otsego elementary school - district homeintroduction the otsego faculty handbook is a “work in...

Otsego Elementary School

Faculty Handbook

Sharon Stepankewich, Principal Stacey Bernstein, Assistant Principal

INTRODUCTION

The Otsego Faculty Handbook is a “work in progress.” Its purpose is to

communicate building and district procedures and offer helpful ways to

enhance your classroom management skills and teaching practice. It is

intended to be an informational resource to use throughout the year.

As our daily routines and responsibilities become more clearly defined, you

will be receiving “inserts” to add to your binder. This handbook will answer

many of your questions and provide you with the necessary materials to

make your work day smoother.

The literature was selected to keep you informed as to the latest trends in

education. The articles present numerous educational philosophies and

current research. In addition, different strategies and techniques that

maximize student learning are offered.

Your feedback and/or suggestions would be welcomed and appreciated.

We hope you find the book to be a valuable resource in your classroom.

Happy reading!

Sharon & Stacey

INTRODUCTION

The Otsego Faculty Handbook is a “work in progress.” Its purpose is to

communicate building and district procedures and offer helpful ways to

enhance your classroom management skills and teaching practice. It is

intended to be an informational resource to use throughout the year.

As our daily routines and responsibilities become more clearly defined, you

will be receiving “inserts” to add to your binder. This handbook will answer

many of your questions and provide you with the necessary materials to

make your work day smoother.

The literature was selected to keep you informed as to the latest trends in

education. The articles present numerous educational philosophies and

current research. In addition, different strategies and techniques that

maximize student learning are offered.

Your feedback and/or suggestions would be welcomed and appreciated.

We hope you find the book to be a valuable resource in your classroom.

Happy reading!

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction • District Administration • Calendar • Important Dates

Information • Accidents • Agenda/Calendar

o Calendar Event Add/Delete Form • Attendance • Building Representatives • Bus Duty

o Bus Duty Assignments • Characteristics of a Distinguished District • Classroom Visitations

o Classroom Visitation Information Sheet o Classroom Visitor List

• Cleanliness • Copy Room Guidelines

o Copy Request Form • Crisis Response • Dismissal Procedures • Dismissal of Students to Parents

o Student Release Authorization Form • Emergency Contact Information • Emergency Early Dismissal • Evacuation Plan • Extra Curricular Positions • Extra Help

o AM Extra Help Form o PM Extra Help Form o Extra Help Log (to be kept in plan book) o AM Extra Help Request Letter to Parents o PM Extra Help Request Letter to Parents

• Faculty Meetings • Field Trips

o Field Trip Permission Slip • Fire Inspections and Fire Drills • Forgotten Items • Grade Level Meetings • Homework • Instructional Support Team (IST)

o IST Referral Form

TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) • Internet Usage

o Internet Use Agreement • Liaison Positions • Master Schedule • Meet the Teacher Night • Notes, Letters, Flyers to Parents • Parental Release of Information and Pictures

o Photo Release • Parent-Teacher Conferences • Payroll Schedule • Plan Books • PTA • Religious Observation • Report Card Guidelines • Safety Issues • Shelter Plan • Staff Directory • Student Discipline • Sunshine Committee • Supervision of Children • Teacher Absences • Teacher Evaluation Process • Telephones • Videos

o Video Request Form Policies:

• Allergy Policy o Parent Letter Samples o Authorization for Medication Form Sample o Consent to Release Personal Information to Class Sample o Emergency Health Care Form Sample o Reminder – No Home Baked Goods Notice

• Attendance Policy • Harassment Policies

o Hazing What Can I Do if I am Being Bullied Myth or Fact Worksheet

o Sexual Harassment Policy • Videotape Policy

New York State Learning Standards Educational Articles Teacher Notes

DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION

Board of Education: Jay Marcucci, Acting President

Jeanine Bottenus Carole Catapano Frank Grimaldi James Ptucha

Ann Marie Sorkin

Central Administration: Dr. Sheldon Karnilow, Superintendent

Michael DeStio, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education Kelly Fallon, Assistant Superintendent for Districtwide Administration

Dr. Patrick Harrigan, Assistant Superintendent for Research, Assessment, Special Services Victor Manuel, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Facilities

Mary Rettaliata, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education

Corinne Carriero, Director of Instructional Computing/Business Linda Esposito, Director of Mathematics

John O’Farrell, Director of Science Dr. Jeffrey Morris, Director of Social Studies

Joseph Pennacchio, Director of Athletics Salvatore Randazzo, Director of Music and Fine Arts Patrick Murphy, Director of Health/Physical Education

Francesco Fratto, Coordinator of Foreign Languages/ESL

Love Karima Foy, Coordinator of Language Arts/Reading 6-12 Rochelle DeMuccio, Coordinator of Language Arts/Reading K-5

Ellen Robertson, Coordinator of Instructional Computing/Family & Consumer Science Sherri Keller, Coordinator of Pre-School Special Ed./Related Services

Brenda Friedland, Coordinator of Elementary Special Education Daniel Helmes, Coordinator of Middle School Special Education

Michelle Melfi, Coordinator of High School Special Education

Steve Troy, Supervisor of Transportation

HALF HOLLOW HILLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

2009/2010 SCHOOL CALENDAR

M T W TH F M T W TH F September: 3 Superintendent's Conference Day(1) (2) (3) (4) 1 2 3 4 5 7 Labor Day

(7) 8 9 10 11 8 9 10 11 12 8 School Opens14 15 16 17 18 (15) (16) (17) (18) (19) 19, 20 Rosh Hashanah21 22 23 24 25 22 23 24 25 26 28 Yum Kippur

(28) 29 30October: 12 Columbus Day

M T W TH F M T W TH F November: 3 Superintendent's Conference Day1 2 1 2 3 4 5 11 Veterans Day

5 6 7 8 9 8 9 10 11 12 26, 27 Thanksgiving(12) 13 14 15 16 15 16 17 18 1919 20 21 22 23 22 23 24 25 26 December: 24-31 Christmas26 27 28 29 30 [29] (30) (31)

January: 1 New Years 18 Martin Luther King Jr. Day

M T W TH F M T W TH F2 (3) 4 5 6 (1) (2) February: 15-19 Winter Recess9 10 (11) 12 13 [5] [6] 7 8 916 17 18 19 20 12 13 14 15 16 March: 30, 3123 24 25 (26) (27) 19 20 21 22 23 April: 1, 230 26 27 28 29 30

May: 31 Memorial Day

M T W TH F M T W TH F June: 25 Last Day of School 1 2 3 4 3 4 5 6 7 24-26 Half Days for Elementary Schools7 8 9 10 11 10 11 12 13 1414 15 16 17 18 17 18 19 20 2121 22 23 (24) (25) 24 25 26 27 [28]

(28) (29) (30) (31) (31)

M T W TH F M T W TH F (1) 1 2 3 44 5 6 7 8 7 8 9 10 11 1 snow day:11 19 20 21 22 14 15 16 17 18 2 snow days:

(18) 19 20 21 22 21 22 23 24 25 3 snow days:25 26 27 28 29 (28 (29) (30) 4 snow days: 3/29 & 4/5 & 4/6 & 5/28

4/6 & 5/284/5 & 4/6 & 5/28

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

5/28

May 2010

January 2010 June 2010

Please Note:

School will not be in session on the days indicated by parenthesis ( ) on this calendar. The shaded and bracketed [ ] days indicate school emergency days,

and will be utilized as follows;

November 20th is Parent/Teacher Conference Day - There is no school for Elementary Students

Any additional day(s) required will be determined by the Half Hollow Hills Board of Education.

Spring Recess

September 2009 February 2010

October 2009 March 2010

November 2009 April 2010

December 2009

1

IMPORTANT DATES 2009-2010

DATE EVENT

September 3rd Superintendent’s Conference Day September 8th First Day of School September 21st Faculty Meeting September 24th Meet the Teacher Night Grades K-2 September 30th Picture Day September 22nd Meet the Teacher Night Grades 3-5 Band/Orchestra Meet the Teacher – 7:00 PM September 18th Rosh Hashanah – No School October 1st - 30th PARP September 29th Yom Kippur – No School October 12th Columbus Day – No School October 19th Faculty Meeting November 3rd Superintendent’s Conference Day November 13th First Marking Period Ends November 11th Veteran’s Day – No School November 16th - 17th NYS Grade 5 Social Studies Test November 16th Faculty Meeting November 17th & 19th Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences (6:30 – 9:00)

November 20th Day Parent Teacher Conferences (No School for Students)

November 26th – 27th Thanksgiving Recess – No School December 1st Photo Makeup Day/5th Grade & Clubs Photos December 17th Winter Chorus Concert December 21st Faculty Meeting December 24th – January 1st Christmas / New Year’s Recess January 5th Winter Concert – Instrumental April 26th - 28th NYS ELA Exam – Grades 3-5 January 11th Board of Ed. Meeting at Otsego – 8:00PM January 18th Martin Luther King Day – No School January 25th Faculty Meeting January 25th – 29th Kindergarten Registration January 29th Second Marking Period Ends January 29th –31st 5th Grade Hills on Stage Performance February 15th – 19th Winter Recess May 5th - 7th NYS Math Exam – Grades 3-5 March 15th Faculty Meeting March 22nd - 26th Literary Week March 30th – April 3rd Terra Nova/In View Testing – Grades 2 - 5April 16th Third Marking Period Ends

DATE EVENT

March 30th-April 2nd

(4/5,4/6 & 3/29 Emergency Days) Spring Recess – No School

April 19th – 23rd Kindergarten Screening April 19th Faculty Meeting May 24th – 27th NYS Science Assessment – Grade 4 May 10th Spring Instrumental Concert May 17th Faculty Meeting May 25th Kindergarten Orientation May 26th Spring Chorus/Recorder Concert (7:30 PM) May 31st (May28th Emergency Day) Memorial Day – No School June 7th Field Day June 8th Field Day – Rain Date June 11th Staff Breakfast June 18th Kids Day June 22nd Awards Assembly June 23rd – 25th Half Days June 23rd Moving Up Day (1:00 Candlewood) June 25th Last Day of School

ACCIDENTS

Please report any and all accidents to the School Nurse immediately. This

includes staff as well as children. The nurse will then complete the

necessary paperwork and fill out an accident report form.

In the event that you or a child requires immediate assistance in your

current location (classroom, hallway, gym, etc…), please notify the main

office and state the nature of the emergency. The office will send help to

you.

PLEASE REMEMBER: Do not move a child who has a potential injury to

his/her neck, head, or back, or who may have a broken bone. It is safer for

them to remain where they are until trained medical help arrives.

AGENDA/CALENDAR

The agenda will be emailed at the end of each week. It will list all the

happenings for the following week, including;

• Field trips

• Meetings

• Special events

• Classroom visitations

• Bus duty assignments

• Staff birthdays All field trips and special class activities should be recorded on the large calendar in the main office. When doing so, you must also submit a Calendar Event

Add/Delete Form to a secretary. They will enter the information into our computer calendar. Be sure to fill the form out completely and to specify field trip location OR location in the building (i.e.: cafeteria, classroom, etc.) When you receive your agenda, please look it over carefully to see if any upcoming events will affect you and your class. Also, if you have an event planned that is not listed on the agenda, please inform the office immediately. They will determine if a revised agenda needs to be distributed. At the start of the school year, the agenda will be placed in all staff mailboxes, posted in the office, and sent out via e-mail. After a few weeks, the “paper copies” will be phased out. Please be sure to check your e-mail for the weekly agenda.

OTSEGO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Calendar Event Add/Delete Form

Trip/Event Description_______________________________________________________ ADD DELETE DATE CHANGE Trip/Event Date______ Location_______________ Trip Time: Depart______ Return_______ Submitted by________________________ Grades/Classes Attending____________________________ Date Submitted_____________



Trip/Event Description_______________________________________________________ ADD DELETE DATE CHANGE Trip/Event Date______ Location_______________ Trip Time: Depart______ Return_______ Submitted by________________________ Grades/Classes Attending____________________________ Date Submitted_____________



Trip/Event Description_______________________________________________________ ADD DELETE DATE CHANGE Trip/Event Date______ Location_______________ Trip Time: Depart________ Return_________ Submitted by_______________________ Grades/Classes Attending____________________________ Date Submitted_____________

ATTENDANCE

It is important to complete your classroom attendance using the Infinite

Campus software by 9:30 AM.

Have your computer on & ready when school begins. When your students

arrive, take your physical attendance right away. Sign onto Infinite

Campus, and enter your class attendance. All students are automatically

marked as ‘P’ for present. Mark any students absent by clicking ‘A’ for

absent, and any students late by clicking ‘T’ for tardy. DON’T FORGET TO SAVE! Put all notes to be sent to the main/health/attendance offices in

the pocket on your door at the same time.

If any students come in late after you have taken attendance, make sure

they have a late pass, which would mean the attendance office has

marked them tardy in Infinite Campus. If they do not have a late pass, and

it is past 9:16, send them to the Health Office to get one.

2009-2010 Building Representatives

(Liaison, T.A., etc…)

• Science Leigh Salvage

• Testing Jen Kuitwaard & Jessie Lauter

• Staff Development Liz Varvaro

• Technology Tracey Kueck & Nancy Holmes

• Bus Duty Ricky Martorella

• T.A. Reps Liz Varvaro Carrie McCabe

BUS DUTY

Bus duty assignments are listed on the schedule that follows. Please be sure to report to your designated area during your assigned week. If you cannot be on bus duty for any reason, it is your responsibility to find someone to replace you and inform the office who will be taking your place. AM Responsibilities: • Please be on the bus platform by 9:00AM, no matter what meeting or activity is

going on. • The children should be released from the buses at 9:05AM. • Remain on the platform until all children have entered the building. • In the event of a late bus, inform the office so that someone can be assigned to

relieve you, when necessary. • Assignments:

o Person #1 – Kindergarten entrance Supervise students as they walk inside the building Check in buses on clipboard

o Person #2 - Main entrance Supervise students as they walk inside the building Check in buses on clipboard

o Person #3 – Center of platform Supervise students as they walk inside the building

PM Responsibilities:

• Please be on the bus platform by 3:10PM. Bring your class outside with you. • Assignments:

o Person #1 – Kindergarten entrance Supervise students as they leave the building Distribute and collect the bus signs from the students AFTER

receiving the signal to do so o Person #2 – Main entrance

Supervise students as they wait for late buses on the platform REMINDER: Assigned students will check off the classes as they leave the building. Please be sure to give your name to these children as you exit the building and again when you get to the end of the platform.

OTSEGO ELEMENTARY BUS DUTY SCHEDULE

WEEK OF ARRIVAL DISMISSALSept. 8 ****ALL SPECIAL AREA TEACHERS****

14 E. Reichstein/L. Napolitano 2-KH, 5-PB21 D. Castiglia/K. Hanover 2-JPi, 5-WS29 E. Micalizzi/B. DelVecchio 2-JPt, 5-K/M

Oct. 5 C. Brancato/C. Mychailyszyn 1-DP, 5-LS13 M. Aulet/D. Anderson 1-CM, 5-AM19 D. Lanzarotta/R. Jacobowski/A. Cohee 1-DT, 4-S/H26 E. Reichstein/L. Napolitano 1-LA, 4-SB

Nov. 2 D. Castiglia/K. Hanover 1-NB, 4-NN9 E. Micalizzi/B. DelVecchio 3-EM, 4-DA16 C. Brancato/C. Mychailyszyn 3-MK, 5-PB23 M. Aulet/D. Anderson 3-LG, 5-WS30 D. Lanzarotta/R. Jacobowski/A. Cohee 3-M/S, 5-K/M

Dec. 7 E. Reichstein/L. Napolitano 2-KH, 5-LS14 D. Castiglia/K. Hanover 2-JPi, 5-AM21 E. Micalizzi/B. DelVecchio 2-JPt, 4-S/H

Jan. 4 C. Brancato/C. Mychailyszyn 1-DP, 4-SB11 M. Aulet/D. Anderson 1-CM, 4-NN19 D. Lanzarotta/R. Jacobowski/A. Cohee 1-DT, 4-DA25 E. Reichstein/L. Napolitano 1-LA, 3-EM

Feb. 1 D. Castiglia/K. Hanover 1-NB, 3-MK8 E. Micalizzi/B. DelVecchio 2-KH, 3-LG22 C. Brancato/C. Mychailyszyn 2-JPi, 3-M/S

Mar. 1 M. Aulet/D. Anderson 2-JPt, 5-PB8 D. Lanzarotta/R. Jacobowski/A. Cohee 1-DP, 5-WS15 E. Reichstein/L. Napolitano 1-CM, 5-K/M22 D. Castiglia/K. Hanover 1-DT, 5-LS

Apr. 5 E. Micalizzi/B. DelVecchio 1-LA, 5-AM12 C. Brancato/C. Mychailyszyn 1-NB, 4-S/H19 M. Aulet/D. Anderson 3-EM, 4-SB26 D. Lanzarotta/R. Jacobowski/A. Cohee 3-MK, 4-NN

May 3 E. Reichstein/L. Napolitano 3-LG, 4-DA10 D. Castiglia/K. Hanover 3-M/S, 2-KH17 E. Micalizzi/B. DelVecchio 1-DP, 2-Jpi24 C. Brancato/C. Mychailyszyn 1-CM, 2-JPt

June 1 M. Aulet/D. Anderson 1-DT, 4-S/H7 D. Lanzarotta/R. Jacobowski/A. Cohee 1-LA, 4-SB14 E. Reichstein/L. Napolitano 1-NB, 4-NN21 D. Castiglia/K. Hanover 3-EM, 4-DA

2009/2010

CHARACTERISTICS OF A DISTINGUISED DISTRICT

• Educators continually engage in their own learning.

• Staff knows students well and cares about them as individuals.

• Intellectually challenging and engaging curriculum and instructional practices are differentiated to meet individual needs. Curriculum and instruction includes mastery of the basics, active inquiry, development of high level intellectual skills, and real world learning experiences.

• Student voice is encouraged and heard.

• Forges close ties with parents, families without children, senior citizens, colleges and universities, and members of the business community.

• Provides safe, attractive school environments for teaching and learning.

• Teachers have time to work together to improve teaching through collaboration and inquiry.

• Teachers and students are provided with and gain competency in use of sophisticated leading-edge technologies and instructions/learning tools that support active inquiry and maximize the effectiveness of teaching and learning.

• All members of the school community are respected and supported.

• Each adult member of the school community exhibits good character and strives to inculcate in students the qualities of dignity, tolerance, and a sincere respect for the learning environment.

• Student achievement is measured in ways that are directly linked to instructional programs. Allows students to demonstrate their attainment of knowledge and skills in multi-faceted ways.

• Effectively prepares all students for success in college, the world of work, and for active participation as citizens of the community, the nation, and the world.

CLASSROOM VISITATIONS

There will be times during the school year when parents are invited to school. Some of these activities may be author shares presentations, class plays, and seasonal/birthday celebrations. Please follow the guidelines below when inviting parents to your classroom.

• All visitations MUST end by 2:30PM.

• Siblings attending Otsego are NOT permitted to attend functions in their brothers’ and or sisters’ classrooms.

• Parents who wish to dismiss their child after visiting are permitted to do so, as long as they follow proper procedure and sign their child out. However, we discourage early dismissals because the children are losing instructional time.

• After planning your event, please submit to the office a “Classroom

Visitation Information Sheet.” This should be submitted AT LEAST TWO WEEKS in advance. This will allow for planning on days when numerous activities are scheduled and provide advance notice so that the event may be placed on the weekly calendar.

• Please reserve common areas (cafeteria, fields, courtyard, etc…)

well in advance of your event to ensure availability.

• TWO DAYS BEFORE YOUR EVENT, please submit to the office a “Classroom Visitor Listing.” This is a detailed list of all those visitors that you are expecting. This sheet will be used as the sign-in/sign out log. It will also assist the hall monitor with the distribution of visitor badges.

• Copies of the forms needed are enclosed in this book. Additional

forms may be obtained in the Main Office.


Classroom Visitation Information Sheet

This sheet must be handed in to the office two weeks prior to the event. Remember, classroom visitations must end by 2:30PM.

Teacher: Total # of Visitors Expected:

Event: Description of Event: Date: Start Time: Ending Time:


Classroom Visitor List

This sheet must be handed in to the office two days prior to the event. Remember, classroom visitations must end by 2:30PM.

Teacher: Room #: Date: Start Time: End Time:

Please list below the names of all visitors that you are expecting.

Name Signature Badge # 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25.

CLEANLINESS

It is an extremely large effort to keep Otsego looking “spic and span.” There are numerous classrooms, hallways, bathrooms, offices, and common areas and only a few custodians to maintain them. Therefore, we all need to take part in helping to keep our building clean. Please help out by doing the following:

• Children should clean up after themselves prior to dismissal. There should be no items on the floor or scattered about, particularly food.

• Children need to place their chairs on their desks before leaving the classroom each afternoon.

• Children should be taught the necessary organizational skills to keep their desks clean and orderly.

• While eating in the cafeteria, children need to pick up items that may have dropped on the floor during their lunchtime. All trash must be discarded in garbage cans.

• Children should be encouraged to pick up items that may have been dropped in hallways, common areas, as well as in their classrooms.

“The Spar-Clean Room Award”

The school is divided into 3 sections for cleaning purposes. Beginning in September, the custodian in charge of each section will decide which of his classrooms is the cleanest. Each week, the cleanest room will receive the “The Spar-Clean Room Award” in their mailbox, along with a ‘trophy’ to keep for the week. Teachers are encouraged to use this incentive along with their classroom management system. It is the responsibility of the teachers to pass the trophy along to the present winner on their grade level once winners are announced.

COPY ROOM GUIDELINES

The copy room is located in between Rooms 104 and 105 and is staffed by paraprofessionals who are available for copying, laminating, and binding. The copy machines in this location are available for teacher use before and after school on a first come, first serve basis. They are only available during the day, when not in use by the paraprofessionals.

Please follow the guidelines below when requesting work to be copied.

• Fill out a yellow “Copy Request Form” and attach it to the items that will be copied. These forms are available in the office. Be sure to leave specific instructions, including when you need it completed.

• Teachers in grades K-1 should leave their requests in the copy room. Teachers in grades 2-5, as well as special area teachers, should leave their requests in the hanging file system in the main office.

• Plan ahead so that you have sufficient time to have your copies made. Try to avoid handing in work on short notice (i.e. “I need this NOW!).

• There is usually a fast turn around. However, please realize that sometimes machines break down and other building emergencies arise.

• The copy room will be closed during the time in which report cards are being copied. Please keep this in mind when planning lessons during these weeks.

• All LARGE JOBS (booklets, grade level sets, etc…) MUST BE SENT TO THE PRINT SHOP FOR COPYING. Please allow extra time.

COPY ROOM GUIDELINES (continued)

LAMINATING:

• All laminating will be done by designated personnel.

• Please leave items to be laminated with the hall monitor.

• Please use discretion when submitting materials for lamination. Laminating materials are extremely costly.

BINDING:

• All binding will be done by building paraprofessionals.

• Please leave items to be bound in the copy room between rooms 104 and 105.

• Binding is a time consuming process. Please allow sufficient time for your requests to be completed.

ELLISON CUTTER:

• The Ellison Cutter is located in the copy room between rooms 104 and 105.

• There are numerous cut-outs available.

• The Ellison Cutter may be used by all staff. Be careful when handling the cut-outs as they are extremely sharp.

Copy Request

Teacher Name _________________ Room #____________ Date of Request ________________ Quantity Requested ________

Please check all that apply: _______ Double Sided _______ Single Sheets _______ Single Sided _______ Stapled Packets _______ Needs Binding _______ Unstapled Packets Copied by:_____________ Date:__________

Copy Request

Teacher Name _________________ Room #____________ Date of Request ________________ Quantity Requested ________

Please check all that apply: _______ Double Sided _______ Single Sheets _______ Single Sided _______ Stapled Packets _______ Needs Binding _______ Unstapled Packets Copied by:_____________ Date:__________

CRISIS RESPONSE

The Crisis Response Team is comprised of the following personnel:

• Principal Sharon Stepankewich • Asst. Principal Stacey Bernstein • Head Custodian Ruben Torres • Psychologist Tony Farinacci • Nurse Ingrid Steffens • Secretaries Terri Flynn

Cynthia Toomey

In an emergency, the Crisis Response Team will report immediately to the principal’s office.

ALL classroom teachers and other support staff should remain in their classrooms with their students and await further instructions.

Once the situation has been evaluated, it will be followed further instructions.

In all situations, children need be informed that an emergency situation exists and that it is imperative that they remain quiet and follow all directions.

DISMISSAL PROCEDURES

Please follow the procedures below when preparing to dismiss your

students at the end of the school day.

• All classes should remain in their rooms until an announcement is

made that dismissal may begin

• When the first announcement is made, you may send down any

student who is attending R.E.A.C.H. (must be on the schedule, or

have a parent note for that day) or being picked up (must have a

parent note) that day.

• After the announcement, kindergarten and fifth grade classes will

exit the building via the kindergarten wing. They will be followed by

the classes in the 300 wing, the classes in the 200 wing, and the

remaining classes in the 100 wing, IN THAT ORDER. This will

expedite the dismissal process and enable us to load the buses in a

timely manner.

• All students must exit the building with you. Students who are

staying after school will re-enter the building via the main entrance

and proceed to their designated location.

Please Note: For the first few weeks of school, there will be several

announcements each afternoon indicating when each section of the

building should dismiss. Once the process becomes routine for us and our

students, these announcements will be phased out. To help facilitate a

smooth dismissal, please make sure your class is ready and wait for your

section to be called before entering the hallway.

DISMISSAL OF STUDENTS TO PARENTS

Procedures for student dismissal to parents: Please note the guidelines for the different scenarios below:

• A parent has sent a note to the teacher stating that his/her child will be picked up by a parent or designee at the end of the school day

o The office will call for these children via an “all-call announcement” at 3:10PM.

o These children will go to the side entrance next to the gym.

• A parent comes to pick up a child at dismissal time, but has NOT sent a note

o Parents will sign out their children at the front desk and receive a pink dismissal slip.

o After the 3:10 announcement is made, the parent will take this slip to the office, and the office will call the children’s classrooms to send the child to the side entrance. The parent will be instructed to go back to the side entrance to wait for their child.

o If the class has already exited the building, parents will be instructed go to the bus platform, outside the primary exit, hand the pink slip to the teacher/bus driver, and the child will be released. You must not release any student to a parent or other adult without this pink slip! (see the next page for an example.)

• A parent comes to pick up a child prior to the dismissal period (with

or without a note) o Parents will sign out their children at the front desk outside the main

office. o The office will call for children to be sent to the main entrance

hallway. o DO NOT send students for early dismissal until you have received

a call from the office.

REMINDER: Unless you have received a note from a parent indicating that he/she will be picking up his/her child, the student MUST go home on their assigned bus.

DISMISSAL OF STUDENTS TO PARENTS (Continued) Procedures for 4:15 student dismissal to parents:

• A parent has sent a note to the teacher stating that his/her child will be picked up by a parent or designee at the end of the activity

o When the announcement is made to dismiss the students, please walk these children to the desk in the main entrance hallway and leave them with the monitor. This applies to all school clubs and activities as well as extra help sessions.

o If students are staying for a PTA Workshop, please walk these children to the PTA table in the side hallway near the gym. A PTA representative will be there to supervise dismissal.

• A parent comes to pick up a child prior to the end of the activity (with

or without a note) o Parents will sign out their children at the desk outside the main

office. o The office will call for children to be sent to the main entrance

hallway. o DO NOT send students for early dismissal until you have received

a call from the office.

REMINDER: Unless you have received a note from a parent indicating that he/she will be picking up his/her child, the student MUST go home on their assigned activity bus.

OTSEGO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RELEASE AUTHORIZATION FORM

Date: ______________ Student: ______________________ Class: ___________ The above mentioned student was signed out for dismissal; please release this student to the authorized adult upon receipt of this Release Authorization Form. Thank you! Authorizer’s Initials: __________

FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION, PLEASE CONSULT THE “STUDENT

DISMISSAL PROCEDURES” SECTION OF THE PARENT HANDBOOK.

EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

There are often times throughout the year (weather emergencies, events, etc.) when the Connect Ed system is utilized. Automated telephone calls are made to families/staff members periodically, originated from individual schools (via the principal) and/or from central office. Please be aware that this is the ONLY form of communication used in an emergency situation. Keeping this in mind, please keep the office informed of any phone number/address changes, so that the Connect Ed system may be kept up-to-date.

EMERGENCY EARLY DISMISSAL

There may be times during the school year when students are dismissed early, or when due to inclement weather the buses are running late. In these situations, buses often arrive sporadically. To avoid confusion and crowded hallways, please use the emergency dismissal procedures below: When an Emergency Dismissal is declared, or buses are arriving sporadically:

• Students will be taken to a central location for each bus (as indicated on the chart that follows). Special area teachers and paraprofessionals will be at these locations to temporarily supervise the children until a volunteer can take over. Announcements will be made indicating when each class/grade level should go to the assigned areas.

• The teachers will escort all other classes to the correct location.

Kindergarten will be dismissed first, followed by grades one, two, three, four, and five.

• It is imperative that teachers wait for their grade levels to

be announced before dismissing their classes. This will prevent overcrowded hallways and minimize confusion.

• Once all the children are in their assigned areas, the special area

teachers and paraprofessionals who are supervising the children will be replaced by staff members who have volunteered to stay late and help out in the event of a snow emergency.

It is our goal for all of our children and staff members to arrive home safely.

Emergency Dismissal

Bus Number Location Teacher

6 Cafeteria Angela Cohee

17 Cafeteria Darlene Kline

18 Cafeteria Josette Napolitano

22 Cafeteria Rich Jacobowski or Daniel Lanzarotta

42 Cafeteria Joan Treubig

43 Gym Eric Micalizzi

44 Gym Kathy Hanover

46 Gym Sharon McCune

64 Gym Carol Mychailyszyn

66 Gym Elissa Reichstein

82 Gym Lynn Shevit

Mini Buses Cafeteria Jessie Lauter

EVACUATON PLAN

In the event that we need to evacuate the building and grounds, please follow the guidelines below:

• An announcement will be made to evacuate.

• All teachers should immediately proceed to the nearest exit (the one used for fire drills) with their classes. Be sure to bring your class attendance roster, keys, and personal belongings (i.e. purse).

• Once your class has safely exited the building, take attendance and walk your students to the ball field. If you are missing a student, follow the same procedure as with a fire drill (notify the adult who is checking on your area).

• If a class is at specials, the special area teacher should exit the building and supervise the class until the classroom teacher joins them.

• Any student who is not with their class (i.e. reading, math, band, orchestra, etc…) should exit the building and remain with their supervising teacher until they can be safely brought to their class.

• If we need to leave the area, buses will arrive for the students and teachers to board. In all likelihood, we will be taken to another district school. Please wait for instructions before boarding the bus. Remind students that this is an emergency situation and they are to load the bus from the back to the front as quickly as possible. After all children are on the buses, the remaining staff should board.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR POSITIONS

There are numerous extra-curricular positions available in the building. Compensation for these positions is per the teachers’ contract. Teachers who are interested in running an extra-curricular program may apply for an existing position (or propose a new one) in the Spring. The following list is a sampling of some of these positions;

• Intramurals (4th and 5th grade)

• Student Council (3rd, 4th and 5th grade)

• Technology Club

Teachers who are running these programs after school must follow building procedures and inform the office of their meeting dates and the names of the students attending.

EXTRA HELP

Please note the following guidelines:

• Teachers are required to provide ninety (90) minutes of extra help to students each week.

• Extra help schedules must be posted in the classroom and listed in the plan book. A copy of this schedule should also be submitted to the office. This provides a quick reference for the office staff, hall monitor and administration.

• Teachers should maintain a listing of the dates and times at which extra help or enrichment is provided, as well as the names of those students who have availed themselves of this assistance. This log, which is included on the following page, should be submitted, in its entirety, every three weeks with the plan book.

AM EXTRA HELP: If you choose to offer extra help/enrichment before school, please follow the procedures below:

• Send home a letter (sample included on the pages that follow) inviting the student to the extra help/enrichment session.

• Submit an AM Extra Help Form (included in the pages that follow) to the hall monitor at least one day prior to your scheduled session. This will let the monitor know which children you are expecting and what to do with them (i.e. hold them by the office, send them to your classroom) when they arrive.

• Please be prompt so that students who come to school early for extra help/enrichment are not waiting for you.

PM EXTRA HELP: If you choose to offer extra help/enrichment after school, please follow the procedures below.

• Send home a letter (sample included on the pages that follow) inviting the student to the extra help/enrichment session

• Submit a PM Extra Help Form (included in the pages that follow) to the office at the end of the school day. This will inform us as to which students are still in the building.

• Follow the 4:15 dismissal procedures. A copy of these procedures is included in this book.

REMEMBER: The district does not offer transportation for students to attend programs before the school day. Therefore, it may be necessary to schedule some sessions after school. This will allow students whose parents can not provide transportation in the morning the opportunity to receive extra help/enrichment after school and go home on an activity bus.

Otsego Elementary School AM Extra Help Form

Teacher ___________________________ Room# ___________ On M T W Th F, ____________________, I am expecting the

(circle one) (date)

following student(s) for extra help before school. ___________________________ ___________________________

___________________________ ___________________________

___________________________ ___________________________

___________________________ ___________________________

___________________________ ___________________________

Please check one.

_____ Send the students to my classroom at _____________. (time)

_____ I will meet the students at the front desk at _____________. (time)

Otsego Elementary School PM Extra Help Form

Teacher: __________________ Room #:________ Date: __________

The following students will be staying after school for extra help/enrichment:

Dismissal Information Student Activity Bus Pick Up

Otsego Elementary School Extra Help Log

Teacher: ____________________

Student Date Time Enrichment/ Extra Help

Topic(s) Covered

Comments

Otsego Elementary School AM Extra Help/Enrichment Request Form

______________ date

Dear Parent or Guardian, I would like to work with your child on _____________________ at ______AM. (day & date) (time) This will give me the opportunity to give him/her some individual attention. I am hoping that he/she will be there. Please indicate below if your child will attend and return the bottom portion of this form. Thank you. Sincerely, ______________________________ (teacher)

Student Name __________________________ ______ Yes, my child will attend the extra help/enrichment session

at _______AM on __________________ with _______________________. (time) (date) (inviting teacher) ______ No, My child will not be able to attend the session. ______ Please reschedule the session as I am not able to bring my child in

before school _______________________________________ _______________ Parent’s or Guardian’s Signature date

Otsego Elementary School PM Extra Help/Enrichment Request Form

______________ date

Dear Parent or Guardian, I would like to work with your youngster after school on _____________________. This will give me the opportunity to give him/her

(day & date) some individual attention. I am hoping that he/she will be there. Please indicate below if your child will attend and return the bottom portion of this form. Thank you. Sincerely, ________________________ (teacher) Student Name __________________________ ______ Yes, my child will attend the extra help/enrichment session

after school on ______________ with ________________________ (date) (inviting teacher)

• _______ My child will take activity bus #_____ home at 4:15PM.

• _______My child will be picked up by _______________________ at 4:15PM. ______ No, My child will not be able to attend the session. ______ Please reschedule the session to another date. _______________________________________ _______________ Parent’s or Guardian’s Signature date

FACULTY MEETINGS

Faculty meetings will be held on a monthly basis. They will serve as a time where we can get together as a staff and focus on teaching and learning. The schedule for the 2009 – 2010 school year will be as follows:

• Thursday, September 3rd (Superintendent’s Conference Day) • Monday, September 21st • Monday, October 19th • Tuesday, November 3rd (Superintendent’s Conference Day) • Monday, November 16th • Monday, December 21st • Monday, January 25th • Monday, March 15th • Monday, April 19th • Monday, May 17th • Friday, June 11th (Staff Breakfast)

FIELD TRIPS

Field trips are an integral part of our instructional program. Please follow the guidelines below when planning trips:

• All field trips should have an educational basis.

• A “Field Trip Request Form” must be filled out and submitted to Terri at least one month before the trip. These forms can be obtained in the main office.

° Reminder – Multiple classes may be listed on one form, but NOT multiple dates.

• Accurately note the total number of students, staff members, and chaperones that will be going on the trip. The Transportation Department will use this information when determining how many buses to send.

• Be sure to call the Transportation Department (592-3855) a day before your trip to confirm. This will prevent any last minute scheduling conflicts.

• Make sure you record the date, times, and location of the trip on the large calendar in the main office. Include each teacher that will be participating.

• Be sure to complete the calendar add/delete form and submit to one of the secretaries when adding a trip/event onto the main calendar.

• If your students will not be purchasing any lunches, BE SURE to inform the kitchen several days prior to the trip. Let them know the date, grade level, and number of classes that will not be requiring lunch that day.

PERMISSION SLIPS: We are required to obtain written parental permission for each child going on a field trip. Otsego has a standard form (included on the following page) that you may use for all trips, including in-district ones (i.e. Planetarium). Please make sure the top AND bottom of the form is filled out for each student. Before leaving for the trip, leave one copy in the office and take the other one with you in case you need emergency contact information. CHAPERONES: Parents often assist with chaperoning trips. Please review the “Rules for Chaperones” in the parent handbook.

OTSEGO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Field Trip Permission Slip (Office Copy)

Date_____________________

__________________________________ has my permission to go on a field trip to

(child’s name) ___________________________________________ on ____________________

(destination) (date of trip) with___________________________. Cost of Trip (if applicable) $_____________

(teacher, class) Name and number of person Parent’s name: who can be reached in case of an emergency on the day of the trip. _______________________________ Name ______________________ Parent’s signature: Phone #:____________________ _______________________________

OTSEGO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Field Trip Permission Slip (Office Copy)

Date_____________________

__________________________________ has my permission to go on a field trip to

(child’s name) ___________________________________________ on ____________________

(destination) (date of trip) with___________________________. Cost of Trip (if applicable) $_____________

(teacher, class) Name and number of person Parent’s name: who can be reached in case of an emergency on the day of the trip. _______________________________ Name ______________________ Parent’s signature: Phone #:____________________ _______________________________

FIRE INSPECTIONS AND FIRE DRILLS

FIRE INSPECTIONS:

• We are not permitted to have any objects hanging from ceilings. This includes student work that may be displayed on “clotheslines.”

• Nothing can be left in the hallways. This includes desks, chairs, tables, or other objects.

• Electrical appliances are not allowed. This includes microwaves, coffee pots, and refrigerators. Instructional items (i.e. televisions and computers) are permitted.

• Extension cords are not allowed. However, surge protectors are permitted.

• There can not be any paper items on or around the classroom door.

FIRE DRILLS:

• Please check your classrooms for fire safety information. There should be a sign listing the closest exit in the event of a fire. If there is no sign, please notify the office immediately.

• During a fire drill, please exit the building with your class according to the instructions posted above your door.

• Be sure to review appropriate safety procedures and your behavioral expectations for your class during a fire drill.

• Take your attendance roster with you so that you can make sure all your students are present.

• Instruct the children to find the closest adult if they are anywhere besides their classroom during a fire drill. That adult will make sure they are safe until they can join their class.

FORGOTTEN ITEMS

Although we help the children by stressing responsibility, teaching organizational skills, and providing frequent reminders, situations often arise where students do not have what they need. Students are ultimately responsible for bringing the necessary items to and from school and there comes a point where they must bear the consequences of their carelessness. Please make sure the following guidelines are clear to students and parents:

• Students may not call home for items left behind (i.e. homework, projects, books, sneakers, musical instruments, permission slips, etc…). Numerous calls home are extremely disruptive to the office staff and classroom instruction.

o In any instance where you feel a child’s safety is at stake (i.e. if a

child forgot a note changing dismissal information and nobody will be home), please make sure contact is made with the child’s parents. If you are unable to make the call yourself, send that student to the office with a note indicating the problem. The office staff will contact the parent and relay the information to you.

• Children who have forgotten their lunch may check in the office on the way to the cafeteria to see if their parents have brought it to school. If their lunch is not there, the students will be able to borrow money to purchase lunch from the cafeteria.

• Students and/or parents will not be permitted into the classrooms before and after school to retrieve forgotten items. Custodians, secretaries, and other staff members will not allow entry into the classrooms for this purpose.

GRADE LEVEL MEETINGS

Grade level meetings will be held. These meetings will give you a chance

to collaborate with each other as well as with the principal and/or assistant

principal in an informal setting. Every effort will be made to schedule these

meetings at a mutually agreed upon time.

HOMEWORK

Homework is a necessary part of the learning experience. It enhances and extends classroom instruction. The purpose of homework is to:

• help develop good study skills.

• review and reinforce concepts.

• teach responsibility.

• foster the development of time management skills.

Please keep in mind the following guidelines when assigning homework:

• Homework should be assigned regularly to all students.

• Teachers should ensure that assignments are: o necessary and useful. o appropriate to students’ abilities and maturity levels. o well explained and clearly understood by students.

• Teachers should monitor homework assignments and provide feedback to students in order to enhance learning.

• Certain situations may arise (such as religious holidays) that may require you to not assign homework.

Please see the “Homework” session in the Parent Handbook for additional information concerning the responsibilities of students, parents, and the school with regard to homework assignments.

ASSIGNMENTS MISSED DUE TO ABSENCE: When a child is home ill, for three or more consecutive days, a parent may request that you provide him/her with the assignments he/she missed. Since gathering the work is a time-consuming process, it is our policy NOT to send home work if the child is only out for a day or two. Once the child is well enough to return to school, please make every effort to help him/her make up missed work and learn new concepts. Tests may be made up at the teacher’s discretion. It is considered an ILLEGAL ABSENCE for parents to take their children on vacation while school is in session. Therefore, DO NOT send work home for time missed while a child is on vacation. It is suggested that students who are away keep a journal of the trip in addition to reading each day.

INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT TEAM (IST)

The Instructional Support Team is a team of teachers and administrators who meet to share ideas and strategies to help students who are struggling academically or socially to maximize their achievement. It provides support to teachers, as they strive to meet the needs of each child.

A referral to the Instructional Support Team is NOT a referral to the Committee on Special Education (CSE). As per New York State Regulations, pre-referral strategies must be attempted and documented BEFORE referring a child to CSE. These strategies may include:

• Participation in Academic Intervention Services (AIS) o Supportive Reading o Supportive Math o Speech Improvement o Fine Motor Improvement o Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)

• Classroom modifications and accommodations (i.e. preferential seating, organizational and study skills strategies, modified assignments) that will address the child’s needs and demonstrate differentiated instruction.

Our Instructional Support Team is comprised of:

• Principal

• Assistant Principal

• School Psychologist

• Speech Therapist

• Special Education Teacher

• General Education Teacher (Primary and Secondary)

• Reading Specialist

• Math Specialist

• School Nurse

INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT TEAM (Continued)

The Instructional Support Team meets every Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:35AM until 9:10Am in the psychologist’s office. (Days of the week may change and additional days may be added as needed.)

PROCEDURES FOR REFERRING A STUDENT TO THE IST:

• Teachers may refer a child to IST for additional support in meeting the child’s needs. IST Referral Forms (2-sided form) are located in the main office. Completed forms should be returned to Cheryl.

• Written notification will be provided about the team meeting date and will include participant names. Every attempt will be made to provide at least one week’s notice.

• Please be on time for your meeting. Bring with you the most recent report card, samples of class work, and a summary of your communication with parents.

The referral form and its subject matter are to be treated confidentially.

Forms/IST Review Form

Half Hollow Hills Central School District

INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT TEAM REVIEW FORM Date of Request for Review

Student Information Name D. O. B. Class Teacher Prior Year Tchr: Number of days absent: Number of days tardy: Has the student always attended the Half Hollow Hills School District? □ Yes □ No If no, please list what district(s) and how long attended: _________________ ___________ _________________ ___________ _________________ ___________ Does the student or the family speak a second language? □ Yes □ No If yes, please complete the following questions: Is the family new to the country? □ Yes □ No How long ago did they come to the U.S.? __________________________________ What country did they come from? __________________________________ Do the adults in the home speak English to the child? □ Yes □ No Does the primary caretaker speak another language to the child? □ Yes □ No Is yes, what language? ___________________________ Medical Information: _______ visual acuity other pertinent medical data ___________________ _______ hearing acuity __________________________________________ Parental concerns: Please complete any relevant information following parent contacts. What has the parent observed about the student when he/she is doing homework or a project? _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ When and where does the student do his/her homework? _______________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ What does the student do in his/her spare time at home, independently or with friends? _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ What are the routines in the home? _________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________ What are the sleeping habits of the child? ___________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________

Forms/IST Review Form

Teacher Information

Areas of Concern Reading: ____ had difficulty with phonics ____ omits, adds, substitutes, or reverses letters, words or sounds when reading ____ weak literal comprehension ____ weak vocabulary Math: ____ difficulty memorizing facts ____ weak problem solving skills ____ unable to apply math skills Behavior/ Social: _____ difficulty interacting with peers _____ isolates self during play

Language:____ difficulty expressing ideas verbally ____ needs questions and directions repeated ____ difficulty understanding abstract concepts Writing: _____ difficulty with sentence structure _____ difficulty generating ideas _____ difficulty with writing mechanics Other: _____ decline in quality of work _____ inconsistent performance _____ difficulty concentrating _____ cannot work independently

Area of Concern for Student Learning: Complete description of concern: _____________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ Strengths and areas of interest: What does the student know? When do the student’s eyes “light up?” During what instructional material does the student participate most often? Do they participate during specific activities during the day? _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ What does the student do? What do the student’s work products look like? (e.g., tests, projects, classwork, group work. Are there things he/she can produce better than others?) _______________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ How does the student think? Does the student think: abstractly, concretely, sequentially, randomly, in details or large concepts? _________________________________________________________________________________________ How does the student approach something that he/she is unsure of? Does the student: mark up the paper, refuse to work, daydream, go to the bathroom/nurse’s office/water fountain/pencil sharpener? Does the student bother someone until the other student becomes upset? _____________________________________ Please list all previous differentiation, accommodations, strategies, and interventions: _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________

The answers to these questions will provide the basis for the brainstorming process at the IST meeting. Please attach samples of student work that illustrates your concerns.

INTERNET USAGE

In our efforts to prepare our students for life in a global twenty-first century

society, all our classrooms are equipped with computers that have Internet

access. In addition, we have several laptop carts in the building.

Teachers should be instructing students on how to effectively use the

Internet to access information and research topics. Although the Internet

is a useful and powerful tool, it can raise safety concerns if inappropriate

material is accessed. In an attempt to ensure the safety of our students,

please be sure to take the following precautions when using the Internet in

the classroom:

• All students, parents, and staff are required to sign an Internet Use

Agreement BEFORE they will be allowed to use the Internet.

• Any user who violates the rules of the contract may have his/her

Internet use privileges revoked. Violation of the agreement may also

result in disciplinary and/or legal actions.

• Students MUST be supervised AT ALL TIMES when using the

Internet.

LIAISON POSITIONS

There are several liaison positions which are available in each elementary building. Compensation for these positions is per the teachers’ contract. All positions may be shared among staff members, and compensation will be adjusted accordingly. Teachers will have an opportunity to apply for these positions each spring. The liaison positions and the main responsibilities of each are as follows:

• TECHNOLOGY / AV LIAISON o Hardware and software management o Repairs and maintenance o Teacher training o Coordination of computer lab o Management of AV inventory o Ordering and budgeting

• ASSESSMENT LIAISON

o Terra Nova Testing – Grade 2 (InView 3-5) o New York State Testing – Grades 3, 4, and 5 o Coordination of testing modifications and accommodations o Organization, distribution, and collection of test materials

• SCIENCE LIAISON

o Coordination of science curriculum and district-wide programs o Organization and distribution of science materials o Planetarium / Space Shuttle Program o Outdoor / Environmental Education o Ordering and budgeting

Otsego Elementary SchoolMaster Schedule

2009-2010 K 1 2 3 4 5

9:05-9:30

9:35-10:15 PREP (specials)

COMPUTERS DNT


COMPUTERS DNT

11:05-11:45 COMPUTERS DNT PREP (specials)

11:50-12:30 DNT


1:20-2:00 COMPUTERS DNT PREP (specials)

2:05-2:45 DNT PREP (specials)

COMPUTERS

2:50-3:30

Teacher Day 8:35-3:30 Lunch Period GradeStudent Day 9:05-3:25 11:15-12:00 4,5Special Area Teacher Prep 2:50-3:30 12:05-12:50 2,3Special Area Teacher Lunch 11:45-12:30 12:55-1:40 K,1

LUNCH 11:15 - 12:00

LUNCH11:15 - 12:00

LUNCH 12:05 - 12:50

LUNCH 12:05 - 12:50

LUNCH 12:55 - 1:40

LUNCH 12:55 - 1:40

Art MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

9:05-9:30

9:35-10:15 BAGGIO TERRAVECCHIA ARATO MAIORANO PALIC

10:20-11:00 POLESTINO MARTORELLA SCOGNAMILLO SABATINO

11:05-11:45 KUSCHEL GARRAFFO MCDERMOTT MARZOLLA/SMATH

11:45-12:30 L U N C H L U N C H L U N C H

12:35-1:15 SCHWARZ/HOLMES BAPTISTE MCCABE AIOSA NASON

1:20-2:00 BROWN SALVAGE MAUSER SCHUTTE KUECK/MCINTYRE

2:05-2:45 VARVARO PERINI PERROTT HAYDEN

2:50-3:30

Music MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

9:05-9:30

9:35-10:15 ARATO PALIC MAIORANO BAGGIO TERRAVECCHIA

10:20-11:00 SABATINO SCOGNAMILLO POLESTINO MARTORELLA

11:05-11:45 MARZOLLA/SMATH MCDERMOTT KUSCHEL GARRAFFO


12:35-1:15 MCCABE NASON AIOSA SCHWARZ/HOLMES BAPTISTE

1:20-2:00 MAUSER KUECK/MCINTYRE SCHUTTE BROWN SALVAGE

2:05-2:45 HAYDEN PERROTT VARVARO PERINI

2:50-3:30

Library MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

9:05-9:30

9:35-10:15 MAIORANO BAGGIO TERRAVECCHIA PALIC ARATO

10:20-11:00 SCOGNAMILLO POLESTINO MARTORELLA SABATINO

11:05-11:45 MCDERMOTT KUSCHEL GARRAFFO MARZOLLA/SMATH


12:35-1:15 AIOSA SCHWARZ/HOLMES BAPTISTE NASON MCCABE

1:20-2:00 SCHUTTE BROWN SALVAGE KUECK/MCINTYRE MAUSER

2:05-2:45 PERROTT VARVARO PERINI HAYDEN

2:50-3:30

PE Hanover MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

9:05-9:30

9:35-10:15 TERRAVECCHIA ARATO BAGGIO TERRAVECCHIA BAGGIO

10:20-11:00 MARTORELLA POLESTINO MARTORELLA POLESTINO

11:05-11:45 GARRAFFO KUSCHEL GARRAFFO KUSCHEL


12:35-1:15 BAPTISTE MCCABE SCHWARZ/HOLMES BAPTISTE SCHWARZ/HOLMES

1:20-2:00 SALVAGE MAUSER BROWN SALVAGE BROWN

2:05-2:45 PERINI VARVARO PERINI VARVARO

2:50-3:30

PE Micalizzi MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY

9:05-9:30

9:35-10:15 PALIC MAIORANO PALIC ARATO MAIORANO

10:20-11:00 SABATINO SCOGNAMILLO SABATINO SCOGNAMILLO

11:05-11:45 MARZOLLA/SMATH MCDERMOTT MARZOLLA/SMATH MCDERMOTT


12:35-1:15 NASON AIOSA NASON MCCABE AIOSA

1:20-2:00 KUECK/MCINTYRE SCHUTTE KUECK/MCINTYRE MAUSER SCHUTTE

2:05-2:45 HAYDEN PERROTT HAYDEN PERROTT

2:50-3:30

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday


Special Schedule - Grades K & 1

K-TP Room 102 Theresa Polestino

K-JB Room107 Jennifer Bultman

ART LIBRARY

MAINSTREAM

MAINSTREAM

PHYS. ED (H)

PHYS. ED (M)

1-DP Room 110 Donna Palic

1-LA Room 113 Laura Arato

1-CM Room 111 Christina Maiorano

1-DT Room 112 Danielle Terravecchia

PHYS. ED (H)

K-RM Room 104 Ricky Martorella

1-TK Room 105 Theresa Kissinger

1-NB Room 114 Nicole Baggio

PHYS. ED (H)

MUSIC

MUSIC

PHYS. ED (M)

MUSIC

LIBRARYPHYS. ED

(H)

ART LIBRARY

MUSICPHYS. ED

(M)

PHYS. ED (H)

ART

MUSICPHYS. ED

(H)ART

LIBRARY

MUSIC

LIBRARY ART

PHYS. ED (M)

ART

PHYS. ED (M)

LIBRARY

PHYS. ED (H)

ART LIBRARY

LIBRARY

K-LS Room 103 Laurie Scognamillo

LIBRARYPHYS. ED

(M)MUSIC ART

K-ES Room 106 Erica Sabatino

PHYS. ED (M)

MUSIC ART

PHYS. ED (H)

PHYS. ED (H)

MUSIC

PHYS. ED (M)

PHYS. ED (M)



MAINSTREAM

Special Schedule - Grades 2 & 3

2-JPI Room 119 Jacinta Perini

2-EV Room 117 Elizabeth Varvaro

2-AS Room 118 Alexis Schrieber

2-KH Room 116 Kim Hayden

LIBRARY

ART

PHYS. ED (H)

MUSIC

3-LG Room 205 Lisa Garraffo

3-KS Room 206 Jennifer Marzolla/Lauren Smath

2-JPT Room 120 Janet Perrott

LIBRARYPHYS. ED

(H)MUSIC

PHYS. ED (M)

MUSICPHYS. ED

(M)

PHYS. ED (H)

MUSIC

ART

ART

PHYS. ED (H)

ART LIBRARY

3-MK Room 204 Michael Kuschel

PHYS. ED (M)

3- EM Room 202 Elizabeth McDermott

LIBRARYPHYS. ED

(M)

PHYS. ED (M)

LIBRARY

LIBRARY

LIBRARY

PHYS. ED (M)

MUSICPHYS. ED

(M)

ARTPHYS. ED

(H)

PHYS. ED (M)

MUSIC PHYS. ED

(H)

LIBRARY ART

PHYS. ED (H)

MUSICPHYS. ED

(H)ART

ARTMUSIC



LIBRARY

Special Schedule - Grades 4 & 5

MUSICPHYS. ED

(M)

MAINSTREAM

PHYS. ED (M)

ART

PHYS. ED (H)

MUSIC

ART

PHYS. ED (H)

MUSIC

PHYS. ED (M)

LIBRARY

4-SB Room 303 Sarah Baptiste

4-S/H Room 302 Jocelyn

Schwarz/Nancy Holmes ART MUSIC

PHYS. ED (H)

4-CM Room 305 Carrie McCabe

4-DG Room 308 Deborah Galati

LIBRARY

LIBRARYPHYS. ED

(H)

4-NN Room 304 Noreen Nason

MUSIC

PHYS. ED (M)

MUSICPHYS. ED

(M)ART

LIBRARY

PHYS. ED (M)

MUSICPHYS. ED

(M)

MUSICPHYS. ED

(H)ART

PHYS. ED (M)

LIBRARYPHYS. ED

(M)MUSIC

LIBRARY

5-K/M Room 209 Tracey Kueck/Melissa McIntyre

5-LS Room 210 Leigh Salvage

5-AM Room 211 Allison Mauser

MUSICPHYS. ED

(H)ART

PHYS. ED (H)

ART

LIBRARY

PHYS. ED (M)

4-DA Room 307 Donna Aiosa

5-PB Room 207 Peter Brown

LIBRARYPHYS. ED

(H)

5-WS Room 208 Wendy Schutte

ART

PHYS. ED (H)

LIBRARYART

PHYS. ED (H)

ART

MEET THE TEACHER NIGHT

In many cases, Meet the Teacher Night is parents’ first opportunity to get to know you and visit their child’s classroom. Please review the following areas prior to their visit.

• POLICIES AND PROCEDURES: o Homework

� extent to which parents should become involved in their child’s assignments

� whether or not homework assignments/agenda books/contracts need to be signed by parents

� specifics regarding the collection/grading of homework assignments

� consequences for late, missing, or incomplete assignments

o Discipline � expectations and standards for behavior � classroom and school rules and consequences for

disobeying them � Code of Conduct � ways in which parents will be informed of their child’s

conduct o Testing and Grading

� how parents will know about tests, projects, and other activities/assignments

� how test results will be shared with parents � whether or not tests need to be signed/returned � information regarding report cards and parent

conferences

MEET THE TEACHER NIGHT (CONTINUED)

o Agenda Book

� ways in which it aids with organizational skills / student accountability

� how it will be used � whether or not it should be signed

o Extra Help � when it is offered � support AND enrichment � students are invited to attend a session � parents should contact teacher if they have concerns or

feel their child needs additional attention o Daily Routines and Procedures

� attendance policies � weekly schedule � notes to and from home � forgotten items (students will not be able to call home or

be let back into the classroom before or after school hours)

• INTEGRITY OF THE INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM – Indicate the importance of children being in school, on time and for the entire day. Interruptions (i.e. picking children up early for social activities) should be avoided.

• CURRICULUM – Please make sure you have read the curriculum brochure that you will be giving to parents and are familiar with its contents. This will enable you to answer questions posed by parents. Make sure parents realize that textbooks and workbooks are NOT the curriculum, so that they do not expect that:

o You do everything in the book from cover to cover. o The book is an all-inclusive of the curriculum.

Remind them that our curriculum is based on the New York State Standards for Education.

• SAFETY AND SECURITY – Emphasize that safety and security are our main priority and that parental cooperation is therefore imperative. Make sure that parents understand the need to sign in at the office and wear visitor passes when they are in the building. In addition, review dismissal procedures and protocol for picking up their child. Make sure they realize the importance of clearly communicating their dismissal (i.e. pick up, bus, after school activity) instructions to you.

MEET THE TEACHER NIGHT (CONTINUED)

• COMMUNICATION – Establish a “method” of getting notices and materials home each day and a specific way to communicate with parents. Indicate all ways you will be sharing information with them (i.e. newsletters, e-board). Let parents know how best to contact you. Inform them of the upcoming parent-teacher conference times.

• CHARACTERIZING THE CLASS – Refrain from characterizing your class in any way (“slower/brighter than last year’s class,” “full of behavior problems”). Do not imply that discipline problems, materials, or other difficulties will affect instruction or the overall rate of progress.

• HANDOUTS – Make absolutely sure that any handouts you distribute are correct and up to date. Some of the information you have distributed in past years may no longer be accurate, especially in light of curriculum and assessment changes. Be sure to read everything you distribute completely and be sure it says exactly what you want it to say.

Reminder: All materials MUST be approved by an administrator prior to distribution.

• CLASSROOM DISPLAYS – It is always a good idea to have student work displayed or hanging up throughout the room. It is also a good idea to have student-produced materials available for parents to look through at each child’s desk. Make sure, however, that these assignments are satisfactory and presentable. Remember, ALL students must be represented when hanging work in the classroom.

NOTES, LETTERS, FLYERS TO PARENTS

Letters are sent to parents regarding a wide variety of topics including

upcoming events, activities, policies, and procedures. Please make sure

that you read a copy of any note that is sent to parents. It is important that

you are aware of what parents are being told so that you may answer

questions and adhere to established guidelines.

REMINDER – ALL written communication to parents (including PTA flyers,

notes/newsletters from classroom teachers, and building/office memos)

MUST be approved by the Principal or Assistant Principal BEFORE being

sent home with the children.

PARENTAL RELEASE OF INFORMATION AND PICTURES

It is school policy to never release students’ names, addresses, and

telephone numbers without obtaining parental permission. At the start of

each school year, representatives from the PTA will contact each family

and obtain permission to put each child’s name on a school social list.

This list will then be distributed to each grade level to assist parents with

the organization of “play dates” and parties. This is the ONLY list that

should be distributed.

There may be occasions where your class of individual students are

involved in an activity or event where photographs are taken. These

photographs should not be distributed, published, or placed on the website

without receiving written parental permission. Once a parent returns a

signed permission slip, it should be kept on file for future reference.


_____________ date

Dear Parents and/or Guardians, There may be times throughout the year when your child is involved in some exciting educational projects involving the use of technology. We frequently celebrate these successes by sharing the activities on the District Website. We would like your permission for your child’s photograph to be used. Please be assured that your child WILL NOT be identified by name on the Website. If you are willing to give your consent, please complete and return the bottom portion of this form as soon as possible. Thank you, __________________

Teacher’s Signature


I give my consent and permission for the Half Hollow Hills School District to take photographs/videos for use on the district website. ______________________________ ______________________________

Student’s Name Teacher

______________________________ ______________________________

Parent/Guardian Signature Date

PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES

Parent-teacher conferences for all children are held at the end of the first marking period. In addition, occasions may arise during the school year that warrant additional conferences. The guidelines below may be helpful during these times.

CONFERENCE PREPARATION:

• Make a checklist of the important points that you want to emphasize during the conference. This will keep the conference moving forward in a timely manner and ensure that you cover all topics.

• Prepare a folder of the student’s work to share with the parents. This folder should include samples of work in all subject areas from different points in the school year. This enables parents to see their child’s current ability level as well as the progress he/she has made.

CONFERENCE TECHNIQUES:

• Arrange a meeting place that is conducive to conversation, such as several chairs grouped together. Avoid putting a desk or a table, which may seem like a barricade, in between you and a parent.

• Start the conference by thanking the parents for meeting with you and expressing your appreciation of their efforts.

• Establish a rapport with the parent. Begin and end the conference with a positive comment about the child.

• Be truthful, but sensitive, with your remarks. Remember that you are talking to a parent about their most precious possession, their child.

• Do your best to avoid any arguments. Remember that cooperation between home and school will lead to the best possible learning situation for each child.

• Be professional when talking about former teachers or other staff members. Your comments should reflect only positive things about others and the school in general.

• Comments about other students or siblings should not be entertained. Avoid comparisons between the child and others.

• Try not to overwhelm parents. Do not send them away with countless suggestions. Concentrate on one or two important things that you can work on together.

• Summarize the points covered.

• Make it clear that parent input and participation are valued and welcome. Let them know that you are available to confer with them at any time.

2009-2010 Payroll Schedule

• September 4, 2009 (Teachers)

• September 18, 2009

• October 2, 2009

• October 16, 2009

• October 30 (No deductions)

• November 13, 2009

• November 27, 2009 (Paid on Nov. 25th)

• December 11, 2009

• December 25, 2009 (Paid on Dec. 23rd)

• January 8, 2010

• January 22, 2010

• February 5, 2010

• February 19, 2010 (Paid on Feb. 12th)

• March 5, 2010 (No deductions)

• March 19, 2010

• April 2, 2010 (Paid on March 26th)

• April 16, 2010

• April 30, 2010

• May 14, 2010

• May 28, 2010 (No deductions)

• June 11, 2010

• June 25, 2010

• June 30, 2010 (No deductions, clean-up pay/not regular payroll)

PLAN BOOKS/LESSON PLANNING

Well developed lesson plans enable teachers to meet instructional goals and objectives. Carefully planned instruction should include a brief explanation of the lesson objectives (what students should know, understand, and be able to do as a result of the instruction), learning plan (the delivery of instruction, including curriculum material, page numbers, and assignments), and assessment (method for evaluating whether or not students learned what was intended). Teachers are required to keep an accurate, up-to-date plan book. The purpose of this book is:

• To serve as a useful guide to organize instruction • To provide administrators with ongoing information about classroom

structure and instructional activities • To enable substitute teachers to understand classroom

schedules/procedures and proceed with lessons You will be required to submit plan books once monthly, by 9:00 AM, according to a schedule provided at the beginning of each year. They should reflect at least one week of pre-planning (Friday + the entire next week). Teachers may utilize any format that is meaningful to them and is understandable to others. SUBSTITUE PLANS: Teachers need to maintain a substitute folder that provides meaningful instructional material. Materials for this substitute folder will be distributed at the beginning of each year. The folders must be completed in a timely manner, and handed in to the office, where they will be filed. It should also include a class list, classroom seating chart, classroom rules and procedures, schedules, dismissal information (bus/activities) and special duty responsibilities. Most importantly, students’ medical alerts (including allergies) and special needs should be clearly indicated.


2009 - 2010 Plan Book Schedule

DATE GRADESThursday, October 01, 2009 K through 2 and Special AreaThursday, October 15, 2009 3 through 5Thursday, October 29, 2009 K through 2 and Special AreaThursday, November 12, 2009 3 through 5Wednesday, November 25, 2009 K through 2 and Special AreaThursday, December 10, 2009 3 through 5Wednesday, December 23, 2009 K through 2 and Special AreaThursday, January 14, 2010 3 through 5Thursday, January 28, 2010 K through 2 and Special AreaThursday, February 11, 2010 3 through 5Thursday, March 04, 2010 K through 2 and Special AreaThursday, March 18, 2010 3 through 5Thursday, April 08, 2010 K through 2 and Special AreaThursday, April 22, 2010 3 through 5Thursday, May 06, 2010 K through 2 and Special AreaThursday, May 20, 2010 3 through 5

PTA

The Otsego Parent Teacher Association meets monthly, alternating

between daytime and evening sessions. Faculty representatives act as

liaisons between the PTA and teachers. All staff members are

encouraged to join the PTA and are invited to attend the meetings.

Parents truly enjoy the opportunity to meet and chat on an informal basis

about school-related programs, not necessarily about individual children.

There are several committees involving the PTA and those serving on

them are dedicated to our school and our children. You will enjoy their

efforts throughout the year.

RELIGIOUS OBSERVATION

Below is a list of Days of Religious Observance for the 2009/2010 school year. It is possible that on any of these days we might have abnormally low attendance; however, any student absent due to the holiday should be marked excused. Please consider these dates when scheduling tests, homework, etc. September 19th & 20th 2009 Rosh Hashanah September 28th 2009 Yom Kippur October 3rd & 4th 2009 First 2 days of Sukkot October 10th 2009 Shemini Atzeret October 11th 2009 Simchat Torah December 8th 2009 Feast of the Immaculate Conception December 12th – 19th 2009 Chanukah December 25th 2009 Christmas January 6th 2010 Epiphany February 17th 2010 Ash Wednesday February 28th 2010 Purim March 30th & 31st 2010 First Two Days of Passover April 1st 2010 Holy Thursday April 2nd 2010 Good Friday April 2nd 2010 Greek/Eastern Orthodox Good Friday April 4th 2010 Easter April 4th 2010 Greek/Eastern Orthodox Easter April 5th – 6th 2010 Last 2 days of Passover May 13th 2010 Ascension Day May 29th – 30th 2010 Shavuot

REPORT CARD GUIDELINES

A report card is a legal permanent record and should engender respect. It should have a professional look about it. Please keep the following guidelines in mind when writing report cards:

• SUBSTANTIATE GRADES – Be sure you can justify grades with objective data, both from your grade book and from the students’ work folders. Although New York State sets Learning Standards, schools determine the indicators of specific performance levels and effort grades. Please be consistent to maintain the integrity of grades.

• STAY WITHIN REPORT CARD GUIDELINES – Use ONLY the grade indicators on the report card themselves. DO NOT qualify them in any way, such as adding a “+” or a “-“ to a grade.

• BE CONSISTENT ACROSS THE GRADE LEVEL – Do your best as a group to identify specific indicators, which everyone agrees are representative of a student in each performance level. The basic guidelines remain. However, if the majority of the indicators describe the student, the student is performing at that level.

• TAKE GREAT CARE WITH YOUR COMMENTS –

o Please base your comments solely on direct assessment and observable data. Try to address areas that the rest of the report card does not. For example, if Emily is performing at level 3 in math with a G grade for effort, it is essentially redundant to say, “Emily is doing well in math.” However, you may wish to comment on Emily’s initiative, organizational skills, contributions to class discussions, politeness, etc… Please note that it is observable behavior and facts that would lead you to make remarks about these qualities, rather than a mere opinion.

o Report cards are written to parents, not students. Therefore, comments like, “Good work, Jared,” and Keep it up, Jill,” do not really belong.

REPORT CARD GUIDELINES (continued)

o Carefully chosen comments will communicate to parents that

you know their child as an individual. Comments, not grades, are the way to encourage a child who is trying hard, but still not achieving to grade level standards. The effort grade can be used for the same purpose. For example, a performance level of “1” and an effort grade of “E” are not necessarily incongruous.

o The comment section is also a good place to offer concrete suggestions as to how parents can help their children at home. For example, the phrase “Use flash cards to review math facts with Eric” is more helpful than “Eric needs to learn his math facts.”

o Try to avoid making “predictions” in the comments sections. No one can really anticipate what will happen in the future. Avoid statements like, “I’m sure Ethan’s reading performance will improve during the next quarter”, or “With more effort on Sally’s part, her science grade should improve,” are dangerous to make. While it is certainly acceptable to point out the need for greater effort, it is speculative to foresee any specific results.

o It is also important that your comments are congruent with the grades you’ve given. Don’t give parents an opportunity to criticize you because there are inconsistencies between your grades and your comments. For example, if the comment reads, “Nicole excels in mathematics concepts and applications,” she should not have a grade of “2.”

o Most importantly, PROOFREAD YOUR COMMENTS. You will be judged by what, and how you write.

• BE HONEST – Honesty is ultimately the best policy. If difficulties exist and the report card does not indicate any sort of a problem, it makes it hard for the parent to understand that his/her child may need support services. In addition, if the previous year’s teacher did not indicate a problem and the current one does, it may look like the problem is with the teacher, not the child. Therefore, it is always best to tell it like it is and back up what you say with hard data.

REMEMBER: Poor effort or behavioral issues should not be reflected in academic grades. These issues can be reported through effort grades or comments.

SAFETY ISSUES

• Wear your ID badge at all times. If you don’t have one or need a new one, contact the MIS Department at x3085.

• Please notify the office immediately if you see someone in the building

you do not recognize. All staff members (including custodial and maintenance workers) should have an ID badge, and all visitors should have a visitor’s badge.

• If you notice anything missing from your classroom (either personal or

building items), please notify Ruben AND an Administrator immediately. • You MUST lock your classroom door whenever it is vacant. This

includes your lunch, prep, or any other time during the day that your class leaves the room (i.e. book fair, buddy activity, etc…). Please lock your door at the end of the day as well.

• NEVER leave your keys in the classroom door lock. At the end of the

day, lock your door and windows, close the shades, and please be sure your classroom keys are left at the back of your mailbox in the main office. (Also, do not leave them in your classroom mailbox on the door.)

• Please log out and turn off all classroom computers at the end of the

day. • After late dismissal, the office file cabinets and doors will be locked.

There will be limited access to the main office after that time. If you are going to be in the building working late, please let us know.

• DO NOT send a student or students back to a room to retrieve forgotten

items. Students should NEVER be inside a vacant classroom. Since the doors will be locked when you leave, students won’t be able to get inside.

• Know the dismissal procedures and make sure that the children and parents know them as well.

• Be extra vigilant whenever you go outdoors with the children. Please

be sure to be back inside the building by 2:45 PM. • Call down to the office whenever you leave the classroom for anything

that does not appear on the master schedule or weekly calendar (i.e. buddy class, outdoor activity), so that we always know where you are.

• Never compromise building security. All doors, except the main door in

the front lobby, MUST be closed and locked at all times. When entering/exiting the building, please be sure the doors close securely behind you. DO NOT use anything to prop open a door. If you see a door that is open, please close it and notify the office.

• When using electrical equipment, you must use caution and follow safe

procedures;

o All activities which involve cooking must be approved by the building principal

o Cooking activities should be related to curriculum and instruction

o Whenever possible, teachers should be encouraged to bring in precooked, warm food, especially if the food activity is not related to actual curriculum work in the classroom

o Teachers should not have or use the following appliances in their classroom;

Refrigerators Ovens Toaster ovens Deep fryers Open coil hot plates

o Actual cooking (baking, frying) of food should take place in

the faculty room or in the cafeteria. Appropriate locations should be discussed with the principal

o Portable heater may not be brought in and used anywhere in the school building

o Glue guns can be used by teachers only. Children may not use them in or out of class

o Listening centers, pencil sharpeners, CD players, etc., may be used

• Make sure a first aid kit and a cell phone accompany you on all field

trips. Please be sure to leave a phone number with the office, in case the need to contact you arises.

OTSEGO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL EMERGENCY SHELTERING PLAN

Shelter Plan:

There will be a shelter drill signal that will alert all occupants that we must take shelter inside Otsego. The attached plan illustrates the procedures and the designated areas that each class will travel to in the event of an emergency.

Please note: • Once the alarm signals that a drill has begun, classroom teachers

should exit with their classes. • Specials (Art, Music, Physical Education, and Library) should exit

immediately and proceed to designated locations. Classroom teachers report directly to special teacher locations.

Crisis Response Team:

Principal Sharon Stepankewich Assistant Principal Stacey Bernstein Head Custodian Ruben Torres Psychologist Tony Farinacci Nurse Ingrid Steffens Secretaries Terri Flynn / Cynthia Toomey

The following procedures will be utilized:

• Crisis Response Team Members will obtain walkie-talkies to communicate throughout the drill.

• The Head Custodian and his staff will shut down all ventilation systems and check to see that all windows and doors are closed, including the main entrance door. They will then take shelter at the nearest area.

• The Principal and Assistant Principal will pick up Emergency Response Kits.

• Members will check assigned areas and indicate when their area is secure. The alarm will then be silenced and the “return to class” signal will sound.

Cheryl Greguski will supervise the 200 wing and take shelter with Room 205.

Joan Truebig will supervise the 300 Wing and take shelter with Room 305.

Sharon McCune will Supervise the 100 Wing and take Shelter with Room 109.

EMERGENCY SHELTERING PLAN (CONTINUED) Sharon Stepankewich / Stacey Bernstein will supervise

all areas to ensure a safe and orderly drill and then take shelter at the nearest location.

Procedures for Sheltering Students and Staff:

• Teachers should supervise students and bring Sheltering Packet, attendance rosters, and keys/personal belongings (i.e. purse).

• All classroom doors and windows should be closed before leaving the rooms.

• Students should quickly and quietly exit the area they are in and report SINGLE FILE to the designated area.

• Students should stand shoulder to shoulder against the wall and then sit down. If the line of students extends beyond your designated area, please line those students up directly behind your class, sitting and facing the student in front of them.

Paraprofessional and Monitor Assignments:

• Special Education Paraprofessionals will remain with their class. • Kindergarten Paraprofessionals and other Paras/Monitors that are

in a classroom at the time of the shelter alarm should remain with that class.

• In the event that the shelter alarm should sound during a lunch period, all Lunchroom Monitors will remain with their class and bring them directly to their designated areas. Classroom teachers will join their classes at designated areas.

• Instructional /Clerical Paraprofessionals will proceed to the special area teachers indicated below to assist with returning students back to their classroom teacher. Personnel should then take shelter with the class of the last child brought back to the classroom teacher.

Debbie Rossi Reading / Resource / Math Josette Napolitano Nurse Martha Finnochiaro ESL/Speech

• Ronnie D’Amato will escort all visitors at the front desk/office to shelter opposite the gym.

EMERGENCY SHELTERING PLAN (CONTINUED) Special Area Teachers:

The following special area teachers will bring the students in their care directly back to their classroom teachers at their designated shelter areas. These teachers should then shelter with that class. Speech Reading Adaptive PE AHAP ESL OT/PT Math Lab Band/Orchestra Physical Education Music Library Resource Room Art Additional Personnel:

• Cafeteria Staff should take shelter against the wall that borders the cafeteria and kitchen (where the students line up to buy lunch).

• Permanent Substitutes should take shelter with the special area or classroom they are responsible for that day. Review this sheltering plan carefully

This Sheltering/Evacuation Plan should be stored near the hallway

entrance to your room. The plan and your attendance roster should be in your hands as you exit your classrooms.

OTSEGO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SHELTERING PLAN: DESIGNATED AREAS TO TAKE SHELTER

(See map on Emergency Clipboard)

Designated Area Classroom # Outside Room 106 101 Outside Room 105 102 Outside Room 106 103 Outside Room 105 104 Outside Room 107 105 Outside Room 108 106

Outside Storage Room 107 Outside Room 108 108

Next to Psychologist’s Office 109 Outside Room 109 110

Outside Students’ Bathrooms 111 Outside Room 110 112 Outside Room 111 113

Across from Psychologist’s Office 114 Outside Room 118 116 Outside Room 117 117 Outside Room 118 118 Outside Room 117 119 Outside Room 118 120 Outside Room 201 202 Outside Art Room 204 Outside Room 202 205

Across Band/Orchestra Room 206 Outside Room 204 207 Outside Room 206 208 Outside Room 205 209 Outside Room 208 210 Outside Room 207 211 Outside Room 301 302

By Library Circulation Desk 303 Library Wall next to Exit Hallway 304

Outside Room 305 305 Outside Room 307 307 Outside Room 308 308 Outside Room 309 309

STUDENT DISCIPLINE

Students need to be aware of the classroom and school rules. Our motto is, “Everybody Deserves Respect,” and this idea should permeate throughout to building. Good discipline is a result of a working relationship built upon respect. The respect extends to fellow classmates, other adults, the building, equipment, and material. Please keep the following guidelines in mind when disciplining students: • Avoid acting in haste or in an emotional state. Many times, these actions

are difficult to defend at a later date. • Students are expected to take part in all special classes. Disciplinary

action should not involve keeping a student out of a class. For example, please do not tell a student he/she can’t go to Art because he/she did not complete the math work.

• Please contact an administrator if you feel a child must be excluded from a class activity (i.e. celebration, buddy activity, trip) due to his/her behavior.

• DO NOT place a student in the hallway as a disciplinary action. This child is unsupervised and most likely will not make any educational progress in this setting. If you feel a child must be removed from your classroom, contact an administrator.

Remember, discipline problems may be minimized by: • Letting the children know ahead of time what is expected of them • Being consistent and fair in dealing with the students • Setting schedules for work and adhering to them • Being well organized so that all materials and equipment are ready • Being well-planned and anticipating the unexpected

SUNSHINE COMMITTEE

The Otsego Sunshine Committee is made up of staff members. Responsibilities are assigned on a rotating basis to grade level and special area teachers. Membership information will be available in September. The Sunshine Committee sponsors holiday breakfasts and special occasions such as bridal showers, baby showers, and other celebrations. The Committee also acknowledges difficult times (i.e. illness or death) for staff members and/or their families.

SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN

• NEVER leave a class unsupervised.

• NEVER leave a student unsupervised in any area of the building.

• DO NOT allow a student to go back to the classroom to retrieve

forgotten items.

• ALWAYS lock your classroom doors when the class is out of the

room for activities such as specials and lunch, and especially before

leaving for the day. At no time should a classroom door be open

and unlocked when the classroom is vacant.

• Be on time when dropping off and picking up your class for lunch

and specials. It is unfair and unsafe for a colleague to have to

supervise two classes while waiting for you.

• If a situation arises and you need to leave the classroom for any

length of time, please call the office. They will arrange for someone

to come to your class to relieve you.

TEACHER ABSENCES

YOU MUST NOTIFY THE SUB CALLER for the district anytime you are going to be absent. This includes personal and family illnesses, personal days, testing days, workshops, etc… The number to call is 631-667-9578. You may call this number any time, 24 hours a day. Please give as much notice as possible. It is okay to call days, or even weeks in advance. PERSONAL DAYS: If you need to be absent for a personal reason, please obtain a “Request to be Absent” form from the office. This form must be filled out and returned to the principal for approval at least 5 days prior to your intended absence.

• REMINDER: Even if you have had a personal day approved, you MUST still call the Sub Caller to report your absence.

SUBSTITUTE FOLDER/PLANS: Please make sure you have filled out the substitute folder with all pertinent information. This folder, along with your plans will ensure that your students are safe and that instruction can continue in your absence. Since unforeseen circumstances often arise (i.e. sudden illness, personal emergency, etc…), it is important for you to leave “emergency plans” in the folder that can be accessed in the event of an unscheduled absence.

TEACHER EVALUATION PROCESS

NON-TENURED TEACHERS: All components of the evaluation process will become part of the teacher portfolio supporting a tenure recommendation.

Fall: 1. Observation 1 (with pre and post conference) 2. Observation 2 (with pre and post conference) 3. Domain 4 Conference (Professional Responsibilities) 4. Formative Conference and Evaluation

Spring: 1. Observation 3 (with pre and post conference) 2. Observation 4 (with pre and post conference) 3. Domain 4 Conference (Professional Responsibilities) 4. Teacher reflection on all of the domains:

a. Domain 1 – Planning and Preparation b. Domain 2 – The Classroom Environment c. Domain 3 – Instruction d. Domain 4 – Professional Responsibilities

5. Summative Conference and Evaluation

TENURED TEACHERS:

Year 1: Comprehensive Evaluation: 1. Observation of practice (with pre and post conference) 2. Domain 4 Conference (Professional Responsibilities) 3. Teacher reflection on all of the domains:

a. Domain 1 – Planning and Preparation b. Domain 2 – The Classroom Environment c. Domain 3 – Instruction d. Domain 4 – Professional Responsibilities

4. Summative Conference, yielding a goal setting for the following year 5. Summative evaluation

Year 2: Self-Directed Professional Inquiry 1. Domain 4 Conference (Professional Responsibilities) 2. Reflection on Personal Goal

TELEPHONES

There are several phones in the building which are available for staff use.

• Faculty Room (2 phones) • Library Phone Room • Primary Wing Phone Room • Gym Office

Please refrain from using the phones in the main office. These phones are

designated for office personnel only.

CELLULAR PHONES: At the beginning of the school year, please give/update your cell phone #

to Cheryl. A list of staff cell phone numbers is kept in the office in case of

emergency. Please take your cell phone, powered on, on all field trips.

At no time should you be using your cell phone during class times.

Emergency calls should be directed to the main office. Alert the

secretaries that you are waiting for an important call and they will contact

you when the call comes in. Please keep them informed of your

whereabouts, should you leave the classroom.

VIDEOS

The use of videos during classroom time must be consistent with

educational goals and values. Videos shown during the school day should

substantially support or enrich the curriculum.

Videos MUST be approved by building administration prior to being shown.

Teachers can fill out the Video Request Form (included on the following

page), attach it to the actual videotape, and submit it to the office at least 2

days before the scheduled viewing.

VIDEO REQUEST FORM

Teacher: ___________________________ Today’s Date: ________________

Name of video: _____________________________________________________

Scheduled date and time for viewing the video: ___________________________

Curriculum area(s) the video supports: __________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Reason(s) why the video will enhance instruction: __________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

VIDEO REQUEST FORM

Teacher: ___________________________ Today’s Date: ________________

Name of video: _____________________________________________________

Scheduled date and time for viewing the video: ___________________________

Curriculum area(s) the video supports: __________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Reason(s) why the video will enhance instruction: __________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Approval: ______ Yes ______ No

_____________________ _____________ Administrator’s Signature Date

Approval: ______ Yes ______ No _____________________ _____________ Administrator’s Signature Date

September 6, 2005

Dear Parent/Guardian: As you may be aware, environmental and food allergies are on the rise. We have students in our school with severe peanut and nut allergies, and exposure to these products can cause a life threatening reaction, anaphylaxis. Safety for all children is important to us at all times. Therefore, I would like to reinforce on of our health concerns. Some of our youngsters have a severe allergy to peanuts and/or tree nuts (such as walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, etc.). This is a very important issue for us, since this can be life threatening for these children. Therefore, we are asking for your cooperation regarding this matter. We are encouraging our parents to send peanut-free and nut-free lunches, snacks, and party foods for all the students in our school. Thank you for your cooperation in our combined efforts at keeping our students healthy and safe at school. Anyone wishing further information about peanut/nut allergies may contact the school nurse at 592-3501. There is also an informational packet available at the school. Sincerely,

September 2005 Dear Parent/Guardian: As you may be aware, environmental and food allergies affecting children are on the rise. There is a student in your child’s classroom that has a severe, life threatening allergy to nuts, in particular peanuts. In addition, this child cannot tolerate tree nuts (such as walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, etc). To ensure a safe classroom environment, we will implement a few very important considerations for this child. If this child were to accidentally eat, touch, or inhale the “peanut/nut dust” from peanuts/nuts, he/she could have a life-threatening reaction, anaphylaxis. Because of this risk, we are requesting peanut and nut-free snacks for the entire class, including those provided for parties and celebrations. Please choose other healthy snacks, such as fruit, pretzels, crackers, and juices that are peanut/nut-free and do not contain peanut/nut byproducts. We have enclosed a list of healthy snacks, from our district office, which may help you in selecting your child’s snack each day. Please check the food ingredients of the snacks you may pack for school. It is difficult at the best of times to get children to eat healthy snacks; however, I hope you will appreciate the seriousness of this condition and that you will assist us in our efforts to create a safe an environment as possible. With your cooperation, we can minimize the risk of an allergic reaction. Anyone wishing further information about peanut/nut allergies may contact the school nurse. There is also an informational packet available at the school.

Sincerely,

CONSENT FOR ADMINSTRATION OF MEDICINE


Otsego Hill Elementary

Parent and Prescriber’s Authorization for Administration of Medication in School

A

To be completed by the Parent or Guardian: I request that my child ___________________, receive the medication as prescribed below by our physician. The medication is to be furnished by me in a properly labeled original container from the pharmacy, and a second labeled container is to be provided (if necessary) for field trips. I understand that the school nurse will administer the medication at school as directed.

___________________________________

Parent/Guardian Signature

____________

Date

_____________________________________________________________________________Address Street City Zip

_____________________________________________________________________________

Telephone Home Work Cell B

To be completed by the Physician: I request that my patient, as listed above, receive the following medication at school:

Diagnosis:

Medication:

Prescribed Dosage/Frequency/Time & Route Administration: Possible Side Effect/Adverse Reactions (if any): Other Recommendations: Physician’s Name (please print):

_______________________________ Physician’s Signature

____________

Date

_____________________________________________________________________________Address Street City Zip

_________________________________________

Phone

CONSENT TO RELEASE PERSONAL INFORMATION Half Hollow Hills

Central School District

September 2005 Dear Parent or Guardian: You have notified the school district that your child has a food allergy. We would like to notify the parents in your child’s class of this allergy, so that they can make responsible choices when sending in food and/or snacks. Please complete the form below and return to your child’s teacher as soon as possible. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Child’s Name: _______________________________________________________________ ____I hereby grant permission to the Half Hollow Hills School District to use my child’s name when notifying the families of my child’s classmates of my child’s food allergy.

______________________________ _________


____I do not grant permission to the Half Hollow Hills School District to use my child’s name when notifying the families of my child’s classmates of my child’s food allergy.

______________________________ _________


Please return this form to your child’s teacher.

Attach Child’s Photo

EMERGENCY HEALTH PLAN CARE FORM


Emergency Health Care Plan

(To be completed annually by Parent and Child’s Physician)

Student Name: Date of Birth: Teacher: School Year: Allergy: Reacts to: Ingestion ________ Airborne ________ Tactile________

SIGNS OF AN ALLERGIC REACTION INCLUDE: Systems: Symptoms: Mouth Itching and swelling of the lips, tongue, or mouth Throat Itching and/or a sense of tightness in the throat, hoarseness, hacking cough Skin Hives, itchy rash, and/or swelling about the face or extremities Gut Nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting, and/or diarrhea Lung Shortness of breath, repetitive coughing Heart “thready” pulse, “passing out”

ACTION: MILD ALLERGIC SYMPTOMS

1. Administer: ___________________________________________________ medication/dosage/route/frequency

2.

Call Parents: ______________________________________________________ Mother’s work # home # cell# ______________________________________________________ Father’s work # home # cell#

ACTION: SEVERE ALLERGIC SYMPTOMS (ANAPHYLAXIS)

1. Administer: ___________________________________________________ medication/dosage/route/frequency

2. Call Rescue: Melville Fire Department 631-547-4121

3.

Call Parents: ______________________________________________________ Mother’s work # home # cell# ______________________________________________________ Father’s work # home # cell#

Do not hesitate to administer medication or call rescue squad, even if parents or doctor cannot be reached!

_____________________________________________ _________________ Parent’s Signature Date

_____________________________________________ _________________

Physician’s Signature Date

Please note that medication must be transported to and from the health office by a parent or guardian. Medication must be labeled and in the original container.

REMINDER

In order to ensure the safety of all our children with peanut/tree nut allergies, please do not send home-baked goods

and other foods into the classroom. Food brought in for birthdays and

special events should be purchased in stores, commercially prepared, and

contain complete ingredient lists with no nuts or nut products.

POLICY – SCHOOL ATTENDANCE

Educational achievements demand consistent school attendance. The Board of Education’s goal is to reduce unexcused absences, tardiness, and early departures, to encourage regular attendance, to maintain an attendance record keeping system, to identify patterns of unexcused absences, tardiness and early departures, and to develop strategies to improve school attendance. Notice: In an effort to ensure that students, parents, teachers, and administrators are made aware of and understand this policy, its purpose, procedures, and the consequences of non-compliance, the following shall be implemented:

1. Parents shall receive a plain language summary of this policy by mail at the beginning of the school year. Parents must sign and return a form indicating that they have read and understand the policy.

2. A student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) shall be notified by phone or by mail if a student is absent, tardy, or leaves early from school. The student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) shall be reminded of the components of the policy and intervention procedures.

3. A copy of this policy and any future modifications shall be provided to all faculty and staff. New staff members will receive a copy upon their employment.

4. Upon request, a copy of this policy shall be made available to any member of the community.

Excused and Unexcused Absences: Excused absences, tardiness, and early departures are defined as absences, tardiness, and early departures from class or school due to: illness of student, family medical emergency, death in family, medical appointments, required court appearance, prior approved college visitations, school sanctioned functions, religious observance, and other administrative approved absences or such other reasons as may be approved by administrators. All other absences, tardiness, and early departures will be considered unexcused absences. Every absence, tardiness, and early departure must be accounted for. Parents are responsible for notifying the school attendance office within 24 hours of the absence, tardiness, or early departure and providing a written excuse upon the student’s return to school.

POLICY – SCHOOL ATTENDANCE (Continued)

General Procedures/Data Collection: Effective beginning with the 2003-2004 school year, every building principal, along with the designated individuals in charge of reviewing pupil attendance pursuant to §104.1 (1)(2)(ix) of the of the Commissioner’s Regulations, shall review pupil attendance records for the purpose of initiating appropriate action to address unexcused pupil absence, tardiness and early departure.

1. Attendance will be taken during each class period. • Commencing no later than July 1, 2003, attendance must be recorded at

least once daily for students in grades K-5. If students are dismissed from school grounds during lunch period, then attendance must be recorded a second time upon the student’s scheduled return.

• For students in grades 6-12 attendance must be recorded during each period of instruction except that it is not necessary to record attendance during each class if the student does not change classrooms. When a secondary student does not change classrooms, attendance must be recorded as indicated for students in K-8, once or twice per day.

• For students at any instructional level from K-12 who will arrive late for or depart early from scheduled instruction, tardiness or early departure shall be recorded as excused or unexcused in accordance with the district’s comprehensive attendance policy.

2. The designated staff member(s) responsible for attendance shall be provided with all attendance information compiled at the conclusion of each class period or school day.

3. The nature of the absences, tardiness, and early departures shall be coded on a student’s record using the attached coding designations.

4. The Dean of Students, along with other administrators shall review student absence, tardiness, and/or early departure data in an expeditious manner.

5. Upon review of additional information, if correction needs to be made to a student’s attendance record, such correction shall be made immediately. Notice of such a change will be sent to appropriate school personnel subject to applicable confidentiality rules.

6. Attendance data will be analyzed periodically to identify patterns/trends. 7. Where consistent with other school practices, students in the hallways who are

absent from a class period without excuse shall be referred to the building Principal’s office.

8. Continuous monitoring will be conducted to identify students who are absent, tardy, or leave class/school early.


Register of Attendance: “Register of Attendance” is defined as any written or electronic record maintained for the purpose of recording the attendance, absence, tardiness or early departure of a student. In addition to the child’s name, date of birth, full names of parent(s) or person(s) in parental relation, and address where the pupil resides, the register of attendance must now include the following:

1. Phone number(s) where the parent)s) or person(s) in parental relation may be contacted.

2. Date of the student’s enrollment. 3. A record of the student’s attendance on each day of scheduled instruction. 4. A record of each scheduled day of instruction during which the school is closed

for all or part of the day because of extraordinary circumstances including adverse weather conditions, impairment of heating facilities, insufficiency of water supply, shortage of fuel, destruction of or damage to a school building, or such other cause as may be found satisfactory to the commissioner.

5. The date when the pupil withdraws from enrollment or is dropped from enrollment in the school.

Attendance Incentives: Incentives for excellent and/or improved attendance will be reviewed and developed by the Board of Education and Administration. Disciplinary Consequences: Students who have an unexcused absence from class will be subject to zero on any exam that was given during that time and will lose credit towards any participation grade that the teacher factors in the quarterly grade.


Disciplinary actions for unexcused absences:

Unexcused absence 1: Teacher notifies parent, detention is assigned. Unexcused absence 2: Teacher notifies parent, detention is assigned. Unexcused absence 3: Teacher notifies parent and detention is assigned. Teacher

gives written notice to the Dean of Students who meets with the student and/or grade level administrator.

Unexcused absence 4: Teacher notifies the grade level administrator. The grade level administrator will meet with the student and assign ISS (In School Suspension). A conference with the parent will be held.

Unexcused absence 5: Teacher will notify the grade level administrator. A conference with the parent will be held. The student will be subject to OSS (Out-of-School Suspension).

Please note, suspension of specific grade level privileges will be designed by the Board of Education and Administration. Attendance/Grade Policy: The Board recognizes that class attendance is essential to good students performance. Consequently, a student’s final grade may be based on classroom participation as well as student’s performance on homework, tests, papers, projects, etc. Students are expected to attend all schedule classes. Unexcused absences, tardiness and/or early departures may affect a student’s class participation grade for the marking period. Annual Review: The Board shall annually review building level student attendance records, and, if such records show a decline in student attendance, the Board shall revise this policy to make any revisions to the plan it deems necessary to improve student attendance. Ref: Education Law §§21709; 3024;3025;3202;3205-3213;3225 8 NYCRR §§104.1;175.6 Approved: July 2, 2002

POLICY-HAZING

Hazing, initiation activities, harassment and bullying are abusive and often illegal

behaviors that harm victims and negatively impact the school environment by creating

an atmosphere of fear, distrust, mean-spiritedness, intimidation and intolerance. Hazing

is especially troubling at the middle and high school levels because of issues of

adolescence, in which many students are more vulnerable to peer pressure due to

tremendous need to belong, make friends and find approval from one’s peer group.

Accordingly, hazing, initiation activities, harassment and bullying will not be tolerated at

any level in Half Hollow Hills and will be considered dangerous, immoral, and volatile of

the law and district policy.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure a safe learning environment for students and

staff that is free from hazing, initiation, activities, harassment and bullying and that

promotes respect, civility, dignity and equality. Hazing, initiation activities, harassment

and bullying activities of any type are inconsistent with the educational goals of the

District, and are condemned and strictly prohibited at all times. Moreover, it is the policy

of the District that no student or adult will participate in or be members of any secret

fraternity or sorority, athletic team, club or organization that is in any degree related to

the school or to a school district activity which engages in any form of hazing, initiation

activities, harassment or bullying, whether on school grounds, school buses or at all

school-sponsored activities, programs and events, including those that take place at

locations outside the district.

POLICY-HAZING (Continued)

GENERAL POLICY STATEMENTS:

• No student, teacher, coach or administrator, paraprofessional, volunteer,

contractor or other employee of the District shall plan, direct, encourage, aid, or

engage in hazing, initiation activities, harassment or bullying.

• No student, teacher, coach, administrator, paraprofessional, volunteer,

contractor, or other employee of the District shall permit, condone, or tolerate

hazing, initiation activities, harassment or bullying.

• The District strictly prohibits students, teachers, coaches, administrators,

paraprofessionals, volunteers, contractors, or other employees of the District

from engaging individually or collectively in any form of hazing, initiation

activities, harassment or bullying on school property, off school property or on a

school bus, in connection with any school activity or involving any person

associated with the school, regardless of where it occurs.

• Consistent with this policy, the District’s Code of Conduct and the Athletic Code

of Conduct, any student who participates in hazing, initiation activities,

harassment or bullying will face immediate and strong disciplinary action, up to

and including suspension, expulsion, exclusion and loss of the privilege of

attendance and participation in extracurricular activities and sports and school

events (i.e., graduation, prom, dances, field trips, etc.).

POLICY- HAZING (Continued)

• Students, teachers, coaches, administrators, paraprofessionals, volunteers,

contractors or employees who participate in hazing, initiation activities,

harassment or bullying will also be referred to appropriate law enforcement

authorities and may face subsequent prosecution for hazing, harassment or

assault.

• Consent is no defense to a charge of hazing, initiation activities, harassment or

bullying. Apparent permission or consent by a person being hazed, initiated

harassed or bullied does not lessen the prohibitions or penalties contained

herein.

• This policy applies to behavior that occurs on or off school property or on any

school bus ride and during, before and after school hours.

REPORTING: In order for the District to effectively enforce this policy, it is essential that all victims of

hazing, initiation activities, harassment or bullying and persons with knowledge of

hazing, initiation activities, harassment or bullying report them immediately.

SCHOOL DISTRICT ACTION: The District will promptly investigate all complaints, either formal or informal, verbal or

written of hazing, initiation activities, harassment or bullying. The policy clearly defines

the actions. For more detailed information, please refer to the Student Handbook

and/or District Code of Conduct.

What I Can Do If I Am Being Bullied

HA HA, SO Help Humor Self-Talk Assert Avoid Own It Yourself

Myth or Fact?

Directions: Determine whether each of the following statements is a “myth” or a “fact”. 1. Bullies are boys. ______ 2. Bullies are insecure and have low self-esteem. ______ 3. Bullies don’t have friends. ______ 4. Bullies are usually failing in school. ______ 5. Bullies are physically larger than their victims. ______ 6. Bullies don’t really mean to hurt their victims. ______ 7. Bullies usually feel badly about their actions, but they just can’t help themselves. ______ 8. Looking different is the main reason children get bullied. ______ 9. If the victim fights back, the bully will back down. ______ 10. Telling on a bully will only make the situation worse for the victim. ______ 11. Other children should stay away from the bully-victim situations or they’ll get

bullied as well. ______ 12. All teachers can learn to handle a bully. ______ 13. Unless you change the bully’s home life, nothing will help. ______ 14. Bullies need therapy to stop bullying. ______ 15. Bringing the parents of the victim and of the bully together for discussion

is a good idea. ______ 16. Once a victim, always a victim. ______ 17. Victims have usually brought the trouble upon themselves. ______ 18. Learning disabled students are at higher risk of being victimized. ______

Myth or Fact?

Answer Key

Directions: Determine whether each of the following statements is a “myth” or a “fact”. 1. Bullies are boys. Myth 2. Bullies are insecure and have low self-esteem. Myth 3. Bullies don’t have friends. Myth 4. Bullies are usually failing in school. Myth 5. Bullies are physically larger than their victims. Myth 6. Bullies don’t really mean to hurt their victims. Myth 7. Bullies usually feel badly about their actions, but they just can’t help themselves. Myth 8. Looking different is the main reason children get bullied. Myth 9. If the victim fights back, the bully will back down. Myth 10. Telling on a bully will only make the situation worse for the victim. Myth 11. Other children should stay away from the bully-victim situations or they’ll get

bullied as well. Myth 12. All teachers can learn to handle a bully. Fact 13. Unless you change the bully’s home life, nothing will help. Myth 14. Bullies need therapy to stop bullying. Myth 15. Bringing the parents of the victim and of the bully together for discussion

is a good idea. Myth 16. Once a victim, always a victim. Myth 17. Victims have usually brought the trouble upon themselves. Myth 18. Learning disabled students are at higher risk of being victimized. Fact

HALF HOLLOW HILLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT 525 HALF HOLLOW ROAD

DIX HILLS, NY 11746

EXPECTATIONS OF BEHAVIOR/CONDUCT FORM

March 2004 Dear Parents/Guardians and Students: It is essential that all parents and students have a full understanding of the philosophy that governs the Half Hollow Hills Central School District. The Board of Education has passed a policy on Hazing, Initiation Activities, Harassment and Bullying which goes into effect on March 15, 2004. The attached Regulations have been reviewed with your child, and both you and your child understand what is meant by “hazing, initiation activities, harassment and bullying.” __________________________ ________________ Student Date __________________________ ________________ Parent or Guardian Date Please sign and return this form to your building principal. Thank you.

WHAT BULLYING IS AND WHAT IT IS NOT

Normal Peer Conflict Bullying

Equal power of friends Imbalance of power, not friends

Happens occasionally Repeated negative actions

Accidental Purposeful

Not serious Serious with threat of physical or emotional harm

Equal emotional reaction Strong emotional reaction from

victim and little or no emotional reaction from bully

Not seeking power or attention Seeking power, control, or material

things

Not trying to get something Attempt to gain material things or power

Remorse – will take responsibility No remorse – blames the victim

Effort to solve the problem No effort to solve the problem

HARASSMENT – BULLYING REFERRAL FLOW CHART

R E P O R T I N G

Parent Student

Non-Professional

Teacher

Reports incident to

Reports incident to

Principal

Principal or Designee or 3rd Party which may

include Assistant Superintendents, Superintendent or

Legal Counsel

Investigation takes place by

Building Administrator

If ineffective action is taken complainant may report directly to

Guidance Counselor/Psychologist

I N V E S T I G A T I N G

Appropriate action is taken

A C T I O N

HALF HOLLOW HILLS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT 525 HALF HOLLOW ROAD

DIX HILLS, NY 11746

Hazing, Initiation Activities, Harassment and Bullying Complaint Form

Hazing, initiation activities, harassment and bullying are abusive and often illegal behaviors that harm victims and negatively impact school environment by creating an atmosphere of fear, distrust, mean-spiritedness, intimidation and intolerance. Individual Filing Complaint: Name____________________________________ Position/Title______________________________ Date of Complaint__________________________ Complaint Filed Against: Name____________________________________ Position/Title______________________________ Date and Place of Incident_________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Description of event(s) which caused you to file this complaint. Please give dates and all relevant information in sequential order. Attach any evidence._________________________________________

Name of Witness(es) [if any]: ___________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

Has the incident been reported before? Yes No If yes, when? To whom? _______________________________________________________________

What was the resolution? _______________________________________________________________

Has the complainant been the victim of similar incidents in the past? Yes No What were the details? _________________________________________________________________

Was the other incident or incidents reported? Yes No If yes, to whom? ______________________________________________________________________ What was the resolution? _______________________________________________________________

Signature of Complainant _______________________________________ Date ___________________ Signature of Building Administrator_______________________________ Date ___________________

If you need additional space, feel free to attach additional pages to this form. Actions which may be taken may include, but are not limited to, warning, loss of privileges, exclusion

from school activities and events, denial of access to school property, suspension, expulsion, reporting to local police authorities, transfer, remediation, termination, or discharge. NOTE: Any act of retaliation is prohibited. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, verbal or physical threats, ridicule, spreading of rumors, bribes, destruction of property, stalking, harassing phone calls, harassing internet use, any form of intimidation, reprisal or harassment.

POLICY/REGULATION-SEXUAL HARASSMENT

SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF STUDENTS Section 5020.1R

The following administrative regulation is intended to implement the Board of Education’s policy against sexual harassment of students. The Board recognizes that sexual harassment can originate from a student, employee, a Board member or any non-employee volunteer who works subject to the control of school authorities.

PROCEDURES Section 5020.2R

The Board of Education shall designate a compliance officer to carry out the district’s responsibilities under Titles VII and IX and pursuant to Board of Education policy number 2451 NONDISCRIMINATION IN EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES. The Superintendent of Schools shall notify all employees, students and their parents of the name, office address, and telephone number of the district’s compliance officer. In addition, the Board, through this regulation, has established grievance procedures that provide for prompt investigation and equitable resolution of student sexual harassment complaints. Consistent with federal and state law, and all applicable provisions contained in the district’s policy manual and collective bargaining agreements, the following procedures shall be employed in handling any report, investigation and remedial action concerning allegations of sexual harassment. Students who believe they have been subjected to sexual harassment are to report the incident to the building principal. Although this is recommended, students may bring their complaints to a teacher, guidance counselor, etc. who will then be responsible to report it in accordance with this procedure. The building principal shall notify the compliance officer and Superintendent of Schools of all complaints. Should the building principal be the alleged harasser, the report shall be made to the next level in the compliant procedure. The student can pursue the complaint informally or file a formal complaint.

POLICY/REGULATION-SEXUAL HARASSMENT (Continued)

All reports of sexual harassment will be held in confidence where possible, subject to all applicable laws and any relevant provisions found in the district’s Board of Education Policy Manual and collective bargining agreements, provided they do not interfere with the district’s ability to investigate or take corrective action on the complaint.

INVESTIGATION OF A COMPLAINT Section 5020.3R

Upon receipt of a formal or informal complaint, a group, through an impartial investigation of the allegations shall follow. This investigation is to be conducted diligently. All witnesses shall be interviewed. Complainants are to be notified of the outcome of the investigation.

INFORMAL COMPLAINTS Section 5020.4R

Students who believe they have been subjected to sexual harassment may request that an informal meeting be held between themselves and the building principal. The purpose of such a meeting will be to discuss the allegations and remedial steps available. Parents or guardians of the student shall be notified of their right to attend the interview with their child. The building principal will then promptly discuss the complaint with the alleged harasser. Should the alleged harasser admit the allegations, the building principal is to obtain a written assurance if age appropriate that the unwelcome behavior will stop. Depending on the severity of the charges, further disciplinary action may be taken by the Superintendent of Schools. Thereafter, the building principal is to prepare a written report of the incident and inform the complainant of the resolution. The complainant is to indicate on the report whether or not the resolution is satisfactory.


If the complainant is satisfied with the resolution, the incident will be deemed closed. However the complaint may be reopened for investigation if a recurrence of sexual harassment is reported. The building principal is to inform the complainant to report any recurrence of the harassment or any retaliatory action that might occur. Should the complainant be dissatisfied with the resolution, a formal written complain should be filed. If during the building principal’s informal attempt to resolve the complaint, the alleged harasser admits the allegations but refuses to give assurance that the unwelcome behavior will stop, the building principal is to file a report with the next level in the complaint procedure. The report is to indicate the nature of the complaint, a description of what occurred when the building principal informed the alleged harasser of the allegations, the alleged harasser’s response to the allegations, and a recommendation that stronger corrective measures be taken. This report should be accompanied by the student’s formal complaint. Should the alleged harasser deny the allegations, the building principal is to inform the complainant of the denial and state that a formal written complaint will be required for further formal investigation. The building principal will then file a report with the next level in the complaint procedure setting forth the events that have occurred to that point. If the complainant submits a formal complaint, a copy of the complaint should accompany the building principal’s report with a recommendation for further action.


FORMAL COMPLAINTS Section 5020.5R

Formal complaints may be submitted to initially report any incidence of sexual harassment, or as a follow up to an unsatisfactory resolution of an informal attempt to resolve a complaint. In the latter case, the formal written complaint is to be submitted to the building principal originally consulted, who will then forward it to the next level in the complaint procedure for appropriate action. The formal written complaint will consist of a form and a copy of any applicable building principal reports. The form shall solicit the specifics of the complaint: e.g., date and place of incident, description of sexual misconduct, names of any witnesses, and any previous action taken to resolve this matter. The complainant will file reports of sexual harassment to the following persons in this order: Level I -- Building Principal Level II -- Title IX Officer Level III -- Superintendent of Schools Level IV --- Board of Education Although this is recommended, students may bring their complaints to a teacher, guidance counselor, etc. who will then be responsible to report it in accordance with this procedure. Each level will be followed in succession in the event of the appeal of a formal complaint or the unsuccessful resolution of an informal complaint. Should the individual to whom a report should be filed be the alleged harasser, the matter will be referred to the next level, and the alleged harasser bypassed. The Superintendent of Schools or the board shall take immediate, appropriate corrective action upon a determination of sexual harassment. The Superintendent or the Board shall notify the complainant of any findings and action taken.


REMEDIAL ACTION Section 5020.6R

If the investigation reveals that sexual harassment has occurred, appropriate sanctions will be imposed in a manner consistent with any applicable law, district policies and regulations and collective bargaining agreements. Depending on the gravity of the misconduct, sanctions may range from a warning, up to and including dismissal of an employee or suspension of a student. Anyone subjecting complainants or witnesses to any form of retaliation will also be subject to disciplinary action in the manner prescribed by law and consistent with any applicable provisions in the district’s policy manual or collective bargaining agreements. If the investigation reveals that no sexual harassment has occurred, or if the complainant is not satisfied with the remedial action taken after a finding of sexual harassment, the complainant may appeal to the next level in the complaint procedure. The appeal must include a copy of the original complaint, all relevant reports, the specific action being appealed, and an explanation of why the complainant is appealing.

POST REMEDIAL ACTION Section 5020.7R

Following a finding of sexual harassment, complainants will be periodically interviewed by the appropriate building principal to ensure that the harassment has not resumed, and that no retaliatory action has occurred. In the discretion of the district, these follow up interviews may continue over a period of time. A report will be made of the complainant’s response.


COMPLAINT RECORDS Section 5020.8R

Upon written request, complainants may receive a copy of the resolution reports filed by the building principal or other district official concerning their complaint. Upon substantiation copies should also be filed with the student or employment records of both the complainant and the alleged harasser. All reports will be maintained in the Office of the Superintendent of Schools in a central depository.

FALSE ACCUSATIONS

Section 5020.9R

False accusations of sexual harassment shall be subject to disciplinary action in the manner prescribed by law and consistent with any applicable provisions in the district policy manual or collective bargaining agreements.

INVESTIGATION IN THE ABSENCE OF A COMPLAINT Section 5021.R

The Board will, in the absence of a complainant’s complaint, ensure that an investigation is commenced by the appropriate individuals, upon learning of, or having reason to suspect the occurrence of sexual harassment.

Approved 11/20/95

POLICY-VIDEOTAPE

The Board of Education believes that the use of videos during classroom

time must be consistent with educational goals and values.

Therefore, it will be the policy that any videos shown during the classroom

time should substantially support or enrich the educational curriculum of

that grade or subject.

Videos must also be age appropriate. Videos which are not designed

specifically for teaching purposes must be approved by building

administration prior to being shown.

Approved: 12/16/96

otsego elementary school - district homeintroduction the otsego faculty handbook is a “work in...

Documents