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Robert Seaman Elementary School PTA Guidelines 2004 - 2005

GENERAL INFORMATION:
Have a question?
General questions or concerns regarding the Seaman Elementary School are best addressed by calling the Main Office at 203-3630 for assistance.

What is the Communication Protocol for Elementary Parents?
The Jericho Schools are committed to meeting the needs of all students across the wide spectrum of talents and abilities. Consequently, our response to students needs can range from remedial support to enrichment and curricular enhancement.

Communication with faculty on the part of students and parents is essential in order for appropriate and timely educational decisions to be made.

Students and parents who have information which can help faculty to better address the needs of individual students should note that communication is welcome and can best be accomplished by doing the following:

1. Write, call, e-mail or make an appointment with the appropriate teacher.
2. If further clarification or discussion is necessary, please contact the School Principal. Please note that all telephone calls which are made by parents to Principals are noted in telephone logs.
3. For additional assistance, you may contact the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction or the Superintendent of schools..
4. As a last step, you may contact members of the Jericho Board of Education.

What is the Board of Education?
The Jericho Board of Education is comprised of five members, all of whom are elected to three-year non-salaried terms. The 2004-2005 Board members are: Hilari Cohen, President; Barbara Krieger, Vice President; Ira Checkla, Joseph H. Lorintz and Toni Meliambro. Board of Education Meetings are held on one Thursday of each month, beginning at 7:30 pm. In addition, the Board conducts many informational meetings with parents and students. The Board welcomes citizens’ participation and attendance at all meetings and school functions. Monthly school board meetings provide a forum to discuss general school concerns and programs and typically include a time for the public to be heard. However, this is not the appropriate forum for individual problems.

Annual elections and the District’s School Budget are voted upon every May.

How do I join the Seaman PTA?
All parents are eligible for membership in the Parents/Teachers Association (PTA) upon payment of their annual $7 dues. The PTA holds its General Membership Meetings every month in the Seaman Cafeteria. Any parents interested in participating in this year’s scheduled PTA events are welcome to contact the chairperson of the committee that interests them. Additionally, messages can be sent with your child to school and forwarded to the Main Office where there is a “PTA Mailbox” for such correspondence. We assure a prompt response to all inquiries. We need your participation and support!

What is the SEPTA?
The Jericho SEPTA organization is a district-wide Special Education Parent Teacher Association that supports and promotes a greater awareness of special education. Membership is open to every family in the Jericho School District. For information, please contact Laurie Lanz, SEPTA Liaison.

What is the Jericho Joint PTA Council?
The Jericho PTA Council, organized under the authority of the New York State PTA, consists of local PTA representatives. Its objectives include providing information and training, coordinating the efforts of school PTA’s, and encouraging and supporting attendance at district and state conferences and workshops. The Council meets regularly with the Superintendent and other faculty members to discuss areas of concern and interest to the Jericho School District.

How can I contact my child’s teacher?
As an established school policy, teachers are NOT called from their classrooms to answer telephone calls as it interrupts the instructional program. All teachers can be reached by either sending a note with your child or by calling the Main Office and leaving a message for that teacher, or by e-mail.

Who may use the office telephone?
The school’s Main Office facilities are limited. Therefore, parents are asked not to call the school and ask that messages be delivered to their children. In addition, children are not permitted to use the phone for personal calls unless there is an emergency.

What is the school’s visiting policy?
All parents or visitors are instructed to use the parking lot entrance and must report to the Main Office upon entrance into the building. Please remember that baby carriages or strollers are not permitted in the building as they present potential safety and exit hazards.

How do I get class assignments when my child is absent?
Teachers prefer some advance notice if you want homework for your child. Please call the office in the morning to notify the teacher, who can then have sufficient opportunity to have this work ready by dismissal. The assignment can be brought home by another student or picked up at the Main Office.

What is the procedure for releasing children from school?
The Seaman School’s administration continues to take every reasonable precaution and measure in order to assure the maximum security of all school children. Therefore, no child is released from school unless their parent or someone designated by such, in writing, is present for their release. Identification will be required at the Main Office.

ACADEMIC INFORMATION:
How and when can I review my child’s permanent records?
A student’s permanent records may be reviewed by the child’s parents at any time by making an appointment with the principal. These records include:

1. Registration Information.
2. Copies of all report cards.
3. Copies of all parent-teacher conferences.
4. All standardized test results.
5. Information pertaining to all special remedial programs.

 

What are the grade assessments and when are they administered?
The following assessments are scheduled for the 2004–2005 academic school year:
1. An Early Literacy Profile is created for each child in Kindergarten through Grade 3.
2. Reading and Math tests will be administered to Grade 4 in February and May respectively.
3. Elementary Science Program tests will be administered to Grade 4 in May.
4. Social Studies tests will be administered to Grade 5 in November.
5. Reading and Math tests will be administered to Grades 3 and 5 in April.

MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION:
What’s for lunch?
All children are welcome to bring their own lunch from home each day. As another option, our Cafeteria provides a complete meal, including milk, for $2.00. The cost of a pint of regular, skim or chocolate milk is 40 cents. Children pay for their lunch on a daily or school term basis. A monthly calendar of school lunch menus is distributed to all students.

It is the parent’s responsibility to provide their children with lunch or lunch money. However, no child will be allowed to go hungry. If your child forgets lunch money, he or she is welcome to borrow from either the class treasury or our Main Office with the understanding that repayment will be made the following school day.

Money and valuables?
Parents are asked to instruct their children not to bring money (except for lunch), valuables, electronic gadgets and/or collectibles to school.

How can I express appreciation to my child’s teachers and aides?
Board of Education Policy No. 8400.1 states, “Every officer or employee of the Jericho Public Schools…shall not accept an gifts with the aggregate value exceeding Seventy-Five Dollars in any one school year from any one source.”

MEDICAL INFORMATION:
How and when do I explain my child’s absence from school?
A note explaining your child’s absence is required the day they return to school. During school hours, please contact the Nurse, Mrs. Rosenfeld at 203-3600, Extension 5284.

Communicable Diseases
We ask the full cooperation of all parents in order to prevent outbreaks. When your child is diagnosed as having a communicable disease (strep throat, chicken pox, pediculosis, etc.) please promptly notify the school nurse. This will enable her to alert the parents of the other children in your child’s class to be sensitive to particular symptoms and thereby help prevent its perpetual spread to other students, including siblings. Please be assured that the school’s notice will not contain your child’s name.

Administration of Medication in School
The New York State Bureau of Health Services does not permit the school nurse to administer any medication (including over-the-counter) without:
1. A written request by the student’s parent, and
2. A written request by the student’s physician indicating the child’s name, the prescribed medication, dosage and frequency. Medication must be in its original sealed container and brought directly to the Health Office. Students may not keep medication in their desks.

Medical Forms
Photocopies of any medical documents (physicals, immunizations, etc.) will be accepted only with a doctor’s stamp and live signature affixed. Medical documents may be faxed directly from the doctor’s office to the school. The fax number is 681-9493, and the document should be sent to the attention of the Health Office.

What if my child is unable to participate in Physical Education class?
Students who are to be excused from gym for more than two classes require a Physician’s written excuse. On these days, students will not participate in recess as well. In order to resume Physical Education classes, written permission from the Physician is required.

How do I request my child’s early dismissal?
We ask that parents schedule all dental, medical and other appointments for their children during non-school hours so that they do not miss valuable class time. The last half hour of each school day is as much a part of the school day as any other time. Therefore, please refrain from asking to have your child released during this period.

TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION
Arrival and Dismissal
School hours are from 8:25 AM until 2:55 PM. In order to provide for the supervision of all children, it is requested that they not arrive at school earlier than 8:15 AM.

Bus Safety
The Board of Education expects students to observe all bus regulations. Any student that does not follow the rules or directives of the bus drivers and other staff in authority will be subject to disciplinary actions by the Principal.

Bus Transportation
For information regarding bus schedules, delays and/or inquiries regarding items left on buses, please contact Mr. Don Otten at 203-3600, Extension 3244.

Bicycle Riders
Bicycle racks have been provided adjacent to the school building for our children. School Board policy does not permit bicycles to be ridden on school grounds. It is recommended that bicycles be chain-locked to these racks as the school assumes no responsibility for loss or damages.

What are the Seaman Elementary School’s traffic instructions?
The New York State law prohibits the passing of a stopped school bus with flashing lights as such actions needlessly endanger all children. In order to assure a safe and orderly process, all arrivals and dismissals for the Seaman School have been established as follows: a. Only School Buses may use the front circular driveway.
b. All carpools and passenger vehicles must use the main door (parking lot) entrance at the North side of the school for student drop-off. At the conclusion of the school day, all vehicles will be held in this lot until the last school bus has left our grounds.
c. All walkers and bicyclists will use the field side entrance doors in order to avoid crossing the aforementioned vehicular paths.

Your cooperation is fully expected and patience kindly appreciated.

School Closing & Snow Emergency
Listen to NBC Radio (660 on the dial). Please do not call the Jericho Fire Department or the school. Your Room Representative will call to notify you of a school closing or delayed opening. In the event a snow dismissal becomes necessary, a plan has been devised to evacuate the school quickly and safely. This plan utilizes a telephone chain system and is an emergency procedure that includes bus students as well as walkers. The cooperation of all parents is critical for the program’s successful implementation.

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES:
After School Clubs
Club programs begin in November 2004 and will continue through April 2005.

Cultural Arts
All district-resident children, Grades K through 5, are eligible to attend the hour-long workshops held at the Seaman School on Friday afternoons. There is a nominal charge for attendance. Transportation to the Seaman School will be provided; however, transportation home from these workshops is the parents’ responsibility.

There are also pre-school workshops given for district-resident children who will be five years of age on or before December 1st, 2005. Parents must make their own transportation arrangements for children who attend the pre-school workshop program. For additional information, please call 203-3600, Extension 3414.

Swim Program
The swim program is held at Jericho High School. For additional information, please contact the Saturday Swim Coordinator, Mr. Michael Weinick, at the High School Athletic Office, 203-3600, Extension 3249.

The Jericho Athletic Association (JAA)
Organized instructional sport programs are provided for our children in baseball, softball and soccer. Please watch for notices from school and announcements in the Syosset-Jericho Tribune concerning these programs. Parents may address inquires to: P.O. Box 152, Jericho, NY or www.11753.com

Project Safe Time
Supervised after-school child care for students in grades K-5 from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM is conducted on days when school is in full session. Children are bused to the school site. For additional information, please contact the District’s Assistant Superintendent for Facilities, Dr. Ben Ciuffo, at 203-3600, Extension 3203.

What are my child’s responsibilities?
One of the prime objectives of the elementary school is to train children to be independent and to help children acquire worthwhile work habits. You can help the school achieve this objective by seeing that your child comes to school prepared for the day. Lunch or lunch money, sneakers, glasses, textbooks, homework, notebook, etc., are all part of the day’s preparations. No hats (except for religious observance) are permitted in school.