Most questions that are frequently asked by parents can easily be answered by using the John Paterson School Handbook and Calendar. We encourage you to use the handbook as an easy reference guide. For your convenience listed below are some of the more frequently asked questions that parents raise from time to time.
How will I know school is cancelled or
delayed? Top
of Page
Should it be necessary to cancel school because of inclement weather or
an emergency, parents should listen to their radios for 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:
|
WTIC-AM
|
1080 |
WRCH-FM
|
100.5 |
|
WDRC-FM |
102.9 |
WKSS-FM |
95.7 |
|
WCCC-AM |
1290 |
WHCN-FM |
106 |
|
WWYZ-FM |
92.5 |
WVIT-TV |
Channel 30 |
|
WTNH-TV |
Channel 8 |
|
|
How will I know if there is an emergency
school closing after the beginning of the school day? Top
of Page
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 an adult is not there. Parents may call the School Cancellation/Delay Hotline or keep tuned to their radio or television.
What
should my child do if they are late for school? Top of Page
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. After a
total of five incidences of tardiness, a letter from the principal will be sent
home. After ten incidences, the
principal will telephone the parent or guardian.
When is indoor recess called? Top
of Page
Indoor recess is called during inclement weather when either the temperature is below 20 degrees (with the wind chill being factored in) or when the playground conditions are not suitable for outdoor use. Safety is always the consideration.
My child wants to stay after school for an organized activity, what do I do? Top of Page
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. Any change in a child’s
regular dismissal procedure requires prior written notification from the parent
or guardian. In case of an emergency, the school office should be
contacted. Without notification, the
child will follow his/her regular dismissal procedure.
Arrival and Dismissal Safety
Guidelines Top of Page
Arrival
The safety of your child is a top priority at
John Paterson. We have established procedures for a safe arrival and dismissal
system. We need your cooperation by
following the procedures outlined below:
|
Category |
Procedure |
Bus Riders to Day Care Van Riders
|
·
Students in grades Pre K-4 arriving by bus
will be dropped off at the new circle area.
Students in Pre K and Kindergarten will enter our school through the
early childhood wing doors. Students riding school vans and authorized
daycare vehicles will be dropped off at the gym lobby entrance. Students in Grades 1-4 will also enter our
school through the gym lobby doors. |
Walkers
|
·
Students arriving to school as a walker will enter
the door by the hallway near the media center/ computer lab hallway.. |
Bike Riders
|
·
Those students in grades three and four who have
written permission to ride their bike to school will enter through the door
by the media center/ computer lab hallway. |
Drop-Offs
|
·
Parents may now use the circle area in the front of
our school to drop a student off at school.
Students arriving by car may enter through the main entrance doors or
gym lobby doors. It is very important
that parents using the front circle area to drop off a student drive SLOWLY
and WAIT PATIENTLY to allow children to get out of the car and to a
safe walking area. We emphasize the
need for parents to allow children to get out of the car using the RIGHT
SIDE DOOR ONLY so that the children will have a very short distance to
the sidewalk and will not need to enter near traffic. |
|
Important Reminder: Students who
are not transported to school by bus should arrive no earlier than 8:35 a.m.
unless given specific permission by a staff member. |
|
Daily Dismissal Procedure
Each student is designated by the Newington School
District guidelines as a walker or a bus rider. The daily dismissal procedure
is as follows:
|
Category |
Procedure |
Bus Riders to Day Care Van Riders |
·
Pre K and Kindergarten students are escorted
to the bus and van by the classroom teacher.
Students in Grades 1-4 are escorted by student leaders by bus letter
or van and are expected to board their assigned bus or van. |
Walkers |
·
All students who are designated as walkers will be
dismissed through the door by the media center/computer lab hallway. |
NECCI |
·
Students who are
in the NECCI (Newington Elementary Children’s Center Inc.) program after school will be
dismissed from their classrooms directly to the cafeteria area. |
Bike Riders |
· Those students in grades three and four who have written permission to ride their bike home will be dismissed through the door by the media center/ computer lab hallway. |
Pick-ups |
·
Students being picked up at the end of the school day
by a parent or by a designated person will be sent to the main lobby area.
Parents must meet the child in the main lobby area and sign the logbook. For security purposes, if you plan to pick
up your child regularly from school, the school must have a written notice on
file that will designate your child as a pick up. If you plan to pick up your child on one particular day please
send in a note and communicate this to your child. |
|
Important Reminder: If there is a
change in a student’s dismissal, written notification is required. If notification is not received, the
student will follow his/her usual dismissal procedure. |
|
May
I visit my child's classroom? Top of
Page
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.. However, it is appreciated that advanced notice be given to the teacher for scheduling purposes.
If my child has been sick and
needs to take medication at school, what do I do? Top of Page
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.
What can I expect concerning the amount of
homework my child should receive? Top of
Page
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
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:
|
|
Time Allotment |
Frequency |
Emphasis |
|
K |
10 minutes |
|
Formal homework is not
usually assigned. Parents are encouraged to read aloud to children and
discuss schoolwork each day. |
|
1 |
10 minutes |
4-5 days a week |
Number and reading
activities. Includes a read aloud time each day. |
|
2 |
20 minutes |
4-5 days a week |
Mathematics, reading,
language arts, book reports, projects. Reading aloud is still encouraged each
day. |
|
3 |
30 minutes |
4-5 days a week |
Mathematics, reading, language
arts, book reports, projects. Expansion of school work. |
|
4 |
40 minutes |
4-5 days a week |
Mathematics, reading,
language arts, book reports, projects. Expansion of school work. |
My child has been absent from school, how do I
get their work? Top of
Page
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.