor recess, there is no supervision available for a student to remain indoors. All students, except those with a physician’s note will be sent outside for their 20 minute recess period. PUPIL BEHAVIOR Teachers have discussed the building and classroom Codes of Conduct with the students in their class. It is expected that students behave appropriately at all times. Teachers are urged to develop methods for recognition of positive pupil behavior. Students who continually exhibit poor behavioral patterns will be referred to the principal’s office, and a parent-student-principal conference will be held. SCHOOL RULES A Code of Conduct developed by students and teachers will be reviewed with your youngster in his or her classroom. Our Code of Conduct can be summarized in these five statements: *We will always treat others in a decent manner. *We will always allow others to learn. *We will practice responsibility. *We will help in the effort to keep the Wantagh Elementary School a beautiful place. *We will always try to behave in a manner that will make our parents, teachers, and ourselves proud. VIOLENCE PREVENTION In order to promote safety and a positive learning environment, building administrators will be working with students and parents as needed. The following represents our plan to assess risk and manage situations brought to the attention of building administrators that might present a danger to someone. It is only through full cooperation of parents, teachers and administration that we can maintain the healthy environment that we want in the Wantagh Elementary School. While most threats that youngsters make are not acted upon, all threats whether written, verbal, or physical must be addressed and responded to. What threats from youngsters should make us worried? Threats or warnings about killing or hurting themselves or others. Threats to do something dangerous or potentially harmful. Possession of or access to a weapon. If a student makes a threat, building administration will assess: 1. How serious is the threat that was made? 2. What do we know about the student who made the threat? 3. Has the student specified a plan to carry out the threat? 4. Does the student have the means to carry out the threat? ALL threats will be taken seriously. An immediate evaluation of the situation will be made and a course of action will be made based upon the above criteria. In ALL situations, parents will be notified. No guns of any type [including but not limited to, toy, BB, or air], knives, or other weapons are allowed in school or on school grounds at anytime. We know that schools are not immune to serious episodes that can be harmful to students. Listening to, monitoring, and questioning our children is the best way to maintain the safety of our school that we all demand. SPECIAL SERVICES School psychologists are available to help children adjust to school. The school psychologists also may help to identify pupils, through an evaluation process, who have special learning needs. No student will be formally tested/evaluated/screened without parental knowledge and written permission. The school psychologists may provide crisis intervention, groups for students whose parents are experiencing a divorce, and other related services. Parents are encouraged to call a psychologist if they have any concerns about their child’s academic progress, development of social skills or behavior. EXTRA HELP Teachers are available either before or after school on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from either 8:30 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. or 3:30 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. for extra help. Please contact your child’s teacher to establish the day[s] that they can expect your child. Some school meetings may occasionally interfere with a teacher’s availability. SUPPORTIVE EDUCATION Supportive reading and math classes are available for students identified as benefiting from additional instruction in one or both of these areas. Students falling below New York State referenced performance levels are mandated for the above service. RESOURCE ROOM A resource room teacher provides special services to children identified by the CSE [Committee for Special Services] as in need of this program. Parents may request consideration for placement into this or any other special education program or accommodation for their youngster by contacting the building principal. SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY Speech and language therapy is available for students requiring these services. Requests for consideration of these services can be made by contacting the building principal. CURRICULUM AREAS Up-to-date programs in each curriculum area are utilized. These areas include reading/language arts, mathematics, spelling, science, social studies, foreign language, health, computer literacy, physical education, art and music. We follow the syllabi established by the New York State Department of Education in all curriculum areas. GIFTED EDUCATION [THE HORIZONS PROGRAM] Horizons is a program for students identified in grades 3, 4 and 5 as academically gifted. Enrichment activities are planned to provide appropriate instruction throughout the intermediate grades. Students are screened for the Horizons Program at the end of second grade. The Horizons Program is housed in the Mandalay Elementary School. Students are bused to and from Mandalay for the half-day, one day/cycle session. ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE [ESL] An ESL program is available to students identified as in need of this support. TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION Each classroom [except kindergarten and first grade] is equipped with 5 computers and a printer that are utilized to reinforce curriculum. In addition, grades K through 5 have class once per cycle in the school’s computer laboratory. Computer literacy skills are taught. LIBRARY SERVICES The library is a facility which teaches research and library skills, distributes books, audio visual materials and computer programs. Students have a regularly scheduled library time once per cycle. The library has an open book exchange daily from 9:00 A.M. to 9:25 A.M. Please see the library web site under Instructional Media Center on the Wantagh School page for details. MUSIC All students participate in a general music class on a once per cycle basis. Intermediate grade students have an opportunity to also take instrumental lessons and participate in band or orchestra, as well as chorus. Instrumental lessons are given during the school day. Band, Orchestra, and Chorus meet before school. FOREIGN LANGUAGE The study of foreign language is a part of our curriculum starting in third grade. Third and fourth grade students study Spanish as an introduction to the romance languages. In fifth grade other romance languages are introduced [French and Italian] as well as Latin. ART All students in grades 1 - 5 participate in a formal, art class once per cycle. An art fair/exhibition is held at the conclusion of the school year. Each youngster in the 1 st through 5th grade participates. PHYSICAL EDUCATION Students participate in physical education classes twice per cycle [Kindergarten - once per cycle]. Students in grades 3, 4 and 5 dress in sneakers and shorts for gym. Lockers and locks are issued to fifth graders. FIELD TRIPS Field trips have a wonderful educational value for students. Field trips are encouraged on each grade level. All such trips are well supervised and are planned to maximize the experience with an eye toward reasonable costs. Field trip permission slips must be signed by the parent [or guardian] in order for your child to participate. Please be aware that if your child misses a pre-paid field trip due to illness or other reasons, certain portions of the cost of the trip may not be able to be refunded. Please let your child’s teacher and/or either of the class parents know if you are interested in serving as a field trip chaperone. PERSONAL PROPERTY RECOVERY SYSTEM A lost and found bin is located in the front of the student cafeteria. Please place your child’s name on their jacket, lunch box and all other items brought to school. PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION [PTA] Everyone connected with the Wantagh Elementary School is proud of its active ParentTeacher Association. Please get involved! Your financial support via membership dues and support of fund-raisers is a greatly appreciated way to assist. Your donation of time--even one hour per month--is also greatly appreciated. Our PTA is a significant link in the total, positive educational experiences at the Wantagh Elementary School. SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION [SEPTA] The focus of the Special Education Parent Teacher Association is to provide information to parents regarding special educational services and programs [e.g., Resource Room, SelfContained Classes, Horizons Program]. PUPIL RECORDS Parents may request to see any and all school records about their child. Please contact the building principal to do so. DAYS OF RELIGIOUS OBSERVATION [DRO] Students will be excused from attendance for religious reasons; however, it will be the students’ responsibility to make up any work provided on that day. New work may be introduced. Homework and tests may also be given to all students not observing the holiday as part of their religion. Students who are observing the holiday, as verified by a parent note, will be given sufficient time to make up the class work, homework or test[s] upon their return to the class. Teachers will exercise discretion in this matter and not automatically demand that the work be due upon the day of return. Upon a student’s return, teachers will work out a mutually agreeable schedule for the make up of the work missed. No field trips or major evening events will be scheduled on New York State listed days of religious observance. NOTICES Parents can often be heard stating that their child did not bring home a notice from school. In the hopes of ensuring that these school notices, announcements, letters, etc., arrive home in a timely manner; please specifically ask about them daily and check your child’s bookbag for school communications. CLASS LISTS Class list information [names, addresses, telephone numbers] is confidential and is not available for distribution. Please keep this is mind when planning play dates, parties, etc. Party invitations may not be distributed in school unless the entire class is invited [or all the girls or all the boys]. It is not the teacher’s responsibility to distribute party invitations. STUDENT COUNCIL Any fifth grade student can participate in the Wantagh Elementary School’s Student Council. No elections are held and there is no president, vice-president, etc. Students meet with a faculty advisor throughout the academic year. The ongoing focus of the activities of the student council is to conduct activities that will have a positive impact on the students within the school and on the Wantagh community at-large. SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT TEAM Our building’s site-based management team is called the School Development Team [SDT]. Administrators, teachers, and parents, meet as needed to discuss ideas and school-related issues. HOLIDAY PARTIES Please keep in mind that we service a broad range of students with various religious beliefs. While there are appropriate educational benefits of teaching about the diverse religious traditions and cultures of our community, we all must be sure that they do not give students the impression that one set of holidays or beliefs is more important or more acceptable than others. Highlighting the broad range of various religious holidays in the classroom can compromise classroom time and we want to maintain a reasonable balance of time given to these events. All holiday seasons are a special time for families to commemorate and enjoy traditions and we will maintain sensitivity toward those beliefs and traditions. Please be aware that allergies, dietary concerns as well as religious sensitivity must be addressed in such a manner so that all students are comfortable and are treated with respect. RECOGNITION OF A STUDENT’S BIRTHDAY Recognition of a student’s birthday is at the discretion of the parent with the approval of the classroom teacher. Parents who wish to bring in a “treat” in recognition of the day can do so. This type of event can only take place during snack time. The use of academic time for this type of activity is not permitted. Our Parent Handbook is intended to be informative and helpful to you. Your suggestions about possible additions to the handbook would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your continued support and follow-through in the Wantagh Elementary School, where “Together We Make A Difference.” PARENT HANDBOOK. REVISED 8/11
