family handbook 2014 15 - greene hill school · deb ashman [email protected] 2014 15 9...
TRANSCRIPT
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Family Handbook
2014-15
39 Adelphi Street, Brooklyn, NY 11205 www.greenehillschool.org Main Phone: 718.230.3608 Parent Phone: 718.222.1971
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TABLE OF CONTENTS P. 5 Family Handbook Introduction P. 6-8 Contact Information P. 9-10 Board of Trustees and Professional Advisors P. 11-13 About Greene Hill School P. 14-22 Lower School: Daily Routines and General Information
Hours Security Scooters, Strollers and Bicycles Attendance Calendar Daily Schedule Afterschool Homework Technology Use Expectations Around Reading at Home
P. 22-29 Middle School: Daily Routines and General Information
Hours Security Scooters, Strollers and Bicycles Attendance Calendar Daily Schedule Afterschool Homework Technology Use Expectations for Student Behavior
P. 30-31 Additional Class and Event Information
Lower School: What To Bring Middle School: What To Bring Special Events School Gatherings Field Trips
P. 32-42 School Forms, Transportation and Communication
School Forms Getting To and From School Yellow Bus Service and Student Metrocards
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Email Communication PATHS Family Directory Parent Log-In Google Groups for School Communication Family Mailboxes Classroom Newsletters Quarterly Newsletter Telephone Lower School
Curriculum Night, Class Meetings and Community Forums
Parent/Teacher Conferences and the Family Conference
Narrative Reports Middle School
Curriculum Night, Class Meetings and Community Forums
Conferences Narrative Reports
Questions and Concerns Student Reports and Teacher Recommendations
P. 43-44 Parent/Guardian Involvement P. 45-46 Appendix 1-Enrollment and Tuition P. 47-54 Appendix 2-Health and Safety and Health and Emergency
Policies P. 55-56 Appendix 3-Behavior and Discipline Policy P. 57 Appendix 4-Non-Discrimination and Non-Harassment Policy P. 58-59 Appendix 5- Technology Acceptable Use Policy (Consent Form in
Appendix 8) P. 60 Appendix 6- Class Parents P. 61 Appendix 7- PATHS (Parents and Teachers Helping the School) P. 62 Appendix 8 - School Forms and What to Bring*
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*Please find the Child Health Examination Form for 2014-15 at: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/hcp/hcp-ch205.pdf *Medical and Immunization Requirements for 2014-15: http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/461805A3-25CC-4397-AE8E-F8A32BCF6335/0/SH65MedReq201415_Final.pdf P. 86-88 2014-15 School Calendar and September Phase-In schedule
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FAMILY HANDBOOK INTRODUCTION This handbook is an introduction to Greene Hill School (“GHS” and “the School”) and guidelines for working with teachers and administrative staff in support of your child at school. The information here is not fully comprehensive and parents/guardians are encouraged to ask for guidance when they need it. The School reserves the right to modify any of the rules, policies and procedures set forth in this handbook at any time. By completing the necessary forms at the end of this handbook you are acknowledging that the adults responsible for the child(ren) enrolled at the School have read the handbook and know the contents.
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CONTACT INFORMATION Mailing Address: Greene Hill School 39 Adelphi Street Brooklyn, NY 11205 Greene Hill School Telephone Numbers: General Information and School Office: 718.230.3608 Parent Phone: 718.222.1971 Administrative and Support Staff Diana Schlesinger [email protected] School Director Jaime Quackenbush [email protected] Lower School Divisional Director Laurie Baum [email protected] Middle School Divisional Director Rachael Burton [email protected] Development Director Leah Krigger [email protected] Human Resources and Bookkeeping Nanci Berman [email protected] Admissions Denise Prieto [email protected] Consulting Psychologist Sally Stark-Dreifus [email protected] Administrative Support Teaching Faculty 4s Head Teacher Yvette Headley [email protected]
4s Assistant Teacher Kiera Jaffin [email protected]
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5s Head Teacher Elizabeth Hettich [email protected] 5s Assistant Teacher Roxanne Crocker [email protected] 6s Head Teacher Anthony Bradfield [email protected] 6s Assistant Teacher Mark-Antonio Smith [email protected] 7s Head Teacher Sharyne Beza [email protected] 7s Assistant Teacher 8s Head Teacher Anna Lundgren [email protected] 8s Associate Teacher Hilary Davis [email protected] 9s Head Teacher James Choi [email protected] 10s Head Teacher Mayuko Nakamura [email protected] 9/10s Assistant Teacher Esther Hamm [email protected] 6th Grade Humanities Teacher Gabrielle Thal-Pruzan [email protected] 6th Grade Math Teacher Hadas DeGroot [email protected] Dance and Movement Teacher Cara Surico [email protected] Health Teacher Ekem Merchant-Bleiberg [email protected]
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Learning Specialist/Lower and Middle School Kathleen Standard [email protected] Learning Specialist/Lower School Melanie Okadigwe [email protected] Music Teacher/6s-10s Bob Goldberg [email protected] Music Teacher/4s-5s Melanie Cozzi [email protected] Science Teacher/Lower and Middle School Marjorie Vereen [email protected] Spanish Teacher/4s-9s and Afterschool Coordinator Veronica Perez [email protected] Spanish Teacher/10s and Middle School Diana Narvaez [email protected] Technology Teacher/Lower and Middle School Deb Ashman [email protected]
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BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Greene Hill School is governed by a Board of Trustees. This Board sets policies, hires and supports the school director, undertakes strategic planning, evaluates the performance of the school and leads in financial support of the school. The Board can be easily reached at [email protected].
Members: Meredith Phillips Almeida, Member of the Board, is Acting Executive Director of the Myrtle Avenue Restoration Project. Meredith joined the organization specifically to grow its community initiatives. During her tenure, she built a thriving Food Access Initiative, played a key role in the Partnership’s planning efforts on Park Avenue/Under the BQE, and is leading the development of new initiatives around Safety & Security and Age-Friendly Environments. Meredith serves on Brooklyn Community Board 2’s Youth, Education & Cultural Affairs committee. She holds an MUP from NYU Wagner and a BS in Environmental Economics & Policy from UC Berkeley. Eric Ashman, Treasurer of the Board, is currently the Chief Financial Officer of the Thrillist Media Group, a leading men’s lifestyle brand that includes Thrillist, Thrillist Rewards and JackThreads. Eric is also the Finance Partner at Lerer Ventures, a New York City based seed stage venture capital fund. Prior to joining Thrillist, Eric was the Chief Financial Officer of The Huffington Post and TheStreet.com. Eric started his career as a CPA, and received his BBA in Accounting from the University of Massachusetts. Nanci Berman, Board President, is responsible for overseeing the Board of Trustees. Nanci has been involved with Greene Hill School since its inception and continues to support the school through admissions work and as a mentor teacher. Nanci has a Masters in Elementary Education and taught at the progressive City & Country School in Manhattan for many years. She is mom to two children and lives in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. David Horowitz, Member of the Board, is an independent consultant in brand management and communications strategy. David has created brand and design strategies for Petco, Michelina’s, and Tetley Tea, developed product innovations for Coca Cola and Western Union, and built new brands for the UN’s World Food Program. In 2011 his branded content work for Bloomberg was awarded a Jay Chiat Strategy Award honorable
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mention. He was a Social Sciences Research Fellow at Columbia University and the Woodrow Wilson Foundation where he wrote and lectured on the process of modernization in Germany. David holds an MA and PhD from Columbia University and a BA, magna cum laude, from Brown University, all in modern history. Jocelynne Rainey, Member of the Board, is the Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Workforce Development for the Brooklyn Navy Yard Corporation (BNYDC), the not-for-profit corporation that manages and develops the Brooklyn Navy Yard as an urban industrial park. Jocelynne has successfully led the human resources functions in the for-profit and non-profit sectors for over 15 years. Jocelynne resides in the Bedford Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn New York with her husband, Perry, a New York City Department of Education high school principal and her two sons, Pericles, who is currently attending Brooklyn College and Andrew, who attends Brooklyn Technical High School. Beth Schneider, Member of the Board, is the Associate Head of School at Mary McDowell Friends School in Brooklyn, NY. In her time at MMFS, she has worked in partnership with the administration to develop a program for children with learning disabilities, growing the school from a community of sixty students ages five through fifth grade to the current enrollment of 323 students ages five through eleventh grade. Beth has also been on the Commission of the New York State Association of Independent Schools and served as a chair on numerous NYSAIS accreditation visits. With over twenty-five years of experience working in independent schools in Brooklyn, she is delighted to be part of the Greene Hill School community. Amanda Smith, Secretary of the Board, is responsible for keeping minutes of board meetings and distributing them to all members. Amanda is the Pro Bono Partner at Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP and is responsible for the firm’s global pro bono program, through which 65,000 hours of free legal services were donated to low income individuals and non-profits in 2011. Amanda has a JD from the University of Michigan and a MSt. in International Human Rights Law from the University of Oxford in the UK. Amanda has three children and lives in Brooklyn. PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS
Banking Services provided by Carver FSB Latham & Watkins (Legal Services) Andre Guthman and Assoc. (Accounting) Ira Schwartz, Progressive Brokerage Corp. and Vincent Reda, Main Line Insurance (Insurance)
Todd Rosenthal, Library Consultant
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ABOUT GREENE HILL SCHOOL Welcome to Greene Hill School!
Greene Hill School (GHS) is a progressive independent school for children ages four to fourteen. GHS was founded by parents and educators who envisioned an engaged and socially responsible community of active learners. Greene Hill School has small class sizes and staff dedicated to supporting children as they become confident in their abilities to explore, learn, demonstrate compassion, and be inspired.
Our students are directly engaged with the world, from growing plants in their community garden to connecting with people who work and live in Brooklyn. We provide open-ended materials and experiences and emphasize inquiry in the classroom.
We at Greene Hill understand that realistically it is a challenge to operate an independent school with low tuition rates, but are committed to working toward our goal of having Greene Hill School be a viable option for members of our community without tuition being a barrier. History The idea for Greene Hill School began when a group of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill parents, educators and friends were looking for a progressive school with small class sizes for their children. As the notion to create a new school took hold the planners wanted to ensure that the school was both local and affordable. In the fall of 2009, the first class of eight four and five year old children started learning together with the school’s first teacher in a sunlit loft in Clinton Hill. In 2010 the school more than doubled in size, sharing space with the FGCH Co-op Pre-School. Now in 2014, we have launched our Middle School and Greene Hill School has found a permanent home in a beautiful and spacious building on Adelphi Street. Our Mission Greene Hill School is an independent school for children ages four to fourteen that serves the need of the Fort Greene/Clinton Hill and surrounding Brooklyn communities for affordable and progressive education. We actively involve families in their children's school and children in their own education. We promote learning through an interdisciplinary curriculum, appreciation of critical thinking, and open-ended investigation of the neighborhood and beyond. Founded with the understanding that community is the backbone of society, Greene Hill School guides children to become dedicated members of a diverse,
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democratic society. Diversity Statement Greene Hill School is dedicated to achieving a racially and economically diverse balance of children and their families reflective of people in the Fort Greene/Clinton Hill and surrounding Brooklyn communities. Understanding that tuition is often a barrier to diversity in independent schools, it is the goal of Greene Hill to keep tuition at a minimum for all families. Greene Hill School’s Vision for a Progressive Education Progressive Education Progressive education is a movement dedicated to educating the whole child, with an emphasis on social justice. At Greene Hill, we are guided by these meaningful principles every day. In the 1900s, during the Progressive Era of reform, socially-minded activists and educational theorists like Jane Addams and John Dewey aligned their theories of progressivism with those of earlier philosophers such as John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Their beliefs about child development, such as the importance of active engagement and educating the whole person, have influenced the core principles of progressive education to this day. For over 60 years, John Dewey (1859-1952) shaped progressive educational theory and practice. The Laboratory School in Chicago, founded with his wife, became a place for his research and observations and led to the writing of numerous articles and books. Dewey codified the way we think of progressive education today in books like The School and Society and Democracy and Education. A general summary of Dewey’s philosophy includes the following tenets: Education is a process of living, not a preparation for living. Curriculum should be based on children’s interests with some structure provided by adults.
The most meaningful experiences for children are ones rooted in their current stage of development and the scientific method.
School should prepare children to be fully participatory members of a democratic society.
School should be equally concerned with the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical needs of the child.
Constructivism Constructivism is at the heart of Greene Hill School’s approach to teaching. It is the theory that all people construct their own knowledge, developing meaning and understanding through experience and reflection. Based on the research of developmental psychologists and educational theorists like Jean Piaget, Lev Vygotsky, and Eleanor Duckworth, constructivist theory provides a strong framework through which we at Greene Hill understand how children learn and what our role is in supporting their learning. We see learning as an active, life-long process, through which people continuously build upon what they already know to refine ideas and create
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coming to America. Through discussion and readings, they identify common themes in the immigration experience, and wonder together about the stories that stand outside those themes.
Children examine well-written picture books to see how authors use commas, making generalizations and developing rules for their usage that they can immediately apply to their own writing.
Children use graph paper or base-ten blocks to make physical models of double-digit multiplication, figuring out how that representation relates to the standard U.S. algorithm for multiplication, and to other methods as well.
A class learning about bread experiments to find the right ratio between flour and water, and tries baking a loaf without yeast to see what will happen. They decide what their next step will be to better understand the process.
Greene Hill School’s Complete Lower and Middle School Curriculum Guide is available for download on our website. (linked here) For more information about how these different parts of the educational program fit together and what a typical day looks like, see the “Daily Schedule” sections below.
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LOWER SCHOOL (4s-10s): DAILY ROUTINES AND GENERAL INFORMATION Hours The day begins at Greene Hill School at 8:50 a.m. for 4s through 9s, and at 8:30 a.m. for 10s and Middle School. School ends at 3:00 p.m. for all Lower School students. School ends at 3:30 for Middle School students. Children may be dropped off in the Community Room on the second floor as early as 8:20 a.m. and parents may drop children off directly in their classrooms starting at 8:40 a.m. Students in the 9s and older who arrive on time to school may go to early drop off or to their classrooms without an adult. Younger students should be accompanied by an adult. All children are expected to be at school and settled by 8:50 a.m. to start the day. The afterschool program will go from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Security Every morning you and your child must check in with security. Only authorized parents and caregivers will be allowed in the building for drop off and pick up. Toward the beginning of the year you will be given a green ID card to complete. It will be laminated and must be shown to security at each pick up or drop off.
At the end of this handbook is a form for additional people who you would like to authorize for occasional drop off and pick up.
Scooters, Strollers and Bicycles These may be left in the front entrance of the school as long as they do not block doors, access to the stairs, or the security guard’s movements. Strollers must be folded. There are bike racks on the sidewalk outside of school for your convenience. Attendance Good attendance is important for a successful experience in school. The school year is carefully planned for each class, and extended or frequent absences can detract from your child's learning and social experience. The school provides for ample vacation time and families are expected to plan their vacations to take place only over Greene Hill School’s scheduled breaks. In addition, participation in an education program is mandatory in New York State for children ages 6 to 16. Attendance records are reported as required to the State Education Department and become a part of the School's permanent records. Greene Hill School has several school vacations scheduled throughout the year. We ask that families do not schedule trips that conflict with days the school is in session so that students can participate fully in school learning with their classmates. If students will miss school for a trip outside of Greene Hill’s vacation schedule, teachers may provide some work for them to complete while they are away. However, work prepared
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in advance generally cannot replicate or take the place of what will be happening in the classroom during the student’s absence. Teachers are not expected to provide extra work for children whose families take them out of school for a trip during a non-vacation date. If you believe your child will need to be absent for an extended period of time, please talk with the Lower or Middle School Divisional Director. We appreciate your support in helping your child and family get the most meaningful experience out of school through consistent attendance. Early Drop-Off Children may be dropped off in the Community Room on the second floor as early as 8:20 a.m. and parents may drop children off directly in their classrooms starting at 8:20 a.m. for the Middle School and 8:40 a.m. for the Lower School. Students in the 9s and older who arrive on time to school may go to early drop off or to their classrooms without an adult. Younger students should be accompanied by an adult. All children are expected to be at school and settled by 8:50 a.m. (8:30 a.m. for 10s and up) to start the day. Late Arrivals Late arrivals can be distracting to the class and are a disruption to a child’s routine. Children who arrive during morning meeting time may be asked to wait in the office until meeting is over. If your child is going to be more than one hour late, prior arrangements should be made with the teacher. Any students who arrive late to school must have an adult with them to sign the Late Book stationed at security. Students will then receive a Late Ticket from security to turn in to their teacher.
Any messages about attendance or changes in students’ dismissal routines should be emailed directly to: [email protected], with the classroom teacher(s) cc’d on the message. A parent or guardian should email [email protected] before 10:00 a.m. if a child is out sick and before noon if dismissal plans have changed for a student. If you are unable to email, please call the parent line at 718.222.1971. Please note that phone calls and emails sent to the directors are often missed, especially ones containing last minute changes. Dismissal Dismissal is at 3:00 p.m. for Lower School and 3:30 p.m. on most days for Middle School. It is expected that children will be picked up promptly, as it can be upsetting for a child who is left after the rest of the class has been picked up. If you are late, your child will be placed in an afterschool class and your family will be charged accordingly. When an adult arrives for pick up they must make themselves known to the teacher in charge so that everyone is clear that a child has been
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properly dismissed. See “Afterschool” on page 19 for information about this program and dismissal procedures from afterschool. Students in the 10s and older can check themselves out of school as long as the permission form has been signed by their parent or guardian and a schedule is determined ahead of time. The form is located in Appendix 8. A parent or guardian should email [email protected] before 12:00 noon if: You are running late for pick up so that we can prepare your child and the teacher for your late arrival.
Your child will go home with a different adult or another family. Your child is taking or not taking the bus on a day other than those previously determined.
Your child (10 and up) will be self-dismissing on a day other than those previously determined.
Calendar The academic calendar for 2014-15 and phase-in schedule for 2014-15 can be found on page 86 of this handbook. Greene Hill School also has a Google Calendar. To join: Go to www.greenehillschool.org/community/calendar 2014-15 Select “+google calendar” at the bottom right of the grid calendar and it will walk you through the steps to add the calendar to your google account.
Daily Schedule for Lower School Each day the children will follow certain daily routines. Routines, along with information pertaining to them can be found here. Arrival Time – The school day begins at 8:50 a.m. for 4s through 9s and 8:30 a.m. for 10s. During this time, parents are encouraged to help their child get settled into school by guiding them as they put away their belongings and find a quiet activity. For older Lower School students, arrival time is often where quick skill review work happens. It is important that the children develop a sense of autonomy, and that parents do not do the children’s work for them. It is also important that parents complete the separation process by the start of class so that the class may begin its Morning Meeting without disruption. All children are expected to be at school and settled by 8:50 a.m. (8:30 a.m. for 10s) to start the day. Morning Meeting – This is an important daily ritual. It is a time for the class to come together as a community, greet each other, share ideas and learn together. Morning Meeting will often be a time for children to engage in shared reading, a math activity and to have a conversation about a topic they are studying. Open Work – We believe it is important for children to engage in work they have chosen themselves, every day. The youngest children do this at
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school by working and playing with a consistent set of open-ended materials at Open Work: clay, blocks, water, blank books, etc. As children get older, the available materials expand, and children have different opportunities to engage with art, science, construction, and other concepts in ways that interest and challenge them. Sometimes this work is connected to the core curriculum;; sometimes it is not. In the older groups, children gain experience planning and evaluating more long-term projects at Open Work. Teachers support this work by providing scaffolding around materials or skills, and helping children identify and meet ever-increasing standards of excellence in their work. Labs – One way that we support the different interests and strengths of children is through our Labs program. Labs are small, mixed-age, adult-led courses around different topics such as Electricity, Printmaking, Newspaper, Rube Goldberg Machines, and others. Labs typically run for about six weeks, meeting twice a week during Open Work time. Children in the 5s and older participate in Labs. The skills and experiences they gain during Labs often find their way back into the classroom through independent or group Open Work projects. Also, as children gain expertise in a particular area they often share what they’ve learned with classmates. Community Work – Because our social studies curriculum is firmly rooted in a concern for how people have organized themselves into functioning groups (family, neighborhood, nation, etc.), we use the term “Community Work” to refer to the core studies of the 4s through 10s. A class approaches a given Community Work topic (transportation, neighborhood change, immigration, explorers, etc.) through a variety of angles – taking trips, reading books, interviewing experts, studying photographs, reenactments, and so on. Other Curriculum Areas – Reading, writing and math skills are regularly incorporated into the core Community Work studies. Each discipline, however, is also given its own distinct time of the day several times a week, beginning with the 5s. Reading: Teachers address the range of reading needs in their classrooms in a variety of ways – through whole class instruction like shared reading (text that everyone can look at together) and read alouds;; through targeted small-group work to develop specific reading strategies;; and through individual reading conferences. (Note: this explicit reading instruction does not typically begin until spring of the 5s year.) Children read for pleasure as well as for information, and are supported in finding books that they can read independently and comfortably.
Writing: Children (5s and up) write every day in support of the curriculum, using writing as a way to organize their thoughts and communicate effectively. Children also learn to write as a creative medium, exploring genres such as journal writing, poetry, fiction, fantasy, and more.
Math: Our Lower School math work is based on the Investigations in Number, Data and Space program, a curriculum designed to be
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hands-on and engaging, while at the same time guiding children to become nimble with numbers and confident in how the number system works. Other strands of math such as geometry, data, functions, and measurement, are also explored.
Science: Lower School science education harnesses children’s curiosity about the natural world, building their base of knowledge through discovery and experimentation as well as through research. Scientific skills like analyzing data and constructing inferences and explanations based on evidence are emphasized. Science instruction happens with core classroom teachers in the 4s and 5s. Beginning with a trimester in the 6s and year-long in the 7s, classes work with a science teacher outside the classroom.
Snack – Children have a mid-morning snack each day. Families will be asked to bring snacks on a rotating basis. A snack list will be available at the beginning of the school year. Parents will be notified at the beginning of the year if there are allergies or other food restrictions in a class. Outside Time - Children spend close to an hour playing outside every day, either in the main play yard, or in the blocks yard. Once a week classes play on the large climbing equipment at Oracle Playground, on Adelphi St. between Park Ave. and Myrtle Ave. Outside Time is supervised and supported by classroom teachers. Children should dress appropriately for outdoor play, including rain gear if necessary, every day. In case of very heavy rain or other severe weather, children play upstairs in the Community Room. Lunch – Children bring their lunches from home, although the school is currently looking into a parent choice lunch program. 4s and 5s eat in their classrooms;; 6s and up eat in the cafeteria. Please send your child with a healthy lunch, keeping sugary products to a minimum. Juice, soda, and candy are not allowed. Water is available at the school, but other beverages should be sent with your child.
Please do not send lunches or beverages that need to be heated or refrigerated. In helping children to become more autonomous, it is important that your child’s lunch be in containers that s/he can open and close independently.
Parents will be notified at the beginning of the year if there are allergies or other food restrictions in a class.
Quiet Time – The 4s and 5s children have a daily quiet time. This is a time after lunch for the children to relax and regroup. Children will rest on individual mats, but will not be expected to sleep. The teacher may take this time to work with individual students while other students look at books or engage in other quiet, independent activities. Special Curriculum Areas and Experiences – In addition to the work children do with their classroom teachers, they also have experiences with curriculum specialists outside the classroom. This work helps provide a well-rounded school experience at Greene Hill.
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Music Spanish Sports and Movement ArtsLab Technology (one trimester, beginning in 7s year) Health (one trimester, beginning in 9s year)
Library – All classes visit the school library on a weekly basis. Depending on grade level, this could be for book browsing, quiet reading, read alouds, or small group instruction. Some classes also make periodic visits to the local public library. Afterschool Afterschool will be held until 5:30 p.m. every day and is broken up into three sessions: Session 1: 3:15 - 4:00 Afterschool Classes, Open Play or The Quiet Zone Session 2: 4:00 - 4:45 Afterschool Classes, Open Play or The Quiet Zone Session 3: 4:45 - 5:30 Open Play Parents/guardians must commit to the entire session to streamline pick-up and registration. Parents/guardians may sign up for multiple back-to-back sessions. Afterschool options include: 1) Afterschool Classes (a series of semester-long course offerings). Course schedule and prices will be sent out in early September 2) Open Play (informal games/art making, etc. for 4s-8s). 3) The Quiet Zone (a time for independent reading or homework for 9s and up). Open Play and The Quiet Zone will start 9/15/14 and will cost $10 per session. Afterschool Class offerings will be shared by email in September and will begin in October. Questions about Afterschool should go to [email protected]. Please Note: Students must be part of an Afterschool Class, Open Play or Quiet Zone session or have an appointment with a teacher or school-approved provider in order to remain in the building after school.
If you are late, your child will be placed in the next afterschool session and your family will be charged accordingly.
When an adult arrives for pick up they must make themselves known to the after school teacher in charge so that everyone is clear that a child has been properly dismissed. In addition, all children must be signed out at the security desk on the way out. If you neglect to follow these and other procedures you will not be able to continue using afterschool.
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If a student has been absent from school they may not attend an afterschool class.
Students in the 10s and older can check themselves out of afterschool as long as the permission form has been signed by their parent or guardian and a schedule is determined ahead of time. The form is located in Appendix 8.
Summer Camp Options for the 2015 GHS Summer Camp will be listed on the website by April, 2015. There is an additional fee for this program. Homework As a school that values a well-rounded child, we recognize the importance of time spent after school with family and friends, relaxing or engaging in enriching activities. We also know that children can benefit from additional opportunities to extend their school work independently at home, and that a limited amount of homework can develop older children’s sense of personal responsibility. Given the above, we have worked to create a homework policy that is balanced and responsive. Beginning in the 7s, children begin regular homework by tracking their reading in a weekly Reading Log. In the 8s, children have modest homework assignments throughout the week. Children should not spend more than 30 minutes (8s), 35 minutes (9s), or 40 minutes (10s) a night on their assignments, though children will often finish homework assignments more quickly. Parents of children in the 8s and older will receive more information about homework expectations and procedures at Curriculum Night. Please refer to the “Technology Acceptable Use Policy” in Appendix 5 in this handbook for details about students’ use of computers and the internet for the purposes of homework. Technology Use at School At Greene Hill students learn that while computers are important tools for research and communication, they are also tools for creativity, design, and bringing ideas to fruition. By engaging in self-initiated projects and open ended experimentation, children learn how to solve problems in innovative ways. The Technology program begins in the 7s, with one trimester of weekly instruction per year. 7s learn to use computers as tools for creativity and design. They start by taking apart a computer and acting out the ways in which the different components work together. They begin to learn simple algorithms by working with LOGO floor robots, and are then introduced to programming using Scratch. 8s and 9s continue to work with Scratch, developing their programming skills and learning about grids, debugging, object interaction, conditionals, and sensing. They develop independent and group projects that integrate their programming skills in new ways. In the 10s, they extend their work by programming physical objects that respond to their
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commands. Please refer to the “Technology Acceptable Use Policy” in Appendix 5 for greater detail about student responsibilities regarding appropriate technology use. Expectations Around Reading at Home At Greene Hill School we aim to foster a love of reading in all children. Students spend time every day at school with books, together with teachers, peers or on their own. It is important that children spend time with books at home as well. Children of all ages should spend at least 20 minutes a night with books. What this time looks like will depend on your child’s age and the “reading culture” in your family. It may be a mix of bedtime stories read to your child, books read together as a child gains independence, and time spent huddled on the couch reading by oneself.
Children in the 7s keep track of their independent reading in a Reading Log, a structure that older children may use as well.
As children get older they take more independent responsibility for their reading choices. Children begin bringing GHS library books home in the 8s.
MIDDLE SCHOOL (6th grade): DAILY ROUTINES AND GENERAL INFORMATION Security Every morning you and your child must check in with security. Only authorized parents and caregivers will be allowed in the building for drop off and pick up. Toward the beginning of the year you will be given a green ID card to complete. It will be laminated and must be shown to security at each pick up or drop off.
At the end of this handbook is a form for additional people who you would like to authorize for occasional drop off and pick up.
Scooters, Strollers and Bicycles These may be left in the front entrance of the school as long as they do not block doors, access to the stairs, or the security guard’s movements. Strollers must be folded. There are bike racks on the sidewalk outside of school for your convenience. Attendance Good attendance is important for a successful experience in school. The school year is carefully planned for each class, and extended or frequent absences can detract from your child's learning and social experience. Participation in an education program is mandatory in New York State for children ages 6 to 16. Attendance records are reported as required to the State Education Department and become a part of the School's permanent
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records. Greene Hill School has several school vacations scheduled throughout the year. We ask that families do not schedule trips that conflict with days the school is in session so that students can participate fully in school learning with their classmates. If students will miss school for a trip outside of Greene Hill’s vacation schedule, teachers may provide some work for them to complete while they are away. However, work prepared in advance generally cannot replicate or take the place of what will be happening in the classroom during the student’s absence. Teachers are not expected to provide extra work for children whose families take them out of school for a trip during a non-vacation date. If you believe your child will need to be absent for an extended period of time, please talk with the Divisional Director. We appreciate your support in helping your child and family get the most meaningful experience out of school through consistent attendance. Early Drop-Off Middle School students may arrive as early as 8:20 a.m. for their 8:30 a.m. start time. Students in the 9s and older who arrive on time to school may go to early drop-off or to their classrooms without an adult. Younger students should be accompanied by an adult. Late Arrivals Late arrivals can be distracting to the class and are a disruption to a child’s routine. If your child is going to be more than one hour late, prior arrangements should be made with the teacher. Any students who arrive late to school must have an adult with them to sign the Late Book stationed at security. Students will then receive a Late Ticket from security to turn in to their teacher.
Any messages about attendance or changes in students’ dismissal routines should be emailed directly to: [email protected], with the classroom teacher(s) cc’d on the message. A parent or guardian should email [email protected] before 10:00 a.m. if a child is out sick and before noon if dismissal plans have changed for a student. If you are unable to email, please call the parent line at 718.222.1971. Please note that phone calls and emails sent to the directors are often missed, especially ones containing last minute changes. Dismissal Dismissal is at 3:00 p.m. for Lower School and 3:30 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and 4:30 p.m. on Wednesdays for Middle School. It is expected that children will be picked up promptly. If you are late, your child will be placed in an afterschool class and your family will be charged accordingly.
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When an adult arrives for pick up they must make themselves known to the teacher in charge so that everyone is clear that a child has been properly dismissed. See “Afterschool” on page 27 for information about this program and dismissal procedures from afterschool. Students in the 10s and older can check themselves out of school as long as the permission form has been signed by their parent or guardian and a schedule is determined ahead of time. The form is located in Appendix 8. On certain days during certain times of the year Middle Schools students will have the last period of the day at a location other than the school building, e.g. Urban Glass or Brooklyn Music School. A GHS teacher will be available to walk students back to school. If you would like to pick your child up at the alternate location you can arrange to do so. This arrangement must be predetermined with the Middle School Director and be consistent throughout the 12-week trimester. More information about the schedule and the option to pick up at the alternate locations will be available at the Middle School Parent Orientation in September. A parent or guardian should email [email protected] before 12:00 noon if: You are running late for pick up so that we can prepare your child and the teacher for your late arrival.
Your child will go home with a new adult or another family. Your child is taking or not taking the bus on a day other than those previously determined.
Your child (10 and up) will be self-dismissing on a day other than those previously determined.
Calendar The academic calendar for 2014-15 can be found on page 86 of this handbook. Greene Hill School also has a Google Calendar. To join: Go to www.greenehillschool.org/community/calendar 2014-15 Select “+google calendar” at the bottom right of the grid calendar and it will walk you through the steps to add the calendar to your google account.
Schedule Middle School students are allowed to go up to their classrooms starting at 8:20 a.m. and are expected by 8:30 a.m. for the start of the day. Hours Monday 8:30-3:30 Tuesday 8:30-3:30 Wednesday 8:30-4:30 (late dismissal allows for travel time to arts partnerships) Thursday 8:30-3:30 Friday 8:30-3:30
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Weekly Schedule In 6th grade, students have different teachers for humanities, math, science, and Spanish. The humanities teacher is considered their core teacher. In most cases, students stay together as a full group, although in certain instances they will work in half groups. Middle School students follow a set schedule including: homeroom/advisory, academic subjects, lunch, outside time/P.E., arts, and other co-curricular classes. Students will receive a copy of their schedule the first week of school. Arrival Time – The school day begins at 8:30 am. Students may arrive as early as 8:20 am. Students get situated for their day at this time: greeting classmates and teachers, putting away their belongings, turning in homework, retrieving necessary materials. Homeroom/Advisory - To address both academic and social-emotional needs, students are part of small advisory groups which meet weekly during an extended period to discuss their classwork, adolescent issues, and plan community service projects. Advisory groups are led by teachers and students will have a consistent advisor for the entire year. On a daily basis, advisory is more like homeroom: a time to come together to greet each other, get organized, and share ideas. Academic Classes Humanities: Humanities classes in the Middle School are a combination of literacy and social studies based on the premise that students become more engaged readers and more prolific writers if they are deeply immersed in their curricular content. History and social studies continue to be at the core of the curriculum as students engage in in-depth investigations of cultures from around the world. Reading and writing are embedded in our interdisciplinary humanities program. Students express themselves creatively within the social studies content and beyond it.
Math: The Middle School math program follows a constructivist approach. The focus of is not on rote memorization of algorithms, but rather on determining strategies and finding different routes to the solution of a problem. We encourage students to reason abstractly, persevere in problem solving, and explain their solutions clearly. Math is another lens through which to see the world as students explore questions that address authentic applications such as economics, statistics, and architecture.
Science: Middle School science is based on in-depth investigations of the natural world. Students participate in inquiry-based units of study where they ask questions, make hypotheses, gather evidence,
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and share their findings. These investigations create a foundation of science knowledge that students will build upon in high school and beyond. Taking on authentic problems, students will interpret data and use evidence to support their scientific conclusions
Spanish: In 6th grade, all students study Spanish. We feel it is important to have a solid foundation as well as a strong connection between the academic aspect of learning a second language and real-life language usage. The emphasis will be on language structures, vocabulary, and grammar. Our goal is for students to become comfortable with conversation as 8th graders look toward visiting a Spanish-speaking country as part of their week-long community service project.
Outside Time/Physical Education Middle school students have time for physical exercise every day either in the form of Outside Time after lunch or Physical Education class. In physical Education students participate in a running program, games yard, cooperative games, and team sports. Athletics are also part of our after-school programming. Visual and Performing Arts Greene Hill School’s community-based arts partnerships expand in the Middle School, enabling young adolescents to have broad exposure to both visual and performing arts in conjunction with local organizations. 6th graders will have trimesters of woodworking (Construction Kids), drawing, and glass working (Urban Glass) as part of their visual arts program. The performing arts program in conjunction with the Brooklyn Music School and Irondale includes a trimester each of vocals, instruments and acting. Technology Middle grade students have at their disposal a wide array of computer technology to spark their imaginations. They will employ tools such as Scratch to animate, breadboards to experiment in circuit design, and a variety of other programs to design original web pages. Library All classes visit the school library on a weekly basis. Depending on grade level, this could be for book browsing, quiet reading, read alouds, or small group instruction. Some classes also make periodic visits to the local public library. Health Our health curriculum addresses the physical, social, and emotional stages of early adolescence. The focus is on providing students with clear information regarding adolescent development and answering questions they may have. Students discuss their changing bodies, interpersonal relationships, and issues of self-identity. Snack and Lunch
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Students have a shared snack provided by class families who bring snack for an entire week. Class parents are responsible for setting up the snack schedule, and teachers remind families when their week is approaching in the class newsletter. Parents will be notified at the beginning of the year if there are allergies or other food restrictions in a class. Children bring their lunches from home and eat in the school cafeteria, although the school is currently looking into a parent choice lunch program. Please send your child with a healthy lunch, keeping sugary products to a minimum. Juice, soda and candy are not allowed. Water is available at the school, but other beverages should be sent with your child.
Please do not send lunches or beverages that need to be heated or refrigerated.
Afterschool Afterschool will be held until 5:30 p.m. every day and is broken up into three sessions: Session 1: 3:30 - 4:00 Afterschool Classes, Open Play or The Quiet Zone Session 2: 4:00 - 4:45 Afterschool Classes, Open Play or The Quiet Zone Session 3: 4:45 - 5:30 Open Play Parents/guardians must commit to the entire session to streamline pick-up and registration. Parents/guardians may sign up for multiple back-to-back sessions. Afterschool options include: 1) Afterschool Classes (a series of semester-long course offerings). Course schedule and prices will be sent out in early September 2) Open Play (informal games/art making, etc. for 4s-8s). 3) The Quiet Zone (a time for independent reading or homework for 9s and up). Open Play and The Quiet Zone will start 9/15/14 and will cost $10 per session. Afterschool Class offerings will be shared by email in September and will begin in October. Questions about Afterschool should go to [email protected]. Please Note: Students must be part of an Afterschool Class, Open Play or Quiet Zone session or have an appointment with a teacher or school-approved provider in order to remain in the building after school.
If you are late, your child will be placed in the next afterschool session and your family will be charged accordingly.
When an adult arrives for pick up they must make themselves known to the after school teacher in charge so that everyone is clear that a child has been properly dismissed. In addition, all children must be
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signed out at the security desk on the way out. If you neglect to follow these and other procedures you will not be able to continue using afterschool.
If a student has been absent from school they may not attend an afterschool class.
Students in the 10s and older can check themselves out of afterschool as long as the permission form has been signed by their parent or guardian and a schedule is determined ahead of time. The form is located in Appendix 8.
Summer Camp Options for the 2015 GHS Summer Camp will be listed on the website by April, 2015. There is an additional fee for this program. Homework As a school that values a well-rounded child, we recognize the importance of time spent after school with family and friends, relaxing or engaging in enriching activities. We also know that children can benefit from additional opportunities to extend their school work independently at home, and that an appropriate amount of homework can develop older children’s sense of personal responsibility. Given the above, we have worked to create a homework policy that is balanced and responsive. Middle school students can be expected to have approximately an hour and a half of homework each night except in the instance of an occasional long-term project. In addition to assignments given by academic teachers, students are expected to read independently and practice their instruments on a regular basis. All homework will be posted on the Middle School class website so that students will be able to find out information about assignments. In general, students will have homework in three of their four academic subjects nightly. Parents will receive more information about homework expectations and procedures at Curriculum Night. Technology Use at School At Greene Hill students learn that while computers are important tools for research and communication, they are also tools for creativity, design, and bringing ideas to fruition. By engaging in self-initiated projects and open ended experimentation, children learn how to solve problems in innovative ways. Please refer to the “Technology Acceptable Use Policy” in Appendix 5 for greater detail about student responsibilities regarding appropriate technology use. Expectations for Student Behavior
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Dress Code The clothes students wear to school should be comfortable and simple enough that students will not be concerned about getting them dirty during class activities. Students are encouraged to use good judgment about neatness, cleanliness, and appropriateness. Any clothing exposing undergarments or midriffs as well as super-short shorts, skirts, and dresses will not be allowed. Students may not wear T-shirts or other articles of clothing promoting explicit language or images that are objectionable, such as ones supporting drugs or violence. Cell Phones Cell phones may not be used during the school day and must be kept off during the entire time a child is at school or in afterschool. They may be used after dismissal but not during afterschool programs. Teachers will store cell phones in a secure location during the day. Families who need to reach their child during the school day are expected to contact the school office directly. More detailed information about student expectations and privileges will be listed in the Student Handbook to be distributed at the start of the school year.
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ADDITIONAL CLASS AND EVENT INFORMATION Lower School: What To Bring The following is a list of supplies needed for the start of school. Your child’s teacher may request additional items and will contact you directly about these. Please be sure to bring the items on this list by the first day of school. Full change of clothing (include: shirt, pants, underwear, socks,
sweater and mittens). Small blanket, pillow and small fitted sheet for rest (4s and 5s
classes) 2 boxes of facial tissues 4 rolls of paper towels Pump bottle of liquid soap Middle School: What To Bring The following is a list of supplies needed for the start of school. Most school supplies will be provided by the school;; however, your child’s teacher may request additional items and will contact you directly about these. Please be sure to bring the items on this list by the first day of school. A water bottle to leave in school A pair of sneakers and socks (if your child does not wear sneakers
every day) 1 pump bottle of liquid soap 2 boxes of facial tissues 4 rolls of paper towels Special Events Birthdays – You may bring in cupcakes to celebrate your child’s birthday with the class. The 8s and older classes may have different ways to celebrate birthdays. Your child’s teacher will let you know more about this at the beginning of the year. Curriculum Shares – Throughout the year, classes host opportunities for children to share finished work with families during the school day, such as Writing Celebrations or Culminating Projects. Special Shares – There may be times when a child has a special share that requires the parent to come in, or a parent may want to share a special talent, etc. It is important that arrangements be made with the teacher in advance. Holidays – Greene Hill School does not sponsor any holiday celebrations. However, we understand that as children learn about one another’s families and family traditions, holidays may be discussed and possibly studied. Family members may be invited in to share holiday traditions by leading activities or reading and/or telling stories. Prior arrangements should be made with the teacher.
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School Gatherings All School Get-Togethers, Community Meetings, State of the School, and Family Sings are some of the gatherings we will have during the year and are on our calendar. Additional opportunities to meet and learn from one another will be promoted in advance in order to make it easier for families to attend. Field trips Trips are an important part of the curriculum at Greene Hill School, and help us fulfill our educational mission by connecting our students with the community and city. Safety guidelines for these outings are listed under the “Health and Safety” section of this handbook. Parents will be invited to chaperone on trips. Parents will sign a blanket permission slip in the beginning of the year that will cover most of these curricular activities;; occasionally, trips will require a special permission slip due to unusual duration, distance, or other circumstances. There may occasionally be nominal fees associated with specific school trips and activities. Starting in the 8s, children take significant overnight field trips and families will be given ample notice of the fees being due. Designated teachers act as chaperones on these overnight field trips. The 8s and 9s go to Frost Valley for two nights and three days in the spring.
The 10s and up typically have a curriculum-related overnight trip.
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SCHOOL FORMS, TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION School Forms It is essential that all families submit the required medical and student information forms no later than 8/29/14. Your child may not begin school without these forms. The forms are located at the end of this handbook in Appendix 8 and include: Emergency Contact Forms (2 signed copies) Consent and Waiver Form for Care of your Child Activity and Napping Permission Form Photo Release Grandparents (and Special Friends) Information Form Permission for Pick-Up Permission for student to arrive and dismiss self (pre-arranged schedule necessary)
Technology Acceptable Use Policy Consent Form K-12 Health Form
Getting To and From School 39 Adelphi Street is located between Park and Flushing. If driving, cars can park briefly on the street in front of the building for drop-off but parents and guardians are solely responsible for attending to their vehicles. Families may also take a number of public buses to the school and it is in walking distance from the G/C trains. There is no bike storage available inside the school but sidewalk racks are located toward the Flushing Avenue end of the building. Yellow Bus Service and Student Metrocards Eligibility: The NYC Department of Education and The Office of Pupil Transportation determines if your child is eligible for Yellow School Bus Service based upon your residential address, age of child and travel distance to school. In some cases, Full and Half Fare Metrocards are available in lieu of Yellow Bus Service. Yellow Bus Service is only available to Kindergarten through 6th grade students. Pre-school 4s are not eligible to ride the Yellow Bus Service per the NYC DOE. DOT eligibility guidelines here: http://schools.nyc.gov/Offices/Transportation/ServicesandEligibility/BusTransportation/default.htm Important notes about bus service: Bus service begins on Monday, September 15. Your child does not need to ride every day, but you do need to choose a consistent schedule for your child.
If your child is not riding the morning bus on a regularly scheduled day, please notify the school as soon as possible.
Changes to the schedule regarding the afternoon buses must be emailed by a parent/guardian to [email protected] before 12:00 noon.
If a morning bus is late you can notify the school by calling the office. If an afternoon bus is late, GHS office staff will notify parents
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via email. Signing Up For Bus Service: Parent Bus Coordinators help establish bus service in the beginning of the year, and help office staff facilitate the smooth running of the bus service. If you would like your child or children to ride the Yellow Bus Service to and from GHS, please contact both: Sapna Advani and Stav Birnbaum at [email protected] and [email protected] with the following information BY JULY 18, 2014: 1) For Bus Stop preference, please indicate the following: Your child's name Your child’s class Bus stop number Bus stop intersection Schedule [Morning & Afternoon]
We understand that the schedules will change once after-school activities start 2) For families that are new to the bus system or have a sibling who is new to the system or have a change of address, we also need the following information Your child's DOB Your home address Your home telephone number
3) Choose your preferred stop from the following list: 0107 6 AV & GARFIELD PL 0202 GREENE AVE & CLASSON PL 0208 GREENWOOD AVE & PROSPECT PARK SW 0105 LAFAYETTE AVE & ST. FELIX ST 0102 PARK PLACE & FRANKLIN AVE 0203 QUINCY ST & BEDFORD AVE 0207 RUTLAND RD & BEDFORD AVE 0103 VANDERBILT AVE & PARK PL 0204 WAVERLY AVE & GREENE AVE 0205 WAVERLY AVE & WILLOUGHBY AVE 0106 WILLOUGHBY ST & ST. EDWARD’S ST 4) If you would like full fare/half fare Metrocards (based upon your eligibility) instead of Yellow Bus Service, please respond by July 18, 2014 as well, indicating that choice. Some children who do not qualify for bus service do qualify for free or reduced price Student Metrocards. The Parent Bus Coordinators will give out more information in early September.
Communication At Greene Hill School we feel that the relationship between school and family is an important one, as we come together to support the child. To contact teachers and administrators about an issue unrelated to a student’s attendance or dismissal please call the office (718) 230-3608 to
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leave a message or email the appropriate person directly. During the school year you will receive a response from school staff within 24 hours. If a message is received late Friday, or over the weekend you can expect to hear back from GHS by Monday afternoon. Email Communication: Teachers will generally use email to send their Weekly News, offer a quick reminder, ask a logistical question or schedule a time for a conversation with parents in person. Conversations about children are complex and nuanced, and should happen in person, ideally, or over the phone if it is not possible to meet in person. PATHS: “Parents and Teachers Helping the School” is our Parent and Teacher association. Please see Appendix 7 for complete details. Family Directory: An all-school directory will be compiled by class parents and given out shortly after the beginning of the school year. The information in this directory is for internal purposes only. School Calendar, Handbooks and Website: Our website has a parent section under the heading “Community”. Here parents will find links to all handbooks and forms as well as the School Calendar. Greene Hill School also has a Google Calendar. To join: Go to www.greenehillschool.org/community/calendar 2014-15 Select “+google calendar” at the bottom right of the grid calendar and it will walk you through the steps to add the calendar to your google account.
Google Groups for School Communication: Class News Groups: Each class has a Class News Group (called 4s News, 7s News, etc.) which is the primary means for teachers and class parents to share important information affecting the entire class. All families are required to join the Class News Groups. Weekly classroom newsletters are posted via the Class News Groups. Teachers, administrators, and class parents are the only people who post to the Class News Groups. The Class News Group is not the forum for parents to communicate about pickup changes, lost items, social events, etc. It is for school business only that pertains to the entire class. Please use the school directory to get in touch with individual parents from the class, or post to the school-wide Greene Hill School Parents Google Group.
Greene Hill School Parents Google Group The Greene Hill School Parents Google Group is a school-wide community “bulletin board” group. Parents may choose to sign up. Official school business is not shared via this group -- its uses are
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purely social. Email [email protected] to be added to this group.
Family Mailboxes: Each Lower School child has a family mailbox. Please check your child’s mailbox daily, as this is the place where you will find important notices. Middle School Class Website: Middle School classes have a class website where information about homework, fields trips, and other important notices will be posted. Classroom Newsletters: Each Friday, you will receive via email a newsletter from your child’s classroom teachers describing aspects of the work of the class over the previous week. These newsletters provide parents with the opportunity to discuss schoolwork with their children more easily, and to find ways to get more involved with the curriculum. They are also meant to help parents understand the larger context in which daily and weekly activities take place, and to gain greater insight into the pedagogical approach at Greene Hill. Classroom Newsletters are archived on the Parent Login section of the GHS website under your Class News group. Classroom Newsletters will also include a calendar of upcoming school and class events. Quarterly Newsletter: This new publication provides overviews and updates around special events, educational programming and professional development work from our teachers, articles on interesting student work and progressive education, fundraising, PATHS committee work, and other school-wide programs. It is emailed directly to GHS families and friends of the school. Telephone: Contacting Greene Hill: While telephone is not the most efficient way to communicate with the teacher during the school day, it is essential that families notify the school if there is a change in dismissal plans. A parent or guardian should email [email protected] before 10:00 a.m. if a child is out sick and before noon if dismissal plans have changed for a student. If you are unable to email, please call the parent line at 718.222.1971.
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LOWER SCHOOL Lower School Curriculum Night, Class Meetings and Community Forums: We schedule regular opportunities for Greene Hill parents to learn more about the educational program and approach of the School. We encourage parents to take advantage of these opportunities to learn more about what we do here at school, and why. Curriculum Night is an important class meeting where teachers share curricular plans and goals for the year. This year, Curriculum Night will be on Tuesday, September 30:
6:00 - 7:00 p.m.: 4s, 5s, 6s 7:00 - 7:30 p.m.: Meet Dance, Learning Specialists, Music and Science teachers in the Community Room (for all parents) 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.: 7s, 8s, 9s, 10s
Additional class meetings may be scheduled through the year where parents from a particular group are invited to get more information about curriculum, the school and our progressive approach.
Community Forums are opportunities for all parents to learn more about a particular topic or curricular area. A schedule of Community Forums will be available in early fall.
Lower School Parent/Teacher Conferences and the Family Conference:
There will be two parent-teacher conferences and one family conference (with your child) throughout the school year. These conferences will be scheduled in advance. The conferences are a major component in how the school communicates with families. If your family is unable to meet during the times set aside by teachers, please contact the teachers as soon as possible to find a time that will work. Once the year is underway, the school encourages parents/guardians to contact the school and arrange additional meetings with teachers or specialists, if you are concerned about your child’s performance or behavior. Teachers may ask for additional meetings as well. Parent/Teacher Conferences are a time for adults only, for teachers to share assessment information with parents, look at children’s work together and to engage in dialogue about the child’s experience at school. Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences: November 11. Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences: February 10.
Family Conferences are an opportunity for the child to join the conversation and take an active part in their own assessment. Children work with teachers to choose work to share and set the agenda for the conference. Family Conferences: May 4-8
Lower School Narrative Reports: Twice a year, families will receive a narrative report describing their child's experience and development at school. The first will come midyear and the final one at the end of the school year. Please note that these reports are
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not written with the students as the intended audience, but are written with the parents in mind.
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MIDDLE SCHOOL Middle School Curriculum Night, Class Meetings and Community Forums: We schedule regular opportunities for Greene Hill parents to learn more about the educational program and approach of the School. We encourage parents to take advantage of these opportunities to learn more about what we do here at school, and why. Curriculum Night is an important class meeting where teachers share curricular plans and goals for the year. This year, Middle School Curriculum Night will be on Tuesday, October 7, from 6:00 to 7:00. Additional class meetings may be scheduled through the year where parents from a particular group are invited to get more information about curriculum, the school and our progressive approach.
Community Forums are opportunities for all parents to learn more about a particular topic or curricular area. A schedule of Community Forums will be available in early fall.
Middle School Conferences: From September 2-5 we will hold Welcome Conferences. These meetings are an opportunity for you and your child to meet the classroom teachers one-on-one. Throughout the school year there will be three other conferences when families and teachers have an opportunity to discuss children’s progress. These conferences will be scheduled in advance. The conferences are a major component in how the school communicates with families. If your family is unable to meet during the times set aside by teachers, please contact the teachers as soon as possible to find a time that will work. Once the year is underway, the school encourages parents/guardians to contact the school and arrange additional meetings with teachers or specialists, if you are concerned about your child’s performance or behavior. Teachers may ask for additional meetings as well. The format of the conferences are such that students have an opportunity to join the conversation and take an active part in their own assessment. Children collaborate with teachers to choose work to share and set the agenda for the first part of conference. There will also be an opportunity for parents to speak to the teacher privately.
Fall Conferences: November 11 (half day). Winter Conferences: February 10 (half day). Spring Conferences: May 4-8 (scheduled before and after school).
Middle School Narrative Reports: Twice a year, families will receive a narrative report describing their child's experience and development at school. The first will come midyear and the final one at the end of the school year.
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Questions and Concerns (for all parents): Please remember at all times that GHS staff are professionals dealing with highly confidential information. No staff or faculty member will discuss the children, parents, faculty, administration or the School except in a planned professional context with the appropriate adults. The directors and staff welcome input from parents concerning their child’s needs, interests and developmental milestones. Family events can create shifts in a child’s behavior. If the staff is aware of these changes, they can be more sensitive to your child’s individual needs. If you have questions or concerns about your child’s work or interactions with other children or daily curriculum please first talk directly to your child’s teacher. If you begin to feel that a small incident or situation has the possibility of growing larger, talk with your child’s teacher immediately about the appropriate first step to take. The shared goal to keep in mind is that School and parents will be working together to support the child in the most honest and direct way possible. For Middle School students the humanities teacher is the core teacher and many of these issues should be addressed to her. General questions about the Middle School program should go to the Middle School Divisional Director. If you have a question about your child’s work or interactions in an area such as music, art etc. please speak directly with the classroom teacher first. Please keep in mind that the teacher’s primary concern during the school day is being with the children, and that you may be asked to schedule an appointment to meet at a mutually convenient time. If you feel that your questions or concerns have not been fully addressed by talking with the teachers, the divisional directors and school director are the appropriate people to contact. They may in turn refer you to our Learning Specialist or Consulting Psychologist. If you have questions about school policy and procedures, admissions, your tuition contract or other financial matters please contact the School Director. Questions about school financial matters may be first brought to the School Director and then you may be referred to a member of the Board. Please note: Questions and concerns around issues related to the educational program, curriculum and staffing are outside of the purview of the Board and are best addressed by the School Director and other administrators. Work with Tutors and Outside Specialists: Greene Hill students may work with specialists and tutors in addition to their teachers at the school. In order to facilitate productive and respectful working relationships, the school will provide written communication in the form of a letter shared between school, family, and
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specialist(s) to set up guidelines and specifics of the work that will take place. Class Placement: At times, parents may have questions about changes in class placement for their child for the following academic year, including repeating a year in a particular age group. These are complex decisions that often benefit from discussion with parents and then consideration over time amongst different school personnel, which may include classroom teachers, directors, our Learning Specialist, or our Consulting Psychologist. November conferences may be the first time this type of discussion begins, and school divisional directors will speak with parents about decisions before the beginning of January. Student Reports and Teacher Recommendations: Please give at least three weeks notice if you would like to have a student narrative report and teacher recommendation prepared for your child as part of an admission package to another school. Recommendations and additional materials requested by specific schools will be provided directly to these schools as long as the student’s family is up to date with their tuition payments. Teacher recommendations are considered confidential between school staff and are not shared with parents. Greene Hill does not participate in New York State Standardized tests and, as a school that continues through to 8th grade, provides appropriate test and other high school prep starting in the 7th grade for all students.
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PARENT/GUARDIAN INVOLVEMENT
Parents are welcome and encouraged to be active participants in their children’s education. Parents are part of a larger community of children, adults, teachers and staff all striving to be respectful and supportive of our mutual goal of creating an ethical and engaged group of learners at our school. It is not unusual for a staff or Board member to also have a child at the school. We expect that all adults will work hard to be clear and thoughtful about when a conversation is taking place from the parent perspective and when it relates to the professional relationship. We look to parents to model the behavior we expect from our children including active listening, respect for others and ourselves, bringing our concerns to the proper adult and to provide shared and agreed upon consequences for unacceptable behavior. In this positive manner we support the school community that is at the heart of Greene Hill. Parents are involved at GHS: Throughout the year we set aside important time for our community to enjoy being together. This community time when we all get to know one another more is at the heart of what makes GHS such a vibrant and caring environment. On our calendar you will find dates for Community Meetings (for adults to talk about current school business and socialize), All School-Get Togethers and Community Sings. Parents are also invited to take advantage of informal times to socialize like parent coffee hours. As part of our commitment to lifelong learning GHS holds Community Forums for parents on parenting and education related topics and is in the process of organizing a book group. There will be ample opportunities for family members to participate in classroom activities and accompany the class on trips. At times the teacher may send out a call for volunteers, perhaps to read with children or assist with a special project. Family members are also welcome to suggest ways in which they may engage with the class. All volunteer time should be related to the curriculum and prearranged with the teacher. In addition to participation with the class, families are encouraged to join one or more of the school’s PATHS Committees. The committee work is essential to the development and sustainability of Greene Hill School. The committees are described in the PATHS section of this book in Appendix 7. Membership in these committees is open but not limited to parents in the school. Fundraising at Greene Hill School As a small school, committed to a sliding scale tuition model, fundraising is crucial to the sustainability and growth of Greene Hill. We need and expect each family to contribute to our various fundraising efforts each year in meaningful ways including a personally significant contribution to
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the Annual Appeal each year, and the purchase of 4 tickets to the Greene Affair. More information about fundraising at Greene Hill is included here and opportunities for parent volunteering are elsewhere in the handbook. Our Development Director will be happy to talk with you about additional opportunities for helping Greene Hill. The Greene Affair is our annual gala and auction. All families are asked to solicit item(s) for the auction from local businesses, artists and vendors. The gala is most fun when well-attended and we ask that each family purchase 4 tickets to the event and bring friends. The Annual Appeal helps close the gap between tuition and operating expenses each year allowing the school to maintain the sliding-scale tuition structure and other programs instrumental to our mission. GHS has had 100% family participation in the annual appeal every year with gifts ranging from $5 to $25,000. We expect that each family will make a personally significant contribution. A typical gift is in the range of $1,000 per family. Grandparents and Special Friends Fund for Greene Hill was introduced in 2013-14. Grandparents have become enthusiastic partners for GHS, attending Grandparents Day in record numbers, attending school events and making significant contributions to the annual appeal. Parents are asked to provide the school with contact information for grandparents so that they can receive our newsletter, mailings and information from the Grandparents Committee chair. Greene Hill Grows GHS is in the second year of a capital campaign to raise significant funds to further our growth into a full pre-k through 8th grade school. Information about the campaign will be forthcoming during the school year and we expect that each family will participate in a meaningful way. Book Fairs are held twice a year and are opportunities to purchase books for your family while supporting the school and to help us fill our library with new books. Dates for the upcoming year will be announced in the spring.
Appendix 1 ENROLLMENT AND TUITION We believe that a progressive community school should be available to families regardless of their economic circumstances. GHS’s operating model
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is designed to be sustainable with less than 50% of the student body paying the top tier tuition. In an effort to have a diverse economic community at GHS, our budget has been created with the assumption that we will have a fair percentage of families along each tier. Through the school’s Annual Fund and other fundraising efforts we are raising support in order to keep tuition affordable for all families. For the 2014-2015 school year, the top tier tuition for Lower School is $23,625 and for Middle School $28,500. With the goal of creating a more equal form of payment for our families, GHS has developed a series of tuition tiers. The goal of these tiers is for tuition across the board to be in more equal proportion to income. Families interested in applying for a financial assessment do so through FACTS Management (https://www.factstuitionaid.com). The company does a full financial assessment and makes a recommendation to the school about financial ability for the year. This is an annual application. The school then attempts to match the results of this assessment with one of the current tiers outlined below. Lower School (4s-10s): Tier 1-$0 Tier 2-$5,065 Tier 3-$7,980 Tier 4-$13,230 Tier 5-$18,795 Tier 6-$23,625 Middle School (6th-8th grades): Tier 1-$0 Tier 2-$6,500 Tier 3-$10,500 Tier 4-$17,000 Tier 5-$23,500 Tier 6-$28,500 Once tuition amount is settled, a deposit of 20% of tuition for the year, plus a one-time materials fee of $400 is required to reserve the spot offered for the current school year. Families may choose between several tuition payment plans, which are outlined with the contract letter. There is an application fee of $50 per application (due with the application).
There is a one-time fee of $400 for materials. There may be nominal fees associated with specific school trips and activities. Starting in the 8s, children take significant overnight field trips and families will be given ample notice of the fees being due.
There is an additional charge for afterschool determined by the course offerings.
Summer camp is available for an additional fee.
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Summary of Fees and Expenses for a year at Greene Hill (estimation) 1. Tuition based on Annual Tier level 2. Materials fee 3. Class trip fee (8s and older) 4. Annual Appeal donation 5. Greene Affair tickets 6. Capital Campaign contribution Registration Once the deposit has been received, additional registration forms will follow. Families of registered children are expected to attend an orientation meeting prior to the start of school. This year the Lower School Parent Orientation will take place on Monday, 9/8/2014 at 9 am and the Middle School Parent Orientation will be on Tuesday, 9/9/2014 at 5:30 pm. Withdrawal and Refund Policy If parents wish to terminate their child’s enrollment, the Directors must be notified in writing. If a child is asked to leave the school based on delinquent tuition payments or for behavior outlined in the “Behavior and Discipline Policy” this is considered an early withdrawal from the School. In the event of early withdrawal for any reason, in accordance with the Tuition Contract, families will forfeit all tuition paid. Refunds will not be offered.
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Appendix 2 HEALTH AND SAFETY
The goal of this policy is to ensure the health and well being of each child and prevent the spread of communicable diseases amongst the children and staff. Please arrange to have a back-up caregiver if your child is not healthy enough to attend school. Likewise, be sure that someone is always available to pick your child up, should s/he become sick in school. Each child’s health will be checked as s/he arrives. If the teacher or director feels, at any time during the day, that your child is too ill to attend school or may be infectious, your child will not be allowed to stay. Please make sure your emergency information is up-to-date and that we know how to reach you on a daily basis. Immunizations Every child enrolled is required to have the necessary immunizations mandated by New York State health law. Your child will not be able to attend school without proof of immunization. A link to current immunization requirements is listed in the Health Form section of Appendix 8. Contagious Illness and Infections If your child develops a contagious illness, please let us know so that we can advise other parents that their children may have been exposed. In some cases, preventative measures may be taken to protect exposed children from the onset of the illness. The following illness/infections must be reported to the school: Skin infections such as impetigo, MRSA, lice or scabies, viral diseases such as measles, rubella, chicken pox, or Fifth’s Disease, any form of meningitis, pinkeye, whooping cough, or other communicable diseases. We ask you to notify us if there is any chance of contagion. In case of a contagious illness, all parents will be notified by the director. Respiratory Illnesses and Colds Your child may be excluded from school with a runny nose, which may or may not be associated with a fever of 100 or higher, an infected throat, a persistent cough, lethargy, congestion, or general irritability, at the discretion of the teacher and director. Fevers A child with a fever (101 or higher) may not return to school until s/he has been fever free without medication for 24 hours. The teacher or director will take a child’s temperature if a child’s condition warrants it. Diarrhea A child with loose or watery stools will be sent home at the discretion of the teacher or director. Children who have diarrhea may only return to
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school after they have had at least one normal bowel movement. Eye Infections Children with inflamed eyes, when associated with discharge, must be kept home. A child may return to school only if the symptoms disappear, or with a note from a physician stating that the eye condition is not contagious. Chronic Non-Contagious Ailments If your child has a chronic ailment, such as an allergy, please notify the director and your child’s teacher. Allergy symptoms can be confused with cold symptoms. Your input will help us to determine if your child can be at school safely. Lice Greene Hill School Lice Policy Procedure: If a child is found to have (or suspected to have) lice the child will get sent home immediately. Parents/Guardians must bring a professional or doctor's note stating that the child is lice and nit free before they can return to school. To prevent the spread of lice we ask that: All extra clothes left at the school be stored in sealed Ziploc bags. If a number of children are found with lice in any given class, all students might be asked to wear their long hair up or wear hats for one or two weeks.
If a case of lice is found at school all parents/guardians should: check their child if a case of lice is is found. We suggest that children wear long hair up when returning to school. If a number of children are found with lice in any given class, all students might be asked to wear their long hair up or wear hats for one or two weeks.
The school will: • clean the rooms and rugs and ask that all pillowcases etc. get washed by our class parents. Also we send home extra clothes that are not properly stored in Ziploc bags.
• bring in a professional firm if there appears to be more than a case or two at school or in a particular class.
• Separate a child who is found to have (or suspected to have) lice from their class until they are picked up by an adult. Generally the office or art/science room is used for this.
Please Note: • Greene Hill School does not share names of children with lice with other parents. Any concerns or complaints around the subject should be directed to the School Director.
Other Conditions Other symptoms which might warrant exclusions or special attention, include vomiting (a child must not have vomited for 24 hours before coming to school), unusual listlessness or weakness, skin eruptions or rashes, or headache. Medications
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Medication and over the counter drugs will not be administered at school by the staff. The only exceptions are topical creams and sunblock or lotion. If your child requires medication during the day, you must make prior arrangements to administer them yourself by speaking with the staff. Hygiene Hand Washing Children and adults will wash hands upon arrival from the outdoors. Children and adults will wash hands before and after eating snack and lunch.
Children and adults will wash hands before the preparation and/or serving of food and adults will wear sanitary gloves.
Children and adults will wash hands after toileting. Toileting Children must be toilet trained, and are expected to wipe themselves.
Children will be encouraged to dress themselves and should wear clothing that allows them to do so.
Children will wash hands after toileting. Prevention of Infection Gloves will be used if there is contact with blood. Bloody paper towels will be put in a plastic bag in the trash. Bloody clothing will be bagged.
Gloves will be used for all physical examinations Child Abuse Policy Physical punishment is never permitted at our school. Emotional punishment, such as shaming, using terms such as “bad boy/girl” or yelling is also not permitted. State law requires all adults working in childcare to report any cases of suspected child abuse to the appropriate authorities. See our non-harassment policy in Appendix 4. Emergencies In the event of an emergency, if you are unable to pick up your child as scheduled, we will keep your child at school until you or someone on your emergency form arrives. Emergency supplies are stored on site. If there is an emergency that closes roads or bridges, or damages our building, children will be evacuated to a safe site designated by Red Cross or other official personnel. Staff will care for your children at this location until you arrive. See the “Health and Emergency Policy” for more details. Fire Drills Fire drills will be held 12 times a year (8 times before December) in accordance with state licensing requirements. Field Trips Field Trips are an important part of the curriculum at Greene Hill School. Below are a few guidelines that will be followed to ensure the safety of all
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children. Regular outings to the park and other locations within the neighborhood will be posted on the schedule. Occasionally the class may take a walking trip to support the curriculum without prior notice. All other trips will be announced.
Children will wear a Greene Hill School T-Shirt whenever they leave the building.
Emergency cards, medical release forms and first-aid supplies will be taken on trips.
Field trips will have a minimum of one adult for every five children for 4s-9s and one adult for every ten children for 10s and up.
School Closings Greene Hill School will close for inclement weather when the NYC Public Schools close. You may call the school’s main phone number after 6:00 a.m. for announcements of school closings. Class parents may organize a phone tree for notifications of school closings and other events. School Safety and Emergency See Health and Emergency Policy.
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HEALTH AND EMERGENCY POLICY Immunizations Greene Hill School requires that all families adhere to the New York State Public Health Law 2164 in regards to immunization requirements and school attendance. Medical Forms and a link to current immunization requirements is listed in the Health Form section of Appendix 8. Illness and Health Check It is often difficult to tell how ill young children are, especially before they are able to tell you what they are feeling. As your child learns more words for feelings, it will become easier to distinguish between unhappiness and illness, worries and health problems, transient reluctance to go to school and good reasons for not wanting to attend. A child should not come to school when ill and unable to benefit from the day. It is also important to prevent further infection. If a student has been absent from school they may not attend an afterschool class. Some guidelines to consider when deciding whether to keep your child home include:
• A child with a fever (101 or higher) should not return to school until s/he has been fever free without medication for 24 hours. • A child who has experienced two or more episodes of vomiting or diarrhea within a 12 hour period must stay home until a 24 hour period has passed when they have been symptom free. • Communicable diseases and conditions, such as strep throat, conjunctivitis, lice, etc. require that the child remain home until they are either symptom free for 24 hours or have been on a regular course of antibiotics for 48 hours. If the condition arises during school hours, the school will notify the parents/guardians, and the child must be picked up within an hour of notification. Your child will stay with a staff member until picked up. • Typical symptoms of illness are: sudden onset of rash or skin eruptions, yellow or greenish drainage from the nose (allergic discharge is clear and may persist), wet or hacking cough, excessive or unusual tiredness, inexplicable change from child’s normal “feeling good” level of energy or mood. • If a child seems too sick to participate in ordinary routines, check with your pediatrician before school attendance is resumed.
These guidelines will be used to monitor for illness throughout the day. All staff are mandated reporters in the case of child abuse or neglect and will be prepared to report to the School Director any suspected case. The School Director will notify the appropriate authorities. If your child seems very ill and we are unable to contact you or others you have listed for an emergency, we will call your pediatrician. In a serious emergency we will call paramedics. Should emergency procedures be
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necessary, a staff member will remain with your child until your or a designated substitute arrives. Injury: In the case of serious injuries that are not life threatening an administrator will call the parents and follow their instructions about where to take the child. If we cannot reach the parents, we will call their emergency contact for the same information. In the case of Life Threatening Emergencies (including but are not limited to: Absence or impairment of breathing, Severe bleeding, Poisoning or Severe Head injury and loss of consciousness): 1) Staff will locate an administrator to call 911 immediately. If they are away from the school, on a field trip for example, they will call 911 first and then call to inform the school. 2) Staff will wait for the ambulance to come and be aware of where it is taking the student. Ideally an administrator will also accompany the student to the emergency room. 3) The child’s emergency consent form gives the school permission to request emergency treatment for the student and is in reach of the responsible adult at all times. 4) An Accident/Illness/Injury Report will be filled out and given to all appropriate persons. If the injury is minor, teachers will fill out an Accident/Illness/Injury Report and notify the parents at the end of the day. Parents are immediately notified of all injuries to the head, regardless of severity. First Aid Kit A designated staff member will be responsible for a weekly check of all classroom and emergency bag first aid kits. These kits will contain: band-aids, alcohol swabs, cotton gauze, adhesive tape, 2 instant ice packs, syrup of ipecac and a flashlight. Infection Control Procedure All universal precautions will be observed to prevent the risk of contamination and cross contamination of both staff and children. Children and staff will follow proper hand washing procedures. Single use non-latex gloves will be used by staff in all situations where blood or bodily fluids are present and in toileting procedures. All toys will be sanitized in a bleach solution at the end of the week. Any and all toys that have been mouthed will be removed from the play area immediately and sanitized. Crisis Management and Emergency Preparedness Procedures Chain of Command in an Emergency Situation Greene Hill School has made preparations to deal effectively with emergency situations that may occur around the school. While we hope that a natural disaster or serious incident never occurs our goal is to be prepared for any potential emergency. At all times our first priority is to
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protect all students and staff from harm. All Greene Hill Staff are trained in our emergency procedures and children practice in an age-appropriate way what to do in the case of a fire or other evacuation, shelter-in, lock down or lock out. Every day an administrator is officially in charge of Greene Hill School. Generally this is the School Director. The individual in charge of the building is the only one authorized to give instructions and communicate regarding emergency situations. This individual is the only one authorized to craft or sign off on any messages on the school’s voice mail or email regarding an emergency situation. Procedures If an emergency situation occurs, the administrator in charge will decide on what action the school should take. Once the decision is made, it will be communicated to the staff via the Voice Shot automated phone and e-mail message service, or the school’s email system if the situation is less urgent. In the cases when the school must exit the school building immediately, the fire alarm will be set off as the signal. Unless instructed otherwise, every time the fire alarm goes off, everyone must exit the school building immediately following the procedures outlined here. Emergency Dismissal School-Family Communication: In an emergency situation, the school’s voicemail message will be updated every 30 minutes with an announcement indicating the precise time of the message, the specifics of what is happening, and information regarding what, if anything, parents should do. If necessary, the school will activate the Voice Shot automated phone and e-mail message service. Release of Children: We will not release students unless a parent, guardian, or other designated individual picks up. The only exception occurs when families are unreachable or unable to get to the school and the School Director or designated administrator determines that it is in the child’s best interest to go home with a local Greene Hill School family. Lock Down: If something occurs that requires students to stay in the building overnight or even longer, sufficient water and provisions are available on site. Evacuation Site: In case we are advised to occupy an alternative site we will proceed to Sacred Heart Church, 41 Adelphi Street Brooklyn, NY 11205 (718) 625-5115.
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Appendix 3 BEHAVIOR AND DISCIPLINE POLICY We look to sustain a safe and positive place for Greene Hill School children to learn. Children at Greene Hill School are given many opportunities to make their own decisions concerning their education and social interactions, and we support children through the process of learning how to take responsibility for those decisions. We expect our staff to be clear about behavior expectations, and to be consistent and developmentally appropriate with their responses to inappropriate behavior. We aim to promote cooperative and respectful interactions among all members of the School community: students, teachers, parents, staff, caregivers, and administration. We expect our staff to praise and encourage children and model appropriate behavior for them, to provide an appropriate and safe classroom environment and to attempt to prevent problems before they occur by equipping children with communication tools and other social skills. Staff practice active listening with children and provide alternatives for inappropriate behavior. Keeping children's specific developmental level and temperament in mind, staff provide natural and logical consequences for a child’s behavior and always treat children respectfully with attention to their needs, desires and feelings. Staff will work in partnership with families to address children's inappropriate behavior. Any continued inappropriate behavior on the part of a student or family member that constitutes bullying, aggression, abusive language, harassment of any kind (as detailed in the School’s Nonharrassment policy) are major offenses that can result in severe consequences including suspension or expulsion of a student. Children at GHS are never physically punished. Staff will never make fun of, yell at, threaten, use sarcasm, profanity or otherwise verbally abuse children. Discipline is never related to eating, resting or sleeping. The School does not allow discipline of children by children -- instead, children are taught appropriate responses. Additional details about expectations for middle school student behavior will be located in the Middle School Student Handbook distributed at the start of the year. STUDENT SUSPENSION OR EXPULSION A student may be suspended or expelled by the School Director or the Lower School or Middle School Divisional Director after consulting with the appropriate adults connected with the reason for concern. The Director will be in contact with the parent after a decision is made based on first hand and clear reported evidence. It is rare that this decision will be made based on a single incident unless it is an extreme one such as physical abuse, bullying or another severe action endangering the student or other people at school. Therefore documentation of subsequent events will be
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present to support the decision.
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Appendix 4 NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY AS TO STUDENTS Greene Hill School (the “School”) admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, financial aid programs, and athletic and other school administered programs. NONHARASSMENT POLICY AS TO STUDENTS Greene Hill School (the “School”) finds harassment of any kind based on a person’s race, color, national or ethnic origin or sexual orientation, to be a serious and major offense and subject to severe consequences. Anyone who is the victim of such behavior is urged to notify the appropriate supervisory staff immediately.
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Appendix 5
Greene Hill School Technology Acceptable Use Policy
for students 9 and up Greene Hill School provides access to computers and other technology as part of our academic program. Technology is meant to be used as a tool to support work in the classroom. Overall, we expect that students will use technology in a responsible, respectful and appropriate manner as defined by Greene Hill School. Greene Hill students use technology regularly in a variety of ways: To research information To create presentations To work on collaborative documents To type written assignments To do programming such as Scratch To design projects
GHS has an online google domain in which students nine and up have accounts. All school work using google apps should be based in the school account and all use of the school account must follow these guidelines. Student Rules and Responsibilities: Students should use all technology in a responsible manner by being gentle with hardware and appropriate with content as defined by Greene Hill School staff.
Students must at all times use technology as instructed by the teacher. Students who visit social networking, gaming or other non-approved sites indicated by the teacher may lose their technology privileges.
Students are expected to be respectful and appropriate in all email and all other communications.
Students must remember to logout each time they are finished using a school computer as they are responsible for all content in their accounts.
Students should keep all passwords private from one another. Administrators and teachers will have access to all passwords.
Students should not share any personal information (i.e. birthdate, address, phone number, physical description) in public online forums.
Students should not label any photos of themselves or others with both first and last name.
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Unacceptable Uses: The following uses of technology are not permitted and may result in disciplinary action should a student be found engaging in such activities. It is not permitted to: Receive or transmit material with profane or sexual content Post threatening or abusive language Bully others Access other people’s accounts Post pictures of others without their express permission Use the intellectual property of others without appropriate citation
Greene Hill School’s Oversight of Technology Use: Students should know that files stored on the school’s domain are not guaranteed to be private. School administrators have the right to review and delete files.
Greene Hill School reserves the right to impose disciplinary actions regarding inappropriate use that takes place outside the school domain if the actions have a direct negative impact on members of the GHS community.
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Appendix 6 CLASS PARENTS Class Parents (CPs) will serve as the primary interface between the parents of each class and the classroom teachers. Ideally each class will have two class parents, one who has been at GHS the previous year and has perhaps held the position before and one who is new to GHS, and/or, the position. Class Parent responsibilities include:
1. Supporting classroom teachers
a. Writing up snack schedule at start of the year and sending it out to parents.
b. If needed, contacting parents to assist in obtaining classroom materials and teacher wish list items.
c. Helping teachers find a variety of volunteers for field trips. d. If needed, helping teachers with class events such as book
parties.
2. Supporting the GHS community a. Attending PATHS School-wide Community Meetings. b. Assisting PATHS chairs in organizing Community Potlucks,
Morning Coffee get-togethers, Class get-togethers, Teacher gifts etc.
3 Supporting Parents
a. Reaching out to new families to welcome them and provide information as needed.
b. Forwarding GHS emails as decided by the school director, classroom teacher or PATHS chairs (e.g. calendar reminders, etc.).
c. Coordinating class acknowledgment of life events (birthdays, births, deaths, hospitalizations).
Class Parent Responsibilities will not include: 1. Serving as conduit for complaints and grievances from parents or
teachers. 2. Sending out all-school emails without approval or request from the
school director. 3. Sending out emails on behalf of the classroom teacher.
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Appendix 7
ABOUT PATHS: PATHS is a volunteer group of parents and teachers who work together to support the development of our school. PATHS is a vital part of Greene Hill culture and is actively involved in everything from the school library to community outreach. Some committees work primarily on event planning and fundraising and are active for only a short time. Other committees such as Diversity and Community Service are ongoing throughout the year. We encourage all Greene Hill parents to participate in PATHS. HOW DO I GET INVOLVED IN PATHS? PATHS sponsors several community-building events throughout the year, including a welcome reception on the first day of school and potluck dinners in the fall and spring. Committee sign up sheets are posted at the events and near the front office at the school. For more information on PATHS and how you can volunteer, email [email protected]. WHO HEADS PATHS? We have two co-chairs and many committee heads who work in conjunction with the school’s administration to oversee PATHS. PATHS Co-Chairs: PATHS co-chairs are responsible for overseeing the total number of committees and events. They work with committee heads to create defining statements and a calendar for the year and ensure that each committee has what it needs to achieve its goals. 2014-2015 PATHS Co-Chairs: Rebecca Caban and Kate Sheldon
PATHS Committee Heads: Committee heads work with the PATHS co-chairs to create a defining statement and calendar for the year. They meet regularly with committee members to ensure that their goals for the year are met. They are also responsible for maintaining current and regular communication with the co-chairs and administration. Each committee typically has two committee heads.
Appendix 8 SCHOOL FORMS AND WHAT TO BRING
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School Forms It is essential that all families submit the required medical and student information forms no later than the 8/29/14. Your child may not begin school without these forms: Emergency Contact Forms (2 signed copies) Consent and Waiver form for Care of your Child Activity and Napping Permission Form Photo release Grandparents (and Special Friends) Information Form Permission for Pick-Up Permission for student to arrive and dismiss self (pre-arranged schedule necessary)
Technology Acceptable Use Policy Consent Form K-12 Health Form
Lower School: What To Bring The following is a list of supplies needed for the start of school. Your child’s teacher may request additional items and will contact you directly about these. Please be sure to bring the items on this list by the first day of school. Full change of clothing (include: shirt, pants, underwear, socks,
sweater and mittens). Small blanket, pillow and small fitted sheet for rest (4s and 5s
classes) 2 boxes of facial tissues 4 rolls of paper towels Pump bottle of liquid soap Middle School: What To Bring The following is a list of supplies needed for the start of school. Most school supplies will be provided by the school, however, your child’s teacher may request additional items and will contact you directly about these. Please be sure to bring the items on this list by the first day of school. A water bottle to leave in school A pair of sneakers and socks (if your child does not wear sneakers
every day) 1 pump bottle of liquid soap 2 boxes of facial tissues 4 rolls of paper towels
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EMERGENCY CONTACT FORM (COPY 1)
Child’s Name________________________________________________ Child’s Address______________________________________________ City_______________________State________Zip__________________ Date of Birth_____________________Phone Number (____)__________ 1.Parent/Guardian Name_________________________________________ Address (if different from above)_________________________________ City_______________________State________Zip__________________ Phone (____)__________________ Phone (____)___________________ I affirm that I have proper legal authority to pick up, arrange care (medical and otherwise) for my child. Signature____________________________________________________ 2.Parent/Guardian Name_________________________________________ Address (if different from above)_________________________________ City_______________________State________Zip__________________ Phone (____)__________________ Phone (____)___________________ I affirm that I have proper legal authority to pick up, arrange care (medical and otherwise) for my child. Signature____________________________________________________ In case of emergency and in the case that the parent/guardian’s above are not available please contact: 1.Name_______________________________Relationship to child_____________________ Phone (____)________________________Phone(____)____________________________ 2.Name_______________________________Relationship to child_____________________ Phone (____)________________________Phone(____)____________________________ Parent/Guardian please make sure that the above persons have proper legal authority to make medical decisions for your child. Insurance Carrier______________________________ Group Number________________________________Policy Number_____________________
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EMERGENCY CONTACT FORM (COPY 2)
Child’s Name________________________________________________ Child’s Address______________________________________________ City_______________________State________Zip__________________ Date of Birth_____________________Phone Number (____)__________ 1.Parent/Guardian Name_________________________________________ Address (if different from above)_________________________________ City_______________________State________Zip__________________ Phone (____)__________________ Phone (____)___________________ I affirm that I have proper legal authority to pick up, arrange care (medical and otherwise) for my child. Signature____________________________________________________ 2.Parent/Guardian Name_________________________________________ Address (if different from above)_________________________________ City_______________________State________Zip__________________ Phone (____)__________________ Phone (____)___________________ I affirm that I have proper legal authority to pick up, arrange care (medical and otherwise) for my child. Signature____________________________________________________ In case of emergency and in the case that the parent/guardian’s above are not available please contact: 1.Name_______________________________Relationship to child_____________________ Phone (____)________________________Phone(____)____________________________ 2.Name_______________________________Relationship to child_____________________ Phone (____)________________________Phone(____)____________________________ Parent/Guardian please make sure that the above persons have proper legal authority to make medical decisions for your child. Insurance Carrier______________________________ Group Number________________________________Policy Number_____________________
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CONSENT AND WAIVER FOR CARE OF YOUR CHILD PAGE 1 Parent/Guardian Name_____________________________________Phone_______________ Child’s Name________________________________________________________________ Child’s Address______________________________________________________________ City_________________________________State______________Zip__________________ Parent/Guardian Address (if different from above) ___________________________________________________________________________ City_________________________________State______________Zip__________________ Insurance Company Name_____________________________________________ Group/Policy Number_________________________________________________ Any medical/dietary restrictions or special information_______________________ ___________________________________________________________________ I have signed an enrollment contract with Greene Hill School located at 39 Adelphi Street and have met with admissions personnel, the lower or middle divisional director or school director. I am the parent or legal guardian of the child named below and I have the right and authority to enter this child in Greene Hill School. I give my permission for my child to participate in all school activities. I give my consent for any necessary immediate first aid treatment as deemed necessary by the supervising staff. In consideration of the school services offered by Greene Hill School and accepted by me for my child, I, for myself, my child, our executors and heirs, individually, do hereby release the School, the Premises Owner, School Employees, staff, volunteers and any other individuals connected with the School, of any claims or causes of action arising out of my child’s participation and presence in the School program. I, the undersigned, hereby release Greene Hill School, the owner of 39 Adelphi Street, and the Greene Hill School staff and directors from any and all liabilities or damages relating to my child’s participation in Greene Hill School (herein GHS) and affiliated programs. I affirm that I have had the opportunity to meet with GHS staff and will have toured the premises of 39 Adelphi Street before my child enters school. I understand that the lease holders, the Brooklyn Diocese, has the right to offer some contained after school hours and weekend programs including a small shelter run by CAMBA and after-school and summer camp programs for neighborhood youth, approved by GHS, in the building. I understand that my child will be given the opportunity to participate in physical and group activities that will be supervised by trained staff members of GHS and that the staff will make every effort to ensure my child’s safety. However, I acknowledge that physical and group activities carry an inherent risk of injury and I hereby release GHS should my child become injured while participating in GHS activities. I understand that should my child become injured and ill, GHS staff will take immediate action to help my child, including, but not limited to, administering basic first aid, administering basic CPR, calling and reporting 911 life-or-limb-threatening emergency, and that by signing this form, I have given them my permission to do so. I also understand that as soon as possible following my child’s accident or illness, a GHS staff member will contact me. I agree to leave an emergency phone number so that GHS may contact me if needed. I understand that my child will not be allowed to leave the premises during the school day or from afterschool unless he/she leaves directly with me (unless previous other arrangements have been made). Parent/Guardian Signature__________________________________Date________________ CONSENT AND WAIVER FOR CARE OF YOUR CHILD PAGE 2 I understand that any special medical conditions my child has must be provided in writing, with appropriate
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instructions should a medical situation arise and that emergency medication may only be administered with a physician’s note. I also understand that GHS staff will contact me to pick up my child should he/she appear sick or unusually distressed. I understand that my child may be dropped off at the start of the school day and that he/she is to be picked up no later than the school day. Should a situation arise for my child to remain at GHS longer I will contact GHS ahead of time or will provide additional supervision of my own (such as a child care provider). Parent/Guardian Signature_____________________________Date__________________ Parent/Guardian Name________________________________Phone_________________ Child’s Name_____________________________________________________________ *Your child’s registration is not complete without parent or guardian signature.
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ACTIVITY AND NAPPING PERMISSION FORM
Outdoor Activity I hereby give Greene Hill School and Staff the permission to take my child for short walking trips, field trips to neighborhood parks, city museums and businesses, or any other trip that relates to the school’s daily curricular activities. I understand that my child will be appropriately supervised and chaperoned. Child’s Name_____________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature____________________________________ Phone____________________________________________________ Date_____________________________________________________ Quiet Time (for 4s and 5s class) I understand that my child will be napping on a mat in the classroom of Greene Hill School and that he/she will be supervised at this time. Child’s Name_____________________________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature____________________________________ Phone____________________________________________________ Date_____________________________________________________
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AUTHORIZATION TO USE WRITTEN MATERIALS/ PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO
I, __________________________________________, hereby authorize Greene Hill School to use, reproduce, and /or publish visual materials, including photographs, videos and examples of written school work that may pertain to my child(ren) or children under my guardianship attending the school. I understand that this material may be used in various publications, public affairs releases, recruitment materials, or for other related endeavors. This material may also appear on Greene Hill School’s website. This authorization is continuous and may only be withdrawn by my specific rescission of this authorization. Consequently, Greene Hill School may publish materials, use my name, photograph, and/or make reference to me, or my child(ren), in any appropriate manner in order to promote/publicize Greene Hill School and related events. Signature of Parent/Guardian:___________________________________________________ Child(ren)’s Name(s):_________________________________________________________ Date:_________________
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GRANDPARENTS (AND SPECIAL FRIENDS) INFORMATION FORM GHS would love to keep your family in the loop about the wonderful happenings at school by sending them our quarterly newsletter, invitations to Grandparents and Special Friends Day, information about the Grandparents Fund and other special events. Please complete the information below and use the back if more space is needed:
Your child’s name and class: _______________________________________________________ (only necessary to fill out one per family) GRANDPARENTS (1) Name(s): ____________________________________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ EMAIL: ______________________________________________________________________ GRANDPARENTS (2) Name(s): ____________________________________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ EMAIL: ______________________________________________________________________ OTHER SPECIAL FRIENDS: Name(s): ____________________________________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________ EMAIL: ______________________________________________________________________ Relationship to child: _______________________________________________________
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AUTHORIZATION OF CHILD DROP OFF AND PICK UP
I authorize the following people to either drop off or pick up my child(ren): ___________________________________________________ Child’s Name ___________________________________________________ Child’s Name ___________________________________________________ Child’s Name during the 2014-15 school year: Adult’s Name_______________________________________________ Relationship to Child_________________________________________ Adult’s Name_______________________________________________ Relationship to Child_________________________________________ Adult’s Name_______________________________________________ Relationship to Child_________________________________________ If at any time these arrangements change for any reason, parents/guardians must notify the front office and the school director.
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AUTHORIZATION OF CHILD TO DROP OFF AND DISMISS SELF You must fill out a separate form for each child
On the following days of the 2014-15 school year: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday (circle all that apply) I authorize my child (9s and older) to arrive at school by themselves: _________________________________________________________________________________________Child’s Name and Class Adult’s Name_______________________________________________ Relationship to Child_________________________________________ On the following days of the 2014-15 school year: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday (circle all that apply) I authorize my child (10s and older) to dismiss themselves from school and leave unaccompanied by an adult: _________________________________________________________________________________________Child’s Name and class Adult’s Name_______________________________________________ Relationship to Child_________________________________________
It is my understanding that once children leave school grounds under this agreement that the school is no longer responsible for their care and wellbeing.
If at any time these arrangements change for any reason, parents/guardians must notify the front office and the school director.
If a child who does not have regular permission to self-dismiss is going home with another child who has regular permission to self-dismiss the school needs a signed permission slip completed by the first child’s parents/guardians.
In order to make different arrangements for a particular day please contact the Lower or Middle School Director at least one day in advance in order to sign a permission slip.
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TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY CONSENT FORM
for students 9 and up It is our expectation that families will review the “Technology Acceptable Use Policy” with their children and discuss the various responsibilities. Teachers will also review the policy with students at the beginning of the year. By signing this form, you acknowledge that you have read and reviewed the policy. I have read this policy with a parent or guardian, understand it, and agree to follow Greene Hill School’s expectations for acceptable use. __________________________________ ______________ Student Name Student Grade __________________________________ ______________ Student Signature Date I have read this policy with my child, discussed it, and understand the consequences if my child does not abide by it. __________________________________ ____________ Parent/Guardian Name Date _________________________________ Parent Guardian Signature
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HEALTH FORMS
ALL HEALTH FORMS (CURRENT MEDICAL AND IMMUNIZATIONS) MUST BE PROVIDED TO THE SCHOOL BEFORE YOUR CHILD CAN ATTEND GHS. CHILDREN WITH INCOMPLETE MEDICAL PAPERWORK WILL NOT BE ADMITTED TO GHS. 1) Please download and complete the Child Health Examination Form for 2014-15: http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/downloads/pdf/hcp/hcp-ch205.pdf 2) Please review the Medical and Immunization Requirements for 2014-15 with your child’s physician to insure compliance: http://schools.nyc.gov/NR/rdonlyres/461805A3-25CC-4397-AE8E-F8A32BCF6335/0/SH65MedReq201415_Final.pdf
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Greene Hill School Family Handbook Signature of Acknowledgement Page
Our Mission
Greene Hill School is an independent school for children ages four to fourteen that serves the need
of the Fort Greene/Clinton Hill and surrounding Brooklyn communities for affordable and
progressive education. We actively involve families in their children's school and children in their
own education. We promote learning through an interdisciplinary curriculum, appreciation of
critical thinking and open-ended investigation of neighborhood and beyond. Founded with the
understanding that community is the backbone of society, Greene Hill School guides children to
become dedicated members of a diverse, democratic society.
By signing below and completing the necessary forms in this handbook you acknowledge that the adults responsible for the child(ren) enrolled at Greene Hill School have read the handbook and know the contents detailed throughout. 1. Parent/Guardian Name (Print): ________________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature: _______________________________ 2. Parent/Guardian Name (Print): _______________________________ Parent/Guardian Signature: ________________________________ Date: ________________________________
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Greene Hill School Calendar 2014-15
Saturday, July 12 Summer All School Picnic 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
Fort Greene Park by monument September 1 Monday Labor Day 2-5 Tuesday - Friday Welcome Conferences 5s - 6th grade.
Home Visits 4s (your child’s teacher will schedule with you)
8 Monday First Day of School
Phase In: 4s and 5s 8:50 - 11am School Day starts at 8:50 am for 4s - 9s. 10s and 6th grade start at 8:30 am.
Lower School Parent Orientation 9-10 am Lower School Coffee 10-10:50 am
9 Tuesday Phase In: 4s 8:50 am - 11am
5s 8:50 am - 1 pm September Speaker* 9 - 9:50 am Middle School Parent Orientation 5:30-6:30 pm
10 Wednesday Phase In: 4s 8:50 am - 11am
5s 8:50 am - 1 pm September Speaker* 9 - 9:50 am
11 Thursday Phase In: 4s 8:50 am -1 pm
5s 8:50 am -3 pm (1st full day for 5s)
September Speaker* 9 - 9:50 am 12 Friday Phase In: 4s 8:50 am-1 pm 15 Monday First full day for 4s
Early drop off (8:20 am) and Open Play After School starts for all students
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