CANCELLATION
The radio stations WLAD (800), WINE (940), WEZN (100), WICC (600), and WREF (850) broadcast “No School” announcements in the event of inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances. Television channels 3, 8 and 30 will also broadcast “No School” announcements.
In most cases, these stations will have the information by 6:00 a.m. or shortly thereafter. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE SCHOOLS OR THE RADIO STATIONS, AS ALL LINES MUST REMAIN OPEN FOR AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL.
The fire siren is sounded around 6:45 a.m. in the event of school cancellation. Please see page 22 for school time schedule on regular, early dismissal, and delayed opening days.

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REGISTRATION
Transfer pupils may enter school upon presentation of proper transfer records at any time during the year. To avoid delay, bring the following documents to the registration interview:
1. transfer from previous school, if any;
2. the most recent report card;
3. health records;
4. a copy of the birth certificate for the school to see; and,
5. proof of residence in the Town of Bethel (utility bill or tax bill).
Transfer pupils under the age of 18 should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

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NOTES AND TELEPHONE CALLS
Whenever possible, please plan ahead and use a note so that phone calls can be kept to a minimum. Telephones are primarily for school business and their use by children is discouraged, except in emergencies.
Students must bring a note from their parents for:
1. early dismissal;
2. going home other than the usual way; and,
3. going to Cub Scouts, Brownies, Park and Rec programs, etc.

PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO THE LIMITED NUMBER OF BUSES, STUDENTS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO RIDE ANY BUS OTHER THAN THE ONE TO WHICH THEY HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED EXCEPT FOR PRE-APPROVED DAYCARE PURPOSES.

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ABSENCES
Connecticut State Law requires parents and others responsible for a child to cause their children to attend school regularly during the hours and terms the public school is in session. The Bethel Board of Education recognizes that regular attendance in school and classes is an essential part of each student’s educational experience. The daily contact with teachers and other students in a dynamic academic environment is a vital and valuable part of each student’s intellectual and social growth. This consistent, orderly conduct, which is an effect of regular attendance, facilitates and promotes learning which leads to increased knowledge and the improved social skills necessary for full participation in American society.

If your child will be absent, please call the school nurse’s attendance line by 8:30 a.m. on the day of the absence. Leave your child’s name, the teacher’s name, and the reason for the absence on the machine. In order to account for all youngsters each day, any child absent whose parent has not left a message on the tape will be contacted by the school.

Leaving a message on the answering machine does not excuse your child’s absence. You MUST send in a note when your child returns to school, explaining the reason for the absence.

The following is a list of excused absences according to Regulation 5113 of the Bethel Board of Education:

• Illness or injury of the student.
• Serious illness of a member of the family necessitating the absence of the student.
• Death in the immediate family.
• Religious holiday.
• Such other exceptional circumstances as approved by the principal.

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TARDINESS
If your child arrives at school with you after 9:00 a.m., you must bring your child into the office and sign him/her in. You will also need to complete a pass that your child will take to the teacher. To minimize disruptions, please do not escort your child to the room. Children are not to be dropped off to enter the building by themselves.

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LUNCH PROGRAM
Sodexho-Marriott School Services provides hot lunches in all of the Bethel schools. Menus will be published each month and distributed to students to bring home. For students who wish to bring a lunch from home, milk, ice cream, and fruit are available daily for purchase. Prices are printed on monthly menus and are subject to change.

Your children may be eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. The first menu sent home lists the eligibility guidelines. Applications are available in the school offices, and new applications must be filed each year.

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RECESS POLICY
Youngsters should be appropriately dressed to spend time outdoors during recess. Warm clothes, gloves, hats, and boots are required during winter months. Children well enough to come to school should be well enough to be outside during recess. Exceptions, for medical reasons, may be granted on an individual basis with a doctor’s note. In the event of inclement or severely cold weather, outdoor recess will be canceled.

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ITEMS NOT PERMITTED IN SCHOOL
In order to assure student safety and protection of personal property (expensive jewelry and toys, large sums of money), parents are encouraged to monitor closely those items that are brought or worn to school by students. The following items are specifically prohibited on school grounds:
• Weapons (real or toy).
• Pocketknives, razor blades, or sharp objects.
• Skateboards, roller skates, and rollerblades.
• Radios, Ipods, cell phones, CD players and tape recorders.
• Baseball bats, hardballs, boomerangs, and frisbees.
• Matches, caps, and fireworks.
• Pokemon Cards and other collectable cards and items.
• Any other objects that are disruptive to the educational process.

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SCHOOL VISITATION
ALL VISITORS MUST REPORT TO THE OFFICE IMMEDIATELY UPON ENTERING THE BUILDING AND OBTAIN A PASS.
Parents are welcome and encouraged to visit the school, attend assemblies, and participate in special events. In order to minimize classroom disruption, walk-in observations are not permitted. Parents should contact the teacher in advance for an appointment.

If parents wish to meet with a teacher, they must make an appointment in advance. Conferences cannot be held during the time a teacher is scheduled to be with the class.
If parents find it necessary to deliver articles of clothing, lunches, library books, etc., to school, the items must be labeled (name and class) and left in the office. Classroom instruction should not be interrupted.

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ADMINISTERING MEDICATIONS TO STUDENTS
As per State Law, it is necessary that the State form, “Authorization for the Administration of Medicine by School Personnel,” be completed and returned to the school nurse if a child is to receive prescription medication during school hours. THE PHYSICIAN MUST COMPLETE AND SIGN the top part of the form, indicating the name of the child, the date of the order, the name of the drug and the dosage, the time of administration, and relevant side effects. THE PARENT MUST COMPLETE AND SIGN the bottom section of the form.

The school nurse may administer prescribed medicinal preparations. Principals and teachers may, in the nurses’ absence, administer only prescribed oral medications.

The medication should be delivered directly to the school nurse by the parent or guardian. The medication should be delivered in and dispensed from containers properly labeled with the name of the student, the name and strength of the medication, name of the physician, the date of the original prescription, and directions.

School nurses are allowed by the school health advisor to administer over-the-counter medications, such as Tylenol, to students with the parents’ written permission.NO CHILD SHOULD CARRY ANY MEDICATION TO OR IN SCHOOL. IT IS ILLEGAL FOR A CHILD TO CARRY ANY MEDICATION TO OR FROM SCHOOL OR HAVE ANY MEDICATION WITH THEM IN SCHOOL. All medications are kept in locked cabinets in each school’s health office. The necessary forms are available from the school nurse.

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HOMEWORK POLICY
HOMEWORK POLICY
Expectations for the amount of time to be spent by students on daily homework assignments are as follows:

Grades K & 1 an average of 15 minutes

Grades 2 & 3 an average of 30 minutes
In addition, each student is expected to read or be read to for 20 minutes every night.

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VACATIONS AND ILLNESS

Vacations

All family vacations scheduled while school is in session are considered unexcused absences. We cannot stress enough how important it is for your child to attend school on a consistent basis. Please keep this in mind whenever you schedule a family vacation. If a vacation during school time is unavoidable, please inform your child’s teacher and notify the principal, IN WRITING, at least one week prior to the vacation. In order to make this time an educational experience, we ask that your child keep a daily journal and share the experiences of the trip with the class on his/her return to school. Having your child read for enjoyment or you reading to your child would also be valuable activities during the vacation time.

ILLNESS
If your child is out ill for LESS THAN THREE DAYS, the work that is missed will be given to your youngster upon his/her return to school. With a short illness, the main emphasis should be on your child’s return to good health. There will be ample time and opportunity for your child to catch up on any missed work when he/she returns to school. If your youngster is absent MORE THAN THREE DAYS due to illness, please contact your child’s teacher and homework will be made available for pick up. PLEASE CALL TO REQUEST THE WORK IN THE MORNING, to give the classroom teacher time to collect and assemble the assignments and materials, if any. WORK MAY BE PICKED UP AT THE CLOSE OF SCHOOL IN THE OFFICE. Parents are also reminded that students may be excused from recess and/or gym for health or injury reasons. A NOTE FROM THE DOCTOR IS REQUIRED TO EXCUSE STUDENTS FROM GYM AND/OR RECESS. A NOTE IS ALSO REQUIRED FOR THE STUDENT TO RETURN TO GYM AND/OR RECESS.

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