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Conferences

 

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Cyber-Bullying

The Kearny Board of Education’s Cyber-Bullying policy is available upon request and can be found on the school district’s website.

In order to maintain effective control and maintain the standards of excellence in the Kearny School District, a firm but fair code of discipline is enforced.  An infraction will result in a Behavioral Incident Report being sent home to be signed by a parent/guardian and discipline will be handled through detentions, exclusion from school events, loss of recess or lunch privileges, or suspensions.

The Kearny Board of Education’s Dress Code policy is available upon request and can be found on the school district’s website.

Parents requesting early dismissal for their child must send a note to school signed and indicating the reason for dismissal, the dismissal time, and the name of the adult who is picking up the child.  The child must be picked up in the main office at the time designated and be signed out by the adult.

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In cases of extremely inclement weather, schools may be closed or a delayed opening may be scheduled.  Please do not call the main office lines or the Police Department for this information. Parents/Guardians will be contacted through the district’s automated Global Connect phone service but the information will also be available via:

District Website: www.kearnyschools.com

Kearny Schools Message Line: 201-991-4141

Radio: WINS- 1010 AM, WOR- 710 AM, CBS 880 AM

TV: Channels 4,5,7 or NJ 12

Internet: www.7online.com

 

Delayed Opening Schedule

Elementary School	Students Report at 10:00 A.M.
High School	Students Report at 9:15 A.M.
PreK - A.M.	10:05 A.M. to 12:35 P.M.
PreK - P.M.	12:35 P.M. to 3:05 P.M.
REGULAR LUNCH - REGULAR DISMISSAL TIME

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The Board of Education believes that pupils should commit themselves to learning and to the development of their unique potential. Pupils should know that their attitudes and acts affect both their own and their classmates’ learning and should accept responsibility for helping to create a positive school environment. With the support and assistance of school staff members and parent(s) or legal guardian(s), all pupils can contribute to the effectiveness of the schools and the value of their education.

The Board expects all pupils in this school district, commensurate with their age and ability, to:

1. Prepare themselves mentally and physically for the process of learning;

2. Respect the person, property, and intellectual and creative products of others;

3. Take responsibility for their own behavior;

4. Use time and other resources responsibly;

5. Share responsibilities when working with others;

6. Meet the requirements of each course of study;

7. Monitor their own progress toward school objectives; and

8. Communicate with parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and appropriate school staff members.

 

 

The Superintendent shall, in consultation with staff members, parent(s) or legal guardian(s), and, where appropriate, pupils develop a statement of specific pupil behaviors that exemplify these expectations and shall publish both this policy and the statement of behaviors to all pupils, parent(s) or legal guardian(s), and professional staff members.

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

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

a.       Continued and willful disobedience;

b.      Open defiance of the authority of any teacher or person having authority over a pupil

c.       Actions that constitute a continuing danger to the physical well-being of other pupils

d.      Physical assault upon another pupil, a teacher, or any school employee

e.      Talking, or attempting to take, personal property or money from another pupil whether by force or fear

f.         Willfully causing, or attempting to cause, substantial damage to school property

g.       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

h.      Inciting others to take part in an unauthorized occupancy

i.         Inciting other pupils to truancy

j.        Truancy and class cutting; leaving school property without permission

k.       Poor attendance and lateness

l.         Use or possession of unsafe or illegal articles

m.    Use  of any tobacco product on school property

n.      Use, possession, or sales of a controlled dangerous substance or alcohol

o.      Use of profanity or abusive language

p.      Turning in a false alarm

q.      Tampering with or damaging property of other pupils or staff members

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Failure letters are mailed to the parents three times during the school year.  The purpose is to inform parents that their son/daughter has a borderline or failing average in their subject areas.  The letters are sent by the school in March and again in May, if necessary.  This will give parents ample time to discuss and correct any academic deficiencies before the end of the school year.  If a third letter is sent in June by the school principal, it will inform the parents that their child will be retained in their respective grade.

The Kearny Board of Education’s Health Education policy is available upon request and can be found on the school district’s website.

Report cards are issued to the students four times a year (three times in grades 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 or guardians review, sign, and return the report card in a timely fashion. 

The Kearny Board of Education’s Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying policy is available upon request and can be found on the school district’s website.

Help period is a designated time, Monday through Thursday for teachers to give help to students who are having difficulty in a particular subject area.  There is no help period available on Fridays or single session days.

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Your child’s homework will depend on his/her grade level.  There are several reasons for homework:

1.       To provide extra practice on learned skills

2.       To provide further learning in areas covered in the classroom

3.       To provide an opportunity for students to learn good work habits

4.       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 a punishment, but rather as a way to encourage and extend learning.

Parents can do their part to improve homework when they:

1.       Cooperate with the school to make homework effective

2.       Provide their child with suitable study conditions (well-lit desk or table, sharpened pencils, eraser, pen, etc.)

3.       Reserve a time for homework and turn off the television and radio

4.       Encourage their child, but avoid undue pressure

5.       Show interest in what their child is doing, but do not do the work for them

6.       Understand that the school expects homework to be completed and returned on time.

 

Very often students forget where they left valuables, books, lunches, articles of clothing, and other items.  Students should check the Lost and Found box immediately before or after school for any lost items. 

All students who have found lost items are required to submit the items to the office.  Schools are not responsible for lost items.

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A.      Students may participate in the school lunch program which provides free or reduced-price lunch for the children (if qualified).  Materials are sent home at the beginning of the school year to determine eligibility.

B.      Lunches may be purchased or brought from home by the child.

C.      The lunch program is supervised by staff members.  Rules and regulations are enforced.  Upon severity of an infraction students can be suspended from the lunch program.

D.      Students in grades K-5 can be released to a parent for lunch by bringing in a signed note the day they are to be released.

E.       Students in grades 6-7 grade can leave the school for lunch by having a “Release and Hold Harmless” form signed by the parent.

F.       Students in Grade 8 can leave school for lunch.

 

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 conditions permit, parents should arrange to pick up the student’s assignments at the end of the school day. 

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If it becomes necessary for a student to take any form of medication at school, a signed note from a parent must be presented to the school nurse.  Any medication to be administered at school must be accompanied by a physician’s note stating the medication and dosage to be administered.  All medication will be kept in and dispensed through the nurse’s office.

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A.      Due to their limited numbers, all school parking areas and driveways are for the use of staff members only.

B.      For safety reasons, please park legally to drop off your child.

C.      Do not block driveways, crosswalks, or bus stops.

D.      Obey the crossing guards.  They are there to ensure the safety of everyone.

 

A.      Parents/Guardians are urged to contact the school whenever the need arises.

B.      Parents/Guardians wishing to have a conference with a teacher must call ahead to make an appointment as our teachers’ scheduled classes do not allow time for “drop-in” conferences.

C.      Parents/Guardians must notify the school of any change in address or emergency phone numbers.

 

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At the mid-point of each marking period, progress reports are mailed to the parents of any student who is failing or whose quality of work is below the level of expectation.  Progress reports may also be sent to parents of students who are exhibiting poor behavior.

Parents should review the report, sign and return them to the homeroom teacher.  If a conference is recommended by a teacher, it is advised that the parent call the school to arrange an appointment.

The Parent Teacher Association serves in a larger and more important role than ever before.  All parents are encouraged to join and support our programs.

School insurance is available to all students.  A packet will be available for each student on the first day of school.  Purchase of this program is optional but strongly recommended to cover parents’ costs in the event of an injury.  All forms must be signed and returned to the homeroom teacher.

School nurses are available to assist in the health and care of our students.  They can be reached during school hours and an answering machine is available.

For safety reasons, parents are required to call the school on the morning of their child’s absence.  A follow-up note must accompany the child on the day the child returns to school.  This note should include the dates and reason for absence.

After 3 days of absence, a doctor’s note is required.

Any student who leaves the building without seeing the nurse will be considered truant. 

If a child becomes ill at school, a parent will be notified to pick them up.  Students are not allowed to call parents directly from their personal cell phones to alert them of their illness, they must report to the nurse.

The Kearny Board of Education’s Substance abuse policy is available upon request and can be found on the school district’s website.

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Students are responsible for good behavior on school computer networks just as they are in a classroom or school hallway.  Communications on the network are often public in nature.  General school rules for behavior and communications apply.

The network is provided for students to conduct research and communicate with others.  Access to network services is provided to students who agree to act in a considerate and responsible manner.  Parent permission is required.  Access is a privilege not a right.  Access entails responsibility.

Individual users of the district computer networks are responsible for their behavior and communications over those networks.  It is presumed that users will comply with district standards and will honor the agreements they have signed. Network storage areas may be treated like school lockers.  Network administrators may review files and communications to maintain system integrity and ensure that users are using the system responsibly.  Users should not expect that files stored on district servers will always be private.

During school, teachers will supervise and guide students toward appropriate materials based on the age of the child and the task.  Outside of school, families bear responsibility for such guidance as they must also exercise with information sources such as television, telephones, movies, radio and other potentially offensive media. 

The following are not permitted:

·         Sending or displaying offensive messages or pictures

·         Using obscene language

·         Harassing, insulting, or attacking others

·         Damaging computers, computer systems or computer networks

·         Violating copyright laws

·         Using others’ passwords

·         Trespassing in others’ folders, work or files

·         Intentionally wasting limited resources

·         Employing the network for commercial or political purposes

Sanctions

1.       Violations may result in loss of access

2.       Additional disciplinary action may be determined at the building level in line with existing practice regarding inappropriate language or behavior.

3.       When applicable, law enforcement agencies may be involved.

The Board authorizes the Superintendent to prepare appropriate procedures for implementing this policy and for reviewing and evaluating its effect on instruction and student achievement.

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Parents/Guardians are required by law to ensure their child is enrolled in school and attends regularly.  Truancy issues will be referred to the Truancy Officer and the Kearny Municipal Court.

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A.      All visitors must obtain a visitor’s pass in the main office. (The office reserves the right to deny any request.)

B.      No Pets are allowed on school grounds.

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Receipt of 2011-2012 Kearny Public Schools’ Student Handbook

 

 

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Attached is the Table of Contents for the Kearny Public Schools’ Elementary Student Handbook.  The handbook is a useful guide to policies and procedures that are in use within the district.   

The entire Student Handbook is available on the Kearny Schools website: www.kearnyschools.com.  A hard copy is available upon written request to the school, however, we encourage you to consider viewing it online.

This signed receipt acknowledges you have received the Student Handbook’s Table of Contents.  It is understood that the handbook contains rules and regulations that parents and students are expected to review and be responsible for.

 

 

Please sign and return

 

I have received the Table of Contents for the 2011-2012 Kearny Public Schools’ Student Handbook.  I understand I am responsible for the information contained in the Handbook.

 

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Child’s Full Name                                                                             Teacher’s Name

 

______________________________________                                ___________________________________

Parent Signature                                                                               Date