Jack Abrams Intermediate Policies
We hope this will answer many of the questions that arise during your child’s educational experience at Jack Abrams Intermediate School. When you have a question or a concern about your child, the principal and staff welcome a telephone call from you. Please follow these procedures in order to allow our students to maximize their time in the classroom and learn to be responsible:
1. Make every effort to get your child to school by 8:45 a.m. Consistency is key.
2. Make sure your child is prepared for school each day with all assignments, books, instruments, lunches, etc. Any "forgotten" item brought to school by parents must be left in the office. Please label these items with the child’s name and teacher. Class messengers will come to the main office after homeroom, before their lunch period and before dismissal to collect any delivered items. Students who have forgotten their instruments will come to the office before their lessons or borrow an instrument, if possible. Forgotten lunches can be charged in cafeteria and paid back the next day.
3. Make arrangements for after school activities before your child leaves for school. A note must be provided to the secretary in the office to receive a bus pass. Your child must go home if there is no note.
4. Make every effort to arrange doctor and dentist appointments for after school hours. This is to avoid interrupting your child’s academic program.
5. Send a note with your child to school specifying when to meet you in the office if you plan to pick them up early or at dismissal time. This note should be shown to the secretary in the office when entering school and to your child’s classroom teacher. No phone calls will be made to the classroom so that instruction will not be interrupted. Instruct your child to meet you in the office at the specified pick-up time.
6. Call ahead of time for an appointment or write a note to the teacher requesting a conference or phone call.
7. Parents, when visiting during school hours, should park in the parking lot near the basketball courts, not in front of the building or in the fire lane. Upon entering the building, all visitors are required to sign in at the desk and secure a visitors pass. No entrances are opened in the rear of the building.
VISITORS
Parents are always welcome to visit our school. District policy requires that all visitors, including parents, report directly to the main office and register before proceeding anywhere in the building while school is in session. All appointments with teachers must be made in advance. Anyone wishing to take a tour of the school facility can make arrangements in the main office. Call 631-2060 for an appointment.
MESSAGES
If you need to get in touch with your child’s teacher, please feel free to send a note or make a telephone call. URGENT phone messages will be returned as soon as possible. Homework Requests must be in by 10am to ensure the packet will be ready at dismissal.
COMMUNICATIONS
Thursday Thoughts: Is our school’s weekly announcements and calendar of events. It is very important to read "Thursday Thoughts" each week so that you will be aware of everything that is happening at school. Our office Secretary and Dean spend endless hours typing this calendar of upcoming events to help you stay involved in your child’s education. Please be sure to ask your child every Thursday for "Thursday Thoughts". If your child does not come home with one, please have them ask their teacher for another copy or pick one up in the office.
Huntington Public Schools Web Site: Our web site is useful to families with internet access. The site has current information pertaining to school events, student activities, club descriptions, Thursday Thoughts, PTA and the Shared Decision Making Team. The web site address is: www.hufsd.edu
PTA Smile Box: Located in the school’s office for all PTA needs and responses to PTA notices.
ATTENDANCE
ATTENDANCE PHONE NUMBER IS 673-2140. Please call our answering machine (available 24 hours). When your child is absent you must call this number and give your child’s name, grade, teacher and reason for the absence. If this is not done, the school will call to verify your child’s absence.
-When your child returns to school after an absence, a written excuse must be brought to his/her teacher for attendance records.
-Should your child be absent from school due to illness, phone requests for homework should be made before 10:00AM. The work will be sent to the main office at dismissal (4:00).
MORNING ARRIVAL
The school day begins at 9:20AM, with buses scheduled to arrive between 9:10AM and 9:20AM. Members of the staff supervise the children in the front lobby between 9:00AM and 9:20AM, at which time students proceed to their classrooms. There are no teachers or aides on duty prior to 9:00AM, therefore if your child is a walker or is driven to school, please make sure that he/she does not arrive until 9:00AM. Do not send your child to school before 9:00AM unless he/she is coming for a scheduled activity such as intramural, clubs, orchestra, band etc. If you are a working parent and need coverage for this time period call SCOPE at 360-0800. This procedure will ensure the safety of all children. Any child coming into school late must report to the main office before going to his/her classroom to receive a late pass.
CAR TRANSPORTATION
For Safety reasons, DO NOT ENTER the school driveway and parking lot during bus arrival and dismissal. New York State law mandates that a school bus that is either discharging or taking on students may not be passed by a moving vehicle at any time. We ask for your cooperation in this matter for the safety of all our students. Bus dismissal time is 3:40PM until 4:00PM.
Anyone coming to the school during this time should park in the schools parking lot located on the south side of the building. When leaving the building with your child, please do not walk between the buses for safety reasons.
AFTERNOON DISMISSAL
Parents waiting for their children at dismissal are requested to wait in the front lobby. If you are picking up your child, send in a note to the teacher in the morning. If there is no note, your child will be sent on the bus.
EARLY RELEASE
In case you must pick up your child from school, please send a note with your child to meet you in the office at the requested pick up time. It will be your child’s responsibility to meet you in the main office at the requested time. Teachers have asked that no calls be made into the classroom in order to not disrupt instruction. Parents or the designated adult, must sign the child out of school when leaving before dismissal. Please note: Students will not be released to anyone but a parent or guardian unless there is prior written permission identifying the alternate adult. This procedure ensures the safety and protection of our children.
Please make every effort to schedule doctor appointments for your child during non-school hours to avoid interrupting your child’s academic program.
Bus Passes: If students wish to take a different bus than their regularly scheduled bus, either to join in a formal activity or to visit a classmate, they must obtain prior permission. Permission may be granted for a bus change on a particular day provided the change does not create an overcrowded condition on the bus.
The procedure for a change to another bus is as follows:
- Parent writes a note requesting a change stating the bus their child will take that day.
- The note is brought to the office where the secretary will issue a bus pass.
- The child shows the pass to the bus driver.
- Children who do not already ride a bus will not be issued a bus pass to take a bus to someone else’s stop due to insurance reasons.
Bus Drills: These drills are conducted three times during the school year as mandated by the State of New York. Students are instructed in the use of emergency exits and follow the procedures.
Questions: Parents should direct any questions or concerns about bus transportation to the District Transportation Office at 673-2032.
Lost items on the bus– please call the bus depot or check in the office the next morning.
Proper behavior on a school bus is required. The cooperation of both parent and student is necessary in maintaining the proper conduct at bus stops as well as on the bus.
If your child does not behave safely and respectfully, school authorities may suspend your child’s bus riding privileges. Two written warnings are usually issued prior to suspension (depending on the severity of the incident).
You and your child should be familiar with the following rules:
(Please review these rules prior to the opening of school)
- Observe the same positive conduct on the bus as you would in school and/or home.
- Be courteous– do not use offensive language.
- Respect the cleanliness of the bus by not eating during the ride.
- Cooperate with the bus driver.
- Be respectful to bus property.
- Stay in your seat until your bus stops at your bus stop.
- Keep your head, hands and feet inside the bus.
The bus drivers are authorized to assign seats and will report inappropriate behavior.
District Bus Policies can be found in the District Calendar. Please do not let your child lose his/her riding privileges by not knowing the rules.
THE SCHOOL NURSE
New York State law prohibits the school nurse or other school personnel from administering medication to a child without a doctor’s note. A parental request is NOT sufficient and therefore the following is the district’s policy concerning the self administration of medication by school children.
If under certain circumstances it is necessary to take medication during school hours, the school nurse may cooperate with the family physician and the parent as follows:
1– The parent submits a written request to the school authorities that medication be administered during school hours.
2– The family physician provides a written request which indicates the name of the medication, frequency, and dosage of this prescribed medication and authorizes the school nurse to administer this medication during school hours.
3– The parent or guardian must assume responsibility to have the medication delivered directly to the health office in properly labeled original container.
4— No medication (including over the counter) should be carried by your child. Please instruct him/her to bring all medications to the nurse.
LOST AND FOUND
Lost articles are located in the Main Office. Children should check the lost and found for missing articles. Unclaimed items will be donated at the time of school breaks.
CAFETERIA
The Huntington School District participates in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program. Breakfast is available to students at 9:00—9:20. A menu is published and sent home each month. Prepaid meal tickets can be purchased from the cafeteria in multiples of five at a savings of five cents per meal. Please make checks payable to: School Lunch Fund.
CAFETERIA RULES:
During the lunch periods, the cafeteria should be a place for students to eat and enjoy the company of classmates. An effort is being made to create a pleasant atmosphere where all students take pride and responsibility for creating and enjoyable lunch period. Since the cafeteria is used several times, safe and courteous behavior is expected. Students are responsible for maintaining the following rules and procedures.
1) Students are to be escorted directly to the cafeteria at the start of the lunch period. All lunches are to be consumed in the cafeteria. No open food or drinks are allowed to be brought back to the classroom (except during special classroom functions and snack time).
2) Students are to sit with their class. Cafeteria monitors are authorized to make adjustments when appropriate.
3) Students are responsible to clean up the table and floor area where they eat. Trash is to be placed in the receptacles and trays are to be returned to the counter. All students who sit at a table are responsible for the cleanliness of the table. Throwing food or trash will result in clean up duty.
4) Students will be asked to clean the cafeteria if they break the rules.
5) Students should show the same respect to cafeteria staff members as they would to the classroom teachers.
PARENT—TEACHER CONFERENCES
Each November there is time set aside for teachers to discuss the progress of their students with their parents or guardians. During this conference the first report card will be given out. Also each child's progress, standardized test scores and special needs are discussed and explained. Parents are encouraged to attend these conferences and find out how the school and parents can work together to help children succeed. If parents wish their child to attend this conference they will need to make a request to their child’s teacher prior to the scheduled appointment.
REPORT CARDS
There are four report cards given each year. Report cards and conferences may be translated. Please call Peggy at 631-673-2060. The first report card is given at the November Parent-Teacher Conference. The other three progress reports are sent home in January, April and June. The January and April reports must be signed by the parents and returned in the envelope to school. Teacher assignment for the next school year will be mailed home at the end of the summer vacation.
Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher at any time if there is a problem, question or concern. Do not feel you have to wait for the teacher to contact you, or for the report card to come home, to ask how your child is progressing.
AWARDS
BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS
Each month one child per class will be selected for the most improved or showing the most effort. The selected child will have breakfast with the Dean or Principal.
PRINCIPAL’S LIST (for 5th and 6th grade students)
After each marking period students will be named on the Principal’s List if they meet the following requirements:
"4" in the following major subjects: Math, Science, Social Studies, and the Language Arts areas of Reading and Writing.
At least "3" in the Language Arts areas of Speaking and Listening.
At least G’s in all effort and behavior areas. A letter will be sent home by the principal.
HONOR ROLL
After each marking period those students who receive a combination of "4" and "3" in all major subjects (Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies) and at least G’s in all effort and behavior areas will be named on the Honor Roll List.
ON-A-ROLL (for 4th grade students):
After the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th marking periods any student who has shown improvement in the academic areas will receive a sticker and notation in their report card recognizing their efforts.
ELEMENTARY ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
S.E.A.R.C.H. Program
The Scholastic Enrichment and Resource for the Children in Huntington Program has been developed for academically talented children in Grades 4, 5, and 6. Students who are in the top ten percent of their total grade population participate in the 90 minute weekly pullout program. The following criteria is used to place students in the S.E.A.R.C.H. Program: Math Application score (national percentile), Total Reading score, teacher recommendation profile with respect to learning, creativity and motivation characteristics and OLSAT test administered in the fall of the students 4th grade year.
S.T.E.P. Program
Children in this program are grouped by ability. Each group attends 40 minute classes where problem solving strategies are taught and reinforced throughout the year.
Math Olympiad Program
Students in this program must score 94% in the Math Application section of the SAT tests. Children attend 40 minute math classes where they try to solve very difficult multi-step problems using the problem solving strategies they have been taught in the STEPS program in Grade 4. They compete in five timed tests held throughout the school year and earn awards from this organization based on their efforts. The focus is on learning to take risks and challenging students.
STARLAB
This is a portable planetarium in which all children in grades 2 and 5 learn to locate constellations and planets, using a star map. All students in grade 5 come to the Starlab in the fall and learn astronomy, astrology and Greek mythology. All students in grade 2 come to the lab in the spring to learn astronomy and Ancient Chinese and African mythology.
INTRAMURALS:
Early morning athletic activities that will be available to students who earn a grade of G+ in physical education class and maintain good behavior throughout the entire school day.
BAND, ORCHESTRA /CHORUS PROGRAM
All students are invited to begin the study of a band or orchestra instrument as well as participate in chorus in fourth grade. Students receive a small group instruction on their instrument once a week, during the school day. Lessons are on a rotating basis to ensure that students aren’t missing the same subject or activity each week. When students reach a certain level of proficiency, they are invited to join the School Band or Orchestra. All Band and Orchestra rehearsals are held before school. Bus transportation is available. Beginner Band and Orchestra rehearse once a week. Advance Band and Orchestra meet twice a week.
Jack Abrams Intermediate students may also be chosen to participate in honor groups which rehearse once a week after school. These are district-wide performing groups open to students in both intermediate schools.
THE LIBRARY
The Library media Center at Jack Abrams Intermediate offers a wide range of materials for the students. Materials circulate for two weeks and reference materials circulate overnight. There are computers with CD ROMS available for research that is networked with the classroom and the computer lab. Internet service is also available.
ART
Art is a product and reflection of the culture we live in. The study of Art contributes to the appreciation of historical and multicultural understanding. It provides unique ways of knowing oneself and the world. The heightened perception and understanding developed through the study of art provides a stimulus for imagination and creativity. All students in grades 4-6 participate in Art classes. In order to create a technology enriched learning environment, the art room is equipped with four Macintosh computers and a color printer. The grade 4-6 Art program is divided into three interrelated components which provide opportunities for all self-discovery, creative expression and problem solving.
ART SHOW: This event is a district wide showcase of students work’s selected by their art teacher and is held each May.
COMPUTERS
Jack Abrams Intermediate School recognizes that effective use of technology is important to our students and will be essential to them as adults.
Each student has the use of computer learning software in our computer lab, library and classrooms. Internet access is available to our students and teachers. Students are responsible for good behavior on school computer networks just as they are in a classroom or a school hallway.
All students and parents must sign a contract acknowledging rules.
Computer Use Agreement:
In accordance with the New York State Department of Education all students and their parents/guardians are required to sign a computer use agreement. This agreement confirms that the regulations for the use of computers and the internet in the Huntington Union Free School District have been read by the student and the parent/guardian. No student in the district will have access to the use of computers or the internet without the submission of a signed form.
SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING
Social and emotional learning is developmental and necessary for life long success. Jack Abrams Intermediate School strives to create an environment of respect for oneself as well as others. We work cooperatively together and develop a sense of responsibility and pride, through our library, art, music, physical education, classroom instruction and specific workshops. Our goal is to develop young citizens with virtues. We encourage family input.
A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE PROGRAM: is a comprehensive curriculum (developed by the Anti-Defamation League) designed to help students and staff explore human differences and similarities as well as exploring cultural diversities. Through familiarity of the unknown, students and staff will become more comfortable in discussions and begin to celebrate the uniqueness we all possess as human beings. Students will understand the nature of and develop strategies to combat stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination. They will also address the impact these have on individuals, groups and society as a whole.
CONFLICT RESOLUTION: Students will participate in workshops to develop specific skills. These skills improve oral communication, listening techniques, problem solving, and critical thinking. This program helps students resolve their own conflicts by facilitating a format for a resolution.
THE BULLY PROGRAM: This is presented to our 4th grade students and is designed to combat negative behaviors. Proactive approaches to peer conflicts are taught. The contents of this program include communication, respect, understanding behavior and conflict resolution skills. The format will introduce the concept of democratic class meetings.
SENSITIVITY AWARENESS WORKSHOPS: These are based on A World of Difference philosophy and presented to our fifth graders. A variety of faculty and parent members facilitate the workshops.
PEER LEADERSHIP DAY: These are designed for our 6th grade students entering their adolescent years and moving on to our middle school. These workshops are facilitated by the Dean. Social Workers and Psychologist from our intermediate and Middle School’s and our Huntington High School students. The topics range from decision making, becoming involved in school activities to open question and answer sessions.
These workshops are coordinated with a visit to Finley Middle School, and High school students visiting us.
Please join our Shared Decision Making Team to help develop these endeavors.
DARE: Drug Awareness Resist Education is a program for our preadolescent students to become aware of the dangers of drugs and alcohol and how to resist them. This is facilitated by the Suffolk County Police Department.
CITIZEN OF THE MONTH: This recognition is an award for the students who promote and model positive qualities through:
1. Following classroom, school, cafeteria and bus rules.
2. Showing respect to others.
3. Demonstrating sensitivity and understanding of individual differences
4. Receiving no negative reports.
One student per class is selected each month and parents are invited to attend the ceremony.
ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS
The following is an overview of just some of the activities the Jack Abrams Intermediate PTA is involved with during the school year. We urge you to get involved. We welcome your special talents, new ideas and valuable time. Watch for "Thursday Thoughts" for upcoming events and general information. Many of our activities are listed on the District Calendar so be sure to mark off all items pertaining to Huntington Intermediate when you receive your new calendar. All of the following will be announced in Thursday Thoughts.
Back-to- School Night: Early in the school year, a night is set aside for parents to come to school to meet their child’s new teacher or team. At this time, curriculum for that grade level is discussed and the teacher describes their teaching style and what is expected. PTA and SEPTA membership sign-up is held. Mrs. Stokkers offers a welcoming information session for newcomers to become familiar with Jack Abrams Intermediate School’s programs and staff.
Class Representatives: are an important link between the PTA and classroom. A sign-up sheet is sent home at the beginning of the school year and then class representatives (2 per class) are selected on a lottery basis. Once selections are completed you will be notified. Please be aware this is a year long commitment with responsibilities to all the students in the class. Activities should be planned with the teacher.
Family Fun Night(s): Specific events vary from year to year. Events are scheduled to offer a fun-filled evening for the entire family at minimal cost or no cost.
Field Day: In early June, all students participate in physical activities supervised by the Physical Education Department. All parents are welcome to come and enjoy the fun.
Lip Sync/Variety Show: This is a PTA sponsored evening of fun and entertainment for family and friends. The students put together their own groups and skits to be performed.
Class Field Trips:
Children in all grades will be participating in field trips designed to enhance their curriculums. All children are required to have signed permission slips prior to field trips. HFEE helps sponsor these trips.
Arts in Education:
These are a series of district and PTA sponsored programs which bring a wide range of cultural experiences to our children.
Shared decision Making Team:
This team includes the principal, staff and parents. Each year this committee develops goals for school improvement.
PARP:
Parents as Reading Partners is a national PTA program where students are encouraged to read at least 15 minutes each day during the month of March. Students will be rewarded in different ways throughout the month.
Book Fair:
One week during PARP the PTA sponsors this event. Students may purchase books during school hours and the fair will also be opened one evening for families to browse and make purchases if they would like.
School Pictures:
In the fall, the students have their pictures taken and they may purchase their individual pictures as well as a class picture. Spring pictures are also scheduled as a PTA fundraiser.
Greenkill:
Our 6th grade students in the district participate in a 4 day and 3 night environmental camp located up state New York. Students that are unable to attend will participate in an environmental program here at school.
PTA Meetings:
These meetings are usually once a month and are announced in Thursday Thoughts as well as on the district calendar. Many topics are discussed, speakers presented and parenting workshops are offered. Please become involved!
ACADEMIC STANDARDS
Setting high standards of achievement while ensuring that all students learn is a priority at Huntington Intermediate school. Following is a brief overview of the school’s curriculum.
English (Language Arts): Literacy Collaborative Model
Our curriculum is based on the State standards and focuses on three basic principles.
1– Knowing that students who are afforded more opportunities to read and write become better readers and writers, we make every effort to ensure that all of our students read many and varied literary pieces (content area material, essays, short stories, novels, biographies, poems, electronic sources of information, etc). We subscribe to the use of the reading workshop approach which makes available to students hundreds of books within the classroom that range in difficulty, topics, and genre.
2– The teaching of reading and writing strategies is purposefully integrated by teachers into all content areas.
3– Students are guided in the development of their reading and writing strategies so that they become aware of their strengths and preferences as readers and writers and are empowered to take charge of their learning.
As outlined in the "English Language Arts Resource Guide", students are presented with activities that stress the following skills: reading/writing/speaking and listening for information and understanding; literacy response and expression; critical analysis and evaluation; social interactions. Teachers teach strategies for better reading such as word recognition, the use of context clues, focusing on signal words, the use of grammatical structures and punctuation, the use of costive strategies (rereading, asking for clues or assistance, discussing predictions with peers and teachers), being read to and reading aloud, and maintaining a reading log with notations of strategies applied and growth noted. Students engage in character studies, develop T charts to keep track of events and compare with their predictions, develop regular and pictorial outlines of events, develop emotional roller coasters reflecting a particular character’s moods and reactions, engage in comparisons of work during author and genre studies, and participate in book clubs. Each student also keeps a daily journal where free, non-critical writing is encouraged. This daily writing helps students become more at ease with writing.
Mathematics:
The teaching of mathematics in our school reflects the goals and standards that have been articulated by the New York State Learning Standards and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Our mathematics curriculum is designed to have students achieve the following fine curricular goals:
Learning to value mathematics;
Becoming confident in one’s own ability;
Becoming a mathematical problem solver;
Learning to communicate mathematically;
Learning to reason mathematically.
Our belief is that mathematics can be a useful, exciting and creative area of study that can be appreciated and enjoyed by students. It can help develop their ability to solve problems and reason logically and it offers students a way to explore and make sense of their world.
Science:
The elementary science program is designed to meet goals in the areas of: problem solving, skills, science attitudes and science content. Scientific inquiry skills are developed through observing, classifying, identifying variables, predicting and manipulating materials, recording data, interpreting data, using numbers, inferring, making decisions and creating models. The focus for science attitudes is to appreciate and enjoy nature, use investigative methods, understand the natural world, respect others and the environment and value the use of knowledge in society.
Social Studies:
The social studies curriculum content at each grade level is organized around five perspectives; Social, economic, geographic, political and historic. One of the major objectives of the curriculum is to make history come alive for the students. The units are the basis for many of the thematic and interdisciplinary programs presented at our school.
Physical Education:
Our program is designed and implemented to show students the importance of proper physical maintenance of the body and mind, along with teaching subject matter and social skills.
The Arts:
Our arts curriculum follows the national standard of providing instruction in music, art dance and theater. Each of our students participates in a weekly music and art class. The goal of the classroom music program is for every student to be able to read, write, perform, create and analyze music as a true musician. Through singing, listening, moving and playing specially designed instruments, students are guided through sequential activities that develop these music skills. Students develop an understanding of, and appreciation of music they perform and listen to. The goal of the classroom art program is to learn and appreciate different art forms and artist through demonstration and art instruction.
Health Education:
Data shows us that children face social and peer pressure to engage in risky behavior at earlier and earlier ages. In response to this, the district has made a commitment to delivering a comprehensive education program to its students. The goal of the program is to give children knowledge, attitudes and skills that they need to participate successfully in adolescence, and develop a healthy lifestyle at and early age.
School Closings/ Delayed Openings/ Early Dismissal
If the Superintendent of Schools determines that hazardous weather or other emergency conditions threaten the safety of the students and staff, he may close the district schools or alter the regular school hours. When this is done an announcement will bebroadcast on these radio stations: WALK 97.5; WGSM 740 AM. TV Station Channel 12 also lists closings or you may look online at www.news12.com. Additionally, recorded messages indicating this information is available starting from 6:30AM on telephone # 673-2054. When school is closed because of bad weather, extra-curricular activities and meetings held at school are also canceled.