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Parent's Handbook
Table of Contents
Transportation
Children are to follow safety and behavioral guidelines, or they may be denied transportation. Buses are supplied by the Monticello School System and are subject to state rules.
Routine appointments should be scheduled outside of school hours. If it is absolutely necessary to
take a child home before the end of a school day, the following procedure is to be used:
1. Go to the school office and obtain the dismissal slip from the secretary.
2. Go to the classroom and give the dismissal slip to the teacher. Do not go to the classroom before
visiting the office, and do not instruct your child to wait in the office or near an exit.
In the event of hazardous weather conditions that may arise while school is in session, it may be
necessary to dismiss school early. Again, if the weather seems to be getting worse as the day
progresses, listen to the radio stations (WSUL, WVOS, WELV) for early dismissal. At such times
it is essential that your child know where to go in case there is no one home.
The following discipline code applies to the behavior of all students while they are on school grounds
and/or participating in school-sponsored activities.
Each student is responsible for his/her own behavior. This code of behavior is necessary to ensure the
personal safety and respect for the rights and property of others. Students who fail to meet these
standards and violate school rules may be subject to the appropriate disciplinary action.
Disciplinary action will be taken when a student behaves in a manner which is, but not limited to:
1. Disorderly:
3. Acedemic misconduct, that is:
4. In violation of Board of Education rules and regulations for the maintenance of public order and school
property, including but not limited to:
Most behaviors which have a negative impact on the school's successful operation can be managed by the
classroom teacher. However, more serious or recurring infractions will result in referral to an administrator.
Disciplinary action will be firm, fair and consistent in order to effectively modify behavior. Appropriate action
will be taken according to the seriousness of the offense and previous action taken. Actions will reflect
student needs as well as the school's needs to ensure a safe, orderly learning environment for all.
A variety of discipline management techniques will be administered to students who choose to violate the
school's Code of Conduct. In general, discipline penalties increase according to the severity or persistence
of misconduct.
Since our Torah dictates that we show respect and veneration for parents, teachers, as well as all human
beings, chutzpa towards teachers and school employees will be considered a most severe infraction of
our Code of Conduct. Physical fighting is another infraction that will be dealt with very seriously.
The range of consequences which may be imposed for violations of the student disciplinary code
includes the following:
Any disciplinary action both good and bad will be recorded in the student files and will follow the student
along with acedemic and medical records.
Boys: dress shirt or polo shirt with collar, neat slacks (not short or frayed edged pants). Shirts should
be tucked neatly into slacks. Boys must wear Kipot (yarmulka) at all times. We encourage our boys to
wear Tzitis. (This fringed garment with four corners serves to remind Jewish males to fulfill the Torah commandements.)
Girls: dresses or blouses and skirts. No overly wide collars or overly wide half sleeves. Dresses or skirts
should cover the knee. Mini skirts or makeup are improper and unacceptable in the Hebrew Day School.
Please Note: parents are requested to dress respectively, abide by Halachic Standards, whenever entering the school building.
At assemblies, children will be asked to wear a neat white dress shirt with navy blue skirt (girl) or
slacks (boys). This dress code adds importance to the assembly and creates a festive atmosphere.
Arrival
Parents driving children to school should leave them off at the front of the building and pull away immediately.
If, for any reason, you must stop at the school (even for a moment), please DO NOT PARK IN THE DRIVEWAY.
Parking in front of the building delays other parents and school buses. It could also create a fire hazard. Children
should not arrive before 8:10. There are no teachers on duty prior to this time, and for safety reasons, children
should not be left unsupervised.
Departure
All parents coming to pick up a child should park at the sides of the building and walk to the building.
The area in front of the building is a fire and bus lane only. When it is necessary to pick up a child before
normal dismissal time, parents must go to the office - not to the classroom. The child will be sent to the office.
To expedite this process, please call in advance.
School Telephone
The school telephone is reserved for school business. Children are not permitted to make calls except for
emergencies. Please bear in mind the difficulty of delivering messages to students at the end of the day.
Parents are asked to make all arrangements before children leave for school to avoid interruptions during
class time. When messages must be relayed, please call before noon.
Attendance
Attendance at the Hebrew Day School is a privilege. Therefore, it is expected that all students will arrive on time.
Tardy students develop poor habits. They may also disrupt the class and miss part of the lesson. The school
day begins at 8:30 AM. Students arriving later than 8:40 require a late pass before being admitted to class.
For safety reasons, children should not arrive before 8:10.
Dismissal
Dismissal is normally at 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. Early Friday dismissal will be at 1:00 PM.
Teachers on duty supervise the boarding of buses and cars. Teachers will remain on duty for 15 minutes
following dismissal. Any pick up later than that will require someone to remain to suprevise your child.
Please be considerate of those teachers by arriving promptly at the end of the day to pick up your child.
Early Dismissal
Children should not leave school before regular dismissal time. We urge you to cooperate by arranging
all appointments for after school hours. No child will be dismissed from school unless there is a written
request from the parents.
Cancellation, Delayed Arrival, and Emergency Dismissal
The Hebrew Day School is dependent on the local schools for its transportation. We are guided
by their decisions relating to school openings. Whenever the weather looks nasty, listen to the
local radio stations (WSUL, WVOS, WELV) regarding school delays, school closings, or emergency
early dismissal. If both Monticello and Fallsburg closes, we automatically close. Delays vary with each
circumstance. Please, listen to the local radio stations regarding delays. If both schools are open, but
one of them is starting late, we will start on time. (Ellenville residents please note: If there is a two hour
delay, there will be no bus service.)
Food
All food sent with you child for lunch or snack MUST BE KOSHER, and so identified on the label.
Also, food may not be meat or meat by-products. Children are not permitted to exchange lunches or snacks.
Birthday Celebrations
Birthday parties are allowed in Nursey through second grade only. Parents should make arrangements
with the teacher at least one week in advance. Please remember the school ruling that no food prepared
in private homes may be served. All food items to be served at a birthday party must be cleared first by
the Principal. If necessary, the office will provide a list of acceptable baked products.
Home Parties
The Hebrew Day School has a student body whose families do not follow identical standards of religious
observance. Our school, however, does maintain fixed standards of observance as far as Kashruth
and Shabbat are concerned. Therefore, we ask that in planning parties involving other students, every
effort be made to conform to these standards. Additionally, no invitations are to be distributed in the
classroom unless the entire class is invited.
Student Behavior
It is expected that all students in our school will conduct themselves properly at all times. The following
are considered unacceptable behavior: rudeness or disrespect, fighting, use of profanities, or willful
destructions or defacing of school property.
Fighting or behaving violently
Threatening another with bodily harm
Bullying and/or harassing others
Rough play
Emotional or mental abuse
Interfering with instruction
Running
Running in the hallways
Cursing
Buying, trading, swapping or selling with intent to hurt another student
Stealing
2. Insubordinate, that is:
Failing to comply with the reasonable request of teachers, school administrators or other school employees
Missing or leaving school without permission
Tardiness
Cheating
Vandalism or any destruction of property
Theft
Truancy or excessive absences
Consequences
Verbal warning
Written warning
Notification to parent
Meeting with parent
Reprimand
Detention
In-school suspension
Suspension from transportation
Suspension from social or extra-curricular activities
Exclusion from a particular class
Suspension out of school
Dress Code
Most schools have found that dress codes foster a more wholesome attitude toward the school. In addition,
the students succeed better when dressed for learning and not playing.
Illness and Accidents
Please keep a child home if they show signs of illness. If a child becomes ill in school, we'll try to
notify their parents. Please notify the schoold when a child has been exposed to a communicable
disease. Any student absent due to a communicable disease will not be readmitted without
physician's certification. When returning to school from an absence, an explanatory note must be
presented to the office.
Medication
In accordance with the guidelines established by the local schools, this school will no longer
administer any medication beyond first-aid for minor cuts or irritations. The school will no longer
dispense Tylenol or aspirin. Children taking medication will be reminded by the teacher to do so
following the written instructions of the parents and physician. Parents are strongly advised to
send single doses only.
Visiting the School
Parents and other visitors are cordially invited and encouraged to attend school programs
and holiday celebrations. In order to maintain the school atmosphere established by the
students' dress code, we feel it essential that all visitors to the school respect the same
standards listed above in the dress code. In addition, Kipot are available for males entering
the school. All visitors must report to the office to ensure the safety of our children and to
minimize classroom interruptions. Permission to contact students or teachers, even briefly,
must be arranged through the office.
Scholarships
Student tuition costs do not cover all expenses of the Hebrew Day School. The ability of the
Hebrew Day School to operate and to maintain superior educational standards depends on
more than tuition, which is at a rate far less than the cost of education. It depends in great
part on the support of friends and parents of the school, rendered both individually and
through the various fund-raising activities such as the annual dinner and its related journal.
All parents are urged to purchase Shop Rite certificates before doing their shopping. The
school benefits from these purchases at no cost to the parent.
