FRIENDS’ CENTRAL LOWER SCHOOL New Parent Handbook
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Upcoming Events – Mark your Calendar! New Student Orientation Thursday, September 1, 9 am
Parent Curriculum Night Thursday, September 22, 7 pm
First Day of School – All Students Tuesday, September 6, 8:30 am Parent Welcome Coffee – 8:00 am
Lower School Picture Day Tuesday, October 4
Family Welcome Gathering Sunday, September 11, 2-4 pm Get Involved! Home & School Orientation Meeting Wednesday, September 14, 8:15 am
Pumpkin Fair Sunday, October 23, 12-4 pm Lower School Parent Coffee with the Principal Thursday, October 27, 8:15 am
We’ve listed these fall dates to give you a head start, but don’t let the rest of the year sneak up on you! Please look through the School Calendar and mark down important dates throughout the year.
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Welcome to FCS! The beginning of the school year is a busy time for families, whether your child is new to Friends’ Central or starting school for the first time. The Friends’ Central Home and School Association (HSA), along with School administrators, created this guide to help you and your child prepare for life as members of our Lower School. It is filled with information about School life and exciting events throughout the year. We hope this will answer many of your questions. If you have any further questions about life at FCS, please reach out by phone or email using the contacts identified below, or refer to the School’s website friendscentral.org.
Lower School Resources
FAST FACTS
During the summer, if you have any questions, please email Kelly Pierre, Lower School Principal. If you would like to speak with someone, please call the Lower School main number, and your call will be directed to the appropriate person.
w School begins at 8:30 am
Lower School Main Number: 610.642.7575
w Call the Lower School Attendance Line at
Kelly Pierre, Lower School Principal kpierre@friendscentral.org
w Snow closing number is 345
Andrea D. Lubrano, Lower School Admission Director alubrano@friendscentral.org
w School ends at 2:50 pm w Weekly School newsletter, emailed on Fridays,
is called Just the FaCtS (JTF)
610.645.5138 if your child is sick and staying home
w Back-to-School information:
friendscentral.org/backtoschool2016
Contents
LOWER SCHOOL RESOURCES................................. 1 NEW STUDENT & FAMILY ORIENTATION................ 3 INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION.................... 3-4 Website, Veracross, and Just the FaCtS ARRIVAL & DISMISSAL PROCEDURES............... 4-6 PLAYDATES AND CARPOOLS.................................. 8 HEALTH REQUIREMENTS........................................ 9 Allergy Information SCHOOL ABSENCES..............................................10 DINING SERVICES & SNACK TIME........................10 TRANSPORTATION................................................11 INCLEMENT WEATHER & SCHOOL CLOSINGS.....11 AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS................................12 OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION................ 12-13 Dress Code, School Supplies, Permission Forms, Conferences & Report Cards, Parent Partner Families GETTING INVOLVED......................................... 14-16 CHECKLIST............................................................16
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HELPFUL LINKS & RESOURCES...........................17
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New Student and Family Orientation In late August, look for a Back-to-School email that will provide your child(ren)’s teacher assignment and specifics regarding your family’s orientation time on September 1. On September 6, the first full day of school, stop by the Welcome Tent for coffee with fellow FCS parents and to pick up a Friends’ Central Directory. Finally, the Parent Representative(s) for your child(ren)’s class(es) will reach out by email during the first week of school to introduce themselves to you.
Information & Communication Please spend some time exploring the School’s website and the Veracross portal. Both are extremely helpful sources of information. (more details on pg. 4) You can continue to use the Veracross credentials you used to sign in to the Admission and Enrollment portals. If you have forgotten your password, go to the Veracross portal, myfcs.org, and click on the “forgot username or password?” link to receive an email with your username and a link to use to reset your password.
COMMUNICATIONS There are a number of ways you will receive communications about what is happening at the School. Teachers will email parents with information regarding their specific classes. In Lower School, information about classroom events that need parent assistance will be emailed to parents by the Parent Reps.
JUST THE FACTS (JTF) Every Friday, Just the FaCtS (JTF), an electronic newsletter with detailed information about events and news, is sent to all parents. Please take the time to read this newsletter! In addition, specific announcements for upcoming events or important news will be sent as a separate email communication from the School.
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Parents can also visit the Parent Page of the website (friendscentral.org/parents) to keep updated and informed.
WEBSITE - CAMPUS LIFE INFORMATION The Friends’ Central website, friendscentral.org, is a constant and current source of information on the life of the School. There, you will find School news and events, the All-School Calendar, photo galleries, athletics updates, and information on what is happening at FCS. There is also the Back-to-School page, friendscentral.org/backtoschool2016, for the information you need before School starts.
VERACROSS - ONLINE PORTAL FOR ACADEMIC INFORMATION As an FCS parent, you can access the Veracross Parent Portal to view your child(ren)’s schedule(s), attendance records, conference sign-ups, and report cards. Veracross also contains the School directory and allows you to search for families who live nearby. For help using Veracross, visit parenthelp.friendscentral.org
Arrival & Dismissal Procedures* TRANSPORTATION FORM In early August, you will be asked to provide the School with your child(ren)’s daily arrival and dismissal plan. It will be sent to you as a chalk form and will be due in mid-August. It is very important that the School has your child(ren)’s plan before the school year begins. During the school year, if there is a change to your child(ren)’s transportation plan, you must email Lower School Administrative Assistant Pat DeSabato, pdesabato@friendscentral.org, and your classroom teacher by 12:00 pm.
ARRIVAL PROCEDURES* Morning Supervision 7:30 am-8:30 am From 7:30-8:00 am, families should park in the lot and/or drop off their child(ren) in the
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* Please note: There may be a temporary change to arrival & dismissal procedures due to construction on the Lower School campus in the fall of 2016. You will be notified if a temporary change is in place.
gym. Teachers are not supervising the car loop during this half hour, so we ask that you either walk your child(ren) to the gym or watch them as they walk to the gym. There is no parking in the car loop. From 8:00-8:30 am, teachers and administrators are on duty in front of the gym. Families can drive through the car loop, where drop-off is facilitated by adults, or families can park in the lot and walk their children in. For everyone’s safety, we ask that you observe the following guidelines in the car loop: w Adults driving the car should not get out of their vehicles. w Children must be ready to exit when an FCS staff member opens the door. Children should not be eating, their jackets should be on, and their bags should be close by. w All children exiting should be in the curbside seat or be ready to exit curbside. w Children should not be let out on the opposite side from the curb. w Parents should wait until the car in front of them has pulled away before moving. w If you need more time for your drop-off, please park and walk your child in. w There is no cell phone use during drop-off or pick-up. School Begins at 8:30 am All FCS staff members will leave the car loop at 8:30 am so they can begin their daily responsibilities. Late Arrivals From 8:30-8:45 am, FCS security officers will be at the entrance door next to the gym to make sure children get inside the building, but they will not be curbside to aid children getting out of the car. From 8:30-8:45 am, if your child(ren) can get out of the car independently, you can drop your child(ren) off at the curb of the car loop. If your child(ren) cannot exit without assistance, please park in the main parking lot and walk him/her/them in.
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After 8:45 am, the door next to the gym/at the drop-off circle is locked, so all families must park in the main parking lot, walk their child(ren) in through the main Lower School Office door, and check in with Pat DeSabato in the Lower School Office. The parking spaces closer to the Lower School Office entrance are reserved for FCS staff and Admission visitors only, and we ask parents not to park or drive in this area, as students are often walking there from the buses during drop-off and pick-up.
DISMISSAL PROCEDURES* Dismissal at 2:50 pm The Lower School day ends at 2:50 pm. Parent Pick-Up (PPU) children gather in the gym. Extended Day and bus/shuttle children are escorted to their respective gathering spots. Parent Pick-up (PPU) From 2:50-3:20 pm, you can collect your child(ren) in the gym or through the afternoon car loop. Afternoon car loop guidelines: w Please do not exit the car. w Please ensure that the person picking up your child(ren) has the FCS pick-up sign clearly displayed in the car. You will be given a pick-up sign on Orientation Day. w Electronic device use is strictly prohibited in the car loop. Late to Dismissal PPU ends at 3:20 pm, and any remaining children are escorted to Extended Day. (more details about our Extended Day Program on pg. 12) If you decide you need your child(ren) to stay at school longer, please inform the Lower School office prior to 12:00 pm, or bring him/her/them to Extended Day and let an FCS staff member know that plans for your child(ren) have changed.
* Please note: There may be a temporary change to arrival & dismissal procedures due to construction on the Lower School campus in the fall of 2016. You will be notified if a temporary change is in place.
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Lower School Campus 1. Main Parking Lot
3. Gym
5. Lower School Office Entrance
2. Car Loop
4. Old Gulph Road
6. Bus Loop
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Playdates & Carpools Playdates are a great way for children and families to build and grow friendships. They can be after school, on the weekends, or as a pre-arranged gathering at another location such as a playground or a museum. If your child is having an after-school playdate, and s/he is going home with another child, or if you are taking another child home, please email both Lower School Administrative Assistant Pat DeSabato (pdesabato@friendscentral.org) and your child’s teacher with the name of the host and the name of the guest. There must be an email/note from both the guest parent and the host parent giving permission for the child to go home with a different student.
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Health Requirements
Health forms can be found on the homepage of our website in the top navigation bar under Quick Links. Upon entering Friends’ Central, a School Physical Examination Form is required for every incoming student. This form must be updated annually. The Emergency Consent Form, which should be completed and submitted online, is also required annually for all students. Additional information and links to required health forms can be found at friendscentral.org/healthforms. These forms must be received by the School in order for your child(ren) to attend class. A Dental Examination Form is required for all new students upon entry into Kindergarten through grade 12, and for returning students in Kindergarten, grade 3, and grade 7. Students are not allowed to carry prescription or over-the-counter medications in school or self-administer. A Medication Request Form and a Physician Order for prescription medication are required for any student who needs to have prescription medication, daily medication, EpiPen, inhaler, insulin, etc., kept at school. The original pharmacy-labeled container is acceptable in lieu of a written prescription.
ALLERGY INFORMATION In the interest of safety and equity, we have made a considered decision NOT to exclude any of the common food allergens from our environment and have opted instead to provide education to all students and close supervision by informed teachers. Parents should inform the Health Office directly by phone or in person prior to the first day of school if their child has a food or insect allergy. We require completion of an Emergency Health Care Plan, and parents must provide two unexpired Epinephrine injectors. Parents will be asked to provide “special snacks” to keep in the classroom for celebratory events when their child cannot eat what is provided – birthday treats, for example.
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School Absences Parents are expected to keep sick children at home. A child with a cough or cold is usually more comfortable at home, and children who have experienced fevers or vomiting should not return to school until 24 healthy hours have passed. If you are keeping your child at home, please call the Lower School Attendance Line at 610.645.5138. After an absence, a note from the child’s parent or physician should be given to the teacher if a child is not to go outdoors or participate in physical education. School assignments missed during the child’s absence may be obtained by notifying your child’s teacher. Assignments will be ready at the end of the school day if requests are made by 10:00 am.
Dining Services & Snack Time This year, we’re thrilled to be implementing a brand new food program including delicious, fresh-from-scratch, sustainable and, whenever possible, local and organic foods prepared in-house by expert chef Wadiya Gooden, the new Lower School Food Leader. The Friends’ Central lunch table will be supplied overwhelmingly by local farms - including the School’s own expansive organic garden. For lunch, students can bring their own lunch from home or they can purchase a meal plan from the Dining Service. Please visit friendscentral.org/dining for more details about our meal program and the full range of Lower School Meal Plan options and to purchase the plan that best fits your needs. Among the plan options is a Pizza Day Plan, offered on Fridays and very popular with students.
SNACK TIME Children in nursery through grade 2 will be given healthy snacks by their teachers during morning snack time. If children in grades 3-5 would like a snack, they should bring a snack to School to be eaten during morning snack time.
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Transportation Friends’ Central School Transportation Services coordinates buses and shuttles for students. FCS Transportation services are coordinated by Director of Transportation JB Bowie, who can be reached at 610.247.3520 or jbbowie@friendscentral.org. There is a fee associated with most of these services. For more information, visit friendscentral.org/transportation. Many Friends’ Central students travel to School by private vehicles and school district buses. For information on district buses, please contact Pat DeSabato, LS Administrative Assistant, at 610.642.7575 or pdesabato@friendscentral.org. All new students enrolled for the upcoming year in Kindergarten through grade 5 will be added to the various school districts’ transportation eligibility lists based on age and grade. Please note: currently, no school district provides transportation for Nursery and Pre-Kindergarten children.
Inclement Weather & School Closings In the event of an unplanned closing, a modification of regular school hours (late arrival/early dismissal), or a school emergency, the School will post a notification on the homepage of our website friendscentral.org. It is highly recommended that you sign up to receive an automated alert by email and/or text message. You must sign up through your account on the website. Visit bit.ly/FCSAlertsSignUp to watch a video with additional information on how to sign up for alerts. The School’s snow closing number is 345 on KYW 1060 am radio under Montgomery County. Please check with your local school district regarding weather-related changes in transportation, if your child uses public school bus service.
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After-School Programs EXTENDED DAY The Friends’ Central Lower School Extended Day Program (EDP) seeks to create a settled, supervised environment for Lower School students who need to arrive early or stay on campus beyond the regular school day. Each day, there are planned activities, as well as time for free play and time for homework. There is a fee associated with this program.
FCS AFTER-SCHOOL CLUBS After-School Clubs are a wonderful time for students to be together with friends, having fun, and exploring areas of interest. Online registration for the fall session of After-School Clubs will be available by the end of August. All clubs are 3:00-4:00 pm, and students must be picked up at 4:00 pm or go to Extended Day. To see the range of options or to register for Extended Day and After-School Clubs, visit FCS Extras in the Campus Life section of the website.
Other Important Information DRESS The children have busy and active days at school, spending a great deal of time inside and outside. Comfortable clothes and shoes with closed toes are preferred so children can fully enjoy all daily activities. On days when there is snow, children are still able to go outside to play. They need to be appropriately clothed with boots, gloves/mittens, hats/hoods, and snowpants.
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SCHOOL SUPPLIES The website’s Back-to-School page (friendscentral.org/backtoschool2016) has a complete list of supplies by grade. During the first week of school, teachers will provide students/parents with a list of any additional supplies needed.
PERMISSION FORMS All permission forms are completed online using the Chalk system. Each form will be sent to parents as an email with a link to the online document that requires an electronic signature.
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES AND REPORT CARDS If you are having concerns about your child either academically or socially, teachers are always available to speak with you and encourage you to schedule a meeting with them. More formal parent/teacher conferences will take place in the fall and in the spring to specifically discuss your child’s progress. Conference sign-up information will be sent via email, and parents will be able to sign up for a specific time via the Veracross portal. Report Cards will be available on Veracross in December and June. You’ll receive an email notifying you when report cards are posted online.
PARTNER PARENT FAMILIES PROGRAM All new families to the Lower School are partnered with a current family who is available to answer your questions and to help you and your child with the transition to Friends’ Central. Please feel free to contact them with any questions during the summer or the school year.
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Getting Involved HOME AND SCHOOL ASSOCIATION (HSA) There are many ways for you to get involved in school life at Friends’ Central. You can help organize, volunteer, or simply attend one of the many events throughout the school year. Our very active Home and School Association is dedicated to building community through organizing events and by facilitating communication between parents and the School. Complete the Lower School Volunteer Survey (friendscentral.org/parents) or contact Andrea Nuneviller, HSA Coordinator, at anuneviller@friendscentral.org, if you are interested in getting involved. Please come to the HSA Orientation Meeting on Wednesday, September 14 at 8:15 am to learn about all the ways you can be involved.
WAYS TO VOLUNTEER: Class Representatives Parents can volunteer to be a class representative to support their child’s class and teacher. As Parent Reps, volunteers send communications from HSA and their classroom teacher to the parents in their class to help keep everyone connected and informed about activities and events. They can also help with classroom activities during the year. HSA Committees These committees consist of groups of parents that have a number of meetings and events during the course of the year. Lower School Book Fair parent volunteers
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w Parents for Diversity Group
Lower School Pumpkin Fair
w Service Committee HSA Events These are annual events that need a large number of parent volunteers to help plan and run. w Pumpkin Fair - FCS Fall Festival w Eldernet Basket Holiday Service Project w MLK Day of Service w Lower School Book Fair w Peace Concert Parent Gatherings In the fall, each grade gets together socially either at school or at a parent’s home, as an opportunity for fellowship. Parent Ambassador Network (PAN) Organized by the Admission Office, this volunteer opportunity involves outreach to prospective families, assisting at on-campus admission events, and helping in various other ways to spread the word about Friends’ Central to the greater community. To join PAN, please contact the Admission Office at 610.645.5032.
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Giving to Friends’ Central School Annual gifts to the Friends’ Central Fund are an important way for parents, alumni/ae, faculty, and friends to demonstrate their commitment to Friends’ Central School. Each year, over 1,600 generous community members contribute to the School’s operating budget. This tremendous generosity allows the School to open its doors to talented students with limited financial means, to retain outstanding faculty, and to maintain two beautiful campuses. Last year, over 75% of parents made a gift to the Friends’ Central Fund. Participation at all levels is welcome and makes a difference in support of the joyful learning experiences and unparalleled opportunities for all our students. Annual Fund volunteers are vital to the success of the Annual Giving Campaign. Tasks may include signing letters and making phone calls to community members or simply helping to stuff mailings. Becoming an Annual Fund volunteer has an immediate impact on the School and our ability to fulfill our mission. To become an Annual Fund volunteer, contact Kim Emmons-Benjet, Director of Annual Giving, at kbenjet@friendscentral.org, or call 610.645.4499.
New Parent Checklist
q S ubmit Health forms q Submit Transportation Plan q Prepare School Supplies q Set-up Email and/or Text Alerts q Mark Important Fall Dates
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Resources We are here to help! Feel free to contact us with any questions. To call the Lower School, dial 610.642.7575, and your call will be directed to the appropriate person. Kelly Pierre, Lower School Principal kpierre@friendscentral.org Ginger Fifer, Lower School Assistant Principal gfifer@friendscentral.org Andrea D. Lubrano Lower School Admission Director alubrano@friendscentral.org
Absentee Line 610.645.5138 JB Bowie, Transportation Coordinator jbowie@friendscentral.org, 610.645.5046 Wadiya Gooden, Lower School Food Leader wgooden@friendscentral.org Jennie Nemroff, Nurse jnemroff@friendscentral.org
Pat DeSabato, Lower School Administrative Assistant pdesabato@friendscentral.org Andrea Nuneviller, Home and School Coordinator anuneviller@friendscentral.org, 610.645.5040
Barbara Cole, Nurse bcole@friendscentral.org Jessica Corsaro, Lower School Counselor jcorsaro@friendscentral.org
Technology: parenthelp@friendscentral.org
Helpful Links Parent Website Page friendscentral.org/parents
Alert Sign-up Help bit.ly/FCSAlertsSignUp
Veracross Help ParentHelp.friendscentral.org
Back-to-School Page friendscentral.org/backtoschool2016
FCS Extras Transportation & After-School Activities friendscentral.org/extras New Lower School Food Program friendscentral.org/lettucefeedyou
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