Dear Students, Parents and
Guardians:
We
hope that this school year will be joyful, healthy and successful for us all. To that end, this handbook provides
information about our school and ways we can all cooperate to make each day a
safe and productive one. Teachers will
review the information in this handbook with students, and we ask that parents
reinforce this information at home.
Education
is a wonderful gift that flows from concerted effort, patience, cooperation,
and encouragement. Students, parents, guardians and teachers are essential
partners in helping to create a successful learning environment, and we look
forward to nurturing our interrelationships.
Our
school family wishes you a positive and productive school year!J
Sincerely,
Salvatore Cusmano
Principal
Mr. Salvatore Cusmano, Principal
Mrs. Louise Ardito, Secretary
Mrs. Karen Kenny, School Nurse
DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION
Dr. Harry A. Groveman Mr. Raymond G. Karaty
Superintendent of Schools School Business Administrator
355 Mayhill Street
Saddle Brook, NJ 07663
(201) 843-2133
SADDLE BROOK BOARD OF EDUCATION
Mr. Sam Salierno, President
Mrs. Angela Robinson, Vice President
Mrs. Patricia Calderone
Mr. Richard DiGiacomo
Dr. Richard Filipek
Mrs. Rosann Greff
Mr. Robert Naegely
Mr. Keith Rosso
Mr. Jerry Taylor
INDEX
Address and Telephone Changes 9
Art Class Apparel 15 Assessment Program 17 Bicycles/Skateboards/Rollerblades 15 Birthday
Treats/Holiday Celebrations 13
Cafeteria
Rules 13 Care
of School Property 16 Civil
Rights Notification 3
Contract
for Handbook 21 Delayed
School Opening/Emergency School Closing 5
Dress
Code 15 Electronic
Surveillance Disclosure 3
Evening
Activities 16
Extended
Student Absences 7
Field
Trips 16
Homework 9
Intervention
and Referral Services (I&RS) 16 Kindergarten Changeover 10
Medication
Policy 14
Mission
Statement 3
Nutrition
Guidelines 14
Parent
Teacher Association (PTA) 10
Personal Belongings and Ownership 15
Pest Control Treatment 18
Physical Education Apparel 15
Policies and Regulations 3
Principal’s
Office 4
Procedures
for Parental Request for Referral to CST 17
Public Complaints and Grievances 4
Recess 13
Registration of Students 8
Report Cards/Progress Reports/Parent Conferences 9
Reverse 911 5
School
Hours 4
School Insurance 10
School Lunch Program 13
Service Clubs 18
Single
Session (Half Day) School Hours 5
Student
Absence 6
Student Behavior 10
Student Tardiness/Early Dismissal 8
Student
Use of Telephone 16
Traffic
Safety Procedures 6
Transfers 9 Use
of Crutches 14
Visitors 6
The
vision of the Saddle Brook Public School system is to foster an environment
that promotes academic excellence through self-directed life-long learning so
that all students develop knowledge of self, community, and the world,
actualized through self-awareness, self respect and tolerance.
Such
an environment is one in which:
Through
the commitment of staff, parents and community we will enable and empower our
entire student population to develop into confident, productive, and
well-informed individuals and citizens.
POLICIES AND
REGULATIONS
The Board of Education has authorized the
Superintendent of Schools to promulgate administrative regulations except where
approval by the Board of Education is required by statute or administrative
code for the orderly operations of the Saddle Brook School District that are
binding on all pupils, employees, and visitors to the district. These regulations apply to the entire school
district.
These regulations are available for your review in
the Principal’s Office. For your ready
reference we will periodically send home select Board of Education policies,
regulations, and updates. Please retain these policies and regulations for the
duration of your child’s enrollment at Franklin School.
ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE
DISCLOSURE
Pursuant to Board of Education Policy 7441, the
Board of Education authorizes the use of electronic surveillance monitoring
devices in school buildings and on school grounds. Therefore, all school buildings and school
grounds within this school district may be monitored using such devices in
accordance with Board Policy.
CIVIL RIGHTS
NOTIFICATION
The following information is
provided in compliance with federal and state civil rights guidelines.
District Nondiscrimination
Policy
The
Saddle Brook Public Schools ensures all students in the public schools of Saddle
Brook equal educational and vocational opportunity and all employees equal
employment opportunity regardless of race, creed, color, religion, sex,
ancestry, national origin, social or economic status, marital status, political
affiliation and non-applicable handicap.
Furthermore, the schools shall maintain working and academic
environments free of harassment.
The district officers are:
Affirmative Action Officer Caroline Gaynor Smith School (201) 796-6650
(x201)
504 Officer Laura
Thoresen Washington School (201) 843-6740 (x301)
Grievance Procedures for
Civil Rights Complaints
Students
in the Saddle Brook Schools may file complaints regarding denial of civil
rights through the pupil grievance process as described in the Board of
Education Policy #5710, a copy of which may be requested from the building
principal or the superintendent. In
general, it requires that a written statement be filed with the building
principal of the specific nature of the grievance, the facts of the situation
and the relief sought with reasons why that relief is appropriate. If the complaint is not satisfied at that
level, it may be taken to the superintendent and the Board of Education, in
that order. Students are urged to seek
assistance of their parents as well as the district’s Affirmative Action
Officer or the 504 Officer in the filing and processing of complaints.
PUBLIC COMPLAINTS AND
GRIEVANCES
Board
of Education Policy #9130 provides a comprehensive format for complaints
related to personnel, the educational program, instructional or resource
materials, and operations. Initially,
requests and complaints “should be resolved, whenever possible, by informal
discussion between or among interested parties.
Matters which cannot be resolved may be appealed at successive levels of
authority.” Parties interested in
reviewing information about further action should ask for a complete copy of
this policy from the school offices.
Compliance with this policy would be greatly appreciated. The policy is consistent with good management
procedure and “fair play.”
PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE
The
principal’s office is always open for conferences and discussions. Parents seeking a conference are asked to
make an appointment in advance, so that a mutually convenient time may be
scheduled. Of course, all classroom issues should first be addressed with a
child’s classroom teacher via telephone, e-mail or personal conference.
REGULAR SCHOOL HOURS
Children
should arrive at the entrance to the All Purpose Room no earlier than 8:35
A.M., at which time teachers provide supervision. Except for band and choral rehearsals
and other planned activities, children should not be on school grounds prior to
8:35 A.M. Children enrolled in
the PM kindergarten should arrive at the entrance to the All Purpose Room no
earlier than 12:15 PM.
Regular
School Hours
Kindergarten
AM 8:45 A.M. - 11:25 A.M.
Kindergarten
PM 12:25 P.M.
- 3:05 P.M.
Grades
1-6 8:45 A.M.
-
3:05 P.M.
Lunch Hours
Grades 1 – 3 11:13
A.M. - 11:57 P.M.
Grades 4 – 6 12:01
P.M. - 12:45 P.M.
SINGLE SESSION (HALF DAY) SCHOOL HOURS
Note
that lunch is not served on single session days.
Kindergarten
AM 8:45 A.M. - 10:52
A.M.
Kindergarten
PM 10:53 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.
Grades
1 – 6 8:45
A.M. - 1:00 P.M.
In
the event that inclement weather necessitates a school closing, a delayed
opening or an early dismissal, parents will be informed via a “Reverse 911” telephone
call from the school district. Parents may also access school closing
information in the following ways:
Radio Stations: WOR
710 AM, CBS News Radio 880 AM or WVNJ 1160 AM
Television Stations: SBCTV
Channel 77, CBS Channel 2, NBC Channel 4, Fox 5, ABC Channel 7
or News 12
NJ
Internet: www.cancellations.com or www.wor710.com
Once
school has been closed or students have been dismissed early, all school
activities are cancelled for that day.
Delayed Opening Time
Schedule
Kindergarten. A.M. 9:45 A.M. - 11:55 A.M.
Kindergarten. P.M.
12:55 P.M. - 3:05 P.M.
Grades l – 6 9:45 A.M. - 3:05 P.M.
Lunch Hours
Grades 1 – 3 11:43
P.M. - 12:27 P.M.
Grades 4 – 6 12:31
P.M. - 1:15 P.M.
REVERSE 911
Just as parents will be notified regarding school
closings, delayed openings and early dismissals via a Reverse 911 telephone
call, parents may also be contacted via a Reverse 911 telephone call regarding
any other school emergency that may require an immediate parent response.
Periodically, the school district and/or the school
may also initiate a Reverse 911 telephone call to remind parents of special
school activities.
TRAFFIC SAFETY PROCEDURES
Please
remind your children to practice good safety habits when walking to and from
school. Students should use sidewalks on
main roads. Also, please support our
township safety marshals by crossing at designated crosswalks.
Pick
up and discharge children from curbside.
As our school parking lot is always potentially active, please do not
drive into the parking lot nor walk in the parking lot between the hours of
8:35 A.M. and 9 A.M. and 2:45 P.M. and 3:15 P.M.
In
order to ensure the safety of our children, it is imperative that
parents/guardians follow all driving regulations and obey local parking
regulations, especially handicapped parking signs and bus drop off/pick up
signs.
VISITORS
Parents
are always welcome at Franklin School. For
security reasons, however, we must have a written record of all persons who
enter and leave our school building.
When visiting our school building, please ring the bell near the front
door, state your name and the reason for your visit, and sign in at the main
office to obtain permission and a visitor pass.
Please do not report to a
classroom or any other part of the building without the expressed permission of
school personnel.
Building
hours during the school year are normally from 8 A.M. to 4 P.M. The front door is equipped with a security
system and camera. The front door will
be locked from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. In the
interest of security, all other exterior doors will be locked at all times.
While
we encourage parent/guardian involvement in our school, we do not want to
disrupt the instructional experiences of our children; therefore, the office
personnel will gladly deliver lunches, messages, etc. when necessary.
STUDENT ABSENCE
Regular
attendance is mandated by New Jersey statutory law and is essential to
maximizing educational benefits, ensuring continuity of instruction, and
fostering student success. However, if your child is absent on any given day,
please call the school office at (201) 843-8664 by 8:50 A.M. and
press “4” at the message prompt. Please
leave your child’s name, grade, and reason for absence.
Parents
are asked to schedule all appointments and vacations for days when school is
not in session. When parents/guardians
know in advance of unique or special family circumstances which will require
absence from school, they must notify the classroom teacher in writing.
For
the safety of our children, we will follow up all unconfirmed absences by a
telephone call from the office to the parent/guardian’s home or place of work.
A
student absence may be excused when the demonstrated mental or physical
condition of the pupil is such as to interfere with learning or prevent
attendance, or by the observance of the pupil’s religion on a day approved by
the Board as a religious holiday, or by such circumstances as the building
principal may determine constitute good cause (such as a death in the immediate
family). All other absences are unexcused (including family vacation).
Upon
return to school a student must present a parental note, plus any other
documentation, such as a medical excuse, to the main office personnel. The note
must including the following:
Any
student who accumulates excessive unexcused absences from school will be
subject to appropriate corrective action to ensure that grade level material is
learned. Furthermore, the New Jersey Department of Education requires that we enter
onto our school report card, “…the number of students who accumulate either one
through four unexcused absences, five through nine unexcused absences, or 10 or
more unexcused absences.” Furthermore, “…a student who has accumulated 10 or
more unexcused absences is considered truant pursuant to N.J.A.C.
6A:16-7.8(a)4iii.”
Religious
holiday – The observance of a
student’s religion on a day approved by the New Jersey Department of Education
and the Board of Education will be an excused absence provided a parental note
is presented on the student’s return to school.
If a parental note is not presented on the student’s return to school,
the student will be marked absent.
For
home lunch, a child’s parent/guardian must pick up and sign out the child in
the school office and return and sign the child back into school by the end of
the designated lunch.
If
your child is present for the morning session but will not return from lunch
for the afternoon session, please advise the school office during the
designated lunch period via telephone call.
This
procedure has been established for the protection of your child. Your continued cooperation regarding the use
of this procedure will benefit everyone.
Note
that a student absent from school during the day may not attend nor participate
in any evening activities or performances.
For
additional detailed information regarding student attendance, you are welcomed
to review Saddle Brook Board of Education Policy and Regulation 5200 Attendance,
which is available through the Franklin School main office.
EXTENDED STUDENT ABSENCES
Pursuant
to the Saddle Brook Board of Education procedures adopted February 8, 2006, the
following will apply when a student is absent from school for an extended
family vacation during the school year, whereby a student misses an extended
period of school over a consecutive calendar period:
A
student who is out of school for ten consecutive days shall be marked absent.
As
of day eleven, the absence will be changed to a withdrawal from school dated
back to the first day of absence.
If
a family returns, the student will be re-admitted but a registration must be
commenced and completed within a 30 day period.
Note: The ten consecutive
days of missed education shall not include school holidays.
STUDENT TARDINESS/EARLY DISMISSAL
As
previously stated, regular and punctual attendance at school is essential to
maximizing educational benefits, ensuring continuity of instruction, and
fostering student success. However, if
you anticipate your child arriving late to school, your child should bring a
note to school indicating the reason for the tardiness. Children who arrive late are to report to the
nurse’s office for a late pass.
In
order for your child to benefit from our school program and to avoid classroom
disruption, we strongly urge you to make all appointments for your child before
or after school hours.
Please
note that on class trip days students are required to remain in school until 3:05
P.M. In addition, a child who arrives late to school or leaves the school
building before 3:05 P.M. more than five times combined will not be eligible
for a “Perfect Attendance” certificate.
Requests
for early dismissal from school should be in writing and should state the
reason for the request. Parents/guardians
must pick up children in the office and sign the early dismissal book.
REGISTRATION OF
STUDENTS
Parents
seeking to enroll their children in the Saddle Brook School District are
reminded that the district has a two-step registration process.
Step 1 Children
who live in the Township of Saddle Brook will need a district “Certification of
Student Eligibility” to register.
Parents must obtain this certification by applying at the Saddle Brook
Community School, 225 Market Street, Saddle Brook, NJ 07663, (201) 291-0137. The Community School hours are Monday through
Thursday, 8:30 A.M. to 4 P.M. and Friday, 8:30 A.M. to 3:30 P.M. You must bring with you your child’s original
birth certificate with the raised seal or Passport and four proofs of residency.
Homeowners
must provide at least one of the items in bold plus three additional proofs.
Tenants must provide item in bold plus three
additional proofs.
|
HOMEOWNERS |
TENANTS |
|
Property Tax Bill |
Notarized letter
from Landlord/Form 114 |
|
Contract of Sale |
|
|
Mortgage |
Lease |
|
Driver
License |
Driver
License |
|
Court
Order |
Court
Order |
|
Utility
bill/telephone/cable/PSE&G |
Utility
bill/telephone/cable/PSE&G |
|
Cancelled
check/bank statement |
Cancelled
check/bank statement |
|
Affidavits |
Affidavits |
Step 2 Parents/guardians
of prospective students must then bring their “District Certification of
Student Eligibility” to Franklin School to complete the registration process by
obtaining a Franklin School registration packet. At that time parents must also furnish
evidence of date of birth for the incoming child (original birth certificate or
passport) and medical/immunization records.
Please call the office for additional information.
To
be eligible for kindergarten in the Saddle Brook School District Board of
Education policy specifies that a child must attain the age of five by October
1 of the school year in which he/she would begin kindergarten. Further information regarding kindergarten
registration is contained in the Franklin School January/February Bulletin.
Please
note that district kindergarten registration generally takes place during the
first week in March. Please call the
Franklin School main office during the month of February to schedule an
appointment if your child will be attending Franklin School the following
September.
TRANSFERS
Parents/guardians
should inform the school when they plan to transfer their child to another
school. Please notify the teacher and
the main office in writing at least one week prior to your move. Copies of a transfer card and health records
will be given to you on the last day of your child’s attendance at Franklin
School.
ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE CHANGES
Parents
should notify the main office of address and telephone number changes. This is
especially important in the event that an emergency contact needs to be made. Any address change within the Franklin School
district will also necessitate a district re-registration at the Saddle Brook
Community School as referenced above.
HOMEWORK
Homework
is an extension of the curriculum presented in school. Ideally, homework provides additional
reinforcement of skills learned in school and/or enables children to engage in
activities not possible in school. In
general, the amount and frequency of homework assigned by teachers should
approximate the following:
Grade 1 10-20 minutes 1-2 times per week
Grades 2-3 20-40
minutes 3-4
times per week
Grades 4-6 30-60
minutes 3-4
times per week
While
teachers will strive to maintain these guidelines, it is difficulty to estimate
precisely the amount of time a child will need to complete an assignment.
REPORT CARDS/PROGRESS
REPORTS/PARENT CONFERENCES
Report
cards are distributed four times a year in grades one through six. Progress reports are sent home throughout
each marking period. Parent/teacher
conferences are scheduled so that parents may meet personally with classroom
teachers.
Although
formal conferences are scheduled, parents should feel free at any time to call
the school and request a conference at other times, if needed.
SCHOOL INSURANCE
Each
year an insurance policy program is offered to the students. The policies of the school are held with
Bollinger Company and include such options as:
1. Accident Insurance
A. School time
only (for the time during which the pupil attends school)
B. Around-the-clock accident coverage
2. Life Insurance
3. Dental Accident Insurance
Insurance
policies are effective from the date of issuance until the last day of
school. Further information is given in
the policy folder, which is disseminated on the first day of school.
PARENT TEACHER
ASSOCIATION
The
Franklin School Parent Teacher Association provides many activities for our
students. These special activities
include school pictures, assembly programs, class parties, and field day
activities. Our PTA has been a
tremendous resource in enriching school offerings. Parents are encouraged to join and actively
participate in our PTA activities.
KINDERGARTEN CHANGEOVER
Kindergarten
changeover takes place at the end of January.
On that designated date the AM and PM classes switch time schedules.
STUDENT BEHAVIOR
The
purpose of discipline is to help students recognize and understand the need for
acceptable behavior and to guide them in making responsible decisions and good
choices in their relationships with others.
Discipline should also help children become better problem solvers and
develop attitudes that are essential to their success at Franklin School and
throughout life.
Student
behavior in school should be a continuation of parent expectations at
home. Positive relationships are built
on mutual trust and respect. Children
need to be treated with respect and should, in turn, treat other children and
adults with that same respect. In
addition, students should be considerate of other people’s belongings and
public property.
The
goal of our discipline policy is self-discipline. With this in mind, we invite all parents to
work with our teachers and the principal to help our children develop
self-discipline necessary to become responsible students.
All
school rules are in effect on school property and when commuting to and from
school.
For
additional detailed information regarding student behavior, you are welcomed to
review Saddle Brook Board of Education Policy and Regulation 5600 Pupil
Discipline/Code of Conduct, which is available through the Franklin School
main office.
Follow
classroom rules.
Be
polite.
Use
appropriate language.
Treat
others as you want to be treated.
Keep
Franklin School Bully-Free – Report incidents of bullying and/or teasing.
Keep
desks and walls clean.
Take
care of books and other school materials.
Respect
hall and classroom displays.
Chewing
gum is not permitted.
Use
all school facilities, including bathrooms, appropriately.
Fighting
is never acceptable. It is never the
solution – use conflict resolution!
Rough
games, rock throwing, and snowball throwing are not permitted.
Weapons
of any type, including guns, knives, and toy replicas, are not permitted.
Use
an inside voice.
Stay
to the right.
Respect
those who are working in their classrooms.
Do
your homework to the best of your ability.
Have
all the supplies you need.
Use
good table manners.
Use
an inside voice.
Listen
and follow directions.
Respect
cafeteria and playground aides.
Follow
your teacher’s directions.
Move
quickly in an orderly way.
Remain
silent.
Use
designated crosswalks and obey crossing guards.
REMEMBER:
FRANKLIN SCHOOL IS A NO BULLYING ZONE!
In regard to “Come to School Prepared,” we ask your support in
fostering the responsibility of our children.
We encourage you to assist your child in preparing for school each
day. If at all possible, please do not
bring forgotten items to school or return to school to pick up items left
behind by your children. In addition,
the staff cannot be responsible for the children’s personal property. Remember, our aim, like yours, is to develop
a student’s sense of responsibility.
WIN/WIN GUIDELINES
Teachers
will instruct students in the use of the following guidelines, which students
will be encouraged to employ to resolve conflict:
·
Take time for
cooling off, if needed. Find alternative
ways to express anger.
·
Each person
states their feelings and the problem as they see it using “I Messages.” No blaming, no name calling, no interrupting.
·
Each person
states the problem as the other person sees it.
·
Each person says
how they are responsible for the problem.
·
Brainstorm
solutions together and choose a solution that satisfies both – a Win/Win
solution.
·
Affirm, forgive
or thank your partner.
First
Offense: You will receive a warning.
Think about what you could have
done differently. You will fill out a “Think About It” form.
Homeroom teachers will record the
infraction.
Second
Offense: Recess
Detention one (1) or more days. Teacher
will assign
work. Teacher
will call home.