Communication Between School and Home

COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN SCHOOL AND HOME

A strong partnership between home and school is the foundation upon which we build on our promise of continued, thoughtful teaching and learning.  At any time during the year, parents should feel free to contact any member of the staff or administration to arrange a meeting to discuss a particular issue or concern.  In addition, we have several scheduled meetings a year which are dedicated to either grade specific or class specific information to facilitate the dialogue between school and home:

Curriculum Night

Curriculum Night is an evening when parents visit their children’s classroom for an overview of the curriculum.  The purpose of this evening is for parents to become familiar with their child’s grade’s curriculum, as well as to get an overview of your child’s daily routines.  A typical agenda for Curriculum Night includes: how the day is organized and the classroom is set up to support the day’s routines, homework expectations, an overview of the major curricular components, special activities and projects, and how parents can support the child’s teacher/classroom. 

Grade by Grade Parent Meetings

Approximately twice a year, Principal Melanie Woods holds Grade-by-Grade Parent Meetings.  These early morning meetings, which will begin at 8:40 am just after drop-off and end no later than 9:30 am, are an opportunity to bring yourself up to date on information that pertains to your child’s grade, and to ask questions. If you would like a specific topic addressed please feel free to email Melanie, Dawn, or Frank in advance of your child’s grade meeting.  At the initial grade meetings of the year, it is customary for the specialty teachers to talk about their plans for instruction in the coming year.

Notices from Classroom Teachers

Throughout the school year, your child's teacher will communicate with you by sending home notifications about activities going on in the classroom and in the school. Please check with your child daily to be sure you receive all necessary notices and forms. The best place to check is your child's homework folder, fourth and fifth grade agenda books, and/or backpack or book bag.  Please respond promptly if a response is required.

Conferences and Appointments

Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled in November and March. At these individual conferences, parents discuss their child's academic progress with the teacher.  In addition, parents are invited to observe their child's class and school during Open School Week in November.

If parents have particular concerns, or a special situation has arisen that requires discussion, they need not wait until a scheduled conference but may make an appointment with the child's teacher. To make an appointment, parents may send a note to the teacher in the child’s backpack, leave a note in the teacher’s box in the main office, or call the Parent Coordinator and ask her to leave a note for the teacher.  The note should explain the request and include the parent’s name and a daytime contact number.  Parents should not just arrive without an appointment to see a teacher during the school day as this may be disruptive to work in the classroom. 

Parents with scheduled appointments must check in at the security desk in the entrance upon arrival, where they will receive a pass before going on to their appointments.

The Principal and Assistant Principals are also available to meet with parents. Call the office (718-330-9277) to arrange an appointment.