BAS Parent Handbook 07-08



STUDENT AND PARENT HANDBOOK
SOUTH BRUNSWICK SCHOOL DISTRICT

ATTENDANCE*
Punctuality and attendance are important  habits for students to develop and maintain. In keeping with the NJ State Education Code, we recommend that, except in the case of illness—particularly contagious illness, vomiting, or fever, recognized religious holidays, family emergencies or serious conditions, your child should be in school and arrive on time.

Family vacations and other non-educational activities should be planned so they do not interfere with school attendance. Student absence due to family vacations and travel is strongly discouraged as it is disruptive to student learning. Teachers do not provide work in advance of such absences.

Excessive tardiness and absenteeism is monitored, and as necessary, administration will contact parents. Please respect the importance of the school day by insuring
your child’s daily attendance and timely arrival.

In the event of absence: It is a parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to call the school when a child is going to be absent. The district’s voicemail system is operative 24 hours a day so you may place a call at any time. When calling the school to report an absence, please give the child’s full name, reason for absence and the
date(s) of absence. It is district policy that any “un-notified absence” will result in a call from the school and will be classified as “unexcused.” Please note that a student who is absent from school during the day may NOT participate in any after school or evening events.

In the event of lateness: If a student must report to school late, the parent must escort the student to the office and provide the office staff with the reason for the tardiness. The parent must sign the student in at the main office.

In the event of early sign-out: Early sign- out from school is discouraged; however, we realize there are times when this will occur. Please send a note in advance to alert us of the need to sign your child out early from school. The parent must come in to the main office to sign the student out.

STUDENT CONDUCT*
The ultimate purpose of school discipline is the development of self-discipline. In all of the South Brunswick Schools, we strive to be consistent, firm but fair, and aware of the pride and dignity of every student. While in school, we expect students to behave responsibly, to respect the rights and properties of others, and to work
cooperatively with all members of the school community. We expect students to follow the school guidelines and the guidelines established in each class.
Students are responsible to all school personnel for their behavior while on their way to and from school, during the before and after school programs, during the
school day and at all school sponsored activities.

All South Brunswick Schools embrace the following core values, CARES, in an effort to build positive school citizens in our learning community. This is supported
through our district’s Character Education Program. C Cooperation A Assertion R Responsibility E Empathy S Self-control

As students move to our high school setting, they continue to build upon the basic core values, CARES, and furtheremphasize the additional values of
Honesty, Respect, Kindness, and Service.

When a student commits an offense, the school staff will help the student to see the relationship between the offense and the related core value.

Student conduct at the home bus stop is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility. NJ Statute 18A:25-2 provides that the driver 5 of 24 shall be in full charge of the school bus at all times. Infractions deeming the student to be unmanageable can be reported to the school principal by the driver and disciplinary action taken as necessary. Please refer to the Student Transportation Brochure included with your child’s bus pass mailing for further description of the Rules & Responsibilities.

DRESS CODE*
Clothing bearing obscene writing or promoting indecent or unacceptable behavior, whether stated or implied, will not be permitted. In all such cases, students
wearing inappropriate items will be asked to remove or replace them. When it is determined that students are in violation of these guidelines, they will be sent to the nurse’s office and provided with temporary clothing for the remainder of the school day.

No student is permitted to wear a hat or any other head covering in school, unless required to do so by religious custom or medical condition.

Since students at the elementary level have recess every day, it is recommended that the students wear sneakers or other safe footwear to school daily. In addition,
students should dress for the weather as recess occurs throughout all seasons of the school year.

PERSONAL ITEMS*
Students are expected to bring to school only those supplies, books and other materials needed for learning. The school provides students with recreational
supplies and equipment for use during recess and/or Physical Education. Personal items including but not limited to electronic devices such as cell phones are not allowed to be used in school during school hours.

SCHOOL SAFETY PROCEDURES*
School Safety
All district schools conduct drills and have plans in place to keep students, staff and community members visiting the schools safe and secure. Among such safeguards are the following:
• Bus Evacuation Drills (twice a year)
• Fire Drill ( twice monthly)
• Lockdown (twice a year)

School Security
All district schools have cameras and buzzer entry systems which restrict visitors’ access to the buildings. To ensure the safety of our students, staff, and community, the district also has an identification (ID) card system for all district staff. Visitors are issued temporary ID badges upon sign in at the main office. Requiring visitors to present identification cards will help us to distinguish persons in our schools and enhance safety.

STUDENT SERVICES AND
PROGRAMS*
Parents who are concerned about the academic progress and/or development of their child, are asked to bring it to the attention of the school administrator,
teacher, nurse, or counselor.

DYFS*
The Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) is New Jersey's child protection and child welfare agency within the Department of Children and Families. Its mission is to ensure the safety and well-being of children and their families. DYFS is responsible for investigating allegations of child abuse and neglect and, if
necessary, arranging for the child's protection and the family's treatment. DYFS operates a 24-hour, 7-days a week child abuse hotline to receive all reports of
suspected child abuse and neglect. The hotline is linked with a statewide network of Special Response Units charged with the responsibility of responding to reports
received after normal business hours and on holidays. Any concerns regarding child abuse or neglect should be reported by calling 1-877-NJ-ABUSE. Find more
information on the child abuse hotline and contact information for DYFS local and area office by going to the State Department of Education’s web site at
www.state.nj.us/dcf/divisions/dyfs/.

CUSTODY AND GUARDIANSHIP*
Unless a parent’s right to information about his/her child’s performance in school has been terminated by the court, both parents have access to such information. If a
parent’s right has been terminated by the court, the other parent must provide the school with such legal documentation. The 6 of 24
school will need a copy of that part of your legal agreement that specifies the custody and visiting rights of parents. This information will be kept confidential. The school needs this information in order to meet its legal obligations.

BOARD OF EDUCATION POLICIES*
Detailed information regarding the following Board policies is available in the main office of all schools and at the Board of Education Office.

HUMAN DIGNITY–ANTI-
DISCRIMINATION*
Students who witness or believe they are victims of discrimination should report incidents to an adult in authority.

HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION
BULLYING & HAZING*
Harassment of individuals or groups based upon race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, or gender is prohibited.
Anyone who believes they have been or have witnessed harassment should report the incident to an adult in authority.

Policy is aimed at prohibiting passive and active acts against students by students. Students should report any incidents to their teacher or principal.

PUBLIC COMPLAINTS AND
INQUIRIES*
Policy provides for a forum for members of the community to resolve any misunderstandings between the public and the school district regarding school
personnel, district operations or instructional materials. Resolution is initially attempted through discussion between the interested parties.

NUTRITION*
South Brunswick School District contracts its school dining services through Chartwells Dining Service which provides school lunch options in compliance with the
State-mandated Nutrition Policy.

Due to the growing number of students who have been diagnosed with peanut allergies, which can be fatal to some, Chartwells School Dining Services no
longer serves items that are peanut-based or use foods prepared with peanut-based products in any of our cafeterias. While this change does not impact “packed” lunches or snacks, we ask that you be mindful of the existence of food allergies among children and discourage sharing of snacks.

DISTRICT WEB SITE*
Further information pertaining to the school district and Board meetings can be found on our school district’s Web site at http://www.sbschools.org

EMERGENCY E-MAIL NOTIFICATION*
South Brunswick School District offers a variety of e-mail notification services. An Emergency E-mail Notification keeps subscribers informed of emergency closings or delayed openings or other instances where parents may be required to take action (school evacuation due to power
outage, etc.). Signing up is simple. Visit www.sbschools.org for instructions.

Elementary Only

BIRTHDAY RECOGNITION
If you would like to have a short class birthday acknowledgement for your child, please speak with your child’s teacher in advance. Parents
should be mindful of the district’s nutritional policy as well as the dietary restrictions of students in the classroom. These birthday recognitions are short (ten minutes) and limited to the classroom community. Parents are asked to drop off the treats in the main office, and these treats will be delivered to the classroom.

Goody bags are not allowed. The school will not permit bouquets of balloons and other celebratory decorations to be sent to the
classrooms. These can be distracting to students’ learning.

Birthday party invitations are not to be distributed at school. Please use your PTA/PTO Class Directory in order to send such invitations via the U.S. Mail system.


* K-12 Policy


BRUNSWICK ACRES SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT (Revised Spring, 2001)

Brunswick Acres is a nurturing, welcoming, and safe community. The partnership among our students, educators, families and friends enhances all aspects of learning. Our community encourages everyone to put forth their best effort, meet challenges
and take responsibility for their success. These strengths, together with opportunities for positive social interactions and
creative self-expression, foster self-esteem, mutual respect, and a thirst for lifelong learning.

SCHOOL GOALS
These goals will be examined and modified by staff and parents, represented by members of the Goals Committee, during the Fall of 2006
1. To improve student achievement in all areas measured in South Brunswick.

2. To continue the ongoing efforts to make the school a safer and more caring environment. In keeping with this effort we have introduced and will continue to implement the components of the Responsive Classroom approach to developing student responsibility and interpersonal relationships. Key, commonly referred to elements of the Responsive Classroom approach are Wishes and Dreams Conferences at the start of the school year,
Morning Meeting, Guided Discovery, Rules and Logical Consequences and Academic Choice.

3. To help our newest families grow to feel welcome and important in the life of the school.

The School Goals Committee is comprised of representative leaders from the staff and parents. It meets a number of times each year to amend the goals and to review the progress the school is making toward reaching our goals. The committee suggests special areas of focus
for the school community to further address areas of need. All parents are welcome to comment on the goals and the progress the school is making toward accomplishing them. Your comments should be directed to Tammy Zimmerman, PTO President (or to any other PTO
Executive Board member) or to Joe Anzek, the Principal of the school.

In 2006-07, the School Goals Committee was made up of: (parents) Karen Antczak, Charlene Bobev, Marc Dashield, Richeleen Dashield, Bonnie Howse, Barbi Kilcoyne, Nancy McDonald, Kim Shiah, Nancy Tabak, Tammy Zimmerman, (staff members) Joe Anzek, Melissa Sadin, Cindy Helfgott, Ken Kowalski, Cathy Hui, Sharon Montag, Lisa Weber, Lisette Mottola, Evelyn Matus, Pat Taylor, Jackie Turner, Judy Cashmore, Barbara McWilliams and Leslie Lillian

PARENT TEACHER ORGANIZATION
The P.T.O., led by its Co-Presidents, Mrs. Lori Boulware and Mrs. Debbie Lazare, meets according to the schedule below (usually on the second Tuesday of the month ) to review its work, inform parents about teaching and learning and to pro-vide a forum for discussion of school and district related issues. The PTO hosts several important social gatherings each year where parents can meet their children’s classmates and other parents. Teachers often participate in these events.
The PTO extends significant efforts to raise funds for amenities for the school not ordinarily included in district funding.


Our Parent-Teacher Association will meet on the following dates at 7:30 P.M.:

September 11, 2007 April 8, 2008
November 13, 2007 May 13, 2008
January 8, 2008 June 10, 2007
February 12, 2008

Back-to-School Night will be on Tuesday, Sept. 18 at 7 PM in the auditorium for all classes.
A special New Parent Tea has been planned for Oct 9 at 7 PM.

Additional P.T.O. activities will be publicized throughout the school year.

In 2006-2007, the PTO sponsored or supported a number of exciting events including:

• The Fall Dance in October,
• The Walk-a Thon in November
• Theatre Week in November and December
• The Holiday Shoppe in December
• Family Fun Night in January,
• Show Us Your Assets --Entertainment Night in February,
• A Blood Drive in March
• The Ice Cream Social in April,
• The Mother’s Day Plant Sale in May
• In June the giant barbecue during One-to-One Day,
• Several enriching and entertaining assembly programs were held throughout the year.
• Breakfast for 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th graders during their testing weeks in March and April.
• Fifth Grade Recognition in June.

The PTO sponsors a grant program to assist teachers in developing special projects and one of their committees is charged with assisting in setting up special events. e.g. plays, concerts, Dance Programs, talent show, at the school.
A superb way to help your school and to get to know community members and the school is to get involved in the activities of the PTO.

COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS
A wise practice for parents is a review of book bag contents on a daily basis. Important papers, homework and school bulletins come home each day. There is a concerted effort to send home important school documents on Fridays in the Friday Folder to give parents more time to
do their homework. Electronic communication is use to send community information to parents each week. Go to the district web site sbschools.org to register for this service. Teachers are likely to send important documents home every day. Please develop this
important habit of checking. The school newsletter is published each month on the Friday that falls on or immediately before the 15th. Mrs. Cook sends home the monthly calendar and the cafeteria menu each month on the last day of the month.


Teachers can be reached via e-mail. The address, in nearly all cases, is patterned like this: Joseph.Anzek@sbschools.org i.e., Firstname.Lastname@sbschools.org
Teachers have voice mailboxes. If you call during instructional time your call will be transferred to the mailbox. We need your help in reducing interruptions during instructional time. Only in the case of a real emergency will we interrupt the class. Parents are asked to do everything possible to avoid the need to contact their children during the school day. If a change of plans regarding travel home or child care after school occurs, the office will be sure to get that message to the child at an appropriate time. If lunch or school work is brought after school starts, it will be sent to the classroom at an appropriate time.

Check with your children and remind them of the importance of giving you messages from school. When you are given messages from school, treat them with importance.


GENERAL INFORMATION
In the event of an emergency that requires us to close the school early we will follow the procedures you have indicated on the Emergency Closing Procedure Form. Please advise your child of the procedure you have indicated. It is the parent’s responsibility to instruct his/her child of the correct procedure to follow. It is also the parent’s responsibility to keep the Emergency Closing form up to date.

School closing because of bad weather will be announced on the sbschools.org website and on South Brunswick Cable TV Channel 28 and radio stations WCTC - 1450 AM (New Bruns-wick) and WHWH - 1350 AM (Princeton). Do not call the school for emergency closing information. Do not allow your child to call the school. Tune to the website, radio or cable TV to see if school is closed or delayed.

An EMERGENCY DATA SHEET is provided for each pupil. We require that the sheet be examined and, if needed, corrected, signed by the parent and returned to the school by Friday, Sept. 8. If any information given should change during the school year, it is of great importance that the school is provided with an update. Be sure that we have your correct telephone numbers. If a number is unlisted we ask that you indicate this so we are able to protect your privacy. A continuing effort this year will be to con-tact parents via e-mail. Make your e-mail address known to us on any and all forms and notify us if it changes. Tell us when
your cell phone number changes; this is often the first number we call in case of an illness or other emergency.
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1. Hours of Operation:
School is in session from 9:05 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. except for early dismissal days (sixteen days) when school ends at l: 35 p.m. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR CHILDREN TO ARRIVE AT SCHOOL PRIOR TO 9:05 EACH DAY.
All pupils are expected to go home immediately after dismissal. Prior notice will be given to the parent of any child who is to be detained longer than 15 minutes after dismissal time. Students may use the school telephone to inform parents if they will be detained for a longer period of time.

2. If it is necessary for a child to leave school prior to dismissal, the child must have a note from the parent or guardian and a designated adult must come to the school to pick up the child. All notes are to be sent to the school office, initialed by the office personnel and returned to the classroom teacher at the beginning of the school day. Parents are not to go to the classroom to pick up their children. Students will wait in the main office to be picked up and signed out on the Early Dismissal Form by the parent or designated adult.

3. Students may enter the building ten minutes prior to the 9:05 start of the day. Parents are requested not to have their children arrive at school before 8:55. No supervision is available prior to 8:55. If you need to bring your child to school before 8:55, you should contact Community Education at 297-7800 immediately and make arrangements to participate in the Before School Care program.

4. Parents and visitors to our school are to stop first in the school office. Without prior appointments we cannot assure that school personnel will be available to meet with you. Classes are not to be disrupted by unexpected visitors. All visitors are expected to wear identification tags that can be obtained in the main office. Exterior doors are kept locked during class hours. The entry bell is inside the main door.

5. Please caution your child to observe the safety regulations. There will be a street crossing guard at the Kory Dr. entrance of the school. A Safety Patrol will be organized early in the school year. The safety patrol is made up of older students who receive special training. Younger children are expected to follow the instructions of the safety patrol.

6. Approximately half of our students ride the bus to and from school. Proper behavior and language is an absolute necessity when riding. Staying seated on the bus is a very important safety practice. Seat belts are required. Changing seats during the bus trip is prohibited. Please help your child remember to be polite on the bus. Bus privileges will be revoked for repeated instances of poor conduct. Parents who hear of or witness dangerous or rude behavior by any student on the bus or at the bus waiting areas in your neighborhood are encouraged to contact Mr. Anzek or Mrs. Sadin.

7. TRAFFIC RULES AND REGULATIONS: Please read this section about transportation to
and from school carefully. We changed this for 07-08.

• School buses use the large play area for drop off in the morning and pick up in the afternoon. Do not park in front of that gated entrance, ever, whether it’s open or closed.
• Cars may use the circle prior to 8:40 when bringing children to Before School care. Never leave your car there between 8:40 and 9:20 AM in the morning. Do not leave your car in the circle anytime after 8:40 AM; it’s a fire zone and you could be towed.
• Drop-off and pick up of students by parents who are driving is in the circle in front of school. School staff are there to assist with the car-loading process and all drivers and students are expected to follow the staff member’s instructions. Children being picked up are to wait in the “blue box” until their cars stop. They are expected to enter from the right (curb) side of the car
• If you wish to walk your child to the school door in the morning, you must park in the main parking lot.
• A parking lot for staff only is located adjacent to the playground.
• It is important to follow the established procedures. Children’s safety is at stake and that is much more import-ant than any adult’s time. Please do not rush when you are picking up or dropping off your child.
• Parents often walk or drive to school to meet their children. You may enter the school at 3:30 and assemble in the gym AFTER to physical education teacher gives the all clear. Please do not enter school prior to 3:30 for this purpose. After you meet your child, exit
only through the side door of the gym and the door near the custodians’ office
• Students and parents are always expected to walk their bikes on the school grounds on school days. The school grounds are usually a good place to ride on non-school days.

8. In periods of bad weather please prohibit your children from riding their bicycles to school. This is a time when a greater number of cars are in the school areas, increasing the possibility of an accident. Children are required by state law and school policy, to wear helmets when riding bikes. Adults should model this desirable behavior for all by wearing their own bike helmets when riding a bicycle.

9. Proof of South Brunswick residency is required upon enrollment of students into the school or upon change of address.


10. Students newly transferred from other schools during the school year will be admitted to their classes the day following their registration.

11. If you move to another district, a school transfer card will be required by your new school. Please call the school office in advance of the transfer of your child. In accordance with State law, school records will be mailed to the receiving school only if the parent has signed a records release form.

12. We have two written report card periods during the school year for grades K to 2 (Feb. 8 & June 23) and three reporting periods for 3rd through 5th graders (Dec. 14, Mar 14 and June
23). Parent-Teacher conferences are held November ( 13th to 16th) and April (7th to 10th). In order for you to be fully informed regarding your child's progress, it is essential that you attend the conferences and carefully read the written reports.

13. Teachers often conduct activities in which an extra adult in the classroom would be helpful. If you have the time to help in a class please contact the classroom teacher.

14. Teachers are not expected to provide school work in advance for children who will be vacationing on days when school is in session. A list of school related activities can be obtained from the office. Children who are away on vacation during the time standardized tests are administered cannot be assured of a make-up test. Those dates are indicated on the district calendar.

15. In May and June of each year the teachers begin to organize the classroom assignments of students for the next school year. An opportunity will be provided for parents to submit information for consideration as one of many factors involved in class placement. This opportunity extends from about March 15 to May 1. The principal will make the final decision in all student assignments.

16. BACKPACKS, BOOKBAGS: Students are responsible for their textbooks, library books, materials and equipment. They will be charged for lost, abused or destroyed items. Children should be encouraged to handle backpacks care-fully because of the expensive books being carried. We recommend that you not use rolling, suitcase-like book bags. These cause extra congestion, they do not fit into the lockers and they are difficult for children to get onto and off of busses.

17. If you should have a concern, question or a problem, please contact your child’s teacher, assistant principal, or principal so that you can obtain accurate information. The principal and assistant principal are available by telephone. Since teachers are in class all day, the most direct way to contact them is by sending a note with your child or by sending an e- mail. Include your daytime phone # in your message.

18. ILLNESS: When a child becomes ill at school, it is the responsibility of the parent to transport the child home. Do not send your child to school if he/she appears to be ill.

19. CLOTHING I: When the weather is warm, girls should not wear strapless or spaghetti strap tops. Shirts should have sleeves. Stomachs are to be covered. Low-rider pants or shorts can be embarrassing or distracting. Please be sure your children dress for the serious work to be done in school.
Students should be prepared for inclement weather and dressed appropriately on very cold days. Please remember hat, gloves, rain gear and boots. Students are expected to go outdoors for recess each school day. The principal makes alternate plans when the weather dictates otherwise. Scarves that wrap around the neck are not a good idea for children.


20. CLOTHING II: Please be sure that all of your child's belongings (such as coats, hats and lunch boxes) are labeled with the child's name. Unlabeled, lost items are kept in designated areas and are disposed of periodically during the school year. Students and parents are urged to check for lost items of clothing. When valuables are found, they are kept in the school office.

21. Please make every effort to have your child on time (between 8:55 and 9:05) and in school every day except in case of illness. There is solid evidence to prove the value of children being in school every possible day in a ready frame of mind. It’s important to get a good start to the day. Children who arrive at school late are missing important activities and the time they need to get organized for the school day. Please do whatever it takes to have your child here on time.

22. Children are expected to cheerfully participate in cleaning their cafeteria table about once every 3 weeks. Kindergartners are gradually introduced to this responsibility

23. DISCIPLINE PROCEDURES—We reexamine our approach to discipline each year. We continue to help children grow in their capacity to be increasingly responsible for their behavior and the quality of their relationships. The changes are the result of our work with and close study of the ideas of the Northeast Foundation and the Responsive Classroom. Many of you have seen evidence of the work of the Responsive Classroom type activities the things you have heard from your child about Morning Meeting. We intend to continue to evolve into a Responsive Classroom School. The underlying philosophy of our school’s approach to discipline is that proper behavior is a very important social skill that is learned. Behavior lapses, just like academic mistakes, are treated by the adults at school as opportunities to provide additional instruction, review and practice. Parents are invited to visit the Responsive Classroom website to read more.
•Teachers, administrators and paraprofessionals will be coaching students on the practice of carrying out an “apology of action.” This would be a response in which a child makes up for some harmful word or deed by apologizing, promising not to repeat the word or deed and then designing some action to make it up to the person that was harmed or offended. We recommend this as a useful approach to helping children deal responsibly with their brothers and sisters and neighborhood friends.
• In other instances, e.g., a failure to follow procedures in the lunchroom or on the playground, improper behavior may call for a loss of privilege.
• Another key component of the new disciplinary approach addresses the behavior of a child who is disruptive in class. Short timeouts are used in this situation with the goal of having the child recover the ability to manage his/her own behavior.

23a DISCIPLINE AWAY FROM SCHOOL-- It is reasonable to expect to see the children of Brunswick Acres School behaving well on busses, at bus stops, in malls and at parks and other venues in the community. They shouldn’t need close adult supervision to ensure that they behave properly. In instances where you see one of our students behaving poorly, you will be serving that child, and the community as a whole, by letting a school administrator or teacher know about what you have seen. Our response would be to provide corrective coaching and to assist the child in planning to correct his or her behavior.

24 MESSAGES--The office will take messages or deliveries for students during the school day and relay them to the classroom at a time when minimal disruption will occur. Try to minimize your need to deliver items or messages during the school day as a measure of respect for the learning process of your child and all the others in the class.


25. HEALTH REGULATIONS & INFORMATION
The following health regulations apply to the public schools in South Brunswick Township.
I. The following immunizations will be required before school entrance: diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, and polio (initial series and one booster), measles, rubella and mumps (initial dose at 15 months, and a second dose prior to kindergarten entry).

II. It is the responsibility of the school to administer first aid treatment to all reported injuries occurring while traveling to and from school, in school or on the playground. It is the parent’s responsibility to care for the injury after the first aid treatment has been administered by the school. The school may not treat an injury which did not take place in school.

III. Pupils requiring medication at school must have a written statement from the family physician, which identifies the type, dosage and purpose of the medication. In addition to the doctor's information, written statements from the parents giving permission to give medication prescribed by the family physician is required by the school.

IV. Children must not carry medication during school time. The administration of medication to pupils shall be done only in exceptional cases, wherein the child's health may be jeopardized without it.

V. Children having a contagious disease shall be excluded from school until all signs of the disease have disappeared.

VI. The school nurse may exclude a child who appears ill in school and may require a note from a physician before a child is readmitted to school.

VII. Children returning to school following an absence must have a note from the parents or guardian.

VIII. A child may be excused from physical education for three days with a note from the parent. If the time is extended beyond three days, a note from the family physician is required. If a child is excused from physical education classes with a physician’s note, because of recuperating from an illness or injury, a physician's note is also required to resume gym classes.

IX. The school nurse is available at the schools for health consultations. The nurse never makes a diagnosis, nor can she prescribe treatment. If you are not familiar with the community resources for proper medical attention, she will be able to assist you.

X. If your child appears to be ill in the morning, do not send him/her to school "to see the nurse." Mrs. Taylor is not permitted to treat such situations and will simply call to have your child picked up and returned home.

XI. HEAD LICE
Head lice are one of the nuisances which sometimes occur where there are many people in close contact with one another. Where they originate from nobody knows, but one thing is certain: You do not get head lice from being unclean. Nobody is immune to them.
-Fall and spring are the times when head lice are most abundant. You can get them from numerous sources, a few of them being the barber or hairdresser, the backs of seats at the movies, wearing someone else's hat, using someone else's comb, and, of course, school.
-To help control this situation, it is recommended that you check your child periodically. Examine hair carefully, paying special attention to areas around the ears and along the hairline. In doing so, you are looking for "nits" which are the eggs of the head lice. They are tiny oval-shaped specks which attach themselves to the hair.

-If you cannot flick a white speck away (as you could if it were dandruff) it is probably a nit.
If you are unsure of your diagnosis, call the school nurse and ask her to examine your child.
-If your child has head lice, treatment and instruction on use of special shampoo may be obtained from your druggist. Examine everyone in your family and provide treatment only if necessary. It is of vital importance that you notify the school if your child has head lice. This way we can prevent the spread of this nuisance and eliminate the situation.

26. ATTENDANCE CALL-UP PROGRAM
If a child is to be absent from school, parents are asked to call the school (732-297-6621) or e-mail Mrs. Cook (Martha.Cook@sbschools.org) prior to 8:50 A.M. to report this absence and the reason for the absence.

Office personnel will take this information and notify Mrs. Vajda of the child's absence. If office personnel are not available, an answering machine will record your message.

If a child is absent and we have not been notified, Mrs. Vajda will call the parent at home, the alternate contact or the parent at work to determine if the child is home. This call-up program is in effect for the entire school district in an effort to be sure that each child is safe at home or at another location with the parent's knowledge.

We ask that you make every effort to keep us informed of any absences and that you make the calls anytime before 9:00 A.M. It is okay to call or e-mail the previous evening and leave a message.

Children arriving late to school are required to have a note from home indicating the reason for lateness. Children are required to report first to the school office before going to the classroom. Please be sure your child understands this procedure.

A form will be used this year to help you inform us of changes in dismissal or after school plans. Five of those are included with this packet. More are available at the school office.

27. HOMEWORK
What Is It?
Homework at Brunswick Acres is the practice of skills learned during school hours, preparation for the next day's activities or a sustained project requiring several evenings to complete. Examples of homework or assignments are the completion of assignments started in class, studying for tests, or enrichment and reinforcement activities based upon a student’s individual needs. You can generally expect your child to have homework every night when school is in session the next day. The classroom teacher will give you more specifics about amounts and types at Back to School Night.

All schoolwork, including homework, needs to be done within the assigned amount of time and returned to school. If an emergency arises and your child cannot complete an assignment, send a note to the classroom teacher and other arrangements can then be made.
As a guideline, emergencies happen about two or three times per year. Some children have been known to take advantage of the concept of “emergency.”

If you ever have any questions about your child's homework, please feel free to call or e-mail your child's classroom teacher. If your child is routinely spending a greater amount of time than indicated, please notify the teacher. If your child experiences difficulty in the homework assignment, please notify his/her teacher with a note.

What Are The Guidelines? The following are homework time guidelines. These are average nightly amounts. There will be exceptions.
K-1 0 - 30 minutes (K. homework often does not start until later in the year.)
Grade 2 15 - 45 minutes
Grade 3 20 - 50 minutes
Grade 4 30 - 60 minutes
Grade 5 40 – 60 minutes
Teachers will often have children do their homework in class for the first several days or weeks of the school year and then, when it’s done just the way it’s supposed to be done, the child will bring it home for your review. These homework models might be tacked to a bulletin board to serve as a template for neatness, organization and formatting.

The Homework Club has been offered to students for several years. In this program, many students are surprised to find how much they could accomplish when distractions were removed. Helping your child reduce and resist distractions will increase homework efficiency. Stu-dents are faster and more accurate when they are able to focus clearly on the task at hand.
There is a fee ($4 per day/$15 per four day week) to attend the Homework Club unless your child is enrolled in after school care. Homework Club does not meet on Fridays.

What Can Parents Do To Help? Homework should be considered a priority. Please set aside a time every day for either homework or school-related activities. Provide a distraction-free environment. Help when necessary but use restraint. Most of the time, the teacher expects that the homework can be done with little or no assistance. Look over the assignment as a reflection of your interest, and praise positive efforts to produce quality work.

What Is The Student's Role? Homework is the student's responsibility. It is a contract between the child and the teacher. A genuine effort to complete homework accurately and neatly is required to bring about gains in skills. The return of library books and the bringing in of sneakers, musical instruments, student planners and notebooks/binders are also homework assignments.

How Is Homework Evaluated? The teacher is responsible for evaluating the assignments - as with all schoolwork. The quality and completion of homework are factors considered in assessing a child's progress in school. Neatness and legibility are also important.


28. PARENT AND STUDENT PROBLEM-SOLVING PROCEDURES

1. Parents and students with problems or concerns are advised to discuss their problems first with the teacher involved. If the problem cannot be solved during this discussion, it is then discussed with the principal or assistant principal.

2. Parents and students having problems that are general in nature and do not involve specific teachers are encouraged to discuss the problems directly with the principal or assistant principal.

29. SUGGESTIONS
Periodically parents offer suggestions that improve student learning, safety and well-being. If you think a school practice might be better done in another way, please share that thought with your child's teacher, the school administrators or a member of the PTO Executive Board.

30. NUTRITION

(Be sure to review the Board’s Nutrition Policy summary on pp. 5 & 6. ) In some classes the students are permitted a snack period during a Nmorning break. This time is designated for the enjoyment of a nutritious snack. Please restrict your child's choices to
healthful and small snacks. Teachers often expect students to continue an assignment during the snack period.

Some children have developed the poor health habit of not eating breakfast. This leaves them without proper nutrition for approximately eighteen hours; from dinner time the day before until lunchtime the following day. This affects their academic achievement and physical well-being. It is our responsibility as educators and parents to help our children maintain healthy bodies and develop good health habits. Eating in the morning is very important.

It is expected that all children will eat lunch every day. Children may go home for lunch with parental permission. Students may bring a bagged lunch to eat in the school lunchroom or they may purchase a school lunch.

We will never knowingly allow a child to miss lunch. Please help your child under-stand that if lunch money or lunch is forgotten that (s)he should tell one of the lunch teachers so other arrangements can be made. Cafeteria staff gives IOU’s and payment is expected the following day. Printed reminders about these IOU's are sent home. When an IOU is unpaid, and the child is without lunch or lunch money, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, fruit and milk will be made available.

The debit card system has proven beneficial in many ways. There is additional information in the first-day packet about how the lunch debit card program works. Please take time to become familiar with it.

NOTE: The monthly lunch menus are distributed to the students, posted in the school building, and are published in The South Brunswick Post newspaper.

31. VACATIONS
Missing school is counterproductive to learning so vacations or other extended family trips during the school year are discouraged. Please do whatever you can to have your vacation schedule conform to the school year calendar. The calendar is included with this packet of information.

32. EMERGENCY PLAN FOR BRUNSWICK ACRES SCHOOL
In the event that an emergency, such as a tornado, hurricane, flood, blizzard, fire or explosion, should strike, the following planning guide has been prepared.

I. SITUATION
A. Evacuation of Students
In the event that warning time is sufficient, students will be dismissed from school.
B. Retention of Students
Brunswick Acres School has a potential capacity of approximately six hundred students and a shelter capacity for the same. In the event that warning time is severely limited, the children will be given all possible protection within the school facilities. The designated shelter area is the school gymnasium and cafeteria.

II. EVACUATION
1. The parents of each child annually receive written instructions concerning emergency school closings. Local radio stations are listed. Each parent also receives an "Emergency Closing Form" to complete and return to school. This form furnishes the school with
information concerning alternate contacts who would assume responsibility for the child if the parents were not at home.
2. It is the responsibility of the parent to instruct the child concerning names and locations of alternate contacts. Also, the parents are responsible for informing the child as to which days the parents will not be at home.
3. In the event of an emergency closing of school, students will be dismissed at a time designated by the superintendent or the principal. Parents will be notified by phone or e- mail if at all possible if so request-ed on the annual emergency procedure form. This
notification procedure will begin with parents of youngest students.
4. Any child who does not have a place to go will be kept in a protected area at or near the school.
5. It is possible for us to reach a large number of you by e-mail very quickly. It is important for us, therefore, to have your current e-mail addresses. Whenever any of
your addresses (e-mail, phone, cell-phone, beeper, etc.) change; send a note to the school right away. E-mail this information to Mrs Schrob: Nancy.Schrob@sbschools.org or telephone it to Mrs. Cook at 732-297-6621.

33. GUIDELINES FOR PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES
Conferences this year are during the periods of Nov. 13 to 16 and April 7 to 10. In preparing to meet with your child’s teacher, review these guidelines, which are included here to help you have an efficient and productive conference.

1. Be prepared to state any concerns you have about your child's education.
2. If more than one teacher works with your child, ask for a joint conference.
3. Be an active participant.
4. Take notes at the conference if it helps you. Questions may occur to you after-wards. Call back to get them answered.
5. Questions you may wish to ask during the conference:
a. Can my child carry out directions and instructions independently?
b. Does my child complete his/her work?
c. How does my child make use of his/her time in school?
d. Is my child relaxed, nervous, happy, tense, aggressive, shy?
e. How does my child relate to other adults?
f. How does my child get along with other children?
g. What can I do to help?
6. If your child is not functioning as you would reasonably expect, follow up with: "How can we (teacher and parent) help him/her to reach the desired goals?"
7. Find out your child's strengths. Being aware of them and encouraging the development those strengths is a sound approach that supports overall growth.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND SERVICES OF BRUNSWICK ACRES SCHOOL

ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE CLUB a.k.a. Homework Club
Recommendation: teacher
Grade Levels Eligibile: 1 - 5
Faculty Coordinators: L. Mottola, Classroom Teacher; M. Sadin, Assistant Principal
Approximate number of students served: 75

The Academic Assistance Club is designed to help students who require adult assistance to complete their daily homework assignments. The Academic Assistance Club is a free service for students whose parents are paying for the After Care Program. There is a fee schedule for students who would otherwise go right home. Teachers and paraprofessionals staff the Academic Assistance Club. The classes have a maximum student to adult ratio of 15:1. The
Academic Assistance Club meets 4 days a week, Monday through Thursday, for one hour after the regular school day approximately 8 months of the school year.

ENRICHMENT SUPPORT PROGRAM
Recommendation:
Eligibility: K – 5
Faculty Contact: M. Downie, Academic Enrichment Teacher
Approximate number of students served: 60

The Enrichment Support Program provides enrichment opportunities beyond the regular classroom for select students. Students meet weekly for 5 to 6 week cycles to explore topics such as current events, the environment, buildings and structures, mock trial and other real-world, problem solving activities. Participation is based upon strong academic performance, work habits, teacher recommendation and/or self, peer, or parent nomination.
For each of the select group enrichment opportunities, students are chosen by a set criteria individualized for each opportunity.

ENRICHMENT SUPPORT PROGRAM – LUNCH BUNCH
Recommendation:
Eligibility: K – 5
Faculty Contact: M. Downie, Academic Enrichment Teacher Approximate number of students served: 45

The Lunch Bunch provides opportunities for groups of students to come together and share their interests and hobbies. Students meet weekly during lunch time to play games, share their collections and hobbies.

ACCELERATED MATH
Recommendation: parent and / or teacher Eligibility: one program model for K – 4, another program model for 5th grade
Faculty Contact: M. Desai, V. Bowden Teachers; M. Sadin, Assistant Principal Approximate number of students served: 3-5 in K – 4, 15 in 5th grade

K-4 students who participate in accelerated math are placed one full grade level ahead for math instruction. Eligibility is based on standardized test scores, the district’s math assessments, and a child’s social and emotional functions. At the end of each school year, a student must demonstrate mastery of the math content at his/her next grade level and that the ability to sustain the rigor or work a full grade level ahead. The 5th grade accelerated math program is more widely defined. Students in this program take the sixth grade math program while in 5th grade at BAS.


AFTERNOON ADVENTURES
Recommendation: parent and student
Eligibility: varies, see individual activity descriptions
Faculty Contact: M. Sadin, Assistant Principal
Approximate number of students served: between 10 – 30 in each club

Afternoon Adventures is the name that covers a range of activities from knitting, origami, physical activities / sports clubs, and cultural awareness explorations. Individual teachers provide the instruction and supervision. A fee structure exists for some activities to cover the expenses of materials. Afternoon Adventures meet for one hour at the end of the regular school day for approximately 6 weeks once or twice a school year.


BASIC SKILLS
Recommendation: teacher; test scores (i.e. standardized state tests & K-2 Literacy Portfolio)
Eligibility: K – 5
Faculty Contact: S. Montag & V Schwartz, Basic Skills Teachers
Approximate number of students served: 60

The Basic Skills intervention program is designed to address the needs of children who are at risk for meeting grade level standards in reading and math. Children are identified based on formal assessments as well as teacher recommendation. Depending on the grade leve and the specific needs of the student, children meet in groups of 1–5 students approximately three times per six day cycle. Each session ranges from 30–45 minutes.

BEFORE SCHOOL CARE / AFTER SCHOOL CARE
Recommendation: parent (there is a fee structure for this service)
Eligibility: All So. Brunswick Township Public School children grades K-8 provided their parents/guardians are both working during before or after
school time or are attending school full time. This includes children with special needs. Faculty Contact: S. Jenkins, Board Office; 732-297-7800 x 3196
Approximate number of students served: 110

Before and After School Programs operate in all elementary schools in South Brunswick. The programs are offered to children of working parents while they are working or going to school full-time. The Before School Program starts at 7am and ends at the start of school (grades K-5 only). The After School Program runs from the end of the school day until 6 pm and a snack is provided. Prices are reasonable and a sibling discount is available. For registration information,
contact Sylvia Jenkins at 732-297-7800x3196 or e-mail Sylvia.Jenkins@sbschools.org.

The Before and After School Care program provides the opportunity for children to choose from a variety of active and quiet recreational and enrichment activities. Children are encouraged to make their own choices, be creative and pursue individual interests. They assume responsibility for their own behavior, respect the rights of others and keep their environment clean and happy. Programs provide families with a monthly calendar that outlines available choices.

BOOKWORM
Recommendation: teacher recommendation, parent approval
Eligibility: K - 1
Faculty Contact: S. Lapidus, Classroom Teacher, J. Bolanowski, Resource Teacher
Approximate number of students served: 18

Bookworm was developed to bring the excitement of reading to children. This program is supplemental to the child’s formal reading program. Bookworm is administered by trained volunteers. Teachers recommend about two or three students per class who will read and listen to stories, share ideas and experiences, play alphabet and comprehension games, and write simple stories. Students may participate in Bookworm regardless of other reading services that they are receiving.

CHESS CLUB
Recommendation: student and parent
Eligibility: 2nd – 5th graders
Faculty Contact: M. Sadin, Ass’t. Principal
Approximate number of students served: approximately 85

The Chess Club is available for students who want to play during one recess period every six days. The Chess Club meets for approximately 6 months out of the school year. Parents are asked to verify their child’s involvement by signing a participation form. Beginning, intermediate, and advanced players are welcome. Students select a partner and play for fun and practice. The Club is not set up with a tournament structure.

CHILD STUDY TEAM (CST)
Recommendation: teacher or parent
Eligibility: K–5, determined by process
Faculty Contact: E. Fellner, School Psychologist; C. Montoney, Learning
Consultant; K. Pollard, School Social Worker; the child’s classroom teacher or M. Sadin or J. Anzek

The members of the Child Study Team (CST) determine if a student is eligible for the autism program, the pre-school disabled program, special education and/or related services (i.e. speech, physical and/or occupational therapy).

The referral process usually follows the IRT Intervention & Referral Team process. The classroom teacher completes a Child Study Team Referral Form accompanied by student work samples and assessment data. This documentation is submitted to Melissa Sadin, Assistant Principal. She, in turn, submits the documentation to the Office of Student Services. OSS verifies receipt of the documentation. Within 20 days of that receipt, a member of the CST will contact the parent and set up the Evaluation Plan Meeting. At that time the steps of the evaluation process are described in full detail by the CST.


CHORAL MUSIC PROGRAM
Recommendation: student and parent
Faculty Contact: J. Barr or S. Cuno, Music Teachers

3rd Grade Chorus
All 3rd graders are eligible to participate in this chorus. They rehearse for 30 minutes once in every six day cycle.


Brunswick Singers
This choir consists of 4th and 5th graders. 3rd Grade Chorus is not a requirement. They rehearse for 30 minutes once in every six day cycle.
Chamber Singers (this program is an element of Gifted and Talented Programming) 4th and 5th Brunswick Singers are invited to participate in this choir after an audition process. This choir meets for 35 to 40 minutes before regular school hours.

DANCE CLUB
Recommendation: student
Eligibility: 4th graders
Faculty Contact: K. Rosa, Classroom Teacher
Approximate number of students served: 30

The Dance Club meets during lunch and recess one out of every six days for approximately 8 months of the school year. During that hour, students create their own dances in their own small groups. They perform for one another and at the end of the year, every member invites one peer to watch an informal performance.

DRAMA CLUB
Recommendation: student and parent
Eligibility: 4th and 5th graders
Faculty Contact: J. Barr, S. Cuno, Drama Teachers
Approximate number of students served: 65

The Drama Club is a musical theater experience. The Drama Club meets once a week, after school, for approximately three months. The Drama Club culminates with a production that is performed once during the school day and two evenings for the community. All students who audition are asked to participate. After demonstrating their ability to act, sing and dance during auditions, speaking parts and leading roles are determined.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS (ELL)
Recommendation: need based, parent, teacher
Eligibility: K–5
Faculty Contact: S. Driessen, ELL Teacher
Approximate number of students served: 12

Any new student entering Brunswick Acres whose first language is not English, is given a state
required test administered by the ELL teacher. Pre-K, kindergarten and first graders take the
LAS English Assessment Test, while students from second through twelfth grades take the

Maculaitis Test (MAC). If the student meets the Eligibility requirements, parents are notified and the student receives individual or small group instruction with the ELL teacher. At the end of each school year, students take a post-test to measure their improvement. When a student meets the exit criteria, parents are notified again. After students have passed the exit criteria for the ELL program, they may be eligible for transition services based on their standardized test scores.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PROGRAM
Recommendation: student and parent
Eligibility:
Faculty Contact: J. Barr, S. Cuno, Music Teachers
Approximate number of students served: 140 Students who play instruments receive small group (4-5 students) lessons for half
an hour once during the six day cycle. In addition to their instrument lessons, students rehearse with the entire ensemble / band / orchestra for 45 minutes once during the six day cycle.

Concert Band
The Concert Band consists of 4th and 5th graders who are just beginning to play the following instruments: flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet, baritone horn, trombone, drums and bells.

Wind Ensemble
The Wind Ensemble consists of students who are in their 2nd year of playing concert band instruments.
Jazz Band
Students who demonstrate advanced proficiency with their concert band instruments are invited to participate in the Jazz Band after performing during an audition. Participation in this group is considered part of the district’s gifted and talented program.
Beginning Orchestra
Beginning Orchestra is for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders who are having their first experience with string instruments – including the violin, viola, cello and bass.
Concert Orchestra / Symphonic Orchestra
The Concert / Symphonic Orchestra consists of students who are in their 2nd or 3rd year of playing a string instrument.
Chamber Strings
Students who demonstrate advanced proficiency with their string instruments are invited to participate in Chamber Strings after performing during an audition. Participation in this group is considered part of the district’s gifted and talented program.

INTERVENTION REFERRAL TEAM (IRT)
Recommendation: teacher
Eligibility: K – 5
Faculty Contact: M. Sadin, Assistant Principal
Approximate number of students served: 25 - 30

The state of New Jersey requires each public school to maintain a committee designed to assist teachers with struggling students. The committee consists of the Assistant Principal, the school nurse, a special education teacher, the school assistance counselor, a basic skills teacher, a member of the child study team, and a speech therapist. Teachers initiate the process by completing a referral form and then they are given a meeting date. Teachers may invite parents to attend. Teachers bring in work samples, report cards, portfolio assessments and any other records that they consider relevant. The team helps the teacher and the student by making
suggestions and providing additional strategies for the teacher to use in order to help the student perform to the best of their ability. When students are referred to this team, parents are made aware in advance and briefed on the discussion held at the meeting.

MENTORING
Recommendation: parent or teacher
Eligibility: K – 5
Contact: M. Sadin, Assistant Principal
Approximate number of students served: 40

The mentoring program is a one-to-one supportive relationship sustained throughout the school year. Mentors are for students who benefit from having an extra special relationship with a caring adult. Children and mentors may talk about such things as hobbies, interests,
schoolwork, etc. Mentors may help children develop organizational skills, increase academic achievement, learn to make good decisions, assume responsibility, and or develop peer and adult relationships. Mentors encourage, listen, advise and share.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
Recommendation: by the Child Study Team and Examining Therapist
Eligibility: K – 5
Faculty Contact: C. Montoney
Approximate number of students served: 30
Occupational Therapy helps children develop fine motor skills, visual/perceptual skill, visual/motor control, visual motor integration. Gross motor skills are
addressed as well as sensory integration. Training in the activities of daily living is also provided.

ODYSSEY OF THE MIND
Recommendation: parent, student, and / or teacher
Eligibility: K – 5
Faculty Contact: M. Sadin, Assistant Principal
Number of students served: 7 per team, unlimited number of teams

Odyssey of the Mind gives students an opportunity to be creative in order to solve complex problems. Parents serve as coaches for grade level teams. Students are encouraged to use both critical and divergent thinking skills while interacting with their teammates to create a solution
which they present at a non-competitive annual showcase. Odyssey of the Mind teams prepare for approximately 2 months.


PEER MEDIATION
Recommendation: need based
Eligibility: 4–5
Faculty Contact: J. Turner, Student Assistance Counselor
Approximate number of students served: 20

Peer Mediation is a program which allows students to voluntarily seek out the assistance of trained 4th and 5th grade peers when attempting to resolve minor social conflicts. The peer mediators volunteer to act as impartial listeners who help the students come up with their own solutions to a dispute by guiding them through a series of scripted questions. Peer mediators are trained by the Student Assistant Counselor and are available during lunch and recess. In
addition to helping make the school a more peaceful place, the peer mediators develop social and leadership skills that they can use for resolving their own conflicts, and those of their classmates.


PHYSICAL THERAPY
Recommendation: need based
Eligibility: K - 5
Faculty Contact: M. Kaminker
This service concentrates on the needs of children in the area of gross motor skills. Examples are walking, throwing, maintaining balance, stair climbing and navigating the hallways of the school.

RESOURCE CENTER
Recommendation: Child Study Team
Eligibility: K-5 (upon evaluation/recommendation of the CST)
Faculty Contact: Child Study Team (K. Pollard, C. Montoney, E. Fellner)
Special Education Teachers: Janice Bolanowski and Jessica Rigatti

The Resource Center provides classified students with a variety of services. Once a student is considered eligible to receive special education services (by the CST) an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is developed. The IEP will state if a student will be receiving pull out
resource services or in class support services. In a pullout resource program the student leaves the general education classroom and comes to the Resource Center for replacement instruction in reading, math, and/or language arts. A student comes to the Resource Center to receive academic support daily or as specified by the IEP. Special education teachers provide the replacement instruction.

The in-class support model permits the special education teacher to go into the general education classroom to support the student during academic instruction (in reading, math, and/or language arts). In both the pullout program and the in class support model, the special education and the general education teachers collaborate to modify instruction, and meet the needs of the student by implementing the terms and strategies outlined in the IEP.

SAFETY PATROL
Recommendation:
Eligibility: 4 – 5
Faculty Contact: S. Mayle, Classroom Teacher
Approximate number of students served: 45

The Safety Patrol program helps student morale and allows students to develop a sense of responsibility, leadership, promptness, neatness and industriousness. Safety Patrol monitors maintain posts in the the hallways and the playgrounds to ensure a safe environment for all students. They are available to assist students in need and maintain safety.

SPEECH, LANGUAGE Recommendation: Parent, Teacher
Eligibility: K – 5
Faculty Contact: R. Bajnath, N. Kahney, Speech/Language Specialists
Approximate number of students served: 60
Speech-language therapy is a Related Service Program that provides support for the general education program. Speech-language specialists address the
following needs: articulation, language, auditory processing, fluency and voice disorders. If parents are concerned that their child’s academic and social development are being negatively impacted by speech-language difficulties then they can contact the teacher or the speech language specialist. The speech language specialist will consult with the classroom teacher and the parent to determine an appropriate course of action for the student. If teachers are concerned about the academic or social impact of a speech-language issue, they consult with the speech-language specialist. If the concern continues to exist after the consultation, the teacher will fill out a Speech Language Referral Form. The speech-language specialist will send the form to the Board of Education. The Board Office verifies receipt of the
documentation. Within 20 days of that receipt, the speech language specialist will contact the parent and set up the Evaluation Plan Meeting. At that time the steps of the evaluation process are described in full detail.
Speech-language services are provided either through in-class support or small group pull-out sessions. The duration and frequency of sessions is dependent on the identified needs of the individual student.

STUDENT ASSISTANCE COUNSELORS
Recommendation: need based by student, teacher, and / or parent
Eligibility: K–5
Faculty Contact: J. Turner, L. Lillian, Counselor
The role of the Student Assistance Counselor is to promote the social / emotional and academic growth of all students in cooperation with parents, teachers, and other staff members. Services are delivered directly to students through individual and small group counseling, class lessons, and whole school programs. The issues that the Counselors help students address are: friendship skills, conflict resolution, behavior concerns, self-esteem, coping skills, divorce, death of family members, substance abuse prevention, etc. The Student Assistance Counselors also support students indirectly through consultations with parents and teachers, as well as through participation on intervention committees.

STUDENT COUNCIL
Recommendation: students and teacher
Eligibility: K – 5
Faculty Contact: K. Fritz, C. Cresci, and B. Whittaker, Student Council Coordinators
Approximate number of students served: 42

Two representatives are selected from each class via election or nomination to serve on Student Council. Members represent their class at monthly meetings and they report back to their class. Primarily the Student Council representatives make decisions regarding school wide events such as community service projects, fund raising activities, or school spirit days. Student Council helps students expand their leadership and communication skills. Appointments are made for one school year.

YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL (YAC )
Recommendation: teacher
Eligibility: 1 – 5
Faculty Contact: A. Ellsworth, Paraprofessional
Approximate number of students served: 10

YAC is a multi-grade group consisting of two representatives from 1st through 5th grades. YAC meets approximately three times a year with the Director or Assistant Director of Food Services. During their meetings, YAC members learn about nutrition, discuss making healthy choices and make recommendations for menu selection. YAC provides an opportunity for students to develop their leadership and critical thinking skills. Teachers recommend students who at least occasionally buy lunch at school. (See Nutrition Policy on p. 32 & 33)

COMPUTERS AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY are in use in nearly all learning locations. Our school is equipped with cable television access. We use video and
still cameras in instructional situations. The school district continually provides training to staff members in the most effective uses of this equipment in support
of learning goals. The Internet is one of the best possible uses of technology in this regard. Students are expected to use the internet to strengthen their grasp of curriculum concepts. Teachers use the internet to gain access to a wide array of information resources. To safeguard students and to make the best use of technology services, an Acceptable Use Form has been developed. Students who are new to the school are expected to sign this form, with
their parents, as an indication of their agreement to make proper use of equipment, materials and licenses that are owned by the district.

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