| GENERAL INFORMATION SCHOOL HOURS
Kindergarten - 1st semester (Sept. - Jan.)
8:50 a.m. - 11:20 a.m. (morning session)
12:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (afternoon session)
Kindergarten - 2nd semester (Feb. - June)
8:50 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Grades 1-4 8:50 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Children arriving by car should be dropped off no earlier than 8:45am.
Parents who choose to pick up their children must come to the Elementary
Office for this purpose. They will be released no earlier than 2:50 p.m. on a
regular basis
ATTENDANCE
Regular attendance and punctuality are important to each child. Good
attendance habits formed in these years are essential to steady academic
progress and will prove invaluable all through life.
When a child is absent the parent is required to call school before 9:30 a.m.
237-0800 ext. 3324.
The only legal excuses for absence or tardiness allows under the New York
State Education Law are:
1. Sickness
2. Sickness or death in the family
3. Religious observance
4. Approved school supervised trips
5. Required presence in court
6. Doctor's appointment
Absences or tardiness for any other reason is considered illegal and will be
entered on the student’s permanent attendance record. Tardiness is considered
after 9 a.m.
In the case of an absence or tardiness, a written excuse from the parent must
be presented to the teacher on the same day the child returns to school. NY
State law requires the written excuse explaining the absence from school, the
date of the absence and the parent's signature.
Oversleeping, shopping, trips with parents and vacations are considered
ILLEGAL. Family vacations should be planned to correspond with school recesses.
Parents and students will assume responsibility for schoolwork missed during an
illegal absence. Illegal absences reduce state aid to the district.
SCHOOL CLOSINGS
In the event of heavy snow, impassable roads or other emergencies
necessitating a late start or closing of our schools, an announcement to the
effect will be made over the following TV and radio stations:
Radio Stations: WGY
(890); WFLY - FLY 92; WRVE - The
River; WYJB - B95.5
TV Stations: WTEN
10; WNYT
13; WRGB
6; WXXA 23; Capital News 9
WEBSITES: Times Union and Capital News 9
For emergency reasons, (primarily weather) it is sometimes necessary to close
school before normal dismissal time. We are aware of the difficulties that can
be caused by an abrupt cancellation. Therefore, school will not be cancelled
unless a significant safety risk exists. If this should be necessary, the
decision to close will generally be made by 12:00 noon and will be announced on
the radio stations listed above.
It is vital that parents listen to the radio in inclement weather and
establish in advance an emergency plan for early closings. Please be sure
to teach these emergency procedures to your child.
VISITORS, VOLUNTEERS & PARKING
Parents, volunteers and visitors are an important part of our program. We
encourage you become an active part of our school community. In order to ensure
the safety of all students and staff members, we ask all visitors to enter the
school only through the main entrance located near the flagpole. Upon entering,
visitors will sign-in with our greeter and receive a badge which should be worn
throughout the entire visit. Before proceeding to the classroom, visitors must
stop in elementary office so that the office staff can contact the teacher of
the class being visited. We hope that those who enter our building recognize
that learning at a high level can only occur when all those individuals in our
school feel safe and secure.
Whenever you visit WHES, please park in the school's parking lot. There are 4
spaces near handicapped parking allotted to visitors. Do not park in the circle
in front of the school as it is a fire lane and must be kept open.
STUDENT DISMISSAL
Students will be dismissed beginning at approximately 3:00. They will be
required to take their regular bus home or be picked up on a daily basis. If
someone will be picking your child up from school, parents must:
send a
note with the child indicating when the child will be picked up and why
come
to the elementary office to sign out the student (dining room for end of the
day pick-ups) – to minimize classroom disruptions, office staff will
call the teacher and have the student sent to the office
Children will not be released to adult friends or relatives unless the name
is filed in the office. Anyone picking up the child may be asked to show
proper identification. Students being picked up by parents at the end of the
day will be called to the dining room at 2:50.
If your child must ride a different bus home than usual, a written request
must be sent in indicating the name, bus route and address of where your child
is going. This note will be signed by office personnel and will be your child’s
pass to ride a different bus. For safety reasons, without this signed note, a
student will not be permitted to board a different bus.
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MISSION STATEMENT
The staff of Waterford-Halfmoon Elementary School believes that the purpose
of our school is to present a high quality education to all students equally and
fairly, giving emphasis to individual learning so that each student has the
opportunity to achieve his or her full potential. With positive support from all
members of the school community, a large quantity of experiences will help
foster this potential.
We strongly encourage and present opportunities for positive growth in
social/emotional behaviors and attitudes. In this way our students can learn to
live successfully in society.
We accept the responsibility to work toward these goals. Our success will be
measured by student growth in both cognitive and affective areas. Student growth
in each area will be observed using both formal instruments and informal
procedures.
PARENTS AS LEARNING PARTNERS
Parents should remember that they are their child’s most important teacher
and need to serve as positive role models. We can expect children to become a
responsible and caring person only if we give them the skills and environment to
promote this. Like the parents of the children we teach, we care about children
and want the very best for them. We know that this means forming a close
partnership with parents to provide a solid foundation for each child. This
handbook is intended to help to establish this partnership by giving parents
information about our school, educational goals and suggesting ways parents can
help children learn. The handbook also highlights for elementary students
portions of our Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District Code of Conduct.
Please take the time to read through these with your child.
Parents are expected to attend Parent/Teacher Conferences and are encouraged
to become acquainted with Waterford-Halfmoon Elementary staff, curriculum and
activities. In short, become a member of our school community! Parents should
communicate often and openly with school personnel. This includes reviewing the
homework daily and responding when appropriate, reading our monthly newsletter
and initiating a contact with the teacher when there is a question or concern.
Parents can insure good health by stressing proper nutrition and cleanliness.
This, in turn, will lead to good attendance, a good attitude toward school, and
excellent work.
Parents should insist that their children are respectful and courteous to
others, that they follow school rules, and are always prepared to learn. Most
important is that each student be expected to do his/her very best in every
subject during every school day.
CUSTODY ISSUES
If there is an issue with the custody of your child, please be sure that we
have updated custody papers to this effect in the office. Please be reminded of
our Banana Splits program for children of divorced or separated parents or other
single parent families.
LEAVING MESSAGES
In order to reach your child in case of an emergency, call the Elementary
Office at school and leave a message with the secretary. Teachers may be
contacted by calling the Elementary office and leaving a message with the
secretary. The teacher will return the call as soon as he/she is available. Use
of the telephone by students will be restricted. |
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