WEST DOVER
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
STUDENT HANDBOOK
2016-2017
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MONTH / Event / DateSeptember / OPENING DAY / Tuesday, September 6
October / CLOSED – Rosh Hashanah
CLOSED – Columbus Day
CLOSED – Yom Kippur / Monday, October 3
Monday, October 10
Wednesday, October 12
November / CLOSED – Election/NJEA Convention
CLOSED – Thanksgiving / Monday, November 7 to Friday, November 11
Thursday, November 24 & Friday, November 25
December / PM Professional Day
CLOSED – Winter Recess / Wednesday, December 7
Monday December 26 to
Friday, December 30
January / REOPEN
CLOSED – Martin Luther King Day / Monday, January 2
Monday, January 16
February / PM Professional Day
CLOSED – Presidents’ Day / Thursday, February 9
Monday, February 20
March / PM Professional Day / Tuesday, March 21
April / CLOSED – Spring Recess
REOPEN / Monday, April 10 to Monday, April 17
Tuesday, April 18
May / PM Professional Day
CLOSED – Memorial Day / Wednesday, May 24
Monday, May 29
June / TENTATIVE LAST DAY OF SCHOOL / Wednesday, June 21
Three extra days have been built into this calendar for emergencies, weather, etc. For each day not used by the end of the year, the last day of school for students and teachers will be reduced by one day in reverse order beginning June 21. If additional emergency closing days beyond the three are needed, they will be deducted from subsequent days and/or added to the end of the year as half-days beginning June 21. These adjustments may affect events and marking period dates.
PM Professional Day – All schools will run ½ day program.
DISCLAIMER: SUBJECT TO ANY STATE MANDATED CHANGES
Adopted: 6/15/16
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WEST DOVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
School Staff Administration
Michael Pallen ...... Principal
Wendy Rozwadowski Dravis ...... Supervisor of Instruction
Linda Monaco ...... Senior Secretary
Doreen Gonnello ...... Secretary
Lisa Butler ...... Nurse
Telephone Numbers
School’s Main Number ...... 732-505-5920
School’s Fax Number ...... 732-914-2174
Nurse’s Office ...... 732-505-5922
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ANTI-BULLYING POLICY
West Dover Elementary School promotes a positive learning environment where all are encouraged to respect the differences of others. As required by law, we follow the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act. If you feel your child has been the victim of a bullying, harassment, or intimidation issue, please contact the school administration or our Anti-Bullying Specialist, Ms. Figlioli, immediately so we can investigate and correct this situation. All cases we be reviewed and the development stage of the children involved will be taken into consideration when disciplinary action is required. Complete policy can be found on the Toms River Schools website under “Quick Links – Anti-Bullying Resources.”
ART
Art instruction is provided to all students. Students should bring a smock for art class. An old shirt, large enough to cover a student’s clothes, is appropriate. Names should be on all smocks. Occasionally students will be asked to bring in something from home such as: milk cartons, egg cartons, bottles, jars, shoeboxes, aluminum cans, stockings, socks, and pinecones.
ATTENDANCE
A most significant factor in a child’s education is his/her attendance on a regular basis. Students should arrive on time before 9:25 am. The optimal arrival time is between 9:10-9:25. STUDENTS MAY NOT BE DROPPED OFF AND LEFT PRIOR TO 9:10.
State requires students are present in school at least 4 hours each day. Less than 4 hours, students will be considered absent.
A computerized call will notify you that your child is absent from school. Each child who is absent will receive a call. The computer will call several times until someone answers. Notify the Main Office if you change your phone number so our records can be updated. This phone # is also used to notify you of delayed openings and school closing due to weather related conditions.
If illness or other emergency prevents a student from attending school, Board of Education policy states that the CHILD MUST PRESENT A WRITTEN EXCUSE ON THE DAY OF RETURN. To comply with the state you must send in a written note stating the date(s) absent, the reason for the absence and it must be signed by the parent or guardian. Absences that don’t have written notes are required to be report to the state. According to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-78(a) 4iii, a student who has accumulated 10 or more absences will be considered truant.
If you anticipate your child being absent for more than three days, or if the illness is of a contagious nature, the nurse’s office should be notified immediately.
If you should request daily assignments, please notify the school before 11:30 a.m. Work will be available for pick-up at the end of the school day (3:35 p.m.) Please realize that it takes time to put material together. Whether work is requested during an absence or assigned upon the child’s return, your child is responsible for making up the missed assignments.
We suggest that vacations would not be planned during the school year. However, if you are taking your child on vacation during the school year, please be aware of the following:
1. A student who is absent from school because of vacation will make up missed class and homework assignments upon their return to school. A student will be allowed the same amount of time absent from school to make up the missed work. For example, if a child is absent for a vacation for one week, that child will be given one week to complete the missed assignments. Request for student work will not be granted.
2. Students may receive some general guidelines, supplementary materials, or individual workbook pages.
3. If test results and make-up work are inadequate, the grades during the marking period will be affected.
BEHAVIOR
At West Dover, we follow the Code of Conduct set forth by the Toms River Board of Education. The Code of Conduct is available online at www.trschools.com under Curriculum.
Children should always cooperate with their teacher and interact in a respectful manner with everyone. We expect children to be courteous and well mannered. Teasing and bullying is against the law and will be handled accordingly. A simple rule is to treat everyone the way you would want them to treat you.
Physical contact is to be avoided at all times. A physical confrontation will result in disciplinary action.
The following are a few examples of incidents, which may cause a serious injury: throwing stones, pulling chairs out resulting in falls, throwing a ball at someone in an inappropriate manner. If a child engages in any of these activities he or she will receive appropriate consequences.
Children are told to report incidents of physical contact immediately to an adult who is nearby. This will prevent escalation of the incident and avoid serious injury.
We want children to work in a positive, harmonious environment where problems are worked out through discussion.
CAFETERIA
We want each child to enjoy the privilege of having lunch in the school cafeteria. General lunchroom rules and procedures are presented by the classroom teachers.
Students are scheduled for a 35-minute lunch period. The children will eat lunch then participate in playground recess. Weather permitting, all children will go outside. Children should dress appropriately for the temperature.
Supervision
The cafeteria is monitored by aides and Administration, who maintain order and provide any assistance needed. The children are expected to obey and respect the aides as they would any other school authority.
All pupils are expected to display proper conduct and manners while eating and handling food. Conversation is permitted; however, loud voices, shouting, or poor etiquette will not be tolerated. Each child will be responsible for clearing his/her area of waste materials.
Cafeteria Rules
1. Speak in a normal tone of voice. No shouting.
2. Stay seated in your assigned area.
3. Clean up the area where you are sitting.
4. Follow directions given by the cafeteria aides.
5. Permission to leave the cafeteria must be granted by the cafeteria aides and/or administrator.
6. Show respect towards others.
7. Use courtesy words at all times – “please, thank you, and excuse me.”
8. After eating, secure left over snacks or water bottles in lunch crates. Food items are not to be brought onto the playground. No bottles are permitted outside during recess.
9. Food/drink/lunch items stay in the cafeteria only. We do not permit eating in the halls or on the playground.
Lunch Boxes
Occasionally, lunch boxes and bag lunches become misplaced. Having them labeled helps ensure their return.
Menu
The school cafeteria offers breakfast and lunch daily. Menus will be sent home each month or it can be found on www.trschools.com.
Breakfast cost: Various items daily …………………………… $1.75
Lunch cost: Children Lunch ………………………………. $2.75
Milk ……………………..……………………… .60¢
An explanation of Lunch and Breakfast Prices and Procedures:
Breakfast and lunch will be available in our school cafeteria. Your child has the option of purchasing a lunch or brings a bagged lunch and purchase milk. West Dover has a computerized cash register system whereby each child will receive an
identification card with his/her photo and unique identification number and may purchase breakfast, lunch or snacks on their account. Identification cards are kept in the classroom.
1. An internet-based payment system which provides you with the convenience of paying your child’s cafeteria purchases via debit or credit card. You can sign up at www.schoolcafe.com anytime. Once your account is activated you can take advantage of all the features SchoolCafe offers, which include depositing monies in your child’s account or monitoring their spending. A 5.75% transaction fee is assessed only when you use your debit/credit card to add funds to your child’s account. Credits to the account will appear within 24 – 48 hours.
2. Money on Account (MOA): You can send money to be placed on your child’s account. This money may be used for lunches, snacks, and/or any additional items such as a second lunch, additional slices of pizza, or beverages. You may send in cash or money orders – NO CHECKS. Please send the money in a sealed envelope with your child’s and the amount of money to go on the account.
Breakfast begins at 9:10 and students must eat quickly to be in their classrooms by 9:25. Only students purchasing breakfast will be permitted in the cafeteria, no bagged breakfasts, please. This service is provided to students only.
Food Service Department no longer allows student accounts to fall below a zero balance. Students who do not have funds on account, cash or a meal from home will be provided a sandwich, juice and/or milk. Students who accept this meal will have $1.25 charged to their account.
Federal Lunch
A federal program offering free lunch or reduced rates is available. Information concerning this program will be mailed to your home or brought home by the student upon request. Families must complete the form and return it as soon as possible. Forms may be obtained in the office during the school year if needed. Lending a free or reduced lunch to neighbors, friends, or relatives will jeopardize participation in the federal lunch program.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Should you change your phone number notify the main office to obtain the phone change form. To change your address you must go to Toms River Schools’ Central Registration, located at 54 Washington St., Toms River. You must bring your proofs of residency.
CHILD STUDY TEAM
Child Study Team services are available to every child in the district. The functioning of the Child Study Team is guided by state rules and regulations. It is composed of a Social Worker, Learning Disabilities Teacher/Consultant, and a School Psychologist. One of the Team’s main functions is to assist teachers, parents, and administrators in developing programs for educationally handicapped students.
The Child Study Team is consulted only after every available resource in the school has been exhausted, e.g. Basic Skills, Guidance, and Speech. The referral, classification, and programming process are guided by state rules and regulations to protect the interests of all concerned.
CLASS PARTIES
Parties are held at the classroom teacher’s discretion. All parties must be planned by the teacher. Surprise parties are not permitted. Usually the teacher & class parents are involved in the planning. NO MORE THAN 2 PARTIES ARE ALLOWED DURING A GIVEN SCHOOL YEAR.
EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSING - DELAYED OPENINGS/ EARLY DISMISSAL
When weather conditions or emergency situations make it necessary to close schools, appropriate radio and TV stations will be contacted to make public announcements regarding the details of the closing. You may tune into radio station WOBM FM (92.7) or AM (1170), WJLK FM (94.3), AM (1310) or channel 21 on your TV. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOL. Also,
check the Toms River Schools web page at www.trschools.com. Also you should receive an automated call.
DELAYED OPENING
This schedule modification allows for a 90 minute delayed opening of school due to inclement weather conditions or other emergency conditions. When emergency situations may be rectified or weather conditions are anticipated to improve, combined with the ability of public work crews to insure safe passage on roadways, schools will open according to schedule. All students should report to bus stops 90 minutes later than their regular bus time. Delayed openings West Dover School will open at 10:55 a.m.
EARLY DISMISSAL (due to weather)
Early dismissal due to inclement weather is weighted very carefully. Since this would be a district wide closing, the first contact made would be to local radio, local TV stations, Toms River School Channel 21 and the Toms River Regional Schools web site at www.trschools.com. Early dismissal West Dover will start to send children home at 1:55 pm.
EMERGENCY EARLY DISMISSAL – OTHER THAN WEATHER
On rare occasions, it may become necessary to implement an early dismissal of pupils from school due to emergency circumstances, e.g., prolonged power failure, lack of water services, etc. The intent of this procedure is to provide for a fail-safe-system, in order that appropriate caregivers and parents can be notified as early as possible as to the decision to dismiss school for emergency purposes. If such an early dismissal becomes necessary, the following notification procedures will be implemented uniformly in all elementary schools.