2-hour delay

If there is a 2-hour delay, the first bell rings at 10:40 a.m. Send your child to school at 10:30 a.m. No breakfasts are served on delay days.

Absences

Parents are asked to call the school at 843-1850 when your child is absent. Upon returning to school, parents must send a note with dates, reason, and signature.

Board of Education Policy

This is a reminder that there is BOE Policy regarding electronic devices (specifically, Walkmans, radios, CD players, and electronic games). These electronic devices are NOT allowed on school grounds or in school. This policy also pertains to our elementary school.

Breakfast hours

Breakfast is served beginning at 8:15 a.m. Students must be in the cafeteria by 8:30 a.m. to receive breakfast.

Character Education:

The Greater Amsterdam Elementary Schools are continuing with the Character Education program. Each month there is a theme that focuses attention on the qualities that make up good character. Please join us as we emphasize these character education themes:

Emergency drills

We will be conducting various types of emergency drills throughout the 2007-08 school year. These include emergency evacuation drills such as fire drills. In the event that we ever need to send students home early, please have a predetermined plan for your child in the event he or she cannot reach you. Please take some time to discuss your emergency plans with your son/daughter. This helps all of us to feed and stay safe.

Emergency information

Also, if emergency information has changed recently, please notify the nurse so that we may correct changes on emergency sheets. We need this information in the event of a school emergency, a sick child, or in the event school closes early. Please call us during school hours at 843-1850, write a note, or stop by the office if there are any changes. Furthermore, if you have made changes as to who can pick up your child from school, you will need to fill out a new emergency card. This is very important!

Excused from Physical Education

An excuse from a doctor must be sent into the office.

Food Services

Send money in an envelope and give to homeroom teacher to be sent to cafeteria with lunch and milk order.

Mid-morning milk: $2.00 (40 cents per day). Money is due on Friday for the following week or the last full day of the week.

Full breakfast: $ .70
Reduced breakfast: $ .25

Full lunch: $1.00 each day
Reduced lunch: $ .25 each day
Ala carte soup: $1.00
Ala carte Milk: $ .40

Parent's responsibility and sent-home school communication

It is the parent’s responsibility to ask his/her child(ren) each day for any communication that may have been given out that day. Besides a monthly newsletter, lunch menus, announcements, etc. are sent home via the children on a regular basis and should be in the child’s backpack.

Path paved

The path which adjoins the upper parking and the crosswalk has been paved and will provide a safe avenue for students and their parents to use throughout the school year. Please be informed that the traffic cones are strategically positioned to further identify the crosswalk and as a reminder that the parking adjacent to the school building proper is for staff use only. Furthermore, please be reminded that all visitors must report to the office, sign in and receive a visitor’s badge. This may seem like an inconvenience; nevertheless we must continue to be vigilant in regards to the welfare and safety of our students and staff.

Religious instruction

2 p.m. dismissal on Tuesdays for students signed up at St. Mary’s Institute. Students who do not attend religion classes will remain in school until the 3:10 p.m. dismissal.

Request for early dismissal

If leaving school during the day for an appointment or other valid reason, students must have a written note signed by a parent/guardian. Bring this note to the nurse’s office before 9:00 a.m. Medical appointments should be scheduled after school hours whenever possible.

Safety reminder for parents and students

Please take time to discuss some safety procedures concerning pedestrian and vehicle traffic. The front of school, at arrival and dismissal times, is very busy with traffic and potentially dangerous if the rules are not followed. Students may be dropped off at the end of DeStefano Street or parents may enter the upper parking lot and walk their child/children down the path and across the crossway to the front door. Please do not enter or park in the staff parking lot at any time or make u-turns as they are illegal. Your cooperation in this matter is greatly appreciated. Although you may find these procedures to be inconvenient, be assured that these steps are being taken to improve safety. We know that you will do everything in your power to deal in a meaningful and effective manner with these procedures.

School closings and emergencies

If school must be closed because of weather conditions, facility failure, or other emergencies, announcements will be made on the district Website school closings link or on television and radio stations listed below:

Please do not call the school offices or district offices on inclement weather days. The telephone lines are needed for emergency communications. If school is cancelled, all uses of the building are also cancelled on that day, unless otherwise noted or announced.

School hours

School begins promptly at 8:40 a.m. each day and ends at 3:00 p.m. All students that ride the bus to McNulty, Special Education students, and walkers are dismissed at 3:00 p.m. Remaining students that ride busses home are dismissed from the dining room as their bus arrives at Barkley.