Mission Statement

 

The Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford is committed to excellence in dual-curriculum education. It provides its students with outstanding, integrated instruction in both Judaic and Secular Studies. The objective of our school is to create a model egalitarian community of Jewish religious expression and ethical thought and action.

 

Our school welcomes Jewish students of diverse backgrounds. It is guided by the tenets of Conservative Judaism in matters of religious observance, in the interpretive approach to classic Jewish texts and in the embrace of both tradition and modernity in all of its enterprises.

 

We are dedicated to providing individualized attention to each student and educating the whole child - intellectually, spiritually and physically. The faculty works in close partnership with parents by promoting regular communication, classroom involvement and family learning experiences.

 

The overall goal of a Schechter education is to develop skilled and discerning individuals actively committed to the Jewish community and to the society in which they live.

 

School Philosophy

 

Solomon Schechter Day School is a Conservative Jewish Day School that aims to:

§         provide an education of highest quality in general and Jewish studies in an environment that develops the whole child – socially, emotionally, intellectually, physically and spiritually

§         provide an individualized and differentiated program of instruction that conveys a family and community experience

§         provide our children with subject matter, experiences, skills and attitudes that will enable them to function intelligently as members of the world community

§         nurture our children's identification with and commitment to the Jewish people and the Land of Israel by experiencing and studying the language, history, laws, ideas and texts of our people

§         encourage each child's inborn curiosity

§         foster an inquiring and critical mind.

 

Nondiscriminatory Policy

 

The Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford admits students of any race, color or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities accorded or made available to students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color or ethnic origin in the administration of education policies, admission policies, scholarships, or any other school-administered programs.

 

Daily Schedule

 

Grades K-8                                           Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (DST)

8:00 a.m. – 8:25 a.m. – student arrival

8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. – school day

 

Wednesday and Friday (EST)

8:00 a.m. – 8:25 a.m. – student arrival

8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – school day

 

Wednesday

8:00 a.m. – 8:25 a.m. – student arrival

8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – school day

 

Early Childhood 2, 3 and 4    

                Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

8:20 a.m. – 8:25 a.m. – student arrival

8:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. – early childhood day

 

Supervision is available beginning at 8:00 a.m. daily. Please do not drop off your children earlier. If you are unavoidably delayed at dismissal time, please notify the school office.

 

Before-School Programming

 

All students arriving between 8:00 a.m. and  8:20 a.m. will remain in the school lobby, supervised by a staff member, until 8:20 a.m., when they are invited to go to their classrooms. Only parents of those in the Early Childhood Program or Kindergarten are permitted to escort their child(ren) down to classrooms after the 1st week.

 

Absence

 

If your child is absent on any given day, please contact the office as early as possible.  You may leave a message at extension 100 at any time. Parents are asked to inform teachers in advance of anticipated absences. Please do not send children with fevers, coughs or serious colds to school.

 

Lower School students (Grades 3-5), when you are absent, please email your teacher or ask a classmate for your assignments. Middle School students, please check RenWeb and/or email your teachers for assignments.

 

In the case of a prolonged absence (3 days or more) due to illness, the student or parent is asked to contact teachers via voice or email and request the homework.

 

A vacation scheduled during regular school time significantly disrupts a child's school experience. Learning in school is a collaborative or team activity, like making music in an orchestra or playing a team sport. Everyone must be present for the learning experiences to achieve the intended effects. We urge families to schedule trips to coincide with school vacations, so students can fully participate in all learning experiences. The students and parents are responsible for covering any missed work, as well as costs of any subsequent tutoring that might be needed.

 

Punctuality

 

Arriving at school between 8:00 and 8:20 a.m. allows students to greet their peers, organize for the day, and gives them time for a smooth transition to school. Punctuality is a life skill and a sign of respect for others (kav'd habriyot) which is a core Jewish value. We ask that you take this value to heart as you plan your morning routines.

 

Students who arrive after the 8:30 bell must report to the office to sign in and obtain a late pass. Tardiness has a detrimental effect on a student's learning and disrupts the learning of other students.

 

Frequent and repeated tardiness will require a conference between parent and Principal and may result in administrative action. Students are not considered tardy if their bus is late.

 

Drop Off and Pick Up

 

Children arriving by car are to be dropped off and picked up at the curb of the main entrance. Alternatively, parents may park in the lower parking lot and walk their children into school. Children are to use the sidewalks at all times.

 

If your child must leave school early on a particular day, please notify the office and teacher in advance. Come into the school office and ask that the child be paged. Students must be signed out of school in order to be released.

 

If someone other than yourself, or identified caregiver, will be picking up your child after school, please notify the office in advance, in writing. The school will not release a child to anyone other than the parent or identified caregiver without such written notice. If for some reason this is not possible, please call the office prior to 12:00 noon so we can make appropriate arrangements.

 

Unless the office receives advanced written notification students who generally ride a bus will be placed on the bus. Students who do not ride the bus are not permitted to ride the bus to a friend’s house.

 

Field Trips

 

Field trips are planned throughout the year. Parents will be notified in writing before each trip as to the time and place. All trips are chaperoned by SSDS staff and parent volunteers. The utmost care is taken to ensure student safety.

 

Field trips are part of the SSDS curriculum and program. Students are expected to act with Derech Eretz (courtesy and respect) toward all individuals they encounter off the school grounds. All school rules (including, but not limited to, dress code and kashrut) apply.

 

Snow Days

 

Cancellation or delayed openings on snow days are announced on radio stations WDRC and WTIC, and television stations WFSB and WNBC. Parents may call the school to hear a snow-day message.

 

Early dismissals due to weather conditions are noted in the same manner.

 

Our school calendar includes the possibility of 3 snow days. If school is closed for additional snow days, extra school days may be scheduled.

 

After-School Programming

 

Early Childhood Afternoon Program

A full early childhood program is offered afternoons, from 12:45 until 3:20 pm, including a variety of enrichment, gross and fine motor activities. Details will be sent throughout the year. For tuition information, please contact the School Office.

 

After School Program

Parents are asked to purchase prepaid aftercare cards for children in EC2 through Grade 8 who will remain at school 3:30-5:30 p.m. These cards are available in the School Office.

 

Details about both of these programs will be forthcoming.

 

Telephone Calls to Students

 

The School Office will only accept urgent phone messages for students. In cases of emergency, the office staff will deliver a message to a child’s teacher.

 

Students may not use the telephones in any classroom in the school, but may use the phone in the main office in case of emergency.

 

Students may not use cell phones in the school building and we discourage students from bringing them to school.

 

Dress Code (Kindergarten-Grade 8)

 

Consistent with the values of modesty and respect in the Jewish tradition, and recognizing the importance of a safe and distraction-free learning environment, SSDS has developed a dress code for students. This dress code is in effect at all school functions, including class trips, family education programs, social events and at graduation in June.

 

No inappropriate or suggestive wording may appear on clothing. The appropriateness of an article of clothing is to be determined by faculty, staff and administration.

 

If a student comes to school or a school program improperly dressed, parents may be called and asked to deliver a change of clothing.

 

Footwear     

§         Students must wear sneakers to Physical Education classes.

§         Students must wear closed shoes or sneakers (no open-toe shoes) to Science Labs.

§         Students may not wear shoes or sneakers with wheels.    

§         Students may not wear flip-flops at any time.

 

Pants-Shorts-Skirts

§         Pants must be neat and clean without rips, tears, or writing on the “rear end.”

§         Pants must be worn at the appropriate waist level (i.e. no underwear or skin showing).

§         Leggings are not to be worn as pants. They must be worn under a tunic, skirt, or dress of the appropriate length.

§         Pajamas, pajama pants and scrubs may only be worn on designated pajama days.

§         Shorts and skirts must be at least mid-thigh when seated.

§         Lycra or other tight-fitting exercise types of shorts or pants are not permitted.

 

Shirts/Tops

§         Shirts/tops must be long enough so that no skin is showing.

§         Shirts/tops may not be low cut or revealing.

§         Shoulders must be covered (at least cap sleeves).  No tank tops, spaghetti or narrow straps.

§         Hooded sweatshirts are permitted, but must be worn appropriately; hoods may not be worn during class.

 

Friday School Spirit Day

At Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford, we expect our students to model the Jewish value of tzni’ut (modesty) in many ways, including dressing respectfully. On Fridays, in preparation for Shabbat, and for special occasions, students are asked to dress up.  We encourage wearing our school colors (burgundy and navy blue) or simply blue and white.

 

Wearing SchechterGear is one great way to dress up.  Thanks to the efforts of the P.T.O., SchechterGear is available online through Lands’ End. We encourage all students to have at least one collared SchechterGear shirt for each child for use on Fridays, special occasions and when representing the school in the community.

§         Boys are encouraged to wear nicer pants (no jeans) and shirts with collars. 

§         Girls are encouraged to wear skirts, dresses, or dress pants (no jeans).

 

Recess

SSDS students enjoy recess outside each day unless it is raining, snowing, or the wind chill temperature prohibits them from going out. All students are to be dressed appropriately each day according to the weather. If a child does not have a coat, a parent may be called to bring one to school or the child may be required to stay indoors for recess.

 

Religious Articles

·        Kippot

Boys are required to wear kippot at all times, including school-related activities outside the building. Middle School girls are encouraged to wear a kippah. Clips or hairpins may be used to secure kippot during activities. There is to be no sharing of kippot or other headwear.

·        Tallitot

Boys and girls are both required to wear a tallit every day after they make their own tallit in 6^th grade.

·        Tefillin

Boys are required to wear tefillin every day at tefillot (prayer services) starting at the beginning of 7^th grade, or 6 months before their service of Bar Mitzvah, whichever comes first.

Girls are required to wear tefillin every day for the first three months of 7^th grade at tefillot (prayer services), and are encouraged to do so afterward.

 

Kashrut (Jewish Dietary Laws)

 

As part of our school’s mission, SSDS is dedicated to maintaining and educating about the practice of kashrut consistent with the teachings of Jewish tradition as interpreted by the Conservative Movement through the Committee on Laws and Standards, the official halachic decision-making body of the Rabbinical Assembly (RA).

 

While the laws of kashrut are complex and detailed, they are based upon the following three principles:

      • Jews are forbidden to eat certain animals.

       • Animals that are permitted must be slaughtered in a particular way.

      • Milk and meat may not be consumed together.

SSDS is committed to building a community in which everyone can feel at home. By setting a communal standard, we hope to maintain an environment that creates a shared sense of obligation and community.

 

Personal Consumption

·        All foods brought into the school building should be dairy or pareve (neither dairy nor meat).

 

Events, Meetings, Activities

·        All food that is served at SSDS events, meetings, and activities must be provided by an approved kosher caterer or be served from previously unopened certified kosher products.

·        Products that are prepared in private homes and kitchens may not be served.

·        Menus must be approved in advance by the mara d’atra (halachic decision maker).

·        Events, meetings, and activities that take place outside of the building should not be held in non-kosher establishments.

 

The Classroom

·        All food that is served during class must be provided by an approved kosher caterer or be served from previously unopened certified kosher products.

·        Menus must be approved in advance by the mara d’atra (halachic decision maker).

·        Products that are prepared in private homes and kitchens may not be served in class.

 

Events Not Sponsored by SSDS

We strongly encourage members of the SSDS community who organize or host events involving members of the SSDS community to adhere to the SSDS standards of kashrut.

 

Lunch and Snacks

 

Students can bring a dairy or pareve lunch from home. Children may not share snacks or lunches. For safety, food cannot be heated at school.

 

 “Food For Thought,” the school lunch program, can be purchased by signing up prior to each month. Monthly menus are available on the school’s website www.ssds-hartford.org, and students may sign up for the particular days they desire lunch. All meals are kosher.

 

Students are welcome to bring a nutritious kosher snack. Suggestions for snacks include: fruit (fresh or dried), nuts, cheese, vegetables, yogurt, crackers, and bagels with cream cheese (already spread).  Please do not send soft drinks, candy or junk foods to school. Do not send any item in a glass jar.

 

Birthdays

 

We have adopted a “food-free” birthday policy.  Each class decides on creative ways to celebrate their birthdays. Please do not send in any food products for your child's birthday.

 

When hosting an out-of-school Birthday Party, please be sensitive to the feelings of other children. Please consider inviting all students in the class (or students of the same gender as the birthday child). Party invitations are not to be handed out in school unless the entire class or gender is invited.

 

In order to be inclusive of all SSDS students, please do not hold birthday parties on Shabbat or Festivals.  In addition, all food served at parties or other events should be kosher (refer to kashrut policy above). Members of our school community should never be put in a position of having to choose between the observance of Shabbat or kashrut and attendance at a social function. 

 

Personal Possessions

 

Students are responsible for their belongings. Clothes and personal property should be clearly labeled. Students are not to bring electronic or other expensive personal items to school. The school has a designated Lost and Found box. Items not claimed by the end of the school year are given to charity.

 

Students should not to bring toys from home to school.  Students who do so will be asked to return the items to their backpacks.

 

Shabbat and Holiday Observance

 

SSDS observes Shabbat and Jewish holidays consistent with the teachings of Jewish Law as interpreted by the Conservative Movement through the Committee on Laws and Standards, the official halachic decision-making body of the Rabbinical Assembly (RA). Work should not be done for or on behalf of SSDS on Shabbat or Jewish holidays.

 

SSDS programs and activities held on Fridays (or the afternoon before a holiday) must end in sufficient time for all participants to arrive home at least one hour before Shabbat or the holiday begins. Programs and activities held Saturday night (or the evening following a holiday) may begin one hour after Shabbat or the holiday has ended. Setup for these events cannot begin until Shabbat has ended.

 

School activities held on Shabbat must conform to SSDS’s standard of observance. Individuals may not violate Shabbat in order to participate in them.

 

Grading Scales for Report Cards

 

At SSDS, teachers evaluate students’ work in a variety of ways. In the Lower School, letter or number grades are not used; rather, teachers indicate to what extent students have mastered specific skills and understandings. Those scales are used for report cards and are indicated below. The Middle School does assign letter or number grades to students’ work.

 

Kindergarten   

M= Meets Expectations

E=Exceeds Expectations

D=Developing

Unmarked areas are those not assessed during that marking period.

 

Grades 1-5

C=Consistently

U=Usually

S= Sometimes

(+ and – are also added to these letter grades)

 

Middle School

90-92=A-                    93-96=A                     97-100=A+

80-82=B-                    83-86=B                     87-89=B+

70-72=C-                   73-76=C                     77-79=C+

60-62=D-                   63-66=D                     67-69=D+

Below 60=F

 

Support Services

 

SSDS strives to foster a learning environment that is appropriate for a wide range of students with diverse individual needs and learning styles. Therefore, we provide a variety of support services to supplement and enhance the classroom experience. 

 

What services are available?

At SSDS we have a team of specialists who work together to support students. The services of a licensed registered nurse, a Judaics specialist, a school counselor, and a special education teacher who serves as the Pupil Services Coordinator are available to all students at SSDS. In addition, a speech and language clinician and an occupational therapist can provide support services at the school on a fee-for-service basis.

 

How do we determine the need for services?

 At any time during the school year parents, teachers, or students with questions or concerns about a student’s progress can speak to the classroom teacher or the student’s advisor, the Pupil Services Coordinator, or directly to the specialist (nurse, counselor, etc.). Once a concern is raised, depending on the nature of the concern, services may begin immediately, or a meeting of school personnel and parents will be held to determine the course of action to be taken. If necessary, SSDS personnel will assist parents in requesting evaluations and related support services from the public school system. 

 

How do we deliver services?

All services are delivered during regular school hours and coordinated with classroom schedules and activities. In some situations, support personnel collaborate with teachers to modify materials and classroom programming to meet the needs of individual students. In other cases, support service personnel provide direct services to individuals or small groups in the classroom, in a resource room, or in the office of the specialist.

 

Testing

Every other year in the spring, SSDS gathers information about our students and our school through standardized testing. We administer the Stanford Achievement Test Tenth Edition and the Otis-Lennon School Ability Test Eighth Edition to students in Grades 3-8. The results of these standardized, multiple-choice, norm-referenced tests after a testing year provide us with some information about each student’s mastery of vocabulary, reading and listening comprehension, language arts, and math skills, together with his/her learning aptitude compared with other students across the country. In the fall, we will share your child’s test results with you. The staff will use the information to help in program planning, both for individual children and for the school as a whole.

 

Communication

 

SSDS recognizes that education is enhanced through the family-school partnership. Our family-school partnership is based on our shared goal of helping each student achieve his/her potential in a safe and nurturing environment. The home-school partnership is fostered through parent-teacher and other communications outlined below.

 

RenWeb

Last year, SSDS began to use RenWeb, an internet-based school software program. We are continuing to use RenWeb for specific functions, including attendance, email communication with parents and students, and teacher websites with daily homework for Middle School and major projects for Lower School. We continue to learn more about RenWeb’s capabilities, and know that we are not currently using it fully. We are still evaluating what features of RenWeb will best meet our needs, and will keep parents updated on any additional features we decide to use.

 

Teacher to Parent Communication

Back to School Night: Each fall, we sponsor an evening during which parents can meet their child's teachers and learn about the curriculum for the year. Parents are strongly urged to attend this important and informative evening. Check the updated school calendar on the school website for dates and times.

 

Teachers will contact parents by phone or email if concerns about a specific student become evident, including missing assignments, poor assessment scores, or behavior-related concerns.

 

We hold Parent-Teacher Conferences about student progress in November and March. Parents will receive Mid-term Progress Reports at these times.

 

Report Cards are sent home in January and June.

 

Parent to Teacher Communication

Parents should not hesitate to contact teachers with questions and concerns. We ask that you refrain from initiating a conversation with a teacher regarding an issue with your child during class time, as the teachers need to direct their full attention to the students at that time. Instead, please ask to arrange a parent/teacher meeting before or after school.

 

Parents may leave messages directly in the teacher's voice mailbox, or email. (All SSDS staff have email addresses consisting of the first initial of their first name followed by their last name, and ending with @ssds-hartford.org.) Teachers are expected to check voice and email regularly and to respond in a reasonable amount of time.

 

Please do not contact teachers at home.

 

If a parent still has concerns after discussion and follow up with a teacher, please contact the Principal.

 

Website

Please remember to check our website www.ssds-hartford.org on a regular basis for news about special events, programs, trips, assignments, etc.

 

Rogow Middle School

 

Goals

The shared purpose of our school is to promote learning and safety. Our five goals reflect that purpose. We approach each day as an opportunity to fulfill our mission and achieve our goals by promoting learning and safety.

·        To develop the skill and knowledge base of students in an engaging and exciting manner, in preparation for the academic work of high school

·        To continue the process of building membership in a caring, respectful community

·        To assist and guide the students emotionally, socially, intellectually, physically and spiritually during the transition period of early adolescence

·        To encourage and guide the students to become independent, motivated, and lifelong learners

·        To incorporate Jewish values into the daily life of adolescents so as to lead to mature, values-based decision making.

 

Havurah/Advisory groups middle schoolers into sections, which cut across grade levels and gender groupings.  This community-within-a-community eats lunch together on Wednesdays and engages in various activities during Wednesday Flex period.  They’ve built egg parachutes (!), competed in Wacky Olympics, regularly engage in inter-havurah mind-game competitions (with the goal of a free case of Snapple for the havurah at year’s end), visited students’ Science Fair projects and have dealt (and will deal) with issues of the moment as they arise.  Havurah provides an opportunity for students to interact (and, hopefully, bond) with other students who normally might not be on their radar.  Teachers function not only as facilitators, but are also advocates for our advisees and can serve as the contact person, for example, if a student needs homework collected for him/her.  Havurah serves many needs and has been an integral part of The Rogow Middle School for over a decade.

 

Lockers

·        Each student is assigned a locker. All books, jackets, notebooks, personal items, etc. must be stored in the student’s locker. Students may not put their belongings in another student’s locker or in an empty locker. Nothing is to be stored on top of the locker.

·        If a student’s backpack, after it is emptied, does not fit in the locker, the havurah advisor will designate a space in the homeroom for it.

·        Locks may be put on the locker only if the student’s advisor has a copy of the key or code.

·        Do not bring large amounts of money to school. Money is not to be stored in lockers. If a student has fundraising money, it should be given to a teacher to be locked up for safekeeping.

·        Do not store food or beverages overnight in lockers.

·        Electronic devices may be stored in lockers at the student’s own risk. The school is not liable for damage or disappearance.

·        Do not open another student’s locker.

·        Students may personalize their lockers, as long as nothing is written or stuck onto the outside of the locker. Scotch or masking tape may be used; no stickers, please. Students are responsible for removing all decorations and tape at the end of the year. All decorations must be in good taste and consistent with the values of Jewish tradition and the Solomon Schechter Day School.

·        Lockers are school property and the school may elect to open any locker at any time.

 

Internet Policy

 

§         Students will have Internet access in all classrooms, the Computer Lab and the library. The use of the Internet is a privilege and the viewing of any inappropriate material will result in suspension of the student’s privileges. Accessing or saving of inappropriate material will not be tolerated. Students are expected to abide by this Internet Policy.

 

§         Students may only have access to the Internet when under the direct supervision of a teacher or other authorized personnel.

 

§         Students will demonstrate ethical behavior when using the Internet. Ethical behavior includes, but is not limited to: not posting personal information about others and themselves; not using any language that is disrespectful; not vandalizing data of any person, including school files; not downloading or creating computer viruses; not participating in or viewing any material that is of a violent nature; and obeying copyright laws.

 

§         Students and parents need to be aware of the fact that inappropriate use of the Internet and other electronic devices outside of school can greatly affect a student’s relationship with peers while at school. The inappropriate use of electronic media includes, but is not limited to, hurting or teasing, bullying, public humiliation, making real or false accusations, the posting of pictures or video without the permission of all the people depicted, harassing phone calls or postings, etc. This behavior will not be tolerated and consequences of these actions will be implemented at school.

 

Violations of the Internet Policy, as outlined above, may lead to suspension of Internet privileges or other disciplinary action (such as suspension or expulsion). Depending on the nature of the offense, law enforcement may be contacted.

 

Health Policies

 

Health Records/Immunizations

Connecticut State law requires that immunization records be completed and presented to the school prior to opening day in order for a child to be admitted to class. A physical examination form completed by a licensed physician or nurse practitioner must also be submitted for each student.

 

Annual health updates need to be completed by parents before the start of each school year. Additional health information will be requested from parents periodically, as required by state law.

 

Health Services

The school nurse is available at all times during the school day.

 

Minor Complaints

Children experiencing minor discomfort will be treated appropriately by the school nurse, or designated school personnel.  If a child is not well enough to remain in class or is found to have a contagious condition, the parent will be called to take the child home. If the parent or the emergency contact cannot be reached, the child will stay in the nursing area.

 

Parents are asked to notify the school if their child experienced any symptoms of illness and/or took any medication before coming to school.

 

Emergency Form

Each student must have a current, accurate, signed Emergency Form on file in the office, listing alternate emergency contacts who can be easily reached and who have agreed to take full responsibility for the child’s care if the parent cannot be located. On days when a child’s health is questionable, be sure to let us know which parent(s) or other contacts will be available.

 

Emergencies

In the event of a medical emergency, Emergency Medical Services (911) will be contacted when appropriate, and parents will be notified immediately. If the parents cannot be reached, the child’s physician and emergency contacts will be notified. If transport is necessary, Emergency Medical Services will take the child to the hospital.

 

Contagious Conditions

If a child develops a contagious illness or condition, please keep the child at home and notify the school at once. If the condition is discovered at school, we will ask parents to pick up the child immediately. The school will alert parents in the child’s class.

 

Children with diarrhea, vomiting, fever, heavy cold symptoms, conjunctivitis, or a rash of unknown origin should be kept at home until the condition is properly diagnosed and treated, and until the child has been free of fever for at least 24 hours. If a child develops any of these conditions while at school, we will ask parents to pick up the child immediately.

 

Dispensing Medication

Connecticut State law requires that all medications, both prescription and over the counter, be stored securely in the office. It will be dispensed by the school nurse or by properly trained and supervised designated school personnel. Only if special arrangements have been made for a supervised program for self-administration with the school nurse (i.e. arrangements to carry and self-administer asthma inhalers) may students carry their own medication.

 

If your child requires medication during school hours, state law requires that the following guidelines be observed:

·        Medication must be brought to school in the original labeled container from the pharmacy/physician. (Pharmacists will provide a second labeled pharmacy container for school if you ask.) For safety, we request that you put the medication securely in a sealed, labeled envelope and enclose a signed instruction note.

·        All medications must be turned in to the office when the student arrives at school.

·        A parent or guardian must fill out and sign a Written Consent for Medication Administration form (available in the school office).

·        A licensed prescriber (e.g. physician or nurse practitioner) must fill out and sign a Medication Order, except in cases of short courses of prescribed medications (i.e. antibiotics) that are delivered in a labeled pharmacy container.

No more than a 30-day supply of medication should be brought to school. Emergency medications (i.e. asthma inhalers, allergy medications, Epipens) may be kept in the office for the duration of the school year as long as they meet the above requirements.

 

Certain over-the-counter medications (i.e. Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Benadryl) may be dispensed, with parental permission, by the school nurse.

 

Pediculosis (Lice)

Head lice are a communicable condition common among children today. Lice are usually transmitted by direct contact with infested persons; their clothing, combs, brushes, or other implements that touch the hair. Please remind children that hats, kippot, combs, brushes, barrettes, etc. may not be shared.

 

We request that parents check their children’s heads carefully prior to the start of school, and routinely throughout the year. If a child is found to have lice, the school nurse will check the heads of the student’s classmates.

 

Schechter has a No Nit Policy, which is an administrative, public health policy for control and prevention of head lice outbreaks. A student found to have lice or nits will be sent home for appropriate treatment and complete nit removal.  (Parents should consult their pediatrician about specific recommended treatment. The school nurse will provide instruction in procedures for treating the affected individual, checking other family members, and treatment of personal articles and the environment.)

 

The student may return to school only after all nits have been removed from the hair. The child’s head will be checked upon re-admission to school, and if nits are still present, will not be permitted to remain in school.

 

 

Guest Policy: Bring a Friend to School Days

 

If a student would like to bring a guest to school, we encourage the student to do so on “Bring a Friend to School Day.”  This is an event that happens twice a year and is an opportunity for any interested potential students to come spend a large portion of the day here at SSDS, learning about the school and all that we have to offer.  Any visitor who wants to attend on these days must fill out a permission slip and emergency health form and turn it into the Admissions office prior to the day of the event.

 

If a guest cannot attend “Bring a Friend to School Day,” and is considering attending Solomon Schechter Day School in the future, he/she can set up an alternative day to visit the school by contacting the Admissions office.

 

PTO Parent Teacher Organization

 

The PTO is an important partner in supporting Schechter’s programs.  The goals of the PTO are to:

·        Enhance the educational experience of our students, parents, teachers, and staff by fostering an atmosphere of community, warmth, and ruach (spirit)

·        Provide the opportunity for parents to contribute their talents to a variety of activities that promote Jewish values, as an integral part of the definition of our school

·        Promote the mission of the school

·        Raise funds to enrich curriculum, by providing special programs, beyond the school budget

·        Facilitate communication among parents, administration, teachers, and the Board

 

The PTO sponsors many programs in and out of the classroom to enhance the everyday experience of the students.    A few examples of those programs/ committees are:

·        The Mishpachah (Family) Committee plans family events and programs and welcomes new families and faculty with gifts at the beginning of the year. 

·        The Mitzvah Corp provides meals and other assistance to families with births, deaths, surgeries, or other such events.  This group of volunteers ensures that all Schechter families feel and receive the support of our community.

·        The Enrichment programs provided by the PTO enhance the lessons learned in the classroom through events such as Hartford Symphony presentations, Sky Dome presentations, trips to Palace Theater, and many others. 

 

PTO events are planned according to the interest and needs of parents and students.  The success of the programs greatly depends on the parents through volunteering time, as well as supporting the PTO fundraisers.  All parents are invited and encouraged to become active members of the PTO.  Participation in the PTO is a fast and rewarding way to become involved in the Schechter Family. 

 

For information about the PTO and their programs and/or to become more involved, please call the Schechter office at 860-561-0700 to be put in contact with the PTO Co-Presidents.

 

Kavod Code and Behavior Plan

 

Doing the right thing, hadavar hanachon, is the guiding principle of our approach to student behavior. We expect that SSDS students will treat all people and property with respect, and that they will consistently behave in ways that exemplify doing the right thing, hadavar hanachon.

 

Each division of our school has designed a developmentally appropriate behavior plan, with rewards and consequences, to reinforce our students’ integrating and living the Jewish values they learn at Schechter.

 

Gan Yeladim  (Kindergarten) – The Children’s Garden

“Where there is Love Flowers Bloom”

 

The classroom rules in Gan Yeladim are: Respect Yourself, Respect Others, and Respect Property.  In the beginning of the year, we discuss the meaning and importance of these rules for our safety and well-being.   We also have weekly meetings using puppets and role play, and discuss ways to better communicate with our classmates so that everyone feels safe and valued.

 

Each student in Gan Yeladim has a flower pot on the window sill.  He/she can earn flowers (plastic beads) in his/her pot for consistently following the classroom rules. Once a designated number of flowers are earned, he /she will receive a prize from the class “treasure chest.”  Reversely, if a child is misbehaving, he/she will receive a warning.  If the misbehavior continues, he/she will lose a flower.  If a child loses two flowers, he/she will lose free-play time.  If several flowers are lost during the day, the teacher will speak to a parent about the child’s behavior.

 

Class Rewards:  As a child receives the amount of flowers needed for a prize, he/she will empty his/her individual pot into the class watering can.  When the watering can is full, the whole class will earn a special treat.  Students also earn “flowers” for the watering can by receiving a compliment from any staff member in the school.

 

Grades 1 & 2

 

The First and Second Grade students learn from the first day of school that good behavior is expected. If a child does not listen to instructions and refuses to cooperate, his/her name is written on the board, constituting a warning. If the inappropriate behavior continues, a checkmark is written next to the name and the child’s consequence is 5 minutes off at recess. If the inappropriate behaviors do not cease, then a second checkmark is written, with 10 minutes off from recess, and the teacher will call the parents.

 

Each child in the class will have a special card to collect stickers for appropriate behavior, such as standing quietly in line; moving quietly from one activity to another; helping to clean the classroom and helping in the class; listening nicely when a guest speaks to the class; behaving nicely in the cafeteria and being respectful; doing mitzvot and good deeds. When the sticker card is complete, the teacher will decide what reward the class will get. Rewards might be 10 minutes of free play, 10 minutes of free drawing, watching a special video, doing an especially fun art project, etc.

 

Grades 3-5

 

We are guided by the Torah and the teachings of the Conservative movement in our behavior and our work with children. Our staff members are role models for our children. We encourage our students to resolve conflicts through words and to refrain from inappropriate behavior. Our fundamental values that we expect students and faculty to live by and to work together toward are:

 

1. V’ahavta l’Reyacha Kamocha - You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Our school’s community and guests are to be treated with respect and courtesy at all times. Our school is committed to a program of teaching children how to respect, include, and value one another in all grades. Parents play an essential role in this process.

 

2. Bal Taschit - Do not destroy.

Respect for private and public property is to be given at all times. We expect all children to demonstrate behavior that is conducive to the learning process. If incidents occur that cannot be resolved between the student and his/her teacher, the Principal will talk with the student. It is our goal to help a child learn responsible behavior. Parents are an essential part of that process.

 

Children and teachers will work together to resolve the occasional normal behavioral issues that may arise. If it seems necessary to move to a different level to resolve a specific situation, there are several people available to the child and/or teacher, including the Principal, Pupil Services Coordinator, and School Counselor. We will, of course, communicate appropriately with parents.

 

Derech Eretz

Derech Eretz in its broadest sense entails acting with consideration and kindness to others. Treating people respectfully, acting appropriately, following directions, and being honest and truthful are not limited to a specific time or class; rather, these are constant values that we expect to observe throughout the school day.

 

Our students have learned about our school’s shared purpose:  “To learn well and stay safe.” All members of our community are expected to work toward our shared purpose. 

 

There are specific steps that teachers follow when students behave inappropriately (for example, disrupting a class, bullying a peer, or speaking disrespectfully to an adult). The following section details our basic in-class discipline approach and the associated consequences:

 

The Card System: 

Each 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th Grade classroom has a card chart with a set of cards for each student.   We use the following color card system to provide feedback to children about their behavior.

• Green Card – Every child begins daily with a Green Card in each room, indicating that they are “good to go.” 
• Yellow Card – Occasionally all children may behave inappropriately. We recognize that at times a quick reminder helps get them back on track.  If a student needs that reminder, he/she will flip his/her card to yellow. 
• Orange Card – If the student continues to behave inappropriately, he/she will flip his/her card to orange.  As a consequence, the student will sit out for 10 minutes of recess and, in 5^th grade, the teacher will send home a behavior note.
• Pink Card – There are times when a student is not able to control him/herself or when an offense is particularly serious.  At that time, a student will flip his/her card to pink. Fourth and fifth graders will immediately be sent to speak with the Principal.  A note signed by the student and teacher will go home to be signed by the parent and returned to school (Grades 3-5).  The parents of 4^th and 5^th graders will be called.
• Detention – In the event that it becomes necessary, 5^th graders may earn a detention at the discretion of the Principal or Head of School.

 

Positive Reinforcements:

It is important to recognize students as they become increasingly successful in school.  While our students often receive compliments from their teachers, a concrete acknowledgement of their positive behavior is also important. 

 

Third and fourth graders have individual icons on their homeroom bulletin boards. When a teacher recognizes a student for doing something special, the student inserts a strip into the star or target. Five strips equals a sticker, and 10 stickers equal a trip to the prize box.

 

At the discretion of the teacher, students in 5^th grade may receive “reinforcements” in their planners to “reinforce” good behavior.  When they have received 10 reinforcements, they can redeem them for a prize or extra privileges.

 

As a class community, children in Grades 3-5 collect class compliments from faculty and staff. Eighteen compliments equal a special treat or activity.

 

Middle School

 

·        Each teacher will determine and communicate individual classroom behavior expectations to each class.

·        A student will earn one demerit for a specific inappropriate behavior.

·        Sample inappropriate behaviors that will result in a demerit include, but are not limited to:

1.      Arriving so late to a class that instruction has already begun (exceptions include situations when students are with support staff or an administrator, dentist appointment, etc.)

2.      Arguing/talking back to a teacher

3.      Swearing

4.      Being disruptive during class

5.      Being disrespectful to teacher or other students

6.      Chewing gum

7.      Persistent talking to a classmate

8.      Coming to class unprepared, without books, pens, pencils, paper, math tools, etc.

·        If any teacher or staff member witnesses a student committing any of the above infractions in the hall, lunchroom, recess, restroom or anywhere in the building, that teacher will make sure to report the infraction to the Middle School team, and the student will receive a demerit either for that teacher or for the very next class he/she will be attending.

·        When three demerits are recorded for inappropriate behavior in a particular class during a single week (or per calendar month for specials), a detention will be earned and served.

·        Any student who earns enough demerits to warrant a third detention within a single semester will instead serve an in-school suspension.

·        After a student has earned two detentions, parents will be contacted and made aware of the forthcoming in-school suspension.

-         3 Demerits = Detention

-         3^rd Detention = In-School Suspension

·        In unusual circumstances, more than a single demerit may be issued for a specific instance involving multiple infractions.

·        Detentions are cumulative per semester and not teacher-specific.

 

Detentions and Suspensions

• Students serving a behavioral detention will not be granted cell phone or laptop access.  No homework or pleasure reading is to be completed at this time. A faculty representative will provide opportunities for character development in an atmosphere conducive to personal reflection, which may include special assignments and/or tasks.
• Detentions will be served on either Monday or Thursday.
• During an in-school suspension, cell phone or laptop access is not permitted.  Students serving an in-school suspension are expected to work on materials associated with the class work that is taking place that day.  This is not time designated for homework fulfillment.

 

More Serious Situations:

• More serious infractions will result in more serious consequences. Incidents that may result in bypassing the three-demerit system and going directly to an in-school suspension would include: hitting, tripping, bullying, inappropriate use of school technology, or vandalizing school or another student’s property.
• For issues of cheating, stealing, lying or internet bullying, parents will be called in immediately for a meeting with an administrator and the associated faculty member. Our School Counselor may also be involved in the conference.  These are serious offenses that need to be discussed at the meeting.
• If a student earns more than one in-school suspension within a semester, this may result in an out-of-school suspension, loss of field trip and/or other privileges, or expulsion upon the recommendation of the administrative team and at the discretion of the Head of School.

 

Additional Information

• These plans have been developed to provide clear and consistent expectations. The administration reserves the right to adjust any of these guidelines as needed and will notify the parents and students if an adjustment becomes necessary.
• Demerits and detentions accumulated during the first semester are not carried over to the second semester. Each semester provides a fresh opportunity for students to meet the discipline requirements.
• Persistent behavior issues may result in more serious consequences as described under More Serious Situations.
• At this time, dress code infractions will follow the established Dress Code Policy. To summarize:

The havurah teacher will send a child down to the office if he/she is wearing flip-flops, short shorts or a very short skirt, an immodest shirt or a shirt displaying an inappropriate design. The parent will be called and asked to bring appropriate clothing.  In case the parent cannot be reached, the student will be asked to change to the extra pair of sneakers or the T-shirt that he/she has in his/her gym locker. 

 

Successful implementation and enforcement of these policies is dependent upon the collective support of our faculty, staff, students, and parents. Our staff is committed to serving each of our student’s needs, and we are confident that this structure will provide the requisite clarity and consistency to help our students take appropriate responsibility for their actions and for their own success.

 

 

Parent/Student Acknowledgment

 

To eliminate any misunderstanding with regard to the content of this handbook, we ask that you and your child read, discuss, and sign this handbook together. Please return the bottom of this page to the school office by the first day of school.

 

……………………………………………………………………………………….

 

We have read the Solomon Schechter Day School's Parent and Student Handbook and agree to abide by the rules (Kavod Code), policies, and guidelines as stated in this document.

 

 

Student’s Name__________________________________ Grade_____________

Please Print

 

 

Parent’s Signature________________________________ Date______________

 

 

Student’s Signature _______________________________ Date _____________