| Welcome | Parents | ||
| Program of Instruction | Discipline | ||
| Child Health and Well-Being | School Bus Safety Regulations | ||
| School Procedures and Programs | Prohibited Student conduct / Penalties |
ARRIVAL: |
8:00 a.m. |
DEPARTURE: |
2:40 p.m. |
Supervision is available for five minutes before arrival time and five minutes after departure time. Please do not pick up or drop off students outside of these time frames.
For the safety of all, the front door is the only accessible entrance to our school. It is locked at all times. Please ring the bell and wait for the buzzer to open the door.
Breakfast and Lunch Program
Breakfast is offered in school starting at 8:15 AM. All children are invited to participate; it is not mandatory. Free or reduced price breakfasts are available to those families who qualify.
A hot lunch is offered every day in school. The menu is sent home in the form of a monthly calendar with the meals for each day posted. Children may also bring a lunch from home. Ice cream and a variety of healthy snack items are available for purchase each day.
Lunches may be paid for in advance or on a daily basis. Payments may be made in cash or by check. Checks are to be made payable to the Fort Montgomery School Lunch Program. Cash payments should be placed in an envelope with the child’s name, teacher and amount clearly marked.
Free and reduced lunches are available to those families who qualify. Forms are provided through the school office.
During breakfast and lunchtime, children are expected to talk in a normal tone of voice and have good table manners. They are not permitted to get up from the table and run around the room. Cafeteria Monitors are on duty to maintain order and safety for the children. After eating, the children have time to play either outside on the playground during nice weather, or inside with various activities during inclement weather.
Admission to School
The New York State Education Department requires that all children attend school until the age of 16 years. Students are admitted to the Fort Montgomery Elementary School for Kindergarten through 2 nd Grade.
New applicants for the Fort Montgomery Elementary School should register in the school office. Parents are asked to bring the last year’s report card, proof of address, a birth certificate, immunization records and a recent physical examination report. Parents also sign a release of records form to have the previous school send the student’s school records for their new permanent file at the Fort Montgomery Elementary School.
Absence and Lateness
Every day that a student attends school is an opportunity to learn and grow. It is the parents’ responsibility to see that their children are in school and on time for classes. Students must attend 90% of the school year. Absence in excess of this may cause retention in the grade to be considered. Students suffering from a prolonged illness or accident may consider home instruction as an alternative to just missing school time.
When a student returns to school after having been absent, he/she must bring a note from home explaining the reason for his/her absence.
If a student is late for school, he/she should bring a note of explanation. If a student is late or absent for an unexplained reason it is recorded on the student’s record as an illegal absence or tardiness. Parents are asked to call the school by 8:30 A.M. to report absence or lateness.
When entering or leaving school at a time different from entrance or dismissal, a student must be signed out by his/her parent in the office. If a student is to be signed out by someone other than a parent or the emergency contact person indicated on the Student Emergency Card, parents are required to phone the office or write a letter to the child's teacher stating this information.
Change of Address / Telephone
When changing an address or telephone number, please inform the school in writing. Give the date when the move is effective and your phone number, if changed. Also, please notify the school if there is a change in a babysitter’s name and/or phone number.
Please give us your unlisted phone number. You may be assured it will be held in confidence. Also, we need the phone number of a person whom we can call if the parent cannot be reached at the regular home or work phone. If this emergency contact is changed, please notify the school. Emergency contacts MUST be someone who is local and can come to the school, if necessary.
School Closing / Delayed Opening
Should weather conditions make it necessary to close school or open school at a later time in the day, the local radio stations will carry such information. All school closings and announcements of a two hour delayed opening will be aired on these stations:
WHUD (100.7 FM) WBNR (1260 AM)
WGNY (1220 AM) WPDH (101.5 FM)
Also, you may call 446-4739 for a tape-recorded message.
Close of School When in Session
As soon as we find out that students will be dismissed early, we will contact all parents or emergency contacts of each child.
No child will be dismissed until either the parent/guardian or emergency person has been contacted.
ALERTNOW
The School District has implemented a quick response telephone system that will call all emergency numbers for closing or emergency notification. Please make sure your emergency numbers are always up-to-date.
Under NY State Law, school officials are responsible to the proper agency for any suspected cases of child abuse or neglect. In so reporting, no allegation is made against a parent or caregiver. Rather, it is a judgment by the school that the child may be presenting signs of abuse or neglect.
If the teacher or school nurse suspects abuse or neglect, she/he must immediately confer with the principal to discuss the aspects of the abuse and to determine which person on the school staff will report the alleged abuse to the proper agency.
Dress Code
All children are expected to dress in age appropriate clothing that is suitable for school. Clothing that has offensive slogans or pictures on it are not to be worn in school as this distracts from the main purpose of school, which is learning in a safe and happy environment.
Clothing should also be modest, not revealing the private parts of the child’s body. Shoes should be safe for going up and down the stairs of the school. Therefore high heels, flip-flops and backless sandals should not be worn to school as they inhibit the fast and safe evacuation of the school building.
Electronic Devices and Toys
Any electronic devices such as CD players and Game Boys that distract from learning should be left at home. Since these devices are expensive, we cannot assume responsibility for them if they are lost or stolen. Toys are generally not brought to school unless they are part of a school project. In that event you will receive a directive from your child’s teacher.
Emergency Situations
In the event of a school emergency such as fire, bomb threat, intruder threat, and certain terror alert situations, the school will be evacuated and students will be sent to designated areas to wait for clearance. Parents will receive a detailed emergency plan each year.
Students receive instructions and practice in these emergency drills each year.
New York State Education Law requires that twelve fire drills be held throughout the school year to prepare students for a safe and orderly building evacuation should an emergency arise. Other safety drills include: Sheltering drills, evacuation drills, bomb threat procedures. It is expected that all children will be quiet and orderly during the drills and follow directions when given. Parents can assist with safety by talking to their children at home about these safety procedures.
Lost and Found
Articles that are found are turned in to the Main Office, where the owner can claim them. Please label your child’s personal items such as lunchbox, sneakers, and backpacks. If items are not claimed, they are placed in the Lost and Found box on the stage in the gym. Parents are welcome to go through the box in search of lost items.
Money
Money that is brought to school for a specific purpose (class trip, book fair, lunch) must be put into an envelope with the child’s name, grade, teacher and amount. The school cannot be responsible for lost or misplaced money.
Morning Routines
Children from each class take turns leading the school, over the PA system, in The Pledge of Allegiance. At times we observe a Moment of Silence for special situations. All are expected to stand and show proper respect for this exercise.
A monthly calendar of events is sent home prior to the beginning of each month to keep parents informed of all of the holidays, trips and school functions. The school menu is on the back of the calendar. All school notices are sent home in the child’s class folder. Parents are asked to review this folder each night to keep up with school and class events.
Parties and Invitations
Children enjoy celebrating their birthdays in school with their friends in class. Parents who wish to share cupcakes, cookies, etc., should contact the classroom teacher to make the appropriate arrangements.
If you are planning a party at home, we ask that party invitations be mailed to a child’s home and not distributed at school. For the safety of our children, please remember that we cannot give out student addresses or phone numbers. Class list forms will be distributed. Only the information that is listed on the completed forms will be shared with your child’s class. If party invitations are sent in anyway, they must include all students in the class.
Parents may also work with the classroom teachers to plan other special parties and events to celebrate seasonal holidays.
School Pictures
During the year, all children will have an opportunity to have their school picture taken. A class photo is also taken. There is no obligation to purchase the pictures.
Transfer to Another School
If you are transferring out of this school, please contact the Main Office and give the following information:
When you go to another school you will sign a release of records form that they forward to our school. We then send copies of all school records to the receiving school. IF your child is receiving special services through the Committee on Special Education (CSE) you must also sign a release that includes those records to be forwarded to the school.
Volunteers
Parents and guardians are an integral part of our school community. All are encouraged to volunteer in the classroom, lunchroom, on field trips, through participation in the PTF, or any way that you and your child’s teacher can think of to benefit our school program. You can make a difference! We look forward to working with you.
| Welcome | Parents | ||
| Program of Instruction | Discipline | ||
| Child Health and Well-Being | School Bus Safety Regulations | ||
| School Procedures and Programs | Prohibited Student conduct / Penalties |