Dear Parents,

A friend once remarked to me that we are in the luckiest profession because it is the only one where we get a chance at a fresh start every year! She was very right.

There are several changes which I would like to bring to your attention.

1. Due to the new UFT contract providing for extended time for teachers, our school hours have changed. Extended Day students must arrive by 7:55 AM each day; they will be admitted at approximately 8:00 AM with the first period starting at 8:05 AM. Any student arriving after that time will be considered late. Friday, all students arrive at 8:00 AM.
2. Below is a brief calendar for the 2008-2009 school year. It outlines the days school will be closed so that you may plan for the future:

• Yom Kippur
• Columbus Day
• Election Day
• Veterans Day
• Thanksgiving Recess
• Winter Recess (including Washington's Birthday)
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• Mid-Winter Recess
• Spring Recess
• Memorial Day
• Anniversary Day (Brooklyn & Queens)

1. Your child will be bringing home a new blue Emergency Contact Card. Please return this through your child the very next day. It is imperative that we have accurate information on file. Be sure to fill out the card completely and that the persons you list as emergency contacts know that their names are being included as an emergency contact.
2. All students and staff are required to carry their photo ID Card. These are provided to each student. Any loss or damage requiring replacement is charged to the student as follows: first loss $1.00, second loss $2.00, etc.
3. We do have a Dress Code. Students are not permitted to wear hats, bandanas or any head covering unless the head covering is for documented religious reasons. Students are not permitted to wear short shorts, crop tops, tank tops or pants (jeans) which expose the stomach area. Body jewelry which may be considered a safety hazard must be removed if a staff member feels that it may endanger the student. The appropriateness of dress for a student is within the discretion of the school. Your support of our policies and guidance of your child with regard to dress is very much appreciated. No students are permitted to wear jeans or T-shirts.

Chancellor Joel Klein has established procedures for school closings and delayed openings on storm days. The details are as follows:

1. Parents should listen to information broadcast by television stations (Channels 2, 4, 5, 7), as well as "NY 1, (Channel 1 on cable television), and WNYE-TV (Channel 25 on cable television) news radio stations, such as WINS (1010AM), WCBS (880 AM), WLIB (1190 AM), WBLS (107.5 FM), WNYE (91 .5 FM). In general, you are listening for information regarding the New York City Board of Education. If district numbers are used, please remember that IS 237 is in District 25. You may also call 311.
2. The Chancellor's decision to close or delay the opening of schools during stormy weather will be communicated to radio and television stations prior to 6:00 AM.
3. In the case of an announced two hour delayed school opening, school hours for IS 237 will be 10:00 AM to 2:57 PM (Monday - Thursday) & 10:00 AM - 2:20 PM (Friday).
4. In the event there is a two-hour delay in opening, children are to go to their designated bus stop two hours later than their regular time.
5. In the case of a delayed school opening, field trips will be canceled.
6. It is expected that regular dismissal times will be adhered to. In the event that a storm intensifies during the school day, the Chancellor may authorize an early dismissal. Please make emergency arrangements now with a friend, relative or neighbor that may be home during the day in the event that an early dismissal is announced and your youngster needs supervision.
7. Please contact the school if you have any questions regarding this procedure.
8. In the event that you cannot reach the school, you may call the District Office at (718) 281-7600.

Discipline Policies

Without discipline there can be no effective educational program. Everyone who works in our school shares in this responsibility. The Board of Education has recently revised its discipline code. While much of the regulation remains the same, there are significant changes, which will effect all of us. The changes addressed in the regulation include the following:

1. Principal Suspensions
2. The Principal may suspend a student from one to five days from school; there is no longer a limit to the number on Principal Suspensions.
3. Superintendent Suspensions
4. The new regulation reiterates the prohibition of involuntary transfer of students. A Principal may recommend a change of site for a student suspended to the Superintendent, however, the parent guardian or care provider, may reject that recommendation for transfer to another school.
5. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
6. Under certain circumstances, the Individuals with Education Disabilities Act provides protection for children not yet eligible for special educational services. A child who has engaged in behavior that violates any school rules or the Discipline Code, may be entitled to the protections provide for in the IDEA if school officials had knowledge that the child was a child with a disability before the behavior that precipitated the disciplinary action. In the event that the parent asserts the protection of the IDEA, the Principal must make the determination as to whether the student is entitle to such protection of the IDEA, the disciplinary action taken against the student must be carried out in accordance with the procedures governing the discipline of students with disabilities contained in the new regulation. The latter includes a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) and the development of a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP). These students may still be Suspended by the Principal or removed from the classroom setting, however, the FBA and BIP must be conducts and developed within 10 school days of such action.
7. Removal of Students from Classrooms by Teachers
8. When a student engages in behavior, which is substantially disruptive of the educational process or substantial interferes with a teacher's authority over the classroom, the student may be remove from the classroom by a teacher. However, this is limited to the behavior infractions subject to teacher removal as indicated in the Discipline Code. The procedures for Student Removal from a class by a teacher MUST adhere to the following protocol as outlined in the new regulation:
9. Prior to removing the student, the teacher MUST provide the student with an explanation of the basis for the removal and allow the student to informally present his/her version of the events. If, after this meeting, it is still felt that the student should be removed from the classroom, the teacher MUST then inform the Principal in writing by completing a Student Removal Form no later than the end of the school day.
10. Within 24 hours of submitting the Student Removal Form to the Principal, a meeting will be held with the Principal, and the teacher, on the Teacher's Preparation Period, to review the circumstances leading to the request for the removal and to review the professional, pedagogical and classroom management criteria and standards that were use in deciding that a removal is to be imposed.
11. NB: The Principal may deny the request for removal if 1) the facts presents by the teacher do not support a conclusion that the student committed an act which substantially disrupted the class or substantially interfered with the teacher's authority over the classroom, 2) the removal violates the law or 3) the behavior warrants a suspension.
12. If after the meeting with the Principal, it is determined that the removal of the student is justify, the number of days/periods will be determine by the Principal in consultation with the teacher. A student may be removed from a class from one to four days, up to a maximum of three times during a semester after which a Principals Suspension must be sought. The Principal or his designee must then notify the parent of the removal. The latter includes informal conference it must be held within two school days of removal. The conference will outline the reasons for the removal and allow the student and parent to present his/her version of the events. In addition to the Principal, or his designee, the teacher may be required to attend to present his/her version of the events and to recommend appropriate intervention strategies. Written summaries of the conference, including recommendations for follow-up action should be prepared and made available to the parent.
13.  Students who are removed from a teacher's class will be placed in one of the following:
    1. The Alternative To Suspense Room (ALS Program: Alternative Lemming Site)
    2. Deans Office
    3. Guidance Office or other site determine by the Principal.
14.  It is the responsibility of the teacher recommending removal to supply a meaningful instructional assignment, related to the subject, for the period (s) as well as appropriate follow-up to see that the behavior which precipitated the removal does not occur in the future. The latter may include additional parental contact, the development of a behavior management plan, coordinating additional support services (i.e. Guidance, Project 25, etc....), student contract, etc... . All supporting documentation related to the removal must be kept by the teacher for possible future reference. Please note that the student's academic rating for any marking period should not be affected by the removal; no student's grade may be penalized because of behavior. There are separate ratings for Academic Performance and Behavior on the Report Card.
15. If after the meeting with the Principal, it is determined that the removal of the student is not justified, the Principal shall advise the teacher of such decision. The teacher may appeal in writing to the Chancellor, or his designee. Such appeal must be made within three school days of the Principal's decision and may be filed by facsimile.