In order to speak individually with your child's teacher, you need to schedule an appointment. It is best to send a note with your child or leave a phone message with the main office (              212-799-1033       ) regarding the scheduling of an appointment. Please call the school on the morning of the appointment to confirm. Teachers sometimes come to school early or remain longer than the school day in order to meet with parents or can schedule appointments during prep times. In any case, they will make every effort to meet with a parent.

If you have concerns or questions regarding any situation with your child, please speak with your child's teacher! The classroom teacher is the person who spends the most time with your child and should be your first source. He/she may have helpful information about your child or a situation, or should be kept informed of your concerns. However, parents are not permitted to go to any classroom at any time without an appointment.

PS 199 holds a Back To School Night in late September every year. This is an opportunity for parents to meet with the new teacher, in a group, to learn about the specifics of that coming year.

Twice a year, in November and March, an afternoon and evening are set aside for individual parent-teacher report card conferences. At this time, you will be able to meet with your child's teacher to discuss his or her progress in school.

Parents are invited to sit in on their child's class throughout the day, twice a year, at Open School Day(s).

Please do not use the morning line-up or afternoon dismissal times for conferences with your child's teacher. Teachers are responsible for their classes at these times and will not be able to talk with you at length.

HOW DO I KNOW WHAT MY CHILD WILL BE DOING THIS YEAR ? BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT:

At the beginning of each school year, parents are invited to our BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT. Teachers meet with parents in the classroom to describe that year's curriculum, goals and plans as well as his/her particular expectations for the students. Classroom policies regarding homework will be discussed and you will also hear about specifics for things such as trips, snacks and birthday parties. We think it is important for parents to attend this evening.

WHAT IS PS 199'S HOMEWORK POLICY ?

Homework is a valuable tool in the progression and extension of learning and is assigned on a daily basis. It helps by reinforcing what has been learned in class and by preparing students for upcoming lessons. It also promotes responsibility and helps students develop good study habits.

At the beginning of the year, teachers will inform you of the particulars regarding homework policies. Students are expected to do their best work on each assignment. Homework should be carefully done. However, students are not expected to spend hours and hours on each day's homework.

Parents can make homework a positive experience for their children. Give your child the message that homework is a top priority. You can help by providing a quiet and workable environment in which your child can do his/her best work. Set up a schedule that will allow homework to get done each evening as a ritual. For some students that can mean getting homework done in an afterschool program instead. It's good to keep in mind that homework is to be done by students, not by parents!

Encourage your child to communicate directly with his/her teacher about any questions concerning homework. Our teachers want to work with their students to find good solutions to homework challenges and to keep abreast of their progress. If you are finding yourself tempted to correct your child's homework before he/she hands it in.don't! Remember that homework is also an assessment tool for teachers and he/she needs to get an accurate sense of what your child can do independently.

If, however, your child consistently struggles to complete homework and/or understand assignments, please contact your child's teacher.

WHAT KINDS OF TESTS ARE GIVEN ?

Children in Kindergarten, as well as newly admitted 1st grade students, are given an informal early screening for teaching purposes.

Throughout the school year, teachers may give tests based on the lessons and work that has been going on in class. Generally, classroom testing is announced to students in advance so they may prepare by studying. The types of tests and how often they are given will vary among the grades and teachers. Specifics about teachers' various testing practices can be described at Back To School Night.

PS 199 uses Everyday Math for its mathematics curriculum; this curriculum incorporates assessments at the end of each unit. ECLAS.

In addition to classroom tests, our teachers are continuously assessing their students through observation and conferences. It is our belief that such “informal” assessment is valuable as it takes place in an ongoing and natural manner.

DO THE CHILDREN RECEIVE REPORT CARDS ?

All students receive report cards. Kindergartners receive two written progress reports (in March and June). All other grades receive three written progress reports from their teachers (in November, March and June).

Conferences to discuss your child's progress are scheduled by the Dept. of Education to coincide with the November and March report card distribution. Kindergarten parents are also invited to discuss their child's progress with the teacher in November, although there is no written report.

You are asked to read these reports carefully, discuss your child's progress at the conference time and then sign and return your child's report card to the teacher.

WHAT RECORDS ABOUT MY CHILD ARE KEPT IN SCHOOL ?

A permanent cumulative record is maintained and passed from year to year as well as from school to school. This record includes identifying and educational information about your child, a health record, standardized test results and a record of lateness and absences.

MAY I SEE MY CHILD'S RECORDS ?

Yes. Parents have the right to see all official records. To do so, call the school office at               212-799-1033        to make an appointment to read them.

WHAT KINDS OF TESTS ARE GIVEN ?

Children in Kindergarten, as well as newly admitted 1st grade students, are given an informal early screening for teaching purposes. An ECLAS assessment is carried out by all Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade teachers and is required by the Dept. of Ed. Its purpose is to determine how the students are reading and writing. It is primarily used as a tool for planning instruction and scores are not sent home. Second and third graders also take a writing test called EPAL.
PS 199 uses Everyday Math for its mathematics curriculum; this curriculum incorporates assessments at the end of each unit. Throughout the school year, teachers may give tests based on the lessons and work that has been going on in class. Generally, classroom testing is announced to students in advance so they may prepare by studying. The types of tests and how often they are given will vary among the grades and teachers. Specifics about teachers' various testing practices can be described at Back To School Night.
In addition to classroom tests, our teachers are continuously assessing their students through observations and conferences. It is our belief that such “informal” assessment is valuable as it takes place in an ongoing and natural manner.

STANDARDIZED TESTS

Currently, standardized testing begins in 3rd grade and testing takes place as follows:

GRADE 3:

• New York State Language Arts test
• New York State Math test

GRADE 4:

• New York State Language Arts test
• New York State Math test
• New York State Science test

GRADE 5:

• New York State Language Arts test
• New York State Math test
• New York State Social Studies test

The grades from these tests are sent back to the school, usually late in the school year, and are then forwarded to parents either in a letter or on the final report card.

Students who are learning English as a second language (ESL) are assessed with the NYSESLAT test. It is administered in May. When students achieve proficiency, they no longer receive ESL instruction.

From time to time the city or the state will administer a “practice” or experimental test in reading or math to field test future exams. These grades are not recorded on any school records.

Although standardized testing is a mandatory part of school life and we will work with your child to best prepare him/her, please keep in mind that standardized tests are only one form of measuring your child's achievement. In order to help parents understand the purpose of these tests and how to interpret the results and their importance, one PTA meeting each year is set aside to focus on this topic. You will receive a notice about the meeting via KID-MAIL.

At PS 199 we are aware that children will not necessarily show identical patterns of growth. We do look at children in totality, placing importance on each child's social, emotional, intellectual and physical development. In addition to the mastery of academic skills, other examples of how broadly we look at children include observing how a child begins to use critical thinking skills and how a child is developing socially.

WHO ARE THE ADULTS IN SCHOOL ?

In addition to the principal, assistant principal and the teachers, there are many others who are a vital part of your child's school day.

• Paraprofessionals are classroom-based staff who are assigned to assist in the Kindergarten and special education classes as well as with designated special education students or physically challenged students in regular education classrooms.
• Student teachers are students from nearby universities who are in various classrooms for a semester of teaching apprenticeship.
• School Counselor is a licensed mental health professional whose services at PS 199 include the following:
  • individual and group counseling for students
  • parent guidance, family counseling
  • referrals to outside resources and agencies
  • crisis intervention
  • middle school articulation
  • liaison between the school and parents and between parents and outside agencies
• Instructional Support Committee members include a school psychologist and a social worker. Together they assess students who are referred for testing by a parent or by a teacher (only after parental consent is given). They also meet with parents to provide information and referrals.
• Other service providers include: SETSS (Special Education Teacher Support Service) teacher, occupational therapists, physical therapists, adaptive physical education teacher and speech therapists. These adults are assigned to work with students based on evaluations and in such cases, parents are always informed and in agreement with services being provided.
• Parent Coordinator is at PS 199 as a contact person for families who need any assistance. Our Parent Coordinator works in the school and assists parents and/or their children in a variety of ways.
• Nurses are primarily here to assist with the medical needs of our physically challenged students. They do extend their work, however, to include assistance to all of our students as much as possible.
• School Aides are office personnel who give daily assistance to students, parents and teachers.
• School Secretary performs all office functions.
• School Security Officer maintains security in the building and is located at his/her assigned post in the main lobby. The Security Officer must check the identification of everyone entering the building and direct them to the main office. It is his/her responsibility to enforce the policy that parents and other visitors not travel throughout the building or go directly into classrooms without the office staff's knowledge.
• Cafeteria Staff is responsible for preparing breakfast and lunch meals and providing the meals to students.
• Custodial Staff is responsible for the physical care of the school building.
• School Volunteers are community members who donate time to the school on a regular basis. They work in various areas of the school with supervision.

WILL MY CHILD HAVE MORE THAN ONE TEACHER ?

Yes. In addition to the regular classroom teacher, each class spends approximately 45 minutes (or more) per day with another teacher who may teach gym, art, music, and movement activities. These subject areas often change from year to year. Sometimes there may be a student teacher in your child's classroom.

During lunchtime, various teachers and paraprofessionals supervise and care for your child. Administrators are always available, as is the nurse.

Your child will meet a wide variety of school professionals throughout the school year. We at PS 199 pride ourselves on the friendly and comfortable community we create with your children.

The Instructional Support Committee (ISC) consists of a School Psychologist and a Social Worker who work on site in the school building. They are available for testing purposes and consultation regarding our students' needs.

Teachers who notice a discrepancy between a child's performance and his/her potential or simply have concerns regarding educational or emotional progress may consult with the ISC. One result may be to request an evaluation for the child through the ISC. This evaluation is done only after meeting with a parent and obtaining consent for testing. Testing is most often done here in the school, during the school day. Possible outcomes may include SETSS (remediation services), counseling, occupational therapy, physical therapy and/or speech and language services, as well as recommendations for outside interventions.

Parents can also initiate the evaluation process by requesting this from the ISC. Before doing so, it is always possible to first meet with a member of the ISC to discuss concerns and options. The ISC is located in Room 132 or can be reached by phone at               212-873-2213       .

To explore the possibility of any extra help for your child, please contact your child's teacher, the school counselor, the ISC or a school administrator for current and applicable information.

PS 199's architectural construction allows complete access for able and disabled students. An elevator, special ramps, special doors and appropriate lavatory facilities allow us to educate all children, including children with special needs, in one setting. Children with and without disabilities are in all classes.

The official school day begins at 8:30 AM. (A siren will sound in the yard for line-up time.) It is best to have your child in the yard or the cafeteria by 8:25 AM at the latest so that he/she is ready to join the class. It is expected and necessary that you have your child on line with his/her class no later than 8:30 AM to go upstairs with the teacher. Children may not go upstairs to their classrooms prior to the start of the official school day unless accompanied by a teacher.

Parents who bring their children to school each morning are encouraged to arrive before 8:30 AM to mingle in the schoolyard. (Parents' presence in the playground or cafeteria during lunchtime and recess, however, is not permitted. This is a time for your child to develop social and cooperative skills outside your presence and it is therefore not beneficial to have parents visit during lunchtime.)

Teachers come out to the yard to meet their classes each morning and walk inside together. (Please remember that this is not an effective time for you to discuss anything of significance with your child's teacher, as it is his/her priority to be with the class at this time.)

Parents should escort their children to the class line and say their farewells. Parents may not follow their child's class line out of the yard or into the building. Nor it is permitted for parents to keep their children back in the driveway “waiting” to join their class as it walks into the building. The security officer and staff members have been directed to remind parents not to go directly to the classrooms unless there is a scheduled event or a previously scheduled private appointment.

If your child arrives in the yard after his/her teacher and class have gone upstairs, your child may join another class' line to go inside and will not need a late pass. If you and your child enter through the main entrance after 8:30 AM your child must take a late pass. Parents remain in the vestibule, say good-bye to their children, and send them into school with the late pass. As needed, school staff, not parents, will escort younger children to their classrooms.

The security officer is on duty at 7:30 AM. Children arriving between 7:30-8:00 AM must wait in the vestibule next to the security officer. At 8:00 AM the cafeteria opens to admit all students. At 8:10 the schoolyard is open as well. At these times, both areas are supervised by school staff. Parents can also remain until teachers pick up their classes.

The cafeteria opens at 8:00 AM for children to gather and/or eat breakfast. Breakfast is served until 8:25 AM. Parents are welcome to remain in the cafeteria with their children during breakfast.

The City of New York provides free breakfast to all public school students. Free milk is also available at all mealtimes. A monthly menu, listing the planned selections, is posted next to the kitchen door. Everyone leaves the cafeteria for the yard at 8:25 AM. Line-up takes place at 8:30 AM.

When a child is late to class, it is disruptive on many levels. Your child is missing important school time as well as disrupting the start of his/her day. It is often difficult for children to resume the rhythm of the school day once they have rushed to catch up. Other children are also affected by the disruption of a late child entering the classroom.

Please note that punctuality is taken very seriously, not only by us, but also by future schools to which your child will eventually apply. We are mandated by the Department of Education to stress punctuality and schools are routinely rated in this category. All punctuality and attendance records are computerized and permanently recorded.

Any child who arrives after 8:30 AM (whether or not the classes are upstairs yet) is, in fact, officially late. Please do not argue about this with the staff member who issues a late pass.

There are two fifty-five minute lunch periods, which includes eating in the cafeteria and recess time for play.

Your child's teacher takes lunch at the same time as his/her class; therefore, out-of-classroom teachers and paraprofessionals supervise the children at this time.

Students eat lunch in the cafeteria with their classmates for approximately 20-30 minutes.

• In good weather, they then go outside to play in the schoolyard. On such “outside days” all children must go outside.
• In inclement weather, the children participate in indoor activities or view a children's movie.
• When the temperature drops below 28 degrees, children have the option of moving in and out of the lunchroom at will. On such days, there will be supervision in each of these areas. Children should wear warm outdoor clothing in the winter so they have the option of going outside. Such clothing must include hats, gloves and heavy coats.

WALKERS:
Dismissal takes place at 2:50 PM, when teachers escort students to the class line-up spots in the schoolyard to be met by an adult. Students may not leave the yard until an authorized adult arrives for pick-up. The gates to the yard open at 2:30 PM for parents/caregivers to enter.

AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS:
Some students participate in afterschool programs which pick up from PS 199 (Sports N Stuff, JCC, Westside Y and Lincoln Square Neighborhood Center). In such cases, students are brought to the cafeteria by their teacher and are met by an adult from that program.

EXTENDED DAY SESSION:
Some students in grades 1-5 will be selected to participate in the Dept. of Ed's extended day program, which provides additional small group instructional support.
The days/hours for this program (Sep '06-June '07) will be:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - 2:50-3:40 PM.
Students are brought down to the lobby by their teacher to be met by an adult for pick-up. Yellow school bus transportation is also available for students who qualify.
Parents will be notified if their child is recommended for this program.

YELLOW BUS STUDENTS:
Students who ride a school bus go to the top of the driveway with a school aide. Please be prompt in meeting your child at the bus stop. We recommend arriving several minutes early to avoid any problems.

In the unlikely event that your child does not get off at the bus stop:

• CALL PS 199 FIRST at               212-799-1033       .
• Then call the Atlantic Bus Company at               718-585-8592       . (You should have your child's route number when you call.)

Children may not switch their assigned bus for any reason (including play dates or other social arrangements). IF YOUR CHILD IS NOT TO GO HOME ON THE BUS ON ANY GIVEN DAY, THIS REQUEST MUST BE MADE IN WRITING TO YOUR CHILD'S TEACHER. LAST MINUTE CHANGES IN ARRANGEMENTS MAY BE CALLED IN DIRECTLY TO THE SCHOOL NO LATER THAN 2:00 PM. If no message is received, your child will always be placed on his/her regular bus.

These measures are meant for the safety of the children.

If your child does not ride one of our yellow school busses and you live more than 12 mile (for Kindergartners, 1st and 2nd graders) or more than 1 mile (for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders) from the school, your child may be entitled to a MetroCard student pass for public transportation to and from school. DUAL transportation on both the yellow school bus and public transportation is not permitted. Please inquire in the main office regarding any transportation needs.

Teachers will always follow the regularly scheduled dismissal procedures that parents give them at the beginning of the year.

Any changes due to other adults picking up your child, appointments, play dates, Sports 'N Stuff, other afterschool programs, other activities.MUST BE MADE IN WRITING.to the teacher and/or main office.

In emergencies, a telephone call may be made to the main office, no later than 2:00 PM on the same day (this is to ensure that your child and the teacher receive the information in time). Any child who delivers a verbal message to the teacher without a note will be sent home according to the usual procedure, with no change made.

A Security Officer is on duty at all times at the main entrance to the school. All adults wishing to enter the building at any time, for any reason, must use the West 70th Street main entrance where the Security Officer is located.

All visitors, including parents, must sign in at the security desk, showing proper identification, and obtain a pass to the main office. Every visitor's next stop MUST be the main office, where school personnel can greet you and direct to you to the appropriate place. This policy is in effect even when a parent has a scheduled appointment with the teacher or is accompanying a class trip.

These procedures allow school personnel to easily identify everyone throughout the building (and can alert us to potential intruders) and exist for the safety of your children. Parents must cooperate with this rule or school safety is seriously compromised. We cannot maintain tight security unless the cafeteria and rear doors are off-limits. A lax security system would potentially allow unsafe incidents to occur. PLEASE HELP US MAINTAIN THIS POLICY AND DO NOT TRY TO CIRCUMVENT THIS RULE.

For those in wheelchairs, the ramp on West 70th Street (near the A&P) is available. There is a doorbell to ring. The door will then be opened to allow entry.

A copy of the School Safety Plan, which details information about handling emergencies, evacuations, etc., is always available for parents to read. You may ask for this in the main office.

It is vital that you keep the blue emergency cards accurate with up-to-date information. Please notify the main office (and your child's teacher) if there are any changes in phone numbers, addresses or contact people. In the case of an emergency, these blue cards are our source for contacting you.

The discipline policy of PS 199 reflects the policy of the New York City Department of Education. School rules and regulations will be enforced fairly, firmly and consistently. Our regulations recognize that as students progress in school and advance in age and maturity, they must assume greater responsibility for their actions.

Our discipline code exists to ensure that all students behave responsibly towards themselves, their peers and school personnel. It also fosters a respect for school property and the property of others.

Poor or disruptive behavior includes the following:

• Engaging in or causing physical altercations.
• Threatening and/or intimidating other students.
• Using profane or offensive language, including discriminatory messages.
• Defacing or damaging school property or the property of others.
• Stealing. . Cheating. . Defying the authority of school personnel.
• Leaving the classroom or school grounds without the permission of/or supervision by school personnel.
• Disruptive behavior or excessive noise either in the classroom, halls or other parts of the school building.
• Lateness and/or excessive absence.
• Bringing prohibited equipment to school, such as dangerous implements, hard baseballs, wooden or aluminum bats or fireworks. Though not dangerous, disruptive items such as walkmans, radios, headphones, video games, water guns, rollerblades, scooters and skateboards are also prohibited.

PS 199 has created a set of guidelines, in accordance with general medical standards, to help parents decide whether it is necessary to keep an ill child at home.

Your child should not attend school if he/she has any of the following symptoms:

• Evidence of infection, sore throat and swollen, tender, painful neck glands
• Fever of 100*F or higher (in addition, fever of 100*F or higher in the previous 24 hours also warrants keeping a child at home)
• Wheezing which continues to be labored one hour after medicine is given; breathing pattern that is labored
• Weakness that makes it hard to take part in usual daily activities
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Earaches
• Persistent cough
• Body rash
• Pink eye
• Ringworm
• Lice or nits

The school nurse asks that you send a doctor's note with your child after the following illnesses:

• Strep throat
• Conjunctivitis
• Chicken pox
• Ringworm

If your child is absent for a day or two it is not necessary to telephone the school.