1000 Book Club: How do I
register?
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! To register and start taking advantage of
this valuable and FREE early literacy program, contact Judy Tambasco at 872-2030.
Absences: How should parents report them?
If your child is going to be absent, please call the school at
872-0939 before 9 a.m. to report that your child
will not be coming to school that day. There is a 24-hour
answering machine at this number so you may call in at anytime. 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: The
district policy is to call parents at their home or place of work to
validate an absence 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.
Absences: What about missed homework?
If your child is going to be absent for one or two days, you can
generally wait until he or she returns to make up missed work.
However, if your child is going to be absent for an extended
period, you can call the school in the morning to request that
homework be ready to pick up at the end of that day.
All work missed due to an illegal absence must be made up within
a week of the student's return. It is the responsibility of the
student or parent to notify the student's teacher one week in
advance of an anticipated absence so that the student may obtain
work that they will miss. Teachers may use their discretion as to
assigning what work they will require to be completed.
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Buses: Can my
child ride the bus to a friend's house?
Children must ride the bus to which they are assigned. Requests
to ride a different bus on any given day require a bus pass form
available from the main office. Students or parents may take
home several forms at one time. The form requires specific information (i.e. family
name, address and phone number of house). This form must be approved by
the main office at the beginning of the school day.
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Conferences: When are parent-teacher
conferences held?
Berne Elementary schedules parent-teacher conferences in late
fall -- great opportunities for parents and teachers to share
insights, ideas and concerns about students. The parent-teacher
conference provides an opportunity 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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I have concerns: How do I contact the school?
If you have a concern about your child's
progress, homework, discipline or some other issue, please
contact us right away. Please call your child's teacher first.
If you are unable to resolve the problem, please then contact the school
principal at 872-2030.
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Directions: Where are
the schools located?
Print out these directions and you'll find us with no trouble!
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Dropping something off: What is the policy?
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 children off: What time can I
drop my child off at school?
If you drive your children to school and drop them off
between 7:50 and 8:05 a.m. parents do not need to sign their
child into the office. However, children must stay in cafeteria
with the aide until released to classrooms. After 8:15 a.m. a
parent must accompany his or her child to the main office
to sign their child in. The child will receive a tardy pass
which allows into class.
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Kindergarten: When do I register my child?
Kindergarten is a full-day program. All kindergartners in the
BKW Central School District attend BKW Elementary School which serves
students in grades K-5. Registration, screening and orientation for students
entering kindergarten in the 2007-2008 school year will be
held April 2 -5. Parents/guardians will receive an information
packet in the mail in February. If you do not receive a packet,
please call Berne Elementary at 872-2030.
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Medications during the school day: Can my
child take medicine at school?
For medication to be administered at the school, parents must
supply:
-
A note from a parent/guardian stating
requesting that medication be given to the student at school.
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A note from the doctor stating the specific medication, dosage and time to be given.
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Medication in a clearly labeled bottle from a
pharmacy, with the current date.
Note: A parent is to bring in any medication to the
school nurse. Students must never bring medication on the
bus to take to school.
Contact the health office for more information.
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Morning Program: What is it and can I
attend?
Students at BKW attend "The Bulldog Morning
Show" once a
month. Parents are welcome to attend these grade-level
assemblies that generally involve an educational component,
songs and student recognition. For the date of the next Morning Program
see the Elementary School News and
Headlines Page.
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New students: How do I register my child for
school?
If you've just moved into the district and want to register your
child for school, please call student registration (Nancy Redzikowski) at 872-0939 and
make an appointment to register your child.
You will need to bring the following to that appointment:
-
Two proofs of district residency in your name (such as
lease, mortgage, homeowner's insurance policy, utility bill)
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A copy of your child's birth certificate
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A copy of your child's immunization records
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Your child's social security number
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The full name and address of your child's previous school
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Information about any special needs your child may have
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If applicable, a copy of any legal documents regarding parent
custody issues.
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Picking children up during the day: How do I
let the school know my child needs to leave early?
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 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. Between 2:15 - 2:30 p.m. you should sign out and
pick up your child from an aide in the front lobby.
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Picking children up at dismissal time: What
is the policy?
School officially dismisses at 2:15 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.
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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 in the main lobby with an
aide. Parents/guardians/friends will sign the child out in
the lobby.
-
PICK UP WITHOUT A NOTE -- If you did not send in a note,
please plan to arrive at the main office PRIOR to the 2:15 p.m.
dismissal bell to allow time to place your child's name on
the dismissal list. To minimize confusion
at dismissal time, we strongly urge parents to send in written
instructions.
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Telephone Calls: How do I contact my child's
teacher?
To contact your child's teacher, call the office
at 872-2030 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.
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Unplanned early dismissals: How do I know if
school closes early?
Information about early dismissals is quickly posted on
BKW's school closings and delays page. It is also released
to all local TV stations and major radio stations. The
Elementary PTA maintains a "phone tree" to contact parents of
K-5 students in the event of an unplanned early dismissal. It is
essential that parents keep their phone contact numbers up to
date for this purpose. (Call the school office at 872-2030 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 are not there.
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Visitors: Can I visit my child's classroom?
All visitors are required to report directly to the main office.
You 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.
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Volunteering: Can I volunteer in my child's
classroom?
BKW Elementary encourages parents and others to volunteer in the
school. We have an active and involved PTA and many
opportunities for parents to help out in the classroom, on field
trips and to participate on school and district-wide committees.
Call your child's teacher or the main office at 872-2030 for
information. |
