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School Messenger SystemNorwich Public Schools use of the School Messenger System to notify parents, guardians, and/orthe designated student emergency contact, of pertinent information regarding your student andschool. The district uses this notification system for the following: Daily notification of student absenceDelayed school openingsEarly release due to weather or school emergenciesSchool or district surveysNotification of upcoming school or district eventsOther unforeseen emergencies or circumstancesIt is crucial that all emergency numbers are kept up to date to ensure that parents,guardians and /or emergency contacts receive this important message.Emergency Early Closings / No School / Delayed OpeningsAt times, schools may close early due to a sudden change in the weather or other emergency. Inaddition to the School Messenger Service, the stations listed below will provide early closinginformation. Please make it a habit for your family to tune in to a local radio or television stationeach morning as you prepare for the day. Announcements of delayed openings or schoolcancellations begin about 6:00 A.M. and will be broadcast over the following stations:Radio: FM 98.3 WILIFM 105.5 WSUBTelevisionFM 104.7 WXLMFM 97.7 WCTYFM 107.7 WBMW AM 98.7 WNLCFM 106.5 WBMW AM 1310 WICHChannels 3, 30, 8 and FOX 61Emergency School Closing ScheduleKindergarten AM SessionThis group of students will remain in school until all students are dismissed and will be transported home with older students.Preschool AM SessionParent should contact the school for their student’s dismissal time.Kindergarten/Preschool PM Session: The PM Session will be cancelled.In the event of an emergency school closing, we strongly advise you to develop a familyEmergency School Closing Plan now. A family plan might include the following:- A provision for your student to enter your house with an extra key (location known inadvance to the student);9

- Three to five homes, listed in a specific order, that your student could go to until you couldreach him/her; and- Specific directions for your student about how to notify you of his/her whereabouts.Please take the time to practice your family Emergency School Closing Plan with all students.Delayed Opening ScheduleIn the event of inclement weather or other circumstances, the Superintendent may elect to delaythe opening of school. In that event: Kindergarten/Preschool AM Session: The AM Session will be cancelled.Kindergarten/Preschool PM Session: Students will be transported to school according totheir normal schedule.Early Release Days (ER) Schedule for Preschool/KindergartenOn days that are scheduled for early release, shortened sessions (1 hour, 50 minutes) of preschooland kindergarten will be held. Please refer to the school calendar located in the front of thismanual for specific early release days.Stanton, Uncas andWequonnoc SchoolsFull day 8:20-12:45Bishop Early Learning Center, Huntington, Mahan,Moriarty and Veterans SchoolsAM Session 8:50-10:40PM Session 11:25-1:15Full day 8:50-1:15Grades 1-5 Early Release ScheduleThe release times are as follows:Stanton, Uncas and Wequonnoc Schools: 8:20 A.M.-12:45 P.M.Huntington, Mahan, Moriarty and Veterans Schools: 8:50 A.M.-1:15 P.M.Please refer to the school calendar located in the front of this manual for specific early releasedays.Other EmergenciesThere have been times when it has been necessary to evacuate the school in order to ensure thesafety of students. In that event, students will be transported to another site, where their schoolday can continue. Under the advice of police, phone lines must be kept clear and the creation of asecondary hazard must be avoided. Our School Messenger System will notify parents as soon aspossible.If it is deemed safe by emergency personnel by the end of the day, students will be transportedhome on their regular bus. “Walker” students will be transported back to their home schoolwhere they can be met by parents or walk home along their regular route. Students enrolled in thebefore- and after-school program will be transported back to the school.10

Changes in telephone numbers and /or addressForms are sent home at the beginning of the school year that must be filled out and returned toyour student’s teacher. The information is especially helpful if an emergency should arise.Parents’ and guardians’ phone numbers and names are requested so that we may contact someonein an emergency. It is crucial that all emergency numbers are kept up to date to ensure thatparents, guardians and /or emergency contacts receive important messages.If your telephone number is unlisted, please indicate it as such. We will keep this informationconfidential; it will only be used in an emergency involving your student. Be sure to contact theschool secretary should any information change during the school yearVisiting Our SchoolsAll visitors, including parents, must sign in at the office upon entering the building. Pleasebe prepared to present a Photo ID upon request. All of our schools are secure buildings. Inorder to ensure the safety of students and staff, all doors are kept locked and monitored by asecurity system during school hours. Therefore, all visitors to our schools must sign the visitor’slog in the office and wear a visitor’s badge at all times. Even our most regular volunteers areasked to comply with this request. Please ring the doorbell and wait for instructions to enter thebuilding.After school hours, access is restricted to students participating in a supervised program. Studentswho wish to stay to attend after-school activities must present a note to their teacher before theend of the school day and must be supervised by a parent/guardian. In addition, only thoseindividuals or groups who have made special arrangements to visit or use the facility after schoolhours may do so.Directory Information/Photography/Video/Student-Produced WorkDirectory Information includes information contained in an education record of a student thatwould not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed. It includes, butis not limited to, the parent’s name and/or e-mail address, the student’s name, address, telephonenumber, e-mail address, photographic, computer and/or video images, date and place of birth,major field(s) of study, grade level, participation in school-sponsored activities or athletics,weight and height (if the student is a member of an athletic team), dates of attendance, degreesand awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency or institution attended.Personally identifiable information can be disclosed, transferred or released without prior consentof the parent of a student or the eligible student in connection with enrollment in another school,application for financial aid, research, a state statute, and an accrediting organization. Personallyidentifiable information will be released without parent consent to appropriate officials inemergency situations, to comply with a lawfully issued subpoena and in cases involvingcompulsory school attendance and child abuse.On occasion, Norwich Public Schools (NPS) staff or local/state news media may photograph ortake video of students and/or student-produced work during school and after school hours. Theyare used for state/local, district, and school publications, productions, websites and social mediaoutlets for NPS. Additionally, students may be videoed by school personnel fordiagnostic/educational purposes. NPS may use these photographs and videos for an indefinite11

period of time unless this authorization is revoked in writing. However, if revoked, NorwichPublic Schools shall not be required to recall affected publications, productions, websites, socialmedia outlets, photographs, videos, and other recorded images then in use.If the parent does not wish directory information, photographs and/or videos of his/her childreleased, or doesn’t want their child’s work posted, he/she must notify the school principal, inwriting within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt of the NPS School Handbook. The principalwill then take every reasonable effort to ensure such photographs, videos, and work will not bereleased. This parental prohibition does include the publication of photographs or video taken forthe school yearbook or similar publications.Surveillance equipment may be used on buses, in certain areas of campus, and at school eventsfor security, safety, and discipline purposes. These video/audio records may be utilized asevidence for certain disciplinary procedures. This evidence may be maintained as part of astudent’s record and available to the parent. Parental notice restricting photographs or videos willnot apply to the use of surveillance equipment for safety, security, and disciplinary procedures.Bus GuestsStudents may arrange to ride on another bus or have a guest on a bus if parents or guardians haveprovided written permission at least one day in advance and there is room for a guest on the bus.Students wishing to ride a different bus must submit a permission note from their parent to themain office. If approved, the school secretary will issue a Bus Pass to the student to present to thebus driver. Please note that this service is considered a privilege by the bus company and studentsare expected to follow all safety rules and comply with the driver’s directions.Items from HomeStudents should not bring items from home to school unless requested by the classroom teacher.Students are discouraged from bringing radios, Walkmans, IPods, MP3 players, computer games,beepers, pagers, cellular phones, digital cameras, and any other electronic devices onto the schoolgrounds, or to a school sponsored activity. Although the school recognizes that these devices areused to and from school by the students, it is expected that these devices be secured immediatelyupon entrance to the school building and only reused upon exiting the school building at the endof the day. Improper use of these devices may result in confiscation and will be returned only tothe parent.*It should be noted that the school would not be held liable for lost, stolen, or brokenelectronic devices.Lost and FoundStudents should inquire at the school office for lost items. The school office will display a tableof lost items in the lobby during school conferences. Labeling of your student’s belongings, suchas, lunch boxes, backpacks, outer wear and boots facilitates their return when misplaced.Kindergarten RegistrationKindergarten Registration is conducted in the early spring of every school year as indicated by theschool calendar. Registration is announced in the local paper and by individual school principalsseveral weeks prior to registration. Students who will be five years of age by January 1 of the12

coming school year are eligible to register. Health forms must be completed by your doctor andsent to the school prior to the beginning of school. State law will not allow your child to attendschool without this complete information.School Lunch and Breakfast ProgramNorwich Public Schools participates in the National School Lunch & Breakfast programs.Breakfast and lunch are served every day at school. A detailed notice explaining the NorwichPublic Schools’ Free and Reduced Policies is sent home at the beginning of each school year.Included is an application for free and reduced lunch. This application must be completed andreturned to school each year for your student to be eligible for free or reduced meals for the newschool year.BreakfastAll students are welcome to FREE breakfast upon arrival at school. Students need breakfast toenergize their day. A typical breakfast includes servings of food from the dairy, fruit, bread, andmeat groups.LunchStudents may purchase hot lunch daily. Alternate choices are offered to students in Grades K-5.On early dismissal days, only one choice will be available. Lunches include servings of foodfrom dairy, fruit/vegetable, meat, and bread groups. Students may purchase milk even if they arenot purchasing lunch. PM Kindergarten students may purchase lunch. In Norwich students thatqualify for reduced lunch eat free.SnackStudents may bring a healthy snack to eat at a time designated by the classroom teacher. Studentsare encouraged to bring snacks such as fruit, vegetables, cheese and crackers, pretzels and juiceswhich are considered “healthy snacks” and consistent with health teaching. We discouragesnacks containing tree nuts (peanuts, cashews, etc.) or peanut oils due to concern about exposureto students with severe allergies. We ask for your cooperation in this effort.Birthday/Celebration Snacks:Our school wellness policy mandates us to limit outside food brought into the classroom. Pleasecontact the school principal before sending in any outside food/snacksSTUDENT RESPONSIBILITYExpectations for BehaviorStudents are expected to demonstrate kindness, respect and responsibility for themselves andothers while attending school or any school-sponsored event. Physical or verbal threats, evenwhen “just kidding”, will not be tolerated. This ensures an atmosphere of safety and security forstudents and staff. The school staff is committed to maintaining this atmosphere throughout eachday.Teachers ensure such an environment through verbal and written reminders, redirecting studentsto more positive behaviors, modeling respectful language and polite behavior, holding students13

responsible for their actions, and teaching students a “signal” which immediately gains everyone’s attention. An atmosphere of caring prevails at our elementary schools.Our staff believes that students should participate in forming their classroom rules andconsequences at the beginning of the year. Class meetings are held to discuss ways we can helpone another and make our school a better place in which to learn. General expectations forstudent behavior are as follows: Students will respect the rights and property of others;Students will exercise physical and verbal self-control;Students will assume responsibility for their actions;Students will follow specific school and classroom rules.Playground1. Students are expected to listen to the directions of the adults on duty.2. Use the Golden Rule: “Treat others the way you want to be treated.”3. Play safely. Throwing snowballs, rocks, sticks, etc., is strictly prohibited.4. Treat others with kindness and respect by sharing and waiting your turn.5. Respect other students’ personal space and play appropriately on equipment. Don’t crowdon slide ladders and jungle gyms. Go down the slide feet first one-at-a-time.6. Use your words, not your hands, when you are upset. See a duty teacher if you need helpsolving a problem or if someone is injured.7. Listen to the teacher on duty.8. Potential contact play requires direct adult supervision (soccer, basketball, tag). The adult isin charge of establishing the guidelines prior to play beginning.9. Do not form “teams” or “gangs”. Try your best to welcome others to join in.10. Students should line up quietly at the end of recess to prepare for walking inside.Cafeteria1. Students are expected to enter the cafeteria in a quiet and orderly manner.2. Students should speak in a normal conversational tone. Duty teachers will signal the studentsfor quiet when the noise level is excessive or during the five minutes of lunch precedingdismissal.3. Students are expected to show respect for themselves and one another by exhibiting politetable manners and cleaning up after themselves.4. Popping bags or cups is not allowed.5. Students are expected to raise their hands to make a request.Assemblies and School-sponsored EventsStudents are asked to behave in a polite and appropriate manner. They should refrain frombooing, stomping or shouting out and should show the performers/speakers kindness and respect.14

A Word for ParentsParents are asked to model appropriate behavior for their student during school-sponsored events.Ask your student about the school signal for quiet and observe that signal just as you wouldexpect your student to do. Remember, the enjoyment of all can be spoiled by a very few. Pleasego out to the lobby if you need to carry on conversations during a performance or event, or quiet arestless toddler.TextbooksStudents are expected to treat all textbooks, school and classroom library books with respect.Loss of or Damage to School PropertyStudents and parents/guardians may be asked to provide financial retribution for the loss of ordamage to school property caused by a student.STUDENT DRESS/UNIFORMSSchool Uniforms will be required for all Preschool through Eighth Grade students.Girls shall wear the following during school hours: Navy blue or khaki colored jumpers, skirts, (not more than 3” above the knee) pants orknee length shorts, sized to fit the student. Shorts may be worn from April 1 to November1 only. Pants and shorts must be “dress” or “docker” style. No jeans or cargo shorts maybe worn. Blue blouses must be worn. Blouses must have a collar and may be button down/oxfordor polo style. Blouses must be tucked into pants or shorts. Hem must reach to waistlinewhen arms are raised. Sleeves may be long or short. No tee shirts may be worn. Sweaters or sweatshirts without hoods or pockets are optional, but if worn must be solid incolor or contain the school insignia or name. Footwear that causes noisy distractions, high heels which can cause safety hazards orfootwear which causes marks on floors are not permitted.Boys shall wear the following during school hours: Navy blue or khaki colored pants or knee-length shorts. Shorts may be worn from April 1to November 1 only. Pants and shorts must be “dress” or “docker” style. No jeans orcargo shorts may be worn. Blue shirts must be worn. Shirts must have a collar and may be button down/oxford orpolo style. All shirts must be tucked into pants or shorts. Sweaters or sweatshirts without hoods or pockets are optional, but if worn must be solid incolor or contain the school insignia or name. Footwear that causes noisy distractions or cause safety hazards, or footwear which causesmarks on floors are not permittedTo access the complete School Uniform Policy, please go to www.norwichpublicschools.org15

STUDENT ATTENDANCERegular attendance at school is essential to the educational process. The state legislature stronglyreaffirmed this principle by passing Public Law 91-303 or Connecticut General Statutes (CGS)10-198a. With the passage of this legislation, school systems are required to be much moreaggressive in monitoring attendance and reporting students who are truant to an appropriate stateagency. To comply with this legislation with a minimum disruption to the educational programsin your student’s school, we ask that you help us by doing the following:1) If you know in advance that your student will be absent from school, please send a note orcall the school and let us know.2) On other days when your student will not be coming to school, please call the school officebefore 9:30 A.M. and advise us that your student will be absent that day. Please refer to thebeginning of this guide for the phone number of your school.Although this communication about attendance issues is valuable, it imposes an additional burdenon the office staff. If we do not hear that your student will be absent, we are

Uncas Elementary School Jason Foster, Principal 8:20 A.M. -2:45 P.M. 280 Elizabeth Street Ext Norwich, CT 06360 (860) 823-4209 FAX (860) 823-4252 Veterans Memorial Elementary School Christie Gilluly,InterimPrincipal 8:50 A.M. -3:15 P.M. 80 Crouch Avenue Norwich, CT 06360 (860) 823-4210 FAX (860) 823-4253 Wequonnoc Elementary School