How will I know if school is cancelled or delayed?

Should it be necessary to cancel school because of inclement weather or an emergency, it is vital that parents listen to their radios for such announcements. Every effort is made to cancel school as soon as conditions warrant. The announcement is made between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m. A special telephone number - 665-8665 - has been established as a School Cancellation/Delay Hotline. An updated, recorded message will be on this line whenever there is a change of schedule due to adverse weather or other emergency conditions. In addition, you may listen to these local/radio television stations:

How will I know if there is an emergency school closing after the beginning of the school day?

If it becomes necessary to close schools early after the school day has begun, due to adverse weather conditions or other emergencies, the Superintendent will make the decision, and it will be broadcast over all participating radio stations and the "School Cancellation Hotline" as early as possible. Children should be instructed as to what to do if they arrive at home and no parent is there.

What should my child do if he or she is late for school?

A child arriving at school after 8:45 a.m. is expected to go to the office for a LATE PASS before reporting to the classroom. Tardiness is considered an interruption of the learning process, not only to the child who is late, but also to the other students in the classroom. Students should understand the importance of being on time. Each tardy is recorded on the student's attendance record. Chronic tardiness will be investigated.

What are the arrival and dismissal procedures for Anna Reynolds?

Daily Arrival Procedures

The safety of your children is a top priority at Anna Reynolds. With our recent building addition we have established procedures for a safe drop off and pickup system. We need your cooperation by following the procedures outlined below.

• No student should arrive at school earlier than 8:35 a.m. as there is no supervision until that time. All walkers will enter the building through the front foyer and walk to their classrooms. Fenn Road walkers will be escorted across the driveway to enter through the door by the gymnasium.
• If you are dropping off your child, please drive into the front driveway and drop your child off at the front door. He or she should walk into the front foyer and then to his/her classroom. Continue driving out to Fenn Road via the lower parking lot.
• The road /driveway in front of the school is one-way, with all vehicles entering via Reservoir Road and exiting to Fenn Road.
• All buses will drop off and pick up students on the side of the building by the gym and Wing C. All students riding on the bus will enter the school by the gym door or by the far corner door in Wing C/ D and walk immediately to their classrooms.

Daily Dismissal Procedures

Each child is designated by the Newington School District guidelines as a walker or a bus rider. For the safety of your children, the daily dismissal procedure is as follows:

Important Reminders:

• Children being dismissed early must be signed out in the dismissal log and met personally by the parent or guardian in the office.

• In an emergency situation where weather is a safety issue, dismissal may be delayed.

Behavioral Expectations

Safety Rules

WALKERS

1. All children walking to school are to observe the basic safety rules.
2. Children are to arrive at school between 8:35 and 8:45 a.m.
3. Children are to stay on the sidewalk until given a verbal signal from the crossing guard. They are to cross within the crosswalk lines.
4. Children are not to run across the street.
5. If the crossing guard has a discipline problem with a child, the child's name will be reported to the school office and the parents will be notified.
6. At the end of the school day, children are to go directly home when dismissed.
7. If a child will not be walking directly home, a permission note with specific instructions including date, destination, and parental signature is to be given to the child's teacher.

1. All children are to observe the basic safety rules while walking to the bus stop, waiting for the bus, boarding and leaving the bus. They must wait to cross the street to the bus until the driver gives the signal that it is safe to do so.
2. Children are to understand that the bus driver is in charge and that they are to obey instructions from the bus driver.
3. Children are to be courteous to other students and bus drivers.
4. Children who abuse or destroy bus property will be held responsible. Connecticut law holds parents liable for damages by their children.
5. Children are to wait in an orderly manner at their designated stop a few minutes earlier than pickup time. Drivers cannot wait for tardy children.
6. Children are to enter the bus carefully and to remain seated while the bus is moving.
7. If a bus driver has a discipline problem with a child, the child's name will be reported to the school office and parents will be notified. Two notes (Bus Conduct Reports) may result in removal of the child from the bus for a minimum of one day.
8. At the end of the school day, children are to ride the designated bus to the designated stop. To insure safety, since our buses are filled to near capacity, no changes will be allowed except in extreme emergencies. Visiting other children, scout meetings, and birthday parties are not considered emergencies.
9. If a child will not be riding the bus, a permission note with specific instructions including date, destination, and parental signature is to be given to the child's teacher.
10. Video cameras may be used on buses for the safety and security of students.

BICYCLE RIDERS

(Only includes students in grades 3 and 4 who have received bicycle safety training)

1. Students riding bicycles to school must observe all basic safety rules and are required to wear a helmet.
2. Children arrive at school between 8:35 and 8:45 a.m.
3. Bicycles are to be walked across the intersection within the crosswalk lines when children are given a verbal signal from the crossing guard.
4. If the crossing guard has a discipline problem with any child, the child's name will be reported to the school office and the parents will be notified.
5. Children are not to cross the street in front of the school or in the bus area.
6. Bicycles are to be walked on school property and parked in the bicycle rack.
7. Only one child is allowed on a bicycle at a time.
8. A book carrier is important to insure two handed steering.
9. Bicycles brought to school are left at children's risk. It is recommended that bicycles have appropriate locks.
10. At the end of the school day, children are to go directly home when dismissed.
11. If a student will not be riding directly home, a permission note with specific instructions including date, destination, and parental signature is to be given to the child's teacher.

My child wants to stay after school for Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts. What do I do?

Students who are attending after-school programs such as CCD, Brownies, Boy Scouts, etc. will be dismissed to the designated area, the cafeteria or the gym. Their instructor will meet them in this area and walk them to the classroom.

Lunch

May I visit my child's classroom?

All visitors and volunteers are to report to the office first, sign the visitor's logbook, and obtain a visitors badge. Parents are invited to visit the school and observe their children at work. A parent who wishes to visit a class should do so with advance notice or scheduling. Occasionally, a class may be involved in an activity during which the presence of an additional adult in the classroom would be inherently disruptive.

Does my child have to go out for recess?

Children are expected to go outdoors for recess unless medically excused (in writing) by a physician. A written excuse from the parent is acceptable for one day only. Outdoor recess is planned each day unless there is inclement weather. A variety of weather conditions are considered when making this decision. Please be sure that your child is dressed accordingly. In the wintertime, hats and mittens or gloves are necessary. It is also beneficial to send extra dry clothes and socks.

My child wants to buy lunch. How much does it cost?

If your family is eligible for a Reduced Price lunch ticket, it may be purchased with $1.00 for a 5 meal ticket or $4.00 for a 20 meal ticket.

If my child has been sick and needs to take medication at school, what do I do?

Medication, including "over-the-counter" (i.e. non-aspirin preparations) is given only with written authorization of the parent and physician, physician's assistant, or dentist on a designated form.

Certified staff may legally dispense medications if the nurse is not available.

Medication must be delivered and dispensed from the original container, clearly labeled with the name of the student, physician, and medication, with directions for dosage and date of original prescription. All medication must be delivered to the school nurse by the parent or other designated adult. Students are never allowed to carry medications without written medical authorization.

My child has a contagious disease. How long do I have to keep him/her home from school?

Students recovering from the following diseases are readmitted to school after evaluation by the school nurse:

• Chicken Pox - Students should be kept home at least seven days after the first appearance of vesicles.
• Scarlet Fever and Strep Throat - Students should be kept home a minimum of 24 hours after antibiotic therapy has begun.
• Impetigo - Students should be excluded from school until satisfactory treatment has been given.
• Students with head lice, ringworm, pink eye, and other conditions that might be easily transmitted will be sent home until such condition has been satisfactorily treated.

What can I expect concerning the amount of homework my child should receive?

The elementary schools believe that homework should be introduced in the elementary school years to encourage responsibility, develop good habits and study skills, and teach elementary students effective management of time. At the elementary level, homework should reinforce and give added practice for concepts learned in the classroom as well as develop and encourage creative activities in children. The following are recommended homework activities and time guidelines:

*Our fourth grade teachers are using a homework hotline (665-8627) after 5:00 p.m. Parents and students may call this number to find out the homework assignment for the day.

My child has been absent from school. How do I get his/her work?

In general, only those students absent two or more consecutive days will be eligible to receive schoolwork at home. Students absent less than two days will be provided appropriate time and guidance to complete the necessary schoolwork upon their return.

Requests for makeup work should come directly from the parent/guardian, either by sending a note to the teacher or by calling the office. Appropriate make up work should then be ready in the office after student dismissal that day. Make up work consists of material that has already been assigned to the class.

We hope this information is useful to you. If there is additional information you would like us to include, please contact the school.

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