Student-Parent Handbook

Names and Numbers

Intermediate Office
518-355-1342 ext. 5001
Joby Gifford, Principal
Denise Smith, Secretary

Primary Office
518-355-1342 ext. 5080
Kathleen Russell, Director of PE, Health & Athletics
Catherine Pray, Secretary

Other Important Numbers
School Nurse Jill Facteau, 518-355-1342 ext. 5036
Food Service Director Maria Zarrillo, 518-355-9200 ext. 4020
Transportation Supervisor Steve Connell, 518-355-9201 ext. 4201
Director of Academic and Instructional Support Services Armine Gonzalez, 518-355-6110, ext. 4018
District Office, 518-355-9200

Arrival/Dismissal Times

Arrival
School begins at 8:45 a.m. each morning. Children riding the bus will enter the building through the main entrance that faces Princetown Road. Children being dropped off will enter the building at the Ford Avenue entrance. For safety reasons, please do not drop off your children prior to 8:45 a.m. as there is no supervision for them. Students must enter the building through either the K-1 or 2-4 main entrance. Students are not permitted through any other door.

Students who arrive after 8:50 a.m. are tardy and must report to the Primary Office (accessed through the parking lot adjacent to Ford Avenue). Students will need to be escorted into school and signed in by a parent or guardian. Help your child get off to a good start each school day. Please make every effort to have your child(ren) to school on time.

Dismissal
Students will board the buses at 3:00 p.m. If you wish to pick up your child, please enter through the K-1 primary entrance and pick up your child in the cafeteria at 3:00 p.m. Photo identification will be required whenever children are picked up.

If you need to pick up your child during the school day, please send a note in with your child. If you forget to send in a note, please call the office by noon so we have time to notify the teacher. Please sign your child(ren) out using the K-1 Primary Office. Photo identification will be required whenever children are picked up.

During pick up and drop off times, please do not park along the sidewalk. This is a fire lane and should be kept clear at all times.

Attendance

Daily attendance in school is very important to your child’s academic success. Students are faced with the challenges of meeting the requirements of New York State’s higher standards. It is essential that our students be present for the intensive instruction, which will assist them in meeting the standards.

Please try to make non-emergency dental and medical appointments for students after hours, if possible.

If your child will be absent or late for school, please call 518-355-1342 ext. 5080. Please tell us your name, your child’s name, their grade, and the reason for their absence. In the event you do not call us, you will receive an automated phone call asking you to verify the absence with the school. All children returning from an absence must have a written excuse which includes the reason for the absence, the dates of the absence, and the signature of the parent/guardian.

Breakfast/Lunch Programs

Jefferson Elementary offers a nutritionally balanced breakfast program to students in grades K-4. Breakfast is served from 8:20 to 8:50 a.m., which includes both hot and cold foods, juice and milk. The cost of breakfast is $1.75.

Lunch is served to students in grades K-4 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:25 p.m. daily. Monthly menu choices are provided our Food Services webpage or by request from your child’s teacher. Hot, healthy lunches are served daily as well as “grab and go” items such as bagels, snacks, and milk.

Lunch costs $2.75. Milk is 50 cents.

Please visit our Food Services webpage for instructions regarding pre-payment of meals.

The lunch schedule at Jefferson is as follows:

11:00 to 11:25 a.m. – Grade 2 lunch
11:30 to 11:55 a.m. – Grade 3 lunch, Grade 2 recess
12:00 to 12:25 p.m. – Grade 4 lunch, Grade 3 recess
12:30 to 12:55 p.m. – Grade 1 lunch, Grade 4 recess
1:00 to 1:25 p.m. – Kindergarten, Grade 1 recess
1:30 to 1:55 p.m. – Kindergarten recess

Homework Guidelines

Introduction
The Schalmont Central School District and school community believe that homework plays a critical role in teaching and learning. It also provides an excellent opportunity for parents to become aware of their child’s daily academic experiences.

The purpose of homework is to strengthen academic skills and reinforce concepts taught by teachers. Appropriately assigned homework not only improves student achievement, it also develops time management skills, self- discipline, independence, personal responsibility, and the ability to follow directions and prioritize.

Amount of Homework
To promote consistency and fairness, these are guidelines for the amount of time; however, teachers may vary in their beliefs and system for assigning work. For example, some teachers choose not to assign work over the weekend or during holiday periods.

Kindergarten – 10 minutes per school weekday
First Grade – 20 minutes per school weekday
Second Grade – 30 minutes per school weekday
Third Grade – 40 minutes per school weekday
Fourth Grade – 50 minutes per school weekday

These time frames do not include recreational reading. Also, some teachers may assign a specific amount of additional time for reading.

Reading for pleasure in itself is an extremely important pastime that has a great impact on a student’s success. The research is clear that students who read regularly are more successful in school. It is important for teachers and parents to continually encourage students to read more and often.

Student’s Role and Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of the student to record their homework assignments. Students are encouraged to seek clarification about homework assignments they feel are unclear. It is their responsibility to complete homework and return it at the time it is due. Students at all levels who are experiencing difficulty with their homework are encouraged to seek help from their teachers.

It is incumbent on parents in the early grades and students themselves as they mature to request homework assignments missed based on absences. Students who are ill may take it upon themselves to complete homework while staying home, depending upon the illness.

Parent’s Role and Responsibilities
It is the parent’s role to reinforce the importance of homework and encourage home completion in a timely manner. Parents need to monitor their child’s homework. If parents set rules within their home that define where, when and under what conditions their child needs to complete their work, the task becomes more routine and less cumbersome.

It is essential that parents provide guidance for their child, not answers. Parents are encouraged to find out more specifics about individual teachers procedures and requirements when a child is absent.

Homework Tips for Parents

Express to your child the importance of a good education and the value of doing homework.
Make sure your child has a quiet, well-lit place to do homework. Make this location a permanent one.
Watch your child for signs of frustration. Suggest a short break and then return to the task.
If your child is struggling to complete an assignment, you may need to contact your child’s teacher.
At various times during the school year, positively reinforce how well your child is doing.

Nurse’s Notes

Please refer to the district website for updated information regarding health-related matters at Jefferson Elementary School.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to call our School Nurse Jill Facteau at 518-355-1342 ext. 5036.

Conference Dates/Report Card Dates

Parent Conferences are an important time for parents and teachers to work together by sharing information, discussing student expectations and setting goals that will help the child grow as a learner and succeed in school. All parents are encouraged to schedule a fall conference date with their child’s teacher. Students will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m. on these dates to allow for afternoon meeting times with parents.

Report Cards will be sent home with students (K-4) three times during the school year.

First Trimester Report Card: mid December
Midterm Report Card: late March
End-of-Year Report Card: late June

Assessments/Testing

Teachers continually assess student performance through observation, student conferences and a review of each student’s written work or informal assessments.

Standardized tests are also used to help students reach higher standards of learning and to focus on basic skills and their application. Currently, standardized statewide tests are given to students in grades 3-8. The following shows a breakdown of the standardized tests given to students at each specific grade.

Grade 3 & 4 – NYS English/Language Arts
Grades 3 & 4 – NYS Math
Grade 4 – NYS Science Performance
Grade 4 – NYS Science Written

Visitors to the School

The District encourages parents and other district citizens to visit the district’s schools and classrooms to observe the work of students, teachers and other staff. Since schools are a place of work and learning, however, certain limits must be set for such visits. The building principal or his/her designee is responsible for all persons in the building and on the grounds. For these reasons, the following rules apply to visitors to the schools:

Anyone who is not a regular staff member or student of the school will be considered a visitor.
All visitors to the school must report to the Principal’s Office upon arrival at the school. There they will be required to sign the visitor’s register and will be issued a visitor’s badge, which must be worn at all times while in the school or on school grounds. The visitor must return the identification badge to the principal’s office and sign out on the visitor’s register before leaving the building.
Visitors attending school functions in the evening that are open to the public, such as parent-teacher organization meetings or public gatherings are not required to register.
Parents or citizens who wish to observe a classroom while school is in session are required to arrange such visits in advance with the classroom teacher(s), so that class disruption is kept to a minimum.
Teachers are expected not to take class time to discuss individual matters with visitors.
Any unauthorized person on school property will be reported to the principal or his designee. All unauthorized persons will be asked to leave. The police may be called if the situation warrants. In addition, those persons violating a court order of protection will be reported to the police.
All visitors are expected to abide by the rules for public conduct on school property contained in Code of Conduct.

Jefferson Playground

The Jefferson Playground is used daily during lunchtime by all students. However, it is a community playground and residents are welcome to use the playground after school hours. To maintain safety, several rules have been listed below.

Students should respect the rights, feelings, and property of other children and adults
Students should avoid any type of rough play that may cause injury.
Students should obey the monitors at all times.
Students should use proper language at all times.
Students should use all playground equipment in an appropriate manner.
For safety and enjoyment, please help keep our playground clean.
Sandals or open-toed shoes will not be permitted on the playground due to safety reasons.

Public Conduct on School Property

The District is committed to providing an orderly, respectful environment that is conducive to learning. To create and maintain this kind of an environment, it is necessary to regulate public conduct on school property and at school functions.

Prohibited Conduct: No person, either alone, or with others shall:

Intentionally injure any person or threaten to do so.
Intentionally damage or destroy school district property or the personal property of a teacher, administrator, other district employee, or any person lawfully on school property, including graffiti or arson.
Disrupt the orderly conduct of classes, school programs or
other school activities.
Distribute or wear materials on school grounds or at school functions that are obscene, advocate illegal action, appear libelous, obstruct the rights of others, or are disruptive to the school program.
Intimidate, harass or discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability.
Enter any portion of the school premises without authorization or remain in any building or facility after it is normally closed.
Obstruct the free movement of any person in any place to which this code applies.
Violate the traffic laws, parking regulations, or other restrictions on vehicles.
Possess, consume, sell, distribute or exchange alcoholic beverages, tobacco, controlled substances, or be under the influence of either on school property or at a school function.
Possess or use weapons in or on school property or at a school function, except in the case of law enforcement officers, except as specifically authorized by the school district.
Loiter on or about school property.
Refuse to comply with any reasonable order of identifiable school district officials performing their duties.
Willfully incite others to commit any of the acts prohibited by this Code of Conduct.

Code of Conduct

The district’s Code of Conduct is available here.

School Pledge

As members of this school, we promise to care about each other. We will help each other whenever we can. We promise to make our school a place of joy, discovery, peace, and respect. Above all, we will always try to never hurt anyone on the inside or the outside.