Dear Lincroft School Family,

WELCOME BACK! I hope you enjoyed a restful summer and are ready for a new school year. The information below provides an overview of important topics as we prepare and look forward to September. Our theme this year is Lincroft PRIDE. What does being proud mean to you? Our goal is to show everyone how proud we are of our school, our accomplishments, our community and more. One way to focus on our theme is School Spirit Fridays. Each Friday I encourage everyone to wear blue and white, our school colors, or Lincroft School apparel. One Friday each month we will have an extra special theme. To see these themes, visit our calendar HERE.

Thanks to a passing school budget, we have had many improvements over the summer. Projects include new boilers, technology upgrades including new document cameras, flat screen monitors and LCD projectors for every classroom, new copiers and color laser printers, new health office furniture, Kindergarten furniture upgrades, new and larger lunch tables, new hallway flooring, wireless access throughout the building, an enlarged evacuation path and more! Thanks to a supportive PTA, we now have more LCD projectors mounted, more FM systems, more recess equipment, more white boards, TV studio equipment and other upgrades. We are fortunate to be able to maintain four sections at every grade level with no class larger than 23 students and a student population of 500. We welcome for the first time full-day Kindergarteners! The need for additional classrooms has required some reconfiguration. The computer lab has been dismantled and that special will now be delivered in the Library Media Center.

Communication – A staff roster with email addresses and extensions can be found HERE. Should you have concerns, you must reach out to the teacher first. If you still have concerns, the appropriate chain of command is teacher, CST case manager/ guidance counselor/ reading specialist, Principal, Central Administration, Superintendent and Board of Education. Click HERE for a list of district contacts. Email is the preferred method of communication.

Orientations – Orientation for NEW Grades 1-5 entrants will be Wednesday, September 2, 2009 at 10:00 AM. Kindergarten Orientation will be at 1:30 PM. Parents and new students are welcome.

First Day of School – Kindergarten students will report to the All Purpose Room between 8:45 - 8:55 AM. All Grades 1-5 students will go directly to their new classrooms. Staff will be in the halls to assist students. On Friday, September 4th, K-5 students will enter via the main doors beginning at 8:45 AM and go directly to their classrooms. I recommend students begin taking the bus on the first day. Please be patient with transportation as kinks need to be worked out. Suggested Supply Lists for Grades K-5 can be found HERE.

Parent/ Student Handbook – The Elementary School Parent/ Student Handbook is given to every student. For a digital copy click HERE. It is vital that you read and understand the updated policies and procedures.

Arrival Procedures – Student supervision on school grounds begins at 8:45 AM. At that time, the main doors open. Prior to 8:45 AM, it is the responsibility of the parent to supervise their child. Students not using district transportation should arrive between 8:45 AM and 8:55 AM. Students arriving after 9:00 AM will be marked tardy. For 2009-2010, any child transported by a parent must be dropped off next door at the Little League field and utilize the crosswalk. The crosswalk has been widened and paved. ONLY busses will be using the horseshoe in order to reduce traffic jams.

Attendance – Regular attendance is essential to a student’s success. In case of absence, a call to the school between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM is required. Excusable absences are: extended illness accompanied by a doctor’s note, observance of designated religious holidays, necessity of appearing in court and death in the family. Parents/ guardians will be notified in writing if their children accrue excessive absences. Any child who is out because of illness for one (1) day should spend the day recuperating; therefore work will not be provided for single day absences. If a child is out two (2) or more days due to illness, work will be provided upon request and can be picked up at the end of the school day. Parents/ guardians are to request work by 9:30 AM. For an absence due to illness to be excused, a doctor’s note is required.

Dismissal Procedures – If your child is NOT GOING HOME ON THE BUS, it is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT that you write a note to the teacher. Indicate if they are pickups (and the person picking them up), after care, leaving school early (plan to do so by 2:30 PM), etc. Please refrain from calling the Main Office unless it is an emergency.

Students are dismissed at 3:00 PM. At that time, all students being picked up exit the building. Parents waiting for their children should stand in the patio area. Parents picking up Kindergarteners must use the doors closest to their classrooms (Door #5) to pickup their child. This year students using the bus will be dismissed from their classroom. Between 2:45 PM and 3:15 PM, cars are not permitted to stop, stand or park in front of the building or in any part of the horseshoe driveway. Students and parents may not retrieve items left in the classroom after 3:15 PM.

Before/ After Care – The Community YMCA offers the Y Kids Program at Lincroft School. Hours are from 7:00 until 8:45 AM and dismissal until 6:00 PM. Information may be obtained by contacting Rose Mintz, Executive Director of Child Achievement, at 732-264-3500. Students in the program should report directly to the All-Purpose Room when they arrive or are being picked up (Door #4).

Responsibility – Instilling responsibility at a young age will help students have the tools necessary for a successful future. Students, not parents, are to bring in their lunch, drink, homework, RIF sheet, School Store money, instrument, lunch ticket, etc. If this is difficult for your child, place a sticky note by the door as a reminder. These are lifelong skills which can have a lasting impact.

Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) – All families are encouraged to join and actively participate in the PTA. Our PTA is a fantastic group and their efforts greatly benefit our children and school. A packet with PTA information will go home the first day of school. Click HERE to visit their webpage.

Footwear and Dress Code – When children dress for success it has a positive effect on their attitude and achievement. All clothing, personal belongings, lunch bags, coats, etc. should be clearly labeled. Our Lost and Found bin is located in the main office and can be accessed during lunch. For safety reasons, students are not to wear clogs, open sandals, shoes with an open back, high platform shoes or sneaker/ skate conversions. Injury, pain, inconvenience and medical bills may be avoided by wearing sneakers or other footwear to school that are laced and fit properly.

Visitors and Drills – Visitors must sign in, give a valid reason for entering the building and wear an ID badge marked VISITOR. Twice a month an Evacuation Drill is conducted and everyone inside the building must exit. Also, twice a year a Lockdown and Bus Evacuation Drill is held. Should you be on the property those days, please be patient.

Specials Schedules and Curriculum – Grades 1-5 Specials run on a district-wide 6-Day Rotation (A, B, C, D, E and F). Students have 40 minutes of Art, Computers, Music, Health, Physical Education and Spanish in one cycle. “A” day begins on the first day of school. To see when your child has a particular special, click HERE. Kindergarteners have a daily 40 minute Special/ Enrichment which varies each marking period. To view the Lincroft School Report Card or the Math, Language Arts Literacy and Science guidelines, click HERE.

I&RS and Child Study Team – The Intervention and Referral Services Committee (I&RS) is a regular education problem-solving group that assists teachers and parents with strategies for students who are having academic, health or behavioral issues. The team discusses specific concerns, the impact of prior interventions or modifications and ways to further help the student. The committee develops an Action Plan that outlines strategies and plans a future date to review the effectiveness and outcome of the recommended interventions or modifications. Parents are informed of these meetings and invited to participate, if needed. If various, well-planned interventions are documented and do not prove to be successful over a period of time, the team may refer the student to the Child Study Team.

Notices and School Website – Our school website will continue to have a great deal of information posted daily. A call to the office or teacher can be avoided by just looking on the website. In order to reduce the amount of paper going home, new notices will be posted on our school website in the Virtual Backpack each Thursday. Click HERE for access. Much of the information can be found in the Leopard's Paw which is published most Thursdays.

Nutrition Policy – Click HERE to view the Middletown Township Board of Education Nutrition Policy and click HERE to view Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value. We want to teach our children everything in moderation and to make healthy decisions. Please review the items not permitted. If you have questions contact Mrs. Andril.

Snacks and Water Bottles – Students in Grades K-5 may have a healthy working snack daily, depending on their lunch. Candy and soda are not allowed. At the teacher’s discretion, students may be permitted to have a water bottle at their desk. It is preferred that these bottles be small, labeled and washed daily.

Lunch and Allergies – Click HERE for lunch information and the NEW changes. Many students have life threatening allergies. If your child is in Mrs. Boyle, Miss Carroll, Mrs. Myers, Mrs. McCabe, Miss Buerck, Miss Deveareau, Miss Batchler, Mrs. Tardio or Miss Barry's class, click HERE. I know we all agree that protecting every child is a necessity. Your anticipated cooperation is appreciated.

Health – Any immunization or changes in health status should be reported to Mrs. Andril. When a child has a contagious illness, a doctor’s note is required for the child to return to school, and the school must be notified (strep throat, pink eye, etc.). All children are required to have submitted a record of completed immunizations and a physical examination by a doctor. For Grades 1-5, the physical must be within 365 days of starting school and for Kindergarten, the physical must be after July 1, 2008. You must submit the required documents before your child begins school.

Birthdays and Classroom Celebrations – I must ensure teachers have adequate time to teach. Celebrations are at the discretion of the individual. For birthdays: Kindergarten parents may come to school on or around their child's birthday after consulting with the teacher a minimum of three days in advance. Visits will be limited to 15-20 minutes. Parents of students in Grades 1-5 may send in or drop off a treat or item for their child's birthday after consulting with the classroom teacher. For example, sending in a box of munchkins or a pencil for all the children. The items will be distributed by the teacher during the day. Therefore, parents will not be able to go to the classroom and are asked to send items in with their child. In all cases, adhering to the guidelines discussed under Nutrition Policy must be followed. Those classes with students that have allergies must have all food that enters the classroom inspected by Mrs. Andril. Invitations may not be distributed unless the entire class is invited or all the boys/ girls in the class.

Bus Rules and Regulations – All students have on file a signed copy of the Regulations for Pupils Riding School Busses. To summarize, students must be seated, wear their seatbelt, not throw any objects and keep their hands and feet to themselves. Food is not permitted on the bus. The consequences for any infractions as per these regulations is suspension from the bus.

Media Permission Form – This form will be sent home the first day of school. Please note the major changes to this form. Your signature/ permission will remain in effect for the duration of the child’s years in Middletown unless a change is requested. Also, the form includes permission for school based events such as the Memory Book, Variety Show DVD, etc.

Free and Reduced Lunch Application – This form will be sent home the first day of school. Please read the instructions and return completed and signed (even if you are not applying) by September 11, 2009.

Student Accident Insurance – If you wish to purchase insurance, fill out the application and return directly to the company with payment.

Testing – Standardized Testing for 2009-2010 will be as follows: NJ PASS 2 - April 19, 20, 21, NJ ASK 5 - May 3, 4, 5, 6, NJ ASK 3 - May 10, 11, 12, 13 and NJ ASK 4 - May 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. Please do not plan vacations on these dates as 100% participation is necessary.

Back to School Nights – Back to School Nights provide parents the opportunity to meet with their child’s teacher in a group setting. Each teacher will review curriculum, procedures and other aspects of the educational program. This evening is NOT for individual conferences. If you are planning to attend, please be in your child's classroom by 7:00 PM. Parents may enter via the main doors.

Monday, September 14 - Grades K-2 - 7:00 PM
Tuesday, September 15 - Grades 3-5 - 7:00 PM
7:00-7:15 – Welcome (Parents report directly to the classroom of their child’s teacher.)
7:15-7:45 – Session 1 (Parents remain in the classroom.)
7:50-8:20 – Session 2 (Parents with a second child report to their child’s teacher.)
* Please stop by the All-Purpose Room before you leave!

Although children learn content in school, we must remain focused on ensuring they understand the Golden Rule - treat others as you want to be treated. Together we must model how they can excel as individuals and be productive members of society. I thank you for your cooperation in ensuring all procedures are followed and required paperwork is completed. I hope all of you are as excited as I am about this new school year. Be sure to bring your smile and an open mind on the first day! I wish you and your child a very successful school year!

Sincerely,
Mr. Laugelli
Principal