GLEN MEADOW MIDDLE SCHOOL
7 Sammis Road, P.O. Box 516
Vernon, NJ 07462
Phone (973) 764-8981 Fax (973) 764-3295
Health Office(973) 764-2853 Attendance Office(973) 764-2860
Pauline F. Anderson, Ed. D.Eric W. Kosek
PrincipalAssistant Principal
PARENT/GUARDIAN-STUDENT HANDBOOK
2014 –2015
“Putting Students First!”
VERNON TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION*
P.O. Box 99
Vernon, NJ 07462
973-764-2900
Mr. David Zweier, President
/Mrs. Cynthia Auberger, Vice President
Mr. Edward Gilson
Mr. Douglas Castellana
/Mr. William Higgins
/Mrs. Lori LePera
Mr. Edward A. DeYoung
/Mr. Robert P. Hughes
/Mr. John McGowan
*The Vernon Board of Education meets in public session on the third Thursday of each month; the public is cordially invited to attend.
ADMINISTRATORS
Dr. Charles Maranzano
/Mr. Kyle C. Arlington
/Mr. Steven A. Kepnes
Interim Superintendent
/Assistant Superintendent
/Business Administrator/Board Secretary
DIRECTORS
Mr. James Barta
/Mr. William Edelman
/ Mr. Emad Abu-Hakmeh /Ms. Carolyn J. Marano
Director of Safety and Security
/Director of Athletics
/ Director of Mathematics and Science /Director of Special Services
Dear Parents and Guardians:
Welcome to Glen Meadow Middle School! Please use this Parent/Guardian-Student Handbook as a guide in order to keep well-informed about the daily activitiesand procedures of Glen Meadow. It will prove to be a valuable resource as you and your child navigate through the 2014-2015 school year.
As the administrators of this middle school, we encourage you to take an active role in your child’s seventh and/or eighth grade educational experience. By working together, we can ensure that your child’s experience at Glen Meadow Middle School will better prepare him/her for all future learning.
We look forward to working with the Glen Meadow Middle School faculty and support staff to make this an excellent year for you and your child!
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation and partnership.
Respectfully,
Pauline F. Anderson, Ed.D.Eric W. Kosek
PrincipalAssistant Principal
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2014-2015 School Calendar / 5 / Student Lockers / 17Activity Buses / 10 / Students Transferring Out of District / 18
Basic Skills and Remedial Instruction / 12 / Textbooks / 18
Bedside Instruction / 6 / Threats / 16
Bus Discipline / 9-10 / Use of Phones / 13
Cafeteria / 18 / Visiting the School / 19
Cellular Phone / 13 / Weapons / 14
Constitutionally Protected Prayer / 19 / Working Papers / 19
Daily Schedules / 6
District email and Website / 27 /
Board Policies
Fire Drill & Special Drills / 16-17Glen Meadow Faculty and Staff / 4 / Acceptable Use of Computer Networks and Use ofthe Internet / 23-24
Grading System / 11 / Affirmative Action / 21
Hall Passes / 17 / AHERA Management Plan / 22
Health Office Information / 8 / Alcohol/Drugs/Substance Abuse/Weapon / 22
Homework / 10 / Civility / 24
Library Procedure / 12 / Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying and Hazing / 24-25
Lunch Price / 18 / Integrated Pest Management / 26
Marking Period Schedule / 12 / Animal Experimentation and Dissection Alternatives / 20
Parent/Guardian Teacher Conferences / 12 / Possession, Distribution, Carrying, Use of Tobacco Products / 19-20
Physical Education/Health / 12-13 / Public Complaints & Grievances / 26
Picking Up Child at School/Early Releases / 10 / Pupil Fund Raising / 25
Plagiarism / 12 / Pupil Right to Privacy / 26-27
Reporting Violence and Vandalism / 13-14 / Random Drug Testing / 25
School & Community Association / 19 / Removal of Pupils from Regular Education for
School Buses / 9 / Weapons/Firearms Violations / 25
School Closing / 7 / Release of Directory Information / 22
School Counseling / 8 / Right to Know / 22
School Hours / 6 / Sexual Harassment / 26
Social Networking Internet Sites / 17 / NJ Statutes Annotated / 22-23
Student Attendance & Tardiness / 6
Student Conduct / 14-16
Student Dress / 13
1
/ ACADEMICSSeventh Grade / Eighth Grade / Seventh/EighthGrade
Marianne Amato / Carol Bergeron / Shannon Christiano / Amanda Finkle / Pamela Reed
Secretaries / Nicole Bailey / Stephen Brazanskas / Robert Henry / Linda Gisonti / Marilyn Russo-Tell
Kristine Bakay / Dawn Marie Basso / MaryEllen Cleary / Joan Miller / Janice Hall / Denise Stickle
Claudia Billington / Jannine Czifra / Anthony Ferrara / Tracey Powell / Joyce Leung / Judith Ventrone
Patricia Braitsch / Jacqueline Clifford / Karen Ganssle / Renee Raso / Nicole Loder / Sandra Vervaet
Jacquelin Castranova / Veronica Dignan-Corbutt / Christopher Jensen / Lisa Yorke / Tina McCarrick / Gina Marie Vitrano
Janet Robinson / Carol Gibson / Katherine Kaiser / Natalie Vitone / Mary McKenna / Aimee Wilkens
Nancy Grimaldi / Karen Kaspirowicz-Craner / Janet McKeon / Tracy Wish
Custodians / Patricia Guthrie / Pamela Kucks / Aides / Mieke Minchin / JoAnn Zinno
Michael Chastain / Amanda Hofmann / Carol Lepse / Linda Borowic / Lenore Mongulla
Craig Crowell / Gregory Jablonski / Mark Pisco / Denise Buurman / Dawn Moynihan
Meredith Galluzzo / Beverly Kelly / Frederick Reimer / Jeanne Capiozzoli / Kathryn Munley
William Latteri / Tara Martin / Janice Schmidt / Tamara Coppola / Lisa Nitch
Theresa McDonald / Alexis Roth / Nanci Stanton / Margaret Dehn / Lisa Percorano
Jeff Peresotti / LouAnne Truax / Eleanor Ufferfilge / Anna Marie Driscoll / Donna Pych
Chad Sisco
RELATED ARTS
World Language / Physical Education/Health / Media/Library / Security Aides / Child Study Team
/ Carol McKay - French / Michael Bocech / Theresa Yost / John Baird / Toyin Adejoke
Barbara Risalvato-Spanish / Adam Coleman / Nancy Vega / Lauren Torino-Krause
Marta Werman – Spanish Exp. / Kathleen Davenport / Art
Nurse / Michelle Gagg / Julie Muehe / Occupational Therapist / School Nurse
Catherine Insolera / Music / / Sarah Telgheder / Catherine Insolera
Eileen Pavlik / Careers/Multimedia/
Campus Monitor / Ryan Sweer / Technology Ed. / Physical Therapist
Kenneth Bulwin / Margaret Werner / Christine Kellish / Joseph Janus
Rachel Whitty
VERNON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC SCHOOLS
2014/2015 SCHOOL CALENDAR
Month / Date / Day / Title / Student DaysSeptember / 1 / Monday / Labor Day (Closed) / 19
2-3 / Tuesday & Wednesday / Teacher In-Service (Closed)
4 / Thursday / School Starts for Students
October / 13 / Monday / Teacher In-Service (Closed) / 22
November / 6-7 / Thursday & Friday / NJEA Convention (Closed) / 16
26 / Wednesday / EARLY DISMISSAL
27&28 / Thursday & Friday / Thanksgiving
December / 23 / Tuesday / EARLY DISMISSAL / 17
24-31 / Wednesday – Wednesday / December Recess (Closed)
January / 1 & 2 / Thursday & Friday / January Recess (Closed) / 19
5 / Monday / School Resumes
19 / Monday / Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday (Closed)
February / 13 / Friday / Early Dismissal (Closed) / 18
16 & 17 / Monday & Tuesday / Winter Recess (Closed)
March / 17 / Monday / Teacher In-Service (Closed) / 21
April / 2 / Thursday / EARLY DISMISSAL / 16
3-10 / Friday – Friday / Spring Recess (Closed)
May / 25 / Monday / Memorial Day (Closed) / 20
June / 16 / Tuesday / Tentative Last Day for Students & Teachers / 12
24 / Wednesday / Addition of 6 Snow Days
*186 days
*There is an allowance for six (6) emergency closing days in the above calendar. The last day for students is Wednesday, June 24, 2015 should all six days be needed.
INDIVIDUALS ARE CAUTIONED TO CONSIDER SPECIAL TRAVEL INSURANCE AS APPROPRIATE REGARDING THE APRIL RECESS.
Should the above emergency closing days included in the above not be utilized, the last day for the students will occur on the 180th day or June 16th.
PLEASE NOTE: THE ABOVE CALENDAR, ALONG WITH ANY OF THE PROVISIONS AS STATED, INCLUDING THE APRIL RECESS, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE DUE TO EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES AT ANY TIME WITH BOARD APPROVAL.
- Newly hired faculty and supervisors must be in on orientation days, Wed., August 27, 2014 and Thurs., August 28, 2014.
- Students are required to fulfill a 180-day year.
- At all schools, evening events shall not be scheduled on significant religious holidays.
- At each school, appropriate programs will be held for students, faculty, and staff to commemorate and honor Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Martin Luther King Day, and President’s Day.
- TENTATIVE day for Vernon Township High School graduation will be Tuesday, June 16, 2015.
- District Testing Dates: Will be available under separate cover.
- On Wednesday, November 26, 2014, Tuesday, December 23, 2014, Friday, February 13, 2015 and Thursday, April 2, 2015 there will be an early dismissal for students in accordance with the following schedule:
H.S.: 11:45 a.m. GM: 12:30 p.m. LH: 12:20 p.m. CM/RH: 1:20 p.m. WR: 1:30 p.m.
SCHOOL HOURS
The school office is open each day from 7:30 A.M. until 4:30 P.M. Student hours are from 8:05 A.M. until 2:50 P.M.Students are not to be dropped off before 7:55 A.M.
SCHOOL DAYSCHEDULES
Regular Day Delayed Opening Early Dismissal
Period Period Period
Arrival / 8:05 AM / Arrival / 10:05 AM / Arrival / 8:05 AMHR / 8:10-8:15 / HR / 10:10-10:15 / HR / 8:10-8:15
1 / 8:15-8:56 / 1 / 10:17-10:45 / 1 / 8:17-8:43
2 / 8:58-9:39 / 2 / 10:47-11:15 / 2 / 8:45-9:11
3 / 9:41-10:22 / 3 / 11:17-11:45 / 3 / 9:13-9:39
4 / 10:24-11:05 / 4 / 11:47-12:15 / 4 / 9:41-10:07
5 / 11:07-11:48 / 5 / 12:17-12:45 / 5 / 10:09-10:35
6 / 11:50-12:31 / 6 / 12:47-1:15 / 6 / 10:37-11:03
7 / 12:33-1:14 / 7 / 1:17-1:45 / 7 / 11:05-11:31
8 / 1:16-1:57 / 8 / 1:47-2:15 / 8 / 11:33-11:59
9 / 1:59-2:40 / 9 / 2:17-2:45 / 9 / 12:01-12:27
HR / 2:42-2:50 / HR / 2:47-2:50 / HR / 12:29-12:30
Dismissal / 2:50 PM / Dismissal / 2:50 PM / Dismissal / 12:30 PM
STUDENT ATTENDANCE AND TARDINESS
Students are required to be on time and attend school daily. Parents are responsible for seeing that their child attends school regularly and will be held accountable under New Jersey law if their child is truant. Should absence be necessary due to illness, emergency, funeral, or religious practice, parents are required to call the school on the morning of the absence (973) 764-2860 and have their son/daughter bring in a note the next day. Guidelines are listed below:
1)Students must be in homeroom by 8:10 a.m.
2)Students must be in school 4 hours to receive attendance credit for the day.
3)In accordance with Policy 5200 of the Board of Education, letters will be sent to students when they have been absent 7, 14, and 21 unexcused cumulative absences excluding absences for disciplinary action. Parents of students with excessive absences may be summoned to court.
4)Truancy is defined as an unauthorized absence from school and is equivalent to one class cut/absence for each class missed.
5)Students arriving to homeroom after 8:10 a.m. will be marked tardy. Students are to sign in at the main entrance upon arrival to receive a pass to class. Disciplinary action will be taken by the administration regarding student tardiness. When a student has been tardy 9 times, a parent/guardian conference will be held and/or an after school detention will be issued at the discretion of the administration.
BEDSIDE INSTRUCTION – TUTORING
If a child needs tutoring due to an extended illness at home (longer than ten days of consecutive absence), his/her parent/guardian is asked to contact the school. Provisions will be made to provide bedside instruction, upon receipt of a doctor’s note.
SCHOOL CLOSINGS
A)Regarding the closing of schools due to inclement weather or emergencies:
- WEATHER – In case weather conditions make it necessary to close schools, the following method of notifying the community will be used.
- VTSD alert system – Parents/Guardians who have signed up for the district alert system will be notified via texts, e-mails and/or phone calls regarding any weather emergency.
- RADIO STATIONS – WSUS 102.3FM – Announcements regarding closing of schools will be made between 6:15 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.
- THE VERNON TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT WEBSITE –
- DO NOT CALL THE POLICE STATION – THE POLICE WILL NOT GIVE OUT INFORMATION REGARDING SCHOOL CLOSING
- TRANSPORTATION –in the event of hazardous road conditions or any other emergency, it may be necessary to dismiss students at alternate dismissal points leading into various developments. When such road conditions exist, every effort will be made to notify parents/guardians of alternate drop off locations.
B)ALL VERNON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC SCHOOLS WILL OPERATE ON A TWO HOUR DELAY SCHEDULE.OF INCLEMENT WEATHER AND ROAD CONDITIONS – When adelayed opening is announced, students should go to their bus stop two hours later than normal. If, during the two-hour delay, road conditions do not improve, it may be possible that school will be cancelled. Please continue to listen to WSUS or wait to hear from the district alert system during this time. This alternate gives us a greater amount of time to get roads cleared and assessed. We appreciate your anticipated assistance and support regarding this matter.
C)MATTERS OF EARLY DISMISSAL–On occasion it may be necessary to close school earlier – by calling an early dismissal. When this occurs, WSUS will be called immediately and the district alert system will be activated. Please listen to them for the announcement of early dismissal. If you are not going to be home, pleasemake arrangements made for your child’s care (such as staying with a neighbor, a grandparent, etc.). During an early dismissal, buses will leave the high school at approximately 11:50 a.m., the middle schools at approximately 12:25-12:35 p.m. and the primary schools at approximately 1:25 p.m.
For Walnut Ridge dismissal times, please go to click on Transportation under “Parent and Students” for dismissal times. In order for this system to work, once buses arrive we will let them leave as soon as they are full. Since this system may be necessary if road conditions are poor due to snow, etc., then it is very likely that the time spent on the bus trip will be longer than normal and it will probably take your children a longer time to walk home from the bus stop.
This early dismissal process helps to give more time for buses on the road so that your children will arrive home safely.
HEALTH OFFICE INFORMATION
The Health Office will conduct a series of Health Services for all students throughout the year including height and weight, vision, hearing, and BP screenings.
- All students in grade 7 will receive a scoliosis screening.
- Dental screening will be available for both grade levels.
- At the middle school level students are checked for head lice only when an occurrence of lice is suspected.
MEDICATION GIVEN IN SCHOOL BY THE SCHOOL NURSE:
- Medication will be given in school only when pupil's attendance depends on the timely administration of such medication. "Medication" as per this law means any prescription drug, prescribed over-the-counter medicine including but not limited to aspirin and cough medications.
- Requests to administer medication in school must be made in writing and signed by the physician.
- Please note: Under no circumstances is a student permitted to carry and take over the counter or prescription medication unless a. and b. are strictly followed. Parents/Guardians must deliver and pick up all medications used by students in school.
NOTE: ALL MEDICATION MUST BE IN ORIGINAL PRESCRIPTIONBOTTLE.
SELF-ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICATION FOR LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS (such as asthma)
- Parents/Guardians must provide the Board of Education with a written authorization for the self-administration of medication by the pupil’s physician.
- Parents/Guardians must submit written certification from the physician of the pupil that the pupil has asthma or another potentially life threatening illness and is capable of and has been instructed in the proper use of the medication.
- Permission to self- administer one medication shall not be interpreted as permission to self-administer other medication.
- Any questions regarding medications should be referred to the school nurse at (973) 764-2853.
NOTE: The school district, the Board and its employees or agents shall incur no liability as a result of any injury arising from the self- administration of medication by the pupil.
ILLNESS AT SCHOOL
Parents will be notified by the nurse if a child becomes ill at school. The child will be sent home for the following reasons: has an elevated temperature, may be exposing others to infection, or feels so ill that he/she cannot participate in classroom activities. Parents/Guardians are responsible for providing transportation for sick students when they are notified.
Please ensure that your child's emergency information is kept up-to-date.
MEDICAL BILLS
Requests for payment of medical bills shall not be presented to the Vernon Township Board of Education. The Board, as a public body, under the Statutes of the State of New Jersey, assumes no responsibility or liability for such claims for medical payments. Such payments are made only as a result of adjudication through the courts.
SCHOOL COUNSELING
School counselors are assigned according to students according to the first letter of the student's last name. Students may make an appointment with their school counselor at any time. Parents/Guardians may feel free to call the School Counseling Department at (973) 764-4568 to arrange for an appointment.
The school counselor may: promote congenial relationships among students, review academic progress with students, provide assistance with student academic and personal problems, coordinate the guidance curriculum within the school, provide vocational education programs for students, facilitate programs for special needs students, coordinate all student testing, offer suggestions to parents/guardians concerning academics and other “parenting” issues, and run groups throughout the year concerning a variety of teen issues.
Counselors – Grades 7 & 8 Child Study Team - Grades 7 & 8
Alexis Cocca
/A - G
/973-764-4625
/Lauren Torino-Krause
/A - K
/(973) 764-4565
Cynthia Moser
/H – M
/973-764-4758
/Toyin Adejoke
/L - Z
/(973) 764-4382
Laura Merck
/N - Z
/973-764-4759
SCHOOL BUSES
Riding the school bus is a privilege, not a right. Proper behavior and actions will guarantee this privilege. While riding the school bus, your child is governed by New Jersey State Law. New Jersey Statutes section 18A:25-2 states: "A pupil may be excluded from riding the school bus to and from school for disciplinary reasons by the principal/designee and his/her parents shall be responsible for his/her transportation to and from school during that period of exclusion."
Students will conduct themselves in a manner which will assure the safety of all involved when waiting for, riding on, and departing from school buses. Therefore, disruptive behavior, standing while the bus is in motion, tampering with the emergency exit, vandalism, insubordination, smoking, alcohol or substance abuse, hanging out of or throwing objects out of the windows, foul language, not wearing a seat belt in those buses so equipped, and eating or drinking on the bus are prohibited and will result in disciplinary measures as deemed appropriate by the administration. These measures can include bus suspension. Students suspended from the bus are, by law, still required to attend school.
The bus driver is in complete charge of the school bus and students are bound to obey directions given by the driver. It is the school bus driver’s responsibility to devote full attention to driving the school bus while the bus is in motion. Student’s misbehavior on the school bus constitutes an extreme hazard because it can divert the driver’s attention from the primary responsibility of conditions and possible hazards on the road as well as tending to the actual responsibilities of driving. Therefore we have installed security cameras on all of our school buses for the purpose of monitoring student misbehavior.