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1000
Book Child Project...
This
reading program allows families in our school district
to borrow 1,000 quality children's books -- 10 at
a time -- to read with their children at home. Books are
stored in numbered tote bags; read your way through all
100 and your child will have a strong foundation for
school success! Parents are encouraged to register their
children when they turn three -- or any time in
grades K-2! Learn how to register and start taking
advantage of this valuable and FREE early literacy
program. More here.
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Absences...
Reporting them to the school
If
your child is going to be absent, please call the school
at 356-8400 between 7:30 and 9:00 a.m. to report that
your child will not be coming to school that day.
A note to the teacher explaining the reason for
an absence is also required within three days of the
time your child returns to school. NOTE: Bradt's policy
is call parents at their home or place of work to
validate an absentee if we have not been informed by the
child's parent or guardian. This is to ensure the safety
of your child. See also, district
attendance policy.
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Absences...
and Homework
If
your child is going to be absent for one or two days you
can generally wait until they return to make up missed
work. However, if your child is going to be absent for
an extended period, you can call the school BEFORE 8:30
a.m. to request that homework be ready to pick up at the
end of that day.
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Attendance
Quality
instructional time is our priority. Education Law
Section 3205 requires that students attend school every
day unless excused. We strongly believe that children
learn best in the educational setting. While children
sometimes must miss school for a variety of reasons
(i.e., illness, bereavement, religious observances,
etc.,), a growing number of children are missing school
for unexcused reasons (i.e., vacations).
It is
not possible for teachers to prepare work in advance to
make up for such an absence. The instructional
experience children miss during an unexcused absence
often cannot be made up upon their return. Teachers, at
their discretion, may suggest alternate assignments in
relation to the duration and nature of the absence
(i.e., journal writing, travel log, practice math facts,
etc.).
We
discourage unexcused absences. Our goal is to provide
the best possible instructional opportunities for all
children, as they work to attain higher standards. Thank
you for your cooperation in taking family vacations
during school vacations, and in making school attendance
a priority.
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Birthday
party guidelines
In
response to our district's Wellness Policy, the
increasing number of serious food allergies, and our
general desire to maximize classroom instructional time,
we have established the following guidelines for
recognizing students' birthdays in school.
- Full-scale
birthday parties that include a cake, candles,
helium balloons, flowers, ice cream, pizza, party
favors, and/or party bags are to be held outside of
the school setting. (Invitations to birthday parties
outside of school hours should be mailed, unless
everyone in the class is being invited.)
- Parents
should contact the teacher about sending in a
simple, healthy birthday snack for the class in
recognition of their child's birthday, of they so
desire.
- The
birthday snack should reflect the school district's
policy promoting healthy food choices.
- The
birthday snack should be in individual servings, and
easy to distribute.
- The
birthday snack should be able to be easily eaten,
with minimal clean-up required.
- Please
provide napkins and plastic spoons, if required.
- Birthday
snacks should be left in the main lobby with the
security monitor if your child is unable to
transport it on the bus.
Ideas
for healthy, simple birthday snacks:
- Fruit,
Jell-o, pudding, yogurt or applesauce cups
- Cheese
and crackers
- String
cheese
- Cereal
bars
- Pretzels
- Raisins
- Bagel
chips
- Apple
slices (or other fruit)
Please
note, all snacks should be store-prepared and
store-packaged with the ingredients listed.
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Buses...
Children
must ride the bus to which they are assigned.
Requests to ride a different bus on any given day
requires a written note with specific information, (i.e.
Bus number, bus stop, family, name and phone number of
house). This
note must be approved by the main office at the
beginning of the school day.
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Conferences ...
Bradt
schedules parent-teacher conferences in late Fall and
Spring -- great opportunities for parents and teachers
to share insights, ideas, and concerns about students.
The parent-teacher conference is a great way to find out
what your child will be learning about this year -- and
what you can do at home to support that learning. The
conference is also a prime time to find out if your
child is on-track for meeting the new standards. Read
more here about key questions to ask in the
parent-teacher conference.
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Contacting
us ...
If
you have a concern about your child's progress,
homework, discipline or some other issue, please contact
us right away. Here
are just a few of the ways to reach teachers and other
staff at Bradt.
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Contract
for Learning
Bradt
Primany School is a safe, positive place to learn
because students commit to the following:
- I
choose to learn.
- I
do my personal best.
- I
let the teacher teach.
- I
respect myself and others.
Each
child and their parent are asked to sign and return a
copy of the Bradt Primary Learning Contract. Students
are supported in fulfilling their responsibilities.
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Directions
to our school(s) ...
Print
out these directions and you'll find us with no
trouble!
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Dress
protocol
In
order to enhance the learning process, all students are
expected to dress in clothes that do not cause
disruption to the orderly management of a school
environment conducive to learning. Students are required
to wear rubber-soled sneakers to physical education
classes (no heels or cleats). Shoes with wheels in the
heel are not allowed at any time. For safety reasons,
students using the playground should wear sneakers.
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Dropping
something off ...
If
you need to deliver a birthday snack, forgotten lunch,
note or homework, please drop if off in the main office.
The staff will gladly see that it is delivered to your
child's classroom.
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Dropping
your children off...
If
you drive your children to school, please drop them off
between 8:20 and 8:40 a.m. Parents need to sign students
in at the office, but let them walk to their classroom
on their own. FOR OBVIOUS SAFETY REASONS, PLEASE DO
NOT ALLOW CHILDREN TO WALK INTO SCHOOL WITHOUT BEING
SIGNED IN BY AN ADULT!
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Early
dismissal (scheduled and unscheduled)
A variety of
reasons could make it necessary to close school early.
Loss of power and/or water, a hazardous condition in the
area, or inclement weather are examples of such
situations.
Unplanned
early dismissals are announced by the media. When
possible, our automated phone-calling system will be
activated.
In
addition, the Mohonasen Elementary PTO has established a
phone tree in an effort to contact parents in the even
of an unplanned early dismissal. Please keep us informed
if your home phone number changes during the school
year.
Additionally,
you can access emergency school closing/delay
information on the district's Web site. For the most
up-to-date information, please hit the refresh button
every time you access the site.
Planned
early
dismissal for parent-teacher conferences is generally at
11:30 a.m. for grades 1-5. On most parent-teacher
conference days kindergarten meets in shortened sessions
as follows: morning kindergarten runs from 8:40 to 9:35
a.m.; afternoon kindergarten from 9:55 to 11:30
a.m.
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Electronic
games, CD players, collectable cards, cell phones
All of these items
are to be left at home. These valuable items often
create a significant distraction (disputes over
ownership) and are not necessary in school.
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Guidance
Counselor
A school counselor is at Bradt two
days each week. The purpose of a school-counseling
program at this level is to provide support to children
and their parents. For more information, please contact
Ellen Schultz at 356-8416.
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Homework
Expectations...
n Kindergarten:
Spend approximately 10 minutes a night reading to your
child as well as completing monthly activity calendars,
home study sheets and supplemental practice. This
is critical to developing beginning reading skills.
(Examples:
“Activity Calendar” activities, sight word
activities, phonemic awareness activities, practice
letter formation, and “Home Links” math activities)
n First
Grade: Begin reading approximately 10 minutes a
night with your child in September.
In October, homework will be given four times a
week, Monday through Thursday.
As the year progresses, the length of time
increases from 10 to 20 minutes, as well as 10 minutes
of reading with your child each night.
This may include, but is not limited to, written
activities/projects in Language Arts, Math, Science, and
Social Studies. (Examples:
Practice sight words, spelling words, writing sentences,
ABC order, etc., phonetic skills, reviewing math facts
and “Home Links” math activities)
n Second
Grade: Begin in September with homework given four
times a week, 20-25 minutes each night, as well as
approximately 15 minutes of reading with your child each
night. This
may include, but is not limited to, written
activities/projects in Language Arts, Math, Science and
Social Studies. (Examples:
Practice spelling words, writing sentences, ABC order,
etc., paragraph writing, phonetic skills, review math
facts, and “Home Links” math activities)
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Lunch
Guests
The Bradt cafeteria is a place to
learn and practice socialization skills, as well as for
eating in public.
Parent
lunchroom guests are welcome to sign-in with the monitor
and join their children for lunch beginning in October.
We prefer to give students the month of September to get
acclimated and learn lunchroom expectations and
routines. Guest are asked to limit their visits to no
more than once per month.
An
alternate table will be provided for students and guests
at which to sit. This process will prevent disruptions
of seating assignments and behavior plans at your
child's table. It also will allow us to follow through
on health plans for food allergies.
Guests
are asked to send in a note to the teacher the morning
of a lunch visit and to arrange for the purchase of a
school lunch (hot lunch, PBJ, yogurt, bagel) or to bring
a simple bagged lunch. Please do not bring fast food to
the lunch visit.
Guests
are not to share their lunch or lend money to a child
other than their own.
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Kindergarten...
n All
kindergartners in the Mohonasen District attend Bradt
Primary School on Hamburg Street in Rotterdam which
serves students in grades K-2. Our morning kindergarten
classes meet from 8:20 to 11:10 a.m. and afternoon
classes run from noon to 2:50 p.m.
n
Kindergarten
is a half-day program at Bradt School. There are,
however, two sections of an Extended Day Kindergarten
program offered each year. This program is designed to
serve students who are struggling, either academically
or developmentally. Read
more here.
n
During kindergarten registration parents who would
prefer either an AM or PM placement for their child
should share this in writing with school officials. Many
parents make child care arrangements that work best with
one session or the other, and we try to build our
bus routes around those requests. Keep in mind, last
minute changes in pick-up and/or drop-off locations may
be difficult to accommodate.
n
For
registration, screening and orientation dates for
students entering kindergarten in the September 2008
school year, click here.
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Medications
during the school day...
The
following is the New York State and the school policy
regarding medication during the school day:
n
The
nurse must have a written request from the
physician on file, which indicates the frequency and
dosage of a prescribed medication.
n
The
nurse must have a written request from the parent
on file in order to administer the medication as
specified by the physician.
n
The
medication is to be delivered directly to the nurse by
the parent. (Between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.) Under NO
circumstance should the medication be delivered by the
student.
n
The
medication should be in a properly marked pharmacy
container.
The label should include:
student’s full name, address, name and strength
of medication, dosage, and frequency of
medication.
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Morning
Program...
Students
at Bradt attend Morning Program once a month. Parents
are welcome to attend these grade-level assemblies that
generally involve an educational component, songs and
student recognition. Parents are welcome and encouraged
to attend. Get a schedule
for 2007-08.
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New
students...
If you've
just moved into the district and want to register your
child for school please call the school office at 356-8400
and make an appointment with the secretary
to register your child. You will need to bring the
following to that appointment:
n Three
proofs of district residency in your name (such as:
lease, mortgage, homeowner's policy, utility bill)
n A
copy of your child's birth certificate
n A
copy of your child's immunization records
n Your
child's social security number
n A
copy of your child's most recent report card.
(Standardized test scores are also helpful.)
n The
full name and address of the child's previous school
n Information
about any special needs your child may have
n If
applicable, a copy of any legal documents regarding
parent custody issues.
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Picking
children up during the day...
To
pick your child up during the school day, please send a
note to the classroom teacher to let him or her know
when to have the child ready. Stop in the main office
and sign your child out in the student log. Our office
staff will call the classroom and your child will be
sent down to the office to meet you there. We try to
know all of our parents but aren't always familiar with
every adult picking up a child so please be prepared to
show a photo ID.
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Picking
children up at dismissal time...
School
officially dismisses at 2:50 p.m. Unless we receive
written instruction from a parent, all students will be
sent home on the school bus. We
try to know all of our parents but aren't always
familiar with every adult picking up a child so please
be prepared to show a photo ID.
n
PICK
UP WITH A NOTE -- If your child is being picked
up at the end of the day, it is always best to send in a
note to the classroom teacher indicating who will be
picking up the child. Students being picked up at
dismissal will be called at 2:50 p.m. to report to the
main office. Parents/guardians/friends will sign the
child out in the student log located outside the school
office.
n
PICK
UP WITHOUT A NOTE -- If you did not send in a
note, please plan to arrive at the main office PRIOR to
the 2:50 p.m. dismissal bell to allow time to place your
child's name on the dismissal list and show
identification. Without a note your child will be put on
the bus if you are delayed, despite verbal directions
you may have given your child. To minimize confusion at
dismissal time, we strong urge parents to send in written
instructions.
n
NOTE:
Some parents called the school to arrange special
dismissal instructions. Please realize the problem this
presents in identifying the caller. We ask that you
resort to this ONLY if there is a serious situation that
prevents you from sending in a note first or appearing
in person to pick up your child.
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Principal’s
Parent Advisory Council...
Bradt
has a Parent Advisory Council that meets for an hour,
one evening per month from October through May.
Council members work with the principal to make
sure that students receive the best possible
instructional opportunities and in a positive school
environment. If
you would like to serve on Bradt’s Parent Advisory
Council, please email Principal Diane
McIver or send her a note at
the school.
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School
hours
Cradt
School hours are 8:20 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. We expect
children to arrive at school on time and to remain in
school until dismissal. Tardy students are directed to
stop at the monitor's desk located in the main lobby
where they will receive a tardy slip before going to the
classroom. A reason for tardiness will be requested.
PLEASE do not drop off any child at Bradt School BEFORE
8:30 a.m. There is no supervision of the school grounds
prior to the start of school.
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Snack
guidelines
A
healthy snack is essential for fueling a child's body
with the energy required to focus and learn. In response
to our district's Wellness Policy and the increase in
obesity nationwide, the following healthy food choices
guidelines are being provided. In addition, we will be
emphasizing increased physical activity as part of a
healthy lifestyle.
We ask
that snacks reflect the four Choose Sensibly
Guidelines:
- 7
grams of fat or less
- 2
grams or less of saturated fat
- 15
grams or less of sugar
- 360
mg or less of sodium
Healthy
Food Choice Guidelines:
- Fresh
or dried fruit
- Vegetables
- Whole
grains (crackers, cereal, etc.)
- Popcorn
- Cheese
- Yogurt
- Pretzels
- Cereal
bars
Beverages:
- Water
- 50-100%
fruit juices
- Vegetables
juices
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Telephone
calls...
n
To contact
your child's teacher, call the office at 356-8400 and
ask to be connected to his or her voicemail. For obvious
reasons, calls will not be put through directly
to classrooms during instructional time. Teachers are
generally VERY good about returning phone calls to
parents in a timely fashion.
n Office
telephones are not available for use by students.
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Unplanned
early dismissals...
Information about early
dismissals is quickly posted on Mohonasen's school
closings and delays page. It
is also released to all local TV stations and major
radio stations. The Elementary PTO also maintains a
"phone tree" to contact parents of K-5
students in the event of an unplanned early dismissal.
It's ESSENTIAL that parents keep their phone contact
numbers up to date for this purpose. [Call
the school office at 356-8400 if your phone number
changes!] There may be
times when the phone tree cannot be activated (loss of
phone service, not enough time, etc.) No matter what
grade level, MAKE SURE YOUR CHILDREN KNOW WHAT TO DO IF
THEY ARRIVE HOME UNEXPECTEDLY AND YOU'RE NOT
THERE.
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Visitors...
All
visitors are required to report directly to the security
monitor upon entering the building. Visitors will need to sign in and wear a visitor
badge while in the school. This policy helps us keep
track of who is in the building at all times—an
important safety concern. If you are a volunteer, we
also ask you to sign in and wear your volunteer badge
while in the building. When visiting the school, please
do not park in the fire lanes. These areas MUST be kept
open at all times in case of an emergency.
If
you need to drop off sneakers, forgotten lunches, notes,
homework, etc. for your child, please do so with the
monitor who will ensure the items are delivered to your
child's classroom. We do not want to interrupt
instructional time.
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Volunteering...
Bradt
School encourages parents and others to volunteer in the
school. We have an active and involved PTO and many
opportunities for parents to help out in the classroom,
on field trips and to participate on school and
district-wide committees. Call or email Principal Diane
McIver for more details.
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