Below are excerpts from our Parent Handbook
Dear Parents,
Powerful connections lead to positive change. That is the core of our mission statement at P.S. 29.
The Parent Handbook and Student Directory is an important tool to help us achieve our goal to make all families feel included, involved, informed, and powerfully connected to the vibrant PS 29 community. It provides you with: 1) addresses and phone numbers of your children’s classmates to enable you to reach out and stay connected to each other for both academic and social purposes; and 2) critical information to help you familiarize yourself with the basic routines, policies, and procedures at P.S. 29.
Stay connected. Stay informed. Participate in our wonderful school in any way you can. We are all united by our deep commitment to providing the best possible education to our children. Thank you, as always, for entrusting your children to our care.
Sincerely,
Melanie Raneri Woods
Principal
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SCHOOL DAY SCHEDULE
Pre-Kindergarten: 8:40 am – 2:55 pm
Kindergarten: 8:40 am - 2:55 pm
1st – 5th grade: 8:40 am - 3:00 pm
The day begins at 8:40 every day for all children not receiving extended day services. Students go up to their classrooms at 8:35 so that they are at their classrooms, ready to learn by 8:40.
Those children participating in extended day services begin at 8:00am on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten children are escorted directly to the classroom by their parents or caregivers using the main entrance and grand staircase on Henry Street.
1st graders enter using the main entrance but go directly to their classrooms through Exits 2 and 3 (Baltic Street side of the building) where their teachers will meet them.
2nd graders enter the Kane Street entrance (Exits 6 and 7) and go directly to their classrooms where their teachers will meet them.
3rd, 4th and 5th graders line up in designated areas in the schoolyard. Each class is directed up to their classrooms where their teachers meet them.
During inclement weather, Grades 3 through 5 will also enter through the main entrance at Henry Street. Before 8:35, all children are directed to the cafeteria. At 8:35, all children proceed directly to their classrooms.
Breakfast is served beginning at 7:30. We no longer have a morning recreation program but all students who come in early (drop-off begins at 7:30) will proceed to the cafeteria where they will be encouraged to participate in our universal breakfast program.
Lunchtime/Recess Schedule
Pre-Kindergarten: 11:20 am, in their classrooms
Kindergarten: 11:20 am – 12:20 pm (period 4)
Grades 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5: 12:20 – 1:20 pm (period 5)
Grades 1 & 2 eat first while Grades 3 – 5 have recess; and at 12:45 they swap
Weather permitting, children go into the schoolyard for supervised play during recess, which may be either before or after they eat. In times of inclement weather, students generally watch a video in the auditorium. Please dress your children appropriately in the winter time (hats, gloves/mittens, scarves) as the children will be engaging in outdoor recess play as long as weather conditions are not too severe.
We continuously work with staff and students to improve the quality of lunch and recess, which is such an important time of day:
- *School aides and teaching assistants are assigned to particular groups of classes (in the cafeteria) and activities (in the schoolyard).
- *Our assistant principals, Jeffrey Golubchick (1st and 2nd grades) and Dawn Pender (3rd, 4th and 5thgrades) supervise 5th period lunch and recess.
- *Games and activities are organized during the children’s recreation half of their lunch. For example, we have basketball hoops, a tennis/volleyball net, soccer balls, hula hoops, etc available for student use.
Lateness
Instruction starts promptly at 8:40 am so it is imperative that your children get to school every day by that time. Teachers find that children are most ready to learn in the morning and late arrival interferes with this. Any child arriving in the classroom after 8:40 will be marked late by the teacher. Lateness is also indicated on official records and your child’s report card. Middle schools may take the number of lateness marks into consideration in evaluating your child for acceptance. Please make every effort to get your children to school on time.
Extended Day Schedule
The extended day program for students who need additional academic support will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in the mornings (“Early Risers”) from 8:00 to 8:40 am.
Free Breakfast Program
Every child attending a New York City public elementary school is entitled to receive a free breakfast. Children participating in the free breakfast program may arrive as early as 7:30 am.
Early Pick Up
Parents are strongly discouraged from taking their children out of school before dismissal. If it is absolutely necessary to pick your child up before the end of the day, please send a note to your child’s teacher giving the time and reason for the early pick-up. You will have to sign in according to our security procedures, and the teacher will send your child to the main office to meet you at the designated time. PLEASE DO NOT GO UP TO YOUR CHILD’S CLASSROOM.
Late Pick Up
There is no one to care for any child left at school after 3:00 pm unless the child is enrolled in Kid’s Club, or enrolled in a P.S. 29 Plus class. Teachers and other staff members usually have school meetings, appointments, or other commitments at 3:00 pm. Your cooperation and promptness are greatly appreciated.
After School Program
The PTA sponsors two after school programs, run by P.S. 29 professional staff. The basic program, Kid’s Club, runs from 3:00 to 6:00 pm and includes homework help (staffed by classroom teachers, who will be available during Kid’s Club for homework assistance) and outdoor play, with age-appropriate activities. The “Petit Plan”program, for parents who just need a little extra time to pick up their children, offers childcare from 3:00 to 3:30 pm.
The second program, P.S. 29 Plus, offers specialty classes that begin shortly after the regular school day has ended. Classes meet weekly and are taught by P.S. 29 teachers as well as individuals from outside of the school who have been interviewed and screened by the Program Administrators. Offerings in the past have included art, writing, drama, physical education, piano, dance, yoga, cooking and more. Fees are competitive with other outside afterschool classes and classes are kept small to allow for personal attention and development. A snack and juice are provided in both programs. Registration for P.S. 29 Plus and Kid’s Club takes place in the first few days of each session. Course brochures are generally posted on the school bulletin boards, and are also available on the website.
For further information regarding this program call 718-907-3443 or visit the PS 29 PLUS page on the school homepage (www.ps29brooklyn.org).
School Breakfast
Free breakfast is available to all P.S. 29 students. Breakfast is served from 7:30to 8:15 am. The cost for lunch and/or milk is:
School Lunch:
Costs:
Daily – Weekly: $1.50 - $7.50
Daily Reduced – Weekly Reduced: $0.25 - $1.25
Milk: $0.25
You can add to and check your lunch money balance online at www.MyLunchMoney.com
Lunch money is also collected weekly by classroom teachers. On Tuesdays, parents should send their children to school with the payment for the following week in an envelope clearly marked with the student’s name, grade and class. The school lunch menu is available on the PS 29 website (on the left-hand side panel, before you log in). Kindergarten students may also purchase a half-pint of milk for the afternoon snack.
Free or reduced-cost lunch is served to all children whose families qualify based upon the information supplied on the Department of Education School Lunch Survey Form. If your income changes at any time during the year, you may fill out a new Survey Form. All parents are asked to complete the Survey Form, which students will bring home at the beginning of the school year, regardless of whether or not you are eligible and/or wish to participate in the School Lunch Program. The school’s funding status is determined by both the number of forms returned and the percentages of students in the various categories. All information is kept confidential.
If a child who brings lunch from home forgets lunch, he or she will be given a school lunch to eat – no child will ever go without lunch. Parents should tell their children to speak up and tell their teacher or the lunchroom staff if they forget their lunch at home so that the staff can ensure that they are fed. Families will be billed accordingly.
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SCHOOL SECURITY AND VISITORS
The security of our children, staff, and visitors is our utmost priority. The following security policies must be adhered to by everyone to ensure the safety of all members of our school community:
Parents are welcome in the school. For the safety of the children and staff, however, all parents and visitors must always use the front entrance on Henry Street to enter and exit the building. Side doors and back doors to the schoolyard are never to be used, as this compromises the safety and security of our entire school community.
All visitors are required to show photo identification and sign in at the security desk located at the main entrance on Henry Street. The only exception to this is when there are special celebrations and events (such as grade meetings, Families as Learning Partners or publishing celebrations). On those occasions, you will be required to bring along the invitation that was distributed by the classroom teacher so that you do not have to show ID. If you do not have the invitation with you, you will be required to follow the standard procedures of showing your ID to the safety officer and signing in.
If you have a scheduled appointment and are expected by a staff member, after signing in you will find that your name has been logged by the staff member in the visitor book. You will be given a yellow pass by our Safety Officer, and you will be able to report directly to your appointment.
If you DO NOT have an appointment, you will still be required to show ID and sign in. Then you will be directed to the main office, where you will be assisted. If you are permitted to go up to a room, you will receive a yellow pass in the main office. Visitors not logged into the Visitor’s Log by a staff member must always go to the main office first.
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HEALTH AND SCHOOL POLICIES
Illness and Other Absences
If your child is out sick for more than three consecutive days, you must submit a doctor’s note stating that your child may return to school. Please do not call the main office to report your child’s absence. Your child’s teacher will record all absences and the office will maintain a record based on the teacher’s notations.
Health
All children newly admitted to a New York City school are required by law to have a medical examination form showing a complete physical examination. The immunizations required for pre-k include: diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP) or diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP); polio, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), hepatitis B, and varicella. Kindergarten students must have proof of the same immunizations, except for Hib. For grades one through five, the same immunizations are required except for Hib; and instead of DTaP or DTP, diphtheria-tetanus is permissible. Immunization requirements change from time to time, so for the most current requirements it is best to check with main office, or call the Bureau of Immunization at 212-676-2273.
Vision and Hearing Screenings
Children will have vision and hearing screenings free of charge in the school. Parents will be notified of the results only if further testing is indicated.
Head Lice
Head lice, unfortunately, seems to be a given in an elementary school. However, we do take measures to keep it under control when we find that a child has been afflicted. If you suspect your child has head lice, please notify an administrator, your child’s teacher, or Pumpkin, our nurse, immediately. We will check that child and if she/he does have lice/nits, then every child in your class will be checked. Siblings will also be checked, and if necessary, the siblings’ classmates. A form letter will go out to the entire grade notifying parents that a child on that grade/in your class has lice, as well as giving very detailed instructions on how to get rid of the lice should your child be infected.
Children who have lice may not come back to school until they have been cleared by our school nurse. However, the policy for “nits” has recently been changed by the Department of Education: children who have nits may be readmitted to the classroom. It is incumbent on us all to help manage a lice outbreak by both breaking the stigma associated with lice (it can happen to anyone!) and working together to make sure any suspected cases get reported and addressed. Anyone who has dealt with an infestation knows how incredibly stressful, time consuming, and costly the process of addressing the situation can be.
Emergency Contacts
At the beginning of each school year an emergency notification card (the Blue Card) is sent home for parents/guardians to complete. This card provides the school with information in case of an emergency involving your child during the school day. Please return this card promptly, and update the card during the year if there are changes. It is the only way the school can notify you, a designated relative, or a friend if it should become necessary.
Prohibited Items: Toys, Cell Phones, etc.
Toys, games and cards should be left at home. These items are not permitted in school—not even at lunchtime. It is a Department of Education policy that children do not have cell phones in school. If a teacher or staff person sees a child with a cell phone or hears one ring during class, he or she will retrieve it from the child and return it to the child’s parent/caregiver as soon as possible. Scooters and skateboards should also be left at home, but if a child does arrive to school on either of these, parents/caregivers should take it home with them as soon as the child enters school grounds. If a scooter or skateboard is left behind, it will be stored in the PTA room.
Lost and Found
Boxes for found items are located on the ground floor in the outer cafeteria. Please check this area for your child’s belongings. Unclaimed items are donated twice a year – December and June – to the Salvation Army.
School Emergency Evacuation Plan
In the event of an emergency requiring evacuation of P.S. 29, all students, teachers and staff will relocate to M.S. 293, located on Court Street between Baltic and Butler Streets. Classes that meet on the Kane Street side of P.S. 29 will exit on Henry Street, walk one block south to Degraw Street, then go east to Court Street and north two blocks to M.S. 293. Classes that meet on the Baltic Street side of P.S. 29 will exit on Henry Street, walk north to Warren Street then take Warren Street east to Court Street. At Court Street, they will walk two blocks south to M.S. 293. Staff will bring the blue emergency cards with them so they can contact students’ families. Note also that P.S. 29 regularly holds fire drills and in-house safety drills in accordance with Department of Education and New York City guidelines.
Storm Closings
The Schools Chancellor, in consultation with other City officials, decides whether to close schools or delay their opening. The decision will be broadcast by 6:00 a.m. on most major local TV and radio stations.
