It all starts here A beginner’s guide to Gordon 2011
It all starts here A beginner’s guide to Gordon 2011 Getting Connected People to Know The Board of Trustees Family-teacher communication school-home communication Privacy emergencies A gordon glossary Some Annual Highlights The Gordon Day
45 Maxfield Avenue East Providence, RI 02914 401 434-3833 www.gordonschool.org
Getting connected Gordon recognizes the importance of strong communication between the school and students’ families. Here are a few examples of ways you can help maintain a solid connection between your home and the classroom. KEEP YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION FRESH In the coming weeks, you will receive information on how to log in to the Gordon website. Learn how to use the password-protected online directory to provide the school—and other families—with any changes to your contact information during the year. JOIN THE EMAIL LIST Weekly emails provide reminders of upcoming events, plus late breaking announcements. This is a simple way to stay on top of the day-to-day life at Gordon. Email news@gordonschool.org to join. CHECK BACKPACKS Teachers enlist their students to bring notices and classroom newsletters home to their parents. Encourage students to take their courier responsibility seriously; these notices are a great way to find out what’s happening in their lives. GO TO ORIENTATION Tuesday, September 6th Meet your student’s classroom teacher, their division director, and other classroom parents on the day before school begins. This is also your chance to pick up your copy of the Directory, a basic resource that will help keep you connected all year long. Go to New Family Coffees The Admission Office hosts a series of morning gatherings immediately before school. Younger siblings are welcome. GO TO OVERVIEW NIGHTS At Overview Nights, your child’s teachers give you an in-depth look at the year to come and a detailed preview of the coming year’s curriculum. The conversation at Overview Night gets the family-teacher relationship off to a strong start early in the year. GO TO AGES AND STAGES Ages and Stages is a series of informal breakfast meetings for each grade level. The school psychologist and the division director lead a discussion of the developmental stages that children experience at each age level. This is one more opportunity to strengthen your connection with the division directors and with the families of your child’s peers.
USE THE SCHOOL Students’ families are welcome to borrow books from the Joukowsky Family Library. In addition to the main collection, the Library has a rich and current selection of books on parenting and education. The Nursery and Preschool sections of the Mann Family Early Childhood Playground are open to everyone outside of school hours. Young children and their families can be found lingering there after pickup on sunny afternoons. Families also use Gordon’s playgrounds and fields on the weekends. An on campus play date is a great alternative to a visit to one child’s home. All adults are invited to serve themselves coffee and tea in the kitchen throughout the day. Even the quickest stop can result in a friendly encounter between adults. VOLUNTEER FOR THE GCA The Gordon Community Association, the school’s parent volunteer group, will contact you in August and September with opportunities to get involved in its busy and varied list of activities. VOLUNTEER IN OTHER WAYS Many teachers welcome family members into the classroom to share a special skill, hobby or area of expertise, or simply to read a book aloud to students. Ask your classroom teacher how you might help. The librarians always appreciate help shelving books or staffing the checkout desk. Volunteers labor behind the scenes at the after school theater productions, as well as the special events produced by the Development and Admission offices. The Development Office’s Annual Fund welcomes parents who can call other parents to talk about philanthropic support for the school. The Admission Office enlists interested parents to assist with recruitment, mentoring, leading tours, and more.
People to know New students have many new people to meet, and so do their families. CLASSROOM TEACHERS Your child’s classroom teacher is the first person to go to when you have questions, concerns and ideas about your child’s development. Classroom rosters are announced in a mailing that goes home to parents in August. Days are set aside for conferences in October and March, but you should not hesitate to reach out to a teacher anytime during the year. Grade representatives Each classroom and advisory is assigned a volunteer from the Gordon Community Association who serves as a conduit for communication between the home and the school. You can count on this person to keep you posted on major upcoming school events. MENTOR The Admission Office matches each new family with an experienced Gordon family that has a child at the same grade level. These mentors can be great resources as your family explores the world of the school. THE NURSE Gordon has a full time nurse on duty. It is important to keep the nurse briefed on all health issues, so that the school can respond quickly and appropriately to all students’ needs.
People to know THE FRONT DESK STAFF The school’s receptionists, Kim O’Donnell and Kay Webber, are everyone’s first stop when they are looking for a student, a teacher, or a piece of vital information. Next time you call the school, or pass through the front office, take the time to introduce yourself. the Head of School Head of School RALPH WALES is responsible for your child’s education and welfare during his or her years at Gordon. You’ll get to know Ralph informally, at school events and in the hallways, but you should also feel free to schedule a one-on-one appointment with him at any time through the Assistant to the Head, CLARE BLACKMER. the Admission Office As a new family, you already have a relationship with Admission and Financial Aid Director EMILY ANDERSON, who will remain available to you throughout your time at Gordon. Amanda Riegel also works in this office during fall and winter. Any questions on enrollment or financial aid should be directed to Emily, or Admission Assistant Denise Johnson. the Business Office The Business Office has all of the information you need about billing and tuition, and the Business Manager, TOM CICATIELLO, is also responsible for maintaining the school’s physical plant. Assistant to the Business Manager Carmen Garcia should be your first stop if you have any concerns about billing and payment options.
the Academic Directors The four Academic Directors—one for each division, and a school-wide Director of Diversity and Multicultural Practice—oversee the day-to-day implementation of the curriculum, and remain on call to respond to individual faculty, student and parent needs. Together, they are responsible for your family’s experience at Gordon. The Director of Diversity and Multicultural Practice KIMBERLY RIDLEy works with faculty, students, administrators, trustees and parents to enhance the school’s multicultural curriculum and build a multicultural community. Most students begin at Gordon in Nursery, Preschool and Kindergarten, so the Early Childhood Director MAUREEN KELLY has the pleasure of welcoming families to the school. The Lower School Director MARYANNE PIERI shepherds children in first through fourth grade—and their parents—through the years when students’ language and math skills blossom, and they become increasingly capable of independent work. The Middle School Director DANNY KARPF oversees fifth through eighth grade, the culmination of a student’s Gordon experience, and plays a key role in preparing students for the new challenges of secondary school. the Development Office The Development Director KERRIE DONAHUE handles all of Gordon’s fundraising efforts, organizes special events and maintains the school’s connection with alumni. She is also an excellent resource if you are interested in volunteering at Gordon. Associate Director of Development Siobhan Welsh is directly responsible for the school’s relationship with alumni and their families. She and Development Assistant Paola Martinez manage the school’s Annual Fund, which represents a significant portion of the school’s annual operating budget. Paola also serves as the school’s database coordinator. Manager of Publications and Public Relations Geoff Griffin is responsible for much of the school’s photography and written communication. Bring him questions about the website, weekly emails, monthly mailings and advertising.
The Board of Trustees WHAT IS THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES? The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the school. The Head of School reports directly to the trustees. This structure, with the trustees at the top of the school’s organizational chart, is typical of independent schools. Gordon has twenty-six trustees. Some are education professionals, but most are parents of Gordon students or of a graduate. They meet monthly during the school year. The Board has three obligations:
1. Maintaining and supporting the school’s mission
2. Overseeing the financial health of the school
3. Selecting, evaluating, and supporting the Head of School
The trustees’ work is primarily long term planning, with decisions that are implemented over periods ranging from eighteen months to five, ten and even twenty years. The day-to-day work of running the school is left in the hands of the staff, teachers and administrators. Much of the Board’s work is completed in one of the Board Committees: Buildings and Grounds, Development, Diversity, Education, Executive, Finance, Marketing, Personnel, and Trusteeship. TRUSTEES OVERSEE THE FINANCES Each year, trustees outline their strategic priorities, and the Finance Committee presents them with a budget that reflects those priorities. By January, the budget for the following year has been finalized and approved. The trustees review this twelvemonth budget alongside a five-year projection that illustrates the long-term impact of each decision. Expenses are just half the budget. Trustees also develop the income side. Gordon has three main sources of revenue: interest on the endowment, fundraising income and tuition. Here, too, the trustees have worked to make sure these lines of the budget are steady and predictable over the years. The trustees, Finance Committee and administration monitor how the budget plays out over the course of the year. Any significant changes in income and expenses are reported to the trustees, and, at year’s end, the board commissions an independent audit of the school’s accounts. In February, representatives from the Business Office join trustees to present the budget-making process in detail at Finance Information Night.
TRUSTEE SELECTION The Board’s Trusteeship Committee must evaluate the board’s long-range, leadership requirements. In addition, ongoing review of the volunteers on the board committees produces an extensive pool of very qualified individuals with a variety of backgrounds that can be asked to fill the board’s specific needs. The committee then works to ensure that the composition of the Board of Trustees reflects the racial, socioeconomic and geographic diversity of Gordon’s student body as well as a range of interests and professional skills.
Family-Teacher Communication Conference days are formally scheduled in October and March. On conference days, school is not in session, and Gators childcare is available all day. Families are welcome to reach out to teachers outside of the context of conference days as well. On Overview Nights in the beginning of the year, each teacher will go over the best ways for families to contact them. The front desk is always ready to connect anyone with a teacher’s voice mail. Teachers check their voice mail at least once a day, and will return phone calls as quickly as possible. Teachers also have email addresses at Gordon. These addresses follow this pattern:
first initial last name @gordonschool.org
For example, Gordon’s founder, Helen Cooke, would have had
hcooke@gordonschool.org for an email address.
Teachers will respond to an email with a request for a direct one-on-one conversation if they feel that email is not the best way to cover the topic at hand. PLEASE NOTE Teachers sometimes cannot check email or voice mail until well after the school day has ended. Any message that requires a quick response—a change in a student’s after school plans, for instance—must be conveyed by speaking directly to the receptionist at the front desk. Any changes in address or contact information should be conveyed immediately to the school’s receptionist, who will pass the information on to all appropriate staff.
School-Home Communication Gordon families hear from the school through a suite of information sources that come out annually, monthly, weekly and even daily. The school’s website is a central clearinghouse for this information. Parents will especially appreciate the links at www.gordonschool.org/parents as well as the customizable calendar at www.gordonschool.org/calendar. Annually Wall calendar The school produces a wall calendar that is available before school begins. Families can rely on this as their source for basic times and dates of events for the coming year. Any changes and additions to this calendar will be publicized in the publications listed below. Twice annually Progress reports Twice a year, in December and in June, all parents of children in Kindergarten through the eighth grade receive a detailed written evaluation of their child’s progress. In sixth, seventh and eighth grade, these reports are augmented with letter grades. Nursery and Preschool parents receive progress reports in June. Monthly Monthly mailings The front office mails one large envelope home each month. These mailings include the Gordon Monthly, a newsletter from the school’s administration, as well as other notices and letters from the school. These consolidated mailings reduce the number of mailings sent home throughout the year, and simplify household management for families.
Weekly Thursday emails On Thursday evenings, Gordon sends out an email with any updates to the school calendar, a review of the coming weeks’ events and other logistical information of interest. Families can sign up for these messages by emailing news@gordonschool.org. Website updates Each week, Gordon also publishes This Week at Gordon, an online photo essay that spotlights the work going on in Gordon’s classrooms. To browse through these essays, visit www.gordonschool.org. The website also includes a school wide calendar that lists everything on the wall calendar, as well as any changes and additions that have been made since that calendar was published. Daily Backpack notices Notices from the school will be sent home occasionally with students. Families are encouraged to check children’s backpacks. Notices from the nurse are the only notices printed on bright red paper. Athletic schedules Each day’s sports schedule is available on the Sports Line at 401 434-3833 x1903. The Athletic Director updates the outgoing message every school day during the sports seasons. In the case of inclement weather, the decision to cancel games is always made by 1pm, and announced both on the Sports Line and on the website. Full athletic schedules are also on the website: game schedules for the entire upcoming season, as well as the coming week’s practice schedules.
Privacy Privacy and the directory Gordon provides the directory to support communication among households on matters directly affecting students’ lives. Parents are urged not to allow the information in the book to be used outside of the context of Gordon. The use of the names, addresses, emails, or phone numbers for any other purpose— however well intentioned—undermines the school’s efforts to sustain open, easy and effective communication among Gordon families. Privacy and the web Gordon vigorously defends the online privacy of families. Students’ names are not used on the website. The only exceptions occur when a student is being mentioned in the context of an off campus activity, and their identity has already been made public through a press release or an appearance in the media. The private portion of the website is protected by the same security standards used on the web sites of banks, email providers and online retailers. Parents are also welcome to change the information in their profiles so that it cannot be viewed online.
Emergencies All families fill out a form with emergency contact information that remains on file with the school. Copies go with chaperones whenever students leave campus. Parents are responsible for keeping this information current; contact the front desk if you have any questions in this regard. WInter storms Gordon has a simple policy for extreme weather: There are no delayed openings or early closings. If school is cancelled, the decision will be made by 5:30am and announced shortly thereafter on radio and television. If school is not cancelled, classes will begin on time and the school will remain open until the last child is picked up. When school is closed, all afterschool programs are cancelled as well. Bus riders should check for closures in their local school district. If local public schools are closed, the bus will not be running. Crisis Communication Gordon has an upgraded two-way radio system, secure doors during school hours, and ample medical evacuation supplies. A crisis planning team meets on a monthly basis to review established procedures and plan for regular school-wide drills. Gordon uses a third-party notification service that sends telephone messages to parents with important information about emergencies and timely announcements, including school cancellations due to inclement weather. The system is configured so that, when it is used
all of phone numbers listed in the school directory will be called caller IDs will display “411� the system will play a recorded message when the phone is answered.
A Gordon glossary ACTIVITY ROOM The multipurpose space between the front office and the Lower School. This room houses THE COFFEE POT, to which all adults are welcome to help themselves (snacks left on the kitchen counter are fair game as well). ADVISORY A group of seven to ten Middle School students and one adult (THE ADVISOR) that meet daily throughout the year. ANNUAL FUND A fundraising drive in which parents, faculty, staff, alumni and friends of the school contribute to Gordon’s annual budget. Every gift from a Gordon parent, no matter what the size, helps bring the Annual Fund to its goal of 100% parent participation. BRITT NELSON VISITING ARTIST Each year, Gordon invites a professional artist to spend three weeks working with students. The residency is named in memory of Britt Nelson, a parent of three Gordon graduates, and is funded by an endowment fund established in her honor. C.J. BUCKLEY EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING NIGHT Each year in June, the eighth grade students spend an evening showcasing their service learning projects, and a series of speakers reflect on the role of experiential learning in Gordon’s curriculum. This evening is held in memory of a member of the class of 2000 for whom the C.J. Buckley Experiential Learning endowed fund is named. COMMON GROUND A program offered to students who were identified as students of color by their parents on the school’s “Family Information” form. In Middle School, Common Ground meets during the school day, and Lower School Common Ground takes place after school.
DIVISION Gordon is divided into three divisions: EARLY CHILDHOOD (Nursery, Preschool, Young Kindergarten and Kindergarten), LOWER SCHOOL (first through fourth grades) and MIDDLE SCHOOL (fifth through eighth grades). ENDOWMENT Assets that are managed by Gordon’s Investment Committee. Gordon uses the interest from these investments, but does not spend the principal. ENDOWED FUNDS are portions of the endowment that are dedicated to a specific area of school operations. These funds can be established in recognition of a family, person, or graduating class with a minimum gift of $25,000. ENRICHMENT An after school class offered through Gordon as a supplement to the school’s curriculum. Enrichment classes follow the same three-season schedule as the Middle School Athletics program. ERBS AND SSATS Fifth, sixth and seventh graders take the Educational Records Bureau’s standardized test, also known as “the ERBs,” each spring. In the fall of eighth grade, students considering applying to independent high schools take the SSATs (the Secondary School Admission Test). FIRST CLASS Gordon uses software called First Class for email and internal communication. Middle School students get accounts on this system to help them transfer files between computers at school and at home. GATORS Gordon’s after school and vacation child care program. The after school program for Middle School students is the Young Adult Place, or YAP. Students sign in for Gators in THE GATORS ROOM, the large room between the Nelson Field House and the activity room. Veterans might call this THE OLD GYM.
GCA The GORDON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION is the school’s parent association. The work of this extremely active group is woven tightly into the life of the school, and all Gordon families benefit from the GCA’s fundraising and volunteering efforts. GATOR GOURMET The program that serves lunch on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This program was known as HOT LUNCH for many years. IMMERSION A period of at least one day in which a class’ regular schedule is set aside to focus on a single large scale project. The best-known example is the FLEX WEEK that the fifth grade uses as the culmination of their study of ancient cultures. KEY CLUB Middle School students who sign up to volunteer as tour guides for the Admission Office. KINDERGARTEN GROUPS Kindergarten faculty and students refer to their classroom groupings by colors, not by the name of the classroom teacher. Ms. Motta’s Young Kindergarten class is YELLOW GROUP, Miss Sluss’ is GREEN GROUP, Ms. Parsons’ is RED GROUP and Ms. Toothaker’s is BLUE GROUP. THE NELSON FIELD HOUSE The gymnasium that houses the Physical Education program as well as Gordon’s after school athletics. THE ENTRY is the glassed-in entrance to the Field House. It is often used for meetings, and is sometimes called THE ATRIUM.
Britt Nelson Visiting Artists 1998 Painter Melissa Miller 1999 Glass artist Ursula Huth 2000 Storyteller and illustrator Baba Wagué Diakité 2001 Architect Roddy Langmuir 2002 Textile artist Jeung Hwa Park 2003 Sculptor Allison Newsome 2004 Sculptor Kitty Wales 2005 Photographer Marian Roth 2006 Puppeteers Dusan Petran and Aniece Novak 2007 Designer Gunnell Sahlin 2008 Painter and printmaker Joseph Norman 2009 Sculptor Ben Anderson Illustrator Amy Bartlett Wright Illustrator Julie Ann Collier 2010 Illustrator Bert Kitchen 2011 Sculptor Kristen Hassenfeld
OPEN CIRCLE A program in Kindergarten through fifth grade that meets twice a week. The Open Circle curriculum includes a series of discussions and role-playing activities that teach students skills and vocabulary that enrich their social and emotional lives. PAC (Parent Action Committee) The Parent Action Committee is a group of parents from area independent schools (including Gordon) that organizes social events and educational programs. POSOC (Parents of Students of COlor) Parents of Students of Color is a group of Gordon parents that meets throughout the year to discuss the distinct issues, needs and experiences of students of color who attend independent schools. Teacher Residency Gordon partners with the Roger Williams University School of Education to teach a one-year intensive Master’s Degree program. As part of their work, teacher residents spend two semesters working alongside Gordon faculty in the classroom. THE WELL The space with the high ceiling in the center of the Middle School building.
Some annual highlights OVERNIGHT FIELD TRIPS W. Alton Jones The fifth grade spends one night and two days at the Environmental Education Center at the University of Rhode Island’s W. Alton Jones campus. Sargent Camp The sixth grade travels to New Hampshire for three days and two nights to attend a program run by Boston University. With a focus on activities that instill teamwork, communication and camaraderie, students participate in problem solving challenges, a ropes course and more. Briarwood Marine Science Center The seventh grade travels to Briarwood Marine Science Center on Cape Cod, where students kayak, dissect sharks, study crabs, set up their own aquariums and study environmental issues like oil pollution and water quality. Farm School The eighth grade travels to the Farm School in Athol, Massachusetts for three days and two nights, where students are responsible for daily chores that are a part of life on a working farm. Civil Rights Trip The eighth grade travels to Georgia and Alabama to conclude their study of the Civil Rights Movement. They visit historical sites, but it is the people they meet that have the biggest impact; students spend time with veterans of the 1950s and 1960s efforts, and meet community activists working for change in the present day. GCA BOOK and gift FAIR - FALL This is the GCA’s second largest fundraiser. Parents fill the Nelson Field House with loads of books, for children and adults alike. There is always at least one author or illustrator on hand during the book fair. Food and gifts round out the shopping experience.
ADMISSION OPEN HOUSE - NOVEMBER Held on the first Saturday in November, this morning event is designed for prospective families to visit, have a tour, talk with faculty, parents and students, meet the Head of School and learn about the admission process. Gordon families volunteer their time to give tours and share their experiences of Gordon. ART SHOWS Students from Kindergarten through eighth grade have their artwork on display in the activity room for three days at the end of each semester. This is an extraordinary exhibit that showcases the wonderful talents of the students. VISITING DAYS – JANUARY Parents observe Lower and Middle School classes in session and attend a panel on the curriculum and student life at Gordon. ROOSTER GAMES - WINTER Fifth graders from nearby schools join Gordon students for a morning of imaginative challenges based on the books being considered for the Rhode Island Children’s Book Award. Originated at Gordon, the Rooster Games now happen annually at schools throughout the state. BATTLE OF THE BOOKS - APRIL Fourth graders are placed on teams with students from Lincoln School, Wheeler School, and St. Michael’s School to answer questions and test their knowledge about what they have read. GRANDFRIENDS’ DAY - MAY Students invite grandparents, a family friend, or other members of their extended families to visit the school for a morning. Grandfriends attend a reception with student performances and a welcome from the Head of School, and then go off for a morning of classes.
Popsicle Days - Spring and Fall Gordon hosts newly admitted students for icy treats and unstructured play at the Mann Early Childhood Playground. These are promoted to the entire school as a way to get to know the new faces. CARNIVAL - MAY
Recent day trips included...
The GCA’s largest fundraiser transforms Gordon into a real carnival complete with amusement rides and games, pony rides, face painting, a petting zoo, food, ice cream and lots of excitement.
Plimoth Plantation
FIELD DAY - LATE MAY OR EARLY JUNE Field Day is traditionally held on a Friday near the end of the year with games organized by the physical education department. ANNUAL MEETING - JUNE A formal meeting at which the Head of School and leadership from the Board of Trustees and the Gordon Community Association give their annual reports. Thankyous, good-byes and recognitions are on the program as well, along with the presentation of the GCA’s annual gifts to the school. All are welcome.
New Bedford Whaling Museum Caratunk Wildlife Refuge Apeiron Institute for Sustainable Living Fogland Beach McCoy Stadium Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration Save the Bay Center Old Sturbridge Village RISD Museum of Art
CLOSING ASSEMBLY - JUNE Prior to dismissal on the last day of school, the entire school gathers for a final goodbye to the graduating eighth grade class, an introduction for next year’s eighth grade students and Student Leadership Council and a celebration of the school year. COMMENCEMENT - JUNE This tradition is a celebration of each graduating eighth grader and their families. Each student receives a diploma and a gift, both personalized to reflect their personality and their years at Gordon. Speakers include the Head of School, a graduate and the student council president and vice president. Advisors reflect on each student’s time at Gordon and read a quote that captures the essence of their students.
The Gordon Day Getting Dressed
Through fourth grade:
Students should have sneakers or other closed-toe shoes on during school. Flip-flops and sandals are not suitable for climbing, running and exploring and thus are not permitted on the playground equipment or recommended for school. Students go outside throughout the winter months, and they should have warm clothes and be prepared to play outside. During fall and spring, sunscreen should be applied before children are dressed. Good judgment is expected of all students. Teachers and staff will use their discretion in determining whether or not an article of clothing is considered appropriate. If a student’s attire is unacceptable, parents may be called to come pick up their child. All children must wear sneakers with non-marking soles for physical education classes.
Middle School:
The Middle School has a dress code created to teach students about proper school clothing for this community, to provide boundaries so that students show respect for their own changing bodies, and to allow students to focus on school and not be distracted by others’ clothing choices, particularly clothing that is overly revealing of students’ bodies. Specific expectations for Middle School students: Students should have sneakers or other closed-toe shoes on during recess. Flip-flops and sandals are not suitable for climbing and thus are not permitted on the playground equipment. Hats are allowed in the hallways, at lunch and recess, and in any classes in which the teacher allows them. Hats must be removed in assemblies and in any class in which that is the teacher’s preference; Slogans on t-shirts should be appropriate and therefore should avoid words or pictures that are offensive, alcohol/drug-related, involve sexual references, etc.; Sleeveless shirts that cover the shoulder are allowed, but thin tank tops (often referred to as “spaghetti straps”) are not allowed. No shirts that show bellies are allowed;
Girls should not wear any top that shows cleavage; No student’s underwear should be showing. Girls’ bra straps should not be visible. Underpants should not be visible—for example, from low-riding pants; Skirts and shorts should come close to students’ knees. Even if a student is wearing leggings or tights, skirts or shorts still need to be the same length as they would if the student were not wearing the leggings or tights; Students must change out of the clothes they wore to school and into shorts and a t-shirt for physical education classes. Students are also advised to bring a sweatshirt and sweatpants for outdoor activities. Students may not wear their gym clothes during the rest of the school day. Students who have questions should bring in the item ahead of time to show it to their advisor. If students have doubt, they should not wear the item in question. Any staff member who speaks with a student about her or his clothing will make every effort to talk to the student in private about the concern so as not to embarrass him or her. While context may lead to an alteration of this procedure, the protocol for Middle School students not following the dress code is as follows: 1. The student will change or cover up the clothing (extra clothing is available in the Middle School office if necessary); 2. The student’s advisor will be notified; 3. The advisor will follow up with the student to be sure she or he is clear about the concern; 4. If the student has a second warning, the student’s parent(s) will be notified; 5. If the student has a third warning, the Middle School Director will be notified and will follow up with the student and the parent(s).
Health Check When ill students attend school, they slow their own recovery and pose a health risk for their classmates. A student should not attend school if he or she has been vomiting has a fever of 100 degrees or higher has diarrhea, persistent severe pain or severe cold symptoms. Children exhibiting any of these symptoms while at school will be sent home. PACKING FOOD Each student is expected to bring his or her own lunch to school. Refrigeration is not available. Only Middle School students have access to a microwave. Regular, skim, and low fat milk is supplied to all students, and water and plastic utensils are available. Bagels with butter or cream cheese are for sale daily for $1. The Gator Gourmet program prepares and serves lunch each Tuesday and Thursday during the school year. There is a charge for these lunches. The lunch schedule is on the wall calendar available at Orientation in September and signup information is mailed in late August . Early Childhood and Lower School students have snacks provided in the morning. A second snack is provided in the afternoon for Early Childhood Middle School students may bring a snack from home to have during morning recess.
KEEPING PEANUT-FREE There are students who are gravely allergic to peanuts, which puts them at a risk for a major reaction that may require emergency medical treatment. Parents are asked to carefully read and mark the ingredients of all foods sent in to school, particularly foods sent to be shared in a classroom or for a bake sale. Early Childhood and the Friday Gators Program are peanut free zones. Students may not bring any thing containing peanuts to these areas. Students who arrive with, for example, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich will be given a bagel for lunch instead. Lower School and Middle School students are provided a peanut free table for lunches in the Activity Room. Students who sit at this table are not allowed to have anything containing peanuts. The Gator Gourmet volunteers do everything they can to ensure that the foods served do not have peanuts, peanut oil or trace amounts. However, parents who have any concerns about the ingredients of any product should send their child to school with what they know to be a safe lunch or snack. GETTING HERE Busing is available to all students who are at least five years old and who live in Barrington, Bristol, Central Falls, Cranston, East Providence, Johnston, Lincoln, North Providence, Pawtucket, Providence, Smithfield or Warren. The bus routes are made available in late August and bus passes are issued at orientation. If you have questions about busing, please speak to someone in the Admission Office or Kim O’Donnell at the front desk. The Admission Office organizes a meeting for families interested in carpooling, in early September. PARKING AND DROPPING OFF New families should note that traffic congestion occurs at Gordon but does not last long. By arriving even a few minutes before eight, families may find parking and drop off much easier than it would be a few minutes after eight. For the safety of all students and adults, vehicles on campus should never exceed five miles per hour. Parents wishing to walk their children into school are welcome to park along the street or in the school parking lot. Parents are responsible for keeping children on designated walkways.
When parking in the Maxfield Avenue neighborhood, please be respectful of neighbors’ lawns and driveway access. Always observe the posted 25-mile per hour speed limits. Parking is not allowed in front of the school—not in the inner circle nor outside the circle by the stone pillars. That area is a fire lane and must be kept clear at all times for emergency vehicles. Parents who remain in their vehicles during drop off should pull into the driveway in front of the school. During the high traffic periods, staff will be present to direct traffic and keep the flow smooth and safe for all. 7:15-8AM: EARLY ARRIVALS Early Childhood and Lower School students may arrive any time after 7:15am and go directly to the Gator room. Children are supervised until 8am, when Lower School students are dismissed to go to their classrooms and Early Childhood students are walked to their classrooms. Middle School students who arrive between 7:15 and 8am must be dropped off at the Nelson Field House, where they will be supervised. They are not allowed to enter the Middle School before 8am. This coverage of early arrivals is free of charge. 8-8:15AM: CLASSROOMS OPEN Classrooms open at 8am, and school begins at 8:15am. Parents of Early Childhood and Lower School students are urged to bring their children a few minutes before the 8:15 bell to ensure a smooth start of the day for everyone. AFTER 8:15AM: LATE ARRIVALS Early Childhood students who arrive after 8:15am must have a parent or guardian sign them in at the front desk. Lower School students who arrive after 8:15am may sign themselves in at the front desk, or have a parent do it. Middle School students should go directly to advisory if they arrive between 8:15am and 8:30am, or sign themselves in at the front desk if they arrive past 8:30am.
BY 9AM: REPORTING ABSENCES If a student is absent from school, the parents must call the front desk before 9am on the day of the absence. If the school has not been informed of a child’s absence, the parent will be called to verify the nature of the absence. To leave a message for the front desk outside of school hours, dial 401 434-3833 and press 9. BEFORE NOON: REQUESTING HOMEWORK When a parent calls in a student’s absence, they may request that the student’s homework assignments be made available to them. Homework may be picked up at the front desk between 3:15 and 4:15pm. Parents are asked to make homework requests before noon. 11:45AM: EARLY CHILDHOOD HALF DAY Dismissal for half-day students in Early Childhood is 11:45am. On Fridays, all of Early Childhood is dismissed at 11:45am, except on those Fridays when the entire school is dismissed at noon. 3:15PM (2PM FRIDAYS): DISMISSAL Lower School and Middle School dismissal is at 3:15. Early Childhood dismissal for full-day students is also at 3:15, except Fridays when all Early Childhood students are dismissed at 11:45am. Students who are picked up at dismissal wait with their teachers in the front of the school or in the activity room with their teachers. Students must be picked up by one of the adults named on the Authorization for Pickup Form that is on file for every Gordon student, and remain in that adult’s care until they leave the campus. Gordon staff reserve the right to check the identification of any adult before dismissing a student into their care. Adults picking up children can park and walk up to the waiting child, or remain in their car in the school’s driveway, where school staff will be on hand to manage traffic flow and safety. Adults are asked not to pick up their children in the classrooms as it disrupts classroom routines. Families are welcome to bring their children to the Nursery playground and pond area after school. The Kindergarten and Lower School playgrounds are reserved solely for the use of the Gators program until 5pm. Students whose rides are late must check in at the front desk and then go to Gators or YAP. If parents or caregivers know they are going to be a few minutes late, they are encouraged to call the front desk.
3:30-5:30PM: AFTER SCHOOL Students who remain at school after dismissal must be under an adult’s supervision. Extended day care is available for every child, for a fee, until 5:30pm. Gordon has a number of programs that run between 3:30 and 5:30pm that offer each student safe, positive and age-appropriate ways to spend the afternoon. Gators and YAP are the core of the after school programs, covering all of the grades, every day that the school building is open. To insure proper supervision, students will report to Gators or YAP when waiting before or after another after school program. The rules and policies outlined in the Gordon Handbook apply during the hours after dismissal as well. This includes the prohibition of students possessing cell phones, iPods and electronic games. Students must be picked up by one of the adults named on the Authorization for Pickup Form that is on file for every Gordon student. Gordon staff reserve the right to check the identification of any adult before dismissing a student into their care. All students must be signed out by a parent or guardian with a Gators or YAP staff member. YAP students may also be signed out by a parent or guardian in the front office. BY 5:30PM: EVERYONE HOME Unless they have taken the bus home, every student must be picked up by one of the responsible adults named on their Authorization for Pickup form.
The world of parking at Gordon
Do Do notnot block neighbors’ driveways block neighbors’ driveways
Avenue
Hazard Street Hazard Street No No parking on this sideside of Maxfield, by law parking on this of Maxfield, by law
Maxfield Avenue Maxfield Avenue No No parking herehere 45 minutes before dismissal parking 45 minutes before dismissal
Parking at Gordon is ais a Parking at Gordon safety issue. With adults safety issue. With adults andand children hustling to to children hustling andand fro fro throughout the the throughout day,day, it isitimperative thatthat is imperative drivers keep visibility drivers keep visibility lines open andand crosslines open crosswalks clear. walks clear. Traffic congestion at at Traffic congestion Gordon is limited to two Gordon is limited to two or three short bursts or three short bursts Field House entrance Field House entrance access Maintenance access during the the day.day. Parents during Parents Maintenance are are reminded thatthat even reminded even a small adjustment in in a small adjustment their routine cancan make their routine make a big difference. Parka big difference. Parking ing at five minutes at five minutes before 8am, for for instance, before 8am, instance, is very different from is very different from parking at five minutes parking at five minutes after 8am. after 8am.
Busy Busy crosswalk crosswalk
No No park p Reserved for for Reserved handicapped handicapped permits permits
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Vincent Avenue Vincent Avenue Busy crosswalk Busy crosswalk
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Busy crosswalk Busy crosswalk
FireFire hydrant hydrant
Maxfield Avenue, Maxfield Avenue, Vincent Avenue andand Vincent Avenue Hazard Street are are notnot Hazard Street extensions of Gordon’s extensions of Gordon’s campus; theythey are are public campus; public streets. streets.
k No No parking parking
Cars must leave ten ten feetfeet Cars must leave clearance around driveclearance around driveways andand corners, justjust ways corners, as they would in any as they would in any other partpart of this resi-resiother of this dential neighborhood. dential neighborhood.
No No parking ten ten feetfeet from corners parking from corners anywhere on Maxfield anywhere on Maxfield
No No parking in in parking crosswalk crosswalk
No No parking parking
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