Any clothing which will have the effect of disrupting the educational process is not to be worn in school. Footwear must be worn in the buildings and on the buses. Hats should not be worn in school buildings as a matter of courtesy. (see school dress code).
Uniforms
As a public school, EPCS cannot mandate a specific uniform, only recommend a dress code. The students are expected to dress neatly.
Textbook Accounting
It is the student's responsibility to account for all textbooks, workbooks, and all other school property issued for instruction by teachers. Students must understand that all school property made available for their use must be returned in good condition. Lost or damaged textbooks will be paid for by the parent.
Homework
Homework is an activity that is assigned to extend learning outside of the classroom. Since learning is a continuing process that begins in the classroom under the direction of the teacher, and continues at home with meaningful follow-up activities, homework is an integral part of the learning process. The student and teacher, the parent, and the school administrators are all partners in this process. We believe that the information provided below will help strengthen this partnership to ensure the success of our students.
The purpose of homework is:
To enrich and extend classroom learning and experience.
To develop effective, independent work habits and study skills.
To provide essential practice of skills learned in school.
To extend class work, where necessary, to implement more fully the course of study.
To encourage students to actively seek and prepare background information for classroom activities.
To encourage the use of out-of-school resources, i.e., the public library and museums.
To encourage students to prepare appropriately for tests.
To provide an opportunity to make up missed schoolwork.
To serve as a communication link between home and school in regard to the curriculum.
The amount of time students will spend on homework will vary according to grade, different course requirements and individual student differences and needs. It is believed that students should be assigned homework on a daily basis. The following recommended time allocations for homework at the various grade levels are approximate. There may be times when a greater amount of homework will be given, which might include reading, a research project and/or working on a long-term assignment.
Recommended Homework Time Schedule:
Kindergarten
To be determined by the Teacher.
Grade 1
30 minutes
Grade 2
30 minutes
Grade 3
40 minutes
Grade 4
45 minutes
Grade 5
60 minutes
Recommended Reading Time Schedule:
Kindergarten
To be determined by the Teacher.
Grade 1
10 minutes
Grade 2
10 minutes
Grade 3
15 minutes
Grade 4
30 minutes
Grade 5
45 minutes
If your child consistently states that he/she has no homework, or has completed their assignments in school, please ask to see their completed assignments. All homework assignments must be written in their school planner, homework folder or packet. At times teachers will request that the parent(s) sign all homework. Your signature will indicate for the teacher that the parent is aware of their child's assignments, and the type of work that is being required.
When a student is absent from school for an extended length of time (three or more days), it is the students/parents responsibility to contact the teacher to determine the specific work assignments that must be made up. Parents may call the school to request the homework assignments. The assignments can be picked up from the office.
Teachers should not be expected to provide homework assignments in advance of a student's absence from school.
It is our expectation that parent and/or guardian will:
Create a positive attitude in the home towards school and homework by making homework a priority, and checking the student's planner for daily assignments and/or teacher comments.
Establish and monitor a regular daily routine for homework by providing the time, place, and proper study environment.
Be aware of and support the homework expectation of the child's teacher(s) and sign homework planners when requested.
Communicate with the teacher if academic difficulties arise.
If necessary, provide guidance while the child independently completes his/her assignments.
The student will be responsible for:
Accurately recording homework assignments in their student planner.
Maintaining and organizing their homework and class work.
Making a demonstrated effort to complete all of their assignments.
Managing his/her time so that all assigned tasks will be competed in a timely manner.
Working each day towards the completion of long-term assignments so that they may be completed by the assigned deadlines.
Completing and submitting all assignments on time.
Parents, it is imperative that your child understands the importance of completing all required homework assignments. Please take the time to review the above information with your child. The classroom teacher will monitor all homework assignments. Students that do not adhere to this policy will receive a zero for each assignment not completed or submitted. All zero grades will count against the student's grade point average for that specific subject.
Dress Code Policy
All Students will be expected to attend school dressed appropriately and adhere to our school dress code. All students are required to wear navy blue and white uniform colors on regularly scheduled school days. Students are not permitted to wear jean jackets or different color hooded sweat jackets. If a student comes to school dressed inappropriately:
The teacher will inform the administrative office and the parent/guardian will be contacted via written communication.
After a parent has received three written communications, and the student continues to come to school dressed inappropriately, the parent/guardian will be contacted by telephone and a change of clothing will be requested to be brought to school.
If a parent refuses to bring a change of clothing, the parent will be requested to take their child home for the day.
Dress Code
BOYS
Shirts: (with buttons & collar) navy, chambray blue or white, long or short sleeved no visible labels or turtlenecks in navy or white.
Pants: any navy, no visible brand labels. NO JEANS. Shorts: in warm weather, any solid navy walking shorts. NO GYM SHORTS. Shoes: tie shoes, loafers or black low top sneakers (WITHOUT LIGHTS). No "Heelys" allowed. Socks: any navy or white Sweater: any solid navy cardigan.
GIRLS
Shirts: (With buttons & collars) navy, chambray blue or white, long or short sleeved no visible labels or turtlenecks in navy or white. Jumpers: navy Pants: any navy, no visible brand labels. NO JEANS. Shorts: in warm weather, any solid navy Bermuda shorts. NO GYM SHORTS. Shoes: tie shoes, loafers or black low top sneakers (WITHOUT LIGHTS). No "Heelys" allowed. Socks: any navy or white. Stockings: any navy or white solid stockings, tights, knee socks or low socks. Sweater: any solid navy cardigan
School Day: The EPCS school day for all students in Kindergarten through fifth grade is from 8:00am to 3:00pm.
Electronic Equipment
Students are not permitted to bring any electronic games, cell phones, IPods, Walkmans or any computer games to school. Cell phones and electronic games that are brought to school and used during the school day will be taken away from the student by administration and the parent/guardian will be notified. Students that continue to disregard these rules will have their equipment taken away, and a parent or guardian must retrieve the item(s) from the administrative office. The school will not be held responsible for lost, broken or theft of personal property.
Tardy and Absence Policies
Tardy Policy
A student is considered late when they arrive to school after 8:15am. All students that arrive to school after the beginning of our scheduled day are required to report to the Administrative Office with an adult to be signed in.
Students that will be arriving to school after 8:15am must notify the Administrative Office of their tardiness and their request for lunch. If a child arrives to school after our school lunches have been ordered and we have not been previously notified, it is the parent's responsibility to bring a bagged lunch to school for their child.
Absence Policy
Parents must notify the EPCS Administrative Office no later than 8:15am if a student is going to be absent and it is not a pre-arranged absence. When calling the school to report an absence, please state the student's name, grade, teacher's name and why the student is going to be out. If a child is out due to a contagious disease, the school nurse/office must be notified at this time.
Students absent from school a total of 20 or more days without a medical excuse will risk retention for that school year. Students absent for extended medical reasons will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Early Departure
If your child must leave school before the scheduled dismissal time, please send a note to the classroom teacher, or call the Administrative Office to indicate the time they will be picked-up and the person picking them up.
Unreported Absences
As stated above, it is the parents' responsibility to notify the Administrative Office when their child is going to be absent. If the office has not received a call before 8:45am, all attempts will be made to contact parents using their work and/or emergency numbers that were submitted to our office.
Emergency Closing
If inclement weather causes EPCS to close, parents will be notified by a parental emergency telephone call from School Reach. Parents can also watch the Channel 2 CBS News or Channel 12 NJ News.
