ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HANDBOOK

(click on a topic in table)

SMOKING

• Smoking is prohibited in the school building by state law.
• Adults are requested not to smoke around children on the school grounds.

STUDENT DRESS CODE

Articles of clothing that present a health or safety hazard or cause a substantial disruption of the educational interest of prohibiting dress that would likely disrupt the educational process will not be allowed.

The following dress code serves the legitimate educational interest of prohibiting dress that would likely disrupt the educational process.

• Clothing must be clean, in good repair, and worn as intended and designed. Good judgment should be executed in dressing. Skintight clothing, along with inappropriate dress that is distracting and interferes with the educational process, is not acceptable.
• Safe footwear must be worn.
• Revealing tops must not be worn. Undergarments are not acceptable as outerwear.
• Obscene or suggestive graphics and phrases, and messages favoring substance abuse or illegal activities, are not permitted.
• Any garment/accessory that may be dangerous to persons/school property is prohibited.
• Headwear must be removed upon entering the building. . Shorts may be worn May 1 st through October 30th.
• Wide leg dress coulotte shorts and/or dress walking shorts worn with leotards or stockings may be worn throughout the school year.
• Skirts and shorts that are distracting and disruptive to the educational process are prohibited.
• Costumes and athletic uniforms unless prescribed for special occasions.
• Expensive clothing or items should be left at home. School will not rJ" assume responsibility for any stolen or lost items.
• The building administration has the right to restrict attire, which is dangerous or so inappropriate as to interfere with the learning process.

First Offense: The Vice Principal or Principal will send a letter home with a follow-up telephone call.

Second Offense: Parent/Guardian will be required to come into school for a conference.

Third Offense: Suspension

 

STUDENT RECORDS

State and federal laws ensure the accuracy and confidentiality of student educational records. Without your prior consent, only you and authorized individuals having legitimate educational interests will have access to your child's educational records.

The public school of a last enrollment or graduation will keep in perpetuity a permanent record of a pupil's name, date of birth, sex, address, telephone number, grades, attendance record, classes attended, grade level completed, year completed, name of parent(s) and citizenship status.

If a child was classified as educationally handicapped, records are available in the Child Study Team Office and are not released by the Child Study Team Office unless permission is given by the parent(s) or in the case of the adult student, only by that adult student.

You may have an appointment to inspect and review your child's records. The appointment must be made by directing a written request to your child's principal. Upon review of the records, if you have reason to believe that any information contained therein is inaccurate, misleading or inappropriate; you have the right to challenge that information. If there is an agreement between you and the school, the necessary steps to amend or correct the information contained in the record will be taken. If agreement is not reached, you may request a school review through the principal's office. At the school review a review officer (the superintendent or his/her designee) will provide you with the opportunity to present your views and reasons for the challenge. You may bring with you, at your expense, any individual who may be of assistance. Following the school review, if the review officer does not agree, you have the right to invoke the due process procedures set forth in N.J.A.C. 6: 28-2-7 .

You have the right to obtain a copy of the Kearny Board of Education policy relative to pupil records. You also have a right to receive copies of applicable state and federal laws upon request. Upon graduation or permanent departure of a pupil from the school system, a copy of the entire pupil record will be provided to them upon request.

HOMEWORK

• Your child's homework will depend on his/her grade level. There are several reasons for homework:
• To provide extra practice on learned skills
• To provide further learning in areas covered in the classroom 
• To provide an opportunity for students to learn good work habits
• To provide an opportunity for growth in responsibility.

We believe the child's learning is important and that learning should continue after school hours. Daily homework should never be viewed as punishment, but rather as a way to encourage and extend learning.

Parents can do their part to improve homework when they:

• Cooperate with the school to make homework effective.
• Provide their child with suitable study conditions (desk or table, lights, books and supplies).
• Reserve a time for homework and turn off the television and radio.
• Encourage their child, but avoid undue pressure.
• Show interest in what their child is doing, but do not do the work for them.
• Understand that the school expects homework to be completed and returned on time.

 

MAKE-UP WORK

When pupils are absent they should make every effort to keep up with the work of the class. Students are required to make up any class work or tests missed as a result of any absences. For short-term absences (three days or less), if a student's health condition permits, a phone call should be placed to a friend to learn the assignments for the day.

For long-term absences (four days or more). pupils or parents should call the school office to request homework assignments. The assignments may be picked up at the office by the parents after 3:00 P.M. If a student is to be out of school for an extended period of time, arrangements for home instruction should be made promptly. This arranged through the Department   of Special Services 201-955-5082

When the students return to school after the absence, the make-up work should be submitted to the teacher. It is the student's responsibility to meet with each of his/her teachers to determine if all the required make-up work has been completed. The teacher will give the student a reasonable amount of time to complete any missing assignment.

HELP PERIOD

Help period is designated Monday through Thursday, 8: 1 0-8:40 am or 3:05-3:35 p.m. for teachers to give help to students who are having difficulty in their particular subject area.

Students are encouraged to take advantage of this time to clarify any questions or difficulties they may have had during class time. No help period is scheduled on Friday unless it is teacher/parent approved.

CODE OF CONDUCT FOR STUDENTS

The following policy will be utilized when deemed necessary. However, each individual case will be reviewed and acted upon by the school administrator as he/she feels is appropriate.

Any student involved in a fight or disrespectful to any teacher or person will be automatically suspended from school.

Conduct which shall constitute good cause for suspension or expulsion of a pupil guilty of such conduct shall include, but not be limited to, any of the following:

• Continued and willful disobedience;
• Open defiance of the authority of any teacher or person having authority over a pupil;
• Actions that constitute a continuing danger to the physical well-being of other pupils;
• Physical assault upon another pupil, a teacher, or any school employee;
• Taking, attempting to take, personal property or money from another pupil whether by force or fear;
• Willfully causing, or attempting to cause, damage to school property; . Taking part in any unauthorized occupancy of a    district facility and refusing to leave promptly when directed to do so by a person in authority; . Inciting others to take part in an unauthorized occupancy;
• Inciting other pupils to truancy
• Truancy and class cutting; leaving school property without permission;
• Use or possession of unsafe or Illegal articles
• Use of tobacco product on school property
• Use, possession or sale of a controlled dangerous substance or alcohol;
• Use of profanity or abusive language;
• Turning in a false alarm;
• Tampering with or damaging property of other pupils or staff members.

Grades 7 & 8

• Students should be in the halls only at the beginning and closing of school or when moving from one class to another.
• Students in grades seven and eight who are in the halls before the school day starts, during class time, or after school, must have passes.  

The student will not be allowed to return to school unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Academic Honor Roll Citizenship Grades 4-6

Principal's Honor Roll- is achieved when a student receives all A's in the six major subject areas, "2's" and/or "3's" in subject indicators, social attitudes and work and study skills, "2's" and/or "3's" in minor subjects and in all additional/support subjects.

"Instrumental music" and "writes legibly" are not part of the criteria.

Honor Roll - achieved when a student receives all A's and B's in the six major subject areas and all of the rest of the criteria above. "Instrumental music" and "writes legibly" are not part of this criteria.

Citizenship Award- to qualify for Citizenship Award students must receive 2's and 3's in Social Attitudes and Study Skills except in Instrumental music and "writes legibly".

Grades 7 & 8

Principals Honor Roll- is achieved when students receive an academic average of 89.5% or better in all major subjects, no lower than a "C" in minor subjects, all "2's" and/or "3's" in subject indicators and in effort, conduct and responsibility.

Honor Roll- is achieved when students have an academic average of 84.5% to 89.5% in all major subjects and meets the remaining above criteria except "Instrumental music".

Citizenship- is achieved when students receive "2's" and/or "3's" in effort, conduct and responsibility.

GRADING SYSTEM

Progress Report cards are issued to the students four times a year (three times in Pre-K, K, and 1) in order to keep the parents and students informed of  progress. The marking system, which is used, is explained on the report card. Students are required to have their parents/guardians review, sign and return the report card in a timely fashion.