FAMILY HANDBOOK 2012-2013

586 West 177th Street, 4th Floor New York, NY 10033 Tel: (212) 991-2630 www.kippnyc.org

Dear Families, Welcome to the KIPP STAR Elementary team and family! We are so excited to begin our 2nd year, and as a team of families, students and staff, we are continuing to build the foundation for early education and character together. We commit to helping our children develop the character, academic skills and habits necessary to succeed in middle school, high school, college and the world beyond. We believe that by working together, we can provide opportunities to enable our children to grow up to have happy, healthy and successful lives. Whether our KIPPsters are in the classrooms reading A Chair for My Mother, at the zoo discovering the needs of animals to live and survive, performing at our winter show or practicing their school values, they truly embody what it is to be a KIPPster. We practice the KIPP Philosophy: Be nice and work hard. Due to the tremendous grit, love, hope, communication and support of their teachers and families, we know that our KIPPsters will do amazing things. We are excited about their infinite possibilities, and beginning the first KIPP elementary school in Washington Heights is one step towards achieving those possibilities. These are truly exciting times, and we are happy that you are part of it! We recognize that these efforts take tremendous discipline and dedication, which can only be done with the joint efforts of families, staff and our students. Since we value open communication and access to information, we have prepared a handbook regarding the schools structure, attendance, schedule, culture and academics along with other pieces of information that we think you will find helpful. Hopefully, this handbook will serve as a useful resource to answer any questions that you may have. Please keep it handy so that you may refer to it when necessary. We look forward to an exciting and positive year! Once again, welcome to another year at KIPP STAR Elementary, which is filled with the promise of greatness, enthusiasm, love and dedication. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, comments or concerns. Thank you for your faith and support, Anokhi Saraiya Principal (917)-450-8853

TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................................................... 3 WHO WE ARE ..................................................................................................................................................... 4 KIPP MISSION .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 OUR BEGINNING .................................................................................................................................................................................. 4 KIPP STAR ELEMENTARY CREDO: ............................................................................................................................................... 4 KIPP CREDO: ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 KIPP COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE...................................................................................................................................... 5 SOME OF WHAT EVERY KIPPSTER LEARNS DURING WEEK ONE ....................................................... 6 KIPP STAR ELEMENTARY STAFF INFO ....................................................................................................... 7 GENERAL INFORMATION ............................................................................................................................. 8 ENROLLMENT ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 8 WHO SHOULD I ASK? .......................................................................................................................................................................... 8 ATTENDANCE ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 9 SCHOOL UNIFORM ............................................................................................................................................................................. 10 DRESS CODE POLICY ........................................................................................................................................................................ 11 FOOD SERVICES .................................................................................................................................................................................. 12 TRANSPORTATION............................................................................................................................................................................. 12 FIELD TRIPS ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 COMMUNICATING WITH STAFF AND TEACHERS ............................................................................................................. 12 CELL PHONE POLICY........................................................................................................................................................................ 13 PERSONAL BELONGINGS ............................................................................................................................................................... 13 HEALTH AND SAFETY ................................................................................................................................... 13 IMMUNIZATIONS ................................................................................................................................................................................ 13 REPORTING A CHILDS SICKNESS .............................................................................................................................................. 13 NURSE SERVICE AND MEDICATION ........................................................................................................................................ 14 COUNSELING SERVICES .................................................................................................................................................................. 14 CALENDAR AND SCHEDULE ........................................................................................................................ 14 START/END DATES ............................................................................................................................................................................ 14 VACATIONS/HOLIDAYS .................................................................................................................................................................. 14 SCHOOL CLOSINGS (BAD WEATHER) ....................................................................................................................................... 15 SUMMER SCHOOL ............................................................................................................................................................................... 15 FAMILY SATURDAYS.......................................................................................................................................................................... 15 ACADEMICS - WORK HARD ........................................................................................................................ 18 HOMEWORK .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 PROMOTION TO THE NEXT GRADE ........................................................................................................................................ 19 CODE OF CONDUCT ....................................................................................................................................... 21 FAMILY INVOLVEMENT ................................................................................................................................ 21 WHAT ARE A FEW WAYS I CAN GET INVOLVED? .............................................................................................................. 22

WHO WE ARE
KIPP MISSION
KIPP STAR Elementarys mission is to teach our students to develop the character and academic skills necessary to succeed in high school and college, to be self-sufficient, successful and happy in the competitive world and to build a better tomorrow for themselves and us all.

OUR BEGINNING
We founded KIPP STAR Elementary last year. This is the first KIPP elementary school in Washington Heights, but we are not the only KIPP School. KIPP STAR Elementary is part of KIPP NYC which currently serves over 2,000 students and alumni at five middle schools, one high school and three elementary schools. From the beginning, KIPP has focused on developing academic and character skills. Since day one, the key to our success has been the amazing teamwork of parents, students and teachers working together.

KIPP STAR ELEMENTARY CREDO

If there is a problem, we look for a solution. If there is a better way, we try to find it. If we need help, we ask. If a teammate needs help, we give.

KIPP CREDO
At KIPP, we believe. We believe in the creation of inspired lives produced by desire, discipline, and dedication. We are not frightened by the challenges of reality but believe that we can change our world and our place within it. We work, plan, create, and dream. Our talent, character, and integrity will be the tools we need to build a better tomorrow. We believe that we can take this place, this time, and the people here and build a better place, a better time, and a better people. As a team and a family, we will either find a way or make one.
- Inspired by Providence St. Mel School Motto

KIPP COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE

School Commitment:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Timeliness We will arrive every day by 7:00 AM and remain at school until 5:15 PM. High Quality Education We will do whatever it takes to nurture and strengthen our students creativity, knowledge and character as we prepare them to excel academically, physically and socially in secondary schools, colleges and life. Support and Respect We promise to respect, appreciate and support every student. We will work together with you for the benefit of your child and all the children attending KIPP STAR Elementary School. Communication We promise to communicate regularly with parents about their childs progress and make ourselves available in person and by phone. We will return parent phone calls within 24 hours. Civility Code We promise to maintain a high level of civility in our communication with you and your child. We believe that we are on the same team, and we will conduct ourselves respectfully and professionally. Homework We will assign productive, worthwhile homework each night to reinforce and support skills and concepts learned in class. Fairness We will address the values of KIPP STAR Elementary School consistently and fairly. We promise to keep you informed of how your child is demonstrating the STAR values. When students are disciplined or suspended, or when students deserve recognition for their accomplishments, we will inform their parents promptly. Safety We will always protect the safety, interests and rights of all individuals.

8.

Failure to adhere to these commitments can lead to our removal from KIPP.
Parent/Guardian Commitment:
1. 2. Attendance We will make sure our child comes to school every day. We will schedule doctors appointments, vacations, etc. for days when school is not in session. Timeliness We will make sure our child arrives at school every day on time (between 7:15 AM and 7:40 AM). We will make sure to promptly pick up our child at the end of the school day (4:00 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 2:45 PM on Friday). Support & HomeworkWe will provide a quiet space for our child to study. We will check our childs homework every night and ensure that our child reads and/or is read to every night. We will make sure our child gets enough sleep each night (at least 8 hours). We will do whatever it takes for our child to learn and perform to his/her optimal ability. We will reinforce the STAR (Confidence, Curiosity, Character, Community and Choice) values at home. Communication We will make ourselves available to our child, the school and any concerns they might have. We will return phone calls from the school within 24 hours. If we are asked to attend a meeting regarding our childs education or behavior, we will attend. If we have any concerns, we will raise them with someone at the school. We will promptly inform the school if my address and/or phone number changes. Civility Code We promise to maintain a high level of civility in our communication with the school. We know that we are on the same team and we will conduct ourselves in a respectful and professional manner. Dress Code We will make sure our child follows the KIPP STAR Elementary School dress code every day. Summer School We will make sure our child attends every day of Summer School, which we understand will take place August 20- August 30. We will schedule our family vacations outside of this time. Family Saturdays We will attend Family Saturdays with our child once a month starting in September from 9:00 AM until 11:00 AM. If we are unable to attend, we will make sure a family member older than 18 years of age attends with our child.

3.

4.

5. 6. 7. 8.

Failure to adhere to these commitments can cause my child to lose various KIPP privileges and can lead to my child's expulsion from KIPP.
Student Commitment:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. I will Be Nice every day. I will Work Hard every day. I will do my homework every night and call my teacher if I need help. I will follow the directions of my parents and all the adults at school. I will live by our STAR values (Confidence, Curiosity, Character, Community, Choice).

Failure to adhere to these commitments can cause me to lose various KIPP privileges and can lead to my expulsion from KIPP.
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SOME OF WHAT EVERY KIPPSTER LEARNS DURING WEEK ONE

We are committed to reinforcing common standards of character and academic performance to create a sense of team and family. We believe that these ideas serve as a great foundation to be carried beyond the five years at KIPP STAR Elementary. During the first week of summer school, every KIPPster learns various songs, sayings and acronyms to reinforce our mission. We constantly refer to these throughout their time at KIPP. Please review with your child and help reinforce these standards in and out of school.

I Be Safe, Be Nice, Work Hard II - We are a TEAM AND A FAMILY III - STAR Values (Confidence, Curiosity, Character, Community, Choice) IV - Track the Speaker- This means that students will always have their eyes and focus on that person. V - PETSYs (PLEASE, EXCUSE ME, THANK YOU, SORRY, YOURE WELCOME)

NON-NEGOTIABLE EXPECTATIONS FOR KIPP STAR STUDENTS

All KIPPsters receive general non-negotiable expectations. Please reinforce these with your child.

1) Adherence to the KIPP Commitment to Excellence. 2) Adherence to the KIPP Credo. 3) KIPP shirts remain tucked in at all times. 4) Be on-task and present at all times during class. While anyone is speaking, students must track the speaker (see above).

5) KIPPsters must complete homework daily to the best of their abilities. Each family and child has the teachers phone numbers. Please reach out with any questions.

6) Students and families should be reading together every night for 20 minutes. 7) Respond appropriately to all questions. Tone, reactions and non-verbal actions matter. 8) Walk quietly and orderly while inside any building.

9) We must maintain integrity by doing the right thing without being told. KIPPsters are KIPPsters in

and out of school. Our actions once we leave the building matter just as much as they do inside of the school building.

KIPP STAR ELEMENTARY STAFF INFO

STAFF CONTACT LIST
Name Title Email Address Phone Number

School Leadership
Ms. Anokhi Saraiya Ms. Nikki Khosla Ms. Emily Carroll Ms. Leslie Billie Principal Dean of Teaching and Learning Dean of Students Director of Operations Kindergarten Teacher First Grade Teacher Kindergarten Teacher Kindergarten Teacher First Grade Teacher Kindergarten Teacher Kindergarten Teacher Kindergarten Teacher Kindergarten Teacher First Grade Teacher First Grade Teacher First Grade Teacher First Grade Teacher First Grade Teacher Kindergarten Teacher First Grade Teacher ELL Teacher Office Manager Visual Arts Teacher Theater & Movement Teacher Speech Teacher Social Worker asaraiya@kippnyc.org nkhosla@kippnyc.org ecarroll@kippamp.org lbillie@kippnyc.org sarcaya@kippnyc.org mbarrera@kippnyc.org abliss@kippnyc.org abryant@kippnyc.org adiaz@kippnyc.org cfelice@kippnyc.org rkurtz@kippnyc.org klebron@kippnyc.org rmcmurdie@kippnyc.org pmenchaca@kippnyc.org aorvell@kippnyc.org jrosenwald@kippnyc.org msadjatumwadee@kippnyc.org ptaoufik@kippnyc.org mtucci@kippnyc.org kwesterheim@kippnyc.org edixon@kippnyc.org ejimenez@kippnyc.org lgubareff@kippnyc.org gpizzolorusso@kippnyc.org ereynaldos@kippnyc.org kwilliams@kippnyc.org 917-450-8853 917-208-8005 917-749-4708 646-831-0132 917-322-1833 917-312-1762 917-322-1834 480-980-9633 646-730-5011 917-208-9272 845-642-8458 617-639-7866 917-322-1820 562-537-6807 215-313-9227 917-324-1189 562-301-5397 510-224-8348 518-727-4751 917-322-1828 734-417-0948 917-263-1541 914-649-1432 917-322-1807 646-532-9249 917-263-1657

Classroom Teachers
Ms. Sara Arcaya Ms. Monica Barrera Ms. Amy Bliss Mr. Adam Bryant Ms. Ana Diaz Ms. Cera Felice Ms. Rachel Kurtz Ms. Katherine Lebron Ms. Becca McMurdie Mr. Philip Menchaca Ms. Ariana Orvell Ms. Jocelyn Rosenwald Ms. Meena Sadjatumwadee Ms. Priscilla Taoufik Ms. Maya Tucci Ms. Kathryn Westerheim Ms. Emily Dixon Ms. Liz Jimenez Ms. Leigh Merin Ms. Gina Pizzolorusso Ms. Elizabeth Reynaldos Ms. Kia-Fiara Williams

Out of Classroom Faculty Members

GENERAL INFORMATION
ENROLLMENT
Every year, beginning in the first week of January, KIPP STAR Elementary will begin accepting applications for our kindergarten and first graders for the following year (although very few students are admitted after Kindergarten). In accordance with our state law, admissions preference will be granted to siblings as first priority and students living in District 6 as a 2nd priority. The lottery will be held the first week of April.

DOCUMENTS NEEDED BY THE SCHOOL

Upon enrolling at KIPP STAR Elementary, the following documents must be submitted for each student to Ms. Jimenez, Office Manager:

New Student Enrollment Form Commitment to Excellence Copy of Birth Certificate Proof of Address (Copy of a Phone Bill, Electric Bill, Lease or Gas Bill) Free and Reduced Price Lunch Form Immunization Records/Health Records Home Language Survey / PSE Form IEP (Individualized Educational Plan)/504 Accommodations (if applicable)
WHO SHOULD I ASK?
At times, you may have questions about KIPP STAR Elementary. Below is a quick list of common topics and to whom you should direct your questions.
TOPIC Lunch Forms, Emergency Forms, Medical Forms Lost Metro Card Ordering KIPP Uniform T-shirt I have concerns about my childs social adjustment My child has an IEP Accommodation STAFF MEMBER Ms. Jimenez (Office Manager) Ms. Jimenez (Office Manager) Ms. Jimenez (Office Manager) Ms. Williams (Social Worker) Ms. Khosla (Dean of Teaching and Learning) or your childs teachers My child will be absent or late I have questions about my childs academic progress I have questions about school activities (permissions slips, etc.) I have overall concerns Ms. Jimenez (Office Manager) Your childs teachers Your childs teachers Ms. Saraiya (Principal) or Ms. Billie (Director of Operations) 8

ATTENDANCE
Attendance is the first step in promoting academic achievement. Families are expected to ensure that their child is in school. Please do not allow your child to miss a day of school except for serious illnesses. If your child is going to miss school because of an illness, please call Ms. Jimenez (Office Manager) as soon as possible. All absences should be followed up the next day with a note signed by a parent, guardian or doctor. If your child is absent, Ms. Jimenez will follow up with a phone call.

All Absences Excused and Unexcused are Considered Absences: Any day your

child does not attend school is considered an absence. Student illness (with doctors note), a death in the family, religious holiday (with parent/guardian/guardians notes) are all considered absences at KIPP STAR. While we do request a call or note from a parent, guardian or doctor explaining the absence, the student is still considered (and marked) absent from school.

Never Miss School for Appointments: Parents/guardians/families are responsible for

scheduling medical appointments outside of school time. The best times are Friday afternoons (after 2:45 PM) or days when school is not in session. In the rare case when a student has a medical appointment during school, they should not be absent for the entire school day.

Suspensions are Considered Absences: If students are absent from school due to suspension,
these days will be treated the same as absences.

Early Dismissal: Students are expected to stay in school until the very end of the day (4:00 PM
for regular Monday-Thursday dismissal; 2:45 PM on Fridays). Early pickups are disruptive to the learning environment.

How the School Will Keep Track of and Follow Up on Student Absences: The School will

keep records of all student absences. If a student misses school, KIPP STAR staff will make reasonable efforts to contact the students parent/guardian by telephone, writing or in person. Staff will explain the schools strict attendance policy and request the parent/guardians strong support in enforcing this policy.

ATTENDANCE CONSEQUENCES FOR ABSENCES

All absences and tardies are noted on report cards. Students are responsible for all missed assignments, and parents must arrange a way to complete all missed assignments and homework. Since missing class affects academic achievement, repeated absences may be reflected in the students grades. If a student is repeatedly absent, Ms. Saraiya (Principal), teacher(s), student and parent/guardian will meet to address the issue. In addition, students who have 10 or more unexcused absences run the risk of missing field trips and celebrations, as well as not being promoted to the next grade.

ATTENDANCE - TARDINESS
Getting to school on time is key to your childs success at school and in life. Our doors open at 7:15 AM each morning. Students must arrive between 7:15 AM and 7:40 AM. Students arriving after 7:40 AM are marked tardy. Every three tardies will be recorded as an absence.

ARRIVAL AND DISMISSAL POLICY

Arrival: Students and families must remain outside the building until 7:15 AM. Students must arrive between 7:15 AM to 7:40 AM. All students will enter the school through the designated KIPP STAR Elementary entrance on West 177th Street. Students arriving after 7:40 AM are considered tardy and must use the Main Entrance to enter the building and then be escorted by their family to the Main Office on the 4th Floor. Dismissal: On Monday through Thursday, families are responsible for picking up students promptly at 4:00 PM. On Fridays, the school day ends at 2:45 PM. All students will be dismissed through the designated KIPP STAR Elementary entrance on West 177th Street. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to ensure a timely pick up of his/her child from school. Late pick-ups are not acceptable. Ms. Billie (Director of Operations) will contact the families of those students who are picked up late. No student will be allowed to leave the school without an adult escort authorized to regularly pick them up (based on authorized pick-up names listed on registration form).

SCHOOL UNIFORM
All students must come to school wearing their KIPP STAR Elementary uniform t-shirt, khaki pants or khaki skirt and sneakers. KIPP uniform t-shirts will be available for purchase at Report Card Conferences. If you need additional uniform t-shirts, you may also purchase them directly from the uniform vendor Ideal Uniforms at their store location (1450 Metropolitan Avenue, Bronx, NY 10462) or call the store at (718)-430-6751 to have them shipped directly to you. Please see Ms. Jimenez (Office Manager) if you have any questions. If a student arrives to school out of uniform, parents/guardians will be called and asked to bring in a uniform before the student is sent to class. We have a required school uniform for several very important reasons:

Uniforms unite us as a community. When you look at a group of students in the KIPP STAR uniform t-shirt, it is a powerful visual statement of our community. Students make a commitment that when they put on the KIPP STAR uniform t-shirt, they are agreeing to live up to the schools high expectations. Uniforms reduce distractions and clothing competition. Often students spend more time discussing and evaluating what others are wearing or not wearing than they spend focusing on learning. Wearing uniforms eliminates this distraction. Uniforms make us all equal. We all have the same mission. We are all going to college. We all come to school looking the same way. Uniforms look professional. School is our students job and so it is important that they are dressed for work.

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DRESS CODE POLICY

Monday-Thursday: KIPP STAR Elementary uniform t-shirt, khaki pants/skirt and sneakers. Fridays: COLLEGE shirts may be worn in place of uniform t-shirts.

1. Students are to wear a KIPP uniform t-shirt every day. Their KIPP t-shirts must be fully visible at all times within the building. Long sleeve shirts may be worn underneath KIPP t-shirts. There will be KIPP long-sleeve shirts available for colder weather. 2. All KIPP shirts are to be tucked in and worn appropriately. 3. All pants must fit around the waist. Belts are optional in kindergarten, 1st grade, and if worn, should be of appropriate size and nature (i.e. no large-faced images or symbols which may pose as a distraction). 4. Students may not wear jeans to school, except on special occasions (determined by school staff). 5. Students may not wear jogging pants, sweat pants or shorts. 6. Students may not wear sleeveless or cut -off shirts, blouses or dresses. 7. Students may not wear inappropriately tight clothing. 8. Girls may not wear skirts that are inappropriately short (more than 3 inches above the center of their knee) or that have inappropriately long slits (above their knees). Girls are encouraged to wear shorts or tights under their skirts as the students sit on the carpet a lot. 9. Students may not wear hats, caps, do-rags or other head coverings in the school (except in the case of religious observance). 10. For safety reasons, the following jewelry will not be permitted at KIPP STAR Elementary: necklaces outside of shirt, chains, chokers, multiple finger rings and dangle earrings. Earrings should not hang from the earlobe (studs are permitted). One necklace may be worn but must remain tucked in at all times. Students are NOT permitted to wear bracelets and rings. 11. Students may not wear makeup, contacts and hair with color or multiple colors. (Students may use lip balm, such as Vaseline, Chapstick, etc. to moisturize lips. As with any items, these may be taken away for inappropriate and excessive use). 12. Students must wear sneakers to school each day. Sneakers should not have wheels or lights as they are distracting and unsafe. Students cannot wear shoes that show their toes or heels. We recommend velcro shoes for students who have not yet learned to tie shoelaces. In addition to the above uniform regulations, the following rules apply: a) Expensive jewelry or large sums of money should not be brought to school. If it is necessary for students to carry more than $20, the money should be given to a teacher for safekeeping. b) The following items may not be brought to school: beepers, cellular phones, iPods, Discmans, or radios of any kind and electronic toys (PSPs, Gameboys, etc). c) Candy and soda are not allowed at school.
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FOOD SERVICES
Breakfast, lunch and snack will be available at KIPP STAR. All families will need to complete a form that enables the school to participate in the free or reduced-price meal program. Please inform the school if your child has any food allergies. Families may send only lunch to school; however, students will not have access to a refrigerator or microwave. If you are sending lunch to school with your child, we ask that you send in nutritious foods. Please do not let your child bring unhealthy drinks (e.g., colas or juices heavy in sugar) or unhealthy foods (chips, brownies, cookies) to school. Any unhealthy foods or drinks will be taken from students, as they will not be allowed to eat/drink them in school. Candy, gum, and soda are not allowed to be eaten at school. If you choose to send lunch, the entire lunch must be in one bag or container that has the students name on it.

TRANSPORTATION
Students living more than mile in distance from the school but less than 1 mile may receive a Reduced-Fare Metro Card for public transportation. Students living greater than 1 mile from the school may receive a Full-Fare Metro Card for public transportation. It is each familys responsibility to hold onto the Metro Card. Parents are expected to pick up or make special arrangements for students remaining after school for detention, tutoring or special activities. Parents must provide contact information for any person authorized to pick up their child. If the person picking up the child is not the parent/legal guardian of the child, they must (a) be given explicit written permission to pick up the child and (b) be 18 years or older. Please speak to Ms. Billie (Director of Operations) if there are any concerns.

FIELD LESSONS
Our students and families look forward to various opportunities, especially our field lessons. Each year, KIPP teachers plan field trip(s) that complement the curriculum, including travels to the local museums and parks, the Statue of Liberty, Columbia University basketball games, ice skating, the Bronx Zoo amongst other New York City sites. Students earn these lessons based on their behavior, attendance and academic performance. In addition, the school reserves the right to remove a student from a lesson or prohibit them from going for any reason that jeopardizes the physical or emotional well-being of themselves or others. Attendance and tardiness may also impact field lesson participation.

COMMUNICATING WITH STAFF AND TEACHERS

Part of the success of KIPP STAR Elementary is the open communication between parents, students and teachers. In an effort to facilitate this, we give parents telephone numbers of KIPP STAR Elementary staff. Students and parents should feel free to call staff members for any reason. Staff members are available by phone until 9pm each night. This is also a good chance to get help, if necessary, with homework. If you or your child is trying to call a teacher but they dont answer, please leave a message explaining the reason for the call, your full name and telephone number and allow time to return your call. All teachers will return your call within twenty-four hours. In addition, in the event of an emergency, please call Ms. Saraiya (Principal).

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CELL PHONE POLICY

Please be advised that cell phones are not permitted at school for any reason. If a child brings a cell phone to school, it will be confiscated and returned only to a parent or guardian. If you need a message relayed to your child, please call the school directly or a staff member.

PERSONAL BELONGINGS

Students should ensure that any personal belongings they bring with them to school are appropriate and do not pose any type of physical or emotional risk to themselves or others. In addition, students are not permitted to bring soda, gum, candy or toys of any kind to school without prior permission. All toys, cards, games and electronics not specifically authorized by the school will be confiscated and returned only to parents and guardians. Finally, please note that the school is not responsible for any personal belongings brought to school.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

IMMUNIZATIONS
New York State law requires that all children entering elementary school be immunized. In accordance with the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, students entering kindergarten must have the following vaccinations: 4 DTaP or DTP (Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis) 3 OPV or IPV (Polio) 2 MMR (Measles, Mumps, & Rubella) - 3 Hepatitis B - 1 Varicella (Chicken Pox)

Before a child can be permitted to enter and attend school (subject to the 14-day initial waiver requirement), parents or guardians must present documentation that their child has received all required doses of vaccines or that their child has received at least one dose of each of the required vaccines and is waiting to receive the subsequent doses at the appropriate time intervals. KIPP STAR must receive a certificate of immunization no later than September 16, 2011. These requirements can be waived only if a properly signed health or religious exemption is filed with the school.

REPORTING A CHILDS SICKNESS

If your child is going to miss school because of illness, please call the school as soon as possible. All student absences should be followed up the next day with a note signed by a parent, guardian or doctor. KIPP staff will call to verify all student absences. Please let Ms. Billie (Director of Operations) or Ms. Saraiya (Principal) know if there are any medical concerns or special circumstances about which we should be aware. If a child becomes ill or injured during the school day and is not well enough to stay in class, the parent/guardian will be called to pick the child up. It is necessary to have updated emergency contact numbers on file in the school office in case no one can be contacted at home. If the person picking up child is not the parent/legal guardian of the child, they must be (a) given explicit written permission to pick up the child and (b) be 18 years or older.

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NURSE SERVICE AND MEDICATION

If your child requires medication during school hours, the school nurse will assist by administering medication. However, medication may not be given without the completion of the Administration of Medication form, which must be completed by a healthcare provider. Families can get a copy of this form by calling or stopping by the school. This policy and the requirement to have a form on file applies to all medicine, including aspirin, Tylenol and other over-the-counter medicines. Medicine needs to be in its original packaging/case. Staff at the school are NOT authorized to administer medication. Students with asthma should bring an inhaler prescribed by their doctor to school each day. Asthmatic students should notify a KIPP staff member as soon as breathing becomes difficult. If there are any concerns about medicine, allergies and overall health, please let Ms. Billie (Director of Operations) or Ms. Saraiya (Principal) know.

COUNSELING SERVICES
The counseling services at KIPP STAR Elementary are available to help any student or parent address any social, emotional or academic issue they may be facing. In addition, Ms. Williams (our social worker) helps students work through and cope with personal and school related stress. At KIPP, every student is entitled to counseling support and referral services. Counseling support is also extended to KIPP families in need. There are several ways in which students may be referred for counseling services: If a parent is interested in having their child seen by our social worker, please contact Ms. Saraiya (Principal). Students are able to ask directly to speak with the social worker on staff. A student may also be referred at the recommendation of a teacher, social worker or principal. Please understand that we are required to respect the rights and privacy of our students and families and as a result all information and counseling services are confidential and cannot be shared (except in instances required by law).

CALENDAR AND SCHEDULE

START/END DATES
Summer School will begin for Kindergarten students on August 20th at 8:00 AM and end on August 31st at 1:30 PM. Summer School will being for 1st Graders on August 23rd at 8:00 AM and end on August 30th at 1:30PM. This year, school will resume for ALL students on Tuesday, September 4Th, 2012 at 7:15 AM. The last day for students will be Friday, June 26th, 2012 at 2:45 PM.

VACATIONS/HOLIDAYS
With a few exceptions, KIPP STAR Elementary will follow the same holiday schedule as the New York City Department of Education (see calendar for full details).

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SCHOOL CLOSINGS (BAD WEATHER)

If the NYC public schools close due to bad weather, KIPP STAR Elementary is closed. Listen to the radio (e.g. 1010 WINS news) or television for the announcement of closings/delays for NYC Public Schools. Or, check the Department of Education website (http://schools.nyc.gov). Once the school day has started, school will not be cancelled early due to weather conditions. Parents may pick their children up early in the case of serious weather conditions.

SUMMER SCHOOL
Summer school is the start of the school year. Summer school is a critical time to get a head start on the coming school year and as a result, all students at KIPP STAR Elementary must attend school during the summer. Summer school will be held from August 20 - August 30, 2012 from 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM for Kindergarten, and August 23 August 20, 2012 from 8:00Am to 1:30PM for 1st Grade. During Summer School, students must arrive between 7:45 AM to 8:00 AM, and students must be picked up promptly at 1:30 PM. All students will arrive and be dismissed from the school through the designated KIPP STAR Elementary entrance on West 177th Street. Please note that unexcused absences in the summer may result in a child being unable to attend one of the schools annual fall field lessons.

FAMILY SATURDAYS
On appropriate Saturdays, all KIPP STAR Elementary students are expected to attend Family Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. with a parent/guardian or a sibling over the age of 18. Students do not need to wear school uniforms on Saturdays. During this time, families and students will participate in a workshop and then classes of their choosing. Families who cannot attend a Family Saturday must notify Ms. Saraiya (Principal) in advance.

SCHOOL SCHEDULE

Starting September 4th, all students will start school at 7:45 AM and will remain until classes are dismissed at 4:00 PM on Monday through Thursday, 2:45 PM on Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. If you want your child to eat breakfast, you must arrive by 7:30AM.

SAMPLE OF A KIPPSTERS DAILY SCHEDULE

7:15-7:40 AM 7:15-7:45 AM 7:50-8:00 AM 8:00-8:45 AM 8:45-10:15 AM 10:15-11:00 AM 11:00-12:00 PM 12:00-12:30 PM 12:30-1:00 PM 1:00-2:00 PM Arrival Breakfast STAR Morning Program (every other day) Classroom Morning Meeting Literacy Instruction (Reading, Writing, Phonics, Literacy Workstations) Theater and Movement/Fit4Life Math and Math Workstations Recess Lunch Nap (K)/Curiosity Block (1st)
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2:00-3:00 PM 3:00-3:40 PM 3:40-4:00 PM

Expeditions (Social Studies and Science) Free Choice Centers/Art Closing Circle and Dismissal

KIPP STAR ELEMENTARY CALENDAR 2012-2013

AUGUST Kindergarten Monday, August 20 Thursday, August 30 1st Grade Thursday, August 23 Thursday August 30 Friday, August 31 SEPTEMBER Monday, September 3 Tuesday, September 4 Saturday, September 8 Monday, September 17 Tuesday, September 18 Wednesday, September 26 OCTOBER Monday, October 8 Friday, October 12 Saturday, October 13 Friday, October 19 NOVEMBER Friday, November 2 Tuesday, November 6 Friday, November 12 Saturday, November 10 Thursday, November 15 1st Quarter Ends Election Day (SCHOOL IS IN SESSION) Veterans Day (SCHOOL IS IN SESSION)) 1st Grade Family Saturday Report Card Conferences (HALF DAY)
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Summer School (8:00am-1:30pm)

Summer School (8:00am-1:30pm) SCHOOL CLOSED

Labor Day (SCHOOL CLOSED) 1st Day of School ALL Grades Family Saturday Open House Rosh Hashannah (SCHOOL CLOSED) Yom Kippur (SCHOOL CLOSED)

Columbus Day (SCHOOL CLOSED) Progress Reports Distributed Kindergarten Family Saturday SCHOOL CLOSED (KIPP Staff Development)

Monday, November 16 Friday, November 23 Tuesday, November 26 DECEMBER

THANKSGIVING RECESS (SCHOOL CLOSED) School Resumes

Saturday, December 8 ALL GRADES Family Saturday: Winter Performance Friday, December 14 Staff Development Day (NO SCHOOL) Wednesday, December 19 Progress Reports Distributed Friday, December 21 Wednesday, January 2 WINTER RECESS (SCHOOL CLOSED)

JANUARY Thursday, January 3 Saturday, January 5 Friday, January 18 Friday, January 18 Monday, January 21 Thursday, January 31 FEBRUARY Friday, February 15 Friday, February 22 Monday, February 25 MID-WINTER BREAK (SCHOOL CLOSED) School Resumes School Resumes Kindergarten Family Saturday Staff Development Day (NO SCHOOL) Quarter Ends MLK Day (SCHOOL CLOSED) Report Card Conferences (HALF DAY)

MARCH Friday, March 8 Saturday, March 9 Friday, March 15 Monday, March 25 Tuesday, April 2 APRIL Wednesday, April 3 Friday, April 5 Friday, April 12 Wednesday, April 17 Saturday, April 20 School Resumes Quarter Ends Staff Development Day (NO SCHOOL) Report Card Conferences (HALF DAY) New Students Kindergarten Registration Progress Reports Distributed 1st Grade Family Saturday Staff Development Day (NO SCHOOL) Spring Break (NO SCHOOL)

MAY Saturday, May 11 ALL Grades Family Saturday KSES Spring Performance
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Friday, May 24 Monday, May 27 JUNE Thursday, June 6 Saturday, June 15 Friday, June 22

Staff Development Day (NO SCHOOL) Memorial Day (SCHOOL CLOSED)

DOE Schools Closed (SCHOOL IS IN SESSION) ALL Grades: Family Saturday, KSES Year End Celebration Last Day of School

***If there are any changes to the calendar, the school will send a notice prior to the change.***

ACADEMICS - WORK HARD

HOMEWORK
A key part of the academic program of KIPP STAR Elementary is the homework that every KIPPster will receive every night. Homework must be completed the night before it is due. Students will not be allowed to complete homework during breakfast unless given explicit permission by their teacher. No student is excused from any assignment without the permission of his or her teacher prior to the due date. If a student discovers that s/he will be unable to complete an assignment, s/he must contact the teacher by phone no later than the night before it is due. If the student is unable to contact their teacher for some reason, they must bring a written note from their parents/guardians. KEY HOMEWORK POINTS There are many points we review with students. Below are constant messages we send to our KIPPsters as we reinforce the importance of homework. Please review with your child and continue to reinforce accurate, thorough and timely completion of homework. As always, students and parents can call teachers with homework questions. Because we are committed to our mission of preparing our students for middle school, high school, college and the world beyond, we strongly emphasize the accurate and thorough completion of homework. Homework helps students develop grit, self-control, desire, discipline and dedication all of which are important tools for success. Each night, students will come home with their homework folder. There is a section that says Stays at Home. This is graded work for you to see or important notices that the school is sending home. You will see another section of the folder, which says Return to School. This is the homework that needs to be completed that night and sent back to the school in this folder. Our children are still developing their homework and work skills; they will need your support at home. At times, many of the assignments will require you to complete them with your child. Please reach out to the teacher if you need more clarification. Homework completion and effort is logged into PowerSchool, which is used to determine grades in each class. A. MAKE-UP WORK ON DAYS STUDENT IS ABSENT
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Students who are absent are expected to make up the class work and homework when they return to school. All missed, incomplete or incorrect work must be completed. It is the student and parents responsibility to check with each of his/her teachers to make sure s/he is aware of all assignments. The time generally allowed to complete this work will be the number of days the student was absent. For example, if a student was absent for one day, then s/he will have one day to make up any missed work. Late, incomplete or missing assignments (for unexcused reasons other than absences) must be made up by the next day. B. PARENT SIGNATURE ON TESTS Parents must sign all tests and graded assignments, which includes daily reflections. Daily reflections come home with the student every day and should be signed and sent back to the school. This will help us to communicate how your child is doing in working hard and being nice. CHEATING/PLAGIARISM Cheating is a serious offense. If a student copies another students work or if a student gives another student his/her work, it is considered cheating (Academic Dishonesty), and the student will receive a serious consequence for this behavior.

Plagiarism involves the stealing of someone elses ideas or words as ones own or the imitation
of the language, ideas and thoughts of another author (or person) and then passing them off as the students own original work. If a student plagiarized and forges a signature, this is also considered Academic Dishonesty. Students will receive a serious consequence.

PROMOTION TO THE NEXT GRADE

The philosophy of KIPP STAR Elementary School on grading, promotion and retention is based on the recognition that each child is an individual. Therefore, when considering promotion or retention, attention must be given to all aspects of the students development in order to accommodate individual needs and to promote the full development of the learners potential. Grading Policy Purpose of grading To communicate the achievements of students to parents and others; Give information that students can use for self-evaluation; Celebrate the areas of strength and identify the areas of focus for each student Provide incentives for students to learn and grow; And evaluate program effectiveness. The following are components used to assign a grade: Teacher-made assessments in all subject areas Homework, projects, book reports Reading logs Fountas and Pinnell Reading Assessments and MAP assessment STEP Portfolios
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Classwork Informal and formal observations Participation Effort

Promotion/Retention Policy Purpose of promotion/retention To make sure that the student needs are met at the appropriate level and in the best way possible To ensure that students are fully prepared to succeed in the next grade. The following are components that are considered for promotion and retention: Attendance Academic level/mastery of standards Progress made to date Social factors ***We reserve the right to retain students at all grades, including Kindergarten.*** *** If a child is under consideration for retention we will use Lights Retention Scale created by Dr. H Wayne Light to weigh the benefits or consequences of retaining that individual child.***

BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT
Building Character: Behavior Management At KIPP STAR Elementary School, we believe that for our students to be successful in school and beyond we must work as a community to support their growth in both academics and character. In order for teachers and parents to support our students as they grow and learn, we have created 5 core beliefs that guide our work as a school. As parents we hope that you will become familiar with these 5 core beliefs and help us to support and reinforce them inside the school and at home. These 5 Core Beliefs are the foundation of how we work to support our students at school as they grow into the well rounded young people that we hope they will become: Core Beliefs: Core Belief #1: We believe that each of us is a work in progress and that our students are also works in progress. Every day is a chance for all of us to grow! Core Belief #2: We will always treat our students with love and respect. Core Belief #3: We believe that all of our students are capable of achieving in academics and character. Core Belief #4: We will hold high expectations at all times, in all situations, with all of our students. Core Belief #5: We believe that when our students misbehave, it is because they are in need of additional support or development and it is our job as teachers and parents to support them in developing strategies to make better choices.

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We expect that every member of our school community will Be Safe, Be Nice, and Work Hard wherever they are in our school. These expectations, along with our school values and core beliefs, guide how we will deal with situations when students make poor choices. As mentioned in the KIPP STAR Commitment to Excellence form we expect every member of our school community (parents, teachers, and students) to adhere to this expectation and make the best possible choices every day. It is our job as a school community to support students to grow and develop strong character skills. If a student is struggling to make good choices in a way that aligns with the three school expectations, the following are some examples of logical consequences that might be assigned by teachers and school staff. The school team will assign these consequences based upon student actions and needs of the situation. Possible Logical Consequences: Thinking chair (short time out) Silent Table time Sitting out of recess and/or choice time Separate desk from classmates Loss of Field Lessons Loss of other classroom privileges Our goal is not to punish our students for their behavior, but to reinforce the idea that poor choices have consequences that we should work to avoid. As a school community we will work just as hard to reinforce the idea that good choice have positive outcomes, through praise, incentives, and individual or group recognition. If your child receives a consequence for making a poor choice in school we ask that you speak with your child and help him/her to think through better choices the next time they are in a similar situation. Through our shared effort we can help our students to independently make the choice that will lead to greater future success. In the event your child demonstrates more extreme behaviors (for example: hitting, bad language, inappropriate touching) or for students who repeatedly make poor choices that conflict with the school expectations we will contact you to schedule a meeting to discuss next steps to support your child in school. Even in the most extreme situations our goal as a school is to provide the appropriate consequence for the demonstrated behavior and help your child to make a better choice in the future. If behavior becomes violent and unsafe for the student, their classmates, and/or staff, suspension and expulsion from KIPP STAR Elementary School are possible. At every step of the way, we are committed to working with students and families to ensure that all students grow and develop both their academics and character.

FAMILY INVOLVEMENT
As already mentioned, one of the keys to the success of KIPP STAR Elementary is the strong working relationship between parents, teachers, and children. The key to this relationship is constant communication. It is for this reason that all KIPP STAR teachers give out their phone numbers and it is also the reason that we have an open door policy. In addition to phone
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conversations, school visits and home visits by staff, KIPP STAR Elementary also has quarterly conferences between parents, teachers and children. All KIPP families are welcome to visit the school. We welcome parents/guardians/families as partners in the education of our students. Parents/guardians who would like to visit should simply call in advance to schedule a class-visit appointment. Upon arriving, all visitors must sign in with the Office Manager. For the sake of student safety, we cannot have anyone unannounced in the building. If a visitor is coming to school to drop something off for a student or to leave a message, we ask that the visitor leave the item or message with Ms. Jimenez (Office Manager).

WHAT ARE A FEW WAYS I CAN GET INVOLVED?

Join the KIPP Family Association (KFA)COMING SOON! Attend coffee and conversations and attend advocacy events. Stay tuned for more information! Below are a few additional ways to get involved in our work:

Chaperone and participate in our community service activities Get involved in parent-literacy activities with your child Join our potluck dinners, concerts and other events Attend student in-class performances (poetry caf, in class speeches and presentations, cultural celebrations and others depending on specific classes) Attend quarterly awards ceremony Chaperone school trips Attend parent-meetings Stop by the school to sit in on classes (no amount of time is too short ) Invite us to your homes for home visits Sit in on panels Inform us of community events or activities we should be participating in Help with Picture Day Carpool with other families Attend parent-teacher conferences Volunteer with enrichment classes and Family Saturday classes Help teachers make copies and laminate class materials Help translate documents

If there are additional volunteer opportunities that you are interested in, please feel free to contact Ms. Billie (Director of Operations) or Ms. Saraiya (Principal) directly.

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