WOODBROOK HANDBOOK
* * * * *
WOODBROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
15 ROBIN ROAD
EDISON, NJ 08820
732-452-2901 732-452-2904 FAX
http://www.edisonpublicschools.org/Woodbrook
NICOLE CIRILLO, PRINCIPAL
Table of Contents
Regular & Emergency Hours / 2
Student Arrival & Departure / 3
Tardiness / 4
Dismissal (morning kindergarten & all grades) / 4
Absences & District Absence Policies & Procedures / 5-10
Discipline Policies / 11
Birthday & Homework Policies / 12
Change of Daily Routine & After School Play Dates / 13
After School Detention / 13
Walker, Car Rider & Bus Rider Expectations / 13
Playground Rules / 14
Bicycle Riders / 15
Bus Policy & Procedures / 15-16
Lunchtime Policy & Lunch Program / 17
Lunch Money Collection & Lunch Aides / 18
Library / 18
Curriculum / 19
Progress Reports & Report Cards / 19
Parent Teacher Conferences / 20
Communications – Whom Do I Call? / 20
Visiting Woodbrook / 21
Enrollment & Kindergarten Registration / 21
After-Before School Childcare (ABC) / 22
PTA, Parent Involvement, School Store, School Spirit / 23
Special Events, Other Programs & Services / 24
Welcome to Woodbrook Elementary School
September 2010
Dear Parents/Guardians:
On behalf of the entire staff at Woodbrook Elementary School, it is my pleasure to welcome
everyone.
Attached please find your copy of the Woodbrook Elementary School Parent Handbook for the school year 2010-2011. This handbook contains valuable information for you and your child. Please read the information carefully. Please save this handbook for your reference throughout the school year. It is also available on our school’s website:
www.edisonpublicschools.org/Woodbrook
Woodbrook is a wonderful school filled with hard working students, dedicated parents, an outstanding PTA and a caring and professional staff. Our goal is to provide an outstanding education to our students in a nurturing and positive environment.
I look forward to working with you and your children as we begin another year together at Woodbrook!
Sincerely,
Nicole Cirillo
Principal
Page 1
SCHOOL SCHEDULE
AM Kindergarten
PM Kindergarten / 8:55AM – 11:30AM
12:55PM – 3:30PM
Grades 1-5 / 8:55AM – 3:30PM
SINGLE SESSION/EARLY CLOSING
AM Kindergarten
PM Kindergarten / 8:55AM-10:30AM
11:55AM-1:30PM
Grades 1-5 / 8:55AM – 1:30PM
DELAYED OPENINGS*
AM Kindergarten
PM Kindergarten / 10:30AM – 12:15PM
1:45PM – 3:30PM
Grades 1-5 / 10:30AM – 3:30PM
*NO STUDENT SHOULD ARRIVE BEFORE 10:15AM
*LUNCH WILL BE SERVED ON DELAYED OPENINGS
*BUS STUDENTS WILL BE PICKED UP AT THEIR NORMAL STOPS
APPROXIMATELY 1-1/2 HOURS AFTER NORMAL PICKUP TIME
EMERGENCY SCHOOL CLOSINGS OR DELAYED OPENING
In case of inclement weather or any other type of emergency where there is a need for early dismissal, every attempt will be made to contact parents via Connect-Ed. Please make sure you continue to keep the school updated on any changes in your contact numbers. Announcements in reference to closings or delayed openings will be made on radio stations beginning at 6:00AM.
NJ 101.5FM / WCTC 1450AM / WNJO 94.5FM / WNBC- Channel 4FOX Channel 5 / WNJO 94.5FM / LOCAL CABLE –
Channel 118 / BOE WEBSITE – www.edisonpublicschools.org
Please DO NOT CALL the school to inquire about an early closing on inclement weather days.
Remember to send in your Emergency Cards as soon as possible with accurate local phone numbers and make sure your child knows what to do if you cannot be contacted. Listen to local radio stations or school related news. When school closes early, ALL AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, clubs and latchkey are CANCELLED.
Please remember to update home and emergency contact phone numbers during the school year.
Page 2
STUDENT ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
8:45AM ARRIVAL:
Children are not to arrive on the school grounds before 8:45AM.
There is NO supervision before 8:45AM.
Grades / Morning Arrival EntranceMorning Kindergarten & Grade 1 / D3 – near the playground
Grades 2, 3, 4 & 5 / A1 – main lobby/front doors
8:45AM Morning Car Riders Drop off Procedures:
1. Proceed around the barricades/cones in the lot by the playground.
2. Follow all of the traffic in front of you.
3. Do not drop off at the curve in front of the playground.
4. Pull up as far as you can by the straight sidewalk and drop off at the sidewalk.
5. Parents may not step out of their cars to open car doors at drop off.
6. Students must be able to open the car door & step out independently onto the sidewalk side of the lot in order to use the stop & drop lot.
o UNLOCK CHILD SAFETY LOCKS.
o Children may NEVER exit on the driver side of the car.
7. DO NOT PULL AWAY UNTIL YOUR CHILD IS SAFELY ON THE SIDEWALK.
8. If your child can not independently leave the car, please park on Robin Road and walk your child to his/her entrance.
9. No passing other cars in line.
10. DO NOT PARK OR PULL UP AROUND THE FRONT CIRCLE. This is restricted to BUS drop off only.
12:55PM AFTERNOON KINDERGARTEN ARRIVAL PROCEDURES:
1. Parents/guardians must park their cars on Robin Road or a nearby street. The stop & drop lot will be closed as recess and/or gym must have access to the lot for play.
2. Parents/guardians are to walk children up the sidewalk past the playground and courtyard to the blacktop by the 4th grade wing, exit D1 by the fields.
3. Parents/guardians are to remain with children in their class line until a Woodbrook staff member opens the door at which time children will enter the school and be walked to their classrooms.
TARDINESS/LATENESS FOR SCHOOL
v All parents MUST ACCOMPANY the student to the office and sign them in when arriving at school late.
v Morning kindergarten and grades 1-5 begin learning at 8:55 AM. Any time after that is considered Tardy/Late.
v Afternoon kindergarten begins at 1pm. Any time after that is considered Tardy/Late.
11:30AM MORNING KINDERGARTEN DISMISSAL:
§ Parents/guardians must park their cars on Robin Road or a nearby street. The stop & drop lot will be closed as recess and/or gym must have access to the lot for play.
§ Morning kindergarten car riders/walkers must be picked up by D3 near the playground at 11:30am.
3:30PM DISMISSAL:
· No student is allowed to walk in the parking lot unattended.
· A parent/guardian or designee must approach the walkways near the playground to meet the student.
· If picking up children, please PARK in the PLAYGROUND LOT or on Robin Road.
· There is usually parking on Robin Road or nearby streets which are easier to leave than the over crowded parking lot.
· All car engines must be turned off in the parking lot.
· DO NOT park or pull up around the CIRCLE. This is restricted to BUSES ONLY.
If an emergency occurs and you are going to be late picking up your child, please notify the school at 732-452-2901. Your child will be kept in the front office until you arrive, where you must come to sign them out.
Please do not ask that your child be dismissed to the office early in order to avoid the dismissal traffic. Please do not make appointments which will cause a problem for dismissal.
3:30PM DISMISSAL EXITS:
Grade / Dismissal ExitAfternoon Kindergarten 3:25pm / Exit D1, on the blacktop by the fields
All children in Grades 3, 4 & 5 / Exit D1, on the blacktop by the fields
All children in Grades 1 & 2 / Exit D3 – by the playground
Christopher Court Walkers / Exit B7 – by the 5th grade wing/staff lot
All bus riders / Exit A1 - main doors
PLEASE KEEP DISMISSAL PROCEDURES CONSISTENT,
IT KEEPS YOUR CHILDREN SAFE!
Page 4
STUDENT ABSENCES
The Board of Education attendance policy requires:
1. A phone call must be made by parent/guardian to the school on the each day of absence NO LATER THAN 9:30AM. You must still send a note upon return to school.
2. A written note must be sent in with your child upon return to school after an absence. The note should state the dates and reason of the absence.
An automated ConnectEd phone call will be made to the home of a child who is absent if a call is not received on each day of the absence and will continue to call until the absence has ended. You will help us tremendously if you would kindly remember to call. When you dial the main number you will be prompted to press “one” to report an absence. Our main number is 732-452-2901
Please do not take lengthy vacations while school is in session. After 10 consecutive days of absence from school, your child will be dropped from the rolls and you must re-enroll your child at the Enrollment Center. Please be mindful of this if considering a trip during the school year.
Please review the attached attendance procedures and attendance letters.
PROCEDURE FILE CODE: 5113
EDISON BOARD OF EDUCATION Pupils
EDISON, NEW JERSEY
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
Parents/guardians of students in grades K-12 are encouraged to phone the school on the day their children are absent. When absent, students enrolled in the elementary and middle schools must present a written excuse signed by their parent/guardian on the day they return to school. Students enrolled in the high schools must adhere to the attendance/tardy requirements outlined in procedures.
Elementary ATTENDANCE / TARDINESS
1. Any pupil who is absent 10 days excused or unexcused within any school year may be subject to an administrative review by the principal of his/her school before the student can be considered for promotion. The following may assist the principal in his/her administrative review: teachers, parents/guardians, PAC, guidance counselor, child study team members and attendance investigators. This may result in a referral to the attendance investigator, a letter of concern sent to the home with the possibility administrative conference.
2. Any pupil who is absent 13 days shall be referred to the school’s I & RS Committee for the development of a monitoring/intervention plan which may include the possibility of DYFS referral. Possible retention and court action shall be discussed at this time.
3. Any pupil who is absent 19 days shall receive a letter of retention, DYFS referral, and a non-school attendance complaint can be filed in the local municipal court.
4. Appeals regarding retention will be processed as requested by parents/guardians. Request for appeals are to be submitted in writing to the principal.
For students with disabilities, the attendance plan and punitive and remedial procedures set forth therein shall be applied, where applicable, in accordance with the students’ IEP.
ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES (K-12)
Regular attendance in class, participation in school activities and interaction between students and teachers are essential for the learning process. Frequent absences from classroom learning experiences disrupt the continuity of the instructional and learning process. In short, the school staff cannot teach students who are not present. Vacations or family travel while school is in session will not be considered a legal or legitimate reason for absence.
For up to four cumulative unexcused absences, the school district will:
1. Make a reasonable attempt to notify the student’s parents of each unexcused absence prior to the start of the following school day;
2. Conduct an investigation of the cause of each unexcused absence, including contact with the student’s parents;
3. Develop an action plan in consultation with the student’s parents designed to address patterns of unexcused absences, if any, and to have the child return to school and maintain regular attendance;
4. Proceed in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. 9:6-1 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 6A:16-11, if child abuse and neglect is suspected; and
5. Cooperate with law enforcement and other authorities and agencies, as appropriate.
For between five and nine cumulative unexcused absences, the school district shall:
1. Make a reasonable attempt to notify the student’s parents of each unexcused absence prior to the start of the following school day;
2. Conduct a follow-up investigation, including contact with the student’s parents, to determine the cause of each unexcused absence;
3. Evaluate the appropriateness of the action plan previously developed;
4. Revise the action plan, as needed to identify patterns of unexcused absences and establish outcomes based upon the student’s needs and specify the interventions for achieving the outcomes, supporting the student’s return to school and regular attendance that may include any or all of the following:
a. Refer or consult with the building’s Intervention and Referral Services Committee;
b. Conduct testing, assessments or evaluations of the student’s academic, behavioral and health needs;
c. Consider an alternate educational placement;
d. Make a referral to a community-based social and health provider agency or other community resource;
e. Refer to the court program designated by the New Jersey
Administrative Office of the Courts; and
f. Proceed in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.A. and N.J.A.C. 6A:16-11, if child abuse and neglect is suspected;
5. Cooperate with law enforcement and other authorities and agencies, as appropriate.
For cumulative unexcused absences for 10 or more, the student is truant and the school district shall:
1. Make a mandatory referral to the court program required by the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts;
2. Make a reasonable attempt to notify the student’s parents of the mandatory referral;
3. Continue to consult with the parent and the involved agencies to support the student’s return to school and regular attendance;
4. Cooperate with law enforcement and other authorities and agencies, as appropriate; and
5. Proceed in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:38-28 through 31, Article 3B, Compelling Attendance at School, and other applicable State and Federal statutes, as required.